The Four Kinds of Research-and-Development Teams What kind of R-and-D team do you want to build?

01 June 2024

Many developers get really excited when they join an R&D team, because it signals in their minds that they're among an elite group looking to move the needle for a company. We imagine the business suddenly soaring in revenue and profit because of the whatever-thing we just built. We can hear--in the mind's ear--the kudos and praise raining down from the C-Suite as the whatever-thing we just built is rolled out company-wide and maybe, just maybe, industry-wide. We're excited!

Wait, what was it we were trying to do again?

In my last post, I talked about some of the problems with R&D teams and how they're run. What I didn't really get into in that post, however, was the idea that (I believe) there are four different kinds of R&D teams, each with very different actions and goals, and each with very different outcomes. The success of the team often depends on aligning the activities of the team with the intended goals, and it's actually quite reasonable for a company to have two or more teams, each operating independently and towards different ends.

In brief, there are four kinds of R&D Teams:

the Scout team, exploring what tech others in the industry have built (e.g., Flutter, SwiftUI, etc)

the Spy team, exploring what competitors have built

the Library team, building lowest-common-denominator libraries used (sometimes) within the company

the Practical Research team, building novel solutions to the company's (and others') problems

In each of those subsequent posts, I address each of these in some level of detail, but here's summaries for each:

The Scout Team

The Scout Team is what most corporate R&D teams go after: The hunt for new technology that will somehow provide the company with a competitive advantage over its competitors, despite the fact that the competitors are all themselves out there scouting the industry just like this team is. New programming languages, new databases, new architecture styles, new whatever-fill-in-the-blank, just so long as it is (a) new and (b) not yet mainstream, it's a candidate for the Scout Team's infinite desire to create prototypes that bear a remarkable resemblance to the demos that the new thing has on its website or in its documentation.

The Library Team

The Library team is the team given responsibility for managing reusable artifacts within the company--libraries, tools, frameworks, services (cloud or on-prem), whatever--because achieving actual reusability, it turns out, requires a degree of commitment of time and resources to maintaining and homogenizing those artifacts. Doing this work, at the same time a team is trying to manage a product release, ends up becoming a distraction to the product release cycle, particularly as the shared "thing" becomes more widely shared.

The Spy Team

The spy team's purpose is pretty much as its name implies: Take a strong look at what competitors and adjacents are doing in your industry, and how they do (or might) affect your company's activities. The spy team doesn't get industry press articles written about the things they are doing, but they do often adopt a technology quickly enough to make a difference without paying the cost of finding all the mistakes and wrong assumptions about it.

The Practical Research Team

The Research team (also more recently called "the innovation team" or the "disruption team" in more "hip" companies) is the one most people think about with respect to an R&D team. It's important to note, however, that the team cannot be just focused on research--like the Scout team, the Research team has to have a constant eye on what they build having a practical impact on the company that sponsors them. For that reason, I often make the conscious decision to put the word "practical" in front of the name, so that the emphasis is on practical research that will have a direct effect on the company's ability to execute.

Tags: management

Last modified 01 June 2024
China's Shanghai welcomes pet-friendly chartered flight from overseas

Xinhua) 10:19, June 15, 2024

SHANGHAI, June 14 (Xinhua) -- China's Shanghai on Friday welcomed a group of pet owners returning from an overseas trip aboard a special flight that allowed them to travel in the same cabin with their dogs.

The flight carried 60 passengers and 18 dogs from Bangkok, Thailand, to the Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

It marked the conclusion of China's first overseas group tour to charter flights so that people can fly alongside their dogs.

Customs officials at the airport said they had streamlined procedures for the arrival of the pets, including allowing them to skip quarantine periods if they passed on-site checks.

Officials said the flight would blaze a trail for future chartered international flights for pet owners, with demand for such services on the rise thanks to rising pet ownership levels in Chinese cities.

Last month, the Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport in south China's Guangdong Province opened a lounge exclusively for pets, becoming the first airport lounge of its kind in China.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Hongyu)
China moves to improve elderly care in rural areas

Xinhua) 10:22, June 15, 2024

BEIJING, June 14 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government has released a set of guidelines on accelerating the development of elderly care services in rural areas, representing a comprehensive and systematic national plan in this regard, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

The guidelines set targets that should be met by 2025. The rural elderly care service network should be further improved. The overall coverage rate of elderly care service centers at the township level should be no less than 60 percent.

China's population aged 60 and above has exceeded 296 million, new data showed. The country's large elderly base and rapidly aging population have led to growing demand for elderly care.

Elderly care services in China's rural areas are facing more urgent needs and problems are more prominent than those in urban areas. The proportion of elderly people aged 60 and above in rural areas is 23.81 percent, 7.99 percentage points higher than that for urban residents.

China has 16,000 rural elderly care nursing homes that collectively provide over 1.68 million beds. It owns around 145,000 mutual-aid elderly care facilities in rural areas, but the convenience and accessibility of these facilities need to be improved, according to the ministry.

State-owned and private enterprises are encouraged to operate elderly care service facilities in rural areas, per the guidelines.

In January, the State Council issued a document on promoting the development of the silver economy, proposing measures in areas such as food, housing, transportation, elderly care and elderly health management.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Hongyu)
Premier Li urges educational communities of China, New Zealand to cooperate more closely

Xinhua) 10:23, June 15, 2024

WELLINGTON, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Friday called for enhanced mutual learning and people-to-people ties through friendly and sincere exchanges between the educational communities of China and New Zealand.

Li made the remarks when addressing the closing ceremony of a forum on education development between China and New Zealand in Auckland. He attended the ceremony with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.

Li said that China will provide New Zealand with 100 International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarships, 1,000 "Chinese Bridge" summer camp opportunities in China, and 5,000 Chinese books in the next five years.

China welcomes more young people from New Zealand to learn the Chinese language and culture, and supports more Chinese young people to visit and study in New Zealand to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the younger generations of the two countries, he noted.

Li said that educational cooperation has long been an important aspect of China-New Zealand relations. The breadth and depth of this cooperation have continuously expanded, yielding significant results in talent cultivation, joint scientific research and academic exchange.

The new round of scientific and technological revolution is profoundly changing the way of human production and life, and education is facing higher requirements in terms of reform and innovation. Therefore, the educational communities of China and New Zealand should cooperate more closely, Li said.

Some 160 university presidents, representatives of educational institutions, and other professionals from educational communities of both countries also attended the event.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Hongyu)
Chinese vice premier to hold China-EU climate dialogue, visit Luxembourg

Xinhua) 10:45, June 15, 2024

BEIJING, June 14 (Xinhua) -- As agreed between China and the EU, and at the invitation of Vice Prime Minister Xavier Bettel of Luxembourg, Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, will hold the fifth China-EU High-Level Environment and Climate Dialogue at EU Headquarters in Brussels and visit Luxembourg from June 17 to 21.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian made the announcement on Friday.

China and Europe are the world's two major forces, major markets, and major civilizations, Lin told a regular press briefing when answering a follow-up question about Ding's visit to Europe, noting that China-EU relations have an impact on global peace, stability, development and prosperity.

Lin said China always views its relations with the EU from a strategic height and long-term perspective, and regards Europe as an important priority for China's major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics and also as an important partner for achieving Chinese modernization. China and the EU share extensive common interests and broad space for cooperation in green development, and have maintained good dialogue and cooperation in this regard, he added.

Since the establishment of the China-EU High-Level Environment and Climate Dialogue in 2020, the two sides have successfully held four rounds of dialogue, which has played a positive role in jointly addressing global challenges in environment and climate governance, strengthening communication and coordination on bilateral and multilateral policies, and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation, Lin said.

Lin said that during the upcoming trip, Ding will co-chair the fifth high-level dialogue with Executive Vice President of the European Commission Maros Sefcovic.

"China stands ready to work with the EU to act on the important common understandings reached by the leaders of the two sides, and through this dialogue, broaden the areas of cooperation, explore new collaboration models and upgrade the level of cooperation," said Lin, adding that China hopes to deepen and solidify the green partnership with the EU.

In Luxembourg, Ding will meet with Luxembourg's leaders and attend the Second Zhengzhou-Luxembourg "Air Silk Road" Forum for International Cooperation, Lin said.

Noting that Luxembourg is a founding member of the EU and China's friendly cooperation partner in Europe, Lin said since the establishment of diplomatic ties over fifty years ago, the two countries have respected each other, engaged in mutually beneficial cooperation and jointly promoted development.

Lin added that in recent years, China and Luxembourg have achieved new progress in cooperation of such areas as finance and air freight. Since the Zhengzhou-Luxembourg "Air Silk Road" started operation, it has flown large amounts of goods between China and Europe, brought tangible benefits to the people of China, Luxembourg and the rest of Europe, and helped keep global industrial and supply chains stable, he said.

China looks to work with Luxembourg through this visit to step up dialogue and communication, strengthen mutual understanding and trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and further advance the bilateral relations, the spokesperson said.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Hongyu)
China vows to take resolute countermeasures against dangerous acts by the Philippines

Xinhua) 10:48, June 15, 2024

BEIJING, June 14 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese defense spokesperson Friday said China will take all necessary countermeasures against dangerous, escalatory acts by the Philippine side.

Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks when responding to a media inquiry about recent moves by the Philippine side in areas of Ren'ai Jiao and Xianbin Jiao.

Zhang noted that Nansha Qundao, including Ren'ai Jiao and Xianbin Jiao, is inherent territory of China, and that it's legitimate and reasonable for the Chinese side to carry out law enforcement activities in waters under its jurisdiction.

He pointed out that the Philippine side broke its promises, played with fire and made provocations to escalate tension. It has even cooked up and spread disinformation about Xianbin Jiao in an attempt to cover up its infringements and provocations.

The Chinese side remained highly vigilant and will continue to take all necessary countermeasures against dangerous, escalatory acts by the Philippine side, Zhang said.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Hongyu)
Salt lake in N China's Shanxi turns into tourist landmark

Xinhua) 10:52, June 15, 2024

An aerial drone photo taken on June 12, 2024 shows a view of Yuncheng Salt Lake in the city of Yuncheng, north China's Shanxi Province. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan)

TAIYUAN, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Yuncheng Salt Lake, known as the "Dead Sea of China," is one of three inland salt lakes with sodium sulfate in the world, covering an area of 132 square km. It once served as a salt production base.

To better protect the lake's ecology, industrial production activities in the lake area have been completely terminated, and restoration works such as embankment renovation, dredging, and flood prevention have been carried out. Meanwhile, a protective regulation issued a few years ago has not only provided a basis for the lake's protection, but also extended the protection scope to ecological, natural, and cultural resources.

Nowadays, the salt lake has been striving to transform into a tourist landmark and an ecological reserve, embracing new opportunities in the process of development.

Tourists take a walk near Yuncheng Salt Lake in the city of Yuncheng, north China's Shanxi Province, June 10, 2024. (Photo by Yan Xin/Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 5, 2024 shows a view of Yuncheng Salt Lake in the city of Yuncheng, north China's Shanxi Province. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan)

A drone photo taken on June 10, 2024 shows tourists visiting Yuncheng Salt Lake in the city of Yuncheng, north China's Shanxi Province. (Photo by Yan Xin/Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 5, 2024 shows a construction site of an ecological improvement project at the east side of Yuncheng Salt Lake in the city of Yuncheng, north China's Shanxi Province. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 5, 2024 shows a view of Yuncheng Salt Lake in the city of Yuncheng, north China's Shanxi Province. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan)

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Hongyu)
China has been the most firmly and actively committed to promoting peace talks on the Ukraine issue

11:35, June 15, 2024 By He Yin ( People's Daily

The Ukraine crisis has shown no sign of stopping and generated more spillovers. The conflict could further escalate. The pressing priority is to cool down the situation and accumulate conditions for ceasefire.

China did not create the Ukraine crisis, nor is it a party to the crisis. It has been working vigorously to facilitate talks for peace all along. China's objective and just position, and its constructive role have been widely recognized by the international community.

China's position on the Ukraine crisis has been consistent, which is to promote peace talks. Since the full escalation of the Ukraine crisis, Chinese President Xi Jinping has had in-depth exchanges with world leaders including Russian and Ukrainian leaders. He has put forward four key principles, four things that the international community should do together and three observations, which have become China's fundamental approach to the political settlement of the crisis.

China has released a paper stating its position on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, in which it proposed 12 important principles including respecting the sovereignty of all countries, abandoning the Cold War mentality, ceasing hostilities, and resuming peace talks.

China has delivered to Ukraine many shipments of humanitarian aids, and sent its special representative many times to mediate among the countries concerned. Instead of being an onlooker, China has always held an objective and just position, playing an important role for peace.

The world needs to make more objective, balanced, positive, and constructive voices on the Ukraine crisis, and find the most extensive common ground for restoring peace.

China and Brazil recently jointly issued the "Common Understandings Between China and Brazil on Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis." The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on pushing for the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis and calling for the deescalation of the situation, and reached six common understandings.

They called on relevant parties to observe three principles for deescalating the situation, namely no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting, and no provocation by any party. They believe that dialogue and negotiation are the only viable solution to the Ukraine crisis. All parties should push for the deescalation of the situation, increase humanitarian assistance, oppose the use of nuclear weapons, oppose attacks on nuclear power plants, and protect the stability of global industrial and supply chains.

As of June 12, 103 countries from five continents have responded positively to the "six common understandings" in different ways, of which 55 countries have confirmed their accession or are seriously studying the way of accession. Russia and Ukraine also affirmed most of the contents of these six common understandings.

This once again illustrates that these six common understandings meet the common expectations of the majority of countries. China believes that the more countries that support these six common understandings, the closer the day of the political settlement of the crisis will be, and the brighter the prospects for peace will become.

Dialogue and negotiation is the only viable way out for the Ukraine crisis. As the largest geopolitical conflict in Europe since World War II, the prolonged Ukraine crisis not only exacerbates the suffering of the people in both countries but also poses unpredictable risks and challenges to the region and the world, which are not in the interest of any party involved.

History has proven time and again that at the end of the day, conflicts can only be resolved through negotiation. All parties concerned should intensify diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire and put an end to the fighting in a responsible manner. Both sides of the crisis should be encouraged to engage in dialogue. The earlier the talks start, the sooner peace will arrive.

China has been the most firmly and actively committed to promoting peace talks on the Ukraine issue and will not give up as long as there is a glimmer of hope.

China encourages and supports all initiatives and efforts in the world that are conducive to easing the situation and achieving peace. China supports the holding in due course of an international peace conference that is recognized by both Russia and Ukraine and ensures the equal participation of all parties and fair discussions on all peace plans. China's position on the peace conference is fair and just, driven by a genuine desire to promote the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

The Ukraine crisis has complex historical and practical causes. To resolve the crisis, it is necessary to address both the symptoms and the root causes, and to plan for the present as well as for the long term.

Ukraine's sovereignty and security should be upheld, and Russia's legitimate security concerns should also be respected. Europe's peace and stability should be defended. The same goes for other countries.

The security of a country should not be pursued at the expense of others. The security of a region should not be achieved by strengthening or expanding military blocs. The legitimate security interests and concerns of all countries must be taken seriously and addressed properly.

Only by abandoning the Cold War mentality, promoting equal dialogue and negotiation among all parties, and addressing their legitimate concerns properly, can a balanced, effective, and sustainable European security architecture be built, and long-lasting peace and stability in the region achieved.

China opposes certain countries using the Ukraine crisis to shift blame, smear third parties, incite a "new Cold War," and force other countries to take sides. This approach not only fails to resolve the current crisis politically but also risks repeating the mistakes of camp-based confrontation.

No matter how complex the situation is, parties must not give up dialogue and negotiation. No matter how acute the conflict is, political settlement must be pursued. All relevant parties should prioritize peace and humanitarian crisis, direct their resources and endeavors towards diplomatic efforts aimed at stopping the fighting, and jointly promote a political solution to the Ukraine crisis at an early date.

China will keep upholding an objective and just position, build consensus for ending conflicts, and pave the way for peace talks, so as to contribute Chinese wisdom to the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Hongyu)
"Chinese bridge" language proficiency competition held in Zimbabwe

Xinhua) 15:08, June 15, 2024

HARARE, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese language students in Zimbabwe on Friday showcased their language competence at the 23rd edition of the Chinese Bridge competition held at the University of Zimbabwe in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe.

The competition, which drew participants from primary and secondary schools, as well as colleges, was organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Zimbabwe, with support from the Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe and Chinese enterprises.

In addition to speech performances, the competition also included a talent show in which participants showcased their appreciation of Chinese culture through dances, martial arts, and songs.

The winners from three categories received cash prizes, and first prize winners will represent Zimbabwe at the semi-finals and final competitions in China.

Avril Mukanyangi, 17, who was crowned the champion of the high school segment, impressed the judges and audience with her grasp of the Chinese language and culture. "Being number one and going to China to represent Zimbabwe, it feels like a dream come true," she said.

William Kamuchuruka, the first prize winner for the college students segment, was elated with the achievement. He hopes to further his studies in China.

"Having a chance to go to China, firstly, I can improve my Chinese. It is also a platform to express myself to use my Chinese to show the world or show everyone the achievements I have made in Chinese. There are also scholarships that come with this, so if I continue to push this forward, there is also a chance to study in China," he said.

In his welcome remarks at the event, University of Zimbabwe Vice Chancellor Paul Mapfumo said the university values language as a tool and skill for transforming society.

"We understand the value of language in enhancing teaching and learning, in enhancing cross-cultural fertilization, in enhancing the value of business in a global context," said Mangena.

He said in today's interconnected world, the ability to communicate across cultures has become more important than ever before. "So we take language as opening doors for new opportunities, fostering understanding, and building bridges between people of different backgrounds."

Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Zhou Ding congratulated the contestants on their participation in the language competition.

"As is widely recognized, language serves as a carrier of culture, a ladder that enables us to broaden our perspectives, and a tool that enhances dialogues and communications in this increasingly globalized world," said Zhou, stressing that the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Zimbabwe not only encompasses trade and investment but also incorporates cultural exchanges and educational cooperation.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Hongyu)
U.S., Ukraine sign bilateral security agreement on sidelines of G7

Xinhua) 15:56, June 15, 2024

FASANO, Italy, June 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky jointly signed a ten-year bilateral security agreement on Thursday after meeting on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Italy.

Ukraine agreed to a similar deal with Japan earlier in the day also on the sidelines of the summit, which kicked off on Thursday and will last until Saturday. The agreements announced on Thursday bring the total number of bilateral security agreements that Ukraine has signed since the start of the country's conflict with Russia in 2022 to 17, including those with Britain, France, Germany, and Italy.

Analysts said that the U.S.-Ukraine security agreement could be undone before its term expires, since Biden is expected to face a tough election battle later this year against former President Donald Trump, whose support for Ukraine is not as strong as Biden's.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Hongyu)
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Chinese premier calls for upgrading China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership

Xinhua) 09:04, June 15, 2024

Chinese Premier Li Qiang addresses a welcome banquet held by various social communities of New Zealand at Auckland Museum in Auckland, New Zealand, June 14, 2024. Li attended the welcome banquet together with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon here on Friday. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

WELLINGTON, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang said Friday that China is willing to work with New Zealand to uphold common values, further carry forward traditional friendship and make efforts to upgrade the China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership.

Li made the remarks when addressing a welcome banquet held by various social communities in Auckland. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon also attended the welcome banquet.

He said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations 52 years ago, China-New Zealand ties have long been leading China's relations with other developed countries.

Especially in the past 10 years since President Xi Jinping's visit to New Zealand and the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, Li said, bilateral relations have made historic progress and cooperation in various fields has reached unprecedented breadth and depth, which has not only brought tangible benefits to the two peoples, but also vigorously promoted the prosperity and stability of the region and the world.

The fruitful results are largely attributed to the similarities between China and New Zealand, Li said, adding that both countries have respect for the natural ecology, inclusiveness for multiculturalism, pursuit of innovation and creativity, and aspiration for world peace.

Noting that these similarities are the common treasures of China and New Zealand, Li said that both sides should cherish and protect them and make efforts to enable them to play a greater role in the future development of China-New Zealand relations.

Li said the world today is undergoing accelerated changes unseen in a century and global peace and development are faced with grave challenges, adding that China is ready to work with New Zealand to uphold the shared values, carry forward traditional friendship, upgrade bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, deepen and expand practical cooperation on biomedicine, agriculture, food, new energy and digital economy.

He said China stands ready to strengthen communication and coordination with New Zealand in multilateral fields to deliver more benefits to the two peoples and contribute to peace and development in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

Li said since the beginning of this year, the momentum of China's economic recovery has continued to consolidate and strengthen. In the long run, the long-term positive trend of the Chinese economy will not change.

China's new development is a big opportunity for the world, he noted, adding that China stands ready to continue to share the opportunity with other countries so as to achieve common development.

Noting that the relationship with China is one of New Zealand's most important foreign relations, Luxon said over the past half century and more, New Zealand and China have leveraged their economic complementarity to expand the breadth and depth of exchanges and cooperation in various fields, injecting strong impetus into the development of the two countries and injecting vitality into bilateral relations.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between New Zealand and China, which is an important milestone in the development of bilateral relations, Luxon said.

New Zealand will continue to give priority to its relations with China in its foreign relations, Luxon said, adding that New Zealand is willing to work with China to carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen exchanges and cooperation in such fields as economy, trade, agriculture, intellectual property rights, education and tourism, strengthen communication and dialogue, and jointly cope with global challenges such as climate change and environmental protection.

Before the welcome banquet, the two leaders also met with friendly people from all walks of life in New Zealand.

Li thanked all for their long-term contributions to the development of China-New Zealand relations and encouraged them to continue to play a more positive and constructive role in promoting the bilateral relations and the friendship between the two peoples, so as to push the China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership to a new high.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang addresses a welcome banquet held by various social communities of New Zealand at Auckland Museum in Auckland, New Zealand, June 14, 2024. Li attended the welcome banquet together with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon here on Friday. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Hongyu)
Cairo, Egypt (PANA)  The World Health Organization (WHO) remains concerned about the escalating health crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory, including the West Bank, where attacks on health infrastructure and increased restrictions on movement are obstructing access to health care
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Russia fires volley of missiles at Ukraine, including feared Kinzhal The Ukrainian Air Force has reported that Russia launched several attacks on Ukraine using various missiles, including Kinzhal hypersonic missiles. The modern Kinzhal missiles are feared because they are difficult to intercept with current defence systems due to their high speed and explosive power.



Public broadcaster Suspilne reported, citing residents, that multiple explosions were heard early Friday in the western Ukrainian region of Khmelnytskyi.



The region houses a key Ukrainian airbase near the town of Starokostyantyniv, which is expected to host Western F-16 fighter jets supplied by Ukraine's allies.



Explosions were also reported near the capital, Kiev, attributed to air defence operations, as noted by Mayor Vitali Klitschko on Telegram.



Earlier in the night, Russia launched a combined airstrike on Ukraine using cruise missiles, rockets, and combat drones. The Ukrainian Air Force said that at least two Kinzhal missiles were used in the assault.



Near Kiev, firefighters continued efforts to extinguish a fire at an industrial plant that had been smouldering since Wednesday.



Meanwhile, Ukraine carried out a major attack consisting of more than 80 drones on Russian border regions in the early hours of Friday, the Russian Ministry of Defence reported.



It said that 70 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were intercepted over the Rostov region alone.



The Belgorod, Volgograd, Voronezh and Kursk regions, as well as the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which Russia annexed in violation of international law in 2014, were also affected.



The information could not be independently verified.



The governor of the Rostov region, Vasily Golubev, reported power outages in several villages.



According to initial findings, there were no deaths or injuries.



In the Voronezh region, falling debris caused minor damage to an oil depot, authorities said. However, no people were injured there either.



Russia invaded Ukraine at the end of February 2022 and has been waging a large-scale war against the neighbouring country ever since.




Point San Pablo Harbor in Richmond, in the northern reaches of San Francisco Bay. Carl Nolte/SFC Kate Josephs and Michael Herz, at Point San Pablo Harbor in Richmond, are telling the stories of San Francisco Bay in a podcast. Carl Nolte/The Chronicle

When Michael Herz was the San Francisco Baykeeper, he used to patrol the bay in a small boat looking for polluters. Now he roams the bay looking for stories.

Herz fell in love with San Francisco Bay from the time he first set eyes on its waters more than 70 years ago. He saw the bay as the centerpiece of the region and the cities that had grown up around it. San Francisco Bay affects everything from the regions commerce to its weather.

The bay has also affected Herz: Hes sailed on it, studied it, lived in its harbors and backwaters, and spent years trying to protect it. He was the founder of the San Francisco chapter of the Oceanic Society and in 1987 started San Francisco Baykeeper, operating as sort of an environmental detective, cruising the bay and keeping an eye out for people or governmental agencies harming the estuary. Herz has a unique perspective  hes a scientist as well.

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In one of the most noted cases, the Baykeeper patrol went out in a kayak and caught an operator in a polluted shipyard dredging the bay without a permit at night under cover of darkness. Baykeeper caught the workers red-handed, and the operator went to prison.

The waterkeeper movement started in the East  on the Hudson and other rivers. Herz brought it west. Now its grown so theres 350 waterkeeper units around the world, he said.

A keeper he said, is someone who cares about the water they live or sail on and want to save it.

But hard-nosed activism is a job for younger people, and Herz is 87 now, seasoned, slim and lithe, a bit weather-beaten, thinking of a next project. In his work he had gone all over the bay, watching for problems, but talking and listening. Hed come home and tell his wife, Kate Josephs, about the problems and more. I heard all these stories from him about the bay and life on the water, she said. Many of them were true.

So the next project came naturally. I wanted to get a boat and circumnavigate San Francisco Bay and find the stories, Herz said.

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The project is called Once Upon a Bay. Herz is the storyteller. Josephs, whose background is in finance and politics, is the producer. Putting it all in a book was one idea, but they settled on the internet instead. Podcasts begin in the fall, after a monthslong editing session this summer.

Editing sound is a fascinating extension of editing the written word, but slower, Josephs said. We collect material faster than I can process it.

So far there are 20 stories under construction and about 100 story elements in the can, a real mix of sounds and people: whales, cormorants, seals, music, sea shanties, a walking tour of the Benicia waterfront, ferries, fog, a boat tour of Alameda, algae blooms, stories about shipwrecks, sailors, labor leaders and park rangers, bay heroes and polluters. And theyve only just begun.

When they are not out tracking down their stories, Herz and Josephs do most of their work aboard a 35-foot motorboat docked at Point San Pablo Yacht Harbor on the Richmond shoreline.

The place is a true backwater, reached by a winding road that runs on the edge of Chevrons Richmond refinery. Its no fancy yacht harbor with boats in Bristol condition, clean and polished. Point San Pablo looks like a harbor out of another time, a small harbor ringed by brown hills and rusty railroad tracks. It looks as if its best days were long ago.

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Herz loves the place. It looks the way the Bay Area was when I first came here, he said, Its unvarnished, its real.

I call this place Brigadoon,  Josephs said, mentioning the mythical Scottish village that appears out of the mist once every hundred years. You have to believe in it to stay here.

Perhaps their bay project has a bit of a mythical quality to it. The subject is enormous  the bay is the largest estuary on the West Coast and one of the most complex. The market for stories about the bay itself is uncertain.

But Herz is driven by his love of the bay and determination. He reminds himself of a voyage he made when he was a member of the Singlehanded Sailing Society and made a trip by himself from San Francisco to Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands. He soon got into trouble. I realized I was sailing beyond my capabilities, he said. If I knew everything I know today, I wouldnt have done it. But I did it.

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The Felipe Fire burns in the San Jose foothills Saturday morning. San Jose Fire Department

Crews stopped the progress of a grass fire in the San Jose foothills Saturday, authorities said.

The San Jose Fire Department and Cal Fire responded to the vegetation fire that broke out near Meadowlands Lane and Wild Meadow Way shortly after 8 a.m. The Felipe Fire burned 19 acres and was completely contained Sunday morning, Cal Fire said.

No structures were damaged, no residents or firefighters were injured, and motorists were advised to avoid the area.

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The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Portions of Northern California are under wildfire watch this weekend amid high temperatures, low humidity and gusty winds.

The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for the Sacramento Valley, northern Sierra Nevada foothills and Lake county from 11 p.m. Saturday through 8 p.m. Monday. A red flag warning, which alerts residents and crews to wildfire danger, hasnt been issued for those parts of Northern California since October.

A shifting weather pattern is bringing lower temperatures and gusty winds to the Bay Area through Sunday.
Dan Lispi receives treatment at City of Hope hospital in Duarte (Los Angeles County) after fighting Anthem insurance over coverage. Dipti S. Barot

There is no experience more uniquely, more perversely, more quintessentially American than a sick patient battling their insurance company.

In the case of my father-in-law, Dan, he was a Stage 4 cancer patient, hospitalized and recovering from his most recent infection, fielding a call about the latest rejection for an MRI obtained two days earlier. His doctors got the imaging done in preparation for his first cycle of chemotherapy to treat cancer that that had seeded into various organs and lymph nodes throughout his body and robbed him of his bladder and replaced it with a bag.

Incredibly, his insurance company, Anthem, had deemed it unnecessary and said they would not cover it.

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I watched Dan take that call recumbent in his hospital bed, PICC line in one arm, IV in another, a nasal cannula up his nostrils supplying 4 liters of oxygen, fluids and antibiotics hanging off the IV pole. And I became enraged all over again at this system that seems determined to kill him so that it can save another buck.

I am a doctor, and Dans daughter-in-law  his doctor-in-law someone joked  and even with all of my education, insights, advantages and resources, I cant protect him from a health care industry whose only goal is to maximize profits by minimizing care.

The CEO of Anthems parent company Elevance, Gail Boudreaux, raked in $21.9 million in compensation last year, up from $20.9 million the year before, with a CEO-to-employee salary ratio of 389 to 1. The headlines about the companys revenue boasted: Elevance controls medical costs to $6B profit in 2023

Controls medical costs.

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Think about that phrase. Ruminate on its precise meaning. What does that mean for an average American family dealing with a loved one undergoing a life-altering medical diagnosis?: delays and denials at every turn. Pushbacks for home health nursing, physical therapy, chemotherapy and imaging. Jumping through needless hoops and an endless rigamarole of fighting back, appealing and speaking to supervisors in a war of attrition that the insurance companies always, ultimately and inevitably win.

Thats exactly what Dan had to deal with.

Earlier that week, Anthem had called to deny him the eight sessions of physical therapy deemed necessary by a physical therapist. Anthem claimed he only needed three. The cancer had robbed Dan of over 30 pounds by then, leaving him deconditioned and a fall risk, made worse by a weakened leg after his bladder removal surgery. When we requested an expedited appeal with a 72-hour turnaround time  which we only knew to ask for after a prior rejection  Anthem decided it did not warrant the urgency of an expedited appeal. It would take up to 30 days.

Last month, when we had readied ourselves for the then-imminent chemotherapy, Anthem denied it at the last minute. The company said it was because Dans metastatic cancer was not metastatic. When our doctors office asked for an expedited appeal, Anthem said the request missed the 24-hour window the company allows doctors to appeal decisions over the phone. This was Anthems position even though our doctors office said it never received a call informing it of the denial of coverage as is the supposed protocol. When asked where to fax the appeal, Anthem said it was experiencing a systemwide fax issue and provided a snail-mail address in Ohio. When I spoke to Christina, our authorization representative at one of the top 10 cancer hospitals in the nation, she assured me about the normalcy of the ever-increasing pushback of insurance denials, but she had never been given a physical address to send a paper chart.

That morning, white-hot anger coursing through me, I jumped the hoops to reach a supervisor at Anthem. The supervisor said she had no idea what the prior representative was talking about and had not heard of a systemwide outage. Though Christina had documented all of the details, including the name of the representative, the time, date and details of the mysterious snail-mail conversation, Anthem didnt seem the least bit interested in investigating and instead told us to start all over with an appeal that would take up to 30 days.

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Of course, there is no recourse for any of this. No fines, no punishment, no comeuppance for the lies, the gaslighting, the putting of patients through the wringer. CEO Boudreaux likely will pocket another $1 million raise this year. They get to waste our time and shorten our lives, and we get to suffer. This is what controlling costs looks like to get that juicy $6 billion for your shareholders.

After delays, back and forths, wasted time and effort, and stress and anger to prove that metastatic cancer was, indeed, metastatic, we got the approval, but of course, the chemotherapy was delayed.

Dan has worked ever since he could pedal a bike on a newspaper route and proudly proclaims that he was never sick a day in his life until he was 75. He was the fun dad in the cul-de-sac who did a Halloween raffle with cash prizes, where one lucky kid could walk away with 100 bucks, the one whod drop a 50 at your kids lemonade stand. He spent his entire career representing injured workers fighting, ironically, these very insurance companies for denying care and compensation deserved for on-the-job injuries.

The insight he gained resulted in a deep compassion for working people, one manifestation of which is the largesse of his 50% tipping. When he is hospitalized, he often chats up the staff about their rights to collect compensation for their cumulative trauma. He has paid into the system and has earned the right to receive the care he needs at his most vulnerable time, without having to fight and claw within an inch of his life.

Though story after story comes out about the despicable activities of insurance companies and their unconscionable denials, precious little is done and their profits continue to soar. Their CEOs continue to get paid in the tens of millions by denying an MRI here, a chemo drug there, a home health visit here. And they get rewarded for our misery, our lost hours of taking on this fight, and all of the ways they shorten our lives. This is by design  a feature, not a bug. The impediments, the roadblocks, the inconsistencies, the red tape, the endless obstacles, sucking us dry till we finally give up and go home to die.

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About Opinion Guest opinions in Open Forum and Insight are produced by writers with expertise, personal experience or original insights on a subject of interest to our readers. Their views do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Chronicle editorial board, which is committed to providing a diversity of ideas to our readership. Read more about our transparency and ethics policies

One day I spoke with yet another supervisor at Anthem, attempting to throw around my doctor-weight to get Dan what he needed. Unbeknownst to me, my mother-in-law had been observing. Once I was off the phone, she asked, So what do regular people do when they are dealing with all of this? I turned to her and said, They suffer needlessly and die early. The words hung in the air between us, as sharp and true as any uttered.
Bob Egelko has been a reporter since June 1970. He spent 30 years with the Associated Press, covering news, politics and occasionally sports in Los Angeles, San Diego and Sacramento, and legal affairs in San Francisco from 1984 onward. He worked for the San Francisco Examiner for five months in 2000, then joined The Chronicle in November 2000.

His beat includes state and federal courts in California, the Supreme Court and the State Bar. He has a law degree from McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento and is a member of the bar. Coverage has included the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978, the appointment of Rose Bird to the state Supreme Court and her removal by the voters, the death penalty in California and the battles over gay rights and same-sex marriage.
A California appeals court has ruled that UCSFs planned $4.3 billion hospital expansion in Parnassus Heights can go forward because the university is exempt from San Francisco height and zoning restrictions. Courtesy Herzog & de Meuron in collaboration with HDR

Neighborhood opponents of a huge hospital planned for UCSFs Parnassus Heights campus said it would violate city height and zoning restrictions, and a judge said they could try to prove their case. But a state appeals court says the university is exempt from the restrictions as a government educational institution and can go ahead with the construction.

The Parnassus Neighborhood Coalition argued that the University of California anticipates a major increase in revenue at the hospital and should be subject to the same regulations as private hospitals and other businesses. But the court said the project is a governmental activity not subject to local zoning limits because it would expand teaching and training at the site, serving the universitys broad purposes to provide medical education.

Although the planned hospital may be larger (than the previous hospital at the site) and produce greater revenue, it still has a relation to the (UC) Regents governmental functions, the 1st District Court of Appeal said Thursday.

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Patrick Soluri, a lawyer for the neighbors and property owners who challenged the project, said they would appeal the ruling. He said the evidence shows that UCs chief interest is expanding its income from the hospital, so it should be treated like private organizations subject to municipal regulation.

Neighborhood groups have filed another suit accusing the university of failing to address the projects impacts on air quality, traffic and other aspects of life in the surrounding residential neighborhoods. Those claims were rejected by an Alameda County judge and are now on appeal.

The $4.3 billion project was approved by the UC Regents in 2022 and is scheduled to be completed in 2030, replacing a smaller hospital at the site above the Inner Sunset neighborhood. The 15-story, 880,000-square-foot building would contain 324 beds. Despite the demolition of buildings currently at the site, officials say it would increase total beds at UCSF medical centers by 37%, to 682, and increase operating rooms by 43%, to 40.

The university said it had to turn away about 3,000 patients at the Parnassus campus in 2019 because of a shortage of beds. UCSF has agreed to build 1,200 housing units for staff and faculty. In March, UCSF completed a $100 million purchase of San Franciscos oldest Catholic hospital, St. Marys, as well as St. Francis Hospital, with a total of 1,800 employees.

The university held a ceremonial groundbreaking at the Parnassus site in March, attended by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and other dignitaries. But the projects future was uncertain because of a ruling by Superior Court Judge Charles Haines in December allowing the Parnassus Neighborhood Coalition to proceed with its lawsuit.

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The suit cites San Franciscos limits on height and weight of buildings in the area and also contends the project would cause noise and air pollution the university has failed to address. Haines did not rule on those allegations but said they raised factual questions that foes of the construction could try to prove in court.

But the appeals court said the neighborhood groups had acknowledged that the new hospital would promote the governmental functions of providing medical education and other educational purposes and would advance the Regents educational mission.

That means UCSF is acting as a government institution and is exempt from the citys zoning and other regulatory restrictions, Justice Victor Rodriguez said in a 3-0 ruling ordering dismissal of the suit.
San Francisco mayoral candidate and current District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safai wants to start a $1 million fund to forgive up to $25,000 in student loan debt for newly hired first responders after three years of service. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle The San Francisco Police Department is dealing with a vacancy rate around 19.8%, up from 18.5% last year. Santiago Mejia/Special to the Chronicle

As San Francisco struggles to hire enough police officers, nurses, 911 dispatchers and other first responders, a San Francisco supervisor is proposing a student loan forgiveness fund to help boost staffing.

Supervisor Ahsha Safai, who is running for mayor, wants to start with a $1 million fund to forgive up to $25,000 in student loan debt for newly hired first responders after three years of service.

The fund would start when it reaches $1 million, but Safais goal is to raise $25 million, a sum that he says could fund loan forgiveness for 1,000 people.

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The fund would cover any student loan debt new hires incurred before joining the city, as well as any job-related education and training expenses that arent eligible for reimbursement. He said the legislation, which would need approval by the Board of Supervisors, would be funded through philanthropy as well as looking for cost savings within the police department budget.

If we want to see more sheriffs deputies, firefighters and police officers, we have to put the incentives in place to recruit people and retain them, Safai said. If you come in with debt, were going to help support you, support your family and help with the sacrifices youve made to be part of the city and county.

Safais proposal comes as San Francisco deals with hundreds of open positions in its police and sheriffs departments, 911 call center and city-run clinics and hospitals. Safai has warned the staffing crisis is leaving the city ill-prepared to tackle its public safety issues and provide vital medical and other city services.

San Franciscos citywide public employee vacancy rate is 8.2%, with about 1,870 vacant positions, and the city has hired more than 10,000 employees over the past 12 months, according to the Department of Human Resources.

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The rates vary greatly by department. The police department is still dealing with a vacancy rate around 19.8%, up from 18.5% last year, and 911 call operators have a vacancy rate at 10.1%. Vacancy rates at the fire department are about 4.1%. Theyre much lower among nursing positions, at just 1.4%.

The difficulty in hiring police in particular has been top of mind for many city leaders, including Mayor London Breed  who has pushed to bolster police staffing and funding  as well as supervisors who are under pressure from constituents complaining about sluggish officer response.

Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who is also running for mayor, is working on a different loan forgiveness program specifically for the police department. His plan would take money from the police departments budget to create a fund that would forgive up to $100,000 in student debt for new officers over five years.

New hires would receive $20,000 in loan forgiveness every year for up to five years if they stay on the force. He said its to determine how much it will cost because hes not sure how many new officers would take advantage of the program.

He said hes open to working with Safai to combine the two bills.

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These things are not mutually exclusive, and once we figure it out, we can see if they can work together, Peskin said. But the devil is in the details.

Safai will introduce the legislation during Tuesdays Board of Supervisors meeting. Peskin will send Safais legislation to a committee, and the full board should vote on the proposal this summer.

Safai said if emergency response staff feel supported, theyre more likely to stay in the city.

Ive talked to firefighters and paramedics and sheriffs deputies. What I hear over and over again is they need more support and incentives to do these difficult jobs, Safai said. The best way to recruit people is by word of mouth. When you show people that they are taken care of, that will spread and theyll know we are elevating and prioritizing them.
June 14, 2024: The U.S. Marine Corps used their new ACV (Amphibious Combat Vehicle) in an overseas training operation in the Philippines. This involved a live fire exercise in Oyster Bay using the marine ACV vehicles. The ACV automatic 40mm grenade launchers fired training rounds that contained yellow chalk. These rounds are often used to mark a target for other weapons.

The current version of the ACV has a V shaped hull instead of the original flat bottom. The V shaped hull, plus high ground clearance, provides more protection for personnel on board when the vehicle encounters a roadside bomb, landmine, or any other nearby explosions, like artillery shells landing. So far, the marines have received 184 ACVs. Each of these armored 8x8 wheel amphibious vehicles weigh 35 tons with a 3.3 ton payload. There is a crew of three and room for 13 passengers plus over a ton of cargo. Road speed is 105 kilometers an hour and 12 kilometers in the water for a distance of up to 21 kilometers.

In late 2020 the U.S. Marine Corps was able to begin receiving production versions of its new ACV 1.1 because the vehicle was declared to have achieved IOC (Initial Operational Capability). This ends more than two decades of effort and over three billion dollars spent to come up with a suitable replacement for the AAV7 amphibious armored vehicle. The AAV7 entered service in 1972 with an initial order for 942 and that was completed by 1974. Eventually over 3,000 were built with most being exported to eleven countries.

When the search for a AAV7 replacement began in the late 1990s, the U.S. Marine Corps had over 1,100 in service and many of these had already been refurbished and upgraded in the 1980s and would need further refurbishment to keep them in service when the marines failed to develop a suitable replacement. In 2011 the $3 billion EFV (Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle) project was declared a failure. Proposals for a new AAV7 were requested and by 2015 there were five proposals for the new ACV. The marines spent $240 million so the two finalists could each build sixteen of their vehicles for competitive testing that began in 2016. Selection of the winning design, by European defense firm BAE, was made in 2018.

BAE offered a variant of an existing vehicle; the SuperAV 6x6 already used by the Brazilian Army as the VBTP-MR Guarani. This was important because the marines, and their budget, could not afford another vehicle design that looked good on paper but impossible to make work in reality. The ACV version is an 8x8 vehicle weighing 31.5 tons and carrying 13 marines plus 3 crew. Among the modifications required were amphibious capability, the use of lighter modular composite armor including ceramics, and design features that make ACV equal, if not better at resisting mine and IED explosions than MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicles using steel armor. ACV has an improved V shaped hull design with additional blast protection features for the floors as well as blast resistant seats attached to the troop compartments ceiling instead of the bottom of the vehicles hull. All these features had already been found, by trial and error in Iraq and Afghanistan, to greatly reduce casualties for vehicles attacked by landmines or roadside bombs. Such features had been successfully added to existing armored vehicles like the Stryker and this reassured the marines.

The initial production contract was for 30 ACV 1.1 vehicles that were delivered by late 2019 for testing and an effort to achieve IOC and allow full production of the remaining 184 vehicles. Each ACV 1.1 costs about $5.9 million. Prolonged use of ACV 1.1 is expected to produce a number of proposals for modifications and upgrades that will result in ACV 1.2. When that happens all ACVs will be upgraded to the 1.2 standard to produce a more reliable and capable ACV. How far these upgrades go depends on how much the marines can afford to spend on the project. Some of the items on the 1.2 to-do list have priority because they have to do with survivability and reliability. For example, the ACV is cramped inside, more so than the AAV7 and it takes longer for passengers to get out in an emergency. This is crucial if the ACV sinks while swimming ashore or finds itself still aboard an amphibious ship and ready for deployment when the amphibious ship itself takes a hit and starts to sink. Thats an extreme situation but individual vehicles sinking does happen during peacetime training. Another urgent fix is the reliability of some of the electronic devices on the vehicle. Many of these are being fixed or replaced even as production is underway and then existing ACVs are upgraded. Eventually the marines want over 500 ACVs to replace over a thousand AAV7s.

As good as the ACV sounds, this was not how it was supposed to be. Before 2014 marine doctrine mandated an improved amphibious vehicle to replace the AAV7s. In 2014 the marines revised their view of the future. Gone were the prospects of large amphibious operations, requiring hundreds or thousands of landing craft, that occurred frequently during World War II. The last operation of this type occurred in 1950, at Inchon, Korea. In 2014 the marines decided that the future was more likely to include the need to conduct raids, from ships up to 200 kilometers offshore. No amphibious armored vehicles could handle that, so landing tactics have to be changed. This resulted in major revisions to the specs for the new marine ACV amphibious armored vehicle.

The 2015 reality turned out to be different, and better. Given the prototypes offered and growing budget reductions it looked like the ACV 1.1 finalist would have the capability of moving from 20 kilometers offshore under its own power. To accomplish this the marines had to accept a vehicle that carried fewer marines and was somewhat less capable in the water. The AAV7 has 30 percent reserve buoyancy enabling it to cross 36 kilometers of water in sea state 5 at speeds of up to 12 kilometers an hour. The ACV 1.1 has 21 percent reserve buoyancy enabling it to cross 36 kilometers of water in sea state 3 at speeds of up to 11 kilometers an hour. On the plus side the ACV has wheels, not a track laying system, and can do 105 kilometers an hour on roads versus 72 for the AAV7. In addition, wheeled armored vehicles require far less maintenance that tracked ones (which need their tracks replaced far more frequently than wheels wear out.)

Meanwhile the marines refurbished the existing 1970s era AAV7 amphibious armored vehicles to prolong service life until ACV can replace them. In addition to better protection, the elderly AAV7s will be refurbished so they can remain in use until the mid-2020s. At that point there should be enough ACVs to replace them. The marines never expected the AAV7s to last this long but several attempts to develop a replacement came up short and that meant it was essential to extend the life of their thousand AAV7 amphibious armored vehicles. Many of these had entered service in the 1970s and 80s and were falling apart. Moreover, some two thirds of the AAV7s saw service in Iraq, where they got as much use in two months as they normally did in two years of peacetime operations. In 2018 400 AAV7s began a refurbishment program that took several years. The refurbished AAV7s could be used into the 2030s, or whenever the ACV are available in large enough numbers to replace them. With the recent ACV IOC and full production of ACV 1.1 it looks like the AAV7s will be needed until about 2025. Thats over fifty years for an amphibious vehicle that did a lot more than it was expected to.

The 29-ton AAV7s have crews of four (driver, commander, gunner and rear crewman) and carry 25 combat-ready marines as passengers. The vehicle is armed with a 40mm automatic grenade launcher and a 12.7mm machine-gun. When new their top land speed was 72 kilometers an hour on roads, 32 off road and 13 in water.

Back in 2011 the marines gave up on high-speed (sea skimming) amphibious assault vehicles and turned to a new ACV design to replace the AAV7s. DARPA (the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) was called in to help design the new vehicle. This may sound either very innovative or very desperate, and in reality, it was both. The marines had spent three billion dollars in an unsuccessful attempt to design and develop the EFV, a high-speed amphibious vehicle, and its failure made it clear that some original thinking was required. In the end the ACV was the EFV without most of the expensive stuff that didn't work. In effect, the ACV was a 21st century version of the AAV7, optimized to pass all its development tests and go into service as quickly as possible. DARPA quickly did its job but the resulting ACV was still more expensive ($12 million) than the shrinking marine budget could handle. The ACV design was tweaked until an affordable price was achieved.

In retrospect, the marines could have just built the EFV without the high-speed capability but that was eventually considered technically and politically impractical. The problem remains that the technology simply does not yet exist yet to make the high-speed capability workable. The budget situation was grim, leaving the usually unstoppable Marine Corps running into an immovable object and improvising as best they could. For example, the marines asked the navy to develop a high-speed amphibious craft (or connector) to get ACVs to shore quickly but the navy budget is also shrinking and proved unable to handle the cost of developing and building the connector. Some marine analysts point out that the need for moving amphibious vehicles 200 kilometers from ship to shore is probably unrealistic for any likely future marine operations. For that sort of thing the marines have nearly 300 tilt-wing V-22 aircraft. These entered service in 2007 and proved very useful for getting marines somewhere faster than any other option.
June 14, 2024: The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and continued fighting there made NATO countries aware of their lack of readiness for a war with Russia. This became an issue when Russian leader Vladimir Putin revealed that Ukraine was only the first of many neighboring countries Russia wanted to invade and absorb in order to rebuild the Russian empire. When the Soviet Union was dissolved in 1991, 14 new countries were created, or restored as many of the new countries put it. Putin openly describes the destruction of the Soviet Union as a major error that must be rectified. The former members of the Soviet Union disagree and dont want to rejoin any empire.

NATO is another matter. It was founded in 1949 as a voluntary association of nations resisting Russian attempts to rebuild their empire. Russia has always considered NATO a hostile force because it was an obstacle to Russia expanding into countries which had never been part of its empire. Russia considered this a hostile act and has always considered NATO an anti-Russian organization. Russia points to Ukrainian plans to join NATO as a reason for the Russian invasion.

NATO is now 75 years old and for Russia thats 75 years of frustration and disappointment. Russia wants NATO gone but none of its neighbors, with the possible exception of China, agree that the destruction of NATO is a high priority. After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Finland and Sweden joined NATO to help defend themselves from Russian aggression. Bosnia, Georgia, and Ukraine want to join NATO and Russia opposes that because Russia considers these three countries as traditional subordinate partners with Russia. Bosnia, Georgia, and Ukraine want nothing to do with Russia and see the war in Ukraine as an example of Russian hostility to NATO and neighbors that do not want to become part of a Russian empire. NATO membership is voluntary while belonging to the Russian empire is not.

To further enrage Russia, NATO countries that border Russia are holding military exercises with other NATO members on or near the Russian border. Russia considers this a hostile act while the NATO members involved consider it a success because Russia did make ominous threats to prevent the NATO exercise.

Russian threats had one interesting impact. Not all NATO members agree that Ukraine should eventually be allowed to join NATO. The more recent, post-Soviet Union, members are backing Ukraine in its bid for membership. The older Cold War era members consider not angering Russia as more important than allowing nations that Russia is threatening, or invading, to join NATO. After all, NATO is a mutual defense organization against Russian aggression. The invasions of Ukraine are the first and third times Russia has actually attacked a neighbor (Georgia was the second) and Ukrainian plans to join NATO were a major reason for the invasion. Ukrainian neighbors like NATO members Poland and the Baltic States insist that the war in Ukraine is what NATO is all about. While NATO nations have supplied Ukraine with over $100 billion in economic and military aid, NATO has not yet sent troops. That is about to change as some NATO members have agreed to send their military personnel to Ukraine to help train Ukrainians to use the weapons NATO is providing and improve the capabilities of Ukrainian troops.

Russia fears this will escalate and eventually involve thousands of troops from NATO member nations fighting alongside the Ukrainians. Russia ignores the fact that this would not be happening if Russia had not invaded Ukraine. Many Russians now see the invasion as a major error that has and is costing Russia more than they expected or can afford. Russia sees the growing willingness of NATO members to send their own troops to Ukraine as more NATO aggression. Russia threatened NATO members with nuclear retaliation, but NATO members France, Britain and the United States all have nuclear weapons that can be used against Russia by using nuclear weapons. This standoff nullifies the Russian nuclear threat and Russia has not got the military or economic resources to handle a war with NATO. Russia has no allies, with the possible exception of China. The Chinese consider themselves trading partners with Russia, not military allies.

Russian threats against NATO have forced NATO to become more united and ready for war. This was something that largely disappeared after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. That led many nations to believe Russia was no longer a threat and that NATO members could reduce their military spending and demobilize many of their troops. The Russian invasion of Ukraine changed all that and now Russia has more heavily armed NATO forces to deal with and many of them are deliberately operating on their border defenses against Russia.
June 15, 2024: Ground forces have long been interested in obtaining more effective SHORAD (Short Range Air Defense) and, since the Ukraine War started, the targets now include small quadcopter and fixed wing UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). These specialized SHORAD systems are called VSHORAD to indicate their effectiveness against low and slow targets like quadcopter and similar types of UAVs. An Israeli firm has come up with a VSHORAD system called Red Sky.

Red Sky consists of several components and options. One key component is Redrone, a UAV detection system using radar, a SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) sensor to detect and identify signals guiding a UAV as well as an electro-optical sensor to visually identify a UAV target. If the identification is accurate, Redrone includes a signal jammer to disrupt the UAV control signal and cause the UAV to crash or land safely and be captured for reuse or examination.

Red Skys weapons suite offers short-range anti-aircraft heat-seeking missiles like Stinger that can be used when conditions are appropriate. Red Sky also includes a vehicle-mounted 30mm autocannon turret that is only used when the Red Sky fire control system has identified a target that can be most efficiently destroyed using gunfire. The 30mm cannon fires 600 shells a minute. While the jammers provide 360 degree protection, the cannon has to swivel around to fire at and destroy a target. The fire control system is very effective at tracking the target accurately so the cannon can achieve kills using a minimum number of shells. Red Sky can also have a RWS (Remote Weapons Station) 7.62 or 12.7mm machine-gun to provide additional firepower against targets that have gotten very close, as in under 300 meters, to a Red Sky unit. Because of its extensive automation, Red Sky can be operated by a single user.

For over a decade the U.S. Army has been looking for affordable ways to deal with the growing presence of enemy UAVs and armed helicopters on the battlefield. The solution turned out to be better, and more abundant, SHORAD. The army had developed a Stryker (8x8 wheeled IFV) variant called MSL (Maneuver SHORAD Launcher) that uses the proven Avenger missile sensor and missile launch system plus a 30mm air defense autocannon. MSL entered service in 2023.

Before 2023 quicker but less effective solutions were considered. This included equipping 24 of the 90 M2 Bradley tracked IFVs (infantry fighting vehicles) in a mechanized brigade with Stinger anti-aircraft missiles that would replace the TOW missiles used by most M2s. The 90 M2s in a mechanized brigade are relatively easy to convert because most M2s come with a TOW capability (including a new fire control system that can more quickly and accurately spot distant targets). The M2 Stinger approach is quickly implemented, less expensive and serves to make opponents more wary of operating near American troops. Usually, the Stingers are fired (from the shoulder) by individual soldiers. Vehicle mounted Stingers provide improved effectiveness because the M2 has better sensors already. This is ITAS-FTL (Target Acquisition Systems and Far Target Location) which includes GPS, an optical sight with FLIR (forward-looking infrared) and a laser range finder. Thus the TOW or Stinger gunner always knows where he is and can use that information of he receives warning of hostile UAVs or helicopters in the area.

This interest in SHORAD developed after 2008 when the U.S. military had to adapt to dealing with better equipped foes like Russia, China, Iran and even North Korea. All of these nations have UAVs while Russia and China have lots of armed helicopters. One of the more obvious changes was improving and using more SHORAD vehicles. SHORAD was a big deal during the Cold War but when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991 SHORAD was no longer as essential and, for over a decade, not much SHORAD development took place and a lot of existing SHORAD systems were retired.

The fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq involved fighting irregulars and the American military adapted. Yet even then the United States kept some SHORAD development going, mainly on the post-Cold War Avenger system. Avenger was basically a turret armed with 8 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and an optical tracker together with an infra-red system. This turret was mounted on a Humvee but could just as easily be mounted on any light armored vehicle, or even the back of a truck. Avenger was later provided with the capability to get targeting data from nearby air defense radar systems. As a result of this effort, the American armed forces ended up with 700 M1097 Avenger vehicles. The U.S. Army had actually developed an M2 equipped with Avenger in the 1990s but never put it into service because, well, it would have nothing to do.

Because of Avenger and variants like MSL and Stingers replacing TOW missiles on armored vehicles, the American military will have more SHORAD capability than anyone expected, especially the Russians. That was the case when some Avenger SHORAD systems began showing up in East Europe as American troops went there to train with new NATO members, some who share a border with Russia. During NATO exercises in Poland, American Avenger vehicles carried out live fire training. Avenger units were added to the American armored brigade sent to Poland for that purpose.

There was a lot of enthusiasm for Avenger among NATO allies and that meant the U.S. Department of Defense could justify reviving work on the enhanced Avenger. This was based on the larger (three times heavier) and better protected Stryker 8x8 wheeled armored vehicle. This Avenger variant quickly evolved into MSL which was basically an upgraded Avenger air defense system put on the back of a Stryker. Compared to the old Avenger system mounted on a Humvee, the new one can use a multitude of different missiles like AIM 9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and AGM-114 Hellfire II air-to-ground missiles adapted for use on ground vehicles. The Stinger has a max range of 8,000 meters while the AIM 9Xs is nearly twice that. Hellfire would be used against ground targets. Furthermore, it was now possible to mount a 30mm autocannon or even a laser to counter drones. Thanks to the Stryker 8x8 chassis the MSL systems had better off-road capability and protection than the smaller and older Humvee design.

The Stinger armed M2s and Stryker MSL will serve not only as self-propelled air defense for moving army formations from enemy close air support aircraft or attack helicopters but also as an anti-tank system when using Hellfire missiles. The U.S. Army expects to have Stinger armed M2s in service as early as 2019 or 2020.
Economics almost always determines the outcome 0f a war. This is the case in the Ukraine war where one of Russias vulnerabilities turns out to be its trading and banking relationships with China. The problem here is that Chinese trade with western nations, especially Europe and the United States, is far larger and more valuable than trade with Russia. China obtains 5.1 percent of its imports from Russia while Chinese sales to Russia account for only 3.3 percent of Chinese exports. Most Chinese exports and imports are with the United States and Europe.

Western economic sanctions on Russia for the war hurt but its government and businesses had a lot of legal and illegal methods to keep the economy going despite the sanctions. Europeans and Americans noticed this and at the end of 2023 added financial institutions to the sanctions. This includes banks and the vital SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications) system that makes it possible for all member banks to transfer money across borders safely and efficiently. SWIFT is a vast messaging network used by financial institutions to quickly, accurately, and securely send and receive information, such as money transfer instructions. SWIFT doesnt hold assets or move money around, but instead provides a secure messaging system for 11,000 banks and other financial institutions worldwide so member banks can quickly settle payments made for buying or selling goods or services.

Russia exports nearly 500 billion dollars worth of goods and services each year and imports about 200 billion of goods and services. With the sanctions on Russian use of SWIFT, their import/export activities began to collapse because there was no practical way to pay for imports or be paid for exports. SWIFT enables exporters and importers to quickly and easily make and receive payments. Without SWIFT you must deal with individual banks or find some other way to make and receive payments. The new sanctions prohibit SWIFT and banks, especially the ones that specialize in export/import transactions, from working with Russia. Few banks are willing to risk their access to the SWIFT system and normally import/report networks by violating the sanctions in continuing to work with Russia. Some Chinese banks tried to work out practical workarounds but gave up after a few months when they realized that they could be sanctioned and there were plenty of competing import/export banks willing and able to handle the business sanctioned banks could no longer service.

Russia found ways to continue importing and exporting after the banking sanctions came into effect. Despite that, throughout the first half of 2024, Russia found itself encountering more and more obstacles in financing its foreign trade. Russia could always find independent banks and smuggling networks to handle some trade, but at greater expense, including the risk of trade goods or payments being seized. This has been the case since they invaded Ukraine in 2022, were promptly sanctioned and adapted as best they could. These new banking/SWIFT sanctions are the most damaging of all sanctions imposed on Russia, while over two years of the original sanctions have significantly damaged the Russian economy. Inside Russia poverty rates are up and families of men mobilized, often unwillingly, into the army and sent to Ukraine, are angry and more frequently protesting in public. This is illegal in Russia but the protestors are so numerous now that there is no practical way for the government to arrest and imprison all of them. The Russian government still sends more troops to Ukraine but is also looking for some sort of compromise to end the war, and all those ruinous sanctions.
LOBAMBA  Following allegations of fraud in the case of payments issued amounting to E19 771 409.48, the PAC has called for the arrest of two former executive members of ETA.

The alleged fraud occurred in the financial years ended March 31, 2016 to 2021. As reported two years ago, the payments could not be allocated to the correct expense accounts due to lack of supporting documents, something which resulted to unaccounted public funds. The call for arrests was made during the appearance of the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) yesterday.The issue dates back to the year 2021, when the Auditor General (AG), Timothy Matsebula, uncovered a litany of irregularities including alleged fraud in the operations of the parastatal. The AG found anomalies including that the Eswatini Tourism Authority (ETA) had not submitted audited financial statements and audit reports to management for five years for the financial years ended May 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Another anomaly uncovered by the AG was that the ETA had offered its employees, especially the management, large interest free staff loans with no limit and no specified period of repayment. The staff members included the late Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Gcinithemba Fakudze who, according to the findings by the AG, loaned himself E987 126.36. By March 31, 2020, the overall balance of the loans stood at E2 216 907.16. It was also uncovered by the AG that the services of an external auditor were terminated during the second audit engagement after he (auditor) made an audit finding about the unpaid huge amounts of staff loans, including unauthorised staff advances to the then CEO, CFO and accountant.

Another anomaly uncovered by the AG was that the ETA had produced fictitious audit reports and fraudulent financial statements which were presented to the Board, Public Enterprise Unit and the ministry and that balances of staff loans were altered and significantly reduced. The AG had noted that despite the fact that the parastatal was not being audited, fees amounting to E359 126 were paid over four years as fees to fictitious auditors. As if that was not enough, the AG had also uncovered that there was a reduction of E4 million in the cash and cash equivalents in the financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2020 but that however, there was no disclosure made in the statements and no explanation from the then CEO with regards to the reduction. The AG also uncovered that significant withdrawals were noted from the call account held at Nedbank amounting to E4 658 419 in the financial year 2019 and E217 793 in the year ended 2018.

Anomalies

Still on the anomalies, the AG uncovered that the parastatal had been audited by Kobla Quashie and Associates for a consecutive period of 12 years (March 2009 to March 2020), something which was against the International Standards on Auditing and the Public Enterprise Unit requirements of a three-year period for rotation of appointment. When the anomalies were uncovered, it was recommended that the matter be reported to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Fraud Unit of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) and the Public Enterprises Disciplinary Tribunal.

During the sitting yesterday, the PAC sought an update on what had been one so far. In particular, it wanted the ministry to state the outcome of the engagement with the ACC, REPS and the tribunal. The update given was that the ETA management escalated the matter to the Board to follow up with the police and ACC. The ACC, the PAC was informed, conducted investigations and submitted a report to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) who mentioned that the matter was not prosecutable and that an update on investigations from REPS had been requested. When the PAC sought more clarity, newly-appointed CEO Vusi Dlamini, made it known that since he was still new in the parastatal, there was not much he could share. He then requested the current Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Simphiwe Ngubeni to assist in providing more clarity to the PAC.

Ngubeni explained that indeed a correspondence was received from the ACC to the effect that consultations had been done and an agreement reached that since the former CFO implicated was no more, it could not be possible to prosecute the matter. Ngubeni said the ACC then recommended that for those who were implicated and were still alive, the ETA should institute a litigation process. After his submission, Deputy PAC Chairperson Manzi Zwane asked Ngubeni to be specific and state who had passed on and who was still alive. Ngubeni then explained that the former CFO, Fakudze was the one who passed on and was heavily implicated in the allegations of fraud. He said the issues that touched on the late Fakudze were the ones that were not prosecutable.

Implicated

Also, Ngubeni said the others implicated and still alive were the former Head of Marketing, who was Marketing Manager at the time, Bongani Dlamini and former Chief Executive Officer Eric Maseko. The PAC demanded answers on what exactly had been done to implement a recommendation by the ACC that a litigation process should be undertaken for the duo.

In response, Ngubeni said the recommendation only came last month and that the new CEO, Vusi Dlamini would definitely take action. I think the action will obviously include the legal route moving forward, said the CFO. It was at that point that the PAC members decried that a recommendation was made, but nothing was done.

Ngwempisi MP Bishop Bhekibandla Vilakati said those implicated and were still alive should be arrested. His Majesty King Mswati III spoke about corruption and the need to make those implicated account. Here it is like the officials of the ministry are protecting each other. The ex-CFO passed away and we understand, but those who are still alive and have been implicated should face the arm of the law, Vilakti said.Besides the ETA, the PAC also sought an update on the progress that has been made regarding queries that were raised for other parastatals including the Eswatini National trust Commission (ENTC) and the Piggs Peak Hotel and Casino.
MBABANE  A forensic report has revealed that Zwelibanzi Simelanes blood was found on a number of items after his lover, Sharon Neves, was murdered in their rented flat.

Simelane (36) and Neves resided at Nkhanini in Nhlangano. Neves was a Shiselweni Region Coordinator for the National Emergency Response Council on HIV and AIDS. She died on February 8, 2022. Her body was found in a pool of blood, covered in a kanga, in the passage of their flat, where there two of them resided. Neves was 43 years old when she was murdered. A Scenes of Crime officer told the court during Simelanes trial that there was blood spatter on the walls, television and other areas in the living room.

Last Friday, Lieutenant Colonel Matuku Samuel Mashegoana, who is based in the Biology Section of the Forensic Science Laboratory in Pretoria, presented the DNA results of the blood samples taken from the accused and deceaseds rented flat.The forensic report presented by the lieutenant colonel showed the blood on the television screen, spade, rake and semen and blood on a grey-coloured throw matched Simelanes DNA. No test results were obtained from a wooden axe handle, which forms part of the exhibits in Simelanes murder trial. The report has been filed in court.

Sergeant Nhlanhla Hlatshwako, who is based at Nhlangano Police Station under General Duty and was the Shift Officer, informed the court that Simelane arrived at the police station around 12:20am on the day of the incident to lodge a complaint. The sergeant said Simelanes complaint was that when he arrived at their house, he discovered that Neves had died and had been assaulted by thugs.

Disarray

Hlatshwako said he and other officers were instructed to proceed to Nkhanini. He said Simelane led them and when they arrived at the flat, they found the lounge in disarray. He told the court that he saw Neves lying in the passage, covered in a red kanga up to her neck. During cross-examination by Simelanes lawyer, Mlindi Mthethwa of Ben J. Simelane and Associates, he did not observe any injuries on Simelanes hands despite that he placed them on the counter at the police station when he came to report the matter. Sergeant Nkosinathi Magolide Thusi, who is the Scenes of Crime-in-charge officer based at the Shiselweni Regional Police Headquarters, said he looked around the yard and concluded that the killer did not enter through the fence and there was no sign that somebody had recently walked on the tall grass in the premises.

The sergeant said from experience, he suspected Simelane to be involved in the matter and requested the other police officers to remove him from the scene. The sergeant informed the court that there were bloodstains on the steps leading to the entrance of the flat. Sergeant Thusi also submitted that there was a pool of blood next to a dustbin inside the house and next to a metallic refrigerator. The flat, according to the sergeant, was an open-plan kitchen. He said the items in the living room indicated a struggle. Nevess body lay in the passage near the two bedrooms and bathroom, covered in a kanga. He said he felt her pulse and there was none.

Sergeant Thusi told the court that he took photographs of the scene and the body, which was in a pool of blood. He said on the left cheek there were marks, indicating that she had been bitten and the marks on the neck indicated strangulation. He submitted that the body was full of injuries and blood clots. There was blood splatter on the TV and the wall. The curtain rail was broken from the glass door and it was on the floor, with blood splatter. On the sofas and floor, there were broken picture frames.

Sofa

There was a grey throw next to the sofa, with blood splatter and on the floor in front of it. The deep freezer behind a sofa also had bloodstains, said Sergeant Thusi.He said he collected swabs for DNA testing. On the kitchen counter, according to the sergeant, two unwashed plates showed that two people had a meal earlier on. The sergeant went on to state that there were three wet face clothes with bloodstains, two were hung on the laundry sink outside the house and another face cloth. Two were hung on the edge of the sink and another was hung on a bucket.At least more than 10 witnesses have been led so far and they include Nhlangano Magistrate Thulani Dlamini, Neves neighbour at Nkhanini, where she was found dead in her flat, and the accuseds friend, Tracy Simelane.
KWALUSENI  Due to life pressures, pimps are now targeting the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) students.

Motivated by the finders fees and also taking advantage of the students desperation, the pimps are understood to be now taking some of them to as far as Cape Town for the sex business.

They then return to the country with money for rent and food plus expensive iPhones, also wearing finer clothes, thus causing their peers to be envious of their happiness. Eswatini News can mention that the problem may not be limited to some students of the University of Eswatini, but it is a common thing in other tertiary institutions. However, this publication was able to get confirmations from UNESWAs Student Representative Council (SRC).

Shocking

Bongumenzi Dlamini, the President of the SRC, said their research unearthed shocking findings. He suspected that certain men have some spirits, which were driving them to the university campuses to indulge in sexual intercourse with young women. This, he also suspected, they did to bolster their supernatural powers. Dlamini said some young women confided in them about male sexual fantasies they observed during their dates. He mentioned that some men performed such acts because of enchantment (betfwala). He said they were made to understand that there were many of these enchanting men preying on the UNESWA students. The SRC president said they were surprised at seeing old men driving posh cars to the universitys campuses.

Frequenting

He said these oldies spent two or the whole night in students room. He said they were frequenting the dormitories. The president said they wondered what these old men who looked wealthy were doing with the students in their rooms. A male person cannot claim to be a relative of the female student after spending the whole night or four hours with her in her room, the SRC president said. He said some social media influencers with ostentatiously attractive lifestyle were a very bad influence on the learners as well. The president said the students were enticed into travelling to events outside the country such as the Durban July and others, not only for fun but to make money through sex. Based on the fact that some students are in dire need, Dlamini said the rate of prostitution was raising alarmingly at the UNESWA campuses. Come here in August to see a large number of vehicles and motorbikes at our campuses, mainly at Kwaluseni, he said.

Responsibility

The SRC president said the recruitment agencies were very active on campus and its responsibility has always been to look for women with qualities that met their clients requirements.

When the clients or old men had had sex with them several times or for a prolonged period of time, the president said they tended to reject the learners to look for new women.

In some cases, he said they dumped the learners after they had put them off the market, that is, after they had sexually abused them in a very terrible way.

That is when the students regret and others even threaten to commit suicide, he revealed.Asked who were vulnerable or susceptible to the agencies recruiting women for sexual pleasures in return for financial favours, he mentioned them as follow: Students in dire need, with or without scholarships. These are students who do not have parents or guardians and are on their own at the university.

Struggle

They are not entitled to any allowance. They struggle to even pay tuition fee. It is sometimes the responsibility of the boyfriends to pay rent or the tuition fee, but they are not consistent.

Students whose parents are present and affording, but do not play any significant part in supervising or visiting them on campus or in their rental rooms to see what they are eating and wearing. These parents are unconcerned about the plight of their children. They do not ask how they bought those iPhones or where they got money to buy some clothes.

Students envying the lifestyle of the social media influencers who post their images in finer clothes and being chauffeured in flashy cars. Students who are a product of poor parenting or peer pressure which had very bad influence on their lives. These are the students who just need money for alcohol and cigarrete.

Whats the solution?

Dlamini, the SRC president, said a No Hungry Student Campaign was set up at UNESWA and was being administered under the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs.

He said there was a need to strengthen the campaign against alcohol consumption and smoking. If young people can stop drinking alcohol and smoking, some bottle stores and bars can shut down, the president predicted. He said parents or guardians should question any additional income their children might have. Dlamini pointed out that the parents and guardians should be encouraged to contribute to the welfare of their children at the university.Supervise your childs activities at the university, he warned.

He added: ask her where she gets the money. The leader of the students mentioned that a student received E1 690 per month in allowances, which they sometimes received two months after the opening of the universitys semesters.

Assist

Since the money came late, he advised that parents and guardians should strive by all means to assist their children. He said landlords should also understand that students would pay rent at a later stage. Asked how much rent students paid on average, he said it cost about E800. With the E1 690 receivable on a monthly basis, he explained that they have to pay rent, electricity, water, buy food, toiletry and clothes. Above all, he said they have to set aside bus fares. Some students need transport fees to be able to reach the university, he said. He thanked government for the allowances, but made it known that they were not sufficient to sustain them, thus exposing the females to immoral acts. The president advised parents to begin now teaching their children at a tender age, so that they would not become a problem at the university.

Authority

Babili Kunene, the Dean of Students Affairs, said even though the universitys top leadership was the rightful authority to speak about the welfare of the learners, it was pleasing to see Senator Fezeka, in particular, coming to the university to express her commitment to assist those in need. He said their internal initiative would receive a great boost from the campaign initiated by the legislator. In order to avoid students debts, Kunene suggested that learners would be attached to certain companies to acquire skills and get paid while they were still on campus. He said such programmes were very useful in some countries.

Its obvious that some students cannot sustain themselves on campus, he said. They are sinking in debts. He appreciated sponsors that came through to assist.
Two terrorists killed in clash in Pakistan 11 Oct 2024 | 3:28 PM Islamabad, Oct 11 (UNI) Two terrorists were killed during an attack on the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province on Friday morning, the CTD said in a statement. see more..

Putin says mutual trade with Iran increases, trend good 11 Oct 2024 | 3:26 PM Ashgabat, Oct 11 (UNI) Trends in mutual trade between Russia and Iran are good as trade demonstrates growth, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday. see more..

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Tomiwa Owolade in The Ideas Letter:

I am not from New York. I am not Jewish. I am not a member of a Marxist group. I did not live through the 1930s and 1940s. I am a 27-year-old British-Nigerian who grew up in London. Yet the New York Intellectuals are my people.

They are my people because even though they had ample reason to be defined by their identity, they tried to transcend their personal circumstances with their wide-ranging embrace of culture. They didnt see themselves, and they should not be seen, simply as Jewish New Yorkers who were advocating anti-fascism and anti-Stalinism in the middle of the 20th century; they possessed a universalist spirit. And this is a spirit to which I aspire.

I remember the wonder I felt reading my first James Baldwin essays from his 1955 collection Notes of a Native Son at my university library or watching I Am Not Your Negro, Raoul Pecks excellent documentary about Baldwin, on a bright spring afternoon of 2017. I remember in my early 20s picking up Elizabeth Hardwicks fat collection of criticism (published by NYRB Classics) in a second-hand bookshop and devouring it. I remember discovering the lives and works of other New York Intellectuals in Louis Menands monumental 2021 cultural history The Free World: Art and Thought in the Cold War.

More here. Relatedly, Leonard Benardo in The New Statesman:

For many years my mother taught a course on women in literature in a public high school in the Bronx, New York. In the first half of the semester, she selected texts by men writing about women. The second half, books penned by women about women. Hers was a pedagogical conceit that fostered lively discussion among engaged teenagers as to how men and women write differently about the female experience.

Write Like a Man: Jewish Masculinity and the New York Intellectuals is historian Ronnie Grinbergs variation on my mothers theme. Grinberg wants to know how the writing of a legendary band of essayists and critics, dubbed the New York Intellectuals by one of its members, reflects what she calls a secular Jewish masculinity. Grinberg is especially focused on how the few women writers of the circle were engulfed by a masculine milieu, a trope that recurs in her book like a Wagnerian leitmotif. Did secular Jewish masculinity toughen the prose of (and establish a pose for) the New York Intellectuals? What exactly does it mean to write like a man, and is it a useful frame to reassess the criticism of this hallowed group?

The New York Intellectuals are customarily associated with that cohort of striving first-generation Jews who met in New Yorks great public university, City College of New York (CCNY), and forged comradeships through the impassioned contestation of ideas. From the 1930s through the 1980s, by means of small journals with outsized influence  Partisan Review, Commentary, Encounter  this loosely fitted imagined community produced some of the most incisive and bold American writing of the 20th century. Arguing the World, Joseph Dormans documentary from 1997, which traced the intellectual life trajectories of four of its members, Daniel Bell, Irving Kristol, Irving Howe and Nathan Glazer, is the consummate statement of their original convictions and different roads taken. Predominantly male, white and Jewish, there were still others in the polymathic cauldron of the New York Intellectuals who were not: Hannah Arendt, James Baldwin, Mary McCarthy, Elizabeth Hardwick and Dwight Macdonald. What held such a complicated group together and over generations? In a word, ideas. Ideas were the currency, and politics and culture the canvas, upon which the American world of letters took a great leap forward.
The longstanding debate has people wondering about the legality of disposing dog waste in kerbside residential bins.

An Aussie has shared how he disposes of his dogs excrement while walking in one of the nation's most prestigious suburbs sparking a furious debate about whether the common practice is every acceptable. The dog owner revealed that a miserable resident had a go at him when he placed the poo  wrapped in a plastic bag  in a residential bin that had been left on the side of the road for rubbish collection.

The Sydney man said he had been walking his dog around Bondi when he used the bin on New South Head Road. He said nothing "infuriates" him more than people "who get aggressive when I do the right thing".

Would you rather us dog walkers just left the poo on the pavement for you to stand in? he asked in a post on social media. He then asked: have any dog owners experienced the same?

It has happened to me on at least three occasions, he said.

Question sparks fierce dog poo debate

Naturally, the post divided fellow Aussies and reopened a long-standing debate that has people questioning  is it ever okay to dispose of waste, including dog droppings, in a neighbours bin? And is it even legal?

According to Sydney waste removal company Pauls Rubbish Removal, it is not illegal to put waste in a council bin placed on the street. However, trespassing is, of course, illegal, therefore you could be fined for disposing of waste in a bin on a neighbours property.

One person commented online that residents actually rented their residential bin and it was not theirs, but rather, the councils property.

You have to expect that when you put it out for collection people will put their rubbish in, he said. Not much you can do, so there is no point to get upset if somebody else puts some rubbish in. You cant stop other people and legally you cant even action against them, no fines can be issued.

Is it better to pick up after your dog and place it in a nearby bin, even if it's a residential bin? Source: Getty

Or you could hold onto it and put it in a public bin, another person countered, to which a commenter replied that the council bin is public.

Some people dont want dog poo in their bins, one group member wrote, adding to the debate. I personally have dogs but I wouldnt put it in someone elses bin  a public bin in a park yes, but not a privately owned one. Thats just my manners and what I feel is right.

A fellow dog owner also commented saying she was a responsible poo collector too. However, she admitted to feeling annoyed when other dog walkers disposed of dog droppings in her bin immediately after collection, but before she had the chance to bring the bin back inside the confines of her property.

We all use biodegradable bags now and I end up with maggots pouring out of the bin if it has two weeks worth of dog poo hanging around at the bottom, the woman wrote.

It has been debated as to whether it's legal to use bins placed out on the street for collection. Source: Getty

Is it illegal to deposit rubbish in residential bins?

On that note, NSW government legislation states that littering in general is an offence where the maximum penalty for an individual is $5000.

However, the Act also states that there is an exception to this fine if the person deposited litter in a public place in a receptacle  or bin  provided by the custodian of the place for the depositing of litter.

As the street outside a private property is owned by the council, it would be considered a public place and the residential bin, a receptacle provided by the council for the purpose of depositing litter. So, one can safely assume it is not illegal or a fineable offence to throw out rubbish there.

Speaking to Yahoo News, Sydney lawyer Jahan Kalantar confirmed that if a council bin was out on the street it was much more likely to be considered fair game but if it was in someones yard, throwing rubbish in it would be inappropriate and illegal due to trespassing laws.

But it would be quite petty to prosecute for something like this, Kalantar added. And of course, you should make sure to use the red bin (for dog poo or waste), not the green or yellow.

Lawyers told Yahoo News it was not illegal to throw rubbish into other people's bins when they were awaiting collection. Source: Getty

Fellow lawyer Gerald Aronstan told Yahoo News he had personally experienced situations where someone trespassed onto his property to put a bag into his residential bin.

But if the bag is dropped into a bin [out on the street for collection] just before council pickup, in my view, the offensive behaviour is in relation to the council and its garbage workers and just a technical offence in relation to the homeowner, Aronstan said.

What I find infuriating is that sometimes when I collect my bins after the council pickup, I find that someone has taken the opportunity to throw their garbage in my bin.

However, he said it was for the relevant council to decide whether or not the offence warranted a fine.

The council for the Bondi area, Waverley Council, declined to comment when contacted by Yahoo News Australia about the matter.

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Millions of drivers will need to be alert to the new technology if they want to avoid hefty fines.

Surveillance of motorists is ramping up in NSW next month. Source: Nine

Road authorities have moved to ease the concerns of motorists as new camera technology looking to fine drivers will be implemented in just two weeks.

From July 1, NSW will roll out new technology used by its fixed mobile-detection cameras that will also allow them to identify seatbelt offences, following in the footsteps of Queensland and Victoria. If a motorist or their passenger is caught not wearing a seatbelt properly, a $387 fine will be issued as well as three demerit points.

However the implementation of the new technology has left some motorists questioning how effective the cameras are, with one main concern being around the quality of the camera used, and its ability to detect a seatbelt on similar-coloured clothing or other unclear scenarios.

Sydney motorist Andy Man told Yahoo News Australia the amount of disputes over alleged mobile phone offences detected by the cameras did not bode well for the new system.

"There's been plenty of people I know who were mistaken for holding other objects such as wallets, cigarette cases and other objects that were not mobile phones and sadly got punished for holding a mobile phone whilst driving. Now this shows us that we can not trust these cameras to be 100 per cent accurate or displaying clear images," he said.

"People in NSW use travel mainly to work due to our poor train network and the last thing they should have to worry about are cameras that are getting people incorrectly for something they are not doing. Cameras are not always the solution."

One notable case of a seatbelt fine wrongly being issued occurred in January when a man was fined more than $1,000 in Queensland for how his passenger was wearing her seatbelt. As seen in the photo captured by the roadside camera, the seatbelt blends in with the woman's outfit. Fighting the matter in court, the man eventually had the fine and four demerit points wiped.

Since their launch 11 months ago, Victoria's mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras have detected more than 55,000 offences, generating more than $2 million dollars a month.

This was wrongly deemed an offence earlier this year. Source: ACA

Trained personnel check fines over 'several stages'

Transport for NSW says offences detected by its cameras will go through a review process, to ensure an offence has actually occurred.

"As is the process for mobile phone offences detected by cameras all suspected seatbelt offences detected by the cameras and software system go through several stages of human review by trained and authorised personnel before a fine is issued," a spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia.

"Drivers will be able to use their penalty reference details to review the images online and will be able to seek a review of their infringement by Revenue NSW, at no cost, if they believe an error has been made. Drivers also have the option to have their matter dealt with in court."

However Man argues that despite the same review process being in place for mobile phone offences, mistakes continue to be made.

More than 10,000 people a year are fined over a seatbelt offence in the state prior to the rollout of the new technology, with Minister for Roads John Graham saying it's "frankly disturbing" people continued to not wear them properly. He hopes the cameras will act as a deterrent and help drive that number down.

"Wearing a seatbelt is a simple and highly effective way to prevent trauma and doubles the chance of surviving a crash as well as reduces the risk of injury," the Transport for NSW spokesperson told Yahoo.

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The aircraft is being sent from the US and is expected to play a vital role in protecting the country's borders.

The pilotless aircraft is currently en route to Australia. Source: AirNav RadarBox

Finding out an aircraft is heading for Australia without a pilot onboard would likely raise alarm bells for most. And that's exactly what's happening right now but for those who've been eagerly awaiting this day, it's an "exciting" moment for Australia.

The aircraft is the first of four MQ-4C Tritons to be sent to Australia from the US. The aircraft, which are controlled remotely and are about the size of a Boeing 737, have been acquired for the Air Force and are set to be a vital tool for Defence to protect our coastline from unauthorised maritime arrivals.

This will significantly enhance our ability to persistently patrol Australias north and north-western approaches; in the south-west Pacific and south to Antarctica," Head of Air Force Capability, Air Vice-Marshal Wendy Blyth said in a federal government release this week.

The first aircraft is currently passing over the Pacific Ocean and will touch down in the Northern Territory later on Saturday.

The Triton will land in Australia later on Saturday. Source: Defence

The four aircraft have come at an expensive cost and were part of a $1.5 billion boost to RAAF for maritime surveillance. Critics say the long-range surveillance tool is prone to attacks and may struggle to detect smaller vessels entering Australia.

Australia's maritime control branded 'a failure'

Their arrival comes at a time where Australia's efforts to control illegal entry into the country remains under the spotlight.

Following the arrival of yet another illegal boat that breached border controls in a remote part of WA, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week sent a very clear message that unauthorised arrivals will not be accepted into Australia.

The Triton's arrival will likely help ease concerns about Australia's capabilities to detect unauthorised entry, with the Opposition branding the current efforts "a failure".

Its no surprise that people smugglers are testing (the governments) will," Opposition Home Affairs spokesman James Paterson Home said.

Keirin Joyce, a visiting senior fellow at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, described Triton's arrival as "so exciting".

This is so exciting ! So very proud of #TeamTriton!

Per the image in the story , follow #SCORE47 on @FlightTracker24 to follow her in to Australia!https://t.co/7QIA9EOBkC

RN: 46,675ft and 255kts headed SW https://t.co/XZWQ6RmUWW pic.twitter.com/R3Mq3KfcIk  Keirin Joyce (@keirinjoyce) June 14, 2024

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An Aussie woman said she once collected 1700 straws at just one beach and had found 500 children's sand toys left behind by families.

Suzanne Casement has been collecting rubbish from years, she is still shocked every day. She was particularly heartbroken to find this seadragon tangled in a face mask. Source: Supplied/Suzanne Casement

A heartbreaking photo has reinforced the devastating impact our "throwaway society" has on marine life, as one Aussie woman said shed picked up 500 plastic sand toys at the beach and once collected 17 bags of rubbish on just one day. Suzanne Casement who collected rubbish on one of the nation's best known beaches every day says she's seen some confronting scenes, once finding a weedy seadragon tangled in a facemask.

Casement, from Coogee in Sydneys eastern suburbs, said she had been voluntarily collecting rubbish from the beach during daily walks for eight years and was shocked at the things people left behind and the dangers they posed to birds, turtles, fish and other marine life.

The 57-year-old said she had also once found a dead wobbegong with a cigarette burn in its head and many other thoughtless human acts that wreak havoc on our native wildlife and environment.

I've seen people come down to the beach with a cheese platter and wine and leave everything behind, the board, the glasses, she told Yahoo News Australia.

A lot of people have parties, engagements, birthdays on the beach and just leave their balloons. They put them in the bin but they don't take the air out and they don't untie them, so they just blow away and can cause serious damage to wildlife. Or one balloon might escape and it gets tangled up and taken out to the ocean.

Casement says she has collected 500 sand toys from her local beach which have been left there by families. Source: Supplied

She said people needed to learn the right thing to do, which included deflating balloons and disposing of them properly to prevent them being broken down into microplastics and ingested by animals.

We have such a throwaway society, people just leave their things when they're finished with them. It's unbelievable, Casement told Yahoo. One time I got 14 pairs of sunglasses from the water. You name it, I've seen it coming out of the ocean.

People leave rubbish on the shore and it gets carried out to sea and then comes back in and it hurts wildlife. I've found seadragons with face masks wrapped around them, turtles with rubbish all around them, hooks and fishing lines caught on seagulls. It's heartbreaking to see when wildlife is injured.

It's very frustrating that other people don't want to pick up rubbish like I do, people just ignore it. You see a lot of people coming down to Coogee beach for sunrise, sitting there having a chat, they see the rubbish, but think 'it isn't mine' and just leave it.

Plastic causes huge damage to our environment, birds, fish and marine life. Source: Supplied

She said Airport Beach in Sydney was "pummelled by rubbish" after it travelled down the Cooks River and was particularly bad following storms, leaving cigarette butts, syringes, rubbish and plastic strewn everywhere.

Astonishingly, she had found Mars Bar wrappers that she was able to date back to 1981 and drink containers with Fred Flintstone characters on them that the 57-year-old remembers from her childhood.

"It's heartbreaking," she said. "I once found 1700 straws in one day. It was like a graveyard with them all sticking up in the sand."

Casement said she wanted to raise awareness about the "mind-boggling" amount of junk that was left on Australian beaches, including items such as towels, sunnies, and umbrellas.

Plastic pollution at 'crisis levels', says wildlife expert

Plastics expert Kate Noble, from WWF Australia, said plastic pollution had reached crisis levels and was still growing.

Most of the plastic ever produced still exists today  either buried, in open dumps, or worse, in our environment, where it doesn't degrade but breaks up into microplastics, she told Yahoo News. Microplastics are tiny, but are a big problem.

Research shows they're everywhere, from the fish we eat, to the water we drink, and inside our bodies. While the long-term impacts of this on human health and ocean ecosystems is still being explored, early indications are worrying.

Casement said she found this dead wobbegong which had a cigarette burn in its head at La Perouse and had collected hundreds of cigarette butts from local beaches. Source: Supplied

She said it was widely known that plastic pollution was having a devastating effect on marine wildlife, particularly seabirds and turtles who mistake plastic for food which leaves them vulnerable to illness, disease and death.

This includes everything from small plastic particles through to things like balloons and soft plastic bags, which are known to be particularly lethal for wildlife, Noble said.

In Australia, it's estimated that up to 145,000 tonnes of plastic leaks into the environment each year. Globally, that estimate varies between 19 to 23 million metric tonnes (MMT) entering our waterways annually.

Alarmingly, Australia consumes more single-use plastic per person than any other country except Singapore, she added.

Plastic pollution is at crisis levels with Australians being the second largest consumer per person of single-use plastic. Source: Supplied

Anti-plastics campaigner Anita Horan told Yahoo, there were more than 5 trillion pieces of plastic floating in our oceans and the health hazards they posed were wide ranging and detrimental.

More than 40 per cent of plastic is used once then tossed out, she said.

We know all this, yet still the production of plastic grows exponentially, it is predicted that plastic production will triple by 2060.

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The popular TV doctor opened up on what was important to him just two weeks before his death.

A picture of Dr Michael Mosley (right) shared to help find him on the island of Symi.

Dr Michael Mosley's final interview has been broadcast in the UK, where the much-loved TV personality revealed his secrets to living a fulfilling life. The 67-year-old recorded a special edition of one of his radio podcasts at the annual literary event, Hay Festival on May 25, just two weeks before his death on the Greek island of Symi.

Dr Mosley, who was well-known to Australian audiences for his health advice, was found dead after a four-day search commenced when his wife raised the alarm after he failed to show from a coastal walk in sweltering conditions. His death has been confirmed to be a result of natural causes, likely heat exhaustion. His body was found slumped against a fence near a beach resort.

Speaking with psychologist Professor Paul Bloom, Dr Mosley said one of his obsessions had been the question of how to live a good life for a long time. In a seperate interview shortly before his final one, he also stressed he didn't want to die early like his father had.

Dr Michael Mosley and his wife Dr Claire Bailey. Source: PA

Prof Bloom gave five ideas on how to live a good life, including "losing yourself". Dr Mosley said he was surprised relationships weren't included, saying how important they were to him.

"I personally think is most important when it comes to living rich and fulfilling life. That's the relationships with your friends and loved ones," he said.

In a video shared to his wife Dr Claire Bailey's Instagram account after the interview, she tells her audience they've "absolutely loved" their time there. Dr Mosley says it had been "enormous fun".

Nation in mourning after Michael Mosley's death

TV doctor and presenter Chris van Tulleken  who was a friend of Dr Mosley and worked alongside him on BBC's Trust Me, I'm A Doctor  introduced his last recording.

"What you're about to hear was minutes before I met up with Michael," he said. "What I didn't know it was the last time I ever saw him. Two weeks later he died on holiday in Greece. As you are listening to Michael, I want you to reflect on his style - dryly witty, modest, humble. This style disguises that he is one of the most important broadcasters of recent decades."

Tributes from across the UK, and around the world, have poured in for Dr Mosley. The BBC on Friday televised a special broadcast about his life and how he changed others across the UK.

His body is expected to be flown back to the UK from Greece in the coming days.

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Electric vehicles might benefit the environment, but historically haven't come cheap. That's all starting to change.

BYDs are soaring in popularity in Australia, which is a good thing according to one of the country's leading transport experts. Source: Reuters

China's emerging ascendency in the electric vehicle sector will be a good thing for both Australian consumers and the environment, one of the country's leading transport experts insists. As "more affordable and reliable" models are imported Down Under, we're set to see EV numbers continue to skyrocket on our roads.

Professor of Future Urban Mobility, Hussein Dia, said Chinas "dominance of the EV market is not a coincidence" but instead "a result of a targeted strategy that built on their strength in advanced battery technologies" over the past two decades and their partnerships with leading car manufacturers.

Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Dia said Aussies are already buying Chinese EVs in record numbers  and this is only the beginning. "A couple of years back, you couldn't find a new EV for less than $45,000 ... We now have vehicles selling for around $36,000."

BYD was the highest selling EV manufacturer for the month of January, overtaking tech juggernaut Tesla. Source: Yahoo/Supplied

"Now, I think this is still expensive for a lot of people, and we still need more options, but in my opinion, more variety at lower costs is a good thing for consumers.

"People who drive electric vehicles, most of them say 'there is no going back' because it's so different, in a good way. Particularly when it comes to the technology inside and the energy management systems. And Chinese vehicles are no different."

Other nations target Chinese electric car makers

On Thursday, The European Commission said it would impose extra taxes of up to 38.1 per cent on imported Chinese electric cars from July, which Dia explained was an attempt to "protect their local interests". He said that while the tariffs seem steep, they're unlikely to deter China overall and, are reflective of the fact that Chinese models, namely Build Your Dreams (BYD), "are really making a dent in the market".

It comes just months after the United States quadrupled its tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles

Such a dent is evident here in Australia, where in BYD is soaring in popularity. Elon Musk's Tesla and BYD account for three-quarters of all EV sales in the country, with the latter even overtaking Tesla in January as the nation's best-selling electric vehicle for that month.

Since then, it's continued to rise in popularity, with motorists even spotting taxi drivers now sporting BYDs on Australian roads.

A BYD taxi was snapped up earlier this year in Adelaide. Source: Facebook

EVs are here to stay, but there are risks

According to a recent report by Deloitte and the Motor Trades Association of Australia, it's been projected that up to 85 per cent of vehicles on our roads will be EVs within the next 40 years. The demand for skilled professionals to repair these vehicles is also increasing, as one small business mechanic explained to Yahoo on Wednesday.

The esteemed Canberra-based mechanic Raffy Sgroi is fully behind the EV movement, however she claims Australians must be better educated before the rollout expands further and highlighted the lack of trained professionals to service the needs of EVs, especially when fleets begin to age.

She said there are a number of safety risks involved that consumers, and mechanics, should be aware of prior to purchase  and Dia agrees. "I totally support that," Dia said. "She's absolutely right, there are dangers.

"If you're driving on a gravel road and a rock hits the bottom, and though the batteries are very well protected, but there have been incidences where the battery has been punctured  even if it's damaged in any way  that's really dangerous. So the education is very important," he said.

"Though they have really very sophisticated energy management systems, if someone gets a light on the dashboard, it is not like the light we get when you're running low on fuel and you say 'Okay, I can ignore it for another day'  no you can't," he added, as another example.

Australia 'no longer a dumping ground'

Overall, while other countries are clamping down on cheaper Chinese-made electric cars, for Aussies hoping to make the switch, the future looks bright.

"The good news is that earlier this year, the government passed the new vehicle emission standards, and there's going to be penalties put on companies that sell a lot of polluting vehicles," Dia said.

"So that's also going to entice even European manufacturers, because at the moment, they're not interested in the Australian market because we don't have an emission standard implemented. Other markets do and if they sell polluting vehicles in those markets, they get penalised."

Now that Australia has a similar standard, "we're not going to be a dumping ground for polluting vehicles" anymore, which "is a good thing", Dia argued  both for our local environment and population.

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A former Billings restaurant manager was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison for sexually terrorizing members of his staff.

Chien Howard Hwa Shen was assisting in running Wild Ginger and Carne Brazilian Grill when over a period of years he raped one woman, molested another and badgered several others for sex in exchange for cash. Eight women testified against Chen during his criminal case, three of whom returned to Yellowstone County District Court on Friday.

It is my hope that sharing my story will not only bring justice, testified one of the survivors, but also ensure that no one else suffers in the same way. As a mother, I want to create a safer world for my children and for all individuals who could be victims of sexual harassment.

Charges against Shen were initially filed in Yellowstone County District Court almost four years ago. Two women told police of their sexual abuse by Shen. Shen had cornered one woman in the bathroom of one of his restaurants, pulled her underwear down and assaulted her. After raping her, the survivor later testified in court, Shen tried to give her cash. Less than a month later, Shen grabbed a second survivors breast after hed given her cash from his wallet, the pay bonus hed promised her, according to court testimony.

In the years after the initial allegations emerged, the investigation into the scope of his abuse expanded. Following those charges, six women joined in a lawsuit filed against Shen, alleging he had sexually assaulted them and subjected them to lewd comments. Also named as a defendant in the lawsuit was Shens wife, Ting Ting Tina Wu, who was the sole shareholder for Wild Ginger and the majority shareholder for Carne Brazilian Grill. The lawsuit was settled in December 2022, according to court records.

Going into his trial in June 2023, Shen faced nine felonies. At the end of the nearly two-week trial, he was convicted of four felonies and two misdemeanors, among them rape, sexual assault and prostitution. Two women, one of whom was 16 years old when she started working for Shen, testified during the trial that he offered them money in exchange for sex several times, sometimes offering as much as $2,000. One woman said she was checking a soap dispenser in the bathroom of one of his restaurants when Shen slid a hand into her bra, leaving cash inside. After groping another woman in the dish pit area of a restaurant, Shen shoved $80 into her bra.

The jury convicted Shen of abusing six of the eight women who testified. He was jailed in Yellowstone County Detention Facility following his conviction.

Two survivors of Shens abuse testified in person Friday, while Yellowstone County Prosecutor Arielle Dean read a third survivors statement to the court. One woman described the experience of having to repeatedly share the details of her abuse to police, attorneys and a jury as akin to nearly healed wounds being ripped open again and again.

Many, including myself, have learned to hide, to smile, to focus on others, said Dean, reading from the survivors statement. But it is time to come into the light and shed the heavy load that is weighing down the ability to reach our full, wonderful potential. Thats what I plan to do now.

Richard Brown, a vice president at Wyo-Ben, a local bentonite manufacturer, testified on behalf of Shen, who maintained his innocence through his sentencing. The two met in 2017, and Brown testified that he considered Chen to be a friend. Brown described Shen as a generous and kind man who focused on two things, his business and his family. Through his business, Brown said, Shen had also provided hundreds of people in Billings with well-paying jobs.

Howard is fundamentally a good person who has made some mistakes, he said.

County prosecutors recommended a 50-year prison sentence for Shen, with 10 years suspended. Shen is a predator, Dean said, who used his position of authority to exploit his employees. Attorneys representing Shen asked for a 10-year commitment to the Department of Corrections, with five years suspended.

Yellowstone County District Judge Jessica Fehr gave Shen a net sentence of 30 years in the Montana State Prison, with 20 years suspended. During that suspension, Shen will remain under the supervision of the DOC.

There are no winners today, said Fehr, who also presided over Shens trial. Todays sentence at least brings closure to the criminal case, with respect to the identified victims.
Attorney Alexander Angelov is the ultimate beneficial owner of the offshore Viafot Ltd., registered in the British Virgin Islands. This offshore staged an attack on the business of the allegedly poisoned with a substance similar to #Novichok entrepreneur and arms dealer Emiliyan Gebrev. Nevertheless, Angelov, who is the son of a powerful officer from the sinister Bulgarian KGB  the Communist regimes secret services  the State Security (Darzhavna Sigurnost or DS), turns out to be a much more important factor in the business empire of media mogul, controversial lawmaker from the party Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) and short-lived Head of the National Security Agency (DANS), Delyan Peevski. Bivol was the first media to investigate and reveal that Angelov is the ultimate owner of Viafot (here). According to the Panama Papers, to which journalists of Bivol received access under an agreement with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), attorney Angelov has also been the ultimate owner of Doreco Limited, registered in the British Virgin Islands. Its Bulgarian subsidiary, Doreco Commerce, was one of the key mechanisms for lending and transferring assets to strawmen in the business empire around Delyan Peevski. Thus, Angelov has controlled for many years assets for hundreds of millions of dubious origin. It also emerges now that he is the person behind the legal and corporate attack on Gebrev, following the attempt to physically eliminate him by poisoning him with a banned substance.

The War for Dunarit

After the collapse of the Bulgarian private lender Corporate Commercial Bank (CCB), the arms factory Dunarit remained part of the assets of CCBs majority shareholder  banker Tsvetan Vassilev  and became part of the package of strategic Bulgarian enterprises sold to the Belgian citizen with Russian passport Pierre Louvrier for the symbolic amount of BGN 1. Because of media and institutional pressure, Louvrier later dropped the deal. Then, the owner of EMCO Emiliyan Gebrev showed interest in becoming a shareholder in Dunarit. According to the Bulgarian Capital weekly, he started working on the deal about a month before he was poisoned, which means late March or early April 2015.

An investigation by the site Bellingcat, together with the Russian site The Insider,has determined that a third Russian GRU officer, who was in the United Kingdom at the time of notorious Novichok poisoning attack in March 2018, arrived in Bulgaria just days before Gebrev and his son became seriously ill after being poisoned with an unidentified substance.

Bellingcat has identified the third man  a 45-year-old Russian travelling under the alias Sergey Vyacheslavovich Fedotov  as a senior GRU officer.

On April 24, 2015, Sergey Fedotov arrived on a flight from Moscow to the Bulgarian seaside resort of Burgas. He had a return flight for a week later, on April 30, from the capital city of Sofia back to Moscow. However, he did not show up for the return flight. Instead, late on the evening of April 28th, he showed up at Istanbuls Ataturk airport and bought a last-minute ticket to a flight to Moscow.

Earlier that day, a Bulgarian entrepreneur, Emilian Gebrev, was hospitalized after collapsing at a reception he was hosting in Sofia. At around the same time, his adult son and one of the executives at his company fell suddenly ill. All three were hospitalized with symptoms of severe poisoning. Emilian Gebrevs condition quickly deteriorated and he fell into a coma. Doctors surmised that the poison had been applied or consumed in the day or days preceding April 28. However, as they could not identify the poison, they could not be sure of its effects or mode of progression, writes Bellingcat.

Former Russian military intelligence officer, who acted as a double agent for the UKs intelligence services, Segrei Scripal, and his adult daughter Yuliya were poisoned with Novichok in Salisbury, England, in March 2018. In September 2018, British authorities charged two Russian men with the aliases of Aleksandr Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov with carrying out the poisoning. Bellingcat later identified the two as Aleksandr Mishkin and Anatoly Chepiga, both of whom work for Russias GRU intelligence services. Sergey Fedotov is also suspected of being involved in the British attack, having arrived in Britain two days before the Skripals were poisoned.

The entire Bellingcat investigation into the Bulgarian connection can be found HERE.

According to Capital, on the advice of the doctors, Gebrev approached the two laboratories in Europe that could conduct more research and determine the exact type of poison. One  the Swiss Spiez Laboratory (which conducted independent tests on Sergei Scripals poisoning with Novichok), refused. The other  at the Finnish Institute for Verification of the Chemical Weapons Convention (VERIFIN), agreed. Bulgarian doctors sent samples to Helsinki and the lab sent its report in the second half of June 2015.

According to Capitalssources, the report says that the poisoning may be due to a neuropathic agent or pesticides, but no chemicals prohibited by the Chemical Weapons Convention had been found in the samples.

#WHO Profits?

Gebrev, himself, is certain that the attempt to physically eliminate him is related to his intentions to acquire Dunarit and is part of a scenario that involves taking hold of the key weapons facility at all and any cost.

First they tried to eliminate me physically, then legally, and since last year, also economically

Emiliyan Gebrev on bTV.

Indeed, several months after the unsuccessful murder attempt, the offshore Viafot launched a legal attack on Gebrev. At the end of 2015, Viafot Investment Bulgaria bought from Italian businessman Edoardo Miroglio through a transfer (cession) the receivables (EUR 19 million) of his company E. Miroglio from Dunarit. This happened after Miroglio miraculously survived a deadly car crash that occurred under suspicious circumstances. Thus, Viafot became a top contender to acquire Dunarit.

In addition to Viafots attempts to seize Dunarit through court actions, State institutions attacked Gebrevs business by withdrawing his license. The Prosecutors Office recently joined the operation and accused Gebrev of money laundering.

The physical assault on EMCOs senior employees, including Emiliyan Gebrev and his family, the attack on EMCOs licenses and the attempts to steal the contracts in 2017, the attacks against the ownership of Dunarit through the use of the offshore company Viafot by the Bulgarian authorities  these are just a small part of a series of facts that in their totality outline a sinister play. The curtain is already rising and the actors are appearing on stage with their own names, former Minister of Defense Boyko Noev

For this reason, the answer to the question #WHO is behind the offshore Viafot is key to the lifting of the curtain  both for revealing who wants a hold of Dunarit and for the methods that include the first known attack with a poisonous substance in NATO and the European Union (EU).

Peevskis trusted lawyer lurks behind Viafot

Bivol revealed a month ago through the Panama Papers that lawyer. Alexander Angelov is the ultimate owner of Viafot. This extremely important fact was fully ignored by Bulgarian media, but not by renowned international publications such as Newsweek.

Attorney Alexander Paraskevov Angelov

Angelov is known as a very trusted person of MP Delyan Peevski, while the latter is considered to be the visible symbol and emanation of the Deep State in Bulgaria. In addition to dealing with much of Peevskis business affairs, Angelov has appeared in person on behalf of the MP in transactions directly related to him or to his cohorts. Businessmen have testified before Bivol about the direct and indirect links between Peevski and Angelov in purchases and acquisitions of firms that had been incorporated by strawmen.

Bivol further found that attorney Angelov is the son of an ex high-ranking State Security officer, Paraskev Paraskevov, who is representing Delyan Peevski in the United States after the former CCB majority shareholder Tsvetan Vassilev filed a complaint with the US Department of Justice, seeking protection under the Global Magnitsky Act .

Another attorney close to Peevski and a partner of Angelov is Geno Andreev, who is also a son of a senior State Security officer  the late Rumen Andreev.

All known facts and circumstances indicate that Peevski is a front of former State Security officers and agents, close to the DPS party and to the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), who are the backstage masterminds of the political processes and who dominate huge businesses.

It is this backstage rule that prompted the Spiegel magazines analytical article Bulgarian Politician Peevski  the Iceberg of Corruption.



Part of the backstage Peevski network, refined after the revelations about the offshore property of attorney Angelov

The most recent and yet another proof of the above is the complaint filed in the United States by victims of a theft of USD 65 million from bank accounts in the collapsed CCB. The defendants include, among others, Bulgarian bankers and majority shareholders in First Investment Bank (FIB or Fibank), Tseko Minev and Ivailo Mutafchiev (former State Security agent with the codename Kamen and nephew of communist dictator Todor Zhivkov), Delyan Peevski, the conservator of CCB Stanislav Lyutov, the Bulgarian central bank  Bulgarian National Bank (BNB), the Russian VTB, listed as the Bank for Foreign Trade of the Russian Federation, which has financed the privatization by Peevskis group of some of the most lucrative Bulgarian State assets  Vivacom and Bulgatabac.

The role of VTB, also called the Bank of the Kremlin, is key in these processes and proof of the warm connection between the Bulgarian oligarchic group controlled by former Communist secret services officers and their Big Brother in the Kremlin.

Doreco Limited: Large pearl in the corpulent crown

Yet, Viafot is just one of the mechanisms that had been used to seize the key arms business. This offshore had not been that significant for Peevskis already established corporate network, which had been funded with capital of dubious origin, associated with massive smuggling of cigarettes in the Middle East. Another offshore, however, which, according to the Panama Papers, also belongs to Alexander Angelov, lifts the curtain on a business for hundreds of millions.

Until now it was known that Doreco Limited is owned by a Bahamian and Seychelles company, which in turn is owned by offshore registration companies in Cyprus. On their part, the Cypriot owners of the registration companies are professional strawmen.

Alexander Paraskevov Angelov, uniquely identified with a certified copy of his Bulgarian passport in a correspondence of the Mossack Fonseca law firm, is the real owner behind this complex scheme stands, according to the Panama Papers published by the ICIJ.





Doreco Limiteds direct and indirect ownership records in Bulgaria show that it has been present in almost all key companies that formed the business empire around Peevski, with total assets of over BGN 1.5 billion. Bivol uncovered the connectivity of this business conglomerate from a deleted internet presentation from 2016 by the Dubai-based company TGI Middle East. Doreco Commerce, then owned by Doreco Limited, is listed alongside companies such as Bulgartabac, Yuri Gagarin, Lacrima, BG Business Solutions, Tabac Market and the distributor ELD as the main pillar in the group that is supplier of materials for the printing industry.

Doreco  part of the TGI business empire

The network of companies and individuals around Doreco

Dorecos business record is also marked by scandals. In 2015, financial journalist Miroslav Ivanov analyzed the role of the offshore company in redistributing resources from Bulgartabac and Yuri Gagarin to Print Trade  Peevskis newspapers printing house  and to the advertising agency Soda Communications, as well as the appointment of the former Head of the National Investigation Services, Boyko Naydenov, as Manager of Doreco Securities. Soda Communications, the advertising agency of Bulgartabac, is still directly owned by Doreco Limited.

The Boyana Diplomatic Club scandal exploded at the end of 2016, when the club was bought by a group of very young people without any business record, but with a loan from Doreco Commerce, which in turn had been granted by FIB, according to Capital. It became clear that Doreco had also given a loan to Peevskis HCH Investments, a company through which he held the newspapers Monitor and Telegraph and the Technomarket appliance and computer store chain before transferring them to his sole-owned company Intrust. There is also solid evidence of a direct deal between Peevski and Doreco Commerce for his 18% stake in Yuri Gagarin.

Angelov abruptly declined to talk to Bivol when asked to comment on his hidden property in Viafot. It emerged, however that he had shared important information about this case with TV host and journalist Sasho Dikov, which, according to Dikov own words, cannot and should not be disclosed, and this, in itself, is also a significant fact.

New owner or sweeping the problem under the rug?

Since the beginning of 2017, Doreco Limited is no longer directly owned by Angelov, but by Media-Plex Limited registered in United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is owned by another UAE company  TI Holding FZE. The company is heir of TGI Middle East and at the end of 2018 it became the second shareholder in Bulgartabac Holding AD with 26.2% of the shares. Meanwhile, the Bulgarian company Doreco Commerce has changed its name to DRC Invest. Its ultimate owner, after the transfer of the shares of Doreco Limited is precisely Media-Plex Limited. Therefore, it is clear that TGI Middle EAST FZE, which took hold of the Dubai assets of Peevskis business empire, now also owns the Doreco companies.

The ownership of the offshore Lanezal Limited, also registered in the British Virgin Islands, has changed simultaneously with the change of ownership of Doreco Limited, according to the internal correspondence of the Panamanian Mossack Fonseca law firm, which is in the core of the Panama Papers outrage.

Lanezal Limited has also owned shares in the company Express Logistics and Distribution before its absorption by Bulgartabac. Subsequently, the distribution company was sold to British American Tobacco (BAT) as part of the EUR 100 million deal. With this deal BAT acquired the brands and the distribution of Bulgartabac, while at the same time it laundered part of the dubious income of Bulgartabac from selling cigarettes to smuggling networks in the Middle East.

Both, Doreco and Lanezal, are incorporated through the Cyprus Consulco law firm, which has an office in Bulgaria. The same proxy has registered another key offshore from Peevskis empire  Sibole Services Incorporated. This company privatized Technoexportstroy AD and was among the big borrowers in CCB but after the collapse of the latter, it managed to repay its loans with money stolen from an account of Danish and English investors. The complaint filed in New York, in the United States, against Peevski and the owners of FIB, Tseko Minev and Ivaylo Mutafchiev, also includes Sibole as a defendant.

The Panama Papers scandal shed light on the actual owners of thousands of companies and triggered global turmoil. At that time in Bulgaria, the group around Peevski was not affected by the revelations. The explanation can be found in the affiliation to the former State Security of journalists of the newspaper 24 Hours, who in 2016 had access to the Panama Papers and had a commitment to publish them.

Since Bivol now also has access to these documents as an ICIJ partner, it is and will publish them without any filters and censorship.

Where did the money come from?

The loans distributed by Doreco and the concluded deals with its assets in the period when Alexander Angelov was its owner amount to BGN hundreds of millions. Angelov must have some explanation for the origin of these funds. He also has to explain the origin of the EUR 19 million, with which Viafot bought Miroglios receivable from Dunarit, and then became a contender for the ownership of the arms factory. How have these huge sums been acquired? Is their origin clean and have taxes been paid on them? The problem, however, is that the answer to these questions should be provided by the same State institutions that stood behind Viafot and attacked Gebrev. As it emerged in recent days, this attack had been assisted by foreign agents  an assistance that threatens European and Atlantic security. Therefore, the main question arises  which interests do the official Bulgarian institutions serve?

***

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Man dies after being struck by numerous vehicles on Thruway in Hamburg

A pedestrian on the Thruway in Hamburg was struck by numerous vehicles and killed Friday night.

State Police said in a press release the driver of a Lexus TX350 was eastbound shortly after 9:30 p.m. and struck something in the road. The driver pulled over and called 911.

Troopers responded at 9:39 p.m. and found the male victim had been struck by numerous tractor trailers and vehicles.

The Erie County Medical Examiners Office will perform an autopsy, and try to determine the mans identity.

The State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation assisted with the investigation, which is ongoing.

 Barbara OBrien
Entertainment / Music

by Gideon Madzikatidze/Simbarashe Sithole

Renowned gospel musician, Joseph Tivafire is warming up to release and launch his eleventh album titled Takachengetwa this Saturday in Harare.

The Mushandiriwashe founding couple told this publication during a pre-launch interview that all is set for the grand launch which will also see several artists coming on board to support the event."We will be launching this ten-track album on Saturday while supported by several gospel artists, though the launch will also feature some fellow musicians from other genres," Pastor Joseph Tivafire said."We have been running around to make sure that fans will be recipients of refined music which bridge the gaps between poverty, prosperity and precedence," Tivafire added."Gospel music gives courage, it act as counseling mechanism for societal disequilibriums, unifying and advocacy agent amongst audiences," he added."Gospel music both evoke and revoke memories. It is stimulus for community behavioural attitudes, narratives and changes," Tivafire said.Meanwhile, the couple (Joseph Tivafire and wife) extended gratitude to the St John Apostolic Church of the Whole World's leadership for supporting this album again during the ongoing pre-launch resource mobilisation activities."We really appreciate the church and its entire leadership for supporting us during the course of pre-launch resource mobilisation process which is the most critical part when an artist prepares for a comprehensive album," Tivafire said.Takachengetwa album will be carrying ten tracks including Tose Taungana featuring Dispatch, Mwari Wakanaka, Anodikanwa, Ndisava Mutadzi, Dombo Rakanyorwa, Judas Wakademba, Munhu Munhu, Tiripamwe Tose, Gombo and Tikudze Vabereki.Several gospel artists including Mambo Dhuterere, Trymore Bande, Samson Tavengwa, Pastor Norest Matende, Bethany Pasinawako Ngolomi, Izodzo Choral Group, Followers of Christ group, Dispatch and Pastor Vhengere (among other gospel artists) are expected to perform during the launch.
News / National

by Staff reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has, with immediate effect, nullified the decision by former Minister of Local Government July Moyo to downgrade the Musara Chieftainship to a headman.Mnangagwa, through the Minister of Local Government Daniel Garwe has since wrote to the Musaras copying all relevant departments including the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Masvingo Ezra Chadzamira, director local government ministry and many others.In the letter, which TellZim is in possession of, Minister Garwe said the President has nullified the downgrading and has since reinstated the Musara Chieftainship with immediate effect."Please be advised that His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Dr E.D Mnangagwa has nullified the decision to downgrade the Musara Chieftainship to Headmanship."By copy of this Minute, you are therefore advised to proceed to carry out the full statutory duties of a chief as prescribed in the Traditional Leaders Act (Chapter 29: 17)," part of the letter reads.In 2014, the High Court ordered Boniface Musara as substantive chief for ward 32 Masvingo District, after then President Robert Mugabe through Local Government Minister Ignatious Chombo had resuscitated the Musara Chieftainship in 2013, which had been banished by the colonial regime in the 1940s.In August 2023, the Musara Chieftainship was downgraded to headman by July Moyo under controversial circumstances. Mnangagwa has since nullified the downgrade and reinstated the chieftainship with immediate effect.
News / National

by Tonderai Ndoro

Zimbabwean women are consistently breaking barriers by attaining leadership positions in international and regional institutions.Notably, Eunice Njovana, a distinguished feminist, is vying for a prominent role on the Committee of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in elections scheduled for June 14, 2024, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.The framework of the obligations under the CEDAW Convention is constructed on three main principles: the obligation to respect (equality in laws and policies); the obligation to protect (non-discrimination direct and indirect) and the obligation fulfil (to uphold equality and eliminate gender discrimination in governance issues.Zimbabwe is a signatory to the CEDAW since 1991 and upholds issues of equality. The support provided by the Government to Njovana is testimony to the Second Republic's commitment to lifting up women in the circles of governance as well as international affairs.Njovana made significant contributions to gender and women's issues during her tenure at Musasa Project and the United Nations Women. The Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development is throwing its weight behind Njovana's candidacy and has dispatched a campaign team to support her bid.Njovana is following the footsteps of the likes of Dr Judith Kateera who has already made it as the Executive Director of the African Development Bank (AfDB) as well as SADC Deputy Executive Secretary Corporate Affairs. The Zimbabwean Government under President Mnangagwa recognizes and prioritizes women in senior and decision making positions.Zimbabwe under President Mnangagwa, has seen more women being appointed Ambassadors and Ministers. This testifies that the leadership is committed to supporting women in their endeavor to hold influential positions.Zimbabwe's participation in CEDAW is crucial, as Eunice Njovana's representation will voice the needs and priorities of women from the country and region on the global stage, ensuring their concerns are addressed by the committee. This role also affords her the opportunity to contribute to international decision-making discourse, shaping global policies that impact women's lives.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The second Vice President Kembo Mohadi (74) has dispelled rumours circulating about his deteriorating health and said he is fit and in good health but old age is now taking its toll on him.Mohadi said this last Friday at Manama High School, his former school in Gwanda South where he was donating laptops and sport accessories after a severe bout of cough that forced him to take a break from his speech and ask for water.He looked pale and tired throughout the event"l am not sick, but I am getting old that's why l drink water a lot," said Mohadi."Manama High School stands shoulder high to all other institutions in this country because it contributed immensely to the liberation struggle. It is very sentimental for us to be here and it is equally depressing to see that some of the structures here need a lot of touch up. I can't.," he said.Zanu-PF director of information, Farai Marapira said they are confident of their party leaders' health."We are confident of all our leaders' health. We are not worried about rumours circulating and we are focused on the economy and our mandate to the people of Zimbabwe."We will not be moved by public opinion. This is being done by those who were elected but are not focused on their roles and want to tarnish our leaders. As Zanu-PF we remain focused on the economy," he said.An analyst who spoke to The Mirror on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal said Mohadi is ill and will not resign to focus on his deteriorating health to stay relevant."He will obviously not step down because that will be the end of his power and influence. He wants to hold on to his post in every way possible. He keeps a busy schedule when he should give his body ample time to recuperate and rest. What worries me the most is that youth are blindly following these ailing men and will rule when they are also old," said the analyst.Former CCC president Nelson Chamisa said people should have a culture of resting and retiring and not perpetuate a culture of collapsing and dying in office.Mohadi's health came under the spotlight in October last year after he allegedly collapsed during the Gutu West parliamentary by-election launch leading to the vice presidential personnel to force journalists to delete the videos. He was campaigning for the Zanu-PF youth leader John Paradza. The Russian-trained guerrilla was also reported to have collapsed at the University of Zimbabwe while delivering an Africa Day public lecture. He allegedly collapsed while reading and struggled to stand. He finished the remainder of the lecture while seated.His alleged collapse at Manama was the third after the haggard-looking vice president had a continuous cough before asking for water. Since then his health has come under public scrutiny and debate.
News / National

by Staff reporter

A 74-year-old Hwange woman survived a rape ordeal by grabbing and squeezing her 21-year-old attacker's privates, a Hwange court heard recently.The assailant was named as Mbonisi Ncube, a resident of Jambezi under Chief Shana area in Matabeleland North.The attack on the elderly woman was not the only one involving a rape attempt, according to a statement posted on the National Prosecuting Authority's X handle.Ncube was dragged before a Hwange magistrates facing unlawful entry charges and another count of rape.On 7 June at 9PM, NPA said, Ncube broke into an 80-year-old woman's home where she slept with her grandchildren, the court was told during trial."He strangled the complainant's 10-year-old grandchild before she screamed," NPA said."This alerted the complainant who went to investigate. The accused person ran away."The complainant identified him when he returned at about 11.30PM and peeped through the window. She promptly advised her neighbours."But that was not Ncube's only crime of the night as prosecutors proved that at around 11PM, Ncube broke into another house through the window."The complainant heard movements and went to investigate," NPA said."The accused person dragged the complainant into her bedroom and forced her onto her bed."He pulled up her dress and tore her pantie before trying to rape the complainant."The complainant managed to grab his manhood and squeezed it until he released her."The accused person escaped through the window and ran away. The complainant advised her neighbours who helped her track the spoor which led to the accused person's homestead."A police report was made leading to the arrest of the accused person."For his misdeeds, Ncube was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment on the first count while he earned a 1 year imprisonment for the second. He will serve 6 years effectively.
Opinion / Columnist

Businessman, Wicknell Chivhayo, who was once convicted of fraud, is caught in a firestorm after showing that he has the physical stature of an elephant, but the mental acuity of an ant, having excitedly misinterpreted ZANU PF's acceptance as gullibility, and subsequently failed.The National Youth League (NYL), the vanguard of the Revolutionary Party, has come out guns blazing after damning evidence of Chivhayo's low regard for the Head of State, and his equally infuriating press statement to 'exonerate' himself.Following his grandstanding typical of a midget in giant robes, after getting access to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose open-door policy and support for young entrepreneurs is known, Chivhayo has been exposed as an avaricious, loquacious, opportunistic vulture, whose braggadocio has had him in the cross hairs after precariously flying too close to the sun like the proverbial Icarius.What has exacerbated Chivhayo's tenuous position is his shocking failure to understand that 'kangoma kana koririsa kanenge koda kuparuka.' The office and person of the Head of State is sacrosanct. Both must be treated with the respect and dignity they deserve, not for some excitable braggadocio to impugn and belittle the face of Zimbabwe all in the name of intimidating business rivals.The verbose and inaccurately worded and ill-thought pretentious press statement feigning an apology to the President and First Family was tantamount to adding salt to injury. Chivhayo is the proverbial fly that follows the corpse into the grave!He accused his business allies of being illiterate, but his reckless actions and name dropping ironically expose him for the charlatan that he is  highly illiterate! His illiteracy is in full glare, trying to insinuate that it was voice cloning through AI. Zimbabweans are not gullible, naive nor illiterate, let alone the literate and tech-savvy Youth League!The Youth League must seriously consider a peaceful, orderly demonstration at Chivhayo's business premises to send the stern message home that dare not touch the anointed.
The Central Nebraska Region has been awarded federal funds through the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program.

This program was established in 1983 and since its establishment has distributed $6.6 billion to over 14,000 human service agencies in more than 2,500 communities across the country. With the need for food and shelter steadily increasing, these funds are needed to help sustain those in the community immediately seeking these resources.

The counties that are eligible for this funding are Boone, Blaine, Boyd, Brown, Colfax, Custer, Garfield, Greeley, Hamilton, Holt, Howard, Keya Paha, Loup, Merrick, Nance, Platte, Rock, Sherman, Valley and Wheeler. The total funding available in these counties is $13,180 and will be used to supplement and extend food and shelter services. Funds must be used to supplement and expand the work of local social service agencies to help people with economic emergencies. However, the funds cannot be used for disaster related emergencies.

A local board consisting of representatives from the Ministerial Association, Red Cross, Catholic Charities, The Salvation Army, United Way, and a homeless representative will determine the distribution of funds. The local board encourages membership by inviting minority populations, private non-profit organizations and government officials to participate in this process. Any organization that provides emergency food and shelter services may apply for these funds.

Eligible organizations must meet the following criteria: 1) Non-profit status, 2) Have an accounting system, 3) Provide emergency services, 4) Have a voluntary board, 5) Have an independent audit, and 6) Have a federal employer identification number, 7) Organization cant be disbarred or suspended from receiving federal funding and 8) Have a Unique Entity ID number.

Anybody wishing to participate in the board process, or any organization interested in applying for funding should contact Columbus Area United Way at 402-564-5661 or Hope Freshour at hfreshour@columbusunitedway.com for the application or for additional information. The deadline for submissions is June 28, 2024, at 5 p.m.
There are many reasons for Virginians to take pride in calling the 5th Congressional District their home. Although perhaps not the first thing that comes to mind, the districts first representative to the U.S. Congress was James Madison, father of the Constitution. Except for the tragedy of the Civil War, from those early days, every generation of lawmakers has regarded their first responsibility the safety of the American republic and its people.

Within just a few months following the defeat of Nazi Germany in May 1945, it became clear that Stalins armies were not returning to Russia. While the U.S. armies were being demobilized and returning home, the people of Eastern Europe, liberated from Nazi tyranny, were de facto reconquered and reoccupied by the Red Army.

Within just two years Poland, the Baltic States, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Yugoslavia and the eastern half of Germany became captive nations. No freedom, no self-determination, no authentic sovereignty; they were ruled by communist puppets installed by the Kremlin. In the face of these tragic developments, NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, was born, with the mission to provide collective security for the free nations of Western Europe, the United States and Canada, against subversion, threats or invasion by the Soviet Union.

Since that time, every U.S. president and every U.S. Congress has supported NATO as essential to the national security of the United States.

With the collapse of the Soviet Unions control over Eastern Europe in 89 and 90 and the subsequent implosion of communism and the Soviet Union, countries which had been subjugated even longer than the captive nations of Eastern Europe regained their former independence and national sovereignty as well: Georgia, Moldava, Armenia, Ukraine and others in the Asian part of the former USSR. Some intellectuals saw it as the end of history. Of course, there aint no such thing.

So, while the newly liberated countries, including Ukraine, gradually and with varying degrees of difficulty adapted to their new freedoms and prospered, the Russian Federation fell into gangsterism and kleptocracy, now ranked as the most corrupt nation on earth. This is first and foremost a tragedy for the Russian people, who had already suffered mightily from 75 years of communism and the catastrophe of the Second World War.

During the decade following the end of the Cold War, one by one, all the countries of Eastern Europe sought membership in NATO. Why was this? They knew, from long experience reaching over the previous decades and even centuries, that Russia had always been militarily expansionist, had always operated as a colonial hegemon. The generation coming to age in the 90s did not want a repetition of what had happened to their parents and grandparents generations. They wanted their freedom and sovereignty safeguarded within the voluntary defensive alliance of nations: NATO.

By 2002, the previous decade of chaos and lawlessness in the Russian Federation was replaced by an evermore suffocating police state. Soon after gaining power, Vladimir Putin ruthlessly suppressed the aspirations of Chechen independence, in the process completely destroying their principal city of Grozny, killing tens of thousands. In 2008, Putin sent his army into the independent country of Georgia, occupying its western provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, killing thousands.

In light of these developments, the Eastern European countries having already joined NATO were vindicated in their foresight and concern. Meanwhile, succeeding governments of Ukraine expressed their interest in joining NATO as well. They too feared what the tyrant in the Kremlin would do next.

The Ukrainian people did not want to join the European Union and NATO because someone in the U.S. State Department or a politician in the United States told them to. As was more than evident in public demonstrations and free elections, its what the Ukrainian people wanted. Its a free and democratic country. No other country should dictate their decisions or their destiny.

In early 2014, Putin invaded and then annexed Ukraines Crimea; he then instigated and armed separatists in the eastern provinces of Ukraine, starting the savage war which smoldered until February 2022, when he launched the biggest military invasion of a sovereign European country since Nazi Germanys invasion of Poland in 1939.

In the intervening 2 1/2 years, hundreds of thousands have been killed, Ukrainian cities have been destroyed and gruesome barbarism has been unleashed on the Ukrainian people. But through it all, they have not surrendered. They fight on  not because we want them to, but because they know what will happen to them and their country if they are defeated.

Although Ukraine is not a NATO member country, all of Europe, Canada and the U.S. have rallied to provide it with arms and ammunition. Not only is this morally justified, its the most prudent course for the national security of the United States. Its now more than obvious that Putins murderous ambitions know no boundaries. Like Hitler, he will stop only when he is stopped.

Far better for the USA that his aggression is stopped at the border of Ukraine than what their defeat would mean: a threat to the borders of the Baltic states, further destabilization, increasing uncertainty, greater danger.

The good news is that NATO has never been stronger and more unified than it is today, with the recent arrivals of the long-neutral countries of Finland and Sweden, prompted to join the alliance once they saw Putins invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Two-thirds of the member countries are now spending more than the recommended 2% GDP on defense, with some members, including Poland, Greece and the Baltics, soaring way past that number.

All the more reason it was baffling to watch Rep. Bob Goods irresponsible vote just a week ago to defund NATO. Yes, you read that right. Bob Good voted to defund NATO. Now why would he do that? We must ask ourselves, whose interest would be served by defunding NATO?

Maybe Bob Good thinks hes smarter, that he knows better than all the generations before him since the creation of NATO, than all the congressmen who served Virginias 5th District since the end of World War II, than all the presidents of both parties.

In the long-honorable tradition of representatives of Virginias 5th District, starting with James Madison in 1789, Bob Good is the first and only to vote to put Americas national security at risk. He has demonstrated beyond doubt that he lacks the judgment to serve the people of Virginia. Families all across the commonwealth will sleep sounder at night once Bob Good is no longer in Congress.
There are a lot of mouths to feed in Kaleigh Fergusons household.

That is why the mother of four appreciates the free meals distributed during the summertime at Lena Whitmore Elementary School in Moscow.

Her family joined many others at the school Friday to pick up meals provided by the Moscow School District and two Moscow churches. Families can pick up enough lunches to last the weekend.

It helps ease the burden of trying to figure out how to feed four kids, Ferguson said.

Her 14-year-old son, Wes, enjoyed a chicken sandwich Friday.

Free food is the best food, he said.

The meals will available 11 a.m. to noon every Friday at Lena Whitmore until the school year starts again in August.
The man awaiting trial on charges of killing four University of Idaho students secured access for investigators working on his behalf to sealed DNA records central to how police first landed on him as the suspect.

At the request of attorneys for defendant Bryan Kohberger, the judge overseeing the widely watched capital murder case expanded review privileges to the protected information as he continues to mount his legal defense.

The courts ruling came after a closed-door hearing on the issue last month.

State prosecutors initially fought release of documents to the defense concerning the use of investigative genetic genealogy, or IGG, which they eventually lost in court.

The advanced policing technique involves submitting DNA found at a crime scene to public genealogy websites to build a family tree and narrow the list of possible suspects in violent crimes.

Judge John Judge of Idahos 2nd Judicial District in Latah County ruled last year that the defense had met the low threshold needed to show that at least some of the IGG records are material to the preparation of their clients case.

But the Latah County Prosecutors Office, which is leading the prosecution of Kohberger, did not appear to formally object to allowing defense investigators to inspect the DNA records.

Over the defenses insistence, Judge did grant the prosecutions request that the hearing be closed to the public.

Kohberger, 29, is accused in the stabbing deaths of four UI students at an off-campus Moscow rental home in mid-November 2022. The victims were seniors Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both 21, junior Xana Kernodle and freshman Ethan Chapin, both 20.

Kohberger, a Washington State University graduate student in nearby Pullman at the time of the quadruple homicide, was arrested in eastern Pennsylvania about seven weeks later in late December 2022.

He was back home on the East Coast visiting his family during winter break from school, and brought back west to answer to the charges.

Kohberger faces four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary. Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty if he is convicted at an eventual trial, which still does not have a scheduled date.
Editors note: This story has been updated with events from Friday.

COEUR DALENE  News reporters were not allowed to observe any committee meetings or events during the first two days of the Idaho Republican State Convention on Thursday and Friday at Coeur dAlene Resort.

The state convention takes place every two years. Republican delegates from counties across Idaho are spending three days voting on proposed rules, resolutions, platform changes and, finally, electing the partys chairperson.

News reporters may not be allowed to observe or attend any of it  a departure from allowing reporters to observe the general sessions in the past.

Reporters who checked in at the conventions registration desk Thursday morning  including two reporters from the Idaho Capital Sun and one from the Lewiston Tribune  were directed by volunteers and staff to a designated media area located in a windowless corner of a hallway at the Coeur dAlene Resort.

Idaho Republican Party officials announced last week and reiterated to news reporters Thursday that reporters would not be allowed to attend any convention meetings, but would be allowed to interview delegates and Republican officials before and after meetings.

The Idaho Republican Party also blocked reporters who are not registered Republicans from attending the Idaho Republican Presidential Caucus on March 2.

IDAHO GOP CHAIRperson DEFENDS DECISION, SAYS REPUBLICAN PARTY IS PRIVATE ASSOCIATION

During an interview Thursday outside the Coeur dAlene Resort, a reporter with the Sun asked Idaho Republican Party Chairperson Dorothy Moon, When we talk about transparency, is that part of the equation at all?

Yeah, not really, Moon said, laughing. Not in my mind. In my mind, this is a private group. Its a private association. And, no, I dont want to sit here and give you all of our platform changes or any rules or resolutions, such as our strategy on fighting ranked-choice voting, because then the Democrats have that information and then they are going to try to counter us.

The Sun pointed out that the Idaho Republican Party has already publicly posted its proposed resolutions, platform changes and rules on the Idaho Republican Partys website.

At least one elected Republican legislator who attended the convention was surprised by and opposed the decision to exclude news reporters.

Who in their right mind thinks it is a good idea to lock the press out? Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen, R-Idaho Falls, said in an interview in the convention hallway.

I think (keeping the press out) is reflective of a lot of things going on in the state, Mickelsen added. Anytime you dont want the press to shine light on what you are doing, I think there is a problem. I think the people get a better process when we have press involved.

You can say they are right or left or whatever, Mickelsen said. But at the end of the day, an informed electorate  which is what we need the press for  helps us and constituents and the people in this state get good information to make good decisions. I think one of the things that people have lost is their constitution of truth. By journalists not being allowed to be a part of and view and report that back, its kind of scary honestly.

Ultimately, Moon said access will be her decision. Moon told the Sun on Thursday she has not decided whether reporters will be allowed to attend or observe the conventions general session on Friday or today, when delegates vote on rules, resolutions, the party platform and elect the chairperson and leadership team for the Idaho Republican Party.
This is why Devlin said the new alliance was formed, to help journalists and citizens get the information they need. Devlin told the Capital Sun the goal is not to take agencies to court, but to help them better understand the laws and bring more transparency to the public. However, the alliance is also ready to take an agency to court if necessary.

Looking at the state laws, the wording is simple. Under the Open Records Act, anyone can request a record from local or state government and the agency has three days to provide or deny the record request. If the request is denied, the agency must cite a specific exemption justifying the denial. Any rejected request can be appealed to a court.

Under the Open Meetings Act, all local, county and state agencies are open to the public and any citizen is entitled to attend a meeting. The law does not allow for any agency governing body to vote in secret. Public agencies must also post notice of any meetings five days before the event and agendas must be available 48 hours ahead of the meeting.

The purpose of these laws is for people to better understand what is happening within their local, county and state government. After all, as taxpayers, people pay for these agencies and they have a right to know how that money is spent.

Ultimately, it is a shame the Idaho Press Club had to resort to creating the nonprofit alliance; however, as journalists acting in their watchdog capacity, it is a proper thing for the group to have done. The work of the alliance should help reporters and others get the information they need from the state.

For anyone who says the alliance and open government are not necessary, there is another way to think about this. For the past few years, the tagline at the Washington Post has been Democracy dies in the darkness.

Without the light of inquiry shining into state and local government, democracy can indeed die, if for no other reason than the people could not become involved simply because they did not know. It is the work of journalists to bring that information to the people; but if their hands are tied because of an unwillingness to share information, then it is indeed a death knell.

Tallent was a journalism faculty member at the University of Idaho for 13 years before her retirement in 2019. She is of Cherokee descent and is a member of both the Indigenous Journalists Association and the Society of Professional Journalists. She also writes for FaVS (Faith and Values) News.
Convention of States could be unpredictable

Open note to Dale Courtney:

I just completed H.W. Brands book, Founding Fathers, which relates how the current U.S. Constitution was formulated. Did you know, the original intent of the Philadelphia Convention in 1789 was not to develop a new constitution, but to improve on the Articles of Confederation? Thats the fear of most constitutional scholars: If you call for a Convention of States, precedence indicates a new constitution may be the end result.

You mention several issues conservatives would want to include in any revision, mostly focusing on individual and states rights. Well, liberals have some issues they would like to change too, like doing away with the Electoral College, a reinterpretation or  dare I say it?  the elimination of the Second Amendment, equal rights for all people, and the protection of womens reproductive rights. Oh, and, maybe a 20-year term limit on Supreme Court justices with mandatory retirement at age 70, whichever comes first (I could see that with all elected officials too, personally speaking).

A big issue would be how to select the delegates to such a convention. Would it be based on the number of people in a state? Would it be only one, or two, delegates per state, regardless of the size of the state? Would it be something like the Electoral College?

It is easy to call for a Convention of States, but it is very hard to implement it, and the outcomes could be unpredictable. Lets just call the whole thing off.

Wayne Beebe

Pullman

Whos responsible?

The proposed Harvest Hills turbines could be taller than the Space Needle. What happens at the end of their lifespan? Why cant the county commissioners negotiate, change codes, or whatever to mandate that Harvest Hills, or its probable many successors, be held completely responsible for the complete removal of all remnants and complete restoration of the affected lands when it is decommissioned? Will the landowners be held accountable for their removal?

Also, why cant the current owner on record at any one time of this project also be held completely responsible for any damages to property, whether to the actual sites where they are located or adjacent properties, in the event of any catastrophic occurrence? Couldnt this be written into any contract in advance to signing?

The project will most likely get EFSEC approval (full or modified) and we know what the governor will do. Harvest Hills wont necessarily care because they will cut and run, but if this was mandated to all future owners, maybe they would reconsider their interest because maybe the future owners may not be so inclined to purchase the project if they were to be held fully liable for these expenses.
A view of damaged vehicles after flash floods, caused by a lake burst in Singtam, Sikkim, India, on Oct. 8, 2023. Photo by Reuters

At least six people have been killed this week and around 2,000 tourists stranded in India's Himalayan state of Sikkim in landslides and floods after incessant rainfall, officials said on Friday.

Another four people have been killed in Nepal's Taplejung district, which borders Sikkim, after a landslide following rains swept away the house in which they were sleeping, officials there said.

Heavy rains triggered landslides at several locations in Mangan district, which covers north Sikkim and lies about 100 km (60 miles) north of the state capital Gangtok, the local government of the northeastern Indian state said.

"It's been raining continuously for 36 hours. The road to north Sikkim has been damaged in multiple locations, snapping connection to the district," said Hem Kumar Chettri, the district magistrate of Mangan.

"The stranded tourists are all safe but we have not been able to evacuate them because of the damage," he said, adding that 11 of them were foreign nationals.

The small Buddhist state of 650,000 people, wedged between Bhutan, China and Nepal, is a popular tourist destination but also faces natural disasters caused by extreme weather events in the Himalayas.

At least 179 people died last year in Sikkim when a Himalayan glacial lake outburst triggered floods.

Personnel and machinery have been deployed to fix the road, Chettri said, adding that the damage was "extensive" and repair will take some time. About 50 houses have been partly or fully damaged by the rains and people have been take to a relief camp.

While eastern parts of Nepal have been lashed by heavy rains, the Himalayan country's western areas are facing one of the hottest seasons, weather officials said.
The Interior Department estimates there are as many as 500,000 abandoned mine sites on federal land, and researchers at Montana Technological Universitys Mining Engineering department are using novel robotic technology to see if any of those already disturbed sites might hold critical minerals.

The United States at this moment does not have access to near the amount of critical minerals that are needed for the next stage of advanced electronics, Associate Professor of Mining Engineering Abhishek Choudhury said. China has about 60% of critical and rare earth mineral production and 85% of the processing capacity. The U.S. hasnt even explored what exists within its boundaries, and in a lot of mines in the mountain west, they historically did not look for these critical minerals. We might have many of these mines around that have these minerals.

Choudhury and his students, including a mining engineering student from Spring Creek, are training a $295,000 SPOT robot from Boston Dynamics to go where it is unsafe for humans to explore in these abandoned mines. The project is funded through a Cooperative Agreement with the DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, which has supported over a dozen projects on Montana Techs campus in pursuit of building a domestic supply chain of critical minerals.

The funding has been made possible through the efforts of Sen. Jon Tester, chairman of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, who has championed Montana Techs collaboration with military organizations in recent years. That collaboration has facilitated access to cutting edge equipment, facilities, and research that would not otherwise have been possible.

The robot arrived on campus in November 2023. SPOT has four legs, and is about the size of a large dog. It can sense and avoid obstacles, climb stairs and open doors. It has found a home on factory floors and warehouses, but Choudhury wants to take it underground, where travel is much more difficult.

If your robot can survive an underground mine, it can survive anywhere, possibly with the exception of Mars, Choudhury said.

Choudhurys students traveled to Boston Dynamics facilities in Massachusetts to be trained in operating SPOT. Mining engineering junior Arlo Eades, of McArthur, California, said it was an incredible experience.

It isnt every day that you get to see the very place where cutting-edge technology is being developed and tested, Eades said. Bringing that very same technology to an underground environment is an exceptional opportunity to push it to its limits.

Choudhurys team must teach the robot to do a task more complicated than walking or opening a door. They are working to program SPOT to walk into the mine and drop a series of radio transmitters that will extend the robots range to communicate below the earths surface. They then want the robot to collect samples of rock within the mine. One challenge is integrating software that will tell the operator exactly where samples were collected.

If you collect a sample that has critical minerals in it, it is equally important to know exactly where in that mine you picked the rock up, Choudhury said.

Alan Arthur is a graduate mining engineering student from Accra, Ghana, who says training the robot to autonomously document a samples location has been the most challenging part of the project so far. The team is utilizing the Underground Mine Education Center. The UMEC is a hands-on, interdisciplinary educational space consisting of the former Orphan Boy and Orphan Girl Mines immediately west of campus.

The biggest accomplishment so far is being able to autonomously walk the robot to the portal of the UMEC, Arthur said. The next step is to autonomously walk it all the way into the mine and perform simple tasks.

Kodis Campbell is a mining engineering junior from Spring Creek.

This project has helped me better understand project planning and the ability to balance other outside factors, Campbell said. Another great feature of this project is the coding that will be required in future development. The world is becoming increasingly digitized and the ability to code is becoming more valuable.

Choudhury says the rise of artificial intelligence and robotics makes it even more important for students to understand the why? behind their engineering, since machines are currently trained to answer the more straightforward questions.

Its a far more fundamental level of query, Choudhury said.

For this particular project, a mining background is invaluable.

You need to know what problems might come up in a mine, Choudhury said.

If Choudhurys research team is successful, and SPOT can find critical minerals in abandoned mines, it could mean big business for southwestern Montana, where ghost towns of abandoned mining communities are numerous.

For now, Choudhury is focused on training SPOT, and building a research group with more members.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 15. Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) Kubanychbek Omuraliyev congratulates Azerbaijani people on occasion of National Salvation Day, Trend reports, referring to the tweet of Secretary General.

"On the occasion of Azerbaijan's National Salvation Day - 15 June, we convey our sincere congratulations to our Azerbaijani brothers and sisters. With deep respect we honour the memory of national leader Heydar Aliyev," Omuraliyev said in the post.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 15. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has appealed to the participants of an international conference themed "Organization of Turkic States: towards new strategic goals in the context of geopolitical realities and global cataclysms" underway in Shusha today, Trend reports.

"Dear conference participants!

I sincerely welcome you in the city of Shusha, the cultural capital of the Turkic world and venue of the international conference on Organization of Turkic States: towards new strategic goals in the context of geopolitical realities and global cataclysms, and wish the conference success.

In the present-day world, global cataclysms have become one of the geopolitical realities of the system of international relations. The influence and intervention of foreign power houses, the occurrence of numerous conflicts, ethnic and religious standoffs and political confrontations, the creation of an atmosphere of chaos and anarchy in different regions around the world pose a serious threat to states and international security as a whole. Under circumstances when international legal norms are flagrantly violated and there are selective approaches based on double standards, the implementation of a policy aimed at protecting national interests and responding to current challenges is one of the primary objectives of independent states.

The countries that have joined the Organization of Turkic States, are confidently marching towards new strategic goals and have become a growing power center in global politics are facing similar challenges. The relations between countries of this organization, which has been drawing the world's attention as a new alliance model, are based on the principles of friendship and fraternity, mutual understanding, equal partnership and multifaceted cooperation, and which represents a very important factor for stability, security and development at the national, regional and global levels.

It is beyond any doubt that the mutually beneficial cooperation of the political parties of the countries of the Organization of Turkic States plays an important role in the realization of common goals.

I am confident that the event, organized by the New Azerbaijan Party in the city of Shusha, the cultural capital of the Islamic world, on a significant date for the people of Azerbaijan, the Day of National Salvation and the anniversary of the signing of the Shusha Declaration, and therefore has a special symbolic meaning and moral and political significance, will make a valuable contribution to the development of multilateral relations, further strengthening of unity in the Turkic world and the realization of new goals.

I would like to take this opportunity to heartily congratulate all of you on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, which is an important part of our national-spiritual values and Islamic culture, and wish you good health and new achievements in your work," the appeal reads.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 15. Turkiye and Azerbaijan will always be together as "one nation - two states," reads the congratulatory message published by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the social network X on the occasion of the National Salvation Day of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

"We congratulate Azerbaijan on National Salvation Day and the third anniversary of the Shusha Declaration, which elevated our eternal brotherhood to the level of alliance!" the publication says.

To note, the National Salvation Day of the Azerbaijani people is celebrated on June 15. This date was declared a holiday on June 15, 1997 (since 1998, it has received the status of a public holiday).

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SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, June 15. The Turkiye-Azerbaijan alliance is not a threat but a powerful source of securing our common geography, through which we closely monitor the regional stability agenda and keep to provide strong support to Azerbaijan's efforts to normalize the situation in the region, the First Deputy Chairman of the Justice and Development Party of Turkiye, and member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) Efkan Ala said, Trend reports.

He made the statement at the international conference "Organization of Turkic States: towards new strategic goals in the context of geopolitical realities and global cataclysms," held in Shusha on June 15.

According to him, the Shusha Declaration is not only a document that contributes to bilateral relations between Turkiye and Azerbaijan but also ensures security and permanent peace in the region.

To note, the international conference "Organization of Turkic States: towards new strategic goals in the context of geopolitical realities and global cataclysms" is being held in Shusha under the organization of the New Azerbaijan Party. The conference is attended by up to 300 guests, including leaders of the ruling parties of the member countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and observers.

Three plenary sessions will be organized within the framework of the international conference: "Organization of Turkic States: Regional contribution to global security," "Unity of modernity and common values: Party diplomacy as a new platform for dialogue," and "Turkic World 2040: a conceptual view of the future".

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 15. I am confident that today's conference will help strengthen existing ties and effectively fight geopolitical realities and global cataclysms and I believe that the event in Shusha will become a starting point for new strategic goals, the Executive Secretary of Kazakhstan's Amanat party Daulet Karibek said, Trend reports.

He made the statement at the international conference "Organization of Turkic States: towards new strategic goals in the context of geopolitical realities and global cataclysms" held in Shusha on June 15.

The party representative noted that the organization of the event in the city of Shusha, the cradle of the culture of Azerbaijan, declared the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World 2024, has a symbolic meaning, and recalled that Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev made a trip to Shusha during his state visit to Azerbaijan in March this year.

Furthermore, mentioning that international law is losing its value and significance, Karibek emphasized that the global system of control and balance is incapable of maintaining peace and stability.

"It is gratifying that against the background of all this, the role of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) is growing. In the current difficult geopolitical conditions, the OTS continues to be one of the drivers keeping international politics on rational and pragmatic lines, providing logistics, transportation, and diplomatic relations in the international arena," the executive secretary of the Amanat party added.

To note, the international conference "Organization of Turkic States: towards new strategic goals in the context of geopolitical realities and global cataclysms" is being held in Shusha under the organization of the New Azerbaijan Party. The conference is attended by up to 300 guests, including leaders of the ruling parties of the member countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and observers.

Three plenary sessions will be organized within the framework of the international conference: "Organization of Turkic States: Regional contribution to global security," "Unity of modernity and common values: Party diplomacy as a new platform for dialogue," and "Turkic World 2040: a conceptual view of the future".

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, June 15. Uzbekistan is ready to contribute to the restoration of cultural sites in Karabakh, the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Political Council of the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Business People - the Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan and deputy chairman of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan Aktam Khaitov said during the international conference "Organization of Turkic States: towards new strategic goals in the context of geopolitical realities and global cataclysms" held in Shusha on June 15, Trend reports.

"Shusha is a sacred place, proving that Azerbaijan has restored historical justice by returning the territories of Karabakh. This was the greatest dream of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, a friend of Uzbekistan, and this desire was successfully realized by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev," he said.

Assessing Azerbaijan as a reliable partner of Uzbekistan that has passed the test of time, the guest emphasized that Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are friendly countries with a common language and traditions.

"Friendly and trusting relations between the heads of state of both countries contribute to the expansion of our cooperation.

Under the leadership of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attention is paid to further improvement of people's welfare, strengthening of sovereignty, the political, economic, and military power of the country, as well as strengthening of its international prestige. We, as brothers and close friends, sincerely rejoice at these achievements of the Azerbaijani people.

The head of our state has repeatedly stated that Uzbekistan is ready to contribute to the restoration of cultural sites in Karabakh. Thus, last year in Fuzuli, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, together with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, attended the opening ceremony of Mirzo Ulugbek School No. 1, built with the support of Uzbekistan. We are confident that the school has become a symbol of sincere friendship," he added.

To note, the international conference "Organization of Turkic States: towards new strategic goals in the context of geopolitical realities and global cataclysms" is being held in Shusha under the organization of the New Azerbaijan Party. The conference is attended by up to 300 guests, including leaders of the ruling parties of the member countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and observers.

Three plenary sessions will be organized within the framework of the international conference: "Organization of Turkic States: Regional contribution to global security," "Unity of modernity and common values: Party diplomacy as a new platform for dialogue," and "Turkic World 2040: a conceptual view of the future".

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, June 15. A plenary session on "Organization of Turkic States: regional contribution to global security" was held on June 15 in Shusha within the framework of the international conference "Organization of Turkic States: towards new strategic goals in the context of geopolitical realities and global cataclysms" organized by the New Azerbaijan Party, Trend reports.

Speaking at the session moderated by Azerbaijani Parliament member Ramil Hasan, deputy chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party, and head of the central apparatus, Tahir Budagov, he talked of the rich heritage of the statehood of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev.

He noted that Azerbaijan's confident development as an independent state, which is currently experiencing the most powerful period of its history, is directly linked to the leader's factor.

The head of the Central Apparatus mentioned that the establishment of the New Azerbaijan Party under the leadership of Heydar Aliyev ensured the creation of an independent state, and it was during this period that the fateful stage of the history of Azerbaijani statehood began.

"The return of the National Leader to Baku on June 9, 1993, heeding the voice of the people, and his election on June 15 as Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan ensured the salvation of Azerbaijan. The wise statesman, carrying out his leadership mission at a difficult historical stage, did unprecedented work, which served to ensure national solidarity, development of the country, protection of state interests, and preservation of traditions of statehood. By achieving great historical achievements, he established clear prospects for Azerbaijan," Tahir Budagov said.

He also emphasized that Heydar Aliyev's policy gave the Azerbaijani people independence, the most valuable national-political heritage, and ensured the country's growth.

First Deputy Chairman of the Justice and Development Party of Turkiye, and member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye Efkan Ala, noted that thanks to the Shusha Declaration, Turkish-Azerbaijani relations have been built on profound and healthy bases. According to him, this document draws its strength from the exceptional ties, common history, language, culture, and traditions of the two peoples that underlie it all.

He noted that with this document, the ties between the two brotherly countries have been further strengthened.

The Executive Secretary of the Amanat Party of Kazakhstan, Daulet Karibek, urged the ruling parties of the OTS member countries to strengthen bilateral cooperation, mentioning that, against the backdrop of geopolitical realities and global cataclysms, the OTS serves as a bridge on the way to a quick exit from turbulence and minimization of losses.

Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Political Council of the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Business People of the Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, Aktam Khaitov, noted that Azerbaijan is a reliable partner.

"Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are friendly countries with a common language and traditions," he added.

Emphasizing that the friendly and trustful relations of the heads of state of both countries contribute to the expansion of cooperation, the guest mentioned that under the leadership of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, attention is paid to further improvement of people's welfare, strengthening of sovereignty, political, economic, and military power of the country, as well as strengthening of its international authority.

Thus, the first plenary session of the conference was concluded.

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SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, June 15. The international prestige of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), which has a common history, traditions, and values, is growing, and the significance of OTS in global issues and against geopolitical background is great, Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Chairman of the National Unity Party Unal Ustel said, Trend reports.

He made the remark at the panel session "Unity of common values and modernity: party diplomacy as a new dialogue platform" within the framework of the international conference "Organization of Turkic States: towards new strategic goals in the context of geopolitical realities and global cataclysms" held in Shusha on June 15.

"We are proud that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has been elected as an observer in the OTS," Unal Ustel emphasized, expressing his gratitude to all the brotherly countries that provided support.

Furthermore, speaking about the participation of Northern Cyprus in various tribunes, the path of development, and the history of the country, the guest mentioned that it had to undergo many deprivations and bans on the way to independence.

"We will struggle to the end for the rights of our people and for the realities of Northern Cyprus," the Prime Minister stated.

Talking about the ties between Azerbaijan and Northern Cyprus, the guest noted that both countries are making important efforts in the direction of cooperation and that the ties are intensifying.

"I believe that very soon our relations will become deeper and stronger. As President Ilham Aliyev said, I am sure that one day the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will become a full member of the organization," Unal Ustel added, expressing gratitude to Turkiye and Azerbaijan for their support.

To note, the international conference "Organization of Turkic States: towards new strategic goals in the context of geopolitical realities and global cataclysms" is being held in Shusha under the organization of the New Azerbaijan Party. The conference is attended by up to 300 guests, including leaders of the ruling parties of the member countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and observers.

Three plenary sessions will be organized within the framework of the international conference: "Organization of Turkic States: Regional contribution to global security," "Unity of modernity and common values: Party diplomacy as a new platform for dialogue," and "Turkic World 2040: a conceptual view of the future".

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, June 15. Inter-parliamentary and political ties of the member countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) are important for our unity, Deputy Chairman of the Justice and Development Party of Turkiye on Foreign Relations and member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye Zafer Srakaya said, Trend reports.

He made the remark at the panel session "Unity of common values and modernity: party diplomacy as a new dialogue platform" within the framework of the international conference "Organization of Turkic States: towards new strategic goals in the context of geopolitical realities and global cataclysms" held in Shusha on June 15.

Furthermore, mentioning that Azerbaijan celebrates its 106th anniversary of independence this year, Zafer Srakaya congratulated the brotherly country on its brilliant victories and successes.

He emphasized the importance of further strengthening the Turkic world against the background of geopolitical realities and global cataclysms.

Stating that relations between Turkiye and Azerbaijan cover a wide spectrum, Srakaya talked of the existing conflicts in the world and noted that these conflicts harm humanity.

Labeling the current century as the Turkic century, Zafer Srakaya added that it is the first time in history that the OTS has united the Turkic states so closely. He expressed hope that the union and brotherhood of Turkic states would be further strengthened in the future.

To note, the international conference "Organization of Turkic States: towards new strategic goals in the context of geopolitical realities and global cataclysms" is being held in Shusha under the organization of the New Azerbaijan Party. The conference is attended by up to 300 guests, including leaders of the ruling parties of the member countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and observers.

Three plenary sessions will be organized within the framework of the international conference: "Organization of Turkic States: Regional contribution to global security," "Unity of modernity and common values: Party diplomacy as a new platform for dialogue," and "Turkic World 2040: a conceptual view of the future".

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, June 15. Coming together in the city of Shusha, the cultural capital of Azerbaijan, makes everyone proud, a member of the Fidesz-Hungarian Civic Union party and head of the Hungarian-Azerbaijani inter-parliamentary friendship group, Attila Tilki said, Trend reports.

He made the remark at the panel session "Unity of common values and modernity: party diplomacy as a new dialogue platform" within the framework of the international conference "Organization of Turkic States: towards new strategic goals in the context of geopolitical realities and global cataclysms" held in Shusha on June 15.

He mentioned that, like Hungary, double standards are applied to Azerbaijan by the European Union.

"These actions of the authority, which vigorously declares about justice and law, are unacceptable," he emphasized.

Furthermore, while providing information on the electoral process in his country, Tilki noted that an opportunity has been created for migrants from different countries, including Azerbaijan, to vote in the elections. He regretted that the European Union had penalized Hungary for this and demanded compensation.

The head of the Hungarian-Azerbaijani inter-parliamentary friendship group added that the large-scale construction and reconstruction works carried out in Karabakh and East Zangezur, as well as the restored infrastructure, are admirable.

To note, the international conference "Organization of Turkic States: towards new strategic goals in the context of geopolitical realities and global cataclysms" is being held in Shusha under the organization of the New Azerbaijan Party. The conference is attended by up to 300 guests, including leaders of the ruling parties of the member countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and observers.

Three plenary sessions will be organized within the framework of the international conference: "Organization of Turkic States: Regional contribution to global security," "Unity of modernity and common values: Party diplomacy as a new platform for dialogue," and "Turkic World 2040: a conceptual view of the future".

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 15. The delegation from the Office for International Military Cooperation of the Chinese People's Liberation Army continues its visit to Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

According to the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, within the visit, a meeting with the Chinese military delegation was held at the International Military Cooperation Department of the Azerbaijan Defense Ministry.

Representatives of the Azerbaijan Army and the Chinese People's Liberation Army discussed the current state and prospects for the development of military cooperation between the two countries and a number of other issues of common interest.

The meeting also included an exchange of views on the upcoming work on planning joint activities in the field of military education.
SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, June 15. It is time to raise the issue of creating a security system for the Turkic world in the current circumstances, and it is necessary to seriously think about it, Acting Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to Azerbaijan Kairat Osmonaliev said, Trend reports.

He made the statement at the panel session "Turkic World 2040: a conceptual view of the future " within the framework of the international conference " Organization of Turkic States: towards new strategic goals in the context of geopolitical realities and global cataclysms" held in Shusha on June 15.

Mentioning that relations between Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan have taken the form of a deep strategic partnership, the Kyrgyz diplomat noted that the term of his representation in Azerbaijan has expired. He said he will always remember Azerbaijan and its hospitable people with respect.

The diplomat stated that the two countries have the potential to move to the level of allied relations in the future.

Furthermore, noting that his country has always been a consistent and active supporter of strengthening the principles of integration in the Turkic world, the guest emphasized the importance of today's conference in terms of the prospects of cooperation with the OTS.

"I believe that holding the event on the eve of the unofficial summit of the heads of the OTS states, which will be held on July 5-6 in Shusha, is its introduction," he added.

Speaking about the collapse of the old world order and the formation of a new one, Osmonaliev said that this process is not only complicated but also dangerous for global peace and security.

According to him, conflicts, wars, and the use of international sanctions as a form of hybrid warfare directly affect the South Caucasus region.

To note, the international conference "Organization of Turkic States: towards new strategic goals in the context of geopolitical realities and global cataclysms" is being held in Shusha under the organization of the New Azerbaijan Party. The conference is attended by up to 300 guests, including leaders of the ruling parties of the member countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and observers.

Three plenary sessions will be organized within the framework of the international conference: "Organization of Turkic States: Regional contribution to global security," "Unity of modernity and common values: Party diplomacy as a new platform for dialogue," and "Turkic World 2040: a conceptual view of the future".

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 15. The Turkish Ministry of Defense congratulated the Azerbaijani people on National Salvation Day, Trend reports.

A congratulation with the image of the flags of Turkiye and Azerbaijan was published on the official page of the defense department on social networks.

We congratulate friendly and fraternal Azerbaijan on National Salvation Day. We cordially greet the Azerbaijani people. We will continue to support our brothers in both sorrow and joy," the publication says.
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 15. Shusha hosted a panel session on the theme "Turkic World-2040: a conceptual vision of the future" as part of the international conference "Organization of Turkic States: towards new strategic goals in the context of geopolitical realities and global cataclysms" organized by the New Azerbaijan Party (YAP), Trend reports.

The session was moderated by Samad Seyidov, the Chairman of Azerbaijan's Milli Majlis Committee for International Relations and Interparliamentary Ties.

In his remarks, Samad Seyidov noted that the institution established in 2009 was rebranded under the name the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in 2021 thanks to the strategic and conceptual vision.

Aygun Attar, member of the Security and Foreign Policy Council under the President of Turkiye, Chairman of the Board of Turkiye-Azerbaijan Friendship, Cooperation and Solidarity Foundation, highlighted the importance of the Shusha Declaration signed between Azerbaijan and Turkiye, describing this document as one of the factors strengthening the unity between the OTS member states.

Kairat Osmonaliev, Kyrgyzstan's Acting Ambassador to Azerbaijan, said that the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) occupies a special place as a full-fledged regional international organization that has become a recognized factor in world politics.

Noting that his country has always consistently and actively supported the strengthening of the principles of integration in the Turkic world, Kairat Osmonaliev underlined the importance of today's conference in terms of developing prospects for cooperation between the OTS member states.

Secretary General of the Union of Turkic Chambers of Commerce and Industry Adem Kula mentioned that expanding economic cooperation between members of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and countries represented as observers in the organization, supporting trade and investment relations, improving transport infrastructure are among the main goals for the future.

Nuri Aksu, the project manager of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, described the "Turkic World Vision - 2040" document adopted at the Istanbul Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) as a "Road map," saying: "We are confidently moving towards our 2040 goals in accordance with the Road map."

Congratulating the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the holidays, the project manager also provided insights into the activities of TURKSOY, OTS, Turkic Academy and other Turkish organizations.
SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, June 15. About 18 out of nearly 200 destroyed historical and cultural monuments in Shusha city have been restored to date, special representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Shusha region Aydin Karimov said, Trend reports.

He made the announcement at the international conference "Organization of Turkic States: towards new strategic goals against the background of geopolitical realities and global cataclysms."

Karimov informed the conference participants that 16 out of 17 mosques in the city were destroyed by the occupants.

"On the instruction of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, work was started on immediate restoration of mosques, as a result of which 4 mosques were fully restored in the city within 4 years, construction of 2 new ones was started - one in the city and the other in Dashalti village.

All works carried out in Shusha, where the engineering infrastructure is being re-created, are carried out under the detailed General Plan of the city. A new full secondary school for 960 people has already been built and put into operation, and the construction of the Central District Hospital is planned to be completed within the current year," Karimov noted.

He mentioned that the main task set before the government by President Ilham Aliyev is to return Azerbaijani citizens, who were forcibly exiled from their native lands as a result of Armenia's occupation policy, to the homeland of their ancestors and provide them with employment.

"We are very proud to state that our compatriots exiled from here during the occupation have already returned to Shusha," he added.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 15. A Turkish citizen, who is on an international wanted list, has been detained in Azerbaijan and handed over to his destination, Trend reports, referring to the Azerbaijani Prosecutor General's Office.

Furthermore, it was noted that the citizen of the Republic of Turkiye, Uzbek Kudret Abdullatif (born in 1975), who was declared internationally wanted in 2015 and accused of committing a crime in connection with tax evasion in Austria, was detained in Azerbaijan, and a preventive measure in the form of arrest was issued against him.

The application of the Federal Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Austria for the extradition of the person was sent by the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Baku Serious Crimes Court for consideration.

According to the European Convention on Extradition and its additional protocols, a decision was taken to extradite the detainee, who was handed over to the Austrian authorities accompanied by a special convoy of the Prison Service of the Ministry of Justice.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 15. Im very pleased that health will once again feature prominently in the COP29 agenda, with a thematic day dedicated to health, human capital, jobs, education, children, and youth, said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, Trend reports.

"I joined the Nizami Ganjavi International Center's Advisory Group meeting and asked for their support in advocating for health as the most compelling reason for Climate Action at COP29; encouraging all countries to engage with WHO's Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH) to build more climate-resilient and climate-friendly health systems," he wrote on his page on X.

Meanwhile, the Nizami Ganjavi International Center will be holding the 29th high-level meeting themed "Pathway to COP29: Sustainable and Resilient Future" on June 19-21. The primary purpose of this high-level meeting is to ensure that all the relevant parties are working together in harmony to ensure the success of COP29 in Baku.

In November this year, Azerbaijan will host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29). This was decided at the plenary meeting of COP28 held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Within two weeks, Baku, having become the center of the world, will host about 70,00080,000 foreign guests.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The acronym COP (Conference of Parties) stands for Conference of Parties, which is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. A total of 198 countries are parties to the convention. Unless the parties decide otherwise, COP is held annually. The first COP event was held in March 1995 in Germany's Berlin, and its secretariat is based in Bonn.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, June 15. Kyrgyzstan and the Turkish Cooperative Organization (Turk Kooperatifcilik Kurumu) have agreed to collaborate in the agricultural sector, Trend reports.

According to the Kyrgyz ministry, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Department of Cooperation, Mechanization, and Innovative Technologies in Agriculture under the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry of Kyrgyzstan and the Turkish organization.

The parties have agreed to cooperate in the agricultural cooperation field with the following objectives: exchange of experience and knowledge in the creation and development of cooperative movements; organization of joint events such as trainings, seminars, conferences, and workshops; and facilitation in the implementation of joint projects and initiatives.

To note, the gross output of agricultural products in Kyrgyzstan amounted to 52.815 billion soms ($600.027 million) from January through April 2024. The physical volume index stood at 102.1 percent during this period.
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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, June 15. President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov held a phone conversation with President of Russia Vladimir Putin, Trend reports via the website of the Kyrgyz head of state.

"The issues of deepening cooperation within the Eurasian Economic Union framework and the prospects for further development of bilateral relations between Kyrgyzstan and Russia were discussed. The presidents exchanged views on current issues of the regional and international agenda," the press service statement reads.

To note, the day before, Sadyr Zhaparov received the Ambassador of Russia to Kyrgyzstan, Nikolay Udovichenko, on the occasion of the completion of his diplomatic mission. The head of state noted that Kyrgyzstan and Russia actively cooperate in almost all areas of life, achieving significant results in some directions.
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, June 15. The National Bank of Tajikistan and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) discussed cooperation in the banking sector, Trend reports.

According to the Tajik bank, the issue was discussed by Firdavs Tolibzoda, Chairman of the National Bank of Tajikistan, and Ronald Gindrat, Program Manager in the Macroeconomic Support Unit at SECO.

Tolibzoda noted that the partnership with SECO has facilitated several significant reforms in Tajikistan's financial sector and banking system in recent years. Projects supported by SECO have led to amendments in various regulatory instructions and provisions concerning corporate governance, financial stability, non-performing loans, and other banking regulatory tools, which have yielded substantial results.

During the meeting, both sides emphasized the importance of strengthening mutual cooperation and effectively utilizing available opportunities.

They also expressed interest in implementing further projects to reform the banking sector, aiming to enhance regulatory mechanisms and oversight of credit institutions and financial entities and establish a legal framework for crisis management in the financial sector, among other objectives.

To note, SECO serves as Switzerland's leading authority on economic and labor market policy.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 15. Contract for delivery of Hyundai Rotem electric trains to Uzbekistan is estimated at $195.7 million, Trend reports.

Uzbekistan Railway Roads signed a contract with Hyundai Rotem for the purchase of electric trains during the visit of the President of the Republic of Korea to Uzbekistan.

Hyundai Rotem will supply Uzbekistan with six high-speed electric trains with a total number of 42 cars. In addition, the South Korean company will provide maintenance and repair services for these trains.

This is the first export of high-speed trains developed using Korean technology in two decades since the French KTX train was introduced in 2004.

"This deal marks the first export of high-speed trains developed using Korean technology," South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol said. "It is expected to improve Uzbekistan's railway infrastructure and strengthen bilateral cooperation in the railway sector," he added.

Hyundai Rotem electric trains will be named after "Jaloliddin Manguberdi" and will run on the Tashkent-Urgench-Khiva route.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 15. Georgia and the UK have discussed the possibility of establishing direct flights between the two countries, Trend reports.

The issue was reviewed between Deputy Minister of Economy Mariam Kvrivishvili and Deputy Ambassador of the UK to Georgia Claire Olbrys, as reported by the Ministry of Economy of Georgia.

"We are optimistic about the prospect of direct flights from the UK. Britain is a crucial market for both aviation and tourism. We're confident that launching direct flights will significantly boost tourist numbers in Georgia. In addition to negotiations with airlines, we're studying the British market to plan vigorous marketing campaigns promoting Georgia's tourist attractions," stated Kvrivishvili.

She highlighted that Georgia's aviation sector is experiencing growth momentum, with increasing passenger traffic annually and a record number of flights and destinations. "This trend has had a positive impact on international visitor statistics and tourism revenue in the country".
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 15. On June 13, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal presented the Legion of Honor to Pastor Rene Leonian, President of the Union of Armenian Evangelical Churches of Eurasia. Naturally, the Armenian community is thrilled and widely publicizing this event. But what exactly did Rene Leonian do to earn such recognition?

The French La Gazette du Caucase reveals that the pastors most significant "achievement" is his long-standing support for Armenian separatism. The authors rightly question the connection between Leonian's activities and the principles for which this award is given - "outstanding achievements" and "personal services to the nation".

The article quotes Rene Leonian, who last October accused Azerbaijan of the so-called "attack" on Karabakh and the "expulsion" of Armenians from Azerbaijani territory. "His words contradict historical realities, specifically Azerbaijan's right to territorial integrity, as stated in four UN resolutions signed by France, and the right of return for Azerbaijanis expelled from their native lands," the article reads.

"Does this Legion of Honor 'illustrate the civic spirit of the French and the sense of common interests'? What connection does this 'demonstration of French civic spirit' have to this poorly disguised support for Armenian terrorist movements, which, among other things, are responsible for the Khojaly massacre? Perhaps it was a way to attract the Armenian community in France to President Macron's side ahead of crucial elections," the article notes.

The authors of La Gazette du Caucase also highlight that this award followed a series of scandals that led to the dismissal, without any legal procedures, of the Grand Chancellor of the order, General Puga, who was accused of awarding the order to relatives and wealthy individuals to whom he owed favors. "Emmanuel Macron, who is also the Grand Master of the order, promised to be more stringent in awarding the Legion of Honor - yet another broken promise," the article states.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 15. President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who attended the summit of the leaders of the "Big Seven" (G7) countries, took part in the high-level meeting "Africa and the Mediterranean - artificial intelligence and energy", Trend reports.

President Erdogan came as an honored guest to the three-day summit held in the Apulia region of southern Italy.

Within the framework of the closed discussions, Erdogan will draw the attention of the G7 leaders to the situation in the Middle East and Ukraine, and will emphasize Ankara's determination to contribute to ensuring peace and stability in the region and providing humanitarian aid to those in need.

President of Turkiye is scheduled to hold several bilateral meetings within the framework of the summit in Italy.
For the first time in months, Princess Kate Middleton of Wales showed a new photo of herself and addressed her followers who are worried about her health. Despite several loud statements about the Duchess's non-participation in public events until the end of 2024, she surprised with the news that she was ready to show herself to her subjects this weekend.

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Moreover, during the summer, Catherine hopes to partially return to her duties outside the house. This statement was published on behalf of the princess by Kensington Palace in X (formerly Twitter).

Kate Middleton sincerely thanked those who supported her and shared their stories of fighting cancer. The Duchess said that this care helped her and her husband, Crown Prince William, to get through the difficult times.

"I'm making great progress, but as anyone who goes through chemotherapy knows, there are good days and bad days. On bad days, you feel weak, and tired and need to give your body a rest. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to get the most out of feeling good," the Duchess said about her condition.

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She first disclosed that the treatment will last for several more months, not until the end of the year, as previously thought. Nevertheless, Kate Middleton is already preparing to go out on the occasion of her father-in-law King Charles III's birthday. By the way, he is also currently undergoing cancer treatment.

"I'm looking forward to attending the King's birthday parade this weekend with my family and hope to take part in a few community events over the summer, but I also know I'm not out of the woods yet," the princess added.

She ended her address by saying that every day she learns to be patient in the face of uncertainty and does not neglect time to recuperate.

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Kate Middleton's health is perhaps the top priority for fans of the royal family as Kensington Palace keeps silent about any information about the princess, and people around the world spread rumors that are sometimes very pessimistic. However, people close to the Welsh family claim that in fact her health is improving significantly, and she will be undergoing outdoor treatment in the company of her children during the summer.

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Kate Middleton will definitely return to her job, but only when doctors allow it. It's worth noting that a week ago, royal experts claimed that the princess might no longer be seen "in the role people have seen her before." Thus, The Sun writes that the reason is the difficult preventive cancer treatment, which began almost immediately after a complex abdominal surgery.

"Sources very close to the Princess of Wales told me that at first she had a hard time with the treatment. This is preventive chemotherapy, it's not a very pleasant thing. No one wants to go through that, you know, after a major surgery, a fairly long recovery period, and then they have to go through more treatment. I think it was a struggle at first, and I was very relieved to hear from several sources that things have changed in the other direction," Royal correspondent Katie Nicholl said.

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The princess has been on walks with her children more often, but she still refuses to return to public space. Yahoo! writes that it was the residents of the village of Norfolk, UK, who often saw her with her family. According to witnesses, 42-year-old Kate regularly attends sailing lessons with her older children, 10-year-old George and 9-year-old Charlotte, near their country house, Anmer Hall.

"Kate feels terrible that her children are so worried about her, so more than ever she wants to make this summer something they will remember for a long time. She has promised that they will have no sleep schedule and lots of treats!" an anonymous source said.

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It is known that Kate Middleton's family is always available to her. Thus, her brother James Middleton was seen "bringing dogs to play with the children". "At the end of the school holidays, Kate, William and the children are planning to go to Balmoral in Scotland to do what the Queen loved: play with their corgis, ride horses and shoot. This is a tradition they look forward to every year!" the insider said.

In particular, the aforementioned Katie Nicholl debunked the myth that the princess's work activities will change. According to the expert, Middleton will definitely continue to work on her own projects, namely the Royal Early Childhood Center Shaping Us, and perform royal duties.

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Kate Middleton disappeared from public space after Christmas. The palace reported that the princess had to undergo abdominal surgery and would therefore be suspended from work until Easter. Later, in March, she announced in a video that she was to undergo preventive cancer treatment but did not name the specific type of it.

Since then, the Princess of Wales has not appeared in public, which still worries fans and provokes rumors about her health and well-being. Thus, Kensington Palace denied the assumption that Middleton was actually not in the UK but was undergoing treatment in the United States at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, the Houston Chronicle wrote.

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15-year-old Sofia Sanchez is a model, actress (Switched at Birth, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes), writer and activist, was born in Dnipro with Down syndrome and adopted by an American family. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the girl has been actively supporting Ukraine.

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In an exclusive interview for OBOZ.UA, Sofia told us about her adjustment in a new country, how she coped with bullying, and why she wants to return to Ukraine and find her parents. She also frankly explained why she positions herself as a Ukrainian actress and admitted what her participation in the world-famous movie Barbie was really like for the first time.

- Sofia, let me start by saying that I was surprised by your story about your memories in an orphanage in Ukraine because you were very young. What impressed you so much that you still remember it?

- Actually, I don't remember much because I was only over a year old, but my parents shared with me all the videos and photos they had saved from those days. So I am familiar, so to speak, with my life in the orphanage in Ukraine.

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- I suppose because of your early age, your adjustment to life in a new family and country was not difficult?

- Yes, I was just an infant when I joined my family in the United States, so it was relatively easy to adapt. I was happy to have three brothers, parents, and grandparents (smiles).

- What advice would you give to other children who are coping with the same situation?

- Love your life, your parents, and just be happy, kind, and grateful.

- What do you admire most about your family and do you aspire to be like one of your relatives?

- I love my family. I love my mom and dad. My mom is my best friend, she helps me with everything and is my "big sister". She also helps me with my career and work, and is my partner in everything, so I want to be like her!

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- How did you get started in the film industry?

- When I was a little girl, I became a model, which helped me get several acting roles. My parents often took pictures of me, filmed me, and I can say that everything came very naturally. I like performing, getting into character. I'm not shy, I'm not afraid, and it really comes easy to me.

- Why do you position yourself as a Ukrainian actress?

- I was born in Ukraine, my mom was born in the US, and my dad was born in Mexico. We have a multinational family, you could say. My parents really liked Ukraine when they came to adopt me. I have a lot of Ukrainian books and dolls. And even the teacher's assistant at the school where I study is Ukrainian, she used to invite me to her house to cook Ukrainian dishes! When I was still in the 1st grade, I made a presentation about Ukraine, so I feel a certain connection...

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- Do you speak at least a little Ukrainian? If not, do you plan to learn it?

- No, I don't speak Ukrainian, I just know a few words, but I would like to learn more in the future.

- In addition to acting in films, you are a model and activist, and you also write books. Do you have any free time with this lifestyle?

- I have a lot of free time (smiles). I'm in high school, and I also participate in the cheerleading team and the swimming team, where I have friends.

I like the fact that everything I do is an adventure and I get to travel, meet new people, eat new foods (my favorite thing!), and learn new cultures, languages, and customs. It may seem like I'm very busy, but I'm just as busy as any other teenager, balancing my free time to play, read and relax.

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- Do you consider yourself a typical teenager who can spend hours on the phone, not help parents or respond sarcastically?

- At 15, I'm just like everyone else. I love my phone, but my mom limits my time on it. Sometimes I argue with my parents, and I can be punished for making the wrong choice. So, yes, I am a typical teenager. And I'm also a bit obsessed with boys! (laughs).

- You have a great phrase that has become a kind of message on social media: "Being different is beautiful, we are all different and the same at the same time." Did you come up with it yourself?

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- I think so! We read a lot of books and talk about it all the time at home and at school, so that's exactly how I feel!

- Have there been situations in your life when you were treated disrespectfully because of your diagnosis? Did you have to go through bullying?

- Yes, I had situations when children treated me like a baby or stopped and stared at me. Usually I didn't pay attention to them, I was just kind to them. I remember being ignored and not being involved in anything... Sometimes girls tried to take advantage of my kindness.

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- From your own experience, what advice would you give to those who find themselves in a similar situation?

- I would advise those who are being bullied to be brave, strong and believe in themselves.

- Tell us about your impressions of filming The Hunger Games and Barbie.

- Actually, I didn't act in the movie Barbie. I just walked the pink carpet at the Barbie premiere in Los Angeles dressed as the first Barbie with Down syndrome. It was the best night of my life. I can describe being a part of the Hunger Games filming as a fun experience and also one of the best times of my life.

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- I read about your desire to find your biological parents and talk to them...

- We plan to return to Ukraine when it is safe to do so and hopefully find my biological parents and meet them. I'm interested in meeting them and finding out if I have any brothers and sisters. I hope they are not in danger and are doing well.

- What do you know about your homeland and what do you admire most about it?

- I only know what I've seen in photos, videos, and what I've read about in books when I tried to explore my country. I also really like Ukrainian food, especially borsch! I really want to visit Ukraine soon!

- Do you know anything about Ukrainian culture: books, movies, music?

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- I don't know much, but I would like to learn more.

- If you were offered to come to Ukraine and star in a movie, would you accept the offer?

- Oh, yes, of course! It would be great.

- You have repeatedly supported Ukraine. Thank you for your stance! Now you have the opportunity to address Ukrainians not only from your Instagram page. What would you like to wish to your compatriots who have been fighting the brutal terrorist enemy, the Russian Federation, for more than 10 years now?

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- I want to call on all Ukrainians to be brave, strong and courageous! I wish you peace and for the war to end as soon as possible! I wish the Ukrainian people to feel like they used to in their home again!

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Russia has complained about another drone attack that took place in Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, Rostov region, around 4 a.m. The debris allegedly fell on the territory of an industrial site, and the glazing in a non-residential building was damaged.

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These were the consequences of another UAV attack, the governor of the region, Vasily Golubev, reported on Telegram. He assured that there were no casualties.

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that its air defense system allegedly destroyed 3 "Ukrainian" UAVs over the territory of Rostov region overnight.

It is known that Kamensk is home to one of the largest chemical enterprises in southern Russia, the Kamensky Combine. According to declassified CIA data from 2011, this enterprise produced composite fuel for RT-2 intercontinental ballistic missiles, which were created in the USSR. As previously reported by the media, the Kamensky plant fulfills orders for the Russian Defense Ministry. The plant was previously attacked by drones in April 2024.

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On June 15, representatives of dozens of countries from around the world will gather in Switzerland for the Peace Summit, which aims to stop Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine. However, some officials in the West believe that the main task of the event will be to test the capabilities of Ukrainian diplomacy.

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European officials have said that the absence of Russia's powerful allies, such as China, at the summit will weaken its potential impact. This was reported by Reuters.

The summit will be attended by dozens of Ukraine's allies, but China is refraining from participating after Russia was not invited as Moscow called the event a "waste of time" and was not interested in it. In addition, the West believes that the war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas is also diverting attention from Ukraine.

The talks at the summit are expected to focus on the broader problems caused by the war. European officials say the summit will focus primarily on food and nuclear security, as well as freedom of navigation.

Richard Gowan, director of the UN International Crisis Group, said that "the summit risks showing the limits of Ukrainian diplomacy." At the same time, he added that the event is a chance for Ukraine to remind the world that it is defending the principles of the UN Charter.

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European officials privately acknowledge that without support from Moscow's main allies, the summit's impact will be limited. Former Swiss ambassador to Australia, Singapore and Kuwait Daniel Walker said that the summit in Switzerland will be "another small step forward in international solidarity with Ukraine as a victim of Russian aggression."

At the same time, Ulrich Schmid, a political scientist and expert on Eastern Europe at the University of St. Gallen, said that the summit so far looks "mixed" given the demonstration of support from some circles and the absence of China. According to him, as long as dictator Putin is in power, it will be very difficult to achieve peace.

As a reminder, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva said that Ukraine is already preparing the second Global Peace Summit, which may be attended by the aggressor country Russia. This will be possible provided that Russia does not dictate its terms but listens to what other states say.

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The village of Lyptsi, located 30 km north of Kharkiv and 60 km from the Russian city of Belgorod, is turning into a destroyed Bakhmut due to constant Russian shelling. Most of the residential buildings in the village are in ruins, several entrances have been destroyed by shells, and craters from explosions are visible everywhere.

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The village, which is under terrorist fire every day, was shown by the military unit Gostri Kartuzy on Telegram. The soldiers noted that, apart from themselves and a few soldiers, there are no more military personnel in the village, only civilians.

"Look, what an apocalyptic picture. Kharkiv Bakhmut. Very powerful weapons were used here. A 5-story building and garages destoyed, a dog killed, unfortunately. There is no military equipment here," the soldier commented on what he saw.

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The footage shows a real apocalypse: collapsed high-rise buildings, houses, garages, cars, entire streets, traces of explosions and the ground destroyed. It is very dangerous to be in Lyptsi.

The day before, the head of intelligence of the Spartan 3rd Operational Brigade with a call sign Barakuda explained that the Russians are desperate to capture Lyptsi primarily because of the road connecting the town to Kharkiv. In order to gain a foothold on it, the enemy does not stop even when suffering significant losses in manpower.

Defense forces are exhausting the enemy and making every effort to prevent them from gaining a foothold in the desired positions.

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The Ukrainian military used at least 70 Dragon and Splash drones during an attack on the Russian military airfield Morozovsk in the Rostov region of Russia on June 14. Their main target was a hangar for Su-34 Fullback fighter-bombers.

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This was stated by Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, in an interview with The Warzone. He assured that Ukrainian forces are planning another attack on the airfield to complete the job.

"We are waiting for information on whether any planes were destroyed or damaged," DIU head said.

Satellite images show damage to the roof of the hangar located on the maintenance apron, with 2 Su-34 fighter-bombers visible inside.

In general, according to the newspaper, the airfield in Morozovsk is "the base for dozens of Su-34 fighter-bombers, which are the key weapon in the war," as well as for Su-27 fighters.

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Russian sources acknowledged the attack but disagreed on the casualties. Some pro-Kremlin Telegram channels claimed that the planes were not damaged, while others said that 6 pilots were killed and 10 others were wounded. Budanov noted that the assessment of the damage is ongoing.

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This was the second large-scale attack by Ukrainian drones on Morozovsk in two months. The previous one took place on April 5.

To recap, the attack on the Morozovsk airfield took place on the night of June 14. The Russians complained that "something was flying and buzzing" towards the city and that it was not being shot down. Governor Vasily Golubev said that electricity was cut off in the Morozovsk district, with several settlements having a blackout. According to his preliminary information, there were no casualties.

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Imperialistic Russia is the greatest threat not only to Ukraine but also to its other neighbors. If it were not for the selfless struggle of Ukrainians against the aggressor and their opposition to Moscow's attempts to take control of the Black Sea, Moldova, Romania, Turkey, and Bulgaria would have faced the consequences.

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This was stated by the United States Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink. She spoke at the Black Sea Security Forum held in Odesa.

"We see Odesa, for which the entire Ukrainian people continue to fight, despite Russia's attempts to take control of the Black Sea. Russia is the biggest threat not only to Ukraine but also to Moldova, Romania, Turkey and Bulgaria. And if Russia were to succeed in Ukraine, these countries would also face an imperialistic and destructive neighbor," she said.

Brink noted that the United States is aware of Russia's ongoing attacks on Odesa and the almost daily missile and drone attacks on the city's civilian infrastructure. She emphasized that Russia is trying to turn food into a weapon through its attacks on civilian ports and ships.

"We know about the constant attacks on Odesa. We see that Odesa is fightin despite Russia's attempts to take control of the region.... Russia is trying to turn food into a weapon," Brink said.

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The Ambassador added that the partners see the progress being made with the establishment of the humanitarian corridor.

Brink said she was impressed by the way the Ukrainian army managed to "squeeze" Russian ships out of a certain part of the Black Sea.

"About 1,850 ships have left Ukrainian ports and transported thousands of tons of various cargoes. The corridor ensures Ukraine's economic stability and the possibility of recovery... I feel the economic resilience of Odesa, ports and businesses are working..." Brink said.

It should be noted that the international Black Sea Security Forum is taking place in Odesa on June 14-16, with the main topic being the situation in the Black Sea region, which has become the scene of the fiercest geopolitical confrontation. Participants of the event are discussing security issues in Odesa region and the Black Sea, including food, environmental, energy and logistics security.

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On the evening of Friday, June 14, Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova published a list of 430 Ukrainian servicemen who are "ready to return home in the near future if the Ukrainian side agrees to take them in exchange for Russian servicemen." Her call to facilitate prisoner exchanges surprised Ukrainian Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets.

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According to him, on the eve of the same day, communication with the Russian side and the transfer of letters from the prisoners took place, and the Russians did not voice any requests for the return of the military. Lubinets wrote about this on his Telegram channel.

The Commissioner reminded that Ukraine is ready to take back all its defenders, including under the previously proposed "all for all" formula, so Moskalkova's list looks strange. Lubinets added that the Ukrainian side is engaged not in exchanges but in the repatriation of prisoners of war, the mechanism of which is defined by the Geneva Conventions.

"Therefore, I consider such publications by the Russian side on the eve of the Peace Summit to be nothing more than a provocation," the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights emphasized.

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He also said that our country has created mixed medical commissions and is still waiting for the same commissions to be created in Russia.

"I would like to note that during this communication, the Ukrainian side proposed to the Russian side to jointly monitor the physical condition of the returning military during the repatriation process and compliance with the Geneva Conventions. After all, the staff of our office is present during the return of the military of both sides home," Lubinets said.

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Ukrainian defenders have blocked the occupiers' units at the Aggregate Plant in Vovchansk, Kharkiv region. The Russians have been trying to help their own for two days in vain.

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Propaganda media complained about the situation on Telegram. The enemy units at the plant are under constant attack from Ukrainian bombs and artillery.

"As for Vovchansk, the situation at the Aggregate Plant is the same, some of our guys remain cut off on its territory, and it is impossible to get through to them," the propagandists write.

The number of wounded and eliminated invaders there is growing. It is impossible to bring in medicines and supplies for them.

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A Ukrainian soldier of the 24th Separate Special Forces Brigade "Aidar" with the call sign "Osman" noted in his Telegram channel "Sniper Speaks" that the occupiers had actually been blocked for five days. They entered through one street, after which Ukrainian soldiers conducted a successful assault.

"The enemy has set up logistics with the help of drones, from which they throw ammunition, water, and food, so there is no stalemate for them because even those blocked f**rs don't mean anything to their command," the fighter explained.

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On June 12, the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that the occupiers were "stuck" in Vovchansk and were engaged in "unsuccessful street skirmishes." The invaders do not change their tactics and do not hesitate to throw new infantry groups under the fire of our artillery.

The enemy is using units of the 11th Army Corps of the Russian Federation as reinforcements. Ukraine's defenders continue to strengthen their positions and defenses.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

 The ISW reported that the occupiers are trying to push Ukrainian troops away from the international border with the Belgorod region and approach Kharkiv within the range of cannon artillery. In the area of Vovchansk, the occupiers are conducting assault operations, while the Armed Forces are holding back the enemy and inflicting losses in manpower and equipment.

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 In the Vovchansk sector, Ukrainian border guards destroyed enemy positions along with their infantry. The position, which served as a shelter for enemy manpower, was completely destroyed by mortar fire.

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In his address to the participants of the inaugural Peace Summit in Switzerland, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that today dozens of countries from around the world have given diplomacy a chance. According to the President, the only one who wanted a criminal and completely unprovoked aggression against Ukraine was Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

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The Head of State emphasized that the world is stronger than the aggressor, as the participants of the peace summit united for the sake of the principles of the UN Charter, international law, and global security. Zelenskyy said this during a joint press conference with Swiss President Viola Amherd.

The President noted that Ukraine managed to unite one hundred countries and international organizations at the first inaugural peace summit. The Head of State also emphasized that a number of other countries and leaders had shown interest in the summit and responded to the peacekeeping impulse of the Peace Formula.

The news is supplemented by...
Czech police have arrested a 36-year-old Moldovan citizen suspected of involvement in the murder of Valeria, a 9-year-old girl from Ukraine, who was killed in Dobeln, Germany. The documents are currently being prepared to transfer the suspect "to Germany for criminal proceedings for manslaughter as soon as possible."

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This was reported by the German police. Currently, the Chemnitz prosecutor's office has applied for a national and European arrest warrant for the suspect. He is in custody in the Czech Republic.

"According to the investigation, Czech police arrested a 36-year-old man in a Prague restaurant on the morning of June 14, around 10:15 a.m. The Moldovan citizen is suspected of the violent death of a nine-year-old girl, who has been searched for since the evening of June 3, 2024," law enforcement officials said.

The police added that along with the arrest warrant, they had sent a request for the suspect's extradition to the Czech authorities.

Saxony's Interior Minister Armin Schuster said he hoped that "with the arrest of the suspect, this heinous crime could be solved quickly."

The suspect was found thanks to a silver Peugeot 206 CC (pictured above). It is known that he left Germany in this car. The Moldovan was arrested after Czech law enforcement officers spotted the wanted car.

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As previously reported, initially, German police had two suspects in the case of the child's murder. One of them was a Ukrainian, the other a Moldovan. Both of them tried to build a relationship with the girl's mother at once. However, the Ukrainian suspect had an absolute alibi, which has also been confirmed by the German police.

Currently, police are on duty around the clock at the homes of Valeria's mother and grandmother in Germany. The girl's father, a soldier in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, has already left for Germany to pick up his daughter's body and bury her at home.

Valeria's father has not seen his daughter for two years and hoped that his ex-wife would bring her to Ukraine for the summer vacation. He says he is surprised by the behavior of the woman who sent the child to school alone and did not allow her to take two phones and a smartwatch with her.

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The mother of the deceased child said that the last time she saw her daughter was when she left the house to take the bus to school. Valeria was not seen at the school that day, but no one raised the alarm.

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The aggressor country Russia had requested a meeting of the UN Security Council for Friday, June 14, right before the start of the Peace Summit in Switzerland, to discuss "the consequences of the West's military assistance to Ukraine." In this way, Moscow wanted to try to divert the international community's attention from the event in Switzerland.

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This was stated by Deputy Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations Robert Wood at a meeting of the Security Council, Ukrinform reports. He was not surprised by such actions of the Russian Federation.

"It is not surprising that Russia has requested today's meeting the day before dozens of countries arrive in Switzerland for the Peace Summit. Today's meeting is a clear attempt by the Russian Federation to distract the world and blame anyone but itself for what is happening in Ukraine," the diplomat said.

According to him, Russia wants to make the world believe that Ukraine's attempts to defend itself are a real obstacle to peace. However, Wood believes that the aggressor will not succeed in fooling anyone.

At the same time, the American diplomat added, Russia is trying to strengthen ties with countries that openly ignore international law and the UN Charter. They include DPRK and China.

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The U.S. representative called on all countries to stop military cooperation with Russia and support Ukraine's aspirations for a just and lasting peace that is consistent with the principles and purposes of the UN Charter.

Just before the summit, Russia also staged a provocation regarding prisoner exchanges. Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova published a list of 430 Ukrainian servicemen who are "ready to return home in the near future if the Ukrainian side agrees to take them in exchange for Russian servicemen."

As reported, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has already arrived in Switzerland for the Peace Summit. The event will be attended by about 100 countries and international organizations.

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Elizabeth Horan is 67 years old. But when you meet her, you get the feeling that youre in the presence of a very young spirit. The literary scholar has the overwhelmingly energy typical of someone in their twenties  the period of time in life when the world is a sea of infinite possibilities.

She jumped into the depths of these waters when she traveled to Spain by herself in the 1980s, the years of the Movida movement, or when she decided to immerse herself in the bowels of Latin America after learning Spanish and Latin and reading everything she could find about Hispanic literature.

About 20 years ago, she began to investigate the character who she found to be the most fascinating: Gabriela Mistral, the Chilean poet, one of the first great writers of her region to publicly identify as mestiza (a person of both Spanish and Indigenous descent). And today  with those eyes that sparkle whenever she talks about her greatest passions  she has published the first of three books on the life of the poet, writer, professor and the only Latin American woman to have won the Nobel Prize in Literature: Mistral: A Life.

Elizabeth Horan in Mexico City. Gladys Serrano

Gabriela wrote letters. Many letters too many letters, says Horan on one of the pages in her book. Thanks to that  and to her enormous body of work, which hasnt yet been fully explored or published  Horan was able to put together Mistrals profile. She traced the Chilean poets journey from her birth, in 1889, in the small town of Vicuna, until the moment in which she left for Mexico, at the age of 33, to serve under Secretary of Public Education Jose Vasconcelos as he implemented his reforms. To do this, she had to pass several tests that Mexican diplomats gave her.

This was the first part of her life  a complex, uphill path to find a place in the Chilean teaching profession and, later, in her career as a diplomat. Mistral didnt have it easy. She came from a lower-middle-class family that she ended up supporting with her teachers salary. She grew up in a female-supported household: all the women in her family knew how to read and write, at a time when only 10% of Chilean women could do so. Her sister and her mother did what they could to keep the house running, while Mistral joined the world that would give her new and better tools to survive.

In a letter to her wealthy friend Victoria Ocampo, she wrote: Hardnesses, fanaticisms, ugliness [these are the things] in me that you wont be able to understand, being ignorant as you are about what its like to spend 30 years chewing raw stone with a womans gums.

Gabriela Mistral with her students from the Punta Arenas High School, around 1919. Biblioteca Nacional de Chile

Hardness and ugliness took on every imaginable form in her childhood. The shadow of an alleged act of sexual abuse by a family friend (which took place when she was seven years old), her lack of desire to fulfill the roles imposed on her as a woman in a patriarchal society, and her extreme shyness all posed disadvantages. As did her sexual preference (she identified as queer) and her desire to explore the world beyond the valley where she was born. Despite all of this, she became the first female Latin American writer to win a Nobel Prize.

Horan, in her infinite enthusiasm, remembers asking herself how Lucila Godoy Alcagaya  Mistrals real name  came out of this valley without any of the privileges granted by a [famous] last name, which, in Chile, was everything? [And], without having any formal education after the age of 10, how did she reach the top of four professions at the international level? After all, in addition to being a poet, teacher and diplomat, Mistral was a bold and prolific journalist. She started in Coquimbo and published more than any other author of her time, when she was just a teenager. She wrote about 800 articles, Horan recalls.

And how  as the academic asks in her book  did Mistral manage to carve out a space for herself in the global history of literature despite her envious detractors? Some called her a third-rate scribbler, such as the Spanish writer Pio Baroja, who, in 1946, just months after the Chilean received the Nobel Prize, criticized her by referring to her as the cockatoo poet. Jorge Luis Borges judged both her poetry and her articles poorly.

The Spanish-language cover of 'Mistral: A Life' (2023). Penguin Random House

Being mestiza, a point of pride

Horan notes that Gabriela Mistral is the first and only great Latin American writer of the 20th century to declare her peasant origins and to describe herself as mestiza. Given the racism that surrounded her, she didnt openly assume this identity until shortly after her mothers death. [Her mother was] the only authority to contradict her, the academic says. It must be said that the Chilean [literary environment] of the time was very racist. Its enough to read the best-selling work by Nicolas Palacios (Chilean Race, published in 1904) or see the mortality figures among Indigenous peoples to understand why Mistral, in her Chilean era, barely referred directly to racial identity. However, if you look closely, she does do it but in coded and metaphorical language, in the same way that she refers to her queerness and to her feminine masculinity, Horan emphasizes.

After more than 20 years of studying, reviewing and rediscovering new writings and contributions by Mistral, Horan assures EL PAIS that the Chileans place in history is still far from what she deserves. Gabriela Mistral is an endless source [of knowledge] for Latin America. She forged a language that is totally her own and her prose is very accessible. Shes one of the first writers to think of Latin America as an entity. She hasnt received the attention that she should have received: she is as important as [Simon] Bolivar, [Jose] Marti, or [Jose Carlos] Mariategui.

Secretaries and confidants

Horans book takes a journey through the Chilean womans life, looking at her work and the secrets guarded by her secretaries: the Chilean Laura Rodig, the Mexican Palma Guillen and the American Doris Dana. According to the academic, these women wove a meticulous and valuable network of collaborative work, which sought to provide Mistral with privileged positions in circles that were predominantly male. Each book will be about her secretary at the time, or her primary secretary. This [first book] is about Laura Rodig. We know from letters that Rodig was a lesbian. While we dont know with certainty that they were lovers, its possible. Mistrals secretary-friend relationship has many connotations. The roles werent stable and had to be negotiated. This shows how sexual dissidence is a primary point [of interest].

Mistral upon arrival in Genoa (Italy), in January 1951. Gian Carlo Barone (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

In her attempt to reach Mexico and work with Vasconcelos, Mistral had to go through several tests that a group of diplomats gave her, to demonstrate her ability to promote Mexico not as a disorderly state in permanent revolution, but rather as a country that had diplomats, poets and very good poets. A country that was among the leaders of Latin America. From there, her path was long, fruitful and transcendental. She was the architect of Vasconcelos educational reforms in Mexico and she was a diplomat and lecturer in a long list of countries, travelling around until the end of her life. Horan  convinced of the infinite legacy that she continues to discover in the Chilean writer  assures EL PAIS that Mistral was (as she herself observed) the last of her kind.

Translated by Avik Jain Chatlani.

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Los Angeles -

With a long journalistic career, five books and a Pulitzer Prize behind him, Hector Tobars latest project began with a simple question: what does it mean to be Latino in the United States? It was not the first time that the Los Angeles-born writer explored the identity process in a country as racialized as the U.S. He first did so in Translation Nation (2005), in which he explored the territory of Spanglish, that intangible nation made up of 35 million Spanish speakers in North America.

Tobar, 64, revisits the subject in Our Migrant Souls: A Meditation on Race and the Meanings and Myths of Latino, in which he examines decades of thought on the subject from an angle that is both ambitious and personal. A professor at the University of California, Irvine, the writer describes what he calls the Latino experience which, in his case, began with his fathers departure from Guatemala after the U.S.-backed 1954 military coup that ousted President Jacobo Arbenz. Tobar retraces his fathers journey, visiting his familys village, where he was able to piece together his family tree for the first time.

Every time I go back, I realize what I lost, the writer says over a sandwich at the iconic Phillip The Original restaurant in downtown Los Angeles. Its the place Tobar, an experienced Los Angeles Times journalist, chooses to talk about his new book, which won the University of Arizonas Zocalo Award, presented June 13.

Question. Why did you write Our Migrant Souls?

Answer. I was working with a lot of young people in courses on Literary Journalism and Chicano Studies. For their finals, I asked them to tell me a story about the Latino experience in the United States. So I became familiar with a lot of stories about growing up as a Latino here. I didnt think there had been anything written before on this experience with a literary impact equal to what James Baldwin or Ida B. Wells did with racial issues. And I wanted to go in that direction. I wanted to write something poetic.

Q. Did you also talk to your students about it?

A. Absolutely. It was a kind of recognition of them. They are living a unique moment; they are people who have lived through the experience of their parents and have a vision of what this country is. It is material that hasnt made it into mainstream media. Its not on Netflix. What were presented with are extremely romanticized or extremely violent visions of the Latino experience. So I felt the need to honor their vision and show how powerful it is. I tell my students that they are standing on enormous cultural capital.

Q. And what is your vision?

A. The United States is a mestizo country. It is assimilating the way of being, and the idiosyncrasies of the Latino communities across the country. If you go to South Dakota, Maine, Tennessee, or Oregon you will find Latino communities. Almost everyone has a Latino co-worker or their children married someone from a Latin American country. So that Latino-ness is seeping into the American way of being, which is the story of the U.S. A lot of the xenophobia is a response to that, to this supposed threat to the racial order of this country.

Q. Why do you use quotation marks when you refer to Latino?

A. Because the ethnic and racial terms of this country are myths; they are inventions. Latino  and this is something I learned recently  comes from an idea of Latin America linked to the mythology of French imperialism in Mexico. Its this idea of we are not invading you because we are Latino brothers, and we have a common cause against the Anglo-Americans. Our idea of Latin America has its origin in the Napoleonic wars, which is absurd. And not only that, Latino implies that the essence of our collective identity is European, which completely erases our Indigenous roots and African influences.

Hector Tobar in Los Angeles, on May 10. Gabriel Osorio

Q. You write that Latino replaced other terms such as Chicano and Bracero, etc. Is it a hollow definition?

A. Those terms have always been very fluid in history. During my lifetime, I have seen the term Chicano almost die out. At the same time, I have seen the ethnogenesis of Latino. Ethnic terms can be born out of nowhere. Here in California for a while Californio was used to describe mulattos, Indians and Creoles. These are hollow terms. Thats why its ridiculous for people to spend time saying who is Latino and who is not.

Q. Maybe whites in the U.S. have specific traits in common. What traits would Latinos have in common?

Q. I thought about this a lot. The Latino term means you have a history of empire in your ancestry. Its almost like being Jewish. When youre Jewish, you sit down and celebrate Passover, a story of exodus and survival. Thats what being Latino means to me. At some point, you are defined by this relationship with the power of an empire. If you are Cuban, it means that the struggle between the U.S. and the former Soviet empire helped you define your relationship with an island. Before that, it was the struggle between Spain and Cuba. If you are a Texan several generations back, at some point the border crossed your path.

Q. Does this also lead to the need to decolonize histories?

A. Racial and ethnic identities are really masks that hide complex histories. I once interviewed a 90-year-old guy from South Los Angeles for a column. He was white but had led a life of crime in gangs. He was from Macedonia, with roots in the old Ottoman Empire. He moved to a part of town where everyone was from somewhere else  Canada, Ireland, Germany. On that street, everyone became white. White, in America, meant you left behind the pain of being a poor European. You are no longer a poor Italian, Pole or Jew. You are already in a white space where there is only opportunity, and no obstacles in your way. Not only that. The political and economic system gives you every advantage. This country has made being white akin to owning property, a very valuable asset. The other races were created as a contrast to being white.

Q. Latinos make up 20% of the population, but the goal of many  for example, the Latino Trumpists  is to join that white empire.

A. That has always been part of the Latino experience. In the court case that prompted integration in Orange County Schools  Mendez v. Westminter  a group of Latino families, Puerto Rican and Mexican, had seen their children separated from the rest. So they sued the school. And one of the arguments was that they should not be segregated because they were not Black.

Q. So you agree the experience has negative elements?

A. Yes, it can be negative, but magical at the same time. You have this beautiful place in your past. Here in Lynwood, theres a mall that gives people a taste of what a small town is like. People get the idea that they come from a place more associated with nature and community. It gives them pride and a feeling of being centered and more deeply rooted. If you talk to a poor white person from a rural area, they dont have this idea of belonging to something solid and grounded. Thats why Trumpism exists. It offers them this identity or an explanation of their status.

Q. In fact, you barely mention Trump in your book. Why is that?

A. There was no need. Whats interesting is what makes people believe in him. If you only think about Trump and his insanity, you stop thinking about the emotional reality that created him. Which is that white, as a project, is dying. It is more important to me to link our history to a 300-year history. What the Latino people are experiencing now is what the oppressed people of North America have experienced since the founding of the country. We have been treated as a crisis. It is the American way of doing business and creating wealth: attract people to come, exploit them, and then consider them parasites. They did it to the Chinese in 1870 and to Black Africans during slavery. Its an old story. Its important to me that Latinos know it wasnt just us.

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Joe Biden began his term with a great gesture to the Latino electorate. In his first hours in the White House, the president sent Congress legislation that sought to restore humanity and American values to the immigration system. The bill intended to automatically give residence permits (green cards) to Dreamers, to people under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and to undocumented farm workers who were in the United States before 2021. The law went to die in the Capitol, where it crashed into a Republican wall. Forty months later, that same president has introduced a controversial restriction on asylum, a measure considered the harshest ever adopted by a Democrat in power.

What has led Biden to deliver this blow in an election year? The distance between the two measures is not a straight line, but rather a bumpy path that has been drawn by the pragmatism of the administration and the whim of public opinion, which has veered to the right on the issue of immigration after the harsh legacy left by Trump. It may be said that Biden has taken steps forward with the goal he set for himself, but he has also gone backwards in other ways.

The governments legacy in immigration policy was built in the first months of Bidens term in office. In addition to the law, which created a clear eight-year path for 10.5 million people to get their papers, a series of decrees and measures followed. He raised the limit of refugees who could enter the United States, which Trump had kept at a minimum. He also reactivated the granting of residence permits, which the former president had frozen in 2020 with the excuse of the Covid health emergency.

In the first months of the Democratic administration, Biden tried to create a contrast with his predecessor. It was one of his campaign promises. It was a moral failure and a national shame when a father and his baby drowned on U.S. shores, when children were being locked up in overcrowded detention centers and the government kept them there indefinitely, the then-candidate said on his website. Among his commitments was to take urgent action to undo Trumps legacy and modernize the immigration system.

Reality forced him to take another path. According to official figures, in fiscal year 2020, immigration authorities documented some 646,000 arrests. The pandemic is partly responsible for this low number for such a busy area as the border with Mexico. A year later, however, Bidens first in power, arrests reached 1.9 million. The number continued to skyrocket to reach 2.5 million last year.

Thomas Homan, a former Trump-era official who led the law enforcement force in charge of deporting undocumented immigrants, assures that this enormous number of arrivals tested the response capacity of the Border Patrol, the federal force that monitors the 1,954-mile frontier with Mexico. In order to process such numbers, it was necessary for many officers to manage large groups, leaving several miles with little supervision.

In order to quickly process the number of people arriving at the southern border, Biden left Title 42 in place, a measure that Trump put into effect during the pandemic. In short, what he was doing was closing the border to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Scientists ruled out the effectiveness of the measure because the virus was arriving by air along both coasts and not by land via immigrants. But Title 42 served to quickly deport illegal immigrants and advance Trumpisms most radical positions on border control.

The Biden government initially received harsh criticism for maintaining Trumps tool to combat irregular immigration. The rule helped quickly deport 2.8 million people, mostly to Mexico. The president tried to lift it on more than one occasion, causing the Republican governors to sue the executive to leave the rule in place. Title 42 finally expired a year ago, on May 11, 2023. It was in place for 38 months, affecting many asylum seekers. When the dust settled, Bidens image as an ally of migrants had already disappeared.

This, despite the fact that the Democratic administration has admitted the largest number of people under the humanitarian parole program. This protection status, different from TPS, has benefited tens of thousands of people fleeing armed conflicts such as those in Afghanistan and Ukraine, and also those leaving collapsed countries like Haiti or Venezuela. According to the CBS network, this administration has admitted one million people under this program. Republican congressmen demand that the use of parole come to an end. Citizens of six other countries are protected by TPS until July 2025.

Call to protest

In a measure perceived almost unanimously as having electoral overtones, Biden announced a week ago an executive order that allows the border to be closed when the number of arrests exceeds 2,500 per day over the course of a week. It is a very low ceiling. In the days after the announcement, 3,800 people were arrested per day. In December, illegal crossings were close to 10,000 a day. In addition, the new decree makes it more difficult to apply for asylum for those arriving by land. The administration also reduced from 24 to four the number of hours that detainees have to consult a lawyer to help prepare their first interview with immigration authorities.

The Coalition for Human Immigrant Rights (Chirla) has called for a demonstration on June 15, when Biden and former president Barack Obama will be in Los Angeles to hold a fundraising event for the campaign.

The protest is part of a week in which we want to call the presidents attention to keep his promise and protect his legacy, the organization says. Chirla wants the president to take action to extend the protection of undocumented immigrants with DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), who arrived as minors. The program, like many immigration control measures, is experiencing a conservative attack in the courts. A Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals could suspend it after 12 years of validity. If this happens, it would be bad news that would be added to Bidens tally amid his re-election campaign.

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By Takuya Karube, KYODO NEWS - Jun 16, 2024 - 08:45 | All, World, Japan

Dozens of leaders from Europe and other regions, representing developed and developing countries, convened Saturday at a secluded Swiss resort to explore potential avenues for bringing about an end to the war in Ukraine, though Russia and its key partner China did not join.

The so-called peace summit, spearheaded by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, comes at a critical time for Ukraine as Russia, which started a full-scale invasion of its neighboring country in February 2022, is ramping up its offensive.

Zelenskyy said the participation of a total of 101 countries and organizations is a "tremendous success" and demonstrates the will of a large majority of the world to take "the first step toward a just end to the war."

"We must stop this war based on the U.N. Charter, respect for international law, the just interests of the Ukrainian people and the idea of the undeniable value of human life," he told other participants at the outset of the conference.

According to the Swiss government, 57 countries, ranging from France, Germany and Japan to Argentina, Fiji, Qatar and Somalia, are sending their top leaders to the summit, set to conclude Sunday with the release of a potential declaration.

In the run-up to the gathering at the Burgenstock resort overlooking Lake Lucerne, Zelenskyy made a diplomatic push to boost attendance, traveling as far as Singapore and the Philippines.

Agreeing with him earlier this year to host a large, high-level conference in an attempt to initiate a peace process and lay the groundwork for future negotiations, the neutral Swiss government invited representatives from more than 160 countries and organizations.

Despite a strong plea from Zelenskyy, however, U.S. President Joe Biden opted not to join the talks, leaving for Los Angeles late Friday for his star-studded election campaign fundraiser after attending a Group of Seven summit in Italy.

Vice President Kamala Harris represented the United States, along with Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan.

On the margins of the Swiss summit, Harris met with Zelenskyy and announced more than $1.5 billion in additional aid for Ukraine's emergency energy and humanitarian needs, according to the White House.

Among world powers, China and Russia did not send representatives to the peace summit, and Zelenskyy accused them of pressuring smaller countries to skip the event and dismiss his efforts.

Russia, which was not invited, has criticized the first high-level conference of its kind, asserting any peace talks without Moscow's participation or consideration of its interests are meaningless, while China continues to portray itself as a neutral actor in the Ukrainian crisis, although it has tacitly backed the Kremlin.

Brazil and South Africa, which form the BRICS grouping with China, India and Russia, are represented by an envoy. India is sending a ministerial-level official.

The Swiss government has suggested this is just the first in a series of meetings and acknowledged that the peace process will ultimately require the involvement of Russia.

Discussions at the inaugural summit in central Switzerland will largely be based on Ukraine's 10-point peace formula, presented by Zelenskyy to world leaders at the Group of 20 summit in Indonesia in November 2022.

Of the 10 points, Zelenskyy has said Ukraine wants a particular focus this time on nuclear safety, food security, the release of prisoners of war and the return of his country's children abducted by Russia.

The Swiss conference comes on the heels of the G7 summit in Fasano, southern Italy, where Biden and his counterparts from the group of the world's leading industrialized democracies offered strong and unified support for Ukraine in the presence of Zelenskyy as the war stretches into its third year.

Related coverage:

OPINION: Ukraine peace process must start with Swiss summit

Japan, Ukraine sign deal for long-term support amid Russian war
KYODO NEWS - Jun 15, 2024 - 23:26 | All, World

A rescue team on Saturday recovered a human body believed to be one of two Japanese climbers who went missing while attempting to scale the 7,027-meter Spantik Peak in northern Pakistan, according to a Pakistani official.

The two missing climbers have been identified as Ryuseki Hiraoka, 55, and Atsushi Taguchi, 36, according to local authorities and other sources. The recovered body is likely to be Hiraoka's, they said.

The body was moved to "a safe place," Waliullah Falahi, a senior official overseeing the rescue operations, told Kyodo News.

The two Japanese were believed to have been climbing without porters. Officials from the Japanese embassy and a local tour operator confirmed Thursday that they had gone missing.

Their possible location was identified by Pakistan Army helicopters during an aerial search on Thursday. Adverse weather and challenging terrain have posed challenges to the rescue attempt.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 15, 2024 - 12:21 | World, All

An updated regulation allowing China's coast guard to detain foreigners suspected of trespassing in waters it claims for up to 60 days took effect on Saturday, raising concerns in countries such as the Philippines that have sovereignty disputes with it.

The new development is feared to further escalate tensions in the South China Sea, where Chinese and Philippine vessels often confront each other. The Chinese coast guard has fired water cannons at Philippine ships.

China claims virtually the entire South China Sea, a vital shipping route and an area of rich fishing grounds. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have competing claims in the sea.

Beijing also claims the Japan-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, calling them Diaoyu, and regularly sends its ships near the islets.

The updated regulation, unveiled in May this year, outlines procedures to crack down on illegal maritime activities. It is aimed at thoroughly implementing rules that took effect in 2021 to allow the coast guard to use weapons against foreign ships deemed to have illegally entered Chinese waters.

Earlier this month, coast guard authorities of the Philippines, Japan and the United States discussed ways to deal with the matter as they met in Singapore on the sidelines of the Asia Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue.

Related coverage:

China coast guard blasts Philippine boat with water cannon

China uses water cannons on Philippine ships in South China Sea

Philippines says China disrupted medical evacuation in South China Sea
This undated combo photo shows pieces of cultural relics retrieved from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea. (NCHA/Handout via Xinhua)

HAIKOU, June 14 (Xinhua) -- About 150 kilometers southeast of Sanya City in China's southern island province of Hainan, at a depth of about 1,500 meters beneath the deep blue sea, lie two shipwrecks revealing the bustling trade activities along the ancient Maritime Silk Road.

Through joint excavation efforts involving research institutes and a local museum over the past two years, more than 900 pieces of cultural relics have been retrieved from the shipwrecks.

A total of 890 pieces of relics were excavated from the No. 1 shipwreck, including porcelain and pottery items, as well as copper coins. From the No. 2 shipwreck, 38 ancient artifacts were retrieved, including lumber, porcelain and pottery products, turban shells, and deer antlers, the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA) told a press briefing on Thursday.

Discovered in October 2022 near the northwest continental slope of the South China Sea, the two well-preserved shipwrecks date back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The discovery is not only major deep-sea archaeological discoveries in China but also significant archaeological findings on a global scale.

"They were both considered to be privately owned commercial ships as the No. 1 shipwreck was loaded with pottery and porcelain objects to be sold overseas and the No. 2 shipwreck carried timber imported from abroad," said Song Jianzhong, a staffer of the National Center for Archaeology of the NCHA.

According to Song, the No. 1 ship may have departed from ports in the provinces of Guangdong or Fujian and was heading for the trade hub Malacca in Malaysia, while the No. 2 ship may have picked up logs at Malacca and was on its way back to Guangdong or Fujian.

The exquisite artifacts vividly depict the bustling trade activities during the mid-Ming Dynasty, Song said, adding that they serve as crucial evidence of the ancient Maritime Silk Road trade, providing important physical materials for research on Chinese maritime history, ocean trade history and cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries.

The excavation was made possible by China's advanced deep-sea technologies and equipment for archaeological surveys. Experts used 3D laser scanners, high-definition cameras, and submersible mud-pumping and blowing devices for this archaeological excavation.

"This deep-sea archaeological investigation, integrating China's deep-sea science and technology and underwater archaeology, marks the country's achievement of a world-class level in deep-sea archaeology," said Guan Qiang, deputy head of the NCHA.

The archaeological investigation involving the two shipwrecks has secured significant progress, but the exploration of underwater legends is far from over.

Wang Zhongyun, deputy director of the Hainan Provincial Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports, pledged efforts to promptly organize the materials of the findings, launch special exhibitions and publish picture catalogs of the retrieved artifacts.

Wang added that the survey of underwater cultural heritage in the South China Sea will continue, with the objective of deepening understanding and laying the groundwork for the protection and sustainable development of underwater cultural heritage in the region. 
CHANGSHA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng has urged efforts to unswervingly expand high-standard opening up and continue to vigorously build a highland for reform and opening up in inland regions.

He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks on Friday during an inspection trip to Changsha, the capital of central China's Hunan Province.

He visited the Changsha area of the China (Hunan) Pilot Free Trade Zone, the Changsha Airport Economic Demonstration Zone, and the Changsha Huanghua Comprehensive Bonded Zone.

The vice premier said Hunan should give full play to its own advantages, steadily expand institutional opening up, deeply integrate into the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, and enhance the new advantages in international economic cooperation and competition.

Efforts should be made to utilize the opening up of platforms to deepen reform and innovation, attract more enterprises with high-tech and high-added-value products, promote new business forms and models, including cross-border e-commerce, and drive regional development, he said.

He called for continuously facilitating cross-border trade, expanding access to emerging markets, better serving foreign investors, and stabilizing the scale of foreign investment utilization.

He also urged making full use of the financing coordination mechanism for the real estate sector to ensure that sold but unfinished commercial housing is completed and delivered on time and with guaranteed quality. 
Recently, the European Union announced to impose additional tariffs up to 38% on Chinese electrical vehicles. At the same time, many European countries are competing to attract investment and factory construction from Chinese automakers. Why did this situation occur? How will this affect European customers? Cui Hongjian, Professor of Beijing Foreign Studies University, explains with his insights.
MANILA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines has tallied 197 deaths due to dengue from January to June 1 this year, the Department of Health (DOH) said Saturday.

The DOH said it recorded nearly 70,500 cases of mosquito-borne disease from January 1 to June 1.

The health department said it has closely monitored the number of new dengue cases per week as the previously declining trend "is now starting to plateau."

"This could be the start of a rise in cases nationwide, if we will not search and destroy 'mosquito water', stagnant water in any areas or containers that may breed dengue mosquitos," the DOH warned.

The DOH noted that seven regions in northern part of the main Luzon island and southern Philippines showed dengue case increases in recent three to four weeks.

On May 29, the weather bureau declared start of rainy season in the Philippines.

"More water means more mosquito breeding grounds," Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said, urging people to "search and destroy stagnant water."

Dengue is endemic in the Philippines. Water-borne infectious diseases, including dengue, usually peak at the start of rainy season due to fluctuating weather conditions, flooding and accumulation of contaminated water. 
Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, addresses the main meeting of the 16th Straits Forum in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

XIAMEN, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Senior official Wang Huning on Saturday stressed that China has the resolve, confidence and ability to shatter separatist attempts for "Taiwan independence" in any form.

Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the statement while addressing the main conference of the 16th Straits Forum in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province.

The speech made by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, in April has pointed out the direction for the development of cross-Strait relations and peace and stability in the Strait, Wang said.

He called on people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to shoulder their historical and national responsibilities, firmly oppose "Taiwan independence" separatism and foreign interference, steadfastly safeguard the common homeland of the Chinese nation, promote peace and tranquility across the Strait, and work together to push cross-Strait relations back onto the right path.

Separatists seeking "Taiwan independence" undermine peace and stability between the two sides of the Strait, harm the interests and well-being of people in Taiwan, and jeopardize national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Wang said, adding that their actions will push Taiwan to the brink of war and bring disaster to people on the island.

He pledged that the mainland will continue enhancing the interests and well-being of the people of Taiwan, and welcome more of them to participate in cross-Strait exchange, cooperation and integrated development.

He also expressed the hope that young people on both sides of the Strait will engage in more exchanges and interactions, develop mutual understanding, and work together to realize the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Sean Lien, vice chair of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT), said the KMT has always promoted cross-Strait exchange and cooperation, based on the common political foundation of upholding the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence."

People on both sides of the Strait, all of whom are Chinese, should face challenges together and strive for peace and prosperity for future generations of the Chinese nation.

Ahead of the conference, Wang met with guests from Taiwan who are attending the forum. 

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, meets with representatives of the guests from Taiwan prior to the main meeting of the 16th Straits Forum in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 15, 2024. Wang addressed the main meeting of the forum here on Saturday. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)
HARARE, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has congratulated Cyril Ramaphosa on his reelection as the president of South Africa.

In his congratulatory message on Friday, Mnangagwa re-affirmed his commitment to working closely with Ramaphosa to further strengthen and deepen strong ties that exist between Zimbabwe and South Africa, glued together by shared history, culture, and family ties.

Mnangagwa further underscored his commitment to continue working with Ramaphosa at the regional and multilateral levels to bolster regional integration, as well as to seek enduring solutions to global challenges.

"On behalf of the government and the people of the Republic of Zimbabwe, and, indeed, on my own behalf, it is my honor and privilege to extend to you, our sincere and heartfelt congratulations following your reelection as the President of South Africa," Mnangagwa said.

Ramaphosa, leader of South Africa's ruling African National Congress, was reelected by the National Assembly on Friday as the nation's president for the next five years. 
WELLINGTON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Saturday that China, with its vast market potential, is committed to unswervingly expanding high-level opening-up, and will continue to create a first-class business environment and support foreign enterprises in achieving better and greater development in China.

Li made the remarks when visiting the headquarters of New Zealand's dairy company Fonterra in Auckland with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon during his official visit to the country. 
Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrives in Adelaide, Australia, June 15, 2024, for an official visit to Australia. During his stay, Li and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will co-chair the ninth China-Australia Annual Leaders' Meeting and jointly attend a China-Australia CEO Roundtable Meeting. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

ADELAIDE, Australia, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived here Saturday for an official visit to Australia.

During his stay, Li and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will co-chair the ninth China-Australia Annual Leaders' Meeting and jointly attend a China-Australia CEO Roundtable Meeting.

Li said the exchanges between China and Australia have a long history, and the friendship between the two peoples is ever stronger.

In 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a historic visit to Australia and the two countries established a comprehensive strategic partnership, Li said. Since then, exchanges and cooperation in various fields have been accelerating and upgrading, while mutual benefit and win-win cooperation have remained the mainstream of bilateral ties.

Last year, Albanese paid a successful visit to China, the Chinese premier said, when bilateral relations have returned to the right track after twists and turns.

History has proven that respecting each other, seeking common ground while shelving differences, and carrying out mutually beneficial cooperation are valuable experience in the development of China-Australia relations, and need to be upheld and carried forward, he said.

Noting that his visit came on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership, Li said he looks forward to having in-depth exchanges of views with Australian leaders and friends from all walks of life on China-Australia relations and issues of common concern, as well as jointly discussing cooperation, development and friendship.

A more mature, stable and fruitful China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership will be a shared asset for both peoples, Li said, adding that China is willing to work with Australia to that end.

This is the second leg of Li's three-nation tour following his official visit to New Zealand. 
Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrives in Adelaide, Australia, June 15, 2024, for an official visit to Australia. During his stay, Li and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will co-chair the ninth China-Australia Annual Leaders' Meeting and jointly attend a China-Australia CEO Roundtable Meeting. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

ADELAIDE, Australia, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived here Saturday for an official visit to Australia, the second leg of his three-nation tour.

During his stay, Li and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will co-chair the ninth China-Australia Annual Leaders' Meeting and jointly attend a China-Australia CEO Roundtable Meeting.

Li said the exchanges between China and Australia have a long history, and the friendship between the two peoples remains ever new over time.

In 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a historic visit to Australia and the two countries established a comprehensive strategic partnership, Li said. Since then, exchanges and cooperation in various fields have been accelerating and upgrading, while mutual benefit and win-win cooperation have remained the mainstream of bilateral ties.

Last year, Albanese paid a successful visit to China, getting bilateral relations back to the right track after twists and turns, the Chinese premier said.

History has proven that mutual respect, seeking common ground while shelving differences, and mutually beneficial cooperation are valuable experience in the development of China-Australia relations, and need to be upheld and carried forward, he noted. 
BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday delivered a video speech to the opening ceremony of the celebration for the 60th anniversary of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), calling for fostering an international environment for peaceful development, following the trend toward open development, and promoting innovation-driven development, a message that resonated with the international community.

China's pursuit of Chinese modernization through high-quality development will bring greater opportunities to the world, and building a community with a shared future for mankind will foster a brighter future for all, experts have said.

STANDING FIRMLY WITH GLOBAL SOUTH

In his video speech, Xi said China will always be a member of the Global South and the developing world, adding that China will actively seek to import more from other developing countries, step up cooperation in trade, investment and development, and help implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The Global South has accounted for an increasing share of the world economy, and a significant portion of emerging markets and developing countries have embarked on the fast track of development, which has greatly promoted the process of world multipolarity.

The Global Development Initiative put forward by Xi has received positive responses from more than 100 countries and international organizations. The Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund established by China has supported the implementation of more than 200 projects.

Holding humanity's future and people's well-being close to its heart, China will work together with all parties to give the world a bright future of peace, security, prosperity and progress, Xi noted.

Talat Shabbir, director of the Islamabad-based China-Pakistan Study Centre at the Institute of Strategic Studies, said that Xi's call for universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization provides countries across the globe with the opportunity to benefit from free trade and utilize their economic capacities to contribute to the global economy.

For developing countries, this means not only increased access to global supply chains but also opportunities to be part of the supply chains, Shabbir noted.

"These opportunities have also led Pakistan to develop special economic zones and increase the country's capacity for renewable energy in the overall energy mix," he added.

China's opening up to the world is expanding. Through expos such as the China International Import Expo, the China International Fair for Trade in Services, and the Global Digital Trade Expo, an increasing number of products from Global South countries are entering the Chinese market, sharing opportunities and benefits from China's high-quality development.

Paul Frimpong, executive director of the Africa-China Center for Policy and Advisory, a think tank based in Ghana, said that Xi's address to the UNCTAD has sent a clear message to the world that China has always stood firmly with the Global South.

"China itself is part of developing countries and familiar with the challenges that developing countries are facing in terms of trade-related restrictions in the global arena, and I think Xi's speech has provided us with important ideas about dealing with global challenges including the imbalanced development," said Frimpong.

He noted that over the past years, the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China has led to profound improvements in economic and social development of the African continent, which highlighted the vital role China has played in advancing globalization.

PURSUING TRUE MULTILATERALISM

In his video speech, Xi said that all countries, major ones in particular, should pursue true multilateralism, advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world, abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and support a more effective role of UNCTAD and other multilateral agencies.

"I welcome the increased support of China to UNCTAD, and also the reaffirmation by President Xi Jinping, his commitment to multilateralism and to the work of United Nations," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told Xinhua on Wednesday.

"I was very impressed," said Rebeca Grynspan, secretary-general of UNCTAD. "This is a testament to our good relationship, a longtime relationship, between China and UNCTAD. President Xi's support for UNCTAD really means a lot to us."

"President Xi's message shows his very strong support for multilateralism and international cooperation. These are really two key elements for sustainable development and for peaceful development for the whole world," Grynspan added.

To practice true multilateralism and adhere to a global governance vision that emphasizes extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, means that global affairs must be discussed by all, governance systems built by all, and benefits of governance shared by all, so that every country is a participant, contributor and beneficiary of world peace and development.

In recent years, China has supported and practiced multilateralism with concrete actions. It has promoted high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, actively participated in the construction of multilateral cooperation platforms such as the BRICS Cooperation Mechanism and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and constantly enriched and improved the connotation of multilateralism, said Bambang Suryono, chairman of Asia Innovation Study Center, an Indonesian think tank.

In the past 60 years since the establishment of the UNCTAD, humanity has made significant progress. However, challenges such as climate change and deglobalization have posed threats to the effective functioning of multilateral institutions. China promotes "functional and genuine multilateralism, where every country can pursue its right to development as enshrined in the founding UN Charter," said Adhere Cavince, a Kenya-based international relations scholar.

CHINESE WISDOM AND CHINESE SOLUTIONS

In his video speech, Xi said that it is important to build an open, inclusive and non-discriminatory environment for the digital economy, follow the people-centered, AI-for-good principle and strengthen AI-related rules and governance within the framework of the United Nations, actively advance green transition, and help developing countries join the trend of digital, smart and green development.

Grynspan said that Xi's message was "so important," adding that the calls for inclusive development, for green development, and for a more equitable world are "very strong messages that we absolutely share and thinking about UNCTAD."

Electric vehicles, solar batteries and lithium-ion batteries, categorized as China's tech-intensive and green "new three," reported a combined export value of 1.06 trillion yuan (150 billion dollars) in 2023, jumping 29.9 percent year on year.

Wichai Kinchong Choi, senior vice president of leading Thai bank Kasikornbank, said China's electric vehicles have gained popularity in Thailand and the country has introduced a wide array of new energy technologies and products from China, which has promoted its green transformation.

"Chinese technology would be conducive to accelerating the energy transition for developing countries, providing Chinese wisdom and solutions to solve the common problems faced by mankind," he said.

Calling Chinese modernization and high-quality development "forward looking," Iqbal Surve, chairman of South Africa's Independent Media, said that China's focus on leveraging new technologies aligns with the global trends towards digitalization and sustainability.

Sri Lankan international affairs expert Yasiru Ranaraja said that Chinese modernization provides valuable experience for developing countries including Sri Lanka, adding that China advocates the concept of win-win cooperation and is committed to achieving common prosperity, which conforms to the critical needs of the majority of developing countries. 
MOSCOW, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Two warships of the Russian Pacific Fleet will participate in joint naval exercises with the Egyptian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday.

According to the ministry, a group of combat ships from the Pacific Fleet, including the missile cruiser Varyag and the frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov, has left for the Egyptian port of Alexandria to engage in the joint exercise with the Egyptian Navy.

The ministry further specified that the Egyptian Navy will be represented by the frigate ENS Al-Qadeer during the drills.

The exercises will be conducted in the PASSEX format, which focuses on mastering combat coordination techniques between the fleets of different nations. The drills will include elements of joint maneuvering, communication training, and inspection actions. 
THE HAGUE, June 15 (Xinhua) -- A new Dutch government is likely to take office by the end of June as the four coalition parties have reached agreement on all candidate ministers and state secretaries.

The parties -- the Party for Freedom (PVV), the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), the New Social Contract (NSC), and the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB) -- have been engaged in long and tedious negotiations over forming a coalition government following the elections in November 2023.

A breakthrough was made in May when they struck a deal on forming a new government and then on a new prime minister, Dick Schoof, who is not a member of any of the coalition parties.

A few days ago, the parties reached consensus on the candidates for the government ministries. Caspar Veldkamp (NSC) would be the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ruben Brekelmans (VVD), Minister of Defense, Eelco Heinen (VVD), Minister of Finance, and Sophie Hermans, Minister of Climate and Green Growth.

However, due to a security service's investigation, PVV had to withdraw the intended Minister of Asylum and Migration Gidi Markuszower from the list. While the exact details remain unclear, the intelligence service (AIVD) classified him as an "integrity risk" years ago.

The PVV then proposed its MP Marjolein Faber as the new Minister of Asylum and Migration. VVD leader Dilan Yesilgoz openly expressed doubts about Faber in the media, nearly pushing the new coalition to the brink of collapse.

This led to a crisis meeting on Friday called by government explorer Richard van Zwol, who affirmed Faber's candidacy, noting she passed the screening.

The move will pave the way for the Schoof cabinet of PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB to be sworn in and officially start work by the end of June, in just over two weeks. From next Monday to Wednesday, Van Zwol will receive all the intended ministers for personal meetings, which he emphasized as crucial. These meetings serve as a type of job interview and a time for candidates to disclose anything that might affect their appointment.

Following the meetings, hearings will take place in the House of Representatives for one week. The deadline for Van Zwol's final report on the formation of the new government is June 26, with the swearing-in ceremony expected shortly afterward. 
This photo taken on June 15, 2024 shows the venue of the main meeting of the 16th Straits Forum in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province. The main meeting of the 16th Straits Forum was held here on Saturday. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

A performance is staged during the main meeting of the 16th Straits Forum in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 15, 2024. The main meeting of the 16th Straits Forum was held here on Saturday. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

A performance is staged during the main meeting of the 16th Straits Forum in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 15, 2024. The main meeting of the 16th Straits Forum was held here on Saturday. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

Sean Lien, vice chair of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, speaks during the main meeting of the 16th Straits Forum in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 15, 2024. The main meeting of the 16th Straits Forum was held here on Saturday. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

Guests attending the main meeting of the 16th Straits Forum arrive at the venue in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 15, 2024. The main meeting of the 16th Straits Forum was held here on Saturday. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

Guests attending the main meeting of the 16th Straits Forum pose for photos outside the venue in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 15, 2024. The main meeting of the 16th Straits Forum was held here on Saturday. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

Zhou Zuyi, secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Fujian Provincial Committee, speaks during the main meeting of the 16th Straits Forum in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 15, 2024. The main meeting of the 16th Straits Forum was held here on Saturday. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

This panoramic photo taken with a mobile phone shows the main meeting of the 16th Straits Forum in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 15, 2024. The main meeting of the 16th Straits Forum was held here on Saturday. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

A performance is staged during the main meeting of the 16th Straits Forum in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 15, 2024. The main meeting of the 16th Straits Forum was held here on Saturday. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)
Protests involving civic associations, trade unions, environmentalists and local residents were held Friday against the Group of Seven (G7) summit being held in Borgo Egnazia, a resort near Italy's southern town of Fasano. #GLOBALink




TOKYO, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Toyota Motor Corp. has decided to continue the current production halt for three vehicle models affected by its testing irregularities until July or later.

Toyota decided to extend the production halt beyond the originally set deadline of June 28, as its internal investigation and a land ministry probe are still ongoing, the Japanese automaker said Friday.

The auto giant said it has not decided when to resume production, but the suspension will remain at least until July 31.

Toyota was found earlier this month to have falsified performance tests in order to obtain government certifications for its vehicles.

Following the order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to halt shipments of affected models, Toyota halted production of three models, including Yaris Cross, at its factories in the prefectures of Miyagi and Iwate.

The suspension came after the ministry disclosed that five major Japanese automakers, Toyota, Honda Motor, Mazda, Yamaha Motor and Suzuki Motor, have been implicated in illegal fraudulent practices during their mass production certification applications.

Transport ministry officials have already conducted on-site inspections at Toyota, Mazda, Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki over the misconduct. 
"I think it is a mistake to have the higher tariffs because it will only damage all the chances we normally have." Industry insiders in Germany have voiced opposition to the European Commission's plan to impose additional tariffs on Chinese EVs, calling for free and fair competition.








This photo taken on Jan. 23, 2023 shows Sydney Opera House lit up in red to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year in Sydney, Australia. (New South Wales Government/Handout via Xinhua)

The evolving relationship between China and Australia over the decades highlights that avoiding external interference and pursuing win-win cooperation, rather than confrontation, serves the best interests of the two sides.

by Xinhua writer Ye Shan

CANBERRA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- In the course of history, China and Australia have long been forging ahead side by side, and have benefited greatly from win-win cooperation.

However, in the past decade, bilateral relations have faced challenges. Influenced by external pressure, some Australian politicians have viewed China's rise as a threat, leading to unfavorable actions such as banning Chinese companies from Australia's 5G network and joining the AUKUS partnership on nuclear-powered submarines.

These actions have disrupted the positive trajectory of China-Australia cooperation, causing economic and trade tensions. Controversies have erupted within Australia's political sphere, with former Prime Minister Paul Keating criticizing the government for antagonizing China by following Washington's geopolitical agenda.

There is no reason for strained relations, as China and Australia have no historical conflicts and do not compete economically. Instead, they have significant economic complementarities, and there is huge potential for economic and trade cooperation.

Since 2009, China has been Australia's largest trading partner, export market and import source for 15 consecutive years. In 2023, bilateral trade in goods increased 4.1 percent year on year, while Australian investment in China increased 11.7 percent compared to the previous year. China is also the main importer of agricultural and mineral products from Australia.

Fortunately, high-level exchanges have brought bilateral ties back to the right track, paving the way for a rebound in trade and investment.

In November 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Indonesia, and reached important consensus on accelerating the improvement of bilateral relations. Almost a year later, Albanese visited Beijing and attended the China International Import Expo in Shanghai.

In April, Australia terminated its anti-dumping measures against Chinese wind towers after the World Trade Organization ruled that Australian duties on Chinese steel products were flawed. China for its part has canceled anti-dumping duties on Australian wine and dropped its ban on a number of the country's beef and lamb exporters. More good news on trade is expected.

"Economic complementarity lies at the heart of the bilateral relationship. A focus on areas of common beneficial interest is conducive to a positive atmosphere for dialogue to continue to broaden and enhance bilateral relations," said Warwick Powell, adjunct professor at the Queensland University of Technology.

"There's also a large amount of knowhow that's being developed in China, ranging from renewable energy solutions, new materials, biotechnology, healthcare and nutrition solutions to name a few, that can benefit Australian enterprises, researchers and consumers," Powell said.

The evolving relationship between China and Australia over the decades highlights that avoiding external interference and pursuing win-win cooperation, rather than confrontation, serves the best interests of the two sides.

Just as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed during his visit to Australia in March, to keep China-Australia relations on the right track, both sides must strive for steady and sound progress in the right direction.

On the basis of mutual respect and with economic complementarity at heart, China and Australia are looking at unlimited potential and prospects for cooperation.
MANILA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- A female bus passenger died and 34 others were injured, 11 critically, in a road accident in Negros Occidental province in the central Philippines, a local official said Saturday.

Maria Laarni Pornan, chief of the Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said the accident occurred at around 5:40 p.m. local time on Friday after the government bus, carrying 36 people, including the driver, lost control while negotiating a descending road.

She added that the bus fell on its side, resulting in the death of a 40-year-old female teacher.

Pornan said the bus was transporting public school teachers and a student back to Bacolod City from a team-building activity in San Carlos City when the accident happened. 
Chinese Premier Li Qiang visits the headquarters of New Zealand's dairy company Fonterra with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Auckland, New Zealand, June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

WELLINGTON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Saturday that China, with its vast market potential, is committed to unswervingly expanding high-level opening-up, and will continue to create a first-class business environment and support foreign enterprises in achieving better and greater development in China.

Li made the remarks when visiting the headquarters of New Zealand's dairy company Fonterra in Auckland with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon during his official visit to the country.

During their visit to the company in the morning, the two leaders were briefed on the company's business operations and development in China. They toured an exhibition of products and watched a demonstration of the manufacturing process.

For over 40 years, Fonterra has been operating and continuously expanding its business in China, and that is quite a vivid example of the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries, Li said.

There is vast potential for collaboration in areas such as green development for the two countries, and China welcomes Fonterra and other New Zealand enterprises to continue to seize such opportunities, Li said.

The two leaders also visited New Zealand's agricultural technology exhibition together.

Agriculture has always been an active area of China-New Zealand economic and trade cooperation, Li said, expressing the hope that the two sides will well implement the strategic plan signed last year on upgrading the level of bilateral agricultural cooperation, actively carry out trade in agricultural products, strengthen exchanges in agricultural technology and achieve more cooperation results.

On Friday morning, Li visited the China-New Zealand Belt-and-Road Joint Laboratory on Kiwifruit in Auckland. After listening to an introduction by the lab leader, Li said that the laboratories in China and New Zealand complement each other's strengths and collaborate effectively.

Through the empowerment of science and technology, the laboratories provide support for further improvement and upgrading of the kiwifruit industry in both countries, and add momentum to the development of the kiwifruit industry in the Belt and Road countries, said Li.

The joint laboratory is a successful example of China-New Zealand cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, Li said, calling on both sides to further strengthen cooperation in areas such as technological innovation to contribute to the development of China, New Zealand, and the world. 

Chinese Premier Li Qiang visits the headquarters of New Zealand's dairy company Fonterra with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Auckland, New Zealand, June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Tao)
NEW DELHI, June 15 (Xinhua) -- At least two women were killed after the wall of a three-storey house collapsed in India's financial hub Mumbai, officials said Saturday.

The accident occured in Antop Hill area of Mumbai's Wadala on Friday night.

Authorities have ordered a probe into the accident.

Clearing work was underway and there were no reports of anyone being trapped underneath.

Officials said heavy rain lashed parts of Mumbai on Friday as Monsoon arrived earlier than predicted. 
BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Cyril Ramaphosa who was reelected as president of South Africa on Friday.

In his message, Xi noted that China and South Africa have profound political mutual trust and fruitful practical cooperation in various fields, which is a model of solidarity and cooperation among developing countries and the Global South.

Xi said that during his fourth state visit to South Africa in August last year, he and Ramaphosa reached important consensus on a wide range of issues, marking a new chapter in building a high-level China-South Africa community with a shared future.

Xi also said that he attaches great importance to the development of China-South Africa relations and stands ready to work with Ramaphosa to elevate the China-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level and jointly contribute to world peace, stability, and prosperity. 
The European Union's tariff hike on Chinese electric vehicles is founded on unsubstantiated claims, sparking serious concerns over trade protectionism and the application of double standards. #GLOBALink
BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Brazil-headquartered market pulp giant Suzano said that China's huge market, vibrant innovation ecosystem and the development of new quality productive forces are creating shared growth for global companies.

"In line with China's solid economic fundamentals, our business in China in the first five months of this year had been showing strong results," Pablo Machado, business management president of Suzano Asia, told Xinhua in an interview.

Celebrating its centennial this year, Suzano has been in the Chinese market since the 1980s, witnessing the country's steady rise to its largest export market, which accounts for roughly 40 percent of the company's total global exports.

"In the past four decades, we've witnessed impressive high-speed economic growth in China as well as galloping market growth in our industry," said Machado. The company's sales of market pulp in China surged from about 20,000 tonnes to over 5 million tonnes during the period.

He observed that since the country's reform and opening up, China has not only experienced rapid growth but also modernized its economy by investing heavily in research and development, giving rise to a strong innovation ecosystem.

To leverage innovation to enhance sustainable development, Suzano last year set up the Asia Innovability Hub in Shanghai to address customers' evolving needs for pulp and new bio-based materials and applications.

"We realized that we would be missing a great opportunity if we were not present in China and learning with China's innovation ecosystem," he said, adding that China's innovation ecosystem allows them to not only promote their own research and development in China but also benefit from local advancements and apply them to operations in other regions.

Machado, who first visited China in 2004, said he has been impressed by the tremendous changes brought by various reforms in the country. "Each time I returned, I was astounded by the speed of development, not just economically but also in terms of improving people's living standards."

As an executive of a foreign company operating in China, he is particularly glad to see the government's continuous efforts to develop a more inclusive and open business environment.

"The Chinese government is very professional in attracting investment and has provided great support to us in terms of facilitation, openness and subsidies. This gives us confidence to invest and make plans for growth and future development," he said.

Machado believes that the recent focus on developing new quality productive forces in China is a natural transition for the Chinese economy.

"When a country is small, it can grow fast, but as it becomes larger, it is impossible to maintain the same speed. China has recognized this and has transitioned from high-speed growth to high-quality development, which is a pathway towards the new productive forces," he noted.

Machado said Suzano, as a company known for expertise in growing trees and understanding the science behind them, believes that bio-based materials can play a crucial role in the country's transition to a low-carbon economy, a key part of developing the new productive forces.

"This is the way we have set up our strategy in China, always paying close attention to the country's development model and how we can serve and benefit from the policies," Machado said. 
DAR ES SALAAM, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Saturday congratulated Cyril Ramaphosa on his re-election as President of South Africa.

"On behalf of the Government and the People of the United Republic of Tanzania, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa on being once again entrusted by the people of the Republic of South Africa with a responsibility to lead them as their President," President Hassan said on her account on X, formerly Twitter.

She said Tanzania and South Africa are sister republics, adding that she looked forward to continuing to work with him to strengthen the deep fraternal bonds and historical ties between the two countries and peoples.

Lawmakers in Cape Town voted overwhelmingly on Friday to reinstate Ramaphosa, 71, for another five years after the May 29 general election produced no outright winner.

The election marked a historic turning point for South Africa, ending three decades of dominance by the African National Congress of the late African statesman Nelson Mandela. 
JERUSALEM, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Saturday evening that its eight soldiers were killed in a blast in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah in the morning.

The soldiers were all killed inside a Namer combat engineering vehicle (CEV), according to an initial investigation by the IDF.

The soldiers were moving in a convoy at about 5 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) after launching a nighttime campaign against Hamas in the northwestern district of Rafah, during which the troops from the 401st Armored Brigade killed some 50 Palestinian gunmen.

The convoy was heading toward buildings seized by the army for a rest when a significant explosion struck the Namer CEV, which was the fifth or sixth in the convoy, the IDF said.

The probe results did not verify whether the explosion was due to a bomb that had been planted in advance, or an explosive device placed directly by Hamas operatives on the vehicle.

According to an earlier IDF statement on Saturday, during the week in the Rafah area, Israeli soldiers raided Palestinian militants' infrastructure based on intelligence, killed militants, and located large quantities of weapons above and below ground. 
BAGHDAD, June 15 (Xinhua) -- A Shiite militia in Iraq on Saturday claimed responsibility for an attack with a cruise missile on a site in Haifa in northern Israel.

The militia, known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, said in an online statement that its fighters launched an attack at dawn on Saturday with a long-range al-Arqab upgraded cruise missile on "a site in Haifa."

It provided no further details about the targeted location or any resulting casualties.

The militia stressed that the attack was carried out "in solidarity with the people in the Gaza Strip" and pledged to continue its attacks on "the enemy's strongholds."

Earlier on Saturday, the group claimed responsibility for two drone attacks on Friday, targeting Haifa Port and Ramat David Airbase near Haifa. No details on casualties were provided in either instance.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has carried out multiple attacks on Israeli and U.S. targets in the region since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict on Oct. 7, 2023. 
LUSAKA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Zambia on Friday launched a policy aimed at ending child early marriages in the southern African nation.

The launch of the ending child early marriage policy follows the enactment of a new law last year which makes it illegal for individuals under the age of 18 years to marry, including under customary law.

The policy was aimed at raising awareness of the problem of child early marriages in the country and fostering collaboration among stakeholders toward its eradication, as well as calling for heightened national commitment to address the scourge.

It also aims to implement sustainable measures to end child early marriages, with the key focus of empowerment by enabling adolescent girls and boys to access reproductive services education and social protection.

Gilbert Phiri, the director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), said the amendment of the Marriage Act was a pivotal step undertaken by Zambia in addressing the problem. He said the new law has provided a single definition of child early marriage unlike in the past where some culprits were perpetrating the vice under the guise of traditional customs and norms.

He pledged his office would ensure that the law was effectively implemented to protect children from the scourge of child marriage. "Child marriage is not only a breach of legal boundary, it is a violation of fundamental human rights, a menace that robs our children of their innocence and potential," he said.

According to him, his office will also ensure that cases of child marriages do not just end at police stations through negotiations but ensure that they are prosecuted and perpetrators are punished.

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Representative Seth Broekman commended Zambia for launching the policy due to the devastating impact that child marriages has on girls' lives and their future.

"When girls are forced into marriage, they are denied the opportunity to pursue their education, develop their skills, and contribute to their communities. Child marriage not only shatters the dreams and potential of individual girls but also robs Zambia of its future leaders, innovators and change-makers," he said.

He noted that with the prevalence rate of child marriages among women aged 20-24 years in Zambia married before age 18 at 29 percent, collective efforts were needed to ensure that the vice was eliminated.

He commended Zambia for amending the marriage law which has provided an enabling legal environment to end child marriages.

The UNFPA, he said, will support Zambia's efforts to fight the scourge including embarking on awareness programs on the new law as part of systematic positive social norms change interventions.

He added that ending child early marriages, including awareness creation on the law, requires a collective and accelerated effort from all stakeholders. 
NEW DELHI, June 15 (Xinhua) -- A museum located in India's western state of Gujarat, which was built in memory of the people who had died in the 2001 devastating earthquake, has been included in the "World Selection for the Prix Versailles Museums" this year.

Built in an area of around 470 acres of land, the Smritivan Museum is located in Bhuj area of Gujarat's Kutch district. The area was devastated during the 2001 earthquake.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Saturday on X that Smritivan is a reminder of human resilience and courage, saying he is "glad that this museum has found a place on the World Selection for the Prix Versailles Museums 2024."

The museum has a 1.1-megawatt solar power plant that powers the museum and the memorial to achieve self-sustainable, renewable green energy. The memorial also has 50 check-dam reservoirs that house the nameplates of almost 13,000 victims of the 2001 earthquake.

Prix Versailles gives awards each year for structures that are examples presented to the world as signs of exceptional architecture and design. 
NEW DELHI, June 15 (Xinhua) -- At least 12 persons died and a dozen others were injured when the bus they were aboard fell into a deep gorge in India's northern hilly state of Uttarakhand on Saturday, a local police officer told Xinhua over phone.

The officer said that a couple of passengers went missing and it was feared that they might have been drowned in Alaknanda river which flows just next to the spot of the accident.

There were around 25 people aboard the bus when the accident took place. 
NEW DELHI, June 15 (Xinhua) -- At least eight rebel Naxals and a policeman were killed and two others wounded Saturday in a gunfight in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, police said.

The gunfight between Naxals and joint contingents of paramilitary and police forces broke out inside Abujhmarh forest area of Narayanpur district, about 192 km south of Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh.

According to police, the joint contingents earlier cordoned off the area on specific intelligence information suggesting the presence of Naxals. 
TASHKENT, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Bilateral trade between Uzbekistan and South Korea amounted to 2.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, according to a Friday report by the press service of the Uzbek president.

On the same day, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is on a three-day state visit to Uzbekistan starting Thursday.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed further expansion of practical cooperation in politics, trade, technology and other areas.

"It was noted that South Korea is among the leading trade and investment partners of Uzbekistan. Last year, trade turnover reached 2.5 billion dollars, and the volume of Korean investments exceeded 7.5 billion dollars," the report said. 
People participate in a demonstration against the far-right, in Lille, northern France, June 15, 2024. A total of 250,000 people went to the streets in France on Saturday, including 75,000 in Paris, to protest against the far-right, according to the police. (Photo by Sebastien Courdji/Xinhua)

PARIS, June 15 (Xinhua) -- A total of 250,000 people went to the streets in France on Saturday, including 75,000 in Paris, to protest against the far-right, according to the police.

The CGT (General Confederation of Labor) counted 640,000 people in 150 gatherings throughout the country, including 250,000 in Paris.

Nine people were arrested on the sidelines of the procession in Paris, and three police officers were slightly injured, according to the police.

The outgoing head of La France Insoumise (LFI) group in the National Assembly Mathilde Panot called on voters to mobilize in the legislative elections, on the sidelines of the Parisian demonstration.

"The choice that will be made on June 30 and July 7 with the ballots of our fellow citizens will be whether it is the extreme right, or it is us," she said.

Former French President Francois Hollande said that he would run for the legislative elections as a candidate in Correze.

"If I took this decision, it's because I felt that the situation was serious, more than it has ever been.... The extreme right has never been so close to power since the Liberation," he told the press in Tulle.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced last Sunday the dissolution of the National Assembly, following the defeat of his party in the 2024 European Parliament elections. Macron's Renaissance party gained 14.6 percent of the votes in the 2024 European Parliament elections, far behind the far-right National Rally which received 31.37 percent.

According to the latest poll before the legislative elections on June 30 and July 7, the president's Renaissance party would only collect 18 percent of the votes in the first round, far behind the Popular Front, 28.5 percent and the National Rally which would obtain 29.5 percent of votes. 

People participate in a demonstration against the far-right, in Lille, northern France, June 15, 2024. A total of 250,000 people went to the streets in France on Saturday, including 75,000 in Paris, to protest against the far-right, according to the police. (Photo by Sebastien Courdji/Xinhua)

People participate in a demonstration against the far-right, in Lille, northern France, June 15, 2024. A total of 250,000 people went to the streets in France on Saturday, including 75,000 in Paris, to protest against the far-right, according to the police. (Photo by Sebastien Courdji/Xinhua)

People participate in a demonstration against the far-right, in Lille, northern France, June 15, 2024. A total of 250,000 people went to the streets in France on Saturday, including 75,000 in Paris, to protest against the far-right, according to the police. (Photo by Sebastien Courdji/Xinhua)

People participate in a demonstration against the far-right, in Lille, northern France, June 15, 2024. A total of 250,000 people went to the streets in France on Saturday, including 75,000 in Paris, to protest against the far-right, according to the police. (Photo by Sebastien Courdji/Xinhua)

People participate in a demonstration against the far-right, in Lille, northern France, June 15, 2024. A total of 250,000 people went to the streets in France on Saturday, including 75,000 in Paris, to protest against the far-right, according to the police. (Photo by Sebastien Courdji/Xinhua)

Policemen stand guard during a demonstration against the far-right, in Lille, northern France, June 15, 2024. A total of 250,000 people went to the streets in France on Saturday, including 75,000 in Paris, to protest against the far-right, according to the police. (Photo by Sebastien Courdji/Xinhua)

People participate in a demonstration against the far-right, in Lille, northern France, June 15, 2024. A total of 250,000 people went to the streets in France on Saturday, including 75,000 in Paris, to protest against the far-right, according to the police. (Photo by Sebastien Courdji/Xinhua)
Recently, Elon Musk's social media platform X has faced significant challenges due to its adult content policy. Now, Indonesia is protesting against this policy. Indonesia has issued a warning to X that if they do not change their adult content policy, X could face a ban.

X's New Policy Sparks Controversy

X, owned by Musk, recently revised its content policy, allowing some degree of adult content. This change has sparked considerable controversy among users, with several countries expressing their concerns. Governments argue that such content can have negative effects on society and young people.

Warning of a Potential Ban for X

The Indonesian government has stated that if Elon Musk does not alter X's adult content policy, they may impose a ban on the platform. This information was conveyed by Indonesia's Minister of Communication and Information, Budi Arie Setiadi. Setiadi mentioned sending a letter to X regarding this matter, but the company has not responded yet.

Debate Over X's Policy

Some argue that social media platforms like X should not permit such content, especially when it can be accessed by youth and children. Elon Musk has not officially commented on the issue yet, but it's clear that the outcome of this controversy could impact X's future.

Company's Response

A spokesperson for Musk stated that the company is committed to complying with all governmental regulations and social policies and is carefully considering this matter. If X does not revise its policy, it may face bans in several countries, potentially affecting its popularity and user base.

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If you're looking for a rental in North Jersey, a new report said there is one city you might want to steer clear of.

In a recent 2024 rental report from Forbes Advisor, Newark ranked as the worst city for renters among 95 major U.S. cities. This is the second year in a row that Newark has received the title.

Jersey City was also included in the list, ranking as the eighth worst city overall for renters, according to the report.

This ranking considered data from 21 metrics in three main categories  affordability, availability and amenities, and lifestyle and safety  to determine the best an worst cities for renters.

What makes Newark the worst city for renters?

Broad Street in downtown Newark.

Earning a score of 0 out of 100 in the ranking, Newark's lack of rental availability and higher than average price changes contributed the most to the city's ranking.

For the category of availability and amenities, Newark ranked fourth for both available rentals per 100,000 households  8.5 units versus the study average of 164  and for the percentage of non-apartment rentals available, which is 9.3% compared to the study average of 48.4%. In terms of rental amenities, 7.6% of units allow pets, 33.5% have air conditioning, 24.5% have on-site parking and 14.6% have in-unit laundry.

Newark also ranked as the eighth-worst city in the report in terms of affordability. The city has had higher-than-average rental price changes in the last year. It went up $250, compared to the study average, which went down $43, according to the report. The median monthly rent in Newark is $2,100, and residents typically use 22.1% of their income on rent expenses.

Long Beach, California; New York City; Anaheim, California; and Oakland, California, made up the remaining five worst cities for renters, according to the report.

These cities are the best for renters

Lincoln, Nebraska, was named the overall best place for renters by Forbes Advisor. The city has a median monthly rent of $1,225, compared to the study average of $1,995, and has a higher-than-average number of rentals available per 100,000 households at 394, compared to the study average of 164.

The remaining top five best cities for renters, according to the report, include Omaha, Nebraska; Raleigh, North Carolina; Austin, Texas; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay , on X @maddiemcgayy , and sign up for her North Jersey Living newsletter. Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her at MMcGay@gannett.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: This NJ city was named the worst place for renters in 2024
Prospects of Zacks Transportation - Rail industrys participants are being weighed down by challenges like inflation-induced elevated interest rates, supply-chain disruptions and the slowdown of economic growth. Most industry players are looking to drive their bottom line amid the headwinds through cost reduction.

Partly due to these headwinds, the industry has declined 6.4% so far this year, underperforming the S&P 500 Indexs 7.5% appreciation and a 5.9% loss of the broader Zacks Transportation sector.

Zacks Investment Research



Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Despite the challenges surrounding the industry,some railroad companies like Union Pacific Corporation UNP, Canadian National Railway Company CNI and Norfolk Southern Corporation NSC have consistently announced dividend hikes, thus highlighting their pro-shareholder stance.

Stocks that have a strong history of dividend growth belong to mature companies, which are less susceptible to large swings in the market and act as a hedge against economic or political uncertainty as well as stock market volatility. At the same time, they offer downside protection with their consistent increase in payouts.

Additionally, these companies have superior fundamentals like a sustainable business model, a long track of profitability, rising cash flows, good liquidity, a strong balance sheet and some value characteristics.

How to Pick Stocks With Solid Dividend Payouts?

In order to choose some of the best dividend stocks from the aforementioned industry, we have run the Zacks Stock Screener to identify stocks with a dividend yield in excess of 2% and a sustainable dividend payout ratio of less than 60%. Each stock mentioned below presently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Union Pacific: Headquartered in Omaha, NE, Union Pacific, through its subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad Company, operates in the railroad business in the United States. Currently, the company has a market capitalization of $135.52 billion.

UNP pays out a quarterly dividend of $1.30 ($5.20 annualized) per share, which gives it a 2.34% yield at the current stock price. This companys payout ratio is 50% of its earnings at present. The five-year dividend growth rate is 9.56%. (Check Union Pacifics dividend history here).

Union Pacific Corporation Dividend Yield (TTM)

Union Pacific Corporation Dividend Yield (TTM)

Union Pacific Corporation dividend-yield-ttm | Union Pacific Corporation Quote

Union Pacifics consistent initiatives to reward its shareholders through dividends and share repurchases look encouraging. In 2022, UNP paid dividends worth $3.159 billion and repurchased shares worth $6.282 billion. In 2023, the company returned $3.9 billion to its shareholders through dividends ($3.2 billion) and buybacks ($0.7 billion). During the first quarter of 2024, UNP paid $795 million in dividends (did not repurchase any shares). Management has decided to restart the share repurchase in the second quarter of 2024.

Story continues

Canadian National: Based in Montreal, Canada, Canadian National is involved in the rail, intermodal, trucking, and marine transportation and logistics business in Canada and the United States. Currently, CNI has a market capitalization of $77.22 billion.

CNI pays out a quarterly dividend of $1.23 ($2.45 annualized) per share, which gives it a 2.02% yield at the current stock price. This companys payout ratio is 47% of its earnings at present. The five-year dividend growth rate is 10.20%. (Check Canadian Nationals dividend history here).

Canadian National Railway Company Dividend Yield (TTM)

Canadian National Railway Company Dividend Yield (TTM)

Canadian National Railway Company dividend-yield-ttm | Canadian National Railway Company Quote

CNIs efforts to reward its shareholders via dividends and buybacks are encouraging and highlight the company's financial strength. In January 2024, the companys board approved a dividend hike of 7%. This marks the companys 28th annual dividend increase. The company also announced a normal course issuer bid over a 12-month period up to 32 million common shares. The bid has taken effect from Feb 1, 2024, and runs through Jan 31, 2025. Strong cash flow generating-ability supports Canadian National's shareholder-friendly activities.

Norfolk Southern: Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, Norfolk Southern engages in the rail transportation of raw materials, intermediate products and finished goods in the United States. Currently, NSC has a market capitalization of $50.12 billion.

NSC pays out a quarterly dividend of $1.35 ($5.40 annualized) per share, which gives it a 2.43% yield at the current stock price. This companys payout ratio is 49% of its earnings at present. The five-year dividend growth rate is 11.12%. (Check Norfolk Southerns dividend history here).

Norfolk Southern Corporation Dividend Yield (TTM)

Norfolk Southern Corporation Dividend Yield (TTM)

Norfolk Southern Corporation dividend-yield-ttm | Norfolk Southern Corporation Quote

Norfolk Southern's consistent initiatives to reward its shareholders through dividends and share repurchases look encouraging. During first-quarter 2024, NSC paid dividends worth $305 million (and did not repurchase any shares under its stock repurchase program). In 2023, the company returned $1.847 billion to shareholders through a combination of dividends ($1.225 billion) and share buybacks ($.622 billion). During 2022, Norfolk Southern paid dividends worth $1,167 million and repurchased and retired common stock worth $3,110 million.

Such shareholder-friendly moves indicate the companys commitment to creating value for shareholders and underline its confidence in its business. These initiatives not only instill investors confidence but also positively impact earnings per share.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report

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To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

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One of the most anticipated stock market events just happened recently: Artificial intelligence (AI) chip giant Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) completed a stock split, bringing down the price of its stock to about $120 from more than $1,200. The 10-for-1 split took place on June 7, and the stock began trading at its new price at the start of trading this week.

Nvidia has been in the spotlight for the past couple of years thanks to its soaring earnings and share price -- the stock has climbed more than 500% over the past three years. And there's a good reason for this kind of success: The company sells the world's top-performing graphics processing units (GPUs), chips that power crucial AI tasks, as well as entire platforms for AI customers. In the most recent quarter, its fiscal 2025 second quarter, Nvidia reported a record $22.6 billion in data center (this includes all AI-related business) revenue, a triple-digit percentage gain from the year-earlier period.

Now, with the stock trading at one-tenth of its former price, you may be wondering if you should get in on Nvidia. Before deciding, let's consider three reasons to buy and one reason to sell.

Image source: Getty Images.

Reason to buy: A lower share price offers you more flexibility

Nvidia's recent stock split means you only need about $120 to buy a share -- instead of $1,200 prior to the split. Of course, in pre-split days you could have purchased fractional shares to open a small position in Nvidia or add a bit to your current position. But certain brokerages don't offer fractional shares -- so it isn't as convenient as buying full shares.

All of this means that right now, at a lower per-share price, Nvidia offers you more flexibility. You can more easily buy or add to your position with a smaller budget. And if you eventually want to reduce your Nvidia position, you can do so in smaller increments.

The stock split itself isn't a reason to buy Nvidia: Instead, you'll want to invest in the company for fundamental reasons such as its earnings track record or long-term outlook. But the new per-share price makes it easier to access Nvidia with a limited investing budget -- making now a good time to get in on the stock.

Reason to buy: A new source of revenue growth is right around the corner

As mentioned, Nvidia's earnings already have taken off in a big way, and this momentum is far from over. Nvidia actually has a new source of revenue growth just ahead. The company is preparing to launch its Blackwell architecture fully loaded with six game-changing technologies -- including Nvidia's most powerful chip ever.

This new GPU is packed with 208 billion transistors, compared with 80 billion in the current Nvidia H100 GPU -- and this increase in transistors equals more processing power. Other features include advanced capabilities to protect data and an AI-based maintenance system to predict potential issues and avoid system downtime.

Customers already are lining up to get their hands on Blackwell, and Nvidia recently said demand is outstripping supply. And Nvidia expects this trend to continue into next year.

All of this means that Nvidia's recent trend of reporting record quarterly data center revenue could continue, boosted by demand for Blackwell.

Reason to buy: the promise of annual innovation

Finally, another reason to like Nvidia has to do with its focus on innovation. Blackwell is just ahead, but the company won't rely on this game-changing new system for long.

Nvidia has promised a "one-year rhythm" of innovation, meaning the company will release a higher-performance GPU every year.

This is key because it may be the one element that keeps Nvidia ahead of rivals. Players like Intel and Advanced Micro Devices recently released new chips, and in certain cases, these may outperform Nvidia's current H100.

But that's not a problem for Nvidia, because only a few months later the company will launch an even stronger GPU -- and this should be the scenario year after year.

Reason to sell: lackluster performance after past stock splits

Nvidia's recent stock split wasn't the company's first. The tech giant completed five prior to this one, and following the past three, the stock spent some time in the doldrums. So, history shows us that Nvidia's stock traditionally hasn't performed well following stock splits.

If Nvidia's stock follows the same path this time around, Nvidia shareholders may face a few months of disappointing returns. That means some, especially those who have held Nvidia for years and gained a lot, may consider selling and locking in profits.

Should you buy or sell Nvidia?

In my opinion, the arguments for buying Nvidia stock right now outweigh the argument for selling. Yes, Nvidia shares -- if they follow the historical trend -- may not take off right away. But this is a short-term issue. Over time, Nvidia has what it takes to continue climbing: leadership in a growth market, commitment to innovation that should ensure its leadership, a great earnings track record, and encouraging long-term prospects.

All of this means that, even if Nvidia slips or stagnates in the coming months, it's not reason to worry. The future looks bright for this AI champion, and that's why the stock makes a great buy right now.

Should you invest $1,000 in Nvidia right now?

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3 Reasons to Buy Nvidia After Its Stock Split and 1 Reason to Sell was originally published by The Motley Fool
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Many Americans are working hard just to get by right now. That often comes with great sacrifice  primarily, when it comes to their financial future.

Last year, data writer at Clever Real Estate, Matt Brannon, told GOBankingRates, Were coming off a year of high prices, where 26% of Americans pulled from their retirement savings, often to cover expensive emergencies, afford essential goods or pay off debt, he noted. That lack of ability to save plus concerns over future income explain why so many are fatalistic about a reasonable retirement.

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While its tempting to pull from savings for the present, experts warn its something we should work hard to avoid.

Sacrificing the future for the present can lead to long-term financial instability and stress, said Dennis Shirshikov, head of growth at GoSummer. Without adequate savings, individuals may find themselves unprepared for retirement, healthcare costs, or emergencies. This can result in extended working years or reduced quality of life in retirement.

Below, more money experts weigh in on ways to save for the future  retirement or otherwise  while still living a quality life now.

Establish a Balanced Budget

Creating a balanced budget that allocates funds for both present needs and future savings is essential, said Shirshikov.

He said this involves categorizing expenses into needs, wants and savings, ensuring that each category receives appropriate attention. One approach is the 50/30/20 rule: allocate 50% of your income to necessities, 30% to discretionary spending, and 20% to savings.

Kevin Huffman, finance expert and owner of Kriminil Trading, agreed that this is the first step.

It starts with knowing your current budget; list your income and your expenditures in a budget, he explained. Seeing it all written down will allow you to see where you might be able to reallocate funds to reach your savings goals more easily. You can use apps and trackers of all types to help you here.

Trending Now: Im a Frugal Shopper: 4 Items I Always Buy Secondhand To Save Money

Build an Emergency Fund

An emergency fund acts as a financial buffer, preventing the need to dip into retirement savings during unforeseen circumstances, said Shirshikov.

He recommends aiming to save three to six months worth of living expenses in a readily accessible account.

Automate Savings

Automating savings can help ensure consistency and discipline, Shirshikov advised. Setting up automatic transfers to retirement accounts and savings accounts minimizes the temptation to spend.

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Huffman agreed that this is a wise approach.

Automatically transfer funds from your checking account into a retirement savings or emergency savings account every week or month, he said. When you set it up so you pay yourself first  that is, you save before you spend  you are less likely to skip saving because there is no decision involved.

He added that many employers also offer auto-enrolment for retirement plans such as 401(k)s, so leverage these options.

Maximize Employer Benefits

According to Shirshikov, you should try to take full advantage of employer benefits such as 401(k) matching, health savings accounts (HSAs), and employee discounts. These benefits can significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses and boost savings.

Huffman noted the same that you should utilize your employer benefits to the max.

A lot of employers offer you a retirement savings plan as a benefit with a matching contribution, he noted. Thats essentially free money so even if you dont know where else to start, try to contribute at least the minimum amount to guarantee that you get the maximum match. Its a current return on an investment in your future.

Reduce High-Interest Debt

Paying down high-interest debt quickly frees up money for savings and investments, said Shirshikov. Focus on strategies like the debt snowball or avalanche methods to tackle debts efficiently.

Diversify Income Streams and Practice Mindful Spending

According to experts, diversifying income through side gigs, freelance work or passive income investments can provide additional funds for savings without drastically changing your lifestyle.

Mindful spending involves being intentional about how you use your money, said Shirshikov. This means distinguishing between needs and wants and making thoughtful choices about discretionary spending. A simple practice I recommend is tracking every expense for a month.

Invest in Personal Development

Shirshikov was also quick to note that investing in skills and education can lead to higher earning potential, thereby increasing the ability to save without sacrificing lifestyle quality.

Continuous learning and professional development can open doors to promotions and better job opportunities, he stated.

Overall, experts advocate for a mindful approach and a focus on small wins to keep you on track with your savings goals.

You dont have to save massive amounts right off the bat, said Huffman. Instead, save a little bit at a time and ramp up your savings as your finances permit. Compound interest can transform even the smallest amounts saved regularly into large sums over time.

He concluded, Make sure to celebrate small achievements for getting there.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 7 Ways To Avoid Sacrificing Your Financial Future
We recently published a list of the 10 Best Airline Stocks to Buy For 2024. Since Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK) ranks 6th in the list, it deserves a deeper look.

Despite rising inflation, consumers worldwide continue to spend on travel and experiences, defying all expectations and forecasts. Latest data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates that the airline industry is expected to generate $30.5 billion in net income in 2024, driven by higher ticket prices and consumers desire to travel. Last year, the industrys net income came in at $27.4 billion. According to data from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) the economic impact of the travel industry this year is expected to soar to $11.1 trillion, beating its previous level of $10 trillion recorded in 2019. The Council expects the tourism industry to become a $16 trillion industry over the next decade, accounting for about 11.4% of the global GDP.

However, not all is rosy in the airline industry. The competition in the industry is increasing, while geopolitical headwinds and rising employee costs continue to batter small and large airline companies. IATA was quick to highlight that despite the industry growth, airlines profit per passenger is just $6.14. Travel demand in China also remains subdued amid real estate and economic crisis in the country. However, analysts believe sooner or later the country would rebound and the best airline and travel companies would benefit from the influx of Chinese tourists.

A KPMG report on the airline industry highlighted the resilience of the airline industry and its fast recovery to pre-pandemics levels:

The latest air travel data from IATA shows that passenger travel for November 2023 globally has reached 99.1% of November 2019 levels. November 2023 international RPKs reached 94.5% of November 2019 levels, while domestic traffic was 6.7% above the November 2019 level. Although international global travel remains 5.5% below pre-pandemic levels, IATA director general Willie Walsh said that the gap is rapidly closing, adding that current economic headwinds are not deterring people from taking to the skies. IATA also noted that long-term airline profitability shows that while the industry is exposed to external shocks, it typically returns to profitability relatively quickly.

In this backdrop, we decided to take a look at some of the best airline stocks to buy in 2024 according to hedge funds. For that we first listed down all holdings of an airline ETF, which provides investors exposure to the airline industry and tracks some of the biggest and most important airlines and aviation companies of the US and worldwide. From these stocks we chose 10 companies with the highest 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).

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Photo by Toa heftiba on Unsplash

Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK)

Number of Hedge Fund Investors: 28

Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK) is one of the biggest airlines in the world in terms of scheduled passengers carried. The stock is up about 6% so far this year. But Wall Street sees more upside potential to the stock. Last month, Wolfe Research upgraded the stock to Outperform from Perform, citing corporate recovery, lower regional jet fuel prices, and improving competitive capacity. Wolfe Research set a $55 price target on the stock, which represents a 40% upside potential from the current levels.

In April, Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK) reported strong Q1 results and gave upbeat Q2 and full-year guidance. The companys management said that despite significant headwinds the company has exceeded challenges. The companys management also talked about Boeing-related headwinds and compensations it received from the company during Q1 earnings call:

As you are all aware, the most significant event this quarter was the accident involving Flight 1282 and the subsequent 4-week grounding of a third of our fleet. Our focus has been on the safe return of our fleet, caring for our employees and guests and enhancing our oversight of the production of our new aircraft. This event also had a substantial financial impact, totaling $162 million, which Boeing has fully compensated us for. To provide clarity on our core business performance, I will discuss our Q1 results, excluding the effects of Flight 1282 and the MAX grounding. During the quarter, we also received a second request for information from the DOJ, regarding our proposed acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines. We are working to respond to these requests as quickly as possible. Given the substantial volume of information involved, we have granted the government an additional 60 days to review our responses, and well continue to work with them to advance the process as swiftly as possible. We still believe strongly in the pro-consumer and pro-competitive merits of this deal and are excited by the opportunities this will unlock for Alaska, both domestically and internationally. 

In 2024, Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK) expects its yield per revenue passenger mile to increase 3.5% on a YoY basis. Investors are also looking forward to the regulatory outcome on the companys plan to acquire Hawaiian Airlines for $1.9 billion deal. Analysts believe if the deal goes through, Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK) would be able to consolidate the West Coast business.

Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK) stock is trading at 6.46x 2025 EPS estimate set by Wall Street. This forward P/E ratio is much lower than the industry median of 18.54. Given the companys EPS growth expectation of 39% in 2025 and 19% in 2026, the stock looks attractively valued.

Diamond Hill Long-Short Fund made the following comment about Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK) in its Q3 2023 investor letter:

Other bottom contributors included our long positions in Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK), Target Corporation and Johnson Controls International (JCI). Shares of regional airline Alaska Air Group and general merchandise retailer Target declined during the quarter amid a weakening consumer and (in Alaskas case) airline pricing environment.

Overall, Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK) ranks 6th on Insider Monkeys list of 10 Best Airline Stocks to Buy For 2024. You can visit 10 Best Airline Stocks to Buy For 2024 to see other stocks in the list. While we acknowledge the potential of Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK), 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 Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK) 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.
The Bank of Nova Scotia (TSE:BNS) has announced that it will pay a dividend of CA$1.06 per share on the 29th of July. This makes the dividend yield 6.7%, which will augment investor returns quite nicely.

See our latest analysis for Bank of Nova Scotia

Bank of Nova Scotia's Earnings Will Easily Cover The Distributions

A big dividend yield for a few years doesn't mean much if it can't be sustained.

Having distributed dividends for at least 10 years, Bank of Nova Scotia has a long history of paying out a part of its earnings to shareholders. Past distributions do not necessarily guarantee future ones, but Bank of Nova Scotia's payout ratio of 70% is a good sign as this means that earnings decently cover dividends.

Over the next 3 years, EPS is forecast to expand by 25.8%. The future payout ratio could be 61% over that time period, according to analyst estimates, which is a good look for the future of the dividend.

Bank of Nova Scotia Has A Solid Track Record

Even over a long history of paying dividends, the company's distributions have been remarkably stable. Since 2014, the annual payment back then was CA$2.48, compared to the most recent full-year payment of CA$4.24. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 5.5% over that duration. The dividend has been growing very nicely for a number of years, and has given its shareholders some nice income in their portfolios.

Dividend Growth May Be Hard To Achieve

Some investors will be chomping at the bit to buy some of the company's stock based on its dividend history. However, things aren't all that rosy. It's not great to see that Bank of Nova Scotia's earnings per share has fallen at approximately 2.4% per year over the past five years. If the company is making less over time, it naturally follows that it will also have to pay out less in dividends. It's not all bad news though, as the earnings are predicted to rise over the next 12 months - we would just be a bit cautious until this can turn into a longer term trend.

In Summary

Overall, we think Bank of Nova Scotia is a solid choice as a dividend stock, even though the dividend wasn't raised this year. While the payments look sustainable for now, earnings have been shrinking so the dividend could come under pressure in the future. The dividend looks okay, but there have been some issues in the past, so we would be a little bit cautious.

Market movements attest to how highly valued a consistent dividend policy is compared to one which is more unpredictable. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. For example, we've picked out 1 warning sign for Bank of Nova Scotia that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers.

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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.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD)  The Baton Rouge Area Chamber released its monthly economic indicator dashboard Thursday and reported that jobs are at an all-time high.

The Capital Region continues to keep pace with its peer metros regarding jobs and the economy, the region is at an all-time high for jobs and boasts an unemployment rate right at 3%, signaling a tight labor market, said Andrew Fitzgerald, BRAC senior vice president of business intelligence.

According to BRAC, the Economic Indicator Dashboard looks at data to determine the economys current state. With data from several regional stakeholders, the dashboard is the most up-to-date analysis of the citys economy.

Is Louisiana a good place for working dads? See where state ranks in study

Key findings from the dashboard showed that the capital regions construction industry continuously grew with 1,100 new jobs in April. It also said unemployment dropped based on the most recent federal data.

According to BRAC, job postings decreased over the last year but, labor demands remain high.

Hotel revenues were lower this week than in past years and Baton Rouges population has dropped since 2020, while the rest of the area has seen moderate growth, the dashboard said.

As we continue to work at retaining and attracting talent for the 18,000+ currently open jobs, its key that the City of Baton Rouge serves as a magnet to draw young professionals to the Capital Region, Fitzgerald said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to BRProud.com.
Investors looking for high-yield dividend stocks that can raise their payouts further may want to look at the telecommunications and tobacco industries.

Shares of telecommunications giant AT&T (NYSE: T) offer an eye-popping dividend yield above 6% at recent prices. Altria Group (NYSE: MO) has been offering an even higher yield to investors willing to take a chance on the U.S.-based tobacco company.

To find out which of these two stocks is the better buy, let's start by looking at what has their prices under pressure lately.

AT&T

In late 2022, AT&T slashed its dividend payout to compensate for the spinoff of its media assets. The company hasn't raised its quarterly payment yet, and at recent prices, it offers a 6.3% yield, which is 363% more than you'd receive from the average stock in the S&P 500 index.

AT&T froze its dividend to reduce a debilitating debt load that stood at $128.7 billion at the end of March. This is a lot, but it's about $6 billion less than the company had on its books a year earlier.

Now that most of AT&T's 5G network is already built, capital investments are declining. This lets the company hurl even more cash at its debt pile.

In the first quarter, adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) rose 4.3% year over year to $11 billion. The company finished the first quarter with net debt that was 2.9 times adjusted EBITDA over the trailing-12-month period.

AT&T is confident that it can reach a net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA ratio of 2.5 in the first half of next year. The company hasn't made any specific promises, but it will most likely begin raising its quarterly payout again once it hits this debt reduction goal.

The pace of AT&T's upcoming dividend payout increases could be faster than you'd expect from an established telecommunications giant. Phone sales were down significantly, but the company's mobility business still managed to raise first-quarter operating income by 3.1% year over year.

AT&T's fiber-optic broadband service has added 1.1 million subscribers over the past year to reach 8.6 million in total. For customers who aren't near a fiber-optic cable, the company launched a fixed wireless service last year. The new fixed wireless service added 110,000 new subscribers in the first quarter.

Altria Group

Altria Group is the tobacco company that sells the leading Marlboro brand in the U.S. market. At recent prices, the stock offers an eye-popping 8.6% yield.

Cigarette sales have been falling for decades, and the recent proliferation of disposable nicotine vaporizers has accelerated the decline. Altria Group reported cigarette shipment volumes declined 10% year over year in the first quarter.

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Combustible cigarette sales are down, but Altria Group can always raise prices for its powerful Marlboro brand. Plus, it's been transitioning smokers to smokeless products. Despite shipping 10% fewer cigarettes, total first-quarter revenue net of excise taxes declined by just 1% year over year.

Altria also owns about 8.1% of Anheuser-Busch InBev, even though it sold enough shares of the beverage company to gain $2.4 billion in March. Altria Group intends to return the proceeds to investors in the form of share buybacks.

The better buy?

Investors who have already retired might find Altria Group and its ultra-high dividend yield more attractive than AT&T stock. While it offers a high yield now, the dividend payout raises you'll see from the tobacco company in the years ahead are likely to be very small.

The Food and Drug Administration has stepped up enforcement of its flavor ban for nicotine-containing vaporizers. This could push up sales of Altria Group's new e-vapor product, NJOY, and offset rapidly dropping cigarette sales.

While there's a good chance that Altria Group can return to top- and bottom-line growth, AT&T is significantly less risky. With the launch of its fixed wireless service, AT&T is no longer losing broadband customers. Plus, earnings have risen significantly in recent quarters.

AT&T probably won't begin raising its payout again until next year. Over the long run, though, it will probably deliver more passive income to patient investors. That makes it the better dividend stock to buy now.

Should you invest $1,000 in AT&T right now?

Before you buy stock in AT&T, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and AT&T wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $794,196!*

Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*.

See the 10 stocks 

*Stock Advisor returns as of June 10, 2024

Cory Renauer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Better High-Yield Dividend Stock to Buy Now: AT&T vs. Altria Group was originally published by The Motley Fool
The artificial intelligence (AI) boom has been a boon to technology companies and those who invest in them in recent times. Players that develop tools or equipment to power AI projects have climbed the most, often in the triple or quadruple digits over the period of a few years. That's because AI customers have flocked to these companies, driving their earnings higher too.

Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) is one of these AI stars. The semiconductor and infrastructure software company saw earnings take off as AI development gathered momentum, and that movement has continued. In the most recent quarter, revenue soared in the double digits, and the company predicted full-year revenue of $51 billion -- that's 42% higher than last year.

Broadcom's shares have reflected this success, soaring nearly 500% in five years, and as of late last year, they surpassed $1,000 and continued advancing. But the per-share price won't be so high for long. Following the move of fellow AI giant Nvidia, Broadcom this week announced a 10-for-1 stock split, scheduled for next month.

Is now a good time to buy the stock? Let's find out.

Image source: Getty Images.

How Broadcom's stock split will unfold

First, a little bit about stock splits in general and how the Broadcom operation will unfold. Stock splits lower the price of each individual share through the issuance of more shares to current holders. But these operations don't change the market value of the company or the value of your holding -- so they don't change anything fundamental, and instead are more of a mechanical operation.

Companies generally launch these operations after they've done well and their stock price has climbed considerably -- and the move is meant to make their stock more accessible to a broader range of investors. Broadcom even cited this as the reason for its decision, saying the split will help employees and investors more easily buy the stock.

As mentioned, Broadcom is launching a 10-for-1 split, meaning if you own one share as of the July 11 market close, you'll be issued nine additional shares after the July 12 market close. The stock will begin trading on a split-adjusted basis when the market opens on July 15. Using today's price of $1,678 as a guide, the new price after market open would be around $167.

Investors welcomed Broadcom's stock split announcement, pushing the shares to a 12% gain in one trading session. The market generally likes stock splits for two reasons: They suggest a company is confident about the future, and as noted, these operations make it easier for more people to invest in the stock.

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Is Broadcom a buy right now?

Now let's get back to our question: Following this news, is it time to buy Broadcom shares? Since stock splits are mechanical moves, not catalysts for stock performance, you shouldn't buy Broadcom just because it's planning a stock split.

But here's why you should consider buying shares of the company. Broadcom has been one of the winners of the AI boom so far, and there's reason to believe this will continue. The company makes thousands of products used everywhere from data centers to your smartphone -- more than 99% of Internet traffic passes through a Broadcom product or service.

Broadcom has a solid earnings track record, with revenue and profit rising over the past decade.

AVGO Revenue (Annual) Chart

And today, Broadcom's acquisition of VMware, a cloud software company, and AI demand are adding significantly to growth. Including VMware's contribution, revenue soared 43% in the most recent quarter to $12.5 billion.

And excluding WMware, revenue climbed 12% thanks to AI demand. AI customers flocked to Broadcom for AI networking and custom accelerators, and AI revenue soared 280% year over year to $3.1 billion. Right now, seven of the eight biggest AI clusters out there are using Broadcom Ethernet systems, and Broadcom predicts that next year all large-scale projects will be on Ethernet.

It's also important to remember we're in the early days of the AI growth story, with analysts predicting an AI market of more than $1 trillion by 2030. A leader like Broadcom clearly stands to benefit as demand continues, and that's why the shares look very reasonably priced at 34x forward earnings estimates.

All of this means you don't have to wait for the stock split to get in on this exciting long-term AI growth story: Broadcom makes a fantastic buy right now.

Should you invest $1,000 in Broadcom right now?

Before you buy stock in Broadcom, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Broadcom wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $794,196!*

Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*.

See the 10 stocks 

*Stock Advisor returns as of June 10, 2024

Adria Cimino has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Broadcom Just Announced a Stock Split. Time to Buy? was originally published by The Motley Fool
The last time William Doc Pickard and I talked, about 18 months ago, he was starting work on a book about 100 Black entrepreneurs from 1850 to 1950  people most of us never heard of who had made their mark with unique products or inventions.

Pickard, one of the most successful Black entrepreneurs in the country who made his presence felt in the automotive, casino and fast food industries, died June 12 at the age of 83.

He thought it important to write this book to help more folks learn about those entrepreneurs. Pickard wanted to make sure young Black people heard about them, hoping it might reinforce that anything was possible for those who would roll up their sleeves and work hard to achieve their dreams.

William Pickard on a 'Michigan Matters' show hosted by Carol Cain, at left, in April 2021.

Thats the story of Pickard. That, along with the importance he placed on education, mentoring and higher learning. He didnt finish the book but did write two others about his inspiring life and lessons about being a successful entrepreneur.

We met at the Detroit auto show years ago after he had acquired Regal Plastics, a minority supplier company. I interviewed him about diversity and inclusion  topics that would be the underpinning of our conversations. He appeared on CBS Detroits Michigan Matters and was featured in my Detroit Free Press columns. He was a mentor, a friend and a guiding light, as he was for thousands blessed to cross paths with him.

When I heard news his family released Wednesday that Pickard had died, I felt sad for Mary Victoria Pickard, his daughter, and Vivian Pickard, his former wife and retired GM executive who remained close friends. I felt sorry for Detroit. Few had been as impactful in carrying the torch for Black entrepreneurship, education, diversity and inclusion as Pickard.

William Pickard

I heard from a few who captured his essence:

While many mourn a humanitarian and an astute businessman, I am deeply saddened by the loss of my corporate father, a man who taught me about the five ships of business  mentorship, sponsorship, partnership, chairmanship, ownership, said Sylvester Hester, president and CEO, LM Manufacturing. I started in 1986 as an intern, and with his guidance, I went on to be the chairman of his business and then the owner of my own. None of that would have been possible without Dr. William Pickard.

Added Neil Barclay, president and CEO of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit: William Pickard was both a visionary and a giant in the world of leadership, business and philanthropy."

Pickards imprint in business was impressive.

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He bought Regal Plastics, which later became part of GAA Manufacturing. He also co-owned five Black-owned newspapers (including the Michigan Chronicle) and served as co-managing partner at MGM Grand Detroit Casino.

He donated millions to the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the Motown Museum, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the 100 Black Men organization and others.

These are representatives from the five families that each gave $100,000 in honor of the Charles H. Wright Museum's 50th in 2015. From left to right: Greg Jackson, Jackie Jackson, Ron Hall Jr., Sid Taylor, Roy Roberts, Maureen Roberts, Vivian Pickard, Dr. William "Doc" Pickard.

He also supported education as he donated $2 million to Morehouse College to support Black male students and $3.5 million to Western Michigan University for scholarships and two residence halls that bear his name, along with two classmates  former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer Sr. and entrepreneur Ron Hall Sr.

Lifes moments

Pickard, during our friendship over the years, told me about a few moments that impacted his life.

The first occurred in 1956 when his dad got a job at GM in Flint and his family moved from La Grange, Georgia. The move proved unsettling to young Pickard, who loved being down South. There were many African-American businesses, and we celebrated our heritage, he said.

It wasnt like that in Flint, as Pickard felt out of place. He told me his grades suffered and he lost interest in school. He almost didnt get into college.

My mother, father and grandfather took me to Mott Community College and they werent going to let me in, he said. His mom pleaded his case and he got in.

He worked hard and went on to obtain degrees from Western Michigan University, Ohio State and the University of Michigan.

Education remained a sweet spot for Pickard, who earned the nickname "Doc" as he taught business classes at Western Michigan University, University of Michigan, Wayne State University and other colleges. He had a doctorate from Ohio State University.

Another defining moment took place in 1963.

Pickard was working on a degree in social work at Western Michigan University. He heard Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was to speak at Albion College, so he and his pals piled into his 1948 Chevy and headed there to hear the civil rights leader.

William "Doc" Pickard, right, and fellow Western Michigan University classmates meet Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963 at Albion College.

He asked us what we wanted to do with our lives, Pickard said of their meeting. I told him I wanted to become a social worker and also help the civil rights movement.

King talked about the importance of working hard, being ready as more opportunities for people of color would hopefully come in the years ahead.

Pickard heeded those words. He would go on to become one of the first Black McDonalds franchisees in 1971, with a store in Detroit. He would have eight more franchises and later run successful businesses in the auto and casino industries.

In recent years, his focused on philanthropy, much of it aimed at higher education.

President Ronald Reagan with William "Doc" Pickard at the White House. Pickard was the first chairman of the African Development Foundation in 1982, appointed by Ronald Reagan.

One of the last questions I asked him when we last spoke was about the future of minority business in this electrified world order and how he saw it.

We will see opportunities like we have never seen before. On the powering side, it will take companies like Consumers Energy and DTE to help these innovative minority firms by providing opportunities. Thats what happened decades ago when Ford, GM and (former Detroit Mayor) Coleman Young worked to make things happen in the auto industry."

Pickard wrote two books about his life, Millionaire Moves: Seven Proven Principles of Entrepreneurship, and Surviving the Shift: Seven Proven Millionaire Moves for Embracing Change and Building Wealth.

He leaves behind a legacy of helping other Black entrepreneurs, making a difference and giving those who needed a little guidance a gentle nudge.

Take a bow, "Doc," as you head home. Job well done!

Visitation is schedule for Friday, June 28, the funeral is scheduled for Saturday, June 29 and a tribute at the Charles H. Wright Museum has been scheduled Friday, June 28.

Condolences can be sent to the Pickard family at 2801 Clark St., Detroit, Mich., 48210.

More: Auto industry organization looks to grow its reach, efforts in Michigan

More: Michigan Central Station buzz goes beyond Detroit

Contact Carol Cain: 248-355-7126 or clcain@cbs.com . She is senior producer/host of Michigan Matters, which airs 5:30 a.m. Sundays on CBS Detroit and noon Sundays on Detroit 50 WKBD. See Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel, Wayne County Executive Warren Evans and Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter on this Sundays show. "Michigan Matters" can also be found on those stations listings on FUBO, Pluto TV, Youtube.com .

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: William Pickard's legacy created opportunity for others to follow
Lemmon joins CFO as VP of communications

Matt Lemmon

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks has hired Matt Lemmon as its vice president of communications. Effective Monday, June 24, Lemmon will take on a newly created leadership role to guide the CFO's external and internal communications.

From 2011 to 2018, Lemmon served as the CFOs director of communications and marketing before joining Burrell Behavioral Health, where he most recently served as vice president of communications for Burrells parent company, Brightli, and its subsidiaries. Prior to his first stint at the CFO, he was an editor and director at Whitaker Publishing.

Lemmon is a native of Ozark and has called Springfield home for more than 20 years. He holds a bachelors degree in journalism and masters degree in business administration from Drury University. He is also a member of the Legacy Society for the Finley River Community Foundation, the CFOs affiliate that serves Ozark and eastern Christian County.

Lemmon also currently serves on the board of directors for Developmental Center of the Ozarks, is a past board member and chair of Downtown Springfield Association, and is a graduate of Leadership Springfields Signature Class 30.

Legacy Capital appoints Carey to executive VP and chief underwriter

Matt Carey

The board of directors at Legacy Captial has announced the appointment of Matt Carey to executive vice president and chief underwriter.

In the position, Carey will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of all Multifamily Accelerated Processing (MAP) and LEAN transactions, including oversight and management of the firm's Quality Control and Procedures plans for the Federal Housing Administration Platform.

With more than 28 years of banking experience, Carey has spent 17 years in the processing, underwriting, and screening of MAP and LEAN transactions. He has been involved in more than $1.5 billion in closed MAP/LEAN loan transactions.

OMB Bank names Fox branch manager in Springfield

OMB Bank has announced Jacob Fox as its new branch manager at the 1535 W. Sunshine St. location in Springfield.

Fox has nearly a decade of banking experience, starting as a teller for Simmons Bank in 2017. He was later promoted to personal banker before joining Great Southern Bank in 2020 in the same role. At Great Southern, Fox also earned promotions to assistant branch manager and branch manager,

Throughout his career, Jacob has demonstrated exceptional leadership, a commitment to customer service and a deep understanding of the banking industry. We are confident that his experience and vision will greatly benefit our team and west Springfield customers, said Brandon Ayers, director of retail banking. His dedication and expertise align perfectly with OMBs mission to provide best-in-class financial services and we look forward to his contributions to our continued growth and success.

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Hounds Town USA opens first Springfield location

Hounds Town USA, the daycare and boarding concept where everything is for dogs, has announced the opening of its newest location in Springfield. Located at 1907 S. Stewart Ave., the operation is spearheaded by Mike and Kelly Harper.

We like the prospect of giving back to our community by serving those who serve us. When we are trusted with taking care of family dogs, we are providing peace of mind to all members of those families, said Kelly Harper.

Its one less thing for a pet owner to worry about, and the dogs love the socialization aspect. Mark Harper added. This isnt just about the business for us  its about creating an environment that our customers trust, where all dogs can play freely, and people can forge lasting relationships.

The Kellys have owned dogs for more than 20 years, and after facing issues with other boarding facilities, they struggled to find a place that suited them and their beloved companions. After finding Hounds Town, they knew they wanted to be a part of the brand. They plan on being active members of the community, joining the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, and working directly within their Hounds Town location.

Green Bay Packaging Inc. expands operations with acquisition of SMCPackaging Group

SMC Packaging

Green Bay Packaging Inc. has announced its May 31 acquisition of SMC Packaging Group, based in Springfield.

Founded in 1972 by Ross Ausburn and Charles Bachus, SMC Packaging Group has garnered a good reputation for its corrugated packaging solutions. With more than 50 years of growth, expansion, and technological advancement, SMC Packaging Group operates across multiple locations in Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.

"We are excited to unite two well-established, family-run businesses, said Will Kress, chairman and CEO of Green Bay Packaging. We look forward to the continued growth and success of both SMC Packaging Group and Green Bay Packaging.

SMC Packaging Group will continue to operate as a corporation, 100% owned by Green Bay Packaging. Mark McNay, previously Vice President and General Manager of SMC, will become President of SMC Packaging Group, reporting to Bryan Hollenbach.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: CFO hires communications VP, Green Bay Packaging Inc. acquires SMC
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX)  Colorado Treasurer Dave Young discussed the recently extended CLIMBER Act.

On June 3, Governor Jared Polis signed House Bill 24-1453, extending the Colorado Loans to Increase Mainstreet Business Economic Resiliency Loan Fund, also known as CLIMBER.

The fund was originally created in 2020 to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Small businesses can apply for loans on the CLIMBER website. $250 million is available in the fund.

Watch the full interview to learn more about the CLIMBER Act and why it was renewed.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com.
san jose fixer upper bidding war

This ramshackle property may appear to be down on its luck, but it inspired a bidding war.

In Silicon Valley, home of some notoriously high housing prices, a dilapidated fixer-upper has become a sign of the times after inspiring tons of interest and selling for significantly over its ask shortly after hitting the market, the San Francisco Chronicle first reported.

Located at 2161 Elliot St. in San Jose, the multi-unit seven-bedroom, two-bathroom home is hardly much to look at. Still, the property sold for $755,000  well over its $699,000 ask  less than a month after it listed, to a developer who plans to work with an architect to build a new space on the lot and resell it.

Inside one of multiple kitchens. Andrew Tokuda/Compass

One of two bathrooms. Andrew Tokuda/Compass

The property is sold for significantly over ask. Andrew Tokuda/Compass

Built in 1900, it has a visibly deteriorated exterior painted a bright teal. Interior listing photos reveal scuffed walls, a door off its hinges, dated appliances and a generally unrenovated space sorely in need of repair. To boot, the county of Santa Clara deemed it unfit for human occupancy as a result of its numerous code violations, Compass agent Robert Gosalvez, who holds the listing, told The Post.

However, the condemned houses highly desirable address on a nearly 4,000-square-foot corner lot in the Burbank neighborhood had buyers clambering to buy it, the latest indication that the areas red-hot market isnt cooling down.

Due to its prime location and zoning, this property not only attracted attention from DIYers, builders and investors, but also from those seeking mixed-use properties all eager to capitalize on the opportunity, Gosalvez explained. The level of interest while on the market was substantial, leading to the distribution of dozens of disclosure packages and resulting in seven offers, all of which were either cash or have access to hard money loans.

The house is condemned. Andrew Tokuda/Compass

The buyer will likely demolish the existing structure. Andrew Tokuda/Compass

The multi-unit property is considered an excellent investment opportunity. Andrew Tokuda/Compass

I believe in a couple years or less, we will see a modern, attached, multi unit property on this lot, said Gosalvez.
Sean Rayford/Getty Images; Chelsea Jia Feng/BI

Donald Trump met with some of America's top CEOs Thursday.

The former president pledged to slash taxes and red tape in a bid to win over corporate America.

Apple CEO Tim Cook and JPMorgan boss Jamie Dimon were among those attending the event.

Donald Trump made his pitch to some of America's top CEOs Thursday, promising to cut taxes and red tape in a bid to win over corporate America.

The former president was among the speakers at a Business Roundtable event in Washington, DC, attended by Wall Street titans including JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon, Bank of America's Brian Moynihan, and Citigroup chief Jane Fraser.

Stephen Moore, an economic advisor to Trump, said Apple CEO Tim Cook had a front-row seat at the event, Reuters reported.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee laid out his economic agenda as part of an hourlong conversation with the conservative commentator Larry Kudlow, per The Financial Times.

Trump promised to consider cutting the top corporate tax rate from 21% to 20%, The Associated Press reported, citing a person familiar with Trump's remarks.

The FT reported that Trump also emphasized deregulation and a desire to use tariffs as a "negotiating tactic" with other countries.

Joe Biden, Trump's likely opponent in November's election, did not attend the Business Roundtable event as he is attending the G7 summit in Italy.

Standing in for the president, Biden's chief of staff, Jeff Zients, emphasized the administration's efforts to rebuild the economy in the aftermath of the pandemic and said the Federal Reserve's independence has boosted US capitalism, per AP.

The Wall Street Journal reported in April that Trump allies are drawing up plans to wrest control over some monetary policy decisions from the central bank.

While the former president's reputation on Wall Street hit rock bottom in the aftermath of the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots, top CEOs have softened their tone on him in recent months.

Dimon was highly critical of Trump when he left office but said earlier this year that the billionaire businessman  and now convicted felon  had been "kind of right" on some issues, including NATO and immigration.

Correction: June 14, 2024  An earlier version of this article misspelled the name of Biden's chief of staff. It is Jeff Zients, not Ziets.

Read the original article on Business Insider
After overtaking their U.S. competitors in sales for the first time, Chinese carmakers are one step closer to fulfilling Tesla CEO Elon Musks prophecy that one day they would demolish most other car companies.

Chinese carmakers sold 13.43 million cars last year, outpacing the 11.93 million cars sold by American companies, according to a report by automotive data company JATO Dynamics. Warren Buffett-backed EV maker BYD produced the most popular Chinese car, a compact sedan called the Qin, and had two other vehicles in the top 25 most sold cars last year. Tesla, for its part, claimed the title of the best selling car in 2023 with the Model Y.

In a Tesla earnings call in January, Musk praised Chinese automakers, calling them the most competitive carmakers in the world. He also warned against Chinese automakers rapid growth.

If there are no trade barriers established, they will pretty much demolish most other car companies in the world, Musk said at the time.

That prediction may slowly be coming true as Chinese car brands look abroad to spur growth after seeing demand fall in China. Last year, Chinese automakers trailed only Japanese and European automakers in terms of global light vehicle sales, according to the report.

Felipe Munoz, a senior analyst at JATO Dynamics, said the conformity of legacy carmakers is partly to blame for the rise of strong Chinese competitors.

Negligence from legacy automakers, which has resulted in consistently high car prices, has inadvertently driven consumers towards more affordable Chinese alternatives, Munoz said in a statement. As car prices continue to rise elsewhere, Chinese car brands are capitalizing on this trend to gain market traction at a much faster pace."

Confronted with the might of Chinas growing auto sector, some legacy carmakers are taking action to compete. In Japan, two of its biggest automakers, Nissan and Honda, announced a partnership in March to compete with China on electric vehicles.

Some politicians have accused Chinese carmakers of unethical behavior while attempting to stymie their threat through tariffs. This week, the European Commission slapped three Chinese automakers, including BYD, with import tariffs ranging from 17.4% to 38.1% following a probe by the commission that found battery electric vehicles from China benefited from state subsidies unfair to global competition.

In May, President Joe Biden also increased the tariff on imported Chinese electric vehicles to 102.5% up from the previous rate of 27.5%.

Chinas policies could flood our market with its vehicles, posing risks to our national security. Im not going to let that happen on my watch, Biden said in a previous statement this year.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
A company will soon shift jobs from one downtown Detroit building to another.

But this much-celebrated move  by General Motors out of the Renaissance Center next year and into the new Hudson's site development  could come at an extra cost to the state.

The planned relocation of GM's global headquarters could trigger a "double dipping" of sorts in state corporate and development subsidy programs, according to a Free Press analysis.

GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra announces General Motors moving its global headquarters to the newly completed Hudson site, during a Bedrock news conference held at the Hudson site in downtown Detroit on Monday, April 15, 2024.

The unique situation, which has not been previously reported, concerns an overlap period of up to five years in two subsidy programs: MEGA tax credits, aimed at retaining and encouraging business investment in Michigan, including by the Detroit Three automakers, and Transformational Brownfields, designed to spur redevelopment of blighted or obsolete building sites.

Specifically, the programs each make claims that relate to the 4.25% personal state income taxes of the GM employees who will move from the RenCen to the automaker's new headquarters in the Hudson's site office building.

General Motors is moving its global headquarters to the Hudson site in downtown Detroit on Monday, April 15, 2024.

Under the MEGA tax credits deal with GM, which dates to 2009, the automaker can get a tax credit equal to 100% of the state income tax rate, multiplied by the total salaries and value of health care benefits of all its qualifying Michigan employees at multiple worksites across the state. Not all GM worksites are considered MEGA worksites, although the Renaissance Center is and the Hudson's site is expected to be.

The MEGA tax credits were expected to be worth up to $205 million last year for GM and $200 million in 2022, documents say. This deal runs through Dec. 31, 2029, and then expires.

What GM's headquarters employees pay in state income tax is also key for the Transformational Brownfield subsidy in place at the Hudson's site, which goes to the benefit of the $1.4-billion project's developer, Dan Gilbert's real estate firm Bedrock.

The Transformational Brownfield allows Bedrock to capture multiple streams of future tax revenues generated by activities that take place at the Hudson's site over periods of 20 to 30 years. One of those revenue streams is 50% of the state income taxes paid by each employee whose work location will be at the Hudson's site once the buildings there are done. The state levies income taxes to pay for various services.

Under one potential scenario, for a GM employee who moves her office from the RenCen to the Hudson's site, 150% of the value of their state income tax payments could go toward subsidies: 50% redirected for Bedrock, the other 100% for GM.

General Motors changes the logo of the Renaissance Center to honor the Detroit Lions with a lion's tail animation in Detroit on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024.

"So yes, they are writing checks based on the same cash flow," said James Hohman, fiscal policy director for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, a think tank that advocates for limited government and is critical of public subsidies for development.

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Lawmakers fooled themselves if they thought that these programs were costless in the first place, and they are doubly fooled now that companies are double dipping on the same flows," he said.

To be sure, Bedrock hasn't confirmed whether it intends to draw on the state income taxes of GM workers once they start arriving in the Hudson's site office building in 2025.

The Transformational Brownfield program has traditionally been pitched by its proponents and beneficiaries as a tool for the attraction or creation of new jobs  not moving existing jobs to new buildings that are under the tax-capture umbrella.

A spokesman for the Michigan Economic Development Corp., which administers the MEGA and Transformational Brownfield programs, told the Free Press that because Bedrock hasn't yet sought to identify GM as an official tenant for the Hudson's site brownfield, it is too early to discuss what would or wouldn't be allowed.

Bedrock did not respond to Free Press inquiries for this article.

As for the city, Hassan Beydoun, group executive for economic development for Detroit, called the double-dipping scenario "premature" and based on "unverified assumptions."

"What is beyond question, however, is that GM keeping its headquarters in Detroit will greatly benefit the Motor City and its residents, including through income tax revenues," Beydoun said in a statement. "The city of Detroit is thrilled about GM's announcement and looks forward to learning more details about Bedrock and GMs plans in the coming months."

GM in April announced its plan to leave the RenCen in 2025 and start leasing the top two office floors of the new development's 12-story office building. (The Hudson's development also includes a neighboring 45-floor skyscraper  the second tallest in Detroit  that will be luxury housing and a hotel.)

The automaker hasn't said how many employees it expects to have in the new building, a number that would be necessary for calculating the state's potential payout.

However, its footprint will likely be much smaller at the Hudson's site than it was at the Renaissance Center in the years before the COVID-19 pandemic, the rise of remote work options and the transfer of some employees to GM's Warren campus.

Down to two floors

Commercial real estate brochures have showed the top two floors of the Hudson's office building as containing just under 50,000 square feet each, with capacity for under 400 people on each floor.

Shortly before the pandemic, an amendment to GM's MEGA tax credits deal eliminated an earlier requirement that the company keep a minimum 4,000 jobs at the Renaissance Center. The amendment also lowered the cost for the state of the tax credits by $325 million over 10 years.

As part of its 2022 application for MEGA tax credits, the most recent one publicly available, GM listed over 1,600 RenCen-assigned employees, with about 230 of them still working from home. The majority of the RenCen workers were in Tower 300.

Since then, GM's population in the riverfront complex appears to have fallen. The company's website reported 857 RenCen employees as of this past March; headcount figures have since been removed from the website.

Plenty more room

The new Hudson's building contains about 400,000 square feet of total office space. With GM leasing only two floors of offices, about 100,000 square feet, that leaves plenty of room for more tenants. So far, Bedrock has yet to announce any other commercial tenants besides GM.

In the skyscraper next door, the Marriott-owned EDITION brand is to operate a luxury hotel that is scheduled to open in 2027 and collaborate on the tower's planned residences. The total number of residential units will be 90, according to an annual report that Bedrock submitted last month to development officials.

Renderings for the Hudson's site skyscraper, which will feature an EDITION Hotel and EDITION-branded condos.

The EDITION Hotel was previously expected to open in 2025. Asked about the apparent delay, an EDITION representative referred all comment to Bedrock, which didn't respond.

Not just a 'reshuffling'

During debate over development incentives in Detroit, critics at times have questioned whether they will be used to create new jobs, rather than luring employers from older buildings into the new subsidized ones.

The topic came up during the summer of 2022 when Bedrock sought  and eventually won  Detroit City Council approval for the Hudson's site a $60-million local tax abatement  an additional incentive on top of the Transformational Brownfield. Bedrock officials said at the time that the project, although already under construction, couldn't be finished without the abatement.

During a public discussion about the abatement and hosted by some council members, a top executive with the Detroit Economic Growth Corp. addressed such concerns head-on. The DEGC had recommended that council approve the tax break.

The Hudson's site skyscraper reaches its full height at 1208 Woodward Ave. and is the second tallest building in downtown Detroit, on Thursday, April 11, 2024.

One caller during the June 20, 2022, public Zoom meeting, a resident of the city's East English Village, asked, How do we ensure this is not just a lateral move of companies and businesses from existing buildings downtown to the new Hudson project?

"Because thats my fear," the caller said. "Are we going to end up with other vacant buildings like has happened in the past?"

In response, Kenyetta Bridges, the DEGC's chief operating officer, said their economic forecasts assumed new jobs and businesses for the city. The DEGC's projection for the Hudson's site  office building and skyscraper was 1,948 permanent, full-time-equivalent jobs over 10 years, which would translate to a $71.6 million net benefit for the city.

"Our projections are based upon new jobs coming into the city and new business coming into the city, not just a reshuffling of jobs in the city, she said.

The DEGC didn't respond to questions for this article.

Even with the GM relocation, there may well be enough space still available at the Hudson's site for Bedrock to achieve the new job projections. Real estate brochures show six more office floors below the two GM floors in the office building, plus additional events, meeting and retail spaces below.

A longer-term view

One University of Michigan economist who analyzed the Hudson's site and other subsidized Bedrock projects previously cautioned that any assessment should be done from a long-term viewpoint. It is important to know not only what jobs moved into the new buildings right away, but also what happened to any spaces in older Detroit buildings where some of those jobs might potentially move from.

For instance, if GM's current space in the RenCen is snapped up by one or more companies that are new to Detroit or poised to grow, those RenCen jobs could ultimately be traced to Bedrock's decision to expand the city's building stock with the Hudson's site development.

GM continues to own the original five towers of the RenCen and is working with Bedrock to determine future possibilities for the iconic property, including potential redevelopment.

City Council President Mary Sheffield was among those who voted for the Hudson's site tax break in summer 2022. She issued a statement for this story Friday morning.

My support for the Hudson deal came after careful deliberation and successfully negotiating a significant additional community benefits package. One of the main reasons I worked to secure those additional community benefits was the uncertainty of the office space market  so the promise of new jobs wasnt a major factor in my decision-making process," Sheffield said.

"With respect to GM moving its headquarters to the new Hudsons Building, I am excited that GM has made another long-term commitment to be headquartered in Detroit and decided to retain ownership of the Renaissance Center. I look forward to being a part of the discussions to reimagine and ensure the future of the struggling but iconic and most recognizable part of Detroits skyline.

How MEGA tax credits, Transformational Brownfields work

MEGA tax credits

GM receives a MEGA tax credit equal to 100% of the 4.25% state income tax rate, multiplied by the total wages and value of health care benefits of its qualified Michigan workers. To get the full 100%, it must maintain a minimum number of workers statewide.

The tax credits were worth $200 million for GM in 2022 and expected to be $205 million last year.

Transformational Brownfield

Bedrock can capture several tax revenue streams at the Hudson's site.

The tax revenue streams are incremental increases in property taxes over 30 years; a 100% sales tax exemption on building construction materials; 100% of state income taxes of the construction laborers; 50% of state income taxes of future permanent, post-construction workers at the site; 100% of state income taxes for residents who will live in the development's skyscraper.

Contact JC Reindl: 313-222-6631 or jcreindl@freepress.com. Follow him on X @jcreindl

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: GM's move to Hudson site could cause subsidies 'double dip'
Heineken Malaysia Berhad's (KLSE:HEIM) investors are due to receive a payment of MYR0.88 per share on 25th of July. This means the annual payment is 5.5% of the current stock price, which is above the average for the industry.

View our latest analysis for Heineken Malaysia Berhad

Heineken Malaysia Berhad's Earnings Easily Cover The Distributions

Impressive dividend yields are good, but this doesn't matter much if the payments can't be sustained. Prior to this announcement, the company was paying out 97% of what it was earning. Without profits and cash flows increasing, it would be difficult for the company to continue paying the dividend at this level.

Earnings per share is forecast to rise by 10.9% over the next year. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, our estimates say the payout ratio could reach 92% - on the higher side, but we wouldn't necessarily say this is unsustainable.

Dividend Volatility

The company has a long dividend track record, but it doesn't look great with cuts in the past. The dividend has gone from an annual total of MYR0.685 in 2014 to the most recent total annual payment of MYR1.28. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 6.5% over that duration. We have seen cuts in the past, so while the growth looks promising we would be a little bit cautious about its track record.

Heineken Malaysia Berhad May Have Challenges Growing The Dividend

With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to see if earnings per share is growing. It's encouraging to see that Heineken Malaysia Berhad has been growing its earnings per share at 6.9% a year over the past five years. However, the company isn't reinvesting a lot back into the business, so we would expect the growth rate to slow down somewhat in the future.

Heineken Malaysia Berhad's Dividend Doesn't Look Sustainable

Overall, it's not great to see that the dividend has been cut, but this might be explained by the payments being a bit high previously. The track record isn't great, and the payments are a bit high to be considered sustainable. We would probably look elsewhere for an income investment.

Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. Still, investors need to consider a host of other factors, apart from dividend payments, when analysing a company. For example, we've picked out 2 warning signs for Heineken Malaysia Berhad that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers.

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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.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Housekeepers in Florida now make $150K/year  as the wealthy flee high-tax states like New York for the South

In the sunny streets of Florida, where palm trees sway in the warm breeze, an unexpected economic phenomenon is unfolding in the labor market.

Housekeepers, traditionally seen as a low-wage role, are now earning staggering salaries that rival those of many white-collar workers.

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According to a recent report from CNBC, Palm Beach and South Florida are experiencing a significant shortage of housekeepers. Staffing agencies say theres a booming demand not only for housekeepers but also for nannies, chefs, drivers, butlers and personal security personnel.

As a result, CNBC reports, the typical hourly pay for housekeepers has increased from around $25 in 2020 to $45 or $50 today.

This trend is especially pronounced in Palm Beach, where housekeepers who have experience working in wealthy homes can earn $120,000 to $150,000 a year. In addition to their impressive salaries, they often receive comprehensive benefits packages that include 401(k) plans, health care, and overtime compensation.

I have been placing staff for 30 years, and Ive never seen anything like this, April Berube, founder of staffing agency The Wellington Agency, told CNBC.

Its a severe shortage.

$250K a year?

Due to the shortage of available housekeepers, homeowners are now having to pay significantly more than they anticipated.

At first theyre in shock, and they say, No way Im paying that. Its even uncomfortable for me to give them the numbers, Berube remarked. But when they try to hire someone for less, with less experience, they almost always come back to us and say, I learned my lesson. We are willing to pay for the experience.

Melissa Psitos, founder of Lily Pond Services, shared an instance where a Florida client initially aimed to hire a housekeeper for $75,000 a year but ended up paying $110,000.

But thats far from the top. Executive housekeepers, who oversee a team of housekeeping staff, can command even higher salaries. Psitos mentioned knowing one head housekeeper in Palm Beach who earns $250,000 annually.

To put things in perspective, Ziprecruiter puts the average pay for housekeepers in the U.S. is $16.31 an hour, or $33,933 a year.

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For those considering a career as a housekeeper in Palm Beach, it's important to note that those eye-popping salaries come with the requirement of a unique set of skills. According to Berube, housekeepers must possess specific tools and skills to work in wealthy homes. For instance, they need the ability to move quietly and discreetly through the house, the expertise to carefully clean antiques, and the knowledge to properly wash and press fine linens.

Read more: Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now use $100 to cash in on prime real estate  without the headache of being a landlord. Here's how

Wealth migration

The dramatic increase in housekeeper salaries in Florida might have something to do with the significant migration of wealth to the state.

A 2023 report from financial technology company SmartAsset found that in 2021, Florida saw a net influx of 27,500 high earners  defined as those making over $200,000 annually. That was more than any state in the study.

Texas was the second-most popular destination for high-income filers  it added 9,000 of them.

In contrast, California and New York experienced significant outflows, losing over 45,000 and 31,000 high earners, respectively  more than any other state.

While people move for a variety of reasons, taxes could be a factor behind the migration trend. Neither Florida nor Texas imposes state income taxes on their residents, making them attractive destinations for high earners looking to maximize their income. In contrast, New York and California not only have high state income taxes but also some of the highest living costs in the country.

According to the Florida Chamber of Commerces 2023 Florida Business & Economic Midyear report, new residents have infused a total of $39.2 billion of net income into the Sunshine State over just one year. Of this amount, $9.8 billion came from New York alone, more than any other state.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Many HP Inc. (NYSE:HPQ) insiders ditched their stock over the past year, which may be of interest to the company's shareholders. When evaluating insider transactions, knowing whether insiders are buying is usually more beneficial than knowing whether they are selling, as the latter can be open to many interpretations. However, shareholders should take a deeper look if several insiders are selling stock over a specific time period.

Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares.

View our latest analysis for HP

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At HP

In the last twelve months, the biggest single sale by an insider was when the Independent Director, Robert Bennett, sold US$2.0m worth of shares at a price of US$30.01 per share. That means that an insider was selling shares at slightly below the current price (US$35.51). As a general rule we consider it to be discouraging when insiders are selling below the current price, because it suggests they were happy with a lower valuation. Please do note, however, that sellers may have a variety of reasons for selling, so we don't know for sure what they think of the stock price. It is worth noting that this sale was 53% of Robert Bennett's holding.

Insiders in HP didn't buy any shares in the last year. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

If you like to buy stocks that insiders are buying, rather than selling, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: Most of them are flying under the radar).

Insiders At HP Have Sold Stock Recently

The last quarter saw substantial insider selling of HP shares. Specifically, Independent Director Robert Bennett ditched US$2.0m worth of shares in that time, and we didn't record any purchases whatsoever. Overall this makes us a bit cautious, but it's not the be all and end all.

Insider Ownership

Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Insiders own 0.2% of HP shares, worth about US$70m. This level of insider ownership is good but just short of being particularly stand-out. It certainly does suggest a reasonable degree of alignment.

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What Might The Insider Transactions At HP Tell Us?

An insider sold HP shares recently, but they didn't buy any. And there weren't any purchases to give us comfort, over the last year. But since HP is profitable and growing, we're not too worried by this. Insider ownership isn't particularly high, so this analysis makes us cautious about the company. So we'd only buy after careful consideration. While it's good to be aware of what's going on with the insider's ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. To help with this, we've discovered 4 warning signs (1 is a bit unpleasant!) that you ought to be aware of before buying any shares in HP.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
On June 12, 2024, James Welch, Director at SkyWest Inc (NASDAQ:SKYW), executed a sale of 2,000 shares of the company. The transaction was filed on June 14, 2024, as reported in the SEC Filing. Following this transaction, the insider now owns 46,462 shares of SkyWest Inc.

SkyWest Inc operates a regional airline in the United States. The company's primary business is to provide regional flight services to major airlines. It also offers charter and other aviation services.

Over the past year, James Welch has sold a total of 11,605 shares and has not purchased any shares. This recent sale is part of a broader trend observed within the company, where there have been 8 insider sells and no insider buys over the past year.

Shares of SkyWest Inc were trading at $79.08 on the day of the transaction. The company has a market cap of $3.091 billion. The price-earnings ratio of the company stands at 27.72, which is higher than both the industry median of 14.37 and the company's historical median.

The stock is currently considered Significantly Overvalued with a price-to-GF Value ratio of 1.54, based on a GF Value of $51.30. The GF Value is calculated considering historical trading multiples, an adjustment factor based on past returns and growth, and future business performance estimates.

Insider Selling: Director James Welch Sells Shares of SkyWest Inc (SKYW)

Insider Selling: Director James Welch Sells Shares of SkyWest Inc (SKYW)

This insider selling activity might be of interest to investors trying to understand the sentiment of high-level executives within SkyWest Inc, especially in the context of the stock's current valuation metrics.

This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


Generally speaking the aim of active stock picking is to find companies that provide returns that are superior to the market average. And while active stock picking involves risks (and requires diversification) it can also provide excess returns. To wit, the Sarawak Plantation Berhad share price has climbed 26% in five years, easily topping the market return of 6.3% (ignoring dividends). On the other hand, the more recent gains haven't been so impressive, with shareholders gaining just 9.9%, including dividends.

Let's take a look at the underlying fundamentals over the longer term, and see if they've been consistent with shareholders returns.

Check out our latest analysis for Sarawak Plantation Berhad

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS).

Over half a decade, Sarawak Plantation Berhad managed to grow its earnings per share at 32% a year. This EPS growth is higher than the 5% average annual increase in the share price. Therefore, it seems the market has become relatively pessimistic about the company. This cautious sentiment is reflected in its (fairly low) P/E ratio of 8.55.

The image below shows how EPS has tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on Sarawak Plantation Berhad's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What About Dividends?

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. In the case of Sarawak Plantation Berhad, it has a TSR of 66% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

A Different Perspective

Sarawak Plantation Berhad provided a TSR of 9.9% over the last twelve months. But that return falls short of the market. If we look back over five years, the returns are even better, coming in at 11% per year for five years. It may well be that this is a business worth popping on the watching, given the continuing positive reception, over time, from the market. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Sarawak Plantation Berhad that you should be aware of before investing here.

But note: Sarawak Plantation Berhad may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Malaysian exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Koh Brothers Eco Engineering Limited (Catalist:5HV) shareholders should be happy to see the share price up 24% in the last quarter. But that doesn't change the fact that the returns over the last three years have been disappointing. Tragically, the share price declined 59% in that time. Some might say the recent bounce is to be expected after such a bad drop. The rise has some hopeful, but turnarounds are often precarious.

On a more encouraging note the company has added S$11m to its market cap in just the last 7 days, so let's see if we can determine what's driven the three-year loss for shareholders.

Check out our latest analysis for Koh Brothers Eco Engineering

Because Koh Brothers Eco Engineering made a loss in the last twelve months, we think the market is probably more focussed on revenue and revenue growth, at least for now. Generally speaking, companies without profits are expected to grow revenue every year, and at a good clip. That's because fast revenue growth can be easily extrapolated to forecast profits, often of considerable size.

In the last three years Koh Brothers Eco Engineering saw its revenue shrink by 0.3% per year. That's not what investors generally want to see. The share price decline of 17% compound, over three years, is understandable given the company doesn't have profits to boast of, and revenue is moving in the wrong direction. Of course, it's the future that will determine whether today's price is a good one. We'd be pretty wary of this one until it makes a profit, because we don't specialize in finding turnaround situations.

The image below shows how earnings and revenue have tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

You can see how its balance sheet has strengthened (or weakened) over time in this free interactive graphic.

A Different Perspective

Investors in Koh Brothers Eco Engineering had a tough year, with a total loss of 24% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 3.3%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 6% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. To that end, you should learn about the 3 warning signs we've spotted with Koh Brothers Eco Engineering (including 1 which shouldn't be ignored) .

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Singaporean exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
It's just a nightmare: More and more USAA members who lost thousands of dollars are sharing stories of fraud

Curtis Murrah says hed been a loyal customer with USAA for 28 years  until his wife rang him up one day saying she couldnt make their mortgage payment because there wasnt any money in their account.

Murrah, whos based in Georgia, says he took a closer look at his accounts and discovered someone was making deposits in and out of his accounts.

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It was like they were playing mind games, he told News 4 San Antonio. They would deposit $9,800 then turn right around and withdraw $9,800. They would deposit $4,000, turn right around and withdrew it.

Murrah contacted USAA and convinced the institution to conduct an investigation  but USAA allegedly told him there was no evidence of fraud, despite a $14,174 loss across two of his accounts, including his emergency savings. Then, the bank unexpectedly closed his account.

The transactions were taking place in totally different states, they could see everything, Murrah said. They knew it wasnt me, but for some reason they said it wasnt fraud.

USAA members say theyve lost trust in the bank

News 4 San Antonio organized a video call with several USAA members who lost funds due to fraud  and have been left with little to no recourse. Some of them also belong to the Facebook group, USAA Fraud and Victims, which has 2,900 members.

A few USAA members even reported being asked by the institution to cover the negative balances on their accounts after their money was stolen.

It's just a nightmare that youd be treated that way and disrespected, says Tiffany Tienda, another USAA customer who lost about $3,700 to fraud. Its emotionally and mentally draining and offensive that theyre so dismissive of the whole situation.

Murrah says he and his wife found themselves in a tight spot with no savings to rely on and ended up taking out a loan to make ends meet.

Another member and military veteran, Roberto Rangel, says he sold some of his prized possessions to raise money and protect his credit score. Rangel lost thousands of dollars in retirement savings and claims he alerted the institution about suspicious activity in his account even before $9,000 was stolen.

I just don't have very much trust in them anymore.

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Read more: You didnt want to risk it: 80-year-old woman from South Carolina is looking for the safest place for her familys $250,000 savings. Dave Ramsey responds

USAA has history of complaints, fines, security breaches

According to the Better Business Bureau, there have been 4,119 total complaints against USAA in the last three years.

In April, a federal grand jury in Louisiana indicted 21 people involved with stealing nearly $7 million from USAA customers  particularly the accounts of older individuals with high bank balances.

Three of the defendants worked for a call center that provided customer service for USAA and helped the rest of the group to access customers banking details to create counterfeit checks, reports Dayton Daily News.

Last year, the institution also reported a data breach that may have impacted around 19,000 members after employees at a USAA contractor shared their access credentials with unauthorized individuals.

And in 2022, the bank paid a stunning $140 million in civil fines to two federal regulators  the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and the Comptroller of the Currency for falling behind in reporting suspicious transactions.

As its customer base and revenue grew in recent years, USAA FSB willfully failed to ensure that its compliance program kept pace, resulting in millions of dollars in suspicious transactions flowing through the U.S. financial system without appropriate reporting, FinCEN acting director Himamauli Das said at the time.

In response to reports of fraudulent activity, a USAA spokesperson told News 4 San Antonio bank fraud is an unfortunate reality for financial institutions around the world, and USAA remains committed to fighting fraud and protecting our members.

News 4 San Antonio says it got the institution to revisit seven cases and so far, five have been resolved  with Murrah, Tienda and Rangel receiving refunds for the money they had lost.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Keir Starmer

Labour has published its manifesto, but is still failing to level with the public about the true cost of its plans. So far, attention has mostly been focused on the tax rises we can expect under a government led by Sir Keir Starmer. Yet a new analysis from the Institute of Economic Affairs shows that the sweeping regulatory changes promised by Starmer will also load tens of billions in additional costs on Britains hard-pressed businesses, landlords and car-owners.

The IEA identifies more than 60 ways in which Labour has promised to add to the existing tangle of red tape. Despite receiving less attention than Labours tax policies, they are likely to impose even more significant costs.

For instance, overturning Rishi Sunaks decision to delay the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars is projected to cost 1,000 per household annually from 2022 to 2050. Insisting that privately rented homes hit minimum energy standards by 2030 could cost another 12.2 billion.

Meanwhile, the country remains in the dark about which taxes Labour will raise in order to fund its spending commitments. The party claims these will be funded by their decision to load extra taxes on energy companies, private schools and non-doms. But this in turn implies a willingness to follow Conservative plans to cut government budgets once in office, and the public is clearly unconvinced. This may well explain why Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks warning that Sir Keir will raise taxes appears to have touched a nerve.

The Labour Party has already been forced to pledge not to raise the rates of income tax, VAT, corporation tax and National Insurance. That has now been joined by a vow not to impose capital gains tax on the sale of primary residences.

But this still leaves plenty of potential targets in the partys sights. As chancellor, Rachel Reeves could increase capital gains tax on other transactions, whack up fuel duty or add new council-tax bands, to name only a few. Pension rules may well be in the firing line, perhaps by bringing pensions within the scope of inheritance tax.

Wherever the financial pain ends up falling, Labours existing plans suggest that it is likely to do real damage to the wider economy.

The Education Secretary has branded Labours decision to impose VAT on private-school fees as reckless. It risks devastating knock-on effects on the local communities around existing schools, while state schools will struggle to accommodate pupils squeezed out of fee-paying education.

Separately, it has now been suggested that Labours attack on non-doms may fail to deliver as much additional revenue as hoped. And the urban preoccupations of Labour activists mean that Britains farmers are barely mentioned in the partys manifesto  a lack of concern the Conservatives argue treats rural areas with nothing but contempt, and could well see a Labour government leaving our farming industry in tatters.

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Starmer talks about increasing growth and prosperity. But by playing to the narrow prejudices of Labours base while increasing red tape, the tax burden and attacks on the well-off, he looks set to achieve the exact opposite.

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.
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No matter where you reside, a basement can add a lot of value to your home. If you want to use your basement for more than just storage, finishing your basement can generate an incredible return on your investment when you go to sell. Data collected by Remodeling Magazine suggests that, on average, basement remodelers recoup 70% of their investment.

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Unfortunately, not all remodels are created equal. Some upgrades may not be worth the expense and could end up costing you more than you expect. We asked Colten Claus, an associate broker with 8z Real Estate in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to weigh in on what projects are worth the price. Here are the seven basement renovations he says youll regret.

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Poorly Done DIY Projects

Cost: $5,000 to $20,000

The real estate expert said, Doing it yourself can be cost-saving, but if not done well could end up costing you thousands. Poor craftsmanship, improper permits and not adhering to building codes, to name a few.

Most projects are better left to the professionals, particularly when it comes to remodeling and renovations. DIYers frequently get in over their heads when it comes to major renos. While it may look easy on HGTV, it can easily turn into a costly headache if you do not know what you are doing. Consider at least consulting with a contractor before knocking down any walls.

Read Next: Dave Ramsey: Why You Shouldnt Pay Off Your Mortgage Early Even If You Can

Kitchen or Bathroom Without Proper Plumbing

Cost: $10,000 or more

Whether you hope to turn your basement into a mother-in-law suite, a rental or a hangout for your teen, you may want to add a kitchen or bathroom. Unfortunately, most basements are not equipped with adequate plumbing. Improper plumbing can cause serious problems and cost tens of thousands of dollars in damage.

When it comes to adding a kitchen or bathroom to your basement, Colten said, If not done correctly, it could cause mold and water damage.

A bathroom with shoddy plumbing could cost you anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000, while a poorly done kitchen could run up to $50,000 to correct, according to the expert.

Cutting corners could lead to much higher repair costs in the future, he explained.

Wall to Wall Carpet

Cost: $3,000 to $6,000

It is important to remember that basements are usually subterranean, meaning they are at least partially underground. When you are dealing with a room that is below ground level, it may have poor ventilation or higher-than-normal humidity. Installing wall-to-wall carpet may feel nice on your toes but prove to be a bad investment overall.

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Colten said, Although warm and cozy, it is highly susceptible to mold and moisture issues.

He noted it could cost you $3,000 to $6,000 every time there is a problem.

Excessive Built-ins

Cost: $2,000 to $10,000

While storage is a must for most homeowners, too many built-ins can actually be a turnoff for some potential buyers. If you are remodeling your basement with the hopes of generating a large return on your investment, consider opting for removal shelves in lieu of built-ins.

Excessive built-ins in a basement [l]imits flexibility of the space and if it is not in style, can be a deterrent, Colten said.

Cheap Flooring

Cost: $1,000 to $3,000+

What kind of flooring you put in your basement can become a critical decision. In addition to rethinking wall-to-wall carpeting, you will want to forego cheap laminate. The problem with basements is that they can trap moisture because they are underground.

Flooring that cant take moisture is susceptible to warping, Colten said.

He noted that homeowners can expect to pay $1,000 to $3,000 to install the flooring and another $5,000 to $10,000 to get it replaced.

Single Purpose Rooms

Cost: $5,000 or more

When you are considering what to do with your basement, you will want to look at the big picture. Are you hoping to sell down the road? Then you are going to want to think twice about turning your lower floor into a single-purpose room.

Things like a home theater or gym can limit the space, Colten said.

He cautioned that homeowners should expect to pay $10,000 to $30,000 to turn their basement into a home theater and $5,000 to $15,000 to turn it into a gym. These options, however, may not provide a good return if the buyer has other needs, he explained.

Lack of Egress Windows

Cost: $3,000 to $5,000 per window

Any time you do a renovation, you need to secure the proper permits and follow all building codes. For basements, this may mean making sure you have adequate egress windows. An egress window provides an evacuation point in case of a fire or other emergency. Failure to put one in your basement can be costly and dangerous.

Going against building codes can limit the marketability, Colten said.

He explained egress windows cost between $3,000 to $5,000 per window but are a necessary expense. It is important to check building codes before installing to ensure that your window meets all statutory requirements.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Im a Real Estate Broker: 7 Basement Renovations Youll Regret
Bryan Tucker began looking for a starter home in the Washington, D.C., suburbs earlier this year. He soon decided it wasn't worth it.

In Arlington, Va., where he was looking, he found that most options he was interested in were priced over $1 million and way out of his budget. So he decided to renew his apartment lease another year.

I have looked, said Tucker, a 27-year-old project manager in the tech industry. The only options that are really affordable for me for the next year are condos."

Read more: What percentage of your income should go to a mortgage?

Would-be buyers like Tucker are staying in the rental market longer as the housing market remains out of reach for many. Apartment owners have noted on recent earnings calls that the share of renters moving out to buy homes is at record lows.

Multifamily and single-family rental REITs across the country have reported strong appetite for new and renewal leases as home ownership remains unaffordable for many. (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) (Boston Globe via Getty Images)

"The monthly cost of owning a home today is 61% more than leasing an apartment," Richard Campo, CEO Camden Property Trust (CPT), a Houston-based owner of 58,000 apartment homes, said on the company's first quarter earnings call in early May. "This is not going to change anytime soon."

Mortgage rates are currently hovering around 7%, continuing to make borrowing expensive for potential buyers. Higher rates have also convinced many current homeowners to delay moving since they financed their homes at lower rates. Thats kept a lid on supply and helped drive home prices sky high.

Home prices hit fresh records in March, according to the latest data available from Case-Shiller. Economists at Bank of America expect home prices to grow 4% this year.

Camden said that just 9.4% of move-outs in the first quarter were due to its residents buying a home  the lowest in history.

Similarly, AvalonBay Communities (AVB), a REIT that owns nearly 80,000 apartment units, reported in its first quarter report that the share of people moving out to buy a home hit a record low, namely because of high costs of homeownership.

Demand for [rentals] also continues to benefit from the differential in the cost of owning a home versus renting, Ben Schall, CEO and president at AvalonBay, said in late April to investors and analysts.

This is true across most of the country but particularly pronounced in our markets, given the level of home prices, resulting in it being more than $2,000 per month more expensive to own versus rent a home, he added.

A recent report from Redfin suggests renters are more likely to stay put for the long run than they were a decade ago. According to the company's analysis of renter tenure data from the Census Bureau, almost 17% of renters stayed in their home for a decade or more in 2022, up from 14% 10 years ago. The trend was similar for those who lived in their homes for five to nine years  the percentage of renters doing so rose to 16% from 14%.

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"The rate environment is not looking good. That's something that might keep the trend sticky, because mortgage rates are high and it's not looking like they're changing anytime soon," Sheharyar Bokhari, Redfin senior economist, told Yahoo Finance in an interview.

At its June policy meeting, the Federal Reserve held its benchmark rate  which affects the direction of mortgage rates  steady and projected just one rate cut this year, down from a previous forecast of three.

To be sure, renting an apartment has become less affordable too. The median asking rent has increased 23% over the past five years, according to Redfin data.

That has buyers like Tucker weighing their options. He found that he could reasonably afford a $1,600 to $2,000 mortgage payment, assuming he put 20% down  not too far off from what he spends in monthly payments for rent.

"I'm fine with [renting] for now, but for the long term, eventually I would like to get a house," Tucker said. "If that involves moving elsewhere, then I'm prepared to do that."

Dani Romero is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @daniromerotv.

Click here for real estate and housing market news, reports, and analysis to inform your investing decisions.
The board of National Bank of Canada (TSE:NA) has announced that it will be paying its dividend of CA$1.10 on the 1st of August, an increased payment from last year's comparable dividend. This makes the dividend yield about the same as the industry average at 4.1%.

View our latest analysis for National Bank of Canada

National Bank of Canada's Dividend Forecasted To Be Well Covered By Earnings

We aren't too impressed by dividend yields unless they can be sustained over time.

Having distributed dividends for at least 10 years, National Bank of Canada has a long history of paying out a part of its earnings to shareholders. Past distributions do not necessarily guarantee future ones, but National Bank of Canada's payout ratio of 43% is a good sign as this means that earnings decently cover dividends.

Over the next 3 years, EPS is forecast to expand by 4.2%. Analysts estimate the future payout ratio will be 45% over the same time period, which is in the range that makes us comfortable with the sustainability of the dividend.

National Bank of Canada Has A Solid Track Record

The company has a sustained record of paying dividends with very little fluctuation. The annual payment during the last 10 years was CA$1.74 in 2014, and the most recent fiscal year payment was CA$4.40. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 9.7% a year over that time. Companies like this can be very valuable over the long term, if the decent rate of growth can be maintained.

We Could See National Bank of Canada's Dividend Growing

The company's investors will be pleased to have been receiving dividend income for some time. National Bank of Canada has impressed us by growing EPS at 9.8% per year over the past five years. The company is paying a reasonable amount of earnings to shareholders, and is growing earnings at a decent rate so we think it could be a decent dividend stock.

National Bank of Canada Looks Like A Great Dividend Stock

Overall, a dividend increase is always good, and we think that National Bank of Canada is a strong income stock thanks to its track record and growing earnings. Earnings are easily covering distributions, and the company is generating plenty of cash. All of these factors considered, we think this has solid potential as a dividend stock.

Investors generally tend to favour companies with a consistent, stable dividend policy as opposed to those operating an irregular one. However, there are other things to consider for investors when analysing stock performance. Earnings growth generally bodes well for the future value of company dividend payments. See if the 7 National Bank of Canada analysts we track are forecasting continued growth with our free report on analyst estimates for the company. Is National Bank of Canada not quite the opportunity you were looking for? Why not check out our selection of top dividend stocks.

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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.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  The State of New Mexico is striking gold in the Golden State.

Theres now a heavy presence of New Mexico true in California, said New Mexico Tourism Department Communications Director Cody Johnson. After a successful entry into the Los Angeles market in 2021, NM True expanded to the city by the bay.

Weve noticed a lot of high-value visitation coming from California, so we wanted to increase our investment, said Johnson.

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He said the department has wanted to advertise in the San Francisco market for years but didnt have the resources to do it effectively. However, thanks to some money from the 2023 legislative session, the department launched its first winter campaign in the San Francisco Bay Area from October 2023 to February 2024. Numbers from the campaign show the investment is already paying off.

Something weve noticed is that visitors from California tend to fly when they travel a little bit more, and people who fly tend to spend a little bit more when theyre on vacation as well, said Johnson.

According to the Tourism Department, surveys show the San Francisco campaign influenced about 20,000 trips from the Bay Area to New Mexico. It also shows the average visitor from the Bay Area spends $1,700 in the state, creating a total economic impact of about $34.3 million over the course of the campaign. Johnson said for every dollar spent in advertising, $52 was returned to the state.

Thats economic impact for the state that we would not have seen if we were not advertising in San Francisco, he said. Its supporting the Land of Enchantment in a meaningful way by boosting the states economy.

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Bringing in visitors who do not live here to the state, welcome them in, show that they can have a good time in New Mexico, they can experience culture. They can experience cuisine, said Johnson.

NM True is in LA, San Francisco, and San Diego, with advertisements seeing the most success in airports. The ads can also be seen on digital platforms. NM True is already planning another investment for a spring and summer campaign in the Bay Area.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Nvidia stock has continued its stunning rally this year, sending the AI chip leader's valuation past $3 trillion and making it an even bigger presence in the S&P 500.

In fact, 34.5% of the S&P 500's market cap gains so far this year can be attributed to Nvidia alone, according to Apollo Chief Economist Torsten Slk.

Shares have soared 166% in the year to date and are up more than 200% from this time a year ago. That's as the artificial intelligence craze has gripped Wall Street, and Nvidia's quarterly earnings show no sign that the rush to stock up on AI chips isn't slowing down.

But relying so much on one stock also represents a big risk, Slk warned.

"Such a high concentration implies that if NVIDIA continues to rise, then things are fine," he wrote in a note on Wednesday. "But if it starts to decline, then the S&P 500 will be hit hard."

Because the S&P 500 is weighted by market cap, even relatively minor wobbles from behemoths like Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft can move the needle on the broad stock market index.

And as retail investors increasingly load up on S&P 500 index funds, that means exposure to Nvidiafor better or for worseis growing as well.

"The bottom line is that the extreme concentration of returns in the S&P 500 makes investors more vulnerable to single headlines impacting the one stock driving index returns," Slk added.

This isn't the first time he has sounded the alarm on the stock market's dependence on Big Tech.

When Nvidia's market cap topped $2 trillion for the first time ever earlier this year, Slk compared tech valuations to the bubble seen during the dot-com era.

The top 10 companies in the S&P 500 today are more overvalued than the top 10 companies were during the tech bubble in the mid-1990s, he wrote at the time.

Others on Wall Street are also growing more skeptical about Nvidia's valuation and its attractiveness as an investment after the stock's epic rally.

But Nvidia stock bulls remain. Beth Kindig, lead tech analyst at the I/O Fund, sees more astronomical gains in the coming years, predicting its market cap will surge more than triple again to $10 trillion by 2030.

Meanwhile, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang continues to surprise Wall Street, most recently by laying out a rapid cadence of new AI platforms.

Earlier this month, he said Nvidia plans to upgrade its AI accelerators every year as he announced the Blackwell Ultra chip for 2025 and a next-generation platform in development called Rubin for 2026.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Amazon is one of the best-performing stocks of all time. The e-commerce and technology giant is up over 1,000x since going public by taking advantage of the huge consumer shift from in-person to online shopping (among other things).

It is still a great business, but at a market capitalization of $1.9 trillion it is highly unlikely to replicate the returns of the last couple of decades. This may be disappointing for new investors who have missed the boat on most of Amazon's gains. But what if I told you investors could own shares in the next Amazon out of East Asia?

Enter Coupang (NYSE: CPNG). The South Korean e-commerce giant is taking its home country by storm and expanding to new markets. Here's why it could be a once-in-a-generation investment opportunity at today's price.

The Amazon of South Korea

Founded in 2010 as a Groupon clone, Coupang pivoted to copying Amazon's business model but catered to the South Korean market. It has a lot of similarities to Amazon's retail operations -- a subscription membership, vertically integrated shipping, video streaming -- as well as things that help it win in the small Asian country. For example, it allows customers to leave reusable return boxes outside their doors to return packages, which are picked up by Coupang drivers.

It is these types of customer value propositions that have elevated Coupang as a leading e-commerce platform in South Korea. Last quarter, it generated $7.1 billion in revenue, up 23% year over year on a foreign currency neutral basis and excluding its acquisition of Farfetch. With the growth of its third-party marketplace for other e-commerce retailers, gross profit is growing much quicker and was up 27% last quarter excluding Farfetch.

These growth rates are much faster than the entire e-commerce market in Coupang. There is around $500 billion in retail spending in South Korea each year, giving Coupang a lot of runway to grow if it can convince more customers to adopt its offering for things like food delivery and groceries.

Expansion into Taiwan?

Coupang has plenty of runway left to grow in South Korea, but this is not a giant market like the United States or China. Luckily, management is forward-thinking and has been testing different ways to expand into other Asian regions with wealthy enough consumers who can spend money on an e-commerce platform. It recently landed on Taiwan as a place for major investment.

In the region, it is setting up infrastructure to replicate the vertically integrated offering it has in South Korea and seeing strong initial growth. Revenue in Coupang's "developing offerings" segment grew 143% year over year excluding Farfetch, with most growth coming from Taiwan. The market is small and unprofitable right now but with close to 25 million people living on the island nation, there is a big opportunity for Coupang to expand its e-commerce platform outside of Korea.

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CPNG Free Cash Flow Chart

The stock is cheap for patient investors

Today, Coupang trades at a market capitalization of $38 billion. Over the last 12 months, it has generated $1.45 billion in free cash flow for a trailing price-to-free-cash-flow (P/FCF) ratio of 26, which is close to the market average. However, I think the stock is set up to deliver better-than-market returns over the next five years and beyond.

First, the company's free cash flow is depressed due to all the growth capital expenditures over the last 12 months, especially in Taiwan. It has spent close to $1 billion on new infrastructure over that time. It is also growing faster than the market average with 30%-plus gross profit growth. That level of growth will not continue forever, but I think the company is poised to grow at a double-digit rate for many years into the future.

At an earnings multiple around the market average, I think Coupang is a cheap stock for patient investors willing to hold for the long term.

Should you invest $1,000 in Coupang right now?

Before you buy stock in Coupang, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Coupang wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

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*Stock Advisor returns as of June 10, 2024

John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Brett Schafer has positions in Amazon and Coupang. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon and Coupang. The Motley Fool recommends United Parcel Service. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

A Once-in-a-Generation Investment Opportunity: 1 High-Growth E-Commerce Stock to Buy Now and Hold Forever was originally published by The Motley Fool
These days it's easy to simply buy an index fund, and your returns should (roughly) match the market. But you can significantly boost your returns by picking above-average stocks. For example, the Rimbunan Sawit Berhad (KLSE:RSAWIT) share price is up 55% in the last 1 year, clearly besting the market return of around 21% (not including dividends). So that should have shareholders smiling. In contrast, the longer term returns are negative, since the share price is 2.2% lower than it was three years ago.

Let's take a look at the underlying fundamentals over the longer term, and see if they've been consistent with shareholders returns.

Check out our latest analysis for Rimbunan Sawit Berhad

While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price.

During the last year Rimbunan Sawit Berhad grew its earnings per share, moving from a loss to a profit.

When a company is just on the edge of profitability it can be well worth considering other metrics in order to more precisely gauge growth (and therefore understand share price movements).

Rimbunan Sawit Berhad's revenue actually dropped 20% over last year. So using a snapshot of key business metrics doesn't give us a good picture of why the market is bidding up the stock.

The image below shows how earnings and revenue have tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

This free interactive report on Rimbunan Sawit Berhad's balance sheet strength is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.

A Different Perspective

It's good to see that Rimbunan Sawit Berhad has rewarded shareholders with a total shareholder return of 55% in the last twelve months. Since the one-year TSR is better than the five-year TSR (the latter coming in at 3% per year), it would seem that the stock's performance has improved in recent times. Given the share price momentum remains strong, it might be worth taking a closer look at the stock, lest you miss an opportunity. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Rimbunan Sawit Berhad better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with Rimbunan Sawit Berhad , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

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For those who like to find winning investments this free list of undervalued companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Malaysian exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Darwin Brandis / iStock.com

North Carolina, known for its diverse landscapes from the Appalachian Mountains to the Atlantic coastline, offers a blend of urban and rural living. As more people consider relocating to the Tar Heel State, understanding the average cost of living becomes crucial. If you have been debating moving or just want to see how your finances would stack up, its good to know the breakdown of some cheaper and more expensive cities in North Carolina.

Learn More: Heres How Much the Definition of Middle Class Has Changed in Every State

Find Out: How To Get $340 Per Year in Cash Back on Gas and Other Things You Already Buy

Wealthy people know the best money secrets. Learn how to copy them.

Quick Take: The Cost of Living in North Carolina

Where you live will cost you in everything from property taxes to what you spend at the grocery store. GOBankingRates recently published a study listing the cities with the lowest and highest cost of living in North Carolina, as well as the other states.

Try This: Net Worth for US Families: How To Tell If Youre Poor, Middle Class, Upper Middle Class or Rich

City With the Lowest Cost of Living: Laurinburg

Population: 14,971

Average annual cost of living: $26,313

City With the Highest Cost of Living: Nags Head

Population: 3,153

Average annual cost of living: $46,002

5 Things That Affect Cost of Living in North Carolina

When putting all the facts and figures into your cost of living calculator, it helps to budget for your biggest expenses. Whether you prefer small towns or big cities, you might want to consider something where statistics such as unemployment rates, median household income and average mortgage payments align with your paycheck.

1. Housing Costs

Housing costs in North Carolina vary significantly depending on the location. Urban areas like Raleigh, Charlotte and Durham tend to have housing prices higher than the national average, compared to smaller rural regions.

2. Transportation Costs

Transportation costs in North Carolina are relatively moderate. The state has a well-developed network of highways and public transportation systems in major cities. Also, as of mid-2024, the average price of gasoline in North Carolina is around $3.27 per gallon, slightly below the national average.

3. Groceries

The cost of groceries in North Carolina is generally in line with the national average. However, prices can vary depending on the region and store. A single adult can expect to spend upwards of $300 to $400 per month on groceries, whereas families might spend between $700 to $1,000 monthly.

3. Healthcare

Healthcare costs in North Carolina are comparable to the national average, but they can vary based on location and insurance coverage. The state is home to several top-rated hospitals and medical centers, particularly in urban areas, providing residents with access to high-quality healthcare services. However, there are other factors to consider, such as:

Insurance Premiums : For an individual, monthly health insurance premiums range anywhere from $300 to $500, depending on the plan. Family plans can cost more than twice that.

Out-of-Pocket Expenses: Doctor visits typically range from $100 to $200 without insurance, while dental and vision care costs are similar to national averages.

4. Education and Income Tax Rates

Education costs in North Carolina are relatively affordable, particularly in the public school system. North Carolinas public schools are funded through a combination of state and local taxes, offering free education to residents. Some schools may have fees for extracurricular activities or supplies.

How Much You Should Have Saved To Cover Your Expenses

Other than the most and least expensive cities for cost of living, if you want to get a comprehensive breakdown of what things will cost you in major metropolitan areas in North Carolina, such as Raleigh or Durham, GOBankingRates has you covered there.

Expense Average Annual Cost in Raleigh Average Annual Cost in Durham Groceries $5,737 $5,657 Healthcare $5,546 $5,727 Housing $17,234 $15,450 Utilities $4,508 $4,554 Transportation $7,629 $7,573 Miscellaneous $1,068 $997 Total Annual Expenditures $41,721 $39,958

Recommended Emergency Savings

GOBankingRates also conducted research to determine what you should have saved in your emergency fund to cover your expenses should an unexpected financial shock occur.

What You Should Have in Your Emergency Savings: Raleigh

1-month budget : $3,477

3-month budget : $10,430

6-month budget: $20,861

What You Should Have in Your Emergency Savings: Durham

1-month budget : $3,330

3-month budget : $9,989

6-month budget: $19,979

Final Take To GO

The bottom line is that the cost of living in North Carolina offers a balanced mix of affordability and quality of life. Whether you are looking based solely on the cost of living and want to aim for the cheapest option of Laurinburg, more expensive areas like Nags Head, or just one of the major metropolitan areas, make sure you factor in your income and how far it will stretch.

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed 6,300 cities across the United States to find the cheapest and most expensive cost of living cities in each state. First, GOBankingRates found the cost of living indexes as sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces, and using the national average expenditure costs for all residents, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average expenditure cost can be calculated for each city. The total population was sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, and the livability index was sourced from AreaVibes. This data was collected on and is up to date as of May 21, 2024.

GOBankingRates defined the minimum emergency savings needed in every state as the amount needed to afford 3-6 months living expenses. Using the top 100 cities by population as sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, the cost of living indexes as sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces can be found. Using only the necessary expenses from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey; including groceries defined as food at home, housing defined as shelter, utilities defined as utilities, fuels, and public services, transportation defined as gasoline, other fuels, and motor oil plus other vehicle expenses, healthcare and miscellaneous. Using the cost of living index and the average expenditure cost, the one-month expenses can be calculated and extrapolated for three to six months. This estimate captures the minimum emergency savings needed in the top 100 U.S. cities to cover basic expenses for three to six months. This data was collected and is up to date as of Jan. 19, 2024.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: See Why These Cities in North Carolina Have the Highest and Lowest Cost of Living So Far in 2024
The US continues to lag behind other countries in closing the gender gap, a new report from the World Economic Forum (WEF) found.

According to the 2024 Global Gender Gap Report, the US ranked 43rd out of 146 economies this year. The country's gender parity score, which measures progress in closing inequalities between men and women, remained roughly the same at 74.7% since last year.

Globally, the pace of change is slowing down too, according to WEF managing director Saadia Zahidi. Given the lack of significant progress since last year, it will take 134 years to reach full parity, WEF estimated, a three-year increase from the 2023 projection.

"It could take five generations to get to [gender] parity," Zahidi told Yahoo Finance Catalysts (video above). "There really needs to be a lot more acceleration when it comes to the efforts from businesses, the efforts from governments, and ensuring that we actually unlock and use all of the human capital investment that has been made across countries."

Since its launch in 2006, the index has tracked global progress in closing the gender gap across four main categories: educational attainment, health, political empowerment, and economic participation.

No country has reached complete parity, but most economies have made forward progress. This year, the WEF report found that nearly every economy has closed more than 60% of its gender gap, a benchmark fewer countries reached nearly two decades ago.

Efforts in some areas have been more successful than others. The gap between men and women in health and survival, for instance, has closed by 96% on average, and the educational attainment gap has closed by 94.9%.

However, the gender gap in economic participation and opportunity is 60.5% closed, while the disparity in political empowerment has only seen 22.5% progress.

We are essentially wasting all of that investment, Zahidi said of the disparity across categories.

A woman holds an American flag as she watches the 157th Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade in New York City on May 27, 2024. (ADAM GRAY/AFP via Getty Images) (ADAM GRAY via Getty Images)

Iceland tops the list, US ranks 43rd

For the last decade and a half, Iceland has ranked highest in the index as the only economy that has closed over 90% of its gender gap. Eight other economies arent far behind, having closed over 80% of their respective gaps.

European countries dominate the global top 10, holding seven spots, while countries in East Asia and the Pacific, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America hold the other three spots.

For the second year in a row, the US has ranked 43rd.

Despite achieving complete gender parity in technical and professional workers and 84.2% parity in labor force participation, the overall gap in economic opportunity increased by 1.5% since last year. Furthermore, the US has made "virtually no progress in closing the economic gender gap since 2006," the report found.

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Zahidi attributed the USs poor ranking among other economies to disparities in leadership. Although women's political empowerment improved, a significant gap between the number of women and men in political positions in the US remains.

While its an economy that does fairly well in terms of economic participation, its the leadership gap in both politics and in economic participation thats driving its ranking overall, Zahidi said.

A 'competitive advantage'

The WEF report highlighted how gender parity could serve as an economic tool.

A 2023 study from Moody's Analytics revealed that narrowing the gender gap in labor force participation and management in OECD countries alone could lead to a roughly $7 trillion increase in global economic activity each year. The analysis estimated that closing gender gaps in large emerging countries, such as India, would further increase this impact.

Gender parity is a competitive advantage in an increasingly tough macro-economic and business environment, the WEF report said.

Zahidi identified improved care systems, more female political participation, and increased female involvement in STEM and technology fields as catalysts for gender parity.

Because AI has the power to serve as a game changer, Zahidi noted that women assuming roles in technology allows them to be involved in the future economy and emphasized that more diverse teams in those fields matter.

Considering the risk of further regression, WEF decided to launch the Global Gender Parity Sprint, an intervention that brings governments, businesses, and international organizations together to expedite economic gender parity by 2030. The initiative is particularly focused on closing the gaps in leadership and pay as well as on transforming industries such as green energy and technology.

Parity can come within grasp, but it requires decisive leadership and dedicated resources, WEF said. Raising the required resources to close the gap requires a fundamental mindset to recognize gender parity as an engine for new, high-quality growth.

Click here for the latest economic news and indicators to help inform your investing decisions.

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
Investing in a high-yielding dividend stock can be alluring because you can accumulate a ton more dividend income than you would with a low-yielding stock. One stock that offers an extremely high dividend yield today is Medical Properties Trust (NYSE: MPW), a real estate investment trust (REIT) that invests in hospitals, giving you some good exposure to the healthcare industry.

Medical Properties Trust, or MPT, yields 12.4%, which is more than 8 times what you would get with the average stock on the S&P 500, where the yield is approximately 1.4%. The REIT pays a quarterly dividend of $0.15, or $0.60 over a full year. To generate $1,000 in annual dividend income, you would need to own roughly 1,670 shares of the REIT. And with the stock trading at around $4.80, that means you would need to invest a little more than $8,000 to secure a $1,000 annual dividend.

But MPT did cut its dividend last year, and the company has had problems with one of its key tenants, Steward Health, which filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year. So, even though MPT's dividend is lower than a year ago, that doesn't guarantee it will remain sustainable. Investors are taking a big risk by investing in this stock.

While MPT can provide a high dividend, you'll want to keep this stock on a close leash, as buying the stock and forgetting about it could prove to be dangerous. Over the past five years, MPT's total returns are a negative 59%, even when including its high dividend.

Should you invest $1,000 in Medical Properties Trust right now?

Before you buy stock in Medical Properties Trust, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Medical Properties Trust wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $794,196!*

Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*.

See the 10 stocks 

*Stock Advisor returns as of June 10, 2024

David Jagielski has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Want $1,000 in Dividend Income? Here's How Much You'd Have to Invest in Medical Properties Trust Stock was originally published by The Motley Fool
Though Tesla (TSLA) shareholders voted to reinstate Elon Musk's pay package on Thursday afternoon, some investors and analysts told Yahoo Finance they remain skeptical.

The whole thing is a game of chicken and the shareholders blinked, early Tesla investor Ibrahim AlHusseini said. Fear of loss is a big motivator and Elon wielded that psychological mechanism to his benefit.

The venture capitalist said he unenthusiastically voted in favor of the $56 billion package.

The deal was set in 2018 when the milestones seemed virtually impossible and he met them," said AlHusseini, who first invested in Tesla in a Series C funding round. "He made a deal, he delivered, and this is his reward.

Tesla's stock has been down nearly 30% year to date, and dropped roughly 2.5% on Friday. Now that the vote is over, AlHusseini said the stock should remain steady until its next quarterly earnings, where he forecasts that shares will drop due to another miss on deliveries and margin.

Tesla said 77% voted to support Musks pay package. According to the filing, investors who held 1.76 billion shares voted to approve the deal, while 528.9 million shares voted against it. 20.6 million shares did not vote.

I just want to start off by saying, hot damn, I love you guys, Musk said onstage at the shareholder meeting. The package, comprised of options, was originally valued at up to $56 billion but is now worth roughly $46 billion due to a fall in Tesla's market capitalization.

In January, Delaware Chancery Court Judge Kathaleen McCormick ruled that the original pay package, which was approved by 73% of voted shares in 2018, was not negotiated fairly.

The vote to reinstate the package doesnt necessarily mean that Musk will get the historic pay. A favorable vote doesn't resolve the legal challenge, and likely wont change the judges mind. Legal experts say the final decision will be tied up with the Supreme Court and Delaware Chancery Court.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk gets in a Tesla car as he leaves a hotel in Beijing, China May 31, 2023. (REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo) (Reuters / Reuters)

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who was among the shareholders urging for a vote against the package, calls the approval a mistake. Lander overseas several pension funds that own about 3.4 million Tesla shares.

Well see how Musk moves forward, if this leads to him focusing on Tesla and developing clear plans for growth, Lander told Yahoo Finance. But if it becomes one more battle, distraction, Twitter feud, and more ego  that wont be a good thing.

Teslas largest outside institutional shareholder, Vanguard, was pivotal in the deal's passage. Vanguard, which holds 7% of Tesla stock, initially voted no in 2018, citing concerns over the size in relation to the companys performance.

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Longtime Tesla investor Ross Gerber has questioned Vanguard's move. "Index funds are supposed to represent the public and often have corporate governance expectations for the companies. It seems a little bit weird that they voted for the pay package and said it aligns with shareholder incentives  which it does, but at an outrageous value, he told Yahoo Finance.

Gerber, who co-founded investment firm Gerber Kawasaki, voted yes in 2018 but advocated for a no this time. He started investing in Tesla in 2014, and his firm holds 332,000 shares as of March 31.

The package is outrageous and his performance has been horrendous for the last three years, said Gerber. But I believe in elections, so if that's what shareholders want, thats fine.

Investors also passed a proposal to reincorporate Tesla from Delaware to Texas, which Musk pushed for after the judge voided his pay deal.

This is part of the distraction problem, Lander said. Delaware has a set of relatively conservative laws that are the foundation of shareholder capitalism. To then pack up your marbles and move to Texas because youre pissy about a judge who said you have to follow the rules, the question is how are you going to reset?

Lander says he sees a strong foundation for Tesla to build on despite some worrying signs, adding that they have no immediate plans to change their investment strategy.

Elon deserves a great share of the credit, Lander said. Not a $56 billion share, but a very great share.

Analysts say shareholders' decision to restore Musks compensation package is a win for investors.

Canaccord Genuity managing director George Gianarikas, who has a Buy rating on the stock, told Yahoo Finance he is very encouraged by the vote of confidence in Musks leadership.

Elon Musk is critical to the success of Tesla in the past and in the future, Gianarikas explained.

Gianarikas said Teslas prospects of developing full self-driving set the automaker apart from competitors, putting the company in an incredibly enviable position.

Wedbushs Dan Ives, a longtime Tesla bull, described the approval as a pop-the-champagne moment for Musk and shareholders. He said the pay package approval removes a $20 to $25 overhang on shares.

This is just the start of the next chapter, as Musk calls it, in the Tesla growth story. It's one of the best disruptive names in the world, Ives said. It's one of the best AI plays in the market.

Ives, who cautions a no vote could have resulted in Musk leaving Tesla, sees Teslas valuation surpassing $1 trillion in 2025 as Musk dedicates more time and focus to the automaker.

"You're seeing old-school Musk return now ... Tesla needs Musk and Musk needs Tesla, Ives added.

But Dave Harden, chief investment officer of Summit Global, cautioned against buying Tesla shares at this time.

"It's significant dilution possibilities for shareholders, and it causes one to want to do things that are risky," said Harden.

The company has not proven itself in AI and robotics, and its major growth burst in EVs has already happened, Harden argues.

"I think that there's going to be much more chatter and much more opportunity to get in when you can see clearly that the growth is going to happen," said Harden.

"I would recommend to hold on Tesla and wait. If you're in the shares, I'd probably sell," he added.

Yasmin Khorram is a Senior Reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow Yasmin on Twitter/X @YasminKhorram and on LinkedIn. Send newsworthy tips to Yasmin: yasmin.khorram@yahooinc.com

Seana Smith is an anchor at Yahoo Finance. Follow Smith on Twitter @SeanaNSmith. Tips on deals, mergers, activist situations, or anything else? Email seanasmith@yahooinc.com.

Click here for the latest technology news that will impact the stock market.

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We recently published a list of the 10 Best Airline Stocks to Buy For 2024. Since Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE:DAL) ranks 1st on the list, it deserves a deeper look.

Despite rising inflation, consumers worldwide continue to spend on travel and experiences, defying all expectations and forecasts. Latest data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates that the airline industry is expected to generate $30.5 billion in net income in 2024, driven by higher ticket prices and consumers desire to travel. Last year, the industrys net income came in at $27.4 billion. According to data from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) the economic impact of the travel industry this year is expected to soar to $11.1 trillion, beating its previous level of $10 trillion recorded in 2019. The Council expects the tourism industry to become a $16 trillion industry over the next decade, accounting for about 11.4% of the global GDP.

However, not all is rosy in the airline industry. The competition in the industry is increasing, while geopolitical headwinds and rising employee costs continue to batter small and large airline companies. IATA was quick to highlight that despite the industry growth, airlines profit per passenger is just $6.14. Travel demand in China also remains subdued amid real estate and economic crisis in the country. However, analysts believe sooner or later the country would rebound and the best airline and travel companies would benefit from the influx of Chinese tourists.

A KPMG report on the airline industry highlighted the resilience of the airline industry and its fast recovery to pre-pandemics levels:

The latest air travel data from IATA shows that passenger travel for November 2023 globally has reached 99.1% of November 2019 levels. November 2023 international RPKs reached 94.5% of November 2019 levels, while domestic traffic was 6.7% above the November 2019 level. Although international global travel remains 5.5% below pre-pandemic levels, IATA director general Willie Walsh said that the gap is rapidly closing, adding that current economic headwinds are not deterring people from taking to the skies. IATA also noted that long-term airline profitability shows that while the industry is exposed to external shocks, it typically returns to profitability relatively quickly.

In this backdrop, we decided to take a look at some of the best airline stocks to buy in 2024 according to hedge funds. For that we first listed down all holdings of an airline ETF, which provides investors exposure to the airline industry and tracks some of the biggest and most important airlines and aviation companies of the US and worldwide. From these stocks we chose 10 companies with the highest 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).

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Is Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE:DAL) the Best Airline Stock to Buy For 2024?

Pixabay/Public Domain

Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL)

Number of Hedge Fund Investors: 51

Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) is the most popular airline stock among the 919 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey. A total of 51 hedge funds reported owning stakes in Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) as of the end of the March quarter. HSBC analyst Achal Kumar recently started covering the stock, along with three other major airliners, with a Buy rating. The analyst is bullish on the stocks amid strong demand.

Kumar thinks Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) is in the strongest position when compared to competitors like United Airlines and American Airlines, as the company owns 70% to 75% market share at its top six hubs.

Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) earnings are expected to grow by 10% in 2025. The stock is currently trading at 6.9x its 2025 EPS estimate. This forward P/E is lower than the sector median of 18.75.

Average Wall Street analyst price target for Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) is $61, which presents a 20% upside potential from the current levels. Being the top airline in the US, Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) is a clear beneficiary of the expected travel recovery in the next few years. Bain & Company expects annual air travel demand to exceed 2019 in 2024. Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) is the largest airline in the US in terms of domestic revenue.

Oakmark Fund stated the following regarding Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) in its first quarter 2024 investor letter:

Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) is a leading global airline. Of the big three U.S.-based airlines (Delta, United and American), we see Delta as the most competitively advantaged. We believe the companys years of industry-leading operational performance and investments in the customer experience have established Delta as the premium brand in the industry. We also think its geographically optimal hubs, high local market share, robust loyalty program and unique corporate culture all support healthy returns on capital. Delta currently trades at 6x our estimate of normalized earnings per share. We believe this is an attractive valuation for a competitively advantaged and growing business in an out-of-favor industry.

Overall, Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) ranks 1st on Insider Monkeys list of 10 Best Airline Stocks to Buy For 2024. You can visit 10 Best Airline Stocks to Buy For 2024 to see other stocks in the list. While we acknowledge the potential of Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL), 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 Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) 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.
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How did right and wrong get so lost in our practice of politics? Its almost as if morality is irrelevant now  the battle between parties is so pitched neither side believes it can afford the luxury of morality, writes Vince Bzdek.
Authorities and festival organizers are on high alert as some sections of the Arkansas River remain at dangerous levels. According to an announcement from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Arkansas River is flowing at just over 4,300 cubic feet per second and is about 55 degrees, which can trigger hypothermic shock from sudden immersion if not wearing proper equipment. A 19-year-old man who was swimming in the river near La Junta on Wednesday is still missing, and an experienced kayaker died last week after getting swept up in a Class 5 rapid along the river north of Buena Vista.

High water flows on the Arkansas have led to multiple flood warnings in several locations, including Canon City and Salida. Authorities have reported dangerous, fast-flowing currents in some areas that are up to four times the normal rate. It's for those reasons that organizers of this weekend's FIBArk Whitewater Festival have canceled or postponed some events during the four-day gathering in Salida that started Thursday.

On Friday, the Pueblo County Sheriffs Office lifted restrictions that had been in place this week for the Arkansas River from the spillway of the Pueblo Dam to the Pueblo-Otero County line after the water flow rate dropped to about 4,000 cubic feet per second. Creeks farther north in Golden and Boulder have had restrictions in recent weeks for water enthusiasts. While the restrictions in the Pueblo area were lifted, CPW's park manager at Lake Pueblo said in the announcement that it isn't a time for people to relax. The river still needs to be respected, and people need to take precautions such as wearing life jackets.

What makes a river dangerous are strong currents, cold water temperatures and unexpected changes in depth. Tom Waters, CPW's park manager for the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, added that the danger levels of the water depends on the river's "character," as well. The gradient, or the downhill slope, of a river and how narrow it is affects the danger. "It's kind of subjective, too. For a novice river user, it could feel dangerous to them but a veteran user may not feel that way," Waters said. The Arkansas River stretches hundreds of miles in Colorado alone, meaning there are areas that are safer than others, said Bob Hamel, the executive director for the Arkansas River Outfitters Association.

Hamel said the "beauty" in the river is its flexibility.

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While other rivers in the country are subject to extreme rapids and high- or low-water levels that make them dangerous to be in all together, Hamel said the Arkansas has multiple sections people of various levels of skill and ability can raft in Colorado. "Very few rivers in the country have this ability to move trips around for the appropriate level of the commercial guest," he said. Flow levels for the Arkansas are close to hitting records, according to Hamel. But the high-flow sections can be avoided.



Right now, Hamel said the best areas to go rafting or kayaking are Bighorn Sheep Canyon and Browns Canyon. These places offer various sections with rapids that range from Class 2 to Class 4.

Hamel said there are sections from Salida to Parkdale that are conducive for children who want to paddle raft, as well. Restrictions affect outfitters like Hamel, who understands that authorities want to be cautious, but also thinks it turns people away from being on the river in its entirety, when that doesn't need to be the case.

You still can go rafting. Go with an outfitter, or at least call an outfitter and find out what the real story is. Its not a marketing ploy to get people to still go. You can go on the river in a safe manner, you just have to go to the appropriate areas, he said.
The Tava House project moved closer to the groundbreaking stage with the recent removal of the cog railway car in the center of downtown Woodland Park.

From the station to a concrete pad at the Centennial Trailhead on Midland Avenue, the railway cog offers a view of Pikes Peak and will remain among the citys amenities.

The Tava Group of local investors paid $800,000 to the Downtown Development Authority in 2021 for 6.63 acres in Woodland Station. Among the plans for the property are a steakhouse, a culinary school with chef Victor Matthews and an events center.

Removing the car was among the last steps in moving the project forward, along with resolving access issues with the Colorado Department of Transportation. Access to the development will be from U.S. 24.

The cog has been a sore spot in the project since the investors bought the property, with the agreement the car would be removed at their expense.

At issue was how the cog got there in the first place. In 2019, a former board accepted the donation of the No. 15 car by the Broadmoor Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway.

At the time, the late Duane Carter funded the $12,000 transport cost from Manitou Springs to Woodland Park. It was subsequently dedicated to his late wife, Myrna.

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With the move last week, the car retains the name Myrna.

But the Carter adult children opposed the move, with lawyers on both sides attempting a solution. Only when the Carters lawyer discovered a document that established the Ute Pass Historical Society as the rightful owners did the controversy rest. The document is an agreement that transfers ownership of the Myrna Cog Rail Car with rails and ties, to the Ute Pass Historical Society.

Donna Finicle, executive director of the nonprofit historical society, credits City Manager Aaron Vassalotti for approving a new location.

The city paid for the concrete base and is footing the bill for the insurance, she said. There are cameras at the trailhead to photograph anyone who tries to damage the property.

The Tava Group paid for equipment and other costs associated with the move of the car.

The Ute Pass Historical Society considers the car one of its historical artifacts housed in its museum. Our collection includes artifacts from outside of Manitou through Divide, Finicle said, adding that the cog car is part of Ute Pass history as it relates to transportation by railroads in the 20th century.
One of the states top former law enforcement officers testified Friday that comments made by 11th Judicial District Attorney Linda Stanley during a television interview about two murder suspects she was prosecuting were the worst hes ever seen.

I cant recall anything more egregious in heightening the public condemnation of the accused, John Suthers said. Theres nothing about it that comes anywhere close to a law enforcement purpose.

Suthers is a former Colorado attorney general, U.S. attorney and mayor of Colorado Springs. His scathing comments were made during the fifth day of Stanleys disciplinary hearing, which could result in the sitting district attorneys disbarment.

Suthers was hired by the arm of the Colorado Supreme Court that oversees attorney misconduct to testify as an expert in prosecutorial ethics.

Stanleys public comments caused murder charges against a mother and her live-in boyfriend in the death of her 10-month-old baby to be dismissed last month in Fremont County court.

Last August, during an interview with Colorado Springs television station KRDO about the alleged murder of Edward Hayes, Stanley explained that his mothers boyfriend, who was accused of killing him, had no love for the child.

I mean I am going to be very blunt here. He has zero investment in this child, zero. He is watching (the child) so he can get laid, thats it, and have a place to sleep. Im sorry to be that blunt, but honest to God thats whats going on.

Stanleys attorney Steve Jensen explained that she believed that she was off the record when she made the comments, but reporters said that she had a microphone on and should have known she was being recorded.

The order granting the motion to dismiss was filed by Fremont County District Court Judge Kaitlin Turner. Turner has been present listening to testimony in the gallery of the courtroom, but is not scheduled to testify at Stanleys hearing.

Stanley has sat quietly during the proceedings, often working on her laptop computer.

In addition to the Fremont County case, Suthers was also asked about extrajudicial statements made by Stanley as lead prosecutor in Barry Morphews murder case: first when he was arrested on May 5, 2021, and then on a national podcast after the evidentiary hearing.

On Aug. 30, 2021, after 11th Judicial District Judge Patrick Murphy found probable cause that Morphew might have murdered his wife and that he had motivation to do so, Stanley appeared on a podcast called Profiling Evil. The mere name of the program caused problems, Suthers said.

Lets start with the fact that youre going on a podcast called Profiling Evil. Theres substantial likelihood that this heightens the publics condemnation of the accused, Suthers said.

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In addition, Suthers found that Stanleys comments during an appearance at a press conference on May 5, 2021, when Morphew was arrested were something even a rookie prosecutor understands.

Stanley, who remains 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 Morphews murder trial. She could be disbarred by the Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel if she is found to have violated ethics rules. She could also be censured, suspended or her case could be dismissed.

Suthers said that he is being paid $250 an hour with a cap of $5,000 to testify.

Also testifying Friday was Stan Garnett, former Boulder district attorney, and Grant Grosgebauer, a prosecutor who was borrowed from the 18th Judicial District to help in the month leading up to the oncoming trial. He described those last tumultuous weeks as a snowball that kept rolling down the hill.

Grosgebauer said that Morphews attorney, Iris Eytan, whom he described as fierce, made prosecutors lives difficult in the month-and-a-half before trial by filing motions that he felt were stretching a prosecution team that was outmanned.

The defense had three full-time lawyers and six paralegals, plus investigators. They were filing every motion they could file but they were hammering the case, said Grosgebauer.

Grosgebauer, who got out of the prosecution business partly he said because of how difficult it has become to do that kind of work, is now a defense attorney in private practice. He told a three-person panel overseeing the hearing that it felt like former 11th Judicial District Judge Ramsey Lama treated the prosecution and the defense differently, particularly when he struck 13 of 16 district attorney witnesses as sanctions on the eve of trial, because the prosecution had engaged in consistent discovery violations, missing already extended deadlines for data involving the witnesses.

Grosgebauer countered that this was not true, and that Lamas ruling was really quick, based on the word of the defense, which was filing motions, he felt, for the sake of keeping the prosecution on its heels.

On the other hand, Stan Garnett said that Lamas findings were exactly right. The problem with the Morphew case, Garnett said was the leadership, the lack of focus, the lack of accountability

Suzanne Morphews remains were found in September in a remote area of central Colorado more than 40 miles south of her home as authorities were pursuing a different case. An autopsy report released in April labeled her death a homicide, but said she died by undetermined means. A cocktail of drugs that are used to tranquilize wildlife was found in one of the 49-year-old womans bones but there was no indication of trauma, the report said.

Monday, Stanley is expected to testify in the hearing, which is scheduled to last the rest of the week. A decision by the board is not expected for at least 56 days after the hearing is concluded.
As Colorado Springs prepares to ask voters to approve 10 more years of dedicated road spending, a new public works director is stepping in.

The city announced Friday, former Stormwater Enterprise Manager Rich Mulledy will replace Travis Easton overseeing the large department with a budget of $341 million. Easton was promoted to deputy chief of staff over infrastructure and development in July 2023, a news release said. Mulledy has served as the city's deputy public works director since April 2024.

Mayor Yemi Mobolade expected Mulledy will bring his experience establishing the stormwater program to the sprawling responsibilities of the public works department, which includes roads, bridges, the stormwater enterprise, the bus system and city forestry.

With his ability to lead people and develop relationships to work through difficult issues, Im confident his leadership will shine overseeing all of our Public Works team, Mobolade said in a statement.

The department oversees some big regional road projects, such as the expansion of Marksheffel Road. Since 2016, the department has also been working to improve the condition of roads through the 2C sales tax, billed as the pothole tax at the time.

The revenues from the .57% sales tax have repaved  of the city's existing roadways, but the city is still responding to decades of neglect, spokeswoman Vanessa Zink said.

If the Colorado Springs City Council approves the ballot language in August, residents could be asked to extend the 2C sales taxes for 10 years, she said.

Mulledy said educating residents on the need for continued investment in roads to maintain the gains will be among his top priorities in his new job.

"Without continuing on, those improvements will eventually be lost," he said.

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As the stormwater enterprise manager, Mulledy oversaw well over 200 projects in eight years. The projects were required to meet a consent decree issued by the Environmental Protection Agency and an agreement with the city of Pueblo.

The city must build 72 projects to meet its agreements with Pueblo and the department has finished more than half of those in eight years, he said.

The projects have also solved long-term drainage problems for residents, with department seeing dramatic drop in the numbers of calls from residents. The new infrastructure also held up in the wake of some of the wettest months on record last year.

"We really proved to have an incredibly resilient system," he said.

Mulledy will earn $215,450 in his new position and he is expected to be confirmed by City Council on June 25 or shortly after, Zink said. A new stormwater enterprise manager hasn't been selected.

The city also announced Myra Romero, a long-time city employee, will serve as the citys new chief human resources and risk officer. She has worked in numerous roles such as risk division manager and manager of organizational development, recruiting and equity, and diversity and inclusion.

She is replacing Mike Sullivan, who retired in November.

Romero is stepping into the job as the city works to recover from a workforce shortage. The city has 409 open positions. Most of the openings are in the police and fire departments. The city has 145 open positions in other departments, Zink said.

The city is still not filling some positions because of budget cuts, Zink said. Once departments achieve required savings they can fill the positions.

Romero will earn $215,450 and she does not have to be confirmed by the City Council under the charter.
With safety as a priority, organizers of the FIBArk Whitewater Festival made the call to cancel or postpone some events during the four-day gathering in Salida.

High water flows on the Arkansas River have led to multiple flood warnings in several locations. Authorities have reported dangerous fast-flowing currents, up to four times the normal rate.

FIBArk posted on its Facebook page Wednesday, saying that some events have been postponed or canceled.

The Crazy River Dog Competition has been rescheduled for an undetermined date in August.

The novice category for the Downriver Race has been canceled; all other Downriver Race categories are still on the schedule.

The Surf Competition has been canceled and refunds will be sent out upon request.

The SUP Cross event has been rescheduled for an undetermined date in August.

As of Thursday evening, no other events were officially canceled. Some events are still scheduled per the discretion of the Salida Fire Department, which will make the final call based on water levels.
One man was injured in a shooting Friday afternoon on the city's north side.

The Mason City Police Department responded at 4:57 p.m. to a report of a shooting at MidTown Liquor and Vape, 824 N. Federal Ave. Initial reports were that there were multiple shooters involved.

Arriving officers located one injured male and provided emergency medical care. A suspect was also taken into custody at the scene. The suspect was not injured.

Crime scene tape was present and investigators were still at the site Saturday afternoon, and an Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation crew could be seen working alongside members of the MCPD. An officer at the scene declined to comment on the investigation.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call MCPD at (641) 421-3636. Tips can also be called in to CrimeStoppers of North Central Iowa. We expect that we will have more information to release about this incident after the weekend and the initial investigation has been completed.

The Mason City Police Department was assisted at the scene by the Mason City Fire Department, the Cerro Gordo County Sheriffs Office, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
CEDAR FALLS  Free course materials produced by faculty have saved Iowas public university students $23 million since 2018.

University of Northern Iowa students specifically have saved $1.5 million, according to presenters at a Wednesday Board of Regents committee.

Librarians Anne Marie Gruber of the University of Northern Iowa and Mahrya Burnett of the University of Iowa presented their findings about open education resources and progress in expanding them to the Academic Affairs Committee. The board was meeting at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.

OERs are teaching, learning and research materials that permit no cost access and allow for reuse, adaptation a redistribution by others, Burnett told the committee. OERs can be textbooks, labs, exercises, case studies, essays, software and problems. Expanding affordable resources for college students also helps make resource more accessible.

Burnett and Gruber, who coordinates UNIs campus-wide textbook equity initiative, described how making resources available online has helped with those who use audio and visual assistances.

The regent universities have produced 75 OERs in total, with UNI contributing 10 original resource materials all created by faculty, with two currently in production.

The women also discussed the educational benefits of using OERs over commercial textbooks.

Weve seen similar learning outcomes with students who learn from commercial textbooks, said Gruber. But, with OERs used in class, weve seen a significant drop in Ds, Fs, class withdrawals.

According to the presenters, OERs have been a focus of growth at all three state universities, who utilize different approaches in using OERs. Gruber spoke of how UNI is utilizing the resource materials in the classroom.

These OERs are helping to contribute to media literacy and workplace readiness. ... At UNI, professors have told me that when they announce to a class that the textbook is free access, students have applauded, she said.

UNI has seen a 129% growth in instructors who utilize OERs in the classroom this past academic year. Gruber also attests that, because of their utilization, UNI students have saved more than $500,000 collectively each year that OERs are used.
(Guampedia)

Betel nut use

Areca (Betel) nut is the seed of the palm known scientifically as Areca catechu. Betel nut is the fourth most widely used psychoactive substance in the world, following only caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco. These substances act upon the central nervous system to alter brain function, resulting in temporary changes in perception, mood, consciousness and behavior. Over 600 million people chew betel nut worldwide, including Indians, Asians, and Pacific Islanders. In the Mariana Islands, betel nut, or pugua, chewing is a social pastime that extends friendship.

Islanders often chew not only the pugua itself, but betel quid, which is a combination of betel leaf or pupulu, areca nut, slaked lime, and sometimes tobacco. The slaked limewhich is crushed limestone or afok in Chamorroallows the alkaloid stimulants in areca nut to easily enter the bloodstream, but can cause sores in the mouth with chronic use. The alkaloids in betel nut chewing cause the following sensations: a sense of well-being, euphoria, salivation, a warm sensation, low to moderate sweating and heart palpitations. The widespread use of betel nut is an important cultural and social practice, but frequent use is associated with various health problems.

Cultural practices

Although pugua is commonly chewed in Pacific Islands, chewing practices are region-specific, even within the Marianas. Habits associated with chewing betel nut differ between various ethnic groupsChamorros prefer the ripe red areca nut, the ugam, and swallow it afterward. However, Chuukese, Palauan, and Yapese prefer the unripe areca nut, or Yapese betel nut, and spit it out after chewing. Alkaloid levels are highest in the unripe fruits, so they provide a stronger stimulating effect. The strength of individual betel nuts may be a contributing factor to their preference among certain ethnic groups.

Betel nut was not been traditionally grown in Chuuk, as it has been in Guam, Palau, and Yap. Chuukese natives adopted the betel quid chewing habit as a way of socializing with other groups when they migrated to neighboring islands. However, some Chuukese men find the habit to be unladylike and regard chewing to be disrespectful in women. Therefore, Chuukese women who chew betel nut often do so in secret. In contrast, Yapese women chew freely and openly. Among Palauan men, betel quid has been used as a peace-maker, because it is thought to improve the critical thinking process during group meetings. The effects of improved concentration and relaxation have been documented by many users, though why it has these effects in not well understood.

Chamorro, Palauan, and Yapese chewers who have participated in focus groups aimed at quitting betel nut chewing have agreed that chewing promotes socialization, making it more difficult to quit. Admittedly, many new chewers claim to have begun chewing betel nut in order to fit in socially, therefore giving in to peer pressure. In recent years, Non-Chamorro Micronesians (Chuukese, Palauan, and Yapese) have added cardamom and ginger to their betel quid to make their breath smell good and impart additional sweetness or spiciness in the chew. Chamorros have also adopted modern chewing practices by chewing mature nuts occasionally with piper leaf, and offering them while socializing at work or fiestas.

Both Chamorros and Yapese believe that betel quid chewing provides a coating on the teeth that prevents cavities. These beliefs are supported by clinical observations where evidence of dental cavities was low among areca nut/betel quid chewers compared to non-chewers. The constant chewing of the nut assists in removing food and other debris from between the teeth. Also, many chewers use the nut husk as a toothbrush to cleanse the mouth after chewing. While chewing betel nut may protect against cavities, the effect on the gums is less favorable and is associated with gum disease.

Health problems

Betel nut chewing is the leading cause of oral cancer in parts of Asia and the Pacific. In Guam, oral cancer mortality rate among the native Chamorro population is six times higher than that of people in the United States. The major chemical components of betel nut are polyphenols, including tannins and alkaloids. Arecoline, the primary alkaloid, is a psychoactive ingredient which acts as the major stimulant. Betel nut and betel quid chewing impart different health risks depending on the combinations of ingredients used, but are both classified as human carcinogens, specifically linked to oral cancers when used alone and when mixed with tobacco and/or alcohol.

Many epidemiological studies have revealed that frequent use of betel nut is associated with adverse health effects such as oral leukoplakia, white patches that develop in the mouth as a reaction to chronic irritation, and submucous fibrosis, a chronic debilitating disease of the oral cavity characterized by inflammation and the formation of scar tissue in the mouth. Habitual chewers of betel nut also have an increased risk of developing mouth or esophagus cancer, oral submucosal fibrosis, and oral lesions. However, Chamorros exhibit lower rates of oral cancer likely due to their preference of betel nut chewing without the addition of tobacco while high rates among Yapese and Palauans may be partially explained by the habit of adding stimulating ingredients to their betel quid mixtures.

Betel nut brings people of different social backgrounds together as a means of establishing friendship among people in Asia and the Pacific. Betel quid, the combination of betel leaf, areca nut, and slaked lime, is potentially addictive. The psychoactive ingredients in betel nut are associated with euphoria, salivation, a warm sensation, sweating and heart palpitations. Betel nut chewing practices are region-specific; Chamorros prefer the ripe red areca nutthe ugamand swallow it afterward, while the Chuukese, Palauan, and Yapese prefer the unripe areca nut, or Yapese betel nut, and spit it out after chewing. Chronic betel nut chewing can lead to various health implications such as gum inflammation and disease, oral sores, and potentially oral cancer.

About the author

Candice Arceo is a University of Guam graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She is currently a UOG Graduate student working toward a Master of Science in Environmental Science. She hopes to finish her thesis in 2018 detailing the relationship between Indoor Radon Levels and Thyroid Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Guam. Her interests include environmental and cancer research that pertain to Guam and the Marianas Islands.
Pope Francis on Friday warned of the potential dangers from artificial intelligence (AI), Azernews reports.

Addressing a session dedicated to AI, Pope Francis underlined that AI signifies a true cognitive-industrial revolution which will lead to complex epochal transformations.

Acknowledging that the transformations have the potential to be beneficial by democratizing the access to knowledge, advancing the scientific research, and reducing the demanding and arduous work, Francis also pointed out the possible negative consequences such as causing the greater injustice between advanced and developing nations or between dominant and oppressed social classes.

The pope also underlined that the algorithms used by artificial intelligence to arrive at choices are neither objective nor neutral.

Algorithms can only examine realities formalized in numerical terms, Francis said.

Furthermore, he emphasised that AI is always shaped by the worldview of those who invented and developed it.

Against this background, what is needed is the development of an algor-ethics, a series of global and pluralistic principles which are capable of finding support from cultures, religions, international organizations and major corporations, the pope remarked.
SALISBURY  Three Catawba College students are on the list of exceptional students who have been selected as recipients of the prestigious 2024 Undergraduate Research Award by the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU). Eleven students from various NCICU institutions across North Carolina were selected for their work in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and psychology.

Among the recipients is Samantha Giraldo, a junior biology major (pre-med track) with a minor in humanities and chemistry from Kannapolis. Samanthas primary objectives were to ascertain whether total or partial inhibition of polyamine biosynthesis lowers the viability of HBZ-expressing cells and to investigate the overall transcriptional profiles of HBZ-expressing cells using RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) to assess how HBZ affects metabolic activity.

Michaela Lantz, a senior biochemistry major from Lebanon, Pennsylvania, also received a grant. Michaelas study determines whether reproductive malignancies, such as ovarian and cervical tumors, exhibit this biphasic activity. Furthermore, by observing a biphasic response, we expect to understand better the biological mechanisms involved.

The third grant recipient from Catawba is Austin Wise, a junior environment and sustainability major from Corbin, Kentucky. His study highlights the broader ecological impact of mercury pollution and the need for ongoing monitoring and mitigation efforts to protect wildlife and ecosystem health.

About the award

The NCICU Undergraduate Award program supports students from NCICUs 36 colleges and universities who are actively engaged in undergraduate research. The undergraduate research endowment, established by NCICU with generous contributions from the North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation and other corporate and foundation donors, funds stipends of varying amounts based on the types of projects students are undertaking.

These talented students, classified as juniors or seniors for the 2024-2025 academic year, have demonstrated exceptional research skills and a dedication to academic excellence. They will have the esteemed opportunity to present their projects at the annual State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium (SNCURCS), a collaborative initiative between NCICU and the University of North Carolina, further highlighting the importance of their work.

The 2024 SNCURCS Symposium will take place in the fall and provide a platform for the award recipients to showcase their research findings and engage with scholars from across the state.

For more information about the NCICU Undergraduate Research Award and the upcoming SNCURCS Symposium, visit the NCICU website at https://ncicu.org/2024/05/28/ncicu-announces-the-2024-undergraduate-research-award-recipients/.
Quietly, the new bridge carrying Salisbury Ridge Road over Peters Creek Parkway has opened following almost a couple years of construction, reopening a link that carried more than 5,000 cars per day as recently as 2019.

The opening came without fanfare a couple weeks back. Pat Ivey, the division engineer for the N.C. Department of Transportation in Forsyth County, said the $4.4 million project came in ahead of the contract completion date, although it did take longer than actually expected because of some issues around utilities in the area.

The contract for the work was awarded to Smith-Rowe LLC of Mount Airy on May 17, 2022.

North Carolina highway officials shut down the old bridge in September 2022 so that it could be torn down and replaced. The old bridge was built in 1956 and was categorized as structurally deficient when its replacement came due. Highway officials said the steel parts of the old bridge were showing severe corrosion, while the deck and other concrete parts of the bridge had cracks and fragmentation.

During the closure and new construction, traffic on Salisbury Ridge Road was detoured around the site. Although state officials considered the no build alternative to replacing the bridge, that was not considered acceptable because of the volume of traffic using the bridge.

Rehabilitation of the old bridge was also ruled out because replacing the worn out parts of the bridge would effectively amount to a replacement.

In consultation with the city, state highway officials designed the new bridge to have a sidewalk on the north side and wide shoulder on the south side of the bridge.

The supporting structures at the base of the bridge were designed to accommodate a future 14-foot-wide shared-use path on the west side of Peters Creek Parkway, and a six-foot-wide sidewalk on the east side of the parkway. The westbound lane of Salisbury Ridge Road is considered shared use for bicycles.

Before the construction of Peters Creek Parkway in the 1950s, N.C. 150 followed what was known as Salisbury Road, of which Salisbury Ridge Road is the northern remnant. The south end of Salisbury Ridge Road formerly connected with what is now called Old Salisbury Road on the south side of Interstate 40. The construction of I-40 obliterated the connection.
Communication is the key to a successful transfer of patient care from one clinician to another during shift change. According to The Joint Commission, two-thirds of all adverse events in the healthcare setting are caused by failed handoffs.1 Humphrey and colleagues reported in their study of 498 malpractice cases that 49% of claims involved communication failures, and these claims resulted in $97 million in malpractice costs.2

Little in the peer-reviewed literature on this topic involves physician associates/assistants (PAs) or NPs.3 Many practicing PAs may not have training using structured communication during transfer of care. This article focuses on the significance of communication errors and introduces a few methods that can be implemented to improve patient handoffs.

In 2003, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) implemented duty-hour restrictions to reduce resident physician fatigue.4 An unforeseen consequence of this work hour modification was an increase in the number of patient care handoffs. The increase in patient care transfers resulted in more medical errors caused by failed communication between the sign-out clinicians and the receiving clinicians.4 In 2006, handoff communications were identified by The Joint Commission as a national patient safety goal.3 Shortly thereafter, successful handoff communications became a required resident competency by the ACGME.4 In 2014, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) included giving and receiving a report to transfer a patient's care as one of the 13 core entrustable professional activities required for entry into residency programs.5 PA education competencies and accreditation standards do not have language specifically addressing patient handoffs; instead, there are vague references to general communication, patient safety, risk management, quality improvement, and preventing medical errors.6,7

Most of the research published on this topic is in medical and nursing education and practice journals. No research could be found on PAs and handoff communication. One systematic review of educational interventions to improve handovers in healthcare planned to include PAs, NPs, OR technicians, and midwives, but its authors could not find studies involving these clinicians.3 As a result, the study participants in this systematic review were medical students, residents, attending physicians, and nurses.3

Many tools can be used to implement a handoff communication program. A mnemonic-based tool is a simple and easy approach to improve handoff communication (Table 1).

TABLE 1. - Examples of common mnemonics for structured handoff communication15,18 Examples of common mnemonics for structured handoff communication I-PASS Illness severity

Patient summary

Action list

Situation awareness and contingency plans

Synthesis by receiver I-SBAR Identification

Situation

Background

Assessment

Recommendation and receiver readback SIGN-OUT Sick or do not resuscitate

Identifying information data

General hospital course

New events today

Overall health

Upcoming possibilities

Tasks to complete

Examples of other programs with more formalized approaches to teaching better handoff communication are the I-PASS handoff bundle (Table 1), The Joint Commission's Hand-off Communications Targeted Solutions Tool (TST), and TeamSTEPPS.8,9 A study by Starmer and colleagues about implementation of the I-PASS bundle analyzed more than 10,000 patient admissions.10 Medical errors were reduced by 23% and preventable adverse events were reduced by 30%.10 The I-PASS bundle has been implemented by 32 sites across North America using the I-PASS Implementation Guide developed by the Society of Hospital Medicine.11 In another multisite implementation of the I-PASS bundle, 663 residents agreed or strongly agreed that they were fully capable of completing effective handoffs.9 In an updated systematic review in 2018, Gordon and colleagues identified 18 studies of handoff communication training implementations.3 These included pre- and postactivity assessments, randomized controlled trials, and prospective and observational studies.3 Another program created a simulated handoff experience using a clinical evaluation exercise as an evaluation tool to observe 4th-year medical students' handoff skills.12 This small study resulted in statistically significant improvement in the students' ability to complete effective handoffs.12

In 2007, Joint Commission International (JCI) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended standardizing handoffs using the Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation (SBAR) method.13 This validated and reliable communication tool has been shown to reduce adverse events (Table 1).14 This tool is intended to be used in any healthcare setting where patient care is transferred from one clinician to another, such as at shift change. Other structured communication tools can be used for verbal or electronic computer-based handoffs. An example of the use of I-SBAR and I-PASS in a clinical setting by a transferring clinician is shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2. - Comparison of I-SBAR and I-PASS used during a patient handoff Comparison of I-SBAR and I-PASS used during a patient handoff I-SBAR I-PASS Practical use: Escalation of care from a primary care provider to the ED Practical use: More detailed; transfer of care of an admitted patient from one clinician to another during a shift change in the hospital Identification Mrs. B, MR#1234, DOB 2/3/44 Mrs. B, MR#1234, DOB 2/3/44 Situation Mrs. B was brought in by EMS from home with shortness of breath and cough. Her SpO 2 was 88% on room air; it has now improved to 94% with 3 L/min of supplemental oxygen via nasal cannula. Illness severity Mrs. B is sick and a full codewatch her closely Background Mrs. B lives at home with her husband and developed a cough 1 week ago. Her husband thinks she may have caught a cold from their grandson. Patient summary She presented from home with shortness of breath, cough with green bloody sputum, fever of 102 F (38.8 C). Pulse was 110, BP was 130/70 mm Hg. Her Spo2 was 88% on room air; it has now improved to 94% with 3 L/min of supplemental oxygen via nasal cannula. Chest radiograph shows right lower lobe consolidation. Her white blood cell count is 17,000 cells/mm3. Assessment Right lower lobe pneumonia with hypoxia Action list Her first dose of IV antibiotics was given in the first hour; we are awaiting results of her complete metabolic panel (CMP) to assess her renal function. Blood and sputum cultures were sent. She is receiving IV fluids. Recommendation Her first dose of antibiotics has been administered and samples drawn for laboratory testing. Please monitor her SpO2 and consult the hospitalist service for admission to the ICU. Situational awareness and contingency plans She was in quite a bit of respiratory distress when she came in. Monitor her status and be prepared to start bilevel positive airway pressure ventilation or intubate if necessary. Consult the hospitalist service for admission. Synthesis by receiver In summary, Mrs. B is sick and is a full code. She presents with hypoxia and right lower lobe pneumonia. She is admitted, awaiting an ICU bed. Her SpO 2 improved to 94% with 3 L/min of supplemental oxygen, she has received her first antibiotic dose, and we are awaiting her CMP to complete the evaluation before she is admitted.

DISCUSSION

When The Joint Commission investigated nearly 5,000 sentinel events that occurred between 1995 and 2008, 60% of the bad outcomes were the result of poor handoff communication.15 In 2016, the average US hospital stay was 4.6 days.16 With RNs giving a shift report every 8 hours and hospitalist physicians transferring care every 12 hours, this adds up to 23 handoffs per hospital admission.16 The Joint Commission created a national patient safety goal of implementing a standardized approach to handoff communications that also would let both clinicians in the handoff ask and answer questions.14 Understanding the relationship of handoffs to medical errors, the ACGME requires formalized and standardized training in handoff skills.17 The AAMC makes handoff communication an entrustable professional activity.16 This ushered in the patient safety and quality improvement training initiatives in medical education.

Many mnemonics can be used as frameworks for structured handoffs (Table 1), but may not be applicable to all healthcare settings.18 A systematic review by Riesenberg and colleagues found 46 articles discussing 24 handoff mnemonics; 70% of the articles referred to SBAR, which was the most frequently cited mnemonic.15 Application of these handoff methods included emergency medical services (EMS), nurses, physicians, perioperative staff, residents, medical students, and other healthcare professionals.15

Regardless of the standardized protocol or mnemonic used for handoffs, the nursing literature provides evidence that face-to-face bedside handoffs improve communication and patient satisfaction with their care.19 This practice could be applied to PAs, physicians, and other clinicians during shift changes.

CONCLUSION

Clinicians must learn and develop formalized handoff skills to be effective at giving and receiving critical patient information during handoffs. This will foster better interprofessional collaboration and improve patient safety. Nurses practice structured communications when giving reports during shift change to assure continuity of care.20 This should also apply to PAs, NPs, and physicians. Clinicians in settings that involve shift or personnel changes should consider a formal handover policy if one is not already in place.
Hundreds participated in this years Hop, SCIP, Jump and Run, a fundraiser benefiting School Community Intervention & Prevention (SCIP), a program of the Lincoln Medical Education Partnership.

SCIP works with schools across Nebraska, providing trainings, resources and supports to address behavioral health issues impacting children, adolescents and their families.

This years event, which marked the 10th anniversary of Hop, SCIP, Jump and Run, took place May 31 at Antelope Park. Families visited booths and participated in activities to become eligible for the prize drawing. Fifty prizes were given away, thanks to the generosity of local and regional businesses.

Organizations and businesses participating in this years event included Capital Humane Society, Cedars, CenterPointe, Community Action Head Start, Complete Childrens Health, El Centro de las Americas, Family Service Lincoln, Girl Scouts of Nebraska, Junior Achievement of Lincoln, Lincoln Childrens Museum, Mourning Hope, Nebraska Mental Health Centers, Nebraska Walleye Association Kids Fishing Clinics, Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln, Raising Canes, Swimtastic, Tobacco Free Lancaster County, Velocity Clinical Research and Voices of Hope.

This event helps us raise awareness of the work SCIP does within schools to help students with mental health and substance use concerns, said Kelly Madcharo, director of SCIP. It also highlights those agencies and organizations within our community who stand ready to assist families.

Clowning Around joined Kates Face Painting and Nebraska Mental Health Centers photo booth to round out the plethora of activities from which to choose. Cookies were provided by The Cookie Company, while Maize Gourmet Popcorn and Colby Ridge provided popcorn for the event. Norland Pure and Pepsi made sure participants stayed hydrated by providing bottled water.

The threat of rain loomed over the event, but fortunately it held off for over an hour. Unfortunately, just as the 1-mile Fun Run was ready to start, Mother Nature decided to make her presence known with a flash of lightning, canceling the run and shutting down the event.

Diamond sponsors for this years event were Complete Childrens Health and Family Health & Wellness Center P.C. Platinum sponsor was Nebraska Mental Health Centers. Gold sponsors were B107.3, Nelnet, Tobacco Free Lancaster County, Union Bank & Trust and Velocity Clinical Research. Silver sponsors were Bizco Technologies, Bryan Health, Cornhusker Bank, Lincoln Industries and Unico, and Caseys was a Bronze sponsor.

SCIP is a program designed to bring together families, schools and communities to support student behavioral and emotional health. SCIPs mission is to provide an effective prevention and early intervention process for youth with behavioral health concerns so they may achieve healthy, productive lives. For more information on SCIP, visit www.scipnebraska.com or call 402-327-6851.
A federal judge is allowing a class-action lawsuit to go forward against two entities with financial ties to Nebraska Book Co. over the decision to wind down operations, giving workers two days' notice before laying them off last year.

Attorneys for the former employees sued Nebraska Book Company and Nebraska Book Holdings, as well as Mountain Ridge Capital and Concise Capital Management, alleging the move violated the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, which requires 60-day notice before a business with 100 or more employees is closed or has mass layoffs.

Mountain Ridge and Concise Capital had moved to dismiss the claims against them, arguing that the plaintiffs hadn't done enough to establish their potential liability.

Their attorneys contended they didn't qualify as the plaintiffs' employers under the WARN Act.

But last week, Senior U.S. District Judge John Gerrard denied the motion, saying the complaint "says enough" at this stage of the proceedings.

According to the lawsuit, Nebraska Book notified 242 employees by email Feb. 27, 2023, that it was terminating their employment with a wave of layoffs starting March 1 and then weekly through April as the business wound down.

Nebraska Book Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nebraska Book Holdings. But the role of the other entities is "a little murkier," Gerrard wrote in his order.

Concise Capital's attorney acknowledges it was Nebraska Book's secured lender and owned 100% equity in Nebraska Book Holdings.

Gerrard said Mountain Ridge's financial interest was more vague. But attorneys for the former employees alleged that whatever financial relationship they had, they collectively made the decision to terminate the employees and whether to pay out their accrued vacation time, the two matters at issue in the case.

Attorney Gerard Stranch said Nebraska Book Company and Nebraska Book Holdings had been pillars of the Lincoln community for over a century until Nebraska Book "unceremoniously closed its doors and announced that its employees, including plaintiffs, would all be terminated."

He said employees didn't receive proper notice, severance or even accrued vacation time.

"At first blush, the story seems simple enough: Nebraska Book went out of business and disregarded its legal obligations on the way out. Pulling back the curtain, however, reveals much more. Two other entities, not Nebraska Book, pulled the strings here: defendant Concise Capital and defendant Mountain Ridge," Stranch wrote in a brief fighting their dismissal from the suit.

He alleges that Mountain Ridge made the decision to announce the closure of Nebraska Book and terminate employees that weren't needed to process inventory and directed Nebraska Book to terminate anyone "not needed for management."

Concise Capital's attorney, Christopher Hedican, blamed Nebraska Book, which distributed physical textbooks and offered other services to bookstores, saying the company struggled to address the reduction in customers going to college campus bookstores to buy textbooks. And the COVID-19 pandemic only made things worse.

He said that between June 2020 and April 2022, Concise Capital made $16.5 million in capital infusions to Nebraska Book and "has effectively received zero return" on its overall investment and "expects to recognize an aggregate loss on the order of tens of millions of dollars" now that Nebraska Book has closed.

Hedican said by early 2023 it had become clear that Nebraska Book would run out of funding soon without additional capital investment of several million dollars.

He said Concise Capital worked with Mountain Ridge to find a new investor. But those efforts failed in late February 2023. When they did, Hedican said, Mountain Ridge agreed to fund two more payrolls on the condition that Nebraska Book make material reductions in staff and began to implement a liquidation plan.

"Under the circumstances, and with no alternatives that would be less harmful to its employees, Nebraska Book  and not Concise Capital nor Mountain Ridge  made the decision to cease operations and terminated NBC employees," Hedican said.

In his order last week, Gerrard said he disregarded Concise Capital's lengthy narrative of unpled facts, which didn't comply with federal rules of civil procedure or local rules.

The matter at issue involved only whether they qualified as employers under the WARN Act. And Gerrard found they did under separate tests.

He said Concise Capital acknowledged that it and Mountain Ridge made the ultimate decision to terminate employees March 1, 2023, but insisted, "beyond merely saying so, the only allegation connecting Concise Capital to the decision is Concise Capital's nominal ownership of equity of Nebraska Book."

"The phrase 'beyond merely saying so' has the same energy as 'Aside from that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?' The entire purpose of a complaint is 'merely saying so,'" Gerrard said.

The judge said here the allegations concern proof in Concise Capital's sole possession and control and are supported by factual material that makes them plausible.

As for Mountain Ridge, Gerrard said the plaintiffs have alleged it was making business decisions for Nebraska Book.

"They're entitled to try and prove it, if they can," he wrote.

Top Journal Star photos for June 2024
(This column originally ran June 15, 2014.)

The instant the Nebraska territory became official, it also became legal to settle west of the Missouri River in what had been known as Indian Territory. With the desire to settle came the urge to own land, but until an official survey was completed, parcels could not be legally described. Vigilante law filled the void as settlers banded together in mutual protection societies, though they were strictly illegal by federal law.

The first survey on Nebraska soil, albeit completely unofficial, was claimed by A.D. Jones of Council Bluffs, Iowa, who rowed across the Missouri River in a flat-bottomed boat in November 1853. After camping overnight, Jones blazed a mark on a tree near the river, then another to the north, one on what would become 10th Street, one near a ravine with heavy trees, then to some stone outcroppings to the south that formed an irregular tract he dubbed Park Wilde.

Certain the site would develop, Jones applied for a post office at about the same time U.S. Indian Agent Hepner objected to his presence, saying Indian title to the land had not yet been extinguished, and ordered him to vacate the site. Enough time elapsed for the territory to be opened, and on May 6, 1854, what was supposedly the first letter received in the new territory arrived, appointing him postmaster. Jones was not alone in staking out tentative claims across the river from Iowa, and stakes sprouted everywhere.

The federal government acted quickly to establish contracts with surveying parties, starting in the southeast corner of Nebraska. On Nov. 2, 1854, the first contract issued stipulated that a baseline/boundary with Kansas be completed by Jan. 20, 1855. Next contracts were drawn, commencing with the river and working westward, so the most popular lands would be surveyed first. Unfortunately, without any U.S. land offices in existence, land, though accurately described, could not be pre-empted, bought or sold legally, which brought claim clubs into existence.

On July 22, 1854, the Omaha Township Claim Association, later simply the Omaha Claim Club, was organized at the Lone Tree Ferry landing near the foot of what today would be Douglas Street. In general, club rules stated that when the federal survey was completed, land ultimately would be deeded and redeeded among members so that original claims would be maintained as near as possible.

Most clubs also had a requirement that a cabin be built, but because some members were trying only to amass holdings and not intending to farm or live on them, shortcuts developed. Saying they were in the process of building, some simply hauled a few logs in, and others borrowed small cabins that were moved from claim to claim. One club required a 12-by-14 cabin, allowing one wag to simply build a 12-inch-by-14-inch cabin. Another club required glass windows, so a pane of glass in a frame was tacked to a log.

However silly the rules may have sounded, the clubs were dead serious. The Omaha club said members could hold against all outside claimants provided they make improvements of $50 per year." All the best Omaha land was covered in months, while other clubs formed along a 100-mile-long corridor parallel to the Missouri River.

With the completion of surveys and as federal land offices were established, all the claimed land still would have to be purchased. Thus the Omaha club and others allowed a 320-acre claim, while federal rules allowed only 160 acres. The thought was that after purchasing the land from the land office, half could be sold immediately, yielding sufficient cash to pay for the 160 federally allowed acres.

In March 1855, in a rather pre-emptive fashion, the territorial legislature passed legislation legitimatizing claim clubs and allowing the 320-acre claim. Clubs were required to register with county clerks, keep records and settle all disputes.

Disputes were settled by club juries or courts, and none was light-handed. In 1856, George Doc Smith, a Douglas County surveyor, was driven off his land in north Omaha by a mob of 75 men who pulled down his house, forcing him into hiding in Iowa for several months.

Jacob Shull was attacked the following day on his south Omaha farm by a band of 150 armed men who burned his buildings. A Mr. Callahan, who jumped a claim club member's farm in west Omaha, was repeatedly dunked in the river through a hole chopped in the ice until he relinquished his claim.

The first official land office, though repeatedly delayed, opened in Omaha on March 17, 1857, followed by others throughout Nebraska. By 1858, all of the claim clubs had disbanded. Interestingly but perhaps not surprisingly, virtually all of the claim clubs' written records have been destroyed, protecting those who illegally protected themselves and their families.
Driving a Ford pickup truck through Iowa on Thursday, Chuck and Ted Hathaway couldn't help but think about their late father, Alan.

"We've told a lot of stories about him this week," said Ted Hathaway, who admits to being hit several times with pangs of nostalgia on the trip.

Maybe it's because their truck was following behind the 1924 Model T Ford  one of six that Alan Hathaway owned  as it traversed the Lincoln Highway from New York to San Francisco.

"All of this reminds me of being with my dad," said Ted Hathaway, a 64-year-old financial planner from Davenport, Iowa. "This trip has brought back a lot of happy memories."

In 1974, Ted Hathaway was 14 when he made the same trip with his father to mark the 50th anniversary of their Model T  officially recognized as the 10 millionth  coming off Henry Ford's assembly line in 1924.

He has been on the 100-year anniversary trip from the start. It left New York City on June 2 and three days later had engine problems in western Pennsylvania before being transported to Marengo, Ohio, where it spent three days getting new cylinders and pistons.

This is the fourth time the historic 10 millionth Model T has made the trip from New York to San Francisco.

Henry Ford commissioned the trip in 1924 when it came off the assembly line and then  with Alan Hathaway on board  it made commemorative trips in 1974 and 1999, before embarking on the 100-year anniversary trip.

"I don't know what he would have done if they had engine troubles on the other trips," said Chuck Hathaway, 65, who this month retired from his job of 43 years at an Iowa paper company. "We had the right mechanics to handle things immediately. We didn't have that back then.

"Dad was very fortunate that he made the trip all the way twice, and there was nothing worse than maybe a flat tire."

The journey to the West Coast eventually continued after being halted a few days and the convoy pulled into Lincoln on Friday.

On Saturday, the Model T will be at AAA Lincoln Midtown, 4500 S. 70th St., from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., before appearing at the Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed, 599 Oak Creek Drive, from 4:30-6 p.m.

On Sunday, it will be in Grand Island, at the Pump & Pantry location at U.S. 30 and Locust Street, from noon to 1 p.m. It will make two stops in Kearney  at Classic Car Collection, 3600 U.S.-30 B, and the Historic Spruce Street Station, 220 N. Spruce St.  on Monday afternoon.

The Model T is expected to arrive in San Francisco by the end of the month and Ted Hathaway will be on the trip for every mile.

"We're having fun and it's been a scenic drive," Ted Hathaway said. "So far, we're really enjoying ourselves."

Alan Hathaway, a longtime dentist in Davenport, who died eight years ago, was a collector of antique cars.

The 10 millionth Model T was the plum of his collection. After his death, the family decided the historic automobile should be seen by the public, which was why they donated it to the Museum of American Speed three years ago.

However, there was one stipulation, Ted Hathaway said. He wanted the Model T to make another cross-country trip to commemorate 100 years.

"It's always been a dream of mine to do it again here in 2024," he said. "When we decided to donate the car a few years ago, my family was thinking the same thing."

The Lincoln Highway has grown up in the last 50 years, Ted Hathaway said. But every now and then, there was a reminder of the past.

One of those is in Colo, Iowa, population of 845, according to the 2020 U.S. Census, which is just outside of Ames. On Thursday, the Model T convoy pulled into an old gas station that featured antique pumps and the cars from that bygone era.

Photos: Henry Ford's Model T No. 10 Million
If Hunter Biden's name had been Jim Bob Jones, would he have been tried and convicted for lying on a federal firearms purchase form?

In all honesty, I'd say not.

The son of the president is a political target of Republicans hoping to tar his father with the influence-peddling schemes that have made Hunter Biden millions. The gun charge was the surest means to assure he became the only presidential offspring in history to be convicted of a felony.

The trial on tax evasion charges that will come later this year, while promising more salacious and damaging testimony, are less certain to deliver a guilty verdict, and may ultimately be avoided with a plea deal.

The gun case was ironclad, as demonstrated by the jury's speedy return of its verdict. But it doesn't change the fact that almost no one else who does what Hunter Biden did has had to face the legal consequences.

The president's son was charged with three violations of federal law for falsifying the form a purchaser must fill out before buying a gun. Hunter Biden failed to disclose his drug addiction, as required, when he bought a handgun from a Delaware dealer in 2018.

In 2019, 27 million background checks were done on gun buyers. Of that number, 478 individuals were reported to federal prosecutors for lying on the form. And just 298 faced charges.

That puts Hunter Biden in rare company and adds credence to the claims that his prosecution was at least in part politically motivated.

Harry Litman: Don't blame jury for Hunter Biden injustice You cant fault the jury that found Hunter Biden guilty of falsely claiming he was not a drug user on a federal firearm purchase form. The jurors had ample basis to conclude he was in the throes of a crack cocaine addiction before, during and after he bought the gun.

But it doesn't mean he should not have been charged. Just the opposite  the other 180 violators who walked away with not so much as a wrist slap should have been in the courtroom with him.

The federal law Hunter Biden violated was championed by his father when he was in the Senate. It was designed to help answer a key concern of those advocating for more responsible gun policies: How to keep firearms out of the hands of those most likely to abuse them.

Yet, like so many measures passed in response to cries to "do something" about guns, lax enforcement has rendered the screening form requirement largely useless.

In general, gun laws aren't aggressively enforced. Remember that Anthony McRae, the shooter who killed three students on the Michigan State University campus, was previously arrested on a felony gun charge that would have prevented him from purchasing a firearm. He was allowed to plead down to a misdemeanor.

A Republican-backed law pending in Congress called the Prosecuting Gun Crimes Saves Lives Act would prioritize the prosecution of those who illegally purchase guns. It's gone nowhere for lack of support by Democrats, who keep pushing for more restrictive gun laws that end up being undermined by progressive or lazy prosecutors.

On the day his son was convicted, President Joe Biden attended an anti-gun rally calling for even more gun laws. He also, disingenuously, said he respected the legal system that convicted his son. Never mind that his Justice Department tried to orchestrate a sweetheart plea deal that would have spared Hunter Biden from facing any consequences.

Hunter Biden may not have been treated the same as others who violated the screening law. But all future violators should be treated the same as Hunter Biden.
REC offers Voyager Series workshops

RACINE  The Root River Voyager Series  environmental education workshops for community members ages 9 and older  is scheduled to begin Tuesday, July 2, at the Root River Environmental Education Community Center, 1301 W. Sixth St.

Pre-registration is required and space is limited. To register, email rec@uwp.edu. The cost is $10 and participants are not required to attend every workshop. Youth under 18 must have a guardian present to participate.

The Basics of Canoeing and Kayaking  5:30-7:30 p.m. July 2. Learn the basics of canoeing and kayaking, including how to wear a personal floatation device, how to enter and exit a boat, how to paddle and steer, and how to handle various scenarios in the water. Canoe/kayak paddle included.

Water Quality  5:30-7:30 p.m. July 9. Learn about water pollution, identify pollution sources surrounding the REC, use chemistry kits to measure water pollution and discuss methods to prevent it. Canoe/kayak paddle to collect water samples is included.

Root River Turtles  5:30-7:30 p.m. July 16. Learn about turtles living on the Root River. A canoe/kayak trip to search for local turtles is included.

Invasive Species  5:30-7:30 p.m. July 23. Learn about invasive species at the REC and what you can do to help stop the spread! Canoe/kayak paddle included.

The REC is a partnership between the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and the City of Racine, with a mission to provide community members with opportunities to explore the Great Lakes and connected ecosystems through recreation, education, demonstration, and research. Activities at the REC are coordinated by the College of Natural and Health Sciences at UW-Parkside.

For more information email rec@uwp.edu, call 262-595-2912 or visit www.uwp.edu/REC

Aurora offers classes

BURLINGTON  Aurora Health Care is offering the following programs:

Living with Chronic Pain  10-10:45 a.m. Tuesdays, through June 18, telephonic. Visit aurora.org/events for more information.

Urban Poling Workshop  3:30-4:30 p.m. June 18, Aurora Wellness Center, 300 McCanna Parkway. Hosted by Wisconsin Parkinson Association, training will be provided by a certified instructor and individuals with Parkinsons disease will receive a complementary pair of ACTIVATOR Poles from Urban Poling. Care partners are encouraged to attend. Register at www.wiparkinson.org.

Babysitting Classes  9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. June 19 and Aug. 14, Aurora Wellness Center, 300 McCanna Parkway. This course is designed to prepare students to be safe when they are home alone, watching younger siblings or babysitting. Students learn how to practice important safety skills, handle emergencies, care for children and treat illness and injuries. For more information, visit aurora.org/events.

Free Blood Pressure Clinic  8 a.m. to noon and 1-4:30 p.m. every Wednesday. To make an appointment, call 262-767-8000.

Childbirth and Beyond  Get ready for a new addition through free, ongoing classes, including Preparing for Labor and Birth, Bringing Baby Home, Breastfeeding Basics and Infant CPR & Safety. Learn more by visiting https://bit.ly/ALMCchildbirth.

Movement and Music  This free class for people with Parkinsons disease incorporates stretches, strength training, posture, balance and walking drills, as well as vocal exercises. Manage Parkinsons symptoms and improve quality of daily life while having fun. Modifications will be provided to ensure a safe and effective setting for all participants. Caregivers are also welcome. Register at mail@wiparkinson.org or 414-312-6990.

Stroke Support Group  This group provides emotional support through opportunities to interact with others who have experienced a stroke. Informational programs also will be provided about stroke/brain attack. The group welcomes individuals newly diagnosed, those with a history of stroke and caregivers. Learn more by visiting https://bit.ly/ALMCstroke.

Memory Cafe  Memory Cafe is a comfortable, free social gathering that allows people experiencing memory loss and a loved one to connect and build new support networks at the Aurora Wellness Center, Classroom C. For information, or first-time attendees, contact Chad at 262-212-3596 or csutkay@touchinghearts.com.

Walk with a Doc  Get out, get active and enjoy good conversation from 8:30-9:30 a.m. on the third Saturday of the month at Burlington High School, 400 McCanna Parkway. Learn about a current health topic, then spend the rest of the hour enjoying a walk at your own pace and distance with a medical provider. The program is free, and no registration is required. Meet at the front entrance vestibule by the flagpole.

Art Therapy Open Studio  Open Studio is an art group designed to aid in self-expression relaxation, and personal growth. Open Studio is open to current and past cancer patients, companions and caretakers. Each session is facilitated by a credentialed art therapist and will include a featured project. All supplies provided. Learn more by visiting https://bit.ly/AMCBarttherapy.

Medicare Counseling  Free counseling and support services are available from a certified counselor with the Wisconsin State Health Insurance Assistant Program. The counselor can help with a variety of things including enrollment. Contact Amy Waldoch at 262-948-5862 or amy.waldoch@aah.org to schedule an appointment. For more information about Aurora Health Care programs, www.aurorahealthcare.org/classes-events/ or call 800-499-5736.
1. Yes. They look better and require less maintenance. Most high-end housing areas have them.

2. Yes. Wood fences can weather and look unsightly, plus masonry walls help to block sound.

3. No. Residents should have a choice of what kind of barriers are put up near their homes.

4. No. Allowing a variety of materials will be better for aesthetics, and costs may be lower.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say. Masonry walls may be sturdier, but mandating them is problematic.

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International students in the United States are concerned that technology job reductions will make it hard to get a good return on their education.

For the last three years, technology companies, including Amazon and Google, have greatly reduced their workforce. The Tech Layoffs Tracker on Crunchbase.com says that 54,000 tech workers in the U.S. have lost jobs in 2024. That is in addition to nearly 300,000 in 2022 and 2023.

As a result, international students are now competing for jobs against experienced workers, including native-born Americans and those who already have work permission in the U.S.

Aniket Bhatt of India is one of those concerned students. He is studying business analytics at LaRoche University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Bhatt also points to another concern  that thousands of Indian students currently studying in the U.S. will need to return to India if they cannot find a job. He wonders if the economy in India can support so many returning students.

Based upon the most recent Open Doors report, there are 268,000 Indian students in the U.S. And a Reuters study in April showed serious concern about unemployment in India.

OPT concerns

Bhatt will finish his business program at the end of 2024.

Because his study program is within science, engineering, technology and math, known as STEM, Bhatt hopes to train and work in the U.S. under the Optional Practical Training, or OPT program. If Bhatt can find work, he can stay for three years after his study program ends.

In recent years, the number of students under OPT has also dropped although the number of international students in the U.S. is about the same as it was in 2019.

Sarah Spreitzer is a vice president for government relations with the American Council on Education. She said, We are missing about 20,000 OPT positions despite the overall low unemployment in the U.S.

Bhatt said there is intense competition for internships  work experience programs for students who are still in school  and OPT jobs.

Bhatt said he hopes to get an OPT job and then find work with a company that will sponsor him for an H-1B visa for specially trained workers. Without a visa, he must return to India or find a job in another country.

Yes, obviously there is some kind of competition in U.S. as well. But not as intense as India, obviously due to population reasons.

But international education experts like Spreitzer remind students that there is no official pathway for a student to remain in the U.S. after they complete OPT.

So we do not promise our students, we do not say to them, you know, come here, do your studies, you will get a job. Because that is not the purpose of their visa. And again, if they express that when they're talking to the consular officer, their visa will be denied.

Intention to stay

A study from April 2020 produced by the Center for Security and Emerging Technology at Georgetown University noted that most students pursuing advanced STEM degrees in the U.S. want to stay after finishing their studies.

Jacob Feldgoise helped write the report. He pointed out that President Joe Biden in his executive order covering artificial intelligence at the end of 2023 included the need to train and hold on to skilled workers who have expertise in critical areas to study, stay and work in the United States.

A concern, Feldgoise noted, for students and workers who would like to see faster progress from the U.S. government on skilled worker permissions, is that its a patchwork of systems  and theyre not fully aligned in a variety of ways.

Although ACE centers its work on student concerns, it recently alerted U.S. government officials that some skilled students are choosing Canada and Great Britain for their studies because they have better work opportunities. And that hurts American universities which have fewer students than in the past. Earlier this year, ACE urged the U.S. Department of Labor to make it easier for companies to hire skilled STEM workers.

However, the number of new H-1B visas available for skilled workers is set at 85,000 yearly and unlikely to change.

Rule-following not enough

Just following the rules  such as not mentioning the intention to stay during the visa process, and working hard in school  is not enough. Students have to be outstanding and even a little bit lucky.

Megan Mankerian-Stem knows many international students due to her past job as director of international student enrollment at Creighton University in Nebraska. She feels sad for them when they cannot find a job that will permit them to get an H1-B visa.

Its a struggle for anybody to find a job right now.

Bhatt said he is starting to think that coming to the U.S. and following the rules was the wrong choice.

If we were in 2011 or 2012, I would definitely suggest that my friends come over here, Bhatt said. But as we are in 2024, I think it doesnt make any sense, because already companies are outsourcing their work in Mexico, Vietnam and India.

Im Dan Friedell. And Im Jill Robbins.

Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English.

Quiz - International Students Face Uncertain Job Market at Home, in US Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

_________________________________________________

Words in This Story

intense adj. severe, difficult, requiring extra effort

pathway n. a route or road from one starting point to a finishing point

consulate n. a government office in another country

patchwork adj. different pieces that are put together to make up something whole, for example, a patchwork quilt

align v. to put something together in an orderly way

opportunity n. a chance to do something

enroll v. the process of signing up for something, for example  registering for school

We want to hear from you. What are your thoughts about the educational and work opportunities in the U.S.?
Cameroon has one of the world's lowest amounts of health care workers per capita. About a third of trained doctors who completed medical school last year left the West African country. Many doctors and nurses are leaving for more well-paying jobs in Europe and North America, including Canada.

Canada, like Cameroon, has official languages of English and French.

After training as a nurse, Nevielle Leinyuy spent almost 10 years in Cameroon working as a front desk worker. He was unable to find a well-paying job in the medical field. Last year, he applied for a nursing program in Canada. He now lives there with his wife and children.

They are stealing us from Cameroon. We want to work in Cameroon but there is no pay, the 39-year-old Leinyuy said.

He said he would have earned less than $100 a month working as a nurse in Cameroon.

Cameroon is not the only sub-Saharan African country where low pay is causing health workers to leave.

The number of health workers increased in several countries after the COVID-19 pandemic. But almost 75 percent of African nations still experience medical worker shortages and high rates of healthcare workers leaving to work overseas. That information comes from a 2023 report from the World Health Organization (WHO).

The lack of health workers makes it difficult to deal with infant mortality and infectious diseases. It also makes it hard to provide services like vaccinations, said Matshidiso Moeti. He is the WHO regional director for Africa.

Cameroon has fewer than seven nurses per 10,000 people, the latest WHO data found. Neighboring Nigeria has more than double that amount. Canada has more than 14 times that number.

Marie-Pier Burelle is a spokesperson for Health Canada. She told The Associated Press that Canada is facing its own health workforce shortages. The country has 30,000 nursing positions it needs to fill, says Statistics Canada.

Burelle said Canada follows the WHOs code of practice to make sure its recruitment of workers internationally is ethical. Ethical recruitment includes strengthening the health systems of developing countries dealing with medical worker shortages.

Late last year, the Canadian government donated around $2.2 million to Cameroon's health ministry. It also delivered medical and monitoring equipment as part of Canada's Global Initiative for Vaccine Equity.

But such support falls short of Cameroons needs.

Cameroons government employs around 100 doctors each year for a population of around 28 million people, said Dr. Peter Louis Ndifor. He is the vice president of the Cameroon Medical Council, a doctors association.

The Canadian province of Nova Scotia, by comparison, has a population of under a million people. It recruited around 155 doctors last year, health officials say.

The shortage of health workers is just part of Cameroon's current health crisis.

More than 210 health centers closed because of destruction or abandonment during a conflict in the country's west, the United Nations says. The conflict has killed thousands of people over the past several years.

Tumenta Kennedy is a Cameroon-based migration expert. He says Canada has become an attractive place because Canadian agencies target local doctors and nurses. Family ties overseas also play a part.

Canadian government immigration programs like the Federal Skilled Worker Program or Express Entry are gaining in popularity. Cameroonians are among the top nationalities applying for Express Entry, the program's latest report found.

Im Dan Novak.

Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press.

__________________________________________________

Words in This Story

per capita  adv. by or for each person

apply  n. to ask formally for something usually in writing

region  n. a part of a country, of the world, etc., that is different or separate from other parts in some way

recruit  v. to find suitable people and get them to join a company, an organization, the armed forces, etc.

ethical  adj. involving questions of right and wrong behavior

monitor  v. to watch, observe, listen to, or check for a special purpose over a period of time

abandon  n. to leave and never return to

attract  v. to cause to go to or move to or toward a place
Greek officials recently announced the discovery of a 4,000-year-old-stone building on the island of Crete. The historical find could block progress on a big airport project.

Greeces Culture Ministry said recently that the structure is unlike any other from Cretes ancient Minoan civilization. The Culture Ministry described the find as extremely interesting.

Cretes Minoan civilization is famous for its complex palaces, colorful art, and mysterious writing system.

The whole structure is about 1,800-square-meters in area. When seen from above, the structure looks like a big automobile wheel.

Archaeologists found it during a recent dig.

The structure is in an area chosen as the site for a new radar station. The radar station is to serve a new airport being built near the town of Kastelli. The new airport is designed to serve up to 18 million travelers each year. Officials say it will open in 2027.

Archaeologists continue to dig at the site and are studying the remains. They do not yet know what the hilltop structure was for.

Experts say it could have a traditional or religious purpose.

Surrounded by eight stone walls as tall as 1.7 meters high, the inner structure is divided into smaller, connected spaces.

The ministrys statement said the structure did not appear to have been a place where people lived.

The finds from inside it include a large quantity of animal bones.

The statement also said the size, design, and building quality required labor, specialized knowledge, and a strong central administration. The structure was likely a communal building that stood out in the entire area, officials said.

Culture Minister Lina Mendoni promised that the find would be preserved while a different site would be found for the radar station.

We all understand the value and importance of cultural heritage," she said.

Its possible to go ahead with the airport, she said, and protect the ancient objects as well.

The ministry said the building was probably made around the time Cretes first palaces were being built  including at Knossos and Phaistos.

Greeces rich cultural history often results in conflicts of interest during building projects.

At the end of the last century, remains of an ancient hilltop settlement were dug up and then destroyed during building work for Athens International Airport.

So far, at least another 35 archaeological sites have been uncovered during work on the new Kastelli airport and its road connections, the ministry said.

Im John Russell.

Nicholas Paphitis reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English.

_____________________________________________________

Words in This Story

archaeologist  n. a scientist that deals with past human life and activities

preserve  v. to keep (something) in good condition

heritage  n. the traditions or beliefs that are part of the history of a group or country
While the film community is buzzing about the last 4 episodes of the third season of Bridgerton, the world's attention is focused on the main stars of the project. People are discussing not only their acting but also their ability to present themselves off-screen, which some people are not very good at.

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This can be seen by looking at their latest appearance on the red carpet in London. OBOZ.UA will show you what the worst-dressed stars looked like at the premiere.

Will Tilston, who plays Gregory Bridgerton, surprised with a disheveled and careless look next to his festively dressed colleagues. He posed in shorts and a leather jacket.

Florence Hunt, who played Hyacinth Bridgerton on the screen, wore a costume consisting of a long, puffy skirt and a top. This style is considered old-fashioned.

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Jessica Madsen, who played Cressida Cowper, "merged" with her outfit. The star chose a silver skirt and top that were too skinny, and the actress's blond hair did not contrast with her clothes and fair skin but made her look pale.

Adjoa Andoh, who plays Lady Danbury, also made a mistake with her dress choice. Her outfit looked crumpled and gloomy.

Golda Rosheuvel, who plays Queen Charlotte, chose a too colorful outfit with a blue dress with colored flowers. The outfit made the star's figure look more curvy than it is.

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Dane County is set to award more than $900,000 to the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance to turn 348 acres in the town of Christiana into a wildlife conservation area, the county announced Friday.

The area, about 2 miles south of CamRock County Park, includes a farmstead, 270 acres of cool-season grasses, 51 acres of woods and 19 acres of prairie. It will serve as a sanctuary for birds, plants and monarch butterflies, and offer recreational and educational activities for the public.

We are so excited about the opportunity to protect and celebrate this land, which provides crucial habitat for grassland birds and other native species that are at risk, SWBA Executive Director Matt Reetz said.

The Alliance plans to put the money, which was awarded through the Dane County Conservation Fund Grant Program, toward a $2.4 million purchase of the area from David Gunnulson, whose family has owned the property for nearly two centuries.

The remaining cost of the purchase will be covered by a $1.5 million grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

The Alliance was founded in 1935 as the Madison Bird Club. By 1949, the group had rebranded as Madison Audubon, before dropping the name last February after becoming increasingly disturbed by the racist legacy of its namesake, John Audubon, according to the groups website.

Today, its the foremost bird conservation group in southern Wisconsin, with more than 3,000 members, according to the website. A member of the National Audubon Society, it serves 10 counties by maintaining bird habitats, educating the public and advocating for conservation efforts.

Officials said they hope the new conservation area boosts biodiversity in the region and begins a trend of similar projects throughout Dane County.

County Board member Kerry Marren, who represents District 37, including the planned sanctuary, said shes confident the conservation area will bring balance to Christiana in the wake of a planned 2,400-acre, $649 million solar farm, which Marren said will replace much of the areas open fields and farmland.

Regulators approved the Koshkonong Solar Energy Center in 2022. But the project, which will be made up of a 300-megawatt solar array and a 165-megawatt battery storage system, has faced strong pushback from the town of Christiana and residents who claim it will unnecessarily interfere with the environment.

The county board is expected to approve the grant for the Alliances new wildlife sanctuary in the coming weeks.
From Tuesday through Friday, teachers from all over Idaho immersed themselves into the world of STEM education during the i-STEM Institute held at the College of Southern Idaho.

Teachers participated in different strands, learning about STEM education techniques such as 3D printing, drone technology, computer science and alternative energy sources. Keynote speakers taught attendees about STEM identities and encouraged teachers to think of the innovative ways they can apply STEM concepts in their classrooms.

At the end of the program, teachers received a free kit to implement the training they learned.

Although most of the attendees taught a STEM-related subject, the conference wasnt restricted to only those professionals.

In Bridge Art & Innovation with 3D Design, the 3D printing strand of the conference, multiple teachers specialize in liberal arts but wanted to discover innovative ways to apply STEM to their lessons.

Christy Bowman-Lantz, an adjunct professor in communications at CSI, used the 3D printer to create knight-shaped trinkets for her students. She envisions that her students will pull a trinket out of a bag and use it for speech presentations.

Justin Vipperman, a history professor at CSI, built replicas of the key to the jail where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was imprisoned in Birmingham, Alabama, to connect students to impactful moments in history.

On the other hand, traditional science and math teachers such as Danielle Barborka, a fifth- and sixth-grade science teacher from Burley, expanded their craft.

Barborka told the Times-News that having a 3D printer in her classroom will help her students create projects and participate in competitions like the Idaho Exhibition of Ideas.

'She Can STEM': Rural students explore the possibilities of STEM careers Idaho STEM Ecosystem hosts 'She Can STEM,' an event that teaches sixth-grade female students about the possibilities that STEM careers and programs can offer.

She took her first i-STEM class online in 2020 and attended the conference again last year.

Pocatello science teacher Taylor Terlson signed up for the drone technology strand this year with her friend Sarah Baker from American Falls.

The two enjoyed learning how to use drones and brainstorming ways to use them in their classrooms.

Terlson said that her students could use it to learn about the composition of the water in local rivers and lakes, which would enhance a lesson that her school teaches.

It would be fun to incorporate things that weve never been able to do, she said.

The conference asked teachers to think outside the box when it comes to STEM because they need to be able to prepare their students for the ever-evolving careers that are available to them, i-STEM site coordinator Chris Harper told the Times-News.

I think its a critically important time for STEM educators and educators in general, Harper said. Its not an easy profession, but the more that we come together and the more resources that we share with each other, the better prepared we are to help our students be prepared for this kind of crazy world that we live in now.

...Its incumbent upon us as educators that we share with them how to blend resources and fields for the careers of the future.

Want to discover your own STEM identity? Each year, i-STEM offers unique strands for teachers across Idaho to learn about STEM education and implement in their classroom environment. All teachers, formal or informal, are encouraged to apply. You can learn more about i-STEM at https://stem.idaho.gov/apply/i-stem/.

PHOTOS: i-STEM Conference at CSI gives teachers new tools i-STEM Conference at CSI i-STEM Conference at CSI i-STEM Conference at CSI i-STEM Conference at CSI i-STEM Conference at CSI i-STEM Conference at CSI i-STEM Conference at CSI i-STEM Conference at CSI i-STEM Conference at CSI i-STEM Conference at CSI i-STEM Conference at CSI

Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in the Magic Valley, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you dont miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Times-News app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Eden Turner covers education and politics for the Times-News. She can be reached at 208-735-3241 or Eden.Turner@magicvalley.com.
Dont let Republicans legislate morality

The National Defense Authorization Act funds the annual budget for the Department of Defense. It usually passes on a bipartisan basis.

Recently, House Republicans broke that tradition and loaded the bill with amendments that eliminate all diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in the Defense Department. It blocked the Pentagon from putting in place President Bidens executive orders on climate change; ends reimbursement to military personnel who travel for abortion services, bars health care for gender transition, prevents schools associated with the Defense Department from teaching that the U.S. is racist, and blocks military schools from having certain books in their libraries. House Speaker McCarthy proudly tweeted that the bill ENDS wokism in the military and gives our troops their biggest pay raise.

Think about it. House Republicans are hijacking our national security for morality issues that have been a part of the planet since the dawn of humanity. You might not agree with gender transition, or abortion, or the color of someones skin, but are you willing to sacrifice our national security to keep people in power who are legislating health care when they have no training in health care? Would you go to your state representative to have bladder surgery, or to deliver a baby?

Rather than delivering solutions on climate change (just talk to insurance companies  yes, it is real), economic inequality, or cyber and racially motivated hate crimes that will eventually destroy us all, extremists are legislating whether someone can read a book.

President Trump pulverized the NATO alliance. Putin has been obliterating Ukraine ever since. Diplomacy has thankfully expanded the alliance with a grateful Sweden. Regrettably, were edging closer to confrontation with Russia or China. It wont be reading a book, getting transition care, or having an abortion that will determine the defense response.

Act. Vote the crazies out.

Kate Lopez

Twin Falls

Cockfighting is not animal agriculture

I grew up on a small ranch and embraced animal agriculture long before I graduated from veterinary school.

Animal agriculture is a noble enterprise, providing sustenance for billions of people and livelihoods for millions.

Cockfighting, on the other hand, is a disgrace and a crime, providing no benefit to anyone but the people who enjoy animal bloodletting.

The Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking (FIGHT) Act, S. 1529, closes loopholes in the enforcement of animal fighting laws that allow criminals to sell fighting animals and generate vast sums of money from illegal gambling.

I have become more concerned lately about the future of agriculture in our country as Senior Veterinarian for Animal Wellness Action. There are powerful individuals, foundations, and organizations intent on smearing animal agriculture and not distinguishing between legitimate uses of animals and gratuitous abuses of them.

Cockfighting bears no resemblance to animal agriculture. If we in animal agriculture do not distinguish between this kind of evil, and the proper, acceptable uses of animals, we will see people turn away from animal agriculture.

Now its time to work to strengthen the federal law, so that the nation can better distinguish between proper animal use and the worst forms of malicious cruelty. It is past due that the cockfighters hang up their spurs and halt their criminal animal abuse. Support the FIGHT Act, S. 1529 and H.R. 2742, to oppose cruelty and support integrity of agriculture.

Thomas Pool

Norman, Oklahoma

Brainwashed? Think again







Solomon Asch performed some exceptional psychology experiments in the 1950s. His experiments showed the power of conformity when people sometimes agree with a groups opinion, even when shown evidence the group is wrong. But in the 1950s, Asch could not determine whether his subjects consciously changed their views or whether social cues unconsciously skewed their perception.

In 2005, Gregory Berns answered this question by repeating Aschs experiment with brain scans. Berns found the brains visual center changed what it perceived to fit with the group opinion before it passed this information to the reasoning part of the brain: So people see evidence that doesnt exist and do not know their perception is false. And as this process is common, it has crucial practical implications for all of us.

For instance, if self-deception is unconscious, we must choose our company carefully. We safeguard our thinking by mixing with skeptical people who make evidence-based decisions and only use reputable sources. We must avoid the company of the deceived. A radio or TV constantly blaring nonsense might be enough to poison a mind. It also means we must show compassion when talking to climate, vaccine, or election deniers because, unconsciously, their brains may have shown them evidence that does not exist.

Lets not assume people are brainwashed when all it takes for most of us is a light rinse.

Simon Smith

Pullman, Washington

Truth or fiction?







In the Times-News of July 15, Rep. Lauren Necochea, with the headline Democrats are building stronger, more resilient recovery, claims that real wages for the average American worker are now higher than they were before the pandemic. This is clearly wrong as inflation (caused in large part by President Joe Bidens super-sized giveaways) has easily outstripped wage gains.

Also, in the same July 15 edition, Dorothy Moon, with the headline, Kari Lakes Idaho visit will only fuel grassroots enthusiasm, claims that Lake has solidified her prominence as a leading figure in the fight for election integrity ..., when, in fact, she refused to concede the election and sued in an attempt to have the results overturned and that lawsuit was rejected by the courts and she was fined $33,000 in fees.

It would be nice to have just a little more truth in these opinions.

Ken Downs

Kimberly

Its not the job of government







Whats the role of government? Is it to dictate to the people what there morals are or what religion they should belong to?

During the territorial days of Idaho the Republican Party in 1884 passed the Idaho Test Othh. The purpose of this law was to keep members of the LDS faith from voting or holding public office. The Democratic Attorney General, Richard Z. Johnson, opposed the law to the Idaho Territorial Supreme Court in 1888, when they upheld the law. He appealed it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and lost again.

At the time this law was passed, it disenfranchised 25% of the voters in Idaho.

As a result of this law, the statehouse went from the control of the Democratic Party to the control of the Republican Party. In this case, a law was passed on the moral basis that plural marriage was bad, therefore members of the LDS faith could not vote or hold office.

It is not governments place to punish people because of their beliefs as long as those beliefs do no harm.

Edward Easterling

Kimberly

Ukraine in NATO isnt good for US







If Ukraine were to be included in NATO now, it would automatically require the U.S. to go to war with Russia. NATO-type defense treaties contain a common defense pledge that requires every member nation to defend an attack against any other treaty nation. (What is Article 5? magicvalley.com, July 13).

George Washington warned against getting involved in permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world. Democracies like Athens and Rome saw that group defense treaties were made by two or more kings wishing to protect their dynasties against another more aggressive king. Democracies have always believed it is best to stay on the sidelines regarding these kinds of petty personal squabbles and to avoid binding future generations to wars they might not agree with.

Washington also learned from the Bible, where prophets like Isaiah warned Israel against association with other nations. After several hundred years of democratic independence, northern Israel made a common defense treaty due to their fear of aggressive Assyria, and southern Judea made a common defense pledge out of fear of autocratic Babylon. Both treaties led to complacency, decline in the fortitude of the people, aggravation of the militancy of the aggressor nation, and Israels dark journey into Assyrian and Babylonian captivity.

Our current treaty obligations require us to get involved in virtually every war in Europe and Asia. Is that the future we want for our grandchildren?

Kimball Shinkoskey

Woods Cross, Utah
Senator Raffy Tulfo has announced plans to investigate a recent incident at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, where a Vietnamese woman was seen naked at the departure area.

The woman, a resident of Binh Minh, Vietnam, appeared for immigration clearance at the airport before boarding a Cebu Pacific Air flight for Hanoi on June 8. She was reportedly offloaded.

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According to reports, the woman undressed in the restroom and walked naked, causing a disturbance in the area. Tulfo said the airport security, at that moment, appeared surprised and unsure of what to do.

Although the Vietnamese national was allowed to leave the country the same day after being examined at a clinic, the video shows that the airport security appeared surprised and unsure of what to do in such a situation, as they did not stop the woman from causing a disturbance at the airport, he said.

Tulfo, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Services, is concerned about the lack of proper training for airport security personnel to handle such situations.

The senator plans to file a Senate resolution to investigate the incident, particularly the handling of security protocols at the airport facilities.

He also emphasized the importance of identifying the roles and duties of the Philippine National Police  Aviation Security Group, Manila International Airport Authority, Office for Transportation Security, blue guards, and other agencies to avoid the blame game.

Tulfo believes that proper systems and security protocols are needed to prevent such incidents from happening again.

In situations like this, Tulfo stressed that it is important to identify the roles and duties to be performed by the Philippine National Police  Aviation Security Group, Manila International Airport Authority, Office for Transportation Security, blue guards, and other concerned agencies to avoid the blame game.

Its time to have proper systems and security protocols in place to prevent this from happening again! he said.
A handful of Burke County cows went on a monthlong meandering jaunt, but their mellow tour of the lush greenery of the Valdese and Drexel area came to an end on Wednesday.

By Friday, the five black Angus cows were back home after their owner came forward to claim them, said Burke County Animal Enforcement Supervisor Will Brown.

Brown said the first report of the cows was near Settlemyre Nursery on Drexel Road, and later were spotted near Drexel. Drexel Police Department also received a call about the herd.

There were multiple calls about the loose cows, Brown said. The group would be spotted and then run back into the woods, not to be seen for another couple of weeks.

The latest report animal control received of the healthy bovine five was on June 11 from an off-duty Valdese police officer who saw the cows hanging out on Messer Road, Brown said.

Brown found them on Wednesday in a neighborhood off Messer Road.

There were five of them just staying together, Brown said. It looked like theyve been eating pretty well while they were out on the hoof.

Brown said as they were offering the cows a snack, a resident passing by with lasso experience was able to slip a rope onto one of the cows and the other four stayed with it. All five surrendered to animal control without incident.

A local farmer offered to let them shack up at his place for a few days. The farmer brought out a trailer, and with his farm hands, loaded the cows up and carted them away, he said.

We dont have any reports of damages other than just probably eating somebodys flowers, Brown said.

But the cows had nothing to offer about their identity or from where they came. Animal control checked with local farmers but none of them claimed the frolicsome group, Brown said.

Finally on Friday, the owner came forward to reclaim the five cows. The group came from a farm off Powell Drive Extension in Valdese, Brown said. The owner said his cows escaped after a storm downed a tree, which fell onto a fence, Brown said.
The University of Cambridge has returned 39 traditional artifacts to Uganda in a major restitution effort, a move that has been welcomed by Ugandan officials. The items, ranging from tribal regalia to delicate pottery, were shown to AP journalists on Wednesday and officially returned to Uganda on Saturday.

Although the objects remain the property of the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at Cambridge, they are being loaned to Uganda for an initial period of three years. Mark Elliott, the museums senior curator in anthropology, described the collaboration as a museum-to-museum effort resulting from years of discussions about returning objects considered exceptionally powerful and sensitive to their communities of origin.

The returned items represent a small portion of the approximately 1,500 ethnographic objects from Uganda that Cambridge has possessed for a century, most of which were acquired through donations from private collections and an Anglican missionary active in Uganda in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Jackline Nyiracyiza, the Ugandan government commissioner in charge of museums and monuments, expressed hope for future repatriations, stating that they are working with the Cambridge team to engage with other museums and secure the return of more objects shortly. The Uganda Museum in Kampala is planning a temporary exhibition of the returned artifacts next year.

This restitution event is considered a breakthrough by Ugandan officials, with Nelson Abiti, principal curator of the Uganda Museum, claiming it to be the largest single movement of objects returned to the African continent in recent years. The African Union has placed the return of looted cultural property on its agenda, aiming to establish a common policy on the issue.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Vlada Karpovich from Pexels

A longstanding question has nagged the COVID battle for more than four years: Why does the infection cause severe disease in older people? The question has remained despite a global cadre of medical investigators having produced some of the reasonsbut not the entire story.

Ever since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, it has been abundantly clear that older adults are at substantial risk of severe, even fatal COVID. Yet, the underlying mechanisms for their susceptibility were not always clear despite studies that took co-morbidities into account, like diabetes, heart and lung disorders, and other chronic vagaries of age that can worsen a bout with an infectious disease.

To date, scientists have blamed a dysregulated immune system, an age-related affinity toward excessive blood clotting, and an overall decline in the key soldiers of the adaptive immune system, T and B cells, to explain increased risks for severe COVID in the aging population. And while all of those factors may play a role, an inevitable question looms large: Why?

A new multicenter clinical study, reported in Science Translational Medicine, has provided comprehensive answers and peels away some of the mystery surrounding poor outcomes for older people. Scientists from the University of California, San Francisco and their far-flung collaborators throughout the United States, examined the infection's progression by studying a large longitudinal clinical cohort. The study's subjects were people whose ages ranged from the very young to the exceptionally old.

"We evaluated the impact of aging on the host immune response in the blood and the upper airway, as well as in the nasal microbiome," reported Dr. Hoang Van Phan, lead author of the research.

Describing the investigation as a prospective, multicenter cohort trial of 1,031 "vaccine-naive"unvaccinatedpatients between the ages of 18 and 96 years old, Phan added that all of the people in the trial, regardless of age, were hospitalized for COVID. The aim, according to Phan, was to see what differences age caused in response to infection with SARS-CoV-2.

Going into the research, Phan and colleagues knew that age correlated with an impaired ability to clear the virus. They also knew older patients were more likely to experience increased disruptions in the body's inflammatory and immune responses.

Worse, epidemiological studies had long shown that older age itself was a major risk factor for severe COVID. Adults over the age of 75 are 140 times more likely to die from the condition than people in younger age groups.

Yet, even in the face of a powerful epidemiological pattern, the core biological reasons behind the impact of aging remained elusive, including why older people tend to harbor higher concentrations of the virus. To find out why, the team conducted a battery of sophisticated tests to ferret out the answers.

"We performed mass cytometry, serum protein profiling, antiSARS-CoV-2 antibody assays, and blood and nasal transcriptomics," Phan wrote in their article, underscoring that analyzing blood and nasal swab specimens were key to their research because the virus can be found in greater abundance in both blood and the upper airway. Results from their tests bore novel data and a new level of understanding.

"Older age correlated with increased SARS-CoV-2 viral abundance upon hospital admission, delayed viral clearance, and increased type I interferon gene expression in both the blood and upper airway," Phan continued.

"We also observed age-dependent up-regulation of innate immune signaling pathways and down-regulation of adaptive immune signaling pathways," said Phan, who further explained that the innate immune system's monocyte production escalated while naive T and B cells of the adaptive immune system were low.

Unlike younger patients, older ones also displayed more active innate immune pathways and a persistent rise in pro-inflammatory genes and cytokines, suggesting that advancing age may disrupt the body's ability to turn off the inflammatory response. Additionally, biomarkers of disease severity, such as interleukin-6, were the most extreme in the oldest patients. Together, these data provide insight into why age is a major risk factor for severe COVID, the team concluded.

"Our study finds that aging is associated with impaired viral clearance, dysregulated immune signaling, and persistent and potentially pathologic activation of pro-inflammatory genes and proteins," Phan added, suggesting the new findings may pave the way to treatment modalities specifically targeted toward people of advanced age.

"These differences raise the possibility that older adults with severe COVID-19 may respond differently, and perhaps more favorably, to immunomodulatory therapies directed at certain inflammatory cytokines."

More information: Hoang Van Phan et al, Host-microbe multiomic profiling reveals age-dependent immune dysregulation associated with COVID-19 immunopathology, Science Translational Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adj5154 Journal information: Science Translational Medicine

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Applications are being accepted for the Iowa Quad-City Law Enforcement Camp that is hosted each summer by the Davenport and Bettendorf Police departments and the Scott County Sheriffs Department.

The camp is a one-week, 27-hour glimpse of what law enforcement is all about and is intended for high school and college students who are interested in a career in law enforcement.

Participants will get an inside look at the day in the life of a police officer. They will learn the skills needed for a career in law enforcement and will have the opportunity to practice those skills through interactive hands-on experiences.

Tours will be given of the police and jail facilities, and topics will include arrests and handcuffing, building searches, traffic stops, crime scene investigations, firearms safety and range experience, and mock trials.

The camp will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 8-11 and 9 a.m. to noon July 12.

The cost is $65. Scholarships are available.

To register go to www.davenportiowa.com/lecamp.

For more information contact Davenport Police Lt. Nick Shorten at 563-888-3565 or at nicholas.shorten@davenportiowa.com.
A woman died Friday evening outside her Angwin home after her own car rolled backward on a driveway and struck her, according to the California Highway Patrol.

At about 5:45 p.m., Munkyoung Kim, 48, parked her 2017 Honda in front of her home in the 150 block of White Cottage Road North, on a sloping driveway, CHP said in a news release. Kim left her vehicle and was walking over to its passenger side when, for unknown reasons, the Honda began to roll backward.

While reaching into the car in an attempt to stop it, Kim was knocked to the ground and suffered major injuries as her car continued rolling backward, according to the highway patrol.

A 17-year-old male in the back seat made a last-ditch effort to stop the rolling Honda from inside, but the rear of the car crashed into a tree next to the sloping driveway, CHP reported. The passenger, who had no listed injuries, got out of the vehicle and immediately called 911.

First responders went to Kims home and provided medical aid, but she died at the scene.

Alcohol or drug impairment is not believed to be a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation by CHPs Napa bureau.

Photos: Napa Valley Faces and Places, June 8, 2024
Mechanical issues have continued to prevent the Mare Island Causeway Bridge in Vallejo from rising and lowering to allow boat traffic, city officials said this week.

In late May, city officials said the problems from the bridge were not allowing boats to pass by on the Napa River, but Vallejo's public works team and other experts had identified the issue. The malfunction blocked at least three boat owners from traveling north to the Napa Valley Yacht Club in time to attend the BottleRock music festival, according to the club's port captain.

The city cited the bridge's old electrical system that uses obsolete parts to be a major cause of the ongoing failure.

Repairs were originally estimated to be completed by May 31.

However, Vallejo said this week that it is now working with Hardesty & Hanover, the original designers of the bridge, to move along the needed repairs. Engineers from the company are expected to be on site Tuesday to again determine the issue and solve the mechanical problems.

"To ensure a thorough repair, the city's Public Works team along with Hardesty & Hanover will also check for any mechanical and structural issues that might have contributed to the problem," the city said in a statement.

Some parts needed for the repair of the bridge arrived this week, with more expected next week.

The city said an exact date for the completion of repairs and for when the bridge will become fully operational has not been determined.

"We understand that this situation is inconvenient for boat traffic, and we appreciate your patience as we continue to assess the bridge and await parts," city officials said.

The U.S. Coast Guard has been made aware of the issues.

 Bay City News Service

PHOTOS: Vintage High School's 2024 Graduation Ceremony
The agreement was signed by Joint Secretary OE and PGE (Overseas Employment and Protector General of Emigrants) Bramha Kumar, on behalf of the Ministry, and Neelesh Dwivedi, General Manager (NW-I) from SBI, at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in Delhi.

This MoU will become operational following the successful integration of SBI's payment gateway, SBIePay, with the eMigrate portal.

The integration of SBIePay with the eMigrate portal will allow Indian migrant workers, Recruiting Agents (RAs), and other users to make various emigration-related payments with ease. This includes transactions via UPI, credit/debit cards, and NEFT through net banking of all Indian banks, all with no transaction charges.

"Signing of this MoU would further facilitate and enhance the ambit of safe and legal migration of Indian migrant workers" said the Ministry.

The eMigrate project, launched in 2014, was designed to support Indian workers heading to Emigration Check Required (ECR) countries for employment. By making the emigration process online and transparent, it aimed to simplify and secure the migration experience.

The platform brought together Foreign Employers (FEs), registered RAs, and insurance companies offering the Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Yojna (PBBY) on a single platform, promoting seamless and legal migration processes.

Additionally, the portal includes a mechanism for the voluntary registration of emigrants holding ECNR (Emigration Check Not Required) category passports who are seeking employment overseas.

The collaboration between MEA and SBI through the SBIePay integration is a significant step forward in enhancing the digital payment infrastructure for the eMigrate portal.

By providing a cost-free, efficient, and secure method for handling emigration-related fees, the MoU not only streamlines the payment process but also strengthens the overall framework for safe and legal migration of Indian workers abroad. (ANI)
VMPL Pune (Maharashtra) [India], June 15: Lexicon Institute of Media & Animation (Lexicon IMA) is revolutionizing media education in Pune by offering students unparalleled access to real-world media experiences. With a vision to 'Create the Next Generation of Thought Leaders in Media,' Lexicon IMA aims to equip students with the skills necessary to excel in Animation, Advertising, and Journalism. Distinguished as the only media institute in Pune with in-house media powerhouses, including Pune Times Mirror, a leading English daily, and Civic Mirror, the city's pioneering Marathi daily tabloid, Lexicon IMA offers students outstanding opportunities for engaging masterclasses, seminars, specialized modules, top-tier internships, and employment. Pankaj Sharma, President, The Lexicon Group of Institutes, Chairman & MD, Pune Times Mirror, Civic Mirror, and MultiFit, underscores the institute's commitment to providing students with a comprehensive learning experience, stating, "Media isn't just a career; it's a passion. At Lexicon IMA, we share that passion with our students. Our curriculum and partnerships are designed to ignite their creativity, hone their skills, and equip them to become the storytellers, analysts, and leaders who will shape the future of media with ingenuity and passion." The institute offers several degrees - B.Sc. in Animation and VFX, the 2-year Program in Media Studies, and various Specialized, Expert, and Certification Programs. The courses are tailored to meet the demands of the evolving media landscape. The hallmark 2-year program in Media Studies equips future media leaders with the acumen and skills necessary to excel in journalism and mass communication across diverse platforms, including print, broadcast, social media, and digital media. Dedicated to making a difference in the field of media and communication, Lexicon IMA facilitates industry visits, workshops, expert-led sessions, and participation in interactive media events. Students also engage in real-life experiences through a capstone project where they propose unique business solutions to practical challenges for the organisations they are associated with during the project period. Nasir Shaikh, the Group Chief Executive Officer, The Lexicon Group of Institutes, EduCrack, EasyRecruit+ shared his vision for the institute, stating: "At Lexicon IMA, we recognize the global nature of the media landscape. That's why we offer language certifications in Spanish, French, Mandarin, and Sign Language. These programs enrich our students' linguistic capabilities and enhance their professional appeal. We are dedicated to imparting entrepreneurial skills and training, preparing future media leaders to become tactical business innovators in this dynamic industry. Our commitment to creating 'Day Zero Professionals' means that we offer rigorous training and mentorship. We ensure that our graduates are not just ready but equipped to excel from the moment they step into the industry." With state-of-the-art infrastructure and practical labs equipped with all the necessary resources for comprehensive learning, Lexicon IMA ensures students receive hands-on training. Through its collaboration with Frameboxx 2.0 and strategic partnership with The Times of India, the institute bridges the industry-academia gap, offering students valuable learning experiences and career opportunities. By Collaborating with industry and academic experts, Lexicon IMA ensures a rigorous and updated curriculum. The institute's advisory and governing council comprises notable luminaries such as Sarosh Bana, Executive Editor, Business India, Neeraj Jha, former Group President & Chief Communications Officer, Bajaj Group; Rajesh Thurakhia, Founder, Frameboxx 2.0; Hemant Kumar, Founding Editor, Quill Club Writers; Bibhor Srivastava, Managing Director, ITP Media India; Summiya Yasmeen, Founder & Managing Editor, EducationWorld; and many others. Dipta Joshi, Principal, Lexicon IMA, remarked, "Today's media landscape requires not just storytellers but also innovative thinkers. Lexicon IMA empowers students to develop an entrepreneurial spirit. We go beyond traditional media training, incorporating business skills and fostering an environment that encourages creative problem-solving and building media ventures of the future." The institute provides scholarships up to Rs 50,000 for the 2-year Program in Media Studies to deserving students, ensuring that financial constraints do not hinder access to quality education. The comprehensive courses at Lexicon IMA ensure that students are equipped with future-ready skills. For more information and admissions, interested students can explore the institute's website, www.lexiconima.com, or email: admission_lexiconima@lexiconedu.in. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
PNN Jodhpur (Rajasthan) [India], June 15: Sattvik Certifications, the world's leading vegetarian and vegan certification body, proudly announces the launch of its groundbreaking Sattvik Green Building Certification. This innovative certification aims to promote vegetarianism and sustainability in the hospitality industry. The first recipient of this prestigious certification is Novotel, an Accor property, making it the world's first 100% Sattvik Certified Vegetarian hotel. Novotel Jodhpur's certification as the world's first Sattvik Certified 100% Vegetarian hotel marks a significant milestone in the global hospitality sector. This certification recognizes the hotel's commitment to cruelty-free, sustainable, and environment-friendly practices, ensuring high standards of hygiene and compliance. The first proud recipients of this certification is Tarun Bafna, the owner of Novotel Jodhpur, and Shubham Bafna, the Managing Director of Novotel Jodhpur. Key attributes of Novotel Jodhpur's Sattvik Certification include offering a 100% vegetarian cuisine prepared in a cruelty-free environment, ensuring guests enjoy nutritious and ethically sourced meals. The hotel adheres to stringent sustainability protocols, including waste reduction, energy efficiency, and water conservation, making it an eco-friendly destination. Novotel Jodhpur maintains rigorous hygiene standards, ensuring a safe and clean environment for all guests. From eco-friendly construction materials to green operational practices, the hotel exemplifies environmental responsibility. Novotel Jodhpur underwent a rigorous assessment process to ensure compliance with the Sattvik standards, including ingredient sourcing, food preparation, and kitchen practices. Sattvik Certifications reflects a growing global trend towards ethical and sustainable hospitality. The Sattvik Green Building Certification is designed to meet the increasing demand for eco-conscious and health-oriented travel options. Abhishek Biswas, Founder of Sattvik Certifications, stated, "We are thrilled to launch the Sattvik Green Building Certification and certify Novotel Jodhpur, under Accor Group, as our first 100% Sattvik Certified Vegetarian hotel. This certification underscores our commitment to promoting vegetarianism, cruelty-free hospitality, and sustainability worldwide. We congratulate Novotel Jodhpur for setting up a pioneering example in the hospitality industry." Huizhong, Director of Sattvik Certifications Singapore & Indonesia, expressed, "This accomplishment not only marks a significant milestone for Novotel Jodhpur but also opens a gateway for Southeast Asia. It highlights the growing acceptance and demand for high-quality vegetarian and vegan standards in the region, encouraging more establishments to pursue Sattvik certification." Sattvik Certifications is the world's leading vegetarian and vegan certification body, headquartered in Singapore. The organization is dedicated to promoting vegetarianism and veganism through rigorous certification processes, ensuring compliance with the highest standards of cruelty-free and sustainable practices. Novotel Jodhpur, part of the Accor Group, is a premier hotel offering luxurious accommodations and world-class amenities. Located in the historic city of Jodhpur, the hotel provides guests with a unique blend of traditional hospitality and modern comforts, now enhanced by its 100% Sattvik Certified vegetarian status. For more information, please contact at: Email: info@sattvikcertifications.com Contact Number: 9010403034 (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Varanasi on June 18 to release Rs 20,000 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN Nidhi) scheme. PM Modi will grant certificates to more than 30,000 self-help groups designated as Krishi Sakhis after the release of the 17th installment of the PM KISAN scheme, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said while addressing a press conference on Saturday. The event will be organized by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in coordination with the Government of Uttar Pradesh. PM Modi began his third term in office on June 10 by authorizing the release of the 17th installment of the PM Kisan Nidhi, which aims to benefit 9.3 crore farmers and distribute around Rs 20,000 crore. The scheme, launched in February 2019, transfers an amount of Rs 6,000 annually in three equal installments of Rs 2,000 directly into the Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts of farmers. Chouhan, addressing the conference, said that PM Modi has given the responsibility to work on a 100-day plan. He said that the 17th installment of PM KISAN, amounting to more than Rs 20,000 crore, will be disbursed to over 9.26 crore beneficiary farmers by the Prime Minister with a single click of a button from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The Agriculture Minister further noted that around 2.5 crore farmers will join the event across the country. Additionally, 732 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), over 1 lakh Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies, and 5 lakh Common Service Centres (CSCs) from across the country will participate in the event to raise awareness among farmers. During the event, Prime Minister Modi will also grant certificates to more than 30,000 Self Help Groups (SHGs) as Krishi Sakhis and will distribute certificates to five Krishi Sakhis as a token gesture. "This financial assistance will support farmers in meeting their agricultural and other incidental needs. A farmer-centric digital infrastructure has ensured the benefits of the scheme reach all the farmers across the country without any involvement of middlemen. Maintaining absolute transparency in registering and verifying beneficiaries, the Government of India has disbursed over Rs 3.04 lakh crore to more than 11 crore farmers across the nation. With this release, the total amount transferred to the beneficiaries since the inception of the scheme will cross well over Rs 3.24 lakh crore," Chouhan said. Several Union Ministers will also be visiting 50 KVKs to interact with farmers and raise awareness about the various schemes of the Department. They will also distribute certificates to the trained Krishi Sakhis of the area, he added. (ANI)
Actor Sonam Kapoor, who turned 39 last week, shared a video of her birthday celebration in Scotland, thanking everyone for their well-wishes. The 'Neerja' actress on Friday, took to her Instagram account to drop a video from her birthday festivities in Scotland. The video shows Sonam enjoying the beautiful Scottish scenery with her husband Anand, son Vayu, and other family members. It also includes scenes of her cutting her birthday cake, enjoying a lavish meal, and posing for photos with her family. Sonam expressed her joy at spending the weekend with her loved ones. She also shared how much her husband Anand and son Vayu mean to her, and praised her sister Rhea Kapoor for planning wonderful surprises, saying she felt like the luckiest sister. She also mentioned feeling blessed to have loving parents and in-laws who always shower her with affection. Sonam thanked her friends who traveled to Scotland, calling them her chosen family for making her birthday special with their laughter and efforts. https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8MX19Uq4CK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link The caption of her post read, "Still reeling from the beauty of the weekend I've had with those I hold closest to my heart...Anand, you're my whole heart, and the memories we're making with Vayu are my most precious. Rhea, you plan the most fabulous surprises and I know I'm the luckiest sister in the world! I'm also the luckiest daughter with the most loving parents and parents in law who are always spoiling me with their affection. My friends who came all the way to scotland and made my birthday weekend the most memorable with your laughter and planning . I love you my chosen family. And my fans...you guys are the best! Your warm wishes and lovely messages made an incredible birthday even more special. Thank you all! Love and light, Sonam." Meanwhile, on the work front, Sonam Kapoor recently starred in the crime thriller "Blind," which premiered on July 7, 2023. (ANI)
Ahead of father's day, late actor Satish Kaushik's daughter Vanshika shared a post for her uncle and actor Anupam Kher. Taking to Instagram stories on Friday, Vanshika posted, "Happy Father's Day Anupam uncle!" Kher re-shared Vanshika's post and reacted with heart emojis. After Satish's sudden demise, Kher had promised to spend a lot of time with his daughter. He is often seen posting videos and pictures with her. Taking her out for lunch to dancing together. Satish Kaushik passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest on March 9 in New Delhi. Kher was the first one who broke the news of his demise on social media. Satish Kaushik was a versatile actor, writer, director and producer, who made his mark in the Indian film industry with his captivating performances and unique sense of humour. He gained recognition in the 1980s and 1990s for his work in popular films such as 'Mr India', 'Saajan Chale Sasural', and 'Judaai'. Over the years, Satish Kaushik established himself as one of the most sought-after character actors in Bollywood, often playing supporting roles integral to the plot. He was also known for his work as a writer and director, having directed films such as 'Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja' and 'Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain'. Satish Kaushik started his career as a stage actor, featuring in plays across Delhi before moving to Mumbai to pursue his dream of a career in Bollywood Father's Day is that day of the year when we get an opportunity to celebrate the special bond we share with our fathers, expressing our un-said love over time. This day is observed on the third Sunday of June and this year, it's on June 16. Meanwhile, Kher on the work front, has 'The Signature', 'Emergency', 'Vijay 69', and the Curse of Damyaan' and a few other films in his kitty. (ANI)
According to Page Six, Kim flew North and 10 of her close friends to New York City for a lavish birthday celebration in her private jet. The group enjoyed a fun-filled trip to the city, dining at some of the finest restaurants.

Kim Kardashian, on Friday, flew her eldest daughter, North West, and her close friends to New York City.

As per Page Six, the group arrived wearing matching plaid pyjamas and pink shirts with "I 'heart' NW," North West's initials.

The celebration kicked off on the Upper East Side, where they enjoyed chicken tenders, the restaurant's signature frozen hot chocolate, and ice cream.

North West and her friends documented their trip, including the traditional birthday song and cake-cutting.

Her billionaire mom, Kim Kardashian, used her private jet to fly the group to New York City, marking another lavish celebration.

The trip was planned for Friday, a day before North's birthday on Saturday, June 15.

Two years back, for her 9th birthday, Kim Kardashian organized a 'spooky wilderness' themed party called 'Camp North.' She flew North and her friends out of the city on her private plane for an adventurous celebration. The group enjoyed outdoor activities like zip-lining, rafting, and inner tubing. During their weekend camping trip, they also had a bonfire, played card games, and practised archery. Each guest was provided with a sleeping bag and tent.

The following year, Kim hosted an elegant brunch organized by Anastasia Beverly Hills, featuring a table filled with an exquisite menu. (ANI)
Director Neil Jordan's 1994 gothic horror film 'Interview With the Vampire' is making headlines again as he discussed the cast of the movie, according to Variety. The movie is based on Anne Rice's 1976 novel of the same name, starring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. His decision to choose Tom Cruise over Daniel Day-Lewis made many people unhappy during that time. As per Variety, Director Jordan discussed his choice to cast Cruise alongside Brad Pitt and the backlash that followed in his memoir. He also recalled that he had initially offered the part to Daniel Day-Lewis. "The problem was the casting of Lestat. Brad Pitt had agreed to play Louis and somehow assumed Daniel Day-Lewis would be playing Lestat, an assumption shared by Anne. I offered it to Daniel, who read it, and, as I expected, didn't want to play the character," Jordan wrote. "A few years before, he had confined himself to a wheelchair to play Christy Brown in 'My Left Foot.' He would have had to sleep in a coffin for the entirety of this production if he followed the same practice. So we moved on," he added. Jordan was certain of his choice after meeting with Cruise twice at his Brentwood home and learning that the actor and Lestat truly had a lot of similarities. "I finally got it," Jordan wrote, adding, "He had to live a life removed from the gaze of others. He had made a contract with the hidden forces, whatever they turned out to be. He had to hide in the shadows, even in the Hollywood sunlight. He would be eternally young. He was a star. He could well be Lestat." Jordan stated that Cruise is "also a superb actor," but "that small fact got lost in the outrage that followed." "Half of America, it seemed, had read Anne Rice's books and wanted a say in the casting of Lestat," he continued. "Anne herself took to the airwaves, saying that it was as if I had cast Edward G Robinson as Rhett Butler. But she was wrong and was later big enough to admit it," he added. However, later he admitted that Cruise's performance was appreciated by the critics in an interview. Jordan is all set for his next project, 'The Well of Saint Nobody', adapted from the director's acclaimed 2023 novel of the same name. Jordan's "Amnesiac: A Memoir" will be published on June 20, reported Variety. (ANI)
Wildlife filmmaker Subbiah Nallamuthu received the prestigious V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award at the 18th Mumbai International Film Festival on Saturday. He has won several national and international awards including the five National Film Awards. He is a regular jury member of the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival and has also served as the jury chairman of the Indian Panorama at IFFI 2021. The 18th Mumbai International Film Festival was attended by several celebrities including Randeep Hooda, Abhishek Banerjee, Divyendu, Divya Dutta, Avinash Tiwary, Upasana, Madhur Bhandarkar, Vineet Kumar Singh, film director Rahul Rawail, Sonali Kulkarni and Anand L Rai. Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L Murugan inaugurated the film festival in a grand opening ceremony at NCPA, Mumbai, on Saturday. Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L Murugan along with Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar attended the grand event. The 18th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival kicked off with the screening of the documentary 'Billy and Molly: An Otter Love Story'. The film was screened simultaneously in Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and Pune. The documentary, which was made by Charlie Hamilton James, tells the unusual tale of a man who, while residing in the isolated Shetland Islands, befriends a wild otter. Through the touching journey of Molly, an orphaned otter, this video explores the coastlines of Scotland's Shetland Islands. The events witnessed an artistic melange of cultural acts which included an act depicting the journey of Indian animation, a cultural performance from Sri Lanka. There was also the screening of the FTII student short Film 'Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know', which won the La Cinef Award at the 77th Cannes Film Festival this year. A celebration of Sri Lankan creativity, Peacock Dance, "Dharani," a fusion dance performed by the Rigveda Dance Studio, and inspiring dance tales of the island nation were also part of the Opening Ceremony of MIFF, which was a dazzling combination of cultural vitality, animation heritage, and dance narratives. Some of the prominent films in the Red Carpet Gala include 'Poacher', directed by Richie Mehta, Inside Out - 2, directed by Kelsey Mann, Srikanth by Tushar Hiranandani and Gandhi Talks by Kishor Pandurang Belekar. Jury members include international filmmakers Audrius Stonys, Bharat Bala, Dr Bobby Sarma Baruah, Anna Henckel-Donnersmarck and producers Apoorva Bakshi, Adele Seelmann-Eggebert, Keiko Bang and Barthelemy Fougea. There are a total of 314 films in the MIFF this year from 59 countries across 61 languages. Noted international filmmakers will take part in more than 25 masterclasses, panel discussions and open forums on the curated topics. The mid-fest film of the 18th MIFF is "The Commandant's Shadow", directed by Daniela Volker, will be screened on June 18. The closing film of the festival is the film that wins the Golden Conch and will be showcased on June 21. A total of 102 films were selected by the three selection committees of eminent film experts for the International (25) and National (77) competition sections. MIFF offers a forum for international documentary filmmakers to connect, share ideas, investigate co-production and marketing opportunities for documentaries, shorts, and animation projects, and expand their perspectives on global cinema. The festival aims to promote artistic expression and serve as a creative spark for both attendees and filmmakers by offering a forum for additional talks and debates on short films, documentaries, and animation. The 18th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival will continue till June 21. (ANI)
President Droupadi Murmu attended Odisha's agricultural festival 'Raja Parb' celebration at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday and witnessed cultural performances including 'Mayurbhanj Chhau', 'Sambalpuri' and 'Karma' dances. The 'Raja Parb' is one of the most celebrated festivals in Odisha. The three-day-long agricultural festival is celebrated during the onset of monsoons and is celebrated by the people with great enthusiasm and fervour. As part of the celebrations, swings decorated with flowers and mango leaves were set up and were the main attraction of this festival. Mehndi artists were invited and Odia cuisine, such as various types of 'pitha' apart from 'sherbet' and 'paan', were arranged for the participants, according to a press release by the President's Secretariat. The Rashtrapati Bhavan also took to its official X handle and said, "President Droupadi Murmu attended the celebrations of Raja Parb, an agricultural festival of Odisha in Rashtrapati Bhavan. She also witnessed a cultural programme in which Raja Geet and Mayurbhanj Chhau, Sambalpuri and Karma dance performances were presented." Notably, President Murmu is from Odisha's tribal community and it is the first occasion when the R agriculture-based festival of Odisha, was celebrated at Rashtrapati Bhavan. This celebration provided a unique glimpse of Odia culture and lifestyle to the participants. Meanwhile, the BJP Odisha also took to its official X handle and posted about the participation of state Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in the festival. It said, "On the first day of Odisha's Ganparb Raj, Chief Minister Mohan Majhi attended the Raj Parb celebrations at the state museum premises in Bhubaneswar and watered the trees and made the children swing." Also, BJP MP from Puri, Sambit Patra inaugurated Raja Mahotsav at the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) in Khordha. It is believed that the mother Goddess Earth or the divine wife of Lord Vishnu undergoes menstruation during the first three days. The fourth day is called Vasumati Gadhua, or the ceremonial bath of Bhudevi. The term 'Raja' has come from 'Rajaswala' (meaning a menstruating woman) and during the medieval period, the festival became more popular as an agricultural holiday remarking the worship of 'Bhudevi', who is the wife of Lord Jagannath. A silver idol of Bhudevi is still found in Puri Temple aside from Lord Jagannatha. As part of the celebrations, girls wear new dresses, enjoy the 'Doli Jhula' and savour traditional delicacies, with some notable dishes being 'Podo Pitha', 'Manda Pitha' and 'Arisha Pitha'. As long as the festival goes, no agricultural activity like ploughing or sowing takes place for it is believed that Mother Earth goes through rejuvenation during these three days. The first, second and third days of 'Raja Parba' are called 'Pahili Rajo', 'Mithuna Sankranti', and 'Bhu Daaha' or 'Basi Raja', respectively. The fourth day marks the ceremonial bath, called 'Vasumati Snana.' (ANI)
The Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra (SANJY)-2024 is scheduled to begin on June 29 from the twin routes of Baltal in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district and Pahalgam in south Kashmir.

The Jammu and Kashmir police took to its official X handle and posted about the meeting. It said, "ADGP Anand Jain reviewed arrangements for Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra in a high-level meeting. Key focus: Coordinated efforts for pilgrims' safety, meticulous security planning, and emergency response measures."

The meeting included senior officials from police and security forces, as well as all District Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) and Range Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs).

During the meeting, Jain emphasised the importance of coordinated efforts among all stakeholders to ensure the safety and security of the pilgrims. He also highlighted the need for meticulous planning and execution of security measures to address any potential threats and challenges.

The discussion was held on the security being extended to the pilgrims during their stay in the base camp of pilgrims at Yatri Niwas Bhagwati Nagar Jammu and other lodging centres.

Jammu ADGP reviewed the arrangements for the yatra for the establishment of joint control rooms for better and closer coordination between all agencies to ensure the smooth conduct of the yatra.

The discussions covered a wide range of issues, including security arrangements, intelligence sharing, traffic management, medical and emergency services, infrastructure and logistics.

Strategies to manage the expected high influx of pilgrims, including traffic regulation, parking facilities, emergency response measures, adequate medical facilities, emergency services, and disaster management plans to address health-related issues and emergencies during the yatra were reviewed.

Stressing the significance of maintaining a high level of vigilance and preparedness throughout the yatra, Jain instructed the officials to conduct regular reviews and drills to ensure that all plans are effectively implemented. (ANI)
A toddler who fell into a 45-50 feet deep borewell in Surgapara village in Gujarat's Amreli and pulled out after a 15-hour-long long operation on Saturday morning, has been declared dead by doctors. "The child was pulled out from the borewell at 5:10 am and taken to the Amreli Civil Hospital where she was declared brought dead," Fire Officer HC Gadhvi said today. Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Amreli fire team and 108 ambulance service were jointly engaged in operations to rescue the girl. The operation that commenced post noon on Friday afternoon at 12.30 pm continued till early this morning and the child was pulled out after over 15 hours. She was immediately shifted to Amreli Civil Hospital where she was declared broguht dead by doctors. Earlier on Friday, Union Minister of State Praful Pansheriya requested people of the state inform the government about open borewells. Speaking with ANI, Pansheriya said, "I request everyone in Gujarat that if you can't close the borewells, please inform us. If you can't do it, please drop us a message or send us a letter... I will work for humanity," the minister added. "Four months back, a similar incident happened in Dwarka. At that time, I appealed to the teachers and we closed around 35-40 borewells. The Chief Minister has also issued a letter regarding the open borewells," he added. Notably, a similar incident also occurred in Rajasthan's Alwar district, where a five-year-old child, had fallen into a 40-foot deep borewell in Kanwada village in the Laxmangarh area. The child was rescued safely. Earlier on April 14, a six-year-old boy fell into an open borewell in an agricultural field at Manika village in the Janeh police station area of Madhya Pradesh's Rewa district. The boy was taken out after a 45-hour-long rescue operation but the rescue teams couldn't save his life. (ANI)
Congress workers on Saturday held a 'Matka Phod' (break pitchers) protest in Delhi's Krishna Nagar area against the AAP-led Delhi government and the BJP-led government at the Centre to highlight the water crisis in the national capital. A Congress worker told ANI, "The public is being cheated in the name of water. Poor people are suffering the most. The governments are playing the blame game. Why was water not arranged in advance? They were busy doing politics. The Congress party will hold a 'matka phod' protest in Delhi to wake up the deaf and dumb government. They have connived with tanker mafia." He added,"The Congress has resolved that 'matka' will be broken in every corner of Delhi and the sleeping government will be awakened." Another worker said that the AAP and BJP should not indulge in politics of allegations and counter-allegations. "If attention was paid only to leakage, then this situation would not have happened today. Their politics is depriving the poor of water as well. This is a very sad thing," he said. Meanwhile, AAP leader Atishi on Thursday affirmed that the government is taking every possible step to curb the wastage of water. Atishi also appealed to the people of Delhi to reduce the wastage of water as much as possible given the national capital is reeling under the water crisis due to scorching heatwaves and rising temperatures. Earlier, the Supreme Court said that the issue of sharing Yamuna River water between states is complex and sensitive and this court does not have the expertise and left the matter to the Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB) to decide on Delhi's demand for additional water amid an ongoing water crisis. The Delhi Government, in a fresh affidavit, informed the apex court that the tanker mafia is operational on the Haryana side of the Yamuna River and the AAP government lacks jurisdiction to act against the same. It is for Haryana to explain what steps it is taking to preserve the full supply of water to Delhi between the point of release and the point of receipt, the affidavit mentioned. (ANI)
The body of Dwarikesh Pattanayak, who died in the Kuwait fire tragedy on Saturday morning arrived at Kolkata airport. West Bengal Minister Sujit Bose and BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul were among those who paid their last respects to the resident of the Paschim Medinipur district of the state. Talking to ANI, Sujit Bose said, "The state government will do everything required." Asked about compensation given to victms family, Bose said he will not be able to respond over this."Meanwhile, BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul has demanded Rs 10 lakh compensation for the family of the deceased and asked the State government to sponsor the education of his teenage daughter. "We demand from the state government that compensation of minimum Rs 10 lakhs should be given to the victim's family and sponsor the education of the 14-year-old daughter of the deceased who has to appear in the board exams next year." Paul lashed out at the state government for not being able to provide employment opportunities to people in West Bengal which forced them to visit other states and countries looking for employment "It's true that any mishap that happens in different parts of the country includes migrant labourers from West Bengal. People are going to Bihar and Kerala for employment and to work as labourers. It's a reality that there are no employment opportunities in Bengal. Mamata Banerjee should explain why people have to go outside the state to look for employment," said Paul. Forty-five Indians were killed in a fire at a labour accommodation in Kuwait's Mangaf on June 12. Among the deceased seven were from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh and one each from Bihar, Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Haryana, Punjab, and West Bengal, in addition to the 23 people from Kerala. An IAF plane carrying the bodies of the deceased Indians landed in Kochi on Friday where where the bodies of those from southern Indian states were given to authorities, and then the plane continued to Delhi's Palam airport. Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh who had gone to Kuwait after the incident was on the plane accompanying the mortal remains of the victims. He emphasised that usually it takes 10-15 days, but at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's and EAM Jaishankar's request, we have been able to bring the mortal remains of those Indian nationals who lost their lives in the deadly fire incident. "Usually it takes 10-15 days, but at the request of PM Modi and EAM Jaishankar, we have been able to bring the mortal remains of those 45 Indian nationals," he said. (ANI)
The Delhi Police Anti-Narcotics Cell arrested four drug peddlers and recovered 245.500 kg of fine-quality cannabis (ganja) on Saturday. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) East Delhi, Apoorva Gupta said, "Anti-narcotics squad East District has recovered nearly 250 kg ganja under the leadership of Inspector Arun. A few days ago, we received information that, on the pretext of shifting the household items of Army jawans, drugs were being supplied in Delhi in large quantities. Developing the information further, we got a tip-off that a truck was coming to Ghazipur Sabzi Mandi to supply the drugs." "We conducted a raid and recovered nearly 215 kg of ganja from the truck. Based on disclosure by truck driver Inderpal and his helper Manish, we reached one Lublu Choudhary. Further, based on the disclosure of Lublu Choudhary, we arrested one Mohd. Fayaz alias Hafiz, who is also a resident of Ghaziabad. The total recovery made in the case is 245.5 kg ganja and 4 arrests along with the truck," DCP Gupta added. Earlier on June 12, the Anti-Narcotics Cell in Dwarka District, Delhi, made a significant arrest involving a drug peddler and two consumers. According to the officials, the raid was conducted based on secret information and local surveillance, leading the team to Sharma Medical Hall in Najafgarh. Prashant Sharma, the owner of the medical hall, was found in possession of 98 tablets of Buprenorphine medicine (a psychotropic substance) and 8 Avil injections with syringes and needles. Additionally, two consumers, Md. Wahid and Lalit Rohilla, were apprehended. They were found with one tablet, one syringe, one Avil injection, and two needle kit sets. During interrogation, they admitted to consuming these substances as psychotropic drugs, purchased recently from Sharma Medical Hall. The accused were arrested under the NDPS Act, while Md. Wahid and Lalit Rohilla were granted bail due to the nature of their offense, and Prashant Sharma was remanded to judicial custody for 14 days. (ANI)
Residents of Geeta Colony in Delhi breathed a sigh of relief on Saturday as they finally received water supply through increased number of tankers following complaints and protests against the Delhi Jal Board over disrupted services. Locals, who had been holding demonstrations to protest the ongoing water crisis due to summer, said that their demands for adequate water supply were met through two tankers daily. "Shortage of water has troubled us a lot. After we protested and the same was highlighted by the media, the Delhi Jal Board has started supplying water through tankers. They have assured us of supplying two tankers of water daily," said Ram Kali, a resident of Geeta Colony. "Earlier, we were provided with supply through one tanker; we used to face a lot of trouble--some people could get water and others not. We are now provided with two tankers, which has eased the situation for us. All the residents are now able to get sufficient water," another resident pointed out. While the situation in Geeta Colony is improving, residents in other localities of Delhi, including Maidan Garhi and Chanakyapuri, continue to face inconvenience due to inadequate water supply. They are seen huddling around water tankers with their buckets, containers, and cans to carry water. For many residents in the city, their daily water needs are not being met due to the shortage. The record-high temperatures and heatwave in Delhi, which have resulted in maximum temperatures rising to around 50 degrees Celsius in some places, have also caused an extraordinary and excessive surge in water demand in the city. Meanwhile, the Delhi Government has blamed the Haryana Government for curbing Delhi's water share in Munak Canal. Earlier, on Wednesday, the Delhi High Court sought the stand of the Haryana Government and officials in its Irrigation and Water Resources Department in a contempt plea against them. A plea seeking action against them has been filed over the alleged non-compliance with a High Court order in relation to water supply to Delhi. A vacation bench of Neena Bansal Krishna issued notice to the Haryana Government, its officials, and the Delhi Government and sought their replies. The matter has been listed for July 24. The notice has been issued on the petition filed by advocate SB Tripathi, seeking contempt action against the Haryana Government for non-compliance with the order of the Delhi High Court passed on January 15, which required Haryana to supply 1041 cusecs of water to Delhi daily. The plea submitted that earlier, Haryana had stated that Delhi has an allocation of 719 cusecs of water. Haryana is supplying 1041 cusecs of water to Delhi by diverting 319 cusecs from its own citizens to Delhi. Haryana has said nothing about reducing the present supply of 1041 cusecs. It is further stated that Haryana has started supplying less water from Munak Nahar (Canal). Sometimes it did not supply water at all from Munak Nahar. (ANI)
In the press release, TDP said that has been meeting with locals at his residence every morning to listen to their problems and provide solutions.

Lokesh has also established a special task force to resolve the issues raised by the public. This initiative is seen as a significant step towards fulfilling his election promise of being accessible to the people.

The press release highlights Lokesh's commitment to the welfare of his constituents and his efforts to address their concerns.

Earlier, after taking charge of his office after being sworn in as the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, the Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government allotted portfolios to 25 ministers in his cabinet.

While Chief Minister Naidu has kept Law and Order among other portfolios, Pawan Kalyan who has been named Naidu's Deputy, has been allotted Panchayati Raj, Environment, Forest and Science and Technology.

Naidu's son Nara Lokesh, has been allotted Human Resources Development, Information Technology, Electronics and Communication. (ANI)
"Best wishes to Shri Kishan Reddy Garu on his birthday. He is a grassroots leader, rising from the ranks to being a successful legislator, MP and Minister. His efforts for serving people are exemplary. Praying for his long and healthy life," Modi said in a post on X.

Reddy officially took charge as Union Minister of Coal and Mines on Thursday.

The three-time MLA and BJP Floor Leader in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Assemblies had won the Secunderabad Lok Sabha seat with 4,73,012 votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Gangapuram Kishan Reddy started his political career as a Yuva karyakarta (youth worker) in the Janata party. He joined the BJP at its inception in the year 1980.

He entered politics very early by joining the youth wing of the Janata Party and joining the BJP when the erstwhile Janasangh cadre split from the Janata Party.

In 1977, he started his political career as a Leader of the Youth wing of the Janata Party. In 1980 on the formation of the BJP from the Jana Sangh, Kishan Reddy joined the party full-time.

He was appointed as the President of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (Youth wing of BJP) in 2002 when BJP was in power at the Center.

He contested as an MLA from Himayatnagar Assembly constituency in 2004 for the first time, when unfortunately, the entire opposition experienced a rout.

In 2014, he was elected as MLA from Amberpet Assembly Constituency, Hyderabad City. In 2019 he won the Lok Sabha elections from Secunderabad Constituency.

In May 2019, he became the Minister of State for Home Affairs and from July 2021 he was a Union Minister for Tourism, Culture and Development of the North Eastern Region.

Gangapuram Kishan Reddy hails from Ranga Reddy District, Telangana State was born in a middle-class farmers' family in 1960 to Late Gangapuram Swami Reddy and Late Andalamma. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court on Saturday directed Sunita Kejriwal, wife of Arvind Kejriwal, to remove the video recording of her husband addressing a Delhi court from her social media accounts. A Division Bench of Justices Neena Bansal Krishna and Amit Sharma also directed social media companies, along with Sunita Kejriwal, to pull down any posts or reposts regarding the video recorded on that day. The court was hearing a plea filed by advocate Vaibhav Singh, who alleged violations of the court's video conferencing rules during Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's appearance at Rouse Avenue Court on March 28 while in police custody. The plea alleged that Kejriwal and others illegally recorded the proceedings of the trial court when Delhi CM was produced before the trial court. The court has listed the matter for July 9. "The post regarding this audio/video recording was circulated on X erstwhile Twitter with the #MoneyTrailExposedByKejriwal. The circumstances in which the audio/video recording went viral smell deep conspiracy by the political parties to malign the image of the judiciary and mislead the common people of this nation, and also to show the general public that the judiciary is working on the behest of the government and under the pressure of the central government," the plea stated. According to the plea, Arvind Kejriwal narrated his story along with facts to the special judge, which was about 9/9:30 minutes long as per the recording, which is widely circulated on various social media platforms. Several members of the Aam Aadmi Party, including members of various other opposition parties, have intentionally and deliberately and with willful intention to malign and manipulate the court proceedings, done the audio and video recording of the court proceedings, and circulated on social media platforms, the plea claimed. (ANI)
A vacation bench of Justices PV Sanjay Kumar and Augustine George Masih made it clear that accelerated proceedings in the case cannot be sought.

"Special Leave Petition is dismissed. Pending applications shall also stand dismissed," the bench stated in its order passed on June 14.

Paulose had filed an SLP against the Delhi High Court's May 20 order, which adjourned her bail plea for July.

The bench noted that the plea was filed before the High Court on May 14 and then the notice was issued on May 20.

"You have been in prison for two years and eight months, as soon as you come to the court you require an order," the top court observed.

As the counsel representing Paulose requested the apex court for expedited proceedings, the bench said, "Not for us to arrange the board of the High Court."

As per the prosecution Chandrashekhar and his wife, Leena Paulose, were allegedly involved in running an organised crime syndicate with their associates since 2013 with the motive of pecuniary gain by cheating and extortion.

Both Chandrasekhar and his wife were arrested by the Delhi Police in September 2021 for their alleged role in the duping case. They are presently in judicial custody. (ANI)
The Ministry of Law and Justice will organise a conference titled 'India's Progressive Path in the Administration of Criminal Justice System' aimed at bringing out features of the three new criminal laws in Kolkata, West Bengal on Sunday. The conference in Kolkata - the third in the series of conferences on 'India's Progressive Path in the Administration of Criminal Justice System' - shall be held tomorrow at ITC Royal Bengal, Haldane Avenue, Kolkata. Justice T. S. Sivagnanam, Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court, shall grace the inaugural session of the Conference as the Chief Guest. It shall also be addressed by the Minister of State (MoS) independent charge of the Ministry of Law & Justice, Government of India. The Conference aims to bring out the salient features of the three new criminal laws through meaningful interactions, deliberations, and question-and-answer sessions. The Conference shall be attended by delegates comprising Judges and former Judges of various High Courts, District and Lower Courts, advocates, academicians, and representatives of law enforcement agencies like police officials, from the States of West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, UP, Jharkhand and Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Island. Besides, officers from other investigative agencies, public prosecutors, district administration, law students from national law universities, and other law colleges shall also partake in the conference. On December 25, 2023, the President gave assent to "The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023", "The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023", and "The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023". As notified, these new criminal laws are to take effect from 1st July 2024. Over the last two months, the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice, has organized two major conferences at New Delhi and Guwahati to generate awareness about these new laws, particularly amongst the stakeholders, legal fraternity, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, district administration officials, academia and students of law, besides citizens. In Kolkata, the inaugural session will shed light on the overarching objectives of the new criminal law triad, set to redefine the structure of India's Criminal Justice System and profoundly impact the lives of its citizens. In addition to the discourses in the inaugural session, there shall be three technical sessions, one on each new law. Technical Session-I will feature in-depth discussions centered on adopting a comparative approach to assess the implementation of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS). Justice Joymalya Bagchi, Judge, Calcutta High Court, shall chair the session. The other panelists of the session include Shashi Prakash Singh, Addl. Solicitor General of Allahabad High Court, Prof. Anurag Deep of Indian Law Institute, New Delhi, Faisal Fasih, Asst. Prof. at WBNUJS, Kolkata, and Dr. Biswa Kallyan Dash, Asst. Prof. at National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar. The session will be moderated by Prof. Vageshwari Deswal of the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi. Technical Session II will discuss the salient aspects of Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA) i.e. on evidence, a cornerstone in adjudicating guilt. Discussions will focus on the widened scope of "documents" and "evidence," facilitated by the introduction of comprehensive definitions. This session shall be chaired by Justice Ananya Bandopadhyay, Judge, Calcutta High Court. Other panelists are Zoheb Hossain, Special Public Prosecutor & Advocate at the Enforcement Directorate, Amit Prasad, Special Public Prosecutor & Advocate at Delhi High Court, Dr. Sarfaraj Ahmed Khan, Asst. Prof. at WBNUJS, Kolkata, and Dr. Shubham Pandey, Asst. Prof. at the National Forensic Science University, Gandhinagar. This session shall be moderated by Dr. K.A. Pandey, Professor at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMNLU), Lucknow. Technical Session III will delve into the ramifications of the procedural changes introduced by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) on the investigation of crime by police officers, and the infusion of ICT tools which has practical implications for the functioning of the judiciary and law enforcement agencies. The session shall be chaired by Justice Tirthankara Ghosh, Judge, Calcutta High Court. Other panelists are Sh. Vikramjit Banerjee, Ld. Additional Solicitor General of Supreme Court of India, E. Chandresekaran, Advocate at Madras High Court, and, Dr. Neeraj Tiwari, Asst. Prof. at the National Law University, Delhi. The session shall be moderated by Prof. Mohd. Asad Malik, Faculty of Law, Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi. The technical sessions shall be followed by a valedictory session. Governor of West Bengal, Dr. C.V. Ananda Bose, shall grace the valedictory session as the Chief Guest. The other guests shall be Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, Chief Justice (Acting), High Court of Jharkhand, and Prof. (Dr.) N.K. Chakrabarti, Vice Chancellor, WBNUJS, Kolkata. In recent years, the Government of India has taken several initiatives to repeal archaic colonial laws and usher in legislation which are citizen-centric and caters to the requirements of a vibrant democracy. "The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023", "The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023", and "The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023" replace the earlier criminal laws namely the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860), Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), and Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (1 of 1872) which were in operation for several decades. (ANI)
A group of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers staged a protest against the AAP-led Delhi government and Minister Atishi on Saturday to highlight the water crisis in the capital. BJP workers gathered near Atishi's office in Kalkaji, carrying earthen pots on their heads which they later smashed on the ground. In a similar protest, Congress workers held a 'Matka Phod' (break pitchers) protest in Delhi's Krishna Nagar area and criticized both the AAP and BJP governments for the water scarcity in the national capital. A Congress worker lamented the suffering of the public, accusing the governments of neglect and engaging in political blame games. "The public is being cheated in the name of water. Poor people are suffering the most. The governments are playing the blame game. Why was water not arranged in advance? They were busy doing politics. The Congress party will hold a 'matka phod' protest in Delhi to wake up the deaf and dumb government. They have connived with tanker mafia," a Congress worker said.' He added, "The Congress has resolved that 'matka' will be broken in every corner of Delhi and the sleeping government will be awakened." Responding to Congress protest, BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla criticized Congress for remaining silent during the elections while Delhi faced water shortages. He blamed the AAP for mismanagement and alleged corruption in water distribution, accusing them of protecting water tanker mafias despite Supreme Court orders. "This water crisis did not start yesterday. It has been going on throughout the elections because summer had already begun. Because they were in an alliance with the AAP in Delhi and had shared seats, they did not raise the issue back then... Delhi is facing a water shortage today because in the last 10 years, AAP has done nothing but corruption... 50 per cent of water supplied to Delhi goes to waste...," said Poonawalla. "AAP has given protection to water tanker mafias... No enquiry is conducted against water-tanker mafias, even after the orders of the SC. This tells a lot about the association of AAP with the water mafias and the selective association between Congress and AAP...," he added. Meanwhile, AAP leader Atishi assured on Thursday that the Delhi government is actively working to minimize water wastage. She urged Delhi residents to conserve water amid rising temperatures and heatwaves exacerbating the crisis. Earlier, the Supreme Court said that the issue of sharing Yamuna River water between states is complex and sensitive and this court does not have the expertise and left the matter to the Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB) to decide on Delhi's demand for additional water amid an ongoing water crisis. The Delhi Government, in a fresh affidavit, informed the apex court that the tanker mafia is operational on the Haryana side of the Yamuna River and the AAP government lacks jurisdiction to act against the same. It is for Haryana to explain what steps it is taking to preserve the full supply of water to Delhi between the point of release and the point of receipt, as the affidavit mentioned. (ANI)
A wave of mass arrests has engulfed Armenia since early morning, Azernews reports.

Lawyer Ruben Melikyan said law enforcement officers have been detaining activists in the cities of Martuni, Gavar, Vanadzor, Ujan, and Yerevan.

The arrests follow a series of raids on the offices of the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun or ARFD) in Vayk and Yeghegnadzor. The exact number of individuals detained remains unknown at this time.
The newly sworn-in Deputy Chief Ministers of Odisha, along with other leaders paid their respects on Saturday to the bodies of two victims of the Kuwait fire tragedy which arrived in Bhubaneswar today. Expressing grief over the blaze that left Indians dead in Kuwait's Mangaf on June 12 after a fire broke out in a labour accommodation there. Odisha Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo said, "It is a tragic incident. They (victims) were working there to support their families. Such a tragic incident is a matter of concern for the world. Odisha CM has announced ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh from his relief fund for the victims' families and has asked us to receive the mortal remains." Meanwhile, Deputy CM Pravati Parida said the government will try to create employment opportunities in the State only so that people don't need to go outside the state. "Two people from Odisha died in the Kuwait fire incident. The state government has announced ex gratia of Rs. 4 lakh for the victim's families... We will try to create employment opportunities here. So, the people will not have to leave Odisha for employment," said Pravati Parida. Earlier today, officials handed over the mortal remains of the victims from Uttar Pradesh in the Kuwait fire. Detailing the handover, ADM (Finance and Revenue), Vineet Kumar Singh said, "Two residents of Gorakhpur have died in the Kuwait fire incident... Their mortal remains have reached today. Their relatives are here. The administration is with the families of the deceased..." A total of three people from Uttar Pradesh lost their lives in the incident. The victims, identified as Angad Gupta (48) and Jairam Gupta (38) of Gorakhpur, had been working in the Gulf country for nearly a decade. They returned to work after staying with their families a few months ago, it was learned. The wife of Angad Gupta, talking to ANI said, "Angad was staying in Kuwait for the last eight years and used to visit India from time to time. He was working in mall." Angad, who was the sole breadwinner of the family, is survived by his wife, Reeta Devi and their two children. His daughter Anshika. Also today the final rites of Sivashankar Govindhan, one of the seven people from Tamil Nadu who was killed in the Kuwait fire tragedy, was performed in Chennai's Royapuram crematorium on Saturday. Forty-eight-year-old Govindhan who was working in Kuwait for over a year as a truck driver was among the 45 Indians who were killed in the fire at a labour accommodation in Kuwait's Mangaf on June 12. Govindhan is survived by his wife, Hema Kumari, daughter Shanthika and son, Deepak Raj. Among those who were killed in the Kuwait building fire were seven people from Tamil Nadu, three persons from Andhra Pradesh and one each from Bihar, Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Haryana, Punjab, and West Bengal, in addition to the 23 people from Kerala. (ANI)
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Saturday said the Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge ought to play the constructive role of an Opposition instead of repeating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not have the mandate to rule the country. "NDA has a clear majority. We have won 292 Lok Sabha seats. I advise Mallikarjun Kharge to play the role of opposition and give constructive advice to the government," Athawale told ANI. Athawale said that when UPA was in power the BJP did not say the Congress did not have the mandate to rule even though the party did not have the majority on its own. Athawale's reaction came after Mallikarjun Kharge told ANI on Friday that NDA government had been formed by mistake and PM Modi did not have the mandate. "NDA government has been formed by mistake. Modi ji doesn't have the mandate. It's a minority government. This government can fall anytime," Kharge told ANI. "We would like it to continue, let it be good for the country, we should work together to strengthen the country. But our Prime Minister is habitual of not letting something going on well to continue. But we will cooperate towards strengthening the country," he added. Endorsing Kharge's statement, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari said that the NDA government has not been formed with the support of the people. "This government has not been formed with the support of the people. Their (BJP) vote percentage and seats have come down. They are not the first choice of the public," Pramod Tiwari told ANI. In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, BJP won 240 seats, falling 32 seats short of the halfway mark of 272 seats. However, the prepoll NDA alliance has 292 seats, propelling PM Modi into his third consecutive term in office. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair a high-level meeting on Sunday to review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and preparedness for the Amarnath Yatra. Earlier on Friday, the Union Home Minister reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir in a high-level meeting with senior officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) here in the national capital, and directed to call another detailed meeting on June 16 over the issue. Shah conducted the meeting in the wake of recent terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, which have raised concerns about the security arrangements in the region. In the meeting, the Home Minister also gave directions to call a follow-up meeting on June 16 in North Block to further assess the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the preparations for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra. Officials concerned learned to have briefed the Home Minister about the current security situations and preparedness to handle such terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. As per Home Ministry officials, the June 16 meeting will be attended by the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, National Security Advisor, Union Home Secretary, and senior officers from the Army, police, Jammu and Kashmir administration, and the MHA. The heightened vigilance is aimed at ensuring the safety of Jammu and Kashmir residents as well as the Amarnath Yatra pilgrims and maintaining law and order in the state. Since June 9, there have been terror strikes at four places in Reasi, Kathua, and Doda, where nine pilgrims were killed, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan was killed, a civilian was injured, and at least seven security personnel were injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also chaired a high-level meeting on Thursday to discuss the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir following the series of terror-related incidents. NSA Ajit Doval and other senior officials attended the meeting. In the meeting, the Prime Minister received a comprehensive overview of the ongoing counter-terrorism efforts in the region. He was briefed on the strategies and operations being implemented to tackle terrorist activities and ensure the safety of the region. PM Modi also spoke with Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the deployment of security forces and ongoing counter-terror operations. Additionally, he spoke to J-K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to review the situation and was briefed on the efforts being undertaken by the local administration. (ANI)
A total of seven people who sustained injuries in the Rudraprayag tempo traveller accident were airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh on Saturday on the orders of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. In a post on 'X', the Chief Minister wrote, "The seriously injured passengers in the Rudraprayag road accident are being airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh. Instructions have been given to the concerned officials for better treatment of the injured. We are fully committed to providing all possible assistance to the injured." As many as ten people were killed and 13 injured after the tempo traveller in which they were travelling fell into a deep gorge on Badrinath Highway in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand on Saturday. Meanwhile, the rest of the injured people are undergoing treatment at a hospital in Rudraprayag. Garhwal IG KS Nagnyal told ANI that the local administration, residents, and SDRF are engaged in a rescue and relief operation. "The tempo traveller was heading towards Rudraprayag from Noida when it fell into the 150-meter-deep ditch. The number of tourists travelling is not clear yet. We have recovered eight bodies and nine persons have been rushed to the hospital. The driver has also sustained severe injuries," he said. He added that the full details of passengers can be ascertained only after the completion of the rescue operation. Uttarakhand CM Dhami has ordered the Rudraprayag District Magistrate to conduct an inquiry into the accident. Earlier in the day, the CM also expressed condolences to the deceased in the accident. "Very sad news was received about a tempo traveller accident in Rudraprayag district. The local administration and SDRF teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations. The injured have been sent to the nearest medical centre for treatment. The District Magistrate has been ordered to investigate the incident. I pray to God to grant the souls of the departed a place in His feet and provide strength to the bereaved family to bear this immense pain. I pray to Baba Kedar for the speedy recovery of the injured", he said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed grief over the accident through a post on 'X'. "Received the sad news of the road accident in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand. My condolences are with the families of those who lost their lives in this accident. The local administration and SDRF teams are engaged in relief and rescue work and all possible help is being provided to the injured. I pray to God for the speedy recovery of the injured," Shah wrote. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed condolences over the loss of lives in the accident and said that local administration and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams are engaged in rescue operation. Ten people were killed and 13 injured after the tempo traveller in which they were travelling fell into a deep gorge on Badrinath Highway in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand on Saturday. "Received the sad news of the road accident in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand. My condolences are with the families of those who lost their lives in this accident. The local administration and SDRF teams are engaged in relief and rescue work and all possible help is being provided to the injured. I pray to God for the speedy recovery of the injured," Amit Shah wrote on X. Union Health Minister JP Nadda also expressed condolences and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured in the accident. "The news of many people getting killed in a road accident in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand, is extremely sad. The local administration is engaged in relief and rescue work with full readiness. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I pray to Baba Kedarnath Ji to grant speedy recovery to the injured," Nadda posted on X. A State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and police officials immediately rushed to the spot for rescue operations. Officials said four of the injured have sustained serious injuries and are undergoing treatment. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed condolences over the loss of lives in the accident and said the seriously injured passengers are being airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh. "Instructions have been given to the concerned officials for better treatment of the injured," he said. The bus was heading to Rudraprayag from Noida when it fell into the 150-meter-deep gorge. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the incident. Garhwal IG KS Nagnyal told ANI that the local administration, residents, and SDRF are engaged in a rescue and relief operation. "The tempo traveller was heading towards Rudraprayag from Noida when it fell down into the 150-meter-deep ditch. The number of tourists travelling is not clear yet. We have recovered eight bodies, and nine persons have been rushed to the hospital. The driver has also sustained severe injuries," he said. He said full details of passengers can be ascertained only after the completion of the rescue operation. CM Dhami in a post on X expressed his condolences on the loss of lives in the accident and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. "The local administration and SDRF teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations. The injured have been sent to the nearest medical centre for treatment," he said. Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and Congress leader Harish Rawat prayed for the peace of deceased souls and good health of the injured. "I pray to God for the peace of deceased souls and the good health of the injured. I urge the state government to provide good health facilities to the injured...These kinds of incidents are increasing, and this situation needs to be taken seriously," Rawat said. Superintendent of Police Rudraprayag, Dr Vishakha Ashok Bhadane said that rescue work is going on continuously in the Tempo Traveller accident. The seven injured in the Rudraprayag tempo traveller accident have been shifted to AIIMS Rishikesh. (ANI)
Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh in a sharp rebuttal to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav's allegations over the poor state of law and order in Bihar and that people from the Yadav community were being targeted, said that "criminals have no caste." Responding to a query on allegations by the former deputy chief minister of the state that crime in Bihar had risen and that Yadav community was being targeted, the Union Minister said, "Criminals and wrongdoers have no caste." Singh dismissed Yadav's accusations as childish. "Janta ne jin logon ko wheelchair mein baithakar ke jhunjhuna de diye (those whom the public had relegated to a wheelchair and handed a rattle) Singh said. Incidentally, Tejashwi Yadav who battled a debilitating backache during the recent Lok Sabha elections used a wheelchair to campaign for the INDIA alliance. Taking to X, Yadav had posted , "In the NDA government of Bihar, government criminals have only one worry and fear that their pistols and guns may run out of bullets while committing a crime under government protection. These are only the incidents of murders committed by shooting. These do not include incidents of firing and bombing in which people somehow survived and are undergoing treatment." The RJD leader also posted, "A few hours of horrifying glimpses of the artificial mangal raj of the double engine government in Bihar. There is no value for human life in Bihar. Government criminals are shooting anyone, whenever and wherever they want. The government, including the Chief Minister, has done nothing... criminals are being protected by the government." Tejashwi Yadav had on Friday lashed out at the BJP-led National Democratic central government, alleging that whether the BJP is in power at the Centre or in state, paper leaks are "inevitable". Responding to this, Giriraj Singh said, that his colleague in the Education Ministry, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has already clarified it to the country. Pradhan on Friday assured students that a transparent process will be followed and they should not worry. Meanwhile, talking to reporters in Patna today, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inducted eight ministers from Bihar into the central government and the government will take a desion on increasing employment opportunities in the State. "For the development of Bihar, eight MPs from Bihar have been made Ministers by PM Modi. The Department of Textiles provides the second-most employment opportunities after the Agriculture Department. The whole team has arrived from Delhi. After exploring possibilities, a discussion will be done on employment opportunities in Bihar." Singh, further also took a jibe at the Congress party chief Mallikarjun Kharge's statement that the government has been formed by mistake and said that the BJP has won more seats than the total INDIA bloc. "Rahul Gandhi tried to defeat the NDA for the third time. Congress could not cross 99 mark. BJP has won more seats than the total INDIA bloc." In Bihar, BJP-led NDA won 29 out of the 40 seats. BJP and JDU won 12 seats each, while LJP (Ram Vilas) won all the five seats it contested. The RJD and Congress won four and three seats respectively. (ANI)
Jammu and Kashmir DGP Rashmi Ranjan Swain reiterated on Saturday that they aim to neutralise the enemy with the minimum amount of damage in the wake of recent terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, which have raised concerns about the security arrangements in the region. He also met Jawans who were deployed during an encounter in Sohal village, Hiranagar and asserted that the teams would be strengthened, modernised and each terrorist would be hunted down. Rashmi Ranjan Swain said, "I appeal to people that the flow of information should continue. Here, we respond to every piece of information, including smaller ones, as we have such orders from GoI in Delhi. We will strengthen our teams, modernise ourselves and kill each of them (terrorists). Drone is a threat. Our aim is to neutralise the enemy with the minimum amount of damage. Those who provide shelter, are least in numbers and we will ruin them to set an example that whoever thinks so will tremble." He further said that terrorists are not many but they have guns in their hands and target innocent people, adding that these challenges are coming from the other side of the borders. He further said, "If you'll ask me about the challenge and threat and their intensity, I'll say and I have said it before, that all these challenges are coming from the other side of the borders. How can anyone leave easily whose survival was very much dependent on Jammu and Kashmir and they suffered a major shock there? They are not many in numbers, they are cowards having guns in their hands and they target innocent people." Earlier, two terrorists involved in the Kathua terror attack were neutralised and a search operation was conducted, said Jammu and Kashmir police officials. A gunfight broke out between security forces and terrorists in the Hira Nagar area of Kathua district on Tuesday evening. "Two terrorists have been neutralised, and a search operation is underway in the area," ADGP Jammu Anand Jain told reporters about Kathua anti-terror operation. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir in a high-level meeting with senior officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) here in the national capital, and directed to call another detailed meeting on June 16 over the issue. In the meeting, the Home Minister also gave directions to call a follow-up meeting on June 16 in North Block to further assess the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the preparations for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra. Officials concerned learned to have briefed the Home Minister about the current security situations and preparedness to handle such terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. As per Home Ministry officials, the June 16 meeting will be attended by the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, National Security Advisor, Union Home Secretary, and senior officers from the Army, police, Jammu and Kashmir administration, and the MHA. The heightened vigilance is aimed at ensuring the safety of Jammu and Kashmir residents as well as the Amarnath Yatra pilgrims and maintaining law and order in the state. Since June 9, there have been terror strikes at four places in Reasi, Kathua, and Doda, where nine pilgrims were killed, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan was killed, a civilian was injured, and at least seven security personnel were injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also chaired a high-level meeting on Thursday to discuss the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir following the series of terror-related incidents. NSA Ajit Doval and other senior officials attended the meeting. In the meeting, the Prime Minister received a comprehensive overview of the ongoing counter-terrorism efforts in the region. He was briefed on the strategies and operations being implemented to tackle terrorist activities and ensure the safety of the region. (ANI)
Kerala Police have told the state High Court that it had found no evidence against the Indian Union Muslim Youth League worker who was accused of creating and disseminating communally coloured social media messages against CPI(M) candidate from Vadakara Lok Sabha constituency, KK Shailaja, ahead of the 2024 parliamentary elections. The submission was made in a statement filed by the Vadakara Station House Officer in the High Court on Friday in response to a petition filed by IUML activist PK Khasim seeking an investigation into the circulation of the "fabricated" screenshot. Two Pro CPI(M) Facebook profiles had posted a screenshot of the message attributing it to the IUML activist PK Khasim. The purported message appealed to Muslim voters to not vote for the "non-believer" Shailaja and instead lend their support to the Congress candidate Shafi Parambil. Khasim had approached the High Court seeking a progress report on the investigation, accusing the police of sitting on his complaint. Vadakara Police Station House Officer, Inspector Sumesh T P in the submission in High Court said that Khasim's mobile phone was examined with the help of the cyber cell and according to the report, the examination could not reveal that the screenshot was posted and circulated from Khasim's mobile phone. The police also said that since the message is still on social media profiles, the Facebook Nodal officer has made the second accused in the case. According to the report of the Vadakara SHO, a charge of incitement has been filed against the Facebook Nodal officer under Section 109 of the Indian Penal Code. An investigation has been initiated against the Facebook profiles of two persons- Porali Shaji and Ambadimukk Sakhakkal- who circulated the screenshot. Police said details has been sought from Facebook authorities to ascertain the source of the post. According to the statement given in the High Court, steps to arrest the accused in the case would be taken as soon as the information is received. The police informed the High Court that the investigation is progressing by adopting scientific methods. The High Court has given two weeks to PK Khasim to reply to the police report. A complaint was lodged with the Vadakara police on April 25, Khasim said. On June 28, the High Court will again hear the petition seeking direction to the police to conduct an independent and transparent investigation into the conspiracy and the "fake" screenshot in the case. (ANI)
Delhi Water Minister Atishi said that due to severe heatwave conditions, the water shortage persisted in Delhi. She appealed to people to consciously and carefully use the available water. Atishi said, "Due to severe heatwave conditions, water shortage in Delhi persists. Water supply to Delhi is falling short. Water in Wazirabad pond is almost finished. Munak canal, which is fed by two other canals, is also short of water. Water production in Delhi has fallen by 70 MGD. Earlier, it was 1005 MGD; now it has reduced to 932 MGD. All 7 water treatment plants fed by the Munak Canal are producing less water." She said that emergency tube wells have been made in many areas, especially West Delhi. She further said, "Emergency tube wells have been made in many areas of Delhi and linked with the water supply. Especially in Bawana, Dwarka, and Nangloi (West Delhi). For emergency, borewells have been linked to Underground service reservoir (UGR) so that underground reservoirs can be connected to borewells." She said that Delhi Jal Board is supplying nearly 10 MGD of water via tankers. "Delhi Jal Board (DJB) tankers are making 10,000 trips in a day. DJB is supplying nearly 10 MGD of water via tankers. We have asked the DJB to provide extra tankers wherever necessary and conduct an assessment wherever tankers are unable to reach. Fixed points of water tankers are also being increased. New areas of water crisis are coming up," she further added. She further said that Himachal Pradesh is ready to provide water to Delhi but the Upper Yamuna River Board has asked for some more calculations from the state. Atishi further said, "In yesterday's Upper Yamuna River Board meeting, Himachal Pradesh has reiterated that it is ready to provide water to Delhi. Himachal Pradesh has clarified that out of its share of the Upper Yamuna water, it has 130 cusec surplus water. HP is ready to provide the water but the Upper Yamuna River Board has asked for some more calculations from the state." She further said that she had a conversation with Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu and he has assured all possible support. "CM Sukhvinder Sukhu has assured all possible support. Since the Upper Yamuna River Board can take some time to assess the calculations, Delhi has made a humanitarian appeal to Haryana, urging the state to release some additional water for Delhi. Delhi government officers have also talked to Haryana government officers, and in all probability, a delegation of senior Delhi officers will travel to Chandigarh and meet Haryana officers. I even urge the Delhi people to consciously and carefully use the available water," she added. (ANI)
After reaching Kolkata, Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, sought permission from the Kolkata Commissioner of Police on Saturday to stage a demonstration in front of Raj Bhavan. Addressing media persons, the BJP leader said, "I have submitted a letter to the Commissioner of Police and sought permission to stage a demonstration in front of Raj Bhavan over post-poll violence in the state. Tomorrow evening, I will be meeting the Governor with 100 victims of post-poll violence." The whole matter pertains to the incidents of post-poll violence poured in from several pockets of West Bengal where BJP workers were beaten and their offices were vandalised, after the declaration of Lok Sabha 2024 results. Meanwhile, launching a scathing attack on West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, another BJP leader, Sukanata Majumdar, said even the Governor has to step out of Governor's house to meet victims, what does she wants? "She is not letting the victims to meet the Governor, the custodian of the Constitution. The Governor, has to step out from his residence to meet them. What does Mamata Banerjee want? Should the BJP supporters commit suicide? In this case, she should come forward and convey this to them. They will suicide in front of her house." Earlier, on Thursday, West Bengal's Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, was stopped by the police from entering the Raj Bhavan to meet West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose with alleged victims of post-poll violence. Adhikari had stated, "For the first time after independence, we have been stopped outside Raj Bhavan. They didn't let the LoP enter. The Governor called in the victim with written permission. 200 victims, accompanied by LoP, had come here." Earlier this month, West Bengal opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari had written to Governor CV Ananda Bose, raising concerns about the All India Trinamool Congress' alleged role in post-poll violence, urging him to take steps to prevent a recurrence of the situation after elections in 2024. In a letter to the Governor of West Bengal, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said that after the 2024 Parliamentary General Election results were announced on June 4, "goons of the ruling dispensation" has gone "berserk upon the workers of BJP" in West Bengal. "As has become synonymous now with the State of West Bengal, the goons of the ruling dispensation have gone berserk upon the workers of BJP after the declaration of results of the Parliamentary General Elections, 2024, which was announced on June 4, 2024," Adhikari said in the letter." This seems to be a repeat of the incidents that transpired after the declaration of the results of the 2021 assembly election results in Bengal, which had resulted in the death of several BJP karyakartas," he added. Adhikari further alleged that the Central Armed Paramilitary Forces, stationed after the polls, are not being utilised to control the worsening situation where the ruling party's goons are targeting BJP workers. (ANI)
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray took a dig at his former ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) saying that the government at the Centre has been replaced from Narendra Modi government to National Democratic Alliance government, and it remains to be seen how long it will last. "They (BJP) said nobody can fight against the BJP. The people of Maharashtra showed them the mirror. We are very thankful to the people of Maharashtra. This fight was to save the Constitution and democracy. Modi sarkar is now changed to NDA sarkar. How many days this sarkar will work is questionable," Thackeray said speaking at a joint press conference with his Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners on Saturday. Continuing his attack against the BJP, Thackeray reminded them of the "400 par" slogan and their narrative of "achhe din" (good days). This came amid the poor performance of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. "BJP itself gave the slogan of 400 paar. What happened to the narrative of acche din (good days), what happened to Modi's guarantee?..." the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief said. Hitting out at Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, he said, "Devendra Fadnavis told us that our government is like the three legs of a rickshaw, the condition of the BJP government at the Centre is also the same." Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar, who attended the press conference, also took a dig at the Prime Minister by thanking him for holding roadshows and rallies at places where his party coincidentally won. "Wherever the Prime Minister's roadshow and rally took place, we won. That is why I consider it my duty to thank the Prime Minister," he said. Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan, who also attended the press conference, thanked the people of Maharashtra for the MVA's good performance in the Lok Sabha polls in the state. "We all have come together today to thank the people of Maharashtra and to express our gratitude to everyone. The people of Maharashtra have made the MVA candidates victorious. For the first time after the results of the Lok Sabha elections, the leaders of the INDIA bloc of Maharashtra have met today. This press conference is to thank the people." Expressing hope that this electoral performance of the MVA will reflect in the upcoming Assembly elections as well, Chavan said, "We have received a good number of votes in Maharashtra. We all have come together to save democracy. I hope that the way people voted for us in the Lok Sabha elections, we will get the same love in the assembly elections and now there will be a change of power in Maharashtra." Both Thackeray and Pawar, whose parties were split within a gap of one year, stated that they will not take back the leaders who left their faction and joined their respective rival factions. "Absolutely not," Uddhav Thackeray said when he was asked whether he will be taking back those leaders who had left his faction. When Sharad Pawar was asked the same question, he said, "There is no question of taking them back." Responding to whether he will be accepting new leaders into his party, Uddhav Thackeray said, "We will move forward with all those people who stayed with us, and struggled with us. If some people want to join us, we will see..." The BJP dipped to nine seats in Maharashtra against 23 in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The vote share stood at 26.18 per cent. The Congress, on the other hand, marginally improved its seat share by securing 13 seats in the state.The Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) won seven and one seats respectively, taking the total tally of the NDA to 17. The BJP victory tally was much lower than its 2019 tally of 303 and the 282 seats it had won in 2014. The Congress, on the other hand, registered a strong growth, winning 99 seats compared to 52 that it had won in 2019 and 44 seats in 2014. The INDIA bloc crossed the 230 mark, posing stiff competition, and defying all predictions from exit polls. (ANI)
Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt General KT Parnaik (Retired) addressed the first session of the eighth Legislative Assembly of the State in Itanagar on Saturday. In his address, the Governor said that the mandate given by the people reflects a clear desire for continued development, policy stability, and good governance. He emphasized that the members be cognizant of their responsibilities and trust reposed in them by the people. The Governor advised the legislators to focus on "Embedded Systems of Development", to ensure good quality of design, aesthetics, utility, and sustenance, by maintaining the highest standards of probity, transparency, and accountability in all projects they undertake. "Clean and dynamic governance will be the harbinger of equitable social welfare, health, education, and above all a state of 'Gross State Happiness'. I am sure that a 'Vision Document' for the State enumerating broader goals and the principles to achieve them will prove an invaluable guide for the continued progress of our beloved State," he said. The Governor exhorted the legislators to strive to build a prosperous and vibrant Arunachal Pradesh, where every citizen can achieve their full potential. The Governor said that while undertaking the transformative and reformative agenda, the State Government has not lost sight of the ideals of 'Antyodaya,' the concern for the well-being of the last man in the queue. "Arunachal's compassionate and citizen-centric governance model is dedicated to ensuring - dignity and enhancing the quality of life for the most vulnerable and marginalized sections of our society. This also marks a fitting tribute to the ideals of Antyodaya espoused by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said. The Governor said that the Prime Minister's vision of Reform, Perform, and Transform is particularly relevant to the people of Arunachal Pradesh. He said that they must embrace reforms in every aspect of life, not just economic, to align with the aspirations of a Viksit Bharat by 2047. "This multidimensional approach to reform requires leadership from us, performance from our administration, and active participation from the people, leading to a transformative impact on our society," he said. The Governor said that the principles of 'Speed, Scale, Scope, and Standards' of the Prime Minister must guide our efforts. "In Arunachal Pradesh, we shall focus on these principles to enhance our productivity, improve the quality of our products, and ensure that our development is sustainable and inclusive," he underscored. The Governor congratulated the members and extended his good wishes with the hope that they continue to fulfil the aspirations of the people of Arunachal Pradesh. He reminded them that public service requires sacrifice, dedication and commitment and they must work faithfully and tirelessly undertake the immense responsibility as Members of the august House. The Governor also congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Council of Ministers and newly elected members of the Parliament of the 18th Lok Sabha on behalf of the State Assembly. He commended the Election Commission of India, Central and State officials, security personnel, and every citizen who actively participated in the conduct of free and fair elections, making the festival of democracy a success. In his 33-minute address, the Governor highlighted the endeavour of the State Government and the focus areas it has prioritised, particularly Governance Reforms, Enhanced Quality of life of citizens, fulfilling youth aspirations, and investment for development. He mentioned that the Government shall introduce Bottom-up Planning, involving the preparation of District-level Vision and Development Plans in consultation with stakeholders, ensuring effective and inclusive development at the last mile. The Governor said that the Government will launch the SEE Trinity (Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, Employment) to completely reorient the entire ecosystem in the interest of youth and provide 25,000+ Employment and Self-Employment Opportunities for youth in the next 5 Years. He said that the State Government shall focus on creating job opportunities for the youth through various initiatives, including skill development programs and support for entrepreneurship. The Governor said that maintaining peace and security is fundamental for development. The State government will ensure the effective implementation of the three newly introduced criminal laws: the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyams of 2023. He applauded the efforts of the State Government for the initiation of Pink-Patrolling with PCR vehicles as part of our ongoing efforts to enhance women's safety, gender equality, and safety in our communities. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai on Saturday said it is the party's strong desire that Rahul Gandhi remains rooted in Raebareli as he has family ties with the region. Rai emphasized the unwavering support of the entire Uttar Pradesh Congress in this regard, highlighting Gandhi's successful electoral performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections, where he secured victories in Wayanad and Rae Bareli constituencies. "The entire Uttar Pradesh Congress wants Rahul Gandhi to stay in Raebareli because he has family ties with Raebareli," Rai said. Rai further asserted the unity and determination of Congress workers across the state, affirming their readiness to contest upcoming bypolls and setting sights on forming the government in Uttar Pradesh by 2027. "All our workers are standing strongly. We will contest the bypolls as well, and in 2027, we will form the government in Uttar Pradesh," Rai said. Earlieron Wednesday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed his dilemma regarding which constituency he should represent as a Member of Parliament saying that everybody knows the answer except him, and no matter which constituency he selects, the people will be happy with his decision. At a public meeting in Kerala's Wayanad, the Congress leader said, "Many people are speculating, Wayanad or Raebareli. Everybody knows the answer except me... Don't worry, both Raebareli and Wayanad will be happy with my decision." Meanwhile, PM Modi has defeated Congress candidate Ajay Rai in Varanasi with a margin of 1,52,513 votes, according to the Election Commission of India. PM Modi received 6,12,970 votes, while Ajay Rai received 4,60,457 votes. Bahujan Samaj Party candidate Ather Jamal Lari was in the third position with 33,766 votes. In Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party won 37 seats, the BJP won 33, Congress won 6, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) won 2, and Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) and Apna Dal (Soneylal) won 1 seat each in the 2024 election. In the recently concluded Lok Sabha election the BJP won 240 seats, much lower than its 2019 tally of 303. The Congress, on the other hand, registered a strong improvement, winning 99 seats. While the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance won 292 seats, the INDIA bloc crossed the 230 mark, posing stiff competition, and defying all predictions. (ANI)
As the national capital is reeling under a water crisis with the rising temperatures and scorching heatwaves, Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Gajendra Singh Shekhawat claimed that it is due to the "absolute failure" of Delhi government distribution system. In a conversation with ANI, "Primarily, the responsibility is of the Delhi government. Being the former 'Jal-Shakti' minister, I would like to say that it is an absolute failure of the Delhi government distribution system." The record-high temperatures and heatwave in Delhi, which have resulted in maximum temperatures rising to around 50 degrees Celsius in some places, have also caused an extraordinary and excessive surge in water demand in the city. Earlier today, a group of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers staged a protest against the AAP-led Delhi government and Minister Atishi on Saturday to highlight the water crisis in the capital. BJP workers gathered near Atishi's office in Kalkaji, carrying earthen pots on their heads which they later smashed on the ground. In a similar protest, Congress workers held a 'Matka Phod' (break pitchers) protest in Delhi's Krishna Nagar area and criticized both the AAP and BJP governments for the water scarcity in the national capital. A Congress worker lamented the suffering of the public, accusing the governments of neglect and engaging in political blame games. "The public is being cheated in the name of water. Poor people are suffering the most. The governments are playing the blame game. Why was water not arranged in advance? They were busy doing politics. The Congress party will hold a 'matka phod' protest in Delhi to wake up the deaf and dumb government. They have connived with tanker mafia," a Congress worker said. He added, "The Congress has resolved that 'matka' will be broken in every corner of Delhi and the sleeping government will be awakened." Meanwhile, AAP leader Atishi assured on Thursday that the Delhi government is actively working to minimize water wastage. She urged Delhi residents to conserve water amid rising temperatures and heatwaves exacerbating the crisis. Earlier, the Supreme Court said that the issue of sharing Yamuna River water between states is complex and sensitive and this court does not have the expertise and left the matter to the Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB) to decide on Delhi's demand for additional water amid an ongoing water crisis. The Delhi Government, in a fresh affidavit, informed the apex court that the tanker mafia is operational on the Haryana side of the Yamuna River and the AAP government lacks jurisdiction to act against the same. It is for Haryana to explain what steps it is taking to preserve the full supply of water to Delhi between the point of release and the point of receipt, as the affidavit mentioned. (ANI)
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who faced a major political crisis in his party when the Shiv Sena split in 2022, categorically stated that the doors are closed for all his former party colleagues who left his faction and joined his rival Eknath Shinde's camp. This statement by Thackeray came after Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) performed well in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls in the state. "Absolutely not. Those who left me will not be taken back," Uddhav Thackeray said when he was asked whether he would be taking back those leaders who had left his faction. When Sharad Pawar was asked the same question, he said, "There is no question of taking them back." Responding to whether he will be accepting new leaders into his party, Uddhav Thackeray said, "We will move forward with all those people who stayed with us, and struggled with us. If some people want to join us, we will see..." Buoyed by the Lok Sabha poll results, Uddhav Thackeray also announced that the MVA will contest the upcoming Assembly elections in the state together. "When three parties come together, it means everyone is together and everyone will fight together," he said. In response to the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) "vote jihad" claim at the Opposition parties, Thackeray said, "What vote jihad they are talking about? PM Modi himself said that Muslims are his friends and often come to his place for food. "All people from all castes and all sections voted for us," he asserted. In a dig at the Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray questioned who would be their Chief Minister. "Who will be the CM face of Mahayuti (BJP,shivsena and NCP)? What face is left of them? Their condition is serious," he said. Hitting out at the BJP's narratives during their electoral campaigns, Thackeray said, "The narrative that they wanted to set about Mangalsutra, achhe din, 15 lakh Rupees, what about those? If we start from 2014, were all these narratives false? What about Modi guarantee?...Were all these false?" Continuing with his attack on PM Modi, he said, "He had to lose vote share not only due to farmers issues but other factors were involved as well." Speaking about the caste census promised by the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, who was also in the joint press conference, said, "This is necessary for our country." On the Maratha reservations issue, Pawar said, "The government should stick to the GR that it had released on this issue." Pawar also took a dig at the Prime Minister by thanking him for holding roadshows and rallies at places where his party coincidentally won. "Wherever the Prime Minister's roadshow and rally took place, we won. That is why I consider it my duty to thank the Prime Minister," he said. The BJP dipped to nine seats in Maharashtra against 23 in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The vote share stood at 26.18 per cent. The Congress, on the other hand, marginally improved its seat share by securing 13 seats in the state.The Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) won seven and one seats respectively, taking the total tally of the NDA to 17. The BJP victory tally was much lower than its 2019 tally of 303 and the 282 seats it had won in 2014. The Congress, on the other hand, registered a strong growth, winning 99 seats compared to 52 that it had won in 2019 and 44 seats in 2014. The INDIA bloc crossed the 230 mark, posing stiff competition, and defying all predictions from exit polls. (ANI)
Members of the Kerala Students Union (KSU) staged a protest on Saturday, urging authorities to investigate the alleged irregularities surrounding the NEET-UG exam. The protest follows widespread concerns over reported paper leaks and the allocation of grace marks during the May 5 exam, which was administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA) across 4,750 examination centres for approximately 24 lakh students. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan expressed confidence in the process, stating that the responsible people will take the necessary action over the NEET exam issue. "I am 100 per cent sure that if anything wrong has happened, the responsible people will take the necessary action and will make sure that this does not repeat in the future," Khan said while addressing media in Uttar Pradesh. Meanwhile, the NTA told the Supreme Court on Thursday that the scorecards of 1563 candidates who got "grace marks" in the NEET-UG exam will be cancelled and the candidates will have a chance to reappear for the exam on June 23 and the results will be declared before June 30. The NTA told a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that a committee has been constituted to review the results of over 1,563 candidates who were awarded "grace marks" to compensate for the loss of time suffered while appearing for NEET-UG. "The Committee has decided to cancel the scorecards of 1563 NEET-UG 2024 candidates who were given grace marks and these students will be given the option to take a re-test," NTA said. "The exam will be conducted on June 23 and the results will be declared before June 30," it added. The Apex Court reiterated that it will not continue the counselling of NEET-UG, 2024."Counselling will go on and we will not stop it. If the exam goes, then everything goes in totality, so there is nothing to fear," said the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court will hear the petitions on July 8. Several petitions were filed in the apex court seeking direction to recall NEET-UG 2024 results and to conduct the examination afresh, alleging paper leakage and malpractices in the test held on May 5. The NEET-UG examination, conducted by the NTA, paves the way for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country. (ANI)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday met the people who were injured in the Rudraprayag Tempo Traveller accident, at AIIMS Rishikesh. After visiting the injured, CM Dhami said that the government has made all the arrangements to ensure that they receive all the necessary treatment. Dhami added that he has ordered an investigation into the accident. "It is very important for the injured to get proper treatment. Their families are being informed one by one. We have made all the arrangements to make sure that they get all the further required treatments...I have directed an investigation into this (accident)," he said. As many as 12 people were killed and 14 injured after the tempo traveller in which they were travelling fell into a deep gorge on Badrinath Highway in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand on Saturday. Earlier Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief over the vehicle accident in the Rudraprayag district and prayed for the recovery of the people injured in the accident. "Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has expressed grief over the vehicle accident in Rudraprayag district. The Chief Minister has prayed to God for peace of the souls of the deceased in this accident and to provide patience to the bereaved families. He has also prayed for the recovery of the people injured in the accident," the Uttarakhand CMO said in a statement. "The local administration and SDRF teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations. The injured have been sent to the nearest medical centre for treatment," they said. "The Chief Minister has ordered the District Magistrate Rudraprayag to investigate the incident," they added. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed condolences over the loss of lives in the accident and said that local administration and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams are engaged in rescue operation. "Received the sad news of the road accident in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand. My condolences are with the families of those who lost their lives in this accident. The local administration and SDRF teams are engaged in relief and rescue work and all possible help is being provided to the injured. I pray to God for the speedy recovery of the injured," Shah wrote in a post on X. (ANI)
Notably, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders including Suresh Pujari took oath as ministers under Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi-led cabinet in Odisha in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 12.

The oath-taking ceremony was held at Janata Maidan in Odisha's Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.

Mohan Charan Majhi also took oath as the Chief Minister of the state in the first BJP government formed in Odisha.

Along with Majhi, two deputy Chief Ministers -- Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida were also sworn in. Pravati Parida has become the first woman deputy chief minister of the state. Eight ministers and five ministers of state (independent charge) also took oath of office.

This is the first BJP government in Odisha after its emphatic performance in the recently concluded assembly polls, after it defeated the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), bringing an end to the latter's 24-year-old reign.

Majhi said that protecting Odisha's 'Asmita' (pride) will be the priority of the new government.

The 52-year-old, belonging to the Santali tribe, hails from the state's Keonjhar district. He was elected leader of the BJP legislature party in Odisha on Tuesday.

Majhi began his career as a sarpanch from 1997-2000, Majhi was elected to the state assembly for the first time in 2000 from Keonjhar. He was re-elected in 2004. From 2005 to 09, he was the government deputy chief whip in the BJD-BJP coalition government. He was again elected as an MLA in 2019. In the recent polls, Majhi retained the seat by defeating BJD's Mina Majhi by 11,577 votes.

The BJP won 78 of 147 seats in the Odisha assembly polls. (ANI)
Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Bhagirath Choudhary, attributed the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) fewer seat win in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan to misinformation spread by the opposition. Speaking to ANI on Saturday, Choudhary stated, "We didn't win seats as expected, and we regret it. The opposition spread lies, claiming that if PM Modi secures a third term, he will end the reservations for SC, ST, and OBC communities and alter the Constitution." Choudhary emphasised that these allegations were baseless, highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to preserving reservations. "PM Modi has clearly stated that 'until my last breath, the reservation will not end.' Despite these truths, we were unable to effectively counter the opposition's narrative in time. There may be other reasons as well," he added. He further added that in the coming times, they will surely win all 25 seats in Rajasthan. On his recent appointment as Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Choudhary expressed gratitude towards PM Modi, stating that the trust the PM has shown in him will never break. "I am grateful to PM Modi for showing trust in me. I was born into a simple farmer's family, so I understand the pain of a farmer. The Prime Minister has trusted me, and I will never let that trust be broken," Choudhary said. Choudhary praised PM Modi's decade-long efforts to improve the lives of Indian farmers. "Prime Minister Modi dreams that the farmers of India become prosperous and that their homes are filled with happiness. The work he has done over the past 10 years for the farmers of this country is truly unparalleled,'' Choudhary said. Earlier on Sunday, he was sworn in as a minister under the newly formed National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. The portfolios were announced on Monday in a press communique by the President's Secretariat a day after the swearing-in of the council of ministers at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The portfolios were allocated on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Bhagirath Choudhary, a Jat leader who retained Rajasthan's Ajmer seat with a handsome margin of 3,29,991 votes, was pitted against Congress's Ramchandra Choudhary. Currently, he is serving as the BJP's Kisan Morcha president. The Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA secured 293 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. BJP won 240 seats on its own. In the 543-strong lower house of the Indian parliament, 272 is the minimum majority figure. (ANI)
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday appealed to the central government to allow states to conduct the NEET exams themselves. Expressing his concern, Shivakumar told ANI, "I appeal to the government of India to allow our states to conduct the exams ourselves. Let all the students also participate. We will also give reservations to them at all India level. Lot of injustice has been done to the students and we don't agree with the NEET policy..." He criticised the NDA government stating that no action has been taken by them. "Unfortunately, no action has been taken... They (NDA government) should have just gone to a thorough inquiry. Arrest should have been made. This is a serious crime, and it is about the future of lakhs of students," Shivakumar added. His remarks follow widespread concerns over reported paper leaks and the allocation of grace marks during the May 5 exam, which was administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA) across 4,750 examination centres for approximately 24 lakh students. Meanwhile, the NTA told the Supreme Court on Thursday that the scorecards of 1563 candidates who got "grace marks" in the NEET-UG exam will be cancelled and the candidates will have a chance to reappear for the exam on June 23 and the results will be declared before June 30. The NTA told a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that a committee has been constituted to review the results of over 1,563 candidates who were awarded "grace marks" to compensate for the loss of time suffered while appearing for NEET-UG. "The Committee has decided to cancel the scorecards of 1563 NEET-UG 2024 candidates who were given grace marks and these students will be given the option to take a re-test," NTA said. "The exam will be conducted on June 23 and the results will be declared before June 30," it added. The Apex Court reiterated that it will not continue the counselling of NEET-UG, 2024. "Counselling will go on and we will not stop it. If the exam goes, then everything goes in totality, so there is nothing to fear," said the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court will hear the petitions on July 8. Several petitions were filed in the apex court seeking direction to recall NEET-UG 2024 results and to conduct the examination afresh, alleging paper leakage and malpractices in the test held on May 5. The NEET-UG examination, conducted by the NTA, paves the way for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country. (ANI)
After the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) announced to boycott the Vikravandi Assembly constituency by-polls, Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party Vice President Narayanan Thirupathy on Saturday said that the BJP has pushed the AIADMK to third position adding that, in politics the party needs to fight. AIADMK on Saturday announced to boycott of the Vikravandi Assembly constituency by-polls that are scheduled for July 10. "It is very clear that BJP has pushed the AIADMK to third position. They all know that we are very strong and they are afraid that they will be exposed in these mid-term polls...As an opposition party, they should have contested this election. In politics, you need to fight. It is clear that you (AIADMK) have lost the will to fight," the Tamil Nadu President told ANI. The Vikravandi Assembly constituency by-polls are scheduled for July 10, which was necessitated by the untimely demise of DMK MLA Pugazhenthi in April. Former Tamil Nadu CM and AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami attacked the DMK government and alleged that DMK will indulge in "violence, money power" and that the elections will not be conducted freely and fairly. "The ruling party, DMK, will indulge in violence, money power and will not give people the freedom to cast their votes. Elections will not be conducted freely and fairly, so AIADMK is boycotting this election," Palaniswami said. AIADMK senior leader and former Tamil Nadu minister D Jayakumar alleged that in the assembly byelection, DMK killed the democracy and did not follow the rules. "We (AIADMK) have boycotted the Vikravandi assembly byelection. The DMK is a party that kills democracy. In the past, in the Erode assembly byelections, the democratic way was not followed. People were made to lock inside a hall like animals in the name of the campaign. Election officers did not take any steps to curtain their undemocratic actions," he alleged. He further said that the elections would not be held freely and fairly. "DMK will try all their short cut ways to win the bye election so we will boycott the election. We announce the boycott for the bye election alone as of now," he added. When asked if their decision would not allow the BJP to grow in the elections, he said, "We have taken a decision based on current reality. The NDA, or Naam Tamilar Party, is not big but AIADMK is the biggest party." Earlier on April 9, The MLA of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) from Vikravandi assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu's Villupuram district, N Pugazhenthi, passed away aged 71. Pugazhenthi, hailing from Athiyur Thiruvathi in Villupuram district, joined the DMK in 1973. He served as the chairman of Koliyanur Panchayat union in 1996 and was appointed as the Villipuram district president after state minister K Ponmudy stepped down from the post. The DMK MLA contested the 2019 bypoll in Vikravandi following the demise of DMK's Radhamani but lost the seat. The party fielded him again in 2021 in which he defeated AIADMK's R Muthamilselvan. (ANI)
As per Barrackpore CP Alok Rajoria, the incident occurred when "Businessman Ajay Mandal, who has a showroom in Khardaha, was on his way to Kolkata with two people in his car when a motorcycle overtook them and opened fire at his vehicle."

None were injured in the incident, Barrackpore CP said.

"We later found out from Ajay Mandal that he had received a ransom call. Five bullet marks were found on the car," he said.

"We have started an investigation and will arrest the culprit," he added.

Further information is awaited. (ANI)
In a significant development, the case of a massive mephedrone seizure by the Pune police in February this year has been transferred to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). According to the Pune police, about 1,836 kg of mephedrone worth Rs 3,672 crore was seized from Pune, Delhi, and various locations across the country. Mephedrone is a type of drug, which is banned in the country under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The investigations into this major drug haul revealed that the contraband consignment was being smuggled to London concealed in ready-to-eat food packets through a courier firm in Delhi. It is believed that this was a sophisticated operation carried out by a well-organized drug syndicate. A senior officer at the Pune Police's Crime Branch stated, "It is part of the process. We received consent from the central and state governments, and after obtaining the necessary permission from the court in Pune, the investigation has now been handed over to the NCB." Nine individuals have been arrested in connection with the case so far, with allegations pointing towards a British national of Indian origin as the mastermind. It is reported that he has fled from India, and a Red Corner Notice has been issued against him through Interpol. (ANI)
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi on Saturday condemned Arundhati Roy's statement on Jammu and Kashmir, adding whatever Arundhati Roy has said is totally wrong and Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. Chaturvedi questioned the timing of the Modi government's prosecution of Arundhati Roy under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, given that the matter is from 2010 and Modi's government has been in power for the last 10 years. "Whatever she (Arundhati Roy) has said is totally wrong. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. We will protest if anyone wants to create a gap. But, the question is that this matter is from 2010 and it's Modi's govt at the centre for the last 10 years, why they were silent till now on this issue? After 10 years, when a govt with less majority has formed, this decision looks political," Chaturvedi told ANI. Delhi LG, VK Saxena, has sanctioned the prosecution of Arundhati Roy and former Professor of International Law at the Central University of Kashmir, Dr Sheikh Showkat Hussain for allegedly making provocative speeches at a conference organised under the banner of "Azadi - The Only Way" on October 21, 2010 at LTG Auditorium, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi. The LG sanctioned the prosecution of Arundhati Roy and Sheikh Showkat Hussain under IPC Section 45 (1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The FIR in the matter was registered on a complaint made by Sushil Pandit on October 28, 2010. Earlier, the LG had granted sanction under IPC Section 196 to prosecute the above accused for the commission of offences punishable under Sections 153A, 153B and 505 of the IPC in October 2023. Roy and Hussain had allegedly made provocative speeches at a conference organised under the banner of "Azadi - The Only Way" on October 21, 2010 at LTG Auditorium, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi. The issues discussed and spoken about at the conference propagated the "separation of Kashmir from India." Those who delivered speeches at the conference included Syed Ali Shah Geelani, SAR Geelani (anchor of the conference and prime accused in the Parliament attack case), Arundhati Roy, Dr Sheikh Showkat Hussain and Maoist sympathiser Vara Vara Rao. It was alleged that Geelani and Arundhati Roy strongly propagated that Kashmir was never part of India and was forcibly occupied by the Armed Forces of India and every possible effort should be made for the independence of the J-K from India and recordings of the same were provided by the complainant. The complainant filed a complaint under Section 156(3) of CrPC before the MM Court, New Delhi, which disposed of the complaint vide order dated November 27, 2010, with the directions to register an FIR. Accordingly, an FIR was registered and an investigation was carried out. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed sorrow over the Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand accident and extended his condolences to the bereaved families. He instructed the Chief Minister's Office and the Relief Commissioner's Office to immediately coordinate with the local administration to ensure proper treatment for the injured and necessary safety measures. As many as 12 people were killed and 14 injured after the tempo traveller in which they were travelling fell into a deep gorge on Badrinath Highway in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand on Saturday. Following his instructions, a team of senior officials from Saharanpur has been dispatched to Rudraprayag. Notably, a vehicle carrying pilgrims met with a tragic accident in Rudraprayag on Saturday. By late evening, it was reported that 14 people had died, including some from Delhi-NCR (Noida), Uttar Pradesh. Additionally, 5 individuals are seriously injured and 7 have sustained minor injuries. Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Dhami has ordered an inquiry into the accident. Expressing his grief on platform X, CM Yogi wrote, "The loss of lives in a road accident in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand is very sad and unfortunate. My condolences are with the bereaved families. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant salvation to the departed souls and speedy recovery to the injured." The CM has taken note of the incident and directed senior officials to ensure proper treatment and necessary safety for the injured. He has also instructed officials to stay in constant touch with the local administration and provide updates to him regularly. According to reports, the vehicle was traveling from Gurugram to Tungnath with 26 people onboard. The accident occurred near Raintoli, close to Rudraprayag headquarters when the vehicle plunged approximately 200 meters off the highway into a deep gorge. Ten people died on the spot, while 14 were rescued and taken to the district hospital in Rudraprayag. Upon arrival, doctors declared one person dead, and another succumbed to injuries during treatment. The identities of two deceased remain unknown. Due to the severity of their injuries, 7 individuals have been airlifted. The State Emergency Operation Center reported that the vehicle had a Haryana state registration number. (ANI)
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday questioned the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and said that he hoped that Modi 3.0 would learn something from the election results, but they poured cold water on my expectations. "The UAPA law is in the news again today. This is an extremely ruthless law due to which thousands of Muslim, Dalit and tribal youth were imprisoned and their lives were ruined," Owaisi posted on X. He further alleged that the law became the reason for the death of 85-year-old Stan Swamy. "This law was made even more stringent by the Congress government in 2008 and 2012, I had opposed it even then. In 2019, when the BJP again brought more stringent provisions and exemptions on it, the Congress supported the BJP. I had opposed this law even then," he said. The AIMIM Chief objected to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act Bill 2019 in Lok Sabha and blamed Congress for bringing the UAPA law. "We hoped from Modi 3.0 that he would learn something from the election results but unhone umeed pr paani fer diya. This series of atrocities and excesses will continue," he stated. Earlier, the Delhi LG, VK Saxena, has sanctioned the prosecution of author Arundhati Roy and former Professor of international law at the Central University of Kashmir, Sheikh Showkat Hussain, in a case relating to their provocative speeches at a public function in 2010, an official statement by the LG office said. The LG sanctioned the prosecution of Arundhati Roy and Sheikh Showkat Hussain under IPC section 45 (1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The FIR in the matter was registered on a complaint made by Sushil Pandit on October 28, 2010. Roy and Hussain had allegedly made provocative speeches at a conference organised under the banner of "Azadi - The Only Way" on October 21, 2010 at LTG Auditorium, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi. The issues discussed and spoken about at the conference propagated the "separation of Kashmir from India". Those who delivered speeches at the conference included Syed Ali Shah Geelani, SAR Geelani (anchor of the Conference and prime accused in the Parliament attack case), Arundhati Roy, Dr. Sheikh Showkat Hussain and Maoist sympathiser Vara Vara Rao. It was alleged that Geelani and Arundhati Roy strongly propagated that Kashmir was never part of India and was forcibly occupied by the Armed Forces of India and every possible effort should be made for the independence of the J-K from India and recordings of the same were provided by the complainant. The complainant filed a complaint under Section 156(3) of CrPC before the MM Court, New Delhi, which disposed of the complaint vide order dated November 27, 2010, with the directions to register an FIR. Accordingly, an FIR was registered and an investigation was carried out. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday hailed Smritivan in Kutch for finding a place in the prestigious World Selection for the Prix Versailles Museums 2024. In a post on X, Amit Shah said "It is a touching moment for all of us as Smritivan in Kutch finds a place in the prestigious World Selection for the Prix Versailles Museums 2024." "Envisioned by PM Narendra Modi Ji, Smritivan is a museum that preserves the memories of the people we lost in the devastating earthquake in 2001. Its inclusion in the World Selection for the Prix Versailles Museums 2024 will spread the fragrance of their memories worldwide," he added in the post. Bhuj's Smritivan Earthquake Memorial Museum, located in Kutch district, received the third spot in UNESCO's Prix Versailles Award in the category of the world's seven most beautiful museums, Earlier Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel had called the inclusion of the Smritivan Earthquake Memorial Museum in the World Selection for the Prix Versailles Museums 2024 as a "proud moment." Taking to his official X handle, Bhupendra Patel wrote, "A proud moment for Gujarat and India! Bhuj's Smritivan Earthquake Memorial Museum has been placed on the list of the seven most beautiful museums in the world under the prestigious Prix Versailles Award in the field of architecture and design announced annually at UNESCO." He added further, "It is a matter of pride for Gujarat that for the first time, a museum in India has received global recognition for its expression of local culture and nature conservation." Praising the museum, Patel said, "The design of this museum is amazing, as it is built on the Bhujia hill amidst the greenery of thousands of trees. This museum is a story of bravely facing challenges and reinventing them. This museum is an ethereal realisation of divinity. Heartiest congratulations to the entire team involved in the construction and management of Smritivan." Bhuj's Smritivan Earthquake Museum has been placed at the third spot after the A4 Art Museum in China's Chengdu and the Grand Egyptian Museum in Egypt's Giza. The other museums on the list include the Simose Art Museum of Japan's Hiroshima, Paleis Het Loo of Netherlands' Apeldoorn, Oman Across Ages Museum of Oman's Manah and Polish History Museum of Poland's Warsaw. Smritivan Earthquake Memorial Museum was inaugurated on August 28, 2022, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The memorial carries names of the people, who lost their lives during the earthquake in 2001. According to the official website of the Smritivan Earthquake Memorial Museum, the museum is 11,500 square metres and is divided into seven blocks--Rebirth, Rediscover, Restore, Rebuild, Rethink, Relive and Renew each representing a different aspect of what the museum stands for. (ANI)
Members of the NSUI (National Students' Union of India), students' wing of the Congress, held a protest over the 204 NEET-UG exam issue in Delhi on Saturday. The protest follows concerns over reported paper leaks and the allocation of grace marks during the May 5 exam, which was administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA) across 4,750 examination centres for approximately 24 lakh students. Meanwhile, Members of the Kerala Students Union (KSU) staged a protest on Saturday in Kerala and urged authorities to investigate the alleged irregularities surrounding the NEET-UG exam. The NTA told the Supreme Court on Thursday that the scorecards of 1563 candidates who got "grace marks" in the NEET-UG exam will be cancelled and the candidates will have a chance to reappear for the exam on June 23 and the results will be declared before June 30. The NTA told a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that a committee has been constituted to review the results of over 1,563 candidates who were awarded "grace marks" to compensate for the loss of time suffered while appearing for NEET-UG. "The Committee has decided to cancel the scorecards of 1563 NEET-UG 2024 candidates who were given grace marks and these students will be given the option to take a re-test," NTA said. "The exam will be conducted on June 23 and the results will be declared before June 30," it added. The Apex Court reiterated that it will not continue the counselling of NEET-UG, 2024. "Counselling will go on and we will not stop it. If the exam goes, then everything goes in totality, so there is nothing to fear," said the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court will hear the petitions on July 8. Several petitions were filed in the apex court seeking direction to recall NEET-UG 2024 results and to conduct the examination afresh, alleging paper leakage and malpractices in the test held on May 5. The NEET-UG examination, conducted by the NTA, paves the way for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country. (ANI)
Taking a swipe at leaders of the INDIA bloc over their loss in the recent Lok Sabha elections, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rohan Gupta on Saturday "thanked the opposition's alliance for seeing this defeat as a success". Gupta said that even after being in the opposition for 10 years, the number of seats of the Congress has become only 99 from 50, and still they consider it a victory. "I want to thank the INDI alliance for seeing such a big defeat as a success. Even after being in opposition for 10 years, Congress' number of seats has become only 99 from 50, still, they consider it a victory. BJP has won more seats than the whole opposition parties, still, they consider it as a victory and I feel this is arrogance. The opposition should ponder their defeat," the BJP leader said. Meanwhile, Narendra Modi took oath as Prime Minister of India for his third successive term last Sunday at an impressive ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, which was attended by leaders from India's neighbourhood and Indian Ocean region. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Narendra Modi, followed by other members of his team of ministers. Apart from two terms as Prime Minister beginning 2014, Narendra Modi also has the distinction of being the longest-serving Chief Minister of Gujarat, with his term spanning from October 2001 to May 2014. The portfolios were announced on Monday in a press communique by the President's Secretariat a day after the swearing-in of the council of ministers at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The portfolios were allocated on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM Modi led the BJP-led NDA to a third successive victory in the Lok Sabha polls. The BJP won an absolute majority on its own in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls, winning 282 and 303 seats, respectively. PM Modi leads an NDA coalition with 292 seats in the Parliament and has laid thrust on making India a developed nation by 2047. In the recently concluded Lok Sabha election the BJP won 240 seats, much lower than its 2019 tally of 303. The Congress, on the other hand, registered a strong improvement, winning 99 seats. While the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance won 292 seats, the INDIA bloc crossed the 230 mark, posing stiff competition, and defying all predictions. (ANI)
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma formally inaugurated the newly constructed New Judicial Court Building at Bishnu Nagar in Sivasagar district of Assam on Saturday. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, the Chief Minister said that the judicial system in India has undergone a paradigm shift under the leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He mentioned that instead of the old laws of British colonial rule, the BJP government has introduced laws based on Indian justice in the Indian state. At the end of the building's inauguration, Chief Minister Sharma interacted with the media, stating that the re-election of five assembly constituencies in the state and panchayat elections would be held according to the Election Commission's schedule. Sarma mentioned that the national highway, which has been incomplete for a while, would be finished within the current year. When asked about BJP candidates Rameshwar Teli from Dibrugarh Lok Sabha constituency and Kamakhya Prasad Tasa from Kaziranga in the recent Lok Sabha elections, he criticized senior Congress leader Pawan Singh Ghatowar. Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court Vijay Bishnoi, Ministers of the Assam Government, Ranoj Pegu and Jogen Mahano, were also present in the inauguration ceremony along with many other judges. Earlier, in a significant step towards enhancing green energy generation in the state, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma laid the foundation stone for a 25-MW solar power generation project at the premises of the Namrup Thermal Power Station in Dibrugarh district on Friday. A joint venture between the Assam Power Generation Corporation and Oil India Limited, the project will span 108 acres and is expected to cost Rs. 115 crore. Approved by the State Cabinet on August 19, 2022, the project is projected to produce 50 million units of electricity annually, with construction expected to be completed by July 2025. Speaking at a public meeting at Namrup in connection with the foundation stone-laying ceremony, Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma noted that when he assumed office in 2021, the peak-hour electricity demand in the state was 1,800 MW. This demand has since increased to 2,500 MW due to industrial growth and the electrification of previously unelectrified villages across the state. (ANI)
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated a two-day 'Maitree' programme of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) Alumni (Decadal Chapter of the 90s) in Shimla on Saturday which also saw the launch of the International Chapter of 'Maitree'. Reflecting on his university days, CM Sukhu emphasized their role in shaping his political career. In his address, CM Sukhu assured that the state government would explore the possibilities of conducting Students Central Association (SCA) elections at HPU, with ongoing discussions with university authorities. He emphasized the government's efforts to make Himachal Pradesh self-reliant and to enhance the quality of education in government institutions. Key initiatives include the introduction of English medium instruction starting from class one and the phased establishment of Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding Schools in all 68 assembly constituencies, aimed at providing state-of-the-art facilities to students. The Chief Minister highlighted plans to innovate the higher education sector with modern teaching technologies, ensuring maximum benefit for every student. He also urged the students to be noble and responsible citizens of the country and always be good to others. Keeping in mind to make Himachal Pradesh economically stable, the Government has adopted zero tolerance towards corruption. Addressing the economic challenges, CM Sukhu noted the state's inherited debt burden and the tough decisions taken to stabilize the economy. "When we came to power the economic condition of the State was in complete mess because of the huge debt burden inherited from the previous government and we had to take some tough decisions to bring back the derailed economy on track by generating income from the existing resources. We have set a target to make Himachal Pradesh the most prosperous state by the year 2032", Sukhu said. The Chief Minister also detailed the Mukhya Mantri Sukh Aashray, stating that 4000 orphan children have been adopted as 'Children of the State' and the entire responsibility of their education has been taken by the State Government. A Center of Excellence would be constructed in Tikri of Kandaghat area in District Solan to provide education to about 300 Divyangjans, he remarked. He also announced to provision of rupees two crores to the Alumni Association for the construction of their building. Sukhu also released three books - 'Juni' by senior journalist Sanjeev Sharma, 'Main Aur Meri HP University' and 'Yadein Buransh Ki'. He also gave away free lifetime membership certificates of HPU alumni to four specially-abled students. MLA Satpal Singh Satti, recalling university days said that though they had different ideologies Sukhu was his good friend and both of them learnt the political traits from this prestigious institution. As of today, about 25 student leaders of the university are members of the present Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly. He added that many people including Union Minister JP Nadda and former Union Minister Anand Sharma earned fame by achieving great heights in their respective fields. Earlier, the President of Alumni Association Prof. Chandramohan Parshira welcomed the Chief Minister and said that the association would adopt Neri of Shimla district for its overall development. Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sunder Singh Thakur, MLA Kewal Singh Pathania, DC Anupam Kashyap and former students of HPU from India and abroad were present at the occasion. (ANI)
Majhi was sworn in as chief minister on June 12. While CM Majhi has kept Home, General Administration and Public Grievances, Information and Public Relations, Water Resources, Planning, and Convergence, his deputy Kanak Vardhan Singh Dev has been allocated Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment and Energy Department.

Another deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida has been given the charge of Women and Child Development, Mission Shakti, and Tourism department.

Cabinet minister Suresh Pujari has taken charge of Revenue and Disaster Management; Rabi Narayan Naik has been allocated Rural Development, and Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water.

The Department of School and Mass Education has been handed over to cabinet minister Nityanand Gond.

Cabinet Minister Mukesh Mahaling has taken charge of the Health and Family Welfare Department and Parliamentary Affairs along with Electronics and Information Technology.

Cabinet minister Prithviraj Harichandan will now handle the reins of the Law, Works and Excise Department. Krushna Chandra Patra has been allocated the Department of Food Suppliers and Consumer Welfare along with Science and Technology.

The allocation of the portfolios was done on the advice of the Chief Minister.

A total of eight ministers and five Ministers of State were sworn in.

Pravati Parida has become the first woman deputy chief minister of the state.

This is the first BJP government in Odisha after its emphatic performance in the recently concluded assembly polls, after it defeated the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), bringing an end to the latter's 24-year-old reign.

The 52-year-old belonging to the Santali tribe hails from the state's Keonjhar district. He was elected leader of the BJP legislature party in Odisha on Tuesday.

Beginning his career as a sarpanch from 1997-2000, Majhi was elected to the state assembly for the first time in 2000 from Keonjhar. He was re-elected in 2004. From 2005 to 09, he was the government deputy chief whip in the BJD-BJP coalition government. He was again elected as an MLA in 2019. In the recent polls, Majhi retained the seat by defeating BJD's Mina Majhi by 11,577 votes.

The BJP won 78 of 147 seats in the Odisha assembly polls. (ANI)
The G7 summit was held in Italy's Apulia region, where India was invited by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as an 'Outreach Country'.

"Had a very productive day at the G7 Summit in Apulia. Interacted with world leaders and discussed various subjects. Together, we aim to create impactful solutions that benefit the global community and create a better world for future generations," PM Modi wrote in a post on X, after concluding the visit.

"I thank the people and government of Italy for their warm hospitality," he added.

The summit had participation from the seven member countries, the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and France, as well as the European Union.

"A successful visit to Italy concludes as PM @narendramodi emplanes for New Delhi," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote on X, sharing pictures of PM Modi's departure from Italy.

"The visit saw fruitful dialogues on key global issues under the G7 platform and deepening of India's partnership with countries participating in the Summit," the post read.

https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1801718110824841299

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni received global leaders, including UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, among others, for the 50th Summit of the Group of Seven (G7).

Meloni had invited PM Modi to attend the G7 Summit. It was India's 11th and PM Modi's fifth consecutive participation at the G7 Summit.

Italy, which invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the G7 Summit Outreach Sessions, is India's fourth-largest trading partner in the European Union, with bilateral trade currently standing at USD 15 billion. (ANI)
https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1801667581155361262

In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Pleased to meet the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, in Italy."

Earlier, PM Modi met also US President Joe Biden and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of the G7 Summit.

In a post on X, PM Modi expressed pleasure and wrote that it's always a pleasure to meet the US President.

"It's always a pleasure to meet @POTUS @JoeBiden. India and USA will keep working together to further global good," PM Modi said on X.

The G7 summit is being held from June 13-15 in Italy's Apulia region, where India has been invited as an 'outreach country', and has participation from the seven member countries, the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and France, as well as the European Union.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni received global leaders, including PM Modi, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, among others.

Italian Prime Minister Meloni had invited PM Modi to attend the 50th Summit of the Group of Seven (G7). It is India's 11th and PM Modi's fifth consecutive participation at the G7 Summit.

Italy, which has invited PM Modi for the G7 Summit Outreach Sessions, is India's fourth-largest trading partner in the European Union, with bilateral trade currently standing at USD 15 billion.

The two countries have close and friendly relations and celebrated 75 years of diplomatic relations last year. On January 1, Italy assumed the G7 Presidency for the seventh time. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Japanese PM Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the G-7 Summit in Apulia, Italy and discussed the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project with a targeted 5 trillion yen worth of investment in India. https://x.com/PMOIndia/status/1801695071609438487 Highlighting India-Japan relations, the Prime Minister's office said on X, "Boosting India-Japan relations! PM @narendramodi held a productive bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister @kishida230 in Italy on the sidelines of the G7 Summit." They also talked about strengthening business, people-to-people, and government-to-government relations, as well as trade opportunities. "Their discussion involved giving impetus to key strategic sectors like defence and high-speed rail infrastructure, along with strengthening B2B, P2P and G2G relations and avenues of trade," said the PMO on X. According to the Ministry of External Affairs's statement, "PM Modi thanked Japense PM Kishida for the congratulatory wishes extended on assuming office for the third consecutive term. He affirmed that bilateral ties with Japan will continue to receive priority in his third term." The two leaders noted that the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership is in its 10th year and expressed satisfaction at the progress made in the relationship. "India and Japan are collaborating on several important areas, including the landmark Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project that will usher in the next stage in mobility in India, the targeted 5 trillion yen worth of Japanese investment in India in the 2022-2027 period, and the India-Japan Industrial Competitiveness Partnership aimed at the transformation of our manufacturing cooperation," the statement added. The meeting between the two prime ministers provided an opportunity to review some of these ongoing works of cooperation. The two leaders looked forward to continuing their discussion at the next India-Japan annual summit. In a post on X, PM Modi also stated that it was a delight to meet Japanese PM Kishida. https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1801691762156548227 "It was a delight to meet PM Kishida on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Italy. Strong ties between India and Japan are important for a peaceful, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Our nations look forward to working together in defence, technology, semiconductors, clean energy and digital technology. We also wish to advance ties in infrastructure and cultural linkages. @kishida230," said PM Modi on X. https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1801700447138496869 In a second post on X, PM Modi shared some pictures of him and the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz and said that today's meeting with him was really productive. "Today's interaction with Chancellor Scholz was very productive. The India-Germany Strategic Partnership can play a major role in furthering global growth which is inclusive and sustainable. @Bundeskanzler." PM Modi said. (ANI)
PM Modi had a "delightful conversation" with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as well as the President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

All the four leaders also posed for the camera and got a picture clicked at the Summit as well, which PM Modi shared on X, saying, "The interactions in Italy continue...Delightful conversation with President @LulaOficial, President @RTErdogan and His Highness Sheikh @MohamedBinZayed"

Later, PM Modi also met King Abdullah II of Jordan.

"Met @KingAbdullahII on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. India values the strong ties with Jordan," he wrote in a post on X.

The G7 summit, where India has been invited as an 'Outreach Country,' has the participation from the seven member countries, the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and France, as well as the European Union.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni received global leaders, including UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, among others, for the 50th Summit of the Group of Seven (G7).

Meloni had invited PM Modi to attend the G7 Summit in Italy's Apulia region. It was India's 11th and PM Modi's fifth consecutive participation at the G7 Summit.

Italy, which invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the G7 Summit Outreach Sessions, is India's fourth-largest trading partner in the European Union, with bilateral trade currently standing at USD 15 billion. (ANI)
A team from the Indian Embassy has visited all five hospitals where 25 Indians injured in the recent fire incident in the city of Mangaf in southern Kuwait were admitted and enquired about their medical condition. At least 45 Indians were killed in the fire incident at a labour accommodation in Kuwait's Mangaf on June 12. https://x.com/indembkwt/status/1801645745541455910 In a post on X on Friday, Indian Embassy in Kuwait said, "The Embassy team @indembkwt visited all 5 hospitals where injured Indians in the recent tragic fire-incident are receiving medical treatment." "They met/enquired about the medical condition of 25 patients currently in hospitals.Most patients are already in touch with their families," the embassy added. As per the latest development in the Kuwait fire incident, the Indian Air Force's C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft, carrying the mortal remains of the deceased in the Kuwait fire tragedy, arrived at Palam Technical Airport on Friday. BJP MPs Yogendra Chandolia, Kamaljeet Sehrawat, Bansuri Swaraj and other leaders are present at the airport to receive the mortal remains. Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh emphasised that usually it takes 10-15 days, but at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's and EAM Jaishankar's request, we have been able to bring the mortal remains of those Indian nationals who lost their lives in the deadly fire incident. "Usually it takes 10-15 days, but at the request of PM Modi and EAM Jaishankar, we have been able to bring the mortal remains of those 45 Indian nationals," he said. "It is a very sad incident," Singh said, adding that PM Modi got worried after hearing the news and urgently called a meeting and sent us to Kuwait. Thirty-one bodies of victims--23 from Kerala, seven from Tamil Nadu and one from Karnataka (1) were brought via a special aircraft of the Indian Air Force to Kochi in Kerala on Friday. (ANI)
Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Malik Shehzad Ahmed Khan said on Friday that he expects the establishment's intervention in judicial matters will end soon. "Interference in the judiciary will have to be fought with faith that it will come to an end," said the LHC chief justice while addressing the opening ceremony of the judicial complex e-courts in Rawalpindi, according to ARY News. Justice Khan stated that there was an issue with the establishment interfering in judicial matters, and that they received letters asserting involvement in judicial concerns. "The establishment's interference in the judiciary will end and my experience [tells me] that it will come to an end," said the judge. The LHC chief judge expressed satisfaction that the judiciary is "fulfilling its responsibilities without fear or greed." The Chief Justice's remarks came after six Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges addressed a letter to the Supreme Court on March 25, accusing intelligence agencies of interfering with judicial affairs, reported ARY News. The IHC judges had asked Pakistan's Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa to convene a judicial convention to investigate suspected intervention by intelligence operatives in judicial responsibilities or "intimidation" of judges in a way that endangered the judiciary's independence. "Three generations [of a family] wait for verdicts and it [sometimes] take 30 years," he lamented, as he spoke about the delay in verdicts of cases being the biggest problem. The LHC chief justice stated that legal difficulties were also addressed in the context of e-courts, and that absconders will not be permitted to appear via video link. The LHC CJ also cited attorneys as the primary cause of litigation delays. (ANI)
A high-level US delegation, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is set to travel to India next week and meet Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama in Dharamshala. The Republican chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Michael McCaul, is leading the bipartisan congressional delegation to India. "The delegation includes Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), House Rules Committee Ranking Member Jim McGovern (D-MA), House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific Ranking Member Ami Bera (D-CA), and Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), and Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY)," the official press release of the House Foreign Affairs Committee read. "While there, the delegation will meet with His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama, Indian government officials, and representatives of U.S. businesses in the country," it added. "India is the world's largest democracy and an important strategic partner of the United States," stated Chairman McCaul. "I look forward to meeting with government officials and the American business community to learn how we can continue to strengthen our relationship with India. I am also honored to have the opportunity to meet with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama," the release quoted McCaul as saying. McCaul stated that Tibetans are "democracy-loving people" who wish to practice their religion freely. "This visit should highlight the bipartisan support in the US Congress for Tibet to have a say in their own future," he added. "I look forward to joining Chairman McCaul and Speaker Emerita Pelosi to demonstrate the strong bipartisan support for the U.S.-India relationship," stated Ranking Member Meeks. He said that the relationship between the US and India over the past 25 years has transformed into one of the most consequential. "I'm also honored to have a chance to meet with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to hear his views on how the American People can help advance the Tibetan people's struggle for autonomy," he said. The Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama is scheduled to travel to the United States for medical treatment, his office said in a statement on June 3. According to the statement, no engagements will be scheduled from June 20 onward until further notice. "Update to His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Schedule - This is to inform all concerned that no engagements, including public audiences, will be scheduled from June 20 onwards until further notice. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is scheduled to travel to the United States for medical treatment on his knees," the office of Dalai Lama said in a post on X. "Upon his return to Dharamsala, regular engagements will resume," it added. (ANI)
Human rights activist Mahrang Baloch of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) highlighted on Thursday the failure of all commissions and committees formed by the Pakistan government to look into the cases of missing persons and enforced disappearances and called such efforts 'eyewash', Pakistan-based Dawn reported. While addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, Mahrang Baloch noted that there is a huge difference in the number of missing persons given by the government and what they are reporting and termed it a complete collapse of law and order. In response to a question during the press conference, Baloch said, "They are all eyewash. There is a huge difference in the numbers of missing persons given by the government and what we are reporting. There is a complete collapse of law and order when it comes to missing persons and enforced disappearances here." Mahrang Baloch said that the Baloch community has been living in a dire state for a long time and added that things have been getting from bad to worse for the people. The press conference was called to highlight the struggles of the Baloch community, according to Dawn report. She said, "Things have been getting from bad to worse for the Baloch community. Last year, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee started a big campaign, where we marched from Turbat to Islamabad. In Islamabad we organised an extended sit-in and returning from there we also held a huge rally in Quetta." She stated that BYC, since its formation, has been working for the human rights and interests of the Baloch and stressed that they have remained peaceful throughout. Mahrang Baloch said, "From the time of its formation, the BYC has been working for human rights and the interest of the Baloch. We have been peaceful throughout. We never behaved otherwise during our long march or our rallies. Then why are we being threatened and harassed? Our people are continuously being arrested under fake cases. We constantly face harsh treatment and torture at the hands of government agencies," Dawn reported. She announced that the BYC will continue its struggle despite so many wrongdoings against them, including torture, enforced disappearance and fake cases. Baloch activist said, "So today, through this press conference, I want to make clear that despite so much wrongdoing against us, including torture, enforced disappearances, fake cases, threats, harassment, we will not back off from our work and our struggle. In fact, we have become stronger and will fight with more vigour and purpose for our cause." "We will carry on fighting for our rights. But in doing all this we will not forget that we are a responsible and aware movement. We are not playing politics here. Neither do we intend to do it in the future. Therefore, the state should stop pushing us into doing something that we do not intend to do," she added. She said that they have informed all local and foreign human rights defenders, committees and journalists about what they are facing. She further said, "So, we ask the state to also behave as responsibly as we are behaving and respect the law and the Constitution." Speaking about the protest that they are planning to hold in the coming days, Mahrang Baloch said, "We are preparing for a Baloch national protest, the Baloch Raji Muchi, for which we are also in the process of preparing a booklet. We ask people from all Baloch areas to join our movement for this planned march, details of which will be shared later." On being asked about the FIRs registered against BYC members, Baloch said that some 25 FIRs have been lodged against them, most of them have been registered in Balochistan, while some in Sindh and Karachi in particular, Dawn reported. When asked about joining the government, Mahrang Baloch said that Baloch wanted to be part of democracy. She said, "Our parliament should be based on civil democracy but currently it is a hostage. It drowns voices instead of raising voices." Two brothers hailing from Barkhan were released and reunited with their families, following their abduction earlier this month, while three more persons have been allegedly forcibly disappeared from Turbat and Taunsa Sahrif areas of Pakistan's Balochistan, The Balochistan Post reported on June 11. Saeed Baloch and Hanif Baloch have returned home safely, The Balochistan Post reported. Hanif Baloch, a graduate with honours from the Department of Social Work at the Islamic University of Bahawalpur, was reportedly abducted on June 4 from his residence in Barkhan. Soon after, his brother Saeed Baloch faced a similar fate, as he was allegedly detained by Pakistani forces, The Balochistan Post reported. These incidents led to protests by Baloch students. On June 9, Baloch rights activist Mahrang Baloch, while highlighting the issue of forced disappearances of Baloch students, said that Hanif Baloch, from Bhawalpur University, was forcibly disappeared from Barkhan. Taking to X, Mahrang Baloch had stated, "Forced disappearances of Baloch students have intensified. Gold medalist Hanif Baloch from Bhawalpur University has been forcibly disappeared from his native Barkhan while his brother Saeed Baloch, a student of Punjab University, has gone missing after being summoned from Lahore and illegally detained." "Enforced disappearances are playing the role of a cancer for the Baloch society, swallowing our whole society, no person, home and area is safe from it and it is a dangerous form of Baloch genocide. Staying silent at home against Baloch genocide is not an option, rather we can stop it only through public resistance struggle," she added. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday returned to New Delhi after concluding his first trip abroad in this third time in office after attending the G7 Summit in Italy. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had invited India as an 'Outreach Country' at the G7 summit held in Italy's Apulia region from July 13-15. "Had a very productive day at the G7 Summit in Apulia. Interacted with world leaders and discussed various subjects. Together, we aim to create impactful solutions that benefit the global community and create a better world for future generations," PM Modi wrote in a post on X, after concluding the visit. "I thank the people and government of Italy for their warm hospitality," he added. The summit had participation from the seven member countries, the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and France, as well as the European Union. At the G7 Summit, PM Modi reiterated India's commitment to advocating for the well-being of the Global South, emphasising the significance of Africa in global affairs. He underscored India's dedication to fostering close ties with Africa, citing the landmark moment when the African Union became a permanent member of the G20 during India's presidency. PM Modi addressed the G7 Outreach Session on AI and Energy, Africa, and the Mediterranean, touching upon various subjects, including the transformative role of technology in human progress. "Spoke at the G7 Outreach Session on AI and Energy, Africa and Mediterranean. Highlighted a wide range of subjects, notably, the wide scale usage of technology for human progress. The rise of technology in various aspects of human life has also reaffirmed the importance of cyber security. Spoke about how India is leveraging AI for its development journey. It is important that AI remain transparent, secure, accessible and responsible," said PM Modi in a post on X. He emphasised the importance of cybersecurity in light of the widespread usage of technology and highlighted India's efforts in leveraging AI for development while ensuring transparency, security, accessibility, and responsibility. On the energy front, PM Modi outlined India's approach focused on availability, accessibility, affordability, and acceptability. He reaffirmed India's commitment to fulfilling its Climate Change Conference of the Parties (CoP) commitments ahead of schedule and emphasised India's efforts to transition towards a sustainable, green era based on the principles of Mission LiFE. Additionally, PM Modi highlighted the "Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam" campaign aimed at promoting environmental sustainability and making the planet more habitable for future generations. "As far as energy is concerned, India's approach is based on availability, accessibility, affordability and acceptability. We are working to fulfil our CoP commitments before the designated time period. India is working to usher in a Green Era, based on the principles of Mission LiFE. Also highlighted the campaign "Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam" to make our planet more sustainable," PM Modi stated in a post on X. On the sidelines of the G7 Summit, PM Modi held bilateral meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron, UK PM Rishi Sunak, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He also interacted with US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Canada PM Justin Trudeau and Pope Francis. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday shared highlights from his participation in the G7 Summit at Italy and said that he presented India's perspective on the world stage. A video shared by PM Modi shows glimpses of the highlights of his visit to Italy including his arrival in Italy to Italian PM Giorgia Meloni's welcome at the venue of the G7 Summit in Apulia city in Italy. Meloni greeted PM Modi with a 'namaste' and the two leaders then posed for a picture for the cameras. The video showed moments from PM Modi's bilateral meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida and French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. In the video, PM Modi can be seen interacting with Pope Francis and they held talks while walking together. PM Modi also interacted with other world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as well as the President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. He also held talks with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as they met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. The video also included the moment of PM Meloni clicking a selfie with PM Modi. Sharing the video on his X platform, PM Modi wrote, "An important G7 Summit, where I presented India's perspective at the world stage. Here are highlights." Notably, PM Modi on Saturday returned to Delhi after attending the G7 Summit in Apulia at the invitation of Italian PM Giorgia Meloni. The G7 summit, where India was invited as an 'Outreach Country,' had participation from the seven member countries, the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and France, as well as the European Union. It was India's 11th and PM Modi's fifth consecutive participation at the G7 Summit. At the G7 Summit, PM Modi reiterated India's commitment to advocating for the well-being of the Global South, emphasising the significance of Africa in global affairs. He underscored India's dedication to fostering close ties with Africa, citing the landmark moment when the African Union became a permanent member of the G20 during India's presidency. He addressed the G7 Outreach Session on AI and Energy, Africa, and the Mediterranean, touching upon various subjects, including the transformative role of technology in human progress. "Spoke at the G7 Outreach Session on AI and Energy, Africa and Mediterranean. Highlighted a wide range of subjects, notably, the wide scale usage of technology for human progress. The rise of technology in various aspects of human life has also reaffirmed the importance of cyber security. Spoke about how India is leveraging AI for its development journey. It is important that AI remain transparent, secure, accessible and responsible," said PM Modi in a post on X. He emphasised the importance of cybersecurity in light of the widespread usage of technology and highlighted India's efforts in leveraging AI for development while ensuring transparency, security, accessibility, and responsibility. On the energy front, PM Modi outlined India's approach focused on availability, accessibility, affordability, and acceptability.He reaffirmed India's commitment to fulfilling its Climate Change Conference of the Parties (CoP) commitments ahead of schedule and emphasised India's efforts to transition towards a sustainable, green era based on the principles of Mission LiFE. In addition, PM Modi highlighted the "Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam" campaign aimed at promoting environmental sustainability and making the planet more habitable for future generations. "As far as energy is concerned, India's approach is based on availability, accessibility, affordability and acceptability. We are working to fulfil our CoP commitments before the designated time period. India is working to usher in a Green Era, based on the principles of Mission LiFE. Also highlighted the campaign "Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam" to make our planet more sustainable," PM Modi stated in a post on X. After concluding his visit to Italy, PM Modi in a post on X stated, "Had a very productive day at the G7 Summit in Apulia. Interacted with world leaders and discussed various subjects. Together, we aim to create impactful solutions that benefit the global community and create a better world for future generations." "I thank the people and government of Italy for their warm hospitality," he added. Italy, which invited PM Modi for the G7 Summit Outreach Sessions, is India's fourth-largest trading partner in the European Union, with bilateral trade currently standing at USD 15 billion. (ANI)
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has shared a video of herself alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the recently concluded G7 Summit meeting in Italy. Meloni took to her social media platforms to share the reel in which she says "Hello from the Melodi team" as PM Modi waves at the camera. The two leaders are seen to share a laugh in the video posted by Meloni on social media platforms, including X and Instagram . Meloni wrote, "Hi friends, from #Melodi." The hashtag became one among the top trending items on X. PM Modi and his Italian counterpart, Meloni, also clicked a selfie on the sidelines of the G7 summit that concluded in Italy on Friday. The camaraderie between the two leaders, who met previously at the G20 Summit in Delhi last year and then at the COP28 in Dubai, has spawned several online memes. In December last year, the two leaders clicked a selfie on the sidelines of the COP28 in Dubai. While sharing the picture with PM Modi on X, Meloni had stated, "Good friends at COP28, #Melodi."Photographs of the two leaders together have been shared widely on online platforms with the hashtags "Melodi" becoming a trending topic. During the bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, PM Modi and Meloni discussed defence and security cooperation between the two countries. "The two sides discussed bilateral defence and security cooperation and hoped for further enhancing the defence industrial collaboration. They welcomed the forthcoming visit of the Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour and training ship ITS Vespucci to India later this year," the Ministry of External Affairs said in an official release. Moreover, PM Modi also thanked the Italian Government for recognising the Indian Army's contribution to the Italian Campaign during World War II and informed that "India will be upgrading the Yashwant Ghadge Memorial at Montone in Italy." PM Modi and his Italian counterpart noted with satisfaction the regular higher political dialogue and reviewed the progress of the India-Italy Strategic Partnership. Meloni also congratulated PM Modi for his third consecutive term as Prime Minister. While expressing happiness at growing trade and economic collaboration, they called for expanding commercial ties in clean energy, manufacturing, Space, S&T, telecom, AI and critical minerals to build resilient supply chains. In this context, they welcomed the recent signing of a MoU on Industrial Property Rights (IPR) which provides a framework for cooperation on patents, designs and trademarks," the MEA release read. During the meeting, the two leaders welcomed the signing of the Letter of Intent for Cooperation in Energy Transition, which will boost bilateral cooperation in clean and green energy. It was taken note of under the 'Global Biofuels Alliance'. "They expressed happiness at the new Executive Programme of Cooperation for 2025-27 to promote joint research and development in Science and Technology," the MEA said. Sharing details regarding her meeting with Meloni, PM Modi stated, "Had a very good meeting with PM @GiorgiaMeloni. Thanked her for inviting India to be a part of the G7 Summit and for the wonderful arrangements. We discussed ways to further cement India-Italy relations in areas like commerce, energy, defence, telecom and more. Our nations will work together in futuristic areas like biofuels, food processing and critical minerals." Notably, PM Modi attended the G7 Summit in Apulia, Italy, at the invitation of Italian PM Meloni. It was India's 11th and PM Modi's fifth consecutive participation at the G7 Summit. The G7 summit, where India was invited as an 'Outreach Country,' had participation from the seven member countries, the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and France, as well as the European Union. It was India's 11th and PM Modi's fifth consecutive participation at the G7 Summit. PM Modi on Saturday shared highlights from his participation in the G7 Summit at Italy and said that he presented India's perspective on the world stage.A video shared by PM Modi shows glimpses of the highlights of his visit to Italy including his arrival in Italy to Italian PM Giorgia Meloni's welcome at the venue of the G7 Summit in Apulia city in Italy. Meloni greeted PM Modi with a 'namaste' and the two leaders then posed for a picture for the cameras.The video showed moments from PM Modi's bilateral meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida and French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. In the video, PM Modi can be seen interacting with Pope Francis and they held talks while walking together. PM Modi also interacted with other world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as well as the President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. He also held talks with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as they met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. The video also included the moment of PM Meloni clicking a selfie with PM Modi. Sharing the video on his X platform, PM Modi wrote, "An important G7 Summit, where I presented India's perspective at the world stage. Here are highlights." (ANI)
Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, Dolma Tsering, has welcomed the House of Representatives' decision to pass the 'Resolve Tibet Act' and eagerly awaits President Joe Biden's signature to enact it into law. Speaking to ANI, Dolma Tsering called on other nations supporting Tibet's struggle for justice and trust to elevate their advocacy, following the US' lead. "It's a very welcome news for the Tibetans around the world and not only Tibetans anyone who relates to the cause of Tibet that is truth and non violence. So, I thank the bipartisan members of Parliament, Senate and House of representative for having taken this up and supporting this with the huge majority. What difference it would make is this bill which is called 'Tibet Resolve Act' or Promoting the resolution for the conflict of Tibet this nullifies the statement assertion of CCP that Tibet is part of China since antiquity so they have nullified this statement," said Dolma Tsering. "So this paves a way for the historical facts to come up. Therefore, I think, we always say in the political fronts that United States has done the most for Tibet, be it reciprocal act, be it the Tibet Policy Act and now this Tibet Resolved Act. So, this will pave way for many democratic governance country to go the path that US has shown because sometimes to take the first step its very challenging because China is so intimidating from all corners. So, I hope and pray those who support truth and justice and non-violence fight of of Tibet, they will take this cause of Tibet to a high-level by following the path of US," she added. Dolma Tsering also mentioned the upcoming visit of a high-level US delegation, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, to meet Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama in Dharamshala. The Republican chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Michael McCaul, is leading the bipartisan congressional delegation to India. On being asked about how eagerly she waits for Biden to sign the bill, Tsering response, "Of course, that will be the best gift to his Holiness and to the Tibetan People and I am very eagerly waiting for the President Joe Biden sign it and when the high-level committee from the United States come over to Dharamshala I think that will be the biggest gift to his Holiness and the people of Tibet." Tibetan Government-in-Exile spokesperson, Tenzin Lekshay, confirmed the bill's progress and the majority support it received in Congress, emphasizing its importance in resolving Tibetan conflicts and the issue of the Dalai Lama's reincarnation. "The Tibet Bill has gone through many stages with majority of supports from both the House of Representatives and the Senate. So in Congress, there was a majority support for the bill and right now suspension bill which was adopted in the house has been successfully approved. So, the bill is right now in the president's desk to be signed and we are hopeful that President will sign this bill to make it a law," he said. Speaking about US congressional delegation's visit to Dharamshala, he said, "We expect a high-level US congressional delegation to Dharamshala by the end of this week which is headed by Michael McCaul who is the House Representative of the foreign affairs from the Republican and the former speaker Nancy Pelosi. So, this is a good sign of US congressional support in the Tibetan movement and they will be meeting his Holiness." Tenzin said they are hope regarding the bill during high-level US delegation visit. He said that the bill not only stresses about resolving the Tibetan conflict but also stresses upon the reincarnation of Dalai Lama. Regarding expectations from the US delegation's visit, Lekshay said, "We are hopeful. This bill, unlike the previous policy talks about resolving the Tibetan conflicts and they emphasize that resolving the Tibetan conflict through negotiations and dialogues and not just only about resolving the Tibetan conflict, but also has stress upon the reincarnation of His Holiness Dalai Lama." He added, "So, this bill is very important and not only that, that it also has made an impact about the historical sovereignty about Tibet issues. Because historically we claim that historically Tibet was independent sovereign country and Tibet was occupied later, right?And if the parliaments, if they can accept and understands that Tibet was an occupied state, then it can build up the leverage for the Tibetan dialogue, for the Chinese to come towards the ...dialogue. So this is what we are thinking. So, hopefully with that bill being passed, there are more and more countries, nations coming closer and complement with this bill to make more visibility, make Tibet more in the limelight in addressing that silent Tibetan conflict." Earlier this week, the US Congress 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, Radio Free Asia reported. The US House of Representatives passed the bill Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act, also known as the Resolve Tibet Act, and it now heads to President Joe Biden for a signature to become law, Radio Free Asia reported. The legislation rejects Beijing's stance that Tibet being part of China since ancient times and urges China 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 urged China to begin talks with the Dalai Lama, who is the spiritual leader of Tibet, and other Tibetan leaders about how Tibet is governed. No formal talks between two sides have taken place since 2010. Michael McCaul said it showed the "status quo in Tibet is not acceptable," Radio Free Asia reported. After the bill's passage, McCaul said, "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 president's desk as soon as possible, to help put the people of Tibet in charge of their own future." (ANI)
The foundation stone has been laid for the construction of Shree Dang-Bang Secondary School and Hostel Buildings in Pyuthan District of Nepal, with generous financial assistance from the government of India. The ceremony, attended by Nabil Bikram Shah, Chairman of Airawati Rural Municipality, and Prashant Kumar Sona, Second Secretary at the Embassy of India in Kathmandu, marks a significant step in bolstering educational infrastructure in the region. The initiative, valued at NRs 33.92 million, is part of the extensive 'Nepal-India Development Cooperation' efforts, aimed at fostering high-impact community development projects (HICDPs) across Nepal. This particular project is being implemented under an agreement between the governments of India and Nepal, emphasising India's commitment to supporting Nepal's development priorities. In their remarks, local officials and representatives expressed profound appreciation for India's longstanding developmental support, which has been instrumental in advancing education and living standards in the area. They highlighted the transformative impact that the new school and hostel facilities will have on the students of Shree Dang-Bang Secondary School, creating an enhanced learning environment and contributing significantly to educational advancement in Pyuthan District. Since the inception of the program in 2003, the Government of India has initiated a total of 551 HICDPs across Nepal, successfully completing 490 projects to date. Within Lumbini Province, which includes Pyuthan District, India has implemented 61 projects across various sectors, illustrating the breadth and depth of bilateral cooperation. In addition to infrastructure projects, India has also made substantial contributions in healthcare and education through donations of 1009 ambulances and 300 school buses to institutions across Nepal. Notably, Lumbini Province has received 164 ambulances and 43 school buses, including 10 ambulances allocated to Pyuthan District, highlighting India's commitment to improving public services and enhancing access to healthcare and education in remote areas. The ongoing implementation of HICDPs underscores India's steadfast commitment to supporting Nepal's socio-economic development and infrastructure enhancement initiatives. This partnership between the two neighbouring countries exemplifies strong bilateral ties and mutual cooperation in addressing shared challenges and promoting sustainable development. The foundation stone laying ceremony was attended by a diverse group of stakeholders, including political representatives, government officials, social workers, members of the school management committee, teachers, parents, and eager students, underscoring the collective enthusiasm and community support for the project's successful realisation. (ANI)
To put pressure on Russia to end its war with Ukraine, World leaders have gathered in Switzerland to attend Ukraine's peace summit on Saturday. However, Russia and China abstained from the summit, reported The Kyiv Independent. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is hoping that the leaders gathered at the summit will try to pave the way for a future peace process that includes Russia". "There are two days of active work ahead with countries from all corners of the world, with different peoples" who are united by the goal of bringing "a just and lasting peace for Ukraine closer," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 14 as he arrived in Switzerland. The peace summit began on June 15 and will conclude on June 16, bringing together representatives from 92 countries and organisations, less than the 107 countries and international organisations that, according to Kyiv, have confirmed their attendance as of early June. Despite being invited, China skipped the summit after Russia was frozen out of proceedings on the grounds it had dismissed Ukraine's summit as "futile" and expressed no interest in attending, Al Jazeera reported. With China's absence, Western countries' hope of isolating Russia has faded, while recent military reverses on the battlefield have put Ukrainian forces on the back foot. Hopefully, according to Ukraine, the Peace Summit will address several key issues, including energy security, the exchange of captives, the return of deported children, and global food security, among other topics, reported The Kyiv Independent. Zelenskyy added that the summit will enable the global majority to take concrete steps in areas that are important to everyone in the world, including, nuclear and food security, the return of prisoners of war and all deported persons, including deported Ukrainian children. Meanwhile, US Vice President Kamala Harris and the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan are among those expected to join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the summit. India, Turkey and Hungary, which maintained friendly relations with Russia, are also expected to join the summit, Al Jazeera reported. Notably, Saudi Arabia is also one of the countries present at the summit, despite its earlier announcement in June that the country is not planning to attend the summit. The Ukrainian President made a previously unannounced visit to Saudi Arabia on June 12. Meanwhile, Brazil, the Holy See, the United Nations, and the Ecumenical Patriarchate are attending the summit not as full participants but as observers. According to the reports, US President Joe Biden will not attend the summit, which eventually prompted Zelenksyy to say that his absence would "only be met by an applause by (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, a personal, standing applause by Putin." "I believe that the peace summit needs President Biden, and other leaders need President Biden because they will look at the US's reaction," Zelensky said. However, Biden is unable to attend the summit because it clashes with a campaign fundraiser, Kyiv Independent reported. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called the event an important step towards progress. "Many questions of peace and security will be discussed, but not the very biggest. That was always the plan," he said, while speaking to Welt TV before travelling to Switzerland. "This is a small plant that needs to be watered, but of course also with the perspective that more can then come out of it." Earlier on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia will only put an end to its war in Ukraine if Kyiv surrenders the entire territory of four regions claimed by Moscow and abandons its bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), CNN reported. Ukraine, however, has rejected Putin's demand and termed it a "complete sham" and "offensive to common sense." Putin's speech, which came on the eve of the Swiss peace conference, mentioned Russia's conditions for a "final end" to the war in more granular detail than at any previous time since the conflict between Moscow and Kyiv started in February 2022. The Russian president further called the conference "another ploy to divert everyone's attention." In addition to Ukrainian soldiers withdrawing from four regions, Putin said that Kyiv must demilitarise and that Western nations must lift their sanctions on Russia. Putin's demand indicates Russia's failure to achieve its original war aims, when Moscow believed it could capture Kyiv in days and the rest of Ukraine in weeks, CNN reported. However, Russia, nearly 28 months later, occupied around a fifth of Ukrainian territory, including the Crimean peninsula it annexed 10 years back. (ANI)
The Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) organised a protest at the Kotli area of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), demanding the administration immediately release the prisoners that were detained during the four-day-long Muzzafarabad protest held last month. The protestors further stressed that it is high time that the PoJK local administration fulfils its promises, because of which they had attained power after the recent general elections. However, the current ignorance by the PoJK administration has triggered a wave of domestic and international protests and demonstrations organised by the representatives of the JAAC and the United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP). Salma Hameed, a leader from the Bagh chapter of JAAC and UKPNP, stated at the rally, "In the history of PoJK, there have been several incidents indicating that the government never heard the demands of the general public. But now, after lots of effort, people are aware and awake and are actively demanding their rights from the administration. These administrators, who reached the helm of power with our precious votes and help, used to cause us a lot of harm. While they enjoyed luxuries, we, the people of PoJK, were pushed towards poverty and underdevelopment, and year after year, the situation turned worse." "However, now we are united, cannot be threatened by violent responses, and will protest to get what is ours," Hameed said. "The administration has threatened us and has taken control of our resources for their benefit but not anymore," the leader added. Previously, the region of Pallandri in PoJK had witnessed significant protests organised by JAAC activists. The demonstration aimed to voice opposition against the reported torture, use of excessive force, and arrests of Kashmiri activists. The protesters vehemently demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all detained individuals. Recently, PoJK has seen a surge in the detention of Kashmiri activists, prompting widespread concern and calls for their release. These arrests have elicited strong reactions from the local populace and drawn attention from human rights organisations. The motives behind these detentions vary, ranging from political dissent to advocating for the rights of Kashmiris. Such actions highlight the broader issues concerning freedom of expression and civil liberties in the region. The protests organised by JAAC served as significant expressions of dissent and activism against perceived injustices in PoJK. JAAC, a political organisation championing various rights and causes, has effectively mobilised residents to voice their grievances through demonstrations and rallies. However, the detention of Kashmiri activists is just one aspect of a larger pattern of human rights abuses in the region. Moreover, activists, journalists, and political opponents critical of the government have reportedly faced harassment, intimidation, and arbitrary arrests. There have also been allegations of censorship and media restrictions in PoJK, further exacerbating concerns about the state of civil liberties in the region. (ANI)
The two suspects were arrested in a significant operation by the FIA immigration cell at Peshawar Airport.

According to the FIA spokesperson, the immigration cell operation resulted in the arrest of two suspects, identified as Muhammad Nabi and Aminullah.

Muhammad Nabi, a key figure in human trafficking and visa fraud, was apprehended while attempting to board a flight to Oman, as reported by ARY News.

During the operation, several counterfeit visa stickers were seized from Nabi's mobile phone.

Moreover, the arrested accused is implicated in multiple cases registered at the FIA Composite Circle Mardan, accused of extorting large sums of money from unsuspecting victims under false pretences.

The swift action by FIA Immigration personnel at Peshawar Airport helped prevent Nabi's escape and ensured his transfer to the Composite Circle Mardan for legal proceedings, ARY News reported.

Meanwhile, another suspect, Aminullah, was detained as he was attempting to travel abroad using a fake resident card for Italy.

The initial investigations indicated that Aminullah acquired the counterfeit document from an organised criminal network specialising in document forgery.

Later, Aminullah was handed over to the Anti-Human Trafficking Circle in Peshawar for further investigation and legal action, reported ARY News.

Earlier this month, six human traffickers were allegedly apprehended by the Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) Anti-Human Trafficking Circle in Rawalpindi.

Under the guise of employment overseas, the arrested individuals allegedly extorted substantial quantities of money from citizens. The arrests were made across numerous localities in Mundi Bahauddin and Rawalpindi.

This is not the first time, cases of visa fraud and human trafficking that have come to the fore in Pakistan.

With the deteriorating situation of law and order and a crippling economy, instances of human trafficking and such frauds have become a new normal in the nation. The citizens of the country, in return, continue to bear the brunt. (ANI)
A circulating video on social media depicted a customer removing what appeared to be plastic teeth from one of the goats, prompting swift action from law enforcement.

The arrested trader, hailing from Hyderabad and in Karachi to sell animals for Eidul Adha, admitted under questioning by police that he was involved in the sale.

Police seized seven additional goats as part of their investigation into the incident, according to ARY News.

"The video circulating on social media provided us with vital information about the sale of goats with artificial teeth, leading to the trader's arrest," a police official clarified.

Eidul Adha, slated for June 17 following the sighting of the Zil Hajj moon on June 7, is a significant religious festival where Muslims commemorate Prophet Ibrahim's obedience to God by sacrificing animals. The meat from these sacrifices is traditionally shared with family and the less fortunate.

The tradition, rooted in the story of Prophet Ibrahimi, involves the sacrifice of animals over three days during Eid celebrations.

Investigations into the case are ongoing, as authorities continue to look into the matter, ARY News reported. (ANI)
The Front Line Defenders (FD), a human rights organization based in Dublin, Ireland, condemned the First Information Report (FIR) and false sedition charges filed against Mahrang Baloch, a prominent Baloch rights activist from Balochistan, Pakistan, a statement by the FD stated. The statement highlighted that an FIR was filed against Mahrang Baloch, including charges of sedition linked to a conference held on May 18. The event which was to take place at the Quetta Press Club was disrupted by Quetta police. The police locked the gate of the press club preventing the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) members from attending the conference. The same statement by the FD further stressed that when the BYC members entered the premises, the SSP Operation and Quetta DIG cordoned off the press club building and the Quetta Metropolitan Corporation (QMC) office until the conference was concluded. "No clear reasons were provided for the unlawful blockade on the press club. Undeterred by the threats, intimidation and reprisal, the BYC continued the planned event, which highlighted human rights issues in Balochistan," the statement read. There was a particular emphasis on the rights and concerns of residents in Gwadar - a coastal town in Balochistan - where residents have experienced increasing militarization and attempts to forcibly displace local populations. This displacement has been motivated by the desire to make way for state development programmes linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the building of a new port, it added. The Baloch activist and the members of BYC in the FIR were accused of offences, including unlawful assembly, deterring public servants from discharging their duty, rioting, condemnation of the creation of the state, advocacy of the abolition of its sovereignty, and sedition. Mahrang Baloch is already facing two other cases that were filed against her during the 2023 long march, which was led by her from Balochistan to Islamabad but was not received by the administration in the Pakistani capital. The statement further stated that the Front Line Defenders strongly condemned the false criminal cases filed against Mahrang Baloch, including the sedition and targeting of members of the BYC. The FD stated, "It believes these attacks to be a reprisal for their peaceful campaigns against atrocities in Balochistan. The State has consistently sought to frame Baloch human rights defenders as terrorists, militants and anti-state, targetting them through legal and extra-legal measures such as threats, intimidation and opening of false legal cases as punishment for their human rights work. Women human rights defenders, including families of the disappeared, are forced to work and campaign in extremely hostile conditions when responding to the threats." Moreover, they also face disinformation and misinformation campaigns propagated by the state and aimed at discrediting and silencing their work. The FD further called on the office-bearers of the Pakistani government to immediately drop all charges against her, end the reprisals against Baloch human rights defenders and create an enabling environment where human rights defenders in Pakistan can carry out their work safely with dignity. (ANI)
Dissent against the case of the abduction of a minor Sindhi Hindu girl, Priya Kumari, who was abducted from Sindh province in Pakistan three years ago, resonated in London. A Washington-based human rights body, the Sindhi Foundation and the local Sindhi community organised a long march on Friday from 10 Downing Street (the official residence of the British Prime Minister) to Pakistan's High Commission in Lowndes Square to demand the return and recovery of Priya. The march was followed by a memorandum presentation to UK officials, the Sindhi Foundation stated in a press statement. Responding to the effort, the UK Prime Minister's office appreciated the initiative for promoting human rights. However, the same statement said that the Pakistani High Commission officials straightaway declined to receive the memorandum. The march intended to demand the return and recovery of Priya, and also raised concern over the forced conversions of Sindhi Hindu girls and young women in Pakistan. The walk was mostly attended by members of the Sindhi community living in the UK and US, the statement read. The Executive Director of the Sindhi Foundation, Sufi Munawar Laghari and Razia Sultana Junejo a leading member of the Sindhi Foundation, presented the memorandum to the UK Prime Minister. The memorandum to the Prime Minister included information about the atrocities committed against Sindhis in their native Sindh, including the case of Priya Kumari. They requested the British PM's support and urged them to raise their voice for the immediate release of the abducted minor Sindhi Hindu girls to their homes and stop forced conversions of young Sindhi Hindu girls and women. An official of the Prime Minister's office, while receiving the memorandum from Laghari and Junejo acknowledged their appreciation for the human rights they defended. The protest walk for the recovery of abducted Priya Kumari was also dedicated to slain Sindhi journalist Nasrullah Gadani. The walk continued through various streets of London and reached its culmination point at Pakistan's High Commission building. Speaking to the protesting members of the Sindhi community, Munawar Laghari said, "After occupying the mountains, islands, waters, forests, agricultural lands, cities and villages of Sindh, the Pakistani army has now turned their attention to the daughters of Sindh. They are being abducted and many of them were forcibly converted." Laghari further said, "The Pakistani apparatuses, including highly politicised police, have miserably failed to recover Pirya Kumari. We approached the gates of the Pakistani High Commission to hand over a memorandum to a Pakistani official whom we met at Pakistan's High Commissioner but the official adamantly refused to receive the memorandum." (ANI)
China's latest move to enforce new maritime regulations in the South China Sea has sparked significant international concern and condemnation. These regulations empower China's coastguard to detain foreigners suspected of violating border management laws in disputed waters, a move that has raised questions about its legality under international law, Al Jazeera reported. China asserts expansive territorial claims over almost the entire South China Sea, a stance contested vehemently by neighbouring countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei. These nations have overlapping claims supported by international law, including a 2016 ruling by an arbitration tribunal in The Hague that declared China's claims without legal basis. The escalation in tensions comes amidst ongoing maritime confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels in contested areas. Chinese activities, including the militarisation of artificial islands and patrols by coastguards and other vessels, have intensified these disputes. Incidents such as the use of water cannons against Philippine boats and collisions resulting in injuries to Filipino soldiers have further fuelled regional tensions, as reported by Al Jazeera. The Philippines, in response to China's new regulations, has taken legal action by submitting filings to the United Nations, asserting its own maritime entitlements under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This move underscores Manila's efforts to uphold its rights in what it terms the West Philippine Sea, part of the larger South China Sea region. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr of the Philippines has described China's actions as "very worrisome," while Philippine military officials have vowed to protect their fishermen operating within their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Despite Beijing's regulations, which threaten the detention of foreign vessels in Chinese-claimed waters, Philippine authorities have urged fishermen to continue their activities without fear. The international community, including the Group of Seven (G7) economies, has also weighed in on the matter. The G7 issued a statement criticising what it termed "dangerous" actions by China in the South China Sea. The waterway is vital for global trade, with trillions of dollars worth of goods passing through annually, and is also rich in untapped oil and gas reserves, making it a critical geopolitical flashpoint, according to Al Jazeera. China, however, defends its new coastguard rules as necessary for maintaining order at sea. Chinese officials argue that these regulations are aimed at safeguarding sovereignty and upholding maritime security in the region. The Chinese defence minister has cautioned that there are limits to Beijing's restraint in the face of perceived challenges to its territorial claims. The United States and its allies have conducted freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea, sailing warships through waters that China claims as its own. These operations are viewed by Beijing as provocations and violations of its sovereignty, leading to occasional confrontations between Chinese and US naval forces, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI)
The High Commission of India in Islamabad hosted a serene and insightful yoga session to commemorate the 10th International Day of Yoga (IDY 2024). The event, held on the theme of 'Yoga For Self and Society', brought together members of the diplomatic corps, along with Yoga practitioners and enthusiasts from various walks of life. The serene atmosphere at the High Commission provided the perfect backdrop for participants to engage in a series of yoga postures and breathing exercises, guided by experienced instructors. The session emphasised the holistic benefits of yoga, focusing not only on physical well-being but also on mental clarity and spiritual rejuvenation. "High Commission of India in Islamabad organised a Yoga Session today to celebrate the 10th International Day of Yoga (IDY 2024) with diplomatic corps and Yoga enthusiasts, under the theme of 'Yoga For Self and Society'," said the Indian High Commission in Pakistan in a post on X. Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India. The word 'yoga' derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolising the union of body and consciousness. Today it is practiced in various forms around the world and continues to grow in popularity. Recognising its universal appeal, on 11 December 2014, the United Nations proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga by resolution 69/131. The draft resolution establishing the International Day of Yoga was proposed by India and endorsed by a record 175 member states. The proposal was first introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address during the opening of the 69th session of the General Assembly, in which he said: "Yoga is an invaluable gift from our ancient tradition. Yoga embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action ... a holistic approach [that] is valuable to our health and our well-being. Yoga is not just about exercise; it is a way to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature." The resolution notes "the importance of individuals and populations making healthier choices and following lifestyle patterns that foster good health." In this regard, the World Health Organisation has also urged its member states to help their citizens reduce physical inactivity, which is among the top ten leading causes of death worldwide, and a key risk factor for non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes. But yoga is more than a physical activity. In the words of one of its most famous practitioners, the late BKS Iyengar, "Yoga cultivates the ways of maintaining a balanced attitude in day-to-day life and endows skill in the performance of one's actions." Ahead of the International Day of Yoga on June 21, PM Modi earlier called upon people to reiterate their commitment to making yoga an integral part of their lives. PM Modi shared a set of videos showing various 'Asanas' on X, describing their benefits. In a series of posts on X, PM Modi said, "As Yoga Day approaches, I am sharing a set of videos that will offer guidance on various Asanas and their benefits. I hope this inspires you all to practice Yoga regularly." (ANI)
The leaders of Group of Seven (G7) in a hardening of tone against Beijing, warned China to stop sending weapons components to Russia and to play by the rules on trade, according to a draft G7 Summit statement. As the annual Group of Seven (G7) Summit was about to end, the G7 leaders on Friday warned that China's support for Russia is "enabling" its war in Ukraine and threatened sanctions against actors that are materially supporting Moscow's war machine, reported CNN. In a stark warning issued at the end of the G7 Summit in Italy, the leaders stated that Beijing's ongoing support for Russia's defence industrial base is enabling Russia to keep up its war against Ukraine. This comes as the United States is stepping up diplomatic efforts to convince Europe to adopt a tougher stance on China over its role in aiding Russia's military-industrial complex, as reported by Al Jazeera. "China's ongoing support for Russia's defense industrial base is enabling Russia to maintain its illegal war in Ukraine and has significant and broad-based security implications," the G7 leaders said in the communique on Friday. "We call on China to cease the transfer of dual-use materials, including weapons components and equipment, that are inputs for Russia's defense sector," they added. The leaders also threatened further actions, including sanctions, to punish Chinese entities that they say are helping Russia circumvent Western embargoes. "We will continue taking measures against actors in China and third countries that materially support Russia's war machine, including financial institutions, consistent with our legal systems, and other entities in China that facilitate Russia's acquisition of items for its defense industrial base," the joint statement read. It further vowed to impose "restrictive measures to prevent abuse and restrict access to our financial systems." Earlier in the past also, American officials have accused China of helping Russia expand military manufacturing, including through exports like semiconductors, materials and machine tools they say are enabling Moscow to ramp up production of tanks, munitions and armoured vehicles, Al Jazeera reported. However, Beijing refuted the allegation, saying that it has not provided weapons to either side and maintains tight export controls on dual-use goods. The US and European Union have already slapped sanctions on Chinese companies. Notably, this week also, the US imposed fresh sanctions on China-based firms supplying semiconductors to Russia. "China does not supply weapons, but the ability to produce those weapons and the technology available to do it," US President Joe Biden said at the summit on Thursday. "So it is helping Russia," he said. Moreover, the G7 also took a tougher stance on China's economic policies, especially on the issue of industrial overcapacity, and vowed to take action against "unfair practices" to "level the playing field and remedy ongoing harm." "We express our concerns about China's persistent industrial targeting and comprehensive non-market policies and practices that are leading to global spillovers, market distortions and harmful overcapacity in a growing range of sectors, undermining our workers, industries, and economic resilience and security," the joint communique said. Meanwhile, on the eve of G7 Summit, the EU announced additional tariffs on electric vehicles (EV) imported from China following a months-long investigation, over what it sees as Beijing's unfair support for companies that undercut European carmakers, Al Jazeera reported. Last month, the US also imposed new tariffs on USD 18 billion in Chinese imports across various sectors deemed strategic to national security, including EVs and clean-energy products. Additionally, the G7 also voiced strong opposition to what it says are China's unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion in the East and South China Seas. "We continue opposing China's dangerous use of coastguards and maritime militias in the South China Sea and its repeated obstruction of countries' freedom of navigation in the high seas," the joint statement said. "We express serious concern about the increasing use of dangerous manoeuvres and water cannons against Philippine vessels," it added. (ANI)
Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Saturday said that a case was registered against the accused involved in cutting the leg of a camel in Sanghar district.

The provincial minister issued a statement, stating that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had taken notice of the incident, adding that the five accused had been arrested.

However, he further said that the matter had been settled between the accused and the owner of the camel but it was humanely unacceptable and a case was registered on behalf of the state, as reported by ARY News.

A landlord in Sindh's Sanghar district allegedly chopped off a camel's leg as punishment for scavenging into his field for fodder.

The incident occurred in Mund Jamrao village in Sanghar district on Friday, according to the police.

Soomer Khan, the owner of the camel, narrated the incident along with his camel at Sanghar Press Club.

"I have no enmity with anyone. I don't know why this was done to my camel," he said.

However, Sanghar SSP took notice of the incident after the video of the camel with his chopped leg went viral on social media.

The police officials said that the peasant had refused to identify the culprit and to press charges against him.

Following this, the police lodged an FIR on behalf of the state against unknown persons under sections 429 and 34 PPC, ARY News reported. (ANI)
Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Suhel Ajaz Khan on Saturday said that the Indian pilgrims have gathered at Mount Arafat for Haj, the most crucial day of Haj. The pilgrims from across the world have moved from the tent city of Mina to the plains of Arafat, he noted. "Today is the day of Arafat. This is the most crucial day of the Hajj. Today, every pilgrim from all across the world moves from the tent city of Mena to the plains of Arafat. And everyone spends the entire day here till the sunset in prayers. After the sunset, all the pilgrims will move to Muzdalifah, and tomorrow morning they will return back to Mina," the Indian envoy said in a post on X. The Indian Haj Pilgrims Office took to X, stating that all the Indian Haj Pilgrims are currently in Arafat, completing the most important element of Haj 2024. https://x.com/hajmission/status/1801971586116849718 "These five days of the Haj are the core Haj period and the most crucial part of the Haj. All 175,000 pilgrims who have come from India have moved to Arafat and are busy in their prayers," the Indian envoy said in a video message. He further said that the Haj missions, along with various service providers, have made arrangements for the pilgrims who are staying in Arafat. "Haj mission, along with the Saudi Haj authorities, Saudi Haj ministry and various service providers have made all the arrangements for moving the pilgrims from Mina to Arafat, arrangements for their stay in Arafat, and their return back to Muzdalifah in Mina," he said. "And after today, the main ritual of the Haj will be over," the envoy added. "So I once again want to wish everyone a very, very happy Haj," he said. In a historical moment, Indian Hajis used a high-speed train directly from the Jeddah Airport to Makkah for the very first time, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh said. The Embassy noted that the train would not only shorten the journey time but, about 32000 Indian Hajis will also use this exclusive service this year. Notably, a total quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims from India were finalised for Haj this year, after India signed the Bilateral Haj Agreement 2024 with Saudi Arabia (KSA) at Jeddah in January this year. The Bilateral Haj Agreement was signed in January 2024 between Union Minister for Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs Smriti Irani accompanied by V Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, and Dr Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, Minister of Haj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia (KSA). (ANI)
The US State Department has taken a significant step in its counterterrorism efforts by designating a neo-Nazi Nordic group (NRM) and three of its key leaders as terrorists. This marks only the second instance in history that the United States has classified a foreign white supremacist organisation in this manner, CNN reported. NRM is the largest neo-Nazi group in Sweden, with branches in Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and also Finland, where it has been banned since 2020. NRM members have also taken steps to collect and prepare weapons and explosive materials, including on behalf of the group and in furtherance of its goals. In addition, NRM has organized training in violent tactics, including hand-to-hand combat and knife fighting, US State Department press release said. On Friday, the State Department formally labelled the Nordic Resistance Movement (NRM), along with its top officials Tor Fredrik Vejdeland, Par Oberg, and Leif Robert Eklund, as Specially Designated Global Terrorists. Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the State Department, emphasised the gravity of the decision, highlighting that it is the first such designation made by the Biden administration against a white supremacist group. The Trump administration had previously designated the Russian Imperial Movement (RIM) and its leaders under similar terms in 2020. Established in Sweden in 1997, the Nordic Resistance Movement has expanded its influence across Scandinavia, with branches operating in Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Finland. Its activities have not been confined to Sweden, with the organisation facing a ban in Finland in 2020 due to its extremist activities, according to CNN. According to the State Department's statement, the NRM was singled out for its involvement in or attempts to commit acts of terrorism that pose a significant threat to US nationals, as well as to the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States. The organisation's ideology is rooted in racism, anti-immigrant sentiments, anti-Semitism, and hostility towards LGBTQI+ individuals. Its members and leaders have been linked to violent attacks targeting political opponents, journalists, protestors, and others perceived as adversaries. Miller highlighted some of the specific threats posed by the NRM, noting their efforts in weapon collection and preparation, including explosives. The group has also organised training sessions focusing on violent tactics such as hand-to-hand combat and knife fighting. The decision to designate the NRM as terrorists comes amidst ongoing concerns raised by US officials regarding the persistent threat posed by white supremacist terror groups both domestically and internationally. The 2024 Annual Threat Assessment by the US Intelligence Community underscored the continuing danger posed by racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists, particularly those motivated by white supremacy, across various regions including Europe, South America, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, as reported by CNN. In addressing these threats, the Biden-Harris Administration has reaffirmed its commitment to countering domestic terrorism, which encompasses the activities of racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists. Ian Moss, Deputy Coordinator for the Bureau of Counterterrorism, emphasised the increasing trend of transnational linkages among extremist groups, facilitated by communication through online platforms, gaming networks, and encrypted chat applications. The State Department's designation is part of a broader US government strategy to tackle the global dimensions of the threat posed by racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists. This approach includes measures to disrupt financial networks used by such groups, thereby hindering their ability to finance extremist activities through international financial systems. President Donald Trump had previously signed an executive order in 2019 granting the US government expanded authority to target groups involved in training terrorists, not solely those directly responsible for carrying out attacks. This regulatory framework has provided a legal basis for the recent designation of the NRM and its leaders as terrorists, underscoring the US government's proactive stance in addressing extremist threats, CNN reported. (ANI)
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been in jail for over a year, said that there is no point in negotiating with a government that lacks authority, The Nation reported. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder made these remarks while speaking to reporters on Saturday after the hearing of the 190 million corruption case at the Adiala Jail here. Khan also accused the administration of pressuring judges who give rulings in favour of PTI. According to The Nation, the founder of PTI alleged that a judge from Sargodha told the Lahore High Court about pressures exerted by intelligence agencies. He claimed that the judge's household gas supply was cut off. He urged Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa to uphold the rule of law amidst these interferences. Khan praised a judge from Sargodha, six judges from Islamabad High Court, and three judges from the Supreme Court for their integrity. Khan also claimed that "Journalists speaking in favour of PTI are being targeted; Raoof Hassan was attacked, and Ali Zaman was tortured." Meanwhile, in Islamabad, PTI leaders Raoof Hasan and Omar Ayub held a joint press conference where they declared that their party would not talk with "three parties." Back in February, PTI spokesperson Raoof Hasan announced that party founder Imran Khan had instructed them to initiate talks with all political parties except the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Pakistan Peoples Party, and Muttahida Qaumi Movement - Pakistan. The three parties are part of the coalition that is heading the government. "Our contention since the first day is that they have nothing and they're only mummies and dummies whose strings are controlled from elsewhere and they dance according to them," Omar Ayub said explaining their party's position on the talks. He said Imran had clearly directed in "blunt words that we have no intention to negotiate with these three political parties at any stage." (ANI)
Attack of the drones planned by both US and China at outbreak of Taiwan invasion

Satellite view of the Taiwan Strait, which could be filled with drones at the start of a US-China clash - Gallo Images/Orbital Horizon/Copernicus Sentinel Data 2019

The US and China are wargaming a huge drone battle over the Pacific Ocean that would play out in the early hours of an invasion attempt on Taiwan.

Pentagon officials have drawn up plans to turn the Taiwan Strait into an unmanned hellscape that would delay Chinese forces until US reinforcements arrive.

US military strategists plan to use an army of air and sea drones to block ships and jets from China, while Beijing is building its own drones to intercept them.

The US has said it would defend Taiwan if China launches an invasion, which intelligence officials believe could take place before 2027.

China is thought to be planning a swift and overwhelming operation to take control of the country, which it claims as Chinese territory.

The Pentagon has launched a drone programme, codenamed Replicator, which aims to field thousands of drones that could slow down an invasion and allow the US navy and air force to come to Taiwans aid.

Adm Samuel Paparo, the commander of US Pacific forces, told The Washington Post that China would launch a short, sharp war that would take control of Taiwan before the world can get their act together.

He said the US has launched an operation called Hellscape that is hoped would delay the invasion by up to a month.

I want to turn the Taiwan Strait into an unmanned hellscape using a number of classified capabilities, so that I can make their lives utterly miserable for a month, which buys me the time for the rest of everything, he said.

The US admits that China has a advantage in mass through its navy, which surpassed the size of the American fleet more than three years ago, but hopes to overcome the difference in size through strategic competition in drone warfare.

The first drones from the Replicator programme, which was launched in August, have already arrived in the Pacific.

The cost of the programme is estimated at $1 billion (790 million).

Most of the drones to be used in the American swarm are classified, but Kathleen Hicks, the deputy defence secretary, has said the fleet does include the Switchblade 600  a model that has been effectively used in Ukraine to destroy armoured vehicles at a range of 23 miles.

Other drones will travel through the water, while a third category will focus on bringing down Chinese hostile aircraft and missiles.

Analysts linked to the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), say that China is already working on a plan to counter US drones and overcome American resistance to an invasion.

The US should not forget that China has the worlds largest drone production capacity. We will also use many aerial robots to deal with our opponents, said Fu Qianshao, a former equipment expert with the Chinese air force, told the South China Morning Post.

The Americans should think about how to deal with a larger PLA drone fleet to counter them.

The US can deploy thousands of drones to the Taiwan Strait, but the key is its air bases will be attacked, and we have a series of countermeasures, including electromagnetic interference or emerging interception methods.

Earlier this week, Chinese military drones partially encircled Taiwan and last month China held wargames around the island.

Joe Biden, the US president, has said America would come to Taiwans aid in the event of an invasion, and has not ruled out putting US boots on the ground in the country.

Donald Trump, the Republican nominee in this years US election, has declined to say explicitly whether he would authorise the use of the American military if China invaded.

Although the PLA has been instructed to be ready for an invasion by 2027, some doubt that Beijing would take the decision to launch one after watching the fallout of the war in Ukraine.

Klaus Larres, a China expert at the Wilson Centre think tank, said Beijing could instead attempt to take the country peacefully.

There are other means of putting pressure on Taiwan, like a blockade or economic pressure, he told The Telegraph.

What I read and hear is that the Chinese themselves are not necessarily very confident that they could succeed with a proper invasion.

Invading an island is very different to conducting a territorial war, and so the gamble they would take by trying to do that could badly backfire.

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Andy Dossett holds up his three first-place plaques for writing from the Oklahoma Press Association.

Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise reporter/photographer Andy Dossett won several statewide awards for writing and photography Saturday during the Oklahoma Press Associations Better Newspaper awards ceremony in Oklahoma City.

Dossett took home 11 awards, eight for news and feature writing and three for photography.

He won first place for in-depth reporting in his look at a single mom who was sentenced to a year in an Oklahoma jail over a $138 fine.

In comments, the judge said, Andy Dossetts terrifying look at a local judges abuse of power and its impact on a local woman is powerful stuff.

Dossett also won third place in that category for his work exposing problems at the troubled housing project Brookhaven Plaza Apartments  Dilapidated buildings, safety hazards, crime: Brookhaven is a nightmare and Brookhaven Plaza Apartments gets rave reviews online, but residents tell a different story.

He also took first and second place in the feature story category with A familys quest to demystify Gravity Hill and The Triple Treats: Local triplets celebrate 87 years respectively.

In comments, the judge said Dossetts Gravity Hill story hooked me and had me wanting more. In the story about 87-year-old triplets, the judge wrote, The writer puts you in the room with these sisters, and it was wonderful.

In the news story category, Dossett took second and third place, respectively, for Local preacher unapologetic about blackface, drag performance and How the Washington County GOP fell apart in less than a year.

Lawmakers: School choice is on states legislative menu again took second place in the education story category, and Price Tower: Sold for the debt, $10 and a promise took first place in the business category. Both stories were written by Dossett.

In photography, Dossett won second place in the overall photography category and took third place in both the feature and news categories.

The OPA Awards Banquet occurred June 7-8 at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City.

Members of the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association judged almost 1,450 entries from 74 Oklahoma news publications.

The EE competes in Division 2, which consists of daily publications in cities with a population of 40,000 or less.

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: State honors EE reporter Andy Dossett with 11 journalism awards
A Belarusian Su-25 Frogfoot attack jet has appeared with what Russian authorities say are "training nuclear munitions" loaded under its wings. The appearance of the aircraft coincides with the latest phase of an ongoing joint Russian-Belarusian tactical nuclear weapons exercise . What the jet is actually carrying is unknown, but this is the latest piece of nuclear signaling from Russia that is clearly directed toward the West, as NATO allies continue to back Ukraine, much to Moscows chagrin.

The Russian Ministry of Defense published a video earlier today showing a pair of Belarusian Su-25s in a hangar, guarded by armed soldiers. A pilot is seen being strapped into the nearest jet which, as well as a pair of external fuel tanks, is equipped with two underwing stores wrapped in protective coverings to conceal them. The location is not revealed, but its likely to be Lida Air Base, home of Belarus' Frogfoot fleet.

The approximate location of Lida Air Base in Belarus. Google Earth

A satellite view of Lida Air Base in 2022. Google Earth

The exact nature of the stores seen loaded on the Su-25, which are deliberately covered, is not clear, as we will come back to later. However, based on the nature of the current Russian-Belarusian maneuvers, previously announced plans for Belarusian combat aircraft to be modified to carry nuclear weapons, and the fact that the video includes an interview with Russian Lt. Gen. Igor Kolesnikov, the statement being made is very clear.

Lt. Gen. Kolesnikov is head of the 12th Main Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, also commonly referred to by its Russian acronym 12th GUMO . The unit deals with the safekeeping, technical maintenance, transportation, delivery, issuance, disposal, etc. of Russian nuclear weapons, both tactical and strategic.

Since the two stores seen under the wing of the Su-25 in the new video have been concealed, its impossible to tell exactly what they are, although a statement from Kolesnikov says that they are intended to represent tactical nuclear weapons.

Lt. Gen. Kolesnikov says: In the course of carrying out the tasks, mobile formations of the 12th Main Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Defense ensured the delivery of training nuclear munitions to the field storage points of the missile brigades positioning area and the operational airfield of the attack aviation. Together with their Belarusian colleagues, the preparation and delivery of missiles in special equipment and the suspension of aerial weapons under carrier aircraft were carried out.

One possibility is that the training nuclear munitions could be examples of the IAB-500 , a practice bomb that is designed to simulate employing a nuclear weapon, including producing a characteristic mushroom-like cloud. It also has similar external characteristics to real nuclear gravity bombs in Russian service.

A Russian Su-30SM carrying an IAB-500 practice bomb that simulates a nuclear detonation. via X

Very little is known about actual Russian air-launched tactical nuclear bombs, but these designs date back from the Cold War and include the RN-40 and RN-41, which were developed for carriage by Soviet-era jets including the MiG-29, Su-24, and Su-27. Soviet Su-25s are understood to have had a nuclear capability, too, although its unclear if the aircraft was ever put on alert for this role.

It is worth noting that Belarusian state media has also released imagery of the country's Su-25s taking part in the Russian-led tactical nuclear drills with their underwing stores blurred out. In at least one instance, the blurring looks to have been applied in error to the aircraft's drop tanks rather than the bombs next to them, which look to be standard high explosive or cluster munition types. This can only raise questions about the "training nuclear munitions" seen under wraps in the new footage from the Russian Ministry of Defense.

What is known is that Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Belarus and a close ally of Russia , announced in August 2022 that some of his countrys combat aircraft had been modified to carry nuclear weapons.

Initial reports suggested that the long-withdrawn Belarusian Su-24 Fencer strike aircraft had been modified, although it later became clear that it was the Su-25 that was involved. This is somewhat surprising, given that Belarus also operates much more capable Su-30SM Flanker multirole fighters, which could also receive a nuclear capability if required.

As TWZ pointed out at the time , with a speed of only 590 mph when carrying a modest weapons load, and a range of only around 320 miles on internal fuel, at low altitude, the Frogfoot is far from suitable for nuclear strike  especially against NATO opposition.

Ahead of Lukashenkos announcement, the Belarusian government had published a quote from Russian President Vladimir Putin pointing to the option to modify at least some Belarusian Su-25s, although in this case the nuclear mission wasnt explicitly specified.

A Belarusian Air Force Su-25. Dmitriy Pichugin/Wikimedia Commons

The Belarusian Armed Forces are armed with a fairly large number of Su-25 aircraft, Putin reportedly said during talks in St. Petersburg. They could be retrofitted; however, this modernization should be carried out at Russian aircraft factories (we will agree on how to do that) and start training the flight personnel accordingly.

As well as the modified Su-25s, in June 2022, Putin also announced the transfer of nuclear-capable Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile systems onto Belarusian territory in the next few months.

Putin and Lukashenko have since said that Russia has deployed unspecified tactical nuclear weapons in Belarusian territory.

It is now clear that Russian and Belarusian forces are at least practicing some aspects of the nuclear mission using Belarusian Su-25s. What is less obvious is the degree of training that Belarusian personnel have received in the use of nuclear weapons, with it being a skill that requires considerable time and effort to perfect.

The command and control structure in place around whatever Russian nuclear weapons are in Belarus is also unclear. They are likely held under Russian control and would be released to Belarusian forces only if required. This would be similar to the way that U.S. B61 nuclear bombs stored at bases in Europe can be made available to certain NATO members under the alliance's nuclear sharing arrangements .

A secure Weapons Storage and Security System vault seen in the raised position holding a U.S. B61 nuclear bomb (or more likely an inert 'shape' thereof) at an unknown base in Europe. Public Domain/WikiCommons

Regardless, hosting of nuclear weapons on Belarusian soil means that they could be brought into action much more quickly and with less warning, but even if they have to first be transported from Russia, the training of Belarusian personnel to use them is significant. Above all, it raises the possibility of Belarus fighting alongside Russia in a potential future nuclear conflict waged against NATO.

The Belarusian decision to join the Russian tactical nuclear warfighting enterprise has been accompanied by some robust rhetoric from Lukashenko.

Its not a good idea to escalate things with Belarus because that would be an escalation with the Union State [Russia and Belarus] which has nuclear weapons, Lukashenko said back in August 2022. If they start to create problems  the response will be immediate.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (left) waves as he arrives to inspect the joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises Zapad-2017 at a training ground near the town of Borisov on September 20, 2017. SERGEI GAPON/AFP via Getty Images

Meanwhile, nuclear developments in Belarus have helped encourage officials in neighboring Poland to consider entering the NATO nuclear-sharing program.

With all this in mind, its important to remember suggestions that emerged earlier this year, that the baseline threshold for Russias employment of tactical nuclear weapons may be significantly lower than previously thought. According to a widely discussed report that appeared in February, such a response might be triggered, for example, by the Russian Navy losing a fifth of its ballistic missile submarines or even three cruisers. TWZ previously interviewed multiple experts about the prospects of the conflict in Ukraine, specifically, going nuclear for a feature you can find here .

Regardless of what the Su-25 is carrying or isn't carrying in this case, with the war in Ukraine and Moscows tensions with the West driving closer ties between Russia and Belarus, it seems that a nuclear capability  if not nuclear weapons  on Belarusian territory will now be a more permanent feature of Europes fast-changing security environment.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
Minnesota Department of Corrections officials are investigating after a 22-year-old inmate was found unresponsive in his cell early Saturday and died at the scene.

Corrections officers at the Stillwater prison found the man about 3:30 a.m. and attempted life-saving efforts. The man, whose name has not been released, died about 20 minutes later, according to a statement from corrections officials.

While the cause of death was not immediately known, preliminary information indicated the victim may have used synthetic drugs, the statement said.

Foul play was not suspected, the statement continued.

"On behalf of the Minnesota Department of Corrections, I want to extend condolences to the young man's family," Commissioner Paul Schnell said. "If this death is determined to be drug-related, we will make every effort to determine who introduced and provided the substance for the purpose of pursuing prosecution to the fullest extent of the law."

Minnesota's prison system, along with those across the nation, is experiencing challenges related to synthetic controlled substances. Often the drugs are infused into paper that enters facilities through the mail. As a result of Saturday's incident, Stillwater prison personnel will photocopy all incoming mail except legal mail due to attorney-client privilege, the Department of Corrections said.

The unit where the man died remained on "lockup status" until further notice, the statement said.
Demolition efforts began Friday at the site of the three-story classroom building in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people were fatally shot on Valentines Day 2018.

The demolition at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, which had been postponed from Thursday due to rain and flooding, started with pieces of the structures top floor being pulled away by machinery. Family members of the victims were invited to watch, with school faculty, students and elected officials also in attendance.

This is the end to the story, the period at the end of it, Dylan Persaud, a former student who was at the school on the day of the shooting, told the Miami Herald while watching the demolition. But you can never forget something like this.

A woman walks past the site of the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 people. South Florida Sun-Sentinel via Getty Images

Officials have not yet said what will replace the building, whose demolition is expected to continue over the coming weeks while students are out for summer break.

The building had been preserved as evidence in the shooters trial and has since sat closed off and boarded up, still riddled with bullet holes. It was only recently that long-abandoned objects, like textbooks, laptops, deflated Valentines Day balloons and wilted flowers, were cleared out ahead of the demolition, The Associated Press reported.

Victims families, school and law enforcement officials, and politicians, including Vice President Kamala Harris, had all toured the building amid efforts to strengthen gun laws and school safety.

Vice President Kamala Harris, seen in March 2024, views a memorial to the 17 people who were killed in 2018 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. DREW ANGERER via Getty Images

Its important for that building to be taken down, so not only can I start to heal but also the community at large, Lori Alhadeff  whose 14-year-old daughter, Alyssa, was killed in the shooting and who now chairs the Broward County School Board  told The New York Times.

Aisha Hashmi, who graduated this month, was in sixth grade when the shooting happened. But she said her older siblings were on campus when the shooting happened, and students would still have to pass by the empty building in the years after.

Whenever I would walk past it, it was just kind of eerie, she told The Associated Press.

A fence surrounding the building helped block it from view, but students could peer into its windows when the wind blew back the fences screening, she said.

It is heartbreaking to see and then have to go sit in your English class, said Hashmi.

Related...
Russian ally ditching Putin's rival to NATO damages the image Putin wants to project of himself, experts say

Russian ally ditching Putin's rival to NATO damages the image Putin wants to project of himself, experts say

Armenia announced this week that it will leave the Russia-led CSTO, seen as Putin's rival to NATO.

Experts say Putin wants the alliance to project Russian power, meaning Armenia's decision is a blow.

Armenia may see this as a power play, but one expert warned it doesn't have much leverage.

Armenia's announcement that it's going to leave a Russia-led alliance that was set up to rival NATO is a blow to the image Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to project, experts told Business Insider.

Nikol Pashinyan, the prime minister of Armenia, one of six member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, said on Wednesday that his country is leaving the alliance, after growing increasingly frustrated.

The decision, particularly from a country so much smaller and weaker than Russia, is unlikely to go down well in the Kremlin.

In fact, experts say it's the opposite of what Putin hoped to achieve with the alliance.

The CSTO is important to Russia

The CSTO, established in 2002, is made up of countries that were once part of the Soviet Union. It is widely viewed as Putin's attempt to establish a NATO rival, one that it leads.

"Putin sees himself almost like this 19th-century style great statesman," Davis Ellison, an analyst at The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, told BI.

But, he said, it's difficult to reconcile the idea that you're a great power  with a sphere of influence  when a country the size of Armenia "breaks away from you very publicly over your foreign policy behavior."

"That's a circle that cannot be squared," he said.

Armenia's announcement is "ultimately pretty significant from a political sense for Russia," he added.

CSTO leaders during a summit in Moscow, Russia, in 2022. Contributor/Getty Images

Alexander Cooley, a former Soviet states expert at Columbia University, told BI last year that Russia sees leading organizations like the CSTO as part of its "self-identification as a great power."

The alliance is not very important globally, he said: "I don't think it ever struck anybody as a very effective organization." But leading it is still important to Putin as, in Putin's mind, "great powers lead alliances and organizations."

Thomas Graham, cofounder of Yale University's Russian, East European, and Eurasian studies program, said that the CSTO was created "in part so that Russia could claim that it was leading a multilateral effort."

"But it was also meant to solidify Russia's position as the ultimate guarantor of security in the former Soviet space," he told BI.

Armenia snubbing Russia

Pashinyan's announcement came after months of snubs against Putin, and criticism of the CSTO in general.

Pashinyan was visibly frustrated when Russia did not send troops to help his country last year during clashes with Azerbaijan , despite the CSTO having a NATO-like agreement where members should come to the aid of each other if attacked.

He called the response "depressing" and "hugely damaging to the CSTO's image both in our country and abroad."

Since then, Armenia has said it's "not Russia's ally" in the war in Ukraine, has bought Western weapons, and has held military exercises with the US.

Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Reuters

But Armenia will have a tough future

Graham suggested that Armenia's latest move was a power play "to see if it can get a more favorable set of relations with Moscow," and more support in its clashes with neighboring Azerbaijan.

But he said that Armenia doesn't have enough external support to get what it wants.

"Moscow may pay a bit more attention, but I think at the end of the day, Moscow's calculation is that Armenia doesn't really have many other places to go," he told BI.

"It can flirt with the West, but it will never get the type of support out of the West that can replace what Moscow can provide," he said, adding: "Armenia is not going to get a lot of high-level attention in Washington."

Russian President Vladimir Putin . Getty Images

Armenia, like CSTO members Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, is also still economically dependent on Russia, Graham said.

And he said it can't expect support from the other member states, particularly as Armenia is not as close to some of them as they are with each other and Russia.

Russia may also retaliate by interfering with its domestic politics, he said.

While the situation may be embarrassing for Putin, when it comes to responding to Armenia he does have a lot of room to maneuver, Graham added, "in part because there aren't any other countries that want to intervene in a significant way."

Read the original article on Business Insider
According to a report from the Federal Aviation Administration, the flight was en route from Phoenix to Oakland when the Boeing 737's tail began to move

Kevin Carter/Getty A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAX8

Aviation authorities are investigating an unusual phenomenon that took place on a Southwest flight last month in which the plane experienced a movement called a "Dutch roll."

According to a report from the Federal Aviation Administration, Southwest Flight 746 was en route from Phoenix to Oakland on May 25 when the Boeing 737's tail began to move left and right and the aircraft subsequently rocked from wingtip to wingtip in what is called a "Dutch roll."

The FAA's initial report indicated that there were 175 passengers as well as 6 crew members on board when the incident occurred. The plane landed safely in Oakland and there were no injuries, but the report notes that there was "significant" damage to the standby PCU  or power control unit  which controls an aircraft's rudder.

Related: U.S. Man, 41, Dead After Experiencing 'Medical Condition' on Fiji Airways Flight to San Francisco

Boeing states that the name "Dutch roll" is a reference to the motion of figure skaters when they laterally rock from side to side.

"Airplanes can make similar lateral and directional motions in flight, rolling and yawing much like a traditional Dutch ice skater rhythmically swaying down one of Amsterdams frozen canals," Boeing writes in a report. "... Just as skaters avoid swaying too far and losing their balance, airplanes are designed to keep roll and yaw within regulatory requirements to ensure safety  and potentially reduce the risk of airsickness."

Related: Alaska Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Portland After Part of Plane Blows out Mid-Air

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Southwest declined to comment on the incident and referred PEOPLE to the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for comment. The NTSB did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.



According to the Associated Press, the FAA notes that other airlines have not reported similar issues.

This report comes at a tumultuous time for Boeing  earlier this year, the company's CEO Dave Calhoun announced that he would be stepping down from his role at the end of the year following a number of incidents involving Boeing aircrafts.

AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-8 arrives at Los Angeles International Airport.

Related: Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun Will Step Down Following a Series of Safety Issues

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In January, an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9 aircraft on its way to California was forced to make an emergency landing in Portland after a chunk of the aircraft's cabin fuselage blew out mid-flight. Just a few weeks later, the nose wheel of a Delta Airlines Boeing 757 fell off just before takeoff in Atlanta.



Also in March, a United Airlines Boeing jet rolled off the runway and tilted to the side. In the same week, yet another United flight diverted to Los Angeles on its way to Osaka, Japan after a tire fell off the plane.

Calhoun previously called the Alaska airlines incident a watershed moment in an announcement to employees.

"We must continue to respond to this accident with humility and complete transparency," he wrote to employees at the time. "We also must inculcate a total commitment to safety and quality at every level of our company."



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Read the original article on People.
Kocero, an outlaw, is heading for the city of Batman in south-eastern Turkey. In his front pocket are the severed ears of a rival bandit he had spotted earlier on a bus. A Robin Hood figure to some, by the time of his death in 1964, Kocero was known far beyond his native country: even the Coventry Evening Telegraph covered the demise of Turkeys most notorious bandit.

It is by way of such unexpected figures that Sami Kent conducts this personal journey through Turkeys first 100 years  from the dissolution of the Ottoman empire to Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Colourful case studies such as that of Kocero  and laws on hats, revolutionary sects and ice cream  are deftly employed to tell a wider story. By the mid-20th century, the oil world was booming and the countryside seethed. With riches flowing in and out, Batman became a hunting ground for the dispossessed people who populated it. That vignette of Kocero with an additional set of ears is more than gratuitous violence; it allows Kent to capture an increasingly globalised Turkey, and its quest to become kucuk Amerika (a little America), as well as to identify who that historical shift left behind, and what many turned to: banditry. This is surely how history should be told  fun, alive, human.

Kent has reported on Turkey as a journalist for numerous publications. His father left Turkey at 19 for the UK, so The Endless Country is a strange homecoming, written with a mixture of intimacy and distance. Gurbet captures this  a Turkish noun for a feeling between homesickness and exile. Unflinching in its approach to Turkeys troubled past, this is not a hagiography of a nation.

As he says of the absurd adage sometimes bandied about, World War One was lost by the Ottomans and won by Turkey, that story only looks like a victory when told through maps. Kent digs behind the cartographical to build an engaging and vivifying chronicle. His prose is novelistic, and often as moving as it is illuminating: This was how the Turkish nation was born, but it was a birth like any other: out into the light, crying and confused, tender and pink.

'Erdogan's troubling, paranoid ascendance is mirrored by the rise of what may be the largest prison in Europe' - ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey is revealed as a nation at war with itself about its present. The history of the Turkish Republic is continuously one of modernisation, changing, becoming. The not-so-roaring 1920s under Ataturk are recorded by Kent through the lens of hats  the archaic fez was outlawed, and the sapka (a European-style brimmed hat) was adopted, a symbol of all things secular and new. And Turkeys birth as a republic  at least legally  was patchwork. In 1926, a new civil code was adopted, one near-identical to that of Switzerland; the penal code was pinched from Italy.

Perhaps that is why Turkeys impulse to self-mythologisation features so widely in this chronicle; Kent indulges it, while remaining sceptical. Kents father tells him that in the 1930s, as a more strident nationalism emerged, they learnt in school that everything was actually Turkish. The quintessential example is the Sun Language Theory: that all languages were descended from one proto-Turkic tongue. Even the etymology of the river Amazon was derived from the Turkish ama (but) uzun (long)  the first to stumble across the river exclaiming: But its long! Such myth-making raises a bemused eyebrow, but it also, more significantly, exposes a nation craving a sense of rootedness following the humiliating collapse of the Ottoman empire. Kent is adroit in producing such insights, all the time with humour.

Sami Kent, author of The Endless Country

Yet this is no comprehensive chronicle of Turkey. Kent is up front about that. Some crucial events will be missed, he admits, aiming for a history more mosaic than textbook. His methodology is successful  if judged by its readability. The period of trade liberalisation of the 1980s under Ozal (which sounds so dry) is done through the creamiest of subjects: an orchid-flavoured ice cream  richer in vitamin A than breast milk  from Maras, supposedly where the dessert originates (again, always playfully mythologising). And Erdogans troubling, paranoid ascendance is mirrored by the rise of what may be the largest prison in Europe. We are never left to drown in statistics, though. Kent always keeps us above water with bewitching narratives.

A slim epilogue betrays Kents frustration with a story left incomplete. The May 2023 general election, which saw Erdogan consolidate his grip on the judiciary and media, was, anticlimactically, a turning point that didnt turn. Though this ending and points of this book fan out to wider lessons, there remains one issue with Kents history of Turkey: its insularity.

It is a personal history, but when mentioning Erdogan and the democratic state of a nation where elections are not, perhaps, free and fair, but free enough, competing visions of Turkey as a nation are left unaddressed. Kent is conspicuously critical of Erdogan, but fails to probe the presidents own political vision; what are its roots, its ambitions, its lessons for other democracies facing rising authoritarian leaders? Kents journey is engrossing, but, sadly, solitary. A shame, then, that he didnt make space for his thoughts on the local elections this year, which hint towards a different trajectory.

The Endless Country is published by Picador at 20. To order your copy for 16.99, call 0808 196 6794 or visit Telegraph Books

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BEDFORD  Four potential road improvement projects in Bedford County considered for Smart Scale funding through the Virginia Department of Transportation drew comments from 10 county residents during a public hearing this week.

Virginias Smart Scale program was established more than a decade ago to dedicate funding and create a data-based evaluation process for transportation projects across the state, according to a staff report presented to the Bedford County Board of Supervisors on Monday. Localities may apply for up to four projects under each round and eligible projects are scored by a cost-benefit analysis with no county funding match required, county engineer Erik Smedley said.

Three projects the county is considering for the upcoming round are adding left turns at three intersections: Virginia 122 and Fancy Farm Road in close proximity to Liberty High School between the town of Bedford and Goode; U.S. 221 and Centerville Road; and White House Road and Radford Church Road in the Smith Mountain Lake area. The fourth project is improvements on Virginia 122 at the Hales Ford Bridge over Smith Mountain Lake, one scenario including a roundabout on the Bedford County side of the bridge and one without a roundabout.

Smedley said the driving factor behind the three turn lane projects are safety.

Theres a high crash volume history at this location so those left turn lanes will hopefully reduce the number of rear-ends and annual crashes at this location, Smedley said of the potential project at Virginia 122 and Fancy Farm Road.

Smedley said the other two intersections also have had numerous crash incidents and the White House and Radford Church roads intersection is compounded by an influx of seasonal traffic in the summer.

The potential Hales Ford Bridge project is driven by safety and the need for access management improvements for homes and businesses in that stretch, Smedley said.

This roundabout is intended to enhance access for those adjoining roadways and adjacent properties, but it also serves as a big traffic calming feature to reduce speeding along Route 122 while managing the traffic volumes that flow through there, Smedley said.

Marson Kay and George J. Davis Jr., who each live on Virginia 122 north of the town of Bedford, voiced concerns during the hearing on how the Va. 122-Fancy Farm turn lanes proposal could affect their properties.

John Pace, who also lives on Virginia 122, said the problem has nothing to do with rear-end collisions but rather visibility from Centerville for vehicles entering Virginia 122. He said a neighbor of his has had to fix his fence near the road several times because vehicles have been pushed into it from collisions.

A turn lane and widening that road is only going to make the traffic go faster when they are already way too fast, Pace said. Thats the problem with that intersection.

Supervisor Tammy Parker agreed with Paces assessment and said the public comments are vital and appreciated for bringing a clear perspective to road issues. She said she drives past that intersection and the U.S. 221-Centerville and Timber Ridge Road crossing several times a week.

I dont see where widening the road and putting the turn lanes will help the problem, Parker said.

Neil Wente, who lives on Forest Road, or U.S. 221, said he strongly opposes the turn lane plan for the U.S. 221 intersection at Centerville and Timber Ridge roads. He said family members were hit at the intersection when a motorist ran a stop sign.

I know how dangerous it is, Wente said. There are constantly accidents there. They are not left-turn accidents. People arent getting rear-ended because they are turning left.

Motorists are getting hit there because drivers are running the stop signs and he is concerned turn lanes will make them go even faster, Wente said. He added turn lanes will not reduce the visibility problems at that intersection and he suggested looking into lowering the speed limit in that stretch.

I cant believe how fast people fly down the road, Wente said. Theres very little speed enforcement.

David Stanley, who lives close to the intersection, said an added turn lane would prevent him from getting into his driveway.

Garry Flint, who also lives in that stretch, said he supports lowering the speed to 35 miles per hour.

Ive almost been T-boned there. That is a dangerous intersection, Flint said. I dont see any need to have a turn lane . I think the biggest problem is people crossing from Timber Ridge to Centerville without stopping.

Gary Vertican, who lives at the lake just across from where the considered roundabout would go, said he favors a left turn over the roundabout. He told the board he feels the left turn lane option is more convenient for that busy stretch.

I understand the concept, Vertican said of the roundabout. Put it further up the road is all I ask. Dont take up my property.

Carol Grambling, lives on Moneta Road, or Virginia 122, said she doesnt like the roundabout idea.

I think its the stupidest thing Ive ever heard of, Grambling said. I have lived on Virginia 122 all my life; it is too much traffic for the road. Theres not enough law enforcement to keep the speeding down. There is definitely something needed to be done  but this roundabout is not going to fix it.

She said turn lanes may help with the speeding issue in that stretch.

Id like to see who does 45 miles per hour through there  nobody, she said.

A board work session will be held June 24 to give the projects further review. Final applications are due Aug. 1 and projects are expected to be awarded in June 2025. If any county projects are awarded funding the earliest construction would start is 2027, according to Smedley.

Also during the meeting, the board voted unanimously to adopt VDOTs secondary six-year plan for 2025-30. The $7.4 million for the Bedford residency of VDOT includes 20 rural rustic road projects, including seven new ones, and four countywide cost centers for various activities related to secondary road construction but not related to a specific project.
BEDFORD  A new memorial honoring Bedford County soldiers killed during the Vietnam War received county officials approval this week to be placed at the county courthouse.

Bedford County Board of Supervisors member Mickey Johnson, who read a poem he wrote about the sacrifices of Bedford soldiers in Vietnam during Mondays meeting, choked up as he motioned for a resolution granting permission for a new memorial at the courthouse. Johnson spoke of the wonderful events the week prior at the National D-Day Memorial and in the town of Bedford honoring the sacrifices of local soldiers who fought and died at D-Day and World War II.

Folks, its time Bedford stepped up and recognized the men we lost in Vietnam, Johnson said. Im here begging tonight for this board to allow us to put something in front of the courthouse over there.

Johnson, served in the military from 1974 to 1977, said for the past 17 years he has worked on the initiative to install a new memorial and has talked to various families with loved ones who died in the war. His passion for the project led him to pen a poem that started:

It was the 1960s and Bedford was hot. Rock n roll was big and Bedford Lake was the spot. A battle across the globe in another land, the invasion was startingband by band. The Beatles and The Rolling Stones were part of the charge, it wouldnt be long until they loomed quite large.

Another battle brewed, Southeast Asia the place, the north against the south, the U.S. set up a base. Most folks never heard of a place called Vietnam  didnt care what happened there, didnt give a damn.

Johnsons poem addressed the wars effects on the county over the course of years, the Tet Offensive, the battle of Hamburger Hill and intense fighting in Cambodia. The writing named Bedford Countys soldiers killed in battle.

Maybe we should thank them and remember their sorrow, for these young men from Bedford, there is no tomorrow, his poem concluded.

Johnson said the price to pay the new memorial is small compared to what those local veterans in Vietnam paid for us. A sister of one of those fallen Bedford soldiers in the Vietnam War attended Mondays meeting and embraced Johnson after it adjourned.

Supervisor John Sharp asked to get a copy of Johnsons poem, calling it tremendous. Sharp said he has a family member who served in Vietnam and he wholeheartedly supports a Bedford memorial.

I would love to see this happen, Sharp said.

Johnson said he knew several soldiers from Bedford killed in Vietnam and the community felt the impact, even though those losses were spread over years and not at the same time as The Bedford Boys, a group of soldiers from the town who suffered heavy casualties in the first wave of D-Day in June 1944.

It was such a divisive war, so it was hard for the public to support our Vietnam veterans, Johnson said after Mondays meeting. I dont agree with it, but I understand it. The Vietnam veteran represented to the American people something they didnt like where in World War II, the soldier represented freedom and victory.

A staff report to the board said local residents and community partners, including the American Legion and the Bedford Moose Lodge, are in support of the new memorial, an envisioned five-by-five-foot square of space in front of the courthouse on East Main Street in Bedford. The report states Bedford Circuit Court Judge James Updike Jr. has given his permission for the memorial to be placed there and asked that he be part of the ongoing discussion of design selection and placement.

The installation is targeted for early fall and no request for county funding for the project has been received to date, the staff report states. A few Vietnam veterans, including former county supervisor Andy Dooley, attended the meeting Monday in show of support.

Board chair Edgar Tuck acknowledged them during its approval vote that drew applause from the audience.

Thank you, gentlemen, for your service, Tuck said.
Child sexual abuse charges were filed Thursday against a Moneta man who admitted to leading a group that swats police departments, causing them to respond to fake emergency calls.

Evan Strauss, 26, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Roanoke on charges of sexual exploitation of a child, stalking and possession of child pornography.

Strauss was arrested after the FBI conducted a search of his home in connection with an investigation of other crimes  swatting and the extortion of people online, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

During the February search, Strauss told federal agents that he was an active member of a group of about 200 individuals known as the Community, and that he operated a sub-group within the Community known as Purgatory, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

Authorities say the groups participate in a variety of crimes nationwide, including placing swatting calls, hacking, blackmailing individuals for money and extorting women and girls to obtain explicit photos or videos of themselves.

The FBI began an investigation of the groups swatting calls in late 2023. Many of the calls targeted public officials and politicians, according to a search warrant filed in U.S. District Court in Roanoke.

In one case, the Columbus Police Department in Ohio received 911 calls from someone who claimed to be on the top floor of a casino. The caller threatened to blow up the facility, made various anti-government statements, demanded that a ransom be delivered to the casino in an unmarked vehicle, and threated to start shooting if the caller saw law enforcement arriving, the search warrant states.

Another false call targeted an unidentified state senator, according to documents that did not include additional information.
TOKYO, Jun 15 (News On Japan) - In response to the issue of potential tuition hikes at several national universities, including the University of Tokyo, students have staged protests and submitted a petition to the government expressing their strong opposition.

Students of the University of Tokyo said, 'As the only ones who can currently raise our voices, we must sincerely address the tuition hike issue, considering future students. We are firmly opposed to tuition hikes that unfairly distort students' career choices.'

The students held a press conference at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, warning that if tuition hikes are implemented at the University of Tokyo, it could have a ripple effect on other universities.

A survey conducted on campus revealed that over 90% of respondents opposed the tuition increases.

Additionally, a gathering of national university students and faculty was held at the House of Representatives Office Building, where they submitted a petition to the government requesting an increase in operational grants.

University of Tokyo President Teruo Fujii plans to hold a discussion with students on the 21st, stating, 'We will listen to opinions from both inside and outside the university and carefully assess the situation.'

Source: ANN
TOKYO, Jun 15 (News On Japan) - In-N-Out Burger, the American fast-food chain beloved by Shohei Ohtani, opened for one day in Tokyo on June 15.

Crowds formed early, with lines stretching outside the store. By 6:30 a.m., distribution of tickets had begun, and by 9 a.m., all 800 tickets were gone, selling out completely.

A customer, who had traveled to see Ohtani play in Los Angeles, shared, I waited six and a half hours to finally taste it. I first tried it during Ohtani's game in LA and couldn't wait to have it here in Japan. I am thrilled to eat the same burger. It's delicious.

In-N-Out Burger is a West Coast staple in the U.S., known for using fresh, never frozen meat.

Another customer commented, I arrived at 8:30 a.m. and waited about five hours. I came earlier than my first class at school. It's incredibly delicious. The meat is truly juicy.

A fan was heard cheering, Go Ohtani!

This special event brought a taste of Ohtanis favorite to Tokyo, leaving fans both full and satisfied.

Source: ANN
A new record 120 million people have been forcibly displaced worldwide due to conflict, violence, and persecution, according to a recent United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) report.

The overall number of refugees reached a whopping 117.3 million people as of the end of 2023, representing a significant increase from the previous year. This figure has likely increased even further during the first half of 2024.

Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, attributed this rise to ongoing conflicts and the impact of climate change.

This year, for the 12th consecutive year, the number of refugees and displaced people has grown from 114 to 120 million. Behind these numbers lie just as many human tragedies, which only solidarity and concerted action can alleviate and resolve, Grandi wrote in an X post announcing the report release on Thursday.

The UNHCR report covers the agencys response to 43 emergencies across 29 countries in 2023. Some of the worst hit places include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gaza, and Myanmar.

The ongoing civil war in Sudan, according to UNHCR, has resulted in the displacement of nearly 11 million people as of the end of last year. Of these, nine million have been internally displaced, while two million have sought refuge in neighboring countries, such as Chad, Egypt, and South Sudan.

The UN agency reported that the Syrian crisis continues to be the worlds largest displacement driver, with 13.8 million people internally and externally displaced.

The report also highlighted the fact that over half of the displaced individuals are still within their own countries. However, the number of refugees and those requiring international protection has risen to 43.4 million.

The UNHCR findings challenge the widely held belief that most refugees flee to wealthy countries. The report reveals that 75% are hosted in low- and middle-income nations, which collectively generate less than 20% of global income.
Moroccans have lost nearly 11 million in fees for rejected Schengen visas last year.

In 2023, the number of Moroccan nationals who had their Schengen visas applications rejected amounted to 136,367, costing 10.9 million or about 117 million MAD. This places Morocco second among African countries in numbers of visa rejections.

While the Kingdom led African countries in the highest number of Schengen visa refusals in 2022, according to Schengen News, Algeria surpassed it in 2023, with the financial impact estimated to have amounted to 13.3 million.

The visa rejection rate for Moroccan nationals constituted 8.3% of the total for African countries.

African and Asian countries experience high rejection rates, bearing 90% of the costs associated with the denied visa applications, according to the data revealed by Schengen News.

African nationals collectively spent 56.3 million on visa application fees, representing 43% of the global total in 2023, a significant financial burden on applicants from the continent.
Moroccos biggest mining company, Managem, bought Sound Energy Morocco East Limited as it seeks to diversify into gas, the company said.

Managem acquired 55% of the Tendrara concession, 47.5% of the Grand Tendrara Permit and 47.5% of Anoual Exploration.

The transaction would help Managem contribute to the development of gas production in the country with the expected start of production in Tendrara gas field in mid-2025 at 100 million cubic meters.

Managem said production would increase to 280 million cubic meters, as part of the second phase of the project that also provides for connecting the field to the Maghreb Europe Gas pipeline.

Sound Energy Plc selected Managem after an open and competitive process. Sound Energy, which was looking for an investor to finance its development, has found in Managem a solid long-term partner capable of developing and carrying out this project for the benefit of all Moroccan industrialists who will thus benefit from clean and cheaper energy for their activities. Managem CEO Imad Toumi said.

Although modest in size, the Tendrara project will contribute positively to the Kingdoms energy independence and trade balance. In addition, the Group is actively looking for other gas assets in Africa, thus strengthening its diversification strategy and contributing to the energy development of the continent, he added.
it's odd how the FBI took that informant's tip seriously because there have been other mass shootings that could have been avoided if cops had taken the concerns of civilians seriously. I know the FBI is not the police but still.

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I think FBI actually takes tips seriously compared to the cops. You always hear of tips going ignored and unchecked when it comes to cop.



But also I imagine this informant is long-time associate of them so they're gonna take it seriously coming from them.

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yeah the person who left the tip wasnt a random person, he was an undercover agent embedded within the gun show where prieto was attempting to recruit help for his plot. that kind of social circle is swarming with undercover agents pretending to be civilians.



Edited at 2024-06-15 12:28 am (UTC)

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Right, and then telling people about this, there's always an angle

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D:!!



Thank God it got stopped but OMG!!



"The FBI arrested Prieto on May 14, the date of the first Bad Bunny concert, during which he admitted to discussing attack plans but denied intending to carry them out."



It's all guts and glory until you're caught 

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End him.



Im so thankful for that informant, so many lives have been saved. I cant even allow myself to imagine how people who attended that concert feel reading something like this.

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he believed Black people cant have any feeling, theyre not people, they are monsters as far as Im concerned. Court documents revealed that Prieto wanted to provoke a "race war prior to the 2024 United States Presidential Election."





How is this a real thig? Like I get it but I also don't want to get it - does that make sense?



Wtf. So glad they caught him.

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Also cases like this is why for the longest time I did not go to the movie theaters. I got spooked after the aurora shootings cause it's all random and non-preventable. It's literally wrong place, wrong time :'(



We could've had another Manchester tragedy here.

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I'm not even in the US but that Aurora shooting definitely left its mark on me too. I often think about it in the cinema and get a bit freaked out when people show up late or act weird at all. And then I go through this mental pep talk like "this is a small movie, it's a Wednesday, if someone wanted to do that they would pick a big opening night". It's not great.



I also ended up scrapping my dream of an exchange year in the US (one reason why I went back to university in the first place) because the Uvalde shooting was the last straw for me. I know it's still statistically unlikely but what scares me the most is how mass shootings are an everyday occurrence but most people running the country don't even care.

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""this is a small movie, it's a Wednesday, if someone wanted to do that they would pick a big opening night". It's not great."



OMG literally me a few weeks ago when I went to go see Furiosa!! I was like "*makes sign of the cross* it's early morning saturday, this place is kinda empty *makes sign of the cross again* lol"..... They got us fucked up here NGL!

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Super late to this post, but I have completely stopped going to movies, concerts, theme parks, etc. because of the fear of gun violence. I work for a local government that had a mass shooting event (not my department, but I do know people who were directly impacted), and any time I have to be in any of the buildings near where it happened, I am absolutely riddled with anxiety the whole time. The fact that nothing is being done to stop this and the far-right is getting closer to being fully in power is terrifying. I do not have ties in any other countries, so I am just stuck in this godforsaken place hoping I don't get caught in a mass shooting event.

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I'm so glad this was thwarted. How scary.



The way white supremacists are obsessed with race wars is so very telling to me. They really think people think about race wars as much as they do. The other side is not looking to participate in a race war. It just shows such a narrow view of the world. Both hateful and totally ignorant.

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I remember reading a thing awhile back about how there are a lot of white supremacists in the Canadian military and their favourite power fantasy is starting a race war and blowing up bridges.



It's so perverse, like they have weird pervasive fantasies about hunting down black, brown and Jewish people.

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wtffffff. I can't say I'm surprised but I guess I'm surprised that I hadn't heard this before.

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Because Pietro is such an 'American' name. This dude forgot that Italians were considered inferior, less intelligent and capable just 100 years ago. Idiot.

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I read it as Pietro initially too but it's actually Prieto, so I'm guessing he's Spanish or Latino.



Edited at 2024-06-15 12:41 am (UTC)

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Thank you for the correction. I totally misread the name, but it's not like these neo-Nazi nutters like Spaniards/Latinos any better. I really don't get the mental gymnastics these men do to justify their action. It's not like Trump, the republicans and their MAGA followers keep their hate hidden.

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prieto is a kinda not nice nickname for darker skinned people in some countries, so...ya know. the irony. at the end of summer, basically all my male cousins were called prieto, and not in a cutesy kinda way.

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Well that's fucking terrifying.



JFC I'm glad he was stopped.

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I'm so glad this was stopped, I hope they shake that tree until the limbs fall off.

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I don't even have words. This is sick.

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you wanted to start a race war with puerto ricans? we haven't gotten off our asses to do shit politically since the fucking 70s



...oh wait, let me actually read this shit, wtf??



let's kill him. can i say that? i'm done with these motherfuckers. let's just kill them.

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so much wrong with this and his statement. Atlanta has always had Black people, and more Black people are in the South because that's where our families stayed after Emancipation. They have stronger roots in Georgia  which is still teetering between progressive and conservative  than this white man.

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I was gonna say the same thing. Black people have been in Georgia forever.



these people need black history more than anyone jfc

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Holy fuck

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he only said he wasn't gonna do it because he got caught coward

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Attacking innocent people is cowardly. No need to assume there was any bravery here to begin with.

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Remember when Nigerian scammers tried to steal Graceland?



Well weve got a story for you. It led us to a scammer grandma with a decades-long rap sheet and me to the door of a trailer in Branson for answers. https://t.co/KUIX49ifbo  Brandy Zadrozny (@BrandyZadrozny) June 14, 2024

Previous posts: one NBC News has done some incredible investigative reporting into the attempt to auction off Graceland. Instead of the Nigerian scammers that allegedly took credit, the culprit seems to be...a grandma from Missouri.not to a gang of scammers in West Africa, but to a city five hours northwest of Graceland, and Near the end of last summer,loan she had supposedly taken out in 2018, putting up Graceland as collateral. The documents used as evidence of the debt, which included Presleys signature and a notarys, had been forged, according to the estates lawyers. However,And Naussany, as a name, also did not seem to exist. There was no record of it in any of the numerous public records databases used by NBC News, nor in business or court filings. A new Facebook profile was created for Carloyn Naussany, an apparent misspelling of Carolyn, described as a self-employed entrepreneur in Branson. The account would be used as a weapon in a battle between a local nail salon and a disgruntled former employee whom Lisa had befriended.and included personal insults and accusations about the owners, threats of legal action and tales of dissatisfaction. Along with the seemingly fake reviews, the salon began receiving texts from someone claiming to be Carolyn, a Missouri state investigator who didnt give a last name. In the texts, The salons owners sought orders of protection against Carballo last September. They claimed he was behind a bizarre harassment campaign that included spamming their business with negative fake reviews and constant texts and emails from the investigator named Carolyn. Salon owner Karen Virtudazo wrote in her court filings she was continually sent emails, texts, phone calls posing as law enforcement, attorneys, the Missouri attorney general, Secretary of state investigator and the U.S. Marshall. She wrote that one attorney, who she later learned to be fake, said she was being sued for $1 million and asked for her Social Security number to protect her. Virtudazo gave it. She soon began receiving credit alerts showing that someone was applying for loans in her name. A recent immigrant from Belize, Carballo had found work doing nails in the salon. It would be a brief gig and an acrimonious split with the owners.. Lisa offered him a room in her home, and after the falling out with the salon owners, the promise of support.In court filings and in an interview with NBC News, Carballo insisted he wasnt a part of any harassment.She was terrorizing these people, Carballo said of Lisas constant emails, texts and reviews., according to an email obtained by NBC News., of Jefferson City, Missouris Investigations Dept, which does not exist. In January, Carballo filed a request to dismiss Virtudazos protective order case. In February, Carballo submitted a handwritten letter to the court in the protection order case.in Shelby County Chancery Court in Tennessee seeking to prevent the Presley estate from stopping the foreclosure sale of Graceland.. In that filing, the Naussany company included a copy of an email in which Kurt Naussany seeks records from U.S. Bank. His email signature includes the 7074 number., according to public records databases. Do you remember when the movie came out, Catch Me If You Can? Lisas ex-husband Steven Sullins asked last week in a phone interview with NBC News, recalling the 2002 Leonardo DiCaprio film about a professional forger and conman. Thats her. Thats what she does. Lisas first reported brush with the law was in 1997, when she was 26 in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, for writing a bogus check.Prosecutors claimed she used fake Social Security numbers to obtain more than $180,000 in loans from Tulsa banks. Lisa pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement in an application for a loan and was sentenced to 20 months and restitution. By 2009 Lisa was on supervised parole, but couldnt stop committing crimes, according to her parole officer, who asked a judge to consider putting her back in prison. After spending much of 2010 and 2011 imprisoned in Oklahoma, Lisa was released. Over the next three years, she moved 11 times, mostly following a trail of lovers whom she met on internet dating sites and repeatedly scammed. A judge threw her back in jail.According to the governments case, from around 2006, Linda had been luring victims into investing in a fake hedge fund called RGM Enterprises LLC with promises of 40% returns. (One victim said he was later told by authorities it stood for Really Great Money.) The company came with a Las Vegas phone number and a fancy Las Vegas office address but in reality, was being run through a post office box. Promotional materials boasted a large staff, including a Cornell-educated chief operating officer, Joshua Nichols. After the FBI failed to find any record of him, the U.S. magistrate judge in the case wrote, it is questionable whether Joshua Nichols is an actual person.Eventually the FBI got involved after millions of dollars were stolen. Linda pleaded guilty to wire fraud and tax fraud and was sentenced to 45 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Last summer, Lisas son said she traded in her car and bought him a truck from South Pointe Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in Tulsa. Shortly afterward, "Kurt Naussany" left a review for the same dealership alleging that the business accepted trade-in cars that had been stolen.and that she had filed a report with the county. (Representatives for Taney County and Stone County were unable to locate such a record.) She said that she would be taking the list of Naussany connections to the sheriff that day to file a complaint of identity theft., demanding the reporter end all communication. Within half an hour of the reporters visit, the Carloyn Naussany Facebook account had been deleted.
LINCOLN  Competing Nebraska petition drives trying to add abortion provisions into the state constitution have already raised a combined $4.3 million as they enter the homestretch for collecting signatures.

Three petitions are actively in circulation across Nebraska that would either expand or limit abortion access. Each of the proposed constitutional amendments needs to collect about 123,000 authorized signatures from registered voters by July 3 to make it onto the November ballot.

Fundraising reports filed with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission show contributions through May 31.

At that point, the Protect Our Rights campaign held the fundraising lead with about $2.3 million collected since organizers launched their effort in October. The initiative aims to establish the right to abortion up until fetal viability, typically considered around 23-24 weeks of pregnancy.

Protect Our Rights contributions came from a mix of individual donors and advocacy groups. Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska has given a total of $544,000, the Nebraska Appleseed Action Fund gave nearly $329,000 and Barbara Weitz, a University of Nebraska regent, gave $200,000.

Another group, Protect Women and Children, is close behind at just over $2 million raised since its filing in March. The initiative would ban abortions in the second and third trimester of pregnancy, except for abortions meant to save the life of the pregnant woman, which is slightly less restrictive than current Nebraska law.

Current Nebraska law bans abortions after 12 weeks based on gestational age.

Nearly all of Protect Women and Childrens money came from two major Republican donors: U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, a former governor, and the Peed family. Each contributed $1 million.

The third abortion initiative, Choose Life Now, is far behind in fundraising, having garnered just $1,500 in a single donation from campaign sponsor Rose Kohl. Filed in May, the initiative proposes an amendment to recognize the personhood of preborn children, wording that is designed to outlaw nearly all abortions in the state.

The first two petitions have spent the bulk of their funds to hire paid circulators. Protect Women and Children still had over $1 million available on May 31, while Protect Our Rights had roughly $450,000 on hand.

Other Nebraska ballot initiatives have also brought in substantial contributions.

A petition aimed at providing paid sick leave for all Nebraska workers has raised the most so far: more than $2.9 million during 2023 and 2024 so far. Its organizers recently said the campaign is on track to turn in their signatures ahead of deadline.

Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, which has a pair of proposals seeking a November vote on legalizing medical cannabis in the state, has brought in roughly $1.1 million over the past two years. The campaign has tried to get on the ballot twice before, with its last attempt in 2022 coming up short partly due to a lack of funding. The campaign raised roughly $378,000 then.

Support Our Schools Nebraska raised over $771,000 in the last two months since it launched its petition drive in April. The campaign has until mid-July to turn in signatures. It seeks to repeal a section of a recently passed bill, giving the campaign 90 days from the end of Nebraskas legislative session on April 18.

Support Our Schools wants to repeal the first section of Legislative Bill 1402, which allocates $10 million a year to scholarship funds to help students go to K-12 private and faith-based schools. The same group ran a successful petition drive last year to repeal a similar law, garnering over $1.7 million in donations then, but that initiative will no longer appear on the ballot because LB 1402 already repealed the law it targeted.

Meanwhile, the EPIC Option initiative, which seeks to eliminate property, income, inheritance and sales taxes starting in 2026 and replace them with a broad-based consumption tax, received about $183,000 in contributions over in the past two years. It also must contend with an opposing campaign, No New Taxes Nebraska, which has raised nearly $100,000 over the past four months.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of June 2024
Sniper: Choice Killer Substance?

Loveth, a university admission-seeker recently took her life in Ekiugbo, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

According to a witness, she was reportedly displeased with the 163 mark she got in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

To show her disenchantment, she consumed three bottles of Sniper, an insecticide. The bottles were found by her side on the day she was found lifeless.

A Niger Delta University student, Aduba Daniel also committed suicide by drinking Sniper after he discovered he had carryover in his courses.

This came shortly after Ayomide and Ajani Damilola of University of Lagos were reported to have killed themselves using the insecticide following the accusations that they stole clothes in their hostel.

Another 32-year-old banker and mother of two, identified as Peace, of Ughelli, Delta State, committed suicide over her husbands alleged infidelity. She also took Sniper.

Community sources said the deceased, who worked with one of the new generation banks along Market Road, Ughelli, did not leave a suicide note.

These are just a few cases of those who have consumed the insecticide in a bid to take their lives. A few have survived.

Many are not so lucky.

Bottles of sniper can be picked up easily on the streets as they are sold openly in the market.

Increased suicides by Sniper?

In Nigeria, Sniper, which is an insecticide seems to be serving another purpose, it seems.

Many cases of suicides reported in recent months are carried out through the use of the substance. Some are unreported.

The first thing that comes to peoples mind when the thought of suicide comes is sniper, says a respondent.

The lethargy of the authorities in observing this and the easy access many have to this substance is creating anxiety in some quarters.

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), it estimated that the method used for 20 per cent of global suicides was through pesticide self-poisoning, most of which occurred in rural agricultural areas in low- and middle-income countries.

Dangerous Substance

A microbiologist, Fatima Ahmed, explains the danger inherent in using the substance for a purpose for which it is not meant for.

Sniper, is a DDVP, 2,2-Dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate compound, marketed in Nigeria by Swiss-Nigerian Chemical Company, as a synthetic organophosphorus but which many Nigerians have converted to an indoor insecticide.

The instruction on Sniper says apply diluted portions to crops and theres a withdrawal time in which the crop should not be consumed so the active ingredient degrades to minimal level before consumption. Now compare this minute concentration to drinking from the original sniper bottle, she told PREMIUM TIMES.

According to her, health experts have raised concerns over the indiscriminate use of Sniper pesticide in the control of mosquitoes, cockroaches and other household insects.

They warned on its dangerous effects, especially to respiratory organs and even carcinogenic risks. A person may be exposed to the associated risk of Sniper through inhalation, absorption via the skin, ingestion, and eye contact.

The popularity of Sniper use amongst Nigerians as an insecticide has grown in recent times, owing to its effectiveness in killing insects better than well-established brands of insecticide, she said.

The demand is also fuelled by its affordability, she adds.

A 100ml of Sniper goes for between N200 and N300 as against Baygon of N700 for 100ml or Killit of N750.

However Nigerians may be paying a heavier price with their health in the long term, if the trend is left unchecked, she added.

Other experts approached for comments warn that exposure to Sniper and other insecticides made from DDVP may affect the eyes, skin, respiratory system, cardiovascular system, central nervous system and blood system.

While some have survived after using Sniper in a bid to end their lives, many others did not survive, a mini-research conducted online by this reporter reveals.

But come to think of it, why the option of Sniper, once the thought of committing suicide emerges?

While some people think the use of Sniper is due to its accessibility, others said it is quick and effective.

Domestic Sniper Users

PREMIUM TIMES interacted with some housewives in Suleja, Niger State who regularly use the substance in their homes for fumigation.

Joy Monday said the availability of the insecticide is the major problem.

The problem is the accessibility of sniper. It is seen almost everywhere around, once you enter the market for example Suleja here, you would find out that there are about 50 people selling it.

Mrs Monday added that the insecticide is very effective when one needs to get rid of insects such as cockroaches and ants.

I do not know why it should be used for a different purpose (suicide) as to what it is meant for? she said.

Rahma Usman explained the effectiveness of the substance further.

Sniper, as a pesticide, is mainly because of the effect it has on various reptiles. When we use insecticides like Baygon, they are good for insects like cockroaches, mosquitoes and the likes, but things like lizards, wall-geckos and other reptiles including dangerous ones, cannot withstand the smell of Snipers. However, I mostly prefer to use it around my house, not inside the room, she said.

Mrs Usman added that everyone knows that suicide is dangerous.

I think its because Sniper ranks among the most available tools for the commission of suicide, that is why it is dangerous.

She also gives an insight into why persons will contemplate ending it all.

Finally, if it helps, I would like to add my opinion on some reasons why people may anticipate suicide.

This includes a failure on the part of friends and associates to notice a friend slowly falling into depression. Many people exhibit tendencies of depression, but if they are not noticed, they end up killing themselves.

She further said other causes include lack of parental care, failure to attain specified goals, and social ineptitude, among others.

New Dimension?

Efforts to get the Federal Ministry of Health to weigh in on this report were unsuccessful. Its spokesperson, Akinola Boade referred the reporter to a staffer called Jude to get the desired information.

But Mr Jude did not pick multiple calls from the reporter or respond to messages.

But in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) spokesperson, Abubakar Jimoh, explained what the agency is doing to regulate dangerous substances.

We are in charge of regulation of chemicals. We have over the years put out control measures, he tells PREMIUM TIMES. What we witnessing now is a new dimension.

In the past what NAFDAC use to battle with under late Dora Akunyili was to mount a ceaseless campaign against acid attack. If I may let you know, the fact that we are controlling chemical does not mean people would not just use it. Even water can kill, anything surrounding you can kill.

What looks very alien in the past is now common. In the past, we use to read those things on the pages of newspaper that abroad, people are committing suicide, it is not in the African culture at all. But now it is with us, people jump into lagoon, others use Sniper.

He said Sniper is just one way people commit suicide.

It is one aspect, maybe if an individual quickly wants to reach out (die) instead of going to the lagoon. But that does not lie within the remit of NAFDAC. Just like talking of road safety, controlling the road movement of vehicle and every other thing and somebody decides to run across the road, how does the VIO get involved in such a situation?

He, however, said the agency is doing its job.

NAFDAC is doing its own work. We are regulating the importation, distribution and the use of chemicals in Nigeria. What we are also concerned about is the abuse of those chemicals. The management of the agency is trying to take a look at it.

What we are witnessing now is a new dimension that is agitating everybody and at NAFDAC end, the management is also looking at how we can come in, even though it does not directly fall within the remit of NAFDAC.

NAFDAC is a federal agency responsible for regulating and controlling the manufacture, importation, exportation, advertisement, distribution, sale and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals and packaged water in Nigeria.

Global Challenge

Suicide is a complex issue involving numerous factors and should not be attributed to any one single cause, experts say.

Not all people who die by taking their own lives have been diagnosed with a mental illness and not all people with a mental illness attempt to end their lives by suicide.

People who have died by suicide typically had overwhelming feelings of hopelessness, despair, and helplessness, research has shown.

Suicide is not about a moral weakness or a character flaw. People considering suicide feel as though their pain will never end and that suicide is the only way to stop hurting.

A 2001 World Health Organisation report on the global challenge laments lack of adequate access to treatment for the mentally infirm by many developing nations.

Constant exposure to severely stressful events, dangerous living conditions, exploitation, and poor health in general all contribute to the greater vulnerability of the poor. The lack of access to affordable treatment makes the course of the illness more severe and debilitating, leading to a vicious circle of poverty and mental health disorders that is rarely broken, the report states.

It, however, says nations should de-emphasise focusing on traditional mental health institutions but focus on community care alternatives.

Such institutions (formal mental health facilities) lead to a loss of social skills, excessive restriction, human rights violations, dependency, and reduced opportunities for rehabilitation. Countries should move towards setting up community care alternatives in a planned manner, ensuring that such alternatives are in place even as institutions are being phased out, the world body said.

Nuggets Of Help

The founder, Smart Suicide Prevention Initiative (SSPI), Smart Chongo, in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES gave some tips on how to help stem the tide. These are reproduced below:

1. REMOVE YOURSELF FROM DANGER OR (IF SAFE) STAY WHERE YOU ARE

Thoughts of suicide can hit hardest when youre in a potentially dangerous area or situation (driving, standing on a balcony, or near guns, weapons, or other potentially harmful objects.

Individuals should physically move or back away from the area or situation in order to minimise the potential of acting on suicidal thoughts.

Do not take unnecessary risks by having weapons or extra medications around  ask a friend or family member to keep or put them away.

2. SLOW YOUR BREATHING

Slowing your breathing helps slow your heart rate and supplies more oxygen to your brain, while also shifting your attention away from whatever thoughts youre having.

Take a few deep inhales and exhales to regain control of your breath  four seconds in, hold for four, four seconds out, hold for four, repeat.

3. RE-FOCUS

There are different ways to do this and some may work better than others for you. Work toward distancing yourself (i.e., shifting attention away) from the negative thoughts of hurting yourself.

A. VISUALIZATIONS: Focusing on breathing can help, especially when combined with visualisations. Imagine your lungs filling up with air, your diaphragm rising and falling. The more detail you add, the better.

If you are counting your breaths, you can also try to visualise the numbers.

For some, imagining yourself in a safe and calming space, being with someone you love, or looking to your faith can help.

B. USE YOUR SENSES: Victim should close his/her eyes for a few moments and then open them. They should focus their attention on whatever is around them.

Try describing what you see in as much detail as possible  whats the texture of the ground, what colours are the walls, what sounds can you hear? Imagine youre writing a scene in a book and be as detailed as possible.

The more senses you use, the more you will be able to shift your focus away from painful thoughts.

C. MUSCLE RELAXATIONS: Often, when you feel overwhelmed, your muscles tighten without realising it. (Your shoulders or jaw may flex, or you may make your hands into fists).

Focus on relaxing your muscles. Start with your head and try to relax each muscle group working your way down (face, jaw, neck, shoulders, back, arms, legs, calves, etc). You can use your hands to massage your neck or shoulders as well.

4. REACH OUT

If using the techniques above dont help alleviate the intensity of your suicidal thoughts, its time to reach out. Even if you dont think the thoughts were that serious, reaching out to others is a good habit to get into. Surround yourself with people you care about, rather than shutting down and isolating yourself. The people you care about want to help  let them know whats going on.

Call the helpline or a friend and explain to them that youre going through a particularly rough time and need their support.

Dont let worries or fears of being locked up prevent you from reaching out and sharing suicidal thoughts with others. There are a variety of professional services and levels of care that can help. Like treating other illness or injuries, for some guys hospital care is a crucial and temporary step needed for recovery.

If you need more urgent support, dont hesitate to call 08062106493. Your safety is your first priority and there are professionals out there to help.onals out there to help.
Founder of DAAR Communications  RayPower and AIT  Raymond Dokpesi, was arrested at the Abuja Airport on his return from medical treatment at the American Hospital, Dubai, on Friday.

AIT announced the arrest, quoting an immigration officer as saying Dokpesi is on Federal Governments security watchlist, and that there were instructions from above to arrest him on arrival.

Dokpesi is standing trial for alleged involvement in the diversion of N2.1 billion security funds by Sambo Dasuki, former National Security Adviser. He said his company was paid for media services.

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Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr Muhammad Babandede, Tuesday advised Nigerians to desist from patronising fake recruitment sites as the Service was not recruiting.

The spokesman of NIS, Mr Sunday James, in a statement on Tuesday, said that Babandede gave the warning due to the increasing activities of fraudsters across the country.

This notice became necessary due to the increasing activities of fraudsters that have remained unrepentant.

After several arrests and arraignment they continue to open fake recruitment sites through which they defraud unsuspecting citizens of their money.

The fake recruitment sites created by the fraudsters include https://www.recruitment.com.ng/hotnigerianjobs/military/nigeria-immigration-recruitment-portal-www-immigration-gov-ng. NAN quoted him as saying.

He added that the NIS, apart from publishing its official recruitment in reputable newspapers, would not charge any fee for it.

-NAN




The Lagos State Fire Service says some vehicles in the premises of the Lagos Airport Hotel were gutted by fire and not the hotel.

Naija News reports had quoted a report onAN24 to have said that fire engulfed the Lagos Airport Hotel on Thursday evening, April 9.

The report had quoted the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Fire Service, Ahmodu Shakiru, to have said that some fire servicemen had been deployed to the scene of the fire outbreak.

A few minutes after the report, a terse statement emerged, quoting the Lagos State Fire Service PRO to have said that some vehicles in the premises of the Airport Hotel were gutted by fire.

Not the hotel but vehicles parked at the premises in which Lagos State Fire Service has put off the fire scare, please, the Fire Service PRO was quoted to have said.

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BLOOMINGTON  "Black History is American history and American history is Black history," said Jeff Woodard, director of marketing for the McLean County Museum of History.

Juneteenth, a federal holiday since 2021, represents the end of slavery in the United States under the Emancipation Proclamation. The holiday has been celebrated for over 150 years, but the first-ever celebration in Bloomington took place on the quad of Illinois Wesleyan University in 1993, according to Andrew Thomas, chairperson for the Bloomington-Normal Black History Project since October 2022.

"Last year we celebrated 30 years, and this year we will be celebrating once again to continue this movement," Thomas said. "Juneteenth encompasses a historical account of law, justice, Black history, which has an educational component, and remembrance. Juneteenth also makes conversation for local Black historians to be recognized for their work, so when we can recognize people on a local level like, we can remember Caribel Washington and Dr. Mildred Pratt, and we can also remember people like Frederick Douglas and Ida B. Wells who gave speeches about Black emancipation."

Washington and Pratt are credited as founding members of the B-N Black History Project in 1982.

This year, the organization, in partnership with the history museum and the City of Bloomington, will celebrate Juneteenth from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, June 22, at Miller Park. The event will feature kids activities, food trucks, informational and vendor booths, announcements, an appreciation awards ceremony and more.

"Juneteenth, the thing for me is 'justice delayed, justice denied,' and we need to be reminded of that," said Woodard, who also is a member of the B-N Black History Project. "I think it's a good thing and it's an opportunity for people to come together as a community and recognize the past."

A softball game between the City of Bloomington and the Town of Normal will take place at 10 a.m. June 22.

At noon, there will be a percussion discussion with Garry Moore, followed by an African fashion showcase with REHTSE Couture of Bloomington at 12:45 p.m. and a performance by Jump for Joy Squad Inc. at 1 p.m.

A talented kids segment will begin at 2 p.m. with performances from the BCAI School of Arts and the NAACP ACT-SO achievement program.

Urban dance performances from Rich Homie Panda and Jalen White will take place at 2:45 p.m.

The event will culminate with a 3 p.m. performance by V8 Vast Change.

The Juneteenth event is free to attend, and those who stop by will also receive free admission to the zoo and the putt-putt course.

The McLean County Museum of History also will offer free admission on Wednesday and Saturday in honor of Juneteenth.

"I think African Americans have a done great job in preserving our history and practicing routine and ritual, whether we are subconsciously aware that we are practicing it," Thomas said. "We've been attending Juneteenth events throughout the South, so for Black folk, this is nothing new."

As the holiday approaches, Thomas encourages those unfamiliar with Juneteenth to learn and ask questions about Black history, especially as it pertains to emancipation.

The B-N Black History Project will be present at the Miller Park event, he said, and attendees are welcome to sign up as volunteers or to interview/research for the oral histories project. The histories collected thus far are available in the library archives on the second floor of the history museum.

Thomas said the organization is involved in other local events, politics, housing, rituals, health care and more.

On June 30, the project will partner with Route History of Springfield for a virtual reality tour exploring Route 66 and Black history. The free event will take place at Mt. Pisgah Church, 801 W. Market St. in Bloomington. To RSVP for the free event, email jwoodard@mchistory.org or call 309-706-9866.

"Juneteenth is a celebration, and celebration is always a good thing," Woodard said.

Other Juneteenth events:

Freedom Day Celebration; 2-6 p.m. June 16, Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater, 2686 E. Cantrell St., Decatur; African dance and drumming.

2-6 p.m. June 16, Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater, 2686 E. Cantrell St., Decatur; African dance and drumming. Honoring Black Freedom; 1 p.m. June 16 Crystal Lake Park, 206 W. Park St., Urbana; music, food and fishing.

1 p.m. June 16 Crystal Lake Park, 206 W. Park St., Urbana; music, food and fishing. Juneteenth Block Party; noon-4 p.m. June 18, the alley in front of Safe Harbor, 208 N. Oak St., Bloomington; food, games, music, giveaways and networking opportunities.

noon-4 p.m. June 18, the alley in front of Safe Harbor, 208 N. Oak St., Bloomington; food, games, music, giveaways and networking opportunities. An Evening with Annette Gordon-Reed: The Long Road to Juneteenth; 6:30-7:30 p.m. June 18, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, 212 N. Sixth St.; free.

6:30-7:30 p.m. June 18, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, 212 N. Sixth St.; free. Juneteenth at BPL!; 10 a.m.-noon June 19, Community Rooms 1-3 at Bloomington Public Library, 205 E. Olive St., Bloomington; poet and children's author presentation, crafts, games, community resources and more.

10 a.m.-noon June 19, Community Rooms 1-3 at Bloomington Public Library, 205 E. Olive St., Bloomington; poet and children's author presentation, crafts, games, community resources and more. Tazewell County Juneteenth Observance; 10 a.m. June 19, Tazewell County Courthouse, Pekin; dedication of a new stone monument and new Illinois State historical marker for the Civil War 29th Colored Infantry Unit, and various speakers.

10 a.m. June 19, Tazewell County Courthouse, Pekin; dedication of a new stone monument and new Illinois State historical marker for the Civil War 29th Colored Infantry Unit, and various speakers. Juneteenth Celebration; 6:30-8:30 p.m. June 19, Contemporary Art Center of Peoria Preston Jackson Gallery, 305 SW. Water St., Peoria; highlighting Black artists, speakers and music; free.

6:30-8:30 p.m. June 19, Contemporary Art Center of Peoria Preston Jackson Gallery, 305 SW. Water St., Peoria; highlighting Black artists, speakers and music; free. Juneteenth Party & Open Stage hosted by Maestro; 7-10 p.m. June 19, Jazz Upfront, 107 W. Front St., Bloomington.

7-10 p.m. June 19, Jazz Upfront, 107 W. Front St., Bloomington. The Nature of Freedom: A Literary Commemoration of Juneteenth; 11 a.m. June 19, Union Theatre at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, 212 N. Sixth St., Springfield; free.

11 a.m. June 19, Union Theatre at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, 212 N. Sixth St., Springfield; free. Juneteenth Freedom Walk; 8:30 a.m. June 19, Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Road, Springfield.

8:30 a.m. June 19, Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Road, Springfield. Juneteenth Youth Breakfast; 10 a.m. June 19, Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Road, Springfield.

10 a.m. June 19, Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Road, Springfield. Fifth annual Juneteenth Festival; 4-8 p.m. June 19, Latham Park, Lincoln; live music, children's programs and activities, vendor fair and cookout.

4-8 p.m. June 19, Latham Park, Lincoln; live music, children's programs and activities, vendor fair and cookout. Juneteenth Concert with Syleena Johnson; 6 p.m. June 20, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts Lobby/Stage 5-6 area, 500 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana; free.

6 books that explain the history and meaning of Juneteenth Reading recommendations
Donald Trumps uninspired list of vice presidential prospects includes several men who have been critical of Trump, which could present problems for the ticket.

The former president  who has reportedly winnowed down his VP list to just a handful  needs somebody who can step into the Oval Office right away and be acceptable to the MAGA base.

Trumps legal problems and the real possibility of jail time remain a wild card, so Republican voters will want a VP whos qualified to be leader of the free world.

That candidate at the top of the list now appears to be Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. He has the experience and credentials and home state advantage but tangled with Trump eight years ago and will be viewed skeptically by the GOP faithful.

Trump has derided Rubio as little Marco and Rubio insulted Trump during the 2016 campaign, but those facts shouldnt get in the way of Trump picking him.

With the Trump campaign focusing heavily on the Latino vote, Rubios Cuban heritage and Spanish language skills gives him a huge advantage over his VP rivals.

There is one other problem with Rubio; Trump would have to move from his Florida voting address back to New York to avoid conflicting with a constitutional provision prohibiting the presidential ticket from living in the same state.

What Trump is really missing is a woman from his list. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem vanished from the prospects by disclosing she once shot her dog. People wont support a woman who killed her dog and boasted about it.

One longshot candidate who might be intriguing is Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders, the former White House flack. Sanders may be short on experience, but shes been through the ringer and is a good campaigner.

Whoever is VP  Democrat or Republican  has a very good chance of becoming president given the age of President Joe Biden and Trumps legal problems.

But most of the prospects are not ready for prime time  step to the front of the line, Doug Burgum. The 67-year-old governor of North Dakota ran an extremely unsuccessful campaign for president last year and dropped out early to become a VP candidate.

He somehow seems to have made it to Trumps narrowed list, probably because hes been a successful businessman. But no one is going to jump to the voting booth to vote for Doug Burgum.

Then theres J.D. Vance, the Ohio senator and former never Trumper whose clashes with the former president youd think would exclude him from the roster of potential picks. Vance would be viewed as disloyal by much of MAGA and his only upside is hes from a battleground Midwest state.

On the Democratic side, current Vice President Kamala Harris has the clear incumbency advantage if Biden should be unable to perform his duties or has to drop out.

The Wall Street Journal piece detailing the worries of some in the White House about Bidens mental capacities has made it even more critical that Democrats have a good VP nominee.
The United States Government, through the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative (PMI), is providing $6 million (87 million Ghana Cedis) for spraying households against malaria-carrying mosquitoes in northern Ghana, known as indoor residual spraying (IRS).



This years spraying campaign covered over 440,000 households across 10 districts in the Northern and North East Regions, protecting more than one million Ghanaians, including pregnant women and children under five years of age, who are particularly vulnerable to malaria.



This marks the 17th year in a row that the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative has supported Ghana's Indoor Residual Spraying campaign, said U.S. Global Malaria Coordinator Dr. David Walton, who observed and participated in this year's campaign in the Kumbungu district of the Northern Region.



Beyond spraying, we are also collaborating with the government to ensure that Ghanaians have access to bed nets, preventive treatment for pregnant women and children, malaria testing and treatment services across the country, and trained health workers to manage malaria, Dr. Walton added.



Since 2008, the United States has contributed over $460 million (6.6 billion Ghana Cedis) to Ghanas malaria response. This support has reduced the infection rates of malaria. For example, malaria prevalence in children under five years of age dropped from 27.5 percent in 2011 to 8.6 percent in 2022.



In January 2024, Ghana launched its National Malaria Elimination Strategic Plan. USAID and PMI fully support Ghanas plan to achieve near zero malaria deaths by 2030.



The United States is Ghanas largest development partner. In 2023, USAID provided over $90 million to Ghanas health sector for malaria, maternal, newborn, and child health, HIV, global health security, and more.



PMI is led by USAID and implemented together with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).



About USAID



The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is the lead U.S. Government agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential. USAID's activities and strategic partnerships support Ghana to advance an integrated approach to development. It promotes accountability, sustainable systems, and inclusive development.











Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









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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Nigerian rapper Folarin Falana popularly called Falz, is best known for his critical songs that address bad leadership and societal ills.



However, his latest EP titled, Before the Feast which he released last week is a total departure from the norm. Falz decided to take a different route this time following his transformative musical journey.



In a chat with Saturday Vanguard, the son of renowned human rights activist, Femi Falana SAN, said, I didnt want to soak my fans in that emotion now. But it doesnt mean that I have changed from who I am.



Recall that Falz was involved in the #EndSARS protest against police brutality in October 2020. He also released songs such as Wehdone Sir, Child of the World, Talk, Mr Yakubu among others. His new project marks another milestone in Falzs illustrious career, showcasing his growth as an artist and his commitment to delivering impactful music.



As he explained, Before The Feast is a prequel to an album titled The Feast. The EP sets the stage for what promises to be an exciting and transformative journey in Falzs musical evolution. Falz, known for his unique blend of witty lyrics, social commentary, and diverse musical styles, continues to push boundaries with Before The Feast, featuring big names, including Crayon, Shaybo, Phyno, Adekunle Gold, Flavour, and Odumodublvck.



Except:



You just dropped a new EP titled Before the Feast. Whats the story behind the title?



Before the Feast, is a prequel to an album titled The Feast. This is like the first step in a long journey. The album will drop in the coming months. The EP is what I call a palate cleanser. When you go to a restaurant, they will first of all give you a palate cleanser to enable you to take in whatever they are about to serve you. Thats what Im trying to do with this project. You cannot deny the fact that we need a breadth of fresh air musically. What I am trying to do with Before the Feast is to come in a way that is energetic and at the same time reflective of where I am going. I am going to a place sonic-wise, where you will listen to a good sound. I want to soak my fans in those emotions. So, Before the Feast is a blend of vibes, lively music, up tempo, rock and sexy songs.



The unique thing about this EP is that so much work has gone into it in a short while. The total duration of this EP is not up to 30 minutes. It contains so many vibes. Its also a mixture of emotions. Another thing is that this is the only project I have done that I can boldly say theres no iota of attack or commentary as regards the happenings in the country. This is deliberate because of the theme and the direction of the journey. It would have been out of place. Thats definitely what differentiates this EP from my previous albums.



How will you describe your musical journey in the past 10 years?



Its been very exciting and exhilarating. I feel that its been very fast. I didnt realize it until I woke up this year. Its been very eventful and fulfilling. A lot has happened in the past 10 years of my career. I will say that I am very satisfied with where I am today, but I am still hungry for more.



Are you also a trained lawyer?



I was actually called to the bar in 2012. And for about two years after, I was into full-time practice as I was going to court.



How come music took the shine off your legal practice?



Music took over at a point when I started getting this level of acclamation. I felt people would be distracting me if I kept going to court. Also, I knew that music is my passion, and my calling.



Will you one day go back to the courtroom?



I dont want to rule out returning to the courtroom. But I dont know when it will happen.



You have always been vocal when it comes to defending the rights of the common man through your music. Whats happening now that you havent added your voice in the face of prevailing economic hardship in the country?



My stand is not because I want to be cankerous or bearer of complaints. At the end of the day, it is for the good of the people. If the people are maltreated or they are not getting what they should be getting from their leaders, those are the moments I speak out. That would never stop. Activism will always be a part of me. But musically, I dont want to have that emotion in my current EP. Outside the music, nothing changes. I am still who I am.



Whats your take on the present economic situation in the country?



Its tough. I think everyone is feeling the hardship. But I wouldnt say that I expected anything different, especially in the way they got into power. Everything unfolded before our eyes. And so, I am not surprised by everything that is happening in the country today. We are kind of hoping that we would be surprised that things will go well again. I guess, they didnt surprise us.

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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This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Freshwater ecosystems are the lifeblood of the natural world, yet they are facing a silent crisis. A 2022 report by the World Wildlife Fund revealed a staggering 83% decline in global freshwater vertebrate populations since 1970, a rate far exceeding that of any other habitat.

The level of degradation to nature is alarming, but ecosystems are complicated, as are the effects of human activity. So, the story is often more nuanced.

Our research shows how analyzing environmental DNA (eDNA)the DNA left behind by organisms in life and deathcould unlock the secrets hidden within freshwater streams, rivers and lakes. This offers hope for a more efficient monitoring of these vital ecosystems.

While fish and birds usually grab the spotlight, freshwater biodiversity is a hidden metropolis teeming with lesser-known residents. Macroinvertebrates such as mayflies and midges, visible to the naked eye, play a vital role in healthy ecosystems. They have been monitored for decades and can give us a more representative view of how freshwater habitats are responding to human pressures.

Different parts of the world also experience varying levels of threat from human activity. Across Europe, for example, the last century has seen great improvements in river water qualitylargely due to better sanitation, de-industrialization and improved regulation, culminating in the recovery of macroinvertebrate biodiversity.

But this good news only goes so far. Since 2010, improvements in freshwater biodiversity have plateaued. Meanwhile, the environmental pressures of old are being replaced by new pressures ranging from climate change to emerging pollutants released from archaic sewage systems.

Arguably, understanding the health of freshwater ecosystems has never been more important. To do this effectively, widespread monitoring of which species are present is required. This is only possible by integrating new techniquesincluding the analysis of eDNA, which can come from a range of sources including poo, mucus and bits of tissuealongside traditional monitoring programs.

Current methods of monitoring biodiversity

The bulk of current freshwater biodiversity monitoring focuses on a relatively narrow group of animalsfish and macroinvertebrates.

Fish are usually monitored by "electrofishing," where an electric current is passed through the water that temporarily stuns fish. Whichever fish float to the surface are identified and counted.

Macroinvertebrates are largely collected using "kick-net sampling," where a person stands in a river, kicks up the sediment, then catches whatever floats downstream in a net.

Both of these methods have limitations. With electrofishing, keeping the current consistent between sample runs can be difficult, due to differences in conductivity between rivers. Larger fish are also more susceptible to shock so there is a potential to miss smaller fish, which can introduce biases.

With kick-net sampling, certain river substrates can yield better results, while some species are better at avoiding or slipping through the net.

In both methods, some sites may not be amenable at all. Standardization between sites can be difficult, so results can be dependent on the experience of the sampler. These approaches are also time-consuming, labor-heavy and, above all, destructive.

Environmental DNA

On the other hand, eDNA can be filtered from a water sample, extracted from the filter, analyzed for the taxonomic group of interest, then sequenced in a process called "metabarcoding." This allows us to cross-reference results with a database, leading to the identification of the organism that the DNA came from.

There are many advantages to using eDNA. The work is easily standardized and automated. Sample collection is easy and does not require expertise, allowing for the involvement of citizen scientists. A far broader range of organisms can be identified, including a multitude of smaller organisms. And crucially, it leaves the environment undisturbed.

But eDNA analysis isn't without its limitations. Unlike traditional methods that might count individual fish, eDNA can't tell a juvenile salmon from a spawning adult. It also lacks the rich, multi-decade datasets that have been built up using traditional methods of analysis. This can make it difficult to use eDNA findings to inform current conservation policies.

There has also been concern that, in rivers, you are simply detecting the eDNA of organisms transported from many kilometers upstreampreventing you from understanding where, in an entire river catchment, a species signal has come from. This would render eDNA a poor tool for understanding biodiversity change.

However, our recent study shows this is not the case. We took 798 water samples at 14 sites and 19 time points over a year from the River Conwy in north Wales. We also took samples from rivers across England, Switzerland and the US. Our research shows that DNA shed by different creatures in the river doesn't travel far. Most becomes too faint to detect just one kilometer downstream.

This is great newssince each sample of eDNA taken in a river is representative of a relatively small stretch, this allows us to detect changes in the distribution of organisms across a river catchment. With this information, researchers can begin to unpick what is causing a decline in biodiversity even in local areas of a freshwater ecosystem, and then identify how to stop it.

As eDNA analysis gains traction, scientists like us are working to bridge the gap between research and real-world conservation. Initiatives such as the UKDNA Working Group foster collaboration, allowing us to share knowledge with government agencies and environmental stakeholders. By building comprehensive datasets that capture biodiversity changes across space and time, we can unlock secrets held within eDNA.

This newfound knowledge holds the key to crafting effective management solutions, and should ensure a brighter future for our precious freshwater ecosystems.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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The vast majority of nitrous oxide emissions are generated by agriculture, with most of the blame placed on nitrogen-based fertilizers and animal waste.

Global emissions of nitrous oxidea potent greenhouse gasare 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 2022a 25 percent increase over pre-industrialized 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 fertilizers 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 oxidewe 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 emittermanaged 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 fertilizers, 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.

More information: Hanqin Tian et al, Global Nitrous Oxide Budget 19802020, Earth System Science Data (2023). DOI: 10.5194/essd-2023-401 Journal information: Earth System Science Data

 2024 AFP
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Structural model at atomic resolution of bacteriophage T4. Credit: Dr. Victor Padilla-Sanchez, Ph.D. drvictorpadillasanchez.com, CC BY-SA 4.0

There's a lot of science news in seven days, so just because a new study isn't cited here on Saturday morning doesn't mean it didn't happen. A lot more has happened. But also, check out these four stories:

Bacteria use phages as weapons

In agricultural settings on cultivated land, one variant of the bacteria Pseudomonas viridiflava will spread and become the dominant microbe, but it doesn't happen on uncultivated land. Researchers at the University of Utah wanted to figure out why, but early in their study, they observed something so unexpectedly weird that it reoriented the whole focus of the study.

While studying the genomes of bacterial pathogens, they found that one specimen had captured a phagea virus that attacks bacteriaand repurposed it to kill off its own bacterial competitors. Specifically, the bacteria acquired non-self-replicating clusters of the repurposed phage called tailocins, which penetrate the outer membranes of pathogens and kill them.

Speculating about the finding, lead author Talia Backman says that tailocins could potentially lead to new antibiotics to address the antimicrobial resistance crisis: "While tailocins have been found previously in other bacterial genomes and have been studied in lab settings, their impact and evolution in wild bacterial populations was not known. The fact that we found that these wild plant pathogens all have tailocins and these tailocins are evolving to kill neighboring bacteria shows how significant they may be in nature."

Language model programs itself to make sense

Large language models are capable of producing text. I was going to complete this thought with "that is convincingly cogent" or something, but I had to stop and put my head down on the table because the AI hype cycle has broken its tether and become completely unmoored from reality and I'm tired.

Existing LLMs are nothing but text predictors without any knowledge of semantics or logic, and can therefore assist humans only with text generation that contains zero percent symbolic reasoning, and now they're going to be in every device. Okay, I'm not here to complain about AI hype.

In an effort to improve the performance of LLMs, researchers at MIT have proposed an innovative technique to perform natural language, mathematics and data analysis tasks by generating Python code. They call the approach natural language embedded programs, and report 90% accuracy on a wide range of reasoning tasks.

The technique is a four-step process. In the first step, the NLEP calls the packages required to perform a task. In the second step, it imports natural language representations of the knowledge or data the task requires. In the third step, the model generates a function that calculates the answer. And in step four, the model generates the result in natural language. It is also more efficient for certain tasks, particularly those in which a user has many similar questions; instead of generating a new Python program for every query, the NLEP can generate one core program and change the variables for each query.

Shirt cool

As summer heat domes settle over regions across the northern hemisphere, researchers at the UChicago Pritzker school of Molecular Engineering are reporting a new wearable fabric that can protect city dwellers in the specific conditions of urban heat islands. Existing cooling fabrics work by dispersing direct sunlight. But solar light is visible while the thermal radiation of building materials, pavement and infrastructure is infrared.

The engineers sought to create a textile with two optical properties that could reflect both sources. And since it works passively, it may have cooling applications in areas with increasing energy consumption. Beyond heat-reflecting clothing, the material has potential as a construction material to reduce interior temperatures, or as an insulator for cars. The researchers also suggest it could be used for transporting perishable foods, reducing the demand for active refrigeration systems.

Children immature, study finds

Researchers at the National University of Singapore report that a lower ratio of neural excitation (E) to neural inhibition (I) is a positive sign of brain maturation, finding that children with a lower E/I ratio perform better in school and on cognitive tests. Previous studies have found that too much excitation or inhibition carries a higher risk of brain disorders including autism, Alzheimer's disease and others. The study explored how E/I changes in youth by analyzing MRI brain scans and cognitive test scores of 885 children, adolescents and young adults.

Notably, the team created a noninvasive technique for studying neural excitation and inhibition responses. In the first part of the experiment, subjects ingested the anti-anxiety medication Xanax or a placebo before MRI brain scansthis allowed the researchers to establish that Xanax increases neural inhibition so that the overall E/I ratio decreases. In the second part of the experiment, the team established the link between E/I ratio and cognitive function by administering cognitive tests. Participants with lower E/I outperformed those with higher ratios.

 2024 Science X Network
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

In the U.S., as farmers wrestle with extreme heat and drought, heavy rainfall and flooding, and erosionall factors of climate change which can take a toll on cropsthere's been a lot of buzz over regenerative agriculture over the past few years, as big agriculture companies promise opportunities to make money from "carbon farming" while also improving soil health.

Regenerative farming strives to improve soil health through various methods, including reduced or no tillage, keeping the soil covered year-round through the use of cover crops, integrating livestock into crop farming, and rotating crops to encourage both above and below ground biodiversity.

Such practices can also be used to create carbon credits for carbon offset programs, which enable polluters to mitigate their greenhouse gas emissions through the purchase of credits.

Farmers have often been told all they need to do is adopt certain practices, such as no-till or cover cropping. But few adopting these practices have signed up for carbon market programs.

While farmer surveys suggest that carbon prices are still too low relative to the paperwork these programs demand, a new study published in Agriculture and Human Values finds that money alone does not explain either farmers' doubts about carbon markets or their interest in regenerative agriculture. Instead, many farmers view improving soil health as a way to improve their quality of life by reducing their dependence on agrochemical companies' products and advice.

"Farmers are really looking to get off that treadmill of high-input, high yield commodity agriculture," says the study's co-lead author Susanne Freidberg, a professor of geography at Dartmouth.

The study is based on interviews conducted with more than 80 farmers in Kansas and Nebraska in 2022-23. Most were growing commodity crops and/or raising livestock on farms that were a few hundred to a few thousand acres in size. Farmers' experience using regenerative practices ranged from recent adopters to more than 20 years while others were still considering such methods.

Recent adopters reported high input costs, concerns about soil erosion, and other farmers' success stories as some of the reasons why they first sought to learn more about soil health, often by attending a field day or conference. But with new practices came new mindsets and new relationships. "Farmers who had implemented regenerative practices talked a lot about how they paid attention to interactions between the different kinds of life in their fieldscover crops, earthworms, and especially soil microbes," said Freidberg.

Below-ground microbial activity not only builds soil fertility, which enables farmers to use less fertilizer, but also helps reduce erosion, conserve water, and sequester carbon. But field practices that are good for soil microbes are not always good for relations with neighbors and landlords.

"Farmers mentioned that when they stopped tilling and started planting multi-species cover crops, they started getting strange looks at their local coffee shop because now their fields looked messy," said Freidberg.

These tensions made regenerative farmers' relationships with each other all the more important with some indicating that they joined informal "support groups" to share experiences or farm equipment. "Farmers who viewed regenerative agriculture as a way to gain more personal freedom also saw that this freedom depended on the support of other farmers," said Freidberg.

Some farmers also mentioned how they liked seeing birds and other wildlife returning to their fields, and how farming regeneratively had made their day-to-day work more enjoyable and interesting.

The handful of farmers in the study who had signed up for carbon programs emphasized that they looked for programs that did not demand long-term commitments or major changes in their farming practices. One farmer described it as a way to earn "beer money."

The opportunities for farmers to earn extra income from carbon farming multiplied with the rollout of USDA-funded "climate smart" commodities projects in 2023, around the time the Dartmouth study concluded. Many of these projects, some of the largest of which are run by large food and agribusiness companies, now offer farmers financial incentives to adopt regenerative practices.

But whether many farmers enroll in them, said Freidberg, will depend at least partly on how well the projects take account of what farmers value about such practices. "When farmers talk about the return on investment on regenerative agriculture, they're talking about more than just money," said Freidberg.

Julie Snorek, a postdoctoral fellow in geography at Dartmouth at the time of the study and an AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow, served as the co-lead author and Geneva Smith, a postdoctoral fellow in the Program on Ecology, Evolution, Environment and Society at Dartmouth, also contributed to the research.

More information: Julie Snorek et al, Relationships of regeneration in Great Plains commodity agriculture, Agriculture and Human Values (2024). DOI: 10.1007/s10460-024-10558-3
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

It's relatively common for perpetrators of family violence to threaten suicide to control a victim-survivor's actions. A study by the Australian Institute of Criminology suggests 39% of women who experience coercive control are subject to perpetrators' threats of self-harm.

Suicide threats can be related to mental health issues, a tactic of family violence, or sometimes both. As a result, victim-survivors may feel pressured to remain in an abusive relationship.

Men who kill their partners are 2,000 times more likely to experience suicidal ideation than the general population. For example, the man who killed Hannah Clarke and her children had threatened suicide multiple times in the lead-up to their murders.

It can then be tricky for police responding to these situations. Victoria Police officers who participated in my recently published research were concerned that when they prioritize suicide prevention over responding to family violence, victim-survivors are sometimes left without protection.

What's standard police protocol?

The intersection between mental health and family violence is a challenging area for both the legal and health systems, with a variety of laws surrounding both. These laws also differ between states and territories.

In Victoria, police have two main avenues to respond to perpetrator suicide threats: mental health legislation and family violence legislation.

Under mental health laws, police can put someone under the care of a hospital or health practitioners to prevent them harming themselves or others.

Meanwhile, suicide threats can be a form of family violence and coercive control. Police can issue a family violence safety notice to the perpetrator. A notice sets conditions to prevent family violence and protect the victim-survivor. For example, standard conditions of a safety notice include not to commit family violence towards a victim-survivor, or expose a child to family violence. If any conditions are broken, police can charge the perpetrator with a criminal offense with a maximum penalty of two years in prison.

Depending on how receptive a perpetrator is to a safety notice, it may stop them from committing further abuse towards the victim-survivor, as well as promote accountability.

In Victoria, there are no formal processes that tell police how to address family violence incidents where the perpetrator has threatened suicide. Police are therefore required to decide how to address the matter based on their experience and knowledge.

In Australia, Queensland is the only state that has publicly available guidance on police addressing perpetrator suicide threats. This framework focuses on managing immediate risk and referral pathways.

Unintended consequences

All ten police officers who participated in my study specialized in family violence. They all indicated suicide threats were a commonly-used tactic of coercive control.

Most participants said when they attend a family violence incident where a perpetrator has threatened suicide, they are likely to address the perpetrator's mental health as their priority. The perpetrator often then goes to hospital for assessment and treatment, when required.

When a person is under the care of a hospital, police cannot issue a family violence safety notice. Police can request notification from a hospital of when a person is released if they are a risk to others. However, this does not always happen, according to police.

As a result, the perpetrator may be released from hospital without a safety notice in place. Therefore, they may commit some forms of family violence towards a victim-survivor without consequence, if their actions are not criminalized by other laws.

The victim-survivor may then be at increased risk of family violence and the perpetrator could avoid accountability. Several officers indicated that there have been instances in which perpetrators have been released into the community without an order in place, making this a real risk to victim-survivors.

Learning to balance the risks

Some police stations are developing processes to change the way they address perpetrator suicide threats. One of the participants suggested family violence safety notices should be issued first, before hospitalizing a perpetrator.

Improvements within policing could prevent further violence from occurring. A nuanced approach is needed to train police to balance the mental health needs of perpetrators, as well as the safety of victim-survivors and the community at large.

However, the gap in service provision cannot be addressed by police alone.

There is limited information exchange between hospitals and police in some circumstances. We need further communication and collaboration to ensure police can issue safety notices when needed.

Regardless of whether a suicide threat is because of mental health issues, they can be weaponized by perpetrators of family violence. Change is needed to ensure victim-survivors are protected and perpetrators are held accountable.

It is important that we continue to research and learn about how family violence and mental health interact, for both perpetrators and victim-survivors. As a result, we can more effectively move towards ending family violence.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
China urges Turkiye to revoke additional tariffs imposed on Chinese vehicles

Xinhua) 09:14, June 15, 2024

BEIJING, June 14 (Xinhua) -- China urges Turkiye to immediately revoke the discriminatory tariffs imposed on Chinese-made passenger vehicles, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said on Friday.

On June 8, Turkiye announced the imposition of a 40 percent additional tariff on imported fuel and hybrid passenger vehicles from China, to start 30 days later. The country had previously imposed a 40 percent additional tariff on Chinese electric vehicles.

China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposes Turkiye's imposition of additional tariffs on imports of Chinese passenger vehicles, an MOC spokesperson said.

Turkiye only imposes additional tariffs on passenger vehicles from China, resulting in discriminatory treatment of Chinese products, and the action violates the principles of the most-favored-nation treatment, said the spokesperson, adding that it is also a violation of the rules set by the World Trade Organization.

Turkiye's ever-changing policies not only undermine the interests of cooperative enterprises and Turkiye consumers, but also exacerbate Chinese companies' worries over the business environment in Turkiye, thereby denting their confidence in investing in the country, said the spokesperson.

China urges Turkiye to immediately lift the discriminatory tariff measures and work with China to promote the healthy development of bilateral economic and trade relations, said the spokesperson, adding that necessary measures will be taken to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Hongyu)
Spain has expressed its willingness to assist Turkiye in negotiations with Germany regarding the acquisition of Eurofighter jets, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, Azernews reports.

In a statement to Anadolu Agency, Erdogan revealed that Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez offered to facilitate a meeting on the Eurofighter issue, which is currently of great importance to Turkiye. The Turkish president also noted that Germany's position on the matter has softened recently.

Erdogan emphasized that Turkiye's primary approach is to fulfill its defense needs through its NATO allies. "Our relevant ministers are conducting the necessary negotiations with their counterparts and will continue to do so," he added.

However, if the talks with Germany yield a negative result, Turkiye will resort to alternative options available to them. Erdogan drew parallels to Turkiye's past experience with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), stating, "At one point, we couldn't obtain UAVs from our allies. Then, we started producing our own drones of the highest quality, and now many countries are knocking on Turkiye door to purchase them."

The Turkish president also highlighted the progress of their indigenous fighter jet, KAAN, which has recently taken wing. With the commencement of its serial production, Erdogan assured that Turkiye would not face any problems in this regard.
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OCEAN CITY  God ought to outrank a hula-hooper, at least as far as Steve Bassett is concerned.

Bassett, of Somers Point, and other members of Praise Tabernacle Church in Egg Harbor Township distribute flyers and witness to passers-by Monday nights on the Boardwalk, applying for a spot through the citys Boardwalk entertainers program.

The city began the program in 2017 to regulate an increasing number of buskers playing music and offering other performances for tips.

Last winter, the city enacted new limits on where and when people can perform and increased the permit fee to $200.

Performers are not guaranteed one of the limited spots. That means Bassett and his group have the same chance as the keyboardists, guitar players and flutists who want their slot on the boards. Hes not happy about that, and he let City Council know.

We talk about Jesus. People get saved. And were being treated like all of the other entertainers. Theres a girl who hula hoops and shes being treated the same as we are with a church, Bassett told council on Thursday. I think we should get special treatment.

That may not be possible, city attorney Dottie McCrosson said after the meeting.

A government can limit the how and where of speech, she said, for instance by banning amplification or setting aside a specific space for protests.

Barnes joins Ocean City Council Sean Barnes is now a member of Ocean City Council after being sworn in by Mayor Jay Gillian at the start of a Thursday morning meeting at City Hall.

But under the Constitution, the city cannot regulate what is said.

So we can regulate how the message is presented, but not what the method is. Content neutral is what the lawyers call it, McCrosson said.

That means if the city allows a message from St. Peters United Methodist Church, the same space and method must also be available to the Unification Church or the Church of Satan.

Allowing an LGBTQ pride march on the Boardwalk means the city would legally have to provide the same accommodation to the Ku Klux Klan.

The principle has played out repeatedly on the Ocean City Boardwalk, along the causeway connecting the city to Somers Point, in city parks and in communities throughout the region, where recent years have seen pride events, gun control and Black Lives Matter protests, groups advocating for parental rights, against abortion, for prayer and against proposed offshore windmills.

There are other pragmatic concerns as well, McCrosson said. If there were one group seeking to evangelize or proselytize on the Boardwalk, there might be some way to make arrangements. But if there are eight or 12 different church organizations, that would begin to crowd out the performers, who were the reason the city adopted the program to begin with.

Then the Boardwalk entertainers program is no longer the Boardwalk entertainers program, she said.

The question of who can perform on the Boardwalk and where has been complicated, with the city weighing its options for years before adopting an ordinance. Some visitors, and some officials, have complained about the quality of some of the performers, and the impact of their presence on the atmosphere of the Boardwalk.

Cape May launches new library with 'book brigade' Cape May's new branch of the Cape May County Library system opened on Franklin Street Thursday, in a long-vacant, formerly segregated school, an $11 million, 18-month project, funded by the city, the Cape May County Library Commission and county government, along with a grant from the New Jersey State Library.

McCrosson said one of the motivations for the entertainers program was to keep pedestrian traffic flowing on the densely crowded Boardwalk on summer nights.

Religious speech can draw a crowd the same as music or other performances, she said, especially if one person has a permit for a Boardwalk spot and is joined by several other church members.

No one on council said whether they would address Bassetts concerns. At the meeting, he said he has people who want to hear more about Jesus but cannot find him on the Boardwalk.

I cant tell them where to go in Ocean City when were there Monday nights because I never know where were going to be, he said.

After the meeting, Bassett said this is his first year handing out pamphlets on the Boardwalk. He sees it as important work.

We saved about 15 people so far, he said. One of them was a Catholic.

He said Ocean City is a Christian town, one that should support the church.

God is not going to like that, he said.

Proposed legislation would make assembling large crowd an offense in wake of boardwalk violence Local state legislators are drafting a bill to make it a criminal offense to assemble a boisterous, large group of people in public after Ocean City and Wildwood struggled to control teen groups over Memorial Day weekend.

Ocean City was founded by Methodist ministers as a religious retreat, a history that remains visible throughout town, from a ban on alcohol in restaurants to streets named after theologians like John Wesley and Francis Asbury.

City meetings begin with a prayer or at least a moment of silence, along with the Pledge of Allegiance.

But a New Jersey city, or any American level of government, cannot be specifically Christian or not Christian because of the Establishment Clause of the 1st Amendment, stating that government cannot establish a religion.

The same amendment allows a wide variety of religious expression, including on the Boardwalk. Campus Crusade, now called just Cru, has run a summer mission in Ocean City since 1967, and this year, young people continue outreach efforts on the Boardwalk.

There have been multiple other instances of religious messages on the Boardwalk, including church services on Sunday mornings in the summer. In the 1980s, some in the city expressed deep concern over Boardwalk outreach efforts from the Unification Church, often derisively referred to as the Moonies.

It was one of two thorny Constitutional issues raised at a relatively brief meeting, with the city also discussing and rejecting the idea of banning the wearing of masks on the Boardwalk.
Fix, dont blame

Im disappointed by the blame game involving local officials, police supervisors and the state attorney general regarding the recent boardwalk disturbances. Do we really know that stronger laws or more police would have prevented the out-of-control behaviors? Did social media play any role? Rather than point fingers at each other, it would have made much more sense and been more reassuring to the public and boardwalk business owners if officials worked together in an attempt to prevent disruptive behavior like this in the future. Recognition of early signs of widespread misbehavior, creation of definitive action plans to quell such behaviors early on, and a broad examination of ways of preventing such incidents from even occurring would be more effective at keeping evenings at the boardwalks safe and fun for families than having our leaders and officials blaming each other for the problem.

Mark Shumeyko

Cape May

Can we go back in time?

Springtime 1985, I had come home from college to take a summer job at Atlantis Casino Hotel, formerly Playboy Hotel and Casino. Life was just grand. Everyone, including Oprah Winfrey, was asking if Donald Trump was interested in a presidential bid. During those days he wouldnt entertain that thought and all of us were comfortable with him not bidding to become commander-in-chief. I had relished so many fond memories of Atlantic City prior to Trumps development of the gambling culture. No more bets, spin the wheel!

Wayne E. Williams

Camden

Protect horses from slaughter

For horses and the people who love them, the Houses version of the Farm Bill is unacceptable. The bill, which passed out of committee late last Thursday, failed to include the bipartisan Save Americas Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act, which would permanently ban the commercial slaughter of horses in the U.S. and prohibit their export for that purpose abroad.

The SAFE Act is broadly supported by Americans and Congress alike: 83% of American voters oppose horse slaughter for human consumption, and the SAFE Act has over 220 supporters in the House of Representatives at large. Despite this consensus, tens of thousands of American horses continue to be shipped across the border to slaughterhouses in Mexico and Canada that supply other countries with horse meat. I am incredibly disappointed that the House Agriculture Committee fumbled the opportunity to pass the SAFE Act through this years Farm Bill and hope that leaders in Congress will ensure it is included in the version of the bill that makes it to the presidents desk.

When this legislation reaches the House floor, I urge my representative, Rep. Jeff Van Drew, to fight to include the SAFE Act in the Farm Bill to protect American horses from slaughter.

Julie Senack

Linwood

Juvenile justice reform harms NJ kids

Websters dictionary defines reform as to make better. To improve. To correct an antiquated way.

The so-called Juvenile Justice Reform Act has done the complete opposite. Lets stop blaming COVID and kids. Lets start, and end, with the chief lawmaker of this state, Attorney General Platkin. His so-called reform has basically turned juveniles into fearless warriors on our seashore boardwalks. Cops no longer have authority or enforcement powers that they once had. Kids know that cops are no longer permitted to contact their parents, no longer permitted to detain them or search them for drugs or alcohol.

What this has done essentially is endangered the welfare of our children, which is a mandatory prison term of 3-5 years in prison.

Though Im not a lawyer, I see that Platkin should be sued for civil damages, for his so-called reform is outside the scope of his state-appointed position. It is demented, sinister and downright evil.

So lets go back to the word reform. The best way to start with reform is to put Platkin in jail for three years. Hopefully, by then he will understand the meaning of endangering the welfare of a child.

Joe Venezia

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

Kobe Sushi and Hibachi, 5242 Elmore Ave., held a soft opening on 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 Kobe 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 be placed on their website, kobedavenport.com.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday to Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The Shameless Chocoholic closes Bettendorf location

BETTENDORF  The Shameless Chocoholic has ended retail sales in its Bettendorf location, freeing up more resources for the remaining store in LeClaire, the business owner confirmed.

"We just closed one location to focus on another location," owner Rebecca Burns said Friday. "It doesn't seem smart to have two stores at half capacity when I can have one store that's fully stocked."

The confectionery boasts over 120 varieties of handmade treats, from an array of flavored truffles, to classic caramels and fudge, to specialty items like chocolate-covered candied bacon.

The good news for Bettendorf chocoholics is that products can still be ordered through that location, 2248 State St., for shipping or curbside pickup. Holiday pop-up events are also a possibility.

Burns opened the Bettendorf location in March 2023, citing a need for more production space; the move came a month after she announced the closure of a Moline location that opened in 2017.

Ultimately, narrowing the retail focus will create opportunities for growth, said Burns, previous owner of the former Olde Fashion Candy Co. in LeClaire.

"We're going to focus more on doing classes and doing shows and farmers markets, and focus our attention in LeClaire on just retail," she said.

The LeClaire store, which opened in 2013 at a different location, remains available to customers at 101 S. Cody Rd., where it moved in 2018.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday; closed Monday. Find the business online at shamelesschocoholic.com or facebook.com/TheShamelessChocoholic.

Odds and ends

Shellys Sweet Sensations is expected to open at its new location, 106 S. Cody Road, LeClaire, on Tuesday, June 18. A ribbon-cutting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Friday, June 28. The bakery previously shared space with Here's the Scoop at 204 Jones St., LeClaire.

Ranews Companies, 8360 Research Drive, Davenport, will host a ribbon cutting to celebrate its expansion at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 18. The company fabricates, paints, and assembles parts for agriculture and construction clients. This is the location of a new facility; others are located in East Moline and Waterloo, with a headquarters in Milner, Georgia. Visit ranews.com for more about the business.

World Relief Quad Cities, 210 Emerson Place, Suite 300, Davenport, will host a ribbon-cutting to celebrate their expansion at 3 p.m. Thursday, June 20. World Relief Quad Cities works to help refugees immigrants in vulnerable situations as they rebuild their lives in the United States. See facebook.com/WorldReliefQuadCities for more about the organization.

TDR Carriages, LLC will host a ribbon-cutting at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, June 27, at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, 2815 W. Locust St., Davenport. Enter Gate 5 and look for wagons, carts, carriages and horses. Visit tdrcarriages.com for more information.
The Davenport city council will not revisit its 2022 decision to eventually convert downtown's Third and Fourth streets to two-way traffic. The conversion will happen in conjunction with a resurfacing project.

During a management update meeting June 4, two new council members, Ward 2 Ald. Tim Dunn and Ward 4 Ald. Jade Burkholder, questioned how the conversion would work and said their constituents did not want the downtown one-ways to change.

City council members voted in October 2022 to change the city's ordinance to convert eastern downtown one-ways, Third and Fourth streets from East River Drive to Marquette Street, into two-way streets. It was a contentious 5-5 vote with Mayor Mike Matson breaking the tie in favor of the conversions.

Burkholder and Dunn suggested at the June 4 meeting the council should revisit the decision.

The council asked city staff to check with Iowa Department of Transportation and other agencies on what a last-minute reversal would mean for a resurfacing project on Third and Fourth Streets, and schedule a lengthier discussion.

Interim City Administrator Mallory Merritt said staff immediately began to investigate any possible impacts to the timeline for the construction projects and any possible impacts to grant awards.

The $9.2 million resurfacing project on Third and Fourth streets runs from Harrison Street to Telegraph Road. That overlaps a few blocks with the conversion, which would span from East River Drive to Marquette Street.

The Iowa Department of Transportation is scheduled to go out to bid for the resurfacing of Third Street this month. The funding includes $7.3 million from a federal surface transportation grant.

IDOT officials told the city that changing the plans back to one-ways would be considered a "major revision" to the already approved project scope, Merritt wrote in an email.

The change would require administrative revisions by Bi-State, the metropolitan-level authority that awards the federal grants locally, and a new set of final plans would need to be sent to the Iowa DOT for review and approval.

That would be in addition to the six-week process to bring ordinance changes through to a vote if the council were to put the traffic pattern change back on an agenda.

"To accomplish a shift in direction, the City would've needed to pull the Third Street Rehabilitation Project from its current bid cycle before the Iowa DOT began its bidding process," Merritt wrote. "Further, the IDOT indicated that if the city chose to move forward with the current bid cycle and made a major change after the letting and award, it could jeopardize the federal funding."

Council members also asked whether IDOT could bid the project with alternate plans, meaning construction companies could put in bids for both one-way and two-way plans.

But Merritt wrote that it was too late in the process to request a bid alternate while maintaining the current bidding and letting schedule.

Dunn said he withdrew his support for revisiting the conversion after the council saw a letter from IDOT officials informing them that making the change could delay the project or threaten federal funds.

"I am not a firm believer in changing the one-ways into two-ways, but we cannot take away $9 million to fix the roads," Dunn said. "I don't care how you stripe it, but the roads down there are terrible and they need to be fixed."

Dunn said he ran on fixing streets and infrastructure, and couldn't justify risking more than $7 million in federal funds for roads, even if he disagrees with the conversion decision.

If the two-ways end up causing problems, he said the council could return to the conversion decision once it wasn't tied up with federal road repair funding.

"There's constituents in a lot of wards that are not happy with it," Dunn said. "I'm not happy with it because I don't believe it can work. That's where I sit on it, but I'd be really stupid to get rid of $9 million to get the roads fixed."

Photos: Miss Juneteenth Pageant 2024
A leader of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus who spearheaded House Republicans impeachment inquiry of Democratic President Joe Biden will be a featured speaker at Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinsons annual barbecue campaign fundraiser.

Hinson, of Marion, announced Friday that Republican U.S. Reps. Tom Emmer of Minnesota, the House majority whip, and Jim Jordan of Ohio will speak at her fourth annual BBQ Bash this summer. Additional guests will be announced in the coming weeks, according to Hinsons campaign.

The event will be held Aug. 3 at Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids. Doors open at noon and the program starts at 1 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at ashleyhinson.com/bbq.

Jordan is a co-founding member of the House Freedom Caucus and a close ally of former President Donald Trump. He did not vote to certify Biden's victory in the 2020 election, and as chair of the House Judiciary Committee, led the impeachment inquiry into Biden. The 15-month effort seeking to tie Hunter Bidens foreign business dealings to corruption on the part of his father has failed to turn up evidence that merits impeachment.

Both Jordan and Emmer were contenders last year for House speaker in the scramble to succeed Kevin McCarthy, who was removed from the role in a historic ouster Oct. 3.

Iowa's all-Republican U.S. House delegation voted for Jordan for speaker in his first bid. U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks voted for the Ohio Republican on the first ballot, but opposed him on the following two votes over concerns of whether he could unite the party. Miller-Meeks said the decision prompted death threats and a barrage of threatening calls.

Emmer withdrew from the speaker race hours after winning an internal party nomination after Trump objected to his nomination.

Hinson, a former state lawmaker and former KCRG-TV news anchor, is running for a third term representing Northeast Iowas 2nd Congressional District. She faces Democratic challenger and small-business owner Sarah Corkery, of Cedar Falls, in the November election.

Emmer and Jordan praised Hinson as a conservative fighter in statements released by her campaign.

We have to send Ashley back to Congress and reelect President Trump so that we can save our country from Joe Biden and the Democrats, Emmer said.

Rick Santorum to speak at Family Leader conference

Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum will be a featured speaker at the conservative Christian group The Family Leaders annual conference July 12 in Des Moines.

The conference has been a magnet for Republican presidential candidates in recent years as they courted the evangelical vote ahead of the Iowa caucuses. Santorum won the 2012 Iowa GOP caucuses.

He joins Betsy DeVos, former U.S. education secretary under then-President Donald Trump; Joel C. Rosenberg, a Christian author who covers news in Israel and the Middle East; and Egyptian American pastor Michael Youssef.

The group has also invited President Joe Biden and Trump to the event, along with independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, according to its website.

Besides winning the Iowa GOP presidential caucuses in 2012, Santorum won 10 additional states and nearly 4 million primary votes that year. He served two terms in both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate.

He currently serves as a senior adviser at Convention of States, pushing to amend the Constitution to limit the size and scope of the federal government, require a balanced federal budget and place term limits on elected federal officials.

Tickets and more information about the summit can be found at thefamilyleader.com/fls24.

Photos: Scott County Primary Election
Iowa U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson recently unveiled a companion bill in the House to expand access to over-the-counter oral contraception as Republicans seek to beat back what they see as fearmongering in the wake of controversial abortion and in vitro fertilization court rulings.

It comes amid a growing partisan clash over reproductive rights in the United States in the wake of a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning a federally protected right to abortion.

Senate Republicans over the past two weeks have blocked Democratic-led efforts to provide nationwide protections for birth control access and federal protections for in vitro fertilization.

Iowas U.S. Sens. Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley joined GOP colleagues Thursday to block the Democratic-led bill prohibiting states from imposing restrictions on IVF and making it more affordable.

Republicans, who maintain they are supportive of IVF and access to over-the-counter birth control for adult women, said the provisions were too broad and prefer narrower bills.

On Wednesday, Senate Republicans offered their own legislation that would ban states from getting access to Medicaid funding if they bar IVF services.

The GOP senators signed a statement accusing Democrats of waging "a partisan campaign of false fearmongering intended to mislead and confuse the American people."

"We strongly support continued nationwide access to IVF, which has allowed millions of aspiring parents to start and grow their families, Ernst and other senators said in the statement.

'Legal in 50 states'

Hinson, speaking to reporters Friday, said there is no risk to contraception, and said Democrats were trying to politicize the issue.

It is legal in all 50 states, she said.

Several states, though, have restricted access to contraception by defining abortion broadly enough to include some forms of contraception, allowing health care providers to refuse to provide services related to contraception based on their personal beliefs and blocking abortion providers from publicly funded family planning services that offer birth control pills, pelvic exams, pregnancy tests and other related services.

Iowa Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird recently lifted a 17-month pause on reimbursements for emergency contraceptives for victims of sexual assault after conducting a review of the offices victim services program. The office will resume covering those expenses for victims, but the state will not pay for abortions.

Democrats, too, argue legislation is needed because the U.S. Supreme Court cannot be trusted to uphold its precedent on protecting the use of contraceptives in the 1965 case Griswold v. Connecticut.

They note that when the court invalidated federal abortion rights in 2022, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote separately that the court should reconsider other precedents like Griswold.

Companion bills

Hinson, of Marion, recently introduced the Allowing Greater Access to Safe and Effective Contraception Act in the House, which seeks to increase the availability of birth control options on the market.

Ernst introduced the bill in the Senate last week. Grassley and Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Ottumwa, signed on as co-sponsors of the legislation in the House and Senate.

The bill would:

Allow over-the-counter purchase of FDA-approved, routine-use birth control pills for women ages 18 and older. It would not grant the speedy approval process to emergency contraception like Plan B.

Allow the Food and Drug Administration to more quickly approve applications for oral contraceptive drugs that can be purchased without a prescription.

Require the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study of federal spending on contraception, provider training and patient education in the last 15 years.

Millions of American women safely use these drugs, and its just common sense to ensure adult women can access oral contraceptives at their local pharmacy, Hinson said Friday. This is especially important for women who live in rural areas and may have to drive an hour or more to see their doctor.

Democrats and reproductive rights advocates contend the bill would do nothing to improve the accessibility of over-the-counter birth control, as it does not address insurance coverage and an over-the-counter birth control pill already exists.

There is one daily oral contraceptive that has gained FDA approval for purchase without a prescription, which became available this year.

Hinson said there should be more options for women seeking birth control.

My bill is focused on speeding up the FDA approval process, which would help increase options on the market, which will lower costs for women, she said. So this does not impact someone's ability to access birth control using their insurance. Plain and simple, they can already use their insurance to do this.

Democrats, however, note oral contraceptives are not the best form of birth control for everyone and that access to the full range of contraceptive methods, devices and medications  including oral and emergency contraceptives  is important, including for teenagers. The age of consent in Iowa is 16.

We are focused on making sure adult women can access this because there can be challenges with younger patients, and we want to make sure women are consulting with their doctors, Hinson said. But, again, this is about making it as easy as possible for women, no matter what their ZIP code is, to have access to these medications.

Election issue

Hinson, who is running for re-election to a third term representing northeast Iowas 2nd Congressional District, told reporters its her hope the legislation puts to rest any accusations from Democrats that Republicans seek to ban contraception.

Democrats have made access to abortion and reproductive care a central issue in the upcoming November election, warning access to contraception and IVF are at risk due to the conservative-led Supreme Courts decision reversing federal abortion rights.

They point to court rulings in Alabama and Arizona that placed possible roadblocks to womens reproductive health regarding IVF and abortion, respectively.

The Alabama Supreme Court ruled in February that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law. The ruling prompted providers to halt fertility treatments. Alabama state lawmakers later approved a bill to protect IVF in the state.

Many congressional Republicans, including Hinson and Miller-Meeks, have signed on to legislation that would give a fertilized egg the rights of a person.

Reproductive rights advocates worry such laws could result in criminalizing actions perceived to threaten fertilized eggs, including the use of contraceptive methods people wrongly believe prevent the implantation of a fertilized egg, such as oral emergency contraceptives and intrauterine devices (IUDs).

My goal is to make sure women can access affordable birth control over the counter, Hinson said. And if (Democrats) were more focused on actually solving that problem, instead of creating fear for women, we could work together on these issues and get these bills across the finish line.

Caleb McCullough of the Lee Des Moines Bureau contributed to this report.

IVF: What to know after Alabama frozen embryo ruling What is IVF? How are embryos made? How are embryos frozen and stored? Whats next? What happens to embryos after divorce? How could the Alabama ruling affect IVF? What are doctors concerns? What about church-state separation?
Two infants born in May in Iowa are now in the states custody through the Safe Haven Law, the state reported this week.

A baby girl born May 15 and a baby boy born May 26 are in the care and custody of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and will be placed with a foster family until a permanent placement is determined, the state said.

More than 70 infants have been taken in by the state and placed in permanent homes since Iowas Safe Haven Law went into effect more than two decades ago, according to the Health and Human Services Department.

The law provides an option for parents in crisis who determine they cannot care for an infant up to 90 days old to surrender the child at designated locations like hospitals and fire stations.

There have been three uses of the Safe Haven Law this year; there were 10 infants relinquished to the state in 2023, according to the department.

2 more dairy herds hit by bird flu

The avian influenza has been detected in two dairy herds in Northwest Iowa, agricultural officials announced.

One herd each were infected in Plymouth and Sioux counties.

The latest bird flu outbreak has now infected five dairy cattle herds in Iowa, according to tracking information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Animal food products  like poultry, eggs and pasteurized milk  remain safe to eat and drink, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Meat products from infected cattle herds also are safe, provided they are properly cooked, officials say.

Disaster declarations expanded

Northwestern Iowas Monona and Woodbury counties have been added to disaster declarations from Gov. Kim Reynolds in response to severe weather on June 12 and June 13, Reynolds office announced.

The proclamation allows residents in the two counties to access state resources for response and recovery efforts.

Iowa insurance agent sentenced

An insurance agent from Clive was sentenced to 18.5 years in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud, the Iowa Insurance Division announced.

Zachary Flaherty, 48, was charged by a federal grand jury with using his position as an insurance agent to defraud seniors retirement savings and other finances, according to the division. The state divisions Fraud Bureau joined with the FBI on the investigation.

The division revoked Flahertys license in March 2023.

Flaherty was ordered to pay more than $44,500 in restitution, which the division distributed to two Iowa consumers impacted by Flahertys misconduct, according to the division.

District associate judge appointed

Susan Cole, of Moravia, was appointed as a district associate judge in Southern Iowa by Gov. Kim Reynolds, the governors office announced.

Cole will serve in Iowa Judicial District 8A, which covers Appanoose, Davis, Jefferson, Keokuk, Mahaska, Monroe, Poweshiek, Van Buren, Wapello and Washington counties.

Cole is the Appanoose County attorney. She received her undergraduate and law degrees from Drake University.
Theodore Hook was an English man of letters, composer, and briefly a civil servant in Mauritius. He is best known for his practical jokes, particularly the Berners Street Hoax in 1809. The world's first postcard was received by Hook in 1840; he most likely posted it to himself.

The Berners Street Hoax is one of the most notorious pranks in Londons history, orchestrated by practical joker Theodore Hook. The elaborate scheme was set into motion as a result of a wager between Hook and his friend Samuel Beazley. Hook bet Beazley that he could make any house in London the most talked-about address within a single week. Hook selected 54 Berners Street in the Marylebone area of London as the unsuspecting target for his audacious prank.

The preparations for the hoax were meticulously planned. Hook sent out thousands of letters under various pretexts to a multitude of tradespeople, professionals, and dignitaries, all requesting their services to be delivered to 54 Berners Street on a specific day. These letters were cleverly disguised to appear as legitimate requests from the resident of the house, Mrs. Tottenham, who was entirely unaware of the impending chaos.

The morning of Nov. 27, 1809, began quietly enough, but soon the street was besieged by an overwhelming number of deliveries and visitors. The first arrivals included a series of chimney sweeps, dozens of them showing up almost simultaneously, each claiming they were responding to a job request. Shortly after, coal wagons began to arrive in quick succession, followed by furniture vans delivering new goods, all ordered in Mrs. Tottenhams name.

As the day progressed, the scale of the hoax became apparent. Bakers arrived with elaborate wedding cakes, tailors with suits, and fishmongers with large quantities of fish. But it didnt stop at tradespeople; dignitaries such as doctors, lawyers, and priests also began to appear, each having received a letter summoning them urgently to the address. Even the governor of the Bank of England and the mayor of London were reportedly among the distinguished visitors who arrived, responding to fictitious calls for assistance.

The scene quickly descended into chaos. Berners Street was gridlocked with carriages and carts, while crowds gathered to witness the commotion. Local authorities struggled to manage the situation, but the continuous stream of new arrivals made it almost impossible. By the afternoon, the street was in complete disorder, with tempers flaring among the bewildered service providers and officials, all attempting to fulfill their presumed obligations.

Throughout the day, Hook and Beazley observed the unfolding pandemonium from a nearby location, thoroughly entertained by the effectiveness of the prank. Hooks elaborate ruse had succeeded beyond his wildest expectations, transforming 54 Berners Street into the most infamous address in London, at least for one day.

The aftermath of the hoax left Mrs. Tottenham distressed and the residents of Berners Street bewildered. The prank exposed vulnerabilities in the communication and coordination of services in early 19th-century London. Although the authorities were vexed by the incident, no legal action was taken against Hook. It is believed that the sheer audacity of the prank may have contributed to his escaping punishment.

Theodore Hook, already known for his wit and humor, cemented his reputation as a master of practical jokes. His career as a writer and composer continued to flourish. He went on to become a significant literary figure, founding the weekly newspaper John Bull.
Bitterroot Baroque is planning a series of three summer concerts with Repast Baroque in Hamilton, June 19-23.

The first free performance, called "Bird Fanciers Delight," will take place at the Bitterroot Public Library at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 19.

This program has poetry from the 17th and 18th centuries and features works by baroque composers Biber, Rameau, Handel, Walsh and Couperin.

Sarah Stone, Repast Baroque founder, said baroque composers were inspired by birds.

[They] heard the songs of nightingales, cuckoos, ravens, swans and chickens, and incorporated the natural music into their music, she said. The listener will get to hear these little animals warble out their Celestial Harmony.

Repast Baroque is an ensemble comprised of four musicians dedicated to the instruments and music style of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century chamber music. It was founded in 2004 under the artistic direction of Stone and Gabe Shuford.

Repast Baroque performances often reimagine new ways for audiences to experience the music of the past through the lens of history.

The New York Times said Repast Baroque is [A] graceful, energetic ensemble.

Repast Baroque will be performing a concert titled "Telemann: The Faithful Music Master" at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 21, at St. Pauls Church, Hamilton. There is a $30 suggested admission for this performance.

Master of all forms and national styles, Georg Philipp Telemann was one of the savviest and most prolific composers of the baroque, Stone said. His cosmopolitan music was disseminated to his fans through his serialized self-published 'Der getreue Music-Meister,' which ran for 25 issues and included pieces for nearly every common instrument of the time. With its solo sonatas, chamber works and programmatic pieces. Repast presents a kaleidoscopic array of works from this collection.

The final performance, called "Telemann a la Pastorelle," will include the Bitterroot Baroque Orchestra with Repast Baroque at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 23, at Pauls Church in Hamilton. There is a $30 suggested admission for this performance.

Stone said the Bitterroot Baroque Orchestra lead by Repast Baroque shares music of Telemann and Farina in a program that transports the listener to the idyllic countryside including charming dance suites and a rustic concerto.

Farinas Capriccio Strava ante a quattro brings us the Arcadian sounds of hens and roosters, shepherds instruments including the shawm and hurdy-gurdy, a military processional, and the meows and barks of cats and dogs, Stone said. Finally, travel to the Spanish countryside and wage war with windmills with Telemanns Don Quixote Overture Suite.

The website www.repastbaroque.org says, Like a well-curated tasting menu, Repasts performances offer a feast for the senses, treating listeners to the rich and eclectic flavors of Baroque music. The ensembles unusual instrumentation of violin, bassoon, cello, and harpsichord lends itself to imaginative programming, while also providing opportunities to collaborate with a variety of compelling guest artists.

Enjoy three Summer Concerts by Repast Baroque presented by Bitterroot Baroque in Hamilton, June 19-23.
A developer plans to build a 144-unit apartment complex in South Richmond and use federal vouchers to designate some of the units as affordable housing.

Norfolk-based Lawson Companies is planning a three-building complex at 700 W. 44th St. at a cost of $23 million.

The Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority has applied for $3 million in project-based vouchers from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to use toward the project, the latest effort by the city to address the affordable housing crisis in Greater Richmond.

According to the projects website, construction will begin this year, and residents can move in next year. Some neighbors have said the development will bring too much traffic to the area.

Currently an undeveloped forest, the 7-acre property is near Westover Hills Boulevard and Richmond High School for the Arts, formerly George Wythe High. A sliver of the property backs up to Reedy Creek.

In April, a limited liability company tied to Petersburg-based Waukeshaw Development sold the property for $2 million to a limited partnership called 700 West 44, according to city records.

One in four units will be available to residents with Section 8 project-based vouchers, according to the website and an environmental assessment filed with HUD.

With a project-based voucher, a resident applies to live in a certain apartment, and a percentage of the rent will be subsidized.

The city is not taking applications for vouchers because demand is so high, but will reopen its waiting list for three days on June 24.

The current stock of affordable housing is insufficient to meet the current demand characteristics and needs of families residing in the area, the authority stated in a federal document.

Lawsons plan is to build a trio of three-story apartment buildings, a clubhouse, a maintenance building, a pool and parking. Units will include one-, two- and three-bedroom configurations ranging from 710 square feet to 1,100 square feet.

The developer considered two other sites for this project  3049 Cofer Road, which is nearby but significantly smaller, and 285 E. German School Road, which is close to the chosen site but covered in wetlands.

Lawson originally notified the city of the project plans in 2021.

Last year, residents told Richmond City Council President Kristen Nye there was already plenty of traffic in the neighborhood, that access to the development would be difficult and that construction would remove a section of green space, according to WRIC.

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Iowa U.S. Rep. Iowa Ashley Hinson recently unveiled a companion bill in the House to expand access to over-the-counter oral contraception as Republicans seek to beat back what they see as fearmongering in the wake of controversial abortion and in vitro fertilization court rulings.

It comes amid a growing partisan clash over reproductive rights in the United States in the wake of a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning a federally protected right to abortion.

Senate Republicans over the past two weeks have blocked Democratic-led efforts to provide nationwide protections for birth control access and federal protections for in vitro fertilization.

Iowas U.S. Sens. Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley joined GOP colleagues Thursday to block the Democratic-led bill prohibiting states from imposing restrictions on IVF and making it more affordable.

Republicans, who maintain they are supportive of IVF and access to over-the-counter birth control for adult women, said the provisions were too broad and prefer narrower bills.

On Wednesday, Senate Republicans offered their own legislation that would ban states from getting access to Medicaid funding if they bar IVF services.

The GOP senators signed a statement accusing Democrats of waging "a partisan campaign of false fearmongering intended to mislead and confuse the American people."

"We strongly support continued nationwide access to IVF, which has allowed millions of aspiring parents to start and grow their families, Ernst and other senators said in the statement.

LEGAL IN 50 STATES

Hinson, speaking to reporters Friday, said there is no risk to contraception, and said Democrats were trying to politicize the issue.

It is legal in all 50 states, she said.

Several states, though, have restricted access to contraception by defining abortion broadly enough to include some forms of contraception, allowing health care providers to refuse to provide services related to contraception based on their personal beliefs and blocking abortion providers from publicly funded family planning services that offer birth control pills, pelvic exams, pregnancy tests and other related services.

Iowa Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird recently lifted a 17-month pause on reimbursements for emergency contraceptives for victims of sexual assault after conducting a review of the offices victim services program. The office will resume covering those expenses for victims, but the state will not pay for abortions.

Democrats, too, argue legislation is needed because the U.S. Supreme Court cannot be trusted to uphold its precedent on protecting the use of contraceptives in the 1965 case Griswold v. Connecticut.

They note that when the court invalidated federal abortion rights in 2022, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote separately that the court should reconsider other precedents like Griswold.

COMPANION BILLS

Hinson, of Marion, recently introduced the Allowing Greater Access to Safe and Effective Contraception Act in the House, which seeks to increase the availability of birth control options on the market.

Ernst introduced the bill in the Senate last week. Grassley and Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Ottumwa, signed on as co-sponsors of the legislation in the House and Senate.

The bill would:

Allow over-the-counter purchase of FDA-approved, routine-use birth control pills for women ages 18 and older. It would not grant the speedy approval process to emergency contraception like Plan B.

Allow the Food and Drug Administration to more quickly approve applications for oral contraceptive drugs that can be purchased without a prescription.

Require the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study of federal spending on contraception, provider training and patient education in the last 15 years.

Millions of American women safely use these drugs, and its just common sense to ensure adult women can access oral contraceptives at their local pharmacy, Hinson said Friday. This is especially important for women who live in rural areas and may have to drive an hour or more to see their doctor.

Democrats and reproductive rights advocates contend the bill would do nothing to improve the accessibility of over-the-counter birth control, as it does not address insurance coverage and an over-the-counter birth control pill already exists.

There is one daily oral contraceptive that has gained FDA approval for purchase without a prescription, which became available this year.

Hinson said there should be more options for women seeking birth control.

My bill is focused on speeding up the FDA approval process, which would help increase options on the market, which will lower costs for women, she said. So this does not impact someone's ability to access birth control using their insurance. Plain and simple, they can already use their insurance to do this.

Democrats, however, note oral contraceptives are not the best form of birth control for everyone and that access to the full range of contraceptive methods, devices and medications  including oral and emergency contraceptives  is important, including for teenagers. The age of consent in Iowa is 16.

We are focused on making sure adult women can access this because there can be challenges with younger patients, and we want to make sure women are consulting with their doctors, Hinson said. But, again, this is about making it as easy as possible for women, no matter what their ZIP code is, to have access to these medications.

ELECTION ISSUE

Hinson, who is running for re-election to a third term representing northeast Iowas 2nd Congressional District, told reporters its her hope the legislation puts to rest any accusations from Democrats that Republicans seek to ban contraception.

Democrats have made access to abortion and reproductive care a central issue in the upcoming November election, warning access to contraception and IVF are at risk due to the conservative-led Supreme Courts decision reversing federal abortion rights.

They point to court rulings in Alabama and Arizona that placed possible roadblocks to womens reproductive health regarding IVF and abortion, respectively.

The Alabama Supreme Court ruled in February that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law. The ruling prompted providers to halt fertility treatments. Alabama state lawmakers later approved a bill to protect IVF in the state.

Many congressional Republicans, including Hinson and Miller-Meeks, have signed on to legislation that would give a fertilized egg the rights of a person.

Reproductive rights advocates worry such laws could result in criminalizing actions perceived to threaten fertilized eggs, including the use of contraceptive methods people wrongly believe prevent the implantation of a fertilized egg, such as oral emergency contraceptives and intrauterine devices (IUDs).

My goal is to make sure women can access affordable birth control over the counter, Hinson said. And if (Democrats) were more focused on actually solving that problem, instead of creating fear for women, we could work together on these issues and get these bills across the finish line.

Caleb McCullough of the Journal Des Moines Bureau contributed to this report.
This is part of Opinionpalooza, Slates coverage of the major decisions from the Supreme Court this June. Alongside Amicus, we kicked things off this year by explaining How Originalism Ate the Law. The best way to support our work is by joining Slate Plus. (If you are already a member, consider a donation or merch!)

The Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on bump stocks on Friday, legalizing a device that can effectively transform semiautomatic rifles into machine guns. Predictably, the court split 63, with the Republican-appointed justices carving a massive loophole in federal law at the behest of the firearms industry. Justice Clarence Thomas majority opinion is rooted in historical misrepresentations and utterly implausible manipulations of the statutory text. It enables future mass shooters to equip their AR-15s with an attachment that increases the rate of fire exponentially, to up to 800 rounds per minute.

Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern discussed the decision on Saturdays episode of Amicus. They were joined by David Pucino, an expert in firearms law and legal director of the Giffords Law Center. Their conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Dahlia Lithwick: Justice Thomas makes the claim that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms did a complete 180 on how it viewed bump stocks, suddenly changing their minds after the Las Vegas massacre and deciding that, actually, they are machine guns. Thats just not true, right?

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Mark Joseph Stern: This idea that ATF said bump stocks were 100 percent legal, then turned around in response to political pressure and said they were unlawful all alongthats a misrepresentation of history. What really happened was that gunmakers were developing various tools to help make semiautomatic rifles fire at a higher rate. ATF looked at these and said some were potentially legal while others were not, on a case-by-case basis, without making a formal determination at the agency level. Some were snuck through under false pretenses as an accommodation for disability. And when ATF decided to take a holistic look at this issue after the Las Vegas shooting, it decided that, when bump stocks operate a certain waybasically, enabling automatic firethey are illegal.

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That, to me, is doing exactly what an agency is supposed to do. ATF looked at the facts on the ground. It looked at its mandate from Congress. It looked at its own past decisions. And it harmonized them as best it could in accordance with what experts at the agency say the facts are. To see Thomas slander ATF as caving to political pressure, then using this charge to overrule the determination of ATFs own firearm expertsit seemed to me the height of arrogance.

David Pucino: I think its important to remember that there was really careful work going on at ATF to make these determinations on a case-by-case basis. The agency was faced with a problem: Folks in the firearm industry were trying to get around the laws on the books. When an agency comes out and says, This is what the law is, the industry is going to try to get around it. And the agency has to decide if theyll succeed.

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Whats really striking here is that ATF was doing that engagement, and the Supreme Court came in and usurped it here in a way thats totally unworkable if you apply it beyond the favored political constituency of the gun industry. Its absurd to have the Supreme Court putting all this work into deciding the mechanics of a firearm and whether it meets the statute and trying to overrule an agency that made those same determinations. Thats not a workable way to do government. If every difficult regulatory decision made in this country that mightve gone one way or another goes up to the Supreme Court, thats all the justices would ever be doing. Youd need a thousand Supreme Courts to handle it.

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The volume of work that comes out of the administrative state is not something that the Supreme Court can analyze in this way, at least not in any sort of reasonable manner, and I dont think they would ever even pretend to. But what you have here is a particular, favored constituency that is bringing these questions. And then, all of a sudden, the court decides to drop everything and figure out how this gun works. Now, the way ATF does that is to sit down and actually look at the firearm. Theyre going to bring in their experts and make those determinations. But the way the Supreme Court does it is they look at an amicus brief by the Firearms Policy Coalition and co-sign it.

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Lithwick: Thats the group that created the six graphics and a gif that Justice Thomas used to illustrate how semiautomatic rifles work. Why was it notable that he copied and pasted their material into a Supreme Court opinion?

Pucino: The National Rifle Association is not what it used to be, and thats created a gap. And what has gone into the gap are a bunch of further-right organizations that are trying to take the mantle of the NRA by being as extreme as possible. Foremost among them is the Firearms Policy Coalition. Friday was a real moment for them. Its one of the most extreme groups; it uses extraordinarily violent rhetoric. And its putting out material thats getting blessed by a majority opinion of the Supreme Court. You have to take a step back and look at where we areI dont think thats anything you could imagine happening even 10 years ago.

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Related From Slate Clarence Thomas Opinion Legalizing Bump Stocks Is Indefensible Read More

Lithwick: Youre both hitting on a big theme of this term, which is the Supreme Court making it impossible for agencies to do pretty much anything. And it seems awfully important when you have Clarence Thomas substituting his judgment for ATFs with what Justice Sotomayor pointedly calls six diagrams and an animation. The majority was just like, I know everything, heres a Peanuts comic strip. It seems as if Thomas was trying to explain his tortured interpretation to the public, to make it accessible, but eliding the agencys own expert views in the process.

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Pucino: The idea that you can get the amount of expertise that goes into technical determinations made by ATF by simply looking at briefs and diagramsI mean, just, no. Obviously not. The amount of time that even clerks, let alone justices, require to do a deep dive on these issues, the depth of understanding theyre going to needit wont come anywhere near that of an expert whos working on this full time. This is their whole job. Its what theyre trained to do.

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Stern: You can really only justify Thomas reading, in my view, if you start from the conclusion that the bump stock ban is unlawful and work your way backward, butchering the text to mean something it just doesnt. This isnt how ordinary people use the English language and, as Sotomayor showed, it isnt how members of Congress who voted on this law used English when they wrote it in 1934. If textualism can be deployed in such an underhanded and cynical way, I dont think its really getting us anywhere. Its just another pretext for the Supreme Court to reach whatever result it wants.
Shannon Olsen had only been at the water parks toddler event for a few minutes when she decided to leave. A nurse, she had a rule when her kids were little that if they could see water, they were in their life jackets. But on a summer day five years ago, she had taken them off her daughter, then age 4, and son, age 2, at the insistence of a lifeguard. Very quickly, she felt uncomfortable about the situation.

She turned to tell her daughter that theyd have to cut their day short. Thats all the time it took for her son to disappear. Ten minutes later, another patron found the boy in a nearby pool. He was blue, with no pulse. Olsen was running back from searching the other side of the park when she saw the look on peoples faces.

Kind of a weird statement, but I just said, You found him, right? Is he still alive?  she recalls. And they were like, No. Theyre doing CPR on him right now. 

Drowning is the No. 1 cause of death for kids ages 1 to 4 in the U.S., beating out congenital abnormalities and car accidents. And its the third cause of unintentional injury-related death for kids 5 to 19. The prevention of drowningwhich is defined as submersion in liquid that impairs breathing and, contrary to common knowledge, isnt always fatalis, in some ways, straightforward. For instance, adults should supervise children who are swimming. In May, a paramedic asked Slates parenting advice column how to handle a situation where her neighbors 5-year-old daughter was being left alone in the pool. The neighbor is clearly in the wrong here: Leaving a child, especially such a young one, unattended in a pool is extremely dangerous. It also constitutes child neglect and is grounds for child protective services to investigate, which could lead to the involvement of a court, says Peter Tilem, attorney and partner at Tilem & Associates in New York. If the daughter drowned and died, he adds, her parent could be charged with a felony.

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But the situations that lead to fatal drownings are not usually ones of such blatant negligence. In fact, more often than not, children drown in the presence of their guardians, not their absence. A study back in 2004 that analyzed the drowning deaths of 496 children under 14 years old showed that, alarmingly, only 10 percent of the victims were completely unsupervised when they drownedin other words, 90 percent of the children who died had an adult nearby who did not see the drowning occur. Drowning happens right under the noses of parents who, often, are aware that their child needs to be monitored in the pool, and who are trying their best to do so.

Thats because it doesnt take much of a distraction to render supervision ineffective. Its the knock on the door, says Amy Peden, a drowning prevention researcher at the University of New South Wales in Australia. Its the call on the phone.

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The day that Olsens son lost his pulse in a pool, there were lifeguards, mobs of people, a responsible parentfor all intents and purposes, supervision was happening.

Everyone was incredibly lucky that day: The lifeguards and paramedics were able to revive Olsens son, and he survived the incident without injury and is now a healthy, rambunctious 7-year-old. Many drowning patients that need resuscitation do not survive, says Jeff Louie, a pediatric emergency physician at M Health Fairview Masonic Childrens Hospital in Minnesota, where Olsen also works as the trauma program manager. (Nonfatal drowningswhich happen roughly twice as often as fatal drowningscan result in serious brain damage and permanent injury.)

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Drowning can happen quickly, quietly, and without warning. On TV, drowning looks like screaming and splashing, but thats a misconception, says Sarah Denny, a pediatrician with a focus in injury prevention at Nationwide Childrens Hospital in Ohio. In real life, its almost the opposite. Drowning can look like a head bobbing up and down as a struggling person tries to keep their mouth and nose at the surface, while kids who cant swim can sink to the bottom in an instant.

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Children playing in the water make noise, wrote Mario Vittone, a retired coast guard rescue swimmer, in a 2013 article for Slate that details exactly what to watch for. When they get quiet, you get to them and find out why.

The most critical component of drowning is the lack of oxygen, which, of course, you cant access underwater, says Bradley Segura, a pediatric surgeon at Masonic Childrens Hospital. As a child loses the oxygen in their bloodstream, they will eventually pass out; the brain can no longer direct the body to the surface for air. That can take a couple minutes or less. The heart usually continues to beat for a minute or so after that. Once the heart stops, the childs likelihood of survival plummets, says Louie.

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Some drowning victimsthough not allalso breathe water into their lungs during panicky breathing. That can trigger laryngospasm, where the vocal cords tighten to block foreign substances from entering the lungs, making breathing even harder. And water that reaches the lungs can cause chemical reactions that introduce further issues. Basically, a whole cascade of events kicks in pretty quickly that make it pretty devastating, says Segura.

Ultimately, the most important factor for whether a person will survive drowningand whether they end up with serious injuryis how long theyre underwater. And thats another reason why good supervision is so important: every second counts.

The definition of supervision is really specific, says Denny. The supervisor needs to be constantly attentive, close by (within arms reach for a novice swimmer, she says), capable of identifying drowning, and prepared to intervene.

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To study supervision lapses involved in fatal drownings, Peden, the researcher at the University of New South Wales, combed through 15 years of Australian police and coroner reports. She found that nearly a tenth of supervision lapses that resulted in a drowning were due to miscommunication, where one adult thought another adult was watching. Thats one reason why pool parties are so dangerous, and why its important to clearly designate which adults will be appropriately supervising. That blew my mind, that a kid could drown in the company of that many competent adults, says Peden.

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Related From Slate Drowning Doesnt Look Like Drowning Read More

Common causes of distraction for pool chaperones, Peden found, were household chores and socializing with other adults. Other causes included having to watch multiple kids at once (like in Olsens case); using phones or computers; and, in a few tragic instances, experiencing a sudden medical event that prevented the adult from supervising. Peden also found that roughly 40 percent of drownings happened in the presence of another child, perhaps because the presence of a sibling or friend provides a false sense of security. But if we think adults arent going to see when a drowning is happening, how is the child going to see that? says Peden. Besides, I just firmly believe that its an unfair responsibility to put on a child.

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What about a case where the kid is, say, 13 years old and a strong swimmer? At what point can supervision wean?

When I ask Denny, who headed the updated technical report on Prevention of Drowning recommendations for the American Academy of Pediatrics, she responds firmly: If someone is in the pool, they need to be supervised at all times.

As kids become more competent swimmers, drowning does become less likely, Peden says. But getting older brings other factors into play, such as substance use, swimming in natural (and riskier) bodies of water, and overconfidence. Denny recalls once when her son hopped in the pool at the beginning of a summer and swam across it, a lap he had done in past years. Halfway across, unaccustomed to the swim, he started to sink; she jumped in with her clothes on. After toddlers, adolescent boys are the most at risk of drowning. In fact, at all ages, boys are more likely to die by drowning than girls, usually about twice as often. But once they become teenagers, that jumps to almost 10 times as often.

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Because theres so much variability, its important for parents to be aware of the particular risks for their own child depending on their age, gender, race, and location. For example, infants most often drown in tubs or buckets; Black kids have been found to have a higher risk of drowning in hotel pools than other bodies of water (and in general, when compared with other races).

At the end of the day, even strong swimmerseven adultscan drown. Olsen thinks of water safety like driving a car. You might have your seat belt on, but you still need to know how to drive. And even once you learn to drive, you still need to wear a seat belt. And abide by the speed limit. Basically, you need to engage in all the water safety prevention methods, not just rely on one, in order to be safe. In addition to supervision, effective prevention methods against drowning include pool fencing, CPR training, life jackets, and swim lessons.

Its probably better to be overbearing, says Peden, than have something go wrong and regret that moment and that choice for your whole life. Olsen agrees: The only thing more tragic than a death is a preventable death.
This piece was originally published by WBUR. It is based on reporting for WBURs podcast Last Seen: Postmortem.

Whats most shocking about Jeremy Pauley isnt his tattooed eyeball or the metal spikes protruding from his scalp.

Its his openness about trading in human remains.

Standing in the doorway of his rural Pennsylvania home, dressed all in black, he greets an unannounced reporter with patience.

Pauley makes his living in whats called the oddities market, buying and selling human remains and even binding books in human skin. Its all legalprovided the remains arent stolen.

Its a niche field, he says of his work, like a collector or a preservation artist. He wont say much more, because of the sprawling criminal investigation in which hes a prominent figure.

It was Pauleys arrest that pointed investigators to a nationwide network of stolen human-remains trafficking and led them to Harvard Medical School. There, a lone morgue manager allegedly plundered parts from bodies donated for science, and sold them online for profit. The crimes themselves were shocking, as was Harvards failure to secure its morgue. And the scandal exposed a not-quite-underground market for human remains, where the ethical lines are murky.

There is no federal law against buying or selling human remains and only a patchwork of state laws that go largely unenforced. Thats allowed the trade in so-called medical specimens to flourish in retail shops and expos that specialize in odditiesand to explode on the internet.

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The body-parts marketplace is easy to find, for anyone on the hunt. WBUR didnt have to scour the dark web to discover a vast realm of mostly legal human-remains trading. Large social media groups and conversations among collectors happen openly on Facebook. There are groups with names like Real human skulls only no scammer and The Serious Wet Specimen Collectors, Buyers and Sellers Group. Websites like Skulls Unlimited list full human skeletons for upward of $7,000, and fetal skeletons for more than $4,000.

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For sale on these Facebook groups and websites are not only skulls and skeletons, but human brains in jars, and offerings even more grisly. These items are listed as plainly as kids bikes or gym equipment.

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Sellers post photos of fetal remains, bone fragments, even someones severed finger suspended in liquid. One advertised part of a child whod died choking on a marble.

Beautiful piece born out of a heartbreaking accident, the listing reads. Let me know if you are interested.

At some point in Cedric Lodges almost 30-year career in the Harvard Medical School morgue, working mostly alone and far from the eyes of his supervisors, he allegedly decided to get a piece of this trade. The supply was right there: dozens of donor bodies, gifted for medical students to learn from in anatomy class.

In 2018, prosecutors say, Lodge began stealing body parts from the morgue and taking them home, in his orange Subaru that bore the license plate GRIM-R, to his tidy split-level in Goffstown, New Hampshire. His wife, Denise, would take it from there, handling logistics. Shes the one who packed up the goods and took them to the post office, prosecutors allege; she communicated with the buyers and took payments through her PayPal account.

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It was a lucrative business. Court records show that one buyer paid Denise Lodge more than $37,000, sending his payments with memos like head number 7 and braiiiiiins.

Court records show that one buyer paid Denise Lodge more than $37,000, sending his payments with memos like head number 7 and braiiiiiins.

A deserted Harvard medical campus in October 2020 seems to have given Cedric Lodge even greater opportunity, with classes and labs remote due to the COVID pandemic. Prosecutors say Lodge invited a buyer into the morgue at 1 p.m. on a Wednesday, essentially to shop for parts. The woman took home a brazen haul: two dissected faces, at the price of $600.

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The transaction appeared to go undetected by Harvard staff and the schools outside security firm. In fact, nobody at Harvard seems to have been tracking what happened to bodies once medical students were done with their work. And state officials say they do not inspect or oversee medical school morgues.

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Theres much better tracing for a head of lettuce than there is for a human head, said Paul Micah Johnson, an FBI agent who wasnt involved in this case but often investigates human-remains trafficking crimes between companiesnot hobbyists. We can trace a head of lettuce exactly to the particular farm from which it came and all the steps in between. Thats not required with human body parts.

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Lodge, now 56, and his wife, 64, were arrested last June and charged by federal authorities with trafficking in stolen human remains. Cedric Lodge has denied the charges. Denise Lodge took a different path; she pleaded guilty in April and faces up to 10 years in prison.

Denise Lodges attorney, Hope Lefeber, blames the whole thing on Cedric Lodge, and suggested the couple may have been motivated by money.

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Her husband was doing this and she just kind of went along with it, Lefeber said. There may have been financial or health problems at home, the attorney said, noting the Lodges remain married, to her knowledge.

A woman who answered the phone at a number listed for the Lodges declined to comment to WBUR. When a reporter tried to ask for an interview in person, nobody answered the door, although someone appeared to be home.

Officials at Harvard Medical School declined to be interviewed. In written responses to WBURs questions, the school called Lodges alleged actions shocking, abhorrent, and an appalling violation of Harvards expectations that our anatomical donors be treated with reverence, respect, and gratitude. The school expressed deep sorrow for the uncertainty and distress that families face as the criminal proceedings continue.

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For at least four years, prosecutors say, Cedric Lodge managed to slice up and steal body parts, undetected by anyone at Harvard. And Lodge might never have gotten caught, but for a phone call in 2022 alerting police in Pennsylvania to a stash in Jeremy Pauleys basement.

It was a breakup that made it all unravel. Pauleys then-wife had filed for divorce. Not long after, she discovered five-gallon buckets of body parts in their basement and called the cops on him. And when Pauley sat down with police, he told them a lot about his broad network of human-remains trading.

Pauley is a pretty famous guy in oddities circles, especially online. Hes a prolific social media poster, sharing photoshoots with his current fiancee and examples of their collaborative blood art portraits of serial killers. Some collectors say they considered Pauley a friend, even if theyd never met him in person. He once told the host of an online radio show called Uncovering the Underground all about his interests, from collecting wet specimensthe jargon for preserved organs and tissuesto using human skin to bind books.

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I was always fascinated by anthropodermic bibliopegy, Pauley told the interviewer, explaining how he taught himself to turn skin into leather, and how he sourced the raw material. Its not like its easy to come by. So I do a lot of work trying to track it down, he said.

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His internet fame helped connect him with a steady supply. One day in October 2021, an Arkansas woman named Candace Chapman Scott messaged Pauley on Facebook, court records show. The mortuary she worked for cremated donated bodies after theyd been studied at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

I follow your page and work and LOVE it Just out of curiosity would you know anyone in the market for a fully intact embalmed brain? she wrote.

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Thus began a fruitful business relationship, with Pauley sending cash via PayPal and Chapman Scott shipping him body parts through the U.S. Postal Service, according to prosecutors. She sent him pieces of skin, brains with skull caps, lungs, testicles, and hearts. Over seven months, Pauley paid her more than $10,000.

She sent him pieces of skin, brains with skull caps, lungs, testicles, and hearts.

Chapman Scott also sold Pauley fetuses. As detailed in court records, her discourse with Pauley about these transactions is chilling. She once told Pauley, We get stillbirths all the time from [the medical school] and basically give the parents back a pinch of ashes from a whole person we cremated.

In February 2022, a woman in Arkansas gave birth to a stillborn baby boy. She named him Lux. As soon as Luxs body arrived at the mortuary for cremation, Chapman Scott jumped to message Pauley, court records show. She sold him the tiny body for $300, a deal, she said, because it was not in great shape. Pauley would later send the fetus, plus $1,550, to a man in Minnesotafor five human skulls.

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Luxs mother received cremated remains from the mortuary. Only later would she learn they were not her babys.

No matter how precious what was stolen, the fact is the law doesnt differentiate between human remains and any other piece of property. Exhibit A: Cedric Lodge was charged with interstate transport of stolen goodsnot human bodies. (Chapman Scott ultimately pleaded guilty to the same charge, plus conspiracy to commit mail fraud.)

If Lodge had stolen 100 computers from Harvard, he would have been charged with virtually the same thing, University of Miami medical school professor Tom Champney said. It in some ways stems [from] a legal belief  I dont necessarily know if this is an ethical beliefthat once you die, you are no longer human and youre now property.

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Champney is among those anatomists who want to see bodies donated to science treated less like inanimate objects and more like former human beings who had lives and desires. There should be some middle ground where we treat deceased tissues differently than we treat old refrigerators, he said.

Many collectors argue that they treat the human remains in their care with dignity, displaying them as they would art and preserving them for others to learn from.

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That includes Pauley. In a brief interview at his front door in November, he told WBUR he was somewhat interested in talking more about his involvement in the oddities world and how he views the human remains he trades in.

I think bringing more attention to the not-scary side of all this is important, he said. But Pauley and his attorney never responded to requests for a further interview.

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Pauleys striking appearance has made him the face of an expansive criminal case. Nearly every news article about the Harvard thefts includes his mug shot. And its quite a picture. The entire right side of his face is tattooed, as if colored in with blue marker. In some photos, he smiles with a mouth full of silver fangs.

Asked why he thinks hes indelibly associated with the Harvard case, he said, Im clickbait.

Oddly enough, Pauley never actually bought anything directly from the Lodges, court records show. He got his Harvard remains secondhand, buying them from Cedric Lodges alleged customers.

One woman he did business with asked Lodge to be on the lookout for human skin, so she could send it to Pauley, who had been tanning skin for her.

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In the podcast interview he gave back in January 2022, before he was arrested, Pauley explained his oddities origin story. He was the goth kid who never grew up, who watched the Nickelodeon show Are You Afraid of The Dark? and was enraptured by a character who owned a hand preserved in a jar.

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I always had a penchant for wet, especially fetal specimens, he told the interviewer. I love them because when I look at them, I dont see a dead baby  Some people see them and they feel sad, but Im like, do you know how many lives were saved? Because, you know, somebody saved this specimen and it taught doctor after doctor, after doctor.

Collectors all have their own reasons and rationales for wanting to own these unusual items. One said displaying a skull was a flex for any goth. Some admire human remains as medical antiques. Others treat them like fine art. One collector showed off an altar of skulls, where he left Jolly Ranchers and cigarettes as offerings.

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A Delaware couple, Justin Capps and Sonya Cobb, doesnt like using the term collector at all. They consider themselves rescuers of human remains.

People rescue puppies and kittens, and we rescue medical specimens, Capps said. They claim to take in skeletons and other remains that were abandoned in closets or left in disrepair.

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Their entree to owning human remains began with a skull named Tyler. They spotted him at an oddities shop and felt drawn to him. When COVID hit, and the shop owner was in financial straits, Capps offered up a $1,200 loan, with Tyler as collateral. They say the shop owner never paid them back, and Tyler now sits under their living room television in a glass box.

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After getting Tyler,  I needed a whole skeleton for the corner, Cobb said.

So Capps started looking. But the idea of paying money for a skeleton didnt feel quite right to him at first. These are former people, Capps said. These were someones parents, someones children, brothers, sisters. They need a little bit more respect than theyre given.

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He eventually found a fraternal organizationhe wont say which onelooking to give away some skeletons theyd kept in a closet. And thats how the couples living room became home to seven adult skeletons. They also have a 36-week fetal skeleton, with bones so tiny they look like toothpicks.

Capps and Cobb open up their living room to visitors who want to check out the bones; they do this under their nonprofit organization, the Ossuary. The two say they think about whose bones are in their care, who they were as people when they were alive. Capps said he wonders how many had a choice about whether theyd become a medical specimen.

The only way I was able to get over any of it was to have a sit-down conversation with each one of them that come in here and explain: Im not going to disrespect you, Im going to treat you like you should be treated,  he said.  Youre going to be living in my home  we might as well get used to each other. So, dont haunt me. 

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Not everyone worries so much about the origins of the remains they own. Mike Drake, a New York City collector of all manner of items, from death masks to glass eyes, still has the first skull he ever bought as a teenager at the occult store Magickal Childe. He said he paid $100 for it.

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I dont ever really think about who that was, any more than I think about what happened to the turtle that was in that shell, Drake said, pointing to another curiosity in his cabinet.

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Drake worked as a middleman of the skeleton trade in the 1990s, he said, selling human skeletons to medical students, prop masters, and others who needed what was then a cheaper option than a plastic replica. He knew the skeletons he moved around in his Chevy Cavalier came mostly from China and India, but thats about all.

I dont want to sound uncaring or ghoulish, but I separate the person from the meat, he explained. Im really my brain, and my thoughts, and my spirit and maybe my soul. Once my body is turned off forever, this isnt me. This is just my container, my wrapper.

Still, Drake said, if he knew the skull on his shelf belonged to someones family and they wanted it back, hed give it to them.

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With few laws governing human-remains trading, those involved in it make their own rules and draw their own ethical boundaries.

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In some cases, that means reconsidering what they own and display, and examining how the items were obtained. Even some major museums are reckoning with these issues, including the Smithsonian and the American Museum of Natural History in New York, which has pulled all its human remains from public display.

In April, Harvard pulled from the shelves one of its librarys most famous artifacts: a 19th-century book bound in human skin. The university removed the human binding and is working to find a final respectful resting place for those remains.

The Mutter Museum, part of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, has more than 6,600 human remains in its collection. For the first time ever, its looking into the origins and consent behind all those items.

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We need to make sure that we have them ethically, Mutter Museum executive director Kate Quinn said, and that weve got some measure of all of the research that we can about these individuals to say that we feel with confidence this person would have been all right being here.

Related From Slate The Long, Strange History of Grave Robbing and Its Modern Counterpart Read More

Many collectors, including Jeremy Pauley, talk about wanting to open their own museums some day. And while Pauleys personal collection of fetuses and skulls may be troubling to critics, at the Mutter Museum and other institutions, visitors will pay $20 admission to look at many of the same sorts of items.

For some, the passage of time gives museums cover to hold historical medical specimens, collected decades or centuries ago under circumstances that would not be acceptable today.

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There are doctors who convinced bereft mothers to sign away their stillborn babies, and grave robbers who dug up fresh bodies for dissections. But theres still plenty of interest in these items. The case against Cedric Lodge reveals an obvious modern demand for human remains.

For its part, Harvard has avoided any real blowback after Lodges arrest. The medical school fired Lodge, then successfully fought to dismiss lawsuits filed by family members of donors. And while administrators have called what happened an abhorrent betrayal, they have refused to say whether anyone else at Harvard was investigated or disciplined. An internal review commissioned by Harvard avoided the entire matter of the institutions failure to supervise Lodge and to keep a close watch on the morgue. In all the schools public statements, the thefts are blamed on a single, rogue employee.

Back in rural Pennsylvania, the state and federal charges Pauley has faced seem not to have dampened his enthusiasm for the oddities trade. He still posts online about human osteology for sale, even as he serves two years of probation for abuse of a corpse. Hes still awaiting sentencing on federal charges of conspiracy and interstate transport of stolen goods.

Just this spring, he announced on Facebook that he and his fiancee have fulfilled a dream and opened up a shop in the quaint downtown of Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Among the wares they plan to sell: human bones.
Hungarian embassy also vandalised.

General view of the Srebrenica Genocide Memorial Center in Potocari, Bosnia, Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (Source: TASR/AP)

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8,372, the official number of victims of the Srebrenica genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995, was spray-painted on the walls of the Slovak and Hungarian embassies in Sarajevo.

The red graffiti appeared on June 14, three weeks after the UN approved a resolution declaring July 11 an international day of remembrance for its victims, Bosnian Muslim boys and men, reports Radio Free Europe.

Hungary was among the 19 countries that joined Serbia in voting against the resolution, while Slovakia was among the 68 countries that abstained from voting.

The Sarajevo police classified the incident as vandalism.

Neither embassy wished to comment on the incident.

The non-binding resolution condemns the denial of the Srebrenica genocide as a historical event, and condemns acts that glorify individuals convicted of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

The Srebrenica massacre in June 1995 was carried out by members of the Army of the Republika Srpska. In 2007, the International Court of Justice in The Hague classified it as genocide.

More than 50 people have been convicted in connection with the genocide, including then-President of the Republika Srpska, Radovan Karadzic, and its army commander, Ratko Mladic.
The former president reflects on her term and explains why power failed to consume her.

President Zuzana Caputova during an interview with the Sme daily on May 27, 2024. (Source: SME - Jozef Jakubco)

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Now former Slovak president Zuzana Caputova is looking forward to some time off before embarking on a new journey. In five years, she faced major crises, from a pandemic to a war.

One of the hardest realisations was the gap between peoples expectations from the head of state and the actual powers held during these crises, she admits.

Despite challenges, she is proud of what she has achieved, and reminds people of the good image the country has abroad, asking people not to lose hope.

Are you excited that your term has ended?

Its natural for a person to look forward to some rest. I will be able to switch off, especially from the constant awareness of responsibility that comes with such a position 24/7.

Every time I looked at my phone, I had to check if something had happened, whether related to state security or other circumstances that require a response. Especially considering that my five years have been unique. There have been numerous moments when I had to look at my phone with a serious expression.

I believe that relief will come gradually, not instantly.

At my secondary school daughters graduation, I told myself, Great, I dont have to give a speech here. I look forward to moments like these. But, of course, there will be things Ill miss, such as meeting great people and having a wonderful team around me.

You are leaving office during challenging times. Are you worried about the direction Slovakia is heading towards?
Inaugural address by President Peter Pellegrini.

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Dear Madam President,

Dear Presidents,

Dear Speaker and Deputy Speakers of the National Council of the Slovak Republic,

Dear Prime Minister, who is recovering from injuries following the assassination attempt and is watching us from afar,

Dear President of the Constitutional Court,

Dear Members of Parliament,

Dear Members of the Government of the Slovak Republic,

Excellencies, esteemed guests, dear family, dear friends!

Allow me to sincerely thank you for your participation in this significant moment, which is the inauguration of the highest constitutional representative of the Slovak Republic. I am genuinely delighted to experience this precious moment in your presence. However, allow me now to address those who cast the vote in the presidential election and who cannot be here with us today  all the citizens of the Slovak Republic.

Dear fellow citizens, dear Slovaks!

I stand before you at the most important moment of my life so far, filled with a whirlwind of emotions. Pride as I gaze at our flag and gratitude for the knowledge I have gained through years of serving the people of Slovakia. Joy from your presence, and sorrow that one of the most important people in my life, my father, cannot be here with us. My personal emotions are deeply intertwined with the immense responsibility I have just assumed.

Yet, despite this, this exceptional moment is not about me. The president is indeed a living person with all their flaws and imperfections, but they are also a symbol of the country, a representative of the people at home and abroad, and an inseparable part of Slovakias democratic and constitutional framework.

I stand here today not by my own decision. I stand here because two months ago, the second largest number of voters in history entrusted me with this highest constitutional role. I am grateful for this immensely strong mandate, I deeply respect their trust, and I believe that I will never betray it.

But today I address all citizens of the Slovak Republic. Even those who voted for someone else. I address them with the hope that my performance as president will one day be worthy of their respect. And I also address those who did not vote at all, because they are full members of Slovak society and contribute to its shaping.

I speak to every single person in Slovakia with the belief that they feel like a solid part of the community of the Slovak Republic's citizens. I address them to let them know that I want to be their president as well.

It is customary for the head of state to take office with such a promise. However, I am convinced that this promise has never been so important as it is now. Because we are living in extraordinarily difficult times, where our long-term certainties are collapsing, and many people feel that their world has been turned upside down. And their lives are more filled with negative emotions than ever before, unfortunately making it worse than ever.

In recent years, I have travelled across Slovakia several times, from Malacky to Medzilaborce, from Oravska Polhora to Komarno. I have seen much goodness and hope in the eyes of thousands of Slovak people. But I have also seen a lot of fear, frustration, and sometimes even anger in their eyes.

But please  lets not blame people for their feelings. Lets have understanding not only for the opinions of experts and elites but also for Jozef Mak (a main character - a simple person who had a difficult life since birth - from the Jozef Mak novel by Jozef Ciger Hronsky published in 1933, ed.) - an ordinary person. The lives of such people were surrounded for many years by certainties that formed the solid pillars of their external and internal worlds. And suddenly these certainties are gone.

Gone is the certainty of peace, which for many decades was an absolute given. We stopped appreciating its immense value because war was just a term from history textbooks for us. And suddenly it is here, close to our eastern border.

We meet the frightened faces of refugees from Ukraine on our streets, many of whom were saving their own lives. In the spirit of our traditional hospitality, we offered dinner, lodging, and a helping hand. But their frightened gaze, full of despair and endless tragedy, destroyed our certainty that we would only know war from the stories of our grandparents.

For many people, the certainty was also the belief that the real world is the one they see from their window. They can smell or touch it, the people in it are alive, and they know them by name. And suddenly, they face the reality of a new, virtual world, where their children or grandchildren live more often than in the real one. And in this digital world, real rules do not apply, real money is not used, real values are not created. And above all, time-tested truths no longer apply because today it seems everyone has a right to their own.

Entire generations carried the certainty that their life success would be primarily determined by their honest work. That they would go to their factory every day, perfect their craft, give their best in schools or hospitals, and their lives would continuously improve. And suddenly many of their skills or knowledge are not enough, because in a rapidly changing world, they are becoming unnecessary.

And the final blow to the confusion in many minds was an event a few weeks ago, unprecedented in our modern history. For decades, we lived with the belief that modern Slovakia could resolve all its crises democratically and constitutionally. After all, we did not shoot at each other even when the old regime was falling  and this change was recorded in history books in the velvet edition. Every political problem was eventually resolved at the ballot boxes, with every decision made by a single judge, the only holder of power: the citizen of the Slovak Republic.

And suddenly, before our eyes, there are endless slow-motion shots of the legitimate and democratic Slovak prime minister falling to the ground under the bullets of an assassin, narrowly missing his vital organs. And along with the prime ministers health, they bury our certainty that such a thing could never happen in Slovakia.

I do not blame any person for whom the breaking down of these certainties causes confusion, frustration, or despair. Nor do I blame the anger triggered by real or perceived injustices.

Too many certainties have been shattered, too many wrongs and hatred has arisen.

The Covid pandemic ended not only many lives but also the belief that the world would continue to improve and that each new generation would live better than the previous one. After the deadly virus came the energy crisis, then economic problems, and finally a war full of human suffering. A lot of bad things have come to Slovakia from beyond its borders in recent years.

When living creatures find themselves in external danger, they instinctively come together to better face the threat. We have not yet managed to unite.

For several years, I have been warning that Slovakia is divided by a high mental wall, behind which two separate groups of society shout at each other. Today this wall is even sprinkled with blood. And if we never want more blood to be added, we must tear down this wall together.

We are one nation, one community, one Slovakia. In unity, we can better face all the tough challenges that lie ahead. And our history shows that it is possible.

Let us remember how, in the 19th century, a Slovakia divided by faith was united by the codified Slovak language, jointly supported by the evangelical followers of Ludovit Stur and the Catholic poet Jan Holly.

Let us remember how, through agreement and consensus, Czechoslovakia was born in 1918, the first democratic living space for the Slovak nation. And not only thanks to the agreement of the Slovak giant Milan Rastislav Stefanik with Tomas Garrigue Masaryk and Edvard Benes, but also thanks to the consensus of all representatives of the Slovak nation at the assembly in Martin and the Martin Declaration.

Let us remember how in the 1944 Slovak National Uprising, old and young, men and women, communists with civic and social democrats, Slovaks with many other nations fought side by side against the occupiers. And in this unity against fascism, tens of thousands of people were willing to sacrifice their lives for freedom.

Let us remember how we were jointly inspired by the idea of socialism with a human face and rejected its death under the tracks of foreign tanks. How we jointly welcomed the November 1989 changes in the hope of a better, freer, and more dignified life. And how, thanks to human and societal consensus, we finally became a proud and sovereign state, and later a sovereign member country of the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance.

These are precious examples of what we urgently need today. Solidarity, unity, and a common goal. We need to choose the best from our history and its personalities.

We need the solidarity of Prince Svatopluks three rods.

We need the faith of missionaries Cyril and Methodius.

We need the poems of Andrej Sladkovic and the visionary leadership of Ludovit Stur.

We need the telegraphic connection of Jozef Murgas and the energy of Aurel Stodolas turbines.

We need the diplomacy and courage of Milan Rastislav Stefanik.

And also the humanity of Alexander Dubcek.

If we are inspired by what we have already achieved in the past, we will be able to not only compete with the most developed countries in the world, but also be successful in this competition.

But please  let us not confuse the goal with the means. Our mutual understanding and reconciliation are just a necessary precondition to restore the missing certainties in our lives and once again give our world solid foundations.

We must be certain that we will do everything to achieve peace and never allow the further expansion of the war conflict beyond our borders. For the desire for peace is natural and certainly not a celebration of the aggressor.

We must be certain that we live in safety, where we are not afraid to walk on the street or send our children to school.

We must be certain that health and education are not commodities available exclusively to the wealthy.

We must be certain that in old age, sickness, and difficult life trials, we can rely on the helping hand of the state, which will not leave us to fend for ourselves.

We must be certain that we leave the Earth habitable for our children and their children so that everything we do for future generations makes sense.

We must be certain that regardless of our origin, faith, skin colour, or orientation, we are full-fledged members of Slovak society.

We must be certain that our honest work and the spiritual wealth we leave behind will be appreciated, regardless of the political regime under which they were created.

All these certainties can become new solid foundations for our lives and provide support that many people in Slovakia lack today.

Ladies and gentlemen, for years, I have been talking about the need for reconciliation and unity. For years I have been asked on what can such national cohesion be built. And for years I have been answering that our unification must be FOR something, not AGAINST something or someone.

We can unite for the common work on the tasks I have just listed. But we can try to find an even stronger glue. Common values that will give us a compass in moments when we temporarily lose our way.

We built the state on a greenfield. These are its foundations, its concrete, its hardware. These are solid things, but solidity without life is not enough. Every foundation needs walls and a roof. Every concrete needs to be enlivened with greenery, every hardware needs its software. And our walls, our greenery, and our software should be the values on which we as a nation and citizens of the Slovak Republic can unite. Decency, respect, freedom, mutual respect, and solidarity.

We must fill our statehood with something that every single citizen of the Slovak Republic will carry within them as part of their personality. Something that will persuade young people to return after completing their studies. Something that will compel Slovaks abroad to remain Slovaks at heart.

For me as the new president, these values are clear and very simple. State, nation, family, and individual.

In the spirit of my long-term political conviction, I speak of a strong state that is always a help and service to its citizens - never a burden. A state that is strong in its ability to help anyone who needs its help and to take care of people from cradle to grave. Strong in its ability to intervene where the market fails and to ensure correction.

But I also speak of a state that is outwardly strong. Because it can protect its borders, fulfil its own national interests, and claim its place at the global table where joint and important decisions are made.

When I speak of the nation, I fully subscribe to the constitution of the Slovak Republic, whose preamble begins with the words We, the Slovak nation! I am very aware of how, in todays politically correct environment, it is almost inappropriate to speak of the nation. But I speak very clearly: the word "nation" must never become a victim of political correctness! I fully respect every single citizen of the Slovak Republic, regardless of which nation they identify with. But I am convinced that the Slovak nation has the right to the historical fact that the democratic Slovak Republic was established as a tool of its self-determination!

When I speak of the family, I speak of the true basic unit of Slovak society. And its basic value should not be its outward signs, but primarily its inner qualities. Whether it is a true support for its members, a background, a place for the transmission of values and the formation of a person. Hands on which we may cry. The family is a place where the words mother, father, brother, or sister gain their true meaning, where we learn the much-needed intergenerational solidarity that has always been the glue of our nation. Family is the place where we rightfully seek understanding in the toughest life trials.

And finally, there is the individual. I am firmly convinced that it is the individual who should be the focus of the state. It is the individual who deserves the states help from birth to a dignified old age. We are not born with the same abilities and the same preconditions. But everyone deserves the same chance and the same starting line. Children must not suffer due to the mistakes of their parents because they did not choose the family or environment they were born into. And equally, no one should be punished for the part of Slovakia they decided to live, work, and care for their family in.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is a matter of a nationwide discussion on which values we decide to work on and consciously develop in every individual. This discussion can very well be political. Let us not succumb to the false notion that politics must be devoid of conflict. It belongs there quite naturally, for politics should be a place for exchanging opinions and even battles over ideas and values. But this battle must have its rules.

Politics must not divide the family at the Sunday dinner table.

It must not divide long-time friends and colleagues in the workplace.

It must not become the driving force of negative and destructive emotions that lie dormant in society.

Let us not tolerate the deliberate spread of evil and hatred. We will recognize it very easily. It is not an attack on ideas, but an attack on the head of ones political opponent.

Let us not allow people to be insulted for their expressed political opinion. Misunderstood, disappointed, and offended political egos must look in the mirror first and not blame fellow citizens and voters for their failure.

Let us not question the verdict of voters just because we do not like it at the moment. Respect for the election result is the very foundation of democratic order, and a necessary prerequisite for resolving political disputes in polling stations and never again with weapons in squares.

However, once our defined values are ultimately in place, their violation should be seen as abandoning the space that society is willing to tolerate. An individual who violates these values must know that by their own decision they are moving to the fringe of society, because such violations simply cannot and will not be accepted by society.

Ladies and gentlemen, defining nationwide accepted values and a common vision is the best prerequisite for us to succeed as a nation in these difficult times. But the situation has gone too far for us to wait until we manage it. Slovakia needs a remedy right now. And that remedy I offered in my presidential campaign and intend to offer with all my strength from the Presidential Palace. It is peace.

It is indisputable that politicians, opinion makers, or the media have a huge share in the tone prevailing in the public debate, where this debate is heading, and its outcome. But ultimately, the state of society is the result of the decisions of every single member. It depends on each of us whether we give free rein to negative emotions or become a beacon of peace and goodwill for our family, friends, or colleagues.

And therefore, today, I ask all my fellow citizens:

Each of us must ask ourselves how we can contribute, even in a small way, to calming society.

It is a fundamental task that today lies before politicians, opinion makers, and the media. But finding values on which we agree as a society and which we will honour is a task for each of us, for five and a half million people!

I, as president, am ready to do my utmost for this.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am convinced that we must return the basic elements of respect for the state, its symbols, and in this sense also for the office of the president of the republic to public life. However, if someone expects me to perform the role of the president as a kind of grandiose spectacle, they will be disappointed.

The work of the president should not be about theatrical and false gestures, which may look good on the outside and about which the media may write nicely for a few days. The performance of the presidents duties must be about daily honest work for the people. Not for gestures, not for media applause - but for the people. People are the bearers of power and grant it to all politicians, including the president. And they rightfully expect appropriate attention and real results.

The second historically strongest mandate of a directly elected president obliges me to be a support for every single citizen in every situation. It obliges me to ensure that people can rely on me and never have to be ashamed of me under any circumstances.

Just a moment ago, I took the oath of head of state, as prescribed by the constitution. It is extremely brief to encompass what is most important. But my personal promise as president to you, the citizens of the Slovak Republic, is a bit broader.

I want to promise you that I will unite Slovakia, where people of different nationalities, beliefs, world views, orientations, and races live together. I will seek a way to give all people a sense of a cohesive community that can pull together and move their homeland towards a better future.

For me, the national interests of the Slovak Republic will be more important than celebrity applause, media praise, or approval from world leaders. A self-confident and proud Slovakia, its people, nation, and state will always be my priority. Slovakia was, is, and will remain a firm part of the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance - but it will never be afraid to speak in its sovereign voice within them.

I will also work on healthy relationships with all our neighbours. With the Czech nation, we are literally connected by family ties. We look with respect at Poland, which gave the world a great pope. We will never forget Austria for being a refuge for many people during times of unfreedom, and we walked through history together with Hungary for centuries. We want to help Ukraine so that it can enjoy a just peace and subsequent reconstruction.

I will strive to create a strong and caring state whose focus is on the individual from birth to their dignified old age. A state that stands on the principle of social justice and can help all who need its help.

I will strive for politics characterised by fundamental decency, respect, and dignity. Politics where what matters is not who shouts the loudest or who insults their political opponent the most, but the ability to work for the people and, most importantly, to fulfil promises.

I will offer the Presidential Palace as a place where the long-term vision for Slovakia can be born. A place where even opposing political parties and genuine experts can come together at the same table to discuss a vision not just for one electoral term, but for decades ahead.

I will actively promote the vision of a united and cohesive nation that can come together for a common goal and succeed in this unity, compared to the most successful countries in the world. A vision of a peaceful and dignified life for all people in Slovakia.

This is my full pledge as president.

Ladies and gentlemen, Milan Rastislav Stefanik summed up in three words the foundation that should shape our lives: Believe, love, work.

It is faith that helps us overcome obstacles.

It is love that gives our life meaning.

And it is work through which we share the fruits of our life with others and move forward.

Let these three words unite us on both the smooth and thorny paths. Together, we have the ability to walk these paths firmly, dignified, and with hope.

Dear fellow citizens,

I know you, the Slovak people, and I truly love you. I have shaken hands with thousands of you and have been to all regions of Slovakia. I know very well how you live, what troubles you, and what you dream about. This knowledge is irreplaceable. With this understanding, I am ready to do everything in my power for you.

May God bless the Slovak people, may God protect our Slovakia!
Katie Ledecky off to a strong start at US Olympic swimming trials, leads prelims of 400 free

Katie Ledecky smiles after winning her heat during the Women's 400 freestyle preliminaries Saturday, June 15, 2024, at the US Swimming Olympic Trials in Indianapoils. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Katie Ledecky got off to a rousing start Saturday at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials.

Competing in the home stadium of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, Ledecky blew away the field in the preliminaries of the 400-meter freestyle, touching the wall with a time of 3 minutes, 59.99 seconds.

Ledecky finished nearly five seconds ahead of Paige Madden, who was next fastest at 4:04.83. The top eight advanced to the evening final, with Ledecky an overwhelming favorite to claim a spot on her fourth Olympic team.

The 400 was the first of four freestyle events that Ledecky is set to swim in Indianapolis, where the trials are being held in one end of massive Lucas Oil Stadium. The domed facility can hold up to 32,000 fans per session, though it wasn't close to that figure for the opening morning of the nine-day trials.

The 27-year-old Ledecky came into the trials with the top-seeded time in the 200, 400, 800 and 1,500 freestyle events.

She already has six individual Olympic gold medals  more than any female swimmer in the history of the sport  and she'll be looking to add to that haul in Paris.

In other events during the first session of the trials, Gretchen Walsh was top qualifier in the prelims of the women's 100 butterfly with an impressive time of 55.94, beating out Torri Huske (56.26) and Regan Smith (56.68). The top 16 advanced to the evening semifinals.

On the men's side, Nic Fink led the way in the prelims of the 100 breaststroke at 59.24. Josh Matheny (59.34), Charlie Swanson (59.44), Jake Foster (59.59) and Michael Andrew (59.72) also made it down and back in less than a minute.

Luke Whitlock was top qualifier in the men's 400 free at 3:46.42. Olympic medalists Kieran Smith and Bobby Finke also advanced to the evening final, with Smith posting the sixth-fastest time (3:48.25) and Finke claiming the last of eight spots (3:48.63).

___

AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/summer-olympics
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240615/cuba-does-not-approve-of-us-submarines-presence---deputy-foreign-minister-1118968881.html

Cuba Does Not Approve of US Submarine's Presence - Deputy Foreign Minister

Cuba Does Not Approve of US Submarine's Presence - Deputy Foreign Minister

Sputnik International

The Cuban government was notified of the USS fast attack submarine Helena visiting the US naval base in Cuba's Guantanamo, but Havana does not approve of such visits, Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio said.

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"We were aware of their presence because, in accordance with the procedures that we have followed for years, the United States informed us in advance. But obviously we do not like the presence on our territory and the transit through our waters of vessels of this kind belonging to a power that is conducting an official and practical hostile policy towards Cuba, Fernandez said, as quoted by Cubadebate. The Russian Northern Fleet's naval strike force, which includes the nuclear-powered Yasen-class Kazan cruise missile submarine, the Admiral Gorshkov frigate, the Akademik Pashin supply tanker and the Nikolai Chiker rescue tug, entered the port of Havana on Wednesday as part of a long voyage. The official visit of the Russian delegation under the command of Vice Adm. Mikhail Neupokoyev will last from June 12 to 17. US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said Wednesday the USS fast attack submarine Helena made a pre-planned deployment to the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The deployment followed the Russian naval force's arrival in Cuba for naval exercises. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Wednesday that Washington has seen such visits before and expects to see them again in the future. US officials previously noted that the Russian naval deployment to Cuba does not pose a threat to the United States.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240615/embassy-in-london-on-new-sanctions-against-russia-us-is-ultimate-beneficiary-1118972543.html

Embassy in London on New Sanctions Against Russia: US is Ultimate Beneficiary

Embassy in London on New Sanctions Against Russia: US is Ultimate Beneficiary

Sputnik International

The Russian Embassy in London, commenting on the new package of UK sanctions against Russia, said the ultimate beneficiary of such measures in any case would be the United States, which the UK serves without receiving anything significant in return.

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The United Kingdom on Thursday expanded the list of sanctions against Russia, adding more than 40 individuals and organizations. The Russian Embassy in London, commenting on new UK sanctions against Russia, said the UK is limiting the development of its own economy, whose growth rate remains at an extremely low level.It said the difficult economic situation in the country is largely the result of such futile foreign policy reckless moves by the Conservative government in its last weeks in power.The new sanctions imposed by the UK on Russia are an attempt by London to create temporary competitive advantages for itself by distorting normal international trade and economic relations, the Russian Embassy said.It said the sanctions are just "convulsive attempts by London and Washington to prevent Russia and other more successful and dynamically developing countries from completely getting ahead of the UK and the US.Timed to coincide with the G7 summit in Italy, Londons next package of illegitimate restrictive measures clearly demonstrates the opportunism inherent in the anti-Russian course of the Anglo-Saxons. Using the [Russian] special military operation's success only as an excuse, they are targeting... operators in the financial and energy sectors, the embassy said.The United Kingdom on Thursday expanded the list of sanctions against Russia, adding more than 40 individuals and organizations.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240613/china-opposes-any-illegal-unilateral-sanctions---beijing-on-new-us-sanctions-1118927783.html

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embassy in london, sanctions against russia, ultimate beneficiary
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240615/g7-countries-could-lose-83-billion-if-russias-assets-confiscated-1118969001.html

G7 Countries Could Lose $83 Billion If Russia's Assets Confiscated

G7 Countries Could Lose $83 Billion If Russia's Assets Confiscated

Sputnik International

The confiscation of Russian assets by the G7 countries could cost them almost $83 billion in the amount of their investments in the Russian economy, Sputnik has calculated on the basis of data from national statistical services.

2024-06-15T06:27+0000

2024-06-15T06:27+0000

2024-06-15T06:27+0000

world

russia

ukraine

italy

european union (eu)

g7

assets

frozen assets

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The confiscation of Russian assets by G7 countries could cost them almost $83 billion in the amount of their investments in the Russian economy, Sputnik has calculated based on data from national statistical services.According to the calculations, the volume of direct investments of G7 members in the Russian economy by the end of 2022 (there is currently no more recent data available) amounted to $82.8 billion.The largest investor in the Russian economy was the United Kingdom, according to the latest available data, with assets estimated at $18.9 billion.Next was Germany ($17.3 billion), France ($16.6 billion), and Italy ($12.9 billion). Investments of American companies in the Russian economy amounted to $9.6 billion; Japan and Canada invested $4.6 billion and $2.9 billion, respectively.In a statement following the first day of their summit in Italy on Friday, the G7 countries formally confirmed their intention to provide Ukraine with about $50 billion in loans by the end of the year, to be repaid from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets.The EU and G7 countries have frozen almost half of Russia's foreign currency reserves, about 300 billion euros, since the start of Russia's special military operation.Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the seizure of Russian state assets by Western countries would not go unpunished.The Russian Foreign Ministry called the freezing of assets in Europe theft. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that Russia would respond if its reserves were confiscated. According to him, Moscow also has the option of not returning funds that Western countries have kept in Russia.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240528/g7-lacks-consensus-on-frozen-russian-assets---us-official-1118667870.html

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russia's assets are confiscated, russian economy, g7 countries
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240615/isolated-ukraine-and-allies-dont-want-peace-with-russia--analyst-1118964590.html

Isolated Ukraine and Allies Dont Want Peace With Russia  Analyst

Isolated Ukraine and Allies Dont Want Peace With Russia  Analyst

Sputnik International

Western leaders are doubling down on NATO's proxy war against Russia, with disastrous consequences for their domestic and international standing.

2024-06-15T00:41+0000

2024-06-15T00:41+0000

2024-06-15T05:20+0000

analysis

volodymyr zelensky

jeremy kuzmarov

andriy biletsky

russia

ukraine

switzerland

proxy war

ukraine crisis

ukrainian crisis

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Volodymyr Zelensky and sponsoring his regime Western world leaders are gathering for a summit to discuss the countrys ongoing conflict with Russia at Switzerlands Burgenstock Resort this weekend.The sprawling compound, which boasts multiple five-star hotels and scenic views of Alpine landscapes, is known as one of the worlds top luxury mountain resorts. A spa and fine dining round out the amenities at the destination, known for hosting politicians, celebrities, and other high-profile guests.But as Western leaders indulge themselves in grandeur, their ongoing support for Zelenskys increasingly quixotic war effort is isolating them on the world stage and alienating them among their own people, according to author Jeremy Kuzmarov. The managing editor of Covert Action magazine joined Sputniks The Final Countdown program Friday to discuss Ukraines self-proclaimed peace summit, which has been ridiculed for not including representatives from Russia.You can't really have a peace conference with two parties in a war and one party's not involved, said the analyst. It's not going to go anywhere. So this is just a pure charade for public relations to make it seem like Ukraine wants peace, when really they don't, Kuzmarov said.Zelensky campaigned on implementing the Minsk accords while running for president in 2019, only to eventually abandon the agreement under pressure from anti-Russia elements. Observers speculate Zelensky fears the power of extremist paramilitaries in Ukraine, which overthrew former President Viktor Yanukovych in 2014.Such volunteer battalions have previously threatened to defy presidential orders if Zelensky moves towards withdrawing forces from the Donbass region. Last year, Zelensky released a video of a meeting he held with Andriy Biletsky, the founder of the notorious neo-Nazi Azov Battalion*. Biletsky has made no secret of his fascist views, once declaring he would lead the white races of the world in a final crusade against Semite-led Untermenschen.This is really just a charade, said Kuzmarov of this weekends meeting in Switzerland. And Ukraine, I think, is more and more isolated in the world community. There are revolts going on in Europe right now and we see the impact at the polls, that a lot of Europeans want to see the war ended and want better relations between their country and Russia.Recent polling demonstrates that Zelenskys strongest backers in Europe are increasingly viewed unfavorably by the public. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is viewed favorably by only 21% of Britons, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholzs approval rating stands at just 20%. A recent survey revealed that less than a quarter of voters trust [French President Emmanuel] Macron to tackle the problems France faces.*The 'Azov' battalion is a terrorist organization outlawed in Russia.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240330/ukraine-being-destroyed-from-within-by-zelensky-government-corruption--ex-diplomat-1117647839.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20221115/italian-police-foil-deadly-plot-by-neo-nazis-linked-to-ukraines-azov-battalion-1104265416.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240615/pentagon-waged-anti-vax-disinfo-campaign-against-china-media-1118977123.html

Pentagon Waged Anti-Vax Disinfo Campaign Against China - Media

Pentagon Waged Anti-Vax Disinfo Campaign Against China - Media

Sputnik International

A number of social media post made by phony accounts allegedly associated with the US Department of Defense urged people to doubt the effectiveness of Chinese COVID vaccines and protective measures such as face masks.

2024-06-15T18:58+0000

2024-06-15T18:58+0000

2024-06-15T18:58+0000

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The Pentagon ran a clandestine disinformation effort in 2020 aimed at undermining the reputation of Chinas COVID vaccine Sinovac.That eventually transformed into a full-blown anti-vax campaign, a new Reuters investigation claims.According to the news agency, the US Department of Defense employed some 300 fake accounts on social network X (then known as Twitter) to discredit the Chinese vaccine in the Philippines.The posts made by those phony accounts urged Filipinos not to trust the Chinese vaccine or as protective measures such as face masks, with one such post reportedly claiming that COVID came from China and the VACCINE also came from China.Following the Reuters investigation, the accounts in question were removed by X which declared the profiles were part of a bot campaign.The Pentagon propaganda effort also targeted people in the Middle East and Central Asia, claiming that the Sinovac jab should be considered haram by Muslims because some vaccines are made with pork gelatin.While this disinformation effort began during Donald Trumps presidency, it continued during the first months of Joe Bidens term in the Oval Office, even after alarmed social media executives warned the new administration that the Pentagon had been trafficking in COVID misinformation, the news agency noted.A senior Defense Department official acknowledged the US military engaged in secret propaganda to disparage Chinas vaccine in the developing world, but the official declined to provide details, Reuters reported.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240508/astrazeneca-recalls-vaccines-from-sale-worldwide-for-commercial-reasons---reports-1118331787.html

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covid vaccine, sinovac, pentagon anti vaccination disinformation
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240615/putins-peace-proposals-on-ukraine-are-golden-opportunity--lifeline-1118974919.html

Putin's Peace Proposals on Ukraine Are 'Golden Opportunity & Lifeline'

Putin's Peace Proposals on Ukraine Are 'Golden Opportunity & Lifeline'

Sputnik International

With his peace proposals on Ukraine, Vladimir Putin is throwing Europe a lifeline, Lebanese international relations analyst Mohammad Saifuddin told Sputnik.

2024-06-15T13:49+0000

2024-06-15T13:49+0000

2024-06-15T13:49+0000

analysis

ukraine

russia

vladimir putin

ukraine crisis

nato expansion

peace initiative

proxy war

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/06/0f/1118974741_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_e51a6973522ae772945eeec272b87ae3.jpg

Kiev should agree to the preconditions for peace talks laid out by Russian President Vladimir Putin, otherwise its position both in the combat zone and at the negotiating table will only get much worse, Persio Gloria de Paula, an expert at the Naval War College in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, told Sputnik.One should bear in mind that Ukraine is suffering both hardware and personnel losses. For the first, it relies on its patrons in the West, while to replenish the second it will need to push through increasingly stringent mobilization and lower the conscription age, he remarked. At the same time, the Russian proposal poses a challenge to Kiev and its sponsors on the eve of the so-called peace summit in Switzerland.Putins Offer is Golden OpportunityThe conditions laid out by President Putin to resolve the Ukraine conflict are a golden opportunity both for Kiev and the European countries to begin negotiations, Iranian political scientist Emad Abshenas told Sputnik.Of course, as expected, Russia insists on its key demands, he noted, including a neutral, non-nuclear status for Ukraine, as well as guarantees of independence, rights, freedoms and interests of the Russian-speaking population of the country.He singled out Putins remarks that these fundamental parameters along with Ukraines demilitarization and de-Nazification were broadly agreed on during the Istanbul negotiations in 2022. However, on Western countries orders, Kiev ultimately rejected these conditions, the expert said.West Pursuing Selfish Goals in UkraineIt is to be expected that the West will do everything possible to prevent Ukraine from accepting Russias peace initiatives, said Unver Sel, chairman of the Federation of Crimean Tatar Culture Societies of Turkiye.Once again, settlement of the conflict will be delayed. When asked if the West will claim responsibility for what is currently happening in Ukraine, the pundit said:Throwing Europe a LifelineWith his peace proposals on Ukraine, Vladimir Putin is throwing Europe a lifeline, Lebanese international relations analyst Mohammad Saifuddin told Sputnik.The Russian presidents initiative for an immediate cessation of hostilities is quite feasible and important for all parties, especially for Europeans who are tired of supporting Ukraine, he noted, adding that it may find a response in Ukrainian society before it is supported by their politicians.Putin's speech, which followed Western states attempts to steal illegally frozen Russian assets and use them to support Ukraine, also sought to underscore their blind dependence on US decisions, the analyst said.To date, the only way to resolve the conflict in Ukraine is through the implementation of Russias new peace proposal, Iranian political scientist and international relations expert Ruhollah Moddaber said.Dismissal of the previous proposals and disregard for the Minsk accords and the four rounds of negotiations that could have helped stabilize the situation in Ukraine fueled a continuation of the crisis due to the actions of the West, the Iranian political scientist explained."Russia has put forward clear-cut proposals. It has an advantage over Ukraine from a military, security, logistics and information standpoint. As Putin noted, if the West fails to consider this sole means of resolving the conflict, then it will be responsible for the continued bloodshed, Moddaber stressed.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240614/putin-sets-condition-for-ukraine-peace-talks-full-ukrainian-withdrawal-from-new-russian-regions-1118950944.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240614/ukrainians-deprived-of-chance-for-peace-after-refusal-of-putins-proposal---foreign-ministry-1118957296.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240615/rejection-of-putins-peace-offer-exposes-true-motivations-of-natos-proxy-war-in-ukraine-1118967820.html

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2024

Svetlana Ekimenko

Svetlana Ekimenko

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nato forces, nato-russia war, nato russia war, nuclear weapons, red line, russia fights against nato, nato provokes russia, nato's aggression, russian aggression, russia's aggression, unprovoked war, unprovoked intervention, unprovoked invasion, russia-china cooperation, russia vs nato, ww3, wwiii, war in ukraine, ukraine war, stop the war
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240615/rejection-of-putins-peace-offer-exposes-true-motivations-of-natos-proxy-war-in-ukraine-1118967820.html

Rejection of Putin's Peace Offer 'Exposes' True Motivations of NATO's Proxy War in Ukraine

Rejection of Putin's Peace Offer 'Exposes' True Motivations of NATO's Proxy War in Ukraine

Sputnik International

The Russian president has again insisted the country is open to pursuing peace with Kiev, but a cessation of hostilities runs counter to the interests and objectives of Western elites.

2024-06-15T06:11+0000

2024-06-15T06:11+0000

2024-06-15T06:11+0000

ukraine

world

russia

vladimir putin

nato

ukraine crisis

ukrainian conflict

us hegemony

nato expansion

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Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated the countrys conditions for an end to the Ukraine conflict during a lengthy address at the countrys Ministry of Foreign Affairs Friday.Moscows central demands are the same as those put forth during previous rounds of negotiations sabotaged by the United States: Ukraine must become a neutral state not aligned with Western powers crusade against the Russian nation. Additionally, Kiev must be demilitarized and de-Nazified, Putin stated, and the country must formally renounce plans to join NATO.The offer was rejected almost as soon as it was extended, leading Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova to jokingly ask whether it had even yet been translated into Ukrainian. With such statements they want to deprive the citizens of Ukraine of a real chance for peace, said the Russian official.But a deeper analysis of the conflict and its history reveals why a peaceful resolution remains so elusive. Sputniks The Critical Hour program hosted a series of guests to discuss the Russian presidents proposal, breaking down the context of the Ukraine crisis and Western elites deep-seated interest in its continuation.Manufacturing ConsentAnti-Russian sentiment has been on the rise in the West for a number of years, with the emergence of the Russiagate narrative alleging Moscows influence in the 2016 US presidential election representing a key acceleration of this trend. The conspiracy theory, widely promulgated by Western intelligence agencies in mainstream media, laid the groundwork for the Cold War-esque narrative that Russia once again represents an existential threat to the Wests purported democratic values and, by extension, to the West itself.Former President Barack Obama had announced a pivot to Asia just a few years prior, stressing the importance of responding to Chinas ascendance as a major world power. Meanwhile, the strengthening of Sino-Russian relations under Chinese President Xi Jinping helped solidify the formation of a geopolitical bloc countering US hegemony, a dynamic that has intensified with the growth of the BRICS economic alliance. The United States has become increasingly intent on challenging this counter-hegemonic force and undermining Russia in particular.The launch of Russias special military operation in the Donbass finally gave the US an excuse to confront Moscow militarily, with Western media portraying Russia as a belligerent imperialist power. But the claim bore little resemblance to reality.Former Washington Post bureau chief Jon Jeter argued that Western elites still oppose any lowering of tensions between Russia and Ukraine as they remain intent on denying Moscow a victory.Independent journalist Caleb Maupin agreed that Western media would continue to help undermine any rapprochement with Moscow. A recent poll showed 94% of Americans want exactly what Putin just offered, which is a diplomatic end, he noted. Trump may come in there and say, hey, Putin offered a deal. People want a deal. Now the mainstream media will call him a Russian bot, but 94% of Americans want it.Climbing the Escalation LadderRussia has been incredibly restrained and strategic throughout this, and they from the beginning have wanted to negotiate peace, Flowers observed.Western powers have instead chosen to escalate the conflict against Moscow, at times openly describing the war as a ploy to attempt to weaken Russia and China. US President Joe Biden has steadily provided the Kiev regime with more sophisticated and destructive weaponry and has increasingly countenanced Ukrainian strikes within Russian territory.The provision of arms to Ukraine has furthered the goals of US foreign policy hawks in a number of areas, giving the United States an excuse to increase military spending and manufacture new weapons to replace those sent to Kiev.The conflict has also spurred European NATO allies to remilitarize, kickstarting the continents long neglected defense industry in an effort to help supply Ukraine. Sweden has reinstated mandatory military service, while UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has vowed to do the same.The remilitarization of Europe places Western powers in a position to prepare for a third World War to stem the rise of Russia and China, which figures in the US military have claimed must take place within the next few years. The effort has also, naturally, padded the pockets of arms manufacturers and military contractors.They've really milked it for all it's worth, said Maupin. We're going to learn that this war was the biggest money laundering operation in history.The human cost of the conflict, meanwhile, has been substantial, with Flowers noting that thousands of ethnic Russians were killed in eastern Ukraine after the 2014 US-backed Maidan Coup. This was all manufactured by US foreign policy and support for what was happening in Ukraine, said the peace activist. It's not like Russia is making an unrealistic demand. They're saying, look, this is a majority Russian territory that was being attacked for all of these years and that attack was escalated.The Peace ImperativePutins peace proposal provides a powerful tool to those in the West who seek an end to the war in Ukraine, Flowers claimed.Russia's made this offer, she noted. These are concrete demands. These are reasonable demands. And it's very timely and important because folks need to realize that the Biden administration has authorized Ukraine to attack deeper into Russian territory. This is escalating the situation.They're just throwing good money after bad  which, of course, that's the point, right? said Jeter. They're feeding the military industrial complex, which is the real objective here.But the journalist warned of dire consequences if tensions continue to escalate beyond control.Host Garland Nixon agreed that the rejection of Putins peace overtures gives lie to the pretense that NATO is a defensive alliance dedicated to providing security for Europe. The refusal to acknowledge Russias basic security requirements exposes the dishonesty at the heart of Western rhetoric, he claimed, revealing that the US and its allies have other motives in prolonging the war.This is not something that the United States is being shy about. And it's really going to have to be us that say this is not acceptable We need to continue to build on this global momentum pushing for peace.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240605/nato-would-stand-no-chance-against-russia-china-military-alliance--analyst-1118772307.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/bidens-decision-to-send-cluster-bombs-to-ukraine-will-drag-us-close-to-ww3---trump-1111819035.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240220/tenth-anniversary-of-ukraines-maidan-coup-a-chronicle-1116886897.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240404/from-founding-to-expansion-reflecting-on-75-years-of-nato-1117736866.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240409/us-defense-secretary-acknowledges-admitting-ukraine-in-nato-threatens-russian-security-1117836272.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240615/romania-to-deny-visas-to-russian-delegation-to-osce-pa---russian-lawmaker-1118966476.html

Romania to Deny Visas to Russian Delegation to OSCE PA - Russian Lawmaker

Romania to Deny Visas to Russian Delegation to OSCE PA - Russian Lawmaker

Sputnik International

Russia has received a notification from the Romanian Foreign Ministry that it would not issue visas for members of the Russian delegation to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly, Grigory Karasin, the head of the Russian upper house's foreign affairs committee, said on Friday.

2024-06-15T00:11+0000

2024-06-15T00:11+0000

2024-06-15T02:17+0000

osce parliamentary assembly

organization for security and cooperation in europe

russia

romania

leonid slutsky

grigory karasin

bucharest

world

anti-russian policy

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"A session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly was scheduled to take place in Bucharest at the end of June. So, we, the co-founding country of this organization, received a note from the Romanian Foreign Ministry. It states that... none of the members of the Russian delegation will be issued visas or allowed to enter the country," Karasin said on Telegram. He slammed Romania's move, saying it was "contributing to the destruction of this once useful organization for cooperation in Europe." Last week, lawmaker and leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia Leonid Slutsky said that Russia is likely to part ways with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly if it did not receive an invitation to the next session of the organization in Romania.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240615/russia-needed-for-talks-on-ukraine-peace-saudi-fm-tells-swiss-summit-1118977000.html

Russia Needed for Talks on Ukraine Peace, Saudi FM Tells Swiss Summit

Russia Needed for Talks on Ukraine Peace, Saudi FM Tells Swiss Summit

Sputnik International

Any credible peace process aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine requires Russia's participation, Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud told the Ukraine conference at the Burgenstock in Switzerland.

2024-06-15T18:28+0000

2024-06-15T18:28+0000

2024-06-15T18:28+0000

world

ukraine

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We believe it is important that the international community encourage any step towards serious negotiations which will require difficult compromise as part of a road map that leads to peace, Prince Faisal said.The minister stressed that Saudi Arabia is ready to support efforts to end the conflict.He urged the international community to take responsibility for "encouraging peace and negotiations, rather than further escalation."Switzerland is hosting the conference to discuss Volodymyr Zelensky's 10 -point "peace plan" at the exclusive Burgenstock resort near Lucerne on June 15 and 16.Delegations from 92 countries eight organizations including the European Union, Council of Europe and UN confirmed their participation, with 55 heads of state attending.But US President Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will not attend the conference.Switzerland did not invite Russia to the summit. The Kremlin stated that seeking solutions to the Ukrainian conflict without Russias involvement was illogical and futile.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240615/putins-peace-proposals-on-ukraine-are-golden-opportunity--lifeline-1118974919.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240615/scholz-says-putins-peace-proposal-not-meant-seriously-1118973287.html

Scholz Says Putin's Peace Proposal 'Not Meant Seriously'

Scholz Says Putin's Peace Proposal 'Not Meant Seriously'

Sputnik International

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday that Russian President Vladimir Putin's new peace proposal on Ukraine was "not meant seriously."

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On Friday, Putin said that Russia would immediately cease fire and declare its readiness for negotiations with Ukraine after Kiev withdraws troops from the territory of new regions of Russia. Other conditions for the talks included Ukraine's official statement that it abandons plans to join NATO and formalizes its neutral, non-aligned, nuclear-free status. The chancellor said that this was not a proposal that "would work," adding that Ukraine should have the opportunity not to sign such proposals, but instead "to act out of its own interests." Switzerland is hosting a high-level conference on Ukraine at the Buergenstock resort outside of Lucerne from June 15-16. Around 90 countries and organizations have confirmed their participation, according to the Swiss hosts. Russia has not received an invitation, but even if it had, it would not attend the conference, Vladimir Khokhlov, spokesperson for the Russian Embassy in Bern, told Sputnik in April.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240527/ukraine-might-not-become-nato-member-within-next-30-years---scholz-1118644639.html

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The Meadowlands Breakfast with the Babies, sponsored by Jules Siegels Fashion Farms, caught perfect conditions again on the morning of Saturday, June 15: the sky was clear, temperatures were in the 70s, and the track was fast for two-year-old qualifiers beginning at 9 a.m.

The potent team of Nancy Takter and Yannick Gingras took the opener with the Downbytheseaside filly Sea Her Rule, a homebred owned by 3rd Floor Stables LLC. Held back early, Sea Her Rule caught a second-over trip in the short field, fanned wide and went by Caviart Rose (Todd McCarthy) on her own for a 1:57.3 win.

Bella Vita (Tim Tetrick) rolled up uncovered and wore down a stubborn Odds On Dr J (Scott Zeron) through a :28 end to the 1:56.3 mile. The Huntsville filly is another homebred and is owned by V. Louis Chianca, Karen Williams and Beverly Schiffman, and is trained by Bruce Saunders.

Tetrick came right back with the $250,000 Lexington purchase Fallout to win in 1:55.4, sprinting home in :27.2 and demonstrating nifty balance when he took a cautionary few steps out mid-stretch but never lost his momentum. Luminary (Andy McCarthy) rallied up late for the place. The winner is a Brittany Farms-bred son of Captaintreacherous trained by Tony Alagna for by Rob LeBlanc, Pryde Stables and Caviart Farms.

It was natural hat trick time for Tetrick as he sent Manolete right to the front, rolled through easy numbers, then out-sprinted his rivals with a :27 end to a 1:56.1 mile, also the second on the day for trainer Bruce Saunders. Papis Pistol (Dave Miller) rallied impressively late for second. The winner is a product of the first crop of Cattlewash, who has impressed thus far with several sharp looking individuals preparing for the upcoming New Jersey Sire Stakes. Manolete, bred by The OK Corral, was a $52,000 Harrisburg purchase for M&L of Delaware and M&M Harness Racing.

Smoken Bob (Zeron) was a 1:57.1 winner after a close-up trip, wearing down Knockout Round (Anibal Borjas) in the shadow of the wire. Linda Toscano trains for Kenny Jacobs, who paid $80,000 for the Hanover-bred Sweet Lou colt at Harrisburg.

The Alagna stable got another win when Andy McCarthy sent Caviart Delight though an opening inside stablemate Be My Princess A (Todd McCarthy) through a :27.3 end to a 1:57.1 mile. The Caviart Farms-bred Always B Miki filly went through Harrisburg for $45,000, and they took on trainer Alagna as a partner.

Alagna and McCarthy came right back with the Walner filly Tagalong, who led all the way under a firm grip and had plenty late, ending the 1:59.1 win with a :29 final stanza. Get It All (Dexter Dunn) followed the winner throughout and held sway for second, though no match. The Brittany Farms-bred brought a winning bid of $65,000 at Lexington from Rob LeBlanc, Grant & Pryde Stables, Coyote Wynd Farms and Odds On Racing.

Spicy Nice, a Tactical Landing from top race mare Maven, roared down the stretch for Gingras through a :28.3 final quarter to get the 1:58.2 win. Nancy Takter trains for Morrison Racing and John Fielding. Fielding also gets a breeders credit along with Irv Liverman and Joyce McClelland, who put her through the Lexington sales ring for a price of $135,000.

Wallies Dolly (Andy McCarthy) was Tony Alagnas third winner of the day, another expensive ($210,000) Walner filly who put up all the numbers then sprinted home in :28.4 to hold off the closing Margareta Hanover (Dunn). Kenny Jacobs owns the winner, who was bred by Carter Duer.

Swoop made every call a winning one for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Lucas Wallin along with partners Joe Sbrocco, JAF Racing, Harbor Racing and Van Camp Trotting, ending the mile in :28.1 for the 1:59 tally over On The Radio. A daughter of Walner, Swoop was an $80,000 Lexington purchase from breeders Steve Stewart and Michael Andrew.

Deja Blu, the first foal of the great race mare Atlanta, made her debut in this split and rallied late to be third for owner-breeder Crawford Farms and partner Tom Pontone, trainer Nancy Takter and Yannick Gingras, trotting home in :28 while gaining ground on winner Swoop.

Green Manalishi S had his first U.S. winner as Galen Erso (Mattias Melander) inherited the lead when stablemate Sky Legacy broke and trotted through the wire for a 1:58.3 win over a closing Kentucky Colonel (Todd McCarthy). Galen Erso is a true homebred by Marcus Melander, who raced the sire and raised this successful colt out of the Conway Hall mare Wygant Princess.

The Melander barn came right back with the Muscle Hill colt Go Boom (Dunn), who sat up close throughout, avoided a few breakers, then closed stoutly into the :28.1 end to a 1:58.3 mile over Camera Man (Ake Svanstedt). Windsong Stable bred the winner, a $220,000 Harrisburg purchase by AMG Stable, Mantorp, Heights Stable and Fredrik Nielsen.

Mr Walner Fashion (Todd McCarthy) turned in the fastest trot of the day when he closed wide to track down Civilian Drone (Gingras) in 1:56.4. Jim Campbell trains the homebred son of Walner, the sires fourth winner on the card, for his longtime client, Jules Siegels Fashion Farms.

Racing resumes tonight (Saturday, June 15) at Meadowlands. Post time is 6:20 p.m.

(Meadowlands Racetrack)
Brett Miller will have a tough decision to make at some point in Ohio Sires Stakes action for three-year-old filly trotters, but hes able to put off making that choice as his luck continued on Friday, June 14 at Eldorado Scioto Downs when his two hot fillies drew into  and won  separate $89,041 divisions.

Jurassic Hattie (pictured above) put in a dominating performance in the first division of OHSS action, winning in 1:52.3.

Leaving from post four, Jurassic Hattie took a big lead after Justasiam AS, who had settled in the pocket, went off stride. Cruising through fractions of :27.2, :56.4 and 1:24.4, Jurassic Hattie won by 9-1/2 lengths to continue her perfect win streak on the year, going five-for-five. Butter N Syrup (Chris Lems) tracked the winner to finish second with Createaqueen (Dan Noble) finishing third.

I cant say enough about her; she takes care of herself and race day she just goes, said trainer Eric Nesselroad. Shes been real sound this year; we put her behind the gate to jog her, keep her relaxed, and shes been good that way.

Jurassic Hattie is by Volstead out of the Striking Sahbra mare High Gear Sahbra. The three-year-old filly is owned by breeder Jerry Welch and trained by Eric Nesselroad. In 12 lifetime starts, she has earned $298,383, never finishing worse than second.

I couldnt be any happier. Erics done a fantastic job with her, and hes let her develop on her own, said owner-breeder Jerry Welch. We dont know how good she is  Im just proud that I own her.

In the second division, Legacy Affair (Sam Widger) left from the rail to lead to the opening quarter of :27.1. Midnight Nolan (Tyler Smith) sat second with 1-9 favourite Sugar Instead in third. By the :56.3 half, Sugar Instead was underway to challenge Legacy Affair and took the lead by the 1:24.4 three-quarters. Sugar Instead coasted home to win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:53.2. Legacy Affair was second with Roxanna (Aaron Merriman) getting up for third.

Sugar Instead is by Volstead out of the Windsongs Legacy mare Sugar Pop. Bred by Elmer Dean Miller, Sugar Instead is trained by Virgil Morgan Jr. for Joyce McClelland and Larry Wills. The filly now has $452,693 earned in 15 lifetime starts.

Five Divisions Of Buckeye Stallion Series For Sophomore Trotting Colts

Five divisions of the $27,397 Buckeye Stallion Series (BSS) for three-year-old colt trotters were also held at Scioto on Friday.

Irresistible Son (Anthony MacDonald) took an early lead in the first division, yielded to Smokitsteady (Chris Page) for the :26.4 opening quarter and quickly retook, leading through :56.4 and 1:24.3 fractions. Hung Over (Miller) made a first-over bid, tucked in briefly in the last turn, and surged past Irresistible Son to win by a half length in 1:53.1 with Sir Maverick (Kayne Kauffman) finishing third. Hung Over is owned by Bluestone Farms and Lynda Stewart. Bob Stewart trains the son of Creatine who now has $166,064 earned in 12 lifetime starts.

In the second division, Iwanabtheonlyone (Aaron Merriman) took the early lead but yielded to Sup (Kurt Sugg) by the :27.3 quarter. The action continued with Mr WWC (Chris Lems) making the front as the field crossed under the wire for the first time. Eventual winner Tom Swifty (Noble) was sitting fifth and came first-up just before the :56.4 half. When Im Gone AS (Tony Hall) picked up cover and drafted towards the 1:26.1 three-quarters. Coming down the stretch, Tom Swifty went on by to win by 1-1/4 lengths over When Im Gone AS; Mr WWC held on for third. Tom Swifty is owned by Norman Rae Racing and breeder Sandra Burnett. Christi Noble trains the Long Tom gelding who now has $99,647 in earnings in 17 lifetime starts.

The race was also the Ohio Harness Horsemens Association Charity Race. With the win, Home for Families took home $13,699 to continue their mission to reduce the trauma of homelessness and empower low-income families to achieve safe and stable housing and financial independence. When Im Gone AS earned his charity, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Ohio, $6,849 with his second-place finish, while Mr WWC earned the Ohio FFA Foundation $4,110. The rest of the charities each received $2,740.

Trevor Smith sent Papa Nordin straight to the top from post nine and led the third division of the BSS to an opening quarter of :28.2. Long Ridge (Noble) took over and led the field through fractions of :58.3 and 1:28.2. Long Ridge looked home free, but Papa Nordin went up the passing lane to sneak by and win by a head in 1:57.1. TTs Magnum Force (Sugg) made a first-over bid going to three-quarters and finished third. Papa Nordin is owned by Danny Collins, Alan Swayne, Jr., Keith Gisser and Hurley Racing. The win was the Volstead geldings second in five seasonal starts, and it increased his earnings to $29,935 in 10 lifetime starts.

Super James (Daren Harvey) left from post five in the fourth division of the BSS to lead the field to the :28.4 opening panel. Pleaseandthankyou (Cameron McCown) settled in second, with 4-5 favourite Gypsy Hill (MacDonald) sitting third. The outer flow started to develop by the :58.1 half, but when the field straightened out on the backside, Pleaseandthankyou popped the pocket to challenge the leader. Nose to nose by the 1:27.3 three-quarters, Super James held tough to the challenge. Midway through the last turn, Gypsy Hill tipped three-wide and took the momentum to win by a length in 1:56.4 over Commander Tom (Austin Hanners), who came up the passing lane to finish second. Super James held on for third. Gypsy Hill, by What The Hill, is owned by Thestable Gypsy Hill Group and Hutchison Harness. He has now earned $99,907 in 14 lifetime starts with seven wins.

Sciotos leading driver, Jeremy Smith, took the final division of the BSS with Zoned for owner-trainer John Payne, also in 1:56.4. The duo got away third from the rail and let the dust settle between Flash Of Fame (Page) and Forever A Lion AS (Hall) as Flash Of Flame hit the quarter in :27.4. Hills Espress (Sandy Beatty) started the outer flow at the :56.3 half. Zoned continued to stay along the rail at the 1:26.3 third quarter and went up the passing lane to win by a nose over a fast-closing Chipstead (Lems). Flash Of Fame held on for third. Zoned, by What The Hill, now has $43,984 earned in 29 lifetime starts.

The 90-day 2024 Eldorado Scioto Downs race meet runs through Sept. 14.

(Scioto Downs)
Jordan Hartle, son of Lake Norman Regional Medical Centers pathologist, Dr. Edgar Hartle, is following in his fathers footsteps to become a physician. He is set to begin medical school at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM)  Carolinas in Spartanburg, S.C., where he is considering pathology as a medical specialty.

Prior to his July 15 start date at VCOM, medical student Hartle is spending his summer in the hospitals clinical laboratory department completing his clinical rotation for a phlebotomy course. After his post-baccalaureate pre-medical studies at Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, Fla., having already graduated with a bachelor of arts in history and minor in music in May 2022, Hartle participated as a pre-medical public health intern and volunteer at HealthReach Community Clinic in Mooresville upon returning from Florida.

Volunteering at HealthReach further piqued his interest in medicine. Early in life, growing up in Davidson, Jordan Hartle enjoyed visiting the hospital with his father, Edgar Hartle, M.D., where he literally followed his fathers footsteps while visiting in his office and being around other medical professionals, observing the various medical career paths along the way.

An accomplished pianist and violinist, Jordan Hartle shares that the most exciting day in his life was the phone call he received from the dean of medicine at VCOM  Carolinas Campus welcoming him with admittance to the medical school in Spartanburg, S.C. He says he is more than ready to begin his studies and is so appreciative of the opportunities he has experienced and to be able to pursue his medical degree close to home.

Tracy Hofstetter, network laboratory director, said: I have known Jordan since he was very young, and he has always shown a proclivity towards the pursuit of medicine, demonstrating, even as a child, the desire to learn and challenge himself in his studies. She further expressed, He certainly has the compassion and the heart to be a physician and will, no doubt, go on to do great work to the benefit of others.

Dr. Ed Hartle, Jordans father and longtime Lake Norman Regional Medical Center pathologist, said: While growing up, Jordan always showed an interest for looking through my microscopes, and his mother, Michele, and I couldnt be more proud and happy for him as he begins this exciting next chapter in his education.
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:

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Meta has paused plans to use personal data to train its artificial intelligence technology in Europe, Ireland's regulator said Friday, after the social media giant was hit with privacy complaints.

Last week, a Vienna-based privacy campaign group filed complaints in 11 European countries against Meta, saying the global tech giant's planned privacy policy change would allow "unlawful" use of personal data to train an "undefined" type of current and future AI technology.

The complaints brought by the European Center for Digital Rightsalso known as Noyb ("None of Your Business")followed a recent announcement by Meta in which it informed its European users of a change in its privacy policy from June 26.

The group said it found out that Meta planned to use all public and non-public user data that it has collected since 2007 for the AI technology.

Through the complaints, the group asked data protection authorities in the 11 European countries to stop Meta's new privacy policy before it enters into force in late June and fully investigate it.

In a statement on Friday, the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) said it "welcomes the decision by Meta to pause its plans to train its large language model using public content shared by adults on Facebook and Instagram across the EU/EEA".

"This decision followed intensive engagement between the DPC and Meta," the DPC said, adding that it would continue to engage with Meta on this issue together with its fellow EU data protection authorities.

"We welcome this development, but will monitor this closely. So far there is no official change of the Meta privacy policy, which would make this commitment legally binding," Noyb founder Max Schrems said in a statement.

"The cases we filed are ongoing and will need a determination," he added.

Noyb has launched several legal cases against technology giants, often prompting action from regulatory authorities.

The group began working in 2018 with the advent of the EU's landmark General Data Protection Regulation.

 2024 AFP
A Roanoke County man who last year accused staff at Glen Cove Elementary School of "conditioning, grooming and abusing children"  prompting the school board to ban rainbow symbols in classrooms  is now the target of a civil defamation lawsuit that seeks $20 million.

Damon Gettier, a real estate broker and Glen Cove parent, was a central figure in the furor over LGBTQ+ issues that gripped Roanoke County schools last year. Having railed in Facebook posts against displays of rainbows at the school, Gettier came to the school board's May 18, 2023, meeting and said that teachers and staff were sexual predators.

"What I'm here to talk about is the child abuse, grooming, conditioning, and indoctrination by sexual predators disguised as teachers and staff at Glen Cove Elementary," Gettier said at the meeting.

Gettier did not reply Wednesday to a message seeking comment on the lawsuit.

At last year's school board meeting, Gettier told board members that he overheard his son talking to another Glen Cove student about a teacher telling them that "a boy could be a girl and a girl could be a boy and that they could decide."

Gettier said that he was "disgusted" by this, and discovered that the school's music classroom was decorated with student drawings of Pride flags, and that he met school staff wearing what he termed LGBTQ+ clothing, glasses and pens. Gettier said that teachers acting from "woke, progressive ideologies" were raising topics that he considered unsuitable due to the students' age.

It should be up to parents, not educators, to discuss things like sexuality or transgender identities with children, Gettier said.

The schools' guidance counselor, school psychologist, assistant principal and music teacher were "bent on indoctrinating our children on LGBTQA and not on reading, writing, and arithmetic," Gettier said.

" We have five-plus staff and faculty conditioning, grooming, and abusing children," Gettier said. " I will not stand for it, it will not happen and I will go as far as I have to to ensure it doesn't."

Three other parents spoke at the May 18, 2023, meeting and accused Glen Cove staff of bringing up LGBTQ+ topics that they said were inappropriate for elementary age students. One of the other speakers used the word predators, but only Gettier accused specific staff members, identifying them by job positions held only by certain individuals.

On Saturday, Gettier was served with a lawsuit filed by one of the staff members, now-former Assistant Principal Tobie McPhail.

In the lawsuit, McPhail said that Gettier's accusations were false, malicious, and made with a reckless disregard for the truth. She said that Gettier's remarks, on Facebook and at the school board meeting, caused her emotional distress, and damaged her reputation and career.

The lawsuit, filed by attorneys John Fishwick and Daniel Martin of Roanoke, contained two counts. The first asked that Gettier be found liable for defamation, and the second for using insulting words. The latter was brought under a section of Virginia law that sets a possible civil liability for using words that are commonly "construed as insults and tend to violence and breach of the peace."

In each of the two counts, McPhail asked for $5 million in compensatory damages and another $5 million in punitive damages.

McPhail's lawsuit was filed in Roanoke County Circuit Court last month but according to court records, process servers were unable to personally deliver it to Gettier and posted it on his door last weekend. No attorney was listed as representing Gettier.

Responding to a request for comment Wednesday, Fishwick and Martin issued a statement describing McPhail as "a long-time educator and administrator who has worked tirelessly throughout her career to ensure that all children receive a quality education in a safe learning environment."

"We have great respect for her and look forward to moving ahead with her case," the statement said.

Fishwick declined further comment.

Gettier's remarks last year came amid a gathering uproar about LGTBQ+ issues in county schools. Received in silence by school board members, and receiving a scattering of applause from audience members, Gettier's words soon prompted an outpouring of support for the criticized school staff from people who said the educators were being unfairly attacked.

The school board, however, soon approved a classroom display policy banning rainbow flags and any other displays not directly related to curriculum.

Then the school board became one of the first in Virginia to adopt Gov. Glenn Youngkin's model policy on transgender students, seen by critics as discriminatory.

Protests and counterprotests began outside the board's meetings, while the public comment sections of the meetings were crowded with speakers  some calling on the board to ease up, and others saying that Christian beliefs should prompt the board to prohibit anything related to non-traditional gender roles or sexual orientation.

Three people were arrested at board meetings in July and August while expressing opposition to the board's policies.

Another legal wrangle springing from last year's tumult took a procedural step this week, as an attorney for Roanoke County Pastor Tom McCracken filed a second amended version of a lawsuit against Roanoke City Councilman Luke Priddy and Roanoke County parent Tiffany Sandifer.

McCracken's lawsuit also is a defamation case, though it alleges two types of conspiracy as well. It accuses Sandifer and Priddy, both critics of the school board's LGBTQ+ stance, of damaging McCracken's reputation by saying that the minister, who leads the Southern Baptist CommUNITY church and has led a rally supporting the school board, touched Sandifer's daughter on the shoulder at an August school board meeting.

Social media posts and derogatory flyers left around McCracken's church also figure in the allegations.

The lawsuit was filed last year, but on May 24, Roanoke County Circuit Judge Charles Dorsey dismissed the portions that applied to Sandifer, saying that McCracken's complaint lacked specificity and clarity. Dorsey noted that Priddy had not been legally notified of the lawsuit.

On Tuesday, McCracken's attorney, Melvin Williams of Roanoke, filed a new version of the lawsuit, asking for at least $1.95 million variously assigned to the two defendants, but also asking for damages, attorney fees and anything else the court wanted to award.

How much income do you need to enjoy a middle-class life in your city? How much income do you need to enjoy a middle-class life in your city? Top 10 cities with the highest middle class thresholds Top 10 states with the highest middle class thresholds How much income do you need to enjoy a middle-class life in your city?
Pakistan has become the latest target of a threat actor called the Smishing Triad, marking the first expansion of its footprint beyond the E.U., Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E., and the U.S.

"The group's latest tactic involves sending malicious messages on behalf of Pakistan Post to customers of mobile carriers via iMessage and SMS," Resecurity said in a report published earlier this week. "The goal is to steal their personal and financial information."

The threat actors, believed to be Chinese-speaking, are known to leverage stolen databases sold on the dark web to send bogus SMS messages, enticing recipients into clicking on links under the pretext of informing them of a failed package delivery and urging them to update their address.

Users who end up clicking on the URLs are directed to fake websites that prompt them to enter their financial information as part of a supposed service fee charged for redelivery.

"Besides Pakistan Post, the group was also involved in detecting multiple fake delivery package scams," Resecurity said. "These scams primarily targeted individuals who were expecting legitimate packages from reputable courier services such as TCS, Leopard, and FedEx."

The development comes as Google revealed details of a threat actor it calls PINEAPPLE that employs tax and finance-themed lures in spam messages to entice Brazilian users into opening malicious links or files that ultimately lead to the deployment of the Astaroth (aka Guildma) information-stealing malware.

"PINEAPPLE often abuses legitimate cloud services in their attempts to distribute malware to users in Brazil," Google's Mandiant and Threat Analysis Group (TAG) said. "The group has experimented with a number of cloud platforms, including Google Cloud, Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure and others."

It's worth noting that the abuse of Google Cloud Run to disseminate Astaroth was flagged by Cisco Talos earlier this February, describing it as a high-volume malware distribution campaign targeting users across Latin America (LATAM) and Europe.

The internet goliath said it also observed a Brazil-based threat cluster it tracks as UNC5176 targeting financial services, healthcare, retail, and hospitality sectors with a backdoor codenamed URSA that can siphon login credentials for various banks, cryptocurrency websites, and email clients.

The attacks leverage emails and malvertising campaigns as distribution vectors for a ZIP file containing an HTML Application (HTA) file that, when opened, drops a Visual Basic Script (VBS) responsible for contacting a remote server and fetching a second-stage VBS file.

The downloaded VBS file subsequently proceeds to carry out a series of anti-sandbox and anti-VM checks, after which it initiates communications with a command-and-control (C2) server to retrieve and execute the URSA payload.

A third Latin America-based financially motivated actor spotlighted by Google is FLUXROOT, which is linked to the distribution of the Grandoreiro banking trojan. The company said it took down phishing pages hosted by the adversary in 2023 on Google Cloud that impersonated Mercado Pago with the goal of stealing users' credentials.

"More recently, FLUXROOT has continued distribution of Grandoreiro, using cloud services such as Azure and Dropbox to serve the malware," it said.

The disclosure follows the emergence of a new threat actor dubbed Red Akodon that has been spotted propagating various remote access trojans like AsyncRAT, Quasar RAT, Remcos RAT, and XWorm through phishing messages that are designed to harvest bank account details, email accounts, and other credentials.

Targets of the campaign, which has been ongoing since April 2024, include government, health, and education organizations as well as financial, manufacturing, food, services, and transportation industries in Colombia.

"Red Akodon's initial access vector occurs mainly using phishing emails, which are used as a pretext for alleged lawsuits and judicial summonses, apparently coming from Colombian institutions such as the Fiscalia General de la Nacion and Juzgado 06 civil del circuito de Bogota," Mexican cybersecurity firm Scitum said.
Four former provincial chairmen receive warnings for bidding violations

By Minh Hue Sat, June 15, 2024 | 8:47 pm GMT+7

The former chairpersons of Ninh Thuan, Binh Duong, Long An and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces have received warnings from the Central Inspection Commission for their violations in project bidding and implementation.

Luu Xuan Vinh, former Chairman of the People's Committee of Ninh Thuan province, central Vietnam. Photo courtesy of the Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises

The commission determined that the Party leaders of the Ninh Thuan provincial People's Committee had violated the principle of democratic centralism and working regulations, lacked responsibility, and showed lax leadership and direction.

As a result, the people's committee and many organizations and individuals violated Party regulations and State laws in implementing wind and solar power projects and construction investment projects, it noted

These violations caused serious consequences, risking large budget losses, stirring public outrage, and reducing the reputation of local Party organizations and administrations to the point that they must be disciplined, it said.

According to the inspection commission, those mainly responsible for these violations are the Party leaders of the Ninh Thuan People's Committee for the 2016-2021 term and former provincial Chairman Luu Xuan Vinh; former Vice Chairman Pham Van Hau; former Secretary of the Ninh Hai district Party Committee Phan Tan Canh; former director of the Department of Planning and Investment Pham Dong; former director of the Department of Finance Nguyen Van Truong; and former director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Bui Anh Tuan.

Therefore, the commission decided to give warnings to the Party leaders of the Ninh Thuan People's Committee for the 2016-2021 term and former Chairman Luu Xuan Vinh.

It also reprimanded the Party committees of the Department of Planning and Investment, Department of Finance, Department of Construction, and Department of Natural Resources and Environment for the 2015-2020 term, along with Hau, Canh, Dong, Truong and Tuan.

The inspection commission also found that Le Thanh Cung, Tran Van Can and Nguyen Van Trinh, former chairmen of Binh Duong, Long An and Ba Ria-Vung Tau respectively, violated Party regulations and State laws in carrying out the assigned responsibilities and tasks.

They also showed violations in leadership and direction regarding the execution of bidding packages implemented by AIC Company and businesses in the AIC ecosystem.

Tran Van Can, former Chairman of the People's Committee of Long An province, southern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Long An newspaper.

The three former provincial chairmen also violated regulations on Party members' code of conduct and responsibility to set a good example, causing serious consequences and public angers and undermining the reputation of local Party organizations and governments "to the point that they must be disciplined".

Therefore, the inspection commission delivered warnings to Cung, Can and Trinh.

It also asked competent authorities to consider disciplinary measures against Nguyen Dinh Kim, Secretary of the Vinh Thanh district Party Committee in Binh Dinh province.

Kim had showed degradation in his political ideology, morality, and lifestyle, violated Party regulations and State laws as well as regulations on Party members' code of conduct and responsibility to set a good example, causing very serious consequences and stirring public outrage, it said.
South Carolina State Universitys College of Business and Information Systems welcomed 35 African professors and students to their campus as part of a cultural exchange visit.

The students are graduate scholars from the U.S. International University-Africa in Kenya and the University of Lagos in Nigeria.

Your visit signifies the power of global collaboration and the exchange of ideas. Your presence enriches our community and were excited for your presence here at S.C. State University, S.C. State Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Frederick Evans said at Mondays welcoming ceremony.

As you step onto our campus, know that you bring with you a wealth of knowledge and perspective that enriches our academic community, he said.

While at S.C. State, students will participate in various experiential learning activities to promote further exposure, USIU-A Chandaria School of Business Dean Timothy Okech said.

The program could lead to the universities working together on research and publications. Okech said.

We believe in transformative learning for all, he said. Its a win-win situation.

Students from S.C. State have visited USIU-A twice as part of this exchange, once in December 2023 and as recently as May.

The December trip was the universitys first cultural immersion trip across the globe, Office of International and National Student Exchange Programs Director Learie Luke said.

The interactions with citizens in the country of Kenya are the ones that helped our students the most, Luke said of the students experience.

It is great for students to visit Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana. It is also beneficial to have students from these countries come to us.

Martin Roache, chair of the CBIS Advisory Board, challenged the visitors to use their time in Orangeburg to network.

People are our greatest resource, he said.

Build relationships with people, talk to people, connect with people, and after you leave, stay in touch with the people you meet.

Visitors from the exchange program were also greeted by Mayor Michael Butler and Orangeburg County Councilwoman Delores Frazier.

Feel at home away from home, Frazier said on behalf of the county.

The university will be hosting the group from June 9-19.
France, Germany and Britain on Saturday condemned Irans latest steps, as reported by the IAEA, to further expand its nuclear program, Azernews reports.

"Iran has taken further steps in hollowing out the JCPoA, by operating dozens of additional advanced centrifuges at the Natanz enrichment site as well as announcing it will install thousands more centrifuges at both its Fordow and Natanz sites." the joint statement said, referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action signed with Iran in 2015.

"This decision is a further escalation of Irans nuclear programme, which carries significant proliferation risks," it added.

The joint statement stressed that "Irans decision to substantially increase its production capacity at the underground Fordow facility is especially concerning".

"Iran is legally obliged under the Non-Proliferation Treaty to fully implement its safeguards agreement, which is separate to the JCPoA."
(TBTCO) - Gia xang dau trong nuoc hom nay (10/10) uoc du bao co the uoc ieu chinh tang manh. Theo o, gia xang trong nuoc co the tang tu 950 - 1.250 ong/lit; gia dau diesel co kha nang tang khoang 820 - 1.050 ong/lit. Tren thi truong the gioi, gia dau giam sau khi du lieu cua Hoa Ky cho thay luong dau tho du tru tang, nhung muc giam bi han che boi rui ro gian oan nguon cung cua Iran do xung ot Trung ong va con bao Milton o Hoa Ky.
Master developer Expo City Dubai has awarded contracts to four major companies for the construction of its premium project, Mangrove Residences, featuring 450 apartments with a mix of one- to three-bed units along with four-bed loft apartments and three-bed townhouses offering views of Al Wasl Plaza.

Located at the heart of Expo City and within a five-minute walk of the citys main attractions, Mangrove Residences is one of three distinct clusters of apartments that form Expo Central. First launched in March 2023, units are fully sold out.

The main contract for the three-tower development was snapped up by Indian construction and engineering group Shapoorji Pallonji International, while the local demolition company USF clinched the contract to remove former Expo 2020 Dubai pavilions and existing structures on the designated plot; Proscape was picked for completing the infrastructure and clearance works and International Foundation Group (IFG) to handle enabling and shoring works.

A major player in the region, Shapoorji Pallonji International has built hundreds of landmark structures globally, including residential, commercial, and hospitality properties.

Groundwork is now complete, with more than 150,000 cu m of earth removed to make way for the foundation, ground slab and basement car park. The project is set to welcome its first residents in early 2026, it stated.

Ahmed Al Khatib, Chief Development and Delivery Officer at Expo City Dubai, said: "Reflecting our commitment to delivering best-in-class urban design as we invest in, and help build, Dubais future, we are proud to be working with local and international companies with a proven track record in this field."

"We are making excellent progress on Mangrove Residences and are on schedule to welcome our first residents in the first quarter of 2026, when homeowners can enjoy being part of a vibrant, sustainability-focused community, situated in the heart of Dubais growth corridor, and with Expo Citys offices, attractions and events at the doorstep," he added.

Shapoorji Pallonji Middle East CEO Batchu Sagar said: "We are delighted to be selected for the construction work of Mangrove Residences and contribute to the growth of Expo City as a major urban hub in Dubai. The master developers vision for the city, as well as its commitment to best practices and the highest standards of quality, align perfectly with our own."

"Working together, we will leverage our expertise and experience to deliver these landmark residences on schedule," he stated.

A second Expo Central development  Sky Residences  is also underway, with the first two towers proving popular with buyers and a third tower due for launch soon.

The third Expo Central project, known as Sidr Residences, is scheduled for launch by year-end.-TradeArabia News Service
The third edition of the Future Semiconductors Forum 2024 that will be held from June 5-6, 2024, at the Garage Innovation District in Riyadh, aims to promote the domestic production of electronic chips and boost the digital economy within Saudi Arabia.

The event will be hosted by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (Kacst) in partnership with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Kaust).

This forum will gather leading policymakers, industrial pioneers, experts, and scholars in semiconductor technology.

Notable participants include Shuji Nakamura, a Nobel laureate in Physics for his development of blue/green LEDs and violet laser diodes, alongside Kang Wang, who holds a professorship in electrical engineering and computer science and serves as Co-Director of the Center for Quantum Science and Engineering at UCLA and a Professor of electrical engineering at Raytheon Company.

Steven P DenBaars from the University of California  Santa Barbara, renowned for holding more than 190 US patents, and co-founding the Institute of Engineering Electricity and Electronics, alongside four photonics and electronics companies, will also attend.

Umesh Mishra, the Dean of the College of Engineering at UCSB, joins the list of top participants, as do Ross Jatou, President of the Semiconductor at Alat Company, Dr Naveed Sherwani, the Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Rapid Silicon Company, co-designer of Intel microprocessor algorithms and Intel Award winner, and Professor Goutam Chattopadhyay, a research scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the California Institute of Technology.

Dr Munir Eldesouki, the President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, said that the forum reflects the goals and priorities set by HRH Prince Mohamed bin Salman, the Crown Prince, and Prime Minister, in the field of research, development, and innovation.

It also plays a significant role in advancing the digital economy in the kingdom. He emphasised that the event is organised by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), which serves as a national laboratory and hub for innovation.

Its purpose is to enhance the research, development, and innovation system, expedite technological advancements, and promote the localisation of technologies.

Dr Tony Chan, President of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), commended the Semiconductors Future Forum for its accomplishments in the first and second editions.

He noted that the new edition offers promising opportunities to enhance the digital economy, advance research cooperation between various entities, and exchange knowledge about best practices in the electronic chip industry by bringing together the most prominent local and international entities under one roof.

The forum's purpose is to raise awareness about the significance of localising the electronic chip industry and its contribution to the growth of the digital economy in the Kingdom.

It also aims to explore potential opportunities for localising this crucial industry to make the Kingdom a key player in the electronic chip sector.

Additionally, the forum seeks to promote research collaboration and sharing best practices in semiconductor development and manufacturing.

Over two days, the forum will delve into various subjects to outline the semiconductor industry's future trajectory in the kingdom by exploring the semiconductor value chain, from raw materials to finished microchips.

Additionally, it will examine the application of this cutting-edge technology in areas like space exploration, quantum technologies, 6G communications, electric vehicles, and integrated sensors to enable smart cities.

The third edition of the forum will announce significant initiatives that bolster Saudi Arabia's standing in the global semiconductor arena, drive transformation in the Middle East, cultivate talent in this vital sector, and address industry challenges to spur economic growth.

The forum's agenda includes various scientific activities such as lectures, panel discussions, research posters, and an accompanying exhibition for global companies to showcase the latest semiconductor development and manufacturing developments.

The forum's third edition has a strategic partnership with the Research, Development, and Innovation Development Authority and Alat Company. It is sponsored by leading local and international institutions and companies such as Ajlan & Brothers Holding, Synopsys, Siemens, Rapid Silicon, Oxford Instruments, Trysl Tech, Joule, EpicSemi, and International Semiconductor Executive Summits.

This year's forum follows the successful first and second editions, which have led to collaborative research, advancements, and semiconductor manufacturing efforts. This includes the launch of the Saudi Semiconductors Program (SSP), a pioneering regional initiative supporting research and development and qualifying cadres in the field of designing and localising electronic chips.

This programme collaborates with 16 Saudi universities, has trained over 400 researchers and students in microchip design and manufacturing.  TradeArabia News Service

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The heads of the Group of Seven (G7) major powers said in a joint statement Friday that they will launch an action plan to deal with the positive and negative impacts of artificial intelligence on employment,according to Jiji Press.

In the statement, adopted at their meeting in Puglia, southern Italy, the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States plus the European Union welcomed the support from countries outside the G-7 forum for the Hiroshima AI Process, an international rulemaking framework for generative AI led by Tokyo, saying that they recognize the importance of advancing the framework's outcomes.

The Hiroshima AI Process was established at last year's G-7 summit, which was chaired by Japan. Over 50 countries and regions have signed onto the framework.

The G7 ministers reached a landmark consensus in Verona, Italy on the critical global debate of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Under the scope Digital Development  Growing Together, G7 countries acknowledged the need to work in partnership with developing countries to strengthen local AI digital ecosystems, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

It says that by collaborating with the UNDP, the Italian G7 Presidency championed the need for new multi-stakeholder partnerships to foster local impact in developing countries. Key areas include democratising computing power, developing open and secure data models, and strengthening capacities to advance AI for sustainable development.

These seek to ensure that access to AI is equitable, inclusive and responsible, thereby supporting safe, secure and trustworthy development and deployment.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said in the G-7 leaders' discussions Friday that he hopes to continue cooperation on the subject.

Under this year's G-7 chair, Italy, discussions have centered on the potential benefits of AI to labor and the risk of the technology depriving people of work.

The G-7 leaders said in the statement that they will "work to ensure that AI enables increased productivity, quality jobs and decent work," and that they will strengthen labor market policies, including in light of tackling AI's negative effects.
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.
Q: My pool is looking tired. What are some current trends to update backyard pools?

A: Current trends in pool updates, according to Michael Sandoval of Above and Beyond Pool Remodeling, include:

Automating pool systems. With the newest technologies, it is possible to control your pools valves, pumps, water features, spa heaters, lights, sound system and more from your smartphone. This is great as you can get the spa warm and have the music playing when you walk in the door at the end of the day. It also works well for those who own rental and vacation homes.

Conversion from a diving pool to a play pool.

Installing Baha steps  these are the wide steps in the shallow end that allow sunbathers to be wet and stay cool. They have a great look and give the pool a resort-like feel.

Paver decking has gained popularity as Kool Decks have aged.

Q: What are the common signs that my pool needs to be updated?

A: Here are some common signs of an aging pool:

1. The pool plaster coating starts chipping offPools with thin plaster surfaces that are cracked, discolored and flaking off the concrete surface inside the pool are signs of aging. Once the plaster starts deteriorating, it loses its protective cream. This creates endless maintenance as it increases algae growth and creates problems that make it difficult to keep a pool clean. Homeowners find themselves using more chemicals to keep the pool sanitary. And when the plaster chips off, youll likely scuff up your toes and heels on the surface. The old surface must be jackhammered off the concrete before the new surface can be installed.

Homeowners can choose to renew plaster or upgrade to tile or pebble finishes.

2. Pool decking is cracked, crumbling or delaminatingDecking around a pool can deteriorate, too. That means you can hurt your feet on the surface, of course. Removing all the decking and replacing it or even enlarging it can be expensive. Concrete pavers or travertine tiles can sometimes be placed on the old deck. If the pool has a salt system, paver decking wont wear well, and better choices are concrete, Kool Deck, or artistic pavers.

Replacing Kool Deck is still an option. Artistic pavers manufactured in Casa Grande offers some good choices.

3. Pool waterline tiles

develop heavy calcium buildup

or start falling offMost swimming pools have tile around the top edge of the pool for a few inches of depth. Sometimes, there could be 12 inches or more of decorative tile. If your pool is 20 years old or more, and those tiles are in bad shape, pool companies will decline to replace them separately. Tile replacement is included in the cost of replastering the pool. If your pool needs a new surface, it is more efficient to have the tile done at the same time.

4. Your pool cleaning system

no longer keeps the pool cleanPump: If your pool pump needs to be replaced, Arizona Title 44 requires it to be a variable-speed pump. The new pumps can save 70% of the energy cost for your pool. Rosie likes these as they are quieter, as well. They are more expensive than the old-style pump, so you may want to wait to replace a newer pump that is running well.

Sand filters: The original pool filters were sand filters; water was pushed through the sand by backwashing to clean it and remove particles. Sand filters are being phased out and replaced with cartridge filters. The cartridge filters are about the same price and filtrate twice as much as the sand units (down to about six to 10 microns of filtration).

In-floor cleaning systems: These systems move the dirt around and guide it to the filter system. This works well on places that are hard to get to for the automatic vacuum unit, like steps and benches. A brush and automatic vacuum are effective on the rest of the pool. The vacuum is a must if you dont have teens in the house.

5. You want to improve the ambiance of your backyardWaterfall features can be custom-designed to add beauty and the sound of running water.

Lighting adds extra hours to enjoy your pool. A lighted pool area is a great place to hang out.

6. Outdoor living is in your futureThe addition of an outdoor kitchen and barbecue sets the stage for true outdoor living and entertaining for young and old alike. Cooling off in the pool and dining outside help desert dwellers enjoy the long, hot days of summer.
PHOENIX  The Arizona Legislature was moving in fits and starts late Friday in an effort to enact a state budget for the coming year that not only fills a huge shortfall there but also erases a big deficit in the current budget.

If they get it done, they could adjourn for the year early Saturday.

Both the House and Senate were debating a package of bills hammered out between Republicans who lead both chambers and Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs. These would lead to adopting the $17.2 billion deal for the current budget and $16.1 billion for the new budget year that begins July 1.

But the fate of the budget remained unclear late Friday. Hobbs staff and the Legislatures bill-writing attorneys were scrambling to make changes to address issues that came to light since the deal was announced Monday.

Among the bigger issues are complaints from Attorney General Kris Mayes about the use of opioid lawsuit settlement cash to help pay for treating prison inmates with Hepatitis C and to pay for medication-assisted therapy for prisoners.

Mayes, a Democrat like Hobbs, is threatening to sue the governor and Legislature over the proposed budgets use of $75 million in the current budget and $40 million a year in each of the coming three years from the settlement fund. Mayes met with House Democrats Friday morning and left the meeting still dead-set against putting the money in the budget.

She said the settlement agreement with opioid manufacturers, marketers and distributors set up a process for spending the money, one that Hobbs and lawmakers are bypassing to grab the cash. She wont let that happen, she said.

Were not going to release it, Mayes told Capitol Media Services.

This budget does an end-run around the process spelled out in the settlement agreement, she said. Its my fiduciary responsibility as the attorney general to make sure that this money is spent for all Arizonans and not just to backfill the budget of the Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry.

Lawmakers need the cash in part because a federal judge ruled the state grossly underfunds inmate health care and last year ordered the state to improve that care. The budget deal earmarks $188 million to address those issues.

But as of late Friday the governors office said it is Mayes who is on legally shaky ground.

The AGs characterization of these funds as backfilling the budget of ADCRR could more accurately be described as funding vital opioid use disorder treatment for a population that is disproportionately impacted by the opioid epidemic, said gubernatorial press aide Christian Slater.

But he said Hobbs has agreed to make changes in the legislation to resolve Mayes legal concerns so that there is no doubt that any opioid settlement funds could not be used for a non-approved purpose.

Even without Mayes objections, there were plenty of complaints from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle about the deal.

Between the current and coming year, GOP legislative leaders and Hobbs came up with $1.4 billion in cuts that hit across all parts of government, from state agencies to universities to a big water fund set up the last year of former Gov. Doug Duceys term.

Sen. Priya Sundareshan, D-Tucson, said she has concerns about many aspects of the budget deal, from the legality of using opioid settlement funds to the ways Hobbs and GOP leaders crafted the compromise deal. With those issues and others, she said the fate of the budget when votes actually occur remained unclear.

So theres a lot of questions and of course, Democratic lawmakers havent really been allowed to negotiate with Republicans on this, Sundareshan said Friday morning.

She said she was leaning toward opposing the budget and didnt know if there were the 16 Senate votes needed to pass it.

I think theres a lot of concern that keeps growing by the hour, Sundareshan said.

Some Republicans, both in the House and the Senate, also were opposed to the plan.

Rep. Matt Gress, R-Phoenix, said Friday he remained opposed because of what he said were gimmicks and policy choices made to reach a deal. He noted his opposition in particular to the across-the-board cuts to agency budgets, which he called short-sighted.

And Sen. Anthony Kern, R-Glendale, said he was dead set against the plan because of caps on tax credits that can be taken for donations to School Tuition Organizations that help pay private school costs and mandates requiring fingerprinting of private school employees if the school accepts state vouchers, formally known as Empowerment Scholarship Accounts.

Democrats and Hobbs strongly oppose the universal voucher program enacted in 2022, but have been unable to get majority Republicans to agree to scale it back. The best Hobbs could get in the agreement was putting the fingerprinting rule in the budget along with some new limits on how cash for empowerment scholarship accounts can be used and random spending audits.

Kern said he also wants new border security money earmarked for sheriffs and not the state Department of Public Safety. But in a sign of how disparate the opposition was even among GOP lawmakers, he said he wanted bigger agency cuts and for vacant positions to be permanently eliminated.

Republican leaders of the Senate and House appropriations committees hammered out the deal after weeks of intense negotiations along with President Warren Petersen, House Speaker Ben Toma and Hobbs.

Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Scottsdale, who leads the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the deal is a decent one that closes the $729 million hole in the current budget and a $690 million deficit in the spending plan that starts July 1. Not passing a budget would prompt a government shutdown.

The governor had plenty of angst about whats in, whats not in, what wasnt cut, what is cut, Kavanagh said during a Thursday committee meeting where the budget passed with no Democratic votes. And we have some (Republican) members that also have angst.

But he said a deal needed to be made.

The bottom line is that the budget is a zero-sum game  it has to end with no deficit, he continued. And thats a tough thing to do when you have a revenue shortfall like we have right now, $1.4 billion. 

Despite the cuts, Kavanagh said most of government  including schools, prisons and the states Medicaid program  actually would see spending increases.

That is the big victory that everybody should be celebrating here, he said.

Here we are nibbling and arguing around the edges, Kavanagh said. And thats the only place you have to go when you have to solve this problem.

Small changes were likely to appear before final votes, which is common and the primary reason for the fits and starts on Friday as amendments were written to address issues and to win votes.

House Minority Leader Lupe Contreras, D-Avondale, said Democratic members were pushing for changes since they werent involved in the direct negotiations that led to the deal.

We have members here that have a difference of opinion of certain things, of items, he said. And we have to deal with it. So thats what were doing right now.

Toma, the Republican House speaker, said he was hopeful the budget could pass before Saturday, and the Legislature adjourn.
12 years ago today, the Admiral Twin Drive-In resumed showing movies after a fire destroyed the theater in 2010.

It was Friday of Labor Day weekend, Sept. 3, 2010, when calls flooded in to 911 that afternoon: The Admiral Twin Drive-In's giant, all-wood screen was on fire and burning to the ground.

It would collapse, throwing sparks and embers around the area and even on to Interstate 244 as firefighters worked to contain the blaze. A different kind of audience watched the show, and the people saw longtime memories go up in smoke.

At the time, owner Blake Smith was skeptical that he'd be able to rebuild. But the community responded with support for the iconic outdoor cinema  verbally, on social media and in the form of more than $30,000 in donations.

Smith responded with a commitment to reopen.
Officials with a 104-year-old downtown church building say they remain committed to finding a buyer for the property despite previous negotiations with a neighboring church having fallen through.

Officials with the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 913 S. Boulder Ave., previously negotiated with Holy Family Cathedral, which announced last year that it was buying the First Christian property with plans to expand its school there.

But while those talks ultimately fell through, First Christian officials say they are still optimistic that a buyer can be found.

The church is actively seeking proposals from qualified buyers, which will enable it to continue serving the community at a new location, First Christian officials said in a statement this week.

Moreover, the church is committed to finding a buyer with a passion for repurposing, they said.

Repurposing possibilities for the property, which has been the churchs home since 1920, include housing, mixed-use projects, and retail establishments, to name just a few, officials said.

In addition, depending on the chosen path, the buyer may be eligible for tax increment financing and historic building tax credits, officials said.

Holy Family Cathedral, part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa, originally announced that an agreement had been reached to purchase the property of First Christian, which is located across the street and just to the south of Holy Family.

The goal was to move Holy Family Classical School into the new space and to renovate the current school building into parish offices with meeting spaces for ministries and events. It was to include the central administrative office of the Diocese of Tulsa, which would relocate from Broken Arrow.

But after a lengthy discernment period, Holy Family Cathedral determined it was not in our best interest to proceed with the purchase at this time, Father Gary Kastl, rector of Holy Family, said this week.

With the acquisition now off the table, Kastl said Holy Family is reentering a master planning process to reconsider how to meet our future needs either with property we already own or through the acquiring of other properties around us.

Built of modified Greek design between 1917 and 1920, the First Christian property features a Byzantine-styled stained-glass dome and offers over 85,000 square feet of facilities on more than 3 acres of land.

It includes a sanctuary that can accommodate more than 700, along with a well-equipped commercial kitchen, numerous offices and classrooms, and two parking lots containing 234 parking spaces, one on each side of Main Street, officials said.

The property was valued last year by the Tulsa County Assessors Office at nearly $2.8 million. The building has been appraised at $5.5 million, church officials say.

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A federal judge has issued a trio of orders in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a state statute designed to limit the teaching of certain concepts in Oklahoma classrooms.

U.S. Western District Judge Charles Goodwin on Friday dismissed without prejudice claims under the First and 14th Amendments against the Board of Regents for the University of Oklahoma connected to House Bill 1775 and a claim against Edmond Public Schools. A dismissal without prejudice means the claims can be refiled.

The judge partially granted a request for a temporary restraining order allowing professors at public colleges and universities to include presentations about race or sex stereotypes in orientations or courses.

The ambiguity of the term presents means  that the provision could be reasonably construed to mean  a professor describing or identifying discriminatory beliefs in an orientation or course, one of the orders reads in part. Likewise, the provision also could be reasonably construed to mean that a professor is prohibited from discussing or assigning the reading of a work in which the author describes or identifies discriminatory beliefs  for example, an analysis of how historic beliefs about race led to the enslavement and subjugation of Black men and women as depicted in Mark Twains Huckleberry Finn or an analysis of how current stereotypes about gender affect the employment opportunities of women.

However, the temporary restraining order does not extend to school districts and specifically notes that covering concepts that make a student uncomfortable is distinct from teaching a student that their race or sex alone is sufficient cause to feel shame.

Goodwin declined to rule on whether the law is unconstitutionally vague in violation of the 14th Amendment. Instead, attorneys for both sides have been ordered to submit questions by June 28 that will be referred to the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

The court is mindful of its limited role and that no Oklahoma court has had the opportunity to determine how the act should be construed, Goodwin wrote. Applying the factors described  and noting the public importance of the act, the court concludes that certification of relevant questions to the Fourteenth Amendment due process claim to the Oklahoma Supreme Court is appropriate.

As adopted, HB 1775 bans teaching that one race or gender is inherently superior. It also prohibits causing a student to feel guilty or uncomfortable because of their race or gender, as well as teaching that anyone is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or otherwise.

The text of the measure does not include the phrase critical race theory. However, many have construed its provisions as a ban on the concept, which argues that many key pillars of American society, including the judicial system and the economy, have been shaped in ways to benefit whites at the expense of minorities.

Filed in October 2021 by attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union and the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law on behalf of multiple organizations plus individual teachers and students from Edmond and Oklahoma City Millwood public schools, the federal lawsuit claims that HB 1775 violates both the First and 14th amendments, is unconstitutionally vague, overbroad and racially discriminatory, and has had a chilling effect on lesson plans.

The Tulsa World is where your story lives
The construction of a new Vietnam-Singapore industrial park kicked off in northern Vietnams Lang Son Province on Friday, making the facility the 16th of its kind in the country so far.

The Lang Son administration and the Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park and Township Development Joint Stock Company (VSIP JSC) conducted a groundbreaking ceremony for the VSIP Lang Son project in the provinces Huu Lung District.

Located in an area of nearly 600 hectares, the project is expected to cost over VND6,361 billion (US$250 million), of which the investor VSIP JSC contributes over VND954 billion ($37.5 million), according to the Vietnam News Agency.

The project will be developed through three phases, with phase 1 covering 200 hectares and anticipated to come into operation by the third quarter of 2025.

Phases 2 and 3, to be developed in the remaining area, are scheduled to be completed in September 2026 and September 2027, respectively.

When all the three phases are operational, the new industrial park is expected to generate about 40,000 jobs, including those for youths and people of ethnic minorities in Lang Son.

Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee Ho Tien Thieu emphasized that the industrial sector has long been determined as the driving force of the local economic growth and development.

Thieu requested that all relevant agencies create the most possible favorable conditions for the projects investors to speed up the construction progress.

The provinces leader also asked the investors, consulting units, and contractors of the project to strictly comply with relevant regulations and standards to ensure construction quality and industrial safety and hygiene.

He directed Huu Lung District authorities to accelerate site clearance and support residents subject to relocation due to the project through effectively applying related policies and regimes.

The leader also called on involved local people to support the implementation of the project through handing land over to the investor timely and smoothly.

Speaking at the ceremony, Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam Jaya Ratnam emphasized that Vietnam-Singapore industrial parks serve as a symbol of the fruitful bilateral relations between the two countries.

The expansion of the chain of VSIPs in Vietnam is unprecedented in recent years, reflecting not only the strong interest of foreign investors in the country but also the success of the Vietnamese government in its efforts to create an increasingly favorable investment environment.

The ambassador expressed his hope that VSIP Lang Son will play a central role in encouraging and facilitating high-quality investments from Singapore, especially in infrastructure development, supply chain services and logistics, green economy, farm produce processing.

The Singapore Business Federation will work with the provincial authorities to explore opportunities for Singaporean investors in these areas, he added.

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US air regulators are investigating whether there are safety risks after titanium with counterfeit authentication wound up on commercial jets, officials said Friday.

Jets delivered to airlines by both Airbus and Boeing contain the titanium, which appears to be originally sourced from a Chinese company where an employee forged details on certificates, according to a New York Times report.

Industry officials said Friday that based on testing of the titanium, they do not believe the issue poses an immediate safety risk on planes in service.

The issue comes amid heightened scrutiny of the aerospace industry following recent manufacturing and safety issues at Boeing.

"Boeing reported a voluntary disclosure to the FAA regarding procurement of material through a distributor who may have falsified or provided incorrect records," a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman said.

"The FAA is investigating the scope and impact of the issue through our Continued Operational Safety process."

The Times said the titanium in question ended up on Boeing 737 and 787 Dreamliner jets and the Airbus A220. The planes were built between 2019 and 2023, the Times said, adding that it not clear how many planes are affected or who owns them.

Spirit AeroSystems, which builds fuselages and other significant parts for both Airbus and Boeing, believes the issue stems from a single batch of titanium that entered the supply chain through approved suppliers, said Spirit spokesman Joe Buccino.

Extensive testing by Spirit has shown that the titanium is the proper grade for use on planes. But the issue is documentation, Buccino said.

"The documentation is counterfeit," Buccino told AFP. "It's good titanium.

"The issue is we can't trace it back to its origin," he said. "We determined there's no safety of risk issue."

Spirit received the titanium in parts from sub-contractors, rather than as a raw metal, Buccino said.

Boeing said it will remove the titanium on undelivered planes in light of the issue. Planes in service "can continue to fly safely," the company said.

"This industry-wide issue affects some shipments of titanium received by a limited set of suppliers, and tests performed to date have indicated that the correct titanium alloy was used," Boeing said.

Airbus did not immediately respond to a query from AFP. Airbus told the Times that testing of parts shows that "the A220's airworthiness remains intact."

Boeing in particular has been under the spotlight in recent months following a January incident on an Alaska Airlines flight in which a fuselage panel blew out mid-flight.

The company's CEO, Dave Calhoun, will appear next week before a Senate panel probing safety problems.

Separately, on Friday, the National Transportation Safety Board said it opened an investigation into a Southwest Airlines flight from Phoenix to Oakland on a Boeing 737 MAX that experienced an oscillating motion known "Dutch roll."

There were no injuries on the May 25 flight, but the carrier reported damage to structural components, the NTSB posted on X.
NEW DELHI -- Hyundai Motor's India unit sought regulatory approval on Saturday for a stock market listing in Mumbai which could be the nation's biggest and will see the South Korean parent sell a stake of up to 17.5% in the company.

The IPO will make it the country's first car maker to go public in two decades since Maruti Suzuki in 2003, and would come just as Indian stock markets are trading near record highs.

Hyundai counts India as a crucial growth market where it has two manufacturing units and has invested $5 billion, with commitments to pump in another $4 billion over the next decade. The world's biggest car market after China and the U.S. is the company's third-biggest revenue generator globally.

The Hyundai draft prospectus filed gave no details of the pricing of the initial public offering or the company's valuation, but sources have told Reuters Hyundai aims to raise around $2.5-$3 billion at a valuation of up to $30 billion.

Hyundai, India's second-biggest car maker behind Maruti Suzuki, will not issue new shares in the IPO which will involve its South Korean parent selling part of its stake in the wholly owned unit to retail and other investors via a so-called "offer for sale" route.

The listing is seen putting Hyundai Motor India on a stronger footing versus Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors and other rivals as it could make future fundraising easier, without the need for dependency on its Korean parent.

Hyundai expects the listing of the equity shares in India "will enhance our visibility and brand image", and "provide liquidity and a public market" for the shares, the company said in the draft prospectus filed on Saturday.

It did not provide a timeline for the listing, but typically India's markets regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, takes three to six months to approve, reject or seek more information on IPOs.

The company said it plans to focus on "premiumisation"- selling more expensive cars, as well as increasing its EV market share and adding charging stations, where it lags behind Tata Motors. Hyundai India also said it wants to ship more cars, "strengthening" its position as an export hub.

Affordable cars

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sees the automotive industry as a cornerstone to boosting growth in the world's fifth-largest economy. His government has built hundreds of kilometers of new roads and is incentivising car makers to increase local manufacturing, especially of electric vehicles.

Hyundai, entered India 28 years ago, and has won over buyers with its affordable cars such as Santro and sports-utility vehicle Creta. The company has plans to launch new electric vehicles, establish charging stations and a battery pack assembly unit.

The South Korean parent will sell up to 142 million of the total 812 million shares, or 17.5%, in the IPO. The sources have said the final percentage could be lower.

With the IPO, Hyundai aims to unlock value for the Indian business and also help the Korean automaker shed its valuation discount compared to global and Asian peers.

Benchmark Indian stock indices have doubled between 2019 and 2023, while Seoul's KOSPI index has risen just 30% over the same period.

India's burgeoning stock market overtook Hong Kong's earlier this year to become the world's fourth-largest, and is seeing soaring interest in large IPOs.

Hyundai is being advised on the IPO by investment banks Citi, JP Morgan, HSBC, Morgan Stanley and India's Kotak.
Many buses have been found by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters jumping red lights and speeding through intersections and roundabouts in Ho Chi Minh City and adjacent Binh Duong Province.

It seems to have become a habit of some bus drivers as they do not reduce speed but try to pass through red lights as fast as possible while blowing horns.

A bus stop near the Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City in Thu Duc City, a district-level administration unit under Ho Chi Minh City, is a destination of many buses, such as those of routes Nos. 8, 10, 19, 30, 33, and 53.

At the intersection of Nguyen Du and Ho Xuan Huong Streets in Binh Duong Province, some 100 meters from the dorm of the Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City, a bus of route No. 99 crossed the yellow light on June 6 afternoon.

It was followed by another of route No. 53, which blared its horn, 15 minutes later.

At the location, many other buses have run through the intersection while the light was still red.

A bus of route No. 19 and another of route No. 53 pass through the red light at a roundabout between Thu Duc City and Di An City, Binh Duong Province on June 9, 2024. Photo: Xuan Doan / Tuoi Tre

The issue was also seen at the crossroad of Vo Truong Toan and Chu Van An Streets in Thu Duc City.

At a roundabout between Thu Duc City and Di An City, Binh Duong Province, two buses even lined up to run the red light on June 9. The light turned red when the vehicles were nearly 10 meters from it.

Nine minutes after the two buses traveled through the red light, the driver of a bus of route No. 19 also committed the violation.

After many days of supervision at the two intersections, Tuoi Tre reporters found that buses of route No. 33 passed through the red lights the most.

A bus of route No. 8 and a bus of route No. 99 queue up to jump a red light. Photo: Xuan Doan / Tuoi Tre

A representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Management Center of Public Transport affirmed on Wednesday that the center would immediately impose heavy sanctions on bus drivers committing traffic regulations.

The center has received many local residents complaints about bus drivers poor driving behaviors.

It has verified the reports and punished violators.

The center has handed over the cases of deliberately running red lights, encroaching on other lanes, and running in reverse to the traffic police division under the Ho Chi Minh City Police for handling.

A bus of route No. 33 fails to stop at a red light on June 9, 2024. Photo: Xuan Doan / Tuoi Tre

Another bus of route No. 33 runs the red light at the Nguyen Du - Le Quy Don Intersection in Binh Duong Province. Photo: Xuan Doan / Tuoi Tre

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A heavy downpour pounded Ho Chi Minh City on Friday afternoon, turning many downtown streets including Calmette, Nguyen Thai Binh, and Le Loi Boulevard into rivers and making life tougher for commuters.

The downpour began coming down on various parts of the city at around 3:00 pm.

By some 4:30 pm, these inner-city streets and those in the neighborhood resembled rivers.

The rainwater on some sections of Le Loi Boulevard, one of the major business and shopping streets in the southern metropolis, reached almost one meter deep, stalling scores of vehicles.

In Thu Duc City under the jurisdiction of Ho Chi Minh City, Le Van Viet Street and neighboring roads also endured severe flooding after 15 minutes of rainfall, adding that many motorbikes broke down and road users fell onto the street due to swift-moving rainwater.

Similarly, heavy rainfall swamped the walkway and the motorcycle lane at the Tan Tao tunnel area in Binh Tan District, with lots of plastic garbage floating on the flooded walkway.

Partial flooding hits an area in front of Saigon General Hospital in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City due to heavy rainfall on June 14, 2024. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

The entire Le Loi Boulevard in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City looks more like a river due to heavy rainfall on June 14, 2024. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

A motorist wades through a heavily-flooded section of Le Loi Boulevard in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City due to heavy rainfall on June 14, 2024. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

Le Loi Boulevard in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City resembles a river during a heavy afternoon downpour on June 14, 2024. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

Le Loi Boulevard in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City resembles a river during a heavy afternoon downpour on June 14, 2024. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

Le Loi Boulevard in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City resembles a river during a heavy afternoon downpour on June 14, 2024. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

Rainwater batters some shops along Le Loi Boulevard in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City due to heavy rainfall on June 14, 2024. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

Fallen trees are seen scattered along Nguyen Thai Binh Street in District 1 Ho Chi Minh City; Pham Ngoc Thach Street in neighboring Binh Duong Province; Nguyen Van Troi and Pham Ngoc Thach Streets in Ho Chi Minh City due to an afternoon downpour on June 14, 2024. Photos: Chau Tuan - Ba Son - PC08 - Tuong Vy

Road users make their way to get through flood-hit Le Van Viet Street in Thu Duc City under the jurisdiction of Ho Chi Minh City due to heavy rainfall on June 14, 2024. Photo: Ngoc Quy / Tuoi Tre

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Authorities in the south-central province of Khanh Hoa conducted a mock drill on landslide preparedness on Friday in Khanh Vinh District, with the participation of close to 1,000 people and vehicles.

The mock exercise simulated severe landslides caused by extreme rainfall in the districts Khanh Phu Commune.

Right after a landslide hit a village called Son Thanh, authorities dispatched a vehicle equipped with loudspeakers to the area to order the evacuation of local inhabitants.

The drill also included a scenario in which some affected residents approved of the evacuation while some others said no.

Also, the hypothetical evacuation efforts were challenging as the victims included the elderly, children, or several residents took bulky items along with them.

After all the villagers were relocated to a safe place, a major landslide struck the eastern part of Suoi Xuyen Mountain in the commune, burying 20 homes.

Traffic police officers were called to the scene to regulate the flow of traffic, while other competent forces launched a search and rescue operation.

Within one hour, the forces completed the evacuation of the victims and provided medical treatment to the injured.

An aerial view of the scene of a mountain landslide response drill in Khanh Phu Commune, Khanh Vinh District, Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam, June 14, 2024. Photo: Thanh Chuong

A team of health workers sterilized and cleaned up the scene of the mountain landslide.

As one of the participants in the drill, Cao Thi Chen, a 43-year-old resident of Khanh Phu, said she had to get up very early in the morning to come to the venue of the drill.

The local woman hailed the drill as a necessary activity, as it helped her and other residents know additional measures to cope with mountain landslides.

Le Thanh Tuan from the Son Thanh village also underlined the need to conduct a landslide response drill like this, explaining that this mountainous village is prone to landslides.

According to Nguyen Tan Tuan, vice-chairman of the provincial administration, the Khanh Vinh District authorities need to review their performance in the drill and create further scenarios on natural disaster prevention and control.

Rescuers take household items of landslide-hit residents out of the scene of the incident. Photo: Minh Chien / Tuoi Tre

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The Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Thursday sent a dispatch to 11 out of 16 provinces in the northern region, asking local authorities to take urgent measures against the invasion of yellow-spined bamboo locusts.

The crop-devouring locusts have emerged and wreaked havoc on some 1,030 hectares of forests and crops in Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Dien Bien, Lang Son, Son La, Tuyen Quang, Hoa Binh, Phu Tho, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Quang Ninh, marking an increase of some 400 hectares and seven locales compared to the figures seen by the end of last month.

Cao Bang is the hardest-hit province where 773 hectares of crops were infested with the locust swarms.

On June 6, the administration of Cao Bang declared an emergency over the infestation of yellow-spined bamboo locusts in the districts of Nguyen Binh, Hoa An, and Thach An.

The agriculture ministry underlined the need to timely adopt detection and control measures, explaining that the nymphs will mature into adults in the next 10-20 days, posing a serious threat to various crops.

To minimize locust damage, the 11 provinces were told to ask relevant agencies to swiftly detect locust concentrations; spray insecticides in locust-hit areas; closely supervise the emergence, spread, and directions of yellow-spined bamboo locusts to prevent further invasion of the plant-eating pest.

According to the ministry, yellow-spined bamboo locusts and several other types of the species form swarms of winged adults before flying long distances to search for food and places for laying eggs.

In recent years, yellow-spined bamboo locusts, which are fast-moving, highly-destructive, and uncontrollable, have appeared and devastated forests and crops in Vietnam, Laos, and China.

Vietnam first recorded outbreaks of yellow-spined bamboo locusts in 2018, with affected areas including mountainous provinces such as Quang Ngai, Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, Son La, Dien Bien.

Locust swarms destroyed nearly 4,000 hectares of forests and crops each year during the 2016-18 period.

The infestation of the species became less severe in the 2019-23 period.

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh, director general of the East Sea Institute of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV), has become the first-ever Vietnamese candidate for the post of judge at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.

Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu made the announcement when attending the 34th meeting of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) held at the UN headquarters in New York, the U.S. from June 10-14.

This is the first time that Vietnam has nominated its candidate to the ITLOS, making Assoc. Prof. Dr. Anh one of the Asian candidates running for the post of judge with a nine-year term, from 2026 to 2035, the foreign ministry said on Friday.

Headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, the ITLOS has 21 judges specializing in marine law from different countries.

As an expert in international law and the law of the sea, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Anh focuses her research on ocean law and policy, maritime boundary delimitation, maritime security and safety, and Vietnams foreign policy with a focus on the East Vietnam Sea, according to the DAV.

She regularly offers legal and policy advice to Vietnams government agencies as well as international and regional organizations in different legal and foreign policy issues.

Besides the East Sea Institute, the expert is also in charge of the Faculty of International Law of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.

Within the framework of the meeting, Permanent Deputy FM Vu chaired an international seminar titled Sea Level Rise in the Pacific: Current Situation, Legal Issues and Assessments from the Law of the Sea Perspective and participated in the annual meeting of the UNCLOS Group of Friends on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the convention's entry into force.

At the seminar, which attracted about 100 delegates from more than 60 countries, Permanent Deputy FM Vu highlighted the historical significance of the UNCLOS to the development of international law.

As the Constitution of Oceans, the UNCLOS is the most comprehensive legal framework for regulating all activities at sea, and serves as a basis for countries to cooperate in management of oceans and seas in an orderly and sustainable manner, Vu said.

Vietnams Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu (C) attends the 34th meeting of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) at the UN headquarters in New York, the U.S. from June 10-14, 2024. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Vietnam will join the 115 members of the UNCLOS Group of Friends, which was initiated and co-chaired by Vietnam and Germany since 2021, to promote multilateral dialogue and cooperation in implementing and protecting the universality of the UNCLOS, the diplomat affirmed.

At the seminar, Anh and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hong Thao, a Vietnamese member of the UNs International Law Commission (ILC), shared their opinions from the perspective of Vietnam, one of the coastal countries suffering most from climate change, including the risk of sea-level rise.

The two experts underscored the need to continue to comply with and fully implement the provisions of UNCLOS in the process of resolving emerging challenges in current sea and ocean governance such as marine environmental pollution, climate change and sea level rise.

With an aim to maintain stability and legal order at sea, they also called for support to the preservation of baselines, boundaries of maritime zones established from baselines, and maritime delimitation results agreed by countries through negotiations or established by decisions of international judicial agencies.

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TCN News

New Delhi: Mohibbullah Nadvis journey to victory in the general elections from Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, was a tale of unexpected twists and challenges. Initially not the preferred candidate of the Samajwadi Party (SP), he filed his nomination papers on the final day (March 27).

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Nadvi, who has spent nearly two decades serving as an imam (prayer leader) at Delhis Parliament Streets Jama Masjid, was catapulted into the political spotlight when the SP surprisingly declared the 48-year-old as its Lok Sabha candidate. Despite facing significant hurdles, he secured a decisive victory, defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by a margin of over 87,000 votes.

Among the six Muslim candidates who contested from Uttar Pradesh, Nadvi was one of the five elected MPs.

He expressed hope that the improved performance of the Opposition against the BJP on livelihood issues would address concerns over low Muslim representation in Parliament.

Nadvi emphasized the importance of quality representation over mere numbers, advocating for candidates who understand Islamic principles and can effectively voice Muslim concerns.

His journey from being nominated by the SP to emerging victorious in the elections was filled with drama and uncertainty. Initially not considered the frontrunner within the party due to his lack of political background, his candidacy gained momentum following a crucial meeting with SP President Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow earlier that year.

Supported by influential figures within the party, Nadvis nomination came amidst last-minute challenges and internal party divisions  particularly influenced by senior leader Azam Khans preferences in candidate selection.

Reflecting on the tense moments leading to his nomination, he acknowledged the complexities and challenges he faced  including opposition from rival factions and administrative obstacles. Despite being labeled an outsider, he emphasized his deep roots in Rampur, where he was born and raised in Raza Nagar village, inheriting ancestral land and completing his education in Islamic studies.

His decision to enter politics stemmed from his interactions with prominent political figures who frequented the mosque where he served as imam since 2005.

His candidacy stirred controversy, particularly concerning his comments on issues such as the incarceration of Azam Khan, drawing mixed reactions from political circles and the public.

Nevertheless, Nadvis victory in Rampur underscored his growing influence and marked a significant development in Uttar Pradeshs political landscape, highlighting evolving dynamics in Muslim representation within the Indian democracy.
IAEA logo is displayed at its headquarters in Vienna

PARIS (Reuters) - France, Germany and Britain on Saturday condemned Irans latest steps, as reported by the IAEA, to further expand its nuclear programme.

"Iran has taken further steps in hollowing out the JCPoA, by operating dozens of additional advanced centrifuges at the Natanz enrichment site as well as announcing it will install thousands more centrifuges at both its Fordow and Natanz sites." the joint statement said, referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action signed with Iran in 2015.

"This decision is a further escalation of Irans nuclear programme, which carries significant proliferation risks," it added.

The joint statement stressed that "Irans decision to substantially increase its production capacity at the underground Fordow facility is especially concerning".

"Iran is legally obliged under the Non-Proliferation Treaty to fully implement its safeguards agreement, which is separate to the JCPoA."

(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
BERLIN (Reuters) - Leaders of the Group of Seven leading western industrial economies did not discuss Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposals for peace in Ukraine since everyone knew they were not serious, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said.

Speaking from Italy shortly before leaving for Switzerland, where a Ukraine conference opens on Saturday, Scholz said Putin's proposals - for Ukraine to abandon four provinces Russia claims, stop fighting and drop its ambition of NATO membership - were aimed only at distracting from the conference.

"Everyone knows that this was proposal wasn't meant seriously, but had something to do with the peace conference in Switzerland," he told ZDF television in an interview.

World leaders were gathering in Switzerland for a summit aimed at pressuring Russia to end its war in Ukraine.

(Reporting by Thomas Escritt; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
BORGO EGNAZIA, Italy (Reuters) - European Union states won't be directly involved for now in a $50 billion loan that Group of Seven nations plan to raise for Ukraine based on income from frozen Russian assets, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Saturday.

The Group of Seven rich democracies agreed during their annual summit in southern Italy to provide loans which will be backed by interest accrued from the blocked Russian funds.

"The loan of about 50 billion has already been announced (and will) be provided by the United States, as well as Canada, the United Kingdom, and probably Japan, within the limits of its constitutional constraints," Meloni told a news conference.

"Currently, European nations are not involved in this loan, also considering the fact that the assets are all mobilized in Europe," she said, implying that the bloc's contribution consisted in providing a guarantee mechanism to repay the loan.

EU officials told Reuters earlier this week that the 27-nation bloc - which includes G7 members France, Germany and Italy - might provide about half the sum, in apparent contradiction to what Meloni said.

Some 260 billion euros ($278 billion) in Russian assets such as central bank reserves have been frozen under sanctions imposed following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Around 190 billion euros of the assets are held in Euroclear, a Belgium-based central securities depository, making the EU a key player in any plan to make use of the assets. The United States holds about $5 billion of such assets.

Meloni also said she was not worried about the perspective of Russian assets being unfrozen before the loan is repaid, as that could happen only as a result of a peace negotiation which would include commitments on how to rebuild Ukraine.

($1 = 0.9346 euros)

(Reporting by Angelo Amante; editing by Crispian Balmer)
By Angelo Amante

BORGO EGNAZIA (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday hailed the achievements of the Group of Seven summit she chaired and dismissed talk of a row about abortion rights as confected.

Meloni was speaking at the end of the June 13-15 G7 summit in southern Italy, which was focused on an agreement to provide an additional $50 billion loan for Ukraine and a stern warning for China on the need for fair competition in business.

Meloni, who heads a right-wing coalition, denied that she had weakened a G7 commitment to abortion rights or support for the LGBTQ community as enshrined in the final communique released at last year's G7 meeting in Japan.

She said there had been no backsliding on either issue, and that language previously adopted by the G7 did not have to be reproduced verbatim.

"I sincerely believe that the controversy was totally contrived," she told a news conference when asked about the abortion issue and reported differences with other G7 nations.

"And in fact it is a controversy that did not feature at the summit, that did not play a part in our discussions precisely because there was nothing to argue about," she added.

The Italian prime minister also took pride in the fact that Pope Francis made history by being the first pontiff to attend a G7 when he spoke of the risks and rewards of artificial intelligence on Friday.

Meloni was an exception among the G7 leaders in that she is riding high after success at the European elections last weekend whereas her male counterparts are all facing internal domestic political pressures.

"I think we can say, without fear of contradiction, that it was a success," she said of the summit, which was held at a luxury hotel in the southern region of Puglia.

She received warm words of praise from British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. "Giorgia is fantastic and she deserves enormous praise for having an incredibly successful G7 summit," he told reporters on Friday.

(Additional reporting by Crispian Balmer in Bari; Writing by Keith Weir; Editing by Ros Russell)
Kate, Princess of Wales, waves to crowds in first public appearance since cancer diagnosis

By David Milliken

LONDON (Reuters) - Kate, Britain's Princess of Wales, waved to crowds and smiled broadly from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after watching a military parade on Saturday, making her first public appearance this year as she undergoes treatment for cancer.

The princess, 42, spent two weeks in hospital in January after she underwent major abdominal surgery. Two months later she announced in a video message that tests had revealed the presence of cancer and she was receiving preventative chemotherapy.

She is still undergoing treatment, but her improved health meant she was able to appear in public for the first time since December.

The princess rode in a covered carriage with her three children to watch the "Trooping the Colour", an annual military parade to mark the official birthday of the British monarch, King Charles.

Despite heavy rain showers, crowds lined the streets and waved and cheered as the carriage went past, outnumbering a small group of protesters holding placards calling for an end to the monarchy.

Charles rode in a separate carriage with Queen Camilla, followed by Prince William, Charles' heir and Kate's husband, who was on horseback along with other senior members of the royal family.

Kate, wearing a pale outfit decorated with a white and navy ribbon by British fashion designer Jenny Packham and a broad-brimmed matching hat by Irish milliner Philip Treacy, watched the ceremony from a window overlooking the parade ground.

She pointed out aspects of the event to her children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, while Charles saluted passing troops from a covered dais on the parade ground itself.

The king and queen, as well as William, Kate and other members of the royal family later returned to Buckingham Palace to watch a military flypast from the balcony. Kate smiled broadly and waved.

In a rare personal written message on Friday, she said she was making good progress but was "not out of the woods". She said she was looking forward to attending Saturday's parade and hoped to join a few public engagements over the summer.

Kate's office, Kensington Palace, has declined to give any details about the type of cancer or about her treatment, other than to say the preventative chemotherapy had begun in February.

'FABULOUS'

Before the parade, onlookers said they were looking forward to seeing the princess.

"I know it's the king's birthday, but all eyes will be on Kate because we haven't seen her for a while," said John Loughrey, who was wearing a T-shirt with pictures of Kate on it.

Another onlooker, Anne Gaely, who was carrying a life-size cardboard cutout of the princess, said she was relieved that Kate would be there in the flesh.

"We've all been very, very worried and uneasy about it, but now this is going to be joyful, euphoric and fabulous," she said.

In her message on Friday, Kate said she had been "blown away" by thousands of kind messages from across the globe, which had made a world of difference to her and William.

"I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days," Kate's statement said.

Her illness has coincided with that of Charles, 75, who has also been undergoing treatment for cancer. He returned to public duties in April, and has remained busy, although his daily commitments are being limited to minimise risks to his recovery.

(This story has been refiled to fix a typo in paragraph 18)

(Additional reporting by Marissa Davison; Editing by William Maclean and Frances Kerry)
Childrens posters are seen at an orphanage in the village of Novopetrivka

By John Revill

LUCERNE, Switzerland (Reuters) - Russia's abduction of Ukrainian children is an attempt to steal the country's future and has left the youngsters with deep psychological scars, campaigners from Ukraine said on Saturday as they called for international efforts to bring them home.

Kyiv says about 20,000 children have been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territory without the consent of family or guardians since the war began, calling the abductions a war crime that meets the U.N. treaty definition of genocide.

Moscow says it has protected vulnerable children from the war zone.

Speaking on the sidelines of an international summit in Switzerland about the war, Mykola Kuleba, the leader of a Ukrainian charity working to return the children, said "Russia is stealing our future".

"They base their strategy on deception, indoctrination of children, and genocide of the Ukrainian nation," Kuleba, founder and CEO of Save Ukraine, told an event in Lucerne, close to the mountain resort where world leaders were gathering.

He told the story of an 8-year-old girl who was sent to a Russian camp he said was designed to eradicate her Ukrainian identify.

"Children are forbidden to speak Ukrainian or display any Ukrainian symbols. Children are severely punished if they resist singing the Russian anthem," he said.

The names and dates of birth of children are also routinely changed by Russian authorities, he added.

Save Ukraine has returned 373 children, including 88 orphans, Kuleba said, adding that many returnees showed signs of trauma.

He mentioned a 5-year-old boy who saw his father being beaten by occupying soldiers, which left him with nightmares and debilitating fear.

Kuleba called for an international effort to gather information about the abducted children and return them home.

In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued warrants for the arrest of President Vladimir Putin and children's commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova on war crimes charges related to the abduction of Ukrainian children.

Russia denounced the warrants as "outrageous and unacceptable". Lvova-Belova rejected the accusations as false.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it was working to return the youngsters, with "a few dozen" reunited with their relatives in Ukraine, a spokesman said.

Earlier this week, the United States said it was aware of credible reports that Russia was listing abducted Ukrainian children on adoption websites.

(Reporting by John Revill; Additional reporting by Sabine Siebold in Berlin; Editing by Helen Popper)
By Steve Holland

LUCERNE, Switzerland (Reuters) -U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris pledged America's unwavering support for Ukraine and announced more than $1.5 billion in aid for the country's energy sector and its humanitarian situation as a result of Russia's 27-month invasion.

Harris made the announcement at the Ukraine peace summit in Lucerne, Switzerland, where she met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. She is expected to address the summit's plenary session at 5.30 pm CEST/11.30 am EST.

"This war remains an utter failure for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin," Harris said during a bilateral meeting with Zelenskiy. "It is in our interest to uphold international norms," she added, pledging U.S. support for the country.

The $1.5 billion includes $500 million in new funding for energy assistance and the redirecting of $324 million in previously announced funds toward emergency energy infrastructure repair and other needs in Ukraine, the vice president's office said.

"These efforts will help Ukraine respond to Russia's latest attacks on Ukraine energy infrastructure by supporting repair and recovery, improving Ukraine's resilience to energy supply disruptions, and laying the groundwork to repair and expand Ukraines energy system," Harris' office said.

She also announced more than $379 million in humanitarian assistance from the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development to help refugees and other people impacted by the war.

The money is to cover food assistance, health services, shelter, and water, sanitation and hygiene services for millions of Ukrainians.

Harris, who will spend less than 24 hours at the gathering will be standing in for President Joe Biden at the event. The president will be just ending his participation at the G7 summit in Italy and returning to the United States to attend a fundraiser for his reelection campaign in Los Angeles.

Biden met with Zelenskiy both at the G7 summit, where they signed a U.S.-Ukraine bilateral security agreement, and in France for events surrounding the 80th anniversary of the World War Two D-Day invasion.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan will represent the United States at the summit on Sunday and help establish working groups on returning Ukrainian children from Russia and on energy security.

(Reporting by Steve Holland in Switzerl and Nandita Bose in Washington; Editing by Leslie Adler and Diane Craft)
BANGKOK Thailands Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has called on governors of 55 second-tier tourist provinces and tourism authorities to further develop infrastructure and offerings as well as explore measures to position the country as a global tourism hub in line with the Governments Ignite Thailand vision.

Prime Minister Srettha laid out his strategy to boost the Thai economy in the second half of this year at a recent meeting with the 55 provincial governors, executives from the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and representatives from related private bodies.

The PM underlined the importance of enhancing connectivity between well-established and second-tier tourist destinations to spread benefits of tourism nationwide as part of the overall Ignite Thailand vision.

He said the Government prioritises promoting 55 second-tier tourist provinces along with the readiness of each destination in the areas of attractions, accommodation, transportation infrastructure, local identity, and culinary experiences.

Travellers should be encouraged to try local food, see local culture, seek unseen attractions, buy local arts and crafts, and participate in local sports.

Srettha stressed that cooperation from the public and private sectors is crucial to developing and improving the capability of the 55 provinces under such policies as developing transport infrastructure, tourist facilities, new attractions, and new tourism offerings.

The Government will support local businesses through tax incentives, training and upskilling of tourism workers, improvement of safety standards, promotion of responsible and sustainable tourism. It will maximise digital and social media for publicity.

The Government also plans to nominate some provinces for the UNESCO world heritage status, he added. VNA/VNS
HA NOI  In the first event of its kind, Viet Nam has been marking World Camel Day (June 22) and celebrating the International Year of Camelids (IYC 2024).

It was jointly organised in Ha Noi by the Embassy of Saudi Arabia and the University of Languages and International Studies at Viet Nam National University.

The special day honoured the historical, cultural and economic value of camels, as well as helping Vietnamese people to have a better understanding about the role, value and significance of the animal in Arab life, as well as efforts by Saudi Arabia to preserve and promote the animal's heritage.

Hamoud Naif S. Almutairi, Charge d Affaires a.i of the Embassy of Saudi Arabia highlighted the profound impact of camels in Arabic culture, saying that the so-called 'desert ships' were the reason Arabs were able to settle in the desert.

Camels are referenced in the Quran and hold an extremely important place in the hearts and minds of the Arab people, as well as sustaining their lives in often harsh environments.

In 2000, under the patronage of Saudi Arabia's Prince Mishaal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the idea of organising a Camel Festival, with an award named after King Abdulaziz, was proposed.

The festival is held every year in the Umm Ruqaybah area near Al Artawiyah area, Saudi Arabia, with many special events and the participation of a large number of traders, all honouring the camel.

It promotes the heritage values associated with the image of the camel in Saudi Arabian, Arab and Muslim cultures and the importance of heralding in a new economic system, integrated economy for the auction and camel-related industries, increasing benefits for society and those interested in this rich heritage.

Vice Rector of the University of Languages and International Studies Ha Le Kim Anh said this event is an opportunity for lecturers, students and lovers of Arabic culture to learn more about the camel symbol of the Arab world and the role of the animal in the life of the Arab people.

Visitors to the event were introduced to Arabic culture through traditional products such as dates, coffee, and camel art.

Dromedary camels lived in parts of the Arabian Peninsula and later spread to the deserts of North Africa and the Middle East. They were brought to the coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and from there to Egypt and across the Red Sea to Sudan in a migration thought to have taken place between 2,500-1,550 BC.

Camels also live in some areas of the Near East and Central West Asia.

Arab camels have long legs, are light weight and are relatively hairless; when they encounter harsh arid weather, it is the fat in their hump which provides nutrients to keep them alive.

Camels, of their many varieties, have played a pivotal role in the development of human society, especially since their domestication about 3,000 to 4,000 years ago.

Camels are not only used as a means of transportation but also as an important source of food and raw materials.

In addition, camel products are one of the main export items to ensure food security.

People in the Arabian Peninsula drink camel milk, eat the meat, and use the animal's skin, so they depend on their camels for more than just a way of allowing them to move around and live in harsh natural environments. VNS
Le Huong

Quy Nhon Coastal City in the central province of Binh inh has many delicacies made from fish, but a stew made from a tuna eyeball is one delicacy which comes highly recommended by local chefs.

This quite unique Vietnamese dish may not necessarily be to everyones taste.

But in the coastal city of Quy Nhon, its a popular choice on many menus.

The eyeball of a tuna fish, which is stewed, is recommended as a way to get the full enjoyment of the local sea flavours and a dish that is served all across the city.

First the chef first rinses the eyeball in wine and ginger before it is poached in boiling water to get rid of fishy odours.

Firstly, the fish eyeball should be very fresh, chef Pham Minh Chien, from Mrs Thuans Tuna Fish Restaurant told Viet Nam News. Secondly, while preparing materials, we should make the eyeballs less smelly.

The final stew fish eyeball should have a fresh taste and be rich and full of flavour, he said. The broth should be savoury and clear and the dish served hot.

In terms of appearance, tuna eyes can look quite scary because they are larger than regular fish eyes. Each eye weighs about 100 - 200g and can be transformed by cooking in many different ways such as stewing, cooking in porridge, cooking in soup and hot pot...

A local speciality for Phu Yen and Quy Nhon, one of the unique and creative ways that has become a highlight in the cuisine here, is a recipe of tuna eyes stewed with traditional Chinese medicine.

The dish is combined with many spices including ginger, green onions and pepper to reduce the fishy taste.

People often visit the region just to give the eyeball stew a try.

I find this dish delicious, Nguyen Tien Tai, a tourist from Ha Noi said. I have tried it in several places. But in Quy Nhon, this dish at Mrs Thuans Tuna Fish Restaurant offers a special flavour. In other places, the fish eyeball tastes a little fishy but here it tastes good, no fishy smell, lots of herbs and strong spices.

According to nutritionist Nguyen Hai Yen, tuna eyes contain DHA and Omega 3, both considered very good for human brain development.

So dont turn your nose up to this dish and give tuna eyeball stew a go. VNS
The Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) has launched a programme for the Corporate Sustainability Index (CSI) in 2024 in Viet Nam to assess and praise business performance in three aspects -- economy, society and environment.

Nguyen Quang Vinh, VCCI vice chairman and chairman of the Viet Nam Business Council for Sustainable Development, said that the annual meeting of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (LD Meeting) in Montreux, Switzerland, at the end of April attracted a record number of attendees with more than 600 delegates from 45 countries and territories. This shows the growing interest in sustainable development, especially from the business community.

Vinh speaks to Viet Nam News reporter Vu Hoa about this years CSI changes.

Could you tell us about the areas that the WBCSD will prioritise to drive its transformation in 2024?

As the world confronts increasingly unpredictable challenges, sustainable development emerges as the most viable path to secure the future we all aspire to.

During the LD Meeting, Peter Bakker, president of the WBCSD, highlighted several significant implications influencing sustainable development trends in 2024, including accountability, supply chains, nature, adaptability, social justice, and the role of AI in sustainable development.

Aligned with these impactful trends, the WBCSD will concentrate on implementing priority changes across several key areas.

First, it will target the reduction of carbon emissions, particularly within the industrial sector. Second, it will focus on natural resources, particularly in sectors heavily reliant on land resources such as agriculture and food production. Third, it will strive to promote fairness and equality. Fourth, it will push for the adoption of a climate-related Corporate Performance and Accountability System (CPAS). Fifth, it will enhance training and build capacity within enterprises to implement sustainable development initiatives.

Finally, it will foster partnerships in sustainable development to generate meaningful and lasting positive impacts.

What specific initiatives does the Viet Nam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD-VCCI) plan to make to address these priorities?

First and foremost, the VBCSD will persist in implementing hallmark programmes such as the CSI and the Viet Nam Corporate Sustainability Forum (VCSF).

Through the CSI Programme, the VBCSD will maintain ongoing collaboration with esteemed experts to annually adjust and update the CSI. This serves not only as a metric to gauge businesses' sustainable development levels, but also as a tool to assist Vietnamese enterprises in practising sustainable corporate governance and accountability in a scientifically sound and resource-efficient manner.

Moreover, the VCSF will retain its position as the primary platform for dialogue on sustainable business development between the government and businesses, staying abreast of the latest global sustainable development trends to disseminate to the domestic business community.

In 2024, it plans to delve deeply into exploring strategies for achieving the net-zero goal in 2050, addressing issues such as nature conservation, decarbonisation, leadership development, fostering human capital in the era of AI, and sustainable development.

Furthermore, the VBCSD will actively advocate for the formation of working groups on green transformation including Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and green finance, fostering member growth and partnerships, alongside establishing the Sustainable Development Business Club (CSI 100 Club).

How will the CSI Programme adapt to better support businesses and align with global transformation trends?

One thing is certain: this year's CSI Programme will undergo significant changes to ensure more precise assessments, aiding businesses in synthesising, compiling statistics, and presenting information more clearly.

For instance, the classification of business profiles into three industry groups including manufacturing, trade-services, and mixed of manufacturing and trade-services will be tailored to reflect varying economic, environmental, and social considerations, and the scoring will vary accordingly to ensure fairness for each enterprise. For example, companies in manufacturing may have their environmental activities weighted more heavily compared to those in trade and services. Consequently, their performance in specific areas will be scored accordingly.

Moreover the CSI 2024 Index has revamped its approach to environmental indicators. Compliance indicators are now grouped as basic standards (C indicators), while innovative indicators that surpass regulatory requirements are classified as advanced (A indicators). This restructuring aids businesses in identifying priority areas and opportunities to add value, thus optimising production efficiency while bolstering environmental accountability. VNS

Corporate complianceThis year, the CSI has 153 indicators. Up to 62 per cent of indicators are related to legal compliance requirements, while 38 per cent are initiative-based.This is the ninth year in a row that the programme has been organised by the VCCI and the VBCSD in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour and the Central Economic Commission.Nearly 500 businesses joined last year's programme and up to 23 per cent were participating for the first time. Of them, 100 enterprises were recognised as the top sustainable businesses in Viet Nam in 2023.The exemplary businesses honoured in 2023 were those that had successfully implemented programmes related to sustainability and made great contributions to society for many consecutive years, including Nestle Vietnam, AEON Vietnam, Vinamilk, Unilever Vietnam and Heineken.Among the top 10 sustainable enterprises in the fields of trade-services and production, foreign-invested enterprises accounted for 40 per cent and Vietnamese enterprises made up 60 per cent, of which 25 per cent were enterprises with a majority of State capital.Binu Jacob, Managing Director of Nestle Vietnam, Co-Chair of VBCSD, emphasised that sustainability commitments needed to be accompanied by a clear roadmap and sufficient investments for that roadmap, innovation, transformation and cooperation at all levels to achieve successful sustainable development.He said CSI 100 had brought together businesses that pursue sustainable development by providing a clear picture of achievements, limitations to be addressed, and most importantly, the direction ahead.This year, the programme will welcome submissions from enterprises of all scales and industries through an online platform, with no associated fees for the candidates. Beyond the ranking and announcement of the top 100 sustainable companies, the CSI 2024 Programme also confers accolades to honour trailblazing companies in the development of the circular economy, reduction of carbon emissions, and those leading the charge in fostering diversity, equity, and inclusivity.Following the launch event, the committee will organise offline and online training courses on sustainable corporate governance in general and on how to apply the CSI Index to corporate governance, from June to August 2024.The deadline for submitting applications is August 16, 2024. For more information about the CSI 2024 Programme, please refer to the website vbcsd.vn/csi.asp.  VNS
HAVANA  Viet Nam always treasures and works unceasingly to deepen as well as expand the fraternal solidarity and comprehensive and trustworthy cooperation with Cuba, Vietnamese Ambassador Le Quang Long said after presenting his credentials to Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez recently.

The Vietnamese diplomat affirmed that Viet Nam always bears in mind and feels grateful for Cubas assistance for the country in the past, and maintains a consistent stance on supporting the just revolutionary cause of the Cuban people.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, for his part, thanked Viet Nam for the solidarity and valuable support that it has given to Cuba, affirming that the Latin American country wants and resolves to continue bolstering the solidarity and cooperation between the two Parties, States and peoples, thus continuing the historical and traditional relations that President Ho Chi Minh, President Fidel Castro and General Raul Castro have worked hard to foster.

He took the occasion to congratulate Viet Nam on its successful organisation of activities to mark the 70th anniversary of the ien Bien Phu Victory. He stressed that the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs stands ready to coordinate with the Vietnamese side to prepare for celebrations of the 65th anniversary of Viet Nam  Cuba diplomatic relations in each nation in 2025.  VNS
HA NOI  The Party Central Committees Inspection Commission held its 42nd meeting from June 12-14, during which it proposed disciplinary measures against a number of Party organisations and members for violating Party regulations.

The commission looked into the case of the Party delegation to the Finance Ministry, saying it has violated the principle of democratic centralism and working regulations, and showed a lack of responsibility and relaxed leadership and instruction, letting the ministry and several organisations and individuals violate the Partys regulations and the States laws in State management and in giving consultations and promulgating mechanisms and policies on issuing and trading corporate bonds, including businesses under Van Thinh Phat Group and An ong Group; as well as in State budget management related to the AIC company and businesses in the AIC ecosystem.

Such violations have caused serious consequences along with risks of huge losses to State assets and damage to bond investors, adversely affecting the investment and business environment and social order and safety, triggering public concern, and negatively affecting the reputation of the Party organisation and State management agency, to the extent that they must be reviewed and handled.

The commission said the Party delegation to the Finance Ministry for the 2016-21 term; and inh Tien Dung, Politburo member, Secretary of Ha Noi's Party Committee, former Secretary of the ministrys Party delegation and former Finance Minister; Vo Thanh Hung, member of the ministrys Party delegation and Deputy Minister; and former members of the ministrys Party delegation and Deputy Ministers Huynh Quang Hai, o Hoang Anh Tuan and Vu Thi Mai; and some other Party organisations and members must bear the main responsibility for the above-said violations and wrongdoings.

The Inspection Commission decided to issue warnings against the Standing Board of the Party Committee of the General Department of Customs for the 2015-20 term; the Party Committee of the Department of Planning and Finance for the 2015-20 term; the Party cells of the Department of Public and Administrative Finance and the State Budget Department for the 2015-17, 2017-20, 2020-22 tenures; and Huynh Quang Hai; Pham Van Truong, Secretary of the Party cell, Director of the State Budget Department; Nguyen Truong Giang, Secretary of the Party cell, Director of the Department of Public and Administrative Finance; Nguyen Duong Thai, former Deputy Director General of the General Department of Customs; and Pham Van Viet, former Secretary of the Party cell, Director of the Department of Finance and Administration under the General Department of Customs.

It reprimanded the Party cell of the Finance Department of Banks and Financial Institutions for the 2017-20 and 2020-22 terms; and o Hoang Anh Tuan, Vu Thi Mai, Vo Thanh Hung; and Phan Thi Thu Hien, Secretary of the Party cell, Director of the Finance Department of Banks and Financial Institutions; and Le Ngoc Khoa, former Secretary of the Party Committee, Director of the Department of Planning and Finance.

The committee asked competent authorities to consider disciplinary actions against the Party delegation to the Ministry of Finance and inh Tien Dung.

The committee requested the Party delegation to the Ministry of Finance to direct the timely correction of the violations and shortcomings; and coordinate in handling the organisations and individuals that committed violations.

At the meeting, the commission also examined the violations of and decided disciplinary measures against the Party delegation to the Peoples Committee of the central province of Ninh Thuan.

The Inspection Commission decided to issue warnings against the Party delegation to the provincial People's Committee for the 2016-21 tenure, and Luu Xuan Vinh, former Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, former Secretary of the Party delegation and former Chairman of the provincial People's Committee; while reprimanding the Departments of Planning and Investment, Finance, Construction, and Environment and National Resources for the 2015-20 tenure; and a number of individuals.

The inspection commission also proposed competent authorities to consider disciplinary measures against Nguyen Van Yen, deputy head of the Party Central Committees Commission for Internal Affairs, member of the Standing Board of the Party Committee and Chairman of its Inspection Commission; and issued disciplinary measures against some former officials of Binh inh, Binh Duong, Long An and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces.  VNS
BEIJING  Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and head of the committees Commission for Information and Education Nguyen Trong Nghia met with Politburo member and Secretary of the Party Committee of Chinas Guangdong Province Huang Kunming on June 14.

At the meeting, part of Nghia's working trip to China from June 11 to 15, the Vietnamese official expressed his impression on the dynamic and comprehensive development of the Chinese locality in all areas, particularly economy.

Nghia said Guangdong has strong economic and trade cooperation with Viet Nam, and suggested both sides enhance communications work on the sound friendship, neighbourliness and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties and States as well as between Vietnamese ministries, sectors and localities with Guangdong.

He expressed his hope that the two sides will support and facilitate trade-investment-tourism promotion activities of Vietnamese localities, organisations and companies in Guangdong, the introduction of the Vietnamese culture and arts to Guangdong people, and people-to-people exchange and cooperation between media agencies and publishing houses of the two sides, thus creating firmer foundation for bilateral ties.

Huang, for his part, spoke highly of the development of the Viet Nam-China relations as well as positive results in the economic, trade, investment and tourism cooperation between Viet Nam and Guangdong in particular, stressing he supports and encourages local firms to promote investment in Viet Nam while facilitating Vietnamese investment and business in the locality.

Guangdong always pays attention to preserving the relic sites connected to President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnamese revolutionaries in the locality, particularly the Vietnamese Revolutionary Youth League relic site and the grave of Martyr Pham Hong Thai

Nghia paid tribute to Martyr Pham Hong Thai at his tomb and visited the Vietnamese Revolutionary Youth League relic site on June 15.

Earlier, Nghia had a working session with the Nanfang Media Group, the largest multi-media agency of Guangdong province.  VNS
Norway's total aid to Viet Nam has so far reached about US$320 million. Could you share some successful NORAD stories?

Viet Nam is an important partner to Norway for several reasons. The first is the ambitious goal of Viet Nam to become net zero in 2050. Another reason is Viet Nams ambitious goal on cutting plastic pollution. Also, Viet Nam is an important partner of Norway in many social and economic issues.

There are many successful stories. One thing that many do not know is that Norway is a big founder of mine clearances in Viet Nam, we have worked in this area for decades. The Americans dropped an enormous number of bombs on Viet Nam and many of them are still in the ground. Thus, we fund, through the Norwegian Peoples Aid, a global organisation, mine clearance and we have been doing that for a very long time. The work is very important because every year quite a few people die from stepping on explosives.

We also fund a global public library in Viet Nam. It is a digital library for those areas where education is not so accessible, especially for vulnerable groups with disabilities. We are working with UNICEF on that.

However, I think that the main potential between Viet Nam and Norway is a partnership in the green transition of Viet Nam. It is really important to develop energy. Norway has a lot of competence in energy in offshore wind, which is also being developed in Norway and in solar, which we have big Norwegian companies, but also competence in energy institutions.

Coming next plastic pollution in oceans. Viet Nam, like Norway, is an ocean nation. Fishery is very important. Viet Nam also has a long coastline and plastic pollution is a threat to tourism. People do not want to see plastic waste in the ocean and it is also a threat to fisheries. So, Norway is working in several ways here to help Viet Nam.

We have a project where we try to reduce waste as fuel in the cement industry to help Viet Nam solve two problems at the same time. We use the waste, which is now just in the landfill, we burn it in the cement industry instead of burning coal. Therefore, we can cut the costs for the industry and also cut emissions from coal burning.

Additionally, we are negotiating with Viet Nam on an agreement to help Viet Nam sell carbon credits from the impressive work in the forests of Viet Nam.

Viet Nam is doing a lot to keep more of the forests. That is important for the global climate. We have entered into an agreement where an international organisation can buy carbon credit from the forests in Viet Nam. Then, Viet Nam can fund further green transition. I think in the past, the headline between Viet Nam and Norway was of a donor to a poor country, but now it has become a partnership between the two countries.

How do you evaluate the cooperation between Viet Nam and Norway in areas such as the marine economy, the circular economy and green transformations?

I think it is promising but it needs more attention and we need to move from project to breakthrough. The potential in cooperation in marine economy, circular economy and green transformations is big and there are many on-going projects that are good. Norway and Viet Nam are good partners, but we could become even stronger partners if we are able to make breakthroughs.

For instance, in terms of offshore winds in Viet Nam. Offshore wind could be a really important part of Viet Nams energy supply and also could be exported to other countries. Norway has companies but also institutions that are strong.

Viet Nam is a country using quite a lot of coal with high emissions. If Viet Nam wants to be successful in meeting the goal of cutting down the emissions and implementing green transformations, it might expect the international community to finance that. So, it is reasonable that Norway finances parts of that transition. I think that this is where the opportunities are.

Viet Nam should also do more to be successful in renewable energy, marine technology, offshore wind and the circular economy. Viet Nam needs to have good regulations and verification processes. Norway has to find the finances and enter into agreements to get results with Viet Nam. I think the future of Viet Nam-Norway collaboration is about to grow, transition and seek a way to do that together.

How will Norways official development assistance help Viet Nam in developing the marine economy and green transformations in the future?

We will continue to provide development assistance to Viet Nam, but I think it will be limited because Viet Nam now has become a middle income country. Actually, the amount will not be the most important, but the competence that we can share and the partnerships they bring. In a circular economy and marine technology, we have run projects and we have done marine planning, with UNDP and the Vietnamese Government.

For almost 20 years, Norway has had what we called marine special planning. That means Norway has plans for our seas where we look at what we should use them for. The plans take into account offshore oil and gas, offshore wind, fisheries and seafood shipping routes. The plans also look at the ecological qualities and make sure that we take care of nature and of the fishery stocks. So we do not overfish too much. The planning process has brought in so many different ministries, so that when you are creating a plan, it takes different interests into account.

There has been a lot of international interest from other ocean nations, not only Viet Nam, in the plan.

Viet Nam has been investing in offshore wind and it can look at which areas are better for offshore wind. But it should also consider where those plans collide with other interests, like for instance, fisheries. This way of planning is more sustainable and is also more predictable for that industry. VNS
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If Hunter Biden's name had been Jim Bob Jones, would he have been tried and convicted for lying on a federal firearms purchase form?

In all honesty, I'd say not.

The son of the president is a political target of Republicans hoping to tar his father with the influence-peddling schemes that have made Hunter Biden millions. The gun charge was the surest means to assure he became the only presidential offspring in history to be convicted of a felony.

The trial on tax evasion charges that will come later this year, while promising more salacious and damaging testimony, are less certain to deliver a guilty verdict, and may ultimately be avoided with a plea deal.

The gun case was ironclad, as demonstrated by the jury's speedy return of its verdict. But it doesn't change the fact that almost no one else who does what Hunter Biden did has had to face the legal consequences.

The president's son was charged with three violations of federal law for falsifying the form a purchaser must fill out before buying a gun. Hunter Biden failed to disclose his drug addiction, as required, when he bought a handgun from a Delaware dealer in 2018.

In 2019, 27 million background checks were done on gun buyers. Of that number, 478 individuals were reported to federal prosecutors for lying on the form. And just 298 faced charges.

That puts Hunter Biden in rare company and adds credence to the claims that his prosecution was at least in part politically motivated.

But it doesn't mean he should not have been charged. Just the opposite  the other 180 violators who walked away with not so much as a wrist slap should have been in the courtroom with him.

The federal law Hunter Biden violated was championed by his father when he was in the Senate. It was designed to help answer a key concern of those advocating for more responsible gun policies: How to keep firearms out of the hands of those most likely to abuse them.

Yet, like so many measures passed in response to cries to "do something" about guns, lax enforcement has rendered the screening form requirement largely useless.

In general, gun laws aren't aggressively enforced. Remember that Anthony McRae, the shooter who killed three students on the Michigan State University campus, was previously arrested on a felony gun charge that would have prevented him from purchasing a firearm. He was allowed to plead down to a misdemeanor.

A Republican-backed law pending in Congress called the Prosecuting Gun Crimes Saves Lives Act would prioritize the prosecution of those who illegally purchase guns. It's gone nowhere for lack of support by Democrats, who keep pushing for more restrictive gun laws that end up being undermined by progressive or lazy prosecutors.

On the day his son was convicted, President Joe Biden attended an anti-gun rally calling for even more gun laws. He also, disingenuously, said he respected the legal system that convicted his son. Never mind that his Justice Department tried to orchestrate a sweetheart plea deal that would have spared Hunter Biden from facing any consequences.

Hunter Biden may not have been treated the same as others who violated the screening law. But all future violators should be treated the same as Hunter Biden.
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Putins Full Speech at Foreign Ministry: BRICS, NATO Expansion and Ukraine Peace Talk Conditions

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Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (814 June 2024)

From 8 June to 14 June 2024, in response to the Kiev regimes attempts to hit Russian power facilities, the Russian Armed Forces have carried out 19 group strikes by ground-, air-, and sea-based precision weapons, as well as strike drones, during which the Russian Armed Forces have engaged power facilities that supported the work of enterprises of the Ukrainian military industrial enterprises.

In addition, the infrastructure of military airfields, Storm Shadow cruise missile depots, and other aircraft armament, ammunition and explosives, a strike drone production workshops, training sites for the use of uncrewed surface vehicles, as well as temporary deployment areas of nationalists and foreign mercenaries have been eliminated.

The units of the Sever Group of Forces continued to move deep into the enemy defence during combat actions.

The strikes have been delivered at manpower and hardware of four formations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one marine brigade, two territorial defence brigades, and two Ukrainian National Guard brigades. In addition, 45 counter-attacks of enemy assault groups have been repelled.

The AFU losses were up to 1,710 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, 32 motor vehicles, three Grad MLRS fighting vehicles, 16 field artillery guns, three Bukovel-AD and Nota electronic warfare stations, as well as eight field ammunition depots.

The units of the Zapad Group of Forces have taken more advantageous positions and liberated Artyomovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic) and Timkovka (Kharkov region).

Russian troops have hit units of the five mechanised, tank, assault and airmobile brigades of the AFU, territorial defence formations, and the three brigades of the Ukrainian National Guard were hit.

The AFU losses were up to 3,405 Ukrainian troops, four armoured fighting vehicles, 32 motor vehicles, 30 field artillery guns, including seven U.S.-made M777 howitzers.

In addition, three electronic warfare stations and four ammunition depots have been eliminated.

The units of the Yug Group of Forces have improved the situation along the front line and also hit manpower and hardware of six mechanised, airmobile, motorised, two air assault brigades, as well as two territorial defence formations.

The AFU losses were up to 3,785 Ukrainian troops, 11 armoured fighting vehicles, 48 motor vehicles, and 39 field artillery guns, 14 of which were Western-made.

22 field ammunition depots have been also destroyed.

The units of the Tsentr Group of Forces have improved the tactical situation and defeated four infantry, four mechanised, as well as one airborne brigade of the AFU, and territorial defence formations.

In addition, 34 enemy counter-attacks have been repelled.

The enemy losses were up to 2,375 troops, 14 armoured fighting vehicles, four U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, two German-made infantry fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, as well as 52 field artillery guns, including ten U.S.-made M777 howitzers.

The units of the Vostok Group of Forces continue to advance to the depths of the enemy defence and liberated Staromayorskoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

Russian troops have hit manpower and hardware clusters of one motorised infantry, two mechanised brigades of the AFU.

The AFU losses were up to 965 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, six armoured fighting vehicles, 29 motor vehicles, two Czech-made Vampire MLRS combat vehicles, and 12 field artillery guns.

In addition, three Anklav and Nota electronic warfare stations have been destroyed.

The units of the Dnepr Group of Forces have defeated the units of the three brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one marine brigade, and one formation of the Ukrainian National Guard.

The AFU losses were up to 555 Ukrainian troops, 37 motor vehicles, and 26 field artillery guns, seven of which were foreign-made.

Russian air defence facilities have shot down one MiG-29 fighter jet and two Mi-8 helicopters of the Ukrainian Air Force.

In addition, 13 U.S.-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles, three U.S.-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems, two Neptune anti-ship missiles, two U.S.-made HARM anti-radiation missiles, eight French-made HAMMER, and U.S.-made JDAM aerial bombs, 46 HIMARS, Vampire, Uragan, Olkha projectiles, and 465 unmanned aerial vehicles have been intercepted.

In addition, Su-27 and Su-25 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force have been destroyed at airfields of departure.

Over the past week, 46 Ukrainian servicemen surrendered on the line of contact.

In total, 613 airplanes and 276 helicopters, 25,791 unmanned aerial vehicles, 529 air defence missile systems, 16,329 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,337 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 10,441 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 22,542 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

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We are ready to sit at the negotiation table tomorrow, said Putin

The Russian proposal is/was a generous offering considering the realities and Putin clarified this is the best offer Kiev is going to get and on Western acceptance of this offer hangs future Ukrainian existence

https://tass.com/politics/1803657

https://ria.ru/20240614/putin-1952911674.html

https://m.vz.ru/news/2024/6/14/1273143.html

https://m.vz.ru/news/2024/6/14/1273141.html

Lot of rain yesterday upon NATO and Cronies

and

Today, we made another specific, real peace proposal. If Kiev and the Western capitals refuse it, as they have previously, then ultimately, it is their matter, their political and moral responsibility for the continuation of bloodshed, the Putin said

and

I stress: the entire territory of those regions as defined by their administrative borders at the time they joined Ukraine [in August 1991], Putin stated

and

Our side will order a ceasefire and start negotiations the minute Kiev declares that it is prepared to take this decision and starts actual withdrawal of troops from those regions, and also formally informs us that it no longer plans to join NATO, Putin said

and

In the future, all those basic principled positions have to be enshrined in fundamental international agreements. Naturally, that includes the lifting of all Western sanctions against Russia, Putin stated

Hmm

The Green T-shirted Zelensky is irrelevant, as Russia has made clear by his own actions, just like the G7 has done to itself and anyone whom matters does not care

What matters most is that Putin just provided the Hegemonic Satanist with an escape route.

A pretty sly maneuver

Its already over for the myth that Russia does not want peace.

Green T-shirt can be thrown under the bus by the Hegemonic whenever it pleases. But the deal is still in place: peace on Russias terms, contingent on victory over NATO in the theater of operations.

Putins announcement of terms to end the war, which he knows will be rejected out of hand, along with his declaration to the west that he intends to bite off more territory before he is done, only helps to TEMPT Washington and NATO into doing something crazy now at this moment or keeping their peace for all eternity. In actuality, its a cunning and enjoyable gambit. He competes against amateurs and military posers across the West, making sure that the Russian general staff is prepared for any rash move they make with a deadly counterattack

A great master playing chess for all the marbles

and a checker player came forward

Jens Stoltenberg stresses that the Russians should withdraw their forces from the occupied parts of Ukraine.

Its not for Ukraine to withdraw forces from Ukrainian territory. Its for Russia to withdraw their forces from occupied Ukrainian land, he said. This is a proposal of more aggression, more occupation. And it demonstrates in a way that Russias aim is to control Ukraine and that has been the purpose of Russia since the beginning of this war. And thats a blatant violation of international law and thats also the reason why NATO Allies continue to support Ukraine.- he said, as translated by Interfax.

Why is NATO upset about a proposal for a ceasefire, havent we been told a infinite times that NATO is not at war in Ukraine?

WtR

Update: by Voloda at Duma

The Swiss gathering on Ukraine, which is supposed to take place today, has lost its meaning.

Our President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin yesterday proposed a formula for peace not only regarding the situation in Ukraine, but also in Europe as a whole:

 This is the neutral, non-bloc, nuclear-free status of Ukraine, as well as its demilitarization and denazification.

 The status of Crimea and Sevastopol, DPR and LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions as regions of the Russian Federation should be recorded in international treaties.

 Basic agreements for a peaceful settlement must be enshrined in international treaties. The lifting of sanctions against Russia should also be provided.

In this regard, the initiatives put forward by former Ukrainian President Zelensky and supported by Biden, Macron, Scholz, etc., lose all meaning.

Negotiations can only be conducted on behalf of citizens of their own country. But Zelenskys term in office has ended, and that says it all.

Today, the only legitimate entity on the Ukrainian side is the Verkhovna Rada, and only it can participate in reaching any agreements.

It is right for Ukrainian deputies to begin discussing Putins proposals if they think about their citizens and want to preserve the state.

By the way, according to our information coming through the parliamentary line, some deputies of the Verkhovna Rada have already begun to do this.

The longer Ukrainian deputies hope that the United States and the European Union will solve all the issues for them, the fewer citizens of the country will remain, who are only expendable for Washington and Brussels, and the territory of Ukraine will shrink.

Its time for them to realize: there is no president of Ukraine, responsibility lies with the Verkhovna Rada.

In such a situation, you cannot stand by.
Baraboo will have its first community celebration of Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, on Wednesday.

Madison Area Technical College collaborated with Antowan Hallmon, a Green Bay resident and pastor, to organize a Juneteenth celebration from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ochsner Park marking the federal holiday The official partnership is between the college and Humility Inc., Hallmons nonprofit organization.

We believe that it is our responsibility to actively participate in community events and celebrate the diversity that makes our society so vibrant, said Jimmy Cheffen Jr., climate and culture program coordinator for MATC, also known as Madison College. This Juneteenth celebration was a testament to our dedication towards promoting inclusivity and unity.

Juneteenth commemorates the official end of slavery in the United States. Near the end of the Civil War on June 19, 1865, Union troops marched into Texas, the westernmost state of the soon-to-be-defeated Confederacy, and helped free 250,000 enslaved African Americans, according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

The museum refers to Juneteenth as the United States second independence day.

Planning for the Baraboo Juneteenth celebration began in January, Hallmon said.

Percy Brown, head of diversity, equity, and inclusion for the Deforest School District, and poets Charles Payne and Arsenio Sorrell, along with Hallmon and his wife, Ramona, will be among the speakers at the Baraboo celebration.

As Baraboo and Sauk County continue to grow and diversify, the hope is to make this Juneteenth celebration an institution for years to come, said Hallmon, a senior pastor for Appleton-based FaithWorks Ministries. It is an institution that the community can rally around with the hopes of bringing education, unity and understanding.

Ramona Hallmon will give opening remarks at the Juneteenth celebration. Payne and Sorrell will read poetry at noon, before a line dance activity. Damira Grady, the Madison College vice president of college culture and climate, will also speak.

Its amazing to see the history of Black people continuing to spread throughout different communities, said Brown, whose family members were involved in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. This opportunity here is a way to bring the community together and strengthen the community.

Brown, who has done work in Baraboo, said the Juneteenth observance at Ochsner Park is a festive way of bringing people together, celebrating cultural and socioeconomic differences, and acknowledging the need to end racism, sexism and other -isms. He said those topics will be part of his message in his speech at the event.

William Green, who owns Neenah-based film production company Fox Cities Flix, will conduct 24-minute interactive video education activities on Black history and the history of Juneteenth. Games also will be available for children who attend the event.

Sorrell and Payne will read poetry with themes of freedom, resilience and unity. Payne said he and Sorrell have performed together numerous times and praised his work.

This is a tremendous opportunity for me and another incredible writer to share our work on a day that is really important to us, Payne said.

Payne said the Baraboo event brings awareness of the meaning of Juneteenth to a wider audience. Some of Paynes work can be found on his Canva page, and his biography is on the Madison-based Arts + Literature Laboratory website.

I feel like there should always be more celebrations with this, Sorrell said of Juneteenth. I know it is still fairly new to people, so this is a great opportunity to bring something new and help further diversify the area as much as possible.

Roscoe Foster and the Rascal Theory, a Baraboo-based rock, soul and rhythm and blues band, will perform live music from 1:40 p.m. to the celebrations end at 3 p.m.

Sorrell and the others emphasized how the event will introduce Baraboo and Sauk County residents to African-American culture and history. Brown sees it as an opportunity to teach lived experiences throughout that history and said the activities and artistry will give attendees an immersion experience.

To be able to bring the essence and the traditions of a Juneteenth celebration to a place that is unfamiliar with it, I think, is a great opportunity, Sorrell said.

Hallmon, who frequently travels with Ramona to Baraboo for ministry work, hopes the celebration can be a cornerstone to help people be better people for each other in these changing times. He said that understanding African-American history and that of other ethnicities can help people build better relationships with each other and understand and celebrate each others differences.

The time for this event is now, Hallmon said, adding he is optimistic the Juneteenth celebration will receive a positive community reception and hopes to bring more to the event in future years.

Hallmon, Brown and Sorrell said the event can help reinforce that the actions of one individual do not define a community, in

Referring to the recent Baraboo High School graduation incident in which the father of one of the graduates pushed Superintendent Rainey Briggs on the stage to prevent him from shaking his daughters hand, Hallmon, Brown and Sorrell said the Juneteenth event can help reinforce that the actions of one individual do not define a community.

In April, Brown went to Baraboo High School and talked with students about hate speech, particularly material they had encountered on social media or within video gaming networks.

Las Milpas, a Mexican restaurant and grocery store in Baraboo, will bring a food truck to the Ochsner Park Juneteenth celebration. Antowan Hallmon said fried catfish and chicken also will be served.

Baraboo Mayor Rob Nelson is scheduled to speak at 11 a.m. during the celebration.

I applaud Madison College and the other organizers for bringing this event together, Nelson said. Hosting a Juneteenth celebration in Sauk County is long overdue.

The mayor added that people in the Baraboo area and throughout the United States should strive to better ensure equal treatment, opportunity and respect for everyone regardless of cultural differences.

By marking this day to look back at our history, hopefully our community and our nation can continue to move forward toward a more compassionate and welcoming future, he said.
South Asia's premier express air, integrated transportation, and distribution logistics company, Blue Dart, has made the announcement of the appointment of Dipanjan Banerjee as the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Blue Dart Express, with effect from June 2024.

Dipanjan brings nearly two decades of extensive experience in business development and market expansion within the express delivery and logistics industry. In his most recent role as Chief Business Officer at Ecom Express, he demonstrated his leadership and strategic capabilities across numerous roles. Prior to Ecom Express, Dipanjan was with FedEx Express, where he showcased his expertise in strategic business planning, supply chain management, and developing express delivery solutions.

Dipanjans proficiency spans critical areas such as marketing, sales, and product development across multiple industries. Notably, he has been instrumental in driving the growth of e-commerce as a vertical and has a proven track record in managing profit and loss, strategic planning, and international business operations, including cross-border logistics.

Dipanjan holds an MBA in Sales and Marketing from Amity University and has completed the Management Development Program at the Indian School of Business (ISB). His achievements have earned him recognition, including being named one of Indias top 10 CBOs by prominent industry forums.

With the appointment of Dipanjan Banerjee as CCO, Blue Dart has strengthened its leadership team, reaffirming the company's commitment to delivering excellence in the logistics industry. The company is dedicated to consistently setting new industry benchmarks, with a focus on becoming the preferred choice for customers, investors, and employers alike.
Bombay Shaving Company, renowned for its innovative hair removal and grooming products and stereotype breaking campaigns, is taking a bold and very honest approach this Father's Day with its digital campaign, "Sorry Dad, While we have made them - This Year Too, You Won't Get a Gift." After five years of creating memorable and heartwarming campaigns, Bombay Shaving Company recognized a trend that Father's Day is celebrated far less than other occasions like Valentine's Day or Mother's Day. This year, the brand delves into the reality of an often-overlooked importance of Father's Day, through interesting content and honest conversations with Dads and their offsprings.

Search trends and observations reveal that, we most often buy gifts for our partners, mothers, sisters, and even our cherished pets, showering them with love and making them feel special. Yet, amidst these celebrations, fathers special day is overshadowed by other occasions. In quirky, reflective manner, Bombay Shaving Company urges everyone to recognize and appreciate fathers, ensuring this year doesn't go by without the recognition they truly deserve. The brand conceptualized and produced an in-house digital film, incorporating snippets from past campaigns, including collaborations with Rajat Kapoor and nostalgic videos, highlighting how Father's Day has often gone uncelebrated despite the best efforts.

Founder and CEO of Bombay Shaving Company, Shantanu Deshpande himself, has taken the mantle to lead this conversation, by doing Vox-pops in popular city centers in Delhi and NCR, speaking with Dads, their offsprings and families, to understand the curious dynamic of their relationship - which is filled, with love and respect, but NOT necessarily demonstrated through gifts (as is done on other occasions)

The Campaign has already begun to Trend online, with its honest tone and quirky take.

- Reaching over 3 million online audience since June 8, 2024

- Becoming part of popular conversation with tons of memes doing the rounds of the internet

- With witty influencers joining in the conversations

- Brands like Paytm, Blinkit, and other Corporates have also joined in on this clarion call to acknowledge dad

Elaborating on the thought behind this unique campaign, Gauri Malhotra, Chief Marketing office, Bombay Shaving Company said Over the past five years, our Father's Day campaigns have consistently aimed to make a difference, but we've noticed they haven't really changed how people think or act. This year, with our 'Sorry Dad, This Year Too, You Won't Get a Gift' campaign, we want to draw attention to how often dads are underappreciated when it comes to gift-giving. By using humor and a call to action, we hope to start conversations and encourage our consumers to celebrate fathers just as enthusiastically as other special occasions. Dads deserve just as much love and recognition as anyone else."
On the occasion of Father's Day, leading brands are rolling out exclusive deals and innovative gift ideas to honour dads everywhere. This year, celebrate the important men in your life with the latest offerings designed to make the day truly special. From tech gadgets to personalized keepsakes, discover how leading brands are making Father's Day unforgettable with their newest and most exciting products.

MediBuddy

MediBuddy, Indias largest digital healthcare platform, unveiled an emotional #DadsKnowItAll ahead of Father's Day. The moving video campaign pays a heartfelt tribute to fathers and their lifelong devotion to building a better future for their children. It encourages children to return that selfless care by prioritising their fathers' health and wellbeing.

Senco Gold and Diamonds

Senco Gold and Diamonds has launched its latest brand campaign, #LegacyOfLove, starring the renowned father and son duo, Kaushik Sen and Riddhi Sen. This heartfelt campaign celebrates the profound strength of a father's lovehis unwavering support, silent encouragement, and endless affection.

SBI Life Insurance

Fathers have always been a constant source of inspiration in the lives of their children. Their wise ways to tackle life challenges are unmatched and every child is grateful for their fathers advice. This Fathers Day, SBI Life Insurance honours the multi-faceted role played by fathers in their childs life as Life Mitra- a friend, mentor & financial guardian. This is beautifully depicted in SBI Lifes digital film released under the companys flagship digital property #PapaHainNa to highlight the pragmatic & insightful side of fathers, who apply their experiences to navigate through lifes challenges.

Burger King

Burger King India, one of the fastest growing Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) chains, is back with its signature quirky humour. This time celebrating the unique ways dads show their love in a heart-warming Father's Day campaign titled #FathersDayFathersWay, conceptualised and shot by Havas Worldwide India.

Tanishq



Tanishq has always embraced and celebrated the idea that a woman's perspective enhances and adds a speck of beauty to every moment and every relationship. With Fathers Day around the corner, Tanishq has come up with a heartwarming film to celebrate the ever-changing and evolving bond between fathers and daughters, highlighting the subtle yet profound impact daughters have on their fathers' lives.







Hyundai India



This Father's Day, join Hyundai in celebrating the man who always puts you first, who is always there for you. From cheering you on to offering a shoulder to cry on, his unwavering commitment has shaped who you are.

Thank you, Dad. Happy Fathers Day.





Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance



In celebration of Fathers Day, Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Company Limited ("Kotak Life") has launched a heart-warming digital film that acknowledges the invaluable essence of a fathers love, support and inspiration in life. The key insight hinges on the premise that a fathers love is often referred to as tough love but they always stand strong with their children in every stage of life, no matter what. Starring Rajkummar Rao, Kotak Life's brand ambassador, the film captures the actors profound moments with his father, honouring him as his hero.





On the occasion of Father's Day, SMART Bazaar has unveiled a new film, #KarmSePita. This earnest tribute is an exploration of the often unexpressed, tender side of fatherhood, putting an emphasis on the emotional impact a father's values and love have on his children. #KarmSePita captures the quieter aspects of a father's love which include the unwavering dedication, silent sacrifices, and boundless love forming a deep bond between a father and his child where fatherhood is frequently portrayed as a role of provision and leadership.





Luxury designer Clothing Brand, House Of Abiti proudly launched its latest Fathers Day campaign, #FromLoveToFatherhood. The campaign captures the profound moment of a wife revealing to her husband on Fathers Day that he will soon be a father. She uses a note attached to the gift from House Of Abiti to convey the message, blending the emotional depth of fatherhood with the sophisticated style of House Of Abiti.

#FromLoveToFatherhood showcases the anticipation and joy of becoming a father, and brings to life the idea that Fatherhood starts with expressing love! It highlights the youthfulness and elegance that the House Of Abiti is known for. The campaign features a beautifully crafted video where the story unfolds in intriguing and surprising scenes, reflecting the brands commitment to celebrating lifes most precious moments.





Gritzo



Gritzo, a first of its kind brand that provides a personalized nutrition drink called SuperMilk for children has unveiled a heartwarming digital film on this Fathers Day 2024, that reminds us of the unwavering love and support our fathers have always given us.





boAt

boAt, India's audio and wearables brand has announced the launch of a playful track that resonates with the sounds that dads make on an everyday basis. Featuring the comforting buzz of news or sports channels, the distinctive sound of a car horn, and even the quirky echo of a burp, this track is set to release just in time for Father's Day celebrations.

Created in collaboration with renowned UK based DJ and music mixer AJ Wavy, "Baap of All Tracks" includes the familiar symphony of sounds associated with fathers everywhere. From the nostalgic tunes of "Hamare Zamane Ke Gaane" to the playful "Hari Ommm" burps, each element is thoughtfully woven together to evoke emotions and provide a fun, engaging listening experience.




Indias largest stainless steel manufacturer, Jindal Stainless, has launched the  (Corrosion) Warrior brand campaign for coinciding with the World Day Against Child Labour. The campaign intends at building skills for sustainable societal change by portraying a positive social impact on the lives of fabricators through the companys Stainless Academy initiative. The Academy aims for developing an ecosystem driving awareness and appropriate adoption of stainless steel, under which Jindal Stainless provides free fabrication training to fabricators.

The  Warrior brand campaign, as part of the larger Jindal Saathi 5.0 project, includes three heart-warming videos that put the spotlight on prevalent social issues in India such as women inequality, social injustice, besides child labour. The videos unravel the emotional stories of individuals who have found a path to economic independence and self-reliance through the Stainless Academy. The first video highlights how the programme empowers women to achieve economic independence and break gender barriers in the fabrication industry. The second video focuses on equipping fabricators with unique skill sets to build a brighter future for themselves and their families by ensuring their children's well-being and education, in turn helping eradicate child labour. The third video, meanwhile, showcases the opportunities created through these fabricator training programmes for individuals from underprivileged backgrounds to gain acceptance and respect in the society.

Talking about the campaign, Managing Director, Jindal Stainless, Abhyuday Jindal, said, At Jindal Stainless, we believe everyone deserves a chance to build a successful future for themselves and their families. The  Warrior campaign is an expression of this core value. It is dedicated to all those warriors who are fighting against societal evils. We are proud to see the Stainless Academy empowering individuals to overcome social barriers and achieve self-reliance. So far, more than 32,000 fabricators have benefitted from them, and we plan to target as many as 16,000 fabricators in FY25 alone. By upskilling fabricators and enhancing their quality of life, we are committed to strengthening the entire ecosystem, especially the downstream industry.

The campaign draws a powerful parallel between the inherent qualities of stainless steel  its resistance to corrosion () and Jindal Stainless dedication to combating societal , or evils from society. The videos go beyond showcasing the technical skills learned, highlighting the broader social empowerment the fabrication training programme provides. The video series culminates with a powerful call to action, emphasising the importance of collective effort in driving social change. It concludes with a message of hope, highlighting the transformative power of skill development and community empowerment.
Imagine a social media app that allows you to not just share, connect and make new friends, but also enrich your travel experiences, even gamify travel for the very first time. New-age social media app Explurger offer just that and more.

Speaking at the second edition of Adgullys CMOs Charcha - Kolkata Chapter 2024 yesterday (June 14, 2024), Jwala Kumar, VP - Monetization & Strategic Partnerships, Explurger, shared his insights on Revolutionizing Social Media Engagement: The Explurger Experience.

At the outset, Jwala Kumar introduced Explurger, saying, The word derives from the urge to explore. Co-founded by Sonu Sood and Jitin Bhatia, Explurger is the first global travel social media app gratifying its users for being socially active. Explurger helps its users monetize, giving rewards to all its users for being socially active. It includes hikers, bikers, solo travelers, family travelers, spiritual travelers, frequent flyers and more.

He further said that though the app is just two years old, it has garnered an over 10 million highly active user base not just in India, but across 75 countries. Its all organic growth. We have not done any sort of paid promotions to acquire such a huge interactive and engaged audience on our platform, he stressed.

Speaking about the competitive advantage of Explurger among the plethora of social platforms, Kumar pointed out, Of the 10 million-plus highly engaged users that we have on our platform, 80% are hardcore travelers. When it comes to travelling, there is a substantial cost attached to it. Hence, whoever is on this platform, have the intent of travel, and they have the spending capacity to be there on the platform. 88% users are from Tier 1 and Tier 2 markets. Hence, brands can target them.

Highlighting the apps USP, he said, One can create their travel diary on our platform, so that they can keep track of how many miles they have traveled, the cities that they have visited, the countries and continents that they have traveled to, as well as the posts that they have done. All at the click of a button. Its all possible because Explurger is the first AI-powered social media app. It picks your latitude and longitude and gives you the entire history.

The second USP is gamification, he said, explaining, There are six levels in this gamification. Suppose you are at one level, you will be able to get certain reward. Each level decides the rewards that you will get. There are hundreds of brands already active on our platform, who are giving certain discounts and rewards.

Speaking about Google incubation, Kumar said, We are backed by Google and for the first time it is equity free funding by Google. We have also been awarded among the top ten innovative apps by Google. We are part of Google Apps Scalar Academy.
Iran and Sweden have reached an agreement to exchange detained citizens, with Oman playing a crucial role as a mediator, Azernews reports.

The Omani Foreign Ministry announced the breakthrough, highlighting the successful efforts of Oman in facilitating the resolution of this sensitive issue.

The prisoner swap is scheduled to take place today in Muscat, the capital city of Oman. The Omani Information Agency released a statement, revealing that the agreement was reached following the directives of Sultan Haitham bin Tariq to respond positively to the requests made by the governments of Iran and Sweden.
In celebration of Fathers Day, Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Company Limited ("Kotak Life") has launched a heart-warming digital film that acknowledges the invaluable essence of a fathers love, support and inspiration in life. The key insight hinges on the premise that a fathers love is often referred to as tough love but they always stand strong with their children in every stage of life, no matter what. Starring Rajkummar Rao, Kotak Life's brand ambassador, the film captures the actors profound moments with his father, honouring him as his hero.

Subhasis Ghosh, Joint President & Head - Institutional Business & Marketing, Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Company said, This film is our heartfelt tribute to all fathers, who stand as pillars of strength, offering unwavering support during the good and tough times of life. This commitment resonates deeply with our brand ethos of 'Hum hain hamesha' as we take pride in being there for our customers, assuring support at every juncture of their life's journey.
For generations, women have been the backbone of agriculture, silently tilling the land, nurturing crops, and ensuring food security for families and communities. Yet, their stories remain untold, their contributions remain unseen. Today, PepsiCo India, through its Lay's brand, has taken a significant step forward with a unique endeavour in collaboration with the Department of Posts, Government of India: releasing Customised My Stamp commemorating the heart of Indian agriculture  women farmers.

Postal stamps are a timeless medium of communication that has evolved into collectors items, symbolising significant milestones into Indias culture and history. By choosing stamps, Lay's elevates these often-hidden heroes  our women farmers by shining a spotlight on their relentless dedication that has played a pivotal role in India's agricultural landscape.

The releasing ceremony, held at the PepsiCo India office in Gurgaon, celebrated a shared purpose of empowering women in agriculture and was attended by representatives from both PepsiCo India and Department of Posts. This launch extends Project Farm Equal, a multifaceted program spearheaded by PepsiCo India and USAID through the Global Development Alliance Project (GDA). The project empowers over 2,500 women farmers by addressing their unique challenges and serves as both a tribute to their indomitable spirit and a catalyst for further empowerment.

The set of 12 My Stamp feature a vibrant illustration of a woman farmer, clad in a yellow saree, proudly holding a basket overflowing with freshly harvested potatoes. This image is a powerful representation of the countless women working tirelessly in Lay's potato fields, and a symbol of their dedication and sacrifice.

"Postal stamps have always held a unique cultural significance, capturing and conveying stories that resonate with our heritage and values. Despite the digital age, stamps remain a powerful medium for storytelling. The stamp released by Lay's and Department of Posts beautifully bring to life the contribution of women farmers, showcasing their invaluable role in Indian agriculture. Lay's has done a commendable job in highlighting these often-overlooked heroes through such an aesthetically pleasing design. We are confident that stamp collectors across India will be eager to acquire these stamps, and they will inspire many to send letters again.", stated Manju Kumar, Chief Postmaster General, Delhi Circle.

Sharing her thoughts on the stamps, Saumya Rathor, Category Lead - Potato Chips, PepsiCo India said, Stamps have globally been a symbol of honour which immortalise people, moments, and movements of great cultural value. The launch of the stamps as a part of our continued vision with Project Farm Equal, marks a momentous milestone in our journey to empower and educate women farmers, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to succeed. By championing women in agriculture through this initiative, Lays is not only recognising their contributions but also spearheading a pivotal movement that places women at the forefront of the agricultural landscape.

Veena Reddy, Mission Director, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in India, said, Although women represent more than 40 percent of the global agriculture workforce, women face unequal access to training, technology, finance, and land. Understanding this gender divide, USAID and PepsiCo are expanding the range of roles that women can fill, reducing gender disparities, and increasing womens access to training opportunities, as well as improved working conditions.

Anukool Joshi, Director Agro at PepsiCo India, added, I am immensely proud to witness the profound impact of our Farm Equal initiative. One aspect that particularly resonates with me is the pivotal role played by women farmers, whose inclusion has brought a fresh perspective to our practices. Their rigor and discipline in implementing critical agricultural methods ensure the safeguarding of yields and the flourishing of crops to their full potential. This gesture of launching customised My Stamp issued by Department of Posts, celebrates and honours their tireless efforts.

Rajan Devi, a farmer at Lays potato field in Aligarh, expressed, I am overwhelmed with gratitude to Lay's for recognising our hard work and dedication. To have our own postal stamp really fills our hearts with joy and pride. Being featured on a stamp is a moment of great joy for our entire community and a reminder that our efforts are valued. (translated to English)

This initiative shines a long overdue spotlight on the critical role women play in agriculture. It's a powerful recognition of their dedication and resilience, and a step towards dismantling the barriers they face. Starting 15th June, these stamps will be available to the public at e-post office, serving as a tangible symbol of Lay's dedication to empowering women in agriculture.
Indias advertisers and their industry bodies have said to taken a strong objection to news channels claiming top position basis unauthorised and unverified metrics.

In the last few days, a leading channel has promoted itself by quoting dubious currencies. As far as advertisers are concerned, we only trust verified bodies such as BARC for TV and Comscore for digital, a member of the advertisers body said.

We are expecting BARC to issue a strong statement on the use of unauthorised currency. ISA may also issue an advisory to its members to not believe any measurement from unverified sources, a leading advertiser said.

Another advertiser said that the news channels trying to confuse advertisers and media planners with unproven metrics are likely to be downgraded in their media plans soon.

The ministry of consumer affairs, along with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting may also crackdown on channels using dubious metrics in their mailers. MIB only recognises BARC. Any other body providing viewership metrics will ultimately be penalised by the government. Even consumer affairs ministry can take action as viewers (who are also consumers) are being misled. A channel cannot be allowed to set up its own measurement agency and promote its numbers via mailers, said a senior government functionary.
Winners of MAA Awards 2024, honouring Eastern marketing champions, announced

The second edition of CMOs Charcha  Kolkata Chapter 2024, held in Kolkata on June 14, culminated with the inaugural Marketing and Advertising Awards (MAA)  Kolkata Chapter. The awards are designed to recognize and honour the brilliance and impact of marketing professionals and agencies that demonstrate excellence within specific regions.

Marketing Renaissance: Shashi Sinha on navigating the evolving media landscape

Delivering a special keynote address at the second edition of Adgully;s CMOs Charcha  Kolkata Chapter 2024, Shashi Sinha, CEO, IPG Mediabrands India, highlighted the difficulties marketers face today, particularly with the proliferation and fragmentation of media and the evolving landscape of distribution, especially for CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) marketers.

Babita Baruah demystifies charting a course in a rapidly evolving marketing ecosystem

The second edition of Adgullys CMOs Charcha - Kolkata Chapter 2024 began with an opening keynote by Babita Baruah, CEO, VML, on Charting the Future for Agencies in an Evolving Marketing Landscape. Baruah delved into the changing media landscape. She noted the exponential growth in media channels, with a plethora of digital platforms reshaping the definition of media and channels themselves.

Webchutney and Isobar are complementary pillars of Dentsu Creative: Amit Wadhwa

Amit Wadhwa, CEO, Dentsu Creative India, on reintroducing its three portfolio brands: Dentsu Creative Webchutney, Dentsu Creative Isobar, and Dentsu Creative PR.

Dont release new ads without self-declaration certificate post June 18: ASCI to members

ASCI has clarified that it has asked its members or others not to issue any new advertisement without a self-declaration certificate (SDC) from June 18 onwards. Marketers and agency professionals have expressed concerns about the Supreme Court's mandate for a self-declaration certificate, which requires all advertisements to secure an SDC before being released to the public, irrespective of the medium.

OTT platforms to discuss regulations with MIB

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting met with top OTT platforms (Amazon, Disney and Netflix) and tech giants (Google, Meta) on June 14 to discuss proposed regulations for streaming services. Last year, the government introduced a draft law to bring OTT platforms under the purview of broadcasting regulations, similar to cable TV.

The Great Google Search Shakeup: Can It Adapt to the AI Age? - Part 1

Google Search has come a long way since its launch in 1998. Back then, it was a basic tool. Today, thanks to continuous improvements, innovative thinking, algorithm updates, and embracing new technologies, it's become a powerful and user-friendly tool. With the explosion of AI and the increasing use of LLMs, an interesting question arises: Will Google Search need to fundamentally change its approach to stay relevant? Will it have to become more AI-powered to compete?

Beyond algorithms: Can Google ensure a fair digital future?  Part 2

In the second part of this series, Adgully delves into the core objectives behind Googles algorithm updates, examining the promise of enhanced search experiences. Yet, these advancements come with concerns, especially from smaller, high-quality online publishers who fear being overshadowed in a landscape dominated by major players. In the US, this anxiety has fueled debates over the equitable treatment of diverse voices in the vast expanse of the internet.

Googles Reign Over the Web: Champion of Information or Gatekeeper of Content? - Part 3

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?

Google Search Shakeup: Can Independent Publishers Thrive in Googles Shadow? - Part 4

The fourth and final part of this series delves into the heart of these discussions, exploring the viability of proposed measures and their implications for fostering a more equitable digital environment. Can new regulations curb Google's overwhelming power? Are there market-driven innovations that could support independent voices and ensure a vibrant, diverse internet?

Kurlon @60: Nilesh Mazumdar and Piyush Pandey on refreshing the legacy brand

Mattress brand Kurlon has completed 60 years and has introduced a new, reinvigorated positioning with the launch of its latest logo and the tagline  Life Banegi Hula Hula. In this exclusive video interaction with Adgully, Nilesh Mazumdar, CEO, Sheela Foam Ltd, and Piyush Pandey, Chief Advisor, Ogilvy India, talk about this transformative journey.

From beans to brilliance: Rajat Agrawal on brewing big plans for Barista Coffee

In this exclusive Ag Talk interaction with Adgully, we delve into Barista Coffee Companys journey with CEO Rajat Agrawal, who shares his vision for Barista, and his plans for the future of this iconic coffee brand, and much more. Join us as we explore the mind of a leader who is brewing success, one cup at a time.

The Art of Staying Relevant: A Conversation with Ajey Maharaj

Welcome to the inaugural episode of our podcast series, where we delve into The Art of Staying Relevant. To kick off this exciting journey, we have a distinguished guest with us, Ajey Maharaj, the Head of Corporate Communications at Fortis Healthcare.

As a PR professional, being genuine in communication fosters trust: Vineet Handa

In conversation with Adgully, Vineet Handa, Founder & CEO, Kaizzen, speaks at length about the agencys 16-year journey in the PR industry, how PR strategies should adapt to effectively collaborate with influencers while maintaining brand authenticity and credibility, the significant challenges brands are facing due to the rise of vocal audiences expressing negative views, how the PR industry can adopt proactive strategies for better preparedness, and more.

Within digital, Meta provides the highest ROI to brands: Arun Srinivas

Meta commissioned studies with leading firms Nielsen and Kantar show that return on investment from digital trumps other mediums for the FMCG sector. In conversation with Adgully, Arun Srinivas, Director & Head of Ads Business for Meta in India, shares insights on the latest Nielsen X Meta Media ROI 2024 report and the impact of digital advertising on FMCG brands.

Adani Wilmar sees large opportunities in HoReCa & institutional segment: Mukesh Kr Mishra

In conversation with Adgully, Mukesh Kumar Mishra, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Adani Wilmar, speaks about prioritizing rural and urban market expansion, establishing a strong presence on e-commerce platforms, adapting to changing consumer preferences, leveraging digital marketing initiatives, and much more.

How My11Circle transformed IPL viewership into interactive experience

In an exclusive interview with Adgully, Saroj Panigrahi, Chief Operating Officer, Games24x7, delves into the significant impact of My11Circles association with the IPL and the strategic initiatives undertaken to enhance user engagement. Panigrahi discusses the brands milestones, including a remarkable 50% increase in user participation during the IPL season, the role of celebrity endorsements, and innovative campaigns like My11Circle pe ek crore.
Netflix Film 'Maharaj' Is Early 16th-Century Story 2

The movie Maharaj is yet to be released, but before its release, some members of the Vaishnavite Pustimargi sect demanded to stay until the release of this movie. This sect identifies themselves as devotees of Bhagwan Shree Krishna. The petitioners claimed that the film, based on the historic Maharaj libel case, is likely to incite feelings of hatred and violence against the Pustimargi sect, amounting to a breach of the Code of Ethics under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, and the Self-Regulation Code of Over-the-Top Technology (OTT). The Gujarat High Court temporarily stayed the release of the Netflix film Maharaj on Thursday. The movie, starring Aamir Khans son Junaid in his debut role, was set to stream on Netflix on June 14. It is based on the colonial-era Maharaj libel case of 1862. Some say this is a publicity stunt to get some publicity before its release.

Actually, there is nothing objectionable in the movie that should bother this Vaishnavite Pushtimarg sect. Pushtimarg community, also known as Vallabha Sampradya, is a sect of Vaishnavism. It was founded in the early 16th century by Vallabha (14791531) and was later expanded by his descendants, particularly Vitthalanatha. Pushtimarg adherents worship of youthful Krishna is mentioned in the Bhagavata Purana, as are those related to the pastimes of Govardhana Hill. The Pustimarga sampradaya follows the Suddhadvaita philosophy of Vallabha. According to this philosophy, Krishna is considered to be the supreme being, the source of everything that exists and the human soul is imbued with Krishnas divine light. and spiritual liberation results from Krishnas grace.

In 1862, there was a trial in the Bombay Court in British India; it was the Maharaj Libel Case. The case was against Nanabhai Rustomji Ranina and Karsandas Mulji; their accusation is that the religious leaders of Pushtimarg had sexual relationships with women devotees, and it was slanderous for the petitioner. The case arose when the accuser, Jadunathji Brijratanji Maharaj, a religious leader, filed a case of defamation against a reformer and journalist, Karsandas Mulji for writing an article in the newspaper Satyaprakash titled (Hinduo No Asli Dharam) Ane Atyar Na Pakhandi Mato (lit. The True/Original Religion of the Hindus and the Present Hypocritical/Phoney Opinions). In this article, he questioned the values of a Hindu sect called the Pushtimarg or Vallabhacharya Sampradaya. The article was claimed to be vilifying by the plaintiff. In particular, there were accusations that Jadunathji had sexual liaisons with female followers and that men were expected to show their devotion by offering their wives sex with the religious leaders.

The Pushtimargs followers in Gujarat, Kathiyawad, Cutch, and central India came from rich merchants, bankers, and farmers, including the Bhatiya, Lohana, and Baniya castes. Many of these business groups migrated to Bombay under British rule, as the city was the political and financial capital of western India. The trade groups were headed by merchant-princes or seths, who were heavily involved in the political and cultural milieu of Bombay. The seths, despite their general lack of education, ignorance of the English language, and British political traditions, were influential in Bombay society as leaders of business communities and maintainers of cultural honour.

By the mid-nineteenth century, the British had established political control over the Indian subcontinent and sought to create an administrative-legal framework to manage their colonial interests. British officials sought to compile Indian legal doctrines and apply them to British common law, effectively stripping native groups of civil and criminal self-governance in favour of a unified legal system. This desire to yield legal codes produced the Orientalist school of Indology, whose grand narrative of Indian history was that of a decline from an ancient golden age into a decadent, superstitious modern society.

The Pushtimarg religious heads, the maharajas, began settling Bombay in the 19th century and by 1860, there were five maharajas in the city. The maharajas sought to exercise control over their devotees and castes through seth mediators, and they were generally successful against anonymous reformers and caste solidarity. One such reformer was Karsandas Mulji, an English-educated reformer who was the editor of the Satyaprakash newspaper. Mulji came from an orthodox Pushtimarg merchant family who were highly respected in Bombay society; however, Karsandas was disowned for his crusader views and had to drop out of Elphinstone College. Mulji became well known amongst Bombay reformists, and he launched attacks against the Pushtimarg and the Bombay maharajas for alleged sexual depravity. Sexual allegations against the maharajas had first become public in 1855, and the senior-most maharaja in Bombay, Jivanlal, launched rebuttals against the reformers. Jivanlal attempted to silence criticism from Pushtimarg devotees by making his supporters sign a document that would censor their criticism of him under the threat of excommunication.

Mulji criticised Jivanlals document as a slavery bond and, in 1860, published a work claiming the Pushtimarg was a heterodox sect that advocated sexual mistreatment of women. The Bombay maharajas then decided to bring in Jadunath Brijratan, a well-known maharaja from Surat, to defend their stances. Jadunath had several public and press debates with Mulji and other reformers. Eventually, Jadunathji Maharaj filed a libel case in the Bombay Supreme Court on May 14, 1861, against Karsandas Mulji, editor of Satyaprakash, a Gujarati weekly newspaper, and its publisher, Nanabhai Rustomji Ranina, for defaming the plaintiff in an article published on October 21, 1860. The movie is based on this entire episode. The community wants to save their souls because the atrocities committed against women by a godman may bring a bad name to this community and they might receive hate. To prevent social damage, a temporary stay is brought on by the movie.
Dear Amy: I recently discovered that my husband was messaging and talking to three women through the dating portion of Facebook.

I saw messages on his phone from one woman. I also noted that he had a phone call with her that lasted for 44 minutes.

I confronted him about this and he said he was trying to learn how to communicate  and that he was not cheating.

I decided that if he thought this was OK, then it should be OK for me, too.

I started my own profile in the dating portion of Facebook.

My husband did not like the attention I was getting, and he shut down his activity and ended all communication with other women. I also ended mine.

We have a great intimate relationship, but Im still hurt and I dont trust him.

We have been through a lot over the past 28 years.

Do you have any advice?

 Feeling Betrayed

Dear Feeling Betrayed: Well, it looks as if your husband learned how to communicate.

You received his message  loud and clear  and sent him back a message of your own.

I think it would be great if you two actually put your messages into words.

You might start by sending him a private message on your favorite social media platform, sincerely inviting him to an intimate dinner. You might even use the terrifying phrase, Honey, we need to talk.

And then do that. Talk.

You two have been playing a fairly dangerous game, daring one another and leveraging your long and loving relationship in the process.

I suggest that you reveal to him how this episode has made you feel. Talk about your feelings, and invite him to talk about his feelings.

If you two cant break through and have an honest, intimate conversation revealing your feelings about your own lives (and your feelings toward each other), couples counseling would help to give you the tools to talk.

I hope youll approach this episode as offering the potential for a relationship reboot. This could be the beginning of a new and positive phase.

Read more Ask Amy and other advice columns.

Ask Amy is coming to an end on June 30, 2024, after 21 years. You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068.
Some tiny doughnuts just got props from a big app.

Yelp features Huntsville founded Bigfoots Little Donuts to rep Alabama in their new Best Donut Shop in Every State list.

The list was determined by business review platform Yelps Elite, a community chosen for being active users creating quality content on that platform.

RELATED: 18 Alabama doughnut shops you must try (and what to order)

Of Bigfoots doughnuts, Yelps list says, Super light and fried to perfection with a slight crunch, theyre the perfect little bites.

Since opening around 2013, Bigfoots Little Donuts has gone from passion project to two-store business. Then a government contractor, Brian Steele and wife launched Bigfoots as a food trailer. The business grew from a smaller trailer to a larger trailer to, about six years ago, a brick-and-mortar shop in south Huntsville. Next, they opened a Madison shop.

The first part of the business name is a nod to 1987 movie Harry and the Hendersons, a fave of Brians. The second parts literal: They do mini cake donuts (which dont require proofing), cooked to order lickety-split by the dozen.

Yelp, which is headquartered in San Francisco, notes Bigfoots mini doughnuts are available in 63 flavors. According to owner Brian Steele, the must-try glazes are cinnamon roll and maple glaze. A Yelp Elite with the handle Maddie H. writes, Just about the most amazing donuts Ive ever tried. We gobbled the whole boxno regrets. Definitely a Huntsville gem.

In our summer 2023 rankings of Huntsville-area doughnuts, Bigfoots clocked in at three, with Meridianvilles K-May Donuts at two and Madisons Wow Donuts at one. AL.coms go-to flavors at Bigfoots Little Donuts include strawberry cream, wedding cake and salted caramel.
A 41-year-old man has been found guilty in the Birmingham shooting death of his cousin.

A Jefferson County jury on Friday convicted Clinton Ruffin of provocation manslaughter in the Dec. 22, 2022, slaying of 37-year-old Orlando Ruffin.

Clinton Ruffin was initially charged with murder, but the jury convicted him on a lesser charge after a five-day trial that began Monday.

West Precinct officers responded to the home in the 2200 block of Beulah Avenue on that Thursday after receiving a 911 call of a dispute. A few minutes later, a second call was made to 911 stating that a man had been shot.

Officers arrived to find Orlando Ruffin suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 10 p.m.

Clinton Ruffin was taken into custody at the scene.

Following the conviction, Jefferson County Circuit Judge Kechia Davis revoked the defendants bond and ordered him to surrender to the county jail on Monday, June 17.

Clinton Ruffins sentencing is set for Aug. 12.

Jefferson County Deputy District Attorneys Lauren Breland and Jaleel Washington prosecuted the case. Clinton Ruffin was represented by attorney Hiram Griffin.
As the board of trustees met on the campus of Alabama A&M in Huntsville on Friday, a small group of residents held a rally 100 miles to the south in Birmingham.

The residents gathered to show their support for A&Ms plans to buy the campus of Birmingham-Southern College, which closed last month after years of financial distress.
Two Republican lawmakers from Montgomery are sponsoring a bill that would authorize the governor or state attorney general to appoint an interim police chief for cities under certain circumstances.

Rep. Reed Ingram said his bill comes in response to crime problems in several cities, including Birmingham, Selma, and Mobile, but particularly talked about the gun violence and shortage of police officers in Montgomery.

This week, Ingram and Sen. Will Barfoot pre-filed identical bills for next years legislative session, which starts in February.

Instead of being reactive, I wanted to be proactive on something, Ingram said. Something we could work on and talk about instead of getting into session and hurry up and get through.

The bill says the attorney general or governor, working in consultation, could appoint an interim police chief for a city if they determine there is an ongoing threat to public safety. Montgomery has been plagued by gun violence, including a triple homicide at a Hispanic grocery store on June 4. Montgomery police chief Darryl Albert resigned in April. The city is now operating with an acting police chief.

Rising numbers of Montgomery residents are showing up at city hall because of concerns about crime. At the most recent city council meeting earlier this month, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed proposed a $6 million a year initiative to boost police pay and make other changes, saying public safety was the citys top budget priority.

Ingrams and Barfoots bill says that before appointing an interim police chief, the governor or attorney general would have to determine that the police force for the municipality has at least 30% fewer officers than the average for the preceding 10 years. The bill says the governor or attorney general would have to review crime statistics, and consult with the county district attorney and county sheriff.

The interim police chief would report to the governor or attorney general, whoever appointed them, and would not be under the control of the mayor or city council. The interim chief would serve until it was determined that the public safety threat was resolved.

Ingram said he did not know all the reasons that Montgomery has had difficulty hiring and keeping police officers, but said he believes poor morale and the work environment are factors. Ingram said Montgomery County Sheriff Derrick Cunningham has been able to hire and maintain a full staff. Ingram said thats an example of how the right interim police chief could make a difference.

He has got morale and got people wanting to come to work for him, Ingram said. Hes doing something right.

It all depends on the leader thats in there, Ingram said.

In a statement, Reed said he opposed the bill.

I, along with other mayors as well as municipal organizations across Alabama, have issues with legislation like this, Reed said. At a time when we should all be working together, I would hope that Representative Ingram and Senator Barfoot would work with our entire local state legislative delegation to provide solutions as opposed to introducing local preemption bills that undermine municipal authority and interfere with a citys right to govern itself.

Reed has also said the Legislature hurt efforts to fight gun violence when lawmakers passed a bill ending the requirement for a permit to carry a handgun concealed or in a vehicle. The Alabama Sheriffs Association and others in law enforcement opposed the bill, saying it would take away an important crime-fighting tool.

Ingram said he is not trying to undermine city authority but said the regularity of gun violence in the city has demanded the attention of the Legislature.

Its not fair for the state not to do anything to save a life, Ingram said. Period. And this is all about saving lives. Its not about taking over.

This story was edited on June 17 to delete a statement incorrectly attributed to the Alabama House Democratic Caucus.
A former FBI agent was convicted Friday of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl while serving as an Alabama state trooper  a law enforcement job he landed even after he was kicked out of the FBI amid earlier claims that he raped a co-worker at knifepoint.

Christopher Bauers case, first detailed in an Associated Press investigation, showed how he was able to hide a checkered past and move from one law enforcement job to another with the help of an allegedly forged letter making it appear he was eligible for rehire.

Bauer, 44, was found guilty of first-degree sodomy and sexual abuse of a child under 12 following a weeklong trial during which his attorneys claimed the girl had made up the allegations. Sentencing was scheduled for Aug. 1.

Bauer, who has been jailed since his 2021 arrest, faces similar child sex abuse charges outside New Orleans. Louisiana state police said Friday they intend to extradite him following the Alabama proceedings.

Messages were sent to Bauers attorneys seeking comment. Bauer did not respond to a letter AP sent him in jail.

During the Alabama trial, the child, who is now a young teen, testified through tears that she was repeatedly abused by Bauer over a period of years, too scared to say no or to tell anyone what was happening.

Jurors also saw a recording of the childs 2021 interview with a child abuse investigator in which she described the same abuse.

The AP is withholding some details of the allegations to protect the girls identity. Law enforcement became involved after the child eventually told a friend and the friends parent alerted the school.

Bauer took the stand and testified in his own defense during the trial, responding no, never when asked if he had abused or sodomized the child.

If she said I did something to her, then yes thats a lie, he said on cross-examination.

Bauers time in the FBI was not discussed in detail at the trial. The judge granted a defense request to exclude statements about the allegations by a co-worker in Louisiana that he had raped her at knifepoint.

The FBI has said Bauer forged a letter that scrubbed his record clean and helped clear the way to his hiring by the Alabama state police in 2019. The document, obtained by AP, confirmed his decade of creditable service and deemed him eligible for rehire.

After Bauers arrest, the FBI told the AP the letter in question was not legitimate but declined to comment on its subsequent investigation. Federal authorities did not charge Bauer but had been prepared to do so if he had been released from state custody, according to two former law enforcement officials who werent authorized to discuss the federal inquiry and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Bauers arrest came amid a reckoning in which the FBI pledged to crack down on sexual misconduct following AP reporting that found a pattern of supervisors avoiding discipline and retiring with full benefits even after claims of sexual misconduct against them had been substantiated.

The case also highlights the slipshod system of decertification in the United States in which problematic officers have remained in law enforcement by joining a new agency or relocating to a different state. For years, federal law enforcement agencies did not provide data on fired or disciplined agents to the National Decertification Index.

Alabama authorities either overlooked or were unaware of Bauers earlier misconduct. APs investigation found he omitted his ouster from the FBI on his application to the Alabama state police, including that he had been suspended without pay and stripped of his security clearance in 2018 amid a string of sexual misconduct allegations he faced working in the FBIs New Orleans office. An internal inquiry found that Bauer, at a minimum, violated FBI policy, including by having sex in an FBI vehicle.

Many of the allegations played out in Louisiana court filings that had been public for a year when Bauer was hired in Alabama. The woman who accused him of rape, a co-worker of Bauers at the FBI, wrote in an application for a restraining order that Bauer had choked her and made her scared for my life.

Bauer has disputed those claims, telling colleagues the acts were consensual. But the woman previously told AP that Bauer sexually assaulted her so frequently her hair began to fall out.

It was a year of torture, she said. He quite literally would keep me awake for days. I couldnt eat. I couldnt sleep, and in six months I went from 150 pounds to 92 pounds. I was physically dying from what he was doing to me.

Nobody is above the law, including our police officers. If theres a police officer who is committing a crime, in this case a crime against an innocent child, they are going to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law just like anybody else would, District Attorney Daryl Bailey said.

Bailey said his office will be asking for the maximum sentence.

Obviously, a childs life in this case was ruined and will be ruined forever. She will always be haunted by what happened to her repeatedly over and over by this sexual predator. Today, at least, she and her family got a sense of justice. She knows this bad man will never be able to harm her ever again.

AL.com contributed to this report.
A man and his ex-wife were arrested following an investigation into the sexual abuse of a 9-year-old child in south Alabama.

Andalusia police began investigating the possible sexual abuse of the 9-year-old earlier this month.

The probe led to the arrests of Carmen Ray Ammons, 64, and his ex-wife, Shelby Marie Rushing, Sgt. Al McGraw with Andalusia police told WSFA.

Ammons was charged with sexual abuse of a child less than 12, sodomy and two counts of possession of child pornography.

Rushing was charged with sodomy and production of obscene matter containing visual depiction of a person under 17 years of age involved in obscene acts.

Ammons is being held in the Covington County jail on $300,000 bond while Rushing is being held on $400,000.

Rushing allegedly confessed to her role in the crimes, McGraw said.

Anyone with information on the case was asked to call McGraw at 334-222-1155 or Central Alabama CrimeStoppers at 334-215-7867.
The Legacy Sites in Montgomery will offer free admission to commemorate Juneteenth.

On Wednesday, June 19, visitors will not have to purchase tickets to view exhibits at the Legacy Museum, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice and the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park.

The Legacy Museum is Alabamas second-most attended paid attraction behind the U.S. Space & Rocket Museum in Huntsville, according to the Alabama Tourism Department.

The museum, conceptualized by attorney Bryan Stevenson, traces the history of slavery, the African-American experience and the issue of mass incarceration in the U.S.

One exhibit features 800 jars of soil collected from lynching sites across the country, with the names of victims on the labels. Another exhibit allows visitors to take a poll test with actual questions that were used to deny Black people the right to vote.

There are more than 200 sculptures, animated short films about the abduction and trafficking of millions of Black people as part of the slave trade, and a room called the Reflection Space with their portraits and biographies of 400 influential Black leaders.

The tour ends with an art gallery of Black artists with the photography of Gordon Parks, the quilts of the Gees Bend quilters and the leatherwork art of Winfred Rembert.

Were really proud that people have an opportunity to experience this, Stevenson told AL.com ahead of the museum opening its expansion in 2021.

A smaller version of the museum opened in 2018, along with the National Memorial to Peace and Justice, an outdoor monument to lynching victims. That monument is about a mile away from the museum.

A view of the entry during a media tour of Equal Justice Initiative's new Freedom Monument Sculpture Park, Tuesday, March 12, 2024, in Montgomery, Ala. The museum opened in late March and is the third of EJI's Legacy Sites, which offer an immersive exploration of racial injustice in America. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)AP

The Freedom Monument Sculpture Park opened earlier this year. The park features pieces by artists Alison Saar, Kwame Akoto-Bamfo, Wangechi Mutu, Rose B. Simpson, Theaster Gates, Kehinde Wiley and more.

The Equal Justice Initiative, which created the Legacy Sites, will also host a concert at the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre at 7:30 p.m. June 19. Performers include Wynton Marsalis, Esperanza Spalding, Lizz Wright, Samara Joy and Cory Henry.

Tickets for the Legacy Sites Juneteenth Celebration Concert start at $25.

Juneteenth is a state and federal holiday that celebrates the end of slavery in the U.S. It commemorates the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation barring slavery in Texas in 1865.
The $5 toll to use the Foley Beach Express Bridge was removed over Memorial Day weekend. Now its time to say farewell to the empty toll booths.

The Alabama Department of Transportation, in an announcement this week, said the demolition of the Beach Express toll plaza will commence Sunday night, and will unfold in several stages with temporary traffic shifts. McInnis Construction of Summerdale is scheduled to begin removing the toll booths sometime after 9 p.m. on Sunday.
A smoker at Moes Original BBQ in Birminghams popular Lakeview district caught fire Saturday afternoon.

The Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service responded to calls of a small fire at 731 29th St. S. at 2:37 p.m., Battalion Chief Chad Brodeur said at the scene.

Restaurant guests were evacuated, and the fire department contained the flames within an hour. No one was injured.

Moe's Original BBQ caught fire Saturday, June 15.Shelby Harris / al.com

Brodeur said firefighters tore out baseboards and extinguished fires in the interior and exterior walls near the smoker in the back of the restaurant.

Moes employees said they wouldnt know the cause of the fire until at least Monday. At about 4 p.m. June 15, the workers said the restaurant was closed until further notice.

Moes Original BBQ opened in Lakeview in 2009. There are locations in 13 states and 21 throughout Alabama.
A 15-year-old boy who authorities say threw knives and pointed a gun at officers was shot Saturday afternoon by an Athens police officer, according to reports.

Police responded to a call about a teen threatening family members with weapons at a house on Elles Drive around 2:15 p.m., Athens Police Chief Anthony Pressnell told WHNT.

Authorities say the juvenile threw knives at police as he went to different rooms in the house and was shot when he allegedly pointed a rifle at officers.

Police said he is being treated for his injuries. No information was released on his condition.

The incident is under investigation.










English News China provides new opportunities for world with new development

Alwihda Info | Par People's Daily - 13 Juin 2024



"By 2026, the first new-generation BMW vehicle made in China will roll off the production line in Shenyang. The investment underlines the importance of China in BMW's transition towards an intelligent and connected automotive future as well as our confidence in China's long-term economic prospects," Zipse said.China will never drag its feet on reform and opening up. As the second largest economy in the world, China will undoubtedly provide new momentum and opportunities for the world with its continuous development and greater openness.

By Luo Shanshan, People's Daily At GE Healthcare's Beijing Imaging Equipment Manufacturing Base in Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, five batches of raw materials for producing a new type of diagnostic equipment have just arrived and been put into use.



"These raw materials are essential components for our new equipment," said an employee from Beijing GE Hualun Medical Equipment Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of General Electric Company (GE).



"They hit the production line immediately after being cleared from customs, which increased the efficiency of our supply chain," the employee added.



According to him, the company has been able to implement its global strategy at a faster pace thanks to the increasingly favorable business environment in China.



He noted that over the past 6 years, the company has outperformed its total production from the last 20 years, with two-thirds of the CT scanners sold globally coming from the company's Beijing facility.



In Suzhou New District, east China's Jiangsu province, a new factory of Suzhou Hybiome Biomedical Engineering Co. Ltd. (Hybiome), invested and controlled by French multinational vitro diagnostic company bioMerieux, has just been completed.



To build Hybiome into a prominent player in vitro diagnostics, the factory is planned to produce 1,000 fully automated chemiluminescence immunoassay systems per year, with an annual output value of 1 billion yuan ($137.86 million).



Over the past more than 40 years of reform and opening up, China has emerged as the world's second-largest economy, remained the world's top manufacturing hub for 14 consecutive years and the top trading nation for 7 straight years. The country undoubtedly plays an indispensable role in global industrial and supply chains.



This year, foreign companies continue to enjoy broader prospects in China. According to China's Ministry of Commerce, the number of newly established foreign-invested firms in China hit 12,000 in the first quarter (Q1) of 2024, up 20.7 percent year on year. In the same period, the actual foreign direct investment (FDI) in China stood at 301.67 billion yuan.



In terms of the structure of FDI, the country's high-tech manufacturing sector attracted 12.5 percent of the FDI inflow in the first quarter, up 2.2 percentage points compared to that in the same period last year.



Behind the decisions of multinationals to intensify their presence in China is their confidence in the country's ability to sustain sound economic growth.



For instance, Standard Chartered Securities (China) Limited, a wholly foreign-owned securities company affiliated with Standard Chartered, has commenced securities business in Beijing. The largest Apple store in Asia has officially opened in Shanghai. The China-Saudi Arabia ethylene project has entered the full construction stage in Zhangzhou, east China's Fujian province, with a total investment of 44.8 billion yuan.



China boasts a complete industrial system, a super-large market, and a stable social environment. The Chinese economy has strong resilience, tremendous potential and great vitality, and the fundamentals sustaining its long-term growth remain unchanged. It has become the favored investment destination for many foreign businesses.



The 2024 Kearney Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Confidence Index report released in April by Kearney, a global management consulting firm, upgraded China's ranking from seventh to third.



Besides, for the second time in the 26-year history of the FDI Confidence Index, Kearney includes an exclusive emerging market ranking to give business leaders insights into which emerging markets are most appealing to investors now and over the next three years. China ranks first on the 25-market list.



As China advances a broader agenda of opening up across more areas and in greater depth, and works to expand institutional opening up with regard to market access and the service sector, a more transparent and predictable business environment is being created for foreign companies to develop in the country.



According to a survey of more than 600 foreign-funded companies conducted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade in the first quarter this year, over 70 percent of them are optimistic about the development prospects of the Chinese market over the next five years, and more than 50 percent believe the Chinese market has become more attractive.



Foreign businesses always say that investing in China is investing in the future, which has got a new meaning. New quality productive forces, marked by innovation and taking a substantial increase in total factor productivity as its core hallmark, are becoming increasingly attractive in global industrial development.



On April 26, German carmaker BMW announced an additional investment of 20 billion yuan in its production base in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning province. The investment will be used for upgrading as well as technological innovation of the Dadong plant of BMW Group's joint venture in China, BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd. (BBA). The plant will lay the foundation for the localized production of a new generation of BMW models expected to roll off the production line in 2026.



Oliver Zipse, chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, said that the new generation of BMW models heralds a new era of personal intelligent mobility driven by innovation and technology.



"By 2026, the first new-generation BMW vehicle made in China will roll off the production line in Shenyang. The investment underlines the importance of China in BMW's transition towards an intelligent and connected automotive future as well as our confidence in China's long-term economic prospects," Zipse said.China will never drag its feet on reform and opening up. As the second largest economy in the world, China will undoubtedly provide new momentum and opportunities for the world with its continuous development and greater openness.



Dans la meme rubrique : < > Basalt rocks made into national flag carried by Chang'e-6 probe Prospering telemedicine a reflection of China's rapid internet development Beijing Daxing International Airport marks five years of operation Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)
Several weeks ago, I flew to Texas to visit my friend Mollie, who had left California in 2022. Whenever I told someone I was going to Texas, their first question was, Are you moving out of California?

How different from when I moved to California in 1977

Im so jealous! That was the reaction of family and friends when my husband and I announced that, after one year of marriage, we were leaving New York. It was a difficult decision because I was close to my parents, particularly my mother. For us, the primary reason was the weather. We did not enjoy humid summers or frozen winters and wanted to move before devoting years to our careers.

In our early 20s, relocating across the country felt like an exciting adventure, especially since California was still paradise with its snow-capped mountains and glistening beaches. From the streets of San Francisco to the glitter of Hollywood and from magical Disneyland to Old Town San Diego, almost everyone wanted to live or vacation in California.

Today, leaving California is part of the conversation. Almost every Californian knows someone who has left the state and others (including themselves) who are thinking about relocating. How fast can you say Texas, Florida, Idaho, Tennessee, South Carolina  Its ABC as people want to live Anywhere But California due to lurid high taxes, escalating crime, the nations highest poverty rate, the influx of illegal migrants who are given freebies, plus an exploding homeless population, to name a few reasons to leave.

Gavin Newsom is U-Hauls salesman of the yearevery year!

So, yall I spent four wonderful days in beautiful Georgetown, still a conservative stronghold outside of Austin. But Austins liberal population is growing.

In This Is a Really Big Deal: How College Towns are Decimating the GOP, Charlie Mahtesian and Madi Alexander detail Democrat growing successes throughout the United States by focusing on college towns.

Name the flagship university  Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, among others  and the story tends to be the same. If the surrounding county was a reliable source of Democratic votes in the past, its a landslide county now. There are exceptions to the rule, particularly in the states with the most conservative voting habits. But even in reliably red places like South Carolina, Montana, and Texas, youll find at least one college-oriented county producing ever larger Democratic margins.

Consider that much of the Texas population increase is occurring in its liberal cities, which include:

- Houston

- El Paso

- Dallas

- Eagle Pass

- San Antonio

- Austin

- Laredo

Still, without debate, Texas is nirvana compared to California and other blue states, which is why so many conservatives move there.

It was 90+ degrees during my visit. According to the Austin American-Statesman in 2023:

there were 138 days over the year that rose to over 90 degrees, with nearly 60% of those peaking over 100 degrees, meaning approximately 40% of the year experienced sweltering temperatures.

Humid Texas weather is tolerable for California and other blue state transplants when you have so many positives, starting with no state income tax.

On my last evening, I attended the Sun City Republican Club monthly meeting wearing a California Republican T-shirt. Walking around the yuge ballroom with nearly 500 enthusiastic members, including former Californians, I reminded them that they should never assume that because Texas is red today, it will be red tomorrow. After all, California was also once deep red.

Interestingly, Texas is facing some issues similar to those in California. At the Republican meeting, Georgetown Mayor Josh Schroeder discussed the steps being taken to guarantee therell be enough water for current and future residents. He reminded attendees to follow rationing policies by watering their lawns on specific dates based on their address. Gee, that sounds like California!

Moreover, to alleviate the housing affordability crisis, the Austin city council just voted to allow the construction of more homes on single-family lots. The change will allow homebuilders to put up to three housing units (duplex or triplex) on almost any lot in the city where a single-family home now sits. Gee, that sounds like California!

According to S&P Global Market Intelligence RateWatch, in 2023, nationwide owner-occupied homeowners insurance increased 11.3 percent across the United States. However, Texas was the #1 state with the highest effective rate change, with a whopping 23.3 percent. Gee, that sounds like California!

Still, politics are saner and safer in the Lone Star state. One possible reason is that, since 1846, Texas has had a part-time legislature. They only meet 140 days a year in odd-numbered years. That means most Texas state elected representatives usually work outside of government. They have an intimate understanding of how the legislation they pass affects the citizenry. Thats the opposite of Californias full-time legislature that spends its days proposing and passing ridiculous Marxist-like bills.

Yall, I still believe that, with the right leadership, California can have a renaissance and return to its glory days. While waiting at the airport to fly home, I posted on social media:

ON MY WAY HOME At Austin Airport to fly home. From my short visit Texas is nice. But CALIFORNIA is my home. I want to fight to save CALIFORNIA from disastrous Democrat policies. Imagine if all the Patriots in 1776 threw up their hands in defeat and moved to Great Britain rather than stay and fight to create a United States of America. I will do what I can to Make California Gold Again and to Make America Great Again.

Robin M. Itzler is a regular contributor to American Thinker. She can be reached at PatriotNeighbors@yahoo.com.

Image by Robin M. Itzler.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has a critical role in ensuring the nation's preparedness for a wide range of threats, including terrorism. However, a one-size-fits-all approach to homeland security fails to account for the vastly different vulnerabilities faced by various regions across the country.

Understanding Threats and Prioritizing Preparedness

All along, the focus of DHS preparedness guidelines heavily emphasized terrorist attacks, while rural areas were more likely to experience catastrophic weather events. This mismatch between priorities and local needs rendered the DHS guidelines irrelevant for many jurisdictions. Disasters do come in all shapes and sizes. A hurricane slamming into Florida is a vastly different threat than a wildfire raging through California. Recognizing this, shouldn't our approach to preparedness be just as diverse?

Imagine a farmer worrying about a potential terrorist attack when their biggest concern is the next big storm. DHS needs to acknowledge this disconnect. A tailored approach that recognizes these regional disparities is essential. DHS should prioritize flexibility in its preparedness guidelines, allowing localities to adapt them to their specific vulnerabilities. This would ensure that resources and efforts are targeted towards the most pressing threats faced by each region.

Furthermore, adopting an all-hazards approach to emergency preparedness is crucial. This would involve developing adaptable plans that effectively address various threats, from natural disasters to cyberattacks. By comprehensively understanding the risks different regions face, DHS can support the creation of plans that are more likely to succeed in real-world scenarios.

Addressing the Challenges of Rural America

Rural communities often face unique challenges in emergency preparedness. These challenges include:

Limited Resources: Rural areas frequently suffer lack of funding, staffing shortages, and outdated infrastructure. Increased financial and staffing support from DHS would bolster their preparedness efforts.

Geographical and Demographic Factors: Rural areas' vast geographical expanse, coupled with demographic characteristics such as a high proportion of elderly residents, necessitates specialized planning and resource allocation.

Collaboration and Training: Encouraging collaboration among local, state, and federal agencies, healthcare providers, and community organizations would improve rural communities' ability to respond to emergencies. Programs such as those offered by the Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium (RDPC) can provide valuable training and resources in this area.

Strategies for Improvement

By implementing several key strategies, DHS can significantly enhance the preparedness of the nation as a whole, with a particular focus on rural communities:

Community Engagement: Actively engaging community members in preparedness efforts is vital. Assigning tasks and responsibilities based on individual skills and abilities can foster a collective approach that strengthens a community's resilience.

Planning and Drills: Comprehensive emergency plans that include procedures for handling various emergencies are essential. Regular drills to test these plans and identify areas for improvement are crucial. Additionally, plans should account for potential disruptions to healthcare and other basic services.

Addressing Urban-Rural Impact: Urban disasters can significantly impact rural areas, leading to surges in population and increased demand for resources. Planning for these scenarios can help mitigate negative consequences.

Support for Healthcare Facilities: Ensuring that rural hospitals and healthcare organizations are equipped to handle emergencies is essential. This can be achieved through emergency preparedness training, reviewing, and updating response plans, and cross-training staff.

The National Preparedness Guidelines

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) measures preparedness across different jurisdictions through a capabilities-based approach, as outlined in the National Preparedness Guidelines. This approach focuses on identifying, achieving, and sustaining target capability levels that enhance national preparedness. The process involves updating plans and strategies, allocating funds, executing program plans, and assessing and reporting progress. It emphasizes collaboration to prioritize and allocate resources to the most urgently needed capabilities based on risk.

Critical aspects of the measurement process include:

Capabilities-Based Preparedness Process: This process combines processes and tools to identify and prioritize measurable preparedness targets. It assesses current capabilities, allocates available resources, and emphasizes the most needed capabilities based on risk. DHS refines this description over time with user feedback and supplements it with specific instructions in annual program guidance.

Preparedness Defined: Preparedness is defined as a continuous process involving efforts at all levels of government and coordination among government, private-sector, and nongovernmental organizations. It includes identifying threats, determining vulnerabilities, and identifying required resources. Within the National Incident Management System (NIMS), preparedness is operationally focused on establishing guidelines, protocols, and standards for planning, training, exercises, personnel qualification and certification, equipment certification, and publication management.

Prevention, Protection, Response, and Recovery: The Guidelines address preparedness for all homeland security mission areas: prevention, protection, response, and recovery. Each of these areas involves specific actions and considerations to enhance preparedness. Prevention involves actions to avoid an incident or intervene to stop an incident from occurring. Protection reduces the vulnerability of critical infrastructure or essential resources. Response consists of the development, coordination, and execution of service and site restoration plans. Recovery includes long-term care and treatment of affected persons, additional social, political, environmental, and economic restoration measures, and post-incident reporting.

Integration of Community Organizations: The Guidelines emphasize integrating community, faith-based, and other nongovernmental organizations into preparedness and response plans. This includes engaging such organizations in the planning process, providing necessary training and credentialing of their personnel, and developing mechanisms for coordinating volunteers, goods, and services.

Measurable Objectives and Requirements: The Guidelines provide a national framework for a capabilities-based preparedness system designed to be measurable. Specific metrics and standards are under development for jurisdictions to use when conducting preparedness assessments. Additionally, a process is being established to measure the Nations overall preparedness.

Thus, a more practical approach to homeland security preparedness requires DHS to acknowledge different regions' unique challenges. By prioritizing tailored approaches, ensuring all-hazard preparedness, and addressing the specific needs of rural communities, DHS can help build a more resilient nation better prepared to face the full spectrum of threats.

This approach emphasizes the importance of tailoring preparedness efforts to address the specific needs of each region. By recognizing the unique challenges rural communities face, DHS can develop more effective strategies that ensure a more prepared nation as a whole.

Image: U.S. Department of Agriculture/Lance Cheung
Ignore stock market valuations as irrelevant. American business is in big trouble, and the cause is what I call academic management in government, politics, and business. No major business is run logically anymore.

Politics definitely feeds off business, and the left has made a huge effort to control both business and the reporting of economics, but no one wants to talk about the 400-pound gorilla: the resulting bad management.

An old friend once said, Big business exists for only one reason: to provide bonuses to middle- and upper-level management. He explained that the public, customers, employees, and stockholders are important, but only to be kept mollified in order to keep bonuses flowing.

Today, although his observation on modern management greed remains accurate, weve added intentional bad management, which is what I refer to as academic management.

When I was young, I recall that college professors were poorly paid and really just advanced teachers. No one saw them as oracles. Some may have been politically active, and some were published somewhere as relevant in the world, but they were a minority.

I dont need to illustrate how that has changed. Today, they are often very, very well paid, enjoy benefits few others enjoy, and  as long as they obey the hard left  are well respected and protected. But they are rarely right on any practical scale  any scale of actually producing anything of value to anyone.

A friends experience is illustrative. He worked for a middle-sized company that was undergoing a management shift due to the founders aging. The decision was to bring in an expert, a college professor who supposedly was going to move the company into a new era, better and stronger.

Ill not bore you with the details, but the people who knew the market the company was in were pushed aside for overpaid academic experts, who knew only how to shuffle money. The company went from #1 in its industry to mediocrity.

Ill avoid any specific examples in big business, but I ask you to reflect on GM, the banking industry, and oil companies. They have all changed into bastions of political correctness. The USW was given shares in GM as part of the restructuring; it sold them. So much for the workers wanting to be involved in management of the company.

The most obvious change that academic management has brought is, of course, anti-white, anti-male, and anti-heterosexual discrimination.

Most Americans are all for equal rights and fair treatment. But discrimination is punishing innocents to reward non-victims. The correct course is to end the problem.

Just today, I read that Judicial Watch and America First Legal had won a case and forced the 7th Circuit to reverse a policy by three judges in the Southern District of Illinois, who had granted special preferences to lawyers based upon sex, ethnicity, and race  in other words, to discourage white, male lawyers from participating.

In the past, we were told that we needed to look past skin color, age, race, ethnicity, and peoples personal life choices and judge people on their merit. Martin Luther King, Jr. referred to it as judging people by the content of their character.

These people forget that you do not respect what you do not earn.

Equality and fairness are a noble goal, but noble is no longer acceptable. Discrimination, at all levels, is now the goal  not to be fair, but to be unfair, as if new unfairness somehow makes up for past unfairness.

Today, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is irrelevant to the academics and the hard left. His dream is ignored, completely. The pendulum has swung far past logic.

What do we need to do?

The #1 message that we need to be focused upon is equality.

The #2 message that we need to focus upon is merit, AKA fairness.

The #3 message that we need to focus upon is law.

It is not legal to employ discrimination, for any reason. We need to be clear on that. Todays discrimination is punishment to present citizens for errors in the past, based solely on appearance.

We live in a republic, a system of laws set by elected representatives. The hard left hate that. They know better than the public and look down on the concept of true democracy  government by, for, and of the people. They are superior, and they see the public as rabble and unworthy of democracy.

Ironically, many of them identify themselves as Democrats, yet they reject the publics right to choose the path of their government.

We need everyone to enjoy an equal chance for success, happiness, and peace.

We need people to achieve based on merit. It is the natural way; it is right and just.

Most important is law. A serious problem today is that the hard left desires to ignore laws that it does not like, not to change them.

This is widespread. Just one example is in the protests the country saw under Antifa. There were hundreds of fiery riots, with billions in damages to both public and private property. But the leaders were not held to account like the January 6 rioters. The law wasnt as important as their opinions.

Laws are made to be changed, not selectively enforced. There is no justification for selective enforcement  but Barack Obamas regime purposefully denied tax exemption to conservative charities but not liberal ones. That is shameful, unjust, and clearly and purely political.

If they believe in implementing the law based on politics, that would require a constitutional amendment. It would need to be shown as the only way to deal with systemic inequity. But they do not propose one. Why? Because they do not want to be so obvious.

Our laws preclude the present influx of unvetted immigrants. But the present administration ignores the law.

Academic philosophy and management have no firm foundation, and their adherents consider that laws are optional, dependent on their opinions  any given day. But when these vague and ever-changing morals and ethics are placed above the law, then the law ceases to be anything more than a bludgeon.

Overly moralistic religion of the distant past has been replaced with overly moralistic academic philosophy, with no foundation, no standard, and no defined basis for debate. You are for it, in whatever form it takes today, or you are evil.

Image via Pexels.
Our democracy is safe for now, she wrote. This was a Facebook post from someone I know, who was gloating over the guilty verdict in the show trial of Donald Trump. It was followed by several gushing comments. Neither my acquaintance nor any of her respondents seemed to realize that railroading an opposition candidate does not augur well for anyones democracy.

Why do people believe what they believe? Why are reasonable people so unreasonably partisan? Why can they tolerate anything other than an opposing point of view?

I began to puzzle over such things when, as a fairly liberal student in the sixties, I first noticed how quickly the civil rights movement and the anti-war movement converged. I remember actually being surprised when posters appeared announcing protests with the joint purpose of advocating civil rights and ending the Vietnam War.

It seemed odd to me. Why couldnt someone be for civil rights and also support the military engagement in Southeast Asia? What did discrimination against black people have to do with whether or not it made strategic sense to forcefully resist communism in the jungles and rice paddies of Indochina?

Image by AI.

But you see, I was trying to work out this problem logically. I didnt understand that the campus outbursts taking place then (and now) were a manifestation of something essentially tribal and emotional. In time, it occurred to me that people often stake out a position first and do their thinking about it later, if at all.

The position somehow becomes indispensable to the person. It is an emotional attachment, an allegiance, an identity. This is why gay students can clamor vociferously for Hamas, despite the certainty that they would be living under a death sentence in Islamist territory. This is also why someone who has known me for more than a decade as a client and friend could say, I thought you were a progressive. Before we had ever discussed politics, he just assumed I was a member of the tribe.

Some of this has to do with the fact that thinking people can be far more emotional deep down than they like to let on. But a lot of this also has to do with the herd instinct, which is incredibly strong and affects people on both sides of the political aisle, sometimes to an absurd degree.

Ill give you an example: I was once on an express train In New York that, for one reason or another, was taken out of service. In fact, the whole E subway line was disrupted. Passengers were instructed to transfer to another line on a lower level of the station.

It was a Saturday afternoon, and the train was packed. A couple hundred people paraded en masse through the station and down a rear stairway to the designated platform, crowding it end to end. People were wedged together like Times Square on New Years. A mildly populated R local then arrived, and a couple hundred people stuffed themselves into it.

Just three passengersI was one of themhung back. We three didnt descend the stairs until that overcrowded local departed. The platform was now deserted. Within minutes another R train noised in with plenty of seats for all. A couple of hundred people had an uncomfortable ride on the plodding local ahead of ours.

Thats the herd instinct with a vengeance. Mix well with ideology, hubris, and an intoxicating fifth of self-congratulation, and you get the progressivism of the Democrats. Turn up the heat sufficiently, and you get instances of ideology running wild. The herd loses its collective headfiguratively. Its victims often lose theirs literally.

Tribalism is generally, but mistakenly, associated with primitive peoples and cultures. But, as the Trump travesty demonstrates, it may well be more menacing in its modern guise.

A hundred years ago, an explorer named Gordon MacCreagh (1886-1953) set out on an uncharted tributary of the Amazon. The territory he penetrated was known to be inhabited by a lost tribe with a hostile repute. MacCreagh and his associates beached their canoe on a remote slip of sand and set up camp. Before long, movement could be discerned in the surrounding bush. Garishly painted warriors, scores of them, slowly emerged, armed with fearsome weapons.

It was a tight spot, but MacCreagh was a savvy fellow. He had taken the precaution of obtaining a stick from more peaceable inhabitants downrivera stick carved in a certain way as to constitute a passport. It was, essentially, a symbolic letter of transit.

The stick worked. MacCreagh and his partners were accepted as friends and honored guests. They spent the ensuing months with their jungle hosts and were allowed to witness and participate in the Devil-Dance and other ritual observances.

Our problem with the progressives is that, in Biden-era politics, there are no sticks.

Sheldon Bart is writing a novel based on a true incident abroad when ideology ran wild.
Joe Bidens handlers never rest in their attempts to disarm Americans. That they would have to ignore or obliterate the Second Amendment to succeed is, for them, a feature not a bug. To that end, Biden recently made another in his handlers continuing, deceptive attempts to make life easier for criminals and making possible a despotic tyranny.

On Wednesday [06-04-24], President Joe Biden used a post to X to push gun storage laws, a high capacity magazine ban, and the ability to sue firearm manufacturers over the criminal use of guns.

Graphic: X screenshot

What, exactly, is Biden advocating? Lets review:

Assault Weapons: there is no such thing, but that doesnt stop anti-liberty/gun cracktivists who use the made-up term to refer to the most popular rifles in America: AR-15 variants. One might accurately consider an assault weapon to be any gun cracktivists want to ban at the moment. In firearm nomenclature there is a class of military rifles know as assault rifles. These are shoulder fired, box magazine fed, rifles of intermediate calibernone are high-poweredcapable of semiautomatic and automatic fire. Civilian-available AR-15s outwardly resemble true assault rifles, but because they are only semiautomatic, are not actual assault rifles.

It is illegal for citizens to own any automatic weapon manufactured after May 19, 1986. Few such weapons are offered for sale and those only at astronomical prices, which means any AR-15 or similar rifle one encounters is virtually certainly semiautomatic only. Rifles of all kinds are used only in a tiny portion of all crimes, and AR-15 and similar rifles, in a tiny portion of that tiny portion. Banning such common, usual and popular rifles has nothing to do with public safety.

Graphic: (L to R) Glock 43X-10 round, Glock 17-17 round, AR-15-30 round. Author.

High Capacity Magazines: cracktivists define these as any magazine with greater than 10 round capacity. Why 10 rounds? Its an entirely arbitrary number. As I noted in We need high capacity magazines back in April of 2024, magazines of 11+ round capacity are the national standard. Of the nearly one billion magazines produced in the last three decades, nearly three quarters of a billion exceed 10 round capacity and about 46% of those are rifle magazines with at least 30 round capacity.

The Supreme Court has ruled common and usual guns, the guns Americans favor, own and carry, and presumably the magazines that feed them, prima facie constitutional.

High capacity magazines are not inherently dangerous, particularly when one considers magazine changes take from 1-3 seconds. The cracktivist-inspired and supported crime wave has taught Americans attacks by criminal gangs mean such magazines can be the difference between life and death. Another, related, lesson is vital: whatever government desperately doesnt want us to have, we need.

Gun Lobby Immunity: a blatant and never-ending Biden lie I recently exposed in Another Uvalde outrage. Gun makers cannot be sued for the illegal acts of third parties about who they have no knowledge and over who they have no control. Doing otherwise would violate common sense and common law. They are not immune from normal civil lawsuits for negligence and other common torts. Even leftist fact checkers have repeatedly called Biden on this lie.

Universal Background Checks: this is an attempt to make buying and transferring guns more difficult, not to enhance public safety, but to harass the law abiding. Common iterations of this push would require government approval and paperwork for parents who gift guns to their children or spouses, or even for survivors of deceased relatives who will them guns.

Safe Storage: such laws, under the guise of protecting children from accidental shootings, would require locks and safes such that it would be virtually impossible for Americans to use guns for self-defense in their homes. These proposed laws would also present grave Fourth Amendment issues, because many impose intrusive and unconstitutional search and seizure provisions based not on probable cause for committing some crime, but for mere government registered ownership of guns. Own a gun, relinquish your Fourth Amendment rights. Obviously, such laws would also be a gateway to unlawful and unconstitutional registration schemes, always a prerequisite to confiscation.

None of these anti-liberty/gun measures would in any way help the police be more effective, nor would they assist them in more rapidly solving crimes. Its particularly ironic the head of the party responsible for defunding the police, decimating their ranks, preventing those that remain from doing their jobs, prosecuting them when they dare do their jobs and provoking a nationwide crime wave is pretending to be their champion.

Not one of the measures Bidens handlers are pushing would make Americans safer. On the contrary, they would make them more vulnerable to criminals and to tyranny.

Thats the point, which is red meat to Bidens far, far left base in an election year.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
One of my friends, a lovely, smart woman, moved from Connecticut to South Dakota in the 90s. She remained convinced Connecticut was a bastion of civilization, particularly compared to backward, provincial South Dakotans. Now, easterners are increasingly fleeing those former bastions of civilization, and with good reason.

Hartford [CT] had 40 murders in 2022 and 36 in 2023, which may not seem like a lot but it equates to roughly 2,456 murders a year in New York City. The Big Apple hasn't seen redrum like that since the early 1990s. Archbishop Dexter Burke saw woke politicians gut his city with Marxist nonsense. He also saw two men get murdered near his church one night. He decided to do something. Burke decided to help form a legally armed "self-defense brigade" to patrol the streets of Hartford's northern neighborhood. It consists of about 40 legally armed citizens who carry guns, wear body cameras, and have drone support in the air. The self-defense brigade is a liberal Marxist's nightmare. Ordinary Americans -- in this case, black folks -- have had enough crime and violence and have decided they need to protect themselves. It is their American right to do so, but Democrats hate people who stand up for themselves.

Why would black citizens willingly protecting themselves and their community at no public expense be a liberal Marxists nightmare? Arent they eternal, favored victims? Dont they deserve protection?

Democrats/socialists/communists (D/s/cs) demand total control over everyone. They reserve to themselves a monopoly on the application of violence, which is why they constantly try to disarm everyone, except of course, the people they hire at public expense as bodyguards. They rely on keeping black people subservient, completely dependent on the Marxist state for every aspect of their existence. Black people taking it upon themselves to do what D/s/cs wont allow the police to do is a direct threat to their rule. Why, those uppity black people are acting white! Dont they know their place? Dont they know everything weve done fortothem?

Hartford's Democrat cuck mayor, Arunan Arulampalam, dutifully attacked the brigade. Our community has seen so much pain and trauma, and what we need is for those who love this city to do the hard work of healing that pain, not walk around our streets with guns trying to take the law into their own hands, Arulampalam detailed in a response to Fox News.

Ah. So healing Hartfords pain and trauma consists of ignoring the incompetence and malice of D/S/C city officials, and doing nothing but becoming additional victims? When the police are unable or unwilling to act, the citizens who hire and empower them arent allowed to protect themselves?

There is no question its preferable in a civilized society to hire and empower guardians to handle police duties. Thats orderly and helps minimize tragic mistakes. However, that preference is viable only in a functioning society with a fully functioning judicial system. When there are too few police, or they are not allowed to arrest criminals, particularly minority criminals who commit most crimes, the system has failed and the lives of the innocent are forfeit. The same is true when prosecutors wont prosecute and Judges require no bail and wont convict.

Graphic: Batman and Robin 1966. Wikimedia Commons.org. Public Domain.

It is from citizens--the public; so-called vigilantes--that all public servants, elected and appointed, get their authority. Every jot and tittle of the power they wield is on loan from the public on condition of competence and good behavior. The police are allowed to make arrests and use force because the public allows them those authorities. They rightly belong to the public, so how can it be illegitimate for citizens, particularly when their hired hands cannot or will not exercise police powers, to themselves exercise the police powers theyve loaned their malfunctioning employees?

[T]rying to take the law into their own hands? It is from those hands the law, and the authorization to enforce it, comes. It is long past time entitled functionaries like Arulampalam are made to remember they are employees, not rulers.

Archbishop Burke is acting in the best traditions of Americas Founders. Hes almost certainly also a model for why more and more black Americans are coming to realize the D/s/c Party has taken them for granted and betrayed them. Is it any wonder Donald Trump may win a historic portion of black votes in November?

Is it any wonder an ever-increasing number of Americans, including black Americans, are fleeing the civilization of eastern blue states for the liberty and safety of red America?

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
It's always nice to see a journalist doing actual journalism -- asking questions, checking with sources, verifying official claims and not sitting on results.

That brings us to Fox News's Matt Finn, who has done a stellar job of reporting on the chaos on the U.S. border.

He watched this propaganda tweet put out by California Gov. Gavin Newsom's office ...

California has doubled our National Guard at the border that are working to stop the flow of fentanyl.



While the GOP play games and Mike Johnson searches for his spine -- were out here doing the work. pic.twitter.com/69dhQYwtoF  Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 13, 2024

And as Newsom yakked, Matt Finn decided to test that claim, calling up the Border Patrol to see if that was what was going on.

Newsoms office says CA Guard has been sent to points of entry and seized a record amount of Fentanyl. Weve inquired about whether Gov. will send Guard to illegal crossing hot spots? https://t.co/L9b90fhtiY  Matt Finn (@MattFinnFNC) June 14, 2024

Finn's hunch was right -- sure enough, no National Guard at the border.

There was a handful of women and children in this group but BP has already taken them away. They get priority.  Matt Finn (@MattFinnFNC) June 14, 2024

Then, fellow Fox News reporter Bill Melugin confirmed what Finn suspected:

Governor Newsoms office responds - confirming that the CA National Guard is not assisting Border Patrol in Jacumba where the mass illegal crossings are taking place, and is instead only focusing on ports of entry, where legal crossings take place.

Claims CA is doing our job - https://t.co/CE6lFNXPra  Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) June 14, 2024

That gubernatorial jackass admitted that his claim about helping out at the open border to stanch the inflow of phony asylum seekers was pretty much rubbish. Like all of them, he wants an open border, the better to offset the lost Democrat seats in Congress as ordinary Californians flee his state. New bodies can replace the old to ensure that seats remain, even if those illegally present can't vote, and even that may be a stretch as reports abound of non-citizens voting in the state.

Newsom was just reading current polls showing that an open border is unpopular with the public on both sides of the fence.

That he thought he could fool everyone all the time is proof he's a fool himself. Finn ratted him out.

Image: Twitter video screen shot
We live in an unprecedented period of big government intervention.

Never before in American history has so much money been spent for so little return. The entitlement packages doled out by the Biden administration are so large that they dwarf any in American history.

For context, the Golden Gate Bridge would cost roughly $1.64 billion to build in todays money. The Empire State Building would cost just $661 million.

In comparison, the Biden administration has delivered more than $167 billion in student loan handouts without fixing any underlying problem in the college loan system.

Additionally, the government's $1.9 trillion COVID relief package included a direct payment of $1,400 to many Americans regardless of their employment or substance abuse status.

Finally, U.S. aid to Ukraine has totaled more than $175 billion in weapons, training, and aid simply to see the beleaguered country lose territory to an otherwise weak Western adversary.

Due to its scale, we can confidently say that this is the most ineffective allocation of resources towards strategic initiatives in American history.

The reality is that despite extreme spending, the Biden administration has not generated a single material victory. Students still take out huge student loans. The Ukrainians have lost territory to the Russians and the much of the COVID relief money was used to support record alcohol sales. With proper structure, the student loan system could be reformed and the Ukrainians could win. However, we do not have leadership in place which can execute the necessary reforms.

In an environment full of question marks, the American people need to develop a strategy which works to counter U.S. declining influence.

An emerging alliance of Western civilizational champions could present a lavish opportunity for American success.

The new group, which I title BAIH (Britain, Argentina, Italy and Hungary), are eagerly awaiting an America that will put them into pole positions across the Wests strategic efforts. Given the vast sums spent by the Biden administration, the sum required to achieve significant aims in partnership with these nations is trivial.

Therefore, the United States should prepare a large aid package for these countries under the auspices of accelerated societal technological development.

In exchange for propelling their industrial progress forward in areas such as bioengineering, machine learning, VTOLs, and fracking, BAIH will engage in a series of strategic missions for the United States.

The British could be tasked with increasing the size of their navy to help the United States defend important strategic areas like the South China Sea, the Strait of Malacca, and the establishment of the Canada/New Zealand/Australia/U.K. alliance with the U.S. as a military bulwark.

They have diaspora presence in many of the important emerging trade hubs of the world such as Dubai and Singapore that could be leveraged to accelerate our business interests.

As another example, note that the United States does not have a good strategy to counter Chinese resource extraction in South America. The Argentines could oversee offsetting Chinese inroads into South America though specific regional diplomacy that is otherwise time-consuming for the U.S. State Department.

For example, the Argentinians, the southern Brazilians, and Uruguayans have much in common through their shared gaucho culture. The Argentines could encourage foreign direct investment into high growth areas in this region.

The Italians could work with the French, Germans, and NATO to ensure that European defense systems are sufficient to defend against Moscow.

This strategy will serve a dual purpose.

The first is to strengthen Western allied economic and technological leadership against foreign adversaries.

The second is to arm and deploy the resources of our allies in a more direct fashion. The emerging influence of technology leaders like Elon Musk and Mark Thiel plus the Meloni-Le Pen governance within the European Union indicates that now is the opportune time to execute this strategy.

I estimate that the total cost of this aid package will be between $300 billion and $500 billion. In exchange, we will secure a new set of influential allies who are ready to propel American leadership into the future.

Nathan Klarer is an international businessman with a decade of experience in global trade and negotiations. His efforts total tens of millions of dollars in global new business generation and research and development spending. As a political conservative, he emphasizes the power of beauty and rationality in decisions and protecting the cherished order of our civilization for future generations.

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
The Daily Caller was able to interview Peter Navarro, one of the first people in the Trump circle that the Democrats were able to imprison. Navarro is in prison because, like Steve Bannon (also going to prison), Hunter Biden (not going to prison), and Merrick Garland (not going to prison), he refused to abide by a congressional subpoena. However, the feds may rue the day they thought it was a good idea to lock him up because Navarro has now seen and is working to expose the governments cruel and expensive prison mismanagement.

I urge you to read the whole interview (its not too long) because Navarro describes

The bad food and terrible healthcare the inmates receive (although I gather that its still better than what the J6 detainees are going through in D.C.),

The fact that inmates watch Fox News,

The volume of supportive mail he receives (much of which the Bureau of Prisons manages to withhold from him for petty reasons),

His refusal to accept a future pardon from President Trump because that would imply wrongdoing on Navarros part,

His focus on his upcoming book, The New MAGA Deal, and

His optimism about Trumps ability, with hard work and savvy, to rein in Chinas increasingly imperialistic forays and economic aggression,

Image by freepik.

All of that is interesting but, for me, the standout was his promise to expose the costly and cruel incompetence that seems to characterize anything the federal government touches:

At night, I work both on my appeal being prepared by my legal team and a project Im working with inmates on to fix a massive computer error in the Bureau of Prisons that is delaying the release of inmates both to halfway houses and to freedom. This is a huge scandal Ive uncovered from behind prison walls. Incompetence at the Biden Administrations Bureau of Prisons is costing nearly $5 billion in wasted taxpayer funds, and the Democrats may rue the day they put me on the inside to see the level of incompetence and the misery among inmates and their families it is causing.

The federal government is a necessary evil. We need it to maintain a functional infrastructure of roads and communications, secure the border, field a standing military, respond morally and intelligently to legitimate pandemics, and maintain law and order for real, not regulatory, crimes. Otherwise, we want as little federal government as possible because (a) when it gets too big and powerful, it inevitably becomes corrupt, and (b) it does so many things really badly.

The prison scandal that Navarro threatens to expose falls into the latter category. This is a problem for Democrats. There are currently 158,511 federal inmates in America, almost half of whom are non-white. This means that Navarro is threatening to expose how the Democrat-run bureaucracy controlling our federal government powerfully affects the Democrats treasured minority contingent. Thats not a good look going into an election.

Currently, as Navarro says straightforwardly, the Democrat party is engaging in politicized injustice. Speaking of the letters he manages to receive, he explained,

The most poignant letters  always handwritten  are often from veterans who fought for our country and are appalled at the takeover of our justice system for punitive political purposes. Lawfare is real. Lawfare is wrong. They didnt fight for the right of one political party to put members of the other party in jail. Were not supposed to act like Communist China or a Banana Republic. But thats the growing perception of our justice system.

With Navarro on a mission, this lawfaresomething blacks have complained about for over a centurymay finally come back and bite the Democrats in their derriere.
In Garland v. Cargill, a decision overruling the ATFs updated regulation making bump stocks illegal, Clarence Thomas offers up a masterclass in facts, logic, and law, while Sotomayors dissent highlights the leftist reliance on feelings. The decision also hints that the Supreme Court will finally clamp down on regulatory overreach when it reconsiders the Chevron Deference doctrine.

In 1934, when gangsters were wandering through America with Tommy guns, Congress enacted a prohibition on privately held machine gunsthat is, guns that require the user to press and hold the trigger only once to fire an endless cascade of bullets.

Decades later, bump stocks came into existence. A bump stock is an attachment that modifies semi-automatic weapons (which require a trigger pull for every bullet) by harnessing the guns own recoil to reload a round and pull the trigger. A bump stock can achieve speeds that mimic machine gun fire. This is how the Las Vegas shooter in 2017 was able to kill 58 people and wound 500 in a matter of minutes.

Image: United States Supreme Court (cropped) by Mr. Kjetil Ree. CC BY 3.0, 2.5, 2.0, and 1.0.

Following on the heels of the Las Vegas shooting, Congress tried, and failed, to craft legislation that would have modified the National Firearms Act of 1934 to include within its prohibitions semi-automatic weapons with bump stock modifications. Following Congresss inability to act, the ATF stepped in to reverse its long history of refusing to identify guns with bump stocks as machine guns. Moving forward, it amended its machine gun regulations to hold that machine guns include situations in which the shooter has to pull the trigger only once, after which the bump stock takes over the trigger-pulling function at a speed much faster than a person can achieve.

The plaintiff, Michael Cargill, turned in his bump stocks and then filed suit, alleging that the ATF exceeded its authority with its revised regulation because it effectively rewrote the statute. A majority of the Supreme Court agreed. Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the opinion, and, as always, his writing is remarkable for its clarity.

The important thing to understand about Justice Thomass opinion is that its not about the Second Amendment. Instead, its about the fact that only Congress can legislate and that it must be understood to mean what it says. Bureaucrats cannot write regulations that add or subtract anything to a self-contained statute, especially when, as happened here, Congress intended but failed to act on the issue.

While its entertaining and educational to read Justice Thomas as he explains how semi-automatic weapons work and how bump stocks augment them by artificially increasing the rate of the trigger pull speed, this is the core point in the decision:

Even if a semiautomatic rifle with a bump stock could fire more than one shot by a single function of the trigger, it would not do so automatically. Section 5845(b) [of the National Firearms Act) asks whether a weapon shoots . . . automatically more than one shot . . . by a single function of the trigger. The statute thus specifies the precise action that must automatically cause a weapon to fire more than one shota single function of the trigger. If something more than a single function of the trigger is required to fire multiple shots, the weapon does not satisfy the statutory definition. As Judge Henderson put it, the statutory definition of machinegun does not include a firearm that shoots more than one round automatically by a single pull of the trigger AND THEN SOME. Guedes v. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, 920 F. 3d 1, 44 (CADC 2019) (opinion concurring in part and dissenting in part).

Again, a legislative agency does not get to rewrite a statute. As Article I, Section 1, of the United States Constitution makes perfectly clear, All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States.... The regulatory agencies are non-constitutional appendages of the executive branch. They can be vehicles for carrying out Congresss expressed will, but they cannot do no more than that.

As Justice Samuel Alito said in his brief concurrence,

There can be little doubt that the Congress that enacted 26 U. S. C. 5845(b) would not have seen any material difference between a machinegun and a semiautomatic rifle equipped with a bump stock. But the statutory text is clear, and we must follow it. The horrible shooting spree in Las Vegas in 2017 did not change the statutory text or its meaning. [snip] ...an event that highlights the need to amend a law does not itself change the laws meaning. There is a simple remedy for the disparate treatment of bump stocks and machineguns. Congress can amend the lawand perhaps would have done so already if ATF had stuck with its earlier interpretation. Now that the situation is clear, Congress can act.

The constitutional principles that guided the majority in reaching its decision are decidedly lacking in Sotomayors dissent (in which, of course, she was joined by Kagan and Jackson). That dissent could have come from Oprah Winfrey herself because its about feelings:

When I see a bird that walks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, I call that bird a duck. A bump-stock-equipped semiautomatic rifle fires automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. 5845(b). Because I, like Congress, call that a machinegun, I respectfully dissent.

Because I said so may be a fine rationale for an exasperated mother facing down a recalcitrant teenager, but it is not acceptable for a Supreme Court decision.

So, Clarence Thomas hit this one out of the parkand it bodes well for the pending decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, in which the Supreme Court may finally destroy the misbegotten Chevron Deference doctrine. That doctrine, born in 1984, said that regulatory agencies have the right to interpret ambiguous statutes (not that the Firearms Act was ambiguous). If those on the Supreme Court loyal to the Constitution write that decision, the administrative state will have its wings severely clipped, which can only benefit liberty in America.
The New York Times warned several of its freelance contributors about a recent data breach. The company contacted those who have worked with them in recent years about the situation. The attack could have compromised much of their personal information.

The data breach occurred following an attack on the New York Times GitHub repositories. The hacker obtained source code which included personal data from multiple freelancers. The hacker then posted this data on 4chan, a popular imageboard where users are anonymous. The leak includes around 5,000 repositories and 3,6 million files.

A hacker got and exposed personal data of New York Times contributors

All the data was available for download in a 4chan post using P2P networks. Sensitive information stolen from freelancers includes full names, phone numbers, nationalities, bio info, postal addresses, websites, phone numbers, and even social media accounts. The exposed data even includes bits useful to obtain certifications of multiple types and specialized equipment, among other things.

It is noteworthy that there is no exact number for how many freelancers were affected by the New York Times data breach. In this regard, a company spokesperson said that The New York Times recently communicated to some of our contributors regarding an incident that resulted in the exposure of some of their personal information. The spokesperson adds We send this note to freelance visual contributors who have done work for The Times in recent years. We dont have indications the data exposure extended to full-time newsroom staff or other contributors.

Hackers often target the freelancer segment for their attacks. They can use this kind of personal data to organize massive frauds or for potential illegal activities. Therefore, these types of situations can be quite dangerous for those affected. Sadly, this time, the New York Times was not up to par when it came to protecting the personal data of its collaborators.
Facebook iletisim icin musteri hizmetleri dendiginde bir cogunun Facebook destek hatt seklinde bir hizmeti oldugunu dusunuyor. Google da arama yapanlarn cogu Facebook iletisim icin bir telefon numaras aramakta.

Bize sorarsanz, sorunlarnz iletmeniz icin asagdaki baglantlarn denenmesi gerekiyor. Icerikte bulunan musteri hizmetleri bir cok konu hakknda yardm hizmeti vermekte.

Facebook iletisim, bu kelime cogu yerler icin aranan bir kavramdr. Boyle bir hizmet nerede verilirse verilsin hep ayn soruyla karslaslr. Bize Turkiye cagr merkezi uzerinden gorusmek istediklerini iletiyorlar. Daha once 085053259 nolu numara ile ucretsiz bir hizmetimiz olmustu. Su an icin reklamdaki bulunan numara uzerinden hizmet veriyorlar. Yaznn devamnda formlar ve e-posta adresleri yer almakta ve bu genel bir acklama yazsdr.

Facebook Sikayet Etme Islemleri ve Kullanlacak Baglantlar

Facebookta Hangi Durumlar Icin Sikayet Etmeli?

Facebook kullanclarn rahatsz edici paylasmlarda bulunulmas veya iletisime gecilmesi bir sikayet durumudur. Gercek olmayan bilgilerle olusturulmus sahte hesaplara yonelik coklu sikayetler. Izin almadan kullanlan icerikler veya rahatsz edici paylasmlar. Irkclk soylemlerinde bulunan hesaplar ve diger ayrmc davranslarn bir sonucu topluluk kurallarnn hice saylmas. Hesaplardaki kisisel bilgilerinin cogaltlmas ve izinsiz sosyal medya alanlarnda paylaslmas.

Sikayet Etme Admlar

Facebookta sikayet etmek icin asagdaki admlar izleyebilirsiniz:

Sikayet etmek istediginiz icerigi / icerikleri bulun. Icerik uzerinde sag ust kosede bulunan 3 nokta alanna tklayn. Aclan menuden Sikayet Et veya benzeri bir secenegi kullann. Icerikte veya hesapta yer alan rahatsz edici alanlar belirttin. Gerekli bilgileri doldurun ve sikayetinizi destekleyecek acklamay ekleyin.

Yararl Kaynaklar

Bir cok soru ve soruna yonelik bilgi kaynag olarak kullanmanz onerdigimiz yardm sayfasn ziyaret edin. Gizlilik ayarlarnn dogru bir sekilde yaplandrmasn saglayn ve hesap guvenligini arttrn.

Sikayet Sonras Bekleme ve Takip

Facebook, yaplan sikayetlerin degerlendirilmesi icin bir surec baslatr. Burada sikayetlerin durumunun takip edilmesi ve gerektiginde ek bilgi istenilmesi adna size mail uzerinden bir kanal acar.

Facebook Iletisimde Dikkat Edilmesi Gereken Noktalar

Sikayetlerde dogru ve daha acklayc bilgilerin paylaslmasna dikkat edin.

Facebookun kullanm kurallarna yonelik yardm sayfasn inceleyerek bir surec uygulayn.

Facebook Iletisim Destek Formlar

Asagdaki URL leri kullanarak talebinizi iletebilirsiniz ve eger aradgnz konuyla alakas olan yoksa o zaman yaklask olan bir talebi tercih etmenizi oneriyoruz.

Giris sorunlaryla alakal durumlarda kullanacagz baglant. https://www.facebook.com/help/283100488694834 Tehdit ve uygunsuz goruntulerle alakal. https://tr-tr.facebook.com/help/212722115425932 Bildirim gelmeme ve mail sorunlar yasayanlarn kullanmas gereken URL. https://www.facebook.com/help/1719980288275077 Hacklenen hesaplarn iletilmesinde yer alyor. facebook.com/hacked Fake hesaplar ve onemli sikayetlerin iletilmesi durumlarnda tercih ediliyor. facebook.com/help/contact/295309487309948 Mahkumlarn hesaplaryla alakal yaplan talep bildirimi. facebook.com/help/contact/564493676910603

Facebook E-posta Adresleri

Sosyal sitelerin genelinin Turkiye icerisinde herhangi yardm birimi yer almyor. Bunu belirtmemize ragmen hala musteri hizmetleri telefon numarasn arastrmaya calsanlar oluyor. Sadece baz sirketlerin rehberlik ad altnda destek hizmeti verdigi oluyor.

[email protected] iptal edilen hesaplarn hakknda gorusmek isteyenler icin kullanlmakta

[email protected] her turlu konuyla alakal gorusmek icin

[email protected] guvenlik tarafyla alakal durumlarda

[email protected] yardm isteklerinin karslanmasnda kullanlyor

Bu agda bulunan sorunlardan bazlarnn cevabnda ne gibi islemlerin yaplmasna ornekler verdik. Cozemediginiz sorunlar icin onerdigimiz ozel formlarn kullanlmas isinizi gorecegini dusunuyoruz. Baz sorunlar icin olusturulan basvuru formlar genelde 1-3 gun icerisinde yantlanmakta. Bazen de 1-2 haftay bulan donusler oluyor.

Aglarn buyumesi ile buyuk sorunlarda ne yazk ki yannda geliyor. Artk ozel hayat neredeyse kalmayacak hale geldi. Sitemizde okudugunuz icerigimiz dsnda cok sayda bakarak islem yapacagnz konularmz yer almaktadr.

Facebook iletisim Turkiye telefon numaras

Facebook Destek Hatt Iceriklerine Dikkat

Sosyal agn telefonla destek verdigi bir hizmeti bulunmuyor. Onerdigimiz dansmanlk hizmeti veren kurumsal bir sirket oldugunu belirtelim. Yukarda yer alan onerilerin cogunun su an icin en iyi basvuru kanal oldugunu soyleyebiliriz. Basvuru yaptk ama geri donus alamyoruz ne yapsak diyenler belirtilen problemin formunu ve diger baglantlardan ara ara kullanlarak basvurmalarn bir daha yapmalarn oneriyoruz.

Hesap aclrken kullanlan bilgiler daha sonra cok onemli olabiliyor. Bundan dolay ne yazdgnza dikkat ediniz.

Turkiye snrlarnda resmi destek alacagnz bir yer bulunmamakta. Ama ulkemizde uzun zamandr hizmet veren destek hatt, sosyal medya ve genel teknolojik sorunlarna cevap kaps olabiliyor.

Dunyada cogu internet kullanclarnn teknolojiyle alakal sorunlarn cevaplarn arams oldugu yerlerden biri forumlar digeri ise bloglar olmustur. Tabi ki sorunu bazlar cozebilmis bazlar ise bu alanlarda hizmet vermis kurumsal dansmanlk hatlarndan yardm almslardr. Malum yetkili servislerinin mesai saatlerine yetisemeyenler farkl kanallar arastrmstr.

Facebook iletisim icin kullanlacak kanallar

Facebook Icin Yasal Haklarn Arayacaklar

Kullanclardan bazlarnn sanki bu ag, internet hizmeti aldg yerle karstryor. Neden hesabm kapatyorsunuz ve siz kim oluyorsunuz seklinde baslayan cok fazla yaz goruyoruz.

Bilgi olarak sunu belirtelim, baz hesap sahiplerinin yasadklar sorunlar icin Facebook sirketini mahkemeye vereceklerini belirten paylasmlar goruyoruz. Bunu ya sorunlarna dikkat cekmeleri icin ya da teknolojiden pek anlamadklar icin bu sekilde soylemlerde bulunuyorlar.

Yasal durumlarda basvuru yapabilmeniz icin baz kriterler bulunuyor. Ornek biri size hakaret ediyor veya tehditlerde bulunuyorsa iste bu konu icin yasal basvuruda bulunabilir. Ama hesaba giremiyorum diyerek mahkemenin yolunu tutmanz biraz gulunc olur. Zorunlu bir hizmet degil ve Turkiye de devletin kararlar ve mahkeme yoluyla gelen taleplere cevap verecek bir ofisi bulunuyor.

Bu kategori icin https://teknolojihaberleri.tr/internet-destek baslg altndaki konularmz incelemenizi oneriyoruz.

Facebook un Ksa Bir Tarihi

Facebook, kurulus amac universiteli gencler arasnda iletisim icin 2004 senesinde M. Zuckerberg kurdu ve sonrasnda gelistirmede pay olan arkadaslar yer ald. Web sitesi ilk once Harvard ogrencileri icin kurulmustur. Daha sonra diger universitelerin dikkatini cekerek yaylmaya baslad. Sonrasnda tum okullara ulast.

Cok eskiden kaydolmak icin universite uzantl bir e-posta adresine sahip olunmas gerekiyordu. 2006 Ylnda yas snr ile tum mail adreslerine erisime aclmstr. 2007 Ylnda dunyann en cok ziyaret edilen 7. sitesi oldu. Yani ksa surede buyuyen sirket, Google gibi devlerin dikkatini cekti. Buyuk devler sirket hisselerine goz dikmeye baslad. Microsoft, Facebook un %1,6 hissesini ald. Accel Partners ise %15 e sahip.

Dunyann en buyuk sosyal ag olma ozelligini surduruyor. Ilk zamanlar Harvard Universitesi genelinde ogrencilerin iletisimleri icin planlanmstr. Daha sonra liselere ve tum okullara ulast. Ksa surede buyuyen bir dunya devi oldu.

Facebook, Alexa ya gore su an dunyada en cok ziyaret edilen 3. site. Bu kadar buyuk bir sosyal paylasm sitesi yannda baz sorunlar getiriyor. Internet kullanclarnn cogunun ya bir ya da birden fazla hesab oldugunu soyleyelim.

Haberimizde, Facebook iletisim Turkiye desteginin olmadgn belirttik. Lakin yasal mevzularda hukuki surecler hemen hemen bir cok ulkede islemekte.
Conor McGregor has vowed to return to his best after the postponement of his comeback fight against Michael Chandler in Las Vegas because of injury.

The 35-year-old Irishman, who has been out of action since breaking his leg during a July 2021 defeat to lightweight rival Dustin Poirier, was due to top the bill at UFC 303 on June 29.

However, it was announced earlier this week that he had been forced to withdraw as a result of an unspecified problem.

McGregor said in a post on his official Instagram account: Very tough to be ruled out of my scheduled return bout.

I picked up an injury prior to the press conference that required more time to heal than was available to me. The decision to postpone the fight was not made lightly, but one made in consultation with my doctors, the UFC, and my team.

My fans and opponent deserve me at my best for this fight and we will get there! Thank you for the messages of support, I am in good spirits and confident Ill be back!
When you're a dog parent, nothing compares to seeing your furry friend living their very best lives. It's an even better feeling to know that you're the one who's giving them so much freedom and joy! With the unconditional love and loyalty they give us, making sure their needs are met is the least we can do.

Just ask this doting dog dad! He refuses to let anything get in the way of giving his dog, Beetlejuice, the love he deserves, even if he might get crushed in the process. That's because Beetlejuice is a gigantic Newfoundland! These dogs weigh easily over 100 pounds when fully grown, and Beetlejuice is no exception. Still, he has no idea that lap dogs are usually small! His June 4 cuddles with Dad are stealing hearts all over TikTok, and it's easy to see why.

OMG--he's huge! Newfoundland dogs are massive and muscular beneath all that fluff, so this guy weighs just as heavy as he looks. Even so, his dad is all smiles as the gigantic dog flops down on his lap for a cuddle. Just like the proud owner said, "he just wanted some love."

Related: Newfoundland Cuddles With His Grandma on the Couch in Absolutely Precious Video

And his fur brother wasn't far behind! In the funniest twist, it turns out that the Newfie's much smaller canine sibling is actually named Dinosaur. The pups' owners absolutely knew what they were doing when they gave these boys such ironically perfect names. Maybe that's why 'Beetle,' as they call him, thinks he's a tiny lap dog!

As large dog owners will tell you, though, lap dogs come in all shapes and sizes. One commenter shared, "I have a Saint Bernard who does the same thing. He about flips the chair over." I can only imagine! If my 70-pound Alaskan Malamute can make the couch rock back and forth by hopping on it mid-zoomies, I can only imagine the damage a truly massive dog could do.

Caring for a Giant Fluffy Dog

It takes a lot of trust and love for a dog like Beetlejuice to be so affectionate with family. True, these dogs are naturally loving, but not every pup likes to cuddle! When they do, however, it's even more important to keep them clean and healthy.

Several folks commented to praise just how clean the black and white dog is. Would you have guessed that his owners groom him at home? They replied to the comment to share that they clean him "at least every other month," which is what's recommended for a thick-coated dog like a Newfoundland. Clearly, the consistent love and care are paying off beautifully. They're raising such a loving boy!

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.
BBC Radio 2 DJ Johnnie Walker believes without being the presenter of his show the Sounds Of The 70s, he would probably die a lot sooner.

The 79-year-old broadcaster revealed on a special episode of the show that his idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPS), which causes the lungs to become scarred and makes breathing increasingly more difficult, is terminal and getting progressively worse.

He spoke about his condition on an episode, titled Walker & Walker: Johnnie & Tiggy earlier this week, along with his wife, who acts as his carer, saying that he has a finite amount of time left here in the physical before I pass over.

BBC Radio 2 veteran DJ Johnnie Walker with wife Tiggy (centre) (Fiona Hanson/PA)

Walker, who also hosts The Rock Show on Fridays on Radio 2, has had other health issues.

In 2003, he was diagnosed with a malignant tumour in his colon, and took a break from his radio show before returning the following year and in 2019, he underwent surgery for heart problems.

Walker now uses an oxygen machine for his IPS and told the Telegraph he does panic occasionally when I cant breathe but says he is not in pain.

He said: For many people, Sounds Of The 70s is part of their Sunday afternoon. As long as I can keep doing the show I will. It gives me a purpose. If I stopped doing it Id probably die a lot sooner.

Anyway, when you play records you are bringing back memories for people as well as playing records that they love.

Walker, who has spent nearly six decades on the airwaves, has been married to Tiggy since December 2002.

Johnnie Walker with Sir Elton John at the Sony Music Awards (Yui Mok/PA)

Tiggy says that she is utterly exhausted and says Walker could live for another six months and, on one level, the thought terrifies me.

According to the newspaper both are in favour of assisted dying, but Walker does not wish to go this way.

He says: Ive even said, if I get a chest infection, which would kill me in two or three days, I dont want to go to hospital. I want to remain at home.

Walker began in the 1960s in pirate radio, first on Radio England before making his name on Radio Caroline.

He joined Radio 1 in 1969 to host a Saturday afternoon show, and left for Radio Luxembourg in 1976. He returned in the 1980s to the BBC station to present Saturday Stereo Sequence.

He started his own weekly show on Radio 2, before taking over the Drivetime show in 1999 and leaving after Chris Evans got his slot in 2006.

That same year, he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) at Buckingham Palace for services to broadcasting by the then Prince of Wales, now King.
Kwadwo Duahs maiden goal for Switzerland helped kick off their Euro 2024 campaign with a 3-1 victory over Hungary at Cologne Stadium.

The 27-year-old had played just 45 minutes for the Swiss senior side, and had to wait for VAR to confirm his milestone moment after he found the back of the net 12 minutes into the Group A contest.

Michel Aebischer, who assisted the opener, made it two on the stroke of half-time with his own first international goal, while Barnabas Vargas second-half header denied Murat Yakins men a clean sheet after the break.

Group A rivals Scotland might have been hoping for a draw, but Hungary were ultimately buried by a costly mistake in the third minute of stoppage time that allowed substitute Breel Embolo to seal victory on his first international appearance since December 2022.

Embolo scores in successive EURO final tournaments for Switzerland #EURO2024 | #HUNSUI pic.twitter.com/9hizZpQt9b  UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 15, 2024

Roland Sallai had an early chance for Hungary, whose first-half opportunities were few and far between but sent it clear of the crossbar, two minutes before Duah slotted in the opener from the edge of the area.

Hungary applied a bit more pressure late in the half but were on the wrong side of a 2-0 deficit when Bolognas Aebischer curled around a crowd past a diving Peter Gulacsi to double Switzerlands advantage in the 45th minute.

Hungary were a much improved side to start the second half and perhaps should have halved the deficit when Varga nodded Sallais pinpoint delivery wide, redeeming himself when he stooped to nod Dominik Szoboszlais delivery home in the 66th minute.

Hungarys hopes of staging a comeback were fully crushed when they completely misplayed a defensive header, instead gifting substitute Embolo  who in recent years has been plagued by injury  a chance to emphatically mark his comeback.
Sir Keir Starmer could be given unchecked power as prime minister if Reform UK picks up voters from the Tories, veterans minister Johnny Mercer said.

In the latest sign that the Tories are now fighting to maintain as many MPs as possible as an opposition party, Mr Mercer said if you vote Reform, youre going to get a Labour government.

The Tory strategy of warning voters that backing Nigel Farages party could result in a Labour landslide has intensified, after an opinion poll put Reform ahead of the Conservatives.

(PA Graphics)

An average of all polls that were carried out wholly or partly during the seven days to June 14 puts Labour on 42%, 21 points ahead of the Conservatives on 21%, followed by Reform on 15%, the Lib Dems on 11% and the Greens on 6%.

Mr Mercer acknowledged the Tories were facing a tough campaign and there were occasions when morale plummets.

He told Sky News: This election is tough, right? And it was always going to be tough after 14 years in power, and clearly the campaigns been up and down as well.

But I dont see those polls reflected on the doorsteps.

I think people are focusing in and as we get closer to that election, theyre really starting to see that clear choice, if you like, between Starmer, who every time he goes on TV just refuses to rule out serious things like capital gains tax, like he did last night, and the Conservatives, who are dealing with a tricky situation, but actually if you look at the manifesto, theres a real bold plan there.

Its my mission to get the NHS back on its feet. With Labour's first step to cut NHS waiting times, the NHS will be there for you when you need it.  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 15, 2024

He added: If you vote for Reform, youre going to get a Labour government, youll get unchecked power from a Labour government to come in and change the face of this country into something that I dont believe it is, I dont think it is a left-wing country.

On Times Radio Mr Mercer acknowledged that his seat, which has a notional majority of 13,262 if the 2019 contest was fought on the current boundaries, was at risk.

He said Conservative Campaign HQ (CCHQ) should be worried about me, its very hard out there on the doors and the polling is very much against us.

He said he was fighting for every vote and thats what politics is about, getting out, having a conversation with people and, to be honest, that side of it is really encouraging, its great fun.

Its when you come home and see the media and all the rest of it that morale plummets.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will not be on the campaign trail on Saturday and is due to attend a major international summit on Ukraine in Switzerland.

Our modelling from Feb suggests that the waiting list is likely to fall slowly, or at worst flatline, in the coming years. In other words, whichever party forms the next government, waiting lists are highly unlikely to climb to 10 million. https://t.co/1x8SQrObpE7/8 pic.twitter.com/G8GXdOq3Jf  Max Warner (@MaxWarnerIFS) May 29, 2024

But Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is highlighting his partys plans for the NHS with a visit to a hospital in the East Midlands.

In an interview with The Times, shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said he would not judge people who went private instead of using NHS treatment.

People who are going private are refugees, not traitors, Mr Streeting said.

People are voting with their feet, through no fault of their own, I dont judge people who have paid to go private  theyre fleeing from the NHS.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall has defended Labours claim that NHS waiting lists could rise to 10 million, despite a think tank saying that was highly unlikely.

Responding to the Institute for Fiscal Studies criticism, Ms Kendall told Sky News: Were saying that if theres another five years of the Conservatives, you could see 10 million people waiting in pain or feeling they have to try and pay to go private to deal with their problem.

She said it was a reasonable assumption that was based on what had already happened under the Conservatives and if the trend continues in the future, as it has done in the past, thats what were likely to see.

The Tories have dismissed the Labour attack as scaremongering.

Ms Kendall also sought to clarify Labours position on tax, after Tory claims that Sir Keir was secretly planning to impose capital gains tax on the sale of primary residences.

We would not put capital gains tax on peoples primary homes. We want to see taxes come down on working people, she told Times Radio.

She declined to give the same commitment on whether the level of capital gains tax for activities such as selling shares would increase.

But she said there is nothing in our manifesto that requires any other tax increases than the ones we have set out.
Chinese premier Li Qiang and Anthony Albanese at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in November 2023. Photograph: Liu Bin/AP

Chinas premier, Li Qiang, will arrive in Australia on Saturday for a four-day visit that will include stops in Adelaide, Canberra and Perth.

It is the first visit to Australia by a Chinese premier since 2017, and marks the latest step in stabilising a relationship that hit rock bottom in 2020.

Here are five things to look out for.

Trade-offs

After arriving in Adelaide on Saturday, Lis first focus will be on panda diplomacy, followed by attempts to showcase the easing of trade barriers.

Wine was one of the Australian export sectors hit hardest when China rolled out a series of tariffs and other trade restrictions in 2020, amid tensions sparked by a range of issues including the Morrison governments early public calls for a global Covid origins inquiry. Li  Chinas second-highest ranked official after the president, Xi Jinping  is expected to dine at a South Australian winery on Sunday, just three months after Beijing scrapped tariffs on Australian wine.

Most of the trade restrictions have now been abandoned, but some still remain  including on live lobster and red meat from certain exporters. Anthony Albanese is expected to use the meeting with Li in Canberra on Monday to press for the removal of the remaining trade impediments  the term that is now favoured over the previous language of trade sanctions or economic coercion.

Li will have his own trade and economy-related wishlist on the trip. He is likely to once again press Chinas case to enter into the regional trade pact known as the CPTPP, and to argue that Chinese investors should not be unfairly targeted or discriminated against.

Related: Panda diplomacy: Chinese premier Li Qiang could announce two new rare bears for Australia during state visit

Human rights and wrongs

The Australian government says it routinely raises human rights and consular cases in high-level meetings with the Chinese government, including over Xinjiang and Tibet.

The guilty verdicts handed last month to Australian-Hong Kong dual national Gordon Ng and 13 other pro-democracy campaigners have fuelled the Australian governments pre-existing concerns about the crackdown on dissent in the previously semi-autonomous region. Last week, a Senate estimates committee heard that Australian officials had made at least 14 unsuccessful requests for consular access to Ng, with his dual nationality likely the reason for blocking such visits.

Albanese is also expected to raise the case of the detained Australian writer Dr Yang Hengjun. It will be the first face-to-face opportunity for the prime minister to raise concerns directly with Li since a Chinese court issued Yang with a suspended death sentence in February. At the time, Albanese told reporters his government had conveyed to China our despair, our frustration, but  to put it really simply  our outrage at this verdict, adding that Yang was not in good health.

Military manoeuvring

Albanese has said he will raise two recent cases of dangerous and inappropriate conduct by the Peoples Liberation Army in interactions with Australian defence force personnel.

The Australian government accused a PLA fighter jet of releasing flares in front of an Australian Seahawk helicopter that was accompanying HMAS Hobart in the Yellow Sea on 4 May. In an earlier incident on 14 November 2023, the government complained that sonar pulses from a PLA navy destroyer endangered Australian divers who were trying to clear fishing nets HMAS Toowoomba was entangled in off the coast of Japan.

In the sonar pulse case, Chinese authorities accused the Australian government of making rude and irresponsible accusations toward China, while in the more recent case its foreign ministry accused the Australian helicopter of deliberately flying within close range of Chinese airspace in a provocative move.

Regional and global security

The talks about the military encounters will likely feed into broader discussions about the regional security environment.

The Australian government is particularly concerned about Chinas more assertive actions in the South China Sea, including near the Philippines. It has also raised concerns about the PLAs recent drills around Taiwan in the wake of the self-governed democracys presidential elections. Australias position is to oppose the use or threat of use of force to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, following Chinas long-held goal of reunification. Albanese and his senior ministers will probably stress the need for China to act in a way that reassures the region.

Related: Thanks for the free rent: Cheng Lei jokes about China detention in comedy debut

For its part, China routinely urges countries such as Australia not to meddle in what it regards as its own internal affairs. The Chinese government is deeply suspicious of the Aukus nuclear-powered submarine pact and other groupings such as the Quad, viewing them as Australia backing US-led attempts to contain its growth. It would be unsurprising if Li took the opportunity to urge Australia to chart its own course rather than allowing itself to be tied too closely to US strategy.

In discussions on global security, Australia will likely encourage China to exert influence on Russia to end the invasion of Ukraine. The two sides will probably also discuss their shared alarm about the humanitarian consequences of the Israel-Gaza war.

Climate of cooperation?

The Australian government has repeatedly said that its approach to China is to cooperate where we can, disagree where we must and engage in our national interest.

Climate change appears to be one of the areas where both sides believe there is scope for cooperation and collaboration. After last years leaders meeting in Beijing, China and Australia committed to resume climate change and energy dialogues, and launch technical cooperation on soil carbon testing and climate-smart agriculture practices.

Given that climate action will only be effective if deep cuts to emissions are made across the globe, this looks like an area where Albanese and Li might be inclined to flag further efforts.

After Lis meetings in Canberra on Monday  which will include side talks with the opposition leader, Peter Dutton  he is due to travel to Western Australia where he will have dialogues with business leaders and Chinese-Australian community members.
The lost city of Choquequirao near Cusco, a hidden citadel that can only be reached on foot. Photograph: Christian Declercq/Getty Images

Its very simple, Bruce says. If travellers go far, on long-haul journeys, they should go for longer. Im sitting in a Peruvian mountain village with Bruce Poon Tip, founder of G Adventures, a Canadian travel company with a mission. Below us on a narrow rocky terrace, a group of brightly dressed women in bowler hats are chatting while they work. Some are spinning alpaca wool, others are knitting, and a couple are weaving narrow strips of cloth. Travellers need to connect with locals, Bruce continues, but they should also bring economic benefits to communities.

I am in South America on a mission myself. I want to see how, or if, tourism can help with the huge challenges of social inequality and the climate crisis. Im taking Bruces advice about travelling for longer to heart: I am going to loop south through Bolivia, then start a 3,000-mile journey down the Amazon to where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean. En route, I want to see how the individual tourist can support worthwhile projects, particularly with Indigenous peoples, and also enjoy a wonderful experience.

On my Amazon journey I want to see how the individual tourist can support worthwhile projects, particularly with Indigenous peoples

Across the Andean valley, the mountainside is etched with terraces, like a great human thumbprint on the harsh high-altitude terrain. We are in Ccaccaccollo, a weaving community that is a showcase for the G Adventures method. In 2003, a woman from the village, Francisca, approached Bruce with a grievance. Their menfolk were porters on the nearby Inca Trail, carrying gear for foreign hikers. But no visitors had ever come to their mountainside village. The women were economically sidelined, left at home to dig potatoes, and financially dependent on the men.

Francisca takes up the story: We had traditional weaving skills so we formed a co-operative, then asked Bruce to bring groups here. We wanted to sell the things we were making.

For Bruce, it was a turning point. He had set up G Adventures in 1990 with the idea that travellers needed help to connect with locals, an ethos that had meant only using local guides. Here was an opportunity to do more. His hiking groups began stopping at the village on their way to the starting point of the four-day Inca Trail. Very quickly this revolutionised the village economy, giving the women cash, and power. It also changed G Adventures, bringing a more interventionist approach through a new foundation, Planeterra, whose sole objective was to help all locals benefit from tourism.

Now the Sacred Valley of the Incas is home to several projects: a ceramics workshop, new campsites and hiking routes, plus a spacious, well-designed restaurant that uses agricultural produce and workers from surrounding villages. Everything is owned and run by the communities.

Success has brought change, Bruce acknowledges. We taught them business and entrepreneurship. They have money now and they spend it. Bringing travellers closer to locals, it occurs to me, has also brought locals closer to the travellers  a significant side-effect. Francisca welcomes it: Before we had nothing; now I have two daughters at university.

Later that morning, I hear singing from a choir and learn that its coming from a Seventh Day Adventist hall. An elderly lady outside the hall tells me: They came about 10 years ago. We also have the Mormons nearby, and Los Israelitas too.

Related: Peru: take the high road to Inca glory

The latter are a fast-growing Christian cult who believe God is Peruvian and that Armageddon will be followed by the restoration of a communal Incan agrarian society. Its a reminder that there are many competing ideas about future development in South America.

My next stop in the Sacred Valley is Machu Picchu, arguably the best-known archaeological site in the Americas, and a dizzyingly spectacular one too. The site is well managed, bussing tourists up from the railhead in the town of Aguas Calientes (at the time of writing, about 5,000 a day arrive by train then catch the bus to the site). Each visitor is given an arrival time, the route is precisely controlled, and the exit time is specified. Visits to the two mountain viewpoints cost extra. Its a fantastic experience, as far as theme parks go. What I do not get is the feeling many visitors are searching for: reaching some lost world outside modern civilisation. Those who walk the Inca Trail, or one of the quieter alternatives, put in old-fashioned physical effort, but at the end of their hike, they enter the site through the same turnstiles and get the same experience.

In an entire year, Choquequirao sees about the same number of visitors as Machu Picchu gets in a day

Having seen this, I decide to try something different: a tough hike culminating in a remote mountain lost city only accessible on foot. Choquequirao is another abandoned Inca site, but in an entire year it sees the same number of visitors that Machu Picchu gets in a day, largely because there is no easy way to get there. I have heard that the walk is harder than the Inca Trail, and the ruins almost as spectacular.

That weasel word almost does cause some misgivings, but I join a small group in Cusco with high hopes. Our guide, Washi, gives us a candid assessment: You will be very hot, very cold, very thirsty and very tired. You will walk all day and into the night. It may be the hardest thing you have ever done. One of our group immediately pulls out.

A few miles beyond the town of San Pedro de Cachora, we step out of a minibus into the clouds. A few mules huddle together by a homespun cafe and gatehouse, where we register. Only a handful of names appear before ours in the hefty government ledger; they are hikers already out on the four-day circuit. Our gear is loaded on the mules and off we go, steadily descending through a sparse forest of ceiba trees into the Apurimac valley, headwaters of the Amazon.

Washi and I chat about a subject close to many Peruvian hearts: politics. In the 1980s and 90s, he tells me, this area was a stronghold of the Sendero Luminoso [Shining Path].

The Sendero were a Maoist insurgency inspired and led by Abimael Guzman, a left-wing philosophy professor from the Andean town of Ayacucho, who had witnessed Chinas cultural revolution. His aims were not so different from those of todays community tourism and sustainability movement: economic equality and empowerment for all, particularly Indigenous communities.

His methods, however, were not those of an ethically minded travel company. Guzman procured automatic weapons and started a guerrilla war. Washis family, farmers in the high Andes, were caught up in the conflict. If people helped the Sendero, the government soldiers killed them, he says. But if they helped the government, the Sendero killed them. My grandparents fled to Cusco and our lives changed.

As we descend, the temperature increases. There are a couple of campsites in wooded areas, but mostly the vegetation gets drier and harsher. By the time we hit the valley bottom, next to the raging torrent that is the Apurimac, the heat is almost unbearable. But the river is icy cold, pouring down through this 3,000-metre-deep gorge from glacial origins almost 6,000 metres high. I clamber down to its edge and dip my hands. This is my first touch of Amazon water, nearly 3,000 miles from where my journey will end at Belem in Brazil. Swimming looks impossible.

We cross on a swaying suspension bridge, then start a brutal climb up the mountainside, enlivened only by fleeting appearances from hummingbirds. Our group splinters, each alone in our private agony. We reach our campsite at sunset and are astonished to find the local mule-supplied shop sells solar-cooled beer. Miles from any roads, the place is a tranquil haven with superb mountain panoramas.

The advantages of this smaller-scale trek are quickly apparent: local communities get direct financial benefit and the visitors are absorbed into their world, which remains essentially unchanged. Plans to build a cable car here and integrate into the mega-buck Inca Trail industry have been shelved, saving the locals, I reckon, from becoming day labourers on their own land.

Related: A virtual tour of Peru through films, food, books and music

At dawn the next morning we are moving again, pushing along the winding trail to reach the ruins while the light is good. As we emerge on the top, the clouds lift and we are treated to magnificent views. The ruins are not as extensive as those at Machu Picchu, but I am about to discover something that sets it apart. A trail leads down through a fragment of jungle to the head of a flight of ancient terraces. From there, 546 stone steps cascade down the mountain, a miracle of stone engineering. So steep is the drop that each terrace is a mere two or three metres wide. It was here that the last survivors of the Incan empire hid themselves away from the future, growing corn and chillis, hanging on to their way of life, and praying that the brutal reality of the Spanish conquest would never find them.

On the walls of the terraces, the Incas created elegant reliefs of llamas in white stone. At the bottom, I find the last terrace overgrown with jungle and the steps disappearing down into the thicket, proof that discoveries are still to be made here. I sit on the steps, alone in the lost city. There are no voices, no selfies, no one telling me to move along. I lie back and watch a condor soar overhead.

The trip was provided by G Adventures, which offers a six-day trek to Choquequirao and Machu Picchu from 599, including local transport, guides and entry to archaeological sites. Holiday Extras can provide assistance with airport parking, travel insurance, hotels and transfers.

The second part of Kevin Rushbys Amazon adventure will be published on Guardian travel on 24 June
As an amateur jockey in his spare time, Anthony Ward Thomas tackled Aintrees Grand National fences for the first time aged 52.

If you can kick on from this shockingly hard job, the long hours and come out of it unscathed, says Anthony Ward Thomas, who owns one of the UKs most successful removals firms, I always say it kind of defines you for the rest of your working life. Its a good training ground.

Ward Thomas took just this route nearly 40 years ago. Starting out in Battersea, London with one van and no gearbox on a bank loan in 1985, he turned over his first 1m profit in 2004. Twenty years on, he now employs over 550 staff with a sales turnover of 50m.

Given that his name is behind the eponymous brand, Ward Thomas has instilled customer trust as one of the linchpins to success. We provided a different feel to the work that people expected, he says.

Read More: We went from artisanal bakery to mass pie production for Premier League clubs'

After a stint working at the London Metal Exchange, a stripped off Ward Thomas was fired after a fire extinguisher episode at a Christmas party  my definition of a bon vivant but no one else's, he reasons  before spotting a gap in the removals' market.

Working for a rival business in Camberley as a student for two weeks work was an eye-opener. The amount of thievery was extraordinary, he recalls. One time, the crew was getting rid of stuff onto another small van which was going into storage. It was endemic in the industry, people were paid poorly and they made up for it on the job.

Caring about every move and offering a consistent service are the two things that mark us out,' say founder Anthony Ward Thomas. (Alistair Hood)

After 12 months, Ward Thomas bought a second lorry and hired more staff. The people we employed wore their cap with pride, he adds, they were willing, able and polite. They also werent thieves with no ambition. Those were my competitors.

Ward Thomas, a former amateur jockey, expanded steadily until 2003 when he started using profits to make acquisitions. This was strengthend by bringing in a co-director, Charles Rickards, which Ward Thomas says was a game changer for the brand.

He says: Charles brought a skillset, an analytical and inquisitive brain. I am a salesman where I still feel the pain when my efforts to sell removals fall on deaf ears when they go to a competitor.

The year Ward Thomas recorded a 1m profit, the business also started selling employee shares, which has since built up to a 53% stake. Ward Thomas adds: "If someone asked me the single biggest reason why the business has performed so well, it would be our employee share ownership."

Ward Thomas says his staff are paid well, respected and looked after, while he also hosts a Friday night barbecue twice a month in the summer where people let their hair down.

Read More: How Cornwall holiday lettings 'upstart' is championing halt to 'Wild West' tourism

The firm currently has four branches in London, as well as in the home counties. It purchased specialist logistics business Bishopsgate in 2007, which was sold this year, and has acquired 11 satellite brands over the years, including then struggling Aussie Man & Van in 2012 for 1.

There is no relevance to be nationwide, removals are localised, says Ward Thomas. There is no advantage of having branches everywhere. Pickfords and Bishops Move have tried that. The latter, established in the 1850s, now has one branch in Guildford.

In the past they have moved houses for the likes of actors Tom Holland and Keira Knightley, who rode in the van with removals staff, a former Archbishop of Canterbury, and even used helicopters during one move in Verbiers.

Ward Thomas says organic growth, entwined with its traditional red uniforms, is 70% of its business and accounts for word of mouth, referrals or repeat business.

Ward Thomas employee shareholders receive dividends quarterly depending on how well the business has traded in the previous quarter.

He is also well aware of competition, which relies on web traffic compared to the longevity of Ward Thomas in the market. We have to be aware of all this which is why our branding is so high in our list in maintaining our reputation, says Ward Thomas. As my name is on it, it gives a degree of comfort to the customer that there is someone answerable at the end of the phone or the move.

The difference, he says, from when the firm started in the mid 1980s is that todays customer has more product in the household. Gone are the days of one television in the house. Now in his sixties, Ward Thomas still relishes the day-to-day sales, which includes pricing a move.

Read More: Community Clothing founder: 'The UK high street offering is cheap garbage'

Now Im a bit more complacent, I look through the letter box and hope for the best," he smiles. "I used to be terribly accurate and prided myself on getting the box count right.

The essence then is to convince customers to let complete strangers into your house, into their drawers, their life and then put it all back again with a wave and a smile. With the brand with my name on a big red lorry, it is encouraging when we are left alone and trusted to get on with it.

Behind the brand: Ward Thomas founder on..

Leadership

Back in the day the office staff all had HGV licenses and had gone through the pain of the removal man. That commands a certain amount of respect that they know thats the case. Crews would come back and we could feel their pain and success and that ethos has been the same all the way through.

Industry challenges

I certainly wouldn't be starting out now knowing what I know. The barriers to entry are much higher now than back then. The rules and regulations, legislation, the Brexit fallout. It puts people off. There is a six month course of professional competence and the HGV course is three weeks. They place these hurdles in your way, they become more compressed and you will run out of puff before the end of the race.

Turbulent property market

Stamp duty should be up to the vendor, not the buyer. Why a purchaser should pay in addition to your tax free gain, and the purchaser has to pay a percentage of that, is entirely counter intuitive. It would make life a lot easier for first-time buyers as well as for anyone trying to climb the property ladder.

Watch: AI will help small businesses compete with retail giants, says Shopify president

Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android.
Douglas Alexander, right, is hoping to win back this seat for the Scottish Labour Party, led by Anas Anwar, left - Alamy

Each week, The Telegraph will be taking the temperature in key constituencies around the country whose result could point the way for how the country will vote in Julys election. This week, East Lothian.

There is not a lot of Dunbar Castle left. Once a strong and seemingly invulnerable fortress overlooking the Scottish towns harbour, it is now reduced to ruins. As the July 4 General Election looms, the Scottish National Party (SNP) will be fervently hoping to avoid a similar fate.

But voters opinions in Lothian East  a newly named constituency that covers much of the same ground as the old East Lothian seat and current council area  wont offer them much reassurance.

I desperately dont want the SNP, says a lawyer on Dunbars High Street. Theyre just as bad [as the ruling Conservatives in Westminster], if not worse, scoffs the owner of a harbour cafe. I used to vote SNP, but wont this time because of all the nonsense theyve been up to, adds a self-employed tradesman, whose cottage faces onto the grey-blue North Sea.

And so it goes on, with the nationalists receiving short shrift in Dunbar from those of varying political persuasions and backgrounds. Little wonder, perhaps, that Lothian East (which counts Dunbar as one of its towns) is Labours number one target seat in Scotland. If voters are disillusioned with the SNP  and they do appear to be  Labour is expected to reap the rewards, particularly here and in the rest of the so-called Central Belt.

In 2019, the SNP took what was then East Lothian from Labour, albeit with a majority of less than 4,000. Now, Labour looks set to reclaim not only this constituency but potentially dozens of others north of the border  a Scottish comeback that could prove key to a landslide victory.

Still, if any reminder were needed that all is still to play for, the 10-point lead Labour held over the SNP last month  which suggested they could win as many as 35 Scottish seats  looks to have shrunk slightly. An Ipsos survey carried out last week for STV found both parties level on 36 per cent support.

As for the Conservatives, things are going about as well for them in Scotland as in the rest of the country: the poll suggests they could be heading for electoral obliteration, with the loss of all six of their Scottish seats.

Why is it a bellwether seat?

East Lothian, in the south east of Scotland, used to be considered a safe Labour seat. But the 2015 general election changed everything: the SNP claimed a massive landslide victory, winning 56 out of the 59 Scottish constituencies (including East Lothian) and reducing the party then led by Ed Miliband to just a single foothold. Scottish independence had a lot to do with it  many one-time Labour voters backed it, while the party did not.

In 2017, Labour reclaimed East Lothian as the vexed question of a second independence referendum turned some voters away from the SNP  only to lose it again to the nationalists two years later. Sir Keir Starmers party currently holds just two Scottish Parliamentary seats. However, one of these was gained in a comfortable by-election victory in Rutherglen and Hamilton West in October.

The result saw a swing of 20.4 per cent from the SNP to Labour, which was hailed by Starmer as seismic and cautiously greeted as a sign that the party was winning back the trust of Scottish voters. What happens in Scotland on July 4 will confirm whether it has truly succeeded in this endeavour  and will play an important part in determining the extent of any overall Labour victory.

The scenic Lothian East consituency is bordered by Edinburgh to the west and the North Sea to the east - Stuart Nicol

So, what has changed since the party came a humiliating fourth in Scotland in 2019? Its position on independence remains the same (it is still opposed). But the SNP has experienced a bruising few years. An investigation into its finances has cast an inescapable shadow over its time in power in Holyrood. Peter Murrell, former SNP chief executive, was charged in April in connection with the embezzlement of funds, while his wife Nicola Sturgeon, former SNP leader and First Minister, was arrested and released without charge.

Since Sturgeon resigned last year, the party has cycled through leaders at a speed only rivalled by the Conservatives. Her replacement, Humza Yousaf, stepped down in May and veteran parliamentarian John Swinney took over. But Swinneys supposed safe pair of hands may not be quite secure enough to steady the ship. Support for the SNP has been dented by a raft of unpopular policies that some claim were forced on them by the Greens, with whom they forged  and then terminated  a power-sharing deal in the Scottish Parliament.

All the SNP is interested in is independence, says Valerie Tear, who runs Kittiwake Cafe on Dunbar Harbour. Others feel this has come at the expense of focusing on day-to-day governance and improving Scotlands infrastructure and services, including healthcare and education in particular. My mum works in education and thinks the SNP has made it 10 times worse, says the lawyer, 33, who doesnt want to be named.

Dunbar cafe manager Valerie Tear intends to vote Labour to get the SNP out - Stuart Nicol

With the SNP adrift on a sea of troubles, a resurgent Scottish Labour led by Anas Sarwar, is optimistic of clawing back voters come polling day.

About the area

The East Lothian tourist board calls the area Scotlands best-kept secret, quietly boasting more than 40 miles of coastline and swathes of rolling countryside. To the north of Dunbar, where fishermen still ply their trade in this former leading herring port, the town of North Berwick is popular among tourists and residents. Sitting within easy commuting distance from Edinburgh, the picturesque resort has regularly been named Scotlands most expensive seaside town for property in recent years.

The region  which voted against Scottish independence in the 2014 referendum  is steeped in history. Inland, the former mill town of Haddington and current administrative centre largely retains its medieval street plan. Other towns include the former mining communities of Tranent and Prestonpans, while the small village of Athelstaneford is hailed as the birthplace of the Scottish flag, the Saltire.

Once largely agricultural with a local economy heavily dependent on farming, fishing and coal mining, tourism is now one of the leading industries here. The energy firm EDF, which operates Torness nuclear power station down the coast from Dunbar,is also one of the biggest local employers.

Who are the candidates?

Labour veteran Douglas Alexander will battle it out against the SNPs Lyn Jardine, leader of the opposition on the Labour-run East Lothian Council. Alexanders Parliamentary career dates back to 1997, when he became the MP for Paisley South. A key figure of the New Labour years and an ally of Gordon Brown, he served variously as International Development Secretary and Transport Secretary between 2006 and 2010, and also held a string of ministerial posts. If Labour comes to power next month, it is rumoured the 56-year-old could be handed a high-profile frontbench job.

Jardine meanwhile cut her teeth in local politics. She says she has been consistentlyencouraged by others to stand for office. With sitting Lothian East MP Kenny MacAskill, a former Scottish Justice Secretary, defecting to Alex Salmonds Alba Party in 2021 and now standing in a different constituency, Jardine hopes to defend the slim majority won by the SNP five years ago. The Electoral Calculus website rated her chances of doing so at seven per cent on Friday, while Labour is said to be 92 per cent likely to take the seat.

Also running in Lothian East  but with little likelihood of success  are Scott Hamilton for the Conservatives, Duncan Dunlop for the Liberal Democrats, Shona McIntosh for the Greens, George Kerevan for Alba and Robert Davies for Reform UK.

View from the high street

Dissatisfaction with the SNP is widespread. But theres no obvious wave of fervent enthusiasm for any party. Some plan to vote Labour almost by default, for want of what they would call a better alternative. But plenty are still undecided  and uninspired.

Tear, 51, falls in the latter group. She would usually vote Conservative but the last lot have put me off for life. She expects she will probably vote Labour for the first time since Tony Blair was in power, to keep out the SNP.

[The Tories] have completely lost touch, she says from her kiosk. I dont think theyve got a clue. Eric Robertson is also undecided. The 68-year-old, who lives beside the harbour and renovates furniture for a living, doesnt have much confidence in any of the options. Ill probably end up voting Green but I dont trust them either, he says.

Eric Robertson, from Dunbar, wants taxes to go up to increase spending on public services - Stuart Nicol

Standing near stacks of lobster pots piled up beside the water, he admits he is wary of the Greens plans for fishing. These include controls on the type of fishing gear and harvesting levels allowed. Which is a bit of a disaster for a harbour, Robertson reflects, as tourists wander past, and gulls scream overhead. The sun emerges from behind the clouds and, just as quickly, disappears again.

Robertson has previously voted for both Labour and the SNP, but doesnt think much of either any more. Still, if the SNPs record in Scotland has not been brilliant, it has at least been better than the Tories record at Westminster, he reasons. Rishi Sunak is saying hell reduce taxes, he says. But what we need is to put taxes up to improve public services.

The SNP tried this in Scotland, introducing a new band of income tax in April for those earning more than 75,000, while anyone earning 28,867 or more now pays more than someone earning the same elsewhere in the UK. Its fair to say this move has not been universally welcomed.

The fact I pay more tax than someone 30 miles down the road in [the English town of] Berwick-upon-Tweed is insane, fumes a Tory-voting woman in her 40s on Dunbars High Street. In Haddington town centre, father-of-three Dylan Berrill, a 50-year-old mental health nurse, expects he will stick with the SNP. I still want independence, he says.

What are the burning local issues?

[We need] more affordable housing, says Green Party voter Rebecca Foster, 41, an office assistant, who is walking down Haddington high street with her eight-yearold daughter. Theres a lot of new builds going up but theyre quite extortionate. Its hard for anyone to get on the property ladder. More community centres with services for young children would also help, she suggests.

Office worker Rebecca Foster, pictured in Haddington, is concerned about the next generation getting on the property ladder - Stuart Nicol

The lack of a bank in Dubar is mentioned by several locals. And the cost of living crisis has bitten here too. Our food bank is constantly used, says Tear.

By early afternoon, the fishermen, who were busy at Dunbar harbour in the morning, have disappeared for the day. The once-booming herring industry long gone, their focus now is on prawn trawling, lobsters and crabs.

They arent having a good time, says Robertson. The weathers been horrendous. We had one of the largest fleets. Now we have six boats up for sale and no-one wants to buy them.

The political weather has also darkened for the incumbents here. As elsewhere, theres a sense that its time for a change. As Haddington-based school welfare officer Alison Swallow, 53, reflects: The general consensus is [the SNP] have maybe not done what they promised they would. I like Labours policies. Theyre fairer to my demographic of hard workers.
Children fleeing the conflict in Sudans Darfur region cross the border between Sudan and Chad in 2023. Photograph: Zohra Bensemra/Reuters

Children are being trapped in war zones as a result of impossible bureaucratic requirements imposed on one of the few legal routes for asylum seekers, a charity has found.

The government has championed family reunion processes as a means for refugees to safely reunite with loved ones in Britain, but according to a new report by Ramfel, a charity that supports vulnerable migrants, the scheme is not fit for purpose and applicants have been abandoned, leaving them at risk of trafficking or even death.

Ramfel said that when conflict broke out in Sudan in April 2023, it was supporting 14 people, all of whom could qualify to come to the UK under the scheme. But over a year later, eight remain trapped there and facing extreme risks. Several are children who previously fled Eritrea, a repressive dictatorship that conducts forcible mass conscription of men, women and children. Two other boys saw a loved one killed when their home was raided and looted in Sudan.

Some of the teenagers have now fled Sudan on irregular routes, with one boy detained in Libya and another unaccompanied child being trafficked to South Sudan and raped.

Related: Threefold increase in lone child asylum seekers in UK, figures show

Just two of the children who were in Sudan when conflict erupted have arrived in the UK, and despite closing its visa application centre in Khartoum, the government has not agreed to waive requirements for applicants to register their fingerprints and biometric information in person.

Visa Application Centres are open and operating in neighbouring countries, reads a Home Office letter. However, travel across Sudan is conducted at your own risk, and under your own discretion, considering whether it is safe to do so.

An Eritrean refugee living in the UK told of his desperate efforts to have his two young brothers, now aged 17 and 14, join him. They fled to Sudan alone after their mother died and their father was seized by Eritrean authorities, and were living in a refugee camp when fighting started.

I made the [family reunion] application but the Home Office was saying that there was not a place to test them for tuberculosis or a visa centre in Sudan, said Yusef*. They said they couldnt take them.

As the conflict spread, his brothers fled north from Khartoum and into Egypt, where they are living irregularly and face arrest and detention from authorities.

They dont have anyone, how will they survive? Yusef asked. If the police find them asleep, they will take them back to Eritrea and they will be put in prison. They are still in this situation and theyre very scared.

Yusef, who travelled to the UK himself as a teenager in 2018 and has since been granted refugee status, said he did not understand why his young brothers could not have been allowed on a plane to Britain from Sudan.

The Home Office did not consider a request to bypass biometric enrolment for the children in October last year, and Ramfel is now attempting to have them registered in Cairo.

Yusef said he would not stop his efforts to bring them to safety in the UK, adding: Im the only person they have, I am the only one that can help them.

Ramfel cited the Sudan war as an example of the abject failure of the family reunion process, which is primarily for children and spouses of UK residents and can only be expanded to siblings and other close relatives under a separate, more restricted, scheme.

The charity argues that the situation is driving greater numbers of refugees on to irregular routes that ultimately result in small boat crossings over the English Channel, which are running at a record high.

Nick Beales, head of campaigning at the charity, said: The UKs family reunion system is not fit for purpose and this report shows that it does not act as an effective safe route for refugees seeking to come to the UK.

For people in places such as Sudan and Gaza, they are prevented from even applying for family reunion due to the governments inflexible and unreasonable insistence on them attending non-existing visa application centres.

This leaves those in conflict zones, including unaccompanied children, with no choice but to take dangerous journeys in search of family reunification.

Ramfel called for the next government to create a process that allows those with loved ones in the UK to swiftly and safely secure visas for legal travel to Britain.

Home Office figures show that 9,764 refugees were granted family reunion visas in 2023, of whom half were children. The department said fingerprints and facial images were necessary for identity and suitability checks on foreign nationals who are subject to immigration control, and that people who could not travel to visa application centres can contact us to explain their circumstances.

*Name has been changed to protect identity
Allan Mustafa. Grooming: Carol Sullivan at Arlington Artists using ShakeUp Cosmetics. Photograph: Perou/The Observer

Ive always been into food  and I sort of forget sometimes. Because food was so prominent in my household: my dads Kurdish, my mums Czech, but my mum spent 15 years living in Baghdad before I was born, so shes an expert on both sides. Shed always be cooking: a simpler dish would be a goulash with dumplings, or, from the Kurdish side, a lamb stew either with okra or potatoes or beans. I was spoiled.

I used to be a little bit ashamed of being a foreigner and not feeling like everyone else. When my friends were coming over, Id be like: Dont show them sauerkraut, theyll think its weird. Trying to get the pizzas out of the freezer so they couldnt see  in my mind  the strange foreign food. And I smoked lots of weed, so I just wanted to eat pizzas and frankfurters, like freezer meals and shit.

My dad passed away about 12 years ago and I started thinking that I needed to connect with this side of my family and my heritage and my culture. Yeah, Im from London, and Im proud of that. But I want to know my roots as well. I didnt understand what Kurdistan was. And food is just an amazing vehicle to learn about these things.

Taste Cadets [Mustafas YouTube and Instagram food and travel show made with his friends Kieran Cavanagh and Marcus Adams] is a passion project. We started in 2017 when I was making [the Bafta award-winning mockumentary] People Just Do Nothing. But I didnt want to walk into an office and go: Can me and two of my mates that have never been on telly get paid to travel the world? Its a lot harder to pitch that, so I took it into my own hands and we created our own videos.

Anthony Bourdain is a creative moral compass. Theres nothing wrong with being an influencer or whatever, but we didnt want to take Taste Cadets down that path. I wanted to create a documentary, as opposed to a staged food show. But if weve influenced someone, if youve had a great time off the back of our great time, then thats great.

Its a dirty little secret of Taste Cadets that I dont eat any fish or seafood. And I hate telling people that because then they assume that I just like chips and beans: Oh, you dont really like food then? No, I love food, but there must be some sort of trauma there. My mum, she might have used to beat me with a fish. I used to eat fish as a kid, so its a mental thing. Its not the fishes fault, its mine.

I really geek out on being able to eat history. An obvious example would be banh mi in Vietnam: its the best thing. Colonisation is fucked, but theres some things that are left over and made better than just putting a bit of ham in a baguette. Nothing wrong with a beautiful jambon-beurre, but just improving it and using survivalism and resilience.

We filmed the People Just Do Nothing movie in Japan. That was an eye-opener on their food scene. I even tried some sushi and I didnt die, I didnt faint or throw up.

I do fantasise about doing a Marvel movie or something. One day, if I do a big movie, theyll have to get me a trainer and theyll feed me food through a drip, and it will be fine.

My favourite things

Food

Kifte, which are Kurdish stuffed rice meatballs with lamb mince inside. Thats one of my death row meals.

Drink

A really well done mezcal margarita. I love sour: thats very much Kurdish and eastern Europe on the Czech side. And sour and spicy drinks are my bag more than sweet.

Place to eat

Nandine in Camberwell, south London. When she escaped from the regime of Saddam, Pary Baban (Auntie Pary, who cooks there) travelled all through different parts of Kurdistan to escape, and she made her own recipe book from that. So there are regional Kurdish dishes from the countryside, stuff I didnt even know about, as well as the classics.

Dish to make

A lamb shoulder, just slow-cooked in the oven. The recipe comes from my mum: she makes a blend of onions, garlic, tomatoes, salt and pepper and oil, then scores the lamb shoulder, rubs it all in. You put it in for 20 minutes super-high, then you add a few cups of water, cover it with foil and then leave it for six, seven hours.

The new series of Peacock starts on BBC Three and iPlayer on 17 June
Tourists are banned from walking on or swimming at Spiaggia Rosa, on the deserted island of Budelli. Photograph: robertharding/Alamy

A Dubai-based influencer has been fined 1,800 for trespassing on an off-limits pink-tinged beach in Sardinia before sharing a series of video clips and photos of her escapade on social media.

The woman arrived by dinghy on the shore of Spiaggia Rosa, a beach famous for its pink sand on the tiny Sardinian island of Budelli, allegedly ignoring all the prohibition signs, according to reports in the Italian press.

Tourists have been banned from walking on the beach  from which sand has often been pilfered  and swimming in the sea there since the 1990s, but they can visit the island during the day via boat and are permitted to walk along a path behind the beach.

The woman, of Brazilian origin living in Dubai, uploaded the content on to @Rogeriaguiadubai, an Instagram account with more than 35,000 followers. In one of the video clips, she homes in on her footprints in the sand to the tune of Edith Piafs La Vie en rose playing in the background.

The trespass, which is alleged to have happened a few days ago, sparked indignation among people in Sardinia, prompting officers from the coastguard for La Maddalena archipelago, which includes Budelli, to investigate further.

They soon traced the woman to Dubai and have notified her of the 1,800 fine, of which 300 is for flouting the ban and 1,500 is for arriving onboard a vessel that did not have access authorisation for Budelli. The woman rented the dinghy and the owner of the hire company was unaware that she was planning to sail it to the island.

The Instagram account is on private mode. The Guardian has emailed Rogeriaguiadubai for a request for comment.

Budelli is uninhabited, although for more than 30 years it was home to one resident, Mauro Morandi, who had stumbled across the island in 1989 after his catamaran broke down on the way to the south Pacific.

Morandi, compared by some to Robinson Crusoe, was able to stay after becoming the islands de facto caretaker, but in 2021 the by now 84-year-old was forced out by the authority that manages La Maddalena national park.
Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on June 14, 2024 - EYAD BABA

Eight Israeli soldiers were killed in Rafah on Saturday when their armoured vehicle was hit by a major explosion.

The incident in southern Gaza is one of the deadliest for the countrys troops in eight months of war.

One of the casualties has been named as Captain Wassem Mahmud, 23. The names of the other seven were due to be released later.

The soldiers had just been involved in an overnight offensive against Hamas in Rafahs Tel Sultan neighbourhood, during which troops killed some 50 gunmen, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.

They were returning to their quarters in a convoy when the explosion occurred at around 5am on Saturday morning.

Their Namer armoured combat engineering vehicle was the fifth or sixth vehicle in the convoy.

Cause of blast unclear

Preliminary enquiries suggested the vehicle got hit as a result of an explosion of a side bomb, the military said in a statement, adding that the magnitude of the blast suggested that the bomb had set off a secondary explosion.

The explosion was significant and may have been caused by the initiation of the explosive material on the vehicle, the military said.

There was a very serious damage to the vehicle and those in it, and a large explosion making it difficult to identify and locate the bodies.

Military spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a televised briefing later on Saturday that there was a strong explosion.

He said the blast was apparently from an explosive device planted in the area or from the firing of an anti-tank missile.

The Al Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, said it carried out a complex ambush against enemy vehicles operating in Tal al-Sultan.

The terror group claimed it had attacked a military bulldozer, which became engulfed in flames.

When rescue troops arrived, they then struck an armored personnel carrier, killing the soldiers, it said.

The fatalities represent the greatest number of Israeli soldiers killed in a single incident since January, when 21 died in central Gaza, and brings the total death toll in the ground operation agianst Hamas to 307.

Heartbreaking price of just war

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said the deaths were the heartbreaking price in our just war.

He insisted that despite the heavy and staggering cost, we must stick to the goals of the war.

The incident comes as Israel increases its ground offensive on Rafah over the concerns of the US and other allies, who have urged it to do more to limit the high civilian death toll.

Some of the fiercest fighting has been seen in Tal al-Sultan, where Hamas said Friday its fighters targeted Israeli tanks with rocket-propelled grenades and mortars, while the IDF said it found tunnels used by the terror group.

In Tel Aviv, anti-government protests have been ongoing for months, with many demonstrators calling for the immediate return of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, along with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus resignation.

On the Hahalacha Bridge in central Tel Aviv, a group of parents of combat soldiers staged a protest over a major motorway to denounce the governments lack of war strategy.

Many cars sounded their horns in support as they held Israeli flags and signs saying parents of combat soldiers scream loudly - enough! Some mothers dyed their palms red to symbolise that the government has blood on its hands.

F--k Bibi! shouted one driver as he lowered his window to shout support to the demonstrators.

A growing number of parents have been breaking social taboos in Israels security conscious society to speak out over the past few months about the deployment of their children to Gazas brutal warzone, accusing Mr Netanyahus government of prolonging the conflict for political reasons.

In the first six months, we were supportive. We believed that it was important for them to fight for our safety. But now they do not need to be there, said Hagar Moshe Kedem, whose son is currently stationed in Gaza.

She said the deaths of the eight soldiers on Saturday had tragically been lost in vain.

Ms Moshe Kedem took a microphone to address the small crowd. Stop sacrificing our children! she shouted. The parents circled around her crying Shame! Shame! Shame!
Polling showed 57% of French people want Macron to resign if his centrists are defeated in the parliamentary election. Photograph: Michel Euler/AP

Frances prime minister, Gabriel Attal, stared ahead with his arms folded while another minister covered his face with his hands as Emmanuel Macron gathered top government figures at the Elysee last Sunday to make the shock announcement that he would dissolve parliament and call a snap legislative election in the wake of a win at the polls by Marine Le Pens party. The mood, said Attal, was grave.

One senior centrist figure said this week they had not slept properly since the announcement of a campaign that will be the shortest in modern French history at barely three weeks. Some party supporters said their world had been turned upside down. Were going to get out there and do our best, said a government minister.

Macrons opponents on the left have deemed it utter folly to call a sudden parliamentary election at a time when support for the far-right, anti-immigration National Rally (RN) is at its highest level in history. Several politicians said Macron was playing Russian roulette.

Le Pens National Rally was founded as the Front National by her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen. For decades it was regarded as a danger to democracy that promoted racist, antisemitic and anti-Muslim views, but last weeks European elections it got a record 31.4% of the French votes. This was double the score of Macrons centrists, who are at their lowest ebb. Le Pens support is also increasingly evenly distributed  her party topped the vote in more than 90% of the communes of France.

Related: French elections: who are the key players and what is at stake?

Predicting the next result is complex, but pollsters agree on the broad trend: the far right could make massive and historic gains, going from 88 seats to more than 200, potentially allowing it to enter government. A united front of parties on the left could come second. Macrons centrist group, founded in 2016 as a radical reinvention of the French political landscape and that promised to reinvigorate politics and curb the appeal of the far-right, could lose a large chunk of its seats and come a distant third. At the end of it all, there could be no absolute parliamentary majority.

Amid bafflement on why an election was called, Macron described himself as an unshakeable optimist who was in it to win. He said he trusted French voters to now make a distinction between expressing anger at the ballot box in the European elections and risking having an extremist government in France that he said would destroy the cohesion of society and wreck the economy. He said he was convinced a large number of French people did not recognise themselves in this extremist fever and would vote to save the centre ground.

A member of Macrons entourage said the snap election was admittedly brutal for his centrist MPs, many of whom are already out campaigning to save their seats, but it was necessary and rational. Macron, after a European election defeat by the far right and two fraught years with no absolute majority in parliament, could not continue without listening to the people, the source said.

Macron argued this week that he could deliver a new broad centrist coalition government if more politicians joined him from the traditional right and social democrat left. But that form of coalition has proved impossible since Macrons re-election in 2022, when his centrists lost their absolute majority in parliament.

While the D-day commemorations in Normandy had an impact on the election in the UK with a row over Rishi Sunaks early departure from the ceremonies, it seemed that Macrons recent presence at a week of commemorations on the Normandy coast had led him to believe his relationship with the French people was not as fraught as many suggested.

In Bayeux, after a speech in homage to Gen Charles de Gaulle, he had taken off his jacket for an unusually long walkabout among locals who asked him to sign autographs and pose for selfies. His team had expected 800 people; 3,000 turned out. The crowd was there to mark the memorial event rather than national politics but Macrons entourage believed it showed there was less personal hatred for the president than the French media made out.

And yet the mood in France is tense. Macrons confidence ratings have dropped and voters from the centre left deserted him in the European elections, accusing him of veering right with a law on immigration and pushing through a raise in the pension age. Macron argued that polls showed a majority of people approved of his decision to call a snap election. But polling by CSA showed 57% want Macron to resign if his centrists are defeated in the vote.

The president insists he will not resign. Even if RN did manage the steep challenge of reaching an absolute majority in the French parliament and forming a government with their 28-year-old leader, Jordan Bardella, as prime minister, Macron could remain president for three more years and still be in charge of defence and foreign policy. However, he would lose control over the domestic agenda, including economic policy, security, immigration and finances.

Macron offered a broad spectrum of campaign ideas this week, from calling a national consultation on secularism in France to banning mobile phones for children under 11. He warned that France faced a choice between his own centrists or the extremes, saying there were two extremes in France, which he called the far right and the far left. He said Jean-Luc Melenchons leftwing France Unbowed party was extreme and warned other parties on the left against an election alliance that included them. But that alliance could score higher in the snap election than Macrons centrists.

Its going to be very difficult for the centrists, said Stewart Chau, the director of polling at Verian Group. He said public opinion viewed Macrons decision to dissolve parliament and call an election less as an act of courage than as an arsonist playing with fire.
Robert Jenrick says he has 'immense sympathy for those natural conservatives who feel let down and drawn to Reform' - Victoria Jones/PA Wire

A former Cabinet minister has said he shares the frustrations of traditional Tory voters defecting to Reform UK, but warned that a vote for Nigel Farages party would lead to a Labour elective dictatorship.

Robert Jenrick, who resigned last year over Rishi Sunaks Rwanda Bill, pointed to failings in immigration policy as well as the high tax burden, the soft criminal justice system and inefficient public services as reasons for traditional Tories deserting the party.

In an article for The Telegraph, he warned that the success of Reform threatens to kill off conservatism for good as a meaningful force in parliament.

It comes as the latest poll, for this newspaper, puts Reform up three points to 13 per cent with the Tories down to 21 per cent - their lowest vote share since the end of Theresa Mays premiership in May 2019. Labour remains in the lead at 46 per cent.

Mr Jenrick said: I have immense sympathy for those natural conservatives who feel let down and drawn to Reform. Not only do I understand their frustrations, I share many of them.

The tax burden is too high, the criminal justice system too soft and public services too inefficient. My disagreements with the Government on immigration policy meant I resigned from Cabinet.

He warned that the country is sleepwalking into a very dangerous future, saying: A Labour Party with an elective dictatorship will be equally unrestrained on raising taxes.

Mr Jenrick is the second prominent figure on the Right of the party to make a public intervention in the campaign this week after former home secretary Suella Braverman blamed the Conservative partys depressing electoral position on its failure to tackle migration and said she had urged Mr Sunak to take action.

Both have been touted as potential future leaders of the Conservative Party, with Mr Jenricks article likely to be seen by some as a pitch for the job.

He said: Some voters feel so angry with the Tories that a Labour landslide is a price they are willing to pay. Again, I sympathise with their frustrations and know that we must meet the British publics expectations. That is the task I have dedicated myself to since resigning.

In his article, which does not mention Rishi Sunak by name, Mr Jenrick went on to say that the Tories must rediscover our roots and build the truly conservative alternative our country needs and millions yearn for.

He said: Their success can only weaken the conservative movement. The Right cannot unify after the election if there is no meaningful force in Parliament to coalesce around.

It is understood that Tory leadership hopefuls have been doing the rounds among MPs, offering to come and help with their campaigns.

Figures on the Right of the party say that a rebel manifesto remains under discussion but admitted that the initiative may not get off the ground because everyone is feeling under the cosh and concentrating their efforts on fighting for their seats.

Mr Jenrick is defending a majority of 21,816 in his Nottinghamshire constituency of Newark, where he has served as an MP for a decade, since 2014.

Meanwhile, in an interview with The Telegraph, Mr Farage declared that the Tory brand is broken, adding that Conservative voters he has met now view the party with contempt.
Sir Keir Starmer, with Angela Rayner following the launch of his party's manifesto, will be celebrating a sum of 894,000 in donations handed to the party between May 30 and June 5 - STEFAN ROUSSEAU/PA

Labour received 350,000 more in private donations than the Tories in the first week of the election campaign, new figures reveal.

In a blow to Rishi Sunak, Sir Keir Starmers party was handed 894,000 by individuals and companies between May 30 and June 5, compared to the Conservatives 546,418, according to the latest statistics from the Electoral Commission.

It is the first indication of how private donors are responding to the Labour and Tory campaigns since Parliament was dissolved on May 30.

Labours biggest donor was Duncan Kenworthy, the Love Actually producer who gave 500,000, while the Tories generated their largest sum from Lebanese businessman Bassim Haidar, who has expressed concerns about both parties plans to scrap the non-dom tax status.

Duncan Kenworthy, the Love Actually producer, gave the Labour party 500,000 - GISELA SCHOBER/GETTY

With donations from all sources factored in  including public funds  Labour made nearly 1 million more than the Conservatives in the first week of the campaign, generating 1,579,319 compared to their rivals 597,372.

The figures are a sign that Sir Keirs attempts to win back the trust of the private sector by distancing himself from his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn are paying off.

In the past, the Tories have typically attracted bigger donations from individuals and companies, while Labour has tended to lean more heavily on trade union support.

It will be a disappointment for Mr Sunak, with the Tories having geared up their efforts to reach out to donors in the run-up to the campaign launch. The Prime Minister is believed to have met more than 10 of the Conservatives most generous donors at a private event at a London hotel on May 27.

The figures build on the progress Labour has made winning over private donors in recent years. Around 13 million of the central partys takings came from individuals and companies last year  more than double the amount raised in 2022, and more than eight times the sum generated in 2021.

It comes after Labour hailed its best fundraising year ever in March, with Anneliese Dodds, the party chair, putting it down to Sir Keirs leadership.

In the first week of the campaign, the bulk of Labours money came in the form of a 500,000 donation from Toledo Productions Ltd, whose owner Mr Kenworthy produced several romantic comedies starring Hugh Grant, including Love Actually and Notting Hill.

Anneliese Dodds, the party chair, said in March that Labour's 'best fundraising year' last year was down to Sir Keir Starmer's leadership - GARY ROBERTS/SHUTTERSTOCK

It appears to be Mr Kenworthys first donation to a political party, although the producer did donate 5,000 to David Milibands unsuccessful bid for the Labour leadership in 2010.

Other significant donations to Labour included 100,000 from entrepreneur Tony Bury and 70,000 each from businessman Clive Hollick, also a Labour peer, and hedge fund manager Stuart Rosen.

Labour also benefited from 652,411 in public funds from the House of Commons following the dissolution of Parliament, and 32,908 from the Communication Workers Union, bringing the total raised by the party during the week to 1.58 million.

For the Conservatives, the largest single donation was 75,000 from Mr Haidar, who told The Guardian in May he was urgently looking to leave the UK after both main parties promised to scrap the non-dom tax status.

Mr Haidar also provided 13,085 worth of travel for the Tories.

Meanwhile, the party received 75,000 from former oil services company chairman Alasdair Locke, and 50,000 each from former party treasurer Lord Michael Farmer and gas turbine company Centrax Industries, controlled by the Barr family.

The Lib Dems raised slightly less than the Conservatives, receiving 454,999 in the first week of the campaign, including 150,000 from businessman Safwan Adam.
Sandra Hemme, in an undated booking photo provided by the Missouri department of corrections. Photograph: AP

A Missouri woman who was imprisoned for more than 40 years for murder has had her conviction overturned after a judge found clear and convincing evidence that she was innocent of the killing in question.

Sandra Sandy Hemme, 63, was convicted of  and sentenced to life imprisonment for  the 1980 slaying of Patricia Jeschke, a library worker in St Joseph, Missouri, after Hemme made statements to the police incriminating herself while she was a psychiatric patient.

On Friday, Livingston county circuit judge Ryan Horsman ruled that evidence directly ties the killing of Jeschke to a local police officer who later went to prison for another crime and has since died.

Hemme, who has spent the last 43 years behind bars, must be freed within 30 days unless prosecutors decide to re-try her, the judge said. The ruling came after an evidentiary hearing in January where Hemmes legal team presented arguments supporting her evidence.

Hemmes prison term marks the longest-known wrongful conviction of a woman in US history, her attorneys with the Innocence Project  a criminal justice nonprofit  said.

We are grateful to the Court for acknowledging the grave injustice Ms Hemme has endured for more than four decades, her attorneys said in a statement.

Hemme initially pleaded guilty to capital murder in exchange for avoiding the death penalty. But her conviction was thrown out on appeal, according to the Associated Press. She was convicted again in 1985 after a one-day trial in which the only evidence against her was her confession.

In a 147-page petition seeking her exoneration, attorneys argued that authorities ignored Hemmes wildly contradictory and factually impossible statements while she was a patient at a psychiatric hospital.

Hemme, then 20, was receiving treatment for auditory hallucinations, de-realization and drug use when she was targeted by the police, her attorneys said. She had spent most of her life, beginning from the age of 12, in inpatient psychiatric treatment.

Over a series of hours-long interviews, Hemme gave conflicting statements about the murder while being treated with antipsychotic drugs, her attorneys said. At some points, she was so heavily medicated that she was unable to even hold her head up and was restrained and strapped to a chair, they wrote.

Detectives noted that Hemme seemed mentally confused and not able to fully comprehend their questions. Steven Fueston, a retired St Joseph police department detective, testified that he stopped one of the interviews because she didnt seem totally coherent.

Police exploited her mental illness and coerced her into making false statements while she was sedated and being treated with antipsychotic medication, Hemmes lawyers said.

They alleged that authorities at the time suppressed evidence that implicated Michael Holman, then a 22-year-old police officer who had tried to use the victims credit card. Holmans truck was spotted near the crime scene and a pair of earrings identified by Jeschkes father were found in Holmans possession.

Holman had been a suspect and was questioned at the time. Many of the details uncovered during the investigation into Holman were never given to Hemmes attorneys. Holman was investigated for insurance fraud and burglaries and spent time in prison. He died in 2015.

In his ruling Friday, Horsman wrote that no evidence whatsoever outside of Ms Hemmes unreliable statements connects her to the crime, adding that those statements had been taken while she was in psychiatric crisis and physical pain.

In contrast, this court finds that the evidence directly ties Holman to this crime and murder scene, Horsman wrote. He said prosecutors had failed to disclose evidence that would have helped Hemmes defense and that her trial counsel had fallen below professional standards.

The Missouri attorney generals office, which fought to uphold her conviction, did not immediately comment on the judges ruling, the Kansas City Star reported.
An offshore windfarm zone has been approved for an area 20km off the coast of the Illawarra region south of Sydney. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

The federal government has given the green light to an offshore windfarm zone south of Sydney, making it Australias fourth such zone to be declared.

Announcing the project in the Illawarra on Saturday, the climate change and energy minister, Chris Bowen, said the move would bring thousands of new jobs and help power Australias clean energy future.

The zone will be 20km from the coast and exclude areas significant for the little penguin and for southern right whale migration.

It will cover an offshore area of 1,022 sq km  a one-third reduction from the original proposal  and has the potential to generate 2.9GW, or enough power for 1.8m homes.

The Illawarra has been an engine room of the Australian economy for generations, and now its ready to power Australias clean energy future, Bowen said.

Related: Falling short of ambitious emissions targets isnt failure  but rushing towards 2C of heating is | Katherine Woodthorpe

Declaring this offshore wind zone brings the Illawarra a step closer to becoming a major provider of the building blocks of the net zero transformation  green power, green hydrogen and green steel  along with thousands of new jobs.

Since last year, the proposal for a windfarm zone in the Illawarra and the declaration of a zone in New South Waless Hunter region has drawn fierce opposition, with some online groups sharing factually incorrect information about the windfarms.

The Coalition has fanned opposition to the project, despite introducing legislation for the development of an offshore wind industry while in government.

The federal Labor MP for Whitlam, Stephen Jones, said the declaration showed the governments commitment to supporting local jobs and delivering cheaper and more reliable energy for Illawarra businesses and households.

We want Australia to be a global renewable energy superpower and regions such as the Illawarra have an important role to play in our nations energy transformation, he said.

The zone does not guarantee an offshore windfarm will go ahead, but is the first of five regulatory stages. The stages will include project-specific feasibility and commercial licences and an environmental assessment under national conservation laws.

If an offshore windfarm does go ahead, the turbines could be up to 268 metres high. The government has said the size, arrangement and number of turbines will be determined after the prospective developer undertakes studies.

The government views creating an offshore windfarm industry in Australia as key to helping the country replace ageing coal-fired power plants, and reaching its plan for the energy grid to be made up of 82% of renewable energy by the end of the decade.

The federal Labor MP for Cunningham, Alison Byrnes, said she was pleased the zone had been amended to start further from the coast and exclude significant environmental areas.

[Its a] sensible compromise that reflects the majority of community opinion while helping to achieve our shared goals of more renewable energy, more jobs and fewer emissions, she said.

There is now an extensive process of studies and approvals that will be required but this is a positive step for a region that wants to secure its industrial future and power it using clean energy.

Related: People prefer that wed never close: Eraring lifeline a mixed blessing for a coal community in limbo

Many welcomed the development on Saturday.

The Climate Council policy and advocacy head, Jennifer Rayner, said the Illawarra would continue to thrive for generations with affordable and clean energy being produced in the region.

Offshore wind will be an important part of Australias clean energy grid because it provides reliable, steady renewable energy right around the clock, Rayner said.

This is one of the important ways well power Australia as our ageing and unreliable coal-fired generators close.

The federal and state governments need to work together to rapidly break through roadblocks that are holding back the delivery of onshore wind projects already supported by communities and investors.

The University of Wollongong Energy Futures Network director, Ty Christopher, hailed the offshore wind project as a positive step for the region.

By working together as a community, sharing our concerns for the environment to codesign a clean energy future for the region, we have the ability to deliver positive outcomes for our oceans, our communities and our local economy, he said.

 with Australian Associated Press
The Princess of Wales watched the spectacle of the trooping the colour ceremony from the windows of a major generals office, along with her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, in her first public appearance since revealing her cancer diagnosis.

Catherine, who wore white with navy details, was seen earlier smiling and talking to her children, who were dressed in navy and white, in their carriage before they arrived at Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall. The Princess of Wales, who is the regiments colonel, also wore an Irish Guards regimental brooch. They were cheered by crowds in the Mall as they left Buckingham Palace.

Related: Speculation about Princess of Wales was worst Ive seen, says former adviser

King Charles and Queen Camilla were riding in a carriage in their royal procession ahead of the Princess of Wales.

The Princess of Wales was photographed prior to that arriving at Buckingham Palace by car before the parade.

Ahead of the event, Kate said in a statement: Im looking forward to attending the Kings birthday parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet.

I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal.

The Princess of Wales said she was making good progress but there are good days and bad days. On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well. She added that her treatment will continue for a few more months.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: His Majesty is delighted that the princess is able to attend tomorrows events and is much looking forward to all elements of the day.

The celebration has been held on the sovereigns official birthday for more than 260 years. At the event, Number 9 Company, Irish guards, a regiment Kate represents as colonel, will be trooping the kings colour.

In a letter read to the regiment last week, the Princess of Wales, who is undergoing chemotherapy, wrote to the Irish guards to apologise for being unable to take the salute and wished them luck. Lt Gen Sir James Bucknall will take the salute on her behalf.

The king, who is also undergoing treatment for cancer, will not ride on horseback during the ceremony, but will instead review the parade from an Ascot landau carriage. He attended his first trooping at the age of three, riding in a carriage with his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

More than 1,250 soldiers and hundreds of Guardsmen assembled on the parade ground to be inspected by the king from his carriage with Camilla, who is colonel of the Grenadier Guards, and accompanied by the mounted royal colonels.

The stands overlooking the parade ground were filled with about 8,000 family members and partners of the guardsmen and officers on parade.
Pride flags and colors on the Stonewall Inn bar, in New York City on 3 June 2019. Photograph: Bebeto Matthews/AP

Rainbow flags lining the Stonewall National Monument in New York City to celebrate Pride month were taken down and destroyed this week, police said, marking the second year in a row that the flags have been vandalized during the annual celebration of the LGBTQ+ community throughout June.

Authorities received a report early on Friday about the missing flags at the monument in Manhattans Greenwich Village neighborhood.

A preliminary investigation found that an unidentified person had removed and destroyed multiple flags at the site on Thursday night. The person then fled, the police said.

There were no injuries reported, and no arrests have been announced. The investigation is ongoing, the police department said on Saturday morning.

New York city council member Erik Bottcher, who is gay and whose district includes Greenwich Village, posted images of the damaged flags in a social media post, writing: Anyone who thinks this will intimidate our community is badly mistaken.

Last night, bigots vandalized the Stonewall National Monument, snapping flag sticks & stealing 3/4 of the flags around the permitter of the park. Also, someone burned Pride decorations at 22nd St. in Chelsea. Anyone who thinks this will intimidate our community is badly mistaken. pic.twitter.com/x6K033UXBL  Erik Bottcher (@ebottcher) June 14, 2024

New Yorks attorney general, Letitia James, described the vandalism as disgusting and called on anyone with information to contact the police. In New York, we stand for love and acceptance, not hate and bigotry, James wrote.

The desecration of Pride decorations is unacceptable under any circumstances and especially hateful during Pride Month, Democratic New York representative Dan Goldman wrote. As a community, we must push back against hate of any kind.

The New York City mayor, Eric Adams, who on Thursday hosted a Pride month party at his official residence at Gracie Mansion, also condemned the vandalism.

Hate has no place in our city, and nothing will change that, Adams wrote. We love the LGBTQ+ community and celebrate them during Pride and all year round. Well always have your back, and we will bring whoever defaced the Stonewall monument to justice.

The Stonewall National Monument includes Christopher Park and the Stonewall Inn, where gay men, lesbians and drag queens reacted to a police raid in 1969 with a riot that turned into the LGBTQ+ rights movement in America and around the world.

In 2016, the Obama White House designated the Stonewall Inn as the countrys first-ever national monument to the LGBTQ+ equality movement. That was less than two weeks after 49 people were shot to death in a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

Last year, Pride flags at the monument were vandalized on three separate occasions during Pride month. Three men were arrested in connection to the incidents and charged with criminal mischief as a hate crime.

Less than a day after the flags were broken and stolen this week, a replacement for every one had been mounted, WABC reported.I wish people would just educate themselves on Stonewall and the amazing things that happened here, a resident told the outlet. It was a really, really powerful moment and for people to just take that away from people is just very, very disappointing and sad.
People may only learn of the new rules when they are unable to prove their right to return from holiday or claim benefits. Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

More than 4 million non-EU migrants living in Britain will need to switch to digital eVisas by the end of this year or risk being unable to prove their legal rights, according to figures seen by the Observer.

Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs)  given to all foreign nationals with permission to live in the UK for at least six months  demonstrate proof of an individuals right to study, access public services and claim benefits. But they are being replaced under the Home Offices digitisation programme.

Data from the Home Office released under the Freedom of Information Act revealed that 4,066,145 people have BRPs that expire on 31 December, despite having legal leave to remain in the UK beyond that date. By the end of this year, they will need to have replaced these physical permits with digital eVisas.

The Home Office has already struggled in early attempts to contact those affected, as in some cases the email address they have on file is for a migrants lawyer, and charities fear migrants could fall foul of the cliff edge deadline.

Related: High court rules Home Office acted unlawfully over visa documents

To access their eVisa, people will need to open a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) digital account. People can still apply for this account after 31 December, but if they are not aware of the new rules they may only discover this when they are unable to prove their right to return from holiday or claim benefits.

Campaigners are warning that the next government must address the 31 December deadline or risk a disaster.

The figures were secured from the Home Office by the Helen Bamber Foundation, a human rights charity. Zoe Dexter, its housing and welfare manager, said: It is shocking that the Home Office is rushing through their digitisation plan which affects millions of people in the UK in a ridiculously quick and chaotic manner.

A huge number of people are at risk of not being able to prove their right to work, rent or travel. Many people will unnecessarily lose out on vital benefits because the Department for Work and Pensions also appear to have no plan for implementing this digitisation of IDs.

This will adversely affect people who are particularly vulnerable, including refugees and survivors of trafficking and torture.

Whoever is in power after the election will have to sort out this huge issue and will need to ensure that all government departments coordinate better so that millions are not at risk of significant injustices.

The Home Office told the Observer that the 4.06 million figure includes some BRP holders who already have an eVisa. However, since the eVisa rollout only began in mid-April, this number is likely to be limited.

Josephine Whitaker-Yilmaz, of the migrant rights charity Praxis, said: Millions of people will be left with no way to prove their rights if the next government ploughs ahead with the transition to a digital-only visa system by the end of this year.

Whitaker-Yilmaz added: The Windrush scandal showed us clearly what can happen when people have their ability to prove their rights taken away by Home Office blunder.

Without a change of course, potentially millions of people will find themselves unable to rent a property, get a job or access essential services.
The Holy Family with the Infant Saint John the Baptist in an Extensive Landscape with Travellers, by Herri met de Bles and Sir Peter Paul Rubens. Photograph: Private collection, Switzerland

One benefit of being among historys greatest artists is that if you dont much like a painting done by someone else, you can just improve it. The Flemish master Sir Peter Paul Rubens certainly knew how to paint people; Rubenesque is still used to describe a curvaceous, ample body. So when he noticed the inferior quality of the religious figures depicted on an otherwise accomplished landscape hanging on his wall, it turns out he simply picked up his paint palette.

A newly rediscovered Herri met de Bles painting, titled The Holy Family with the Infant Saint John the Baptist in an Extensive Landscape with Travellers, set a puzzle for art historians because the style of the landscape background did not match the group of people. Hi-tech imaging of the canvas carried out by a London auction house has since completed the jigsaw, revealing the way Rubens had tinkered with a painting now thought to have belonged to his own collection.

Rubens must have thought it would be fun to repaint it, said George Gordon of Sothebys Old Masters. He would have recognised it was a pretty good work by Herri met de Bles, but then noted that the stiff human figures had probably been painted by someone junior in his workshop, or even down the street in a neighbouring workshop.

Now, when the work comes up at an Old Masters auction at Sothebys on 3 July, with a reserve value of between 600,000 to 800,000, it will be ascribed both to the admired landscapist De Bles and to Rubens.

De Bles, who lived in the first half of the 16th century, was known by the nickname il Civetta, the Italian for little owl; he signed his canvases with an owl symbol, in this case inside the cage carried by one of the tiny distant travellers. But the image of the holy family and the infant John the Baptist will be properly attributed to Rubens.

We know Rubens did the occasional overpaint on an old master canvas. It started with retouching drawings and sometimes painting copies of other works, but in his own style, said Gordon.

He was fascinated by the art of the past and saw himself as continuing a tradition. In his own work he drew on earlier masters and then completely transformed these sources into his own manner.

Infrared photography and X-rays carried out before the sale have revealed that Rubens reworked the positions of the baby Jesus, as well as of John the Baptist, and made the folds of the drapery around the Virgin Mary more luxuriant. We did an X-ray, said Gordon, but it was the infrared image that was really helpful in showing us the underdrawing of the figures. It is so interesting to work out what he did. It completes a jigsaw puzzle.

Auction catalogue notes point out that Rubenss changes make the image less formulaic and so more dynamic. The figures were altered to interact with each other more intimately, drawing the eye. The X-rays reveal two heads of Christ looking in different directions and show the alterations made to the legs of St John the Baptist. The infrared exposes the original underdrawing of the composition. Rubens clearly focused on what he saw as the weakest parts of the work, leaving alone the figure of Joseph and the landscape.

The infrared image that was really helpful in showing us the underdrawing of the figures. It completes a jigsaw puzzle. George Gordon, Sothebys

Just as importantly for Sothebys, the research offers new evidence the picture was once in Rubenss possession, since he is unlikely to have taken such a liberty with someone elses property.

It is likely to have been in his collection, said Gordon. The inventory of Rubenss art and possessions that he left when he died at 62 in 1640 is infuriatingly vague.

In other cases where Rubens reworked paintings, or more usually drawings, they were damaged works or pictures of lesser quality. Art historians are not sure if he intended to make them more saleable in the thriving, cosmopolitan art market of Antwerp. The artists early biographer, Roger de Piles, believed it was a mainly creative exercise, done to stimulate his senses and to heat up his genius.

Gordon sees Rubens as a restless polymath, someone who is famously described as dictating letters in several languages to different scribes, while he painted at his easel and also listened to music. And Sir Joshua Reynolds, the 18th-century portrait artist and co-founder of the Royal Academy of Arts, clearly approved of Rubenss habit of reusing and restyling, once writing: What was stolen by Rubens, the possessor knew not how to value; and certainly no person knew so well as Rubens how to use.
This is the lowest share for the Tories recorded by the pollster since the weeks before Theresa May resigned in May 2019 - Heathcliff O'Malley

The Conservatives have slumped to their lowest vote share since the final days of Theresa Mays premiership, fuelling warnings the party is approaching electoral extinction.

Polling by Savanta for The Telegraph puts the Tories on 21 per cent - the lowest share for the party recorded by the pollster since the weeks before Mrs May resigned in May 2019 as her government was paralysed over Brexit.

In contrast, Reform UK has risen to its highest-ever share in a Savanta poll, while Labours lead over the Tories has grown to its largest during Rishi Sunaks tenure as prime minister.

The poll, conducted between June 12 and 14, put Labour up two points at 46 per cent and the Tories down four at 21 per cent, its lowest share in a Savanta (formerly Comres) poll in five years.

Reform surged by three points to 13 per cent with an increase of two points for the Liberal Democrats to 11 per cent.

Reforms 13 per cent share is the highest in a Savanta poll since the partys official creation in January 2021, and Labours 25-point lead is its largest since October 2022 when the Tories were reeling from Liz Trusss disastrous mini-Budget.

Meanwhile, the Green Party gained one point to reach 5 per cent and the SNP went down one to 2 per cent.

The results cap off another dire week for Mr Sunak in which an earlier poll showed Reform had overtaken the Tories for the first time.

Chris Hopkins, Savantas political research director, said: Our research suggests that this election could be nothing short of electoral extinction for the Conservative Party. The hopes of Conservative candidates are being shot to pieces by poll after poll showing the Conservative Party in increasingly dire straits  and were only halfway through the campaign.

Theres a real sense that things could still get worse for the Conservatives, and with postal votes about to drop through millions of letterboxes, time is already close to running out for Rishi Sunak.

As well as testing voting intention, Savanta polled the 2,045 people on other questions, including which of the two main parties they thought would be most likely to raise a series of taxes, including capital gains tax, corporation tax and inheritance tax.

In a sign that Conservative attacks may finally be cutting through, Labour was seen as the most likely party to raise all of the taxes listed, with at least 50 per cent of UK adults saying that they are more likely than the Conservatives to raise corporation tax (55 per cent versus 28 per cent), inheritance tax (54 per cent vs 27 per cent), capital gains tax (53 per cent vs 30 per cent), income tax (51 per cent vs 36 per cent) and national insurance (50 per cent vs 32 per cent).

While Conservative and Reform voters were mostly of the opinion that Labour would increase all types of tax, around half of current Labour voters admit that their party is the most likely to raise corporation tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax.

Polled on whether a series of key Tory manifesto policies would make them feel more positively or negatively towards the party, all the pledges had a net positive impact.

For example, a promise to abolish stamp duty for first-time buyers on homes worth up to 425,000 was five times more likely to make the public feel more positively (50 per cent) towards the Tories than more negatively (10 per cent).

However, in every case when asked whether they trusted the Tories to deliver on the policies, a majority of voters did not trust them to do so.

Mr Hopkins said: Herein lies the fundamental problem for the Conservative Partys election campaign. While its priced in that Labour will raise some taxes, and the Conservative manifesto has some well-liked ideas, the public no longer trusts the Conservatives to deliver on anything they say, including some reasonably popular manifesto policies.

With the Tory manifesto declining to commit to withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights, six in ten (57 per cent) said that the UK should remain a member of the ECHR, compared to just over a quarter (28 per cent) that said the UK should leave.

Half (49 per cent) of people believed a claim from the Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho that removing fossil fuels from UK electricity by 2030 - something promised by Labour - could lead to blackouts, with 37 per cent saying the assessment was wrong.

After Mr Sunak asked veterans to find it in their hearts to forgive him for leaving D-Day commemorations early, 61 per cent said that veterans would not forgive him, with 22 per cent saying they would.

Those aged 65 and over were most likely of all age groups to say that veterans will forgive Mr Sunak (28 per cent vs 17-24 per cent in other age groups), although 58 per cent of those 65 and above still said that veterans would not forgive the Prime Minister.
Advanced Russian defences in Crimea are increasingly vulnerable to Ukraine's US and British-supplied missiles

The night sky over Crimea flashed with explosions and tracer fire as the barrage of American-made missiles arrived and found their targets.

In a matter of minutes, three Russian surface-to-air missile systems that were supposed to be protecting the peninsula had been knocked out in the latest humiliation for Vladimir Putin.

The strikes were part of a meticulously planned and systematic campaign designed to break apart Russias air defence network and render Crimea untenable as a staging ground for Moscows forces.

The campaign, which has intensified in recent weeks, pits Ukraines arsenal of Western missiles  including the American Atacms ballistic missile and the Storm Shadow cruise missiles sent by Britain  against the very latest Russian defences.

But Moscows vaunted defences seem increasingly to be coming off second best against Ukraines Western weapons  even though many of them are much older.

None of our missiles were intercepted by the enemys highly effective air defence, Ukraines general staff said after the attacks on Monday morning.

Two days later, a salvo of 12 Atacms missiles took out two more S-400 systems and a radar installation.

Russian S400 launch system

The Russian rhetoric is that these are all incredible weapons. But in truth, when all these things get thrown together in war, its a question of not just the technology, but the ingenuity and imagination of the people who are using them, Matthew Savill, the military sciences director for the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), told the Sunday Telegraph.

The S-400, which entered service in 2007, is one of Russias most advanced air defence systems and has a price tag of more than a billion dollars.

But Ukraines recent strikes have proved it remains vulnerable even to older weapons like the Atacms, which has been in service with the US military since 1986, or the Storm Shadow, which dates back to the mid-90s.

People hyped up Russian air defences for years, said Mr Savill. What weve actually seen over a period of time is that they havent protected the Syrians in Syria. They havent protected the Iranians in Iran, and now they havent protected the Russians in Crimea.

Western cruise missiles are more difficult to intercept than their Russian counterparts and their stealth technology sets them apart, said Fabian Hoffmann, a doctoral research fellow focusing on missile technology at the University of Oslo.

The Storm Shadow flies at a low altitude, with its carefully crafted shape making it difficult for Russian radars to detect, meaning it can soar past air defence systems unhindered  as footage from Crimea has shown. When it nears the end of its flight, the missile climbs steeply before diving towards its target.

But its not just these capabilities that set Ukraines attacks apart, but also the quick thinking of its servicemen.

Theres just a lot more planning going into the strikes with the Storm Shadows. The Ukrainians really plan out those trajectories, theyre really meticulously plotted in order to circumvent Russian air defence bubbles, Mr Hoffman said. Weve also seen that the Russian operators appear not to be too terribly qualified.

Theyre right now going very methodically and systematically after these S-300 and S-400 air defences. And know that its a smart thing to do. Thats exactly what they should be doing, Nato would do the same.

According to Mr Savill, Ukraines long-range missile attacks are accompanied by large numbers of attack drones, giving a sheer weight in numbers that is difficult for Russia to fight back against.

When you combine those all together, the weight of fire thats coming in, probably from multiple directions, means that you can get those cruise missiles through, he said.

Russian fighter aircraft and a fuel storage depot were destroyed at Belbek air base, near Sevastopol, in Crimea - Maxar Technologies

Russia meanwhile has been forced to spread its weapons more sparsely, given the 1000km long frontline with Ukraine, as well as its need to fence off Kaliningrad, the Kola Peninsula, the border with Finland, and to the east of the country, around Vladivostok.

The Ukrainians are now launching strikes in all directions. The Russians have got a significant stockpile of various weapons, but theyre now having to make difficult prioritisation decisions, said Mr Savill.

The series of embarrassing attacks on Crimea has forced the Kremlin to respond.

Earlier this week, reports emerged that Russia had deployed an S-500, the most advanced ballistic missile defence system it has, to protect the peninsulas Kerch Bridge.

Ukraine has had a long-standing desire to destroy the bridge, which is a Putin vanity project and provides a logistical lifeline for his occupation of Crimea.

The Ukrainian strikes, said Mr Savill, are a headache for Putin.

Its harder for the Russians to base and launch aircraft from there. Its harder for them to store ammunition there and supply their forces. And its embarrassing, frankly.
The US have also destroyed seven radars, one drone and two unmanned bomb boats in Yemen in the past 24 hours - YAHYA ARHAB/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The United States has unleashed a wave of attacks on Houthi sites, destroying seven radars, one drone and two unmanned bomb boats in Yemen in the past 24 hours, its military said.

The attacks come days after a Greek-owned vessel was damaged in an attack by Houthi militants and left drifting in the Red Sea.

These radars allow the Houthis to target maritime vessels and endanger commercial shipping, US Central Command said on social media.

The US separately destroyed two bomb-laden drone boats in the Red Sea, as well as a drone launched by the Houthis over the waterway, it said.

The Houthis used a bomb-carrying drone boat to strike a Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk cargo carrier earlier this week - HOUTHIS MEDIA CENTER HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The US Navy faces the most intense combat it has seen since World War II in trying to counter the Houthi campaign, attacks which the rebels say are an act of solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza war.

On Wednesday, the Houthis used a bomb-carrying drone boat to strike a Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk cargo carrier, causing severe flooding and damage to the engine room. One sailor, who is from the Philippines and was believed to be trapped in the engine room, remains missing.

It just boils down to finding our seafarer who is still onboard, Hans Leo Cacdac, the Philippines migrant workers minister, told a press conference in Manila on Saturday.

The US Navy faces the most intense combat it has seen since World War II in trying to counter the Houthi campaign - Ships crew

Iran-aligned Houthis claimed responsibility for the missile strike and another vessel, Verbena, in the Gulf of Aden, over the past days. Their attacks also damaged two other ships in the last week, marking a significant increase in effectiveness, British security firm Ambrey said.

This situation cannot go on, International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said in a statement.

The Houthis air and sea campaign has disrupted global shipping, causing delays and costs to cascade through supply chains. At least 65 countries and major energy and shipping companies - including Shell, BP, Maersk and Cosco - have been affected, according to a report by the US Defense Intelligence Agency.

The Houthis claim to be acting on behalf of Palestinians in Gaza and yet they are targeting and threatening the lives of third-country nationals who have nothing to do with the conflict in Gaza, Central Command said.
Nigel Farage says there is now only a 'very, very small minority of Tory MPs I call Conservative' - Geoff Pugh for The Telegraph

Nigel Farage could not be in better spirits. With a Cuban cigar in one hand and a glass of double gin and tonic in the other, he is relaxing on the terrace of his favourite Belgravia restaurant at the end of a long week.

And he has every reason to feel smug. The moment he had been waiting for - and Conservative party strategists had been dreading more than anything else - finally arrived: Reform UK overtook the Tories in an opinion poll for the first time.

Mr Farage hastily called a press conference to celebrate on Friday and then headed over to the exclusive Boisdale restaurant where we met for lunch.

The Reform party leader, who confounded expectations by making a return to frontline politics two weeks ago, claimed that his party overtaking the Tories in a YouGov poll was not only a pivotal moment in the election campaign, but in the battle for the future of the Right.

Within a week, you watch, within a week therell be warfare within the Conservative Party as there was in the run-up to 97, he said, referring to the 1997 general election when former prime minister Sir John Major was defeated in a landslide by the Labour party, ending 18 years of Conservative government.

In the run-up to 97, John Major said that he was agnostic about joining the Euro. Those who wanted to join the Euro did their own manifesto and raised their own money. It was an absolutely split, divided joke and the same will happen in this election. You watch, its coming.

You will start to see those MPs, who I agree with on most things, start becoming much more vociferous about their stance as opposed to that of the party. The splits are going to get worse. And to them, I will say: Sorry guys, you are just in the wrong party.

Mr Farage was in good spirits as he chatted to Camilla Turner - Geoff Pugh for The Telegraph

And his prediction is, by all accounts, not far off the mark. The day after the poll, Suella Braverman, the former home secretary, gave an interview to The Telegraph, in which she blamed the Conservative Partys depressing electoral position on its failure to tackle migration, something she said she had urged Rishi to take action on.

On Sunday, in The Telegraph, former immigration minister Robert Jenrick writes that he shares the frustrations of traditional Tory voters defecting to Reform, pointing to failures in the Governments immigration policy, high tax burden, the soft criminal justice system and inefficient public services.

Mr Farage expands on his argument by pointing to a former Conservative minister who featured a picture of the two of them smiling together on her election leaflet. Dame Andrea Jenkyns, who is standing for election in the new seat of Leeds South West and Morley in West Yorkshire, included a photograph of herself with the Reform UK leader on her campaign material. Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak does not appear on the leaflet and nor is the Conservative Party mentioned.

Andrea Jenkyns put my photograph on the leaflets - and texted me afterwards: Do you like it? I like it, of course I do. But she didnt ask me. That sums up where they are, Mr Farage said.

But on the other end, youve got Lord Heseltine saying Im like Oswald Mosley. The Brexit debate has exposed the broad church argument - it might be a broad church, but it has no religion. It has no faith. So whats the point of it?

Reform has almost doubled its support since from the level it was polling at just before Mr Farage revealed he was taking up the helm once more, both as party leader and as a parliamentary candidate for Clacton. A YouGov survey released hours before Mr Farage made his announcement on June 3 had put Reform at 10 per cent, while the Tories were comfortable in second at 25 per cent.

His decision blindsided Tory strategists, who thought that by calling a snap election they had headed off the threat of having to face him at the election. Mr Farage had initially ruled out standing to become an MP once more, saying that he wanted to focus on campaigning for Donald Trump in the upcoming US presidential election.

He revealed that the role he had lined up was to work for a big grassroots group, and would have involved campaigning on the ground, travelling around America, inspiring the troops with the message that we beat the establishment on Brexit because we got off our backsides and did stuff. You can do the same type of thing.

Hinting at the large salary that would have come with the role, he said: If anybody tells me youre standing in Clacton to enrich yourself, Im going to struggle not to scream. While he will no longer play a formal role in Trumps campaign, he still intends to travel to the US to support him and lend my voice.

Mr Farage says that now only a very, very small minority of Tory MPs are what I call Conservative. He says the Tory brand is now utterly broken but rather than a sudden change, there has been a steady erosion over time.

Mr Farage on the campaign trail in Frinton On Sea, Essex on Saturday - Steve Finn Photography

Boris leaving, in some ways, was part of it, Mr Farage said. But actually Boris was part of the problem. Because he never really believed in what he was saying. And that was very clear.

I mean, Rishi is trying to roll back over that net zero stuff, all the lunacy, the trans stuff, the Stonewall stuff. I mean, the Johnson years were the most unconservative the Conservative party has ever seen. He just had the charisma and the bravado to carry it off for a bit. But what we really woke up to was a slow, steady erosion of trust, to a point where one day it becomes a betrayal. Thats how a lot of people feel.

He takes the opportunity to point out that Mr Johnson never thanked him for standing down his candidates in the 2019 election, which he says paved the way for a massive Conservative majority.

Mr Farage is just as disparaging about Mr Sunak as he is about the Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, saying there is absolute disenchantment among the electorate with both leaders.

One a slippery spinner, he said, referring to Mr Sunak. If net migration goes from 700,000 to 690,000 its a victory.

Turning to Sir Keir, he said: And the other just almost looks like he doesnt want to be there. Im sure hes a nice bloke and everything but [he is] lifeless. No energy, no enthusiasm, no commitment. Clearly no fundamental beliefs in anything in particular. I mean he could be a Tory. Rather like Cameron could be Labour.

On Monday, Mr Farage will hold Reforms manifesto launch in the Welsh valleys as he opens up a new front by taking the fight to Labour.

He believes Reform can take seats from Labour in Wales, which voted strongly to leave the EU in the 2016 referendum.

He believes working-class communities in the principality have been forgotten by Westminster in the years since devolution, and that they have been poorly served by the Labour-controlled Welsh Assembly. All but five council areas in Wales voted Leave in 2016, including the former mining communities in the valleys in South Wales.

The Reform manifesto will contain plenty of criticism of the Conservative government, but will also highlight the disaster of the devolved Labour government in a left behind part of the country, according to a party source.

I have no idea where this journey ends, Mr Farage says. But the important thing to remember is, this is not a commando raid. This is not a quick hit and get out. I made a big commitment for the next five years.

I intend to build an enormous grassroots movement across this country of people who believe that PC Westminster talk doesnt reflect their lives, their aspirations, their hopes and their fears. The referendum showed us the disconnect - it is even bigger now.
The two-day peace conference will take place at the luxury Burgenstock resort outside Lucerne. Photograph: Denis Balibouse/Reuters

More than 100 leaders, including the US vice-president, Kamala Harris, and the presidents or heads of the EU, South American, Middle East and Asian countries, will gather in Switzerland on Saturday for one of the most ambitious attempts yet to forge a peace plan for Ukraine.

The summit comes as G7 leaders gathering in Italy clinch a new deal for a 50bn loan for Ukraine, securitised through use of the windfall profits from the interest on Russian central bank assets frozen by the EU and other western nations after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The two-day peace conference, which will take place at the luxury Burgenstock resort outside Lucerne, will discuss Kyivs proposed 10-point plan to end the war along with three other themes: the nuclear threat, food security and humanitarian needs in Ukraine.

It follows the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, on Friday demanding that Kyiv cede more land, withdraw troops deeper inside its own country and drop its Nato bid in order for him to end his war in Ukraine  proposals that were rejected by Ukraine, the US and Nato.

A joint communique on Sunday is expected to centre on the importance of the UN principles on maintaining and respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity.

While this is not seen as advancing peace in itself, it is designed to reduce the space for any unhelpful initiatives, say those with knowledge of the conference.

This will be seen as a success for Volodymyr Zelenskiy who is aiming to build international support for his peace plan that includes a full withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine and return to its 1991 post-Soviet borders.

Organisers of the peace summit played down Chinas decision not to attend, a move that prompted Zelenskiy to accuse Beijing of helping Moscow undermine the meeting, which Chinas foreign ministry denied.

Kyiv had been pushing hard for a Chinese delegation to attend the summit to give the conference further legitimacy and drive a wedge between Moscow and Beijing.

There were also hopes that Saudi Arabia may attend after what Zelenskiy described as productive and energetic talks with the Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday.

Moscow has dismissed the meeting as futile.

China, which has close ties to Russia, said it would not attend because the conference did not meet its requirements, including the participation of Russia.

That dozens of leaders will be in Switzerland at a time when Ukraine is on the back foot militarily, and with talk of war fatigue growing, is an impressive feat, senior US figures said.

Its rather remarkable that theres 100 countries showing up to a peace summit at which the main instigator of that conflict is not participating, said Max Bergmann, a former US state department official.

Its a diplomatic masterstroke, said Bergmann, who now heads the Europe, Russia and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

William Courtney, a former US diplomat, called the Swiss outreach a huge success.

The summit follows several previous gatherings, including one in Saudi Arabia attended by 40 countries including China, which has been trying to enlist support for its own six-point peace plan.

As the summit approaches, China has intensified its outreach through meetings with visiting foreign dignitaries, phone calls and messages to foreign missions on Chinas WeChat platform, diplomats told Reuters reporters.

But sources said organisers were not concerned, as there had been no concretisation of any Chinese diplomatic manoeuvres, with many global south countries, including Colombia, Chile, Argentina and Ecuador, attending on Saturday.

Others attending include Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines and Japan, while Malaysia and Cambodia, which have close ties to China, are not thought to be going.
Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi was leafleting outside a mosque in Slough where he is standing for re-election - LUCY NORTH/PA

A Labour candidate was forced to abandon leafleting outside a mosque on Friday after a crowd barracked him as a Zionist devil with the blood of Palestinian children on his hands.

Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, who is fighting for re-election as the MP for Slough in Berkshire, was driven off by men hurling abuse over Labours stance on the conflict in Gaza.

Videos posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, show Mr Dhesi handing out flyers to men leaving the Masjid al-Jannah mosque in the centre of Slough after Friday prayers.

But as Mr Dhesi tries to distribute the election material, a group of men hurls invective at the Labour politician while recording the encounter on their camera phones.

Youve got the blood of Palestinian children on your hands, you Zionist devil, get out, shouts one man.

In another video recorded from a different angle, a second man accuses Mr Dhesi of supporting genocide.

Hes a liar! Ignore him the way he ignored Palestine on the ceasefire vote, the man says.

He supports Keir Starmer when Keir Starmer says Israel has the right to kill our brothers and sisters, Israel has the right to starve our brothers and sisters, Israel has the right to cut off electricity to our brothers and sisters. He refused to vote for a ceasefire.

The man intersperses his verbal attacks on Mr Dhesi with calls for people to vote for Azhar Chohan, an independent candidate who is backed by The Muslim Vote  a campaign group that aims to get Muslims to vote against Labour over Gaza.

He ignored Palestine, he supports genocide, the man shouts. Vote Azhar Chohan for Slough.

After a few minutes, Mr Dhesi and two supporters are forced to extricate themselves from the crowd and leave the area.

One of the men continues to pursue them down the street while filming on his phone. Its a place of worship, we dont need Zionist devils like you, he shouts. Youre not welcome, dont come back here again. This guy, hes got the blood of Palestinian children on his hands dont ever come back here again.

At one point, several men are also heard chanting: From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.

On Friday evening, Mr Dhesi said on X: Attempts to intimidate, by a small group campaigning for an opponent, wont deter me from continuing to speak up for all, including for peace in Palestine.

Grateful to all, especially from our Muslim community, who were appalled by such behaviour and sent messages of support.

Mr Dhesi received support from figures including Lord Walney, the governments independent adviser on political violence and disruption, who described the scenes as disgusting.

The news comes amid safety concerns for parliamentary candidates while on the campaign trail.

Rosie Duffield, the gender-critical Labour candidate, said on Friday that she would not be taking part in local hustings in Canterbury because the constant trolling she had suffered online had made her fear for her own safety.

Mr Dhesi has previously spoken about how he received death threats last November after abstaining on a motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. The party changed its position earlier this year to call for an immediate ceasefire.

In the local elections in May, Labour experienced a voter backlash in some parts of the country with large Muslim populations.
The Scottish Conservatives have criticised the SNPs opposition to Trident, the UKs nuclear deterrent.

Deputy leader Meghan Gallacher is visiting Helensburgh in Argyll and Bute on Saturday, near the Faslane naval base which is home to the UKs submarine fleet.

She highlighted a report from the GMB union which said thousands of jobs depended on the Faslane base  6,500 military and civilian staff at the base and 4,000 in the supply chain and local economy.

Ms Gallacher said the stance of the SNP, along with other politicians who oppose Trident, puts the UKs national security at risk.

Meghan Gallacher said global security is fragile (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Ms Gallacher said: The Scottish Conservatives are the only party truly committed to retaining our nuclear deterrent  along with the 11,000 jobs it supports in and around Faslane.

Global security is as fragile today as it has been in decades, given Russias appalling invasion of Ukraine and the deepening conflict in the Middle East.

Now, more than ever, we require the security of a nuclear deterrent and yet the SNP recklessly oppose Trident while many in Scottish Labour and in Keir Starmers frontbench team  including his deputy, Angela Rayner  share their hostility.

They would happily put our national security at risk and threaten livelihoods in Helensburgh and beyond.

She added: Constituents in Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber know that only our superb local candidate, Amanda Hampsey, will stand up for those whose jobs depend on Faslane.

SNP defence spokesperson Martin Docherty-Hughes said: The Tories and Labour both prioritise wasting billions of taxpayers money on nuclear weapons but claim there is no money to improve our NHS, to help families with the cost of living or to properly invest in our green energy future.

This money would be much better spent on a raft of other priorities including providing more money for conventional defence and for our armed forces, who are underpaid and under-resourced.

With both Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer focused on the wrong priorities, it is only the SNP standing up for Scotlands values and putting Scotlands interests first.
Sunak seeks support for Ukraine as Starmer and Streeting probed on NHS funding

Rishi Sunak is to remain absent from the campaign trail for another day as Sir Keir Starmer faces questions on what overall funding the NHS will receive under a Labour Government.

After two days at the G7 summit in Italy, Mr Sunak will remain off the campaign trail as he attends a Ukraine Peace conference in Switzerland.

At a G7 press conference in Italy on Friday, the Prime Minister said the leaders had reached a historic breakthrough by agreeing a loan for Ukraine that will be funded by frozen Russian assets in Europe.

He said: This is just and it is right. But true justice will only come when Russia leaves Ukraine.

Tomorrow I will be travelling to the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland.

Our goal is peace. But let us not not confuse peace with surrender. Putins Russia is the aggressor.

Asked if he would be able to ensure the UKs commitment to Ukraine regardless of the outcome of the General Election, Mr Sunak highlighted his partys commitment to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence.

He said: I can only assure President Zelensky about what I would do if I was Prime Minister, but I am able to give him that reassurance that our support for Ukraine will continue not just today, but for as long as it takes but I can make that commitment to him because Ive made the decision to increase defence spending.

He added: Theres a Nato summit coming up.

If Im the Prime Minister, I will be able to go to that summit and lead and ask others to follow our leadership and that will unlock potentially up to 114 billion of extra investment in defence across the alliance.

So thats the choice for everyone in this election. UK investing more under me to keep us safe, giving us that leadership around the world which will have others invest more, and send a very strong message of deterrence to our adversaries.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaking during a press conference at the G7 leaders summit at the Borgo Egnazia resort, in Puglia, Apulia, Italy (Christopher Furlong/PA)

Mr Sunak also had a bi-lateral meeting with US President Joe Biden on Friday.

A Downing Street spokesperson said they discussed making Russia pay for its illegal war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East as they agreed that Hamas should accept the deal and release the hostages.

Back in the UK, Sir Keir may face questions on his partys numbers on NHS waiting lists as he campaigns with the partys shadow health secretary Wes Streeting.

In a statement, Mr Streeting repeated a claim which his party earlier made  that NHS waiting lists would hit 10 million under the Conservatives  something which Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) economist Max Warner said was highly unlikely in his May analysis.

The overall NHS waiting list climbed to an estimated 7.57 million treatments at the end of April, affecting 6.33 million patients, according to NHS England figures released on Thursday.

Mr Warner said Labours commitment to eliminating elective waiting times above 18 weeks by the end of the next parliament would represent a major improvement, undoing nearly a decade of worsening in NHS waiting times in just five years.

He said: But delivering on all these promises would be expensive: it would almost certainly require real-terms funding growth upwards of 3% per year.

Beyond some small amounts of additional funding, the Labour manifesto provides no detail about the overall funding the NHS will receive in the next parliament.

Mr Streeting will frame the choice for patients under the Tories: Pain or private?

He will claim that patients face double taxation on health: they pay their taxes, and then pay the Tory health tax if they want to be treated on time.

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer and shadow health secretary Wes Streeting on the General Election campaign trail (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Elsewhere, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey will trail his partys police and crime policies in Surrey, where the analysts claimed just 255 car thefts, about 20%, had been solved since the last election.

His party has pledged to scrap elected police and crime commissioners (PCC) to unlock money which they say could bolster frontline policing.

Sir Ed said: We are seeing a car theft epidemic after years of Conservative chaos and failing home secretaries who have decimated frontline policing.
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday quietly signed a controversial condominium bill into law that unit owners are already threatening to sue over if lawmakers dont fix certain provisions next legislative session.

The 154-page bill, HB 1021, is largely about creating more accountability for condominium homeowner associations and managers. But tacked on late in the process this year were other provisions from a different bill that gave developers more control over common areas in mixed-use buildings where, for instance, residential units share the premises with a hotel. The bill will become law on July 1.

Mixed-used condominium buildings are becoming increasingly popular as retirees look to settle down in buildings run like resorts by prominent hotel brands, like The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour and the Carillon on Miami Beach.

Combining these commercial and residential developments has created unusual legal disputes over who controls what on the property.

Attorneys on behalf of developers argue that it is essential in mixed-use buildings for the developer and hotel owners to control common spaces like the lobby, the pool, the restaurants and the elevators because they need to make sure those areas are up to their standards.

Stevan Pardo, an attorney who represents condominium unit owners in high-profile cases like the Miami Beach Carillon dispute  where for years residents and the owner of the hotel and spa have battled in court over who owns common areas  disagrees that developers would keep better care of the property than the condo association, saying the associations more personally invested in the property but they often delegate the management of it to licensed professional organizations.

Imagine youre living in a condominium building and all you own is the air rights of your unit. You dont own your front door. You have no rights to have ownership or control or maintenance of your lobbies, your elevators, your hallways, none of that. Thats all controlled by a developer, and they could control it forever, Pardo said. It doesnt make any sense.

Pardo also said he believes the bill could apply much more broadly to even purely residential buildings, giving developers control of everything except for the condo units themselves.

But Mark Grant, a real estate attorney and consultant for Hotel Carillon in the Miami Beach dispute whose idea it was to make the specific changes that were eventually added to HB 1021, wrote to the Herald/Times in an email that Pardo was mistaken in his reading of the bill.

The bottom line as to why Mr. Pardos statement is not correct is that there is absolutely no reason why a developer would want to retain title to and control what is customarily common elements in a residential condominium, Grant said.

In a residential condominium the developer wants to sell all the units and after 90% of the units are sold, the developer wants nothing more to do with the common elements, he added. There is no profit incentive to keep control of them operating the common elements is just a burden.

Grant said that mixed-used condo buildings under the new law must have a disclosure summary that summarizes the structure and informs buyers that the association will not control the building. Buyers are free to buy or not buy a unit in this type of product.

As for [Pardos] statement that the association is better able to take care of the structure, I give the Surfside tragedy as an example of why that is not accurate, Grant said. After the Champlain Towers collapsed in Surfside in 2021, lawmakers concluded that part of the blame was on the condominium association, which had deferred structural repairs on the building. In 2022, they updated the law to require structural integrity reserve studies that would detail how much money associations needed to set aside for those repairs.

The issue of who controls common spaces  the condo units owners and their associations or the developer  has been at the center of several South Florida lawsuits, with courts recently deciding in favor of the unit owners. The late added provisions in HB 1021 would change that dynamic, threatening to upend lawsuits still making their way through courts because it applies retroactively.

After the Herald/Times last story ran on these disputed provisions in HB 1021, one condo association president with a stake in the matter tried to reach out to the bill sponsor, Rep. Vicki Lopez, a Miami Republican. Richard Ortoli is president of the condominium association that is suing Epic Hotel, which controls the high-end Epic Residences in Downtown Miami, over alleged overcharges for shared facilities.

Ortoli told the Herald/Times that the unit owners were footing too much of the bill to renovate shared spaces in that building like the hotel lobby, and not getting any of the profit.

This arbitrary allocation of expenses, even if it is provided for in the condominium documents, is incredibly abusive, Ortoli said.

Ortoli was unsuccessful in reaching Lopez but did meet remotely with her staff on May 22 to go over his concerns. It didnt appear to go well, per a follow-up email Ortoli wrote to her staff two days later on which he copied the Herald/Times.

We have not had any meaningful explanation from Rep. Lopez as to why she defends these provisions and she will inevitably become embroiled in a controversy that will do nothing to enhance her reputation as a defender of the rights of the condominium unit owners in Miami and elsewhere in Florida, Ortoli wrote to Lopez legislative aide, Alessandro Marchesani.

Lopez could not be reached for comment. Her aide, Marchesani, said in an email that she was currently flying to Israel and will be back at the beginning of July to speak on HB 1021.

On June 11, Ortoli emailed the Herald/Times an update.

We are hopeful that the more egregious provisions of HB 1021 will be addressed by amendments, Ortoli wrote. If the law is not amended, suing will definitely be an option.
Trump was reportedly infuriated when it leaked that hed sheltered in the White House bunker during the protests over the death of George Floyd in 2020. Photograph: Gerald Herbert/AP

Former White House communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin has disclosed that Donald Trump repeatedly mused out loud about executing people at several meetings while she worked for him during his presidency.

Griffins claim, which she made in a podcast recording with Mediaite released on Friday, is likely to add to concerns that a return for Trump to the Oval Office could be characterized primarily by political retribution.

The former communications director for the Trump administration told the outlet she had been at a meeting at which he straight up said a staffer who leaked  should be executed, referring to an anonymously sourced report that the former president had gone into a secure bunker at the White House at the height of the racial justice protests prompted by a Minneapolis police officers murder of George Floyd.

There were others where we talked about executing people, Griffin said.

In response to Griffins comments, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung told Newsweek: As President Trump has said, the best revenge is the success and prosperity of all Americans.

Related: Biden wishes Trump a happy 78th birthday as campaign goes into offense over age

Under the constitution, a president has no direct power to enforce capital punishment. But the president does have the power to appoint attorneys general who oversee key decisions concerning federal capital punishment.

Rumors around Trumps interest in summary executions have been making the rounds for years. As he geared up to run for a second presidency in November, Trump reportedly asked three people: What do you think of firing squads? And he has repeatedly backed expanding the use of the federal death penalty.

According to Rolling Stone, Trump has also mused about bringing back hanging and the guillotine  all while televising their use  because it would help put the fear of God into violent criminals.

A Trump spokesperson said at the time to Rolling Stone that either these people are fabricating lies out of thin air or the outlet is allowing themselves to be duped by these morons.

But the Trump 2024 campaign has also said that if the former president returned to office, he was going to be asking everyone who sells drugs, gets caught selling drugs, to receive the death penalty for their pain.

During the final three months of Trumps first term, the US executed 13 federal prisoners by lethal injection  a significant acceleration in the use of the death penalty by the federal government.

Prior to that, only three people had been executed since 1963. But under the Trump administration, the federal government allowed any method of execution that was legal in the state where the death penalty was being carried out.

Terre Haute federal prison in Indiana, where Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh was executed in 2001, has used hanging, electrocution and lethal injection.

Trump attorney general Bill Barr has said that if Trump had won a second term in 2020, there had been an expectation that use of the federal death penalty would continue at an accelerated pace.

Griffins claim that Trump called for the execution of a White House staffer is loosely corroborated by Barr during an interview he gave to CNN in April in which he recalled that Trump had been very mad about the White House bunker leaker.

Barr said he couldnt remember whether Trump specifically called for someone to be executed and doubted it would ever have actually been carried out. But he also said he wouldnt dispute that Trump had called for someone to be executed over the bunker leak.

Griffin left the White House in December 2020, weeks after Trump lost the election to Joe Biden but refused to accept the legitimacy of the result. She is now a commentator for CNN and co-host of the NBC talkshow The View.
Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.) announced Friday he will not run for reelection in November, capping off months of speculation over whether he would run for another term after redistricting impacted his House seat.

Graves  who has served in the House since 2015, was a key ally of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and played a key role in last years negotiations to suspend the debt limit  revealed his retirement after the Supreme Court ruled last month that Louisiana could use a new map that created a second Black-majority House district for the general election in 2024.

The second Black majority House seat was carved out from Gravess district.

After much input from constituents, consultation with supporters, consensus from family, and guidance from the Almighty, it is clear that running for Congress this year does not make sense, Graves said in a statement.

The redistricting battle over Louisianas maps started to brew several years ago. In 2022, then-Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) vetoed congressional maps put forward by Republicans, which had one Black-majority House district despite Black Louisianians making up one-third of the population.

That Legislature overrode his veto, leading the matter to wind its way through the court system before reaching the Supreme Court. The high court allowed the maps to be used during the 2022 cycle before later clearing the way for new maps to be implemented in 2024  a decision that came on the heels of another related decision by the Supreme Court that found Alabamas congressional maps likely violated the Voting Rights Act.

The new map the state created, however, came at the expense of Graves as Republicans carved out a second Black-majority district from his House seat. Deciding to run would have left Graves no choice but to likely primary another Republican.

The Louisiana Republican nodded to the new lines in his statement announcing his future plans.

It is evident that a run in any temporary district will cause actual permanent damage to Louisianas great representation in Congress, he said. Campaigning in any of these districts now is not fair to any of the Louisianans who will inevitably be tossed into yet another district next year.

Graves has not shied away from criticizing the new maps. In January, he warned that Louisianas boneheaded new lines could put Republicans at risk of losing the House majority come November.

In doing so, [Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.)] has a two-seat majority and they effectively just took one of those seats away voluntarily, Graves told USA Today Network in an interview. What happens if that causes Republicans to lose the House?

It was a boneheaded move to do what was done last week  a real head-scratcher. Nobody campaigned on these issues, he added.

Graves is the 25th House Republican  and 50th member of the chamber  to announce they will leave the lower chamber at the end of their current term to either retire or seek another office, according to the House Press Gallery.

His planned departure means the three key Republicans who helped negotiate the debt limit deal last year  which prevented the U.S. from plummeting into its first economic default  will not be in Congress next term.

McCarthy resigned from the House in December after he was ousted from the Speakership in October, marking the first successful motion to vacate in history.

Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.)  who played an instrumental role in the debt limit negotiations before serving as Speaker pro tempore following McCarthys removal from the top job  announced in December he would not seek reelection in November, putting an end point on his nearly two-decade tenure in Congress.

Graves was first elected to represent Louisianas 6th Congressional District in the House in 2014, filling the seat that Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) departed to run for the upper chamber.

Graves currently serves as the chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation. He is also a member of the House Natural Resources Committee.

In his statement upon announcing his retirement, Graves said it was a serious disappointment to miss an opportunity to champion Louisianas priorities in the committee.

Gravess departure is also a blow to the McCarthy-aligned faction of the wing, which has seen several members opt again seeking reelection and amid enduring turmoil within the House.

Representing South Louisiana and serving in the United States Congress has been an incredible honor, Graves said in his statement Friday. From the beginning and ever since, we have constantly emphasized that our decisions and actions are grounded in whats best for Louisianians first and foremost. Our accomplishments confirm the steadfast commitment to this objective.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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NEW YORK  Kevin Bacon just cut loose and brought a dose of '80s nostalgia to Tribeca.

The 65-year-old actor stopped by Tribeca Film Festival on Friday after a lively 40th anniversary screening of "Footloose," which an enthusiastic crowd greeted with multiple applause breaks and a spontaneous sing-along during the closing credits.

During a post-screening discussion, Bacon opened up about how his relationship with the film has evolved. At the time of its release, the "Tremors" star explained he was "such a New York actor" and wanted to be "considered a serious" performer like Robert De Niro or Al Pacino.

The role of Ren McCormack in "Footloose" skyrocketed Bacon to fame, but "then I was a pop star," he said. So he wasn't so quick to appreciate it and found it disorienting to become "super-famous" overnight.

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Kevin Bacon attends a 40th anniversary "Footloose" screening at Tribeca Film Festival on June 14, 2024.

"That was something I was just not comfortable with and resisted," Bacon said. "I could have probably, in retrospect, embraced the movie a little bit more than I did, but I was resistant to do that. Of course, now time has given me a lot of perspective, both on the industry and just on giving myself a break about it. I did my best."

Indeed, Bacon now looks back appreciatively at his breakout film and loves the fact that it makes people "happy."

"I'm so thrilled to have been in it," Bacon told the crowd. "I can't believe it's 40 years. There's no part of me that feels anymore like, 'Oh, God, 'Footloose.'"

'Footloose' at 40! Every song on the soundtrack, ranked (including that Kenny Loggins gem)

But while it may have taken Bacon some time to get to that point, that's not to say it was difficult to sell him on the role. "You know what sounded good about it? 'You're the lead,' " he quipped.

Though Bacon has not watched the film in four decades, he described a moment he became overwhelmed after revisiting footage of his screen test on the DVD.

"I've never done this before: I put it on pause, I went into the bathroom and I looked at myself, and I went, 'Is that the same guy?'" he said. "'Are you the same guy as that guy over there?' It was very weird. It was a real trippy experience."

Bacon also remembered his casting faced a "lot of resistance" from the head of the studio at the time, so much so that director Herbert Ross and producer Daniel Melnick had to personally pay for him to get an additional screen test to turn his chances around.

Released in February 1984, "Footloose" starred Bacon as a teenager who moves to a town that has banned dancing. Though reviews were mixed at the time, it became an enduring hit that has spawned a stage musical and 2011 remake.

Though Bacon "can't really" explain why "Footloose" is so beloved, he says much of it has to do with its iconic soundtrack. It's "one of the great produced records," he said, adding that it was strengthened by the unique decisions to release the songs before the movie came out and have the screenwriter, Dean Pitchford, also help write them. "That was a pretty unusual thing to do," he noted.

Kevin Bacon and Lori Singer in "Footloose."

The "X-Men: First Class" star also said "Footloose" may still resonate because its themes of "being an outsider, being a bit of a rebel, standing up to authority, (and) letting your freak flag fly  in a very '80s version of that. A clean, safe version of that."

But despite the entire plot of "Footloose" revolving around dancing, Bacon acknowledged he didn't understand "the extent of the dancing" there would be after reading the script.

"I didn't get that it was a dance movie, honestly," he said, drawing laughs. "They said something along the lines of 'You're going to have to have a dance audition,' and I was like 'What? I'm not a dancer.' "

So Bacon was in for a shock when he arrived on the Paramount lot after being cast and found an entire sound stage set up as his dance rehearsal room. "I was like, 'Oh, I've really gotten myself into trouble here.'"

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Kevin Bacon looks back on the original 'Footloose' ending that 'bummed out' audiences

"Footloose" concludes with an energetic dance sequence set to the film's Oscar-nominated title song, a scene that brought the house down during the Tribeca screening.

But the scene almost never happened. The film originally was meant to conclude with a "beautiful slow-motion" sequence. Although he thought it was the "coolest thing," test audiences were "completely bummed out" by it, so it had to be reshot.

"They'd been sitting in their chairs wanting to rock for the entire movie," he said. "A movie like this, we needed to see the kids dance."

At the time, Bacon recalled being distressed to learn the ending would have to be reshot, thinking: "That's terrible. That's bad news.'" In the end, though, it was "definitely worth it."

The Tribeca screening was Bacon's latest way of celebrating "Footloose" in its 40th anniversary year after he visited the Utah school where he shot the movie.

"Forty years. That just blows my mind," he told students there in April. "Things look a little different around here. I'd say the thing that looks the most different is me."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kevin Bacon recalls 'Footloose' ending that 'bummed out' fans
More than 100 countries and organizations have gathered for a major conference in Switzerland dedicated to setting out a path toward peace between Ukraine and Russia, but there will be no delegation from Moscow.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is aiming to use the meeting, which is being held at a resort near Lucerne, to drum up support for the 10-point peace plan he first outlined late in 2022.

Addressing the conference on Saturday, Zelensky said the proposal for ending the war would be submitted to Russia once it had been agreed by the other nations in attendance and there would then be a second peace summit, where we can fix the real end of the war.

The peace formula is inclusive, and we are happy to hear and work on all proposals, all ideas of what is really needed for peace and what is important to you dear friends, Zelensky said.

I urge you to be as active as possible and I am proud all parts of the world, all continents are now represented at the peace summit, he added.

Most Western governments have sent representatives at a senior level. US Vice President Kamala Harris is attending and announced that Washington will supply Kyiv with an aid package of more than $1.5 billion to help the country rebuild its battered infrastructure and address humanitarian needs stemming from the conflict, according to a statement from the White House on Saturday.

This war remains an utter failure for Putin. I am here in Switzerland to stand with Ukraine and the leaders from around the world in support of a just and lasting peace, Harris said.

US Vice President Kamala Harris (left) shakes hands with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting on the sideline of the peace summit taking place in Switzerland on Saturday and Sunday. - Alessandro Della Valle/AFP/Getty Images

Heads of state and government from several European states, including France, Germany and the UK are also joining, as is Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

However, China will not attend. It has said that any such meeting needs to be attended by both Russia and Ukraine.

Zelenskys plan includes demands for a cessation of hostilites, the restoration of Ukraines territorial integrity, the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian soil and the restoration of Ukraines pre-war borders with Russia.

It also calls for the establishment of a special tribunal to prosecute Russian war crimes.

Ukraine never wanted this war, its a criminal and absolutely unprovoked aggression of Russia. And the only one who wanted it was Putin, Zelensky said.

Russia has expressed little interest in agreeing to those terms and has shown no sign of compromise when it comes to the territorial issues.

On Friday, the day before the summit was set to kick off, Russian President Vladimir Putin restated the Kremlins own peace plan, which Ukraine is unlikely to ever agree to.

The proposal calls for Ukrainian troops withdraw from four southern and eastern regions of Ukrainian territory that Moscow said it would annex in violation of international law and demands Kyiv abandon its bid to join NATO.

While Russian forces have made modest gains in two of the regions  Donetsk and Luhansk  in recent months, they are far from occupying all four, which include Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

Putin said later in the day that nearly 700,000 Russian soldiers are fighting in Ukraine, a hike from the 617,000 he reported during a end-of-year press conference in 2023.

Zelensky responded in an interview with Italian television that the fact that Putin says to give them part of our territories, occupied and unoccupied, speaks about several regions of our country, and he will stop (there), and there will be no frozen conflict.

The messages are the same as Hitlers, said Zelensky

Putin understands that there will be a peace summit. That most of the world is on the side of Ukraine, on the side of life. And on the eve of the summit, amid air raid sirens, people being killed and missile attacks, he seems to be talking about some kind of ultimatum, Zelensky added.

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Pittsburgh is well-known for its steel industry and for bringing ketchup to the French fry-loving masses. As it turns out, it is also one the most affordable places in the world, according to a new study.

In a report on international housing affordability by Chapman University and Frontier Centre for Public Policy, a Canadian think tank, Pittsburgh earned the title of most affordable among 94 major metropolitan areas in eight countries. Researchers based their ranking on median home price and median household income data from 2022.

Using a metric in the housing sector known as the price-to-income ratio, researchers divided the median home price of a community by the median household income of its residents to determine an affordability score for each city in the study. Cities with scores above 9 are considered "impossibly unaffordable" for residents. Pittsburgh earned a 3.1 score while Rochester and St. Louis both received a 3.4.

In cities like Charlotte, North Carolina; Boise, Idaho and Phoenix, home prices spiked dramatically after the pandemic and took months to cool down. But that same trend did not happen in Pittsburgh, Michael Reed real estate agent for Coldwell Banker Realty told CBS MoneyWatch, adding that home prices in the city have remained steady in recent years.

Steady home prices, combined with solid incomes in the health care and technology sector, have kept Pittsburgh affordable, Reed said, though prices could eventually rise as aging residents outbid with younger buyers on smaller houses.

"A lot of our older population is downsizing and that group tends to be cash heavy and they fare better on the market than our younger, newer buyers," Reed said. "So that could begin pushing our prices up."

The median home sale price in Pittsburgh was $235,000 as of May, down nearly 8% from a year ago, according to online real estate brokerage Redfin.

Throughout most of the country, the housing market has been tough sledding for both buyers and sellers this year as home prices reach record highs and mortgage rates hover around 7%. The median U.S. home price hit an all-time high last week of $394,000, up 4.4% from a year ago, according to Redfin.

Home prices rising faster than income worldwide

To be sure, rising home prices are not a uniquely American issue, said Wendell Cox, the study's author.

"For decades, home prices generally rose at about the same rate as income, and homeownership became more widespread," Cox said in the study. "But affordability is disappearing in high-income nations as housing costs now far outpace income growth. The crisis stems principally from land use policies that artificially restrict housing supply, driving up land prices and making homeownership unattainable for many."

Despite those issues, the U.S. is home to nine of the 10 most affordable cities in the Chapman study. Conversely, five U.S. cities ranked among the study's top 10 least affordable cities. Hong Kong is the world's least affordable city, with a score of 16.7. Sydney, Australia, is a distant second with 13.3, followed by Vancouver with 12.3.

Here are the most affordable major cities in the world, according to the Chapman study:

1. Pittsburgh (U.S.)

2. Rochester, New York (U.S.)

3. St. Louis (U.S.)

4. Cleveland (U.S.)

5. Edmonton, Alberta (Canada)

6. Buffalo, New York (U.S.)

7. Detroit (U.S.)

8. Oklahoma City (U.S.)

9. Cincinnati (U.S.)

10. Louisville, Kentucky (U.S.)

Here are the least affordable major cities in the world, according to the Chapman study:

1. Hong Kong (China)

2. Sydney, New South Wales (Australia)

3. Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)

4. San Jose, California (U.S.)

5. Los Angeles (U.S.)

6. Honolulu (U.S.)

7. Melbourne, Victoria (Australia)

8. San Francisco (U.S.)

9. Adelaide, South Australia (Australia)

10. San Diego (U.S.)

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A Nashville police officer was arrested on Thursday for appearing in an adult OnlyFans video while on duty.

Sean Herman, 33, was arrested at his Sumner County home on two counts of felony official misconduct, the Nashville Police Department said in a statement. Herman, who had been on the police force for three years, filmed the OnlyFans video on the evening of April 26 while he was on duty as a patrol officer in the area, police said.

Former police officer Sean Herman, 33, was arrested for appearing in an OnlyFans video while on duty. / Credit: Nashville Police Department

He allegedly was dressed in his official police uniform and his squad car was visible in the video as Herman participated in a mock traffic stop "during which he groped the exposed breast of the female driver," police said.

Herman was fired May 9, one day after the video was discovered by detectives on OnlyFans, a popular subscription platform site often used by adult content creators, police said.

After he was fired, police said they continued the investigation, resulting in Herman's arrest. A criminal court judge set his bond at $3,000, and he was released from jail in the early morning hours Friday, according to inmate records.

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By Niklas Pollard and Johan Ahlander

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -Sweden and Iran carried out a prisoner exchange on Saturday, officials said, with Sweden freeing a former Iranian official convicted for his role in a mass execution in the 1980s while Iran released two Swedes being held there.

The prisoner swap was mediated by Oman, the country's foreign ministry said in a statement. "Omani efforts resulted in the two sides agreeing on a mutual release, as those released were transferred from Tehran and Stockholm," it said.

Sweden freed former Iranian official Hamid Noury, who had been convicted for his part in a mass execution of political prisoners in Iran in 1988. Iran's official IRNA news agency published footage of Noury arriving at Tehran's Mehrabad airport where he was welcomed by his family on a red carpet.

Meanwhile, Swedish citizens Johan Floderus and Saeed Azizi, who had been detained in Iran, were freed and flown back to Sweden where they arrived late on Saturday.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the pair were in good condition given the circumstances and had been reunited with their families.

"Iran used them both as pawns in a cynical negotiations game with the purpose of getting the Iranian citizen Hamid Noury released from prison in Sweden. He is convicted of serious crimes committed in Iran in the 1980s," Kristersson said in a statement.

"As prime minister I have a special responsibility for Swedish citizens' safety. The government has therefore worked intensively on the issue, together with the Swedish security services which have negotiated with Iran."

WAR CRIMES

Noury, 63, was arrested at a Stockholm airport in 2019 and later sentenced to life in prison for war crimes for the mass execution and torture of political prisoners at the Gohardasht prison in Karaj, Iran, in 1988. He denied the charges.

An Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson described Noury as a hostage in a statement to local media, saying his imprisonment was due to an "illegal Swedish court decision that lacked legitimacy."

Noury told reporters his case had been complicated and sensitive. "They said even God cannot free Hamid Noury, but he did," he told reporters on his arrival in Iran.

The National Council of Resistance of Iran, a coalition of groups opposed to Iran's Islamic Republic government, said it appeared Sweden had yielded to blackmail and hostage-taking tactics in a move that would encourage Tehran.

Lawyer Kenneth Lewis, who represented a dozen plaintiffs in the Noury case in Sweden, said his clients were not consulted and were "appalled and devastated" over Noury's release.

"This is an affront to the entire justice system and everyone who has participated in these trials," he told Reuters.

Lewis said his clients sympathized with the Swedish government's efforts to get its citizens home but said Noury's release was "totally disproportionate."

'HELL ON EARTH'

Floderus, a European Union employee, was arrested in Iran in 2022 and charged with spying for Israel and "corruption on earth," a crime that carries the death penalty.

Swedish-Iranian dual national Saeed Azizi was arrested in Iran in November 2023, on what Sweden called "wrongful grounds."

In a late-night news conference, Kristersson appealed for the pair to now be allowed time alone with their families.

"These are two people who have experienced hell on earth," he said. "I understand how this is received with mixed feelings, not least among Swedes who stem from Iran. This was not an easy deliberation the government has had to make, but sometimes you have to do difficult things and do what is right."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the release of the two Swedes from "unjustified Iranian custody" and congratulated Sweden on its work to get them freed.

Another Swedish-Iranian dual national, Ahmadreza Djalali, arrested in 2016, remains in an Iranian jail. An emergency medicine doctor, Djalali was arrested in 2016 while on an academic visit to Iran.

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said Iran had refused to even consider Djalali a Swedish citizen after he received citizenship in the Nordic country, where he lived and worked prior to his arrest, while in Iranian prison.

"To Djalali and his family I would like to say that the security services made great efforts for their husband and father to be part of today's operation," Billstrom said.

"There is no doubt that we will continue to work tirelessly to bring home citizens like Djalali."

(Reporting by Niklas Pollard, Johan Ahlander and Dubai newsroom, additional reporting by Adam Makary in CairoEditing by Ros Russell and Matthew Lewis)
Tina Lawhon, right, is pictured with her husband Brenton at the Adventist Health/Rideout Cancer Center in Marysville. Bare Beauty Skin in Yuba City will host a fundraiser on Monday to support Lawhons battle against cancer.
Todays on-line The American Scholar includes something of mine on a magnificent new recording of Sergei Rachmaninoffs Symphonic Dances  and why it matters. You can read the whole thing here.. An extract follows:

Rachmaninoff left two versions of the Symphonic Dances: one for orchestra, the other for two pianos. He premiered the latter, privately, with Vladimir Horowitz. What that sounded like we can only guess. But he also inadvertently left a third version  which eventually became the biggest classical music find of recent decades. And now we have another find: a seminal new DG recording, by Sergei Babayan and Danill Trifonov, that realizes in full the magnitude of Rachmaninoffs musical leave-taking.

Because Rachmaninoff refused to permit broadcasting or recording of his live performances, we only have his RCA recordings: studio jobs. But on December 21, 1940, the conductor Eugene Ormandy privately recorded Rachmaninoff playing through the Symphonic Dances in preparation for the Philadelphia Orchestras premiere performance the following month. This third version was released in 2018 as part of a three-CD Marston Records set titled Rachmaninoff Plays Symphonic Dances. As I wrote in a review for The Wall Street Journal: The result is one of the most searing listening experiences in the history of recorded sound. . . As privately imparted to Ormandy, Rachmaninoffs impromptu solo-piano rendering . . . documents roaring cataracts of sound, massive chording, and pounding accents powered by a demonic thrust the likes of which no studio environment has ever fostered. It equally registers a trembling undertow of memories faraway and yet omnipresent.

This unprepared, off-the-cuff 26-minute rendition of a 35-minute composition is also necessarily hit and miss, and full of gaps. It sets a towering bar; it documents a lost world. But it is incomplete. The new Babayan/Trifonov recording is in no way a replica. . . . Authentically rendered by Babayan and Trifonov, however, are Rachmaninoffs magisterial fluidity of tempo and pulse, the heroic range of dynamics, the convulsive ebb and flow, seething and poignant, of an epic confessional. It is a validation overwhelming and unprecedented.

I also write:

In 1952, the Central Intelligence Agency covertly supported an unprecedented international arts festival lavish in cost and purpose: Masterpieces of the Twentieth Century. It took place in Paris over the course of a full month. The mastermind was Nicolas Nabokov, Secretary General of the Congress for Cultural Freedom, then the major instrument of American Cold War cultural propaganda.

Nabokovs premise was that the United States had displaced Europe and Russia as the reigning home for the Western arts. And the twentieth centurys presiding genius, for Nabokov, was his friend Igor Stravinsky, resident in Los Angeles (and like Nabokov living in self-imposed exile from his Russian homeland). Stravinsky dominated the repertoire for Nabokovs myriad Paris festival performances. Nabokovs concept was to celebrate free artists  cosmopolites liberated from parochial national schools and from the oppressive Soviet yoke. His larger claim  that only free societies produce great art, was the fundamental cultural premise of the CIA, State Department, and White House. (In my book The Propaganda of Freedom: JFK, Shostakovich, Stravinsky and the Cultural Cold War, I dub this counter-factual Cold War doctrine the propaganda of freedom.)

Nabokovs favorite case in point was Dmitri Shostakovich. As a widely acknowledged expert on Soviet culture, he influentially denigrated Shostakovich as a Soviet stooge (and named Vittorio Rieti and William Schuman composers of greater consequence). Of the hundreds of compositions programed in Paris in 1952 (by the leading opera companies of Vienna and London, by the New York City Ballet, and by orchestras from Boston, West Berlin, Paris, Geneva, and Rome), Shostakovich was represented by a single piece: a suite from his opera Lady Macbeth. Nabokov chose it because this, notoriously, was the subversive muddle that enraged Stalin and provoked a musical crackdown. Wholly unnoticed was that another Russian composer of consequence, like Stravinsky living in the US, was not played at all. This, of course, was the late Sergei Rachmaninoff, written off as a hopeless anachronism.

Today, Nabokov is the anachronism.

To read my American Scholar review of a recent Rachmaninoff biography, click here.

To read my American Scholar essay on ripeness in musical performance, click here.

To read my previous blogs about Sergei Babayan, click here and here.
Mumbai: After the Lok Sabha debacle, the BJP has planned a Maratha outreach with an eye on state Assembly polls. The party will communicate the steps it has taken for the welfare of the Maratha community in the last 10 years.

The protest led by activist Manoj Jarange proved to be one of the biggest factors that worked against the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls. Despite the 10 per cent reservation in education and jobs provided by the Eknath Shinde government, Maratha organisations ensured the community votes to defeat BJP candidates, particularly in the Marathwada region.

Rejecting the separate 10 per cent reservation, Mr. Jarange is insisting for the reservation under the OBC category. Though no political party is supporting Mr. Jaranges demand, the community voted in favour of Maha Vikas Aghadi comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar).

Former Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil admitted that there is a massive unrest in the Maratha community against BJP, which was the biggest factor of the partys Lok Sabha performance. The Maratha community is the single largest caste in the state accounting for approximately 30 per cent of the population.

The BJP gave reservation and other concessions to the Maratha community. But despite of that, there is anger against the BJP in the community. We discussed it in the meeting held on Friday. We failed to communicate the work done by us to common people from the community. We have decided to rectify it, Mr. Patil said.

The BJP leader further pointed out that Maratha leader Annasaheb Patil committed suicide in 1982 for the reservation, but the Congress did nothing for it for 13 years.

The BJP established Annasaheb Patil corporation in 1995 after coming to power in the state. The BJP provided reservation to Maratha community in 2014, which was struck down by the Supreme Court when Uddhav Thackeray was the CM. After returning to power under the leadership of Eknath Shinde, we again provided separate reservation for the Maratha community. Devendra Fadnavis separated reservation and concessions, and ensured that the Maratha community gets all the benefits provided to the OBC category. Despite all this, the community is upset with the BJP. We can rectify it by reaching out to the last man in the community, Mr. Patil said.
The China Challenge is real and it is not confined to the four-year-long stand-off on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Its omnipresence goes across the board and is not limited to the land, maritime and cyber domains alone. Its real salience is in the realm of both legacy and cutting edge science.

In the high-stakes world of advanced technology, it's easy to become fixated on the cutting edge  the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and 5G networks. But as the US and China engage in a fierce battle for technological supremacy, a critical front in this conflict is going largely unnoticed  legacy semiconductors.

Legacy chips, also known as mature node semiconductors, are the unsung workhorses of the modern world. Plenty of computer chips are not leading-edge. They are legacy, trailing-edge, or foundational chips. With transistors measuring 14 nanometres or larger, these chips power everything from automobiles and home appliances to factory equipment, medical devices, and even military systems. As the Rhodium group notes, They are pervasive therefore they are essential. They may lack the buzz and glamor of their bleeding-edge counterparts, but legacy chips are absolutely vital to the global economy and national security.

The importance of these chips was starkly illustrated in Ukraine, where captured Russian military equipment was found to be filled with semiconductors scavenged from dishwashers and refrigerators. Its a stark reminder that even the most advanced militaries rely on a steady supply of legacy chips.

Which is why the world should be deeply concerned about Chinas aggressive push to dominate this crucial sector. Over the past few years, China has been pouring staggering sums into legacy chip production, with the goal of achieving self-sufficiency and global preeminence. In 2022, Chinese foundries grabbed 10 per cent global market share for the first time. By 2027, China is projected to control a staggering 39 per cent of the legacy chip market.

This breakneck expansion is being fuelled by enormous government subsidies, which have allowed Chinese firms to rapidly scale up and undercut foreign competitors. The playbook is eerily similar to how China came to dominate solar panels and 5G infrastructure  flood the market with cheap, subsidised products and drive everyone else out of business. Industry experts warn Chinese legacy chip makers could do the same, making the rest of the world precariously dependent on China for these essential components.

At the forefront of this effort is Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), Chinas largest chipmaker. SMIC has benefited from billions in state support and is using this financial muscle to undercut rivals and expand its market share. Even more worrying are SMICs deep ties to the Chinese military, as documented in a report by defense expert James Mulvenon. This raises the spectre of the Peoples Liberation Army gaining control over a vital slice of the global semiconductor supply chain.

For India, Chinas legacy chip ambitions pose an especially thorny challenge as it races to build up its own semiconductor industry. The Indian government has earmarked $15 billion to construct new chip fabrication plants, or fabs. But these fabs will be entering a market that is already oversupplied, thanks to the deluge of cheap Chinese chips. The 15 billion dollar fund is paltry compared to Chinas state backed fund of 40 billion dollars. With utilisation rates for legacy fabs falling and margins being squeezed, it will be exceedingly difficult for Indias new facilities to compete, even with government support. Additionally Chinas current and projected production capacity for legacy chips is significantly larger than Indias with major facilities expected to start production by 2025-2026. If you look at the numbers it is surprising, China's integrated circuit (IC) output surged by 40 per cent, reaching a record-breaking 98.1 billion units.

There are also troubling security implications to consider. Investigations have found that over a dozen Indian firms have been selling the government Chinese-made microchips in critical systems, in violation of procurement rules. The spectre of hidden Chinese chips in cars, laptops, and infrastructure is a serious vulnerability that could be exploited for surveillance or sabotage. Indias 2020 Mumbai blackout, for instance, was linked to a breach in the power grids Chinese-built components.

To be sure, India does have some key advantages it can leverage in the legacy chip race. The country boasts a robust chip design ecosystem that could be harnessed to develop specialised semiconductors that China struggles to make, like analog chips and microcontrollers. Chinese firms have doubled their share of the analog chip market since 2019, but have struggled to make further inroads due to the complexity of these designs.

This is where India should be focusing its efforts, not on large-scale manufacturing of commodity chips. Unfortunately, the current approach appears to be misguided. The $11 billion fab being built by the Tata Group, for instance, will focus on assembly, testing, and packaging rather than the high-value design work that could differentiate India from China.

Ultimately, India will need a much more comprehensive and proactive strategy to secure its semiconductor supply chain and mitigate the risks of Chinese dominance. This should include: Strict prohibitions on Chinese-made chips in critical infrastructure and government systems. Contractors must be held to this standard as well. A robust monitoring regime to track the origin of every chip entering the country, down to the product and company level. Customs authorities need visibility into where chips were made, who owns the fab, and who did the design, in order to enforce restrictions. Currently, the government has little idea where the chips in imported goods are coming from, a dangerous blind spot. Targeted export controls on chip design software and manufacturing equipment to slow China's progress. This will require close coordination with the US and EU. Increased government support for domestic chip design and specialised manufacturing, rather than large-scale production of commodity chips. The focus should be on areas where India has an edge and China has struggled, like analog chips and microcontrollers. A long-term plan to build up local suppliers for semiconductor-grade materials, equipment, and components. These upstream chokepoints are just as essential as the fabs themselves.

The stakes could not be higher. Legacy chips may be older technology, but they are the irreplaceable foundation of the modern world. Ceding this market to China would be a disaster for both economic competitiveness and national security. If India plays its cards right, it may have a legacy of its own making.
India is establishing targets to reach its vision of a developed India by 2024 and to become a $30 trillion economy within the next 23 years. The Niti Aayog, the premier public policy think tank for the Government of India, has defined Indias short-term, medium-term and long-term goals. Its initial focus for growth centres is on four cities -- Mumbai, Varanasi, Surat, and Vishakhapatnam -- to build a national development strategy. The subsequent stages entail choosing an additional 20 to 25 cities to drive economic development and beyond. The four initial selected cities have demonstrated robust growth trajectories in terms of population and flourishing industrial units over the past 20 years. Here, we have focused on Surat in Gujarat as a case study because of its unique dimensions, which can serve as a good role model for all other cities.

This involves understanding how Surat can evolve into a megacity and significantly contribute to the solid economic growth of India. This city hosts more than 6,000 industrial units and has a population of approximately 7.5 million. Despite occupying just about four per cent of Gujarats total land area, it contributes around 20 per cent to the states GDP.

However, this transformative journey has been anything but smooth and straightforward. The path to development began around 2004, following a significant setback a decade earlier in September 1994, when a severe plague struck the city. This epidemic, initially pneumonic but later turning bubonic, deeply impacted Surats economy and caused widespread disruption, both locally and globally. The aftermath of this epidemic created chaos that reverberated across the region and beyond.

The consequences were no less than the recent Covid-19 pandemic. The UAEs halt on cargo transhipment from India severely impacted Indias agricultural exports, causing a $420 million loss. The global media coverage of Surats plague outbreak led to Londons global depository receipts plunging and local agricultural stocks tumbling. The situation disrupted international relations, postponing a Mauritian ministers visit, cancellation of several international conferences, and failing to attract the foreign media and tour operators. Global travel restrictions, enhanced surveillance by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, and quarantine measures in Italy and Russia added to the economic toll, estimated at around $600 million.

Despite facing numerous adversities, the city of Surat persevered. The credit for its progress goes to the intrepid business community, particularly the textile, diamond, and the proximal Hazira industrial belts. Credit should also go to the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC), and a good municipal commissioner, Mr S.R. Rao. These sectors have been key drivers of Surats overall development and growth. The city boasts a vibrant textile market and is globally renowned for its diamond polishing and cutting industry, processing nearly 90 per cent of the worlds diamonds.

The nearby Hazira port plays a crucial role in maritime trade, with its strategic location and robust infrastructure, facilitating the import and export of goods. Surat is also home to numerous Special Economic Zones (SEZs), which attract investments in various sectors such as chemicals,

petrochemicals, engineering, and information technology. Known for its entrepreneurial spirit, the citys local entrepreneurs and businesses continually innovate and adapt to changing market dynamics, fostering economic diversification and resilience.

A major factor in Surats growth is its rapid infrastructure development, including advancements in transportation, real estate, and urban planning, all of which support economic activity and enhance the quality of life. Additionally, the agriculturally rich regions surrounding Surat contribute to its economy through the processing of cotton, rice, and other crops, adding value and supporting the agricultural sector.

Through multiple interviews with prominent city industrialists, several key drivers of the citys economic growth have emerged. These include the unwavering and resilient attitude of the citizens, who persist even in the toughest situations. Additionally, many industrialists have operated with a vision of contributing to society and the nation, and this constructive approach has significantly fostered both industrial and overall economic growth.

Surats diverse economic activities and its strategic initiatives in industrial and infrastructural development play a pivotal role in driving not only the citys growth but also contributing significantly to the economic growth of Gujarat and India as a whole. Other cities in India can also ensure their economic growth by adopting several strategies inspired by the development path of Surat. This includes creating ample employment opportunities by investing in key industries and providing support through subsidies, tax incentives and infrastructure development.

To ascertain its economic progress, India, in line with the growth model adopted in Surat, should ensure an all-round development approach focusing on major labour-intensive industries. This should be coupled with ensuring a considerable expenditure on the existing human capital, such as on health, education and skills. Strategic investment and guided interventions from the government can only ensure a resilient and thriving economy in future. Today, Surat is the second largest city of Gujarat and the fastest growing city in India. The example of Surat certainly shows that nothing is unattainable, and so should be the spirit if India wants to attain its goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Im old enough to remember the joys of flying when cabin crew welcomed us with cotton wool sachets and boiled sweets. You could take as many sweets as you wanted. If you were a kid, the flight attendant would grab a hefty handful and give you more  even if your doting parents were the only people in the world who thought you looked cute!

Whenever I hear babies wailing raucously during take-off and landing, I have to suppress the urge to write a vituperative letter to the CEO of the airline, accusing him/her/them of skimping on basic necessities to make flights comfortable. Even the widest and most relaxing ergonomically-designed seats cannot soothe those babies when the cabin pressure fluctuates wildly and causes ear aches.

Just how expensive are tiny sachets of cotton wool and sweets for heavens sake? Sure, one must economise, but there are so many other areas where airlines can cut costs, like those deathly dull inflight magazines packed with run of the mill articles by hacks, specially designed to make you fall asleep so you wont keep pressing the call button for flight attendants. Save trees and ears, bring back the sweets and cotton wool now!

If the tight-fisted sods still refuse to provide them, shouldnt they at least warn passengers to bring their own sweeties and ear plugs, and explain why these are important? They could add this message to that section that warns us not to pack coconuts and other peculiar things in check-in baggage, or they could add it to the barrage of text messages they attack us with when we book a flight. You know, the usual repetitive pleas to upgrade, book their efficient car partners for smooth airport rides, book their charming hotel partners for luxurious stays, and someday soon perhaps, even book their designer partners for chic and comfortable co-ords. In case youre wondering what on earth co-ords are (I did, last year), its just a fancy marketing term to make pajamas legitimate outdoor wear. If you havent seen posh fashion victims wearing pajamas at airports these days, youre way overdue for an eye test. Suburban Dadar aunties who do their daily veggie shopping in colourful cotton nighties are having the last laugh.

And then theres the food. Whether its on the house or sold on-board, it is uniformly bad. I heartily agree with late American chef and author Anthony Bourdain who once said in an interview with Bon Appetit magazine that No one has ever felt better after eating plane food. He went on to say that while he had no choice on super long flights, hed restrict himself to cheese and port: Id eat some cheese and drink myself stupid. The interviewer wryly reminded us that this is the man who happily ate still-beating cobra heart and seal eyeballs without flinching. So, yeah, airline food.

I cannot remember the title or author of a book I once read, but I do recall a sentence. One character dryly tells the other to shun airline food and consume the paper napkin on the meal tray instead because its far more edible. I have to confess that Im not that picky, shame on me. I attack the mandatory bread roll and butter with relish  its a right treat because bread and butter are banned at home (doctors orders). Then I demolish the dessert no matter how awful it is, because I have a demanding sweet tooth. If Im still hungry, I open the main course container, and eat gravy with rice. Gravy and only gravy because I absolutely detest chicken and paneer (the usual staid vegetarian and non-vegetarian options everywhere in homogenised India). And finally, I pop an antacid in my mouth, so I dont feel as sick as a dog for the rest of the day.

Airline food, however, is less frightening than turbulence  a factor we really must keep in mind even though most right wing world leaders pretend that climate change and global warming is a wicked leftist conspiracy. I have flown since I was a baby (cotton wool firmly in ears, sweet in mouth), and never experienced fear. Till a few years ago when flying over the gorgeous Indian Ocean, the plane went bumpity bump bump and dropped sharply all of a sudden  gravity wasnt merely calling, it was screaming along with some passengers. Since then, I have always kept my seat belt fastened and the air sickness bag in a prominent place.

Turbulence is only going to get worse as we recently saw in the Singapore Airlines flight that dropped 54 metres in altitude in less than five seconds over Myanmar. The toll was horrifying, with one passenger dead of a suspected heart attack, and dozens badly injured with brain, skull, and spinal cord injuries  life altering injuries in some cases. Far worse than indigestion after an airline meal, right?

Do your bit to make flying safe again and vote out right wing leaders across the world please. Greens are not only healthy to eat, but healthy parties to vote for. Till then, go ahead and buy those ghastly co-ords. If youre going to be rushed to hospital after a flight, best to go in comfy pajamas.
Today's news: Indonesia closes 2 million gaming websites; Hostages freed by the Israeli army last week in Gaza include a 27-year-old Russian man who fled the war; Possible imminent visit of Putin to North Korea worries Seoul over military ties between the two countries; Intensified bombing in Myanmar, Arakan forces denounce attack on civilian population.

ISRAEL - PALESTINE

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) - repeatedly targeted by Israel - must be allowed to work unhindered in Gaza, G7 leaders said at the end of the second day of their annual summit in Italy. "We agree that it is critical that the distribution networks of UNRWA and other UN organisations and agencies are fully capable of delivering aid to those who need it most," their final communique read.

INDONESIA

Indonesia has shut down more than 2 million websites that offered illegal online gambling services, the Minister of Communications said on Friday. Online gambling is banned in the world's largest Muslim-majority nation, but despite this there is rampant abuse of the practice, with more than 3 million Indonesians involved last year, for an activity estimated to be worth nearly billion, or about 1.5 per cent of gross domestic product.

MYANMAR

Myanmar's military junta has intensified aerial bombardments in the western state of Rakhine, aiming to slow down the advance of Arakan Army rebels. Yesterday, 16 air strikes were carried out in one morning around the state capital, Sittwe. The civilian population was increasingly affected: 10 people were injured. Arakan forces reported the targeting of villages and hospitals. In a monastery in Sagaing, south-west of Mandalay, an offensive reportedly left 13 people dead last week.

NORTH KOREA

As tensions rise between the two Koreas a possible imminent visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to North Korea could deepen military ties between the two countries in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. South Korea's Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun, in an emergency phone call with US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, said the visit should not lead to greater military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow.

CHINA - PHILIPPINES

The head of the Philippine military urged local fishermen to continue fishing in the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea, despite new Chinese Coast Guard rules allowing it to detain offenders without trial for up to 60 days, effective 15 June. The detention is due to the enforcement of a 2021 law, which authorises Chinese authorities to use force against those sailing in waters claimed by Beijing.

AFGHANISTAN

Since 15 August 2021, some women have challenged restrictions on their freedom imposed by the Taliban, including a ban on working, studying and going out in public. But those who have taken to the streets in the capital Kabul to protest and demand 'food, work, freedom' have suffered severe repression. BCC interviews three Afghan women who claim to have been beaten, imprisoned, even threatened with death by stoning.

RUSSIA - ISRAEL

Among the Israeli hostages freed on 8 June in a raid against Hamas in Gaza is 27-year-old Russian Andrej Kozlov, who had moved to Israel in August 2022 to escape the war and was working as a caretaker at the Nova festival on which terrorists struck on 7 October, and was now able to meet his parents who had come from St. Petersburg, after eight months without news of him.

ARMENIA - BELARUS

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pasinyan stated that the future of relations with the Csto alliance (Collective Security Treaty Organisation, established in 1992), from which Armenia intends to leave, will depend a great deal "on the apology expected from the president of Belarus, who hoped Azerbaijan would win", assuring however that he will not visit Minsk as long as Lukasenko remains in power.
Marcelino Combate was killed on 9 June while returning home after a pastoral activity. He was engaged in carrying out the liturgy of the Word in two villages on the city outskirts.

Manila (AsiaNews) - After the attack on the Santo Nino Chapel in Cotabato on May 19, Pentecost Sunday, with the throwing of a grenade that caused two injuries and a wave of indignation on the part of the civil and religious authorities, on June 9 the Filipino Christian community - which constitutes a clear majority in the country - suffered a new violence, in the province of Leyte: the killing of Marcelino Combate, 52 years old, a layman engaged in a pastoral ministry.

The crime is part of a long trail of 'unsolved' murders in the area. The indignation of Bishop Marvyn Maceda of San Jose de Antique was not long in coming.

The prelate called Combate's 'another life lost because of senseless murders'. Maceda was ordained and served as a priest in the Diocese of Naval for more than 20 years before becoming a bishop in 2019.

"I am alarmed because this is already the 13th murder in the third district of Leyte since last year and many others are the cases of people killed with firearms in previous years," he said. He was related to the victim because a pastoral collaboration had started between them in 2011 when he was parish priest of the Immaculate Conception parish in the city of Leyte.

Marcelino Combate was killed by unknown persons while he was returning home on his motorbike six days ago, after celebrating the 'Kasaulugan sa Pulong' (liturgy of the Sunday Word in the absence of a celebrant) in two outlying barangays of the city. According to the Bishop of San Jose de Antique, the layman had volunteered to serve the remote villages, despite the security risks.

"I join my voice in the condemnation of these dastardly acts and the cry for justice for Brod Mars and the countless others who have been killed in recent years," Maceda said. He hoped that the authorities would promptly investigate in order to bring those responsible to justice as soon as possible.

"I join the cry of the people of Leyte and the entire district in calling on the government agencies concerned to speed up the investigation to restore order and bring peace back to everyone's hearts," he continued.

This incident as well as the many others that preceded it shed light on the widespread crime and violence in the area. The authorities are committed to containing them, to restoring order, and the explicit advice to families is to report any criminal groups to the police or the army.

The causes of such incidents remain to be ascertained, but the shadow of the actions of Daesh-linked Muslim groups, which act following clashes with the military, remains. Often to gain revenge and visibility, as happened with the attack on a church in Marawi last December, at the beginning of Advent, when a bomb exploded causing four deaths.
According to UN Women child marriages have increased by 25% since the rise of Koranic students. Faced with the risk of being married off to a fighter, families choose to arrange marriages. The broken dreams of Amina and Musal, and the "humanitarian, educational and professional" crisis of an entire nation.

Kabul (AsiaNews) - Amina (the name is fictitious) was attending middle school when the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan, depriving her after a few weeks of her right to education following the rule that banned girls over the age of 12 from attending school.

The decision, she told reporters of Radio Free Europe (Rfe/Rl), cut short her dream of continuing her schooling and laying the foundations for a future job. Hence the choice of the family from the central province of Maidan, a few months later, to force her into marriage by giving her - as a child - to a 37-year-old man.

Amina was 'traumatised and sick' when she was told of the family's plan, which 'risked - as she herself, now 16, says - financial ruin after the Taliban's seizure of power'. Her husband paid a 'walwar' - a premarital tax given to the bride's parents - amounting to about USD 12,000, a common practice in Afghanistan and an incentive for parents to marry off their daughters at a young age.

Amina is among the thousands of underage girls forced into marriage since the fall of the Western-backed government in August 2021, while the Taliban ban on education has caused a spike in early and child marriages, against a backdrop of humanitarian, educational and professional crisis.

Like her, Musal (her name is also fictional) was 15 years old when her family betrothed her to an older man. Now 17, the girl dreamed of becoming a doctor but ended up as a wife under duress from her parents, who often prefer to arrange marriages in the face of the risk of seeing them united with a Taliban fighter, an alternative they consider far worse.

According to UN Women, the UN agency for gender equality and women's empowerment, child marriages have increased by about 25% since the rise of Koranic students.

The drama of child brides is directly linked to the school emergency and the decision taken by the Taliban, in the aftermath of their rise to power, to ban girls over the age of 12 from school. A decision that has now resulted in at least 1.5 million schoolgirls being denied the right to education, leaving them without hope for the future.

Coinciding with the 'symbolic date' of one thousand days - and three billion hours - of schooling lost for young girls, Unicef appealed to the international community, warning that 'no country can progress' when 'half its population is left behind'. And in order to be able to study they have to resort to 'secret schools' at the risk of their lives.

Catherine Russell, Director-General of the UN Children's Fund, explains that 'for 1.5 million girls, this exclusion' is not only a 'blatant violation' of their right to education, but also results in 'increasingly scarce opportunities and deteriorating mental health'.

"Children's rights, especially those of girls" cannot be "hostage" to policies or visions linked to ideology, adds the expert, according to whom "their lives, futures, hopes and dreams hang in the balance".

Education, she concludes, "not only provides opportunities, but also protects girls from the scourge of early marriages", which is why she appeals for "all" children and young people, regardless of gender, to be able to "return to education immediately".

A concern also shared by the activists of Human Rights Watch (HRW), according to whom Afghan society and the country itself will "never fully recover" from the loss of such a large number of future professionals.

This is all the more true in a nation where there was already a low literacy rate among young people, and among women, with the Taliban being accused by the UN of imposing a sort of "gender apartheid" and their government a "graveyard of buried hopes".

This is why some of them, the bravest ones, or in any case those who do not resign themselves to the current reality, turn to "clandestine" schools hidden from Koranic students; the aim is to be able to receive a minimum of education, risking their lives for this in facilities with "limited resources" for teachers and materials.
15 June 2024 21:16 (UTC+04:00)

By Farman Aydin, AZERNEWS

The weeks-long protests under the leadership of cleric Bagrat Galstanyan have already gathered many supporters. For example, the meeting held today in Yerevan under the name of Ararat Union Forum, attended by political figures, representatives of the clergy, experts, heads of regional branches of the Union of Armenians of Russia from Kamchatka, Novosibirsk, Buryatia to Krasnodar, Stavropol, Udmurtia, Samara and dozens of other regions of Russia. Ara Abrahamyan, head of the Union of Armenians of Russia, was among them.

Ara Abrahamyan has been in this position since 2000, and he is one of the persons closely involved in solving the problems of some persons being popular in the criminal world. He also closely supports the Armenian community in Russia to stand up against the current government. Today's meeting in Yerevan was like Nikol Pashinyan's trial. Only Pashinyan was missing from the dock.

The opinions expressed at the meeting were completely aimed at Nikol Pashinyan. Thus, acting as a leading person, Abrahamyan brought the processes to the attention of the participants one by one, starting from the years when Pashinyan came to power. He accused the Prime Minister of turning his back on those who voted for Pashinyan in 2018 and 2021 and not fulfilling his promises. Ara Abrahamyan seemed to imitate the previous mistakes of some separatist elements, who are receiving education in Baku prison today. He often tried to make himself a hero by using the term "artsakh".

"We lost not only Artsakh" but also the back of Armenia, says Abrahamyan, looking bitterly at former Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan who was also attending the event. Seyran, the Azerbaijani-born Armenian general, is the one who once separated the once-occupied Garabagh from Azerbaijan with a long barrier.

Armenia did not imagine that Garabagh would one day return to Azerbaijan. They were so attached to the concept of Miatsum that they hypothetically imagined everything as their own. This stupid speech of Ara Abrahamyan reflects the point of view of the ignorant, radical Armenian society. They can't find a word to say in front of Azerbaijan and use only one chance to accuse - that is the current government.

Pashinyan may not have fully understood the current realities until he came to power. He used to make ambitious speeches once braggingly saying that "artsakh is Armenia". 2020 was not only a year of hard lessons for Armenia, but also a turning point that determined the future of Armenia.

Today, the opposition understands these realities very clearly, and they know very well that seizing power will not help them take back Garabagh. On the contrary, Ruben Vardanyan, who used to rely on his Russian citizenship, gave speeches in Garabagh feeling very self-satisfied. But where is he today?

Ara Abrahamyan, hiding behind a Russian passport, freely accuses the country's prime minister and incites the people to adhere to the concept of Miatsum that was destroyed by Azerbaijan a long time ago. The exhausted Armenian society simply does not know what to do. But there is one thing they know - the peace treaty they will have to sign soon!

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15 June 2024 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of Energy, Chief Executive Officer of COP29 Azerbaijan Elnur Soltanov met Friday with Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Azerbaijan Peter Michalko, Azernews reports.

During the meeting, the discussions revolved around the Azerbaijan-EU cooperation, as well as collaboration within the COP29.

The COP29 CEO informed the EU Ambassador about the negotiation process and the COP29 activity agenda. The sides discussed the outcomes of the UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn, stressing the importance of the constructive position of all the parties, including the EU in the successful conduct of the negotiations.

Ambassador Peter Michalko expressed his hope that Azerbaijan, as a host of the upcoming COP29 Conference and a key player in the fight against the climate change, would achieve the best results at the conference. The parties also discussed the organization of COP29-related events this year aimed at the successful implementation of the COP goals.

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The US is allocating $1.5 billion in aid to Ukraine. The funds will be directed towards the energy sector and humanitarian needs, according to the White House, Azernews reports.

US Vice President Kamala Harris announced the aid package at the Peace Summit in Switzerland.

The $1.5 billion includes $500 million in new funding for energy assistance and the redirection of previously announced $324 million for emergency repairs to energy infrastructure and other needs in Ukraine.

Additionally, the Vice President announced over $379 million in humanitarian assistance from the state and USAID to address the urgent needs of refugees, internally displaced persons, and communities affected by Russia's brutal war against the Ukrainian people.

Harris also stated that, in cooperation with Congress, the State Department plans to provide an additional $300 million to support Ukraine's civil security by purchasing rescue equipment for Ukrainian border guards and law enforcement agencies.

The US is a leader in providing military assistance to Ukraine. Washington has supplied Ukrainian forces with tanks, artillery, armored vehicles, long-range missiles, ammunition, and other weaponry.

Last week, US President Joe Biden announced a new aid package that includes missiles, HIMARS ammunition, howitzers, armored personnel carriers, artillery shells, and more.
15 June 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

Azerbaijan always pays great attention to security issues when implementing its foreign policy strategy. The reason is that the country's geographical position and oil reserves have made these lands the target of foreign forces for many years. Therefore, official Baku attaches special importance to relations with NATO, the largest military organization in the modern world.

Thus, within the framework of cooperation with NATO, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan has implemented the SNT program, the Operational Plan for Individual Partnerships, the Planning and Analysis Process, the Concept of Operational Capabilities, the Headquarters Positions of the Partnership, the Defense Education Expansion Program, the Science for Peace Program and other important partnership mechanisms of NATO.

Taking advantage of these mechanisms, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan carries out its activities within the framework of relevant reforms in the fields of application of modern standards in the military training and education process, training of Peacekeeping Forces, personnel management, maritime security, material, and technical support, learning of experiences, cyber security, energy security, and airspace control.

The recent visit of Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, to Belgium once again confirms the success of the development strategy of these relations. It should be noted that Hikmet Hajiyev discussed in detail the current situation and prospects of the partnership between the two countries at the "NATO+Azerbaijan" dialogue.

Commenting on the topic to Azernews, military expert Ramil Mammadli linked the current level of NATO-Azerbaijani relations with its historical importance.

"Cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO began in 1992. At the same time, Azerbaijan was a member of the North Atlantic Council, and precisely from the beginning of the 1990s, certain cooperation between this organization and Azerbaijan was carried out. Azerbaijan, as a reliable partner, has always fulfilled its mission at a high level," the expert said.

Ramil Mammadli added that the events in the region also affect relations with NATO.

"Now it's time to reconsider NATO-Azerbaijan relations. The processes taking place in the South Caucasus, regional issues dictate this," he said.

The military expert also mentioned Azerbaijan's participation in NATO exercises.

"Azerbaijan continuously participated in both tactical and headquarters exercises with NATO member countries. These relations are continued in the hot spots of the world within the framework of real military operations," the expert said.

R. Mammadli touched on Azerbaijan's participation in the peacekeeping mission in countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan. He said that the Azerbaijani army was able to benefit from the experiences of NATO.

"Azerbaijan also participated in peacekeeping missions in the military operations conducted in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo. The Azerbaijani Army was able to master a number of issues based on NATO's experience in this direction. They were able to implement a number of important points both in terms of weapons and equipment arsenal, both strategically and tactically and in terms of conducting the battle," the expert said.

Speaking about NATO's regional missions, the expert also said that the organization is not sustainable.

"We know that the NATO mission is no longer active in Afghanistan and Iraq. From this point of view, we can say that the attitude of NATO itself to the issues in the region is not so active and sustainable."

Moreover, the military expert spoke about the influence of the United States on NATO.

"We must not forget that the main driving force of this institution is the United States of America. Washington is actually a structural force that ensures the existence of NATO. The security dialogue conducted individually between NATO and other countries is carried out in the format of discussing these current issues," Ramil Mammadli said.

In addition, he commented on Azerbaijan's relations with NATO and at the same time expressed NATO's expectations from Azerbaijan.

"NATO has what Azerbaijan wants. These are issues such as the weakening of the Russian factor in the South Caucasus, and the direct development of NATO-Azerbaijan relations. The views expressed by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during his visit to Azerbaijan some time ago reflected these points," the expert emphasised.

Ramil Mammadli said that in such a sensitive moment, the leadership of Azerbaijan implemented a logical and competent policy.

"Azerbaijan tries to carry out a balanced policy as much as possible. The South Caucasus is a region that always draws attention. Azerbaijan's liberation of its lands in such an area and its development are directly related to its strong and far-sighted policy.

It should be noted that currently the security systems provided by NATO are used by the developed countries of the world. In this regard, cooperation with NATO is very useful for Azerbaijan in terms of ensuring security in the cross-border, maritime, and cyber spheres.

Also, cooperation with Azerbaijan, which has an important strategic geographical position and is the leading country in the South Caucasus, is very important for NATO. Azerbaijan's favorable geographical position and military and economic capabilities are highly valued by NATO," the expert concluded.

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15 June 2024 13:40 (UTC+04:00)

On June 14, the Military Lyceum named after Jamshid Nakhchivanski held a solemn ceremony dedicated to the 2024 graduation of the lyceums cadets, Azernews reports.

The event was attended by representatives of the Defense Ministry, the lyceums leadership, professors, teachers, cadets, former years' graduates, parents, representatives of the public and the media.

First, the memory of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, and Shehids (Martyrs), who sacrificed their lives for the independence and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, was honored.

The military personnel performed the National Anthem of Azerbaijan, which was accompanied by a Military Orchestra, and then the Battle Flag of the lyceum was solemnly brought to the parade ground.

The Rector of the National Defense University, Colonel Gunduz Abdulov, on behalf of the leadership of the Ministry of Defense congratulated the graduates on the occasion of the significant day and wished them success in their further military service.

At the event, the Battle Flag of the Military Lyceum named after Jamshid Nakhchivanski was handed over to the cadets of the next graduation.

At the end of the event, the cadets performed the Lyceums march accompanied by a Military Orchestra and solemnly marched in front of the podium.

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15 June 2024 10:35 (UTC+04:00)

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has addressed the participants of the international conference Organization of Turkic States: towards new strategic goals in the context of geopolitical realities and global cataclysms held in Shusha, Azernews reports.

The message was read out by Adalat Valiyev, Head of the Presidential Administration's Department for Relations with Political Parties and Legislative Authority.

The message reads:

"Dear conference participants!

I sincerely welcome you in the city of Shusha, the cultural capital of the Turkic world and venue of the international conference on Organization of Turkic States: towards new strategic goals in the context of geopolitical realities and global cataclysms, and wish the conference success.

In the present-day world, global cataclysms have become one of the geopolitical realities of the system of international relations. The influence and intervention of foreign power houses, the occurrence of numerous conflicts, ethnic and religious standoffs and political confrontations, the creation of an atmosphere of chaos and anarchy in different regions around the world pose a serious threat to states and international security as a whole. Under circumstances when international legal norms are flagrantly violated and there are selective approaches based on double standards, the implementation of a policy aimed at protecting national interests and responding to current challenges is one of the primary objectives of independent states.

The countries that have joined the Organization of Turkic States, are confidently marching towards new strategic goals and have become a growing power center in global politics are facing similar challenges. The relations between countries of this organization, which has been drawing the world's attention as a new alliance model, are based on the principles of friendship and fraternity, mutual understanding, equal partnership and multifaceted cooperation, and which represents a very important factor for stability, security and development at the national, regional and global levels.

It is beyond any doubt that the mutually beneficial cooperation of the political parties of the countries of the Organization of Turkic States plays an important role in the realization of common goals.

I am confident that the event, organized by the New Azerbaijan Party in the city of Shusha, the cultural capital of the Islamic world, on a significant date for the people of Azerbaijan, the Day of National Salvation and the anniversary of the signing of the Shusha Declaration, and therefore has a special symbolic meaning and moral and political significance, will make a valuable contribution to the development of multilateral relations, further strengthening of unity in the Turkic world and the realization of new goals.

I would like to take this opportunity to heartily congratulate all of you on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, which is an important part of our national-spiritual values and Islamic culture, and wish you good health and new achievements in your work.

Ilham Aliyev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan"
15 June 2024 13:03 (UTC+04:00)

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to His Majesty Charles III, King of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Azernews reports.

The letter reads:

"Your Majesty,

On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I am happy to convey my heartfelt congratulations to you and through you, all your people on the occasion of the national holiday of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - King's Birthday.

The relations with the United Kingdom are of special importance to us. We attach great importance to the deepening of our interstate relations in all domains, particularly to the further expansion of our long-term fruitful energy cooperation of a strategic nature. Azerbaijan's hosting of COP29 this November creates good opportunities for continuing joint work with the United Kingdom on climate action and the transition to green energy.

I am confident that the traditional friendly relations between Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom, built on solid foundations, and our mutually beneficial cooperation will continue to develop and expand successfully for the welfare of our peoples.

Your Majesty, on such a remarkable day, I once again convey my sincerest congratulations to you. I wish you good health, happiness, success in your activities, and the friendly people of the United Kingdom peace and prosperity.

Sincerely,

Ilham Aliyev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Baku, 12 June 2024"

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15 June 2024 15:45 (UTC+04:00)

The delegation from the Office for International Military Cooperation of the Chinese People's Liberation Army continues its visit to Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

Within the visit, a meeting with the Chinese military delegation was held at the International Military Cooperation Department of the Azerbaijan Defense Ministry.

Representatives of the Azerbaijan Army and the Chinese People's Liberation Army discussed the current state and prospects for the development of military cooperation between the two countries and a number of other issues of common interest.

The meeting also included an exchange of views on the upcoming work on planning joint activities in the field of military education.

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15 June 2024 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

The Japanese government will include companies from India, China, the UAE and Uzbekistan that circumvent anti-Russian sanctions in the new sanctions list, Azernews reports.

"At the current summit of the Group of Seven, we announced that we are considering the introduction of a new package of sanctions, which will include companies from third countries. We are considering measures against companies from China, India, the UAE and Uzbekistan," he said.

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15 June 2024 20:46 (UTC+04:00)

A French Orano SA could lose the right to mine uranium at one of the largest deposits in the world by June 19 after Niger rejected the French nuclear companys plan for developing the asset,Azernews reports.

Orano continues to operate a single large uranium mine in Niger but its proposed plan for the development of the Imouraren deposit doesnt meet the authorities expectations, Nigers mining ministry said in a letter seen by Bloomberg. A junta spokesman confirmed the letter dated June 11.

The second and final notice will end on June 19, after which date the companys operating permit will be revoked, the letter said. A Niger mining ministry official couldnt be reached for comment. An Orano spokesperson didnt respond to a request for comment.

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15 June 2024 21:00 (UTC+04:00)

The US is allocating $1.5 billion in aid to Ukraine. The funds will be directed towards the energy sector and humanitarian needs, according to the White House, Azernews reports.

US Vice President Kamala Harris announced the aid package at the Peace Summit in Switzerland.

The $1.5 billion includes $500 million in new funding for energy assistance and the redirection of previously announced $324 million for emergency repairs to energy infrastructure and other needs in Ukraine.

Additionally, the Vice President announced over $379 million in humanitarian assistance from the state and USAID to address the urgent needs of refugees, internally displaced persons, and communities affected by Russia's brutal war against the Ukrainian people.

Harris also stated that, in cooperation with Congress, the State Department plans to provide an additional $300 million to support Ukraine's civil security by purchasing rescue equipment for Ukrainian border guards and law enforcement agencies.

The US is a leader in providing military assistance to Ukraine. Washington has supplied Ukrainian forces with tanks, artillery, armored vehicles, long-range missiles, ammunition, and other weaponry.

Last week, US President Joe Biden announced a new aid package that includes missiles, HIMARS ammunition, howitzers, armored personnel carriers, artillery shells, and more.

---

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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.
Brant Clifton, the honcho of the Daily Haymaker recently penned an article that fully illustrates how our elected officials operate in the General Assembly, no matter whether they have a D or an R beside their name. Prepare to be disgusted.

Maserati Timmy and his slush fund

Posted on June 11, 2024 by Brant Clifton



Seriously. WHO is surprised by another story about the tubby little guy from Kings Mountain using taxpayer-funded resources to benefit HIMSELF? (Hell fit in sooooo well with those pikers in DC.)

Buckle up, sit back and relax, folks. Heres ANOTHER ONE:

Hours before House Speaker Tim Moores campaign confirmed his plans to run for a congressional seat last fall, he stood before reporters and TV cameras on a patch of land overlooking the interchange of two interstates near Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

Moore announced he had earmarked nearly half of a $100 million discretionary fund to add lanes to the interchange of I-85 and I-485. The funds will help fix a traffic bottleneck in the newly formed congressional district where he is running for a House seat. State officials had ranked the project behind dozens of other pressing transportation needs across the state and werent planning to tackle it until 2033. But Moore got it fast-tracked, he said.

We had the funds, simple as that, said Moore, a Cleveland County Republican, at the news conference on Nov. 2. This has been something weve been working on here for over a year really, and we finally in this years budget had the money to be able to allocate it. That money wasnt in his chambers budget proposal that passed in April, or the state Senates counter proposal approved a month later. The $100 million  an appropriation not tied to specific projects  was tucked inside a 786-page supplement to a 625-page compromise budget bill. It was not made public until Sept. 20, the day before lawmakers voted on it and six weeks before Moore announced the interchange funding. At that point in the budget approval process, no lawmaker could propose changes before the vote.

Democrats who were locked out of the final budget talks had no idea the $100 million had been added, they say. []

The $100 million is one example of state lawmakers in the past several years adding major spending to state budgets just before they go to a final vote, giving little time for public scrutiny and no opportunity for removal. The budget, which lays out a spending plan for public dollars, is arguably the most significant piece of legislation passed each year. Last years budget was just under $30 billion. Technically, lawmakers pass a two-year budget in odd-numbered years, but they adopt substantial budget modifications the next year.

In two of those budget modification years  2018 and 2022  North Carolina legislative leaders skipped the public process of developing a budget entirely. They negotiated behind closed doors a final budget that they then rolled out for votes, something veteran observers of state government say theyve not seen before.

The late, high-dollar spending creates distrust among the public while making it more difficult to root out flawed policies and government waste, open government advocates say. There should not be spending of public tax dollars that has not been discussed openly, debated openly and available for public comment and response, said Ann Webb, Common Cause North Carolinas policy director. []

The NCDOT contingency fund that Moore pulled the $45 million from has been under a dark cloud since the 1990s. The budget item has long been called a slush fund for the House speaker, Senate leader and the NCDOT secretary  whether they be Democrat or Republican  who traditionally split the money.

Don Carrington, the retired executive director and lead investigative reporter for The Carolina Journal, a conservative John Locke Foundation publication, often wrote about the contingency fund, saying it puts political interests over transportation safety. It was wrong when I wrote about it, said Carrington, who retired in 2020. Its still wrong now.

Moores spending, as described by an N&O reporter, looks like another example of a political move, he said. If safety is the main concern, then it wouldnt need a special push from the leader of the House, Carrington said.

Lawmakers created the fund in the mid-1980s. For decades they deposited roughly $10 million a year, with legislative leaders spending often going into favored lawmakers districts. That wasnt the only area where politics were influencing road building.

Some appointees to the N.C. Board of Transportation who were big campaign fundraisers had steered projects near their or their families businesses and had to resign after news reports exposed it. In 2009, then Gov. Bev Perdue signed an executive order intended to depoliticize transportation spending.

The order banned board members from voting on individual projects and required DOT experts to develop a data-driven formula to determine where transportation dollars should go. Since then, transportation needs are evaluated, prioritized and placed on the Statewide Transportation Improvement Programs list of projects for the next 10 years. The list is updated every two years and approved by the transportation board, a process that allows transportation needs that have become more urgent to move up the list. The contingency fund for lawmakers continued, even after Republican and Democratic gubernatorial candidates called for an end to it in 2008.

Lawmakers annually placed roughly $10 million into the fund, including Republicans when they took control in 2011.

GOP House and Senate leaders sought to bump it up to $22.5 million in 2019, budget records show, but Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, vetoed that budget. Two years later, they increased the fund to $62 million in a budget that Cooper signed. But the most dramatic change happened in 2023 with an unknown budget writer inserting $100 million, bringing the account to $112 million.

And unlike past years, lawmakers didnt give NCDOT Secretary Joey Hopkins a cut of the $100 million, said Jamie Kritzer, an NCDOT spokesman. Cooper let that budget pass without his signature because it included money for the Medicaid expansion hed sought for years.

Hopkins did not respond to numerous requests for comment through a family member and Kritzer. Cooper appointed him to the job in October after he had served in a variety of NCDOT positions for more than 30 years, including chief operating officer. Senate leader Phil Berger, a Rockingham County Republican, said he didnt request the $100 million increase and wasnt sure who did. He agreed to it because the state had a $3 billion surplus last year, and the money was going to projects that had a demonstrated need and NCDOT approval, he said. Kritzer said all the projects require NCDOT approval.

But Moore didnt wait, announcing it ahead of the boards December meeting, when it was formally approved, records show. It would upgrade a congested interchange that drivers have complained about for years. Regional and state transportation officials began eyeing it for improvements in 2018. The $45 million Moore committed to the interchange project on the edge of his hoped-for congressional district is by far the largest award from the fund since 2020. It is nearly $38 million more than the next most expensive project: $7.25 million committed to better connect downtown Pembroke to the UNC Pembroke campus and the Lumbee Tribes state headquarters.

[]

SETTING UP SPEAKER MOORE FOR SUCCESS

Moore and his Republican colleagues reconfigured the 14th Congressional District as part of redistricting in October. By the time they were done, much of a previously Democratic-leaning district held by a freshman Democrat, U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson, was shifted out of Mecklenburg County, adding more Republican voters. Jackson opted to run for state attorney general. The 14th District now incorporates all of Cleveland County, where Moore lives, and stretches west into Polk County. The interchange is a major eastern gateway to the congressional district, which now includes a new casino near Moores hometown of Kings Mountain. Moore had done legal work for Skyboat Gaming, a company that had partnered with the Catawba Nation Indian tribe to develop the casino. At the time of his announcement, Moore had serious competition in the Republican primary for the 14th District: Pat Harrigan, a Green Beret and businessman who built up name recognition in 2022 with an unsuccessful bid against Jackson. A month later, Harrigan opted to run for another Republican-leaning district  the 10th  when Rep. Patrick McHenry decided not to seek re-election. []

BUDGET LIMIT GOES AWAY

Two top budget writers for their respective chambers, Rep. Jason Saine of Lincoln County and state Sen. Ralph Hise of Mitchell County, said they supported adding $100 million to the long controversial DOT fund. Saine said he also supported Moore putting $45 million of it into the Charlotte interchange. Is it a political decision? Probably, he said. Is it an obvious one also because it is a jammed up intersection?

[] Berger, like House leaders Saine and Hise, defended the practice of inserting hundreds of millions of dollars in spending into the final budget so close to final votes. Theres a lot that goes into putting a budget together, Berger said. Every bit of it is not supported by every member that voted for it. But when you are deciding to vote or not support I think youve got to balance whether or not overall if theres more good than questionable. There used to be more guardrails on this states budgeting process. In resolutions legislators passed each session from the late 1980s to 2003, both chambers agreed to limit what could be included in the final version of compromise budget bills  known as conference reports  to what had first appeared in either chambers versions. For years it was standard for lawmakers to develop budget bills with a more open process involving subcommittees and hearings in those subcommittees. That openness sometimes exposed wasteful spending and worse. []

Lawmakers dropped it as the budget was heard in the House Appropriations Committee. The Democrat-led Senate began adding wiggle room to the rule prohibiting big changes to the budget bill in 2003, saying matters that were germane to what had been passed in the House or Senate could be considered. But the House stuck to the original rule until 2011, after Republicans took control of the General Assembly.

Its a rule lawmakers ought to return to and codify, said Ran Coble, the retired executive director of the nonpartisan N.C. Center for Public Policy Research, which closed in 2021. It served as a watchdog over the legislature.

This would protect rank-and-file legislators from last-minute surprises that cant be easily untied from the budget items and other measures that had already been agreed on, Coble said. Coble said Republican leaders have backslid on budget transparency since gaining control of the legislature for the first time since Reconstruction. Budget bills have swelled, with those in 2021 and 2023 exceeding 600 pages. An N&O review of budgets going back to 2001 shows only two others exceeded 400 pages, in 2015 and 2017. Its natural that when party control changes, the party thats been out of control for a long time wants to enjoy the results of being in control, Coble said. I dont fault them for that, but the changes away from that relatively fair process are a loss. []
Nurses continue to voice concerns about artificial intelligence and its integration into EHRs, saying the technology is ineffective and interferes with patient care.

Nurses from health systems around the country spoke to National Nurses United, their largest labor union, for a June 5 story about issues with such programs as automated nurse handoffs, patient classification systems and sepsis alerts.

Multiple nurses cited problems with EHR-based programs from Epic and Oracle Health that use algorithms to determine patient acuity and nurse staffing levels.

"I don't ever trust Epic to be correct," Craig Cedotal, RN, a pediatric oncology nurse at Kaiser Permanente Oakland (Calif.) Medical Center, told the nurses' union. "It's never a reflection of what we need, but more a snapshot of what we've done."

He said the technology does not account for the hours of preparing and double-checking the accuracy of chemotherapy treatments before a pediatric patient even arrives at the hospital.

"In Epic, AI is a tool to help nurses complete documentation and patient messaging quicker, spend more time with patients, and continue to provide high-quality care," a company spokesperson told Becker's. "In 2023, nurses across the Epic community used AI-powered drug interaction checks to prevent more than 60 million potentially adverse events. Nurse input is at the core of our development and implementation processes from the earliest stages, and we encourage customers to have nurses guide their ongoing use of the software."

Hundreds of nurses protested AI at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center in April.

Kaiser Permanente is empowering nurses with state-of-the-art tools and technologies that support our mission of providing high-quality, affordable healthcare to best meet our members' and patients' needs," a spokesperson for the Oakland-based health system emailed Becker's. "We have consistently invested in and embraced technology that enables nurses to work more effectively, resulting in improved patient outcomes and nurse satisfaction, and we will continue to do so."

"As an organization dedicated to inclusiveness and health equity, we ensure the results from AI tools are correct and unbiased," the spokesperson continued. "AI does not replace human assessment."

When Los Angeles-based Keck Medicine of USC revealed plans to implement Oracle Health's Clairvia acuity system, nurses threatened to picket if the health system didn't leave decisions on patient acuity and classification to bedside nurses, according to the article. These nurses said Clairvia was far less transparent and clear on how patients are classified compared to the old system. Keck leadership issued a memo that only a licensed registered nurse could make the final call on nursing hours needed.

"In our ongoing commitment to quality and safety, we continually evaluate new technologies that can simplify administrative tasks, thus reducing staff burnout and allowing for more time with patients," the health system said in a statement to Becker's.

"Keck Medicine, like many other health institutions, leverages evidence-based software to help inform patient acuity using health data from the patient's care team. However, the patients needs and acuity are ultimately determined by the assessment of a licensed registered nurse. We also collaborate closely with nursing staff throughout implementation to gather ongoing feedback to ensure we're best meeting caregiver needs."

A nurse with New York City-based NewYork-Presbyterian told the union these systems don't account for the time nurses spend on the type of tasks that aren't easily documented, such as patient education and "compassionate, psychosocial care." The health system declined to comment. Oracle Health didn't respond to a request for comment.

Automated nurse handoffs, which detail information about patients that the next nurse reads before starting a shift, are increasingly popular in healthcare. Jeff Breslin, RN, a float pool nurse at University of Michigan Health-Sparrow in Lansing, Mich., and president of the Michigan Nurses Association, told National Nurses United he once caught a patient's medication missing from an automated handoff that could have been harmful if he hadn't found the drug noted elsewhere in the chart. "It's better to have an actual conversation with someone who has taken care of the patient," he said in the article. "It takes some of the guesswork out of receiving a new patient by having that face-to-face, human-to-human interaction."

"University of Michigan Health-Sparrow currently does not have any generative AI tools and believes organizations must have guiding principles and a responsible approach when using technology in healthcare," Josh Wilda, regional chief digital information officer for University of Michigan Health, told Becker's in an emailed statement.

"These technologies can assist team members by managing information and administrative tasks, allowing more focused patient interactions. However, it's crucial that AI tools serve as assistants in the decision-making process, not stand on their own in providing care and services. As UM Health-Sparrow introduces new, innovative technology to our health system, we will ensure human connections with our patients are at the center of it all."

A nurse with Sacramento, Calif.-based UC Davis Health said sepsis alerts in the Epic EHR are often incorrect, missing patients with the condition and providing false warnings for patients unlikely to have sepsis, according to the article. "Everybody on my unit knows the sepsis warning system is not helpful," said Melissa Beebe, RN, an oncology nurse at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento and member of the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee. "I've sent people to ICU and that thing never went off."

The article pointed to a 2023 JAMA Network Open study that found the program missed two-thirds of sepsis cases. An Epic spokesperson told Becker's for an April story: "Last fall, we released an updated version of the sepsis predictive model and we are working with our customers to implement it. The live organizations have seen more timely alerts and fewer false positives. The JAMA study does not reflect the performance of our updated model."

A UC Davis Health spokesperson told Becker's the platform is "not a 100% indicator the condition is happening or going to happen."

"This program provides a probability the condition might happen, with clinical workflows designed to then be followed by humans, using that prediction as a starting point for further clinical assessment and clinician-based decisions," the spokesperson said. "This particular condition can happen quickly, and is frequently fatal, so an early alert that it is possible is in the best interests of patients and any clinician who actually cares about patient outcomes."
Amy Dowden was congratulated by fellow Strictly Come Dancing stars on becoming a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

The 33-year-old dancer from Caerphilly, Wales, was named in the Kings Birthday Honours for her services to fundraising and raising awareness of Crohns disease.

Dowden said she was still in shock on her Instagram page on Saturday, adding: I will always continue campaigning to raise awareness and fund raising for research into this terrible chronic illness.

Underneath her post, a host of Strictly dancers praised her.

Amy Dowden has been made an MBE (Matt Alexander/PA)

Carlos Gu wrote: Why I feel like Im also (getting the) honour too just by seeing this news, well deserved Ames Xx.

Katya Jones wrote: Yes Amy!!!!!!!! So well deserved!!!! Congratulations!!!!!!!

Vito Coppola said: Wow Amyyyyyy. Yesssss. Dont be in shock because you deserve this and much more. We love you.

Dianne Buswell wrote: Yessssss my sister. I have the biggest smile.

Former celebrity contestants including Good Morning Britain presenter Charlotte Hawkins and Paralympian Ellie Simmonds also congratulated her.

Simmonds wrote: Absolutely amazing. Huge Congrats! X

Dowden is an advocate and ambassador for charity Crohns & Colitis UK and has been outspoken about her own struggle with the inflammatory bowel disease, first speaking about it in 2019.

Amy Dowden is an advocate and ambassador for charity Crohns & Colitis UK (Isabel Infantes/PA)

Crohns is described by the NHS as a lifelong condition in which parts of the digestive system become inflamed, and people can experience intense abdominal pain, severe vomiting, exhaustion and bloody diarrhoea, among other symptoms.

She fronted the BBC programme Strictly Amy: Crohns And Me, in which she spoke about the condition and met others with Crohns to hear about their experiences.

Dowden suffered a flare-up of the condition in November 2021, shortly after the filming of Strictly, when she briefly moved in with her celebrity partner, McFly star Tom Fletcher, and his wife Giovanna, while her partner was away.

In January 2022 she was admitted to hospital in Manchester after Crohns developed suddenly while on the Strictly live tour.

Dowden said she did not disclose she had it when she joined Strictly, because she didnt want to be known as Amy with Crohns. She was diagnosed with the condition when she was a child.

She has recently also said she was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer after finding a lump in her breast the day before going to the Maldives on her honeymoon with fellow professional dancer Ben Jones last year.

After a mastectomy and chemotherapy, tests showed Dowden has no evidence of disease.

She took a break from competing in Strictly last year but will rejoin the cast of professional dancers for the 2024 series.
From dawn till dusk: A day in Belfast through the eyes of our citizens

This weekend Dublin marks Bloomsday, the annual celebration of James Joyces Ulysses, the novel which follows its protagonist Leopold Blooms day and night of wandering through the city. Not to be outdone, we chart a day in the life of Belfast

Belfast City Hall. Picture: Peter Morrison

Gillian Halliday Sat 15 Jun 2024 at 08:00

Its a morning start time that most of us wouldnt envy, but for David Cully, fish merchant of George S Cully & Sons, 5.45am signals the start of his weekly shift at St Georges Market. Hes already made the 29-mile trip from Portavogie, a journey that takes around an hour, to the city-centre Victorian landmark.
Sinn Fein's President Mary Lou McDonald (left) sits with former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams and Sinn Fein Vice President Michelle O'Neill, during a pro-unity group Ireland's Future event at the SSE Arena, Belfast. Picture date: Saturday June 15, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story ULSTER Unity. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Wallace Thompson speaks during a pro-unity group Ireland's Future event at the SSE Arena, Belfast. Picture date: Saturday June 15, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story ULSTER Unity. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Mick Lynch during a pro-unity group Ireland's Future event at the SSE Arena, Belfast. Picture date: Saturday June 15, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story ULSTER Unity. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Sinn Fein's President Mary Lou McDonald speaking during a pro-unity group Ireland's Future event at the SSE Arena, Belfast. Picture date: Saturday June 15, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story ULSTER Unity. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Sinn Fein Vice President Michelle O'Neill, speaks during a pro-unity group Ireland's Future event at the SSE Arena, Belfast. Picture date: Saturday June 15, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story ULSTER Unity. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Thousands of people attending an Irelands Future conference in Belfast have been told the outcome of a border poll could be decided by a Lithuanian as Michelle ONeill urged people to stop thinking of two communities.

The First Minister was among a host of politicians from eleven political parties across Ireland who participated in the event at the SSE Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Ms ONeill told delegates that there is common ground `between her and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly despite the pair having two very different lived experiences and very different outlooks.

"Which is prosperity for all, she added.

"Im a republican from Tyrone Im not asking her to surrender who she is.

"Emmas father is an ex-prisoner, my father is an ex-prisoner.

"That shows the journey we are on.

Ms ONeill insisted both leaders are committed to building a better community for everyone as he she took issue with traditional talk of two communities in NI.

"Thats not the reality of life anymore folks, she said.

"Ten percent of our population comes from the black and ethnic community, so lets talk about our community  the one we all live in.

The vice president of Sinn Fein was speaking after political science professor Brendan OLeary, from the University of Pennsylvania, told delegates he believes 2030 will be the tipping point for a referendum.

The Cork-native outlined three major changes as he claimed the non-Protestant majority in the electorate may have already arrived.

Prof OLeary said it could explain unionisms losing streak in the 2019 General Election, Assembly poll in 2022 and last years council election.

The academic also presented data to illustrate how immigration is partially reshaping the political landscape.

Irelands future could be decided by a Lithuanian, Prof OLeary told the audience.

Discussing the pathway to change theme, Ms ONeill insisted there is no contradiction between her partys pursuit of unity and making the Stormont Assembly work.

The First Minister said she believes there is a collective will around the Executive table to deal with the challenges it faces.

However she admitted the nature of power-sharing will always be a struggle and accused the Tory Government of starving NI of funding for the past 14 years.

Sinn Fein's President Mary Lou McDonald (left) sits with former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams and Sinn Fein Vice President Michelle O'Neill, during a pro-unity group Ireland's Future event at the SSE Arena, Belfast. Picture date: Saturday June 15, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story ULSTER Unity. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Ms O'Neill said the restoration of the Assembly presents real opportunity to enhance north-south co-operation through the mechanisms outlined in the Good Friday Agreement.

"Emma and I have to lead the Executive, she said.

"We can do that everyday while pursuing [individual] political aspirations.

Ms ONeill said all those pursuing unity, including Sinn Fein, must do so with confidence but in a generous way.

The First Minister also made a promise to delegates about the stalled redevelopment of a sporting stadium in west Belfast.

"Casement Park will be built on my watch, Ms ONeill said.

However, she stopped short of promising it would happen in time to host Euro 2028 games, despite it being her preference.

Alliance MLA Nula McAllister also attended the conference in place of party leader Naomi Long who pulled out of a scheduled appearance to focus on her Westminster campaign in East Belfast where she is running against DUP leader Gavin Robinson.

She agreed that there is a growing number of people who identify as other, but warned that the political priority should be on reform to ensure stability regardless of what our future on this island looks like.

We cannot create stability if we have the system we currently have where one party is able to walk away and bring everything down, Ms McAllister said.

The former Lord Mayor called for reform right across society, not just in politics, in order to prevent a poll taking place hat is not based on research as she urged against radicalising people on either side of the debate.

"We cannot have a Brexit 2.0, Ms McAllister warned.

She also told the audience theres a growing designation of other but insisted that "regardless of what happens, we have to do it together.

Wallace Thompson speaks during a pro-unity group Ireland's Future event at the SSE Arena, Belfast. Picture date: Saturday June 15, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story ULSTER Unity. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Meanwhile founding DUP member Wallace Thompson admitted that his community can be triumphalist and overbearing as he expressed his belief that change is going to happen.

The leading evangelical told delegates I am a follower of Ian Paisley.

"I am a unionist, but Im on a journey, he explained as he appealed to nationalists and republicans to engage with his community.

Mr Thompson said there is a feeling of insecurity within unionism as he revealed he has been subject to terrible abuse for rethinking his position.

We may come across as triumphalist and bigoted, he added.

"Mistakes have been made and I understand that.

Former Alliance leader and first Speaker at Stormont, Lord John Alderdice, reiterated his opinion that people across the water have no emotional attachment to NI and have already made their mind up on the question of unity.

"They just need the opportunity and excuse, he added.

SF takes hits, Farage endorses DUP candidates and concerns over lack of female candidates

But Lord Alderdice said unionists here have no confidence in what the offer is as he called on those advocating change to spell out exactly what we are taking about here.

He said residents in the Republic also need clarity on what change will look like as he claimed many people on both sides of the border will be suspicious after Brexit.

Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar reiterated comments he made in an exclusive interview with the Belfast Telegraph in which he called on the next Irish Government to make Irish unity a political objective and not just an aspiration.

However he warned against holding a border poll until we are confident we can win.

"We are not quite there yet, he added.

When you lose them you can set things back for a very long time.

Mr Varadkar said the Irish Government should start setting money aside now to prepare for reunification which he acknowledged will come with a transition cost.

He also told the conference that he disagrees with those who argue that reconciliation must be achieved first.

Asked if Dublin should apologise for how it treated non-Catholic citizens in the past, Mr Varadkar said we should certainly acknowledge that the first few decades of the Irish State was sectarian in character.

But he said any official apology must be authentic as he criticised some expressions of remorse for IRA atrocities for using general language.

"A stronger much more specific apology would be more helpful, he added.
Late Late Show host and Co Down man Patrick Kielty has met the Pope in a private audience along with other comedians yesterday morning.

Mr Kielty, along with fellow entertainers Tommy Tiernan and Ardal OHanlon were among a group of around 100 comedians who met with Pope Francis.

The conclave of comedians also included Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Rock, Stephen Colbert and Conan OBrien.

The Vatican said the meeting was to celebrate the beauty of human diversity... [and] promote a message of peace, love and solidarity. It also said it promised to be a moment of meaningful intercultural dialogue and sharing of joy and hope.

The audience was organised by the Vaticans Dicastery for Culture and Education and Dicastery for Communication.

According to the Vatican News, Pope Francis told the comedians they are in possession of a precious gift, that can spread peace within hearts and between peoples, helping us to overcome difficulties and cope with daily stress.

Tommy Tiernan meets the Pope

The Holy Father went on to highlight another miracle of comedians, the ability to make people smile even when tackling serious issues. You denounce the excesses of power, give voice to forgotten situations, highlight abuses, point out inappropriate behaviour but without spreading alarm and terror, anxiety or fear, he told them.

Pope Francis pointed out that in creation, Divine Wisdom practised your art for the benefit of none other than God Himself, the first spectator in history, with God delighting in the works that he had made.

Remember this, he told comedians. When you manage to bring intelligent smiles to the lips of even a single spectator, you also make God smile.

Thinking and speaking with a sense of humour helps us understand and get a sense of human nature, he said. Humour does not offend, does not humiliate, does not nail people to their faults, Pope Francis added. Unlike other forms of communication, he argued, humour is never against anyone, but is always inclusive and proactive, and arouses openness, sympathy, and empathy.

Ardal O'Hanlon meets the Pope

In fact, the Pope said, we can even laugh at God, just as we play and joke with those we love.

But, he said, this must be done without offending the religious feelings of believers, especially the poor.

Pope Francis concluded his address by blessing those present and their art.

Continue to cheer people up, especially those who find it hardest to look at life with hope, he said.

Help us, with a smile, to see reality with its contradictions, and to dream of a better world!

The meeting took place before His Holiness headed to Puglia for the G7 leaders summit.

Ardal OHanlon, who grew up in Carrickmacross, famously played Fr Dougal Maguire in Channel 4s cult classic Father Ted. His character questioned the Catholic religion as a whole and at one point forgot he was a priest.

And in Tommy Tiernans first appearance on The Late Late Show in 1997, his controversial routine based on the crucifixion caused hundreds of complaints to flood in for the Irish state broadcaster.

Some considered the stand-up performance by the Carndonagh man to be blasphemous. He won the Perrier Prize at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1998 with a routine largely based on his experiences following the broadcast.
EXCLUSIVE | Leo Varadkar: Next Irish Government needs to take the initiative on unity

Former Taoiseach says unification must be inclusive and suggests mapping out a two-stage referendum

Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar

Suzanne Breen Sat 15 Jun 2024 at 08:19

Leo Varadkar has said a united Ireland must be a political objective and not just an aspiration for the next Irish Government.
Sue Gray to miss meeting with Stormont leaders as she demands more money causing bedlam in Number 10
Leo Varadkar spoke about the UK general election at an event in Belfast (Brian Lawless/PA)

A future Labour government could be helpful for Ireland, former premier Leo Varadkar has said.

Mr Varadkar also said if Labour does form a government after next months General Election, he expects them to be more even-handed when dealing with Northern Ireland than the Tories.

The former Taoiseach was asked about the implications of the UKs July poll for the island of Ireland during an appearance at an event in Belfast on Saturday.

He said: I think if it is a Labour government that could be helpful for Ireland.

Certainly, they feel more of an attachment to the Good Friday Agreement than the Conservatives do.

It was a Labour prime minister Tony Blair who negotiated it.

They certainly will want a closer relationship with the European Union.

Mr Varadkar added: I think they will be more even-handed when it comes to dealing with Northern Ireland.

Whereas the Conservative Party is the Conservative and Unionist Party, I think the Labour Party is probably a bit more even-handed.

Mr Varadkar also welcomed Labour pledges to repeal the controversial Act to deal with the legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles.

Labour has said it would restore legacy inquests and the ability for Troubles victims to bring civil cases if it comes to power.

Mr Varadkar said: I think what they have said about legacy is very encouraging as well, that they will repeal and replace the legislation.

Leo Varadkar spoke about the impact of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage on UK politics (James Manning/PA)

He was also asked about the influence of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage on UK politics.

Mr Varadkar said: Given the First Past The Post electoral system, they (Reform) still might not win any or many seats.

I do think a lot of people in the Conservative Party, when they started to adopt Ukips policies, when they agreed to have a referendum on Brexit, they thought that all of that would make Farage and his ideology and philosophy go away.

And werent they wrong?

I think that is a lesson to centre-right parties  and my party (Fine Gael) is a party broadly of the centre right  that when you start copying the policies of the radical right, its a slippery slope.

They dont go away, they often get stronger.
Fine Gael enjoyed successes in the European and local elections in Ireland (Gareth Chaney/PA)

European and local election results in Ireland create the prospect of another coalition of equals between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, Leo Varadkar has said.

The former Taoiseach said an instability could have been created if one party had got too far ahead of the other.

Ireland voted last week to choose 949 local councillors, 14 MEPs and the countrys first directly elected mayor, in the first nationwide elections in four years.

Leo Varadkar speaking at an event in Belfast (Brian Lawless/PA)

The results saw the two largest coalition parties, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, reinforce their positions while the main opposition party Sinn Fein fell short of expectations

Fianna Fail doubled its presence in the European Parliament to four, with Fine Gael also on four.

Fianna Fail emerged as the largest party in local government with 248 seats on councils, with Fine Gael close behind on 245.

The results have heightened speculation that Mr Varadkars successor as Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader, Simon Harris, could call an early autumn general election.

Speaking at an event in Belfast, Mr Varadkar, who is still a TD, welcomed the election results.

He said: My party winning the biggest share of the vote in both the European and local elections, which was a much better result than we had expected or hoped for.

I know general elections can be a different thing, it is a very different contest.

Mr Varadkar pointed out that his party had good results in the local and European elections five years previously but then fell short of expectations in the general election eight months later.

He said: One thing that probably is of significance and may be of political importance is that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are so close in elections.

I think that probably reassures both parties a little.

If one gets too far ahead of the other, that can create an instability.

The fact that the two are so close creates the prospect of another coalition of equals between the two parties where there isnt a junior or a senior partner.
The Colonels Review, for Trooping the Colour, at Horse Guards Parade in London, ahead of the Kings Birthday Parade on June 15 (Jeff Moore/PA)

Here is your guide to the main developments in the General Election campaign on Saturday:

 Fly back and flypast

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will be hoping to gain some patriotic brownie points as he attends the Trooping the Colour to celebrate the official birthday of the King.

After being absent from the campaign trail while attending the G7 summit in Italy, and still dealing with the furore that resulted from his leaving D-Day commemorations early, Mr Sunak is expected to be seen at the ceremonial parade.

Later in the day Mr Sunak will be jetting off again as he is billed to attend a Ukraine Peace summit at a lakeside resort in Switzerland.

He will be joined by the Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron at the event that will be hosted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Over 90 states and organisations are expected to be in attendance with the notable absence of Russia and China, as the G7 leaders agreed to fund a loan for Ukraine using frozen Russian assets.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attends a meeting with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky at the G7 leaders summit at the Borgo Egnazia resort, in Puglia, Apulia, Italy (Christopher Furlong/PA)

 More appointments promised but more detail required

Labour Leader Sir Keir Stamer will join shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, in the East Midlands to discuss Labours plans to clear the NHS backlog, with 40,000 extra appointments a week at evenings and weekends.

Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) economist Max Warner said that Labours claim that NHS waiting lists would hit 10 million under the Conservatives was highly unlikely and their manifesto provides no detail about the overall funding the NHS will receive in the next parliament.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer (left) and shadow health secretary Wes Streeting. Picture date: Monday April 8, 2024.

 Sir Ed and the Amazing Technicolor wall

Sir Ed Davey will be on the campaign trail in Surrey as he continues his party efforts to chip away at the blue wall, a collection of typically safe Conservative seats in southern England.

Sir Ed has pledged to scrap elected police and crime commissioners (PCC) to unlock money which he says could bolster frontline policing.

The Lib Dems will hope their blue wall gains will keep them in the running for the opposition, as the Tories continue to languish in the polls, and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage declared his party the challengers to Labour in red wall seats in northern England and the Midlands.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, right, and Swiss Federal President Viola Amherd during their press conference (Michael Buholzer/Keystone/AP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday predicted history being made at the Swiss-hosted conference which aims to plan the first steps toward peace in Ukraine.

Experts and critics say little substance or few big breakthroughs are expected because Russia is not attending.

The presidents of Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Kenya and Somalia joined dozens of western heads of state and government and other leaders and high-level envoys at the meeting, in hopes that Russia, which is waging war on Ukraine,could join in one day.

In a brief statement to reporters alongside Swiss President Viola Amherd, Mr Zelensky sought to cast the gathering as a success, saying: We have succeeded in bringing back to the world the idea that joint efforts can stop war and establish a just peace.

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a news conference as part of the peace summit (Laurent Cipriani/AP)

I believe that we will witness history being made here at the summit.

Swiss officials hosting the conference say more than 50 heads of state and government will join the gathering at the Burgenstock resort overlooking Lake Lucerne.

Some 100 delegations including European bodies and the United Nations will be on hand.

Who will show up and who will not has become one of the key stakes of a meeting that critics say will be useless without the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putins government, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and is pushing ahead with the war.

As US vice president Kamala Harris arrived at the venue, shuttle buses rumbled up a mountain road that snaked up to the site, at times with traffic jams, with police along the route checking journalists ID and helicopters ferrying in VIPs buzzing overhead.

Turkey and Saudi Arabia have dispatched their foreign ministers while key developing countries like Brazil, an observer at the event, India and South Africa will be represented at lower levels.

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China, which backs Russia, is joining scores of countries that are sitting out the conference, many of whom have more pressing issues than the bloodiest conflict in far-away Europe since the Second World War.

Beijing says any peace process needs to have the participation of both Russia and Ukraine, and has floated its own ideas for peace.

Last month, China and Brazil agreed to six common understandings on a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, asking other countries to endorse them and play a role in promoting peace talks.

The six points include an agreement to support an international peace conference held at a proper time that is recognised by both Russia and Ukraine, with equal participation of all parties as well as fair discussion of all peace plans.

Mr Zelensky has recently led a diplomatic push to draw in participants to the Swiss summit.

Russian troops who now control nearly a quarter of Ukrainian land in the east and south have made some territorial gains in recent months.

US vice President Kamala Harris arrives at the Burgenstock resort (Keystone/Michael Buholzer/AP)

When talk of a Swiss-hosted peace initiative began last summer, Ukrainian forces had recently regained large swathes of territory, notably near the cities of southern Kherson and northern Kharkiv.

Against the battlefield backdrop and diplomatic strategising, summit organisers have presented three agenda items: nuclear safety, such as at the Russia-controlled Zaporizhzhia power plant; humanitarian assistance and exchange of prisoners of war; and global food security, which has been disrupted at times because of impeded shipments through the Black Sea.

That to-do list, encapsulating some of the least controversial issues, is well short of proposals and hopes laid out by Mr Zelensky in a 10-point peace formula in late 2022.

The plan includes ambitious calls, including the withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied Ukrainian territory, the cessation of hostilities and restoring Ukraines state borders with Russia, including Crimea.

Mr Putins government, meanwhile, wants any peace deal to be built around a draft agreement negotiated in the early phases of the war that included provisions for Ukraines neutral status and limits on its armed forces, while delaying talks about Russia-occupied areas.

Ukraines push over the years to join the Nato military alliance has rankled Moscow.

Andrzej Duda, President of Poland, arrives for the summit (Urs Flueeler/Keystone/AP)

Ukraine is unable to negotiate from a position of strength, analysts say.

The situation on the battlefield has changed dramatically, said Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Centre, saying that although Russia cant achieve its maximalist objectives quickly through military means, but its gaining momentum and pushing Ukraine really hard.

So a lot of countries that are coming to the summit would question whether the Zelensky peace formula still has legs, he said on Wednesday.

With much of the worlds focus recently on the war in Gaza and national elections in 2024, Ukraines backers want to return focus to Russias breach of international law and a restoration of Ukraines territorial integrity.

On Friday, Mr Putin called the conference just another ploy to divert everyones attention.

The International Crisis Group, an advisory firm that works to end conflict, wrote this week that absent a major surprise on the Burgenstock, the event is unlikely to deliver much of consequence.

Nonetheless, the Swiss summit is a chance for Ukraine and its allies to underline what the UN General Assembly recognised in 2022 and repeated in its February 2023 resolution on a just peace in Ukraine: Russias all-out aggression is a blatant violation of international law, it said.

Experts say they will be looking at the wording of any outcome document, and plans for the way forward.

Swiss officials, aware of Russias reticence about the conference, have repeatedly said they hope Russia can join the process one day, as do Ukrainian officials.

As leaders headed to the conference venue, the war raged on.

Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov of Russias southern Belgorod region, writing on social media, blamed Ukraine for shelling on Friday that struck a five-storey apartment building in the town of Shebekino, killing five people.

In Ukraine, shelling killed at least three civilians and wounded 15 others on Friday and overnight, regional officials said.
The friends and family of actress Julie Maxwell-Lewis have raised more than 10,000 towards a bursary in her memory.

The 36-year-old, who appeared the BBC NI comedy Soft Border Patrol and countless plays, collapsed on a night out in Belfast city centre with her actor husband Rhodri Lewis and friends in August 2019.
Benjamin Clapp / Shutterstock.com

Long known for his improvised and volatile stage performances, former President Donald J. Trump now tends to finish his rallies on a solemn note.

Soft, reflective music fills the venue as a hush falls over the crowd. Mr. Trumps tone turns reverent and somber, prompting some supporters to bow their heads or close their eyes. Others raise open palms in the air or murmur as if in prayer.

In this moment, Mr. Trumps audience is his congregation, and the former president their pastor as he delivers a roughly 15-minute finale that evokes an evangelical altar call, the emotional tradition that concludes some Christian services in which attendees come forward to commit to their savior.

The great silent majority is rising like never before and under our leadership, he recites from a teleprompter in a typical version of the script. We will pray to God for our strength and for our liberty. We will pray for God and we will pray with God. We are one movement, one people, one family and one glorious nation under God.

The meditative ritual might appear incongruent with the raucous epicenter of the nations conservative movement, but Mr. Trumps political creed stands as one of the starkest examples of his effort to transform the Republican Party into a kind of Church of Trump. His insistence on absolute devotion and fealty can be seen at every level of the party, from Congress to the Republican National Committee to rank-and-file voters.

Mr. Trumps ability to turn his supporters passion into piety is crucial to understanding how he remains the undisputed Republican leader despite guiding his party to repeated political failures and while facing dozens of felony charges in four criminal cases. His success at portraying those prosecutions as persecutions  and warning, without merit, that his followers could be targeted next  has fueled enthusiasm for his candidacy and placed him, once again, in a position to capture the White House.

Hes Definitely Been Chosen by God

Mr. Trump has long defied conventional wisdom as an unlikely but irrefutable evangelical hero.

He has been married three times, has been repeatedly accused of sexual assault, has been convicted of business fraud and has never showed much interest in church services. Last week, days before Easter, he posted on his social media platform an infomercial-style video hawking a $60 Bible that comes with copies of some of the nations founding documents and the lyrics to Lee Greenwoods song God Bless the U.S.A.

But while Mr. Trump is eager to maintain the support of evangelical voters and portray his presidential campaign as a battle for the nations soul, he has mostly been careful not to speak directly in messianic terms.

This country has a savior, and its not me  thats someone much higher up than me, Mr. Trump said in 2021 from the pulpit at First Baptist Church in Dallas, whose congregation exceeds 14,000 people.

Still, he and his allies have inched closer to the Christ comparison.

Last year, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican and a close Trump ally, said both the former president and Jesus had been arrested by radical, corrupt governments. On Saturday, Mr. Trump shared an article on social media with the headline The Crucifixion of Donald Trump.

He is also the latest in a long line of Republican presidents and presidential candidates who have prioritized evangelical voters. But many conservative Christian voters believe Mr. Trump outstripped his predecessors in delivering for them, pointing especially to the conservative majority he installed on the Supreme Court that overturned federal abortion rights.

Mr. Trump won an overwhelming majority of evangelical voters in his first two presidential races, but few  even among his rally crowds  explicitly compare him to Jesus.

Instead, the Trumpian flock is more likely to describe him as a modern version of Old Testament heroes like Cyrus or David, morally flawed figures handpicked by God to lead profound missions aimed at achieving overdue justice or resisting existential evil.

Hes definitely been chosen by God, said Marie Zere, a commercial real estate broker from Long Island who attended the Conservative Political Action Conference in February outside Washington, D.C. Hes still surviving even though all these people are coming after him, and I dont know how else to explain that other than divine intervention.

For some of Mr. Trumps supporters, the political attacks and legal peril he faces are nothing short of biblical.

Theyve crucified him worse than Jesus, said Andriana Howard, 67, who works as a restaurant food runner in Conway, S.C.

A Political Weapon and Vulnerability

Mr. Trumps solid and devoted core of voters has formed one of the most durable forces in American politics, giving him a clear advantage over President Biden when it comes to inspiring supporters.

Forty-eight percent of Republican primary voters are enthusiastic about Mr. Trump becoming the Republican nominee, and 32 percent are satisfied but not enthusiastic with that outcome, according to a recent New York Times/Siena College poll. Just 23 percent of Democrats said they were enthusiastic about Mr. Biden as their nominee, and 43 percent were satisfied but not enthusiastic.

The intensity of the most committed Trump backers has also factored into the former presidents campaign decisions, according to two people familiar with internal deliberations. His teams ability to bank on voters who will cast a ballot with little additional prompting means that some of the cash that would otherwise be spent on turnout operations can be invested in field staff, television ads or other ways to help Mr. Trump.

But Democrats see an advantage, too. Much of Mr. Bidens support comes from voters deeply opposed to Mr. Trump, and the presidents advisers see an opportunity to spook moderate swing voters into supporting Mr. Biden by casting Mr. Trumps movement as a cultlike creation bent on restricting abortion rights and undermining democracy.

Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, a top Democratic ally of Mr. Biden, pointed to an increasingly aggressive online presence from the presidents re-election campaign, which has sought to portray Mr. Trump as prone to religious extremism.

Theres a huge opportunity here, Mr. Newsom said in an interview. Trump is so easily defined, and he reinforces that definition over and over and over again. And Biden has a campaign that can weaponize that now.

Does He Really Care About Evangelicals? I Dont Know.

Mr. Trumps braiding of politics and religion is hardly a new phenomenon. Christianity has long exerted a strong influence on American government, with most voters identifying as Christians even as the country grows more secular. According to Gallup, 68 percent of adults said they were Christian in 2022, down from 91 percent in 1948.

But as the former president tries to establish himself as the one, true Republican leader, religious overtones have pervaded his third presidential campaign.

Benevolently phrased fund-raising emails in his name promise unconditional love amid solicitations for contributions of as little as $5.

Even more than in his past campaigns, he is framing his 2024 bid as a fight for Christianity, telling a convention of Christian broadcasters that just like in the battles of the past, we still need the hand of our Lord.

On his social media platform in recent months, Mr. Trump has shared a courtroom-style sketch of himself sitting next to Jesus and a video that repeatedly proclaims, God gave us Trump to lead the country.

The apparent effectiveness of such tactics has made Mr. Trump the nations first major politician to successfully separate character from policy for religious voters, said John Fea, a history professor at Messiah University, an evangelical school in Pennsylvania.

Trump has split the atom between character and policy, Mr. Fea said. He did it because hes really the first one to listen to their grievances and take them seriously. Does he really care about evangelicals? I dont know. But hes built a message to appeal directly to them.

Support From Local Pastors

Trump rallies have always been something of a cross between a rock concert and a tent revival. When Mr. Trump first started winding down his rallies with the ambient strains, many connected them to similar theme music from the QAnon conspiracy movement, but the campaign distanced itself from that notion.

Steven Cheung, a spokesman for Mr. Trump, said in a statement: President Trump has used the end of his speeches to draw a clear contrast to the last four years of Joe Bidens disastrous presidency and lay out his vision to get America back on track.

But the shift has helped turn Mr. Trumps rallies into a more aesthetically churchlike experience.

A Trump rally in Las Vegas in January opened with a prayer from Jesus Marquez, an elder at a local church, who cited Scripture to declare that God wanted Mr. Trump to return to the White House.

God is on our side  hes on the side of this movement, said Mr. Marquez, who founded the American Christian Caucus, a grass-roots group.

And at a rally in South Carolina in February, Greg Rodermond, a pastor at Crossroads Community Church, prayed for God to intervene against Mr. Trumps political opponents, arguing that they were trying to steal, kill and destroy our America.

Father, we have gathered here today in unity for our nation to see it restored back to its greatness, Mr. Rodermond continued, and, God, we believe that you have chosen Donald Trump as an instrument in your hands for this purpose.

But some Christian conservatives are loath to join their brethren in clearing a direct path from the ornate doors of Mar-a-Lago to the pearly gates of Heaven.

Russell Moore, the former president of the Southern Baptist Conventions public-policy arm, said Mr. Trumps rallies had veered into dangerous territory with the altar-call closing and opening prayers from preachers describing Mr. Trump as heaven-sent.

Claiming godlike authority or an endorsement from God for a political candidate means that person cannot be questioned or opposed without also opposing God, Mr. Moore said. Thats a violation of the commandment to not take the Lords name in vain.
The extension would go beyond the outer limits of the Philippines 200-mile exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea.

A Chinese coast guard ship shadows Philippine fishing boats carrying volunteers from a civilian-led mission to transport and distribute fuel and food to Filipino fishermen in the disputed South China Sea, May 16, 2024.

UPDATED at 3:21 p.m. ET on 2024-06-15

The Philippines is seeking U.N. validation to extend its continental shelf in the South China Sea and secure exclusive rights to exploit undersea resources, Manilas foreign office said, amid heightened territorial tensions with China over the waterway.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said its mission to the United Nations had submitted documentation with the U.N. Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) on Friday to register the countrys entitlement to an extended continental shelf (ECS) in the West Palawan Region in the sea.

Today we secure our future by making a manifestation of our exclusive right to explore and exploit natural resources in our ECS entitlement, said Marshall Louis M. Alferez, assistant secretary for Maritime and Ocean Affairs at the department.

The department indicated that Manila intended to stretch the Philippine continental shelf beyond the outer limits of the countrys 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea, but it did not say by how much more. Philippine territorial waters in the sea are believed to be rich in oil and mineral deposits.

The Philippines is entitled to establish the outer limits of its continental shelf comprising the seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas extending beyond 200 nautical miles (NM) but not exceed 350 NM from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured, the department said in a statement posted on social media.

It noted that the country was entitled to do this under Article 76 of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Under UNCLOS, a coastal state has exclusive and sovereign rights over the continental shelf for the purpose of exploring it and exploiting its natural resources.

The Philippines issued the announcement against the backdrop of tensions with China in South China Sea waters of its EEZ, which Filipinos refer to as the West Philippine Sea.

Chinese coast guard ships in recent months have been harassing Filipino civilian boats sailing in EEZ waters that overlap with Chinas extensive territorial claims in the sea.

Manila lodged its claim with the U.N. on the eve of a new Chinese regulation taking effect that authorizes its coast guard to intercept and arrest foreign vessels and crews caught trespassing in China-claimed waters.

Incidents in the waters tend to overshadow the importance of what lies beneath, the statement from the Department of Foreign Affairs quoted Alferez as saying.

The seabed and the subsoil extending from our archipelago up [to] the maximum extent allowed by UNCLOS hold significant potential resources that will benefit our nation and our people for generations to come.

There was no immediate response by the Chinese embassy in Manila to this Philippine diplomatic move.

In late May, Chinas foreign ministry defended the trespassing regulation, saying it was established to standardize Chinese law enforcement measures and better uphold order at sea.

Individuals and entities have no need for concern as long as they have not done anything illicit, ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a regular press conference on May 29.

China claims the waterway almost in its entirety, putting it at odds with the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, and Taiwan.

UNCLOS was the basis for a landmark lawsuit brought by the Philippines against China in 2012 following a standoff over Scarborough Shoal. In 2016, a U.N. arbitration court ruled in favor of Manila, but Beijing has refused to recognize the verdict and effectively remained in control of the shoal.

In 2012, the U.N. commission validated a claim submitted by Manila to partially extend the continental shelf of the Philippine Rise in the Philippine Sea, then known as the Benham Rise, by 135,506 kilometers (52,319 square miles).

Manilas latest submission to the U.N. commission was years in the making and had been cleared by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., a spokeswoman for the foreign office said in a statement Saturday.

We have long prepared for this, and in fact we mentioned in our Philippine (Benham) Rise submission in 2009 that we reserved our right to make further submissions to the west. It was a long inter-agency process that involved deliberate and intensive scientific research and review, Ma. Teresita Daza said.

The submission comes after we completed this comprehensive technical and scientific study of our continental shelf in the West Philippine Sea, and with the clearance support of the President.

This report has been updated to include information from UNCLOS about a sovereign states exclusive right to explore and exploit natural resources in its territorial waters.
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Deakan Sayers, 18, of Savoy, is accused of shooting two men in downtown Pittsfield on June 14 then fleeing on foot. Both victims were treated for their injuries and later released.
This Story in History is selected from the archives by Jeannie Maschino, The Berkshire Eagle.
Beloved former Debbie Wong restaurant on Dalton Avenue is about to get a new life  possibly as another restaurant
Strong and specific apologies from the IRA and the State for its historical treatment of non-Catholics could help to change hearts and minds over unification, Leo Varadkar has said.

The former taoiseach said it had to be acknowledged that in its first decades of existence the State was sectarian in character.

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He also said he believed the next Irish government should consider using its budget surplus to set up a fund to prepare for the economic challenges of Irish unity.

Mr Varadkar was speaking at the Irelands Future event in Belfast on Saturday.

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He told the rally that while he did not hold any government position any more, he still wanted to advocate for unity.

Mr Varadkar said: I think it is really important that the belief in unification isnt seen to be the preserve of any one particular party or one or two parties, it needs to be all parties and no party.

I think one of the most important things that we need to do is to make sure we maximise support for that and reach out to people who may be unenthusiastic about it south of the border and those who arent convinced or dont support it yet here north of the border.

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Mr Varadkar said he hoped that under the next government what is a longstanding political aspiration towards unification becomes a political objective.

He said: It means actively working towards it, preparing the ground for it, for the financial implications, talking about the model, the new constitution, what it might look like.

But I think for good reasons we prioritised the deal around Brexit, prioritised having the (Stormont) institutions functioning, and it is important that we dont do anything that might destabilise them.

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Leo Varadkar spoke about Irish unity in Belfast on Saturday (Brian Lawless/PA)

He added: I think this (planning for unification) could be best done in a scenario where the Assembly, the Executive, the north south bodies are all operating.

Mr Varadkar said he was reluctant to set a target date for a unity referendum, but said he would like to see a conversation about what the criteria for calling a poll would be.

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He also predicated a united Ireland would be an economic success.

Mr Varadkar said: I dont buy the idea that it will cost 20 billion a year or anything close to that, but there will be a cost.

He said, when he was taoiseach, a number of funds had been set up to prepare for the future.

We could set up a fund as well and start setting aside some of the surplus to prepare for that transition period.

The basic principle, which is a prudent one, at a time when we have a surplus, and we wont have a surplus forever, we are setting aside money for costs that we know are going to rise, like climate action, like infrastructure, like pensions.

I think it is reasonable to apply that same logic to unification and to start to set aside money now to ease that transition and also to reassure people who might be worried there will be an economic cost to them.

Mr Varadkar was then asked if, as part of a unity process, the IRA should apologise to victims or the State for its past treatment of non-Catholics.

He said: I think we should certainly acknowledge that the first few decades of the Irish Free State and the Irish State which followed was sectarian in character.

Mr Varadkar said apologies could change hearts and minds (Brian Lawless/PA)

Mr Varadkar added: I think we have to acknowledge that for quite some time the Irish state gave the Catholic Church a special position and therefore treated minorities as if they were in a different position.

I think we have to acknowledge that.

In terms of apologies, I think apologies are appropriate, but you have to be careful about them.

You can only apologise for things that happened. It has to be authentic, youve to mean it, and you have to know it will be accepted too.

I often hear people who were republicans, who would have been supporters or involved in the IRA in the past, when they give apologies it is kind of a general language, apologies for what happened and everyone suffered and what everyone did.

I think if we are going to start to change minds and hearts among Protestant people, a much more stronger, specific apology for what was done and what we did, I think would help to change the hearts and minds.
A protest is being held on Saturday outside a factory in Co Kildare where serious animal welfare abuses are alleged to have taken place.

The abuses were uncovered in the RTE Investigates documentary which aired on Wednesday night, prompting an investigation by the Department of Agriculture and gardai.

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The documentary also revealed that illegal methods were used to launder the identities of horses at the site in Irelands only equine abattoir.

The welfare abuse was filmed in a building used by Shannonside Foods Ltd in Straffan.

Campaign group My Lovely Horse Rescue (MLHR) is now calling for the facility to be shut down.

Martina Kenny, co-founder of MLHR, told Newstalk radio that it was time for the authorities to take action. "The whole country is in uproar about this," she said.

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The Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue, said those responsible will face the full rigours of the law.

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.

Mr McConalogue said an investigation has been launched into the incidents alongside the 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.

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Its 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.

Weve 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.
Casement Park will be built on my watch, Northern Irelands First Minister Michelle ONeill has said.

Ms ONeill made the comments as she addressed a major rally on Irish unification in Belfast on Saturday.

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More than 2,000 people attended the Irelands Future Pathway to Change event in the SSE Arena.

Ms ONeill referred to the ongoing uncertainty over funding for the rebuilding of Casement Park in west Belfast.

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald with former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams (Brian Lawless/PA)

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The derelict ground has been earmarked as a venue for five Euro 2028 matches.

However, the funding needed to build the stadium in time for the tournament is still not in place and there are concerns the delays will see Belfast missing out on a tournament being jointly hosted by Ireland and the UK.

Ms ONeill said: Casement Park will be built on my watch.

She also said she had a positive relationship with the Norths deputy First Minister, the DUPs Emma Little-Pengelly.

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Ms ONeill added: We have common ground, the common ground is prosperity for everybody.

Our common ground is around trying to build our community.

She said Westminster had shown it would never serve the interests of people in Northern Ireland, which demonstrated the need for constitutional change.

Eleven political parties from across the island are taking part in the event on Saturday.

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Former taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald are also due to speak at the event, while former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams is also in attendence.

DUP founding member Wallace Thompson speaks at the Irelands Future event (Brian Lawless/PA)

Opening the event, senator Frances Black, Irelands Future chair, said: It is undeniable that change is imminent.

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The Alliance Partys Nuala McAllister took part in a panel discussion after party leader Naomi Long withdrew.

Ms McAllister said the priority for her party was to reform the Stormont powersharing institutions.

She said: We do not want to create a divide here where we radicalise on either side.

DUP founding member Wallace Thompson and loyalist paramilitary David Adams are also taking part in a panel discussion called The Protestant Perspective.

The stated aim of Irelands Future is to promote debate and discussion about what a united Ireland would look like, and is campaigning for a referendum on reunification.

The group says Brexit has created a fresh impetus for constitutional change, with more people looking at unification as a way to mitigate the consequences of the UKs departure from the EU.
Growing speculation about an October general election is among the stories making headlines on Saturday.

The Irish Times reports there is a push within Fine Gael to have the general election between October 18th and October 25th, as TDs seek to capitalise on the outcome of the local and European elections.

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The Irish Examiner has details of a case where a man put covert cameras outside a woman's home, burgled her house and took a photograph of her social calendar.

Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has told the Irish Independent that Aer Lingus pilots are engaging in industrial blackmail by voting for strike action.

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The Irish Daily Mail has more on a potential general election, with the Taoiseach being urged to hold a nationwide poll instead of by-elections in October.

The Irish Daily Mirror and Irish Daily Star report on how a woman who falsely claimed the pension of her dead father-in-law for almost 30 years got her husband to get into bed and pretend to be her 110-year-old relative when officials called to her home.

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A Dublin taxi driver has been found guilty of the rape of two young women, according to The Herald.

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The Belfast Telegraph has published an exclusive interview with former taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

The Echo says nurses are having to commute long distances due to the recruitment embargo.

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The first public appearance this year of Britain's Princess of Wales has dominated the UK news headlines.

It will be Kates first public appearance in 2024 after being diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer, with the Princess leading The Sun, the Daily Telegraph, the Daily Mail, and the Daily Express.

 The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:



'Princess to take first step back into public life'#TomorrowsPapersToday



Sign up for the Front Page newsletter https://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/Lb2ghXTl6X  The Telegraph (@Telegraph) June 14, 2024

MAIL: Kate: There are good days and bad days #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/PCjOwaAbS4  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) June 14, 2024

EXPRESS: Kate: Im not out of the woods yet #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/uvQ6UT31yo  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) June 14, 2024

The Times and the Daily Mirror also lead on the Princesss health, with updates on her condition after she has been largely unseen by the public since Christmas.

TIMES: Princess reveals toll of cancer treatment #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/UUTDHkLDAl  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) June 14, 2024

MIRROR: There are good days and bad days #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/Y2qrFU05OS  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) June 14, 2024

The Independent and the i look to Westminster for their front pages as the Tories go into damage control thanks to the addition of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to the general election ballot.

INDEPENDENT: Rattled Sunak tries to calm Tory nerves over march of Farage #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/OUrmACCUJy  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) June 14, 2024

A slew of senior Tory MPs are preparing to take a stab at becoming party leader, writes The Guardian, as doubts rise that Rishi Sunak will not be able to pull them back from the brink come July 4th.

GUARDIAN: Tory leadership hopefuls jostle to replace Sunak #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/d9woE2HdGe  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) June 14, 2024

The Financial Times reports on major cuts for Whitehall, with Labour and the Conservatives pledging to cut public spending in their manifestos.

Lastly, the Daily Star heralds the beginning of an ice age, with a cold snap apparently on course for the UK.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Saturday predicted history being made at the Swiss-hosted conference which aims to plan the first steps toward peace in Ukraine.

Experts and critics say little substance or few big breakthroughs are expected because Russia is not attending.

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The presidents of Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Kenya and Somalia joined dozens of western heads of state and government and other leaders and high-level envoys at the meeting, in hopes that Russia, which is waging war on Ukraine,could join in one day.

In a brief statement to reporters alongside Swiss president Viola Amherd, Mr Zelenskiy sought to cast the gathering as a success, saying: We have succeeded in bringing back to the world the idea that joint efforts can stop war and establish a just peace.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a news conference as part of the peace summit (Laurent Cipriani/AP)

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I believe that we will witness history being made here at the summit.

Swiss officials hosting the conference say more than 50 heads of state and government will join the gathering at the Burgenstock resort overlooking Lake Lucerne.

Some 100 delegations including European bodies and the United Nations will be on hand.

Who will show up and who will not has become one of the key stakes of a meeting that critics say will be useless without the presence of Russian president Vladimir Putins government, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and is pushing ahead with the war.

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As US vice president Kamala Harris arrived at the venue, shuttle buses rumbled up a mountain road that snaked up to the site, at times with traffic jams, with police along the route checking journalists ID and helicopters ferrying in VIPs buzzing overhead.

Turkey and Saudi Arabia have dispatched their foreign ministers while key developing countries like Brazil, an observer at the event, India and South Africa will be represented at lower levels.

           .



    .   ,  ,  ,   ,  ,     :  ,  pic.twitter.com/QSi31Y9syF Advertisement  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) June 15, 2024

China, which backs Russia, is joining scores of countries that are sitting out the conference, many of whom have more pressing issues than the bloodiest conflict in far-away Europe since the Second World War.

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Beijing says any peace process needs to have the participation of both Russia and Ukraine, and has floated its own ideas for peace.

Last month, China and Brazil agreed to six common understandings on a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, asking other countries to endorse them and play a role in promoting peace talks.

The six points include an agreement to support an international peace conference held at a proper time that is recognised by both Russia and Ukraine, with equal participation of all parties as well as fair discussion of all peace plans.

Mr Zelenskiy has recently led a diplomatic push to draw in participants to the Swiss summit.

Russian troops who now control nearly a quarter of Ukrainian land in the east and south have made some territorial gains in recent months.

US vice president Kamala Harris arrives at the Burgenstock resort (Keystone/Michael Buholzer/AP)

When talk of a Swiss-hosted peace initiative began last summer, Ukrainian forces had recently regained large swathes of territory, notably near the cities of southern Kherson and northern Kharkiv.

Against the battlefield backdrop and diplomatic strategising, summit organisers have presented three agenda items: nuclear safety, such as at the Russia-controlled Zaporizhzhia power plant; humanitarian assistance and exchange of prisoners of war; and global food security, which has been disrupted at times because of impeded shipments through the Black Sea.

That to-do list, encapsulating some of the least controversial issues, is well short of proposals and hopes laid out by Mr Zelenskiy in a 10-point peace formula in late 2022.

The plan includes ambitious calls, including the withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied Ukrainian territory, the cessation of hostilities and restoring Ukraines state borders with Russia, including Crimea.

Mr Putins government, meanwhile, wants any peace deal to be built around a draft agreement negotiated in the early phases of the war that included provisions for Ukraines neutral status and limits on its armed forces, while delaying talks about Russia-occupied areas.

Ukraines push over the years to join the Nato military alliance has rankled Moscow.

Polish president Andrzej Duda arrives for the summit (Urs Flueeler/Keystone/AP)

Ukraine is unable to negotiate from a position of strength, analysts say.

The situation on the battlefield has changed dramatically, said Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Centre, saying that although Russia cant achieve its maximalist objectives quickly through military means, but its gaining momentum and pushing Ukraine really hard.

So a lot of countries that are coming to the summit would question whether the Zelenskiy peace formula still has legs, he said on Wednesday.

With much of the worlds focus recently on the war in Gaza and national elections in 2024, Ukraines backers want to return focus to Russias breach of international law and a restoration of Ukraines territorial integrity.

On Friday, Mr Putin called the conference just another ploy to divert everyones attention.

The International Crisis Group, an advisory firm that works to end conflict, wrote this week that absent a major surprise on the Burgenstock, the event is unlikely to deliver much of consequence.

Nonetheless, the Swiss summit is a chance for Ukraine and its allies to underline what the UN General Assembly recognised in 2022 and repeated in its February 2023 resolution on a just peace in Ukraine: Russias all-out aggression is a blatant violation of international law, it said.

Experts say they will be looking at the wording of any outcome document, and plans for the way forward.

Swiss officials, aware of Russias reticence about the conference, have repeatedly said they hope Russia can join the process one day, as do Ukrainian officials.

As leaders headed to the conference venue, the war raged on.

Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov of Russias southern Belgorod region, writing on social media, blamed Ukraine for shelling on Friday that struck a five-storey apartment building in the town of Shebekino, killing five people.

In Ukraine, shelling killed at least three civilians and wounded 15 others on Friday and overnight, regional officials said.
Sir Keir Starmer lashed out at the Tories as he denied claims Labour was planning a secret tax raid on families across the UK.

Here are the key moments from day 24 of the UK General Election campaign:

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Starmer finds making gains is taxing

Mr Starmer hit out at desperate Tory tactics as he was forced to publicly rule out imposing capital gains tax (CGT) on the sale of family homes.

The Conservatives claimed Labour is plotting a series of tax raids, including making the sale of a primary residence liable for CGT for the first time.

Your family home means everything. It's your past, your present and your children's future.



But Labour only see it as their tax take.



If you think Labour will win, start saving. pic.twitter.com/29C3NwwpOf Advertisement  Conservatives (@Conservatives) June 15, 2024

But Mr Starmer, on a campaign visit to a hospital in Worksop, said it was never a policy so it doesnt need ruling out, but lets rule it out in case anybody pretends that it was.

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Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner also stressed the importance of economic growth to funding her partys plans, telling reporters on a visit to West Lothian: We cant tax our way out of this problem, the Tories have shown us what high tax and unfunded commitments have made to our economy, working people have paid the price.

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The waiting game

Mr Starmer was forced to defend Labours claim that NHS waiting lists could reach 10 million if the Tories win another term in office.

Our modelling from Feb suggests that the waiting list is likely to fall slowly, or at worst flatline, in the coming years. In other words, whichever party forms the next government, waiting lists are highly unlikely to climb to 10 million. https://t.co/1x8SQrObpE

7/8 pic.twitter.com/G8GXdOq3Jf  Max Warner (@MaxWarnerIFS) May 29, 2024 Advertisement

The Institute for Fiscal Studies has said it is highly unlikely that would happen.

But Mr Starmer defended the claim: What weve said is if the list was to increase at the same rate as its increased since Rishi Sunak has been prime minister, we will get  if we had five more years of the Tories  to 10 million on that waiting list.

A Tory spokesperson accused Labour of scaremongering because they dont have a plan.

Mercer issues fresh Tory warning to would-be Reform UK voters

Johnny Mercer and Rishi Sunak share a laugh (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Veterans minister Johnny Mercer has become the latest senior Tory to warn would-be Reform UK voters they could end up handing Mr Starmer unchecked power in a landslide win.

He told Times Radio: If you vote for Reform, youre going to get a Labour government, youll get unchecked power from a Labour government to come in and change the face of this country into something that I dont believe it is, I dont think it is a left-wing country.

He acknowledged that his seat, which has a notional majority of 13,262 if the 2019 contest was fought on the current boundaries, was at risk.

He said Conservative Campaign HQ (CCHQ) should be worried about me, its very hard out there on the doors and the polling is very much against us.

Mr Mercer insisted the door-to-door campaign was great fun but its when you come home and see the media and all the rest of it that morale plummets.

Picture of the day

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar at Broxburn Family and Community development centre in Livingston (Andy Buchanan/PA)

Sunak Trooping on

Rishi Sunaks prime ministerial responsibilities have again kept him off the campaign trail.

He was at the Trooping the Colour ceremony to celebrate the Kings official birthday and was then flying to Switzerland for a major international summit on Ukraine.

Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty during the Trooping the Colour ceremony (Yui Mok/PA)

Mr Sunaks absence from the campaign on Saturday follows Thursday and Friday spent in Italy at the G7 summit.

Farage punches the bruise

On the same day that @SuellaBraverman says she wants me in the Tory party, @David_Cameron is abusive about me. Sums them up.  Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) June 15, 2024

Nigel Farage could not resist highlighting Tory divisions about how to respond to Reform UKs threat.

UK foreign secretary Lord Cameron used a Times interview to hit out at the Reform leader for wanting to destroy the Conservatives.

But former home secretary Suella Braverman  a potential successor to Mr Sunak if the Tories are defeated, and she retains her seat  used a Telegraph interview to say we shouldnt have this split on the right.

Mr Farage said the differing positions within the Tory ranks sums them up.

SNP highlights Brexit nightmare for Scottish food and drink

Visited DFDS logistics in Larkhall to hear about impact of Brexit on exports. UKs top food export is Scottish seafood but Brexit red tape costs salmon industry c.3m pa. Labour ignore that, offering no hope of change. Only @theSNP MPs will put Scottish industry first. pic.twitter.com/059az5Mt67  Kate Forbes MSP (@_KateForbes) June 15, 2024

Scotlands deputy first minister Kate Forbes said SNP MPs would protect Scottish food industries like salmon producers.

She said neither the Tories nor Labour were prepared or willing to reverse the damage that Brexit has unleashed.

She visited DFDS Logistics in Larkhall, South Lanarkshire, which is the largest haulage company for the Scottish salmon and seafood industry, to highlight the trade nightmare caused by Brexit.

Ms Forbes said: Since the moment we left the European Union, from workforce shortages to dodgy international trade deals, Brexit has spelled nothing but disaster for food and drink industries across Scotland, who have paid a hard price for a Brexit we didnt vote for.

At least he could probably organise a party in a brewery.

Chris French behind the bar of The Mitre (Chris French/PA)

Landlord Chris French has registered his pub as a political party in order to stand in the General Election.

The owner of The Mitre pub in Richmond, south-west London, said it was a chance to get the free advertising on 77,000 ballot papers in the Richmond Park seat.

And his pitch to his would-be constituents? Id rather them come down and start spending some money in the pub than vote for me to be honest.

Social media moment

Reform UKs Nigel Farage was stopped by a group of musicians asking the partys leader to follow them on social media.

Do you reckon we could get a video of you shouting out our band?, one of the young boys asks, while Mr Farage replied: I dont know if youre any good though, do I?

The band, known as The Sun Rays, proceeds to show a video of their music to Mr Farage, prompting one of the band members to say: Is that good enough to win your approval and follow us? I think it is, personally.

Farage replied You are cocky, arent you? Which is a good attribute. Youll go a long way in life like that, before agreeing to follow them on social media and take a video with the band in which he describes them as young, full of enthusiasm and optimistic.

These young lads are going places!  pic.twitter.com/lrNxBAQ5mK  Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) June 15, 2024

Whats happening on Sunday?

The weekly battle for the Sunday morning airwaves will see Transport Secretary Mark Harper and shadow health secretary Wes Streeting deployed for action.

Green party co-leader Adrian Ramsay will also be among the guests on Sky News Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips.

Over on the BBCs Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and Plaid Cymrus Rhun ap Iorwerth will join the Tory and Labour frontbenchers.
Haitian leaders have ousted Frantz Elbe, the director of Haitis National Police, following months of criticism that he was not doing enough to protect officers under attack by gangs.

Former Haitian police chief Normil Rameau, who was dismissed from the post nearly four years ago under a different administration, will once again take the helm of an underfunded and ill-equipped department that only has 4,000 officers on duty at a time in a country of more than 11 million inhabitants.

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More than 2,500 people have been killed or injured across Haiti in the first three months of the year as gang violence continues to surge.

Police have come under attack from gangs (Odelyn Joseph/AP)

Among those killed have been nearly two dozen police officers, overwhelmed by gangs that control 80 per cent of the capital Port-au-Prince and have more powerful weapons.

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The most recent killings targeted three officers from a newly formed anti-gang tactical unit who were on patrol in an armoured vehicle. A fourth remains missing.

Mr Rameaus appointment comes as a newly selected prime minister and Cabinet take the reins of Haitis government with a transitional presidential council at their side.

Mr Rameau previously served as director general of police under former president Jovenel Moise, who appointed him in August 2019. Prior to that, he oversaw the detective division.

He was ousted as police chief in November 2020 after the country's prime minister Joseph Jouthe accused him of being incompetent and not producing results at a time when gangs were seizing control of more territory.

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Haitis police unions have repeatedly called for Mr Elbes resignation and arrest, noting that gangs have raided and burned at least 30 police stations and sub-stations in recent months as part of a series of attacks that began on February 29th.

The gangs targeted critical state infrastructure and the violence led to the eventual resignation of prime minister Ariel Henry.

On Wednesday, a police union known as SPNH-17 held a press conference to condemn the state of the department and deplore the officers killed.

Look at these young men, hacked to death, said spokesperson Garry Jean-Baptiste as he pointed to rows of pictures behind him that depicted officers killed on duty.

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The union also issued a statement on the day Haiti marked the creation of its police department.

Haitis National Police is 29 years old, but it still cant walkit hasnt grown because corruption and incompetence has held it hostage, it said.

Meanwhile, another police union known as SYNAPOHA called on newly installed Prime Minister Garry Conille this week to make strengthening the department a priority.

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Garry Conille speaks to the press after his swearing-in ceremony (Odelyn Joseph/AP)

Mr Conille went along on a patrol with police on June 2nd, donning a flak jacket and helmet as he entered an armoured vehicle. SNPH-17 said at the time that the prime minister would notice during the patrol that the country had no leadership and that criminals had too much control.

The prime minister must see the need to have another team at the top, the union said.

Mr Elbe was appointed head of Haitis National Police in October 2021, replacing Leon Charles.

Last year, under Mr Elbe, at least 36 officers were killed in gang-related violence from January to mid-August, according to a UN report.

The international community has provided training and other resources to help boost Haitis National Police, which is also awaiting the UN-backed deployment of a police force from Kenya.
Italy demanded the removal of a reference to "safe and legal abortion" from the final statement of this week's Group of Seven summit, diplomats said on Thursday, drawing a rebuke from French president Emmanuel Macron.

Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni swiftly shot back, accusing Macron of looking to score political points ahead of national elections in France later this month.

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The dispute between the two European leaders, who have very different political visions, undermined efforts to show Western unity at the annual G7 gathering, which is being held this year in southern Italy.

The 2023 G7 communique released after the leaders' summit in Hiroshima, Japan, which hosted the event last year, called for "access to safe and legal abortion and post-abortion care".

Similar or slightly tougher language was proposed by French and Canadian diplomats during the habitual negotiations that took place ahead of the 2024 meeting, which is being hosted by Italy's conservative prime minister, Giorgia Meloni.

"All the other countries backed them, but it was a red line for Meloni so it is absent from the final text," one diplomat told Reuters.

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Macron later told reporters he regretted the decision.

"You don't have same sensibilities in your country," Macron told an Italian reporter. "France has a vision of equality between women and men, but its not a vision shared by all the political spectrum."

Macron stunned his nation on Sunday by dissolving parliament and ordering snap elections after his party was routed by the far-right in a European Union ballot.

'Profoundly wrong'

Meloni heads a national conservative party that traces its roots back to a neo-fascist group, and she has clashed with Macron in the past, notably over her hard line on immigration.

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On Thursday she said there was no reason to generate a controversy over the issue.

"I think it is profoundly wrong, in difficult times like these, to campaign (for an election) using a precious forum like the G7," Meloni told reporters.

A senior Italian diplomat confirmed that the word "abortion" would not appear in the final communique, but said this was only because the statement made clear the G7 continued to support the aims of the Hiroshima declaration.

"This story has been whipped up and has no substance to it," said the diplomat.

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However, signalling that there had been broader discomfort over Italy's position, a senior US official told reporters that President Joe Biden had also not wanted the reference to abortion to disappear from the text.

"The president felt very strongly that we needed to have at the very least the language that references what we did in Hiroshima on women's health and reproductive rights," the official said.

The dispute between the two European leaders, who have very different political visions, undermined efforts to show Western unity at the annual G7 gathering. Photo: Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty

He confirmed that if the word "abortion" did not appear, then the 2024 communique would indeed reiterate the commitment made a year ago in Japan.

Abortion is a hugely sensitive issue in the United States, with Biden promising to create a right to abortion if he wins re-election in November, warning that his Republican opponent Donald Trump could sign a national ban on the practice.

Meloni is staunchly anti-abortion, revealing in a recent autobiography that her mother had come close to aborting her before deciding to keep her child.

Italy's ruling coalition sparked outrage in some quarters in April after it passed legislation allowing groups who "support motherhood" into abortion advice clinics to try to deter women from terminating pregnancies.
The presidents of Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Kenya and Somalia will join many western heads of state and government and other leaders at a conference this weekend to plan the first steps towards peace in Ukraine, with Russia notably absent.

Swiss officials hosting the conference say more than 50 heads of state and government, including Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy, will join the gathering at the Burgenstock resort overlooking Lake Lucerne.

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Some 100 delegations including European bodies and the United Nations will be on hand.

Who will show up, and who will not, has become one of the key stakes of a meeting that critics say will be useless without the presence of Russian president Vladimir Putins government, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and is pushing ahead with the war.

US vice president Kamala Harris will attend, while Turkey and Saudi Arabia have sent their foreign ministers.

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I arrived in Switzerland for the Global Peace Summit. There will be two days of active work with countries from all parts of the world, with different nations that are nonetheless united by a common goal of bringing a just and lasting peace in Ukraine closer.



The Peace Summit pic.twitter.com/DhS54e1Xk0  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) June 14, 2024

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Key developing countries like Brazil, an observer at the event, India and South Africa will be represented at lower levels.

China, which backs Russia, is joining scores of countries that are sitting out the conference, many of whom have more pressing issues than the bloodiest conflict in far-away Europe since the Second World War.

Beijing says any peace process needs to have the participation of both Russia and Ukraine, and has floated its own ideas for peace.

Mr Zelenskiy recently led a diplomatic push to draw in participants.

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Russian troops who now control nearly a quarter of Ukrainian land in the east and south have made some territorial gains in recent months.

When talk of a Swiss-hosted peace initiative began last summer, Ukrainian forces had recently regained large swathes of territory, notably near the cities of southern Kherson and northern Kharkiv.

I am heading to Switzerland for the Summit on Peace in Ukraine.



I look forward to standing with our allies and partners in support of Ukraine's effort to secure a just and lasting peace. pic.twitter.com/StpQnO7Ojh Advertisement  Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) June 15, 2024

Against the battlefield backdrop and diplomatic strategising, summit organisers have presented three agenda items: nuclear safety, such as at the Russia-controlled Zaporizhzhia power plant; humanitarian assistance and exchange of prisoners of war; and global food security, which has been disrupted at times because of impeded shipments through the Black Sea.

That to-do list, encapsulating some of the least controversial issues, is well short of proposals and hopes laid out by Mr Zelenskiy in a 10-point peace formula in late 2022.

Mr Putins government, meanwhile, wants any peace deal to be built around a draft agreement negotiated in the early phases of the war that included provisions for Ukraines neutral status and limits on its armed forces, while delaying talks about Russia-occupied areas. Ukraines push over the years to join the Nato military alliance has rankled Moscow.

With much of the worlds focus recently on the war in Gaza and national elections in 2024, Ukraines backers want to return focus to Russias breach of international law and a restoration of Ukraines territorial integrity.

The International Crisis Group, an advisory firm that works to end conflict, wrote this week that absent a major surprise on the Burgenstock, the event is unlikely to deliver much of consequence.

Nonetheless, the Swiss summit is a chance for Ukraine and its allies to underline what the UN General Assembly recognised in 2022 and repeated in its February 2023 resolution on a just peace in Ukraine: Russias all-out aggression is a blatant violation of international law, it said.
Terrian + Wande | Photo Credit: Tres Cox

NASHVILLE, TENN. (JUNE 14, 2024)  Gotee Records' powerhouse vocalist Terrian releases a new version of her song "Matthew 5" from her debut album Give It Time. The new version features Reach Records' Wande, who was named in the USA Today article "Christian Hip Hop Is Having a Moment: 6 Rappers You Should Know." Click here to listen to the new version of "Matthew 5" as well as watch the music video that debuts today below.

The album version of "Matthew 5" is already receiving airplay on CHH stations like Holy Culture Radio Sirius XM 140, Boost FM in St. Louis, KFCO 107.1 in Denver, and more. The music video for the new version was captured at the original location of Gotees House of Insomnia studio where dc Talks Jesus Freak & Supernatural", GRITS Factors of the Seven," Jennifer Knapps Kansas and many more albums were recorded.

Since the release of her full-length debut, Terrian has had her national TV debut with a performance on Fox & Friends and was nominated twice and performed her hit "Big God" at this year's K-LOVE Fan Awards, which aired on TBN. Just announced, she will make her historic Grand Ole Opry Debut on August 27th.

Following one-off dates this summer, including a performance in Hawaii next weekend as part of the K-LOVE Live in Honolulu Show, she will head out on the Awakening Tour with Casting Crowns, We The Kingdom, Katy Nichole, and more. For more dates and cities, visit https://www.iamterrian.com/tour.
A woman has been charged with murder and refused bail after her husband was found dead in their home in Sydneys north-west.

Police were called to the house on Damon Avenue in Epping about 11am on Saturday following a concern for welfare report.

Police at the scene in Epping on Saturday after a mans body was found and a woman was arrested. Credit: Steven Siewert

On arrival, police located the body of a man. While he is yet to be formally identified, he is believed to be aged in his 60s, NSW Police said in a statement.

His wife, Nam Suk Back, 60, was arrested at the scene and taken to Gladesville police station.
A new Perth literary festival was announced on Saturday morning, to be headlined by Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York  global humanitarian, film producer, and New York Times-bestselling author of more than 50 books.

Her Perth-based publisher is promoting her new picture book with copies on sale at the festival ahead of the Christmastime release.

Thriller writer Dervla McTiernan; the Duchess of York; and historical fiction author Natasha Lester.

The festival, to be held in the northern suburb of Joondalup on October 19, was the result of a simple conversation: a City of Joondalup events staffer asking commercially successful Perth author Tess Woods one evening whether she had any ideas for cultural events.

Woods, whose fourth contemporary fiction novel is releasing this September with Penguin, proposed a festival with one key difference from the usual Australian literary festival  it would focus on commercial genre fiction instead of the literary fiction usually preferred for such gatherings.
We wont always agree, and the points in which we disagree wont simply disappear if we leave them in silence, Albanese will say, according to his speech notes. Creating channels of dialogue and building understanding is how we make it possible for benefits to flow. Albanese will say: There is much that remains to be done, but it is clear that our nations are making progress in stabilising and rebuilding that crucial dialogue. Albanese has vowed to raise points of disagreement in his meeting with Li, including Yangs situation and recent dangerous military encounters between the Chinese and Australian militaries.

The federal opposition is also calling on Albanese to raise the issue of foreign interference after this masthead revealed federal police told two prominent Australian critics of the Chinese Communist Party they were the suspected targets of a foreign interference operation. Supporters of Yang, a former Chinese Ministry of State Security official, described him as an Australian political prisoner who has been sentenced to death because of his writings in support of individual freedoms, constitutional democracy and rule-of-law. Loading Authorities have now reviewed and upheld his original suspended death sentence, the supporters said in a statement, adding they understood that Yang was being moved to prison confinement after more than five years in a security detention centre. Clearly, it is not possible to achieve a stable, respectful bilateral relationship with China while their officials are threatening to execute an Australian political prisoner without any semblance of due process, they said.

During his visit to Adelaide Zoo, Li said China would provide a new pair of beautiful, lovely and adorable pandas as soon as possible. We can give you some candidates and invite you to China to pick the ones you want to bring to Adelaide Zoo, he said. Li said China would provide a new pair of beautiful, lovely and adorable pandas as soon as possible. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Li said Beijing had decided to loan Australia two pandas to fulfil the wishes of Adelaide-based Wong, who had raised the issue several times with her Chinese counterparts during her most recent visit to China. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas thanked Li for the generous offer, saying: It is one that the South Australian people will very much embrace.

Leaving the panda enclosure, Li interacted with a brush-tailed bettong named Rambo before heading to the Penfolds Magill estate for lunch with local wine exporters. In a nod to the major remaining trade disputes between Australia and China, the dignitaries dined on an entree of South Australian rock lobster before eating a main course of wagyu striploin from South Australias Mayura Station. Protesters and supporters of Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the entrance of Adelaide Zoo. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Australia is seeking to regain access to the Chinese market for rock lobster and crayfish exporters, as well as two beef abattoirs, after previous restrictions on Australian wine, coal, timber and barley exports were removed. Australian officials are confident the seafood restrictions will soon be lifted, but are not sure when.

Wong and Farrell both faced questions on Sunday about whether Australias more conciliatory tone towards China meant compromising on democratic values as China continues its aggressive behaviour in the region. Farrell said Labor was overturning blocks on Australian exports by acting more maturely than the Coalition did when in government. Weve managed to get all these things without kowtowing to the Chinese government, he said on Sky News Sunday Agenda. Wong said Duttons recent stance of putting off decisions on a 2030 emissions reduction target would diminish Australian ties with Pacific nations deeply worried about climate risks. We are now in a position where Australia is a partner of choice but the opportunity to be the only partner of choice has been lost by Mr Dutton and his colleagues, and we are in a state of permanent contest in the Pacific, she said on ABCs Insiders.

Anti-CCP protesters gathered outside the Adelaide Zoo chanted slogans including Uyghur lives matter and Human lives over profit as they waved Uyghur, Tibetan and Hong Kong flags. Loading We want Prime Minister Albanese to classify what China is doing to the Uyghurs in East Turkistan as a genocide and crime against humanity, Adam Turan, the president of the East Turkistan Australian Association, said. He should raise human rights and call for him to end the concentration camps. Pro-CCP protester Mike Wang said he and his family had come to show support for the Chinese premier and to support improved trade ties between the two nations.
Federal authorities have approved 51 renewable energy projects since the last election to add to the electricity grid and prepare for the closure of coal-fired power stations amid a growing political row about the need for new capacity to avoid future shortages.

The new projects are expected to add 8.4 gigawatts of clean energy to the grid, almost three times the capacity of the countrys biggest coal-fired power stations, and will be accompanied by storage to deal with intermittent supply from wind and solar farms.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer, Alex Ellinghausen

But Labor is confronting rising concern from renewable companies about obstacles to their investments despite the urgent need for additional supply even after state decisions to extend the lives of the Eraring coal-fired power station in NSW and the Loy Yang A power station in Victoria.

The new figures heighten the dispute over energy policy after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton revealed this week he would not set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and would instead propose building nuclear power stations to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
Councils in Melbournes outer north and north-west will be told to find room for hundreds of thousands of new homes over the next three decades as the government releases fresh targets to boost the states housing stock by more than 2 million.

On Sunday, Premier Jacinta Allan and Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny will unveil the draft targets for each council area in Victoria.

The number of homes in the City of Melbourne will more than double, and there will be dramatic increases in Maribyrnong, which takes in Footscray, Seddon and Yarraville, where the council will be asked to find space for 49,000 new homes by 2051  a 114 per cent jump from current levels.

The state government will also propose that the Whitehorse Council, which takes in Box Hill, Mitcham, Mont Albert, Vermont and Surrey Hills, accommodate 79,000 new homes, up from 74,200 dwellings listed in the area in 2023.
A first home buyer from Maroubra has landed the keys to a semi-detached house in Rockdale for $1,472,000  less than the sellers asking price.

And yet, the home more than quadrupled in price in 24 years since it last sold for $357,500 in 2000, records show.

It was one of 805 homes scheduled to go under the hammer in Sydney on Saturday. By evening, Domain Group recorded a preliminary auction clearance rate of 67.4 per cent from 534 reported results, while 113 auctions were withdrawn. Withdrawn auctions are counted as unsold properties when calculating the clearance rate.

The three-bedroom house at 121 Farr Street had no guide and drew seven registered bidders  a mix of first-time buyers and upsizers.
The restaurant Michael Demagistris made waves on MasterChef: The Professionals in 2013, and hes making waves again as the executive chef of Tarra Queenscliff, a restaurant situated in the dramatic new ferry terminal. If youve already been touring the Bellarine with an Esky, youll recognise Ket Bakers breads and Lard Ass butter from Ocean Grove on the menu. The charcuterie plate, all cured inhouse, is a thing of beauty, as is the smoked salmon tartlet served on a bed of seashells, while the baked scallops arrive garnished with pearls of tangy finger lime. Accessorise with a glass of local hero Oakdene Vineyards sparkling brut, and watch incoming ferries from Sorrento for an afternoon well spent. See tarra.com.au FarmDog  all in the family. The drink For an instant throwback to Asian travels, take a sip of FarmDog Brewings hand-bottled pandan. Like most Bellarine cellar doors, FarmDog keeps it in the family, as distiller Maddy McGlashan of McGlashan Estate joins her vigneron father, Russell, in the estate in Wallington to create a range of infused gins including a Christmassy pumpkin-pie gin. The property includes four eco villas overlooking the vineyards, which produce its cool-climate chardonnays, pinot noirs and sparkling whites. See farmdogbrewing.com.au

The bar Tram at Terindah Estate, Parked beside the cellar door of Terindah Estate, a W-class tram is resplendent in its signature green and gold livery. Tram 911 was retired from life in Melbourne, and in 2020 was snapped up by Terindahs late owner, Peter Slattery, to be restored by Bendigo Tramways. The tram, named Peters Odyssey, is now a bar open on weekends from 12 to 5pm serving lobster rolls and local mussels, cheese platters and charcuterie with the estates wines and views of Corio Bay and the rocky ridges of the You Yangs (walk-ins only). See terindahestate.com The wildlife experience Swimming with dolphins.

Port Phillip is home to three types of dolphins, including the critically endangered Burranan. Officially, there are just three pods in Victoria, who are happy to play when theyre not hunting, say Sea All Dolphin Swims crew. In that case, the bays resident seals are always ready to step in. An all-boy gang of Australian fur seals, some weighing up to 350 kilograms, have made their home on Chinamans Hat, a shipping channel marker nicknamed the Taj Mahal for seals. Without any ladies present to fuel aggression among the group, they happily roll and flip around with wetsuit-clad swimmers. See dolphinswims.com.au The lake Bird haven: Lake Connewarre. Credit: Justin McManus There are 10,000 ducks, pelicans and swans on Lake Connewarre, and, at the other end of the scale, possible sightings of the near-extinct orange-bellied parrot. Paddler and environmentalist Jay Martin takes kayaking tours out on the lake, including night tours, with special sessions on the solstices and even a fancy-dress Halloween paddle. See outsideadventures.com.au The Esky filler
It comes with some amusement to my Indonesian colleague, Amilia Rosa, when Karabi confesses to having had a hand in an infamous 2015 event she covered with journalist Jewel Topsfield. The smuggling mission was carrying 65 asylum seekers to New Zealand when it was intercepted by Australian officials. The story became remarkable, however, when Jewel and Amilia revealed that Australia had paid the smugglers wads of cash to turn the boat around, leading to calls for a royal commission. It was a big and difficult scoop. Karabi chuckles at Amilias reaction  small world and all that. The men gathered at the house deny any involvement in two successful boat runs of illegal immigrants to Australia this year, but they know who we need to speak to. There are two [groups of] people who know how to actually get to Australia and back undetected, says Kasim. If its not us, it has to be the other guys. The other guys, according to these guys, are from a dot in the southern South-East Sulawesi islands, so small not even Amilia has heard of it. In the car back to our hotel in Baa we make the call to bin our other plans and try for Maginti Island instead.

The next few days are a blur of flights, airport waiting lounges and hot and sweaty ferries that inch us variously through Kupang, Denpasar, Makassar, Kendari and, eventually, to Muna Island. Getting to Maginti requires paying the brother of the head of a village to fire up a small fishing boat and rustle up a crew. Loading Waiting for us (locals have been making phone calls) is the hospitable but evasive Ali Imran  one of two chiefs on the island  along with dozens of curious locals. Selfies ensue. I am the first Westerner to visit Maginti for years, possibly decades, Imran explains. In his living room, he says the market for fresh fish collapsed during the pandemic and fish stocks are on the decline from unsustainable practices. He bats away the Rote islanders allegations of people smuggling. While his fishermen have no choice but to go to the Australian coast for a pay day, they dont take immigrants  at least, not any more.g As for having exclusive knowledge about how to reach Australia for its valuable sea cucumbers, also called trepang, he says this is rubbish too. Once we had a successful journey, everyone started imitating, he says of the trepang runs. It has now spread to all the regencies around us.

If theres ever people smuggling activities to Australia, they keep saying, Its the Maginti people. But I am very certain there is no one from Maginti Island who actually smuggled people this year. Gratified by the islanders warmth but dejected at the apparent dead-end, we head back to Muna Island, where a surprise arrives at our hotel in the form of three Indonesian officials. Since meeting us the previous day, they have decided they dont like the look of my (valid) journalist visa. They eventually leave (thankfully without me). The details of what happens next must be omitted to protect certain identities, but unknown to us or these officials at the time is that their bizarre interrogation has set in motion a series of happenings that leads to Bombana regency  next door to Maginti Island  and to people smuggler, Ali Sarwano. Sarwano (not his real name) was among the trio who successfully evaded Australias Border Force in February to drop 39 South Asian asylum seekers near the WA bush community of Beagle Bay.

Imran was mistaken. Sarwanos two colleagues were, in fact, from Maginti, just like the Rote islanders suspected. Australian authorities tend to brand all people smugglers as evil, lumping the desperate, small fish with the profit-making whales. The 30-something Sarwano (he does not know his exact age) accepted the job for only $3000 to pay off debts at the local shop. He regrets his choice, not least because of the wrath of his wife and mum. He does not strike me as bad. Just a desperate young man. Trepang men Kasim (left) and Renaldy on a boat used to reach the Australian mainland. Credit: Amilia Rosa You can read more about him here and here, and watch our joint investigation with 60 Minutes here. On Rote Island, Karabi had told us the futility of trying to make a living from fishing close to home was driving men to the illicit trades of trepang, shark fin, fish and people.

He has two requests. One is compensation for the 2009 Montara oil spill off the coast of Western Australia that he says irreparably ruined fish stocks. Loading The other is for our government to allow boats fitted with engines inside the MOU box, a large patch of Australian waters agreed between the two countries via a memorandum of understanding where cross-border fishermen can operate legally. With the aid of power, they could avoid deadly reefs. By limiting the engines, they are killing us. Literally killing us, he says. One of the group at Karabis house, Kasim, told us he would add people to his Australian trepang runs for the right money. We are trying to tell our story, he says. We need the governments in Australia and Indonesia to know the problems and the truth.

I spoke to lawyer Greg Phelps about the Rote islanders plight. He represented local seaweed farmers in a successful class action against the oil company, and is a wealth of on-the-ground knowledge. Phelps says he would have loved to have run a case for the fishermen  whom he believes were even more affected than the seaweed farmers  but the team had the best chance of success running a narrow case. Beyond the issue of environmental damage, he is also troubled by the Australian policy of burning illegal boats. Youve got all these out-of-work fishermen because theyve lost their boats, and out of work because of Montara, he says. It put all these experienced skippers sitting out there under a f---ing palm tree in the village rather than being out there in their own boat. Its the perfect environment for the real smugglers to come along and prey on them. Of course, it is complex. To truly stop the boats, however, perhaps the Australian government must consider complementing its ocean deterrence approach with strategies that offer a future and hope to Indonesias fishermen.
Vatican City: Before flying to Italys southern Puglia region to meet world leaders at the Group of Seven summit, Pope Francis hosted a very different audience at the Vatican on Friday celebrating the importance of humour.

The pontiff welcomed more than 100 comedians from 15 nations, including celebrities Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Rock, Stephen Colbert and Conan OBrien.

Pope Francis faces Stephen Colbert and Chris Rock, among others. Credit: X/EWTN/Colm Flynn

In the midst of so much gloomy news, immersed as we are in many social and even personal emergencies, you have the power to spread peace and smiles, Francis told the comedians.

You unite people, because laughter is contagious, he continued, asking jokingly, Please pray for me: for, not against!
It was the biggest festival of democracy in the world and the history of humanity, Modi said in his address at the session.. (Photo: PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday highlighted the recently-held Lok Sabha elections in his address at an outreach session of the G7 summit here and said the "blessings" that the people of India have given in the form of a historic win in the polls is a "victory of democracy". The prime minister in his speech also shared some figures to underline the mammoth scale of the world's largest democratic exercise in India which was held between April 19 and June 1 in seven phases. Votes were counted on June 4. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp Modi is in Italy to attend the 50th G7 Summit at the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni. He addressed an outreach session on artificial intelligence, energy, Africa, and the Mediterranean, alongside leaders from other countries, including Pope Francis.

This is his first foreign visit after being sworn in as the prime minister of India for the third consecutive time after the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance's victory in the general elections.

"The blessings that the people of India have given in the form of this historic victory is a victory of democracy," Modi said, adding that it is a "victory" for the entire democratic world.

"And just a few days after assuming office, I am extremely happy to be present among you, friends," Modi said.

In the recently-concluded Lok Sabha polls, the BJP with 240 seats fell short of a majority but the NDA secured the mandate with 293 seats. The Congress bagged 99 seats while the INDIA bloc got 234 seats. Following the polls, two Independents who won have also pledged support to the Congress, taking the INDIA bloc tally to 236.

The G7 Summit is being hosted at the luxury resort of Borgo Egnazia in Apulia.

"Last week, many of you friends were busy with the elections for the European Parliament. Some friends will be going through the excitement of the elections in the coming time. In India too, the election time was a few months ago," Modi said, quoting some figures to underline the "speciality and vastness" of the Indian elections.

"More than 2,600 political parties, more than one million polling booths, more than five million electronic voting machines, 15 million polling staff, and approximately 970 million voters, out of which 640 million exercised their franchise. Completed by the ubiquitous use of technology, the electoral process has been made fair and transparent," he said.

"And, the results of such a big election were also declared within a few hours!" the prime minister said.

It was the biggest festival of democracy in the world and the history of humanity, Modi said in his address at the session.

"It is also a living example of our ancient values as the mother of democracy. And, it is my good fortune that the people of India have given me the opportunity to serve them for the third consecutive time. This is the first time in India, in the last six decades, that this has happened," he asserted.

Modi was sworn in as a prime minister on June 9 for a third term, equalling the feat of the first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, who won in the 1952, 1957 and 1962 general elections.
Swedish fighter jets intercepted a Russian military aircraft after it briefly violated Sweden's airspace on Friday east of the Baltic island of Gotland, the Nordic country's armed forces said on Saturday, Azernews reports.

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom called the airspace violation "unacceptable" and said officials from the Russian Embassy in Stockholm would be summoned to his ministry over the incident.

"We are in close contact with allies and partners about the events in our immediate area," Billstrom told Reuters in emailed comments.

The Russian Embassy in Sweden did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Sweden's armed forces said in a statement that Gripen jets were sent up to intercept the Russian plane, an SU-24, after it failed to respond to a radio warning by military air traffic controllers.

Swedish air force chief Jonas Wikman said the incident showed a lack of respect for Sweden's territorial integrity. "We followed the entire chain of events and were in place to intervene," he said.

Friday's incident took place as Sweden - NATO's newest member - and several of its new allies take part in naval exercises in the Baltic Sea.

The Swedish military said similar violations by Russian aircraft last occurred in 2022 when two SU-27 and two SU-24 planes also violated its airspace near Gotland.

Sweden's neighbour Finland said separately on Friday it suspected that four Russian military planes had violated its airspace on June 10.
MultiBank Group is thrilled to announce its recognition as a top BaFin-regulated forex broker by FXEmpire, a leading financial markets authority. This prestigious accolade highlights MultiBank Group's unwavering commitment to excellence, security, and innovation in the forex trading industry.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240614306878/en/

Top BaFin regulated forex broker 2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

About BaFin: Regulating German Financial Markets

BaFin, Germany's Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, oversees the country's banking, securities, and insurance sectors. It ensures fair and transparent operations in the forex and CFD markets by enforcing rigorous standards.

Selection Methodology

FXEmpire's methodology for selecting the best BaFin-regulated brokers includes:

Regulation Verification : Ensuring each broker is BaFin-regulated, providing traders with high-level protection.

: Ensuring each broker is BaFin-regulated, providing traders with high-level protection. Cost Efficiency : Brokers offering low fees, including spreads, commissions, swaps, and non-trading fees.

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: Emphasis on brokers with intuitive and feature-rich trading platforms. Localization Options: Brokers that offer EUR as a base currency, local offices, and German-language customer support.



FXEmpire's team of experts, with extensive hands-on forex trading experience, meticulously examined and analyzed each broker's strengths and weaknesses to select the best BaFin-regulated forex brokers across various categories.

MultiBank Group's Excellence in Forex Trading

MultiBank Group's recognition as a top BaFin-regulated forex broker underscores its dedication to providing traders with superior services and robust security measures. The Group's innovative trading solutions, including its all-in-one user-friendly app, are setting new benchmarks in the industry. MultiBank Group strives for outstanding service, ensuring its clients have access to the best trading experience possible.

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MultiBank Group remains committed to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the forex trading world. The Group is constantly exploring new technologies and strategies to further enhance its offerings, ensuring that traders always have access to the most advanced and secure trading tools available. This recognition by FXEmpire is a testament to the Group's relentless pursuit of excellence and unwavering dedication to its clients' success.

ABOUT MULTIBANK GROUP

Founded in California, USA, in 2005, MultiBank Group has grown to command a daily trading volume exceeding $12.1 billion, serving over 1 million customers. MultiBank Group has matured into one of the largest online financial derivatives providers globally, offering an array of brokerage services and asset management solutions. The groups award-winning trading platforms offer up to 500:1 leverage on a diverse range of products, including Forex, Metals, Shares, Commodities, Indices, and Digital Assets. For more information, visit https://multibankfx.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240614306878/en/
Mayor Kelly Charles Frazier Previous Next

The Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority announces the graduation of its first-ever class of CARTA Ambassadors. The ceremony held on Thursday, June 13, attended by Mayor Tim Kelly, recognized the achievements of the new bus drivers, mechanics and transit professionals who have completed their training and are ready to serve the community."This marks a significant milestone for CARTA as we celebrate the dedication and hard work of our inaugural CARTA Ambassadors, said Charles D.Frazier, CARTA chief executive officer. These graduates have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to providing safe, reliable and efficient transportation services to the people of Chattanooga. They are the driving force behind CARTAs mission to serve Chattanooga, Hamilton County and beyond.Officials said, "The CARTA Ambassador program was established to develop a skilled workforce of transit professionals who excel in the roles they are trained for and act as ambassadors for the City of Chattanooga and CARTA as front-line workers. Throughout their training, the graduates have gained the knowledge and skills necessary to perform their duties."Mayor Tim Kelly commended the graduates, saying, "I believe Chattanooga can be the best city in America, but I know that a city cant reach its potential to be great for all its residents without high quality public transportation. The success of Chattanooga depends on CARTAs progress. And these new public servants will be at the forefront of that progress, as the faces of Chattanooga for everyone who uses a CARTA service. We are so grateful to have them aboard."Mr. Frazier said, "As our CARTA Ambassadors begin their careers, we are confident that they will make a lasting impact on our city. Their dedication to excellence and passion for serving others will fuel our city's economic engine and shape a brighter, more connected future for all of us."
Life Care Center of Red Bank, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility, recently hired Emily Boshears as its new executive director.Ms. Boshears has a bachelors degree in health care administration from East Tennessee State University. In May, she completed an administrator-in-training program at Life Care Center of Elizabethton and earned her NHA license. She was promoted to lead the Red Bank center on June 1.So far, working with the team at Life Care Center of Red Bank has been wonderful, Ms.Boshears said. They are a passionate team wanting to excel in anything they do. Residents at [the center] are kind and welcoming, and I am looking forward to working with them more.Ms. Boshears said her favorite part of administration is working with her residents, and she expressed excitement to work with them, their families and the community in the future.My goals here at Life Care Center of Red Bank are to continue on the successful path the previous administrator set before me, she said. To the community of Red Bank: I am hoping to build a strong partnership [with you] and begin more community activities. To potential families: I am hoping you will choose Life Care Center of Red Bank to care for your loved ones and allow us the honor of serving you.Located at 1020 Runyan Dr., Life Care Center of Red Bank is one of 26 skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities in Tennessee managed by Life Care Centers of America.
CHI Memorial announced Friday that it has reached a new agreement with BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee (BCBST) that will allow BCBST-insured patients with Network P, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid to maintain in-network access to CHI Memorial physicians, nurses, services, and hospitals, including the Chattanooga Heart Institute, outpatient services, and CHI Memorial Medical Group.

In addition, CHI Memorial Health at Home will resume in-network status for these plans effective July 1.

The new agreement with BCBST includes Network P, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid.

However, CHI Memorial officials said, "Unfortunately in early May, BCBST made the decision to remove CHI Memorial from Network S effective July 1, 2024. We will work diligently with each Network S patient to find a solution for them to remain with CHI Memorial and its physicians. Visit KeepCHIMemorial.org to explore these options."

Officials said, "This is a win for our patients, who deserve access to local, high-quality care, and we appreciate their patience as we have worked through this agreement.

Our goal in working with BCBST has always been to reach an agreement that puts patients first and protects their access to the providers and services they know and trust. We are glad to have achieved that goal on behalf of our patients.

"We deeply appreciate the trust patients have placed in our team and look forward to continuing to serve them."

BlueCross officials said, "BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has reached a new agreement with CHI Memorial and its Illinois-based parent company, CommonSpirit. The contract allows BlueCross members covered by a Network P plan through an employer or a Medicare Advantage plan to continue receiving in-network care at CHI Memorial facilities, as well as with physicians at CHI Memorial Medical Group and The Chattanooga Heart Institute. The agreement also allows BlueCare members to continue to receive in-network care with CHI Memorial.

"This means there will be no disruption for Network P, Medicare Advantage, and BlueCare members seeking care at CHI Memorial."

Our members and business customers rely on us to balance affordability with access to high-quality care, said Marc Barclay, SVP, provider network management for BlueCross. Were pleased to reach an agreement that supports those needs for members and businesses in our Network P as well as individuals covered by our Medicare Advantage, BlueCare Tennessee, and BlueCare Plus plans.

The initial three-year contract will automatically renew unless either party terminates it. We hope this will help avoid similar situations for our members in the future, Mr. Barclay added.

Leaders from BlueCross "expressed appreciation for the communitys patience and support as negotiations progressed."

Network S changes take effect July 1

Members should check their member ID cards to identify their network. The front of the BlueCross ID card will clearly show if a member has Network S, Network P or BlueAdvantage (Medicare Advantage). Members can then call the number on their member ID card so BlueCross can work to provide personal support for transitioning care, if necessary.

Members with a Network S plan will have in-network access to CHI Memorial through June 30. BCBST provided CHI Memorial multiple proposals with rate increases to keep the systems physicians in Network S. CommonSpirit rejected these offers, choosing to keep their CHI Memorial Medical Group and Chattanooga Heart Institute providers from serving Network S members.

Starting July 1, Parkridge Health System will join Erlanger in Network S. For more details about the impact of this agreement as well as information about the services available from Parkridge and Erlanger facilities and providers, visit BCBSTNetworkUpdates.com.
Ella Bogges, Soddy Daisy High School, received the JROTC Bronze Medal for Rising Seniors from Chickamauga Chapter DAR Historian Marilyn Long Chickamauga Chapter DAR Local Schools Committee member Elaine Robinson presented the NSDAR Youth Citizenship Award to Kalauni Neely, eighth grader at Chattanooga Charter Middle School Genesis Lucas Godinez received the Youth Citizenship Award at Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy from Cindy Dearing, Chickamauga Chapter NSDAR Community Classroom chairman Carlee Ann Park received the NSDAR Youth Citizenship Award at Allen Elementary from Chickamauga Chapter NSDAR Christine Holmes, Chickamauga Chapter NSDAR chair of Americanism, Flag of the USA, and DAR America 250 Committees presented the Youth Citizenship Award to Olivia Brown, a student at Snow Hill Elementary Patrick Rice of Baylor Middle School received the NSDAR Youth Citizenship award from Trish Mullins, Chickamauga Chapter Local Schools Committee chair Hanna Gleason (left) placed first in the NSDAR Patriots of the American Revolution History Essay Contest. Sharon Cheng was the runner-up. Both ladies, rising seniors at Soddy Daisy High School, received their awards from Chickamauga Chapter NSDAR. Previous Next

Gayle Burrows, regent of Chickamauga Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution in Chattanooga, announced the following awards which have been presented to area students. The Chapters Local Schools Committee led by First Vice Regent Trish Mullins managed the various awards selection processes and school presentations with the assistance of the following committee members: Cindy Dearing, Lee Parham, Marilyn Long, Elaine Robinson, Mary Evans, Kathy Holloway and Christine Holmes.The DAR American History Committee annually conducts the DAR History Essay Contest for grades nine-12.This years essay topic was Patriots of the American Revolution." The local winner received a medal and certificate. Both students received a $50 check. Rising senior recipients were:Hannah Gleason - Soddy Daisy High School - First PlaceSharon Cheng - Soddy Daisy High School - Runner-UpThe DAR Good Citizen Award, for high school seniors, recognizes outstanding young people who exhibit the qualities of good citizenship in their homes, schools and communities with qualities such as dependability (truthfulness, honesty, punctuality), service (cooperation, helpfulness, responsibility), leadership (personality, self-control, initiative) and patriotism (unselfish loyalty to American ideals). Receiving a pin, certificate and $75 check were:Sabriyah Stallion - Chattanooga Girls Leadership AcademyElla Green - Chattanooga Christian Upper SchoolSadie Pacenti - Girls Preparatory SchoolShawn Tyler - Soddy Daisy High SchoolThe DAR National Defense Committee presents Youth Citizenship Awards to Students who represent the qualities of honor, service, courage, leadership and patriotism. Awards are presented to fifth and eighth grade students who receive a medal and certificate.Fifth Grade Winners:Carlee Ann Park - Allen ElementaryAalayah Michelle Holiday - Chattanooga Charter ElementarySonia Lopez Vasquez - Clifton Hills ElementaryClara McDowell - Fairyland ElementaryOlivia Brown - Snow Hill ElementaryMarilyn Trogden - Woodmore ElementaryMadelyn Cruz Hernandez - Wolftever Creek ElementaryEighth Grade Winners:Patrick Rice - Baylor Middle SchoolLandon Asbury - Chattanooga Christian Middle SchoolKalauni Neely - Chattanooga Charter Middle SchoolGenesis Lucas Godinez - Chattanooga Girls Leadership AcademyAnn Boehm - Girls Preparatory Middle SchoolThe DAR National Defense Committee also presents a JROTC Bronze Medal and certificate to a rising senior JROTC cadet. This years award winners is:Ella Bogges - Soddy Daisy High SchoolApproximately 3,000 local DAR Chapters across America interact with their area schools in support of the NSDAR mission to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism.
In my recent profile on the 80th anniversary of D-Day, The Last D-Day Vets Standing, and a companion piece, The D-Day Medals of Honor, I noted: There is no comprehensive account of all the heroic acts that day  the actions of those who placed the lives of their brothers above their own. Most of those actions have been lost in the history of the moment, never recorded. However, there were 10 Medals of Honor awarded to recipients whose heroic actions were representative of those by hundreds of others during that five-day assault.

Fortunately, the D-Day anniversary revived lost accounts of some of those heroic actions that had long since fallen silent. Unfortunately, some Leftmedia scribes did what they do best, and attempted to sensationalize those heroic acts by wrapping some lost accounts in racism.

One such account is that of CPL Waverly Woody Woodson Jr. The actions of this black combat veteran alone were sensational, but apparently not sensational enough because the some publications insisted, His record of valor that day became a casualty of entrenched racism. To a degree, that may have been a factor, but to frame his heroics that way serves only as a divisive distraction from the compelling story of Woodsons actions.

Woody Woodson was a Philadelphia native. After high school, he was a pre-med student at Lincoln University, but with the onset of World War II in his sophomore year, he set aside his academic pursuits, as did many in his generation. He joined the Army, and with high aptitude scores, he and one other black soldier were assigned to the Anti-Aircraft Artillery Officer Candidate School. Because of segregated military units at the time, it was unlikely he would be placed in an artillery unit, so at his request, he was retrained as a combat medic and then assigned to the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, First Army.

And by Gods providence, that shift in his training would lead to many lives being saved.

When plans were set for Operation Overlord in 1944, Woody held the rank of Corporal. He was deployed to England in advance of the D-Day invasion. On D-Day, there were about 1,900 black soldiers who landed at Normandy, mostly trained as drivers and cargo/shipping handlers, but Woodsons 320th was the only battalion made up of black soldiers that deployed for the landings.

On June 6, 1944, Woody launched in the third wave toward Omaha Beach on LCT (landing craft tank) 856. About 200 meters from shore, his LCT was hit by a mine, which disabled the engine. Stilled in the surf, it was hit again, this time with a shell from a German 88mm anti-tank artillery gun perched high above the beach, destroying the craft.

Woody suffered shrapnel injuries but was able to swim to shore. As he recalls, There was a lot of debris, and men were drowning all around me. I swam to the shore and crawled on the beach to a cliff out of the range of the machine guns and snipers. I was far from where I was supposed to be, but there wasnt any other medic around here on Omaha Beach.  I had pulled a tent roll out of the water and so I set up a first-aid station. It was the only one on the beach.

After his own wounds were treated, he and several other medics staged under a rocky embankment in order to provide some protection from the German guns above. From 1000 on D-Day to 1600 on D-Day+1, the medics assisted the wounded at great risk to their own lives.

An Army historical commission established in the 1990s to review the actions of black soldiers in World War II determined: For 30 continuous hours while under enemy fire, Woodson cared for more than 200 casualties. Even after being relieved at 1600 on 7 June, Woodson gave artificial respiration to three men who had gone underwater during a [landing crafts] landing attempt. Only then did Woodson seek further treatment. His actions that day likely saved the lives of more than a dozen wounded soldiers.

After Hitlers Atlantic Wall was breached, Woodsons commanding officer recommended him for a Distinguished Service Cross, but some of LTG John Lees aides believed his actions were deserving of a Medal of Honor. In fact, Philleo Nash, an assistant in the War Department at the time, proposed that President Franklin Roosevelt personally make the award to Woodson.

His actions were certainly deserving of one award or the other, but amid the fog wartime urgencies, neither of those medals was awarded, though he and many others did received Purple Hearts. Woodsons battalion returned to the U.S. shortly after the Battle of Normandy and then deployed to Hawaii in preparation for mass casualties from Operation Downfall, the invasion of Japan to end the Pacific War, which fortunately was not initiated after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki forced Japans surrender. It is estimated that if not for the use of those two nuclear weapons, there would have been 260,000 American dead and 600,000 wounded. The casualty estimates for Japanese military and civilians ranged between two and five million.

In 1946, Woodson was transferred to the Army Reserve and graduated from Lincoln University in 1950 with a degree in biology. During the Korean War, then SSG Woodson was called back to active duty, serving at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center performing autopsies. He would spend the rest of his career working in clinical positions with civilian government agencies.

In 1994, Woody was invited to Normandy for the 50th anniversary of D-Day to receive Frances highest honor, the French Legion of Honor. He died in August 2005.

Though his service record, like that of countless others, was a casualty of wartime bureaucracy and inaccurate records more than entrenched racism, the memory of his heroic actions has been kept alive by his family. And indeed it is an account of extraordinary heroics.

In 2022, the Rock Island Arsenal honored his service when opening the Woodson Health Clinic. On October 11, 2023, at Arlington National Cemetery, where he is buried, a graveside ceremony was held to present his WWII Bronze Star and Combat Medic Badge to his widow and son.

Just before the D-Day anniversary ceremonies this year, the Department of Defense announced it was posthumously awarding Woodson his long-overdue Distinguished Service Cross, our nations second-highest military award for valor.

As for the Medal of Honor, CPT Kevin Braafladt, First Armys command historian, remains convinced that Woodsons Medal of Honor packet existed at one time, noting: The research was able to connect enough dots that the awards committee could see that beyond a reasonable doubt there was a DSC recommendation put up. The hunts still ongoing.

There are 94 black Medal of Honor ecipients, proportionally far less than the percentage of black Americans serving, but until the 1960s black soldiers were mostly excluded from combat roles.

The first Medal of Honor to a black recipient was awarded for his valorous actions during the War Between the States.

I profiled that extraordinary recipient, SGT William Carney, who was born into slavery in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1840. He joined the famous 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the second but most noted infantry regiment composed of black Americans, as authorized by Abraham Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation.

CPL Waverly Woody Woodson Jr.: Your example of valor  a humble American Patriot defending Liberty for all above and beyond the call of duty, and in disregard for the peril to your own life  is eternal. Greater love has no one than this, to lay down ones life for his friends. (John 15:13)

(Read more Profiles of Valor here (https://patriotpost.us/tags/ Profiles%20of%20Valor ))

Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis

Pro Deo et Libertate  1776

Join us in daily prayer for our Patriots in uniform  Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen  standing in harms way in defense of American Liberty, and for Veterans, First Responders, and their families.

Please consider a tax-deductible gift to support our hometown National Medal of Honor Sustaining Fund. Make a check payable to NMoH Sustaining Fund and mail to: Patriot Foundation Trust, PO Box 407, Chattanooga, TN 37401-0407. Visit the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center at Aquarium Plaza. (https://www.MOHHC.org)




Amber Portwood's partner, Gary Wayt has been located states away from where he went missing. Farrah Abraham mentioned the drama in her Instagram stories.

The search for Amber Portwoods fiance, Gary Wayt, has been called off. The Indiana native has been located safe in Oklahoma after disappearing late last week. While Wayt appears to be just fine, the weeks drama has caught the attention of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter fans. Farrah Abraham was keeping up with the coverage, too. Before Wayts whereabouts were announced, Abraham took to Instagram to take a swipe at her former co-star.

Amber Portwood reported Gary Wayt missing

Amber Portwood reported her fiance, Gary Wayt, missing on June 11 in North Carolina. According to official reports, Portwood last saw Wayt on the evening of June 9. She admitted the couple had an emotional conversation before Wayt departed the area with his wallet and car but not his cell phone.

Amber Portwood | YouTube/MTV

Portwood and Wayt, who met in 2023, were in Bryson City, North Carolina, to celebrate a wedding with Portwoods family. They arrived in the area late last week and were set to return to Indiana together before Wayt disappeared. Portwood is said to have been distraught over Wayts sudden departure and was concerned because he had not contacted his family.

Farrah Abraham poked fun at the disappearance

Apparently, there is no love lost between Amber Portwood and Farrah Abraham. While some Teen Mom stars have supported Amber during a difficult time, Abraham is not one of them. Yesterday, Abraham took to her Instagram stories to share photos with her partner during a vacation. Vacation snapshots werent the only posts she uploaded, though. She took the time to make a joke at Portwoods expense.

Farrah Abraham | MEGA/GC Images

Abraham shared a news clipping about Wayts disappearance and captioned the post, How do I get out of an engagementgo missing The clip also included a comment from Gary Shirley, Amber Portwoods first fiance and the father of her daughter, Leah Shirley. The story has since expired.

Gary Wayt has been found safe

While Wayt has not spoken publicly, he appears to have been found safe and sound. Bryson City police recently revealed that Gary Wayt and his vehicle were confirmed to be in Oklahoma. He was seen at a Verizon store in the state. Police did not reveal if he purchased a new phone, but the Indiana native left his phone behind when he fled the cabin he shared with Portwood on June 9.

Earlier in the day, Us Weekly reported that the Bryson City police department would only close the case if they spoke to Wayt directly. They have since closed the case, suggesting theyve spoken with Wayt and decided he is safe and well. They have not shared any additional information. What we do know is that he has been busy traveling in the days since he left North Carolina, though. He was also allegedly seen in New Mexico, a 1600-mile trek from where he was reported missing. Portwood has not issued a statement yet.
During her 34-year reign over Russia, Catherine the Great made many significant contributions to the country.

She ushered in an era of progress and modernization, improved the educational system, expanded the countrys borders, promoted the arts, and transformed Russia into a global economic and political powerhouse.

She was famed for her achievements as one of historys longest-reigning female rulers, but what shes most remembered for today is the long string of lovers she had.

Her multiple love affairs gave way to a swarm of rumors about her spicy behavior that were mostly created by misogynistic male rivals trying to ruin her reputation.

She was also never in more than one relationship at once. Additionally, she was very generous to the men she was involved with, bestowing gifts and titles on all of them.

When she was 16-years-old, she was forced into an arranged marriage to her second cousin, Peter III, in 1745.

They were ill-matched, and she was unhappy with his immature ways from the start. In 1754, she gave birth to their son, Paul.

Some people doubted the childs legitimacy since Peter IIIs aunt Elizabeth, who was the ruler at the time, took him away to raise him.

Later on, Catherine and Peter III had an agreement to seek relationships outside of their marriage. The first of her lovers was Sergei Saltykov, a Russian military officer with whom she had a child.

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Voice assistant devices that use AI, such as Alexa, Siri, and Google Home, are pretty smart due to their ability to perform a variety of tasks.

For instance, they can check the weather, launch your favorite playlist, record daily habits, and much more. But no matter how smart they are, they definitely dont measure up to the intellectual skills of humans, especially since they cannot function on their own.

As adults, we know this as a fact, but to some elementary-aged children, it may be less clear. A study in Scotland has suggested that many kids ages six to 11 overestimate and misunderstand the intelligence of AI assistants, believing that the technologies might have feelings and can think like humans.

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh gathered data by conducting interviews and questionnaires to reach their conclusions.

In total, they surveyed 166 children and discovered that 93 percent of them had a smart speaker at home. They reported using the gadgets to ask questions, listen to music, search for information, get help with homework, and listen to stories/jokes.

By 2025, it is estimated that 57 percent of households in the United States will own at least one smart home device, according to Statista. That means around 40 million kids will be exposed to these voice assistants.

The surveyed childrens familiarity with the technology may be the reason why they are uncertain about whether the devices have emotions or decision-making abilities. About one-third of the children believed smart speakers could think for themselves, while 40 percent thought maybe they could.

Children should be taught AI literacy in schools, and technology designers should take care that their AI products dont mislead children into thinking they are human-like, Judy Robertson, a co-author of the study and the chair of digital learning at the University of Edinburgh, said. AI is often designed to appear more human and intelligent than it really is, which is very confusing for children.

Furthermore, 68 percent of eight-year-olds stated that it wouldnt be right to throw their Alexa away if the device breaks.

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Home News Evangelicals express 'relief' over moderate outcome of EU Parliament elections

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The lessons overwhelmingly concluded by leading Christians after World War II, that forgiveness, reconciliation, mutual accountability and collaboration were essential to 'rebuild Europe on Christian foundations' (as Konrad Adenauer articulated it) seem to have been forgotten by a new generation of believers with little historical awareness of the foundations of the long post-war era of stability that came to a close on February 24, 2022 [when Russia invaded Ukraine].

This article was originally published by Christian Daily International.
Home News Ministry axes Tony Evans Mexican Riviera cruise as speculation abounds about undisclosed sin

Days after Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship church in Dallas, Texas, announced that its leader, Pastor Tony Evans, was temporarily stepping away from the pulpit due to an undisclosed sin, his Bible teaching ministry, The Urban Alternative, has canceled a Mexican Riviera cruise he was set to headline this fall.

Though she did not respond to questions from The Christian Post about the cruise and Evans undisclosed sin, Heather Hair, a spokesperson for The Urban Alternative, told the Roys Report that they decided it was best to cancel the cruise after Oak Cliff Bible Fellowships announcement.

Following the announcement that Dr. Tony Evans will be stepping away from his senior pastoral duties at OCBF (Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas), and as he pursues the healing and restoration process established by the elders, The Urban Alternative has decided it would be best to cancel the Mexican Riviera Cruise with Tony Evans, Hair said.

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A representative of The Urban Alternative, founded over 40 years ago by Evans, had previously told CP that the cruise, which was set for Nov. 916, would still go on even after Evans stepped away from the helm of his church on Sunday.

An agent with Inspiration Travel, which was administering the cruise that featured suites costing up to nearly $4,000 per traveler, also told CP on Tuesday that the cruise would still go on because The Urban Alternative is a separate entity from Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship. The agent noted that The Urban Alternative had a contractual obligation to go on with the cruise.

Both Inspiration Travel and The Urban Alternative have now removed the cruise from their websites.

In a written statement on Sunday, Evans confessed that though he did not commit any crimes, he fell short of the biblical standards espoused by his ministry "a number of years ago," suggesting it was "due to sin."

"The foundation of our ministry has always been our commitment to the Word of God as the absolute supreme standard of truth to which we are to conform our lives. When we fall short of that standard due to sin, we are required to repent and restore our relationship with God," Evans stated.

"A number of years ago, I fell short of that standard. I am, therefore, required to apply the same biblical standard of repentance and restoration to myself that I have applied to others. I have shared this with my wife, my children, and our church elders, and they have lovingly placed their arms of grace around me," he added. "While I have committed no crime, I did not use righteous judgment in my actions. In light of this, I am stepping away from my pastoral duties and am submitting to a healing and restoration process established by the elders."

The 74-year-old Evangelical icon is the first black American to earn a doctorate in theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. He is also the first African American to write and publish a full Bible commentary and study Bible.

Evans stepped down from his pulpit just months after he announced in December 2023 that he had wedded Carla Crummie in a "private ceremony surrounded by family and close friends." His remarriage came four years after the death of his first wife, Lois, on Dec. 30, 2019. Carlas first husband, Robert Crummie Sr., died on Jan. 2, 2020, on his way to Lois funeral, according to Evans.

Evans was married to his first wife for 49 years before she died of biliary cancer at age 70. In a 2020 interview with The Christian Post, Evans said, "There's no part of my life and ministry where her footprints aren't felt."

In the wake of Evans sin announcement and the cancelation of the cruise, some have speculated online about the nature of his sin.

Pastor Ray Curry Jr., founder of C.H.U.R.C.H. UNLIMITED argued on TikTok, that Evans sin announcement smacked more like a confession of convenience rather than one of true repentance.

First things first, Pastor Evans, your sin wasnt sin when you did it? Its only sin now a few years later? Now did it just become sin now or its the leak about to happen now? Curry asked.

Curry said although he respects Evans for stepping away from his pulpit, he would have commended him if he had confessed his sin when it first happened.

Now it just feels like youre trying to have some type of salvaging of your legacy even though you know somethings about to come out, he added.
Home News More than half of Christians in UK experience 'hostility and ridicule' for faith: study

More than half of Christians in the United Kingdom claim to have experienced hostility and ridicule for their faith, according to a study released Thursday.

The report, titled "The Costs of Keeping the Faith," was compiled by the nonprofit Voice for Justice UK (VfJUK) and found that of the more than 1,500 respondents from different Christian denominations and age groups, 56% reported negative pushback for sharing their beliefs in some capacity.

Of those under 35, that number jumped to 61%.

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"Bullying was also reported," reads an executive summary of the report's findings. "Christians did not feel free to express their views at work. The younger generation appeared to have had more of these negative experiences than the older generation, suggesting that things were getting worse."

While acknowledging the theoretical legal safeguards for free speech in the U.K., the study claimed the country has exhibited "some of the highest levels of intolerance and discrimination against Christians in Europe," which researchers attributed to hate speech laws that have led to a prevalence of "harassment, self-censorship, direct and indirect discrimination."

The third chapter of the study delves into discrimination, which researchers noted is increasingly reported among younger Christians in the U.K. Some of the difficulties were reported in the workplace and ranged from being forced to work unnecessarily on a Sunday to being effectively forced to keep their Christian beliefs to themselves for fear of retribution.

The fourth chapter dedicates special attention to the National Health Service (NHS), which has seen repeated incidents of Christian employees being punished, such as Mary Onuoha, who sued after being forced to resign from a London hospital for wearing a cross necklace.

The study also goes on to explore some of the anti-Christian sentiment in U.K. education, where Christian parents and teachers say they feel increasingly shut out and discriminated against.

The study suggests the situation in the mainstream churches is no better, with the ninth chapter of the study exploring how many of them are "adopting progressive, secular ideologies, with the result that laity can feel discriminated against and are increasingly leaving them."

Many of the Christians surveyed who held to a biblical standard did not identify with any particular Christian denomination, the researchers noted.

The study found that much of the cultural hostility toward Christians in the U.K. emerges from LBGT ideology and that most of the younger Christians they interviewed who reported worsening persecution also held to a firm belief in biblical teachings regarding sexuality, gender and marriage.

"Our research showed that when it comes to beliefs about marriage, sex, and gender, while the rest of society was swept along by progressive ideologies, most Christians appear to have remained steadfast to orthodox Christian faith," the researchers wrote. "Counterintuitively, it was often the younger generation who had more traditional views than the older generation."

"This set Christians on a collision course with progressives," they added.

The Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians (OIDAC) in Europe issued a statement noting how the study's "alarming" findings echo some of the trends the observatory has discovered regarding the rise of anti-Christian sentiment in historically Christian countries.

The OIDAC in Europe, the OIDAC in Latin America and the International Institute for Religious Freedom compiled a report in 2022 titled "Perceptions on Self-Censorship: Confirming and Understanding the 'Chilling Effect,'" which found that many Christians in such countries are silencing themselves.

To avoid general and vague assessments, the researchers limited themselves to European Christians in France and Germany and Latin American Christians in Mexico and Colombia.

They found that despite the lack of overt, physical persecution, many Christians in those countries were self-censoring their beliefs to avoid more subtle and pervasive persecution, which the study likened to "death by a thousand cuts."

"A few cuts do not kill you and barely hurt," researchers said at the time. "But continuous small strikes eventually have an impact. We posit that the accumulation of seemingly insignificant incidents creates an environment in which Christians do not feel comfortable  to some degree  to live their faith freely."

"Indeed, Western Christians experience a 'chilling effect' resulting from perceived pressures in their cultural environment, related to widely mediatized court cases," they added.

The number of Christians in the U.K. has been declining, according to a 2022 survey of more than 3,000 U.K. adults commissioned by five Christian organizations.

According to data released by the U.K.'s Office for National Statistics that year, less than half of the population identifies as Christian for the first time since the country's first census in 1801.

The data showed that only 46.2%  or 27.5 million of the country's more than 67 million people  say they are Christian. In the 2011 census, 59.3% of the population  or 33.3 million people  described themselves as Christian.
Home News New Hong Kong reporting law sparks concerns about Catholic seal of confession

A new law in Hong Kong is raising fears of deteriorating human and religious rights in the special administrative region of China. Under the recently passed legislation  known as Article 23  members of the clergy could be prosecuted for not reporting "treasonous" acts to the police if they hear subversive words against the government during confession.

Before the law passed in March, 16 international religious liberty experts released a joint statement expressing "profound and grave concerns" about the implications of the rule. The group is concerned that Article 23 directly threatens religious freedom, particularly the confidentiality of the Sacrament of Penance, or Confession, in the Catholic Church.

Although the Diocese of Hong Kong responded that the law "will not alter the confidential nature of Confession of the Church," it also said it "recognizes that citizens have an obligation to ensure national security," giving little reassurance to the 392,000 Catholics it serves.

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For the third consecutive year, the Diocese of Hong Kong has had to cancel vigil mass to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre in China, fearing they may violate the new law. Priests have not mentioned government-related topics during mass, for fear of being reported by parishioners.

A report issued by the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation also argues that religious freedom is worsening in the region and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is pressuring people of faith and institutions in several ways.

Religious leaders are expected to promote CCP priorities, sermons should demand churchgoers adhere to socialist values and religious schools should integrate national identity-based curriculum.

"Sinicization of religion is affecting the church quite aggressively," said Frances Hui, author of the report and a Catholic activist. "Religious freedom is an indispensable part of freedom of speech. Wherever a place's religious freedom is threatened, we need to pay attention.

Each of the six major religious groups (Protestant, Catholic, Islamic, Taoist, Confucian, and Buddhist) holds positions in Hong Kong's Election Committee, allowing them to participate politically. Leveraging this vital role, Hong Kong's government controls religion through these groups' leading organizations. After implementing Article 23, these six organizations have been in close contact with the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government, which arranges visits to mainland China to discuss the Sinicization of religion.

The Hong Kong Diocese has already requested that all priests and nuns visit Beijing. The first group, mostly educators, visited last September. During his 2023 China trip, Cardinal Bishop of Hong Kong Stephen Chow did not mention human rights or religious freedom concerns, nor did he visit any faithful Chinese underground churches.

"Hong Kong is implementing Sinicization now, which means that we [Hong Kong] should be independent of the Western influence," said Eric Lai, a research fellow with the Georgetown Center for Asian Law. "This is to simply indoctrinate the CCP ideology, not improving the inculturation of religion as we understand it."

Lai also believes eventually the Hong Kong government will establish a patriotic association for all major religions, as China has done.

"Then, they [China] can tame religious leaders who will work closely with the government, or use lay people to fight against the clergy," he said.
Home News Pastor Robert Morris confesses to moral failure after woman claims he began molesting her at age 12

Correction Appended

Robert Morris, founding pastor of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, which attracts an estimated 100,000 worshipers weekly, has confessed to inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady more than 35 years ago while he was a young pastor after a woman accused him of sexually abusing her over multiple years beginning when she was 12.

When I was in my early twenties, I was involved in inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady in a home where I was staying. It was kissing and petting and not intercourse, but it was wrong. This behavior happened on several occasions over the next few years, Morris said in a statement to The Christian Post after Gateway Church was asked about the allegations.

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In March of 1987, this situation was brought to light, and it was confessed and repented of. I submitted myself to the Elders of Shady Grove Church and the young ladys father. They asked me to step out of ministry and receive counseling and freedom ministry, which I did. Since that time, I have walked in purity and accountability in this area, Morris added.

He explained that he returned to ministry in March of 1989, two years after his abuse was exposed with the blessing of the survivors father and the elders of his church. He further noted that he and his wife met with the survivor and her family in October 1989.

I asked their forgiveness, and they graciously forgave me, Morris said.

Morris accuser, Cindy Clemishire, first told The Wartburg Watch that he began sexually abusing her on Dec. 25, 1982, and continued with the abuse for four-and-a-half years after that. When contacted by CP on Saturday, the 54-year-old grandmother confirmed the details in the report but insisted she was no young lady when Morris began abusing her.

I'm, of course, just appalled, Clemishire told CP on Saturday about his description of her as a young lady.

I was 12 years old. I was a little girl. A very innocent little girl. And he was brought into our home. He and his wife, Debbie, and their little boy, Josh, and trusted and preached at the church that my dad helped start and then began grooming all of us to do this, which took me decades to wrap my brain around as an adult, she said.

It went on for many years. He says there was no sexual intercourse, but he did touch every part of my body and inserted his fingers into me, which I understand now is considered a form of rape by instrumentation. I was an innocent 12-year-old little girl who knew nothing about sexual behavior.

Clemishire said in her report to The Wartburg Watch that she and her family first met Morris at a youth revival in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1981 when he was a 20-year-old traveling evangelist. At the time, he was married to his wife, Debbie, and they had their son, Josh.

She said Morris began preaching at her church regularly on Sundays after he was invited to do a youth revival in her hometown of Hominy, Oklahoma. Her family and the Morrises quickly became friends. They were invited into their home and often went on trips together.

On that fateful Christmas night in 1982, Clemishire said the safety of the relationship with Morris and his family ended for her when they visited her home.

The Morris family came to visit and spend some time there. Cindy sat in the back seat of the car with Robert. He asked her to visit him in his room that night. She shared a room with her sister. Cindy, an innocent twelve-year-old girl, movingly described what she was wearing. She was wearing pink pajamas with bloomer pants. She wore underwear underneath. She had a snap-up robe on, The Wartburg Watch said.

She thought nothing of visiting a family friend in their bedroom. He told her to lie down on her back and touched her stomach. He told her to close her eyes. Then he touched her breasts and felt under her panties. He warned her: Never tell anyone about this because it will ruin everything, the report noted.

Clemishire claims Morris repeatedly abused her in Texas and Oklahoma, and he often told his wife that he was merely counseling her during the abuse.

When she turned 16, Clemishire said Morris would take her out in his car and try to have sexual intercourse.

By this time, Morris was a pastor at Shady Grove Church, which would eventually become Gateway Church-Grand Prairie Campus, the report said.

Clemishire eventually confided what was happening to her to a close friend, who encouraged her to tell her family. When her father found out, he told the lead pastor at Shady Grove Church that if Morris didnt get out of ministry, he would get the police involved. That threat forced Morris to step away for two years.

Morris would return to Hominy with his wife. They told Clemishires father that he wanted to return to ministry, and at that point, her father washed his hands of Morris and no longer interacted with him, The Wartburg Watch said.

The survivor made it clear to CP that Morris did not get her father's blessing to return to ministry.

"My father never ever gave his blessing on Robert returning to ministry! My father told him hes lucky he didnt kill him. I am mortified that he is telling the world my dad gave his blessing! Of course, we forgive because we are called to biblically forgive those who sin against us. But that does not mean he is supposed to go on without repercussions," she said.

Clemishire explained that she retained an attorney in 2005 to file a civil lawsuit but Morris attorney suggested she caused the abuse on herself because she was flirtatious. She said she asked for $50,000 to cover the cost of her counseling stemming from the abuse. She said they offered her $25,000 if she signed a non-disclosure agreement, but she refused.

For years, she explained to CP, she has been warning churches and pastors who would listen to her story about Morris because she doesn't believe she's the only one who suffered his abuse. She also argued that he shouldn't be serving in ministry and should step down.

I don't think he ever should have been allowed to be in the ministry. We would never allow someone to go teach in a school  work in a daycare or be a doctor if anybody had done these things. And I have a very difficult time believing I'm the only one, Clemishire said.

Elders at Gateway Church told CP in a statement that Morris was transparent with them about his past and they believe he has been biblically restored to ministry.

Pastor Robert has been open and forthright about a moral failure he had over 35 years ago when he was in his twenties and prior to him starting Gateway Church. He has shared publicly from the pulpit the proper biblical steps he took in his lengthy restoration process, they said.

The two-year restoration process was closely administered by the Elders at Shady Grove Church and included him stepping out of the ministry during that period while receiving professional counseling and freedom ministry counseling, they said. Since the resolution of this 35-year-old matter, there have been no other moral failures. Pastor Robert has walked in purity, and he has placed accountability measures and people in his life. The matter has been properly disclosed to church leadership.

Correction: An earlier version of this article published on June 15, 2024, quoted The Wartburg Watch as stating that televangelist James Robison accompanied Morris and his wife to Hominy, Oklahoma, to speak with Clemishires father. The Wartburg Watch has corrected its report to clarify that Robison did not join the couple on that trip nor did he participate in any meeting Morris had with his victim and her family. He also did not know that Morris had sexually assaulted Clemishire.
Home Opinion A politically incorrect prayer outrages the Left

This year happens to be the 250th anniversary of the beginning of the first Congress (then known as the Continental Congress). Its first session opened in prayer. And Congress has opened each session in prayer since then.

But earlier this year, the prayer opening the 118th Congress caused quite a stir. Among other things, the preacher dared to pray in the name of Jesus.

On January 30, 2024, at the request of Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson, Pastor Jack Hibbs of California, opened Congress in prayer. But he didnt pray To Whom It May Concern, and many on the left blew a gasket.

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26 members of Congress, including Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Muslim, objected to Speaker Johnson for inviting Jack Hibbs to speak. By inviting Hibbs, Speaker Johnson was guilty, said the Congresspersons, of using the platform of the Guest Chaplain to lend the imprimatur of Congress to an ill-qualified hate preacher who shares the Speakers Christian nationalist agenda and his antipathy toward church-state separation. One wishes they could get equally furious about the flood of illegal immigration or the frightening rise of antisemitism in America.

Jack Hibbs is the pastor of Calvary Chapel in Chino Hills, California, and author of Living in the Daze of Deception.

I interviewed him for a radio segment recently about this prayer incident. He told me that about two-thirds of his controversial prayer were based on historical phrases coming from those who founded the country: I just borrowed from our history, and they couldnt take that.

For example, an historical source Hibbs borrowed from in his prayer was Rev. John Witherspoon, who served in the Continental Congress as a delegate from New Jersey.

Witherspoon, the president of Princeton, was the founding father who educated so many other founding fathers about a Biblical perspective on government. One of his star pupils was James Madison, a key architect of the Constitution.

Another historical source Pastor Hibbs drew from was Rev. Jacob Duche. Duche offered the first prayer in the first official opening of the first Continental Congress. That day was September 7, 1774. And this took place in Carpenters Hall in Philadelphia.

The day before, some of the founders huddled together to discuss how they should open the first official day of their proceedings. Should they open in prayer? That was a long-standing tradition. Some of those present, including professing Christians, thought it might be unwise since men from the different Christian denominations represented prayed in slightly different ways.

But Samuel Adams, a Congregationalist from Massachusetts, stood up and persuaded them to hold prayer. His distant cousin, John Adams, tells what happened: Mr. Samuel Adams arose and said that he was no bigot, and could hear a Prayer from any gentleman of Piety and virtue, who was at the same time a friend to his Country. Having heard good things about the Anglican Rev. Duche, Sam Adams recommended he lead the opening prayer. They agreed to this.

So, the next day, September 7, 1774, Rev. Jacob Duche led the whole group in prayer in a memorable service. George Washington was there. Patrick Henry was there. John Jay was there

It was a very moving session, wherein Duche read Psalm 35  which just so happened to be that days Scripture reading on the Anglican calendar.

In Psalm 35, David, who is being unjustly persecuted, pours out his heart to God, and asks for divine vindication: Plead my cause, Oh, Lord, with them that strive with me, fight against them that fight against me.

The words felt appropriate since British troops were getting ready to bear down on Boston at that very time.

John Adams wrote his wife, Abigail, about the impact of this psalm and prayer meeting:

I never saw a greater effect upon an audience. It seemed as if Heaven had ordained that Psalm to be read on that morning. After this, Mr. Duche, unexpectedly to everybody, struck out into an extemporary prayer, which filled the bosom of every man present. I must confess, I never heard a better prayer, or one so well pronounced ... It has had an excellent effect upon everybody here. I must beg you to read that Psalm.

Since that day to the present, for the last two and a half centuries, Congress has been opening its sessions in prayer  though not always as Christianly nor fervently.

Pastor Hibbs stirred a hornets nest by praying in the tradition of those who founded this country.

It is apparent that many of those who currently serve in our government are either unaware of this nations founding or they disagree with it. That shows how far down the road we have gone away from our spiritual roots as a country. But Patrick Henry warned us: It is when a people forget God, that tyrants forge their chains.
Turkey's highest court upholds expulsion of 9 foreign Christians for 'missionary activities'

(CP) Turkey's Constitutional Court has confirmed the government's decision to expel nine foreign Christians for alleged "missionary activities," labeling them a national security risk.

The court ruled that this designation, under the controversial "N-82" immigration code, does not violate the foreigners' rights despite their legal residence status in the country. The majority cited the "framework of the wide discretion of the public authorities regarding immigration and border controls."

"As a matter of fact, the applicants have no complaints that they encountered any obstruction or discriminatory treatment in fulfilling their religious beliefs while they lived in Turkey," the ruling states. "In addition, it should also be taken into consideration that applicants Helmut Frank and Matthew Vern Black, for whom the N-82 restriction code was applied, left Turkey voluntarily, while applicants Amanda Jolyn Krause and Jeremy Lauren Lambert are still in Turkey."

The decision marks a significant moment in Turkey's judicial history, being the first joint decision concerning multiple N-82 code cases, according to the legal group ADF International.

In a statement, the religious freedom legal organization stated that the court has historically ruled unanimously against foreign Christians in similar cases. But this latest ruling showed division among the judges, allowing dissenting opinions to surface.

Constitutional Court President Judge Zuhtu Arslan presented a dissenting opinion. He argued that there was no evidence suggesting that the appellants' activities threatened public order or security.

"There is no concrete justification provided in either the administrative or judicial processes in the concrete case to suggest that the applicants' activities pose a threat to public order or security," Arslan stated. "Conversely, it is impossible to categorically and abstractly regard the 'missionary' activity directed at the applicants as a threat to public order or security."

Arslan refuted the majority's assertion that "it is clear that there was no interference with the applicants' freedom of religion."

"Essentially, it is understood from the statements made both in the 'Events and Facts' section of the decision ... and under the heading 'Applicants' Allegations and Ministerial Opinion' ... that the N-82 restriction code was applied to the applicants due to their missionary activities," Arslan wrote. "It is beyond explanation that this constitutes an interference with the applicants' freedom of religion."

Since 2018, about 185 foreign Protestant ministers have been deported or banned from reentering Turkey, often without clear justification or access to the intelligence reports used against them, according to ADF International.

"The government's discriminatory targeting of Christian religious workers in Turkey, all of whom have peacefully lived in Turkey for many years, constitutes a clear violation of both the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenants to which Turkey is a party," said Kelsey Zorzi, director of advocacy for global religious freedom at ADF International.

She said the country makes systemic efforts to suppress Christian beliefs, noting an increase in foreign Christians deemed threats to national security annually.

The affected individuals, part of a larger group of over 30 foreign Christians tagged with the N-82 code, have been engaged in religious work across Turkey. This ruling follows several individual cases that reached the Constitutional Court, with this being the first collective judgment delivered by the court's General Assembly.

Orhan Kemal Cengiz, one of the lawyers representing the applicants, pointed out the contradictions in the majority's ruling and the lack of evidence supporting the expulsion.

"The Court's opinion, as described by dissenting judges, is replete with contradictions. Despite the clear evidence that these foreign individuals were expelled due to their alleged missionary activities, the majority of the Court failed to see any infringements on freedom of religion," Cengiz noted.

Can Kurtulan, another lawyer, discussed the implications for religious freedom in Turkey.

"With this decision, the prevailing local jurisprudence that 'missionary activities fall within the scope of freedom of religion and thought but can be restricted within legal limits' has been effectively nullified," he said.

The decision also underscores a worrying trend in Turkey, where nationalism and Islamization pose increasing challenges to religious minorities, especially the Christian community, which numbers about 170,000 in a predominantly Muslim population of 83 million, said ADF International.

Turkey is a party to the Lausanne Peace Treaty, which recognizes Jews, Orthodox Greeks and Armenians, but not Protestants.

 The Christian Post
Voting as a discipline

'Discipline' is a word which for many evokes physical revulsion. In our age of emancipation many of us expect to be entirely unrestrained by the impositions of institutions, organisations or persons. There is an implied order and responsibility to discipline which causes some of us to baulk and walk away. The gripe over discipline is that it is just too much like hard work (I visualise others in my life shaking their heads at such a notion as there's nothing they love more than to roll up their sleeves and get another job done).

The recent unstable nature of politics in the UK is due partly to a shift in atmosphere which stemmed from frustration around centre ground politics not effecting positive change, leading to a move to the far left (Corbyn's Labour) and far right politics (from Johnson's Government to the present). This is representative of trends in politics in the Western world.

When it comes to elections it truly does take a dogged determination to discern what information we can use to vote when sifting through the candidates, the party manifestos, and the inevitable mudslinging of those trying to gain an unfair advantage. Since I joined CARE in 2013 we have gone to the polls in: 2014 for a European Election; 2014 for the Independence Referendum; 2015 for a General Election; 2016 for the Brexit Referendum; 2016 for a Scottish Parliamentary Election; 2017 for a snap General Election; 2017 for local elections; 2019 for the UK's final European Election; 2019 another snap General Election; 2021 for a Scottish Parliamentary Election; and 2022 for local elections.

That's eleven times to the polls in a decade for those of us north of the border. And it's not much less for everyone else in the UK. And soon we are asked to cast our vote once again which will require discipline to muster up being bothered. That is especially the case if you believe that your vote has made little to no difference in the overall outcome during this time. Or perhaps your enthusiasm is sapped by the fact that there appears to be no one you believe you can have a little hope for in voting.

But let's think a bit more about the concept of discipline for a minute. When we're asked to pray for rulers and those in authority, usually that takes discipline. It doesn't appear self-evident. I do it because Paul implores me to do so as a follower of Jesus. I do it because I trust that as I act on his Spirit-inspired words I act like a little Jesus in this world. It's an act which brings me into alignment with how He wishes me to live in the world.

No one at any stage of following Jesus can rest easy. Such is the work that needs to be done to become more like Jesus. Our lives require rewiring. The whole self needs a thoroughgoing renovation!

So when it comes to our will and motivation, discipline should be an inherently positive term for the follower of Jesus. For living our lives according to His pattern and desire is right and good. In fact, it is the only way to be fully human at all! But it doesn't come naturally. And if we're out of practice in doing good (Galatians 6:10) it can be very difficult indeed! That's why the apostle describes such discipline with a boxer in training analogy: 'nor do I box as though beating the air,but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified' (1 Corinthians 9:26b-27).

It takes real effort to live in this world. Oftentimes we need to push ourselves to do what we ought in order to be in step with the Holy Spirit. Come General Election time, such a moment will present itself. Let us see the opportunity to get out and vote as one of those moments to steward the earth well. After all, the mandate to look after it is remains applicable today (see Genesis 9). So can we at the very least resolve to get up out of our comfy seat and cast our take on what should happen this General Election? Abraham Lincoln once said that "He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help." So rather than being armchair critics with no concrete action attached, can we get ourselves to the polls with some information to work with? And even if we need to drag ourselves through those school doors and pick up a small pencil to mark up a sheet, let's rouse ourselves to do so. Discipline is required this General Election.

Find a range of resources to help you think, act, and pray before you cast your vote at CARE's dedicated election website: engaGE24

Stuart Weir is Head of CARE for Scotland.
Out on Lake Superior June 8, the 692-foot Michipicoten suffered a cracked hull that saw her limp into Thunder Bays harbour for temporary repair at Keefer Terminal (above). With Ontario Shipyards drydock idled by lack of federal shipbuilding work, staff have moved on so the vessel will have to be repaired in Duluth, Minn., or Sturgeon Bay, Wisc.
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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- This June is National Adopt a Cat Month. To honor this special month we are a holding a Cutest Adopted Cat Contest.

You shared with us your cat boop-snoot buddy that you cant leave alone -- the ones that lay at your feet or are more of the aloof floof, teasing you with an adorable (but antisocial) driveby.
zimmytws | iStock | Getty Images

A protester interrupted a January congressional committee hearing to consider a bill that would create a bipartisan commission to address Social Security. "A vote for a commission is a vote to cut Social Security," the man shouted before he was escorted off the floor. While there was a protest of one that day, there has been a chorus of opposition to the idea of creating a commission, as well as strong support  from experts and politicians on both the left and the right. The combined trust funds Social Security relies on to pay benefits are now projected to be depleted in 2035. On that date, the program will be able to pay just 83% of benefits. But another date  the depletion of the trust fund specifically devoted to retirement benefits  is approaching sooner. Less than a decade from now, in 2033, Social Security may pay just 79% of those benefits. Most Americans, 89%, think Congress should act immediately to make sure full benefits are available to both current and future beneficiaries, a 2023 AARP poll found. And 90% said Republicans and Democrats should work together to find a solution.

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"We all as Americans want to get ourselves into a room, face the facts, make the hard choices and then communicate with the public about how we save this program," said Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif., in an interview with CNBC. Peters is pushing for the Fiscal Commission Act alongside Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., and Sens. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., and Mitt Romney, R-Utah. The bill would create a commission to provide policy recommendations to address the federal government's long-term fiscal issues, and those proposals could get expedited consideration from Congress. The commission would also be responsible for a public awareness campaign to educate Americans about the country's current fiscal situation. Another Democratic leader  Rep. John Larson of Connecticut  has vehemently opposed the proposal, due to the closed-door nature of the negotiations and the priority consideration any ensuing recommendations would receive. "It's probably one of the most undemocratic things that a Congress has ever put forward," Larson said. Instead, Larson is championing his own bill, Social Security 2100, to improve the program's solvency and expand benefits through tax increases targeted at the wealthy. Social Security advocacy groups have also staunchly opposed efforts to create a commission. "This is a thinly veiled effort to avoid political accountability," Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, recently testified in an April congressional committee hearing.

How the last major reforms, in 1983, came together

President Ronald Reagan signs the Social Security Act Amendment into law on April 20, 1983. Corbis | Getty Images

The last major Social Security reforms, which were enacted in 1983, were preceded by a commission. The National Commission on Social Security Reform, formed in 1981, is often called the Greenspan Commission, after its chairman, economist Alan Greenspan, who more famously served as chairman of the Federal Reserve. "Most commissions, of course, don't do anything," Greenspan wrote in his 2007 memoir, "The Age of Turbulence." "But [White House chief of staff] Jim Baker, the architect of this one, believed passionately the government could be made to work." The bipartisan commission included 15 members chosen either by the White House, the Senate majority leader or the Speaker of the House. Every commissioner was an "all-star in his or her field," according to Greenspan. "I ran the commission in the spirit that Jim Baker had envisioned, aiming for an effective bipartisan compromise," Greenspan wrote. More from Personal Finance:

How Supplemental Security Income benefits may change after 50-year anniversary

Why more people don't wait to claim Social Security  and what experts say

A great wealth transfer or retirement savings crisis? Expert says it can be both The group had a tall task  to come up with recommendations to solve the financing crisis the program faced at the time. The Social Security amendments President Ronald Reagan signed into law in 1983 "involved pain for everyone," Greenspan wrote. The changes involved taxes on Social Security benefits, increases to payroll tax rates, a future increase to the retirement age and a near-term postponement of cost-of-living adjustments. At the time, the changes were projected to enable Social Security to pay full benefits through 2057. Today, the projected date is 2035, with rising income inequality contributing to the depletion dates being pushed up, according to the Economic Policy Institute and other experts. Social Security payroll taxes are capped at $168,600 in earnings. As wage growth for high earners outpaces average wage growth, more income falls above the threshold where it is not subject to Social Security payroll taxes, the EPI says.

'Not an example of a successful bipartisan commission'

The 1983 legislation is often touted as a grand bipartisan bargain between Reagan, a Republican, and House Speaker Tip O'Neill, a Democratic congressman from Massachusetts. Yet some Greenspan Commission participants have opposed using it as a future model for reform. One prominent critic was Robert M. Ball, who served as the commissioner for Social Security under three presidents and who represented O'Neill on the Greenspan Commission. "Nothing, however, should obscure the fact that the National Commission on Social Security Reform was not an example of a successful bipartisan commission," Ball wrote in a portion of the memoir he was working on when he died in 2008. The memoir, "The Greenspan Commission: What Really Happened," was published in 2010. "The commission itself stalled  essentially deadlocked despite continuing to talk  after reaching agreement on the size of the problem that needed to be addressed," Ball wrote. "As a commission, that was as far as it got."

Social Security Commission Chairman Alan Greenspan, left, shakes hands with Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, prior to a Social Security hearing on Feb. 15, 1983. At right is Sen. Bob Dole, R-Kan., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. In the background is Sen. John Danforth, R-Mo. Bettmann | Bettmann | Getty Images

More recently, in November, five staff members who worked on the commission  including Altman of Social Security Works, who served as Greenspan's executive assistant  issued a statement to urge policymakers not to use it as a model to fast-track changes including benefit cuts. "In the end, they left a big hunk of the problem to be solved by the Congress, which solved it," Bruce D. Schobel, who served as a staff actuary on the commission and signed the statement, said in an interview with CNBC. The increase to the retirement age that is still getting phased in today resulted from House amendment, rather than from a commission recommendation, the staff members said in their statement. Since 1983, there have been similar efforts to create a commission to consider Social Security that have failed, the staff members noted. "Congress should address Social Security in the sunshine through regular order, as it always has," the staff members wrote.

Lawmakers divided on best path forward

Today, lawmakers are divided on the best path forward to address Social Security. Larson, the Democratic congressman representing Connecticut, hopes to advance his bill. The Social Security 2100 proposal currently has almost 200 Democratic House co-sponsors. The bill would provide a host of benefit increases  including a 2% across-the-board benefit boost  which would be paid for by adding Social Security payroll and investment taxes for individuals with earnings above $400,000. A similar proposal put forward by Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., would apply tax increases for earnings over $250,000. If the Social Security 2100 bill makes it to the floor, it may pass "overwhelmingly" on a bipartisan basis, Larson predicts. "Congress needs to vote," Larson said. But Peters  the Democratic congressman representing California  said he believes a bipartisan commission is the answer after Social Security 2100 failed to move forward even under Democratic control of the White House and Congress. "I think the other efforts are honest efforts and they're just not going to pass," Peters said.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., conducts a news conference on Democrats' plan to "secure and expand" Social Security, in the Capitol Visitor Center, May 23, 2023. From left are Reps. John Larson, D-Conn., Brian Higgins, D-N.Y., Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., Jeffries, Dan Kildee, D-Mich., and Richard Neal, D-Mass. Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni receives Pope Francis as he arrives at the G7 Leaders Summit on day two of the 50th G7 summit at Borgo Egnazia on June 14, 2024 in Fasano, Italy.

Pope Francis made an historic appearance at the Group of Seven summit on Friday to speak about the pros and cons of artificial intelligence, while G7 leaders also pledged to tackle what they said were harmful business practices by China.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the summit host, invited the pope and other heads of state and government, including the prime minister of India and the king of Jordan, in an effort to show the G7 was not an aloof, exclusive club.

"We will never accept the narrative that wants the 'West against the rest'," Meloni told the meeting on Friday.

The pope, arriving in a wheelchair and warmly greeted by leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden and a fellow Argentine, President Javier Milei, acknowledged the ambivalence surrounding AI, saying it could inspire excitement and broaden access to knowledge.

"Yet at the same time, it could bring with it a greater injustice between advanced and developing nations or between dominant and oppressed social classes," the 87-year-old said.

The core G7 members -- the United States, Italy, Britain, France, Germany, Japan and Canada -- had earlier focused on China's economic clout and what they see as unbalanced markets in areas such as electric vehicles, steel and renewable energy.

Their summit statement, released on Friday evening, stressed the G7 was not trying to harm China or thwart its economic development but would "continue to take actions to protect our businesses from unfair practices, to level the playing field and remedy ongoing harm".

The G7 also warned of action against Chinese financial institutions that helped Russia obtain weapons for its war against Ukraine.

Washington this week imposed fresh sanctions on China-based firms supplying semiconductors to Russia amid worries over Beijing's increasingly aggressive stance against Taiwan and run-ins with the Philippines over rival maritime claims.
Business: Rentokil Initial is a United Kingdom-based company that operates globally. It's engaged in pest control, hygiene and well-being services. Rentokil offers a complete range of pest control services, from rodents to flying and crawling insects, to other forms of wildlife management. It offers a range of hygiene services, including the provision and maintenance of products, such as soap and hand sanitizer dispensers, hand dryers, air care and purification, cubicle and surface sanitizers, feminine hygiene units, toilet paper dispensers and floor protection mats. Its connected devices, PestConnect, help provide customers with a complete pest detection solution and full traceability.

Activist Commentary: Trian runs a concentrated portfolio of 8 to 10 mid- to mega-cap, publicly traded companies where it actively engages with company management with the goal of enhancing long-term shareholder value. Trian, managed by Nelson Peltz, takes very few positions, but is very active in its positions. Peltz calls his formula "operational activism." He defines it as working the managements of high-potential but underachieving companies to raise earnings by paring overhead, shedding ancillary businesses and  most of all  burnishing famous brands.

Rentokil Initial is a United Kingdom-based global provider of pest control, hygiene and well-being services for residential, commercial and industrial customers. However, in 2023, the company generated approximately 60% of its 5.3 billion pounds of revenue in North America, with 20% in Europe, 7% in the UK and sub-Saharan Africa, and the remainder in the rest of world. Its core pest control segment generated 80% of revenue, with hygiene and wellbeing (16%) and France workwear (4%) making up the rest.

This is an excellent company that has taken quite a bit of the global market share for pest control. For 10 years, from 2011 through 2021, Rentokil was a highflyer, delivering a total return of 932%, far superior to the UK FTSE 100 benchmark and S&P 500. In October 2022, the company increased its scale in North America by acquiring Terminix for $6.7 billion, increasing its revenue from $2.96 billion to $3.71 billion. It has had trouble integrating the Terminix business and on Oct. 19, 2023, Rentokil's UK-traded shares fell 18% after the company warned of weakness in the U.S. market, challenges to residential customer acquisition and a slowdown in earnings growth. It also lowered guidance on its North American adjusted operating margins from 19.5% to a range of 18.5% to 19%. Since then, the company announced its 2023 earnings, in which North America did register an 18.7% adjusted operating profit, but shares continued to trade 30% lower than the pre-warning price.

With the stock down 36% from its 2021 highs, Rentokil caught the attention of Nelson Peltz and Trian, who has acquired a large stake and reached out to the company to discuss ideas and initiatives to improve shareholder value. Trian is largely thought of as a U.S. activist investor, and it is. However, when it has engaged with UK companies, the firm has consistently been able to create shareholder value. Trian has taken board seats at Janus Henderson, Pentair and Unilever, and it has successfully advocated for strategic divestments at Pentair, Unilever and Ferguson. In its four previous activist campaigns in the UK, the firm has averaged a 32.01% return versus 9.79% for the MSCI EAFE Index.

However, Trian's campaign at Ferguson may be the best example of its intentions at Rentokil. At Ferguson, Trian built a 6% stake in the company, agitated for a sale of its UK business in order to focus on the U.S. and ultimately succeeded in doing so. In May 2022, Ferguson shifted its primary listing to the New York Stock Exchange. Ferguson has delivered a 72% total return since the shift. Rentokil appears to be an excellent candidate for such a shift, considering that it generates the majority of its revenue in North America. The company also appears preeminently focused on expansion there, given its "Right Way 2" growth plan for the region and acquisition of Terminix.

A shift in listing location away from London in order to close the valuation gap would not be unfounded, as Rentokil trades at a discounted valuation (17x NTM earnings) compared to U.S. peers Ecolab (35x), Cintas (41.5x) and Rollins (46x), all of whom are domiciled in the U.S. Listing location change has been a major theme for other activists recently, including Palliser's encouragement of Rio Tinto to collapse its dual-listed structure in favor of an Australian primary listing. There is also Cevian's successful persuasion of CRH to move to New York  and its encouragement of Pearson to do the same. Incidentally, Pearson's CFO is on the board of Rentokil.

Shifting the listing to the U.S. is the low-hanging fruit of value creation and potentially divesting the European business could create additional value. Trian is an excellent income statement activist. It could be very helpful to Rentokil and shareholders in improving the company's operating margins, stimulating revenue growth and integrating the Terminix acquisition. In this situation, we would expect that Peltz and Trian will work collaboratively behind the scenes with management regarding value improvement and will likely seek board representation. At three of its four prior UK engagements, Trian has secured a board seat for a firm insider amicably without launching or publicly threatening a proxy fight. If the Rentokil board looks at Trian's other UK experiences and how it worked constructively with the boards of Pentair, Janus and Unilever, the company will likely invite a Trian executive to serve on the Rentokil board.

Ken Squire is the founder and president of 13D Monitor, an institutional research service on shareholder activism, and the founder and portfolio manager of the 13D Activist Fund, a mutual fund that invests in a portfolio of activist 13D investments.
President of the African National Congress (ANC) Cyril Ramaphosa (C) gestures after he was announced president after members of parliament voted during the first sitting of the New South African Parliament in Cape Town on June 14, 2024.

The African National Congress and its largest rival, the white-led, pro-business Democratic Alliance, agreed on Friday to work together in South Africa's new government of national unity, a step change after 30 years of ANC rule.

Once unthinkable, the accord allowed President Cyril Ramaphosa to win a second term in office. He was re-elected by lawmakers with 283 votes.

The deal between two sharply antagonistic parties is the most momentous political shift in South Africa since Nelson Mandela led the ANC to victory in the 1994 election that marked the end of apartheid.

"It will once again be a privilege and pleasure to serve this great nation ... (as) president," the 71-year-old leader said in a speech to parliament, describing the coming government as an era of hope and inclusivity.

"That a number of parties that had opposed each other... have decided to work together to deliver this result has given a new birth, a new era to our country," he said.

The ANC lost its majority for the first time in an election on May 29 and spent two weeks in talks with other parties that went down to the wire on Friday morning as the new parliament was convening in Cape Town.

"Today is a historic day for our country," DA leader John Steenhuisen said. "And I think it is the start of a new chapter ... of us putting our country, ... its interests and its future first."

The National Assembly had earlier elected a DA lawmaker as deputy speaker, after choosing an ANC politician as speaker - the first concrete instance of power sharing between the two parties.

Long seen as unbeatable in national elections, the ANC lost support in recent years as voters wearied of persistently high levels of poverty, inequality and crime, rolling power cuts and corruption in party ranks.
The Chinese auto sector is increasingly making global automakers and politicians hot under the collar.

In the early 1980s, the Chinese auto industry barely existed. Today the country has the capacity to make about 40 million vehicles annually  enough to supply half the world.

Only about 25 million cars sold in the country in 2023, according to Dunne Insights, a firm that tracks the auto market in China and other Asian countries. To offload the excess, China is increasingly looking to export. It sent cars to more than 100 countries last year, according to Dunne Insights CEO Michael Dunne.

Dunne and other insiders say it's only a matter of time before Chinese-branded cars arrive in the U.S. A few brands, such as Volvo and its subsidiary Polestar, are already owned by a Chinese company, Geely, even though the brands are based in Sweden.

"I call it the great Godzilla," Dunne said. "The world has never seen an auto industry of this size and scale."

Surveys indicate a large share of American shoppers, especially younger ones, would be happy to buy a Chinese car, despite common privacy concerns.

Not everyone shares that enthusiasm. President Joe Biden last month introduced stiff tariffs on Chinese EVs, effectively doubling the list price, which can otherwise be as cheap as $11,500. The administration says Chinese firms have benefited from unfair government support, and Chinese EV imports threaten the Biden administration's big investments in EVs.

Some politicians have gone further. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, has said on social media platform X, "Tariffs are not enough. We need to ban Chinese EVs from the US. Period."

Tesla CEO Elon Musk criticized the tariffs, but he said earlier in 2024 that without trade barriers most Western automakers would be demolished by Chinese competition.

But a few auto industry insiders are skeptical that tariffs will be able to hold off Chinese imports for long. Some say they may even do more harm than good.

Bill Russo, a former Chrysler executive who runs a Shanghai-based consultancy called Automobility, said recent history shows the limitations of tariffs.

The trade war started under President Donald Trump may have been aimed at Beijing, but it hurt American automakers by raising the cost of parts, Russo said. In the end it may have also accelerated the globalization of Chinese firms by forcing them to invest in other countries that would help them dodge the tariffs.

Watch the video to learn more.
The likeness of Beavis from Beavis and Butt-Head has been terrorizing the city of Detroit, but Motown residents can rest easy  its not Ryan Gosling.

Mike Judges mid-1990s cartoon about a couple of chucklefuck teenagers bumming around Texas has been enjoying an unexpected spike in popularity, thanks in part to its recent renewal for another season on Comedy Central, but mainly due to the super-viral Saturday Night Live sketch featuring Gosling and Mikey Day as the titular duos doppelgangers. However, residents of Detroit have been seeing a lot more of Beavis than Butt-Head on the sides of buildings and all over construction sites as a street artist donning the moniker BVIS has allegedly covered the Motor City with the spray-painted face of his namesake.

Earlier this week, Detroit police apprehended one Bryan Herrin whom they claim to be the artist behind the wave of Beavis tags covering the city. BVIS recently answered questions from Detroits Metro Times, claiming that hell put up 20 Beavis heads in a single night as a kind of compulsion that hes had since discovering Beavis and Butt-Head during his childhood.

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Thank God he didnt grow up watching Aqua Teen Hunger Force  that show doesnt need a second street art terror scare.

Speaking to Metro Times, BVIS explained, Ive been doodling the Beavis face since I was a little kid, kind of compulsively, adding, My mom wasnt home a whole lot. The TV pretty much raised me. Fittingly, BVIS favorite show was Beavis and Butt-Head, and the graffiti spree that saw hundreds of Beavis faces sprayed over exterior walls and inside supermarkets has all been inspired by his passion for the animated comedy.

I mean, really, like, the whole series was just them trying to score, and that never happening, BVIS said of the cult-beloved cartoon. And its like, I can relate to that real-life frustration. It took BVIS a while to properly express his love for one of the title characters on the show, as he explained, Just like within the last maybe two years, a buddy of mine threw me a can of paint. I just havent put it down since.

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However, non-felonious Beavis and Butt-Head fans are likely to take issue with BVIS work  not because its criminal, but because, in recent months, the face thats supposed to be Beavis hasnt exactly been a dead ringer for the real deal. I think the longer I do it, the more it looks less like Beavis and more just like a totally new character, BVIS said of his evolution as an artist. When I started, it was pretty much, you know, line for line. The eyes were a lot smaller. He had all his teeth, he was smiling. And then, yeah, just over time, he lost most of his teeth and is no longer smiling.

Now, Herrin, whom Detroit Police claim is the artist know better as BVIS, is no longer smiling, either  he faces six counts of felony malicious destruction of property, each of which is punishable by up to four years in prison if he is convicted. Herrin has not made a statement about the arrest or his alleged alter-ego, and hes already posted his $50,000 bond, likely delivered by a mysterious artist known only as BTHD.
The cameras, part of a $507 million system, wont be switched on anytime soon. Photo: Mark Peterson

On June 5, Governor Kathy Hochul stunned New Yorkers by canceling (or placing on indefinite pause) the congestion-pricing fee for driving into lower Manhattan, blowing a $15 billion hole in the MTAs budget. The state was set to start collecting tolls in less than four weeks, June 30. Hochul had long highlighted her willingness to see the program through even though it polls poorly, arguing that right decisions are not always popular ones. Few officials, even in her own office, were given a heads-up. Much of the city and state government was left asking, What got into her head?

This came right from her brain, one Albany veteran says. When its this nonsensical, thats the origin story. And from another: Irrespective of if you agree or disagree with congestion pricing, the handling of this was maladroit. There were more elegant ways of getting out of it than the way that she did. The person adds, The real question is, Where does it go from here? She doesnt have a plan B, or a plan C, or a plan D. A third, a Hochul insider, says, Its seismic in ways that we dont even know yet. Or as another Albany insider puts it decisively, She traded the MTA for a House seat? Are you fucking crazy?!

In politics circles, the reading of what happened goes like this: Hochuledgy over Democratic weakness on Long Islandmoved to kill the toll after a focus group found that congestion pricing could cost votes in competitive districts. A half-dozen downstate congressional seats are in play. Although reporting has suggested that Hakeem Jeffries, the Brooklyn representative who may soon be Speaker of the House, planted the idea, people close to both their offices say otherwise. Instead, says a person familiar with communication between the two, it was Hochulnot Jeffrieswho put it into the ether. She put this idea of a pause into the meeting.

Shes very, very sensitive to criticism about the election, says an Albany insider, about Long Island, and about her coattails. In 2022, Hochul won by just 6.4 points as Republicans campaigned on fear of crime and the bail-reform laws approved in 2019. Its very easy for me to imagine her saying, Im going to get killed,  the person adds. Three people who have been briefed on the decision say political considerations were at the center. This was Hochul freaked outthey dont want this to become the bail reform of 2024, says one. This isnt popular. Look at the polling numbers, another was told by Hochuls right hand, Secretary to the Governor Karen Persichilli Keogh.

Congestion pricing is a proven program that is nonetheless unpopular here. Nearly two-thirds of voters in New York City said they oppose the toll in an April survey by Siena College, and the suburbs sat at 72 percent against, 22 percent for. Yet sources close to those swing-seat campaigns say they have not seen results from any focus group. Thats probably because (as Hochuls pollster, Jefrey Pollock, confirmed to me) the governors campaign had not commissioned one.

Besides, operatives in the contested races have severe doubts that the issue motivates opposition or causes voters to switch tickets. Republicans hardly mentioned the toll in their battle to hold on to George Santoss seat in Nassau County and northeastern Queens. The Republican candidate, Mazi Pilip, sent one press release on congestion pricing and then basically ignored it for the rest of the campaign, says one Long Island operative. We did not see any groundswell back in February regarding this issue at all. Tom Suozzi won by eight points.

Hochul insiders and Albany veterans offer a second theory of her flip: that the governor was wobbly all along. Shes been very uncomfortable with this, says the Hochul insider. It took a lot of work to get her there. Staff in the governors office had to persuade her to back the program when she took over the office. Hochul, after all, had made her bones campaigning against tolls on the New York State Thruway. Thats also where she first worked extensively with Keogh, who was the person thenSenator Hillary Clinton assigned to the issue.

Publicly, Hochul had defended the toll. But soon after she won reelection, her office asked job applicants for their ideas on congestion pricings future, says one insider. All options were said to be on the table, which implicitly included axing the whole thing. In January, when the teachers union challenged the toll in court, the pushback from the governors office was notably milquetoast. The last guy, one source jokes, would have punched back by approving 10,000 charter schools in the city.

Its seismic in ways that we dont even know yet.

The last guy was, of course, Andrew Cuomo. Since he was forced from office, Hochul has framed herself as someone who can deliver projects as Cuomo could without his feral persona. In March, Cuomo published an op-ed in the New York Post that called for delaying the program, claiming it would slow postpandemic recovery and citing concerns about violence on the trains. Thats when she spoke to me, says a veteran city political operator. She was apoplectic. A second Albany source confirms that there were grumbles directly from people close to her about the Cuomo op-ed. Hochul would go on to cite similar rationales when she backed out. Im sure that op-ed loomed large, the insider adds. She has it in her mind that the only way to look strong is to look like Andrew Cuomo.

This is false, says Hochul spokesman Anthony Hogrebe. As the governor stated, her decision was informed by conversations with a wide range of everyday New Yorkers and concerns they expressed related to the economy. A member of her own camp clarified her thinking. The governors had some issues with this for a while, the person says. Economic sentiment has not changed and is still in a very bad place compared to where we thought it might be. Economic sentiment translates frequently into voter anger at politicians. Come November, winning the House may be the only thing standing between Donald Trump and a unified Republican government that could destroy democracy  Taking this issue off the table has to help the Democrats.

Hochul played it cool till late May, mentioning the topic to Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and to Councilwoman Gale Brewer a few days in advance. But only on the day before her video went up did it become clear that the program would be halted. Newly looped-in government staff had just hours to propose an alternative. Hiking the city payroll tax was firmly and quickly rejected by lawmakers. Hochuls staff came back with a second offer: A promise to provide the MTA with up to $1 billion per year for the next 15 years, about as much as the congestion toll was expected to generate for upgrades and system expansion, from  somewhere in the budget. It didnt fly either.

Sudden moves have fiscal consequences. Wall Street has flagged the MTAs debt and may drop its rating, whereupon a lot of money that could have gone to running trains will go toward interest. New York is now at risk of losing billions in federal funding for projects like the Second Avenue Subway. Planners may defer replacement of the Depression-era tech of the lines under Manhattans Sixth Avenue and Brooklyns Fulton Street. Ditto plans to order hundreds of new train cars for subways and commuter lines.

Save a court order or reversal from Hochul, the MTA and transit activists have little to hang their hopes on. New York States Department of Transportation has to sign off to start the program, and it is fully under Hochuls control. On June 10, MTA chairman Janno Lieber announced an intensive review to reprioritize and shrink the agencys budget for construction, upgrades, and expansion projects. We simply cannot award contracts, he said, without dedicated funding in place.

The damage done to Hochuls close working relationship with MTA chairman Lieber has been on vivid display. At his press conference on June 10, he opened with an extraordinaryby bureaucratic standardsstatement about what had unfolded: The governor plays on a statewide and national field, and sometimes that means we dont look at things exactly the same. Two days later, Liebers visible sadness was replaced with audible frustration. Can you just talk a little bit about what youve learned about Governor Kathy Hochul over the last couple of weeks? I asked him. Liebers one-word reply: No.
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A dentist has revealed the three times where it actually do more harm than good to brush your teeth.

Dr Shaadi Manouchehri, from London, took to social media to discuss dental hygiene and inform people of the times they should steer clear of their toothbrush.

The dentist runs Smart Dental and Aesthetics near Edgware Road in the city's capital and often uploads videos informing people about how better to care for their teeth.

The medic said: 'I'm a dentist and this is the only time you'll ever catch me telling you not to brush your teeth.

Dr Shaadi Manouchehri, from London, took to social media to discuss dental care and inform people when they should steer clear of their toothbrush

She continued: 'You should never brush your teeth after you've just vomited. This is probably all you want to do after you've just vomited but actually the contents of the stomach are extremely acidic.'

The medical professional explained that because your teeth are made up of minerals, they are delicate, and rubbing stomach acid onto them via brushing can damage them.

She recommended using mouthwash straight away to get the taste out of your mouth and drinking water to 'help naturalise the acid quicker'.

Dr Manouchehri stressed that people should wait at least 30 to 60 minutes to brush after being sick.

Elsewhere, she said many peopled reached for their toothbrush after enjoying a morning coffee before their commute to work.

But the dentist urged people to wait at least half an hour before brushing after drinking the caffeinated beverage.

'Coffee is quite acidic and especially if you add milk and sugar, that can make the acidity even worse,' she said.

'You're rubbing acid onto the tooth and wearing away the tooth.'

The dentist often uploads videos informing people about how to take the best care of their teeth and oral hygiene

Dr Manouchehri's 56,000 followers took to the comments of the clip to comment their thoughts and some had differing opinions

Dr Manouchehri said cleaning your teeth before breakfast rather than after can actually be more beneficial.

'If you brush straight away, you're going to be damaging your enamel,' she said.

'When you first wake up in the morning, you actually have quite a lot of bacteria in your mouth and that needs to be brushed before you have your breakfast.'

Dr Manouchehri's 56,000 followers took to the comments of the clip to comment their thoughts and some had differing opinions.

One user wrote: 'If anyone has a hard time brushing before coffee and breakfast just get children's toothpaste that has no peppermint in it.

'You won't even notice that you just brush your teeth before your first cup of coffee. You're welcome!'

Another user said: 'I've always brushed after breakfast before leaving home. Minty breakfast? No thank you.'

A third penned: 'I also use the tongue scraper in the morning along with brushing before coffee.'

A fourth commented: 'I've been telling everyone, brush your teeth first thing in the morning!!!'
Dear Jana,

I saw my sister's boyfriend on a gay dating app. I don't want to out him but I think she deserves to know. Do I tell her?

Nicholas

Dear, dear, Nicholas. Throw your phone in a river and walk away very quickly. This is not your 'outing' to do. Perhaps he's a little curious, or perhaps he's thrown himself right into the gay dating app scene. Who knows. Not you, so I would keep right out of it.

What I would be doing instead, is having a quiet word with him. Show him your evidence and offer him a safe space to open up. Perhaps he's feeling societal pressures to stay firmly in the closet and if so, that's just bloody sad. Or if he's doing the dirty on your sister at least you can give him a bit of a scare and hopefully push him towards having his own conversation with her.

The one thing I know is it is never our job to 'out' someone. They will do it themselves when they are ready.

Jana Hocking shares her best Saucy Secrets - and trademark sassy advice

Dear Jana,

Last night I drank a few too many margaritas and hooked up with my best friend's ex-husband. I can't even blame it on the alcohol, I've liked him for years and we've always had a bit of a flirt but last night it turned into something more and I liked it.

Now I can't stop thinking about him, but I know I shouldn't. She's already got a new boyfriend but I still feel bad.

I have two questions - do I have to tell my best friend, and would it be bad if I hooked up with him again?

Help!

Olivia

Ooooh Olivia you are going to hell! That aside, let's unpack this a little shall we. You've hooked up with a guy you like (yay!) but there's a pretty big chance your bestie will not be impressed (boo!).

The typical answer would be 'mates before dates' but knowing how hard it is to find a good match these days I'm hesitant to tell you that. Especially because I have a friend who is now married to her best friend's ex. So who knows, you could be passing up a chance to land a soul mate for the sake of a friendship.

First of all, I would suss out if the bloke is into you or just after a fun one-night stand. If the answer is a ONS, I would zip the lips and pray that no one saw you two hook-up.

However, if there's a possibility of exploring this connection more, then I would take your bestie for a wine (or 10) and fess up. Perhaps leave out the part where you've liked him for years. She doesn't need to know that. Yes she will probably be upset, but give her time to process it and she may just surprise you.

Jana Hocking shares advice on what to do if your relationship isn't going smoothly

Dear Jana,

I've been dating a guy for three months who is so loving, great on texts, amazing in bed and not bad on the eye but every now and then he'll say something misogynistic that really ruffles my feathers

He works in construction and they've got a new female employee. He said to me last night 'I think she should be paid less because she's not as strong as the rest of us.' I wanted to slap him.

He also makes casual sexist comments about my best friend who is single and occasionally shares details of her one night stands. I hate the way he judges her.

Should I leave him or is it possible to teach a man how to not be sexist? Everything else in our relationship is perfect.

Mia

Oh Mia, as someone who has aborted a date early when the bloke started quoting Andrew Tate, I feel for you. Sadly, this casual misogyny is everywhere and when it sneaks into conversation it can be highly annoying and deeply disrespectful.

As much as my brain thinks you should say 'too-taa-loo loser', I also understand that it's never that easy. Especially when he shows a lot of lovely traits as well.

Talking to a male friend about your dilemma, he explained that with more women coming into power with their sexuality (your best friend) and in the work force (his new colleague) many men are now feeling like their traditional masculinity is under attack.

There's a reason Andrew Tate had 4.6million followers before he was booted off Instagram. It's because MANY men are feeling threatened by powerful women and yes, it's utterly ridiculous but we can't deny it's happening.

Rather than take the bait when he says things that make your skin crawl, I would find out where it's coming from? Challenge him on his thoughts. Ask him if he's feeling a little insecure about a woman being on the work site? Get him to look at his words in a new light. He may not respond how you want him to straight away, but I guarantee you he will go away and think about it.

If not, boot him. Would you want to bring up daughters with a man like that? Nope.
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Over the years, Trooping the Colour has remained one of the royal highlights of the year, when the family get together and enjoy the flypast.

Each year, thousands of well-wishers gather around to catch a glimpse of the monarch's family - however, the number of royals invited to show their faces on the balcony of Buckingham Palace has been whittled down year by year.

In 2023, just 14 members of the Royal Family took to the historic spot to mark the King's birthday celebrations, while this year, the balcony was not much fuller, with 15 members watching the flypast.

This year, King Charles - who is thought to prefer the idea of a slimmed-down monarchy - and Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, their three children, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and their daughter Lady Louise - who made a surprise appearance - were stood in the main area of the balcony.

Whereas Princess Anne, her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence and the Duke of Kent were further to the right, with a small space between the Princess Royal and Lady Louise.

Trooping the Colour 2024 (pictured L-R): Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, Prince George, Prince of Wales, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Princess of Wales, King Charles, Queen Camilla, Duchess of Edinburgh, Duke of Edinburgh, Lady Louise, Princess Anne, Sir Timothy Laurence and the Duke of Kent

Trooping the colour 2019, where 44 royals were present on the Buckingham Palace balcony, compared to just 15 this year

Trooping the Colour 2023, where only 14 royals were present on the Buckingham Palace balcony

Another significant difference was the position of certain royals. Last year, Prince William stood next to his father, but this year, the monarch chose to stand next to his daughter-in-law Kate.

Perhaps King Charles made the touching gesture in recognition of the cancer battle he and Kate are both fighting.

There was a sizeable gap between the senior working royals and lesser known members of the Firm such as the Duke, 78, and Duchess, 76, of Gloucester.

This noticeable space between the two groups could be Charles making a clear point about the future of the Royal Family.

In 2019, the balcony was so full that Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie were barely visible behind the Queen and the Princess Royal.

In total, there were around 42 royals who gathered around the late Queen on the balcony four years ago. Similarly, in 2017, around 47 royals piled onto the balcony for a glimpse of the annual flypast and to see well-wishers.

Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and their children, Lady Gabriella Kingston, Lord Frederick Windsor, were invited onto the platform in 2019 - but it appears they have not made the cut in recent years.

Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Peter Phillips, his now-ex-wife Autumn Kelly and their children Savannah and Isla were also missing from this year's and last year's Buckingham Palace celebrations.

Trooping the Colour 2019, where 44 royals were present on the Buckingham Palace balcony, a stark difference to last year

Trooping the Colour in 2022. Pictured (L-R): Prince Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, Brigitte, the Duchess of Gloucester, Princess Alexandra, The Duke of Kent, Sir Timothy Laurence, Princess Anne, Camilla, Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Louis, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince William, Sophie Wessex, James, Viscount Severn, Lady Louise, Prince Edward

Flora Ogilvy and James Ogilvy, the grandchildren of Princess Alexandra, who was a first cousin to the late Queen Elizabeth II, were present at Trooping the Colour in 2017 and 2019, but were absent this year.

Zenouska Mowatt, the daughter Marina Ogilvy who is a second cousin of King Charles, was pictured on the balcony in both 2017 and 2019 but by 2022, she was nowhere to be seen.

The Duke of Gloucester, first cousin to Queen Elizabeth and first cousin once removed to her children, and his wife The Duchess of Gloucester appeared on the balcony last year with the senior working royals.

However, their daughter Lady Rose Gilman, her husband George Gilman and their granddaughter Lyla Gilman were last pictured on the balcony in 2019.

The family of the Duke and Duchess of Kent were invited to watch the flypast with the rest of the royal family in 2017. Their daughter Lady Helen Taylor, her husband Tim Taylor and their daughters Eloise and Estella were gathered together, but for the past couple of years only the Duke of Kent has shown his face.

George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews and his children Lady Amelia Windsor and Edward Windsor, Lord Downpatrick, were snapped on the balcony in 2017.

However, two years later in 2019, only George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews and his wife Sylvana Tomaselli, Countess of St Andrews made an appearance and neither one of them was present on the balcony in 2023 or this year.

Changes to Trooping the Colour were noticeable in 2022, when 18 royals were pictured watching the flypast - less than half of the amount in previous years.

The late Queen, Charles, Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children, Princess Anne and her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duke and Duchess of Kent and Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were present.

Sophie and Edward's children were also invited onto the balcony, Lady Louise Windsor, James, Earl of Wessex.
Prince Louis was pictured looking unimpressed as he joined his siblings and mother in a carriage during today's Trooping the colour.

The youngest of the Wales children, Louis, six, who is loved by many royal fans thanks to his expressive behaviour, appeared less than thrilled during the ride, at point knitting his brows as he stared out of the window, open-mouthed.

Another snap of the young prince showed him frowning, with his mouth down-turned.

Meanwhile, Prince George, 10, appeared typically composed, while Charlotte, nine, was snapped beaming as she looked out of the carriage window at the assembled crowds.

The children were accompanied by their mother Kate, 42, who has been receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer since late February. Today marked her first public appearance in months.

Beaming Princess Charlotte couldn't help but smile as she appeared alongside her brother Prince George at today's Trooping the Colour

Kate beams as she accompanies her children in a carriage during today's procession (pictured L-R: Kate, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte)

Prince Louis (left) pulls a face at the crowd as Princess Charlotte (right) looks regal as they join the parade

Prince Louis is pictured trying to open a window on a balcony on Horse Guards Parade next to the Duchess of Edinburgh

Another snap of the popular young Prince showed him grimacing as he rode to Buckingham Palace

Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Kate at Trooping The Colour today

The royal was on hand to ensure her children could enjoy the family day out to celebrate their grandfather's birthday - her presence meant they didn't have to travel to the palace without an adult in their carriage.

Prince William took part in the parade on horseback, while his children appeared alongside their mother in a carriage.

After the Princess of Wales' carriage arrived at Buckingham Palace, she and her family stepped out, showing off their outfits.

The future Queen was the picture of elegance and grace as she donned a crisp white structured pencil dress which had a bow along the neckline. The designer is believed to be Jenny Packham - many of whose creations Kate has donned before.

The garment featured a monochrome belted band which sat on her waist and highlighted her sophisticated frame. Kate opted for a simple black clutch bag and classy pointed white heels, which tied the chic look together.

She wore her glossy brunette tresses in a stylish braided low-bun and completed the look with a coordinating hat by Philip Treacy, and her Cassandra Goad Cavolfiore pearl earrings, which retail for 5,620. She completed the look with her Irish Guards Regimental Brooch - a nod to her role as the regiment's honorary colonel.

Meanwhile, Prince George wore a navy suit with a crisp white shirt and royal blue tie, and a pair of black lace-up shoes. His younger brother Louis wore a navy blazer and shorts, with a white shirt and royal blue tie, and a pair of loafers.

Ahead of her appearance, the Princess penned a moving personal message thanking the public for their support over her cancer diagnosis and revealing she is looking forward to attending the traditional ceremonial day.

Back in March, the Princess disclosed she was undergoing 'preventative chemotherapy' for an undisclosed form of the disease says her treatment is ongoing and will be for several months to come.

The Princess of Wales is pictured with her three children, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte and Prince George on a balcony on Horse Guards Parade

The Princess of Wales speaks with Prince Louis as they watch Trooping the Colour today

Prince Louis tries to open a window during Trooping the Colour today

Prince William and Kate attend Trooping the Colour at Buckingham Palace in London today

Members of the Royal Family watch the flypast from the Buckingham Palace balcony today

While she will not be returning to public duties full-time, she revealed that she does now feel well enough, however, to undertake a small number of public engagements in the coming months.

To mark the news Kensington Palace have also released a stunning new portrait of the princess taken at Windsor this week by Matt Porteous showing her looking well and in a reflective mood.

In her message the Princess says she has been 'blown away' by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months.

'It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times,' she wrote.

Movingly she reveals she is making 'good progress', but adds: As anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.'

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

Prince Louis at Trooping The Colour on Horse Guards Parade in London today

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

She added: 'My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months. On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home.

'I'm looking forward to attending The King's Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet.

'I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal.

Thank you so much for your continued understanding, and to all of you who have so bravely shared your stories with me.'

The Princess first announced that she had cancer on March 22.

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

Prince William, Prince Edward and Princess Anne on horseback at Trooping the Colour today

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

In a hugely moving video statement, recorded at Windsor, she revealed that she had been diagnosed following serious abdominal surgery in January and was already undergoing 'preventative' chemotherapy.

In a deeply personal, unprecedented and emotional video message filmed just two days earlier, Catherine revealed the news had come as a 'huge shock' and that she and William 'have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family'.

'It has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be ok,' she said.

'As I have said to them; I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits. Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too. As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both.'

Kensington Palace said at the time that it would not be sharing details of what kind of cancer the princess has, or what stage of cancer it is and asked people not to speculate.

At the time of her abdominal surgery in January, Kensington Palace said that it was non-cancerous. They confirmed again in March that is the case and that no tests had confirmed the presence of cancer. However post-operative tests subsequently found that cancer 'had been present'.

A week ago, the royal apologised for missing out on a key rehearsal for the event, writing a letter to the Irish Guards, saying: 'I hope I am able to represent you all very soon'.
The Duchess of Edinburgh and her daughter Lady Louise looked equally stylish as they joined other members of The Firm at Trooping the Colour today.

The annual event, a major highlight of the royal calendar, celebrates the birthday of the reigning monarch in the UK and has been held every year for the past 260 years.

Sophie, 59, was dressed for the occasion, donning a bright yellow dress from Beulah London and a Jane Taylor hat, channelling Spring on a rainy day in London.

She was joined by her daughter, Lady Louise, who looked graceful in a white chiffon tea dress adorned with blue flowers - a frock she previously donned for the King's Coronation last May.

The dress she wore is from Suzannah London and she paired the standout garment with a light blue fascinator and silver pearl drop earrings.

Lady Louise is the picture of elegance in her outfit that she wore to the King's Coronation last year

The family were pictured on the Buckingham Palace balcony today, without James, the Earl of Wessex

Lady Louise , 20, who is currently studying at the University of St Andrews, did not attend Trooping the Colour last year.

Her 16-year-old brother, James, the Earl of Wessex, was also absent last year and did not go with his family this year.

It is believed that the teenager is currently sitting his GCSEs, as the exam season ends on June 21.

Sophie was pictured next to her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, who looked dapper in his dashing red uniform, displaying his medals.

Meanwhile, the Princess of Wales and King Charles III were reunited on the Buckingham Palace balcony today for the first time since they both began cancer treatment.

Kate joined members of the Royal Family to watch a spectacular flypast by the RAF as she made a triumphant return to public life at Trooping the Colour.

And in a sweet gesture from the monarch, Kate stood next to Charles - a change from last year's arrangement when her husband Prince William was next to him.

The flypast began as senior royals came out onto the balcony - with Charles and Camilla followed by Kate and William and their children George, Charlotte and Louis. Kate then leant over to speak to Charles, who laughed at something she said.

King Charles, Queen Camilla and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace today

Lady Louise is snapped whilst riding in the carriage on her way to Trooping the Colour today

Sophie and Louise take cover under their carriage as London is hit with heavy rainfall

The Duchess smiled as she takes cover in her carriage alongside her daugther

Lady Louise looked in high spirits as she travelled in a carriage with her parents today

They were joined by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, with the family smiling and waving to crowds before standing proudly as the national anthem was played.

Kate's appearance had been in doubt after she missed the final Trooping rehearsal last weekend, with confirmation that she would attend only given at 6pm yesterday.

But with the King also suffering from cancer, today's spectacle of military pomp and pageantry became a symbolic statement by the monarchy after much uncertainty.

Scotland Yard had a 'substantial' policing operation in place, with anti-monarchy group Republic allowed to protest but banned from using amplified sound.

Hundreds of Metropolitan Police officers were deployed on the ceremonial route to ensure the safety and security of those watching, with tens of thousands gathered.

Earlier, the 42-year-old Princess of Wales beamed and waved as she and her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, were cheered by crowds on The Mall in a carriage procession for the Trooping the Colour ceremony.

Kate was surrounded by other members of the family - with her husband Prince William , Colonel of the Welsh Guards, on horseback, along with Princess Anne , Colonel of the Blues and Royals, and Prince Edward , Colonel of the Scots Guards.

(From left) Prince George, Prince William, Prince Louis, Kate, Princess Charlotte, King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Sophie, Prince Edward, Lady Louise Windsor and Princess Anne today

King Charles III and Queen Camilla during Trooping the Colour at Buckingham Palace today

William and Kate with their children next to Charles and Camilla at Buckingham Palace today

Prince Louis, the Princess of Wales and Charlotte on the Buckingham Palace balcony today

After spending much of the year coming to terms with the diagnosis and receiving ongoing chemotherapy, Kate looked relaxed as she travelled along one of London's most famous thoroughfares with her family in the glass state coach.

The family were first seen arriving at Buckingham Palace in a car at 10am, with George sitting between Kate and William, and Charlotte and Louis opposite.

King Charles III also rode in a carriage with Queen Camilla, a departure from last year because of his illness, and he inspected the officers and guardsmen on Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall from the coach rather than from a horse.

Trooping the Colour is a social as well as a ceremonial occasion and the stands overlooking the parade ground were filled with about 8,000 spouses, girlfriends and parents of the guardsmen and officers on parade.

It featured more than 1,250 soldiers, and hundreds of Guardsmen were lined up on the parade ground waiting to be inspected by the King from his carriage with Camilla, Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, and joined by the mounted royal Colonels.

The colour, or regimental flag, that was trooped WAS the King's Colour of number 9 company, Irish Guards.

When the royal carriages finally came to a stop Louis was the first to leave, followed by his elder brother George and sister Charlotte.

Finally, Kate stepped down wearing wearing a Jenny Packham dress, hat by Philip Treacy and the Irish Guards Regimental Brooch, as she is the regiment's Colonel.

When the inspection of the Guardsmen in their scarlet tunics and bearskins began, the King cast his eye over the servicemen who are fighting soldiers when not performing ceremonial duties.

Sat beside him in the carriage was the Queen who wore a pale green silk crepe dress and coat by Anna Valentine, Philip Tracey hat and her Grenadier Guards military brooch.

During the pageantry the colour was first trooped through the ranks of soldiers before the guardsmen marched past the King, first in slow then in quick time with the King acknowledging the command of 'eyes right' with a salute.

For the first time in more than 100 years, soldiers on parade were allowed to have beards.

The rule change, which applies across the Army, was approved by the King earlier this year after facial hair was only allowed for religious, medical or role specific reasons.
The Princess of Wales proved to the epitome of elegance as she made her first public appearance this year by joining the Royal Family at Trooping the Colour today despite her ongoing cancer treatment.

Kate, who has been receiving chemotherapy for an undisclosed form of cancer since February, travelled in a carriage alongside her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, for the traditional procession through London.

The future Queen, 42, was the picture of elegance and grace as she donned a crisp white structured pencil dress which had a bow along the neckline.

Designed by Jenny Packham, it is thought Kate first wore the dress on the eve of the King's coronation last year. It has been updated with a new neckline and waist detailing added.

Kate opted for a simple black clutch bag and classy pointed white heels, which tied the chic look together.

Kate, 42, was the picture of elegance and grace as she donned a crisp white structured pencil dress

The Princess of Wales (pictured) reportedly wore a dress designed by Jenny Packham for her appearance today

The royal appeared to be channelling Eliza Doolittle (pictured) in her black and white ensemble

She wore her glossy brunette tresses in a stylish braided low-bun and completed the look with a coordinating hat by Philip Treacy, and her Cassandra Goad Cavolfiore pearl earrings, which retail for 5,620.

Kate completed the look with her Irish Guards Regimental Brooch - a nod to her role as the regiment's honorary colonel.

The Princess and King Charles III were reunited on the Buckingham Palace balcony today for the first time since they both began cancer treatment.

Kate joined members of the Royal Family to watch a spectacular flypast by the RAF as she made a triumphant return to public life at Trooping the Colour.

And in a sweet gesture from the monarch, Kate stood next to Charles - a change from last year's arrangement when her husband Prince William was next to him.

The flypast began as senior royals came out onto the balcony - with Charles and Camilla followed by Kate and William and their children George, Charlotte and Louis. Kate then leant over to speak to Charles, who laughed at something she said.

They were joined by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, with the family smiling and waving to crowds before standing proudly as the national anthem was played.

Kate's appearance had been in doubt after she missed the final Trooping rehearsal last weekend, with confirmation that she would attend only given at 6pm yesterday.

The Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte at Trooping the Colour this afternoon

Prince William and Kate attend Trooping the Colour at Buckingham Palace in London today

Members of the Royal Family watch the flypast from the Buckingham Palace balcony today

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

Kate arrives at Horse Guards Parade today as Trooping the Colour takes place

Kate arrives at Horse Guards Parade today as Trooping the Colour takes place

But with the King also suffering from cancer, today's spectacle of military pomp and pageantry became a symbolic statement by the monarchy after much uncertainty.

Scotland Yard had a 'substantial' policing operation in place, with anti-monarchy group Republic allowed to protest but banned from using amplified sound.

Hundreds of Metropolitan Police officers were deployed on the ceremonial route to ensure the safety and security of those watching, with tens of thousands gathered.

Earlier, the 42-year-old Princess of Wales beamed and waved as she and her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, were cheered by crowds on The Mall in a carriage procession for the Trooping the Colour ceremony.

Kate was surrounded by other members of the family - with her husband Prince William , Colonel of the Welsh Guards, on horseback, along with Princess Anne , Colonel of the Blues and Royals, and Prince Edward , Colonel of the Scots Guards.

After spending much of the year coming to terms with the diagnosis and receiving ongoing chemotherapy, Kate looked relaxed as she travelled along one of London's most famous thoroughfares with her family in the glass state coach.

The family were first seen arriving at Buckingham Palace in a car at 10am, with George sitting between Kate and William, and Charlotte and Louis opposite.

King Charles III also rode in a carriage with Queen Camilla, a departure from last year because of his illness, and he inspected the officers and guardsmen on Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall from the coach rather than from a horse.

Kate arrives with Princess Charlotte and Prince George at Horse Guards Parade today

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

Always prepared! Kate Middleton was the picture of elegance in her ensemble today as she walks along Horse Guards Parade with an umbrella alongside her children

Trooping the Colour is a social as well as a ceremonial occasion and the stands overlooking the parade ground were filled with about 8,000 spouses, girlfriends and parents of the guardsmen and officers on parade.

It featured more than 1,250 soldiers, and hundreds of Guardsmen were lined up on the parade ground waiting to be inspected by the King from his carriage with Camilla, Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, and joined by the mounted royal Colonels.

The colour, or regimental flag, that was trooped WAS the King's Colour of number 9 company, Irish Guards.

When the royal carriages finally came to a stop Louis was the first to leave, followed by his elder brother George and sister Charlotte.

Finally, Kate stepped down wearing wearing a Jenny Packham dress, hat by Philip Treacy and the Irish Guards Regimental Brooch, as she is the regiment's Colonel.

When the inspection of the Guardsmen in their scarlet tunics and bearskins began, the King cast his eye over the servicemen who are fighting soldiers when not performing ceremonial duties.

Sat beside him in the carriage was the Queen who wore a pale green silk crepe dress and coat by Anna Valentine, Philip Tracey hat and her Grenadier Guards military brooch.

During the pageantry the colour was first trooped through the ranks of soldiers before the guardsmen marched past the King, first in slow then in quick time with the King acknowledging the command of 'eyes right' with a salute.

For the first time in more than 100 years, soldiers on parade were allowed to have beards.

The rule change, which applies across the Army, was approved by the King earlier this year after facial hair was only allowed for religious, medical or role specific reasons.
Princess Charlotte appeared to take her role as the older sister very seriously today as she told her younger brother Prince Louis off, not once, but twice.

Taking charge, the royal, nine, ordered cheeky Louis to stand up straight on the Buckingham Palace balcony, as the family gathered to watch the flypast at the annual event.

The six-year-old Prince, known for stealing the limelight at large royal events, was stood on the platform in front of thousands of fans and well-wishers with his arms slightly scrunched ahead of the national anthem.

His older sibling then said: 'Louis put your hands down,' according to lipreader Juliet Sullivan, before she tapped his shoulder to get his attention.

Louis then scrunched up his face before placing his hands down by his side and standing up straight to prepare for the national anthem.

Earlier in the day, the prince was once again told off by his sister as she ordered him to 'stop' his dancing, whilst standing at a window in the Horse Guards building, so they could watch King Charles inspecting the troops outside.

Princess Charlotte told Prince Louis to put his hands down before the National anthem played, according to a lip reading expert

As Prince George, Charlotte, and Louis waited by the window with their mother Kate Middleton, 42, the youngest royal started swaying his hips, much to the apparent chagrin of his older sister.

Charlotte, who has been seen issuing instructions to her brothers during previous royal events, appeared to tell her sibling to 'stop dancing'.

However, the young prince appeared unmoved by the command, and continued with his dancing.

Meanwhile, their mother the Princess of Wales appeared to smile while watching the interaction between her children, before she regained her previous, more serious demeanour.

Louis is beloved by many royal fans, thanks to the spirited behaviour he has shown at previous public appearances.

And today has been no difference, with the youngster seen pulling faces as he took a carriage ride with his mother and siblings earlier today.

He appeared less than thrilled during the ride, at point knitting his brows as he stared out of the window, open-mouthed. Another snap of the young prince showed him frowning, with his mouth down-turned.

At another point, the six-year-old appeared bored during the long, formal event, and was seen scrunching his face and playing with curtains, as well as yawning.

Prince Louis scrunched his face after he was told to put his 'hands down' by his big sister Charlotte

The Wales children were pictured looking out of the window of the Horse Guards building, as King Charles inspected the troops below

The children and their mother appeared to be concentrating on watching the activity outside

However, while at the window, Louis started dancing - prompting older sister Charlotte to tell him to stop - which he ignored

The Princess of Wales seemed to smile as she watched the interchange between her two youngest children

Kate Middleton smiles as she watches Princess Charlotte tell Prince Louis to stop dancing

After smiling at her children, the Princess of Wales quickly returned to a more serious demeanor

While the Wales children were accompanied by their mother as they rode to Buckingham Palace in a carriage earlier in the day, their father Prince William took part in the parade on horseback.

And their mother's presence was no doubt reassuring for the youngsters.

The future Queen, who only confirmed that she would be attending the event last night, was the picture of elegance and grace as she donned a crisp white structured pencil dress which had a bow along the neckline. The designer is believed to be Jenny Packham - many of whose creations Kate has donned before.

The garment featured a monochrome belted band which sat on her waist and highlighted her sophisticated frame. Kate opted for a simple black clutch bag and classy pointed white heels, which tied the chic look together.

She wore her glossy brunette tresses in a stylish braided low-bun and completed the look with a coordinating hat by Philip Treacy, and her Cassandra Goad Cavolfiore pearl earrings, which retail for 5,620. She completed the look with her Irish Guards Regimental Brooch - a nod to her role as the regiment's honorary colonel.

Meanwhile, Prince George wore a navy suit with a crisp white shirt and royal blue tie, and a pair of black lace-up shoes. His younger brother Louis wore a navy blazer and shorts, with a white shirt and royal blue tie, and a pair of loafers.

Princess Charlotte wore a navy dress in a sailor-style design, and white strap shoes.

Ahead of her appearance, the Princess penned a moving personal message thanking the public for their support over her cancer diagnosis and revealing she is looking forward to attending the traditional ceremonial day.

Back in March, the Princess disclosed she was undergoing 'preventative chemotherapy' for an undisclosed form of the disease says her treatment is ongoing and will be for several months to come.

Beaming Princess Charlotte couldn't help but smile as she appeared alongside her brother Prince George at today's Trooping the Colour

Kate beams as she accompanies her children in a carriage during today's procession (pictured L-R: Kate, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte)

Prince Louis (left) pulls a face at the crowd as Princess Charlotte (right) looks regal as they join the parade

Another snap of the popular young Prince showed him grimacing as he rode to Buckingham Palace

Kate arrives with Princess Charlotte and Prince George at Horse Guards Parade today

Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Kate at Trooping The Colour today

While she will not be returning to public duties full-time, she revealed that she does now feel well enough, however, to undertake a small number of public engagements in the coming months.

To mark the news Kensington Palace have also released a stunning new portrait of the princess taken at Windsor this week by Matt Porteous showing her looking well and in a reflective mood.

In her message the Princess says she has been 'blown away' by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months.

'It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times,' she wrote.

Movingly she reveals she is making 'good progress', but adds: As anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.'

The Princess of Wales speaks with Prince Louis as they watch Trooping the Colour today

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

Prince Louis at Trooping The Colour on Horse Guards Parade in London today

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

She added: 'My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months. On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home.

'I'm looking forward to attending The King's Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet.

'I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal.

Thank you so much for your continued understanding, and to all of you who have so bravely shared your stories with me.'

The Princess first announced that she had cancer on March 22.

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte are seen en route to Buckingham Palace in a carriage earlier today

In a hugely moving video statement, recorded at Windsor, she revealed that she had been diagnosed following serious abdominal surgery in January and was already undergoing 'preventative' chemotherapy.

In a deeply personal, unprecedented and emotional video message filmed just two days earlier, Catherine revealed the news had come as a 'huge shock' and that she and William 'have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family'.

'It has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be ok,' she said.

'As I have said to them; I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits. Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too. As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both.'

Kensington Palace said at the time that it would not be sharing details of what kind of cancer the princess has, or what stage of cancer it is and asked people not to speculate.

At the time of her abdominal surgery in January, Kensington Palace said that it was non-cancerous. They confirmed again in March that is the case and that no tests had confirmed the presence of cancer. However post-operative tests subsequently found that cancer 'had been present'.

A week ago, the royal apologised for missing out on a key rehearsal for the event, writing a letter to the Irish Guards, saying: 'I hope I am able to represent you all very soon'.
The Royal Family were out in full force today as they watched the King's annual Birthday Parade, taking to Buckingham Palace's famous balcony to watch the Trooping the Colour flypast.

Each year, thousands of well-wishers gather around to catch a glimpse of the monarch's family - however, the last two years have seen fairly sparse balconies at the London event.

In 2023, just 14 members of the Royal Family took to the historic spot to mark the King's birthday celebrations, while this year, the balcony was not much fuller, with 15 members watching the flypast.

While many of the faces stayed the same as last year, there was one significant difference. Last year, Prince William stood next to his father. However, this year, the monarch chose to stand next to his daughter-in-law Kate.

Perhaps King Charles made the touching gesture in recognition of the cancer battle he and Kate are both fighting.

The Royal Family were out in full force today as they watched the King's annual Birthday Parade, taking to Buckingham Palace's famous balcony to watch the Trooping the Colour flypast

Meanwhile, missing from the line-up was James, the Earl of Wessex, 16, whose absence could be related to it being exam season.

However, his sister Lady Louise, who was not present at the event last year, did attend Trooping the Colour today, in a move that surprised some royal watchers.

Another absent face was Princess Alexandra, 87, a cousin of the late Queen, who also missed the event last year.

And Prince Andrew unsurprisingly also failed to make the cut. The disgraced royal, who took a step back from senior royal duties amid the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, has not been seen on the balcony for the event since 2019.

Here, FEMAIL talks through who made the cut for the Buckingham Palace balcony...

Prince George waves from the Buckingham Palace balcony, accompanied by his father Prince William, brother Prince Louis, his mother the Princess of Wales, and sister Princess Charlotte

In 2023, just 14 members of the Royal Family took to the historic spot to mark the King's birthday celebrations, while this year, the balcony was not much fuller, with 15 members watching the flypast

1. Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester: The Duke is the youngest grandchild of King George V and Queen Mary and a paternal cousin of the late Queen. He carries out duties on behalf of the royal family and is patron of many societies.

2. Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester: The Dutch-born Duchess married Prince Richard in 1972 and is a full-time working member of the Royal Family. She shares three children with the Duke - none of whom undertake official duties.

3. Prince George: Eldest son of the Prince and Princess of Wales and second-in-line to the throne, George was also pictured alongside his family on the balcony.

4. Prince of Wales: Prince William, heir to the throne, took part in the procession, riding horseback while his wife and children travelled in a carriage.

5. Prince Louis: Often referred to as the 'cheeky' royal due to his mischievous antics, Louis was on the balcony today alongside his mother, father and siblings. At some points, he looked rather unimpressed.

6. Princess Charlotte: The Princess was also pictured alongside Louis and King Charles on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

7. Princess of Wales: Kate, 42, who has been receiving chemotherapy for an undisclosed form of cancer since February, travelled in a carriage alongside her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, for the traditional procession through London.

The future Queen was the picture of elegance and grace as she donned a crisp white structured pencil dress which had a bow along the neckline. The designer is believed to be Jenny Packham - many of whose creations Kate has donned before.

This year marked King Charles's second Trooping the Colour as monarch (seen with his wife Queen Camilla)

8. King Charles: Last year, the king became the first monarch in more than 30 years to take part in the Colour on horseback.

It was the first time a reigning monarch has ridden at the Colour since Queen Elizabeth's horse Burmese carried her during the 1986 ceremony.

However, this year, he took a carriage, reportedly eschewing riding on doctors' orders, due to his cancer diagnosis.

9. Queen Camilla: The Queen, who wore pale green silk crepe dress and coat by Anna Valentine, and hat by Philip Treacy, appeared delighted to stand by her husband's side during the major event.

10. Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh: Sophie, 59, looked stunning in yellow today as she travelled in a carriage alongside her daughter Lady Louise to Horse Guards Parade.

11. Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh: As he did last year, Prince Edward rode during the ceremony today, in his role as Colonel of the 1st Battalion London Guards.

This marked a departure from 2022, when he took a carriage with his wife Sophie.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Lady Louise Windsor and the Princess Royal, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace today

12. Lady Louise Windsor: 20-year-old student Louise, who is studying at St Andrews, missed last year's Trooping the Colour.

This year, she travelled to the event in a carriage she shared with her mother Sophie.

13. Princess Anne: The King's sister, who is often regarded as the 'hardest working royal', looked relaxed as she celebrated the annual event with her family. Anne rode horseback alongside Prince William and Prince Edward.

14. Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence: The husband of Princess Anne shared a carriage with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester today, while his wife rode on horseback.

15. Prince Edward, Duke of Kent: The 88-year-old was present on the balcony alongside the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
Thousands of men will benefit from a revolutionary 3D scanner that can boost prostate cancer screening numbers by 50 per cent.

The machines do a single full scan of the body and can process an adult in five minutes and a child in one  much quicker than previous technology allowed.

The first has been installed at the Royal Free London hospital and will allow doctors to carry out 50 per cent more scans than with their previous device.

It means an additional 400 scans a year for prostate cancer patients, and up to 5,000 more a year for cancer patients overall, in this one hospital alone.

The 8million positron emission tomography (PET) scanner is 11 times more sensitive than the latest standard machine. Patients are exposed to half as much radiation and can be scanned at least twice as quickly, allowing earlier diagnosis and treatment.

The machines do a single full scan of the body  rather than multiple images like current technology  and can process an adult in five minutes and a child in one (stock image)

The 8million positron emission tomography (PET) scanner is 11 times more sensitive than the latest standard machine (stock iamge)

The first has been installed at the Royal Free London hospital (pictured) and will allow doctors to carry out 50 per cent more scans than with their previous device

Two more scanners are expected to be installed at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust in London and the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

Thousands awaiting a prostate cancer scan will benefit over the coming years.

The Royal Free London has one of the busiest cancer services in the NHS, receiving almost 50,000 referrals a year.

The new device means scanning time has been reduced from 20 to five minutes, freeing up capacity to see more patients within days of referral, rather than weeks.

'This is an extremely exciting development,' said Royal Free London consultant Thomas Wagner. 'The lower dose of radiation is a great benefit to patients and we can see more patients.'

Dr Juliana Maynard, of the National PET Imaging Platform (NPIP), which will work with the hospital on research data, said new technology would help detect prostate cancer 'with unprecedented speed and accuracy'.

The Mail's End The Needless Prostate Deaths campaign has raised awareness of the disease that kills 12,000 a year in the UK.
Outline

The island of Menorca does its Mediterranean dazzling differently to Balearic sisters Ibiza and Mallorca. No billionaire boltholes or anti Brits protests here: instead, an art scene of massive overseas clout is blooming among the islands protected lagoons, rolling hills, delicate Bronze Age ruins and marshland prairies festooned with wildflowers.

Streamline

At just under 700 sq km (think roughly the size of the West Midlands), Menorca is a breeze to zip around in a day. But you could happily maroon yourself here for a month.

Fancy a dip: Menorcan Gem Cala Pregonda

Airline

Two and a half hours from the UK, a 36-hour weekend trip to Menorca feels frictionless. Catch a late-afternoon flight on Friday (low-season returns can be as little as 100) to be in its beautiful southwest capital Mahon  just five minutes from the airport  in time for a harbourside supper. Spotted on our EasyJet flight: The Night Managers Tom Hollander, who clearly has an eye for a Balearic hideaway.

Storyline

The pretty port of Mahon has been here for yonks: founded in 205BC by the Carthaginian general Mago, brother of Hannibal, its been under the yoke (yes, it is also the home of mayonnaise) of Moorish caliphates, Mallorcan kingdoms and, in the 18th century, the Royal Navy.

That explains the curious sight of Friesian cows plodding across fields, the sailor-friendly cult gin Xoriguer and the splendid Georgian townhouses tucked among Mahons Spanish churches.

Fine line

The super-luxe art gallery Hauser & Wirth, which is on Mahons Illa del Rei and only accessible by boat, opened in 2021 in a former British naval hospital. Not far away is one of the oldest opera houses in Spain, Teatre Principal de Mao, built in 1829, which in May hosted a Solidarity Concert (the proceeds went to the care of islanders with disabilities) with the likes of acclaimed French soprano Claire de Monteil and Spanish cello sensation Alejandro Gomez Pareja.

Boutique call: The Can Alberti hotel

Landline

The best way to see Menorca, which Unesco declared a biosphere reserve in 1993, is by open-topped jeep safari (around 61 per person). A brainy guide picks you up at your hotel and motors you off on a tour of the islands deeply stirring Talayotic ruins (learn more about these Bronze Age finds at the Museu de Menorca in Mahon) and points out its wildlife on joyful country tracks. We spotted osprey, red kites and booted eagles.

Waistline

Dont miss the central Placa dEspanya on Saturdays in Mahon, home to the citys fish market. Enjoy local catches and vegetables at nearby El Romero or, for a traditional Spanish lunch, make reservations at Moli des Raco in the town of Es Mercadal.

Flatline

When utterly zonked, rest your weary head at Can Alberti, a boutique art hotel in the cobbled heart of Mahon through which the sea air blows like a classical zephyr. The mansion overlooks the old governors palace and boasts 14 high-ceilinged rooms with vast baths, restoratively plush pillows and the option of a massage if you book ahead. From 154 in low season.

Coastline

The Menorcan way of life is poc a poc, or little by little. This loosely implies taking it easy and not sticking strictly to a schedule. While we rushed about, we also snatched some quiet hours by the turquoise waters of Binidali beach in the south, and heard amazing things about Cala Pregonda in the north: golden sand, distinctive rock formations and clear watersfor snorkelling or swimming. Next time.

Next week

TOPLINE FITNESS: Padel
10 Years After Mosul's Destruction, Will Assyrians Come Back?

The letter "N" on the wall of a Christian family's house in Mosul, Iraq, in 2014. The fall of Mosul, Iraq, to ISIS in 2014 wasn't the beginning of the struggle for the city's Christians. Killings, abductions, and threats from armed groups had plagued the community since the 2003 invasion by U.S. military. Clergy and laypeople alike bore the brunt of the violence, with bombings targeting churches as well.

The situation reached a peak when security forces crumbled, failing to protect Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city and the heart of Nineveh province. ISIS seized control on June 10, 2014, plunging Mosul's Christians into the darkest period of their recent history. Today, they grapple with rebuilding their lives while demanding accountability and a future built on equity and justice.

In the wake of clashes and bombings between security forces and ISIS, Mosul's residents were left to fend for themselves. Witness Nahed Abdul Ahad, interviewed by ACI Mena, CNA's Arabic-language news partner, described the complete absence of security forces.

"Many families fled the city, particularly Christians," Abdul Ahad said. "They feared the worst, especially after widespread reports of killings and torture by terrorists. Others clung to the hope that this was just a temporary security lapse."

ISIS' brutality was swift and symbolic. On June 20, 2014, they destroyed the statue of "Our Lady of Tigris" atop the Al-Tahera Church as part of a campaign to "cleanse the place of polytheist features." This act mirrored the destruction of other statues that had long been woven into the city's character.

The terror escalated further on June 28, 2014, with the abduction of two religious sisters, Sister Atur and Sister Maskanta from the Daughters of Mary Chaldean Congregation, along with three children from the orphanage they ran. Thankfully, they were released unharmed on July 17. These events coincided with the declaration of the so-called "Islamic State in Iraq and Syria" and the establishment of the "Islamic Caliphate" under Caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

The brutality of ISIS knew no bounds. After accusing Christian clergy of refusing a meeting, the group published a chilling document titled "Destiny" on July 18, 2014. Distributed by ISIS members, it was intended to be read aloud in mosques after Friday prayers.

This document presented an impossible choice for Mosul's Christians: leave within 24 hours or face forced conversion to Islam, a hefty tax for non-Muslims (jizya), or death. Abdul Ahad, a witness to these horrific events, recounted the desperate exodus that followed.

"ISIS forbade us from taking anything," Abdul Ahad said in an interview with ACI Mena. "Furniture, identification papers, money, gold -- everything was confiscated. Many were forced to abandon their cars and walk, sometimes barefoot, toward Duhok and Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan or the Nineveh Valley before it too fell to ISIS."

An unknown security guard stands at the entrance of a church destroyed during the fighting with ISIS in Mosul, Iraq. ( Chris Pook)

The terror group marked Christian properties with the letter "N," a reference to the Quranic term "Nasara" (Nazarenes), effectively claiming them for the Islamic State. Mosul, a city with a rich Christian heritage boasting 35 churches dating back 1,500 years, was emptied of its Christian inhabitants. For the first time in its history, the city stood virtually devoid of Christians, with only a handful too infirm or impoverished to leave.

Following Mosul's liberation in 2017, a trickle of Christians began returning to the city. Bishop Mikail Najeeb, pastor of the Chaldean diocese in Mosul, described the return as "shy."

In an interview with ACI Mena, he revealed that "according to diocesan statistics, no more than 100 families have returned, with only 35 being Chaldean." Najeeb urged the government to support these families through reparations for lost property, a crucial step to encourage a more substantial return.

The dioceses in Mosul are slowly rebuilding their churches with their own resources, supplemented by support from Christian organizations worldwide. Churches like St. Thomas, the Church of the Annunciation, Al-Tahera for Syriac Catholics, St. Paul's, and Our Lady of Help for Chaldeans are currently undergoing reconstruction.
Switch-up: Northcoders owner Chris Hill used to run a gastropub

The Aldwark Arms is a quaint but popular gastropub in North Yorkshire.

Once a run-down village inn, the pub was turned around by young chef, Chris Hill and his brother Nick.

But in 2015, Chris, aged 30, wanted a change. The pub was sold and Hill retrained as a software engineer.

It was then he discovered that even graduates with computer science degrees were not properly equipped to work in tech. Hill set up Northcoders to put that right.

Today, Northcoders trains thousands of people from all walks of life to become 'coders', techno-specialists who make computers do what we all want them to do.

Based in Manchester, the company runs three-month coding bootcamps, designed to lead successful candidates into lucrative new careers.

Competition is fierce, with 14,000 applicants trying for 1,000 places in 2023 but opportunities are open to all, with successful candidates ranging from 17 to 70 and from rail workers to City lawyers.

In 2021, Hill won a contract to train would-be coders as part of the Government's Skills Bootcamp initiative, to help the UK produce more workers in key sectors.

Today, around 80 per cent of Northcoder's Bootcamp applicants are government-funded, and Hill's contract was renewed this year. The group also works directly with businesses to train their employees and parachutes in graduates from its own bootcamp to work on projects.

Last year was tricky for Northcoders. Tech hiring faltered and growth slowed down, just as Hill and his team increased investment in the business. Revenues still rose 27 per cent to 7.1million but profits slumped from 900,000 to 100,000.

A swift recovery is expected this year, with earnings bouncing back at least to 2022 levels and sales continuing to rise.

Further gains are forecast for 2025 and beyond. There are high hopes for the company-focused side of the business, with more growth expected from government contracts and from individuals looking for a change, just like Hill once did himself.

Midas verdict: Computer programming is integral to almost everything we do today and Northcoders is helping to make the UK better at it. For adventurous investors keen to back Britain's technical expertise, the shares, at 1.65, are a buy.

Traded on: Aim Ticker: CODE Contact: northcodersgroup.com or 0333 050 4368
Honour: Julia Hoggett

A host of business leaders have been named in the King's birthday honours.

London Stock Exchange chief executive Julia Hoggett and fashion designer Anya Hindmarch have been made dames while HSBC chairman Mark Tucker was knighted.

Energy bosses Greg Jackson of Octopus Energy and Alistair Phillips-Davies of SSE have been made Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to the industry.

Also handed CBEs were John Burns, founder of property group Derwent London, Taylor Wimpey chief Jennie Daly, former Unilever boss Alan Jope and venture capitalist Jon Moulton.

Hoggett took over at the LSE three years ago, becoming the first lesbian boss of the exchange.

She is the daughter of Baroness Hale  once Britain's most senior judges  and last weekend told the Mail on Sunday her 'privileged' upbringing shows there is much more to do for diversity.

'Because I'm female, I'm a mother and I'm openly gay, I often get rolled out as a sort of big proof that we've cracked it.

'I'm proof we haven't cracked it because I come from a very privileged background.'
BP risks being slapped with lawsuits from employees after serious concerns were raised about its crackdown on relationships at work.

The oil giant last week revealed it has demanded all staff disclose any intimate relationships with colleagues  including those dating back to 2021  or face being sacked.

BP's 90,000 employees, of which 4,500 are senior managers, have been given three months to reveal any affairs.

Previously, they were only obliged to disclose relationships with colleagues if there was a potential conflict of interest, for example if one partner was the manager of the other.

The rules follow the sacking of boss Bernard Looney in December for serious misconduct over his failure fully to disclose his past relationships to the board.

Crackdown: Top City lawyers have said that retrospectively demanding information on relationships reek of the Stasi

The scandal rocked the 115-year-old company, raising questions not only about Looney's workplace liaisons but also the company's culture.

The Irish businessman was stripped of 32 million in pay and bonuses after his dismissal.

Looney was renowned for championing female staff but there were allegations he had promoted women with whom he had previous secret relationships. The policy has been met with uproar. Staff are particularly upset by the retrospective demand for details of relationships as long as three years ago.

It has 'generated an awful lot of ill will', one City source said.

Employees feel the controversy around Looney had 'left problems' in its wake, the source added. Top City lawyers have told The Mail on Sunday that retrospectively demanding information on relationships reek of the Stasi, could be illegal and open the firm up to lawsuits.

Solicitors said applying new rules to past actions was effectively a breach of an employee contract. There are also worries about invasion of privacy.

Hina Belitz, partner at Excello Law, said: 'I understand the forward-looking change to the policy, but to retrospectively seek information raises a lot of issues. That seems unreasonable.

'It reaches back in history and exposes the company to claims and unlimited compensation.'

One possible explanation for the change, according to City speculation, is that BP wants to know how and why some managers had been promoted over the past three years.

Belitz added: 'Clearly they want to see how many employees were promoted via a conflict of interest.'

BP is standing by the policy changes, adding that a review of workplace relationship rules was scheduled for this year. It was last updated in 2018. The new policy says: 'Employees were previously required to disclose and record such relationships if they felt there could be a conflict of interest. Now they are required to disclose intimate relationships at work, whether or not they feel they represent a conflict of interest.

'As a policy that forms part of BP's code of conduct, non-compliance with the policy could result in disciplinary action.'

The firm confirmed this could include dismissal.

Many corporations require employees to disclose all workplace relationships. Last year ITV drew up strict rules in the wake of Phillip Schofield's resignation over a workplace affair. But lawyers said it was rare for multinational corporations to ask for so much past information. Joseph Lappin at Stewarts Law added: 'I've never seen a retrospective policy like this implemented before on this scale. If BP is trying to rebuild employer-to-workforce confidence this is not the way to do it. A soft touch policy would have been a much better option.'

The company has said the updated rules do not affect new chief executive Murray Auchincloss' relationship with fellow BP high-flyer Julia Emanuele, chief operating officer of the lucrative crude trading division.

Auchincloss notified the board of the relationship in July 2020, when he was hired as finance chief. When he took over last September, the board confirmed Auchincloss was in a 'long-standing relationship and his partner also works in BP'.

A fund manager at BP investor Jupiter Asset Management said: 'Unfortunately this is Looney's legacy. He set the culture as chief executive and now everybody is paying for it.'
Cutting back: Customers have reined in their spending on expensive handbags

Michael Kors saw its UK sales plunge sharply last year as customers reined in their spending on expensive handbags and clothes.

The US brand, which was set up in 1981, counts celebrities and political figures including Reese Witherspoon, Taylor Swift, Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton among its fans.

Sales in the UK were down by a tenth. The firm said trading in stores was lower but that online transactions had been strong in the year to April.

Michael Kors also warned it may hike prices further after a rise in the cost of basic materials.

The brand, named after the designer and self-made billionaire, raised prices by an average of 6 per cent in the previous year to April 2023.

It comes as the luxury industry is adjusting to shoppers spending less after a period of blockbuster trading in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Michael Kors bought the Jimmy Choo shoes brand for nearly 900million in July 2017 and snapped up Versace for 1.6billion just over a year later.

Shortly after the acquisition of Versace the three brands were folded into a parent company called Capri Holdings  which is valued at 3billion on the New York Stock Exchange.
TSB has become the latest major bank to fall victim to the working-from-home culture as it plans to move to a smaller head office in the City of London this summer.

The lender is upping sticks from its base in Gresham Street  which is often half empty  to a smaller site at Bishopsgate, also in the Square Mile.

TSB chief executive Robin Bulloch is understood to be keen on seeing more staff at their desks, especially as those in its branches cannot work from home.

But the banking group is not imposing minimum attendance requirements on staff.

Working from home became unavoidable for many during the pandemic, but its persistence long after there is any necessity has been criticised by some major corporations including Goldman Sachs. Some politicians believe it is holding back the economy.

Making a move: TSB hopes that the smarter new site will encourage more staff to make the journey into work

TSB hopes that the smarter new site will encourage more staff to make the journey into work.

The bank would like to lure people in every day and not just on the Tuesday to Thursday timetable that is favoured by many, the Mail on Sunday understands.

It follows the decision of banking giant HSBC to downsize from its headquarters in Canary Wharf to a new home near the London Stock Exchange last year. It emerged last week that Lloyds Banking Group, previously spread across four City of London locations, would be consolidating into three and quitting its London Wall offices next year.

Working from home has become entrenched after the exodus from the office during the Covid lockdowns in 2020.

Some business leaders and ministers have argued that a return to nine-to-five working, five days a week from an employer's premises, is necessary to restore productivity and revitalise city centres.

TSB's HQ is understood to be just 50 per cent to 60 per cent occupied for much of the time.

Bulloch has made clear to a leading group of more than 100 senior staff that he expects them to be in for at least a couple of days a week. However, there is no plan to make attendance obligatory, after managers observed the huge backlash at larger rival Lloyds when it said all office staff had to be in for at least two days.

Bulloch splits his time between offices in London and Edinburgh.

This contrasts with the approach taken by Mike Regnier, chief executive of rival Santander UK, who recently revealed that he spends much of his time working from home in Yorkshire.

Regnier told a newspaper that he would have turned down the job offered by the Spanish-owned lender if it had refused to let him work from Harrogate.

It comes as TSB faces an uncertain future amid a hostile takeover approach for its Spanish parent company Sabadell by Madrid-based rival BBVA.

BBVA is seen as at best non-committal in what it has said so far about the future of TSB should it win the takeover battle.

Staff at the UK lender are anxious about what the future could hold should BBVA take over.

Some speculate that the banking group could be sold to a private equity buyer or returned to the stock market.

TSB was previously briefly listed in London after being spun off by Lloyds Banking Group. It was then bought by Sabadell in 2015.

A TSB spokesman said: 'We've made changes to some of our offices to provide more modern collaborative workplaces for colleagues that align to our ways of working model.

'This includes Birmingham, Barnwood, Swansea and our upcoming move to Bishopsgate, London.'
The site of Britain's biggest mining development is a hive of activity. Builders and engineers are working to sink twin shafts that are both almost one-mile deep at the Woodsmith fertiliser project near the picturesque seaside town of Whitby.

Under the North York Moors National Park, another team is racing to drill a 23-mile tunnel that will connect Woodsmith to Teesside.

Woodsmith was billed as a transformational project. Hopes were that it could produce so much fertiliser, its economic value could be as much as 4 per cent of Britain's entire national income.

That is not how it has turned out. The bustle is set to end within months after the mine's owner, Anglo American, pledged to dramatically cut investment. Locals believe that move is 'a disaster'.

The Mail on Sunday, This is Money's sister title, can reveal that the starting gun has been fired on mass job cuts at Woodsmith. Staff at a major contractor on the site were last week told that more than 300 people would be let go by the end of the year, a source in Whitby said.

In a hole: The North York Moors (top) and deep underground in the Woodsmith mine (bottom)

As many as 80 per cent of the site's 1,400 contractors could be affected in total, the Mail revealed last month.

This is deeply unhelpful for the Tories, who are desperate to hang on to seats in red wall areas such as nearby Teesside, and for Rishi Sunak, whose North Yorkshire constituency of Richmond  to be known as Richmond and Northallerton from the General Election  is only a few miles away.

Woodsmith's slowdown has alarmed Tories defending marginal seats in the surrounding area at the election next month.

Sir Simon Clarke, defending Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, has called the slowdown a 'very unwelcome surprise'.

And Jacob Young, Tory candidate for Redcar, who won his seat in 2019 and has a slim 3,500 majority, urged Anglo American to reverse its decision. He said: 'If contractors are demobilised and staff are laid off then the project may never be restarted.'

Anglo American is due to make a public announcement on Woodsmith's future later this month. However, the company told The Mail on Sunday it would 'gradually' halve its own workforce to 160 people over the coming year.

The slowdown will bring development to a halt, putting the partially complete mine into hibernation. It will leave a skeleton staff to help with basic maintenance.

The local economy is braced for the shock of losing the business provided by the mine contractors and the delay to the creation of permanent jobs at Woodsmith.

It brings back bad memories for many.

People here have seen other once-thriving industries, such as steel, wind down, leaving thousands with nowhere to go.

The upheaval at Woodsmith is part of a strategy put together last month by Anglo's chief executive, Duncan Wanblad, to help fend off a 39billion takeover attempt by rival BHP.

Wanblad won  the deal was abandoned. Woodsmith, however, was collateral damage.

Anglo may not make a final decision on the future of the mine for a couple of years but the omens are not good. It is a huge setback for a project that began with high hopes eight years ago under the original developer, a now-defunct company called Sirius.

Such is the local concern that a task force is due to be set up by North Yorkshire County Council.

It will involve others, including Teesside Mayor Ben Houchen, to help subcontractors find alternative work. Carl Les, leader of Tory-controlled North Yorkshire County Council, said: 'The only positive thing is that the Teesside area is quite prosperous at the moment and there's a lot of other work going on which may provide opportunities for those affected by the slow-down.'

Les said areas of the wider local economy benefiting from the mine contractors range from hoteliers and those renting houses to cafe owners, pubs and retailers.

He said the project has helped widen the local economy from dependence on tourism.

Anglo is seeking an investment partner  possibly in the form of another miner or a sovereign wealth fund  with which to share the huge cost of the project. John Cook, chairman of the Yorkshire Coast Mineral Association, a collection of farmers who lease their land to the mine, said Woodsmith would be a 'decent prospect' for a partner because its fertiliser reserves could be mined for 100 years.

He said: 'When Anglo American took over the mine there was optimism locally. They're a big quoted company and were seen as potentially being a safe pair of hands.'

Cook was one of thousands of small investors who put their faith and their money into Sirius Minerals back in 2015. He said: 'Like many people, I invested a bit of money in it as a small investor I felt a duty to back something that could be so huge for this area, I wanted to be part of it.'

He and an estimated 85,000 other individual investors, many of whom were locals, lost thousands of pounds or even their life savings when Sirius's share price collapsed. It was rescued by Anglo in a cut-price 400million deal.

The grand plans unveiled by Sirius captured the imagination of a region brutalised by the loss of thousands of steel jobs in neighbouring Teesside.

The company was to construct two 4,900 feet shafts to reach a 230 feet mineral seam, making it the deepest mine in Europe.

Bad taste: Sackys Cafe owner Steve Swales will be affected

The polyhalite was then to be transported 23 miles in a tunnel to the company's processing plant at Teesside on a giant conveyor belt.

The project was originally due to be completed by 2021 but the most recent estimates for completion before the slowdown was announced  were 2027. The timeline now is unknown.

The scale of job losses will have a seismic impact on Whitby.

Steve Swales, 50, owner of Sacky's Cafe on the harbour, said: 'I know lads who gave up good jobs to go and work in the mine.

'Now we're hearing 80 per cent could lose their jobs.

'Make no mistake, a lot of job losses up at the mine will have a big effect on everything in this town.'

Frank Iddon, 66, is operations director of the Whitby Endeavour, a museum boat and restaurant dedicated to the legacy of explorer Captain James Cook.

'It is another blow the area could do without, especially after the loss of all the steel jobs on Teesside,' he said.

Peter Donichey, 70, was selling joke books to tourists on the harbour but felt the situation at Woodsmith Mine was no laughing matter. He said: 'I actually worked for Anglo American back in the 1980s in a gold mine in South Africa. It was a massive operation and I know the sort of money that company is worth because I've seen it first-hand.

Tom McCulley, chief executive of Anglo American's crop nutrients division, said: 'We are carrying out a full evaluation process of all workstreams to satisfy the new business plan.'
Nearly 2.2 million people won't be able to access the Government bonus on their Help To Buy Isas, according to a freedom of information request.

Savers only stand to benefit from the 25 per cent bonus if they purchase a property worth 250,000 or less outside of London, or 450,000 in London.

Due to house price rises since the accounts were created in 2015, more savers will now find themselves disqualified from the bonus.

According to the FOI request by the comparison site Finder, Britons have stashed a collective 5.5billion into these accounts.

The 25 per cent bonus only gets applied on a Help to Buy Isa when a property is purchased, whereas the 25 per cent bonus is paid as you save in a Lisa

Help to Buy Isas were introduced in 2015 to try and help people get on the property ladder. However, they were closed to new customers in November 2019, in favour of the Lifetime Isa.

The key benefit of the Help to Buy Isa came from the fact the Government would provide a 25 per cent top up at the point of purchasing a home.

But the 250,000 property price cap outside the capital, is now far more of a limiting factor for its stranded customers than it was in 2015.

Since then, the average house price has increased by 38 per cent, yet the limit has never increased.

Separate research by Finder found that the average house price in 132 of 348 local authorities is above the limit of 250,000.

The Lifetime Isa or Lisa allows for property purchases up to 450,000 all across the UK, though even that limit is proving too low for some buyers in the most expensive areas.

Savers can pay up to 4,000 a year into a Lisa each year compared to 2,400 a year with a Help to Buy Isa. Plus, they get the 25 per cent Government bonus while they are saving, rather than at the point they buy a property.

It's not possible to combine a Lisa and Help to Buy Isa. This means that someone wanting to take advantage of the Lisa's superior benefits would need to transfer their money across.

Even so, they won't be allowed to move it all across at once as it is only possible to transfer up to 4,000 per year and comes at the expense of adding fresh money into a Lisa.

Sophie Barber, 27, from London, is someone who feels let down by the Help to Buy Isa scheme. Sophie opened a Help to Buy Isa in 2016 to save towards buying her first home.

'House prices kept rising and I quickly realised the 250,000 limit would make it almost impossible to use the Isa in the area I wanted to buy,' said Sophie.

'I decided to open a Lisa as a replacement in 2021 but I'm angry that I have wasted my time completely with the Help to Buy Isa, with no bonus granted for the money I'd already saved in those five years.

'I'm also now restricted by putting 4,000 a year into the Lisa so I can't quickly build my savings in this account back up to the deposit contribution I'd already saved in the Help to Buy Isa.'

Finder is campaigning for Britons to be able to move their full Help to Buy Isa balances into a Lisa in one go, keeping the bonus they have accrued.

Matt Mckenna, personal finance expert at Finder, said: 'This will ensure that around 2 million people with a Help to Buy Isa can keep their much-needed Government bonus and not lose ground in the long slog to save for their first property.

'It is hard to escape the feeling that the public are the ones being punished for the failings of the Help To Buy Isa being kept up to date, with billions of pounds left in limbo.

'The Lifetime Isa effectively superseded it and offers more opportunity to save each year, so why can't people simply transfer their savings - and the bonus they were promised - into it?'
Newly affluent Indians are now said to be the world's fastest growing market in global tourism as they explore far-flung destinations from Antarctica to the Amazon.

India became Asia's highest source of international travellers for the first time in 2022, with tourist numbers exceeding those of China, South Korea and Japan.

Some 27million Indians are now going abroad which is expected to more than double to almost 70million by 2030, according to Bollywood star Deepti Bhatnagar.

Bhatnagar, who has become one of India's most popular travel experts, said tourists are being particularly drawn to sites such as Machu Picchu in Peru and Hallstatt in Austria, which is said to be the inspiration for Arendelle in the Disney film Frozen.

She added that more Indians now have the money to travel abroad and spoke of a 'tick box' culture among the younger generation where they are keen to get the perfect selfie or video to show off to their friends and followers on Instagram.

Tourism into India is also on the rise, particularly for religious trips - and airlines in the country last year ordered more than 1,000 new planes to meet extra demand.

Bollywood actress Deepti Bhatnagar has encouraged Indians to visit Hallstatt in Austria

Hallstatt is a lakeside village in Upper Austria which is often praised for its incredible views

The topic was examined in the new BBC Radio 4 podcast The Tourist Trap, which sees travelogue presenter Rajan Datar look at the 'relentless rise of global tourism'.

He attended the upmarket tourism trade show Luxury Tribe in New Delhi, saying that it was clear 'millions more Indians now have the cash and the desire to travel the world'.

Bhatnagar, 56, who started India's first travel show on TV more than 20 years ago, told Datar that she had seen a 'huge change from then to now'.

She added: 'There's so many Indians going to Antarctica now. They want to travel to Amazon, they want to travel to Machu Pichu.

'In 2000 when I started a travelogue it was a dream for people to travel. But today they are travelling everywhere and they want to know new places.'

Bhatnagar also spoke about the rise of the 'luxury traveller where they do not think about any budget'.

The Amazon is also now popular with Indians, with this travelogue from 'The Punjabi Wanderer'

The Peruvian port city of Iquitos is the gateway to tribal villages of the northern Amazon

She said there were now 'many weddings happening all over the world', with some travellers requesting 300 black Mercedes S-class cars for trips.

Bhatnagar spoke about a 50th birthday party in Austria, adding: 'They took over the entire high street, and then Schonbrunn Palace, even the railway stations, because the whole train tracks were converted into 'happy 50th birthday'.'

In 2022, India became for the first time Asia's highest source of international travellers, according to tourism consultancy IPK International.

International tourists that year from India - the world's most populous country - exceeded those of China, South Korea, and Japan, the firm said.

India is now set to be the fourth-biggest global spender on travel by 2030, with travel and tourism expected to become a 322billion market - a rise of about 170 per cent from 118billion in 2019, according to Booking.com.

A YouTube travelogue by Yatri Doctor shows how Indians are also now visiting Antarctica

Tourists visit Antarctica in a Zodiac craft, which allow them to go ashore and explore bays

Speaking about what is causing the boom, Bhatnagar said: 'More Indians have financial means to travel abroad. More and more of these Instagram, digital sites, are showing these beautiful visuals. So I think social media is playing a very strong role.

'They want to go to a certain place to get the selfie. They think that's one of the most photographed spots and they have to be there.

'There's a tick box  they have to tick this box, I've been to Rio, I've been to this spot in Hallstatt. I think the younger generation are usually travelling like that.'

Hallstatt is a lakeside village in Upper Austria which is often praised for its incredible views.

But it has seen tourism surge in recent years thanks to its links to Frozen and becoming hugely popular among Instagrammers.

Bhatnagar said: 'I think Hallstatt is such a pretty place and it was breathtakingly beautiful, surrounded by mountains, beautiful lake, you can go hiking, you can experience going on a boat cruise ride, and when I was there I really experienced serenity. I have given so many people advice to go to Hallstatt.'

Machu Picchu, site of the ancient Inca ruins in Peru, is also becoming popular with Indians

The biggest commercial aircraft order in history was placed by Indigo in June last year for 500 Airbus A320 planes, set to be delivered between 2030 and 2035

One of the destinations becoming hugely popular with Indians is the US, with the country's Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the White House to meet President Joe Biden last June in what was seen as a turning point for bilateral relations.

And the US is trying to accommodate this new tourism boom by opening two new consulates in the Indian cities of Bengaluru and Ahmedabad.

For the first five months of 2023, travel from India to the US exceeded pre-pandemic volumes  at a time when other Asian countries were lagging, particularly China, where tourists have been slow to return to the US post-pandemic.

The surge in tourism both in and out of India saw the country's airlines place orders for more than 1,100 planes over the last eight months of 2023.

Among these was the biggest commercial aircraft order in history by Indigo in June last year for 500 Airbus A320 planes, set to be delivered between 2030 and 2035.

This beat a deal from Air India to buy 470 planes from Airbus and Boeing that same month.

Tourists are also flocking to India to visit the new Ram Mandir temple which opened in January

One of the destinations becoming hugely popular with Indians is the US, with the country's Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the White House to meet President Joe Biden last June

India's domestic tourism sector is also booming with an extra 50 to 100million tourists a year expected following the opening of the new Ram Mandir temple in Ayodhya in January.

And many younger Indians are also travelling to other countries for education, with 770,000 Indian students going to study abroad in 2022  a number which is growing by about 10 per cent each year.

Out of this total almost 140,000 went to the UK. The Office for National Statistics has said nearly a quarter of all visas were given to Indian nationals in 2022 - the highest of any nationality - with 55 per cent of these were for students.

BBC Radio 4 podcast The Tourist Trap is available on BBC Sounds
The first wave of social media babies whose childhoods were splashed all over the internet are now fighting back and pushing for stricter child protection laws.

Cam Barrett, 25, from Chicago, said she is still suffering after becoming a victim of 'sharenting' - a term combining 'sharing' and 'parenting' that refers to family vlogging and the publicization of a child's life without their consent.

Growing up, Barrett told CNN that their mother used MySpace and Facebook to document every detail of their private life - from getting their first period to tantrums and even the fact that they were adopted.

One of the most traumatizing experiences she recounted was when she was hit by a drunk driver at 15 and ended up in the hospital.

'She was right there taking pictures when I was strapped to the gurney and I had a neck brace on,' Barrett told ABC News in a sit down interview. 'I needed a hand to hold, but there was a camera put in my face instead.'

Cam Barrett says her mother shared every personal detail about their life, that led to Barrett experiencing cyberbullying

One of the most traumatizing experiences Barrett recounted was when she was hit by a drunk driver at 15 and ended up in the hospital where their mother put a camera in their face

As their mom's posts gained traction online, Barrett, who uses the pronouns she and they, said she ended up isolated from intense cyberbullying.

She told CNN she knows the precise date of her first menstrual period because her mother posted the news on Facebook when she was in fourth grade - which she described as 'super embarrassing'.

On another chilling occasion, she said she received a private message on Facebook while aged 12 from a man claiming he had followed them home and knew where they lived, CNN reported.

She said she often didn't feel like she could confide in their family for fear that their most private emotions would be plastered on their mother's Facebook walls.

Barrett, now an advocate for children's privacy online, has testified before multiple state legislators and shared their story to push for stricter child protection laws.

The former 'content kid' has amassed 240,000 followers on TikTok, where she spreads the message about the dangers of family vlogging and misuse of social media by their family without the child's consent.

She admits that their mother's internet presence had some perks - such as front row tickets to Demi Lovato and Taylor Swift concerts from LiveNation resellers in exchange for promotional posts following the accident.

But she says their mother's inability to see the effects of her actions and the bullying she endured took a lasting toll on her mental health that saw her drop out of school and develop a debilitating anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder.

She also said she now rarely speaks to their mother - who did not respond to requests for comment.

Pictured: Barrett with their mother, who she says overstepped in her public documentation of their life

Generation Z, born between the late '90s and early 2010s, has never known a world without social media. Now as young adults, they're grappling with the impact of having their childhoods documented online.

While Barrett recognizes her mother was new to technology, she feels it is important to highlight the potential harm caused by such posts.

Parents today are likely more aware of social media's influence on children, and advocates like Barrett hope their experiences can help shed more light on the issue.

The biggest concern isn't occasional photos, but family vloggers and influencers who exploit their children for online fame and profit on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. These creators turn their families' lives into a constant online spectacle, exposing every detail.

Until recently, no laws protected children but things are changing.

Comedian Caroline Easom brings awareness to the issue by posting satirical takes on parents who leverage their children's personal life for monetization on social media. She said the onset of social media changed everything for her generation.

'Social media happened to us so quickly and changed many of our daily habits and behaviors virtually overnight. It's like we all started taking a new medication, with no clinical trials or studies and no information about long-term side effects,' said told CNN. 'And now, over a decade later, we're just starting to realize how reckless that was.'

With more than three million followers on TikTok, Easom recognizes that social media can be a positive place where people can be themselves - but sometimes, at a cost.

'One of the biggest lessons we are learning from people who were overshared as children is that social media is not the place to let your guard down, as a viewer or as a creator. Social media is not a safe space,' said Easom.

'These platforms invite and reward your vulnerability and authenticity, but that authenticity has lasting consequences, especially when it comes to children. The cost of posting your child for your own validation and attention might be their trust, or worse, their safety.'

Others young advocates are taking a social justice approach to raise awareness.

Chris McCarty, 19, a sophomore at the University of Washington, created Quit Clicking Kids, an advocacy and education site used to combat the monetization of minors on social media and bring awareness to legislation in the process of being passed to protect victims of 'sharenting.'

They told CNN the difference between child actors and 'content kids' is that the actors get to leave set and go home, leaving their work behind.

Caroline Easom, a comedian who known her sketches, brings awareness to the issue by posting satirical takes on parents who leverage their children's personal life for monetization on social media. She said the onset of social media changed everything for her generation

Chris McCarty created Quit Clicking Kids, an advocacy and education site used to combat the monetization of minors on social media and bringing awareness to legislation in the process of being passed to protect victims of 'sharenting'

'I have spoken with some child actors, and one of the things that really stood out is that when they were filming as child actors, there was a very clear distinction between when they were on and when they were off camera,' they said.

'When they were home at the end of the day, they knew they didn't have to perform anymore. But this new generation of children, there's no home to go to at the end of the day where they can disconnect, because the camera is inside the house. It's like living in a movie set all day, every day.'

Unlike 'content kids,' child actors' paychecks are also protected.

Under the Coogan Law, proof of a separate trust account where 15 percent of the minor's gross wages are withheld is to be provided before receiving a work permit.

Currently, 'Coogan accounts' are required by California, New York, Illinois, Louisiana and New Mexico.

But what about similar accounts for 'content kids'?

Recently, Illinois, passed a law requiring parents to compensate their influencer children.

By amending child labor laws, the law mandates a portion of earnings from content featuring minors be placed in a trust fund accessible when they turn 18.
Residents living in seaside tourist hotspots are taking a stand against second homeowners and holiday lets by refusing to sell them houses and tripling council tax.

One of these is the cosy little market town of Narberth which lies in one of the most popular tourist spots in Wales - Pembrokeshire, which is full of rolling hills and has over 50 beaches.

It's a short 25 minute drive to Tenby, the postcard tourist trap where rents have soared and locals have been forced out by the overwhelming surge of hotels, Airbnbs and second home owners.

The problem has become so bad, Pembrokeshire County Council operates a 100 per cent council tax premium for second homes and is considering doubling this - effectively triple the standard rate.

And it's not the only one, with locals in Yorkshire, Devon and Kent calling for their councils to follow suit and do more to tackle the summer tide of holidaymakers which leave their towns 'dark and depressing' in winter.

The cosy little market town of Narberth (pictured) lies in one of the most popular tourist spots in Wales - Pembrokeshire, which is full of rolling hills and has over 50 beaches

The brand-new brightly coloured homes in Moorfield Court which will only be sold to locals

Pictured is Kathryn James, the owner of Lillies Coffee Shop at the new development

In the seaside town of Whitby - where a ruined Gothic abbey inspired Dracula - council bosses have agreed to effectively double council tax bills for second homeowners

Two women visiting Whitby drag their bags around looking for their accommodation

Pictured is the Margate seafront, which is lined with buildings used as holiday lets

Welsh town refuses to sell houses to outsiders

In Narberth, locals are trying to stop tourists from pushing them out of their town with one developer refusing to sell homes to outsiders.

The brand-new brightly coloured homes in Moorfield Court have been built behind the site of an old Victorian building that used to be a primary school which fell into disrepair.

The building itself was transformed and now operates as Hwb, a food hall with four kitchens and a craft beer bar.

One of the school's former pupils, Charles Salmon, 67, is behind the housing development and he is keen to use the plot for the benefit of the tight-knit local community.

He is putting in safeguards to stop the eight houses he's built from being sold to outsiders as second homes and the 'unique' housing scheme is backed by locals fed up with properties snapped up by wealthy holidaymakers.

In Narberth, locals are trying to stop tourists from pushing them out of their town

Chef Ben Lucas is a young adult trying to buy a home in the Welsh town

The prices range from 299,500 to 320,000, and there will be an open day this weekend

The eight unique two-bedroom properties will be offered to locals first

However, the price tag and the preference that the homes be sold to over 55s has left many locals baffled as to how it will help the community

The prices range from 299,500 to 320,000, and there will be an open day this weekend.

Mr Salmon, who was brought up in the town, said: 'There will be a vetting arrangement - I'm trying to keep it for locals.

'They may have to sign something to say they are genuinely local people and the houses won't be used as holiday lets.'

Father-of-three Mr Salmon, whose father was mayor of Narberth, said: 'The old school had fallen into disrepair, it was a disgrace at the gateway to the town.

'We've created something unique, the houses are colourful and will be ideal for over-55s because they can walk into town.'

Most locals and holidaymakers have welcomed the scheme and applauded the businessmen for standing up to wealthy outsiders coming to West Wales to buy property.

Moorfield Court is located in the market town of Narberth in Wales

The gateway development located in the town centre of Narberth

The homes were built behind the site of an old primary school and he building itself was transformed and now operates as Hwb, a food hall with four kitchens and a craft beer bar

Kathryn James, 58, who runs a cafe in the new development, said: 'No Airbnbs and second homes, that's fine with me.

'Young people struggle around here but these places are for over 55s so I don't know how much of a difference it will make. But we need tourists, definitely.'

Mother-of-three Kathryn Walker, 32, a teaching assistant in Narberth Primary School, said: 'It's good that they aren't going to be holiday homes but I know they aren't a reasonable price range for first time buyers.

'But it won't drive tourists away. It will keep the locals happy and they look very nice.'

Chef Ben Lucas, 35, a 30,000-a-year chef in the Hwb street food centre on the site, said: 'It's getting impossible for someone like me to buy your own place.

'I agree with the housing scheme here - tourists are welcome but local people should come first.'

Pictured is the sleepy Welsh market town when MailOnline paid a visit to talk to locals

Kathryn Walker, a mother-of-three, said the houses look nice but won't stop tourists

Holidaymaker Ceryse Fear, 69, a retired social enterprise charity worker, from Ealing, London, said: 'I absolutely support it - I'm from England but I think it's outrageous that English people are buying houses here.

'It's scandalous that there isn't legislation stopping selfish people from away using their wealth to buy up property in Wales.'

Estate agents John Francis, who are holding an open day for would-be buyers on Saturday, say there has been a lot of interest.

Ali Palmer, the agency's senior negotiator, said: 'Two local businessmen have regenerated an historic part of the town - I'm a big fan of that.'

North Yorkshire doubles council tax on second homes as locals pushed out of town

In the seaside town of Whitby - where a ruined Gothic abbey inspired Dracula - council bosses have agreed to effectively double council tax bills for second homeowners.

They will be receiving the stinging bills on April 1 next year, because of the rules requiring a 12-month period of notice before the charges are applied.

But locals are sceptical that the council tax hikes will make any difference - and some argue opposing tourism is not the way forward because it is so profitable.

And some said the town is 'dark and depressing' in the winter when all of the holidaymakers have gone and most of the houses lie empty.

Locals in Whitby said it is 'dark and depressing' in the winter when all of the holidaymakers have gone and most of the houses lie empty. Most properties on the waterfront are holiday lets

A view of the water in Whitby, which is mostly lined by AirBnBs and hotels

Local arcade worker Edward Harrison, 31, said it's 'virtually impossible' to buy a house

Dave Smith, 33, said: 'I can't complain because if it was not for tourism I wouldn't be in a job'

Tourists with suitcases could be seen in Whitby this week when MailOnline paid a visit

Arcade worker Edward Harrison, 31, said: 'The town would not survive without tourism. The winters here are dreadful.

'But as a local I also know it is virtually impossible to buy a house. It costs well over 200,000 for a two bedroom house that is surrounded by other houses.

'I am saving currently for a home and it is hard work - very hard. It takes most of your wages and you have no time for a social life so it's hard.

'You find yourself working hard but without saving you are never going to get anywhere on the property ladder.

'I am 32 this year and desperate to get on the property ladder. But you are competing with second home owners and Airbnb businesses which have plenty of money in the bank.

'Every time there is a house on the market going at a decent price, someone snaps it up for a holiday let or second home.'

Dave Smith, 33, said: 'I can't complain because if it was not for tourism I wouldn't be in a job. The other side of it is that is hard to buy a house. But you cannot buy a house if you haven't got a job, and there are not a lot of them in Whitby which are not tourist based.

Furious locals accused staycationers of killing the community in Whitby

Dave Clarkson, 59, doesn't think doubling the council tax for second home owners will work

Local businessman Alex Boyd said people who think the town doesn't need tourism are 'stupid'

Whitby is a popular destination for tourists due to the quaint alleys and pretty views

'So getting rid of second home owners and people staying in Airbnbs would not necessarily ensure you have somewhere to live.'

Dave Clarkson, 59, doesn't think doubling the council tax for second home owners will work. She said: 'If you can afford to pay 400,000 for some of the cottages around here you are not going to bothered by a couple of thousand in council tax.

'It is a shame because a lot of local people can't afford to move. A couple of long term lets behind me have just become holiday cottages.

'It so dark and depressing in winter because the people with holiday homes or the Airbnb customers only come once or twice.

'They are snapping up the old cottages for the price a new-build and all they want to do is rent them out. People used to like coming to summer because it was quiet, not mental like it is now.'

Local businessman Alex Boyd's family has run the Mister Chips takeaway brand in the seaside town for the past 40 years. He also recently opened a sweet shop by revamping one of the town's older and unloved buildings.

He said: 'You do get a lot of the locals who gather in the locals-only pubs to complain about the tourists but most of them work in tourism anyway.

Tourists visit the beautiful Whitby Abbey, which inspired Dracula

Locals are sceptical that the council tax hikes will make any difference - and some argue opposing tourism is not the way forward because it is so profitable

Steve Warriner, 52, who has been running the Harbour Grill for four years, said he wouldn't have a job if tourists stopped visiting the town

Tourists cross the road in Whitby as they go to their holiday accommodation

'Businesses need tourism to survive. So people who think Whitby doesn't need tourists are just stupid.

'Houses are expensive here - but they are expensive because Whitby is a nice place, not just because of holiday lets and second home buyers.

'If someone is coming to town with 300,000 to buy a house to rent out or as a second home at the end of the day they have the money to do it and I don't see how you can stop them.'

Steve Warriner, 52, who has been running the Harbour Grill for four years, said: 'Second home owners are bringing wealth into the town, Without them I wouldn't have a job.

'A lot of young people in Whitby are short of affordable homes. I don't think there should be restrictions.

'These people are bringing business into the town. But if I was 22 with a young family looking for home I would not be thinking how massive tourism is for the tea rooms.'

Villagers in Devon campaign for more affordable homes

Families living in popular seaside resorts say they are being forced into hardship and living in caravans, holiday chalets and even boats following a dramatic surge in Airbnbs and holiday lets.

Faced with shocking rises in short-term lets, locals on the North Devon coast are banding together to organise Community Land Trusts (CLT) which enable them to build affordable homes but said more help is needed and called for councils to limit the number of holiday homes.

Emma Hookway, founded the North Devon and Torridge Housing Crisis campaign group after she and her young son were forced to leave their rented house in 2021.

Emma, 44, from Braunton, said: I explained the situation to my son that after Covid lots of people had moved to the area and lots of people wanted to come on holiday then after he walked away I just burst into tears.

Residents in popular seaside resorts in Devon are being forced into hardship and living in caravans and boats due a surge in short-term lettings

Emma Hookway, from Braunton, said she burst into tears after telling her son that they had to leave their rented house in 2021

Pictured: Apartments in Woolacombe, where figures show around half of houses in the area are second homes

Its completely changed the dynamics of renting in North Devon. We started looking for a property but just couldnt find anywhere. I wasnt even getting a look-in on places that were coming up. Landlords are asking you to prove earnings of 33,000, an average joe on minimum wage cant do that.

Explaining it was the first time it really dawned on me. I felt like Id failed as a parent. Its horrible to have your home whipped away from underneath your feet.'

She said: Theres absolutely a hidden crisis here. Weve had people on the page talking about suicide because they cant find anywhere to live.

One of the key things that worries me is childrens mental health, children having to study for GCSEs when they are all crammed in one room or cant have friends over because the temporary accommodation doesnt allow guests.

She called for affordable house-building to be dramatically increased to meet demand and new holiday homes to require licences.

In the centre of Woolacombe, a coastal resort since the Victorian era, it was once dominated by grand hotels and villas but in recent years modern blocks of flats have risen up in the town. Figures show around half of houses in the area are second homes.

Coastal town Woolacombe was once dominated by grand hotels and villas

But these have since made way for several tall blocks of flats in the resort

A sign showing a hotel acquired to be redeveloped into 56 apartments, eight houses and commercial units

Lifelong resident and Londis manager Steve Woodman said that despite having a swelling population, the town had seen a marked reduction in local amenities

Residents have launched an initiative to provide more affordable homes for families who have lived in the area for at least five years

A two bed flat boasting a sea view goes for almost 1,500 per week while a one-bed flat in a modern block goes for 139 per night.

And there are more on the way. In a prominent spot overlooking the village sits the now derelict Royal Hotel which is set to be demolished to build 56 flats and eight houses.

Steve Woodman, a lifelong Woolacombe resident, has run the Londis newsagent for the past 25-years.

He is leading a local initiative to provide 21 new affordable homes for families who have lived in and around Woolacombe for at least five years.

He told MailOnline: Woolacombe has just got busier and busier but you can very clearly see how things have changed. There used to be four banks, now there are none. We are now the only convenience shop.

'Some people are angry at the rise in Airbnbs and I see where they are coming from but tourism is also vital to the area.

The village needs a year-round economy and we hope these 21 houses will give local people a foothold in the community.'

At the Woolacombe Surf Centre, manager Zoe Powell, 38, emphasised the village wasnt in any way against tourists visiting but said the current situation had made it impossible for her family to live there.

She said: We were renting a small flat in the village with my two children - it was far too small for us all.

When we were able to get a mortgage we looked in Woolacombe but there was nothing we could afford so we ended up buying in Ilfracombe.

I think there is a frustration with the situation and I know a lot of the Airbnbs are left empty because the prices are so high.

Pictured: The land in this field has been earmarked for the development of homes for local people

Woolacombe Surf Centre manager Zoe Powell said the rise in Airbnb-style lets had made it impossible for her family to live in the town

Cas Lay, 20, who is standing for the Green Party at the election, said that young people were being forced to live with parents due to the lack of affordable homes

Some of them need to go back to being staff accommodation or affordable housing for first time buyers.

'In Cornwall they are taking steps to make it harder for second homes, the last thing we want to do is lose tourists but we need to make sure we have places to live too.

Cas Lay, 20, grew up in the area and works in a seasonal job at nearby Saunton, he is now standing for the Green Party at next months election.

He said: I cant see any other future down here other than being in a car in my dads driveway. Thats the only thing thats viable, not being able to rent anywhere down here.

I dont think I could tell you one person my age who owns a home down here, most live with their parents. I have friends who have gone to Australia because they dont see any future here.

In nearby Croyde, local residents say the village has changed beyond all recognition in recent years.

Anne Bright who has lived in the village for 12 years said: Its just so different, it used to be a little old surfing village with people turning up in VW campers.

Now its everybody arriving from London in BMWs and Range Rovers and having huge great houses by the sea.

Most of the new places are built by commercial developers who sell them as holiday homes or investments to turn into Airbnbs.

The most affected people are the younger generation who cant afford to buy anything in the area. They either have to move away or wait to inherit from their parents. Theres just no way for them to stay here.

Villagers in Croyde (pictured) say the community has changed beyond recognition in recent years

A picture of Croyde, north Devon. Landlords say red tape involved with longer tenancies is leaving them no choice but to turn to holiday lets

However, local landlords say they are turning to holiday lets because of the bureaucracy involved with longer tenancies.

Paul Watts, who has let out an annexe to his home to holidaymakers since 2009, said: There is absolutely no incentive for us to let out on a residential basis due to the changes already made, let alone the potential to prevent landlords selling their property at the end of a tenancy agreement.

So many residential landlords are turning to holiday lets as a result and swamping the market.

The rental market is a dreadful place to find yourself in as a tenant these days. Successive governments have failed the UK rental market since Right to Buy was introduced and sold off most of the council housing, with no replacement strategy.

More Airbnbs than permanent homes in Kent

Locals in east Kent tourist hotspot Margate are divided on whether similar measures to stem the influx of outsiders are needed in the town.

The thriving town has seen an artsy regeneration in the last 10 years - with scores of young people trading sky-high London rents for the seaside. But it has 443 Airbnbs compared to just 44 places to permanently live.

While business owners said that without the tourist industry, the 'town will die,' other residents said that people who have lived there all their lives can't afford to stay and agree more needs to be done.

Emily Henson, and her friend Hesta Vanoverbeek, both 48, think more controls are needed

Locals in east Kent tourist hotspot Margate are divided on whether similar measures to stem the influx of outsiders are needed in the town

Set designer Emily Henson, 48, was a Margate resident in the 1980s as a child before moving out in 1992. Despite saying she never saw herself coming back, she returned six years ago.

She said: 'It's so seasonal. If you've got places that are purpose-built or just as holiday rentals then for a huge part of the year they're going to be sitting empty.'

Her friend Hesta Vanoverbeek, also 48, has lived across the idyllic Kent seaside for over a decade and now resides in Margate with her dog Kermit.

She said: 'I think there's some countries they have rules where you're only allowed to rent out your houses for a certain amount of time here.

'You need something so that you don't have purpose-built second homes and Airbnbs, because otherwise you end up with towns in Cornwall and Devon that are empty during the week.'

But Margate-born Steve Riley, 59, disagreed - saying tourist money has revitalised the town and that is partly down to Airbnbs. He said: 'You will have people coming in off the trains with a wheelie bags going into Airbnbs and they bring money into the town. There are not enough hotels.

But Margate-born Steve Riley, 59, disagreed - saying tourist money has revitalised the town and and that iss partly down to Airbnbs

However NHS nurse Lesley McAteer, 59, welcomed the idea of controls to help young people buy established properties rather than having to buy new-builds

'You need people to spend the money otherwise the town will die. I am really against any controls on them.'

However NHS nurse Lesley McAteer, 59, welcomed the idea of controls to help young people buy established properties rather than having to buy new-builds.

She said that a move against holiday lets could help people to get on the property ladder without what she sees as overdevelopment in Thanet.

The health worker said: 'Young people can't buy a property because there's limited properties in Margate.

'I wouldn't probably mind if people bought a second property and came down every weekend but the properties are empty a lot of the time.

'And that means youngsters can't get in the property market. Because there's no properties around to buy.'

The thriving town has seen an artsy regeneration in the last 10 years - with scores of young people trading sky-high London rents for the seaside

Chip shop proprietor Peter Curtis, 53, said controls on Airbnbs 'wouldn't be good' for him

However, business owners in the tourist hotspot said they loved the influx of holiday lets because of the money they bring in.

Chip shop proprietor Peter Curtis, 53, agreed. He runs the family business, Peter's Fish & Chip Factory, following on from his father. He said: 'Controls like that on Airbnbs wouldn't be good for us.

'The beauty of Airbnb is tourists come down in all weathers. So people are in London seeing it is an unexpectedly sunny day and they come down, but they also still come if it is rainy.

'It's a good thing. Why would they try and change it?'
Eerie photographs taken inside Russia's desert cosmodrome show how USSR-era space craft have been left to rust in an abandoned hangar in Kazakhstan.

The Baikonur Cosmodrome, which is rented by Russia, is a restricted area and guarded closely by security teams from Russia's Ministry of Internal Affairs - although tours are sold for those who want to witness a spacecraft launch.

The enormous Cold War era facility is located deep within Kazakhstan's desert steppe, more than 20 miles away from the nearest town after which the spaceport is named.

Baikonur was the world's first space launch facility, with both Sputnik 1 (the first artificial Earth satellite) and Yuri Gagarin's Vostok 1 (responsible for the first manned spaceflight) having been launched from it.

Today it remains the largest launch facility and is still used to send Putin's astronauts to and from the International Space Station. But the mysterious space base is also home to restricted areas that house a treasure trove of decommissioned Soviet-era spacecraft and tech.

A Frenchman died this week of apparent of dehydration after illegally entering the territory and spending at least three days hiding from law enforcement.

Eerie photographs taken inside Russia's enormous desert cosmodrome show how USSR-era space craft have been left to rust in an abandoned hangar in Kazakhstan

The Cold War era facility is located deep within Kazakhstan 's desert steppe, more than 20 miles away from the nearest town after which the spaceport is named. Relics of the Soviet Union's now-defunct Buran programme have been left to rust in an abandoned hangar

Relics of the Soviet Union's now-defunct Buran programme have been left to rust in an abandoned desert hangar in Kazakhstan.

Two shuttles and a rocket are among the Cold War era relics lying in the hangar, which sits next to the modern space port that Russia still uses today.

Baikonur, located about 1,500 miles southeast of Moscow, is not open to the public, but a few so-called 'urban explorers' have illegally snuck into the facility in a bid to glimpse at its hidden space history.

A 24-year-old Frenchman 'illegally entered the cosmodrome' this past week for 'extreme' tourism and died, Russian authorities have said.

'Our embassy... has been informed of the death of a French tourist. It has been mobilised to offer support to his family,' a diplomatic source said Thursday, two days after Russian authorities announced the death.

The man appeared to have died of 'dehydration in extremely hot and dry temperatures, complicated by chronic illnesses,' the statement continued.

He had been accompanied by another Frenchman, aged 27. The pair spent at least three days hiding from law enforcement at the facility, according to investigators.

The surviving Frenchman was detained and then released following a hearing at a military court at Baikonur on Tuesday, a court official has confirmed.

Baikonur, located about 1,500 miles southeast of Moscow, is not open to the public, but a few so-called 'urban explorers' have illegally snuck into the facility

Baikonur was the world's first space launch facility and today is still used to send Putin 's astronauts to and from the International Space Station

Installation platforms for the Buran Soviet/Russian reusable space shuttle at Baikonur Cosmodrome

A mock-up of the Buran Soviet/Russian reusable space shuttle at an assembling and refueling complex at Baikonur Cosmodrome

Eerie photographs have emerged showing how USSR-era space shuttles have been left to rust in an abandoned desert hangar in Kazakhstan

Pictured is the inside of the shuttle launch module in the Baikonur cosmodrome

With its many abandoned Soviet-era space relics, the Baikonur cosmodrome has iconic status for 'urban explorers' who like to access out-of-bounds sites, often illegally and at great risk.

An official from the investigative committee had revealed on Tuesday that 'there are extreme tourists who get detained here two or three times a year'.

Adventurers have documented their journeys to the hangars on YouTube, with some alleging they had to walk for several days and nights through the Kazakh steppe, avoiding military patrols.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia has leased Baikonur from Kazakhstan. The legendary base is where Yuri Gagarin - the first man in space - blasted off from in 1961.

The current lease runs out in 2050 and the Roscosmos space agency is continuing to send Russian and foreign crews to the International Space Station from Baikonur.

Two test shuttles were found inside a derelict Soviet warehouse near the Cosmodrome Baikonur, 125 miles east of the Aral Sea.

They were both developed as part of Moscow's Buran programme which was shut down in 1993 - but neither of the craft were sent to space.

In the same building, photographers pictured a vast Energia rocket, designed to propel the Buran, an unmanned space plane, into orbit.

The huge hangar was originally used to build the shuttles and roll them out to the launch pad - but only one was ever flown

The test shuttle explorers were found inside a derelict Soviet warehouse near the Cosmodrome Baikonur, 125 miles east of the Aral Sea

In the same building, photographers pictured a vast Energia rocket (pictured), designed to propel the Buran, an unmanned space plane, into orbit

Alexander Kaunas, from Russia, said he walked 24 miles through the desert to reach the hangar - once a hub of activity but now left derelict - and photograph the unused shuttles and rocket. He got close enough to picture the interior of one of the shuttles (above)

The Soviets did manage to launch one uncrewed flight of the Buran shuttle on the Energia rocket carrier (pictured) from Baikonur cosmodrome on November 15, 1988

The entrance to a space shuttle module in one of Baikonur's warehouses

A mock-up of the Buran Soviet/Russian reusable space shuttle at an assembling and refuelling complex at Baikonur Cosmodrome

Pictured are installation platforms for the Buran Soviet/Russian reusable space shuttle at Baikonur Cosmodrome

The USSR designed the rocket to compete with NASA's Saturn V, the super-lift launch vehicle that supported the Apollo mission to the moon.

Alexander Kaunas, from Russia, said he walked 24 miles through the desert to reach the hangar - once a hub of activity but now left derelict - and photograph the unused shuttles and rocket.

Like Nasa's Space Shuttles, the Buran vehicles had engines located at the back, and two wings for a controlled landing back on Earth.

The Russian model had striking external similarities to the US Space Shuttle Columbia sparking suggestions Cold War espionage may have played a part in its development.

Both US Space Shuttles and Buran had the same shape and size, the same vertical tail structures and even similar colours - white with a black trim.

Documents that emerged in the late 1990s revealed how the KGB stole the designs for the US shuttle in the 1970s and 1980s enabling the Kremlin to build a carbon copy of the American system.

A 1985 CIA report said there was 'espionage by hostile intelligence officers, overt collection, by East Bloc officials, acquisition by scientific exchange program participants and illegal trade-related activity.'

Both shuttles were both developed as part of Moscow's Buran programme which was shut down in 1993 - but neither of the craft were sent to space

The super-strong Energia was a launch vehicle designed to propel the Buran, an unmanned spaceplane, into orbit in the 1970s. The USSR built the rocket to compete with Nasa's Saturn V, the that supported the Apollo mission to the moon

Like Nasa's Space Shuttles, the Buran vehicles had engines located at the back, and two wings for a controlled landing back on Earth. Two test shuttles (pictured) from the programme remain in a rusting hangar in Kazakhstan

Like Nasa's Space Shuttles, the Buran vehicles had engines located at the back, and two wings for a controlled landing back on Earth

Two test shuttles from the programme remain in the rusting hangar in Kazakhstan

Development of the Buran programme began in 1976, with the reusable spacecraft capable of performing operations in orbit before returning to Earth

Files from US databases - much of them unclassified - were raided from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s, according to the CIA analysis, called 'Soviet Acquisition of Militarily Significant Western Technology'.

The report said: 'Documents acquired dealt with airframe designs (including the computer programs on design analysis), materials, flight computer systems, and propulsion systems. This information allowed Soviet military industries to save years of scientific research and testing time as well as millions of rubles as they developed their own very similar space shuttle vehicle.'

Similar claims of espionage were made in the 1960s when Russia's supersonic Tupolev TU-144 passenger jet was unveiled. It closely resembled the British-French Concorde which got off the ground two months later.

Development of the Buran programme began in 1976, with the reusable spacecraft capable of performing operations in orbit before returning to Earth.

But after one unmanned spaceflight of the Orbiter 1K1 in 1988, the scheme was scrapped following the dissolution of the USSR in 1993.

Orbiter 1K1 was crushed and destroyed in the same complex - but in a different hangar - in 2002. The collapse killed eight workers.

The rocket Kaunas was designed by Russia's top space agency, to act as a heavy-lift launch system and booster for the Buran spaceplane. It has been left abandoned in the disused hanger since 1991.

The Energia weighs in at a massive 2,400,000kg (5,300,000 lb) depsite being made of super-light metals.

The super-strong rocket ship could carry 100 tonnes (100,000kg) - the equivalent of 16 African elephants - into orbit. Unusually, the Energy carried its considerable payload on its side, rather than on the top.

The rocket Kaunas was designed by Russia's top space agency, to act as a heavy-lift launch system and booster for the Buran spaceplane. It has been left abandoned in the disused hanger since 1991

The space relic was built during the great space race between the USSR and the US. The heavy-lift vehicle was originally planned for a lunar mission which was later abandoned

The large hangar - once a hub of activity but now left derelict - located near to the Baikonur Cosmodrome, is still used to launch Soyuz rockets today

Kaunas, a film director, was thrilled once he reached the shuttles and spent three nights sleeping inside the abandoned area

The giant hangar that houses the rocket was actually an assembly complex and, measuring 433ft (132 metres) long by 203ft (62 metres) in height, it is the largest building at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The area is surrounded by desert

The giant hangar that houses the rocket was actually an assembly complex and, measuring 433ft (132 metres) long by 203ft (62 metres) in height, it is the largest building at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Huge sliding gates 138 by 118ft (42 by 36 metres) would have allowed the shuttles to have been rolled out to the launchpad nearby.

To protect the shuttles from a possible shockwave if a heavy launch vehicle exploded nearby, the structure was made of reinforced steel.

The room was also intended to be a 'clean room' devoid of dust when working on the orbiters, so the doors leading out of the central area could be sealed.

The hangar is located near to the Baikonur Cosmodrome, which is still used to launch Soyuz rockets today.
A new book lifts the lid on Jackie Kennedy's 'years-long affair' with JFK's married brother Bobby.

DailyMail.com columnist Maureen Callahan's new biography of the Kennedys  which is being published exclusively by the Mail  reveals how Jackie found solace in an extramarital relationship with Bobby after the president's assassination in 1963.

They 'shared trauma' and a 'terrible bond', Callahan writes in 'Ask Not: The Kennedys and the Women They Destroyed'.

After JFK's funeral on November 25, 1963, Jackie 'lit the eternal flame at her husband's grave' at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, before returning to the White House with Bobby.

DailyMail.com columnist Maureen Callahan's new biography of the Kennedys reveals how Jackie found solace in an extramarital relationship with Bobby (pictured together) after the president's assassination in 1963.

They 'shared trauma' and a 'terrible bond', Callahan writes in 'Ask Not: The Kennedys and the Women They Destroyed'.

Ethel Kennedy, Bobby's wife of 13 years and mother to his seven children, was left behind. A 'years-long' sexual relationship soon followed.

'As she said more than once, Bobby was the only person keeping [Jackie] from killing herself,' Callahan writes. But Bobby also relied on Jackie, 'spending more time with her two children than his own.'

Had the story of their scandalous affair been revealed by the press, it would have been 'cataclysmic', but 'because it was the Kennedys  because of what happened to [JFK]  the secret was kept,' despite it being 'whispered about in their social circles,' Callahan writes.

And so, the pair carelessly flaunted their relationship, dining out in New York City, openly kissing and cuddling.

The affair is thought to have come to an end when Bobby ran for president in 1968. Jackie struck up a relationship with Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis and married him in October that year.

Bobby 'hated' Onassis, and 'had long suspected that Jackie enjoyed a fling with [him] while [JFK] was still alive,' Callahan writes.

It is not clear if Bobby's wife Ethel was aware of the affair, but after Bobby was assassinated in LA on June 5, 1968, Jackie flew from New York to comfort her.

Jackie helped Ethel make the decision to turn off Bobby's life-support machines.
The Senate committee looking into the practices of the consultancy industry has finally handed down its report after delaying it on four separate occasions.

After 18 months, thousands of questions on notice requiring endless productivity-sapping time to respond to them all, and literally dozens of hearings costing God only knows how much money, what were the committee's key recommendations?

That the kangaroo court that it quickly became gets to hold more of these hearings, and the organisations that have appeared before it should promise to keep re-appearing each and every year into the future. Forced to participate in the painful and meaningless process over and over again.

You wouldn't wish it on your worst enemy.

It is a pointless exercise, feathering the nest of senators who get paid extra to run committees such as this one. Is it a coincidence there are now well over 100 parliamentary committees operating all at once? More than any time since Federation.

Greens senator Barbara Pocock (pictured) wants greater transparency from government consultants but is silent on the lack of transparency within her own political party

These committees almost always just get ignored by governments anyway. They are like a play thing for backbenchers and crossbenchers, to give them something to occupy their time.

This particular senate committee has allowed countless erroneous claims to be aired under parliamentary privilege, rarely correcting the record when mistakes are made.

The Greens of course split from the majority report both major parties signed up to, demanding stronger actions be taken which they as a party don't abide by themselves.

Hypocrisy is thy name for Australia's left-wing minor party, and the Greens may soon control the balance of power in both the upper and lower houses.

Greens senator and committee member Barbara Pocock, who had engaged in a tag team with Labor's Deb O'Neill talking down Australian business during the hearings, split from her senate colleague in denouncing the committees recommendations.

At least Senator O'Neill finally saw the light.

But what about the Greens? If they want to make demands for greater transparency why don't they practice what they preach?

Readers might not be aware of this, but the Greens don't even allow public access to their party conferences the way the major parties do. They hold them in secret, a closed shop away from the public glare.

Political parties are private organisations, meaning that they are essentially just businesses, in the business of getting members elected to public office. Yet they are not subject to privacy laws the way other businesses are. That's because parliament has passed laws excluding political parties from privacy act protections other businesses must comply with.

However unlike the public sector, you cannot do freedom of information searches on what goes on within political parties. Those transparency laws don't apply to them either.

They dovetail their operations with all manner of taxpayer funded assistance - staffing, election funding and massive allocations of publicly funded office resources.

And there is a profound lack of oversight to ensure they don't misuse their taxpayer funded entitlements.

Labor senator Deb O'Neill (pictured) split from her Greens committee colleague, a sign that she was moving on from previous performance art

Yet despite all of this secrecy, and conflating of public funding with a privately run political party such as the Greens, Senator Pocock takes aim at consultants that do work for government by using her platform to suggest all manner of untoward goings on.

Evidence to support the accusations that get made is 'a take it or leave it' option. Allegations are treated as fact. Silence is the only response when the hypocrisy of the (mis)conduct political parties engage in gets raised.

No wonder the public has little time for those who represent us in Canberra.

The Greens recently called for an end to voluntary unpaid work - right when leader Adam Bandt was advertising for volunteers to work in his office.

You couldn't make this up if you tried.

Hypocrisy and the Greens isn't a new phenomenon. After many years of railing against big money donations in politics, in 2011 the Greens secured the largest single political handout from a private donor in Australian history - $1.6million from the founder of Wotif travel website, Graeme Wood.

Suddenly the Greens had no problem with big donations. Then leader Bob Brown said he was 'forever grateful' for it. Yet they still whinge whenever donors to the major parties get revealed.

Values only matter when they are reflected in one's actions and when they are universally applied, not just when it is convenient to do so. Unfortunately that's not a creed the Greens live by.
'That is the field where I died', a five-year-old boy tells his parents.

'I remember because the mud was so deep it went over my gaiters', he says serenely while pointing across a former historic battlefield in southern England.

Quite apart from the shock of their son claiming to have been reincarnated, his parents listened opened mouthed because he had no knowledge of history yet had referred to his gaiters - a protective leg covering worn by soldiers from 1700 until the end of the First World War.

He is not alone. An American university has compiled a database of more than 2,200 children who have been haunted by 'carry-over of memories' of past lives since the 1960s.

Critics believe that these tales are inspired by other sources of information such as TV, the internet, family stories - or just figments of a child's active imagination.

But two thirds of those cases contained enough detail to identify the deceased person the child believes they may have been, a recent study by the University of Virginia School of Medicine found.

Scottish child Cameron Macaulay visits the home he believes he grew up in in a former life in the 1960s on Barra in the Outer Hebrides

Cameron was the star of the 2006 documentary: Extraordinary People  The Boy Who Lived Before. The toddler would cry for his former family and have to be picked up from nursery

The house on Barra where Cameron's family deduced he could have lived based on the description from his memories

These children, generally aged between two and six, either had the epiphany having experienced deja vu when visiting a certain place - or it came to them in lucid dreams.

The most famous case in Britain was toddler Cameron Macaulay, star of the 2006 documentary: Extraordinary People  The Boy Who Lived Before.

From the age of two he had perfectly described his home on a beach in the Outer Hebrides - including the death of his father in a car crash and his pet black-and-white sheepdog - despite never visiting the Scottish island and nor had any of his Glaswegian family.

I have to go to Barra, I have to go to Barra, my family are missing me', he would tell his parents.

He recalled swimming in rock pools and playing with friends on the beach where small planes would land.

Cameron's visions of life there were so real to him that on occasion he would need to be collected from nursery as he was crying for his parents on Barra. Eventually his family relented and visited, and found a home on the beach there exactly as he described it.

And there are more cases like it.

In the North East a father was shocked to hear his two-year-old daughter talking about 'Her other father who died a long time ago.'

The father told MailOnline: 'The assumption at the time was that she had an imaginary friend called Charles because she would often be appearing to talk to him or about him.

'In the end we asked her more about Charles and he said 'he was my other father who died a long time ago.

'Little by little more details started to come out. She said he lived in a house with a black door and described an iron staircase that went upwards in circles.

'It was a bit creepy but I was intrigued enough to look into whether the houses in our suburb were likely to have had spiral staircases and discovered that it was a fairly common feature of some of the older properties.

'It was very strange and lasted only a few months, in time she stopped talking about Charles, which I must admit was a relief.'

The family of a little girl on holiday in the UK claimed she had pointed to a pair of graves in a rural church and declared that was where she had buried his parents, even reeling off their names on the stones and the dates they died as well as the epitaph: 'They were dearly loved and in God's arms'.

I used to come here when I was a boy, she said, and started to describe the inside of the church in great detail. Her parents told her she had a 'a really good imagination but found 'she was spot on with every single detail', one family friend said.

A fourth child, aged three, told his parents 'many times' that he had drowned in a 'speedboat accident' when he was a 'much older man'.

Focus on these tales have been reignited after an academic study in the US raised the possibility that reincarnation could actually happen - because hundreds of children have told them so.

Spooky talk from youngsters aged between two and six who claim to have lived and died before should not be written off as nonsense, hypnotist and past lives expert Tony Rae has warned.

Rae, who was Chairman of The British Council of Professional Hypnotists for 25 years, was reacting to a study in the US which has documented over 2,200 cases where children have inexplicably given detailed accounts of events they could not possibly have known about.

Each year around 120 families with children with these vivid memories each year are contacting the Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS) within the Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

It has led the department's director, and author on the subject, Dr Jim Tucker, to conclude: 'There is evidence here that needs to be accounted for and when we look at these cases carefully, some sort of carry-over of memories often makes the most sense.'

Mr Rae said: 'I would say to parents to keep an open mind if your children are saying inexplicable things and using strange language you wouldn't expect them to know.

'The most common explanation that parents give for these behaviours is that their child has 'an imaginary friend' because that's often the way these things present themselves.

'But I've had children brought to me by parents who have been utterly baffled and at the end of the day, having worked with the child, the conclusion he or she has lived before has been inescapable.'

Dr Jim Tucker is the author of the US report and an afterlife expert and child psychiatrist at the University of Virginia

In one instance a five-year-old boy who lived near the site of an historic battle field in the south of England began making strange disclosures to his mum and dad.

As they drove past the site, the boy - who was yet to study any history in school - told them: 'That is the field where I died before.'

The mother and father put it down to play acting until the youngster continued: 'I remember that place because the mud was so deep it went over my gaiters.'

Mr Rae said: 'Understandably, they found it baffling that a lad of such a young age would use language of that kind, it's a word he couldn't have known, and they came to me in the hope of finding some answers.

'That young man went on to make other disclosures about his past life in which he'd died in battle using detail he couldn't have otherwise known and my presumption at the end of the day was that it could very well be a past life.'

Hypnotist and past lives expert Tony Rae has warned parents not to dismiss children when they have visions or memories that cannot immediately be explained

Other parents have shared similar stories of their own children.

One said on the Mumsnet forum: 'My three year old has told us many times that he died in a speedboat accident. He described what happened then he fell in and sunk. He said he was a much older man and it was very sad. Pretty spooky. I didn't even know he knew what a speedboat was.

'It only came about as we saw some boats in the river and he started saying that he had been on a boat. I told him he hadn't been on a boat yet and he said "yes I have, that's how I died". Then proceeded to go into detail about how it happened.

'Dying on speedboats certainly isn't a topic of conversation in our house although obviously he may have heard it somewhere. For him to say he was a much older man than he is now is strange'.

Such instances are not unusual to Tony Rae.

He said: 'I remember the case of a young girl who went to a village for the first time with her parents, not far from where they live.

'Her father was looking for the church and she told him 'It's over the bridge and across the road from the smithy.'

'Children stay in touch with their past lives, if they have had them, for a short amount of time, until it is basically educated out of them.

'It's something we should be investigating further.'

He says he was originally sceptical himself until an incident that changed his mind.

Mr Rae, described as the world's leading past life regressionist, said: 'I thought it was a lot of old tosh, for want of a better word and like many others I put these instances down to false memory syndrome.

'But a few a years ago I was staying in a hotel in Yorkshire and there was an incident that changed my mind completely.

'The hotel manager told me his bar manager had become convinced he had lived a previous life and wondered whether I could help.

'I was sceptical but placed this chap in a relaxed state and took him back and he began to tell me about his time as a soldier in the Crimean War.

'He said he was a lance corporal and he rattled off his army number.

He gave me the name of his commanding officer, his next of kin and said he had been living in Sudbury, Suffolk.

'It was interesting but went away thinking nothing more of it.

'Months later I got a call from the hotel manager who said he and his wife had visited the Imperial War Museum in London. Unknown to me she had been taking notes while I'd been talking to the barman.

'They were still in shock. The service number had given corresponded with a soldier who had fought in the Crimean War in the same regiment as the one he'd given.

'It was absolutely extraordinary and from that day on I lost my scepticism.'

Another baffling case is that of Cameron Macauley, a young boy in Glasgow who, at the age of around two began talking about his memories of the remote Scottish island of Barra.

The island was some 220 miles from the street where Cameron lived with mother Norma and his elder brother and they had never visited it.

Still Cameron said he recalled his 'Barra mother and dad, his Barra brothers and sisters, and his black-and-white Barra sheepdog.'

He remembered living near the beach in a white house owned by the

Robertson family, close to where planes would land.

Despite being reassured by his mother Cameron was insistent that he had really lived this other life and on occasion would need to be collected from nursery as he was crying for his parents on Barra.

In desperation Norma went to child psychologists and researchers into unexplained phenomena but they were unable to help her.

Eventually she came across Dr Tucker, the author of the US report and an afterlife expert and child psychiatrist at the University of Virginia.

Norma and Cameron travelled with Dr Tucker to Barra where a local historian helped them track down a white bungalow on a beach where a Robertson family had lived in the 1960s and 70s.

Further research found a family member who recalled that a black and white collie owned by a neighbour was frequently running around on the beach outside the family's home.

Cameron's case is one of those entered on Tucker's database maintained by the Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS) within the Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

Tucker says he wants his work - and that of his predecessor Ian Stevenson - to be 'destigmatised' within the scientific community.

He told the Washington Post: 'In many ways, I am doing this to try to sort it out for myself. With each case, I come in with certainly an openness, but also, I think, a fairly critical eye: What is the level of evidence, and could it be explained in other ways?'

He said patterns had emerged in his work. The most pronounced and convincing case tended to occur in children between the ages of 2 and 6.

The children would describe places they have never been, people they have never met and sometimes used words or phrases that seemed beyond their vocabulary.

The youngster would often suffer nightmares and would talk a lot about what they were experiencing in their youngest years, with past life recollections fading at the age of seven or eight.

DOPS, who has operated since the 1960s, is being contacted by about 120 families per year and each case is entered onto its database

His work had led the academic to question whether reincarnation in some form could realistically happen.

He told Virginia magazine: 'I understand the leap it takes to conclude there is something beyond what we can see and touch.

'But there is evidence here that needs to be accounted for and when we look at these cases carefully, some sort of carry-over of memories often makes the most sense.'
A policeman has been arrested for appearing in a raunchy OnlyFans skit where he gropes a woman's breasts during a fake traffic stop.

Sean Herman was fired by Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) on May 9 after he was identified in an OnlyFans video filmed while he was on duty.

He was arrested and charged on Thursday for this incident, citing felony official misconduct. The ex-officer's cover was blown when he accidentally flashed his department patch to the camera, which was visible on his uniform.

Police discovered the clip posted by OnlyFans star Jordin titled 'Can't believe he didn't arrest me' was allegedly made on the evening of April 26 in a warehouse area parking lot.

'Chief (John) Drake directed that the investigation continue after Herman was fired, resulting in his indictment. A criminal court judge set Herman's bond at $3,000,' MNPD said.

Sean Herman, who was fired by Metro Nashville Police Department on May 9 for filming an OnlyFans video while on duty, has been arrested

In the video, he reaches into the car and gropes both her breasts, then grabs his own genitals through his pants

'That was one of the most outrageous, disrespectful acts that a person here could do and, by disrespectful, I mean to all the MNPD employees and this agency,' police said.

The video, filmed about two weeks ago, begins with Jordin sitting in the driver's seat as Herman walks towards them, and is scolded by her passenger for driving too fast.

'I'm not going to get a ticketI'm going to show him my t**s,' she said.

Herman, whose face and most of his uniform is never shown, approached and identified himself as 'Officer Johnson of PD'.

He said Jordin was going 65mph in a 45 zone and asked to see her license and registration.

Jordin said she didn't have them, and showed him her breasts. But he scoffed 'ma'am, it's 2024. I can see t**s on the internet any time'.

'Well, what if you touched them?' she countered, and he agreed.

Herman then reaches into the car and gropes both her breasts, then grabs his own genitals through his pants.

Police discovered the video posted by OnlyFans star Jordin (pictured) titled 'Can't believe he didn't arrest me'

Sean Herman was given away by a split-second where his Metro Nashville Police Department patch was visible on his uniform

The MNPD patch all officers wear, the bottom of which was visible in the video

He said he would let her off with a warning and walks away, much to the surprise of Jordin's passenger.

While Herman had his hands at the car window, there as a brief second where just enough of the MNPD patch was visible to identify it.

That was all police needed to investigate and identify Herman.

A woman claiming to be Jordin left a comment on a Reddit post discussing Herman's firing claiming he was off the clock when the video was filmed.

'For context since it was me... it was a stunt and totally consensual and private property etc the fact they fired him is stupid,' she wrote.
READ MORE: Leader explains why residents of eastern Oregon want to join Idaho

She wants to crack down on the fentanyl and homelessness crisis there

A Republican running for Congress in Oregon advises voters against their push to secede the eastern portion of the state to conservative Idaho, saying residents need to seek change at the ballot box.

At the end of May, 13 counties in eastern part of the state voted to begin negotiating terms on how to secede from liberal Oregon and join the more red neighboring state of Idaho.

This 'Greater Idaho Movement' has been ongoing for years because conservatives there feel underrepresented due to Oregon's populated liberal bastions in the west such as Portland.

Monique DeSpain is a retired Air Force colonel running for Oregon's Fourth Congressional District - including the liberal college town of Eugene. She is encouraging residents to stay in the state and elect her so she can clean up the progressive area's problems.

Republican congressional candidate Monique DeSpain speaks during an election watch party

Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com DeSpain highlighted how she plans on tackling those issues head on should she be elected - and why disillusioned Oregonians should not secede but stay in the fight to improve the state.

'I'm encouraging people to stay and fight,' DeSpain told DailyMail.com.

'We have to stand our ground and fight for America. It's not just for Oregon. The problems of California moved to Oregon, there's a lot of resentment around that.'

'This is our problem, and we need to stand our ground and address it.'

She said that voters in her area have had enough of Democrat's decades-long control over the state and that has lead to an explosion in fentanyl deaths and homelessness.

'Portland does not represent the majority of Oregon ... just as Eugene doesn't represent the majority of people in the fourth district, which is why we're gonna win because these issues are resonating all across the district.'

'I understand the sentiment like we are not being represented that's what this whole fight for me and this congressional seat is about.'

'Ultimately, America is the only free nation on Earth and so we can't start by leaving Oregon going to Idaho.'

At least a dozen conservative counties in eastern Oregon approve ballot measures for secession vote that would see them join non-woke Idaho

Fentanyl, a highly addictive damaging drug is causing crisis on the streets of Portland, Oregon. The drug readily manufactured in Mexico is flooding across the porous southern border in pill form

Fentanyl deaths and homelessness have been a persistent issue in her hometown of Eugene, DeSpain said

She told DailyMail.com about the efforts to address homelessness throughout the state.

'We have over 2,000 nonprofits serving this homeless addiction community, which is just unbelievable, given the fact that we're the worst still in the country,' she said.

'So there's no progress but there I don't believe there's a shortage of money coming in to these these issues.'

'I would demand audits and that anyone involved in that space of recovery and addiction, homelessness has recovery in their mission statement, because I know that many of them do not.'

And despite the massive influx of funds to treat addiction and homelessness, her communities are still peppered with users and unhoused, saying the problem has continued unabated.

'So it would be to bring transparency and accountability to the money that from Congress,' she said, adding she would focus on appropriately doling out 'the federal dollars that are supposed to be used to solve the problem, not perpetuate it.'

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., operates EPAC - an organization that backs GOP women candidates for Congress. The group held an event Tuesday near the Capitol highlighting candidates like DeSpain

At the event in addition to Stefanik were Republican candidates (from left to right) Mayra Flores, Texas, Yvette Herrell, N.M., Alison Esposito, N.Y., Laurie Buckhout, N.C., Monique DeSpain, Ore., and Caroleene Dobson, Ala.

Republican congressional candidate Monique DeSpain eyes election results during an election watch party hosted by DeSpain's campaign Tuesday, May 21, 2024

DeSpain was one of several female House candidates this week at an event hosted by House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., on Capitol Hill earlier this week.

This EPAC 'Rising Stars' event highlighted female candidates from across the U.S. that Stefanik has endorsed and that Republicans believe have good chances of flipping seats red in November.

At the event DeSpain was joined by fellow Republican candidates Yvette Herrell, N.M., Mayra Flores, Texas, Alison Esposito, N.Y., Laurie Buckhout, N.C., and Caroleene Dobson, Ala.

'I entered this race because I'm not one to shy away from a worthy fight,' DeSpain told the crowd of around 50 people.

'I served for 30 years, most of it as a [Judge Advocate General's Corps]. I am a single mother who raised twins in Eugene right in the fourth district and I am a lawyer who has advocated for victims rights, business owners rights and have been advocating for public policy.'
The rugged coastline of Pembrokeshire is a place that evokes a certain mystery. Myths and legends were spun here and in centuries past smugglers would ply their illicit trade on its sea-lashed, treacherous rocks and coves.

And, back in 1977, another mystery of a different kind altogether came to hover (perhaps quite literally) over this westerly outpost of Wales; or more precisely, over one particular village: Broad Haven (population 856).

The curious events that unfolded in a field abutting the village primary school here, on a cold, wet Friday in February, propelled this tiny seaside bolthole onto the international stage as a hotspot for possible extra-terrestrial activity.

It would be another nine months before Steven Spielberg's first science fiction blockbuster  Close Encounters Of The Third Kind  would hit the big screen.

Eerie drawings of UFOs created in 1977 by pupils from Broad Haven Primary in Wales

But what happened in Broad Haven that year was a real-life blockbuster, remaining one of the most hotly discussed incidents in British UFO history, and now the subject of a new four-part BBC documentary, Paranormal: The Village That Saw Aliens.

It all began over the course of a single school day when 15 schoolchildren  14 boys and one girl  all reported to their teachers seeing a curious silver, cigar-shaped aircraft in fields behind their school. More curious yet, some of the children claimed they had seen a silver man, with pointed ears, emerge from the strange vessel.

It could, so easily, have been put down to the fertile imagination of childhood, were it not for what happened next.

So insistent were the children that they had seen something, that, having returned to their homes that Friday evening, several parents made reports to the local police station.

By the time Monday rolled around, school headmaster Ralph Llewhellin decided he had to tackle the clamour, so sat them all down in exam conditions and asked them to describe and draw what they had seen.

The result was remarkable: the children sketched out pictures that were near identical.

Fifteen children all reported sightings to their teachers of a cigar-shaped aircraft in fields behind their school

A rational man, even Ralph Llewhellin was astounded. He was clear on two fronts: the children were not capable of maintaining such a sophisticated prank, and they had indeed witnessed something that couldn't be explained  and still can't be explained today.

For, as it would transpire, the Broad Haven school 'incident' of 1977 would be the start of a bumper season of UFO sightings, strange encounters and happenings, from the terrifyingly plausible to downright comical, that turned this Welsh seaside village into an enduring mecca for conspiracy theorists and UFO hunters.

So just what did happen at Broad Haven Primary that day? This week the Mail spoke to David Davies, who was a ten-year-old bookworm with a passion for Greek and Roman mythology, who still stands by every word of what he saw.

Now a father-of-two and proud grandfather, David's recollections of that day are as strong now as they were 47 years ago when he sat in his classroom reading while his classmates went out to play.

'The day itself was absolutely miserable,' he says. 'It was dreary, it was drizzly, it was cold, it was horrible. I've never been a great lover of getting cold and wet, so I was inside, reading books.'

David, however, kept getting interrupted by children running back into school with excited reports of a strange object, apparently parked on its perimeter.

'This went on throughout the entire day and was getting to be a bit persistent,' recalls David, who despite the assumptions one might make looking at his UFO-adorned T-shirt and the Area 51 (a highly classified U.S. Air Force facility associated with conspiracy theories) signs on his office door, calls himself a 'natural-born sceptic'.

In the 1970s, flying saucers and the like were still the stuff of bad sci-fi movies and David wasn't into that sort of thing.

But, an inquisitive, bright lad, at the end of the school day, he decided to investigate for himself and set off across the field to see what he could find.

A shot from Paranormal: The Village That Saw Aliens, a new four-part BBC documentary

'I investigated at the top of the playground and there was absolutely nothing, so I thought I'd get a bit more adventurous, step over the perimeter fence, hop over the stream and get a closer look,' he says.

'I've got one leg over the fence and this thing just came up from behind a group of trees. It was silver, cigar-shaped and about 45ft long. I watched it for what couldn't have been any longer than about ten seconds before for some reason I got the urge to run away.'

Whatever emotion it was, David insists it wasn't fear. He didn't discuss what he'd seen with the other boys on their way home, only blurting out what he had seen to his mother.

To his surprise, far from telling him not to be so silly, his mother made contact with retired veterinarian and representative of the British UFO Research Association, Randall Jones-Pugh, whose subsequent reports would fuel the international mystery that came to be known as The Dyfed Enigma.

David says he will never forget his headmaster's face when the children handed in their sketches of what they'd seen.

'His face went white,' he says. 'He realised that we had seen something that was totally beyond his comprehension.'

There were, however, no satisfying answers for David or his friends. Just more questions and a barrage of 'hypotheses' as to the true identity of what they'd seen  from sewage lorries, an aircraft from nearby RAF Brawdy, and a secret military project  as well as ridicule as the story was picked up by local and national media.

It is noteworthy that one of David's classmates was the son of a local RAF Squadron Leader who also stood by his son's account, telling reporters that he believed him 'implicitly'.

Nor, David insists, was there any possibility of him and his classmates collaborating on their stories over the weekend before they were asked to do their sketches.

'Bear in mind, this was the 1970s in rural Pembrokeshire,' he chuckles. 'We didn't have iPads or mobile phones. If you were lucky enough to have a home phone, any conversation would be very short, at your parents' insistence, and they would be listening.'

And while he might have built up quite a collection of alien paraphernalia over the years (gifts from humorous friends and family), he also insists he has never described what he saw as extra-terrestrial, even if, all these years later, that remains a persistent hypothesis.

He saw an object, he insists, an unexplained and strange aircraft. He chuckles again. 'It would be marvellous to think that aliens had visited Broad Haven, but what they would do there I don't know.'

Still, he didn't deviate from his account, even when confronted by secondary school bullies.

'Even at that age, I had principles and there was no way on earth I was going to say that I lied about the UFO, because I won't stay quiet in order to keep other people happy,' he says.

'It's certainly had a massive impact because it's just something that's never gone away. It's there in my head and I've just never got to the bottom of what it was.'

The incident would have been remarkable enough, but two days later  a day before it all went public  there was another sighting.

On this occasion, it was a mother-of-two, Louise Bassett, who at the time ran a restaurant in Camarthen, with her husband, 40-miles inland from Broad Haven.

She was driving, alone, back to their home in Ferryside when her journey took an unusual turn.

As she tells the Mail: 'It was late and dark and as I drove along listening to the radio... it was like there was interference. I thought it was bit odd as it had never happened before and I'd done this drive many, many times before.

'I kept twiddling the knobs and then the radio started jamming permanently.'

Things were to get more unnerving when she saw blue lights, which at first she thought must be an accident  and then she saw a grey, cigar-like shape in the sky.

Such was her concern, she phoned police to ask if there had been any unusual activity that might explain what she had seen. The answer was no.

Then, a further unusual incident occurred. A day or two later an artist neighbour, who lived across the estuary, telephoned. He was in the habit of sketching from the window of his studio and said he had seen an object over Louise's house and had drawn it.

'He had drawn what I saw,' she says.

The slim, softly spoken woman, who now lives in England, is not prone to hyperbole or sensationalism. Indeed, her adult children, who were very young at the time of the sighting, only found out about their mother's UFO encounter very recently.

What has compelled Louise to talk now is that she still doesn't know what she saw. 'There's never been an explanation,' she says.

The show follows the mysterious events that unfolded in Broad Haven, Wales, in 1977

Could that explanation lie outside the world we know?

'I really don't know,' says Louise. 'I live in a really lovely place now and we've got dark skies and sometimes I look up and I wonder . . .'

Not suprisingly, in the months that followed, a strange UFO fever spread through Dyfed, as people started having even closer 'encounters'.

There was, for instance, local hotelier Rosa Granville, who, in April 1977  two months after the school incident  described seeing two 'creatures' emerge from a spaceship in a field outside the hotel.

Archive voice recordings remain of Rosa, who has since died, talking about what she saw. 'Monsters,' she says. 'They were 7ft, 8ft tall, very long arms, very long legs. They looked as if they had boiler suits on, a silver colour, they just turned around and looked at me and I couldn't see any features at all. It frightened me so much.'

Whatever she saw  pranksters or aliens  it certainly frightened her, as both the police officer who responded to her call and her daughter, Francine, attest on camera in the BBC series.

Then there were the Coombs  dairyman Billy Coombs, wife Pauline and their five children  who, in subsequent months, made repeated reports of close encounters with UFOs around their farm in the area.

On one occasion Pauline reported driving her car along a country lane and being pursued by a fiery object shaped like a rugby ball. On another occasion, they reported a herd of cows had been inexplicably teleported from behind a locked gate into an adjacent farmyard. Not surprisingly, their accounts have come in for some close scrutiny by sceptics.

Yet the most terrifying incident of all came in the early hours of April 23, as the family were watching a film at home, only to realise they too were being watched: by a 7ft tall figure in a spacesuit, peering through the window.

It doesn't take a huge stretch of imagination to put this down to the work of a local prankster who'd come up with an amusing pastime to while away the long, dark evenings.

Indeed, several years later, in 1996, a businessman and member of Milford Haven's Round Table reportedly stepped forward to assert that in 1977, as a prank, he had walked around the area in a silver firefighter's suit.

To the Coombs family, however, it was very real. In fact, the policeman who responded to their call that night would later report that, in all his 26 years of service, 'that was the most frightened family I have ever been to see'.

So insistent were the children that they had seen something in 1977 that several parents made reports at the local police station

But what was the Government's response to this flurry of extra-terrestrial activity in South Wales?

In 1977, aliens and UFOs were still taken seriously. The Ministry of Defence had a dedicated UFO sightings unit, as did the American government. Even former U.S. President Jimmy Carter claimed he'd seen a UFO, but the official responses to the Broad Haven incidents were broadly sceptical.

When the then MP for Pembroke, Nicholas Edwards, contacted the Ministry of Defence after being 'inundated' with UFO sightings, a discreet investigation did, archived files reveal, take place.

But if the words of the RAF officer who spoke to Rosa Granville following her sighting are anything to go by, the attitude was dismissive.

'Should a UFO arrive at RAF Brawdy we will charge normal landing fees,' he quipped.

Academic, journalist and UFO expert Dr David Clarke was a consultant for the National Archives when it released a swathe of previously secret files on UFO sightings back in 2005. He curated a book that included the drawings of the Broad Haven primary schoolchildren and remains open-minded on the subject.

'I don't think there is any doubt someone walked around in a firefighting suit, scaring people, but what triggered that idea in the first place?' he asks.

'It doesn't explain it all, you can debunk things, you can look at individual stories and say that must have been caused by X, Y, Z, but there is always an element of mystery left, it's never possible to completely explain it.'

Two decades later, TV's The X-Files programme would carry the tagline 'the truth is out there'.

David Davies, who did become a sci-fi fan, once he became a teenager, remains unsure whether answers are needed.

'What happened has become one of Pembrokeshire's folk tales. So there's part of me which makes me think perhaps it's better if we don't find out. Keep the mystery. But then there's the scientific side of me that really does want to know.'
The conventional wisdom has long held that a high turnout helps Democratic presidential candidates win the White House.

No more, says leading Trump ally Charlie Kirk, who heads Turning Point USA, and who is leading the charge to find the 'low-propensity' voters he believes will propel the former president back to power.

A string of polls shows Trump making gains among young, Black and Hispanic voters, groups that have historically turned out in lower numbers than other demographics.

So when thousands of conservatives gathered in Detroit, Michigan, for Turning Point Action's People's Congress, the exhibitors hall was filled with booths dedicated to voter registration drives and grassroots efforts to turn 'maybes' into 'definites'.

Workshops with titles such as 'The first seven secondshow to execute your initial contact' and 'Lead your precinct, lead your country,' were packed.

Charlie Kirk, head of Turning Point Action, with Lara Trump, co-chair of the Republican National Committee, on stage in Detroit, Michigan

The big draw will be Trump himself on Saturday evening.

But the theme of the three-day gathering is finding the votes that will return Trump to power, said Kirk. And that means 'low propensity voters.'

'It is tempting and easy to say he's gonna fight for me ... he will, but first you must fight for him. You must go register new voters,' he told several thousand supporters in a noisy, firework-filled opening address that shook the conference hall.

'You must find low-propensity voters in your life and get them registered to vote.

'According to new polling, people least likely to vote are the most pro-Trump in this election.

'That means if we don't do a good job of driving turnout, if we don't do a good job of owning our neighbourhoods, if we don't do a good job of registering new voters. I say in November, we might hear those bitter words ... that Joe Biden is reelected for another term as president of the United States.'

A CNN analysis of three NBC polls found that Biden is up by four points among people who voted in 2020 and the 2022 midterms.

But Trump led by 12 points among people who voted in 2020 but not 2022.

Trump's lead extends to a whopping 20 points among those who voted in neither election and almost two thirds of those people said they had a negative view of Biden's performance as president.

Robert Broderick and Rachel dance before the start of the conservative Turning Point Action's the People's Convention at Huntington Place, Detroit, Michigan

Donald Trump is due to address the convention on Saturday. He is seen here at a Turning Point USA event in Phoenix, Arizona, earlier this month

It made for an odd dynamic at a gathering often known as much for the rowdy antics of its young attendees and the fiery rhetoric of speakers as its political strategizing.

So although fans crowded around a gold Mercedes for photos, and potential VP pick Vivek Ramaswami raced on stage with whoops of 'USA, USA, USA,' the buzz phrase of the weekend was the decidedly academic expression 'low-propensity voters.'

'They're maybe not registered to vote or maybe they are registered to vote, but they're a little harder to mobilize. They're what we call low-propensity voters,' said Lara Trump, co-chair of the Republican National Committee, as she described the launch of Trump Force 47 as a community effort to drive turnout.

Grant Raphael is at the sharp end of the push, as a regional organizer for BLEXIT, a group that encourages Black people to leave the Democratic Party.

He was manning the group's stall, filled with 'Empower, Awaken' t-shirts and 'Blessed not oppressed' banners, on Friday evening in the exhibitors' hall.

Minorities, he said, were tiring of being told they were victims and were embracing Trump's message that they could be 'victors' if they embraced his message of working hard and looking after their families.

Gideon Raphael, BLEXIT's regional manager for the south-east, said many people didn't even realize how easy it was to register and to take part in elections

Kirk: 'You must find low-propensity voters in your life and get them registered to vote'

'People have this mindset that Democrats are all for the minority community,' he said. 'But when you look at the policies and how things are going for African-Americans and other minorities ... it hasn't gotten any better in the past four years.

'So people are starting to wake up and see that Donald Trump, even though he's this white male conservative, is actually more for them than say, Joe Biden.'

He said his mission included explaining how easy it was to register to vote, with just a few clicks on an app, in an effort to turn 'low-propensity voters' into dead cert Trump voters in November.

In such a tight race, turnout could deliver victory to Biden or Trump, according to James Johnson, cofounder of polling firm J.L. Partners.

'Generally speaking Trump has the bigger challengeand the opportunity for a bigger prizeon his hands as his voters do tend to be lower propensity,' he said.

'But on the contrary if Trump holds his 2020 vote and Biden goes backwards by not turning out African-American voters then he is in serious trouble.

'In that scenario, and the one the polls currently bear out, Trump could win just by standing still.'
A huge, controversial offshore wind farm stretching along some of Australia's most scenic coastline has been given the green light by the Albanese government.

Federal Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen announced the creation of the zone in Wollongong, 93kilometres south of Sydney, on Saturday morning.

'Through this zone, the Albanese government will deliver up to 2.9gigawatts of reliable renewable power  enough to power 1.8million homes,' he said, adding that there had been a lot of 'misinformation' from those opposed to the plan.

There were protests against the project from opponents of renewable energy as well as people with environmental concerns.

Some said the project would look ugly from the shore and disturb seabirds as well as migratory whales.

A huge, controversial offshore wind farm stretching along some of Australia's most scenic coastline has been given the green light by the Albanese government. Pictured is an artist impression supplied by the Federal Government of how the wind farm will look from Mount Keira

Federal Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen announced the creation of the zone in Wollongong, 93kilometres south of Sydney, on Saturday morning

The impact of the environmental concerns were lessened, though, by the circulation of a fake journal article claiming 400 whales a year would be killed by it.

Mr Bowen said the government had taken into account 'community concerns' in determining the final zone and reduced the size of the area by a third from the original proposal.

The declared zone, which is the fourth in Australia, 'excludes significant environmental areas', including the Southern Right Whale migration and reproduction area, and an area designed to protect the little penguin population.

'This is important for renewable energy, important for jobs. But this is also a balanced declaration,' Mr Bowen said.

'We have listened to community concerns. Many, many submissions, many concerns raised. We've sorted through legitimate issues, legitimate concerns that have been raised on behalf of the community.

'We've sorted out misinformation and disinformation. And I have declared a zone which is smaller than that originally proposed, and further away from the coast.'

After public consultation, the turbines will be located 20km offshore rather than an originally proposed 10km.

Climate Council policy and advocacy head Jennifer Rayner said the Illawarra region - long a manufacturing powerhouse - would continue to thrive for generations with affordable and clean energy being produced in the region.

'Offshore wind will be an important part of Australia's clean energy grid because it provides reliable, steady renewable energy right around the clock,' Dr Rayner said.

'This is one of the important ways we'll power Australia as our ageing and unreliable coal-fired generators close.

'The federal and state governments need to work together to rapidly break through roadblocks that are holding back the delivery of onshore wind projects already supported by communities and investors.'

The proposed project has caused massive controversy in the Illawarra region, with protests against it from both opponents of renewable energy and people with environmental concerns.A protest against the project last October is pictured

A map showing the area designated for the windfarm (shaded) and how the area has shrunk since it was first proposed (dotted line)

University of Wollongong Energy Futures Network director Ty Christopher hailed the offshore wind project as a positive step for the region.

'By working together as a community, sharing our concerns for the environment to co-design a clean energy future for the region, we have the ability to deliver positive outcomes for our oceans, our communities and our local economy,' he said.

Thousands of people attended a rally against the proposal at Flagstaff Point last October, with environmental activists saying the wind farm would be in the migration path of up to 40,000 whales.

The creation of the new zone will allow investors to apply to build offshore wind within the boundaries.

Illawarra Offshore Wind says on its website that it could start construction in 2028 following approvals and turn on the power by 2030.

It expects to create up to 3,000 jobs through the project.
Lord Cameron has blasted Nigel Farage's 'dog whistle' rhetoric and claims the Reform leader is 'intent of destroying' the Tory party.

The foreign secretary, in an interview with The Times, warned against supporting Mr Farage and encouraged voters to reject his 'inflammatory language' and 'hopeless policy'.

He also claimed that voting for the Reform or a similar party will make it 'more likely to deliver a Labour government' and risks making the country 'less safe'.

Lord Cameron said he wants to ensure the 'Conservative Party can move forward' and that Britain gets 'no Reform members of parliament'.

It comes after Mr Farage last week declared he had become the 'leader of the opposition' after a poll found Reform had pulled ahead of the Tories.

Lord Cameron (pictured on Thursday) has blasted Nigel Farage's 'dog whistle' rhetoric and claims the Reform leader is 'intent of destroying' the Tory party

Mr Farage (pictured yesterday) last week declared he had become the 'leader of the opposition' after a poll found Reform had pulled ahead of the Tories

Some Conservative MPs have urged the government to 'embrace' Mr Farage amid fears that Labour could see a landslide victory in the General Election.

But Lord Cameron has warned against, saying Mr Farage is 'trying to destroy the Conservative Party by standing for Reform'.

He also argued that Labour's failure to commit to spending 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2030 means the party could not be trusted on defence.

'I think voting anything other than Conservative is more likely to deliver a Labour government, and the Labour government will be less good at keeping our defences strong,' the foreign secretary said.

'I think only the Conservatives have got the sort of plan ... to properly tackle them. And voting for anything else I think will make Britain less safe'.

He said he thinks there is 'room for people who care about immigration' and 'who want to stand up for strong defence' but said the 'other baggage you get, which can be incredibly divisive, we don't want that'.

'What I want is robust policy and measured language. I think with these populists what you get is inflammatory language and hopeless policy,' Lord Cameron added.

Mr Farage last week said that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak 'doesn't understand our culture'.

Lord Cameron, responding to the comment, told The Times: 'You don't have to watch sheepdog trials to hear a dog whistle.'

He also insisted that Mr Sunak could still win the election and dismissed warnings that Labour could see a 'super-majority', saying that is 'no such thing'.

'There's a winning post of 325 seats and that's it,' he said.

A YouGov survey commissioned by The Times newspaper had Mr Farage's party at 19 per cent and the Conservatives on 18 per cent in voting intention. Mr Farage is pictured Thursday in Westminster, London while on the General Election campaign trail

Mr Farage last week said that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak 'doesn't understand our culture'. Lord Cameron, responding to the comment, told The Times: 'You don't have to watch sheepdog trials to hear a dog whistle'. Lord Cameron and Mr Sunak are pictured together in April

Leader of Reform UK Nigel Farage signs a placard during a visit to Ashfield on June 11, 2024

A YouGov survey commissioned by The Times newspaper had Mr Farage's party at 19 per cent and the Conservatives on 18 per cent in voting intention, in a crossover moment which is the latest blow to Tory hopes of returning to government.

Mr Sunak has maintained he will 'fight to the last day' and said that 'the only poll that matters' is election day, when asked why Tory voters seemed to be turning to Mr Farage's Reform UK.

During a press conference at the G7 leaders' summit in Italy yesterday, Mr Sunak said: 'I think we're only halfway through this campaign and the Conservative Party and me are going to fight for every single vote until the last day.

'And you know, what you saw this week was actually an important moment in the campaign because the only poll that matters is the one on July 4.

'What you did see this week is the two leading parties put out their manifestos for the future of our country, and there's a very clear choice.'

He added: 'What I would say is if that poll and all these things were replicated on election day, what that would be is handing a blank cheque to Keir Starmer to increase people's taxes on their home, their car, their job, their pension, their house, that's what it will do.

'So I'm going to continue fighting very hard to make sure everyone understands the choice that's ahead of them.'

Mr Sunak was asked if his discussions at the G7 had come too late to make a meaningful difference to migration levels in the UK that would allow him to tackle the threat of Reform.

During a press conference at the G7 leaders' summit in Italy, Mr Sunak (pictured yesterday) maintained he will 'fight to the last day' and said that 'the only poll that matters' is election day, when asked why Tory voters seemed to be turning to Mr Farage's Reform UK

He said: 'I think the first thing to say is this is the first time that the G7 summit has had a dedicated discussion on migration. So the fact that the G7 has been discussing migration is itself something of note and that's something that we have pushed for.

'So I, together with (Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni), as you know have been talking a lot about this issue, leading on this issue is important to me and to her that the G7 discussed this and the discussion today was incredibly productive.'

He added: 'Obviously, these things don't happen overnight. But as I said when I got this job and made my first speech on illegal migration that where the UK lead others will follow, 18 months since then has shown that to be true.'

Without referring to the Reform Party or Mr Farage in his answer, Mr Sunak concluded that he is 'confident' the G7 migration policies 'will make a difference'.

At a London press conference called to celebrate the YouGov poll, Mr Farage said: 'We are not going to get four million votes, we're not going to get five million votes, we're going to get a very, very substantial number of votes.

'I genuinely think we can get over six million votes. I don't know where the ceiling is.'

That total would be significantly more than the 3.9 million votes his former party, Ukip, received under his leadership in 2015, when it secured 12.6 per cent of the vote.

Mr Farage claimed Reform is 'well ahead' of the Conservatives in several regions including the North East, the North West, the East Midlands, in the West Midlands, as well as in the so-called red wall.

Tory supporters hold placards as British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (not pictured) campaigns in Amersham, Buckinghamshire on May 27, 2024

'The inflection point means that, actually, if you vote Conservative in the red wall, you will almost certainly get Labour. A Conservative vote in the red wall is now a wasted vote,' the arch Brexiteer said.

He also said: 'It isn't going to be Rishi Sunak leading the opposition - I mean, he'll probably be in California anyway.

'The Conservatives will choose someone and they probably won't last very long. And they can't provide opposition because they are hopelessly split down the middle on policy ...

'I put it to you that I believe I can be that voice of opposition.'
Four Democratic operatives in Connecticut were charged with election fraud months after one was seen in shocking footage that allegedly showed evidence of ballot stuffing.

Two campaign workers in Bridgeport, along with Bridgeport City Councilmember Alfredo Castillo and the town's Committee Vice Chair Wanda Geter-Pataky, were charged this week with election offenses.

The charges relate to the Democratic primaries in the 2019 Bridgeport mayoral election, with three of those charged reportedly supporting the eventual winner, Joe Ganim.

The charges come months after footage also alleged to show Geter-Pataky ballot stuffing in the 2023 mayoral primary, with the surveillance footage leading a judge to order the election be re-held last November.

Bridgeport Committee Vice Chair Wanda Geter-Pataky was seen in surveillance footage allegedly ballot stuffing in the 2023 mayoral primary election. She is among four operatives charged with election fraud related to the 2019 election

The charges have been presented almost five years after an investigation was launched into the alleged misuse of absentee ballots in the 2019 mayoral election.

The Connecticut Attorney General's Office arrested Castillo and Geter-Pataky alongside election workers Nilsa Heredia, 61, and Josephine Edmonds, 62, for alleged offenses in the contentious election.

They are charged with unlawful possession of absentee ballots, and Edmonds, Geter-Pataky, and Heredia are also charged with tampering with a witness, per the Stamford Advocate.

According to prosecutors, the latter three misrepresented eligibility requirements for constituents to be allowed to vote by absentee ballot in the election.

The four accused are also charges with a litany of other election fraud-related crimes, including Geter-Pataky and Castillo allegedly failing to sign as an assister on an absentee ballot.

It is unclear if they entered pleas, as all four were released and are scheduled to be back in court on June 24.

Geter-Pataky, left, and Bridgeport City Councilmember Alfredo Castillo, right, are among four Democratic operatives accused of election fraud

Campaign workers Nilsa Heredia, left, and Josephine Edwards, right, allegedly mishandled absentee ballots during the 2019 election

While unrelated to the charges, the Bridgeport mayoral election previously made national headlines in 2023 when a state judge sensationally overturned the primary election following the emergence of surveillance footage.

In the footage, Geter-Pataky and another woman were allegedly seen making several trips around the city to stuff absentee ballots into drop boxes.

At the time, Superior Court Judge William Clark said the surveillance 'calls the result of the primary election into serious doubt and leaves the court unable to determine the legitimate result of the primary.'

The judge cited statistics showing that abnormally large numbers of absentee ballots were cast in certain voting districts and video evidence shows multiple people shoving stacks of ballots into drop boxes, in violation of state law.

Ganim won the original election by just 251 votes out of 8,173 cast, but went on to win more convincingly in the re-count and the subsequent general election. The Bridgeport Mayor has denied any knowledge of the alleged ballot stuffing.

Following the charges related to the 2019 contest, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont insisted that 'justice will be served.'

'This has gone on too long and I'm really glad the states attorney stepped in,' Lamont said.

'I think the fact that the state's attorney is bringing charges... I think that's going to make any of those that want to commit fraud like this think twice. We're going to hold them accountable.'

Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim won both the 2019 and 2023 elections by razor-thin margins, and has denied any knowledge of the alleged election fraud

Wanda Geter-Pataky, center, seen giving testimony in court during a challenge to the 2023 primary election results, where she was accused of ballot stuffing

Connecticut's Chief State's Attorney Patrick Griffin added in a statement on Tuesday that the 'integrity of our voting process is vital to our democracy.'

'I appreciate the attention and time the Statewide Prosecution Bureau put into these investigations. I hope these prosecutions will send a message that deters tampering with election results in the future in Connecticut.'

Mayor Ganim - who previously served seven years in prison on federal corruption charges - said in a statement following the charges that the alleged offenses were 'unacceptable.'

'We all agree that the integrity of the voting process is vital to our democracy. Charges that question that integrity are of concern,' he said.

'I always stand for maintaining the rights of the voters and a fair election. The investigations pertaining to both 2019 campaigns are now in the hands of the courts and will be addressed through the justice system.'
Centrelink does not consider her independent

A uni student who broke both her legs and couldn't work was denied a vital youth allowance to make ends meet due to a technicality.

Ashleigh Griffiths, 20, has been bedridden and needs either a wheelchair or crutches to get around after suffering stress fractures to both of her legs.

Doctors told Ms Griffiths it would take up to four months before she could put pressure on her legs and start walking.

The 20-year-old was forced to quit her job as a cleaner - income she was using to support herself while she studies medical radiation science in Canberra.

Ms Griffiths has been applying for a desk job but in the meantime to afford living costs and help cover her medical expenses she also applied for Centrelink Youth Allowance.

However, her application for Youth Allowance was denied because Centrelink does not consider her to be living independently.

Centrelink denied her Youth Allowance application because she was under the age of 22 and considered dependent on her parent

Centrelink currently considers people under the age of 22 as being dependent, which means the income made by their parents or guardian impacts their eligibility for the allowance and also the amount they receive.

Parents can only earn $62,634 or less a year in order for their child to receive the full Youth Allowance payment of $639 a fortnight.

The fortnightly payment is then reduced by 20 cents for every dollar above the threshold.

Ms Griffiths' $150 a week in board covers all her expenses while living at home with her mum and two sisters.

To avoid HECS indexation, she also pays for her university course costs upfront, which totalled $2,400 last semester.

Ms Griffiths said she has been put in an 'awful' position after her application was denied because her mum earns too much and has used her savings to pay for medical bills.

The 20-year-old is also concerned she will not be able to pay for her upcoming placement, which involves 2,000 hours of work not covered by the government.

'Those savings were for me to be able to afford to go on placement because in placement you pay for everything, your uniforms, your food, your accommodation,' Ms Griffiths told Yahoo Finance.

'Eating into that for all my consultations is quite stressful  I still have to support myself and I still have my placements.

'With the cost of living, there is no way my mum or any parent can fully support their kid doing that in the average Australian household.'

More than 450,000 students under the age of 22 are being 'locked out' of Youth Allowance as they are considered dependent, the National Union of Students found.

The union has been campaigning to lower the age of independence for the purpose of Centrelink support from 22 to 18 years old.

The 2024 Australian University Accord report also suggested Centrelink raise the parental income test limit from $62,634 to $68,857 a year.

Raising the income test limit would allow more students to qualify for Youth Allowance payments.

In 2009, former deputy prime minister Julia Gillard reduced Centrelink's age of independence from 24 to 22 years old.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Department of Social Services for comment.
Russell Brand used to walk around his Channel 4 colleagues naked whilst presenting programmes made for the broadcaster but his behaviour was dismissed as 'Russell being Russell', an investigation has found.

The TV star is also accused of making women he worked with uncomfortable and asking runners to get the phone numbers of female audience members.

Brand would also often wear only his underwear while in his dressing room according to the inquiry commissioned by television company Endemol, who the presenter worked for from 2004 to 2008.

No formal complaints were made at the time and informal complaints, made by junior staff, 'were not escalated or adequately addressed at the time', a summary of the investigation by law firm Lewis Silkin stated.

It added that staff, and in particular junior employees, felt an inability to raise concerns about Brand as he was regarded as 'talent'.

Russell Brand pictured presenting Big Brother's Little Brother in 2006. He used to walk around his Channel 4 colleagues naked whilst presenting programmes for the broadcaster, an investigation has found

Brand pictured in Los Angeles in 2019. The TV star is also accused of making women he worked with uncomfortable and asking runners to get the phone numbers of female audience members

The presenter pictured on Big Brother 7 in 2006

They were also hindered by a fear they may lose their jobs as well as a view that the presenter's actions were tolerated by senior colleagues.

Two witnesses reported being aware of an allegation that Brand, who presented Big Brother's Big Mouth for Endemol, would make crew wait outside his dressing room as he masturbated, The Times reports.

The inquiry, however, did not find 'evidence of any formal or informal complaint being raised about this'.

The host, who also fronted Endemol shows including Kings of Comedy and Big Brothers Celebrity Hijack, was found by the report to have conducted consensual sexual relationships with some colleagues, including at least one junior crew member.

Brand was also discovered to be known to have had relationships with audience members.

The inquiry found no evidence of colleagues being aware of Brand's sexual relationship with a runner, who has since claimed the presenter exposed himself to her in 2004

The investigation, as well as looking into Brand's behaviour, also explored how aware Endemol executives were of alleged misconduct and the safeguarding procedures at the time.

It found there was 'no clear escalation process in place during the respective period, and minimal training provided, on "respect in the workplace", the code of conduct or ethical practices'.

Banijay UK, which now owns Endemol, commenced the inquiry in September after Brand was accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse.

The presenter denied all allegations and described his relationships as 'absolutely always consensual', adding that such accusations were 'very, very hurtful'.

Banijay UK executive chairman Patrick Holland apologised to anyone affected and those who might have felt unable to talk about their experiences.

He added that support and escalation procedures had not been followed properly and that they had since improved their protocols, along with others in the industry.

Brand speaking to demonstrators at Parliament Square in 2015

Brand (pictured, in Los Angeles in 2018), who hosted shows on Channel 4 made by Endemol from 2004 to 2008, would also often wear only his underwear while in his dressing room according to the inquiry commissioned by television company

Brand was also discovered to be known to have had relationships with audience members

The report comes nine months after The Times, Sunday Times and Channel 4 investigators conducted interviews with Endemol and Banijay staff and reviewed documents while analysing Brand's behaviour.

The broadcaster apologised to a former employee in April after a 'serious and concerning' accusation she made against Brand in 2009 was not investigated properly.

The BBC confirmed it had received five complaints about Brand, who hosted radio shows for the broadcaster from 2006 to 2008.
A prison spent 10,000 on a BMX dirt bike track for inmates.

Bosses at HMP Wetherby, a 290-capacity jail in West Yorkshire, splashed taxpayers' cash on the 'pump track' for inmates to hone their bike skills.

But despite a 'grand opening' last November, when the prison posted photos of offenders 'getting air' on jumps and furiously pedalling round the track, it has barely been used since.

The prison holds offenders aged between 15-18.

A social media post from HMP Wetherby captioned: 'As part of our Open Day, we opened our brand new BMX track, in partnership with @LeedsUrbanBike'

'An innovative idea to offer a healthy distraction to our children while in custody and to build links for release,' the social media post added

A report into the jail by Charlie Taylor, the Chief Inspector of Prisons, stated that there were 'few opportunities' for offenders have a go on the track.

He wrote: 'A large bike track has been built, but children were disappointed that there were few opportunities to use it.'

It's believed a lack of manpower and problems with the bikes have led to the track being under-used.

Writing on X last November, jail chiefs said: 'We opened our brand new BMX track, in partnership with @LeedsUrbanBike.

'An innovative idea to offer a healthy distraction to our children while in custody and to build links for release.'

There are hundreds of pump tracks - which have bumps, dips and jumps, as well as tight turns - around the UK, often used by BMX riders, skateboarders, and scooter riders.

It is believed, however, that just several sessions have been held since, due to restricted times out of cells, lack of manpower and problems with the bikes.

A report into the jail by Charlie Taylor, the Chief Inspector of Prisons, stated that there were 'few opportunities' for offenders have a go on the track

A Youth Custody Service spokesperson said the track was 'part of our work to rehabilitate children'

One former inmate at HMP Wetherby wrote to prisoners' mag Inside Time to say the BMX track was a waste of money.

He complained it 'never gets used', adding: 'I'm just thinking about the other things the prison service could have spent the money on, such as deep cleaning of some of the cells.

'Yes, I know it won't go on that, but it could help a little with making my life better. Or even giving us better food.'

A spokesman for Inside Time said: 'The BMX track opened in November 2023. It was paid for out of a fund allocated for education and purposeful activity at YOI Wetherby.'

A Youth Custody Service spokesperson said the track was 'part of our work to rehabilitate children so that they turn their backs on crime, get jobs on release and become law-abiding adults'.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice declined to say how often the track had been used.
Albanian fugitives are hiding in the UK in the same way British crooks once did in the Costa del Sol, experts have warned amid soaring extradition cases.

A flood of suspected murderers, rapists and drug traffickers wanted around Europe have appeared in Britain's extradition court after being found living in the UK.

At least 34 wanted Albanians faced extradition proceedings in 2023.

And already this year, at least 27 Albanian suspected criminals appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court facing extradition for offences committed in countries including France, Italy, Germany and Greece.

Experts say the fugitives use people-smuggling routes to cross the Channel and are then protected by Albanian criminal syndicates.

Albanian fugitives are hiding in the UK in the same way British crooks once did in the Costa del Sol, experts have warned amid soaring extradition cases. Among the fugitives who were found in Britain is Denis Havalja over the rape of a 14-year-old girl in Albania in 2016

Alleged double murderer Ilirian Zeqaj, 51, faces being extradited from Britain for the second time after sneaking into the UK twice and even gaining citizenship under a false name

And a former National Crime Agency (NCA) boss said the UK has become a haven for wanted Albanians in the same way that the Costa del Sol was for British fugitives.

Among the fugitives who were found in Britain is Denis Havalja, nicknamed 'The Beast', over the rape of a 14-year-old girl in Albania in 2016.

The 37-year-old was convicted in his homeland and sentenced to five years and four months in prison, but absconded and escaped to Britain after serving less than two years.

Whether he will be sent back to serve the rest of his sentence will be decided by a judge on June 18.

Alleged double murderer Ilirian Zeqaj, 51, faces being extradited from Britain for the second time after sneaking into the UK twice and even gaining citizenship under a false name.

Zeqaj allegedly shot two men in the Albanian village of Cakran in 1999, but slipped into the UK in the back of a lorry five months later and claimed asylum under the name Klemend Zeqaj after falsely telling officials he was a Kosovan refugee.

And despite being one of Albania's most wanted fugitives, he was granted permanent leave to remain in 2005 and British citizenship the following year.

Already this year, at least 27 Albanian suspected criminals appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court facing extradition for offences committed in countries including France , Italy , Germany and Greece

He has three children, including a daughter who is studying chemical engineering at Cambridge University, but Albania's High Court have demanded his return after finding a 2013 acquittal was not safe.

The fate of Zeqaj, who lives in Hanwell, north-west London, is in the hands of the Home Secretary after a district judge approved extradition in April.

Zeqaj, who runs a bathroom fitting company, plans to appeal the decision at the High Court.

Professor of criminology at Tirana State University, Ervin Karamuco, said Britain had become the 'Costa del Sol' for Albanian fugitives, because of the criminal networks which already exist here.

'Such criminal organizations agree to accommodate wanted Albanians, to provide them with new identities and passports as citizens of EU countries such as Romania or Bulgaria,' he said.

'Albanians know they can stay in the UK undetected for a long time as they will have cover and it will be very difficult for the police to identify them.'

Among those already extradited back to an EU nation is Algert Datja, 33, who was sent back to Italy in April to face charges of murder, grievous bodily harm and armed robbery.

His compatriot, Alfred Krrashi, 21, will be sent back to France for alleged drug trafficking after extradition was approved in April.

Former NCA head of drugs threat and intelligence, Tony Saggers, said many Albanians became skilled smugglers out of necessity under the hash communist regime which lasted until the early 1990s.

The Kosovo crisis of the late 1990s, and Britain's willingness to accept refugees from the stricken Balkan state was then exploited by thousands of Albanians who falsely claimed to be Kosovans fleeing the conflict, he added.

'And unless they went on to commit crimes, most have largely remained in Britain undiscovered and without obvious issues,' he said.

'People follow people however, so these 1990s satellite communities continued to grow as more Albanians joined friends and family.

'These communities are then exploitable by Albanian organised crime groups to provide perfect cover to operate in the UK to control cocaine markets, establish and maintain cannabis grow sites and smuggle even more people; while also investing in our infrastructure to greater legitimise the appearance of being here.

'Some Albanian migrants will arrive to join existing friends and families, others as workers within illicit activities, or both.

'So because so many people exploited the Kosovan refugee crisis and were able to settle here when they wouldn't normally have been able to, we have created a similar environment to the south of Spain where our criminals are provided unintentional cover by the wider British community.

'Albanian OCGs have also established presence and criminal capabilities in Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands, linked to cocaine trafficking opportunities, as 'gateways' to Europe.'
The decomposing corpse of an eight-month-old infant has been found hidden inside a rural Kentucky home following a two-week search.

Miya Rudd was last seen 'at the end of April,' but the Kentucky State Police were not told of her disappearance until this month.

Miya's body was found at 1.15pm on Friday under a pile of debris at the family home in a rural area southeast of Owensboro.

Searches were carried out over several locations including a portion of the backyard of the home where investigators were looking for any sign that Miya may have been there.

The decomposing body of eight-month-old Miya Tucker (pictured) was found on Friday at her parents' home in Ohio County, Kentucky. She not been seen by her family 'since the end of April'

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

'It's not easy. In fact, we were really optimistic, just like the rest of the community. We were hopeful that maybe someone was holding this baby. But noticing how we had cadaver dogs, how we were sifting through debris in the backyard, we obviously knew, in the back of our mind, that the end result wasn't going to be overly promising,' Kentucky State Police Trooper Corey King said to WDRB.

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 decomposing corpse of an eight-month-old infant has been found hidden inside a rural Kentucky home in Ohio County, following a week long search.

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.

At the time, police said they had 'no evidence she's deceased, but no evidence she's alive, either.'

The coroner at the Kentucky Medical Examiner's Office in Louisville will now uncover Miya's cause of death.

In the run-up to Miya's tiny body being found, state police had unraveled a drug ring.

Cadaver dogs have been used during the search for Miya's body over the past week

Investigators, with the help of cadaver dogs, spent several hours searching roughly five acres of woods near the couple's home earlier this week, but found no sign of missing Miya

Miya's grandparents Ricky J. Smith (left) and Billie J. Smith (right) have been arrested in connection to the investigation

Miya's parents, Tesla Tucker, 29, and Cage Rudd, 30, have been arrested on charges including drug possession, child abuse and abandonment of a minor.

Police found them in a room at a Motel 6 with drugs, including fentanyl and methamphetamine, 'in plain sight', WFIE-TV reported.

They have already appeared in court this week on the drug charges and will appear once against next week to be arraigned for abandoning a minor.

Following their arrest, King added that they were 'not being very cooperative with our investigation.'

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.

Police have also arrested Miya's paternal grandparents, Billie J. Smith and Ricky Smith, who had been living with the couple.

Investigators believe Smith had been using the couple's home as his base for drug trafficking, Fox News reported.

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

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

Billie Smith was arrested on a warrant relating to domestic violence while Ricky Smith has been charged with abandonment of a minor and drug charges.

Miya's maternal grandparents, Taletha, 50, and David Tucker, 53, have been arrested on unrelated charges out of Daviess County.

And another arrest was made Thursday. Brodie Payne is facing numerous drug charges for his role in the illegal drug operation held at Miya's home.

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.

KSP said Miya's body will be taken by the Ohio County Coroner's Office and transported to the Kentucky Medical Examiner's Office in Louisville.
Robert Irwin, the son of legendary wildlife warrior Steve, has sent legal letters to Pauline Hanson's One Nation insisting a cartoon he claims is defamatory be taken down.

Daily Mail Australia highlighted the recent episode of the firebrand senator's Youtube series Please Explain titled 'The State of Queensland' after it was published on Friday.

The skit satirically depicts Irwin and ABC children's cartoon character, Bluey, after the pair were unveiled as the faces of the state's new tourism campaign.

However, just hours after the video was published, FC Lawyers on behalf of Irwin sent a cease and desist letter to StepMates Studios, the series' production team.

One Nation's chief of staff, James Ashby, told Daily Mail Australia that the party would oppose the contents of the letter and have brought in defamation expert Sue Chrysanthou SC.

Son of legendary wildlife warrior Steve Irwin, Robert Irwin (pictured) has sent legal letters to the production company behind Pauline Hanson's 'Please Explain' cartoon for One Nation insisting it take down a cartoon he claims is defamatory

The letter from FC Lawyers' Zoe Naylor to the animation studio's founders, Mark Nicholson and Sebastian Peart, said their depiction of Irwin 'constitutes defamation'.

Adding that the cartoon was an 'unauthorised and deceptive use of our client's image', Ms Naylor demanded the studio remove the video from all platforms.

In the episode, the enthusiastic Irwin character attempts to show Bluey all the positive things the Sunshine State has to offer.

But the pair are met with the very same problems residents there are struggling with everyday.

The duo at one point mistake a long queue at the famed Movie World theme park for a rental inspection, highlighting Queensland's dire housing crisis.

They are also targeted by foul-mouthed delinquents who steal their vehicle and 'bash' Bluey.

When he is taken to hospital, they are told it will be a 'six-month' wait.

The episode ends with a downbeat Irwin, saying 'I can't believe this is the state of Queensland'.

The firebrand senator's Youtube series Please Explain featured an episode on Friday titled The State of Queensland, where Irwin and the ABC children's cartoon character Bluey are satirically depicted (pictured)

The chief of staff of Ms Hanson's (pictured) party, James Ashby, told Daily Mail Australia they would oppose the action and not take the cartoon down

The letter from Ms Naylor claims the cartoon 'not only tarnished our client's reputation but also misled the public, causing significant harm to our clients brand and image'.

'The unauthorised use of our clients image in this context is particularly egregious, as it manipulates the truth and misrepresents our client's personality, values, and beliefs.'

The lawyer demanded StepMates Studios to take down the cartoon from all social media platforms and elsewhere online.

Ms Naylor also ordered them to no longer portray Irwin in the future without permission.

They have until 5pm on Monday to meet the demands or the firm may escalate the issue to the Federal Court.
The survivors of Grenfell Tower have been joined by the bereaved families of those who lost loved ones in the Infected Blood scandal in memory of the high rise inferno.

Dozens marched at the service of remembrance to mark the seventh anniversary of the tragedy in the 23-storey tower block in which 72 people were killed in June 2017.

Campaigners said they are uniting in a 'battle for justice' and demanding the next government fixes 'this broken country'.

Those gathered near the site of the tower on Friday evening heard a common call for a national oversight mechanism, an independent public body, to be put in place, responsible for collating, analysing and following up on recommendations from public inquiries.

The survivors of Grenfell Tower have been joined by the bereaved families of those who lost loved ones in the Infected Blood scandal in memory of the high rise inferno

Dozens marched at the service of remembrance to mark the seventh anniversary of the tragedy in the 23-storey tower block in which 72 people were killed in June 2017

Campaigners said they are uniting in a 'battle for justice' and demanding the next government fixes 'this broken country'

Those gathered near the site of the tower on Friday evening heard a common call for a national oversight mechanism, an independent public body, to be put in place

Five years after 15 recommendations from phase one of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry were made specifically directed at the Government, four remain outstanding, including introducing a legal obligation on landlords to provide personal emergency evacuation plans (Peeps) for disabled tenants

Marcio Gomes, whose son Logan was stillborn after the Grenfell blaze, said campaign groups across the country 'are uniting under the same battle for justice'

Five years after 15 recommendations from phase one of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry were made specifically directed at the Government, four remain outstanding, including introducing a legal obligation on landlords to provide personal emergency evacuation plans (Peeps) for disabled tenants.

Fellow campaigners Lobby Akinnola, on behalf of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice (CBFFJ) UK, and Jason Evans, who is director of the Factor 8 campaign group, both backed the call on recommendations and joined the Grenfell community for their annual silent walk.

Marcio Gomes, whose son Logan was stillborn after the Grenfell blaze, said campaign groups across the country 'are uniting under the same battle for justice'.

Addressing the crowd, he said: 'We are proud tonight to share the stage with two other vital campaigns  Infected Blood and Covid.

'And share our call for a national overnight mechanism.

A woman walks past the Grenfell memorial on the seventh anniversary of the tower block fire in London, Britain

Members of the Fire Brigade attend a silent walk to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the Grenfell tower block fire

A fireman embraces a man at the remembrance service

The incident took place on June 14, 2017, and saw 72 people die in a housing tower used mainly by working-class and minority ethnic people located in one of London's richest neighborhoods

'Tonight we are uniting with all of the bereaved up and down the country who have suffered losing loved ones in state care.

'We stand together tonight to send the new government a message.

'Fix this broken country. Rebuild these broken systems.

'We demand justice, we demand change, we demand charges.'

Mr Evans, who was just four years old when his father died, said the Grenfell community was 'truly incredible' in the way it has come together in the wake of the disaster.

He said: 'From the Infected Blood scandal community, we fully support that call. We fully support your cause.

'We got our truth and answers, and I just hope to God you get yours too.'

Members of the Grenfell community attend a silent walk to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the tower block fire in London

A member of the public at the memorial at the base of Grenfell Tower in London in remembrance of those who died

Lobby Akinnola, on behalf of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice (CBFFJ) UK, backed the call on recommendations and joined the Grenfell community for their annual silent walk

Many were carrying posters and green love hearts in memory of those lost

Members of the Grenfell community attend a silent walk to commemorate the seventh anniversary

Mr Akinnola, who lost his father in the pandemic, said he believed that uniting in a common call 'will lead to a better tomorrow'.

'No longer will the system that prioritises profit over people be allowed to stand,' he said.

'Together, side by side, as a united voice we will ensure that the legacy of our loved ones is not one of sorrow but of change and it will be a legacy of justice.'

Grenfell United has also backed calls for a Hillsborough Law, which would, under the Public Authority (Accountability) Bill, include a legal duty of candour on public authorities and officials to tell the truth and proactively co-operate with official investigations and inquiries.

Labour's manifesto, published on Thursday, committed to bringing in such a law, but campaigners have said that would be 'only part of the picture' and that a national oversight mechanism is vital to ensure recommendations are followed through.

The final report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry will be published in September.

Firefighters form an honour guard during a silent walk near Grenfell Tower in London in remembrance of those who died

A woman writes a note on a green loveheart in memory of those lost in the fire

Nicola Forster, 45, (pictured) a safety training officer at Hendon Police College in north London, was found dead at her home in September 2022

This comes after a coroner slammed the Met Police over the death of an officer who suffered PTSD from working on the Grenfell Tower fire - one of a number of emergency workers to have taken their own lives following the tragedy.

Nicola Forster, 45, a safety training officer at Hendon Police College in north London, was found dead at her home in September 2022.

She developed post-traumatic stress disorder after her work during the fire in 2017 - which killed 72 people - and had been suffering with anxiety and depression, Central Bedfordshire Coroner's Court heard.

Ms Forster did not deal with the fire directly but had been on hospital visiting duty to take statements following the fire.

The coroner concluded that the officer's mental health was 'exacerbated' by the actions of her employer, increasing work pressure and loss of access to counselling.

In the year of the fire, there were at least 20 suicide attempts by people affected by the tragedy, according to charity Silence of Suicide, who called for adequate support for survivors.

A year later Amanda Beckles, a campaigner for victims of the Grenfell fire, gassed herself to death after writing a letter describing how the disaster had wrecked her life, an inquest heard.
MP was handed a no-grounds eviction notice at the end of April

A politician who earns a salary of $167,000 has found himself homeless in a sign that Australia's housing and cost of living crisis is out of control.

Independent Western Australia MP Wilson Tucker is living in hotels and his car after being handed a no-grounds eviction notice at the end of April.

Though he wasn't given a reason as to why his fixed-term rental contract was ended, Mr Tucker suspects it was all about re-letting the property at a higher rate.

'In WA, the frequency in which a landlord can increase rents has been changed from six months to 12 months, but it doesn't stop a landlord from terminating a contract using no-grounds evictions,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

He said this then allows the property owner to 'reissue it at a much higher rate because we don't have any rental caps'.

Independent Western Australia MP Wilson Tucker (pictured) is living in hotels and his car after being handed a no-grounds eviction notice at the end of April

Mr Tucker said he sees himself as nomadic rather than homeless, and acknowledges that with his high salary he is much more fortunate than others in a similar situation.

But the existing law around evictions in Western Australia makes things more difficult for renters there than in other parts of the country.

'No-grounds eviction has either been removed or is in the process of being banned and removed in every other state and jurisdiction in Australia except for WA,' Mr Tucker said.

He said that though the state Labor government recently introduced some rental reforms, 'WA still has the weakest rental protection laws in the country'.

'The balance of power resides with landlords and property managers, so a lot of renters don't feel like they can speak up, exercise their rights or make basic repair requests.

'They feel like the axe could fall and they could face eviction and homelessness as a result. And given how tight this market is, an eviction notice could mean that you're out of your house and you're on the street.'

Poll Should no-grounds evictions be banned across Australia? Yes No Should no-grounds evictions be banned across Australia? Yes 245 votes

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Mr Tucker said he has looked at a lot of places since he got his eviction notice six weeks ago, but has not yet been able to find a place to rent.

'There's certainly a lot of fear and desperation in the market. There's literally hundreds of people showing up (to view rentals), competing over a handful of properties ... it has been incredibly frustrating.'

As he represents the mining and pastoral region of Kununurra in WA's upper house, Mr Tucker has 'decided to basically pack up and live out of my car up north' during the weeks that parliament isn't sitting.

He said he will stay in hotels when he needs to be in Perth, and spend the rest of the time living out of his Prado and in a tent while he goes around his electorate, which is 2,205,281 square kilometres.

'There's some days where it makes sense if you're in a more remote location to pull up a tent. If I'm staying in more of a regional town like Kununurra, I'll probably grab a motel.'

The WA government banned rent bidding in its recent reforms, with Commerce Minister Sue Ellery saying it means 'stronger rights for tenants'.

'Sending undercover officers to rental property inspections is one way Consumer Protection will ensure that changes to rent bidding will be adhered to.'

Ms Ellery said the changes will also 'empower renters to challenge unfair treatment by landlords.

'Tenants can now seek relief in the Magistrates Court if they believe their landlord retaliated for exercising their rights, such as requesting repairs or filing complaints.'

A politician who earns a salary of $167,000 has found himself homeless in a sign that Australia's housing and cost of living crisis is out of control. A property for rent is pictured

But Mr Tucker said the new laws don't go far enough and that 'It's incredibly disappointing that the WA government has sided with the property industry to the detriment of the 700,000 renters.'

He said he wants the state government 'to rethink their position' on rental protection.

'The elephant in the room, the low hanging fruit here is to remove no-grounds evictions and bring WA in line with the rest of the country.'

Daily Mail Australia has approached the WA government for comment.
City council members gathered this week in an upmarket LA neighborhood to remove 'No U-turn' signs that they say were a part of the area's homophobic history.

In 1997, signs that conveyed messages like, 'No cruising. No U-turns. Midnight to 6 am,' were posted throughout the Silver Lake neighborhood in an effort to curtail hookups among gay men.

On Monday, city leaders were joined by local LGBTQ+ individuals when they removed the final few 'No U-Turn' and 'No Cruising' signs.

In a statement, LA Councilmember Nithya Raman, who spearheaded the effort, said, 'Los Angeles has a rich history of welcoming the LGBTQIA+ community, but there has also been real and present homophobia- which at times has been inscribed into the city's physical spaces, as with these no-U-turn signs.'

When the signs were posted in the late '90s, gay men depended on printed guidebooks that offered the names of public places where they could connect with other queer individuals, sometimes for love and sex.

City council members gathered this week in a posh LA neighborhood to remove 'No U-turn' signs that they say were a part of the area's homophobic history

Along with several other locations, Silver Lake and West Hollywood, where similar signs were posted and taken down, loomed large in the homosexual community.

After the signs were removed, Councilman Higo Soto-Martinez wrote on X.com:

'This type of homophobia persisted in Silver Lake 30 years after the Black Cat protests,' he said, referring to one of the earliest examples in the US of a public protest against police brutality toward LGBT people.

Councilman Soto-Martinez continued: 'The physical remnants of that bigotry remained on our streets until yesterday, when we joined @nithyavraman to finally take the signs down.'

On Monday, city leaders were joined by local LGBTQ + individuals when they removed the final few 'No U-Turn' and 'No Cruising' signs

The LA Times, however, reported that some people present at the signs' removal were bemused and surprised to hear about the neighborhood's homophobic past 'particularly because the neighborhood was simultaneously a stronghold of queer resistance and resilience.'

Pickle, West Hollywood's inaugural 'drag queen laureate,' who spoke at the removal ceremony, said that she was unfamiliar with the signs.

'I was unaware of those signs and never would have found [them].'

Pickle added that the signs were an 'insidious' strain of discrimination that he and other people 'didn't have context for.'

Maebe A. Girl, a Silver Lake councilmember who was the first drag queen elected to public office in the US, made similar remarks, speaking of her ignorance of the signs.

'I was also surprised that these U-turn signs were still up, and at first, they seem a little... "Oh, ok, it's just a no U-turn sign,"' Girl said.

In 1997, signs that conveyed messages like, 'No cruising. No U-turns. Midnight to 6 am,' were posted throughout the Silver Lake neighborhood in an effort to curtail hookups among gay men

She continued: 'But when you learn the history of [the signs], you realize that these were used to profile gay people.'

'It's so important that we have these removed,' Girl added.

After a successful vote by the Silver Lake Council, the first 'No Cruising' signs were taken down in 2011.

The remaining 'No U-turn' and other related signs were left standing and nearly forgotten.

Then Silver Lake resident Donovan Daughtry alerted the city council to the issue after listening to a podcast concerning the neighborhood's queer history.

Although satisfied with the outcome, Councilman Soto-Martinez believes that more needs to be done to safeguard these types of places.

Maebe A. Girl, a Silver Lake councilmember who was the first drag queen elected to public office in the U.S., spoke at the ceremony

'I would completely agree that we need to do more to protect these spaces,' he said, before adding: 'It's not just unique to Los Angeles...we're all sort of facing the same very serious challenges.'

Albert LeBarron, who operates a gay bar in the area, reflected on the old complaints against queer people in the neighborhood.

'People driving around all night with the radios playing Madonna was probably not conducive to a quiet neighborhood like Silver Lake and the rowdiness inside the bars sometimes spilled outside,' he told the LA Times.

'But in all honesty, a lot of us are people walking or driving or kind of hanging out because they had nowhere else to go.'
Class ended early for students at a private school in Brooklyn after their teacher was led away in handcuffs on allegations he shared sexualized images on social media.

Winston Nguyen, 37, who taught math at St Ann's School, a private school in Brooklyn Heights, had previously participated in the quiz show Jeopardy!.

Nguyen, who has been teaching at the fee-paying $60,000-a-year school since 2020, has not been charged with any offense, but is still a suspect.

Nguyen has also found himself in legal jeopardy in the past.

In 2019, Nguyen was jailed on Rikers Island for four months after he stole $300,000 from a 96-year-old blind man and his 92-year-old wife, both of whom have since died.

Brooklyn math teacher Winston Nguyen, 37, had previously participated on Jeopardy!

Nguyen taught math at St. Ann's School, pictured, a $60,000-a-year private school in the upmarket Brooklyn Heights area of the borough

Further investigations are taking place into Nguyen's alleged conduct, according to the Kings County District Attorney's Office.

The school confirmed that he is being investigated for 'the dissemination of intimate images via social media.'

'Upon his arrest on Thursday, he was immediately placed on leave by the school and he remains on leave,' a spokesperson explained.

The school's principal, Kenyatte Reid, wrote to parents informing them of the arrest while asking for families who might have any further information regarding Ngyuen's conduct to come forward.

'This incident is very disturbing to all of us. We pride ourselves on our amazing faculty and a learning environment rooted in trust,' Reid wrote.

Seven years ago, Nguyen had another brush with the law and was arrested after he stole $300,000 while working as a home aide for the elderly couple, the Stolls.

Nguyen stole from Bernard and Florence Stoll. Bernard died in November 2019. Florence in November 2018

In 2019, Nguyen was jailed on Rikers Island for four months after he stole $300,000 from a 96-year-old blind man and his 92-year-old wife. He is pictured outside court in 2019

Nguyen had been working as a home aide for a couple in their 90s. when he stole $300,000

Nguyen pleaded guilty, serving jail time and probation while also being ordered to pay the money back.

Just three years later, Nguyen was teaching at the private school despite administrators being fully aware of his criminal record.

'A nonviolent criminal record may not preclude employment,' the St. Ann's spokeswoman said.

'The school gives a careful and discerning assessment of a job candidate's potential fit with the school

'We are fully cooperating with law enforcement in their efforts, and right now we're focused on helping our students process this news.'

Parents of children at the exclusive school appeared disturbed by Nguyen's arrest and criminal background.

'What does the vetting process look like? What does the background process look like,' one parent wondered to The Daily Beast.

'The idea that this was a person that was close to my children...it's terrifying. I see him as a manipulator and a con man,' the parent added.

Famous Brooklynites who have attended St. Anns in years gone by include Girls creator Lena Dunham, actress Jennifer Connelly, artist Jean-Michel Basquiat and Maya Hawk, the daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman.

Nguyen used his money to buy pricey ballet tickets and Broadway shows. He is seen at the New York City Ballet Spring Gala in May 2017

Winston Nguyen is seen alongside New York City Ballet dancer Claire von Enck in 2013

When Nguyen worked as a home health aide he stole almost $300,000 from the elderly couple, Bernard and Florence Stoll, who were both in their 90s.

He was hired in 2009 to assist the blind man and his wife with day-to-day tasks.

He used the cash to pay for expensive ballet tickets, Broadway shows, and trips to Florida with his friends - all on his unsuspecting employer's dime.

He worked for the pair for six years until he was finally arrested after the couple's daughter-in-law found he had stolen from them.

Nguyen would use the couples bank account and credit cards making $100,000 in purchases and cash withdrawals.

He wrote himself $200,000 in checks and then opened up lines of credit using their information to the tune of $35,000.

He was able to mask the theft by changing the address on the couples bank statements to his own home address. He then doctored the statements to remove any of the fraudulent purchases.

Any calls from the banks asking about the money were also blocked after Nguyen placed a bar on the couple's phone.

Following the discovery of the theft, Nguyen pleaded not guilty to 32 counts of grand larceny, possession of stolen property and identity theft.
A woman has been arrested after the body of a man in his 60s was found at a Sydney home.

A statement by NSW Police said officers from Ryde Police Area Command were called to a home on Damon Street, Epping, in Sydney's north-west, following reports of a concern for welfare, at about 11am on Saturday.

On arrival, police located the body of a man.

He is yet to be formally identified but is believed to be aged in his 60s.

A woman has been arrested after the body of a man in his 60s was found at a Sydney home

A statement by NSW Police said officers from Ryde Police Area Command were called to a home on Damon Street, Epping (pictured), in Sydney's north-west, following reports of a concern for welfare, at about 11am on Saturday

A woman  who is also believed to be aged in her 60s  was arrested at the scene and taken to Gladesville Police Station where she is assisting police.

Initial inquiries have led police to believe the man and woman are known to each other.

More to come
Horrifying footage captured the aftermath of a fiery crash that left a beloved New Hampshire father and charity volunteer dead.

Scott Defreitas, 52, tragically lost his life on Thursday after plowing his Mercedes into a toll booth barrier, causing the vehicle to explode into a fireball.

New Hampshire State Police said Defreitas was pulled from the wreck by several witnesses, but life-saving measures could not save him, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A manager at manufacturing firm Hypotherm Associates, Defreitas was previously praised for his extensive charity work, including hosting monthly dinners for a local homeless shelter.

Horrifying footage captured the aftermath of a fiery crash that left a beloved New Hampshire father and charity volunteer dead

Officials said they spent three hours extinguishing the fire and clearing the roadway, which a witness described as 'really scary'

The horror crash unfolded around 3:15 pm on Thursday in Bedford, New Hampshire, after Defreitas collided with a toll on the Everett Turnpike.

It is unclear what caused the crash, with footage appearing to show no other vehicles were involved in the incident.

In video filmed by a witness, Defreitas' Mercedes SL 500 was seen engulfed in flames, which officials later said took three hours to extinguish.

A heavy law enforcement presence was on the scene as officials worked to process the incident and clear the roadway of debris, with later footage showing the vehicle's burned-out shell on the highway.

Witness Robert Webster told WMUR that the tragic incident was 'a shocker.'

'It was really scary,' he said. 'The gentleman was still on the ground when we were passing by, and the firefighters were trying to put out the blaze.'

Police say the crash remains under investigation and they are appealing for information from witnesses.

Scott Defreitas, 52, tragically died in the crash after his Mercedes collided with a toll booth barrier and exploded into flames

Defreitas was praised for his extensive charity work, which included hosting monthly dinners for a local homeless shelter. He's pictured here with his two children

According to online records, Defreitas worked as a procurer and category manager for manufacturing firm Hypotherm Associates, and was praised in the company's 'social responsibility' promotion for his charity work.

He hosted monthly dinners for homeless shelter Haven Hixon House, and he noted in the promotion that 'nothing has made more of an impact to make me well-grounded than helping people.'

Officials sounded the alarm after the crash over the dangers posed at tollbooths, and cited Thursday's wreckage as the sixth at tollbooths in the state in the last three months.

In the past month, a Massachusetts man died after crashing into the Hampton Toll Plaza over Memorial Day weekend, and just days before another man was injured at the same location, reports Hoodline.

New Hampshire Department of Transport official Richard Arcand said that the incidents are a concerning trend, particularly as none were believed to be a 'snow event' or caused by weather.

'The roads are clear and dry and this is speed or inattentive driving or sometimes distracted or impaired driving, and it's very concerning,' he said.
Donald Trump could be set to lose Florida to Joe Biden in November's presidential election as the president narrows the gap, polls suggest.

Although Trump currently leads in his home state, which he won in 2016 and 2020, the margin is slim with surveys suggesting the battleground could be a tossup.

The state twice backed Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, but Trump turned it solidly red. Yet recent polling in the Sunshine State suggests Biden is only behind by four points.

Two separate surveys, one from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and Mainstreet Research, revealed that Trump's lead over Biden has decreased over the past two months.

Losing Florida would be a personal blow to Trump who is a full-time Florida resident thanks to his Mar-a-Lago home

The FAU poll puts Trump at 46 percent and Biden at 42 percent, compared to Trump's 50 percent in April.

Losing Florida would be a personal blow to Trump who is a full-time Florida resident thanks to his Mar-a-Lago home.

Trump won Florida with 51.2 percent of the vote in 2020, but Biden's improving performance in polling suggests the race will be a competitive one in the state.

Florida has long been considered a Republican stronghold with Democrats only winning the state in five presidential elections: 1964, 1976, 1996, 2008 and 2012.

President Joe Biden speaks at a reproductive freedom event in Tampa, Florida in April. Biden expressed his administration's opposition to Florida's six-week abortion ban

Republicans have consistently won statewide races for governor, Senate and cabinet, but often by razor margins, raising Democrats' hopes for the next election cycle only to see them dashed again.

Although there are Democratic strongholds in the southeastern portion of the state with the big cities of Miami and Fort Lauderdale, it is not enough to offset Republican gains in other parts of the state including Broward County and Palm Beach County.

Part of the Republican shift can also be attributed to people living in rural areas of north Florida, remnants of the deep South, changing their registration to reflect their voting patterns.

Donald Trump gestures next to his birthday cake, created by Club 47, during a campaign rally as he celebrates his 78th birthday at West Palm Convention Center, in West Palm Beach Friday

Two recent polls suggest Biden is gaining ground on Trump in the Sunshine State

Many people registered as Democrats because generations before them did, but the so-called Dixiecrats still voted solidly Republican.

Democrats are particularly concerned about the trend in Miami-Dade County, home to 1.85 million Hispanic voters and a Democratic stronghold for the past 20 years, where the GOP made significant gains in the last presidential election and could flip it red come November.

But Democrats are hoping that a ballot question that looks to preserve abortion rights will put the state back in play for them.

Although the abortion debate didn't stop Republican Governor Ron DeSantis from winning reelection by a landslide in 2022, even after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, by the time the election rolls around, Floridians will have been living with the restrictions for some time.

DeSantis signed new abortion restrictions that ban the procedure after six weeks. Democrats correctly warned he would further strip away rights to the procedure.

Pictured: Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm, Beach

But the abortion issue cuts across party lines. In a landslide victory for abortion rights supporters, Kansas voters in 2022 rejected a proposed state constitutional amendment that would have stripped residents of abortion rights.

Kentucky voters similarly rejected a 2022 ballot measure aimed at denying constitutional protections for abortion.

Last year, abortion rights were front and center in key races, including Ohio, where voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure enshrining protections in the state constitution.

The former president has careful not to be too blatant with his views on abortion.

He routinely takes credit for appointing the Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, paving the way for a wave of new restrictions.

But Trump has also repeatedly criticized fellow Republicans for being too hardline on the issue, blaming candidates who opposed exceptions  in cases of rape, incest and when the life of the mother is at risk  for the party's midterm losses in 2022.
A man who was previously a part-owner of one of Western Australia's biggest physiotherapy chains has been jailed for almost 10 years for sexually assaulting teenage girls and young women.

Luke Tham Sheng-En, 42, was a 'managing partner' of three Life Ready Physio branches when he assaulted the woman during massage treatments at his clinics between 2017 and 2020.

Most of the victims were patients who Tham then hired to work in the clinics before he attacked them, Perth District Court heard.

He told the victims that they needed to get massages from him so they understood how physiotherapy worked, the ABC reported.

The court heard he 'manipulated and groomed' the young women and '[used] his position of authority to violate their trust and offend against them'.

Luke Tham Sheng-En (pictured), who was previously a part-owner of one of Western Australia's biggest physiotherapy chains. has been jailed for sexually assaulting teenage girls and young women

Most of the victims were patients who Tham then hired to work in the clinics before he attacked them, Perth District Court (pictured) heard

Tham told one teenage girl he could help treat her acne by massaging her stomach to 'remove toxins'.

Then in a treatment room he sexually penetrated her against her consent.

He also indecently assaulted the same girl by massaging her breasts, claiming he had found a lump and needed to check them.

Another teenager, whose mother or grandmother usually came to the sessions with her, was told by Tham that she had 'knots' in her breast tissue that required treatment.

He then assaulted her on the first occasion she was being treated without a relative present.

Tham's lawyer, John Ling, said while four of the victims may not have complained because they wanted to keep their jobs, it was not believable that this girl would not have screamed if she had been abused, or reported it afterwards.

Mr Ling also questioned why some of the other victims did not report the assaults to the police at first and stayed working at the clinics.

But judge Laura Christian said 'Many victims do not complain until they are ready  and sometimes never complain.'

Tham was stood down as a director in late 2020 when his business partners heard about the first complainant, and he sold his shares in the company by May 2021.

Judge Christian said Tham had 'a significant power imbalance' over his victims and that the effects of his abuse were 'profound and life-long'.

In their victim impact statements, one girl said she found it hard to leave the house after Tham assaulted her, and another stopped going to school.

'I think for so long I had this shadow over me,' one of the victims told ABC's Rebecca Trigger.

'Hearing everything of what everyone else has been through, I was like, "Oh my God ... I'm not the only one."

'Every other girl spoke up, I'm incredibly proud of them as well.'

Tham (pictured) told one teenage girl he could help treat her acne by massaging her stomach to 'remove toxins'. Then in a treatment room he sexually penetrated her against her consent

Tham was convicted of three counts of sexual penetration without consent and seven counts of unlawful and indecent assault and was sentenced to nine years and 10 months in jail.

He will be eligible for parole in February 2032.

Life Ready was later sold to private heath insurer HBF, and now operates 22 clinics in Perth and Melbourne.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the company for comment.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
A pair of off-duty New York firefighters tragically died on Thursday after one of them fell into a manure tanker on a cattle farm and the other attempted to rescue him.

Tyler Memory, 29, of Tully, and Nathan Doody, 33, of DeRuyter, were performing their day jobs as drivers for manure trucks at Champion Farms when they were overpowered by the hazardous fumes issuing from the tanker.

According to authorities, one of the off-duty firemen had endeavored to retrieve 'a piece of equipment that had fallen into the tanker' before passing out and collapsing inside.

Although it isn't yet clear who initially fell into the tanker, investigators said that the other man tried to rescue his colleague, but then he also fell unconscious and tumbled in.

A pair of off-duty New York firefighters tragically died on Thursday after one of them fell into a manure tanker on a cattle farm and the other attempted to rescue him. Memory (pictured) was a third-generation firefighter and a 15-year veteran of the Tully Joint Fire Department

According to authorities, one of the off-duty firemen had endeavored to retrieve 'a piece of equipment that had fallen into the tanker,' before passing out and collapsing inside. Doody (pictured) was a volunteer at the Cuyler Fire Department in Cortland County, which he'd joined 10 years ago

Other farm employees discovered both the men unconscious in the tanker and called 911 around 11 am.

After the farm staff contacted authorities, two helicopters were dispatched to the scene.

The Clinton Fire Department, Mercy Flight, and COVAC Ambulance all descended on the farm and administered aid to the two men.

Tully and Doody were then rushed to Wynn Hospital in Utica, where they later died.

Memory (pictured) joined the department when he was only 14 years old

Tully and Doody (pictured left) were then rushed to Wynn Hospital in Utica, where they later passed away

According to LocalSyr.com, 29-year-old Memory was a third-generation firefighter and a 15-year veteran of the Tully Joint Fire Department.

Memory joined the department when he was only 14 years old, Assistant Chief Joe Nemier said.

Doody, also a long-time firefighter, was a volunteer at the Cuyler Fire Department in Cortland County, where he'd joined ten years ago.

The sudden and tragic deaths of the two brave young men have left their respective fire departments and families grieving.

The sudden and tragic deaths of the two brave young men have left their respective fire departments and families grieving

Although it isn't yet clear who initially fell into the tanker, investigators said that the other man tried to rescue his colleague, but then he also fell unconscious and tumbled in

A tenth-generation beef and dairy farm, Champion Farms was founded in the early 1800s in Clinton, which is roughly 250 miles northwest of Manhattan.

Manure tankers can be perilous because manure fumes release toxic gases that can be fatal to humans at certain high levels.

Among the different dangerous gases manure produces, hydrogen sulfide is the most potent and can induce nausea, dizziness, headaches and unconsciousness.

When the level of hydrogen sulfide is extremely high, a human can die after taking fewer than two breaths.
READ MORE: Young dad dies after allergic reaction to ingredient in supplement

Customers with allergy should not consume

A popular pantry meal sold in Woolworths stores across the country has been pulled from shelves over fears it contains a hidden allergen.

Indya Foods' Ashoka Palak Paneer 280g was urgently recalled on Saturday as its packaging failed to declare the presence of cashews in its listed ingredients.

Products with the best before date of June 15, 2025, are included in the recall.

Indya Foods' Ashoka Palak Paneer 280g was urgently recalled after it failed to declare the presence of cashews in its ingredients

Products with the best before date of June 15, 2025, are included in the recall and have been pulled from Woolworths shelves nationwide

Food Standards Australia New Zealand urged Woolworths shoppers who have a cashew allergy to check their products.

'Consumers who have a cashew allergy or intolerance may have a reaction if the product is consumed,' Food Standards said.

'Consumers who have a cashew allergy or intolerance should not consume this product. Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice.'

Consumers are urged to return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.

For more information, consumers can contact Indya Foods on (03) 9793 5373 or via its website.
Royal fans gathered on The Mall today as the Princess of Wales is set to make her first public appearance this year by joining the Royal Family at Trooping the Colour.

Kate, who has been receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer since late February, will ride in a carriage alongside her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, for the traditional procession through London today.

Later, she is expected to gather with King Charles and Queen Camilla, her husband Prince William and other royals on Buckingham Palace's balcony for the RAF flypast.

Scotland Yard has a 'substantial' policing operation for the event, with anti-monarchy group Republic allowed to protest but banned from using amplified sound.

In a post on X today, Republic said: 'It's a lovely sunny day (so far) for a protest! Join us, outside Buckingham Palace from 9.00am. #NotMyKing #AbolishTheMonarchy.'

Hundreds of Metropolitan Police officers will be deployed on the ceremonial route to ensure the safety and security of attendees, with tens of thousands expected.

Organisers have advised the public to stand on The Mall or on the edge of St James's Park overlooking Horse Guards Parade from 9am, with the parade starting at 10am. Coverage on BBC One begins at 10.30am and concludes after the flypast at 1pm.

Protesters and royal fans hold umbrellas on the The Mall before Trooping the Colour today

Royal fans try to take cover from the rain ahead of Trooping the Colour in London today

Members of the public gather on The Mall ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

Royal fans stand on The Mall in London ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

Republic protesters hold up placards on The Mall ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

Royal fans try to take cover from the rain ahead of Trooping the Colour in London today

Protesters and royal fans hold umbrellas on the The Mall before Trooping the Colour today

Royal fans on the The Mall in London this morning ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony

Royal fans stand on The Mall in London ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts of the Princess of Wales and the King today

Protesters wave banners on the The Mall ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony today

Royal fans on the The Mall ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony this morning

Police on horseback down The Mall ahead of Trooping the Colour in London today

Royal fans on the The Mall with a cardboard cutout of the Princess of Wales this morning

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

A team of police officers on patrol in London this morning ahead of Trooping The Colour

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

Police look on as anti-monarchist protesters wave flags next to royal fans in London today

Crowds of people gathered outside Buckingham Palace this morning, with many holding Union flags.

'There are good days and bad days': Kate's statement in full Here is the Princess of Wales' statement on her cancer treatment and summer plans, including Trooping the Colour, in full: 'I have been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months. It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times. 'I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well. 'My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months. On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home. 'I'm looking forward to attending The King's Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet. 'I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal. 'Thank you so much for your continued understanding, and to all of you who have so bravely shared your stories with me.' Advertisement

Jane Ing, 61, said she had travelled from Yorkshire with her husband and a friend to witness the royal procession through The Mall ahead of the ceremony.

She said: 'The ceremony is part of our heritage. It's an iconic parade and exhibition of our royal family that we should be proud about and come to support.'

She added it was 'lovely' that Kate has announced she will be in attendance.

And royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told MailOnline: 'Kate's appearance today is pivotal as the royal family is much weakened by two senior members fighting cancer. It is especially significant as we have not seen her on an official engagement since December.

'It is clear, both from the moving video message in March and from the statement released yesterday, that she is resilient.

'The new photograph emphasises this aspect of her character too, but she is also having an extremely tough time, as those undergoing chemotherapy usually do.

'The details we were given of her condition are an attempt to help other sufferers from this pernicious disease.

'There will be considerable speculation as to what events she will be able to attend during the summer. They will have a very special cachet as today's Birthday Parade will. She is a very special person with a place in all our hearts.'

Last night, Kate issued a candid statement outlining her personal cancer journey and said she is experiencing 'good days and bad days' as she undergoes chemotherapy.

But she has begun to work from home, undertaking meetings with her foundation and Kensington Palace team, and hopes 'to join a few public engagements over the summer' but stressed 'I am not out of the woods yet'.

The princess has been receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer since late February and her decision to choose a major national event today to return briefly to the public spotlight, the first time since Christmas Day, has been welcomed by the King.

A new photograph of the royal, taken earlier this week in the grounds of the Windsor Castle estate, shows Kate in a smart casual outfit stood in a tranquil setting against a weeping willow tree near a body of water.

A stunning new portrait of the Princess of Wales taken at Windsor this week by Matt Porteous

The photograph was taken by Matt Porteous, a favourite private photographer of the couple

Republic protesters hold up placards on The Mall ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

Republic protesters hold up placards on The Mall ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

Protesters and royal fans hold umbrellas on the The Mall before Trooping the Colour today

Royal fans stand on The Mall in London ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

Republic protesters hold up placards on The Mall ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

ANALYSIS BY RICHARD FIZWILLIAMS: Kate's appearance is pivotal Kate's appearance today is pivotal as the royal family is much weakened by two senior members fighting cancer. It is especially significant as we have not seen her on an official engagement since December. It is clear, both from the moving video message in March and from the statement released yesterday, that she is resilient. The new photograph emphasises this aspect of her character too, but she is also having an extremely tough time, as those undergoing chemotherapy usually do. The details we were given of her condition are an attempt to help other sufferers from this pernicious disease. There will be considerable speculation as to what events she will be able to attend during the summer. They will have a very special cachet as today's Birthday Parade will. She is a very special person with a place in all our hearts. Advertisement

She said in her statement: 'I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting.

'But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.

'My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months. On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home.'

The princess will be joined by her three children in a carriage for the traditional procession to Trooping the Colour and later they will gather with other royals on Buckingham Palace's balcony.

Kate said: 'I'm looking forward to attending the King's Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet.

'I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal.'

The future Queen has received thousands of letters and cards from well-wishers, some sharing their own battles with cancer, and Kate said she had been 'blown away' by the 'kind messages' that had made a 'world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times'.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: 'His Majesty is delighted that the princess is able to attend tomorrow's events, and is much looking forward to all elements of the day'.

Royal fans on the The Mall with a cardboard cutout of the Princess of Wales this morning

Protesters from the Republic group with a flag saying 'Not My King' in Westminster today

Royal fans stand on The Mall in London ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

A team of police officers on patrol in Westminster this morning ahead of Trooping The Colour

Republic protesters hold up placards on The Mall ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

The Royal Standard flag flies above Buckingham Palace as police watch the crowds today

Protesters wave banners on the The Mall ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony today

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning in front of 'Not My King' protest flags

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

A general view of The Mall ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony today

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

A Metropolitan Police van outside Buckingham Palace today before Trooping the Colour

A mounted police officer speaks to royal fans on The Mall ahead of Trooping the Colour today

The princess's public appearance at Trooping will be her first official outing of 2024 after she missed engagements at the start of the year when she was admitted to hospital for abdominal surgery on January 16.

Timeline leading up to and after Kate's cancer diagnosis Here is the timeline of events leading up to and after the Princess of Wales' health announcement in March: - Monday December 25: In her last public appearance before the news of her hospital treatment, Kate was seen on Christmas Day in Sandringham walking to church with the rest of her family. She held hands with her daughter Princess Charlotte and looked happy and relaxed as she smiled at well-wishers while heading to the service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Norfolk. - Tuesday January 9: Kate turned 42 on January 9, and while the monarchy's official social media accounts marked the day with a behind-the-scenes photo of Kate at the coronation, there was, unusually, no customary response from Kensington Palace thanking well-wishers for their messages. - Tuesday January 16: Kate is secretly admitted to The London Clinic and undergoes abdominal surgery. She attends the clinic rather than King Edward VII's Hospital, which is usually the go-to establishment for royal family medical matters. - Wednesday January 17: Kensington Palace announces the princess's operation and says she will remain in the private hospital for 10-14 days. She is not expected to return to duties until after Easter, taking up to three months to recover. The Prince of Wales steps back from his official duties temporarily to care for his wife and children. The exact nature of Kate's condition is kept private, but it is not cancerous and Kensington Palace says the planned procedure was successful. A source later says the princess is 'doing well'. - Thursday January 18: The Prince of Wales spends time at his wife's bedside, driving himself away from the back entrance during the low-key, private visit. A serious-looking William was seen leaving the The London Clinic at about 12.35pm. - Tuesday January 23: Kate's hospital stay passes the one-week mark. - Friday January 26: The King visits the Princess of Wales after he is admitted to the London Clinic for treatment for an enlarged prostate. - Monday January 29: Kate leaves the clinic to continue her recovery at home. - Monday February 5: Kensington Palace confirms the Prince of Wales is returning to official duties that week, beginning with an investiture. - Wednesday February 7: The Prince of Wales thanked the public for their 'kind messages of support' after the King announced his cancer diagnosis, while also recognising those who wished Kate well as she recovered from planned abdominal surgery. - Monday March 4: The Princess of Wales was photographed for the first time since undergoing abdominal surgery. Kate was pictured near Windsor Castle in the passenger seat of a car, according to TMZ. The news site said she was wearing dark sunglasses in the black Audi which was being driven by her mother, Carole Middleton. The photo is understood to have been taken by paparazzi. - Tuesday March 5: The Army removed a claim on its website that the Princess of Wales was reviewing Trooping the Colour in June. Tickets were being sold on the official website for the June 8 military event, advertising an appearance by Kate. - Sunday March 10: Questions were raised that the first picture of the Princess of Wales to be released after her abdominal surgery may have been manipulated before it was posted on social media by Kensington Palace. The photo of Kate and her children, said by the palace to have been taken by the Prince of Wales in Windsor earlier in the week, was posted to mark Mother's Day. In the post, she said: 'Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months. Wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day. C.' The picture shows Kate sitting in a chair with her arms around Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, who are on either side of her, with Prince George standing behind, as all four smile at the camera. The photograph was shared with the media on Sunday but it was withdrawn by international picture agencies later the same day because of concerns that the image had been manipulated. - Monday March 11: The Princess of Wales publicly took the blame for the manipulated photograph and issued a personal apology for the 'confusion'. Kate said: 'Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother's Day. C.' - Saturday March 16: The Princess of Wales was filmed smiling with her husband during a visit to a farm shop in Windsor. Kate's recovery from surgery appeared to have progressed after footage obtained by The Sun showed her and William at the local business. In the video the princess can be seen with her hair down, wearing a black jacket and leggings, chatting with William and carrying a large white bag. - Tuesday March 19: An investigation was reportedly launched at the London Clinic over claims staff tried to access the Princess of Wales's private medical records. At least one member of staff tried to access Kate's notes while she was a patient at the hospital in January, The Mirror reported. The UK privacy and data protection watchdog said it had received a breach report. - Friday March 22: In a recorded video message, the Princess of Wales announced she was having chemotherapy after tests following her surgery found cancer had been present. - Thursday April 18: William, who had spent the previous three and a half weeks with Kate and their children during the Easter holidays, returned to public work. He visited Surplus to Supper, a surplus food redistribution charity, in Sunbury-on-Thames, and then a youth centre in west London which benefits from the organisation's regular deliveries. - Friday May 10: The Prince of Wales gave a positive update about his wife's cancer treatment during a visit to the Isles of Scilly, saying 'she's doing well' when asked by a hospital administrator. - Wednesday June 5: Footage posted on social media site X, formerly Twitter, showed William speaking to a veteran after a D-Day commemorative event in Portsmouth, in which he appeared to say 'she is' when asked if Kate was 'getting any better', with the prince adding: 'She'd love to be here today.' - Saturday June 8: The Princess of Wales wrote a letter to the Irish Guards to apologise for not being able to take the salute, and wished them luck for The Colonel's Review in London. - Friday June 14: Kate said in a statement that she is 'making good progress' and has 'good days and bad days', adding: 'I am not out of the woods yet.' She said she will attend Trooping the Colour in London on Saturday and that she 'hopes to join a few public engagements over the summer' as she continues treatment 'for a few more months'. Advertisement

At the time her condition was thought to be non-cancerous but tests after the successful operation found the disease, and Kate disclosed the medical development in an emotional video released in March.

Trooping will not mark the start of a return to full-time duties, and Kate has no plans to attend the Garter Day service on Monday or Royal Ascot, as she is still undergoing treatment, with the royal appearing to indicate in her statement it will last until the end of summer.

Chemotherapy can be used even when surgeons believe they have removed all the cancer, owing to the risk the disease might come back, and it can reduce the chances of a new cancer.

Kate has been holding meetings with her palace staff, the Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales and her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, which in the future will be noted in the Court Circular, the official record of royal events.

A Kensington Palace spokesperson said: 'The prince is pleased to see the princess starting to engage with the work and projects that are important to her.

'He will continue to focus his time on supporting his wife and children, while continuing to undertake his public duties.'

A time frame has not been set for Kate's return to a full schedule of public engagements as she is being given time to convalesce and recover before full-time work.

Trooping will be a special event for the princess as Number 9 Company, Irish Guards, a regiment she represents as Colonel, will be Trooping their King's Colour today, but Lieutenant General Sir James Bucknall will take the salute on her behalf.

The King, who is also undergoing cancer treatment, will not ride during the ceremony but will inspect the troops formed up in Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall from a carriage.

Meanwhile Rishi Sunak has said it is 'wonderful news' that Kate is attending the event.

During a press conference at the G7 in Italy, he said: 'It's obviously wonderful, wonderful news. The whole country will be behind the Princess of Wales for her recovery.

'I saw her statement earlier, I thought it was brave, I thought it was honest and I'm sure it will bring an enormous amount of comfort to so many other people who are grappling with similar health challenges, so I think she deserves enormous praise for what she said and it will be great to see her there tomorrow.'

Meanwhile a 'substantial' policing operation will be in place during Trooping the Colour, with an anti-monarchy group banned from using amplified sound.

Hundreds of Metropolitan Police officers will be deployed along the ceremonial route to ensure the safety and security of attendees amid a planned demonstration by pressure group Republic.

Scotland Yard has imposed a condition under Section 14 of the Public Order Act 1986 prohibiting protesters from using systems to amplify sound 'within the footprint' of Trooping the Colour between 8am and 3pm.

Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove said: 'Trooping the Colour holds national significance and as you would expect with this ceremonial event there is a substantial security operation to ensure everyone who attends and participates can do so in a safe and secure way.

'Alongside colleagues at the Ministry of Defence and the Royal Parks, our policing plan has focused on achieving this aim.'

He added: 'It's imperative this event is safe, which is why along with our partners we have considered factors, such as how amplified noise could disrupt and impact mounted regiments taking part.

'We have also taken into account the views of Republic. Our concern, along with partners, is that amplified noise could cause a public safety issue and serious disruption to the event and crowds attending.

'That is why the Met has taken a considered decision to impose a condition prohibiting amplified sound.'

Republic, which campaigns for the abolition of the monarchy and its replacement with a directly elected head of state, said the protest will go ahead without amplified sound.

Chief executive Graham Smith said: 'We don't agree with their reasons but we have to go along with it because otherwise we'll be arrested.

'It isn't a big problem, we've got quite loud voices.'

The latest update on Kate comes after her video statement revealing her diagnosis back in March.

In that announcement, Kate highlighted the importance of giving her children - George, Charlotte and Louis - time and space to come to terms with their mother's illness.

The princess' major public project is supporting the early years development of children, and last year she launched her long-term campaign Shaping Us, described as her 'life's work' and aimed at highlighting the crucial first five years of a child's life.

Kate has carefully carved out this public role focusing on the wellbeing of children and mental health since marrying the Prince of Wales in 2011 and becoming an HRH.

She remains close to her parents Carole and Michael Middleton and siblings Pippa Matthews and James Middleton, and had a happy home life growing up.

Catherine Elizabeth Middleton was born to the Middletons at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading on January 9 1982.

She was christened at the parish church of St Andrew's Bradfield in Berkshire on June 20 the same year.

Amman in Jordan was home to Kate and her family for a few years in the mid-1980s, where she attended a nursery school from the age of three, before the family returned to Berkshire.

At 13, she went to the exclusive private Marlborough College in Wiltshire, where she part-boarded.

She graduated in 2005 with a 2:1 in history of art from St Andrews University, where she met and began dating William, whom she married at Westminster Abbey in 2011.

She was dubbed 'Waity Katie' by the press for her patience during their long courtship, and was described by William in their engagement interview as having 'a really naughty sense of humour'.

A keen photographer, the princess usually takes the publicly released photos of her children to mark their birthdays.

Kate is also known for being fit, sporty and competitive at team games and even enjoys the thrill of cold water swimming.

In an interview last September with former rugby international Mike Tindall, who is married to her husband's cousin Zara, she said her family were 'always active'.

'I suppose as a family we were just very active,' she said 'And I can always remember being physical, using our bodies, whether it's walking, climbing the lake district in Scotland... swimming from a young age.'

Kate also spoke about the attraction of a chilly dip: 'Cold swimming - the colder, the better. I absolutely love it. Slightly to the point where William's (saying) 'You're crazy' and it's dark and it's raining'. I will go and seek out cold water. I love it.'

Royal fan Minerva Halil stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts of the Princess of Wales and the King today

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning in front of 'Not My King' protest flags

Police look on as anti-monarchist protesters wave flags next to royal fans in London today

Buckingham Palace is pictured this morning ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony

Royal fans on the The Mall with a cardboard cutout of King Charles III this morning

Royal fans start to gather on The Mall in London this morning ahead of Trooping The Colour

Police look on as anti-monarchist protesters wave flags next to royal fans in London today

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts of the Princess of Wales and the King today

Staff lay more gravel of the forecourt of Buckingham Palace in preparation this morning

Kate was initially admitted to hospital for abdominal surgery on January 16 and at the time her condition was thought to be non-cancerous, but cancer was found after a successful operation.

Kate has been receiving regular doses of drugs, which kill existing cancer cells and can help prevent the disease returning, with her chemotherapy treatment believed to have begun in late February.

The princess was diagnosed after a major abdominal operation in January, and it was initially thought she did not have the disease, but tests after surgery found cancer had been present.

Chemotherapy can be used even when surgeons believe they have removed all the cancer, because of the risk the disease might come back, and it can reduce the chances of a new cancer.

Professor Bob Phillips, professor of paediatric oncology at the University of York, said: 'For some types of cancers, chemotherapy can be given after, to act to 'mop up' if there are any cancer cells left.

A workman cleans the central gates to Buckingham Palace ahead ofTrooping the Colour today

Royal fans on the The Mall in London this morning ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts of the Princess of Wales and the King today

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning in front of 'Not My King' protest flags

Royal fans on the The Mall in London this morning ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

A team of police officers on patrol in Westminster this morning ahead of Trooping The Colour

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fans on the The Mall in London this morning ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts of the Princess of Wales and the King today

'The value of this varies between cancer types, and even the size and place of the same cancer type.'

Prof Andrew Beggs, consultant colorectal surgeon at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, echoed Prof Phillips' comments, saying preventive chemotherapy was 'a bit like mopping a floor with bleach when you've spilt something on it, chemotherapy kills any spilt cells'.

There are many different types of chemotherapy drugs and patients can take the treatment via tablets at home, with regular check-ups from medical staff, or intravenously, with the liquid drug fed into the body through a vein during an outpatient hospital appointment.

Chemotherapy can also be combined with other treatments like radiotherapy to make them more effective, and the length of treatment depends on the stage and type of cancer.

Protesters from the Republic group with a flag saying 'Not My King' in Westminster today

Republic demonstrators said in a post on X today: 'It's a lovely sunny day (so far) for a protest!'

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts of the Princess of Wales and the King today

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fan Minerva Halil stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

A police dog with a handler on patrol in London this morning ahead of Trooping The Colour

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts ahead of Trooping the Colour today

Prof Phillips said the timeframe for chemotherapy treatment was 'hugely variable', adding that it was 'traditionally between four and six 'cycles' (blocks) of chemo, each cycle lasting 21 days and consisting of a day or few days of chemo'.

He added there would then be 'time for the body to recover from it, while the chemo keeps damaging the cancer cell.

'There are also some which are daily, some which are four-weekly and some which are two-weekly'.

The treatment has side effects, as healthy cells are damaged alongside cancer cells, and patients can experience tiredness, vomiting, hair loss and have an increased risk of getting infections, dry, sore or itchy skin and bowel issues.

More than 375,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK, and there are more than 167,000 deaths from the disease.

Half of people with cancer survive for a decade or longer after diagnosis. Cancer survival depends on the cancer type and whether the disease is caught early.

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts of the Princess of Wales and the King today

Royal fan Minerva Halil stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts of the Princess of Wales and the King today

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, followed by prostate cancer, lung cancer and bowel cancer.

Asked whether age was a factor in survival rates and the success of chemotherapy treatment, Prof Phillips said: 'Sort of, but not in a simple way.

'Generally speaking, the healthier someone is before cancer treatment, the closer to optimal the amount of chemo and the gaps between chemo can be.

'Generally, the younger someone is, the healthier they will be.'

Prof Beggs said: 'Young onset cancer is by no means rare. I run a clinic for early-onset cancer in adults and we are seeing more and more people in their 40s with cancer.'

He went on: 'Age has no effect on the success rate of chemotherapy except when the cancers are 'immune hot', which are commoner in young people, in this case a type of chemotherapy called immunotherapy could be given.

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts of the Princess of Wales and the King today

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

'Young people also better tolerate higher doses of chemotherapy and so can be given stronger regimens that are more likely to kill any leftover cells.'

Last Saturday, Kate wrote a letter to the Irish Guards to apologise for not being able to take the salute and wish them luck for The Colonel's Review in London.

The Prince of Wales gave a positive update about his wife's treatment during a visit to the Isles of Scilly in May, saying 'she's doing well' when asked by a hospital administrator.

William spent a number of weeks with Kate and their children during the Easter holidays before returning to public work in mid-April.

Charles was admitted to hospital just days after Kate, also for a procedure deemed unrelated to cancer.

In February, Buckingham Palace confirmed that he had been diagnosed with a form of cancer, which is not prostate cancer, that was discovered while the King was being treated at the private London Clinic for an enlarged prostate.

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fans on the The Mall in London this morning ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

In wishing the monarch a full recovery, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said thankfully the cancer had been 'caught early'.

Charles initially postponed public-facing duties but resumed at the end of April, speaking of his 'shock' at being diagnosed with cancer as he met patients on a visit to University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in central London.

His appearance at a D-Day event in Portsmouth last week was his first public speech and most high-profile appearance since his cancer diagnosis.

The Queen provided an update on her husband's health at the Queen's Reading Room Literary Festival at Hampton Court Palace in Surrey last Saturday, telling author Lee Child the King is 'doing fine' but 'won't slow down and won't do what he's told'.

Sarah, Duchess of York announced a medical procedure at the beginning of 2024, when she revealed a diagnosis of malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer.

A statement from the Princess of Wales which was issued by Kensington Palace yesterday

It was her second cancer diagnosis within a year, having been diagnosed with breast cancer the summer before, which led to her undergoing a mastectomy and subsequent reconstructive surgery.

She had discovered an early form of breast cancer during a routine mammogram screening.

'Naturally another cancer diagnosis has been a shock, but I'm in good spirits and grateful for the many messages of love and support,' Sarah said on Instagram.

Princess Beatrice shared an update on her mother's health on This Morning in May when she said the duchess was 'all clear' and 'doing really well'.

In late February, tragedy befell Prince Michael of Kent's family when Thomas Kingston, the husband of Prince Michael's daughter, Lady Gabriella Windsor, died from a 'catastrophic head injury' with a gun found close to his body.

For many years, it was the estrangement of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that dominated discourse around the royal family after the pair stepped down as working royals in 2020.

2023 -- (From left) Prince George, Kate, Prince Louis, Prince William, Princess Charlotte, King Charles and Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace for Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023

2022 -- William, Kate and their children attend Trooping the Colour in London on June 2, 2022

2021 -- Trooping the Colour was held at Windsor Castle in front of the Queen on June 12, 2021

2019 -- William and Kate at Trooping the Colour with their children in London on June 8, 2019

2017 -- Philip speaks to William and Kate at Trooping The Colour in London on June 17, 2017

Having relocated to Montecito, California, Harry has returned to the UK infrequently but did so after the King's cancer diagnosis.

Though the duke only conducted a whirlwind 45-minute meeting with his father, Harry suggested that the King's cancer diagnosis could lead to a reconciliation with the family.

Asked by a US breakfast show if the diagnosis could have a 'reunifying effect', the duke replied: 'Yeah, I am sure.'

In May, a spokesperson for Harry said he 'hopes' to see his father 'soon' after the King's 'full programme' meant a reunion was not possible during the duke's UK trip to celebrate his Invictus Games.

Meanwhile, leading cancer charities have praised Kate for her 'thoughtful words' that will 'resonate' with many.

A Macmillan Cancer Support spokesperson said: 'Her Royal Highness, The Princess of Wales' thoughtful words on her treatment experience will resonate with, and provide inspiration for, so many people with cancer who are in a similar situation.

March 22 -- Kate reveals in a video that she is undergoing preventative chemotherapy

'For many people, managing the effects of cancer treatment can be challenging. Day in day out we hear from people about the impact treatment is having on their emotional wellbeing, as well as the physical symptoms and side effects they are experiencing, such as tiredness, insomnia, nausea and more.'

Dame Laura Lee, chief executive of cancer support charity Maggie's, of which the Queen is president, said: 'It's wonderful that Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales feels well enough to be at Trooping the Colour.

'Her statement echoes precisely what we hear in our centres every day - that with cancer there are good days and bad days, and no two experiences of cancer are ever the same.

'Her comment that it is important to go with how you feel each day is absolutely true and I am sure that will resonate with a huge number of people living with cancer.'

Kate announced she was having chemotherapy in a recorded video message on March 22, after tests following her surgery found cancer had been present.
The first of at least four new unmanned surveillance aircraft roughly the size of a Boeing 737 has been spotted on its long journey across the Pacific to Australia.

The Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton - also known as the AUS 1 - left a Californian Naval Air Station on Thursday en route to Katherine via Wake Island.

The drone is expected to land at RAAF Base Tindal on Saturday.

It will then be redeployed for maritime patrols to assist Australian Border Force.

Flying under the call sign SCORE47, the drone was last seen on flight tracking software FlightAware off the California coast, heading into the Pacific Ocean.

File photos of MQ-4C Triton. Courtesy of Northrop Grumman. Image has been manipulated. Picture: Ministry of Defence

The Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton - also known as the AUS 1 - left a Californian Naval Air Station on Thursday. Picture: FlightAware

Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy last year confirmed the purchase of a fourth MQ-4C Triton as part of a $1.5 billion boost to the RAAF's capabilities.

The long-range aircraft will be piloted from Edinburgh Air Base near Adelaide following a spate of recent unauthorised arrivals by boat into Australia.

About 30 suspected asylum seekers from Pakistan and Bangladesh were detained in February after arriving near Beagle Bay, 130km from Broome.

It comes more than 20 years after Australia first signalled an interest in acquiring the Triton, but has not come without criticism from sceptics.

Despite operating upward of 50,000ft, the Triton drone is vulnerable to enemy attack and reportedly cannot monitor small wooden vessels.

Head of Air Force Capability Air Vice-Marshal Wendy Blyth welcomed the drones arrival and said aircrews had already conducted extensive training.

This is so exciting ! So very proud of #TeamTriton!

Per the image in the story , follow #SCORE47 on @FlightTracker24 to follow her in to Australia!https://t.co/7QIA9EOBkC

RN: 46,675ft and 255kts headed SW https://t.co/XZWQ6RmUWW pic.twitter.com/R3Mq3KfcIk  Keirin Joyce (@keirinjoyce) June 14, 2024

'The MQ-4C Triton will deliver unprecedented persistence and awareness over the maritime domain in support of the Integrated Force,' he said on Wednesday.

'Uncrewed aerial systems offer enormous potential to capitalise on the opportunities provided by modern payloads and increased endurance.

'This will significantly enhance our ability to persistently patrol Australia's north and northwestern approaches; in the southwest Pacific and south to Antarctica.'
Anti-monarchy protestors taunted the royal family ahead of the Princess of Wales's comeback for Trooping The Colour today.

Republic, a group which advocates abolishing the monarchy, shared a post of activists gathering outside Buckingham Palace ahead of the King's official birthday parade.

Uniformed police surrounded anti-monarchy protestors opposite Buckingham Palace just before noon.

Around 30 members of the protest group Monarchy had been waving flags and chanting  Down With The King.

The protestors lowered the last of their black and yellow banners with the message Not My King just after 12 noon to cheers from royal supporters amid heavy rain and thunder claps.

Thousands of royal supporters were waiting patiently for a glimpse of the Princess of Wales and other members of the Royal Family on the balcony of the Palace.

Anti-monarchy protestors have arrived at today's Trooping The Colour ceremony to mark the King's official birthday

It read: 'It's a sunny day (so far) for a protest! Join us, outside Buckingham Palace from 9.00am.'

In a further jibe at the monarch, another post from the campaign group said: 'Apparently this guy called Charles is coming in an hour or so. We'll be there.'

It comes a crowds arrived to support Kate in her first public appearance this year.

Catherine, who has been receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer, will ride in a carriage with her three children, George, Charlotte and Louis.

She will then appear alongside the King, Queen Camilla and her husband the Prince of Wales to observe an RAF bypass on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

Campaign group Republic shared a post goading royals, urging people to join them outside Buckingham Palace for a protest from 9am

Another post by the group mocked the King, saying 'apparently this guy called Charles is coming by in an hour or so'

But anti-monarchy protestors were pictured arriving on The Mall before the annual ceremony.

One demonstrator, wearing a yellow Republic top, was seen waving a flag with the message 'not my king', next to royal supporters holding Union flags.

Republic has previously made a stand at major royal events, including at the King's Coronation last year during which several activists were arrested.

It supports removing the monarch and replacing it with an elected head of state.

Its chief executive Graham Smith said that despite disagreeing with the reasons given by police, the restriction was not a 'big problem'.

'We've got quite loud voices', he said.

Scotland Yard confirmed that the campaign group would be allowed to protest but without amplified sound between 8am and 3pm.

A police dog with a handler on patrol in London this morning ahead of Trooping The Colour

The new portrait of the Princess of Wales taken at Windsor this week, ahead of her first public appearance for the King's Birthday parade today

The Metropolitan Police has said hundreds of officers will be deployed on the procession route in a 'substantial' operation to protect visitors, with thousands expected to descend on central London ahead of the pageant.

Visitors wishing to get a sight of the ceremony have been advised to stand either on The Mall or on the edge of St James's Park overlooking Horse Guards Parade from 9am, with the parade due to start at 10am.

The ceremony will also be broadcast on BBC One from 10.30am, with coverage lasting until the flypast concludes at 1pm.

Last night, the Princess of Wales issued a statement saying that she continued to experience 'good days and bad days' on her journey to recovery.

As well as confirming her attendance at today's event, she expressed hope that she would be able to 'join a few public engagements over the summer', while stressing she was not 'out of the woods yet'.
The RAF are set to dazzle royal fans as they plan a 30-aircraft flypast to honour the King's birthday.

The stunning spectacle is set to include the RAF Red Arrows and a range of planes and helicopters as troops mass on the ground for Trooping the Colour - a tradition boasting 1,400 soldiers, 400 musicians and over 200 horses.

Members of the royal family are expected to watch the display from the Buckingham Palace balcony - including the Princess of Wales, who will be making her first appearance of the year after she announced she had been receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer since late February.

In previous years it has been a moment where the royal children shine - with little Prince Louis delighting fans last year as pretended to fly one of the planes, appearing to screw up his face as he mimicked the engine's deafening noise.

But in a tragic turn the flypast will not be featuring the iconic Battle of Britain memorial flight beloved by The Queen after a fatal Spitfire crash last month.

The fly-past after the Trooping the Colour parade in celebration of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee, in London, Britain, on June 2, 2022

Three Chinook will lead the way followed by a trio of Typhoon fighter jets. Phenom and Texan aircraft will follow behind, with a huge Globemaster C-17 on their tail

A Voyager and Atlas will the roar over The Mall, followed by a Poseidon submarine hunter, flanked by a pair of Typhoons

Bringing up the rear will be the iconic Red Arrows - trailing their red, white and blue plumes of smoke behind them as they paint the sky in the nation's colours

Little Prince Louis delighted fans last year as pretended to fly one of the planes, appearing to screw up his face as he mimicked the engine's deafening noise

Prince Louis shields his ears from the loud noise of the flypast during Trooping the Colour in 2022, as he stands on the balcony alongside Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Prince William

The vintage planes - based at RAF Coningsby - have been grounded after Squadron Leader Mark Long, 43, crashed in a field in Lincolnshire during a Battle of Britain memorial flight.

The stunning display will take place at 1pm and will feature an array of helicopters, fighter jets and specialist jets.

Three Chinook will lead the way followed by a trio of Typhoon fighter jets. Phenom and Texan aircraft will follow behind, with a huge Globemaster C-17 on their tail.

A Voyager and Atlas will the roar over The Mall, followed by a Poseidon submarine hunter, flanked by a pair of Typhoons.

The Rivet Joint electronic surveillance aircraft will come next, also alongside two Typhoons, followed by Hawk T2 training aircraft.

Four of the RAF's F-35B Lightening stealth fighter jets will then speed above the amazed crowds.

And bringing up the rear will be the iconic Red Arrows - trailing their red, white and blue plumes of smoke behind them as they paint the sky in the nation's colours.

There will be several air restrictions in place before the flypast route begins, namely in the areas of East Anglia, Essex, London.

Squadron Leader Mark Long, 43, (pictured) died when his Spitfire crashed within a few minutes of takeoff during 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

Members of the public gather on The Mall ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

Royal fans stand on The Mall in London ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

A stunning new portrait of the Princess of Wales taken at Windsor this week by Matt Porteous

The formation will jet across several counties beginning it's journey from the Suffolk coast before sweeping across the Essex area before gracing London skies before drawing to a close at Reading.

This morning, royal fans have packed The Mall as they wait for the King's birthday celebrations to begin.

The princess, 42, said in a statement: 'I'm looking forward to attending the King's Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet.

'I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty.

'Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal.'

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: 'His Majesty is delighted that the princess is able to attend tomorrow's events, and is much looking forward to all elements of the day'.

Kate's public appearance at Trooping will be her first official outing of 2024 after she missed engagements at the start of the year when she was admitted to hospital for abdominal surgery on January 16.

At the time her condition was thought to be non-cancerous but tests after the successful operation found the disease, and Kate disclosed the medical development in an emotional video released in March.

A time frame has not been set for Kate's return to a full schedule of public engagements as she is being given time to convalesce and recover before full-time work.

Trooping will be a special event for the princess as Number 9 Company, Irish Guards, a regiment she represents as Colonel, will be Trooping their King's Colour on Saturday, but Lieutenant General Sir James Bucknall will take the salute on her behalf.

The King, who is also undergoing cancer treatment, will not ride during the ceremony but will inspect the troops formed up in Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall from a carriage.
A woman has allegedly been stabbed by a trio of knifemen who are still on the run after allegedly robbing three supermarkets and stealing a car.

Police are hunting for three young men who are believed to be travelling around Melbourne's outer suburbs in a stolen white Mercedes hatchback.

There are unconfirmed reports at least one person has been stabbed and the Victoria Police air wing has been dispatched to assist in the search.

An emergency has since been declared by police who responded to reports of a young female worker being stabbed during an aggravated burglary.

Police are hunting for a trio of knifemen who are still at large after allegedly robbing three supermarkets in a matter of hours late Saturday afternoon

CCTV footage shows the men jumping the counter of a IGA supermarket in Cheltenham, in Melbourne's south, and assaulting a worker at 4pm

The men first targeted an IGA supermarket on Bernard Street in Cheltenham, 26km south of the CBD, where they leapt the counter and assaulted a worker at 4pm.

It is reported that the same men headed to a Dockendorff grocer on Cochran Street in Brighton 9.8km away after that for a second robbery at 4:30pm.

Detectives from the Moorabbin Crime Investigation Unit are interviewing staff from the grocer where at least three workers are believed to have been assaulted.

A young female staffer is understood to have been stabbed during the incident and is being treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Officers are interviewing other workers who were present at the time and reviewing CCTV footage of the incident.

A third supermarket in Burwood is also believed to have been targeted by the men.

A police helicopter is in the sky above Melbourne trying to locate the men who are still at large and a large presence remains outside the Dockendorff store.

It is reported that the same men then immediately headed to a Dockendorff grocer on Cochran Street in Brighton where they are believed to have stabbed a female staffer

CCTV from the group's first robbery inside the Cheltenham IGA shows the men leaping over the counter and raiding the store's cash register.

One of the men can be seen punching the cashier before allegedly asking for the key to the tobacco cabinet.

They were in the store for about a minute before fleeing to Burwood for their second robbery.

The knifemen primarily stole cash and cigarettes during the burglaries.

It is believed the trio were being driven by a fourth man who waited outside in the Mercedes.

Police said the car fled the scene before stopping to let two men out who then got into a brown four-wheel drive.

Both cars were last seen travelling northbound on the Nepean Highway

More to come.

The men first targeted a IGA supermarket on Bernard Street in Cheltenham, in the city's south, where they leapt the counter and assaulted a worker at 4pm
The Princess of Wales today made a triumphant return to public life amid her cancer treatment, joining the Royal Family to celebrate the King's official birthday.

Kate beamed and waved as she and her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, were cheered by crowds in The Mall after leaving Buckingham Palace in a carriage procession for the Trooping the Colour ceremony.

After spending much of the year coming to terms with the diagnosis and receiving ongoing chemotherapy, the future queen looked relaxed as she travelled along one of London's most famous thoroughfares with her family in the glass state coach.

Her appearance had been in doubt after she missed the final Trooping rehearsal last weekend, with confirmation that she would attend only given at 6pm yesterday.

But with the King also suffering from cancer, the spectacle of military pomp and pageantry became a symbolic statement by the monarchy after much uncertainty.

Kate was surrounded by other members of the family - with her husband Prince William, Colonel of the Welsh Guards, on horseback, along with Princess Anne, Colonel of the Blues and Royals, and Prince Edward, Colonel of the Scots Guards.

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

Kate arrives with Princess Charlotte and Prince George at Horse Guards Parade today

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

Kate with George and Charlotte this afternoon, in front of Sophie and Lady Louise Windsor

Soldiers on the Mall during Trooping the Colour on the way to Buckingham Palace today

The Princess of Wales speaks with Prince Louis as they watch Trooping the Colour today

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

Audience members watch the Trooping the Colour parade in London today

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

Soldiers at the Trooping the Colour parade at Horse Guards Parade in London today

Kate arrives with Princess Charlotte and Prince George at Horse Guards Parade today

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

Princess Charlotte and Prince George at Trooping the Colour on The Mall in London today

Prince William, Prince Edward and Princess Anne on horseback at Trooping the Colour today

Kate, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis watching Trooping the Colour today

The Princess of Wales speaks with Prince Louis as they watch Trooping the Colour today

Royal fans wait in heavy rain on The Mall for the return of the royal procession today

Kate with Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte in the rain this afternoon

Earlier, the family were seen arriving at Buckingham Palace in a car at 10am, with George sitting between Kate and Prince William , and Charlotte and Louis opposite.

At 1pm, she is set to gather with King Charles and Queen Camilla , her husband and other Royal Family members on Buckingham Palace's balcony for the RAF flypast.

Scotland Yard has a 'substantial' policing operation for the event, with anti-monarchy group Republic allowed to protest but banned from using amplified sound.

Hundreds of Metropolitan Police officers were deployed on the ceremonial route to ensure the safety and security of those watching, with tens of thousands gathered.

King Charles III also rode in a carriage with Queen Camilla, a departure from last year because of his illness, and he inspected the officers and guardsmen on Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall from the coach rather than from a horse.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murthy during Trooping the Colour today

Prince Louis tries to open a window while watching Trooping the Colour this afternoon

The Princess of Wales gets out of the royal carriage at Horse Guards Parade today

Soldiers on the Mall during Trooping the Colour on the way to Buckingham Palace today

Kate arrives at Horse Guards Parade today as Trooping the Colour takes place

King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive for Trooping the Colour in London this morning

Prince Louis at Trooping The Colour on Horse Guards Parade in London today

The Princess of Wales speaks with Prince Louis as they watch Trooping the Colour today

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

King Charles III and Queen Camilla during the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London today

Kate arrives at Horse Guards Parade today as Trooping the Colour takes place

King Charles III during the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade today

Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Kate at Trooping The Colour today

Soldiers at the Trooping the Colour parade at Horse Guards Parade in London today

Royal fans wait in heavy rain on The Mall for the return of the royal procession today

King Charles and Queen Camilla attend Trooping the Colour in London today

Kate was greeted by a sea of faces as the royal party turned from The Mall into Horse Guards Parade, with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence together in a carriage, while the Duchess of Edinburgh travelled in a coach with her daughter Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and the Duke of Kent.

The royal party were in the midst of a sovereign's mounted escort, formed by troops from the Household Cavalry's Life Guards and Blues and Royals.

In the rear rank was Tennyson, one of the five horses injured when they ran through the streets of London after being spooked by construction noise.

In a change from last year, Kate did not join senior family members on a dais, but watched the spectacle from the Duke of Wellington's former office with her children.

Kate stood beside her children as the regiments, in red ceremonial dress, continued to parade. She could be seen whispering in the ear of Charlotte as the band played.

Members of the Coldstream Guards band take part in Trooping the Colour today

Prince Louis looks on during Trooping the Colour in London this morning

The Princess of Wales, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte travel along The Mall today

The Trooping the Colour parade today which celebrates the official birthday of the monarch

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

Prince William, Prince Edward and Princess Anne on horseback at Trooping the Colour today

Kate arrives at Horse Guards Parade today as Trooping the Colour takes place

The Princess of Wales speaks with Prince Louis as they watch Trooping the Colour today

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

Soldiers at the Trooping the Colour parade at Horse Guards Parade in London today

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

The Trooping the Colour parade today which celebrates the official birthday of the monarch

Kate arrives at Horse Guards Parade today as Trooping the Colour takes place

King Charles arrives for the Trooping the Colour parade in London today

Prince George during Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards Parade in London this morning

Members of the military march in heavy rain on The Mall in London this afternoon

The Princess of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in London today

Louis, six, was watching the parade intently until his attention turned to what appeared to be a blind cord in the building, and he was also seen yawning.

In addition, Louis could be seen dancing along during the quick march of the Scots Guards to Highland Laddie.

The royal procession then moved back to Buckingham Palace just as heavy rain began falling in central London.

The King and Queen were protected from the downpour in their carriage. George, Charlotte and Louis also stayed dry, in a carriage with Kate.

Charles is Colonel in Chief of the regiments of the Household Division which include the Life Guards, Blues and Royals and all five regiments of Foot Guards - the Welsh, Scots, Irish, Coldstream and Grenadier - on parade for the official birthday, alongside the mounted Band of the Household Cavalry and the massed Foot Guards bands.

The King was seen waving a gloved hand to the crowds gathered to watch the procession. The Queen, wearing a large brimmed hat and seated to his left, was also seen waving.

The military spectacle, also known as the Birthday Parade is a gift from the Household Division, and Charles first attended in 1951, aged three, riding in a carriage with his grandmother, the Queen Mother, and aunt, Princess Margaret, and first rode as Colonel of the Welsh Guards in 1975.

A royal carriage makes its way along Horse Guards Parade in the rain this afternoon

The Princess of Wales and Prince Louis arrive for the Trooping the Colour ceremony today

The Princess of Wales arrives at Horse Guards Parade during Trooping the Colour today

King Charles and Queen Camilla sit in the Royal Carriage at Horse Guards Parade today

Members of the public shelter from the rain during Trooping the Colour this afternoon

The Princess of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in London today

The Princess of Wales speaks with Prince Louis as they watch Trooping the Colour today

Queen Camilla at Trooping The Colour on Horse Guards Parade in London this morning

The Trooping the Colour parade today which celebrates the official birthday of the monarch

The Princess of Wales arrives at Horse Guards Parade during Trooping the Colour today

King Charles arrives at Horse Guards Parade during Trooping the Colour today

The Princess of Wales, shelters from the rain with an umbrella at Horse Guards Parade today

King Charles arrives at Horse Guards Parade during Trooping the Colour today

Princess Charlotte at Trooping The Colour in London this morning

Kate arrives at Horse Guards Parade today as Trooping the Colour takes place

Queen Camilla travels along The Mall to the Trooping the Colour ceremony today

King Charles and Queen Camilla attend Trooping the Colour in London today

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

Trooping the Colour is a social as well as a ceremonial occasion and the stands overlooking the parade ground were filled with about 8,000 spouses, girlfriends and parents of the guardsmen and officers on parade.

It featured more than 1,250 soldiers, and hundreds of Guardsmen were lined up on the parade ground waiting to be inspected by the King from his carriage with Camilla, Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, and joined by the mounted royal Colonels.

The colour, or regimental flag, that will be trooped will be the King's Colour of number 9 company, Irish Guards.

When the royal carriages finally came to a stop Louis was the first to leave, followed by his elder brother George and sister Charlotte.

Finally, Kate stepped down wearing wearing a Jenny Packham dress, hat by Philip Treacy and the Irish Guards Regimental Brooch, as she is the regiment's Colonel.

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

Prince William, Prince Edward and Princess Anne on Horse Guards Parade in London today

Prince George and Princess Charlotte at Trooping the Colour on The Mall in London today

King Charles arrives at Horse Guards Parade during Trooping the Colour today

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

Kate arrives at Horse Guards Parade today as Trooping the Colour takes place

Prince William at the Trooping The Colour ceremony in London this morning

The Princess of Wales and Prince Louis of Wales during Trooping the Colour in London today

The Princess of Wales arrives at Horse Guards Parade during Trooping the Colour today

King Charles III and Queen Camilla during Trooping The Colour in London this morning

Princess Anne during Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards Parade in London today

The Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in London today

When the inspection of the Guardsmen in their scarlet tunics and bearskins began, the King cast his eye over the servicemen who are fighting soldiers when not performing ceremonial duties.

Sat beside him in the carriage was the Queen who wore a pale green silk crepe dress and coat by Anna Valentine, Philip Tracey hat and her Grenadier Guards military brooch.

During the pageantry the colour was first trooped through the ranks of soldiers before the guardsmen marched past the King, first in slow then in quick time with the King acknowledging the command of "eyes right" with a salute.

For the first time in more than 100 years, soldiers on parade were allowed to have beards.

The rule change, which applies across the Army, was approved by the King earlier this year after facial hair was only allowed for religious, medical or role specific reasons.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla during Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards Parade today

Lady Louise Windsor attends the Trooping the Colour parade in London today

Prince William, Prince Edward and Princess Anne on horseback at Trooping the Colour today

Queen Camilla during Trooping The Colour at Horse Guards Parade in London today

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (centre) and his wife Akshata Murty (centre right) during the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade in London this morning

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

King Charles and Queen Camilla attend Trooping the Colour in London today

Kate arrives at Horse Guards Parade today as Trooping the Colour takes place

Princes Edward and William at the Trooping The Colour ceremony in London this morning

Prince Louis looks on during Trooping the Colour in London this morning

Crowds of people gathered outside Buckingham Palace this morning, with many holding Union flags.

'There are good days and bad days': Kate's statement in full Here is the Princess of Wales' statement on her cancer treatment and summer plans, including Trooping the Colour, in full: 'I have been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months. It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times. 'I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well. 'My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months. On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home. 'I'm looking forward to attending The King's Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet. 'I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal. 'Thank you so much for your continued understanding, and to all of you who have so bravely shared your stories with me.' Advertisement

Jane Ing, 61, said she had travelled from Yorkshire with her husband and a friend to witness the royal procession through The Mall ahead of the ceremony.

She said: 'The ceremony is part of our heritage. It's an iconic parade and exhibition of our royal family that we should be proud about and come to support.'

She added it was 'lovely' that Kate announced she will be in attendance.

Political artist Kaya Mar was among spectators gathered to watch the royal procession down The Mall.

The 67-year-old had brought two oil paintings, one of the King and another of the Princess of Wales, her husband and their children.

Mr Mar said: 'The royal family are like an anchor for uncertain times - especially when you see the mess of politicians.'

He added: 'They are the only steady political institution amid the turmoil in the United Kingdom and, really, what is the only steady institution for the future of this country?

'It's still royalty. They're harmless. They're not politicians. Whether you're right, left, middle, whatever it is, you look up to them.'

The artist said his painting of Kate, which invoked Biblical imagery comparing her to Mary, was intended to poke fun at the 'religious fervour' he thought surrounded the birth of her most recent child, Prince Louis, in 2018.

Also today, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told MailOnline: 'Kate's appearance today is pivotal as the royal family is much weakened by two senior members fighting cancer. It is especially significant as we have not seen her on an official engagement since December.

'It is clear, both from the moving video message in March and from the statement released yesterday, that she is resilient.

'The new photograph emphasises this aspect of her character too, but she is also having an extremely tough time, as those undergoing chemotherapy usually do.

'The details we were given of her condition are an attempt to help other sufferers from this pernicious disease.

'There will be considerable speculation as to what events she will be able to attend during the summer. They will have a very special cachet as today's Birthday Parade will. She is a very special person with a place in all our hearts.'

King Charles and Queen Camilla attend Trooping the Colour in London today

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

Queen Camilla during Trooping The Colour at Horse Guards Parade in London today

Queen Camilla leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

Kate arrives at Horse Guards Parade today as Trooping the Colour takes place

The Princess of Wales with her family as they Buckingham Palace in London this morning

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh during Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards Parade today

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (centre) and his wife Akshata Murty (centre right) during the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade in London this morning

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

Kate arrives at Horse Guards Parade today as Trooping the Colour takes place

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh during Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards Parade today

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh during Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards Parade today

Last night, Kate issued a candid statement outlining her personal cancer journey and said she is experiencing 'good days and bad days' as she undergoes chemotherapy.

But she has begun to work from home, undertaking meetings with her foundation and Kensington Palace team, and hopes 'to join a few public engagements over the summer' but stressed 'I am not out of the woods yet'.

ANALYSIS BY RICHARD FIZWILLIAMS: Kate's appearance is pivotal Kate's appearance today is pivotal as the royal family is much weakened by two senior members fighting cancer. It is especially significant as we have not seen her on an official engagement since December. It is clear, both from the moving video message in March and from the statement released yesterday, that she is resilient. The new photograph emphasises this aspect of her character too, but she is also having an extremely tough time, as those undergoing chemotherapy usually do. The details we were given of her condition are an attempt to help other sufferers from this pernicious disease. There will be considerable speculation as to what events she will be able to attend during the summer. They will have a very special cachet as today's Birthday Parade will. She is a very special person with a place in all our hearts. Advertisement

The princess has been receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer since late February and her decision to choose a major national event today to return briefly to the public spotlight, the first time since Christmas Day, has been welcomed by the King.

A new photograph of the royal, taken earlier this week in the grounds of the Windsor Castle estate, shows Kate in a smart casual outfit stood in a tranquil setting against a weeping willow tree near a body of water.

She said in her statement: 'I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting.

'But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.

'My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months. On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home.'

The princess will be joined by her three children in a carriage for the traditional procession to Trooping the Colour and later they will gather with other royals on Buckingham Palace's balcony.

Kate said: 'I'm looking forward to attending the King's Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet.

'I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal.'

The future Queen has received thousands of letters and cards from well-wishers, some sharing their own battles with cancer, and Kate said she had been 'blown away' by the 'kind messages' that had made a 'world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times'.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: 'His Majesty is delighted that the princess is able to attend tomorrow's events, and is much looking forward to all elements of the day'.

The Princess of Wales looks out at the rain as she arrives at Buckingham Palace today

The Princess of Wales with Prince William and their three children in London this morning

The King's Guard assemble for the Trooping the Colour parade in London this morning

King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive at Buckingham Palace in London this morning

The Princess of Wales looks out at the rain as she arrives at Buckingham Palace today

The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive at Buckingham Palace in London this morning

The Princess of Wales looks out at the rain as she arrives at Buckingham Palace today

Members of the Irish Guards march along The Mall towards Horse Guards Parade today

George sits between his mother Kate and father Prince William in the car in London today

The Princess of Wales arrives at Buckingham Palace in London this morning

Lady Louise Windsor with her parents the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh in London today

Princess Charlotte looks out the window as the family arrive at Buckingham Palace today

The Princess of Wales looks out at the rain as she arrives at Buckingham Palace today

The Band of the Grenadier Guards march along The Mall towards Horse Guards Parade today

Guests gather in the stands ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony this morning

The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive at Buckingham Palace in London this morning

The princess's public appearance at Trooping will be her first official outing of 2024 after she missed engagements at the start of the year when she was admitted to hospital for abdominal surgery on January 16.

Timeline leading up to and after Kate's cancer diagnosis Here is the timeline of events leading up to and after the Princess of Wales' health announcement in March: - Monday December 25: In her last public appearance before the news of her hospital treatment, Kate was seen on Christmas Day in Sandringham walking to church with the rest of her family. She held hands with her daughter Princess Charlotte and looked happy and relaxed as she smiled at well-wishers while heading to the service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Norfolk. - Tuesday January 9: Kate turned 42 on January 9, and while the monarchy's official social media accounts marked the day with a behind-the-scenes photo of Kate at the coronation, there was, unusually, no customary response from Kensington Palace thanking well-wishers for their messages. - Tuesday January 16: Kate is secretly admitted to The London Clinic and undergoes abdominal surgery. She attends the clinic rather than King Edward VII's Hospital, which is usually the go-to establishment for royal family medical matters. - Wednesday January 17: Kensington Palace announces the princess's operation and says she will remain in the private hospital for 10-14 days. She is not expected to return to duties until after Easter, taking up to three months to recover. The Prince of Wales steps back from his official duties temporarily to care for his wife and children. The exact nature of Kate's condition is kept private, but it is not cancerous and Kensington Palace says the planned procedure was successful. A source later says the princess is 'doing well'. - Thursday January 18: The Prince of Wales spends time at his wife's bedside, driving himself away from the back entrance during the low-key, private visit. A serious-looking William was seen leaving the The London Clinic at about 12.35pm. - Tuesday January 23: Kate's hospital stay passes the one-week mark. - Friday January 26: The King visits the Princess of Wales after he is admitted to the London Clinic for treatment for an enlarged prostate. - Monday January 29: Kate leaves the clinic to continue her recovery at home. - Monday February 5: Kensington Palace confirms the Prince of Wales is returning to official duties that week, beginning with an investiture. - Wednesday February 7: The Prince of Wales thanked the public for their 'kind messages of support' after the King announced his cancer diagnosis, while also recognising those who wished Kate well as she recovered from planned abdominal surgery. - Monday March 4: The Princess of Wales was photographed for the first time since undergoing abdominal surgery. Kate was pictured near Windsor Castle in the passenger seat of a car, according to TMZ. The news site said she was wearing dark sunglasses in the black Audi which was being driven by her mother, Carole Middleton. The photo is understood to have been taken by paparazzi. - Tuesday March 5: The Army removed a claim on its website that the Princess of Wales was reviewing Trooping the Colour in June. Tickets were being sold on the official website for the June 8 military event, advertising an appearance by Kate. - Sunday March 10: Questions were raised that the first picture of the Princess of Wales to be released after her abdominal surgery may have been manipulated before it was posted on social media by Kensington Palace. The photo of Kate and her children, said by the palace to have been taken by the Prince of Wales in Windsor earlier in the week, was posted to mark Mother's Day. In the post, she said: 'Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months. Wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day. C.' The picture shows Kate sitting in a chair with her arms around Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, who are on either side of her, with Prince George standing behind, as all four smile at the camera. The photograph was shared with the media on Sunday but it was withdrawn by international picture agencies later the same day because of concerns that the image had been manipulated. - Monday March 11: The Princess of Wales publicly took the blame for the manipulated photograph and issued a personal apology for the 'confusion'. Kate said: 'Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother's Day. C.' - Saturday March 16: The Princess of Wales was filmed smiling with her husband during a visit to a farm shop in Windsor. Kate's recovery from surgery appeared to have progressed after footage obtained by The Sun showed her and William at the local business. In the video the princess can be seen with her hair down, wearing a black jacket and leggings, chatting with William and carrying a large white bag. - Tuesday March 19: An investigation was reportedly launched at the London Clinic over claims staff tried to access the Princess of Wales's private medical records. At least one member of staff tried to access Kate's notes while she was a patient at the hospital in January, The Mirror reported. The UK privacy and data protection watchdog said it had received a breach report. - Friday March 22: In a recorded video message, the Princess of Wales announced she was having chemotherapy after tests following her surgery found cancer had been present. - Thursday April 18: William, who had spent the previous three and a half weeks with Kate and their children during the Easter holidays, returned to public work. He visited Surplus to Supper, a surplus food redistribution charity, in Sunbury-on-Thames, and then a youth centre in west London which benefits from the organisation's regular deliveries. - Friday May 10: The Prince of Wales gave a positive update about his wife's cancer treatment during a visit to the Isles of Scilly, saying 'she's doing well' when asked by a hospital administrator. - Wednesday June 5: Footage posted on social media site X, formerly Twitter, showed William speaking to a veteran after a D-Day commemorative event in Portsmouth, in which he appeared to say 'she is' when asked if Kate was 'getting any better', with the prince adding: 'She'd love to be here today.' - Saturday June 8: The Princess of Wales wrote a letter to the Irish Guards to apologise for not being able to take the salute, and wished them luck for The Colonel's Review in London. - Friday June 14: Kate said in a statement that she is 'making good progress' and has 'good days and bad days', adding: 'I am not out of the woods yet.' She said she will attend Trooping the Colour in London on Saturday and that she 'hopes to join a few public engagements over the summer' as she continues treatment 'for a few more months'. Advertisement

At the time her condition was thought to be non-cancerous but tests after the successful operation found the disease, and Kate disclosed the medical development in an emotional video released in March.

Trooping will not mark the start of a return to full-time duties, and Kate has no plans to attend the Garter Day service on Monday or Royal Ascot, as she is still undergoing treatment, with the royal appearing to indicate in her statement it will last until the end of summer.

Chemotherapy can be used even when surgeons believe they have removed all the cancer, owing to the risk the disease might come back, and it can reduce the chances of a new cancer.

Kate has been holding meetings with her palace staff, the Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales and her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, which in the future will be noted in the Court Circular, the official record of royal events.

A Kensington Palace spokesperson said: 'The prince is pleased to see the princess starting to engage with the work and projects that are important to her.

'He will continue to focus his time on supporting his wife and children, while continuing to undertake his public duties.'

A time frame has not been set for Kate's return to a full schedule of public engagements as she is being given time to convalesce and recover before full-time work.

Trooping will be a special event for the princess as Number 9 Company, Irish Guards, a regiment she represents as Colonel, will be Trooping their King's Colour today, but Lieutenant General Sir James Bucknall will take the salute on her behalf.

The King, who is also undergoing cancer treatment, will not ride during the ceremony but will inspect the troops formed up in Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall from a carriage.

Meanwhile Rishi Sunak has said it is 'wonderful news' that Kate is attending the event.

During a press conference at the G7 in Italy, he said: 'It's obviously wonderful, wonderful news. The whole country will be behind the Princess of Wales for her recovery.

'I saw her statement earlier, I thought it was brave, I thought it was honest and I'm sure it will bring an enormous amount of comfort to so many other people who are grappling with similar health challenges, so I think she deserves enormous praise for what she said and it will be great to see her there tomorrow.'

Meanwhile a 'substantial' policing operation will be in place during Trooping the Colour, with an anti-monarchy group banned from using amplified sound.

Hundreds of Metropolitan Police officers will be deployed along the ceremonial route to ensure the safety and security of attendees amid a planned demonstration by pressure group Republic.

Scotland Yard has imposed a condition under Section 14 of the Public Order Act 1986 prohibiting protesters from using systems to amplify sound 'within the footprint' of Trooping the Colour between 8am and 3pm.

Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove said: 'Trooping the Colour holds national significance and as you would expect with this ceremonial event there is a substantial security operation to ensure everyone who attends and participates can do so in a safe and secure way.

'Alongside colleagues at the Ministry of Defence and the Royal Parks, our policing plan has focused on achieving this aim.'

He added: 'It's imperative this event is safe, which is why along with our partners we have considered factors, such as how amplified noise could disrupt and impact mounted regiments taking part.

'We have also taken into account the views of Republic. Our concern, along with partners, is that amplified noise could cause a public safety issue and serious disruption to the event and crowds attending.

'That is why the Met has taken a considered decision to impose a condition prohibiting amplified sound.'

Republic, which campaigns for the abolition of the monarchy and its replacement with a directly elected head of state, said the protest will go ahead without amplified sound.

Chief executive Graham Smith said: 'We don't agree with their reasons but we have to go along with it because otherwise we'll be arrested.

'It isn't a big problem, we've got quite loud voices.'

The latest update on Kate comes after her video statement revealing her diagnosis back in March.

In that announcement, Kate highlighted the importance of giving her children - George, Charlotte and Louis - time and space to come to terms with their mother's illness.

The princess' major public project is supporting the early years development of children, and last year she launched her long-term campaign Shaping Us, described as her 'life's work' and aimed at highlighting the crucial first five years of a child's life.

Kate has carefully carved out this public role focusing on the wellbeing of children and mental health since marrying the Prince of Wales in 2011 and becoming an HRH.

She remains close to her parents Carole and Michael Middleton and siblings Pippa Matthews and James Middleton, and had a happy home life growing up.

Catherine Elizabeth Middleton was born to the Middletons at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading on January 9 1982.

She was christened at the parish church of St Andrew's Bradfield in Berkshire on June 20 the same year.

Amman in Jordan was home to Kate and her family for a few years in the mid-1980s, where she attended a nursery school from the age of three, before the family returned to Berkshire.

At 13, she went to the exclusive private Marlborough College in Wiltshire, where she part-boarded.

She graduated in 2005 with a 2:1 in history of art from St Andrews University, where she met and began dating William, whom she married at Westminster Abbey in 2011.

She was dubbed 'Waity Katie' by the press for her patience during their long courtship, and was described by William in their engagement interview as having 'a really naughty sense of humour'.

A keen photographer, the princess usually takes the publicly released photos of her children to mark their birthdays.

Kate is also known for being fit, sporty and competitive at team games and even enjoys the thrill of cold water swimming.

In an interview last September with former rugby international Mike Tindall, who is married to her husband's cousin Zara, she said her family were 'always active'.

'I suppose as a family we were just very active,' she said 'And I can always remember being physical, using our bodies, whether it's walking, climbing the lake district in Scotland... swimming from a young age.'

Kate also spoke about the attraction of a chilly dip: 'Cold swimming - the colder, the better. I absolutely love it. Slightly to the point where William's (saying) 'You're crazy' and it's dark and it's raining'. I will go and seek out cold water. I love it.'

The Irish Guards mascot, an Irish Wolf Hound named Turlough Mor but affectionately known as Seamus, is led across the square by a scarlet-coated drummer at Trooping the Colour today

Prince Louis looks out from the window of the car as the family enter Buckingham Palace today

Members of the Irish Guards march along The Mall towards Horse Guards Parade today

The Princess of Wales with Prince William and their three children in London this morning

Members of the Irish Guards march along The Mall towards Horse Guards Parade today

Prince Louis looks out from the window of the car as the family enter Buckingham Palace today

Protesters and royal fans hold umbrellas on the The Mall before Trooping the Colour today

The Princess of Wales with Prince William and their three children in London this morning

Soldiers march along The Mall towards Horse Guards Parade in London today

Prince Louis looks out from the window of the car as the family enter Buckingham Palace today

Members of the Irish Guards march along The Mall towards Horse Guards Parade today

The Princess of Wales with Prince William and their three children in London this morning

Royal fans try to take cover from the rain ahead of Trooping the Colour in London today

Members of the Irish Guards march along The Mall towards Horse Guards Parade today

Lady Louise Windsor with her parents the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh in London today

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps (right) at the Trooping the Colour parade in London today

Members of the Irish Guards march along The Mall towards Horse Guards Parade today

Members of the public gather on The Mall ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

Royal fans stand on The Mall in London ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

Kate was initially admitted to hospital for abdominal surgery on January 16 and at the time her condition was thought to be non-cancerous, but cancer was found after a successful operation.

Kate has been receiving regular doses of drugs, which kill existing cancer cells and can help prevent the disease returning, with her chemotherapy treatment believed to have begun in late February.

The princess was diagnosed after a major abdominal operation in January, and it was initially thought she did not have the disease, but tests after surgery found cancer had been present.

Chemotherapy can be used even when surgeons believe they have removed all the cancer, because of the risk the disease might come back, and it can reduce the chances of a new cancer.

Professor Bob Phillips, professor of paediatric oncology at the University of York, said: 'For some types of cancers, chemotherapy can be given after, to act to 'mop up' if there are any cancer cells left.

Members of the Irish Guards march along The Mall towards Horse Guards Parade today

Republic protesters hold up placards on The Mall ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

Royal fans try to take cover from the rain ahead of Trooping the Colour in London today

Soldiers during Trooping the Colour at Buckingham Palace in London this morning

Protesters and royal fans hold umbrellas on the The Mall before Trooping the Colour today

Members of the Irish Guards march along The Mall towards Horse Guards Parade today

Royal fans shelter under umbrellas as rain falls while they wait for the parade in London today

Royal fans on the The Mall in London this morning ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony

Royal fans stand on The Mall in London ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

Members of the Irish Guards march along The Mall towards Horse Guards Parade today

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts of the Princess of Wales and the King today

Protesters wave banners on the The Mall ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony today

Royal fans on the The Mall ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony this morning

Members of the Irish Guards march along The Mall towards Horse Guards Parade today

Police on horseback down The Mall ahead of Trooping the Colour in London today

Royal fans on the The Mall with a cardboard cutout of the Princess of Wales this morning

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

A team of police officers on patrol in London this morning ahead of Trooping The Colour

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

Police look on as anti-monarchist protesters wave flags next to royal fans in London today

'The value of this varies between cancer types, and even the size and place of the same cancer type.'

Prof Andrew Beggs, consultant colorectal surgeon at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, echoed Prof Phillips' comments, saying preventive chemotherapy was 'a bit like mopping a floor with bleach when you've spilt something on it, chemotherapy kills any spilt cells'.

There are many different types of chemotherapy drugs and patients can take the treatment via tablets at home, with regular check-ups from medical staff, or intravenously, with the liquid drug fed into the body through a vein during an outpatient hospital appointment.

Chemotherapy can also be combined with other treatments like radiotherapy to make them more effective, and the length of treatment depends on the stage and type of cancer.

A stunning new portrait of the Princess of Wales taken at Windsor this week by Matt Porteous

The photograph was taken by Matt Porteous, a favourite private photographer of the couple

Republic protesters hold up placards on The Mall ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

A general view of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London this morning

Republic protesters hold up placards on The Mall ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

Protesters and royal fans hold umbrellas on the The Mall before Trooping the Colour today

Royal fans stand on The Mall in London ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

Republic protesters hold up placards on The Mall ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

Prof Phillips said the timeframe for chemotherapy treatment was 'hugely variable', adding that it was 'traditionally between four and six 'cycles' (blocks) of chemo, each cycle lasting 21 days and consisting of a day or few days of chemo'.

He added there would then be 'time for the body to recover from it, while the chemo keeps damaging the cancer cell.

'There are also some which are daily, some which are four-weekly and some which are two-weekly'.

The treatment has side effects, as healthy cells are damaged alongside cancer cells, and patients can experience tiredness, vomiting, hair loss and have an increased risk of getting infections, dry, sore or itchy skin and bowel issues.

More than 375,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK, and there are more than 167,000 deaths from the disease.

Half of people with cancer survive for a decade or longer after diagnosis. Cancer survival depends on the cancer type and whether the disease is caught early.

Royal fans on the The Mall with a cardboard cutout of the Princess of Wales this morning

Protesters from the Republic group with a flag saying 'Not My King' in Westminster today

Royal fans stand on The Mall in London ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

A team of police officers on patrol in Westminster this morning ahead of Trooping The Colour

Republic protesters hold up placards on The Mall ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

The Royal Standard flag flies above Buckingham Palace as police watch the crowds today

Protesters wave banners on the The Mall ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony today

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning in front of 'Not My King' protest flags

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

A general view of The Mall ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony today

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

A Metropolitan Police van outside Buckingham Palace today before Trooping the Colour

A mounted police officer speaks to royal fans on The Mall ahead of Trooping the Colour today

Royal fan Minerva Halil stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts of the Princess of Wales and the King today

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning in front of 'Not My King' protest flags

Police look on as anti-monarchist protesters wave flags next to royal fans in London today

Buckingham Palace is pictured this morning ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony

Royal fans on the The Mall with a cardboard cutout of King Charles III this morning

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, followed by prostate cancer, lung cancer and bowel cancer.

Asked whether age was a factor in survival rates and the success of chemotherapy treatment, Prof Phillips said: 'Sort of, but not in a simple way.

'Generally speaking, the healthier someone is before cancer treatment, the closer to optimal the amount of chemo and the gaps between chemo can be.

'Generally, the younger someone is, the healthier they will be.'

Prof Beggs said: 'Young onset cancer is by no means rare. I run a clinic for early-onset cancer in adults and we are seeing more and more people in their 40s with cancer.'

He went on: 'Age has no effect on the success rate of chemotherapy except when the cancers are 'immune hot', which are commoner in young people, in this case a type of chemotherapy called immunotherapy could be given.

Royal fans start to gather on The Mall in London this morning ahead of Trooping The Colour

Police look on as anti-monarchist protesters wave flags next to royal fans in London today

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts of the Princess of Wales and the King today

Staff lay more gravel of the forecourt of Buckingham Palace in preparation this morning

A workman cleans the central gates to Buckingham Palace ahead ofTrooping the Colour today

Royal fans on the The Mall in London this morning ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts of the Princess of Wales and the King today

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning in front of 'Not My King' protest flags

Royal fans on the The Mall in London this morning ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

A team of police officers on patrol in Westminster this morning ahead of Trooping The Colour

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fans on the The Mall in London this morning ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts of the Princess of Wales and the King today

Protesters from the Republic group with a flag saying 'Not My King' in Westminster today

Republic demonstrators said in a post on X today: 'It's a lovely sunny day (so far) for a protest!'

'Young people also better tolerate higher doses of chemotherapy and so can be given stronger regimens that are more likely to kill any leftover cells.'

Last Saturday, Kate wrote a letter to the Irish Guards to apologise for not being able to take the salute and wish them luck for The Colonel's Review in London.

The Prince of Wales gave a positive update about his wife's treatment during a visit to the Isles of Scilly in May, saying 'she's doing well' when asked by a hospital administrator.

William spent a number of weeks with Kate and their children during the Easter holidays before returning to public work in mid-April.

Charles was admitted to hospital just days after Kate, also for a procedure deemed unrelated to cancer.

In February, Buckingham Palace confirmed that he had been diagnosed with a form of cancer, which is not prostate cancer, that was discovered while the King was being treated at the private London Clinic for an enlarged prostate.

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts of the Princess of Wales and the King today

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fan Minerva Halil stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

A police dog with a handler on patrol in London this morning ahead of Trooping The Colour

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts ahead of Trooping the Colour today

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts of the Princess of Wales and the King today

Royal fan Minerva Halil stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts of the Princess of Wales and the King today

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts of the Princess of Wales and the King today

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

In wishing the monarch a full recovery, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said thankfully the cancer had been 'caught early'.

Charles initially postponed public-facing duties but resumed at the end of April, speaking of his 'shock' at being diagnosed with cancer as he met patients on a visit to University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in central London.

His appearance at a D-Day event in Portsmouth last week was his first public speech and most high-profile appearance since his cancer diagnosis.

The Queen provided an update on her husband's health at the Queen's Reading Room Literary Festival at Hampton Court Palace in Surrey last Saturday, telling author Lee Child the King is 'doing fine' but 'won't slow down and won't do what he's told'.

Sarah, Duchess of York announced a medical procedure at the beginning of 2024, when she revealed a diagnosis of malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer.

A statement from the Princess of Wales which was issued by Kensington Palace yesterday

It was her second cancer diagnosis within a year, having been diagnosed with breast cancer the summer before, which led to her undergoing a mastectomy and subsequent reconstructive surgery.

She had discovered an early form of breast cancer during a routine mammogram screening.

'Naturally another cancer diagnosis has been a shock, but I'm in good spirits and grateful for the many messages of love and support,' Sarah said on Instagram.

Princess Beatrice shared an update on her mother's health on This Morning in May when she said the duchess was 'all clear' and 'doing really well'.

In late February, tragedy befell Prince Michael of Kent's family when Thomas Kingston, the husband of Prince Michael's daughter, Lady Gabriella Windsor, died from a 'catastrophic head injury' with a gun found close to his body.

For many years, it was the estrangement of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that dominated discourse around the royal family after the pair stepped down as working royals in 2020.

2023 -- (From left) Prince George, Kate, Prince Louis, Prince William, Princess Charlotte, King Charles and Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace for Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023

2022 -- William, Kate and their children attend Trooping the Colour in London on June 2, 2022

2021 -- Trooping the Colour was held at Windsor Castle in front of the Queen on June 12, 2021

2019 -- William and Kate at Trooping the Colour with their children in London on June 8, 2019

2017 -- Philip speaks to William and Kate at Trooping The Colour in London on June 17, 2017

Having relocated to Montecito, California, Harry has returned to the UK infrequently but did so after the King's cancer diagnosis.

Though the duke only conducted a whirlwind 45-minute meeting with his father, Harry suggested that the King's cancer diagnosis could lead to a reconciliation with the family.

Asked by a US breakfast show if the diagnosis could have a 'reunifying effect', the duke replied: 'Yeah, I am sure.'

In May, a spokesperson for Harry said he 'hopes' to see his father 'soon' after the King's 'full programme' meant a reunion was not possible during the duke's UK trip to celebrate his Invictus Games.

Meanwhile, leading cancer charities have praised Kate for her 'thoughtful words' that will 'resonate' with many.

A Macmillan Cancer Support spokesperson said: 'Her Royal Highness, The Princess of Wales' thoughtful words on her treatment experience will resonate with, and provide inspiration for, so many people with cancer who are in a similar situation.

March 22 -- Kate reveals in a video that she is undergoing preventative chemotherapy

'For many people, managing the effects of cancer treatment can be challenging. Day in day out we hear from people about the impact treatment is having on their emotional wellbeing, as well as the physical symptoms and side effects they are experiencing, such as tiredness, insomnia, nausea and more.'

Dame Laura Lee, chief executive of cancer support charity Maggie's, of which the Queen is president, said: 'It's wonderful that Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales feels well enough to be at Trooping the Colour.

'Her statement echoes precisely what we hear in our centres every day - that with cancer there are good days and bad days, and no two experiences of cancer are ever the same.

'Her comment that it is important to go with how you feel each day is absolutely true and I am sure that will resonate with a huge number of people living with cancer.'

Kate announced she was having chemotherapy in a recorded video message on March 22, after tests following her surgery found cancer had been present.
Jeff Lane axed down eight hectares of forest for his daughter's trekking business

A landowner who chopped down a protected woodland in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has been fined just 1,500.

Jeff Lane, 73, caused a 'devastating loss' to the environment in what was described by Natural Resources Wales as the worst case of illegal tree felling they have seen in 30 years.

Lane will have to pay an 11,000 confiscation order after clearing the forestry in Wales with enough wood to fill 17 articulated lorries.

The first Proceeds of Crime hearing in relation to illegal tree felling in the UK heard the total value of benefit to Lane was 78,614.

Aerial photographs were shown of the eight hectares of native and wet woodland in Gower, Swansea, axed down in 2019.

Lane was found guilty of felling the trees without a license and failing to comply with a notice to restock the trees he chopped down in 2019. He later lost his appeal against both convictions.

Jeff Lane, 73, was fined just 1,500 despite illegally felling a protected woodland in an Area of Outstanding Beauty in Wales

The father-of-three, described as 'a man of limited means', was fined 500 for the first offence and 1,000 for the second.

Natural Resources Wales, who took him to court, estimated the cost of restocking the woodland at 52,000.

But Lane told Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court: 'I could do it for a lot cheaper than that - about half that price. I have looked into the cost of saplings and they are quite cheap to be honest.

'There are trees already starting to grow - I don't know what they are.'

Retired mechanic Lane bought the land in 2017 for his daughter to run a pony trekking and alpaca walking business.

He claimed the trees were rotting and dangerous and he was given a license to thin them out, not chop down the entire woodland.

He was advised to stop all felling but in September, 2020, NRW officers received photos taken by the Gower Society, showing an area of wiped out trees.

David Singh, defending, said Lane had no previous convictions and was suffering from poor health.

He said: 'He is unable to pay his mortgage and after paying his car loan and daily living costs he is left with virtually nothing.'

Len's available assets of 17,645 were made up of the equity on his property and the value of his 13-year-old Range Rover which is subject to a finance agreement.

Judge Richard Kember said Lane was guilty of 'criminal conduct' and had gained pecuniary advantage by not complying with the enforcement notice to restock the woodland.

He told the defendant: 'Natural Resources Wales say this is the worst case of tree felling they have ever encountered.

 Slide me  Aerial photographs show the eight hectares of native and wet woodland in Gower, Swansea before felling (left) and after they were axed down by Lane in 2019 (right)

'It wouldn't be going too far to say the woodland has been effectively eradicated.

'You were given a thinning license designed to encourage the habitat to flourish and grow. It is for a reduction, not an eradication.

'This was a blatant exceeding of the permission you had been granted.'

The judge said the fines were 'significantly' lower because of the confiscation order of 11,280.77. Lane was warned he would go to prison for six months if he didn't pay it in full by September 14

Lane, of Lower Fairwood, Swansea, will pay off his fine at the rate of 50-a-month.

Nick Fackrell, senior officer in forest regulation and tree plant health for NRW, said at the time of Lane's conviction: 'This is one of the worst cases of illegal tree felling that NRW has investigated in over 30 years. We carried out a thorough investigation and the evidence was strong that illegal felling activity had taken place.

'The loss of this native and wet woodland is devastating and it will take many generations for new trees to grow to replace them, if they grow at all.

'NRW and the professional forestry sector work incredibly hard to ensure that tree felling takes place in compliance with the Forestry Act and the woodlands that they manage adhere to the UK Forestry Standard.

'Felling licences are part of the system we have in place so we can manage our trees and woodlands effectively, protecting them and making sure they continue to benefit us all now and into the future.'
Royal fans stood in the rain on The Mall today as the Princess of Wales is set to make her first public appearance this year by joining the royals at Trooping the Colour.

Kate, who has been receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer since late February, will ride in a carriage alongside her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, for the traditional procession through London today.

Later, she is expected to gather with King Charles and Queen Camilla, her husband Prince William and other royals on Buckingham Palace's balcony for the RAF flypast.

The family were photographed arriving at Buckingham Palace just after 10am, with George sitting between Kate and William, and Charlotte and Louis sat opposite, while Charles and Camilla were pictured riding in a separate car.

Scotland Yard has a 'substantial' policing operation for the event, with anti-monarchy group Republic allowed to protest but banned from using amplified sound. Members of the group were filmed booing the Royal convoy as it drove past.

In a post on X today, Republic said: 'It's a lovely sunny day (so far) for a protest! Join us, outside Buckingham Palace from 9.00am. #NotMyKing #AbolishTheMonarchy.'

Hundreds of Metropolitan Police officers will be deployed on the ceremonial route to ensure the safety and security of attendees, with tens of thousands expected.

Organisers have advised the public to stand on The Mall or on the edge of St James's Park overlooking Horse Guards Parade from 9am, with the parade starting at 10am. Coverage on BBC One begins at 10.30am and concludes after the flypast at 1pm.

Protesters and royal fans hold umbrellas on the The Mall before Trooping the Colour today

Royal fans try to take cover from the rain ahead of Trooping the Colour in London today

Royal fans stand on The Mall in London ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

Some young royal fans watch the Trooping the Colour at the Horse Guard Parade

Republic protesters hold up placards on The Mall ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

Royal fans try to take cover from the rain ahead of Trooping the Colour in London today

Protesters and royal fans hold umbrellas on the The Mall before Trooping the Colour today

Royal fans stand on The Mall in London ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

Royal fans shelter under umbrellas as rain falls while they wait for the start of the Trooping the Colour ceremony

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is seen snapping a quick photo as he and his wife Akshata Murthy attend the Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards Parade

Crowds gathered on a cloudy morning amid tight security outside Buckingham Palace this morning, with many holding Union flags.

'There are good days and bad days': Kate's statement in full Here is the Princess of Wales' statement on her cancer treatment and summer plans, including Trooping the Colour, in full: 'I have been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months. It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times. 'I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well. 'My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months. On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home. 'I'm looking forward to attending The King's Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet. 'I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal. 'Thank you so much for your continued understanding, and to all of you who have so bravely shared your stories with me.' Advertisement

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murthy have also been pictured in the crowds at the Horse Guards Parade as the procession got underway.

A group of around two dozen protestors from the anti-monarchy group Republic also gathered opposite Buckingham Palace waving black and yellow banners proclaiming 'Not My King' and 'Abolish The Monarchy.'

Among the many royalists was 60-year-old Joseph Afrane decked out in a Union Jack T-shirt, shades and trousers.

Mr Afrane, from Battersea, south London, is a regular at Royal events.

He said: 'I have come here to support the Royal family.

'I was particularly pleased when I heard the Princess of Wales would be joining us.

'The Royal family do a great job for the country. and support lots of charities.

'They also bring a lot of tourists to the country which boosts the economy.

'Without the Royal family there would be no Britain, in my opinion.'

Political artist Kaya Mar was among spectators gathered to watch the royal procession down The Mall.

The 67-year-old had brought two oil paintings, one of the King and another of the Princess of Wales, her husband and their children.

Mr Mar told the PA news agency: 'The royal family are like an anchor for uncertain times - especially when you see the mess of politicians.'

He added: 'They are the only steady political institution amid the turmoil in the United Kingdom and, really, what is the only steady institution for the future of this country?

'It's still royalty. They're harmless. They're not politicians. Whether you're right, left, middle, whatever it is, you look up to them.'

The artist said his painting of Kate, which invoked Biblical imagery comparing her to Mary, was intended to poke fun at the 'religious fervour' he thought surrounded the birth of her most recent child, Prince Louis, in 2018.

Charles Emberton, 50, travelled from his home in Boston, Lincolnshire, to attend the ceremony.

Mr Emberton, who also attended the Queen's funeral and King Charles' coronation, said: 'There is a lovely sense of community at these events.

'I met Kate, William and Charles at the Coronation.'

Riding in the Scottish State Coach in uniform, he looked thrilled as he waved to crowds gathered to celebrate his birthday

King Charles III and Queen Camilla during Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards Parade

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

William, Prince of Wales during Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards Parade

King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive at Buckingham Palace ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade

The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive at Buckingham Palace in London this morning

The Princess of Wales with Prince William and their three children in London this morning

Princess Charlotte grins out at the crowd as she sits next to Prince George at Trooping the Colour on The Mall

Royal fans on the The Mall with a cardboard cutout of the Princess of Wales this morning

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murthy during Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards Parade

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps is also among the crowd at the Horse Guards Parade

A team of police officers on patrol in London this morning ahead of Trooping The Colour

Police look on as anti-monarchist protesters wave flags next to royal fans in London today

Crowds are gathering at the Horse Guard's parade ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony

His friend Jarrod Grabham, originally from Bathurst in Australia but now teaching history in Wembley, north west London, said: 'My great grandmother always said 'I am a British subject' even though she never left New South Wales.

'The Queen was a great example to everyone and never let us down, unlike a lot of politicians.

'The monarchy is an institution that has been going for over 1,000 years. and is a source of pride for a lot of people.'

Republic CEO Graham Smith said former members of the military were among the protest group.

Mr Smith, from Sunderland, said: 'The main purpose of the protest is to show that we are not a country of royalists.

'We are also unhappy about the way the Royal family misuse the military by wearing ranks and uniforms.'

One of the protestors, Ian Foster a former member of the Royal Artillery who served in Northern Ireland, said: 'We want a head of state who is not born of privilege.

'I didn't join the Army to serve the Queen ,but to honour my grand parents who were in the Royal Artillery and the Wrens.'

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts of the Princess of Wales and the King today

Royal fans on the The Mall ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony this morning

Protesters wave banners on the The Mall ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony today

Royal fans on the The Mall in London this morning ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony

A general view of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour today

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

Police on horseback down The Mall ahead of Trooping the Colour in London today

Members of the public gather on The Mall ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

Anti monarchy protesters gather near Buckingham palace to watch King Charles III's official Birthday Parade

A police officer watches over anti monarchy protesters gather near Buckingham palace for the Trooping the Colour ceremony

Republic CEO Graham Smith pictured at among the protesters outside Buckingham Palace

Royal fans gather near Buckingham palace to watch King Charles III's official Birthday Parade

Jane Ing, 61, said she had travelled from Yorkshire with her husband and a friend to witness the royal procession through The Mall ahead of the ceremony.

She said: 'The ceremony is part of our heritage. It's an iconic parade and exhibition of our royal family that we should be proud about and come to support.'

ANALYSIS BY RICHARD FIZWILLIAMS: Kate's appearance is pivotal Kate's appearance today is pivotal as the royal family is much weakened by two senior members fighting cancer. It is especially significant as we have not seen her on an official engagement since December. It is clear, both from the moving video message in March and from the statement released yesterday, that she is resilient. The new photograph emphasises this aspect of her character too, but she is also having an extremely tough time, as those undergoing chemotherapy usually do. The details we were given of her condition are an attempt to help other sufferers from this pernicious disease. There will be considerable speculation as to what events she will be able to attend during the summer. They will have a very special cachet as today's Birthday Parade will. She is a very special person with a place in all our hearts. Advertisement

She added it was 'lovely' that Kate has announced she will be in attendance.

And royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told MailOnline: 'Kate's appearance today is pivotal as the royal family is much weakened by two senior members fighting cancer. It is especially significant as we have not seen her on an official engagement since December.

'It is clear, both from the moving video message in March and from the statement released yesterday, that she is resilient.

'The new photograph emphasises this aspect of her character too, but she is also having an extremely tough time, as those undergoing chemotherapy usually do.

'The details we were given of her condition are an attempt to help other sufferers from this pernicious disease.

'There will be considerable speculation as to what events she will be able to attend during the summer. They will have a very special cachet as today's Birthday Parade will. She is a very special person with a place in all our hearts.'

Last night, Kate issued a candid statement outlining her personal cancer journey and said she is experiencing 'good days and bad days' as she undergoes chemotherapy.

But she has begun to work from home, undertaking meetings with her foundation and Kensington Palace team, and hopes 'to join a few public engagements over the summer' but stressed 'I am not out of the woods yet'.

The princess has been receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer since late February and her decision to choose a major national event today to return briefly to the public spotlight, the first time since Christmas Day, has been welcomed by the King.

A new photograph of the royal, taken earlier this week in the grounds of the Windsor Castle estate, shows Kate in a smart casual outfit stood in a tranquil setting against a weeping willow tree near a body of water.

A stunning new portrait of the Princess of Wales taken at Windsor this week by Matt Porteous

The photograph was taken by Matt Porteous, a favourite private photographer of the couple

Republic protesters hold up placards on The Mall ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

Republic protesters hold up placards on The Mall ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

Protesters and royal fans hold umbrellas on the The Mall before Trooping the Colour today

Royal fans stand on The Mall in London ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

Republic protesters hold up placards on The Mall ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

She said in her statement: 'I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting.

'But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.

'My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months. On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home.'

The princess will be joined by her three children in a carriage for the traditional procession to Trooping the Colour and later they will gather with other royals on Buckingham Palace's balcony.

Kate said: 'I'm looking forward to attending the King's Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet.

'I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal.'

The future Queen has received thousands of letters and cards from well-wishers, some sharing their own battles with cancer, and Kate said she had been 'blown away' by the 'kind messages' that had made a 'world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times'.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: 'His Majesty is delighted that the princess is able to attend tomorrow's events, and is much looking forward to all elements of the day'.

Royal fans on the The Mall with a cardboard cutout of the Princess of Wales this morning

Protesters from the Republic group with a flag saying 'Not My King' in Westminster today

Royal fans stand on The Mall in London ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

A team of police officers on patrol in Westminster this morning ahead of Trooping The Colour

Republic protesters hold up placards on The Mall ahead of Trooping the Colour this morning

The Royal Standard flag flies above Buckingham Palace as police watch the crowds today

Protesters wave banners on the The Mall ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony today

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning in front of 'Not My King' protest flags

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

A general view of The Mall ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony today

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

A Metropolitan Police van outside Buckingham Palace today before Trooping the Colour

A mounted police officer speaks to royal fans on The Mall ahead of Trooping the Colour today

The princess's public appearance at Trooping will be her first official outing of 2024 after she missed engagements at the start of the year when she was admitted to hospital for abdominal surgery on January 16.

Timeline leading up to and after Kate's cancer diagnosis Here is the timeline of events leading up to and after the Princess of Wales' health announcement in March: - Monday December 25: In her last public appearance before the news of her hospital treatment, Kate was seen on Christmas Day in Sandringham walking to church with the rest of her family. She held hands with her daughter Princess Charlotte and looked happy and relaxed as she smiled at well-wishers while heading to the service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Norfolk. - Tuesday January 9: Kate turned 42 on January 9, and while the monarchy's official social media accounts marked the day with a behind-the-scenes photo of Kate at the coronation, there was, unusually, no customary response from Kensington Palace thanking well-wishers for their messages. - Tuesday January 16: Kate is secretly admitted to The London Clinic and undergoes abdominal surgery. She attends the clinic rather than King Edward VII's Hospital, which is usually the go-to establishment for royal family medical matters. - Wednesday January 17: Kensington Palace announces the princess's operation and says she will remain in the private hospital for 10-14 days. She is not expected to return to duties until after Easter, taking up to three months to recover. The Prince of Wales steps back from his official duties temporarily to care for his wife and children. The exact nature of Kate's condition is kept private, but it is not cancerous and Kensington Palace says the planned procedure was successful. A source later says the princess is 'doing well'. - Thursday January 18: The Prince of Wales spends time at his wife's bedside, driving himself away from the back entrance during the low-key, private visit. A serious-looking William was seen leaving the The London Clinic at about 12.35pm. - Tuesday January 23: Kate's hospital stay passes the one-week mark. - Friday January 26: The King visits the Princess of Wales after he is admitted to the London Clinic for treatment for an enlarged prostate. - Monday January 29: Kate leaves the clinic to continue her recovery at home. - Monday February 5: Kensington Palace confirms the Prince of Wales is returning to official duties that week, beginning with an investiture. - Wednesday February 7: The Prince of Wales thanked the public for their 'kind messages of support' after the King announced his cancer diagnosis, while also recognising those who wished Kate well as she recovered from planned abdominal surgery. - Monday March 4: The Princess of Wales was photographed for the first time since undergoing abdominal surgery. Kate was pictured near Windsor Castle in the passenger seat of a car, according to TMZ. The news site said she was wearing dark sunglasses in the black Audi which was being driven by her mother, Carole Middleton. The photo is understood to have been taken by paparazzi. - Tuesday March 5: The Army removed a claim on its website that the Princess of Wales was reviewing Trooping the Colour in June. Tickets were being sold on the official website for the June 8 military event, advertising an appearance by Kate. - Sunday March 10: Questions were raised that the first picture of the Princess of Wales to be released after her abdominal surgery may have been manipulated before it was posted on social media by Kensington Palace. The photo of Kate and her children, said by the palace to have been taken by the Prince of Wales in Windsor earlier in the week, was posted to mark Mother's Day. In the post, she said: 'Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months. Wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day. C.' The picture shows Kate sitting in a chair with her arms around Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, who are on either side of her, with Prince George standing behind, as all four smile at the camera. The photograph was shared with the media on Sunday but it was withdrawn by international picture agencies later the same day because of concerns that the image had been manipulated. - Monday March 11: The Princess of Wales publicly took the blame for the manipulated photograph and issued a personal apology for the 'confusion'. Kate said: 'Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother's Day. C.' - Saturday March 16: The Princess of Wales was filmed smiling with her husband during a visit to a farm shop in Windsor. Kate's recovery from surgery appeared to have progressed after footage obtained by The Sun showed her and William at the local business. In the video the princess can be seen with her hair down, wearing a black jacket and leggings, chatting with William and carrying a large white bag. - Tuesday March 19: An investigation was reportedly launched at the London Clinic over claims staff tried to access the Princess of Wales's private medical records. At least one member of staff tried to access Kate's notes while she was a patient at the hospital in January, The Mirror reported. The UK privacy and data protection watchdog said it had received a breach report. - Friday March 22: In a recorded video message, the Princess of Wales announced she was having chemotherapy after tests following her surgery found cancer had been present. - Thursday April 18: William, who had spent the previous three and a half weeks with Kate and their children during the Easter holidays, returned to public work. He visited Surplus to Supper, a surplus food redistribution charity, in Sunbury-on-Thames, and then a youth centre in west London which benefits from the organisation's regular deliveries. - Friday May 10: The Prince of Wales gave a positive update about his wife's cancer treatment during a visit to the Isles of Scilly, saying 'she's doing well' when asked by a hospital administrator. - Wednesday June 5: Footage posted on social media site X, formerly Twitter, showed William speaking to a veteran after a D-Day commemorative event in Portsmouth, in which he appeared to say 'she is' when asked if Kate was 'getting any better', with the prince adding: 'She'd love to be here today.' - Saturday June 8: The Princess of Wales wrote a letter to the Irish Guards to apologise for not being able to take the salute, and wished them luck for The Colonel's Review in London. - Friday June 14: Kate said in a statement that she is 'making good progress' and has 'good days and bad days', adding: 'I am not out of the woods yet.' She said she will attend Trooping the Colour in London on Saturday and that she 'hopes to join a few public engagements over the summer' as she continues treatment 'for a few more months'. Advertisement

At the time her condition was thought to be non-cancerous but tests after the successful operation found the disease, and Kate disclosed the medical development in an emotional video released in March.

Trooping will not mark the start of a return to full-time duties, and Kate has no plans to attend the Garter Day service on Monday or Royal Ascot, as she is still undergoing treatment, with the royal appearing to indicate in her statement it will last until the end of summer.

Chemotherapy can be used even when surgeons believe they have removed all the cancer, owing to the risk the disease might come back, and it can reduce the chances of a new cancer.

Kate has been holding meetings with her palace staff, the Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales and her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, which in the future will be noted in the Court Circular, the official record of royal events.

A Kensington Palace spokesperson said: 'The prince is pleased to see the princess starting to engage with the work and projects that are important to her.

'He will continue to focus his time on supporting his wife and children, while continuing to undertake his public duties.'

A time frame has not been set for Kate's return to a full schedule of public engagements as she is being given time to convalesce and recover before full-time work.

Trooping will be a special event for the princess as Number 9 Company, Irish Guards, a regiment she represents as Colonel, will be Trooping their King's Colour today, but Lieutenant General Sir James Bucknall will take the salute on her behalf.

The King, who is also undergoing cancer treatment, will not ride during the ceremony but will inspect the troops formed up in Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall from a carriage.

Meanwhile Rishi Sunak has said it is 'wonderful news' that Kate is attending the event.

During a press conference at the G7 in Italy, he said: 'It's obviously wonderful, wonderful news. The whole country will be behind the Princess of Wales for her recovery.

'I saw her statement earlier, I thought it was brave, I thought it was honest and I'm sure it will bring an enormous amount of comfort to so many other people who are grappling with similar health challenges, so I think she deserves enormous praise for what she said and it will be great to see her there tomorrow.'

Meanwhile a 'substantial' policing operation will be in place during Trooping the Colour, with an anti-monarchy group banned from using amplified sound.

Hundreds of Metropolitan Police officers will be deployed along the ceremonial route to ensure the safety and security of attendees amid a planned demonstration by pressure group Republic.

Scotland Yard has imposed a condition under Section 14 of the Public Order Act 1986 prohibiting protesters from using systems to amplify sound 'within the footprint' of Trooping the Colour between 8am and 3pm.

Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove said: 'Trooping the Colour holds national significance and as you would expect with this ceremonial event there is a substantial security operation to ensure everyone who attends and participates can do so in a safe and secure way.

'Alongside colleagues at the Ministry of Defence and the Royal Parks, our policing plan has focused on achieving this aim.'

He added: 'It's imperative this event is safe, which is why along with our partners we have considered factors, such as how amplified noise could disrupt and impact mounted regiments taking part.

'We have also taken into account the views of Republic. Our concern, along with partners, is that amplified noise could cause a public safety issue and serious disruption to the event and crowds attending.

'That is why the Met has taken a considered decision to impose a condition prohibiting amplified sound.'

Republic, which campaigns for the abolition of the monarchy and its replacement with a directly elected head of state, said the protest will go ahead without amplified sound.

Chief executive Graham Smith said: 'We don't agree with their reasons but we have to go along with it because otherwise we'll be arrested.

'It isn't a big problem, we've got quite loud voices.'

The latest update on Kate comes after her video statement revealing her diagnosis back in March.

In that announcement, Kate highlighted the importance of giving her children - George, Charlotte and Louis - time and space to come to terms with their mother's illness.

The princess' major public project is supporting the early years development of children, and last year she launched her long-term campaign Shaping Us, described as her 'life's work' and aimed at highlighting the crucial first five years of a child's life.

Kate has carefully carved out this public role focusing on the wellbeing of children and mental health since marrying the Prince of Wales in 2011 and becoming an HRH.

She remains close to her parents Carole and Michael Middleton and siblings Pippa Matthews and James Middleton, and had a happy home life growing up.

Catherine Elizabeth Middleton was born to the Middletons at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading on January 9 1982.

She was christened at the parish church of St Andrew's Bradfield in Berkshire on June 20 the same year.

Amman in Jordan was home to Kate and her family for a few years in the mid-1980s, where she attended a nursery school from the age of three, before the family returned to Berkshire.

At 13, she went to the exclusive private Marlborough College in Wiltshire, where she part-boarded.

She graduated in 2005 with a 2:1 in history of art from St Andrews University, where she met and began dating William, whom she married at Westminster Abbey in 2011.

She was dubbed 'Waity Katie' by the press for her patience during their long courtship, and was described by William in their engagement interview as having 'a really naughty sense of humour'.

A keen photographer, the princess usually takes the publicly released photos of her children to mark their birthdays.

Kate is also known for being fit, sporty and competitive at team games and even enjoys the thrill of cold water swimming.

In an interview last September with former rugby international Mike Tindall, who is married to her husband's cousin Zara, she said her family were 'always active'.

'I suppose as a family we were just very active,' she said 'And I can always remember being physical, using our bodies, whether it's walking, climbing the lake district in Scotland... swimming from a young age.'

Kate also spoke about the attraction of a chilly dip: 'Cold swimming - the colder, the better. I absolutely love it. Slightly to the point where William's (saying) 'You're crazy' and it's dark and it's raining'. I will go and seek out cold water. I love it.'

Royal fan Minerva Halil stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts of the Princess of Wales and the King today

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning in front of 'Not My King' protest flags

Police look on as anti-monarchist protesters wave flags next to royal fans in London today

Buckingham Palace is pictured this morning ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony

Two King's Guards patrol the grounds ahead of Trooping the Colour at Buckingham Palace

Royal fans on the The Mall with a cardboard cutout of King Charles III this morning

Royal fans start to gather on The Mall in London this morning ahead of Trooping The Colour

Police look on as anti-monarchist protesters wave flags next to royal fans in London today

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts of the Princess of Wales and the King today

Staff lay more gravel of the forecourt of Buckingham Palace in preparation this morning

Kate was initially admitted to hospital for abdominal surgery on January 16 and at the time her condition was thought to be non-cancerous, but cancer was found after a successful operation.

Kate has been receiving regular doses of drugs, which kill existing cancer cells and can help prevent the disease returning, with her chemotherapy treatment believed to have begun in late February.

The princess was diagnosed after a major abdominal operation in January, and it was initially thought she did not have the disease, but tests after surgery found cancer had been present.

Chemotherapy can be used even when surgeons believe they have removed all the cancer, because of the risk the disease might come back, and it can reduce the chances of a new cancer.

Professor Bob Phillips, professor of paediatric oncology at the University of York, said: 'For some types of cancers, chemotherapy can be given after, to act to 'mop up' if there are any cancer cells left.

A workman cleans the central gates to Buckingham Palace ahead ofTrooping the Colour today

Royal fans on the The Mall in London this morning ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts of the Princess of Wales and the King today

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning in front of 'Not My King' protest flags

Royal fans on the The Mall in London this morning ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

A team of police officers on patrol in Westminster this morning ahead of Trooping The Colour

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fans on the The Mall in London this morning ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts of the Princess of Wales and the King today

'The value of this varies between cancer types, and even the size and place of the same cancer type.'

Prof Andrew Beggs, consultant colorectal surgeon at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, echoed Prof Phillips' comments, saying preventive chemotherapy was 'a bit like mopping a floor with bleach when you've spilt something on it, chemotherapy kills any spilt cells'.

There are many different types of chemotherapy drugs and patients can take the treatment via tablets at home, with regular check-ups from medical staff, or intravenously, with the liquid drug fed into the body through a vein during an outpatient hospital appointment.

Chemotherapy can also be combined with other treatments like radiotherapy to make them more effective, and the length of treatment depends on the stage and type of cancer.

Protesters from the Republic group with a flag saying 'Not My King' in Westminster today

Republic demonstrators said in a post on X today: 'It's a lovely sunny day (so far) for a protest!'

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts of the Princess of Wales and the King today

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fan Minerva Halil stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

A police dog with a handler on patrol in London this morning ahead of Trooping The Colour

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts ahead of Trooping the Colour today

Prof Phillips said the timeframe for chemotherapy treatment was 'hugely variable', adding that it was 'traditionally between four and six 'cycles' (blocks) of chemo, each cycle lasting 21 days and consisting of a day or few days of chemo'.

He added there would then be 'time for the body to recover from it, while the chemo keeps damaging the cancer cell.

'There are also some which are daily, some which are four-weekly and some which are two-weekly'.

The treatment has side effects, as healthy cells are damaged alongside cancer cells, and patients can experience tiredness, vomiting, hair loss and have an increased risk of getting infections, dry, sore or itchy skin and bowel issues.

More than 375,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK, and there are more than 167,000 deaths from the disease.

Half of people with cancer survive for a decade or longer after diagnosis. Cancer survival depends on the cancer type and whether the disease is caught early.

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts of the Princess of Wales and the King today

Royal fan Minerva Halil stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts of the Princess of Wales and the King today

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, followed by prostate cancer, lung cancer and bowel cancer.

Asked whether age was a factor in survival rates and the success of chemotherapy treatment, Prof Phillips said: 'Sort of, but not in a simple way.

'Generally speaking, the healthier someone is before cancer treatment, the closer to optimal the amount of chemo and the gaps between chemo can be.

'Generally, the younger someone is, the healthier they will be.'

Prof Beggs said: 'Young onset cancer is by no means rare. I run a clinic for early-onset cancer in adults and we are seeing more and more people in their 40s with cancer.'

He went on: 'Age has no effect on the success rate of chemotherapy except when the cancers are 'immune hot', which are commoner in young people, in this case a type of chemotherapy called immunotherapy could be given.

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fans on the The Mall with cardboard cutouts of the Princess of Wales and the King today

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

'Young people also better tolerate higher doses of chemotherapy and so can be given stronger regimens that are more likely to kill any leftover cells.'

Last Saturday, Kate wrote a letter to the Irish Guards to apologise for not being able to take the salute and wish them luck for The Colonel's Review in London.

The Prince of Wales gave a positive update about his wife's treatment during a visit to the Isles of Scilly in May, saying 'she's doing well' when asked by a hospital administrator.

William spent a number of weeks with Kate and their children during the Easter holidays before returning to public work in mid-April.

Charles was admitted to hospital just days after Kate, also for a procedure deemed unrelated to cancer.

In February, Buckingham Palace confirmed that he had been diagnosed with a form of cancer, which is not prostate cancer, that was discovered while the King was being treated at the private London Clinic for an enlarged prostate.

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

Preparations on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning before Trooping The Colour

Royal fans on the The Mall in London this morning ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony

Royal fan Joseph Afrane stands on The Mall this morning ahead of Trooping the Colour

In wishing the monarch a full recovery, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said thankfully the cancer had been 'caught early'.

Charles initially postponed public-facing duties but resumed at the end of April, speaking of his 'shock' at being diagnosed with cancer as he met patients on a visit to University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in central London.

His appearance at a D-Day event in Portsmouth last week was his first public speech and most high-profile appearance since his cancer diagnosis.

The Queen provided an update on her husband's health at the Queen's Reading Room Literary Festival at Hampton Court Palace in Surrey last Saturday, telling author Lee Child the King is 'doing fine' but 'won't slow down and won't do what he's told'.

Sarah, Duchess of York announced a medical procedure at the beginning of 2024, when she revealed a diagnosis of malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer.

A statement from the Princess of Wales which was issued by Kensington Palace yesterday

It was her second cancer diagnosis within a year, having been diagnosed with breast cancer the summer before, which led to her undergoing a mastectomy and subsequent reconstructive surgery.

She had discovered an early form of breast cancer during a routine mammogram screening.

'Naturally another cancer diagnosis has been a shock, but I'm in good spirits and grateful for the many messages of love and support,' Sarah said on Instagram.

Princess Beatrice shared an update on her mother's health on This Morning in May when she said the duchess was 'all clear' and 'doing really well'.

In late February, tragedy befell Prince Michael of Kent's family when Thomas Kingston, the husband of Prince Michael's daughter, Lady Gabriella Windsor, died from a 'catastrophic head injury' with a gun found close to his body.

For many years, it was the estrangement of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that dominated discourse around the royal family after the pair stepped down as working royals in 2020.

2023 -- (From left) Prince George, Kate, Prince Louis, Prince William, Princess Charlotte, King Charles and Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace for Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023

2022 -- William, Kate and their children attend Trooping the Colour in London on June 2, 2022

2021 -- Trooping the Colour was held at Windsor Castle in front of the Queen on June 12, 2021

2019 -- William and Kate at Trooping the Colour with their children in London on June 8, 2019

2017 -- Philip speaks to William and Kate at Trooping The Colour in London on June 17, 2017

Having relocated to Montecito, California, Harry has returned to the UK infrequently but did so after the King's cancer diagnosis.

Though the duke only conducted a whirlwind 45-minute meeting with his father, Harry suggested that the King's cancer diagnosis could lead to a reconciliation with the family.

Asked by a US breakfast show if the diagnosis could have a 'reunifying effect', the duke replied: 'Yeah, I am sure.'

In May, a spokesperson for Harry said he 'hopes' to see his father 'soon' after the King's 'full programme' meant a reunion was not possible during the duke's UK trip to celebrate his Invictus Games.

Meanwhile, leading cancer charities have praised Kate for her 'thoughtful words' that will 'resonate' with many.

A Macmillan Cancer Support spokesperson said: 'Her Royal Highness, The Princess of Wales' thoughtful words on her treatment experience will resonate with, and provide inspiration for, so many people with cancer who are in a similar situation.

March 22 -- Kate reveals in a video that she is undergoing preventative chemotherapy

'For many people, managing the effects of cancer treatment can be challenging. Day in day out we hear from people about the impact treatment is having on their emotional wellbeing, as well as the physical symptoms and side effects they are experiencing, such as tiredness, insomnia, nausea and more.'

Dame Laura Lee, chief executive of cancer support charity Maggie's, of which the Queen is president, said: 'It's wonderful that Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales feels well enough to be at Trooping the Colour.

'Her statement echoes precisely what we hear in our centres every day - that with cancer there are good days and bad days, and no two experiences of cancer are ever the same.

'Her comment that it is important to go with how you feel each day is absolutely true and I am sure that will resonate with a huge number of people living with cancer.'

Kate announced she was having chemotherapy in a recorded video message on March 22, after tests following her surgery found cancer had been present.
A member of the Welsh Parliament is under investigation by police over allegations regarding expenses claims.

Texts leaked from the phone of Laura Anne Jones, a Conservative Senedd member, appeared to ask an employee to maximise the politician's expenses claims.

One message asked a staff member: 'When doing petrol thing - always make more than I did - add in stuff please ok,' followed by a thumbs up and a palms together emoji.

The context for the WhatsApp messages is not clear. Mileage claims for Senedd members must be approved by the member themselves.

A solicitor on her behalf said: 'Ms Jones is satisfied that any allegations in relation to impropriety surrounding expenses are entirely misconceived'.

Texts leaked from the phone of Laura Anne Jones, a Conservative Senedd member, appeared to ask an employee to maximise the politician's expenses claims

The context for the WhatsApp messages is not clear. Ms Jones is currently being investigated by the Standards Commissioner Douglas Bain and South Wales Police

Messages sent to a member of staff, who had asked whether they should make expenses claims for the days when Ms Jones was off sick received no direct reply.

The Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd said: 'We will not be commenting while this matter is being considered by the relevant authorities.'

Ms Jones, who is Conservative shadow culture minister, has said she will fully co-operate with 'any investigation'.

Messages sent to a member of staff, who had asked whether they should make expenses claims for the days when Ms Jones was off sick received no direct reply.

However, a graph of proposed expenses then appeared to be sent to the phone of Ms Jones, as seen by BBC Wales.

A response from Ms Jones's phone said: 'If you could always do more than it says, that'd be fab, thanks,' followed by a thumbs up emoji.

When the staff member asked 'like visits to constituency office?', a response says: 'Yes - stuff like that [palms together emoji].'

Ms Jones is currently being investigated by the Standards Commissioner Douglas Bain and South Wales Police. No arrests have been made.

The standards commissioner, who is responsible for investigating complaints against Welsh members, had referred a complaint on to police, according to the force.

The original complaint to Mr Bain was in relation to Ms Jones's handling of allegations of bullying by a senior member of staff, BBC Wales reported.

Claims about the South Wales East MS' expenses emerged as part of Mr Bain's investigation.

It is understood the standards commissioner's investigation is on hold while the police inquiry is taking place, and police have spoken to at least one member of Conservative staff.

A lawyer on behalf of Ms Jones said in a statement: 'Ms Jones did not receive any formal bullying complaint in relation to any of her staff members'.

They added that she 'is satisfied that any allegations in relation to impropriety surrounding expenses are entirely misconceived'.

'Ms Jones's belief is that these complaints being lodged with the standards commissioner are without foundation.

'As these matters are the subject of ongoing inquiries, it would be inappropriate for Ms Jones to make any further comment.

'Ms Jones has no issue with the BBC or its sources putting these allegations to the police and/or the standards commissioner, which will provide her the opportunity to respond in a formal manner as part of the inquiry should the authorities require it.'
Beloved Radio 2 presenter Johnnie Walker and his wife Tiggy are together accepting the reality of his incurable illness after Tiggy revealed her husband has weeks to live.

Tiggy, 63, appeared on Jeremy Vine's radio show on Monday and shared the sad news that Johnnie, 79, has incurable idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Former television commercials producer Tiggy, who has been married to Johnnie for more than 20 years, said so many people who love Johnnie have been in touch.

'Listeners write in even though they don't know our address. They just put 'Johnnie Walker, DJ, Dorset' on the envelope, and somehow it gets to us. Ray Davies, Peter Kay, even Elton John rang the other day,' she said in an interview of her and her husband in The Telegraph.

'He's a very thoughtful man. I helped him out at the start of his career, gave him a lot of radio play. He wanted me to know he had never forgotten that,' Johnnie said of Elton.

DJ Johnnie Walker and his wife Tiggy Walker have been married for over 20 years

Radio 2 star Johnnie insisted on continuing broadcasting from home throughout his illness

Johnnie's Sunday show Sounds of the 70s has been delighting around two million listeners a week for nearly 15 years.

The radio star is now wheelchair bound and dependent on an oxygen machine but continues to broadcast from home.

His doctor says that he could die at any moment. He was initially given two to five years to live and the five year mark is this August.

Tomorrow afternoon Johnnie will make reference to his illness for the first time on his radio show.

The song he has chosen to open the show will be Smokey Robinson's Tears of a Clown. But he says it's not for sentimental reasons, more because he just loves the song.

The couple moved to Dorset three years ago after Tiggy realised the damp in their adored Georgian farmhouse was exacerbating Johnnie's illness.

Their new-build, single storey home allows Johnnie to easy access to his recording studio whenever he is in the mood to listen to some music. His favourite artists include John Prine, Jackson Browne, and Bruce Springsteen.

Tiggy is not a fan of the new home, but Johnnie spends a lot of time in the main room, which has floor-to-ceiling windows and a view of fields. They have also covered their walls with paintings.

Apart from occasionally panicking if he can't breathe, Johnnie is thankfully not in any pain - although he doesn't like to talk about it.

The couple have only chosen to speak out about Johnnie's illness to bring attention to Carers Week, which ends tomorrow.

They have been co-patrons of the charity Carers UK for more than a decade.

The pair met in 2001, a year after he divorced his first wife Frances Kum, with whom he has a daughter, Beth, and son, Sam.

Johnnie married Tiggy in 2002 and fell terribly ill on their honeymoon in Kerala, India, with what turned out to be non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Tiggy went from new bride to full-time carer. Johnnie recovered and went back to work in 2004.

In 2013, Tiggy was diagnosed with stage-four breast cancer, from which she has now recovered.

Johnnie recalled how his wife was not an easy patient as she prefers to be in control.

Tiggy said the chemo made her fat and she felt like dying.

However Johnnie too, she said, was 'awful' when he had chemo.

'It completely changed your personality. I once cooked you pea soup and you screamed at me: 'I don't f---ing want pea soup!'

Carers UK estimates that more than 10 million people have been or are caring for a loved one, saving the NHS around 162 billion a year.

This is the equivalent, in effect, says the charity, of a second NHS, which receives about 164 billion each year in funding in England.

The Government pays carers 81.90 a week, but only if they earn less than 150 a week.

According to Tiggy, the whole healthcare system is outdated and wants people who are dying to be cared for at home.

The job is so demanding six out of seven carers give up their jobs entirely. Tiggy quit her well-paid and successful career to look after Johnnie.

Tiggy is now Johnnie's part-time manager, she has a column on the local paper and she is developing a film based on Naomi Jacob's 1964 novel Antonia.

'There are a lot of people who are suffering. The NHS and the government need to be much more aware of the impact of all this on the carer,' Tiggy said.

Tiggy and Johnnie fell in love at first sight. She was the career woman with her own production company, he was the laid-back DJ whose Radio 2 show had become the most listened to drivetime show in the UK.

When Johnnie developed cancer she felt very alone because he hated being ill.

Johnnie is prepared for death and says he's not afraid and believes in life after death

The couple are looking forward to being reunited after they have both passed away

Tiggy has support from Johnnie's daughter Beth, a website designer, who lives an hour away and comes over frequently to help.

The couple can also rely on friends and other family members for help, including Tiggy's brother, a chef, who often comes over and cooks dinner.

They have a carer who comes on Wednesdays allowing Tiggy some time to herself which she sometimes uses to day trip to London to watch a play or have some down time.

The couple still have dinner together and try to maintain a normal life. They say it's like their own mini lockdown.

Much as Tiggy fears Johnnie's death, the idea she'd have to care for him for another six months is equally scary due to the exhaustion it's caused her.

Tiggy said after falling in love as equals, it was hard to have a new caring relationship because of the parent-child dynamic.

Johnnie agreed that the caring aspect of their relationship killed the romance a bit.

The couple now sleep in separate bedrooms, don't travel. and hardly make it out to the pub.

The couple talk with astonishing frankness about the inevitability of what is about to happen. Tiggy is looking forward to fulfilling the plans she has made for her life after Johnnie dies.

When Tiggy married Johnnie, his career definitely took priority.

She was enraged by the fact some BBC producers implied she should feel lucky to be Johnnie's wife.

While it's hard to imagine life without Johnnie, she is looking forward to the empowerment that will bring and taking control of her life.

She has already contacted an estate agent about the bungalow the two of them currently reside in.

She has her eye on a cottage a couple of miles down the road. She is certain she won't have another relationship.

Johnnie is just as matter-of-fact. He says he needs to die quickly so that she can get on and make her film.

His son Sam came over from Australia in November and Johnnie has prepared for the fact he probably will never see him again. He has moved all his streaming accounts into Tiggy's name and paid off the credit cards.

The couple have even started selling Johnnie's clothes online through the secondhand marketplace Vinted.

Johnnie is mulling over whether to sell his vinyl collection to put behind the bar for the wake. The funeral is finalised but the pair won't reveal the details yet.

After the service Tiggy has said she wants the hearse to go up the high street to Springsteen's Born to Run.

Tiggy says the BBC has always underestimated Johnnie, that it has never fully appreciated his talents, although she is quick to point out they have been brilliantly supportive since he became ill.

When he was first diagnosed, Johnnie was fearful that listeners would hear there was something wrong with his breathing, even though everything was carefully edited.

Sir Elton John and Johnnie Walker together in 2004

Johnnie Walker told his two million listeners he could die at any moment

He wanted to keep broadcasting to give him purpose and to ensure Sounds of the 70s remained a part of his fans' Sunday afternoon.

For Johnnie, Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time brings back memories of Tiggy. The lyrics 'If you fall I will catch you, I will be waiting, time after time' are especially meaningful to him.

Both believe in the right to assisted dying, although Johnnie has a few more reservations than Tiggy. It is not, though, an option for him.

Johnnie has said if he gets a chest infection he would not want to go to hospital, but remain at home. He is hoping he might die in his sleep.

'I'm not afraid. I believe in life after death. I know I'll be able to look down on Tiggy. She'll go through loss and sorrow but she will also be free.'
A lip reader has revealed the adorable remark Prince George made to Princess Kate during the Trooping the Colour procession.

The 10-year-old seemed bewildered as he rode in a carriage along with his mother and younger siblings Charlotte, nine, and Louis, six, as they watched the assembled crowds of thousands of royal fans along the Mall.

George remarked to his mother, Kate Middleton, 42, 'they all look so happy', lipreader Juliet Sullivan told MailOnline, before waving to onlookers who had gathered to wish King Charles a happy birthday.

Today marked The Princess of Wales' first public appearance in months as she has been receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer since late February.

The royal was on hand to ensure her children could enjoy the family day out to celebrate their grandfather's birthday - her presence meant they didn't have to travel to the palace without an adult in their carriage.

Prince George of Wales looks on at the assembled crowds of royal fans along the Mall during the Trooping the Colour procession

Prince George of Wales and Princess Charlotte of Wales wave during Trooping the Colour

Kate beams as she accompanies her children in a carriage during today's procession (pictured L-R: Kate, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte)

The Princess of Wales was also later seen speaking with Louis on a balcony on Horse Guards parade in another adorable exchange.

Prince Louis was seen playing with a curtain drawstring as he asked his mother 'you know how they make these, ma?'

Juliet revealed the King also seemed enamored by the event as he remarked 'Look at this! Wonderful! So colourful' as he rode in the carriage with Queen Camilla.

Prince William took part in the parade on horseback, while his children appeared alongside their mother in a carriage.

Kate's presence will no doubt be reassuring for the youngsters as they watch the fly-past from the Buckingham Palace balcony - where Prince Louis famously covered his ears to block out the noise in 2022.

After the Princess of Wales' carriage arrived at Buckingham Palace, she and her family stepped out, showing off their outfits.

Ahead of her appearance, the Princess penned a moving personal message thanking the public for their support over her cancer diagnosis and revealing she is looking forward to attending the traditional ceremonial day.

Prince Louis was seen playing with a curtain drawstring as he asked his mother 'you know how they make these, ma?'

The Princess of Wales speaks with Prince Louis as they watch Trooping the Colour today

The Queen looked resplendant in a pale blue outfit and a matching hat, while Kate looked joyful in a white coordinated set

King Charles III and Queen Camilla travel along The Mall to the Trooping the Colour ceremony

Britain's King Charles arrives for the Trooping the Colour parade which honours his official birthday

Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Anne, Princess Royal perform on Horse Guards Parade

Back in March, the Princess disclosed she was undergoing 'preventative chemotherapy' for an undisclosed form of the disease says her treatment is on going and will be for several months to come.

While she will not be returning to public duties full-time, she revealed that she does now feel well enough, however, to undertake a small number of public engagements in the coming months.

To mark the news Kensington Palace have also released a stunning new portrait of the princess taken at Windsor this week by Matt Porteous showing her looking well and in a reflective mood.

In her message the Princess says she has been 'blown away' by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months.

'It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times,' she wrote.

Movingly she reveals she is making 'good progress', but adds: As anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.'

Beaming Princess Charlotte couldn't help but smile as she appeared alongside her brother Prince George at today's Trooping the Colour

Another snap of the popular young Prince showed him grimacing as he rode to Buckingham Palace

Prince Louis (left) pulls a face at the crowd as Princess Charlotte (right) looks regal as they join the parade

Kate arrives with Princess Charlotte and Prince George at Horse Guards Parade today

Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Kate at Trooping The Colour today

She added: 'My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months. On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home.

'I'm looking forward to attending The King's Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet.

'I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal.

Thank you so much for your continued understanding, and to all of you who have so bravely shared your stories with me.'

The Princess first announced that she had cancer on March 22.

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today

In a hugely moving video statement, recorded at Windsor, she revealed that she had been diagnosed following serious abdominal surgery in January and was already undergoing 'preventative' chemotherapy.

In a deeply personal, unprecedented and emotional video message filmed just two days earlier, Catherine revealed the news had come as a 'huge shock' and that she and William 'have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family'.

'It has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be ok,' she said.

'As I have said to them; I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits. Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too. As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both.'

Kensington Palace said at the time that it would not be sharing details of what kind of cancer the princess has, or what stage of cancer it is and asked people not to speculate.

At the time of her abdominal surgery in January, Kensington Palace said that it was non-cancerous. They confirmed again in March that is the case and that no tests had confirmed the presence of cancer. However post-operative tests subsequently found that cancer 'had been present'.

A week ago, the royal apologised for missing out on a key rehearsal for the event, writing a letter to the Irish Guards, saying: 'I hope I am able to represent you all very soon'.
Another day on the eccentric Lib Dem campaign trail saw Sir Ed Davey bouncing around on a giant inflatable pillow.

The Lib Dem leader was pictured mid-air with bare feet and his trousers rolled up as he jumped on a pillow trampoline at Bocketts Farm in Dorking, Surrey, today.

It is his latest stunt in a three-week run of attention-grabbing antics by the politician on the General Election campaign that has seen the 58-year-old falling off a paddleboard in Windermere and undergo a makeover on ITV's This Morning.

At the end of May, Sir Ed tried to put pressure on the Tories over the UK's sewage crisis by paddle-boarding and falling into England's largest lake and the scene of a highly controversial effluent spillage in February.

Earlier this month it was claimed million of litres of raw sewage were 'illegally pumped' into the Lake District beauty spot by United Utilities after a fault was not corrected for hours.

Another day on the eccentric Lib Dem campaign trail saw Sir Ed Davey bouncing around on a giant inflatable pillow

The Lib Dem leader was pictured mid-air with bare feet and his trousers rolled up as he jumped on a pillow trampoline at Bocketts Farm in Dorking, Surrey, today

On Friday, the party leader was compared to 'The Man From Del Monte' as he pranced about on a catwalk in front of hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard on ITV's This Morning.

The politician put on a linen blazer, navy chinos and leather trainers after his team asked stylist Laura Puddy for the 'perfect summer outfit for the campaign trial'.

Other campaign trail stops have seen him clamber around a water obstacle course and an assault course, belting out We Will Rock You on drums made from an exercise ball and riding the new rollercoaster at Thorpe Park.

MAY 28 -- Sir Ed Davey falls from a paddleboard on Lake Windermere during a campaign visit

Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley watch Sir Ed Davey on the catwalk on ITV's This Morning today

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey poses on the catwalk while on This Morning on Friday

Sir Ed was compared to 'The Man From Del Monte' in the famous television adverts

MAY 5 -- Sir Ed joins care home residents in a DrumFit class in Romsey, Hampshire

JUNE 13 -- Sir Ed took on an assault course during a visit to Arena Pursuits in Wadhurst, Kent, while on the General Election campaign trail

JUNE 12 -- Sir Ed Davey falls from an Aqua Jungle floating assault course on a visit to Spot-On-Wake in Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire, on the General Election campaign trail

JUNE 12 -- Sir Ed Davey jumps into the water on his visit to Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire

JUNE 10 -- Sir Ed rides on the Colossus rollercoaster at the Thorpe Park theme park in Surrey

MAY 30 -- Sir Ed Davey slides down an 'Ultimate Slip N Slide' in Frome, Somerset

MAY 29 -- Sir Ed Davey clowns around on a bike during a visit to Knighton in Wales last month

It is all in an effort to to chip away at the 'blue wall', a collection of typically safe Conservative seats in southern England.

Sir Ed has pledged to scrap elected police and crime commissioners (PCC) to unlock money which he says could bolster frontline policing.

The Lib Dems will hope their blue wall gains will keep them in the running for the opposition, as the Tories continue to languish in the polls, and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage declared his party the 'challengers to Labour' in 'red wall' seats in northern England and the Midlands.
Thousands of Royal fans were treated to an RAF fly past at the end of today's Trooping of the Colour ceremony which involved 34 different aircraft.

Unfortunately, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's fleet of Hurricanes, Spitfires and Lancaster bombers were grounded following last month's fatal crash outside RAF Conningsy in Lincolnshire.

The RAF fleet was represented by three helicopters as well as ten fighter aircraft and a host of transport or logistics air frames.

The six-and-a-half minute flypast began with three Chinook Helicopters flying together in close proximity.

In a highly-choreographed display, the aircraft took off from RAF bases from across the United Kingdom before flying down the length of The Mall and over the balcony at Buckingham Palace.

Each of the 10 waves had to arrive at the exact point at the correct altitude and time for its allotted time in the display.

In a highly-choreographed display, the aircraft took off from RAF bases from across the United Kingdom before flying down the length of The Mall and over the balcony at Buckingham Palace

In a highly-choreographed display, the aircraft took off from RAF bases from across the United Kingdom before flying down the length of The Mall and over the balcony at Buckingham Palace

Luckily the skies were clear as the 10 formations took turns to fly down the Mall

The RAF Red Arrows finished off today's flypast to celebrate Trooping of the Colour

There were fears that the display may have been cancelled because of heavy rain showers in the morning

The first three aircraft were Chinooks based at RAF Odiham from 7 Squadron. The large helicopters, which can carry up to 55 troops and ten tonnes of cargo have a distinctive twin rotor set up which produces its legendary 'Womp Womp' sound as it approaches.

The Chinooks are an RAF workhorse specialising in troop deployment, resupply and casualty evacuation.

The three aircraft recently returned from the NATO exercise Stedfeast Defender - the military pact's largest deployment since the fall of the Berlin Wall.

The second wave of aircraft were from 29 Squadron based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

The three RAF Typhoons replaced the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight which has been grounded since the tragic death of Squadron Leader Mark Long on May 25.

Squadron Leader Long died shortly after taking off when his Spitfire crashed near the aerodrome's perimeter. An investigation has been launched into events leading up to his tragic death. Pending the results of the investigation the RAF has decided to stand down the BBMF.

The pilots flying in today's display, led by Squadron Leader Andy Milikin - a former commanding officer of the BBMF - were personal friends of the late airman.

William and Kate along with their three children were on the balcony at Buckingham Palace to witness the historic event

The nine-ship formation of the Red Arrows completed today's spectacular display

Thousands of people gazed up during the six-and-a-half minute display

The third wave of aircraft included an RAF Phenom T1 flown by Squadron Leader Chris Nash and Flight Lieutenant Elliot Lancaster. The twin-engine jet is used to train pilots to use multi-engine aircraft such as the C-17 Globemaster and Atlas A400M.

The Phenom was accompanied by a pair of Texan T1s based at RAF Valley in Anglesey, north Wales. The Texan is the primary trainer for the next generation of fast jet pilots.

The aircraft were flown by Squadron Leader James Bagnall from 72 (Fighter) Squadron with Flight Lieutenant Ross Lucie-Smith. The second aircraft was commanded by Flight Lieutenant Jonny Dowen and Lieutenant Chris Morris of the Royal Navy.

Behind them was the C-17 Globemaster from RAF Brize Norton. The four-engined jet aircraft is a long range strategic heavy-lift aircraft flown by Flight Lieutenant Kristian Pickworth and his first officer Flight Lieutenant Mike Chandler.

The Globemaster is capable of flying above 30,000ft to deliver 45 tonnes of freight to destinations more than 4,500 nautical miles away.

The fifth wave of aircraft included an RAF Voyager and an A400m Atlas, also based at Brize Norton.

The Voyager is a modified Airbus A330-200 which serves as the RAF's refuelling aircraft while also having the ability to carry 291 passengers and cargo. It was flown by Flight Lieutenant Craig Patterson and Flight Lieutenant James Conolly, with Mission Systems Operator Sgt Sam Chaloner.

The Atlas can carry a 30-tonne payload 2,400 nautical miles and can operate in and out of established and unprepared landing strips. It can carry a mixture of cargo and passengers or battlefield casualties.

They were followed by A Poseidon MRA1 and a pair of Typhoons.

The Poseidon is the RAF's maritime patrol aircraft and can be used to hunt down and track Russian submarines or search and rescue operations.

It has a vast array of sensors and can be equipped with torpedoes to destroy enemy submarines.

It is based at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland. The Typhoons are based at Lossiemouth and RAF Coningsby and are part of Britain's Quick Reaction Alert - to track down and intercept suspicious aircraft approaching British territory.

The Red Arrows, pictured have flown at an estimated 5,000 displays since they were founded in 1965. They have visited a total of 57 different countries and will head to Canada later this summer to celebrate the centenary of the Royal Canadian Air Force

The entire flypast was co-ordinated by by Wing Commander Andy Shaw who was in the rear of the Poseidon, ensuring each of the aircraft reached the Mall at the correct time.

He said: 'It is an honour to be involved in delivering an airborne spectacle worthy of His Majesty the Kings Birthday. I am grateful to have had the chance to work with so many outstanding aviators to make today safe and fit for the King.'

One of the Typhoons in this wave was flown by a Qatari pilot who is training with the RAF while the other was commanded by Squadron Leader Joe Murphy.

A further two Typhoons accompanied the RC135W Rivet Joint which is based at RAF Waddington.

According to the RAF: 'The RC-135W Rivet Joint is a dedicated electronic surveillance aircraft that can be employed in all theatres on strategic and tactical missions. Its sensors soak up electronic emissions from communications, radar and other systems.'

The eighth wave involved three Hawk T2 jets based at RAF Valley in Anglesey. The Hawk is used to train the next generation of fast jet pilots.

The formation was led by Flight Lieutenant James Spratt of 25 (Fighter Squadron). He was followed by Squadron Leader Nicholas 'Jewsburger' Jewsbury and Major Glenn Scott of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

The ninth wave involved four F-35B Lightnings from RAF Marham. The next generation stealth aircraft form part of the 617 Squadron - the RAF Dambusters.

The formation was led by Wing Commander Stew Campbell, officer commanding of 617 Squadron. The 21-year RAF Veteran previously flew with the Red Arrows between 2014 and 2016.

The display ended with a nine-ship formation by the Red Arrows who trailed Red, White and Blue smoke as they powered down the Mall.

Since 1965 the Red Arrows have completed almost 5,000 displays and is led this season by Squadron Leader Jon Bond - a former front line Typhoon pilot.

This year the Red Arrows are due to fly 60 displays, including a tour of Canada.
The next Tory leadership contest is under way in earnest. While Rishi Sunak tries to pull the Conservatives out of their seemingly terminal electoral doom loop, potential successors such as Penny Mordaunt, Priti Patel and Robert Jenrick are sounding out candidates and tapping up donors.

We expect the gun to be fired soon after July 5, says one plotter. Rishi will not want to hang around as leader after this horror show.

Tory morale has fallen so low that some senior figures have even, macabrely, dug out the death in service rules which apply if a party leader falls under a campaign bus, to see if they could be used to effect a bloodless change before polling day.

They were told that it was uncharted territory as there is not a deputy party leader who could take over. The closest option was Oliver Dowden, the Deputy Prime Minister, but he was deemed unlikely to move the dial.

One idea would have revived the Old Etonian psychodrama between David Cameron and Boris Johnson. Noting Camerons displays of effortless authority since he returned to the Cabinet as Foreign Secretary, senior figures suggested he could act as a caretaker leader for a year while the party rebuilt  and even suggested that he could assume command before polling day.

Senior figures have suggested David Cameron could act as a caretaker leader for a year while the Conservative Party is rebuilt

But Cameron has made clear over Sunday lunches with his Cotswolds set that the idea does not appeal, and confirmed as much in an interview with LBC last week. David doesnt seem convinced by the quality of Tory candidates, is how one source phrases it. Friends expect him instead to build a Tony Blair-style consultancy business, with long-term ally Dowden as a potential business partner  although their camps deny this.

A Johnson ally also says the idea of installing Cameron would not have gone down very well with Boris. The pair have been competitive since Eton and Oxford, with the rivalry coming to a head when they were on opposite sides of the Brexit referendum.

A source close to the Foreign Secretary called talk of him assuming the leadership total nonsense, adding: David Cameron is 100 per cent behind Rishi Sunak and the Conservative campaign.

For the moment, Boris is content finalising his memoirs, and preparing to celebrate his 60th birthday next week. He has concluded that an early return to Parliament in a by-election would leave him tainted by the wave of anti-Conservatism: better to wait until Sir Keir Starmer has displayed his frailties in office.

So far, he has given his backing to all candidates who asked for it, either in social media videos or written endorsements, and he is understood to be working with Tory Party headquarters.

But Boriss enduring support among the party membership  who recall that the Tories were only a few percentage points behind Labour when he was ousted from office  means he is likely to play a key role in the choice of candidate to succeed Sunak.

Boris Johnson appears to be putting off a leadership bid for the time being and is content finalising his memoirs

Former home secretary Priti Patel, pictured at the Epsom Derby this month, has been sounding out potential allies

The jostling is complicated by uncertainty over the scale of the rout. With Nigel Farages Reform passing the Tories in one poll last week, none of the contenders can be sure they will even have a place in the Commons after the election.

Mordaunt is said to be working night and day in her constituency to try to save her seat, while Defence Secretary Grant Shapps is also feeling vulnerable.

Their allies say this will work in their favour and bring them closer to other MPs fighting tooth and nail to get re-elected  and set them apart from leadership challengers like Patel and Jenrick in the safest seats.

A source close to Mordaunt said: If she can hold on, the fact that she has consistently bucked the national trend will do her a world of good. She will be able to argue Im a winner, like Boris.

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Boris Johnson will miss the election campaign and Tories are panicking... but a fresh purge of Boris fans by No10 is still in full swing, write GLEN OWEN and ANNA MIKHAILOVA Advertisement

Meanwhile, Shapps has already got a team in place ready to run a leadership campaign, sources say.

And former home secretary Patel has been sounding out potential allies, trying to get funding and logistics in place, and bring Tory associations on board. We need to swing into action. We need money, support and campaign teams all set up, a source said.

Jenrick has been accused of tactical campaigning in the election  the choice of seats he visits determined more by whether the candidate will still be in the Commons to back him after polling day.

I can see it all moving quickly over the summer. Its unfathomable that Sunak will hang around if he loses big, said one Tory candidate. He would not be welcome.

Last week, Sunak told journalists that he plans to remain in the Commons for five years even if he leads his party to a big loss.

But rumours continue to swirl that the PM has already enrolled his children into a school in California from August and will swap politics for a big corporate job.

A source close to the PM wouldnt entertain scenarios after the Election but said of the California rumours: This is completely false. The PMs kids go to school in England. Thats not going to change. He is focused on fighting for every vote.

Senior Tories are also furious that Sunak pulled out of their summer party at short notice. Donors have been told he will not be attending this weeks Black and White Ball at the Hurlingham Club in London, despite having been billed as the key speaker. He is said to be taking part in an election debate instead.

Rishi Sunak, pictured at the G7 summit yesterday, has pulled out of the Tories' 1,500-a-head summer party

Some are understood to be asking for refunds for their 1,500-a-head tickets. The bash should be one of the partys biggest fundraisers at a time when it is already struggling to draw donations.

One donor said: You leave D-Day early, you dont go to the summer party, how can you expect other people to turn up for you?

And one Tory candidate said: We dont feel like we owe anything to Rishi. We want to wrest control of the party after the election.

If, because of the wets in the Parliamentary party, there isnt a sound leadership candidate we can vote for, you would be looking at a significant number of Conservatives who would join Reform.

For these Tories, the real fight begins after July 4.
A black bear named 'Big B*****d' stalked a 71-year-old California woman for months before she was found mauled to death - as shocked locals give stark warning: 'It's easy pickins for them.'

Patrice Miller lived in the remote mountain town of Downieville. After the fatal attack she was found on the kitchen floor savaged with bite wounds and claw marks, and was partially eaten, according to the Sierra County deputy sheriff's office.

Neighbor Cassie Koch, 55, who helped Miller with errands had not heard from her friend and asked deputies to do a welfare check before the grim discovery was made.

Miller, who lived alone with her two cats, had frequent run-ins with the bear - so often - that she gave the animal a nickname. Koch said, two weeks before her death, the bear tried to enter her home, but Miller was able to scare the bear off.

In September, Miller turned down a depredation permit from the State Department of Fish & Wildlife - considered a last-resort option that allows the animal to be shot before it causes serious harm, as per the department.

Koch described Miller, as a 'kind person who wanted the bear trying to break into her house to be removed but not hurt,' she told the San Francisco Chronicle.

Patrice Miller, 71, from the remote mountain town of Downieville was found dead from the fatal bear attack November 2023. She was found on the kitchen floor savaged with bite wounds and claw marks, and partially eaten, officials said

A black bear is pictured on surveillance camera on November 2023

Miller's death is the first documented human fatality caused by a black bear in California's state's history, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed.

'Its a big deal,' said Steve Gonzalez, a department spokesperson. 'That doesnt happen in California. Normally a bear is going to stay away from you, a bear that hasnt been normalized to human behavior.'

Downieville, where that attack occurred, has a population of 105 according to a 2022 U.S. census.

The small town is located in Sierra County, on the North Fork of the Yuba River, and is approximately two hours from the state's capital Sacramento.

When Miller's body was found, her front door had been broken off, the inside had been ransacked,, cabinets were torn off, garbage strewn about, and there was bear scat on the porch.

Koch, 55, a longtime resident told the news outlet: 'When I was a kid, you never saw a bear in town. Now, they're all over, making their rounds.

She added: 'It's easy pickins for them.'

Koch said that before Miller died, she would often talk up the bear that was trying to enter her home, and was fearful.

'Seemed like every other night the bear was trying to break into her house,' Koch recalled.

'At first, it was like, 'Oh, this pesky bear.' But then she seemed scared about it.'

Miller lived in a rental home in Downieville with her two cats. After her death officials used screws and plywood to secure the home and prevent the bear from re-enetering

A state depredation permit was issued and a bear was trapped on the property and euthanized

After Miller's death, the bear kept returning to the property and citizens were concerned.

County officials installed plywood over the front door and secured it with dozens of screws.

A state depredation permit was issued, and a trap on the property. It took two days after the trap was placed before the bear was caught, and later euthanized,, as reported by The Mountain Messenger.

An autopsy then revealed Miller passed away 'due to a bear mauling or a swipe and a bite to the neck area.'

DNA tests confirmed that the first bear euthanized was responsible for killing Miller.

Officials explained that the bear that bothered Miller is known by officials as a 'public safety bear,' due to its repeatedly aggressive behavior.

For further protection, Miller had installed steel black bars across her windows.

Investigators learned from Millers daughter that her mother had a constant problem with bears trying to get into her home, and that she had physically hit one.

Another bear then became a problem in Downieville and was euthanized after trying to break into a school gym, resulting in a significant decrease in bear activity, the sheriff said.

Bears breaking into homes or trash cans in search of food have become a problem in California  from Lake Tahoe in the Sierra down to the foothill suburbs of Los Angeles, where some have been known to raid refrigerators and take dips in backyard pools and hot tubs.

After Miller's body was found, a local 'Downieville Crittercam' caught significant evidence of bears in the surrounding area the same week.

Downieville is located along Highway 49 in the Lost Sierra region of the Tahoe National Forest

Downieville is in the remote Sierra high country in California

According to officials, California's black bear population has grown from approximately 10,000 bears to 15,000 since 1982 and up to a staggering 65,000 as of last year.

About 40% of the bears are believed to live in the Sierra Nevada, where there is an an excess amount of food that is accessible to them - and has invaded their natural ecosystem.

Experts believe that bears have learned to feel more comfortable in areas where humans are - making encounters more common but also more dangerous.
Violence broke out for the first time at Euro 2024 today when more than 100 Albanian ultras tried to attack Italian fans.

The black-clad thugs ran amok in the centre of Dortmund this afternoon targeting a fast-food restaurant and then clashing with riot police.

Baton-wielding officers quickly cornered the yobs and formed a kettle to stop them from fighting their Italian rivals.

The fans - who had earlier lit grey and red flares - were later searched for weapons.

The trouble is the first to erupt at the tournament, which only kicked off last night.

Police surround Albanian Ultras in Dortmund city centre before their game against Italy today

The fans - who had earlier lit grey and red flares - were later searched for weapons

The black-clad thugs ran amok in the centre of Dortmund this afternoon targeting a fast-food restaurant and then clashing with riot police

It comes amid heightened security around England's opening group game against Serbia tomorrow with fears that 500 ultras are planning to ambush Three Lions supporters over the weekend.

So far there have been no incidents of disorder in Gelsenkirchen, Essen and Dusseldorf, where thousands of English fans are continuing to pour in ahead of the crunch Group C match.

England fans have been drinking and partying happily with local Germans and even a few Scots over the last two days.

The trouble is the first to erupt at the tournament, which only kicked off last night

Police surround Albanian ultras after violence broke out for the first time at Euro 2024 today when more than 100 Albanians tried to attack Italian fans

However, the atmosphere in Dortmund this afternoon - 20 miles from Gelsenkirchen where England start their Euro 2024 campaign - was said to be extremely tense.

Albania play neighbours Italy this evening at 9pm local time.

An eyewitness told MailOnline: 'The violence came out of nowhere. The Albanian and Italian fans had been singing all day long without any problems but then it all suddenly kicked off.

'The riot police moved in very quickly and soon had the thugs held up against the wall.

'There are about 100 of these hooligans being searched for knives and any other weapons. The German police really mean business.'
Hundreds of mourners have held a 'paddle-out' to pay tribute to two Perth brothers who were killed in Mexico.

Callum Robinson, 33, and his brother Jake, 30, were travelling with their American friend Carter Rhoad, 30, on a surfing trip in the Mexican state of Baja California in April when they failed to check into their accommodation.

A few days later police arrived at their last known whereabouts and found a campsite with traces of blood.

The three bodies were later discovered in a well, with bullet wounds to the head.

The paddle-out on Saturday was held a week after a moving memorial service at Sacred Heart College in Sorrento where the boys graduated high school.

Two large portraits of the brothers sat on the sand at Sorrento Beach on Saturday as surfers formed a ring in the water.

The boys father Martin Robinson said a few words in the centre of the group as two wreaths were laid in the water.

Mourners have paid tribute to Perth brothers Jake and Callum Robinson who were killed while on a surfing trip to Mexico

Two pictures of the brothers (Callum left and Jake right) sat on the sand as hundreds gathered on the beach

The surfers and kayakers then made their way back to shore where they were embraced by dozens more on the sand.

Australian Federal Police are working with Mexican authorities to bring justice for two murdered brothers.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia's embassy in Mexico would continue to work with federal police and local authorities.

'I am heartbroken for Jake and Callum's parents and am thinking of them at this incredibly difficult time,' she told AAP.

Parents of the slain Australians, Debra and Martin Robinson, said the world had since become a darker place and were preparing to bring home the bodies of their sons.

Brothers Jake and Callum Robinson (pictured), 30 and 32, and their American mate Jack Rhoad, 30, went missing while on a surfing trip in the in the Mexican province of Baja California

Mexican prosecutors have identified three suspects - two were caught with methamphetamine and one had one of the victim's phones - but it's believed more people may have been involved.

A criminal charge of forced disappearance, equivalent to kidnapping, has been laid against the accused ringleader.

The man, Jesus Gerardo, has a criminal record of drug dealing, vehicle theft and domestic violence.

The AFP has a presence in Mexico and is liaising with local authorities.
Rishi Sunak will warn Russia's allies they are 'on the wrong side of history' during a major international summit on Ukraine.

The Prime Minister, who has been photographed speaking to Volodymyr Zelensky at the event in Switzerland, will criticise countries supplying arms and components for Vladimir Putin's war effort.

The peace summit at the Buergenstock Resort on a cliff overlooking Lake Lucerne is keeping Mr Sunak away from the General Election campaign.

He also attended the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London earlier on Saturday.

Dozens of heads of state and governments are expected to attend the summit, making it the largest world leader gathering solely focused on Ukraine since the invasion began, but Russia was not invited, meaning there is no hope of any substantial progress on a peace deal.

Rishi Sunak will warn Russia 's allies they are 'on the wrong side of history' during a major international summit on Ukraine. Pictured: Sunak arrives at the Summit on Peace in Ukraine in Lucerne, Switzerland

The Prime Minister is set to issue a warning to countries supplying arms and components for Vladimir Putin 's war effort

The Prime Minister was seen speaking to Volodymyr Zelensky at the event in Switzerland, which is the largest world leader gathering solely focused on Ukraine since the invasion began

Russian president Mr Putin has suggested the summit is 'just another ploy to divert everyone's attention'.

But Mr Sunak will say: 'Those who aid Russia by providing the weapons of war, or components for those weapons should look at this summit today.

'They should look at Bucha, Mariupol, Kharkiv, and they should reflect on the choice they have made.

'They are placing themselves on the side of the aggressor - and on the wrong side of history.

'Putin has no interest in a genuine peace.

'He has launched a sustained diplomatic campaign against this summit ordering countries to stay away, spinning a phoney narrative about his willingness to negotiate.

'We should ask Russia why they feel so threatened by a summit discussing the basic principles of territorial integrity, food security and nuclear safety.'

Mr Sunak will add: 'From a position of strength, we must work with President Zelensky to set out the principles for a just and lasting peace, based on international law and the UN Charter.

'That is the path to a permanent cessation of hostilities. It will show Ukraine that we'll stand by them when they are ready for negotiations.

'And it will show Putin's allies in North Korea, Iran and elsewhere that we will protect the right of all nations to determine their own future.'
The former president holds the thinnest of polling leads over Biden in Michigan

Donald Trump barreled into Democratic territory on Saturday, telling a Black church congregation in blue-collar Detroit that he brought record low unemployment to African-Americans and urging them not to vote for 'king of the super predators' Joe Biden.

Trump has made inroads among minority voters and his visit to the 180 Church is the latest sign his campaign believes it can hurt Biden with some of his core support.

'We think we're going to win this state. We're leading right now by a lot,' he said on Saturday afternoon.

'So it's an honour to be here. It's a very important area for us.

'We've done more for and I say this, I say proudly more for the black population than any president since Abraham Lincoln. That's a big statement.'

Former President Donald Trump visited Detroit, Michigan, on Saturday. First he held a roundtable at the 180 Church, which serves an African-American congregation

Trump has made similar claims before although his visit to the city and a Black church marks an audacious move and a sign of confidence in the Trump campaign.

But sitting before a giant, illuminated crucifix, Trump had to stretch the truth to make his point about his record serving Black Americans.

'We achieved the lowest African-American unemployment rate,' he said.

'The lowest African American poverty rate ever recorded, ever, ever recorded during my four years.

'We lifted 6.6 million people out of poverty. Black Americans saw their largest increase in homeownership on record.'

In fact, Black unemployment was on a downward trend throughout Trump's four years in power (except for during the pandemic shutdown) but reached even lower rates under Biden.

And he reminded his audience of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. It ramped up spending on prisons and policing, as well as providing billions of dollars in preventative measures to reduce spiraling crime.

'You know, he walks around now talking about the black vote,' said Trump. 'He's the king of the super predators and he wrote the 1994 bill that you talk about so much.

In fact, then first lady Hillary Clinton used the term 'super predator' while Biden actually distanced himself from the term when it was applied to young, Black offenders.

Trump took part in a roundtable at the church, to hear about issues facing the local community.

About 1000 people gathered at the 180 Church in Detroit, Michigan to hear Trump speak

Guests listen to the national anthem prior to the start of a roundtable with Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump at the 180 Church

The visit ended with a prayer for Trump and a rendition of 'Happy Birthday' for the former president who turned 78 a day earlier. He is seen here sitting beside veteran Carlos Chambers

It ended with a prayer and a rendition of 'Happy Birthday' for the former president who turned 78 a day earlier.

Trump's itinerary highlighted the tightrope he is trying to walk in the 2024 election, first visiting an African-American church before speaking at a Turning Point Action gathering, a group which the Anti Defamation League says attracts racists and extremists.

James Perkins, the pastor of Greater Christ Baptist Church in Detroit, accused Trump of a political stunt.

'Donald Trump has the nerve to waltz into our city and act like he wants to understand the struggles Black Detroiters face, but the reality is he doesnt care,' he said.

'Every time Trump opens his mouth to talk to Black folks, he demonizes us, insults us, and makes empty promises hell never keep.'

Charlie Kirk told the Turning Point Action People's Convention crowd on Friday evening: 'You must find low-propensity voters in your life and get them registered to vote'

Robert Broderick and Rachel dance before the start of the conservative Turning Point Action's the People's Convention at Huntington Place, Detroit, Michigan

Biden won Michigan in 2020 by three points. And few demographic groups matter more to Democrats than Black voters.

But the Trump campaign is making inroads among a group that has expressed frustration with Biden.

Biden's approval rating among Black adults has dropped from 94 percent to 55 percent during his term, according to a recent Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll.

And in Michigan the former president has a narrow lead of about half a point in polling averages.

Trump told his audience that he would rebuild the city's ailing auto industry, which he said had been destroyed by free trade agreements.

The overwhelmingly Black congregation was joined by white Trump supporters on Saturday

'They're building the biggest auto plants anywhere in the world right now in Mexico, fairly close to the border,' he said, promising to impose massive tariffs on imported cars.

'We want those plants built in our country, not in that country.

'We're gonna bring back the auto industry to Michigan.'

Michael Whatley, the new chairman of the Republican National Committee, said the state was crucial to the election in November.

'Everybody knows if we don't win Michigan, we're not going to have a Republican in the White House,' he told Michigan Republicans at a party dinner on Friday night, according to the Associated Press.

'Let me be more blunt: If we don't win Michigan, we're not going to have Donald in the White House.'
A deranged menace has admitted on camera to murdering a three-year-old girl after leading police to her body dumped in the woods.

Daniel Callihan, 36, bluntly confessed to the crime as he was hauled away to jail in Jackson, Mississippi, on Friday and blamed his depression medication.

The body of Erin Brunett, 3, was found dead behind a house in a wooded area and her sister Jalie, 6, inside a car close by.

Erin and Jalie were located after a two-day search and their mother Callie Brunett, 35, who was Callihan's ex-girlfriend, was found murdered and sexually assaulted in her home 130 miles away in Louisiana.

'I'm on Lexapro. Sober. No drugs in my system. I did it,' Callihan said as police escorted him from court to a prison van.

Erin, 3, (right) was found dead and her sister Jalie, 6, (left) alive in a car nearby on Friday after the confessed killer led police to the wooded area where he left them

Daniel Callihan, 36, bluntly confessed to the crime as he was hauled away to jail in Jackson, Mississippi, on Friday and blamed his depression medication

'I have no reason for what I did. All I know is, I want to say I was sober and only on Lexapro... I think it was the side effects of the Lexapro.'

He said he told police everything he did and wasn't going to fight the charges, promising a speedy trial.

Callihan said he was diagnosed with borderline and multiple personality disorders, but that didn't mean he deserved any leniency.

'I would kill me... For what I did? Lethal injection is the easiest thing for me,' he said.

'I am not pretending to be crazy. I am certified. I have only been out of the nut house for two weeks.'

Though he admitted to murdering Erin, he didn't respond to a question about whether he also killed her mother.

Neighbors said Callihan was a menace who terrified their children and set fire to a shed he was supposed to be watching for a friend.

Darci Heck, who lived across from the mobile home in Amite, Louisiana, the confessed killer was staying in, said it was kept in a poor state.

'The landlord came out and cleaned it. It had an old bicycle parked out front. He would always park and ride that bicycle back and forth. He also lived under the bridge,' she told WDSU.

Sheriff Daniel Edwards said that Callihan was not a 'complete stranger' to the family and had dated Brunett, seen here

'I'm on Lexapro. Sober. No drugs in my system. I did it,' Callihan said as police escorted him from court to a prison van

Her 12-year-old daughter Laci Beetz was glad Callihan was in jail, as she was scared it could have been her killed instead.

'It hurt so much to think he lived right there. It could have been us. It could have been anyone,' she said.

Surveillance footage showed Callihan breaking into a neighbor's property while naked and wielding a crossbow he stole from another home.

Heck said the shed fire was the culmination of a months-long campaign of terror across the neighborhood.

'He (the friend) needed him to open the window and feed his cat. Daniel opened the window started a fire, stole a few weapons and left,' she said.

Police would not confirm if Callihan was a suspect in the arson.

Callihan's girlfriend Victoria Cox, 32, was also arrested on Friday at a motel in south Jackson, and is a suspected accomplice in the grisly crimes.

Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade said investigators got a tip that Callihan may not have acted alone, before they tracked Cox down.

'We're still trying to determine her exact role. She will be held accountable for her actions and her role in this horrific event that happened that spanned from Tangipahoa to South Jackson,' he said.

'She could possibly be facing capital murder charges along with him, or accessory before and after the fact. We have to bring justice for the loss of this child.'

Callihan (at the bottom) holds a crossbow as he skulks naked through a neighbor's property

Callihan creepily walks around a neighbor's yard with something in his hand

Callihan was apprehended by officers with the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office in Jackson on Thursday.

Images taken by officers show the bedraggled Callihan being held up by two law enforcement officers as he was apprehended.

Brunett was found dead on the bedroom floor of her mobile home in Loranger, Louisiana, on Thursday morning, with her two daughters gone.

Jalie and Erin were already reported missing by their father on Wednesday and were only found after Callihan led police to them.

Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade said the home in the woods where they were found appeared to be linked to human trafficking.

'We see cages, small animal cages. This is very, very disturbing to me as a police chief and as a father to witness and see what I saw,' he said.

'He tried to do away with the children by taking them into this wooded area. This was a horrible, horribly tragic situation that was committed by the actions of a coward.

'We're going to work this crime scene with a scalpel. It's going to take a long time to process it.'

Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office Chief Jimmy Travis called the scene at Brunett's mobile home an 'obvious homicide' with 'blood everywhere'.

Brunett had been missing for over 24 hours before detectives found her body.

Images taken by officers show the bedraggled Callihan being held up by two law enforcement officers as he was apprehended

Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office Chief Jimmy Travis called the scene at Brunett's mobile home, who is seen here with her daughters, an 'obvious homicide' with 'blood everywhere'

The chief said afterwards that the children could be half way across the country but that police would be using all resources to get them home.

Travis said Jalie would be interviewed as soon as possible as the key witness in the investigation, and human trafficking experts had been called in.

'She's been through something that most of us, hopefully, never ever get to experience. And she is going to have to spend the rest of her life living with this,' he said.

Sheriff Daniel Edwards said Callihan was not a 'complete stranger' to the family and had dated Brunett.

Callihan is accused of committing 'brutal and heinous acts of violence' including the murders of Brunett and her youngest daughter.

'Our hearts are with all those affected by this tragic event,' Edwards said.

'These are unspeakable crimes. We ask everyone to keep Callie's family in your prayers.'
Wealthy beach lovers are left devastated as they're forced to slash prices of their luxury seaside homes by millions due to climate change.

Climate experts believe the rise in sea levels and unforgiving storms, intense rainfall and coastal flooding and erosion are the culprits putting homeowners in a precarious position - and the unpredictability of it all.

The areas with some of the priciest real estate that have been hit the hardest include, Dana Point, California, to Long Island, New York, and Nantucket, Massachusetts, CNBC reported.

In September, a beach front home on Nantucket that listed for $2.3 million, fell to a staggering $600,000 after their shoreline lost 70 feet to erosion. The owner, Lynn Tidgewell said, 'this rate of erosion was not typical,' and 'dropped the price significantly in the knowledge that any prospective buyer was taking a risk.'

PICTURED: A home at Pocomo Beach on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. Various preventive methods are used to keep seawalls intact near where expensive homes are built

A for sale sign is placed in a beach front property where a house used to stand prior to being washed away by Hurricane Sandy on October 2013

Storm-driven erosion in Pismo Beach, California, has oceanfront homeowners concerned

Tidgewell said she purchased the Nantucket property on Sheep Pond Road in 2021 for $1.65 million, as town records confirm.

At the time, the property was more than a 100 feet from the top of a coastal bank, and a geological study estimated the home would last at least two decades, if not more, at the current rate of erosion.

She said she 'took the gamble due to the magnificent beauty of the location,' but after two years started to notice the land near her house started to disappear, claiming approximately 15 feet of her backyard.

In the few years she lived there, she said her home was impacted by other storms including Hurricane Lee that took another 20 feet in September, and a staggering 70 feet was swallowed up between then and December, the news outlet reported.

Brendan Maddigan, who acquired the property in February, took advantage of the price drop but went in knowing the risks.

He told The Boston Globe: 'I like to think that it'll be there for a while, but I was definitely aware of the risk of any particular storm causing a problem in the future.'

This year's hurricane season has started with forecasters predicting 'above-normal' activity.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts up to 13 hurricanes, with four to seven categorized as 'major' storm for this year's hurricane season.

Waves crash into boulders in front of homes at Capistrano Beach in Dana Point, one of the priciest real estate areas with magnificent waterfront homes, and one of the areas hit hardest

Leah Hill, Nantucket's climate resilience coordinator, said some boundary lines on the island are now fully underwater.

She told the news outlet that f the town fails to reduce coastal risks from now through 2070, nearly 2,400 structures are at risk from coastal flooding and erosion, with annual damages estimated at $3.4 billion.

A coastal resilience plan developed by Nantucket, which helps educate homeowners on ways to protect their property, was created based on the findings that Hill pointed out.

According to the plan, sea levels have risen eight inches between 1965 and 2019 on Nantucket

Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard have among the highest rates of beach erosion statewide, according to the Trustees of Reservations State of the Coast 2021 report.

The report also cited parts of the south coast of Nantucket have receded as much as 1,800 feet since the 1800s.

The town of Pacifica, just south of San Francisco, is ground zero for the issue of coastal erosion

A home fell off its foundation on Plum Island due to a winter storm

In Montauk, the east end of Long Island, a series of storms battered the area and the multi-million dollar homes in the seaside town, than ever before.

'Where we've seen flooding in the past and the water subsiding right away, it's not subsiding anymore,' said Kay Tyler, executive director of Concerned Citizens of Montauk.

'We have a friend that has a $10 million home, and he's not even sure what to do with it because if he sells it it's never going to be the $10 million he bought it for.'

Some homeowners on Nantucket are looking for property tax relief, as the property values of their drops due to matters they cannot control.

Some are consulting with legal experts to have their homes reassessed.

'I think we just put our heads in the sand,' said attorney Chris Farley. 'Values weren't going down until the last 10 years and it's still been kind of quiet reduction.'

Farley pointed to one property, which he said had an assessment of $2.2 million.

Though he noted that it has not been assessed recently, but two others homes on the same street and seaside cliff have been reassessed  one for $500,000 and one for $250,000.

He explained that the cliff the homes are one are eroding badly.

He estimated that '12-15 feet of sand is gone,' and noted that there was a 'huge exposed geo tubes underneath the cliff' that should be covered in sand.

They used to be able to walk down these steps right out and there was another stairway, its gone,' Farley said. 'So they have no more access.'

Referring to the home that has not yet been reassessed, he added: 'To me that affects the value of the property when you cant even use the waterfront that you bought to be on.'
Demand is growing for a Labour Council to refund millions of pounds to motorists after 'incompetent staff' leave error on 'unfair' fines.

Southwark council raised more than 2.6 million in five years by issuing 43,300 fines to motorists who had strayed into bus lanes in its borough.

However, it has now been reveled that a mistake in the wording on the penalty charge notices (PCNs) means that all the tickets issued are 'legally void'.

Phillip Morgan, who discovered the incorrect wording, said motorists were a 'soft target' for councils looking to raise money.

Demand is growing for a Labour Council to refund millions of pounds to motorists after 'incompetent staff' leave error on 'unfair' fines

Since then 85 out of 152 of England's highway authorities have been granted the ability to enforce fines of up to 70 for such violations. Stock image of car driving in a bus lane (stock)

He said: 'I am deeply concerned by the incompetence of staff employed by London council's parking departments.

'Their failings range from the inability to copy and paste mandatory information from the laws to the inability to fairly and correctly assess representations and appeals from motorists who, to me, are soft targets used to obtain revenue.'

The Act states that the 28-day time limit to challenge a PCN should start from 'the date of notice' about the fine.

However, the council wrongly put on its tickets that the month-long window for legal challenges started from 'the date the penalty charge notice was served'.

In one ruling to appeal a 130 fine, the judge said: 'The penalty charge notice does not comply with the statutory provisions. This amounts to a procedural impropriety and I therefore allow the appeal.'

Southwark council said: 'Southwark council issues penalty charge notices for motoring offences in the interests of public safety for all road users. They are issued within a legal and statutory framework, which includes the rights of appeal. Income received from penalty charge notice fines goes towards road upgrades and projects to help make streets safer and more accessible.

'In February 2024 we updated the wording of our PCNs to fully comply with the requirements of the London Local Authorities Act 1996, reducing the time drivers have to consider the notice or pay the fine. Our original wording stipulated drivers had from the time the notice was received, rather than when it was sent, allowing them more time in the process.'

In one ruling to appeal a 130 fine, the judge said: 'The penalty charge notice does not comply with the statutory provisions. This amounts to a procedural impropriety and I therefore allow the appeal' (file photo)

'We have no plans to cancel PCNs that haven't been successfully appealed within the statutory parking appeals process.'

Laws passed in May 2022 allowed local councils to apply for the special powers, previously only held by police, to fine drivers for 'moving traffic offences'.

Since then 85 out of 152 of England's highway authorities have been granted the ability to enforce fines of up to 70 for entering yellow boxes, making illegal U-turns or travelling in bus lanes.

The AA also suggested that 'cash-strapped councils' will use this as 'a new revenue stream'.

Jack Cousens, the head of roads policy at the AA, said: 'Allowing local authorities the power to fine drivers for yellow box junction infringements has undoubtedly opened up a new revenue stream for cash-strapped councils. Some drivers may feel this is yet another example of being used as a wallet on wheels.'

He added: 'The vast majority of drivers do not break the rules on purpose, which is why we have always argued that first time offenders should receive a warning letter, and that a 'fines threshold' should be set, so that councils have to investigate and improve schemes that are earning huge sums.'

In 2022, the MailOnline tracked down the worst bus lane in Britain- in Clapham Park Road, Lambeth south London- which made 2 million in just one year.

At one stage this averaged out at 5,300 a day owing to drivers mistakenly turning left into a bus lane near Clapham Common.
Eight Israeli soldiers have been killed in an explosion deep inside Rafah after Hamas fighters allegedly ambushed the convoy.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said their troops were killed in an explosion around 5am as their vehicle was on the move in a convoy with at least five other vehicles in the northwest of the city.

Hamas said its fighters had ambushed the armoured personnel carrier and killed several Israeli soldiers in western Rafah.

It was not immediately clear whether the explosion was caused by a bomb planted ahead of time or by Hamas placing one directly under the vehicle, according to the Times of Israel.

The IDF is reportedly investigating the possibility that explosives stored on the outside of the vehicle could have contributed to the massive blast. No gunfire was reported.

Israeli tank and an APC maneuver inside the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, near the Israel-Gaza border, as seen from Israel, June 8, 2024

Israeli soldiers patrol along the border with the Gaza Strip, at an undisclosed location in southern Israel, 13 June 2024

Israeli soldiers drive a tank near the Israeli-Gaza border, in southern Israel, Wednesday, June 5, 2024

The deaths will likely fuel calls for a cease-fire and heighten Israeli public anger over ultra-Orthodox exemptions from the military.

Last month, Israel's Supreme Court ordered an end to government subsidies for many ultra-Orthodox men who don't serve in the army.

A new draft law hasn't been passed, but the coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week voted in favour of extending exemptions for religious men.

Although the vote was only procedural, it caused an uproar by being approved during a war in which hundreds of soldiers have died and many others remain inside Gaza or on the front lines against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.

Yoav Gallant, Israel's Defence Minister and member of the country's War Cabinet, has insisted that all sectors of Israeli society should contribute equally during its war against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.

Israel's coalition government contains a powerful bloc of ultra-Orthodox parties that have been longtime partners of Netanyahu.

If these parties leave the government, the country would be forced into new elections, with Netanyahu trailing significantly in the polls amid the war.

In Tel Aviv, anti-government protests have been ongoing for months, with many demonstrators calling for the immediate return of the hostages, along with Netanyahu's resignation.

Israel's bombardment and ground offensives in Gaza have killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials, who don't give the breakdown of civilians and fighters.

The war has also driven about 80 per cent of the population of 2.3million from their homes, and Israeli restrictions and ongoing fighting have hindered efforts to bring in humanitarian aid, fuelling widespread hunger.

Palestinians react at the site of an Israeli strike on a house, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, June 14, 2024

Women search the rubble of a destroyed dress shop in a residential building hit by Israeli bombardment, in the Daraj neighbourhood in Gaza City on June 14, 2024

A photo taken from the southern Lebanese border town of Marjayoun on June 14, 2024 shows smoke billowing from Metullah on the Israeli side after being targeted by rockets from Lebanon

Firefighters deploy to extinguish a blaze after rockets fired from south Lebanon landed near Kfar Szold in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel on June 14, 2024

Israel launched its campaign after Hamas and other militants stormed into Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage.

More than 100 hostages were released during a week-long cease-fire last year in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Hamas is believed to be holding around 80 hostages and the remains of another 40.

Months of cease-fire negotiations have failed to find common ground between Israeli and Hamas.

On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Hamas proposed changes to a US-backed plan, some of which he said were "workable" and some not.

Hamas has continually called for a permanent cease-fire and complete Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza as part of any deal that would see the hostages released.

While the proposal announced by US President Joe Biden includes these two provisions, Hamas has expressed concern about whether Israel will commit to them.

Violence has flared in the West Bank since the Israel-Hamas war erupted. On Saturday, a 16-year-old Palestinian was shot dead by Israeli forces near the northern city of Nablus, the Ramallah-based Health Ministry said.

The Israeli army didn't immediately respond to request for comment about the shooting.
Angela Rayner has issued a withering assessment of the SNPs miserable 17 years in government  and called on Scots to come together to get the Nats out for good.

Labours deputy leader said that the UK now needed serious politicians who worked for the public, not themselves.

And she added that a UK Labour government could pave the way for Scottish Labour to seize control of Holyrood in 2026 and see off the SNP, a party which she said had been beset by chaos and sleaze.

She said: We need to come together. Nationalism is not going to solve the cost of living crisis or problems that weve got in the economy.

Actually, what we need to do is all come together to build our economy out from all of our nations and regions.

SWING SEAT: Angela Rayner with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar

Ms Rayner added: Scotland will be crucial to that, working together to get rid of the SNP in Scotland thats had 17 years and have failed miserably, and the Tories who have had 14 years in Westminster.

A UK Government alongside Scottish Labour could really transform Scotland for the better. Weve had enough of gimmicks and slogans. Now weve got to pull together and really drive our economy and Scotland will be at the heart of that.

Ms Rayner was speaking at a campaign event in Livingston, West Lothian, a so-called swing seat currently held by the SNPs Hannah Bardell.

Scottish Labour is hoping to shift the dial in the area towards its candidate Gregor Poynton, a former Blairite communications chief, amid a plan to snatch a number of Nationalist seats in Scotland to shore up Sir Keir Starmers trajectory towards No10.

Meeting parents at the Broxburn Family and Community Development Centre, Ms Rayner told how the UK needed serious politicians that put the public first.

Although votes on July 4 will only impact who is returned to Westminster, Scottish Labour hopes wins down south will boost its chances at the Holyrood 2026 Scottish parliamentary election.

In an interview with The Mail on Sunday, Ms Rayner said: It feels like the whole foundations are crumbling, and thats because weve had this chaos and sleaze whether its the SNP or whether its with the Tories in Westminster.

Weve got to have serious politicians that put the public and the country before themselves. We havent had that.

SCAREMONGER: John Swinney

Outlining her partys manifesto offer to working people, which she claimed would transform their lives for the better, she said that tens of thousands of youngsters in Scotland will benefit from policies to raise the living wage for those over 18 and scrap the lower minimum wage bands for workers aged between 18 and 20.

At the event  which was also attended by shadow secretary of state for Scotland Ian Murray Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar pushed back against SNP criticisms that Labours plans would result in swingeing spending cuts.

He said: There will be no austerity under a Labour government and John Swinney can do all the scaremongering he likes, thats not going to happen.

Weve always been clear, this manifesto is our first steps for change. A key part of what well be able to achieve is if we get our economy growing again, thats why economic growth is front and centre.

Today, on Fathers Day, Labour will also pledge to enhance paternity leave rights and seek a cultural shift from employers to better support family life, making parental leave a right for workers who start new jobs.

Under the current rules, workers must have had 26 weeks of continuous employment in a particular job before they are entitled to time off after a child is born.

Ms Rayner said: The challenge for us is having that cultural shift in the UK. Im ready to work with those employers who are already doing that to show those other employers that times up on that sort of thing.

Mr Sarwar added: Labour will make parental leave a day one right, so new dads arent forced to choose between spending time with their child and putting food on the table.

This Fathers Day, the best gift on offer is a Labour government that will help parents to balance family and work.
They were an iconic feature of Sir Billy Connollys 1975 tour and became part of his trademark look as he rose to fame.

Now, a Scottish fashion designer has taken inspiration from the comics banana boots by showcasing his own version during London Fashion Week.

BANANA FEET: Billy Connolly on stage in his original funny boots

FASHION AP-PEEL: The new banana feet design hit the runway watched by guests including Tilda Swinton

Charles Jeffreys creations are crafted from bright yellow leather  complete with a paw-shaped toe cap  that sprout from a thick, black rubber sole into a peeled banana design at the top.

The quirky footwear was part of his spring/summer 2025 presentation in the courtyard of Londons Somerset House where his Loverboy brand is based.

The show marked the launch of a retrospective commemorating his brands 10 years in fashion.

During that time the 33-year-old has secured his reputation and drawn a solid base of celebrity fans, including actress Tilda Swinton and pop stars Harry Styles and Gwen Stefani.

Jeffreys banana boots differ from the Big Yins curved pair, but that hasnt stopped designers making the connection between them and the comics fruity footwear, with fashion bible Vogue describing them as Jeffreys tribute to Billy Connolly.

Charles Jeffreys creations are crafted from bright yellow leather

The stars size nine banana boots were created by Glasgow pop artist Edmund Smith and had been on display in the Peoples Palace, in Glasgow, for many years and will be back there when it reopens following its refurbishment.

It isnt the first time Jeffrey, from Bellshill, in Lanarkshire, has paid homage to a Scottish great.

In 2022, Nairn-based Ms Swinton appeared at the fashion awards in London in a silk gown and overcoat designed by Jeffrey that bore art by her former partner  the late John Byrne.

The clothes paid tribute to The Slab Boys, one of the Paisley playwrights famous works. At the time, Jeffrey said: One of the collections main elements is the collaboration with John Byrne, the father of Tildas children and someone weve already been inspired by in the past.

Swinton was in the front row during the Scots designers London show last week alongside her actress daughter Honor Swinton Byrne.
A 700,000 fleet of state-of-the-art vehicles designed to tackle wildfires has been lying unused for a year amid fears the buggies could melt if they get too close to flames.

Ten new all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) were designed to give the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service a world-leading capability at serious rural incidents such as blazes in inaccessible locations.

However, the ATVs remain in storage a year after delivery amid a list of technical issues which also include concerns they could tip over on hilly ground and that the wing mirrors are not clearly visible.

BUGGY BLUNDER: Siobhian Brown in one of the unused all-terrain vehicles

Firefighters are also angry that the ATVs only have space for a crew of two, saying they should be able to transport four or five people to emergency scenes.

The vehicles are languishing at an asset resource centre in Dundee while fire chiefs work out what to do next.

A whistleblower said: The ATVs are absolutely hopeless and not fit for purpose. How this got to this stage is beyond belief.

The doors are plastic and could be pierced in the event of a roll-over, as well as being susceptible to heat and flame. The concern is it could melt at the first wildfire it attends.

The machines were ordered from US-based firm Polaris and delivered, via a contractor who carried out conversion work, in June 2023. It is understood a tilt test was completed by an independent company in March, which resulted in the maximum safe angle of operation being determined at just 15 degrees.

Sources said this has resulted in the ATVs being practically unusable on any challenging terrain.

In April, the arrival of the ATVs was trumpeted by Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown, who posed in one for a photo opportunity, yet they still remain in storage.

The whistleblower added: They only carry two people and an issue with the degree they can safely tilt has compounded matters. Its absolutely farcical.

Tristan Ashby, chief executive of the Fire and Rescue Services Association, said: The concerns remain that these vehicles could tip over on even slightly hilly terrain, while the plastic panelling is not only vulnerable to heat but could be pierced if a vehicle tips.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Area Commander Michael Humphreys said: Crews will receive training on the new vehicles before they can be made operational.

A Polaris spokesman said: The vehicles were supplied via a third party within a specification framework laid out by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
Several children have been arrested and charged for the death of a 15-year-old boy, who was found floating in a retention pond.

Zahmere Greene, 15, of Columbus, Georgia, was found dead in a retention pond less than a mile from the Chattahooche River just before 2:30 pm on May 29.

However, he actually drowned on May 23 and his death was not reported until six days after, according to authorities.

Greene's death was ruled as a homicide by the medical examiner at the Muscogee County Coroner's Office, police spokesperson Brittany Santiago told USA TODAY Friday.

After further investigation, police discovered that six juveniles, ranging from age 9 to 17, witnessed the boy's death.

Zahmere Greene, 15, of Columbus, Georgia, was found dead in a retention pond less than a mile from the Chattahooche River just before 2:30 pm on May 29. After further investigation, police discovered that six juveniles, ranging from age 9 to 17, witnessed the boy's death

The 17-year-old, Shane Sano (pictured), who was the older brother of one of the female juveniles, turned himself in, according to Santiago. He was freed after posting a $1,500 bond.

One of the kids, an 11-year-old boy, was reportedly on top of the victim when he drowned. He is being charged with involuntary manslaughter and concealing the death of another.

Santiago told USA today that the boy knew the victim, and that they were all enrolled in the Muscogee County School District.

The boy is being held in Regional Youth Detention Center.

The 17-year-old, Shane Sano, who was the older brother of one of the female juveniles, turned himself in, according to Santiago. He was freed after posting a $1,500 bond.

He was booked into the county jail on June 8 and charged as an adult for concealing the death of another.

The South Columbus Public Library shared a post on June 1 honoring Greene, who they said frequented there often: 'Zahmere loved to come to the library and hang out with our staff. He was a joy to be around, always had a smile on his face, and he loved talking about his future career goals although they changed every week.'

The four other minors, a 9-year-old boy, two 11-year-old girls, and a 12-year-old-girl, have been charged for concealing the death of another. They were released into the custody of their parents.

In an interview with Greene's aunt, Rhea Vinson, told The Independent that her nephew had 'a very vibrant spirit' and was 'the most positive person in the room.'

'He was my brother's only biological son, and he looked like his twin...He loved to dance and sing, and make music,' Vinson said.

The South Columbus Public Library shared a post on June 1 honoring Greene, who they said frequented there often.

'Today we honor the life of one our young patrons, Zahmere Greene. We have just learned of his tragic passing and are so saddened by this news,' the post read.

'Zahmere loved to come to the library and hang out with our staff. He was a joy to be around, always had a smile on his face, and he loved talking about his future career goals although they changed every week.'
Hilarious footage shows Albania fans breaking spaghetti in front of Italian fans ahead of the Euros 2024 clash this evening.

As underdogs Albania prepared to face reigning Euros champions Italy thousands of fans from both nations have made the journey to the west German city to watch their teams first games of the tournament.

In the hours before kickoff, fans were seen taunting and jibing at each other in the streets of Dortmund.

In a video shared widely online both groups can be seen playfully taunting one another before one Albanian supporter decides to desecrate the most sacred of Italian foodstuff - pasta.

He produces a packet of uncooked spaghetti and holds it in both hands ready to break it in two.

Hilarious footage shows Albania fans breaking spaghetti in front of Italian fans ahead of the Euros 2024 clash this evening

One Italian, kitted out in the nation's home shirt, appears to be close to tears as he wags his finger in disgust at what he knows is about to happen. The same fan then gets down on his knees begging him not to destroy the spaghetti

In a video shared widely online both groups can be seen playfully taunting one another before one Albanian supporter decides to desecrate the most sacred of Italian foodstuff - pasta. He produces a packet of uncooked spaghetti and holds it in both hands ready to break it in two

Tw: Italianophobia



Albanian fans snapped spaghetti in front of Italian fans ahead of the Italy-Albania Euro 2024 match. pic.twitter.com/7c3c5rByOI  kos_data (@kos_data) June 15, 2024

One Italian, kitted out in the nation's home shirt, appears to be close to tears as he wags his finger in disgust at what he knows is about to happen.

The same fan then gets down on his knees begging him not to destroy the spaghetti.

Undeterred, the fan then snaps the pasta in half before he flung it up in the air to applause from his fellow Albanians.

The Italians also join in the cheers and seem unfazed that by snapping the spaghetti he committed a cardinal sin in Italy's proud culinary tradition.

Away from the playful fighting videos elsewhere on social media both fans could be seen dancing together in a traditional Albanian line dance- known as the Valle. Proving their was no hard feelings between the two Mediterranean nations.

Tomorrow night, England will play their first game of the tournament against Serbia. Hundreds of fans have been spotted in Gelsenkirchen where they have gathered in the west German city's beer halls.

Undeterred, the fan then snaps the pasta in half before he flung it up in the air to applause from both his fellow Albanians and the Italians who seem unfazed that by snapping the spaghetti he committed a cardinal sin in Italy's proud culinary tradition

They engaged in numerous rounds of the chant, 'Eng-er-land, Eng-er-land, Eng-er-land' in scenes likely to be repeated throughout the weekend.

As excitement for the first match mounted, supporters clinked glasses with German drinkers and waved England flags in the air.

The party atmosphere was mirrored in neighbouring city Dusseldorf where some even poked fun at a number of Scottish fans after their country's 5-1 opening day loss to hosts Germany last night.

Gareth Southgate's side will kick off their much-anticipated summer campaign in Gelsenkirchen tomorrow with an estimated 40,000 England fans expected to descend on the German city throughout the weekend.
This is the moment IDF forces in Gaza swept in to rescue Noa Argamani from Hamas captivity in a daring raid before returning her safely to Israel.

Dramatic headcam footage shows Israeli special forces breaching a compound with assault rifles and finding the 26-year-old, telling her 'Noa, everything is alright. We're taking you home'.

Israeli troops rescued Noa and three other hostages after 245 days in the beleaguered Gaza Strip in the largest and most successful operation of the war last week.

Noa was seen being directed by her rescuers to a car before being pulled out of Gaza in a military helicopter and returned safely to a hospital in Ramat Gan, Israel.

Noa Argamani made front pages around the world when she was dragged into Gaza on October 7, filmed being kidnapped on the back of a motorcycle with her boyfriend as she cried out, 'Don't kill me!'

Noa was seen being rescued from the compound in headcam footage recorded last week

Noa Argamani, then 25, was seen kidnapped on the back of motorbike during the incursion

Video released by Israel on Twitter/X showed forces rushing in and reassuring Noa of her safety last Saturday.

It was the culmination of weeks of planning, according to Israel, and was welcomed by many at home jaded by the lack of progress in returning hostages snatched last October.

Almog Meir Jan, 21, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 40, were also recovered in a daytime operation in two separate locations in the heart of the Nuseirat refugee camp around 11am.

Fast-paced headcam footage showed Israeli troops moving through the compound, which appeared to be a house in Gaza, with natural light and a fitted kitchen.

She is seen to be pulled out into the street as her rescuers urge her to 'stop', apparently checking they are clear to move before rushing her towards a car.

Grainy black and white video shared by Israel last week purported to show three hostages then taking of in an Israeli helicopter after their rescue to head back to Israel.

Israel army spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the operation took place in two separate buildings 'in the heart of a civilian neighbourhood'.

'While under fire inside the buildings, under fire on the way out from Gaza, our forces rescued our hostages,' Hagari said in a televised statement.

Noa had spent 245 days in Hamas captivity after being dragged from the Supernova Music Festival in southern Israel into Gaza on October 7.

During this time, she claims she did not see daylight until her rescue.

A day after the attacks, video circulating on social media appeared to show Noa sitting on a sofa in a house in Gaza drinking water from a bottle.

In January, Hamas released a chilling video of Noa from captivity and apparently under duress, calling on Netanyahu to 'please stop the war' and 'bring us home'.

Images of her being kidnapped on the back of a motorcycle with her boyfriend, Avinatan Or, horrified onlookers and saw international condemnation land with Hamas.

Her partner is believed to still be in the Palestinian enclave.

Images from the scene showed a group of around 11 running along the ground in Gaza and into the waiting helicopter to escape after the daring raid last week

Noa smiles while having a drink of Coca Cola with her father Yakov after being reunited

Noa's mother Liora Argamani has stage four brain cancer and had repeatedly expressed her desire to see her daughter again until they were reunited last week

Israel says more than 130 hostages remain, with about a quarter of those believed dead, and divisions are deepening in the country over how to bring them home.

Following her release, Noa was pictured enjoying a Coca Cola with her father, and filmed receiving phone calls from President Isaac Herzog and Netanyahu.

The Hostages Families Forum Headquarters - a volunteer-based organisation set up to help bring hostages home - called the recovery of the four hostages 'a miraculous triumph', and called on Israel's government to bring home those still being held.

They said in a statement: 'The heroic operation by the IDF that freed and brought home Noa Argamani, Shlomi Ziv, Andrey Kozlov, and Almog Meir Jan is a miraculous triumph.

'Now, with the joy that is washing over Israel, the Israeli government must remember its commitment to bring back all 120 hostages still held by Hamas - the living for rehabilitation, the murdered for burial.

'We continue to call upon the international community to apply the necessary pressure on Hamas to accept the proposed deal and release the other 120 hostages held in captivity; every day there is a day too far.'

But serious questions were also raised over the human cost of the rescue mission, with the Hamas-run health ministry claiming it left 274 people dead and 698 wounded.

Critics of Israel's conduct, including many supporters of hostages, continue to urge Israel to find a diplomatic solution with Hamas to bring an end to the war and return the hostages - but progress has been slow since the negotiation of a temporary truce last November.

As troops swarmed to rescue Noa on June 8, Israel launched a deadly attack on the camp, allegedly killing scores of displaced Palestinians.

The EUs top diplomat, Josep Borrell, deemed the assault a 'massacre'.

Hagari confirmed he knew that dozens of Palestinians had been killed in the raid, but could not say how many were civilians.

Noa, who is 26, was kidnapped from the Nova music festival on October 7 and taken into Gaza

A video circulated online in the wake of the attacks appearing to show Noa in a house in Gaza, drinking water from a bottle

After her release, Noa travelled to a hospital in Israel with three other former hostages to undergo medical examination.

Video showed Noa reintegrating back into civilian life, pictured hugging her father Yakov - and calling with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express her relief.

She later revealed she was held by a 'well-to-do' family under armed guard and claimed she was rarely allowed to wash.

She said she never saw daylight as she was moved from house to house at night.

Israel has pounded Gaza by land and air since Hamas' brutal incursion into southern villages in October, displacing the vast majority of the 2.3mn population and risking famine.

The war began with Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7 which resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 37,296 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.
28 people were stuck upside down for more than 20 minutes after an amusement park ride in Oregon malfunctioned.

On Friday, the AtmosFEAR ride stopped working at Oaks Amusement Park in Portland around 2:55 pm, according to a statement issued by the amusement park on X.

'Oaks Park staff immediately initiated emergency procedures and called 911,' the statement read. 'Emergency responders arrived at approximately 3:20 pm.

After medical evaluation by paramedics, all riders were released from the park except one. This person, who had pre-existing medical conditions, was transported to the hospital as a precaution.

Recent high school graduates Daniel Allen and Jordan Harding told local NBC affiliate KGW that they were celebrating their recent achievement at the amusement park, and the AtmosFEAR was the first ride on their list.

28 people were stuck upside down for more than 20 minutes after an amusement park ride in Oregon malfunctioned

'People were crying. They were just putting into the universe what they wanted to say for their last words,' said Jordan Harding, a recent high school graduate who was celebrating her achievement at the park

'I was excited to go on,' Allen told the news station. 'When you get stuck up there, I don't think you're so excited anymore.'

Harding said she had a gut feeling that something was wrong with the machine when they were dangling upside down a few seconds longer than they should have been.

'We were just freaking out,' she said. 'People were crying. They were just putting into the universe what they wanted to say for their last words.'

She also said that being suspended upside down started to become uncomfortable as the blood rushed from her waist to her head.

'That position is just so uncomfortable physically. My entire waist below was asleep,' she told the station.

Harding showed her appreciation for the fire department by hugging the first responder that saved her life.

'Such a relieving feeling,' she said. 'I'm standing on the ground right now. There was a moment not that long ago that I didn't think that would happen again.'

Oaks Park's AtmosFEAR is a popular giant pendulum ride offering 180 or 360-degree swings.

Pictured: First responders arrive at Oaks Park for a ride that is stuck with multiple riders in Portland

AtmosFEAR will be closed while the park investigates the cause with the ride's manufacturer and state inspectors

This "showstopping extreme attraction" began operation in 2021 with a spotless safety record, according to the park.

The park emphasizes that its standard emergency response plan functioned well during Friday's malfunction.

AtmosFEAR will be closed while the park investigates the cause with the ride's manufacturer and state inspectors.
Swedish fighter jets were scrambled after a Russian bomber entered Nato airspace hours before world leaders gathered for a historic peace conference over Ukraine.

A Russian SU-24 aircraft encroached into Swedish airspace over its strategic Baltic island, Gotland, on Friday, three months after the country became a Nato member.

The Swedish air force first warned the Russian pilot over the radio, but the bomber did not deviate from its course.

Then two JAS-39 Gripen fighters were scrambled, which forced it to turn around, the Swedish air force said.

The encroachment was condemned by Swedish leaders, as security experts said it could lead to a sudden escalation between Russia and Nato.

Two JAS-39 Gripen fighters were scrambled on Friday after a Russian bomber entered Nato airspace hours before world leaders gathered for a historic peace conference over Ukraine (file pic)

A Russian SU-24 aircraft encroached into Swedish airspace over its strategic Baltic island, Gotland, on Friday, causing the Swedish air force to scramble its fighter jets (file pic)

Analysts say the incident indicates that Russian President Vladimir Putin 'does not want a nuclear war but he does want to threaten Nato'

'This Russian behaviour is not acceptable and shows a lack of respect for our territorial integrity,' said Jonas Wikman, head of the Air Force.

Professor Anthony Glees, a former security expert at Brunel University, said: 'This is seriously dangerous.

'Putin doesn't want a nuclear war but he does want to threaten Nato. But it could easily go wrong.

'One error on his part and Nato will respond in kind.'

Friday's incident came a day after G7 leaders in Italy agreed a 40 billion loan to Ukraine over ten years, funded by the windfall interest Western governments have made from freezing 219 billion of Russian assets since Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022.

On Saturday, world leaders from at least 90 countries gathered near the Swiss town of Lucerne to discuss how to bring lasting peace to Ukraine.

They included US Vice President, Kamala Harris, Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky, and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau.

Rishi Sunak also flew into Lucerne immediately after attending Trooping the Colour in Whitehall with the King.

In addition to the 40 billion loan, Ms Harris unveiled a further 1 billion to help Ukraine re-build its power stations, and provide food to refugees.

Rishi Sunak was among world leaders from at least 90 countries who gathered near the Swiss town of Lucerne to discuss how to bring lasting peace to Ukraine. Pictured: Sunak with Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky

But Russia was not allowed to attend, and China did not send a representative, dismissing the summit as 'futile.'

Beijing had said such a gathering must also include Russia alongside Ukraine.

It was reported last week that Mr Zelensky had urged the Chinese to attend, as its support of Russia has meant Western attempts to isolate Putin's regime have failed.

Oleksandr Merezhko, a Ukrainian MP, said: 'That is a minus. It seems China decided to support its strategic partner without limits, Russia, not the peace process: the aggressor, not the peace.'

President Zelensky opened the conference, saying: 'We have succeeded in bringing back to the world the idea that joint efforts can stop war and establish a just peace.'

In a bid to pre-empt the summit, Putin offered a peace plan on Friday, in which Ukraine would give up at least five regions to Russia and abandon plans to join Nato.

But President Zelensky flatly rejected the offer on Saturday.
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Police clashed with demonstrators today as hundreds of thousands massed across France to protest the rise of the far-right ahead of the upcoming elections.

Some 21,000 police and paramilitary gendarmes were deployed at rallies across the country today as authorities prepared for as many as half a million to attend rallies nationwide.

Demonstrations have taken place since support for the anti-immigration National Rally (RN) party made strides in last week's European Parliament elections, with students, labour unions and rights groups gathering to push back. At least 150 marches were expected in cities including Paris, Marseille, Toulouse, Lyon and Lille.

In the capital, police said 75,000 set off from Place de La Republique at midday, through the Bastille square to Place de la Nation - all artefacts of the country's bloody history of revolt and revolution against tyrannical powers.

The CGT union claimed a quarter of a million marched in Paris, with 640,000 taking to the streets across the country. Police put the national figure closer to 270,000.

Bottles were reportedly thrown at police before officers responded by firing tear gas into the crowds in several cities as defiant protestors vowed to take a stand to 'preserve a country of human rights, freedom, and tolerance'.

Demonstrators react as they are enveloped by teargas during an anti far-right rally in Rennes, western France

People gather during an anti far-right rally after Macron called legislative elections, in Paris on Saturday

A man holds flares during an anti far-right rally in Toulouse on Saturday

Police stand near a damaged bus shelter during a rally in Paris, Saturday, June 15

Demonstrators including French activist Jean-Baptiste Redde (Bottom L), with a placard reading 'New Popular Front against RN', stand on the Triumph of the Republic statue on Place de la Nation during a protest on Saturday

People take part in a demonstration against the French far right party National Rally following the results of the European elections, in Paris on Saturday

A protestor holds a sign that reads 'No to [the National Rally] / No to Macron' during a demonstration in Paris today

A protestor holds a sign that reads 'Racist neo-nazi' during a march in the capital on June 15

Protestors wave Palestinian flags from the Triumph of the Republic statue on Place de la Nation in Paris

From Bayonne in the southwest to Nice in the southeast, from Vannes in the west to Reims in the east, demonstrators mobilised against the prospect of a victory for the far right in the legislative elections.

Incumbent President Emmanuel Macron announced the snap elections after his Renaissance Party was dealt a shock blow in the European elections. The first round is scheduled for June 30, less than three weeks away.

Jordan Bardella's National Rally was forecast to win but fall short of an absolute majority in the first opinion poll published since Macron's announcement, on Monday.

If that were to happen, Bardella could become prime minister. The RN enjoyed a healthy lead in recent election polls.

'I thought I would never see the far right come to power and now it could happen,' said Florence David, 60, who took part in the Paris protest.

'No need to vote RN to love France,' was among the slogans used.

Others brought placards that read 'No to RN / No to Macron', reflecting a mood of animosity towards both the far-right and Macron's centrist politics after seven years in power.

France's left has put up a united front against the far-right, bringing together a 'New Popular Front' coalition - but has also vowed a 'total break' from Macron's style of politics in the centre.

The protesters held placards reading 'Liberty for all, Equality for all and Fraternity with all' and 'Let's break frontiers, documents for all, no to the immigration bill.' Some chanted 'Free Palestine, viva Palestina,' and wore keffiyeh scarves.

Among them was Nour Cekar, a 16 year-old high school student from the Paris region, who has French and Algerian parents and wears the hijab.

'To me, the extreme right is a danger because it supports an ideology based on the fear of the other, whereas we are all French citizens despite our differences,' she told The Associated Press.

Cekar said she will vote for the left-wing coalition because 'it is the only political party that addresses racism and Islamophobia.'

'I fear the rise of the National Rally because I am afraid that they will ban the hijab in name of women's liberty. I am a woman and I should be able to decide what I want to wear. I am a free woman,' she said, adding that she is insulted on social media and in the streets on a daily basis because of her headscarf.

Protesters kick away a teargas canister during a rally in Paris, Saturday, June 15

Protestors claiming allegiance with the Nouveau Front Populaire wave flares in Paris

Protesters walk past a small fire that was set during a rally in Paris on Saturday

'RN = fascists' reads a sign held in Paris during a demonstration against the far-right party

Signs (L to R) read 'The youth always annoys the National Front' and 'Popular Front against the far-right'

The CGT union claimed a quarter of a million marched in Paris, with 640,000 taking to the streets across the country. Police put the national figure closer to 270,000

Associations called for a protest against the RN following the French president Emmanuel Macron announcement on June 9 to dissolve the National Assembly and to call for new elections

Protestors take part in a march opposing the rise of the far-right in France on June 15

A protestor in Paris stands near a metro sign with a 'front populaire' sticker on it. The Popular Front was an alliance of various left-wing political movements in France in the 1930s. A 'Noveau Front populaire' (NFP) was launched this month as a similar coalition after the announcement of the snap election

Protestors carry signs in a show of solidarity in the capital on June 15

People carry hand-shaped signs during a demonstration in Paris. Signs read: 'Do not touch my friend'

The marches took place mostly in calm, but police arrested 20 people, including nine in Paris. Five police officers were lightly injured in the protests.

There were brief episodes of tension in Rennes and Nantes in western France where a few dozen hard-left activists were pushed back by the police with tear gas.

In Paris, street infrastructure was damaged and two bank branches were targeted by hooded protesters.

Police in the capital were also the target of thrown bottles, to which they responded with tear gas, AFP correspondents said.

Carol-Ann Juste, a 22 year-old student taking part in the Paris march, said it was the first time she had taken part in a protest.

She said she was 'worried because people believe the lies of this party that has a truly racist heritage,' a reference to the National Front, a forerunner to the RN, whose leader Jean-Marie Le Pen was fined for remarks seen as anti-Semitic or xenophobic.

Juste said she wanted to 'fight to preserve a country of human rights, freedom, and tolerance'.

'France is made up of people of different origins. It is its strength. The National Rally wants to break that,' 68-year-old Mohamed Benammar, a French doctor with Tunisian roots who works in a Paris public hospital, told AP.

'We provide medical care to everyone, without worrying about their nationality, the color of their skin or their religion, unlike the fascists (extreme-right leaders) that single out Black, Arabs or Muslim people,' he said.

Although his son told him that it was useless to protest, Bennamar said he's convinced that it is important to make his voice heard. 'I am here to send a strong signal to politicians. We won't stay silent in the face of the far right,' he said.

In Tours, western France, where hundreds of protesters were taking part in a march, a banner read: 'For liberties, for rights, for a social and democratic republic, against far-right ideas and against racism'.

Several banners read: 'young people hate the FN (the RN's former name), while a pensioner carried a banner that read: 'Old people also hate the RN'.

Jordan Bardella, President of the French far-right National Rally party, talks with farmer Francois Heniau on Friday

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during the Plenary session at the Summit on Peace in Ukraine at the Burgenstock in Lucerne, Switzerland on June 15

Demonstrators stand on The Triumph of the Republic statue on Place de la Nation in Paris

A anti-fascist flag is waved with thousands of people rally behind it against the electoral rise of the far-right National Rally party on June 15

People attend a demonstration in Paris on Saturday to oppose the rising far-right in France

Left-wing politicians march among the protestors at the rally in Paris on Saturday

A sign displayed in Paris reads: 'From fascism to misery, the social struggle is necessary'

Macron called a snap election, to be held in two rounds on June 30 and July 7, after his centrist alliance performed poorly against the RN in last Sunday's European Parliament ballot.

An OpinionWay-Vae Solis poll conducted for Les Echos and Radio Classique published on Saturday forecast RN would lead in the first round with 33% of the votes, ahead of the Popular Front on 25%. Macron's centrist party was on 20%.

The survey suggests the National Rally party would win 235 to 265 seats in the National Assembly, a jump from the 88 it has currently - but still short of the 289 needed for an absolute majority.

Macron's centrist alliance meanwhile would see its number of lawmakers halve, from 250 to 125-155, the poll showed. Leftwing parties could together control 115 to 145 seats, though each party could run on its own.

Even if RN does score a majority in the French parliament, Macron would remain president for three more years and still be in charge of defence and foreign policy.

'We're still in shock,' Emmanuel Pellerin, a lawmaker from Macron's Renaissance party, told Reuters. 'Everything points to the RN winning a relative or absolute majority. But that forces the French to think about what is at stake.'
BBC newsreader Clive Myrie reveals today how he received a death threat from a man with a history of gun offences.

The broadcaster, who will co-host the BBC's election night coverage, tells today's Desert Island Discs how he was terrorised by a man who even taunted him about the kind of bullets he would use.

Myrie, 59, said: 'One chap issued death threats and he was tracked down and prosecuted. And his death threats involved talking about the kind of bullet that he'd use in the gun to kill me and this kind of stuff.'

The presenter added that he initially tried to dismiss the threats as 'showboating and bravado' but he was left seriously shaken when he found out just how credible they were.

He said: 'They tracked down this character and it turned out that he had previous convictions for firearms offences. So you thought, "My God, what, if anything, might this person have been planning?"

BBC newsreader Clive Myrie (pictured, on This Morning in May) reveals today how he received a death threat from a man with a history of gun offences

The broadcaster (pictured, hosting Clive Myrie's Caribbean Adventure) tells today's Desert Island Discs how he was terrorised by a man who even taunted him about the kind of bullets he would use

Myrie, who was born near Bolton to Jamaican immigrant parents, also spoke about the racism he and other presenters have experienced at the hands of viewers.

He said: 'You would get the odd comment on email and stuff. "People like you shouldn't be on our TV." "You dress like a pimp," one person suggested.

'And cards in the post with gorillas on. There was a period actually in the Nineties when a number of reporters who were of colour would get faeces in the post.'

Myrie  who presents Mastermind as well as travel documentaries  said he had learnt to live with the abuse, which increased as his profile rose. 'It's par for the course,' he added. 'It used to wind me up but now I have just have unbridled pity for these losers. This thing has sort of picked up more since I've become a presenter and maybe a little more visible.'

The broadcaster also spoke movingly about how two of his half-brothers had been affected by the Windrush scandal.

Dozens of people who had arrived from the Caribbean decades earlier were deported or threatened with deportation because the Home Office had destroyed files that proved their legal right to remain.

Fighting back tears, Myrie told the programme that his brother Lionel had been vindicated but Peter had died before he could see justice done.

He added: 'There was a certain amount of restitution. Lionel now has the right to remain here but Peter died before he got his stuff and it's just dreadful.

Myrie  who presents Mastermind (pictured) as well as travel documentaries  said he had learnt to live with the abuse, which increased as his profile rose

The broadcaster (pictured, presenting BBC News) also spoke movingly about how two of his half-brothers had been affected by the Windrush scandal

'He wanted to take his daughter Maisie to Jamaica so that she could see her parents' homeland. He couldn't do that. He died of prostate cancer.

'And there are still people who haven't received their compensation. It's just very, very sad.'

Myrie also spoke about how he reported the scandal in the light of his family's experiences.

He said: 'You're professional. You don't talk specifically about your own personal link to the story but you show a level of incredulity and a level of sadness that this could happen.'

He added that he learnt of the racism experienced by his parents after their arrival from Jamaica.

'It clearly was a difficult time for them on occasion,' he said. 'I don't recall them ever going to the pub or ever going to a restaurant.

'I think they just wanted to keep themselves to themselves and that might have been to do with wanting to avoid any confrontations that could have happened. I suppose they just felt safe within the confines of their own home.'

Myrie also spoke about how he reported the scandal in the light of his family's experiences

He added that he learnt of the racism experienced by his parents after their arrival from Jamaica

Myrie's mother, who had taught at a Roman Catholic school in Jamaica, was told she could not attend the Catholic church half a mile away from her home in Bolton because she didn't live in the correct diocese. She assumed the priest was telling her the truth and instead worshipped at a local Church of England church.

Myrie said: 'To this day, she [my mother] would never suggest that this was racism It feels to me as if he decided that my mother being a woman from the Caribbean and being black shouldn't be in his church. That is what it feels to me.'

Desert Island Discs is on BBC Radio 4 today at 10am and is available via BBC Sounds.
Wearing Princess Diana's earrings and an Alexander McQueen royal blue coat, Kate's megawatt smile, as she held her children's hands and greeted Sandringham crowds on Christmas Day, betrayed not a hint that anything was wrong.

Bolstered by the joyful success of her star-studded carol service days earlier at Westminster Abbey, she looked set to have a bumper year ahead, with talk of a glamorous trip to Italy.

But as the whole world now knows, that patina of good health and happiness was illusory.

Kate's attendance at St Mary Magdalene Church in Norfolk was to be her last formal public appearance for six months.

Kate's attendance at St Mary Magdalene Church in Norfolk was to be her last formal public appearance for six months

Her absence  a very long 173 days until yesterday's Trooping the Colour  has left a massive hole in the heart of the nation

Kate was last seen at a royal event attending church at Sandringham on December 25, 2023

Her absence  a very long 173 days until yesterday's Trooping the Colour  has left a massive hole in the heart of the nation.

As ever, it's often only when we miss someone that we truly realise how much we treasure them.

After December 25, there was not a whisper from the Princess for 23 days. Perhaps that was not surprising. January is a quiet month in the royal calendar. But then a heart-juddering announcement, out of the blue, on an icy Wednesday afternoon changed everything.

The Princess, Kensington Palace announced, had undergone 'planned abdominal surgery' the previous day, January 16  exactly a week after her 42nd birthday.

The procedure had been successful, and her condition was thought to be non-cancerous, but aides said she would remain in hospital for up to 14 days.

Ninety minutes later, Buckingham Palace announced more bombshell news: King Charles would be treated at the same London hospital for an enlarged prostate. Suddenly, the core of the monarchy shifted from palaces to the polished wards of the London Clinic. Royal engagements were replaced with bedside visits, ceremonial robes swapped for medical gowns.

After 12 nights, the King and the Princess were both discharged on January 29. While Charles waved at well-wishers as he exited the front door with Camilla, Kate slipped out discreetly to be driven home to Windsor.

The London Clinic, where the Princess of Wales was treated after undergoing abdominal surgery, first opened its doors in 1932. Above: Police outside the hospital when Kate was receiving treatment

Prince and Princess of Wales with their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in Norfolk in 2022

And so began her period of 'recuperation', with aides making it clear that her return to public duties would not be until after Easter and would depend on medical advice.

Amid this helter-skelter of royal health concerns, Buckingham Palace made another dramatic announcement on February 5: Charles had been diagnosed with cancer.

Suddenly the slimmed-down monarchy was looking rather threadbare, thrusting William  among others  further into the spotlight. Throughout February, the Prince juggled caring for his wife and three young children with his royal duties.

Unbeknown to the public, it was towards the end of this month that Kate started a course of 'preventative chemotherapy', with 'post-operative tests' having detected cancer. She remained out of the public eye.

While the British media respected her privacy, a photo was published by the US gossip website TMZ on March 4. It showed the Princess wearing sunglasses in the passenger seat of an Audi driven by her mother, Carole Middleton, near Windsor Castle. Inevitably, ill-informed online gossip erupted, with the hashtag #whereiskatemiddleton trending.

As the unseemly chatter continued, the official message about Kate's condition was muddied when, on March 5, the Ministry of Defence was forced to backtrack on claims that she would attend the practice parade for Trooping the Colour in June.

Readers will need little reminding of what happened on Mother's Day the following Sunday. In an apparent effort to reassure the public and squash vile internet rumours, the Palace released a photo of Kate beaming with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. It was said to have been taken by William a few days earlier at their home in Windsor.

Within minutes of it being made public, several seeming anomalies were spotted. Why were the hands blurred? Wasn't there something strange about a jacket zip?

The Associated Press news agency issued a 'kill notice', saying the image had been manipulated  a decision followed by three other leading agencies.

In response, an unprecedented mea culpa was shared on Kensington Palace's social media platforms. Kate apologised for confusion, saying: 'Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing.'

Sitting on a bench at Windsor, surrounded by spring flowers, the Princess of Wales has taken the extraordinary step of revealing to the world that she has cancer

In response, an unprecedented mea culpa was shared on Kensington Palace's social media platforms. Kate apologised for confusion, saying: 'Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing'

The Princess of Wales arrives at the Shaping Us National Symposium at the Design Museum on November 15

The same afternoon, the Princess was photographed leaving Windsor in a car with William, who was looking at his phone while she turned towards the window. Sources later revealed that she had been left 'shell-shocked' at the furore surrounding the Mother's Day photo and found the episode deeply upsetting.

Nobly, as his wife continued medical treatment, William ploughed on with official engagements alone. Grim proof of how, for the royals, whatever the situation, the show must go on.

On March 18, a video was published by TMZ and The Sun newspaper showing Kate and William leaving the Windsor farm shop two days earlier. Although a royal source said the fact that she looked 'happy and relaxed' should squash the wild online conspiracy theories about her health, the video only fanned the flames

Matters were made worse the following day when it was revealed that the London Clinic had launched an investigation into claims Kate's confidential medical records were breached by at least one member of staff caught trying to peek at her notes.

Four days later, on March 22, the Princess broke her silence. In a deeply emotional and brave video, Kate spoke of her 'huge shock' at being diagnosed with cancer that was discovered in post-operative tests after her abdominal surgery.

Sitting alone on a bench in Windsor, her voice cracking, she spoke movingly about her condition, adding that she and William had done all they could to 'process and manage this privately' for the sake of their three young children.

There were universal messages of goodwill and cancer experts praised Kate, saying that her words would help other families fighting the disease.

Catherine, Princess of Wales attends the opening of Evelina London's new children's day surgery unit on December 5

Palace sources explained that the Princess would continue with her private routine, with William set to return to official engagements after their children went back to school on April 17.

The Easter deadline, originally earmarked as the time the Princess might be able to return to work after her operation, came and went, as the Waleses spent the Easter weekend at their Anmer Hall home in Norfolk.

On April 18, William returned to public duties, chatting easily with volunteers at a food distribution charity in Surrey. But his emotions were clear when he was given two cards wishing his wife and father well.

Five days later, Kate was appointed to The Order of the Companions of Honour  a unique honour for a member of the Royal Family, bestowed by the King, in recognition of her public service.

The same day, another family photo was released  this time without a hitch  to celebrate Prince Louis's sixth birthday: an adorable picture of the lad taken by Kate.

William continued his engagements  telling staff during a school visit that his wife 'would have loved' to join him. But as the days grew longer, key dates in the royal calendar came closer and closer. The nation yearned for some good news about Kate.

In a huge boost for the family, and the country, King Charles returned to work on April 30.

But not even his May 20 visit with Camilla to the Chelsea Flower Show  usually attended by the Royal Family en masse  could distract global attention from the Princess's long absence from public life.

Now, though, it is so very apt that this absence should end with her attending the Trooping the Colour, an event at the heart of the nation's history, displaying the British Army's regimental flags (Colours) which traditionally provided a rallying point on the battlefield.

Kate has endured her own battles and everyone is praying for her to come through victorious.
Angela Rayner has flashed her super hero socks and gotten cosy in a shed on the campaign trail.

She was spotted wearing the Marvel superhero socks featuring comic book characters Thor and Black Panther while taking a break from canvassing in West Lothian with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar.

Known for her quirky footwear, Labour's deputy leader matched her cartoon socks with a pair of 139 Carvela Connected laceless trainers and a dark green trouser suit while meeting parents at the Broxburn Family and Community Development Centre.

It comes after a poll found that the Tories could be left with just 72 seats after the upcoming election as Labour is on course for a 262-seat majority.

The analysis and modelling by pollster Survation was based on more than 40,000 surveys and indicates that Labour is ahead in 456 seats.

Known for her quirky footwear, Labour's deputy leader matched her cartoon socks with a pair of 139 Carvela Connected laceless trainers and a dark green trouser suit while meeting parents at the Broxburn Family and Community Development Centre

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner at Broxburn Family and Community development centre in Livingston while on the General Election campaign trail on June 15, 2024

She was spotted wearing Marvel superhero socks featuring comic book characters Thor and Black Panther

Angela Rayner and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar at Broxburn Family and Community development centre in Livingston while on the General Election campaign trail. Picture date: Saturday June 15, 2024

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner playing football with children at Broxburn Family and Community development centre in Livingston while on the General Election campaign trail. Picture date: Saturday June 15, 2024

Meanwhile, a voting intention poll by Savanta also contained bad news for Rishi Sunak, with a warning the Tories could face 'electoral extinction'.

The Survation model puts the Liberal Democrats on 56 seats, the SNP on 37, with Reform UK currently favourites in seven seats.

The analysis suggests Plaid Cymru are on track for two seats and the Greens would hold Brighton Pavilion.

The Survation study for campaign group Best For Britain used the multilevel with poststratification (MRP) technique to model results in constituencies.

Survation polled 42,269 people online or over the telephone between May 31 and June 13.

It is the first MRP analysis since Nigel Farage returned to the political frontline.

In its interpretation of the findings, Survation said: 'Since Farage's announcement to take over as leader of Reform UK, we've seen a rise in their vote share in national polling, and now we are seeing how this can result in seat gains.

'Unsurprisingly, Reform are making significant gains in places where the Conservatives are losing the most, and are currently the leading party by vote share in seven seats. Reform are also currently performing better than the Conservatives in 59 seats.'

The Savanta study for the Sunday Telegraph gave Labour a 25-point lead, with Sir Keir Starmer's party on 46 per cent, up two from last week, and the Tories on 21 per cent, down four points.

It is the lowest share that the Conservatives have had with the pollster under Mr Sunak.

Angela Rayner has flashed her super hero socks and gotten cosy in a shed on the campaign trail

It is the first MRP analysis since Nigel Farage (pictured) returned to the political frontline

The Savanta study for the Sunday Telegraph gave Labour a 25-point lead, with Sir Keir Starmer's (pictured) party on 46 per cent, up two from last week, and the Tories on 21 per cent, down four points

It is the lowest share that the Conservatives have had with the pollster under Mr Sunak (pictured)

Chris Hopkins, political research director at Savanta, said: 'Our research suggests that this election could be nothing short of electoral extinction for the Conservative Party.

'The hopes of Conservative candidates are being shot to pieces by poll after poll showing the Conservative Party in increasingly dire straits - and we're only halfway through the campaign.

'There's a real sense that things could still get worse for the Conservatives, and with postal votes about to drop through millions of letterboxes, time is already close to running out for Rishi Sunak.'

Reform UK were on 13 per cent, up three points, the Liberal Democrats up two points on 11 per cent, the Greens up one point on 5 per cent and the SNP down one on 2 per cent.

Savanta surveyed 2,045 UK adults from June 12-14.
Charles Spencer and fellow podcast host Cat Jarman appeared relaxed in each other's company during a theatre date.

The Mail on Sunday last weekend revealed how Princess Diana's younger brother was divorcing the Countess Spencer, and had grown close to Dr Jarman, a Norwegian archaeologist.

Earl Spencer, 60, was last week pictured walking with Dr Jarman to the Prince of Wales Theatre in London, where they watched a performance of the hit musical comedy The Book Of Mormon.

'They looked into each other's eyes and there seemed to be a strong attraction,' one onlooker said. 'They were both laughing as they walked to the theatre and he didn't use his VIP status to beat the long queue.'

Charles Spencer and fellow podcast host Cat Jarman appeared relaxed in each other's company during a theatre date

The Mail on Sunday last weekend revealed how Princess Diana 's younger brother was divorcing the Countess Spencer, and had grown close to Dr Jarman, a Norwegian archaeologist

Earl Spencer, 60, was last week pictured walking with Dr Jarman to the Prince of Wales Theatre in London , where they watched a performance of the hit musical comedy The Book Of Mormon

The Earl and Dr Jarman, along with the Rev Richard Coles , host The Rabbit Hole Detectives, a history podcast

The Earl and Dr Jarman, along with the Rev Richard Coles, host The Rabbit Hole Detectives, a history podcast.

Dr Jarman, 42, who is separated from her husband, has also been helping Earl Spencer unearth a Roman villa in Althorp, the Spencer family estate in Northamptonshire.

Viking expert Dr Jarman completed a PhD at the University of Bristol in 2017. She was recently named Nordic Person of the Year by the Confederation of Scandinavian Societies.

Last weekend Earl Spencer revealed the 'immensely sad' news that he and his third wife Karen Gordon, 52, a Canadian philanthropist, were divorcing.

The pair married in 2011 but their relationship is understood to have broken down amid the strain of him writing his harrowing memoir, A Very Private School, which details the abuse he suffered at boarding school.

His wife was absent from his book launch events at Althorp and Spencer House in London in March, while Dr Jarman praised his 'beautifully written' memoir on social media.

He's reportedly hired divorce lawyer Baroness Shackleton of Belgravia, known as the 'steel magnolia', to represent him.
A former hardcore Donald Trump fanatic has revealed the moment that led him to shun the MAGA movement and admit he was 'ashamed and embarrassed' to have supported the former president.

Rich Logis, a Florida resident who made a name for himself in conservative media circles for his furious pro-Trump rants, admitted he became to obsessed when Trump was elected in 2016.

He treated fellow acolytes not only as a second family, but above his real one, and said he was sucked into the MAGA vortex through fears over Hillary Clinton.

But now, following years of ardent support, he revealed to the Orlando Sentinel why he has turned his back on Trump and his supporters' 'perpetual feelings of desperation and panic.'

Rich Logis was so deep into Donald Trump fandom that he treated fellow acolytes not only as a second family, but neglected his wife and two children for them

Logis (pictured in an old pro-Trump rant) is now 'ashamed and embarrassed' of how he frequently 'dehumanized' Trump's opponents, including calling Democrats 'malignant cancerous cells that seek to overtake healthy cells'

For Logis, the breaking point came as he watched his fellow fanatics storm the Capitol on January 6, 2021, in a failed effort to stop Joe Biden's election win being certified.

These doubts grew during the pandemic when Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, whom Trump endorsed, pursued policies that led to more deaths from Covid in 2021.

He said he realized from reading other sources there were a lot of things he wasn't told inside the MAGA bubble, and Logis shared his story in hopes of winning over other former Trump fanatics.

When he was first attracted to the movement in 2015, Logis said he saw Trump as a disruptive force that would 'drain the swamp' and 'take a flamethrower to the system', and didn't worry about his distasteful antics.

'I joined MAGA because I have always been suspicious of our two-party system, and I saw Trump - with no military or government experience - as an ideal candidate for the moment in our history,' he said.

'It made me feel I was part of something important: A movement that was trying to save American democracy.'

Logis saw Trump as a disruptive force that would 'drain the swamp' and 'take a flamethrower to the system,' and didn't worry about his distasteful antics

Logis, 47, even volunteered for the campaign in his local Broward County, in central Florida, and felt vindicated when Trump was victorious.

From there he was pulled further and further into the fanatical community that is Trump's most hardcore supporters.

Logis neglected his wife and two children to spend every free moment he had on the MAGA movement, writing venom filled social media posts and columns for far-right media, and meeting up with like-minded voters.

'My MAGA second family, as much as I'm embarrassed to admit this, oftentimes took precedence over my actual blood family,' he told the Orlando Sentinel.

'I had a lot of fear, and I listened to that fear and that was really how I got swept up into the entire MAGA movement and community.

'We were the real Americans. Anyone against us were the fake Americans.'

Logis is now 'ashamed and embarrassed' of how he frequently 'dehumanized' Trump's opponents, including calling Democrats 'malignant cancerous cells that seek to overtake healthy cells'.

Logis neglected his wife and children to spend every free moment he had on the MAGA movement, writing venom filled social media posts and columns for far-right media, and meeting up with like-minded voters

Logis pictured with Trump's former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows

He finally began to have doubts when the storming of the capitol erupted, which grew as he criticized DeSantis' pandemic response.

He started reading other sources and realized there were a lot of things he wasn't told inside the MAGA bubble.

'I came to understand that MAGA is sustained by a series of myths that are intended to create perpetual feelings of desperation and panic,' he said.

Finally, he very publicly quit on August 30, 2022, but the problem was what came next.

Logis had alienated most of his friends and family with his hardcore views, and lost the new ones he gained by walking away from MAGA.

'Leaving MAGA was a tumultuous roller coaster of a process for me. It may be one of the most difficult endeavors you embark upon,' he said.

Logis cautioned those who dislike Trump and his supporters not to speak too harshly of them, as it made them more likely to stick together and afraid to leave

He explained that the most committed supporters had been 'completely emotionally connected' to that community for years and it was hard to walk away.

Logis cautioned those who dislike Trump and his supporters not to speak too harshly of them, as it made them more likely to stick together and afraid to leave.

'If you refer to Trump voters as cultists and you say that they're Nazis and you say that they're racist and you say they're misogynists and that they're homophobes and that they're Islamophobes you're pushing them close,' he said.

'You're giving them reasons to stay.'

Logis is trying to make the transition easier by starting support group Leaving MAGA to provide an alternative 'safe, non-judgmental community.'

'Succumbing to these predatory myths does not mean you are unintelligent, weak, or lack good character and morals,' he wrote on the group's website.

'I have a Bachelors degree; have been a working professional my entire life; am a family man; and consider myself a relatively honest and intelligent person. I think the same about you.'
A sex scandal has hit a busy ambulance station amid allegations of staff sleeping with each other while on duty.

It seemed everyone at the station 'has been or is in some kind of romantic relationship with each other', a judge at an employment tribunal said last week.

Medic Karen Gregory-Carr, 43, told the tribunal how she walked in to a back office at Bromley ambulance station in London and found a female colleague performing a sex act on a male manager.

After she told colleagues what she had seen, London Ambulance Service bosses accused her of making up the story and fired her for gross misconduct.

But Mrs Gregory-Carr last week won a claim for unfair dismissal at the employment tribunal in London after the judge ruled she had witnessed something 'untoward'.

Medic Karen Gregory-Carr, 43, told an employment tribunal how she walked in to a back office at Bromley ambulance station in London and found a female colleague performing a sex act on a male manager

Mrs Gregory-Carr said she had seen a female colleague performing a sex act on manager Phillip Sullivan at Bromley ambulance station in London

Medic Ceric Clarke was seen by her colleague in a compromising position with manager Philip Sullivan in August 2022

The tribunal heard that gossip about staff having sex at work was rife at the ambulance station, with one member of staff describing it as a 'toxic rumour mill'.

Mrs Gregory-Carr told the court she found manager Phillip Sullivan and medic Ceris Clarke in a compromising position when she arrived for her shift an hour early in August 2022.

Details of the incident soon spread around the station and Mr Sullivan and Ms Clarke complained to management.

They denied Mrs Gregory-Carr's claims.

Romford ambulance station manager James Johnson carried out an investigation for London Ambulance Service and ruled Mrs Gregory-Carr had made up the story.

The couple admitted they were in a relationship after Mr Sullivan split with his wife, but said they were having tea together when Mrs Gregory-Carr walked in.

Mr Johnson said: 'We can conclude Karen did not witness Ceris and Phillip in flagrante.'

However, the tribunal ruled last week that the investigation had been biased against Mrs Gregory-Carr and there was an 'inbuilt assumption that the rumour was malicious'.

Employment judge Louise Rea said: 'The panel finds the claimant did witness something in the room between Phillip Sullivan and Ceris Clarke which she thought was untoward.'

Employment judge Louise Rea criticised the lack of an investigation into the 'wider problematic culture in the workplace in relation to gossip and frequent sexual or romantic relationships being formed'. Pictured: Bromley Ambulance Station, in south east London

She criticised the lack of an investigation into the 'wider problematic culture in the workplace in relation to gossip and frequent sexual or romantic relationships being formed'.

The judge did, however, uphold that Mrs Gregory-Carr had committed gross misconduct because she had not followed correct procedures, but told colleagues about what she had seen rather than report it to management.

A hearing is due to take place to decide the level of compensation to Mrs Gregory-Carr, who now works for the Metropolitan Police.

She said after the case: 'This has had a huge impact on my family, children and general wellbeing.'

Ms Clarke declined to comment and Mr Sullivan did not respond to a request for comment.

London Ambulance Service boss Daniel Elkeles said: 'We are very disappointed by the outcome of this case on the grounds of procedural errors.'
He may not quite be the last of the Mohicans, but BBC veteran John Simpson last night took aim at his old school after it scrapped using Native American tribes for its house system.

Dulwich Prep London, a fee-paying all-boys school, feels the long-standing names constitute 'cultural appropriation'. It says the changes follow concerns raised by some parents.

But critics have denounced the rebranding. Since 1916, pupils at the school  whose alumni also includes actor Hugh Bonneville  have been placed in one of four houses. Mr Simpson, BBC world affairs editor, was in Mohican house.

Another house, Deerfeet, was named in honour of an Indian runner known as Deerfoot. The others, Chippeway and Ojibwas, were named in celebration of the Ojibwa people from the Great Lakes in the US and Canada, also referred to as the Chippewa.

Deerfeet will now be called Lamassu, a mythical creature from Mesopotamia which had a human head and a bull's body. The other three houses will be Phoenix, Pegasus and Gryphon.

Mr Simpson told The Mail on Sunday: 'I'm really depressed that something fundamental to the experience of every Dulwich Prep kid  which of us doesn't remember whether he was a Chippeway, Deerfeet, Mohican or Ojibwa?  is being done away with.

He may not quite be the last of the Mohicans, but BBC veteran John Simpson (pictured) last night took aim at his old school after it scrapped using Native American tribes for its house system

Dulwich Prep London (pictured), a fee-paying all-boys school, feels the long-standing names constitute 'cultural appropriation'. It says the changes follow concerns raised by some parents

Since 1916, pupils at the school  whose alumni include actor Hugh Bonneville  have been placed in one of four houses. Mr Simpson, BBC world affairs editor, was in Mohican house (Stock Photo)

'Being a Mohican  a house for bright but awkward and not terribly sporty kids  marked my future. I don't suppose it'll matter to what is nowadays a very fine school, but it matters to everyone who was there, no matter how old they are now.

'And to what end? So indigenous Americans won't accuse Dulwich of cultural appropriation? Please. They've got better things to do.'

Historian Lord Andrew Roberts said: 'How racist of Dulwich Prep to do away with these noble tribal names that celebrate Native American culture, and replace them with pure Harry Potter names like Gryphon.'

In her letter to former pupils, Louise Davidson, the school's head, wrote: 'For over a century, the school has looked to Native American culture as an inspiration and a way of helping our pupils understand how to lead a good life. The reason for their adoption was one of appreciation and hope, which is still their core today.

'We recognise that, as society's understanding of history evolves, and research that has included advice from the National Congress of American Indians, we have decided to move away from using tribes as our house system.'
The headmistress of the private school that Sir Keir Starmers wife attended has branded Labours plans to charge VAT on its fees as short-sighted in the extreme.

Lady Victoria went to Channing School in Highgate, North London - which costs 23,970 a year for juniors and 26,490 for seniors - before studying law.

If VAT is charged, the additional 20 per cent would land the parents with a daughter at Channing from the age of four with a bill on top of current fees of about 70,600.

Headmistress Lindsey Hughes said: Charging parents VAT would make our education unaffordable for some and risk their children having to leave the school.

This would cause significant disruption for children forced to leave the school, but there should be even more concern about the capacity of local state schools to absorb the ensuing increase in pupil numbers.

Lady Victoria (pictured with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer) went to Channing School in Highgate, North London - which costs 23,970 a year for juniors and 26,490 for seniors - before studying law

The Headmistress of Channing School Lindsey Hughes said: Charging parents VAT would make our education unaffordable for some and risk their children having to leave the school

This would come not just from Channing, but also from other independent schools in the area.

Sir Keir Starmer has claimed the policy will generate 1.7 billion to spend on state education.

Mrs Hughes, writing in her local newspaper, the Hampstead and Highgate Express, added: At a time when budgets are in crisis, enacting a policy that would cost state schools money to educate more pupils without raising the funds needed to cover this seems short-sighted in the extreme.

While estimates on how many pupils across the country will be pushed into the state sector by Labours policy have varied, one prediction from the Institute for Fiscal Studies last year suggested that it could be up to 40,000.

Shaun Fenton, the headmaster of Sir Keirs alma mater  the 22,995-a-year Reigate Grammar School in Surrey  has also condemned the plans to add VAT to fees, telling The Telegraph last month that the tax raid on independent schools would inevitably lead to thousands of private pupils seeking places at already oversubscribed state schools.
British tourists face a complicated 'lie detector' test carried out by artificial intelligence before being granted entry into Europe, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

As the EU tightens its borders post-Brexit, new 'Orwellian-style' checks have been trialled. They analyse a person's facial movements and body gestures as they fill in their application form online or at an airport or ferry port.

And if the AI software deems someone to be lying or acting suspiciously, their file is flagged up to an immigration officer, who can do further checks and refuse entry.

Experts warn the scheme, which the EU is considering, could lead to widespread rejections of visas, including discrimination against those with disabilities.

It is understood the scheme will be phased in after an initial Entry-Exit System (EES)  due to affect all British travellers from October 6  is implemented, along with a visa-waiver scheme called the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) for short stays of up to 90 days. ETIAS will cost seven euros (about 6).

As the EU tightens its borders post-Brexit, new 'Orwellian-style' checks have been trialled (stock image)

Experts warn the scheme, which the EU is considering, could lead to widespread rejections of visas, including discrimination against those with disabilities

It is understood the scheme will be phased in after an initial Entry-Exit System (EES)  due to affect all British travellers from October 6

The plan is for the AI software to be incorporated into both systems to improve operational capacity.

The scheme, criticised by civil rights groups and politicians across Europe, has already undergone successful trials, known as iBorderCtrl and TRESPASS.

Last night, Patrick Breyer, a German MEP, dismissed the 'lie detector' test as 'pseudoscience', saying it is not possible to determine if someone is lying from facial gestures. He added: 'It will discriminate against anyone who is disabled or who has an anxious personality. It will not work.'

At present, British citizens travelling to the EU for stays of up to 90 days have their passports stamped when entering an air, land or sea port.

But the EES will see travellers having their biometric data, including fingerprints and facial image, collected the first time they visit Europe from October 6 and then every three years.

From the middle of next year, ETIAS will be introduced for short stays of up to 90 days, with Britons having to apply online at least a month before travel, like they do for a US ESTA visa waiver.

Eventually, Britons could be interviewed online by an avatar immigration officer, who will ask questions such as their name, date of birth and purpose of travel (stock image of a thumb print scanner)

People queue for Eurostar train services at St Pancras International station as they make their Easter getaway in London, Britain, 29 March 2024

Border entrance into the United Kingdom at Heathrow Terminal 2 (file photo)

Eventually, Britons could be interviewed online by an avatar immigration officer, who will ask questions such as their name, date of birth and purpose of travel. During this video interview, AI will examine their eye movements, facial expressions and body language to see if they are lying.

Personal data of anyone applying is then checked against databases that include lists of terrorists, criminals, asylum seekers and illegal immigrants.

One pilot scheme even checked an applicant's social media accounts before allowing them entry, raising fears political or controversial comments made on X or Facebook could lead to someone being banned.

In the iBorderCtrl trial, carried out between 2016 and 2019 in Greece, Hungary and Latvia, avatars were used to interview applicants and monitor their expressions. TRESPASS, tested until November 2021, analysed 'facial expressions, gestures and body postures' to assess if a 'traveller is telling the truth', according to official papers.

The Artificial Intelligence Act does not ban border agencies from using such technology.

The EU is also creating a super-database called the Common Identity Repository (CIR), which will hold 300 million records of people, including terrorists and criminals. The data of all Britons entering the EU will end up in the CIR.

EU-LISA, the agency which oversees borders and security IT infrastructure, said: EU-LISA is developing the Entry/Exit System in full compliance with the relevant legislation.

The projects funded do not imply an EU policy-making process, nor does EU funding imply that the EU will take up, in the future, a particular solution or technology. Research and innovation activities funded by the EU must comply with ethical principles and relevant national, EU, and international law.
Authorities have arrested an illegal immigrant on suspicion of murdering a mother whose naked body was found on a hiking trail almost a year ago.

Suspect Victor Martinez Hernandez, 23, was arrested Friday in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and charged with the August 2023 murder and rape of Rachel Morin, 37, in Maryland.

Hernandez illegally crossed the southern border in February 2023 after he allegedly murdered another woman in El Salvador a month earlier, and he is also accused of attacking a nine-year-old girl and her mother in Los Angeles before Morin's murder.

The case had remained a mystery for 10 months after Morin, a mother-of-five, was reported missing by her boyfriend after she went for a run on hiking trails.

Cops have arrested an illegal immigrant on suspicion of raping and murdering Maryland mother Rachel Morin, 37, in August 2023

Suspect Victor Martinez Hernandez, 23, was arrested Friday in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and charged with the murder and rape of Morin. He is also accused of murdering another woman in El Salvador and attacking a nine-year-old girl in Los Angeles

Morin's naked and battered body was found on the Ma and Pa hiking trail in Bel Air, around 45 miles north of Baltimore, the day after she was reported missing.

Six months later, Maryland investigators released a sketch of Morin's suspected killer as her family pleaded for the public to help solve the case.

According to detectives, Hernandez was believed to be hiding adjacent to the popular hiking trail when he allegedly murdered Morin.

He allegedly attacked, raped and killed her before fleeing the state, and the Tulsa Police Department said he was tracked down to Oklahoma after officials in the state were contacted by the FBI.

Hernandez was taken into custody inside a bar in Tulsa on Friday by several law enforcement agencies, and was said to be found 'casually sitting at the bar.'

Officials said he initially lied about his identity and denied any knowledge of the crimes he was wanted for. Hernandez is now awaiting extradition.

At a press conference on Saturday, Hardford County Sheriff Jeff Gaylor announced Hermandez's arrest, and said the suspect had carried out a trail of criminality since entering the country illegally.

Before reaching Morin in Maryland, Hernandez attacked a nine-year-old girl and her mother in a home invasion in Los Angeles, California, in March 2023, Gaylor said.

The suspect in Morin's murder has been linked by DNA to a home invasion and assault in LA back in March 2023

Morin was reported missing by her boyfriend Richard Tobin (pictured together) after she went for a run on hiking trails and failed to return

The body of the 37-year-old mom-of-five was discovered on the popular trail naked and beaten in a tunnel along a popular hiking trail in Bel Air, Maryland

DNA evidence from the home invasion was later linked to Morin's case.

'It is my understanding that this suspect, this monster, fled to the United States after the murder of a young woman in El Salvador a month earlier in January of 2023,' Gaylor said at Saturday's press conference.

'Once in our country, he brutally attacked a nine-year-old girl and her mother in a home invasion in March of 2023 in Los Angeles.'

In the almost-year-long investigation, detectives scoured seven states and involved 10 federal, state and local agencies.

Officials expressed fears that the suspect could strike again, and released Ring doorbell camera footage showing the assailant fleeing the Los Angeles home after the home invasion.

Gaylor said at the time: 'Serial killers all start somewhere. What he did in Los Angeles was certainly, I believe, in that direction.

'I believe it was his intention to inflict more serious physical harm. We don't know who he is yet.

'He could still be laying his head here in our county, or he could have fled anywhere in the country or even the world.'

Hernandez is known to also have ties to the Washington, D.C., area in both Virginia and Prince George's County, and is believed to be affiliated with gang activity, cops said.

Detectives previously released Ring doorbell camera footage showing the assailant fleeing the Los Angeles home after the home invasion

Still images from the footage were disseminated across Los Angeles as cops hunted for the killer

A poster shared Saturday announcing Hernandez's arrest

Tobin came under suspicion online after his past legal troubles came to light, and he insisted on social media that he had nothing to do with the case

Morin's boyfriend Richard Tobin found her car at the trailhead on the day her body was found, and he was forced to take to social media to deny any involvement after the case gained national attention.

The pair had made their relationship official on social media four days before she was murdered.

He posted: 'I love Rachel. I would never do anything to her, let the family and I grieve.

'Yes, I have a past but I also have 15 months clean and have changed as a person. Please.'

Tobin has been arrested 14 times since 2014 on a variety of charges including drug dealing, assault, disorderly conduct and refusing arrest.
Reform UK candidates hoping to become MPs in the General Election include a convicted animal abuser and a man who said 'inter-breeding' immigrants create a 'gene pool decline'.

Nigel Farage's party has decided to stand by a number of unsavoury candidates who were exposed by The Mail on Sunday several months ago.

Edward Oakenfull, in the Derbyshire Dales constituency  whose vote share could swing the seat in Labour's favour  posted on X that 'importing loads of sub-Saharan Africans plus Muslims that inter-breed' had created a 'gene pool decline'. In another post he said that 'importing sub-Saharan Africans' would 'dilute the IQ of our country'.

Amelia Randall, standing in Herne Bay and Sandwich, is a self-proclaimed psychic fortune teller who the MoS discovered had sold tarot card readings and spells for up to 200 on the website OnlyFans, which predominantly hosts pornography.

Another is Jacqui Harris, standing for the party in Kenilworth and Southam, who was suspended as a Tory councillor in 2019 over comments on Twitter in which she said allegations of anti-Semitism within the Labour Party were 'a false flag, probably masterminded by Mossad / CIA'.

Nigel Farage's Reform UK party has decided to stand by a number of unsavoury candidates who were exposed by The Mail on Sunday several months ago

Edward Oakenfull (pictured), in the Derbyshire Dales constituency  whose vote share could swing the seat in Labour's favour  posted on X that 'importing loads of sub-Saharan Africans plus Muslims that inter-breed' had created a 'gene pool decline'

Amelia Randall (pictured), standing in Herne Bay and Sandwich, is a self-proclaimed psychic fortune teller who the MoS discovered had sold tarot card readings and spells for up to 200 on the website OnlyFans, which predominantly hosts pornography

Another is Jacqui Harris who was suspended as a Tory councillor in 2019 over comments on Twitter in which she said allegations of anti-Semitism within the Labour Party were 'a false flag, probably masterminded by Mossad / CIA'

Garry Sutherland, the party's candidate in Exmouth and Exeter East, was found guilty in June last year of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog by kicking it in a Dorset country lane

Robert Lomas, in Barnsley North, reportedly said that 'black people of Britain' were 'grifting the race card' and should 'get up off your lazy arses' and stop acting 'like savages'

Garry Sutherland, the party's candidate in Exmouth and Exeter East, was found guilty in June last year of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog by kicking it in a Dorset country lane.

Robert Lomas, in Barnsley North, reportedly said that 'black people of Britain' were 'grifting the race card' and should 'get up off your lazy arses' and stop acting 'like savages'. Hugo Miller, still running for the Horsham seat, allegedly called black Americans 'ne****s'. He described black rioters jumping on a car in south London as 'jungle bunnies' and said it was 'exactly the same manner as the baboons at Windsor Safari Park'.

A Reform UK spokesman said: 'Yet again, the media isn't just scraping the barrel, but now it's sifting the sediment. People want to hear about what we plan to do, not offence archaeology.'
A woman has been arrested and charged with murder after her partner was found dead in a house.

The man was discovered dead after police were called to perform a welfare check at a home on Damon Avenue in Epping, north-west Sydney, at 11am on Saturday.

The man has not yet been formally identified, but police believe he is the womans husband.

The woman was taken to Gladesville police station after being detained in Epping on Saturday morning.

On Saturday evening the woman, 60, was charged with murder.

A man was found dead after police did a welfare check on Saturday morning to a house on Damon Avenue, Epping, in Sydney's north-west (pictured police outside the house)

A woman was arrested and charged on Saturday for murdering the man. Police believe the man is the woman's husband (pictured police at the scene)

The woman was refused bail and is scheduled to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Sunday.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact Ryde Police.

More to come
Army chiefs have delayed rolling out new military badges ordered for the King's accession over fears that the Chinese-made insignia could have spying devices planted in them by Beijing.

The new badges will be issued to all Army regiments that sport a Royal crest on their caps and berets, since the design featuring the St Edward's crown, favoured by the late Queen Elizabeth, is being replaced with the Tudor one preferred by King Charles.

But the manufacturing of the badges have been delayed because the British company in charge of designing them will make a batch in factories in China, the Financial Times has reported.

Ministry of Defence chiefs are concerned Beijing could insert tracking devices in the insignia, which would allow them to spy on the movements of military chiefs and rank-and-file soldiers.

Army chiefs have delayed rolling out new military badges ordered for the King's accession over fears that the Chinese-made insignia could have spying devices planted in them by Beijing

The new badges will be issued to all Army regiments that sport a Royal crest on their caps and berets, since the design featuring the St Edward's crown, favoured by the late Queen Elizabeth, is being replaced with the Tudor one preferred by King Charles

A senior Army source said: 'There is a fear that tracking devices or a GPS transmitter could be embedded in the badges.'

The MoD has given a 3.9 million contract for the redesign of badges, medals and ribbons to an American company, Leidos.

The US firm, in turn, has sub-contracted the manufacture of badges to a Yorkshire-based firm  Wyedean Weaving.

Wyedean, which has been making Army uniforms, colours and regimental flags from its base in Haworth, will manufacture the badges in factories in Britain and around the world, including China.

Although the MoD allows its contracted companies to make their products in China, there have been increased fears that the Beijing authorities want to spy on the military and the Government.

The MoD has given a 3.9 million contract for the redesign of badges, medals and ribbons to an American company, Leidos

In April, two British men, including a former parliamentary aide, were charged with spying for China, and in 2022 MI5 warned MPs a solicitor called Christine Lee could be a 'Chinese agent'.

In the same year, the Chinese telecoms giant Huawei was banned from building the UK's 5G network over spying fears.

A director at Wyedean confirmed last night that some of the Army badges will be made in China and that no concerns have been raised by the MoD.

The MoD said: 'Current cap badges are supplied by a UK-based company, with procurement undertaken in line with standard regulations.

'The procurement of new cap badges will happen once their requirements are finalised.'
A man has been charged with murder after a popular surfer was found with head injuries in a unit before dying in hospital.

Police were called to a unit on Pittwater Road in Manly, Sydney's Northern Beaches, where Guy Haymes, 59, was found with serious head injuries on February 27.

He was treated at the scene but died in hospital a fortnight later.

Detectives immediately launched an investigation into the death.

A 41-year-old man was arrested in Greenacre, western Sydney, on Saturday night.

Police were called to a unit on Pittwater Road in Manly, on Sydney's northern beaches, where Guy Haymes (pictured), 59, was allegedly assaulted on February 27

Mr Haymes was a popular surfer known between Sydney's Northern Beaches and Wollongong and had earned himself the nickname 'Creature'

He was charged with murder, two counts of taking or detaining a person with intent to obtain an advantage take/detain person with intent to obtain advantage and taking or detaining a person occasioning actual bodily harm.

He was refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Sunday.

Mr Haymes was a popular surfer known between Sydney's Northern Beaches and Wollongong and had earned himself the nickname 'Creature'.

He grew up learning to surf on the Northern Beaches alongside his family who are all popular in the local surfing scene.

He is considered part of a small group of locals to have kickstarted surfing at Avalon Beach which is now one of Sydney's hotspots.

Police suspect his alleged attacker was known to him.

His brother Mark Haymes said he had been left feeling empty and seeking answers.

'Guy was fun-loving, sociable and got on with everyone,' he told reporters.

'Our whole family is shocked and in disbelief that he had his life cut short  and in such a brutal way.

'With my kids, he was always a really good uncle - they loved him.

'If anyone out there has any information, please come forward as our whole family needs closure.'

Mr Haymes (pictured) is considered part of a small group of locals to have kickstarted surfing at Avalon Beach which is now one of Sydney's hotspots

His brother, Mark Haymes (pictured) said he had been left feeling empty by the mysterious death

On Thursday, Detective Superintendent Patrick Sharkey appealed for any information from members of the public.

'We are reaching out for assistance from the community as we continue to investigate this for Guy's family,' he said.

'My detectives will not stop... Guy's family have been left without answers and I need the community to help in providing those answers.'

Neighbours, friends and potential relatives of the person involved who might have heard anything about the incident are being urged to contact police.

Police are also appealing for any CCTV or dashcam footage of the Manly area from the evening of February 27.

A paddle-out in Mr Haymes' memory at North Avalon is being planned.
Radical plans to revamp part of the historic Commons Chamber are being drawn up to cope with a potential Labour 'super-majority', The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

This could involve roping off some of the green benches traditionally used by the Opposition, reserving them for newly elected Labour MPs so they can fit in during debates.

The secret preparations follow predictions that Sir Keir Starmer's Labour could soar from just over 200 MPs to well over 400 in the new Parliament.

And the number of Tory MPs could, on some estimates, collapse from about 345 to fewer than 100.

One well-placed Commons source said: 'It's possible there could be so many Labour MPs that we let them spill over on to what are normally the Opposition benches.

Labour leader Keir Starmer on the campaign trail. The secret preparations follow predictions that Sir Keir Starmer's Labour could soar from just over 200 MPs to well over 400 in the new Parliament

Diagram of how the House of Commons could look with a Labour 'super-majority'

'We could use a red rope or red tape to mark out where Labour MPs would sit.' The plan emerged just 24 hours after Boris Johnson raised the alarm over a so-called 'Starmergeddon' and urged people to vote Tory to prevent a Labour 'elective dictatorship'.

And the Tories issued alerts over future Labour tax rises by warning that Sir Keir would hit people with a 'holiday tax' on flying to help fill a projected 38.5 billion 'black hole' in his spending plans.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said that while Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had ruled out any so-called frequent flyer levy, the Labour manifesto was silent on the issue. Tory sources said that there were so many questions on Sir Keir's tax plans that Labour will 'need to reprint their manifesto at this rate'.

Labour hit back by accusing the Tories of making up 'fantasy' tax plans to avoid answering questions about their own proposals which would lead to a 4,800 hike in family mortgages.

The tax row came as:

A new seat-by-seat poll by Survation suggested Labour would win 456 seats, the Tories just 72 seats, Lib Dems 56 and Reform as many as seven.

Nigel Farage prepared to launch Reform's election manifesto, with expected policies tomorrow to include boosting tax breaks for married couples;

Labour candidate Tan Dhesi was called a 'Zionist devil' while campaigning in Slough, with government adviser Lord Walney branding the abuse 'disgusting';

Health spokesman Wes Streeting unveiled Labour's plans to clear the NHS 'cancer backlog' in England amid claims that 700,000 patients will wait too long if the Tories are re-elected;

The PM  attending a peace summit on Ukraine in Switzerland  warned Russia's allies that they were 'placing themselves on the side of the aggressor and on the wrong side of history'.

A packed House of Commons in January 2023. By design, the Commons Chamber  opened in May 1852  only has seating for 427 out of 650 MPs, with the rest forced to stand

Bomb damage in the Houses of Parliament during the Blitz in 1941. After it was destroyed by German bombs in the Second World War, there were calls for the Chamber to be enlarged by replacing its famous rectangular shape with a semi-circular design

By long tradition in the Commons Chamber, MPs from the governing party sit to the right of the Speaker's Chair and the various Opposition parties sit to the left. But Commons sources said yesterday that after the election there could be so many Labour MPs  potentially more than the 418 after Tony Blair's first landslide in 1997  that space could be marked out on the Opposition benches to accommodate them

Physically roping off benches would be controversial as it would appear to breach Commons convention that, technically, MPs can sit where they like. However, one source pointed out that it would not be the first time a Government party had spilled over on to Opposition benches, saying it happened in 1931 and 1935 after huge majorities for the ruling parties.

And by design, the Commons Chamber  opened in May 1852  only has seating for 427 out of 650 MPs, with the rest forced to stand.

After it was destroyed by German bombs in the Second World War, there were calls for the Chamber to be enlarged by replacing its famous rectangular shape with a semi-circular design. However, it was rebuilt roughly to its original size and shape after Sir Winston Churchill led calls for it to retain 'a sense of crowd and urgency' on great occasions.

The great war-time prime minister argued: 'If the House is big enough for all its members, nine-tenths of its debates will be conducted in the depressing atmosphere of an almost empty or half-empty Chamber.'

The new Chamber was used for the first time on October 26, 1950.

Last night, House of Commons officials stressed that it was up to MPs  not them  to decide who sat where on the green benches.
Due to his ongoing cancer treatment, His Majesty will not be appearing on horseback for Trooping the Colour today.

Instead, he is set to watch proceedings from a relatively stress-free position in a carriage before making the traditional appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

But back in June 1981, Trooping ended up particularly stressful for Charles's mother the Queen - when 17-year-old Marcus Sarjeant fired six blank shots at her.

Her Majesty was riding her beloved horse Burmese down The Mall when the shots rang out, terrifying her steed.

Showing her poise and coolness under pressure, the Queen calmed her horse and continued with her duties as Sarjeant was tackled by a soldier and then arrested.

Sarjeant had sent a letter to Buckingham Palace before the attack that chillingly read: 'Your Majesty. Don't go to the Trooping the Colour ceremony because there is an assassin set up to kill you, waiting just outside the palace.'

However, the note arrived three days after the incident.

Back in 1981, Trooping ended up particularly stressful for the Queen - when 17-year-old Marcus Sarjeant fired six blank shots at her

Her Majesty was riding her beloved horse Burmese down The Mall when the shots rang out, terrifying her steed

Sarjeant allegedly told Lance -Corporal Alex Galloway, the soldier who subdued him: 'I wanted to be famous. I wanted to be a somebody.'

He was later jailed for five years under the 1842 Treason Act, which was introduced after two men made attempts on the life of Queen Victoria.

Lance-Corporal Galloway told the Mail after the incident: 'My only thought was to save the Queen's life.

'I thought it was a real gun and dived across the barrier into the crowd and grabbed him.

'I took him by the hair and pulled him into the Mall. Within seconds the police arrived and took him away.'

During police questioning after his arrest, Sarjeant claimed he had been inspired by the recent assassination attempts against US President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II, and the murder John Lennon a year earlier.

Sarjeant had previously made attempts to join the police and fire services and had also tried to join the Royal Marines.

Queen Elizabeth II riding Burmese during Trooping the Colour in 1981

The Queen rides her horse Burmese during Trooping the Colour, 1981

Sarjeant was later jailed for five years under the 1842 Treason Act, which was introduced after two men made attempts on the life of Queen Victoria

The moment after Marcus Sarjeant fired blank shots at the Queen during Trooping the Colour

He also enlisted in the Army but left after only two days of induction.

He became involved in the anti-Royalist movement and bought two imitation Colt Python revolvers for 66.90.

Both weapons were only capable of firing blanks, but Sarjeant had also tried and failed to get live ammunition for his father's handgun.

Sarjeant's grandmother Sylvia told the Mail before his conviction: 'I love the Royal Family - every one of them, especially the Queen and the Queen Mother, and I am heartbroken that my grandson should be charged with something like this.'

While serving his three-year prison sentence, he reportedly wrote to the Queen to apologise but did not receive a reply.

She did not let the 1981 incident change any of her plans - she was back on her horse for Trooping the following year.
'It was probably the best day of my hat life,' Jess Collett says, recalling the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

The London-based milliner rose to national fame when the Princess of Wales and her daughter, Princess Charlotte, wore coordinating headpieces designed by Jess in collaboration with Alexander McQueen for the crowning ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

'I felt like all the stars had aligned and I was like, wow, I can die happy now,' the humble milliner tells me during a visit to her studio in Notting Hill.

'It was amazing to work with Alexander McQueen - such artisans. It felt like it was the top of everything.'

The stunning headpieces that gained Jess critical acclaim featured silver bullion, crystal and intricate three-dimensional leaf embroidery, offering a modern interpretation of the traditional tiara.

'If I never make anything ever again, it doesn't matter,' Jess continues.

'I've been waiting for that day all my hat life and I don't think I can top it. The good thing is I don't have to because she'll be wearing the crown next time!'

Jess Collett's best-known creations include the coronation headpieces she designed for Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Princess Charlotte in collaboration with Alexander McQueen

Milliner Jess Collett sits surrounded by her eye-catching hats in her Notting Hill studio

Despite being someone who doesn't typically look good in hats, I am intrigued to explore Jess Collett's workshop and experience her offerings firsthand, particularly with Royal Ascot approaching.

The milliner welcomes me warmly into her sunlit studio, filled with hats of various shapes, sizes and colours, from signature toquilla hairbands to extravagant headpieces designed to attract attention.

'I tend to be inspired by a material. I try and work the fabric as best I can,' she explains.

'The good thing about millinery is that you can work with straws in the summer, then felts in the winter, so it's quite varied.

'It's nice to be able to work with both, but I'm always testing new things and I like to be inspired by new things.'

In one corner of her workshop stands a charming hand-painted vintage dressing room divider, inherited from her grandmother, while another corner houses Jess's personal wardrobe, complete with a pair of glitzy mules that she slips on for photographs.

The mother-of-two, who commutes to work on a scooter, reminisces about her school days spent in the drama cupboard playing dress-up. This carefree spirit is reflected in her designs.

With her mother being a dressmaker and upholsterer, it was a natural progression for Jess to pursue a creative career.

Having worked with notable figures, such as Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, her daughter Princess Eugenie, and Pippa Middleton, Jess has earned a place in the prestigious British Hat Guild.

And it's evident why she was selected to participate in the Coronation.

Jess wears the 580 'Mazzy' hairband, embellished with cascading gold beaded leaves

'Lady Amhurst' is a striking parisisal pillbox trimmed with pheasant feathers. It can be purchased for 1,950 or hired from 300

Jess has previously worked with notable figures, including Princess Eugenie and Pippa Middleton

Visiting the studio in June, its busiest month due to the races and wedding season, offers a glimpse into the bustling atmosphere.

I'm curious to learn Jess's advice for someone purchasing their first hat.

She explains that like with glasses, finding the right proportions for each individual is key as certain styles complement different face shapes.

'It's about balancing your face shape,' she says.

'I have an oval-shaped face, which suits most hats - I'm lucky - but because I'm petite I wouldn't suit very large hats.

'If you have an oblong face, you don't want to be wearing tall hats with short brims. You want to be wearing low crowns and wide brims to balance out the face.

'People with square faces suit styles that are very soft and closed, like berets or cloches.

'If you have a round face, don't do round crowns; you want sharp edges.'

However, the milliner believes that rules can be broken if a hat makes its wearer feel great.

'There are set rules but, if you like a hat, you should always try it on because sometimes it can be more about how the hat makes you feel,' she adds.

'They're kind of like an extension of your personality, so I think if someone really enjoys wearing a hat and they look really good then you'll see them shining through.'

She mentions that hats tend to look more flattering when tilted to one side, a style often sported by British royalty.

'Some hats look good straight on, but more often than not I think they look better tipped to one side.

'Something with a sweep upwards is generally more flattering - that's why a tilt is great.'

The show-stopping pink blossom 'Hulaniki' hat is available to hire from 300

Jess shows off some of her eye-catching designs, including a bespoke lily of the valley headpiece

Jess alters the ivory and black 'Suki' hat in her London studio

Jess provides a wide range of styles in ready-to-wear, couture and bespoke services.

Additionally, she offers a hiring service, providing customers with a more affordable and sustainable option.

Depending on the complexity of the design, her hats typically take between one and three days to complete.

The milliner prefers to see the outfit the hat will accompany to understand the overall look - she can even hand-dye the accessory to match specific fabrics.

Indeed, the Princess of Wales's headpiece was lead by her Alexander McQueen gown, which featured silver bullion and embroidery, incorporating floral emblems of the UK, such as rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock.

When I ask about her choice for Royal Ascot, she gestures towards 'Clemmie,' a stunning vintage-inspired floral headpiece in dusky pink and rust hues, available to hire for 300.

As she tries it on, it becomes clear that she effortlessly carries off any style.

Jess believes that the hat should be the focal point of the outfit, preferring shoes and bags to be understated, almost invisible.

'They're not a big deal for me, it's about the hat and the outfit.

'And Ascot is a chance where you can wear something from your wildest dreams without overshadowing anyone'.

Jess Collett's window display offers passers-by a peek of her current collection

She will be wearing 'Clemmie,' a stunning vintage-inspired floral headpiece, to Royal Ascot. It is available to hire for 300

Jess tries on the 'Cavendish', recently worn by Akshata Murty, wife of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, during the D-Day service in Ver-sur-Mer

She then reaches for the 995 'Cavendish', recently worn by Akshata Murty, wife of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, during the D-Day service in Ver-sur-Mer.

The elegant navy design is crafted from hemp straw, moulded into a disc shape and adorned with a bow and pearl hat pin.

'This hat acts as a complement to the outfit, rather than a standing piece by itself,' Jess says.

The milliner highlights the importance choosing the right hairstyle, suggesting a low ponytail or chignon for a polished look.

However, she notes that it could also work with a bouncy blowdry or bob.

While, traditionally, those with short hair shouldn't opt for a large brim, Jess says that it depends on the individual as 'some people have a beaming smile that takes over'.

Above all, she emphasises that you should feel comfortable and confident in your hat.

'You don't want to let it overpower you. I think you can tell if someone doesn't feel comfortable - if they're always fiddling with it, it's not a good experience.

'Choose a hat that you feel comfortable in.'

Jess also reminds me of the Royal Enclosure rules, where a hat or headpiece with a solid base of four inches in diameter is mandatory.

It's now my turn to find a hat and Jess selects the 720 'Victoire' from her collection with Samantha Cameron's brand, Cefinn

Jess Collett's studio is filled with hats of various shapes, sizes and colours, ranging from signature toquilla hairbands to extravagant headpieces designed to turn heads

Jess picks out a 150 beige straw boater named 'Carmen' for Rebekah, adorned with an exquisite scarlet corsage

It's now my turn to find a hat and Jess selects the 720 'Victoire' from her collaboration with Samantha Cameron's brand, Cefinn.

The striking piece, which is made from synamay straw and trimmed with a contrasting bow, is both elegant and modern.

Jess observes that the hat sits slightly too high on my head and suggests something lower.

She picks out a 150 beige straw boater named 'Carmen', adorned with an exquisite scarlet corsage.

'This is a lot better, shape wise, it's sitting lower down and cutting across the head.

'I'm quite shocked because I never thought I would suit such a statement style,' I admit.

'We can try a larger one,' the enthusiastic artisan suggests as she pulls out the iconic 'Downton' hat, worn by Sarah Ferguson at Princess Eugenie's wedding to Jack Brooksbank in 2018.

Jess says the royal 'loves wearing hats', but I'm hesitant about whether I can pull off the 2,100 Fergie boater - as jovial as it is.

Rebekah wears Akshata Murty's favourite hat, the 'Cavendish', which can be hired for 150

Rebekah tries on the 'Downton' hat, worn by Sarah Ferguson at the wedding of her daughter, Princess Eugenie, with Jack Brooksbank in 2018

Rebekah wears the 'Ingrid', a 1,450 Swiss braid bandeau with a red veil spotted with delicate velvet flowers

After trying on several more hats, the milliner discovers that a playful floral design is my perfect match.

The 'Ingrid', a 1,450 Swiss braid bandeau with a red veil spotted with delicate velvet flowers, fits comfortably with a comb and elastic.

'I love that one on you. The colour looks incredible against your hair - you really suit it,' Jess assures me.

Wearing it makes me feel confident and free-spirited, as its vibrant hue symbolises strength and power.

In contrast, when I try on Akshata Murty's favoured hat, which can be hired for 150, I'm overcome with a sense of elegance.

Jess tells me that I suit darker shades and notes how each style transforms my appearance - and demeanor.

Struggling to come to a decision, she advises me to 'instinctively choose the one that makes you feel best'.

Senior features writer Rebekah Absalom visited Jess Collett (left) at her London studio

Jess offers a wide variety of hairbands, ranging from simple plaited bands to glamorous embellished options

Jess Collett's cheerful 'Birdie' scrunchies are guaranteed to elevate any outfit

For clients in search of hairbands, Jess provides a diverse selection, ranging from simple plaited bands to glamorous embellished options and a particularly exuberant scrunchie.

Moreover, a hairband is flattering, easy to wear and eliminates the need for head sizing.

I couldn't resist catching a glimpse of Jess's cheerful 385 'Birdie' scrunchies, guaranteed to elevate any outfit.

She explains that the idea originated at her own wedding when some of her friends wore similar hairbands.

She quickly developed the concept, securing the goose feathers on wire.

This season, her red and aqua colour options offer a vibrant alternative to a hat for a summer soiree.

'Hairbands are such a good halfway house - they're really easy to wear and you can rewear them,' she says.

Jess also talked about her elegant older clientele, who visit her studio dressed in their finery. It's this timeless glamour that inspires the milliner throughout event season.

'People don't really dress up very much for weddings - but a headpiece finishes off an outfit.

'These days, we are so casual, but I think it's nice to dress up - and we feel good when we do.'
There are troopers and there are troupers. Today was a celebration of both.

Trooping the Colour in honour of King Charless official birthday (he is two in King Years) was a dazzling, dashing reminder of the skill, discipline and loyalty of our Armed Forces.

But not even Seamus the Irish wolfhound or Apollo and Juno, the two magnificent drum horses, could compete with the most dazzling trouper of them all: the Princess of Wales, in her first public appearance since she announced she was undergoing treatment for cancer.

As her carriage pulled out of Buckingham Palace, the crowds  dodging giant raindrops and a robust police presence along The Mall  craned their necks to catch a glimpse.

The King and Queen were ahead in their glass-topped charabanc  Camilla chic in a cream ensemble; Charles looking very well indeed, despite his own health battles.

As the King pulled out ahead in his glass-topped charabanc, he looked very well indeed, despite his own health battles

But as they circled the gleaming gold statue of Queen Victoria, the photographers lenses were all trained on the slender figure in the carriage behind.

Eye-catching in a white dress with a black trim and matching hat (almost identical to the one worn by Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady, a fact quickly spotted by eagle-eyed viewers on social media), her hair in her trademark low chignon, the Princess of Wales was accompanied by her three children, George, Charlotte and Louis.

Not for the first time, Charlottes outfit echoed her mothers  a sweet touch. If the children have been affected by the princesss illness, it did not show in their demeanour. Charlotte was as sunny as ever (and still so much the spit of her late great-grandmother); George was his usual solemn self; and gregarious Louis  who never fails to put on a show  was full of mischief.

There were plenty of smiles and waves as they drove down The Mall, to the great delight of the crowd. According to one lip-reader, George remarked to his mother: They all look so happy.

Such occasions are well-rehearsed in the calendar of Royal events. But there was something extra special about today's.

It wasnt just the unexpected and welcome presence of the princess  who only announced her intention to join the pageant yesterday evening, having previously intimated that she would not be able to attend.

It was also the extra symbolism of a Royal Family pulling together through thick and thin, in sickness and in health, in the face of what have been a very tough few years.

At a time of global turmoil, and particularly as the nation prepares for a major shift in government, people look to the monarchy as a stabilising influence.

Recent misfortunes have threatened to undermine that stability: first the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, then the King and the Princess of Wales being diagnosed with cancer just weeks apart  all set against the backdrop of the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs acrimonious departure, and Prince Andrews ongoing woes.

The Princess of Wales waves from her carriage beside her three children, including mischievous Prince Louis

Eagle-eyed viewers said the princess's dress was almost identical to the one worn by Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady

But if all that weighed heavily on Royal minds, it was not apparent today.

This was more than just a show of unity, it was a show of strength, discipline and a determination to keep going in the face of adversity every bit as impressive as that taking place on the parade ground.

All the major players in King Charless new slimmed-down monarchy were there, present and correct: the Princess Royal, gamely controlling her tricky steed; the Kents, the Edinburghs (with Sophie looking lovely in yellow).

The presence of Kate was the cherry on the birthday cake.

Mustering the willpower to do even the basics when undergoing chemotherapy is hard enough, as countless cancer sufferers know. There are days when even getting dressed can seem like an insurmountable challenge. The idea of getting done up to the nines and putting on a public display for the worlds cameras would be enough to make any ordinary person hide under the duvet.

But not the Princess of Wales. In her statement yesterday, she said she has good days and bad days; today was clearly a good day, or at least if it was a bad one you would never have known.

The procession, led by drum horses Apollo and Juno, parades down The Mall

Seamus the Irish wolfhound was one of the stars of the day

There was no denying she looked a little frail, and there were moments when she seemed rather preoccupied. But she was fully present, on hand to keep an eye on Louis, whose irrepressible personality has its challenges, especially in such formal situations.

As well as his usual face-pulling (he really has quite a wide repertoire of expressions), at one point he was seen playing with a blind pull, asking his mother: You know how they make these things, Ma?

But, meddlesome little fingers aside, it all went off like clockwork. Even the weather waited until the main participants were safely back inside their horse-drawn carriages to let rip in a wonderfully British way.

And then, right on cue, the sun came out for that all-important balcony moment, the princess and the King standing shoulder to shoulder, side by side in their struggles.

Last year it was William next to his father; this was an open gesture of support on behalf of the King. And understandably so. They have so much in common, these two. Not just in terms of the health challenges they face, but also in the way both have had their reputations tarnished by the same two people thousands of miles away in Montecito.

Far from breaking them, as perhaps was the intention, the experience seems to have only strengthened their resolve, making them both even more determined to stand by their duty to the British people  and to each other. It is a display of moral courage rarely seen these days.

Its also a reminder that words are all very fine and good  but actions are what count.

A sunny Princess Charlotte and her brother Prince George smile at spectators from their carriage

When Meghan married into the Royal Family, there was a sense that she would have the same glamorous, stellar appeal of a young Princess Diana.

She talked a good game, and certainly looked the part. Kate seemed rather staid by comparison.

But when the going got tough  as it inevitably does from time to time in life  the Duke and Duchess of Sussex jumped ship, doing their best to sink it in the process. But the British Royal Family is, it seems, unsinkable.

Faced with a different set of challenges, arguably far more arduous, the Princess of Wales has shown herself to be made of far stronger stuff. She has not only resilience, she also understands the value of discretion.

Unlike Meghan, she commands respect not because she demands it, or expects it, but because she has earned it.

This may come as something of a Riviera Orchard marmalade-dropper to the folks over in Montecito; but then thats the difference between being just another pushy princess  and a future queen.
Archaeologists have made astounding discoveries in the last few decades that prove many Biblical figures actually walked and breathed on Earth.

The existence of at least 50 people mentioned in the holy book has been identified through wall drawings, inscriptions on stone slabs and other material evidence.

One of the most significant finds was a slab bearing the name Pontius Pilate, the man who sentenced Jesus to death out of fear of losing his power over the Jews.

Another discovery included a cave found in the early 2000s, which archaeologists claimed was used by John the Baptist to anoint followers of Christ.

A stone uncovered in Caesarea Maritima (an Eastern Mediterranean city which was capital of Roman Judea) bears Pontius Pilate's name

Pontius Pilate's stone

The Roman leader who gave the order to crucify Jesus and then washed his hands in front of a crowd was a real and well-documented historical figure.

Pontius Pilate was a governed Caesarea, once located in Israel, from 26AD to 36 AD under the the emperor Tiberius.

Pilate convicted Jesus of treason and sentence him to death by crucifixion.

An Italian archaeologist discovered an ancient slab of limestone in 1961, which featured the name 'Pontius Pilate.'

The inscription also explained how he built a 'Tiberieum,' a temple in or near Caesarea dedicated to the then-reigning Roman emperor, Tiberius.

And dating of the stone showed it was created during the ruler's lifetime.

Pilate has also been mentioned by ancient writers including Jewish philosopher Philo, historian Josephus and Roman historian Tacitus.

Philo described Pilate as 'a man of a very inflexible disposition, and very merciless as well as very obstinate  exceedingly angry, andat all times a man of most ferocious passions.'

King Herod's tomb

King Herod, born in 73AD, was a Jewish leader who heard a prophecy that a son would be born as King of the Jews.

Herod then ordered 'the Massacre of the Innocents,' which saw every male infant killed in Bethlehem.

While the brutal order is not in history books, it is mentioned in the gospel of Matthew.

Archaeologists had sought the tomb of the tyrant in the town of Herodium, which was identified in 1838

Ehud Netzer holds a pieces of an elaborate sarcophagus believed to have contained King Herod's remains

The king was said to have died more than 2,000 years ago, but it was not until 2007 did archaeologists uncover his tomb - although his existence had been found on coins and in historical accounts.

Ehud Netzer of Hebrew University and his team found had been working in Jerusalem, excavating a volcano-shaped hill called Herodium.

Decades later on April 27, 2007, they hit a slab of pink limestone that later revealed Herod's elusive tomb.

However, the sarcophagus had been intentionally smashed - likely by Jewish rebels.

Other archaeologists have since suggested that the size of the tomb is too small for a king like Herod - and the debate rumbles on.

The cave of John the Baptist

Archaeologists uncovered a cave in 2004 that they claimed was where John the Baptist anointed many of his disciples.

The structure featured a cistern where 28 steps lead to an underground pool.

Archaeologists uncovered a cave in 2004 that they claimed was where John the Baptist anointed many of his disciples

A team led by British archaeologist Shimon Gibson excavated the cave, finding 250,000 shards from small jugs which may have been used in purification rituals

A stone used for foot cleansing and wall carvings themed around the Biblical figure were also uncovered that convinced Gibson the cave was used by John the Baptist. The entrance has since been made a shrine

A team led by British archaeologist Shimon Gibson excavated the cave, finding 250,000 shards from small jugs which may have been used in purification rituals.

A stone used for foot cleansing and wall carvings themed around the Biblical figure were also uncovered that convinced Gibson the cave was used by John the Baptist.

Shimon Gibson said, 'John the Baptist, who was just a figure from the Gospels, now comes to life.'

The Biblical figure is also said to have baptized Jesus, but it is unknown if the sacred event took place in the cave.

Not every archaeologist is convinced that there is enough evidence of John the Baptist - and some suggest that further proof is needed.

The apostle Philip's tomb

Philip was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, and Italian archaeologist Francesco D'Andria believes he found his tomb in 2011 in Turkey.

The Bible states that Philip was present during 'the miracle of the five loaves and two fish,' which said Jesus turned the small amount of food into enough that fed 5,000 people - and Philip helped distribute the items.

Philip was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, and Italian archaeologist Francesco D'Andria believes he found his tomb in 2011 in Turkey

Philip, however, was crucified in 80AD after converting a ruler's wife.

The tomb was discovered while teams were excavating an ancient church that was built around the apostle's resting place.

The walls had drawings and features that pointed to Philip.

However, Philip's remains were missing, leading archaeologists to believe they were taken to Rome and placed in the Church of the Holy Apostles.

Other reports from the 12th century have suggested his body is still in Constantinople.

The seal of Isaiah

A clay seal unearthed in Jerusalem in 2019 dating from the eighth century BC may bear the signature of the Prophet Isaiah, according to Dr Eilat Mazar of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

Isaiah was said to have predicted the coming of the Messiah, which is found in the Book of Isaiah chapter 53.

In the Bible, Isaiah is described as a close advisor to Hezekiah, who was the king of Judah, and the clay seal that may read 'Prophet Isaiah' was found near one bearing Hezekiah's name in the Ophel, an ancient fortified area of Jerusalem.

A clay seal unearthed in Jerusalem in 2019 dating from the eighth century BC may bear the signature of the Prophet Isaiah

'We found the eighth-century BC seal mark that may have been made by the prophet Isaiah himself only 10 feet away from where we earlier discovered the highly-publicized bulla of King Hezekiah of Judah.

'If it is the case that this bulla is indeed that of the prophet Isaiah, then it should not come as a surprise to discover this bulla next to one bearing King Hezekiah's name given the symbiotic relationship of the prophet Isaiah and King Hezekiah described in the Bible.'

If confirmed to be Isaiah's seal, it would be the first evidence of the prophet outside the Bible.
A 2,400-year-old tablet unearthed in Spain appears to be inscribed with an alphabetic sequence of 21 signs, predating the famous Rosetta Stone by 400 years.

The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) made the 8-inch slate public last week  discovered at Casas del Turunuelo, an anthropological dig site believed to have been a sanctuary or temple for the lost Paleo-Hispanic society called Tartessos.

The CSIC said that the tablet also depicts 'a framework on which figures of warriors were found' members of an advanced civilization that disappeared mysteriously.

But as one CSIC researcher, Esther Rodriguez Gonzalez, a leader of the excavation noted, 'the volume of information it contained was even greater,' and may yet prove to be evidence of an independent, brand new, Paleo-Hispanic southern alphabet.

A 2,400-year-old tablet (above) unearthed in Spain appears to be inscribed with an alphabetic sequence of 21 signs, predating the famous Rosetta Stone by 400 years. Above an effort to extrapolate the missing pieces of the alphabet on this newly discovered tablet

The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) made the 8-inch slate public last week - after it was discovered at Casas del Turunuelo, an anthropological dig site (pictured) that is believed to have been a sanctuary or temple for a wealthy Paleo-Hispanic culture known as Tartessos

The tablet's carvings, which date back to about 600 and 400 B.C., appear to show repeated and overlaid illustrations of faces, geometric shapes and three warriors in a combat scene, as officials revealed in their preliminary photos.

Archaeologists who have reviewed the tablet now theorize that it was like a scratch pad, or sketch book, used by artisans to practice these images and symbols before engraving a finished product on more valued materials like gold, ivory or wood.

The Tartessian culture  sometimes compared to the mythical city of gold, 'El Dorado,' and occasionally discussed alongside accounts of mythical Atlantis  is believed to have thrived from the 9th to 6th centuries B.C.

'Their sophistication was remarkable,' as archaeologist Richard Freund of Christopher Newport University told travel site Atlas Obscura in 2021.

While it is known that the wealthy Tartessians were a mixture of indigenous people and Greek and Phoenician colonizers, it's still unknown if they were a large city-state, a full nation or something in between.

Experts have speculated that an earthquake or a tsunami may have led to their disappearance.

Excavations at Casas del Turunuelo have been underway for at least six years, according to CSIC officials.

The tablet's carvings, which date back to about 600 and 400 B.C., appear to show repeated and overlaid illustrations of faces, geometric shapes and three warriors in a combat scene, as officials revealed in their preliminary photos. Archaeologists theorize that it was a sketch book

Excavations at Casas del Turunuelo - where the tablet was found - have been underway for at least six years, according to CSIC officials

Paleo-Hispanic written languages are currently divided into two styles or families, one common to the northeast of Spain and one common to the south, which archeologists have only seen in fragments before, speculating more might exist.

University of Barcelona researcher Joan Ferrer i Jane, who examined the tablet, said that it resembles 'other strokes compatible with signs of a known sequence' from two prior southern dialect tablets from this period.

The Turunuelo or Guarena alphabet on this new tablet depicts the first 10 signs of the alphabet also seen at an archeological site, Espanca, in Castro Verde, Portugal.

'This alphabet [from Espanca] has 27 signs and is the only complete one we knew of to date. Another was found at the excavation of Villasviejas del Tamuja but it is very fragmented, it only has some central signs,' Ferrer i Jane said in a CSIC statement.

'Guarena would be the third and would provide a lot of information,' he added.

University of Barcelona researcher Joan Ferrer i Jane, who examined the tablet (pictured), said that it resembles 'other strokes compatible with signs of a known sequence' from two prior southern dialect tablets from this culture

En la placa se puede apreciar a cuatro individuos que han sido identificados como guerreros, dada su vestimenta y las armas que portan.



Esther Rodriguez Gonzalez, codirectora del equipo, explica en detalle este descubrimiento. pic.twitter.com/8bNBifIKHr  CSIC (@CSIC) June 6, 2024

Unfortunately, the broken state of the tablet has obscured some of its alphabet, which Ferrer i Jane hopes to piece together with other artifacts from the region.

'At least 6 signs or letters would have been lost in the split area of the piece, but if it were completely symmetrical and the signs completely occupied three of the four sides of the plate, it could reach 32,' Ferrer i Jane noted (in Spanish, here translated).

'So the lost signs or letters could reach up to eleven or perhaps more if a possible sign, "Tu," isolated in the lateral quarter, were part of the alphabet,' he noted.

'It is a shame that the final part of the alphabet has been lost since that's where the most pronounced differences tend to be,' according to the researcher whose work combines information software engineering and ancient languages at the university.

Those missing letters could well be what makes the tablet a brand new sister language to the other partially understood southern Paleo-Hispanic type or family.

CSIC's collaborating team of archaeologists report that they intend to continue work on the slate, alongside further excavations at the Casas del Turunuelo ruins in Guarena, approximately 200 miles southwest of Madrid.
Some say the Golden Age of rail travel faded away years ago in Britain.

I'd say it's still with us. Just.

Mainly thanks to the country's two sleeper services  the Caledonian Sleeper from London Euston to the Highlands (a service I've reviewed and touted as Britain's contender for world's greatest rail journey) and GWR's Night Riviera from London Paddington to Penzance via Taunton, which I discover on a trip to the end of Cornwall offers romance and thrills by the (Mark III) carriage load.

This journey is along one of the country's most scenic lines, takes in some of Isambard Kingdom Brunel's finest construction work  including one particularly breathtaking bridge  the beds are dreamily comfortable, the staff decidedly chipper, and there's an all-night bar.

The diesel locomotive-hauled train departs London Paddington late in the day  11.45pm - but passengers can board from 10.30pm and hangout, if they have a sleeping berth, at the first-class lounge on platform one.

MailOnline Travel's Ted Thornhill took the GWR Night Riviera from London Paddington to Penzance. Pictured above is a publicity shot of a bunk-bed cabin

The berths can be converted to a mini living room (promo shot)

It's fairly basic and not much to write home about, but the train most certainly is. Hence this feature.

I'm travelling with my partner and six-year-old daughter  who, like her ex-trainspotter dad  is beside herself with excitement.

We're greeted in carriage F by GWR's Heidi, who seems sincerely delighted to have us on board.

As she checks us into our berth, she reveals that just a couple of days previously, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had used the service for a campaign-trail visit to Cornwall.

Heidi reveals that the police 'suddenly appeared' at the start of her shift and announced that they needed to carry out a sweep of the carriage.

She continued excitedly: 'I said, "What for?" And they told me the PM was on board.'

I'm sure Rishi would agree that it's a wonderful operation.

Ted reveals that he isn't able to sit upright on his lower bunk. However, the top bunk can be folded away for solo travellers (promo shot)

The rooms don't have showers or toilets - but do have sinks hidden under lids (publicity shot)

Heidi takes our complimentary room-service breakfast order  croissants for the girls, sausage bap with ketchup for me, plus coffees and orange juice  then we explore our quarters.

Which are most inviting.

Not Pullman standard, by any means, but cosy and comfortable.

We have two interconnecting bunk-bed rooms, each with a sink hidden underneath a lid, a wafer-thin wardrobe with hangars and bottles of mineral water in holders at the bottom, plus light switches, sockets and charging points at the pillow end of the bed.

Access to the top bunks, meanwhile, is via a clever space-saving fold-away ladder that unfurls from the walls. The bonus is unimpeded access to the bottom bunk (the ladders on the Caledonian Sleeper are bolted onto the beds).

I'm also taken with the ambience  the decor is a soothing mixture of browns and greys and the lights can be adjusted to create a hygge-y vibe.

The Night Riviera departs from platform one at London Paddington and is hauled by a Class 57 diesel locomotive with a top speed of 95mph. The journey to Penzance takes just over eight hours

Passengers with sleeper berths can avail themselves of the first-class lounge at London Paddington

The Night Riviera departs at 11.45pm, but boarding commences at around 10.30pm

Before bed, we head to the lounge car, which is superb.

The set-up here is like a first-class carriage with bells and whistles, an inviting mixture of expansive upright quad seats with tables, pairs of Mastermind-style armchairs positioned at jaunty angles, and banquettes.

Need to plug in a device? You're covered. The carriage is awash with charging points.

At one end is a counter where a chirpy barman is dispensing refreshments.

Here, there are 'leaning posts' fashioned like elongated mushrooms.

Quirky.

Train of thought: Ted also reveals his opinions of the Night Riviera on a short video (see above)

Ted is pictured here settling into his carriage F bunk

LEFT: Ted after a night's sleep. RIGHT: The room-service breakfast, which includes a sausage bap and coffee. Note - staff can also deliver the coffee in a silver pot

Socket to them: The bedside light switches and charging points

We procure a beer, a wine and a juice for the little one (snacks and basic breakfast items are also available to purchase) and sit down at one of the tables for a game of GWR train Top Trumps (the old ones are the best, eh?).

The atmosphere in the carriage is convivial, with strangers talking to strangers. In London. On a train.

Whatever next?

It's time for bed, and the litmus test for the Night Riviera  does it offer a good night's sleep?

The result? A pass with merit.

The pillows and duvets feel luxurious and the mattress is supportive.

Above is the lounge, which Ted describes as 'superb'

At one end of the lounge is an all-night bar serving drinks and light refreshments. Here there are quirky mushroom-style leaning posts

The cheapest sleeper tickets are for first-class-style seats (above)

Ted wakes up at around 5am just as the train is passing over Isambard Kingdom Brunel's jaw-dropping 100ft-tall Royal Albert Bridge (above)

Pictured above is a Night Riviera service arriving in Penzance

TRAVEL FACTS Ted and his family were hosted by GWR. London Paddington to Penzance prices for sleeper tickets start at 42.50 for single cabins and 64.00 for twin cabins. Tickets for travel are not included in the berth price. Prices start at 45.50 for a single ticket. The train stops at Reading (pick-up only), Exeter St Davids, Newton Abbot, Plymouth, Liskeard, Bodmin Parkway, Lostwithiel, Par, St Austell, Truro, Redruth, Camborne, Hayle, St Erth and Penzance. The Night Riviera takes just over eight hours to reach Penzance and is hauled by a Class 57 diesel locomotive with a top speed of 95mph. For more information visit www.gwr.com/travelling-with-us/night-riviera-sleeper PROS: Cosy, comfortable, relaxing cabins with luxury bedding; welcoming, friendly staff; smooth, quiet ride; superb lounge car with all-night bar; lovely views in the morning in Cornwall; very good shower facilities at the Penzance first-class lounge. CONS: No toilets or showers in the cabins; fairly limited food options; can't sit upright on the lower bunk bed in twin mode. Rating out of five: **** Ted stayed in the superb Chy Lowen cottage rental in Mousehole, near Penzance. Visit www.beachretreats.co.uk/self-catering/cornwall/mousehole/chy-lowen. Advertisement

The bed is a little on the narrow side, but then, it's a train. I wasn't expecting a king-size.

Sleep is further aided by the design of the Mark III carriages used by the Night Riviera.

They were cutting edge when they were introduced in the 1970s  and still offer one of the smoothest, quietest rides anywhere in Europe.

I have no trouble nodding off.

I wake up at around 5am to use one of the two loos at the end of the carriage, just as the train is passing over Isambard Kingdom Brunel's jaw-dropping 100ft-tall Royal Albert Bridge, west of Plymouth, which crosses the River Tamar.

It's rightly considered a national treasure  and affords passengers magnificent views as the train trundles over it at 15mph.

Beyond this bridge the train snakes through gorgeous Cornish countryside, past lush meadows, ancient ruins and at Hayle, a picturesque sandy estuary.

At 7am, our breakfast is delivered by the (still-cheerful) Heidi.

It's not really a golden-age-of-travel breakfast, but the coffee is good and the sausages are hot.

Annoyingly, I can't sit on the bed to eat it as the upper bunk is too low, so I dine standing up.

For solo travellers, this isn't necessarily a problem as the bottom bunk can be converted to a sofa.

And there's always the option of repairing to the lounge.

It's from here that I take in the final sight  St Michael's Mount, which dominates the bay Penzance sits on.

We pull in amid blazing sunshine, freshen up with a shower in the first-class lounge  you can pre-book use of these on the train when you board  and reflect on a service that, as I'm sure the PM would agree, is an excellent, stress-free way of reaching the West Country.

You'd rather drive? You've gone off the rails...
As Kendall Jenner and the Hadid sisters reach a decade in the modeling industry, a new crop of nepo babies have emerged to take their place on the runway.

Currently leading the pack is Amelia Gray Hamlin, daughter of reality star Lisa Rinna and actor Harry Hamlin.

The 22-year-old has become a force to be reckoned with over the last 12 months, landing multiple Vogue covers and fronting campaigns for luxury fashion brands like Givenchy and Miu Miu.

Hamlin has certainly come a long way since Rinna introduced her and sister Delilah Belle to the world as two awkward teenagers on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in 2014.

And like many in the modeling industry, the brunette beauty seems to have tweaked her looks over the years in order to boost her career prospects in the cutthroat industry.

Lisa Rinna's daughter Amelia Gray Hamlin has become the new It-girl on the modelling scene over the past 12 months. (Hamlin and Rinna pictured in 2023)

Hamlin, now 22, has come a long since her awkward teenage years on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

 Slide me  Hamlin's signature physical feature, which is her sculpted, angular face, was nowhere to be seen during her early teen years (pictured left in 2015 and right in May)

During her first season of RHOBH when she was just 13, many of Hamlin's striking features had yet to fully develop.

Her face was much plumper at the time and she seemed to have a more bulbous nose.

Hamlin's signature feature, which is her sculpted, angular face, was nowhere to be seen during her early teen years.

Old photos of the fashionista from that time period show her with a much fuller face and cheeks.

Another thing that's transformed on the young model's visage is the size of her pout.

She's always had full lips, but they seemed to reach Kardashian levels of plumpness once she started dating Scott Disick in 2020.

Aesthetic physician Dr. Jennifer Armstrong, who has never treated Hamlin, believes that she's 'definitely had plastic surgery' to achieve her incredible looks.

The supermodel is pictured as a youngster in 2012 when she was barely 12-years-old

Hamlin looked worlds away from her current high fashion aesthetic back in 2015

Hamlin looked unrecognizable compared to her current appearance as she stepped out with mom Lisa in 2016

Aesthetic physician Dr. Jennifer Armstrong, who has never treated Hamlin, believes that she's 'definitely had plastic surgery' to achieve her incredible looks, (Pictured left in 2018, and right in 2023)

'Its pretty clear that shes had a rhinoplasty and lip lift,' the Newport-based injector told Dailymail.com when asked to give her opinion on before-and-after images of the model.

'Her cheeks could be surgical or non-surgical - either cheek filler or implants. Her lower face is less heavy but wider via chin reshaping and jawline filler,' she continued.

'Then obviously lip filler. Shes a beautiful girl but she has had a few tweaks to put her on the runway.'

While Hamlin has never admitted to cosmetic surgery, she did go under the knife at 16 for a breast reduction for medical reasons after contracting strep from a nipple piercing.

'It was the worst thing Ive ever been through,' she told The Skinny Confidential.

'I went to the emergency room, they told me, "You have a kidney infection." No, I didnt have a kidney infection. I had to go to Cedars' special disease doctor and he was like, "Yeah, you have strep in your left breast."'

Hamlin was told she was '12 hours away from going into sepsis,' which is a life-threatening condition caused by the body's response to fighting off an infection.

'The nipple piercing [was] being pulled and caused a small abrasion in my body,' she said. 'I already had the strep living in my system and then it went to that part of my body because it was an open wound.'

She added: 'It made my boobs so uneven and I was like, "Oh, my god, am I really gonna have to live the rest of my life with my left boob this significantly larger than my right boob?"'

The star has always had full lips, but they seemed to reach Kardashian levels of plumpness once she started dating Scott Disick in 2020 (right)

Hamlin went for a more sultry look in 2019 with full lips and eyebrows

The model also suffered from an eating disorder as a teenager.

Hamlin said that she was exercising excessively and liquid fasting, which eventually became so severe it could have killed her.

She eventually got so thin that her family took her to UCLA to get her treatment.

'We show up. It's like this really scary old man's office. It could not have been a more uncomfortable vibe for me,' she told The Skinny Confidential.

'He looked at me and he was like, "So, yeah, basically, at this rate in about four months you're going to be 45 pounds and you're going to be dead."'

Amelia remembered asking herself how that is even 'humanly possible' and couldn't get the number out of her head.

'I just snapped out of it,' she said. 'I was so lucky that I was just like, yeah, I don't want to be 45 pounds.'

The 22-year-old has become a force to be reckoned in the modelling world, landing multiple Vogue covers and fronting campaigns for luxury fashion brands like Givenchy and Miu Miu. Pictured 2024

The Vogue cover girl looks like a completely different person since transforming her looks. Pictured 2023

The brunette's angular features have made her a favorite with fashion photographers and luxury brands. Pictured 2024

Hamlin boosted her supermodel status by attending her first Met Gala in May (pictured) as a special guest of Vogue

Since overcoming her eating disorder, Hamlin has worked hard to climb to the top of the modelling world.

She's become a fixture at Fashion Week shows across the globe, walking runways in Milan, Paris, New York and London for Chanel and Vivienne Westwood.

Hamlin earned her first Vogue cover in March of last year with Vogue Japan and has since covered Vogue Spain, Vogue Mexico, and Vogue Adria.

She's has graced campaigns for Givenchy and Jean Paul Gaultier, and in April she won Model of the Year at the Daily Front Row Fashion Awards.

'I'm not sure why I wanted to be a model,' she said during her acceptance speech.

'But I have ever since I was 8. It was something that I needed to do. I knew it was the form of art that would free me and that it would make me feel whole.

'It's a lot of gratitude, it's been a lot of pinch-me moments. This journey has not always been easy. I've almost given up a lot, but I didn't because of my beautiful support system.'

Since overcoming her eating disorder, Hamlin has worked hard to climb to the top of the modelling world. Pictured in May, 2024)

In April she won Model of the Year at the Daily Front Row Fashion Awards

Amelia flaunted her supermodel look at the Desigual Fashion Show in Spain last week

Amelia has covered Vogue magazine four times already, with her latest cover being for the Mexican edition of the fashion bible

She also boosted her supermodel status by attending her first Met Gala in May as a special guest of Vogue, wearing a light-up terrarium dress by Jun Takahashi that landed her on multiple best-dressed lists.

In an interview with Vogue in January, Hamlin discussed how she 'curated' her 'personal vibe' as a model when she was still just a teenager.

'As early as I can remember, I always wanted to be a fashion model. In particular, a runway model. I dont know why. I still dont know why but Ive never wanted to be anything else!' she said.

'I started spending my time studying the craft, rummaging through magazine stores, tearing apart magazines taking out images that inspired me and pasted them on boards,' she continued.

'Slowly, I curated my personal vibe and I got to know myself as an artist a lot better. With that, I went to New York for Fashion Week 1 year ago and I never looked back.'
Jessica Alba has been happily married to her husband Cash Warren for 16 years, and looking back at their history together, the actress said for her, it's all about making the right choice.

The actress, 43, who looked stunning at the premiere of her new film Trigger Warning, explained her philosophy in an interview with People.

'It's something you really have to make a choice to do,' she contended.

'You have to really find time to make time for each other.'

Alba met Warren, 45, when both were working on the set of 2005's The Fantastic Four and wed in a simple courthouse ceremony in May 2008, one month before they welcomed their oldest child, Honor, 16 into their family.

Jessica Alba, 43, said the secret behind the success of her 16 year marriage to husband Cash Warren, 45 is about making choices. ''Going through the motions of the day to day is what it is, but it's important to just know that we have to be a priority,' she told People (Pictured in Los Angeles June 11)

They have since added Haven, almost 13, and Hayes, six, who help keep their parents busy.

'Going through the motions of the day to day is what it is, but it's important to just know that we have to be a priority, and taking those moments to see each other and have a giggle and not be on the phone and just actually connect,' she explained.

'Anytime we ebb or flow, we just look around and it's like, "Actually, at my worst, I'm still better off with you,"' she contended.

'You have to look up and say, "Would my life be better if we weren't together?" And every time, it's, "No." We're friends, you know?'

As her children grow older, spending time as a family is also key.

'We went to Monster Jam, and the girls and I were out of our element, but Hayes was so excited to show us everything. He knew all the cars and drivers and stats,' the L.A's Finest star revealed.

'To have this 6-year-old dude, who we pretty much always bring into our environment, feel so confident was the cutest thing ever.'

In a recent interview with Trever Noah on his What Now? podcast, the actress and entrepreneur said it took a few years for her to feel confident as a business owner.

The couple met on the set of 2005's The Fantastic Four and wed in a simple courthouse ceremony in May 2008, one month before their daughter Honor was born (Pictured in Beverly Hills in March)

They now have three kids to keep them busy - Honor, 16, Haven, almost 13 and Hayes, six

'We went to Monster Jam, and the girls and I were out of our element, but Hayes was so excited to show us everything... To have this 6-year-old dude, who we pretty much always bring into our environment, feel so confident was the cutest thing ever'

In a preview of the conversation posted on The Honest Company founder's Instagram page she revealed, 'It took me, probably three years after I founded Honest until I really embraced the notion that I could be smart.'

'I allowed my co-founders, who I brought on and who I pitched them the idea, but I let them take credit for finding me,' she said.

'I didn't actively change that narrative for a long time.'

In a recent interview on Trever Noah's What Now? podcast, Alba said it took a few years for her to feel confident as a business owner. 'I allowed my co-founders, who I brought on and who I pitched them the idea, but I let them take credit for finding me,' she said

When asked what advice she would give her younger self, the action star answered, without hesitation, 'Stop looking to men for validation.'

'Damn.' replied Noah.

Alba took on a kick-butt role for her latest project, Trigger Warning, as a woman seeking to use her Special Forces training to find out what really lead up to her father's sudden death.

The action adventure debuts June 21 on Netflix.
A third Channel Seven senior staffer has been stood down, following the recent layoffs of network veterans Robert Ovadia and Andrew Frampton.

Seasoned Melbourne crime reporter Cameron Baud was recently let go by the Network.

'He is not part of our plans for the future,' Channel Seven said in a statement.

Baud, who began working with Seven in December 2010, was reportedly told by outgoing News Director Shaun Menegola on Wednesday they no longer needed him, reports the Herald Sun.

The firing was reportedly unexpected, with Baud being told in the middle of working on a story that he had to leave, and he immediately vacated the Network's Docklands headquarters.

A third Channel Seven senior staffer has been stood down, following the recent layoffs of network veterans Robert Ovadia and Andrew Frampton

Melbourne's new news director, Chris Salter, and the network's chief of news and current affairs, Anthony DeCeglie, are reportedly planning to lay off a significant number of employees in their Victorian newsroom.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Seven for comment.

Baud's sacking comes just a week after reports senior Seven journalist Robert Ovadia was also stood down, while an allegation of inappropriate behaviour by him towards a woman is being investigated.

Seasoned Melbourne crime reporter Cameron Baud (pictured) was recently let go by the Network

'He is not part of our plans for the future,' the Network said in a statement. Baud began working with Seven in December 2010 and was reportedly told by their News Director on Wednesday the network no longer needed him, reports the Herald Sun

However, a Seven spokesperson confirmed the veteran presenter had been placed on 'leave' as the investigation continues.

'Robert Ovadia is on leave. Seven is conducting an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour by Ovadia,' the spokesperson said.

Ovadia has reportedly hired a lawyer to represent him while the investigation is being conducted.

Senior Channel Seven journalist Robert Ovadia (pictured) has also been placed on 'leave' by the network as an investigation into workplace misconduct continues

'Seven has told me no current or former colleague has made any complaint against me,' Ovadia said in a statement to The Age.

'As far as I am aware, I have not been stood down by the company. Any suggestion I have behaved inappropriately at any time is false, malicious and will be defended.'

Daily Mail Australia does not suggest that any allegation of inappropriate behaviour made against Ovadia is true.

Elsewhere, Patrick Dybell recently took over as Chief of Staff in the Sydney newsroom from 'highly respected' Andrew Frampton, who had been in the role for six years before his sudden departure.

Last week, the Herald Sun reported Frampton 'was called into a meeting' on Thursday, June 6 'and left the building soon after'.

'Congratulations to Patrick Dybell who will take on the crucial role of chief of staff,' an email to all staff from Sydney News Director Neil Warren read.

'I'd like to thank outgoing chief of staff Andrew Frampton for his many years of loyal service with 7News.

'Andrew's departure comes as we restructure into a digital first newsroom and it was entirely amicable and on good terms.

'We wish him all the best in his next endeavour, which we're sure he'll excel at.'
Thousands of fans who sent money to Roxy Jacenko's failed business venture, for the chance to win a $10million house, have just hours to claim a refund or miss out.

The PR maven, 44, provided entrants with a seven day window to apply for a refund, which began on Sunday and expires at midnight on Saturday June 15.

If people do not visit Jacenko's website in that time frame they risk permanently losing any money they put down to be entered into the '$10m house giveaway'.

Jacenko shared a video to Instagram in which she issued a stern clapback to critics, who claimed she was behaving in an underhanded manner.

'I'm now processing refunds from my personal bank account. As you know, I entered into a partnership with two others, which was a dismal f**king failure,' she began.

Thousands of fans who sent money to Roxy Jacenko's (pictured) failed business venture, for the chance to wins a $10million house, have just hours to claim a refund or miss out

'If you're an honourable person, you put your hand in your pocket and refund people, which is what I am doing commencing this week. Refunds remain open until today.'

The blonde bombshell added she believed her refund window was more than generous, as she was not even required to offer it.

'One thing about the refund window, you don't go to Woolworths and buy Nutri-Grain and then in three months time suggest they should take it back and swap it or give you a full refund,' Roxy added.

The PR maven, 44, provided entrants with a seven day window to apply for a refund, which began on Sunday and expires at midnight on Saturday June 15. Pictured with former business partners Youssef Tleis and Kassim Alaouie

'A seven-day window is not an unusual offer, it is not even something I had to do. I chose to refund those who applied from my own pocket,' she said.

Jacenko then said she was bearing the full costs of the refunds herself, as her former business partners Youssef Tleis and Kassim Alaouie had not committed to it.

The promotion, which Roxy had launched with business partners Youssef Tleis and Kassim Alaouie, included a number of prizes, including a luxury Cronulla home.

Jacenko shared a video to Instagram in which she issued a stern clapback to critics, who claimed she was behaving in an underhanded manner

Entrants paid between $29 and $499 for a chance to win the extravagant prizes, but faced uncertainty after Roxy called in liquidators to the trio's ailing company, Roxy's Bootcamp Pty Ltd.

In a joint statement released on social media, Youssef and Kassim apologised to those affected: 'Our primary concern has always been you, the public, especially those who participated and purchased an entry into this promotion,' they stated.

'We sincerely apologise to you all. We fought as hard as we could and were even willing to give personal undertakings to support our fight,' the pair added.

The publicist made headlines last month when she promised to personally refund all 7,000 people who had signed up to her online business course. The promotion included a number of prizes, including this luxury Sydney home

'We want to express our deepest regret for entering into this partnership with Ms Jacenko. It has been an incredibly challenging and eye-opening experience. We sincerely apologise,' the pair added.

Roxy also posted a statement for fans, reiterating that she regretted entering into the partnership.

'In life, we can all make mistakes. We are only human. This "partnership" was a mistake and is a life lesson. I want to make it clear that I never did anything other than act in the interest of the consumers who purchased the course to try and deliver,' she wrote.

'It became apparent this wasn't going to end well and so l had to seek a court injunction in the Supreme Court of NSW which was granted on June 5, 2024.'

Prior to this legal action, Roxy revealed she took proactive steps to settle outstanding bills and ensure the $250K prize fund's integrity for the eventual winner.
Kim Kardashian made a fashion statement while out and about in Calabasas on Friday.

The television personality, 43, showed off her toned curves in a grey tracksuit with a fitting crop top and matching joggers, flaunting a glimpse of her midriff.

The media personality enjoyed some shopping at Erewhon alongside an unknown female pal, as she sipped on a smoothie.

Kim caught the eye adding a maxi yellow fluffy shoulder bag and flashed a beam while making her way to the car.

The star took the next step in her business endeavor and opened her very first permanent SKIMS store on Thursday.

Kim Kardashian made a fashion statement while out and about in Calabasas on Friday

The socialite, 43, showed off her toned curves in a grey tracksuit with a fitting crop tank and matching joggers

The reality alum  who recently opened up about daughter North's 'ridiculous dances' she 'forces' her to perform on TikTok  welcomed shoppers to her brand's stand alone store in Georgetown, Washington DC.

She took to Instagram to announce the store's grand opening and give her 362million followers a glimpse of the of the interior.

According to WWD, the brand will roll out an additional four brick-and-mortar locations in Aventura, Florida; Austin and Houston, Texas; and Atlanta, Georgia.

The location was decorated in minimalistic style and had a nude theme throughout the store.

On the walls, campaign images of Kardashian and other models sporting shapewear from her collection were on display.

Prior to this permanent addition, SKIMS was only available for purchase online, through pop-up locations, or via third party in-store retailers.

The announcement made fans go wild, racking up over 107k likes and 841 comments as many took to the comments to pen their support.

One top commenter wrote, 'Congratulations Kim... good job,' while various other fans requested the internet starlet open other locations.

The media personality enjoyed some shopping at Erewhon as she sipped on a smoothie

She flaunted a glimpse of her toned midriff

Kim was snapped enjoying the company of a female pal

The reality favourite ensured to catch the eye with her maxi yellow fluffy shoulder bag

Kim cut a very casuaul figure as she added grey slippers to her look

Kim was seen getting into her luxury car

The star took the next step in her business endeavor and opened her very first permanent SKIMS store on Thursday

She took to Instagram to announce the store's grand opening and give her 362million followers a glimpse of the of the interior

The brand, which was recently valued at $4 billion, initially sold shapewear before branching out into loungewear, swimwear, and most recently, menswear

'Open the Miami one!' one customer said. 'Vegas location pleaseeeeeeee,' another chimed in.

Back in 2019, the businesswoman joined forces with Swedish entrepreneur Jens Grede to found the successful company.

The brand, which was recently valued at $4 billion, initially sold shapewear before branching out into loungewear, swimwear, and most recently, menswear.

SKIMS has a focus on body positivity and inclusivity across the brand and practice inclusive sizing.

Back in 2020, a year after being in business, the ex-wife of Kanye West opened up to Bazaar about what inspired her to start the company.

'When I said I wanted seamless shapewear, everyone looked and thought that I was crazy. The thing that always bothered me [with other brands] was that there would be a seam up the front,' she explained.

'You would have this really tight dress and then see this seam, defeating the purpose of wearing something that is supposed to look like there is nothing underneath. Im all about comfort and glamour at the same time.

'I always think you can do it all, so why not have everything that you need as far as your products?' the mum-of-four finished.
Anna Paul is Australia's biggest TikTok star and she has the fanbase to prove it.

The social media sensation, who boats over 7 million followers on the platform, delighted her followers with an appearance at a Gold Coast mall on Saturday.

The 25-year-old, who was promoting her skincare brand Paulie, took the sage at Pacific Fair while fans lined up for hours to get a selfie with her.

One by one, giggling admirers joined Anna to get their photos as she threw peace sign and struck poses alongside them.

Anna was on trend in a in denim corset with ribbon details on the thin straps paired with matching bell bottom trousers.

Anna Paul (pictured) is Australia's biggest TikTok star and she has the fanbase to prove it

The social media sensation, who boats over 7 million followers on the platform, delighted her followers with an appearance at a Gold Coast mall on Saturday

The 25-year-old, who was promoting her skincare brand Paulie, took the sage at Pacific Fair

She added a pair of studded heels and a number of gold accessories including rings and an ornate key necklace.

The social media star opted for a clean makeup look that included a pink lip gloss and rosy blush.

She wore her dark brown locks in soft curls and finished her look with hoop earrings and a bracelet.

Anna looked absolutely delighted as she met her fans, before posing for several selfies of her own.

Fans lined up for hours to get a selfie with her

One by one, giggling admirers joined Anna to get their photos

Anna as she threw peace sign and struck poses alongside her followers

She was clearly having as much fun as her fans

She was also busy posing for several selfies of her own

Anna was on trend in a in denim corset with ribbon details on the thin straps

The social media star opted for a clean makeup look that included a pink lip gloss and rosy blush

She added a pair of studded heels and a number of gold accessories including rings and an ornate key necklace

It comes after Anna posted to social media to reveal the shocking reason she is planning to move from her gated community on the Gold Coast.

The star shared a photo to Instagram which captured her sitting down with an iced tea, and wrote it was time to 'spill the tea' on why she was relocating.

'I'm keen to move because even though I'm in a gated community for safety. People in the community have found my house!' she began.

Paul added that the relentless presence of people bothering her at home had forced her to search for a more secluded residence.

She paired he corset with matching bell bottom trousers

The star wore her dark brown locks in soft curls and finished her look with hoop earrings and a bracelet

It comes after Anna posted to social media to reveal the shocking reason she is planning to move from her gated community on the Gold Coast

She shared a photo to Instagram which captured her sitting down with an iced tea, and wrote it was time to 'spill the tea' on why she was relocating

'I'm keen to move because even though I'm in a gated community for safety. People in the community have found my house!' she said

'Every day there are people taking photos of my house and knocking on my door and asking for pictures in my driveway.

'I get followed on my way home. People only turn around at the community gate when they can't get in.'

Known by her fans as 'Australia's Kim Kardashian', Anna boasts a whopping seven million combined followers on TikTok and Instagram.

The brunette bombshell found fame on TikTok by sharing lip-sync videos and vlogs documenting her life.

She then moved into a lucrative career posting content on adult subscription-based sites.

While Anna has claimed she grew up poor, the online star now leads a lavish lifestyle envied by many and boasts a reported net work of over $10million.

Anna, who split from her partner of eight years Glen Thomson last year, last month enjoyed a relaxing holiday in Europe with her rumoured new boyfriend Aymeric Urbain.
Simone Ashley put on a leggy display as she attended a photocall during the Monte-Carlo Television Festival in Monaco on Saturday.

The Bridgerton star, 29, looked incredible in a white sleeveless mini dress with a high collar and sheer detail.

The garment also featured a pleated hemline while Simone added height to her frame with a pair of matching heels.

Styling her locks into loose curls, the actress added to her look with a pair of gold hoop earrings.

Looking in good spirits as she posed for the camera, Simone completed her look with a light palette of makeup.

Simone Ashley put on a leggy display as she attended a photocall during the Monte-Carlo Television Festival in Monaco on Saturday

The Bridgerton star, 29, looked incredible in a white sleeveless mini dress with a high collar and sheer detail

Styling her locks into loose curls, the actress added to her look with a pair of gold hoop earrings

Simone plays Kate Bridgerton on the Netflix period drama and prior to that, was best known for her role as Olivia Hanan on Sex Education.

Bridgerton series three Part 2 dropped on Netflix on Thursday and picked up right where fans left Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan).

Kate Bridgerton (Simone) and her husband Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey), who led series two, featured frequently.

Though Part 2 featured a six-minute sex scene, some fans were still left unimpressed.

Fans were cast back to the very first series when Nicola, 37, stripped fully nude in front of her soon-to-be husband.

But they will be left disappointed as they watch on and discover that there's not much more to come.

And while Variety's Aramide Timudu called the scene of the 'sexiest things seen on television since Bridgerton series one', the Evening Standard's Vicky Jessop felt the highly anticipated regency romp left a little to be desired.

'Steamy this is not,' she said. 'Watching it feels like seeing two teenagers fumbling their way through an awkward clinch.'

Critics' opinions on part two were largely restricted to episode five and six, as Netflix guarded the final two for its main drop on Thursday.

Vicky gave part two a damning two-star review, as she asked: 'Is Bridgerton losing its touch?'

Simone plays Kate Bridgerton on the Netflix period drama (pictured) and prior to that, was best known for her role as Olivia Hanan on Sex Education
Matt Poole enjoyed birthday outing with his toddler daughter on Saturday.

The former athlete was joined by family and friends, as well as new girlfriend Annelyse Oatway, as he celebrated daughter Posy's second birthday.

The group gathered at a park in Burleigh Heads, Queensland, enjoying a picnic by a playground.

Not at the party was the tot's mother, Matt's ex Tammy Hembrow, who held her own party for the toddler at her home earlier in the day.

Matt and Annelyse brought a stack of pizzas to the seaside park, while friends brought bags of food and drinks.

Matt Poole (right) enjoyed birthday outing with his toddler daughter on Saturday. The former athlete was joined by family and friends, as well as new girlfriend Annelyse Oatway (left)

The couple united as they celebrated daughter Posy's second birthday at a park in Burleigh Heads, Queensland, enjoying a picnic by a playground

Annelyse could be seen sitting on a blanket with the toddler as the group enjoyed their meal

Annelyse could be seen sitting on a blanket with the toddler as the group enjoyed their meal.

The adults then enjoyed some grown up beverages, with Annelyse and Matt sharing a sweet moment of affection.

Tammy meanwhile shared a series of video to Instagram Stories showing her own party for Posy.

Held at her waterside mansion, Tammy cooked up a storm for a group of children, serving cake and pastries.

Matt and Annelyse brought a stack of pizzas to the seaside park, while friends brought bags of food and drinks, with Annelyse hand-feeding Posy

The adults then enjoyed some grown up beverages

Annelyse and Matt shared a sweet moment of affection

The former Ironman was spotted jetting out of Gold Coast Airport last month with girlfriend Annelyse - it was the first time the pair had gone public with their romance

The couple stopped to have a chat as Posy enjoyed her pizza

It comes after news that Matt has moved on with a new woman almost two years after his split from Tammy.

The former Ironman was spotted jetting out of Gold Coast Airport last month with girlfriend Annelyse and his daughter Posy to celebrate his birthday.

Matt looked smitten as he walked alongside his new love, who carried his baby girl.

Annelyse, who has over 10,000 Instagram followers, is very private online and little is known about her.

Matt played with his daughter who ran around barefoot

A family friend carried the toddler, who was dressed in a sweet cream frock

She is originally from the Gold Coast, Queensland.

Matt announced his split from his former fiancee Tammy, who he shares Posy with, in December 2022 and was most recently linked to Bella Cicero.

Meanwhile, Tammy was recently enjoying a getaway in Greece with her new fiance Matt Zukowski.

The Love Island star proposed to the fitness influencer in December last year during a holiday in the Maldives.

Not at the party was the tot's mother, Matt's ex Tammy Hembrow (pictured)

Tammy held her own party for the toddler at her home earlier in the day

Held at her waterside mansion, Tammy cooked up a storm for a group of children, serving cake and pastries

She shared a series of videos to Instagram Stories showing her own party for Posy

Tammy and Matt had only been dating three months before they took their romance to the next step.

The pair are set to tie the knot in November in Byron Bay.

The couple have also requested the ceremony and wedding reception to remain 'child free', despite the fact Tammy has three young kids - son Wolf, nine, and daughters Saskia, seven, and Posey, two.

Tammy has been engaged two times before. Her first time was with fellow influencer Reece Hawkins.

In November 2021, the fitness guru became engaged to restaurateur and former Ironman Matt.

The pair welcomed their daughter together in June 2022, but split that same year in December.
James Norton was hailed 'a true inspiration' as he educated children about living with diabetes in a CBeebies Bedtime Story, which aired on Friday.

The Happy Valley star, 38, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes aged 22, read the book How to Manage a Mammoth by Dr Rose Stewart to help families explore what it's like living with it.

James lived up to his heartthrob status as he read allowed to viewers, joined by his teddy bear who wore a glucose monitor.

Introducing the story, James said: 'Hello, my name is James. This story is slightly different. It focuses on Type 1 diabetes.

James Norton was hailed 'a true inspiration' as he educated children about living with diabetes in a CBeebies Bedtime Story, which aired on Friday

The Happy Valley star, 38, who lives with type 1 diabetes himself, is seen helping children to learn about the illness as he read How to Manage a Mammoth

'I am a diabetic myself. To thos parents who have diabetes. Hello, respect. I hope those levels are behaving.

'To those parents who have a diabetic child, perhaps recently diagnosed, I feel your anxiety and confusion. It's a lot.

'So give yourselves a break and a pat on the back. It will get easier.'

Fans flooded a clip of actor on the channel's official Instagram page, saying: 'There is not a better advocate than James Norton.'

'There is not a better advocate than @jginorton to encourage, support and raise awareness in such a positive way'; 'When I didn't think I could love @jginorton anymore... THIS...';

'I could not love this message more and it will help so many parents of t1 children. I wish I had seen it when my daughter was first diagnosed 7 years ago. Enormous respect for James and everyone who got this onto Bedtime stories'; 'Love this man!! He is an inspiration to all us type 1 diabetics. Ive had this condition for 31 years and absolutely 100% agree with James. I control the diabetes; it does not control me!!'

'My husband was diagnosed with t1 diabetes when our boys were little, this would have been so lovely for them to see. Thankyou @jginorton for raising awareness for anyone with t1  and to Dr Rose Stewart. X'; 'As the Mum of a 14yr old T1D THIS is exactly what I tell him "you're in charge, you get to decide whats what..not diabetes" will be showing this to him and his little brother Well done @jginorton #for continuing to raise awareness';

'Thank you for reaching out and sharing your story, my daughter has T1D and has not let that stop her doing anything. Shes just had a baby and her pregnancy was not easy because of diabetes but had amazing support from @nhstayside'; 'The best positive message to give anyone dealing with type 1. Need to hear far more positive messages like this so well done James & thank you';

Fans were in awe of the actor and rushed to share heartfelt comments, praising him for spreading positive awareness towards both parents and children and called him a 'true inspiration'

In the bedtime story, 8-year-old Jake is learning to live with his diabetes which he imagines is a mammoth called Mel

One way the actor is trying to teach children how to accept and manage diabetes is by cuddling a teddy bear with a continuous glucose monitor on it

'Truly truly wonderful what James is doing. He is SO helpful to everyone with Diabetes. Much much respect to him too. I do not have the condition myself, thankfully, but know if several people who do. It must be very worrying, frustrating and confusing. Wish everyone, adults, children much strength.'

CBeebies Bedtime Story has seen a host of Hollywood stars settle down and read a children's book.

One way the actor is trying to teach children how to accept and manage diabetes is by cuddling a teddy bear with a continuous glucose monitor on it.

In the bedtime story, eight-year-old Jake is learning to live with his diabetes which he imagines is a mammoth called Mel.

What are the different types of diabetes? Cluster 1: Severe autoimmune diabetes, or type one diabetes, people stop producing insulin. Cluster 2: Severe insulin-deficient diabetes affects young people with high blood sugar, low insulin production and moderate insulin resistance. Cluster 3: Severe insulin-resistant diabetes is mostly linked to obesity. Cluster 4: Mild obesity-related diabetes  affects obese patients but is less serious. Cluster 5: Mild age-related diabetes is the biggest group, mostly elderly patients. Advertisement

Jake and his mum join forces with their friends to work out how to shrink Mel the diabetes mammoth to a manageable size.

James said: 'My diabetes animal is a big shaggy dog called Bruce. When I first got Bruce, he was a puppy.

'He was difficult to control because he was always overexcited. Now, he's a bit older and calmer.

'He still gets scared when someone's at the door or hes hungry. And then he barks very loudly. Or when he gets excited, he still runs around and knocks things over.

'But generally he strolls along by my side. Bruce is my pal. I'm pleased to say that today Bruce is under control and very calm, which makes me feel very happy and relaxed.'

The Happy Valley actor opened up about the struggles he faces living with diabetes last December with Lampoon Magazine.

The Type 1 diabetic told how he struggled to hide his diabetes sensor during naked scenes in the controversial play A Little Life which he starred in earlier this year.

James wears a Dexcom sensor, which monitors glucose in the blood, and has told how it was hard to cover it up when he was taking part in the naked scenes.

He said: 'As an actor, I have to cover the sensor up every night, I have my microphone packed on the arm as well.

'I spend some of the play completely naked  usually you'd have a microphone pack around your belt but since I'm naked it goes on the arm. Microphone on one arm, the sensor on the other - it's quite sweet, the sound guy has now called it my puck.

The star told how the condition can be a 'complete b***h' and 'life threatening' as he called for people to 'show support' for all 'diabetic warriors'

In 2022 James shared an impassioned post to his Instagram to raise awareness for World Diabetes Day

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR DIABETES PATIENTS TO MEASURE THEIR GLUCOSE LEVELS? Diabetes is a serious life-long condition that occurs when the amount of sugar in the blood is too high because the body can't use it properly. Patients have to regular monitor their glucose levels to prevent them from developing any potentially fatal complications. Type 1 diabetes patients are often recommended to test their blood sugar at least four times a day. For type 2 patients, doctors advise to test twice a day. Blood glucose levels should be between the ranges of 3.55.5mmol/L before meals and less than 8mmol/L, two hours after meals. Diabetes patients have to regular monitor their glucose levels to prevent them from developing any potentially fatal complications Hypoglycemia (when blood sugar drops below 4 mmol/L) can occasionally lead to patients falling into comas in severe cases. However, it most often can be treated through eating or drinking 15-20g of fast acting carbohydrate, such 200ml of Lucozade Energy Original. Sufferers can tell they are experiencing a hypo when they suddenly feel tired, have difficulty concentrating or feel dizzy. Type 1 diabetes patients are more likely to experience a hypo, because of the medications they take, including insulin. Hyperglycemia (when blood sugar is above 11.0 mmol/L two hours after a meal) can also have life-threatening complications. It happens when the body either has too little insulin, seen in type 1, or it can't use its supply properly, most often in type 2. In the short-term, it can lead to conditions including ketoacidosis - which causes ketones to be released into the body. If left untreated, hyperglycemia can lead to long-term complications, such as impotence and amputations of limbs. Regular exercise can help to lower blood sugar levels over time, and following a healthy diet and proper meal planning can also avoid dangerous spikes. Advertisement

'I never called it a puck before. They cover that with a skin-colored bandage and so I look like an action man with straps on.'

He further opened up about the condition saying when 'low glucose is coming' he gets bad anxiety and feels an 'existential dread', saying it can even make him feel like 'life is not worth living'.
Olympic great Liesel Jones stunned her fans last year when she announced during her Triple M radio show that her marriage had ended.

And now the 35-year-old swimming champ has revealed intimate details of why she went public with her split from her husband of five years Damon Martin.

The beloved athlete said she made the courageous decision to expose her private life because she wanted to control her own story.

And as a public figure she did not want to be forced to 'lie' about the split.

Liesel made the frank admission during an interview on the latest episode of Stellar Magazine's Something to Talk About podcast.

Olympic swimming great Liesel Jones has revealed intimate details of why she went public with her split from her husband of five years Damon Martin in a new interview with Something to Talk About podcast. Pictured: Liesel has posed for the latest edition of Stellar Magazine

'I made sure I asked Damo [Martin] first, before revealing the news,' she explained during her chat.

She continued: 'This was a little bit of time down the track; we had healed a bit. I wasn't going to share information that he wasn't comfortable with, and if he had said "no" then I would have respected that.

'But also, I didn't want to be lying. It was going to come out sometime, and getting in front of it I was able to control the story and how I told it. It wasn't a bitter divorce.'

During the interview she paid tribute to her ex as supportive.

Liesel stunned her fans last year when she announced during her Triple M radio show that her marriage had ended. Pictured: Liesel with Damon Martin in 2018

Liesel rose to fame as an Olympic swimmer at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Pictured: Liesel hold her Gold Medal for the 100m Breaststroke she won during the Beijing Olympics in 2008

'I'm in the public eye and people ask questions and it meant then I could move forward, that I could be open and honest about dating journeys' she said.

'Imagine if someone saw that I was on Bumble and they were like, "Hang on, aren't you married?"'

In the latest edition of Stellar, the Olympic Gold Medal champ looks glamorous in the magazine as she poses in a blue denim skirt with matching matching shirt.

It comes after Leisel opened up about her dating life and her experience with matchmaking apps during her radio show last month.

Leisel confirmed that she is back on the dating scene and recently lowered her age bracket on matchmaking app Bumble.

Leisel and Martin were married at the luxurious Peppers resort in the NSW country town of Bowral in August 2018, with the ceremony coming less than a year after they got engaged

On Triple M's The Rush Hour with Leisel Jones, Liam & Dobbo, she explained how she has secured 50 new matches since changing her age range from 35-45 to 25-35.

'I just changed it yesterday, I already had 50 new people, 50 new matches in that age group,' she revealed.

'The dating pool is very difficult it's very hard to go though people of my age.'

'I've gone from the big deep end in the big pool to the little kids pool!' she joked.

It comes after Leisel announced the 'incredibly sad' news that she split from her husband of five years, Damon last year.

Speaking on her Triple M radio show in November, she told listeners they had called it quits after 'realising we're better off going separate ways'.

'We have separated. It's incredibly sad news,' she shared at the time in an emotional announcement.'

Leisel and Martin were married at the luxurious Peppers resort in the NSW country town of Bowral in August 2018, with the ceremony coming less than a year after they got engaged.

'I can't cook my chops as well as Damo used to do, and I miss that,' she went on.

'I'm conscious I am 38, I am now single, and I don't have any children and I might have missed that window, so that's a little frightening.

'It's a really big adjustment to do things on your own. Damo is a such a wonderful guy, a great guy. We are both extremely heartbroken.'
The Chinese government has released a set of guidelines on accelerating the development of elderly care services in rural areas, representing a comprehensive and systematic national plan in this regard, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

The guidelines set targets that should be met by 2025. The rural elderly care service network should be further improved. The overall coverage rate of elderly care service centers at the township level should be no less than 60 percent.

China's population aged 60 and above has exceeded 296 million, new data showed. The country's large elderly base and rapidly aging population have led to growing demand for elderly care.

Elderly care services in China's rural areas are facing more urgent needs and problems are more prominent than those in urban areas. The proportion of elderly people aged 60 and above in rural areas is 23.81 percent, 7.99 percentage points higher than that for urban residents.

China has 16,000 rural elderly care nursing homes that collectively provide over 1.68 million beds. It owns around 145,000 mutual-aid elderly care facilities in rural areas, but the convenience and accessibility of these facilities need to be improved, according to the ministry.

State-owned and private enterprises are encouraged to operate elderly care service facilities in rural areas, per the guidelines.

In January, the State Council issued a document on promoting the development of the silver economy, proposing measures in areas such as food, housing, transportation, elderly care and elderly health management.
Mitch Edwards ensured all eyes were on him as he attended the opening night of musical Chicago in Sydney on Friday.

The Block star and his partner, Mark McKie, known as the show's 'glamorous grandads' showed off their fit forms, looking much younger than their years.

The 60-year-old Mitch went all out, striking a pose on the red carpet at the Capitol Theatre in a pair of fitted lace budgie smugglers.

He wore the racy underwear under sheer trousers, paired with a pair of pointed, high-heeled leather boots.

Mitch added to the ensemble with a see-through black shirt worn partially unbuttoned.

Mitch Edwards (left) ensured all eyes were on him as he attended the opening night of musical Chicago in Sydney on Friday. The Block star and his partner, Mark McKie (left), known as the show's 'glamorous grandads' showed off their fit forms, looking much younger than their years

The look was completed with a black bracelet and a pair of reading glasses, his blonde locks slicked off his face.

Mark also made an entrance, opting for a black muscle tank that flaunted his toned arms.

The 61-year-old added a pair of patent leather boots and tight black trousers in a satin fabric.

Mitch and Mark, who have renovated 20 houses in 20 years, first rose to fame after winning The Block in 2021.

The 60-year-old Mitch went all out, striking a pose on the red carpet at the Capitol Theatre in a pair of fitted lace budgie smugglers. He wore the racy underwear under sheer trousers, paired with a pair of pointed, high-heeled leather boots

Mitch and Mark, who have renovated 20 houses in 20 years, first rose to fame after winning The Block in 2021

The pair pocketed $744,000 on auction day in the 2021 season, and went on to blast the show's judges in a blistering radio interview.

They said Darren Palmer, Neale Whitaker and Shaynna Blaze weren't qualified to estimate how much a home will sell for at auction.

They asked for a 'real estate expert' to be hired for the 2022 season.

The Sydney couple hosted Channel 10's Location, Location, Location in 2023.

Earlier this month, the couple listed their stunning Potts Point investment property.

The one bedroom one bathroom apartment is expected to fetch $1.05m ahead of its June 18 auction.

The pair purchased the 65sqm unit for $680,000 in 2015.
Gwyneth Paltrow shared a new photo from her son Moses' high school graduation after admitting to having a 'nervous breakdown' over becoming a empty nester.

Less than a month after watching her youngest child, 18, receive his diploma, alongside her ex-husband, Chris Martin, the proud mom, 51, shared a never-before-seen picture with her teenager, who will be attending Brown University in the fall.

While doing a Q&A session on her Instagram Story on Friday, the Oscar winner opted to share a sweet snap of herself giving Moses a kiss on the cheek when asked to post the 'last picture' of her and her children from her camera roll.

Although not featured in her latest post from the ceremony, Martin, 47, and the former couple's daughter, Apple, 20, also attended Moses' graduation.

She and the Coldplay frontman got married in 2003 and separated in 2014, in what the Shakespeare in Love actress famously described as a 'conscious uncoupling.'

Gwyneth Paltrow shared a new photo from her son Moses' high school graduation after admitting to having a 'nervous breakdown' over becoming a empty nester

They have since both found love elsewhere - Gwyneth in her marriage to Glee co-creator Brad Falchuk, and Chris with Fifty Shades Of Grey star Dakota Johnson.

However, throughout their years apart, Chris and Gwyneth have remained friendly co-parents to their two children.

In April, Gwyneth admitted to her mounting anxiety over the prospect of becoming an empty nester.

Moses, her youngest child, is headed off to Brown University in Rhode Island - across the country from what Gwyneth has called her 'forever house' in Montecito.

'Its kind of giving me a nervous breakdown, if Im honest,' she confessed at an event for her wellness brand Goop, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

'I started being like: "Oh my God, and I need to quit my job and I need to sell my house and I need to move." Its sort of putting things into turmoil,' she said.

'My identity has been being a mother. Apples going to be 20 in May. So Ive oriented my whole life around them and their schedules and when school starts.'

She explained: 'You start to let go in increments when theyre driving themselves around or doing certain things. It is a slower process.'

Less than a month after watching her youngest child, 18, receive his diploma , alongside her ex-husband, Chris Martin , the proud mom, 51, shared a never-before-seen picture with her teenager, who will be attending Brown University in the fall

Last month, Gwyneth gushed over her son when she wished him a happy 18th birthday, hailing his 'sensitivity and brilliance and quiet humor'

Gwyneth added: 'I feel really lucky because I have a close group of mom friends and we all raised our kids alongside one another. So were kind of in it together.'

When she and Chris first split in 2014, she inspired widespread mockery by referring to their separation as a 'conscious uncoupling.'

However in the intervening years, the exes have drawn plaudits for how harmoniously they have brought up their children in spite of their divorce.

Gwyneth recently shared how important it was to her and Chris to have an amicable co-parenting relationship for Apple and Moses' sake.

She explained that she and Chris 'both really did not want to have them experience the divorce as a trauma,' in a cover interview with Bustle.

Moses, her youngest child, is headed off to Brown University in Rhode Island - across the country from what Gwyneth has called her 'forever house' in Montecito

'Its kind of giving me a nervous breakdown, if Im honest,' she confessed at an event for her wellness brand Goop, according to The Hollywood Reporter

Gwyneth added: 'I feel really lucky because I have a close group of mom friends and we all raised our kids alongside one another'

'We knew that it would be hard, of course, but we didnt want them to ever feel in the middle, or that one of us was slagging off the other one.'

The wellness mogul disclosed: 'At that time, I did a very me thing, which was when I knew I wanted to get a divorce, I did this data collection of talking to adults who had been products of a broken home.'

She revealed: 'Every single one of them said: "I didnt care that my parents got divorced. That wasnt it. But the fact that they wouldnt speak to each other, that they couldnt both sit at a dinner table for my birthday"

'They said that was the most awful thing. You could see they held it with so much hurt and anger. I was like: "Thats what Im never going to do." And we really didnt.'
Ashley Roberts set pulses racing in a plunging gold sequinned dress as she headed to a swanky pre-London Pride party at The Standard Hotel on Friday.

The Heart Radio presenter, 42, looked stunning in the sparkly dress as she made her way into the venue.

Ashley's dress was adorned with delicate gold sequins, and the look highlighted every inch of her incredible figure.

She carried her essentials in an off-white Miu Miu mini saddle bag and finished her look with gold heeled sandals.

The former Pussycat Dolls star went braless in a figure-hugging grey dress on Thursday as she left work at Global Radio.

Ashley Roberts, 42, set pulses racing in a plunging gold sequinned dress as she headed to a swanky pre-London Pride party at The Standard Hotel on Friday

The Heart Radio presenter looked stunning in the sparkly dress as she made her way into the venue

Ashley's dress was adorned with delicate gold sequins, and the look highlighted every inch of her incredible figure

This week on Heart FM, Davina McCall stepped in for Amanda Holden, and has joined co-host Jamie Theakston while the Britain's Got Talent judge is on holiday.

Davina said of her new role: 'Im so excited to be stepping in for Amanda to guest host Heart Breakfast.

'Ive known Jamie for forever so this isnt going to be like work, more like a two week playdate! I love listening to Heart, on the train, at home, anywhere really!

'I cant wait to get into the Heart studios and play all the best feel-good music for you all!'

Amanda will return to Heart Breakfast on Monday, June 24.

It comes after Ashley enjoyed a lavish break in Turkey with her tattoo artist boyfriend George Rollinson.

Ashley and George, 25, publicly enjoyed a 300-a-night stay at D-Resort Gocek after previously hiding their relationship.

Despite being together for the best part of a year, the couple did not go Instagram official till April.

She carried her essentials in an off-white Miu Miu mini saddle bag and finished her look with gold heeled sandals

It came after Ashley enjoyed a lavish break in Turkey with her tattoo artist boyfriend George Rollinson, 25

They travelled to the Chipping Norton retreat for some down time, during which they shared their first photo as a couple.

Ashley and George enjoyed a trip to Miami at the end of 2023 but made sure not to be photographed together.

He is Ashley's first serious partner since her separation from Strictly Come Dancing professional Giovanni Pernice in 2020.

Pride In London 2024 takes place on June 29.
Doctor Who fans made a hilarious parallel between Susan 'Sue' Triad and Theresa May during Saturday's episode of the sci-fi series.

A scene in the latest episode, titled The Legend Of Ruby Sunday saw Sue, played by Susan Twist, take to the stage and perform a whacky jig.

Fans were quick to note its similarity to Theresa's robotic dancing back in 2018, on stage for her keynote speech at the Conservative Party annual conference.

The seventh episode of the fourteenth series saw tech billionaire Sue plan to release free software to the world through her company Triad Technology, but in a shocking twist it was revealed that the villainous Sutekh was the true mastermind.

Tickled fans ran to X, formerly Twitter, and wrote: '#DoctorWho #DoctorWhoSpoilers I know a reference when I see it!';

Doctor Who fans made a hilarious parallel between Susan 'Sue' Triad and Theresa May, 67, during Saturday's episode of the sci-fi series

Susan's whacky moves reminded fans of Theresa's robot dancing back in 2018, on stage for her keynote speech at the Conservative Party annual conference

'In a dramatic twist, the main villain of the series is... Theresa May. #DoctorWho';

'This was inspired by the Theresa May dance and you can not convince me otherwise #DoctorWho';

'The Theresa May dancing from Susan Triad! #DoctorWho #TheLegendofRubySunday';

'Why did Susan do the Theresa May dance on the stage? I enjoyed it, just unexpected and I cant make a connection #DoctorWho';

'Watching #DoctorWho with audio description and love that it actually says: Susan breaks into a mock Theresa May dance.';

'Just watched Doctor Who. Theresa May was in it!'

'You know, I always thought it was weird Theresa May seemed to act in a way that contradicted what a reasonable person would do, so it all makes sense now: she was being controlled by Sutekh! #DoctorWho';

Iconic villain Sutekh was last seen in series 13 of the original series back in 1975, and he made a shock return in Saturday's cliffhanger.

Tickled fans ran to X, formerly Twitter, to joke about the politician's surprise appearance in the episode

Iconic villain Sutekh, also called Sutekh The Destroyer, was last seen in series 13 of the original series back in 1975

The Legend Of Ruby Sunday ended on a cliffhanger with The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa), Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson), and UNIT all at the mercy of Sutekh

The self-described 'god of all gods' originally faced off against Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker) and his companion Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen).

As for Sue, The Doctor and UNIT both suspected this mysterious woman might actually be The Doctor's granddaughter Susan, but it turned out to be a giant trap. However, it was confirmed she was in some way related to Sutekh.

The Legend Of Ruby Sunday ended on a cliffhanger with The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa), Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson), and UNIT all at the mercy of Sutekh after the monster managed to attach itself to the 'fabric' of the TARDIS and travel back through time.

Doctor Who airs Saturdays on BBC One at 6.30pm and is available on BBC iPlayer and Disney+ from midnight.
Sam Thompson has admitted that he was 'never really himself' on Made In Chelsea due to his ADHD struggles as he shared how his diagnosis impacts his relationship with girlfriend Zara McDermott.

In an interview with TikTok star Holly Morris, during an Inside Out 2 press junket, the reality star, 31, was asked when he stopped masking and began acting as his true self.

Sam answered: 'When I was on Made In Chelsea, a lot of the time I wasn't even really, really myself, I was who I thought I should be. 'Cause everyone else was doing these things, I was like: "I should be doing these things."

'Only in the past couple of years have I been fully, fully me. I am not super Mr. Happy Golden Retriever every single day.

The 2023 King Of The Jungle also opened up about how his ADHD affects his relationship with documentary maker Zara, 27, after landing a brief role in the Disney Pixar film.

Sam Thompson has admitted that he was 'never really himself' on Made In Chelsea due to his ADHD struggles as he shared how his diagnosis impacts his relationship with Zara McDermott

In an interview with TikTok star Holly Morris (bottom), during an Inside Out 2 press junket the reality star was asked when he stopped masking and began acting as his true self

Sam answered: 'When I was on Made In Chelsea, a lot of the time I wasn't even really, really myself, I was who I thought I should be. 'Cause everyone else was doing these things, I was like: "I should be doing these things"

Sam told Holly: 'I've got home me, which is with Zara, which, actually, poor girl, literally sometimes I won't speak for like an hour.

'Why? 'Cause, you're like: "My social battery's completely dead." But then there's like excitable me which is like through the roof up there.'

He added: 'I get that to the point where I will sometimes talk to myself over when they're talking to me.

'So, when Zara's talking to me, she'll be telling me a story about her day, and I'm like, "All right, this is it. This the moment where you need to be a good boyfriend. This is the crux. She wants to feel heard.

'So, I'll be like: OK, go! "How was your day?" And she'll tell me about her day, and my mind goes: "I don't know what she just said."'

Sam and Zara began dating in 2019, but broke up when Sam discovered she had been cheating on him.

While Sam was initially hesitant, the two patched things up and have been going strong ever since.

Sam was diagnosed with ADHD, Tic syndrome, and autism in 2023.

He continued: 'Only in the past couple of years have I been fully, fully me. I am not super Mr. Happy Golden Retriever every single day

The 2023 King Of The Jungle also opened up about how his ADHD affects his relationship with documentary maker Zara, 27 (both pictured in June)

In an April interview with a young boy on his radio show, Sam said of ADHD: 'I think it's a complete and utter superpower'.

'I think that you are creative, you hyper-fixate on things you enjoy and you absolutely love.

'I think a massive thing Thomas, and this is probably the best advice I can give you, is find something that you absolutely adore, and put all of that ADHD into it cause you will succeed in anything you do if you enjoy it.

'I promise you, ADHD, if you are doing something you love, it's a superpower and you will literally be the best in the room.

'And I'm very very happy that I have an ADHD brother, a neurodiverse brother like you, my man'.

Sam posted the sweet interview to his Instagram to open up about his ADHD and raise awareness for young children in school.

He captioned the post with: 'I dont talk about my ADHD too much on here, to be honest not nearly enough. I work in an environment where my ADHD is celebrated as part of Who I am, and I am incredibly lucky.

Sam told Holly: 'I've got home me, which is with Zara, which, actually, poor girl, literally sometimes I won't speak for like an hour'

'However, I also know that this is not the case everywhere, especially in schools. I remember being younger and feeling different and not understanding why.

'When I was in school, I wished I had someone to tell me that I was ok, and someone to tell me that it wasnt because I was stupid, I didnt care, and that I was intentionally not paying attention.

'It was because I had undiagnosed ADHD. I really hope that I can be a small part of young people accepting themselves for who they are, neuro-diverse or not.'

In May 2023, Sam revealed to MailOnline that he broke down in tears when he was diagnosed neurodivergent.

Sam detailed the emotional moment which was filmed for his new documentary Sam Thompson: Is This ADHD?

He explained: 'I didn't think I would be bothered, and after six hours of therapy she told me I had ADHD.'

The expert then told Sam he was a 'very special person' and in that moment, he explained: 'I just wept, I got really emotional. So yeah it was definitely a relief.'

Sam then revealed it was his desire to become a dad that finally pushed him to get help for his ADHD.

The Staying Relevant podcaster admitted he 'does really want kids' one day but felt like he couldn't 'even look after himself' and needed to find a way to deal with it.

Sam explained: 'I think just knowing I have it has made me a better person, more self-aware.

'I want to be a dad, I'm not saying now but at some point I want to know I can look after someone. I want to be the person they look up to and feel safe with and I can provide for'.

Sam again opened up about his conditions during his stay in an Australian jungle for I'm A Celebrity.
The dream of an affordable home is thriving in some areas across the country

Over the last decade, the number of homes for sale in the US for under $200,000 has fallen dramatically.

While in 2013, around half of homes on the market were priced below this threshold, that has now dropped to less than a quarter of sales.

But there is still hope for first-time buyers, retirees living on a fixed income or anyone else looking to buy on a budget, according to new insights from Realtor.com.

The real estate marketplace hunted down ten US cities where budding homeowners can still find properties below this affordable price.

Cheaper homes on offer does not mean that households have to scrimp on their quality of life - as the top cities on the lists are within a short drive of beautiful beaches and a major city full of multi-million dollar homes.

Both Lauderdale Lakes and Lauderhill are around 15 minutes drive to the center of Fort Lauderdale and its beaches

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Currently, the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage is hovering around 7 percent.

This means that the monthly payment on a $200,000 home with a 20 percent down payment would be around $1,500, which is less than the national median rent of $1,732, according to Realtor.com.

The study found that in some parts of the country, the dream of an affordable home is thriving. In some cities, homes priced below the $200,000 threshold make up the vast majority of the market.

At the top of the list are two suburbs of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Lauderdale Lakes, which is home to around 35,000 people, leads the rankings with 17 out of every 20 homes listed for less than $200,000.

Second is the next-door suburb - Lauderhill - which is home to around 75,000 people.

The median home price in Lauderdale Lakes is $149,000, according to Realtor.com, while the average home in Lauderhill is listed for $175,000.

Both are less than the typical national list price of $442,500 - and the majority of housing stock is condominiums.

The towns are popular retirement destinations, but are more affordable than other Florida cities nearby.

Both are around 15 minutes drive to the center of Fort Lauderdale and its beaches, and close to the natural beauty of the Everglades.

'Areas that were once popular for downsizing are now out of reach for many,' says Hannah Jones, a Realtor.com senior economic analyst.

'Florida markets like Lauderdale Lakes are seeing a surge in affordable condos, providing viable options for those looking to downsize without breaking the bank.'

To find the affordability havens, the real estate marketplace analyzed listing data from the first week of June.

It ranked the cities based on the number of listings costing below $200,000 and compared that figure with the number of total homes for sale in that metro.

Third on the list is Akron, Ohio, which is located less than an hour's drive from Cleveland.

According to Realtor.com, the city has seen double-digit price growth in the past year, but is still home to many affordable properties.

Some 70 percent of listings in the city are less than $200,000, with an average of $138,600.

Fourth on the list is Detroit, Michigan, where 64 percent of homes cost less than the $200,000 threshold, with a median list price of just $90,000.

In the so-called 'Motor City', house prices have been among the fastest-growing in the US in recent years, as the city bounces back from the mortgage crisis which left some homes virtually worthless.

Some 70 percent of home listings in Akron, Ohio, are less than $200,000

Properties remain affordable, however, as Detroit was lagging behind other cities in terms of house price growth.

'Fixer-uppers are fairly standard in the Motor City, as it continues to see a broad revitalization,' the study reads.

Despite rising popularity in recent years, prices in Rochester, located on Lake Ontario, also remain affordable - placing it fifth on the list.

In the New York city, 68 percent of homes on the market are less than $200,000 - with an average listing of $161,194.

The nearby city of Niagara Falls, which is an hour and a half drive from Rochester, places sixth in the rankings - with 80 percent of homes on the market below the threshold.

Albany, Georgia, places seventh, with a median list price of $104,000 and 64 percent of homes under $200,000.

Residents of the medium-sized city in the southwestern part of the state benefit from an overall lower cost of living, but especially so for housing.

Compared to Atlanta, where the cost of living is near the national average, housing in Albany is 40 percent less expensive.

'With lower living costs and increasing inventory, cities like Albany provide great value for homebuyers' which, Jones said, is emblematic of the region. 'The South is seeing a big increase in affordable inventory.'

But nowhere is there a more consistent swath of affordable homes in 2024 than in the Midwest, according to the study.

Alongside Detroit and Akron, three more Midwestern cities round off the top ten - Lansing, Michigan, Rockford, Illinois, and Cleveland, Ohio.

Fourth on the list is Detroit, Michigan, where 64 percent of homes cost less than the $200,000 threshold, with a median list price of just $90,000

In Michigan's capital city, homebuyers will find more than two-thirds of homes are priced below the $200,000 mark.

Cleveland, meanwhile, has the second-highest volume of sub-$200,000 home price tags, with more than 500 on the market - second only to Detroit.

In Rockford, 66 percent of homes for sale fall into the category, with a median list price of $164,950.

Potential buyers might want to hurry, though, as these markets - especially the ones in the Midwest - might not boast these kinds of home prices for much longer, Realtor.com warned.

'These are still some of the most affordable places in the country, but they've seen a lot of price growth over the last year or so,' Jones added.
With healthcare becoming one of Indias largest sectors, driven by expanded coverage, improved services, and increased investments from both public and private sectors, experts in the sector here projected telemedicine to reach USD 5.4 billion by 2025, with AI growing at a robust 45 per cent annually currently, creating substantial job opportunities in health tech sector.

Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director of Informa Markets in India, highlighted the rapid growth and transformative potential of Indias healthcare sector during the launch edition of mega India Health Expo here, He said, Indias Medical Device industry, currently valued at USD 11 billion, is growing at a staggering CAGR of 18-20 per cent. At the forefront of this growth are initiatives like the PLI scheme and Atma Nirbhar Bharat, driving innovation and international collaborations.

Organised by Informa Markets in India, the event brought together a multitude of industry stakeholders, spanning biomedical engineers, pathologists, radiologists, hospital consultants, medical device distributors, clinicians, procurement managers, R&D professionals, and regulatory representatives.

The event was inaugurated in the presence of luminaries such as Istvan Szabo, Ambassador of Hungary, Jagnnath Sami, High Commissioner of the Republic of Fiji, Dr Girdhar Gyani, Director General of the Association of Healthcare Providers India, Siddhartha Bhattacharya, Secretary General of the Healthcare Federation of India  NATHEALTH, Abhinav Thakur, MD, Accurex Biomedical , Peter Hall, President, Middle East, India, Turkiye and Africa, Informa Markets.

Dr Gyani said, Healthcare is now a significant priority for the government. Currently, India has around 1.5 beds per thousand population, but the aim is to reach 3 beds per thousand. This disparity in healthcare infrastructure across states presents a substantial investment opportunity. From 2014 to 2024, the number of MBBS seats has doubled from 50,000 to 100,000, indicating a growing influx of healthcare professionals. However, until the demand for postgraduate doctors, nurses, and paramedics is met, healthcare technology and information technology will drive the sector. India remains a vast and promising market for healthcare advancements.

Peter Hall, President, Middle East, India, Turkiye and Africa, Informa Markets felt that with the rising disposable incomes and increased government expenditure worldwide, public health systems are enhancing their capabilities and infrastructure to develop robust healthcare risk management systems, pharmaceutical products, medical equipment and supplies, and hospital services.

Additionally, with the global population aged 65 years and above expected to increase by 16% by 2050, there is a pressing need to enhance well-being and extend human longevity.

While Istvan Szabo, Ambassador of Hungary, Delhi, gave insight into his countrys healthcare sector, exporting 80-90 per cent of its production, making Hungary the 20th largest pharmaceutical exporter globally.

At the India Health exhibition, 4 Hungarian companies, specializing in diagnostics, oncotherapy, nuclear medicine, and incubator manufacturing, showcase their solutions for the Indian market.

At the same time, Abhinav Thakur, MD, Acurex Biomedical and Former Secretary for the Association of Diagnostic Manufacturers of India (ADMI), said In Vitro diagnostics industry is an USD 80 billion global market, with India contributing USD1.5 billion, making it the fourth largest in Asia after Japan, China, and South Korea.
The Delhi Government has appealed to Haryana to discharge additional water into the Yamuna on humanitarian grounds amid water crisis in the national Capital. Delhi's Water Minister Atishi said Delhi is facing a shortage of 70 million gallons per day (MGD) in production due to lack of raw water in the Munak canal and Wazirabad reservoir.

Senior Delhi Government officials will meet Haryana government officials on Sunday.
The anticipated meeting between Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat had to be deferred as several political permutation and combinations were doing the rounds and neither of the side thought it wise to escalate the visible rift and difference of opinion post the Lok Sabha results between the ruling BJP and the Sangh parivar.

Sources said the meeting between the two did not take place on Saturday due to the "tight schedule of the RSS chief." This would have been their first interaction since the Lok Sabha election results were declared on June 4.

Sources indicated that Bhagwat, who was in Gorakhpur for an RSS event, was expected to meet Yogi, offering the CM moral support following a contentious election campaign where Arvind Kejriwal suggested that Yogi would be replaced post-election.

The Chief Minister's office clarified there was no scheduled meeting for today. "As Bhagwat is in Gorakhpur till June 17, they may meet tomorrow," a spokesperson said. However, Yogis arrival from Varanasi to Gorakhpur added fuel to the speculation about an imminent meeting.

The absence of this meeting is notable given Bhagwat's comments post-election, where he stressed that a true 'sevak' should not be arrogant and should serve people with dignity. These remarks followed the Narendra Modi-led-NDA Government's victory, securing a third term but with a reduced mandate.

The BJP suffered significant losses in Uttar Pradesh, dropping to 33 seats from 62 in 2019, a sharp decline from its 2014 peak of 72 seats out of 80. Thus, the optics of a Bhagwat-Yogi meeting carried substantial weight.

Bhagwats recent speech in Nagpur, implicitly criticising the election campaign's conduct, was seen as a precursor to this expected meeting.

He questioned the behaviour of political leaders and the erosion of decency during the campaign. Senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar was more explicit, criticising the party's perceived arrogance despite its devotion to Lord Ram, particularly in light of the Ram Temple construction in Ayodhya, which was expected to secure a landslide victory for the BJP.

During the election, the RSS was notably less engaged than usual. A report by The Pioneer on May 16 highlighted the RSS's apparent absence from the political scene in Uttar Pradesh, citing a decline in coordination meetings between RSS and BJP leaders.

A BJP leader noted that 'samanvayak baithaks' (coordination meetings) were once routine but had not occurred recently.

Some speculate that the RSS was displeased with the personality-centric campaign that elevated Modi's image. Others argue that the RSS cannot afford to distance itself from Modi, given his implementation of key Sangh agenda items like the Ram Temple construction, Article 370 revocation, and the potential Uniform Civil Code.

Despite these speculations, the RSS dismissed any notion of a rift with the BJP. Senior RSS leaders asserted that there was no split between the Sangh and the BJP, and that Bhagwat's comments were not directed at the party leadership or Prime Minister Modi. They described such interpretations as speculative and out of context.

"Bhagwat ji has always addressed issues of national importance in his speeches. Given the recent elections, he mentioned what he felt was best for society," an RSS leader explained.

Media speculation also surrounded Bhagwats presence in Gorakhpur, Yogi Adityanaths home city. However, Bhagwat's visit to the Sangh Karyakarta Vikas Varg Camp at SVM Public School in the Chiutaha area was planned months in advance. Bhagwat had previously met with around 280 volunteer workers responsible for the Sangh's activities in Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Kanpur, and Awadh districts. During the training session, Bhagwat emphasized the need to increase the number of branches and expand the organization, while also providing suggestions for various ongoing projects.

As of now, any meeting between Bhagwat and Yogi remains speculative, with the possibility of it occurring before Bhagwats departure on June 17.
The narrow lanes of Ghitorni village, straddling the border of Delhi and Haryana, paint a distressing picture of deprivation. Amidst the relentless heatwave sweeping the national Capital, residents find themselves bereft of basic necessities like water.

In an interaction with The Pioneer, villagers recount how the affluent, leveraging their connections with officials from the Delhi Jal Board and the Delhi Government, secure water from DJB tankers.

Meanwhile, the less fortunate are forced to rely on costly private tankers and motors, a burden that digs deep into their pockets. The water crisis is so severe that many are abandoning their homes in search of better living conditions.

The stark disparity in access to this essential resource underscores a troubling narrative of inequality and neglect.

A 65-year-old Batti said her tenants, who helped to add to the family's income, are gone and no one is ready to stay because of such scarcity of water. "Pyas se mar rahe hai hum (We are dying of thirst). Let alone DJB tankers, we are not even getting private tankers despite we are ready to pay for it. The DJB only gives water to those who have connections and settings with them," she said.

The old lady shared her plight of standing in the scorching sun to collect water, which still is not sufficient for the family the whole day. "There is no water in Ghitorni. Why won't people leave if we are living in such bad conditions," she said.

Sanjeev, a 40-year-old man, was near tears narrating how he tried to approach everyone, including AAP's Chattarpur MLA Kartar Singh Tanwar about the scarcity of water but nothing happened except fake promises. He said he was left with no option but to start buying water from private tankers, which cost Rs 6,000 for 1,000 litre of water to be shared by three families of 15 members for a week.

He said his two children, between the age of 10 and 12, also help him in his work.

"Look at our conditions. DJB tankers come for the people that have contacts. This whole Bansh Mahaula is suffering due to water woes and this is not the story of one lane, many are without access to water in the area. We buy water from private tankers to sustain ourselves but tell me how long can a common man afford this?" the man said, who just returned from his night duty in the morning and got busy with arranging water for his home.

A 62 year old Kamlesh asked if this is her age to stand in the heat and fill water. "Tell me, should I be standing here doing this in such bad heat or resting? These little kids should be enjoying their summer holidays, instead of lifting such heavy vessels," she said, while questioning the government over not fixing the situation despite it recurring year after year.

Anvesh, another resident, stated how two neighbouring families have shifted to Noida because of the water shortage, while sharing how there is corruption in getting water from DJB tankers. "Ofcourse, these people are given some money in exchange for bringing water for the few families here. Do you know two families living just near to me have shifted to Noida and why shouldn't they? Even we will go if this doesn't end soon," he said.

Vessels containing water were kept at a place just near the drains, which were clogged and unclean, at a time when vector borne diseases are at their peak. Anvesh shared how the sanitation workers rarely visit and when they do, they hardly clean the area.

Amid dozens of electricity wires and motors, where one motor was even having a short circuit, people gathered around to fill as much water as they could. Shubham, a 20 year old boy, said despite many requests to the government and the concerned authorities, no water tanker has come for them. Pondering on the same, he said he remembers that the last tanker that came to the village was last summer.

Manuved, 60 years old, shared that he received a bill of 3,050 rupees because he is forced to fill water from the motor while he watches government tankers coming for some influential people. "Only some houses receive water from the DJB tankers because they have their contacts. We are living in hell," he said.

Anita, 49 years old, stated, "Previously, the water tankers did come sometimes but this time around no one has come for over two months. Our landlord gives us some water to fulfil our needs. We did face some problems in the summer but this time it's far more serious. We also have to arrange water from other places as well though."
Delhi BJP on Saturday accused the ruling AAP of indulging in melodrama instead of fixing issues of theft and leakages in the pipelines to address water crisis faced by people in the city. Citing Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs letter to Union Jal Shakti minister C R Patil for his intervention to solve the water crisis in Delhi, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva on Saturday claimed that the national capital is getting almost full quantity of raw water from Haryana and Uttrakhand while stating that even Delhi Water Minister Atishi admitted that there is hardly 0.5 to 7 per cent shortfall in drinking water production. He said people fail to understand what it will achieve.

Despite the Supreme Courts directive to the Delhi government to approach the Yamuna River Board for extra water, the Aam Aadmi Party is now creating a new political drama of approaching Union Water Minister C R Patil, the Delhi BJP chief said in a statement.

It is beyond comprehension why the AAP leaders are indulging in melodrama over the water crisis in Delhi instead of fixing the issues of water theft by tanker mafia and leakages that account up to 70 per cent of water produced in the city, he said.

The Delhiites fail to understand why the AAP MLAs are approaching the Union water minister when the Supreme Court has said only Upper Yamuna River Board can give extra water to Delhi, Sachdeva said.

Highlighting Supreme Courts directive to Delhi Government to approach Yamuna River Board for extra water, he said that the AAP is now creating a new political drama of approaching the Union Water Minister C.R. Patil.

Delhiites fail to understand that when the Supreme Court has said that only Yamuna River Board can give extra water to Delhi then why is AAP going to the Union Water Minister, he questioned.

Sachdeva, while asserting there is no water shortage in Delhi, challenged Atishi for an open discussion on raw water availability for Delhi at Munak Canal in presence of water department officials of both Delhi and Haryana.

Several parts of the national capital are reeling under acute shortage of water amid heatwave and power cuts. Delhi gets most of its water from the Yamuna, Ravi-Beas, and Ganga rivers. From the Ganga, via the Upper Ganga Canal in UP, Delhi receives 470 cusecs (roughly 254 MGD) of water. Two channels entering Delhi from Haryana  the Carrier Lined Channel (CLC) and the Delhi Sub Branch (DSB)  supply Delhi with water from the Yamuna and Ravi-Beas rivers. Delhi receives 719 cusecs of water through the CLC, a lined channel meant to reduce seepage-induced water loss, and 330 cusecs through the DSB (total of roughly 565 MGD). The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) also takes water directly from the Yamuna to try and meet demand. AAP Timarpur MLA Dilip Pandey has written to Union Minister for Jal Shakti C.R. Paatil seeking intervention and coordination with North Indian states to provide more water to Delhi amid water crisis in the national capital.
North West BJP MP Yogendra Chandolia visited Munak Canal on Saturday to inform Delhiites about the ground reality in order to expose the AAPs dirty politics over the ongoing water crisis in the national capital.

Through a video showing the continuous flow of water, Chandolia claimed to expose the lies of senior AAP leader and Delhi Water Minister Atishi. He stated that she has been misleading the public by repeatedly claiming that the Haryana government is not providing sufficient water despite it being a clear lie.

The Delhi government lacks storage facilities for the water provided by the Haryana government and is blaming Haryana to hide its own deficiencies. Its negligence has made residents suffer from a lack of water, as water coming from Haryana for Delhi is being stolen by tanker mafias along the way, he said.
Delhi Congress on Saturday held matka phod protests across the city accusing the Arvind Kejriwal government and the BJP in view of the water crisis here. The protests were held in all 280 blocks in the capital city.

Carrying earthen pots on their heads and Congress flags, the protesters raised slogans against the Delhi government and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Later, they threw the pots on the ground displaying their anger against failures of the Delhi Government and the indifferent attitude of the Delhi Water Board.

Hitting at their alliance partners of Lok Sabha 2024 elections, former MLA Jai Kishan said, In the midst of severe water crisis and dirty water in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is fooling the public while staying in jail and ordering Water Minister Atishi that there will be no shortage of water in Delhi. When the head of the state is in jail, who will instruct the officials? CBI and ED raids and investigations are going on in all the departments of Delhi Government. In such a situation, the water crisis should also be investigated by the CBI.

Meanwhile, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva announced that on Sunday all district units of the party in Delhi will protest at prominent spots in their districts against the AAP government creating a water crisis in Delhi. Several Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) will also join protests with BJP workers.
Believe it or not the Jharkhand government has sanctioned just Rs 48 per head per day for providing food for the inmates of the government managed old age homes (OAH) across the state.

This came to fore while inquiry by media persons after four deaths reported at OAH located at Sabalpur In Dhanbad.

Nawshad Gaddi, who was allocated management of this OAH in end of July last year informed that he has not received payment for managing the OAH since last four months owing to Lok Sabha elections."Despite all odds, I am managing all expenses for providing minimum facilities to the inmates",he added.

He said , government had sanctioned rates for different items for OAH in 2013. The department of women, child development and social security had allocated Rs 30,000 per month for OAH for fooding of 25 inmates in a month. Even after a decade the rates remain the same causing problems for us to manage things.

On deaths of inmates Gaddi, said that they were bedridden and were being looked after by caretaker and other staff but it's unfortunate that they died.

When asked about the decade old rates for managing OAH, Dhanbad district social welfare officer Anita Kujur said, a request for rate revision has been sent to the state government ahead of Lok Sabha elections but still has not been cleared by the government.

Meanwhile, deputy development commissioner(DDC) Sadat Anwar informed that a report prepared by a two member committee on functioning of OAH after four deaths in two days has been submitted to deputy commissioner for necessary action.

The report indicates that the four deaths on Dhanbad OAH were caused due to excessive heat wave conditions. Incidentally, bodies were disposed off without holding autopsy and this had created the upror.Those who died include Bhaskar Chakorvarti (85), Meenu Bhatttcharya (84), Yamuna Devi (85) and Bulu Chokorvorty (72).While Bulu died on Monday other three died on Tuesday .
The National Child Protection Commission raided a liquor factory in Raisen and rescued 59 children including 20 girls.

Innocent children were being made to work in a liquor factory in Raisen. More than 50 children were found working here. The team of the National Child Protection Commission raided here on Saturday. The skin of the children's hands were damaged while working. They were brought to the factory in a school bus.

The case is of Som factory located in Sehatganj. National Child Protection Commission Chairman Priyank Kanungo along with his team rescued 59 child laborers on Saturday afternoon. This also includes 20 girls. These children are from Raisen, Bhopal and Sehatganj area.

Priyank Kanungo said that a complaint was received from Bachpan Bachao Andolan that children are made to make liquor in this factory for 15-16 hours. They were engaged in this work for a long time. A school bus was found parked outside the factory.

The team of the National Child Protection Commission raided the liquor factory.

The team of the National Child Protection Commission raided the liquor factory. Demand for action against the excise officer

Kanungo alleged that this was happening in connivance with the excise inspector Vivek Saxena and in front of his eyes. He was sitting with his eyes closed. He reprimanded the inspector. During this, he was seen folding his hands.

He said that we will write a letter to the government to take action against the excise inspector.

SDOP Pratibha Sharma said that action is being taken as per the letter of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights. Verification of 58 children is being done in front of the CWC. What is the age of the children? Where do they bring the children from or are the children coming here under pressure from someone. A two-member team of CWC is questioning the children on all these points. It includes a chairman and a member. The investigation will take time. On that basis, action will be taken to register an FIR against Som Factory.

Earlier on Friday, the Child Protection Commission team raided Mandideep in Raisen district. Here, 21 child labourers were found working in the biscuit factory LM Bakers. Parle G biscuits were being made here. A total of 36 children were rescued from 3 institutions. It has been learnt that these include tribal children from Chhindwara and other states.

Meanwhile, National Child Protection Commission Chairman Priyank Kanungo has asked the Madhya Pradesh government to send Hindu children studying in madrasas to normal schools. He held a meeting with officers of 8 departments in Bhopal on Friday.

He said that these Islamic institutions (madrasas) do not come under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. After this, officials of the School Education Department said that action is being taken on the basis of the guidelines of the Government of India.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has said Holy Kshipra River will witness purification as water of the Kanha River will stop merging into the Holy Kshipra. Through the Kanha Close Duct Project, the contaminated water of Kanha will stop meeting the Kshipra. The water of Kanha will be transported to the lower bank of Gambhir river, which will also be purified and surrounding farmers will get water for irrigation.

A barrage will be constructed worth Rs 600 crore, in Sewarkhedi and the water of Kshipra will be lifted to Silarkhedi and from there will be released again in Kshipra.

Dr. Yadav was addressing a gathering at the bhoomi pujan and inauguration of the Kanha Close Duct Project worth Rs. 817 crores organized near Shani Temple in village Dendiya of Ujjain. Dr. Yadav performed the bhoomi pujan of the Kanha Close Duct Project to be built at a cost of about Rs 598.66 crore. Apart from this, construction works worth about Rs 217 crores were done.

Yadav said that the construction of the Ujjain-Jaora four-lane via Nagda will be completed soon for Rs 5 thousand crores. Bhoomi pujan of Ujjain-Indore six lane will be performed soon. This development work will continue with the support of people. No stone will be left unturned to ensure development. He said that PM Shri Religious Tourism Heli Service will be launched on June 16, through which devotees will be able to reach pilgrimages like Mahakaleshwar, and Omkareshwar. Passengers will get air services to Ujjain, Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Rewa, Indore, Singrauli, and Khajuraho through PM Shri Tourism Air Service from Ujjain.

Yadav said that continuous development work is going on in Ujjain and the residents here are getting many gifts in the form of development works. The Chief Minister said that eligible persons must get their Ayushman card made, so that they can avail free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh. Through air ambulance service, a seriously ill person possessing an Ayushman card can be transported to cities like Mumbai and Delhi for treatment in a short time. This service will be completely free for Ayushman card holders. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that saving the life of a sick person is our priority.

All the temples and religious tourist places of the state including Ujjain and Indore divisions will be developed. Mahalok of Lord Mahakal was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Since then the condition of Ujjain has changed. Along with employing the people here, religious tourism has also got a boost. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that the statues of Saptarishis situated in Mahakal Lok, which were damaged, are being rebuilt by carving solid stones by the artists in Ujjain itself. These will soon be restored to Mahakaal Lok. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that the places which were witness to the historical moments of the times of Lord Ram and Krishna will be developed.

Yadav said that a factory for making statues will be established in Ujjain. The statues made here will reach every corner of the state and country. This will employ local people. Brass statues will be designed here.

Pooja material, clothes of God, and utensils for worship will also be prepared. Religious events have also been included in the curriculum of schools and colleges by the government.

It is noteworthy that to prevent the sewage water of Indore and Sanwer will be stopped from flowing into Kshipra river through Kanh river, a barrage will be constructed on Kanh river near Jamalpura village and the water will be diverted through a closed duct in Gambhir river downstream of Gambhir dam.
Two-day state level quarterly review meeting of M.P. Transco (Madhya Pradesh Power Transmission Company) chaired by Managing Director MP Transco Er Sunil Tiwari organized at Headquarters Jabalpur.

Managing Director Engineer Sunil Tiwari directed that the field officers should make full preparations to deal with the situation of excessive rainfall in the state in mansoon time.

He said that necessary spare parts should be kept available being used in transmission lines and sub-stations to deal with emergency situations and they should also make full preparations as to what arrangements should be made to deliver these to any corner of Madhya Pradesh in adverse circumstances.

He also reviewed the progress of pre-monsoon maintenance work of transmission lines, tripping on them and maintenance work of substations too.

Managing Director Er Sunil Tiwari instructed to maintain tight arrangements during monsoon so that the stability of the transmission system is maintained. He reviewed the tripping on transmission lines and directed to take necessary steps to keep it to a minimum. Reviewing the capacity and loading of various transmission lines and substations in the area, he directed that no line or substation should be loaded more than the prescribed limit.

Managing Director Engineer Sunil Tiwari directed that the field officers should complete the maintenance work with vigilance and safety keeping in mind the zero accident target. He said that there is nothing more important than human life, hence safety norms should be strictly followed during work. In this review meeting All the department heads at the headquarters of M.P.Transco and officers up to the level of superintending engineer of the state were present.
TheDelhi government has appealed to Haryana to discharge additional water into the Yamuna on humanitarian grounds amid water crisis in the national capital. Delhis water minister Atishi also told a press conference here that the capital is facing a shortage of 70 million gallons per day (MGD) in production due to lack of raw water in the Munak canal and Wazirabad reservoir.

While informing that senior Delhi government officials will meet Haryana government officials on Sunday, AAP leader said, In such a situation, we (Delhi) have requested Haryana on humanitarian grounds to give some additional water to Delhi. The Upper Yamuna River Board has advised Delhi and Haryana to hold a bilateral meeting and consider whether Haryana can give some extra water to Delhi. Also, Delhi government officials have talked to Haryana government officials. A delegation of senior Delhi government officials will go to Chandigarh on Sunday and meet Haryana officials.

We appeal to the Haryana government on humanitarian grounds that, considering the current situation in Delhi, the Haryana government should give some extra water to Delhi, she appealed and added that issues related to share of Yamuna water can be discussed after heatwave conditions abate.

The Minister also shared that the capital is facing a shortage of 70 million gallons per day (MGD) in production due to lack of raw water in the Munak canal and Wazirabad reservoir. The normal water production of around 1,002 MGD in Delhi went down to 932 MGD on Friday because of lack of raw water, she said, In response to the emergency, the Delhi Jal Board has connected borewells in West Delhi to underground reservoirs and increased the number of tanker trips to 10,000 daily.

Atishi has also called for an emergency meeting with officials to address the crisis and secured a promise of assistance from Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. I had a phone conversation with Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday morning. In this conversation, the Chief Minister of Himachal has assured that Himachal is ready to provide whatever information the Upper Yamuna River Board needs from Himachal as soon as possible. He said that Himachal Pradesh has extended a helping hand to Delhi. It may take some time for the Upper Yamuna River Board to make a decision, she said.

In a meeting with Delhi Jal Board officials on Saturday, it was decided that an assessment be done of areas not getting any water and the number of water tankers be increased, she said. Currently, DJB tankers are making around 10,000 trips in water scarce areas supplying 10 MGD of water per day. In some other areas like Bawana, Dwarka and Nangloi, emergency tube wells have been started to provide water to the local residents, she said.
Under the guidance of Prof (Dr.) Ajai Singh, Executive Director of AIIMS Bhopal, the AYUSH department successfully conducted a yoga session for approximately 50 members of the traffic police team on Saturday, June 15, 2024.

The session aimed to promote physical, mental, and spiritual well-being through the practice of yoga, which included subtle exercises, asanas, pranayama, meditation, and Om chanting.

"Traffic police officers face numerous physical and mental challenges such as stress, constipation, blood pressure issues, varicose veins, and asthma. Our session focused on yoga practices designed to alleviate these problems.

The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and many participants vowed to incorporate yoga into their daily routines," said Prof. (Dr.) Ajai Singh. In attendance were all the doctors and employees of the AYUSH department, who participated alongside the traffic police.

The yoga practice was tailored to address the unique challenges faced by traffic police personnel, who often endure long hours standing in the sun, exposure to pollution, and the stress of managing city traffic.

Dr. Danish Javed highlighted the benefits of yoga for traffic police, emphasizing its potential to enhance their physical, mental, and spiritual health. "Yoga can make traffic policemen physically stronger and more flexible, which is crucial for their demanding roles.

It also aids in mental stability and time management, helping them cope with the daily stress and pressure of their job. Regular yoga practice can boost their confidence, enthusiasm, and overall mental state, naturally increasing their sensitivity and balance," he explained.

This initiative is part of AIIMS Bhopal's ongoing commitment to community health and well-being, recognizing the pivotal role of the traffic police in maintaining city order and safety. The AYUSH department plans to continue such initiatives, promoting the integration of yoga into daily life for enhanced health and resilience.
On the occasion of World Dengue Day, Tata Steel Utilities and Infrastructure Services Limited (Tata Steel UISL) has announced the launch of a comprehensive Community Engagement Drive aimed at combating the menace of dengue. Despite the department's rigorous scientific control activities, including anti-larval treatment, fogging, and widespread awareness campaigns, controlling dengue is not possible without the active involvement of citizens.

To raise awareness, promote prevention, and effectively combat dengue, Tata Steel UISL is organizing a special awareness session and launching their community awareness drive with the slogan "Abki Bar, Palti Maar." This initiative encourages citizens to search for and eliminate mosquito breeding sources in and around their homes.

Present on the occasion were Dr. Jujhar Majhi, Civil Surgeon cum CMO, East Singhbhum; R. K. Singh, General Manager, Town O&M; and Dr. Vijaya Jha, Senior Registrar at Tata Main Hospital, alongside other government health officers and various school principals, vice principals, and authorities.

To ensure widespread participation and effectiveness, Tata Steel UISL has invited principals of all schools, NGOs, and community leaders to attend the launch. These key figures will help disseminate the message throughout the community, ensuring that every citizen is informed and engaged.

Weekly "Abki Bar, Palti Maar" Inspections: Each resident is encouraged to perform the "Palti Maar" activity in their homes and surrounding areas every week.

Upload Images: Participants can protect themselves and their families as responsible citizens by uploading pictures of their inspections through the QR code provided by the campaign, with a chance to win a gift from Tata Steel UISL. More information is available at [Tata Steel UISL Dengue Awareness](https://services.juscoltd.com/DengueAwareness).

Moreover, over 300 banners will be placed across the city to raise awareness about the importance of preventing mosquito breeding. Live samples of mosquito larvae and pupae at various stages will be displayed to help participants understand the mosquito life cycle and the critical points for intervention.

Community participation is paramount in the fight against dengue. While the Public Health and Sanitation (PHS) department will continue its scientific control measures, the combined efforts of the community can significantly enhance the effectiveness of these measures. Each resident taking responsibility to remove sources of container breeding weekly will drastically reduce the mosquito population, thereby reducing the incidence of dengue.

A highlight of the event was the announcement of ten lucky winners of the dengue quiz floated online on June 7, 2024. The winners are Rishabh Chaudhary, Rajiv Sharma, Sourimya Pratihar, Vikash Kumar, Usha Devi, Sahil Kumar, Suraj Kumar, Khalid Anjum, Soma Shaw, and Suman Kumar Mitra.

Tata Steel UISL has urged all citizens of Jamshedpur to join them in this vital campaign. By working together, they can protect the community from the dangers of dengue and create a healthier environment for everyone.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday lashed out at the Congress party and accused them of spreading lies and claimed that the BJP will soon "expose" them.

Saini held a meeting with the workers of the Ambala district at the BJP office and discussed the results of the Lok Sabha polls.

Talking to the reporters, he said, "The Congress tried to spread lies by saying that the Constitution and reservation will end."

He said that Congress never brought any scheme for the welfare of the people, meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata party brought multiple schemes to empower people in the last 10 years.

The Congress wanted to "suppress" the works of the Modi government by "spreading lies", he alleged.

"But BJP workers will not allow the Congress to sell its lies and they will expose its lies," Saini said.

While talking on the water issue, Saini said Haryana is giving as much water to Delhi as was agreed upon. But the leaders of the Delhi government are doing politics over this issue.

Earlier at a programme, the Haryana chief minister said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Bharatiya Janata Party has a leader who is continuously working as the 'Pradhan Sevak' for the welfare of the people.

Under the leadership of Modi, record-breaking developmental works have been carried out in the last 10 years, he said.

The CM said that to resolve the problems of people, 'Samadhan Shivirs 'are being organised across the state at the district and sub-divisional levels every working day.

He said that the "double engine" government at the Centre and the state is working for the upliftment of all sections, including the poor.
In view of the water shortage in the national capital, the Delhi government has appealed to Haryana to discharge additional water into the Yamuna on humanitarian grounds, senior AAP leader and minister Atishi said on Saturday.

Delhi's water minister also told a press conference here that the capital is facing a shortage of 70 million gallons per day (MGD) in production due to lack of raw water in the Munak canal and Wazirabad reservoir.

The normal water production of around 1,002 MGD in Delhi went down to 932 MGD on Friday because of lack of raw water, she said.

"The Delhi government has appealed to Haryana to release additional water for the people of the city on humanitarian grounds," the minister said and added that issues related to share of Yamuna water can be discussed after heatwave conditions abate.

She said no solution to the water crisis in Delhi could be found during the meeting of the Upper Yamuna River Board on Friday.

Himachal Pradesh is ready to provide the water that was not used by it to Delhi, she claimed.

"I spoke to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu on phone and he assured me cooperation," the minister said.

Atishi said the calculation of data on availability of water from Himachal Pradesh is yet to be done by the Board.

In a meeting with Delhi Jal Board officials on Saturday, it was decided that a assessment be done of areas not getting any water and the number of water tankers be increased, she said. Currently, DJB tankers are making around 10,000 trips in water scarce areas supplying 10 MGD of water per day. In some other areas like Bawana, Dwarka and Nangloi, emergency tube wells have been started to provide water to the local residents, she said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar on Saturday stated categorically that there was no question of taking back those who sided with the rebel factions.

The two leaders were speaking at a joint press conference of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) of the Sena (UBT), NCP(SP) and Congress, first after the Opposition alliance outperformed the ruling coalition in the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra.

An MLA of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, however, pooh-poohed the assertion, stating that nobody was interested in going back.

During the press conference here, both Thackeray and Sharad Pawar said "there is no question of taking rebel leaders back".

Reacting to the statement, Sanjay Shirsat, an MLA of the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, said Thackeray should first take care of his own flock.

"Who is going, in the first place? It is not that anybody from our side went to `Matoshree' (Thackeray's residence) and was thrown out. We have no interest in going back there. They should take care of their people," he said.

The Shiv Sena split in June 2022 after Eknath Shinde rebelled along with 39 MLAs and toppled the Thackeray-led MVA government. Shinde then became chief minister by joining hands with the BJP.

One year later, the Nationalist Congress Party also broke into two factions as Ajit Pawar joined the government along with eight MLAs.

But after the MVA won 30 out of 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra in the recent general elections, there was speculation that some leaders may return to the parties led by Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar, respectively.

Notably, Parner MLA Nilesh Lanke left the Ajit Pawar-led NCP just before the Lok Sabha elections. Lanke contested from Ahmednagar seat on the NCP (SP) ticket and defeated sitting BJP MP Sujay Vikhe Patil.

Bajrang Sonawane also left the Ajit Pawar-led NCP and contested the Lok Sabha polls from Beed on NCP (SP) ticket. He defeated former state minister and BJP candidate Pankaja Munde.

There is reportedly discontent within the NCP and the Shiv Sena, allies of the ruling BJP, over the allotment of portfolios in the Centre.

The Ajit Pawar-led party was offered only a Minister of State post with independent charge, which it refused, while only one Shiv Sena MP -- Prataprao Jadhav -- was included in the Union government as MoS (independent charge) though the Shinde-led party has seven MPs.
A policewoman who defied the odds to beat locked-in syndrome has been made an MBE for her campaigning work to reform stroke services in Northern Ireland.

Clodagh Dunlop, 45, walked back into full-time work with the police 18 months after suffering a devastating stroke, and a year after being told she might always be confined to an electric wheelchair.

She becomes a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Kings Birthday Honours.

Mrs Dunlop, from Magherafelt, underwent a procedure called a mechanical thrombectomy to remove a clot in her head the day after she collapsed in April 2015.

She is still battling to overcome life-altering disabilities and said she may have escaped any major side effects of her stroke if the treatment had been available immediately.

She said: It was April 6 2015 and I had a massive brainstem stroke.

I was on life support in the Royal Victoria Hospital for two-and-a-half weeks and then I was in the acute stroke unit in the Royal for a further six weeks and I was an inpatient in Musgrave Park Hospital for seven months.

When I had my brainstem stroke as a side effect I developed locked-in syndrome, a very rare neurological condition in which the patient is cognitively aware but they cant move a single muscle in their body.

In my case I was blessed in that I was able to blink an eyelid.

For a period of about six months I communicated with friends and family and the medical staff through blinking, yes and no blinks. Then later I was able to use an eye-gaze board.

She added: The prognosis for locked-in syndrome is that you remain that way forever. Recovery is extremely rare.

It was a terrifying prognosis for me. I had many emotions.

Mrs Dunlop said she eventually began to recover and worked tirelessly at improving her movement and speech.

She said: I am not the person I was before. For anyone who has a stroke, it will always leave its mark. For me, I have right-side hemiplegia now and disabilities from stroke but recovery is an ongoing process.

When I was discharged from hospital I was in an electric wheelchair and I viewed recovery as a full-time job.

I would wheel myself in the electric wheelchair and go to the gym from nine to five every day, some days eight to six, and walk on the treadmill for maybe 30 seconds and take a break and go again.

Many people thought I would never return to work but I was determined. Within 18 months of having a stroke that many thought I would never recover from, I returned to work.

It was very different. I was a frontline police officer before and I recognised I would not be able to go back to dealing with public order so I returned into a detective role.

Mrs Dunlop said she become involved in campaigning and fundraising because she was angry that she was not able to have surgery for several hours after her stroke.

She said: I had had my stroke around midnight but didnt receive surgery until around 10 hours later.

I was angry because I knew there was something seriously wrong with me and I felt nobody had listened.

I wanted mechanical thrombectomy to be available 24/7.

At the time of my stroke it was only available nine to five, Monday to Friday.

It is now available here in Northern Ireland seven days a week and the hours have expanded but I still would like it to be 24/7.

I had my stroke at midnight. If I had had surgery sooner the chances are I wouldnt have any disabilities now.

It almost cost me my life and I now live with disabilities. I simply dont want anybody else living that story.

Mrs Dunlop said she was also surprised at how quickly statutory services stopped after she was discharged from hospital.

She paid tribute to the work of charities such as the Stroke Association and Chest, Heart and Stroke for raising awareness of the need to improve services for stroke survivors.

She said: It became a passion for me, I wanted to change things for people.

People told me I had a great story, but when you live it, its pretty horrendous.

I had a passion to prevent anyone else ever having my experience.
Organ donation campaigner Mairtin Mac Gabhann and detective John Caldwell are among those from Northern Ireland recognised in the Kings Birthday Honours list.

Mr Mac Gabhann, whose son Daithi inspired a change in organ donation rules in the region, is becoming a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

Mr Mac Gabhann, from west Belfast, told the PA news agency it had not been an easy decision to accept the honour, but added that Daithis campaign is bigger than any political stance.

Seven-year-old Daithi, who has battled hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), has been waiting for a new heart for more than six years.

His father said: To me this is acknowledging the impact of Daithis campaign and the legislative success of Daithis Law, which has just passed a year and it is saving lives.

I believe this reflects the positive change that we have facilitated in our society and is promoting the importance of organ donation and saving lives.

That is what our campaign has always been about.

He added: Throughout the campaign I have been very careful to separate any of my personal politics for our mission.

This is bigger than me personally and Daithis campaign has always been about something greater than any political stance.

Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell survived a murder bid when he was shot several times by dissident republicans last year.

He has been awarded the Kings Police Medal.

PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said: The officers and staff of the PSNI continue to face such threats and this particular award is a recognition of Johns police service, and his bravery and that of his family.

Despite the despicable attack that bravery and selfless courage has continued to shine through.

I know that the support received from the public has been tremendous and, for this, we extend a heartfelt thanks.

Bronagh Hinds, who helped to found the Womens Coalition political party in 1996, said that she had struggled with accepting her nomination to become a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), but said she had done so to help promote the message of reconciliation and inclusion.

She is recognised for services to peace and promoting womens rights.

She said: We had a lot of women contributing to the Womens Coalition so I see this award not just for me but a recognition of the many, many women across Northern Ireland who have been working on womens rights.

Also becoming a CBE is Roy Bailie, the chairman of NI Opera.

He said he was completely overwhelmed at being recognised for services to the economy and opera in Northern Ireland.

Professor Donna Fitzsimons, head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Queens University in Belfast, said she was genuinely blown away after learning she was to become an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to healthcare and education.

Meanwhile, policewoman Clodagh Dunlop, who defied the odds to beat locked-in syndrome, has been made an MBE for her campaigning work to reform stroke services in Northern Ireland.

Mrs Dunlop, 45, walked back into full-time work with the police 18 months after suffering a devastating stroke, and a year after being told she might always be confined to an electric wheelchair.

Discussing her campaigning work, she said: It became a passion for me, I wanted to change things for people.

People told me I had a great story, but when you live it, its pretty horrendous.

I had a passion to prevent anyone else ever having my experience.

Also becoming an MBE is Lindsay Robinson, who campaigned to establish perinatal mental health services in Northern Ireland.

She said: Im just really humbled. I am still not sure I quite believe it. It is so wonderful and so kind of whoever nominated me. Im still quite in shock.

I think it was a team effort to get the specialist services up and running.

While my name is on this and I am very honoured, this is a team effort.
The atmosphere was incredible in LMETB Adult Learning Service (ALS), Dundalk on the 28th of May, as the centre in Chapel Street turned into a celebration of culture, music, food, dance, traditional costumes and a coming together of learners from Ireland and over 25 other countries around the world.

The programme of events included the following: traditional Irish music and dance, a selection of interactive quizzes using our touchscreen computers and a games room with a range of card, board and traditional games like marbles drafts and a Camogie demonstration.

The Irish workshop provided by Sean O Murchadha from Conradh na Gaeilge was hugely successful showing great interest in learning a few words of Irish. Learners got to practice a few basic Irish phrases which was great fun.

The music room was lively all morning. Deirdre Ni BhuachallA, Music Generation Louth, gave a demonstration of the Harp, accompanied by her colleague from the Irish Traditional group in Dundalk Eamon Matthews on the mandolin .

Learners were delighted to hear some traditional music and were enthralled with the beautiful sound of the instruments. Ukrainian learners gave a beautiful traditional folk song which was very moving.

They then had a drumming workshop facilitated by Eamonn Cagney. It was clear how music and dance unites people across cultures. Learners were also taught a few steps of Irish dancing by Deirdre; all learnt a few steps and there was great laughter and fun in the process.

The Adult Literacy Organiser, Kinga Byrne said: We wanted to showcase the diversity and inclusion that is reflected in the service and give our learners an opportunity to celebrate together.

She went on to say how delighted she was with the way both staff and learners had embraced this celebration, the work on display around the building reflects the quality of the work that takes place in our classrooms.

The building was decorated in bunting from flags around the world. The learners had written pieces about their country culture and favourite things and these pieces of writing were read throughout the morning by all visitors.

Kinga went on to say how delighted she was that the event was now in its third year.

The Intercultural day is now an integral part of our calendar and we look forward to 2025 being another successful celebration of how much we all learn from each other.

The measure of the event's success was that everyone stayed for three hours and all the workshops were packed to capacity.

LMETB Adult Education Officer, Claire OBoyle said: I was particularly impressed with the effort that learners had made to dress in traditional costume which added greatly to the atmosphere on the day.

"The variety of food on offer was amazing and learners brought their favourite dishes from around the world.

The event clearly reflects the diversity and welcoming ethos in the ALS in Dundalk. I was delighted to attend and congratulate the learners and staff on celebrating so many cultures. The event was a true example of diversity and integration at its best.

A great day was had by all, and we look forward to this event again next year.

LMETB Adult Learning Service provides a range of free education options such as literacy, numeracy, digital literacy and English for Speakers of Other Languages classes.

Anyone interested in joining classes to call into the centre Adult Learning Service Dundalk, LMETB, Continuing Education Centre, Chapel Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth, A91 E0AW or call us on (042) 9353591.
By RACHEL SARGENT MIRUS

The Outside Story

Last July, I crossed paths with an insect that looked like the living embodiment of my favorite drawing game. Using folded paper, players add to a communal image without seeing previous contributions, such that the finished work is a surprise to everyone: the head of an eagle, on the body of a pig, with crab legs!

My mystery insect was about an inch long and had the body of a wasp, the face and forelegs of a praying mantis, and the wings of a fly. This was a brown wasp mantidfly (Climaciella brunnea), which is closely related to the lacewings. Eric Eaton, entomologist and one of the authors of the Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America, describes insects in the mantidfly family as looking like as a science experiment gone horribly wrong.

The brown wasp mantidflys lifestyle is as patchwork as its appearance. In its larval form, it hitchhikes on an unassuming spider and ultimately eats the spiders eggs. As an adult, the mantidfly is a dangerous predator and incognito wasp mimic.

Brown wasp mantidflies have a range that extends from southern Canada to Central America and includes most of the United States. Their bizarre appearance makes finding one a noteworthy experience for insect fans. Maybe I am simply excitable in general, Eaton wrote on his blog after spotting a brown wasp mantidfly on a sunflower. But I was ecstatic to find a truly astonishing insect species earlier this week.

While this mantidfly species is widespread and probably common, it frequently escapes human notice, possibly because it wears wasp disguises. The one I spotted was dark brown and decorated with thin yellow stripes, mimicking the northern paper wasp (Polistes fuscatus). Mantidfly species living in other regions have other color morphs, to better match the locally abundant paper wasp species.

Brown wasp mantidflies are skilled Batesian mimics  harmless themselves but masquerading as something more dangerous for their own protection. To complete the disguise, these mantidflies may adopt the posture of a wasp threatening to sting by curling their abdomens and splaying their wings, although they dont actually have stingers. They may also raise their abdomens vertically, showing off their wasp coloration.

Adult brown wasp mantidflies may look like wasps, but they hunt like praying mantises. Both insects have large, spiky grabbing forelegs that they keep folded until the moment they strike. A mantidfly will hang out on flowers or other vegetation, ready to snatch hapless prey.

Adult females are active for a month during the summer after emerging any time between May and October, but males live for only one week. To assist their mating efforts during this limited timeframe, they use a pheromone to attract females. Mantidflies sometimes gather on plants, as Eaton has observed. I encountered Climaciella brunnea only on sunflower plants, usually blooming ones, and there were several individual mantidflies in a small area, he wrote to me. Males perform a courtship dance, raising and lowering their wings while simultaneously opening and closing their large forelegs.

Brown wasp mantidflies lay eggs suspended on a filament, like miniscule lollipops, usually on the underside of a leaf. A single female can lay thousands of eggs. The larvae that hatch are tiny, flat, and have long legs. They drop to the ground, raise the front of their bodies, and wave their legs in hopes of grabbing a ride on a roaming spider  a hitchhiking behavior known as phoresy. Wolf spiders and occasionally crab spiders are common targets. The mantidfly larva piggybacks on its unwilling host, feeding on its haemolymph (the spider equivalent of blood).

If a larval brown wasp mantidfly first attaches to a male spider, it will move to the female as the spiders mate. Once on a female, the larva bides its time until she lays her eggs and wraps them up in the tough silk that should protect them until they hatch. Except, in this case, the mantidfly larva sneaks inside before she finishes her wrapping and snacks its way through her brood. Eventually, instead of a batch of spiderlings, a single adult mantidfly emerges from the egg sac.

While brown wasp mantidflies travel incognito most of the time, if you keep an eye out this summer, you may get lucky and meet this oddball insect yourself.

Rachel Sargent Mirus is a teaching artist and writer. Illustration by Adelaide Murphy Tyrol. The Outside Story is assigned and edited by Northern Woodlands magazine and sponsored by the Wellborn Ecology Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation: www.nhcf.org.
Eagle Times Staff

LUDLOW, Vt.  Following the regular weekly business meeting of the Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC), David Bennet, New England Cider Donuts owner, presented LRC Rotarians with an explanation of how he decided to start his new food business in Ludlow.

Bennet, who features a long list of hospitality asset management and operations experience throughout the country, recently opened his new donut business in Ludlow. In doing so, he spent a great deal of time preparing both the menu side and the business side of the operation, a task he explained to Rotarians in some detail, and with considerable humor.

The LRC normally meets every Tuesday for a luncheon meeting. Interested persons are invited to attend future meetings to see what Rotary is all about, its goals, and, equally important, the fun emanating from membership. For more information, contact any Rotarian or call 802-558-0479.
About 150 kilometers southeast of Sanya City in China's southern island province of Hainan, at a depth of about 1,500 meters beneath the deep blue sea, lie two shipwrecks revealing the bustling trade activities along the ancient Maritime Silk Road.

Through joint excavation efforts involving research institutes and a local museum over the past two years, more than 900 pieces of cultural relics have been retrieved from the shipwrecks.

A total of 890 pieces of relics were excavated from the No. 1 shipwreck, including porcelain and pottery items, as well as copper coins. From the No. 2 shipwreck, 38 ancient artifacts were retrieved, including lumber, porcelain and pottery products, turban shells, and deer antlers, the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA) told a press briefing on Thursday.

Discovered in October 2022 near the northwest continental slope of the South China Sea, the two well-preserved shipwrecks date back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The discovery is not only major deep-sea archaeological discoveries in China but also significant archaeological findings on a global scale.

"They were both considered to be privately owned commercial ships as the No.1 shipwreck was loaded with pottery and porcelain objects to be sold overseas and the No. 2 shipwreck carried timber imported from abroad," said Song Jianzhong, a staffer of the National Center for Archaeology of the NCHA.

According to Song, the No.1 ship may have departed from ports in the provinces of Guangdong or Fujian and was heading for the trade hub Malacca in Malaysia, while the No.2 ship may have picked up logs at Malacca and was on its way back to Guangdong or Fujian.

The exquisite artifacts vividly depict the bustling trade activities during the mid-Ming Dynasty, Song said, adding that they serve as crucial evidence of the ancient Maritime Silk Road trade, providing important physical materials for research on Chinese maritime history, ocean trade history and cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries.

The excavation was made possible by China's advanced deep-sea technologies and equipment for archaeological surveys. Experts used 3D laser scanners, high-definition cameras, and submersible mud-pumping and blowing devices for this archaeological excavation.

"This deep-sea archaeological investigation, integrating China's deep-sea science and technology and underwater archaeology, marks the country's achievement of a world-class level in deep-sea archaeology," said Guan Qiang, deputy head of the NCHA.

The archaeological investigation involving the two shipwrecks has secured significant progress, but the exploration of underwater legends is far from over.

Wang Zhongyun, deputy director of the Hainan Provincial Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports, pledged efforts to promptly organize the materials of the findings, launch special exhibitions and publish picture catalogs of the retrieved artifacts.

Wang added that the survey of underwater cultural heritage in the South China Sea will continue, with the objective of deepening understanding and laying the groundwork for the protection and sustainable development of underwater cultural heritage in the region.
WE were blessed to have our family and friends with us on the day to celebrate. We will hold the memories of the day close to our hearts.

So said bride Rebecca McGahey, who married Kevin Kearney.

The couple live in Ballincollig and are the owners of RMC Hair and Beauty in the town.

They have three children, Kyle, Isaac and Jaxson. Rebecca was six months pregnant with Jaxson at the wedding.

The bride with her maid of honour and bridesmaids.

Recalling how they first met, she said: We met at secondary school in Ballincollig about 13 years ago. We are together since we were very young.

We got engaged at home in 2018 with our first born son Kyle, on Christmas Day.

The couple were married in the Oriel House Hotel in Ballincollig on July 21, 2023. They had a civil ceremony, presided over by Brian Twomey, a Cork celebrant.

Rebecca McGahey.

Rebeccas dress was a Disney Belle dress from Cinderellas Closet. Kevins suit was from Morleys in Cork.

The couple with their wedding party, some of whom had travelled from very far afield for the couples special day.

The brides make-up was by Make-up By Laura, while hair was by Nicola Hurley, and tan was by Aine from Beauty Box spray tanning.

They were joined by family and friends for their special day - including many who travelled from afar.

The couple said; All of our siblings, including Rebeccas brother Aaron, who travelled home from Thailand, attended. Gearoid, the groomsman, travelled home from Canada.

We had lots of family members travel from Derry where Rebeccas dad is originally from.

We are happy that we had Rebeccas uncle William attend our wedding as he has sadly passed away in recent weeks, so we will particularly remember the memories we shared with him on this day.

Kevin Kearney with his sons Kyle and Isaac and flower girl and goddaughter Scarlett.

Rebeccas bridal party included Valerie, Aimee, Roslyn (sister) and Kelly.

Kevins party included Ben (brother) Gearoid, Ryan and Daniel.

The couple had their sons Kyle and Isaac as page boys and niece Anna and goddaughter Scarlett as flower girls.

The cake was made my Trace of Cakes in Ballincollig, and The Waxies played music at their wedding reception.

MR AND MRS: Rebecca McGahey and Kevin Kearney, who met while in school, were married at the Oriel House Hotel, Ballincollig. Pictures: Bismark

Story Begins recorded the big day for them, while photographs were taken by Bismark.

Our first dance was to Youre Still The One by Shania Twain, said Rebecca.
Cork has around 30 beaches, but which is the finest? As part of our Cork Coasts series, the Peoples Republic of Cork have picked out their favourite 16.

Today, they conclude the countdown from No.8 to No.1 - and readers now get the chance to have their say.

Over the next few weeks, our Cork coastlines will battle it out to see who will be crowned Cork's best beach, by you our readers.

In the first round of our competition, we see Heir Island take on Garryvoe.

Cast your votes for Battle of the Beaches below.
Accommodation at Longueville House near Mallow has been earmarked for families seeking international protection in Ireland, a statement from the Department of Children, Equality, Diversity, Integration and Youth has confirmed.

In its statement, the department said the new accommodation centre at Longueville House in Ballyclough would be ready for new arrivals shortly.

This premises has capacity for 123 people, the statement read.

This property will be for families of international protection applicants. A briefing has issued to local public representatives and statutory agencies.

Briefing note

The statement follows the receipt of a briefing note by TDs in Cork North West and Cork East on Wednesday, informing them that the department had reached an agreement with Earlsline Ltd, a Co Monaghan-registered company which has a five-year lease on the property, to lease it for accommodating 123 international protection applicants in 23 rooms for one year.

Eoghan Kenny, the Labour Party councillor for the Mallow Electoral Area, where Longueville House is located, attended a meeting of local residents in Ballyclough on Thursday night, following publication of the story in Thursdays edition of The Echo, and said that a number of genuine questions had been raised at the gathering.

He said that his Labour Party colleague and Cork East TD Sean Sherlock had arranged that an official from the department would travel to Mallow on Sunday to meet with a community engagement group set up by the residents of Ballyclogh at their Thursday night meeting and that this group would report back to the residents at a meeting to be held next week.

Welcoming

Ballyclough has always been a very welcoming community, I have family and great friends living in the area, said Mr Kenny.

The questions related to the people themselves  who are the people, it consists of families, it says in the document, but what defines a family?

In relation to public services, how will the people travel to andfrom public services in terms of shops and healthcare?

If it is families, has the local school been notified in terms of maybe new students coming in, in September?

He said that, as a councillor, he had received a briefing note on Thursday afternoon which had been sent to Cork County Council on Wednesday and said he and his council colleagues should have been directly informed by the department at the same time as TDs.
Writer and disabled rights activist Evelyne Cynk has won her battle with bureaucracy and will be getting 24-hour support from next month on as she continues to study creative writing at University College Cork (UCC).

Evelyne, who has cerebral palsy, was offered a place on the UCC MA creative writing course two years ago but could not take it up immediately because the 24-hour support she was receiving in Bochum, Germany, where she was living would not be available if she moved to Ireland.

Eventually, in January this year, she decided that she would take up the place she had been offered on the prestigious course and continue her fight in Ireland  even though it meant she would have to commute every two weeks between Ireland and Germany to maintain her German residency and her entitlements to 24-hour support.

Exhausting

That exhausting to-and-fro commuting will come to an end next month after she received written confirmation this week that she would be getting 24-hour support from the HSE in Ireland as of July 22.

I still cant get my head around that I have, basically and finally, after three years, won this fight, which was relentless and tiring, but mostly because of Germany, not because of Ireland, she said, pointing the finger at the obstacles placed in her way by the German authorities who, she says, made it difficult to pursue her dream of studying in Ireland.

Ireland actually has been a great supporter and has taken me seriously and recognised me as a European citizen which Germany never did. They didnt just take my case seriously, they gave me my freedom.

Evelyne said that while she had a struggle with getting recognition in Germany, the issue in Ireland was funding.

Once that became available, the HSE offered her support.

Support

In her fight to get the recognition she needed, Evelyne enlisted the support of other disabled rights activists such as senator Tom Clonan and James Cawley.

Well done to the various stakeholders including the HSE, politicians and disability activists that made this happen  let this be the beginning of free movement for disabled persons across Europe, tweeted Mr Cawley.

Evelyne will now start planning her full-time move to Ireland in July, when her support from the HSE begins, and is looking forward to starting her second semester in the MA creative writing course in September.
AN 11-year-old boy using a public toilet in Cork City centre was approached by a 25-year-old man who asked to see his penis  an incident that caused upset for the child and his family  and now the culprit has been jailed for three years.

Judge Helen Boyle imposed a sentence of four and a half years with the last one and a half years suspended at Cork Circuit Criminal Court in the case against Michael Mullen who is now 27 years old and recently of St Vincents Hostel, Anglesea Terrace, Cork.

He pleaded guilty a charge that on September 24, 2022 he did sexually exploit a child by inducing him to engage in any sexual, indecent or obscene act.

He also admitted other charges related to the possession and distribution of child pornography.

Detective Garda Craig Peterson said the 11-year-old went to the toilet and the woman minding him remained outside the door. However, when he was at a urinal, Michael Mullan stepped out of a toilet cubicle and commented on the boys penis.

Fear

A moment later he told the boy to show him his penis and although there was no violence or threat of violence, the boy was in fear and did show the man his penis before leaving the bathroom.

The accused had come down from Dublin and was homeless in Cork at the time of this offence.

Judge Boyle commented, You had a difficult childhood. It is rare to come across someone as isolated as you appear to be and without supports.

While the accused was getting on well in prison, Judge Boyle noted, the judge found that as well as anxiety and depression issues, there was still an element of denial about his motivation for this kind of thing  probably attributable to shame and self-loathing, according a psychological report.

He also admitted possession of child pornography at Summerstown Road, Wilton, when he was living there and a related offence at Sheilas hostel, both offences in 2020.

Images

Four of the images were of the most serious category, 15 were in the second most serious category, and more than 100 were of suggestive images of children who were fully clothed.

The family of the boy and the boy himself  the subject of the exploitation charge  gave victim impact statements but did not attend court.

Unsurprisingly, the family were very upset. He was a brave young boy to tell his parents as soon as possible. He drinks little or nothing when he goes to the cinema in case he has to go to the toilet. And his parents now are hyper-vigilant.

On the day he was embarrassed. He did not understand. He felt much better when he told his parents. He did what he was told to do because he was in fear of the man, Judge Boyle said.
The first of four convoys of Irish ambulances and recovery and transport vehicles arrived in Poland yesterday ahead of their donation to Ukraine.

Led by the Defence Forces Transport Corps, Operation Carousel will see the movement of 30 Defence Forces vehicles to the International Donor Coordination Cell in Rzeszow.

As part of Irelands European Peace Facility contribution, 54 personnel will oversee vehicles being moved over four convoys which will arrive in Poland over the next month.

The donation is part of Irelands non-lethal aid to the Ukrainian armed forces following Russias invasion in 2022.

Tanaiste

Speaking ahead of the convoys arrival, Tanaiste Micheal Martin, who is also the Minister for Defence, said: Ireland remains steadfast in support for the people of Ukraine following the illegal and immoral invasion by Russia and we will continue to provide what support we can as Ukraine defends itself.

The donation of these ambulances and transport vehicles is a practical and concrete measure to show that support and is fully consistent with our position of providing non-lethal aid.

Earlier this year, following consultation with the EU, the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces agreed a donation of 30 vehicles for Ukraine.

Convoys

The vehicles are being conveyed in four convoys over a period from mid-June to mid-July.

The planned donation consists of 20 x Ford Rangers; four Scania 8X8 DROPs (demountable rack offload and pick-up system); three Iveco 8X8 DROPs, one Iveco 8X8 recovery vehicle and two Mercedes Sprinter ambulances.

A spokesperson for the Department of Defence said that an application for partial reimbursement of the value of this donation is expected to be made via the European Peace Facility in the coming weeks once delivery is completed.

The convoys are travelling by ferry to Dunkirk, before moving through Belgium, Germany, and on to Poland.
Around 900 people took to the streets of Cork city this afternoon for the 35th weekly Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign march, again calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Speakers at the event included Professor Nick Maynard of Medical Aid for Palestinians and Palestinian journalist Walaa Sabah, who is a founder member of the Palestinian youth NGO We Are Not Numbers.

Having recently returned from Gaza Mr Maynard, a doctor who volunteers at Gaza hospitals, described the situation there as apocalyptic."

During his speech Mr Maynard said that he was unable to save several Palestinian lives due to complications with malnourishment, and that as many as 260,000 excess deaths in Gaza are predicted because of starvation and the destruction of the healthcare system.

Executions

He further described executions by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) , including the shooting dead of 20 border officials at the Rafah crossing with Egypt on the day Israel invaded Rafah.

Professor Maynard had been working at the Al-Aqsa Hospital in January when he and other staff, together with 600 patients, were ordered to leave by the IDF.

Irish Healthcare workers lead protestors taking part in Saturday's rally in Cork. Picture: David Browne.

He has also worked in Al-Shifa Hospital, unequivocally refuting the Israeli claim that Hamas had used the hospital as a base.

In addition to providing humanitarian assistance, Mr Maynard said that he will keep returning to Gaza as a witness and an advocate for Palestinians trapped in a genocide.

In her address, Ms Sabah read from a message sent to her by a late friend in Gaza.

'I am dying slowly,' he wrote, as he waited kidney dialysis treatment which had been severely reduced due to electricity shortages.

Ms Sabah she has lost several family members in Gaza, reiterating her call on people in Ireland to sustain their protests.

What you do here is heard in Gaza, said Ms Sabah.

Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign co-chair, Kathy Glavanis, also spoke at todays event, sharing her criticism of some media coverage of the Israeli war in Gaza, which was the theme of the demonstration.
A CORK man who was in a biker gang in Australia, and served sentences there for serious crimes, carried out a prolonged assault on his partner in Carrigaline  and the officer who investigated it believes the accused will kill her if he gets out.

Shane Carroll, aged 53, threatened to kill the woman, kill her dogs by cutting their throats, and burn the house down.

Judge Helen Boyle sentenced him to three years and nine months, with the last six months suspended, at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Carroll, who had been living at Beechwood Court, Carrigaline, pleaded guilty to charges of assault causing harm, causing criminal damage, and theft.

Sergeant Declan Healy described in court the background to the violent crime.

At 6.30pm on October 18, 2023, gardai at Carrigaline got a call to Beechwood Court in Carrigaline. A young woman said her mother called and told her to contact the gardai for help.

Gardai met the injured party, who had visible bruising and swelling to her face and blood all over her face and was in obvious fear. She said her partner Shane Carroll had assaulted her and was upstairs. Gardai at the scene advised her to go to a neighbours house.

He was arrested for assault causing harm and he was handcuffed and conveyed to Togher Garda Station, he said.

Statement

In the meantime, the injured party made a statement to gardai. She outlined that earlier that day she got up at midday. She said she had been in pain from a fall in an unrelated incident the previous day. She said she spoke to Shane Carroll about spending time together and he became extremely abusive and aggressive.

He squeezed so hard around her neck she was unable to breathe. He threatened to kill her and her dog and to burn down the house. He hit her with his fists and kept shouting threats and abuse.

He took a hand-held vanity mirror and broke it over her. In doing so he received a cut to his hand. She fled to her bedroom.

He followed her and punched her with his fist and threatened her not to tell anyone. There were blood stains all over her face. He took possession of her phone to stop her ringing for help, said Sgt Healy.

When he found there was no beer in the fridge he ordered her to accompany him to the off-licence. When he was in the shop getting the beer she was trembling and afraid she would have a fit while she was in the car.

When he got back he shook her violently, trying to get her to stop. After getting beer he squeezed a beer can and spilled the contents on the floor. He spat at her and hit her. He assaulted her with her phone  he held the phone against her throat. He hit her in the face. She was afraid for her life.

Injuries

He told her she would not be allowed out for a week so that no one would see the injuries to her face.

He hit his fist against the wall, which injured his hand. When he was distracted by this, it allowed her to contact her daughter, who contacted gardai.

When Shane Carroll was interviewed, over two interviews, he made no admissions. Later he said, 30% of what was in it [statement of complaint] is true, the rest is piffle.

Carroll is originally from Cork and in his late teens he went to Australia, where he got involved with a biker group.

He received a seven-year sentence for a kidnap-related offence in Australia and five years for aggravated driving causing death.

The victim in the present case was not known to gardai before her report of this assault on her.

Sgt Healy said: My own opinion is if he gets out he will kill her.

There was a defence objection to the expression of such an opinion. Judge Boyle said she would disregard it.

Carroll is very volatile and has serious anger issues, said Sgt Healy. When he is triggered you dont need to be getting in his way.
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.

Washington States Makah Tribe has been granted a federal waiver to resume its hunting traditions off the states coastline, allowing the Tribe to take as many as 25 Eastern North Pacific gray whales from United States waters over the course of a decade.

The waiver from the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)s take prohibitions allows limited ceremonial and subsistence hunting of the whales in accordance with International Whaling Commission quotas and the Treaty of Neah Bay of 1855, a press release from NOAA Fisheries said.

This final rule represents a major milestone in the process to return ceremonial and subsistence hunting of Eastern North Pacific gray whales to the Makah Tribe, said Janet Coit, NOAA Fisheries assistant administrator, in the press release. The measures adopted today honor the Makah Tribes treaty rights and their cultural whaling tradition that dates back well over 1,000 years, and is fundamental to their identity and heritage.

Before a hunt, the Tribe and NOAA Fisheries are required to enter into an agreement under the Whaling Convention Act, and a permit must be obtained by the Tribe. The final rule includes harvest limits, time and area restrictions, low population thresholds, restrictions on how the gray whale parts may be used and monitoring and reporting requirements.

The Tribe will be limited to two to three Eastern North Pacific gray whales taken annually from U.S. waters. NOAA Fisheries will continue to impose adaptive management strategies to protect endangered Western North Pacific gray whales, as well as the Pacific Coast Feeding Group of Eastern North Pacific gray whales.

Under this final rule, there will be no change to the number of Eastern North Pacific gray whales that can be hunted under a quota first established by the IWC in 1997. The IWC quota is shared between the Makah Tribe and the Chukotkan Natives in Russia. This action will allow the Makah Tribe to use the quota which has in past years been transferred to Russia, the press release said.

The Eastern North Pacific gray whale Unusual Mortality Event was closed by NOAA Fisheries earlier this year. It included the stranding of 690 gray whales between December 17, 2018, and November 9, 2023. Peak strandings occurred between December 2018 and December 2020.

The most recent estimate of the gray whale population  based on southbound counts during the winter of 2023 to 2024  is that there are roughly 17,400 to 21,300 individuals.

In 1994, the Eastern North Pacific gray whale was delisted from the Endangered Species Act, reported Reuters.

The Makah Tribe requested a limited waiver of MMPAs moratorium on taking Eastern North Pacific gray whales from NOAA Fisheries on February 14, 2005, the press release said.

Timothy Greene, Sr.  Makah Tribal council chairperson  said the amount of time it took to secure the waiver was unjust, but the Tribe was happy about the decision, Reuters reported.

Whaling remains central to the identity, culture, subsistence, and spirituality of the Makah people, and we regard the Gray Whale as sacred, Greene said in a statement, as reported by Reuters. In the time since our last successful hunt in 1999, we have lost many elders who held the knowledge of our whaling customs, and another entire generation of Makahs has grown up without the ability to exercise our Treaty right.

According to archaeological evidence, the Makah hunted whales for food in cedar canoes from time immemorial, stopping only after the population was decimated by commercial whaling in the early 20th century, The Guardian reported.

Weve never lost sight of the importance of whales and whale hunting, Janine Ledford, Makah Cultural and Research Centers executive director, told KNKX public radio, as reported by The Guardian. You know, we werent hunting for roughly 80 years, but that didnt mean that our community  that our tribe, you know  forgot how important whales are to us.
(Photo: Adam Covington, Baptist Press)Southern Baptist Convention in Nashville June 2021.

The establishment narrowly headed off a takeover attempt by a hard-right movement at this week's Southern Baptist convention in Nashville.

Ed Litton, a moderate pastor from Alabama, won the crucial three-way contest in the presidential election with the potential to reshape the future of the country's largest Protestant denomination, The New York Times reported June 16.

"From the moment the gavel dropped  or actually, with the gavel that dropped  calling them to order, it was clear messengers to the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting June 15-16 in Nashville were ready to make changes and challenge traditions in the name of advancing the Gospel," wrote Baptist Press.

Litton, pastor of Redemption Church in Saraland, Alabama, was elected SBC president in a runoff with a 52 percent majority over Georgia pastor Mike Stone, immediate past chairman of the SBC Executive Committee.

"Stone is a steering council member for the Conservative Baptist Network (CBN), a group alleging leftward drift in the convention. Litton has suggested the CBN is unnecessary because Southern Baptists are unwaveringly conservative," said Baptist Press.

'WE LOVE EACH OTHER'

Southern Baptists "are a family, and at times we may seem dysfunctional," Litton told reporters after his election. "But we love each other."

Some backers of the losing candidate are now considering leaving the biggest U.S denomination altogether, said The New York Times.

"Southern Baptists agree that the Bible is divinely inspired and without error, that belief in Jesus is the only way to Heaven, that women may not serve as head pastors, and that true marriage is between one man and one woman," Ruth Graham reported in the Times.

"But fears of liberal drift are embedded almost as deeply in the denomination's roots," she wrote.

Graham explained that at the first Southern Baptist Convention meeting in two years, establishment conservatives narrowly headed off an aggressive takeover attempt by an ascendant hard-right movement.

"But instead of calming a turbulent debate, the Nashville votes for a new president and on a series of hot-button cultural issues  only underscored the sharp divisions within the denomination and portended further fractures within American evangelicalism," wrote Graham.

In winning, Litton bested a better-known rival in the Rev. Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, as well as Georgia pastor Mike Stone, who ran an aggressive campaign fueled by some of the SBC's most prominent hard-line conservatives, The Associated Press reported.

PERSONAL TRAGEDY

Among Litton's notable attributes are a long record of hard work promoting racial reconciliation, and his perseverance in the face of personal tragedy.

Litton's wife of 25 years, Tammy, was killed in an automobile accident in 2007; two years later, he married Kathy Ferguson, the widow of another SBC pastor killed in a 2002 car crash.

lan Cross, an SBC pastor from California who has worked with him on racial reconciliation projects, evoked those attributes in endorsing Litton's candidacy.

"He will do a good job because he has character and integrity, he operates in humility, he trusts and lifts up Jesus, he has suffered and experienced the love of God in the midst of great grief," Cross wrote on the blog SBC Voices.

Litton, 62, earned a bachelor's degree in religion and theater from Grand Canyon University, a private Christian university in Phoenix, and later received a Doctor of Ministry from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Before the convention New York Magazine's Ed Kilgore noted that a generation ago, hard-core conservatives took over the Southern Baptist Convention, and birthed what is now called "the Christian right."

"They overcame a tradition of congregational and state-convention autonomy to impose biblical inerrancy, the subordination of women in the pews and at home, and aggressively traditionalist views on sexuality and abortion as litmus tests for seminaries, clergy, and members," said Kilgore.

MAINSTAY FOR CHRISTIAN RIGHT

The SBC was a mainstay for the Christian right, with leaders like Jerry Falwell (senior and junior) and Franklin Graham joining actual politician (and ordained Southern Baptist minister) Mike Huckabee in the vanguard.

The ancient Baptist commitment to strict church-state separation was a casualty of the self-proclaimed "conservative resurgence," as the denomination's new leadership was ready to enlist its allies in the Republican Party to smite the wicked and bring closer the Kingdom of God, said the New York Magazine article.

Now it says the edifice of Southern Baptist confidence is eroding with SBC membership dropping for 13 straight years, the sharpest drop occurring most recently.

"No longer can Baptists mock 'liberal' mainline Protestants for membership declines allegedly attributable to their moral and theological laxity, such as their tolerance for feminists and gays.

"The conservative evangelical lurch into right-wing nationalist 'populism' has become more fraught than ever thanks to the Christian right's full surrender to the pagan cult of Donald Trump," wrote Kilgore.

He said the willingness of Southern Baptists to scornfully attack other churches for sexual impropriety has been exposed as hypocritical due to " horrifying allegations" that church leaders covered up sexual assaults and pedophilia by clergy and other church employees.

"It's unclear whether the potential schism in the Southern Baptist Convention will spread to the breaking point, fizzle out, or get papered over," wrote Kilgore.

Karen Tumulty was more upbeat when she wrote in The Washington Post, "That the nation's largest Protestant denomination would choose as its new president a pastor known for his work on racial reconciliation was a welcome surprise.

"It might be an early sign of a new direction for the Southern Baptist Convention, at a time when so many of its most influential leaders have aligned themselves with former president Donald Trump and claimed scriptural justification for taking what are regarded as partisan stances."

But she cautioned that it is also possible to overread the meaning of the close election in which Litton narrowly won the presidency of the convention over two better-known, ultraconservative rivals.
(Image: https://www.lproof.org/welcome)

The popular American evangelist and Bible teacher Beth Moore made headlines when she said she is no longer a Southern Baptist and ended her longtime partnership with the evangelical denomination's publishing arm, Lifeway Christian Resources.

Some commentators have asked, will it matter? Will something happen to white evangelical women, or will Moore just be seen as crossing over the cultural divide to the liberals? Can she play a bridging role?

When a high-profile person like Moore leaves the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the United States, it is likely bound to impact white evangelicals wrestling with their direction.

The story of her departure was broken by Religion New Service and a central characeter in her tale is the former president, Donald Trump.

Moore retweeted the RNS story, but her spokesperson told The Tennessean that Moore has no plans to comment further on her decision.

LIVING PROOF MINISTRIES

Moore founded Living Proof Ministries, a Bible-based organization for women based in Houston, Texas.

The ministry focuses on aiding women who desire to model their lives on evangelical Christian principles.

Ashlie D. Stevens wrote in Salon on March 11, "Moore has been viewed for decades, as the 'Evangelical Julia Roberts meets Oprah,' according to Anne Helen Peterson's recent 'Culture Study; newsletter.

Moore has published over 20 Bible studies, and her Living Proof conferences drew thousands of women who would pack into stadiums to hear her speak about topics like insecurity, forgiveness, and godliness.

A 2008 simulcast of her speaking called "Living Proof Live" is estimated to have been watched by over 70,000 people at 715 locations, Salon reported.

As a Southern Baptist, Moore established herself as a singular voice in a denomination that male thought leaders dominate and offered a generation of evangelical women an opportunity to see themselves in her and through her work, Stevens wrote in Salon.

"Now, however, Moore has announced she's breaking from the Southern Baptist Convention largely because as a sexual assault survivor, she couldn't reconcile with evangelicals' overwhelming hypocritical support of Donald Trump. This raises the question of whether her followers and other women will follow suit."

STILL A BAPTIST

Moore told RNS, "I am still a Baptist, but I can no longer identify with Southern Baptists."

"I love so many Southern Baptist people, so many Southern Baptist churches, but I don't identify with some of the things in our heritage that haven't remained in the past."

RNS described her as having been for nearly three decades "the very model of a modern Southern Baptist."

"She has been a stalwart for the Word of God, never compromising," former Lifeway Christian Resources President Thom Rainer said in 2015, during a celebration at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville that honored 20 years of partnership between the Southern Baptist publishing house and Moore. "And when all is said and done, the impact of Beth Moore can only be measured in eternity's grasp."

Moore said she had understood why evangelicals supported Trump, who promised to nominate anti-abortion judges for the federal judicial system.

"He became the banner, the poster child for the great white hope of evangelicalism, the salvation of the church in America," she told RNS. "Nothing could have prepared me for that."

But RNS said that changed with the arrival of Trump as the president.

Moore's criticism of the former president's abusive behavior toward women and her advocacy for sexual abuse victims changed her from a beloved icon to a pariah in the denomination she loved all her life, said RNS.

"Wake up, Sleepers, to what women have dealt with all along in environments of gross entitlement & power," Moore tweeted about Trump in Oct 2016, "riffing on a passage from the New Testament Book of Ephesians."

Stevens wrote, "If you've paid attention to news surrounding evangelical leaders over the last several years, it's not surprising. In 2020, former Liberty University president Jerry Falwell Jr. tumbled into one scandal after another, before finally, officially plummeting from grace."
Chrisean Rock's sister is asking fans for financial support for her lawyer fees following her abrupt arrest.

On June 10, Rock, born Chrisean Eugenia Malone, entered a courthouse in San Fernando Valley to support her child's father Blueface's court hearing. However, she was put into handcuffs and detained.

Per 'TMZ,' cops were allegedly planning on the arrival of the 'Baddies' reality star, as five LAPD officers swiftly pounced on her as soon as she arrived. Now, Rock's sister took matters into her own hands, publicly posting a Cash App account where fans can donate for her legal fees.

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"Everyone wants to say this and that I just want the lawyer paid so she can get back out to her baby...I Made a new cashapp just for the lawyer if you want to support send what you can," Rock's sister, who goes by Femalemookie on Instagram, wrote.

"SEAN HAS MONEY BUT NO ONE HAS ACCESS TO IT," her sister clarified. "IF U WANNA HELP ME PLEASE DO THANK YOU SHE WILL SEE ALL WHO HELPED." Despite the wholesome gesture, fans  who seemingly disapprove of Rock's behavior as of late  were skeptical.

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"But ain't she paying blue face bills," one fan asked in the comments. "I seen her call too many people broke for me to care," a second user replied. "I'm not donating to nobody that got more watches and chains than me," a third user joked.

The 24-year-old was arrested on an open felony fugitive warrant from Oklahoma in addition to assault with a deadly weapon charge. 'TMZ' also reported that the "Vibe" rapper knew she was a fugitive by law, but had no intention of turning herself in.

Reports say Blueface's first child's mother, Jaidyn Alexis, 25, was also present at the courthouse. However, there is no indication the two were associated that day.
As world leaders lined up to offer their support at summit for peace in Ukraine Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelensky voiced hope of garnering international agreement around a proposal to end the war that he could present to Moscow.

More than two years after Russia invaded, leaders and senior officials from more than 90 states gathered in a Swiss mountainside resort for a two-day summit dedicated to Kyiv's plan to end the largest European conflict since World War II.

Most voiced strong support for Ukraine, demanding a "just peace".

Others, however, criticised Moscow's exclusion and warned Kyiv it would need to compromise if it wanted to end the war.

In his opening remarks, Zelensky told the assembly: "We must decide together what a just peace means for the world and how it can be achieved in a lasting way.

"Then it will be communicated to the representatives of Russia, so that at the second peace summit we can fix the real end of the war."

Kyiv has previously said Russia would be invited to a second summit -- a position many countries backed Saturday.

- 'Capitulation' -

The summit comes as Ukraine is struggling on the battlefield, where it is outmanned and outgunned.

On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded Ukraine's effectively surrender if it wanted to even begin peace talks.

Putin's call for Ukraine to withdraw from the south and east of the country -- already rejected by Zelensky as an "ultimatum" -- were widely dismissed.

"He is not calling for negotiations, he is calling for surrender," US Vice President Kamala Harris said.

"All us are committed to build a sustainable peace... Such a peace cannot be a Ukrainian capitulation," French President Macron said.

"There is one aggressor and a victim," he added.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned that any ceasefire without "serious negotiations with a roadmap towards a lasting peace... would only legitimise Russia's illegal land grab".

EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen took a similar line, arguing: "Freezing the conflict today with foreign troops occupying Ukrainian land is not an answer.

"In fact, it is a recipe for future wars of aggression."

- 'Difficult compromise' -

It was a more mixed message, however, from outside Ukraine's traditional circle of backers.

Saudi Arabia, an energy ally of Russia, told Kyiv it would have to make a "difficult compromise" if it wanted to end the conflict.

"And here it is essential to emphasise that any credible process will need Russia's participation," Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud said.

China, which struck a "no-limits" strategic partnership with Moscow days before the February 2022 invasion, did not send a delegation to the conference in protest at Russia's exclusion.

And

Kenya's President William Ruto criticised the latest Western measures against Russia, this week's G7 deal to offer a $50-billion loan to Ukraine secured against profits of frozen Russian assets.

"Just as Russia's invasion of Ukraine was unlawful and unacceptable, the unilateral appropriation of Russian assets is equally unlawful," Ruto said.

The range of positions on display hints at the difficulty Kyiv faces in securing agreement for any settlement that it would be happy to send to Russia.

Turkey, a potential mediator, issued a stark assessment of the need for action, warning the war risked spilling outside Ukraine or ending in the use of nuclear weapons.

"This conference ... might be the last exit before the bridge," Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan cautioned.

- Gaza comparisons -

Attendees at Saturday's summit were wrangling over a possible final joint declaration, according to sources close to the discussions cited by Swiss public news agency Keystone-ATS.

Kyiv has insisted that terms like "Russian aggression" and references to its "territorial integrity" appear in any joint communique. It was not clear, however, if more than 90 countries could get behind such wording.

And as Zelensky lent heavily on the UN Charter and international law to criticise Russia's invasion, some world leaders drew parallels with the Israel-Hamas war.

"Only the respect of international law and human rights can guarantee peace. The same applies to the conflict in Gaza," said Chile's President Gabriel Boric.

Zelensky did not say whether he was prepared to engage with Putin directly in talks to end the conflict, though he has in the past ruled out direct talks with him.

On Sunday, delegates will focus on three areas: nuclear safety, freedom of navigation and food security, and humanitarian issues.

That includes prisoners of war and the issue of Ukrainian children taken to Russia or Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine.

G7 leaders this week agreed its $50-billion loan for Ukraine, and Kyiv also inked a 10-year security agreement with Washington for military aid and training.

On Friday, the European Union's 27 member states agreed "in principle" on beginning accession negotiations with Ukraine.

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A wet harvest could push farmers closer to breaking point, the NFU has warned following months of poor weather coupled with high production costs.

The union said the resilience of farmers was being 'tested to its limit', as they could face crippling cash flow pressures over the next 12 months.

It follows a wet winter and spring, surging production costs, reduce farm support and low confidence across the farming industry.

Speaking at this year's Cereals Event, NFU President Tom Bradshaw stressed that without sufficient clarity on agricultural funding and support, the sector could be sleepwalking into a crisis.

He also highlighted the culminative impact on farmers mental health. If we have another wet harvest this year it will, without doubt, take a toll on their mental health and well-being."

With the general election looming (4 July), the NFU has called for the prospective governments to clarify their position on the level of support to safeguard farming businesses.

We need clarity on the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), as to how it is going to enable investment in food production while protecting the environment, Mr Bradshaw said.

There are 70 million people living in the UK and investment in our food security should be an absolute priority for the next government."

He added that the next generation needed to be attracted to the industry, asking "are we going to be a museum of agriculture living in the past - or one that is driving the future?

Prior to the Cereals Event, NFU combinable crops chair Jamie Burrows echoed similar concerns and highlighted how many farmers had been unable to get onto fields to plant crops, with many having experienced significant crop losses.

He described how it is now a 'wait and see game' in the run-up to harvest and that farmers are 'in in the lap of the weather gods'.

The NFU recently launched the the sixth #YourHarvest campaign, which aims to highlight to consumers the work that arable farmers do.

The campaign will use videos and pictures across platforms to share what is happening on farm during harvest, helping to educate the public about harvest.

What has the NFU been campaigning for?

Ahead of the general election, some of the unions key asks have included:

 A commitment to a UK agricultural budget that underpins sustainable domestic food production - of 5.5 billion.

 Developing core production standards that apply to all agri-food imports.

 Establishing a new food security index and target, including a statutory duty to monitor and report on domestic food production levels each year.

 A smooth transition to new environmental schemes that are open to all farmers, less bureaucratic and ensure profitable long-term food-producing businesses.

 A commitment to source 50% of food into the public sector from British farms.
Gwyneth Paltrow loves taking intentional holidays.

Gwyneth Paltrow loves taking intentional holidays

The actress-turned Goop founder, 51, said she loves taking the breaks with female friends who find themselves stressing out about their lives and as an antidote to todays capitalistic culture.

She said in a newsletter sent out to fans: Last month, I was fortunate to spend a few days at Etereo in the Riviera Maya with a group of girlfriends.

So much of our capitalistic culture is structured around the notion that we need to be running so hard, all the time.

But in truth, of course, we all deserve to be able to take some time to simply rest and rejuvenate. And I think this is especially important for women who are overladen with responsibility.

I love the idea of actually building periods of restoration into the framework of work, and into our messy schedules.

Which is why I do an intentional trip like this once a year, during the workweek, with women friends who experience a high degree of stress in their lives or, more specifically, in their work lives.

Its so nice to be in collaboration and friendship with a few of my friends who feel the same way. And this time, I even convinced some of them to leave their phones in their rooms for a full day.

Gwyneth included a series of photos from her break in ger post to fans, which she said were particularly great for a group as its intimate and compact but the feeling is one of expansiveness.

The former actress admission comes after it was reported she is selling her Los Angeles mansion for nearly $30 million after her youngest child Moses graduated from high school.

Gwyneth, who recently spoke of her fears of having an empty nest, bought the 8,000-square-foot mansion for $9.95 million in 2012 while married to her now-ex-husband, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, 47, with whom she has daughter Apple, 20, as well as her 18 year old son Moses.

Listing agent Lea Porter told the Wall Street Journal Gwyneth is now looking to downsize from the eight-bedroom, 11-bathroom home, built in 1950 and renovated in 2009.

When Gwyneth married her second husband, TV writer and producer Brad Falchuk, 52, he moved into the pad with his two kids, Isabella and Brody, who he had from a previous marriage.
Michael Flatley is convinced his 25 million castle gave him cancer.

Michael Flatley is convinced his 25 million castle gave him cancer

The Riverdance performer, 65, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of the disease 18 months ago, but is no longer in treatment after successful surgery, and has now revealed he blamed his lavish home for him contracting the disease due to its unsafe levels of toxic chemicals.

He told the Daily Mail: I was one of the fittest people in Ireland. But when we moved back in I never felt right, and all of a sudden I got cancer.

All of a sudden Ive developed asthma too. How did this happen? We must have been breathing in toxins. We were told to leave immediately and weve been living in hotels ever since.

Michael is currently in a legal battle over his castle in Cork, Ireland, claiming there are unsafe levels of toxic chemical residue at the Castlehyde manor, including on the wall surfaces in the pool, spa and cinema areas.

He4 and his family moved out of the 18th Century estate in 2016 after a fire and Michael has said he believes his health deteriorated after he moved back into the lavish property.

He is now suing a renovation contractor and three insurance underwriters over alleged negligence, endangerment, misrepresentation and breach of duty and contract.

All of the allegations are denied and the case is ongoing.

Amid the ongoing legal fight, Michael is gearing up to tour the UK again this summer, for the first time since he retired in 2016.

Michael believes he has been given a second chance after surviving cancer and was recently quoted by The Sun saying: God gave me this little bit of talent to share with the world. He challenged me by knocking me off my high horse when I got fired from Riverdance and gave me the chance to come back and do it all again. My reward was my beautiful wife and son.

Who could have imagined an Irish jig would outsell the biggest rock bands in the world? Im proud of that and all the dancers who give everything to help me achieve my dream.
Princess Diana was "very nervous" for her photoshoot in front of the Giza pyramids.

Princess Diana posed for the now-famous shoot in 1992

The late royal - who died in a car crash at the age of 36 in 1997 - famously posed in front of the Egyptian landmark five years before her tragic death but now the photographer Samir Hussein, who worked alongside his father Anwar, has recalled that she felt "very uneasy" on the day of the shoot.

He told Us Weekly: "My father got into a conversation with her and she said she was very nervous when it came to appearing in front of big iconic landmarks. She was visiting Egypt the next day and she was going to be visiting the pyramids.

"My father said to her 'Well, youre so natural, why dont you just pretend youre a model?'"

Samir also noted that Princess Diana had a "good relationship" with his dad and that there seemed to be a lot of "humor and trust andconnection" between the two of them on the project, which came in the same year she divorced from the then-Prince Charles.

Samir, along with his family, has worked with the royals for more than 40 years and previously described Diana's sons Prince William and Prince Harry as "very charming" as he noted that Queen Camilla - who was known as the Ducess of Cornwall in the years prior to the death of Queen Elizabeth - was the "easiest" to photograph.

He said: "Both William and Harry are very charming when you meet them. They have great banter and effortlessly home in on a common ground of interest. Its very hard not to warm to them when you meet them.

"Probably the easiest to photograph though is the Duchess of Cornwall. She makes a big effort to acknowledge the cameras and is always up for trying things which will help us get a strong photo. She is super friendly, going out of her way to engage with the press."
Vikram

Chatterjee

is a renowned Bengali actor known for his versatility and depth in portraying a wide range of characters on screen. With a career shaped by his impactful performances in television and cinema,

Vikram

has garnered acclaim for his ability to evoke raw emotions and immerse himself fully into each role. Now, poised to make his mark in Hindi cinema with his upcoming film Memory X,

Vikram

brings his captivating presence and nuanced talent to a wider audience. As he ventures into new territories, his dedication to craft and commitment to storytelling promise an unforgettable cinematic experience. Excerpts from an engaging interview with the actor:



Apart from the language, its pretty similar because the director of the film is a Kolkata-based director Tathagata Mukherjee, and the film Pariah has been directed by him as well, which was my last release. So I knew exactly how he would want me to prepare for my Hindi debut Memory X. I knew what was expected of me for the film. We didnt dub for the film, so while shooting the film, I was sure that I had to be on point with my Hindi, and that was the only thing that I had to prepare for. The preparation was the same as any other film wherein I would create a character skeleton, the performance had to be a certain way as per the directors vision. We had a lot of these video conference workshops. I speak clear Hindi by

Gods grace.





The offers that came to me before Memory X were great offers nonetheless, but they were not what I was looking for. I was never looking for a Hindi film just for the sake of doing it. I wasnt just looking at wanting to work in Mumbai and thats the reason the few that came to me, I could never convince myself to do them. It has to help me build from where you know I stand today. It has to help my career in a certain way. Then I would be more than happy to give it all the time.



Actors transition into other languages, so in the past, whatever the number of years when it comes to male actors post Mithun Da, not too many very prominent names were there when it came to Hindi cinema. So Im extremely happy that people like Bumba da and Jisshu da are doing it. It gives me a lot of confidence.



I have never had a problem with me getting typecast. I take a lot of pride in it. When the makers or the audience attach a tag to any actor, that means that they have done justice to that genre. Thats the reason there is a certain amount of acceptability. And when there is acceptability, its a success.



Im a horrible romantic when it comes to my real life. Im not romantic at all. Im sure whoever has spent some time with me in my life would agree to it and would vouch for the fact. That

Vikram

is not romantic. But somehow on screen, the conviction I have, the character and the subject thats given to me, I have to fall in love with thelove story. If I believe in it, then it becomes easy for me to be able to convince myself and automatically that shows on screen.



I honestly belong to Farhan Akhtars world of men. I love my friends to bits. My male friends are my life. I can give my life for them at the same time, I will also ensure that they get into horrible situations because of me and make fun of them. I would like to go out with my friends and have a blast. I will probably get beaten up because of the person that I fall in love with. The closest character that I can think of when it comes to the real-life me is Aamir Khan from Dil Chahta Hai.





Your filmography has a pattern

In the Bengali film industry, we dont have budgets as big as, lets say, Tamil, Telugu, or Hindi film industries. So till the time we can achieve that as an industry, it will become difficult for any actor in Bengali cinema to just do one film in a year. Because, at the end of the day, we all also have expenses to take care of. Considering the amount of money that we earn from one film. I dont think it is enough for any of the heroes to become financially secure on just what we earn from just one film. Of course, at the same time, if its only one film in a year, the audience also in todays world tends to lose focus on the actors. For me as an actor, Im not the guy who would be very visible on social media and I envy the people who are. So to remain relevant in this extremely busy world where the audience forgets or tends to forget about some film that was released in January or February, I would want to come back around June, July, and August with

my second film.

So I would like at least two releases every year.



Last year, first I had Shesh Pata which was a different film from Atanu Ghosh. I was playing this guy who is a recovery agent, a very low middle-class guy, absolutely beaten and bruised by life, who has to work as a recovery agent to just survive, to run his expenses. And there are two different sides to him. Then I did Shohorer Ushnotomo Din E which was one of the biggest hits of Bengali cinema last year - a true-blue love story. Then Pariah became an out-and-out action film. I had to bulk up and go seven shades darker than what I am. Grow my hair and my beard. The love from the audience has been immense. After this, I have an intense love story. And then the other one is a rom-com with Sohini Sarkar and I love the film. There is Durgapur Junction, which is a murder mystery wherein I play a cop and Swastika Mukherjee plays a senior journalist.



See for an actor in general, be it Shesh Pata and Pariah Volume 1: Every Street Dog Has a Name, I would discuss both as the latter was extremely emotionally draining. I have grown up in a family of caregivers for dogs. My mother and my sister have both been doing that for the longest time. I have seen their struggles up close and hence I started connecting to it. Shesh Pata again was extremely challenging emotionally because of the journey that this boy was going through. But at the same time, what keeps me sane while doing emotionally heavy films is the amount of love that I keep getting from my friends and family.



Patience is key in an industry like ours, where things, of course, take time. Good things take even more time. When I was comparatively younger, I could not foresee. Now when I look at a crisis, my first way of looking at it is, would this make a difference to me or my life five years down the line? If not, then you dont need to lose your cool about it.



Ive stopped reacting completely. I try to understand where the other person is speaking from and what exactly is his or her point of view as well. Ive always been a passionate person. Still am. But when youre extremely passionate about things, youre primarily looking at things from your perspective. With all the passion, you forget that theres a different perspective that might also be correct. Time and experiences have taught me that my passion is important to me. It will drive me. It will make me do things that a lot of other people would not relate to or are not capable of.



Im grateful to TV. My whole career took shape because of it. The whole platform that was given to me as an actor was primarily because of the love that I was getting from television.

I grew up during the 90s. Ive watched these big-screen stars on screen and what drives me the most is a theatrical release. If I do a TV show, they will expect me to dedicatedly give at least one year of my life to it, and given the current scenario when the films are doing so well, it wont be possible for me to do that.
~189koz added at cost of only A$12 / oz; Barton total MRE now 1.3Moz

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / June 14, 2024 /

HIGHLIGHTS

Updated JORC (2012) compliant Mineral Resource Estimate ( MRE ) for Tunkillia Project '223 Deposit'

) for Tunkillia Project '223 Deposit' Upgraded MRE includes: +45% tonnes (+12Mt) +20% Au metal (+189koz) 50 - 150m depth extensions in three key target zones tested

Attractive emerging profile: 670koz of new 223 Deposit MRE in the Indicated category (58%) 225koz Au in shallow supergene ~80% of MRE tonnes and ounces within 200m of surface 300m long high-grade core

Conservatively modeled with a production mentality; tighter grade capping and more internal dilution with a view toward efficient, bulk open pit operations and strong metal reconciliation

Excellent return on exploration investment: new MRE ounces added for only A$12 / oz 'all in'

Fig 1 - Oblique view of Tunkillia 223 Deposit wireframe

Barton Gold Holdings Limited (ASX:BGD) (Barton or the Company) is pleased to announce that drilling in the Tunkillia Gold Project's (Tunkillia) 223 Deposit has delivered a ~189koz Au MRE increase at a cost of only A$12 per additional ounce. Total Mineral Resources are now 1.15Moz Au (38Mt @ 0.94 g/t Au). Commenting on the 223 Deposit's MRE update, Barton MD Alex Scanlon said: "These results are a clear validation of the Company's thesis for Tunkillia. Adding 189koz Au of new Resource for only $12 / oz is an exceptional result, and it further confirms the value of extensional drilling in the 223 Deposit. "This update marks an important step forward in our long-term development objectives. We will follow up these results, and other key regional targets, later this year. The 223 Deposit itself remains open to further extensions, and we have already confirmed more than 2km of new gold mineralisation nearby. This all points to a very large-scale system, and we look forward to working our way down the next ~20km of untouched shear along strike." Updated Mineral Resource Estimate (223 Deposit)

Barton has completed an updated MRE for the 223 Deposit, reported in accordance with JORC (2012).

A summary of the updated April 2023 MRE by material type and JORC classification is shown below:

This represents an increase of 189koz Au (20%) from the October 2020 MRE, shown below:1

Efficient growth & extensions, with potential for more

Barton acquired the Tunkillia Project in December 2019 and undertook drill testing of the 223 Deposit during August 2021 to validate a theorised higher-grade central zone.2 In November 2021 Barton confirmed the central zone of the 223 Deposit as a high-grade priority development target area.3

The Company believes Tunkillia has significant growth potential. Shortly after its 1996 discovery gold prices fell to record lows, reducing project investment until gold prices recovered. Over 80% of all drilling was completed from 1996 to 2005 (USD gold below $400/oz). The next ~10% was drilled from 2005 to 2008 (USD gold average price ~$650/oz). Historical drilling was therefore (on average) shallow and Barton's analysis indicated significant extension potential.

Significant extensions to depth of 50 - 150m have been confirmed in three key target zones (northern, central and southern), adding ~12 million tonnes to the MRE with ~189koz new ounces added for only $12 / oz (all inclusive). The MRE update includes 41 reverse circulation (RC) holes (9,901m) and 5 diamond (DD) drill holes (1,346m), completed at a total cost of only $2.3m (including drilling, assays, logistics, salaries / labour, and Native Title costs).

Fig 2 - Long section of Tunkillia 223 Deposit showing select Barton drilling results and 2020 and 2023 Mineral Resource shells4

New drilling in MRE

The updated 223 Deposit MRE has been informed by 41 new RC holes (total 9,901 metres) and 5 new DD holes (total 1,346 metres).

Strong return on investment

50 - 150m depth extensions

$2.3m 'all in' cost (see above)

$12 'all in' cost per new ounce

16 ozs growth / metre drilled

Attractive emerging profile

Mineralisation remains open to extension (depth and strike)

225koz Au contained in shallow (~40m deep) supergene blanket

~80% of tonnes and ounces within 200m of surface

Broad (40-80m) mining widths

The 223 Deposit MRE was updated for potential development as a bulk open pit operation targeting efficiencies of scale and strong grade reconciliation. Tighter grade capping and more internal dilution therefore yield a higher confidence and lower-risk model for future investment. The 223 Deposit also has a broad, 300m long high-grade core with potential to enhance development economics.

Fig 4 - Cross section 111,500N showing 223 Deposit high-grade zone and Resource depth extension5

Northern and southern depth extensions

Recent drilling in the 223 Deposit was designed to target potential extensions to depth, and new gold zones, in areas that were not previously tested due to low historical gold prices and limited investment.

A lack of drilling to depth was particularly evident in two key areas of the deposit - one northern and one southern - where the 2020 MRE Resource shell was very shallow. Drilling by Barton during 2022 and 2023 confirmed substantial mineral extensions to depth, and has extended Resources to depth by up to 150m.6

Fig 5 - Cross section 112,020N in northern 'Main Deeps' target showing Resource depth extension7

Fig 6 - Cross section 110,780N in southern 'South Plunge' target showing Resource depth extension7



Updated Global Attributable JORC Mineral Resources

Further to the updated MRE detailed in this announcement for Tunkillia's 223 Deposit, Barton's total attributable JORC (2012) Mineral Resource endowment has grown by approximately 17% to a total attributable 1,297koz Au (40.6Mt @ 1.0 g/t Au). Please refer to the table depicted below in Figure 7 for full details. Figure 7 shows the complete MRE for each project in which Barton has an interest on a 100% basis, with Barton's ownership indicated below each project. Barton's total attributable endowment of 1,297koz Au therefore reflects Barton's aggregate pro-rata ownership of each project's JORC Mineral Resources.

Fig 7 - Barton total attributable JORC Mineral Resources

Mineral Resource Estimation Methodology and Data

The following information is provided as an addendum and meets the requirements under ASX Listing Rule 5.8.1. This information is provided in detail in the attached JORC Table 1 (Appendix 2)

The Tunkillia deposit is Proterozoic-aged shear hosted gold system located in the central Gawler Craton region aof South Australia. The deposit lies within the regional-scale Yarlbrinda shear zone which represents the boundary between several major crustal domains. The deposit has dimesions of approximately 2km along a north north-westerly strike, with primary zones of mineralisation having a steep west south-westerly dipping orientation. Higher grade zones of mineralisation are primarily hosted within multiple zones of quartz veins, within a broader zone of lower grade gold mineralisation. A signficant zone of flat lying gold mineralisation occurs at the base of weathering above fresh rock. No hisotrical mining or prospecting has taken place at the deposit.

Drilling Techniques

A total of 433 RC and diamond drill holes for 13,105m have been drilled within the area defined by the Tunkillia mineral resource. 380 of these holes are RC only (62,272m) with 53 holes (10,833m) being either diamond or RC/diamond. Barton Gold's drilling since 2021 comprises 9,901m RC (41 holes) and 1,346m RC/diamond drilling (5 holes). RC drilling for Barton Gold was undertaken by Bullion Drilling Pty Ltd using a Schramm T865 rig, with diamond drilling completed by Resolution Drilling using a UDR1200 rig.

Drill holes across the deposit are spaced at nominal 50m x 50m centres, with infill to 25m x 25m in selected areas. Pierce point intersections are similarly achieved at 50m vertical centres, within infill to nominal 25m centres in selected areas.

The locations of historical drill holes has been verified by Barton Gold with both surface drill collar pick-ups and by validation of exisiting mineralisation with recent infill drilling.

Sampling and Sub-sampling Techniques

Barton Drilling

RC drilling by Barton Gold utilised a 5 " face-sampling hammer, with a rig-mounted Metzke cone splitter attached to the cyclone providing one-metre sample intervals. Field duplicates were collected at the ratios of either 1:16 or 1:22. Certified referenece materials (CRMs) sourced from OREAS were inserted with grade ranges suited to grade populations for the deposit.

Diamond drilling by Barton Gold utilised NQ-size drill core, with half-core submitted for analysis. Intervals were generally one metre in length and adjusted where appropriate to reflect geological boundaries. Field duplicates were derived by quarter-coring intervals. Identical field duplicate and CRM protocols as RC drilling were used.

Historical Drilling

Historical drilling (pre-Barton) undertaken at the project employed drilling and sampling protocols similar to Barton Gold's approach and are considered suitable for resource estimation purposes.

Sample Analysis Method

2-4kg RC splits and half-drill core were sent to Bureau Veritas in Adelaide for preparation and analysis using 40g fire assay techniques for gold. Bureau Veritas' FA1 method uses a 40g lead collection fire assay with AAS finish to a 0.01 ppm detection limit. Samples from an earlier phase of Barton Gold drilling were sent to Intertek Genalysis in Adelaide for preparation and analysis using 50g fire assay techniques for gold and ICPOES/MS for multielement geochemistry

A variety of analytical technicques and laboratories have been utilised over the course of the project's history and are considered suitable for resource estimation purposes.

QAQC

Barton Gold inserted certified reference materials (CRM's) supplied by OREAS into the sampling sequence every 25 samples. CRM's were selected on the basis of gold levels relevant to the deposit being drilled. Barton Gold's overall QAQC protocols utilised CRM's, field duplicates and certified coarse blank inserted at an overall ratio of one per ten routine drill hole samples for both RC and diamond drilling.

Based on the results of standard analysis, in addition to the internal QA/QC standards, repeats and blanks run by the laboratory, the laboratory was deemed to provide an acceptable level of accuracy and precision.

Estimation Methodology

The geological interpretations are based on drill hole data: there is no outcrop in the area covering the deposit. Drill core and RC chip logging has been used to define the main geological units and weathering profile boundaries.

Mineralisation above the base of weathering is assumed to be affected by supergene or weathering effects and is interpreted as dominantly horizontal lenses. Twelve fresh rock mineralized domains were interpreted, based on continuity of grade at a lower cut-off of 0.25 g/t Au. One small high-grade domain was defined based on a lower cut-off of 2.0 g/t Au. Domains strike grid (local) north-south and dip steeply west. Two post-mineralisation mafic dykes and one dacite dyke were modelled and the resulting volumes were assigned zero grade.

The Mineral Resource statement reported herein is a reasonable representation of the Tunkillia 223 deposit based on current sampling data. Grade estimation was undertaken using Geovia's Surpac software package (v7.6). Ordinary Kriging ("OK") was selected for grade estimation.

The block model utilises parent blocks measuring 10 m x 20 m x 5 m with sub-blocking to 1.25 m x 2.5 m x 1.25 m (XYZ) to better define the volumes. Blocks above topography are flagged as air blocks. Estimation resolution was set at the parent block size.

Informing samples were composited down hole to 2 m intervals. Grade capping was applied to outlier composites. Experimental variograms were generated where possible in LeapFrog. For domains where experimental variograms could not be created, variogram models were borrowed from similar domains. A two-pass estimation process was employed, the first pass (80m search) required a minimum of 12 samples and a maximum of 20 composites, the second pass (160m search) required a minimum of 6 composites and a maximum of 16 composites. Density values are assigned to blocks based on lithology and weathering; the average density of the mineralisation is 2.67t/m3.

Block model validation consisted of visual checks in plan and section, global comparisons between input and output means, alternative estimation techniques, swath plots and to previous estimates.

Cut-off Grades

The resource is reported above a 0.4 g/t gold grade and within 300 m of the surface (900mRL). The following assumptions were considered:

Resource Cut Off Assumptions Item Units Value Gold Price AUD$/oz $3,000 Gold Price AUD$/g $ 96.45 Recovery % 95% Effective Revenue AUD$/g $ 91.63 Less Royalty % 5.0% Less per g Costs AUD$/g $ 0.96 Realized Revenue AUD$/g $ 86.08 Cost to Mine/t ore AUD$/t $ 18.79 Costs to Process AUD$/t $ 14.00 Cut-off (in place) g/t 0.38 Dilution % 5% Resource Cut-off Grade g/t 0.40

Resource Classification Criteria

The Resource Estimates were classified in accordance with the JORC 2012 code. The Tunkillia 223 resource classification is based data quality, drill density, number of informing samples, kriging efficiency, average distance to informing samples and vein consistency (geological continuity). Geological continuity has been demonstrated at 50 m grid spacing over the entire strike of the deposits. Areas of high grade or geological complexity have been infilled to 25 m grid centres. A mineral resource is not an ore reserve and does not have demonstrated economic viability.

Mining and Metallurgical Methods and Parameters

Barton Gold foresees mining via open pit and heap or conventional grinding and leach recovery. MA notes that this is a reasonable assumption but should not be regarded as rigorous at this stage of the project. The current Mineral Resource does not include any dilution or ore loss associated with practical mining constraints. The Tunkillia 223 mineralisation sampled has been shown to be amenable to direct cyanidation for gold extraction. Limited metallurgical work shows moderate recovery differences between oxidised and fresh material. Gold recoveries within the oxidised material are between 92 and 97%.

Authorised by the Board of Directors of Barton Gold Holdings Limited.

For further information, please contact:

Alexander Scanlon

Managing Director

a.scanlon@bartongold.com.au

+61 425 226 649 Shannon Coates

Company Secretary

cosec@bartongold.com.au

+61 8 9322 1587

1 Refer to Prospectus

2 Refer to Prospectus and ASX announcements dated 20 Aug and 9 Sep 2021

3 Refer to ASX announcement dated 15 Nov 2021

4 Intersections are broadly representative of mineralisation in this part of the deposit; * calculated applying a 0.3 g/t Au cut off allowing 2 consecutive >0.1 g/t Au dilution intervals; ref Table 1 "Data Aggregation Methods

5 Intersections are broadly representative of mineralisation in this part of the deposit; * calculated applying a 0.3 g/t Au cut off and allowing 2 consecutive >0.1 g/t Au dilution intervals; ref Table 1 "Data Aggregation Methods"

6 Refer to ASX announcements dated 25 Jan and 20 Mar 2023

7 Intersections are broadly representative of mineralisation in this part of the deposit; * calculated applying a 0.3 g/t Au cut off and allowing 2 consecutive >0.1 g/t Au dilution intervals; ref Table 1 "Data Aggregation Methods" ^ composite section covering 180m width

Competent Persons Statements

The information in this announcement that relates to Exploration Results for the Tunkillia Gold Project (including drilling, sampling, geophysical surveys and geological interpretation) is based upon, and fairly represents, information and supporting documentation compiled by Mr Marc Twining BSc (Hons). Mr Twining is an employee of Barton Gold Holdings Ltd and is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Geoscientists (AusIMM Member 112811) and has sufficient experience with the style of mineralisation, the deposit type 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" (The JORC Code). Mr Twining consents to the inclusion in this announcement of the matters based upon this information in the form and context in which it appears.

The information in this announcement that relates to the estimate of Mineral Resources for the Tunkillia Gold Project geological interpretation and resource estimates) is based upon, and fairly represents, information and supporting documentation compiled by Mr Ian Taylor BSc (Hons). Mr Taylor is an employee of Mining Associates Pty Ltd and has acted as an independent consultant on Barton Gold's Tunkillia Gold Project, South Australia. Mr Taylor is a Fellow and certified Professional of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (110090) and has sufficient experience with the style of mineralisation, the deposit type 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" (The JORC Code). Mr Taylor consents to the inclusion in this announcement of the matters based upon this information in the form and context in which it appears.

About Barton Gold

Barton Gold is an ASX listed Australian gold exploration company with a total attributable 1.3Moz Au JORC Mineral Resources endowment (40.6Mt @ 1.0 g/t Au), a pipeline of advanced exploration projects and brownfield mines, and 100% ownership of the only regional gold mill in the central Gawler Craton of South Australia.*

Tarcoola Gold Project

Existing brownfield open pit mine within trucking distance of Barton's processing plant

Under-explored asset with untapped scale potential

Tunkillia Gold Project

1.15Moz Au Mineral Resources (38Mt @ 0.94 g/t Au)*

District-scale structures with advanced satellite targets

Infrastructure

650ktpa CIP process plant, mine village, workshop, labs and airstrip

Tarcoola ~40 person lodging to support mine operations

Tunkillia camp to support dedicated project team

Competent Persons Statement & Previously Reported Information

The information in this announcement that relates to the historic Exploration Results and Mineral Resources as listed in the table below is based on, and fairly represents, information and supporting documentation prepared by the Competent Person whose name appears in the same row, who is an employee of or independent consultant to the Company and is a Member or Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM), Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG) or a Recognised Professional Organisation (RPO). Each person named in the table below has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and types of deposits under consideration and to the activity which he has undertaken to quality as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code 2012.

Activity Competent Person Membership Status Tarcoola Mineral Resource Dr Andrew Fowler (Consultant) AusIMM Member Tarcoola Exploration Results (until 15 Nov 2021) Mr Colin Skidmore (Consultant) AIG Member Tarcoola Exploration Results (after 15 Nov 2021) Mr Marc Twining (Employee) AusIMM Member Tunkillia Exploration Results (until 15 Nov 2021) Mr Colin Skidmore (Consultant) AIG Member Tunkillia Exploration Results (after 15 Nov 2021) Mr Marc Twining (Employee) AusIMM Member Tunkillia Mineral Resource Dr Andrew Fowler (Consultant) AusIMM Member Challenger Mineral Resource Mr Dale Sims (Consultant) AusIMM / AIG Fellow / Member Western Gawler Craton JV Mineral Resource Mr Richard Maddocks (Consultant) AusIMM Fellow

The information relating to historic Exploration Results and Mineral Resources in this announcement is extracted from the Company's Prospectus dated 14 May 2021 or as otherwise noted in this announcement, available from the Company's website at www.bartongold.com.au or on the ASX website www.asx.com.au. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the Exploration Results and Mineral Resource information included in previous announcements and, in the case of estimates of Mineral Resources, that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the Prospectus continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the applicable Competent Persons' findings are presented have not been materially modified from the previous announcements.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This document may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "expect", "target" and "intend" and statements than an event or result "may", "will", "should", "would", "could", or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. Forward-looking information is subject to business, legal and economic risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among other things, risks relating to property interests, the global economic climate, commodity prices, sovereign and legal risks, and environmental risks. Forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and opinions at the date the statements are made. Barton undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements for events or circumstances that occur subsequent to such dates or to update or keep current any of the information contained herein. Any estimates or projections as to events that may occur in the future (including projections of revenue, expense, net income and performance) are based upon the best judgment of Barton from information available as of the date of this document. There is no guarantee that any of these estimates or projections will be achieved. Actual results will vary from the projections and such variations may be material. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied upon as, a promise or representation as to the past or future. Any reliance placed by the reader on this document, or on any forward-looking statement contained in or referred to in this document will be solely at the readers own risk, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty thereof.

* Refer to Barton Prospectus dated 14 May 2021 and ASX announcement dated 26 April 2023. Total Barton attributable JORC (2012) Mineral Resources include 679koz Au in Indicated (22.2Mt @ 1.0 g/t) and 618koz Au (18.36Mt @ 1.0 g/t) Inferred categories.

JORC Table 1 - Tunkillia Gold Project

Section 1 Sampling Techniques and Data

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Sampling techniques Nature and quality of sampling (e.g. cut channels, random chips, or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc.). These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling. Sampling during Barton Gold's RC drill programs at Tunkillia was obtained through reverse circulation (RC) and diamond drilling methods Historic RC and diamond drilling methods were also used in drilling campaigns completed since the mid-1990s. Rotary air-blast (RAB) and aircore drilling has also been completed. These holes were used to guide interpretation but were not used modelling or grade estimations of the results reported in the accompanying Announcement. Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representivity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems used. The drilling program used a Metzke cone splitter attached to the cyclone. One-metre splits were constrained by chute and butterfly valves to derive a 2-4kg split on the cyclone. Samples above 1m depth were not collected. Diamond core for drilling as been sawn in half using an automated core saw. Field duplicates were derived from using quarter core for the designated interval. Historic diamond core has been sawn in half or quarter using a core saw. Aspects of the determination of mineralisation that are Material to the Public Report. In cases where 'industry standard' work has been done this would be relatively simple (e.g. "RC drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay"). In other cases, more explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralisation types (e.g. submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information. The sample preparation for drilling conducted in 2022 of the one-metre sampling for Barton Gold's RC and diamond drill program was conducted by Bureau Veritas (Adelaide) using method FA1 where the 2-3kg split sample received at the laboratory is weighed, dried, crushed to 10mm, pulverized to 75 micron and split to provide a 40g sample for fire assay analysis. The sample preparation of the one-metre sampling for Barton Gold's 2021 RC drill program was conducted by Intertek Genalysis (Adelaide) using method SP1 where the 2-3kg split sample received at the laboratory is weighed, dried, crushed to 3mm, pulverized to 75 micron and split to provide a 50g sample for fire assay and adequate pulverized material for multi-element analysis. For early RC drillholes (1996-1997), the 1 metre samples were collected through a cyclone and collected in poly bags. Samples were initially taken as 4 metre spear composites and then re-assayed at 1 metre intervals if the initial sample returned a grade above a certain threshold. RC drillholes drilled post-1997 were sampled through an on-rig splitter system The majority of core samples were taken as 1 metre lengths and half-cored. Drilling techniques Drill type (e.g. core, RC, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc.) and details (e.g. core diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of diamond tails, face-sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc.). The RC drilling by Barton Gold used a face-sampling 5 " RC drilling techniques undertaken by Bullion Drilling using a Schramm T685WS drilling rig with auxiliary compressor. The diamond drilling program used a UDR1200 drill rig provided by Resolution Drilling, drilling NQ2 (50.7mm diameter) size drill core, using a standard tube configuration. Diamond drill holes were precollared with RC drilling. Drill core was oriented (bottom of hole) using the Axis Champ orientation system. Historically slimline RC drilling used a face-sampling hammer bit with a diameter of ~90mm. All other RC drillholes were drilled using a "standard size" hammer (ranging from 120mm-136mm). Diamond drillholes have been pre-drilled to fresh rock using a RC pre-collar or cored from surface, with a range of diameters used: NQ, PQ, HQ Drill sample recovery Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries and results assessed. During drilling programs drilling recoveries were qualitatively described for each drilled interval in the field database along with an estimation of moisture content. In general recoveries were good, in the order of 30-40kg for each one-metre interval. Water was encountered in some drill holes and wet samples were collected from some intervals, although wet samples comprise <3% of sampling overall. No reduced sample weights were recorded with wet intervals and a review of results does not indicate contamination between adjacent samples. Samples submitted to the laboratory were weighed on a dry, as-received basis and reported along with assay results. Recoveries for diamond drill core were measured and recorded. No quantitative recoveries were recorded from pre 2021 RC drilling. However, consistent sample weights were noted within mineralised zones in previous reports. No quantitative recoveries have been recorded from previous diamond drilling through mineralised zones. However, previous MRE and geological reports indicate there has been negligible loss through mineralised zones. Recoveries of 90-100% were achieved in geotechnical drilling of the saprolite for geotechnical assessment. Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure representative nature of the samples. The RC and diamond drilling was closely monitored by the site geologist to ensure optimal recovery and that samples were considered representative. Historically, HQ triple tube (HQ3) drilling was used for some holes to maximise core recovery. Re-entry holes were not triple-tubed as they were drilled straight into fresh bedrock. Drilling rates were controlled, and short drill runs were often used through the oxide zone to maximise core recovery. Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade and whether sample bias may have occurred due to preferential loss/gain of fine/coarse material. No relationship between grade and recovery has been identified. Logging Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical studies. All drilling programs electronically logged a number of parameters direct into a database including: Stratigraphy, lithology, weathering, primary and secondary colour, texture, grainsize, alteration type-style-intensity and mineralisation type-style-percentage. Historically RC chips and diamond core were logged by experienced geologists as a hard copy or into a DataShed database. All diamond core was photographed. Structural measurements were made on core oriented using spear and Ezy-Mark core orientation devices. Core is stored on site and at the South Australian Government's Adelaide Core Library. Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core (or costean, channel, etc.) photography. Logging is generally qualitative in nature. The total length and percentage of the relevant intersections logged. All diamond core and RC drilling has been geologically logged. Subsampling techniques and sample preparation If core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or all core taken. Diamond drill core was sawn in half with one half taken for sampling. Sample lengths were generally 1m although at times were sampled to geological intervals. Selected intervals of whole core were used for geotechnical test work. Selected intervals of sawn half and quarter core and RC chip samples were used for metallurgical test work. Selected intervals of sawn half and quarter core and RC chip samples were used for metallurgical test work. No information is available as to whether the RC chip samples used for metallurgical test work was riffle split or tube sampled. If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc. and whether sampled wet or dry. The RC drilling program used a Metzke cone splitter mounted on the cyclone with one-metre splits constrained by chute and butterfly valves to derive a 2-4kg split on the cyclone. The majority (>97%) of samples were dry and when samples were wet they were recorded in the sampling records For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique. The majority of the historical RC samples have been collected at 1 metre intervals using a rifle splitter attached to the drill rig. Periodically between 1996 and 2011, within the strongly weathered portion, samples were collected over 4m intervals. The sample was speared to achieve a representative portion from the interval. For AC drilling, a 1 m sampling interval was applied from surface. All dry samples were caught in a bucket beneath the cyclone and then split through a two-tier riffle splitter to produce a sample of about 2-3 kg. Wet samples were caught in green sample retention bags and then spear sampled, although there were very few wet samples as the drilling depths are too shallow to encounter large volumes of water. Quality control procedures adopted for all subsampling stages to maximise representivity of samples. Subsampling is performed during the preparation stage according to the assay laboratories' internal protocols. Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative of the in-situ material collected, including for instance results for field duplicate/second-half sampling. During the RC drilling program a field duplicate was collected off a second chute on the cyclone splitter at a frequency of either 1 for each 16-original sample intervals (2021 drilling) or 1 for each 22-orignal sample intervals (2022 drilling). Field duplicates for diamond core were obtained by submitting quarter core for the selected intervals (ie half core was retained for all field duplicate intervals). Early drillholes up until 2006 utilised field duplicates and blanks as their only QAQC, this effectively accounts for 57% of the holes used in the current resource estimation. Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled. Sample sizes are considered to be appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled. Quality of assay data and laboratory tests The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is considered partial or total. Barton Gold (2022) - 2-4kg splits were sent to Bureau Veritas in Adelaide for preparation and analysis using 40g fire assay techniques for gold. . Bureau Veritas' FA1 method uses a 40g lead collection fire assay with AAS finish to a 0.01 ppm detection limit. Barton Gold (2021) - 2-4kg splits were sent to Intertek Genalysis in Adelaide for preparation and analysis using 50g fire assay techniques for gold and ICPOES/MS for multielement geochemistry. Whilst preparation and some fire assays were undertaken in Adelaide Intertek also sent some batches to their Perth laboratories for analysis. Intertek's FA50/OE04 method uses a 50 g lead collection fire assay with ICP-OES / MS finish to a 0.005 ppm detection limit. Multielement samples were analysed using Intertek's method 4A/MS48 which is a 4-acid digest followed by analysis using ICP-OES and MS for 48 elements. Pre-2003 samples were sent to Analabs for analysis. Post 2003 samples were sent to Intertek Genalysis Laboratory for assay Gold values were determined by aqua regia digest (B/ETA or B/SAAS) and any values returning >1ppm were repeated using fire assay (FA25/AAS). If a fire assay was taken then this became the "official" assay. All other elements were determined using multi-acid digest (AT/OES). Analytical techniques have varied somewhat over the projects history. For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments, etc., the parameters used in determining the analysis including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrations factors applied and their derivation, etc. No geophysical studies were used in the course of Barton Gold drilling programs. Nature of quality control procedures adopted (e.g. standards, blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (i.e. lack of bias) and precision have been established. Barton Gold's RC and diamond drilling programs included a comprehensive QAQC component with Field Duplicate samples taken at every 16th or 25th sample; Certified Standards (selection of OREAS CRM's considered most appropriate for expected grade and composition) were inserted randomly in sequence for at every 20th (2021 drilling) or 25th (2022 drilling) sample submitted; blanks were inserted in sequence at every 50th sample submitted. Additionally, the laboratories provided their internal QAQC which included check samples, CRM's, blanks and repeats. Analysis of the duplicate samples was reasonable given the majority fell below detection. There was no evidence of cross-contamination in the submitted blank samples. Both Intertek and Bureau Veritas' analysis for gold using fire assay performed well with all batches falling within the +/-3SD test of the expected value for the given standards (3 OREAS CRM's). Historically, the amount of sampling and analytical QC data that has been collected has varied over the project's history. Early drillholes up until 2006 utilised field duplicates and blanks as their only QAQC, this effectively accounts for 57% of the holes used in the estimation. Post 2006, QAQC samples were submitted in the form of field duplicates and Certified Reference Standards from Ore Research & Exploration Pty Ltd. Standards were submitted every 20th sample and field duplicates every 50th sample. No material concerns were highlighted in the analysis of QAQC data. Tunkillia Gold used blanks to monitor carry-over contamination and no significant issues were detected. Field duplicates were used to assess sample precision, while CRMs were used to assess analytical accuracy. Some pulps were also sent to an umpire laboratory as a further check on analytical accuracy. Field duplicate results provide a guide to sample precision. The expected scatter (due to high nugget effect) is monitored and is expected to remain within a range. The CRMs reasonably demonstrated the accuracy of the laboratory. Pulp repeats demonstrated acceptable performance. Verification of sampling and assaying The verification of significant intersections by either independent or alternative company personnel. Alternative company personnel have verified significant intersections. The use of twinned holes. No twinned holes were undertaken on the 2022 program reported in this release. A number of historic RC holes have been twinned by diamond holes, confirming the position of the mineralised envelopes and grade characteristics in the system. Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols. All data collected in the reported program including collar details, drilling records, sampling records and geological logs are recorded directly into spreadsheets in the field which includes comprehensive interval validation processes. Gyro downhole surveys and Assay results were provided in digital format. All relevant historical data was entered into a DataShed database where various validation checks were performed. Data was exported into an Access Database. Discuss any adjustment to assay data. No adjustments were made to any assay data in this release Location of data points Accuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drillholes (collar and downhole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource estimation. All 2023 RC and diamond drill collars were sited using a Garmin hand-held GPS system. The RL was generated from the LiDAR survey collected at the completion of drilling. All Barton RC holes were downhole surveyed using a Reflex EZ-Gyro system which provided measurements at 10m intervals up and down hole. All Barton diamond holes were surveyed using a single-shot gyro tool at 15m intervals during drilling operations. 488 out of a total of 556 drillhole collars from drilling prior to 2021 were located using DGPS survey techniques. The raw data for 30% of these have been located and verified. Earlier collars were located by measuring off a local grid system. 384 drillholes were surveyed using a down-hole survey instrument. 50 holes were surveyed in the rod and therefore do not have azimuth data. The remaining holes do not have downhole surveys. No AC holes were surveyed. Specification of the grid system used. All site data is reported in Geocentric Datum of Australia 1994 (GDA94) and Vertical Datum in Australian Height Datum (AHD). The map projection is MGA Zone 53. Historic Survey Data has been converted to GDA94. Historically the Tunkillia Project uses the Remington local grid which is rotated 31.37 degrees west of the MGA 94 grid with a local origin of 110,000E and 111,500N. Transformation Formula Local E = 110000 + ((MGA94_E - 477614.802 ) cos a) + ((MGA94_N - 6545289.018) sin a)) Local N = 111500 + ((MGA94_N - 6545289.018) cos a) - (MGA94_E - 477614.802) sin a)) Where angle a = 31.37 Local RL = mRL_MGA+1009.232 Quality and adequacy of topographic control. In September 2021 Barton engaged Aerometrex to collect LiDAR and high-resolution ortho-imagery over the entire Tunkillia project area. All datasets are levelled to the LiDAR survey. Data spacing and distribution Data spacing for reporting of Exploration Results. Barton's RC and diamond drilling program at the 223 deposit was conducted at variable spacing as dictated by existing drilling and the aims of the program to provide continuity with the existing drill coverage. The spacings are considered appropriate for the reporting of exploration results. Historically drilling has been undertaken at various spacings. The drilling incorporated in the resource database extends from local grid co-ordinates 109,930N to 113,870N and 109,430E to 110,390E. Sections are on a 25 metre spacing from 111,250N to 111,850N outside of this drill sections extend to 50m between 110,600N to 112,600N. Drill sections extend to 100m+ for the remainder of Area 223. On section, drill spacing generally ranges from 20-30m, increasing to 50 metres with the majority of drilling on section and perpendicular to strike. The resource has been drilled to a maximum depth of 360 metres below surface and is not closed off down dip. Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity appropriate for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and classifications applied. On section drill spacing generally ranges from 20-30m, increasing to 50 metres with the majority of drilling on section and perpendicular to strike. The resource has been drilled to a maximum depth of 360 metres below surface and is not closed off down dip. Metallurgical testwork has been conducted on cored samples. Whether sample compositing has been applied. Details of sample composites used in the resource estimate are set out in Section 3 of this table. Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling of possible structures and the extent to which this is known, considering the deposit type. Barton's RC and diamond drill program was orientated to optimally test predicted mineralised structures and stratigraphic positions to provide were possible unbiased samples. Historic holes have been drilled at several orientations, and the orientation of relevant mineralisation-hosting geological structures varies considerably. Drill sections are orientated local grid E-W, perpendicular to the main mineralised lenses. The majority of drillholes used to define the steeply west dipping primary mineralisation are drilled towards the east at -60 degrees. Drillholes targeting the oxide resource have been drilled vertically. Some of the initial exploration drillholes have been drilled oblique to the strike of mineralisation. If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralised structures is considered to have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material. The relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralised structures is not considered to have introduced a sampling bias. Sample security The measures taken to ensure sample security. Barton Gold staff oversaw the sampling on the RC drill rig and maintained oversight of sample security whilst onsite during the drilling programs. Split samples were inserted into pre-printed calico bags. These tied bags were, in batches of 5, ziplocked into labelled poly-weave bags which were inserted into ziplocked Bulka-bags. The bulka bags were strapped onto pallets and loaded by a Barton Gold representative on to a semitrailer for transport to the laboratories in Adelaide and Perth. The trailers were not unloaded whilst in transit. Diamond drill core was transported from the project site to Adelaide and cut by experienced and reputable service providers. The core cutting agents undertook sampling of the drill core and subsequent delivery of samples to the laboratory. Barton Gold staff undertook regular visits during core cutting and sampling processes to verify the integrity of processes being undertaken. Barton does not have detailed information in regard to sample security measures taken by previous owners of the Tunkillia project. However, Barton understands that these procedures have been in accordance with commonly adopted standard industry practices. Audits or reviews The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data. An internal peer review of the exploration data processes has been completed by Barton Gold which has included a detailed review of the assay, survey and QAQC data.

Section 2 Reporting of Exploration Results

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Mineral tenement and land tenure status Type, reference name/number, location and ownership including agreements or material issues with third parties such as joint ventures, partnerships, overriding royalties, native title interests, historical sites, wilderness or national park and environmental settings. The Tunkillia Project area is located 530 km north-west of Adelaide in South Australia's Gawler Craton. It is 100% owned by Tunkillia 2 Pty Ltd which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Barton Gold Holdings Limited. The project comprises two exploration licences that were grouped into an Amalgamated Expenditure Agreement on 4th October 2012 and Joint Venture Reporting on 21st January 2013. Most of the South Australian tenements held by WPG Resources were bought by current owner Barton Gold Pty Ltd on 1st November 2019. The three current tenements comprise EL6845, EL6639 and EL5901 which have a combined area of 1,362 km2. The Tunkillia Project was under three overlapping Native Title claims which are now grouped into a single organisation, the Gawler Ranges Aboriginal Corporation (GRAC) that represents all three groups. Barton Gold's negotiations with GRAC secured a signed Native Title Mining Agreement for Exploration for EL's 6845, EL6639 and EL5901 on 2nd February 2021. Barton's Exploration Licences 6845, 6639 and 5901 are subject to South Australian State royalties and entitled to a reduced 'new mine' State royalty rate of 2% of the value of minerals recovered until 30 June 2026, and are also subject to total 2.5% private royalties (gross product). There are no joint ventures over the Tunkillia Project tenure. The security of the tenure held at the time of reporting along with any known impediments to obtaining a licence to operate in the area. There are no known impediments to obtaining future licences. Exploration done by other parties Acknowledgment and appraisal of exploration by other parties. Exploration in the Tunkillia area commenced in 1996 with a regional geochemical survey by Helix Resources who established the local Remington grid. Infill sampling delineated the Tunkillia Prospect as a 20 km2 geochemical gold in calcrete anomaly. Subsequent RAB drilling led to the discovery of the Area 223 deposit in late 1996. RC drilling in early 1997 further enhanced the discovery. A joint venture was formed with Acacia who took over management of the project with subsequent exploration carried out as the Gawler Craton Joint Venture. The JV later involved AngloGold Australasia Ltd following its takeover of Acacia. In June 2003, Helix finalised the acquisition of AngloGold's 49% interest and returned 100% of the project to Helix. An independent resource assessment by Snowden Mining Industry Consultants prompted an extensive 12,000m RC program to infill the Area 223 resource. A re-interpretation of the aeromagnetic data identified new exploration targets away from the known resource outlining mineralisation at Tomahawk and Areas 191. In April-June 2004 Helix completed an 8000 m RC drilling program testing areas of the Area 223 North and South mineralisation and exploration concepts at Area 191 and the central part of the shear zone. Studies were completed by Resource Evaluations Pty Ltd in June 2004 looking at resource estimates and optimisation studies based on the available drilling. A Joint Venture commenced between Helix and Minotaur Exploration Ltd in April 2005 where Minotaur assumed operation and management of the project. Minotaur undertook an intense exploration effort in the immediate surrounds of the Area 223 resource, and regionally. In 2007, Minotaur re-appraised the Area 223 resource using recent drilling and separated distinct oxide and sulphide domains. In January 2012, Mungana acquired the 55% interest in the Tunkillia Gold Project via the acquisition of Minotaur's wholly owned subsidiary Minotaur Ventures Pty Ltd. WPG Resources acquired 70% of the project in May 2014 through the acquisition of the Tarcoola and Tunkillia projects from Mungana Goldmines Ltd. In Nov 2014 WPG moved to 100% ownership of the Tunkillia gold project by acquiring the 30% owned by Helix Resources. WPG Resources completed work on calcrete samples over a number of targets along the Tunkillia "Line of Lode". Drilling of selected Area 51 and Tomahawk Extended areas included ten RC holes for 1,641m. No further work was undertaken by WPG Resources until the project was purchased by Barton Gold in late 2019. Geology Deposit type, geological setting and style of mineralisation. The Tunkillia Project extends over a large portion of the Central Gawler Craton of South Australia which is bound to the east by the Gawler Range Volcanic Province. The central portion of the Gawler Craton consists of a variety of geological units and is structurally complex. Archaean metamorphic rocks and greenstone-belt units are distributed along WSW-ENE trends. During the Palaeoproterozoic, granitoids including the Tunkillia Suite were emplaced possibly with associated deformation. During these deformation episodes, major shear zones developed, including the east-trending Yerda and Oolabinnia Shear Zones and north-trending Yarlbrinda Shear Zone. The Yarlbrinda Shear Zone and Yerda Shear Zone are up to several kilometres wide with ductile shearing and deformation probably occurring before ~1600 Ma and before Mesoproterozoic anorogenic magmatism. During the Mesoproterozoic, widespread anorogenic magmatism across the central portion of the craton resulted the Gawler Range Volcanics, Hiltaba Suite granite (1595-1575 Ma) and emplacement of minor gabbroic plugs. Development of Cu-Au +/- U mineralisation at Olympic Dam and Prominent Hill and gold dominant mineralisation at Tunkillia and Tarcoola occurred during this period. Typical lithologies encountered in the Area 223 deposit from west to east include variably sheared chlorite-biotite-rich augen gneiss (Tunkillia Augen Gneiss) grading into a highly chloritised and mylonitised phyllitic shear. The phyllitic shear zone grades into a weakly gneissic unit to the east which is variably altered by sericite to form the central alteration zone. This unit has a sheared contact with the footwall granite. The host rocks have been intruded by at least two later episodes of dyke emplacement. The mafic dyke appears to form the footwall to the main mineralisation at Area 223. Clear relationships between dyke emplacement and the mineralisation remain unclear. The dykes appear to cross-cut mineralisation at Area 223 and are unmineralised in fresh rock. But in the weathered zone gold occurs within the weathered dyke and also to east of this apparent 'bounding' lithology. The main mineralisation appears to occur within en-echelon sets of quartz-sulphide tension veins predominately bounded by duplex shears, with brittle fractures extending into the hanging wall. The mineralised sequence at Area 223 has undergone extensive weathering which formed a leached kaolinitic profile capped by a silcrete layer. No palaeochannels are observed at Area 223 although they do occur elsewhere in the Tunkillia area. At 50-60 metres depth near the base of the weathering profile a zone of supergene mineralisation is developed which shows some enrichment compared with the underlying primary lodes. Gold appears to have been laterally dispersed over a distance of tens of metres within the oxide zone. Drillhole information A summary of all information material to the understanding of the exploration results including a tabulation of the following information for all Material drillholes: Easting and northing of the drillhole collar

Elevation or RL (Reduced Level - Elevation above sea level in metres) of the drillhole collar

Dip and azimuth of the hole

Downhole length and interception depth

Hole length. A tabulation of the drilling program including the details of historic holes mentioned in this announcement are presented in Tables 2 - 5. Data aggregation methods In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques, maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (e.g. cutting of high grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should be stated. Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of high grade results and longer lengths of low grade results, the procedure used for such aggregation should be stated and some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown in detail. The assumptions used for any reporting of metal equivalent values should be clearly stated. Reported intersections used the following criteria: Reported intervals have been determined by applying a 0.5g/t Au cut-off and allowing for a maximum of two consecutive intervals of dilution provided the intervals are >0.1g/t Au. A minimum interval threshold of 1 gram-metres (ie the multiple of the interval in metres and the weighted average grade) is also applied when using this protocol.

In some specific instances reporting of intervals by applying a 0.3g/t Au cut-off (and allowing for a maximum of two consecutive intervals of dilution provided the intervals are >0.1g/t Au) is considered appropriate to convey the significant width of mineralisation. A minimum interval threshold of 5 gram-metres (ie the multiple of the interval in metres and the weighted average grade) is also applied when using the 0.3g/t Au cut-off grade. Reported intervals where this protocol has been applied are clearly highlighted in the body of the text, associated diagrams and tables within this release.

No high-grade cut-offs were applied.

Results for quarter-core field duplicates from diamond drilling were averaged across the pair of samples to provide a result consistent with routine half-core sampling.

No metal equivalents were calculated. Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths These relationships are particularly important in the reporting of Exploration Results. If the geometry of the mineralisation with respect to the drillhole angle is known, its nature should be reported. If it is not known and only the down hole lengths are reported, there should be a clear statement to this effect (e.g. "downhole length, true width not known"). Drillholes have been designed to intersect the mineralisation zone as perpendicular as possible. Reported intercepts are downhole length and true width can generally be estimated because the dip of the mineralisation is known. Diagrams Appropriate maps and sections (with scales) and tabulations of intercepts should be included for any significant discovery being reported These should include, but not be limited to a plan view of drillhole collar locations and appropriate sectional views. See Figures included the body of this Announcement. Relevant commentary relating to diagrams is discussed under the heading of Balanced Reporting. Balanced reporting Where comprehensive reporting of all Exploration Results is not practicable, representative reporting of both low and high grades and/or widths should be practiced to avoid misleading reporting of Exploration Results. Balanced reporting of Exploration Results is presented. Drill sections presented in this Announcement contain annotations which are representative of mineralised intersections and intended to convey a balanced representation. It is not practicable to present a complete set of annotations due to the summative nature of the drill sections. All drill intersections have been released in previous market announcements by Barton Gold and the intersections presented are a restatement from earlier announcements. Other substantive exploration data Other exploration data, if meaningful and material, should be reported including (but not limited to): geological observations; geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results; bulk samples - size and method of treatment; metallurgical test results; bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical and rock characteristics; potential deleterious or contaminating substances. Extensive geological, geophysical, geochemical, geotechnical and metallurgical datasets are available for the Tunkillia project area. Other datasets including gravity that was sourced from open-file datasets (SA DEM). Historical data acquired by previous owners included detailed aeromagnetic, TEMPEST airborne EM and in-fill gravity surveys completed over parts of the tenement area and mostly focussed on the Yarlbrinda Shear Zone. Other data includes gradient array IP, biogeochemical sampling, CHIM/MMI geochemical sampling and spectral scanning of reverse circulation drill chips. Further work The nature and scale of planned further work (e.g. tests for lateral extensions or depth extensions or large-scale step-out drilling). The mineralisation at Tunkillia remains open along strike and downdip with potential for additional gold mineralisation at the Area 223 deposit and in other parallel structures in the area including Area 51, Tomahawk and Area 191. Barton Gold is planning further drilling work which will be focused on testing for dip and strike extensions and to confirm grade and geological continuity within the current model. While geophysical coverage already exists, additional geophysical exploration techniques may be undertaken as the project continues and may include magnetic surveys and ground-based gravity. Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas of possible extensions, including the main geological interpretations and future drilling areas, provided this information is not commercially sensitive. Diagrams have been included in the body of this Announcement.

Section 3 Estimation and Reporting of Mineral Resources

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Database integrity Measures taken to ensure that data has not been corrupted by, for example, transcription or keying errors, between its initial collection and its use for Mineral Resource estimation purposes. Mining Associates (MA) has undertaken limited independent first principal checks using hard copies of results and sectional interpretations. Historical Independent Technical Reports accept the integrity of the database. The geological database has been managed by several different database management providers over the years. The database is currently managed by the RockSolid consultancy. Subsequent data was obtained from open file reports. Data validation procedures used. Basic database validation checks were run, including collar locations, drill holes plot on topography, checks for missing intervals, overlapping intervals and hole depth mismatches. Site visits Comment on any site visits undertaken by the Competent Person and the outcome of those visits. If no site visits have been undertaken indicate why this is the case. The Competent Person (CP, Mr I.Taylor) visited site from the 1st to 4th November 2022 during the 2022 drill program to review the geology, drill core, field and drill practices as part of the 2023 Mineral Resource Estimate Update. Selected drill holes were laid out and reviewed by the CP. Data collection and discussions with the site geologists were the primary focus of the visits, a greater understanding of the geological setting and appreciation of Barton's Gold Procedures. . Geological interpretation Confidence in (or conversely, the uncertainty of) the geological interpretation of the mineral deposit. Confidence in the geological interpretation is considered moderate to high, dependent on the differing drill hole spacing in parts of the deposit. Nature of the data used and of any assumptions made. Interpretations are based solely on drill hole data: there is no outcrop in the area covering the deposit. 88% of all drill metres are RC, which limits the available information on structures. Drill core and RC chip logging has been used to define the main geological units and weathering profile boundaries. Observations from diamond drill core indicate that mineralized veins generally overprint (but can also be concordant to) a pervasive shear foliation present in granitic host rocks. The effect, if any, of alternative interpretations on Mineral Resource estimation. Alternative interpretations of mineralized domain boundaries would affect tonnage and grade, although the CP is confident that the current model is the best representation of the deposit based on available data. The use of geology in guiding and controlling Mineral Resource estimation. Twelve main fresh rock mineralized domains were interpreted, based on continuity of grade at a lower cut-off of 0.25 g/t Au. One small high-grade domain was defined based on a lower cut-off of 2.0 g/t Au. Mineralised domain grade cut-offs were based on examination of probability plots. Domains strike grid (local) north-south and dip steeply west An additional mineralized domain was defined for partially and completely weathered material at a lower cut-off of 0.25 g/t Au assuming some degree of lateral (sub-horizontal) dispersion. Two post-mineralisation mafic dykes and one dacite dyke were modelled and the resulting volumes were assigned zero grade. The factors affecting continuity both of grade and geology. Minor cross faulting does exist at the project, the offsets are considered too small to be significant at a resource scale Additional work is required to determine the nature of the structural controls on mineralised domain boundaries. Dimensions The extent and variability of the Mineral Resource expressed as length (along strike or otherwise), plan width, and depth below surface to the upper and lower limits of the Mineral Resource. The Tunkillia 223 deposit is defined with approximately 2.0 km strike and is between five and twenty metres wide. The depth of the deposit had been defined beyond 300 m below the surface. The reported resource has been reported to 300 m below the surface. Mineralisation strikes NW (UTM) and dips steeply to the SW ~70. The shear structure and contained HG shoots are expected to propagate to depth and are open down plunge. Estimation and modelling techniques In the case of block model interpolation, the block size in relation to the average sample spacing and the search employed The deposit is drilled on 50 m sections with critical areas infilled to 25 m sections. Down dip pierce points are commonly 25 m. A KNA analysis showed the optimal block size was 10 x 25 x 10 m. MA chose a smaller parent block size of 10 x 20 x 5 m to add detail in the commonly tighter 25 x 25 m drilled areas and the likely finial mining scenario, (open pit benches). The sub blocking was chosen to reflect a likely SMU of and open pit operation, (1.25 x 2.5 x 1.25 m (XYZ)) Search ellipses were based on variogram ranges and were optimised to 80 m in the long axis. A two pass estimation process was employed, the first pass (80m) required a minimum of 12 samples and a maximum of 20 composites, the second pass (160m) required a minimum of 6 composites and a maximum of 16 composites. Any assumptions behind modelling of selective mining units. The deposit is best suited to open pit mining methods, the sub block size chosen (1.25, 3.25, 1.25m (XYZ) was chosen to reflect a reasonable smallest mining unit assuming 5 m blasts and 2.5 flitches. The smallest mining unit also was considered when selecting appropriate composite lengths. Any assumptions about correlation between variables. Gold and silver mineralisation are very well correlation. However silver mineralisation is too low grade to be economically significant. Description of how the geological interpretation was used to control the resource estimates. The geological model included weathering profiles, and post mineralisation dykes. Mineralisation above the baes of weathering is assumed to be affected by supergene or weathering effects and is interpreted as dominantly horizontal lenses. No grade is interpreted into the post mineralisation dykes. Discussion of basis for using or not using grade cutting or capping. 2 m composite assays were reviewed, extreme outliers were checked against primary assay results and in relation to the remainder of the domain The process of validation, the checking process used, the comparison of model data to drill hole data, and use of reconciliation data if available. Global drill hole and sample means were compared. Localised Swath plots were checked, both at the deposit scale and domains scale. Grade tonnage curves from a Nearest neighbour and ID2 estimate were compared to the OK grade tonnage curve. No mining has occurred at the project. Moisture Whether the tonnages are estimated on a dry basis or with natural moisture, and the method of determination of the moisture content. Tonnages are based on dry tonnes. Dry bulk density has been assigned to the host rock. Cut-off parameters The basis of the adopted cut-off grade(s) or quality parameters applied. The resource is reported above a 0.4 g/t Au lower cut-off. Considering likely open pit mining, conventional heap leach or CIL processing and administration costs a head grade of 0.40 g/t is assumed profitable. Key Assumptions:  Open pit mining method  1.25m minimum mining width (sub block width),  6.9:1 strip ratio  Mining and Processing cost of AUD$33.24/tonne for mineralised material.  Gold price AUD 3,000/oz  95% Metallurgical recovery  5.0% Dilution  5.0% Royalty  This is in line with assumptions used in previous Pre-Feasibility Studies. The metal price used was AUD 3,000/oz. Mining factors or assumptions Assumptions made regarding possible mining methods, minimum mining dimensions and internal (or, if applicable, external) mining dilution. It is always necessary as part of the process of determining reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction to consider potential mining methods, but the assumptions made regarding mining methods and parameters when estimating Mineral Resources may not always be rigorous. Where this is the case, this should be reported with an explanation of the basis of the mining assumptions made. No mining factors or assumptions have been applied to the resource. MA considers the Tunkillia 223 deposit amenable to open pit mining methods and assumes the likely mining scenario will have 5 m benches and 2.5 m flitches. These assumptions have influenced, composite length, block size and resource cut off parameters. Metallurgical factors or assumptions The basis for assumptions or predictions regarding metallurgical amenability. It is always necessary as part of the process of determining reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction to consider potential metallurgical methods, but the assumptions regarding metallurgical treatment processes and parameters made when reporting Mineral Resources may not always be rigorous. Where this is the case, this should be reported with an explanation of the basis of the metallurgical assumptions made. No metallurgical factors have been applied to the in-situ grade estimates. Metallurgical Recovery is assumed, and a 95% gold recovery is used in the reasonable prospects of economic extraction analysis, no account of silver recovery is considered. Four campaigns of metallurgical test work have been commissioned over the life of the project (1997,2006, 2009,2013). Gold recovery in fresh (Primary) ranges between 81 and 93% and in oxide between 92 to 97% recovery using different scenarios. The 2009 and 2013 show adding a gravity circuit does not improve recovery. Heap Leach recovery is 76% in oxide material and low 30% in fresh material. Environmental factors or assumptions Assumptions made regarding possible waste and process residue disposal options. It is always necessary as part of the process of determining reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction to consider the potential environmental impacts of the mining and processing operation. While at this stage the determination of potential environmental impacts, particularly for a greenfields project, may not always be well advanced, the status of early consideration of these potential environmental impacts should be reported. Where these aspects have not been considered this should be reported with an explanation of the environmental assumptions made. The Tunkillia 223 deposit has been the subject of past extensive mineral processing and mine planning studies which have concluded the deposit is amenable to conventional open cut mining and CIP gold processing (carbon-in-pulp) techniques. Environmental baseline mapping has not identified any matters that are likely to preclude the future development of a mining operation that requires the on-site management of wastes and process residues (waste rock and process tailings). The consideration of a conventional open-cut mining and CIP gold processing operation, including associated ancillary activities and stand-alone infrastructure, fits within the scope of the South Australian government's approval frameworks and processes for a project such as the Tunkillia 223 deposit. Audits or reviews The results of any audits or reviews of Mineral Resource estimates. There has been no independent audit of the data or mineral resource. Discussion of relative accuracy/ confidence Where appropriate a statement of the relative accuracy and confidence level in the Mineral Resource estimate using an approach or procedure deemed appropriate by the Competent Person. For example, the application of statistical or geostatistical procedures to quantify the relative accuracy of the resource within stated confidence limits, or, if such an approach is not deemed appropriate, a qualitative discussion of the factors that could affect the relative accuracy and confidence of the estimate. No geostatistical confidence limits have been estimated. The relative accuracy and confidence in the Mineral Resource Estimate is reflected in the Resource Categories. The statement should specify whether it relates to global or local estimates, and, if local, state the relevant tonnages, which should be relevant to technical and economic evaluation. Documentation should include assumptions made and the procedures used. The ordinary kriging result, due to the high level of smoothing, should only be regarded as a global estimate, and is suitable as a life of mine planning tool. High grade domains were used to restrict the high grade material. Inferred Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to an Ore Reserve. Should local estimates be required for detailed mine scheduling techniques such as Uniform conditioning or conditional simulation should be considered, ultimately grade control drilling is required. These statements of relative accuracy and confidence of the estimate should be compared with production data, where available. Comparison with the previous estimates indicates that the changes implemented in the current Mineral Resource Estimate produced results that are in line with expectations. No mining has occurred at the Tunkillia 223 deposit.

Table 2: Drillhole Collar Details for Barton Gold Tunkillia January-February 2023 RC & DD Drilling Program mentioned in this Announcement

Hole ID Easting Northing RL DIP TAZ Total Depth (EOH) Type Completion Target TKB0058 477389 6545227 191 -55 58 360 RC 16/09/2022 223 TKB0065 477721 6544827 200 -65 58 294 RC 26/09/2022 223 TKB0069 477768 6544557 202 -65 58 311 RC 2/10/2022 223 TKB0070 477718 6544591 200 -60 58 384 RC 4/10/2022 223 TKB0071 477586 6544894 202 -60 58 366 RC 7/10/2022 223 TKB0072 477625 6545003 197 -70 58 348 RC 9/10/2022 223 TKB0076 477527 6545029 195 -70 58 396 RC 19/10/2022 223 TKB0078 477193 6545618 190 -55 58 366 RC 23/10/2022 223 TKB0080 477735 6544718 199 -65 58 330 RC 28/10/2022 223 TKB0083 477171 6545903 190 -70 58 360 RC 2/11/2022 223 TKB0085D 477160 6545712 189 -55 58 360.8 DD 10/11/2022 223 TKB0088D 477424 6545079 195 -60 58 534.8 DD 9/12/2022 223 TKB0093 477747 6544837 200 -60 58 240 RC 17/11/2022 223

Table 3: Significant Intersections for Barton Gold 2022 Tunkillia RC & Diamond Drilling Program Mentioned in this Announcement2

Hole ID From To Metres1 Au (g/t) Comments &/or including TKB0058 339 344 12 4.04* TKB0065 257 277 20 0.88* TKB0069 275 285 10 2.52 TKB0070 238 250 12 1.16 TKB0071 319 351 32 1.22* TKB0072 296 305 9 1.74 TKB0072 312 326 14 1.07* TKB0076 307 316 9 1.38* TKB0076 335 352 17 1.05* TKB0078 205 217 12 0.87* TKB0078 225 234 9 2.2* TKB0080 194 204 10 1 TKB0083 263 283 20 1* TKB0085D 174 185.3 11.3 4.04 TKB0088D 394 408.8 14.8 1.01 TKB0093 219 230 11 1.08

1 Note - Not true widths.

2 Note - Calculated applying a 0.5g/t Au cut-off and allowing up to 2m internal dilution provided dilution is >0.1g/t Au.

* Note - Calculated applying a 0.3g/t Au cut-off and allowing up to 2m internal dilution provided dilution is >0.1g/t Au. Refer to Table 1 'Data Aggregation Methods'

Table 4: Drillhole Collar Details for Historical Drill Holes Mentioned in this Announcement

Hole ID Easting Northing RL DIP TAZ Total Depth (EOH) Type Completion Target LED004 477512 6545183 192 -60 44 290 DD 20/03/1997 223 LED016 477543 6545246 190 -60 59 222.2 DD 12/03/2006 223 LED017 477562 6545257 190 -60 59 220.1 DD 9/03/2006 223 LED018 477582 6545269 190 -60 59 180.1 DD 5/03/2006 223 LRC013 477671 6545362 195 -60 224 180 RC 12/11/1996 223 LRC060 477259 6545771 192 -60 64 204 RC 17/03/1997 223 LRC100 477238 6545761 192 -60 59 159 RC 10/05/1997 223 LRC397 477894 6544639 202 -60 59 168 RC 31/07/2003 223 LRC398 477868 6544624 202 -60 59 210 RC 2/08/2003 223 LRC400 477817 6544592 203 -60 61 220 RC 6/08/2003 223 LRC401 477791 6544577 204 -60 58 211 RC 7/08/2003 223 LRC403 477303 6545743 193 -60 58 157 RC 8/08/2003 223 LRC559 477283 6545668 193 -62 60 97 RC 21/08/2008 223

Table 5: Significant Intersections for Historical Drilling Mentioned in this Announcement2

Hole ID From To Metres1 Au (g/t) Comments &/or including LED004 164 215 51 1.77* LED016 119 154 35 1.26* LED017 110 139 29 4.14* LED018 66 96 30 3.62 LRC013 102 139 37 3.96* LRC060 68 82 14 3.22 LRC100 97 123 26 1.88* LRC397 64 72 8 1.22 LRC398 98 102 4 2.94* LRC398 113 115 2 7.86* LRC400 146 149 3 3.54 LRC400 181 197 16 2.75* LRC401 162 165 3 3.58 LRC401 198 209 11 1.56* LRC403 54 92 38 3.42* LRC559 87 97 10 3.07*

1 Note - Not true widths.

2 Note - Calculated applying a 0.5g/t Au cut-off and allowing up to 2m internal dilution provided dilution is >0.1g/t Au.

* Note - Calculated applying a 0.3g/t Au cut-off and allowing up to 2m internal dilution provided dilution is >0.1g/t Au. Refer to Table 1 'Data Aggregation Methods'

SOURCE: Barton Gold Holdings Limited

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Binding Agreement Follows 2022 Term Sheet & Phase 1 Analysis

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / June 14, 2024 /

HIGHLIGHTS

Exclusive R&D partnership developing and trialling Discriminant Predictive Targeting ( DPT ) for gold and copper mineralisation over 60,000km 2 of the central Gawler Craton

) for gold and copper mineralisation over 60,000km of the central Gawler Craton Phase 1 analysis identified multiple new gold and copper targets on Barton's tenements 1

Execution of Binding Agreement kicks off Phase 2 development of the DPT module over the central Gawler Craton, and target generation for in-field drill testing and DPT validation

Barton Gold Holdings Limited (ASX:BGD) (Barton or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has signed binding terms with SensOre Ltd (ASX:S3N) (SensOre) for an exclusive R&D investment partnership across the central Gawler Craton in South Australia (R&D Partnership).

Barton and SensOre are collaborating to adapt its Western Australian artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) DPT targeting engine to South Australia. With the execution of binding terms the team is now commencing Phase 2 development and validation of a South Australian DPT targeting model, focused on gold and copper mineralisation within a ~60,000km2 area surrounding Barton's tenements.

A map of the R&D Partnership area, and further details of its terms, are detailed on the following page.

Commenting on the new Partnership, Barton Gold MD Alex Scanlon said:

"We are excited to be taking the next step toward the development and trial application of these technologies in the central Gawler Craton. This is a very richly mineralised domain with relatively low historical exploration.

"SensOre is on the cutting edge of new mineral exploration technologies and is an ideal partner for Barton. Successful development of this technology is expected to accelerate Barton's regional exploration successes, and further strengthen Barton's regional strategic development advantage in the central Gawler Craton."

Commenting on the new Partnership, SensOre CEO Richard Taylor said:

"With Phase 1 analyses indicating a large number of potential gold and copper targets across Barton's tenements and the surrounding central Gawler Craton, we are excited to move to the next stage of this partnership.

"SensOre is an active mining technology group partnering on ground which it has evaluated using its proprietary data and technologies. We are very happy to be working with a development team of Barton's calibre to leverage their significant existing development platform of 1.1Moz Au in a richly mineralised, but underexplored, domain.

"We anticipate that the combination of Barton's existing mineralisation, its ownership of the region's only gold mill, and the upside potential of our machine learning applications will present exciting future opportunities."

Figure 1 - Barton Tenements with Phase I (Yellow) & Phase II (White) Areas of Exclusivity

Under the R&D Partnership, Barton has already contributed $45,000 to the development of Phase 1 regional prospectivity mapping, which has identified multiple prospective new gold and copper targets on Barton's tenements, and across the surrounding 60,000km2 central Gawler Craton.1 With the commencement of Phase 2 works, Barton will contribute up to a further $350,000 to development of DPT in the central Gawler Craton. Barton will also provide its extensive private data sets for integration into a South Australian 'data cube' to refine, and then drill validate, the DPT targeting model. Further to the terms of agreement: Barton will be entitled to 10 years' exclusive use of the South Australian DPT module for gold and copper within an initial ~60,000km 2 area indicated by the white polygon in Figure 1, during which time SensOre will also not compete with Barton to acquire gold or copper targets therein; and

area indicated by the white polygon in Figure 1, during which time SensOre will also not compete with Barton to acquire gold or copper targets therein; and Subject to the successful production of gold and/or copper mineralisation at new targets predicted by the South Australian DPT module, SensOre will become entitled to additional benefits in the form of royalties linked to the quantum of gold and copper produced. Barton will provide further updates as Phase 2 development and trialling progresses.

Authorised by the Board of Directors of Barton Gold Holdings Limited. For further information, please contact: Alexander Scanlon

Managing Director

a.scanlon@bartongold.com.au

+61 425 226 649 Shannon Coates

Company Secretary

cosec@bartongold.com.au

+61 8 9322 1587

1 Refer to Barton ASX announcement dated 14 June 2022

2 Refer to Barton ASX announcement dated 14 June 2022

About Barton Gold

Barton Gold is an ASX listed Australian gold exploration company with a total attributable ~1.1Moz Au JORC (2012) Mineral Resources endowment (28.68Mt @ 1.2 g/t Au), a pipeline of advanced exploration projects and brownfield mines, and 100% ownership of the only regional gold mill in the central Gawler Craton of South Australia.*

Tarcoola Gold Project Existing brownfield open pit mine within trucking distance of Barton's processing plant

Significant mineral extensions

Under-explored asset with untapped scale potential Tunkillia Gold Project 965koz Au Mineral Resources (26.1Mt @ 1.15 g/t Au)*

Host structure extends 7km north and 7km south

District-scale structures with advanced satellite targets Infrastructure 650ktpa CIP process plant, mine village, workshop, labs and airstrip

Tarcoola ~40 person lodging to support mine operations

Tunkillia camp to support dedicated project team Competent Persons Statement & Previously Reported Information The information in this announcement that relates to the historic Exploration Results and Mineral Resources as listed in the table below is based on, and fairly represents, information and supporting documentation prepared by the Competent Person whose name appears in the same row, who is an employee of or independent consultant to the Company and is a Member or Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM), Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG) or a Recognised Professional Organisation (RPO). Each person named in the table below has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and types of deposits under consideration and to the activity which he has undertaken to quality as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code 2012. Activity Competent Person Membership Status Tarcoola Mineral Resource Dr Andrew Fowler (Consultant) AusIMM Member Tarcoola Exploration Results (until 15 Nov 2021) Mr Colin Skidmore (Consultant) AIG Member Tarcoola Exploration Results (after 15 Nov 2021) Mr Marc Twining (Employee) AusIMM Member Tunkillia Exploration Results (until 15 Nov 2021) Mr Colin Skidmore (Consultant) AIG Member Tunkillia Exploration Results (after 15 Nov 2021) Mr Marc Twining (Employee) AusIMM Member Tunkillia Mineral Resource Dr Andrew Fowler (Consultant) AusIMM Member Challenger Mineral Resource Mr Dale Sims (Consultant) AusIMM / AIG Fellow / Member Western Gawler Craton JV Mineral Resource Mr Richard Maddocks (Consultant) AusIMM Fellow The information relating to historic Exploration Results and Mineral Resources in this announcement is extracted from the Company's Prospectus dated 14 May 2021 or as otherwise noted in this announcement, available from the Company's website at www.bartongold.com.au or on the ASX website www.asx.com.au. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the Exploration Results and Mineral Resource information included in previous announcements and, in the case of estimates of Mineral Resources, that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the Prospectus continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the applicable Competent Persons' findings are presented have not been materially modified from the previous announcements. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This document may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "expect", "target" and "intend" and statements than an event or result "may", "will", "should", "would", "could", or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. Forward-looking information is subject to business, legal and economic risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among other things, risks relating to property interests, the global economic climate, commodity prices, sovereign and legal risks, and environmental risks. Forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and opinions at the date the statements are made. Barton undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements for events or circumstances that occur subsequent to such dates or to update or keep current any of the information contained herein. Any estimates or projections as to events that may occur in the future (including projections of revenue, expense, net income and performance) are based upon the best judgment of Barton from information available as of the date of this document. There is no guarantee that any of these estimates or projections will be achieved. Actual results will vary from the projections and such variations may be material. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied upon as, a promise or representation as to the past or future. Any reliance placed by the reader on this document, or on any forward-looking statement contained in or referred to in this document will be solely at the readers own risk, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. * Refer to Barton Prospectus dated 14 May 2021 and ASX announcement 14 October 2021. SOURCE: Barton Gold Holdings Limited

View the original press release on accesswire.com
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / June 14, 2024 / Barton Gold Holdings Limited (ASX:BGD) (Barton or the Company) is pleased to provide an update regarding its ongoing assessment of the Central Gawler Mill for potential future Stage 1 operations. In December 2022 Barton completed a preliminary preservation program at the Central Gawler Mill to assist recommissioning scope and cost estimates, with key equipment disassembled, cleaned and stored.1

Following these works Barton also commissioned an independent valuation report of the mill and associated site infrastructure. The purpose of this report is to inform the appropriate level of insurance cover to protect these strategic assets while Barton continues its regional development and assessment of potential options to commence accelerated 'Stage 1' operations utilising the Central Gawler Mill.

This report has valued the Central Gawler Mill and associated infrastructure at over $100 million on an 'as new' replacement value basis, and over $50 million on an 'as is' indemnity value basis.

Commenting on the Central Gawler Mill valuation report, Barton MD Alex Scanlon said:

"The Central Gawler Mill is uniquely valuable strategic infrastructure for Barton. Being fully permitted and licensed, it provides considerable leverage to the regional development of gold mineralisation via either (or both of) third party toll milling or accelerated commissioning of 'Stage 1' operations utilising Tarcoola mineralisation.

"The mill provides Barton a significant advantage in 'crossing the drawbridge' into operations on a much lower-cost-and-risk basis, while potentially generating significant early cash to fund our larger long-term ambitions."

Authorised by the Board of Directors of Barton Gold Holdings Limited.

For further information, please contact:

Alexander Scanlon

Managing Director

a.scanlon@bartongold.com.au

+61 425 226 649 Shannon Coates

Company Secretary

cosec@bartongold.com.au

+61 8 9322 1587



1 Refer to ASX announcements dated 20 Dec 2022 and 31 May 2023 About Barton Gold Barton Gold is an ASX listed Australian gold exploration company with a total attributable 1.3Moz Au JORC Mineral Resources endowment (40.6Mt @ 1.0 g/t Au), a pipeline of advanced exploration projects and brownfield mines, and 100% ownership of the only regional gold mill in the central Gawler Craton of South Australia.* Tarcoola Gold Project Existing brownfield open pit mine within trucking distance of Barton's processing plant

Under-explored asset with untapped scale potential Tunkillia Gold Project 1.15Moz Au Mineral Resources (38Mt @ 0.94 g/t Au)*

District-scale structures with advanced satellite targets Infrastructure 650ktpa CIP process plant, mine village, and airstrip

Tarcoola ~40 person lodging to support mine operations

Tunkillia camp to support dedicated project team Competent Persons Statement & Previously Reported Information The information in this announcement that relates to the historic Exploration Results and Mineral Resources as listed in the table below is based on, and fairly represents, information and supporting documentation prepared by the Competent Person whose name appears in the same row, who is an employee of or independent consultant to the Company and is a Member or Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM), Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG) or a Recognised Professional Organisation (RPO). Each person named in the table below has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and types of deposits under consideration and to the activity which he has undertaken to quality as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code 2012. Activity Competent Person Membership Status Tarcoola Mineral Resource Dr Andrew Fowler (Consultant) AusIMM Member Tarcoola Exploration Results (until 15 Nov 2021) Mr Colin Skidmore (Consultant) AIG Member Tarcoola Exploration Results (after 15 Nov 2021) Mr Marc Twining (Employee) AusIMM Member Tunkillia Exploration Results (until 15 Nov 2021) Mr Colin Skidmore (Consultant) AIG Member Tunkillia Exploration Results (after 15 Nov 2021) Mr Marc Twining (Employee) AusIMM Member Tunkillia Mineral Resource Dr Andrew Fowler (Consultant) AusIMM Member Challenger Mineral Resource Mr Dale Sims (Consultant) AusIMM / AIG Fellow / Member Western Gawler Craton JV Mineral Resource Mr Richard Maddocks (Consultant) AusIMM Fellow The information relating to historic Exploration Results and Mineral Resources in this announcement is extracted from the Company's Prospectus dated 14 May 2021 or as otherwise noted in this announcement, available from the Company's website at www.bartongold.com.au or on the ASX website www.asx.com.au. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the Exploration Results and Mineral Resource information included in previous announcements and, in the case of estimates of Mineral Resources, that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the Prospectus continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the applicable Competent Persons' findings are presented have not been materially modified from the previous announcements. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This document may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "expect", "target" and "intend" and statements than an event or result "may", "will", "should", "would", "could", or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. Forward-looking information is subject to business, legal and economic risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among other things, risks relating to property interests, the global economic climate, commodity prices, sovereign and legal risks, and environmental risks. Forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and opinions at the date the statements are made. Barton undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements for events or circumstances that occur subsequent to such dates or to update or keep current any of the information contained herein. Any estimates or projections as to events that may occur in the future (including projections of revenue, expense, net income and performance) are based upon the best judgment of Barton from information available as of the date of this document. There is no guarantee that any of these estimates or projections will be achieved. Actual results will vary from the projections and such variations may be material. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied upon as, a promise or representation as to the past or future. Any reliance placed by the reader on this document, or on any forward-looking statement contained in or referred to in this document will be solely at the readers own risk, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. This document may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "expect", "target" and "intend" and statements than an event or result "may", "will", "should", "would", "could", or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. Forward-looking information is subject to business, legal and economic risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among other things, risks relating to property interests, the global economic climate, commodity prices, sovereign and legal risks, and environmental risks. Forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and opinions at the date the statements are made. Barton undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements for events or circumstances that occur subsequent to such dates or to update or keep current any of the information contained herein. Any estimates or projections as to events that may occur in the future (including projections of revenue, expense, net income and performance) are based upon the best judgment of Barton from information available as of the date of this document. There is no guarantee that any of these estimates or projections will be achieved. Actual results will vary from the projections and such variations may be material. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied upon as, a promise or representation as to the past or future. Any reliance placed by the reader on this document, or on any forward-looking statement contained in or referred to in this document will be solely at the readers own risk, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. * Refer to Barton Prospectus dated 14 May 2021 and ASX announcement dated 26 April 2023. Total Barton attributable JORC (2012) Mineral Resources include 679koz Au in Indicated (22.2Mt @ 1.0 g/t) and 618koz Au (18.36Mt @ 1.0 g/t) Inferred categories. SOURE: Barton Gold Holdings Limited

View the original press release on accesswire.com
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / June 14, 2024 /

HIGHLIGHTS

Tunkillia Scoping Studies launch following institutional Placement and early close of SPP

GR Engineering and Mining Associates engaged for detailed Scoping Study and PFS Gap Analysis

Barton Gold Holdings Limited (ASX:BGD)(OTCQB:BGDFF)(FRA:BGD3) (Barton or the Company) is pleased to advise that scoping studies have commenced for the Tunkillia Gold Project (Tunkillia). During March Tunkillia's JORC (2012) Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) grew to 1.5Moz Au (51.3Mt @ 0.91 g/t Au)).1

Barton has appointed GR Engineering Services Limited (GRES) and Mining Associates Pty Ltd (Mining Associates) to lead a detailed scoping study for Tunkillia including mine design, production scheduling, process plant, tailings storage, equipment, personnel and supporting infrastructure (Scoping Study).

Following completion of the Scoping Study, Barton will also complete a review of all technical data to determine the forward work program necessary to complete a pre-feasibility study (PFS Gap Analysis).

The launch of Tunkillia Scoping Studies follows the completion of Barton's recent share placement to institutional investors (Placement) and Share Purchase Plan (SPP).2 The Placement and SPP were both strong supported by the Company's institutional, sophisticated and retail shareholders, with applications significantly exceeding the targeted raise amounts and final SPP allocations yet to be determined.2

Commenting on the start of Tunkillia Scoping Studies, Barton Managing Director Alex Scanlon said:

"We have rapidly advanced Tunkillia since its acquisition in early 2020, leading to multiple expansions of its mineralised footprint and four cost-efficient JORC Resource upgrades. It is very exciting to now step forward into early development studies as we continue building the district scale potential for our South Australian assets."

Authorised by the Board of Directors of Barton Gold Holdings Limited.

For further information, please contact:

Alexander Scanlon

Managing Director

a.scanlon@bartongold.com.au

+61 425 226 649 Shannon Coates

Company Secretary

cosec@bartongold.com.au

+61 8 9322 1587

1 Refer to ASX announcement dated 4 March 2024

2 Refer to ASX announcements dated 27 March, 5 April, 9 April and 16 April 2024

About Barton Gold

Barton Gold is an ASX, OTCQB and Frankfurt stock exchange listed Australian gold exploration company with a total attributable 1.3Moz Au JORC Mineral Resources endowment (40.6Mt @ 1.0 g/t Au), a pipeline of advanced exploration projects and brownfield mines, and 100% ownership of the only regional gold mill in the central Gawler Craton of South Australia.*

Tarcoola Gold Project

Existing brownfield open pit mine within trucking distance of Barton's processing plant

Under-explored asset with untapped scale potential

Tunkillia Gold Project

1.15Moz Au Mineral Resources (38Mt @ 0.94 g/t Au)*

District-scale structures with advanced satellite targets

Infrastructure

650ktpa CIP process plant, mine village, and airstrip

Tarcoola ~40 person lodging to support mine operations

Tunkillia camp to support dedicated project team

Competent Persons Statement & Previously Reported Information

The information in this announcement that relates to the historic Exploration Results and Mineral Resources as listed in the table below is based on, and fairly represents, information and supporting documentation prepared by the Competent Person whose name appears in the same row, who is an employee of or independent consultant to the Company and is a Member or Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM), Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG) or a Recognised Professional Organisation (RPO). Each person named in the table below has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and types of deposits under consideration and to the activity which he has undertaken to quality as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code 2012.

Activity Competent Person Membership Status Tarcoola Mineral Resource Dr Andrew Fowler (Consultant) AusIMM Member Tarcoola Exploration Results (until 15 Nov 2021) Mr Colin Skidmore (Consultant) AIG Member Tarcoola Exploration Results (after 15 Nov 2021) Mr Marc Twining (Employee) AusIMM Member Tunkillia Exploration Results (until 15 Nov 2021) Mr Colin Skidmore (Consultant) AIG Member Tunkillia Exploration Results (after 15 Nov 2021) Mr Marc Twining (Employee) AusIMM Member Tunkillia Mineral Resource Dr Andrew Fowler (Consultant) AusIMM Member Challenger Mineral Resource Mr Dale Sims (Consultant) AusIMM / AIG Fellow / Member Western Gawler Craton JV Mineral Resource Mr Richard Maddocks (Consultant) AusIMM Fellow

The information relating to historic Exploration Results and Mineral Resources in this announcement is extracted from the Company's Prospectus dated 14 May 2021 or as otherwise noted in this announcement, available from the Company's website at www.bartongold.com.au or on the ASX website www.asx.com.au. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the Exploration Results and Mineral Resource information included in previous announcements and, in the case of estimates of Mineral Resources, that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the Prospectus continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the applicable Competent Persons' findings are presented have not been materially modified from the previous announcements.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This document may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "expect", "target" and "intend" and statements than an event or result "may", "will", "should", "would", "could", or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. Forward-looking information is subject to business, legal and economic risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among other things, risks relating to property interests, the global economic climate, commodity prices, sovereign and legal risks, and environmental risks. Forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and opinions at the date the statements are made. Barton undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements for events or circumstances that occur subsequent to such dates or to update or keep current any of the information contained herein. Any estimates or projections as to events that may occur in the future (including projections of revenue, expense, net income and performance) are based upon the best judgment of Barton from information available as of the date of this document. There is no guarantee that any of these estimates or projections will be achieved. Actual results will vary from the projections and such variations may be material. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied upon as, a promise or representation as to the past or future. Any reliance placed by the reader on this document, or on any forward-looking statement contained in or referred to in this document will be solely at the readers own risk, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty thereof.

* Refer to Barton Prospectus dated 14 May 2021 and ASX announcement 4 March 2024. Total Barton attributable JORC (2012) Mineral Resources include 824koz Au (26.8Mt @ 0.96 g/t Au) in Indicated and 750koz Au (25.4Mt @ 0.92 g/t Au) in Inferred categories.

SOURCE: Barton Gold Holdings Limited

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Platform established for 2024 Scoping Studies and high-grade targeting

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / June 14, 2024 /

HIGHLIGHTS

Tunkillia JORC Mineral Resource Estimate grows to 1.5 million oz (51.3Mt @ 0.91 g/t Au), with a new 115,216 oz Au Mineral Resource at Area 51 (4.98Mt @ 0.72 g/t Au)

Broad (50 - 100m) bulk open pittable mineralisation ~3km from main 223 Deposit

3rd Tunkillia JORC update in ~12 months, adding ~530,000oz Au for ~A$15/oz ('all in' basis); 2024 exploration focused on high-grade neighbouring targets at Tunkillia and Tarcoola

Fig 1 - Tunkillia Area 51 map with MRE outline and drill collars (note holes dip to NE, into MRE)

Barton Gold Holdings Limited (ASX:BGD)(FRA:BGD3)(OTCQB:BGDFF) (Barton or the Company) is pleased to announce an updated JORC Mineral Resources Estimate (MRE) for the Tunkillia Gold Project (Tunkillia).

Approximately 8,663m of drilling by Barton has delivered a new 115,216koz Au Area 51 Deposit to the northwest of the 223 Deposit. Total Tunkillia JORC (2012) Mineral Resources are now estimated at 1,493,000 ounces Au (51.3Mt @ 0.91 g/t Au), with ~55% classified in the 'Indicated' category.

Commenting on the latest Tunkillia JORC Resources update, Barton MD Alex Scanlon said:

"Barton has now grown Tunkillia's JORC Mineral Resources three times during the past 12 months, with around 530,000 ounces of gold added through the systematic, cost-efficient identification and conversion of new zones.

"The updated 1.5Moz Au Resource provides a critical mass on which to now model baseline economic analyses, while pursuing neighbouring high-grade targets like Tunkillia's Area 191 and Tarcoola. These have significant potential to enhance overall project economics and support Stage 1 development leveraging our existing mill."



Continued growth of Tunkillia JORC MRE

An updated Tunkillia map showing the March 2024 MRE outlines, and regional targets Area 191 and SE Offset, is shown at Figure 2 below. The updated Tunkillia MRE includes a new MRE at Area 51 located northwest of the 223 Deposit. This is the Company's 4rd MRE update for Tunkillia since late 2020, and the 3rd delivered during the past ~12 months for aggregate growth of ~530,000oz Au in that time.

Fig 2 - Tunkillia Project MRE and neighbouring targets (refer to 14 Feb 2024 ASX announcement)

New Area 51 JORC Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE)

Drilling has defined a new 115,216koz Au MRE at Tunkillia's Area 51 zone (4.98Mt @ 0.72 g/t Au). JORC MRE modelling has been restricted to ~150m depth from surface at a 0.5 g/t Au cutoff grade, with a further broad, continuous halo of surrounding mineralisation (modelled on a 0.4 g/t Au cutoff grade).

Fig 3 - Long section of Area 51 Deposit block model showing all mineral domains (looking W/NW)

Table 1 - Area 51 MRE (4 March 2024)

Drilling in new Area 51 MRE

The Area 51 Deposit MRE has been informed by a total of 72 drill holes, including 6,058m of reverse circulation (RC) and 2,605.4m diamond drilling (DD) (total 8,663.4m) completed by Barton.

Continued efficient Tunkillia growth

Estimated ~A$2.05m 'all in' cost at Area 51, averaging ~A$18 / new oz

Past 12 months: ~530,000oz Au added for average ~A$15/oz (all in)

Shallow bulk mineralisation

Broad (50 - 100m wide) and shallow (~25m - 150m deep) mineralisation

Potential source of bulk-efficient mineralisation for later production years and/or blending operations

Background & updated Tunkillia MRE

In 2022 Barton completed 1,926m of RC drilling at Area 51, announcing a new ~500m long gold zone in September 2022 with results including 17m @ 3.20 g/t Au from 77m and 25m @ 1.51 g/t Au from 81m.1

In early 2023 Barton completed a further 2,118m RC and 856.9m DD drilling, announcing the extension of Area 51 to ~700m length in April 2023 with key results including 28.55m @ 1.32 g/t Au from 91.45m.2

During late 2023 Barton completed another 1,700m RC and 1,748.5m DD drilling, intersecting broad mineralisation with results including 44.6m @ 1.81 g/t Au from 64m and 22m @ 1.33 g/t Au from 158m.3

Fig 5 - Area 51 Cross Section 116,150N3

The updated global Tunkillia MRE is shown below at Table 2. Table 2 -Global Tunkillia MRE (4 March 2024)

The previously reported global Tunkillia MRE (as at 11 December 2023) is shown below at Table 3. Table 3 - Global Tunkillia MRE (11 December 2023)

Fig 6 - Drilling at Tunkillia during calendar year 2023 MRE growth programs

Updated Global JORC MRE Statement Further to the new MRE detailed in this announcement for Tunkillia's Area 51 Deposit, Barton's total attributable JORC (2012) Mineral Resource endowment has grown by approximately 8% to a total 1,575koz Au (52.2Mt @ 0.94 g/t Au). Figure 6 below provides the full details of Barton's global MRE endowment. Table 4 - Barton Global JORC MRE Inventory (March 2024)

* Table shows complete JORC Mineral Resources Estimate (MRE) for each Project on a 100% basis. Figures subject to rounding; tonnages are dry-metric tonnes; all Mineral Resources classified as 'inferred' are approximate; cut-off grades applied are 0.4 g/t Au (Tunkillia Area 223), 0.5 g/t Au (Tunkillia Area 51), 0.4 g/t Au (Tarcoola), 2.0 g/t Au (Challenger).

Mineral Resource Estimation Methodology and Data

The following information is provided as an addendum and meets the requirements under ASX Listing Rule 5.8.1. This information is provided in detail in the attached JORC Table 1.

Summary

The Area 51 deposit is a satellite deposit approximately 4 km north of the Tunkillia Project. The Tunkillia Project is located 530 km north-west of Adelaide in South Australia's Gawler Craton. It is 100% owned by Tunkillia 2 Pty Ltd which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Barton Gold Holdings Limited.

The Tunkillia Project lies within the Central Gawler Craton of South Australia which is bound to the east by the Gawler Range Volcanic Province. The central portion of the Gawler Craton consists of a variety of geological units and is structurally complex. Archaean metamorphic rocks and greenstone-belt units are distributed along WSW-ENE trends. During the Palaeoproterozoic, granitoids including the Tunkillia Suite were emplaced possibly with associated deformation. During these deformation episodes, major shear zones developed, including the east-trending Yerda and Oolabinnia Shear Zones and the north-trending Yarlbrinda Shear Zone, host to the Area 51 gold deposit. Typical lithologies encountered at the Tunkillia Project (including Area 51, Sutton Hoo, Tunkillia 223 and Tillya Tepe) from west to east include variably sheared chlorite-biotite-rich augen gneiss (Tunkillia Augen Gneiss) grading into a highly chloritised and mylonitised phyllitic shear.

The primary lithologies at Area 51 are the Tunkillia Granite, after a 1690-1670 Ma granite intrusion, and the Tunkillia Augen Gneiss. The deposit is totally enclosed with the Yarlbrinda Shear zone and all lithologies have undergone some level of deformation and alteration, with the extreme end member forming a finely laminated phyllonite grading to a coarser shear foliation designated as mylonite. The large-scale control on mineralisation is strain partitioning within the broader shear zone, associated with sericite alteration and quartz-calcite  base metal veins either parallel to or at a low angle to the strain partitioning.

The broad bulk of the gold mineralisation is hosted in the NNW trending subvertical shear partition zone, with additional mineralisation in secondary quartz and stockwork vein halos associated with two south-west dipping brittle faults in the footwall and a flat lying supergene horizon where the sub-vertical mineralisation intersects the weathering profile. A poorly mineralised NNW striking fault, the Central A51 Fault, is a late brittle fault generally corresponding to the hanging wall of the deposit and is considered a hard boundary to the mineralisation.

The resource is reported above a depth of 1025 m RL and above a 0.5 g/t gold cut off (1025 m RL is approximately 150 m below the surface).

0.5 g/t cut off Indicated Inferred Total tonnes (Mt) Gold (g/t) Gold (koz) tonnes (Mt) Gold (g/t) Gold (koz) tonnes (Mt) Gold (g/t) Gold (koz) Oxide 0.00 0.00 0 0.2 0.87 5 0.19 0.87 5 Transitional 0.00 0.00 0 1.0 0.72 24 1.02 0.72 24 Fresh 0.93 0.87 26 2.8 0.66 60 3.77 0.71 86 Total 0.93 0.87 26 4.1 0.68 89 4.98 0.72 115

Table A - Area 51 Mineral Resource Estimate 2024

* Due to rounding to appropriate significant figures, minor discrepancies may occur, tonnages are dry metric tonnes.

Mineral Resources are not Ore Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Inferred resource have less geological confidence than Indicated resources and should not have modifying factors applied to them. It is reasonable to expect that with further exploration most of the inferred resources could be upgraded to indicated resources.

Geology and geology interpretation

The Tunkillia project is Proterozoic-aged shear hosted gold system located in the central Gawler Craton region of South Australia. The deposit lies within the regional-scale Yarlbrinda shear zone which represents the boundary between several major crustal domains. The deposit has dimensions of approximately 1 km along a north north-westerly strike, with primary zones of mineralisation having a steep west south-westerly dipping orientation. Higher grade zones of mineralisation are primarily hosted within multiple zones of quartz veins, within a broader zone of lower grade gold mineralisation. A significant zone of flat lying gold mineralisation occurs at the base of weathering above fresh rock. No historical mining or prospecting has taken place at the deposit.

Drilling techniques

A total of 72 RC and diamond drill holes for 12,252.4 m have been drilled within the area defined by the A51 a mineral resource. 59 of these holes are RC (9,647 m) with 13 holes (2,605.4 m) being either diamond or pre-collared diamond. Barton Gold's drilling since 2021 comprises 6,058 m RC (35 holes) and 2605.4 m diamond drilling (13 holes). RC drilling for Barton Gold was undertaken by Bullion Drilling Pty Ltd using a Schramm T865 rig and Kenndy Drilling using a custom made SR650 with all RC rigs having on-board compressors with an auxiliary booster to provide approximately 2000cfm by 1000psi. Diamond drilling completed by Resolution Drilling using a UDR1200 rig.

Drill holes across the deposit are spaced at nominal 50 m x 25 m centres. Pierce point intersections are similarly achieved at 50 m vertical centres.

The locations of historical drill holes have been verified by Barton Gold with both surface drill collar pick-ups and by validation of existing mineralisation with a recent drill program.

Sampling and sub-sampling techniques

RC drilling by Barton Gold utilised a 5 " face-sampling hammer, with a rig-mounted cone splitter attached to the cyclone providing one-metre sample intervals. Field duplicates were collected at the ratios of either 1:16 or 1:22. Certified reference materials (CRMs) sourced from OREAS were inserted with grade ranges suited to grade populations for the deposit.

Diamond drilling by Barton Gold utilised NQ-size drill core, with half-core submitted for analysis. Intervals were generally one metre in length and adjusted where appropriate to reflect geological boundaries. Field duplicates were derived by quarter-coring intervals. Identical field duplicate and CRM protocols as RC drilling were used.

Sample analysis

Two to four kilogram RC splits and half-drill core were sent to Bureau Veritas in Adelaide for preparation and analysis using 40 g fire assay techniques for gold. Bureau Veritas' FA1 method uses a 40 g lead collection fire assay with AAS finish to a 0.01 ppm detection limit. Samples from an earlier phase of Barton Gold drilling were sent to Intertek Genalysis in Adelaide for preparation and analysis using 50 g fire assay techniques for gold and ICPOES/MS for multielement geochemistry.

A variety of analytical techniques and laboratories have been utilised over the course of the project's history and are considered suitable for resource estimation purposes.

QAQC

Barton Gold inserted certified reference materials (CRM's) supplied by OREAS into the sampling sequence every 25 samples. CRM's were selected on the basis of gold levels relevant to the deposit being drilled. Barton Gold's overall QAQC protocols utilised CRM's, field duplicates and certified coarse blank inserted at an overall ratio of one per ten routine drill hole samples for both RC and diamond drilling.

Based on the results of standard analysis, in addition to the internal QA/QC standards, repeats and blanks run by the laboratory, the laboratory was deemed to provide an acceptable level of accuracy and precision.

Estimation methodology

The geological interpretations are based on drill hole data: there is no outcrop in the area covering the deposit. Drill core and RC chip logging has been used to define the main geological units and weathering profile boundaries.

Mineralisation above the base of weathering is assumed to be affected by supergene or weathering effects and is interpreted as dominantly horizontal lenses. Four fresh rock mineralized structures were interpreted, based on continuity of grade at a lower cut-off of 0.35 g/t Au at the A51 deposit. Structures were grouped into geostatistical domains based on grade similarities and structural orientation. A51 strikes grid (local) north-west and dip steeply west.

The Mineral Resource statement reported herein is a reasonable representation of the A51 deposit based on current sampling data. Grade estimation was undertaken using Geovia's Surpac software package (v7.7). Ordinary Kriging ("OK") was selected for grade estimation.

The block model utilises parent blocks measuring 10 m x 20 m x 5 m with sub-blocking to 1.25 m x 2.5 m x 1.25 m (XYZ) to better define the volumes. Blocks above topography are flagged as air blocks. Estimation resolution was set at the parent block size.

Informing samples were composited down hole to 1 m intervals. Grade capping was applied to outlier composites. Experimental variograms were generated where possible in Surpac. For domains where experimental variograms could not be created, variogram models were borrowed from similar domains. A two-pass estimation process was employed, the first pass (70 to 90 m search domains dependent) required a minimum of 12 samples and a maximum of 20 composites, the second pass (double pass one) required a minimum of 6 composites and a maximum of 16 composites. Density values are assigned to blocks based on lithology and weathering; the average density of the mineralisation is 2.65 t/m3.

Block model validation consisted of visual checks in plan and section, global comparisons between input and output means, alternative estimation techniques.

Cut-off grades

The resource is reported above a 0.5 g/t gold grade and within 150 m of the surface (1025 mRL).

The following assumptions were considered.

Resource Cut Off Assumptions Item Units Value Gold Price AUD$/oz $3,000 Gold Price AUD$/g $ 96.45 Recovery % 95% Effective Revenue AUD$/g $ 91.63 Less Royalty % 6.0% Less per g Costs AUD$/g $ 0.96 Realized Revenue AUD$/g $ 86.17 Cost to Mine/t ore AUD$/t $ 19.23 Costs to Process AUD$/t $ 14.00 Cut-off (in place) g/t 0.39 Dilution % 5% Min. Potential Resource Cut-off Grade g/t 0.41

Criteria used for classification

The Resource Estimates were classified in accordance with the JORC 2012 code. The A51 resources are classified based on data quality, drill density, number of informing samples, kriging efficiency, average distance to informing samples and vein consistency (geological continuity). Geological continuity has been demonstrated at 50 m grid spacing over the entire strike of the deposits. Areas of high grade or geological complexity have been infilled to 25 m grid centres. Areas drill on 50 m sections, with some infilled on 25 m centres down dip are classified as indicated, predicated on geological confidence. Areas of 50 m x 50m or greater have been classified as inferred. Areas of limited geological confidence or at a depth beyond a reasonable open pit depth remains unclassified. A mineral resource is not an ore reserve and does not have demonstrated economic viability.

Mining and metallurgical methods and parameters and other material modifying factors considered to data

Barton Gold foresees mining via open pit and heap or conventional grinding and leach recovery. Mining Associates ("MA") notes that this is a reasonable assumption but should not be regarded as rigorous at this stage of the project. The current Mineral Resource does not include any dilution or ore loss associated with practical mining constraints. The A51 mineralisation sampled has been shown to be amenable to direct cyanidation for gold extraction. Limited metallurgical work shows moderate recovery differences between oxidised and fresh material. Gold recoveries at the Tunkillia Project within the oxidised material are between 92 and 97%.

Authorised by the Board of Directors of Barton Gold Holdings Limited.

For further information, please contact:

Alexander Scanlon

Managing Director

a.scanlon@bartongold.com.au

+61 425 226 649 Shannon Coates

Company Secretary

cosec@bartongold.com.au

+61 8 9322 1587

1 Refer to ASX announcement dated 5 September 2022

2 Refer to ASX announcement dated 19 April 2023

3 Refer to ASX announcement dated 8 February 2024 for further details of drilling intersections

Competent Persons Statements

The information in this announcement that relates to Exploration Results for the Tunkillia Gold Project (including drilling, sampling, geophysical surveys and geological interpretation) is based upon, and fairly represents, information and supporting documentation compiled by Mr Marc Twining BSc (Hons). Mr Twining is an employee of Barton Gold Holdings Ltd and is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Geoscientists (AusIMM Member 112811) and has sufficient experience with the style of mineralisation, the deposit type 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" (The JORC Code). Mr Twining consents to the inclusion in this announcement of the matters based upon this information in the form and context in which it appears.

The information in this announcement that relates to the estimate of Mineral Resources for the Tunkillia Gold Project geological interpretation and resource estimates) is based upon, and fairly represents, information and supporting documentation compiled by Mr Ian Taylor BSc (Hons). Mr Taylor is an employee of Mining Associates Pty Ltd and has acted as an independent consultant on Barton Gold's Tunkillia Gold Project, South Australia. Mr Taylor is a Fellow and certified Professional of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (FAusIMM (CP Geo) 110090) and has sufficient experience with the style of mineralisation, the deposit type 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" (The JORC Code). Mr Taylor consents to the inclusion in this announcement of the matters based upon this information in the form and context in which it appears.

About Barton Gold

Barton Gold is an ASX listed Australian gold exploration company with a total attributable 1.3Moz Au JORC Mineral Resources endowment (40.6Mt @ 1.0 g/t Au), a pipeline of advanced exploration projects and brownfield mines, and 100% ownership of the only regional gold mill in the central Gawler Craton of South Australia.*

Tarcoola Gold Project

Existing brownfield open pit mine within trucking distance of Barton's processing plant

Under-explored asset with untapped scale potential

Tunkillia Gold Project

1.15Moz Au Mineral Resources (38Mt @ 0.94 g/t Au)*

District-scale structures with advanced satellite targets

Infrastructure

650ktpa CIP process plant, mine village, and airstrip

Tarcoola ~40 person lodging to support mine operations

Tunkillia camp to support dedicated project team

Competent Persons Statement & Previously Reported Information

The information in this announcement that relates to the historic Exploration Results and Mineral Resources as listed in the table below is based on, and fairly represents, information and supporting documentation prepared by the Competent Person whose name appears in the same row, who is an employee of or independent consultant to the Company and is a Member or Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM), Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG) or a Recognised Professional Organisation (RPO). Each person named in the table below has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and types of deposits under consideration and to the activity which he has undertaken to quality as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code 2012.

Activity Competent Person Membership Status Tarcoola Mineral Resource Dr Andrew Fowler (Consultant) AusIMM Member Tarcoola Exploration Results (until 15 Nov 2021) Mr Colin Skidmore (Consultant) AIG Member Tarcoola Exploration Results (after 15 Nov 2021) Mr Marc Twining (Employee) AusIMM Member Tunkillia Exploration Results (until 15 Nov 2021) Mr Colin Skidmore (Consultant) AIG Member Tunkillia Exploration Results (after 15 Nov 2021) Mr Marc Twining (Employee) AusIMM Member Tunkillia Mineral Resource Dr Andrew Fowler (Consultant) AusIMM Member Challenger Mineral Resource Mr Dale Sims (Consultant) AusIMM / AIG Fellow / Member Western Gawler Craton JV Mineral Resource Mr Richard Maddocks (Consultant) AusIMM Fellow

The information relating to historic Exploration Results and Mineral Resources in this announcement is extracted from the Company's Prospectus dated 14 May 2021 or as otherwise noted in this announcement, available from the Company's website at www.bartongold.com.au or on the ASX website www.asx.com.au. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the Exploration Results and Mineral Resource information included in previous announcements and, in the case of estimates of Mineral Resources, that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the Prospectus continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the applicable Competent Persons' findings are presented have not been materially modified from the previous announcements.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This document may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "expect", "target" and "intend" and statements than an event or result "may", "will", "should", "would", "could", or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. Forward-looking information is subject to business, legal and economic risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among other things, risks relating to property interests, the global economic climate, commodity prices, sovereign and legal risks, and environmental risks. Forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and opinions at the date the statements are made. Barton undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements for events or circumstances that occur subsequent to such dates or to update or keep current any of the information contained herein. Any estimates or projections as to events that may occur in the future (including projections of revenue, expense, net income and performance) are based upon the best judgment of Barton from information available as of the date of this document. There is no guarantee that any of these estimates or projections will be achieved. Actual results will vary from the projections and such variations may be material. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied upon as, a promise or representation as to the past or future. Any reliance placed by the reader on this document, or on any forward-looking statement contained in or referred to in this document will be solely at the readers own risk, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty thereof.

* Refer to Barton Prospectus dated 14 May 2021 and ASX announcement dated 11 December 2023. Total Barton attributable JORC (2012) Mineral Resources include 824koz Au (26.8Mt @ 0.96 g/t Au) in Indicated and 750koz Au (25.4Mt @ 0.92 g/t Au) in Inferred categories.

JORC Table 1 - Tunkillia Gold Project

Section 1 Sampling Techniques and Data

Criteria Commentary Sampling techniques Nature and quality of sampling (e.g. cut channels, random chips, or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc.). These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling. Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representivity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems used. Aspects of the determination of mineralisation that are Material to the Public Report. In cases where 'industry standard' work has been done this would be relatively simple (e.g. "RC drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay"). In other cases, more explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralisation types (e.g. submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information Sampling during Barton Gold's RC drill programs at Tunkillia was obtained through reverse circulation (RC) and diamond drilling methods Historic RC and diamond drilling methods were also used in drilling campaigns completed since the mid-1990s. Rotary air-blast (RAB) and aircore drilling has also been completed. These holes were used to guide interpretation but were not used modelling or grade estimations of the results reported in the accompanying Announcement. The drilling program used a Metzke cone splitter (or similar) attached to the cyclone. One-metre splits were constrained by chute and butterfly valves to derive a 2-4kg split on the cyclone. Samples above 1m depth were not collected. Diamond core for drilling has been sawn in half using an automated core saw. Field duplicates were derived from using quarter core for the designated interval. Historic diamond core has been sawn in half or quarter using a core saw. The sample preparation for drilling conducted in 2022 and 2023 of the one-metre sampling for Barton Gold's RC and diamond drill program was conducted by Bureau Veritas (Adelaide) using method FA1 where the 2-3kg split sample received at the laboratory is weighed, dried, crushed to 10mm, pulverized to 75 micron and split to provide a 40g sample for fire assay analysis. The sample preparation of the one-metre sampling for Barton Gold's 2021 RC drill program was conducted by Intertek Genalysis (Adelaide) using method SP1 where the 2-3kg split sample received at the laboratory is weighed, dried, crushed to 3mm, pulverized to 75 micron and split to provide a 50g sample for fire assay and adequate pulverized material for multi-element analysis. For early RC drillholes (1996-1997), the 1 metre samples were collected through a cyclone and collected in poly bags. Samples were initially taken as 4 metre spear composites and then re-assayed at 1 metre intervals if the initial sample returned a grade above a certain threshold. RC drillholes drilled post-1997 were sampled through an on-rig splitter system The majority of core samples were taken as 1 metre lengths and half-cored. Drilling techniques Drill type (e.g. core, RC, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc.) and details (e.g. core diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of diamond tails, face-sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc.). The RC drilling by Barton Gold used a face-sampling 5 " RC drilling techniques undertaken by Kennedy Drilling using a SREPS SR650 drilling rig with auxiliary compressor. Earlier RC drilling by Barton Gold (2021-22) contributing to the work reported was undertaken by Bullion Drilling utilising equivalent drilling equipment. The diamond drilling program used a UDR1200 drill rig provided by Resolution Drilling, drilling NQ (47.6mm diameter) size drill core, using a standard tube configuration. Diamond drill holes were precollared with rotary mud drilling through the strongly weathered (clay) upper parts of each drill hole. Drill core was oriented (bottom of hole) using the Axis Champ orientation system. Historically slimline RC drilling used a face-sampling hammer bit with a diameter of ~90mm. All other RC drillholes were drilled using a "standard size" hammer (ranging from 120mm-136mm). Diamond drillholes have been pre-drilled to fresh rock using a RC pre-collar or cored from surface, with a range of diameters used: NQ, PQ, HQ. Drill sample recovery Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries and results assessed. Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure representative nature of the samples. Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade and whether sample bias may have occurred due to preferential loss/gain of fine/coarse material. During drilling programs drilling recoveries were qualitatively described for each drilled interval in the field database along with an estimation of moisture content. In general recoveries were good, in the order of 30-40kg for each one-metre interval. Water was encountered in some drill holes and wet samples were collected from some intervals, although wet samples comprise <3% of sampling overall. No reduced sample weights were recorded with wet intervals and a review of results does not indicate contamination between adjacent samples. Samples submitted to the laboratory were weighed on a dry, as-received basis and reported along with assay results. Recoveries for diamond drill core were measured and recorded. No quantitative recoveries were recorded from pre 2021 RC drilling. However, consistent sample weights were noted within mineralised zones in previous reports. No quantitative recoveries have been recorded from previous diamond drilling through mineralised zones. However, previous MRE and geological reports indicate there has been negligible loss through mineralised zones. Recoveries of 90-100% were achieved in geotechnical drilling of the saprolite for geotechnical assessment. The RC and diamond drilling was closely monitored by the site geologist to ensure optimal recovery and that samples were considered representative. Historically, HQ triple tube (HQ3) drilling was used for some holes to maximise core recovery. Re-entry holes were not triple-tubed as they were drilled straight into fresh bedrock. Drilling rates were controlled, and short drill runs were often used through the oxide zone to maximise core recovery. No relationship between grade and recovery has been identified. Logging Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical studies. Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core (or costean, channel, etc.) photography. The total length and percentage of the relevant intersections logged. All drilling programs electronically logged a number of parameters direct into a database including: Stratigraphy, lithology, weathering, primary and secondary colour, texture, grainsize, alteration type-style-intensity and mineralisation type-style-percentage. Historically RC chips and diamond core were logged by experienced geologists as a hard copy or into a DataShed database. From 2023 Barton has stored all drilling data in an in-house managed MS Access database. All diamond core was photographed. Structural measurements were made on core oriented using either a spear and Ezy-Mark (pre-Barton) or Reflex (Barton) core orientation devices. Core is stored on site and at the South Australian Government's Adelaide Core Library. All diamond core and RC drilling has been geologically logged. Subsampling techniques and sample preparation If core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or all core taken If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc. and whether sampled wet or dry. For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique. Quality control procedures adopted for all subsampling stages to maximise representivity of samples. Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative of the in-situ material collected, including for instance results for field duplicate/second-half sampling. Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled. Diamond drill core was sawn in half with one half taken for sampling. Sample lengths were generally 1m although at times were sampled to geological intervals. Selected intervals of whole core were used for geotechnical test work. The RC drilling program used an Ox sampling system (Kennedy) or Metzke (Bulion) cone splitter mounted on the cyclone with one-metre splits constrained by chute and butterfly valves to derive a 2-4kg split on the cyclone. The majority (>97%) of samples were dry and when samples were wet they were recorded in the sampling records. The majority of the historical RC samples have been collected at 1 metre intervals using a rifle splitter attached to the drill rig. Periodically between 1996 and 2011, within the strongly weathered portion, samples were collected over 4m intervals. The sample was speared to achieve a representative portion from the interval. During the RC drilling program a field duplicate was collected off a second chute on the cyclone splitter at a frequency of either 1 for each 16-original sample intervals (2021 drilling), 1 for each 22-orignal sample intervals (2022 drilling) or 1 for each 50-original sample intervals (2023 drilling). Field duplicates for diamond core were obtained by submitting quarter core for the selected intervals (ie half core was retained for all field duplicate intervals) Early drillholes up until 2006 utilised field duplicates and blanks as their only QAQC, this effectively accounts for 57% of the holes used in the current resource estimation. Sample sizes are considered to be appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled. Quality of assay data and laboratory tests The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is considered partial or total. For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments, etc., the parameters used in determining the analysis including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrations factors applied and their derivation, etc. Nature of quality control procedures adopted (e.g. standards, blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (i.e. lack of bias) and precision have been established. Barton Gold (2022-2023) - 2-4kg splits were sent to Bureau Veritas in Adelaide for preparation and analysis using 40g fire assay techniques for gold. Bureau Veritas' FA1 method uses a 40g lead collection fire assay with AAS finish to a 0.01 ppm detection limit. Barton Gold (2021) - 2-4kg splits were sent to Intertek Genalysis in Adelaide for preparation and analysis using 50g fire assay techniques for gold and ICPOES/MS for multielement geochemistry. Whilst preparation and some fire assays were undertaken in Adelaide Intertek also sent some batches to their Perth laboratories for analysis. Intertek's FA50/OE04 method uses a 50 g lead collection fire assay with ICP-OES / MS finish to a 0.005 ppm detection limit. Multielement samples were analysed using Intertek's method 4A/MS48 which is a 4-acid digest followed by analysis using ICP-OES and MS for 48 elements. Pre-2003 samples were sent to Analabs for analysis. Post 2003 samples were sent to Intertek Genalysis Laboratory for assay Gold values were determined by aqua regia digest (B/ETA or B/SAAS) and any values returning >1ppm were repeated using fire assay (FA25/AAS). If a fire assay was taken then this became the "official" assay. All other elements were determined using multi-acid digest (AT/OES) Analytical techniques have varied somewhat over the projects history. No geophysical studies were used in the course of Barton Gold drilling programs. Barton Gold's RC and diamond drilling programs included a comprehensive QAQC component with Field Duplicate samples taken at every 16th (2021 drilling), 25th sample (2022 drilling) or 50th sample (2023 drilling); Certified Standards (selection of OREAS CRM's considered most appropriate for expected grade and composition) were inserted randomly in sequence for at every 20th (2021 drilling), 25th (2022 drilling) or 50th sample (2023) submitted; blanks were inserted in sequence at every 50th sample submitted. Additionally, the laboratories provided their internal QAQC which included check samples, CRM's, blanks and repeats. Analysis of the duplicate samples was reasonable given the majority fell below detection. Variances between some higher grade pairs of field duplicates was recorded, but attributed to variability in the distribution of mineralisation (vein related) and not as a consequence of analytical processes. There was no evidence of material cross-contamination in the submitted blank samples. Both Intertek and Bureau Veritas' analysis for gold using fire assay performed well with all batches falling within the +/-3SD test of the expected value for the given standards (3 OREAS CRM's). Historically, the amount of sampling and analytical QC data that has been collected has varied over the project's history. Early drillholes up until 2006 utilised field duplicates and blanks as their only QAQC, this effectively accounts for 57% of the holes used in the estimation. Post 2006, QAQC samples were submitted in the form of field duplicates and Certified Reference Standards from Ore Research & Exploration Pty Ltd. Standards were submitted every 20th sample and field duplicates every 50th sample. No material concerns were highlighted in the analysis of QAQC data. Tunkillia Gold used blanks to monitor carry-over contamination and no significant issues were detected. Field duplicates were used to assess sample precision, while CRMs were used to assess analytical accuracy. Some pulps were also sent to an umpire laboratory as a further check on analytical accuracy. Field duplicate results provide a guide to sample precision. The expected scatter (due to high nugget effect) is monitored and is expected to remain within a range. The CRMs reasonably demonstrated the accuracy of the laboratory. Pulp repeats demonstrated acceptable performance. Verification of sampling and assaying The verification of significant intersections by either independent or alternative company personnel. The use of twinned holes. Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols. Discuss any adjustment to assay data. Alternative company personnel have verified significant intersections. No twinned holes were undertaken on the 2023 program reported in this release. One previous Barton RC hole has been twinned by a diamond hole, confirming the position of the mineralised envelopes and grade characteristics in the system. Location of data points Accuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drillholes (collar and downhole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource estimation. Specification of the grid system used. Quality and adequacy of topographic control. All data collected in the reported program including collar details, drilling records, sampling records and geological logs are recorded directly into spreadsheets in the field which includes comprehensive interval validation processes. Gyro downhole surveys and Assay results were provided in digital format. All relevant historical data was entered into a DataShed database where various validation checks were performed. Data was exported into an Access Database. No adjustments were made to any assay data in this release. All Q4 2023 RC and diamond drill collars were sited using a Garmin hand-held GPS system. Prior drillholes were similarly sited with a Garmin Hand-held GPS system and subsequently picked up with a Leica DGPS system. The RL was generated from the LiDAR survey collected at the completion of drilling. All Barton RC holes were downhole surveyed using an Axis Champ gyro system which provided measurements at 10m intervals up and down hole. All Barton diamond holes were surveyed using a single-shot gyro tool at 15m or 30m intervals during drilling operations. 488 out of a total of 556 drillhole collars from drilling prior to 2021 across the broader Tunkillia project were located using DGPS survey techniques. The raw data for 30% of these have been located and verified. Earlier collars were located by measuring off a local grid system. All site data is reported in Geocentric Datum of Australia 1994 (GDA94) and Vertical Datum in Australian Height Datum (AHD). The map projection is MGA Zone 53. Historic Survey Data has been converted to GDA94. Historically the Tunkillia Project uses the Remington local grid which is rotated 31.37 degrees west of the MGA 94 grid with a local origin of 110,000E and 111,500N Transformation Formula: Local E = 110000 + ((MGA94_E - 477614.802 ) cos a) + ((MGA94_N - 6545289.018) sin a)) Local N = 111500 + ((MGA94_N - 6545289.018) cos a) - (MGA94_E - 477614.802) sin a)) Where angle a = 31.37 Local RL = mRL_MGA+1009.232 In September 2021 Barton engaged Aerometrex to collect LiDAR and high-resolution ortho-imagery over the entire Tunkillia project area. All datasets are levelled to the LiDAR survey Data spacing and distribution Data spacing for reporting of Exploration Results. Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity appropriate for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and classifications applied. Whether sample compositing has been applied. Barton's RC and diamond drilling program at the A51 project was conducted at variable spacing as dictated by existing drilling and the aims of the program to provide continuity with the existing drill coverage. Drilling has been undertaken on lines spaced a nominal 50m apart. The spacings are considered appropriate for the reporting of exploration results. On section drill spacing generally ranges from 20-30m, increasing to 50 metres with the majority of drilling on section and perpendicular to strike. Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling of possible structures and the extent to which this is known, considering the deposit type. If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralised structures is considered to have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material. Barton's RC and diamond drill program was orientated to optimally test predicted mineralised structures and stratigraphic positions to provide were possible unbiased samples. Drill sections are orientated local grid E-W, perpendicular to the main mineralised lenses. The majority of drillholes used to define the steeply west dipping primary mineralisation are drilled towards the east at -60 degrees. The relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralised structures is not considered to have introduced a sampling bias. Sample security The measures taken to ensure sample security. Barton Gold staff oversaw the sampling on the RC drill rig and maintained oversight of sample security whilst onsite during the drilling programs. Split samples were inserted into pre-printed calico bags. These tied bags were, in batches of 5, ziplocked into labelled poly-weave bags which were inserted into ziplocked Bulka-bags. The bulka bags were strapped onto pallets and loaded by a Barton Gold representative on to a semitrailer for transport to the laboratories in Adelaide and Perth. The trailers were not unloaded whilst in transit. Diamond drill core was either cut on site or transported from the project site to Adelaide and cut by experienced and reputable service providers. The core cutting agents undertook sampling of the drill core and subsequent delivery of samples to the laboratory. Barton Gold staff undertook regular visits during core cutting and sampling processes to verify the integrity of processes being undertaken. Barton does not have detailed information in regard to sample security measures taken by previous owners of the Tunkillia project. However, Barton understands that these procedures have been in accordance with commonly adopted standard industry practices. Audits or reviews The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data An internal peer review of the exploration data processes has been completed by Barton Gold which has included a detailed review of the assay, survey and QAQC data.

Section 2 Reporting of Exploration Results

Criteria Commentary Mineral tenement and land tenure status Type, reference name/number, location and ownership including agreements or material issues with third parties such as joint ventures, partnerships, overriding royalties, native title interests, historical sites, wilderness or national park and environmental settings. The security of the tenure held at the time of reporting along with any known impediments to obtaining a licence to operate in the area. The Tunkillia Project area is located 530 km north-west of Adelaide in South Australia's Gawler Craton. It is 100% owned by Tunkillia 2 Pty Ltd which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Barton Gold Holdings Limited. The project comprises two exploration licences that were grouped into an Amalgamated Expenditure Agreement on 4th October 2012 and Joint Venture Reporting on 21st January 2013. Most of the South Australian tenements held by WPG Resources were bought by current owner Barton Gold Pty Ltd on 1st November 2019. The three current tenements comprise EL6845, EL6639 and EL5901 which have a combined area of 1,362 km2. The Tunkillia Project was under three overlapping Native Title claims which are now grouped into a single organisation, the Gawler Ranges Aboriginal Corporation (GRAC) that represents all three groups. Barton Gold's negotiations with GRAC secured a signed Native Title Mining Agreement for Exploration for EL's 6845, EL6639 and EL5901 on 2nd February 2021. Barton's Exploration Licences 6845, 6639 and 5901 are subject to South Australian State royalties and entitled to a reduced 'new mine' State royalty rate of 2% of the value of minerals recovered until 30 June 2026, and are also subject to total 2.5% private royalties (gross product). There are no joint ventures over the Tunkillia Project tenure. There are no known impediments to obtaining future licences. Exploration done by other parties Acknowledgment and appraisal of exploration by other parties. Exploration in the Tunkillia area commenced in 1996 with a regional geochemical survey by Helix Resources who established the local Remington grid. Infill sampling delineated the Tunkillia Prospect as a 20 km2 geochemical gold in calcrete anomaly. Subsequent RAB drilling led to the discovery of the Area 223 deposit in late 1996. RC drilling in early 1997 further enhanced the discovery. A joint venture was formed with Acacia who took over management of the project with subsequent exploration carried out as the Gawler Craton Joint Venture. The JV later involved AngloGold Australasia Ltd following its takeover of Acacia. In June 2003, Helix finalised the acquisition of AngloGold's 49% interest and returned 100% of the project to Helix An independent resource assessment by Snowden Mining Industry Consultants prompted an extensive 12,000m RC program to infill the Area 223 resource. A re-interpretation of the aeromagnetic data identified new exploration targets away from the known resource outlining mineralisation at Tomahawk and Areas 191. In April-June 2004 Helix completed an 8000 m RC drilling program testing areas of the Area 223 North and South mineralisation and exploration concepts at Area 191 and the central part of the shear zone. Studies were completed by Resource Evaluations Pty Ltd in June 2004 looking at resource estimates and optimisation studies based on the available drilling. A Joint Venture commenced between Helix and Minotaur Exploration Ltd in April 2005 where Minotaur assumed operation and management of the project. Minotaur undertook an intense exploration effort in the immediate surrounds of the Area 223 resource, and regionally. In 2007, Minotaur re-appraised the Area 223 resource using recent drilling and separated distinct oxide and sulphide domains. In January 2012, Mungana acquired the 55% interest in the Tunkillia Gold Project via the acquisition of Minotaur's wholly owned subsidiary Minotaur Ventures Pty Ltd. WPG Resources acquired 70% of the project in May 2014 through the acquisition of the Tarcoola and Tunkillia projects from Mungana Goldmines Ltd. In Nov 2014 WPG moved to 100% ownership of the Tunkillia gold project by acquiring the 30% owned by Helix Resources. WPG Resources completed work on calcrete samples over a number of targets along the Tunkillia "Line of Lode". Drilling of selected Area 51 and Tomahawk Extended areas included ten RC holes for 1,641m. No further work was undertaken by WPG Resources until the project was purchased by Barton Gold in late 2019. Geology Deposit type, geological setting and style of mineralisation. The Tunkillia Project extends over a large portion of the Central Gawler Craton of South Australia which is bound to the east by the Gawler Range Volcanic Province. The central portion of the Gawler Craton consists of a variety of geological units and is structurally complex. Archaean metamorphic rocks and greenstone-belt units are distributed along WSW-ENE trends. During the Palaeoproterozoic, granitoids including the Tunkillia Suite were emplaced possibly with associated deformation. During these deformation episodes, major shear zones developed, including the east-trending Yerda and Oolabinnia Shear Zones and north-trending Yarlbrinda Shear Zone. The Yarlbrinda Shear Zone and Yerda Shear Zone are up to several kilometres wide with ductile shearing and deformation probably occurring before ~1600 Ma and before Mesoproterozoic anorogenic magmatism. During the Mesoproterozoic, widespread anorogenic magmatism across the central portion of the craton resulted the Gawler Range Volcanics, Hiltaba Suite granite (1595-1575 Ma) and emplacement of minor gabbroic plugs. Development of Cu-Au +/- U mineralisation at Olympic Dam and Prominent Hill and gold dominant mineralisation at Tunkillia and Tarcoola occurred during this period. Typical lithologies encountered across the Tunkillia project (including Area 51) from west to east include variably sheared chlorite-biotite-rich augen gneiss (Tunkillia Augen Gneiss) grading into a highly chloritised and mylonitised phyllonitic shear. The phyllonitic shear zone grades into a weakly gneissic unit to the east which is variably altered by sericite to form the central alteration zone. This unit has a sheared contact with the footwall granite. The host rocks have been intruded by at least two later episodes of dyke emplacement. The mafic dyke appears to form the footwall to the main mineralisation at Area 223. Relationships between dyke emplacement and the mineralisation remain unclear. The dykes appear to cross-cut mineralisation at most of the Tunkillia project prospects and deposits and are unmineralised in fresh rock. But in the weathered zone gold occurs within the weathered dyke and also to east of this apparent 'bounding' lithology. The main mineralisation appears to occur within en-echelon sets of quartz-sulphide tension veins predominately bounded by duplex shears, with brittle fractures extending into the hanging wall. The mineralised positions across the Tunkillia project has undergone extensive weathering which formed a leached kaolinitic profile capped by a silcrete layer. No palaeochannels are observed at Area 223 or Area 51 although they do occur elsewhere in the Tunkillia area. At 50-60 metres depth near the base of the weathering profile a zone of supergene mineralisation is developed which shows some enrichment compared with the underlying primary lodes. Gold appears to have been laterally dispersed over a distance of tens of metres within the oxide zone. Drillhole information A summary of all information material to the understanding of the exploration results including a tabulation of the following information for all Material drillholes: Easting and northing of the drillhole collar

Elevation or RL (Reduced Level - Elevation above sea level in metres) of the drillholecollar

Dip and azimuth of the hole

Downhole length and interception depth hole length. If the exclusion of this information is justified on the basis that the information is not Material and this exclusion does not detract from the understanding of the report, the Competent Person should clearly explain why this is the case. No new drilling is reported in this release. All drilling has previously been reported to the market. Data aggregation methods In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques, maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (e.g. cutting of high grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should be stated. Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of high grade results and longer lengths of low grade results, the procedure used for such aggregation should be stated and some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown in detail. The assumptions used for any reporting of metal equivalent values should be clearly stated. No new results are reported in this release and previously reported intersections used the following criteria: Reported intervals have been determined by applying either

a) a 0.5g/t Au cut-off (minimum 1gram-metre accumulation, ie the multiple of the interval in metres and the weighted average grade) and allowing for a maximum of two consecutive intervals of dilution, OR.

b) a 0.3g/t Au cut-off (minimum 5gram-metre accumulation) and allowing for a maximum of two consecutive intervals of dilution. This is considered appropriate to convey the significant widths of mineralisation that characterise parts of the Tunkillia project

No high-grade cut-offs were applied

Results for quarter-core field duplicates from diamond drilling were averaged across the pair of samples to provide a result consistent with routine half-core sampling

No metal equivalents were calculated Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths These relationships are particularly important in the reporting of Exploration Results. If the geometry of the mineralisation with respect to the drillhole angle is known, its nature should be reported. If it is not known and only the down hole lengths are reported, there should be a clear statement to this effect (e.g. "downhole length, true width not known"). Drillholes have been designed to intersect the mineralisation zone as perpendicular as possible. Reported intercepts are downhole length and true width can generally be estimated because the dip of the mineralisation is known. Diagrams Appropriate maps and sections (with scales) and tabulations of intercepts should be included for any significant discovery being reported These should include, but not be limited to a plan view of drillhole collar locations and appropriate sectional views. See Figures included the body of this Announcement. Relevant commentary relating to diagrams is discussed under the heading of Balanced Reporting. Balanced reporting Where comprehensive reporting of all Exploration Results is not practicable, representative reporting of both low and high grades and/or widths should be practiced to avoid misleading reporting of Exploration Results. Balanced reporting of Exploration Results is presented Other substantive exploration data Other exploration data, if meaningful and material, should be reported including (but not limited to): geological observations; geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results; bulk samples - size and method of treatment; metallurgical test results; bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical and rock characteristics; potential deleterious or contaminating substances. Extensive geological, geophysical, geochemical, geotechnical and metallurgical datasets are available for the Tunkillia project area. Other datasets including gravity that was sourced from open-file datasets (SA DEM). Historical data acquired by previous owners included detailed aeromagnetic, TEMPEST airborne EM and in-fill gravity surveys completed over parts of the tenement area and mostly focussed on the Yarlbrinda Shear Zone. Other data includes gradient array IP, biogeochemical sampling, CHIM/MMI geochemical sampling and spectral scanning of reverse circulation drill chips. Further work The nature and scale of planned further work (e.g. tests for lateral extensions or depth extensions or large-scale step-out drilling). Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas of possible extensions, including the main geological interpretations and future drilling areas, provided this information is not commercially sensitive. Mineralisation at the deposits and prospects across the Tunkillia project remains open along strike and downdip with potential for additional gold mineralisation at the Area 223 deposit and in other parallel structures in the area including Area 51, Tomahawk and Area 191. Barton Gold is planning further drilling work which will be focused on testing for dip and strike extensions and to confirm grade and geological continuity within the current models. While geophysical coverage already exists, additional geophysical exploration techniques may be undertaken as the project continues and may include magnetic surveys and ground-based gravity. Diagrams have been included in the body of this Announcement.

Section 3 Estimation and Reporting of Mineral Resources

Criteria Commentary Database integrity Measures taken to ensure that data has not been corrupted by, for example, transcription or keying errors, between its initial collection and its use for Mineral Resource estimation purposes. Data validation procedures used. Barton Gold has undertaken limited independent first principal checks using hard copies of results and sectional interpretations. Plots of the sections were provided to MA, to guide the interpretation. Historical Independent Technical Reports accept the integrity of the database. The geological database has been managed by several different database management providers over the years. The database is currently managed by the Barton Gold using MS Access. Preceding historic data was obtained from open file reports. MA undertook basic database validation checks were run, including collar locations, drill holes plot on topography, checks for missing intervals, overlapping intervals and hole depth mismatches. Site visits Comment on any site visits undertaken by the Competent Person and the outcome of those visits. If no site visits have been undertaken indicate why this is the case. The Competent Person (CP, Mr I.Taylor) visited site from the 1st to 4th November 2022 during the 2022 drill program to review the geology, drill core, field and drill practices. The site visit included Area 51, and drilling that had occurred to that date. Data collection and discussions with the site geologists were the primary focus of the visits, a greater understanding of the geological setting and appreciation of Barton's Gold Procedures. Geological interpretation Confidence in (or conversely, the uncertainty of) the geological interpretation of the mineral deposit. Nature of the data used and of any assumptions made. The effect, if any, of alternative interpretations on Mineral Resource estimation. The use of geology in guiding and controlling Mineral Resource estimation. The factors affecting continuity both of grade and geology. Confidence in the geological interpretation is considered moderate to high, dependent on the differing drill hole spacing in parts of the deposit. Two diamond core holes have been drilled into Area 51. Interpretations are based solely on drill hole data: there is no outcrop in the area covering the deposit. All assayed drill metres are RC. Diamond holes are strategically placed for maximum structural understanding. Drill core and RC chip logging has been used to define the main geological units and weathering profile boundaries. Observations from diamond drill core indicate that mineralized veins generally overprint (but can also be concordant to) a pervasive shear foliation present in granitic host rocks. Alternative interpretations of mineralized domain boundaries would affect tonnage and grade, although the CP is confident that the current model is the best representation of the deposit based on available data. Four fresh rock mineralized structures were interpreted, based on continuity of grade at a lower cut-off of 0.35 g/t Au at the A51 deposit. Structures were grouped into geostatistical domains based on grade similarities and structural orientation. Area 51 strikes grid (local) north-south and dip steeply west. Minor cross faulting is likely to exist at the project, the offsets are considered too small to quantify on the current drill spacing. Additional work is required to determine the nature of the structural controls on mineralised domain boundaries. Dimensions The extent and variability of the Mineral Resource expressed as length (along strike or otherwise), plan width, and depth below surface to the upper and lower limits of the Mineral Resource. The Area51 deposit is defined with approximately 1000 m strike and is between five and 10 metres thick on the main structure and up to hundred metres wide in the overlying oxide mineralisation. The depth of the deposit had been defined beyond 300 m below the surface. The reported resource has been reported to 150 m below the surface. Mineralisation strikes NW (UTM) and dips steeply to the SW ~80. The shear structure and contained mineralisation are expected to propagate to depth and are open. Estimation and modelling techniques In the case of block model interpolation, the block size in relation to the average sample spacing and the search employed. Any assumptions behind modelling of selective mining units. Any assumptions about correlation between variables. Description of how the geological interpretation was used to control the resource estimates. Discussion of basis for using or not using grade cutting or capping. The process of validation, the checking process used, the comparison of model data to drill hole data, and use of reconciliation data if available. The deposit is drilled on 50 m sections with up to 3 drill holes spaced 25 m along sections resulting in 50 m pierce points. MA chose a smaller parent block size of 10 x 20 x 5 m, approximating  the dominant drill spacing. The likely finial mining scenario, (open pit benches), prompted the selection of sub blocks reflecting a likely SMU of 1.25 x 2.5 x 1.25 m (XYZ)) Search ellipses were based on variogram ranges and ranged between 70 and 90 m on the long axis. A two pass estimation process was employed, the first pass required a minimum of 12 samples and a maximum of 20 composites, the second pass (double the search) required a minimum of 6 composites and a maximum of 16 composites. 67% of the tonnes are estimated during the first pass. The deposit is best suited to open pit mining methods, the sub block size chosen (1.25, 2.5, 1.25m (XYZ) was chosen to reflect a reasonable smallest mining unit assuming 5 m blasts and 2.5 flitches. The smallest mining unit also was considered when selecting appropriate composite lengths. Gold and silver mineralisation are well correlated. However silver mineralisation is too low a grade to be economically significant. Samples are not routinely assayed for Silver. The geological model included weathering profiles. Mineralisation above the base of weathering is assumed to be affected by supergene or weathering effects and is interpreted as dominantly horizontal lenses. The base of weathering is considered a hard boundary during interpretation. No post mineralisation dykes are present at A51. 1 m composite assays were reviewed, extreme outliers were checked against primary assay results and in relation to the remainder of the domain. Global drill hole and sample means were compared. Localised Swath plots were checked, both at the deposit scale and domains scale. Grade tonnage curves from a Nearest neighbour and ID2 estimate were compared to the OK grade tonnage curve. No mining has occurred at the project. Moisture Whether the tonnages are estimated on a dry basis or with natural moisture, and the method of determination of the moisture. Tonnages are based on dry tonnes. Dry bulk density has been assigned to the host rock. Cut-off parameters The basis of the adopted cut-off grade(s) or quality parameters applied. The resource is reported above a 0.5 g/t Au lower cut-off. Considering likely open pit mining, conventional heap leach or CIL processing and administration costs a head grade of 0.40 g/t is assumed profitable. Key Assumptions:  Open pit mining method  1.25m minimum mining width (sub block width),  5:1 strip ratio  Mining and Processing cost of AUD$33.24/tonne for mineralised material.  Gold price AUD 3,000/oz  95% Metallurgical recovery  5.0% Dilution  6.0% Royalty  This is in line with assumptions used in previous Pre-Feasibility Studies. The metal price used was AUD 3,000/oz.. Mining factors or assumptions Assumptions made regarding possible mining methods, minimum mining dimensions and internal (or, if applicable, external) mining dilution. It is always necessary as part of the process of determining reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction to consider potential mining methods, but the assumptions made regarding mining methods and parameters when estimating Mineral Resources may not always be rigorous. Where this is the case, this should be reported with an explanation of the basis of the mining assumptions made. No mining factors or assumptions have been applied to the resource. MA considers the A51 deposit amenable to open pit mining methods. MA considers A51 to be a satellite deposit to the Tunkillia Project, the likely mining scenario will be in conjunction with the Tunkillia deposit. The pit is envisaged to have a 5 m benches and 2.5 m flitches. These assumptions have influenced, composite length, block size and resource cut off parameters. Metallurgical factors or assumptions The basis for assumptions or predictions regarding metallurgical amenability. It is always necessary as part of the process of determining reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction to consider potential metallurgical methods, but the assumptions regarding metallurgical treatment processes and parameters made when reporting Mineral Resources may not always be rigorous. Where this is the case, this should be reported with an explanation of the basis of the metallurgical assumptions made. No metallurgical factors have been applied to the in-situ grade estimates. Metallurgical Recovery is assumed, and a 95% gold recovery is used in the reasonable prospects of economic extraction analysis, no account of silver recovery is considered. Four campaigns of metallurgical test work have been commissioned over the life of the Tunkillia project (1997,2006, 2009,2013), none directly on A51 material but mineralisation is along strike of Tunkillia and similar in nature. Gold recovery in fresh (Primary) ranges between 81 and 93% and in oxide between 92 to 97% recovery using different scenarios on Tunkillia Mineralisation. The 2009 and 2013 studies showed adding a gravity circuit does not improve recovery. Heap Leach recovery of the Tunkillia deposit is 76% in oxide material and low 30% in fresh material. Environmental factors or assumptions Assumptions made regarding possible waste and process residue disposal options. It is always necessary as part of the process of determining reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction to consider the potential environmental impacts of the mining and processing operation. While at this stage the determination of potential environmental impacts, particularly for a greenfields project, may not always be well advanced, the status of early consideration of these potential environmental impacts should be reported. Where these aspects have not been considered this should be reported with an explanation of the environmental assumptions made. Environmental baseline mapping has not identified any matters that are likely to preclude the future development of a mining operation that requires the on-site management of wastes and process residues (waste rock and process tailings). The consideration of a conventional open-cut mining and CIP gold processing operation, including associated ancillary activities and stand-alone infrastructure at the Tunkillia Project, fits within the scope of the South Australian government's approval frameworks and processes for a project such as the Tunkillia deposit. The A51 deposit is approximately 2 Km north of the Sutton Hoo deposit and 4.5 km north of the Tunkillia 223 deposit. Audits or reviews The results of any audits or reviews of Mineral Resource estimates. There has been no independent audit of the data or mineral resource. Discussion of relative accuracy/confidence Where appropriate a statement of the relative accuracy and confidence level in the Mineral Resource estimate using an approach or procedure deemed appropriate by the Competent Person. For example, the application of statistical or geostatistical procedures to quantify the relative accuracy of the resource within stated confidence limits, or, if such an approach is not deemed appropriate, a qualitative discussion of the factors that could affect the relative accuracy and confidence of the estimate. The statement should specify whether it relates to global or local estimates, and, if local, state the relevant tonnages, which should be relevant to technical and economic evaluation. Documentation should include assumptions made and the procedures used. These statements of relative accuracy and confidence of the estimate should be compared with production data, where available. No geostatistical confidence limits have been estimated. The relative accuracy and confidence in the Mineral Resource Estimate is reflected in the Resource Categories. The ordinary kriging result, due to the high level of smoothing, should only be regarded as a global estimate, and is suitable as a life of mine planning tool. High grade domains were used to restrict the high grade material. Inferred Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to an Ore Reserve. Should local estimates be required for detailed mine scheduling techniques such as Uniform conditioning or conditional simulation should be considered, ultimately grade control drilling is required. Comparison with the previous estimates indicates that the changes implemented in the current Mineral Resource Estimate produced results that are in line with expectations. No mining has occurred at the A51 deposit.

SOURCE: Barton Gold Holdings Limited

View the original press release on accesswire.com
BEIJING, June 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A Report from People's Daily: The Ukraine crisis has shown no sign of stopping and generated more spillovers. The conflict could further escalate. The pressing priority is to cool down the situation and accumulate conditions for ceasefire.

China did not create the Ukraine crisis, nor is it a party to the crisis. It has been working vigorously to facilitate talks for peace all along. China's objective and just position, and its constructive role have been widely recognized by the international community.

China's position on the Ukraine crisis has been consistent, which is to promote peace talks. Since the full escalation of the Ukraine crisis, Chinese President Xi Jinping has had in-depth exchanges with world leaders including Russian and Ukrainian leaders. He has put forward four key principles, four things that the international community should do together and three observations, which have become China's fundamental approach to the political settlement of the crisis.

China has released a paper stating its position on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, in which it proposed 12 important principles including respecting the sovereignty of all countries, abandoning the Cold War mentality, ceasing hostilities, and resuming peace talks.

China has delivered to Ukraine many shipments of humanitarian aids, and sent its special representative many times to mediate among the countries concerned. Instead of being an onlooker, China has always held an objective and just position, playing an important role for peace.

The world needs to make more objective, balanced, positive, and constructive voices on the Ukraine crisis, and find the most extensive common ground for restoring peace.

China and Brazil recently jointly issued the "Common Understandings Between China and Brazil on Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis." The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on pushing for the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis and calling for the deescalation of the situation, and reached six common understandings.

They called on relevant parties to observe three principles for deescalating the situation, namely no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting, and no provocation by any party. They believe that dialogue and negotiation are the only viable solution to the Ukraine crisis. All parties should push for the deescalation of the situation, increase humanitarian assistance, oppose the use of nuclear weapons, oppose attacks on nuclear power plants, and protect the stability of global industrial and supply chains.

As of 12 June, 103 countries from five continents have responded positively to the "six common understandings" in different ways, of which 55 countries have confirmed their accession or are seriously studying the way of accession. Russia and Ukraine also affirmed most of the contents of these six common understandings.

This once again illustrates that these six common understandings meet the common expectations of the majority of countries. China believes that the more countries that support these six common understandings, the closer the day of the political settlement of the crisis will be, and the brighter the prospects for peace will become.

Dialogue and negotiation is the only viable way out for the Ukraine crisis. As the largest geopolitical conflict in Europe since World War II, the prolonged Ukraine crisis not only exacerbates the suffering of the people in both countries but also poses unpredictable risks and challenges to the region and the world, which are not in the interest of any party involved.

History has proven time and again that at the end of the day, conflicts can only be resolved through negotiation. All parties concerned should intensify diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire and put an end to the fighting in a responsible manner. Both sides of the crisis should be encouraged to engage in dialogue. The earlier the talks start, the sooner peace will arrive.

China has been the most firmly and actively committed to promoting peace talks on the Ukraine issue and will not give up as long as there is a glimmer of hope.

China encourages and supports all initiatives and efforts in the world that are conducive to easing the situation and achieving peace. China supports the holding in due course of an international peace conference that is recognized by both Russia and Ukraine and ensures the equal participation of all parties and fair discussions on all peace plans. China's position on the peace conference is fair and just, driven by a genuine desire to promote the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

The Ukraine crisis has complex historical and practical causes. To resolve the crisis, it is necessary to address both the symptoms and the root causes, and to plan for the present as well as for the long term.

Ukraine's sovereignty and security should be upheld, and Russia's legitimate security concerns should also be respected. Europe's peace and stability should be defended. The same goes for other countries.

The security of a country should not be pursued at the expense of others. The security of a region should not be achieved by strengthening or expanding military blocs. The legitimate security interests and concerns of all countries must be taken seriously and addressed properly.

Only by abandoning the Cold War mentality, promoting equal dialogue and negotiation among all parties, and addressing their legitimate concerns properly, can a balanced, effective, and sustainable European security architecture be built, and long-lasting peace and stability in the region achieved.

China opposes certain countries using the Ukraine crisis to shift blame, smear third parties, incite a "new Cold War," and force other countries to take sides. This approach not only fails to resolve the current crisis politically but also risks repeating the mistakes of camp-based confrontation.

No matter how complex the situation is, parties must not give up dialogue and negotiation. No matter how acute the conflict is, political settlement must be pursued. All relevant parties should prioritize peace and humanitarian crisis, direct their resources and endeavors towards diplomatic efforts aimed at stopping the fighting, and jointly promote a political solution to the Ukraine crisis at an early date.

China will keep upholding an objective and just position, build consensus for ending conflicts, and pave the way for peace talks, so as to contribute Chinese wisdom to the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/china-has-been-the-most-firmly-and-actively-committed-to-promoting-peace-talks-on-the-ukraine-issue-302173569.html
SHANGHAI, June 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Seeing the world's first IEC TS 63126:2020 (2 PfG 2971) photovoltaic module certificate, the world's first IEC TS 63126 PV junction box certificate and the world's first IEC TS 63126 PV module connector certificate granted by TUV Rheinland to multiple solar module products of Astronergy's ASTRO N series at SNEC PV Power Expo on June 13th, the high reliability and stability of Astronergy module products in extreme high-temperature environments are verified.

Formulated and issued by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), IEC TS 63126:2020 is a specialized test for PV modules and PV modules' spare parts used in high-temperature environments for extended periods. It is an important addition to the existing IEC 61730-2 and IEC 61215 standards and could further testify and enhance the reliability and durability of the modules in a wide range of extreme climatic conditions.

Specific environmental areas, such as deserts or high mountains, often have extremely high levels of solar radiation due to altitude, climate and other conditions, which provide ideal irradiation conditions and space for high-efficiency photovoltaic systems. At the same time, high temperatures place higher demands on the performance of PV modules.

Through the rigorous tests conducted by TUV Rheinland, an internationally leading independent third-party testing, inspection, certification, training, and consulting organization, all key data of Astronergy TOPCon products meets the IEC TS 63126, showcasing great performances.

Attainment of IEC TS 63126:2020 certificates verifies Astronergy ASTRO N n-type TOPCon PV module products have more efficient and stable performance, and can be widely used in more applications and projects in complex environments.

The three world's firsts also demonstrate Astronergy's leading position in the global PV industry in terms of technological innovation and quality control. For high-temperature featured markets such as the Middle East and Africa, Astronergy TOPCon products could be the first choice of local customers.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2437755/Jack_Zhou__right__Head_Global_Product_Technical_Management_Astronergy_received.jpg

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/astronergy-topcon-products-testified-by-tuv-rheinlands-three-worlds-firsts-302171809.html
Sparrow Pharmaceuticals today presented data from an ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial of HSD-1 inhibitor clofutriben (SPI-62) and prednisolone in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) at the 2024 Annual European Alliance for Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR 2024; June 12 15 in Vienna, Austria) that suggest HSD-1 inhibition can allow for effective treatment with glucocorticoid medicines with fewer side effects.

A highlighted session, "75th Anniversary of Glucocorticoids what have we learnt?" discussed recent clinical developments and key learnings from the use of glucocorticoids over the past 75 years. David Katz, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at Sparrow, presented findings on the impact that co-administration of an HSD-1 inhibitor (clofutriben) with a glucocorticoid medicine (prednisolone) has on efficacy and glucocorticoid toxicity in patients with PMR. The findings highlight:

Prednisolone 10mg combined with clofutriben 6mg demonstrated less efficacy compared to prednisolone 10mg administered with placebo, but with improvement on prednisolone toxicities (bone formation and resorption biomarkers, lipidemia, and insulin resistance.)

Prednisolone 20mg combined with clofutriben 6mg demonstrated similar efficacy as determined by symptoms, physical function, and systemic inflammation, while maintaining improvement on markers of prednisolone toxicity, compared to prednisolone 10mg administered with placebo.

"These new results suggest that glucocorticoids formed by HSD-1 have a large role in tissues where glucocorticoid excess causes morbidity, and a lesser role in the immune system where glucocorticoid medicines have efficacy," said Dr. Katz. "We hope future clinical trials will demonstrate that prednisolone combined with clofutriben can be the effective and safe glucocorticoid medicine for which patients have waited over 75 years."

To learn more about Sparrow Pharmaceuticals and clofutriben (SPI-62), visit www.sparrowpharma.com.

About Sparrow Pharmaceuticals

Sparrow Pharmaceuticals was founded to spare patients the ravages of steroids. Leveraging underappreciated scientific insights into glucocorticoid biology, the company is working to provide better treatment options for serious disorders of hypercortisolism, and to revolutionize the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. Its lead product, clofutriben (SPI-62), is an oral, small molecule, novel therapeutic treatment designed to target a source of active intracellular glucocorticoids in key tissues.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240615894947/en/

Contacts:

Alexis Feinberg

ICR Westwicke

Alexis.Feinberg@westwicke.com

203-939-2225
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- The study met its primary endpoint of overall survival with a 41% reduction in the risk of death in people with relapsed or refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treated with Columvi plus chemotherapy -

- This Columvi combination could provide a much-needed off-the-shelf treatment option for people with transplant-ineligible R/R DLBCL -

- Data were featured in the congress Press Briefing and presented today in the Plenary Abstracts Session at EHA 2024 as a late-breaking oral presentation -

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), announced today statistically significant and clinically meaningful results from its Phase III STARGLO study of Columvi (glofitamab-gxbm) in combination with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (GemOx) versus Rituxan (rituximab) in combination with GemOx (R-GemOx) for people with relapsed or refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who have received at least one prior line of therapy and are not candidates for autologous stem cell transplant, or who have received two or more prior lines of therapy.Data were featured in the congress Press Briefing and presented today in the Plenary Abstracts Session at the European Hematology Association (EHA) 2024 Congress as a late-breaking oral presentation.

"The results from STARGLO are the first to show the potential of a CD20xCD3 bispecific antibody to make a difference in second or later-line DLBCL in people who are ineligible for transplant and have limited options," said Jeremy Abramson, M.D., director, Jon and Jo Ann Hagler Center for Lymphoma at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, and principal investigator of the STARGLO study. "Glofitamab in combination with GemOx showed clinically significant improvement in overall survival, as well as key secondary endpoints, and the benefits were reinforced with an additional 11 months of follow-up."

The primary analysis (median follow-up of 11.3 months) confirmed that the study met its primary endpoint of overall survival (OS), demonstrating that patients treated with Columvi plus GemOx lived significantly longer, with a 41% reduction in the risk of death (hazard ratio [HR]=0.59, 95% CI: 0.40-0.89, p=0.011) versus R-GemOx. Median OS was not reached with the Columvi regimen versus nine months for R-GemOx.Safety of the combination appeared consistent with the known safety profiles of the individual medicines.

Pre-specified exploratory subgroup analyses showed comparable results, including consistency across the clinically relevant stratification factors of line of therapy (second-line versus third-line+) and outcome of last therapy (relapsed versus refractory). Regional inconsistencies were observed, however interpretation is limited given the exploratory nature of these analyses and small subgroups with wide confidence intervals.

"This marks a first step in advancing Columvi combinations in earlier settings to address the urgent need for the 40% of people who will relapse or have refractory disease and who have limited options," said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., Genentech's chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. "Moreover, patients do not have to wait to start treatment with Columvi. This could be particularly important for patients with highly aggressive disease who are at risk of rapid disease progression."

The Columvi combination also met its key secondary endpoints, with a 63% reduction in risk of disease worsening or death (progression-free survival, PFS) compared to R-GemOx (HR=0.37; 95% CI: 0.25-0.55, p<0.0001). A follow-up analysis was conducted after all patients had completed therapy (median follow-up of 20.7 months), which showed continued benefit in both primary and secondary endpoints. Median OS for people treated with the Columvi combination was 25.5 months, nearly double what was seen for people treated with R-GemOx at 12.9 months, and more than twice as many patients experienced a complete response (58.5% versus 25.3%, respectively).

Adverse event (AE) rates were higher with the Columvi combination versus R-GemOx, noting higher median number of cycles received with Columvi combination (11 versus 4). One of the most common AEs was cytokine release syndrome, which was generally low grade (Any Grade: 44.2%, Grade 1: 31.4%, Grade 2: 10.5%, Grade 3: 2.3%) and occurred primarily in Cycle 1.

Columvi is the first CD20xCD3 bispecific antibody to demonstrate a survival benefit in DLBCL in a randomized Phase III trial, demonstrating the potential of this type of therapeutic combination to improve survival outcomes in earlier lines of treatment. The standard second-line therapy for R/R DLBCL patients has historically been high-dose chemotherapy followed by stem-cell transplant, however, not everyone with R/R DLBCL is a candidate due to age or coexisting medical conditions. Newer therapies are also becoming available, but barriers remain for many, and alternative treatment options are needed for these patients. Columvi is given as a fixed-duration treatment, offering people with R/R DLBCL a treatment end date and the possibility of a treatment-free period, unlike continuous treatments.

Results from the STARGLO study will be submitted to global health authorities, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency.

Columvi is also being investigated in other aggressive, hard-to-treat lymphomas and was recently granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the FDA for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma who have received at least two prior therapies based on results from the Phase I/II NP30179 study.

About the STARGLO Study

The STARGLO study [GO41944; NCT04408638] is a Phase III, multicenter, open-label, randomized study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Columvi (glofitamab-gxbm) in combination with gemcitabine plus oxaliplatin (GemOx) versus Rituxan (rituximab) in combination with GemOx in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who have received at least one prior line of therapy and are not candidates for autologous stem cell transplant, or who have received two or more prior lines of therapy. Outcome measures include overall survival (primary endpoint), progression-free survival, complete response rate, objective response rate, duration of objective response (secondary endpoints), and safety and tolerability.

STARGLO is intended as a confirmatory study to convert Columvi's accelerated approval in the U.S. and conditional marketing authorization in the EU to full approvals for people with R/R DLBCL after two or more lines of systemic therapy based on the pivotal Phase I/II NP30179 study.

About Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is an aggressive (fast-growing) blood cancer and is the most common form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in the U.S. While many people with DLBCL are responsive to treatment, the majority of those who relapse or are refractory to subsequent treatments have poor outcomes. DLBCL not otherwise specified is the most common category of large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) and accounts for about 80% or more of cases. It applies to cases that do not fall into any specific disease subgroups of LBCL.

About Columvi (glofitamab-gxbm)

Columvi is a CD20xCD3 T-cell engaging bispecific antibody designed to target CD3 on the surface of T cells and CD20 on the surface of B cells. Columvi was designed with a novel 2:1 structural format. This T-cell engaging bispecific antibody is engineered to have one region that binds to CD3, a protein on T cells, a type of immune cell, and two regions that bind to CD20, a protein on B cells, which can be healthy or malignant. This dual-targeting brings the T cell in close proximity to the B cell, activating the release of cancer cell-killing proteins from the T cell. A clinical development program for Columvi is ongoing, investigating the molecule as a monotherapy and in combination with other medicines for the treatment of people with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and other blood cancers.

Columvi U.S. Indication

Columvi (glofitamab-gxbm) is a prescription medicine to treat adults with certain types of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) or large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) that has come back (relapsed) or that did not respond to previous treatment (refractory), and who have received 2 or more prior treatments for their cancer.

It is not known if Columvi is safe and effective in children.

The conditional approval of Columvi is based on response rate and durability of response. There are ongoing studies to establish how well the drug works.

What is the most important information I should know about Columvi?

Columvi can cause Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS), a serious side effect that is common during treatment with Columvi, and can also be serious and lead to death.

Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of CRS, including:

fever of 100.4F (38C) or higher

chills or shaking

fast or irregular heartbeat

dizziness or light-headedness

trouble breathing

shortness of breath

Due to the risk of CRS, you will receive Columvi on a "step-up dosing schedule".

A single dose of a medicine called obinutuzumab will be given to you on the first day of your first treatment cycle (Day 1 of Cycle 1).

You will start the Columvi step-up dosing schedule a week after the obinutuzumab dose. The step-up dosing schedule is when you receive smaller "step-up" doses of Columvi on Day 8 and Day 15 of Cycle 1. This is to help reduce your risk of CRS. You should be hospitalized during your infusion and for 24 hours after receiving the first step-up dose on Day 8. You should be hospitalized during your infusion and for 24 hours after receiving the second step-up dose on Day 15 if you experienced CRS during the first step-up dose.

You will receive your first full dose of Columvi a week after the second step-up dose (this will be Day 1 of Cycle 2).

If your dose of Columvi is delayed for any reason, you may need to repeat the "step-up dosing schedule".

If you had more than mild CRS with your previous dose of Columvi, you should be hospitalized during and for 24 hours after receiving your next dose of Columvi.

Before each dose of Columvi, you will receive medicines to help reduce your risk of CRS and infusion-related reactions.

Your healthcare provider will monitor you for CRS during treatment with Columvi and may treat you in a hospital if you develop signs and symptoms of CRS. Your healthcare provider may temporarily stop or completely stop your treatment with Columvi if you have severe side effects.

Carry the Columvi Patient Wallet Card with you at all times and show it to all of your healthcare providers. The Columvi Patient Wallet Card lists the signs and symptoms of CRS you should get emergency medical help for right away.

What are the possible side effects of Columvi?

Columvi may cause serious side effects, including:

Cytokine Release Syndrome.

Neurologic problems. Columvi can cause serious neurologic problems that may lead to death. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for neurologic problems during treatment with Columvi. Your healthcare provider may also refer you to a healthcare provider who specializes in neurologic problems. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of neurologic problems, including: headache confusion and disorientation difficulty paying attention or understanding things trouble speaking sleepiness memory problems numbness, tingling, or weakness of the hands or feet dizziness shaking (tremors)

Columvi can cause serious neurologic problems that may lead to death. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for neurologic problems during treatment with Columvi. Your healthcare provider may also refer you to a healthcare provider who specializes in neurologic problems. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of neurologic problems, including: Serious Infections. Columvi can cause serious infections that may lead to death. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for signs and symptoms of infection and treat you as needed. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any signs of an infection, including: fever, chills, weakness, cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat.

Columvi can cause serious infections that may lead to death. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for signs and symptoms of infection and treat you as needed. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any signs of an infection, including: fever, chills, weakness, cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat. Growth in your tumor or worsening of tumor related problems (tumor flare). Tell your healthcare provider if you get any of these signs or symptoms of tumor flare: tender or swollen lymph nodes pain or swelling at the site of the tumor chest pain cough trouble breathing

Tell your healthcare provider if you get any of these signs or symptoms of tumor flare:

The most common side effects of Columvi include: CRS, muscle and bone pain, rash, and tiredness.

The most common severe abnormal lab test results with Columvi include: decreased white blood cells, decreased phosphate (an electrolyte), increased uric acid levels, and decreased fibrinogen (a protein that helps with blood clotting).

Your healthcare provider may temporarily stop or completely stop treatment with Columvi if you develop certain side effects.

Before receiving Columvi, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

have an infection

have kidney problems

are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Columvi may harm your unborn baby

Females who are able to become pregnant: Your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with Columvi. You should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment and for 1 month after your last dose of Columvi. Talk to your healthcare provider about what birth control method is right for you during this time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with Columvi.

are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Columvi may pass into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 1 month after your last dose of Columvi.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

What should I avoid while receiving Columvi?

Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities if you develop dizziness, confusion, shaking (tremors), sleepiness, or any other symptoms that impair consciousness until your signs and symptoms go away. These may be signs and symptoms of neurologic problems.

These are not all the possible side effects of Columvi. Talk to your health care provider for more information about the benefits and risks of Columvi.

You may report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or http://www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555.

Please see Important Safety Information, including Serious Side Effects, as well as the Columvi full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide or visit https://www.Columvi.com.

About Genentech in Hematology

For more than 20 years, Genentech has been developing medicines with the goal to redefine treatment in hematology. Today, we're investing more than ever in our effort to bring innovative treatment options to people with diseases of the blood. For more information visit http://www.gene.com/hematology.

About Genentech

Founded more than 40 years ago, Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines to treat patients with serious and life-threatening medical conditions. The company, a member of the Roche Group, has headquarters in South San Francisco, California. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.gene.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240615264641/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact:

Kristen Ingram, (650) 467-6800

Advocacy Contact:

Cem Mangir, (202) 251-4037

Investor Contacts:

Loren Kalm, (650) 225-3217

Bruno Eschli, 011 41 61 687 5284
Actress and television presenter Mandira Bedi has finally opened up about the demise of her husband Raj Kaushal for the first time since his passing away. The DDLJ actress said that for the longest time, she wasnt able to talk about it without crying and now finally she has gathered the courage to talk about it publicly.

The only way out is through. Of course, my children and I think of him every day. Its not like weve forgotten him. The first year was very, very, very, very hard. The first of everything is just impossible to deal with. The first birthday, the first anniversary, the first Diwali, the first Christmas, the first New Year. The second one is a little bit easier, the third one is a little bit easier said Bedi while talking with Humans of Bombay.

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There are moments when we remember him because of a song. Ive done the therapy Ive needed to, there are times I still do it. As human beings, we are always a work in progress What I can do now is talk about it. It makes me emotional, but I can. There was a time I couldnt. But I wont break down I started working two months after it happened I have to support my family and myself. I need to do it for my children, she added.

Mandira got emotional and said, Its been six years that Ive had his car. And I have to sell it now. Id been holding onto it for emotional reasons, and now Im going to shed a tear when it goes. So, its a work in progress. Ive dealt with the bulk of it, but for the rest of my life, Ill always grieve him. One thing I still cant do, is that I cant listen to Kishore Kumar music.
According to reports, Gowda had a boutique at RR Nagar in Bangalore and was trying to get acting roles in the industry read more

Bengaluru, Leading Kannada film actor Darshan Thoogudeepa was taken into custody in a murder case, Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda said on Tuesday. He said Darshan and his aides, who had been detained, were being questioned by police. The victim was a man who made derogatory comments about the actors close friend Pavithra Gowda. The man in question, Renukaswamy, 33, was abducted and killed.

According to reports, Gowda had a boutique at RR Nagar in Bangalore and was trying to get acting roles in the industry. A source was quoted saying, She was also dating a major actor in the Kannada industry then. She had been married to Sanjay Singh but was separated. She has a child from her first marriage.

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The two films she acted in, Preethi Kithabhu and Chatrigalu Sir Chatrigalu, failed commercially. She was in a relationship with Darshan since 2014 and managed to keep it clandestine for three years.

More details about the case

The 47-year-old was picked up in connection with the murder of a man, identified as Renuka Swamy, on June 9 in Kamakshipalya area of the city, he said. After the alleged killing, the body of Swamy, who worked with a pharmacy company and hailed from the district headquarters town of Chitradurga, was dumped into a stormwater drain in Kamakshipalya.

Based on the recovery of the dead body of an unidentified man and the injuries on his body, a murder case was registered. On the basis of CCTV footage and other technical evidence, the deceased was identified as Renuka Swamy, Dayananda said. We have detained the Kannada film actor and his aides and are questioning him. Since the investigation is on I cannot share more details, he said.

With added inputs from agencies
A YouGov poll has placed Reform UK ahead of the Conservatives for the first time, with Reform at 19 per cent and the Tories at 18 per cent. But can the polls be taken at face value? If yes, is it true that Nigel Farages comeback as Reforms leader will trump Rishi Sunaks Conservatives and benefit the Labour party? We explain read more

The Nigel Farage-led Reform UK party has overtaken Rishi Sunak's Conservatives in the polls in the run-up to snap UK elections. Agencies

A YouGov poll has put Reform UK ahead of the Conservatives for the first time. After a terrible few weeks of election campaigning, the Tories are on 18 per cent while Reform has edged ahead to 19 per cent. The same poll gave Labour 37 per cent and the Liberal Democrats 14 per cent.

Understanding polling nuances

This news makes a great headline, but it actually means the Conservatives and Reform are essentially neck-and-neck in the polls. This is because all surveys are subject to errors, which are commonly plus or minus 3 per cent in a typical poll.

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This happens because even a well-conducted, probability-based survey can produce results which differ from a census of all voters. If Reform hits 21 per cent in voting intentions and the Tories remain on 18 per cent, statistical theory shows there is a 95 per cent chance that Nigel Farages party would actually be ahead in the country.

The Nigel Farage factor

Nevertheless, it is clear that Farages surprise takeover as the new Reform leader, and his decision to stand as a candidate in Clacton, has boosted support for the party. Farage was helped by Rishi Sunaks decision to leave the D-Day celebrations early, which gave him the opportunity to attack the prime minister for a lack of patriotism.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (Photo: Reuters)

The fact that Reform has now overtaken the Conservatives in at least one poll raises the question of whether the party can beat them in the forthcoming general election. It is very unlikely to do that in terms of seats in the House of Commons  but it might be possible when it comes to vote shares.

Reforms past successes against Conservatives

An important thing to remember is that Reform, in its previous incarnation as the Brexit party, has already beaten the Tories in a national election in Britain. This was in the May 2019 European Parliamentary elections which are now largely forgotten. They actually temporarily destroyed the British party system.

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The Brexit party came first with 29 seats in the European parliament, followed by the Liberal Democrats with 16. Labour won 10 and the Conservatives four. Such was the collapse in Conservative support that the Greens won three more seats than the Tories.

This was at the height of the turmoil over Brexit and Theresa Mays failure to get the House of Commons to agree a deal with Brussels. When my colleagues and I analysed that election in our book Brexit Britain, we concluded that: The public mood was very sour and many voters  leavers and remainers alike  were inclined to give the major parties a good kicking.

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There are, of course, significant differences between the European elections and general elections. Turnout was always lower in the former, and the 2019 European elections were heavily focused on Brexit  in contrast, polls reveal it is now the most important issue for only 13 per cent of the population. Brexit has faded considerably as an issue.

However, we can all recognise that the public mood is again very sour, and that the inclination to give the major parties a good kicking hangs heavy in the air.

Reform partys supporter demographic

The survey analysis we conducted during the European elections showed the Brexit party did well among older voters, the relatively uneducated, those on low incomes, men and working-class voters. They were strongly in favour of leaving the EU; they liked Farage and disliked Jeremy Corbyn and May. Many of them identified with the Brexit party, even though it was a very new political brand (having only been founded in 2018).

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Brexit supporters were also rather anti-establishment, opposing excessive inequality in Britain and disliking large corporations.

The YouGov poll on 2024 vote intentions shows that Reform voters have very similar characteristics to Brexit party voters in 2019. There was no support for Reform among 18- to 24-year-olds in the survey, for example  only older voters. And support for Reform is significantly higher among working-class people than middle-class people.

The most important point about support for Reform in the 2024 election is what it will do to the Conservative vote. Unfortunately, data from the 2019 election is no use to us here, because Farage stood down Reform candidates in Conservative constituencies to give the incumbent MPs who supported Brexit a clear run. Reform ended up fielding only 275 candidates across the country, so we arent able to use the 2019 results as a model for what might happen this year.

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Ukips performance as an indicator of Reforms chances

We can, however, look at Ukips performance in the 2017 general election. Ukip still exists as a party but its leadership, candidates and voters overwhelmingly moved to the Brexit party when it was founded in 2018, and subsequently to Reform. This happened in such large numbers that Ukip can effectively be considered an earlier iteration of Reform.

In 2017, Ukip fielded 378 candidates  close to 60 per cent of Westminster parliamentary seats. The chart shows the relationship between the Conservative and Ukip vote shares in those seats.

Conservative and Ukip vote shares, 2017 UK election:

P Whiteley, CC BY

Each dot in the chart is a constituency and the summary line measures the relationship between the vote shares of the two parties in similar constituencies. This is not the same as fitting a summary line to all constituencies, but instead captures how the relationship changed as Ukip won more support across the country.

This reveals something very interesting  namely, that the Conservative and Ukip vote shares rose together when Ukip support remained under about 4 per cent. In effect, the Conservatives and Ukip were allies in these constituencies, with both gaining votes from the other parties.

But the picture changed rather dramatically when Ukip began to win above that 4 per cent threshold. Then, the parties became rivals, with Ukip making gains at the expense of the Conservatives.

The explanation for this relates to support for leave voting in the 2016 EU referendum. Leave voting was only modestly correlated with Conservative voting in 2017 (0.30), whereas it was very strongly correlated with Ukip voting (0.69). This means that many voters in the constituencies strongly favouring leave were more likely to put their trust in Ukip and Farage than the Conservatives and May to get the job done.

What it all means

If Reform voters in the current election behave like Ukip voters in 2017, then the surge in support for the party will make it a strong rival to the Conservatives in practically every constituency it fights.

It is true that Brexit is no longer the salient issue it was back then, and that there is a lot of Bregret among voters at the present time. But a YouGov survey conducted last year showed around a third of the electorate continues to support Brexit. Coupled with the dive in support for the government, it is easy to see how disgruntled Conservative leave supporters might easily change their vote to Reform.

Ironically, this will help to deliver victories for both Labour and the Liberal Democrats in many of the seats being contested.

Paul Whiteley, Professor, Department of Government, University of Essex

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
PM Narendra Modi on Saturday returned to India after attending the outreach session of the G7 summit in southern Italy. On the sidelines of the summit, he had multiple fruitful bilateral meetings with global leaders and reiterated the concerns and priorities of the Global South countries, which are bearing the brunt of global uncertainties and tensions read more

World leaders pose for a group photo at the G7 in Borgo Egnazia, near Bari in southern Italy, Friday, 14 June 2024. AP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday returned to India after attending the outreach session of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in southern Italy.

The summit is being held at the lavish Borgo Egnazia resort in the Apulia region.

Notably, this was Modis first trip abroad after he was sworn in for his third consecutive term as prime minister.

While the G7 was in session, he had multiple fruitful bilateral meetings with global leaders.

He called the recently-concluded Indian elections the biggest festival of democracy in the world and termed his historic victory as a victory of democracy and victory of the entire democratic world.

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Together, we aim to create impactful solutions that benefit the global community and create a better world for future generations. I thank the people and government of Italy for their warm hospitality, the Indian leader said in a post on X hours before the meetings.

He also reiterated the concerns and priorities of the Global South countries, which are bearing the brunt of global uncertainties and tensions.

The bilateral meetings

Giorgia Meloni

According to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs, the PM had bilateral discussions with her Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni in which they talked about commerce, commerce, energy, defence and security cooperation, and telecom.

He also expressed hopes for further strengthening the defence industry collaboration.

Emmanuel Macron

In their fourth meeting in a year, PM Modi said that he had a great discussion with French President Emmanuel Macron.

They talked about how to make the strategic alliance even stronger.

J'ai eu une excellente reunion avec mon ami le President @EmmanuelMacron. Il s'agit de notre quatrieme rencontre en un an, ce qui indique la forte priorite que nous accordons aux liens solides entre l'Inde et la France. Nos echanges ont porte sur de nombreux sujets tels que la pic.twitter.com/rDsy5FPCHu  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 14, 2024

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Since assuming office earlier this month, Modis meeting with Macron is his first formal bilateral meeting with a world leader.

Joe Biden

Modi also had a separate meeting with US president Joe Biden on the sidelines of the G7 meeting.

Its always a pleasure to meet @POTUS @JoeBiden. India and USA will keep working together to further global good, the Indian leader said.

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It's always a pleasure to meet @POTUS @JoeBiden. India and USA will keep working together to further global good.  pic.twitter.com/Xzyvp5cLCq  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 14, 2024

The conversation comes nearly seven months after America claimed that there was an Indian connection to an attempted assassination of Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York.

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Rishi Sunak

During their meeting, PM Modi reiterated his intention to strengthen the strategic alliance between India and the United Kingdom during the third term of his administration.

There is great scope to deepen ties in sectors like semiconductors, technology and trade. We also talked about further cementing ties in the defence sector, Modi wrote.

The two leaders meeting was deemed fruitful by Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also held a bilateral with his British counterpart Rishi Sunak. According to the MEA, the two leaders took stock of the progress made in the ongoing FTA negotiations. PTI

Volodymr Zelenskyy

During their discussion, Modi informed Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, that dialogue and diplomacy are the paths to peace and that India would continue to use all of its resources to promote a peaceful resolution to the situation in Ukraine.

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The 73-year-old leader informed Zelenskyy that India favours a human-centric strategy to resolve the Ukrainian crisis during their meeting.

I met with Indian Prime Minister @NarendraModi during my working visit to Italy for the G7 Summit.



We discussed the development of bilateral relations and trade, in particular in the context of the Black Sea export corridor functioning. We explored the possibility of exchanging pic.twitter.com/d6XZb1L4qR  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) June 14, 2024

The two leaders also touched on the subject of the approaching peace conference in Switzerland for Ukraine. The president of Ukraine expressed gratitude to the prime minister for sending a high-level team to the conclave, which took place over the weekend in Switzerland.

Pope Francis

PM Narendra Modi and Pope Francis met with a warm embrace at the Outreach session of the G7 Summit where they joined other world leaders to deliberate on the topic of Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Africa, and the Mediterranean.

PM Modi was seen in a light-hearted exchange with the 87-year-old head of the worldwide Catholic Church, who was taken around the table in a wheelchair to greet the world leaders gathered at the summit venue - Borgo Egnazia.

Met Pope Francis on the sidelines of the @G7 Summit. I admire his commitment to serve people and make our planet better. Also invited him to visit India. @Pontifex pic.twitter.com/BeIPkdRpUD  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 14, 2024

The Argentine pope was also invited to India by the Indian leader, who expressed his admiration for the pontiffs dedication to serving people.

Prior to the nations general elections, Modi and the BJP made multiple approaches to the Christian population, especially in Kerala.

Justin Trudeau

Modi spoke with Justin Trudeau of Canada amid heightened tensions between the two countries over the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year.

They were observed extending greetings to one another during his contact with Trudeau. The details of what happened between Modi and Trudeau are not yet available.

Met Canadian PM @JustinTrudeau at the G7 Summit. pic.twitter.com/e67ajADDWi  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 14, 2024

Fumio Kishida

The prime minister also spoke with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida, where they talked about the significance of a peaceful, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

Our nations look forward to working together in defence, technology, semiconductors, clean energy and digital technology. We also wish to advance ties in infrastructure and cultural linkages, the PM said.

It was a delight to meet PM Kishida on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Italy. Strong ties between India and Japan are important for a peaceful, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Our nations look forward to working together in defence, technology, semiconductors, clean energy pic.twitter.com/HaMCh2scWX  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 14, 2024

Olaf Scholz

During his meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Modi talked on the India-Germany Strategic Partnership and how both countries can contribute significantly to global growth.

Todays interaction with Chancellor Scholz was very productive. The India-Germany Strategic Partnership can play a major role in furthering global growth which is inclusive and sustainable, Modi wrote on X.

Today's interaction with Chancellor Scholz was very productive. The India-Germany Strategic Partnership can play a major role in furthering global growth which is inclusive and sustainable.

@Bundeskanzler pic.twitter.com/XEsxzds64H  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 14, 2024

Other leaders

PM Modi also met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Jordans King Abdullah II, Brazils Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Turkeys Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UAEs Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the G7.

The interactions in Italy continue...



Delightful conversation with President @LulaOficial, President @RTErdogan and His Highness Sheikh @MohamedBinZayed. pic.twitter.com/4FwdGuSw5U  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 14, 2024

His address

During the Outreach session on AI and Energy, Africa and Mediterranean, Prime Minister Modi stated that in order to create an inclusive society and contribute to the eradication of social inequality, the global community needs to work towards translating the monopoly in technology into widespread usage.

He added that India will cooperate with other nations to ensure that artificial intelligence is accountable, transparent, equitable, safe, and accessible.

As far as energy is concerned, Indias approach is based on availability, accessibility, affordability and acceptability. We are working to fulfil our CoP commitments before the designated time period. India is working to usher in a Green Era, based on the principles of Mission  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 14, 2024

According to the prime minister, India bases its energy strategy on four principles: acceptability, affordability, accessibility, and availability.

He emphasised that the nations of the Global South face particular difficulties and that they are most affected by global unrest and tensions.

During his speech, the prime minister also mentioned the recent Lok Sabha elections, calling the historic poll triumph a victory of democracy and the blessings bestowed upon India by its citizens.

The worlds largest democratic exercise took place in India between 19 April and 1 June in seven phases, and the prime minister used certain statistics in his speech to highlight its enormous scope.

With inputs from agencies
About 90 countries are expected to attend the two-day peace conference in Switzerland on 15-16 June. PM Narendra Modi will not participate but India will send a high-level delegation. Russias war with Kyiv is in its third year. Can the summit help in bringing lasting peace in Ukraine? read more

Swiss military personnel are pictured during a guided visit to the security zone of the June 15-16 peace summit for Ukraine, in Obburgen near Burgenstock, Switzerland, 10 June 2024. Reuters File Photo

Leaders from dozens of states are in Switzerland to attend the two-day conference to discuss Kyivs peace plan, three years after Russia invaded Ukraine. The global summit on 15-16 June has been described as a first step by the Swiss government for lasting peace in the war-torn country.

Moscow will not be represented at the summit as it has not been invited and it said previously it had no plans to attend anyway. The high-profile talks come at a time when Russia has made gains on the battlefield and Ukraine is reeling from shortages of ammunition and troops.

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What is the Ukraine peace summit? Who is attending and who is giving it a miss? Lets take a closer look.

What is the Ukraine peace summit?

The global summit hosted by Switzerland aims to bolster diplomatic support for Ukraines 10-point peace plan.

Guests will gather at the luxurious Burgenstock hotel, overlooking Lake Lucerne, for the peace summit.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy came up with a peace plan in November 2022 to address the resolution of Kyivs war with Russia.

The 10-point initiative includes the full withdrawal of Russian troops and prosecuting war crimes committed by Russia.

A building of the luxury Burgenstock resort above Lake Lucerne, central Switzerland that will host a Ukraine peace summit on 15-16 June2024. AFP File Photo

The proposal also includes restoring Ukraines territorial integrity, stopping hostilities, the release of all prisoners and detainees, environmental protection, ensuring the shipment of Ukrainian food grains, energy security, security guarantees for Ukraine, restoring nuclear safety and ending the war.

This will be the highest-level event in Ukraines peace proposal, with four lower-level conferences held since last June.

What are the goals of the summit?

Ukraine hopes the talks will result in an action plan on three key aspects of its 10-point peace plan, Zelenskyy told AFP last month.

According to The Kyiv Independent report, one is freedom of navigation which entails protecting port infrastructure in the Black Sea and global food security.

The second point is energy and nuclear security which includes an end to attacks on Ukraines key infrastructure.

The third focus will be on the exchange of captives and the return of children illegally abducted to Russia, the report added.

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According to Swiss officials, the summit aims to develop a common understanding towards lasting peace and create a roadmap to get both sides together, reported Al Jazeera.

Hennadiy Maksak, executive director of the foreign policy think tank Ukrainian Prism, told The Kyiv Independent that Kyiv chose the three points _"_which have more resonance with other nations, in order to have a more robust presence at the summit".

What could be achieved?

Experts do not expect much progress from the summit towards ending the war.

According to Responsible Statecraft magazine, Switzerland, which is hosting the conference, has lost credibility as a neutral host as it has endorsed Western sanctions on Russia and has even banned Russian planes from flying over its territory.

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Russias absence at the event has also led to some other nations staying away from the summit, including China.

Beijing has maintained that both Ukraine and Russia should be at the table for mediation. Brazil has made a similar demand and said it would not attend otherwise, Al Jazeera reported citing Swiss officials.

Saudi Arabia has reportedly rejected the invitation.

Earlier, Swiss president Viola Amherd recommended not to expect too much from the summit. Were not going to sign the peace deal at this conference.

Obviously we shouldnt expect peace at the peace summit, but its a good start, Elina Beketova, a democracy fellow with the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) told The Kyiv Independent. The realistic scenario is to develop a common position among the participating countries, which can then be presented to Russia in future peace talks.

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A drone view of the Burgenstock Resort where the Summit on Peace in Ukraine is to be held on 15-16 in Burgenstock near Lucerne, Switzerland, 28 May 2024. Reuters File Photo

Switzerlands foreign minister Ignazio Cassis said that his country believes that a peace process has to include Russia, suggesting efforts could be made to include Moscow later.

The question is not whether Russia will be on board, the question is when, he said, as per Al Jazeera.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, several attempts have been made to bring peace. Turkey managed to successfully negotiate the movement of grains from Ukraine through the Black Sea.

China offered itself as a peace mediator but due to its closeness to Russia, the West rebuffed Beijings proposal.

A ceasefire has remained elusive even after three years.

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Who is attending?

According to Switzerland, 160 invitations were sent but just 90 states confirmed their presence.

The United States is attending the summit but President Joe Biden has bowed out. Instead, Vice President Kamala Harris and US national security advisor Jake Sullivan will be present.

French president Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will be at the conference.

India will attend but Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be there. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said earlier in the week that New Delhi will participate at an appropriate level.

Zelenskyy said India would send a high-level delegation to the summit in Switzerland after meeting Modi in Italy on Friday.

The leaders, who met on the sidelines of the G7 gathering, discussed trade, expanding ties and preparations for the summit, which Ukraine hopes will be attended by around 100 countries and organisations. Thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for sending a high-level delegation to the Summit, Zelenskyy said in a statement on the Telegram app after their meeting.

Beijing, which has close ties with Moscow, said it would not go, describing the attendance of both warring sides as a prerequisite for any substantive peace conference, reports Reuters.

Italys prime minister Giorgia Meloni, Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, Polish president Andrzej Duda, Austrian chancellor Karl Nehammer, Finnish president Alexander Stubb, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics and Moldovan president Maia Sandu are among others also taking part.

Hungary, which has maintained close ties with Moscow and has criticised Western sanctions on Russia, has said it will send its foreign minister, as has Turkey. Switzerland said India will also participate, though it is not clear at what level.

Brazils ambassador is expected to attend, and Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met Swiss President Viola Amherd in Geneva on Thursday, though she noted they had different views on the Ukraine war. It remains unclear whether South Africa, another part of the BRICS group that includes Russia, will take part.



Japanese PM Fumio Kishida and Singaporean PM Lawrence Wong will also attend.

Australia will send Bill Shorten, minister for the national disability insurance scheme and ex-leader of the ruling Labour Party. Australias PM Anthony Albanese could not attend due to an official visit by Chinas Premier Li Qiang.

With inputs from agencies
Modi sarkar 3.0 is here. The PM has retained Amit Shah for home, Rajnath Singh for defence, S Jaishankar for foreign affairs and Nirmala Sitharaman for finance. However, they have their job cut out for them. All about the new government and more in our weekly roundup of the big news from India read more

BJP's Nirmala Sitharaman greets PM Narendra Modi and party leaders Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah at the swearing-in ceremony of new Union government, at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. PTI

Its been a hectic week for India. After the Lok Sabha election results, which were closer than anticipated, focus moved to government formation and portfolio allocation. And after hours and hours of deliberations among the leaders of the winning National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the Modi 3.0 sarkar was sworn in at a grand event at Rashtrapati Bhavan and were then handed over their portfolios.

Besides government formation, the Kashmir terror attacks caught the attention of the country, with many questioning if they could disrupt the normalcy in the region.

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The other big story of the week was the swearing-in of actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan as Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister. The 55-year-old Jana Sena Party leader emerged as a big winner in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections and has been the talk of the town since then.

The arrest of Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and others in the murder of 33-year-old Renuka Swamy has also been a big headline of the week.

As we wrap up the week, our round-up of the big stories from India will help you feel connected and in the know of things.

1) Following the announcement of the Lok Sabha election results on 4 June, the BJP and its allies, went into a huddle to discuss government formation. After hectic parleys and negotiations, a Modi 3.0 sarkar was formed on 9 June wherein Modi and 72 leaders were sworn in as the Union Council of Ministers in a resplendent event at Rashtrapati Bhavan. In order to accommodate his allies, PM Narendra Modi, had to make some big changes in his administration; one of them being dropping ministers.

2) On the topic of government formation, a day after the swearing-in ceremony, the Modi government made the announcement of portfolios to his ministers. He kept continuity as the big theme of his Cabinet, by retaining Amit Shah as home minister, S Jaishankar as external affairs minister, Nirmala Sitharaman as finance minister and Rajnath Singh as defence minister. But why is it that the BJP chose to retain these ministries, known as the Cabinet Committee on Security? Read our explainer to understand better.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at the ministry on the day of taking charge, in New Delhi. File image/PTI

3) And more on the Big 4 ministries. Amit Shah, S Jaishankar, Nirmala Sitharaman and Rajnath Singh have major challenges ahead of them. While Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh will have to ensure the security of our country  internally and externally, Nirmala Sitharaman will have her work cut out with drafting the budget and ensuring the countrys economic well-being. Moreover, in a time of war  the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Israel-Hamas battle  Jaishankar will have plenty of challenges his way. We explain more in our essay.

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4) On the same day that Modi and his ministers were being sworn-in, far away in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, a bus plunged into a gorge, killing nine people. Tragedy struck when the bus came under attack from terrorists. In the coming days, the region has been seen an escalation of violence  three attacks in three days, raising questions about the law and order situation. Whats going on in J&K?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan during the swearing-in ceremony of Naidu, in Vijayawada. File image/PTI

5) Now, Andhra Pradesh has a new government. On Wednesday (12 June), Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Chandrababu Naidu was sworn in as chief minister of the state. Along with him, the Jana Sena Party president Konidela Pawan Kalyan took oath as the deputy chief minister. This is a long journey for the actor-turned-politician. But who is he? Heres his complete story.

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6) Away from politics, the big headline of the week was the horrific murder in Bengaluru, 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 arrested in the murder of Renukaswamy, who used to work at the Apollo Pharmacy in Chitradurga, which is more than 200 kilometres away from the capital of Karnataka. Want to know more about this headline-grabbing case? Read here.

Students stage a protest outside the Ministry of Education over the alleged irregularities in NEET 2024 results, in New Delhi. PTI

7) The country this week also students protesting. Why? They were protesting the several irregularities with the results of the NEET-UG exam, and alleging that there had been a paper leak. Following the massive uproar, the Centre told the Supreme Court on Thursday that the grace marks awarded to 1,563 candidates would be cancelled and students would be permitted to take a re-examination on 23 June. Want to know more about this row and the grace marks awarded? We have you covered.

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And thats it from us this week. If you liked our recommendations, click here for more.

PS: Heres a health story that might be of interest to you. Studies have shown that Viagra could improve brain functions. Heres how.
The picturesque Burgenstock resort near the city of Lucerne has over the past 150 years played host to celebrities such as Charlie Chaplin, Audrey Hepburn and Sean Connery as well as politicians like Jawaharlal Nehru, David Ben-Gurion, Golda Meir and Jimmy Carter. It also witnessed the secretive annual Bilderberg meeting of global power brokers in 1960, 1981 and 1995 read more

Over 90 countries and groups have said they will attend the meeting on 15 and 16 June. Reuters

This weekend, the Ukraine peace summit will take place at a famous resort in Switzerland.

The Burgenstock resort near the city of Lucerne has over the past 150 years played host to celebrities such as Charlie Chaplin, Audrey Hepburn and Sean Connery.

David Ben-Gurion, Golda Meir and Jimmy Carter have also spent time here.

This weekend, the resort will see leaders from over 90 nations and organisations in attendance.

Playground of rich and famous

The resort could be something out of a picture postcard.

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It was here that Charlie Chaplin met Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1953.

Accompanying Nehru was his daughter Indira  the future Indian prime minister.

Actor Audrey Hepburn married her first husband Mel Ferrer in the Burgenstocks chapel in 1954.

Jawaharlal Nehru and his daughter Indira. AFP File Photo

They made the luxurious destination their home, living in the resorts Villa Bethania.

Hollywood siren Sophia Loren also owned a chalet on the Burgenstock  now the site of its Persian restaurant  while Queen Ingrid of Denmark was among the hotels visitors.

Sean Connery lived here while shooting the iconic 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger.

Connery, who many call the greatest Bond ever, spent a month at the resort and shooting scenes on the mountain that were immortalised on the silver screen.

The resort is also a hit with politicians.

Israeli prime ministers David Ben-Gurion and Golda Meir visited, while West German chancellor Konrad Adenauer spent July and August 1950 here.

Jimmy Carter also had a stay at Burgenstock before becoming US president.

Picture perfect

Eight kilometres from Lucerne in central Switzerland, the Burgenstock mountain dominates the centre of the lake and is surrounded by water on three sides, making it easy to seal off.

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The mountains peak is 1,128 metres above sea level and the northern slope plunges nearly 700 metres down to Lake Lucerne.

The Burgenstock resort sits 450 metres above the water on a ridge below the peak.

It comprises four main hotel buildings, from the Belle Epoque to the ultra-modern, plus seven restaurants, along with other villas and residences.

While the contemporary lake view royal suite could set guests back more than 16,000 Swiss francs ($17,850) a night  before fees and taxes  a simple chalet room can cost 320 francs.

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The brainchild of sawmill business partners Franz Josef Bucher and Josef Durrer, the Grand Hotel opened in 1873.

The Palace Hotel was added in 1903.

A sign is seen outside the Burgenstock Resort where the Summit on Peace in Ukraine will take place 15 and 16 June in Burgenstock near Lucerne, Switzerland, Reuters

In total, there are 360 rooms and suites, and up to 700 staff.

The Hammetschwand Lift, a rocket-shaped metal lattice tower and the highest outdoor lift in Europe shoots up 152 metres to the mountain summit.

Katara Hospitality, owned by Qatars sovereign wealth fund, took over in 2007 and completed a revamp a decade later.

Most regular guests will arrive by road, or by catamaran from Lucerne followed by a funicular railway, 929 metres long and rising 434 metres.

The Buochs Airport at the foot of the mountain can also take private jets and helicopters.

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Third-generation Swiss hotelier Chris Franzen, who took over as the Burgenstocks managing director in April, said he was accustomed to hosting prominent personalities.

But not 80 to 100 at once, he told Swiss news agency Keystone-ATS.

It will meanwhile be up to the Swiss foreign ministry to decide which leaders get which rooms.

A history of summits

This weekends Ukraine peace summit will not be the first time world issues are hashed out at the Burgenstock.

The resort hosted the secretive annual Bilderberg meeting of global power brokers in 1960, 1981 and 1995.

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The Sudanese government and the main rebel group agreed a six-month ceasefire in the Nuba Mountain region in 2002 at the Burgenstock, paving the way for a peace agreement in 2005.

In 2004, four-way talks were held on a plan to reunify Cyprus, presided over by UN secretary-general Kofi Annan, but failed to produce an agreement.

It was to have hosted the World Economic Forums 2021 summit amid the Covid-19 crisis, but the annual gathering of the worlds political, economic and business elite was shifted to Singapore before being cancelled altogether.

With inputs from AFP
The US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to invalidate the federal ban on bump stocks, devices that enable semiautomatic weapons to fire at a rate similar to machine guns. The decision is controversial for many reasons: boosting the threat of gun violence, the Court choosing technicality instead of practicality in a matter of public safety, the impact it has had on thousands of victims of the tragic 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, and the heavy politicisation read more

The US Supreme Court has reversed the ban of gun 'bump stocks', which can make semi-automatic weapons fire at a rate similar to machine guns. Reuters

The United States Supreme Court recently overturned a federal ban on gun bump stocks that was imposed during Donald Trumps presidency. The decision is controversial, to say the least. It has negative implications for public safety and controlling gun violence in the US.

We explain what bump stocks are, delve into the specifics of the Supreme Courts decision, and place it in the broader context of the countrys politics and crime landscape.

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The Supreme Courts decision on gun bump stocks

The US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to invalidate the federal ban on bump stocks, devices that enable semiautomatic weapons to fire at a rate similar to machine guns. Bump stocks replace the rifles standard stock and use the weapons recoil to rapidly bump the trigger against the shooters finger, thus increasing the firing rate.

The decision was penned by conservative Justice Clarence Thomas, who wrote, We hold that a semiautomatic rifle equipped with a bump stock is not a machine gun because it cannot fire more than one shot by a single function of the trigger.

The ruling supported a challenge brought by Michael Cargill, a gun shop owner from Texas, who argued that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) had overstepped its authority in classifying bump stocks as machine guns under the National Firearms Act. Thomas stressed that even if bump stocks increase firing speed, they do not meet the statutory definition of a machine gun because the trigger must be released and re-engaged for each shot manually, not automatically.

The controversy surrounding the decision

Threat of gun violence: The Gun Violence Archive reports that the US has witnessed 251 mass shootings this year alone, with 18,854 gun-related deaths last year. In practical terms, the availability of bump stocks could increase the potential for rapid-fire mass shootings.

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Firearms in 2020 were the number one cause of death for children in both Michigan and the United States. Reuters

Technicality over practicality in ensuring public safety: Justice Sonia Sotomayor, dissenting along with the courts liberal justices, argued that the decision undermines public safety. She wrote, When I see a bird that walks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, I call that bird a duck. She asserted that bump stocks should logically fall under the category of machine guns given their functional similarities. So, the second reason the decision is controversial is that it was made on a technicality rather than practicality in a matter of public safety.

A blow to victims of 2017 Las Vegas shooting: In October 2017, a gunman with multiple bump-stock-equipped rifles unleashed a barrage of over 1,000 rounds at a Las Vegas country music festival, killing 58 people and injuring approximately 850 others. This massacre remains the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history and prompted the Trump administration to impose the bump stock ban in 2019. According to BBC, Las Vegas shooting victims have been stunned by the decision.

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Politicisation: Moreover, the ruling has significant political ramifications as the US approaches the 2024 presidential election. President Joe Biden, a staunch advocate for stricter gun control, condemned the decision, stating, Americans should not have to live in fear of this mass devastation. He called on Congress to enact comprehensive gun control measures, including a renewed bump stock ban. In contrast, former President Donald Trump, under whose administration the ban was initially imposed, has always been a more pro-gun stance, aligning with the broader Republican agenda.

Former US President Donald Trump and incumbent US President Joe Biden. AP File

The impact of the Supreme Courts decision

While the Supreme Courts ruling overturns the federal ban, its immediate impact may be limited in scope. Sixteen states and the District of Columbia have their own laws prohibiting bump stocks, which are expected to remain unaffected. However, four states might see their bans invalidated, depending on how they align with federal definitions and interpretations.

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The decision also reflects the broader trend of the Supreme Courts conservative majority expanding gun rights. Previous landmark rulings in 2008, 2010, and 2022 have similarly struck down various gun restrictions, underscoring a judicial philosophy that prioritizes individual gun ownership rights.

President Bidens call for a comprehensive assault weapon ban highlights the ongoing legislative battle, as gun control remains a deeply polarizing issue.

In a nutshell

The US Supreme Courts decision to reverse the bump stock ban represents a significant moment in the nations contentious gun control debate. While legally grounded in the interpretation of federal statutes, the ruling has profound implications for public safety, political discourse, and future legislative efforts. With America still grappling with its long-standing issue regarding gun ownership and regulation, this decision may influence the trajectory of gun policy and the broader struggle to curb gun violence.

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With inputs from agencies
Sundays meeting is likely to be attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and senior officials of the CRPF and Army. The meeting will be chaired by Shah read more

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has called for a high-level meeting on Sunday after a series of terror attacks shook Jammu and Kashmir, killing and injuring security personnel as well as civilians.

Shah held a review meeting on Friday to assess the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, which will see the participation of several pilgrims from across India.

Sundays meeting is likely to be attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and senior officials of the CRPF and Army. The meeting will be chaired by Shah.

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Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a spate of terror attacks for four days in the districts of Reasi, Doda and Kathua. The incidents come at a time when the Election Commission is in the process of conducting assembly elections in the state at the order of the Supreme Court which directed the poll body to hold elections before September 2024.

During the review meeting, senior security officials briefed Shah on the current situation in J&K and apprised him of the measures taken in the state to prevent further attacks.

The high-level security meeting by Shah comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting to assess the security measures where he directed senior officials to ensure the deployment of the full spectrum of counter-terror capabilities.

PM Modi, according to reports, also spoke to Shah to discuss counter-terror operations and deployment of security forces in Jammu and Kashmir.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday held a protest against the recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, seeking an explanation for the alarming security situation contrary to the governments claims of restoration of peace in the Union Territory.

Led by PDP additional general secretary Rajinder Manhas and spokesperson S Varinder Singh Sonu, dozens of party workers took out a protest march from the PDP office at Gandhi Nagar.

The protesters pushed forward through police barricade and briefly held a sit-in near the Jammu-airport road before returning to their office.

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We are concerned over the alarming security situation in Jammu ahead of the annual Amarnath Yatra. The attacks reflect a security failure, Manhas told reporters.

With inputs from agencies
BJP in Bengal has alleged that TMC party workers incited violence in the state during and after the elections. West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday said that he and the victims of poll violence were blocked from entering the Raj Bhavan to address their grievances to the government read more

BJP has formed a four-member committee to look into reports of post-poll violence in West Bengal after the party accused Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee of being a mute spectator.

The committee, formed by BJP President JP Nadda, includes Biplab Kumar Deb, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Brij Lal and Kavita Patidar.

A party statement said, Mamata Banerjee remains a mute spectator, while criminals of her party, attack and intimidate opposition workers and voters with impunity. Even the Calcutta High Court has taken note of these excesses and extended deployment of CAPF till June 21 and has listed the matter for hearing on June 18.

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The ruling party said the Lok Sabha elections were held across the country and no instance of political violence was reported from anywhere except West Bengal.

BJP in Bengal has alleged that TMC party workers incited violence in the state during and after the elections. West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday said that he and the victims of poll violence were blocked from entering the Raj Bhavan to address their grievances to the government.

WB Governor slams TMC

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Friday criticised the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress for not letting the victims of poll violence enter the Raj Bhavan despite his office granting them permission to do so.

Yesterday I gave permission to the victims of violence in the field who came from various parts of Bengal to meet me in the Raj Bhavan and air their grievances. I was shocked to find that for one reason or the other, they were all prevented from exercising their democratic rights or defending their lives," Bose said.

Bose also met several of the victims of political violence in various shelters including the one located in Burrabazar. After meeting the victims the governor said, I have heard the victims. That is one version of the story. As a governor, I would like to be fair before making any comments. I have sought a report. After listening to what the government has to say, I will give you my opinion.

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Post-poll violence in Bengal

West Bengal witnessed a spate of violence just a day after Lok Sabha results were declared on June 4.

Violence was reported in several districts including Cooch Behar, North and South 24 Parganas and Jhargram.

Workers from both BJP and TMC were engaged in fighting.

Some BJP supporters reportedly took shelter in party offices across the state to flee the violence of TMC workers.
An anti-Naxal operation was launched on June 12 and involves personnel of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) from four districts, the Special Task Force (STF) and the 53rd battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) read more

As many as eight Naxalites were killed in an encounter in Chhattisgarhs Narayanpur district on Saturday. One security personnel also died during the operation while two others were left injured, police officials said.

The gunfight broke out during the early hours of Saturday in the forest of Abhujmad when a joint team of security personnel from four districts - Narayanpur, Kanker, Dantewada and Kondagaon - was out on an anti-Naxal operation, a senior police official in Raipur said.

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The anti-Naxal operation was launched on June 12 and involves personnel of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) from four districts, the Special Task Force (STF) and the 53rd battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).

This is the second such operation in a month with the first being conducted on June 7 that killed around five Naxalites.

As he took charge of the Union Home Ministry last week, Amit Shah vowed to address the Naxalite or Maoist insurgency during NDAs third term. He said in its third term the Modi government shall take its efforts for Indias security to the next level and build Bharat as a bulwark against terrorism, insurgency and Naxalism.

Shah, earlier this year and before the Lok Sabha elections took place, said that India will be free from the menace of Naxalism in the next three years.

The biggest anti-Naxal operation that 2024 has seen so far occurred in April when security forces killed 29 Maoists in a forest in the district of Kanker which lies in the Bastar division.

In 2023, 22 Naxals were shot down while over almost 50 have been killed so far this year. Meanwhile, between 2019 and 2024, about 280 Naxalites have been killed in Chhattisgarh.

With inputs from agencies
Of the 48 seats in Maharashtra, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won only nine whereas the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition of NCP (SP), Shiv Sena (UBT), and Congress won 30 seats read more

Nationalist Congress Party-SP (NCP-SP) leader Sharad Pawar has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) performed poorly in the Lok Sabha elections in the state.

We thank the prime minister, said Pawar in a press conference of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), the coalition of his NCP-SP, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Congress. Together with the Ajit Pawars NCP faction and Eknath Shindes Shiv Sena faction, the BJPs Mahayuti bloc won 17 seats.

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Of the 48 seats in Maharashtra, the BJP won only nine whereas the MVA coalition won 30 seats. Following the drubbing in the polls, BJP leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had offered his resignation but the BJPs central leadership had asked him to continue.

Taking a direct dig at Modi, Pawar said, Wherever the Prime Ministers roadshow and rally took place, we won. That is why I consider it my duty to thank the prime minister.

In the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP failed to get a majority and was reduced to 240 seats. With the support from partners in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), mainly the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal-United (JD-U), Modi returned to power for the third consecutive term by forming an NDA government. The NDAs tally was 292  well above the majority-mark of 272.

Speaking at the same press conference, Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray expressed confidence of repeating the results in state assembly elections slated to be held later this year.

We all have come together to save democracy. I hope that the way people voted for us in the Lok Sabha elections, we will get the same love in the assembly elections and now there will be a change of power in Maharashtra, said Chavan.

In the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, factionalism had risen in both the Shiv Sena and NCP. Ajit Pawar, the nephew of party patriarch Sharad Pawar, broke ranks with his uncle and joined the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance with a bunch of MLAs. This led to the split of the party into two factions. He became a deputy CM in the Eknath Shinde-led government. Previously in 2022, Shinde had similarly rebelled against the then-CM Uddhav Thackeray and created a split in the Shiv Sena. He joined ranks with the BJP along with the majority of the partys MLAs and formed government in the state after toppling Thackerays government.

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Following the 2019 assembly elections, Thackeray had formed the coalition government of MVA with undivided Shiv Sena and NCP along with Congress.
By engaging with international partners and leveraging its expertise in technology and diplomacy, India can help shape a future where AI serves humanitys interests while upholding fundamental principles of dignity, justice, and peace read more

The Pope's address at the G7 summit serves as a timely reminder of the moral imperative to prioritise human values in the face of technological advancements. Image: REUTERS

Pope Francis, in a historic move as the first head of the Catholic Church to attend a Group of Seven summit in Italy, delivered a compelling call for a ban on lethal autonomous weapons. His impassioned plea emphasised the urgent need to reconsider the development and deployment of such weapons, stressing the paramount importance of human control in decision-making processes related to armed conflict.

Highlighting the tragic consequences of armed conflict, Pope Francis urged for a concrete commitment to ensuring greater human oversight in the use of emerging technologies. He emphasised that machines should never have the autonomy to determine the fate of human lives. This call comes amidst growing concerns over the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in modern warfare, particularly its potential to escalate conflicts and diminish the role of human agency.

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The Popes message resonates deeply in India, a country that has historically advocated for peace and non-violence. In recent years, India has witnessed advancements in AI technology, raising questions about its implications for national security and ethical use. With tensions in the region and the ongoing threat of terrorism, the discourse on autonomous weapons systems holds significant relevance for Indias defence policies.

AIs integration into military operations offers strategic advantages, besides posing ethical dilemmas. While AI-driven systems may enhance efficiency and accuracy in decision-making, there are concerns about their reliability, safety, and adherence to international humanitarian law. The development of weapons capable of autonomous decision-making raises profound moral questions about the sanctity of human life and the risks of unchecked technological proliferation.

The Popes call for a ban on lethal autonomous weapons aligns with Indias commitment to promoting global peace and disarmament. As a nation that values human dignity and sovereignty, India recognises the need for robust international frameworks to regulate the use of AI in warfare. The Popes message underscores the importance of prioritising ethical considerations and preserving human control over the use of emerging technologies.

In the context of Indias geopolitical landscape, where regional tensions and security threats are prevalent, the ethical implications of AI in warfare cannot be overlooked. Indias strategic interests intersect with broader global debates on arms control and the responsible use of technology. As a prominent member of the international community, India has a stake in shaping norms and regulations that govern the development and deployment of autonomous weapons systems.

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The Popes address at the G7 summit serves as a timely reminder of the moral imperative to prioritise human values in the face of technological advancements. His call for a ban on lethal autonomous weapons resonates with Indias long-standing advocacy for peace and disarmament. In a world increasingly shaped by AI and emerging technologies, India stands poised to contribute to global efforts to ensure that innovation is guided by ethical principles and respect for human rights.

Moving forward, India can play a proactive role in advancing dialogue and cooperation on AI governance and arms control. By engaging with international partners and leveraging its expertise in technology and diplomacy, India can help shape a future where AI serves humanitys interests while upholding fundamental principles of dignity, justice, and peace. As Pope Francis aptly stated, the fate of humanity hinges on our ability to harness technology for the greater good and safeguard the dignity and autonomy of every individual.

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Harsh Verma is a freelance writer. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Four years since the violent Galwan face-off on June 15, 2020, India-China relations have failed to normalise, affecting the strategic calculus of both countries read more

In the last decade, confrontations were largely resolved at ground level until the incident at Galwan happened in 2020. Image: PTI file photo

June 15, 2024, marks the fourth anniversary of the incident that took place on the icy heights of Galwan in Eastern Ladakh when troops of both China and India clashed in a barbaric manner. Indian soldiers were attacked with iron rods and clubs, resulting in deaths on both sides. India lost 20 soldiers, including Colonel B Santosh Babu.

The physical clash without a round being fired came amid growing skirmishes between Indian and Chinese soldiers at the Line of Actual Control in the preceding months. On the intervening night between May 5 and 6, 2020, Indian and Chinese soldiers clashed at Pangong Tso in Ladakh. Another skirmish followed four days later at Naku La in Sikkim.

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The clashes emerged amid Chinas attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo along the LAC. Beginning in early April 2020, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) had been massing thousands of soldiers and war waging equipment along the LAC in Ladakh. This massing of troops in violation of multiple agreements was done when India was under Covid-19 lockdown. In early June, amid rising tensions, the military commanders of the two sides agreed to pull back to create a buffer zone at Galwan Valley.

On June 14, when Indian troops went to check if the PLA had indeed withdrawn, they came under attack from Chinese soldiers. The violence unleashed that night has cast a long shadow on bilateral relations, marking a significant deterioration in ties and affecting the strategic calculus of both countries.

Background

India and China have a longstanding border issue and are yet to resolve their boundary problem. China does not accept the alignment of the boundary between India and China that is based on well-established geographical principles confirmed by treaties and agreements, as well as historical usage and practice well-known for centuries to both sides.

China invaded Tibet and annexed it in March 1959, resulting in India then having a border with China. Growing concern over Chinese aggression forced India to relook at its border policy as China became Indias neighbour. India enacted the Forward Policy in 1960, which was aimed to prevent Chinese incursions into Indian territory.

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In reaction to the Forward Policy, China started gradually enhancing its road infrastructure and strengthening its military positions along the border. The Chinese quickened the forward movement of their posts, and soon the empty area between the two armies disappeared. When some Indian posts, for example, in the Galwan Valley, were established, the Chinese attitude changed and became more threatening. They surrounded some Indian posts to cut off their land route of supply and even opened fire at a number of places. The Chinese forces had surrounded an Indian position in the Galwan Valley in July 1962, and the two sides clashed at Pangong Lake.

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The 1962 War put an end to any chance of resolving the border in line with accepted international norms. To complicate matters, in 1963, Pakistan handed over to China the Shaksgam Valley, which was part of Gilgit Baltistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

In 1967, a clash took place due to disagreement over the laying of the border fence at Nathu La by the Indian Armed Forces from September 11 to 14. The skirmish escalated to artillery fire. Later, at Tulung La in 1975, an Assam Rifles patrol was fired upon killing four soldiers of the 5 Assam Rifles.

India used to occupy a seasonal post at Wangdong, near Sumdrong Chu, from 1984. When they withdrew from the post in the winter of 1985, it was occupied by the Chinese forces. On June 16, 1986, a patrol of the 12 ASSAM Regiment noticed Chinese presence in the area and the construction of a few permanent structures. The Chinese soldiers were initially estimated to be forty but were soon reinforced by 200 more troops. By August, they had constructed a helipad and were air-supplied. After rounds of diplomatic parleys and talks between military commanders, the two sides agreed to vacate two posts.

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Both India and China have formally agreed that the boundary question is a complex issue and have committed to seeking a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable solution through dialogue and peaceful negotiations. In the interim, the two sides also agreed that the maintenance of peace and tranquility in the border areas is an essential basis for the further development of bilateral relations.

However, China continues to be in illegal occupation of approximately 38,000 sq km in the Union Territory of Ladakh. In addition, under the so-called Sino-Pakistan Boundary Agreement of 1963, Pakistan illegally ceded 5,180 sq km of Indian territory in the PoK to China. China also claims approximately 90,000 sq km of Indian territory in the Eastern Sector of the India-China boundary in Arunachal Pradesh.

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Border Agreements

There is no commonly delineated LAC in the border areas between India and China, and there is no common perception of the entire LAC. The 3488-km-long LAC is neither delineated on the map nor demarcated on the ground and lies in one of the most inhospitable high-altitude terrains and icy cold climatic conditions. Therefore, in order to ensure peace and tranquility in the border areas, especially along the LAC, the two countries have concluded a number of agreements and protocols.

Under these agreements, both sides agreed to maintain peace and tranquility along the LAC without any effect on their respective positions on the alignment of the LAC. It was due to this that overall relations also saw considerable progress since 1988. However, while bilateral relations can continue to develop in parallel with discussions on resolving the boundary question, any serious disturbance in peace and tranquility along the LAC in the border areas is bound to have implications for the positive direction of ties.

A key element of both the 1993 and 1996 agreements is that the two sides will keep their military forces in the areas along the LAC to a minimum level. These agreements also mandate that, pending an ultimate solution to the boundary question, the two sides strictly respect and observe the LAC. Furthermore, India and China also committed to clarification and confirmation of the LAC to reach a common understanding of the alignment.

Thus, in the late 1990s and up until 2003, the two sides engaged in an exercise to clarify and confirm the LAC. However, thereafter, the Chinese side did not show a willingness to pursue the exercise. As a result, there are some areas where the Chinese and Indian perceptions of LAC overlap. In these areas, as well as other sections of the border, the various agreements govern the manner in which troops of both sides should operate and deal with situations of face-offs to maintain peace and tranquility.

In the meantime, the lag between India and China with regard to their economies widened considerably, and this was also reflected in their military capabilities and the development of infrastructure along the LAC.

The last decade has been a decade of military confrontations between India and China, whether it was the Depsang incident in 2013, the Chumar incident in 2014, or the standoff in Doklam in 2017. The confrontations were largely resolved at ground level until the incident at Galwan happened in 2020. The unresolved LAC underscores the challenge of achieving lasting peace and stability.

As per Jaydev Ranade, President of the Centre for China Analysis and Strategy (CCAS), the action was caused by Chinas interest in asserting its dominance as it felt challenged by Indias rapid rise." While Professor Srikanth Kondapalli, Dean of the School of International Studies and Professor of China Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), has stated, The Chinese are punishing India for closer ties to the West, but added that India too has failed to garner appropriate support from Western and other nations to counter China.

The Galwan Crisis

Since April 2020, India has noticed a buildup of troops and armaments by the Chinese side in the border areas adjacent to Eastern Ladakh. In early May, the Chinese side had taken action to hinder the normal, traditional patrolling pattern of our troops in the Galwan Valley area, which resulted in a face-off. Even as this situation was being addressed by the commanders as per the provisions of bilateral agreements and protocols, in mid-May, the Chinese side made several attempts to transgress the LAC in other parts of the Western Sector. This included Kongka La, Gogra, and the north bank of Pangong Lake. These attempts were detected early and consequently responded to appropriately.

India made it clear to the Chinese side both through diplomatic and military channels that China was, by such actions, attempting to unilaterally alter the status quo. It was categorically conveyed that this was unacceptable.

Given the growing friction along the LAC, the senior commanders of the two sides, in a meeting on June 6, 2020, agreed on a process of disengagement that involved reciprocal actions. Both sides also agreed to respect and abide by the LAC and not undertake any activity to alter the status quo. However, in violation of this, the Chinese side created a violent face-off on June 15, 2020, in Galwan.

The Indian response was calculative and assertive, and the strength and resilience of the Indian Armed Forces were visible by their occupying dominating strategic heights, both in the Chushul Sub-Sectorsouth of the Pangong Tsoand in the north of the lakethus strengthening Indias position to negotiate and diffuse the prevailing tension. Further, this has led to a rebalancing of forces.

Conclusion

Four years after the night of savagery, relations remain strained, and troops remain deployed in a tense standoff as the main issue regarding Chinese intrusions into territory under Indian control is yet to be resolved but also because the fallout of mutual suspicion is creating new cycles of tension.

Military and diplomatic talks at the Corps Commander level have been going on over the past four years. The talks have led to the disengagement of troops from some friction points, but mutual suspicions continue to run deep.

These negotiations have yielded some results, such as disengagement at five friction pointsthe Pangong Tsos North and South banks, Patrolling Points 15 and 17A at the Gogra-Hot Springs area, and Galwan. However, the standoffs in critical areas, including the Depsang Plains and Demchok in Eastern Ladakh, remain unresolved. China is unwilling to discuss these two areas, claiming that these are legacy issues as they predate April 2020 and therefore do not come under the ambit of the current talks.

Further, the two armies have not reduced their troop presence at the LAC, which has been built up even during the freezing winter months. The deployment of heavy weaponry and equipment has also seen significant inductions in the region. In addition, land and air connectivity infrastructure is being improved along the entire LAC.

To quote Lieutenant General Rakesh Sharma (Retd), a former Corps Commander in Eastern Ladakh, The Chinese now know that post-Galwan they have to fight for each and every inch of land, unlike in the past when they would salami slice our territory. He goes on to say, The border has changed from benign to active, where both nations have deployed a considerable amount of manpower and equipment.

The External Affairs Minister Jaishankar recently said, India responded by counter deployment of forces, and for four years now, forces have been deployed ahead of the normal base positions at Galwan. This is a very abnormal deployment along the LAC. Given the tension between the two countries As Indian citizens, none of us should disregard the security of the countryIt is today a challenge.

There is a huge trust deficit regarding China due to the major standoffs on the LAC. Over the last two decades, with the economic differential continuing to increase between India and China, it may become more aggressive and expansionist on both the continental and maritime domains.

For India, the lesson is clear: Till a resolution on the territorial dispute is resolved, we need to build on our hard power, which is reflected not only in troop strength but also in technology, capability, and operational readiness backed by doctrines and resolve. We cannot afford to lower our vigil.

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.
Indias upward trajectory and quest to be a rule-maker and shaper make it well placed to craft and promote its principled foreign policy while reiterating that this is not an era of war and dialogue and diplomacy can only lead to peace read more

India has virtually become an integral part of G7+1, as it has already been invited 11 times to the summit. Image: X/Narendra Modi

The G7 Summit, hosted by Prime Minister of Italy Georgia Meloni in the historic and beautiful Apulia region from June 1315, has come at a time when the world is facing multiple consequential changes and challenges.

The two ongoing wars in Europe and the Middle East confront them where their own roles have been questioned. The liberal order is under tremendous stress, for which its originators and founders are equally responsible for its near demise. Undermining the multilateralist regimes and institutions, they resorted to unilateral measures, arbitrary sanctions, and prescriptive mandates, which they did not follow themselves. The seeds of a new alternative were, to a great extent, sown by them.

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The G7 itself was founded in 1975, when the Oil Crisis and embargo by the Arabs, in the wake of the 1973 war and US role therein, had stretched the major economies to the hilt. Five decades on, this 50th meeting has faced similar challenges, which have been farmed out by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the Israel-Hamas war.

Both the wars have the potential to engulf the region and the world in flames. Talk of nuclear Armageddon has become fashionable as newer autonomous weapon systems are being flaunted with alacrity. Moreover, China has become the existential challenge for the G7, and the group is still struggling to contain the impact by using standard, arbitrary approaches and measures that are only leading to greater alignment between Russia and China in order to counter Western hegemonistic practices.

Hence, the duo is also propagating their own brand of the world order while harking back to the primacy of multilateral institutions, especially the United Nations, which is already on ventilator, while greater emphasis on the BRICS, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and Eurasian landscape is a reality.

At the present time, the G7 is preoccupied by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and how to defeat Putin through an indirect war by projecting themselves as the saviours of the faltering international rules-based order.

Provision of more advanced weapon systems to the Chief Guest of the event, Comrade Zelensky, and agreeing to provide $50 billion of the Russian funds in Western banks for reconstruction of war-ravaged eastern Ukraine will only fire the resolve of re-elected President Putin to be even more vengeful. The situation cannot change as long as the West continues to support the fight until the last Ukrainian, as correctly conveyed by the slip of the tongue of President Biden.

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The G7 has emerged as a pole in the very likely scenario of a geopolitically divided Cold War 2.0. No doubt, in the geoeconomic sense, the new order will have several centres of economic power. There is no doubt that the pivot has moved to East and South, in which India will play a stronger role not only as a second or third largest economy but also as a bridge builder between East and West and North and South and as a credible Voice of the Global South through its principled foreign policy and strategic autonomy, adding to its comprehensive power with the India First approach for the greater good and welfare of the world. It might have its own limitations with the fractious transitional order but has the moral capacity to be a beacon of hope.

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India has virtually become an integral part of G7+1, as it has already been invited 11 times. Prime Minister Modi himself has attended and contributed a great deal to the five outreach summits with his novel ideas on the key global challenges. His visit to Italy happens to be the first one after the beginning of the Modi 3.0 era. Bilateral relations with Italy under PM Meloni and PM Modi have really moved beyond the Sonia factor that had dogged the partnership for quite some time.

Today, both countries are working in a strong strategic partnership, not only in the bilateral domain but also in regional and global formats. The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), even if currently under stress due to the Israel-Hamas war, has provided convergence for Rome and the Raisina Hills.

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Again, Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Indo-Pacific provide a strategic landscape for cooperation. Artificial intelligence (AI), data regulation, climate change, and critical technologies are key challenges where their use for the benefit of humankind has to be promoted through international collaboration, and abuse by non-state actors and extremist terror groups must be contained and prevented. For these reasons, global solidarity is warranted, but it does not appear to be on the horizon given the state of flux and churn in the vertically opposed positions of the major powers. Could India play a bridging role? That is the moot question!

India has displayed its diplomatic prowess, universal welfare, and concern during its 2023 presidency of the G20, which projected the intent and sincerity to take everyone along for the global good. In the Group of G7+1, India has already surpassed four major economies in terms of GDP. Its upward trajectory and quest to be a rule-maker and shaper make it well placed to craft and promote its principled foreign policy while reiterating to the Russians and others that this is not an era of war" and that dialogue and diplomacy can only lead to peace. PM Modi, during his bilaterals with key leaders, including Zelensky, conveyed the crux of the Indian approach to global peace and solidarity as the Global South and its core concerns and interests remain Indias priority.

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The writer is a former Indian Ambassador to Jordan, Libya and Malta and is a Distinguished Fellow with leading think tank Vivekananda International Foundation. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Chances are that there will be retaliation. It wont be a knee-jerk response. It might not even be a declared response like it was during the 2016 surgical strikes or 2019 Balakot strike read more

Four terror attacks in four days south of the Pir Panjal range in the Jammu division of the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir signal not just a shift in the centre of gravity and area of operation of terrorists, but also the strategic intent of their handlers and controllers sitting in Pakistan. That Jammu has seen a steady rise in incidents of terrorism since the constitutional reforms in J&K in 2019 is not exactly a new revelation.

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With the security grid in the Kashmir valley being strengthened, the terrorists have shifted base to Jammu division, where the terrain offers them some advantages, as also relatively easier ingress and egress routes to Pakistani-controlled areas of the UT. Given the mixed population in this region, it isnt very difficult to find local support, more so because the political neglect of this region has made the ground fertile for subversive activity.

Alarm bells should have started ringing in corridors of power in both Srinagar and New Delhi many years ago when the first stirrings of political alienation in this belt started manifesting themselves. But a combination of hubris and self-deception, plus some strategic expediency, created a situation which allowed terrorists to re-start their activities in this area.

For close to two decades, Jammu had been largely untouched by the scourge of terrorism. There were a few minor incidents but nothing that suggested a revival of terrorism in the area. But the ambushes of military vehicles, attacks on Army camps and clashes with security personnel since 2021 should have been seen as fitting a pattern that suggested that terrorists were trying to make a comeback in the region. There was, however, a frog in a pot syndrome that seemed to plague the security assessment of events in Jammu.

Perhaps this was also the reason that the security presence in this area was thinned down and a division strength redeployed to beef up the presence along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on the Northern axis facing China. Although this did create gaps in the security grid, it wasnt seen as a problem because this was a safe area.

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However, now that the heat has been turned up, and things are starting to become uncomfortable, there is a better appreciation that what is happening in Jammu is not isolated incidents but part of a larger, more sinister plan of the terrorists and their handlers. This is also clear from the fact that in Kashmir, terrorists from proxy groups like The Resistance Front or Peoples Anti-Fascist Front were not well-trained, disciplined, or battle-hardened killers. These were merely radicalised and Islamised young men who wanted to prove their machismo by gunning down unarmed, defenceless civilians.

The terrorists operating in Jammu are, however, much better trained. The kind of ambushes and attacks carried out suggest that along with experienced terrorists groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, there could also be Pakistani regulars or ex-servicemen (mostly from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir) who have pressed into service. These terrorists appear to be operating in small 2-3 men groups (probably including a local) and living off the land. They make good use of the terrain to hit and run, and operations to track them are more complicated and manpower-intensive than in the Kashmir valley.

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But with force levels increasing in the area and operations intensifying, it is only a matter of time before most of these terrorists are eliminated. However, beyond the immediate threat of a spike in terrorism in Jammu, the larger question remains: what has led to this situation? After all, the entire UT experienced very peaceful elections with an impressive voter turnout and engagement during the polls. Overall, the security situation in Kashmir is better than it has been in a long time. The 2019 constitutional reforms have changed the political and diplomatic equations in the erstwhile state and left Pakistan stunned, almost paralysed.

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While all of this is undeniable, it is important for India to realise that its not a good idea to ever become complacent about an implacable enemy or an intractable problem, which is exactly what we might have been guilty off.

That the Pakistanis are down and out is a no-brainer. They are embroiled in domestic political turmoil, enmeshed not only in an extremely enervating Islamist insurgency in the Pashtun areas bordering Afghanistan, but also an unending Baloch resistance, and ensnared by a bankrupt economy. This is precisely why they desperately needed to signal to India that they remain in the fray, that they arent ready to throw in the towel, and are not going to let go of their beloved Kashmir cause, because to do that would be to accept Indian hegemony.

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But the Pakistanis also know that they cannot afford a war-like situation with India. This means they need to carefully calibrate the violence to a point that stays below the threshold of tolerance in India. Otherwise there could be another escalation from the Indian side - Balakot 2.0 or worse.

For the Gen Asim Munir-led military junta in Rawalpindi, rising tensions with India cut both ways: on one level, they make Pakistanis rally behind the Army, significantly reducing the disgust and disenchantment with the military, especially in Punjab; but on another level, rising tensions with India have a serious impact on an already struggling economy. Worse, at a time when security commitments are increasing on the western front with Afghanistan, an active eastern front with India imposes enormous pressure on the Pakistan Army, confronting them with a two-front situation.

One way to balance this is by asking the Chinese to increase pressure on Indias northern front. Perhaps this was discussed when Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his boss Gen Asim Munir visited Beijing around the time Indias election results were being declared.

What is clear, however, is that the spate of terror attacks is an open dare to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Pakistanis are testing him now that the elections are over and Modi is back, albeit with a reduced mandate. The primary reason why there was no major attack before or during the polls was because the Pakistanis wanted to avoid a redux of Pulwama and not give PM Modi another full toss to hit out of the ground. But now they want to see how much and how far they can push Modi 3.0 before he will respond, especially since he is now heading a coalition government. What the Pakistanis, who have a distorted military-run hybrid system, dont understand is that the threshold is much lower at 240 seats in Lok Sabha than it was at 303 seats. PM Modi will have to reaffirm his credentials on national security, not only to push back against the jibes and barbs from the resurgent Opposition, but also to live up to the expectations of his core constituency.

Therefore, chances are that there will be retaliation. It wont be a knee-jerk response. It might not even be a declared response like it was during the 2016 surgical strikes or 2019 Balakot strike. But there will be a response. What will also force Modis hand is the election victory of a separatist in Kashmir and two in Punjab, which makes it necessary to disabuse Indias enemies (within and without) of the notion that they can destabilise India by weaponising democracy.

A message must be delivered not just to the separatists in India but also to their masters in Pakistan, that India will hit back and pay them in the same coin. Clearly then, tensions are likely to rise in the region. Going forward, the ceasefire along Line of Control (LoC) could end and skirmishes could once again start along the Indias Western frontier.

The author is Senior Fellow, Observer Research Foundation. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
While many businesses benefit from tourist spending, residents are increasingly troubled by noisy helicopters, congested streets and trails, and environmental damage. To address these issues, Juneau has struck a deal with the Cruise Lines International Association in Alaska. The agreement sets daily limits of 16,000 passengers from Sundays to Fridays, and 12,000 on Saturdays read more

Alaskas capital city Juneau located on the Gastineau Channel, is taking action to manage the influx of cruise ship tourists, amid rising worries about the impact on local life.

This came also after city saw a record 1.65 million cruise passengers last year, marking a 23% increase from previous highs.

While many businesses benefit from tourist spending, residents are increasingly troubled by noisy helicopters, congested streets and trails, and environmental damage. To address these issues, Juneau has struck a deal with the Cruise Lines International Association in Alaska. The agreement sets daily limits of 16,000 passengers from Sundays to Fridays, and 12,000 on Saturdays.

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Alexandra Pierce, Juneaus tourism manager, highlighted citys stance on managing growth within its current infrastructure limitations. She highlighted the importance of balancing economic benefits with residents concerns and preserving local livelihoods.

Despite this effort, longtime critic of the cruise industry, Karla Hart, remains skeptical. She fears that even with the agreed limits, the city could still see record-breaking arrivals during the 22-week cruise season. Hart is advocating for a local referendum proposing ship-free Saturdays to protect community quality of life.

The global cruise industry, rebounding strongly post-pandemic, continues to grow with increasingly large ships. For instance, the Icon of the Seas, launched in January, accommodates over 7,000 passengers and boasts the worlds largest onboard waterpark.

Juneaus concerns echo those of other cities worldwide grappling with social and environmental impacts from cruise tourism. Venice has banned large cruise ships from its lagoon, while Barcelona and Amsterdam have implemented restrictions and taxes to mitigate these effects.

Hart highlighted ongoing concerns about emissions, ship strikes, and climate change attributed to cruise ship and urged further measures to safeguard Juneaus environment and community well-being.
The FAAs investigation will determine the depth of the issue as well as the short and long-term implications and safety of the aircraft that were equipped with such parts read more

Boeing and Airbus are staring at more trouble after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) began investigating reports of the aircraft manufacturing companies using falsified reports to verify the authenticity of titanium equipped in some of the recently produced jets.

A report by the New York Times says that the fake documents are currently being investigated by Boeing and Airbus fuselages supplier, Spirit AeroSystems.

When this was identified, all suspect parts were quarantined and removed from Spirit production, said Joe Buccino, a spokesperson for Spirit AeroSystems.

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More than 1,000 tests have been completed to confirm the mechanical and metallurgical properties of the affected material to ensure continued airworthiness, he added.

Titanium, an important component in the aerospace supply chain, is used to make landing gears, blades and turbine discs for aircraft.

The FAAs investigation will determine the depth of the issue as well as the short and long-term implications and safety of the aircraft that were equipped with such parts.

The investigation sparked after a parts supplier discovered small holes in the material from corrosion.

Aircraft manufacturing companies are being pushed to manufacture new planes amid a post-COVID travel surge. However, supply chain issues and component shortages are limiting their ability to meet this demand.

Last year, jet engine manufacturer CFM International disclosed that thousands of its engine components might have been sold with falsified documentation by a British distributor.

Republican Senator Chuck Grassley said Friday he is launching a new congressional oversight inquiry into the FAA and Boeing after a January mid-air emergency involving a 737 MAX 9.

With inputs from agencies
Li Qiang said there was vast potential for China and New Zealand to collaborate in areas such as green development and that Beijing welcomed New Zealand enterprises, such as dairy company Fonterra, that seized such opportunities read more

Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Australia on Saturday on a relations-mending mission with panda diplomacy, rock lobsters and Chinas global dominance in the critical minerals sector high on the agenda.

His visit is the first by a Chinese premier in seven years and is expected to pave the way for President Xi Jinpings first journey to Australia since 2014.

This is the second leg of his tour after New Zealand and will end in Malaysia.

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Before leaving New Zealand, Li told an audience in the city of Auckland on Saturday that his country was committed to creating a first-class business environment and supporting foreign enterprises to develop in China, according to Chinese state media.

Li said there was vast potential for China and New Zealand to collaborate in areas such as green development and that Beijing welcomed New Zealand enterprises, such as dairy company Fonterra, that seized such opportunities, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

During the Australian leg of his travels which ends on Tuesday, Chinas most powerful politician after President Xi Jinping is expected to visit Adelaide Zoo in the South Australia state capital where his Air China flight landed from Auckland.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas greeted Li on the Adelaide Airport tarmac.

Li will also visit a Chinese-controlled lithium processing plant in the Kwinana Beach industrial estate in Western Australia state, as well as Australias Parliament House in the national capital Canberra.

China initiated a reset of the bilateral relationship after Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses center-left Labor Party was elected in 2022.

The relationship collapsed during the previous conservative administrations almost decade in power over legislation that banned covert foreign interference in Australian politics, the exclusion of Chinese-owned telecommunications giant Huawei from rolling out the national 5G network due to security concerns, and Australias call for an independent investigation into the causes of and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Beijing imposed an array of official and unofficial trade blocks in 2020 on a range of Australian exports including coal, wine, barley and wood that cost up to 20 billion Australian dollars ($13 billion) a year.

All the trade bans have now been lifted except for Australian live lobster exports. Trade Minister Don Farrell predicted that impediment would also be lifted soon after Lis visit with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao.

Id be very confident that the visit this week will result in a very successful outcome for lobster producers, Farrell told reporters Wednesday.

Many observers expect Australia will be more cautious about its future economic relationship with China after being subjected to what many see as economic coercion in recent years.

Australian National University China expert Benjamin Herscovitch describes an emerging expectations gap between Beijing and Canberra.

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Beijing, now that the coercion campaign is over, wants to  turn the page and launch into a more expansive, more positive, more cooperative bilateral relationship, Herscovitch said.

Canberras saying: Look. Hold on. We want the trade restrictions gone and we want high-level diplomacy restored. But were not interested in deeper science and technology cooperation with China because we see that potentially from an Australian point of view as a security threat, Herscovitch added.

Li intends to visit Tianqi Lithium Energy Australias processing plant south of the Western Australia capital Perth on Tuesday to underscore Chinas interest in investing in critical minerals, news media have reported. The plant produces battery-grade lithium hydroxide for electric vehicles.

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Australia shares the United States concerns over Chinas dominance in the critical minerals, which are essential components in the worlds transition to renewable energy sources.

Citing Australias national interests, Treasurer Jim Chalmers recently ordered five Chinese-linked companies to divest their shares in the rare earth mining company, Northern Minerals.

Less controversially, Li is expected to make a visit Sunday to Adelaide Zoo, which has been the home of China-born giant pandas Wang Wang and Fu Ni since 2009.

The Adelaide Advertiser newspaper has reported Li will announce the pandas will be replaced by another breeding pair after they return to China in November.

While the bilateral economic relationship is recovering from plumbing new lows in recent years, the security relationship between the two free trading partners appears more tense.

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An annual poll by the Sydney-based Lowy Institute foreign policy think tank released in June found that 53 per cent of Australian respondents saw China as more of a security threat than an economic partner.

Albanese has said he will raise with Li during an annual leaders meeting on Monday recent clashes between the two countries militaries in the South China Sea and Yellow Sea which Australia argues endangered Australian personnel.

The premier spent three days in New Zealand, a free trade partner with which China has enjoyed a more harmonious relationship than it has with Australia. Li described China and New Zealand as good friends.

His next stop will be Malaysia, where bilateral relations are further complicated by competing territorial claims in the South China Sea.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told Li on Saturday: China is one of New Zealands most important and consequential relationships.

Li used the trip to express concerns at New Zealands contemplation of joining a military technology-sharing arrangement under Australias AUKUS pact with the United States and Britain. The pacts primary aim is to provide Australia with a fleet of submarines powered by US nuclear technology.
Pakistans Permanent Mission to the UN was targeted by a cyber attack, infiltrating its official email account and the YouTube channel, a media report said on Saturday. read more

Pakistans Permanent Mission to the UN was targeted by a cyber attack, infiltrating its official email account and the YouTube channel, a media report said on Saturday.

The cyber attack occurred on Friday, at 4 pm US time, The Express Tribune newspaper reported. The breach targeted the email ID used by the Permanent Missions information wing, the report said.

The missions YouTube channel was also compromised, and the attackers altered its name, banners, and content, the report said, quoting sources.

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The Pakistani UN mission requested all emails and videos put on its channels be ignored until they regain control of their accounts.

No group/entity has taken responsibility for the cyber attack.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will continue operating from the presidential office after his African National Congress (ANC) decided to strike a coalition deal with the Democratic Alliance (DA) read more

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa raises his hand as he is sworn is as a member of Parliament ahead of an expected vote by lawmakers to decide if he is reelected as leader of the country in Cape Town, South Africa, 14 June, 2024. Source: File Image / AP

South Africas African National Congress (ANC) party supremo Cyril Ramaphosa was reelected as the president of the country days after the election results plundered his partys stronghold. His re-election came hours after ANC struck a coalition deal with the Democratic Alliance (DA).

The pro-business party decided to set aside its decades-old rivalry with the ANC to formulate a historic government pact. Ramaphosa won the late Friday vote against Julius Malema, leader of the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters, to continue holding his presidential position.

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Around 283 lawmakers voted in favour of Ramaphosa and only 44 people supported Malemas nomination. Many believe that the South African president-elects centrist preferences ultimately won out over more leftwing factions of the ANC. Interestingly, the deal was struck amid criticism that the DA favours the interest of South Africas white minority.

A historic loss made the ANC compromise

The party that played a key role in dismantling the apartheid regime lost its parliamentary majority in the 29 May elections. This was the first time the ANC lost its majority since it swept to power in the historic 1994 elections.

While ANC remained the largest party, its vote share collapsed from 57.5 per cent in 2019 to 40.2 per cent in the 2024 polls. The rise in defection within the party amid chronic unemployment and worsening public services, also contributed to the ANC losing its majority.

Meanwhile, the DA received 22 per cent of votes in this years elections. After supporting Ramaphonsa, the free-market party expressed its intention to vote for an ANC speaker in parliament as well. In return, the party will seek the deputy speaker position, The Guardian reported.

Today, the DA becomes a party of national government, party leader John Steenhuisen, told a press briefing.

Through their votes, the people have made it clear that they do not want any one party to dominate our society. The people have also told us that the time for finger-pointing is over and that the time for a new politics of collaboration and problem-solving has arrived," he added.

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After the coalition was formed, the legislators were sworn in at a convention centre in Cape Town, while the parliament building was still being renovated after a fire in 2022.

The two parties signed a statement of intent that included a commitment to a merit-based, nonpartisan and professional civil service. In the past, ANC has been criticised for appointing its supporters to public sector positions, known in South Africa as cadre deployment, with many claiming that it fosters corruption.

Two other smaller parties, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), a Zulu nationalist party, and the Patriotic Alliance (PA) said that they would love to be part of the government as well. The latter pushed to bring back the death penalty and expressed the intention to deport illegal immigrants.

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With inputs from agencies.
The crux of the package was to ban countries from re-exporting Russian LNG from EU ports and financing planned Arctic and Baltic LNG terminals read more

A day before the Ukraine Peace Summit sat down to discuss the ongoing crisis, European Union (EU) nations failed to agree on fresh sanctions against Russias lucrative liquefied natural gas sector. According to six EU diplomats, Germany was the one that torpedoed the deal on Friday.

According to Politico, the crux of the package was to ban countries from re-exporting Russian LNG from EU ports and financing planned Arctic and Baltic LNG terminals. Once upon a time, it was said that we should always blame  Hungary  and now its Germany, one diplomat told the news outlet, referring to Hungarys usual habit of blocking the package.

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Not only this, Belgium which currently chairs EU country negotiations was forced to split talks on the package into two separate discussions amid German opposition to new sanctions against Belarus as well. The latest opposition from Gemenay came as world leaders discussed the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war at the G7 Summit in Italy.

Why Germany is blockading the sanctions?

The sanctions on the table would have been a 14th package backed by EU member countries since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Germany worried that broadening the sanctions would force the EU companies to ensure that their customer does not sell sanctioned goods to Moscow. Before this, the so-called no-Russia clause was only applied to firearms, battlefield items and dual-use goods  which have both a military and civilian application.

However, Berlin argued that if such restrictions are imposed on civilian products, they negatively impact small businesses if this was expanded to more civilian products, like chemicals, or metalworking machinery.

The EU diplomats told Politico that the European Commission is negotiating with the German chancellery in order to convince Berlin to lift its veto. The hold-up is also coming at a time when German Chancellor Olad Scholz is also dealing with a rift within his three-party, centre-left coalition.

As the peace summit commences, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was still unable to say whether Berlin would support the package. However, she called for more sanctions on Belarus at a press conference.

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We must take stronger action against the circumvention of sanctions that we have seen in recent months, said Baerbock, whose Greens support stronger sanctions. And that applies above all to Belarus.

With inputs from agencies.
The centrists of French President Emmanuel Macrons Renaissance (RE) party are fearing a rout as leftists have converged under a coalition and the far-right party National Rally (RN) of Marine Le Pen has surged in popularity.

Ahead of the elections, the left-wing parties in France have formed a coalition called New Popular Front (NPF) to take on the far-right.

Following the victory of Le Pens RN in the European Parliamentary elections, Macron dissolved the French parliament and called snap elections. The move has been described as a gamble as surveys have put RN in the lead and Macrons RE third in the voters preference.

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The French elections will take place in two rounds on June 30 and July 7. As per a survey cited by BBC News, RN is set to get 29.5 per cent votes in the first round of polling on June 30, the NPF 28.5 per cent, and RE 18 per cent.

Why is Macrons RE party trailing?

Macrons centrist party RE has lost left-leaning voters over his tough stand on immigration and proposed pension reforms, according to The Guardian.

Moreover, as the left-wing parties have converged under a new coalition NPF, those dissatisfied with Macron have an alternative to both him and the RN.

The critics of Macron on the right, however, have felt that he has not done enough to curb illegal immigration. This has fuelled their shift to Le Pens RN thats running on an anti-immigration platform.

As per Politico, the approval rating of Macron is just 34 per cent at the moment. In the recent European Parliamentary elections, the far-right party RN won twice as many seats as Macrons RE. This was seen as a reflection of the domestic political scenario in France.

Even though Macron is not required to resign even if his party loses elections, a survey found that 57 per cent French voters preferred him to resign in such case. As the President of France, Macrons term will continue till 2027 and he will remain in charge of the foreign and defence policies of the country irrespective of the party in power in the parliament. But if any other party takes over parliament, Macron would lose control of the domestic agenda and there will be friction and compromises as he would have to work with a prime minister opposed to him.

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Can far-right win French elections?

As a survey cited above showed, the far-right RN party is narrowly ahead of the left-wing coalition NFP as of now.

Even if RN does not win, pollsters agree that the far-right could make massive and historic gains, according to The Guardian.

The newspaper reported that the far-right could go from 88 seats in the 577-member parliament to as high as 200. While that would be short of a majority, it could allow it to strike a deal with smaller parties to be part of a coalition government.

Meanwhile, pollsters agree that Macrons RE is headed to being a distant third in the French elections, as per the paper.
The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor or IMEC is also seen as an initiative by like-minded nations to gain strategic influence in the face of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which has faced increasing criticism over lack of transparency and disregard for sovereignty of the nations. read more

At the end of the three-day G7 Summit held in Apulia, Italy, the Group of Seven nations committed to promoting key infrastructure projects, including the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). This commitment was outlined in the G7 Summit Communique, issued on Friday evening after the customary family photo session.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who attended the summit, witnessed the G7s reaffirmation of their dedication to a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law. The communique reflects the G7s focus on fostering connectivity and economic growth through initiatives like IMEC and ensuring stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

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Prime Minister Modi and his Italian counterpart reviewed the progress of the bilateral strategic partnership and agreed to strengthen cooperation in global fora and multilateral initiatives, including the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.

We will further promote concrete G7 PGII (Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment) initiatives, flagship projects, and complementary initiatives to develop transformative economic corridors for quality infrastructure and investment, such as the deepening of our coordination and financing for the Lobito Corridor, the Luzon Corridor, the Middle Corridor, and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, also building on the EU Global Gateway, the Great Green Wall Initiative, and the Mattei Plan for Africa launched by Italy," reads the communique.

Billed as a path-breaking initiative, the IMEC envisages a vast road, railroad and shipping network among Saudi Arabia, India, the United States and Europe to ensure integration among Asia, the Middle East and the West.

The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor or IMEC is also seen as an initiative by like-minded nations to gain strategic influence in the face of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which has faced increasing criticism over lack of transparency and disregard for sovereignty of the nations.

Chinas 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 hosted by India in Delhi last year.

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With inputs from agencies.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) is the de facto administration of the Palestinians which partially governs the West Bank with its seat at Ramallah read more

From left : German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pose for a photo at Borgo Egnazia resort during the G7 Summit hosted by Italy in Apulia region, on 13 June, 2024 in Savelletri. AFP

The Group of Seven (G-7) leaders have asked Israel to not withhold tax revenues from the Palestinian Authority (PA) and not take steps that weaken it.

The G-7 leaders have further endorsed the PAs rule in the Gaza Strip once the Israel-Hamas War has come to an end.

In the joint statement issued at the end of the G-7 Summit in Italy, the groups leaders said Gaza and West Bank must be unified under the control of the PA. They also reiterated their commitment to the end of the war under the peace plan announced by US President Joe Biden and endorsed by Israel.

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The G-7 includes the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, and Japan.

The PA is the de facto administration of the Palestinians that partially governs the West Bank with its seat at Ramallah. During 2005-07, it also governed Gaza until it was driven out by the terrorist group Hamas in intra-Palestinian conflict. Since 2007, Hamas has controlled and run the administration in Gaza.

Actions that weaken PA must stop

In a reference to Israeli governments decision to withhold tax revenues of the PA, the G-7 leaders said actions weakening the PA must stop.

Israels far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has not just frozen the tax revenues of the PA but has also said that he would transfer a portion of those taxes to victims of terrorism within Israel.

As per the terms of the Oslo Accords of 1990, Israel collects tax revenue on behalf of the PA and then transfer it to the Palestinian administration. Smotrich has now frozen the transfer of these revenues which has put the PA at the risk of bankruptcy as its running out of funds to run its affairs.

The G-7 joint statement said, Actions that weaken the Palestinian Authority must stop, including the withholding of clearance revenues by the Israeli Government. Maintaining economic stability in the West Bank is critical for regional security. We call on Israel to take the necessary measures to ensure that correspondent banking services between Israeli and Palestinian banks remain in place, so that vital financial transactions and critical trade in services continue; to release withheld clearance revenues to the Palestinian authority, in view of its urgent fiscal needs; and to remove or relax other measures to avoid further exacerbating the economic situation in the West Bank.

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G-7 commits to 2-state solution

The G-7 leaders committed to the realisation of the two-state solution and the eventual unification of Gaza and West Bank under PAs rule.

The two-state solution refers to the proposed resolution of the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict in which a Jewish State of Israel and an Arab State of Palestine come up side-by-side in a way that neither threatens the security of the other and both recognise each-other.

We reiterate our 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, and in this regard stress the importance of unifying the Gaza strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority. We note that mutual recognition, to include the recognition of a Palestinian state, at the appropriate time, would be a crucial component of that political process, said the G-7 leaders in the joint statement.

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The G-7 leaders also said they stood behind the peace plan for the war in Gaza that Biden announced late last month. The plane, which has been endorsed by Israel, is stuck as Hamas has not yet said yes to it.

As per the plan, the war would end in three stages starting from a six-week ceasefire and ending with the withdrawal of all Israeli soldiers from Gaza, the release of all hostages, and the beginning of the reconstruction of Gaza devastated from months of war.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, China has emerged as the principal partner of Russia that has supplied dual-use supplies used in making arms and ammunitions read more

The G-7 leaders have accused China of enabling the Russian war on Ukraine.

While Russia has been the common traditional adversary of the bloc in many recent summits, China too has emerged as one in this years G-7 Summit in Italy.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, China has emerged as the principal partner of Russia that has supplied dual-use supplies used in making arms and ammunitions. While no overt arms sales have happened, such dual-use supplies have helped Russia shore up weapons manufacturing that has in turn driven the war on Ukraine.

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Mincing no words, US President Joe Biden said while China is not providing Russia weapons, it is providing Russia the ability to produce those weapons.

China is not supplying weapons but the ability to produce those weapons and the technology available to do it. So, it is, in fact, helping Russia, said Biden.

In the joint statement, the G-7 members clubbed China among the countries providing material support Russias war machine. While China has provided non-lethal support to Russia, North Korea and Iran have provided Russia with missiles, drones, and other weapons that have been directly used against Ukraine.

We will continue taking measures against actors in China and third countries that materially support Russias war machine, including financial institutions, consistent with our legal systems, and other entities in China that facilitate Russias acquisition of items for its defense industrial base, said the statement.

China enabling Russias illegal war

In the joint statement, the G-7 members said that the Chinese support was enabling Russias illegal war on Ukraine.

Since Russia attacked Ukraine in February 2022, China has provided goods such as spare parts to be used in missiles, semiconductors, and raw material for making ammunition and artillery shells. Russia has also become a destination for Chinese consumer goods as the supply from elsewhere has been curtailed amid mounting sanctions. In turn, China has also got cheap energy supplies from Russia.

The joint statement said, Chinas ongoing support for Russias defense industrial base is enabling Russia to maintain its illegal war in Ukraine and has significant and broad-based security implications. We call on China to cease the transfer of dual-use materials, including weapons components and equipment, that are inputs for Russias defense sector.

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The G-7 members further called out the Chinese excesses in Tibet, Xinjiang, and Hong Kong, and said they remained concerned by the human rights situation in China.

The tone on China is a sharp shift. Until last year, China and its leader, Xi Jinping, were seen as a moderating force on Russian President Vladimir Putin who could steer some compromise or ceasefire efforts, but now the perception of the West is that China is in fact driving the Russian war machine. Experts have also increasingly said that China is now invested in the Russian victory in Ukraine.

G-7 leaders slam Chinese business practices

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The G-7 nations also called out Chinas business practices that have been labelled as anti-competitive.

The United States and the European Union (EU) have accused China of making its goods like electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy products like solar panels artificially cheaper through subsidies and dumping them in Western markers. Such dumping has put Western companies and jobs at risk as they could not properly compete with artificially cheap Chinese imports.

As a result, the United States and the EU have slapped heavy tariffs on Chinese EVs and other goods.

In their joint statement, the G-7 nations said, We express our concerns about Chinas persistent industrial targeting and comprehensive non-market policies and practices that are leading to global spillovers, market distortions and harmful overcapacity in a growing range of sectors, undermining our workers, industries, and economic resilience and security.

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The G-7 nations further called out the Chinese practice of closing its market for Western companies. They called on China to refrain from adopting export control measures, particularly on critical minerals, that could lead to significant global supply chain disruptions.

The leaders further vowed to boost the domestic production capacities of their own countries and mount a collective response to Chinas unfair business practices at forums such as the World Trade Organization (WTO).

With these concerns in mind, together with partners, we will invest in building our and their respective industrial capacities, promote diversified and resilient supply chains, and reduce critical dependencies and vulnerabilities. We will strengthen diplomatic efforts and international cooperation, including in the WTO, to encourage fair practices and build resilience to economic coercion. We will continue to take actions, as necessary and appropriate, to protect our workers and businesses from unfair practices, to level the playing field and remedy ongoing harm, said the statement.
The megaprison and about a dozen other measures in the plan echo neighbouring El Salvador, where President Nayib Bukeles anti-gang campaign has drawn criticism from rights groups but has made him one of the most popular leaders in Latin America read more

Honduras will build a 20,000-capacity megaprison, President Xiomara Castro announced on Friday, among a raft of measures to combat a security emergency in the Central American country.

Castro, flanked by members of Hondurass National Defense and Security Council, said in a late-night address to the nation the plan of solutions against crime was in response to public complaints about rising violence.

She said the armed forces and police must make urgent interventions in all areas where there was a high incidence of crimes such as murder, drug trafficking, extortion, kidnapping, arms trafficking, illicit associations and money laundering.

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The megaprison and about a dozen other measures in the plan echo neighbouring El Salvador, where President Nayib Bukeles anti-gang campaign has drawn criticism from rights groups but has made him one of the most popular leaders in Latin America.

Honduras is one of the worlds most violent countries, with a homicide rate of 34 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2023, almost six times the global average.

Armed forces chief Roosevelt Hernandez said the immediate construction of the 20,000-inmate Emergency Reclusion Center had been ordered under the declared security emergency in a depopulated area between the departments of Olancho and Gracias a Dios in the northeast.

About 30 prisons across Honduras currently hold some 21,000 inmates who would be transferred to the new facility immediately, Hernandez said.

Defense Minister Manuel Zelaya said tenders would also be announced in two weeks for the construction of another prison, already planned to accommodate 2,000 inmates, on the Swan Islands in the Caribbean.

Zelaya said there were also plans to intensify investigations and operations to locate, eradicate, secure and destroy coca leaf and marijuana plantations and drug processing centers.
The Yemen-based militant group Houthis struck a Greek-owned vessel in Red Sea after which 22 people onboard had to be evacuated from the region read more

Houthi followers participate in a parade as part of a 'popular army' mobilization campaign by the movement, in Sanaa, Yemen on 7 February, 2024. Reuters File

The crew of a Greek-owned vessel had to be evacuated after it was damaged in an attack by Yemens militant group Houthi in the Red Sea. According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the vessel was abandoned shortly after the attack and is currently drifting in the sea which has become the epicentre of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

One of the crew members from Tutor, the Liberia-flagged coal carrier, remains missing. The attack took place near the Yemeni port of Hodeidah on Wednesday and caused severe flooding and damage to the engine room of the ship, leaving the vessel unable to manoeuvre.

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The Iran-backed group Houthis have claimed responsibility for the missile strike on Tutor and another vessel, Verbena, in the Gulf of Aden, over the past days. Last week, their attacks also damaged two other ships, marking a significant increase in effectiveness.

IMO raises alarm

The Yemeni group have used drones and missiles to target ships in the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden since November. They started their strikes to express solidarity with Palestine as the raging Israel-Hamas war continues.

Throughout the course of this attack, the Houthis have sunk one ship, seized another vessel and killed three seafarers in separate attacks. This situation cannot go on, the International Maritime Organisations secretary general, Arsenio Dominguez, said in a statement.

The Tutor had 22 crew members onboard and most of them were Filipinos. Shortly after the news of the attack stirred headlines, the Philippine president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, said the countrys authorities were coordinating with the UKMTO to take the crew members to Djibouti and bring them home.

The maritime sources believe that the missing crew member is still trapped in the engine room. We are still  trying to account for the particular seafarer in that ship, the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers secretary, Hans Cacdac, told a press conference in Manila. We are praying we could find him," he added.

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Tsavliris Salvage Group has also been assigned to tow the ship which was carrying 80,000 tonnes of coal. This is not the first time a vessel attacked by Houthis drifted into the sea aimlessly.

In March, the Rubymar bulk carrier, carrying thousands of tonnes of fertiliser, sank in the Red Sea after its hull was damaged in a Houthi missile strike.

With inputs from agencies.
Strong ties between India and Japan are important for a peaceful, secure and prosperous IndoPacific, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said as he met his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida in Italy where the two leaders expressed a wish to advance bilateral ties across various sectors. read more

Strong ties between India and Japan are important for a peaceful, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said as he met his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida in Italy where the two leaders expressed a wish to advance bilateral ties across various sectors.

The Prime Minister, who was on a day-long visit to Apulia, southern Italy on Friday to address the Outreach session on day two of the three-day G7 Summit, met Kishida after addressing the multilateral gathering on the topic of Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Africa and the Mediterranean.

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Strong ties between India and Japan are important for a peaceful, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific, Modi said in a social media statement following his talks with Kishida.

His comments came amid Chinas aggressive behaviour in the region as well as its efforts to expand its influence.

Our nations look forward to working together in defence, technology, semiconductors, clean energy and digital technology. We also wish to advance ties in infrastructure and cultural linkages, he said.

In a readout of the meeting, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Prime Minister thanked the Japanese counterpart for his congratulatory wishes on his re-election and affirmed that bilateral ties will continue to receive priority in his third term.

The two leaders noted that the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership is in its 10th year and expressed satisfaction at the progress made in the relationship. They discussed ways to deepen cooperation further, adding new and emerging areas, and strengthening B2B and P2P cooperation, reads the MEA statement.

India and Japan are collaborating on several important areas including the landmark Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project that will usher in the next stage in mobility in India, the targeted 5 trillion yen worth of Japanese investment in India in 2022-2027 period, and India-Japan Industrial Competitiveness Partnership aimed at transformation of our manufacturing cooperation. The meeting between the two Prime Ministers provided an opportunity to review some of these ongoing works of cooperation, it noted.

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The two leaders concluded their talks by stating that they looked forward to continuing their discussion at the next India-Japan annual summit.

The India-Japan bilateral came towards the end of the Prime Ministers visit, following a series of discussions with the leaders of France, the UK, Ukraine, the US, Italy and Germany.
In 2022, the Stockholm District Court sentenced Nouri to life in prison over his role in the executions. It identified Nouri as an assistant to the deputy prosecutor at the Gohardasht prison outside the Iranian city of Karaj. read more

Iran and Sweden agreed Saturday to a prisoner swap, freeing Hamid Nouri, convicted of war crimes by Sweden over mass 1988 executions in the Islamic Republic, in exchange for two men held by Tehran.

On July 14, 2022, Hamid Nouri was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Stockholm Regional Court for his involvement in war crimes and murder related to the 1988 executions in Iran. This sentence is equivalent to 25 years under Swedish law.

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Iran released Johan Floderus, a Swede who had been working for the European Unions diplomatic corps, as well as a man identified as Saeed Azizi by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. They are now on a plane home to Sweden, and will soon be reunited with their families, Kristersson wrote on the social platform X.

Oman mediated the swap, the state-run Oman News Agency reported. Iranian state television reported Nouri was already freed and would be heading back to Tehran.

Nouri had been arrested on November 6, 2019, at Stockholms Arlanda Airport. Throughout his trial, Nouri dismissed the allegations, describing the events and charges as fictional, imaginary, and fabricated.

Later, the Stockholm Court of Appeals decided in December 2023 to uphold the life sentence. Nouri, who had been a former jailor, was found guilty of participating in the mass executions of political prisoners in Iran during 1988. Beyond the life sentence, the court also ordered Nouri to compensate the families of the victims and the surviving political prisoners. Additionally, he faces expulsion from Sweden after serving his prison term.
Melodi moment: Italys Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and PM Modi were seen smiling as the two leaders clicked a selfie together on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Italy. This isnt the first time Modi and Meloni have showcased their friendly rapport. Their warm interactions were noted earlier during the G20 Summit in New Delhi and COP 28 in Dubai. read more

In yet another Melodi moment, Italys Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Indian PM Modi were seen smiling as both leaders clicked a selfie together after the G7 summit in Apulia, Italy, on Friday. The shared selfie is a testament to the positive relationship between the two leaders, reflecting the broader friendly ties between India and Italy.

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The camaraderie between the two leaders who met previously at the G20 Summit in Delhi last year and then at the COP 28 in Dubai have spawned several online memes. In December last year, the two leaders had clicked a selfie on the the sidelines of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai. While sharing the picture with PM Modi on X, Meloni had stated, Good friends at COP28, #Melodi.Photographs of the two leaders together have been shared widely on online platforms with the hashtags Melodi becoming a trending topic.

PM Modi held a bilateral meeting with his Italian counterpart during the G7 Summit in Italy and discussed defence and security cooperation between the two countries.

Meanwhile, PM Modi held a bilateral meeting with his Italian counterpart during the G7 Summit in Italy and discussed defence and security cooperation between the two countries. The two sides discussed bilateral defence and security cooperation and hoped for further enhancing the defence industrial collaboration. They welcomed the forthcoming visit of the Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour and training ship ITS Vespucci to India later this year, the Ministry of External Affairs said in an official release.

Moreover, PM Modi also thanked the Italian Government for recognising the Indian Armys contribution to the Italian Campaign during World War II and informed that India will be upgrading the Yashwant Ghadge Memorial at Montone in Italy. PM Modi and his Italian counterpart noted with satisfaction the regular higher political dialogue and reviewed the progress of the India-Italy Strategic Partnership.

While expressing happiness at growing trade and economic collaboration, they called for expanding commercial ties in clean energy, manufacturing, Space, S&T, telecom, AI and critical minerals to build resilient supply chains. In this context, they welcomed the recent signing of a MoU on Industrial Property Rights (IPR) which provides a framework for cooperation on patents, designs and trademarks, the MEA release read.

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PM Modi and Itali PM Meloni he two leaders welcomed the signing of the Letter of Intent for Cooperation in Energy Transition, which will boost bilateral cooperation in clean and green energy.

During the meeting, the two leaders welcomed the signing of the Letter of Intent for Cooperation in Energy Transition, which will boost bilateral cooperation in clean and green energy. It was taken note of under the Global Biofuels Alliance. Meloni also congratulated PM Modi for his third consecutive term as Prime Minister.

They expressed happiness at the new Executive Programme of Cooperation for 2025-27 to promote joint research and development in Science and Technology, the MEA said. Notably, PM Modi attended the G7 Summit in Apulia, Italy, at the invitation of Italian PM Meloni.

Thanked her for inviting India to be a part of the G7 Summit and for the wonderful arrangements, PM Modi later wrote on X.We discussed ways to further cement India-Italy relations in areas like commerce, energy, defence, telecom and more. Our nations will work together in futuristic areas like biofuels, food processing and critical minerals, he added.

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The G7 summit, where India was invited as an Outreach Country, had participation from the seven member countries, the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and France, as well as the European Union. Meloni had invited PM Modi to attend the G7 Summit in Italys Apulia region. It was Indias 11th and PM Modis fifth consecutive participation at the G7 Summit.

With inputs from agencies.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Melonis office rejected reports of removing references to LGBTQ and abortion rights from the final declaration of the 2024 G7 Summit which is currently being held in Puglia read more

From left : German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pose for a photo at Borgo Egnazia resort during the G7 Summit hosted by Italy in Apulia region, on 13 June, 2024 in Savelletri. AFP

As Italy hosts the Group of Seven Nations (G7) summit in Puglia, the countrys far-right government has denied that it removed references to abortion and LGBTQ rights in the final declaration of the summit. In the groups declaration which was published late Friday, a reference to the protection of the gender identity and sexual orientation of the LGBTQ community did not appear.

However, the same reference was included in the final declaration of the 2023 G7 summit which was held in Japan last year. In this years summit, the mention of the word abortion was also left out of a broader commitment to universal access to adequate, affordable, and quality health services for women, including comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights for all," Bloomberg reported.

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If we compared it to last year, the communique had explicitly featured the groups commitment to providing access to safe and legal abortion.

The omissions were first reported by Bloomberg which linked the removals to the involvement of the head of the catholic church Pope Francis. This is the first time the pontiff addressed the meeting of the economic bloc.

Meloni administration rejects the report

After the report started swirling headlines, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Melonis team issued a clarification on the matter.

The news published by Bloomberg, according to which any reference to the rights of LGBT people could be removed from the final G7 communique, is devoid of any foundation, Melonis office said. The Italian presidency [of the G7] categorically denies this reconstruction," the statement further read.

It is pertinent to note that the allegations followed a clash between the Italian prime minister and French President Emmanuel Macron after Italy was accused of diluting a reference to guaranteeing access to safe and legal abortions in the G7s final text.

On Thursday, sources in Melonis office denied the allegations and maintained that the declaration is still being negotiated. Everything that will be included in the final document will be final points resulting from the negotiations," the source furthered.

Macron vs Meloni

On the sidelines of the international event, the French leader told reporters that he regretted the removal of the references. You dont have the same sensibilities in your country, Macron said to an Italian journalist. France has a vision of equality between women and men, but its not a vision shared by all the political spectrum," he added.

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Shortly after Macrons remark, Meloni hit back accusing the French president of using the G7 for electioneering. After a deplorable performance in the European Union Parliamentary Elections, Macron dissolved Frances National Assembly and called for a snap election in the country.

Since coming to power in October 2021, the Meloni administration has introduced several policies against the LGBTQ community, such as a crackdown on same-sex parenting. In April, the Italian government approved a law that would allow anti-abortion activists to enter abortion clinics.

With inputs from agencies.
The DMZ divides two Koreas and both nations are not allowed to set up military installations in the zone, which can pose a risk to the other side read more

A North Korean soldier looks at the southern side through a pair of binoculars at the border village of the Panmunjom, in the Demilitarized Zone, DMZ. Source: File Image/ AP

Amid the brewing tensions in the Korean peninsula, North Koreas military has been reportedly carrying out unexplained construction activities inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The news was confirmed by South Korean military sources and has become a matter of concern for Seoul.

The DMZ divides two Koreas and both nations are not allowed to set up military installations in the zone, which can pose a risk to the other side.

Recently, the North Korean military has been erecting walls, digging the ground and constructing roads in some areas between the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) and the Northern Limit Line in the DMZ, the military source told South Korean news outlet Yonhap.

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The sources also mentioned that it is unclear whether these indicate an intention to build a long wall north of the MDL or simply to establish defensive structures at specific points.

North Korea making suspicious manoeuvres

Earlier this week, South Korea said that about 20 North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the inter-Korean land border before heading back to the Norths side. In response to this provocation, Seoul fired warning shots.

Tensions have been at an all-time high after Pyongyang started sending trash balloons into the South Korean territories. Military watchers speculate that the recent incursion could be related to the Norths wall construction. Interestingly, at the time North Korean soldiers infiltrated the territory, they were carrying work tools, such as pickaxes and shovels, Yonhap reported.

The DMZ served as a buffer zone between the two Koreas since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.

South Korea worries about closeness between Russia and North

Earlier this week, both the United States and South Korea raised concerns about the growing closeness between the North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The condemnation came after speculations started brewing that the Russian leader was planning to visit the hermit nation in the coming days.

Kurt Campbell, the US deputy secretary of state, told his South Korean counterpart, Kim Hong-kyun, this week that closer military ties between Pyongyang and Moscow would cause further instability in the region.

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While closely monitoring related developments, the two sides agreed to resolutely respond through airtight cooperation to North Koreas provocations against South Korea and actions that escalate tensions in the region, South Koreas foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday.

Meanwhile, Russia emphasised its right to develop very deep ties with the North. It is our neighbour, it is a friendly country with which we are developing bilateral relations, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters. We will continue to do so in an upward direction. The potential for the development of our relations is very deep. We believe that our right to develop good relations with our neighbours should not be of concern to anyone and cannot and should not be challenged by anyone," he added.

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With inputs from agencies.
At the G7 Summit, PM Modi reiterated Indias commitment to advocating for the well-being of the Global South, emphasising the significance of Africa in global affairs. He underscored Indias dedication to fostering close ties with Africa, citing the landmark moment when the African Union became a permanent member of the G20 during Indias presidency. read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated the concerns of Global South countries during his speech at the G7 Outreach event on Friday in Italy, saying that India has considered it its responsibility to put the priorities and concerns of countries of the Global South on the world stage.

Highlighting Indias role as a leader and advocate for these nations, PM Modi pointed to Indias presidency of the G20, during which the African Union was made a permanent member of the grouping. He also underscored the importance of international governance in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), a topic prominently addressed at the G20 Summit hosted by India last year.

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Reiterated Indias commitment to speak about the well-being of the Global South, which is ironically a major sufferer during any global uncertainty. India will also continue working closely with Africa, a glimpse of which was seen during last years G20 Summit when African Union  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 14, 2024

A video shared by PM Modi shows glimpses of the highlights of his visit to Italy including his arrival in Italy to Italian PM Giorgia Melonis welcome at the venue of the G7 Summit in Apulia city in Italy.

Meloni greeted PM Modi with a namaste and the two leaders then posed for a picture for the cameras.

The video showed moments from PM Modis bilateral meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida and French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the G7 Summit.

An important G7 Summit, where I presented Indias perspective at the world stage. Here are highlights. pic.twitter.com/amU77yJ79Z  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 15, 2024

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In the video, PM Modi can be seen interacting with Pope Francis and they held talks while walking together. PM Modi also interacted with other world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as well as the President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.He also held talks with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as they met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit.The video also included the moment of PM Meloni clicking a selfie with PM Modi.

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PM Modi attends the Outreach session on AI, Energy, Africa and the Mediterranean

PM Modi addressed the Outreach Session on Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Africa, and the Mediterranean at the G7 Summit and elaborated on Indias energy transition pathway noting that its approach was based on availability, accessibility, affordability and acceptability. He mentioned that India was working towards achieving the target of NET ZERO by 2070. Alluding to Indias Mission LiFE [Lifestyle for Environment], he called upon the global community to join the tree plantation campaign launched by him on World Environment Day  Plant4Mother

Prime Minister also called for giving priority to the concerns of the Global South, in particular Africa. He recalled that it was a matter of honour for India that the AU was admitted as a permanent member of the G20 under its presidency.

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Talking of Indias AI Mission premised on AI for All, PM Modi emphasised that this technology should be aimed at fostering progress and well-being of all. He also underlined that with this broader objective in mind, India was fostering international collaboration as a founding member of Global Partnership for AI.

India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor

At the end of the three-day G7 Summit held in Apulia, Italy, the Group of Seven nations committed to promoting key infrastructure projects, including the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). This commitment was outlined in the G7 Summit Communique, issued on Friday evening after the customary family photo session.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who attended the summit, witnessed the G7s reaffirmation of their dedication to a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law. The communique reflects the G7s focus on fostering connectivity and economic growth through initiatives like IMEC and ensuring stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Prime Minister Modi and his Italian counterpart reviewed the progress of the bilateral strategic partnership and agreed to strengthen cooperation in global fora and multilateral initiatives, including the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.

PM Modi, Justin Trudeau brief talk

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held a brief conversation with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau amid strain in bilateral ties over the case relating to the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Modi also held a separate conversation with US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the summit of G7 advanced economies in Italys Apulia region. Its always a pleasure to meet @POTUS @JoeBiden. India and USA will keep working together to further global good, Modi posted on X. Met Canadian PM @JustinTrudeau at the G7 Summit, Modi said on X.

Both Modi and Trudeau were seen warmly greeting each other during the encounter.

Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam campaign

PM Modi highlighted the Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam campaign aimed at promoting environmental sustainability and making the planet more habitable for future generations.As far as energy is concerned, Indias approach is based on availability, accessibility, affordability and acceptability. We are working to fulfil our CoP commitments before the designated period.

India is working to usher in a Green Era, based on the principles of Mission LiFE. Also highlighted the campaign Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam to make our planet more sustainable, PM Modi stated in a post on X. After concluding his visit to Italy, PM Modi in a post on X stated, Had a very productive day at the G7 Summit in Apulia. Interacted with world leaders and discussed various subjects. Together, we aim to create impactful solutions that benefit the global community and create a better world for future generations. I thank the people and government of Italy for their warm hospitality, he added.
Dozens of allies of Ukraine will take part in the summit, but China is staying away after Russia was frozen out of proceedings on the grounds it had dismissed the event as a waste of time and had no interest in attending. read more

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, center, is accompanied after his arrival by Felix Baumann, Ambassador of Switzerland to Ukraine, centre left, Iryna Wenediktowa, Ukrainian Ambassador to Switzerland, second from right, and Manuel Irman, Deputy Head of Swiss Protocol, right, at Zurich airport in Zurich Kloten, Switzerland, Friday, June 14, 2024.- AP

German chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the proposal put forward by Russian President Vladimir Putin is not serious. G7 leaders did not discuss the proposals for peace in Ukraine since everyone knew they were not serious, Scholz said shortly before leaving for Switzerland.

Scholz said Putins proposals to abandon four provinces Russia claims, stop fighting and drop its ambition of Nato membership  were aimed only at distracting from the conference.

Everyone knows that this was proposal wasnt meant seriously, but had something to do with the peace conference in Switzerland, he was quoted by the Guardian as saying to ZDF television in an interview.

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Around 90 countries, opens new tab and organizations have committed to the two-day gathering due to take place at the Buergenstock, a mountaintop resort in central Switzerland. The summit has also had to contend with an alternative plan floated by China.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Britain, Canada and Japan are among those due to attend. India, Turkey and Hungary, which maintain friendlier relations with Russia, are also expected to join.

Russia, which sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, has described the idea of a summit without it as futile. Supporters of Ukraine are marking the Swiss talks with a series of events in the nearby city of Lucerne to draw attention to the wars humanitarian costs, with a demonstration planned to call for the return of prisoners and children taken to Russia.

European officials privately concede that without support from Moscows main allies, the summits impact will be limited. Swiss officials hosting the conference say more than 50 heads of state and government, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will join the gathering at the Burgenstock resort overlooking Lake Lucerne. Some 100 delegations including European bodies and the United Nations will be on hand.

China, which backs Russia, is joining scores of countries that are sitting out the conference, many of whom have more pressing issues than the bloodiest conflict in far-away Europe since World War II. Beijing says any peace process needs to have the participation of both Russia and Ukraine, and has floated its own ideas for peace.

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Zelenskyy recently led a diplomatic push to draw in participants.

Russian troops who now control nearly a quarter of Ukrainian land in the east and south have made some territorial gains in recent months. When talk of a Swiss-hosted peace initiative began last summer, Ukrainian forces had recently regained large swaths of territory, notably near the cities of southern Kherson and northern Kharkiv.

Against the battlefield backdrop and diplomatic strategizing, summit organizers have presented three agenda items: nuclear safety, such as at the Russia-controlled Zaporizhzhia power plant; humanitarian assistance and exchange of prisoners of war; and global food security  which has been disrupted at times due to impeded shipments through the Black Sea.

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That to-do list, encapsulating some of the least controversial issues, is well short of proposals and hopes laid out by Zelenskyy in a 10-point peace formula in late 2022.

Putins government, meanwhile, wants any peace deal to be built around a draft agreement negotiated in the early phases of the war that included provisions for Ukraines neutral status and limits on its armed forces, while delaying talks about Russia-occupied areas. Ukraines push over the years to join the NATO military alliance has rankled Moscow.

With much of the worlds focus recently on the war in Gaza and national elections in 2024, Ukraines backers want to return focus to Russias breach of international law and a restoration of Ukraines territorial integrity.

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The International Crisis Group, an advisory firm that works to end conflict, wrote this week that absent a major surprise on the Burgenstock," the event is unlikely to deliver much of consequence.

Nonetheless, the Swiss summit is a chance for Ukraine and its allies to underline what the U.N. General Assembly recognised in 2022 and repeated in its February 2023 resolution on a just peace in Ukraine: Russias all-out aggression is a blatant violation of international law, it said.

With inputs from agencies.
Even as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dubbed as the peace conference in Switzerland as historic, little is expected out of it as Russia is not participating and China has skipped it read more

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dubbed the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland as a historic moment.

In brief remarks on day one of the two-day summit, formally called the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, Zelenskyy said it would mark the first steps towards the end of war in Ukraine.

In February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine and the two countries have been at war since. Much of the fighting has been concentrated in the Ukraines eastern part where Russia has annexed four regions of the country. In recent months, Russia has scored a string of battlefield victories and has captured large swathes of territories and around a dozen villages.

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We have succeeded in bringing back to the world the idea that joint efforts can stop war and establish a just peace. I believe that we will witness history being made here at the summit, said Zelenskyy, as per the Associated Press.

Even as Zelenskyy has high hopes from the summit, little is expected out of the gathering as Russia and its principal partner China are not part of the summit.

In all, around 90 countries are expected to take part in the summit. The United States is represented by Vice President Kamala Harris at the summit. In addition to her, around 50 heads of state and government are expected to be part of the summit.

Whats agenda of Ukraine peace summit?

The AP has reported that the agenda of the Swiss-hosted Ukraine peace summit is three-fold:

Nuclear safety, including at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant under Russia control

Humanitarian assistance and an exchange; of prisoner of war (PoWs)

Global food security which has been disrupted as food exports from Ukraine have been affected from the fighting

The three-fold agenda of the Swiss organisers of the summit is rather limited from the 10-point peace plan that Zelenskyy has previously presented.

At the G-20 Summit last year hosted by India, Zelenskyy had presented the 10-point peace plan. In addition to the three points in the Swiss conferences agenda, Zelenskyy had laid down the following conditions: Withdrawal of all Russian troops, restoration of occupied territories, energy security, tribunal for trial of Russians for war crimes, environmental protection from wars effects, security assurances so the conflict does not restart, and formal declaration of the end of the war.

Last year, when the Swiss-hosted peace summit was first discussed, the situation at the battlefront was quite different. Ukraine appeared to have the upper hand after success of a counter-offensive that reclaimed lots of territory occupied by the Russians. Now, a year later, the situation is much different as the Ukraines second counter-offensive fizzled out and Russia has in turn scored a series of victories in recent months.

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Just another ploy: Putin dismisses Switzerland summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed the Swiss-hosted Ukraine peace conference as just another ploy.

The Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland is just another ploy to divert everyones attention, reverse the cause and effect of the Ukrainian crisis (and) set the discussion on the wrong track, said Putin as he presented his demands for a ceasefire in Ukraine and talks for the end of the war.

Putin on Friday said that Russia would be ready for a ceasefire and talks for the end of the war if Ukraine withdrew soldiers from the four regions in the countrys east that Russia has claimed as its own and drop its aspirations to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), according to The New York Times.

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The four regions that Putin referred to are Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions, which Russia has formally annexed even though it does not control these regions completely.

Putin also said that the West must also remove all sanctions imposed on Russia since the beginning of the war.

Ukraine has outright rejected Putins suggestions. In a statement, the countrys foreign ministry said Putins goal with the demand was to mislead the international community, undermine diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a just peace and split the unity of the world over the goals and principles of the United Nations Charter.
Two Gripen jets were sent up to meet the Russian plane, an SU-24, after it failed to respond to a radio warning by Swedens military air traffic control, the Swedish armed forces said in a statement. The incident on Friday occurred three months after the Scandinavian country became a full member of NATO, dropping two centuries of military non-alliance. read more

A Russian SU-24 bomber breached Swedish airspace near the strategically vital Baltic Sea island of Gotland, the Swedish military reported on Saturday. The incursion ended only after Sweden dispatched two JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets to intercept the Russian aircraft, it said.

Two Gripen jets were sent up to meet the Russian plane, an SU-24, after it failed to respond to a radio warning by Swedens military air traffic control, the Swedish armed forces said in a statement. On Friday afternoon, a Russian SU-24 jet fighter violated Swedish airspace east of Gotlands southern tip. The Swedish air combat command warned the Russian aircraft with a verbal call, the Swedish armed forces said.

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When this was not heeded and the aircraft did not deviate from its route, it was dismissed from Swedish airspace by two JAS-39 Gripens, it said. The violation was brief, the military said. The Russian actions are not acceptable and demonstrate a lack of respect for our territorial integrity, the head of Swedens air force, Jonas Wikman, said.

The incident on Friday occurred three months after the Scandinavian country became a full member of NATO, dropping two centuries of military non-alliance.

Fridays incident took place as Sweden  NATOs newest member  and several of its new allies take part in naval exercises in the Baltic Sea. The Swedish military said similar airspace violations by Russian aircraft last occurred in 2022 when two SU-27 and two SU-24 planes also made incursions near Gotland.

Swedens neighbour Finland said separately on Friday it suspected that four Russian military planes had violated its airspace on June 10.

With inputs from agencies.
A detention period of up to 60 days is allowed for complicated cases, and if the nationality and identity (of detainees) is unclear, the period of detention for examination will be counted from the day their identity is determined, the rules say read more

China, from Saturday, will start detaining foreigners in the disputed areas of the South China Sea for 60 days without trial, another sign of the country claiming dominance over the region despite opposition from several Southeast Asian nations.

Chinese and Philippine vessels have had a series of confrontations around the Second Thomas Shoal, with Beijing accusing Manila of illegally grounding a navy vessel on the disputed reef.

Both countries have refused to back down with Manila saying that the most recent conflict is the most serious incident yet for the Philippines.

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What does the new detention rule say?

According to rules Beijing has published online, Chinas Coast Guard will from Saturday be able to detain foreigners suspected of violating management of border entry and exit.

A detention period of up to 60 days is allowed for complicated cases, and if the nationality and identity (of detainees) is unclear, the period of detention for examination will be counted from the day their identity is determined, the rules say.

And foreign ships that have illegally entered Chinas territorial waters and the adjacent waters may be detained in accordance with the law with the approval of the head of a Coast Guard agency at or above the municipal Coast Guard agency.

Philippines increases patrol

Meanwhile, Manila has already increased patrolling in the disputed area, anticipating passing Chinas new trespassing rules.

Earlier this month the Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos described the new China regulations as worrisome and an escalation of the situation. He also accused the Chinese Coast Guards of being illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive.

China Coast Guard vessels have used water cannons against Philippine boats multiple times in the contested waters, where there have also been collisions that injured several Filipino troops.

G7 calls out China for its actions

The Group of Seven leaders have called out China for its dangerous incursions in the South China Sea in a draft summit statement accessed by AFP.

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We continue opposing Chinas dangerous use of coastguard and maritime militia in the South China Sea and its repeated obstruction of countries high seas freedom of navigation, it said.

With inputs from AFP
The $1.5 billion includes $500 million in new funding for energy assistance and the redirecting of $324 million in previously announced funds toward emergency energy infrastructure repair and other needs in Ukraine, the vice presidents office said. read more

At the Ukraine peace summit in Lucerne, Switzerland, US Vice President Kamala Harris announced over $1.5 billion in aid to support Ukraines energy sector and address humanitarian needs resulting from Russias 27-month attack.

Harris is expected to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during the summit and deliver an address at the plenary session. The $1.5 billion includes $500 million in new funding for energy assistance and the redirecting of $324 million in previously announced funds toward emergency energy infrastructure repair and other needs in Ukraine, the vice presidents office said.

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These efforts will help Ukraine respond to Russias latest attacks on Ukraine energy infrastructure by supporting repair and recovery, improving Ukraines resilience to energy supply disruptions, and laying the groundwork to repair and expand Ukraines energy system, Harris office said.

She also announced more than $379 million in humanitarian assistance from the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development to help refugees and other people impacted by the war. The money is to cover food assistance, health services, shelter, and water, sanitation and hygiene services for millions of Ukrainians.

Harris, who will spend less than 24 hours at the gathering in Lucerne, Switzerland, will be standing in for President Joe Biden at the event. The president will be just ending his participation at the G7 summit in Italy and returning to the United States to attend a fundraiser for his reelection campaign in Los Angeles.

Harris will meet with Zelenskiy and address the summits plenary session. Biden met with Zelenskiy both at the G7 summit, where they signed a U.S.-Ukraine bilateral security agreement, and in France for events surrounding the 80th anniversary of the World War Two D-Day invasion.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan will represent the United States at the summit on Sunday and help establish working groups on returning Ukrainian children from Russia and on energy security.

Russia not invited for Ukraines peace summit

Russia has not been invited to the Swiss event, which Ukraine says will be attended by representatives from more than 100 countries and organisations, including many heads of state.

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A report by Financial Times quoted Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyys chief of staff, as saying that Kyiv might invite a Moscow representative to a second peace summit sometime in the future.

Putins conditions for Ukraine ceasefire

Putin on Friday listed out a series of conditions to immediately cease fire and enter peace talks with Ukraine. However, they were completely at odds with the terms demanded by Ukraine. Before listing them out, Putin said his conditions are very simple and then started saying them one after another.

Putin trying to mislead world powers

Intensifying attack on Putin, Ukraines foreign ministry described the Russian Presidents words as manipulative statements aimed at misleading the international community (and) undermining diplomatic efforts to achieve a just peace.

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It is absurd for Putin, who planned, prepared and executed, together with his accomplices, the largest armed aggression in Europe since the Second World War, to present himself as a peacemaker, the ministry further said Friday.

With inputs from agencies.
The abolition of US federal income tax would lead to a shortfall of $2.1 trillion in government revenues, according to an expert read more

Former US President Donald Trump has proposed abolishing federal income tax if he wins the US presidential election.

Trump is the presumptive presidential nominee of the Republican Party and is running against current US President Joe Biden.

While Trump has long called for tax cuts, he has now proposed a radically different plan for his presidency: the abolition of the federal income tax.

In a private meeting with Republican lawmakers, Trump said that he could abolish the federal income tax altogether and make up the revenue shortfall with hike in tariffs on imports of goods into the country, according to Yahoo Finance.

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The report cited a post on X (formerly Twitter) by Republican lawmaker Thomas Massie that said: Trump briefly floated the concept of eliminating the income tax and replacing it with tariffs.

Most intriguing policy idea from the GOP meeting at the Capitol Hill Club this morning:



Trump briefly floated the concept of eliminating the income tax and replacing it with tariffs.  pic.twitter.com/hw0k8gwlGa  Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) June 13, 2024

Separately, in a meeting with business leaders, Trump has said he would reduce corporate tax from the current rate of 21 per cent.

Trumps pitch to business leaders has come at a time when more and more American business leaders are supporting Trump. These leaders include those who had distanced and even denounced Trump a few years ago after the January 6, 2021 incident when a mob of supporters egged on by Trump attacked the US Capitol to overturn the results of the 2020 US presidential election.

Will Trump abolish income tax?

Even as Trump proposed to Republican lawmakers the abolition of federal income tax, it is not certain if he would do so.

Yahoo Finance noted that Trump has a tendency of making different economic pitches depending upon the audience he is addressing. It further noted that Trump could go ahead with both the abolition of federal income tax and the reduction of corporate tax rate.

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The report noted that while Trump told the business leaders he would cut corporate tax from the current rate of 21 per cent to 20 per cent, he has indicated that he could cut it to as much as 15 per cent.

The report suggested that the reason Trump did not suggest the all-tariff plan for the economy to business leaders was that it would have got a cool reception as businesses would not be able to make cheap imports of raw materials or machinery from abroad under such a regime.

How will US economy be if income tax is abolished?

Under a second Trump presidency, the abolition of federal income tax would lead to a shortfall of $2.1 trillion in government revenues, said Investopedias Editor-in-Chief Caleb Silver to News Nation.

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Experts have said this would increase the cost of living for average American families. The cost of living will rise for the common Americans as the companies hit from higher tariffs will pass on the cost to the customers  the average Americans. This would mean that common Americans could end up making up for the governments fallen revenue.

While common Americans will not pay federal income tax, they would pay more to companies that are taxed  which would make up for increased costs from tariffs by charging more from customers. Silver said the taxed companies financial burden would simply shift to everyday goods through higher prices, making the United States cost of living rise astronomically.

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Brenden Duke, an economist at the Center for American Progress Action Fund (CAPAF), said that an average American family could see a rise of cost of living up to $5,000 a year, as per Newsweek.

Separately, Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman said the average tariff rate under Trumps all tariff, no income tax regime would be at least 133 per cent. He said in a thread on X that while such tariff-based economy worked in the 19th century when the government was small, believing that we can go back to those days is just ignorant.

Explaining how he arrived at the figure of 133 per cent tariffs, Krugman wrote, Imports are about 14 per cent of US GDP. Federal income tax revenue (not including payroll taxes) is about 8 per cent. So you might think replacing it would require a tariff rate of 8/14 or around 57 per cent. But tariffs would raise the cost of imports to consumers, so wed import less, which would mean you need a higher tariff rate. But this reduces imports further, meaning a still higher tariff, and so on.

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Then, through mathematical calculations, Krugman arrived at the figure of 133 per cent.
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, the companys next FE series smartphone, has surfaced in the first set of renders, thanks to @OnLeaks. This shows a slightly thinner side and top bezels, and the bottom bezel has also reduced a bit compared to the Galaxy S23 FE. However, bezels on the Galaxy S24 is even thinner.

According to these CAD-based renders, there is no change in the location of buttons and ports, but the buttons look thinner and the sides are more flat compared to a more rounded design in the S23 FE.

The phone is said to measure 162 x 77.3 x 8mm, making it slightly bigger, but thinner than the S23 FE that measures 158.076.58.2mm since this is said to get a 6.6-inch screen compared to 6.4-inch in the predecessor.

The Galaxy S24 FE recently surfaced in Geekbench listing revealing Exynos 2400 SoC and 8GB of RAM. Based on recent reports, the Galaxy S24 FE will retain the 50MP Samsung ISOCELL GN3 sensor in the Galaxy S23 FE.

We should know more details in the coming months, since the phone is expected to launch in late 2024 or early 2025.

Source
Larry Robinson/The Daily Sentinel

Luis Angel Guzman Mancillas, an employee with Rancho Durazno for more than seven years, walks back to his seat Friday after speaking to guests and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack through a live translator about his time working in United States agriculture and the changes hes seen in the industry during a visit from the secretary to the Grand Valley farming community.
Espionage case appeals rejected by Supreme Court

ROC Central News Agency

06/14/2024 10:33 PM

Taipei, June 14 (CNA) Taiwan's Supreme Court on Thursday upheld most of the sentences in an espionage case centered around a retired Air Force colonel, rejecting appeals from both the defendants and the prosecutors.

According to an investigation, former colonel Liu Sheng-shu () began doing business in China after retiring from the Air Force in 2013.

He was then recruited by the Chinese side to serve as a spy and used his personnel connections in the military to recruit active military officers in the Navy and Air Force to engage in espionage activities.

Liu recruited at least six officers into his spy ring and received "rewards" of between NT$200,000 and NT$700,000 from the Chinese side through a shell company he set up for each individual he recruited.

In addition, Liu was given bonuses of between NT$30,000 and NT$100,000 when his Chinese handlers were supplied with information on Taiwan's military.

In April last year, Liu and six officers were indicted for violating the Classified National Security Information Protection Act by the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office in Kaohsiung.

The Taiwan High Court branch in Kaohsiung found six of the seven defendants, including Liu who is at the center of the investigation, guilty, later the same year.

The High Court in Kaohsiung sentenced Liu to 20 years in prison and confiscated NT$16.709 million (US$516,056) from him in illegal profits paid by China for his espionage activities.

Of the others found guilty, the High Court sentenced an active officer, surnamed Liu, to 20 years and six months in prison and her husband, a retired officer surnamed Sun (), to 19 years and six months in prison while also confiscating NT$969,000 in illicit gains.

Active officers identified only by their surnames Kung () and Teng () were sentenced to two years and three years and six months, respectively, but another male active officer, also surnamed Liu was found not guilty.

In addition, a civilian surnamed () was sentenced to six months that can be commuted to a fine.

With one of the defendants walking free, both the prosecution and the six guilty defendants filed appeals with the Supreme Court, which on Thursday upheld most of the sentences.

The Supreme Court upheld the High Court's prison terms against retired colonel Liu, active officers Kung and Teng as well as Lin.

The Supreme Court again found active male officer Liu innocent, as the prosecution did not provide enough evidence to overturn the original ruling.

However, the Supreme Court decided to send the case involving the married couple Sun and Liu and the financial penalty on retired colonel Liu, back to the High Court in Kaohsiung.

During the investigation, Kaohsiung's high prosecutors also discovered that one of the top secret documents involved in the case came from an active Air Force major surnamed Cheng ().

The High Court in Kaohsiung sentenced Cheng to one year and seven months in prison for violating the Classified National Security Information Protection Act.

The case is still ongoing after an appeal.

(By Hsieh Hsing-en and James Lo)

Enditem/AW

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Agent linked to Israeli Mossad spy agency, anti-Iran media captured in central Iran

Iran Press TV

Friday, 14 June 2024 8:21 AM

Iranian intelligence forces have captured an individual in the country's central province of Qom on charges of affiliation to the Israeli Mossad spy agency and collaboration with foreign-based media outlets involved in a propaganda campaign against the Islamic Republic.

Tasnim news agency reported that the individual was identified and arrested following his numerous attempts to stoke unrest in the aftermath of the death of 22-year-old Iranian woman Mahsa Amini while in police custody back in September 2022, as well as his frequent insulting remarks aimed at Iranian authorities and law enforcement forces in the cyberspace.

The report said documents acknowledging his connection to the Israeli Mossad spy agency and collaboration with foreign-based anti-Iran satellite television channels were uncovered after thorough investigations.

He has been handed over to judicial authorities for legal action.

Earlier this month, Iranian intelligence forces captured an individual in the country's northwestern province of Ardabil on charges of espionage for Mossad.

The fugitive was wanted by Iran's Intelligence Ministry, and arrested upon an order from the Prosecutor's Office of Ardabil Province.

According to the Media Bureau of the provincial Prosecutor's Office, the Mossad agent was in close contact with high-profile Israeli intelligence officers through social media, and was gathering critical information for them under the guise of a news editor.

He had traveled to several provinces in the hope of taking refuge there and finally leaving the country, before he was identified and captured during a surprise operation in Ardabil Province.

Mossad reportedly decided to immediately close his user accounts and delete related information once the news about his arrest emerged.

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Ministry of Defence hosts a meeting of the Slovak-Hungarian Joint Commission on Military, Security and Political Issues

Ministry of Defence of The Slovak Republic

13.06.2024

Deputy Defence Minister Igor Melicher hosted Deputy Defence Minister of Hungary Zsolt Kutnyanszky for a meeting of the Slovak-Hungarian Joint Commission on Military, Security and Political Issues at the Ministry of Defence in Bratislava today (13 June 2024).

Topics in the spotlight included bilateral defence cooperation and ways to further expand it, the Air Policing (AP) mission in Slovak airspace by the Visegrad Four (V4) Air Forces, and a host of the NATO Alliance's current transatlantic processes.

According to Mr Melicher, meetings of this format not only encourage mutual dialogue and cooperation, but also enable a better understanding of our visions for building a functional and modern Armed Forces.

In his statement, Deputy Defence Minister Igor Melicher said: "This platform has laid a solid foundation for our ongoing and future cooperation in a number of areas such the defence industry and the modernization of the Armed Forces as we identify and explore several more opportunities for cooperation."

In addition to addressing possible collaboration on international crisis management missions and operations, both delegations presented their official positions on the key issues ahead of the upcoming NATO Summit in Washington, D.C.

The Slovak-Hungarian Joint Commission on Military, Security and Political Issues is part of wider cooperation between Slovakia and Hungary. The previous meeting of this format took place in Budapest on 10 March 2022. A series of SVK-HUN joint commissions were established for the purpose of implementing the Agreement on Good Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation between Slovakia and Hungary.

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June 14, 2024

Transcript

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Press Conference Following NATO Ministers of Defense Meeting in Brussels, Belgium

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III

STAFF: Well, good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you very much for being here today. It is my pleasure to introduce Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, III. The secretary will deliver some opening remarks, and then have time to -- he'll have time to take a few questions. Please note, I will moderate those questions and call on journalists.

Mr. Secretary, over to you, sir.

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LLOYD J. AUSTIN III: Thanks, Patrick.

Good afternoon, everyone. It's great to be back at NATO for this defense ministerial, which is our last high-level meeting before the 75th Anniversary Summit in Washington in July.

Let me start by thanking Secretary-General Stoltenberg for convening us. He's provided steady leadership throughout the most serious threat to transatlantic security in decades, which is the Kremlin's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February, 2022.

Once again, let's remember a key point: Putin's war is not the result of NATO enlargement. Putin's war is a cause of NATO enlargement, and NATO is more resolute and more capable than ever.

We're proud to be joined today by our two newest allies, Finland and Sweden, and the United States looks forward to welcoming Sweden to the Washington Summit for its first time as a NATO ally. At the summit, we will celebrate 75 years of historic achievements, our strong transatlantic bond and the promise of security for generations to come. We'll also continue to forge the alliance's most robust defense plans since the end of the Cold War, strengthening our collective deterrence and defense.

And so today, we moved ahead with our work on those plans, and we're updating NATO's command and control, refining delegated authorities and ensuring that all the required forces and capabilities are ready for any contingency. I'm proud of all the progress that NATO has made in recent years, but we've got more work to do, and it starts with resources. We're all sharing the burden of collective defense more than ever before, but we still need all allies to meet our shared commitment to spend at least two percent of GDP on defense. And let me underscore the words "at least two percent." We urgently need these investments to fulfill our plans and hit our capability targets.

Now, Secretary-General said earlier this year that 18 allies are meeting their two percent commitment in 2024, which is a sixfold increase over the past decade, and we're expecting NATO to publish updated numbers before the summit.

As Secretary-General has also noted, our allies in Europe are investing what amounts to two percent of their combined GDP on defense, including a real increase of 11 percent in defense spending across our allies in Europe and Canada. But that is no substitute for each ally living up to its commitment, each and every single one.

Now, we also need to invest in our defense industrial bases to standardize critical munitions and to improve NATO interoperability. NATO's focus on our defense industrial bases is helping to grow demand and to encourage deeper coordination. It will make procurement more agile. It will improve our transparency with industry. And so investing in defense industrial bases is crucial to the future of our alliance.

Let me also note that the NATO Nuclear Planning Group met today to discuss some key nuclear policy issues. It was a productive meeting, and we remain unified on this critical subject.

And finally, we reaffirmed yesterday in the NATO Ukraine Council our enduring commitment to a free and sovereign Ukraine. Like nations of goodwill around the world, our NATO allies continue to stand up for Ukraine's sovereignty and self-defense, and as we prepare for the Washington Summit, the NATO-Ukraine partnership continues to deepen. The summit will take steps toward a credible bridge to Ukraine's eventual membership, and the United States stands behind NATO's continued support through the Comprehensive Assistance Package, NATO's multiyear program for critical non-lethal aid.

The United States and our allies and partners will stand by Ukraine for the long haul, and we'll also stand by our long-standing alliance commitments. The U.S. commitment to Article 5 remains sturdy, sure and ironclad, and we will defend the sovereignty and the territory of every member in this alliance.

For 75 years, NATO has been the greatest defensive alliance in human history. NATO has prevented conflict, maintained freedom and the rule of law and upheld the principles of democracy and human rights. We still have more work to do together, and as we look toward the summit in Washington and beyond, I am confident that we will continue to make the United States and our world more secure.

Thanks again, and with that, I'll take some of your questions.

STAFF: Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Our first question will go to NBC News, Julia.

Q: Thank you, Mr. Secretary. U.S. intelligence was used in the Israeli operation that kill -- that rescued four hostages, but reportedly killed hundreds of Palestinians. U.S. weapons have been used in other deadly strikes and operations. You've said many times before you've informed your counterpart in Israel that more needs to be done; the U.S. needs to see more effort with regard to reducing civilian casualties.

What specific changes has Israel made in response to heed your warning? And does a red line exist? If so, what is it? And if not, what responsibility does the U.S. bear? Thank you.

SEC. AUSTIN: Yeah. Thanks, Julia. I don't speak in terms of red lines. But you're right, we have -- I have engaged my counterpart on a number of occasions and encouraged them to be more precise and also make sure that we're protecting the civilians in the battle space.

But let me take you back to -- and remind us on how this got started. It started on October 7th with a brutal attack by Hamas, which killed some 1,200 Israeli and American citizens, and took some 200 plus hostages. 100 plus of those are still being held hostage by Hamas. And so Hamas, you know, over time, we've seen them use despicable tactics in terms of, you know, placing themselves among the civilian population, putting their headquarters, you know, underneath schools and hospitals. And so they have used the civilians as human shields to facilitate their operations.

But having said that, you've also heard me say that, you know, Israel has to do everything it can to minimize the number of civilian casualties in the battle space. And the number of casualties has been far too high. You've also heard me say that accomplishing your goals and objectives and protecting civilians in the battle space are not mutually exclusive. Both can be done and should be done.

And protecting civilians, in my view, is a strategic imperative, because at some point in time, you know, we have to make sure that we are separating the Palestinian people from Hamas, the terrorist organization. They are not one and the same, and we know -- everyone knows that, but we want to make sure that we're doing the right things to not only move them out of the battle space if operations are being conducted there, but also provide humanitarian assistance to them so that, you know, they can survive.

So they have made changes. Israel has made changes over time. But again, casualty rates have been far too high.

Q: Anything specific from Israel that you've seen in terms of improvements?

SEC. AUSTIN: Well, there are a number of things. And I certainly don't want to detail all those things now. But again, the results are that we still see a number of civilian casualties in the battle space.

STAFF: Next question. We'll go to Agence France-Presse. Max?

Q: Hello, Mr. Secretary. Max Delany, AFP. Two questions. Yesterday, President Biden mentioned that there were commitments from five countries to provide patriot systems for the -- for Ukraine. Can you give more details on which countries he's talking about? And then secondly, Russian President Vladimir Putin today outlined his so called peace demand for Ukraine, which was withdrawing from territory Russia claims and withdrawing its bid to join NATO. What's your response to that -- those demands from Putin? Thank you.

SEC. AUSTIN: So two questions. Which one do you want me to answer? Okay. Let's start with the patriots. And your question was, you know, President Biden had mentioned that there were five countries that were going to provide more patriots. I think you know that I spend a lot of time along with the rest of the leadership, our senior leadership spend a lot of time focusing on doing everything that we can to get Ukraine as much air defense capability as possible. That includes platforms, that includes interceptors that support those platforms. And, you know, we have made progress. We will continue to work this very, very hard.

And I'll let the countries that will provide that capability speak for themselves. That's the approach that we've always taken. And again, I think that we will see -- we'll continue to see positive results. But, you know, none of these decisions are hard for any country. None of these decisions are easy for any country. And so, you know, I'll let the country speak for themselves.

And the second question, I think, was on Putin's comments with respect to what he wants to see in order to have a change in this conflict or things move towards peace. You know, Putin has occupied -- illegally occupied sovereign Ukrainian territory. He is not in any position to dictate to Ukraine what they must do to bring about a peace. I think, you know, that's exactly the kind of behavior that we don't want to see. We don't want to see a leader of one country wake up one day and decide that he wants to erase borders and annex the territory of his neighbor. That's not the world that any of us want to live in. And so I think, you know, he is not in the -- in my view, not in a position to dictate to Ukraine what it must do to pursue peace.

Putin can end this war today. You know, he started this war with no provocation. He's lost -- he's had some, you know, hundreds of thousands of troops wounded and killed in this unjust and unprovoked invasion. He could end this today if he chose to do that. And we call upon him to do that and to leave Ukrainian sovereign territory.

STAFF: Thank you. Our next question will go to New York Times.

Q: Mr. Secretary, as you mentioned, since Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine, NATO has expanded to include two new member states. And you have several other countries interested in joining Ukraine among them. Given the dynamics of regular political transfers of power in individual member states, do you think it makes sense to both further expand the alliance and possibly put more tasks like America's leadership of the contact group under NATO's purview, instead of being headed by individual countries?

SEC. AUSTIN: In terms of NATO expansion, I think that's a decision that, you know, 32 members of NATO alliance will make at some point in time. I don't see any desire or indication, you know, that we will pursue expansion at any point in the near future. There will -- I suspect that there will always be countries that will want to join NATO, it's because of the values that NATO embraces, because of the kinds of things that we take on and the commitments that we make to each other, in terms of, you know, our commitment to defend the territory of each country that's involved, that's a part of the alliance.

But again, it is a defensive alliance, and again, I think at this point in time, you know, the members of the alliance would probably want to see things stabilize and settle out as we get the new members on board and continue to refine our plans, as we were doing in this meeting.

In terms of what we would like to see NATO take on in terms of greater responsibilities, I think you heard the Secretary General say recently that they will -- NATO will help with -- some of the tasks that the UDCG is doing right now in terms of coordinating training, ensuring that we have standardized equipment, and that we will be interoperable at the end of the day. And I see -- I think NATO brings tremendous value to those efforts.

And so, you know, we look forward to NATO coming onboard and taking on some of that, but the UDCG has performed magnificently over the last two-plus years. It has enabled -- you know, has been one of the things that has enabled Ukraine to do what it's done. I mean, it's faced a far superior combat force and really prevented that force from achieving any strategic goals in two and a half years.

And even in the last seven month period where the world was unsure as to whether or not the United States was going to continue to provide security assistance -- I was always confident that we would -- but even in that period, as Russia continued to push hard, it could not achieve any significant goals.

So Ukraine has done, I think, a remarkable job of holding its own. I think it -- as NATO looks to come onboard and help with coordination for training and standardization and interoperability, I think that adds value to the overall effort.

Q: If I may, just one brief follow-up to that about the Contact Group. You have countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, and Moldova who have been at every or almost every meeting of the Contact Group for the (past two ?) years. Have they or others in the group proved to you that they're ready for NATO membership or possibly to be given major non-NATO ally status of the United States?

SEC. AUSTIN: Well, you know, that's -- as you know, there's a process that -- there are conditions that countries have to meet in order to become a member of NATO, and that's a pretty well-defined process.

And so -- and I won't try to assess any one country's progress, you know, along those lines here today, but again, I think that there will always be countries that will aspire to being a member of NATO. And NATO has a policy of open doors. And so, you know, at some point in time, if the 32 members decide that they want to bring on additional countries, then that's for us to vote on, so.

STAFF: Got time for one final question. We'll go to (Teri Schultz, Deutsche Welle ?).

Q: Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary. Following on the question of interoperability and standardization, also accountability in -- in the Contact Group, Secretary General Stoltenberg has been increasingly vocal about being concerned that some of these pledges are not being followed up with actual delivery to Ukraine, and that's one of the rules that he believes you -- that NATO can take on and -- and help with the follow-up. I'd like to know what you think about that because you're very good at -- at drumming up the pledges. But then what happens after that?

And in terms of interoperability and standardization, Ukraine has been left to somehow piece together these -- these different systems. And on -- on those lines, I wanted to know what you thought about France's offer of Mirage jets when you've been so focused on getting F-16s there first. Thanks.

SEC. AUSTIN: You know I -- thanks. I would say that we're not just good at drumming up pledges. You know, we have provided some $98 billion worth of security assistance to Ukraine. It is the primary reason why Ukraine has been successful in defending its territory thus far.

And a part of the overall process is, you know, we have countries that pledge, but there is frequent engagement between staffs of those countries and my staff, and engagement between me and the ministers of defense.

Now, some of these things take time, even some of the things that we provide take time to provide. So, you know, if you're going to provide, for example, you know, new HIMARS systems, even if I spend the money today to get those HIMARS systems, it takes time for those to be delivered.

So we are deliberate in terms of our follow-up, but every bit of help that we can get in terms of encouraging countries to move quicker, you know, I welcome that. And so I -- you know, I think, you know, the Secretary General can be instrumental in that, and I welcome his willingness to help out with that, but again, I think countries are digging deep and providing as much as they can when they can.

So -- but we need for everyone to do a bit more. You know, we're at a pretty key point in this fight, and Ukraine has done very, very well. The -- they have to -- going forward, they have to reconstitute some of their combat capability -- you know, bring on more -- enlist more forces, equip those forces, and then make sure that, you know -- with all of the ammunition and materials that we're providing, that those things are flowing to the right place as well, so.

Q: -- interoperability on the Mirage?

SEC. AUSTIN: Well, you know, we're working hard to get Ukraine an F-16 capability this summer, and I think -- you know, I'm optimistic that that will happen. And I also welcome France's contribution because every bit helps.

We have to make sure that, you know, we have all of the things in place to manage two complex systems and protect those systems at the same time. And so great capability, and again, every bit helps. We just need to make sure that we knit together the sustainment, and make sure that, you know, those systems are interoperable as used in Ukraine.

And I'm sure that, you know, once the training is complete, and once all of the coordination has been done, we'll see some good results, but every little bit helps.

STAFF: Ladies and gentlemen --

SEC. AUSTIN: Thanks, everybody.

STAFF: -- that concludes our press briefing. Thanks for being here today. Thank you, sir.



https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3808241/

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Foreign Minister Tsahkna in Finland: Estonia takes over the presidency of the CBSS at a decisive time

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

14.06.2024

Today 14 June, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna was in Finland for a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), with the agenda focusing on regional security, the state of the shadow fleet in the Baltic Sea and Russia's hybrid actions in the region. The foreign ministers of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Norway and Iceland, and representatives of the foreign services of Denmark and the European Union attended the meeting.

The consensus was that a solution must be found to Russia's hybrid activity in Europe. "We agreed that a joint response must be given to Russia's hybrid activity in Europe. We will not allow the Russians to carry out arbitrary actions on our territories, constantly shifting red lines. In addition to NATO Allies and the European Union, we are also actively working in the CBSS to find a solution to the situation. The NATO accession of Finland and Sweden gave a new dimension to the CBSS in terms of ensuring security in our region," Tsahkna underlined.

"The state of the shadow fleet on the Baltic Sea is a serious threat to our environment, as well as the security of the region and all of Europe. A situation where Russian tankers that are visible from the coast of Estonia and Finland are evading sanctions and processing oil products with disregard for rules, demands quick action from us. It is important for the 14th package of sanctions, which is hopefully adopted in the coming days, to focus on this as well; however, we must also prevent the circumvention of sanctions," Tsahkna said.

"We have seen that Russia is not only acting on the surface of the Baltic Sea, but also underwater. Defending and monitoring submarine infrastructure has become increasingly relevant in light of Russia's hybrid activities. We have found innovative solutions for contributing to this field," Tsahkna said.

On 1 July this year, Estonia takes over the presidency of the CBSS, focusing on the region's security.

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Exclusive: China Coast Guard repels Philippine vessels attempting to land on Xianbin Jiao in SCS

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Jun 14, 2024 09:03 PM

China Coast Guard (CCG) has taken restrictive measures against Philippine vessels after the Philippine coast guard dispatched boats to illegally land on islets of Xianbin Jiao, or Xianbin Reef, in South China Sea, the Global Times learned from the CCG.

According to video clips obtained by the Global Times on Friday, after the Philippine vessel intruded into waters near Xianbin Jiao in an attempt to release small boats to illegally operate on the sandbars, CCG warned them in both Chinese and English, and reiterated China's indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao, or Nansha Islands, including Xianbin Jiao, and their adjacent waters. The CCG took restrictive measures against the Philippine vessels in line with the law.

It is reported that the Philippine side denied that its soldiers pointed guns at CCG vessels, claiming that personnel stationed aboard the BRP Sierra Madre only held on to their weapons to defend themselves. The Philippines also claimed that there had been small-scale reclamation at Xianbin Jiao and that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) recently sent a hovercraft and an aircraft to conduct exercises in the waters around Xianbin Jiao.

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said on Friday in response to the Philippine provocations that Nansha Qundao, including Ren'ai Jiao and Xianbin Jiao, is China's inherent territory, and it is legitimate and reasonable for China to carry out law enforcement activities in waters under Chinese jurisdiction.

China has made clear its principles and position on this multiple times, Zhang said. In fact, it is the Philippines that has broken its promises, played with fire and escalated tensions through its provocations, even cooking up and spreading disinformation about Xianbin Jiao in an attempt to cover up its infringements and provocations, he added.

Such acts are those of a thief crying "stop thief" and fully show that the Philippines is undoubtedly the one undermining peace and creating instability, Zhang said, adding that China remains highly vigilant and will continue to take all necessary countermeasures against the Philippines' dangerous, escalatory acts.

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US must convince Israel to accept permanent ceasefire: Hamas official

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 14, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- A senior member of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says the US needs to convince the Israeli regime to accept a permanent ceasefire as part of a deal to end the regime's genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

"The Israelis want the ceasefire only for six weeks and then they want to go back to the fight, which I think the Americans, till now, have not convinced the Israelis to accept (a permanent ceasefire)," Osama Hamdan, the Hamas representative in Lebanon, told CNN.

He said Hamas needed "a clear position from Israel to accept the ceasefire, a complete withdrawal from Gaza, and let the Palestinians to determine their future by themselves, the reconstruction, the (lifting) of the siege ... and we are ready to talk about a fair deal about the prisoners exchange."

Hamdan also said that he didn't know how many Zionists were kept as war prisoners inside the Gaza Strip.

"I don't have any idea about that. No one has an idea about this," he said, adding that the Israeli offensive to free four of the captives last Saturday killed three others, including an American citizen.

The Zionist regime launched the genocidal war on Gaza on October 7 last year in response to Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, which was carried out in retaliation for the regime's intensified violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

So far, the Israeli war has killed 37,202 people in Gaza, including more than 15,000 children, and wounded 84,932 others.

4354**9417

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Baiba Braze in Finland: Russia's "shadow fleet" and other threats to the Baltic Sea states will be limited

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

14.06.2024

On 13 and 14 June 2024, at the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) Meeting in Porvoo, Finland, the Foreign Ministers of the Baltic and Nordic countries, Germany and Poland discussed current national and regional challenges and ways to address them effectively, including within the CBSS framework. The Ministers also discussed potential tools to counter Russia's hybrid threats in the Baltic Sea Region, as well as the countries' options to improve crisis preparedness and resilience.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braze stressed the need for the region to work more closely together to address hybrid threats and opportunities to circumvent sanctions against Russia, including the elimination of Russia's "shadow fleet".

"These are not "shadow fleets" because they are visible and known. The "shadow fleet" in the Baltic Sea poses both security and environmental risks and is a geopolitical threat in general, which is why the EU, together with its transatlantic partners, must start to introduce sanctions against the "shadow fleet" vessels, as well as ban refuelling and storage services for Russian oil products for the "shadow fleet". Currently, this is a way of circumventing sanctions and it must be prevented," said Baiba Braze.

During the meeting, the Ministers also discussed issues of importance and relevance for the security, welfare and development of the region. All Ministers are united in the need to continue to help Ukraine until its victory. Ministers also discussed priorities for the upcoming Ukraine Peace Summit in Switzerland on 15 and 16 June and the NATO Summit in Washington on 9-11 July.

During the working visit, the Foreign Ministers of Latvia and Norway held a bilateral meeting. Baiba Braze welcomed and appreciated the new Security and Defence Partnership concluded between Norway and the European Union. "Norway has become a strategic partner of the EU in the field of security and defence, which is an important long-term contribution to the security of the EU and Norwegian citizens. In the current geopolitical situation, it is of particular importance for the EU to strengthen cooperation with like-minded partners on a global scale. The partnership will strengthen cooperation, for example, in critical infrastructure resilience and the protection of underwater infrastructure. It also provides for practical cooperation in areas such as cyber security and the fight against foreign interference in democratic processes, including disinformation. The new partnership also includes cooperation on supporting Ukraine," explains Baiba Braze.

The Ministers also discussed strategic and practical issues on the future development and organisation of the work of the CBSS, strengthening the role of this format for effective political dialogue on issues of regional importance, in particular on security and defence issues.

The Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Porvoo was hosted by Finland as the Presidency of the Council. Ministers congratulated Finland on the successful conclusion of the CBSS Presidency and its contribution to implementing the priorities of the Presidency - comprehensive security, crisis preparedness and resilience, focusing on civil protection, including early warning systems, civil protection in the context of climate change, cross-border information exchange, combatting violence against children and trafficking of children, as well as Ukrainian refugees.

The participants, together with representatives of the CBSS Youth Forum, shared their views on youth involvement in policy processes, highlighting the role of young people in policymaking and in strengthening European identity.

At the end of the meeting, a joint declaration was adopted

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First meeting of NATO climate change envoys to address impacts on security

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

11 Jun. 2024

Last updated: 14 Jun. 2024

On Tuesday (11 June 2024), climate change envoys and representatives of 23 Allied countries met for the first time in Reykjavik, Iceland, to discuss how to further enhance cooperation in understanding and adapting to the impact of climate change on security.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iceland Thordis Kolbrun R. Gylfadottir opened the event. The participants addressed recent developments affecting climate change and security. These include the weaponisation of energy as part of Russia's war against Ukraine and the need to avoid creating new strategic dependencies on potential adversaries and competitors for the mining and refining of these critical minerals through the green transition.

This first meeting of climate change envoys demonstrates Allies' commitment to address the security implications of climate change together. Participants will meet on a regular basis to further strengthen the coordination between national stakeholders.

Since the adoption of its Action Plan on Climate Change and Security in 2021, NATO has been focusing its efforts on three main areas of action: understanding and mitigating the impact of climate change on security, and adapting its militaries to maintain their effectiveness in every environment.

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Death toll from fighting in Sudan's El-Fasher exceeds 220

Iran Press TV

Friday, 14 June 2024 7:13 PM

The medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders, also known as MSF, says more than 220 people have so far been killed in fighting in the city of El-Fasher in Sudan's Western region of Darfur.

According to the MSF, fighting in El-Fasher killed at least 226 people and wounded 1,418 others.

Fierce fighting reignited in El-Fasher, the last state capital in the western region of Darfur not under the control of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and a key humanitarian hub for a region on the brink of famine, on May 10, prompting a siege by the RSF that has trapped hundreds of thousands of civilians.

The overall death toll from the fighting is believed to be much higher, however, with the wounded unable to get treatment amid ongoing air raids, shelling and ground fighting.

"The situation in El-Fasher is chaotic," Michel-Olivier Lacharite, head of MSF's emergency program, said.

The closure of the last operating hospital in the city has also complicated the situation.

Over the weekend, the group announced that "MSF and the ministry of health suspended all activities in South Hospital, El-Fasher, North Darfur, after RSF soldiers stormed the facility, opened fire and looted it, including stealing an MSF ambulance."

On Thursday, the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an end to the siege of El-Fasher.

It calls for "an immediate halt to the fighting" and "withdrawal of all fighters that threaten the safety and security of civilians."

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has been fighting the army, led by Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, for control of the North African country since April 15 last year in a war that has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced nearly eight million.

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Israel committed 3,300 massacres in Gaza since Oct.: Media Office

Iran Press TV

Friday, 14 June 2024 1:34 PM

The Government Media Office (GMO) in the Gaza Strip, which is enduring a genocidal Israeli war, has said the Tel Aviv regime has committed over 3,300 massacres in the coastal sliver since the onset of the military onslaught in October last year.

The unending bloodletting by the "criminal and fascist occupation" has resulted in around 50,000 deaths, if you include those buried under the rubble, the office said in a statement on Thursday.

About 84,000 others have also been injured and over two million people rendered displaced as a result of the military campaign, it added.

The regime unleashed the war on October 7 last year in response to the Al-Aqsa Storm, a retaliatory operation staged by Gaza's resistance movements.

'War of starvation'

Concomitantly with the war, the regime has been enforcing a near-total siege on Gaza, which has reduced the flow of foodstuffs, medicine, electricity, and water into the Palestinian territory into a trickle.

The GMO added, "Our Palestinian people are also suffering from an escalation of the starvation war, a rapid deterioration of the humanitarian disaster, and the emergence of symptoms of famine in the Gaza Strip."

"The use of starvation, thirst, and the denial of medical care as a weapon by the oppressive Zionist occupation during this barbaric aggression is a confirmed and compounded war crime," it noted.

The media office called on international media outlets and activists to highlight the humanitarian disaster and urged global and humanitarian organizations to urgently provide Gazans with their direly-needed food and humanitarian aid.

"The international community, the United Nations, and its institutions have to intervene immediately to force the fascist occupation to stop its brutal aggression against unarmed civilians, innocent children, and defenseless women" and ensure "regular and unobstructed entry of aid and relief materials to all areas of the Gaza Strip," the GMO concluded.

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Report: Hamas demands end to Gaza siege in amendment to peace deal

Iran Press TV

Friday, 14 June 2024 11:22 AM

Hamas has demanded the lifting of Israeli siege of Gaza and a full withdrawal of its troops from the territory as apart of the initial stage of a ceasefire proposal, a report says.

The amendments submitted by Hamas to Egyptian and Qatari mediators earlier this week includes an end to the crippling blockade imposed on Gaza since 2007, London-based Middle East Eye said.

Hamas also demanded that Israeli troops fully withdraw from the entire Gaza Strip in the first phase of the ceasefire, including the Rafah crossing and the 14 km-long corridor along the territory's border with Egypt, known as the Philadelphi Corridor by the Israeli military.

The movement further omitted a clause that would allow Israel to dictate which prisoners could be released, and removed restrictions that Palestinians serving over 15 years could be freed as part of the deal, the report said.

In addition, Hamas asked that Russia, China and Turkey would serve as guarantors of the deal.

The initial proposal backed by Israel and the US listed Egypt, Qatar and the US as guarantors.

On Thursday, a top Hamas official said the movement demanded that it also be allowed to select a list of 100 Palestinian captives with long-term sentences that would be released from Israeli jails.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday considered some of the amendments proposed by Hamas as unworkable.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas mounted the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

Since the start of the offensive, the Tel Aviv regime has killed about 37,300 Palestinians.

The three-phase deal proposed by the US calls for an initial six-week truce in Gaza that will be followed by negotiations on a permanent ceasefire.

But Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders have said that they do not intend to stop the war until Hamas has been destroyed.

'Netanyahu hindering prisoner exchange deal'

Benny Gantz, who resigned from Israeli war cabinet on Sunday, said Netanyahu was obstructing a prisoner exchange deal with Palestinian resistance factions in Gaza for personal political calculations.

"Netanyahu has made several decisions recently for personal and political reasons," Anadolu Agency cited Gantz as saying in an interview with Israeli media.

"I have tried for several months to influence decisions within the War Cabinet for Israel's benefit, but to no avail," he added.

The Israeli opposition says Netanyahu is prolonging the war because he believes his "political future" will end when it stops, potentially leading to trials regarding past corruption charges.

Netanyahu faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in three cases filed in 2019.

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June 13: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation

Iran Press TV

Friday, 14 June 2024 8:17 AM

By Press TV Website Staff

Amid Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed some 37,300 Palestinians so far, 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 Thursday, June 13, are as follows:

Al-Qassam Brigades' operations on June 13:



- Targeted a gathering of Israeli forces positioned on the "Netzarim" axis with 114 mm short-range "Rajoom" rockets.



- Targeted a gathering of Israeli forces penetrating east of the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City with heavy-caliber mortar shells.



- Targeted a command and control center of the Israeli military in the "Netzarim" area with heavy mortar shells.



Al-Quds Brigades' operations on June 13:



- Targeted a position of Israeli soldiers and a convoy of their vehicles on the supply line in the "Netzarim" axis, south of Gaza City.



- Bombarded the settlements of Asdod, Asqalan, Mefalsim, Nir Am, and Sderot, along with settlements in the Gaza Envelope with a barrage of rockets.



- Targeted the Israeli military gatherings around the "Kerem Shalom" site and the "Sofa" military site east of Rafah city in southern Gaza with a barrage of heavy mortar shells.



Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades' operations on June 13:



- Targeted a command and control headquarters of the Israeli military on the supply line in the "Netzarim" axis, south of Gaza City, with a barrage of mortar shells.



- Targeted the gatherings of Israeli soldiers and their military vehicles with mortar shells on the axis of advance west of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.



- Engaged in fierce armed clashes with Israeli military forces in the town of Qabatiya in the city of Jenin, occupied West Bank.



Martyr Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades' operations on June 13:



- Targeted the western Naqab military camp with a rocket barrage and also targeted Israeli military gatherings on the axis of advance in Rafah, southern Gaza, with heavy-caliber mortar shells.



Martyr Omar Al-Qasim Forces' operations on June 13:



- Targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their vehicles with mortar shells on the axis of advance in the middle of the Shaboura camp in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip.



Al-Asifah Forces' (Jenin Brigade) operations on June 13:



- Engaged in direct and fierce clashes with Israeli troops in various neighborhoods of Jenin camp, occupied West Bank, detonating a number of explosive devices.



Mujahideen Brigades' operations on June 13:



- Bombed a gathering of Israeli forces infiltrating near Raed Al-Attar Mosque and Al-Alam Square west of Rafah city, southern Gaza, with a barrage of mortar shells.



Hezbollah's operations on June 13:



Eastern Sector:



- Targeted the Ruwaisat al-Qarn site in Shebaa with appropriate weapons.



- Targeted the Marabet Al-Zaoura site, Kaila site, Yoav site, Katsavia Base, Nafah Base, and the Sahel site in Beit Hilal with appropriate weapons.



- Targeted the Dadu base, the Mishar base, and the Katsavia base with appropriate weapons.



- Targeted the Ramtha site in Kfar Shuba with appropriate weapons.



- Targeted the Mishar base with appropriate weapons.



- Targeted the Katsavia site with appropriate weapons.



- Targeted an Israeli Humvee with appropriate weapons.



- Targeted the Ruwaisat al-Qarn site in Shebaa Farms with appropriate weapons.



- Targeted a group of Israeli soldiers in Ramtha and Al-Samaqa sites in Kafr Shuba with appropriate weapons.



Western Sector:



- Targeted a group of Israeli soldiers in Wadi Yaroun with appropriate weapons.



- Targeted a group of Israeli soldiers in the Doviv Forest with appropriate weapons.



- Targeted a group of Israeli soldiers in the Natawa Forest with appropriate weapons.



- Targeted a group of Israeli soldiers in the Adathar Forest with appropriate weapons.



- Targeted a group of Israeli soldiers in the Adamit Forest with appropriate weapons.



Islamic Resistance in Iraq's operations on June 13:



- Targeted the "Ramot David" Air Base of the Israeli military in the Palestinian-occupied territories with a barrage of drones.



Yemeni military's operations on June 13:



- Targeted the ship Verbena with a barrage of ballistic and naval missiles in the Arabian Sea, hitting it directly and causing a fire.



- Targeted the ship Sea Guardian in the Red Sea with a barrage of missiles and drones.

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Iran warns Israel of 'hell with no return' if Lebanon invaded

Iran Press TV

Friday, 14 June 2024 7:10 AM

Iran's interim Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani has cautioned Israel against waging a war on Lebanon, saying any such aggression is like going to "hell with no return".

He made the remarks during a press conference alongside Iraqi National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji in Baghdad on Thursday as fighting on Lebanon's border with the occupied territories is threatening to erupt into a full-scale war.

"Lebanon will be hell with no return for the Zionists, and if they are wise, they will not try Lebanon again," Bagheri Kani said.

Israel's "unbelievable defeats" began in Lebanon in 2000 and 2006, he added, referring to the two wars in which fighters of Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement the Israeli military.

The top Iranian diplomat said the balance of power has changed since October 7, when the Gaza-based Hamas resistance group carried out a surprise operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for the regime's intensified atrocities against Palestinians.

"The Zionists want to return conditions to those before October 7 by killing the people of Gaza, but to no avail," he said.

Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging deadly fire since early October, shortly after latter launched a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip following the Hamas operation.

The attacks intensified on Tuesday after Israel killed a senior Hezbollah commander in an strike on the southern Lebanese town of Jwaya.

Member of Knesset Benny Gantz said in an interview with Israel's Channel 12 News on Thursday that "Lebanon should burn", if Hezbollah does not stop attacking Israel.

Gantz resigned from prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet on Sunday citing, among other reasons, the absence of a post-war plan for Gaza.

Gantz said that despite his resignation from the coalition, his party will back the regime on action against Lebanon, Haaretz reported.

Hezbollah has vowed to keep up its retaliatory operations as long as the Tel Aviv regime continues its brutal Gaza onslaught, which has so far killed at least 37,232 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 85,037 others.

Iran, Iraq urge international community to stop Gaza war

Additionally on Thursday, Bagheri Kani met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on regional an international issues, among them Israel's aggression against Gaza and its barbaric crimes in the besieged Palestinian territory.

They also discussed the need for serious efforts by the international community to stop the Israeli invasion and prevent the expansion of the conflict in the region.

They further called for the implementation of agreements signed between Tehran and Baghdad in the fields of energy, education, transportation, etc.

Sudani reiterated condolences for the martyrdom of Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and their companions in a helicopter crash last month.

He emphasized that Iraq will keep strengthening relations and constructive cooperation with Iran.

Bagheri, for his part, thanked Iraq for its message of sympathy over the martyrdom of Iranian officials.

The interim Iranian foreign minister praised the pivotal role played by Iraq in the region and the country's attempts to boost stability there.

He further expressed Iran's readiness to cooperate on the Iraq Development Road, an undergoing project aiming to connect Asia with Europe by establishing a network with railways, roads, ports and cities.

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Israeli airbase comes under drone attack by Iraq's Islamic Resistance forces

Iran Press TV

Friday, 14 June 2024 6:12 AM

An airbase in the northern part of the Israeli-occupied territories has come under a drone strike by Iraqi anti-terror resistance groups.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of anti-terror fighters, claimed responsibility for the aerial attack on Ramat David Airbase, located 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) southeast of Haifa, in a statement published on its Telegram channel on Friday morning.

It said the drone strike was carried out as part of the second phase of operations against the occupying Israeli regime in support of Palestinians in Gaza, particularly in the southern border city of Rafah, and in retaliation for the massacres that the Zionist entity is perpetrating against unarmed Palestinian civilians.

The coalition noted that it will continue to target and destroy important installations across the occupied lands.

The development came two days after fighters from Iraqi anti-terror resistance groups carried out an operation against a "vital" target in the Port of Eilat.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has been launching several attacks on Israeli targets ever since the occupying regime started its genocidal war on Gaza in early October.

Israel has been waging an atrocious onslaught against the Gaza Strip, targeting hospitals, residences, and houses of worship after Palestinian resistance movements launched a surprise attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, on October 7.

At least 37,232 Palestinians have been killed, most of them women and children, and another 85,037 individuals have sustained injuries in Gaza so far. More than 1.7 million people have been internally displaced during the war as well.

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Philippines promises to protect fishermen as China's trespass rule takes hold

A new regulation says the Chinese coast guard can arrest foreign vessels and crew in waters claimed by Beijing.

By BenarNews staff 2024.06.14 -- The Philippines reassured Filipino fishermen on Friday that it would keep them safe as China prepared to enforce a new trespassing regulation, starting this weekend, in Beijing-claimed waters in the South China Sea.

The China Coast Guard had issued an order on May 15 authorizing its personnel to detain foreign vessels and crews for up to 30 days - and as many as 60, in some cases. The regulation is due to take effect on Saturday.

"We have told [the Filipino fishermen] not to be afraid but just to go ahead with their normal activities in our exclusive economic zone," Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., chief of the Philippine armed forces, told reporters. "Remember, [the West Philippine Sea] is ours. We have the right to exploit the resources in the area."

Filipinos have expressed fears that the Chinese coast guard could intercept and detain Filipino boats operating in Philippine EEZ (exclusive economic zone) waters that overlap with China's extensive territorial claims in the sea. The West Philippine Sea is how Filipinos refer to South China Sea waters that lie within the Philippines' EEZ.

Last month, China also began enforcing an annual fishing ban in the contested waters. The four-month fishing moratorium began on May 1 and is to last until Sept. 16 in areas in the South China Sea that are "north of the 12 degrees North latitude." That includes waters inside Manila's EEZ.

There have been no publicized cases of Chinese authorities arresting Filipino fishermen in the contested waters but there have been many instances in recent years of China Coast Guard ships harassing Philippine boats in EEZ waters.

Brawner said the armed forces were closely coordinating with the Philippine Coast Guard, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and other agencies to respond in case Filipino fishermen are again harassed in the EEZ.

The Philippine military insists that China's new policy "undermines the rule of law and international norms that govern maritime conduct."

"The presence and actions of its vessels in our waters are illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive," Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Col. Xerxes Trinidad said in a statement. "We will continue our maritime patrols in areas within the Philippines' jurisdiction."

Manila's Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), for its part, said Beijing's new regulation could not be enforced within Philippine-claimed waters.

"China's new regulations are unacceptable. China has no legal basis for enforcement within Philippine territory," department spokeswoman Ma. Teresita Daza told BenarNews.

"A country's domestic laws and regulations cannot be lawfully enforced in another country's territory and jurisdiction, nor in the high seas."

She called on China to ensure that the enforcement of its laws and regulations is "consistent with international law and not impinge on the rights and entitlement of others."

In May, a statement from the DFA said Beijing's new regulation on trespassing was based on its flawed 2021 Coast Guard Law and had "illegally expanded" the Chinese Coast Guard's law enforcement powers.

China's embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a BenarNews request for comment.

According to a Mandarin-language document shared by the embassy to reporters earlier, the regulation covers "administrative cases that occur in the waters under the jurisdiction" of China.

While the document makes no direct mention of the South China Sea, China claims the waterway almost in its entirety, putting it at odds with the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan.

On May 29, Beijing's foreign ministry defended the new rules, saying these were established to standardize Chinese law enforcement measures "and better uphold order at sea."

"Individuals and entities have no need for concern as long as they have not done anything illicit," ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a regular press conference that day.

Meanwhile on Friday in Italy, leaders of the Group of Seven during their annual summit called out China for its "dangerous" activities in the South China Sea, in a draft statement, Agence France-Presse reported.

"We continue opposing China's dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia in the South China Sea and its repeated obstruction of countries' high seas freedom of navigation," AFP quoted an excerpt of the draft as saying.

Jason Gutierrez reported from Manila and Jeoffrey Maitem from Davao City, southern Philippines

BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news outlet.

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EU officials to make rare Tibet visit to examine human rights

The delegation hopes to visit schools, prisons and places of worship but access could be limited.

By Tenzin Pema for RFA Tibetan and Jewlan for RFA Uyghur 2024.06.14 -- European Union officials are scheduled to make a rare visit starting this weekend to the Tibet Autonomous Region during their annual human rights talks with China, an EU spokesperson told Radio Free Asia.

Although it isn't clear how much access the officials will ultimately be granted, the spokesperson, Peter Stano, told RFA that the EU has put forth "concrete proposals" for the places the delegation would like to see, including boarding schools, prisons and places of worship.

"We have requested a meaningful, non-touristic visit that will allow us to measure our long-standing human rights concerns against the reality in Tibet on the ground," Stano said.

A small group of EU officials led by Paola Pampaloni, the EU's deputy managing director of Asia and Pacific Department, will make the visit to Tibet during the annual EU-China Human Rights Dialogue in Chongqing, China, that is scheduled to start on June 16.

The Tibet visit was agreed in principle during a previous round of EU-China talks, the EU spokesperson told RFA. The details of the visit are being organized by Chinese authorities and remain unclear.

"It's very rare that an official visit such as this one is taking place," Vincent Metten, EU policy director for the International Campaign for Tibet, told RFA from Brussels. The last highest EU official visit to Tibet was more than 10 years ago when then-EU Special Representative for Human Rights Stavros Lambrinidis took a trip there in September 2013.

Access to Tibet remains difficult, if not impossible, for diplomats, parliamentarians, non-governmental organizations, journalists and even tourists.

A U.S. State Department report on access to Tibetan areas said Chinese security forces have used "conspicuous surveillance" to intimidate, monitor, harass and restrict the movements of U.S. diplomats, officials and tourists traveling to Tibetan areas.

Tenzin Lekshay, a spokesman for the Central Tibetan Administration - the Tibetan government-in-exile based in Dharamsala, India - said it would be crucial for EU officials to have the ability to travel freely inside Tibet for the trip to yield meaningful results.

"It would be difficult to understand the realities of human rights conditions inside Tibet if their movement is restricted by the Chinese," Lekshay said.

Talk is cheap

News of the pending trip to Tibet comes after five human rights groups criticized the EU's continued participation in the broader human rights dialogue with China, noting little has changed in 38 previous rounds of talks.

In a June 12 statement, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Front Line Defenders, International Service for Human Rights and the World Uyghur Congress said that the talks allow European officials to raise key issues with their Chinese counterparts.

But the lack of measurable benchmarks or defined objectives make the discussions a largely pointless exercise, the letter states.

"While the EU raises concerns during these dialogues, it knows that the Chinese government will not acknowledge abuses, will not undertake any effort to secure accountability, and will not be persuaded to undertake any policy or legislative action to comply with China's international human rights obligations," the groups said.

Sophie Richardson, a visiting scholar at Stanford University's Center on Democracy, Development and Rule of Law, said in an interview with RFA Uyghur that these types of talks can do more harm than good in that they tend to relieve the pressure on more senior political leaders to press the case for change with their Chinese counterparts.

"Beijing's goal in these dialogues is to keep human rights out of all other conversations," said Richardson, who previously was China director for Human Rights Watch.

"This diplomatic tool not only stopped being useful about a decade ago, but actually started to be problematic because it prevents you from doing things that I think would be more effective, like pursuing investigations of the Chinese government officials who are complicit in crimes against humanity," she said.

She added that the Tibetan trip's value won't be known until a clearer understanding of the restrictions the delegation will operate in is known.

The EU has been critical of Chinese policies in Tibet and in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region, where more than 1 million Uyghurs and other ethnic Turkic Muslims have been detained in a crackdown that began in 2017.

Tibetan boarding schools

In December, Janez Lenarcic, EU crisis management commissioner, gave a speech criticizing China's restrictive policies in Tibet and in Chinese provinces where many Tibetans live.

She noted political repression and widespread reports of Tibetan students being pressured to attend boarding schools with Mandarin-heavy curriculums, which critics say threatens Tibetan cultural and religious traditions.

Chinese officials say that boarding schools are the best way to educate a population of students scattered in remote areas over a vast geographical region. The students aren't forced to attend the schools, according to official statements.

But exiled Tibetans say Chinese authorities coerce attendance by promising to withhold governmental benefits or future educational opportunities.

Previous international delegations that have visited areas where many of the abuse claims emanate have been limited.

A 2022 United Nations report based on a trip to Xinjiang alleged serious human rights abuses had been perpetrated against ethnic Uyghurs and others there in the name of combating terrorism and extremism.

China said the report was based on "disinformation and lies fabricated by anti-China forces."

Tenzin Dawa, director of the Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy in Dharamsala, India, said the visiting EU officials should try to find information on Tibetan political prisoners Go Sherab Gyatso and Lodoe Gyatso.

Go Sherab Gyatso is a writer and educator known for his loyalty to the exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

Lodoe Gyatso was rearrested and sentenced to 18 years for protesting against repression in Tibet shortly after he had been released from a 20-year sentence.

Additional reporting by Tenzin Dhonyoe, Dickey Kundol and Dechen Wangmo. Translated by Tenzin Dickyi, and edited by Jim Snyder 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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Cambodia's Hun Sen holds rare meeting with CIA chief

Senate President revealed that he had a meeting with the spy agency's director on June 2.

By RFA Staff 2024.06.14 -- Veteran Cambodian leader Hun Sen has disclosed that he recently had a meeting with William Burns, director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), who was in Cambodia on an unannounced visit.

The former prime minister who is now Senate president posted on Facebook dozens of pictures of himself and Burns, apparently taken before and during their meeting on June 2 at his home in Takhmao town, near the capital Phnom Penh.

Hun Manith - Hun Sen's fourth son and head of the Cambodian military intelligence department - was seen attending the meeting, together with anti-corruption chief Om Yentieng and Dy Vichea, Hun Sen's son-in-law and deputy national police chief.

In an earlier Facebook post, Hun Sen said that he had informed Burns that Cambodia won't take part in the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland this weekend, not because of pressure from China but because the conference could not be successful without Russia's participation.

Hun Sen has condemned Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

While not giving further details about the meeting, Hun Sen said that the main area of cooperation between Cambodia and the CIA was counter terrorism and "not against any country."

Cambodia has intelligence cooperation with other countries, he added, as this was a "normal course of a sovereign state."

Hun Sen said in his Facebook post that he has had a working relationship with the CIA management since 1997 and met in person with some of the agency's heads, including James Clapper and David Petraeus.

David Hutt, a research fellow at the Central European Institute of Asian Studies, said he suspected the latest meeting was about Chinese-run online scam operations in Southeast Asia that the U.S. now sees as a major security threat.

A recent study by the Congress-founded U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) said that Cambodia, together with Myanmar and Laos, form the epicenter of the regional scamming industry that "target millions of victims around the world with illegal and unregulated online gambling and sophisticated scamming operations."

As of the end of 2023, the annual value of funds stolen worldwide by these syndicates could be as high as US$64 billion, USIP said, noting that in 2023 alone, U.S. citizens lost US$3.5 billion to online scams run from Southeast Asia.

The United States is also concerned about China's access to Cambodia's Ream naval base.

A U.S. think tank, the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI), said in April that Cambodia appeared to have given the Chinese navy extended and exclusive access to the base. Two Chinese warships have been docked at a newly built pier at Ream since early December and recently took part in an annual bilateral military exercise.

In an interview with RFA Khmer service, AMTI's Director Greg Poling said that the real value of the naval base for the Chinese military could be in spying, intelligence collection, and satellite tracking.

Cambodia has repeatedly denied that China has been allowed to establish a permanent base at Ream as that would be against Cambodia's constitution.

The publication of the photographs of the meeting, observers say, could be aimed at demonstrating balance in Cambodia's foreign relations in the face of accusations by critics that Cambodia has become too dependent upon China.

Edited by Taejun Kang.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content 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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The Azadi Briefing: Thousands Of Afghans Deported From Pakistan And Iran Each Week

By Abubakar Siddique June 14, 2024

The Key Issue

Pakistan and Iran are continuing to deport thousands of Afghan refugees and migrants each week, despite warnings from rights groups and aid organizations.



The Taliban government said over 400,000 Afghans have been expelled from the two neighboring countries since the start of the year.



Qari Yusuf Ahmadi, a Taliban official, said around 75 percent of the returnees were expelled from Pakistan.



Over 1 million Afghans have been deported from Pakistan and Iran during the past year.

Why It's Important: Rights groups and aid organizations have warned that the mass deportation drives will worsen the already devastating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, the world's largest.



The Taliban government, which remains unrecognized and sanctioned by the international community, appears unable to absorb the returning refugees or address the humanitarian needs of Afghans.



Aid agencies operating in Afghanistan have called for more international funding to address the needs of the returnees, who lack shelter, warm clothes, and food. Many of the returnees are homeless.



"There is no work and food is expensive," Kamran, an Afghan who was recently deported from Pakistan, told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. He said he is living in a tent because he cannot afford to rent a house.



"After returning from Iran, I have been living in Kabul for about two to three months," said Fazaluddin, an Afghan who was recently expelled from Iran. "Life is very difficult here. There were many problems in Iran, but at least I could get a bite to eat."

What's Next: Pakistan and Iran, both of which are not signatories to UN conventions on refugees, appear likely to continue their deportation drives.



In March, Pakistan announced efforts to expand and expedite its plans to deport Afghans from April 15.



Iran, meanwhile, has repeatedly vowed to expel all undocumented Afghans from the country.

What To Keep An Eye On

Child labor is rising under Taliban rule in Afghanistan, where a humanitarian and economic crisis as well as the Taliban restrictions on female employment have led to more children working.



Around 19 percent of children in Afghanistan are working, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on June 12.



Among them is 11-year-old Ahmad, whose mother lost her job as a state employee after the Taliban takeover.



"I'm the only breadwinner after my father died," Ahmad, who works for up to eight hours each day after attending school, told Radio Azadi.



"If parents have jobs, they will never push their children into child labor," said Najibullah Zadran Babrakzai, an Afghan child rights activist.

Why It's Important: The Taliban's severe restrictions on women, as well as mass unemployment and rising poverty, have forced children as well as the elderly to work to feed their families.



The need to work is likely to deprive thousands of Afghan children from education as many families try to stave off starvation.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-pakistan- iran-afghan-refugees/32993099.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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Prominent Tajik Lawmaker Detained For Allegedly Plotting To Overthrow Government

By RFE/RL's Tajik Service June 14, 2024

Saidjafar Usmonzoda, a prominent member of the Tajik parliament, was detained on June 14 for allegedly "plotting to overthrow the government."

Prosecutor-General Yusuf Rahmon accused Usmonzoda of collaborating with the foreign-based opposition group National Pact of Tajikistan and of speaking with its leader, the self-exiled Sharofiddin Gadoev.

Gadoev fled Tajikistan in the early 2010s and established the Movement for Reforms and Development of Tajikistan and co-founded the National Alliance, a coalition of opposition groups abroad.

Parliament on June 14 stripped Usmonzoda of his immunity as a lawmaker.

A member of parliament since 2015, Usmonzoda was one of handful of lawmakers accessible to the media and frequently took part in programs by Radio Ozodi, as RFE/RL's Tajik Service is locally known.

Neither Usmonzoda nor people close to him have commented on his detention. It is unclear if he has legal representation.

A former chairman of the Democratic Party of Tajikistan, Usmonzoda was expelled from the party last month for his perceived "unsatisfactory" performance as a party member.

Shaboz Abror, who had led the party conference that resulted in Usmonzoda's expulsion, was recognized as the party's new chairman on May 31 by the Ministry of Justice.

However, Usmonzoda maintained in an interview with Radio Ozodi earlier this month that he was the legitimate leader of the party.

Founded in 1990, the Democratic Party of Tajikistan has experienced divisions and scandals since its inception.

In 2013, the party split into two factions, with Masoud Sobirov and Rahmatullo Valiev claiming leadership positions. However, the Ministry of Justice recognized Usmonzoda as the party's leader.

In the 2013 presidential election, Usmonzoda ran against Emomali Rahmon, the longtime president who has since consolidated his grip on power.

Rahmon, who has run the Central Asian nation since 1992, has been criticized by international human rights groups over his administration's alleged disregard for independent media, religious freedoms, civil society, and political pluralism.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/tajik-lawmaker-detained -coup-government/32992858.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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NATO Expansion Not Expected in Near Future, Pentagon Chief Claims

Sputnik News

20240614

WASHINGTON, June 14 (Sputnik) - US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Friday that he does not foresee an expansion of the NATO alliance in the near future, despite the wishes of some countries such as Ukraine to join the alliance.

"In terms of NATO expansion, I think that's a decision that 32 members of the NATO alliance will make at some point in time. I don't see any desire or indication that we will pursue expansion at any point in the near future," Austin said in Brussels after a meeting of NATO defense ministers.

NATO has experienced nine waves of expansion since its establishment 75 years ago. Previously non-aligned Sweden joined the bloc on March 7, 2024.

This alliance was reated to deter alleged Soviet expansion, yet after the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union, NATO was not dissolved in return. Despite promises given to late Soviet leaders by Washington, NATO proceeded with its expansion eastward.

 Sputnik

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Joint Statement on the Recent Detentions by the Houthis

US Department of State

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

June 14, 2024

The text of the following is a joint statement by the Governments of the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

Begin Text:

We, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, condemn in the strongest terms the recent detentions by the Houthis of United Nations, diplomatic, and non-governmental organization staff.

We reiterate and support UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' call for the immediate release of all United Nations staff held in Yemen by the Houthis. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all those detained and urge the Houthis to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian, diplomatic, and United Nations personnel. These detentions represent an escalation by the Houthis, and jeopardize a sensitive peace process. They are an affront to international peace and security. All detainees should be released immediately.

We also reaffirm our strong commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Yemen, and our commitment to stand by the people of Yemen.

End Text.

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Secretary Blinken's Call with Omani Foreign Minister Albusaidi

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

June 14, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi regarding the Houthi detentions of UN, diplomatic, and NGO staff, as well as the Houthis' continued reckless attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The Secretary emphasized that such actions jeopardize the peace process in Yemen. Secretary Blinken thanked the Foreign Minister for Oman's determined and continued efforts to end the conflict in Yemen.

The Secretary and Foreign Minister also addressed ongoing efforts to achieve an enduring ceasefire in Gaza, secure the release of all hostages, and facilitate a surge in humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza.

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Sanctioning Israeli Group for Disrupting and Destroying Humanitarian Aid to Civilians

US Department of State

Press Statement

Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

June 14, 2024

The Department of State is today designating Tzav 9, a violent extremist Israeli group that has been blocking, harassing, and damaging convoys carrying lifesaving humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians in Gaza. For months, individuals from Tzav 9 have repeatedly sought to thwart the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, including by blockading roads, sometimes violently, along their route from Jordan to Gaza, including in the West Bank. They also have damaged aid trucks and dumped life-saving humanitarian aid onto the road. On May 13, 2024, Tzav 9 members looted and then set fire to two trucks near Hebron in the West Bank carrying humanitarian aid destined for men, women, and children in Gaza.

The provision of humanitarian assistance is vital to preventing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza from worsening and to mitigating the risk of famine. The Government of Israel has a responsibility to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian convoys transiting Israel and the West Bank enroute to Gaza. We will not tolerate acts of sabotage and violence targeting this essential humanitarian assistance. We will continue to use all tools at our disposal to promote accountability for those who attempt or undertake such heinous acts, and we expect and urge that Israeli authorities do the same.

The Department is sanctioning Tzav 9 pursuant to section 1 (a)(i)(A) of Executive Order (E.O.) 14115, for being responsible for or complicit in, or having directly or indirectly engaged or attempted to engage in actionsincluding directing, enacting, implementing, enforcing, or failing to enforce policiesthat threaten the peace, security, or stability of the West Bank. Petitions for removal from the SDN List may be sent to: OFAC.Reconsideration@treasury.gov. Petitioners may also refer to the Department of State's Delisting Guidance page.

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Conflict and lawlessness hamper food aid delivery in Gaza: WFP

14 June 2024 - Escalating fighting in the south and centre of Gaza makes it near-impossible for humanitarians to deliver desperately needed food aid, the Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), Carl Skau, said on Friday at the end of a two-day mission to the enclave.

"Driving through Gaza City to Jabalia, the destruction is unbelievable. In the North of Gaza, I didn't see one single building intact and there was constant shelling with drones buzzing overhead," he said.

"The people here are traumatised and exhausted. One woman who had lost her husband told me this war has been going on for 250 days - but to her it felt like 250 years."

Looting, violence and insecurity

With lawlessness born out of desperation inside Gaza now hampering deliveries from the Kerem Shalom crossing, and active conflict spreading in the southern and middle areas, WFP staff are finding it close to impossible to deliver sufficient aid to meet the growing needs.

"It is getting harder to do our job," said Mr. Skau.

"Staff spend five to eight hours waiting at checkpoints every day. Missiles hit our premises, despite being deconflicted. The breakdown of law and order means we also face looting and violence amid a large security vacuum."

'Catastrophic' hunger fears

WFP fears southern Gaza could soon see the same catastrophic levels of hunger recorded previously in the north.

Mr. Skau warned that the situation there is quickly deteriorating.

"A million people have been pushed out of Rafah and are trapped in a highly congested area along the beach in the burning summer heat. We drove through rivers of sewage," he said.

WFP reported that there has been improvement in assistance in northern Gaza, where partners have been delivering supplies through West Erez crossing.

The UN agency warned, however, that this assistance must be sustained and scaled-up. Access to clean water, healthcare, fuel for bakeries and medical supplies are also essential.

Mr Skau stressed that "more than anything people want this war to end, and so do we."

Supporting local markets

He said WFP will now look at how to support the functioning of markets and also get cash to people so that they can begin to restore their lives.

"Emergency assistance is still critical, but we also need to start instilling some hope - by supporting bakeries and markets - and go beyond meeting food needs for survival to support water sanitation and basic health care needs," he continued.

"Only this way can we help restore a more dignified form of assistance that goes beyond meeting basic food needs. On my previous visit in November, the people I met were angry. Now they are exhausted and just wanted this war to end."

Mr. Skau was in the region for three days in total. He also visited the West Bank and Jerusalem, in addition to Gaza, meeting with staff, partners and Palestinians.

In May, WFP assisted over a million people across the West Bank and Gaza, though rations were reduced due to access constraints and dwindling food stocks.

The UN agency continues to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and safe and sustained access to deliver life-saving aid.

Mounting health crisis in West Bank: WHO

Separately, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday that it remains concerned about the escalating health crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory.

This includes the West Bank, where attacks on health infrastructure and increased restrictions on movements are affecting access to healthcare.

Violence has spiked since the start of the war in Gaza on 7 October, resulting in the deaths of 521 Palestinians, including 126 children, in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. More than 5,200 people have been injured.

WHO has documented 480 attacks on healthcare, resulting in 16 deaths and 95 injuries. The attacks affected 54 health facilities, 20 mobile clinics and 319 ambulances.

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World News in Brief: Rights abuses in Ethiopia must end, El Fasher crisis update, UN stands with Niger

14 June 2024 - The head of the UN human rights office (OHCHR) Volker Turk on Friday called for serious measures to be taken to end human rights violations that are jeopardizing reconciliation and peace efforts in Ethiopia.

This call follows an update from OHCHR which analysed the human rights situation in Ethiopia between January 2023 and January 2024.

Mr. Turk urged parties involved in the conflict to "halt" their actions and resolve their differences peacefully.

A bloody civil war between Government forces and northern rebels erupted in late 2020 leading to major rights violations on all sides, including likely war crimes. Despite a 2022 ceasefire abuses in and around the Tigray region have continued.

"It is essential that the authorities take all feasible steps to protect civilians, prevent further violations, and ensure there are full investigations to bring those responsible to justice," he said.

The update revealed that 1,351 civilians were killed in attacks in 2023 reportedly involving Government forces, Eritrean troops, anti-Government militias, and other unidentified parties.

OHCHR's update recognises the Ethiopian Government's attempts to advance transitional justice and prevent violence against women and children, and willingness to participate in discussions aimed at resolving the conflict in the Amhara region - an area that experienced serious human rights violations and abuses in 2023.

These efforts require strong additional commitment, the update says.

Sudan: UN relief chief warns of worsening situation

The humanitarian situation in and around El-Fasher in Sudan's North Darfur region "is worsening by the hour" the UN Humanitarian Affairs chief Martin Griffiths warned on Thursday.

In a post on X, Mr. Griffiths said he hoped Thursday's Security Council resolution would help ease the suffering of civilians in Sudan. The resolution calls for the paramilitary Rapid Security Forces (RSF) in Sudan to end their siege on Al Fasher.

The RSF have been locked in a battle for control of the country with the forces of the military transitional government since April 2023.

El Fasher is the last remaining city in Darfur in Government hands.

The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator said civilians "must be protected, aid must be able to reach them, and the fighting must stop now."

Aid access dwindling: WFP

During Friday's noon briefing at UN Headquarters Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Farhan Haq said that the World Food Programme (WFP) in Sudan is emphasising the need for food delivery to civilians before rains completely restrict their access to remote areas.

He said that WFP reported a convoy with aid for about 160,000 people crossed into Darfur from Chad this week and is headed for Central, East and West Darfur.

Mr. Haq also noted that WFP food distributions for more than 50,000 people in South Darfur and 200,000 in Aj Jazirah State are underway.

"The distributions there are the first since conflict spread to the state capital Wad Medani and other parts of Sudan's breadbasket in December," he said.

UN Regional Directors declare 'strong commitment' to stand with people of Niger

A delegation of UN Regional Directors was in Niger this week for the first leg of a high-level mission to the Central Sahel in Africa.

The visit was part of an effort to strengthen ties with authorities and promote greater integration across the humanitarian, sustainable development, and peace sectors.

The delegation was led by the UN Special Coordinator for Development in the Sahel, Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, and the Regional Director for Africa at the UN Development Coordination Office, Yacoub El-Hillo.

They held talks with Prime Minister Lamine Zeine and other members of the Government, including Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangare.

Mr. Mar Dieye reiterated the UN's "strong and powerful commitment" to stand by Niger, noting that the country and the Sahel are in the midst of reinventing their future.

'History unfolding'

"What is happening in Niger is history unfolding and being reinvented," he affirmed.

Prime Minister Zeine emphasized the urgency of achieving tangible impacts in structural projects by 2026, particularly in the fields of irrigation, security, and food and energy sovereignty. Other priorities include youth, education, climate change, and water management.

Separately, Mr. El Hillo stressed the need to revive the partnership between Niger, its people, and the UN.

"We want to see how we can adjust and change the way we work to align with Niger's priorities," he said.

For its part, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) has announced a $9 million investment aimed at strengthening energy infrastructure in Niger to meet the growing demand for sustainable and reliable energy.

The UN delegation was in Niger from 9 to 13 June and will travel to Mali and Burkina Faso beginning next week.

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Readout of US Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin's counterpart visit with Slovak Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Robert Toth

Published June 14, 2024

Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) -- U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin hosted Slovak Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Robert Toth for an official counterpart visit June 11 to reaffirm the close U.S.-Slovakia bilateral defense relationship and explore new opportunities to advance mutual security interests.

As part of the visit, Toth received a full honors arrival and was awarded a Legion of Merit at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, attended both an office call and staff talks with Allvin at the Pentagon, and participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

During the office call, Allvin expressed concern and sympathy over the recent attempted assassination of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and offered his best wishes for Fico's swift recovery. Allvin also congratulated Slovakia on its 20-year anniversary as a member of NATO, noting Slovakia's steadfast commitment to the alliance and its critical role in maintaining peace and security in Europe. Allvin praised Slovak Air Force modernization efforts and reaffirmed the U.S. Air Force commitment to Slovakia's acquisition of F-16 Block 70 aircraft, which he underscored will strengthen bilateral defense cooperation, increase interoperability with U.S. and NATO forces, and reinforce the security of NATO's Eastern Flank. Allvin further conveyed appreciation for Slovakia's support to Ukraine, including its humanitarian assistance efforts and hosting of thousands of refugees.

The office call was followed by staff talks to discuss a range of topics. Subjects included bilateral security cooperation, Slovakia's F-16 program, and air defense.

In addition to his engagements in the national capital region, Toth traveled to Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, for briefings on remotely piloted aircraft capabilities. He also visited nearby Nellis AFB to receive briefings on Red Flag exercises and F-16 operations and maintenance.

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Navy EOD flexes expeditionary capabilities alongside NATO Allies at BALTOPS 2024

US Navy

14 June 2024

From Lt. Chelsea Cannaday, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 Public Affairs

PUTLOS, Germany -- Elements of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Units (EODMU) 2, 8, and 12 are operating with NATO allies and partners in one of the largest Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) exercises to date, June 7-20, 2024. This collaborative exercise aims to hone the skills necessary to operate seamlessly in a joint maritime environment and provides a unique training opportunity to strengthen the combined response capability critical to preserving freedom of navigation and security in the Baltic Sea.

Exercise scenarios for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units include clearing mines, eliminating explosive threats, operating unmanned vehicles and conducting diving and salvage.

BALTOPS 24 brings the largest assembled coalition of amphibious and mine countermeasure forces in BALTOPS history.

Participating nations include Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Turkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

U.S. Navy EOD forces are working together with Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and Norway.

"We are privileged to integrate with the Belgian, Dutch, French, and Norwegian navies at BALTOPS 24," said Lt. Cmdr. Kristen Fekete, executive officer of EODMU 12. "With our shared mission of neutralizing explosive threats, multinational operations such as these convey regional reassurance and adversarial deterrence."

BALTOPS remains an alliance proving ground and is vital for honing the leading edge of combined interoperability, with Navy EOD playing a key role in mine countermeasures, unmanned surface vehicle operations, and integrated maritime and air operations.

While the exercise is led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and U.S. Sixth Fleet (NAVEUR-NAVAF/SIXTHFLT), Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, headquartered in Oeiras, Portugal, has command and control of the exercise.

For U.S. Navy EOD's role in the exercise, EODMU 12 runs a dedicated command and control (C2) element headquartered in Putlos, Germany, where EOD teams communicate with the tactical operation center before, during, and after each mission.

While EODMU 12 has tactical control of the EOD components for the U.S., Belgian, Dutch, French, and Norwegian navies, Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC) Mine Countermeasure Technical Division (MCMTD) leads the overall MCM combined task group and directs seven subordinate task units, including EOD's operations, in support of BALTOPS.

As an exercise, BALTOPS continually adapts to the dynamic security environment. EOD's involvement this year highlights an increased focus on expeditionary mine countermeasures and command and control.

"While mine countermeasures has been a central part of the BALTOPS exercise for decades, we are continuously looking for opportunities to increase its involvement and to experiment with different capabilities," said Capt. Scott Hattaway, vice commander, mine warfare battle staff. "This year's expeditionary mine countermeasures (ExMCM) contingent is the largest so far, combining the typical EOD/diver and unmanned underwater vehicle personnel with a command task unit to better support command and control over a complex water space."

Aviation and surface assets are working together with EOD for a robust, multiplatform mine countermeasure approach.

"This is the first time we've brought the full detect-to-engage package for a BALTOPS exercise. We are flexing this capability by incorporating new technologies, as well as an MCM capable MH-60S detachment, to support their operations," continued Hattaway.

In addition to refining tactical proficiency, BALTOPS provides an excellent platform for enhancing existing partnerships and fostering new ones. Naval personnel from different countries get the opportunity to work together, exchange knowledge, and build close relationships that are crucial for future collaboration.

"Working together with EOD allies is valuable because we all have the same tasks, but we accomplish it in different ways. Our main goal is the same - the threat has to be gone. Seeing how different teams approach the same problem with different solutions, you learn small things that you can take back to your own teams to be stronger," said Sergeant Major Ben Coolen, team leader for the Netherlands Maritime EOD.

Coolen elaborated on the training opportunities shared by the U.S. and Dutch EOD teams at BALTOPS 24.

"In the Netherlands, we never use a helicopter for a drifting mine procedure. Tomorrow, we are going to do that together; that will be a unique learning experience. Next week, we are moving into the tactical phase of the exercise, and we hope to approach some tasks together with the new knowledge we've gained," said Coolen.

Naval strength is vital to achieving maritime security, which is an essential component for regional stability and a thriving economy. The Baltic Sea remains a critical artery of commerce, with up to 15% of the world's cargo transiting the region.

U.S. Navy EOD clears explosive hazards to provide access to denied areas, employs advanced tactics and technologies to exploit and secure the undersea domain for freedom of maneuver, builds and fosters relationships with trusted partners, and protects the nation. As Navy EOD develops new capabilities, force structure, and tactics, our force remains dedicated to sharing capabilities and information on combating explosive threats with our allies and partners to ensure regional stability.

Navy Divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 (MDSU 2), a subordinate command of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 (EODGRU 2), are also participating in BALTOPS 2024. Operating out of Liepaja, Latvia, they are conducting underwater cutting and welding training, as well as diving and salvage operations, with Latvian Navy Divers.

Navy Divers can perform underwater salvage, repair and maintenance, submarine rescue and support operations for Navy special warfare teams and explosive ordnance disposal teams. Because of their similar skill sets and mission areas, Navy EOD use expeditionary divers attached to our mobile units and our mobile diving and salvage units to conduct underwater search and salvage, port clearance, and hyperbaric chamber operations.

Other Navy Expeditionary Combat Command units participating in BALTOPS include: EOD Expeditionary Support Unit (EODESU) 2, headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia; Commander Task Force (CTF) 68, headquartered in Rota, Spain; and Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11, headquartered in Gulfport, Mississippi.

BALTOPS 24 is the premier maritime focused military exercise in the Baltic Region. The exercise, led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, and executed by Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, provides a unique training opportunity to strengthen combined response capabilities critical to preserving freedom of navigation and security in the Baltic Sea.

BALTOPS 24 is also part of the U.S. Department of Defense exercise series, Large Scale Global Exercise (LSGE). LSGE is an umbrella term that incorporates several exercises and military activities, which enable the U.S. Joint Force to train with Allies and partners and improve shared understanding, trust and interoperability on security challenges across the globe.



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600 US troops remain in Niger as withdrawal continues

By Carla Babb June 14, 2024

About 600 U.S. military personnel remain in Niger, as American troops continue to withdraw from the country before a mid-September deadline, according to a senior U.S. defense official.

"We are on track to be done before the 15th of September," the senior U.S. defense official told reporters Friday, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security issues. However, the official cautioned that the rainy season could potentially slow withdrawal efforts.

Last month, U.S. and Nigerien leaders agreed to a phased withdrawal of American forces from Niger after being in the country for more than a decade.

At that time, there were about 900 U.S. military personnel in Niger, including active duty, civilians and contractors, according to two U.S. officials, who spoke to VOA on the condition of anonymity ahead of the withdrawal agreement.

The withdrawal agreement between the U.S. and Niger confirmed protections and immunities for U.S. personnel and approved diplomatic clearances for withdrawal flights "to ensure smooth entries and exits."

American forces were deployed in Niger to help local militaries combat Islamist terrorists in the Sahel.

The United States has used two military bases in the country  Air Base 101 in Niamey and Air Base 201 in Agadez  to monitor various terror groups. Most U.S. forces in Niger are currently based in the latter, which cost the U.S. $110 million to build, and began drone operations in 2019.

Niger's natural resources have increased its importance to global powers, and its location had provided the U.S. with the ability to conduct counterterror operations throughout much of West Africa.

Countries in the region, including Niger, Mali, Nigeria and Burkina Faso, have seen an expansive rise in extremist movements.

According to the Global Terrorism Index, an annual report covering terrorist incidents worldwide, more than half of the deaths caused by terrorism last year were in the Sahel.

Niger's neighbor, Burkina Faso, suffered the most, with 1,907 fatalities from terrorism in 2023.

Unless the U.S. can find another base to use in West Africa, counterterror drones will likely have to spend most of their fuel supply flying thousands of kilometers from U.S. bases in Italy or Djibouti, severely limiting their time over the targets and their ability to gather intelligence.

"That's a significant policy matter that the U.S. is grappling with right now," the senior U.S. defense official told reporters Friday.

Coup forced withdrawal

Tensions between the U.S. and Niger began in 2023 when Niger's military junta removed the democratically elected president from power.

After months of delay, the Biden administration formally declared in October 2023 that the military takeover in Niger was a coup, a determination that prevented Niger from receiving a significant amount of U.S. military and foreign assistance.

In March, after tense meetings between U.S. representatives and Niger's governing military council, the junta called the U.S. military presence illegal and announced it was ending an agreement that allowed American forces to be based in the country.

During that meeting, the U.S. and Niger fundamentally disagreed about Niger's desire to supply Iran with uranium and work more closely with Russian military forces.

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G7 leaders end summit with warning to China, commitment to manage AI

By Patsy Widakuswara June 14, 2024

The G7 leaders ended their summit with their starkest warning yet to China, declaring that Beijing's support of Moscow's military industrial base is "enabling Russia to maintain its illegal war in Ukraine."

Leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy democracies said they are "committed to raising the costs of Russia's war," threatening more sanctions against actors who aid Moscow to circumvent them.

The warning is part of the communique, or joint statement, released by leaders as they wrapped up their second summit day in Apulia, Italy. It contained the toughest language yet toward Beijing, reflecting frustration on the part of U.S. President Joe Biden on China's role in propping up the Russian war machine in Ukraine.

Beijing is supplying the technology to produce weapons for Russia, Biden said Thursday evening during a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "So, it is, in fact, helping Russia," he said.

G7 leaders highlighted security threats they say China poses to the global economy  including its overcapacity in electric vehicles and its trade and investment practices in developing nations.

The European Union on Wednesday announced higher tariffs of up to 38% on Chinese electric vehicle imports amid investigations into whether Chinese automakers are dumping government-subsidized, less expensive EVs onto European markets.

Beijing said it "will take all measures necessary" to defend its interests but stopped short of retaliation against the EU.

Earlier this year the United States quadrupled tariffs on Chinese EVs to 100% and imposed steep increases on certain Chinese steel and aluminum products, solar cells and semiconductors.

"As time goes on, it's more clear that [Chinese] President Xi [Jinping]'s ambition is to restore China's dominance, at least in the Indo Pacific, possibly beyond. And that effort is mostly taking place through an effort to establish economic and technological primacy," a senior Biden administration official told reporters traveling with the president on Friday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss diplomatic matters.

Beijing's support for Russia could "pose a long-term threat to Europe's security," the official warned.

Earlier this week, the U.S. announced secondary sanctions targeting those helping Moscow, including China-based companies that sell semiconductors to Russia and smaller Chinese banks with ties to Russian financial institutions that are already sanctioned.

Beijing denounced the sanctions, accusing Washington of using the war "as an opportunity" to suppress other countries. "All of it reveals the U.S.'s calculations, hypocrisy and what a bully it is," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian on Thursday.

Global infrastructure investments

The G7 reaffirmed commitment to reform multilateral development banks, including the World Bank, but fell short of agreeing on a debt relief and restructuring package for low- and middle-income countries.

The group has long sought to counter Beijing's offering of infrastructure loans to developing nations through its massive Belt and Road Initiative, estimated to total trillions of dollars and which some in the West characterize as "debt-trap diplomacy." In response, they are aiming to stimulate $600 billion in private infrastructure funding by 2027 through their own program, the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, or PGI.

G7 countries have developed their own initiatives to support PGI, such as summit host Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Mattei Plan to bolster investments in Africa.

The U.S. has narrowed its earlier plans and is now focused on developing infrastructure corridors with key partners EU and Japan, including the Lobito Corridor, which connects the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Angola, and the Luzon Corridor in the Philippines.

It's not a "scaling down on ambitions," another senior administration official told VOA Thursday during a briefing for reporters. "What the president wants to do is to say, let's focus on a smaller subset of countries, but go deeper."

The official acknowledged China is ahead in its global development game.

"We're famous for coming in, we say a lot of nice things, we have a lot of expectations, and then we walk away. The other people come in, don't say very much, but leave a check behind," the official said. "The time has come to change that."

Pope highlights artificial intelligence

G7 leaders pledged to promote "safe, secure, and trustworthy AI" and "AI governance that fosters inclusion" while mitigating risks to human rights and governance fragmentation.

The group had an interesting ally in Pope Francis, who delivered remarks on AI ethics in a special session with leaders. Last year the Catholic leader fell victim to AI-generated memes showing him wearing an expensive designer jacket, riding a motorcycle, flying a fighter jet, DJ-ing in a night club, and in other incongruous settings.

Meloni is seeking to bolster Francis' initiative, the Rome Call for AI Ethics. It urges governments, institutions and businesses to ensure "digital innovation and technological progress serve human genius and creativity and not their gradual replacement."

Much work needs to be done as regulatory landscapes across G7 members vary, Raluca Csernatoni, a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Europe, told VOA.

"These inconsistencies and the lack of a unifying/harmonizing logic will be difficult to navigate  politically, for G7 members to achieve interoperability; internationally, for the principles to extend beyond their current scope and be adopted globally; and economically, for global business across these key markets," he said in an email.

The pope could refocus attention on AI ethics, including the protection of vulnerable people and mitigating global digital divides, Csernatoni said, albeit with "a Catholic underpinning."

Abortion controversy

The Catholic underpinning of the summit is creating division elsewhere, with Italy insisting on removal of a reference to "safe and legal abortion" from the final communique. At the G7 summit last year in Hiroshima, Japan, the communique called for "access to safe and legal abortion and post-abortion care."

The removal of the phrase was a win for Meloni but protested by other leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron. Biden himself is a devout Catholic but has been a proponent of women's reproductive rights, including abortion.

The senior administration official downplayed the disagreement.

"The language related to abortion says we reiterated our commitments from the Hiroshima communique," the official told VOA. "Some of the words may not be identical, but the commitments are the same."

Migration and Gaza

Leaders committed to addressing the root cause of migration, border management and countering the smuggling of migrants. Far-right leader Meloni campaigned on anti-migrant rhetoric but has made investments in Africa to tackle migration to Europe, a key theme of her G7 presidency.

The leaders also reaffirmed support for the latest Gaza cease-fire proposal. Biden said Thursday that he was not confident a pause in fighting would soon be achieved and that Hamas was responsible for the delay.

"I've laid out an approach that has been endorsed by the U.N. Security Council, by the G7, by the Israelis, and the biggest hang-up so far is Hamas refusing to sign on, even though they have submitted something similar," he said.

Biden returns to the U.S. after wrapping up G7 sessions and bilateral meetings with Meloni and the pope. He will attend campaign events in Los Angeles over the weekend.

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UN leaders, agencies demand release of aid workers in Yemen

By VOA News June 14, 2024

U.N. leaders, ambassadors and agencies are demanding the release of at least 13 U.N. personnel and other aid workers who were detained more than a week ago by Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Late on June 6, reports from groups in Yemen said armed Houthi security and intelligence officers carried out simultaneous raids in Sanaa, Hodeida, Saada and Amran.

The raids targeted Yemeni employees working for the United Nations and other international aid organizations.

On Monday, the head of the Houthi rebel intelligence agency, Major General Abdulhakim al-Khayewani, said the group had arrested members of what he called an "American-Israeli spy" network, which he said had been carrying out espionage in Yemen for decades and was directly linked to the CIA.

He said the spies worked "under the cover of U.N. organizations" and were using "humanitarian work" to conceal their "their espionage and subversive activities."

At a briefing Friday, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, through spokeswoman Liz Throssell, became the latest U.N. official to demand the release of the U.N. workers, which include six from his agency.

In his statement, Turk said that since their detention more than a week ago, the workers have not had contact with their families, nor has the U.N. been able to access them or to receive individual confirmation of their detention.

Turk's statement followed one issued Friday by Britain's U.N. Ambassador Barbara Woodward, delivered of behalf of 39 U.N. member states and European Union delegation, condemning the detentions and demanding the release of the aid workers.

The leaders of the U.N. agencies and nongovernmental agencies whose workers were detained issued a similar statement Friday, calling the detentions "unprecedented - not only in Yemen but globally." They said the arrests "directly impede our ability to reach the most vulnerable people in Yemen, including the 18.2 million people who need humanitarian aid and protection."

The detained workers include Yemen employees of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, the U.N. Development Program, the World Food Program, and the office of the secretary-general's special envoy to Yemen.

Workers also were detained from the aid groups Save the Children, the Yemeni civil society organization Relief and Development Response, Oxfam, CARE America, and a Yemeni governmental institution, the Social Fund for Development.

At a U.N. briefing Thursday, a U.N. spokesman was asked if there had been any progress in negotiations with the Houthis regarding the aid workers. "We are in touch with the de facto authorities, and we are working to secure their release from detention. I don't have any progress to report on that," he said.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.

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US announces $315 million in new aid for Sudan

By Margaret Besheer June 14, 2024

The United States announced Friday more than $315 million in additional humanitarian assistance to Sudan, where 14 months of war between rival generals has left nearly 25 million people in need of aid.

"This is the single largest humanitarian crisis on the planet," USAID administrator Samantha Power told reporters on a conference call announcing the funding.

The United Nations warns that 5 million Sudanese are on the brink of famine.

Power expressed concern that the situation could be as bad as or worse than the 2011 drought-induced famine in Somalia that killed around 250,000 people, half of them children.

"The most worrying scenario would be that Sudan would become the deadliest famine since Ethiopia in the early 1980s," she added.

Around 1 million Ethiopians perished over a two-year period in that historic famine. Millions more were displaced, and hundreds of thousands left Ethiopia.

Power said the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) which are fighting each other, are actively blocking aid deliveries.

"It is obstruction, not insufficient stocks of food, that is the driving force behind the historic and deadly level of starvation in Sudan," Power said. "That has to change immediately."

Of the 25 million Sudanese in need of humanitarian aid and protection, the United Nations says 18 million are facing acute hunger, and that number will likely grow with the onset of the lean season this month.

The U.N. has been asking for months for both cross-border access from Chad and access across conflict front lines. It has also urged authorities to remove administrative barriers, including delays in travel authorizations for aid convoys.

Access impediments have made it almost impossible to move humanitarian supplies to parts of Darfur and Khartoum.

The situation in North Darfur's capital city, El Fasher, is especially dire. The RSF has surrounded the city, burning and looting communities in its vicinity. They have advanced on the city, where an SAF infantry division is outnumbered and surrounded.

On Thursday, the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution demanding the RSF halt its siege and de-escalate the fight for El Fasher  where more than 800,000 civilians are sheltering  and allow aid in.

The World Food Program said Friday that a convoy carrying aid for about 160,000 people crossed into Darfur this week from Chad. It is only the third convoy to enter Sudan via the Tine border crossing from Chad in the past two months. The aid it is carrying is headed for people in Central, East and West Darfur.

Battle for El Fasher

Power said Washington is concerned about what will happen to the civilians in El Fasher, especially ethnically non-Arab communities, if the city falls to the RSF.

"Clearly the RSF is on the march," she said. "And where the RSF has gone in the Darfur area historically, and this conflict, mass atrocities have followed."

Arab Janjaweed fighters who carried out the genocide against African Zaghawa, Masalit, Fur and other non-Arab ethnic groups in Darfur in the early 2000s, make up elements of today's RSF.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters on the call that there is no military solution to this conflict, and she criticized countries that are supporting the rival generals with arms and ammunition.

"We have been very, very clear with those actors, that they should cease their support for this war," she said. "It is only exacerbating and prolonging the conflict, and it is making the situation more dire for the people of Sudan."

She said the U.S. has spoken with the United Arab Emirates, which was implicated for sending military support to the RSF in a U.N. expert report earlier this year. The UAE denies it, saying it sends only humanitarian aid.

"We have engaged with the UAE; we have engaged with others," Thomas-Greenfield said. "We know that the Russians and the Iranians are also providing support for the SAF. Both sides are getting this outside support, and we are pressuring all sides to discontinue."

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also expressed his concern about the fighting in El Fasher and across Sudan, saying a cease-fire is urgently needed to alleviate civilian suffering.

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US warns of 'pernicious' Russian efforts ahead of Moldovan elections

By Jeff Seldin June 14, 2024

Russia's efforts to subvert the coming presidential elections in Moldova go beyond sowing disinformation, according to U.S. officials, who charge that the Kremlin is actively supporting political candidates and political parties willing to espouse pro-Russia policies.

The warning, from a senior State Department official, comes a day after the U.S., Canada and Britain issued a statement publicly accusing Moscow of "currently supporting candidates for Moldova's presidency."

But in a virtual briefing with reporters on Friday, U.S. Special Envoy Jamie Rubin said Moscow's designs on Moldova go even deeper.

"To be as frank as I can, we're talking about funding parties, we're talking about funding outside groups," Rubin said, in response to a question from VOA. "They have devoted, we believe, a particularly egregious, pernicious plan to act against Moldova."

Rubin, who also serves as coordinator of the State Department's Global Engagement Center, is not the first to accuse Moscow of cultivating ties with political parties outside of Russia to push a Russian agenda.

As far back as 2018, Estonian intelligence officials warned of Russian efforts across Europe to cultivate ties with fringe political parties, providing advice, funding or outside business opportunities to help raise their fortunes.

In some cases, Russian-backed politicians rose from obscurity to prominence, winning seats in their country's parliaments.

"They have made some bad investments, but they have also made some very good investments," the then-chief of Estonia's foreign intelligence service said of Russia's efforts at the time.

VOA requested comment from the Russia Embassy in Washington about the U.S. allegations Moscow is meddling in the Moldovan election, set for October. Russian officials have yet to respond.

But Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean this week said he was grateful to the U.S., Canada and Britain for speaking out.

"Grateful for the strong support of the US, the UK & Canada as we defend Moldova's democracy," Recean said Thursday in a post on the X social media platform.

"Kremlin's attempts to undermine our sovereignty & incite unrest will not succeed," he said in the post. "Our institutions stand strong, ensuring peace, security & the right of our people to choose their future."

Other officials also have complained about Russia influence operations aimed at destabilizing Moldovan society.

"They [the Russians] make this hybrid war more intense, with more disinformation, with more cyberattacks," Moldovan Internal Affairs Minister Adrian Efros told VOA last year. "They try to make the tension between different regions of Moldova, to make this tension internally."

Thursday's statement from the U.S., Canada and Britain accused Russia of carrying out a yearslong plot in Moldova to influence the outcome of the October election in favor of pro-Russian candidates, "using disinformation and propaganda online, on the air, and on the streets to further their objectives."

On Friday, the Global Engagement Center's Rubin cautioned that the latest intelligence points to Russia going even further if pro-Russian candidates fail to win at the ballot box.

"We're talking about rent-a-crowds," he said. "We're talking about individuals who will be gathered by the Russians in the hopes of a mass protest that will be generated by Russia."

"We believe they're applying a matter of high priority to interfere in the Moldovan election and, if necessary, to try to overthrow a democratically elected government," Rubin warned.

VOA Pentagon Correspondent Carla Babb contributed to this report.

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Readout of President Biden's Meeting with His Holiness Pope Francis

June 14, 2024

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. met with His Holiness Pope Francis today on the margins of the G7 Leaders' Summit in Apulia, Italy. The leaders emphasized the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire and a hostage deal to get the hostages home and address the critical humanitarian crisis in Gaza. President Biden thanked Pope Francis for the Vatican's work to address the humanitarian impacts of Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, including his efforts to help return kidnapped Ukrainian children to their families. President Biden also reaffirmed his deep appreciation for the Pope's tireless advocacy for the poor and those suffering from persecution, the effects of climate change, and conflict around the world.

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Readout of President Joe Biden's Meeting with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy

June 14, 2024

President Joseph R. Biden met today with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy in Apulia, Italy to deepen the U.S.-Italy partnership across a range of vital security, economic, and regional issues. President Biden commended Prime Minister Meloni for Italy's steadfast support for Ukraine as it continues to defend itself from Russia's brutal war of aggression, including Italy's critical security assistance. President Biden and Prime Minister Meloni welcomed the unanimous commitment by G7 leaders to provide $50 billion in additional financial support to Ukraine using the proceeds of immobilized Russian sovereign assets. They also agreed to continue to pursue all available options to impose further costs on Russia and those who support Russia's war machine. They also discussed their respective efforts to enhance mutual economic security and respond to economic coercion. The two leaders discussed the importance of two-way trade and investment to enhance economic prosperity. President Biden and Prime Minister Meloni also highlighted the urgent need to secure a hostage deal and a ceasefire in Gaza, and emphasized the importance of Hamas taking a constructive approach to that process.

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Background Press Call Previewing the President's Second Day at the G7

June 14, 2024

Via Teleconference

10:02 A.M. CEST

MODERATOR: Good morning, and thanks for joining us on today's background call to preview the second day of the G7.

Our senior administration official on today's call is [senior administration official] here at the NSC. He has a few words here at the top, and then we'll get through some of your questions.

So, over to you, [senior administration official].

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Great. Thanks so much. So I'll start off by noting the announcement President Biden made yesterday. As you all know, President Biden and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy signed a historic U.S.-Ukraine bilateral security agreement reflecting the close partnership between our two democracies. The United States sent a powerful signal of our strong support for Ukraine, now and into the future.

Now, turning to today, President Biden this morning will participate in a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Meloni. They'll have an opportunity to discuss a range of topics, including of course Ukraine, where Prime Minister Meloni has been very strong and supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

And of course with Italy's leadership of the G7, there was also an important announcement yesterday on unlocking the value of the proceeds from Russian sovereign assets for the benefit of Ukraine. And I am sure they will discuss developments in Ukraine as well.

There will be an opportunity to discuss the PRC, as well, and the troubling support that the PRC has provided in terms of dual-use equipment and goods to Russia to advance Russia's defense industrial base  things like optics, nitrocellulose, microelectronics, the sorts of items that go directly to the production of armaments that are used not just in Ukraine but that pose a long-term threat to the security of Europe.

That is something that is of concern to all of the G7 countries, and so I think we'll have an opportunity to discuss this as well, as well as the transatlantic relationship, as we are now just about a month out  a little less than a month out from the Washington summit, the NATO Summit. Of course, Italy is a strong partner in NATO, and they'll have an opportunity to discuss some of the outcomes of that summit.

I would expect that there'll be an opportunity as well to discuss the Middle East and specifically Israel-Gaza, where, again, Prime Minister Meloni has been a strong partner. She has endorsed the President's plan for ending the war. And so, there'll be an opportunity to get into that as well.

And then finally, I think the other topic that possibly could come up or that may come up are the recent European elections. I'm sure you all are tracking the elections from the 6th to the 9th of June across Europe. Prime Minister Meloni's party did rather well, coming in first in Italy. And so now there will be a reset of the top European institutions, including the European Parliament, the European Commission, the European Council. All of that will get underway in the coming days and weeks. And so I think the leaders will have an opportunity to get into some of that.

Following that, the President will have an opportunity to meet with His Holiness Pope Francis later this afternoon, or early evening. And there, I expect that some of the topics that they'll have an opportunity to discuss will be largely similar. I would expect there will be a discussion of Ukraine where the Holy See has been actively engaged. Cardinal Zuppi, in particular, has been an envoy working to return Ukrainian children who have been forcibly deported across the border, separated from their families. Of course, it's one of the huge tragedies of this war.

And the Holy See has also been engaged in trying to promote a peace agreement. And Cardinal Parolin, if I understand correctly, will be the Vatican's representative to the Switzerland peace conference that will kick off this Saturday, where Vice President Harris will represent the United States.

I would expect with Pope Francis that the President will also have an opportunity to discuss the Middle East and then also the issues of artificial intelligence and climate change, which are issues that are of great concern and interest to Pope Francis but also to the United States.

And I'll just say on AI, I think we are both interested in responsible use of artificial intelligence, preserving human dignity and human rights. And so they'll have a chance to get into that. That's also going to be one of the topics at today's G7 plenary session, with the participation of Pope Francis, and then also climate change, which is an issue that is near and dear to both leaders.

Of course, the President's plan for adaptation and resilience, which was launched in November of 2021, is an important effort to deal with climate change, as is the multilateral Loss and Damage Fund to which the United States has contributed $17.5 million, an important effort to mitigate some of the effects of climate change.

That's largely where I see those two conversations going. Of course, I can't tell you for sure what they'll discuss. Those are the likely topics.

But I think I'll pause now and take any questions that you all might have.

MODERATOR: Awesome. Thank you. Our first question will go to Tyler Pager with the Washington Post.

Q Thanks. I wanted to ask you about abortion and whether the President plans to bring it up with Prime Minister Meloni. You know, there's some reporting that there's been disagreements over how that will manifest in the communique. And curious if you can just tell us what the latest update there is and whether the President plans to raise the issue today in his bilateral meeting.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: So, I'm not aware of an intention to discuss that topic. I can tell you that the G7 communique is going to be agreed by consensus by all G7 countries. And I'll just leave it at that.

Anyone else?

MODERATOR: James with the Financial Times.

Q Hey there. Good morning. I was wondering if you could talk about the Indo-Pacific session and to what extent is there going to be much stronger language on, you know, calling out China for enabling Russia's war in Ukraine.

And also, if there's going to be anything more concrete in terms of economic coercion by China and overcapacity, and if the G7 is going to take more concrete steps against China on the economic front as well as the national security front.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: So this is, as you know, an important topic for all of the G7 countries and leaders. And indeed, there will be an opportunity to discuss the issue of the PRC's support for the Russian defense industrial base, which, as I said earlier, is a critical issue not just in terms of the support and how it translates into Russia's offensive war machine against Ukraine, but also in terms of some of these systems that it helps to develop the capabilities, missiles, artillery, and whatnot that will pose a long-term threat to Europe's security and is of concern to all members of the G7.

And then also, as you mentioned, the issue of overcapacity is also an issue of concern to all of the G7 leaders, including subsidies that China provides, as well as unfair market practices that impact trade with all of the G7 partners.

So this will certainly be an issue that is raised in the communique and that has been discussed and will be discussed among the G7.

MODERATOR: AJ with Bloomberg.

Q Good morning. Can you say if there will be any bilat with Modi of India?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I am not aware. No.

Q Is there a particular reason why some of those bilats were chosen and other leaders are not getting meetings?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Look, these trips, there's always a lot of leaders and very little time. Most of the day is spent up with participation in the G7 sessions, the plenary sessions, where obviously all of the G7 leaders are present and they have a robust discussion there.

At this particular G7, Prime Minister Meloni has invited a range of other leaders, as you know, including the Turkish president, the Kenyan president, and a number of others. And so, there are opportunities for some bilats on the margins. Pope Francis is obviously one of the guests as well. But there's very little time, and so we have prioritized just a few bilateral meetings.

And, of course, yesterday's historic bilateral security agreement signing with President Zelenskyy, which really capped off an intense day of meetings here at the G7.

Q Sam, we're sharing a cell phone, so I'm going to hand my phone over to Andrea from Reuters. And she might pass it to someone else. Hang on.

Q Hey. Hello. Hey, thanks for doing this. So I wanted to follow up on the previous question from James about what the G7  so in addition to discussing China, are there specific measures that you can share or maybe language from the communique about what  you know, the response both on the industrial overcapacity and also on the sanctions front?

And then, I wanted to ask on the debt component. This is an issue that's often been raised by the Pope. I wonder if that's going to come up in the bilat with the Pope.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yeah, on the latter question, you know, I don't know. It may. Obviously, debt overhang is an important issue for a lot of the developing world. It may or may not come up; I just can't tell you.

But in terms of the language in the communique, which I don't have in front of me, but certainly the issue of overcapacity. China's support for subsidies, I should say, for electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, solar panels, and other items have contributed to overcapacity in just about every Western market, and it's of concern to all of the G7 countries. So that will be reflected in the communique. And then actions that will follow from that will be taken individually by G7 countries.

You've seen what  some of the actions that the United States has taken. You've seen the European Union also take action. So there is a common concern.

Q Great. Somebody else want a question? Okay.

MODERATOR: We're good?

Q Yeah, we're good.

MODERATOR: Great. Thank you both. Our next question will go to Colleen with AP.

Q Hi there. Good morning. So, I wanted to ask two questions. One is: There's apparently some criticism that Biden didn't attend the main dinner last night with the other leaders. I just  you know, can you just speak generally about how the President chooses to attend events?

And then, my second question is related to Tyler's question. I just wondered if you can talk a little bit about the discussion over how to word the communique, whether there was concern on the U.S. side, in particular given, you know, the battle over abortion rights in the U.S. I know you were saying that you feel comfortable with the communique, how the communique will come out, but I just wondered if you could talk a little bit more about, you know, from the U.S. side, the level of importance on the language surrounding it.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: So, again, on the communique, this is language that is going to be agreed consensually, which is how these communiques get done, by all of the G7. As I recall, the language in this year's communique will endorse the language that appeared in the last G7 Summit in Hiroshima, which had some extensive language on sexual and reproductive health rights. So you can look at that language, and that'll give you a preview of what is going to appear in this year's communique as well. Again, that's consensual language among all the G7.

As for the schedule, you know, look, I don't have any sort of magic formula to share with you. As I said earlier, these are very intense days filled with lots of meetings. And we try to see as many leaders as possible. It's obviously impossible to see everybody who's here, so we prioritize the best we can.

As for last night, as you know, we capped off the day rather late at night with a historic bilateral security agreement that was preceded by a bilateral between President Biden and President Zelenskyy that was of  you know, I don't think this is hyperbole to say  of historic significance. It's a 10-year agreement that sets out our cooperation on security and defense, on supporting Ukraine's economic and governance reforms, on building a just and lasting peace, and on ensuring that there's accountability in this war for Russia's actions and aggression. That was a big deal. And that's what capped off our day yesterday evening.

AIDE: And, Sam, I think we have time for one more before he has to go to the bilat.

MODERATOR: Great. Our last question will go to Paolo with La Repubblica.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Hi, Paolo. Go ahead.

MODERATOR: Paolo, we can't seem to hear you. So we will go on to Peter Nicholas with NBC.

Q Hi. Thank you very much for doing this. With respect to the 10-year security agreement, if there's a different president in place in January 2025, is that president bound by this 10-year agreement, or can he cast that aside if he chooses?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Well, this is an executive agreement. It is intended to show the United States' steadfast support for Ukraine over the 10-year period. So it is structured in a way that it has both near-term goals in terms of training and equipping, but then also in terms of support for institutional reform.

We certainly intend to make good on what is included in this agreement because it is in the interest of the United States to support Ukraine's democratic trajectory, to support its economic reforms and reconstruction, but also to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. That's the aim of the agreement.

But to your point, it is an executive agreement between the United States and Ukraine.

Q And I have a quick follow-up question. President Biden told Time Magazine that when he travels abroad, he often hears from his counterparts consternation about possibility of former President Trump returning to power. Has he gotten those questions or inquiries at this G7, or has any member of  have members of the American delegation gotten those sorts of questions and inquiries about the election and about the possibility of Trump's return?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I can just speak for myself in the meetings that I've been in, and I have not heard this topic come up in my time here.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Thank you, everyone, again for joining us. As a reminder, this call was held on background, attributable to a senior administration official. If we weren't able to get to you, as always reach out, and we'll try to have more folks for you to hear from later today. Thanks, everyone.

10:21 A.M. CEST

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Russo-Ukraine War - 14 June 2024 - Day 842

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 the Russian MOD has increasingly centralised their command and control of pro-Russian irregular forces, highly likely to facilitate their use in offensive operations in Ukraine.

In February 2023, the Russian MOD established their Volunteer Corps, uniting over 20,000 volunteers, reservists, mercenaries and ex-convicts, who serve in numerous irregular units, under a single command and control framework. Since the formation of the Volunteer Corps, the Russian MOD has increasingly employed irregular forces in offensive operations, to which they are ill-suited. Russia's irregular formations are mainly light infantry units which lack integrated artillery or air support making them more brittle than Russian regular formations.

Consequently, during the last 9 months, Russian irregular units have likely sustained proportionally higher casualty rates than Russian regular units.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that defense Forces continue to decisively oppose the Russian forces' attempts to advance deep into Ukrainian territory, directing efforts to disrupt the execution of Russian occupiers' offensive plans.

That day, the Defense Forces Air Force and Missile Forces and Artillery attacked 15 personnel concentration areas, three PPOs, three artillery supplies, two ammunition depots and one more important Russian object.

During the day, Russian forces launched six missile strikes on the territory of Ukraine with the use of 17 missiles. In addition, 38 air strikes were recorded using 57 cabs. Installed 490 kamikaze drones. Along with that, Russia has launched over 3,000 shells on the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements using different types of weapons.

So far, 81 combat encounters have taken place.

Russian aggressor tries to use advantage in live force, technique and support from the air. Despite the intense Russian pressure, Ukrainian warriors of the Russian enemy tough and effective detachment.

In the Kharkiv direction, Russian occupiers three times with the support of aviation tried to storm the positions of Ukrainian units in the areas of Vovchansk and Pacific. All Russian attacks are repelled.

Ten combat clashes with the occupiers took place in the Kupyansky direction. Russian forces tried to improve the tactical position in the areas of the settlements of Petropavlivka, Sinkivka and Pishnny. Near Sinkivka, all Russian attacks are repelled, in the areas of Petropavlivka and Pi any are still ongoing fighting.

In the Lyman direction, Russian troops nine times a day attacked Ukrainian positions in the areas of Grekivka, Terniv and Nevsky. The situation is controlled - four clashes are over, and five are still continuing.

In the kramators komu direction, the activity of the Russian opponent in the area of andriyivka did not have success.

Intensely Russian attacks of Ukrainian defenders in the Pokrovsky direction. Here, during the day, the Russian aggressor committed 29 assault and offensive actions. The largest activity of Russian occupiers is kept in the area of Novooleksandrivka, Sokola and Novopokrovsky. In total, 17 attacks in the direction of Ukrainian defenders have already repelled, another 12 ammunition - continue. The situation is complicated, but controlled by the Defense Forces. Ukrainian soldiers are making efforts to prevent the advancement of Russian forces into the depths of Ukrainian territory. According to the information available at this time, today the loss of the Russian aggressor in this direction was 263 people killed and injured. To the same, several Russian occupiers surrendered to captivity. One tank, three artillery systems, eight vehicles and five armored vehicles were destroyed. In addition, two cars, five BBM, two tanks and three Russian cannons were damaged.

In the Kurakhiv direction at this time of the day, there are 20 combat clashes. Zagarbniks maintain high activity, trying to advance in the areas of settlements of Krasnogorivka, Paraskoviyivka and Konstantinivka. Defense Forces units repelled 16 Russian attacks, four are still ongoing.

In other directions without special changes - the Russian enemy has not succeeded, loss of Ukrainian territories and positions is not allowed.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that from 8 June to 14 June 2024, in response to the Kiev regime's attempts to hit Russian power facilities, the Russian Armed Forces have carried out 19 group strikes by ground-, air-, and sea-based precision weapons, as well as strike drones, during which the Russian Armed Forces have engaged power facilities that supported the work of enterprises of the Ukrainian military industrial enterprises.

In addition, the infrastructure of military airfields, Storm Shadow cruise missile depots, and other aircraft armament, ammunition and explosives, a strike drone production workshops, training sites for the use of uncrewed surface vehicles, as well as temporary deployment areas of nationalists and foreign mercenaries have been eliminated.

The units of the Sever Group of Forces continued to move deep into the enemy defence during combat actions.

The strikes have been delivered at manpower and hardware of four formations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one marine brigade, two territorial defence brigades, and two Ukrainian National Guard brigades. In addition, 45 counter-attacks of enemy assault groups have been repelled.

The AFU losses were up to 1,710 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, 32 motor vehicles, three Grad MLRS fighting vehicles, 16 field artillery guns, three Bukovel-AD and Nota electronic warfare stations, as well as eight field ammunition depots.

The units of the Zapad Group of Forces have taken more advantageous positions and liberated Artyomovka (Lugansk People's Republic) and Timkovka (Kharkov region).

Russian troops have hit units of the five mechanised, tank, assault and airmobile brigades of the AFU, territorial defence formations, and the three brigades of the Ukrainian National Guard were hit.

The AFU losses were up to 3,405 Ukrainian troops, four armoured fighting vehicles, 32 motor vehicles, 30 field artillery guns, including seven U.S.-made M777 howitzers.

In addition, three electronic warfare stations and four ammunition depots have been eliminated.

The units of the Yug Group of Forces have improved the situation along the front line and also hit manpower and hardware of six mechanised, airmobile, motorised, two air assault brigades, as well as two territorial defence formations.

The AFU losses were up to 3,785 Ukrainian troops, 11 armoured fighting vehicles, 48 motor vehicles, and 39 field artillery guns, 14 of which were Western-made.

22 field ammunition depots have been also destroyed.

The units of the Tsentr Group of Forces have improved the tactical situation and defeated four infantry, four mechanised, as well as one airborne brigade of the AFU, and territorial defence formations.

In addition, 34 enemy counter-attacks have been repelled.

The enemy losses were up to 2,375 troops, 14 armoured fighting vehicles, four U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, two German-made infantry fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, as well as 52 field artillery guns, including ten U.S.-made M777 howitzers.

The units of the Vostok Group of Forces continue to advance to the depths of the enemy defence and liberated Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Russian troops have hit manpower and hardware clusters of one motorised infantry, two mechanised brigades of the AFU.

The AFU losses were up to 965 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, six armoured fighting vehicles, 29 motor vehicles, two Czech-made Vampire MLRS combat vehicles, and 12 field artillery guns.

In addition, three Anklav and Nota electronic warfare stations have been destroyed.

The units of the Dnepr Group of Forces have defeated the units of the three brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one marine brigade, and one formation of the Ukrainian National Guard.

The AFU losses were up to 555 Ukrainian troops, 37 motor vehicles, and 26 field artillery guns, seven of which were foreign-made.

Russian air defence facilities have shot down one MiG-29 fighter jet and two Mi-8 helicopters of the Ukrainian Air Force.

In addition, 13 U.S.-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles, three U.S.-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems, two Neptune anti-ship missiles, two U.S.-made HARM anti-radiation missiles, eight French-made HAMMER, and U.S.-made JDAM aerial bombs, 46 HIMARS, Vampire, Uragan, Olkha projectiles, and 465 unmanned aerial vehicles have been intercepted.

In addition, Su-27 and Su-25 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force have been destroyed at airfields of departure.

Over the past week, 46 Ukrainian servicemen surrendered on the line of contact.

In total, 613 airplanes and 276 helicopters, 25,791 unmanned aerial vehicles, 529 air defence missile systems, 16,329 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,337 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 10,441 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 22,542 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

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Australia and the United States team-up on AI

By Lieutenant Colonel Lachlan Simond

14 June 2024

A team of autonomous uncrewed systems fly over Northern Virginia.

On board, Artificial Intelligence (AI) controls the team's movements as they search for targets on the ground.

As one of the team identifies a potential target, another flies over to confirm.

The uncrewed team passes confirmed target information to a human commander on the ground.

From a safe location, the commander issues the command to destroy the target.

What seems like a scene from a science fiction movie became a reality during a recent activity with the Australian Army and the US Marine Corps (USMC) at the Marine Corps Base Quantico in the US.

Australian Army's AI technical director Lieutenant Colonel Adam Hepworth said activities like this demonstrated ways autonomous systems and AI can be used in modern battles.

"This type of operationally relevant experimentation is essential to understand how we employ AI in a responsible, safe and legal way into the future," Lieutenant Colonel Hepworth said.

The activity employed a variety of Australian and US emerging technologies including autonomous uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), loitering munitions and low-earth orbit satellites facilitating real-time communication and information sharing.

The Australian Army, in partnership with Phantom Works Global and Insitu Pacific, deployed an Australian-developed uncrewed aerial surveillance and reconnaissance system.

During the activity, this system successfully located and classified all threats. The Australian commander received real-time information about the classified threats, prompting the USMC commander to launch a strike on the targets.

The activity brought together military and industry, as well as science and technology professionals to observe the art of the possible.

Minister Counsellor Defence Science and Technology at the Australian Embassy in Washington, Darren Sutton, highlighted the opportunity to explore operational use-cases and inform the development process during the activity.

"Today is important from a science perspective because it enabled the demonstration of advanced AI capabilities in an operational realistic environment, being used by warfighters, to explore the operational utility of those capabilities and provide refinement for advanced technologies going forward," Dr Sutton said.

"AI is going to be incredibly important in the future because it will enable us to move the warfighter further away from the interface between themselves and the opposition. It also enables us to counter the mass that potential large adversaries would have, relative to a smaller force like the ADF."

Major Steven Atkinson, USMC activity lead and Branch Head for Robotics and Autonomy at the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab, saw a clear reason for the use of autonomous systems into the future.

"[As a pilot,] I love flying. It is a great opportunity, a great career, but at the end of the day it is about what makes more sense for the Defence community," Major Atkinson said.

"If you can reduce risk by putting a drone rather than a human in that scenario where they are inside of a weapons engagement zone or a threat, I would much rather put the drone out there."

Protecting the warfighter through the application of cutting-edge technologies remains a shared interested between Australia and the US, Lieutenant Colonel Hepworth reinforced.

"It is important for us to protect our soldiers. The use of these technologies allows us to effect threats without placing our soldiers in harm's way," he said.

"By working with our allies and partners, we can seize opportunities, anticipate and respond to current and emerging threats, and deliver the capability Army needs now and in the future."

The USMC will travel to Australia in late 2024 to conduct further experimentation on our shores.

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Minister Blair concludes productive visit to Brussels for Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting and NATO Defence Ministers' meeting

National Defence

News release

June 14, 2024 - Brussels, Belgium - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Today, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, concluded a productive visit to Brussels, Belgium, where he participated in the 23rd Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting and a meeting of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Defence Ministers, including a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council in Defence Ministers format.

During the UDCG meeting on June 13 hosted by United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, Minister Blair announced that Canada plans to send an initial tranche of 2,300 CRV7 rocket motors to Ukraine. He also announced that Canada will provide more than 130,000 surplus rounds of small arms ammunition and 29 Nanuk Remote Weapons Systems from surplus Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) inventory. The Minister also highlighted that the first four of fifty Armoured Combat Support Vehicles built by Canadian workers at General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada are departing London, Ontario this week.

Following the UDCG meeting, Minister Blair signed a Letter of Intent for the Armour Capability Coalition, formalizing Canada's membership in the Coalition. Canada is also a member of the Drone Capability Coalition and Air Force Capability Coalition.

On June 13 and 14, Minister Blair participated in a meeting of NATO Defence Ministers ahead of next month's NATO Leaders' Summit in Washington. This meeting also marked Sweden's first Defence Ministers' Meeting as a full NATO Ally. Allies reaffirmed their commitment to NATO and discussed common defence priorities, including strengthening the Alliance's deterrence and defence efforts and supporting Ukraine.

The Minister reiterated that Canada's commitment to NATO is steadfast. Tomorrow, Canada will deploy His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Charlottetown from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to join and assume leadership of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 in the Mediterranean Sea. Over the next six months, HMCS Charlottetown will execute missions and participate in exercises with Allied warships.

On the margins of the Defence Ministers' Meeting, Minister Blair and his Romanian counterpart, Defence Minister Angel TAlvAr, signed a new Canada-Romania Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU will replace the existing Canada-Romania MOU on Bilateral Military Relations, signed by the two countries in 1993. The MOU will enable Canada and Romania to strengthen cooperation in areas including military education, training, and operations, defence research and technology, and mutual logistics support.

At NATO HQ in Brussels, Minister Blair also held productive meetings with:

Norway's Minister of Defence, BjArn Arild Gram, and Germany's Minister of Defence, Boris Pistorius. The Ministers discussed ways for Canada, Norway, and Germany to strengthen their collaboration on common priorities.

Representatives of Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Minister Blair and his colleagues discussed the reinforcement of NATO's eastern flank, where Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and United States lead multinational NATO Battle Groups. The Minister highlighted Canada's ongoing work to boost its presence in Latvia, including plans for the enhanced Forward Presence Brigade in Latvia to conduct its first Brigade exercise and NATO Combat Readiness Evaluation in Fall 2024.

Members of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group Drone Coalition. Minister Blair highlighted that the delivery of 900 Canadian-built drones for Ukraine will begin this month, with more deliveries to follow in the coming months, and noted Canada's recent investment of $3 million to support the production of drones in Ukraine. Coalition members discussed work to finalize the Coalition Memorandum of Understanding, and ways of enhancing coordination between partner nations.

Minister Blair, along with several of his counterparts, also signed a Letter of Intent to reiterate their collective support for the Partnership for Peace Consortium of Defense Academies and Security Studies Institutes. This Letter of Intent reaffirms our commitment to strengthening educational partnerships pertaining to defence and security.

During this important moment for Euro-Atlantic security, Canada continues to work closely with NATO Allies to ensure the protection of all Canadians - and the one billion citizens that NATO protects.

Quotes

"NATO is stronger and more united than ever before - and Canada's commitment to the Alliance is steadfast. Over the past two days, we have made important progress to prepare for the Washington Summit - and advanced our work to provide Ukraine the tools that it needs to win." - The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence

Quick facts

NATO is a cornerstone of Canada's international security policy. Canada steadfastly supports NATO's principle of collective defence and is providing direct support to NATO missions and operations to this end.

Current Canadian contributions to NATO include: leading the NATO Multinational Battlegroup in Latvia as it scales up to a combat capable brigade; deploying ships on a persistent basis to the NATO's Standing Naval Forces - including HMCS Charlottetown, which is set to deploy tomorrow to lead Standing NATO Maritime Group 2; continuing to support training and capacity building efforts in the Middle East under Operation IMPACT, including through NATO Mission Iraq; and deploying personnel to Kosovo under Operation KOBOLD.

Since February 2022, Canada has committed over $14 billion in assistance to Ukraine, including $4 billion in military assistance. This includes Leopard 2 main battle tanks, armoured combat support vehicles, anti-tank weapons, small arms, M777 howitzers and associated ammunition, high-resolution drone cameras, winter clothing, and more. Canada is also contributing to multinational efforts to train pilots and maintain and support Ukraine's F-16s.

Canada further contributes to Euro-Atlantic security through our support to Ukraine. Operation UNIFIER is the CAF's military training and capacity building mission in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). Since 2015, the CAF has trained over 41,000 members of the AFU under Operation UNIFIER. Approximately 300 CAF members are deployed under Operation UNIFIER in various roles, including to provide and coordinate training, and to facilitate and deliver military donations to Ukraine in coordination with Allies.

On 24 February 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signed the Agreement on security cooperation between Canada and Ukraine. The agreement outlines areas for enhanced bilateral cooperation related to defence, security, stability, and resilience.

Through Canada's defence policy update, Our North, Strong and Free, Canada will spend an additional $8.1 billion over the next five years, and $73 billion over the next 20 years. With the investments in the policy and previously announced investments, Canada will have almost tripled its defence spending between 2014-15 and 2029-30.

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with Prime Minister of Japan Kishida Fumio

Prime Minister of Canada - Justin Trudeau

June 14, 2024

Apulia, Italy

Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the Prime Minister of Japan, Kishida Fumio, on the margins of the G7 Summit in Apulia, Italy.

Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Kishida reaffirmed the strength of Canada and Japan's strategic partnership, as well as their shared commitment to a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. They underscored the importance of upholding human rights, strengthening the rules-based international order, and enhancing regional peace and security, including through Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy and Japan's new plan for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. They reiterated their mutual desire to continue ongoing efforts to implement shared priorities in this space.

The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to continue working closely together to expand bilateral trade and investment ties and advance energy co-operation, to further develop our economies and create good middle-class jobs in Canada and Japan. Prime Minister Trudeau welcomed the recent significant investments by Japanese companies in Canadian critical minerals projects and Canada's electric vehicle sector. The prime ministers also discussed their shared commitment to advancing the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and supporting Canada's CPTPP priorities as the 2024 CPTPP Commission Chair.

Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Kishida agreed to continue their collaboration to address global challenges, particularly with G7 partners and emerging economies, including those in the Indo-Pacific region. This includes responding to the ongoing development of North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. The leaders also reiterated their unwavering support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's illegal and unjustifiable aggression.

The two leaders agreed to remain in close contact and looked forward to continued co-operation.

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Prime Minister advances shared progress and prosperity at the G7 Summit

Prime Minister of Canada - Justin Trudeau

June 14, 2024

Apulia, Italy

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today concluded his second day at the G7 Leaders' Summit in Apulia, Italy. The challenges the world is facing are interconnected, from climate change to food insecurity to gender inequality. No single country can address them alone - but Canada is not alone. Together with G7 partners, we will continue our work to make the world fairer and more prosperous, now and into the future.

In Apulia, the Prime Minister participated in working sessions and met with G7 partners and outreach guests, including His Holiness Pope Francis, to champion global ambition in driving the clean energy transition. He reinforced Canada's leadership role in advancing digital inclusion and emphasized Canada's focus on regional stability and peace and security globally, particularly in Africa and the Mediterranean.

G7 leaders issued a joint declaration reiterating their support for Ukraine and a just and lasting peace in the Middle East as well as their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. They also agreed on the importance of fostering global economic growth, partnering with African countries, reinforcing food and energy security, addressing the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, and promoting human-centred artificial intelligence.

The Prime Minister highlighted a $686.9 million package of measures to strengthen climate resiliency, foster more inclusive communities, and move forward on climate action around the world. He also announced that Canada will host the next G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, in 2025.

The effects of climate change are being felt more than ever, and this is having a devastating impact on developing countries, who are vulnerable to food insecurity. That's why Canada is allocating $200 million to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), including:

$100 million in contributions to support IFAD in its essential work toreduce poverty and food insecurity while strengthening climate resilience, with a focus on the poorest and most vulnerable located in rural areas.

in its essential work toreduce poverty and food insecurity while strengthening climate resilience, with a focus on the poorest and most vulnerable located in rural areas. $100 million as a repayable contribution to IFAD's Private Sector Financing Programme to support investments in the agricultural sector in low- and middle-income countries, especially in the Americas, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia.

Canada's future will be shaped by its relationship with the Indo-Pacific region, which is home to the largest number of climate-vulnerable people in the world. Working with Indo-Pacific countries, the federal government is:

Delivering a $360 million repayable contribution to the Asian Development Bank to establish the Canadian Climate and Nature Fund for the Private Sector in Asia. The Fund will mobilize private capital toward inclusive climate change mitigation and adaptation projects. This will accelerate their transition to low-carbon and climate-resilient economies, and advance gender equality in sectors such as renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, and nature-based solutions.

The Fund will mobilize private capital toward inclusive climate change mitigation and adaptation projects. This will accelerate their transition to low-carbon and climate-resilient economies, and advance gender equality in sectors such as renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, and nature-based solutions. Investing $6.9 million through the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). Building on Canada's existing partnership with the United Kingdom, this investment will help expand the IDRC's Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Development program to support responsible AI innovation, policy research, and capacity building in the Indo-Pacific.

Canada is also taking a leadership role in the G7's work to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people around the world. To support this critical work, the federal government is:

Investing $100 million in the International Finance Corporation's Facility for Gender Equality, Resilience, Opportunity, and Inclusion Worldwide. The Facility supports companies to enable the full and meaningful participation of women and girls in the private sector. The funding announced today is expected to mobilize an estimated $470 million in private capital for investments that break gender barriers, empower women, and promote gender inclusion around the world.

The Facility supports companies to enable the full and meaningful participation of women and girls in the private sector. The funding announced today is expected to mobilize an estimated $470 million in private capital for investments that break gender barriers, empower women, and promote gender inclusion around the world. Providing $20 million to TradeMark Africa and the Centre for International Studies and Cooperation to help ensure that everyone shares in the benefits of free and open commerce. This investment aims to help eliminate the gender-based barriers that prevent women from fully participating in the opportunities afforded by the African Continental Free Trade Area.

The Prime Minister also announced that, as the 2025 G7 President, Canada will host the next G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, in 2025. Prime Minister Trudeau underlined Canada's continued commitment to working together with G7 partners on common priorities, such as building economies that benefit everyone, fighting climate change, and managing rapidly evolving technologies.

Prime Minister Trudeau reiterated his thanks to the Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, for her country's successful hosting of the G7 Summit, and he underscored Canada's commitment to working with Italy and other G7 partners to address pressing global issues.

Quote

"We just concluded the G7 Leaders' Summit in Apulia, where alongside our G7 partners, we announced comprehensive action to grow dynamic economies, build inclusive communities, and keep our air clean. As Canada prepares to host G7 partners in Kananaskis next year, we are focused on delivering fairness for every generation and making life better for everyone." The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

Quick Facts

Today in Apulia, Prime Minister Trudeau had bilateral meetings with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, His Holiness Pope Francis, His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan, and the Prime Minister of Japan, Kishida Fumio.

Yesterday in Apulia, Prime Minister Trudeau announced key measures to support Ukraine's fight for freedom. This includes: A $5 billion contribution to G7 Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration Loans for Ukraine. Sanctions on 27 individuals and entities involved in Russia's military-industrial complex as well as sanctions circumvention and disinformation.

Yesterday in Apulia, Prime Minister Trudeau also highlighted an over $1.6 billion package of measures to support developing economies and promote climate resiliency around the world.

IFAD is an international financial institution and specialized United Nations (UN) agency based in Rome, the UN's food and agriculture hub. Since 1978, it has provided US$23.2 billion in grants and low-interest loans.

With support from Canada and other international donors IFAD is expected to improve the incomes, production, food security, nutrition, and resilience of over 100 million of the most vulnerable people across the globe, all while strengthening climate resilience and biodiversity.

Canada's contribution to the Asian Development Bank is made available through our $5.3 billion climate finance commitment.

Canada's contribution to International Finance Corporation's Facility for Gender Equality, Resilience, Opportunity, and Inclusion Worldwide and IFAD's Private Sector Financing Programme are made possible through our International Assistance Innovation Program.

In November 2023, Canada and the United Kingdom launched a partnership in support of the AI for Development program, which was initially launched in 2020 with a focus on Africa. The $67 million partnership supports responsible AI innovation, policy research, and capacity building in emerging markets and developing countries. With the recently announced expansion of the initiative to support programming in the Indo-Pacific, it is now worth $108 million, making it the largest program focused on AI and sustainable development.

Canada's contribution to Trademark Africa and the Centre for International Studies and Cooperation is expected to support efforts to reach an estimated 80,000 direct beneficiaries, with a focus on women traders.

The African Continental Free Trade Area is the world's largest free trade area, bringing together the 55 countries of the African Union and eight regional economic communities to create a single market for the continent.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is the co-Chair of the UN SDG Advocates Group and of the SDG Stimulus Leaders Group, which helps mobilize collective action toward the SDGs, including efforts to improve access to financing for emerging economies and developing countries.

The Government of Canada works with partners and stakeholders to advance the 2030 Agenda through concrete actions on the 17 SDGs. These actions include reducing poverty, building sustainable economic growth, supporting reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, advancing gender equality, and taking action on climate change and clean energy.

Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy seeks to advance progress on the SDGs through widespread, collaborative engagement and action. The intended result is all partners contributing in their unique ways and with others toward achieving the SDGs.

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen

Prime Minister of Canada - Justin Trudeau

June 14, 2024

Apulia, Italy

Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on the margins of the G7 Summit in Apulia, Italy.

Prime Minister Trudeau and President von der Leyen reiterated the close relationship between Canada and the European Union (EU) and looked forward to continuing to work together to advance shared priorities, such as collaboration on artificial intelligence and research and innovation, including through Horizon Europe.

The leaders also discussed the importance of close co-ordination between Canada and the EU on economic interests, including advancing work on critical minerals and addressing concerns related to overcapacity and other non-market policies and practices. The Prime Minister noted the EU's efforts to counter these issues, including plans to impose new auto tariffs on China.

The Prime Minister applauded the EU on the successful implementation of the European Parliament elections. He recognized the importance of ensuring this critical democratic process on such a wide scale and in the face of challenges including foreign interference.

The two leaders reiterated their commitment to stand with Ukraine and emphasized the importance of global solidarity in support of a just and sustainable peace. They looked forward to participating in the upcoming Summit on Peace in Ukraine, to be held on June 15 to 16, 2024, in Switzerland.

Prime Minister Trudeau and President von der Leyen agreed to remain in close contact and looked forward to seeing each other again soon.

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz

Prime Minister of Canada - Justin Trudeau

June 14, 2024

Apulia, Italy

Yesterday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, on the margins of the G7 Summit in Apulia, Italy.

The Prime Minister and the Chancellor reiterated their unwavering support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's ongoing, illegal, and unjustifiable aggression. They stressed the importance of G7 unity and global solidarity in supporting a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine and looked forward to participating in the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, to be held on June 15 to 16, 2024, in Switzerland.

As the G7 finalizes the delivery of Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration Loans, Prime Minister Trudeau reiterated that Canada is prepared to contribute $5 billion to this initiative, which brings forward future revenues from frozen Russian sovereign assets to support Ukraine.

Prime Minister Trudeau and Chancellor Scholz highlighted the close relationship between Canada and Germany and discussed continued collaboration in areas of shared priority, including advancing clean energy and the development of critical minerals supply chains. They noted the importance of facilitating offtake agreements to support early access in Germany for clean Canadian hydrogen producers, which will strengthen both Canada's and Germany's efforts to fight climate change and enhance energy security.

The leaders agreed to remain in close contact and looked forward to seeing each other again soon in Switzerland for the Summit on Peace in Ukraine.

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Central, HK and Macao SAR authorities slam EU's reports, urging it to stop interfering in China's internal affairs

Global Times

By Chen Qingqing Published: Jun 14, 2024 11:24 AM

The Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions (SARs) and the Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in the Macao SAR all expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition toward the EU's annual reports on the two SARs, urging the EU to discern facts from fallacies, respect the international law and basic norms governing international relations, and immediately stop interfering in China's internal affairs.

The European Commission and the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy adopted on Wednesday the 26th annual report to the European Parliament and the Council on political and economic developments in the Hong Kong SAR, claiming "continuous deterioration of fundamental freedoms" in Hong Kong.

It also adopted an annual report on the Macao SAR, asserting that there's continuously increasing focus on national security, which risks weakening fundamental freedoms in Macao, eroding the "One Country, Two Systems" principle and Macao's "usually high degree of autonomy."

The HKSAR government on Thursday night strongly disapproved of and rejected the unfounded and biased content in the EU report targeting the HKSAR's safeguarding of national security, human rights and other matters.

The EU has also deliberately neglected the fact that the National Security Law for Hong Kong has enabled a normal way of life and economic activities for the Hong Kong community, and as well the business environment, to return to normalcy. The EU has demonstrated hypocrisy with double standards, a spokesperson of the HKSAR government said.

The EU's report also referenced the ongoing trial on secessionist rioter Jimmy Lai and the latest verdict of dozens of defendants involved in the so-called illegal primaries, which is a clear case of conspiracy to subvert state power.

As the legal proceedings surrounding Lai's case and the illegal primaries' case on conspiracy to commit subversion are still ongoing, it is inappropriate for any person to comment on the details of the case, the spokesperson said, emphasizing that all cases are handled strictly on the basis of evidence and in accordance with the law.

The Macao SAR government also expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the EU's report on Thursday night.

The Macao SAR government reiterated that the amendments to the National Security Law widely drew on legislative experiences from other jurisdictions, fully considered Macao's legal traditions and social realities, and strictly adhered to relevant international human rights conventions.

And the amendments to the laws governing elections are necessary for implementing the principle of "patriots administering Macao" and safeguarding national security. They also help to improve the relevant electoral system and better ensure residents' exercise of electoral rights, a government spokesperson said.

In the nearly 25 years since Macao's return to the motherland, the principle of "One Country, Two Systems" and the Basic Law have been successfully implemented, which is an undeniable fact. "We hope the EU will view this objectively and fairly," the spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for the Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in Macao also emphasized that the Chinese government is unwavering in its determination to fully and accurately implement the "One Country, Two Systems" principle and resolute in its will to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests.

The spokesperson urged the EU to recognize the situation, position itself correctly, abandon its condescending attitude, and immediately cease unnecessary political manipulation and any form of interference in Macao affairs and China's internal affairs.

"These kinds of criticisms [from the West] are constant and merely political posturing or political theater that they themselves do not take seriously," Lau Siu-kai, a consultant from the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies who is also a senior policy advisor, told the Global Times on Friday.

Considering that the US and the West did not speak out against Israel's actions in the Gaza war, their criticism of Hong Kong appears hypocritical and demonstrates a double standard, Lau noted.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian's Regular Press Conference on June 14, 2024

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

2024-06-14 19:52

As agreed between China and the EU and at the invitation of Vice Prime Minister Xavier Bettel of Luxembourg, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council Ding Xuexiang will hold the fifth China-EU High-Level Environment and Climate Dialogue at EU Headquarters in Brussels and visit Luxembourg from June 17 to 21.

Hubei Media Group: Yesterday, Premier Li Qiang started his official visit to New Zealand. Could you share with us more details?

Lin Jian: At the invitation of Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon, Premier Li Qiang started his official visit to New Zealand from June 13. During the visit, Premier Li Qiang met with Governor-General of New Zealand Dame Cindy Kiro, attended the welcoming ceremony held by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, and had talks with the latter.

Premier Li Qiang said that his current visit to New Zealand coincides with the 10th anniversary of President Xi Jinping's visit to New Zealand and of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides. China and New Zealand have similar visions for development, cultures, values and propositions in international affairs. The development of China and New Zealand means opportunities, not challenges to each other. The two sides should stay partners committed to mutual respect and mutual trust, mutual benefit and mutual learning, and solidarity and coordination. China is ready to work with New Zealand to carry forward the traditional friendship and the spirit of "striving to be the first", jointly promote development, and further upgrade the comprehensive strategic partnership to deliver more benefits to the two peoples.

Li Qiang pointed out that China is ready to work with New Zealand to continue to scale up trade, tap into the potential of cooperation in such fields as digital economy, green economy, new energy vehicles and creative industry, and jointly promote regional economic cooperation. The two sides should work to remove the disturbance of non-economic factors to bilateral trade and economic relations, and provide stable expectations and a sound business environment for the operation and development of companies. China welcomes more New Zealand businesses to invest and do business in China. China is ready to deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges with New Zealand, include New Zealand into China's unilateral visa-free policy, and hopes that New Zealand will provide more convenience for Chinese citizens to visit New Zealand. Both China and New Zealand are firm in supporting multilateralism, and both support free trade and building an open world economy. The two sides should strengthen communication and coordination in multilateral settings, and encourage all parties to pull in the same direction toward win-win cooperation.

The two prime ministers agreed that China-New Zealand relations have made satisfactory progress. The two sides will continue to view and handle bilateral relations from a strategic height and long-term perspective, expand bilateral trade and investment cooperation, deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, jointly safeguard multilateralism and free trade, and promote sustained, sound and stable development of bilateral relations. The two sides also agreed to launch negotiations on the negative list of trade in services.

After the talks, the two prime ministers jointly witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents in such fields as service trade, business environment, export of agricultural and food products to China, science and technology, patent examination and migratory birds protection, and jointly met the press. The two sides also issued a joint statement on the outcomes of the meeting.

Xinhua News Agency: To follow up on your announcement about Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang's visit to Europe, could you share with us the program and China's expectation of the visit?

Lin Jian: China and Europe are the world's two major forces, major markets, and major civilizations. China-EU relations have an impact on global peace, stability, development and prosperity. China always views its relations with the EU from a strategic height and long-term perspective, and regards Europe as an important priority for China's major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics and also an important partner for achieving Chinese modernization. China and the EU share extensive common interests and broad space for cooperation in green development, and have maintained good dialogue and cooperation in this regard. Since the establishment of the China-EU High-Level Environment and Climate Dialogue in 2020, the two sides have successfully held four rounds of dialogue, which has played a positive role in jointly addressing global challenges in environment and climate governance, strengthening communication and coordination on bilateral and multilateral policies, and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation. During the upcoming trip, Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang and Executive Vice President of the European Commission Maros Sefcovic will co-chair the fifth high-level dialogue. China stands ready to work with the EU to act on the important common understandings reached by the leaders of the two sides, and through this dialogue, broaden the areas of cooperation, explore new collaboration models and upgrade the level of cooperation. We hope to deepen and solidify our green partnership with the EU and make green the most distinctive color of China-EU cooperation.

In Luxembourg, Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang will meet with Luxembourg's leaders and attend the Second Zhengzhou-Luxembourg "Air Silk Road" Forum for International Cooperation. Luxembourg is a founding member of the EU and China's friendly cooperation partner in Europe. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties over fifty years ago, the two countries have respected each other, engaged in mutually beneficial cooperation and jointly promoted development. In recent years, China and Luxembourg have achieved new progress in cooperation of areas such as finance and air freight. Since the Zhengzhou-Luxembourg "Air Silk Road" started operation, it has flown large amounts of goods between China and Europe, brought tangible benefits to the people of China, Luxembourg and the rest of Europe, and helped keep global industrial and supply chains stable. China looks to work with Luxembourg through this visit to step up dialogue and communication, strengthen mutual understanding and trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and further advance our bilateral relations.

Reuters: Reuters has learned through sources that although China is not attending this weekend's Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland, it has been lobbying several countries to join its six-point consensus with Brazil on a political settlement of the Ukraine war. One source told Reuters that China, in conversations with developing countries, said the Swiss peace summit was unconstructive and would prolong the Ukraine conflict. We do not know the exact developing countries. What is China's comment?

Lin Jian: China welcomes and supports all efforts for peace. Our position on the Summit on Peace in Ukraine to be held in Switzerland is fair and just and we've been open and clear about our position. China has maintained close communication with Switzerland, Ukraine and other parties on issues related to the summit and encouraged equal participation and fair discussion of all plans at the summit.

The six common understandings by China and Brazil have received positive response from over 100 countries. They reflect the universal expectation of the world and represent the broadest common ground of countries in the world on this issue. We welcome more countries to support and endorse the six common understandings.

Beijing Daily: The Hong Kong SAR government exercised the powers conferred by the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance to specify six individuals who have absconded, namely Law Kwun-chung, Mung Siu-tat, Lau Cho-dik, Cheng Man-kit, Fok Ka-chi and Choi Ming-da, and describe the measures to be applied against such absconders by notices published in the Government Gazette. The US, the UK, Canada, Australia and the EU claimed that the SAR government's action erodes rights and freedoms and expressed concerns over the extraterritorial application of the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong SAR. What is China's comment?

Lin Jian: We strongly deplore and firmly oppose relevant parties' blatant smear of the national security law and ordinance and interference in Hong Kong's rule of law. Let me reiterate that Law Kwun-chung and the other absconders have long engaged in anti-China activities and sought to destabilize Hong Kong. What they did gravely undermines national security and Hong Kong's 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. The Law on Safeguarding National Security and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance target the very few criminals who severely endanger national security. They protect the rights and freedoms that all Hong Kong residents enjoy in accordance with the law. The extraterritorial application of the Law on Safeguarding National Security is in strict compliance with international law and the common practices of countries and regions across the world. It is beyond reproach.

Let me stress that Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs and brook no interference by external forces. We urge relevant parties to earnestly respect China's sovereignty and the rule of law in Hong Kong, stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs, stop emboldening the anti-China individuals seeking to destabilize Hong Kong, and stop harboring criminals.

Reuters: Israel's public broadcaster reports that Hamas has demanded that China, Russia and Turkiye serve as guarantors for any agreement it reaches with Israel among alternations to a proposed ceasefire and hostage release deal. Israeli media says the US and Israel have both rejected this demand, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday called some of Hamas's demands "unworkable." China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi previously has said that China would continue to play a constructive role in handling global hotspot issues. So what is China's position on the idea it could work with other countries to guarantee a ceasefire? And is Beijing mediating with other powers to see this happen?

Lin Jian: Since the ongoing fighting began in Gaza, China has been working closely with all parties, including the Arab and Islamic states, to jointly promote ceasefire, call for the protection of civilians and do everything we can to ease the humanitarian disaster.

I would like to stress that the current situation in the Gaza Strip is unsustainable and the most urgent priority is to fully and effectively implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions, achieve an immediate ceasefire, protect civilians, ensure access to humanitarian assistance and realize the early release of all those held captive. China will continue to work with all parties to make unremitting efforts to end the fighting in Gaza as soon as possible, ease the grave humanitarian situation and deliver the two-State solution.

Bloomberg: Earlier today, the Ministry of Commerce criticized Turkiye for implementing 40 percent tariff on Chinese car imports. Does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have anything further to add to the Ministry of Commerce's statement on this? And there is a follow-up. It's not just Turkiye and the EU that are implementing tariffs on Chinese cars. And there are a number of countries that have already announced tariffs on Chinese steel exports as well, including Brazil, Chile and Mexico and Colombia. Is China concerned that more countries around the world are putting tariffs on Chinese exports? And do you have a response?

Lin Jian: For your specific question about tariffs between China and Turkiye, China's Ministry of Commerce has made clear our position. Recent years have seen rapid growth of trade and economic cooperation between China and Turkiye. Deepening practical cooperation in various fields between the two countries has boosted Turkiye's economic and social development and brought tangible benefits to the peoples of the two countries. Turkiye's decision to increase tariffs is not consistent with WTO rules or the momentum of steady growth of bilateral ties.

You mentioned China's economic and trade relations with several Latin American countries, including Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Colombia. Let me reiterate that China and Latin American countries, including Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Colombia, enjoy a sound momentum of growth in bilateral relations, and our trade and economic cooperation is fruitful. Steady and sound economic and trade ties serve the fundamental interests and meet the common aspirations of China and the above-mentioned countries. As For more details about the tariffs between China and the Latin American countries you mentioned, I'd refer you to competent authorities.

Reuters: China and South Korea are expected to hold "two plus two" talks of their senior foreign and defense officials early next week. Are you able to confirm the date or what will be on the agenda?

Lin Jian: China and the ROK agreed on holding the first 2+2 vice-ministerial level diplomatic and security dialogue and are in communication on working out the specifics. I have nothing further to offer at the moment.

Bloomberg: German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck is meant to come to China next week for a visit from, I think, Wednesday or Thursday. Do you have anything that you can tell us about what China might speak to him about when he is here?

Lin Jian: I'd refer you to competent authorities for anything specific.

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Chinese premier to visit Australia as tensions ease, trade ties resume

By Adam Hancock June 14, 2024

Chinese Premier Li Qiang will touch down in Australia Saturday, becoming the most senior Chinese visitor in over seven years.

His arrival symbolizes the greatly improved relationship between Beijing and Canberra, following a turbulent patch that saw China impose tough trade restrictions on Australia.

Li will land in the South Australian city of Adelaide, before heading to Canberra for a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. He will wrap up his trip with a visit to Perth.

While trade ties will dominate much of the agenda, Australian analysts say they see the visit of China's second most powerful official as a crucial step on the return to more normal relations.

"This visit signals that the bilateral relationship has reached a new settling point, after many, many years of a huge amount of sound and fury and drama and tension," Benjamin Herscovitch, a research fellow at the Australian National University, told VOA.

"We're now reaching this new settling point of a rough, uneasy normalization of the relationship between Australia and China," Herscovitch said.

The roots of the breakdown of relations between Canberra and Beijing can be traced to 2018, when Australia became the first country to ban Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei from its 5G network.

Two years later, Albanese's predecessor, Scott Morrison, angered China when he led calls for an international investigation into the origins of COVID-19.

As the relationship soured, China slapped a host of tariffs and restrictions on a variety of Australian goods and commodities including barley, wine and coal. The sanctions are estimated to have cost the Australian economy over $13 billion.

"China's strategy did not just impose trade restrictions in the form of various different measures that were economically coercive, but also denied Canberra diplomatic access to Beijing," Herscovitch said.

"This was essentially part of a punishment campaign for Australia," he added.

Beijing was further irked by Australia's enhanced military ties with Western countries, including a new AUKUS security alliance which was announced with the United States and the United Kingdom in 2021.

The partnership will allow Australia to acquire nuclear submarine capability, specifically to counter growing concerns over China's ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region.

These tensions led to an almost total breakdown in diplomatic relations between Australia and China.

The formation of a new Australian government in 2022 provided an opportunity for a fresh start, with Albanese keen to resume dialogue with Australia's biggest trading partner.

His meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 in Bali later that year, opened the door to the resumption of high-level talks, with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong visiting Beijing just a month after that summit.

Further progress was made when Albanese traveled to China last November, paving the way for the resumption of annual leaders' meetings.

"It's a significant sign that the Australian government has reached its goal of 'stabilising' relations," Melissa Conley Tyler, an honorary fellow at the University of Melbourne's Asia Institute, said.

"During this visit, messaging will be around Australia as a country that is 'friendly' to China - which makes a difference to officials, importers and parents choosing where their children will study," Tyler told VOA.

Li's visit will take in three Australian states, providing plentiful opportunities for handshakes and photo opportunities, although analysts are less certain of more substantial results aside from diplomatic goodwill.

"It is unlikely the visit will yield any major announcements - both sides have been careful to stress throughout these types of exchanges that dialogue is in itself the focus and the achievement," Elena Collinson, head of analysis for the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney, said.

One area that could see a breakthrough is the removal of Chinese trade restrictions on Australian lobster.

As relations improved under the Albanese administration, Beijing rolled back almost all of the trade barriers that had been erected against Australia, but a ban on live lobster imports remains.

It is widely expected that this ban will be reversed, although the timing of any such announcement will be closely watched.

"China will want to say that there has been a scientific, technical resolution of the issue, and therefore they can remove the trade restrictions," Herscovitch said.

"But they wouldn't want it too closely associated with the premier's visit, even though everyone understands that it was a politically motivated trade restriction and so the removal of it is also politically motivated," Herscovitch added.

Beijing's so-called 'panda diplomacy' will be on full display during the trip, with Li set to visit Adelaide Zoo to view Wang Wang and Fu Ni, two pandas that were loaned to Australia in 2009.

The arrangement is set to expire at the end of this year, but it is hoped that Li could announce an extension of their stay in the southern hemisphere.

The premier's trip to the mining hub of Western Australia will also boost hopes of further enhanced trade ties, with Li set to attend a roundtable event organized by the Business Council of Australia. Beijing still relies heavily on Australia for critical commodities including iron ore.

While this visit should further stabilize a recovering diplomatic relationship, the Chinese premier has work to do to gain the support of the Australian public.

Recent polling, partly conducted by the Australia-China Relations Institute, found a high level of anxiety over China's future ambitions.

"Nearly three-quarters of Australians see China as a security threat, while half see military conflict with China within the next three years as a serious possibility," Collinson said.

"While support for the economic dimension of the relationship remains, even this is starting to waver," Collinson added.

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Japan tight-lipped on report of meeting with North Korea in Mongolia

South Korean media reported that Japanese and North Korean representatives met in secret in Mongolia last month.

By Taejun Kang for RFA 2024.06.13 -- The Japanese government declined to comment on a South Korean media report that officials from Japan and North Korea had a secret meeting in Mongolia last month, saying it was aware of the report but would refrain from commenting due to the nature of the matter.

"We have been responding to North Korea through various channels, but I will refrain from answering due to the nature of the issue," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a briefing on Thursday.

"As Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said repeatedly, there is no change in the idea that we will proceed with high-level consultations at the prime ministerial level to realize a summit to resolve various issues between Japan and North Korea," he added.

South Korea's JoongAng Ilbo daily reported on Wednesday that a North Korean delegation, including three officials from the Reconnaissance General Bureau and personnel responsible for earning foreign exchange, met a group of Japanese politicians in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in the middle of last month, citing multiple intelligence sources.

Among the main obstacles to a normalization of relations between isolated North Korea and Japan is the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea over the decades to help North Korea train its spies.

Japan's Kyodo News reported that Kishida was considering traveling to Mongolia in August with the abduction issue in mind and asking Mongolia for cooperation in advancing consultations with North Korea.

Hayashi also declined to comment on the Kyodo report, saying: "Nothing has been decided."

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong, said in March that Pyongyang had received a summit proposal from Japan. Her comments came a month after she said her country was open to enhancing ties with Tokyo.

However, Kim Yo Jong added that improving relations between the two countries would depend on whether Japan could make practical political decisions.

"If Japan continues to interfere in the exercise of our sovereign rights, as it is doing now, and continues to focus on the abduction issue, which it has no ability to resolve or even understand, the prime minister's initiatives will inevitably be viewed as little more than popularity stunts," she said.

'Unacceptable'

Japan says it has confirmed the abductions of 17 of its citizens by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s for language education for North Korean spies, and 12 are still in the North.

North Korea has said that of the 12, eight had died, and four never entered North Korea, insisting that there is no issue to be resolved.

In February, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi said assertions that the abduction issue had been resolved were "completely unacceptable."

"Japan has not changed its policy of comprehensively resolving issues such as abduction and nuclear and missile programs on the basis of the Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration," he said.

The declaration was signed in 2002 after former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited Pyongyang.

It contained four sections: promoting talks on normalization of diplomatic relations, compensation based on reflection on past history, preventing the recurrence of "regrettable issues," such as abductions, and establishing cooperation to resolve nuclear and missile issues.

Edited by RFA Staff.

Copyright 1998-2016, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content June not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Satellite pictures reveal North Korea is preparing for Putin visit

Experts say North Korea will seek weapons technology from Russia during a visit which could happen next week.

By Cho Jinwoo, Lee Sangmin and Kim Soyoung for RFA Korean 2024.06.14 -- Satellite imagery of Kim Il Sung Square in the North Korean capital Pyongyang appears to show that preparations for a ceremony to welcome Russian President Vladimir Putin are underway, a U.S. satellite expert told Radio Free Asia.

Putin is widely believed to be planning his first visit to Pyongyang since 2000, possibly as soon as next week. The trip has raised concerns that Moscow will provide advanced weapons technology to Pyongyang in violation of United Nations sanctions.

The images released by private satellite company Planet Labs showed a main stage and several temporary structures, possibly for orchestral performances, built in the square, which serves as the site for important parades and events.

Other materials that looked like part of preparations for the welcome event were scattered around the main podium and the plaza.

"The two areas on either side of the square are staging pens that are holding flags and banners, as well as other decorative and construction materials," Jacob Bogle, a U.S.-based satellite imagery expert, told RFA Korean. "The walled-off object in the square is likely for an orchestra tent, as has been seen in previous parades in recent years."

Bogle identified other structures, including a reviewing stand that he said could be where Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un might sit together and dine or watch a military parade.

"Putin hasn't visited North Korea since 2000, so holding a kind of "state welcoming parade" in the center of Pyongyang would be appropriate and would further signify just how important Kim's relationship with Putin has become," he said.

South Korea has estimated that North Korea has sent as many as 3 million artillery shells to Russia to use in its Ukraine war. Kyiv has also alleged that North Korea has sent missiles to Russia and these have been used against Ukraine, which Pyongyang and Moscow deny. The transfer of North Korean arms to Russia has been condemned by the U.S. and almost 40 other countries.

On June 12, NK News, a Seoul-based media outlet which specializes in North Korea, confirmed reports that planes on the runway at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport were moved to another location, which could be a sign that the airport is preparing for Putin's arrival.

Putin's visit is only a few days away, the South Korean President's Office on June 12th told reporters in Kazakhstan, where the South's President Yoon Suk Yeol was on an official visit.

The South Korean government emphasized on Thursday that cooperation between North Korea and Russia must not violate UN agreements aimed at curbing North Korea's nuclear weapons program, as well as sanctions aimed at limiting the flow of cash and prohibited technology to Pyongyang.

"Our government's position is that exchanges and cooperation between Russia and North Korea must be conducted in a way that complies with relevant Security Council resolutions and contributes to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," Lim Soo-suk, a spokesperson for the South Korean foreign ministry said.

"Communication related to Korean Peninsula issues is maintained between South Korea and Russia," he said, adding that the specific contents of the discussions could not be revealed.

Weapons tech, please

Former U.S. officials and North Korea experts say that the biggest issue of concern is whether Putin will agree to provide advanced nuclear and missile technology to North Korea.

"We know so little about what Kim has asked for from President Putin and what President Putin has offered Kim in exchange for the millions of rounds of artillery and the short range ballistic missiles that he is using against Ukraine," Dennis Wilder, the former White House National Security Council's director for China, told RFA Korean.

Kim is likely to request additional military support and advanced technology crucial for the development of North Korea's strategic systems from Putin, Robert Rapson, the former senior official at the U.S. Embassy Seoul, told RFA.

Gary Samore, the former White House coordinator for arms control and weapons of mass destruction predicted that North Korea is likely to request military support from Russia, including advanced air defense systems, aircraft, missiles, satellite technology, and submarine technology.

The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russia has the right to develop closer ties with North Korea and that deepening ties should not be a cause for concern for anyone.

"It is our neighbor, it is a friendly country with which we are developing bilateral relations," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. "We will continue to do so in an upward direction."

Peskov declined to comment on President Putin's visit schedule and intentions.

The Chinese government also expressed its support for the development of North Korea-Russia relations, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian saying Thursday that China "Welcomes the fact that Russia is strengthening and developing traditional friendly relations with relevant countries."

Translated by Claire S. Lee and Leejin J. Chung. Edited by Eugene Whong.

Copyright 1998-2016, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content June not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Prime Minister's meeting with Prime Minister of Japan on the sidelines of the G7 Summit

India - Ministry of External Affairs

June 14, 2024

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with H.E Mr. Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan today on the sidelines of the G-7 Summit in Apulia, Italy.

2. Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Kishida for the congratulatory wishes extended on assuming office for the third consecutive term. He affirmed that bilateral ties with Japan will continue to receive priority in his third term. The two leaders noted that the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership is in its 10th year and expressed satisfaction at the progress made in the relationship. They discussed ways to deepen cooperation further, adding new and emerging areas, and strengthening B2B and P2P cooperation.

3. India and Japan are collaborating on several important areas including the landmark Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project that will usher in the next stage in mobility in India, the targeted 5 trillion yen worth of Japanese investment in India in 2022-2027 period, and India-Japan Industrial Competitiveness Partnership aimed at transformation of our manufacturing cooperation. The meeting between the two Prime Minister provided an opportunity to review some of these ongoing works of cooperation.

4. The two leaders looked forward to continuing their discussion at the next India-Japan annual summit.

Apulia

June 14, 2024

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Prime Minister's meeting with Prime Minister of Italy on the sidelines of the G7 Summit

India - Ministry of External Affairs

June 14, 2024

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met H.E. Ms. Giorgia Meloni, the Prime Minister of the Italian Republic today in Apulia, Italy. PM Meloni congratulated PM for his third consecutive term as Prime Minister. PM Modi thanked PM Meloni for the invitation to participate in G7 Outreach Summit and conveyed his appreciation for the successful conclusion of the Summit.

2. The two leaders noted with satisfaction the regular higher political dialogue and reviewed progress of the India-Italy Strategic Partnership. While expressing happiness at growing trade and economic collaboration, they called for expanding commercial ties in clean energy, manufacturing, Space, S&T, telecom, AI and critical minerals to build resilient supply chains. In this context, they welcomed the recent signing of a MoU on Industrial Property Rights (IPR) which provides a framework for cooperation on patents, designs and trademarks.

3.aThe two sides discussed bilateral defence and security cooperation and hoped for further enhancing the defence industrial collaboration.They welcomed the forthcoming visit of the Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour and training ship ITS Vespucci to India later this year. PM Modi thanked the Italian Government for recognizing the Indian Army's contribution in Italian Campaign during WW-II and informed that India will be upgrading the Yashwant Ghadge Memorial at Montone in Italy.

4.aTaking note of the coordination under the 'Global Biofuels Alliance', the leaders welcomed the signing of the Letter of Intent for Cooperation in Energy Transition which will boost bilateral cooperation in clean and green energy. They expressed happiness at the new Executive Programme of Cooperation for 2025-27 to promote joint research and development in Science & Technology.

5. The two countries enjoy strong people-to-people connect propelled by longstanding Indological studies tradition in Italy, which will be further strengthened with the establishment of the first ICCR chair on India studies at University of Milan. The two leaders called for an early implementation of the Migration and Mobility Agreement, which would facilitate mobility of professionals, skilled and semi-skilled workers, students, and researchers.

6.aBoth leaders look forward to joint activities to be implemented under Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative framework to fulfill their shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. They also discussed important regional and global issues and agreed to strengthen cooperation in global fora and multilateral initiatives, including the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.

Apulia

June 14, 2024

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Prime Minister's meeting with the President of Ukraine on the sidelines of the G7 Summit

India - Ministry of External Affairs

June 14, 2024

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with the President of Ukraine, H.E. Mr. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on 14 June 2024 on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Italy. PM thanked President Zelenskyy for his warm wishes on his assuming office for the third term.

2. Both leaders had a productive meeting in which they discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations. They also exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine and the upcoming Summit on Peace being hosted by Switzerland.

3. PM conveyed that India continues to encourage peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy, and reiterated that India would continue to do everything within its means to support a peaceful solution.

4. The two leaders agreed to remain in touch.

Apulia

June 14, 2024

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Prime Minister's meeting with Prime Minister of UK on the sidelines of the G7 Summit

India - Ministry of External Affairs

June 14, 2024

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Rishi Sunak of the United Kingdom on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Apulia, Italy, today. PM Sunak congratulated PM on his historic third consecutive term. The two leaders reaffirmed the shared commitment of both countries to further strengthen bilateral relations.

2.a The leaders discussed the implementation of the Roadmap 2030 and expressed happiness on progress in all areas of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership including regular high level political consultations, defence and security, trade and economic collaboration, critical and high technology sectors and people-to-people ties. They also expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the Free Trade Agreement negotiations between the two countries. Both leaders also discussed regional and multilateral matters of mutual interest.

3.a Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi extended his best wishes to the people of the United Kingdom as they prepare for general elections next month.

Apulia

June 14, 2024

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 Flash

The Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) announced on Friday that EU ambassadors agreed "in principle" on the negotiating frameworks for the accession talks of Ukraine and Moldova.

The presidency revealed on its official social media account on X that the first intergovernmental conferences will be convened on June 25 when European affairs ministers are scheduled to meet in Luxembourg.

A European Commission spokesperson has said a week ago that both countries had met all the necessary steps for accession negotiations to formally begin.

The 27 EU member states must unanimously agree to start the negotiations, which typically take years to conclude.

Moldova applied for EU membership in March 2022, while Ukraine applied in February of the same year. Both countries were granted candidate status in June 2022. In December last year, EU leaders agreed to open membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova.










Prime Minister's meeting with President of France on the sidelines of the G7 Summit

India - Ministry of External Affairs

June 14, 2024

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and President of the French Republic H.E. Mr. Emmanuel Macron, held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Apulia, Italy, today. PM thanked President Macron for his warm wishes on assuming office for the third consecutive term.

2.The two leaders reviewed India-France bilateral relations, focusing on the 'Horizon 2047' Roadmap and the Indo-Pacific Roadmap. Discussions included cooperation in defence, nuclear, space, education, climate action, digital public infrastructure, connectivity and cultural initiatives such as the National Museum partnership and enhancing people-to-people ties. They agreed to further intensify strategic defence cooperation with increased focus on 'Make in India'.

3. They also agreed to expand cooperation in the realms of AI, critical and emerging technologies, energy and sports, while working closely in context of the forthcoming AI Summit and United Nations Oceans Conference, both to be hosted in France in 2025.

4. The two leaders also exchanged views on key global and regional issues. They emphasized that a strong and trusted Strategic Partnership between India and France is crucial for a stable and prosperous global order and agreed to work closely to make it scale greater heights.

5. Prime Minister extended his best wishes to President Macron for the forthcoming Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Apulia

June 14, 2024

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Petroleum Min: Russia to invest in Iran's new oil fields

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 14, 2024

Moscow, IRNA -- Iranian Petroleum Minister Javad Owji has said that the Russian Federation will invest in Iran's oil fields.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Owji said that all the items on the agenda of the relations between the two countries during the last three years were reviewed in the meeting with the Russian head of Iran-Russian joint economic commission, and among which was Russia's investment in Iran's new oil fields.

The progress in the field of industry and oil and gas, power plants, nuclear power plant number two Bushehr, banking, North-South corridor and Rasht-Astara railway were reviewed, he added.

The two sides discussed solving challenges in joint projects, he said, noting that new agreements and decisions were made, especially in the oil and gas and petrochemical industries.

Currently, seven oil fields are being developed in Iran with the investment of various Russian companies, he said.

Today, 220,000 barrels of Iran's oil production are from those fields in Iran in which the Russians have invested, Owji said.

Iranian experts are currently meeting the requirements of Russian companies in the upstream and downstream fields of the oil industry, and in turn, some of the requirements of the Iranian oil and gas industry are being met by Russian companies, he added.

9376**9417



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Iran, Russia 'resolute' on deepening all-out ties, implementing all deals

Iran Press TV

Friday, 14 June 2024 2:38 PM

Top Iranian and Russian officials have reiterated their firm determination to strengthen bilateral relations and implement the agreements previously reached between the two countries in various fields.

Iranian Minister of Petroleum Javad Owji and Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak held talks on issues of common interests in Moscow on Friday.

Owji said Tehran and Moscow have taken steps and signed various agreements to develop relations in various fields and will resolutely continue to take further strides in this regard.

He hailed measures conducted by the two countries' joint economic committee to improve relations and expressed Tehran's readiness to further enhance energy cooperation with Moscow.

Novak, for his part, said Moscow is resolute on strengthening cooperation with Tehran and stressed the importance of implementing bilateral agreements as soon as possible.

Iran and Russia have close relations in all sectors and will continue to foster cooperation, he added.

In a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, Iran's interim President Mohammad Mokhber pointed to strategic and established bilateral relations based on unchanging principles and said complete implementation of all the agreements, including in the areas of trade, transit, and energy, forms the principal agenda of mutual ties.

Iran and Russia has signed a 10-year cooperation deal that was lengthened to 20 years through two five-year extensions. The major deal that is expected to elevate relations between the two allies to a new level.

The two sides has sought to develop bilateral strategic cooperation, which may determine their future relations for the next twenty years.

In Late March, Tehran expressed hope that the long-term strategic cooperation agreement with Russia will be finalized soon.

Russia to invest in new Iranian oil fields: Owji

The petroleum minister also said Russia is investing in the development of seven oil fields inside Iran.

Russia has invested in production of 220,000 barrels of oil in Iran's oil fields, he noted.

He said the two countries have held talks about Russia's investment in new Iranian oil fields.

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Iran: Russia ties strategic, founded on unchanging principles

Iran Press TV

Friday, 14 June 2024 1:49 AM

Interim Iranian President Mohammad Mokhber has described the country's relations with Russia as strategic and founded upon unchanging principles.

Mokhber made the remarks on Thursday, speaking on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Complete implementation of all the agreements that have been clinched [between the two sides], including in the areas of trade, transit, and energy, forms the principal agenda of the bilateral ties," the Iranian official said.

The Islamic Republic was determined to implement those agreements, he reasserted.

Mokhber went on to review the process of the Islamic Republic's bilateral and multilateral cooperation with Russia, especially concerning the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), the BRICS group of emerging economies, and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

In this context, he laid emphasis on reinforcement of the legal bases of the Russo-Iranian cooperation.

Putin, for his part, considered the level of cooperation and the pace of expansion of economic relations between the two sides to be very favorable and satisfactory.

He described the pending comprehensive cooperation agreement -- a major deal that is expected to elevate relations between the two allied countries to a new level -- as a proper legal basis for expansion of the mutual ties.

The Russian head of state likewise considered full implementation of the standing bilateral agreements, especially in the areas of transport and energy, to form the principal agenda of the bilateral ties.

He described the 2023 conclusion of a free trade agreement between Tehran and the EAEU as a proper basis for further development, enhancement, and dynamism of the Russo-Iranian trade.

Putin concluded his remarks by wishing the Iranian nation success in the Islamic Republic's upcoming snap presidential elections, which are slated to be held on June 28.

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Allied ethnic forces capture junta-occupied buildings in Myanmar

Rebel forces have been battling the junta in a western township capital since early June.

By RFA Burmese 2024.06.14 -- Five ethnic armed groups have joined forces to fight the junta for a township in Myanmar's west, a group member told Radio Free Asia on Friday.

Chin Defense Forces, an umbrella term for several allied groups opposing the junta and active in seven of Chin state's nine townships, captured an administration office and a police station in Matupi township on Tuesday.

Matupi-based junta Infantry Battalion 304 is using heavy weapons and its air force counterparts, said a member of the Chin Defense Forces.

"Now, the [township's] administration office and police station were captured by our forces, but we are monitoring the situation for more airstrikes," he said, asking to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals. "We're continuing to attack the junta's infantry battalion."

Following clashes over Matupi town in early June, the junta sent reinforcements and tightened the perimeter around the buildings, he added.

Chin Defense Forces Brigade 1 is composed of three allied groups, including Zoland's People's Defence Force, Mindat Chin Defense Force and Chin National Defense Force.

Other rebel armies, including the Rakhine-based Arakan Army and Magway-based Yaw Army, have also teamed to drive the junta out of Matupi, he said.

He did not disclose the number of casualties for the junta or Chin Defense Forces.

More than 8,000 people live in Matupi town, but nearly all have fled into nearby villages and India's Mizoram, which neighbors Chin state, since 2023 when conflict began escalating between ethnic insurgent groups and the junta, residents said.

RFA phoned Chin state's junta spokesperson Aung Cho for more information on the Chin Defense Force's capture, but calls went unanswered.

Joint Chin forces have captured small towns across Chin state, including Thantlang township's Hnaring village, Hakha township's Surkhur village, Falam township's Webula and Rihkhawdar villages, Mindat township's M'kwiimnu village and Kanpetlet township's Kyin Dway village.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Kiana Duncan and Taejun Kang.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content 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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West's arrogance pushing world to 'point of no return': Russian president

Iran Press TV

Friday, 14 June 2024 4:22 PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that the West's "selfishness and arrogance" are pushing the world closer to a dangerous "point of no return."

Addressing Russian Foreign Ministry officials in Moscow on Friday, Putin accused the United States and its allies in NATO of deceiving Moscow over the years-long conflict in Ukraine.

Putin said the US has long taken steps undermining global strategic stability, citing its withdrawal from treaties on anti-ballistic missile defense, on the elimination of intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles, and on open skies.

"Let me also remind you that it was Washington that undermined strategic stability by announcing a unilateral withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty," Putin noted.

He added that Washington and its allies dismantled a confidence-building mechanism that had been active in Europe for a long time.

Putin said this misguided policy has led to an "extremely dangerous state of affairs," alluding that this might lead to a nuclear showdown threatening the whole world.

"Ultimately, the selfishness and arrogance of Western states have led to the current extremely dangerous state of affairs. We have come unacceptably close to the point of no return," TASS quoted Putin as saying.

"Calls for a strategic defeat of Russia, which possesses the largest arsenal of nuclear weapons, demonstrate the utter adventurism of Western politicians. They are either unaware of the scale of the threat they themselves pose or are simply obsessed with the belief in their own impunity and their own exceptionalism," he said.

The Russian president said the West has also adopted misguided policies towards the Middle East, South Caucasus and Central Asia, leading to unfavorable outcomes.

"Two years ago, at the NATO summit in Madrid, they announced that the alliance would now deal with security issues not only in the Euro-Atlantic region but also in the Asia-Pacific region. It is obvious that behind this there is an attempt to step up pressure on those countries in the region whose development they are out to impede," Putin said. "As you know, our country, Russia, is high on this list."

Need for new security system

Putin stressed that the "Western model" of global security has effectively collapsed and that the world requires a new and more stable system in its place.

"Obviously, we are witnessing the collapse of the Euro-Atlantic security system. Today it simply does not exist, it needs to be essentially created anew," Putin said.

"All this requires us, together with our partners, with all interested countries, and there are many of them, to work out our own options for ensuring security in Eurasia, proposing them then for wider international discussion."

The Russian president said his government was ready to discuss a new security system with every party, including the NATO alliance.

'West cheated Russia on Ukraine'

Addressing the origins of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Putin reiterated Moscow's position that the failure of Ukraine and its allies in the West to uphold commitments in the 2015 Minsk agreements forced Russia to launch its operations against Ukrainian forces.

Putin said that "the Minsk agreements were concluded in 2015."

"We took their implementation very seriously and hoped that we would be able to resolve the situation within the framework of the peace process and international law," he said.

"But everything was ultimately rejected. Kiev simply threw the Minsk agreements into the trash. As representatives of the Ukrainian elite later confessed, they were not satisfied with any of the articles in these documents; they simply lied and dodged as best they could," Putin said.

He said the then-leaders of Germany and France, who co-authored the agreements, also didn't want the implementation of the deal and were only trying to buy time for Ukraine to put together its armed forces using weapons they sent to it.

"They just cheated us once again, deceived us," the Russian president lamented.

"Instead of a real peace process, instead of a policy of reintegration and national reconciliation, which Kyiv loved to talk about, Donbass was shelled for eight years. They staged terrorist attacks, murders, and organized a severe blockade," he said.

"All these years, the residents of Donbass (women, children, old people) were declared 'second-class' people... What is this if not genocide in the center of Europe in the 21st century? And in Europe and the US, they pretended that nothing was happening, that no one noticed anything."

The Russian president said they had no option but to act to prevent what he called a "catastrophe", leading Russian forces to enter Russian-speaking regions in Western Ukraine in 2022.

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The Week In Russia: Summits, Sanctions, And Double-Talk About Talks

By Steve Gutterman June 14, 2024

Washington and the West took a series of steps to shore up Ukraine's defenses and weaken Russia's war effort. Meanwhile, a confident-sounding Putin spoke about peace talks -- but signaled a strong appetite for more war.



Here are some of the key developments in Russia over the past week and some of the takeaways going forward.

Listen Carefully

Russian President Vladimir Putin frequently says one thing first and then something else, sometimes the exact opposite, in the next breath. So, if you pay too much attention to part of a sentence, a statement, or a combative rant against the West, you risk taking away the wrong takeaway.



This manner of speaking works both ways. Sometimes, Putin will hide a climbdown or concession in a thicket of pugnacious rhetoric. Other times, conciliatory words will be followed by language that is not so conciliatory at all.



The latter is certainly the case in some of Putin's statements about the prospects for talks to halt or end the war he is waging against Ukraine, including remarks he made last week at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum - once a showcase of Putin's Russia for a global audience but now a sign of its isolation from and confrontation with the West.



Lofted a question about peace negotiations by the moderator, the loyal and hawkish analyst and commentator Sergei Karaganov, Putin started by denigrating Ukraine and the West with what he said was a quote from Soviet dictator Josef Stalin to the effect that one can't choose one's conversation partners.



He went on to repeat a theme he's turned to several times lately, citing several articles of the Ukrainian Constitution in an effort to cast doubt on the legitimacy of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and then suggested there were others in Ukraine with whom Russia could negotiate.



"We are ready for these negotiations," Putin said - and proceeded to make amply clear that he is not ready, unless the talks are held on Russia's terms and take a number of Russian demands, as well as Russia's baseless claim that a large swath of eastern and southern Ukraine is now part of Russia, as a starting point.



At a minimum, Putin said, any negotiations should "take as their foundation" agreements that Moscow claims were reached in Istanbul shortly after he launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

'Achieving War Aims Through Diplomacy'

According to Daniel Szeligowski, senior research fellow on Ukraine at the Polish Institute of International Affairs, the reference to Istanbul meant Putin was saying "he would negotiate provided we accept his demands from March-April 2022, which entail far-reaching disarmament of Ukraine, curtailment of its sovereignty," and acceptance of "Russian influence on the internal politics of Ukraine."



"In other words, Putin says he is ready to get back to the discussion about Ukraine's surrender, as if it was still March-April 2022," when Ukraine had not finished repelling the Russian assault on Kyiv and had not yet regained substantial amounts of territory in the east and south in successful counteroffensives later the same year.



Foreign policy analyst Vladimir Frolov suggested that if a deal on those terms were reached, Russia "would be achieving war aims through diplomacy" and that for Ukraine, it would mean "demilitarization, loss of territory, and a change of government."

In addition to his reference to Istanbul, Putin said that any talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine "must proceed from the realities of today."



At the very least, this means that Russia would seek to retain almost all of the territory in Ukraine that it now occupies, which is roughly one-fifth of the country: all of Crimea and parts of four mainland regions that it claims, formally but without grounds, as its own.

But on June 14, Putin set out conditions more plainly than he has in the past, saying Russia would start peace talks only if Ukraine starts withdrawing troops from the four mainland regions Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson -- and renounces its ambition of joining NATO.

These demands are unacceptable to Kyiv, which says Russia must withdraw its forces from Ukraine.



However clear his statements and signals are to some listeners, Putin may have been hoping that many would focus only on the simplest of his remarks: "We are ready for these negotiations."



"He keeps presenting himself as the party supposedly willing to end the war, while blaming Ukraine for prolonging it," Szeligowski wrote.



Putin has cast it that way many times, both in the full-scale war and in the eight-year war in Ukraine's Donbas - the Donetsk and Luhansk regions - that preceded the 2022 invasion.



This time, his efforts appear aimed in part at undermining the "peace summit" that is taking place this weekend in Switzerland - a bid by Kyiv to rally support from around the globe. Russia is not invited and has said it wouldn't attend if it were.

'Despicable And Appalling'

The meeting on Lake Lucerne may not bring peace in Ukraine much closer, but it is likely to focus attention on issues such as the threat Russia poses to Ukrainian nuclear power plants and the fate of Ukrainians taken to Russia and held there, including children - the source of an International Criminal Court warrant for Putin's arrest on war crimes charges.

After the Financial Times reported that it had identified four Ukrainian children taken to Russia who were subsequently listed as up for adoption, U.S. national-security adviser Jake Sullivan, who is to attend the conference along with Vice President Kamala Harris, called the development "despicable and appalling."



The meeting in Switzerland comes at what could be a crucial juncture in the war.



In St. Petersburg, Putin came across as confident: A major Ukrainian counteroffensive last year fizzled out far short of its goals, and Russian forces have advanced this year, taking advantage of the fact that a $61 billion U.S. package of primarily military aid was stalled in Congress for six months.



But that money - mostly for weapons - was approved in April. Meanwhile, Russia's advances in the Donbas have been slow and costly, and Moscow's forces have made little progress in the northern part of the Kharkiv region after an initial push across the border last month.



Earlier this month, the United States gave Kyiv the green light to strike targets inside Russia that are involved in attacks on the city and region of Kharkiv with U.S.-supplied weapons, a substantial policy shift that is limited in scope but could open the door for further changes to the restrictions on Ukraine's use of American arms.

Ahead of the summit in Switzerland, the United States "dramatically broadened sanctions" against Russia, as Reuters put it, with repercussions for companies and banks aiding Moscow's military production and for trading in dollars and euros in Russia.

Ahead of the summit in Switzerland, Zelenskiy and U.S. President Joe Biden signed a 10-year security pact on the sidelines of a Group of Seven (G7) summit in Italy on June 13, and U.S. officials said the G7 nations have agreed touse interest on frozen Russian assets to back a $50 billion loan for Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Russia's relentless attacks on Ukraine continued, taking a dreadful human toll, as they have for nearly 28 months since the full-scale invasion.



One June 12, a Russian ballistic missile attack killed nine people in the city of Kryviy Rih, five of them children, Ukrainian authorities said.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-war-peace-summit- putin/32992095.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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Italian Police Reportedly Arrest Russian In Connection With 2023 Artyom Uss Escape

By Mike Eckel June 14, 2024

Italian authorities say they have arrested a Russian businessman living in Switzerland in connection with the March 2023 escape of Artyom Uss, a Russian man who fled Italian house arrest just prior to extradition to the United States.

The arrest of the man, identified by Italian media as Dmitry Chirakadze, 54, is the latest twist in the winding mystery of how Uss, the son of a powerful former Russian governor, managed to elude Italian authorities and secretly return to Russia.

Italian prosecutors previously identified six people as being accomplices in Uss's escape; three are in custody in Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia. The man held in Croatia, Vladimir Jovancic, is awaiting his own extradition to the United States.

Chirakadze was arrested on June 14 as he arrived at Rome's Fiumicino airport from Sardinia, according to Italian media.

Milan prosecutors and police did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Italian media identified Chirakadze as the founder of a Russian legal-services website called Pravo.ru and married to a Russian woman named Lyubov Orlova.

He's reportedly the owner of a a luxury resort in Sardinia and a hunting estate in Krasnoyarsk, the Siberian region where Uss is from originally. Uss's father was the governor of Krasnoyarsk until resigning last year, around the time that Uss escaped.

He also served as former deputy governor of Kemerovo, located in the heart of Russia's coal-mining Kuzbas region.

Uss was indicted by a U.S. grand jury in 2022, charged as part of an alleged scheme to smuggle dual-use technologies to Russia, evading Western sanctions imposed in punishment for Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

He was arrested at the Milan airport in October 2022, and ordered held, pending hearings to decide on his extradition to the United States.

Italian authorities agreed to let him wait out the proceeding under house arrest, with an electronic monitoring bracelet -- a decision that was publicly criticized by U.S. officials.

In March 2023, Uss escaped from the villa in Milan's southern suburbs, breaking off his monitoring bracelet, and driving east. About three weeks later, he announced his presence back in Russia.

The incident embarrassed the Italian authorities and even drew criticism from Italy's prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, who said the decision to release him from house arrest had "anomalies." One Italian lawmaker said Italy had "embarrassed itself internationally."

The United States later announced a $5 million reward for information leading to Uss's arrest.

After Uss's return, his father Aleksandr publicly thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for his help in securing his son's release.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/italy-arrest-russian-uss- escape/32993139.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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Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov inspects command post of Aerospace Forces

14.06.2024

Russian Minister of Defence Andrei Belousov inspected the command post of the Russian Aerospace Forces, where he received reports from the leadership of the Russian Aerospace Forces on the tasks of military branches of the Russian Aerospace Forces.

The Russian Defence Minister was informed that the duty shift of the command post is controlled by Aviation, Air and Missile Defence Forces, as well as Space Forces. The technical equipment allows continuous monitoring of the air and space situation over the entire territory of the Russian Federation and strategic air and space directions.

The Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation was also briefed on combat work of aviation in the special military operation zone in real time, including the use of Su-34 aerial bombs equipped with a unified planning and correction module on strongholds of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in South Donetsk direction.

Andrei Belousov was presented with the work of the unmanned aerial vehicle control group of the Russian Aerospace Forces, which is equipped with an automated equipment system and a tablet terminal for visualising the operational situation and sharing data. The operators of this group receive information from the UAVs in real time and process video flows using artificial intelligence technologies to detect and recognise enemy objects.

During the report, Andrei Belousov was presented with data on the objective control of the combat operations of reconnaissance and strike systems and the elimination of military hardware and manpower of the enemy.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Andrei Belousov and Aleksei Dyumin hold joint meeting on supplying drones to military units of Russian Defence Ministry

14.06.2024

The National Centre for State Defence Control of the Russian Federation hosted a joint teleconference between adviser to the President of the Russian Federation Alexei Dyumin and Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation Andrei Belousov on the issues of cooperation with the country's constituent entities with regard to the supply of unmanned aerial vehicles and training in their use.

Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation Aleksei Dyumin stressed the need to improve the effectiveness of interaction and coordination between the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and the regional business with the Ministry of Defence in the development and production of unmanned aerial vehicles, electronic warfare, and reconnaissance means, and other high-tech products.

Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov noted that the constituent entities of the Russian Federation have been providing great assistance to the troops since the very beginning of the special military operation in the areas of supply of military equipment. These include the procurement and supply of drones, 'trench' electronic warfare means, wheeled vehicles, elements of armoured protection, and other equipment directly to the units. He noted that there was currently a need to regularise and coordinate the supply of separate equipment to the front line, especially electronic warfare and reconnaissance equipment.

The Russian Defence Minister stressed the need to pay attention to the proposed cooperation arrangements and to use them when organising assistance to the troops. According to Andrei Belousov, it will help to avoid excessive variability of products on the front line and increase the efficiency of the use of equipment supplied by regions.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Putin Proposes Creation of New Security System in Eurasia

Sputnik News

20240614

The Russian president emphasized the need to start a broad discussion on a new system of bilateral and multilateral collective security guarantees.

President Vladimir Putin has underlined that a broad discussion on a new system of bilateral and multilateral collective security guarantees in Eurasia should be initiated.

"We believe that it is time to begin extensive discussions on a new system of bilateral and multilateral collective security guarantees in Eurasia. At the same time, in the long run, the military presence of external powers in the Eurasian region should be gradually reduced," he said at a meeting with the top officials of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"All this requires us, together with partners and all interested parties, and there are many, to develop our options for ensuring security in Eurasia and then propose them for broad international discussion," the president added.

Putin noted that this concerns the formation of a framework for equal and indivisible security.

He emphasized the need to promote the idea of a Eurasian security system by intensifying dialogue within the Union State, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The issue of security deficits and mutual trust is not limited to Eurasia; tensions are observed everywhere.

"The essence of our proposals is to create such a system in which all states would be confident in their own security. Then, by the way, we will be able to approach the resolution of many conflicts that exist today in a different, truly constructive way. The problems of security deficits and mutual trust are not limited to the Eurasian continent; growing tensions are observed everywhere," said the president.

A Sputnik

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No Country Immune From NATO Attack, Putin Warns

Sputnik News

20240614

With the world rapidly changing, things will no longer be as they were before. Today, the global political landscape, the economy, and technological competition are all evolving at breakneck speed. President Vladimir Putin stated at a meeting with top officials of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"The world is changing rapidly. Nothing will be like it was before, not global politics, not the economy, nor technological competition," the president clarified.

"This endeavor, in today's challenging and rapidly changing realities, demands even greater concentration of effort and initiative towards resilience: not only the ability to respond to current challenges but also to shape our own, long-term agenda. Alongside our partners, we should propose and discuss, within an open and constructive dialogue, solutions to those fundamental questions that concern not only us but the entire global community," he stressed.

Multipolar World Order

Russian President Vladimir Putin has emphasized that the cornerstone of this emerging reality is the establishment of a multipolar world order.

"Today, the outlines of a multipolar and multilateral world order are being formed based on the new political and economic reality. This process highlights the inherent human diversity of culture and civilization, despite ongoing efforts at artificial homogenization," he said.

More and more countries are striving to strengthen their sovereignty, self-sufficiency, and national and cultural identity. "Countries of the Global South and East are coming to the forefront, and the role of Africa and Latin America is growing. Since Soviet times, we've always emphasized the importance of these world regions, but today the dynamics are entirely different," the president stated.

Growing Interest in BRICS

Russia is witnessing a mounting interest in the BRICS organization, Putin noted.

"This vision of the future resonates with the aspirations of the vast majority of countries around the world. We see this reflected in the growing interest in BRICS, a universal association based on a special culture of trustworthy dialogue, sovereign equality of participants, and mutual respect. During Russia's chairmanship this year, we will facilitate the smooth inclusion of new members into BRICS' working structures," Putin said.

He believes that the potential of BRICS will allow it to become one of the fundamental regulatory institutions in the multipolar world order.

Putin stated that Western powers, led by the United States, believed they had emerged victorious from the Cold War and could dictate the global order, while dismissing Russia's legitimate concerns with evasive answers.

"The Western powers, led by the US, believe that they had won the Cold War and were entitled to unilaterally determine how to organize the world. This sentiment manifested in the relentless expansion of the North Atlantic bloc, both geographically and gradually. To our legitimate questions, they responded with excuses, claiming that no one intended to attack Russia and that NATO's expansion was not directed against Russia," the head of state maintained.

NATO Cranking Up Pressure on Other Countries

The US-led Transatlantic bloc is seeking to ramp up pressure on nation-states it seeks to constrain, such as Russia.

"Two years ago, at the NATO summit in Madrid, it was announced that the Alliance would now address security issues not only in the Euro-Atlantic region but also in the Asia-Pacific. They claim that their involvement is indispensable there too. Clearly, this move is an attempt to ramp up pressure on the countries in the region whose development they intend to curb. Notably, our country, Russia, is high on that list," said Putin.

The president emphasized that NATO's diplomacy often includes accusing a country and then unleashing its full force against it.

"The main principle of NATO-style diplomacy was displayed in all its glory. [but it proved] to be deeply flawed and inadequate in resolving complex internal conflicts. Specifically, the approach involved singling out one of the parties, which for some reason they do not particularly like, accuse them of all sins, and unleashing all political, informational, and military power, economic sanctions, and restrictions against them," he said.

Putin emphasized that no country in the world is safe from becoming a target of NATO's attack.

"These same approaches were later applied in various regions of the world, including Iraq, Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. Unfortunately, in each case, they only served to worsen existing problems, shatter the lives of millions, dismantle states, create humanitarian and social disasters, and terrorist enclaves. In fact, no country in the world is safe from being added to this dismal list," Putin indicated.

Stealing Russian assets is yet another example of the Western eagerness to violate global rules. Vladimir Putin has stressed that this action will not go unpunished.

"Western countries have now frozen Russian assets and reserves. ..But despite all the chicanery, the theft will remain the theft and will not go unpunished," Putin said.

The Russian leader added that anyone could be the next in line for the West to seize their state assets.

Global Security System

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed Russia's aim to further the dialogue within the UN regarding the establishment of an indivisible security system.

Putin highlighted that ongoing international discussions are focusing on the dynamics of state interactions in a multipolar world and the democratization of the overall international relations system.

"One example for instance is our agreement with colleagues in the Commonwealth of Independent States on a joint document regarding international relations in a multipolar world. We have also extended invitations to partners to engage in discussions on this topic at various international forums, primarily in the SCO and BRICS. Our intention is for this dialogue to progress notably within the UN, especially focusing on the fundamental and vital topic for all as the creation of an indivisible security system," said the Russian President.

The head of state noted that the Euro-Atlantic security system has collapsed, and a new one will need to be created.

"The global community had a unique opportunity to build a reliable and just security order. This required merely the simple ability to listen to the opinions of all interested parties and mutual willingness to take them into consideration... We have consistently pointed out the fallacy of the West's course... We are witnessing the Euro-Atlantic security's collapse. In fact, it needs to be built anew, to outline a new security framework in Eurasia," said the head of state.

He noted that it is time to discuss collective security guarantees in Eurasia and to scale back the presence of extra-regional military forces. "We believe that the time has come to begin broad discussions on a new system of bilateral and multilateral collective security guarantees in Eurasia. In the long term, efforts should be directed toward gradually reducing the military presence of external powers in the Eurasian region," he stated.

The future security architecture is open to all countries, including European and NATO nations.

"For all means that European NATO countries are certainly included as well. We live on one continent, and no matter what happens, geography cannot be changed. We will have to coexist and work together in one way or another," Putin noted.

Ukrainian Crisis Reverberates Globally

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the repercussions of the Ukrainian crisis are being felt worldwide. "The tragic example for all of us is the Ukrainian crisis, the consequences of which resonate across the globe," he said.

He highlighted the futility of the military buildup in Europe intended to support Ukraine, arguing that the arms produced for the Zelensky regime will be redundant in the post-conflict era and won't enhance European security. "Now they are forced to increase arms supplies to Ukraine and expand their artillery shell production capacities. Who will need these shells once the Ukrainian conflict is over? How can this ensure Europe's military security? It's unclear," Putin remarked.

Furthermore, Putin pointed out that the United States is investing in advanced military technologies for the future, such as space systems, modern drones, and new physical principle-based strike systems. "These areas will define the nature of armed struggle and the military-political potential of states and their positions in the world. Meanwhile, [Europe] is being told: 'Invest money where we want.' But this does not enhance Europe's potential. Let them be," Putin added.

What's the Foreign Ministry's Tasks?

All the tasks assigned to Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs aim to create conditions for the country's sustainable development and to enhance its security, President Putin stated.

"I consider it important to set out the relevant tasks for our foreign policy department. All of them serve the main goal: creating conditions for the country's sustainable development, ensuring its security, and improving the well-being of Russian families," Putin said during a meeting with the nation's diplomatic corps.

The president emphasized that working in this direction in today's challenging and rapidly changing environment requires even greater concentration of effort, initiative, and perseverance, as well as the ability to respond not only to current challenges but also to shape a long-term agenda.

A Sputnik

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Putin's North Korea visit about 'more than pleasantries'

By William Gallo June 14, 2024

When North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited eastern Russia in September, a big part of his mission seemed clear: look at as many Russian weapons as possible.

During his highly publicized multi-day visit, Kim climbed to the cockpit of one of Russia's most advanced fighter jets, examined nuclear-capable strategic bombers, and toured a warship in Russia's Pacific Fleet.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also gave Kim a personal tour of the Vostochny Cosmodrome, the country's most modern space rocket launch site, where he acknowledged that Russia would help North Korea build satellites.

Though the interactions underscored growing defense ties between Moscow and Pyongyang, no formal agreements were announced during the meetings, surprising some observers.

But when Putin soon visits North Korea for the first time in 24 years, there may be more than just handshakes, according to some analysts, who say the two sides have likely been working to cement burgeoning military cooperation.

"I would expect some sort of formal outcome from the visit, rather than an exchange of pleasantries," said Alexey Muraviev, who focuses on national security and strategic studies at Australia's Curtin University.

Russian authorities have confirmed Putin's planned visit but have not provided any dates. On Wednesday, South Korean authorities said the visit would likely occur in the next "few days."

On Friday, senior U.S. and South Korean diplomats held an emergency phone call about Putin's impending visit. According to Seoul, both sides warned that Putin's trip should not result in any violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions, which ban a wide range of economic and military interaction with Pyongyang.

Ups and downs

Russia has for decades been one of North Korea's most important economic and military supporters, along with China. But ties have sometimes been rocky.

As recently as 2017, Russia a a permanent, veto-wielding member of the U.N. Security Council a supported international sanctions in response to Pyongyang's nuclear weapons advancements.

Since then, Putin and Kim have found reasons to work together, as each wages their own campaign against Western influence.

After walking away from talks with the United States in 2019, Kim has dramatically expanded his nuclear arsenal, which he says is aimed at deterring the United States and its regional allies.

Putin, meanwhile, launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and has since fought Western-backed forces there.

Shortly after Russia's invasion, Kim became one of only a handful of world leaders to express explicit support for Putin's war.

Independent observers have found North Korean weapons, including missiles, on the Ukrainian battlefield, confirming U.S. government assertions that North Korea is providing Russia with munitions.

The development is consistent with Russia's increasing boldness about conducting activities that may explicitly violate U.N. sanctions, which Moscow says it now opposes.

Putin's visit

Putin may still proceed cautiously in Pyongyang. He is not likely to fully or explicitly abandon U.N. sanctions, since Moscow has an interest in portraying itself as a responsible stakeholder that respects international law, according to Muraviev.

Muraviev said Russia may "raise its middle finger to the West," however, by continuing to gradually degrade U.N. sanctions against North Korea.

"Russia is now under even more sanctions than North Korea, so if Russia violates the international sanctions regime, what can Russia suffer from more than what's already been coming its way as a result of its aggressive actions in Ukraine?" he asked.

Putin could also use his North Korea trip to underscore further support for North Korea's satellite program.

Since Kim's visit to Russia, North Korea has conducted two satellite launches. Though its most recent launch failed, defense analysts said North Korea's use of a new type of carrier rocket suggested Russian assistance.

Though U.N. sanctions remain a significant restraint on Russia-North Korea cooperation, both sides may find economic ways to cooperate, such as sending North Korean laborers to Russia, said Artyom Lukin, a professor at Russia's Far Eastern Federal University.

"Russia has never said that it's going to stop observing UNSC sanctions on North Korea. But you know, there are ways to manage some things like this a just look at China," Lukin told VOA. "I think Russia might follow the same pattern in some ways."

Lukin refused to speculate about how exactly Russia may support North Korea's weapons programs, but he acknowledged that Russia "seems to be the only major power which can provide some stuff which can make North Korea feel safe."

Lukin said it is impossible to know whether expanded Russia-North Korea cooperation will outlast the Ukraine war, but he hinted that longer-term interests were at play.

"I think it's fair to call the relationship between Russia and [North Korea] a de facto alignment," Lukin said. "We don't know yet whether this alignment will transition to a real alliance or not, but I wouldn't rule it out."

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Communication, exchanges help ease cross-strait tensions: KMT official

ROC Central News Agency

06/14/2024 08:09 PM

Taipei, June 14 (CNA) More communication and exchanges should help ease ongoing cross-Taiwan Strait tensions, an official with the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) said Friday prior to embarking on a flight to China for the 16th Straits Forum.

Speaking to reporters at Taoyuan International Airport, KMT Mainland Affairs Department head Lin Chu-chia () said the forum has been held 16 times, expressing hope that both sides of the strait can increase all levels of communication, including discussions on youth, religion and finance related matters.

The Straits Forum is an annual conference held between China and Taiwan, and will be held this year in Xiamen, Fujian province, on Saturday. KMT Chairman Eric Chu () has appointed Sean Lien (), the party's vice chairman, to lead a delegation to the event.

While there, participants can discuss matters of common concern, in the hope of gaining a better understanding of issues or exploring potential opportunities for industrial cooperation while promoting exchanges, Lin said.

The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), Taiwan's top government agency in charge of cross-strait affairs, reiterated Thursday that the Straits Forum is essentially a united front platform of the Chinese Communist Party, saying it is not favorable to see personnel from local governments in Taiwan attending such a forum.

Asked if the event helps ease cross-strait tensions, Lin said it should because the more the two sides meet and communicate, the better the understanding, especially on matters of mutual concern.

The KMT is a civil organization, so it can reflect the concerns the people on Taiwan have to the other side of the strait, he added.

However, Lien did not comment before boarding the flight to China. His delegation included Lin as well as Yunlin County Magistrate Chang Li-shan ().

Meanwhile, Chang explained on Friday that she is attending the forum to share Yunlin County's experiences in agricultural promotion, while also meeting with Taiwanese businesspeople in China, in the hope they can be persuaded to invest in Yunlin's various industries.

(By Liu Kuan-ting, Chiang Yi-ching and Ko Lin)

Enditem/AW

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Lai accused of misrepresenting ex-President Ma's China stance

ROC Central News Agency

06/14/2024 07:34 PM

Taipei, June 14 (CNA) President Lai Ching-te () has come under fire after asserting that predecessor Ma Ying-jeou () once said the Republic of China (ROC) and the People's Republic of China (PRC) are not subordinate to each other.

In an interview with Time Magazine, a transcript of which was published by the Presidential Office on Thursday, Lai stated he was "not the first person to express this truth" when asked about comments made during his inaugural address that "the ROC and the PRC are not subservient to each other."

"During her 2021 National Day Address, former President Tsai said that the ROC and PRC should not be subordinate to each other. Former President Ma Ying-jeou had also once said the ROC is a sovereign and independent state and that neither side of the strait is subordinate to the other," Lai said.

However, representatives for Ma criticized Lai for misrepresenting the former Kuomintang (KMT) president in interview, with the waters further muddied by inconsistent definitions and translations in a companion piece published by Time.

Although the ROC has come to be colloquially referred to as "Taiwan's official name," the KMT maintains that the ROC's constitution precludes recognition of the PRC as a separate country.

According to Hsiao Hsu-tsen (), director of the Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation, Ma had pointedly refrained from referring to the ROC and PRC when describing the cross-strait relationship during his time in office, opting instead for the more ambiguous "two sides."

In a press release, Hsiao accused Lai of "twisting Ma's words" by deliberating conflating "two sides" with two countries.

"If President Lai has the courage, he should directly declare Taiwan independence instead of deceiving foreigners who don't understand Chinese," Hsiao said.

Hsiao added that Ma's notion of cross-strait relations refers to the two separate regions across the Taiwan Strait, rather than two separate countries.

Later on Friday, Ma said he was "surprised" to see Lai use his words to "endorse" his stance.

"My argument is clear: According to the Constitution of the Republic of China and the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, the Republic of China includes Taiwan and the mainland," Ma said.

"Moreover, both 'sides' [the ROC and the PRC] do not recognize each other's sovereignty nor deny each other's governance but do adhere to the principle of 'One China,'" Ma said.

"I would like to ask, does President Lai endorse the principle of 'One China' and agree with the Constitution of the Republic of China?" Ma added.

In an attempt to clarify matters, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), which handles cross-strait relations, issued a statement asserting that "the ROC does not belong to any country or region in the world."

(By Kuo Chien-shen and Lee Hsin-Yin)

Enditem/ASG

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2024/06/14

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

Date

6 to 6 a.m. (UTC+8) Thursday to Friday, Jun. 13-14

PLA activities

8 PLA aircraft and 8 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 3 of the aircraft entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities.







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PM meeting with President Biden of the United States: 14 June 2024

The Prime Minister met with Joe Biden, President of the United States, at the G7 Summit in Italy today [Friday 14 June 2024].

14 June 2024

The Prime Minister and President Biden met today at the G7. They discussed the strength of the US-UK relationship and their shared commitment to international security.

The leaders welcomed the progress at the G7 on making Russia pay for its illegal war in Ukraine.

They discussed the situation in the Middle East and agreed that Hamas should accept the deal and release the hostages.

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Prime Minister's remarks at the G7 press conference

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's remarks at the G7 press conference in Itlay today [14 June 2024].

14 June 2024

Let me start by thanking Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the Italian people for welcoming us to Puglia.

I've come to this Summit to stand with our allies and friends...

...as we protect the United Kingdom's security, our prosperity, and our values.

And the stakes could hardly be higher.

The world today is more dangerous than it has been for decades.

War rages in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Conflict, climate change, and hunger has displaced more than 100 million people globally.

And new technologies like AI create new opportunities and significant new risks.

That's why the UK has made a hard and fast pledge to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030.

We're taking unprecedented action to stop the boats and reduce migration.

And I'm pleased that the G7 has today committed to closer coordination on AI safety...

...following the UK's lead at Bletchley Park.

Because the problems we face are global in nature - so we need global solutions.

And that's what I've been arguing for at this G7 Summit.

First, on migration.

Illegal migration is now a global emergency.

More people are moving across borders today than at any other time in history.

We cannot stand by and watch this human tragedy unfold.

The G7 has focused on dealing with the root causes of migration...

...including a new package of UK development assistance for Africa...

...and Italy's new Apulia Food Systems initiative to tackle food insecurity.

We're also doing more to combat the people traffickers...

...because we all agree that it is for sovereign nations to control their borders, and not criminal gangs.

And the G7 has together launched a new coalition to counter people smuggling.

And I'm particularly pleased the G7 has agreed to work together...

...to make sure the governance of migration is effective and sustainable.

The second area of G7 action is on China.

China's assertiveness has only intensified since our last Summit in Hiroshima.

Their actions threaten to undermine the free and open Indo-Pacific.

They've conducted cyber targeting of democratically elected British MPs.

And China is increasingly working together with other authoritarian states like Iran, North Korea, and Russia.

Around 80% of Russia's battlefield components come from Chinese companies.

That's why the UK has issued sanctions against Chinese entities interfering with our democracy.

It's why we've protected our technologies and supply chains through the National Security Investment Act.

And it's why we'll always act in concert with allies to deter China's most aggressive actions, and protect our economic security.

But we need to keep the pressure on.

The UK and others have already sanctioned Chinese entities for facilitating Russia's defence industry.

The G7 has now agreed with that principle.

So the message is clear:

If you prop up Russia's war economy, prolonging this illegal war, you will pay a price.

And that leads to my third point: the G7's complete and total unity with Ukraine.

Ukraine's security is our security.

We are in this for the long term. Putin will not outlast us.

The UK has committed A3bn of military aid every year to the end of the decade.

We're dialling up the economic pressure on Russia with 50 new sanctions this week alone.

And we've just announced over A240m for reconstruction.

But as I've long argued, Russia itself must pay for the destruction it caused.

And now, Russia will pay.

Because at this Summit, the G7 has reached a historic breakthrough.

After months of intensive discussions, we've agreed a new loan for Ukraine worth $50bn.

And it will be repaid not by our taxpayers, but by the extraordinary revenues...

...that come from frozen Russian assets, in Europe and around the world.

This is just and it is right.

But true justice will only come when Russia leaves Ukraine.

Tomorrow I will be travelling to the Ukraine Peace Summit in Switzerland.

Our goal is peace.

But let us not confuse peace with surrender.

Putin's Russia is the aggressor.

They brought war to a peaceful continent.

Wreaked death and devastation on the people of Ukraine.

Caused famine and hardship around the world.

So peace must be based on international law and the UN charter. And it must be on Ukraine's terms.

That is what justice looks like.

That is what we must work towards.

That is how we secure a future for Ukraine that is peaceful, democratic, and free.

And we, the G7, will stand united with Ukraine until that day comes.

Thank you.

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PM meeting with Prime Minister Kishida of Japan: 14 June 2024

The Prime Minister met with Fumio Kishida, the Prime Minister of Japan, at the G7 Summit in Italy [Friday 14 June 2024].

14 June 2024

The Prime Minister met with Fumio Kishida, the Prime Minister of Japan, at the G7 Summit in Italy.

The Prime Minister said he looked forward to the State Visit of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress to the UK later in the month.

The two leaders reflected on the one-year anniversary of the Hiroshima Accord, the significant progress made in delivering on its commitments, and discussed continued areas of deeper cooperation including on AI.

The Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Kishida for Japan's steadfast support for the UK's accession to CPTPP and reaffirmed the close friendship between the UK and Japan.

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War in Ukraine - The arms and military equipment Germany is sending to Ukraine

Germany - Federal Government

Germany provides support for Ukraine by supplying equipment and weapons, these come from supplies of the Federal Arms Forces and from deliveries from industry financed from the Federal Government's funds for security capacity building. An overview.

Friday, 14 June 2024

This list provides an overview of military assistance provided by the Federal Republic of Germany to Ukraine. This military assistance is delivered in two different ways: on the one hand there are the Federal Government funds for security capacity building, which are used to finance deliveries of military equipment and other material from industry. On the other hand, there are deliveries from Federal Armed Forces stocks. In total, the Federal Republic of Germany has so far provided or committed for future years military assistance with a value of approximately 28 billion euro.

Funds for the security capacity building initiative in 2024 alone for military assistance to Ukraine amount to approximately 7.1 billion euro. From these also Germany's contributions to the European Peace Facility of the European Union (EPF) are financed. From the EPF expenditures for military assistance to Ukraine can be re-imbursed to EU member states1. In addition to that there are authorisations to enter commitments in the following years currently amounting to approximately 6 billion euro.

So far already approximately 5 billion euro (2023) and approximately 1.6 billion euro (2022) were spent on military assistance to Ukraine. Additional approximately 2.9 billion euro have been committed in the first two years of the war for deliveries, which will arrive only in the years 2025 to 2028.

Since the beginning of the Russian armed attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022 Germany has delivered material from Federal Armed Forces stocks amounting to approximately 5.2 billion euro reflecting estimated replacement values. Also, more than 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers have received military training in Germany. Expenses for this training so far amount to approximately 282 million euro. Additional expenses, not calculated here, result from medial treatment of injured soldiers.

Delivered military support to Ukraine:

(Changes compared to the previous update in bold)

Armoured fighting vehicles

120 infantry fighting vehicles MARDER with spare parts (from Bundeswehr and industry stock s*) (before: 100)

50 main battle tanks LEOPARD 1 A5* with spare parts (joint project with Denmark) (before: 40)

ammunition for main battle tank LEOPARD 1*

ammunition for infantry fighting vehicles MARDER*

158 MG3 for LEOPARD 2, MARDER and DACHS

ammunition for LEOPARD 2 (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*)

10 All Terrain Tracked Carrier Warthog (command vehicle)* (before: 9)

5 All Terrain Tracked Carrier Warthog (repair and recovery vehicle)*

66 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)*

73 tracked all-terrain vehicles Bandvagn 206 (BV206)*

18 LEOPARD 2 A 6 main battle tanks with ammunition and spare parts (German share in joint project with further LEOPARD 2 operators)

50 MRAP vehicles DINGO

54 M113 armoured personnel carriers each with 2 MG and spare parts* (systems of Denmark, upgrades financed by Germany)

Air defence

4 air defence systems IRIS-T SLM* (before: 3)

2 air defence systems IRIS-T SLS* (before: 1)

146,000 rounds ammunitions for self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*)

2 air defence systems SKYNEX with ammunition*

IRIS-T SLM missiles*

9 air surveillance radar TRML-4D*

IRIS-T SLS missiles

52 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD with spare parts

2 air defence systems PATRIOT with spare parts

PATRIOT missiles

2 PATRIOT launchers

4,000 rounds practice ammunitions for self-propelled anti-aircraft guns

500 Man Portable Air Defense Systems STINGER

2,700 Man Portable Air Defense Systems STRELA

Artillery

3 multiple rocket launchers HIMARS

111,000 rounds 155mm ammunition (from Bundeswehr and industry stock s*) (before: 90,000)

21,000 rounds 155mm smoke/illuminating ammunition (before: 20,872)

ammunition for multiple rocket launchers MARS II

2 wheeled self-propelled howitzer Zuzana 2* (project jointly financed with Denmark and Norway)

155mm precision guided ammunition* (SMArt, VULCANO)

5 multiple rocket launchers MARS II with ammunition (German share in joint project with USA and Great Britain)

14 self-propelled howitzers Panzerhaubitze 2000 with spare parts (German share in joint project with the Netherlands)

20 rocket launchers 70mm on pick-up trucks with rockets*

counter battery radar system COBRA*

10 laser target designators and portable fire control modules for VULCANO artillery ammunition*

Drones and anti-drone systems

88 anti-drone sensors and jammers* (before: 84)

232 reconnaissance drones VECTOR with spare parts*

249 reconnaissance drones RQ-35 HEIDRUN*

70 frequency range extensions for anti-drone devices*

180 RF 360 fieldkits - drone detection systems*

19 drone detection systems*

93 drone sensors*

18 reconnaissance drones Primoco ONE*

7 reconnaissance drones SONGBIRD*

1 LUNA NG reconnaissance system*

20 unmanned surface vessels*

10 anti-drone guns*

12 electronic anti-drone devices*

Military Engineering Capabilities

21 bridge-laying tanks BEAVER with spare parts* (before: 19)

11 armoured engineer vehicles DACHS with spare parts* (before: 9)

18 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 2 with spare parts * (before: 17)

42 mine clearing tanks WISENT 1 with spare parts* (before: 38)

material for explosive ordnance disposal (from Bundeswehr and industry stock s*)

57 mine ploughs*

20 mobile, remote controlled and protected mine clearing systems*

500 tool kits with blasting material*

19 heavy and medium bridge systems and 12 trailers

5 bridges for bridge-laying tank BEAVER

2 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 3

12 mobile and protected mine clearing systems Ahlmann*

Protective and Special Equipment

8 AMPS self-protection systems for helicopters* (before: 5)

600 night vision goggles * (before: 500)

IT equipment *

2,000 LED lamps*

84 outboard motors

400 IR cameras*

3 Satcom surveillance systems*

263 border protection vehicles*

292 SatCom terminals*

1 naval mine clearance system*

33,190 combat helmets

56 ground surveillance radars GO12*

50 mobile antenna mast systems*

63 laser range finders*

2,667 Crypto Phones*

90,600 safety glasses (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*)

1 PCB printer*

1 antenna hub station

1,288 binoculars

5 mobile reconnaissance systems SurveilSPIRE*

10 radio jammers*

40 laser target designators*

1 radio frequency system

3,000 field telephones with 5.000 cable reels and carrying straps

165 field glasses*

1 communications electronic scanner/jammer systems*

6 mobile decontamination vehicles HEP 70 including decontamination material

10 HMMWV (8x ground radar capability, 2x jamming/anti drone capability)*

1 high frequency unit with equipment*

Logistics

62 tankers Zetros * (before: 46)

18 tank transporter tractor M1070 Oshkosh*

361 vehicles (trucks, minibuses, all-terrain vehicles) (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*)

250 trucks Zetros*

90 truck tractor trains 8x8 HX81 and 90 semi-trailers*

25 trucks MAN TGS*

40 load-handling trucks 8x8

34 load-handling trucks 15t*

6 load-handling trucks 8x6 with 21 roll of containers*

14 tracked and remote controlled infantry vehicles THeMIS*

179 Pick-ups*

30 protected vehicles*

Combat Readiness and Survivability

1,625 assault rifles MK 556* (before: 1,525)

230 precision rifles HLR 338 with 240,000 rounds ammunition* (before: 145/60,000)

331 rifles CR 308* (before: 231)

54.6 million rounds of ammunition for fire arms (from Bundeswehr and industry stock s*) (before: 50.6 million)

rescue boats*

282,000 rounds ammunition 40mm*

13,000 man-portable anti-tank weapons RGW 90*

120mm mortar ammunition*

6.132 camouflage nets (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*)

6,000 ponchos*

600,000 first aid kits*

100 grenade launchers GMG*

2 emergency power generators

450 snow chains

205,000 single module group rations

medical material

10 All Terrain Tracked Carrier Warthog (ambulance)

49 ambulances*

30,000 winter clothing sets

27,477 backpacks

1,202 Infusion kits

Spare parts WISENT

field hospital*

100 machine guns MG5*

8 dental sterilizers

103,000 tourniquets

500 pistols SFP9*

2 hangar tents*

8 lift trucks*

295 generators

168 mobile heating systems*

36,400 wool blankets

14,000 sleeping bags

Mi-24 spare parts*

spare parts for heavy machine gun M2

200 tents

116,000 winter jackets

80,000 winter trousers

240,000 winter hats

320,000 pre-packaged military Meals Ready

67 fridges for medical material*

3,000 anti-tank weapons Panzerfaust 3 with 900 firing devices

14,900 anti-tank mines (9,300* from industry stocks)

50 Bunkerfaust with 15 firing devices

100 machine gun MG3 with 500 spare barrels and breechblocks

100,000 hand grenades

5,300 explosive charges

100,000 m detonating cord and 105.000 detonators

350,000 detonators

100 auto-injector devices

15 palettes military clothing

1,200 hospital beds

18 palettes medical material, 60 surgical lights

protective clothing, surgical masks

1 field hospital (project jointly financed with Estonia)*

Diesel and gasoline*

10 tons AdBlue*

500 medical gauzes*

MiG-29 spare parts*

PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers during a training and instruction exercise.

Photo: Bundeswehr/Mario BAhr

Military support to Ukraine in planning/in execution

(due to security concerns, the Federal Government abstains from providing details on transportation modalities and dates until after handover)

Armoured fighting vehicles

20 infantry fighting vehicles MARDER*

85 LEOPARD 1 A5 main battle tanks* (joint project with Denmark and the Netherlands)

ammunition for main battle tanks for LEOPARD 2 and LEOPARD 1*

ammunition for infantry fighting vehicles MARDER*

Air defence

1 air defence system PATRIOT

PATRIOT missiles

2 air defence systems SKYNEX with ammunition*

IRIS-T SLM/SLS missiles*

15 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD*

8 air defence systems IRIS-T SLM*

10 air defence systems IRIS-T SLS*

249,680 rounds of GEPARD ammunition*

Artillery

36 wheeled self-propelled howitzers RCH 155*

18 self-propelled howitzers Panzerhaubitze 2000

more than 120,000 projectiles 122mm*

more than 250,000 projectiles 155mm*

14 wheeled self-propelled howitzer Zuzana 2* (project jointly financed with Denmark and Norway)

Drones and counter-UAV systems

243 reconnaissance drones VECTOR*

11 anti-drone sensors and jammers*

50 unmanned surface vessels*

Helicopter

6 Sea King Mk41 multi-role helicopters with spare parts

Military Engineering Capabilities

13 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 2*

4 armoured engineer vehicles DACHS*

material for explosive ordnance disposal*

1 mobile, remote controlled and protected mine clearing systems*

5 bridge-laying tanks BEAVER*

2 mobile and protected mine clearing systems Ahlmann*

2 heavy and medium bridge systems*

Protective and Special Equipment

27,510 combat helmets

725 laser range finders*

8 AMPS self-protection systems for helicopters*

10,000 safety glasses*

10 mobile reconnaissance systems SurveilSPIRE*

237 border protection vehicles*

11 communications electronic scanner/jammer systems*

Logistics

8 tankers Zetros*

20 Zetros refrigerator trucks*

41 Mercedes trucks*

2 Toyota Land Cruiser*

5 tank transporter tractor M1070 Oshkosh*

1 load-handling trucks 8x6 with 7 roll of containers*

2 tractors and 4 trailers*

10 protected vehicles*

Combat Readiness and Survivability

3,375 assault rifles MK 556*

519 CR 308

5.5 million rounds of ammunition for fire arms*

8.000 anti-tank mines PARM*

270 precision rifles HLR 338 with 9.8 million rounds ammunition*

15,000 man-portable anti-tank weapons*

2 dental sterilizers

146,000 rounds ammunition 40mm for grenade launchers*

continuing deliveries of medical material*

* Deliveries from industry stocks financed by German funds for security capacity building. Some of the deliveries require upgrades or productions is ongoing; also training measures take place.

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Foreign Minister Tsahkna: the G7's decision to use interests of frozen assets is an important step forward

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

14.06.2024

The decision of the group of leading industrial nations or G7 yesterday to use interests earned from frozen Russian assets for the benefit of Ukraine is an important step forward but the goal must be to use the bulk of the internationally frozen assets, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said.

"With its aggression, Russia has caused damage to Ukraine amounting to more than a400 billion now," the foreign minister said, recognising the decision by the G7 states yesterday to grant a loan of nearly a50 billion to Ukraine by using profits earned from frozen Russian assets.

"The decision of the G7 means that Russia's assets remain frozen until Russia has compensated the damage caused to Ukraine and it is a painful message to Putin and anyone who has hoped for an imminent return to pre-war reality," Tsahkna said. "It is a fundamental breakthrough that Estonia has been spearheading for more than a year."

However, the foreign minister said work must continue on using the main part of the internationally frozen assets. This way, nearly a300 billion could be used to assist Ukraine.

"I also emphasised the need to use the frozen assets yesterday in a joint letter sent with my Baltic colleagues to the G7 states, and this idea is also supported by the lawmakers of many countries," the minister said.

"We must send a clear message that aggression does not pay and those who cause war damage must compensate the destruction," Tsahkna said. Estonia is leading the way on this issue, as a recently adopted law creates a legal basis for using the frozen assets of individuals and companies that contributed to Russia's aggression as advance payment for the damage Russia has caused to Ukraine.

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China lodges solemn representations to UK on unilateral sanctions against firms over Ukraine crisis

Global Times

By GT staff reporters Published: Jun 14, 2024 10:56 PM

The Chinese Embassy in the UK has slammed the British government's latest sanctions against five Chinese entities, noting that they are a unilateral action with no basis in international law and China has made solemn representations to the UK regarding the sanctions.

On Thursday, the British government announced that "to crack down on Putin's war machine," it will impose 50 new sanctions designations and specifications, including five Chinese entities. The sanctions came two days ahead of the so-called Ukraine peace summit scheduled from Saturday to Sunday in Switzerland.

Experts pointed out that instead of taking on the responsibility of a major country in international crises, the UK has chosen to baselessly accuse and sanction foreign companies at this time, which is a common tactic used by the UK as its influence declines. This not only exposes its hypocrisy, but also does not help in resolving conflicts.

Regarding the Ukraine crisis, the UK government, disregarding public opinion at home and around the world, has been fueling tension, said the spokesperson, noting that this has contributed to the protracted war and suffering and made peace even more elusive.

Instead of reflecting on its own egregious behavior, the UK has framed charges to sanction entities from China and other countries. This fully exposes its hypocrisy, said the spokesperson.

China urges the UK to immediately rectify its wrongdoing and revoke sanctions against Chinese companies. The Chinese government will take firm and strong measures to defend the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises. The UK must know that any action that harms China's interests will be met with our firm response, according to the embassy spokesperson.

Observers noted that the UK government's decision to announce sanctions on companies from other countries on the eve of the so-called Ukraine peace summit, citing their role in the Ukraine crisis, is nothing more than a publicity stunt and a way to pressure China.

The UK, waning in influence, has no concrete plan for resolving the Ukraine crisis. Therefore, besides trying to smear other countries through the media, the country has found itself with few other options, Li Guanjie, a research fellow with the Shanghai Academy of Global Governance and Area Studies under the Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Friday.

This is not the first time that the UK has imposed sanctions on other countries' entities over the Ukraine crisis, and in fact, the sanctions have no meaningful impact on resolving the crisis, Li said.

The embassy spokesperson also noted that on the Ukraine issue, China's position has been firm and consistent in promoting talks for peace. To this end, China and Brazil jointly issued six common understandings on a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis recently, stressing three principles for deescalating the situation - no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting and no provocationaby any party - and calling on all parties to uphold dialogue and negotiation, increase humanitarian assistance, oppose the use of nuclear weapons and attacks on nuclear power plants, and protect the stability of global industrial and supply chains.

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State Secretary Vad Petersson's statement at Ukraine Recovery Conference

Government of Norway

Speech/statement | Date: 14/06/2024

By State Secretary Eivind Vad Petersson

State Secretary Eivind Vad Petersson's statement at Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin, June 11, 2024.

Excellencies, dear Ukrainians and friends of Ukraine

Norway attends the 7th URC to say: We will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukrainians, until the Russian aggression has come to an end. We have a 5-year military and civilian support programme, and a 10-year agreement on security assurances. And an eternal commitment to respect the UN Charter and to uphold international law.

The Government of Ukraine and its people continue to impress people across the world with their courage and creativity - to protect their people, nation and existence, from full-scale Russian aggression.

This comes with a cost. Lives cannot be replaced, but the economy can be supported.

Norway will continue to provide significant budget support. Most of our aid goes through the World Bank for this purpose.

The private sector is key and must grow stronger That is why, we have joined the Small and Medium-Sized Businesses Alliance. Norway will step up various efforts to facilitate Norwegian private sector engagement in Ukraine. A broad range of Norwegian companies are to be seen at the business fair, including the awarded flagship company Itera.

Russia's massive attack on the energy sector must be responded to. In addition to providing air defence and other military support, Norway will substantially increase our efforts towards the energy sector - including quick impact projects. Time is of the essence. Winter will be coming again soon.

Together, we must also do more to support Ukraine's important role in global food security. Mine action is key. Farmers must be able to do their job safely. We urgently need more innovation, funding and international support, in order to scale up demining. Also here, the private sector is instrumental.

Norway supports humanitarian, and human rights organizations, some who are present here in Berlin. We have a dedicated multi-year funding programme to support Ukrainian civil society.

We have joined the Skills Alliance, and the Alliance for a Gender-Responsive Recovery. We look forward to continue working with Ukrainian and international partners on a broad range of issues.

Excellencies, partners, friends

We are facing the biggest security crisis in Europe since the Second World War. Testimonies from Ukrainians in occupied areas leave no doubt of the cruelty of the Russian occupation.

As much as I worry about the Russian aggression, I am encouraged by the continued commitment from Ukraine's many allies in support of Ukrainian bravery.

We are in this together. I thank Ukraine and Germany for bringing us together in Berlin, to urge us to do more.

We must, and will, do more.

Thank you.

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NATO Defence Ministers agree plan to lead coordination of security assistance and training for Ukraine, address deterrence and defence

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

14 Jun. 2024

NATO Defence Ministers concluded a two-day meeting on Friday (14 June 2024) to prepare the Washington Summit in July. They discussed strengthening NATO's deterrence and defence and support for Ukraine.

On Ukraine, ministers agreed a plan on how NATO will lead the coordination of security assistance and training. "This will allow NATO leaders to launch this effort at the Washington Summit in July, putting our support to Ukraine on a firmer footing for years to come," said Mr Stoltenberg. With a command in Wiesbaden, Germany, NATO will coordinate training and equipment donations, with nearly 700 personnel from Allied and partner nations involved in this effort. NATO will also facilitate equipment logistics and provide support to the long-term development of Ukraine's Armed Forces. "These efforts do not make NATO a party to the conflict, but they will enhance our support to Ukraine to uphold its right to self-defence," said the Secretary General.

Defence ministers also agreed on response options for Russia's hostile actions against Allies. These include increased intelligence exchange, enhanced protection of critical infrastructure, including undersea and in cyber space, and further restrictions on Russian intelligence operatives. "Russia's campaign will not deter us from supporting Ukraine and we will continue to protect our territories and populations against any kind of hostile actions," said Mr Stoltenberg.

On deterrence and defence, ministers discussed new NATO defence plans, which military planners are translating into concrete requirements for the forces and capabilities needed to defend Allies. "Allies are offering forces to NATO's command at a scale not seen in decades. Today we have 500,000 troops at high readiness across all domains, significantly more than the goal that was set at the 2022 Madrid Summit," said Mr Stoltenberg. He added that Allies are investing in key capabilities, noting that "over the next five years, NATO Allies across Europe and Canada plan to acquire thousands of air defence and artillery systems, 850 modern aircraft - mostly 5th generation F-35s - and also a lot of other high-end capabilities." NATO is also investing in innovation, including over 1 billion dollars in the NATO Innovation Fund. Allies discussed a new Defence Industrial Pledge which will scale up military production and solidify long-term cooperation with industry.

In a meeting of the Nuclear Planning Group on Friday, defence ministers also discussed the ongoing adaptation of NATO's nuclear capabilities. "We are a nuclear Alliance - committed to being responsible and transparent. But clear in our resolve to preserve peace, prevent coercion, and deter aggression," said Mr Stoltenberg.

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Ukraine's Military Claims Hits On Concentrated Russian Troops; Moscow Says 5 Dead In Belgorod

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service June 14, 2024

Ukraine fired missiles and artillery at 15 areas where Russia troops were concentrated on June 14 as Russia tried to use its advantage in manpower, equipment, and air support to seize territory in eastern Ukraine, Kyiv's General Staff said.

"Despite the intense enemy onslaught, the Ukrainian soldiers fought back hard and effectively," the General Staff said in its late summary of the day's fighting.

The Ukrainian military said there were 81 combat clashes during the day, while the Russian military said its troops seized about a dozen settlements, and the governor of the Belgorod region said five people were killed in attacks on the region.

In the area around Kharkiv, Russian forces supported by air power, tried to storm the positions of Ukrainian units in the Vovchansk and Tykhoy districts three times. All enemy attacks were repelled, Kyiv said.

At the same time, 10 combat clashes took place near Kupyansk, and Russian forces also tried to improve their positions in several towns in the Dnipropetrovsk region. The Ukrainian military said all enemy assaults near Sinkyvka were repulsed, while battles were still going on elsewhere.

Russian troops also attacked towns near Lyman in the Donetsk region. The General Staff described the situation as under control, saying four clashes had ended, while five were still ongoing.

The armed forces also noted that the Russian Army was "intensively" attacking in the Pokrovskiy area, where Ukrainian defenders repelled 17 attacks. At least a dozen other clashes were ongoing.

"The situation is difficult, but controlled by the defense forces," the General Staff said. Ukrainian soldiers "are making efforts to prevent the enemy from advancing deep into Ukrainian territory."

The claims could not be independently verified.

In the Russian region around the city of Belgorod, regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said Ukrainian attacks killed five people on June 14.

Gladkov said on Telegram that two bodies had been pulled from an apartment building hit by Ukrainian shelling in the border town of Shebekino.

Emergency services, quoted by news agencies, said a third body was later found in the rubble after shelling caused a stairwell to collapse.

A drone also struck a car in a village near Shebekino, killing the driver, and a woman was killed in her home when it was struck by rocket fire in the village of Oktyabrsky.

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine- fighting-kharkiv-belgorod/32993632.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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Ammunition Flowing To Ukraine Through Czech Initiative, Foreign Minister Says

By Iryna Matviyishyn June 14, 2024

PRAGUE -- Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said the first shipments procured under a Czech initiative to increase supplies of badly needed ammunition in Ukraine are now arriving and will continue to flow.

"This year we will be able to procure and continuously deliver quite a lot of ammunition -- Czech-supplied through different channels -- more than a million of shells to Ukraine so far," Lipavsky said on June 13 in an interview with RFE/RL.

The Czech Republic has been working for months on a plan to procure artillery shells from countries outside the European Union and provide them to Ukraine, whose troops in recent months have suffered from a debilitating shortage.

Under the initiative, Czech government officials and private companies have worked to source ammunition rounds from around the world.

The leaders of five European NATO states said in a joint statement on May 28 that 15 EU and NATO states have pledged around 1.6 billion euros ($1.7 billion) to fund the project.

Lipavsky said the total number of countries that have pledged to participate in the initiative is 20, including five countries that have already sent money only to finance purchases.

The total number grew to 21 on June 14, Czech Defense Minister Jana Cernochova said, when Luxembourg joined the inititative with a pledge to make financial contributions. She did not say how much Luxembourg would contribute.

"We are now able to make deals and to bring ammunition from different countries and then send it to Ukraine so it can...rightfully defend itself from Russian aggression," Lipavsky said in the interview.

He declined to provide specifics, saying it's up to the individual countries to announce that deals have been fulfilled.

He said deals are currently being completed in Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Portugal, and Canada -- the five countries that have agreed to finance the purchases.

Asked about financial issues in some countries, Lipavsky said he hopes to "move from pledges and sympathies" to getting deals signed and financed.

"We know that the Ukraine needs a lot of large-caliber ammunition, and there's...a big opportunity," he said. "So we hope that we will be [striking] more of the deals."

The top Czech diplomat also spoke about the peace summit on Ukraine taking place this weekend in Switzerland, saying it is part of the bigger task of securing Ukraine and Europe as a whole.

"We have to strive for peace," he said.

Czech President Petr Pavel will be joined at the summit by the head of the Czech National Nuclear Safety Authority "because nuclear and radiation safety is one of our priority [topics]," he said.

Lipavsky acknowledged that some countries have said there can be no progress without Russia's participation, but he noted that the peace summit wouldn't be necessary if there had been no Russian aggression in the first place.

At this point, he said he sees "no will to stop the horrendous attacks on Ukraine, which are continuing daily and nightly."

"Every war ends with negotiations and with diplomacy. That's what we know for sure," he said. "If Russia is ready to acknowledge that the aggression won't be successful, then probably they will be ready to come to the negotiation table."

It also must change from seeking the total destruction of Ukrainian statehood and the removal of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and acknowledge that Ukraine is a sovereign state with international recognized borders, he added.

The foreign minister also said that the European Union must show Russia that its efforts to increase hybrid threats -- those involving both cyberspace and disinformation campaigns -- won't be tolerated.

He said foreign ministers from eight EU countries have sent a letter to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell asking him to curb Russian diplomats' movements in the Schengen Area over their concern that the free movement of the diplomats facilitates "malign activities."

The measure is needed because the movement of Russian diplomats and their family members lays the groundwork for threats in cyberspace and other "sabotages and subterfuges," he told RFE/RL.

"These hybrid threats were increasing, and the European Union needs to show Russia that this won't be tolerated," he said.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ammunition-flowing-ukraine- czech-initiative-lipavsky/32993011.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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Despite No End In Sight To Russian Occupation, Ukraine Plans Mariupol's Rebirth

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service June 14, 2024

At a recent conference in Berlin, more than 3,000 people from politics, business, and other spheres gathered to discuss reconstruction in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hoped to secure billions in pledges toward rebuilding the country during -- and especially after -- the war with Russia.

In February, a study commissioned by Kyiv and the World Bank, among others, found that postwar reconstruction in Ukraine would cost almost $500 billion.

Most symbolic of the devastation wrought upon eastern Ukraine by the Russian invasion launched in February 2022 is probably the Azov Sea port of Mariupol. The industrial city, which had a prewar population of more than 400,000, suffered widespread destruction after months of fighting when Russian forces encircled it in the spring of 2022.

Ukrainian officials from the city say reconstructing it will take 20 years and cost billions of dollars.

Deputy Mayor Serhiy Orlov told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service that city officials have a plan for postwar reconstruction divided into several stages, the first of which "covers 154 projects with a total cost of about 800 million euros. According to our calculation, there will be about 250,000 people in Mariupol within a year after the liberation, and this is a plan of how to revive housing, social, household infrastructure, transport, and private business."

A later stage involves urban planning, Orlov says, but doing so without being in the city is difficult.

"Taking into account the fact that half of Mariupol doesn't exist -- and will no longer exist as it did before -- it's necessary to have a new spatial vision of the city," he says. "It's hard to do it fully without being there, but we can create an architectural vision."

Given the fact that Ukrainian forces have been unable to reclaim much territory since a counteroffensive in the fall of 2022, liberating Mariupol seems to be a distant prospect for now. But Orlov says the duration of the Russian occupation does not affect the vision of reconstruction. He points to the Azovstal steelworks, where the last troops held out against the Russian siege.

The Azovstal plant "is 11 square kilometers, 1,100 hectares. It is now in ruins. The occupiers are not doing anything and will not do anything. From the point of view of practical projects, if we wanted to build a certain social facility, and the occupiers have already built a private one there, this affects the specific project, but not the vision of the city's development. It does not affect the transformation and this new urban vision," Orlov explains.

Orlov says city officials are looking for inspiration to other cities that transitioned from economies based largely on heavy industry to more diversified and innovative industries. He points to the cities of Germany's Ruhr Valley, Eastern European cities such as the Czech Republic's Ostrava and Kosice, and especially the U.S. city of Pittsburgh.

What The Russians Built

Immediately after the capture of the city in May 2022, the Russian authorities announced plans to rebuild the city, primarily housing. Large numbers of migrant workers were brought in to man the construction sites. According to Orlov, the Russians built 50 high-rise apartment buildings in Mariupol -- just 5 percent of what had been destroyed.

"When we talk about destruction, we know for sure that half of the city does not exist. Let's imagine: In Mariupol before the war there were 2,200 high-rise buildings; 55 percent of residents lived in the high-rise sector," Orlov says.

"Fifty percent of them no longer exist, i.e. 1,100 buildings. Seven hundred buildings were demolished even with their foundations -- they were not just destroyed, but completely dismantled, because the occupiers are hiding these war crimes."

Orlov says that when Mariupol is liberated, the new buildings will need to be inspected, and those built illegally or that do not satisfy legal norms will be demolished.

'What People Want'

Vadym Boychenko, the mayor of Mariupol, is convinced that one of the most important factors in the economic recovery of Mariupol is the people, and as long as the city is under occupation, everything must be done to keep Ukrainians in Ukraine.

"People are the factor of accumulation of these resources in the form of taxes. People are the fuse of the future growth or nongrowth of the economy," he says.

The main factor in the return of people to the country is housing, Boychenko says. Creating housing for Ukrainians is also part of countering Russian propaganda, he believes.

"Will people go to Mariupol if we build quality housing there? Of course they will go, after the de-occupation," Boychenko says.

"What is Russia doing today? It's building, building on camera. Unfortunately, today our people fall into this trap. That is, when they are told, 'They don't care about you here, but they can take care of you there,' then thousands of people return to Mariupol. People are asking for two things today -- I'm talking about the people of Mariupol: housing and justice," he adds.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-mariupol-reconstruction- occupation/32991797.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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G7 Leaders Hammer Out Details Of Loaning Ukraine Billions Using Profits From Frozen Russian Assets

By RFE/RL June 14, 2024

Group of Seven (G7) leaders affirmed their decision to make available around $50 billion to Ukraine by using frozen Russian assets as they wrapped up their two-day summit in Italy on June 14.

The leaders said in their final communique that by leveraging "the extraordinary revenues" of Russian assets frozen in Europe, they are sending "an unmistakable signal" to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"We are working together and with others to address the pressing challenges of our time," the G7 leaders said in the communique, noting their solidarity with Ukraine as well as support for a deal that would lead to an immediate cease-fire and release of hostages in Gaza, investment in sustainable infrastructure in Africa, and commitments to address climate change and migration.

A senior U.S. administration official, meanwhile, provided details about the sovereign-assets deal, telling reporters on a conference call on June 14 that the proceeds will flow to Ukraine through multiple channels.

Every G7 country -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States -- will do its part in the deal, the senior U.S. official said.

The United States has committed to loan up to $50 billion while Canada has committed to loan $5 billion, the official said, adding that the European Union and Japan were considering whether to join the loan syndicate.

As part of its deliberations, the Europe Union is currently discussing a loan that would be up to $25 billion, the official said.

Britain is considering guaranteeing repayment of loans, while the European Union is expected to provide the income generated from some $280 billion in frozen Russian foreign exchange reserves in the bloc, most of it in Belgium.

Those assets, which are generally invested in short-term government bonds of Western governments, are generating income amounting to a few billion dollars a year.

The senior U.S. administration official said Ukraine will not have to pay back anything and the loan would not change Ukraine's debt-to-GDP ratio, which financial agencies like Moody's use to assign ratings to government debt.

The lenders will be repaid from the profits accrued on the frozen Russian assets or through the countries that guarantee the loans.

Before the EU can take part in the loan syndicate or disperse the profits it must get all 27 members to commit to the continued freeze on the Russian reserves.

"We fully expect the EU27 will meet this moment [and] authorize continued immobilization of Russia's sovereign assets," the senior U.S. official said, citing comments made by the leaders of Italy, France, and Germany as well as senior EU officials as encouraging.

G7 leaders turned their attention on June 14 to other matters, including discussions on migration, artificial intelligence, economic security, and the Indo-Pacific region, stressing their determination to meet global challenges "at a crucial moment in history."

Pope Francis also became the first pontiff to address a G7 summit, delivering a speech on artificial intelligence.

With reporting by AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-assets-frozen- eu-us-loan/32993617.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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Putin Lays Out Already Rejected Conditions For Talks On Eve Of Ukraine Peace Summit

By RFE/RL June 14, 2024

Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered an immediate cease-fire with Ukraine, setting out conditions that Kyiv has already rejected just a day before a peace summit in Switzerland from which he was excluded.

During a speech at the Foreign Ministry in Moscow on June 14, Putin laid out the terms of his proposal: the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from its territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhya, which Russia has claimed, and an end to Kyiv's NATO aspirations.

"We will do it [end Russia's offensive] immediately," Putin said.

The terms Putin laid out, which have been mooted by Russian officials several times in the past, were once again rejected by Ukraine, while NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg slammed the conditions as a path to "more aggression, more occupation."

"There is no novelty in this, no real peace proposal, and no desire to end the war," Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said in a post on X.

"But there is a desire not to pay for this war and to continue it in new formats. It's all a complete sham. Therefore -- once again -- get rid of illusions and stop taking seriously the 'proposals of Russia' that are offensive to common sense."

Putin presented his conditions ahead of a June 15-16 Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland, to which he was not invited.

Leaders and representatives of more than 70 countries are scheduled to meet in the Swiss resort of Burgenstock to chart a way forward to end the war in Ukraine.

Ukraine hopes to win broad international backing for its vision of the terms needed to end the war with Russia.

A draft of a communique for the peace summit seen by RFE/RL says future peace negotiations should involve "representatives of all parties" in the conflict.

The United States will be represented by Vice President Kamala Harris and national-security adviser Jake Sullivan, while French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will also attend the summit.

Russia has dismissed the significance of the summit, saying it "makes no sense" to hold discussions on ending the hostilities without Moscow.

"This is not a proposal made in good faith," Stoltenberg said of Putin's offer following a meeting of defense ministers in Brussels on June 14. "This is a proposal that actually means that Russia should achieve their war aims by expecting that Ukrainians should give up significantly more land than Russia has been able to occupy so far."

Putin also restated a demand for Ukraine's demilitarization and said an end to international sanctions must be included in a peace deal.

He also repeated his call for Ukraine's "denazification," a nod to his often voiced but baseless slur against Kyiv's leadership.

Russia has blamed Ukraine's preliminary steps to joining NATO as one of the main reasons it launched what it calls a "special military operation" against Ukraine in February 2022.

NATO leaders will hold a summit in Washington next month, though Kyiv is not expected to receive a full invitation to join the alliance.

The alliance stated in the final declaration of last year's summit in Vilnius that "Ukraine's future is in NATO," though U.S. President Joe Biden has Ukraine will not join NATO while it is at war.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-peace-condition-ukraine- summit/32993141.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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U.S. Denies Role In Ukrainian NGO's Research On Those Opposing Aid For Kyiv

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service June 14, 2024

The United States says the State Department played no role in a project by a Ukrainian NGO, Data Journalism Agency, which says it has come under pressure after publishing research on individuals who have campaigned to end aid to Ukraine.

Data Journalism Agency, also known as Texty, published on June 6 what it said was an analysis of the political, media, and expert environment in the United States that is "influencing decisions" on further support for Ukraine in the Russian-Ukrainian war.

The project was done "independently and solely with the support of our readers," it said, noting Texty was supported by leading journalists and news outlets from the Ukrainian media association Mediarukh.

Since the publication of its research, the agency said it had come under "unprecedented pressure, manipulation, slander, demands to strip us of donor funding, and threats of physical violence that we have faced following the publication of our research."

Amid the backlash, several conservative media outlets said Data Journalism Agency had created a "hate list" of U.S. citizens and that the agency was affiliated with the U.S. government.

U.S. Senator J.D. Vance (Republican-Ohio) and Representative Matt Gaetz (Republican-Florida) called on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to send information about the Ukrainian NGO by June 28.

They also asked the House Appropriations Committee to end any possible U.S. support being received by the Data Journalism Agency.

A statement issued late on June 14 by the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv ruled out any role of the State Department in the project.

"The State Department did not have any role or participation in the mentioned project," the statement given to RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service said.

The Data Journalism Agency currently has a U.S.-funded subgrant through the National Democratic Institute (NDI). The Data Journalism Agency is also currently a subcontractor under the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and United Kingdom Agency for International Development (UKAID).

The two agencies fund the Transparency and Accountability in Public Administration and Services (TAPAS) program, USAID told RFE/RL in an e-mail response to a question.

TAPAS is an eight-year, $53 million anti-corruption program in Ukraine to develop online tools that improve government transparency and accountability in the area of procurement of goods and public services -- areas that have historically been rife with corruption.

TAPAS is the largest investor in the IT infrastructure of the e-procurement system Prozorro, an electronic public-procurement system through which state and municipal customers announce tenders to purchase goods and services, and through which businesses compete to become a state supplier.

Some U.S. Republican lawmakers have complained about corruption in Ukraine and cited that as one reason for holding back aid.

Eurasia Foundation, a partner of TAPAS, said TAPAS rapidly redesigned its project to meet wartime needs after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukaine in 2022.

The NDI said in a statement to RFE/RL it had worked with the Data Journalism Agency on projects related to Ukrainian media but was not aware of the Roller Coaster Project -- the report published on June 6 -- until it was published.

Paulina Chavez Alonzo, a spokeswoman for NDI, said the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that has supported democratic institutions and practices around the world "did not provide any funds or support" for the creation, development, or publication of the report.

Debate over aid to Ukraine, which has been fighting to repel invading Russian troops since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, has raged in the United States for months, with a November presidential election looming.

Republican lawmakers in Washington -- most of whom are allied with former President Donald Trump, the party's presumed nominee for the election -- for months stalled the approval of a $61 billion aid package while demanding domestic security matters be addressed as well.

Data Journalism Agency said it analyzed the arguments made by organizations and individuals in the United States who oppose supporting Ukraine and compared them with common Russian disinformation narratives, and "debunked these narratives with evidence and source references."

"We do not label the subjects of this research as enemies of Ukraine, nor do we dispute or condemn their right to freedom of expression. We merely state the fact that they oppose support for Ukraine and that many of their arguments resonate with Russian propaganda narratives about Ukraine," Data Journalism Agency said.

"We value and respect freedom of speech, a prerequisite for a democratic society. We reserve the right to present evidence, state facts, debunk false arguments, and compare them with those propagated by Russian propaganda worldwide."

Popular right-wing American political commentator Glenn Beck, who was one of those mentioned in the research, alleged that Data Journalism Agency co-founder Anatoliy Bondarenko had attended a State Department public diplomacy program "to foment" revolutions in other countries and has ties to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), an independent agency of the U.S. government that administers civilian foreign aid and development assistance.

The Data Journalism Agency defended its right to analyze information that is in the public domain.

"We view this campaign as an attack on freedom of speech and a display of chauvinism against the citizens of Ukraine," the agency said.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-rejects-role-ukrainian- research-aid/32992910.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Ukraine's Record Power Imports Continue Due To Energy Infrastructure Damage

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and Current Time June 14, 2024

Ukraine is set to continue to import record amounts of power to make up for a shortfall caused by Russia's targeting of energy infrastructure, which has decimated output.

Ukraine's power grid operator Ukrenerho said on June 14 that it would import 31,904 megawatt hours (MWh) of power, breaking the previous record of 29,796 MWh set earlier this week.

The announcement comes a day after the Ukrainian government said that Group of Seven (G7) member states had agreed to provide more than $1 billion to support Ukraine's energy sector.

Russia has ramped up its missile and drone attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure since March, causing frequent blackouts in many regions. Kyiv has been forced to import electricity from the European Union to keep the lights on.

Ukraine and Russia exchanged drone attacks overnight into June 14 as the Group of Seven (G7) agreed on a $50 billion loan to Ukraine using frozen Russian assets as collateral.

The Ukrainian armed forces said air defenses had struck down all 17 Shahed-type drones launched by Russia over seven regions.

Russia also fired 17 cruise and ballistic missiles, half of which were intercepted, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.

In Donetsk, nine people were wounded as a result of Russian shelling, according to local administration head Vadym Filashkin. Ukraine's emergency services said homes and vehicles had caught fire in the Kharkiv Oblast.

In Sumy, a bus carrying more than 20 people was targeted by a Russian drone, local authorities said, injuring at least three women.

Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said its armed forces had shot down 87 Ukrainian drones across five regions as well as the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula.

The debris disrupted power supply in the Rostov region and damaged fuel tanks at an oil depot in Voronezh, according to local authorities.

Hours earlier, the G7 leaders in Italy agreed to provide a $50 billion loan to Ukraine. The agreement will leverage interest and income from more than $260 billion in frozen Russian assets, largely held in Europe, to secure a $50 billion loan from the U.S. and additional loans from other partners.

Speaking to reporters via teleconference, a senior U.S. administration official said the agreement "is a signal from the leading democracies of the world that we're not going to fatigue in defending Ukraine's freedom and that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is not going to outlast us."

Separately, U.S. President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed a 10-year security agreement on the sidelines of the G7 summit, hailing it as a milestone in relations between their countries.

Biden said the goal "is to strengthen Ukraine's defense and deterrence capabilities."

He said the United States has received commitments from five countries that he did not name to provide Patriot missile and other air defense systems to Ukraine.

Zelenskiy called the security agreement a "bridge to Ukraine's accession to NATO" and said it was important for all Ukrainians and Europeans to know that there will be no security deficit in Europe to tempt aggressors to wage war and make the future uncertain.

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-power-imports- energy-infrastructure-damage-russian-attacks-g7/32992608.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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G7 to Provide $50Bln in Loans to Ukraine by End of Year - Statement

Sputnik News

20240614

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The G7 group will provide $50 billion in loans to Ukraine by the end of the year, which will be repaid from profits generated from Russia's frozen assets, according to a statement issued after the summit in Italy's Apulia and obtained by Sputnik.

"With a view to supporting Ukraine's current and future needs in the face of a prolonged defense against Russia, the G7 will launch 'Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) Loans for Ukraine', in order to make available approximately USD 50 billion in additional funding to Ukraine by the end of the year," the statement read.

The G7 intends to provide financing that will be repaid by "future flows of extraordinary revenues stemming from the immobilization of Russian Sovereign Assets held in the European Union and other relevant jurisdictions".

The group also said that Russia needs to "pay for the damage" of Ukraine, adding that these damages now exceed $486 billion.

"Russia must ... pay for the damage it has caused to Ukraine. These damages now exceed USD 486 billion, according to the World Bank. It is not right for Russia to decide if or when it will pay for the damage it has caused in Ukraine. Russia's obligations under international law to pay for the damage it is causing are clear, and so we are continuing to consider all possible lawful avenues by which Russia is made to meet those obligations," the statement read.

Russian assets will remain immobilized until "Russia ends its aggression and pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine", the G7 said.

"We will continue to apply significant pressure on Russian revenues from energy and other commodities. This will include improving the efficacy of the oil price cap policy by taking further steps to tighten compliance and enforcement, while working to maintain market stability," the statement read.

Any use of nuclear weapons by Russia in Ukraine would be "inadmissible," the G7 group pointed out.

"Any use of nuclear weapons by Russia in the context of its war of aggression against Ukraine would be inadmissible. We therefore condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia's irresponsible and threatening nuclear rhetoric as well as its posture of strategic intimidation, including its announced deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus," the statement read.

The G7 countries also said that any use of "chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons" by Moscow would be met with "severe consequences".

The group pledged to continue taking measures against actors in China and other countries that financially assist Russia "war machine".

"We will continue taking measures against actors in China and third countries that materially support Russia's war machine, including financial institutions, consistent with our legal systems, and other entities in China that facilitate Russia's acquisition of items for its defense industrial base," the statement read.

The G7 members also said that they will take "robust action" against actors who help Russia circumvent Western sanctions.

"We call on financial institutions to refrain from supporting and profiting from Russia's war machine. We will take further steps to deter and disrupt this behaviour," the statement read.

The G7 noted that it supports a comprehensive deal on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip outlined by US President Joe Biden.

"We fully endorse and will stand behind the comprehensive deal outlined by President Biden that would lead to an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, a significant and sustained increase in the flow of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza, and an enduring end to the crisis, with Israel's security interests and safety for Palestinian civilians in Gaza assured," the statement read.

The G7 countries also confirmed their support to the two-state solution of the Palestine-Israel conflict.

The G7 group added that it condemns attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels against international and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

"We condemn the ongoing attacks perpetrated by the Houthis against international and commercial vessels transiting through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. These illegal attacks must end. We call for the immediate release by the Houthis of the Galaxy Leader and its crew. We reiterate the right of countries to defend their vessels, in line with UNSCR 2722 and in accordance with international law," the statement read.

The G7 countries reaffirmed their commitment to resolving the Middle Eastern conflict on the basis of a two-state solution.

"We reiterate our 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, and in this regard stress the importance of unifying the Gaza strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority," the group's joint statement read.

The leaders of the G7 states added that "mutual recognition, to include the recognition of a Palestinian state, at the appropriate time, would be a crucial component of that political process."

The UN General Assembly voted in 1947 to divide UK-governed Palestine into Arab and Jewish states, with Jerusalem placed under a special international regime. The partitioning was planned to take place in May 1948, when the British mandate was due to end, but only the state of Israel was established. Palestinians seek diplomatic recognition of their independent state in the territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which is partially occupied by Israel, and the Gaza Strip.

A Sputnik

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Putin's Peace Proposal on Ukraine Not Ultimatum - Kremlin

Sputnik News

20240614

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal on starting peace negotiations with Ukraine is not an ultimatum, but a peace initiative, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.

Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Putin's proposal an "ultimatum."

"It is surely a misunderstanding, it is exactly a peace initiative," Peskov told the Izvestia newspaper.

The spokesman called Putin's proposal a "real peaceful" initiative.

"It talks about further discussion of security guarantees and so on and so forth, so it is a comprehensive, very deep and constructive proposal," the spokesman said.

The situation today is different from 2022 "de facto and de jure," Peskov said, adding that it is necessary to take into account entry of new regions into Russia when discussing peace with Ukraine.

Earlier in the day, Zelensky said in an interview with Italian broadcaster Sky TG24 on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy that Putin's proposal for Ukraine was no different to Russia's proposals made in previous years.

Putin said at a meeting with top officials of the Russian Foreign Ministry earlier on Friday that in 2022, he had entertained the possibility of allowing Ukraine to keep control over parts of the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, but added that this possibility expired after the two regions became part of the Russian Federation in September 2022.

A Sputnik

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Ukrainians Deprived of Chance for Peace After Refusal of Putin's Proposal - Foreign Ministry

Sputnik News

20240614

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukrainians lost another chance to achieve peace after Kiev refused Russian President Vladimir Putin's peace proposal, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik on Friday.

Earlier in the day, Volodymyr Zelensky's office rejected Putin's peace proposal.

"It [the proposal] has already been translated into Ukrainian? The Bankovaya [a street in Kiev that houses the presidential office] has already brought Ukraine and Ukrainians to the point of extreme. With such statements, they want to deprive the citizens of Ukraine of a real chance for peace," Zakharova said.

Putin had previously listed the conditions for peace talks - full Ukrainian withdrawal from new Russian territories, as well as neutral, non-aligned and non-nuclear status of Ukraine outside NATO.

A Sputnik

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Ukraine Loses Over 3,700 Troops in One Week Clashing With Russia's Battlegroup Yug

Sputnik News

20240614

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia's Ministry of Defense reported on the progress of the special military operation and the key achievements of the Russian Armed Forces in the past week.

The Ukrainian armed forces have lost up to 3,785 servicemen in clashes with Russia's Yug group of forces in the past week, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.

"The enemy lost up to 3,785 soldiers, 11 armored combat vehicles, 48 vehicles, 39 field artillery pieces, including 14 Western-made ones," the ministry said in a statement, adding that Ukraine also last 965 soldiers in clashes with Russia's Vostok group of forces and 555 more in clashes with the Dnepr group of forces.

Russia's Sever group of forces has repelled 45 counterattacks in the past week, while Ukraine has lost up to 1,710 soldiers in clashes, according to the ministry.

"The total 34 enemy counterattacks were repelled [by Russia's Center group of forces]. During the week, in this direction, the total losses of the enemy amounted to 2,375 servicemen, 14 armored combat vehicles, including four US-made Bradley infantry fighting vehiclesand two German-made Marder infantry fighting vehicles, six vehicles, as well as 52 field artillery guns, including ten US-made M777 howitzers," the ministry said.

In addition, Russia's Zapad group of forces have taken better positions in the past week, while Ukraine has lost up to 3,405 soldiers in clashes in this direction, the ministry said.

Over the past week, the Russian troops launched 19 group strikes on Ukrainian military facilities, including the ones storing Strom Shadow missiles, the ministry said.

"During the week, 46 Ukrainian servicemen surrendered at the line of contact," the ministry said.

A Sputnik

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Putin Calls US-Ukraine Security Agreement 'Bluff'

Sputnik News

20240614

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that the security agreement signed between Ukraine and the United States is insignificant.

"In the first half of the year, Ukraine has signed a package of agreement with a number of European countries, now there is a similar document with the US... If there is a serious legal expertise of such an agreement, there will definitely arise a question: who and with which competences signed these documents. It will turn out that this all is a bluff: the treaty is insignificant, all the structure will crumble," Putin said at the meeting with leaders of the Russian foreign department.

Meanwhile, the West's campaign to isolate Russia has failed, the Russian president added.

A Sputnik

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Putin Sets Conditions for Ukraine Peace Talks: Full Ukrainian Withdrawal From New Russian Regions

Sputnik News

20240614

Russia is ready to begin negotiations with Ukraine at any moment, but on one condition, President Vladimir Putin has said.

Russia today presents yet another concrete peace proposal for resolving the conflict in Ukraine. However, if the West and Kiev reject this offer as they have before, the responsibility for continued bloodshed will rest on them, Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated at a meeting with top diplomats at the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow.

"Today, we make another specific, real peace proposal. If Kiev and the Western capitals refuse it, as they have previously, then ultimately, it is their matter. Their political and moral responsibility for the continuation of bloodshed," he said.

But for this to happen, Ukrainian forces must withdraw from the entire territory of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, and the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions.

"Ukrainian troops must fully withdraw from Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, and the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions - specifically from the entire territory of these regions within their administrative borders as they existed when they joined Ukraine. Once Kiev announces its readiness for this and begins the actual withdrawal of troops from these regions, as well as formally renounces plans to join NATO, we will immediately cease fire and start negotiations," said the head of state.

Additionally, Russia requires Ukraine to adopt a neutral, non-aligned, and non-nuclear status for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

"Our fundamental position is as follows: a neutral, non-aligned, non-nuclear status for Ukraine, along with its demilitarization and de-Nazification. These parameters were broadly agreed upon during the Istanbul negotiations in 2022," he said.

Putin emphasized that Russia is prepared to enter negotiations with Ukraine as soon as possible, acknowledging the complexities involved: "We are ready to sit at the negotiation table tomorrow, fully aware of the unique legal circumstances. Despite these, there are legitimate authorities, even according to their constitution, with whom we can negotiate."

However, Putin noted that the presidential term of Volodymyr Zelensky has ended, and his legitimacy cannot be restored by any means: "The presidential term of the previously elected head of Ukraine has expired, along with his legitimacy, which cannot be reinstated by any stratagems."

According to Putin, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) remains the only legitimate authority in the country, unlike Ukraine's executive power. He added that the cancelation of elections reflects the nature of the current regime in Kiev, with its attempts to cling to power being prohibited by the Ukrainian Constitution.

"The situation with the cancelation of elections is a reflection of the very nature of the Kiev regime, which has its roots in the 2014 armed coup and is intertwined with it. The fact that, by canceling elections, they continue to cling to power - these actions are prohibited by Article 5 of the Ukrainian Constitution," Putin declared.

He also claimed that there is an ongoing attempt to usurp power in Ukraine: "The current tragic chapter in Ukraine's history began with the violent seizure of power, the unconstitutional coup in 2014. The source of power of the current Kiev regime is the armed coup, and now the circle has closed: executive power in Ukraine is once again, as in 2014, usurped and held unlawfully."

A Sputnik

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Ukraine Rejected Path to Peace on Western Orders, Putin Reveals

Sputnik News

20240614

NATO has sought to turn Ukraine into a staging ground and has done everything it could to pit nation against nation, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"There have been five, now six, rounds of NATO expansion. They tried to turn Ukraine into their staging ground, to make it anti-Russia. To achieve these goals, they invested money, resources, bought politicians and entire parties, rewrote history and educational programs, nurtured and cultivated neo-Nazi and radical groups. They did everything to undermine our state ties, to divide and pit our peoples against each other," Putin said at a meeting at Russia's Foreign Ministry in Moscow.

He emphasized that the Ukrainian crisis is not a conflict between two nations but a result of the West's aggressive policy.

"Let me say this right off the bat, the crisis regarding Ukraine is not a conflict between two states, much less two peoples, caused by some problems between them... The matter is different, though. The roots of the conflict are not in bilateral relations. The events unfolding in Ukraine are a direct consequence of global and European developments at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st century. It's the West's aggressive, unscrupulous, and absolutely reckless policy that has been pursued for all these years, long before the start of the special operation," he explained.

Putin pointed out that if the conflict had been solely about disputes between Russia and Ukraine, then the mutual history, culture, spiritual values, and the millions of familial ties that both peoples share would have facilitated a fair resolution.

Russia had initially sought a peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis, but all proposals put forth were ultimately rejected.

"We took the Minsk agreements seriously, hoping to resolve the situation through a peaceful process and international law," he said. Moscow expected this would address the legitimate interests and demands of Donbass and secure the constitutional status of these regions, along with the fundamental rights of the people living there. However, he added, "But everything was ultimately rejected."

Russia, in spite of seeking to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, was, nonetheless, deceived and misled.

"The ex-German Chancellor and former French President, essentially co-authors and, as it were, the guarantors of the Minsk agreements, later admitted that they never intended to fulfill them. They just needed to buy time to build up the Ukrainian armed forces, and to supply them with weapons and equipment. They simply deceived us once again," Putin remarked.

Putin highlighted that that Russia did not start the war in Ukraine, rather, it was Kiev that launched military assaults against its own citizens who declared independence.

The Russian leader declared that those who assisted Ukraine in its punitive operation against Donbass are the aggressors.

"Russia did not initiate the conflict [with Ukraine]. That was the Kiev regime. After the residents from a part of Ukraine, in line with international law, had declared their independence, they [the Kiev regime] launched military operations and have kept them going ever since. This is an act of aggression, given that the right of these territories to declare independence has been recognized. Those who have supported the Kiev regime's military machine all these years are accomplices of the aggressor," he clarified.



A Sputnik

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Russian Court Labels Georgian National Legion Paramilitary Formation as Terrorist - FSB

Sputnik News

20240614

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Southern District Military Court in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don recognized the Georgian National Legion paramilitary formation as a terrorist organization, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Friday.

"Based on evidence collected by the Federal Security Service of Russia, the Southern District Military Court recognized the Georgian National Legion paramilitary formation ... as a terrorist organization," the FSB said in a statement.

Due to the court decision and federal law, its activities are prohibited on the territory of Russia, the statement added.

"Members of the legion participate in hostilities on the side of the Ukrainian armed forces, and are also involved in organizing sabotage and terrorist attacks on Russian territory, torturing military personnel of the Russian armed forces and killing civilians," the FSB said.

The militia were trained by instructors from New Zealand, Sweden and other NATO countries, a captured member of the organization said in footage distributed by the security services. The training included tactics, drone operations and tactical maneuvers, the member added.

"They [the Legion's commanders] mostly marauded instead of capturing positions. They also gave obscure orders like shooting civilians who were, allegedly, saboteurs," the member said, adding that the militia were persuaded that some of the civilians had been given grenades to use against the Ukrainian military.

The Georgian National Legion is reportedly the largest military formation assembled on the basis of nationality operating in Ukraine, the FSB said, adding that the Legion was established in 2014 under the direction of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Directorate of Intelligence.

A Sputnik

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Spain Not Planning to Donate Patriot System Deployed in Turkiye to Ukraine

Sputnik News

20240614

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Spain will not supply Ukraine with its Patriot air defense system deployed in Turkiye, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Thursday.

"Despite this being a topic of discussion with the Ukrainian authorities, the Spanish government believes the Patriot missile system should remain in Turkey," Sanchez said at a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Madrid.

The meeting of the two leaders, which was mainly focused on the economy, resulted in the signing of more than 10 bilateral agreements on science, energy, professional training and trade.

Spain has four Patriot batteries, one of which is deployed in Turkiye as part of a NATO mission to protect the country's airspace from possible missiles that could be launched from Syria.

On May 27, Spain became the 10th country to sign a security agreement with Ukraine regulating financial, military and humanitarian aid for the next 10 years. Under the agreement, Spain will give Ukraine a military aid package worth abour 1 billion euros ($5.4 billion) in 2024 and 5 billion euros more during the 2024-2027 period.

A Sputnik

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Ukraine has every right to defend itself from Russian attacks: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

14 June 2024

My Russian colleague has asked for this debate in order to obscure a simple truth.

The situation we face today has one sole cause: President Putin's illegal and unprovoked invasion. The problem is the presence of Russian weapons in Ukraine, not the reverse.

President Putin's illegal war has caused misery to millions of Ukrainian citizens. In the last few months, he has intensified his campaign still further. He has increased Russia's use of glide bombs against major cities, 3,500 in May alone - a step change in the threat to civilians. He has opened a new front against Kharkiv, which is still recovering from the 2022 invasion. And he is seeking to destroy Ukraine's power sector, depriving families of heat, light and electricity, in the hope of coercing Ukrainians into giving up.

We heard last week from ASG Msuya that civilian casualties in Ukraine last month were the highest for a year. Much of this campaign is planned and delivered from Russian territory. Glide bombs hitting Ukrainian cities and missiles hitting power stations are launched from aircraft inside Russian airspace. Russia is mustering, equipping and commanding forces for the Kharkiv offensive from inside its borders.

President, Ukraine has every right to defend itself from these attacks, in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter. Ukraine striking military targets that are actively threatening its territory, infrastructure and civilian population is not 'escalatory', as Russia has claimed, but a reasonable step to protect itself. Every country in a similar situation would do the same.

We remain resolute in our commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, in line with the UN Charter. And we will continue to provide support for its self-defence.

President, tomorrow, dozens of world leaders will gather in Switzerland to express support for a lasting peace, in line with the UN Charter. Russia is straining every sinew to stop them from going. But they know that the Charter is the basis for global peace and security, and that we must uphold it in Ukraine.

If President Putin truly wants to protect his people, that is in his own hands.

He could end this war tomorrow if he stopped his aggression and withdrew his forces from Ukraine's territory. Again, we urge him to do so.

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The President Met with Pope Francis

President of Ukraine

14 June 2024 - 15:19

As part of the G7 Summit in Italy, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Pope Francis.

The President thanked His Holiness for his prayers for peace in Ukraine, spiritual closeness to our people and humanitarian aid to Ukrainians.

The Head of State informed the Pontiff in detail on the consequences of Russian aggression against Ukraine, Russian aerial terror and the difficult situation in the energy sector.

The parties also discussed the Peace Formula, the role of the Holy See in establishing a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, as well as expectations from the Global Peace Summit. Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the Vatican for participating in the event.

The President noted the efforts of the Vatican aimed at bringing peace, particularly the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.

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The President of Ukraine and the Prime Minister of India Discussed Bilateral Relations and Trade Expansion

President of Ukraine

14 June 2024 - 15:05

As part of a working visit to Italy for the G7 Summit, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Narendra Modi on his winning the elections and wished the Indian people peace and prosperity.

During the meeting, the leaders discussed the development of bilateral relations and the possibility of exchanging experience in the use of new technologies in agriculture.

The President spoke about the functioning of the Black Sea transport corridor, which makes it possible to increase exports of sunflower oil to India and turnover of other categories of goods.

The Head of State informed on the preparations to the Global Peace Summit and thanked the Prime Minister of India for the expected presence of the high-level delegation at the event. The leaders discussed the agenda of the Summit.

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War in Ukraine should not be 'new normal', warns top humanitarian there

14 June 2024 - A surge of attacks by Russian forces on the Kharkiv area of Ukraine is causing significant civilian casualties, as well as the destruction of homes and crucial infrastructure, the top UN official in Ukraine said today, in a plea not to "normalize" the dire conditions for Ukrainian civilians.

"There has been a very clear intensification of the war over the past couple of months," said Denise Brown, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine.

"On my last trip to Ukraine two weeks ago, there were 12 sirens during the day and 12 explosions. There's a constant disruption to daily life in the city of Kharkiv," she told journalists in Geneva.

The Russian military staged a fresh incursion into the Kharkiv region on 10 May, seizing the town of Vovchansk and intensifying aerial attacks on Kharkiv city, Ukraine's second largest urban centre, with some one million inhabitants fearing for their lives.

Millions traumatized

A total of nearly ten million people - children included- are estimated by the World Health Organization to be at risk of acute Post-Traumatic Syndrome Disease (PTSD) in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, some four million children across the country have had their education disrupted, and 600,000 of them are unable to access in-person school at all, according to UNICEF, the UN Children's Fund.

Driven underground

In the city of Kharkiv, the only way children can safely study is in the subterranean tunnels of the metro, Ms. Brown said, having witnessed this recently, when she visited the underground with the city's mayor.

"My initial reaction was that classrooms look like regular classrooms: full of children, teachers, full of the energy and enthusiasm that children have. My second thought was: 'but this isn't normal'. It's not normal that children have to study, underground."

Ms. Brown recently attended the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin, where 14 countries and international organizations renewed their support for recovery, reconstruction and reform in Ukraine.

Asked about her participation in the upcoming Swiss-organized Ukraine peace conference at the BArgenstock resort this weekend, she clarified that the "UN is an observer, not a member state. So, whoever is going will be in listening mode."

Hoping for 'a just peace'

She echoed the position of the UN Secretary-General to say that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is "a violation of the UN Charter."

"We hope for a just peace for Ukraine," Ms. Brown said, "and as I've said repeatedly in my remarks, the rest of the world should not normalize the war in Ukraine."

After 28 months of war, the scale of humanitarian needs is vast. More than 32,000 civilian casualties, including 11,000 deaths, have been verified a but the real number is likely much higher.

Thirty per cent of pre-war jobs have been erased and poverty increased from five to 25 per cent. Over 14.6 million people, 40 per cent of the population will need humanitarian assistance in 2024.

The humanitarian community has appealed for $3.1 billion to providing life-saving assistance to 8.5 million of the most vulnerable for 2024.

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Urging Just, Lasting Peace in Ukraine, Disarmament Chief Tells Security Council Weapons Transfer to Warring Parties Must Respect International Law

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

9658th Meeting (PM)

SC/15732

14 June 2024

Delegates Highlight War's Devastating Toll on Civilians, Calling for Negotiations Ahead of Peace Summit in Switzerland

As the United Nations' disarmament chief urged just and lasting peace in Ukraine before the Security Council today, its members - meeting again, at the Russian Federation's behest, on Western arms deliveries to that country - alternately reiterated Kyiv's right to defend itself, pointed to Moscow's procurement of arms from third States and called for dialogue ahead of a peace summit that will occur in Switzerland on 15-16 June.

"I reiterate that any transfer of weapons and ammunition must take place consistently with the applicable international legal framework - including, of course, relevant Security Council resolutions," emphasized Izumi Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs. Addressing the risk of diversion is also essential, she said, which requires supply-chain transparency as well as cooperation and information exchange between importing, transit and exporting States. Detailing other concrete counter-diversion measures, she also expressed concern over Ukraine's widespread contamination with explosive remnants of war.

The Russian Federation's full-scale invasion - launched in violation of international law - "continues to inflict a terrible toll on the people of Ukraine", she stressed, reporting that 11,126 civilians have been killed, alongside 21,863 injured, since the war began. The actual figures are likely to be considerably higher. "Such human suffering cannot continue," she underscored, adding: "As I have repeatedly stated, we need a just and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with the UN Charter, international law and relevant General Assembly resolutions."

(Note: Due to the financial liquidity crisis affecting the United Nations and the resulting constraints, the full press release will be published at a later date.)

THREATS TO INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY

Briefings

IZUMI NAKAMITSU, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs , reported that the Russian Federation's full-scale invasion a launched in violation of international law a "continues to inflict a terrible toll on the people of Ukraine". Moscow's intensified offensives in Kharkiv and other parts of the country have resulted in high numbers of civilian casualties and massive destruction of civilian objects and infrastructure. There have also been reports of an increasing number of strikes inside the Russian Federation resulting in civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. Expressing concern over continued, intensified attacks affecting civilian populations and infrastructure, she underscored that deliberate, direct attacks against such targets a as well as indiscriminate, disproportionate attacks a are prohibited under international humanitarian law and "must cease immediately". Further, the use of explosive weapons in populated areas must be avoided, and she urged, ultimately, "taking combat out of urban areas altogether".

Noting that the provision of military assistance and transfers of arms and ammunition to the Ukrainian Armed Forces have continued, she said that information from Governments regarding such transfers is accessible through open sources. There have also been reports of States transferring a or planning to transfer a weapons and ammunition to the Russian Federation Armed Forces, and that these weapons have been used in Ukraine. "I reiterate that any transfer of weapons and ammunition must take place consistently with the applicable international legal framework a including, of course, relevant Security Council resolutions," she said. She also expressed concern over reports related to the use of cluster munitions and to Ukraine's widespread contamination with mines and explosive remnants of war, pointing out that a even after the fighting ends a "these deadly devices can contaminate communities for decades to come, posing a daily and deadly danger to women, men and children and hampering reconstruction efforts".

Against that backdrop, she underlined the need for full participation in, and implementation of, international conventions governing anti-personnel mines, cluster munitions and certain conventional weapons. Further, addressing the risk of diversion is "essential for preventing further instability and insecurity in Ukraine, the region and beyond", she stressed. This requires supply-chain transparency, as well as cooperation and information exchange between importing, transit and exporting States. Concrete counter-diversion measures, meanwhile, include enhanced marking, record-keeping and tracing practices; comprehensive pre-transfer diversion risk assessments; end-user certificates that include non-transfer clauses; post-shipment verifications; and diversion monitoring and analysis. Effective physical security and stockpile management, as well as customs and border-control measures, are also key.

Stating that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has verified that the ongoing war in Ukraine has killed 11,126 civilians and injured 21,863 others a and that "the actual figures are likely to be considerably higher" a she expressed concern that the number of civilian casualties in May 2024 was the highest since June 2023. "Such human suffering cannot continue," she underscored, calling on States to avoid taking any actions that could lead to further escalation and possible miscalculation. She added: "As I have repeatedly stated, we need a just and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with the UN Charter, international law and relevant General Assembly resolutions."

DANIEL KOVALIK, peace activist, said "the US is presenting Russia with a 'reverse Cuban missile crisis'", noting that Ukraine has been utilizing United States drones to attack radar stations deep inside in the Russian Federation which are designed to defend that country against potential nuclear attack from the United States. The Russian Federation could view the attacks upon its radar stations as an attempt to pave the way for a nuclear first strike, he said, asking: "Could one imagine how the US would have reacted in 1962, or today, if Cuba used Russian weapons to attack similar US radar stations deep within the United States?" Recalling how then United States President John F. Kennedy worked behind the scenes to negotiate an end to the Cuban missile crisis even while he took an aggressive position publicly, he said the current crisis is much more concerning "given that the US does not have a leader of JFK's calibre at the helm".

Indeed, he added, the current President is actually going out of his way to try to bring about a third World War, he said, noting that the Biden Administration has announced that it will be officially supplying arms to Ukraine's Azov Battalion, an avowed neo-Nazi military organization. Outlining this group's recruitment activities, he said it has established youth camps and education programmes, including some that teach children as young as nine military tactics. Stressing that support for this Nazi organization must be viewed as a threat to peace and security in all of Europe, and as a special threat to the Russian Federation, he called on the Council to do something to stop this "abomination".

Statements

The representative of the Russian Federation warned that "the situation surrounding Ukraine is developing based on an increasingly dangerous scenario". Western States have decided to achieve another uptick in escalation, which risks catastrophic consequences. In this context, he echoed the words of the German Minister of Defence, who said: "We must not believe that Putin will stop at Ukraine's borders a when he gets that far, we should be ready for war with Russia by 2029. We will need young women and men who can defend our country." Along similar lines, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)'s Secretary General recently asserted that "the right to self-defence includes striking at legitimate targets outside Ukraine", noting that "this does not constitute escalation". Western States have been pumping Ukraine full of weapons for two years, using any means to keep the crisis in an active phase; Washington, D.C.'s elites even state that the proxy war on Ukrainian territory is "the cheapest possible way to exert pressure on Russia".

Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, Western instructors and mercenaries have been partaking in it, he continued, adding that Western servicemen are micro-managing the regime's use of cutting-edge, high-precision, long-range weapons. They are also determining the targets of these strikes, he observed, adding that "everyone complicit will be punished". Western leaders a while dreaming about vanquishing the Russian Federation on the battlefield a completely misunderstood the scale of the threat that they are creating. "Do you understand that your leadership is pushing Europe to the brink of a new great war?" he asked. Detailing Ukraine's attacks on Russian civilian targets, he said that, on 7 June, using United States weapons in Lugansk, the stairwell of a residential building collapsed, killing 6 and injuring 60.

"We are ready to discuss how we can achieve a lasting peace in Ukraine and Europe based on the reality on the ground and given our security interests," he asserted, outlining President Vladimir Putin's specific proposal for peace. It includes a neutral non-bloc status for Ukraine without nuclear weapons, nuclear demilitarization and denazification, full respect for rights and freedoms of Russian-speaking citizens in Ukraine, the recognition of the territorial reality on the ground a that is, the status of Crimea, the city of Sevastopol, Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia as constituent entities of the Russian Federation. He also underscored that all Western sanctions against his country should be lifted.

The representative of the United Kingdom , stating that his colleague from the Russian Federation called today's debate to obscure a simple truth, said: "The situation we face today has one sole cause a [Russian Federation] President [Vladimir V.] Putin's illegal and unprovoked invasion." Underscoring that "the problem is the presence of Russian weapons in Ukraine, not the reverse", he pointed out that much of Moscow's campaign is planned and delivered from Russian Federation territory. Glide bombs hitting Ukrainian cities and missiles hitting power stations are launched from aircraft inside Russian Federation airspace, and Moscow is mustering, equipping and commanding forces for the Kharkiv offensive from inside its borders. Ukraine has "every right to defend itself from these attacks", he said, emphasizing that striking military targets actively threatening its territory, infrastructure and civilian population "is not 'escalatory' a as Russia has claimed a but a reasonable step to protect itself". He added: "Every country in a similar situation would do the same."

The representative of Guyana , noting 28 months of near-daily bombardment of cities and towns and the killing of at least 11,000 civilians across Ukraine, said 14.6 million Ukrainians a about 40 per cent of the population a require some form of humanitarian assistance. With armed conflicts proliferating, Governments around the world are making unprecedented investments into soaring military budgets. Global military expenditure for 2023 reached $2.4 trillion, while the Ukraine Humanitarian Response Plan remains only 27.5 per cent funded, she pointed out. Highlighting the direct and indirect links between military expenditure and the reduction of resources for development, she called on the Russian Federation to withdraw its military forces from the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine. There is an urgent need to find a just and lasting peace through a political and diplomatic process, she said.

The representative of France noted that today marks the sixteenth time the Russian Federation has convened a meeting on Western arms deliveries to Ukraine. Faced with the disaster it has unleashed, it is attempting to reverse responsibility. Western weapons are not behind this war, he said, rather "the decision taken by Russia to launch [...] the large-scale invasion of a State which posed no threat to it". Also, Western weapons are not prolonging this conflict or weakening the international non-proliferation architecture. In this context, he recalled Moscow's decision to obtain its arms and ammunition from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and armed drones from Iran. While Russian strikes intensify against Ukrainian territory a including its civilian populations and infrastructure a France will continue to provide that country with the military support pivotal to the protection of its air and land space, he asserted, adding that "helping Ukraine defend itself creates the conditions for a just and lasting peace".

The representative of Sierra Leone expressed concern over attacks on the Russian Federation city of Belgorod and the use of highly destructive glide bombs dropped from planes on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv and its surroundings. He expressed further concern over "the seeming authorization given by some countries, encouraging Ukraine to use weapons supplied by third parties to strike targets inside Russia". While "recognizing the rights of nations to self-defence", he underlined the need for all parties to exercise restraint and prioritize peaceful means for conflict resolution. In this context, he said that the Russian Federation should have been invited to attend the upcoming Ukraine peace summit, as it is "a key stakeholder in any peace process". He also called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, respect for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict that account for "the legitimate concerns of all parties involved".

The representative of the United States , stressing that today's meeting is a transparent attempt to distract the world from what is happening in Ukraine, added: "Russia is fooling no one." Rejecting the assertion that it is Ukraine's efforts to defend itself that are blocking peace, he said that after more than two years since the start of the Russian Federation's full-scale invasion, "there are now more countries sitting around this table than have stood beside Russia in its illegal war of aggression." The Russian Federation has been strengthening ties with the few countries willing to support it, he said, adding that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has unlawfully transferred dozens of ballistic missiles and thousands of containers of munitions to aid the war against Ukraine. That is a clear violation of Security Council resolutions, he said, adding that Iran and China are also supporting the Russian Federation's war efforts. The United States will stand by Ukraine, he said, calling on all States to do the same.

The representative of Algeria underscored the need to abandon the logic of confrontation prevailing in the conflict in Ukraine and urged the parties to prioritize the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure and favour dialogue and genuine negotiation, taking into consideration their legitimate security concerns. Noting that "the situation on the ground is not evolving towards a peaceful settlement", he expressed concern about the influx and use of increasingly lethal and destructive weapons and ammunition in conflict zones. Equally concerning is the risk of those weapons falling into the hands and control of criminal or terrorist groups, as it could cause widespread threats to peace and security. "Our focus should be on reaching a peaceful settlement that could garner the consensus of the parties involved in this conflict," he stated, stressing that "only genuine and inclusive negotiations could bring us closer to ending this conflict and building sustainable peace."

...

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US, Kyiv and NATO allies blast Putin's cease-fire conditions for Ukraine

By Carla Babb June 14, 2024

The United States, Ukraine and NATO have dismissed conditions for a Ukraine cease-fire set Friday by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said he would halt his offensive in Ukraine provided Kyiv withdraws from territories claimed by Moscow and abandons its bid to join NATO.

"Putin has occupied, illegally occupied, sovereign Ukrainian territory. He is not in any position to dictate to Ukraine what they must do to bring about peace," Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said at the end of a NATO meeting in Brussels.

"He could end this today, if he chose to do that, and we call upon him to do that, and to leave Ukrainian sovereign territory."

On the eve of a Ukraine peace conference in Switzerland, Putin said Moscow would halt its offensive only if Kyiv effectively surrendered by pulling its troops out of the country's east and south. He also demanded that Kyiv drop its bid for NATO membership and recognize Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Putin's cease-fire offer is an ultimatum which cannot be trusted.

Speaking to Italy's SkyTG24 news channel on the sidelines of the G7 summit, Zelenskyy said he didn't think Putin would stop his military advances even if his cease-fire demands were met.

"These are ultimatum messages that are no different from messages from the past," Zelenskyy said through an interpreter, comparing Putin's aspirations to Adolf Hitler's expansionist drive before the outbreak of World War II.

"It is the same thing that Hitler used to do ... This is why we should not trust these messages."

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak called Putin's conditions "absurd."

"He is offering for Ukraine to sign away its geopolitical sovereignty," Podolyak told Reuters.

NATO defense ministers on Friday approved a new plan for reliable long-term security aid and military training for Ukraine. The plan comes in response to delays on Western deliveries following Washington's months-long debate in Congress over support for Kyiv.

NATO allies have said the delays contributed to Russian advances on the battlefield in recent months.

The new plan complements efforts of the U.S.-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group, or UDCG, which brings together about 50 nations to coordinate military aid for Kyiv.

Speaking at a press conference following the UDCG meeting at NATO on Thursday, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. C.Q. Brown said the Ukrainians have been able to "hold the defensive lines" and that "the way the Russians have lost personnel, but also lost platforms, is pretty traumatic."

Switzerland is set to host a peace summit on Ukraine this weekend that will be attended by at least 90 countries and organizations a but not Moscow.

The summit coincides with a meeting of leaders of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations concluding Friday in Italy.

The G7 leaders agreed Thursday on an outline of a deal to provide $50 billion to Ukraine using interest from Russian sovereign assets that were frozen after Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022.

U.S. President Joe Biden told reporters that the agreement was "another reminder to Putin that we're not backing down."

Ukraine also signed a bilateral 10-year security agreement with the U.S. on the sidelines of the G7 meeting.

Russian officials, including Putin, denounced the agreement as "null and void."

Fierce fighting continues

Ukraine said Friday that Russian forces targeted the Pokrovsk front in the eastern Donetsk region, where overnight strikes wounded at least six people.

"The Pokrovsk front ... is the most intense in terms of enemy attacks," the Ukrainian military said in a briefing.

Kyiv and Moscow exchanged dozens of drone and missile attacks overnight. Ukrainian attacks damaged a fuel reservoir site in a Russian border region.

Kyiv has been targeting Russian energy facilities while Moscow is conducting retaliatory attacks.

Russia said it had downed 87 Ukrainian drones, of which 70 had targeted the southern Rostov region that houses the headquarters of its military operation against Ukraine.

Kyiv said Ukrainian air defense systems had downed 24 out of 31 Russian drones and missiles fired overnight.

Three people were wounded in a drone attack in the eastern Sumy region and several homes were damaged in the neighboring Kharkiv region.

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters and Agence France-Presse and The Associated Press.

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Swiss-hosted summit aims to start peace process for Ukraine

By Legu Zhang June 14, 2024

The Swiss-hosted Ukraine Peace Summit will take place Saturday and Sunday at the Burgenstock Resort on Lake Lucerne with about 90 countries participating. The Swiss government says the summit aims to "inspire a future peace process" that could eventually involve Russia and build a "just and lasting peace" for Ukraine rooted in international law.

It's been nearly 28 months since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, causing heavy casualties on both sides in a war that has displaced millions of Ukrainians.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy initiated the summit to gather international support for his peace plan. The 10 points in Zelenskyy's "peace formula" include the full withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine and the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity, including Crimea and Russian-occupied areas in eastern and southern Ukraine.

Russia has not been invited to the summit. The Swiss government says there was no invitation because Russia had no intention of attending. Moscow called a peace summit without its participation "futile."

But Russia is not the only major player skipping the talks.

Who is attending? Who is absent?

China will also be absent from the summit.

China's Foreign Ministry said at the end of May that Beijing "is hardly able to take part in the meeting" because a peace summit without Russia would not meet China's expectations. Beijing said the peace conference "should have the recognition of Russia and Ukraine, equal participation of all parties, and fair discussion of all peace plans."

China issued its "Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis" in February 2023, touting it as a peace plan. But the 12 principles in the plan were just repeats of Beijing's long-held positions that critics say are more favorable to Russia.

The United States and Ukraine have urged China to participate many times before. Zelenskyy, at the Shangri-La Security Dialogue in Singapore earlier this month, accused China of pressuring other countries to boycott the peace summit, which Beijing denied.

Kyiv has invited about 160 countries and organizations to attend the summit. The Swiss government said on Monday that about 90 countries a almost half of them from Europe a have confirmed their participation, and that most of the participants are heads of state or government.

Ukraine's biggest ally, the United States, will send Vice President Kamala Harris and national security adviser Jake Sullivan. President Joe Biden will reportedly miss the summit due to a campaign fundraiser. Zelenskyy said Russian President Vladimir Putin would give Biden's absence a "standing ovation."

The White House told the media that the United States is a staunch supporter of Ukraine. In a June speech commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landing, Biden promised "we will not walk away" from Ukraine, connecting Europe's World War II fight against Nazi invaders to Ukraine's fight against Russian ones.

Also confirmed are leaders of the European Union, the European Commission, Germany, France, Italy, Canada, Spain, Poland, Moldova, Ireland, Iceland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, Croatia, Luxembourg, Cape Verde and Chile.

In addition to its Western allies, Kyiv has focused on inviting nations from the Global South a a term used to describe less-developed countries a and has made efforts to win their support for the summit. Compared with Western countries, most Global South countries are neutral or somewhat pro-Russian on the war.

Winning the support of these countries is key for Ukraine to pressure Russia in future talks. "The more such countries we have on our side ... the more Russia will have to deal with this," Zelenskyy said last month in an interview with AFP.

Turkey confirmed on Wednesday that it would send its foreign minister to the peace summit.

India's Ministry of External Affairs said on Wednesday it would send officials of "appropriate level" to the summit, while confirming that it would not be newly reelected Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Philippines, Singapore and Thailand have all confirmed their attendance, but with deputy ministerial-level officials instead of top leaders.

Invited countries that have not yet confirmed include Brazil, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Pakistan. Although Pakistan and Ukraine have strong defense cooperation, Russia is also an important oil supplier to the country.

What will be discussed?

The Swiss government says the main task of the peace summit is to drive the future peace process, including:

Beginning a dialogue on how to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine under international law and the U.N. Charter.

Promoting consensus on a possible "peace framework."

Determining a roadmap on how to involve both Russia and Ukraine in the process.

Ukraine has said the summit will focus on three issues that could win the support of various countries and produce action plans:

Freedom of navigation in the Black Sea, allowing Ukraine to export grains and protect global food security.

Agreement on a call to stop the bombing of nuclear energy infrastructure.

Release of all prisoners and the return of Ukrainian children who were taken to Russia. The International Criminal Court in March 2023 issued an arrest warrant for Putin over the abductions, which Russia has denied.

Mark Cancian, senior adviser for the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said he expects many attendees to remain neutral on the war.

"Zelenskyy will want to turn the conference into an anti-Russian coalition," he told VOA. "However, some of the attendees may want to explore end states that are short of what Ukraine wants a for example, some sort of in-place cease-fire."

Cancian said the peace summit's final communique will be important because it will indicate whether Zelenskyy has sustained international support or whether "international desires for peace are overwhelming Ukraine's desire for victory."

Zelenskyy's three issues for the summit are part of a 10-point peace plan announced in 2022 that includes the "nonnegotiable" point of restoring Ukraine's territorial integrity. The territories include not only eastern and southern Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia since 2022 but also Crimea, which Russia has occupied since 2014.

Russia has rebuffed Ukraine's peace proposals, saying it will not give up a single inch of Ukrainian territory it seized, which amounts to about a fifth of Ukraine's total area.

Many analysts believe that Ukraine's bargaining power in future negotiations with Russia depends mainly on its momentum in the war.

The Ukrainian army is currently facing pressure on the battlefield, compared to last summer's offensive, with a shortage of ammunition and manpower and difficulty recruiting soldiers.

Shelby Magid, deputy director of the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center, said in an article, "There will ultimately be a time for diplomacy, but Ukraine needs to make significant progress militarily for the time to be right."

But many Ukrainians and their overseas supporters warn that a deal that allows Russia to gobble up large swathes of Ukrainian territory by force would weaken the West and embolden Moscow to take similar actions in the future.

VOA's Adrianna Zhang contributed to this report.

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CALGARY, Alberta, June 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Peyto Exploration & Development Corp. (TSX: PEY) ("Peyto") confirms that the monthly dividend with respect to June 2024 of $0.11 per common share is to be paid on July 15, 2024, for shareholders of record on June 30, 2024.



Dividends paid by Peyto to Canadian residents are eligible dividends for Canadian income tax purposes.

Shareholders and interested investors are encouraged to visit the Peyto website at www.peyto.com to learn more about what makes Peyto one of North Americas most exciting energy companies. The website also includes a monthly report, which discusses various topics chosen by the President and CEO and includes estimates of monthly capital expenditures and production. For further information please contact:

Jean-Paul Lachance

President and Chief Executive Officer

Phone: (403) 261-6081

Fax: (403) 451-4100

info@peyto.com

Certain information set forth in this document, including management's assessment of Peyto's future plans and operations, contains forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond these parties' control, including the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, volatility of commodity prices, currency fluctuations, imprecision of reserve estimates, environmental risks, competition from other industry participants, the lack of availability of qualified personnel or management, stock market volatility and ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources. 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. Peyto's actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that Peyto will derive therefrom. The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein.
NEW YORK, June 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM) resulting from allegations that Toyota may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Toyota securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=25663 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On June 3, 2024, The New York Times published an article entitled Toyota and Other Japanese Carmakers Say They Mishandled Safety Tests. This article stated, in pertinent part, that Toyota [. . .] 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. Further, 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.

On this news, Toyotas American Depositary Shares (ADSs) fell $5.34 per ADS, or 2.45%, to close at $212.17 per ADS on June 3, 2024.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

case@rosenlegal.com

www.rosenlegal.com
Investors can contact the law firm at no cost to learn more about recovering their losses



LOS ANGELES, June 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (Scotts or the Company) (NYSE: SMG) investors that a class action has been filed on behalf of investors. Scotts investors that lost money on their investment are encouraged to contact Lesley Portnoy, Esq.

Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy, by phone 310-692-8883 or email: lesley@portnoylaw.com, to discuss their legal rights, or click here to join the case via www.portnoylaw.com. The Portnoy Law Firm can provide a complimentary case evaluation and discuss investors options for pursuing claims to recover their losses.

On June 6, 2024, a complaint was filed against the Company and certain of its current and former officers and directors alleging that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Scotts Miracle-Gro had an oversupply of inventory that far exceeded consumer demand; and (ii) Scotts Miracle-Gro executives engaged in a scheme to saturate Scotts Miracle-Gros sales channel with more product than those retailers could sell through to end users, a practice that required Scotts Miracle-Gro sales personnel to pressure retailers to purchase more inventory than they wanted or needed.

When investors learned the truth, Scotts common stock declined precipitously, injuring investors.

Please visit our website to review more information and submit your transaction information.

The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims against caused by corporate wrongdoing. The Firms founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq.

Admitted CA and NY Bar

lesley@portnoylaw.com

310-692-8883

www.portnoylaw.com

Attorney Advertising
NEW YORK, June 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Author Nation, the premier annual conference celebrating the latest trends and insights in the publishing industry, today announced that J.D. Barker, the chart-topping thriller author behind bone-chilling hits like Behind A Closed Door and the 4MK series, will be speaking at the 2024 event.



Taking place November 11-15 in Las Vegas, Author Nation 2024 will welcome thousands of authors, editors, agents, and industry professionals for a packed schedule of panels, workshops, networking events, and discussions on the future of publishing. However, Barker's interview titled PUBLISHING 2.0 - INDIE, TRAD, HYBRID is expected to be a particular highlight as the celebrated writer shares his perspectives on the quickly evolving landscape of the publishing industry around the world.

"We are excited to have best-selling thriller writer J.D. Barker speaking and signing at the Author Nation and RAVE event. J.D. has been an industry leader defining new ways to go to market and serve readers. We are excited to have him as part of our Thriller genre reader event where his fans can connect with him and as a thought leader on the future of publishing where other authors can learn about how he has advanced his career. Joe Solari Managing Director Author Nation.

In addition to his interview, the prolific bestselling author will also participate in a panel exploring adapting literary properties for film/television followed by a Q&A. With a steady stream of his works being snatched up for development by major production companies, Barker's unique insight into the adaptation process is highly coveted.

A former financial executive, Barker exploded onto the literary scene in 2014 with his chilling debut novel Forsaken, a gut-punch of literary horror that garnered the blessing of Stephen King; after reading it, King allowed Barker to reference characters from his iconic novel, Needful Things in the book. Barker has also co-authored several novels with bestselling author James Patterson and wrote the official prequel to Dracula with Bram Stokers great-grandnephew, Dacre Stoker. In under a decade, Barker has established himself as one of the most electrifying thriller voices working today.

Author Nation 2024 promises to be the can't-miss publishing event of the year with a star-studded lineup that includes top authors, editors, and industry experts across a wide array of genres and specialties. Further program details and registration information can be found at www.authornation.live.

For media inquiries about J.D. Barker's participation or Author Nation 2024, please contact Kyle Stotts at kstotts@hamptoncreekpress.com.
New York, United States , June 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Mammography Chairs Market Size is to Grow from USD 79.5 Million in 2023 to USD 140.5 Million By 2033, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.86% during the projected period.





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Mammography chairs are specialized medical furniture designed for use during mammography procedures including mammography screenings and stereotactic and tomo synthetic breast biopsies. It provides a stable and comfortable seating platform for the patients undergoing mammography screening, to get clear and accurate mammograms. According to WHO, there were about 2.3 million women diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide with 670,000 death cases. In 2021, 75.9% of women ages 50-74 years had a mammogram within the past 2 years. The aim of reducing global breast mortality, and awareness of breast cancer led to the development of ergonomic mammography chairs, which further attract healthcare facilities and enhance the overall patient experience. The growing number of mammography and biopsy procedures owing to the increased prevalence of breast cancer leads to driving the global mammography chairs market. Government initiatives and funding for breast cancer screening programs and the technological advancements in 3D mammography (tomosynthesis) are significantly contributing to driving the market growth. On the contrary, the high cost of mammography chairs is restraining the global mammography chairs market.

Browse key industry insights spread across 203 pages with 110 Market data tables and figures & charts from the report on the Global Mammography Chairs Market Size, Share, and COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Product Type (Electric and Manual), By Feature (Reclining and Non-Reclining), By End-Use (Hospitals, Diagnostic Imaging Centers, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, and Others), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa), Analysis and Forecast 2023  2033.

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electric mammography chairs segment dominates the market with the largest revenue share in 2023.

Based on product type, the global mammography chairs market is segmented into electric and manual. Among these, the electric mammography chairs segment dominates the market with the largest revenue share in 2023. The incorporation of advanced features and electronic controls in electric mammography chairs provides comfort and accessibility needs of patients during mammography screening. The rising adoption of electric mammography chairs leads to drive the market.

The reclining segment is anticipated to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.

Based on feature, the global mammography chairs market is segmented into reclining and non-reclining. Among these, the reclining segment is anticipated to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. For minimizing patient discomfort and reducing anxiety of the patients, reclining mammography chairs are used during the mammography screening. The increasing awareness about the breast cancer and its early diagnosis leads to drive the market for better mammography screening.

The hospitals segment dominated the global mammography chairs market with the largest market share in 2023.

Based on the end-use, the global mammography chairs market is segmented into hospitals, diagnostic imaging centers, ambulatory surgical centers, and others. Among these, the hospitals segment dominated the global mammography chairs market with the largest market share in 2023. Hospitals provide the breast cancer screening services including mammography chairs to facilitate coordinated care and improve patient management. The increasing awareness about the importance of regular mammography screenings propels the market demand.

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North America dominates the market with the largest market share over the forecast period.

North America dominates the market with the largest market share over the forecast period. The growing initiatives by organized screening programs for the encouragement of regular mammography screenings lead to the rising need for mammography chairs in the healthcare sector to fulfill the need for well-equipped and comfortable facilities. Further, the increasing focus on early detection of breast cancer owing to rising awareness in the region drives the market demand for mammography chairs.

Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow the fastest during the forecast period. The increasing technological development and integration of technological features in mammography chairs are further driving the market growth in the region. Government initiatives promoting breast cancer awareness programs contribute to market expansion for mammography chairs. Further, the increasing healthcare expenditure and improvement in healthcare infrastructure are contributing to market growth.

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 mammography chairs market are VELA Medical, Techno-Aide, Graham Field Inc., Brandt Industries, AKRUS GmbH & Co. KG, Medical Positioning, Inc., Mercado Medic, Hologic, Inc., Knight Imaging, Champion Manufacturing Inc., and Other Key Players.

Get Discount At @ https://www.sphericalinsights.com/request-discount/4521

Recent Developments

In October 2023, Danish healthcare manufacturing company VELA acquired longtime Tampa private company Enable Me LLC and named it the exclusive North American distributor for its Vela Mammography Chair, which provides safety, security, and well-being for mammography patients.

Market Segment

This study forecasts revenue at global, regional, and country levels from 2020 to 2033. Spherical Insights has segmented the global mammography chairs market based on the below-mentioned segments:

Global Mammography Chairs Market, Product Type Analysis

Electric

Manual

Global Mammography Chairs Market, Feature Analysis

Reclining

Non-Reclining

Global Mammography Chairs Market, End-Use Analysis

Hospitals

Diagnostic Imaging Centers

Ambulatory Surgical Centers

Others

Global Mammography Chairs Market, Regional Analysis

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 Middle East & Africa



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About the Spherical Insights & Consulting

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Phone: +91 90289 24100 (APAC)

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New York, United States , June 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Companion Diagnostics Market Size is to Grow from USD 7.12 Billion in 2023 to USD 23.12 Billion by 2033, at a CAGR of 12.50% during the projected period.





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Assays or tests known as companion diagnostics help determine whether patients will benefit most from a certain medicine or treatment. Accurate medications frequently employ these tests to customize treatments for specific patients based on their unique attributes, such as genetic composition, biomarker expression, or other diagnostic standards. Complementary diagnostic tests are mandated by a number of regulatory organizations, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in order to approve specific targeted medications. Regulatory approval for these therapies requires significant companion diagnostic values. One of the key reasons behind the companion diagnostics market's expansion is the rise in cancer cases. Companion diagnostics have also benefited from technological improvements in the type of approved individualized treatment options, which are major drivers of the market's expansion. Furthermore, during the past few years, government and nonprofit organizations have significantly increased their investment in companion diagnostics-related research and development (R&D) programs. However, one major factor hindering the market's expansion is regulatory issues related to companion diagnostics' approval and use. One of the primary barriers hampering the companion diagnostics market's growth is the shortage of skilled workers. Considering this, there is a severe lack of experts in fields like genetics, cancer biology, molecular biology, and proper medications.

Browse key industry insights spread across 220 pages with 110 Market data tables and figures & charts from the report on the " Global Companion Diagnostics Market Size, Share, and COVID-19 Impact Analysis By Technology (Polymerase Chain Reaction, Next-Generation Sequencing, In Situ Hybridization, Immunohistochemistry, and Others), By Indication (Cancer, Neurology, Infectious Diseases, and Others), By End-User (Hospitals, Research Laboratories, Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology, and Others), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa), Analysis and Forecast 2023  2033."

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The polymerase chain reaction segment dominates the market with the largest revenue share through the forecast period.

Based on technology, the global companion diagnostics market is segmented into polymerase chain reaction, next-generation sequencing, in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and others. Among these, the polymerase chain reaction segment dominates the market with the largest revenue share through the forecast period. The polymerase chain reaction technique is simple to use, and PCR kits and chemicals for companion diagnostic tests are widely available. Furthermore, PCR's growing value in the identification of gene mutants with low or limited dominant frequencies added to its market dominance.

The cancer segment dominates the global companion diagnostics market during the forecast period.

Based on the indication, the global companion diagnostics market is segmented into cancer, neurology, infectious diseases, and others. Among these, the cancer segment dominates the global companion diagnostics market during the forecast period. Variables like the growing significance of companion diagnostics in customized therapy and the use of biomarkers in cancer diagnosis. In cancer research, significant alterations in gene sequence and expression patterns have been observed, which may provide the basis for targeted therapy.

The pharmaceutical and biotechnology segment dominates the global companion diagnostics market during the forecast period.

Based on the end-user, the global companion diagnostics market is segmented into hospitals, research laboratories, pharmaceutical and biotechnology, and others. Among these, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology segment dominates the global companion diagnostics market during the forecast period. Due to the growing significance of companion diagnostics in drug development and the growing importance of companion diagnostic biomarkers, companion diagnostics have been adopted more frequently, which has fueled this development.

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North America dominates the market with the largest market share over the forecast period.

North America dominates the market with the largest market share over the forecast period. The existence of multiple prominent companion diagnostics vendors and public clinical research facilities, the easy access to modern technology and devices, and the fully developed medical services systems in the United States and Canada are all factors contributing to the growth of the companion diagnostics market in North America.

Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow the fastest during the forecast period. Asia Pacific presents profitable potential for key stakeholders in the companion diagnostics sector, including increased public authorization, growing interest in companion diagnostics, improved medical care foundations, and a growing population susceptible to cutting-edge therapies. The primary Asia-Pacific markets, including China, India, Japan, and South Korea, have seen an exponential growth in the purchase of next-generation sequencing during the past five years. Over the anticipated period, these factors propel the companion diagnostics market's expansion in this area.

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 companion diagnostics market are Agilent technologies, Inc, Abbott Laboratories, Inc., Danaher Corporation, bioMerieux SA, Sysmex Corporation, Abnova Corporation, Icon Plc., Hoffmann-La Roche AG, QIAGEN N.V, Almac Group, Illumina, Inc., Myriad Genetics, Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Guardant Health, Inc., and Other Key Players.

Get Discount At @ https://www.sphericalinsights.com/request-discount/4529

Recent Developments

In July 2023, Tempus introduced partnership with TScan Therapeutics with an goal to develop a companion diagnostic (CDx) test for patients suffering from cancer.

Market Segment

This study forecasts revenue at global, regional, and country levels from 2020 to 2033. Spherical Insights has segmented the global companion diagnostics market based on the below-mentioned segments:

Global Companion Diagnostics Market, By Technology

Polymerase Chain Reaction

Next-Generation Sequencing

In Situ Hybridization

Immunohistochemistry

Others

Global Companion Diagnostics Market, By Indication

Cancer

Neurology

Infectious Diseases

Others

Global Companion Diagnostics Market, By End-User

Hospitals

Research Laboratories

Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology

Others

Global Companion Diagnostics Market, By Regional Analysis

North America US Canada Mexico

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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 Middle East & Africa



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Los Angeles, CA, June 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



As South Korea embraces cryptocurrency staking on exchanges, OkayCoin, a global leader in the staking industry, has announced the extension of its services to the South Korean market. Spearheaded by CEO William Miller, this strategic move is designed to support the increasing demand for cryptocurrency staking among South Korean investors, aligning with the country's progressive adoption of digital asset technologies.

"South Korea's vibrant and tech-savvy market represents a significant opportunity for OkayCoin," said William Miller, CEO of OkayCoin . "The growing interest in cryptocurrency staking within the country has prompted us to provide dedicated support and services tailored to meet the unique needs of South Korean investors."

This expansion is part of OkayCoin's broader strategy to enhance its global footprint and provide localized solutions that resonate with regional market demands. The company's entry into South Korea follows recent regulatory advancements that have made the country an attractive market for cryptocurrency ventures, particularly in the area of staking.

OkayCoin's initiative to cater specifically to South Korean investors involves offering support in Korean, introducing user interfaces that cater to local preferences, and ensuring that its staking services comply with local regulations. These adjustments are aimed at making OkayCoin's platform accessible and appealing to South Korean users, thereby encouraging greater participation in cryptocurrency investment and staking.

"Our commitment to the South Korean market extends beyond just offering our services. We aim to become a trusted partner in the local cryptocurrency community, contributing to its growth and sustainability," Miller emphasized.

The introduction of OkayCoins staking platform to the South Korean market is expected to accelerate the adoption of staking services countrywide, providing investors with secure and profitable opportunities. The platform's advanced security measures, competitive staking options, and user-friendly experience are tailored to meet the sophisticated requirements of South Korean users.

OkayCoins expansion into South Korea also includes partnerships with local businesses and community leaders to foster a collaborative approach to promoting blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies. These partnerships will facilitate knowledge exchange, enhance customer support, and ensure the integration of best practices in line with South Korea's innovative tech landscape.

"By aligning our offerings with the preferences and requirements of the South Korean market, we are not just expanding our operations; we are also contributing to the broader global acceptance and integration of cryptocurrency staking ," stated Miller.

As OkayCoin continues to explore new markets and opportunities, its focus remains on providing state-of-the-art staking solutions that empower investors worldwide. The companys proactive approach in South Korea is indicative of its commitment to adapting to and leading within the dynamic cryptocurrency market.

OkayCoin offers a wide array of staking packages suitable for every level of investor:

Free Trial Liquid Staking : Perfect for beginners with only USD 100 for a 1-day staking period, yielding a total and daily reward of USD 2.00.

: Perfect for beginners with only USD 100 for a 1-day staking period, yielding a total and daily reward of USD 2.00. Ethereum Liquid Staking : A short-term option with a daily reward of USD 6.00 from a USD 300 investment over one day.

: A short-term option with a daily reward of USD 6.00 from a USD 300 investment over one day. Polygon Liquid Staking : Three-day staking for USD 800, offering a total return of USD 24.00, or USD 8.00 daily.

: Three-day staking for USD 800, offering a total return of USD 24.00, or USD 8.00 daily. TRON Liquid Staking : This week-long plan requires USD 1,200 and delivers USD 12.00 daily, totaling USD 84.00.

: This week-long plan requires USD 1,200 and delivers USD 12.00 daily, totaling USD 84.00. Polkadot Liquid Staking : A 7-day investment of USD 3,000, yielding USD 33.00 daily with total rewards of USD 231.00.

: A 7-day investment of USD 3,000, yielding USD 33.00 daily with total rewards of USD 231.00. Celestia Liquid Staking : A two-week staking period yielding USD 72.00 per day, totaling USD 1,008.00.

: A two-week staking period yielding USD 72.00 per day, totaling USD 1,008.00. Aptos Liquid Staking : Offers USD 140.00 daily over 15 days from a USD 10,000 investment, totaling USD 2,100.00.

: Offers USD 140.00 daily over 15 days from a USD 10,000 investment, totaling USD 2,100.00. Sui Liquid Staking : USD 20,000 for a 15-day term with daily earnings of USD 280.00, totaling USD 4,200.00.

: USD 20,000 for a 15-day term with daily earnings of USD 280.00, totaling USD 4,200.00. Avalanche Liquid Staking : Invest USD 35,000 for 20 days to earn USD 525.00 daily, totaling USD 10,500.00.

: Invest USD 35,000 for 20 days to earn USD 525.00 daily, totaling USD 10,500.00. Cardano Liquid Staking : A 30-day term with a USD 56,000 investment, providing USD 896.00 daily, amounting to USD 26,880.00.

: A 30-day term with a USD 56,000 investment, providing USD 896.00 daily, amounting to USD 26,880.00. Solana Liquid Staking : Also for 30 days at USD 78,000, yielding USD 1,404.00 daily, totaling USD 42,120.00.

: Also for 30 days at USD 78,000, yielding USD 1,404.00 daily, totaling USD 42,120.00. Ethereum Liquid Staking Pro: The highest-tier option at USD 100,000 for 45 days, offers USD 2,000.00 daily, with total rewards of USD 90,000.00.

Each package ensures the return of principal post-staking, enabling investors to recover their initial capital plus earnings . This robust framework bolsters investor confidence and is supported by OkayCoin's dedication to security, simplicity, and transparency.

About OkayCoin: OkayCoin is a leading technology firm specializing in blockchain and cryptocurrency solutions. Known for its secure, scalable, and user-friendly platforms, OkayCoin continues to lead the market in innovation and service, providing top-tier staking opportunities to global investors.

For more information about how to get started with OkayCoin and make the most of the crypto summer, visit https://okaycoin.comi or use media contacts.

Media Contact Details

Contact Name: William Miller

Contact Email: william@okaycoin.com

Company Add: 525 Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071 USA

City/Country: Los Angeles, USA

Website: https://okaycoin.com





Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency & securities.
Back in March, the European Commission announced that it started an investigation relating to Apple's new fee structure for alternative app stores. Namely, the fact that Apple charges a "Core Technology Fee" for developers who want to "steer" users to offers outside of its App Store. There's also an additional 3% that goes to Apple if a developer uses its payment processor.

The imposing of such fees onto developers will be found in breach of the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), according to a new report from the Financial Times. This would be the first time a tech company would be charged based on the DMA, which started having effects earlier this year.

An announcement of the charges is allegedly expected in the coming weeks, according to "people familiar with the matter". Apple is facing a fine of up to 5% of its global daily turnover per day for non-compliance. That's around $50 million per day.

But it won't necessarily get to that - things are a bit more complicated, since the company could still take actions to correct its practices to the satisfaction of the EC after it announces its preliminary findings in the near future.
District Court of Guam Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood denied a motion to dismiss an indictment in an ongoing bingo fraud case.

Jose Arthur Art Chan Jr., one of several people alleged to have conducted an illegal gambling business sponsored by the Guam Shrine Club, filed a motion to dismiss the indictment.

Co-defendants Christine Chan and Michael Marasigan filed a joinder to the motion.

The judge issued her decision and order on Friday after hearing the matter on May 22.

The three were indicted on May 10, 2023. They were charged with conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and money laundering.

According to the indictment, from March 2015 to about Dec. 31, 2021, the defendants agreed with themselves and others to conduct an illegal gambling business involving bingo games sponsored by the Guam Shrine Club, a nonprofit organization.

The Guam Shrine Club established Hafa Adai Bingo to conduct bingo games after the Department of Revenue and Taxation authorized the organization to conduct charitable gambling, documents state.

The government alleges that defendants and others used the name Guam Shrine Club and its Hafa Adai Bingos nonprofit status and bingo permits, so it would appear to the public and law enforcement agencies that the fundraising activities were being conducted in compliance with Guam laws.

The defendants object was to unjustly enrich themselves and others...under the guise of charitable and civic fundraising, the indictment states.

Prosecutors also allege that Jose Chan and other Guam Shrine Club officers falsely reported the organizations total revenues on tax filings and wrote checks to co-conspirators and their business entities.

Jose Chan was Guam Shrine Clubs vice president and president at various times. Christine Chan and Marasigan were not officers of the club, but Christine Chan is Joses wife and owner of Nanan Bray and Marasigan is business owner of Ideal Ventures LLC.

According to court documents, GSC officers distributed bingo proceeds to co-conspirators Won Sun Min and Marasigan. Min and Marasigan received over $2 million and $15 million of bingo proceeds, documents state.

Marasigan issued checks to other co-conspirators, including Minda San Nicolas, Juanita Capulong and Christine Chan.

Jose Chan argued the indictment should be dismissed because under United States v. Gordon, the Ninth Circuit held that a defendant is not engaged in illegal gambling business by violating nonpenal regulations of the state law.

The judge ruled that Guam law does provide for non-penal sanctions, but whether it applies to the individual defendants is a factual matter that belongs to the jury.

The judge also wrote that a plain reading of Guam law shows that the Legislature clearly intended this carved-out provision in Guams gambling statute to apply only to nonprofit organizations.

The defendants here are not a nonprofit organization, Tydingco-Gatewood wrote in her order.

The court finds that the indictment does not fail to state an offense and therefore, there is no basis to dismiss the case, she wrote.
It took a little over three hours for the Department of Agriculture Animal Health Divisions Responsible Pet Ownership event to use the very last of the rabies vaccination stocked up for the event Saturday at the Mangilao Community Center Pavilion.

Territorial Veterinarian Dr. Mariana Turner said that she brought 50 vials worth of the vaccine for the event, scheduled from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. The final dose was administered to a 4-month-old Shih Tzu pup named Mya, who took the needle like a champ but yelped a tiny bit during the microchip process.

I was not expecting it to be so successful today, which is good, said Turner. Sometimes its even hard to get into the regular vet clinics just for the vaccines, because the private practice vets are so busy, so people are very grateful that were able to offer some services at low cost to the community.

Ariel Finona and Brent Borja brought their 3-year-old blue pit bull Draco from their home in Yigo and waited about two hours to get a chip implant.

Its a big savings. I was quoted $180 at one vet; it cost us only $10 today, said Finona. And Draco is a house dog, so the chip is like a just in case thing.

Borja said that Draco was hyper when they first arrived but had since calmed down, which eased his anxiety. Pit bulls often get a bad rap, he said, and his Draco just wants to play and have fun like any other dog.

Paulina Nguyen brought both her 1-year-old daughter Victoria as well as Roscoe, a 12-week-old German shepherd mix. She and her husband agreed that with the chip process costing a fraction of what it would cost at a vet, they really had no choice.

When we saw that, we said OK. There is no excuse now not to get it done, she said. We waited about a hour, not so bad and well worth it.

Valerie Crisostomo made the drive from Santa Rita to vaccinate her 2-year-old Shih Tzu boy, Loui, only to learn that they ran out of shots.

But they were offering the microchip, so I was willing to do that, she said.

Turner said that after offering outreach events at least once per quarter for the last several months, her staff will take a break to catch up on other Animal Health Division duties. Shes looking at the next event to happen sometime in October, she said.

Were helping them stay compliant with Guam law and be responsible pet owners. Its very busy to have these kinds of things but ... also Im very grateful that the community wants to be responsible pet owners, and I really appreciate that.

For further information regarding this event, contact the Department of Agriculture Animal Health Division at (671) 300-7966/64 or quarantine@doag.guam.gov.




Haiti - FLASH : Frantz Elbe DG of the PNH dismissed, replaced by a former dismissed DG !





"The Office for Citizen Protection (OPC), an independent national institution for the protection and promotion of human rights, welcomes the appointment of the new Director General of the National Police of Haiti (PNH), Normil RAMEAU, by members of the Presidential Transitional Council, in agreement with the Prime Minister, Dr Garry CONILLE, dated Friday June 14, 2024."



"The OPC asks the new Commander-in-Chief of the Police to submit, without delay, to the country's leaders a security and vetting plan with a view to curbing the actions of criminal gangs and promoting, at the same time, professionalization of the police institution, for a real application of the motto Protect and Serve."



Frantz Elbe, whose departure was demanded by many voices, was therefore dismissed and replaced by Normil Rameau, former Director General of the PNH (2019 - 2021).



A surprising appointment when Normil Rameau, after 15 months at the head of the police institution, had been dismissed for having failed to guarantee security and had been replaced by Leon Charles. At the time, Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe declared "[...] He always finds pretexts to explain his lack of results. Every time I ask the Director of Police about the security situation in the country, he tells me that he has neither armor nor weapons..."



Let's remember, while he was leading the PNH, it was at this time that Jimmy Cherisier aka 'Barbecue' openly brought together gangs in a coalition called 'G9 family and allies'.



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - FLASH : 2 important appointments to the Primature





After installing the ministers of his Government, Prime Minister Garry Conille began to appoint his close collaborators to face the current challenges.



Former Minister of Justice Camille Junior Edouard has been appointed as the new Secretary General of the Prime Minister's Office with the rank of Minister.



Former Minister of National Education Nesmy Manigat was appointed Director of Cabinet of Prime Minister Garry Conille, with the rank of Minister.



The decree relating to these two appointments was published this Friday, June 14. In special issue #27 of the official journal Le Moniteur. These two former ministers were installed in their positions on Friday afternoon.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Justice : ULCC member of the GlobE global anti-corruption network





The Haitian State, through the Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC), is now a member of the "GlobE Network", the largest global network of anti-corruption authorities.



This membership, supported by the constant efforts of Me Hans Ludwig Joseph Director General of the ULCC, comes at a decisive moment when Haiti calls for a necessary strengthening of international cooperation in the fight against corruption and the recovery of ill-gotten gains.



"This is a major step forward which confirms the determination of the Haitian State to track down squanderers of public funds everywhere. This new concrete action by the ULCC will facilitate, among other things, the detection of property and investments of people under investigation in Haiti for corruption," declared Hans Ludwig Joseph adding "International cooperation must make it possible, through, among other things, the sanctions mechanisms established both by the United Nations and by other foreign countries, to identify and freeze public funds embezzled and hidden abroad; to ban the travel of people accused of corruption and other forms of organized crime. These measures will greatly contribute to dissuading other actors from engaging in acts detrimental to public treasuries and will encourage decision-makers to manage public affairs with probity, efficiency and in compliance with the international commitments of the Haitian State in matters of Corruption."



Learn more about the "GlobE Network" :

Established under the auspices of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in 2021, the "GlobE Network" brings together, to date, 206 law enforcement authorities specializing in the moon against the corruption This informal transnational cooperation structure facilitates the rapid sharing of information between peers to better identify and prosecute cross-border corruption offenses and recover stolen assets.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















A RECORD 100 steam engines took part in the annual Stoke Row Steam Rally over the weekend.

Organiser Tony Waistell said it was the highest number of full-size steam engines the event had seen in its 41 years.

More than 10,000 people attended the rally, which featured around 1,500 exhibits including miniature stream engines, classic cars, motorcycles, vintage tractors, lorries, military vehicles and plant machinery.

Other attractions included a fairground, farm animals, a craft tent, live music and dancing and re-enactment displays from living history groups.

Mr Waistell said: I think it was one of our best shows ever. We had a great attendance and the weather was kind to us and brought everyone out.

The show is getting more and more popular and more and more people are wanting to exhibit.

I would like to thank the committee for all their hard work to help put it on. They are all exhibitors as well and they really care about making it a good show.

Nigel Barker, 68, travelled from Chipping Norton to display his 1913 Burrell Gold Medal tractor, which was restored after it was abandoned in the former Goodeys scrapyard in Twyford.

Mr Barker said: Its what we call a general haulage engine for hauling timber, bricks and things like that around farms.

It ended up in a scrapyard at Twyford, where my father purchased it in 1956 and weve had it ever since.

It was all complete but it needed a new firebox because they are all pressure vessels. They have to have very strict boiler tests every year because they run at 200 psi pressure.

Mr Barker described the steam engine community as very sociable and the rally as a great family event.

He said: My son and granddaughter have been here and my daughter is normally here with her two sons, so its a family thing. Weve got friends that we see just at steam rallies.

Ben Brown, from Pangbourne, attended with his 1902 Marshall General Purpose Engine Old Timer.

He was joined by his son George, seven, who enjoyed helping his father drive the engine.

George said: I like making the fire up, steering and pulling the levers.

Mr Brown added: He does find some of the whistles too loud though.

Old Timer is one of the most famous traction engines in the world as it was previously owned by Arthur Napper, who is widely considered to be the father of the steam traction engine movement.

After buying the engine in the Fifties, Napper challenged a fellow farmer to a race on the engines for a firkin of ale.

After 100 spectators turned out to watch the match, the sport quickly caught on and soon other enthusiasts began searching scrapyards for similar engines.

As well as original builds, the rally also exhibited a number of picture-perfect replicas.

These included a 9in Foden steam lorry displayed by Darren Marcham, from Woodcote.

He said: It was built in 2009. I bought it from a dealer in Kent. The full-sized ones were used for taking stuff to and from the railways and the dockyards, like the lorries do now.

We take it around a few local shows and it always creates quite a bit of interest. Everybody thinks its 100 years old but the number plate gives it away a little bit. Mr Marcham said he had been a steam engine enthusiast for almost all his life.

He said: It started with a little model toy only a few inches big and setting fire to the kitchen table.

Some of the other vehicles on display included retired military vehicles that have been

repurposed.

Matt Foster drove 140 miles from Suffolk to display his Matador AEC Truck that he bought when he was just a teenager.

He said: I first saw it when I was 12 in a timber yard in Luton. When I was 17 I went back with my first pay cheque from my first job and bought it.

It took me 10 years to restore it and now I restore them for a living, so I turned my hobby into a job.

It was built in 1942 for the British army. It would have been used to transport about 12 soldiers in the back of it.

It would have towed a big gun, firing ammunition shells behind, about seven tonnes, and it would have probably been out in France on D-Day. When the army sold this model in the late Sixties, they were very popular with recovery companies.

It spent the rest of its working days in the woods, hauling felled trees.

One of the biggest attractions of the weekend was a Wild West-themed show put on by the Wyomings Authentic Western Society, a re-enactment group.

The show, about a monetary dispute that turns violent, included cowboys riding on horseback and firing blank rounds from pistols.

Re-enactor Amanda Harman said: We do the American West, about the 1860s to 1880s, just to help educate people about what it was like.

It wasnt all about the cowboys and Indians, it was about the townsfolk as well.

Men, women, and children are involved. Its a family affair sort of thing. Ive got my children here and my sister and my dad are here as well. We do various shows and most of them end up in a sort of altercation between characters. Weve got handguns, long guns and shotguns.

Another living history group, the Earl Rivers Regiment, set up a 17th-century style camp to educate visitors about the Civil War.

The group is part of the Sealed Knot Society and is based a local regiment stationed at Wallingford Castle during the war.

Hannah Monger, who is part of the group with her husband Derek, who played Charles I, said living history offered a form of escapism.

She said: You just forget about everything and go and enjoy

yourself.

It is great because the Civil War doesnt tend to be taught in schools quite so much so its an ideal opportunity to teach. We do a little display with the muskets and the pipes.

Next years rally will be held on Saturday and Sunday, June 7 and 8.
Chinese defense spokesperson urges U.S. to rectify strategic perception of China

Xinhua) 09:16, June 15, 2024

BEIJING, June 14 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese defense spokesperson on Friday urged the United States to rectify its strategic perception of China and to push forward relations between the two countries and the two militaries along the right track.

Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks when responding to a media inquiry regarding a potential 18-billion-dollar increase in the U.S. defense budget for the financial year 2025 to counter China and other near-peer adversaries.

The spokesperson said fabricating imaginary enemies and stirring up bloc confrontation are old tricks of the United States, revealing its engrained Cold War mentality and hegemonic mindset.

Zhang said that China adheres to a path of peaceful development and a defense policy that is defensive in nature. China's development is not targeted at any party, nor does it pose a threat to any party.

The Chinese military has carried out extensive exchanges and cooperation with the militaries of more than 150 countries, and has always been a staunch force in defending world peace, Zhang said.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Hongyu)
 Flash

A Chinese defense spokesperson on Friday urged the United States to rectify its strategic perception of China and to push forward relations between the two countries and the two militaries along the right track.

Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks when responding to a media inquiry regarding a potential 18-billion-dollar increase in the U.S. defense budget for the financial year 2025 to counter China and other near-peer adversaries.

The spokesperson said fabricating imaginary enemies and stirring up bloc confrontation are old tricks of the United States, revealing its engrained Cold War mentality and hegemonic mindset.

Zhang said that China adheres to a path of peaceful development and a defense policy that is defensive in nature. China's development is not targeted at any party, nor does it pose a threat to any party.

The Chinese military has carried out extensive exchanges and cooperation with the militaries of more than 150 countries, and has always been a staunch force in defending world peace, Zhang said.
Capricorn  (22nd December to 19th January) Weekly Horoscope Prediction says, your attitude symbolizes love Ensure you keep the lover in a good mood. New challenges at work will make you stronger. Financial success is followed by good health this week. Check more. Weekly Horoscope Capricorn, June 16-22, 2024: Financial success is followed by good health this week.

Keep outside interferences controlled in the relationship. There will be chances to professionally grow and the work schedule will be packed. Financially you will be good and your health will have no trouble.

Capricorn Love Horoscope This Week

Be casual in the love life. While this week will have many twists in your romantic life, it is good to be patient and sincere. Be cordial with the lover and also share emotions without inhibitions. Some females will have marriage n cards. You may also express your feelings with the crush without inhibition to get a positive response. Office romance is good but married Capricorns need to avoid it for good.

Capricorn Career Horoscope This Week

Your commitment and sincerity will play a major role in accomplishing every assigned task. The first half of the week may not be productive and this may invite criticism from the seniors. However, you will overcome this as soon as things are on track. Avoid office politics and you should be smart enough to negotiate with the team members while handling team tasks. This week is the right time to start new business partnerships. There can also be situations where you will receive accolades from foreign clients.

Capricorn Money Horoscope This Week

You are likely to receive some of the shares of property that might belong to your ancestors. College students may need finance for fees and other admission purposes. Female entrepreneurs will receive government assistance and you are also good to renovate the house. Some Capricorns will try their fortune in the stock market which will bring in good returns. This week is also good for buying a car.

Capricorn Health Horoscope This Week

Your health will give you some trouble this week. It is good to have a complete body check-up. Start the day with exercise and skip both alcohol and aerated drinks. Those who have pain in their joints will need medication. Pregnant females and seniors should be careful while boarding a train or bus.

Capricorn Sign Attributes

Strength: Intelligent, Practical, Trustworthy, Generous, Optimistic

Intelligent, Practical, Trustworthy, Generous, Optimistic Weakness: Persistent, Stubborn, Suspicious

Persistent, Stubborn, Suspicious Symbol: Goat

Goat Element: Earth

Earth Body Part: Bones & Skin

Bones & Skin Sign Ruler: Saturn

Saturn Lucky Day: Saturday

Saturday Lucky Color : Grey

: Grey Lucky Number : 4

: 4 Lucky Stone: Amethyst

Capricorn Sign Compatibility Chart

Natural affinity: Taurus, Virgo, Scorpio, Pisces

Good compatibility: Cancer, Capricorn

Fair compatibility: Gemini, Leo, Sagittarius, Aquarius

Less compatibility: Aries, Libra

By: Dr. J. N. Pandey

Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert

E-mail: djnpandey@gmail.com

Phone: 9811107060 (WhatsApp Only)
Jhamtani has carved a niche for itself in Pune's thriving real estate market. Led by the Jhamtani family, the company leverages the experience of each member to deliver innovative and high-quality projects.

Parmanand Jhamtani, Chairman, brings over four decades of expertise in business and construction. Anup Jhamtani, Managing Director, a B.Tech graduate, injects a fresh perspective with his focus on modern real estate solutions. Meenakshi Jhamtani, Executive Director, oversees sales, marketing, finance, and human resources, ensuring smooth operations.

Jhamtani boasts a portfolio of 24 projects, catering to over 10,000 clients. Timely delivery, design aesthetics, and a focus on quality are hallmarks of their work, evident in projects like Jhamtani Bizcore, ACE Villas, and ACE Atmosphere. Their commitment to quality is underlined by third-party inspections, ISO certifications, and staff training in safety measures.

Jhamtani Bizcore exemplifies the company's embrace of contemporary living trends. Situated in Koregaon Park NX, it features serviced studio apartments managed by Colive, India's leading co-living provider, targeting young professionals seeking a vibrant and connected living space.

"Jhamtani goes beyond building structures," says Parmanand Jhamtani. "We foster communities and craft lifestyles that bring joy and satisfaction to our customers." This philosophy resonates in their dedication to customer service and their contribution to Pune's real estate landscape.

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.
Indian textile exports grew by 9.59% in May 2024 compared to the previous year despite unfavourable economic conditions in major markets such as the European Union (EU), the US, and West Asian nations, the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) said in a report. Textiles (Representational)(AFP)

Simultaneously, Indian apparel exports saw a growth of 9.84% during the same period.

Also Read | India's May exports up 9.1% y/y as outlook improves

The CITI in its report highlighted that the cumulative exports of textiles and apparel during May 2024 registered a growth of 9.70% over May last year.

The country's overall exports for May 2024 surged to $68.29 billion. This was a substantial year-on-year increase of 10.2%, according to data released by the Commerce Ministry on June 14.

The analysis noted that during Apr -May' 24, Indian textile exports registered a growth of 6.04% over the previous year, while apparel exports registered a growth of 4.46% during the same time period.

Also Read | Passenger vehicle exports rise by 2.68 lakh units in 4 years; 70 percent is Maruti Suzuki

The cumulative exports of textiles and apparel during April-May 2024 saw a surge of 5.34% as compared to the same period last year.

The recently released export data revealed that sectors such as electronic goods, drugs and pharmaceuticals, organic and inorganic chemicals, engineering goods, petroleum products, plastics & linoleum, cotton yarn/fabs made-ups ( textiles manufactured), handloom products, etc., man-made yarn/fabs./made-ups, handloom products etc. performed well in the exports from the country.

Other merchandise products, such as meat, dairy and poultry products, mica, coal and other ores, minerals including processed minerals, ready-made garments, tea, coffee, rice, tobacco, carpet and handicrafts, oil seeds; and fruits and vegetables, did well too.

Also Read | Agri-product exports from Varanasi grew by 728 MT in 3 years: APEDA

On Friday, Ashwani Kumar, President of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), highlighted that a positive trajectory was seen in May 2024, driven by robust order bookings.

Among the top ten export markets for India were the US, UAE, Netherlands, UK, China, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Germany and France. Considerably, in these markets, the exports registered a double-digit growth rate.
Bengaluru, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday said that the state was planning to come out with a new tourism policy to attract investments into the industry. New tourism policy to attract investments: Karnataka Deputy CM Shivakumar

Speaking at the event 'Dakshin Bharat Utsav' jointly organised by Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Karnataka Tourism Department, he said, "A good tourism policy will be able to attract industrialists and investments. When industrialists do well, the government gets more revenue, more jobs are created for the people and the industry grows."

"There are many representatives from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Telangana. I request them to share their experiences here. Karnataka is looking to develop its 300-km long coastline. Bengaluru can become a tourist hub besides being the IT capital," he added.

He said the government will also be inviting new tenders for a sky deck in Bengaluru.

"Cubbon Park and Lal Bagh were traditional tourist places in Bengaluru. In order to create new tourist spots for new generation of people, we have planned a sky deck in Bengaluru. We will be inviting new tenders for the sky deck in the next 8-10 days," he said.

"We are also planning to develop Brindavana on the lines of Disney land. Budgetary allocations have been made in the last budget for this," he said.

The GST of 18 per cent is killing the tourism industry. If businesses lose more than half the money to taxes, they will not be motivated enough to invest more. It is important that the people and the industry raise these issues, Shivakumar said.

He urged the investors and industrialists in the tourism industry to submit their demands in writing to the government. "We need you to walk with us in our journey to improve tourism in the state," he added.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
TCS is struggling to fill 80,000 open positions due to a skills gap, the Times of India reported. TCS(Bloomberg)

The company has 80,000 open positions, highlighting a mismatch between the skills of current employees and the roles needed, causing them to rely on contractors to fill these gaps, Amar Shetye, global operations head of TCS's Resource Management Group (RMG), told the Times of India.

Also Read | IT majors like Infosys, Wipro, TCS leave 10,000 freshers in limbo as onboarding deferred

"We were told that either skillsets or employee aspirations are not matching project requirements," an anonymous employee told the Times of India.

Indian IT majors, including TCS, have been delaying the onboarding of freshers, leaving many without confirmed joining dates. Over 10,000 freshers have been affected by these delays over the past two years, according to the Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES).

Harpreet Singh Saluja, president of NITES, reported receiving complaints from candidates offered positions at top IT companies such as TCS, Infosys, Wipro, Zensar, and LTIMindtree.

Infosys, for example, informed candidates via email that joining dates would be determined by business requirements, with notifications sent at least 3-4 weeks in advance. The company only hired 11,900 campus recruits in the financial year 2023-24, a 76% decrease from the previous years 50,000.

Also Read | Market cap of 8 top-10 valued firms jumps Rs.3.28 lakh crore; TCS, HUL, Reliance lead

Wipro has also not fulfilled campus offers made two years ago. The year before last, we went to campus and made many offers. We are yet to honour those,  Wipro CHRO Saurabh Govil said during a recent earnings call. We will finish those offers and then hire new freshers.

In April, Zensar asked candidates to take a test to be considered for onboarding, and previously requested freshers to confirm their continued interest despite delays.

The delay in onboarding is attributed to business uncertainty in North America and Europe, with clients cautious about IT spending amid signs of a slowdown. Quarterly results from IT firms indicate a significant slowdown in the sector.

Krishna Vij, business head of IT staffing at TeamLease, estimated that 3-5% of freshers hired in 2022 by top IT services companies are still awaiting onboarding due to project visibility issues and a focus on required skill sets and job readiness.

This comes at a time when the government is reportedly looking to work with IT giants like TCS, HCL and Tech Mahindra to develop software for quantum technologies, under the National Quantum Mission (NQM) to boost research in quantum technology in the country, according to a Moneycontrol report.

The scheme has a total outlay of a bit more than 6,000 crore spread from 2023-24 to 2030-31, according to the report.

Also Read | TCS chairman says WFH not a solution to sexual harassment: 'Situation improves when...'

In the financial year 2023-24, the combined headcount of TCS, Infosys, and Wipro decreased by nearly 64,000, as these firms over-hired during the pandemic and later shifted focus to productivity without increasing headcount.

Ashwin Yardi, CEO of Capgemini India, stated that their campus hiring numbers for this year would be moderated, with last years intake being around 30,000 freshers, according to the report.
Two days after bike-borne assailants opened fire at a jewellery showroom on the Railway Road in Doraha in full public view, the Khanna police, with the help of counter-intelligence wing of Bathinda cops, on Saturday arrested the two shooters, officials said. The accused who opened fire at a jewellery showroom in Doraha in custody of Ludhiana police on Saturday. (HT Photo)

Both the accused were wanted by the Ludhiana and Doraha police in two cases of murder and attempt to murder, respectively.

The accused have been identified as Pardeep Singh of Begowal village in Doraha and Suraj Parkash alias David of Haibowal in Ludhiana. David was wanted by Ludhiana police in connection with the murder of Suraj Parkash alias Babbu, a close aide of slain gangster Sukha Barewalia. Babbu, who was the lone eyewitness of Sukha Barewalias murder, was allegedly shot dead by the accused, on February 27 in Ludhiana.

A total of four pistols, two Beretta 32mm bore (made in Italy), Taurus 9 mm (made in Belgium) and Px5 storm 30 mm (made in Japan), 36 live cartridges, seven magazines and a Hyundai Verna car have been recovered from the accused.

A person identified as Lovedeep alias Love, a US-based friend of Pardeep Singh, had allegedly arranged the arms, vehicles and financial support for the shooting at Doraha, officials said.

Deputy superintendent of police (DSP Payal) Nikhil Garg said the police arrested the accused on Saturday with the help of the counter-intelligence wing of Bathinda police. Accused Pardeep Singh has a monetary dispute with the father of the jeweller Paramjeet Verma. Because of the dispute, he, along with Sooraj Parkash, fired at least six bullets at the showroom. Paramjit Verma had escaped unhurt in the incident.

During preliminary investigation, it came to light that both Pardeep and Suraj have criminal backgrounds with cases related to murder, attempt to murder and robbery registered against them. Pardeep and Suraj had met for the first time in jail in 2012-13, said the DSP.

An FIR under sections 307, 427 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, and Section 25 of the Arms Act was registered against the accused at the Doraha police station, on June 12. More important information is expected from the accused during questioning, he added.
Not allowing a mother-son duo to board a flight has cost an airline dear as the consumer forum has ordered a compensation of 1 lakh. Upon notice, the airline submitted that it acted according to the rules and regulations stipulated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the central and state governments regarding Covid protocols (HT Photo)

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission ordered SpiceJet to pay 1 lakh to the Ludhiana-based complainants.

The woman, Shallu Chawla of Dugri, filed a complaint on April 29, 2022, stating that she is settled in Dubai and is working as a class teacher in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Her 14-year-old son Gurpartap Singh Anand is also pursuing education in Dubai.

In the complaint, she said she booked two air tickets on October 21, 2021, from Amritsar to Dubai for January 1, 2022. The complainant added that they (the woman and her son) came to India on December 11, 2021, via a SpiceJet flight from Dubai to Amritsar. She added that as per the pre-requisites of the airline company, the travellers underwent a Covid real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test on December 31 of the same year from a reputed and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)- approved lab at the SPS Apollo Hospital in Ludhiana. The tests showed them to be Covid negative. The complainants got a second RT-PCR done at Amritsar airport through the airline on January 1, 2022. However, this test returned a Covid-positive result for her. Her sons test returned a negative result this time as well. As a result, the duo were not allowed to board and their luggage was off-loaded from the flight.

The complainant alleged they faced a lot of harassment by SpiceJet staff at the Amritsar airport. Even after repeated requests for a re-test, the airline did not pay heed, she said, adding that they then returned to Ludhiana. The woman said that she took a Covid test again on the next day (January 2), which returned a negative result.

The complainant added that she had to join her school on January 2, 2022. Her son, who is a student of Class 9, had to join classes as well, but could not do so and had missed important classes. This caused huge financial loss and mental stress for them, she added in the complaint.

Upon notice, the airline submitted that it acted according to the rules and regulations stipulated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the central and state governments regarding Covid protocols, which were applicable at the time. The airline further submitted that it acted as per the terms of carriage and there was no deficiency in service and negligence on its part.

The complainants had claimed compensation of 2 lakh, including 18,000 as difference in airfare, 8,000 as RT-PCR test fee, 900 as taxi fare, 25,000 as loss on account of mental tension etc,, 25,000 as loss of salary and 10,000 as education losses for her son.

The commission ordered a composite cost of 1 lakh to the complainants within 30 days from the date of receipt of a copy of the order, failing which the complainant shall be held entitled to interest of 8% per annum on the said amount from the date of filing of complaint till date of actual payment.
A head constable deputed as a driver with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha member Sanjeev Arora was injured after an allegedly speeding bike hit him on Jamalpur Road. He, along with constable Balwinder Singh, went to Jamalpur to receive guests of the MP Sanjeev Arora when the bike hit them. (HT File)

The policeman suffered a fracture in his leg and was admitted to a hospital. The Jamalpur police lodged a first-information report (FIR) against the bikes driver, identified as Mohit Kumar of Labour Colony, Jamalpur.

The victim, head constable Jagdeep Singh, is a resident of Shiv Colony in Haryanas Karnal. The victim said that he is from the Punjab Armed Police and is deputed with MP Sanjeev Arora as a driver.

He, along with constable Balwinder Singh, went to Jamalpur to receive guests of the MP. While he was waiting for the guests to come out, a speeding bike coming from Kohara side hit him. Jagdeep Singh said that he suffered a fracture on his right leg and was rushed to a hospital. The accused escaped from the spot.

Assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Gurmeet Singh, investigating officer from Jamalpur police station, said that the police have registered a case against the accused under section 279 (rash driving), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The accused is yet to be arrested.
With the BJP reviewing its performance in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls in Punjab, state unit chief Sunil Jakhar on Saturday said his party performed better in the general elections but asserted that better is not enough. Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar reviewed the partys performance in the June 1 Lok Sabha elections at a meeting with office-bearers and party candidates in Chandigarh on Saturday. (HT file photo)

He expressed concern over the BJP losing its traditional Lok Sabha seats of Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Hoshiarpur, saying the results in these constituencies were not according to expectations.

The Punjab unit of the BJP on Saturday held meetings of party candidates, office-bearers and other party leaders here to review its performance in the just concluded Lok Sabha elections.

The BJP could not win any of 13 Lok Sabha seats during the 2024 general elections in Punjab.

However, the partys vote share doubled to 18.56%, as compared to 9.63% in 2019.

Addressing the media, Jakhar said the party performed much better in the Lok Sabha polls. We have done better but better is not enough. We have to succeed, said Jakhar, who was flanked by Union minister of state for railways and food processing industries Ravneet Singh Bittu.

The target was to make the BJP successful in Punjab, he said.

However, he expressed gratitude to party office-bearers and workers for their efforts in the elections. Though we did not get success, the people gave immense response to the BJP, he said.

Speaking about the BJPs drubbing in its traditional seats of Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Hoshiarpur, Jakhar said the party will find out where the shortcomings were.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the Congress dealt a blow to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the opposition BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal, winning seven of the 13 Lok Sabha seats in the high-stakes polls in Punjab even as two Independents registered a surprise victory.

While the AAP clinched three seats, the Sukhbir Singh Badal-led SAD could win only one seat and the BJP drew a blank in the border state.
A 35-year-old man was shot dead while his brother was injured in an attack over a land dispute on Friday evening at Munda Pind village in Tarn Taran district, police officials said on Saturday. (Deceased Satbir Singh.)

Eight persons of the village have been booked for murder at Goindwal Sahib police station.

The injured, Phalwinder Singh, said in his statement to the police that he, along with his brother Satbir Singh, operated a taxi business in Delhi and they owned a land in the village. Lakhwant Singh of the village often had fights with us over the land. At 7pm, my brother and I were working in the field when Lakwant along with his family members came with firearms and opened fire. They also attacked us with sharp-edged weapons. My brother received bullet injuries in this attack and he was rushed to the hospital, where he was declared brought dead, he said. Police are conducting raids to arrest the accused who are on the run.
Amid the spike in terror attacks, Jammu and Kashmir director general of police (DGP) RR Swain on Saturday said that a war had been imposed on us but every terrorist in J&K will be killed. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel standing guard at the national highway ahead of the annual Amarnath Yatra in Jammu on Saturday. (PTI Photo)

After a visit to the border village of Saida Sukhal in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district, where two terrorists were killed and a CRPF jawan made the supreme sacrifice in a protracted encounter on Tuesday and Wednesday, Swain said, A challenge in the form of terrorism is being thrown at us by Pakistan, which has been rattled by the drastic improvement in Kashmir (post revocation of Article 370 in August 2019).

Unnerved by the positive developments in Kashmir, they (Pakistan) want to keep the pot boiling. How could they (Pakistan deep state) suddenly shut the shop on which they thrived for years? Therefore, they will send terrorists to this side, he said.

The DGP maintained that at present the number of terrorists in J&K was not big. They are like rats but with guns and target unarmed and hapless people. We have village defence guard (VDGs), special police officers (SPOs), police, CRPF and the army. How long will they last?he said.

Swain said people should share information of suspicious movement with security forces but at the same time draw a line between credible information and rumour-mongering to prevent false alarms. Our officers are swiftly responding to such information and we have got clear instructions from the Centre to strengthen our teams with night vision devices, weapons and training. I assure you that we will kill each one of them (terrorists), he said.

We have to admit that a war has been imposed upon us. In every war, the enemy tries to cause harm but we have to change our tactics and devise a strategy to destroy them, he said.

He warned sympathisers of terrorists of strict deterrent action.

On Thursday, the DGP visited Reasi, where terrorists had attacked a bus of pilgrims in the Pouni area, killing nine pilgrims and injuring 42 others.
It was a moment of joy for the 347 graduating students of Jaipuria Institute of Management (JIM-L) at the institutes 28th convocation function on Saturday. Meritorious students pose with their awards at the JIM Lucknow convocation on Saturday. (sourced)

Students of Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM), PGDM (Financial Services) and PGDM (Retail Management) programme received their degrees from chief guest Sudhanshu Trivedi, a Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha on the occasion.

In his address, Trivedi urged students to contribute more to research and focus on future technologies like composite material, genome sequencing, space technology, quantum computing. He also urged the students to focus on determination rather than intellect.

Preya Chakravarty was awarded the best student of the year (female) trophy for her outstanding academic performance and leadership. She received the PGDM chairmans gold medal for academic excellence. Through relentless dedication and hard work, I embraced every challenge. I burnt midnight oil and converted it into a beacon of success and turned my dreams into reality, she said.

Sahil Gulati received the PGDM (retail management) chairmans gold medal while Isha Dubey received the PGDM (financial services) chairmans gold medal. Brimming with enthusiasm, the graduating students shared their academic journey at the institution.

I want to express my gratitude to Jaipuria Lucknow for everything I have learned over the last two years. It not only helped me develop business acumen but also my personality as a whole. Without the institutes unwavering support, I could not have achieved my dreams, said Akhil Anand Kanchan (batch 2022-24).

Jaipuria Lucknow celebrated the achievements of its alumni with awards. Academic excellence award was conferred on Naveen Arora (2008-2010 batch) while the award for corporate excellence was bagged by Somit Chitrey (2002-04 batch) and Ankur Khare (2003-05 batch).

For efficient plastic management, Vidya Bhooshan Singh (2009-11 batch) bagged the notable public service award.

Ashok Joshi, senior vice president, Axis Bank also addressed the students.

Highlighting the necessity of adaptability, Kavita Pathak, director of the institute urged the graduating students to embrace the concept of learning to unlearn.

She said: In a world where every three months you see technology change shape, one must unlearn and prepare to relearn with new knowledge, information and skills. Shreevats Jaipuria, vice chairman, board of governors also shared his thoughts with the students.
MUMBAI: For the second day in a row, senior NCP leader and state minister Chhagan Bhujbal expressed his anguish about not getting a chance to move to Parliament. Mumbai, India  Feb 20, 2024: NCP MLA Chhagan Bhujbal addressing the media, in Mumbai, India, on Tuesday, Feb 20, 2024. (Photo by Bhushan Koyande/HT Photo)

On Thursday, he made it clear that he was interested in the Rajya Sabha seat that fell vacant but the party decided to give it to Sunetra Pawar, wife of party president and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. On Friday, Bhujbal again went public, telling mediapersons that he had been keen on contesting the Lok Sabha election from Nashik constituency but backed out since he felt insulted.

Following a decision (taken in Delhi), I was ready to contest from Nashik, he said. However, there was no further move for a month after that. Meanwhile, our rival parties were already campaigning and so I decided to back out. Our alliances candidate was announced a fortnight after that.

Bhujbal was referring to the controversy surrounding the Nashik seat before the Lok Sabha elections. According to him, union home minister Amit Shah had told state BJP leaders to consider him for the constituency. However, chief minister Eknath Shinde was hell-bent on contesting Nashik since the sitting MP, Hemant Godse, was from his party. Even the intervention by BJP leaders did not help, and Bhujbal decided to back out. Shinde fielded Godse, who lost to Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Rajabhau Waje by a margin of 1,62,001 votes.

A senior NCP leader said that Bhujbal was keen on shifting to Parliament also because of the political situation in Maharashtra. The OBC leader had taken a very strong stand against Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patils agitation, opposing the latters demand that Marathas be given reservation in government jobs and education from the OBC quota by giving them Kunbi caste certificates. (Kunbi, a peasant sub-caste of the Maratha community, enjoys reservation from the OBC quota.) Thanks to his firm stance, Bhujbal became the target of Maratha outfits, with Jarange-Patil directing the community to defeat Bhujbal wherever he contested. Bhujbal was not even allowed to campaign in some Maratha-dominated areas.

In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the Maratha community voted against the ruling parties in most constituencies in Marathwada. The ruling alliances prospects in several other constituencies were affected as well.

Of the 48 newly elected MPs, 26 are Marathas and nine are OBCs. The ruling alliance is exploring ways to pacify the Maratha community. Given this background, Bhujbal is keen on moving to Parliament rather than contesting the assembly elections scheduled to be held in September-October.

This was the reason he was keen to contest from the Nashik Lok Sabha seat, said the above-mentioned senior leader. When it did not happen, as Shinde put his foot down, Bhujbal showed interest in the Rajya Sabha seat vacated by senior leader Praful Patel after he was elected to the Rajya Sabha from another seat last February. However, the party leadership chose to give the seat to Ajit Pawars wife Sunetra who lost to NCP (SP) candidate Supriya Sule in Baramati constituency in the Lok Sabha elections.

You dont get everything that you want in the party, Bhujbal remarked when he was asked about the Rajya Sabha berth he was eying.

A legislator close to Bhujbal said that the NCP top brass was not very keen to send Bhujbal to Parliament, as it felt that he would then be directly in touch with the BJP top brass and might not toe the party line. There was also some apprehension that he would be a natural claimant for a ministerial berth in the union government, he added.

With the party leadership not accepting his demand, Bhujbal is making it known that he is not happy. NCP chief Ajit Pawar, however, denied this. The decision to give a Rajya Sabha ticket to Sunetra Pawar was taken by the party, he said on Friday. Our rivals as well as some close friends are spreading rumours that he is unhappy in the party. But Bhujbal himself has made it clear that he is not.
Imphal: UNC said the decision was taken according to a resolution adopted by the Naga apex body in its emergency assembly held on May 29 at Town Hall, Panchai, Chandel district, Manipur. (PTI File)

The United Naga Council (UNC), an apex body of Nagas in Manipur, has passed a resolution to socially boycott newly elected Congress MP Alfred Kanngam Arthu and two independent candidates from the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha constituency from public platforms and holding any position or leadership in Naga society for a period of seven years with immediate effect, saying that they failed to respect and honour the position of the UNC in the recently concluded 18th Lok Sabha election.

Four candidates contested from the Outer Manipur constituency in the recent Lok Sabha polls: Alfred Kanngam Arthur as the Congress candidate, Alyson Abonmai and S Kho John as independent candidates, and Kachui Timothy Zimik as the Naga Peoples Front (NPF) candidate. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) did not contest in Outer Manipur but supported the regional party NPF. Alfred Kanngam Arthur won the seat with a margin of 85,418 votes against his nearest rival Kachui Timothy Zimik.

In a public notification issued on Thursday by UNCs secretary of information and publicity, H James Hau said that the newly elected Congress MP Arthur, along with two independents, has been socially boycotted for a period of seven years from the date of issue of the notification.

The decision was taken according to the resolution adopted by the Naga apex body in its emergency assembly held on May 29 at Town Hall, Panchai, Chandel district, Manipur.

The notification also mentioned that the three individuals, S Kho John of the Poumai tribe, Allyson Abonmai of the Liangmai tribe, and Alfred Kanngam Arthur of the Tangkhul tribe failed to respect and honour the position of the United Naga Council in the recent 18th Lok Sabha election. The Poumai, Liangmai, and Tangkhul tribes are sub-tribes of the Naga.

The three individuals willful attempt to challenge the Naga peoples position has resulted in their being debarred from public platforms, it added.

The body further cautioned all the constituent units, subordinate/associate units of the council, and the Naga populace to uphold the resolution of the UNC and enforce it accordingly in their respective jurisdictions.

HT tried to reach the trio, including the newly elected MP. However, they were not reachable.

Before the election, the Naga body had announced support for a consensus Naga candidate identified by the apex body for the Outer Manipur constituency. However, the three candidates were against this decision.
The Sikkim government is planning to airlift around 1,200 tourists stranded in North Sikkim, which remained cut off for the second consecutive day after heavy rains triggered massive landslides in the Himalayan state. People cross water on a temporary wooden bridge after a landslide following incessant rainfall in Sikkims Mangan on Thursday. (ANI)

Nine people, six in North Sikkim and three in South Sikkim, have been killed since Sunday in landslides.

Around 1,200 tourists, including 15 foreign Nationals, are stranded at Lachung in North Sikkims Mangan district. The office of the chief secretary has already initiated talks with the Centre so that the stranded tourists may be airlifted, said a top official of the states tourism and aviation department.

Attempts are also being made to open alternative routes so that the tourists may be safely evacuated by road.

In October 2023, Sikkim was hit by a flash-flood triggered by an outburst of a glacial lake located above 5,000 metres in North Sikkim. More than 100 people were killed.

The tourists were all safe. There was adequate stock of food and ration to cater to all stranded tourists. They have been advised to stay put and avoid taking any risks, said the official.

The tiny Himalayan state in eastern India has been receiving heavy rains since Sunday. On Friday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued red alert for North Sikkim, which comprises Mangan district for the next 48 hours.

While red alert has been issued for Mangan district till Sunday morning, orange alert has been issued for all the six districts till around Tuesday morning, said GN Raha, director of IMDs regional office in Gangtok.

As power and communication lines in North Sikkim were snapped and the region remained cut off, IMD officials werent sure about the rain which Mangan district received in the last 24 hours.

Some places such as Yuksom in West Sikkim received around 70 mm rain between Thursday morning and Friday morning. Namthang in South Sikkim received around 60mm.

Chief minister Prem Singh Tamang, who cut short his Arunachal Pradesh visit and returned to Sikkim on Friday, chaired a high-level meeting at Mintokgang - the official residence of the chief minister.

This meeting was crucial for strategising and coordinating our response efforts to restore normalcy and ensure the safety, and well-being of our residents, said Tamang in a press release.

A helpline number was launched for the people to report any kind of disasters during the monsoon season.

Mangan district superintendent of police (SP) Sonam Detchu Bhutia said that places such as Djongu, Chungthang and Mangan Bazar were cut off and one relief camp has been opened at Pakshep.

Out of the six people killed in North Sikkim, three were from Pakshep and three from Ambhithang.

In West Bengal, where swollen Teesta River is posing danger to places like Teesta Bazar, Najok Busti and Melli under Kalimpong district, the administration held a high-level meeting and took stock of the situation.

The road going to Darjeeling via Peshok continues to remain closed for the second consecutive day. The National Highway 10, considered to be the lifeline of Sikkim and Kalimpong, continued to remain in precarious condition and many areas have become more vulnerable post October 4 Teesta flash flood.
Reviving the action-packed isekai anime genre with new twists and turns, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation has for long offered unmatchable standards of world-building and gripping character narratives. The standout TV anime adaptation is based on Rifujin na Magonote's Japanese light novel series, illustrated by Shirotaka. A still from Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Episode 22 Preview.

Crunchyroll describes the fantasy anime's plot as:

When a 34-year-old underachiever gets run over by a truck, his story doesn't end there. Reincarnated in a new world as an infant, Rudy will seize every opportunity to live the life he's always wanted. Armed with new friends, some freshly acquired magical abilities, and the courage to do the things he's always dreamed of, he's embarking on an epic adventurewith all of his past experience intact!

Here's what we know about Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Episode 22, Parents.

Mushoku Tensei Season 2 Episode 22 Release date

The next episode of Mushoku Tensei will air on Sunday, June 16, at 12 p.m. JST.

Also read | Demon Slayer Season 4 maintains Top 3 spot despite slipping ratings; beloved shonen titles keep up anime TV rankings

Where to watch Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Episode 22

Local Japanese networks like Tokyo MX, KBS Kyoto and BS11 will initially broadcast the new premiere. International fans may eventually tune into Crunchyroll. The second part of Season 2 was officially released on the streamer on April 7, at 8:30 am PT.

The upcoming episode will also roll out at the same time, following the same schedule. The official Crunchyroll website states that the Studio Bind anime will be available to stream in North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, CIS, and Southeast Asia.

Check below to see when Episode 22 is most likely to be available in your time zone.

Pacific Time: Sunday, June 16, at 8:30 am

Central Time: Sunday, June 16, at 10:30 am

Eastern Time: Sunday, June 16, at 11:30 am

Indian Standard Time: Sunday, June 16, at 9 pm

Australian Central Time: Monday, June 17, at 1 am

Also read | Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter 263: Release date, time, spoilers speculation and more

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Episode 21 recap

Rudeus was emotionally struck down when Roxy failed to recognise him after he rescued her from being isolated in the labyrinth. However, as history catches up to them, their palpable chemistry is undeniable and the initial awkwardness dissipates.

The party continues charting through the Teleporter Labyrinth. Rudy's hypothesis is proved right as they discover a concealed staircase, which leads them to the hidden teleportation circle and the labyrinth's guardian. However, the adventure isn't as simple as it seems. As now seen in the upcoming episode's preview, a monstrous entity awaits the party.

The official website explains the plot of the forthcoming episode:

Rudeus and his team move to the final level of the labyrinth, where they finally see Zenith! However, they are confronted by a gigantic hydra, the supposed guardian of the labyrinth. The Hydra is a legendary creature that was supposed to be extinct, a powerful enemy also known as the Demon Dragon!
The first season of CloverWorks' latest anime production, Wind Breaker, has almost run its course and the finale is nigh. Episode 11 aired on Friday, June 14, and whipped up a fresh batch of newness with novel introductions to the Furin High School squad. Still from Wind Breaker Episode 11 "New Classmates."(CloverWorks)

As one of the most loved Spring anime lineup releases, the action-packed series may be heavily reminiscent of the fictional magic of Tokyo Revengers, but it casts its uniquely sweet spell on the viewers. With fans rooting for pivotal characters like Sakura, they've earned a wholesome batch of memories already.

Although an initial AnimeTV-JP.net report notified the first season of the brand new premiere is listed for 13 episodes, several other media reports have disseminated the idea of it being a 12-episode season. Either way, the story is running out of fuel soon and only next week's episode will confirm what's ahead for the series, especially with speculations of Season 2 in the air.

Also read | Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Episode 22: Release date, preview, where to watch and more

Crunchyroll describes the series as: Welcome to Furin High School, an institution infamous for its population of brawny brutes who solve every conflict with a show of strength. Some of the students even formed a group, Bofurin, which protects the town. Haruka Sakura, a first-year student who moved in from out of town, is only interested in one thing: fighting his way to the top.

Wind Breaker Episode 12 Release date

According to several media sources, the next Wind Breaker episode will air in Japan on Friday, June 21, 2024, at 12:26 am JST.

Where to watch Wind Breaker Episode 12?

After local Japanese TV networks broadcast the episode, international audiences may rely on Crunchyroll to watch the episode.

Global audiences may refer to the following estimated release schedule for its eventual Crunchyroll premiere:

Pacific Daylight Time: Thursday, June 20, at 8:26 am

Eastern Daylight Time: Thursday, June 20, at 11:26 am

Central European Summer Time: Thursday, June 20, at 5:26 pm

Indian Standard Time: Thursday, June 20, at 8:56 pm

Australian Central Standard Time: Friday, June 21, at 12:56 am

Also read | Demon Slayer Season 4 maintains Top 3 spot despite slipping ratings; beloved shonen titles keep up anime TV rankings

Wind Breaker Episode 11 Recap

The action has already settled down with the main issues of the first arc concluded. Through Sakura, Episode 11 picks up the story again by introducing two new characters to the show. Plus, with the previous episode setting up Sakura's growth as the potential class president, Wind Breaker's main character has also warmed up to the idea of not walking the path by his lonesome.

Taiga Tsugeura is briefly introduced as the one of the strongest presences in the class, as he later brings Nirei, Sakura and Suo to a wrestling-themed restaurant. Simultaneously, Mitsuki Kiryu walks into the scene, holding a girl's hand. Although Tsugeura approaches them in his attempts to interact with Kiryu, the latter urges him to stay put because his rough ways might scare women.

His words make more sense eventually as moments later the others realise that the girl with Kiryu wasn't his girlfriend. Instead, he'd saved her from someone who'd been harassing her. As expected, Tsugeura teamed up with Kiryu in the epic showdown that followed right after. Sakura, Tsugeura and Kiryu make a indomitable trio - a force to reckon with.

After all that had transpired, Sakura's friend list expands, leaving his phone ringing off the hook with text notifications  indicating a new beginning for him.
Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal have confirmed their wedding date and their unique wedding invite is also out. The actors, who have been dating for years, will marry soon in Mumbai. From their invite  which is designed like a magazine cover  to their wedding date and venue, ahead is all that you should know about the upcoming Bollywood wedding. Also read | Sonakshi Sinha, Zaheer Iqbal to have registered marriage on June 23: Report Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal's wedding invite is all things sweet.

Wedding date

Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal will marry on June 23, 2024, in Mumbai.

Wedding invite

Their leaked wedding invite recently surfaced online. It has been designed like the cover of a magazine and features a love-up photo of Sonakshi and Zaheer from a vacation. Zaheer is seen kissing Sonakshi in the candid photo, while she smiles big.

The invite says, "We're making it official (finally)! The rumours were true." The wedding invite also reveals details about the venue, time, and dress code. Along with the card, the couple shared an audio message.

"To all our hip, tech-savvy and jasoos (spy) friends and family, who managed to land on this page, Hi... Over the last seven years that we have been together, all the love, joy, laughter, and many adventures have led us to this very moment. The moment when we go from being each other's rumoured girlfriend and boyfriend to being each other's definite and official husband and wife. Finally! This celebration would not be complete without you. So, drop whatever you are doing on June 23, and come party with us. See you there," Sonakshi and Zaheer said in the audio message as Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's Afreen Afreen played in the background.

Wedding dress code

The wedding invite also said, "Dress code: formal and festive, just don't wear read." Sonakshi and Zaheer, who have been dating for seven years, co-starred in the 2022 film Double XL.

Wedding venue

The couple will celebrate the wedding at Bastian, Mumbai. Sonakshi and Zaheer's wedding invite says that the celebrations will start at 8 pm. Earlier, it was reported that the couple will have a registered marriage.

According to a Zoom report, the actors will register their marriage on June 23, which will be followed by a wedding party for friends and colleagues from the film industry.

Recently, HT City quoted a source on the wedding festivities, who said, There will be a celebration on June 22 as well at their family home in Juhu. Only close friends and family are invited for this function. The wedding will take place on the morning of June 23 while the reception will take place at night."

Wedding guest list

News18 Showsha recently reported that the wedding party will see some of Bollywood's biggest names in attendance. A source told the portal, Apart from the Sinhas and the Ratansis, the ceremony will see many of Sonakshi and Zaheers close friends and peers. The lovebirds have extended an invite to Aayush Sharma, Huma Qureshi, and Varun Sharma, all of whom they share a deep friendship with.

The guest list also includes Sonakshis Heeramandi co-stars. Through the course of the shoot and the promotional activities, Sonakshi went on to share a good bond with her co-stars and some crew members. Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Fardeen Khan, Taha Shah Badussha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sharmin Segal and others have also been sent the wedding invite, the source added.
New Delhi, Rapper Badshah on Saturday apologised to his fans after he had to cut short his concert in Dallas, US, due to a "discrepancy" between local promoters and the production company". Badshah apologises to fans after Dallas concert stopped midway: You guys deserve better

The rapper is currently on a tour to the US and Canada in support of his third studio album, "Ek Tha Raja". Titled The Paagal Tour 2024, the tour started in May and will conclude in August.

Badshah posted a statement on his Instagram page and said he is "heartbroken" after he had to stop his performance midway at Curtis Culwell Center in Dallas.

"Dallas, I'm literally so heartbroken and bummed about what happened today. You guys are incredible and deserve better.

"I was really looking forward to performing in your city but due to a discrepancy between the local promoters and the production company I was forced to cut short the set and stop the show midway," he said.

The 38-year-old musician said promoters need to be better equipped, especially for large-format shows, as it takes a considerable amount of energy and effort to put together a tour.

"This isn't fair to the fans who spend their hard-earned money to purchase that ticket, and it definitely isn't fair to the whole crew who pours their hearts into putting on these tours. We rehearse for weeks, plan for months and travel tirelessly to bring you the best possible experience.

"The music industry is all about respect - respect for the fans as much as it is about respect for the artists and the support crew," he added.

Badshah said his management team "tried everything in their control" to salvage the situation and ensure a smooth run.

"We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience, disappointment and irritation caused due to this sheer lack of management from the promoters end. We will make sure things are better managed in future with a more competent promoter team that prioritises a quality experience and understands that music and touring is a serious business.

"I promise to return, and it's going to be bigger, better, and bolder! Thanks for always being there and having my back," he concluded his statement.

As part of the Paagal Tour, Badshah has so far performed in cities like Washington DC and Houston.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
BTS' Jin has officially broken ASTRO Cha Eunwoo's consistent victorious spell on the monthly brand reputation rankings for individual boy group members. BTS' Jin beats ASTRO's Cha Eunwoo to take the top spot on June's boy group member brand reputation rankings.

For months on end, the Stay crooner clinched the top spot among other male K-pop idols, maintaining his praise-worthy reign. However, the epic return of the eldest BTS member following his military discharge marked a new start for the K-pop supergroup currently on hiatus.

Jin's comeback to the music scene ignited a spark, especially when paired with the grandiosity of the group's 11th debut anniversary on June 13. On top of that the Astronaut hitmaker jumped back into his idol shoes by conducting an extraordinary hug event to reunite with his fans and kick off the annual BTS Festa celebrations in style.

The Korean Business Research Institute's June survey again relied on the cumulative analysis of consumer participation, communication, media coverage and community awareness indexes. The data collected from May 15 to June 15 weighed in on the industry presence of 730 boy group members.

Also read | Ateez's Work for Palestine trend explained amid K-pop acts latest Golden Hour collab boycott

Ultimately, the Super Tuna songster dominated the list, witnessing a staggering 203.52% boost in his brand reputation index since May. Scoring a grand total of 3,835,261 this month, Jin earned his glorious victory in association with high-ranking phrases like free hug, ARMY" and fan meeting. Moreover, other significant terms related to his keyword analysis included thankful, discharge and congratulate. He also secured a whopping score of 95.07% positive reaction.

After months of staying at the top, ASTRO's Cha Eunwoo slipped to the second spot with a brand reputation index of 3,604,710. Despite going down a rank, his score saw a 24.97% rise since May.

Where do BTS members stand on the June chart?

The other BTS members also applied for official leave from their respective posts to celebrate Jin's military duty conclusion. As a result, the entire septet's positions on the June list soared.

Also read | BTS' Jungkook achieves historic milestone as 1st Korean soloist with 7 entries on the UK's official singles chart

With Jin conquering the chart at the top, Jimin joined him at No. 3, with a brand reputation of 2,258,664. Following them, Jungkook closed the Top 5 ranks with a brand reputation index of 1,898,925.

As for the other members of the global sensation, V and RM made it to the Top 10 at No. 6 and 9, respectively. Meanwhile, the remaining duo of J-Hope and Suga rounded out the group's ranks at No. 11 and 12, respectively.

How many SEVENTEEN members make it to the June brand reputation rankings?

Four of the 13-member lineup made it to the June rankings. Hoshi and Mingyu cracked the 13th and 17th ranks. On the other hand, Jeonghan and Wonwoo, set to debut as a special two-member subunit with their first single album, This Man, on June 17, claimed the 16th and 24th places, respectively.

Top 30 Boy Group Member Brand Rankings for June
Following Pawan Kalyan's recent political success, his film Thammudu was re-released in theatres. The excitement reached a fever pitch when his son, Akira Nandan, made a surprise visit to a theatre in Hyderabad and was mobbed by fans. (Also Read: Upasana Konidela shares pic of Klin Kaara with Pawan Kalyan; congratulates uncle on new political role) Akira Nandan did not seem to mind the crowd mobbing him as he caught a screening of his father, Pawan Kalyan's Thammudu.

Akira watches Thammudu

Pawans 1999 hit film Thammudu was re-released in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh theatres this Friday. On Saturday, fans shared videos of Akira being mobbed by fans as he caught a screening at the Devi 70MM theatre in RTC X Roads on X (formerly Twitter).

One video captured the electric atmosphere as Akira walked into the theatre, greeted by a sea of fans. Undeterred, he smiled and raised his fist in a gesture of camaraderie before making his way inside. Another video documented his exit, with fans showering him with confetti and capturing the moment on their phones.

A third video, taken inside the theatre, showed Pawan's martial arts scenes on the screen, with Akira joining the fans in their enthusiastic response.

Akira accompanies Pawan

Akira has recently been by Pawans side through the last leg of this political win. He was with his father in Pithapuram when the Jana Sena Party (JSP) won all the 21 seats it contested. Akira also accompanied Pawan to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was in Vijayawada when he was sworn in as the Deputy CM. His mom, Pawans ex-wife Renu Desai shared pictures of Akira meeting the PM, writing that as a mother shes happy to see her son meet Modi.

Upcoming work

Pawan has three films lined up, but he has yet to complete them. It is unknown if he plans to return to cinema after the political win. Krish and AM Jyothi Krishnas Hari Hara Veera Mallu, Harish Shankars Ustaad Bhagat Singh and Sujeeths They Call Him OG have been in the works.
Actor Pankit Thakker revealed how he escaped the recent terror attack in Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking with the Times of India, Pankit shared that he was supposed to walk towards Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra. However, before he could do that, he learnt about the attack and returned to his hotel. He couldn't complete his yatra. (Also Read | Priyanka Chopra on 'heinous' terror attack on pilgrims in Reasi) Pankit Thakker talked about Reasi terror attack.

Pankit talks about the terror attack

Talking about the incident, Pankit said, "It was horrifying. It took me days to come out from the experience and talk about it. I have seen people in pain and the rush. It was scary. I am deeply saddened and outraged by the recent terror attack in Jammu Reasi. The violence that has been going on in Jammu and Kashmir in the past few days is absolutely shameful. It is disheartening to witness innocent lives being lost and the escalating tensions in the region."

Pankit condemns the attack

He added, "My heart goes out to all the victims and their families who have been affected by this brutal attack. It is devastating to think that people's lives are being torn apart by such acts of violence. Jammu & Kashmir has always been a land of unparalleled beauty, but these incidents tarnish its reputation and disturb the peace that the region yearns for. Attack in Jammu Reasi is yet another reminder that we must stand united against such acts of cowardice and evil."

Reasi terror attack

On June 9, terrorists opened fire on a 53-seater bus carrying pilgrims when it was en route to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra from the Shiv Khori temple. The terror attack on the bus took place in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir. 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.
Dalljiet's Qayamat Ki Raat co-star Karishma took to Instagram Stories to show her support for her.

Karishma is on Dalljiet's side

Karishma reposted a news story about Dalljiets relationship. The text on the picture read, Dalljiet takes legal action against estranged husband Nikhil Patel, after having an extramarital affair.

Sharing the post, Karishma wrote, Whatever happened shouldn't have happened!!!! My full support is with my dearest friend Dalljiet Kaur. This man has done wrong to her, and I will stand by her till the end. Strong women do not seek revenge; they move on and allow karma to do the work!!

Dalljiet re-shared Karishma's Instagram Stories on her timeline and expressed her gratitude. She wrote, One day as it comes KT [Karishma Tanna]. Thank You!

However, the post was not visible later. It is not clear if it was deleted or went off the timeline after 24 hours.

Karishma's Insta Story.

Trouble in their paradise

Some time back, Dalljiet slammed Kenya-based businessman Nikhil on social media. Sharing a photo of Nikhil on her Instagram story, she wrote, "You are out on social media with her now everyday shamelessly. Your wife and son came back in 10 months of the wedding. The entire family is humiliated. Some dignity for the kids would have been good!"

Later, Nikhil spoke about the allegations in an interview with 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."

Nikhil has sent a legal notice to the actor asking her to collect all her belongings from his house in Kenya. Later, Dalljiet got a stay order against Nikhil which put a stay on Nikhil from evicting her and her child Jaydon, along with prohibiting him from throwing any of her belongings away.

Dalljiet tied the knot with Nikhil in 2023. She was earlier married to television actor and Bigg Boss 16 contestant Shalin Bhanot, with whom she shares a son. The couple had divorced in 2015.
The Kardashians are known for living a larger-than-life kind of lifestyle and each of their occasions is full of glamour and grandeur. Even more so, when it comes to the celebration of their childrens birthdays. Following the tradition, Kim Kardashian went all out for her eldest daughter, North Wests 11th birthday celebration. Leveraging her Kim Airways, the SKIMS owner flew North West and 10 of her close friends to New York City for her daughters birthday party. The group went for a joyous ride to the city and dined at the finest places. Kim Kardashian celebrated daughter North West's birthday with a trip to New York City

Inside North Wests birthday trip to NYC

Kim Kardashian flew her eldest daughter and her close friends to New York City on Friday, 14 June. According to Page Six, the girl group arrived in the city in matching plaid pyjamas and a pink shirt that said I heart NW, which are North Wests initials. The party began in the Upper East Side where they dined on chicken tenders, the restaurants special serving of frozen hot chocolate and ice cream.

North West and her girls snapped their trip followed by the traditional birthday song as she cut the cake. The billionaire mum flew kids to NYC in her private jet, not for the first time. The trip was planned a day ahead of North Wests birthday on Saturday, June 15. It is not confirmed if the group plans to stay over the weekend and continue the birthday celebrations, yet.

Also Read: Bianca Censori's risque Tokyo outfit sparks Japanese outrage, while Kanye West flies economy after losing

North Wests last birthday party via private plane

North Wests over-the-top birthday parties are a tradition in the clan at this point. Two years ago, for her 9th birthday, Kim Kardashian organised a spooky wilderness themed party which she named Camped North. She flew North and her friends out of the city for a fun and adventurous birthday party in her private plane. The girl gang indulged in sporty outdoor activities like zip-lining, rafting and inner tubing. While camping during the weekend, they organized a bonfire along with card games and shooting arrows. Everyone was provided with their own sleeping bags and tents.

The following year, Kim organised a fancy brunch hosted by the Anastasia Beverly Hills which included a table filled with an exquisite menu.
In a recent interview with new company, ABP UNCUT, the actor looked back at his journey, and getting popular with his roles in the OTT space.

What did he say

In the podcast, Aasif revealed that he worked as a waiter during the initial days of his struggle in Mumbai. He went on to share that he was washing dishes in the kitchen of the same hotel where actors Saif and Kareena got married back in 2012. Kareena and Saif had a grand wedding at Taj hotel in Mumbai.

In fact, the actor revealed that he had asked his manager for permission to meet the Bollywood stars, and that was denied. I cried that day as I could not meet the actors despite being so close to them, he said.

That day pushed him to try harder and find a way into Bollywood. After around a month, Aasif shared that he got an appointment with a casting agency, where he was belittled for his looks.

The manager of the firm told me. Dont take my feedback personally, I am giving you honest feedback. Neither your looks are attractive, nor your body is very good, why would anyone cast you, he said.

When Aasif asked about what he should do, the casting person advised him to learn acting first and get the basics right. That is when he decided to go back to Rajasthan, and enrolled himself in a theatre group in Jaipur.

He worked in the theatre group for six years and returned to Mumbai to try his luck in the industry again.

Earlier in an interview to Hindustan Times, Aasif talked about his initial days in Mumbai. He said, In 2010, I convinced my mother (Firdaus) and I went to Mumbai to become an actor. To sustain, I started working as waiter at a hotel. After few months, when I was working in the kitchen department, we had a party which was Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoors reception. First time I saw film stars and Mr (Amitabh) Bachchan. Soon after, I left that job, started working in a mall and giving auditions. I was told to learn acting and do theatre.

About Aasifs career

Aasifs journey in the entertainment industry started as a casting assistant. When it comes to acting, he began as a junior artist. He was seen in Salman Khans Ready and Hrithik Roshans Agneepath. He also featured in Akshay Kumar-starrer Toilet Ek Prem Katha, and Indias Most Wanted, alongside Arjun Kapoor.

The actor made his OTT debut in 2018 with Mirzapur, where he played Babar, a loyal aide. He was also seen in Paatal Lok, Jamtara - Sabka Number Ayega and Mirzapur 2, apart from Panchayat.
Narendra Modi made his first international appearance since being sworn in for his third term as the Prime Minister of India, dated June 9 in New Delhi. Following the same, he received a special invite to attend the ongoing G7 Summit. With Italy hosting the keynote event, it was but obvious that a Modi and Meloni reunion was on the cards. As glimpses from the otherwise formal event started making its way on to social media, the internet as of now is abounding with a renewed interest in #Melodi. Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni takes a selfie with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi at the G7 Summit in Italy

#Melodi reunion takes the internet by storm

#Melodi for all practical purposes stands as the unofficial ship name for the professional camaraderie PM Modi and Giorgia Meloni share. As a matter of fact, PM Meloni herself shared a short selfie-clip on June 15 following the proceedings of the day for the G7 Summit, where she can be heard saying, "Hello from the 'Melodi' team". PM Modi too features in the clip and can be seen smiling along. The #Melodi brigade on the internet has often found themselves on the receiving end of online brickbats for overtly romanticising the political duo's 'chemistry' per se. However, with Meloni herself making use of the hashtag, the brigade appears to have received the only green flag they need.

An X user commented, "Ok who all were saying the memes were cringe? Meloni ji rubbed it on their face. She loves the memes guys. Keep them coming. Baki kisike saath aise pic nahi post kiya hai only with our modi ji. " Another added, "Two Coolest politicians..." Many even appreciated how both Modi and Meloni have taken the internet banter in their stride. A comment read, "The super coolest Prime Ministers. She enjoyed mems on them. We are officially melodi team now " Referring to one of the first few times the two took a candid selfie, another comment read, This will BREAK the internet like this selfie  #Melodi

An older selfie featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Girogia Meloni

Kangana Ranaut is pro-Melodi

Among the sea of social media users who reacted to PM Modi and Giorgia Meloni's banter, was actor and now politician Kangana Ranaut. Sharing the video to her Instagram stories, Kangana expressed how PM Modi has always strived to make women feel that he is rooting for them and wants them to rise.

Kangana Ranaut is all-praises for PM Modi

It is worth mentioning that Kangana recently contested the General Elections on a BJP ticket from the constituency of Mandi in Himachal Pradesh and emerged victorious.

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni greets Indian PM Narendra Modi at the G7 Summit in Italy

Are you enjoying the #Melodi reunion or do you think the internet has taken it too far?
Eight Maoists and an STF (special task force) constable were killed in an encounter in the Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh on Saturday, police officials said. Two other security officials were injured in the gunfight, they said. Two injured jawans were brought to Ramakrishna Hospital in Raipur on Saturday. (ANI)

Soon after the encounter, Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed his governments commitment to eliminating Maoists from the region, and said it will not sit quiet till it achieves this goal.

The encounter started around 7am in the forest of Abhujmad, where a joint team of security personnel from four districts  Narayanpur, Kanker, Dantewada and Kondagaon  was out on an anti-Maoist operation, inspector general of police, Bastar Range, Sundarraj P said.

Eight Maoists were killed in the face-off. One jawan was also killed in the gunfight and two others suffered injuries, Vivekanand Sinha, additional director general (anti-Naxal operations), said. A huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the spot, Sinha added.

A search operation was launched on June 12 following information about the presence of Maoists in the forests of Kutul, Farsebeda and Kodtameta villages under Kohkameta police station area of the district, IG Sundarraj said.

Personnel of district reserve guard (DRG) from four districts, special task force (STF) and the 53rd battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) were sent to the jungle, he said.

We had information that senior Maoist leaders of the Maad division of CPI (Maoist) were camping in Abujhmaad forest, hence a joint team was sent for a search operation on June 12, he said.

Giving details of the encounter, the IG said, One STF constable, Nitesh Ekka, died while two others  Kailash Netam and Lekhram Netam  were injured. The injured constables were airlifted to Raipur and their condition is out of danger, he said.

When the firing stopped, bodies of eight Maoists were recovered from the jungle. Police have also recovered one Insas rifle, one .303rifle, grenade launcher and other arms and ammunition from the spot, said the IG.

The process of identification of the Maoists has started, he added. We are hoping that more Maoists have been killed in the encounter and search operation will continue, Sunderraj said.

In a post on X, the chief minister said, The Naxalites are frustrated by the strict action taken against them. Our government is fully committed to eliminating them, and we will not sit quietly until the target is achieved.

Since December, 2023, there has been a clear uptick in aggression from security forces, which have created 17 new forward camps in what were thus far thought to be core Maoist-controlled areas.

This includes areas inside Abhujmaad, a 4,000-square-kilometre expanse of forests that straddles Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. Abhujhmaad is an amalgamation of the Gondi words Abujh and Maad that translates to the hills of the unknown  an area that is yet unmapped by the government of India.

Several attempts at conducting preliminary surveys in the region have taken place since 2017, but each has been stymied by the extremely difficult geography, complete lack of infrastructure, and heavy Maoist fortification. It is because of this administrative vacuum, that most security officers in Bastar refer to the area as the last bastion of the Maoists, where the seniormost cadre, including the politburo and the central committee, of the CPI(Maoist) take refuge through the year.

With Saturdays incident, 131 Maoists have been killed so far this year in separate encounters with security forces in Chhattisgarh, much higher than 2023 when 22 ultras were killed.

On June 7, seven Maoists were killed in Narayanpur in an encounter with security forces while on May 23, seven Maoists were killed in an encounter in a forest on Narayanpur-Bijapur inter-district border.

On May 10, 12 Maoists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Bijapur district.

Ten Maoists, including three women, were killed in an encounter with security personnel in a forest along the border of Narayanpur and Kanker districts on April 30.

Before that, 29 Maoists were gunned down in an encounter with security forces in the states Kanker district on April 16, according to police.
At least 8 Maoists have been killed in an encounter with security forces in Abujhmarh. One jawan died in the line of duty whereas two sustained injuries. Paramilitary forces in a Maoist-affected area. (Representational image)

Over the past two days, a protracted gunfight has been underway in the Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh.

Abujhmarh is a hilly, forest area which falls in the Narayanpur, Bijapur district and Dantewada districts. Geographically isolated and largely inaccessible, the area is considered to be a hotbed of Maoists' activities.

The gunfight broke out this morning in the forest of Abhujmarh when a joint team of the security personnel from four districts  Narayanpur, Kanker, Dantewada and Kondagaon  was out on an anti-Naxal operation, PTI reported.

The operation  involving the personnel of District Reserve Guard (DRG) from four districts, Special Task Force (STF) and the 53rd battalion of the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)  was launched on June 12.

6 Maoists were killed in Narayanpur earlier this month

This comes days after security forces killed six Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district. Those killed carried a total bounty of 38 lakh.

The operation was the biggest attack by security forces on People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) company no. 6, which is considered a pillar of the attacking force of the Maoists.

"The operation involving separate teams of security personnel was launched late night on June 6 on the border of Narayanpur, Kondagaon, Dantewada and Bastar districts based on inputs about the presence of Maoists of PLGA military company no. 6 and east Bastar division formations," Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P told the media last week.

During a search of the site, bodies of six Naxalites clad in 'uniform' were recovered from different places along with two .303 rifles, one .315 bore rifle, 10 BGL (barrel grenade launcher) shells, one SLR magazine, a cooker bomb, five bags, a huge cache of explosives, medicines and items of daily use, Sundarraj had added.

With inputs from PTI
Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers investigating the alleged multi-crore scam in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation (KMVSTDC) recovered 3.5 crore from premises linked to managing director JG Padmanabha, officials familiar with the matter said. The suicide of a state government employee has unravelled a scam of  94.73 crore from a government corporation by officials of the nationalised bank in Karnataka (File photo)

Acting on specific information, the CID officials conducted a raid that led to the discovery of the cash on Thursday. This latest recovery brings the total amount seized from the accused to 11.7 crore. So far, the CID has arrested eight people in connection with the scam, said a senior officer.

The suicide of a state government employee has unravelled a scam of 94.73 crore from a government corporation by officials of the nationalised bank in Karnataka. According to the probe so far, the officials of the bank used the model code of conduct (MCC), which mandates no communication between the bank and corporation to cover up the swindling of funds and even used signatures collected from the corporations officials to forge documents, say investigations.

While the government constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the case, the Union Bank of India handed over the matter to the CBI.

According to the police, the deceased returned from Bengaluru to his hometown in Shivamogga on Friday for the weekend and he died by suicide on Sunday when no one was home. The death came to light at around 5 pm on Sunday, and later, the police found the suicide note in a book near the TV table. While the complaint lodged by the officials of the KMVSTDC has alleged the unauthorised transfer of 94.73 crore was carried out by eight officials of the Union Bank of Indias MG road branch, the suicide note has alleged involvement of officials of the corporation.

Among those arrested earlier were Satyanarayana Verma and Chandra Mohan from Andhra Pradesh, who were identified as middlemen. They facilitated the transfer of funds through multiple bank accounts. Their arrest led to the recovery of 8.2 crore. The investigation revealed their involvement through Satyanarayana Itakari, chairman of a credit cooperative bank in Hyderabad, who was previously arrested for aiding the accused in opening multiple bank accounts to enable the illegal transactions.

The state Tribal Welfare Minister B Nagendra has already resigned in this connection.
New Delhi: The ministry of electronics and information technology will release the rules under the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023 for consultation soon, Union IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Saturday and added that the goal to bring in large-scale manufacturing of electronics, components, and semiconductor remains unchanged. Union IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

The DPDP Act, the long-awaited data protection law, was given a presidential assent on August 12 last year, but it is yet to be implemented partly because the corresponding rules havent been notified.

Drafting of DPDP Rules is in very advanced stage. We will start the industry consultation now... Whatever extensive consultations will be required; we will do those. We wont rush through. We will prefer as consultative a process as we can, like you saw in the Telecom Bill and the DPDP Act, Vaishnaw, who reassumed the office of IT ministry four days ago, said.

The DPDP Rules are a top priority, he said. AI [artificial intelligence] is also a very important item. But first, we have to make sure that DPDP in its digital form comes into shape, he added.

The minister noted that the entire implementation process will be digital by design. Under the DPDP law, a Data Protection Board will function as a digital office to deal with issues related to personal data breaches in a digital by design manner. Similarly, an appellate tribunal, to which complaints can be escalated if they are not satisfactorily resolved by the Board, will also be a digital office.

The digital platform for the Data Protection Board is being built parallelly within MeitY, Vaishnaw said, adding it will be created by National Information Centre and/or Digital India Corporation.

In parallel, we are working on creating the digital by design platform so that the implementation can be done in a digital form, which is a part of the Act.  It will be born digital. That exercise is also going on in parallel.

He, however, refused to share any timelines, but said the draft rules have made good progress.

I reviewed it after four months and I was quite happy with the draft that was shown to me, the minister said, adding lots of changes would be made to the draft rules based on inputs from the industry, stakeholders, lawyers, consultants, user groups, Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) and government organisations. We will take all views.

Vaishnaw has had at least one meeting within MeitY on DPDP rules since reassuming office on June 11. The then minister of state, MeitY, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, had held a consultation with the industry on the draft rules in December 2023.

Stressing that DPDP rules are the priority right now, Vaishnaw said the overall aim of the government to create a new digital regulatory framework remains intact. Our thought process of creating a new digital regulatory framework remains intact. The horizontals  which are the Telecom Act, the DPDP Act, the Digital India Act 3 remain intact, he said.

Obviously, so many things have happened in the recent past. For example, we have seen the destructive power of AI and deepfakes.  Should we recalibrate our strategy, that is a question we need to answer. But yes, we need to definitely have a good legal structure where our society and democracy can be protected from these attacks, the minister said.

The IndiaAI Mission, which was approved by the Cabinet in March with an outlay of 10,371.92 crore, remains on track, he said, adding officials continued to work on it during the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. I will be reviewing it next week and then I will be able to give you more details, he said.

Double employment, production in NDA 3.0

Meanwhile, Union minister Vaishnaw said that in the third term of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, employment and total production through electronics manufacturing should double.

Electronics manufacturing in India is to the order of $125 billion to $130 billion. And it is generating employment for about 20-25 lakh [2-2.5 million]. Accurate measurement in these cases is difficult.  In this term [of NDA], we should be easily doubling it. Employment should go up to 50 lakh [5 million] while total production should go up to $200 billion to $300 billion easily, he said.

Vaishnaw pointed out that even during the poll season, there were queries from large manufacturers on setting up plants in India. We, the department, have been directing them primarily to the OEMs [original equipment manufacturers] so that the OEMs and the component manufacturers can have synergy. That is working well, he added.

The minister further said he reviewed the progress of semiconductor plants on Saturday. The progress is very good. I have spoken to the chief ministers of both the states  Gujarat and Assam. They are fully cognizant and aware of what is happening on the ground, he said.

The Centre has approved four semiconductor manufacturing plants so far  three in Gujarat (by US firm Micron; a fab unit by Tata Electronics; an ATMP unit by CG Power), and one in Assam (an ATMP unit by Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test  TSAT).

Both Micron and Tata are on track to produce their chips on time, plus/minus a quarter, Vaishnaw said.

Semtech Corporation, an American semiconductor manufacturing company, and Disco Corp, a Japanese manufacturers of semiconductor manufacturing equipment and precision tools, are moving in the direction of setting up their own plants, he said.

Given the scale of these semiconductor manufacturing plants, Vaishnaw said that the state governments in Assam and Dholera (Gujarat) are fully supporting for housing the workers. In Sanand, there is already a good residential system set up. The support includes providing land, giving permissions, he specified. It is not clear if this involves monetary support from the state governments too.

In electronics manufacturing, one of Tatas manufacturing plants has already crossed 40,000 workers and is closing in on 50,000 workers. In such cases, he said, they have no choice but to provide housing because getting so many workers to commute is very difficult.

For semiconductor manufacturing, the government has also tied up with Singapores Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and Taiwans Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) to provide training. Quite a few of the potential candidates have been sent to ITRI and they are getting trained there. And when they come back, they will basically be working in these plants, he said. Separately, Micron has tied up with Ahmedabad-based Nirma University to train them in semiconductor manufacturing, he said.

Vaishnaw explained that the approach to setting up the manufacturing ecosystem has been to first become self-reliant to first meet domestic needs, and then to become an export hub, that is, move towards export-oriented manufacturing. He said that in mobile phones, India is already moving from becoming self-reliant to export-led growth. In case of laptops and servers, India is still in the process becoming self-reliant. Production has started in most of the 30-40 units we permitted.  In that segment, we will still focus on becoming self-reliant, that is, [catering to our] own consumption, he said.

In semiconductor, we will try to be self-reliant first. In semiconductor market, depending upon on the product, it will be a mix of our own use and exports, Vaishnaw said. In components, it will have to be at global scale only. In components, you cant have [manufacturing] at sub-scale. It has to be at global scale otherwise it will not work, he said.
Amid a severe shortage of water in several parts of the the national capital, the Delhi government on Saturday issued an appeal to the neighbouring Haryana government to discharge additional water into the Yamuna on humanitarian grounds, reported PTI. A woman waits to collect drinking water from a tanker of Delhi Jal Board on a hot summer day as water crisis continues, at a slum in Geeta Colony area, in East Delhi, Saturday on June 14, 2024.(PTI)

At a press conference, Delhi water minister Atishi said that the capital is facing a shortage of 70 million gallons per day (MGD) in production due to a lack of raw water in the Munak Canal and Wazirabad reservoir.

She said the normal water production of around 1,002 MGD in Delhi on June 6 went down to 932 MGD on Friday because of a lack of raw water.

"The Delhi government has appealed to Haryana to release additional water for the people of the city on humanitarian grounds," Atishi said, according to PTI.

She further added that issues related to the share of Yamuna water can be discussed after heatwave conditions abate.

Atishi also urged the people of Delhi to consciously and carefully use the available water.

"Due to severe heatwave conditions, water shortage in Delhi persists. Water supply to Delhi is falling short. Water in Wazirabad pond is almost finished. Munak canal, which is fed by two other canals, is also short of water. Water production in Delhi has fallen by 70 MGD. Earlier, it was 1005 MGD; now it has reduced to 932 MGD. All 7 water treatment plants fed by the Munak Canal are producing less water," the minister said at the press conference, according to ANI.

She said that emergency tube wells have been made in many areas, especially West Delhi.

Further, the minister added that the Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh is ready to provide water to Delhi but the Upper Yamuna River Board has asked for some more calculations from the state.

Water crisis in Delhi

Several parts of Delhi have been facing an acute shortage of water supply amid an unprecedented high summer heat over the last fortnight.

The crisis resulted from reduced water levels in the Yamuna River and technical issues at key water treatment plants. This disruption has left several areas with little to no water supply, forcing people to rely on tankers and borewells.

The ruling AAP government has also alleged that Haryana has not been releasing Delhi's share of water.
New Delhi, In view of the water shortage in the national capital, the Delhi government has appealed to Haryana to discharge additional water into the Yamuna on humanitarian grounds, senior A leader and minister Atishi said on Saturday. Delhi water crisis: AAP govt urges Haryana to discharge water on humanitarian grounds

Delhi's water minister also told a press conference here that the capital is facing a shortage of 70 million gallons per day in production due to lack of raw water in the Munak canal and Wazirabad reservoir.

The normal water production of around 1,002 MGD in Delhi went down to 932 MGD on Friday because of lack of raw water, she said.

"The Delhi government has appealed to Haryana to release additional water for the people of the city on humanitarian grounds," the minister said and added that issues related to share of Yamuna water can be discussed after heatwave conditions abate.

She said no solution to the water crisis in Delhi could be found during the meeting of the Upper Yamuna River Board on Friday.

Himachal Pradesh is ready to provide the water that was not used by it to Delhi, she claimed.

"I spoke to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu on phone and he assured me cooperation," the minister said.

Atishi said the calculation of data on availability of water from Himachal Pradesh is yet to be done by the Board.

In a meeting with Delhi Jal Board officials on Saturday, it was decided that a assessment be done of areas not getting any water and the number of water tankers be increased, she said.

Currently, DJB tankers are making around 10,000 trips in water scarce areas supplying 10 MGD of water per day. In some other areas like Bawana, Dwarka and Nangloi, emergency tube wells have been started to provide water to the local residents, she said. PTI VIT ANB ANB

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
New Delhi, In view of the water shortage in the national capital, the Delhi government has appealed to Haryana to discharge additional water into the Yamuna on humanitarian grounds, senior A leader and minister Atishi said on Saturday. Delhi water crisis: AAP govt urges Haryana to discharge water on humanitarian grounds

Delhi's water minister also told a press conference here that the capital is facing a shortage of 70 million gallons per day in production due to a lack of raw water in the Munak Canal and Wazirabad reservoir.

The normal water production of around 1,002 MGD in Delhi on June 6 went down to 932 MGD on Friday because of a lack of raw water, she said.

"The Delhi government has appealed to Haryana to release additional water for the people of the city on humanitarian grounds," the minister said, adding that issues related to the share of Yamuna water can be discussed after heatwave conditions abate.

Delhi's water production has dropped to 932 MGD due to insufficient inflow from Haryana.

The water level at the Wazirabad Barrage has plunged by six feet to 668.5 feet, and the water received from Munak Canal has decreased to 902 cusecs, she said.

The water level at Wazirabad Barrage should be 674.5 feet but it is only 668.5 feet right now. The water at Wazirabad Barrage has almost finished and no water is coming at all, said the minister.

"On the other hand, Delhi is also not getting enough water from the Munak Canal. On June 10, Delhi received 925 cusecs of water from Munak Canal, which decreased to 919 cusecs on June 11, decreased to 903 on June 12, reached 906 on 13 June, and decreased to 902 cusecs on June 15," she stated.

The minister said no solution to the water crisis in Delhi could be found during the meeting of the Upper Yamuna River Board on Friday. Himachal Pradesh is ready to provide the water that was not used by it to Delhi, she claimed.

"I spoke to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu on the phone and he assured me cooperation," the minister said.

Atishi said the calculation of data on the availability of water from Himachal Pradesh is yet to be done by the Board.

In a meeting with Delhi Jal Board officials on Saturday, it was decided that an assessment be done of areas not getting any water and the number of water tankers be increased, she said.

Currently, DJB tankers are making around 10,000 trips in water-scarce areas supplying 10 MGD of water per day.

In some other areas like Bawana, Dwarka and Nangloi, emergency tube wells have been started to provide water to the local residents, she said.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on June 10, 2002, announced APJ Abdul Kalam, the father of Indias indigenous missile programme and recipient of the Bharat Ratna, as the NDAs presidential candidate. The announcement seemed to throw the Opposition into disarray. TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, NDAs presidential candidate APJ Abdul Kalam, BJD chief Naveen Patnaik and BSP chief Mayawati in New Delhi on June 18, 2002. (Ajay Aggarwal/HT archive)

It was Telugu Desam Party chief Chandrababu Naidus intervention that ensured the NDA finally found a consensus candidate in Kalam. He spoke to Kalam, sounding him out and preparing the ground for an offer from Vajpayee. The PM spoke to the scientist soon after.

Later, Vajpayee spoke to Naidu, AIADMK chief J Jayalalitha, and BSP leader Mayawati, who welcomed Kalams candidature.

Naidu flew to Delhi in a BSF aircraft in time for a meeting of the NDA where Vajpayee formally announced Kalams candidature. Later, NDA convener George Fernandes, Naidu, Mayawati, and parliamentary affairs minister Pramod Mahajan addressed a press conference making public Kalams candidature.

Senior BJP and TDP leaders said the choice of Kalam left the Congress with no option but to settle for a consensus. If the Congress did not, it would pay a heavy price  being seen to be opposed to a Muslim candidate who is not politically controversial.

Mahajan flew to Mumbai to convey Vajpayees decision to Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray. Vajpayee was anxious to get Thackerays consent. Thackeray welcomed the idea.

Vajpayee spoke to other NDA leaders and allies, including Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, who supported Kalams name for the top post.

The Congress and the Peoples Front (PF), which had displayed a show of unity in pushing for a second term for President KR Narayanan, reportedly had problems endorsing Kalams candidature.

The problem was perhaps even more acute for the PF, as the Left was not overly enthused by Kalams candidature.

The Samajwadi Partys difficulty was most acute. It had first mooted Kalams name at party chief Mulayam Singh Yadavs meeting with Vajpayee before his Almaty visit.

The Oppositions reservations become all the more untenable given the fact that Kalam was decorated with the Bharat Ratna when the United Front, backed by the Congress and the Left, was in power.

The Opposition cannot take a decision on Kalam without reverting to Narayanan, after their joint appeal asking him to contest.

Some Congress and Left leaders believe that the BJP-led NDA has chosen Kalam to neutralise the BJPs poor communal record in Gujarat. A contrary view is that the Congress would lose politically if it did not settle for a consensus, after the NDAs climbdown under pressure from Naidu.

Im confident that they cannot contest now. Kalams candidature represents a national consensus, Naidu told HT. The Opposition will lose more than a presidential election if they decide to put up a fight.

The TDP leaders confidence may not be misplaced. The NDA has a strong chance of attracting the SPs support.

When told about Kalams candidature at a meeting with Vajpayee earlier in the evening, Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh had also asked Vajpayee whether he was the NDAs final choice. When they broached the subject of electing the vice-president, Vajpayee replied that it would be dealt with separately.

The BJPs calculation is that after conceding ground to Naidu, it can now elect a vice-president of its own choice.

Kalam released a statement, saying, I am happy to be the presidential candidate.
Faizan Ahmed, a student in the prestigious IIT Kharagpur, was stabbed and shot before his death, revealed a second forensic report. The report suggests that Ahmed, who died in 2022, was murdered. The autopsy was conducted for a second time on the order of the Calcutta high court. Faizan Ahmed, a third-year mechanical engineering student in IIT Kharagpur(Source: Himanta Biswa Sarma/Twitter))

The analysis was done by a forensic expert, and his report, along with the second autopsy, was submitted to the court in May this year. The expert is expected to file his final report before the high court once the matter is taken up during the hearing next week, reported The Indian Express.

The report filed by Dr AK Gupta stated that there were signs of a gunshot wound on the upper left side of Faizan's neck, and there was a stab wound on the right. It must be noted that these injuries were not in the police report after initial investigations in 2022, and the first autopsy of the student's body was not filmed, sources told the newspaper.

The report also said that human blood was detected in the student's nail cuttings and hair strands. The second autopsy report also ruled out death by poisoning. The report, however, has confirmed that he was murdered.

Faizan Ahmed's mother moved the Calcutta High Court in May 2023, seeking formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe his death. The court then ordered the exhumation of his remains and a second post-mortem examination to bring out the truth behind his death.

23-year-old Faizan Ahmed, a resident of Tinsukia in Assam, was a third-year mechanical engineering student in IIT Kharagpur. He was found dead in a room at Lala Lajpat Rai Hostel on October 14, 2022. His body was discovered in a room which was not assigned to him.

The police had taken three days to find his body on campus, which was later discovered in a decomposing state in the hostel room. Till now, no suspects have been identified in the case.

Initial probe reports suggested that Faizan had died by suicide, but his family alleged foul play, alleging that he was a victim of ragging on campus.
Kolkata: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday issued a red alert for four districts in north Bengal and adjoining Sikkim and also warned of possible landslides and flooding even as heavy rains continued to batter the region. Massive landslides triggered by incessant rainfalls has left over 1,200 tourists stranded in Sikkim (Twitter/ video screengrab)

In North Sikkim, around 1,2001,500 tourists have been stranded as the area remained cut off from the rest of the state since Thursday and efforts were on to airlift them.

In North Sikkim, 1,200-1,500 tourists are stranded. The situation became grave after the collapse of the newly constructed suspension bridge at Sanklang as entire connectivity to North Sikkim and Dzongu region was through this bridge, read a statement issued by the Sikkim government.

Meanwhile, at least nine local residents in South Sikkim and North Sikkim have been killed in landslides to date.

Incessant rains over the past few days in Sikkim have triggered multiple landslides blocking roads, damaging several houses, killing cattle and poultry and severing road connectivity, power and communication lines.

The Bailey bridge, built by the Indian Army after the October 2023 flash flood in the Himalayan state at Sanklang, was also damaged.

Efforts are being made by BRO [Border Roads Organisation] to restore connectivity to North Sikkim via the recently constructed Modular bridge at Toong, said the official statement from the Sikkim government.

Several areas, including Damthang, Gangtok, Tadong and Ranipool, received 50 mm to 90 mm rain in the last 24 hours till around Saturday morning.

A red alert was issued for Mangan district (North Sikkim) till Sunday morning and an orange alert has been sounded for the other districts, including Pakyong, Gangtok and Namchi, till at least around Tuesday, said an IMD official in Gangtok.

Officials said that while a trough of low pressure was located over north Bengal and Sikkim, a cyclonic circulation was located over north Bangladesh and adjoining areas. Also, moisture-laden winds were gushing in from the Bay of Bengal. Together, these systems were triggering heavy rains in north Bengal and Sikkim.

In north Bengal, the IMD issued a red alert for three districts  Alipurduar, Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri  till around June 17. The water level in several rivers was rising. Some pockets in Alipurduar district received around 210 mm of rain, said officials.

There may be heavy to very heavy rainfall. There are possibilities of landslides and water levels rising in rivers such as Teesta, Jaldhaka, Sankosh and Torsa. Also, there are possibilities of flash floods, said an IMD official in Kolkata.

Even as districts in the northern part of the state were being battered by heavy rains, those in south Bengal were reeling under a heatwave and very hot and humid conditions.

On Saturday, some pockets were hit by thunderstorms and lightning. The IMD issued warnings of heatwave in Bankura, Purulia, Jhargram, West Burdwan and West Midnapore on Saturday.

Conditions were favourable for advancement of south-west monsoon to some parts of Gangetic West Bengal (south Bengal districts) and cover the remaining parts of north Bengal (sub-Himalayan West Bengal) during the next four to five days, said an IMD official.
Ahead of the commencement of the 18th Lok Sabhas first session, the Janata Dal (United) on Friday said it along with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partner Telugu Desam Party (TDP) will support whoever the BJP nominates for the Speakers post. JD(U) to support BJP nominee for Speakers post, says Tyagi

The Lok Sabha session will begin on June 24, with a protem speaker administering oath to all newly elected lawmakers on the first two days, while the Speakers election is scheduled on June 26.

TDP and JD(U) stand strongly with the NDA. And whoever the BJP nominates, we will support the candidate, senior JD(U) leader KC Tyagi said in Patna on Friday.

The remarks by the leader of the third largest ally in the NDA indicated that the Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) and the N Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP might not press for the Lok Sabha Speakers post.

Tyagis remark also indicated that the BJP might be fielding its own candidate for the Speakers post. Contrary to the speculations that the TDP will demand the post, there are no indications from the TDP camp so far, a senior Opposition leader said.

Unlike the previous two Lok Sabha when the BJP had full dominance in the Lower House, the role of the Speaker in 18th Lok Sabha would be crucial as the Opposition or INDIA bloc comes emboldened and empowered with 236 members, which will give it more leverage in the House.

The Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha would require a deft handling of the situation in the House. He cant be partisan. He has to go by the sense of the House. When the dividing line between the Treasury benches and the Opposition is thin, the responsibility of the Speaker is much more in transacting business. He will have to be accommodative, and give adequate space to Opposition, P Sridharan, former Lok Sabha secretary general, said.

The duration of the 17th Lok Sabha  June 17, 2019 to June 5, 2024  saw Parliament breaking several performance records, but it also witnessed suspension of lawmakers on 206 instances across both Houses. In the Winter Session last December, an unprecedented 146 lawmakers were suspended for serious misconduct in the House. Several key legislations such as the new Bills to reform criminal laws were passed after those MPs were suspended, according to PRS Legislative.

The Opposition has already declared that the BJPs writ will not run in Parliament even as the NDA  with 293 MPs  has a comfortable majority in the House. At the CPP meeting on June 8, Congress parliamentary party chief Sonia Gandhi said that no longer can and should Parliament be bulldozed like it has been for a decade now and no longer will the writ of the ruling establishment be permitted to disrupt Parliament, whimsically mistreat members or push through legislation without due and proper consideration and debate.

In this context, the BJP would be keen to keep the Speakers post with a party nominee, another Opposition leader said.

The Speakers post assumes importance as it is the final authority to allow or refuse any debate and also the sole adjudicator in cases involving lawmakers changing parties or forming a breakaway faction and disqualification of lawmakers. In the last two Lok Sabha, the Speaker was elected unopposed, however, there is no guarantee that the Opposition would not field its candidate this time.
In the tapestry of India's social reform movement, few threads shine as brightly as that of Karsandas Mulji (1832-1875), a Gujarati journalist whose pen challenged the religious orthodoxies of 19th century Bombay (now Mumbai). Born into a Bhatia family with roots in Saurashtra's Vadal village, Mulji's journey from personal adversity to public acclaim mirrors the transformative spirit of his era.

Mulji's early life was marked by personal losshis mother passed away when he was just seven, leading to his upbringing by his aunt after his father remarried. Like many middle-class Gujarati children of his time, Mulji's education began in Gujarati medium before transitioning to English.

In 1853 when, at the age of 21, he entered the Elphinstone Institution (later Elphinstone College). Here, he encountered Western liberal thought and the ideals of the Indian Renaissance, which kindled his passion for social reform. Mulji quickly became involved with progressive groups such as the Buddhi Vardhak Hindu Sabha, established in 1851, which promoted knowledge and rational thinking.

Mulji's pen found its first home in 'Rast Goftar' (Truth Teller), founded by Dadabhai Naoroji in 1851. Here, in articles such as 'Baap Daadao Ni Chal' (The ways of our forefathers), he advocated selective modernisation that preserved Indian identity. Mulji articulated a nuanced stance on social reform that would characterize much of his later work. He argued against the notion that reform necessarily meant wholesale adoption of British culture. His early essays in 'Rast Goftar' also tackled pressing social issues such as child marriage and the education of girls.

Yet reform exacted personal costs. In 1853, Mulji's participation in an essay contest on widow remarriage so enraged his aunt that she evicted him from her home. He won the Kellar scholarship and became a schoolteacher to support his family and studies.

In 1855, Mulji founded 'The Satya Prakash', a Gujarati newspaper to spread his message of social reform. His fearless critiques questioned entrenched social and religious practices.

It was around this time that a massive row erupted between the Vallabhacharya sect, whose religious leaders were known as Maharaj, and the Shaivite Brahmins.

The conflict was centred on ritual purity and the acceptability of food offerings. The Vallabhacharya Maharaj raised the issue that prasad (food offerings) given to Lord Shiva, the principal deity of Shaivism, could not be consumed by Vaishnavites.

However, the Vallabhacharya Maharajas seized upon this event to assert sectarian boundaries. They decreed that unless the Shaivite Brahmins apologised for allowing Vaishnavites to partake in offerings meant for Shiva, Vaishnavites should withhold all donations to Shaivite causes. To press their demands, the Maharajas went so far as to close the doors of their temples to Vaishnavites, according to a book titled Karsandas Mulji  Jeevan Nondh, by Makrand Mehta and Achyut Yagnik.

The Maharajs' demands later extended beyond the immediate issue of food offerings. They insisted that no Vaishnavite follower should take a Maharaj to court, that Vaishnavites be prohibited from writing anything against the Maharajas, and that if a non-Vaishnavite attempted legal action against a Maharaj, the Vaishnavite community should unite to fund a legal defence that would preclude the Maharaj from having to appear in court personally, it said.

These events provided fertile ground for Karsandas Mulji's critiques. In his column, Mulji began writing scathing articles about what he saw as the Maharajs' attempts to consolidate power and evade accountability.

Mulji's commentary so rattled the religious leaders that they allegedly attempted to silence him with a substantial bribe  a dakshina (donation) of 10,000, an enormous sum at the time, according to the book. Mulji rejected the offer.

The watershed moment in Mulji's career came on September 21, 1860, when he published an article in his newspaper which roughly translates into, The real religion of Hindus and the current hypocritical sects. It was a searing indictment of practices within the Vallabhacharya sect of Hinduism, particularly focusing on the conduct of its spiritual leaders, the Maharaj.

Mulji alleged that these revered figures had twisted the concept of Ras Lila to justify sexual relations with female devotees, many of whom were married.

Mulji did not mince words, describing the behaviour of the Maharaj as "adulterous" and accusing them of "defiling the wives and daughters of their devotees." He criticised their lavish lifestyles and practices such as "Choranyu Prasad," where devotees consumed the Maharajas' leftovers, including bathwater, as blessed substances. Muljis article called these practices a "fraud" and urged readers to return to what he considered the pure, primitive religion of the Hindus.

A religious leader Jadunathji Maharaj took offence and filed a 50,000 defamation suit against Mulji, setting the stage for the historic Maharaj Libel Case of 1862.

For Karsandas Mulji, the case represented more than just a personal defence; it was an opportunity to put the very institutions of religious authority on trial. His legal team, which included the renowned Parsi lawyer Kharshedji Nasarvanji Cama, mounted a vigorous defence that sought not only to prove the truth of Mulji's claims but also to challenge the broader system that enabled such abuses.

Throughout the trial, witness after witness came forward with testimony that corroborated Mulji's allegations. The proceedings laid bare the stark contrast between the ascetic ideals preached by the sect and the reality of how some of its leaders lived.

In a groundbreaking verdict delivered on April 22, 1862, Sir Joseph Arnould, the presiding judge, ruled in favour of Karsandas Mulji. It was a resounding vindication of Mulji's crusade for reform and a damning indictment of the abuses within the Vallabhacharya sect.

"A public journalist is a public teacher. The true function of the press, that by the virtue of which it has rightly grown to be one of the great powers of the modern world - is the function of teaching, elevating and enlightening those who fall within the range of its influence," the court said, lauding Mulji's journalism.

The court ordered Jadunathji Maharaj to pay 13,000 in damages to Mulji, who had spent 11,500 on his defence.

In the annals of Indian legal history, few cases have had as profound an impact on religious reform and freedom of expression as the Maharaj Libel Case of 1862. The case was called the greatest trial of modern times since the trial of Warren Hastings. The case turned Mulji from a local troublemaker into a symbol of resistance against religious leaders' abuse.

Beyond journalism, Karsandas Mulji was a prolific writer whose works sought to educate and enlighten. His book "Nibandhmala" (Garland of Essays), published in 1860, was one of the first collections of essays in the Gujarati language. He also translated John Stuart Mill's "Utilitarianism" into Gujarati, making influential Western philosophical ideas accessible to Indian readers.

Today, Mulji's story resonates anew with the recent controversy surrounding 'Maharaj,' a Netflix film based on the 1862 libel case. Starring Aamir Khan's son Junaid, the film's June 14 release has been stayed by the Gujarat high court for now. While the 'Maharaj' waits for the high courts green light, Karsandas Mulji's legacy endures.
Among the Christian leaders in Kerala, emeritus bishop Ghevarghese Mar Coorilos of the Niranam diocese of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church was always an aberration.

Detractors within the community often described the veteran theologian as a communist for his strong radical observations and unflinching loyalty to the state's ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF).

Wearing the traditional clergy dress, he used to address CPI-(M) dharnas and protest marches against what the party called the anti-people policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre.

In the state where Christians constitute 18.38% of voters, Coorilos has always remained a critic of the rest of the bishops, who, according to him, have deviations towards rightist and regressive forces, mainly those affiliated with the Congress, by abandoning the Left.

Coorilos was also the face of the LDF campaign, warning different church denominations for affiliations with the BJP, which allegedly targeted the Christians in Manipur communally.

Above all, he was a close confidant ochief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who has led the LDF government for the last eight years.

However, a social media post by the bishop criticising the Vijayan government for LDFs poor performance in the recently concluded Lok Sabha election has turned him into a persona non grata t the chief minister and his cronies in the ruling front.

A furious Vijayans idiot barb directed at the bishop while addressing a public function drew eyeballs.

Vijayan made strong exceptions to the bishop's remark that an accident would be inevitable if a vehicle that indicated a signal to the left suddenly moved in the right direction, violating all traffic norms.

Also Read: Congress stand aligns with Sangh Parivar: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan slams INDIA ally

With Vijayan's cyber supporters targeting the bishop by terming him an opportunist, Coorilos has turned into a prodigal son of the left.

But Vijayan's snubbing has provoked angry reactions from many fellow travellers of the left, who repeated what the bishop wrote on social media: If they don't learn from the continuous shock treatment being given by the people, the Left in Kerala would be in a situation similar to the one existing in West Bengal and Tripura.

Considering the electoral outcome, they argue that Kerala would no longer be the last citadel of the Indian left if no corrective measures were taken.

In the Lok Sabha election, the BJP opened its account for the first time through actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi, who contested central Kerala's left citadel, Thrissur.

Moreover, the BJP has emerged first in 12 assembly constituencies across the state.

At present, the BJP's representation in the legislative assembly is zero.

"It's true that the red turns saffron in different parts of the state largely because of the large-scale corruption, nepotism, and irregularities happening under the second Vijayan government. LDF had won all the assembly constituencies forming part of Thrissur in the 2021 election, and now the anti-incumbency spoiled its chances. However, the party still accuses Congress of transferring its votes to Gopi to ensure his victory. Vijayan seems not ready to learn any lesson, as reflected in his arrogant reaction to the bishop," said MN Karassery, a writer, academic, and long-time left fellow traveller.

When Vijayan took the oath as the chief minister for the first time in 2016, he was widely described as a canny politician with an iron fist who seldom tolerated the voices of dissent.

He had a long track record of being ruthless with rivals inside and outside the party and had an uneasy relationship with the media.

Critics described him as the state's most feared and toughest politician.

After eight years in power and despite a poor election performance this time, with the LDF winning only one of the 20 Lok Sabha seats in the state, Vijayan has not changed much.

Despite showing administrative acumen during the devastating flood of 2018 and the COVID-induced pandemic later, his public image as a harsh and rigid politician with zero tolerance for dissent continues to grow.

Even those who credit him with pulverising UDF in the 2021 assembly election by winning 99 of the 140 seats are now demanding a change in Vijayan's style of functioning.

Vijayan emerged to the leadership as the strong man of its North Kerala fortress, Kannur.

Popular among his fans as 'Captain', Vijayan led the left's campaign in Kerala this time without allowing partys national leaders like Sitaram Yechury and Prakash Karat to take centre stage.

Riding on the poll plank of the Congress's incompetence in taking on the BJP, he targeted the former using harsh language, even though the CPI-(M) is a key partner of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc alliance at the national level.

His outbursts against Rahul Gandhi, terming him a poor leader with instability have not gone well with voters in the state.

His claim of Congress cheating Muslims in the country over its silence on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act issue has ruffled feathers and also prompted secular and liberal forces in the state to switch over their loyalty to the UDF, which won 18 seats.

"If the prevailing situation continues, it will wipe out the left of Kerala with the UDF recapturing power and the BJP's larger presence in the assembly. The local body elections are nearing, and the assembly election will be just two years away. A course correction is inevitable for the left in Kerala, as that would also be crucial for its national existence," said J Devika, a political analyst and faculty member of the Centre for Development Studies in Thiruvananthapuram.

With the disintegration of CPI-(M) units in West Bengal and Tripura, Vijayan has started wielding absolute control over the party at the national and state level.

With his staunch loyalists placed in key positions in the party organisation, he is now in total control of the party.

That is one reason no large-scale discussions on course correction are happening in the party, despite the humiliating electoral route.

After sidelining his one-time mentor, VS Achuthanandan, in a bitterly fought inner-party dispute more than 15 years ago, he emerged as the last word of CPI-(M) in Kerala. He also has clear sway over the minor alliance partners in the LDF.

Vijayan has had several run-ins with those critical of his party or his government in the past.

In 2007, as then CPM state secretary, he called the then bishop of Thamarassery Diocese, Paul Chittilapally, a "wretched creature" for allegedly lying that former CPI (M) lawmaker Mathai Chacko had been given the last sacrament according to his wish.

He also publicly used profanity against RSP leader and Kollam MP NK Premachandran.

"In the last eight years, he has been doing social engineering to get Christians into the LDF fold along with a sizable portion of Muslims. Despite his overtures, many Christians in Thrissur voted for Gopi, and the BJP opened its account in the state. Now, in the post-election, the powerful Jacobite and Orthodox denominations of the church are terming the continuing Manipur violence as an after-effect of traditional rivalry between different tribes, and it has no anti-Christian aspect. Catholics are yet to subscribe to this theory, but some of their bishops favour more associations with the BJP. Vijayan has to change his style to reverse the emerging trend," said leading Kerala-based economist Mary George.

Even CPI-(M) leaders P Jayarajan and MV Jayarajan, who were close confidants of Vijayan until then, have demanded deep investigation and corrections from the party.

MV Jayarajan also blamed those who handled the party's social media pages for being impatient with criticism and making all those with different voices enemies.

Leaders agree that the LDF won only one seat despite an efficient campaign and fielding heavy-hitter candidates in several key constituencies. Also, unlike 2019, there was no discernible pro-UDF wave nor a burning issue like women's entry to Sabarimala, making the LDF route this time a political problem.

The 2024 results in constituencies such as Alappuzha and Attingal show that voting in a major section of the Ezhava communityconsidered the party's backbonein favour of the BJP affected the prospects of LDF candidates.

The erosion of votes has happened in the left strongholds.

For instance, in a party bastion like Thaliparamba in Kannur, represented by CPM state secretary MV Govindan in the assembly, UDF candidate K Sudhakaran managed to secure a lead of 8,787 votes. While LDF had secured 80,719 votes in the assembly segment in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, it has come down to 75,544 votes this time.

Also, LDF's Kannur candidate MV Jayarajan could secure only wafer-thin leads of 2,616 votes in the Dharmadom assembly constituency, where Vijayan had won with a margin of over 50,123 votes in 2021 assembly polls.

In ten constituencies, the Left candidates were defeated by a huge margin of over one lakh votes.

Political observers feel that the vote erosion in Left strongholds cannot be viewed as part of the traditional pattern where people generally prefer UDF in Parliament elections and has more to do with anti-incumbency against the LDF government in the state.

Also, the CPM campaign's excessive focus on Muslim votes and underpinning its entire campaign on issues like CAA, the Gaza invasion, and the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) backfired.

In his reaction, Vijayan said that the opposition need not seek his resignation for the LDF loss in the Lok Sabha election. Instead, the UDF should ponder why there was an erosion in its votes, especially in Thrissur, he said.

In Kerala, the general election was fought on the anti-incumbency factor against the PM Narendra Modi-led government and the poor performance of 19 sitting UDF MPs.

Then there was the anti-incumbency factor against the Vijayan-led government.

The BJP, after a decade-long attempt, successfully brought together the Hindu community beyond caste separation for the first time. Earlier, the BJP received a majority of the Nair community votes. However, the pattern in this election shows the BJP has gone beyond that. Without support from the Ezhava community, they could not have made this progress," observed J Prabhash, a retired political science professor at Kerala University.
The Karnataka high court on Friday restrained the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) from arresting former chief minister BS Yediyurappa in a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, noting his willingness to appear for interrogation on June 17, as it criticised the state over its approach and the need to apprehend the senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader. Former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa addresses a press conference in Bengaluru on April 21. (PTI)

If an ex-chief minister is treated that way, I am just wildly thinking, what will happen to a layman the way things have happened, there is doubt that there is something hidden in this matter, a bench of justice S Krishna Dixit said while hearing a clutch of petitions by the accused seeking anticipatory bail and quashing of the first information report (FIR) registered against him.

On Thursday, a Bengaluru court had issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Yediyurappa after he failed to appear for questioning a day earlier. The 81-year-old was booked in March under provisions of the Pocso Act and Indian Penal Code following a complaint by the mother of a 17-year-old girl, that he molested her daughter during a meeting at his residence in Dollars Colony in February this year.

The case was handed over to CID for a detailed inquiry, even as the veteran BJP leader dismissed the allegation and vowed to deal with it legally.

Appearing for the state, advocate general (AG) Shashi Kiran Shetty told the high court that Yediyurappa had left for Delhi after summons were issued to him on June 10 to join the probe. Plane ticket was booked only after the notice was issued to him, Shetty said.

The court, however, noted that the former chief minister had sent a letter to the police volunteering to join the investigation on June 17.

He is not some Tom, Dick, or Harry. He is a former chief minister of the state. Is it your case that he will flee the country? What can he do by leaving for Delhi from Bangalore? the court said.

Since the petitioner on the basis of the letter dated June 11, 2024 volunteering to appear on June 17, 2024 is brought to the notice of the court, we cannot immediately jump to the conclusion that a case is made out for arrest or detention nor for custodial interrogation of the petitioner who happens to be a former chief minister of the state and in the late evening of his life with ailments natural to that age, it added.

The judge also noted that Yediyurappa had earlier joined the probe in the case..

The records reveal that the police had issued a notice under section 41A of CrPC dated March 28, 2024 and accordingly, the petitioner had appeared before the jurisdictional officer and participated in the investigation process. Since the second notice dated June 10, 2024 issued on similar lines and served on the petitioner on June 11, 2024 the petitioner did not appear before the jurisdictional police and therefore, arrest warrant at the hands of trial judge was secured, he said.

Yediyurappas counsel CV Nagesh contended that the complainant, who passed away due to illness on May 26, had a history of filing frivolous cases.

The high court acknowledged the need to examine the credibility of the complainant.

There should not be any kind of arrest as he is cooperating. So, any such warrant or otherwise has been put on hold, another lawyer of the BJP leader, Sandeep C Patil, said.
The mortal remains of three workers from Andhra Pradesh, who were died in the fire accident in Kuwait, will arrive in Visakhapatnam in the early hours of Saturday, a senior official of the state government said on Friday. An Indian Air Force (IAF) flight carrying the mortal remains of the Indians who died in the tragic fire incident in Kuwait two days ago, after landing at the international airport in Kochi on Friday. (PTI)

According to the information received by the state government from the Union ministry of external affairs, three persons  Thamada Lokanadham from Sompeta in Srikakulam district, Molleti Satyanarayana from Khandavalli village of East Godavari district and Meesala Eeshwarudu from Annavarappadu village, also of East Godavari district, succumbed in the fire mishap.

Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who is monitoring the situation closely, announced ex gratia of 5 lakh each to the family of the deceased migrants under the Chief Minister Relief Fund. He asked the ministers of the concerned districts to see that the money was disbursed to the families, an official release from principal secretary (political) in the general administration department (GAD), S Suresh Kumar said.

He said Naidu had instructed officials of the GAD, AP Non-Resident Telugu Society (APNRTS) and AP Bhavan in New Delhi to coordinate and ensure the smooth transportation of the mortal remains of the deceased to their native places.

The GAD official said the government had already contacted the families, ascertained further information and collected details of the person who will receive the mortal remains of individual migrants from the airport on behalf of the family. The district officials of East Godavari and Srikakulam would be present at the Visakhapatnam airport for ensuring onward transportation of mortal remains to respective districts, Kumar added.
Homes built on government land by 11 people were razed in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh, police officials told PTI on Saturday. The action was taken as part of crackdown on illegal beef trade in the state.



According to the report, a tip-off was received about large number of cows being held captive for slaughter in Bhainwahi area in Nainpur.



A team was rushed there and we found 150 cows tied in the backyards of the accused. Cow meat was recovered from the refrigerators in the homes of all the11 accused. We also found animal fat, cattle skin and bones, which were stuffed in a room, Rajat Saklecha, superintendent of police (SP), told PTI.



ALSO READ: MP cities to have separate markets for meat and fish: CM Mohan Yadav



The police official said that the local government veterinary doctor confirmed that the seized meat is beef.



"We have also sent samples to Hyderabad for secondary DNA analysis. The houses of the11 accused were demolished as they were on government land," the SP added.



According to the Mandla SP, a first information report was registered on Friday night after the recovery of cows and beef. An accused has been arrest while hunt for remaining 10 is underway.



"The 150 cows have been sent to a cattle shelter. Bhainswahi area had become a hub of cow smuggling for some time now. Cow slaughter in MP is punishable with a jail term of seven years," the police official added.



In another development, Jaora town in the state's Ratlam district remained tense after body parts of a bovine animal were found thrown at the premises of a local temple, PTI reported.



Hindu outfits staged a protest over the incident that occurred at the Jaagnath Mahadev temple in the town in the wee hours of Friday, and the police lobbed teargas shells and lathi-charged the protesters to bring the situation under control, eyewitnesses said.

The houses of the11 accused were demolished as they were on government land(HT File)
Chennai Madras HC acquits all accused in Dr Subbiah murder case

The Madras high court on Friday set aside the conviction as well as death sentence imposed on seven people and life sentences imposed on two more in the 2013 murder case of neurosurgeon SD Subbiah near Billroth Hospital in Chennai. All nine appellants have been set free.

A bench of justice MS Ramesh and justice Sunder Mohan, acquitted all nine accused by allowing their criminal appeals. At the time of writing, the court had not issued its order and no oral orders were made on the reasons for acquittal.

The principal sessions court judge IS Alli in August 2021 had awarded the death penalty to seven accused: P Ponnusamy, his sons P Basil and P Boris, B William, James Sathish Kumar, E Murugan and S Selva Prakash. The lower court had awarded life imprisonment to H Yesurajan and Ponnusamys wife Mary Pushpam. One accused, P Iyyapan who had turned approver was released without punishment by the sessions court.

One of the accused B William, is an advocate whose bail petition was rejected by the Supreme Court in May 2018.

All the accused moved the High Court with appeals seeking to acquit them from the murder charges. The court bench ordered for the nine appellants to be released from prison.

All of them have been given relief, said one of the lawyers of the accused who did not want to be named. A family of four are accused A1 to A4, A5 and A6 are their friends. We argued strongly that unrelated people have been named in this case. High court may have considered that and acquitted all of them. We have to wait for the full judgement. They have been ordered to be released.

According to the prosecution, henchmen murdered the 58-year-old doctor in full public view while he was walking out of Chennais Billroth Hospital after work towards his parked car on the evening of September 14, 2013. A land dispute with his family over a 2.4-acre plot at the doctors native of Anjugramam village in Tamil Nadus Kanyakumari district allegedly led to the crime.

Three people wielding machetes had attacked the doctor on his head and neck. He suffered more than 20 cuts across his body, the prosecution said. CCTV cameras installed at a nearby apartment captured the brutal attack. Nine days later, the doctor succumbed to his injuries.
Hyderabad Man, held for raping, killing minor in Telangana: Police

A 35-year-old truck driver was arrested for allegedly raping and killing a six-year-old girl in Telanganas Peddapalli district on early Friday, police said.

The incident took place at Sultanabad town in the district. The accused, Balaram, belonging to Madhya Pradesh and working at the Maitha rice mills as a truck driver, was arrested, Ramagundam police commissioner M Sreenivasulu told reporters.

A case was filed under section 302 (murder) and section 376AB (rape of a minor girl below 12 years) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), besides relevant sections of the protection of children from sexual offences (Pocso) Act, he said.

The victim was the eldest of two daughters of a couple, who migrated to Sultanabad from Asifabad in Mancherial district to work at a rice mill.

According to Sreenivasulu, the accused took the minor girl, who was sleeping beside her mother at a camp within the compound of the adjacent rice mill and carried her to a secluded place behind the mill. He raped her and when the girl raised an alarm, he strangled her neck and killed her, he said.

When the girls mother woke up after some time, she found her daughter missing. She alerted her fellow labourers and they began searching for the girl. After some time, they found the girls body in the bushes.

They noticed Balaram who was moving in the area suspiciously and caught hold of him. They thrashed him before handing him over to Sultanabad police, who formally arrested him and registered the case, the police commissioner said.

A video clip obtained from CCTV cameras installed in the rice mill premises showed Balram carrying the minor on his shoulder and walking in a near pitch-dark area, where the girls body was found.

The body of the victim has been sent to a government hospital for post-mortem examination. Further investigation is on, the commissioner said, adding that the accused would be produced before the local court for judicial remand.
New Delhi: The external affairs ministry and the State Bank of India (SBI) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to provide a digital payment service that can be used by Indian migrant workers to pay emigration-related fees without transaction charges. (Representative Photo)

The SBIs digital payment service will be available through a payment gateway called SBIePay to migrant workers, recruiting agents and other users of the eMigrate portal, the external affairs ministry said on Saturday. The service will be operational after the integration of SBIePay with the eMigrate portal.

Once the agreement is implemented, migrant workers can pay various emigration-related fees without transaction charges through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), credit or debit cards and NEFT through net banking of all Indian banks.

Signing of this MoU would further facilitate and enhance the ambit of safe and legal migration of Indian migrant workers, the ministry said.

The MoU was signed by Bramha Kumar, joint secretary (overseas employment and Protector General of Emigrants) of the external affairs ministry and Neelesh Dwivedi, general manager (NW-I) of the SBI.

The Overseas Employment (OE) and Protector General of Emigrants (PGE) division of the external affairs ministry is responsible for overseeing the emigration of Indian workers having Emigration Clearance Required (ECR) category passports. These are semi-skilled and unskilled workers who are considered most vulnerable to exploitation by unscrupulous recruitment agents or foreign employers.

ECR passport holders require Emigration Clearance (EC) when taking up jobs in the 18 designated ECR countries  Afghanistan, Bahrain, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

The eMigrate portal is integrated with the external affairs ministrys Passport Seva Project to validate the passport details of ECR category workers. This integration helps detect fake passport cases and check for data entry errors at the registration stage.

The eMigrate portal is also integrated with the Bureau of Immigration system of the home ministry, which is used at immigration check posts and airports for online validation of ECs granted to ECR category workers.

Since its launch in 2014, the eMigrate project has helped Indian workers go to ECR countries by bringing the emigration process online and making it transparent. It has also brought foreign employers, registered recruiting agents and insurance companies issuing Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Yojna (PBBY) on a common platform to facilitate seamless, safe and legal migration.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was formed by mistake and it will fall soon, claimed Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday. Mallikarjun Kharge with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. (Hindustan Times)

He told PTI that people have elected a minority government.

"People have elected Modi's minority government, it may fall anytime," Kharge said.

This is not the first time that the INDIA bloc leader has raised the apprehension. After the Lok Sabha election results, Kharge had said that the INDIA bloc would take appropriate action after appropriate time.

The BJP emerged as the single-largest party in the Lok Sabha after winning 240 seats in the recently concluded elections. However, the party was woefully short of the majority mark. It relies on its allies -- N Chandrababu Naidu, Nitish Kumar, Chirag Paswan and Eknath Shinde -- to surpass the majority mark (272) in the Lok Sabha.

Also read: Oppn bloc must work cohesively inside and outside House: Mallikarjun Kharge

This is the first time in Narendra Modi's political career that he is heading a coalition government.

Meanwhile, Janata Dal (United) leader KC Tyagi accused Mallikarjun Kharge of attempting to create an atmosphere of anarchy.

"(Congress leader) Mallikarjun Kharge is creating an environment of anarchy and disbelief by giving offensive statements. I condemn it, he said.

The Congress won 99 Lok Sabha seats -- a major moral victory for the party which had won just 52 seats in the 2019 general elections.

The Opposition's INDIA bloc also took a massive stride as it won 234 Lok Sabha seats.

The exit polls had predicted a landslide victory for the BJP and a drubbing for the Congress.

As the gap between the two alliances was narrow, the INDIA bloc reportedly sent overtures to Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu. However, both the leaders supported Narendra Modi's third government.

JD(U) and TDP saw increased representation in Narendra Modi's Cabinet. However, all plum portfolios were allocated to BJP leaders.
City residents suffered through yet another day of scorching conditions as Delhi continued its streak of heatwave days with the maximum temperature remaining above 44 degrees Celsius (C) for the fourth day in a row on Saturday, even as the warm night conditions continued for a second day. People seen out on a Hot Day at India Gate in New Delhi on Saturday. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo)

There also appears to be no immediate relief on the cards from the prevailing sweltering conditions, according to India Meteorological department (IMD) predictions. The heatwave, scientists said, is expected to continue till at least Wednesday.

The maximum temperature rose further on Saturday and clocked 44.6C on Friday, six degrees above what is considered normal this time of the year, thus qualifying as a heatwave day. According to IMD, a heatwave is said to take place when the maximum temperature of a day is 4.5C or more above normal. This means that the maximum has now been above 44C every day since Wednesday.

The maximum on Friday was 44C, while it was 44.8C on Thursday and was 44.7C on Wednesday. If IMDs prediction turns out to be accurate, then the city may experience a full week of heatwave days.

Saturday is the fifth day in June when IMDs Safdarjung station, which is considered representative of Delhis weather, recorded a heatwave. This is the highest number of heatwave days in June since 2014 when the month saw seven heatwave days.

The heatwave will continue till next week due to dry westerlies coming in from Rajasthan. A western disturbance might influence Delhi on June 20, after which a spell of thunderstorm might be seen, said an IMD official, who did not wish to be identified.

Other weather stations that recorded a heatwave on Saturday were Palam with a maximum of 45C (six degrees above normal) and Lodhi Road, where a maximum of 44.7C was recorded (six degrees above normal).

Moreover, Ridge recorded a maximum of 45.5C and Ayanagar recorded a maximum of 46C  seven degrees above normal at both stations. The IMD classifies it as a severe heatwave when the maximum is 6.5C or more above the normal.

To be sure, IMD has issued an orange alert till June 18 and a yellow alert for the following two days. IMD issues green, yellow, orange and red alerts along with their forecast, in an increasing order of intensity of the weather condition. A yellow alert warns people to be aware, while orange alert is issued when a weather condition requires people to be prepared for heat exposure.

On the other hand, Delhis minimum, dropped by almost a degree. The city experienced a warm night for the second consecutive day. A warm night is recorded when the days maximum is over 40C and the night-time or minimum temperature is more than 4.5 degrees or more above normal, according to the IMD.

Delhis minimum was logged at 32.4C, five degrees above normal. The minimum was 33.3C on Friday.

The recent rise in minimum temperature has been caused by a combination weather factors that have played into each other, IMD scientists explained. In the day, hot and dry winds and clear skies cause a rise temperature, which means that the ground heats up severely. But by night, a moderate cloud cover means this heat is not transmitted back into the atmosphere due to the greenhouse effect, which causes a warmer than usual night.

Even though some cloud cover was observed on Friday night, the skies were mostly clear throughout Saturday. Warm nights might not be recorded in the following days but the minimum will stay above 30C, added the official.

The IMD has forecast the maximum to hover over 45C for the next few days, while the minimum is expected to stay 32C or above till June 20.

Mahesh Palawat, vice president of private weather forecasting agency Skymet, said, Delhi will continue to experience this kind of heat for at least one more week. After that a western disturbance and a cyclonic circulation might bring some relief.
As a partner in the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, the Janata Dal (United) has significantly increased its political activities in Jammu and Kashmir and has decided to field at least forty candidates in the upcoming assembly polls in the union territory. Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) to contest 40 seats in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls. (Photo by Santosh Kumar /Hindustan Times)

Polls to elect a 90-member House in Jammu and Kashmir are speculated to be held before September 30, 2024. The last assembly election in the Union territory was held in 2014, after which a coalition government of the BJP and the PDP came to power, but it collapsed in June 2018.

Under Nitish Kumars leadership, we have begun to strengthen the partys base in the region. In the upcoming assembly polls, at least forty candidates will be fielded, said JDUs state president, GM Shaheen.

As JD(U) is one of the NDA partners at the Centre, there has been an increase in people joining the party in the union territory, he added.



We have also started reorganising our committees at the grassroots level, said Shaheen.

The key political parties in Jammu and Kashmir include the National Conference, Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, and the BJP, which has established a strong base in the union territory.



Shaheen said his party had made its footprints earlier, but it collapsed after 2000 due to leadership issues and has been working aggressively in the recent years.

We contested the panchayat and municipal elections held in 2018-19. Currently we have over 100 sarpanchs and municipal committee members, he said.

Janata Dal (United) was formed with the merger of the Sharad Yadav faction of the Janata Dal, the Lok Shakti Party on 30 October 2003. The party has not won a Lok Sabha or assembly seat in the union territory.

However, it remains to be seen how the Nitish Kumar-led party will perform and field its candidate as BJP has decided to contest all ninety seats of Jammu and Kashmir.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah who was on a two-day visit to the UT recently had, urged his party workers to gear up for the contest scheduled later this year.
Mumbai, NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday described as misuse of power the Delhi Lieutenant Governors sanction to prosecute author Arundhati Roy under the stringent UA for an alleged provocative speech in 2010. Nod to prosecute Arundhati Roy under UAPA 'misuse of power': Sharad Pawar

He was speaking to reporters during a joint press conference with Maha Vikas Aghadi allies Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan.

Asked about Delhi L-G VK Saxenas sanction to prosecute Roy under the Unlawful Activities Act, or UA, for an address at an event 14 years ago, the former Union minister said, This is nothing but misuse of power.

Besides Roy, Saxena on Friday also gave the green signal for action under UA against former Central University of Kashmir professor Sheikh Showkat Hussain.

Roy, a Booker Prize-winning author, and Hussain had been named in an FIR registered on October 28, 2010.

The two had allegedly made provocative speeches at a conference organised under the banner of Azadi - The Only Way on October 21, 2010, in New Delhi.

The issues discussed and spoken about at the conference propagated the separation of Kashmir from India, an official said on Friday.

Last October, the L-G had granted sanction to prosecute them under section 196 of CrPC for commission of offences punishable under different sections of the Indian Penal Code: 153A , 153B and 505 .

Those who delivered speeches at the conference included Syed Ali Shah Geelani, SAR Geelani , Roy, Hussain and Telugu poet and Varavara Rao.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hyderabad While the Telugu Desam Party was allocated 21 berths in the Andhra Pradesh cabinet, Pawan Kalyans Jana Sena Party received three seats. (PTI)

Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu on Friday named Jana Sena Party president Konidela Pawan Kalyan as his deputy, and made him in-charge of a series of departments, including panchayat raj and rural development and environment, while keeping the crucial portfolios of home, finance, agriculture and urban development for the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

Announcing the portfolios for his 24 council of ministers, who were sworn-in along with him earlier this week, Naidu allocated the home and disaster management departments to TDPs Vangalapudi Anitha and finance, planning and commercial taxes and legislative affairs to party legislator P Keshav.

The department of health and family welfare & medical education  another key portfolio  was handed over to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)s Y Satya Kumar.

The Jana Sena Party and the BJP are allies of the TDP as part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). As per the norms, the cabinet can comprise a maximum of 25 ministers besides the chief minister.

While Naidus son Nara Lokesh was assigned the portfolios of human resources development and information technology, electronics and communication, both of which were handled by him during the TDPs previous stint between 2014 and 2019, party leader Ponguru Narayana was allotted the municipal administration and urban development department, which would be responsible for the development of the Amaravati capital region.

Congratulations to @PawanKalyan Garu on becoming the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. I congratulate all my colleagues in the cabinet on being assigned their portfolios. Together, we have taken a solemn oath to serve the people of Andhra Pradesh and usher in an era of peoples governance, Naidu said in a post on X.

Im confident that you shall strive to deliver on our peoples expectations as ministers. My best wishes to you all as you embark on this journey of service and devotion, he added.

Besides panchayat raj and rural development and environment, Kalyan was allocated the rural water supply, environment, forests and science and technology portfolios.

In a post on X, Kalyan thanked the chief minister, saying: It is indeed a privilege to serve alongside you and our esteemed colleagues in the Andhra Pradesh cabinet. Together, with the guidance of NDA leadership and the collective efforts of our cabinet, we will strive to achieve progress, prosperity and inclusive development for all sections of society.

Satya Kumar said: I thank the chief minister for making me a partner in the reconstruction of Andhra Pradesh. With the blessings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the top BJP leadership and Chandrababu Naidu, I am confident I shall do complete justice to the task given to me. I will do my best in heralding a healthy Andhra Pradesh by extending better medical facilities to the people.

Andhra Pradesh TDP president K Atchannaidu was allotted agriculture, co-operation, marketing, animal husbandry and dairy development & fisheries departments.

Pawans senior colleague and Jana Sena political affairs committee chairman Nadendla Manohar was assigned the portfolio of food, civil supplies and consumer affairs, while another Jana Sena minister, Kandula Durgesh, was given charge of tourism, culture and cinematography ministry.

Overall, the TDP was given 21 berths, Jana Sena Party three and the BJP one. One berth remains vacant and will be filled at a later stage, a TDP leader said earlier.

Nasyam Mohammed Farook of the TDP will be the minister for law & justice and minority welfare while A Satya Prasad was given the portfolios of revenue and registration & stamps.

Naidu was sworn in as chief minister of Andhra Pradesh for a fourth term on Wednesday at an event that was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers Amit Shah, JP Nadda and Nitin Gadkari, and an array of dignitaries, including top actors of southern cinema. Besides him, 24 MLAs were administered the oath of office and secrecy by governor S Abdul Nazeer at the ceremony at Kesarapalli, near Gannavaram international airport on the outskirts of Vijayawada.

In the assembly elections, the NDA allies won 164 seats in the 175-member state assembly  135 by the TDP, 21 by the Jana Sena and eight by the BJP. The YSR Congress party, led by outgoing chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, was reduced to 11 assembly seats.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address farmers countrywide in Varanasi on June 18 in his first public rally since assuming office for a third term, where he will induct 30,000 trained women farm guides and disburse the 17th tranche of PM Kisan, a cash-transfer scheme for cultivators, Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said on Saturday. Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan addresses a press briefing in Delhi on Saturday. (PIB_India-X)

Chauhan told reporters that nearly 20 million farmers from across states will join in, physically and virtually, and invitations had been sent out to chief ministers of all states for the event.

Modi has also deputed several Union ministers to interact with cultivators and officials by visiting 50 Krishi Vigyan Kendras, which are district-level centres for dissemination of farming knowhow. Nearly 100,000 primary agricultural cooperatives will also join the event virtually.

The Union minister, a former four-term chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, said that agriculture was central to the Modi governments goal of Viksit Bharat (developed India) by 2047 as it still employs the largest number of people.

Chauhan said his ministry was preparing a 100-day agenda for the farm sector. The Prime Minister had entrusted each department to prepare a 100-day work programme. I have scrutinised the 100-day agenda and we will soon release it formally, he said.

At the event, Modi will transfer a total of 20,000 crore to over 90 million eligible farmers under the PM-Kisan scheme. Asked why the number of eligible farmers had come down, Chauhan said: There are certain guidelines to the scheme. Many farmers are engaged in other professions or employed elsewhere. Maintaining transparency is absolutely important.

Under PM-KISAN, the government provides income support of 6,000 a year to farmers with a valid enrolment. It is paid in three equal cash transfers of 2,000, one every four months. The programme was launched on February 24, 2019.

The agriculture minister has held a series of meetings with various departments of his ministry and emphasised a policy to boost output of pulses and edible oils, two items India still relies on imports to meet domestic demand.

After two years of extreme weather and patchy monsoon, India expects an above-average June-September rainy season this year, which will likely drive up summer harvests and farm growth.

Chauhan said the agriculture ministry had entered into a memorandum of understanding with the rural affairs ministry to train 30,000 women from self-help groups in farming practices. At the June 18 event, Modi will distribute certificates to them, making them eligible to work as Krishi Sakhis or farm counsellors.

This will enable these Krishi Sakhis to earn an additional income of 60,000- 80,000 a year. This is another dimension of the Lakhpati Didi scheme for women entrepreneurs.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday concluded his first foreign trip during his third term in office as he returned to the national capital from Italy after attending the G7 Summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the G7 summit on Friday.

Barely days after taking oath as the Prime Minister of India, Modi held talks with several world leaders in Italy, including British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron. The highlight of his diplomatic engagements in the European country, however, was his meeting with US President Joe Biden.

"Had a very productive day at the G7 Summit in Apulia. Interacted with world leaders and discussed various subjects. Together, we aim to create impactful solutions that benefit the global community and create a better world for future generations. I thank the people and government of Italy for their warm hospitality," PM Modi wrote on X on Saturday morning.

Amid India's tension with Canada over the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year, PM Modi briefly met with Justin Trudeau.

Also read: Political space to anti-India forces in Canada is main issue: Top Indian diplomat

Modi also had a separate interaction with Joe Biden. The Modi-Biden conversation came nearly seven months after Washington's allegations of an Indian link to a foiled plot to murder Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

After his meeting with Biden, PM Modi wrote on X that India and the United States will keep working together to further global good.

He also acknowledged his meeting with Trudeau. "Met Canadian PM @JustinTrudeau at the G7 Summit," he wrote on the social media website.

In September last year, Indo-Canadian ties came under severe strain after Trudeau alleged "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar in British Columbia.

New Delhi rejected Trudeau's charges, calling them "absurd" and motivated.

India has accused Canada of fostering pro-Khalistan and criminal elements to meet political ends.

Foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra on Wednesday said India's main issue with Canada continues to be the political space that Ottawa provides to anti-India elements.

Trudeaus office claimed on Friday the two leaders had an interaction on the sidelines of the summit. The former congratulated Prime Minister Modi on his reelection and the leaders had a brief discussion on the bilateral relationship, a spokesperson, Ann-Clara Vaillancourt, was quoted as saying by news agency Bloomberg.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi addressed the event, stressing the importance of ending monopoly in technology with a particular emphasis on artificial intelligence.

On the sidelines of the event, PM also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

The invitation to PM Modi to the G-7 summit indicates India's growing prominence in the West's plans to counter rapidly growing China.

Apart from India, the hosts had invited leaders of 11 developing countries, including those located in the Indo-Pacific region.

With inputs from agencies
During his first overseas trip after starting his third term, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the G7 Summit in Italy and met several world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to discuss bilateral relations. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, talks to U.S. President Joe Biden prior a group photo at the G7 in Borgo Egnazia, near Bari in southern Italy, Friday, June 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)(AP)

However, the main highlights of his meeting on the sidelines were his interaction with US President Joe Biden and meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Relations between India and Canada became strained after Prime Minister Trudeaus allegations in September last year about a potential involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India dismissed Trudeau's charges as "motivated" and absurd.

After concluding his visit to Italy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), said, Had a very productive day at the G7 Summit in Apulia. Interacted with world leaders and discussed various subjects. Together, we aim to create impactful solutions that benefit the global community and create a better world for future generations.

Heres what PM Modi discussed with various leaders on the sidelines of the G7 Summit:

Japan PM Fumio Kishida: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India and Japan are eager to collaborate in areas such as defense, technology, semiconductors, clean energy, and digital technology. Both nations aim to strengthen their ties in infrastructure and cultural linkages. PM Modi asserted that strong relations between India and Japan are crucial for a peaceful, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

Japan has targeted 5 trillion yen in investment in India from 2022 to 2027. They are also enhancing their manufacturing cooperation through the India-Japan Industrial Competitiveness Partnership.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday conveyed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting that India would continue to do everything within its means to support a peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict and that the way to peace is through dialogue and diplomacy.

The upcoming Swiss peace conference for Ukraine also figured in the Modi-Zelenskyy talks held on the margins of the G7 summit in Italys Apulia and the Ukrainian president thanked the prime minister for sending a high-level delegation to the conclave over the weekend in Switzerland.

During the meeting, Modi told Zelenskyy that India believes in a human-centric approach to find a solution to the conflict in Ukraine.

President Joe Biden: After his exchanges with Biden, Prime Minister Modi said, India and the US will keep working together to further global good. Its always a pleasure to meet @POTUS @JoeBiden. India and the USA will keep working together to further global good.

The Modi-Biden conversation took place nearly seven months after Washington alleged an Indian link to a foiled plot to murder Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York. India has already appointed a high-level probe team to investigate these allegations.

French President Emmanuel Macron: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with the French President Emmanuel Macron to review India-France relations under the Horizon 2047 initiative. They discussed cooperation in defence, nuclear energy, space, education, climate action, digital infrastructure, connectivity, and cultural initiatives such as national museum partnerships and enhancing people-to-people ties. The leaders agreed to enhance strategic defence cooperation with a focus on Make in India.

They also pledged to expand collaboration in AI, critical and emerging technologies, energy, and sports, and discussed their close cooperation in the upcoming AI Summit and United Nations Oceans Conference, both slated to be hosted by France in 2025.

British PM Rishi Sunak: Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest with Rishi Sunak. The leaders last met in person at the G20 Summit in New Delhi last September, where they agreed to expedite the FTA talks with hopes of concluding before Indias general election. However, these talks are now expected to resume after the new UK government is elected on July 4. The negotiations, which began in January 2022, aim to significantly enhance bilateral trade, currently valued at approximately 38.1 billion pounds annually according to official statistics earlier this year.

Italy PM Giorgia Meloni: PM Modi and Giorgia Meloni reviewed the progress of the India-Italy strategic partnership. They expressed satisfaction with the growing trade and economic collaboration and emphasized the need to expand commercial ties in clean energy, manufacturing, space, telecom, AI, and critical minerals to build resilient supply chains. They welcomed the recent signing of a MoU on Industrial Property Rights (IPR), which provides a framework for cooperation on patents, designs, and trademarks.

The two leaders also discussed bilateral defence and security cooperation and looked forward to enhancing defence industrial collaboration. They welcomed the upcoming visit of the Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour and training ship ITS Vespucci to India later this year.

Pope Francis: PM Modi met Pope Francis and invited him to visit India. Met Pope Francis on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. I admire his commitment to serve people and make our planet better. Also invited him to visit India, the Prime Minister posted on X.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz: Prime Minister Modi said the interaction with Chancellor Scholzvon was very productive. The India-Germany Strategic Partnership can play a major role in furthering global growth which is inclusive and sustainable, he said.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres in Italy on the sidelines of the G7 Summit here on Friday night. In a post on X, PM Modi said, Pleased to meet the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, in Italy.



(With inputs from PTI)
Political strategist-turned-activist Prashant Kishor said on Friday that chief minister Nitish Kumar brought shame to Bihar when he touched Prime Minister Narendra Modi's feet earlier this month. Political strategist-turned-activist Prashant Kishor(PTI file photo)

Addressing a public meeting in Bihar's Bhagalpur, the Jan Suraaj party chief claimed Nitish Kumar, a key BJP ally, has put up his conscience for sale.

"People ask me why I am now criticising Nitish Kumar, having worked with him in the past. He was a different man back then. His conscience had not been put up for sale," said Kishor, who had managed the JD (U) president's election campaign in 2015 and joined the party two years later. The two leaders, however, fell out.

Prashant Kishor, who had erroneously predicted a landslide victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, claimed Nitish Kumar touched Modi's feet to stay in power.

"The leader of a state is the pride of its people. But Nitish Kumar brought shame to Bihar when he touched the feet of Modi," he alleged, per PTI.

With JDU winning 12 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, Nitish Kumar has emerged as the kingmaker. The BJP, which could win only 240 Lok Sabha seats, is reliant on Nitish Kumar, Chandrababu Naidu and Eknath Shinde's support for a majority in the lower house of the Parliament.

"There is so much talk about Nitish Kumar playing a key role in Modi's return to power. But how is the Bihar CM leveraging his position? He is not using his clout to ensure benefits for the state. He is touching feet to ensure that he remains in power with BJP support, even after the 2025 assembly polls," Kishor said.

Prashant Kishor had predicted that the BJP would easily cross the majority mark. However, the party ended up 32 seats short of the majority mark. Belying exit polls, the INDIA bloc won 234 Lok Sabha seats.

At NDA's meeting, Nitish Kumar touched Modi's feet in public for the second time. He had also touched his feet during a rally in Bihar.

Earlier this year, Nitish Kumar once again switched his loyalties from the INDIA bloc  which he helped form  to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. His party contested the Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the BJP.

Nitish Kumar has repeated on several occasions that he will never leave the NDA again.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, speaking on the ongoing row over the alleged irregularities surrounding the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-Undergraduate) exams, on Friday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government stating that it began attacking the dreams of the youth as soon as it took oath. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (PTI)

Taking to X, Vadra said: As soon as the new BJP government took oath, it again started attacking the dreams of the youth. The arrogant response of the Education Minister (Dharmendra Pradhan) on the irregularities in the NEET exam results completely ignores the cries of 24 lakh students and their parents. Does the Education Minister not see the facts available in the public domain?

The exam, conducted on May 5 by the National Testing Agency (NTA) at 4,750 centres for nearly 24 lakh students, is facing scrutiny due to allegations of leaked papers and controversial grace marks. There is concern because an unusually high number, 67, of students scored a perfect 720.

She also accused the government of ignoring the youth. The question is, who does the government want to save in the system by ignoring lakhs of youth and their parents? Shouldn't the dreams of the youth stop being sacrificed at the altar of this corrupt examination system?

In her post, Gandhi also emphasised that the government should take student and parent complaints seriously and act on them, rather than ignoring them. The BJP government should abandon its ego and think seriously about the future of the youth and take measures to curb corruption in examinations, she said.

Meanwhile, former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and Congress leader Digvijay Singh demanded a probe into the irregularities in the top medical examination, adding that the entire exam should be cancelled.

My demand is that the entire examination should be cancelled and it should be held as soon as possible and a completely impartial inquiry should be conducted into this matter under the new law passed by the Parliament and the culprits should be given the harshest punishment, Singh wrote in a post on X.

Calling it the NEET-UG scam, Singh said it was extremely serious.

The scam in NEET (UG)-2024 is extremely serious. This is the gigantic national form of the Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh, which not only casts doubt on the functioning of the National Examination Agency (NTA) but also shows it to be faulty and full of corruption. Despite the passing of The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill 2024 in Parliament in February 2024 and the enactment of strict laws in this regard, the nationwide scam by NTA in a major exam like NEET conducted for admission to medical colleges raises questions on the entire credibility of the government and the examination agency, he added.

He further asked, Should the government not seriously consider the following points? When the NEET exam was on May 5, 2024, how did its paper get leaked in Patna on May 4 itself and why did the government not take any action after an FIR was registered against the people caught in Patna on May 6? NTA had fixed the registration date for this exam from February 9, 2024, to March 9, 2024. Then this date was extended to March 16. Then what was the reason that the online registration window was opened again for one day on April 10?

On May 6, news was published in a newspaper in Uttar Pradesh that the students had collected money and bought the NEET question paper for 60 crore. Even after this, instead of taking cognizance of these news, how did the NTA issue a press note on May 6, 2024 and term these news as baseless? When the result of this exam comes in June 2024, how did 67 students get full 720 marks out of 720, whereas the number of students who got 720 marks out of 720 was only 2 in the year 2020, 3 in the year 2021, 0 in the year 2022 and only 2 in the year 2023. How did the number of toppers in the All India Rank-1 increase by 5625 per cent compared to last year? Isn't this unexpected, he also said.

Meanwhile, the NTA informed the Supreme Court on Thursday that it will cancel the scorecards of 1563 candidates who received "grace marks" in the NEET-UG exam. These candidates will be given an opportunity to retake the exam on June 23, and the results will be announced before June 30.

The NTA also mentioned to a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that a committee has been formed to review the results of these candidates who were given extra marks due to difficulties they faced during the NEET-UG exam. The Committee has decided to cancel the scorecards of 1563 NEET-UG 2024 candidates who were given grace marks and these students will be given the option to take a re-test. The exam will be conducted on June 23 and the results will be declared before June 30, it said.

Singh also questioned whether students who didn't go to court were treated unfairly.

1,563 students went to court over the dispute of having two different answers to the questions and were given grace marks. So, was injustice not done to those students who could not go to court? How did 8 students of the same exam centre in Jhajjar, Haryana, score 720 out of 720 marks in this exam? Whereas one of these students failed the 12th grade exam? Why do all these toppers in this centre not have a surname. , he further asked.

He also questioned the allotment of grace marks in the exam. If Bihar Police had investigated an examination centre in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, on suspicion of irregularities and NTA had denied a paper leak, then how did 8 students of this examination centre get 720 out of 720 marks? And how did some students of this centre get 716, 718 and 719 marks? Under which formula did the students get 718 and 719 marks? Because according to the established formula, if a student solves a question wrongly, then his 4 marks allotted for that question get reduced, and there is a minus marking of 1 mark, meaning that he can get a maximum of 715 marks for one wrong answer.

Taking a dig at the centre, Singh said that students from Odisha, Karnataka and Jharkhand chose Gujarat as a centre. He also claimed the paper was leaked on instant messaging platform Telegram a day before the scheduled exam.

Despite evidence of this, why did the NTA deny any wrongdoing? Why did the government not take cognizance of the allegations of students paying a bribe of 20 to 25 lakhs through an international education consultant in Gujarat? Why were Hindi medium students given English medium question papers at an examination centre in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan? The Hon'ble Supreme Court has raised questions on the sanctity of NEET and today ordered the re-examination of 1563 students who got grace marks on June 23, 2024. This will not benefit those students who could not go to court, he added.
Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) states, All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Human beings are bestowed upon with several rights derived through various constitutional provisions, judicial pronouncements, advisory published by multiple human rights organisations, among others. However, till date, there is no specific law which explicitly deals with the rights bestowed on a dead person. Prima facie, the rights of a human being cease on death and therefore, no title, interest, or ownership remains vested with the deceased.

However, Article 21 of the Constitution of India has played an evident role in ensuring the right to fair treatment and dignity irrespective of whether the person is alive or dead.

Heres a lowdown of a list of judgements passed highlighting the importance of dead peoples rights.

Also Read: Ecuador rights abuses under state of 'armed conflict': HRW

Recently, the Bombay High Court in Faizan E-Gaus-O-Raza Trust v. Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai & Ors. emphasised the importance of the rights of a dead person to have a dignified burial along with the role of the municipal commissioner to provide an appropriate place for the disposal of the dead.

In Parmanand Katara v. Union of India, the Honble Apex Court observed that the right to dignity and fair treatment under Article 21 of the Constitution is not only available to a living man but also to his body after his death. The word and expression person in Article 21 would include a dead person in a limited sense and his rights to his life which includes his right to live with human dignity, to have an extended meaning to treat his dead body with respect, which he would have deserved, had he been alive subject to his tradition, culture and the religion, which he professed.

Further, it was also observed that, The State must respect a dead person by allowing the body of that dead person to be treated with dignity and unless it is required for the purposes of establishing a crime, to ascertain the cause of death and be subjected to post-mortem or for any scientific investigation, medical education or to save the life of another person in accordance with law, the preservation of the dead body and its disposal in accordance with human dignity.

The Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) also protects the rights and dignity of dead bodies. Section 297 criminalises trespassing on burial places with the intent to hurt any person or religion. Section 404 prescribes punishment for anyone who dishonestly misappropriates property that was in the possession of a deceased person at the time of their death. Additionally, Section 499 criminalizes the defamation of a deceased person, and Section 503 provides punishment for anyone who threatens to injure the reputation of a deceased person in whom the threatened individual has an interest.

In Jamuna Das Paras Ram v. State of Madhya Pradesh, the Madhya Pradesh high court, in reference to Section 392 of the IPC contended that the word person cannot be so naturally construed to exclude the body of a human being, i.e., the human body must be given the right, irrespective of being alive or dead.

In Ashray Adhikar Abhiyan v. Union of India (2002), the Supreme Court reiterated that the dignity of the dead must be maintained and respected and further, extended the right to the homeless deceased person to have a decent cremation according to the religious customs to which one belongs to. It also established a corresponding duty on the State to ensure that decent cremation is served to the deceased.

In S. Sethu Raja v. Chief Secretary (2007), the Madras high court directed the concerned government authorities to bring the dead body from Malaysia so that the burial could take place at home as per the traditions and customs of the deceased.

The Allahabad High Court in Ramji Singh @ Mujeeb Bhai v. State of U.P. (2010) contended that the right to life also includes the right of the dead body to be treated with the same respect that he would have deserved if he were alive. It is imperative for the State to treat the corpse with dignity and must only resort to postmortem if it is a necessity.

During Covid-19 outbreak, there were several instances when dead bodies didnt receive respectable and dignified treatment prompting courts to take note.

The High Court of Calcutta in Vineet Ruia v. The Principal Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and Ors. ruled that dignified disposal of human remains is part of the right to life and personal liberty, regardless of Covid-19 status, and must be done according to the deceaseds religion, if ascertainable.

In Vikash Chandra @ Ouddu Baba v. The Union of India & Ors., the Patna high court addressed the undignified disposal of bodies in the Ganga river, stating that unclaimed and unidentified corpses must be handled with respect and, if possible, according to the deceaseds faith.

The Supreme Court, in a suo motu writ petition, issued guidelines for the dignified handling of bodies in hospitals, criticizing the poor conditions in Delhi hospitals where bodies were stacked next to Covid patients.

The High Court of Telangana in R. Sameer Ahmed v. State of Telangana & Ors. noted the lack of respect for bodies due to inadequate space and facilities, requesting state data on cremation capacities.

The Madras High Court, in a suo motu PIL monitoring COVID-related activities, highlighted the lack of dignity in the treatment of bodies and urged efforts to ensure respectful handling.

The Preamble to the United Nations (UN') Charter recognises the right to dignity as one of its objectives, i.e., to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person.

Further, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) also acknowledges this right in its preamble recognising of the inherent dignity of human persons.

Not only in India, but courts across the world have also laid down guidelines, recommendations, and pronounced judgements on similar lines, where the rights of a dead person need to be protected and respected.

In the case from US Supreme Court, Munn v. Iliinois, Field, J, it spoke of the right to life.

"By the term 'life' as here used something more is meant than mere animal existence. The inhibition against its deprivation extends to all those limbs and faculties by which life is enjoyed; the provision equally prohibits the mutilation of the body by the amputation of an arm or leg, or the putting out of an eye, or the destruction of any other organ of the body through which the soul communicates with the outer world," it said.

During the COVID outbreak, there was a severe violation of rules and protocols laid down by the existing legal framework.

Even during the first wave, the central and state governments issued protocols for the dignified management and handling of the dead in consonance with the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines. However, during the second wave, due to the rampant increase in number of deaths, it nearly became implausible for concerned governments to abide by the protocols.

There is a pressing need for laws at both national and international level specifically addressing pandemic-like situations.

It is equally important to safeguard the rights of human body even after death as the right to life does not end with the life of a human being.

However, it also extends after the death of a person to have a dignified burial and from any harm that may be caused by third person.

Sanya Singh is a practising lawyer based out in New Delhi. She pursued a B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) from NUSRL, Ranchi and holds a keen interest in civil and commercial litigation.
Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray and Prithviraj Chavan, the leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, held a joint press conference in Mumbai on Saturday and thanked the people of the country for supporting the alliance in the state in the Lok Sabha elections 2024. NCP-SCP supremo Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray at a press conference in Mumbai, (File)

Sharad Pawar of the NCP (SCP) took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that wherever he held roadshows and rallies, the MVA registered victories in those places in the Lok Sabha polls.

Wherever the Prime Minister's roadshow and rally took place, we won. That is why I consider it my duty to thank the prime minister We thank PM Narendra Modi for making the political atmosphere conducive for the MVA, said Sharad Pawar at the press conference.

Maharashtra was one of the three states, that dealt the biggest blow to the Bharatiya Janata Party and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the general elections, the first after the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party split to team up with the BJP in June 2022.

The BJP managed to secure only nine seats in Maharashtra from the 23 it got in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The Election Commission of India data showed that the NDA failed to gain victory in the majority of the seats where Modi campaigned. Modi held multiple public meetings and a road show in as many as 18 Lok Sabha seats of Maharashtra. The NDA failed to win in 15 of those seats, India Today reported earlier.

The Nationalist Congress Party  Sharadchandra Pawar chief ruled out any possibility of taking nephew Ajit Pawar back to his party.

In what can be seen as a show of strength, Uddhav Thackery of the Shiv Sena (UBT) announced that the MVA coalition will contest the Maharashtra assembly elections together.

Uddhav Thackeray also thanked the citizen groups and several YouTube channels for their contributions during the recently concluded elections.

"What was the narrative used by Modi? What about the Mangalsutra narrative? Was it right?," Uddhav Thackeray asked in response to the BJP's allegation that a fake narrative was used by the MVA against the ruling party in the elections.

Thackeray also said, "Those who left me will not be taken back in the the party.

Speaking on the occasion, senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan said there is no big or small brother in the coalition. "We will take a decision on seat sharing by considering each assembly seat. Our preliminary discussions have already happened," he said.
Union steel and heavy industries minister HD Kumaraswamy, clarifying his remark that questioned the need for investments from international firms in Gujarat, said that semiconductors are a strategic industry responsible for generating ample employment. He also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's semiconductor-related initiatives. Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries H D Kumaraswamy(PTI)

In a post on X, Kumaraswamy said, Semiconductor is a strategic industry. It is a basic requirement for electronics and automobile manufacturing. Both these sectors generate lots of employment. I greatly appreciate the semiconductor-related initiatives taken by @PMOIndia and will work towards fulfilling them through my ministry.

Also Read | HD Kumaraswamy: Man who helmed state twice gets a stint at the Centre

Kumaraswamy on Friday questioned the need for investments by companies like US-based Micron Technology's $2.5 billion semiconductor unit in Gujarat, which would incur a subsidy bill of 3.2 crore for each job it creates.

Explaining his statement on Saturday, speaking to ANI he said, Bringing semiconductor sector in India is strategic, we require it. Parallelly, we have to create jobs for the second-line sector, our small-scale industry... We are thinking about it and working out on it... I have been misquoted. I have not mentioned any state. Why has my statement been picked up like this? I have to be very cautious in the future.

Speaking at a live televised show on Friday, as quoted by Times of India, he said, The new manufacturing unit will generate about 5,000 jobs. For this, we are giving them $2 billion in subsidies. If you calculate, thats 70% of the companys total investment. I asked officials how justifiable it is to allocate such a significant amount of funds. Conversely, there are small-scale industries... In Peenya (an industrial estate in Bengaluru), there are small-scale industries. How many lakh jobs have they created? What benefits have we provided to them? I am contemplating these matters, such as how to safeguard the nations wealth.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy was appointed the Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel earlier this week. After the announcement, Kumaraswamy said: I am deeply grateful to the Honble Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, for appointing me as the Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, in its third consecutive term.

The JD(S) leader won the Mandya constituency in Karnataka, defeating Congress' Venkataramane Gowda (also known as Star Chandru). Kumaraswamy secured over 8.51 lakh votes, winning by a margin of more than 2.84 lakh votes. Gowda, his closest competitor, received 5.67 lakh votes.
In Madhya Pradeshs Bhopal , a city ruled by Muslim nawabs and begums since 1722 until Indias independence, Eid is celebrated with much fanfare. At the heart of the revelry is the 153-year-old Taj-ul-Masjid also known as the Jama Masjid.

Spread across a built-up area of 4,30,000 square feet, the mosque is known to accommodate as many as 90,000 people in its courtyard. Given its scale, the Taj-ul-Masajid is considered the largest mosque in India, even bigger than the Jama Masjid in Delhi, which is said to accommodate 25,000 people in its courtyard.

Bhopals Taj-ul-Masajid or the crown of mosques has three domes, 12 pillars, two minarets and 120 rooms. It was a project of no patriarchal ruler, but Bhopals third begum, Shahjahan.

For me, thats what makes the mosque built by my ancestors so special, said Faiz Rashid, director of Jehan Numa Hotels in Madhya Pradesh and the descendent of the begums. Its amazing how thousands of people continue to visit the mosque, pray in it and regard it as an architectural marvel even a century and a half after it was envisioned and built by a female ruler, he added.

The Taj-ul-Masajid was planned as an Idgah, an open-air enclosure reserved for Eid prayers (Abhijeet Gupta/Goutam Chourasiya)

It is believed that after Shahjahan Begums second marriage to Maulvi Sayad Sidiq Hussain in 1871, she became more religious and harboured the dream of building the largest mosque in India. She even started following the purdah system, which her grandmother Qudsia Begum had given up as the first woman ruler of Bhopal around 1819 when her husband Nazar Muhammad Khan died in a freak accident. Qudsias younger brother, eight-year-old Faujdar Muhammad, unintentionally killed her husband, the Nawab while playing with a gun.

It was then that the 107-year rule of begums began in Bhopal. They built libraries, schools, colleges, hospitals, guest houses, womens clubs and palaces during their reign. But the most important were the mosques. For they followed in the footsteps of Mughal emperors to establish themselves as guardians and promoters of Islam, says Ajay Singh Chauhan, a government-certified guide in Bhopal. Qudsiya Begum built Jami Masjid in 1833 and her daughter Sikandar Begum built Moti Masjid in 1847, but none were as grand as the third begum, Shahjahans Taj-ul Masjid on which she spent a whopping 1.6 million back then. A sum of 600,000 was also spent on crystal flooring made to order in the UK. But it never made it to the mosque as its polished surface reflected devotees images, which was not acceptable.

The Taj-ul-Masajid was planned as an Idgah, an open-air enclosure reserved for Eid prayers in a new suburb named Bhopal Shahjahanabad in honour of Shahjahan Begum. Hence, even today, the mosques main gate, facing east, is opened only twice a year during Meethi and Bakri Eid. On other days, people enter and exit it from the other two gates. The mosque was part of the new palace complex built by the begum, which included her Taj Mahal palace with hundreds of rooms and flanked by three water bodies, Munshi Hussain Talab, Noor Mahal Talab and Motia Talab. Back then these ponds were the mosques ablution areas. Today, it has four tanks within the complex.

The Taj-ul-Masajid constructed in the Indo-Islamic architecture style borrows heavily from the design of Mughal masjids((Abhijeet Gupta/Goutam Chourasiya))

The masjid constructed in the Indo-Islamic architecture style borrows heavily from the design of Mughal masjids. The eastern entrance consists of a two-storeyed arch inspired by the Buland Darwaza in Fatehpur Sikri. Also, its overall design is similar to the Jama Masjid in New Delhi and the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, with smaller entrances at the north and south, in addition to the main entryway leading to a central courtyard.

Bhopals Jama Masjid was built on top of a hill with tall minarets so it could be seen from far away. It was placed on a high plinth reached by a series of steps. It was constructed with marbled, red sandstone and divided into three bays  two sets of three archways flanking a large central arch, which is covered by muqarnas (An Islamic, star-like design).

The mezzanine floor has a long balcony with arched windows facing the courtyard. The three white domes atop the mosque also have their own square balcony which can be entered from the domes drum. The parapet of each balcony is a row of multifoil forms and features a small, decorative pavilion and dome at each corner. The base of each dome is ringed with petal motifs and a mosaic of broken blue tiles arranged in a hexagonal, honeycomb pattern.

The two minarets on either side of the prayer hall are octagonal. They have four balconies and are topped by a small white dome. Several windows are placed at irregular intervals, with false windows carved in mid-relief in between, creating a pattern of arches wrapped around each minaret. These minarets were the first in the region to be built using reinforced concrete, a material generally associated with modern architecture, encased in a pink sandstone facade, says history professor Amita Singh from Bhopal.

The complex also has 120 rooms, which are the classrooms and accommodation of the 500 to 600 boys studying in the Madrasa here. They are not just taught the Quran but also other subjects such as maths, science, and geography among others.

The main prayer hall has twelve pillars made of sandstone, carved in ornate arabesque and floral designs. Multifoil arches form vaults with internal, unadorned domes that are not visible from the outside.

Devotees offer prayers on the occasion of the Eid-Ul-Fitr, at Taj-ul-Masajid in Bhopal on April 11, 2024.(ANI FILE PHOTO)

The most unique feature of the mosque, however, is its two zenana (female) galleries at the north and south ends of the mezzanine floor. The female section is a rarity in mosques around the world as very few mosques accommodate women. That said, women are not allowed to offer Eid prayers here. At the Taj-ul-Masajid, it can be entered via jaali doorways on the ground floor inside the main hall.

While the mosques construction began under Nawab Begum Shahjahan, it could not be completed during her lifetime owing to a lack of funds and her involvement in several other architectural projects. It remained under construction throughout the reign of her daughter Nawab Begum Sultan Jahan (1901 to 1926). The final phase of construction was initiated in 1971 by Allama Mohammad Imran Khan Nadwi Azhari and Maulana Sayed Hashmat Ali Khan of Bhopal and was finally completed in 1985.

Years later, even today, seeing thousands of worshippers, all dressed in white offer Eid prayers together in perfect synchrony is a magical experience, says Chauhan.
Buoyed by the victory of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the Lok Sabha elections, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday announced that the opposition alliance will contest the Maharashtra assembly elections together. Thackeray also ruled out the possibility of taking back leaders from the Eknath Shinde camp and said, Those who left me will not be taken back in the party. Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief and former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray.(PTI)

Thackeray was addressing a press conference alongside NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan, and other senior leaders of the alliance.

This was a fight to save the constitution and democracy. Assembly elections are coming shortly. This government was the Modi government and now it has become the NDA government. Now it is to be seen how long this government will last, he said.

Read: Sharad Pawar 'thanks' PM Narendra Modi at MVA press conference: 'Wherever he held rallies during Lok Sabha polls

Responding to allegations from the BJP that the MVA used a fake narrative, Thackeray retorted, What was the narrative used by Modi? What about the Mangalsutra narrative? Was it right? BJP itself gave the slogan of 400. What happened to the narrative of good days, what happened to Modi's guarantee.

He also compared the BJP government at the Centre to a rickshaw with three legs, echoing a metaphor used by Devendra Fadnavis to describe the previous MVA government.

Devendra Fadnavis told us that our government is like the three legs of a rickshaw, the condition of the BJP government at the centre is also the same, he added.

Read: Uddhav seeks report on whether Sena (UBT) has the potential to win assembly polls on its own

Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan expressed gratitude to the people of Maharashtra for their support in the Lok Sabha elections. We all have come together today to thank the people of Maharashtra and to express our gratitude to everyone. The people of Maharashtra have made the MVA candidates victorious. For the first time after the results of the Lok Sabha elections, the leaders of the INDIA alliance of Maharashtra have met today. This press conference is to thank the people, Chavan said.

He also voiced optimism about the assembly elections, hoping for continued support from the electorate.

I hope that the way people voted for us in the Lok Sabha elections, we will get the same love in the assembly elections and now there will be a change of power in Maharashtra, he said.

On the coalition's approach to the upcoming assembly elections, Chavan said, There is no big or small brother in our coalition. We will take a decision on seat sharing by considering each assembly seat. Our preliminary discussions have already happened.

In the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections, the Congress won 13 seats, a quantum jump from the solitary seat it won in the state in 2019, while the Shiv Sena (UBT) bagged nine and the NCP (SP) eight. In the seat-sharing deal for the general elections, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party had got the largest share of seats among the three parties. Of the total 48 Lok Sabha seats, the Sena (UBT) contested 21 seats, followed by Congress at 17 and NCP (SP) at 10.
Suresh Gopi, Union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party's first Lok Sabha MP from Kerala, has reportedly termed Indira Gandhi as the mother of India. The actor-turned-politician called late former Kerala chief minister K Karunakaran as a courageous administrator, PTI reported.



Suresh Gopi also labelled Karunakaran and another former CM EK Nayanar as his political gurus. The BJP leader made the remark after visiting Karunakaran's memorial Murali Mandiram in his constituency Thrissur.



In fact, Gopi had won Thrissur by defeating Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidate VS Sunilkumar by a margin of nearly 75,000 votes. Karunakaran's son K Muraleedharan stood third in the poll contest.



While urging reporters not to add any political connotation to the remarks, Gopi said he came to the memorial to pay respects to his guru, the PTI report added.



The Union minister said that like EK Nayanar and his wife Sarada Teacher, he also had relations with Karunakaran and his wife. Kalyanikutty Amma.

BJP leader Suresh Gopi greets Prime Minister Narendra Modi as taking oath as minister of state at Rashtrapati Bhavan on June 9.(Ajay Aggarwal/Hindustan Times)

Suresh Gopi calls Indira Gandhi Mother of India

Gopi, the minister of state for tourism and petroleum, called India's first woman prime minister Indira Gandhi as Bharathathinte mathavu (mother of India), and dubbed Karunakaran the father of the Congress party in the state.



However, he clarified that bestowing such a title to Karunakaran was not a disrespect to the founders or co-founders of Congress in Kerala. Continuing his praise for Karunakaran, Gopi dubbed the late Congress leader as a "courageous administrator" of his generation.



After taking oath as a minister in the Narendra Modi government, there were reports that Gopi would step down from his post. However, he dismissed as 'grossly incorrect' media reports suggesting that he was seeking an 'exit' from the Narendra Modi-led government.



"A few media platforms are spreading the incorrect news that I am going to resign from the Council of Ministers of the Modi Government. This is grossly incorrect. It is a matter of pride for me to be in the Council of Ministers of the Modi Government and to represent the people of Kerala," Gopi had said in a social media post.
Uttarakhand accident news: At least 12 people were killed and 14 others injured after a tempo traveller, with more than 26 people onboard, fell into a deep gorge on the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag on Saturday, said State Disaster Response Force commandant Manikant Mishra. The SDRF officer added that the death toll is likely to go up as some of those injured are in serious condition. Uttarakhand accident: A tempo traveller, with 26 people onboard, fell into a deep gorge near Badrinath Highway in Rudraprayag. (HT photo)

Manikant Mishra said the tempo traveller departed from Delhi around 11pm on Friday and was on its way to Chopta.

News agency ANI reported that the SDRF and police teams were carrying out rescue work. So far, two injured people have been sent to a hospital by the teams in an ambulance.

Reacting to the incident, Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said, People seriously injured in the Rudraprayag road accident are being airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh. Instructions have been given to the officials for better treatment of the injured. Our government is committed to provide all possible help to the injured.

In an earlier post on X (formally Twitter), Pushkar Singh Dhami said, Very sad news was received about a tempo traveller accident in Rudraprayag district. The local administration and SDRF teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations. The injured have been sent to the nearest medical centre for treatment. The district magistrate has been ordered to investigate the incident.

I pray to God to grant the souls of the departed a place in his feet and provide strength to the bereaved family to bear this immense pain. I pray to Baba Kedar for the speedy recovery of the injured, the Uttarakhand chief minister added.

Amit Shah reacts to Uttarakhand accident

Union home minister Amit Shah offered condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the accident.

Received the sad news of the road accident in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand. My condolences are with the families of those who lost their lives in this accident. The local administration and SDRF teams are engaged in relief and rescue work and all possible help is being provided to the injured. I pray to God for the speedy recovery of the injured, Amit Shah wrote on X.

2 killed, 6 injured in bus-truck collision in Rajasthan's Bharatpur

In an unrelated incident, two people died, and six others were injured in a collision between a bus and a truck in Sewar police station area of Rajasthan's Bharatpur district on Saturday morning.

The injured have been admitted to RBM Hospital in Bharatpur for treatment.

The deceased have been identified as Pratap Singh (57) and Harbhan (35), police said.

The bus was going from Bayana to Bharatpur while the truck was coming from Mathura. The truck hit the bus head-on near the Mustard Research Center. After this, the truck rammed into a house, they said.

The bus and the truck have been seized, police said.
New Delhi: Four years ago on this day, the Gallant 20 led by brave 16 Bihar Commanding Officer Colonel B Santosh Babu repelled a PLA attack near Patrolling Point 14 in Galwan in East Ladakh, resulting in death of 20 Indian soldiers and an unspecified number of PLA personnel. Tashi Lunpho monastery in Shigatse in Tibet.

While many Indian soldiers lost their lives due to drowning in frozen Galwan river, the brief skirmish was a game changer as the Indian Army, shedding the 1962 loss, took on the aggressive PLA and ensured that Chinese did not disturb the status quo in Galwan by erecting a new post.

Apart from the PLA aggression in East Ladakh in May 2020, the Xi Jinping regime has launched full-fledged information warfare against India by renaming geographical entities in Arunachal Pradesh. In 2017, the Chinese released Mandarin version of six places in Arunachal Pradesh, 15 places in 2021 in second list, 11 more places in third list in 2021 and in March 2024, another 30 places were renamed by Xi Jinping regime as if to earmark their claims on the Indian border state.

Mahavir Chakra winner Colonel Santosh Babu with his family.

While there were media reports of India planning to rename some 30 places in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) as a riposte to the Chinese exercise in Arunachal Pradesh, the Ministry of External Affairs is not aware of any such exercise.

Fact is that India does not need to do any renaming in Tibet to make its point to the Communist Party of China as the Indo-Tibetan plateau of Lamas has ancient links with India through Buddhism. Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake in Tibet are revered by both the Hindus and the Tibetan Buddhist alike with Hindus making pilgrimage to the abode of Lord Shiva for centuries.

Despite Chinese communists trying to impose atheism on the Tibetan and Chinese people at large, Buddhism is growing in China by leaps and bounds. Fabulous Buddhist temples are being built all over China especially in Tibet so much so that priests and followers of the religion have given up on meat eating and turned vegetarians. Since Buddhism spread to Tibet through teachers in Nalanda in Bihar, all the major sutras are based in Sanskrit and hence chanted as such including ubiquitous Om Mani Padme Hum. Hindu female deity Saraswati resembles Manjushri, a Bodhisattva representing transcendent wisdom in Mahayana Buddhism. The list goes on and on. Suffice to say that India-Tibet links are civilizational and intertwined through the Nalanda-Lhasa link of the past centuries. After all, it was the Nalanda masters who taught Buddhism to their Tibetan counterparts, a fact acknowledged time and again by the 14th Dalai Lama.

Also read: Why Pakistan's terror blitz in Jammu is directly linked to Lok Sabha elections

Despite 74 years of brutal occupation by the Han Chinese, the Communist Party of China, much to its chagrin, finds Buddhism flourishing in Tibet and the chants of Sanskrit based sutras pervading the Indo-Tibetan plateau. India does not need to rename places in Tibet to emphasize on its historical relationship with the four sects of Tibetan Buddhism, it is reverberated in the mantras daily in the highlands and in the temples. It is time that India recognizes its past linkages and ancient tradition with Tibet. This alone will give jitters to the Xi Jinping regime.
The Opposition and the Bharatiya Janata Party have engaged in a war of words after Delhi lieutenant governor VK Saxena gave his nod to prosecute author Arundhati Roy and Sheikh Showkat Hussain, a former professor in Kashmir, under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for allegedly making provocative speeches at an event in New Delhi in 2010. Arundhati Roy won the Man Booker Prize in 1997 for her debut novel The God of Small Things.(AP)

The FIR against Arundhati Roy and Sheikh Showkat Hussain was registered following the orders of the Court of Metropolitan Magistrate, New Delhi, Raj Niwas officials said on Friday.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) condemned the action against Arundhati Roy and claimed that the move defies logic except the fascist kind.

Also Read | BJP explains sanction for Arundhati Roy's prosecution to counter Chidambaram's 'no tolerance' dig

Condemnable! The Delhi LG has granted permission to prosecute Arundhati Roy under the draconian UAPA for a speech reportedly made 14 years ago  in 2010. Defies logic except the fascist kind. Timing is suspect since courts are on vacation, as are lawyers. Shameful and Condemnable! the CPI(M) said in a post on X (formally Twitter).

Congress leader Hariprasad BK also reacted strongly to the development.

Fascism thrives on crushing dissent, particularly from intellectuals, artists, writers, poets & activists. BJP manufacture crises daily to distract and overwhelm dissenters enabling them to divert attention from their failures. This assault on free expression & democratic values is unacceptable, Hariprasad BK posted on X.

Trinamool Congress MP-elect Mahua Moitra also came out in the actor's support.

If by prosecuting Arundhati Roy under UAPA BJP trying to prove theyre back, well theyre not. And theyll never be back the same way they were. This kind of fascism is exactly what Indians have voted against, Mahua Moitra said.

Meanwhile, the BJP hit out at the Congress for allegedly being empathetic towards separatist and terrorist organisations.

Delhi LG approves prosecution of Arundhati Roy under UAPA. Why is the Congress ecosystem rattled? First they support & take support from SDPI and now they cry for separatists. Does it not believe Kashmir is integral part of Bharat? From Afzal to Yakub - Congress puts Votebank niti above Rashtra niti ? Shehzad Poonawalla wrote on X while sharing a news clip of HT.

FIR against Arundhati Roy

The FIR in the matter was registered on a complaint made by Sushil Pandit, a social activist from Kashmir, on October 28, 2010.

"Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena has sanctioned the prosecution of Arundhati Roy and former Professor of International Law in Central University of Kashmir, Dr. Sheikh Showkat Hussain, under section 45 (1) of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the case," a Raj Niwas official said on Friday.

Last October, the LG had granted sanction to prosecute them under section 196 of CrPC for commission of offences punishable under different sections of the Indian Penal Code: 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief).

What did Arundhati Roy, Sheikh Showkat Hussain say?

Arundhati Roy and Sheikh Showkat Hussain had allegedly made provocative speeches at a conference organised under the banner of 'Azadi - The Only Way' on October 21, 2010, at LTG Auditorium, Copernicus Marg, in New Delhi.

"The issues discussed and spoken about at the conference propagated the separation of Kashmir from India," said an official told news agency PTI.

Those who delivered speeches at the conference included Syed Ali Shah Geelani, SAR Geelani (anchor of the Conference and prime accused in the Parliament attack case), Arundhati Roy, Sheikh Showkat Hussain and Varavara Rao.

The complainant filed a complaint under Section 156(3) of CrPC before the Metropolitan Magistrate Court, New Delhi, who disposed the complaint on November 27, 2010 with the directions to register an FIR.
Beyond the festive glamour, faith, henna-clad hands, shopping, moral values, dapper ethnic wear and spirit of universal brotherhood - Eid-ul-Adha or Bakrid is also known as the Festival of Sacrifice where Muslims worldwide commemorate the profound act of sacrifice by Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) AS and his willingness to offer his son as an act of obedience to Allah (God). Bakrid is the second most important Islamic festival for Muslims and the traditions associated with Eid-ul-Adha hold deep meaning and significance, emphasising the values of faith, selflessness and gratitude. On the occasion of the upcoming Bakri Eid ( 17 June) , people from the Muslim community are seen at the goat market to buy goats, in Thane, Mumbai, India. Eid ul Adha 2024 traditions: Know all about Bakrid rituals, meaning and spiritual significance of sacrifice (Praful Gangurde / HT Photo)

Eid-ul-Adha traditions:

The traditions associated with Eid-ul-Adha emphasise the values of sacrifice, selflessness, gratitude and compassion for others. By participating in the rituals and embodying these values, Muslims not only strengthen their connection with Allah but also foster unity, generosity and empathy within their communities hence, Eid-ul-Adha is a time of celebration, reflection and a renewed commitment to living a life of faith and service to others.

Here are the traditions of Eid-ul-Adha that are universal for all Muslims worldwide -

The central ritual of Eid-ul-Adha involves the sacrifice of an animal, typically a sheep, goat, cow or camel. This act symbolises Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his beloved son and serves as a reminder of the importance of selflessness and obedience in the face of adversity. The meat from the sacrificed animal is divided into three parts: one for the family, one for relatives and friends and one for the less fortunate, ensuring that the act of sacrifice extends beyond the individual or family to benefit the wider community. On the day of Eid-ul-Adha, Muslims gather at mosques or open prayer grounds to perform a special congregational prayer known as the Eid prayer. The prayer is led by an imam and includes specific supplications, praising Allah for His blessings and acknowledging the significance of Prophet Ibrahim's sacrifice. Imams often deliver sermons that highlight the lessons of sacrifice, emphasising the importance of obedience to God and compassion for others. Eid-ul-Adha is a time of joy and celebration, bringing families and communities together where people dress in their finest attire and exchange warm greetings of "Eid Mubarak" (Blessed Eid). Families engage in acts of charity, giving gifts and sharing meals as it is a time for forgiveness, reconciliation and strengthening bonds with loved ones. Many Muslims also visit the graves of their departed loved ones, offering prayers and seeking blessings for the deceased.

Eid-ul-Adha emphasises the spirit of generosity and charity where Muslims are encouraged to extend their support to those in need by providing food, clothing or financial assistance while the act of sharing the sacrificial meat with the less fortunate fosters a sense of compassion and solidarity, reminding individuals of their responsibility to care for the vulnerable members of society.

Meaning and significance of sacrifice:

The origins of Eid-ul-Adha can be traced back to the story of Prophet Ibrahim, who received a divine command to sacrifice his son as a test of his devotion to Allah. As Ibrahim prepared to carry out the sacrifice, Allah intervened and replaced his son with a ram, signifying that his willingness to submit to Allah's command was sufficient.

This act of sacrifice exemplifies unwavering faith, trust and obedience to God. On Eid-ul-Adha, the act of sacrifice holds profound meaning and significance for Muslims. It symbolises and commemorates the ultimate act of devotion and obedience to Allah (God) demonstrated by the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham).

Obedience to Allah: The story of Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his beloved son as commanded by Allah exemplifies the importance of complete submission and obedience to God's will. The act of sacrifice on Eid-ul-Adha serves as a reminder for Muslims to prioritise their faith and trust in Allah above all else.

The story of Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his beloved son as commanded by Allah exemplifies the importance of complete submission and obedience to God's will. The act of sacrifice on Eid-ul-Adha serves as a reminder for Muslims to prioritise their faith and trust in Allah above all else. Lessons of Sacrifice: Eid-ul-Adha serves as a reminder of the profound lessons learned from Prophet Ibrahim's sacrifice. It encourages Muslims to embody the values of sacrifice in their daily lives, sacrificing their own desires, ego and material possessions for the sake of pleasing Allah and benefiting others.

Eid-ul-Adha serves as a reminder of the profound lessons learned from Prophet Ibrahim's sacrifice. It encourages Muslims to embody the values of sacrifice in their daily lives, sacrificing their own desires, ego and material possessions for the sake of pleasing Allah and benefiting others. Trust and Faith: Prophet Ibrahim's unwavering trust in Allah's plan and his willingness to offer his son as a sacrifice, display the depth of his faith. Eid-ul-Adha emphasises the significance of placing absolute trust in Allah's wisdom, even in situations that may seem challenging or incomprehensible.

Prophet Ibrahim's unwavering trust in Allah's plan and his willingness to offer his son as a sacrifice, display the depth of his faith. Eid-ul-Adha emphasises the significance of placing absolute trust in Allah's wisdom, even in situations that may seem challenging or incomprehensible. Gratitude and Remembrance: The act of sacrifice on Eid-ul-Adha is a gesture of gratitude to Allah for His countless blessings and provisions. Muslims express their gratitude by sacrificing an animal and sharing the meat with family, friends and the less fortunate. This practice reminds them to appreciate the provisions they have received and to be mindful of the needs of others.

The act of sacrifice on Eid-ul-Adha is a gesture of gratitude to Allah for His countless blessings and provisions. Muslims express their gratitude by sacrificing an animal and sharing the meat with family, friends and the less fortunate. This practice reminds them to appreciate the provisions they have received and to be mindful of the needs of others. Selflessness and Generosity: The sacrifice on Eid-ul-Adha reflects the values of selflessness and generosity. Muslims are encouraged to share the meat from the sacrificed animal with those in need, fostering a sense of compassion, empathy and solidarity within the community. This act reminds individuals to prioritise the well-being and welfare of others, especially those who are less fortunate.

The sacrifice on Eid-ul-Adha reflects the values of selflessness and generosity. Muslims are encouraged to share the meat from the sacrificed animal with those in need, fostering a sense of compassion, empathy and solidarity within the community. This act reminds individuals to prioritise the well-being and welfare of others, especially those who are less fortunate. Atonement and Spiritual Cleansing: The act of sacrifice is also seen as a means of seeking forgiveness and spiritual purification. By sacrificing an animal, Muslims acknowledge their own shortcomings and sins, seeking Allah's forgiveness and striving for a renewed sense of purity and righteousness.

The act of sacrifice is also seen as a means of seeking forgiveness and spiritual purification. By sacrificing an animal, Muslims acknowledge their own shortcomings and sins, seeking Allah's forgiveness and striving for a renewed sense of purity and righteousness. Unity and Brotherhood: Eid-ul-Adha promotes unity and brotherhood among Muslims. The act of sacrifice is performed collectively and the meat is shared with family, friends and the wider community. This practice strengthens bonds, encourages social cohesion and reminds individuals of their shared responsibilities towards one another.

In summary, the meaning and significance of sacrifice on Eid-ul-Adha encompass obedience to Allah, trust and faith, gratitude, selflessness, generosity, atonement, unity and the embodiment of important moral values. Through the act of sacrifice, Muslims seek to strengthen their relationship with Allah, demonstrate their devotion and foster a spirit of compassion and empathy towards all members of their community.
The Kunsthaus Zurich, one of Switzerland's most prestigious art museums, has announced it will remove five paintings after a review of their provenance under new guidelines for dealing with artworks looted by the Nazis. A sixth painting also came in for additional scrutiny, the foundation responsible for the Emil Buhrle Collection said, though it did not believe the new guidelines applied to the work. Kunsthaus Zurich, one of Switzerland's most esteemed art museums, will remove five paintings after a provenance review connected them to Nazi looting.(Unsplash)

The foundation's namesake was a German-born arms dealer who made his fortune during World War II, and there have long been suspicions about the Nazi-era origins of one of Europe's most prestigious private art collections. "The Kunsthaus Zurich has been informed by the Foundation E.G. Buhrle Collection that the Foundation is seeking solutions with the legal successors of former owners for six works in the collection," the museum said in a Friday statement.

"The Kunsthaus welcomes this approach, but in the interests of visitors very much regrets that five of the paintings will be removed from the Kunsthaus premises" by the foundation on Thursday, it added. The paintings in question are by Gustave Courbet, Claude Monet, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin.

In a statement of its own, the foundation explained it had "subjected its artworks to a further assessment" of their provenance based on new best practices from the US State Department for dealing with Nazi-looted art. For the five works being removed from the museum, "the Foundation will seek just and fair solutions with the descendants or other legal successors of the former owners."

The foundation determined that "based on established facts", a sixth painting by Edouard Manet "does not fall under the scope of the 'Best Practices'", though the case still merited "particular attention". "Due to the overall historical circumstances relating to the sale, the Foundation is prepared to offer a financial contribution to the estate of Max Silberberg in respect to the tragic destiny of the former owner," it said.

The Kunsthaus has previously run into trouble showing the Buhrle collection, with critics last year saying its attempt to put the works in context did not focus enough on the fate of the art's former Jewish owners.
While Eid al-Fitr or Ramadan Eid is the most important festival in Islam that marks the end of the sacred month of Ramadan, where Muslims fast from dawn to dusk, recite the Holy Quran and offers prayers to Allah, Eid ul-Adha (also know as Bakra Eid, Bakrid, Eid al-Adha, Eid Qurban or Qurban Bayarami) is the second major Islamic festival celebrated by Muslims across the world and marks the commemoration of Prophet Ibrahims AS absolute dedication to Allah. Bakrid is celebrated by Muslims all around the world in the month of Dhul Hijjah/Zul Hijjah/Dhu al-Hijjah, which is the twelfth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Eid ul Adha 2024: Date, history, significance and celebration of Bakrid or Bakreid (Photo by Twitter/Vinayak42022574)

The Hajj pilgrimage also takes place at the same time, which is the pilgrimage that every Muslim must make at least once in their lifetime if they are able financially and physically. The sighting of the crescent Dhul Hijjah moon marks the beginning of the Islamic month of Dhu Al-Hijjah when the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, one of Islam's five pillars, is performed and is followed by Eid Al Adha on the tenth day.

Date:

Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated on the tenth day of Dhul Hijjah month and the celebration date varies from country to country, depending on when the crescent moon is sighted to mark the onset of the month.

After confirming the sighting of the crescent Dhul Hijjah moon on June 06, 2024, Saudi Arabia has announced celebration of Eid al Adha in the Kingdom on Sunday July 16, 2024, which is also when UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait and other Arab states will be marking it along with Canada, United Kingdom, the USA and other West nations. In India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, other South Asian countries and South Africa, Eid-ul-Adha will be celebrated a day later i.e. on June 17, 2024 as the crescent moon was sighted on June 07 in these regions.

History:

The history of Eid-ul-Adha dates back to when Abraham or Prophet Ibrahim AS kept having a recurring dream of slaughtering his beloved son, Ismael, to fulfil the wishes of God. Ibrahim spoke to his son regarding this dream, explaining to him how God wanted him to make the sacrifice and Ismael, who was just as much a man of God, agreed with his father and asked him to comply with the wishes of Allah.

Shaitan (the devil) tempted Ibrahim and tried to dissuade him from making the sacrifice but he tried to shun it away by pelting it with stones. Allah saw Ibrahims absolute devotion and sent Jibreel (Angel Gabriel), the Archangel, bearing a sheep for slaughter.

Jibreel told Ibrahim that God was pleased with his devotion to him and sent the sheep to be slaughtered in place of his son. Ever since then, cattle sacrifice is a major part of Eid-ul-Adha celebrations which not only commemorates Prophet Ibrahim and Ismaels love for Allah but also shows that one is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice of what they love dearly, for the sake of Allah.

Significance:

More than the act of sacrifice, Eid al-Adha is the celebration of Ibrahim and Ismaels love for Allah and the sacrifice is only meant as a gesture that shows that one is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for Allah. It is the sacrifice of what one loves the most for God hence, in commemoration of the sheep sent by Allah through Jibreel AS, Muslims across the globe sacrifice a goat or sheep in the spirit of sacrifice.

It is obligatory for the meal prepared from the sacrifice to be distributed in three equal parts where one portion feeds the family, the second feeds the relatives and the third goes to the poor and needy. It is believed that even though neither the meat nor the blood reaches Allah, the devotion of His people reaches him.

Celebrations:

On the tenth day of this month, Muslims around the world offer Eid al-Adha namaz at a mosque, after the sun has completely risen and just before it enters the Zuhr time (midday prayer time). The prayer is followed by a sermon or khutbah, by the Imam.

The Muslim community across the world celebrates the Bakrid festival by sacrificing a goat/sheep/buffalo/camel, honouring Prophet Ibrahims willingness to sacrifice. They start the festival by offering morning prayers in mosque and follow their prescribed ritual of sacrificing which is later distributed in three proportions: poor people, relatives and themselves. They visit family and friends to offer wishes, share gifts and rejoice together.

Celebrating Eid-al Adha by sacrificing a cattle is very akin to the practice of self-sacrifice which is an act of offering gratitude to Allah. It is believed that during a lifetime, we give up a number of things that are important to us for a bigger purpose and in a similar way the sacrificing the animals is a symbol of willingness to sacrifice to stay true on our path and not be lured by earthly love and affection.

The celebrations of Eid-ul-Adha include women applying mehndi in various designs to add beauty to the entire essence of Eid celebrations as it is said to have been a part of our culture and traditional practices for centuries, eating delicious food, giving charity to the poor and sharing the joy with family, relatives, neighbours and friends where Bakrid feast dishes include mutton biryani, mutton korma, mutton keema, bhuna kaleji among others and the desserts include sheer khurma and kheer.
The Eid-ul-Adha festive period is typically filled with happiness, laughter and an array of tempting meat delicacies yet, overindulging in rich foods and extravagant celebrations can often leave us feeling sluggish and overwhelmed. To initiate a healthier lifestyle after the festivities, it is beneficial to embrace some fitness strategies for effectively detoxifying and revitalising both your body and mind. Eid ul Adha 2024 post-festivity detox: Cleansing your body and mind after Bakrid (Photo by Fitwirr)

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Subrata Das, HOD - Internal Medicine and Diabetology at Sakra World Hospital in Bengaluru, suggested -

1. Start your day with a revitalizing drink that not only energises but also detoxifies your body. Opt for chia seed water, warm water with flaxseed, or honey-infused water, each packed with nutrients to kickstart your morning routine.

2. After celebrating, take a break from caffeine by swapping your morning coffee for herbal teas or warm lemon water to aid detoxification and refresh your body.

3. Incorporate a vibrant variety of raw vegetables into every meal to enhance your fiber intake and support digestive health with their rich enzymes and nutrients.

4. After the festive feast, prioritise simple, homemade meals. This way, you can manage ingredients and portion sizes while steering clear of excessive salt, sugar and unhealthy fats often present in restaurant dishes or processed foods.

5. Exercise, whether it is walking, Yoga, or intense workouts, helps eliminate toxins through sweat and improves overall well-being.

6. Choose mocktails or herbal teas at social events.

7. Maintaining hydration is essential for eliminating toxins. Stay hydrated by drinking ample water daily and incorporate detoxifying beverages such as herbal teas, infused water or coconut water into your routine.

All of these practices compliment a healthy sleep routine effectively. Also, patients with diabetes are advised to review their medications and adjust them as necessary.
Kate Middleton has been out of the public eye since last year, which she later revealed earlier this year was due to being diagnosed with cancer. After months, the Princess of Wales is set to make her first public appearance at the Trooping the Colour 2024 parade. It is an annual event that marks the official birthday of the British Sovereign. This event has been taking place for over 260 years. Kate Middleton is set to appear at Trooping the Colour 2024 with her family. (File Photo)

According to the BBC, Kate Middleton will accompany her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, in a carriage during the Royal Family parades along the Mall. Subsequently, she is also set to appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

When is King Charles' birthday?

The official birthday of King Charles is on November 14. However, according to the BBC, the Sovereign's birthday is celebrated on some other day, mainly during summer.

What happens during Trooping the Colour?

Each June, over 1400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians gather to showcase a great display of military precision, horsemanship and fanfare to mark, states the royal family's official website.

Where and when is Trooping the Colour taking place?

The King's Birthday Parade will take place on Saturday, June 15, at Horse Guards Parade, a parade ground off Whitehall in central London.

Where to watch the Trooping the Colour parade?

Tickets were sold prior to the event for those who would attend in person. The entire event will be broadcast live on the BBC.

Earlier this year, King Charles was diagnosed with cancer. He will not be on horseback during the procession and inspection of the troops on the Horse Guards Parade and will instead be in a carriage.
Kate Middleton, in an emotional statement, shared the first health update since her cancer diagnosis announcement earlier this year. In the statement shared on X from the official handle of The Prince and Princess of Wales, she wrote that she is making good progress. She added, My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months. Her announcement prompted responses from many, including UK PM Rishi Sunak. In an X post, he said the royals message is especially meaningful to those who are fighting cancer and for their families. Kate Middleton shared her cancer diagnosis update on X, and Rishi Sunak reacted to it on the same platform. (Instagram/@KensingtonRoyal, Reuters)

The Princess of Wales, in her statement, shared that while she's on the path to recovery, she's not completely out of the woods yet. She bravely acknowledged the existence of good days and bad days in her health journey.

"On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well," she posted.

She also spoke about "looking forward to attending The Kings Birthday Parade" with her family.

"Thank you so much for your continued understanding and to all of you who have so bravely shared your stories with me," she wrote as the concluding line of her statement.

Rishi Sunak reposted the X post and added, "The Princess of Wales statement will be especially meaningful to those who are fighting cancer and for their families."

"They will recognise the same struggle in her words and draw hope and inspiration from her strength," he continued.

He also posted, "I know the whole country is behind her".

Take a look at Rishi Sunak's reaction to Kate Middleton's post:

Kate Middleton is set to make her first public appearance since December last year. She will also attend this years Trooping the Colour - a ceremonial event that is observed to celebrate the official birthday of the British sovereign. The event will take place in central London.

How did social media react?

Kate Middleton's return to public life is a hot topic on social media, especially X. Lots of people are posting well wishes and calling her strong. But some are saying they'll only believe it when they see her on the palace balcony.

Sending loads of love and wishes for a full and speedy recovery, wrote an Individual,

Kate Middleton is unstoppable! praised another.

I will only believe she is coming back when I see her on the balcony, added a third. A sentiment that is echoed by a few other individuals.

A fourth quipped, This is the best news ever! Thank you, Princess. We have missed you so much! What an awesome picture, thank you.

A fifth person joined, Sending so much love and well wishes to you, that you may get stronger each day.

In March this year, Kate Middleton, in a statement, revealed that she has been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy. Her cancer was detected during a planned abdominal surgery, which took place in January.
An Indian national was sentenced to two years and six months' jail term here for a charge of unauthorised access to computer material during which he deleted 180 virtual servers, costing his employer about SGD 918,000 (USD678,000). The Indian man said he felt "confused and upset" after getting fired from the Singapore company whose servers he later hacked and deleted. (Unsplash/Alex Chumak)

The sentence was pronounced on Monday.

Another charge was taken into consideration for sentencing Kandula Nagaraju, 39, who was "upset" that he was fired by NCS in October 2022 due to poor work performance and his employment ended on November 16, 2022.

Between November 2021 and October 2022, Kandula was part of a 20-member team managing the quality assurance (QA) computer system at NCS, a company that offers information communication and technology services.

The system that Kandulas former team was managing was used to test new software and programs before launch. It consisted of about 180 virtual servers, and no sensitive information was stored on them.

According to court documents, Kandula felt "confused and upset" when he was fired as he felt he had performed well and "made good contributions" to NCS during his employment, reported Channel News Asia.

After being sacked by NCS, he did not have another job in Singapore and returned to India from where he used his laptop to gain unauthorised access to the system using the administrator login credentials. He did so on six occasions between January 6 and January 17 last year.

In February that year, Kandula returned to Singapore after finding a new job. He rented a room with a former NCS colleague and used his Wi-Fi network to access NCS' system once on February 23, 2023.

During the unauthorised access in those two months, the man wrote some computer scripts to test if they could be used on the system to delete the servers.

In March 2023, he accessed NCS' QA system 13 times. On March 18 and 19, he ran a programmed script to delete 180 virtual servers in the system. His script was written such that it would delete the servers one at a time.

The following day, the NCS team realised the system was inaccessible and tried to troubleshoot, but to no avail. They discovered that the servers had been deleted.

On Apr 11, 2023, a police report was made and several IP addresses uncovered by internal investigations were handed over to the police.

Kandula's laptop was seized by the police and the script used to carry out the deletions was found on it.

Investigations revealed that he had searched on Google for scripts to delete virtual servers, which he then used to code the script.

All the while, Kandula was aware after his employment with NCS ended that he was not authorised to access the system. As a result of his actions, NCS suffered a loss of SGD917,832, said the report on Tuesday.
Eight Israeli soldiers were killed in a blast in southern Gaza Saturday, the military said, in one of its heaviest losses of the war, as witnesses reported street battles between troops and Palestinian militants. Israel's military said Saturday, June 15, that eight soldiers were killed in southern Gaza in the deadliest attack on Israeli forces in months. (AP)

The military said the soldiers were killed when the Namer armoured vehicle they were travelling in exploded near Gaza's far-southern city of Rafah, where troops are engaged in fierce street battles.

"There was a very serious damage to the vehicle and those in it, and a large explosion making it difficult to identify and locate the bodies," it said.

Military spokesman Daniel Hagari told a televised briefing that the blast was "apparently from an explosive device planted in the area or from the firing of an anti-tank missile".

Saturday's losses were among the heaviest for the military since it began its ground offensive in Gaza on October 27 and took its overall toll since then to 306 deaths.

In the single largest loss of life for the army, 21 soldiers were killed on January 22 when rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) fire hit a tank near two buildings they were preparing to blow up.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid tribute to the soldiers who had lost their lives. "Our hearts are shattered before this terrible loss," he said in a statement.

"Despite the heavy and unsettling price, we must cling to the goals of the war."

At the weekly protest in Tel Aviv against his government's handling of the war, protester Graciela Barchilon, 68, said she felt "a lot of anger and disappointment".

"I believe this government is not working and we have to go to elections now," she said.

In Rafah, witnesses reported clashes between militants and Israeli troops in the city's west, and artillery fire towards a refugee camp in the city centre. AFPTV images showed streets largely deserted.

The United Nations says about one million people have fled Rafah since early May, when Israel began ground operations in the city in pursuit of Hamas militants.

In Gaza City, in the north of the territory, the civil defence agency reported recovering 10 bodies from three separate homes hit by Israeli strikes.

- Lebanon border flare-up -

The Gaza war began after Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

The militants also seized 251 hostages. Of these, 116 remain in Gaza, although the army says 41 are dead.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 37,296 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory.

Fears of the war spilling over into a broader Middle East conflict have been rekindled in recent days by an escalation of tit-for-tat violence between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, a Hamas ally.

Hezbollah said intense strikes since Wednesday were retaliation for Israel's killing of one of its commanders.

Israeli forces responded with shelling, the military said, also announcing air strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure across the border.

The two top UN officials in Lebanon called on all sides to cease fire. "The danger of miscalculation leading to a sudden and wider conflict is very real," they said in a joint statement.

- Ceasefire plan -

During a Middle East trip this week to push a Gaza truce plan, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said "the best way" to help resolve the Hezbollah-Israel violence was "a resolution of the conflict in Gaza and getting a ceasefire".

That has not happened.

Hamas has insisted on the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire -- demands Israel has repeatedly rejected.

Blinken has said Israel backs the latest plan, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose far-right coalition partners are strongly opposed to a ceasefire, has not publicly endorsed it.

The Gaza war's only truce, one week in November, saw more than 100 hostages released, the Israelis among them in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

World Food Programme deputy executive director Carl Skau said that "with lawlessness inside the Strip... and active conflict", it has become "close to impossible to deliver the level of aid that meets the growing demands on the ground".

"More than anything, people want this war to end," he said after a two-day visit to Gaza.

The US military said a pier it built to help bring aid into Gaza would be temporarily moved to an Israeli port to protect it from expected high seas.

The platform had only been reattached to Gaza's shore a week before, after storm damage.

Leaders of the G7 group of advanced economies called at a summit in Italy Friday for the "rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need".

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New Chinese coast guard rules took effect on Saturday, under which it can detain foreigners for trespassing in the disputed South China Sea, where neighbours and the G7 have accused Beijing of intimidation and coercion. Chinese structures and buildings on the man-made Fiery Cross Reef at the Spratlys group of islands in the South China Sea .(AP)

Beijing claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea, brushing aside competing claims from several Southeast Asian nations including the Philippines and an international ruling that its stance has no legal basis.

Also read | Kate Middleton's first public appearence after cancer diagnosis LIVE updates

China deploys coast guard and other boats to patrol the waters and has turned several reefs into militarised artificial islands. Chinese and Philippine vessels have had a series of confrontations in disputed areas.

From Saturday, China's coast guard can detain foreigners "suspected of violating management of border entry and exit", according to the new regulations published online.

Detention is allowed up to 60 days in "complicated cases", they say.

"Foreign ships that have illegally entered China's territorial waters and the adjacent waters may be detained."

Manila has accused the Chinese coast guard of "barbaric and inhumane behaviour" against Philippine vessels, and President Ferdinand Marcos said last month called the new rules a "very worrisome" escalation.

China Coast Guard vessels have used water cannon against Philippine boats multiple times in the contested waters.

There have also been collisions that injured Filipino troops.

Philippine military chief General Romeo Brawner told reporters on Friday that authorities in Manila were "discussing a number of steps to be undertaken in order for us to protect our fishermen".

Philippine fishermen were told "not to be afraid, but just to go ahead with their normal activities to fish there in our Exclusive Economic Zone", Brawner said.

The Group of Seven bloc on Friday criticised what it called "dangerous" incursions by China in the waterway.

"We oppose China's militarisation, and coercive and intimidation activities in the South China Sea," read a G7 statement at the end of a summit on Friday.

G7 criticism

The South China Sea is a vital waterway, where Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei also have overlapping claims in some parts.

Most recently, however, confrontations between China and the Philippines have raised fears of a wider conflict over the sea that could involve the United States and other allies.

Also read | G7 Summit 2024 Italy highlights

Trillions of dollars in ship-borne trade passes through the South China Sea annually, and huge unexploited oil and gas deposits are believed to lie under its seabed, though estimates vary greatly.

The sea is also important as a source of fish for growing populations.

China has defended its new coast guard rules. A foreign ministry spokesman said last month that they were intended to "better uphold order at sea".

And the Chinese defence minister warned this month that there were "limits" to Beijing's restraint in the South China Sea.

China has also been angered in the past by US and other Western warships sailing through the South China Sea.

The US Navy and others undertake such voyages to assert the freedom of navigation in international waters, but Beijing considers them violations of its sovereignty.

Chinese and US forces have had a series of close encounters in the South China Sea.
The international communitys recent failure to conclude a global pandemic agreement leaves large gaps in our capacity to deal with the next major infectious disease emergency. An illustration of the novel coronavirus at a Covid-19 testing centre in New Delhi. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

The risk of another pandemic like COVID - the worst in a century - is increasing.

The World Health Organization (WHO) took an important step by adopting useful revisions to the existing legally binding International Health Regulations.

But while this advance is something to celebrate, it is not enough. Even if governments approve the revised regulations, our best chance of preventing history repeating itself lies in a pandemic agreement.

Also read | G7 Summit 2024 Italy LIVE updates

Global responses to health hazards that cross borders date back to an international sanitary conference in 1851 which focused on measures to limit the spread of cholera. Since then, several initiatives have aimed to improve global health security, including the formation of the WHO itself in 1946.

The International Health Regulations of 2005 were a major step in this evolution. They ushered in the modern era of risk assessment and created a global surveillance system for public health emergencies of international concern.

Nonetheless, it was soon evident the new tools were limited in dealing with the increasingly complex and fast-moving threat of zoonotic diseases (when an animal pathogen spills over to infect people).

Key changes to the International Health Regulations

Earlier this month, the 194 members of the WHO World Health Assembly passed by consensus several important amendments to the International Health Regulations, including:

-adding a definition of a pandemic emergency to emphasise the importance of such events within the broader category of public health emergencies of international concern

-increasing the focus on prevention with specific mention of preparedness

-strengthening equitable access to medical products and finance, with specific mention of equity and solidarity, and a dedicated coordinating financial mechanism

Also read | Kate Middleton first public appearance post cancer diagnosis LIVE updates

-requiring each state to establish a national authority to improve the implementation of the international health regulations within and among countries

-requiring countries to build a core capacity for risk communication including addressing misinformation and disinformation

-and modifying the decision instrument to enhance the detection of emerging respiratory infections with high pandemic potential.

The proposals that didnt make it

Not all proposed amendment were achieved. Some commentators had advocated to incorporate the experience of countries in the Asia-Pacific region that used an elimination strategy to delay the spread of COVID, giving time to roll out vaccines and other interventions.

Such measures protected both high-income islands (Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan) as well as low and middle-income countries in continental Asia (Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia).

These nations generally achieved lower excess mortality than countries where the pandemic was less controlled. Similarly, the concept of elimination at source (sometimes called containment) wasnt included in this revision.

A range of other potential improvements also failed to make it into the final text. These included an emphasis on preventing zoonotic spillovers from animals, enhanced sharing of scientific data and specimens, and strengthened accountability.

All WHO member states now have 18 months to consider the proposed revisions. They may enter reservations to parts they disagree with, even though this may weaken the coherence of the proposed amendments.

Why we need greater global cooperation

A pandemic agreement could address the many needed reforms that go beyond the International Health Regulations.

But the negotiations to reach global agreement are proving contentious. There have been deep divisions between rich and poorer countries over the sharing and affordable pricing of vaccines, treatments and diagnostics for developing states. The sharing of pathogen data has also proven problematic.

The negotiations have been further undermined by completely unfounded assertions that the WHO will be given power to impose restrictive measures such as lockdowns and vaccine mandates. It is not clear whether New Zealands changed negotiating position to focus more on national sovereignty influenced these discussions.

Due to these challenges, the international community has not yet agreed on a text for a pandemic agreement. The WHO has announced the next steps for further negotiations, which are already years past their start date.

From the threats of war to environmental devastation and pandemics, no country can unilaterally protect its citizens from the gravest shared threats to humanity. But while the need for global solidarity and cooperation is greater than ever, support for many of the key areas of international law is failing.

We owe it to the memory of the more than 27 million people estimated to have died so far from COVID, and the rising threats to future generations, to do the best we can to achieve a safer and more secure world.
The G7 nations have pledged support to specific infrastructure projects like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) in their summit statement or the G7 Communique, released at the conclusion of the three-day G7 Summit, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.(ANI )

The Communique was released on Friday evening following the traditional group photo at the luxurious Borgo Egnazia resort.

At the G7 Summit, leaders reaffirmed their dedication to a "free and open Indo-Pacific" governed by international law. Prime Minister Modi participated in the summit at the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who hosted the event.

We will further promote concrete G7 PGII (Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment) initiatives, flagship projects, and complementary initiatives to develop transformative economic corridors for quality infrastructure and investment, such as the deepening of our coordination and financing for the Lobito Corridor, the Luzon Corridor, the Middle Corridor, and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, also building on the EU Global Gateway, the Great Green Wall Initiative, and the Mattei Plan for Africa launched by Italy, the communique read.

Read Here: PM Narendra Modi returns from Italy after attending G7 Summit

Described as a groundbreaking project, the IMEC plans to establish a comprehensive network of roads, railways, and shipping routes linking Saudi Arabia, India, the United States and Europe. This initiative aims to foster integration between Asia, the Middle East, and the Western countries.

The IMEC is also viewed as an effort by allied nations to enhance their strategic influence, particularly in response to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The BRI, which is a major infrastructure project, connects Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Russia, and Europe with China. The IMEC framework was finalised during discussions held alongside the G20 Summit hosted by India in Delhi last year.

Pope Francis made history by attending the G7 summit hosted by Italy, alongside leaders like US President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, were present at the summit.

Modi addressed the Outreach session on Friday on Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Africa and the Mediterranean.

The communique stated, In a spirit of shared responsibility, we warmly welcome the participation of the Leaders of Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, India, Jordan, Kenya, Mauritania, Tunisia, Turkiye, and the United Arab Emirates. We will step up our efforts to enhance interoperability amongst our AI governance approaches to promote greater certainty, transparency and accountability while recognizing that approaches and policy instruments may vary across G7 members. We will take a risk-based approach in these efforts as we seek to foster innovation and strong, inclusive, and sustainable growth.

Another key focus of the summit's agenda was expressing strong and consistent backing for Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia.

The statement added, With a view to supporting Ukraines current and future needs in the face of a prolonged defence against Russia, the G7 will launch Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) Loans for Ukraine, in order to make available approximately USD 50 billion in additional funding to Ukraine by the end of the year. Therefore, without prejudice to possible other contributions and standing together, the G7 intends to provide financing that will be serviced and repaid by future flows of extraordinary revenues stemming from the immobilisation of Russian sovereign assets held in the European Union and other relevant jurisdictions. To enable this, we will work to obtain approval in these jurisdictions to use future flows of these extraordinary revenues to service and repay the loans.
G7 Summit 2024 Highlights: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday left for India after attending the G7 summit in Italy. PM Modi described his stint at the G7 summit as very productive after he held bilateral talks with multiple world leaders on the sidelines of the global meeting. The prime minister had departed for Italy on June 13 to attend the summit on the invitation of his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni....Read More

After concluding his visit to Italy, PM Modi wrote in an X post, Had a very productive day at the G7 Summit in Apulia. Interacted with world leaders and discussed various subjects. Together, we aim to create impactful solutions that benefit the global community and create a better world for future generations. The summit had participation from the seven member countries, the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and France, as well as the European Union.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, while sharing photos of PM Modi departing from Italy, wrote on X, A successful visit to Italy concludes as PM @narendramodi emplanes for New Delhi. The visit saw fruitful dialogues on key global issues under the G7 platform and deepening of India's partnership with countries participating in the Summit.

PM Modi's visit to Italy

PM Narendra Modi departed for Italy to attend the G7 Summit on June 13. He was received by Italian PM Giorgia Meloni on June 14. It was India's 11th and PM Modi's fifth consecutive participation at the G7 Summit.

On the sidelines of the summit, Modi met US President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Macron, British Prime Minister Sunak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Pope Francis and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida among others.

The meeting with Macron was Modis first official bilateral meeting with an international leader since taking charge for his third term as Prime Minister earlier this month. The prime minister held a meeting with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida, discussing the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project with a targeted 5 trillion yen worth of investment in India.

All about the G7 Summit 2024

The G7 summit 2024 is being held in Italy, from June 13 to June 15. The summit is being held in the Apulia region in Italy, where India has been invited as an 'Outreach Country' to the summit and has participation from the seven member countries, the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and France, as well as the European Union.

The key focus in this year's G7 summit was on defence, artificial intelligence, global economy as well as the Russia-Ukraine was and the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the G7 Summit in Italy on Friday, where he met with several world leaders and held discussions over a host of issues, including climate change and artificial intelligence. Here are the key takeaways from the event. The G7 Summit was held at the luxury resort of Borgo Egnazia in Italy's Apulia region. (Narendra Modi/X)

What PM Modi said at the G7 Summit?

PM Modi met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday at the G7 Outreach summit. They greeted each other with a namaste.

Upon the conclusion of his visit, Modi said in a post on X, Had a very productive day at the G7 Summit in Apulia. Interacted with world leaders and discussed various subjects. Together, we aim to create impactful solutions that benefit the global community and create a better world for future generations. I thank the people and government of Italy for their warm hospitality.

"I warmly recall my visit to Italy for the G20 Summit in 2021. Prime Minister Meloni's two visits to India last year were instrumental in infusing momentum and depth into our bilateral agenda. We remain committed to consolidating the India-Italy strategic partnership and bolster cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and the Mediterranean regions," his statement said.

In her opening address, Meloni said that southern Italy was chosen as a venue to deliver a strong message to the global South. "It is no coincidence that we are hosting the summit in Apulia. We did this because Apulia is a region of southern Italy and the message we want to launch is that the G7, under the Italian presidency, wishes to strengthen its dialogue with the nations of the Global South."

During the day, Modi, on his first overseas trip in his third term, met US President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Macron, British Prime Minister Sunak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Pope Francis and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Germany's Olaf Scholz, Jordan's Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

G7 Outreach session

India is one of 12 countries and five international organisations invited by Italy to the G7 Summit's outreach session. With a focus on AI and energy, Modi emphasised India's four key principles for energy  availability, accessibility, affordability, and acceptability.

During the session on Friday, Modi said that the global community should work to make advanced technology widely available. This will help create an inclusive society and reduce social inequalities.

Modi also said that India will collaborate with all countries to ensure Artificial Intelligence is transparent, fair, secure, accessible, and responsible.

"India has considered it its responsibility to place the priorities and concerns of the countries of the Global South on the world stage. We have given high priority to Africa in these efforts. We are proud that the G-20, under India's chairmanship, made the African Union a permanent member. India has been contributing to the economic and social development, stability and security of all African countries, and will continue to do so," the PM said.

PM Modi on AI, climate change

Modi said that India will collaborate with all countries to make Artificial intelligence (AI) transparent, fair, secure, accessible, and responsible. As a founding member and lead chair of the Global Partnership for AI, India is promoting global cooperation in AI. He highlighted India's human-centric approach, noting it was one of the first countries to create a national AI strategy, leading to the launch of the "AI Mission" with the mantra "AI for All."

"Talking of India's AI Mission premised on "AI for All", the Prime Minister emphasised that this technology should be aimed at fostering progress and well-being of all. He underlined that with this broader objective in mind, India was fostering international collaboration as a founding member of the Global Partnership for AI," he said.

"In the future too, we will continue to work together with all countries to make AI transparent, fair, secure, accessible and responsible," he added.

Further, Modi said that India is the first country to meet all its COP commitments ahead of time and is working hard to reach "Net Zero" by 2070. India has also started "Mission LiFE" (Lifestyle For Environment) and launched the "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" (One tree in the name of the mother) initiative on June 5, Environment Day.

"We are making every possible effort to fulfil our commitment to achieve the target of Net Zero by 2070. Together we should make efforts to make the coming time a green era," he added.

Pope's visit

Pope Francis made a historic appearance at the Group of Seven summit on Friday to talk about the benefits and drawbacks of artificial intelligence. He was warmly welcomed by leaders like US President Joe Biden and Argentina's President Javier Milei. The Pope noted that while AI can be exciting and expand access to knowledge, it also comes with mixed feelings.

"Yet at the same time, it could bring with it a greater injustice between advanced and developing nations or between dominant and oppressed social classes," he said.

G7 on China

G7 leaders promised to address what they called harmful business practices by China.

The G7 members  the United States, Italy, Britain, France, Germany, Japan, and Canada  focused on China's economic influence and what they see as unfair markets in areas like electric vehicles, steel, and renewable energy.

Their summit statement, released on Friday evening, emphasized that the G7 was not trying to harm China or stop its economic growth but would "continue to take actions to protect our businesses from unfair practices, to level the playing field and remedy ongoing harm."

The G7 also warned of taking action against Chinese financial institutions that helped Russia get weapons for its war against Ukraine.

Crackdown on Migration

Leaders also talked about immigration  an important issue for Meloni who wants Europe to help reduce illegal migration from Africa. She has started a major plan to boost development in Africa to address the reasons people leave. The G7 leaders agreed to form a coalition to fight people smuggling, with more cooperation in investigating trafficking networks and seizing their assets.

UK PM Rishi Sunak noted that it was the first time a G7 summit had discussed migration, calling it a sign of progress.

"Illegal migration is now a global emergency. We all agree that it's for sovereign nations to control their borders and not criminal gangs. Obviously, these things don't happen overnight. (But) the conversation ... was very productive, so I'm confident it will make a difference," Sunak said.

G7 on Ukraine-Russia

During their first day of meetings in southern Italy, the G7 countries reached a preliminary agreement to offer Ukraine $50 billion in loans supported by interest earned from frozen Russian assets. They praised the deal as a strong indication of Western determination.

In their summit statement, G7 leaders expressed their intention to impose additional penalties on Russia for invading Ukraine. They also pledged sanctions against organizations that helped Russia evade restrictions on its oil trade through fraudulent means.

Abortion left out of the G7 statement

The G7 summit statement on Friday did not include the word "abortion," indicating a disagreement among leaders. Italy's far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who hosted the summit, and her allies were at odds on this issue.

Last year, G7 leaders pledged to address "access to safe and legal abortion" at their summit in Japan. However, this commitment was omitted from this year's final statement in Puglia, reportedly due to Prime Minister Meloni's stance.

The United States and France opposed Meloni's attempts to weaken the language on women's rights, given her opposition to abortion.

"We reiterate our commitments in the Hiroshima leaders' communique to universal access to adequate, affordable, and quality health services for women, including comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights for all," the statement read.
Kate Middleton is soon to make her royal duty comeback after months of public concern regarding her health. The Princess addressed her return in an official letter released by Kensington Palace ahead of Trooping the Colour, a royal tradition ongoing for almost 260 years. Joining her will be Prince William and their three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. This appearance comes alongside a heartwarming message from Prince William, celebrating his wife's brave return to royal duties amid battling cancer. Kate Middleton and Prince William with their three children; George, Louis and Charlotte. (Instagram)

Kate Middleton intends to attend Trooping the Colour

The Princess of Wales, in her recent statement, detailed her plans to attend the parade marking the King's birthday with her family this weekend. Her emotional yet powerful statement was hailed by British authorities and media, who rallied behind her, praying for her recovery as she continues with her preventive chemotherapy while battling cancer.

Also read: Prince William's adorable reaction to Kate Middleton's return for Trooping the Colour

My treatment is ongoing and will continue for a few more months. On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on things that give me energy and positivity, and start to do a little work from home," Princess said, extending her gratitude to all who wished her a speedy recovery, mentioning that it "made the world of difference to William and her" during tough times.

Catherine will reportedly attend the major royal event alongside her three kids, riding in a carriage in a historic royal comeback, as confirmed by the palace.

Im looking forward to attending The Kings Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet, she remarked.

Prince William vows to stand by Kate as she announces her return

William, on the other hand, continues to be the devoted husband he vowed to be, dedicated to fatherhood and supporting Kate as she fulfils her royal duties. As per the Royal spokesman, "The Prince is pleased to see The Princess starting to engage with the work and projects that are important to her.

Also read: Prince Harry and Meghan had secret 2.5m home in UK,' but were forced to flee because

"He will continue to focus his time on supporting his wife and children while continuing to undertake his public duties, the statement continued.
June 15, 2024 12:16 PM IST

I have been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months. It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times.

I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.

My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months. On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home.

Im looking forward to attending The Kings Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet.

I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal.

Thank you so much for your continued understanding, and to all of you who have so bravely shared your stories with me.

C
King Charles III has expressed he is delighted that Kate Middleton will be attending the Trooping the Colour ceremony with the royal family amidst the cancer battle. Kate Middleton in a very different position to King Charles as she battles cancer (Chris Jackson/Pool Photo via AP, File)

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said, His Majesty is delighted that The Princess is able to attend tomorrows events, and is much looking forward to all elements of the day.

Kate had a discussion with the monarch about her plans to participate in the annual birthday parade for Charles on Saturday, June 15.

I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On those bad days, you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well, Kate shared for the first time she has spoken publicly since announcing her cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy treatment on March 22.

ALSO READ| Prince William's adorable reaction to Kate Middleton's return for Trooping the Colour

Kate's cancer treatment will be for a few more months

The Prince of Wales said her treatment was ongoing and will be for a few more months.

On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home, she noted.

Im looking forward to attending the Kings Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet.

Accompanying her message was a photo taken by Matt Porteous on the grounds of the Windsor estate.

ALSO READ| Kate Middleton's much-awaited Wimbledon attendance update released amid cancer battle

The Trooping the Colour on June 15 will see members of the royal family gathering as the Household Division of the British Army celebrates King Charles' official birthday with a grand procession through London. It has been confirmed that King Charles, 75, will participate differently due to his own cancer treatment, conducting his review from a horse-drawn carriage alongside Queen Camilla. Last year, he appeared on horseback during his Trooping the Colour as monarch.
Narendra Modi at G7 Summit: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday posted a video on X standing with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and saying, Hello from the Melodi team. PM Modi can be heard laughing loudly in the video. PM Modi was attending the 2024 G7 Summit at the invitation of Italy's Meloni.

Posting the video, Meloni wrote, Hi friends, from #Melodi.

Earlier on Saturday, a picture of the two clicking a selfie at the G7 Summit held in Italy's Apulia went viral. It showed the two leaders smiling at the camera as Meloni takes a picture.

Modi, who was on his first international visit after taking oath for the third time, reached Italy on Friday for a day-long visit. He was representing India as an outreach nation on the sidelines of the summit.

Upon reaching the summit venue, Modi was received by Meloni with a namaste.

PM Modi was attending the 2024 G7 Summit at the invitation of Italy's Meloni. He wrote in a post on X, Thanked her for inviting India to be a part of the G7 Summit and for the wonderful arrangements.

During the G7 Summit in Italy, Modi met with Meloni to discuss defence and security cooperation. He also expressed gratitude to the Italian government for acknowledging the Indian Army's role in the Italian Campaign during World War II. PM Modi announced plans to upgrade the Yashwant Ghadge Memorial in Montone, Italy.

PM Modi and his Italian counterpart noted with satisfaction the regular higher political dialogue and reviewed the progress of the India-Italy Strategic Partnership."While expressing happiness at growing trade and economic collaboration, they called for expanding commercial ties in clean energy, manufacturing, Space, S&T, telecom, AI and critical minerals to build resilient supply chains. In this context, they welcomed the recent signing of a MoU on Industrial Property Rights (IPR) which provides a framework for cooperation on patents, designs and trademarks, an MEA statement said.

During their meeting, the two leaders celebrated the signing of a Letter of Intent for Cooperation in Energy Transition, aimed at enhancing collaboration in clean and green energy. This initiative is part of the 'Global Biofuels Alliance'. Meloni also congratulated PM Modi on his third consecutive term as Prime Minister. They expressed happiness at the new Executive Programme of Cooperation for 2025-27 to promote joint research and development in Science and Technology, said the MEA.

Modi said in the post, We discussed ways to further cement India-Italy relations in areas like commerce, energy, defence, telecom and more. Our nations will work together in futuristic areas like biofuels, food processing and critical minerals.

India participated in the G7 summit as an 'Outreach Country'. The summit included members from the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and France, along with the European Union. This marked India's 11th and PM Modi's fifth consecutive appearance at the G7 Summit.

Modi and Meloni friendship

The friendship between the two leaders, who met at the G20 Summit in Delhi last year and then at COP28 in Dubai, has inspired many online memes.

In December, they took a selfie together at COP28 in Dubai. Meloni shared the picture on X, captioning it, Good friends at COP28, #Melodi.

Photographs of the two leaders together have been widely shared online, with the hashtag "Melodi" becoming a trending topic.
Toronto: Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a brief interaction with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau on the margins of the G27 leaders summit in Apulia, Italy, on Friday, marking the first meeting between the two leaders since the latters statement in the House of Commons on September 18 last year that there were credible allegations of a potential link between Indian agents and the killing of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia three months earlier. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of the G7 summit, in Apulia, Italy. (PTI)

The meeting was not on the official schedule of either PM.

A photo of the two leaders together, neither smiling, was posted by Modi on X. The Prime Minister congratulated Prime Minister Modi on his re-election and the leaders had a brief discussion on the bilateral relationship, a spokesperson for the Canadian PMO said in a statement cited by the outlet Globe and Mail. Of course there are important issues between our two countries right now. You can appreciate that we wont be making any further statements at this time, the statement added.

Later, during a press conference after the G7 engagements, Trudeau said, Im not going to get into the details of this important, sensitive issue that we need to follow up, but this was a commitment to work together, in the coming times, to deal with some very important issues, according to the outlet CBC News.

He did not, however, reveal whether the Nijjar matter or the issue of alleged foreign interference by India in Canada, were raised.

We need to continue to engage with various partners around the world, with various partners, even as we highlight challenges as we stand up for the rule of law, he added.

Trudeaus office had issued a statement on June 5 following the re-election of Modi to a third term. That statement had stated, As bilateral and Indo-Pacific partners, Canada stands ready to work together to advance the relationship between our peoples  anchored to human rights, diversity, and the rule of law. Four days later, Modi had responded on X, India looks forward to working with Canada based on mutual understanding and respect for each others concerns.

The last time they had met in person was at the G20 leaders summit in New Delhi in September last year. It later emerged that Trudeau had raised the issue of Nijjars murder during that exchange. At the time, his PMO had said that Trudeau raised the importance of respecting the rule of law, democratic principles, and national sovereignty.

A statement from the External Affairs Ministry at the time stated that mutual respect and trust were essential for the progress of the relationship, while stressing on New Delhis strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada.

Canada will host the next G7 leaders meeting in Kananaskis, Alberta, in 2025. India was invited as an outreach partner for the previous events in Italy, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom. However, India had not been an invitee when Canadas last hosted the summit in 2018 in Charlevoix, Quebec, in 2018.
Toronto: A Canadian MP has introduced a motion in the countrys Parliament for the recognition of caste-based recognition. The motion has been moved by New Democratic Party (NDP) MP Don Davies. It call upon the government to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to add caste to the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination. The NDP is in an arrangement with the ruling Liberal Party of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to support it in passing legislation. NDP MP Don Davies at a press conference in Vancouver on Friday after he moved a motion in the House of Commons on prohibiting caste discrimination. (Don Davies Office)

At a press conference in Vancouver on Friday, Davies said, Due to the tireless efforts of advocates, some institutions have recognized caste-based discrimination as a human rights violation as an inferred ground of discrimination. It is time we made this explicit and send a clear message that this is not tolerated in our society, according to a release from his office.

Davies was joined at the press conference by Jai Birdi Executive Director of the Chetna Association of Canada, Jyotika Jasuja, Chetnas Cultural Events Coordinator and Manoj Bhangu.

In March 2023, the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal awarded Bhangu, CA$ 9755 after finding he had been subjected to a caste-based slur by Inderjit and Avninder Dhillon, during the course of an altercation at a taxi companys Christmas Party in 2018. Bhangu, a Hindu, had been abused by the former co-workers.

Caste discrimination remains prevalent in Canada and we must take immediate action to address it, Bhangu said.

We must work together to build a casteless society where individuals can live in harmony with each other regardless of differences, Birdi said.

Meanwhile, the motion, M-128, was criticised by Indo-Canadian community groups. In a post on X, the Coalition of Hindus of North America Canada argued it misuses Human Rightss noble intent, to single out, profile, & target a specific group of people based on their origin.

CoHNA has repeatedly raised concerns about the use of caste to target Indians & Hindus specifically, it added.

Last year, motions recognising caste-based discrimination in Canada were passed by the town of Burnaby in BC and Brampton in Ontario as well as the Toronto District School Board.

Davies motion states caste-based discrimination is a part of the lived experience of many Canadians and ought to be explicitly prohibited.
* Sweden and Iran exchange prisoners in breakthrough deal

Oman mediates prisoner release

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Sweden frees former Iranian judicial official

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Iranian convicted for part in 1988 mass execution

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Iran frees Swedish EU employee and dual Swedish-Iranian national

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Sweden has said both being wrongfully detained in Iran

By Niklas Pollard and Johan Ahlander

STOCKHOLM, - Sweden and Iran carried out a prisoner exchange on Saturday, officials said, with Sweden freeing a former Iranian official convicted for his role in a mass execution in the 1980s while Iran released two Swedes being held there.

The prisoner swap was mediated by Oman, the country's foreign ministry said in a statement. "Omani efforts resulted in the two sides agreeing on a mutual release, as those released were transferred from Tehran and Stockholm," it said.

Sweden freed former Iranian official Hamid Noury, who had been convicted for his part in a mass execution of political prisoners in Iran in 1988. Iran's official IRNA news agency published footage of Noury arriving at Tehran's Mehrabad airport where he was welcomed by his family on a red carpet.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said in a statement that Swedish citizens Johan Floderus and Saeed Azizi who had been detained in Iran were on a plane back to Sweden.

"Iran used them both as pawns in a cynical negotiations game with the purpose of getting the Iranian citizen Hamid Noury released from prison in Sweden. He is convicted of serious crimes committed in Iran in the 1980s," Kristersson said.

"As prime minister I have a special responsibility for Swedish citizens' safety. The government has therefore worked intensively on the issue, together with the Swedish security services which have negotiated with Iran."

Noury, 63, was arrested at a Stockholm airport in 2019 and later sentenced to life in prison for war crimes for the mass execution and torture of political prisoners at the Gohardasht prison in Karaj, Iran, in 1988. He denied the charges.

An Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson described Noury as a hostage in a statement to local media, saying his imprisonment was due to an "illegal Swedish court decision that lacked legitimacy".

Noury told reporters his case had been complicated and sensitive. "They said even God cannot free Hamid Noury, but he did," he told reporters on his arrival in Iran.

The National Council of Resistance of Iran, a coalition of groups opposed to Iran's Islamic Republic government, said it appeared Sweden had yielded to blackmail and hostage-taking tactics in a move that would encourage Tehran.

Lawyer Kenneth Lewis, who represented a dozen plaintiffs in the Noury case in Sweden, said his clients were not consulted and were "appalled and devastated" over Noury's release.

"This is an affront to the entire justice system and everyone who has participated in these trials," he told Reuters.

Lewis said his clients sympathised with the Swedish government's efforts to get its citizens home but said Noury's release was "totally disproportionate".

Floderus, a European Union employee, was arrested in Iran in 2022 and charged with spying for Israel and "corruption on earth", a crime that carries the death penalty.

Swedish-Iranian dual national Saeed Azizi was arrested in Iran in November 2023, on what Sweden called "wrongful grounds."

European Comission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the release of the two Swedes from "unjustified Iranian custody" and congratulated Sweden on its work to get them freed.

Another Swedish-Iranian dual national, Ahmadreza Djalali, arrested in 2016, remains in an Iranian jail. An emergency medicine doctor, Djalali was arrested in 2016 while on an academic visit to Iran.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Anti-racism groups were joining French unions and a brand-new left-wing coalition in protests in Paris and across France on Saturday against the surging nationalist far right as frenzied campaigning is underway ahead of snap parliamentary elections. French far-right leader Marine Le Pen delivers a speech during a campaign rally, (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)(AP)

In Paris, those who fear that the elections will produce France's first far-right government since World War II will gather at Place de la Republique before marching through eastern Paris.

The French Interior Ministry said 21,000 police and gendarmes would be deployed at protests across the country, with authorities expecting between 300,000 and 500,000 protesters nationwide.

In the French Riviera city of Nice, protesters marched down Jean Medecin Avenue, the city's main shopping street. An Associated Press journalist at the scene said she heard chants against the National Rally, its leader Jordan Bardella as well as against President Emmanuel Macron.

Protest organisers said 3,000 took part, while the police put the number at 2,500.

Nice is traditionally a conservative stronghold, but has over the past decade turned firmly in favour of Marine Le Pen's National Rally and her far-right rival Eric Zemmour.

Crowds have been gathering daily ever since the anti-immigration National Rally made historic gains in the European Parliament elections on Sunday, crushing Macron's pro-business moderates and prompting him to dissolve the National Assembly.

New elections for the lower house of parliament were set in two rounds, for June 30 and July 7. Macron remains president until 2027 and in charge of foreign policy and defence, but his presidency would be weakened if the National Rally wins and takes power of the government and domestic policy.

"We need a democratic and social upsurge  if not the extreme right will take power,'' French unions said in a statement Friday. "Our Republic and our democracy are in danger.''

They noted that in Europe and across the world, extreme-right leaders have passed laws detrimental to women, the LGBTQ community, and people of colour.

Also read | G7 Summit 2024 Italy highlights

To prevent the National Rally party from winning the upcoming elections, left-wing parties finally agreed on Friday to set aside differences over the wars in Gaza and Ukraine and form a coalition. They urged French citizens to defeat the far right.

French opinion polls suggest the National Rally  whose founder has been repeatedly convicted of racism and antisemitism  is expected to be ahead in the first round of the parliamentary elections. The party came out on top in the European elections, garnering more than 30 per cent of the vote cast in France, almost twice as many votes as Macron's party Renaissance.

Macron's term is still on for three more years, and he would retain control over foreign affairs and defence regardless of the result of the French parliamentary elections.

But his presidency would be weakened if the National Rally wins, which could put its 28-year-old party leader Bardella on track to become the next prime minister, with authority over domestic and economic affairs. (AP) GSP
Conversations related to visas and immigration are always sensitive matters owing to the cumbersome baggage (emotional, financial and official) attached. So, the announcement of one finally succeeding at crossing off all legal boxes to enter a country should ideally be a cause for celebration. However, one such recently surfaced case of an Indian-origin man securing a study permit for his Canadian stay had Reddit up in arms. Reddit lambasts an Indian-origin man for entering Canada with a visitor visa and then transitioning to a study permit to supposedly extend his stay in the country.

CanadaHousing2, a subreddit channel on the online discussion forum, shared the case of Prateek Bhai Gadhva, a supposedly 50-year-old Indian man who entered Canada using a visitor visa but ultimately got his study permit with the help of a Canada-based educational consultancy, GOAT Consulting Inc. Meanwhile, the firm also allegedly facilitated the approval of his wife's Spousal Open Work Permit.

The Reddit post also featured Gadhva's video as he introduced his story: My name is Prateek Bhai Gadhva. I came here on Visitor Visa, and GOAT helped to get a Study Permit and I got the approval. And they also helped me to get my wife's Spousal Open-Work Permit. So, I came here to collect it. Although the clip advertently appears to be a promotional bit, with the @goat.ca_ watermark stamped on it, netizens didn't hold back their fiery responses to the implausible possibility of a Study Permit for a man as old as Gadhva being approved, while other highly qualified individuals faced immeasurable rejections.

Also read | Joe isnt just..': Jill Biden's surprising reaction after confused POTUS makes gaffes at G7 Summit

Several social media users not only furiously seethed about the reported happenings but also urged a formal investigation against Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Concerns surrounding study permits/study visas

The fiery arguments on social media came after Canada announced in May that police clearance is not mandatory for individuals entering the country temporarily. Immigration Minister Marc Miller responded to queries surrounding the issue saying, I have never said such certificates are required for temporary residents.

His clarification followed the ongoing debates about security checks for temporary residents, especially in the wake of recent criminal cases. One such notable case centred around the June 2023 killing of pro-Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Subsequent reports notified that two of the arrested suspects - Karan Brar and Kamalpreet Singh - had reached Canada with student visas at their disposal.

About Study Permit in Canada

Canada.ca, the official website of the Government of Canada, describes the Study Permit as a document we issue that allows foreign nationals to study at designated learning institutions (DLIs) in Canada.

Also read | Indian entrepreneur shares inspiring 5 year journey to green card, here's how he made it

As for the eligibility requirements, the website calls to attention that the applicant can come to study in Canada if they are enrolled at a designated learning institution (DLI), prove they have enough to pay for their tuition fees, living expenses for themself and their family members coming with them to Canada and return transportation for themself and their family members. Additionally, the applicant must obey the law and have no criminal record. The person in question must also prove to an officer that they leave Canada when their study permit expires.

On the other hand, while most foreign nationals need a study permit to study in Canada, short-term students coming to Canada for a program lasting six months or less don't need one.

Indian transitioning from a visitor visa to a study permit in Canada ignites heated debate

The original admin sharing the post fumed at the idea of paying increased taxes" to cover the costs of people like Prateek": Lets continue working hard and paying our increased taxes and increased rental prices/housing costs so we can cover the costs of people like Prateek Bhai a 50-year-old Indian man who came as a visitor now a student and his wife who is here on an open spousal visa. Canadians need to wake the f**k up.

Also read | Kate Middleton returns to the Buckingham Palace balcony, joining royal family during Trooping the Colour

Meanwhile, some others pointed out the hypocrisy of the system denying younger and qualified individuals job opportunities and housing.

A user responded with another instance and drew parallels between Gadhva and a supposedly 40-year-old female doctor who was denied the permanent residency (PR) status: Yet they deny a female doctor PR because she is 40 years old. Yes a doctor was denied PR due to her age and sent packing. STUPID system. I thought open spouse visas were axed for non university masters and the like.

More responses ensued and chimed in: The doctor shouldve been the priority not this man who cant speak English. Furthermore, if you cant get licensed as a doctor in Canada, good riddance and get out.

A third replied, Foreign economic mobility coming into Canada like this is 100% at our expense. Even if this guy would work he's got 10-15 years minimum before retirement age. A tall fucking order for us to pay while we deny 20 and 30 year olds job opportunities and housing to give the entire third fucking world mobility. I'd say shameful but this country doesn't have any.

As more incredulous gasps followed, another Reddit user questioned the grave possibility of this situation, urging for a clampdown on these supposed pathways to PR.

A user wrote: "How is this even possible?

Like I know there are immigration consultants and lawyers out there using unscrupulous and illegal ways of scamming the system into getting people visas.

But seriously how is this even possible?? Like unless they're openly committing fraud and claiming to the government that they've left the country before they re-applied for a different visa, it should be impossible for anybody on a visitor visa to convert it to any other visas. Our system is completely broken. We need to completely overhaul it with clear set rules with no exception.

You can't just come here with a visitor visa and convert it to a more permanent type of visa. We need to clamp down on these PR pathways that are strife with exploitation and fraud. This should be completely unacceptable to all Canadians no matter if they're far-left to far-right."

A similar comment trailed behind, "I don't understand how you can convert a visit visa to a study permit. I mean unless you're American, then all other nationals have to apply from their home countries. And save for that ludicrous loophole that let's you convert visit visas to work permits, I don't see how you'd be able to transition to a study permit that way

Either these visa companies are committing some fraud fuckery with the government, or they're straight up grifting people into thinking that they can pay money to move their tourist visas to study permits."

Eventually, a more infuriating bipartisan debate got dragged into the mess. This makes me so angry because as a liberal human being I want to support the Liberal party but their heads are so far up their f***ing a**es its incredible. The Left has gone as crazy as the Right and its so disappointing to see because there are no good options for anyone, someone commented.

On the contrary, numerous Internet users questioned how Gadhva was classified as a student at all. Others poked their disapproval at immigration lawyers. A different tone of the conversation worried about the respectable Indian Canadians being lumped in with these students: This guy is the face of the problem. I feel bad for the respectable Indian Canadians (Canadians) who worked hard for our country. They are lumped in with these 'students' now and must hate it.

Another person replied, Why is it every time the only group who is abusing our system is from specific country (Im South Asian Canadian myself) This is embarrassing for us Canadians.

Check out the entire Reddit conversation here.
Speaker Mike Johnson said Friday that the House will go to court to enforce the subpoena against Attorney General Merrick Garland for access to President Joe Biden's special counsel audio interview, hours after the Justice Department refused to prosecute Republicans contempt of Congress charge. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) and U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) attend a press conference at the Republican National Committee after a meeting with former President Donald Trump and the House Republican Conference, in Washington, U.S., June 13, 2024. Tom Williams/Pool via REUTERS(via REUTERS)

It is sadly predictable that the Biden Administrations Justice Department will not prosecute Garland for defying congressional subpoenas even though the department aggressively prosecuted Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro for the same thing, Johnson said in a statement. This is yet another example of the two-tiered system of justice brought to us by the Biden Administration.

In a letter to Johnson earlier Friday, a Justice Department official cited the agency's longstanding position and uniform practice to not prosecute officials who dont comply with subpoenas because of a presidents claim of executive privilege.

The Democratic president last month asserted executive privilege to block the release of the audio, which the White House says Republicans want only for political purposes. Republicans moved forward with the contempt effort anyway, voting Wednesday to punish Garland for refusing to provide the recording.

Assistant Attorney General Carlos Felipe Uriarte noted that the Justice Department under presidents of both political parties has declined to prosecute in similar circumstances when there has been a claim of executive privilege.

ALSO READ| Donald Trump quips Marjorie Taylor Greene should be nice to House Speaker Mike Johnson

DOJ will not take action to prosecute the Attorney General

Accordingly, the department "will not bring the congressional contempt citation before a grand jury or take any other action to prosecute the Attorney General, Uriarte said in the letter to Johnson. The letter did not specify who in the Justice Department made the decision.

Republicans were incensed when special counsel Robert Hur declined to prosecute Biden over his handling of classified documents and quickly opened an investigation. GOP lawmakers  led by Reps. Jim Jordan and James Comer  sent a subpoena for audio of Hurs interviews with Biden, but the Justice Department only turned over some of the records, leaving out audio of the interview with the president.

Republicans have accused the White House of suppressing the tape because they say the president is afraid to have voters hear it during an election year. A spokesperson for Jordan criticized the Justice Department's move Friday, saying, The rule of law for thee, but not for me.

A transcript of the Hur interview showed Biden struggling to recall some dates and occasionally confusing some details  something longtime aides say hes done for years in both public and private  but otherwise showing deep recall in other areas. Biden and his aides are particularly sensitive to questions about his age. At 81, hes the oldest-ever president, and he is currently seeking another four-year term.

The attorney general has said the Justice Department has gone to extraordinary lengths to provide information to the lawmakers about Hurs investigation. However, Garland has said releasing the audio could jeopardize future sensitive investigations because witnesses might be less likely to cooperate if they know their interviews might become public.

ALSO READ| Donald Trump tells Logan Paul he had a speech rewritten by AI out there

In a letter last month detailing Bidens decision to assert executive privilege, White House counsel Ed Siskel accused Republicans of seeking the recordings so they can chop them up and distort them to attack the president. 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.

The Justice Department noted that it also declined to prosecute Attorney General Bill Barr, who was held in contempt in 2019. 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 former President Donald Trump.

Justice department declines contempt prosecutions for Barr, Meadows, and Holder

The Justice Department similarly declined to prosecute former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows after he was held in contempt of Congress for ceasing to cooperate with the Jan. 6 Committee investigating the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Years before that, then-Attorney General Eric Holder was held in contempt related to the gun-running operation known as Operation Fast and Furious. The Justice Department also took no action against Holder.

Two former Trump White House officials, Peter Navarro and Steve Bannon, were prosecuted for contempt of Congress for defying subpoenas from the Jan. 6 committee. They were both found guilty at trial and sentenced to four months in prison. Navarro has been behind bars since March, and Bannon has been ordered to report to prison by July 1.

ALSO READ| Joe Biden's convicted felon attack on Donald Trump now boomerangs his son, Hunter Biden

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. Hur said he found insufficient evidence to successfully prosecute a case in court.

Hur cited limitations with Bidens memory and the presidents cooperation with investigators that could convince some jurors that he made an innocent mistake." Hur's report also described the president as someone for whom jurors will want to identify reasonable doubt.
After Joe Biden's embarrassing moments at G7 Summit ignited the concerns over his mental and physical abilities, First Lady Jill Biden asserted that the November elections is about "character of the person leading" the United States. Joe Biden is capable of serving as president for a second term, stated Jill Biden.(AFP)

Addressing an assembly of elderly citizens during a pep rally in Reno, Nevada, Jill stated that her husband is capable of serving as president for a second term, despite the fact that the 81-year-old Biden froze during a Juneteenth ceremony and bewildered the G7 leaders during this week summit in Italy.

We cant wake up on November 6 like we did in 2016 terrified of the future ahead of us, the First Lady insisted.

This election is about the character of the person leading our country, she added.

Approximately one-third of Nevada's 1.9 million potential voters are elderly, numbering 600,000 in total.

According to recent polls, Biden is trailing Republican rival Donald Trump, 78, by five points.

The first lady launched the "Seniors for Biden-Harris" whistlestop tour on Thursday with engagements in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Duluth, Minnesota.

The campaign hopes to engage the older voter base with phone banks, racquetball and bingo activities, and rallies in favor of Biden, who will turn 86 years old at the end of his second consecutive term in office.

Reiterating identical statements from her Duluth stump speech, Jill told the Reno crowd, "Joe Biden is a healthy, wise, 81-year-old, ready and willing to get to work every day to make our future better."

"Joe isn't just one of the most effective presidents of our lives, in spite of his age, but because of it," she stated.

Also Read: Strolling, Saluting and Sleeping; Biden embarrasses with three blunders in one day

Bidens blunders stunned allies at G7 summit: Report

While Jill's remarks were applauded by the audience, a new report revealed that Biden was "losing focus" during talks at the G7 meeting. One of the diplomats present at the summit even described him as the worst he has ever been.

The Sun was informed on Friday by a non-US delegation member that the commander-in-chief's public gaffes on the first day of the event were "embarrassing."

Biden arrived in Italy to attend the annual summit of the world's wealthiest democracies, which includes UK PM Rishi Sunak and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

However, Biden stole the limelight with a slew of strange antics, such as meeting Meloni with an awkward salute and straying from his fellow world leaders during a skydiving protest, prompting Meloni to shepherd him back to the group.

Public broadcaster RAI reports that Biden appeared to have gotten off to a poor start with Meloni even before the summit convened on Thursday morning, causing the Italian PM to wait for at least 20 minutes for his arrival.

In an apparent dig, Meloni reportedly told Biden when he finally arrived that "You shouldn't leave a woman waiting like this."

Rejecting the Sun story as "lies", White House senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates praised Biden for his "successful leadership overseas advancing our national security."
Kate Middleton, The Princess of Wales, has been pictured in public with husband Prince William for the first time since she was diagnosed with cancer. The royal couple were accompanied by their three kids for King Charles' birthday parade, Trooping the Colour, on Saturday. During the King's Birthday Parade, Kate will ride in a carriage with her kids, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.(Getty)

Kate wore a black-studded white Jenny Packham dress and a white Philip Treacey angled hat for the formal occasion. She was last seen wearing this ensemble during the weekend of the King's coronation in May 2023.

Her today's presence marks first formal public appearance since she joined the Royal Family on Christmas Day on the walk to Sandringham Church.

During the King's Birthday Parade, Kate will ride in a carriage with her kids, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

Amidst his cancer battle, the monarch and Queen Camilla will also arrive at the event in a carriage.

Kate Middleton arriving at Horse Guards Parade for the procession (REUTERS)

Prince Louis seen with Kate arriving at Buckingham Palace/(Getty)

Kate issued major health and comeback update

On Friday after Catherine announced that she will take part in the biggest royal event, Prince William and King Charles expressed their support and happiness over the Princess of Wales' decision.

Ahead of her appearance, she declared in a statement :"I'm looking forward to attending The King's Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet."

The statement was released along with stunning new photo of the Kate posing outside, in which she acknowledged that she has endured some "harder times".

I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days, she stated.

In March, Kate announced in a video message that she had received prophylactic chemotherapy, following a major abdominal surgery.

Is this Kate's official comeback to Royal duties?

The royal's attendance in Trooping the Colour, however, does not mean that she will resume performing official duties.

She will not attend Garter Day and Royal Ascot next week, but she hopes "to join a few public engagements over the summer".

Later on Saturday, at Buckingham Palace, the entire working Royal Family will come together for what is regarded as one of the highlights of the royal calendara flypast.

Meanwhile, a Kensington Palace spokesperson stated that the fact that Kate may participate in work and projects from home pleases Prince William.

The Prince is pleased to see the Princess starting to engage with the work and projects that are important to her, the spokesperson said, as per the Mirror.

He will continue to focus his time on supporting his wife and children, while continuing to undertake his public duties.

Meanwhile, scores of Royal fans have gathered at central London, with many hoping to catch a glimpse of Kate who has been fighting cancer.
The Princess of Wales officially resumed her post beside the Royal Family in her first public appearance in six months at Trooping the Colour on Saturday, June 15. Kate Middleton, 42, has steered clear of the public eye for months amid her ongoing cancer treatment. Britain's King Charles, Queen Camilla, William, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace as part of the Trooping the Colour parade to honour Britain's King Charles on his official birthday in London, Britain, June 15, 2024. (REUTERS)

Despite the initial official royal update that she won't be joining the annual public event in honour of King Charles III's birthday, she ultimately made her anticipated surprise appearance. Sporting a white dress by Jenny Packham with the Irish Guards Regimental Brooch, the Princess accessorised her look with a Philip Treacy hat.

Taking her family's side, she was initially spotted arriving at the British pageantry with her children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Also joining the processions, she rode a horse-drawn carriage with the young royals.

Also read | Trooping the Colour 2024: Kate Middleton makes first public appearance in months for King's birthday parade

Kate Middleton joins the royal family at Buckingham Palace balcony for the 2024 Trooping the Colour parade

Eventually, Princess Kate joined the rest of the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, looking at the parade festivities from a distance. As the annual parade celebrated the monarch's official birthday, the regal lot was seen all smiles, waving at the crowds from the palace balcony.

The parade's finale witnessed the Royal Air Force flypast over London, with Prince William and Kate Middleton and their children, Prince George (10), Princess Charlotte (9) and Prince Louis (6) gathered alongside King Charles and Queen Camilla.

Countering her original claims, Middleton surprised her fans on Friday by confirming that she would, in fact, resume her public-facing duties at the Saturday event.

Also read | Kate Middleton's instructions to kids revealed as Prince Louis steals limelight at Royal event with dance

In a statement posted on social media, accompanied by two new photos of her from Windsor, she said: Im looking forward to attending the kings birthday parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet.

I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal, she added.

Weeks before her statement went viral, a source close to the Royals told Vanity Fair that the Princess was doing a lot better."

Earlier this year, Kate Middleton was diagnosed with cancer following her abdominal surgery. The Princess of Wales also stated that although she is making good process, she had good days and bad days. Her cancer treatment is expected to continue for a few more months. Her June 14 message also intimated that she is starting to do a little work from home" and hoping to join a few public engagements over the summer. An official date for her full return to royal duties has yet to be revealed.
Kate Middleton stepped out on Saturday to attend King Charles' birthday celebrations in an 'extraordinary' outfit. She looked stunning in her first royal appearance of 2024, alongside Prince William and their three kids. Kate Middleton was sported in the same dress she wore to attended King Charles' coronation in May 2023.(Getty)

For Trooping the Colour, The Princess of Wales chose to wear Jenny Packham's white dress with black detailing. She accessorised the look with a matching black and white hat by Philip Treacey, white stilettoes, and a black purse. In homage to her role as the honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards, Kate accessorized the dress with an Irish Guards brooch.

Kate was seen in the same dress that she wore to attended King Charles' coronation in May 2023.

Ellie Costello, the host of GB News, praised the Princess's color selection while talking about her ensemble and called her comeback to the royal limelight "extraordinary."

British journalist Andrew Pierce reacted when the Wales family got out of the royal carriage, saying, And there she is, the Princess of Wales. White shoes, white outfit, fabulous hat. She looks slim, but she's always slim.

Andrew complimented Kate on her decision to dress in white for the event, stating that she "wants to be seen" on her poignant comeback to the public eye.

"She was wearing white to make sure she's seen. And that was the Queen's maxim, wasn't it? Visibility," he noted.

Stressing that the Royal Family is about visibility, Andrew mentioned that it is wonderful to see the family together.

Kate Middleton arriving at Horse Guards Parade for the procession (REUTERS)

Kate and her daughter coordinated color of their outfits

In a heartwarming mother-daughter tribute, Kate and Princess Charlotte coordinated the color of their outfits to attend the Royal event with a nautical theme.

Meanwhile, Queen Camilla was spotted waving from a separate carriage with the King. She wore a dress from Anna Valentine and a hat designed by Philip Treacy. The Queen accessorised her look with a pearl necklace and her military brooch from the Grenadier Guards.

Also Read: Kate Middleton's instructions to kids revealed as Prince Louis steals limelight at Royal event with dance

Kate's issue major update on her health and comeback to royal duties

Kate's royal appearance comes after she acknowledged in a heartfelt statement on Friday that she experiences highs and lows while undergoing preventative chemotherapy

The Princess acknowledged that she is not out of the woods yet, but said that she has resumed light responsibilities and will assist her three children with their studies when she is well enough.

Kate expressed her profound gratitude to the public for their support, saying she was "blown away" by the "kind messages" that had "made a world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times."

Kate has participated in Trooping the Colour every year since exchanging vowsPrince William in 2011, with the exception of 2020 and 2021, when the event was canceled owing to the Covid epidemic.
Kensington Palace announced earlier this year about Kate Middletons cancer which was discovered post-abdominal surgery. Since then, there have been updates about her health from the palace regarding her ongoing treatments and well-being. The Princess of Wales has missed various important occasions due to her health concerns, such as the wedding of the Duke of Westminster, among others. However, she recently confirmed that she will attend Trooping the Colour, a royal family event. This will be her first public appearance since her cancer diagnosis. Let's take a look at her health timeline and how far she has come. Kate Middleton's health timeline from diagnosis to treatment. Read to know more. (Matt Porteous/Kensington Palace via AP)(AP)

Kensington Palace announces Kate has cancer

In mid-January, Kensington Palace announced Kates planned abdominal surgery was successfully conducted. The Palace stated in the announcement that the surgery was successful. However, during this initial hospitalisation, her cancer went undetected. By the end of the month, Kate was discharged and returned home, but shortly afterward, further medical tests revealed the presence of cancer. The Princess of Wales was at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor for her recovery from the surgery.

In mid-February, during post-operative tests, it was discovered that Kate Middleton had cancer. Later that month, she addressed the public in a video message, revealing her diagnosis and ongoing preventive chemotherapy treatments. On March 22, Kensington Palace issued an official announcement confirming Kate's cancer diagnosis but did not specify a timeline for her recovery from chemotherapy.

Also Read: Kate Middleton issues major health and comeback update in emotional statement, set to attend Trooping the Colour

Kates business updates in May

A month after celebrating their wedding anniversary in April, when Kensington shared a never-before-seen photograph of Prince William and Princess Kate from their wedding day in the last days of April, the Palace provided updates on Kates business task force.

According to Town & Country, a spokesperson from the Palace reported "early childhood is a huge priority for the Princess and so she has been kept fully updated throughout the development of the Taskforces work and she has seen the report." However, it was also informed that this should not be taken as a sign of Kate's return to work. she will return when and as the doctors will give her a green light but it is yet not defined.

Also Read: Prince William's adorable reaction to Kate Middleton's return for Trooping the Colour

Recent update on Kates health

The Princess of Whales penned a letter as she explained her days during the chemotherapy, which is ongoing. She also mentioned she has begun working from home and will attend the Kings Birthday Parade with her children.

Talking about her work in the letter, she wrote, that her treatment is ongoing. She also mentioned, "it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as start to do a little work from home."
Cheeky Prince Louis steals the limelight! Prince Louis didn't stop his spontaneous dance even after getting little scolding from his elder sister, Princess Charlotte. He brought a smile on his mother Kate Middleton's face.

While Royal fans were awaiting for the appearance of Kate Middleton at Trooping the Colour ceremony, her youngest child, Prince Louis, stole the limelight as he enjoyed watching the grand parade with his mother and siblings on Saturday.

The six-year-old Prince was spotted dancing on the beats of drums. During that sweet family moment, Kate was pictured smiling as Prince Louis didn't stop his spontaneous dance even after getting little scolding from his elder sister, Princess Charlotte. Meanwhile, the videos of Louis, who is known for his antics and funny poses, have gone viral on social media.

Reacting to the cute dance of Louis, one X user wrote: lol this kid is too cute!!

Love Louis, love them all, another commented, while few asked, Where is William?

They have made millions very happy, one more chimed in.

So happy to see Princess Kate smile! a royal fan reacted.

Also Read: Getty Images adds disclaimer to Kate Middleton's latest picture as netizens spark fake AI concerns

What instructions did Kate give to her kids?

After Kate and her kids arrived at Horse Guards, they all watched the procession from a building that overlooked the parade route.

A lip reader, Nicola Hinckley, told The Mirror that at one time Kate gave the kids some instructions. She seemed to say, "You stay there, OK?" She then bowed down to Charlotte and said, "Keep smiling and stay here for one moment."

During the ceremony, Kate appeared to be preoccupied since Louis became sidetracked. She remained near him, observing his every action, as he seemed to playfully tug on the blind strings. The six-year-old pulled on the white cord at the window, in his trademark fashion, rather than turning to face the throng.

Louis was later observed yawning while watching the parade. He appeared to be having a quiet conversation with the Princess of Wales as the other family members quietly witnessed parade from the balcony of the Major General's Office.

As the RAF flypast continued despite the rainfall, the Royal Family - including King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Catherine with their kids - appeared on the balcony to view it.

The future Queen made her appearance about three months after it was announced that she was undergoing chemotherapy. The Princess, 42, hadn't been spotted at a public event since the Christmas Day service.
 Flash

Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Chen Hai (2nd, L) and Myanmar's Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Lwin Oo (2nd, R) sign an agreement on cooperation projects of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Special Fund 2024 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, June 14, 2024. The agreement was signed to mark the 74th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties between Myanmar and China. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)





Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Chen Hai and Myanmar's Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Lwin Oo signed on Friday an agreement on cooperation projects of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Special Fund 2024.

The agreement was signed to mark the 74th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties between Myanmar and China.

The signing of the agreement was an important measure to implement consensus reached by the fourth LMC leaders' meeting, and also demonstrated friendly relations between China and Myanmar over the past 74 years, Chen said at the signing ceremony.

Myanmar is an important participant, promoter and beneficiary of the LMC, and China is willing to work with Myanmar to implement LMC projects to benefit Myanmar people with more cooperation outcomes, he added.

Myanmar's Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe said that Myanmar and China are friendly neighbors, and bilateral relations have become increasingly close over the past 74 years.

Myanmar is willing to work with Lancang-Mekong countries to jointly promote regional peace, stability and prosperity, U Than Swe said.

Under the deal, 12 projects will be implemented to assist agriculture, poverty alleviation, trade, innovation and livelihoods in Myanmar.


Kate Middleton on Saturday made a royal return amidst her ongoing cancer treatment. While all the eyes were on Kate's first public appearance of 2024, Meghan Markle and her friend allegedly tried to steal the limelight of The Princess of Wales. While all the eyes were on Kate's first public appearance of 2024, Meghan Markle and her friend allegedly tried to steal the limelight of The Princess of Wales.(File)

As Kate was all set to arrive at King Charles' birthday parade, popularly known as the Trooping the Colour, Nacho Figueras, an Argentinian polo player and good friend of Meghan and Prince Harry, posted new exciting photographs on his Instagram handle on Saturday morning.

This comes after Meghan Markle's American Riviera Orchard brand unveiled two new products, merely a few hours before Princess Kate's appearance at Trooping the Color.

The Duke & Duchess of Sussex were not present at the Royal event in Saturday following the internal family rift, which started when Meghan and Harry stepped down from the Royal roles January 2020.

Nacho Figueras shared a photo of a raspberry jam jar from Meghan's new lifestyle brand on his Instagram Stories on Friday night. He further hinted that American Riviera Orchard would be offering dog treats when Markle's upscale brand eventually hits the market.

A second photo that he posted online features his dog, Nina Iggy, perched next to a glass jar filled with dog treats. The dog treats came in a big glass jar with a label that was handwritten and purported to be authored by Meghan.

Given that the label said "2 of 2", it looks that Nacho was one of just two recipients of a jar of jam, in contrast tothe 42-year-old Duchess' previous batch of strawberry jam, which she gave to celebrities like Kris Jenner, was made in batches of 50.

The latest post shared by Figueras coincided with Trooping the Colour ceremony on Saturday, when Royal family members including King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Kate with their three kids treated the Royal fans with their balcony appearance.

Kate thanks supporters for continued understanding

Kate's appearance in the event came after she shared her health update on Friday and confirmed that she will be taking part in the ceremony.

"I'm looking forward to attending the King's birthday parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet," she said in a statement.

Also Read: Getty Images adds disclaimer to Kate Middleton's latest picture as netizens spark fake AI concerns

Stressing that she is learning how to be patient, The Princess of Wales stated, "Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal."

She further thanked her supported for their "continued understanding" and all cancer patients who have shared their stories with her,
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly considering a dual residency. A week ago, the Duke received a green light to appeal a legal challenge in the UK court over his and his familys security, which was downgraded when he stopped being a working royal. Following this, reports have emerged stating that Harry is determined to seek a permanent home in his hometown. A former royal butler claims the couple may be considering a part-time residence back in the UK. FILE - Britain's Prince Harry, right, and wife Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, arrive for the 2024 Royal Salute Polo Challenge to Benefit Sentebale, on April 12, 2024, in Wellington, Fla. Prince Harrys fight for police protection in the U.K. has received another setback. A judge on Monday, April 15, 2024 rejected his request to appeal an earlier ruling upholding a government panels decision to limit his access to publicly funded security after he quit as a working member of the royal family. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)(AP)

Prince Harry and Meghan consider part-time U.K. residence

Former royal butler Grant Harrold revealed in a new interview with the New York Post that he is hopeful for a royal reunion, suggesting that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex may be searching for a home in the U.K. "If Harry does buy a place in the U.K., he and Meghan will split their time between here and the States," he said. "That was the original plan."

"I would assume this means Meghan would also come to the UK, and you'd see them spending many months of the year here," he continued, emphasising that the former Suits star is not in favour of permanently moving to the UK but is considering it to avoid staying in hotels every time they visit.

Also read: Prince William's adorable reaction to Kate Middleton's return for Trooping the Colour

Earlier, royal author and commentator Tom Quinn told the Mirror that the estranged royal member is missing some aspects of his old life in the UK, which makes him sad and miss his hometown even more. There is also an urge to let Archie and Lilibet know more about their roots and their cousins, referring to William and Kates kids. Harry is determined to find his own permanent home in the UK, which is partly why hes continuing his legal action to get the British taxpayer to pay for his security, Quinn said earlier. Meanwhile, many insiders took Harry's security appeal as a clear indication of his strong desire to return to London.

Harry and Meghan to split time between the UK and the US

The couple is currently living in a luxurious multi-million-dollar mansion in Montecito, California, USA. Their former UK residence, Frogmore Cottage, which was a royal gift to Harry upon his marriage, was taken away from them last summer following their controversial Netflix documentary and interview. And now, the Sussexes are reportedly considering splitting their time between the US and the UK, a move that could bring them closer to the royal family once more.

Also read: Kate Middleton to attend royal event with George, Charlotte, Louis as William vows to

According to the royal butler, who served King Charles for seven years, Meghan may not be keen on permanently residing in the UK, which was their original intention for moving to the US. However, the butler believes Harry has a strong affection for the UK and wishes to return. Harry would like to be back here, he loves the UK. He had an amazing upbringing here, he loved living here and I remember that.
Kate Middleton is soon to make a royal duty comeback, as the Princess herself announced her first public appearance in months. The last time we saw the Princess live was in a recorded video message where she opened up about her cancer battle. Now, she has confirmed that she will attend the Trooping the Colour parade, despite multiple reports suggesting she might not appear for the rest of the year. Amid this, Prince William had a touching reaction to finally seeing his wife return to her duties, which he had been juggling alone for the past few months. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Prince William and Kate Middleton might be taking a rain-check on their visit to Pakistan.(AP Photo)

Prince William reacts to Kate Middletons return

Kate, who has been living privately at Windsor with her kids, mother, and husband, released a statement on June 14, speaking of the good and bad days while battling cancer and undergoing chemotherapy. She spoke about making progress, but also about the challenges one faces while going through such a tough phase. On those bad days, you feel weak and tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.

Also read: Prince Harry and Meghan had secret 2.5m home in UK,' but were forced to flee because

Although Kensington Palace has stated that the Princess of Wales might withdraw from the event at the last minute if necessary due to health concerns, the declaration has been commended by British authorities, particularly the Prince of Wales. In a formal statement, the Palace revealed that he fully supports his wife's return and his commitment to remain a dedicated father as she slowly takes on her royal responsibilities again.

"The Prince is pleased to see The Princess starting to engage with the work and projects that are important to her, a palace spokesperson said in a statement as per The Mirror. He will continue to focus his time on supporting his wife and children while continuing to undertake his public duties, they continued.

Kate Middleton announces to attend Trooping the Colour parade

Im looking forward to attending The Kings Birthday Parade this weekend with my family, Princess Catherine stated in her new statement, expressing her hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman told the Post that Kate personally informed the King of her intention to attend the big day. Trooping the Colour is a ceremony that celebrates the official birthday of the British monarch (at present, it is King Charles III) and has been a longstanding custom for almost 270 years.

Also read: Bridgerton 3 upsets fans with major Francesca love story change; Reddit debates 'Genderswap' twist

His Majesty is delighted that The Princess is able to attend tomorrows events, and is much looking forward to all elements of the day, the insider told the outlet. Moreover, Kate was given the title of honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards in the previous year.
Prince William's concerns over Prince Harry's whirlwind romance with Meghan Markle were justified. Prince Harry's memoir exposes brother Prince William's well-intended advice on fast-moving romance with Meghan Markle. (AP)

In his bombshell memoir, Spare, Prince Harry revealed that his brother cautioned him against proposing too quickly, fearing their relationship was moving too fast.

Jennie Bond, a former BBC royal correspondent, told The Sun, acknowledging William's advice as well-intentioned: He was correct to guide or warn Harry 'are you sure you're not going a bit fast'. I think it came from a good place.

Bond points out that all of the long marriages within the Royal Family to date were survived by a long two courtship, for instance the marriage between Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, and Prince Edward and that is one of the most delightfully happy marriages in the Royal Family.

Bond commented further during the Sun's Royal Exclusive show, Comparing Harry and Meghan's rapid courtship to the more gradual romance of Prince William and Kate. Kate was given ten years to peer into the goldfish bowl of royal life, she observed.

ALSO READ| King Charles III is delighted to see Kate Middleton in Trooping the Colour

Despite Prince William's words of caution, Prince Harry proposed to Meghan in 2017, just over a year into their relationship that spanned continents. Their wedding, a lavish affair at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018, was followed by a reception hosted by William at Frogmore House.

In his memoir, Harry disclosed that the wedding arrangements strained his relationship with his brother.

Prince William is secretly meeting British spies

Amidst the bombshell claims and while Kate Middleton is all set to appear for the first time in Trooping the Colour since announcing her cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy treatment on March 22, Prince William secretly attended a meeting with some of the operatives of the British Secret Intelligence Service, MI6 two days before the start of the annual parade.

ALSO READ| Kate Middleton to attend royal event with George, Charlotte, Louis as William vows to

According to Hello! Magazine, records in the Court Circular which is the official listing of the British Monarchs and their family members, engagements/appearances are stated that the Prince of Wales visited the Secret Intelligence Service headquarters on the 13th of June.

Once again, there is no official information on this, and also this particular meeting is not mentioned in any official announcement released by the Kensington Palace.
A Southwest Airlines flight narrowly avoided a catastrophic crash off the coast of Hawaii in April, coming within just 400 feet of the ocean after aborting a landing due to adverse weather conditions, according to a Bloomberg report. Southwest Airlines flight's heart-stopping plunge over Hawaii. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File)(AP)

During the flight, a Boeing 737 Max 8 plummeted several hundred feet within seconds before the crew managed to regain control just in time to escape a deadly crash. No injuries were reported among the passengers on board.

Southwest Flight 2786 was at approximately 1,000 feet altitude when it abandoned its landing attempt due to poor visibility caused by weather conditions. Data from ADS-B Exchange, a flight tracking website, indicated that the aircraft dropped to within 400 feet of the sea. The flight crew, in a state of panic, began a rapid climb to avoid the ocean.

Kit Darby, a former commercial airline pilot and flight instructor told Bloomberg, The pilot was pitching up and pitching down with the power and close to out of control  very close. It would feel like a roller coaster ride.

ALSO READ| FAA was 'too hands off' in Boeing oversight before 737 MAX 9 mid-air emergency incident

What happened with Southwest Airlines Flight 2786?

The flight had departed from Honolulu on a short journey to Lihue Airport. Due to the brief flight time, the captain placed the newer first officer in command. As the plane neared the airport, deteriorating weather conditions obscured the runway, prompting the pilot to abort the landing.

The memo explained that the first officer inadvertently pushed forward on the controls while monitoring the thrust level, which adjusts automatically. Then, the pilot reduced the speed, causing the aircraft to descend at an alarming rate of more than 4,000 feet per second and triggering alarms. The captain then ordered the first officer to increase thrust, resulting in the plane climbing aggressively at a rate of 8,500 feet per minute.

The plane eventually returned to Honolulu, where it landed safely.

Darby told Bloomberg that typical descents are much more gradual, at roughly 1,500 to 2,000 feet per minute as flights approach their destination, reaching around 800 feet within five miles of the airport.

ALSO READ| US travel chaos: Thousands stranded due to Southwest Airlines system outage

Nothing is more important to Southwest than Safety. The Southwest Airlines spokesperson told The New York Post, and added, Through our robust Safety Management System, the event was addressed appropriately as we always strive for continuous improvement.

The airline now pledged to review industry and internal data to determine if protocols and training require updates.

According to Bloomberg, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the incident.
Celebrations are in order for Britain as the land celebrates the official birthday of the British Sovereign. The annual celebration of the Kings birthday in summer is set to be held on Saturday, June 15. The tradition is almost 260 years old which includes the gathering of the royal family. Trooping the Colours includes a spectacular parade showcasing the talents of the British military and pageantry. The celebration will be held at Horse Guards Parade in London which has been the traditional venue for the ceremony. King Charles III will travel down on a horse from Buckingham Palace to The Mall. Trooping the Colours parade celebrating official birthday of the British Sovereign. Read to know where to watch and more.(AFP)

Kate Middleton has also confirmed that she will be attending the royal family event amid her health concerns. This will be the first appearance of the Princess of Whales post her announcement of her cancer diagnosis.

However, the royal family again snubbed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

When will the Trooping the Colours parade start?

The Trooping the Colours ceremony will commence at 10:00 am London time. For people who want to watch the parade in the United States, the time will be 5:00 am ET. The ceremony will end by 12:45 pm, London time. The King's walk will begin from Buckingham Palace to The Mall escorted by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and will arrive at the Guards House by 11:00 am, London time.

Also Read: Kate Middleton to attend royal event with George, Charlotte, Louis as William vows to

Where to watch Kings Birthday parade online?

The ceremony is of great interest, not only for the people of Britain but for the world. However, everyone cannot be present for the ceremony in London. Therefore, people who wish to watch the parade can stream it online. The Trooping the Colours parade will be available to stream the parade live on BBC iPlayer. The live stream will provide comprehensive coverage of the ceremony and viewers can participate from anywhere around the world from the comfort of their home.

The ceremony will also be available on BBC One, which will broadcast the programme live.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday predicted history being made at the Swiss-hosted conference which aims to plot out the first steps toward peace in Ukraine even though experts and critics say little substance, or few big breakthroughs are expected because Russia is not attending. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky(AP)

The presidents of Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Kenya and Somalia joined dozens of Western heads of state and government and other leaders and high-level envoys at the meeting, in hopes that Russia  which is waging war on Ukraine  could join in one day.

Also read | G7 summit 2024 Italy highlights

In a brief statement to reporters alongside Swiss President Viola Amherd, Zelenskyy already sought to cast the gathering as a success, saying: We have succeeded in bringing back to the world the idea that joint efforts can stop war and establish a just peace.

I believe that we will witness history being made here at the summit, he said.

Swiss officials hosting the conference say more than 50 heads of state and government will join the gathering at the Burgenstock resort overlooking Lake Lucerne. Some 100 delegations including European bodies and the United Nations will be on hand.

Who will show up  and who will not  has become one of the key stakes of a meeting that critics say will be useless without the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin's government, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and is pushing ahead with the war.

Also read | Kate Middleton returns to the Buckingham Palace balcony, joining royal family during Trooping the Colour

As US Vice President Kamala Harris arrived at the venue, shuttle buses rumbled up a mountain road that snaked up to the site  at times with traffic jams  with police along the route checking journalists's IDs and helicopters ferrying in VIPs buzzed overhead.

Meanwhile, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia have dispatched their foreign ministers while key developing countries like Brazil, an observer at the event, India and South Africa will be represented at lower levels.

China, which backs Russia, is joining scores of countries that are sitting out the conference, many of whom have more pressing issues than the bloodiest conflict in far-away Europe since World War II. Beijing, which says any peace process needs to have the participation of both Russia and Ukraine, has floated its own ideas for peace.

Last month, China and Brazil agreed to six common understandings on a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, asking other countries to endorse them and play a role in promoting peace talks.

The six points include an agreement to support an international peace conference held at a proper time that is recognised by both Russia and Ukraine, with equal participation of all parties as well as fair discussion of all peace plans.

Zelenskyy has recently led a diplomatic push to draw in participants to the Swiss summit.

Russian troops who now control nearly a quarter of Ukrainian land in the east and south have made some territorial gains in recent months. When talk of a Swiss-hosted peace initiative began last summer, Ukrainian forces had recently regained large swaths of territory, notably near the cities of southern Kherson and northern Kharkiv.

Against the battlefield backdrop and diplomatic strategising, summit organisers have presented three agenda items: nuclear safety, such as at the Russia-controlled Zaporizhzhia power plant; humanitarian assistance and exchange of prisoners of war; and global food security  which has been disrupted at times due to impeded shipments through the Black Sea.

That to-do list, encapsulating some of the least controversial issues, is well short of proposals and hopes laid out by Zelenskyy in a 10-point peace formula in late 2022.

The plan includes ambitious calls, including the withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied Ukrainian territory, the cessation of hostilities and restoring Ukraine's state borders with Russia, including Crimea.

Putin's government, meanwhile, wants any peace deal to be built around a draft agreement negotiated in the early phases of the war that included provisions for Ukraine's neutral status and limits on its armed forces, while delaying talks about Russia-occupied areas. Ukraine's push over the years to join the NATO military alliance has rankled Moscow.

Does Zelenskyys peace formula still has legs?': Analyst

Ukraine is unable to negotiate from a position of strength, analysts say.

The situation on the battlefield has changed dramatically, said Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Centre, saying that although Russia "can't achieve its maximalist objectives quickly through military means, but it's gaining momentum and pushing Ukraine really hard.

So, a lot of countries that are coming to the summit would question whether the Zelenskyy peace formula still has legs, he told reporters in a call Wednesday.

With much of the world's focus recently on the war in Gaza and national elections in 2024, Ukraine's backers want to return focus to Russia's breach of international law and a restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity.

On Friday, Putin called the conference just another ploy to divert everyone's attention.

The International Crisis Group, an advisory firm that works to end conflict, wrote this week that absent a major surprise on the Burgenstock," the event is unlikely to deliver much of consequence.

Nonetheless, the Swiss summit is a chance for Ukraine and its allies to underline what the UN General Assembly recognized in 2022 and repeated in its February 2023 resolution on a just peace in Ukraine: Russia's all-out aggression is a blatant violation of international law, it said.

Experts say they'll be looking at the wording of any outcome document and plans for the way forward. Swiss officials, aware of Russia's reticence about the conference, have repeatedly said they hope Russia can join the process one day, as do Ukrainian officials.

Most likely, the three items under review will be endorsed by the participants. But then the big question is OK, 'what comes next?' Gabuev said. And I don't think we have a very clear answer to that question yet.

As leaders headed to the conference venue, the war raged on.

Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov of Russia's southern Belgorod region, writing on social media, blamed Ukraine for shelling Friday that struck a five-storey apartment building in the town of Shebekino, killing five people. There was no immediate comment from Kyiv.

In Ukraine, shelling killed at least three civilians and wounded 15 others on Friday and overnight, regional officials said.
The key focus of the G7 summit in Italy was on artificial intelligence, global economy, security and defence, and the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza. However, abortion rights and LGBTQ issues did not appear in the official G7 declaration, which was made public on Friday. G7 summit was hosted by Italy this year(REUTERS)

Italys far-right government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, denied that abortion and LGBTQ references were removed from the G7 declaration, reported The Guardian. It must be noted that both these references were included in the G7 declaration when the summit was held in Japan last year.

In the declaration published on June 13, the first day of the summit, a reference to the protection of the gender identity and sexual orientation of the LGBTQ community was left out. The word abortion was also left out of the declaration.

While abortion was left out of the declaration, a commitment was made to the universal access to adequate, affordable, and quality health services for women, including comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights for all by G7 leaders.

Last year, the G7 leaders committed to the "access to safe and legal abortion as part of women's healthcare in Japan. The removal of LGBTQ rights and abortion was first reported by Bloomberg, which linked it to the involvement of Pope Francis in the G7 summit.

The Guardian reported Meloni's office as saying, The news published by Bloomberg, according to which any reference to the rights of LGBT people could be removed from the final G7 communique, is devoid of any foundation. The Italian presidency [of the G7] categorically denies this reconstruction".

Earlier, there was a disagreement between Meloni and French President Emmanuel Macron after Italy was accused of diluting the reference of access to safe abortion in the G7 declaration's final text.

While speaking to an Italian journalist, Macron said on the sidelines of the summit, You dont have the same sensibilities in your country. France has a vision of equality between women and men, but its not a vision shared by all the political spectrum.
Two men died after falling into a manure tanker at a farm in upstate New York on Thursday, and the incident is under investigation, according to reports.

The Kirkland Police Department and the Oneida County Sheriff's Department responded to Champion Farms in the town of Kirkland in Central New York shortly after 11 a.m. Thursday after a farm employee called 911 for help. According to police, one of the men had tried to retrieve a piece of equipment that had fallen into the tanker.

"When the male went to retrieve the equipment, he passed out and fell inside of the tanker," police told WKTV-TV. When the second man tried to help, he also passed out and fell in.

Clinton Fire Department, COCVAC Ambulance and Mercy Flight all responded to the scene, and the men were transported to Wynn Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

The men were identified as 33-year-old Nathan Doody from DeRuyter and 29-year-old Tyler Memory from Tully. They were not employees of the farm.

Both men were volunteer firefighters. Doody volunteered at the Cuyler Fire Department and Memory volunteered at the Tully Fire and EMS.

"We are saddened by sudden loss of firefighter Nate Doody. We send our condolences to his family, his work family and friends. Nate joined the fire department in 2014. Nate was a hard working family man. He enjoyed being around the fire department when he was able to," Cuyler FD wrote on Facebook Friday. "We would also like to send our condolences to Tully Fire Department and the Memory family on there loss."

The incident is under investigation.

--with reporting by TMX
A British teenager who espouses neo-Nazi views has been jailed for planning a suicide bombing at a synagogue in Hove.

Mason Reynolds has been sentenced to eight years in jail.

At Winchester Crown Court, Mrs. Justice May described him as "dangerous" and noted that the documents he kept demonstrated "how entrenched your interest in far-right ideology had become."

"You intended to encourage terrorism. This was propaganda pure and simple," Justice May said according to BBC.

Prosecutor Naomi Parsons said Reynolds, 19, had made a Google street map and satellite image of the synagogue with "entry points and points to attack."

She stated that Reynolds possessed an extensive collection of manuals, which included guides on explosives and gun-making.

"There was the potential to endanger many lives. He included references to the days when the synagogue would be busiest, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Passover," she said.

The court heard that the teenager from Moulsecoomb Way owned live-streamed videos of other acts of terrorism, including those by Brenton Tarrant in Christchurch, New Zealand, and Anders Breivik in Norway.

Reynolds promoted the neo-Nazi agenda on social media, had written that he wanted to "make Jews afraid again" and posted a promotional video for a proscribed organization, the court was told.

Defense attorney Amy Packham said his interest in the far right developed during the COVID-19 lockdown.

"He would never have taken this action into real life. This was all online, behind the barrier of the internet," she said.

"This is another case involving a young person following a toxic extreme right-wing terrorist and anti-Semitic path," Det Ch Supt Olly Wright, head of Counter Terrorism Policing South East, remarked after the hearing.

The fact Reynolds had such a detailed plan to attack a synagogue is really concerning. However, as a result of our investigation, Reynolds was prevented from progressing the plan into action.
A Louisiana man arrested in the slaying of a mother and her 3-year-old daughter confessed to killing the young girl as he was being escorted to jail, saying "I did it," according to reports.

Daniel Callihan, 36, was arrested Thursday in Jackson, Miss., in what investigators believe may be a brutal human trafficking case after the body of Callie Brunett, 35, was discovered in her rural Louisiana home, WWL reported.

A suspected accomplice, possibly Callihan's girlfriend, was also arrested, police said.

Brunett's two daughters - Erin, 3, and Jalie, 6 - who had been abducted from the home and were the subjects of a statewide search, were later located in Mississippi. Erin was dead, and Jalie was alive but injured.

Callihan was asked by reporters as he was being escorted to jail in Jackson on Friday why he killed the little girl.

"Sober. No drugs in my system. I did it," Callihan told reporters as he was being escorted to jail in Mississippi, WWL reported.

"I have no reason for what I did. All I want to say is that I was sober," he said, adding that he had been diagnosed with borderline multiple personality disorder and had been taking medication.

He said that he is cooperating with the investigation and would not contest the charges, which means he could face the death penalty.

"I would kill me. For what I did? Lethal injection is the easiest thing for me," Callihan said. "I am not pretending to be crazy. I am certified. I have only been out of the nut house for two weeks."

His alleged accomplice, Victoria Cox, 32, was arrested on Friday at a motel in Jackson, the station reported.

"Based on information that I got yesterday and early this morning, she is an acquaintance and possibly girlfriend of Mr. Callihan," Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade said.

The wooded area where the sisters were found contained signs of human trafficking.

"We see cages, small animal cages," Wade told FOX 8. "This is very, very disturbing to me as a police chief and as a father to witness and see what I saw."



Callihan was arrested in the wooded area near where Erin's body was found unburied, Wade said.

Jalie was transported to a local hospital.

Wade said law enforcement officials in Jackson have contacted human trafficking divisions with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and Hinds County to assist.

Callihan and Cox both face capital murder, kidnapping and sexual battery charges.
Firefighters rescued 28 terrified people who were left dangling upside down in the air for nearly 30 minutes on an amusement ride in Oregon on Friday, leaving some of the riders praying and "freaking out," according to a report.

Portland Fire and Rescue said on X that firefighters rushed to Oaks Park on Friday afternoon where they worked with the park's engineers to manually lower the ride.

"One rider with pre-existing medical conditions was transported to the hospital for further evaluation, out of an abundance of caution," Oaks Park officials said, KGW8 reported.

The ride, called AtmosFEAR, acts like a pendulum that swings back and forth and stops for a moment leaving riders upside down before returning to its initial position.

Daniel Allen and Jordan Harding were celebrating their high school graduation at the park when they decided to ride the AtmosFEAR.

"I was excited to go on," Allen told the station. "When you get stuck up there, I don't think you're so excited anymore."

Harding said after they were left hanging for more than a few seconds, they realized something was wrong.

"We were just freaking out," Harding said. "People were crying. They were just putting into the universe what they wanted to say for their last words."

"I'm not even religious, and I said a prayer. I didn't think I was going to live to see right now," she admitted.

They said hanging upside down took a physical toll.

"That position is just so uncomfortable physically," Harding said. "Twenty-five minutes. My entire waist below was asleep."

Oaks Park thanked its staff for taking "prompt action," guests for "following orders," and emergency responders for taking care of the "situation," KGW 8 reported.

The park, which is working with state inspectors and the ride's manufacturer to figure out what caused the problem, offered guests refunds.
A Las Vegas bartender who tried to save a victim of America's deadliest mass shooting condemned the Supreme Court's decision to overturn a ban on the bump stock device that let the killer fire more than 1,000 rounds in 11 minutes.

"I think it's disgusting," Heather Gooze told the Independent, according to a report Friday.

Gooze, 50, also said there was "no reason for a civilian to use a mass shooting machine," according to the BBC.

"Who has ever used a bump stock for good?" she asked.

On Friday, the high court's conservative majority struck down a 2018 federal rule that banned the possession of bump stock devices, which allow semiautomatic rifles to fire multiple rounds with a single pull of the trigger.

The 6-3 majority ruling, written by Justice Clarence Thomas, said the administration of then-President Donald Trump wrongly classified weapons fitted with bump stocks as illegal machine guns under federal law.

In a dissenting opinion, Justice Sonia Sotomayor predicted the case "will have deadly conequences."

The Justice Department's ban came after a disgruntled gambler perched in the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino opened fire on a crowd attending an outdoor concert below on Oct. 1, 2017, killing 58 people and wounding more than 500.

The 64-year-old gunman, who reportedly had a dozen rifles fitted with bump stocks and high-capacity magazines, died by suicide inside his 32nd floor hotel room.

Gooze said she helped people flee the carnage and tried to save one who was shot.

"I had my finger in the bullet hole of one of our angels in the back of their head," she said.

"I watched people's lives change right in front of my face, as well as my own."

The Texas gun dealer who challenged the bump stock ban celebrated the Supreme Court's ruling on social media, saying that "more guns" meant "less crime."

"You go out there and buy yourself a gun. Better yet, get yourself a bump stock," Michael Cargill wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org
Oh, oh, oh, for a beach body.

A top doctor in the United Kingdom is warning people not to use the popular weight-loss drug Ozempic to get a rushed "beach body ready" for summer, according to the Times of London.

Dr. Stephen Powis, the National Health Service's medical director, cautioned that people should not abuse Ozempic and Wegovy as a "quick fix ... to get a quickie 'beach body,'" the report said.

"We know these new drugs will be a powerful part of our arsenal dealing with obesity, but they should not be abused. Buying medication online without a doctor's supervision can lead to complications and dangerous consequences," Powis said at a recent conference in Manchester.

He said the drugs should be used for treating severe obesity or type 2 diabetes.

Recent reports have said that some people - especially young women - are lying about their weight to get the drugs 'privately from online pharmacies or beauty clinics," the Times of London said, adding that they are experiencing medical complications.

Doctors involved in providing emergency care report that they are seeing "young, beautiful girls" with healthy weights on "almost every shift" suffering from potential fatal consequences because they have taken the drugs.

Doctors are demanding "urgent regulation and control" over sales of the drugs to make sure they are being prescribed to obese patients.

Dr. Vicky Price, a consultant in acute medicine and president-elect of the Society for Acute Medicine, told the Times of London that she is among the physicians "concerned" about misuse of the drugs.

"I and many other colleagues in acute medicine across the U.K. are very concerned about the increasing numbers of patients we are seeing with complications from new weight-loss drugs they have purchased online," she said.

"Sadly we are seeing serious, life-threatening complications including inflammation of the pancreas gland and alterations in blood salt levels in these patients, who were not aware of the risk they were taking," Price added.

A doctor recalled how a "young girl" who was "not at all" overweight but bought Wegovy via an online pharmacy arrived at the hospital "feeling unwell, like she was going to pass out and couldn't stand up. She was really struggling to eat."

The doctor said cases like that are now all too common.

"They're really dangerous drugs - it's shocking. It isn't people who need those drugs that are doing this. This is people with probably an element of eating disorder and body dysmorphia and that's what terrifies me. I just look at these young, beautiful girls. Oh, my word ... it really makes me very sad," the doctor said.
A brawl broke out in Italy's Parliament when officials came to blows over a proposal to expand regional autonomy from the national government  sending an opposition lawmaker to the hospital for emergency treatment.

Five Star Movement party member Leonardo Donno, who opposes the plan, sparked the fight in the lower house by approaching regional foreign affairs minister Roberto Calderoni and trying to hand him an Italian flag.

A video recording showed two men rush over and grab Donno, prompting a huge fracas in which lawmakers pushed and punched each other in the Chamber of Deputies in Rome on Wednesday.

Donno told Italian news agency Adnkronos that "chaos ensued" after he got "got close" to Calderoni, according to the Washington Post.

"I didn't just get kicked several times, I also received a very strong blow to my sternum, and I collapsed because I could no longer breathe," he said.

Donno said he was treated by doctors at a local hospital.

The fight erupted one day before Italy hosted the annual Group of Seven summit meeting in the coastal Borgo Egnazia resort in Apulia, the region that comprises the heel of Italy's geographic "boot."

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told Italy's Sky TG24 TV news channel that he had "no words" to express his disappointment over the parliamentary violence, according to the Associated Press.

"We need to set another example, not punches to resolve political problems," Tajani said. "It's not braggadocio, it's not shouting; it's ideas that need to be explained well to persuade voters."

Calderoni, a firebrand member of the right-wing League party, drafted the proposal to expand autonomy in its regional northern strongholds of Veneto and Lombardy, AP said.

Five Italian regions now have autonomy that reduces the taxes they pay to the federal government, and critics contend that Calderoni's plan would further hurt the county's impoverished south.
Image Credit BCD

BCD Travels recent study explores modern corporate travel policies and changes happening due to shifting priorities and trends. The results are based on an online survey from April 2024 of more than 200 travel buyers worldwide. The top three travel program priorities include duty of care, policy compliance and cost control. All three ranked highly in 2023 and have since gained importance. However, the ratings of other priorities went slightly down. Traveler satisfaction dropped in importance as one of the top priorities from 2021 to 2023 to fourth in 2024. Similarly, payment and expense were assessed lower than a year ago.

A travel policy is a critical factor in a successful travel program. Its encouraging that many corporates agree as most travel buyers reported that their company has a dedicated travel policy. Differences arise in how policies are defined. Seven in 10 say their travel policy aligns with their company goals and is supported by leadership. Six in 10 define it as cost-focused and three in 10 describe it as traveler-centric. Only 15% of travel buyers reported that the policy is based on KPIs and traveler feedback.

Whats covered under travel policies?

A travel policy is a companys guide for managing business travel. It helps control travel costs and outlines the guidelines employees must follow when planning trips for the company. Topics covered by travel policies range from trip purpose to traveler wellbeing to bleisure travel. According to the survey, the two most commonly covered themes include trip purpose (e.g. client meetings vs. internal meetings) and pre-trip approvals. While sustainability is growing in importance in the industry, less than half said sustainable travel is included in their policy. This is in line with a BCD survey from July 2023 that found only 45% of companies have targets for sustainable business travel. Bleisure travel, remote work, and diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) are covered/included least often.

Many companies have dedicated travel policies for senior employees, specific business units, and frequent travelers. Only 12% have written policies for travelers with accessibility needs or neurodivergent travelers. Less than one in 10 have policies addressing employees with special needs (e.g. nursing mothers), LGBTQ+ travelers, gender, religion, or age.

Challenges

The biggest challenge for buyers when updating the policy is educating travelers. This is followed by managing policy exceptions, managing policy across different regions, and controlling policy compliance.

Traveling for work can be stressful. You want your employees to be able to access all the resources they need to make the process as simple and efficient as possible  and thats why regular policy communication is so important, said Teri Miller, BCDs executive vice president of the Global Client Team. Technology has streamlined traveler communications, creating ways for companies to easily provide relevant, timely information that can keep travelers safe. For example, clients use our TripSource platform to quickly reach travelers at different times through the planning and trip cycle.

BCD and its consulting division Advito can provide advice and guidance on writing policies and engaging with travelers.

Communicate with travelers before, during and after trips. TripSource Messaging ensures travelers stay informed and engaged with risk alerts, flight alerts, emergency response notifications, policy information and trip reminders.

Use traveler engagement to create awareness, influence behavior and increase satisfaction.

Survey travelers to hear from them and use insights to make policy changes.

Policy communication & enforcement

According to respondents, the most common way to communicate travel policy updates is through the company intranet, followed by direct mailing. A third share updates in the online booking tool (OBT) or during employee training. BCD suggests introducing the travel policy during employee onboarding as its mutually beneficial. It builds transparency, helps new hires feel informed, and fosters a culture of preparedness and responsibility.

While more than half of travel buyers view their travel policy as very or extremely effective, only a third are as confident in their policy communication. Almost half rate their policy communication as moderately effective, reflecting the common challenge of educating travelers about the policy.

The most frequently used ways of enforcing travel policies include:

Highlighting policy-compliant travel options in the OBT

Performing an audit of travel expenses

Regularly communicating travel policy changes via multiple channels

We know from experience that one of the most effective ways to communicate with travelers and influence their behavior is to put relevant messaging directly in the booking path. It not only results in increased compliance, but also leads to a more personalized and dynamic shopping experience for the traveler, said Miller. Advitos Engage team uses merchandising in our clients OBTs to drive policy education when and where it matters the most  right when they are making a purchase decision.

Cost-control policies

More than half of travel buyers report having reduced their travel budget in the past few years. At the same time, almost all introduced certain cost-control measures. The most popular measures are directed at reducing travel volume: encouraging online meetings, decreasing non-essential travel, encouraging fewer but longer trips, and limiting the number of employees on one trip. Other measures include using tools to lower the cost of a trip (e.g. price assurance), strict expense control, booking lower classes of air travel, and encouraging the use of public transportation instead of taxis.

Travel policy updates

In addition to travel management, various stakeholders are involved in creating and updating travel policies including finance, HR, procurement, security and the executive board. Most respondents updated their travel policy within the past year.

Companies should update their travel policies regularly to address the changing needs of travelers and the industry. A strong travel policy provides a consistent, safe, managed and cost-controlled framework that leads to wise travel decisions.

Trends shaping policy

Almost two-thirds of travel buyers expect sustainability (along with safety and security) to have the strongest impact on corporate travel policies in the upcoming years. Other trends of influence are technology, NDC, traveler wellbeing and new traveler needs. Meanwhile, DE&I is at the bottom of the list along with bleisure. Both are relevant but are not expected to considerably change travel policies.

Although traveler wellbeing has dropped slightly in importance, companies should be aware that business travel can be exhausting and influence travelers wellbeing and happiness. In todays struggle for talent, accommodating travelers wellbeing can have a positive impact on employee retention. BCD helps clients adapt their travel policies, communicate with travelers, and provide the right traveler tools, which ultimately benefit traveler wellbeing.

To view the travel buyer survey report, click here.
What is the best way for guests to get from Vienna Intl Airport to Ibis Budget Wien Sankt Marx?

Ibis Budget Wien Sankt Marx has parking for hotel guests so for most visitors spending time in Vienna, renting a car for around $31/day may be the best option. This will give you the ability to get to and from Vienna Intl Airport, and also give you the flexibility to get around the area. Rideshare apps and taxis remain a very common solution for Ibis Budget Wien Sankt Marx guests. This is often the most cost-effective method of transportation when visiting Vienna.
Does Le Meridien Vienna have a laundry service?

If you need to have clothes washed during your stay, you can take advantage of the laundry facilities and service at Le Meridien Vienna. Guests also have access to an iron and an ironing board during their stay - either in the room, or by asking the front desk.
'Lafayette Introducing Louis-Philippe to the People of Paris,' by Guillaume Lethiere. Works by the influential French painter are on exhibit at the Clark Art through October. 'Homer Singing His Iliad at the Gates of Athens' by Guillaume Lethiere. Clark Art Director Olivier Meslay discusses Guillaume Lethiere's 'Lafayette Introducing Louis-Philippe to the People of Paris.' PreviousNext

Clark Highlights Work, Revolutionary Spirit of Underappreciated Master



Clark Art Institute Deputy Director Esther Bell discusses the exhibition 'Guillaume Lethiere,' a partnership of the Clark and the Louvre in Paris. WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  Favorite artist of Napoleon's brother, director of the Academy of France in Rome, friend to the novelist Alexandre Dumas and revolutionary Marquis de Lafayette, Guillaume Lethiere was a prolific and influential painter who cast a long shadow over the art world in Paris in the first decades of the 19th century.

Since then, Lethiere's own legacy largely has been overshadowed.

This summer, the Clark Art Institute is doing its part to bring Lethiere to light.

"Guillaume Lethiere" opens Saturday at the South Street venue. The exhibition runs through Oct. 14 before crossing the Atlantic for a three-month run at the Musee de Louvre, which partnered with the Clark on the show.

Although Lethiere's name may not be well known, even to art aficionados, his art is far from obscure.

"Lethiere is a good example of being obscurity when you are still in plain sight," Clark Director Olivier Meslay said during a press preview of the exhibition on Thursday morning.

"The two big paintings  the [Brutus Condemning his Sons to Death' and Death of Virginia'], which are 25 feet long [each] are standing in the next room to the Mona Lisa since 1832. Never went in storage. But nobody was looking at it.

"It's very difficult to understand why this sort of trajectory happened. I'm sure that after this exhibition it's not going to continue. I think it's obvious when you look at what you see that he's a great painter. He's a very important figure. He's a painter who was one of the most looked at during his life, and then, after that, he disappeared."

Lethiere's life began on the Caribbean island of Guadalupe, where he was born in 1760 to Marie-Francoise Pepeye, an enslaved woman of mixed race, and Pierre Guillon, a French colonial administrator and plantation owner.

The eponymous exhibition traces Lethiere's career from a red chalk study of a nude figure he did at 16 in 1776 to 1831's "Lafayette Introducing Louis-Philippe to the People of Paris."

The show also highlights a number of Lethiere's contemporaries and students, in particular the women he encouraged to pursue their art and others, like him, who had roots in the Caribbean.

The exhibition also explores the ways that Lethiere navigated the turbulent period of the French Revolution, which shook the nation for more than decade as he was hitting the prime of his career in his 30s.

"Lethiere had to work for Napoleon, and he was asked to do a certain number of paintings," Meslay said. "He was asked to do Joesphine's portrait, which you see here, which was supposed to be hanging in the [National Assembly]. This is also an official portrait he was asked to do of Elisa, Napoleon's sister.

"For this reason, you think, He's really part of the system and a guy who was working with Napoleon.' Not exactly."

In fact, the exhibition demonstrates how Lethiere aligned himself with Republicans and abolitionists and Paris' Caribbean community, like the mixed-race General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, father of the novelist, who also became close with the painter.

And while Lethiere was commissioned to do a large portrait of Napoleon's wife, Josephine, that is included in the exhibition on loan from Versailles, Lethiere was closer to Napoleon's brother, Lucien, who is depicted in "Lucien Bonaparte Contemplating Alexandrine de Bleschamp Jouberthon."

"At the end of his career during the Napoleonic period, Lathiere made a depiction of Lucien, when Lucien was exiled by his brother," Meslay said. "There is a complicated relationship between the two brothers. Lethiere always stood for his friend Luciere, even though it was probably damaging his own career."

Clark Deputy Director Esther Bell, who led the Clark's curatorial effort with Meslay, pointed out other examples of how Lethiere's anti-authoritarian sentiments show in his work: engravings of four historical revolutionaries  Brutus, William Tell, Benjamin Franklin and Jean-Jacques Rousseau  on loan for the exhibition from the National Library of France.

"Lethiere obviously admires these men," Bell said. "He portrays them in strong profiles, surrounded by laurel leaves.

"It's a little bit difficult to put a finger on Lethiere's politics exactly throughout his life as he successfully navigated the tumultuous politics of his time and the various regime changes. But I think in his various works, whether it's 'Brutus Condemning His Sons to Death' or these [engravings] that he was invested in the fight against tyranny. And all of these men fought against tyranny in their own time."

The massive "Brutus Condemning His Sons to Death" remains in the Louvre, but the exhibition at the Clark does include a number of smaller studies from the Clark's collection.

"Brutus" in Lethiere's time, became an exemplar for French revolutionaries. It depicts the moment when the founder of the Roman republic makes a personal sacrifice to execute his own sons for attempting to restore the monarchy.

Perhaps Lethiere's most overtly political work, "Oath of the Ancestors," was to have been loaned to the Clark by the National Pantheon Museum in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, but could not leave the country safely due to the current political turmoil in the island nation.

"Oath of the Ancestors" depicts the alliance of two of Haiti's founding revolutionaries, Alexandre Petion and Jean-Jacque Dessalines. Lethiere's heroic depiction of the pair is represented at the Clark in an illuminated reproduction.

"They're embracing one another, shackles at their feet, war happening behind them, and they're making an allegiance that never again will they allow their country to be ruled by colonial oppressors," Bell explained. "[Haiti] is the first freed nation in the Caribbean. And here, Lethiere signs the painting, 'Guillaume Lethiere, nee a Guadalupe,' born in Guadalupe. So he's asserting his origins and his allegiance to Haiti and the people of the Caribbean.

"This was a very risky undertaking, to paint such a politically charged image at a time when slavery had been reinstated in France. So he was putting himself at great risk to paint such a thing."
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Amy Poehler is a bit of a hypnotist. Here she sits, eyes fixed on me, voice honeyed, wisdom forthcoming. It is your lifelong work to be as gentle with yourself as you can, she soothingly tells me, and only me. (There are at least five people from Disney in the room with us.) And youll get bonus points if you can use on others that same tenderness you try to use on yourself.

Of course she is like this. Poehlers most famous work  the scrappy US government comedy Parks and Recreation; voicing the emotion of joy in Pixars Inside Out  has been defined by its optimism, kindness and can-do pep. Basically the kind of shtick that could get pretty annoying. But something that makes that work so charming  and, by proxy, Poehler herself  is the fly thats always there in the ointment. Sugar comes with salt. Joy with sadness. Local councillor Leslie Knopes Obama-era pluck with a side of righteous rage. Poehler, in conversation, is not remotely annoying. Or even upbeat in a way that feels insincere. Yes, she is quick to reach for positive reinforcement, but she couches it in fact. Sure, the world isnt great. Sure, its tricky to like yourself. Sure, she says, were all dealing with the very human, very messy awfulness of being alive. But

For Poehler, theres always a but. The Disney collective is sitting on either side of us because were meeting to talk about Inside Out 2, now in cinemas. Sequels, who needs em? But the original Inside Out, which dazzled kids and plunged adults into existential angst back in 2015, was a natural fit for follow-ups. It was set primarily in the head of 11-year-old Riley, an ordinary girl whose behaviours are managed by five anthropomorphic emotions: Fear, Sadness, Anger, Disgust and Joy. All five work in tandem with one another, shepherding a human who is increasingly inclined to grief and melancholy. Inside Out 2 gets even messier, with Riley turning 13 and her inner operating centre invaded by a flurry of new emotions, among them Anxiety, Envy and Embarrassment, who each fight for control. It is just as affecting a movie this time around, and complex and profound in ways the best of Pixar tends to be.

When she was Rileys age, Poehler had her own voice in her head. She came to call this the demon voice, an inner monologue thatd tell her horrible, pointless things about how she looked and how she acted. It sounded like her, she wrote in her 2014 memoir Yes Please, but strangled and seductive  like Darth Vader or an angry Lauren Bacall.

You kind of contain a good wolf and a bad wolf in you, right? Poehler says today. And the way we speak to and about ourselves can be pretty brutal. We would never say things to our friends that we would say to ourselves. For young people, she thinks the ideas in Inside Out 2  and the way Joy navigates those first hints of self-loathing  can help. Pixars wish-fulfilment [hope] is to get in there before the demon gets in there. But? Poehler sighs, curling her lip. But you really, truly cant. She laughs, a broad rat-a-tat-tat laugh that sounds like gunfire. Its just a never-ending project. And whats funny is when you think its gone. Like, OK! Im good! Todays a good day! But then theres always someone in there, like  Oh, hey, before you go out, are you sure you dont think youre a piece of garbage?

Garbage or not, though, shes got stuff done. The 52-year-old has the kind of CV so huge that its easy to forget half of the things shes worked on. She found fame on the US sketch institution Saturday Night Live, on which she starred from 2001 until 2008, rapping about Sarah Palin and impersonating everyone from Dakota Fanning to Anna Nicole Smith. She was a scary drama teacher in the cult comedy Wet Hot American Summer, and the archetypal, Juicy Couture-clad cool mom of Mean Girls. Parks and Rec ran from 2009 to 2015, a cultural comfort blanket before the rot set in. In 2021 she directed the teen-feminist comedy Moxie for Netflix. A year later she directed a documentary on the trailblazing comedian Lucille Ball. She has producer credits on some of the most idiosyncratic comedy series of the last 15 years, including Broad City, Difficult People and Natasha Lyonnes trippy Russian Doll, and has hosted  alongside her BFF Tina Fey  the Golden Globes four times. Oh, and now shes a comedy podcaster, playing an incompetent therapist on Say More With Dr? Sheila, and a murder suspect in the true-crime satire Women Talkin Bout Murder. She also sleeps, allegedly.

Theyd be doing these really free and sexual scenes, and Id go up to them and say, Guys, if at any point youre uncomfortable, we can stop. And theyd be like Amy, we wrote this

Poehler has typically surrounded herself with funny women, and shes at the centre of a murderers row of comedy friends and allies that include Maya Rudolph, Rachel Dratch and Fey. But it was a tribe that took time to find. Early on, when she discovered she could make people laugh while part of a Boston College improv troupe  shed later, in 1991, co-found the noted comedy troupe The Upright Citizens Brigade  she was all about fitting in rather than standing out. I really wanted to just hang with the guys, she recalls. And to figure out how to be one of the guys. It took me a long time to realise my femininity.

She met Fey  as well as a raft of immediately recognisable Oh, right, that guy! comedy faces including Matt Walsh, Ed Helms, Paul Scheer and Rob Riggle  through the improv circuit, and spent the Nineties touring live shows around New York, performing in grungy pubs and defunct strip clubs. Success for me has always felt better shared, she says. It feels bigger and more satisfying. And also, lets be honest, its nice to fail with someone, too. Just to have someone to talk about it with over a beer.

open image in gallery Can-do pep: Poehlers Joy, alongside Maya Hawkes Anxiety, in Inside Out 2 ( Disney/Pixar )

After orbiting the shows cast and crew for a few years, she was hired for SNL shortly after Fey had become the shows first female head writer  an auspicious role for a series that had historically been unkind to women. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jane Curtin, Janeane Garofalo and Nora Dunn are just some of the comic heavyweights who walked down the shows sacred halls during its blokier eras  and hated it. Today Poehler says she lucked out.

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There were a lot of women even just 10 years ahead of me  both at SNL and in general in the business  who were the only women in the room, or one of two, she says. When I got to SNL, it was a time of super-strong, powerful, funny women, and Tina at the helm  I was very aware that other people had a completely different experience with it.

The cycle has continued, too. She sometimes catches herself out when working with women who entered the business after her. In the very early days of producing Broad City, an occasionally scatological comedy series about two aimless young women pootling around New York, shed get to set and worry about the safety of its stars, Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer. Theyd be doing these really free and sexual scenes, and Id go up to them and say, Guys, if at any point youre uncomfortable, we can stop. And theyd be like Amy, we wrote this. She laughs. So it was new watching women have ownership of their own stuff, and being the gatekeepers. In my lifetime, Ive watched that happen.

open image in gallery Partners in crime: Poehler alongside Tina Fey in a 2002 edition of Saturday Night Live ( Shutterstock )

Poehler speaks excitedly of the generations of funny people that have come up behind her  much of her producing work has also platformed new, young voices. But Im also curious if she finds this approach unusual. If anything has defined modern discourse of late, particularly in the comedy world, its a tendency to punch down: kids are dumb, new ideas are stupid, the youth have gone woke. She finds it baffling. As a middle-aged person, Im shocked by the certainty people my age walk around with, she says. As if their experience and wisdom has solved all the problems. Look at the system that were in right now. Everybody rolls their eyes! But at what? I am the age of these people  I know that we dont know what were talking about. Who are you fooling? You, with all your unresolved trauma and patriarchal bulls***. Her voice ascends into a comic racket. Im one of you! Nice try!

She calms. We get really defensive because we dont want to feel left out. We dont want to feel checked out. And young people are very energetic. They have big opinions. And we get really scared. Have you been around a 15-year-old lately? I havent, but Poehler has two sons, aged 15 and 13, with her former husband, the Arrested Development actor Will Arnett. Theyre doing OK. They sound like lawyers arguing at you, and they feel very intense, and its easy to just think, Oh, they dont get it  but just stay curious, stay open. She starts down another road, but stops herself with a laugh. Sorry, Im pontificating.

open image in gallery Yes we can: Poehler as local councillor Leslie Knope in Parks and Recreation ( Shutterstock )

If theres another thing Poehler cant abide, though, its bad behaviour. Her time on SNL was a positive one, and shes used it as a blueprint for sets ever since. Parks and Rec, for instance, proved something to her. You do not need to have a chaotic or dysfunctional work environment to be funny or to be creative, she says. I dont do great with people who want to fracture that feeling. I either get really defensive or really protective  Ive got my stuff to work on. But I think once you prove that it works, its pretty hard to go back. Ive sometimes gone to other places and Im like, Babe, it does not have to be this way  Ive seen the other side, we dont need to kill each other to make great stuff.

Poehler adored Parks and Rec. I did too  it was sweet, funny and quietly strange. With its evocative blend of small-town pride and gentle silliness, it felt, at its best, like the closest thing weve had to a live-action Simpsons. But, I tell her, Im also a bit anxious about ever rewatching it. Whyyyyy? she pleads, as if Ive just told her Ive kicked a puppy. Because I worry itd be slightly depressing now  a show that believed in a fundamental good. I worry, seen in the light of 2024 and the last decade on this planet, itd read as slightly naive. OK, I am going to tell you why youre going to enjoy it, Poehler says, with an eager insistence that is almost screamingly Knope-ian. I do know what you mean, or that it might feel sad because were not there anymore, but There it is! Youve gotta remember that there were very unlike-minded people in that office. People in that office had very different ways of life, and came at work in completely different ways. But they solved things. It feels like a version of what things could be, if people could actually just take one more second to be with each other.

She rewatched it during the pandemic with her sons, both of whom had never seen it before, and thinks it holds up. I was really proud that it was still very funny, she says. That it felt like one big, really dysfunctional, messed-up family trying to get through dinner, which is what everybodys still trying to do. She insists once more that I rewatch it. Its that hypnosis effect again. Itd feel wrong to not abide.

Inside Out 2 is in cinemas
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Bridgerton fans have been losing their minds over the longest sex scene in the period dramas history.

An intimate scene in part two of the third series, which landed on Netflix on 13 June, lasts for a total of six minutes.

The scene in question sees Nicola Coughlans Penelope Featherington and Luke Newtons Colin Bridgerton get down to it on a chaise longue  which actually broke on set while the sequence was being filmed.

Coughlan had teased the scene in interviews ahead of the episodes release, and one viewer posted on X saying: Nicola Coughlan did not lie. This was truly the BEST sex scene of the Bridgerton universe and just like Penelope I too was left wanting more of it.

Another fan wrote: Nicola breaking the chaise lounge while shooting a sex scene for Bridgerton is icon behaviour.

Even the panelists on US show The View were obsessed. Sunny Hostin called the moment beautiful, and gave kudos that Colin asked Penelope for her consent.

Sara Haines added that just watching the show gives her a strong feeling.

The sensual nature in how the build-up is, it takes me places just watching it, she said. I cant be alone!

Laughing, Joy Behar announced: This is one horny panel.

But not everyone was keen. Some people on social media shared their awkward experiences of watching the scene on public transport or with their parents. The Colin Penelope sex scene is so awkward, wrote one viewer. NOT GIVING AT ALL AND ITS SO UNNECESSARILY LONG.

open image in gallery Newton and Coughlan in Bridgerton ( LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX )

BBC drama Normal People and Billie Pipers Sky show I Hate Suzie are other series that have aired extremely long sex scenes. Pipers character Suzies masturbation scene lasted a full seven minutes and four seconds. And in Normal People, theres a scene between Daisy Edgar Jones and Paul Mescal that goes on for 10 minutes  though some of that is flashback moments.

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Coughlan has been praised for her response to some fans reactions to her nude scenes in Bridgerton.

The actor, 37, addressed a remark about her body during a recent screening of Bridgerton season three, part two, at the Lighthouse Cinema in Dublin, Ireland.

During a Q&A session at the screening, one fan told her she was very brave for filming nude scenes in season three of the Regency-era drama.

In response to the fans remark, Coughlan had a bit of fun, saying: 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/

She added: I am a proud member of the perfect breasts community, and I hope you enjoy seeing them.
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Matt Smith has opened up about having doubts over accepting roles in Doctor Who and House of the Dragon.

The actor, 41, played the Eleventh Doctor from 2010 to 2013. He also portrays the sadistic antihero Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragon, which returns for its second season on Sky Atlantic on Monday (17 June).

Speaking in a new interview with The Guardian about his doubts over House of the Dragons potential to live up to the legacy of the original Game of Thrones series, he said: I had the same feeling when I took Doctor Who. And my agent was like: Youre doing it! Thank God I did. It changed my life. To this day, it is just the most brilliant of jobs.

Asked why he hesitated so much, he added: The way to make an actor unhappy is to give them a job, because theres self-reflection. Like can I enjoy it? My dad used to say to me when I told him I wasnt enjoying this or that aspect of work: Bloody hell, son. Its work. Its not meant to be enjoyable all the f***ing time. Get on with it.

Smith, who lives in London, also said he sometimes regrets not following his Doctor Who co-star Karen Gillan to the US, to pursue his dreams of becoming a movie star.

I was gonna move over there, he said. Sometimes I look back, and maybe I should have literally just gone after her. And then things happened. I got in a relationship here and I ended up staying.

His past relationships include model Daisy Lowe and actor Lily James.

open image in gallery Smith was the Doctor from 2010 to 2013 ( BBC )

The Independent gave the new season of House of the Dragon four stars, with critic Louis Chilton writing of the four episodes made available: Scheming, betrayal, and political game-playing: these are House of the Dragons bread and butter, and  in lieu of the usual sex, which is conspicuously scant for now  also where most of the spice can be found.

The writing is always something of a disorienting stew, an attempt to mix HBO coarseness with faux-medieval syntax. His faith is in steel and bone; he has not the long view, one character augustly observes at one point. At another, a grubby assassin remarks that he knows the terrain better than the shape of my own c**k. OK then.

Meanwhile, read the latest recap of Doctor Who, in which Ncuti Gatwa now stars as the Time Lord, here.
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A top Indian official has allowed the prosecution of celebrated Indian author Arundhati Roy, who faces charges under anti-terror laws for a provocative speech made in 2010.

The 62-year-old Booker Prize-winning novelist has been an outspoken critic of the Narendra Modi administration for its controversial policies and laws targeting minorities. as well as more broadly on social injustice in India.

The charges relate to an event in Delhi in 2010 on Kashmir where Roy and a former professor of international law from Kashmir, Sheikh Showkat Hussain, spoke under a banner reading Azadi (Independence)  the only way.

Roy is reported to have argued that the Kashmir region, which is claimed in its entirety by both India and Pakistan and partly administered by each, had never been an integral part of India.

Permission to prosecute Roy was granted by the most senior official in the Delhi capital territory, VK Saxena, a politician from Mr Modis ruling BJP who currently serves as the lieutenant governor.

An official from the governors house said that he has allowed prosecution of the two under a section of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) pertaining to charges of sedition.

A controversial anti-terror law, the UAPA allows the authorities to detain suspects for up to 180 days without any charges. It was tweaked by the Modi administration in 2019 so that individuals could be classified as terrorists without necessarily being linked to a designated terror group. A total of 1,948 people were arrested in 2019 after the change came into force, marking an uptick of almost 37 per cent from the previous year.

At the 2010 event Roy, along with a prominent separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, strongly propagated that Kashmir was never the part of India and was forcibly occupied by Armed Forces of India and every possible effort should be made for the independence of the State of Jammu and Kashmir from India, according to an official from the governors office.

The complainant in the case, an activist from Kashmir named Sushil Pandit, said the participants had discussed and promoted the "separation of Kashmir from India".

Even at the time of the event, which took place under the previous Congress government, the authorities in Delhi took legal advice on whether they could charge Roy with sedition for her comments.

Nonetheless Indian opposition MPs and civil rights activists objected to the fact that charges were finally being pursued 14 years later.

If by prosecuting Arundhati Roy under UAPA the BJP are trying to prove theyre back, well theyre not. And theyll never be back the same way they were, said opposition MP Mahua Moitra from the Trinamool Congress party, referring to Mr Modis unwhelming performance in the recent general election.

This kind of fascism is exactly what Indians have voted against, she said.

The Delhi governors action against Roy defies logic except the fascist kind, said the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in a statement.
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A potentially historic heatwave is set to hit the US northeast next week, with temperatures predicted to soar some 20 degrees higher than normal.

Milder temperatures over Fathers Day weekend are set to give way much hotter weather, as a heat dome makes its way east.

A heat dome is a large area of high pressure that stops over an area, traps air and blasts it with sunshine for days or weeks. The resulting heat becomes more intense the longer a heat dome lasts, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

The NWS warned that anomalous heat would begin on Sunday in much of the Midwest, Central Plains, and Tennessee Valley.

Temperatures will be in the mid-to-high-90 degrees Fahrenheit (F) in many areas and likely at daily records in parts of the Ohio Valley and Northeast. Some areas will feel as hot as 105F, the weather service said.

The Detroit metro area will experience its worst heat wave in 20 years or more, with temperatures forecasted in the mid-90s and heat indices around 100F starting Monday and potentially lasting into the weekend, NWS meteorologist Steven Freitag said.

The area could see its first 100-degree day since July 2012.

A heatwave is classified as a period of abnormally hot weather generally lasting more than two days. Last year the US experienced the most heatwaves since 1936. In the South and Southwest, last year was the hottest on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Next weeks heat is expected to peak around the official start of summer, on June 20.

Although nighttime temperatures will dip into the 70s, providing some relief, the duration of the heat can have a cumulative and potentially dangerous effect on the body, Freitag told CBS.

The heat shifting to the east comes after the west coast was blistered earlier this month, with temperatures rising to a dangerous levels in places including Californias Death Valley ( Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Other areas in the east are also forecast to reach the upper 90s and low 100s in the lead up to the solstice include urban hotspots such as Newark, New Jersey, and Richmond, Virginia.

Major urban hotspots include Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and New York City and are predicted to hit the mid-to-high 90s towards the end of the week.

Weather experts have advised the public to take extra precautions including staying hydrated, avoiding exposed areas for prolonged periods, and checking in on vulnerable people.

The heat shift to the east comes after the west coast was roasted earlier this month with temperatures rising to dangerous levels in places including parts of California and Nevada.

Last year, intense heatwaves blistered the US with over 113 million Americans under heat warnings at their peaks, due to the climate crisis.

In July 2023 the mercury hit 110F in Phoenix for 13 days in a row, causing officials to advise residents to limit outdoor activities, and be alert to signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

It was the hottest year on record for the US, with scientists warning that temperatures will continue to rise.
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The Princess of Wales return to public life for Trooping the Colour comes after six months of preventative chemotherapy.

In a statement ahead of the event marking the Kings official birthday, Kate said she is not out of the woods yet.

The Princess confirmed on Friday that she would be in attendance for events at Buckingham Palace.

She has a few months of treatment to go for the unspecified form of cancer and said she has good days and bad days.

The princess revealed she began treatment in January, and in March recorded video statement in which she said that her condition was initially not believed to be cancerous when she underwent major abdominal surgery.

Subsequent tests revealed the presence of cancer and she was advised to undergo treatment.

Follow our live coverage for all the latest updates here

open image in gallery ( Matt Porteous )

The princess said in a message recorded on Wednesday: It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times. I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days.

On those bad days, you feel weak, tired, and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.

According to the NHS website, chemotherapy is a treatment aimed at stopping cancer cells from reproducing, which prevents them from growing and spreading in the body.

As well as killing cancer cells, chemotherapy can damage some healthy cells in your body such as blood cells, skin cells and cells in the stomach. This can cause nausea, tiredness, hair loss and an increased risk of infections.

In March it emerged that a member of staff at the private hospital The London Clinic, where Kate spent two weeks receiving treatment, had allegedly attempted to view Kates files while she was a patient.

Up to three staff members were allegedly being investigated, with the Information Commissioners Office, the UKs privacy watchdog, confirming they had received a breach report and were assessing the information provided.

Family Photo

Speculation around Kates disappearance from public duties was fuelled after she was forced to apologise when an image released on Mothers Day was found to have been manipulated.

open image in gallery An image released on Mothers Day was shown to have been manipulated ( Reuters )

Kensington Palace released the image of the princess with her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, on Sunday 10 March.

Within hours, however, major picture agencies across the world issued a rare kill notice after a number of editing issues were spotted. These included Charlottes sleeve being misaligned, Kates hand being blurry and her zipper being misaligned.

As the furore into the picture controversy continued, with picture agencies such as Getty Images demanding an explanation from the palace, Kate released a statement apologising for the confusion caused.

Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mothers Day, she said.

Other images taken by Kate of the royal family have since been reassessed and found to have been digitally altered, including a picture taken at Balmoral on the late Queens 97th birthday.

open image in gallery She is undergoing preventative chemotherapy treatment ( PA Images )

Challenging pregnancies

During the then-Duchess of Cambridges three pregnancies, she suffered with hyperemesis gravidarum, a condition which causes severe vomiting.

To overcome the extreme sickness, she revealed in a podcast Happy Mum, Happy Baby, she resorted to hypnobirthing techniques of mindfulness and meditation.

In the 2020 podcast, the Princess told the host Giovanna Fletcher: Im not going to say that William was standing there sort of, chanting sweet nothings at me.

He definitely wasnt. I didnt even ask him about it, but it was just something I wanted to do for myself.

I saw the power of it really, the meditation and the deep breathing and things like that, that they teach you in hypnobirthing, when I was really sick, and actually I realised that this was something I could take control of, I suppose, during labour. It was hugely powerful.

open image in gallery Kate has only been spotted on a handful of occasions since Christmas ( Getty Images )

Her latest health issues came amid a series of setbacks for the British monarchy, with King Charles also undergoing treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer.

The 75-year-old monarch stepped back from public duties but returned in May.

Prince Andrews former wife, Sarah Ferguson, is also currently undergoing treatment for skin cancer, just six months after being treated for breast cancer.
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The Princess of Wales was joined by her three children as she attended Saturdays Trooping the Colour ceremony, marking her first public appearance after revealing her cancer diagnosis in March.

Kate, 42, has been receiving treatment for an unspecified form of cancer since February, when the disease was discovered after she underwent abdominal surgery.

The senior royal made her first public appearance of the year for a traditional parade through London for the Kings official birthday celebrations.

open image in gallery Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte look out at the crowds while their mother smiles and waves ( Jonathan Brady/PA Wire )

open image in gallery Charlotte joined her brothers in supporting their mother ( Getty Images )

Click here for our live coverage of the parade.

Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, nine, and six-year-old Prince Louis travelled with Kate in a horse-drawn glass carriage.

She was surrounded by other members of the family, with her husband the Prince of Wales, Colonel of the Welsh Guards, on horseback, along with the Princess Royal, Colonel Blues and Royals, and the Duke of Edinburgh, Colonel Scots Guards.

King Charles, who is also being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer, inspected the troops alongside Queen Camilla from a different carriage.

open image in gallery Kate was beaming from the carriage as she watched the parade with her youngest, Louis ( EPA )

open image in gallery The parade is the first time the princess has been seen in public since Christmas ( Yui Mok/PA Wire )

Charles, 75, disclosed his cancer a month before Kate, and has recently eased back into public duties, including attending commemorations last week for the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

Kate, Charles and the family will watch the ceremony from a building overlooking Horse Guards Parade, a ceremonial parade ground in central London.

When the royal carriages finally came to a stop Louis was the first to leave, followed by his elder brother George and sister Charlotte.

open image in gallery George looks out at the crowd as the carriage proceeds along the route ( Getty Images )

open image in gallery Kate leaving the carriage as her three children wait ( Yui Mok/PA Wire )

Finally, Kate stepped down wearing a Jenny Packham dress, hat by Philip Treacy and the Irish Guards Regimental Brooch, as she is the regiments Colonel.

Kate announced on Friday that she would attend the Kings Birthday Parade after making good progress in her treatment.

I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days, Kate said in a statement, adding that she faces a few more months of treatment.

Admitting that she is not out of the woods yet, the Princess said she has returned to light duties and helping her three children with their schoolwork when she feels well enough.

open image in gallery The Princess of Wales, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte arrive for the Trooping the Colour ceremony (Yui Mok/PA) ( PA Wire )

Support from the public has made a deep impression on the princess, who said she had been blown away by the kind messages that had made a world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times.

Though the Kings birthday is in November, the monarch marks it on the second Saturday of June, as did his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Since 10.30am, spectators have been treated to a display of pomp and precision involving more than 1,000 soldiers, 250 military musicians and more than 200 horses.

Among the equine participants in the ceremony include Trojan, Tennyson, and Vanquish, three of the five military horses who sparked mayhem in April when they bolted and ran loose through central London.

Additional reporting by PA
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All eyes were on Prince Louis at the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony, as the six-year-old charmed viewers with his varied reactions to the event  from debuting dance moves to pretending to fall asleep.

Louis and his elder siblings, Prince George, 10, and Princess Charlotte, nine, accompanied their mother Kate to the parade in her first appearance since revealing her cancer diagnosis in March.

The family rode in a glass horse-drawn carriage to the affair at Horse Guards Parade in London. William, the Prince of Wales, was also in attendance, but rode on horseback alongside his aunt, the Princess Royal, and his uncle, the Duke of Edinburgh.

open image in gallery Prince Louis enjoys the music at Trooping the Colour ( BBC / screengrab )

open image in gallery He looks to the skies with his sister Charlotte as the flypast takes place ( James Manning/PA Wire )

King Charles, who is also being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer, inspected the troops alongside Queen Camilla from a different carriage.

Follow The Independents Trooping the Colour coverage here.

After the carriage ride, Kate and the children left to take their viewing spots, where Louis was seen enjoying the celebrations.

As the British Grenadiers marched past the monarch, musicians played a bagpipe-led piece. When the cameras cut to the viewing spot, Louis was seen moving quickly in time with the music, while Kate watched him and smiled.

open image in gallery The youngest son of Kate and William looked glum when it started to rain ( James Manning/PA Wire )

open image in gallery The children joined their mother Kate as she returned to public duties ( Getty Images )

open image in gallery Louis expression often attract royal watchers attention ( Getty Images )

Louis entertained viewers when he played with the drawstring for the blinds, as well as fiddling with the window at the Duke of Wellingtons former office. The prince was also seen yawning and appearing to show his lack of interest as he scrunched up his face.

Prince Louis is known for drawing focus at events with his curiosity and excitable expressions. Previous Trooping the Colour ceremonies have seen the young royal pointing at the RAF Red Arrow fly-past, and saluting along with his relatives.

The annual ceremony marks the monarchs official birthday. This years event is particularly significant for being the first public event that Kate has attended since her cancer diagnosis.

open image in gallery Kate watched the ceremony with her three children from a window at Horse Guards Parade ( Sgt Donald C Todd/UK MOD Crown copyright/PA Wire )

open image in gallery Louis looks to his father as the royals took to the balcony at Buckingham Palace ( James Manning/PA Wire )

Kate announced on Friday that she would attend the Kings Birthday Parade after making good progress in her treatment.

I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days, Kate said in a statement, adding that she faces a few more months of treatment.

Admitting that she is not out of the woods yet, the Princess said she has returned to light duties and helping her three children with their schoolwork when she feels well enough.

King Charles was also diagnosed with cancer this year, and has eased back into various duties such as the D-Day 80th anniversary celebrations in Normandy last week.

Elsewhere at Saturdays event, the royal family travelled in various carriages to Buckingham Palace amid a heavy rain shower for the events conclusion: the 41-gun salute and the Red Arrows fly-past.

George, Charlotte and Louis accompanied their mother in the carriage once again, and were seen wiping the steamy windows and waving to the cheering public.
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Italian anti-fascist activist Ilaria Salis returned to her parents house in the northern Italian city of Monza on Saturday evening, after being freed from house arrest in Budapest the day before.

A nightmare is over, her father Roberto Salis told journalists waiting for her at her home.

Now we must ensure that this accusation for which Ilaria believes she is innocent is dropped, he added.

Ilaria Salis was released after being elected as a new member of the European Parliament for the Italian Green and Left Alliance earlier this month.

The 39-year-old activist was elected during her time under house arrest in Hungary, where she is on trial and faces charges for allegedly assaulting far-right demonstrators.

European Parliament lawmakers enjoy substantial legal immunity from prosecution, even if the allegations relate to crimes committed prior to their election.

More than 170,000 voters in Italy wrote Salis name onto the ballot in a bid to bring her home from Hungary, where she has been detained for more than a year.

Salis became a hot-button political issue in Italy after images emerged of her handcuffed and shackled in a Hungarian courtroom where she faced trial.

The Italian activist was charged in Hungary with attempted murder after being part of a group of anti-fascists accused of assaulting individuals they believed were linked to the far-right Day of Honor last year.

The event, held annually on Feb. 11, sees far-right activists mark the failed attempt by Nazi and allied Hungarian soldiers to break out of Budapest during the Red Armys siege in 1945.

The alleged victims of the attack reportedly didnt complain to police.

Before the European Parliament election earlier this month, Salis father repeatedly voiced concerns over his daughters trial, saying she faced up to 24 years in jail. The Hungarian prosecutor had asked for a prison term of 11 years.
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Following the footsteps of prophets beneath a burning sun, Muslims from around the world congregated Saturday at a sacred hill in Saudi Arabia for intense, daylong worship and reflection.

The ritual at Mount Arafat, known as the hill of mercy, is considered the peak of the Hajj pilgrimage. It is often the most memorable for pilgrims, who stand shoulder to shoulder, feet to feet, asking God for mercy, blessings, prosperity and good health. The mount is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) southeast of Mecca.

Its believed that Prophet Muhammad delivered his final speech, known as the Farewell Sermon, at the sacred mount 1,435 years ago. In the sermon, the prophet called for equality and unity among Muslims.

Its indescribable, Ahmed Tukeyia, an Egyptian pilgrim, said on his arrival Friday evening at a tent camp at the foot of Mount Arafat.

Hajj is one of the largest religious gatherings on earth. The rituals officially started Friday when pilgrims moved from Meccas Grand Mosque to Mina, a desert plain just outside the city.

Saudi authorities expect the number of pilgrims this year to exceed 2 million, approaching pre-coronavirus pandemic levels.

The pilgrimage is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. All Muslims are required to make the five-day Hajj at least once in their lives if they are physically and financially able to make the demanding pilgrimage.

The rituals largely commemorate the Qurans accounts of Prophet Ibrahim, his son Prophet Ismail and Ismails mother Hajar  or Abraham and Ismael as they are named in the Bible.

This years Hajj came against the backdrop of the raging war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas, which pushed the Middle East to the brink of a regional war between Israel and its allies on one side and Iran-backed militant groups on the other.

Palestinians in the coastal enclave of Gaza were not able to travel to Mecca for Hajj this year because of the closure of the Rafah crossing in May, when Israel extended its ground offensive to the strips southern city of Rafah on the border with Egypt.

Staving off potential protests or chants about the war during the Hajj, Saudi authorities said they wont tolerate politicizing the pilgrimage.

The time of year when the Hajj takes place varies, given that it is set for five days in the second week of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month in the Islamic lunar calendar.

Most of the Hajj rituals are held outdoors with little if any shade. When it falls in the summer months, temperatures can soar to over 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). The Health Ministry has cautioned that temperatures at the holy sites could reach 48 C (118 F). It urged pilgrims to use umbrellas and drink more water to stay hydrated.

After Saturdays worship in Arafat, pilgrims will travel a few kilometers (miles) to a site known as Muzdalifa to collect pebbles that they will use in the symbolic stoning of pillars representing the devil back in Mina.

Pilgrims then return to Mina for three days, coinciding with the festive Eid al-Adha holiday, when financially able Muslims around the world slaughter livestock and distribute the meat to poor people. Afterward, they return to Mecca for a final circumambulation, known as Farewell Tawaf.

Once the Hajj is over, men are expected to shave their heads, and women to snip a lock of hair in a sign of renewal. Most of the pilgrims then leave Mecca for the city of Medina, some 340 kilometers (210 miles) away, to pray in Prophet Muhammads tomb, the Sacred Chamber. The tomb is part of the prophet's mosque, which is one of the three holiest sites in Islam, along with the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

Hajj is a notorious choke-point for crowds. In 2015, several thousands of pilgrims were crushed to death in a crowd surge. Saudi authorities never offered a final death toll.

In recent years, Saudi authorities have made significant efforts to improve access and avoid deadly accidents. Tens of thousands of security personnel were deployed across the city, especially around the holy sites, to control the crowds, and the government built a high-speed rail link to ferry people between holy sites in the city, which has been jammed with traffic during the Hajj season. Pilgrims enter through special electronic gates.

Saudi authorities have also expanded and renovated the Grand Mosque where cranes are seen around some of its seven minarets as construction was underway in the holy site.

___

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.
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A missing Dutch tourist was found dead early Saturday on the eastern Greek island of Samos, local media reported, the latest in a string of cases in which tourists on Greek islands have died or gone missing. Some, if not all, had set out on hikes in blistering hot temperatures.

Two Americans and two French tourists have also recently been reported missing.

Dr Michael Mosley, a noted British TV anchor and author, was found dead last Sunday on the island of Symi. A coroner concluded that he had died the previous Wednesday, shortly after going for a hike over difficult, rocky terrain.

Samos, like Symi, lies very close to the Turkish coast.

Click here for our latest updates on the search for missing tourists

The body of the 74-year-old Dutch tourist was found by a Fire Service drone lying face down in a ravine about 300 meters (330 yards) from the spot where he was last observed on Sunday, walking with some difficulty in the blistering heat.

Temperatures across Greece on Saturday were more than 10 degrees Celsius (18F) lower than on Thursday, when they peaked at almost 45C (113F). They are expected to rise again from Sunday, although not to heatwave levels.

Authorities were still searching for four people reported missing in the past few days.

British TV presenter, Dr Michael Mosley, was found dead on the island of Symi last weekend ( AP )

On Friday, two French tourists were reported missing on Sikinos, a relatively secluded Cyclades island in the Aegean Sea, with less than 400 permanent residents.

The two women, aged 73 and 64, had left their respective hotels to meet.

A 70-year-old American tourist was reported missing on Thursday on the small island of Mathraki in Greeces northwest extremity by his host, a Greek-American friend. The tourist had last been seen Tuesday at a cafe in the company of two female tourists who have since left the island.

The friend returned to his home on Thursday only to find the front door open, the lights, and air conditioning on, and their friend missing as well as his ID and travel documents.

Mathraki, population 100, is a 3.9-square-kilometer (1.2-square-mile) heavily wooded island, west of the better-known island of Corfu.

Mathraki doesnt have a police station or a coast guard station, meaning that Corfu officials were called in to aid with the search but strong winds had prevented police and the fire service from reaching the island as of Saturday afternoon.

Dr Michael Mosley, a noted British TV anchor and author, was found dead last Sunday on the island of Symi ( BBC )

On Thursday, the search crews looked in the waters around the island, only to pause on Friday because of rough weather.

On the island of Amorgos, authorities were still searching for a 59-year-old tourist reported missing since Tuesday, when he had gone on a solo hike in very hot conditions. US media identified the missing tourist as retired Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff Albert Calibet of Hermosa Beach, California.

Amorgos, the easternmost of the Cyclades islands, is a rocky 122-square-kilometer (47-square-mile) island of less than 2,000 inhabitants. A couple of years ago the island had a record number of visitors, over 100,000.

Popi Despotidi, the islands deputy mayor of tourism, told CNN: Its unlikely he got lost as he has been coming here for 10 years and has walked all over Amorgos.

Calibet retired from the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department in 2018.

Robin Leon, a friend of the Calibet family, told NBC News: He knows this path, he knows this island.

The mayor knows him, every cafe knows him, people know Albert on that island. They love him, Leon added.

The municipality of Amorgos wrote on Facebook that the 59-year-old had followed the path from the Asphontylite region toward the village of Katapola. When he vanished, he was wearing Bermuda shorts and a dark shirt.

Calibets sister-in-law Sandrine Cutwright told NBC News that every minute, every hour that passes it gets more sad.

Some media reports have suggested on the need to inform tourists of the dangers of setting off on hikes in intense heat.
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Bear Grylls is the ultimate scout poster boy. Daring and adventurous, he has climbed Everest, been attacked by bees and hiked with former President Barack Obama.

The Eton-educated former soldier, a master of survival, was an easy pick to become the UKs youngest-ever chief scout aged just 34.

But can his scouting legacy survive after reports emerged he would stand down as chief scout weeks after photos of him baptising controversial comedian Russell Brand became public?

On 17 May 2009, The Scout Association announced Grylls would be appointed chief scout following the end of Peter Duncans five-year term in July 2009.

He was officially made chief scout in front of over 3,000 scouts.

He said: When I became chief scout in 2009, it was one of the proudest moments of my life. With every passing day since, Ive become even more inspired by the dedication of our leaders and volunteers, who tirelessly prepare young people with skills for life.

Together, we have grown our movement, given young people the voice they deserve and welcomed so many new communities to the Scouts. Its all about delivering chances to young people where they are needed most. My goal remains the same: to encourage and stand up for young people in all they do.

He is the tenth person to hold the position and the youngest chief scout since the role was created for Robert Baden-Powell in 1920.

The House of Commons tabled a motion congratulating Bear Grylls on his appointment.

Pride

In 2015 the Scout Association announced that Grylls would continue as chief scout until 2018. Grylls wrote, I am so proud that the largest youth movement on the planet has asked me to continue in my role.

Grylls, in an interview with The Telegraph, praised the challenge of being Britains youngest chief scout, saying Scouting humbles me every day.

Three years later, Bear took on the additional role as the first Chief Ambassador of World Scouting, responsible for promoting the value of being a Scout to a global audience.

In 2020 it was reported that Grylls would be in the post until at least 2023.

He told scouts on a livestream at the time: I couldnt be more proud to continue as chief scout for at least the next three years, and my hope is that together we can steer and carry Scouting through this tough time and out the other side as a force for good across the whole nation.

South Korea Disaster

Bear Grylls spoke to more than 40,000 young people from across the world as the huge Scout Jamboree kicked off in South Korea in August 2023.

British Scouts arrive at a hotel in central Seoul ( EPA )

But the event soon turned into a nightmare. Extreme heat resulted in hundreds of participants being taken ill, with snakes under beds and giant mosquitoes among the other challenges faced by participants. It all proved too much for the British contingent, who pulled their 4,000 participants from the campsite for the safety of the capital Seoul.

Hundreds of children were taken sick in the first few days as they struggled with the heat ( AP )

Olaf Clayton recounted the ordeal of his daughter 16-year-old Gabriela, who had travelled to the event with British Scouting Overseas.

There was no shade, all activities were cancelled, and there were huge mosquitoes, he said. Gabriela is quite a tough cookie, but she said there were funny things coming out of the ground. There was a snake under her bed - thankfully the Bangladeshi scouts knew just how to deal with snakes.

Parents and the public alike criticised the organisers for not anticipating the heat. A mother told The Independent the heatwave was the final part in the perfect storm of failures, with its effects exacerbated by an apparent lack of medical facilities.

Social Media advice for young people and parents

The celebrity adventurer has said that children need to learn to police themselves and manage their own time on social media.

He said: If Im on it all day, thats going to erode your heart a bit.

Grylls added that he and his wife, Shara Grylls, did not set rules on how long their three sons  Jesse, 19, Marmaduke, 17, and Huckleberry, 14  are allowed to spend on social media.

Every chief scout Robert Baden-Powell  1907 to 1941 Arthur Somers-Cocks  1942 to 1945 Thomas Corbett  1945 to 1959 Charles Maclean  1959 to 1971 William Gladstone  1972 to 1982 Michael J. H. Walsh  1982 to 1988 Garth Morrison  1988 to 1996 George Purdy  1996 to 2004 Peter Duncan  2004 to 2009 Bear Grylls  2009 to present

Eco-warrior

Writing in the Independent he urged people to wake up to the dangers of global warming.

He wrote: Ive spent my life in the outdoors. Ive seen the great forests of the Amazon; the mountains of Nepal. Ive looked out at the world from the summit of Everest, and I know how much we have to lose. These are precious reminders of our planets majesty and beauty. Yet the power of incredible places is deceptive  we live on a fragile Earth, and were slowly choking it. Its a tragic thing to destroy the only home we have.

If we want a healthy world to pass on to our children and grandchildren, we cannot afford to ignore the facts. Put starkly, we are the last generation that can make a difference before its too late  before global warming slides out of control.

Inclusivity

Under Bears guidance, atheists were welcomed into the Scout movement for the first time in 105 years, the association has said.

The movement launched a consultation to see if members would support an alternative Scout Promise for those who feel unable to pledge a duty to God.

For more than 40 years, versions of the oath have existed for faith groups including Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists, but this is the first time Scouts have considered an adaptation for atheists.

Russell Brand

The Scouting Association has issued a statement following reports Bear Grylls is to stand down as chief scout after photos emerged of him baptising Russell Brand.

The Daily Mail reported that the adventurer is standing down from the position after concerns emerged around his relationship with YouTuber Brand, less than a year after a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary reported allegations of sexual assault. Brand denies all the allegations against him.

Russell Brand being embraced by Bear Grylls ( Russell Brand Instagram )

A spokesperson for the Scouting Association told the Independent: We are extremely proud that Bear Grylls is our chief scout. Bear was the UKs youngest-ever chief scout when he was appointed in 2009, aged 34.

He remains the public face of the Scouts in the UK. He inspired the movement through a period of unprecedented growth, hes helped thousands of young people to gain new skills, try new things, and look to the future with optimism.

They added: More information will be available later in the year about Bears next steps.
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The Scouting Association has issued a statement following reports Bear Grylls is to stand down as chief scout after photos emerged of him baptising Russell Brand.

The Daily Mail reported that the adventurer is standing down from the position after concerns emerged around his relationship with YouTuber Brand, less than a year after a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary reported allegations of sexual assault. Brand denies all the allegations against him.

A spokesperson for the Scouting Association told the Independent: We are extremely proud that Bear Grylls is our chief scout. Bear was the UKs youngest ever chief scout when he was appointed in 2009, aged 34.

He remains the public face of the Scouts in the UK. He inspired the movement through a period of unprecedented growth, hes helped thousands of young people to gain new skills, try new things, and look to the future with optimism.

They added: More information will be available later in the year about Bears next steps.

Bear Grylls is the 10th person to hold the position since it was created for founder Robert Baden-Powell ( Alpha )

In 2020 it was reported that Grylls would be in the post until at least 2023.

He told scouts on a livestream at the time: I couldnt be more proud to continue as Chief Scout for at least the next three years, and my hope is that together we can steer and carry Scouting through this tough time and out the other side as a force for good across the whole nation.

Chief Scout Bear Grylls salutes as the Queen reviews the Queens Scouts at Windsor Castle in 2012 ( PA Archive )

On Friday, Bear Grylls posted a letter thanking 14 young scouts for camping and learning computer skills for months and urged other young people to join the worldwide youth social movement.

In May, Russell Brand shared a photo of his baptism in the River Thames, which features the devout Christian embracing him in the water.

'Running Wild: The Challenge With Bear Grylls and Russell Brand' ( Nat Geo )

The unlikely friendship seemingly began when Brand appeared last year on Running Wild, filmed in the Hebrides.

Brand later shared a video to social media detailing how Grylls was one of two men who flanked him during the baptism ceremony close to where he lives in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

The 48-year-old podcaster had called baptism an opportunity to leave the past behind.

Week one as a Christian has been amazing, Brand said in the video.

The ceremony itself was incredible. I want to thank Bear Grylls and my mate Joe, the two men that stood either side of me and flanked me for the baptism itself.

At the time Grylls confirmed his attendance to the Daily Mail and described assisting in Brands baptism as a privilege after the comedians tough time.

Faith and spiritual moments in our lives are really personal, he told the publication. But it is a privilege to stand beside anyone when they express a humble need for forgiveness and strength from above.

He added: Friendships when we go through tough times are worth so much.
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The Princess of Wales made a triumphant return to public life for the first time in six months on Saturday, attending Trooping the Colour to celebrate the Kings birthday.

Kate appeared in high spirits, joking with Charles and supported by her husband and three children, as they all took to the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the traditional flypast.

From the first glimpses of the princess emerging from her car, she was full of smiles and waves.

Kate returned to the public eye for the first time since Christmas Day ( AP )

The princess looked cheerful as she was joined by husband, William and her three children ( James Manning/PA )

Kate, 42, is currently undergoing preventative chemotherapy after revealing in March that she was receiving treatment for the disease, which was discovered after abdominal surgery in January.

When she finally emerged behind the King and Queen on Saturday, the crowds cheered and whistled before watching the Red Arrows fly past in the Kings honour.

Kate beamed as she took part in the parade ( AFP via Getty )

Princess of Wales arriving at Horse Guards Parade ( AFP via Getty )

Kate appeared in an upbeat mood and, at one point, whispered something in King Charles ear that made the monarch chuckle.

And she could not contain her own laughter when she saw Prince Louis break out into a little jig during the quick march of the Scots Guards to Highland Laddie at the window at the Duke of Wellingtons former office.

The event began at 10am, with the Princess initially appearing to look apprehensive as she gazed out of a steamy window of their car. The heavens opened on The Mall, where people had waited for hours to catch a glimpse of the reunited royal family.

Princes wipe the fog out of the carriage windows ( Jonathan Brady/PA Wire )

The Princess of Wales and Prince Louis safely in the carriage as they proceed along the rain-soaked Mall ( James Manning/PA Wire )

Backstage footage video released by Buckingham Palace showed Kate fiddling with Princess Charlottes hair as they waited to board the glass horse-drawn carriage without Prince William, who was forced to brave the elements on horseback behind his father.

King Charles, himself recovering from a shock cancer diagnosis, was unable to ride horseback as is tradition, opting for another gentle carriage ride with his wife Queen Camilla.

Kate, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis watching the crowds that lined The Mall ( Reuters )

The princess was seen smiling in her carriage alongside her son Louis ( Yui Mok/PA )

The Princess of Wales dazzled in a bold white Jenny Packham dress with black detail, and a white angled hat by Philip Treacy. She was last seen in this outfit in May 2023 during the Kings coronation weekend.

Kates appearance had been in doubt until the last-minute announcement on Friday afternoon that she was going to attend the Trooping the Colour event.

Prince Louis enjoys the music at Trooping the Colour ( BBC )

Kate watched the ceremony with her three children from a window at Horse Guards Parade ( Sgt Donald C Todd/UK MOD Crown copyright/PA )

In a candid statement released on Friday, Kate outlined her cancer journey admitting she is experiencing good days and bad days and stressing: I am not out of the woods yet.

She said: I have been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months. It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times.

Im looking forward to attending The Kings Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet.

King Charles and Queen Camilla attend the Trooping the Colour parade to honour him on his official birthday ( Reuters )

The princess revealed she would be attending on Friday ( Getty )

I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much-needed time to heal.

Thank you so much for your continued understanding, and to all of you who have so bravely shared your stories with me.

But she has begun to work from home, undertaking meetings with her foundation and Kensington Palace team, and hopes to join a few public engagements over the summer.

King Charles is said to be delighted the Princess was able to attend ( Reuters )

Her decision to choose a major national event on Saturday to return briefly to the public spotlight, the first time since Christmas Day, has been welcomed by the King.

The princesss public appearance at the parade and Trooping the Colour is her first official outing of 2024 after she missed engagements at the start of the year when she was admitted to hospital on 16 January.

Trooping the Colour will not mark the start of a return to full-time duties, and Kate has no plans to attend the Garter Day service on Monday or Royal Ascot, as she is still undergoing treatment, with the royal appearing to indicate in her statement it will last until the end of summer.
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Newly-knighted human rights activist Bill Browder has dedicated his honour to the Russian dissidents killed simply for opposing Vladimir Putin, as he vows to free those that have been imprisoned for keeping up the fight against the autocrat.

The US-born financier has been knighted in the Kings Birthday Honours after years of lobbying governments to introduce sanctions against human rights violators and kleptocrats.

Sir Bills campaign work began in 2009 after the death of his associate Sergei Magnitsky, who died in a Moscow jail after exposing a tax fraud involving Russian officials.

Since Mr Magnitskys death, human rights laws enacted in his name have been adopted by countries including the US, the UK and Canada, as well as the European Union.

In the US, more than 475 people have been targeted by the Global Magnitsky Act, passed in 2016 and which specialises in targeting perpetrators of human rights abuses regardless of their geographical location. Sir Bills lobbying was key to its enactment.

Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky was killed in 2009 after being arrested for exposing a tax fraud involving Russian officials ( Provided / Jonas Heylar )

Four years later, again due to the lobbying of Sir Bill, the UK adopted the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, which is secondary legislation focused on tackling international human rights abuse. It marked the first occasion that the UK had introduced broad, standalone measures targeting human rights abuses without prompt from the United Nations or EU.

Many of those who have been targeted are Russian officials responsible for killing and/or detaining innocent dissidents speaking out against Putin, including the judges presiding over Mr Magnitskys case.

This honour is dedicated to Sergei Magnitsky, whose sacrifice has led to all of the work Ive done for the last 15 years, to try to make his death not a meaningless death, Sir Bill said.

He added that he was also dedicating the honour to Boris Nemtsov, a prominent Russian opposition politician who was killed outside the Kremlin in 2015, and who helped Sir Bill pass the Magnitsky Act, as well as Alexei Navalny, the face of the anti-Putin Russian community, another key figure to the Magnitsky sanctions.

Mr Navalny died in a penal colony in the Arctic Circle in February this year while serving a lengthy sentence on trumped up charges of fraud. Sir Bill maintains that Mr Navalny was murdered.

But I would say, and most importantly, because hes still alive, this honour is for Vladimir Kara-Murza, who I am hoping to get out of prison, Sir Bill added.

Sir Bill Browder is pictured alongise Vladimir Kara-Murza prior to the Russian dissidents arrest in April 2022 ( Provided / Jonas Heylar )

Mr Kara-Murza, a dual British-Russian citizen, was arrested in April 2022 for speaking out against Putins illegal invasion of Ukraine. Since then, he has been kept in solitary confinement, in a cell only a few metres long and wide, while communication with his wife, Evgenia, and the couples three children has been completely severed.

Speaking to The Independent towards the end of last year, Evgenia Kara-Murza warned that time is running out for her husband, who suffers from a debilitating nerve condition called polyneuropathy brought on by two failed assassination attempts on his life by poisoning. It is widely believed that the Kremlin was behind the assassinations.

After the death of Mr Navalny in February, fears abound that Mr Kara-Murza may be the next to be killed while in prison. He is serving a 25-year sentence in a Siberian penal colony.

UK foreign secretary David Cameron met with Evgenia and Mr Kara-Murzas mother, Elena Gordon, in March this year to discuss the jailed dissidents case.

I have been doing everything in my power to get Mr Kara-Murza out of prison, said Mr Browder, a long time friend of Vladimir and Evgenia. I am hopeful that this honour will raise my profile to give me more access to more decision makers to facilitate that objective.

Theres been such tragedy connected to the work that Ive done. But having said that, the fault of this tragedy is not anything any of us have done. It is the fault of Vladimir Putin.
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Concerns have been raised that the government plans to fly two migrants to Rwanda next week in a bid to influence the general election result.

The Independent understands plans are in place to fly a person from Nigeria and another from Pakistan, who are in the UK illegally, to the East African country before the election on 4 July.

The flight, if it takes place, would be on the voluntary scheme rather than the deportation plan, which Rishi Sunak legislated for before the election.

Neither person will have crossed the Channel on a small boat.

The voluntary scheme sees the migrants flown to Rwanda, where their board and lodgings are paid for and they are given cash.

Sunak vowed to stop the boats, but his Rwanda deportation flights cannot happen until after the election ( PA )

Opposition parties have raised suspicions that the flight could be a gimmick to help turn around Tory fortunes.

So far, one person, from Ghana, has been flown to Rwanda, again under the voluntary scheme. In April, Labour pointed out that the government leaked the story to The Sun with no context of which scheme applied, making it seem that the Rwanda deportation plan was operating.

Only afterwards did it emerge that it was a voluntary agreement based on a cash payment.

Immigration is one of the top three issues in the election and already the Tories are panicking about Nigel Farages Reform UK passing them in the polls.

Reform has leaned heavily on immigration as an issue to prise away Tory voters. Mr Farage referred to the issues of record legal immigration and the small boats in almost all his answers during Thursday evenings seven-way debate on ITV.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage speaks to the media during a press conference ( PA )

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer has made a pledge to take control of Britains borders, with a new command force listed as one of his first six steps for a Labour government.

Labours shadow immigration minister, Stephen Kinnock, told The Independent he is concerned about the timing of the latest flights.

He said: "A grand total of three volunteers sent to Rwanda in total  just about equals the number of home secretaries who have gone  with a bill for the taxpayer, which will cost nearly half a billion pounds.

"The whole Rwanda scheme is a con, and this last-ditch attempt from the Tories to get any credibility at all is pathetic.

"Labour will end the Tory chaos and smash the criminal gangs driving dangerous boat crossings with our elite new Border Security Command, and boost returns for those with no right to be here with our Returns and Enforcement Unit."

Nigel Farage also hit out at the move, telling The Independent: The Tories have still not sent a single Channel migrant to Rwanda. Dont believe a word they say.

The Home Office said it does not comment on operational issues.

But a senior Tory source denied that the flights had anything to do with the election.

They said: It isnt [related to the election].

[This is a] typical swipe against something thats been going on regardless of the election, or that might challenge their terror that this scheme  that most of Europe are looking at  might be the answer, might work... with [Labour] having vowed to scrap it.
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Its been another topsy-turvy week on the campaign trail as the political parties released their election manifestos to try and compete for your vote at the general election on 4 July.

The Independent has pinpointed these key moments:

Starmer beats Sunak in second TV debate, poll reveals

Rishi Sunak suffered a fresh setback on Wednesday night after a snap poll found that Sir Keir Starmer won the TV debate by a substantial margin. Both leaders were given a real grilling by Beth Rigby on Skys Battle for Number 10, and took a number of tough questions from the audience in Grimsby. A YouGov survey after the debate had Sir Keir the easy winner on 64 per cent, with the prime minister trailing on 36 per cent.

Disaster for Sunak as Farages Reform overtake Tories in poll

In another tough pill to swallow for the embattled prime minister the Tory Party was overtaken by Nigel Farages Reform UK for the first time in a national poll. A YouGov survey Mr Farages party at 19 per cent and the Conservatives on 18 per cent in voting intention. Mr Sunak brushed off the disappointing polling and claimed there was time in the campaign for a comeback. Mr Farage said he believed it showed that Reform could not be the voice of opposition.

Ed Davey vows to rejoin Single Market and eventually... to overturn Brexit

The Liberal Democrat leader said he will push for Britain to rejoin the Single Market and eventually rejoin the EU, at the partys manifesto launch on Monday. Sir Ed said that the UK needs to be back at the heart of Europe and stressed the Lib Dems are a pro-European party. The manifesto, which has healthcare at its core, also promised a tranche of care policies that would be backed by a 3.7 billion investment.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey tried his hand at an assault course in Kent while on the campaign trail on Thursday (Gareth Fuller/PA) ( PA Wire )

Four Tories back Foxs Reclaim election pledges

Four Tory candidates signed up to the pledges of Laurence Foxs Reclaim Party in exchange for 5,000 worth of campaign donations. Dame Andrea Jenkyns, Brendan Clarke-Smith, Karl McCartney and Marco Longhi, promised to uphold the right-wing partys four commitments to culture. These are reforming the Equality Act, banning gender reassignment for children, repealing the Human Rights Act and working to pull Britain from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

Starmer launches pro-business manifesto with 8.6bn of new taxes

The Labour leader launched his partys manifesto on Thursday after 14 years of Tory chaos but cautioned that there would be no quick fix if he is handed the keys to No 10. Sir Keir said he was now offering a serious plan for the future of our country and that it was a manifesto focused on economic growth and making Labour the party of wealth creation. As part of this plan, he revealed that he intends to raise 8.6billion in new taxes.

Goves replacement caught out renting Airbnb

A Tory candidate to replace Michael Gove posted a social media post about becoming a resident of the area, only for it to emerge he was renting an Airbnb property. Candidate for Surrey Heath Ed McGuinness posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday that he was now a resident of St Pauls ward. Social media users posted pictures of the Airbnb listing. Mr McGuinness said the property was a former Airbnb he was renting and that it had not yet been removed from the site.

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer arrives on his election battle bus at a campaign event in Halesowen (PA) ( PA Wire )

Sunak puts tax cuts and immigration at heart of manifesto

The Tory leader vowed to halve immigration and unveiled a 17.2bn package of tax cuts as he tried to woo voters back to his party with only a few weeks until polling day. Launching the manifesto at the Silverstone motor racing circuit he acknowledged that people were frustrated with him and admitted the Tories have not got everything right. He said that migration has been too high in recent years and promised to halve it.

Rishis Sky TV gaffe

The prime minister was widely derided after saying he went without lots of things as a child, including Sky TV. In an interview with ITV News, Mr Sunak, who attended the fee-paying Winchester College boarding school, said his parents wanted to put everything into our education. Campaigners said the comment showed how out of touch with Mr Sunak is with everyday families.
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Trust in the Tories on tax has collapsed, a new poll has revealed, in another massive blow to Rishi Sunak as he tries to turn his partys election fortunes around with less than three weeks to go.

According to an exclusive poll by Techne UK for The Independent, Sir Keir Starmer has a trust rating of more than double that of Mr Sunak as postal votes are sent out this weekend in a crucial stage of the campaign.

It comes after the Tories put all their efforts into using tax as the key dividing issue and launched an assault on Labours plans in a last-ditch bid to stop Sir Keir from winning power with a supermajority on 4 July.

The gambit  involving chief Treasury secretary Laura Trott claiming Labour has plans for 18 secret tax rises, including a tax raid on selling homes  appeared to be an attempt to reverse the stubborn poll gap of around 20 points with Labour and see off a threat of being passed by Nigel Farages Reform UK.

The Techne UK poll of 1,636 UK voters revealed that 36 per cent trust Sir Keir most on tax compared to just 16 per cent for Mr Sunak. In a further blow to the prime minister, he is level pegging with Mr Farage on the issue as Reform also polled 16 per cent.

Rishi Sunak has put tax cuts at the heart of his pitch to the country, but a poll suggests more voters want to see spending on public services ( PA Wire )

It is understood that Mr Sunak has already faced a cabinet revolt behind the scenes because many did not think he offered enough on tax cuts in the partys manifesto.

He has been mired in controversy over disputed claims Labour will add 2,000 to the tax bill of each household. Sir Keir accused him of lying after the Treasurys top civil servant disavowed assertions by the prime minister that his department had made the calculation on Labour pledges which Mr Sunak has insisted amounts to a 38.5bn black hole.

Labour has also accused the Tories of unfunded tax promises which Rachel Reeves claimed last week will add 4,800 to the average mortgage payment over five years.

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Trailing in fourth place is Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey on 12 per cent, while the level of voter apathy is reflected by 20 per cent saying dont know.

The high figure of those unsure who to believe comes after Paul Johnson, director of the Institute of Fiscal Studies, warned of a conspiracy of silence by all the parties over the cuts of almost 20bn facing the next government.

The poll reveals that young voters aged 18 to 34 are more likely to trust Mr Farage than Mr Sunak on tax by 16 per cent to 12 per cent. Men also marginally trust Mr Farage more by 16 per cent to 15 per cent. The prime minister has his highest trust rating on tax from pensioners, a key target group for the Tories, with 20 per cent but still easily trails Sir Keir on 29 per cent.

While 80 per cent of 2019 Labour voters trust their leader on tax, only 43 per cent of 2019 Tory voters trust the PM. People with a degree or higher are most likely to trust Sir Keir above the rest, on 43 per cent.

Techne chief executive Michela Morizzo said: The problem is that the Conservatives have problems also on the pillars regarding economic measures This is mostly linked to the lack of trust that has spread within the general public, above all within Tory voters.

Clouding an already grey sky for the Tories, now centre-right voters have an alternative with Reform UK. Its not only ideology that leads to vote for one party, but the perception of how healthy this party is and of its ability to deliver.

Last but not least, the scenario for the Conservatives could be a vote of protest, a higher abstention or the vote going to Reform UK.

Reform UK has made a play of moving to the right of the Tories on tax, with promises to abolish inheritance tax up to 2m  something Tory MPs had pleaded with Mr Sunak to include in his manifesto  and lift the point where people pay income tax to 20,000.

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This compares to Tory plans to cut national insurance by a further 2p, bring in a triple-lock-plus pension guarantee of no tax on pensions, remove stamp duty for first-time buyers and lift the threshold for paying back child benefit to 120,000.

Labour, like the Tories, has vowed not to raise VAT, income tax or national insurance and said it wants to cut taxes when it is affordable.

But in the last 48 hours, the Conservatives have turned their campaign to claim Labour has 18 secret new taxes planned, including capital gains tax hikes on selling primary residences to total 2,000 per household.

Labour has hit back, accusing the Tories of lying, and the Techne polling appears to suggest that voters are siding with Sir Keir on the key issue. Labour told The Independent that the poll finding was not surprising, given that [the Tories] keep inventing lists of fantasy tax rises.

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The importance of the issue is highlighted in the quality voters told Techne UK was the most important in a prime minister.

They identified sound economics as the top issue with 20 per cent, ahead of climate action on 15 and strong defence and security on 13.

After the row about D-Day and attempts to focus on culture war issues, patriotism (7 per cent) and diversity awareness (5 per cent) trailed in the last two places below change and trust, both on 12 per cent.

Meanwhile, with Euro 2024 having kicked off on Friday, the poll suggests that the chaos in the Tories since the ousting of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss has played a part in their downfall, with Mr Sunak not coming across as a strong team leader.

Asked who would make the best England manager, Sir Keir topped the poll with 31 per cent. Nigel Farage came in second on 17 per cent, ahead of Mr Sunak on 12 per cent and Sir Ed Davey on 11 per cent.

A Labour spokesperson said: We are not going to spend the next two weeks responding to whatever fantasy plans the Tories are making up. They would be better off considering how they were meant to be the antidote to Liz Truss and ended up becoming nothing more than the latest instalment of her disastrous approach.

The country needs change and we have set out a clear, practical and costed plan for change in our manifesto. After fourteen years of Tory chaos, its time to turn the page and rebuild Britain with Labour.
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A phantom leadership election campaign is already underway to replace Rishi Sunak as Tory leader as his party braces itself for an expected defeat.

But Kemi Badenoch, the longtime frontrunner to replace Mr Sunak among the bookmakers, is in a fight to hold on to her seat as polling suggests she could be ousted through tactical voting.

Issy Waite, the Labour candidate for North West Essex  the reformed Saffron Walden seat in Tory blue wall heartlands  has claimed she is just 2 per cent behind the trade and business secretary with three weeks to go before the election.

Kemi Badenoch, the trade and business secretary, is now a Labour target in the North West Essex seat ( PA Wire )

In a bid for campaign funds and an appeal for Lib Dems and Greens to vote tactically, Ms Waite has posted a projection suggesting Ms Badenoch is on 36 per cent, and that she is snapping at her heels on 34 per cent.

Localised polling is notoriously difficult to assess for accuracy but the claim reflects the fears of a Tory wipeout across the UK, based on a series of national polls. According to the projection, 12 per cent in the constituency are backing Nigel Farages Reform, splitting the vote on the centre-right.

Ms Badenoch has denied in the past that she is angling for the leadership but it has been claimed even in the run-up to the election that there was a team campaigning on her behalf. The appearance of anti-trans policies that she has fronted in the campaign was also seen as a sign by some that she was positioning herself for after the election.

The Independent understands that team members have been recruited to support potential leadership bids by defence secretary Grant Shapps, former immigration minister Robert Jenrick, and security minister Tom Tugendhat during the campaign.

There are also understood to be teams ready for Penny Mordaunt, who has fronted TV debates but is in a battle to hold her bellwether Portsmouth North seat, as well as former home secretaries Suella Braverman and Priti Patel.

If Ms Badenoch were to lose her seat, the contest to lead the Tories could be thrown wide open.

Ms Waite believes that if Lib Dem supporters, in particular, with 18 per cent of the vote according to the projection, were to back her tactically, then she would win.

She told The Independent: There are many polls which vary but the vast majority put Labour significantly ahead of the Lib Dems and not far at all from the Tories.

I do take these polls with a huge pinch of salt [but] from campaigning across the constituency I know that there is a huge appetite for change, and anger with the absent local MP which is very recognised here.

There are many promising signs for Labour here, such as the [recent] council by-election where Labour won by a huge majority. A large percentage of residents here will vote tactically to get the Conservatives out, and most are turning to Labour as the tactical vote  this can also be seen in the results of the local primary for a progressive candidate where I am very ahead.

I know the scale of the challenge here but were running a strong, positive campaign that is being received well.

She added: After 14 years of Conservative chaos and an absent local MP people in North West Essex are crying out for a change. There is only one poll that matters and that's the poll on Thursday 4 July. If people want change it will only be by voting Labour.

The Lib Dems have rejected calls for tactical voting in a constituency where some projections have them in second place.

A Liberal Democrat spokesperson said: Every vote for the Liberal Democrats at this election is a vote for a strong local champion who will stand up for your community and health services. Its clear that in many seats across the country, the best way to beat the Conservatives is to vote for the Liberal Democrats."

Ms Badenoch was contacted for comment.
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South African president Cyril Ramaphosa was re-elected to the countrys highest office for a second term late on Friday after he secured a dramatic coalition deal just hours before a vote in parliament.

His party, the African National Congress, and its largest rival  the white-led, pro-business Democratic Alliance  have settled an agreement to work together in South Africas new government.

It represents a historic shift for the country after 30 years of uninterrupted rule by the ANC, the party of Nelson Mandela.

Mr Ramaphosa won a convincing majority of 283 votes in the vote for president in the 400-member house, beating Julius Malema from the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters who got only 44.

The 71-year-old leaders party struck a last-minute deal with their political foes from the Democratic Alliance and some other smaller parties.

Mr Ramaphosas ANC lost its majority in elections held two weeks ago, plummeting to just 159 seats but remaining the largest party. It is South Africas first national coalition where no one party has a majority in parliament.

Mr Ramaphosa called the coalition deal a new birth, a new era for our country and said it was time for the parties to overcome their differences and to work together.

"That a number of parties that had opposed each other... have decided to work together to deliver this result has given a new birth, a new era to our country," he said.

"It will once again be a privilege and pleasure to serve this great nation... (as) president," Mr Ramaphosa said in a speech to parliament, describing the coming government as an era of hope and inclusivity.

This is what we shall do and this is what I am committed to achieve as the president, he said.

The Democratic Alliances entry into national government is a big moment for a country still processing the legacy of the racist colonial and apartheid regimes. The party has struggled to shake off its image as a defender of rich white people and convince a broad spectrum of South Africans that it reflects their aspirations.

A source within the Democratic Alliance, which won 87 seats in the election, told Reuters that the party would receive the post of deputy speaker of the National Assembly as part of the deal.

The ANC had long been seen as unbeatable in national elections, ever since Nelson Mandela led the party to a victory in the 1994 election that marked the end of apartheid.

The partys support has been waning in recent years, however, with voters becoming increasingly disillusioned by persistently high levels of poverty, inequality and crime, rolling power cuts and corruption in party ranks.

The new national unity government includes the Inkatha Freedom Party, which won 17 seats, and has a largely ethnic Zulu base.

The newly formed populist uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party led by former president Jacob Zuma won 58 seats, but has alleged the election was rigged and says it will boycott the new parliament. The Constitutional Court has dismissed the partys case alleging fraud, saying it has no merit.

Additional reporting by agencies
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A second juror has been excused from Karen Reads murder trial in Massachusetts this week.

Read, a former financial analyst and former Bentley University professor, is accused of murdering her police officer boyfriend, John OKeefe in Canton. Shes been charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter.

Prosecutors say that the woman ran over her boyfriend in her car as she was drunk and left him in the snow outside another officers home on a cold day in January 2022. Her defense team claims that she is being framed by police as part of a cover-up involving a prominent law enforcement family.

A second juror was excused from proceedings this week after a sidebar with Judge Beverly Cannone on Friday morning. The judge said that she excused the juror over personal reasons.

Cameras were briefly shut off in the courtroom after the juror appeared on camera as she approached the bench. The woman was described by Court TV as being in her 50s. Footage of the proceedings was later restored through a Zoom link and the trial continued for its 25th day.

Second juror excused from Karen Reads murder trial. The defendant is accused of murdering her police officer boyfriend John OKeefe in January 2022 ( The Boston Globe )

Another juror was excused earlier this week. There are currently 15 people on the jury, six men and nine women.

Jennifer McCabe, a friend of Reads, was with her when they discovered OKeefes body lying in the snow outside Brian and Nichole Alberts home. A group of friends went to the residence after a night out at a local bar.

On the witness stand, McCabe said Read had asked her to Google search how long it would take someone to die in the snow. Court documents show that McCabe looked up the following phrase: hos (sic) to die in cold.

Reads trial has gone on for almost a month.
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A gunman in Auburn, Maine has been shot and killed by state police after trying to break into a home that was later set on fire.

The deceased suspect was identified as Leein Hinkley, 43, who had been released on $1,500 bail for previous domestic violence charges just three days before ending up in the standoff with police.

A 911 call was made by a woman at 12.57am from a home on Russell Avenue, Auburn Deputy Police Chief Timothy Cougle said during a press conference on Saturday. Gunshots could be heard in the background of the 911 call.

She reported that her significant other was in a fight with a male subject trying to break into the residence and that he was armed with a gun, Cougle said.

Police evidence markers are placed next to shell casings in front of home in Auburn, Maine. A suspect was shot and killed by police ( AP )

The other man is unaccounted for, Cougle said, and the woman fled the residence through a window.

At 1.09am, police found the woman hiding on Russell Avenue. The home she had fled was on fire and yelling was coming from inside.

The woman identified the man who had been trying to break into her home as Hinkley.

When police moved towards the burning home, the suspect fired shots, and a Maine State Police tactical team was called into assist, said Cougle. A second building then caught fire.

Auburn firefighters hose down the remains of a home in Auburn, Maine, early Saturday. The home went up in flames during a standoff with police ( AP )

Hinkley fled the fire, taking refuge in a neighboring garage, with the homeowner alerting officers to the break in. Before he could be apprehended, Hinkley left the garage and made his way onto another homes rooftop, brandishing a firearm.

State Police Colonel William Ross said that Hinkley was shot and killed by members of the tactical team at about 5.36am.

As per standard practice, the two officers involved in the shooting are being placed on administrative leave.

The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit is investigating the underlying criminal conduct and the Office of the Attorney General will be investigating the police-involved shooting, Ross said.

Hinkley was released on bail on 12 June. He had been in custody for a probation violation following a 2011 conviction for domestic violence, elevated aggravated assault, as well as a more recent arrest for domestic violence.

Auburn firefighters hose down the remains of a home in Auburn, Maine, early Saturday after a police shooting. The suspect was recently released on bail ( AP )

He was at first held without bail on the probation violation.

Over the objection of the district attorney's office, the court reduced his bail to $1,500 concurrent with conditions including house arrest at a residence in Lewiston, Ross said.

No officers were struck by gunshots but one fell and injured his leg as he evaded the bullets. He was taken to hospital, treated for minor injuries, and released.

Court records reveal Hinkleys criminal history dates back to 2001, according to the Lewiston Sun Journal.

He was convicted of assault in 2003 and 2008. In 2004, he was convicted of burglary and violating a protection order and sentenced to two years behind bars.

In 2012, he was sentenced to 20 years for stabbing his former girlfriend and a man who attempted to intervene. He pleaded guilty to felony charges of elevated aggravated assault and aggravated assault with the understanding that his sentence would be limited to 20 years and that he would only spend 15 behind bars.
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After spending a decade held captive by her middle schools security guard after he showered her with gifts and promises of a better life, Tanya Kach shares her own horrifying story now specifically for one reason: to warn others.

I want this new generation to see all the warning signs of grooming and mental control and brainwashing, she told The Independent.

Kach was just 14 years old when Thomas Hose kidnapped her in 1996 and kept her in the second-floor bedroom of his house for 10 years, where he sexually abused her.

The now 42-year-old told The Independent in an interview that she believes if social media and websleuths had existed back then, her ordeal would be a totally different story.

But grooming hasnt changed. Stockholm syndrome, brainwashing, mind control  that hasnt changed, she said.

Tanya Kach vanished at age 14 from McKeesport, Pa in 1996 ( McKeesport Police handout )

Kach said her captor displayed all the warning signs of grooming, which she described as being super nice to her at school, showering her with jewelry, money for cigarettes and showing favoritism to her by allowing her slide when she attempted to skip class.

When Hose learned of Kachs unstable home life after her parents divorce, her thoughts about wanting to run away and so after gaining her trust, he preyed on her vulnerabilities and convinced her to move in with him  with the promise of a better life.

Were in a different era, but that stuff hasnt changed on how they groom you and how they lure you in. And mentally have that hold on you, Kach said.

In 2007, Hose pleaded guilty to statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault and endangering the welfare of children, corruption of a minor, interference with custody of children and aggravated indecent assault, according to The Associated Press.

After serving 15 years in prison, Hose was released in 2022, according to WTAE. He is registered as a sex offender under Pennsylvanias Megans Law.

Thomas Hose served 15 years in prison for sexual assault in the kidnapping of Tanya Kach in 1996 ( PA Megans Law )

Now, nearly 20 years after escaping her nightmare, Kach has teamed up with Elizabeth Smart, another kidnapping survivor, to share her story in a new Lifetime movie, The Girl Locked Upstairs: The Tanya Kach Story, an experience she described as life changing.

I have always wanted to meet (Smart), knowing that we both went through something similar," she told TODAY.com. Ive always looked up to her.

Ive gotten a lot of messages from moms saying theyre going to watch it with their teenage daughters, which I think is fabulous, she told TODAY.com.

She said she also hopes her story helps women who may be in the midst of an abusive relationship.

The Girl Locked Upstairs: The Tanya Kach Story, starring Robert Baker (Supergirl) and Jordyn Ashley Olson ( A+E Networks )

I want them to walk away from the film saying, I have hope. I can get through this, and I can get out of this.

Kach also knew the film provided a chance to teach teenagers, young women and parents about the warning signs of a potentially abusive or coercive relationship.

This is a new generation that needs to learn about grooming and brainwashing because Ive been free now for 18 years  its a different time now.

The Girl Locked Upstairs: The Tanya Kach Story is now available on Lifetime.
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Self-proclaimed anti-woke Disney Parks fans across the internet are lashing out after the company discontinued a ride based on a movie that contained harmful anti-Black racist tropes.

Disneys Splash Mountain, the original ride, was themed to the Song of the South, which contained racist stereotypes, the Associated Press reports. Criticisms about the rides racist themes came to a head in 2020, following the murder of George Floyd at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer.

To date, it is the only movie removed from Disneys catalog due to criticisms that it contains racist themes, The Daily Beast reports.

The new ride, Tianas Bayou Adventure, is based on The Princess and the Frog and will open this summer. The move has received widespread praise, with many pointing out how meaningful it is to see Black women represented through Princess Tiana.

For little Black girls, Tiana has meant a lot, English professor Neal Lester told the Associated Press. When a little child can see somebody who looks like them, that matters.

A rendering of Tianas Bayou Adventure, the ride set to replace Splash Mountain at Disney Parks this summer. ( Disney )

Disney is first and foremost about money and getting people into the park, and you can make money, still have representation and be aware of social justice history and make everyone feel like they belong there, Lester continued.

However, a group of social media users are lashing out about the change, with some claiming Disney has become too sensitive while dismissing concerns about the racist content of the original ride, The Daily Beast reports.

Because a bunch of people raised on Disney became all in their feelings and offended by everything, one user wrote about the change, per the Beast. And Disney not only accepted it but encouraged it.

Theyre not going to admit it, but the Disney company succumbed to a very loud minority of people claiming the film the attraction was based on was rac*st, another user wrote. What they didnt understand was that Walt made Song of the South partially to help mend race relations.

Disneys Splash Mountain ride, pictured, was based off a movie with racist themes  as a result, the company is replacing it with a Princess and the Frog themed ride ( AFP via Getty Images )

It is unclear what this user meant by mend race relations, given the film was met with harsh criticism by the NAACP when it was first released in 1946 over concerns that it glorified slavery.

[The NAACP] regrets, however, that in an effort to neither to offend audiences in the north and south, the production helps to perpetuate a dangerously glorified picture of slavery, the organization wrote in a statement at the time.

Song of the South unfortunately gives the impression of an idyllic master-slave relationship which is a distortion of the facts, the statement continued.
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On Monday, June 10, Indigenous Hawaiian midwives took the witness stand in a humble Honolulu courtroom, testifying for the very first time in opposition of Hawaiis Midwifery Restriction Law.

The law, passed in 2019, regulates midwifery care by mandating a specific state license for anyone who provides information, advice or assistance during a pregnancy, birth or the postpartum period. As a result, Indigenous midwives who have long served their rural communities face significant fines and jail time for providing traditional, apprentice-based care that aligns with and protects customary Hawaiian birth practices.

The law is now being challenged in the First Circuit Court of Hawaii by the very midwives the regulation has effectively stifled, and with the assistance of litigators from the Center for Reproductive Rights.

Those in favor of the law claim mandating state licenses make pregnancy and birth safer. But Hawaiian midwife Kiiniokalini (Kii) Kahoohanohano, the lead plaintiff in the case, says the opposite is true  the mandate is directly harming those who already have limited access to prenatal, birth and postpartum care.

It is not creating more safety, and I can see that already, Kii told The Independent, one day after testifying in court. People that I have served prior that I havent been able to attend since 2023 have gone into hospitals and [experienced complications.] One woman who she had provided care to for three previous children never had really severe postpartum depression, but did after the fourth baby. Why? Because her choice was removed and she didnt have access to what she needed.

Kii says women are also being forced to travel far from home  sometimes to a completely different island  in order to receive prenatal and birth care. Others are, sadly, going without, only increasing their risk of complications.

Their birth stories are changing, Kii adds. Theyre becoming part of those birth disparities [statistics].

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women have the highest pregnancy-related mortality ratio of any other racial or ethnic group in the United States. Theyre also more likely to receive late or simply no prenatal care at all.

In 2022, a reported one in eight infants were born to women in Hawaii who received late or no prenatal care. Indigenous Hawaiians have reported grave mistreatment in hospitals, including being racially profiled for drug testing, forced to endure unwanted procedures, and denied pain medication.

The result is the opposite of what the law tries to do, Jen Rasay, staff attorney at the Center for Reproductive Rights on the litigation team in Hawaii arguing the case, told The Independent. It creates an inability for people to safely become pregnant and carry on their pregnancy, and they are now going without their trusted providers.

Everything from the islands geographical makeup to the number of women living in rural areas  an estimated 85,597 women, which amounts to nearly 14% of the states population according to the 2020 US Census  can make it challenging for more modern practitioners and medical facilities to provide pregnancy- and birth-related care. That makes it all the more important, Rasay argues, for traditional Hawaiian midwives to maintain their ability to practice.

There are reasons why people choose to live in rural areas in Hawaii  they may have a personal, cultural connection to the land, it may be where they grew up, it may be where they can afford to live, she explains. But in these rural areas, there is a lack of maternity care providers that they can turn to when they become pregnant, and they need help or assistance.

Protecting that cultural connection to Hawaiians aina  or ancestral lands  as well as their traditional, Indigenous birth practices that have been passed down from generation to generation is equally as important for midwives like Kii, who say they feel a kuleana, or responsibility, to carry on the practices of their ancestors and elders.

Plaintiffs, attorneys and families outside the courthouse in Honolulu ( Marie Eriel Hobro )

There is a level of mastery in the work that we do, and we dont need exams or licenses or certification to solidify our integrity, she says. So much of who we are has been oppressed for so long  It feels really frustrating to have to attempt to explain to these folks that we exist and we are just asking to continue to be able to exist. I dont understand why we have to sit there and defend who we are, particularly in our own homeland where many of our own practices have been pushed to extinction [by colonization and assimilation]. There is a disconnect from our aina, a disconnect from our language; a disconnect from our native Hawaiian practices, because we were persecuted and taken from our land, and that continues to occur today.

In preparation for her testimony, Kii says she honored many of those traditions  just like she does when attending a birth  by consuming traditional foods and Hawaiian teas, as well as spending time in the ocean after meeting with attorneys. Before court, we opened in ceremony through prayers below the courthouse  we held each other and called in what was needed, she explained. We made lei and everyone received lei, particularly ti leaf lei, which is used for cleansing, purification and protection.

When I took the stand, I took everyone that I stand for with me, she adds. Its not about me, actually  its for seven generations forward and seven generations back.

In a post-Roe world, where over 5.6 million women in the U.S. live in maternity deserts without access to prenatal or postnatal care, the implications of the case certainly do reach far beyond Kii, her fellow midwives and the Indigenous populations they have  up until this point  proudly served.

This is about reproductive autonomy, Rasay says. Its about a pregnant persons ability to make the decisions that are right for them and to define for themselves what a healthy, safe pregnancy and birth looks like.

When you limit reproductive autonomy, you send a message that once a person becomes pregnant, they suddenly lose the right to make those personal, intimate decisions.
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There is part of me that will probably always feel like an orphan.

Dont get me wrong, my parents are perfectly alive. I love them very much, and Im lucky enough to have a good relationship with them. But theres still a part of me that they could never parent, never fully nourish, because they didnt know it existed.

How could they, given that not even I myself knew? This was the Nineties and early Noughties, when transgender people were rarely discussed, except perhaps as bad jokes or "inspirational" yet distant objects of curiosity.

For trans people my age (Im 35), I think this is a common feeling. Even if we grew up safe and loved  which far too many of us did not  there was a secret, vital part of our souls that remained cut off from caregivers, grandparents, mentors, and role models.

And so, when we finally got free, we had to go and seek our own.

Lynn Conway died last Sunday at the age of 86 , after a long life at the heart of two revolutions. One was the computer revolution, which she helped accelerate by co-inventing a new method of microchip design that is now used in everything from your car to your smartphone.

The other was the transgender revolution, which Lynn joined in a quieter way in 1967 when she began transitioning from (as people used to put it) male to female. Decades later, she came out publicly and became a vocal advocate for trans rights.

Her site wasnt the first one I found. But when I did find it, it opened a whole new world to me. I knew I wasnt alone. Rebecca, a 51-year-old governemnt worker

Id been aware of Lynn ever since I was a young teenager, adrift on the dark ocean of the early internet. At some point Id stumbled across her personal website : a classic Web 1.0 number containing not only her life story but a treasure trove of information on gender transition, from a heros gallery of trans successes to a frank and detailed discussion of how to get a vaginoplasty (and how to relearn having sex afterwards ).

For some people, the information it provided was life-changing. "Her site wasnt the first one I found," says Rebecca, a 51-year-old government worker in Colorado. "But when I did find it, it opened a whole new world to me. I knew I wasnt alone."

Conway sitting beside her Xerox Alto, an early personal computer developed at Xerox PARC ( Margaret Moulton )

Id love to say that Lynns website had a similar effect on me, and spurred some crucial awakening. In truth, I wasnt ready yet. I guess I thought something like: "Wow, thats so cool! I find this fascinating for some unknown reason that Im too scared to investigate right now.

Lynn remained an inspiring figure to me 20-odd years later, long after Id realised the error of this strategy and embarked upon what in her day was rather excitingly known as a "sex change". So I was thrilled when she agreed last year to be profiled by The Independent  and we spent hours on Zoom and phone calls, laughing and talking deeply about life, trauma, technological change and the forces that shape history.

Interviewing Lynn was a bit of a rollercoaster. Often shed gaily embark on what seemed to be a wild tangent, leaping sideways through apparently unconnected topics, until finally thirty minutes later shed circle back around and youd understand that actually it wasnt a tangent at all. As a journalist, it was continually frustrating. As a human being, it was exciting and a little dizzying.

Theres a meme that compares "talking about gender with trans people" (Greek philosophers discoursing in the agora!) to "talking with gender about cis people" (pushing plastic toys around with a vexed-looking toddler). Imagine that, but also the other trans person is 85 years old and a renowned expert on computer architecture and theories of innovation.

No offence intended; some of my best friends are cisgender ( Author unknown )

She told me about the "haunted" world she grew up in, where everyone pretended not to see the violence beneath the veneer. About the electrifying effect that stories like Christine Jorgensens had on the nascent trans underground. About the disintegration of her first marriage, and the joy of changing sex. About the ways shed had to "mutilate" not her body but her history, her continuity, in order to pass unnoticed in mainstream society. So different and so similar to my own experience, a full five decades later.

Sometimes shed describe absolutely horrific events with perfect sangfroid, laughing them off in what felt like an all-too-familiar trauma response. Once or twice, that mechanism would fail and shed get solemn. Still, she was adamant that it was these "adventures"  and, more importantly, surmounting them  that made her innovations possible.

The most famous of those was a method of integrated circuit design known as Very Large Scale Integration (or VLSI), developed alongside the engineering professor Carver Mead, VLSI basically created the modern microchip industry, unleashing an abundance of digital devices that allowed me, decades later, to find her website and then to find others like me.

Lynn saw early on the power of the proto-internet  then known as ARPAnet  to spread knowledge laterally, circumventing old gatekeepers and traditions. She was, she recalled, "like some kind of wild den mother" to the smart young eccentrics she gathered to her cause, galvanising them towards a common goal.

Ive had so little contact with my own kind for all these years, and she was a role model. AC Quinlan, a trans writer in Wyoming

That was Lynns theory of technological change, you see. Not a few "great men" driving history forward with the sweat of their brows, but networks of people in conversation with each other, learning to use newly-emerging tools to fulfil their own desires. Just point out the secret path, make it easier to walk, and soon itll become a railroad.

Which brings me back to trans folk and parenting. As a people, we have been systematically deprived of knowledge about ourselves. Many of us had to fight to even realise what we are, let alone advocate for our needs. We will never know how many of us died still living in the closet, or without even having a name for their feelings. All we know is how few survived to become elders.

Consequently, we often end up raising each other. I never would have guessed I was trans in the first place without examples. Nor would I ever have found the courage to act on it without my trans mentors. Im here because of them, and today there are others who are here because of me.

This is the golden thread that connects trans people through the generations, frayed and twisted as it often is. Its a key theme of so many artworks by trans women, from Torrey Peters hit novel Detransition, Baby through the fourth Matrix film to the beautiful indie video game Secret Little Haven . If youve ever seen queer folk praise someone as "mother!", that comes from the Ballroom culture that was built by mostly Black and Latino LGBT+ people in the late 20th century, as a family for those who had none.

Lynns work, and her website, made all of this much easier. She evidently felt it was important for her to be a mentor to younger trans people, and would often reach out directly with advice and support.

"I was a trans student who barely spoke English, posting my doodles on the internet, and she made me feel like my voice mattered," recalled Quebecois cartoonist Sophie Labelle in an email. "She was so generous with her time! She witnessed my growth as an artist and even when we disagreed on things, her support wouldnt wither."

AC Quinlan, a trans writer in Wyoming, similarly told me about their correspondence with Lynn in 2015 and 2016.

"Ive had so little contact with my own kind for all these years, and she was a role model," Quinlan said. "I just started hormone replacement therapy last month, and Id actually thought about sending Lynn an email shortly afterwards.

Lynn offered me that encouragement too. After our interview we agreed to stay in touch, and I was genuinely looking forward to doing so. Last June she emailed me to say shed enjoyed my mammoth Pride Month feature about trans people during the Covid-19 pandemic . "Congratulations on crafting that powerful synthesis," she wrote. "It reveals so many entangled threads for public reflection and discussion."

Im ashamed to admit, however, that I wasnt a great penpal. I kept meaning to send her articles I thought shed enjoy, then forgetting to do it. Maybe you can see now why my feelings about Lynns death might echo the grief and guilt people sometimes feel after losing relatives that theyd meant to be in touch with more. We find our elders where we can.

Lynns passing, at the end of a long and happy life, doesnt mean the thread is broken. It winds on still, through everyone that drew inspiration or strength from her and everyone they strengthened and inspired in turn. Goddess willing, one day well make the kind of world I think she was working towards: a world where no one is orphaned anymore.
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Greek officials are searching for an American tourist who went missing among the countrys coastal islands earlier this week, one of at least three cases of a missing traveler in Greece in recent days.

The unidentified man was last seen Tuesday in a tavern in Mathraki, a small island near the larger Greek island of Corfu.

The American was seen in the company of two female tourists, Spyros Argyros, president of the local community, told Greek news outlet eKathimerini.

Click here for our latest updates on the search for missing tourists

The man was staying with a Greek-American friend, who returned to his home on Thursday to find the front door open, lights and air conditioning on, and their friend missing, along with his ID and travel documents. He quickly alerted police, officials told ABC News.

Mathraki does not have a police or coast guard station of its own, and officials from Corfu were called in to assist in the investigation into the disappearance.

Search and rescue teams looked in the waters near Mathraki on Thursday, pausing operations on Friday due to rough weather. The hunt will continue on Saturday.

Another American, former Los Angeles County Sheriffs Deputy Albert Calibet, 59, didnt return from a hike on the island of Amorgos on Tuesday.

Local officials say its unlikely Calibet became lost.

Its unlikely he got lost as he has been coming here for 10 years and has walked all over Amorgos, Popi Despotidi, the islands deputy mayor of tourism, told CNN .

A third traveler, a 74-year-old from the Netherlands, has been missing since Sunday, after disappearing on the island of Samos.

The disappearances come the week after Dr Michael Mosley, a physician and TV star known for advocating healthy lifestyles and intermittent fasting, was found dead on the island of Symi.

His remains were found at the foot of a fence near a beach bar at the Agia Marina resort.

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.

As The Independent has reported, Greece is currently experiencing a heatwave at an unprecedented time early in the summer.

In the 20th century, we never had a heatwave before 19 June, Greek state TV meteorologist Panos Giannopoulos said recently. We have had several in the 21st century, but none before 15 June.

At least four holidaymakers have died in the heat, and popular sites like the Acropolis have temporarily closed after reports of visitors fainting.
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Tanya Kachs story had all the makings of a Lifetime movie  and now it is one.

Kach is speaking out about the harrowing ordeal of being held captive for a decade from age 14, after fellow kidnapping survivor, Elizabeth Smart, convinced her to share her story.

A lot of women have messaged me, reaching out to me and opening up about something that happened in their life because they feel comfortable talking with me because I understand, the now 42-year-old told The Independent, just days after The Girl Locked Upstairs: The Tanya Kach Story premiered on Lifetime.

The Pennsylvania teen had been struggling at home and at school in the wake of her parents tumultuous divorce before she vanished in February 1996.

Months earlier, when Kach tried to skip class at Cornell Middle School in the Pittsburgh suburb of McKeesport to avoid the peers who bullied her, she was caught by a school security guard.

But instead of turning her in, Thomas Tom Hose, who at 38 years old was more than twice her age, took an interest in her and the two became close.

Hose showered her with flowers, candy, gifts and money for cigarettes. They even shared a kiss in the stairwell. She started to believe she was in love with him.

He learned of Kachs unstable home life, her thoughts about wanting to run away and so after gaining her trust, he preyed on her vulnerabilities and convinced her to move in with him  with the promise of a better life.

But what may have started out as a desperate attempt at a new beginning for Kach quickly turned into a nightmare.

Tanya Kach was 14 years old when she vanished in 1996. She was found 10 years later in her captors bedroom just a few miles from her home ( McKeesport Police handout )

Inside Tanyas prison

On February 10, 1996, Kach was lured to Hoses house in McKeesport where she was held captive for 10 years.

The house, where Hose lived with his parents and his son, was just a few miles away from where Kach had been living with her father and stepmom before she went missing.

Hoses parents later claimed they never knew Kach was in their house, according to The Associated Press.

Kachs nightmare ended when she confided in a neighborhood deli owner and was able to escape. She was 24 years old at the time.

For the first four years of her decade-long captivity, Kach wasnt allowed to leave Hoses second-story bedroom, where she was kept locked inside and sexually abused daily.

She was forced to use a metal can as a toilet and Hose would bring her scraps of food from his meals.

Hose also forced Kach to record their sexual encounters in a set of journals so that he could brag to co-workers and friends, according to a criminal complaint obtained by The Associated Press.

He had me keep a calendar book of our sex acts, so I knew the dates, she said.

Years passed but still, she was too scared to escape.

Thomas Hose, who lived with his parents and son, kept Tanya Kach in his bedroom for 10 years ( WTAE )

Hed threaten to kill me in my sleep, Kach told The Independent. He threatened to throw me in a garbage bag and throw me in the river.

When Kach was 18, she discovered she was a missing person after seeing her name and photo in the local newspaper.

Around that time, Hose began introducing her to his family and friends as his live-in girlfriend Nikki Allen and even allowed her to leave home on occasion, believing that at this point, she would not run away.

He trusted me to go out because he knew I was brainwashed, she said.

She was permitted to go to church or the neighborhood deli, but had a strict curfew.

I was scared, she said, describing her first time out in public.

He had given me those specific instructions and everything and I was following the instructions, doing what I had to do, but I was like a deer in the headlights out there.

Her daring escape

During her brief outings, Kach began working part-time at a neighborhood deli. She developed a friendship with the owners, who would change her life.

I saw how a family should be, she told The Independent. And I said thats what I want.

That family helped Kach realize that what she had with Hose, and her life over the past 10 years, was not normal.

She eventually found the courage to confide in the delis owner, Joe Sparico, on March 21, 2006.

If you go to a website for missing children, you will see a picture of me, she told Sparico through tears, according to The Denver Post.

Sparico contacted his son, a retired police officer who was familiar with Kachs case. A short time later, Hose was arrested.

Ill never forget how it felt to step out of that house that day, she later wrote, according to People. I got into the cop car, took a deep breath and thought, Its over. Im free.

What happened to Thomas Hose?

In 2007, Thomas Hose pleaded guilty to statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault and endangering the welfare of children, corruption of a minor, interference with custody of children and aggravated indecent assault, according to The Associated Press.

Hose was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

At his hearing, Kach read a victim impact statement, telling Hose that she was no longer his puppet.

After serving 15 years in prison, Thomas Hose was released in 2022 ( PA Megans Law )

You took away my innocence, my childhood. You made me think my family didnt want me or love me, that no one cared or loved me but you, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. For 10 years you controlled me.

I plan to go places, she told him, adding that the main thing I want to do is help protect children and women from men like you.

Hose apologized in court for how he treated Kach.

Id like to say Im sorry, he said. I want Tanya to know how sorry I am.

He ended his statement claiming that his actions were done so to help Kach and that she often told him, Thank you, without you, Id be dead or in the streets, according to NBC News.

After serving 15 years in prison, Hose was released in 2022, according to WTAE. He is registered as a sex offender under Pennsylvanias Megans Law.

Where is Tanya Kach now?

Kach went on to live a successful life. She earned her GED, got her drivers license and attended college.

Ive built myself a really happy life, she said. I couldnt ask for anything more.

She co-authored a book in 2017 with Lawrence Fisher titled, Memoir of a Milk Carton Kid: The Tanya Kach Story.

Tanya Kach today in a selfie she took ( Provided by Tanya Kach )

In September 2018, Kach married a man named Carl and became a stepmother, as well as a grandmother to her stepsons young children.

We had a beautiful ceremony on the beach. It was just us there, we wanted something very private, Kach told People in a previous interview. Hes been my rock and hes my biggest supporter through all of this and through life and everything.

While she was happy to be reunited with her father after being rescued, she has since revealed that he believes she is partly responsible for her own kidnapping. After a bittersweet reunion, the two became estranged and have not spoken since.

However, Tanya and her mother have become close.

My mom and I are really close now, she said. She became my biggest supporter and helped get me back on my feet after my rescue. Weve gone through intense therapy together and things are really good.

About a year ago, Kach ran into Joe Sparico, the deli owner who saved her.

We were walking into a supermarket and we hugged and we caught up on everything in life, because life kind of gets in the way, she said.

But Joe wanted me to go out and build a life and live my life and, you know, and thats what Ive done.

The Girl Locked Upstairs: The Tanya Kach Story is now available on Lifetime.
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Donald Trump baselessly accused Joe Biden of providing material support for terrorism during a speech on Friday, alluding to the recent arrest of eight migrants with suspected ties to ISIS.

So, in addition to all of his other well-documented offenses, crooked Joe Biden is now also guilty of providing material support for terrorism, the former president told a crowd gathered for an event in West Palm Beach, Florida, to celebrate his 78th Birthday.

Trump vowed the country is going to pay a steep price for many, many years over Bidens border policy.

The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.

The comments were in reference to a recent federal terrorism investigation, in which eight migrants from Tajikistan were arrested over suspected links to the terror group, after previously crossing the US-Mexico border last year and passing security screening.

Federal officials have provided few details about the arrests, though theyve described the group as containing several non-citizens, according to the FBI and Department of Homeland Security.

A source close to the investigation told CNN the group had been on the radar of officials for over a month. Communications intercepts suggested possible links to ISIS affiliated individuals overseas, prompting the investiation.

The source added that officials arent convinced the individuals received training abroad or were purposely sent to engage in violence, but officials felt that expelling the group on immigration violations was a prudent pre-emptive step.

Donald Trump has repeatedly hammered the Biden administration over its border policy, often resorting to racist tropes that paint all migrants, legal and undocumented, as dangerous criminals.

During a recent rally, Trump accused Biden of turning the border into a dumping ground for the dungeons of the Third World.
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After he was wrongfully convicted the first time, DJuan Collins was branded a felon in the eyes of the law.

That label impacts everything, says Collins, a paralegal and advocate focused on mass incaceration at New York social justice organization VOCAL-NY.

That label really paints a black eye, almost like Im blacklisted from certain opportunities that other citizens would be able to have, he tells The Independent.

And it leaves me in a poverty state, he says. If I cant get a job, if I cant obtain suitable housing, then how do you expect me to survive and thrive in a society where were supposed to?

But for former president Donald Trump  who can leverage his wealth, power and influence to sidestep the consequences of his white-collar crimes that threatened 2016 elections  that felon label is helping him rake in millions of dollars.

For any other person with 34 felony convictions, being branded a felon for life could threaten access to jobs, housing, healthcare, childcare and the ability to vote, let alone a path to the presidency.

Trump, through his fundraising campaign, even branded himself a convicted felon on June 1, two days after he was convicted in his New York hush money trial, and then again on June 7: THEY MADE ME A POLITICAL PRISONER. A CONVICTED FELON!

Hows that even possible? Collins says. Why isnt a president receiving those same limitations?

Donald Trump gifts Logan Paul mugshot T-shirt

In statements and press releases supporting President Joe Biden and other Democratic officials, the Democratic National Committee has called Trump a convicted felon and a criminal dozens of times since the verdict.

The DNC also bought up billboards in Phoenix written in English and in Spanish reading Trump already attacked Arizonas democracy once. Now hes back as a convicted felon. Hes out for revenge and retribution. Trump: unfit to serve.

Trump, meanwhile, memorialized his Georgia mugshot in T-shirts and Christmas wrapping paper, sweaters and souvenir credit cards, and leaned on his convictions, indictments and a narrative that paints himself as a victim to raise millions of dollars for his legal defense.

His campaign reported raising nearly $53 million within 24 hours after a jury in Manhattan found him guilty of falsifying business records connected to a hush money scheme involving an adult film star and a conspiracy to unlawfully influence the 2016 presidential election.

On May 31, one day after the verdict, the Biden campaign issued a statement calling him convicted felon Donald Trump for the first time.

Look, folks, this campaign has entered uncharted territory. Last week, for the first time in American history, a former president is convicted  a convicted felon, President Biden said during a campaign event in Connecticut on June 3.

Last year, two political action committees supporting the likely Republican presidential nominee spent more than $55 million on his legal bills, with more than half of that cash spent within the second half of the year.

When you have a legal team like Donald Trump, just throwing millions and millions of dollars to his legal defense, it kind of makes you wonder what the system is really about, Collins says. Its all about greed, and if you have the money to build this greedy system, then you are afforded justice.

Anti-Trump demonstrators protest outside Trump Tower in New York on May 31. ( AFP via Getty Images )

Republican strategists have also dubiously suggested Trumps felony convictions could even be used to win over Black voters frustrated with the criminal justice system, a message that President Biden ridiculed as pandering and peddling lies and stereotypes for your vote, so he can win for himself, not for you.

Other GOP allies are also hoping that the verdict could boost Trumps support among Latino voters by tying the charges against him to Latin American regimes that targeted political rivals.

Republican parties in at least two states  Vermont and Nevada  expressly prohibit promoting candidates with felony convictions. Vermont was the only state that Trump didnt win during presidential primaries, but party officials now appear to be figuring out how to accommodate Trump after he formally receives the Republican nomination in July.

And GOP officials in Nevada went as far as changing their bylaws so they can boost Trump.

The Nevada GOP is making the embarrassing admission that they knew all along Trump would be convicted and ripped out the convicted felon clause of their platform to make an exception for him, showing Nevada voters that theres no end to their corruption, according to DNC spokesperson Stephanie Justice.

But for the nearly 20 million Americans with felony convictions, being branded a felon is a modern-day scarlet letter, says Ed Chung, vice president of initiatives at the Vera Institute of Justice and a former federal prosecutor in the civil rights division of the US Department of Justice.

People who dont have power or arent as famous as Donald Trump is  the effect of that could be life altering, and it affects everything from employment to housing to social relationships and so forth, he tells The Independent.

Marjorie Taylor Greene says Trump and Jesus are alike because theyre both Convicted Felons

Carroll Bogert, president of criminal justice nonprofit publication the Marshall Project, wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post titled Dont call Trump a felon.

Branding Trump a felon attempts to take Trump down a peg, to label him as no better than a common criminal, she wrote.

And that is the problem, she added. Most people in prisons and jails in America come from lives of poverty and discrimination. A label such as felon or inmate contributes to keeping them at the margins of society.

Trumps conviction serves as a powerful reminder that accountability should know no status or privilege, according to David Ayala, executive director of the Formerly Incarcerated, Convicted Peoples & Families Movement, which has also urged the media and others to avoid using felon as a noun.

That phrasing only serves to dehumanize and generalize, perpetuating harmful narratives that distort the treatment and perception of individuals within our community, said Ayala.

The former president is obviously not a typical person in the criminal justice system, Chung tells The Independent; hes a billionaire with a multi-million dollar legal campaign spanning several jurisdictions, keeping him out of jail, and helping him get elected to the White House to insulate himself against criminal prosecution.

But campaigns spreading the felon label keep alive a stigma that in a lot of ways cant be overcome, he says.

Its something that applies regardless of who the individual defendant is, something that applies regardless of which political interest you have, and the repeated use of it, and to entrench it in our lexicon, I think is something that we want to avoid, Chung says. Just the fact that its something that people have been talking about in relation to Donald Trump shows how important language is.
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Wells Fargo has fired several members of staff after claims that they were faking keyboard activity to make it appear as if they were working when they were not.

It remains unclear how the issue was revealed at the US bank, and if it was related to remote workers.

The bank said that its staff had either been fired or resigned after review of allegations involving simulation of keyboard activity creating impression of active work, according to the BBC.

New rules instituted in the US means that financial brokers working remotely have to be inspected every three years.

Wells Fargo holds employees to the highest standards and does not tolerate unethical behavior, a spokesperson told The Independent.

Wells Fargo said two years ago that it had taken on a hybrid schedule meaning that staff could partially work from home.

A number of large firms have been using tools to monitor employees after the expansion of remote work during the pandemic. These tools can monitor keystrokes and eye movements, take screenshots and record what websites are used.

Technology has also been developed to evade such surveillance tools, including so-called mouse jigglers which are used to make computers appear to be active when workers are actually doing something else. Amazon, which sells them for under $10, has said that thousands have been sold in the last month.

Bloomberg initially reported the firings following a filing by the bank to the US Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The outlet said more than a dozen people had been affected.

The BBC found six instances of staff being fired following a review and another individual who voluntarily resigned after being confronted with allegations. Several had worked for Wells Fargo for less than five years.

Financial firms are at the forefront of the push to make workers return to the office. While remote work remains popular, it has seen a downturn.

In May, 27 per cent of paid days in the US were remote  during the pandemics peak in 2020, that figure was more than 60 per cent. This is according to research from the Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico (ITAM) Business School, Stanford, and the University of Chicago.

This spring about 13 per cent of full-time workers in the US were fully remote while an additional 26 per cent have a mixed schedule, the researchers found.
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Vladimir Putin has been criticised for treating international humanitarian law like toilet paper as a key peace summit focused on the abduction of thousands of Ukrainian children by Russia begins.

Almost 20,000 children are known to have been forcibly abducted from the occupied territories of Ukraine, though the true figure is believed to be much higher.

The move prompted the international criminal court to issue arrest warrants for both Putin and his childrens rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova.

The horrific practice will be raised at the summit, which will also discuss food and nuclear security, which is taking place in Switzerland.

Rishi Sunak, Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are among those attending. US president Joe Biden will not be attending, opting instead to go to a campaign fundraiser in California ahead of the presidential election this November, but vice president Kamala Harris and national security advisor Jake Sullivan, Mr Bidens top foreign policy aide, will be there.

Russia has not been invited. China, meanwhile, a key ally of Moscow, has refused to go.

To co-incide with the summit,The Independent is publishing a special report revealing that some of the kidnapped children, including then 12-year-old Bogdan Shvetzov and teenager Anastasiia Motychak, have been subjected to physical abuse, humiliation and threats of imprisonment after being taken to camps away from their homes.

Bogdan Shvetzov, who was just 12 when he was forcibly deported to Crimea, is seen here reunited with his mother in Kyiv seven months after they were separated ( Save Ukraine )

The Independent has previously reported on the vulnerable and disabled being taken to Russia.

Dmyrto Lubinets, Ukraines human rights commissioner and ombudsman for children, said Putin had shown complete disregard for international law.

Mr Lubinets, who is in charge of securing the youngsters release, told The Independent Russia has consistently blocked their return: For Russians, the system of international humanitarian law is like, Im sorry, its like toilet paper.

They dont see anything concrete, some powerful agreement or document. They see toilet paper.

Russia claims it is doing the right thing, with childrens commissioner Lvova-Belova insisting it has rescued more than 744,000 Ukrainian children.

But The Independents special report has revealed that some of the kidnapped children have been offered money by Russian officials to then move to Russia, renounce their Ukrainian identity and take a Russian passport.

At least one orphan, a 10-month-year-old girl, is known to have been abducted from southern Ukraine and adopted by a senior Russian politician, Sergey Mironov. That child, whose real name is Margarita Prokopenko, had her identity and birthplace changed by Mironov and his wife.

Daria Herasymchuk, the advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on childrens rights, said many of the children have been moved to every corner of Russia, sometimes thousands of miles from their homes in Ukraine. Russia is trying to destroy the future of Ukraine, she said.

Mr Lubinets said they dont know how to stop this deportation without additional support from their international partners, nor how to bring the Russians to justice.

We have no real system of protection and human rights in the modern world, he said. The main challenge for us is how to receive information from the Russian side.

In the case of Margarita, Mr Lubinets said he sent, via two mediators, an official letter from the girls sister proving who she was to the Russian officials, but Moscow simply ignored the message.

We did not hear anything back from the Russian side. No arguments. Nothing. They have done everything they can to block the return of Margarita, he said.

Margaritas case was just one of thousands in which Russia has blocked their return, he added.

An international coalition has been convened to help broker the return of Ukraines kidnapped children - a 38th country, from South America, will become the latest addition to the group this weekend, Ms Herasymchuk confirmed - but while Russia remains a permanent member of the United Nations security council, the top body of the international organisation, both Mr Lubinets and Mr Zelenskys advisor believe Russia will never truly be punished.

How can we stop the deportation of Ukrainian children? Mr Lubinets said. I think we have only one real way of stopping it. That is the liberation of all temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

Mr Lubinets was also sceptical about the sanctions imposed against Moscow as he claimed Russia had consistently violated the human rights of Ukrainian civilians without fear of serious repercussions.

How can we believe in sanctions when we see the position of Iran, for example, he said.

Iran has been under sanctions for more than 30 years. And what? They produced a lot of weapons, then they sold them to Russia. Now Russia uses these weapons to kill Ukraine.

Sanctions? Really? We must be realistic. We live in a situation where powerful countries can occupy territories in other countries without any punishment. This is the real situation of the modern world. 
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I am often asked about the reasons and mechanisms behind the deportation of Ukrainian children. It is especially difficult to understand for Western audiences. What is deportation? How do Russians take Ukrainian children? And, most importantly, why do they do it?

Since 2014, 20 per cent of Ukrainian children have been living in Russian-occupied territories or have been deported to Russia or occupied territories. Among the children rescued by Save Ukraine are tens of thousands from conflict zones.

We have already returned more than 360 children from Russia and Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine. And our rescue missions continue.

In 2014, nearly a million children found themselves in the occupied territories of Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk. How many of them were deported to Russia is still unknown. Now some of these children are being militarised and used as weapons against their fellow Ukrainians. These children are fighting on the side of Russia.

The return of Ukrainian children will undoubtedly be a crucial aspect of the peace summit in Switzerland. Any meaningful peace agreement must address the humanitarian crisis caused by the abduction and displacement of innocent children during the conflict.

First and foremost, the return of Ukrainian children is a moral imperative. These children have been forcibly separated from their families and communities, enduring unimaginable trauma and uncertainty. Their safe return is essential not only for their wellbeing but also for the healing and reconciliation of Ukrainian society as a whole.

Moreover, the repatriation of abducted children is a tangible step towards building trust and fostering goodwill between conflicting parties. It demonstrates a commitment to upholding basic human rights and international humanitarian law, laying the groundwork for genuine reconciliation and lasting peace.

Teenagers Serhiy (left) and Denis Berezhnyi (centre right) stand at the Save Ukraine HQ in Kyiv with Mykola Kuleba (right) after being rescued from occupied Crimea in June 2023. Ukrainian flags are draped over their shoulders, as is custom for all children upon their return home ( Save Ukraine )

By prioritising the return of Ukrainian children at the peace summit, world leaders can send a powerful message of solidarity and support to the people of Ukraine. It will serve as a symbol of hope for the countless families still waiting for the return of their loved ones and reaffirm the international community's commitment to justice and compassion.

Ignoring the plight of these children risks perpetuating cycles of violence and resentment, undermining the prospects for long-term peace and reconciliation.

Therefore, as world leaders gather in Switzerland to discuss the future of Ukraine, they must prioritise the return of kidnapped children as a vital component of any comprehensive peace agreement. Only by addressing the human cost of the conflict can we hope to build a future where all Ukrainian children can grow up in safety, security, and peace.

We are grateful to everyone who joins and investigates the terrible crimes of the Russians against Ukrainian children. Work such as that carried out by The Independent contributes to the awareness of the entire international community that, in the heart of Europe, in 2024, crimes against humanity are being committed.

Our call to action today is not just a plea for awareness but a demand for international support and accountability. The annihilation of Ukrainian culture and the forced assimilation of our children into Russian society is a deliberate strategy that cannot be ignored. We urge you to support Ukraine and hold those responsible accountable. There must be a mechanism for returning children.

Mykola Kuleba is the founder and CEO of Save Ukraine  the largest network for rescuing children from war in Ukraine
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Greece has been warned it needs to make major changes if it wants to remain a popular tourism destination.

The countrys ombudsman issued a report on Thursday and called for urgent reform.

It needs to reduce rampant construction and protect water resources and coastal areas if it wants to maintain a healthy tourism industry across its mountainous mainland and beach-lined islands, it added.

Some 33 million people visited Greece in 2023, 5 million more than a year earlier, drawn by its ancient archaeological sites, turquoise Mediterranean waters and reliably sunny weather.

But in a report released on 13 June, the ombudsman warned of the growing environmental risks and called for urgent reform.

Our countrys economy relies heavily on tourism which makes the need to manage it in a sustainable way even more urgent, the report said. Greece must not exhaust its potential, wasting it and making our tourist destinations unattractive over time.

Earlier this week the body of celebrity doctor Michael Mosley was found on the Greek island of Symi. He was found to have died of natural causes after setting off for a walk from Saint Nikolas beach in searing 40C heat without a mobile phone.

Tourism accounts for over a quarter of economic output and nearly 2 million Greeks annual income derives from the sector, said the report, the first on the sector for the Greek Ombudsman since the authority was founded over 25 years ago.

open image in gallery Couple taking a selfie from a high vantage point in Santorini, Greece ( Simon Calder )

Revenues are expected to rise to 21 billion in 2024 from 20.5 billion last year - a boon for an economy emerging from a decade-long debt crisis.

Social media favourite Santorini - a small island with 15,550 residents - receives more than 5.5 million visitors annually, twice the number it hosted in 2012, the report said. The island contributes 1 billion euros in annual receipts.

In Santorini, even tourists complain about the great number of tourists, the report said.

It called for greater regulation to reduce coastal construction and slow the felling of forests which was creating the right conditions for flooding. It also called for greater care of water resources in the face of huge requirements for drinking water, swimming pools and water parks.

Tourism is a field where the lack of vision and strategy emerges with particular intensity. The exercise of a clear tourism governance is an immense need, the report said.

Last years wildfire season in Europe was among the worst this century, the European Commission said. Fires burnt through more than half a million hectares, led to mass evacuations and killed at least 20 people in Greece.

Spending by EU countries on fire protection - both suppression and prevention - has remained more or less stable since 2001 at 0.5% of total government spending, but research from WWF Greece showed that more than 80% of Greeces fire protection budget went towards suppression in 2022.
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Greece is counting the cost of an early heatwave that has taken the lives of several tourists in a preview of the extreme weather it is likely to face this summer.

An urgent warning has been issued to anyone travelling to the country as four holidaymakers have died and more are missing amid record temperatures.

A favourite holiday destination for much of Europe, Greece has now been hit by the earliest heatwave on record. A heatwave is classed as temperatures exceeding 38C for at least three days.

Click here for our latest updates on the search for missing tourists

Tourist sites in sweltering Athens and beyond were forced to close on Wednesday and Thursday. The Acropolis shut its doors to visitors after reports of people fainting while waiting in line. Greek authorities issued a level three heat alert, sending automated warnings to phones that urged people to work from home and avoid strenuous outdoor activities.

Greek state TV meteorologist Panos Giannopoulos said the country has seen its earliest reported heatwave: In the 20th century we never had a heatwave before 19 June. We have had several in the 21st century, but none before 15 June.

Chania, a city on the northwest coast of Crete recorded the highest temperature, with the mercury reaching 44.5C on Thursday. The area was also hit by a 3.7 magnitude earthquake on Friday morning.

The heat, twinned with an earlier season than usual, has left several tourists dead, even before the high period starts.

The spike in heat comes in the same week that TV doctor Michael Mosley was found dead on the island of Symi in the Dodecanese island group close to Rhodes. He collapsed during a walk.

The Trust Me, Im a Doctor presenter, 67, was found dead on Sunday, four days after he went missing. His wife said he took the wrong route on what was supposed to be a short walk to the next town.

The path would have taken him over or alongside a steep slope littered with rocks and no shelter from the heat that hit 37C. It is estimated that his time of death was around 4pm local time on Wednesday. He had left friends on the islands Agios Nikolaos beach at around 1.30pm to go for a walk.

open image in gallery A search and rescue operation for TV doctor and columnist Michael Mosley on the island of Symi ( PA )

Elsewhere in Greece, a 67-year-old Dutch tourist was found dead in Crete on 5 June. The man collapsed while crossing the Mylon gorge in Rethymno. The fire service confirmed the death on social media and local media reported he suffered heart failure in the heat.

On the same day, local media reported a 70-year-old French tourist collapsed and died while walking on a beach in Sitia, Crete.

A fourth tourist death was reported on Thursday 13 June, again on Crete. An 80-year-old man had left his hotel on his own and was found dead near an archaeological site near the northeast town of Malia.

Search teams in Greece are still looking for three other missing tourists in separate incidents.

Retired US police officer Eric Calibet disappeared while out on a solo hike on the island of Amorgos in the southeast of the country on Tuesday afternoon. Mr Calibet, 59, knew the area well having been visiting the island almost every year for about a decade.

He left for a four-hour hike, from Aegiali to Katapola around 7am.

"Were almost on three days here," his brother Oliver Calibet told Fox 11 TV in Los Angeles. "Theres no water Im very distraught."

open image in gallery Eric Calibet, 59, had been vacationing on the island but was reported missing by a friend on Tuesday afternoon ( Municipality of Amorgos )

Another American tourist is also missing on the small island of Mathraki, just off Corfu. The 55-year-old tourist hasnt been seen since Tuesday 11 June, according to local media.

On the island of Samos, a 74-year-old Dutch tourist disappeared while hiking on Sunday. Rescue teams on the tourist island in the eastern Aegean sea said the man vanished in the area of Marathokampos.

Searches for all three are still ongoing.

Dimitris Katatzis, head of the Samos rescue team, said tourists are unaware of the risks they face walking in the heat. Saying they often veer off track to see sites and then get lost. We saw a couple [of foreigners] walking a trail in 41C without hats, he told local media. It defies logic.

Dr Mohit Mandiratta, resident GP on BBC Breakfast, has warned of the complications even the healthiest people can face in the heat. He told The Independent: Heat can affect anyone, including fit and healthy people, and be very serious if not treated immediately.

It can come on quickly, over minutes, or gradually over hours, so its important we all stay alert to symptoms.

Heatstroke is a life-threatening condition that occurs when your core body temperature reaches 40C or higher and must be treated immediately.

Common symptoms of heat exhaustion What to look out for Common symptoms of heat exhaustion include:  A headache  Dizziness and confusion  Loss of appetite and feeling sick  Excessive sweating and pale, clammy skin  Cramps in the arms, legs and stomach  Fast breathing or pulse  A high temperature of 38C or above  Extreme thirst Dr Mohit Mandiratta, a local GP in the Black Country, added: To help prevent heat exhaustion drink plenty of cold drinks, take cool baths or showers and wear light-coloured and loose clothing. Try to stay out of the sun between 11am-3pm. If someone has heat exhaustion, move them to a cool place and get them to lie down with their feet raised slightly. Ensure they drink plenty of water and cool their skin with cold water and fan them. They should start to cool down and feel better within 30 minutes. If someone with heat exhaustion does not improve after 30 minutes, they may have heatstroke. You should call emergency services if they still feel unwell after drinking plenty of water.

Radek Nowak, active product manager for Intrepid Travel  an agency that specialises in walking holidays, said they have had to adapt trips according to the heat: The soaring summer temperatures in Europe are certainly making it more challenging for people to do more active holidays.

Intrepid no longer runs hiking trips in Spain and Portugal during the hottest months of July and August. Winter trips have been added instead in countries such as Greece and Croatia.

Radek added: When groups are doing walks or hikes in the warm weather, we plan our days around the weather, heading out early in the morning before the heat reaches its peak.

On the frontline of climate change

Greece is on the frontline in the worlds battle against climate change, being hit by extreme heat and flooding in the space of just a few weeks last year. It recorded its longest heatwave on record, lasting 16 days, in July 2023. The high temperatures fuelled wildfires across the country that saw locals and tourists evacuated.

The minister responsible for civil protection, Vassilis Kikilias, said the last week has posed a particular wildfire risk due to the combination of high temperatures and winds. The early start of the heatwaves, combined with the dry winter, has led to a very difficult fire season, he said.

open image in gallery Flames burn through a forest during the wildfires in Greece last year ( AP )

A total of 44 agricultural fires were reported by the fire service on Thursday alone. None are believed to be serious at this point.

As well as record temperatures, Greece is expected to see record tourism this year. In a forecast published days before the heatwave, the National Bank of Greece said tourism is up 24 per cent in the first quarter of the year compared to the same period a year earlier. The analysts said a 20 per cent rise in international arrivals in spring suggests the country will face a longer season than expected.

On Thursday, the Greek ombudsman issued a separate report warning that the country needs to see urgent changes if it wants to see continued growth in tourism. It warned of the growing environmental risks and called for urgent reform.

It said the country needs to reduce rampant construction and protect water resources and coastal areas if it wants to maintain a healthy tourism industry across its mountainous mainland and beach-lined islands.

Our countrys economy relies heavily on tourism which makes the need to manage it in a sustainable way even more urgent, the report said.

open image in gallery Tourists watch the sunset from the castle of Oia, on the island of Santorini, Greece in 2022 ( Reuters )

Overtourism is an issue in Greece, as it is in other holiday hotspots across Europe. The ombudsman report said that Santorini  a small island in the Aegean Sea with 15,550 residents  receives more than 5.5 million visitors annually, twice the number it hosted in 2012. In Santorini, even tourists complain about the great number of tourists, it added.

On Friday, prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in an interview with Bloomberg that the government is also considering imposing a cap on the number of cruise ships visiting the most popular tourist islands.

Infrastructure

The infrastructure of the country is struggling to keep up with the temperatures.

The heat not only closed tourist attractions this week but schools across the country were forced to shut their doors just days before the start of the three-month-long break.

Greek schoolchildren are given three months off for summer. With temperatures rising, the holidays start in the middle of June and the next team starts again in the middle of September.

open image in gallery A tourist is helped by first aid personnel from the ancient Acropolis site, in central Athens this week ( AP )

Despite schools being closed for lessons other students were forced to sit Panhellenic exams, the equivalent to A-levels, during the heatwave  many in poorly air-conditioned rooms. Parents in Athens and on the island of Thessaloniki were asked to bring fans when they dropped their children off for exams.

Workers in Athens were told to avoid activity between midday and 5pm and elderly people and those with chronic ailments were told to stay indoors.

At Athens airport, passengers on a Qatar Airways flight to Doha were forced to wait hours on board due to a technical problem. Passengers reportedly fainted due to a lack of air conditioning.

On Wednesday a huge fire broke out at a cookware factory in the Athens suburb of Kifisia. A warning of toxic smoke was sent to those living nearby, adding that they should shut their windows.

What next?

Temperatures across the country began to ease on Friday, with forecasters saying the heat will return to average for this time of year at 31 to 33 degrees.

The Foreign Office has said travellers heading to Greece should be cautious if you are in or near an area affected by wildfires.

They added that tourists should:
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A social media influencer from Dubai has been fined over 1,500 (1,800) for trespassing on a forbidden Italian beach with pink-tinged sand, after the local authorities spotted her Instagram posts about the transgression.

The incident came to light after the influencer shared photos and videos of her roaming on the banned beach off Sardinia, on the tiny island of Budelli.

The Italian coastguard protects the Spiaggia Rosa beach, whose colour derives from its delicate ecosystem, and fines for trespassing on the beach were recently raised higher, now ranging from 500 (428) up to 3,500 (2,993).

Large sign boards inform visitors that the beach is off-limits but the Dubai-based influencer allegedly ignored them, reported the Italian press.

The influencer, who goes by the social media name of @Rogeriaguiadubai, is of Brazilian origin and is reportedly living in Dubai. Her Instagram account has more than 35,800 followers. The social media post from her account showed her footprints in the sand of the popular beach as the audio of Edith Piafs La Vie En Rose played. She is also seen arriving on the beach using a rubber dinghy.

Despite breaking the rules she also added a location to her social media post, which read Spiaggia Rosa  Budelli.

According to local reports, the videos of the incident upset locals and a complaint was lodged with the coastguard of La Maddalena archipelago who were able to track the influencer down.

The account was made private on Saturday.

Spiaggia Rosa is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The sand gets its bright hue from the shells of micro-organisms that live in the shallows, which are crushed by currents and mixed with the sand.

People are forbidden from stepping foot on the beach, though the coast can be seen from the sea while on boat trips. While the ban was first introduced more than 30 years ago, it was enforced last year with greater rigour due to fears the beach could be ruined.

The beach is again in danger as people arrive by boat, clamber up the beach, then post photos, Fabrizio Fonnesu, director of the Maddalena archipelago national park, had said last year.

A set of higher fines is also in place for those who take sand from the beaches. In 2021, a couple were fined 855 (1,000) for filling a plastic bottle with sand  a violation which now carries a 2,960 (3,500) penalty.
In the space of three weeks, two unprecedented, extraordinary court cases. In the first, a former president of the United States is found guilty on 34 counts of committing felony offences over the payment of hush money to a former porn star. And in the most recent case, the serving presidents son has been convicted of buying a revolver when he was still a crack addict  and therefore lying on the form he had to fill in to say he was drug-free.

In the former case, when Donald Trump was found guilty, there were howls and shrieks of outrage from him and his supporters that this was unfair; the case should never have been brought; Trump is innocent; this was a weaponised justice system presided over by crooked Joe Biden on a mission to nobble his opponent in November. It was a corrupt justice system. It was a bent judge. A Soros-backed district attorney brought the case  and obviously no good conspiracy worth its name can thrive without the mention of the Jewish financier, George Soros, somewhere.

In the latter case, there was a brief statement from the president about the conviction of his troubled son, Hunter. President Biden, while at the G7 summit, said, Im extremely proud of my son Hunter. He has overcome an addiction, hes one of the brightest, most decent men I know, before adding: I am satisfied that Im not going to do anything  I said Id abide by the jury decision. I will do that. And I will not pardon him.

It really is a study in contrasts, isnt it?

So does this mean that Trump will now drop his litany of grievances? That he will accept that the case against him was duly brought, followed the law resulting in conviction by a jury of 12 of his peers? Will he now grudgingly accept that everyone is equal before the law  and that no one is above it  whether you are a former president or a presidents son? Will he, in short, stop the trash-talking and dangerous undermining of one of the three co-equal branches of American democracy, the judiciary?

I know, I know  youd got to the answer before I had finished the above paragraph. Of course he wont. Instead, his base is refashioning the conspiracy theories for a new reality.

They are now saying the Hunter Biden trial was a distraction; a doozy. Hunter is guilty of far worse  and crimes that tie in his dad as a co-conspirator. The fact that the crooked Justice Department has charged him with this minor gun offence is a distraction. Its a sleight of hand, they say. Dont be gulled. It really is the Hunter and the hunted.

open image in gallery Donald Trump speaks during his campaign rally at Sunset Park, Las Vegas ( Getty Images )

Never mind that the case brought against Trump had nothing to do with the Justice Department in Washington DC; the case was brought in the state of New York. It was not a federal case, so therefore it was not a Justice Department matter, it did not involve the attorney general, Merrick Garland; and certainly had nothing to do with Joe Biden.

The case against Hunter Biden on the other hand was a federal case. It was one in which Joe Bidens AG could have intervened. But did not. If you were being logical, you would say this shows the wheels of justice turning exactly the way they should: whether you are the son of a hobo or the son of the president, the law will apply equally to you.

Yet heres the wrinkle. You could very easily argue that far from it being Trump who was the one mistreated by the justice system, it was actually Hunter Biden. Sure, hed been dishonest in filling out the background check form to buy the revolver. But that is normally treated as a misdemeanour  a minor crime that would be a slap on the wrist. Instead, he was charged with imprisonable felony offences. A felony charge would have normally only applied if the gun that had been bought illegally had been used in a subsequent crime. It hadnt. So its arguable that Hunter has been treated harshly.

And this is why the Maga crowd is getting exercised. Firstly, they instinctively hate anything that restricts a persons right to bear arms; and that leads them to the belief that the Justice Department is covering up even greater sins by the presidents son. And sins that could compromise the president.

The allegations that Joe Biden was a beneficiary of his sons business activities are plentiful, lurid  and without a scintilla of evidence. Yes, it is undoubtedly true that Hunter Biden traded on his fathers name. It is hard to see why otherwise Hunter Biden would have been made a director of a Ukrainian energy firm, but for the fact that his father was vice-president to Barack Obama at the time. But kickbacks for Joe? Payments from anonymous Chinese interlocutors that have so excited the right-wing firmament? You can go All the Presidents Men and follow the money, but this time it doesnt lead to the doors of the current occupant of the White House.

Hunter Biden has had a problematic life. His mother and baby sister were killed in a car crash. And to some extent, he lived in the shadow of his twin brother, Beau  an Iraq war veteran and successful attorney with a big political career ahead of him before his untimely death from brain cancer. Beau Biden was the golden boy; Hunter the troubled twin. The tawdry evidence heard in court about Hunters behaviour would have been excruciating and painful for the Biden family.

That said  and lets be a bit basic and ugly about this  could Hunters conviction be politically useful to the president? The conviction of Hunter, and Biden seniors acceptance of his sons guilt while stressing the love that he and Jill feel towards him reflect well on Joe Biden. It is a stark counterpoint to the way Trump has reacted to his own conviction. It shows that Joe Biden is a respecter of the institutions that underpin the US, while Trump turns on anyone and anything that turns on him.

Logically, it should help Biden a lot. But when was the last time logic played a role?
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Rescuers looking for a Dutch hiker who vanished from a solo walk on the scorching Greek island of Samos six days ago have found a body.

The 74-year-old, who lived on Samos, disappeared from the area of Marathokampos in the south west of the island.

His wife reported him missing on Sunday afternoon.

Click here for our latest updates on the search for missing tourists

A body was recovered on Saturday morning after being spotted by fire and rescue drone operators, according to news website Greek Reporter.

A warning about extremely high temperatures has been issued to tourists visiting Greece.

open image in gallery Searchers head to the spot to find the mans body ( Hellenic Rescue Team of Samos )

According to local media, a mans body was found in Limniona, 300m away from a cave where the 74-year-old was last seen.

The body is yet to be formally identified, according to a local outlet.

Samos is an island of 30,000 people in the eastern Aegean.

Greek officials continue to search for two American tourists who went missing among the countrys coastal islands.

One man was last seen Tuesday in a tavern in Mathraki, a small island near the larger Greek island of Corfu. He was seen in the company of two female tourists, Greek news outlet eKathimerini was told.

open image in gallery An American is missing on Corfu ( Getty Images/iStockphoto )

Another American, former Los Angeles County Sheriffs Deputy Albert Calibet, 59, did not return from a hike on the island of Amorgos on Tuesday.

Local officials say it is unlikely Mr Calibet became lost.

Its unlikely he got lost as he has been coming here for 10 years and has walked all over Amorgos, Popi Despotidi, the islands deputy mayor of tourism, told CNN .

On Sunday, the well-known British TV presenter Michael Mosley was found dead following a four-day search operation on the Greek island of Symi after taking a walk alone in searing heat.

Greek authorities are still searching for two French tourists reported missing on the island of Sikinos on Friday.

The women, aged 73 and 64, were staying at different hotels, but are believed to have known each other.

Sikinos, a relatively secluded island in the Cyclades situated between Ios and Folegandros, has a population of just 386 people.
Bigger cheques for new wave of Irish start-ups will help them compete with multinationals, says Enterprise Ireland boss
Pilots undertaking fresh ballot this weekend

I dont think anybody is justified in seeking a 24pc or 25pc pay increase, he said.

Mr OLeary said he believed the 9.25pc interim increase recently recommended for the near 800 pilots at Aer Lingus by the Labour Court was more than fair.

I would hope and expect that IAG [the owner of Aer Lingus] will stand up to what this is  industrial blackmail, he said.

IAG also owns British Airways (BA), Iberia and Vueling.

Talks between Aer Lingus management and the Irish Airline Pilots Association (Ialpa) ended on Thursday evening without any real progress.

Aer Lingus carries about 40,000 passengers a day during the busy summer season and about 95pc of those wont get to fly on any day where pilots undertake strike action. The airline will probably aim to keep key services running on a skeleton basis  such as routes from Dublin to London Heathrow and New Yorks JFK.

It will also have to look at practicalities such as where to park dozens of aircraft if there is a strike.

Aer Lingus pilots are undertaking a fresh ballot for industrial action this weekend after the airline questioned the unions use of an electronic ballot earlier this week in which the vast majority of pilots at the airline vote in favour of strike action.

The new ballot is being taken using paper and the result is expected on Monday. The union would then have to give the company seven days notice after this before industrial action could take place. This is a legal requirement.

The strikes will not result in chaos, Mr OLeary insisted. The IAG group has many aircraft operated by BA, Iberia, Vueling, and they will operate plenty of flights to and from Ireland as will Ryanair, although we would hope it wont come to that.

I think the pilots should accept the Labour Court recommendation, which is a more than fair offer, particularly for a group of the higher-paid pilots who are already earning north of 200,000 a year.

An independent pay tribunal last year recommended a 12.25pc increase in consolidated pay and a 1.5pc rise in unconsolidated pay for the Aer Lingus pilots, but that was rejected by the union.

The union also rejected the recommendation from the Labour Court. The pilots want a near-24pc increase. That would give some of its highest-paid captains a rise of almost 50,000 a year.

In a video message to members yesterday, Ialpa president Mark Tighe said he had received a solicitors letter from Aer Lingus. He noted that Ialpa has been in intensive talks with the company over the last week.

We told you that Ialpa and Forsa working together with our solicitors and senior counsel would ensure that every i is dotted and every t is crossed, he said.

And they were. However, as anticipated I have received a solicitors letter from the company raising a question about the ballot. We are certain that there is no question to be answered.

He said Ialpa had expected this, and could spend weeks in court answering the companys question, but this was not what it was going to do.

This will only cost us four days, he said, urging members to vote Yes. You have continuously risen to the occasion, he said. I call upon you once again to reaffirm your rights. This is the start of our journey to secure the pay award that you deserve.

Passengers are now bracing themselves for a possible strike. Aer Lingus has asked the union to give it 15 days notice of any action.

Strikes by airline staff arent considered extraordinary circumstances in the event flights are cancelled or delayed, meaning passengers could claim substantial compensation from the airline under EU rules if flights are affected.

However, passengers are entitled to that compensation only if theyve been informed of the cancellation of their flight two weeks or less before the scheduled time of departure.

A 15-day notice of cancellation would mean they wouldnt be entitled to compensation under the EU-261 rules.

Passengers are also not entitled to compensation if:
Henry 'The Fonz' Winkler poses in front of fire engine in Dublin. Credit: Henry Winkler on X

Henry 'The Fonz' Winkler poses with members of Dublin Fire Brigade. Credit: Henry Winkler on X

It was an amazing adventure right here in Dublin, Happy Days actor Henry Winkler told a group of reporters while outside the Shelbourne Hotel, after he and other guests and staff were evacuated on Wednesday.

It was quite the start of the trip for The Fonz to Ireland, who had only arrived in the city the night before, after a three and a half hour flight delay from London.

When I heard the fire alarm, I thought it was the clock radio, the actor said.

A call down to reception and a chat with a very calm member of staff (though his reenactment would suggest something a little less than calm) told him the noise wasnt in fact the fault of the previous guest, thought to have set the alarm clock.

That was just the beginning of a busy trip for the actor who shook hands with and praised the Dublin Fire brigade for their response to the emergency in the Dublin hotel.

Firemen are some of my favourite human beings. Firemen and firewomen. They run in when the other people are running out, Winkler said.

A quick selfie with his favourite people and Winkler went to enjoy the rest of his first day here.

The next day though, he was back with the firemen and posted a picture of his visit to Tara Street Fire Station, wearing the full fireman kit.

Joining the firefighters here in Dublin !!!! What a bunch, Winkler captioned a picture of him smiling broadly in the uniform and leaning against one of the fire engines.

He was even given an enamel Dublin Fire Brigade badge to mark his visit.

By Friday, the actor had visited the south Dublin coastal town of Dalkey, where the Dalkey Book Festival is taking place this weekend.

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Winkler was one of the big names on the lineup and the tickets for his event on stage, Being The Fonz, Being Henry were sold out.

The actor even took time to pose for photos with the gardai on duty while there, wearing a green knit jumper and that massive grin.

As the weekend rolled on, The Fonz hit the pubs in the capital to enjoy some of the traditional music the city had to offer.

Now we are in Dublin !!! FANTASTIC pub O'Donoghue's!!!!, Winkler posted on social media, along with a video of musicians playing and crowds enjoying the performance.
Staff have expressed their anger after Mey, who led the university into disrepute, stepped down while mismanagement investigations are ongoing but chose to take up a new professorship at UL

University of Limerick (UL) president Professor Kerstin Mey will resign from her role but her decision to take up a new professorship has angered staff.

She will take on the 137,000 to 173,000 a year role in September.

Her presidency was drawn into question after senior staff and students at the college expressed no confidence in her earlier this year in the wake of a controversial housing deal.

She will now be part of a professoriate group which claimed her position had become untenable in a letter signed by 73 academics last March.

Sources said she will be remembered as the president who was at the helm when UL lost the ability to account for itself and control its own affairs.

Her performances at the Dails Public Accounts Committee (PAC), inability to answer questions and the way governance issues have continued to come up, all show things only got worse under her watch, one source said.

The university is currently the subject of a statutory review, ordered by the Higher Education Authority (HEA), after a series of governance and financial issues at the institution over recent years.

All capital spending at the university has been paused by the HEA while this review is ongoing.

A Sunday Independent investigation earlier this year revealed UL spent 11.44m on 20 homes in Rhebogue last year. A higher-than-anticipated stamp-duty bill brought the total cost to 12.56m, double what the homes are worth.

It raised questions about governance, approval and procurement processes, possible conflicts of interest and flawed valuations.

ULs governing authority, which signs off on planning and policy decisions, approved spending 10.88m on the homes but the contract was later amended to 11.9m without this boards knowledge. Reviews show Prof Mey approved this additional spend.

The contract was later negotiated down to 11.44m when UL agreed to pay the builder, Silvergrove Developments, upfront.

The homes are in use as student accommodation, despite not having planning permission to house students. An Bord Pleanala is currently reviewing the planning issue.

Reviews of the housing deal also show concerns raised before the purchase were undermined or ignored.

Gardai are carrying out a criminal investigation into intimidatory letters targeting a whistleblower who raised objections to the deal, and are separately examining a potential fraud UL reported to gardai.

The timing of Prof Meys resignation is unclear but UL provost Professor Shane Kilcommins is expected to continue as the colleges acting chief officer on a short-term basis, a role he took on in March when Prof Mey went on extended sick leave.

Multiple sources said Prof Mey spent a short time on campus last week, the first time she had been seen there for about three months.

UL chancellor Professor Brigid Laffan announced Prof Mey was stepping down but a spokesman said there would be no further comment from the university.

The announcement came as a surprise.

Questions are also being asked about what Prof Mey will teach. She holds a PhD in art theory and aesthetics, but UL has no art courses.

The Irish Independent spoke to several senior UL staff members yesterday who felt her role should not have changed until the HEAs review process had concluded later this summer.

They said the speed of the resignation, and how the decision for Prof Mey to continue as a professor was arrived at, raises significant questions for ULs governing authority, executive and Prof Laffan.

This effectively blindsided the university in circumstances where the chancellor gave very clear assurances of an openness under her watch, but there is a total lack of transparency here, one senior staff member said.

Prof Mey has led the university into disrepute and been accused by TDs of lying to the PAC. Investigations are ongoing and nothing should have changed until they are completed.

Prof Mey became president in 2021 after a year as interim president, and it was felt her success would depend on how she dealt with a multitude of governance, spending and cultural issues at the university.

The failed management of a 1.5m overspend on a city centre building bought in 2019, abject performances at the PAC and a failure to deal with issues around protected disclosures and poor morale among staff will define her presidency, staff said.

In a post on a staff messaging system last night, UL professor of psychology Orla Muldoon put questions to Prof Laffan and said colleagues were aware of previous roles at the university that required little labour in terms of teaching or research.

This doesnt land well, Prof Muldoon added.

This practice also contributes to the continuance of a culture of inequality and unfairness that has characterised UL. Was this considered during the decision making process?
 Flash

Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Saturday that China, with its vast market potential, is committed to unswervingly expanding high-level opening-up, and will continue to create a first-class business environment and support foreign enterprises in achieving better and greater development in China.

Li made the remarks when visiting the headquarters of New Zealand's dairy company Fonterra in Auckland with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon during his official visit to the country.

During their visit to the company in the morning, the two leaders were briefed on the company's business operations and development in China. They toured an exhibition of products and watched a demonstration of the manufacturing process.

For over 40 years, Fonterra has been operating and continuously expanding its business in China, and that is quite a vivid example of the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries, Li said.

There is vast potential for collaboration in areas such as green development for the two countries, and China welcomes Fonterra and other New Zealand enterprises to continue to seize such opportunities, Li said.

The two leaders also visited New Zealand's agricultural technology exhibition together.

Agriculture has always been an active area of China-New Zealand economic and trade cooperation, Li said, expressing the hope that the two sides will well implement the strategic plan signed last year on upgrading the level of bilateral agricultural cooperation, actively carry out trade in agricultural products, strengthen exchanges in agricultural technology and achieve more cooperation results.

On Friday morning, Li visited the China-New Zealand Belt-and-Road Joint Laboratory on Kiwifruit in Auckland. After listening to an introduction by the lab leader, Li said that the laboratories in China and New Zealand complement each other's strengths and collaborate effectively.

Through the empowerment of science and technology, the laboratories provide support for further improvement and upgrading of the kiwifruit industry in both countries, and add momentum to the development of the kiwifruit industry in the Belt and Road countries, said Li.

The joint laboratory is a successful example of China-New Zealand cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, Li said, calling on both sides to further strengthen cooperation in areas such as technological innovation to contribute to the development of China, New Zealand, and the world.


Labours Helen Ogbu, who took the fourth seat in Galway City East, with family and friends at the count in Westside, Galway. Photo: Ray Ryan

The outcome of the European and local elections suggests the next government will again be anchored in a Fine Gael/Fianna Fail construct.

However, there is a very real danger that this time it could be reliant on other component(s) farther to the right. Such a combination would threaten the progress that has been made towards a more socially (though unfortunately not economically) fair and equal society.

Labour and the Social Democrats can prevent such a regression and further a progressive agenda by combining to develop a Common Platform for Economic and Social Progress, prioritising public provision in housing, health and care, as well as peoples rights at work, in an environmentally sustainable, vibrant and mixed economy.

They should also promote the realisation of a 32-county shared Ireland through consensus rather than a sectarian head count. The basis for a merger between them does not exist, but it is imperative to present the electorate with a viable centre-left alternative to the dominance of the three parties of the nationalist tradition.

Such a platform could attract others on the independent left and would be capable of gaining sufficient Dail support to hold the centre of the ring, ensuring an economically and socially progressive public policy direction.

The interests of the people of all the 32 counties of Ireland must take priority over short-term manoeuvring for advantage.

Jack O Connor, Naas, Co Kildare

While people in the EU had the chance to vote, it turns out very few did

It will be said that the people of the EU have voted, but they didnt. If you consider the voting statistics around turnout of countries that joined the EU since 2004, it is a dismal outlook:

Croatia  21.35pc

Lithuania  28.35pc

Bulgaria  33.79pc

Latvia  33.82pc

Slovakia  34.38pc

Czech Republic  36.45pc

Estonia  37.6pc

Even our own turnout was a pathetic 49pc. It speaks volumes about the European Union.

Paul Doran, Dublin 22

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael may be celebrating, but they were small victories

With the local elections done and dusted, Im baffled by the two main government parties looking pleased with their results when, in fact, they both lost seats  a combined 43, to be exact.

Tom Mitchell, Loughrea, Co Galway

Complex count system puts Irelands late-arrival MEPs on EU back foot

I have been following with great interest the results for both the local and European elections in Ireland.

I have experienced both joy and despair at London count centres in recent years, but at least my despair was over in 12 hours.

Compared with England, where the voting system is first past the post, I agree that Irelands proportional representation voting system is a fairer one, though it does drag on for days, often going to a mid-teens count.

When Irelands MEPs finally join their elected colleagues in Brussels or Strasbourg next week, all the pens and paper will probably have been given out, with only the leftover broken chairs available for the late-arrival MEPs and only soup and sandwiches in the canteens. This must be a daunting experience for Irelands newly elected turning up late.

But like an Irish funeral, it could be a good tactic, as they will all be noticed and stand out in the years to come.

Seamus Joyce, Richmond, London

Sinn Fein needs to drop its patronising and populist approach to workers

Perhaps Sinn Fein would now drop its patronising mantra of fighting for workers and working families.

As a child of the early 1950s, my family and many neighbours and friends would fit the Sinn Fein interpretation of its populist slogan.

We didnt need to be pitched in social terms against other strata of Irish society  we benefited from good, insightful and innovative political leadership, which, for example, brought us free education and, little by little, stopped the drain of emigration.

But central to all of this was the broad expectation that my generation would be hard-working and motivated to lay better foundations for the next generation and strive to attain a better standard of living.

Michael Gannon, Saint Thomas Square, Kilkenny

Far right has become a political slur used against any with an opposing view

I fully agree with Bobby ONeill (We dont have a far right  people are concerned at Governments impotence, Letters, June 12) about the Government and most of our politicians failing to understand why people might be voting for the right, preferring to think of them as a basket of deplorables.

Many of those who use the term far right do it both as a slur against anyone who disagrees with them and as a way to avoid engaging in constructive discussion on very serious issues and having to defend their own position with facts and reason.

As we move forward into the run up to a general election, I would love to see anyone using the term far right challenged to explain exactly what they mean by it and what exactly is wrong with the position of the person they are labelling as such. Then we might get somewhere.

E Bolger, Dublin 9

St Michans damaged mummies should finally be afforded proper burial

I had mixed feelings about Dublins damaged mummies (Security guard charged after fire damage to ancient mummies in church, Irish Independent, June 13).

I am a retired physician and was commissioned as an evangelist by the Church of Ireland in 2017. Our church is generally averse to veneration of relics, and members often favour simple death rites.

It would be sad if St Michans closes as a result of reduced visitor income. Human remains in the crypt were damaged following a fire, but might those remains now potentially receive some form of dignified burial?

Whatever the age of human remains, we should respect their innate dignity. Our Lord asks: Why do you look for the living among the dead?

The Church of Ireland surely needs to focus more on OConnell Street and less on redundant Dublin church buildings or crypts. Saint Paul said: The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.

James Hardy, Martinez Avenue, Belfast

A rainy-day trip to my local cinema was thwarted by the dismal options on offer

Last Sunday was a miserable day here in Donegal. It never stopped raining from morning until night. I decided to look up our local cinema in Letterkenny as I had not been to the cinema for quite a while. This was the list I encountered: Bad Boys: Ride or Die; The Garfield Movie; If; The Watchers; Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes; Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga;The Fall Guy.

Needless to say, I stayed at home.

Brian Mc Devitt, Glenties, Co Donegal

Rugby greats will always be remembered: can same be said for the backroom?

I read with some sadness Alan Quinlans comments concerning what he believes is the less than appropriate treatment of Munster and Ireland legend Peter OMahony (He doesnt look happy, it looks premeditated  Alan Quinlan questions Munsters treatment of Peter OMahony, Irish Independent, June 13).

That OMahony is a giant of Irish rugby is indisputable. He has the respect and love of the Irish public who stand in awe of his achievements for both province and country over his playing years. At 34, I suspect theres plenty more where that came from.

In professional sport there is a need to use your full squad and get the most out of everyone. The focus has to be about the team performance as opposed to any single individual. But players like Peter OMahony, Donnacha Ryan, Peter Stringer and other Munster greats will live long in the memory long after their playing days are done.

How many selectors or backroom personnel can say the same?

M OBrien, Dalkey, Co Dublin
Mykhaylo Glyaykin (39) who lives on Dominic Street, Dublin 1 has limited English proficiency

Gardai have issued an appeal in finding a man who was last seen leaving his home in Dublin city yesterday afternoon.

Mykhaylo Glyaykin (39) who lives on Dominic Street, Dublin 1, is described as a vulnerable person with limited English proficiency.

He is described as being approximately 6 feet tall with a stocky build, brown eyes, and short dark brown hair.

Gardai say they and his family are concerned for his welfare.

Anyone with information on Mykhaylo's whereabouts is urged to contact Store Street Garda Station at 01 666 8000, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
A vaccine to prevent hundreds of babies getting seriously ill with RSV, which led to 1,397 hospitalisations last year and can kill, is expected to be offered to infants born this autumn and winter.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is understood to be drawing up plans to secure funding and offer the new vaccine, which experts have deemed safe and effective, to around 28,000 babies born as the feared virus season hits.

Even if just half of parents accept the vaccine for their newborns, it will result in 453 babies being spared hospitalisation and up to 48 avoiding intensive care.

Last winter there was another surge of the highly contagious RSV  the respiratory syncytial virus  which is potentially deadly and can leave some children extremely ill, suffering severe bronchiolitis and pneumonia and struggling to breathe.

Under the ministers plan, parents will be encouraged to agree to vaccinate their newborns before leaving the maternity hospital and it would be effective for up to five months, the average length of the RSV season.

The vaccine is immediately effective when administered and could reduce hospitalisations by up to 83pc.

Childrens hospitals in Dublin are overwhelmed with admissions and attendances of children with RSV and other winter viruses which can have a knock-on effect other young patients, including those with scoliosis. This can lead to important surgeries being cancelled due to lack of beds and intensive care space.

Last year, there were 1,397 RSV hospitalisations in infants under a year, and the majority of these, 1,017, were in infants under six months of age.

There were 118 paediatric ICU admissions in infants younger than one due to RSV in the later months of last year and the first months of this year. Adult intensive care beds had to be placed on standby for very sick children.

Mr Donnelly is believed to be anxious to act on the recommendations of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (Niac), the countrys immunisation experts. Niac found the vaccines are safe and effective.

RSV have only recently been developed and a number are now in place including one by Pfizer, where a pregnant woman is immunised, passing on protection to her unborn baby. It is available privately.

NIAC has also advised analysis of cost effectiveness and programmatic considerations are required to determine the most appropriate permanent RSV immunisation strategy. The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) is also doing an assessment .
The group, some of whom carried Irish flags, claimed they were there to demand Mr Harris close the borders.

They made comments about wanting "mass deportations" and clearing tents.

One man also made references to the Covid-19 vaccine.

Those involved wore scarves or face masks which concealed their identities.

Gardai were at the scene and warned them to stay off private property.

Today's News in 90 Seconds- June 15

"Gardai responded after a small number of individuals gathered outside a residence in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, shortly before 8pm on Friday, 14th June 2024. Gardai engaged with those present and instructed them to immediately leave the area, which they complied with. We have no further comment to make at this time, a spokesperson said.

It is understood the incident lasted only a few minutes before they left the area.

Mr Harris's office is not commenting on the incident.

The Taoiseach did publicly state his concerns about a similar event at the beginning of May.

On that occasion a group gathered outside his Wicklow home while his children were preparing for bed.

Mr Harris lives with his wife and two small children in a housing estate in the Greystones area of Co Wicklow.

More than a dozen people were part of a group holding banners with slogans including close the borders, house the Irish first and Eire will no longer run by EU puppets. Images of the demonstrators outside the Taoiseachs house were posted on social media but their faces were blurred.

"I have a very clear view in relation to this whether it's me, whether it's an opposition politician, whether it's, it's quite frankly, anybody. I always think people's families and people's homes should be out of bounds," Mr Harris said.
The number of Palestinians seeking asylum in Ireland continues to increase, latest data shows.

Figures released by the Department of Integration show Palestinians lodged most applications for asylum  57  in the State last week.

It comes as record numbers of non-Ukrainian applicants  over 1,000  are in tents in serviced sites, while 2,067 are without an offer of any accommodation.

The number of Palestinians seeking asylum has increased sharply recently, while charities have reported a rise in Palestinian men living in tents on the streets of the capital.

In the first five months of this year, 408 Palestinian refugees have sought asylum here. In comparison, in the decade from 2013 to 2023, 301 applications were made in Ireland by Palestinians.

A total of 173 Palestinian refugees sought asylum in Ireland in last month, up from 66 in April; 127 sought protection in March, up from just 20 in February and 22 in January.

The new data on international protection applicants shows there was an average of 47 asylum-seeker arrivals to Ireland every day last week.

It brings the total number of asylum-seekers in state accommodation to 31,116.

Nigeria has the greatest number of nationals being accommodated by the State at 6,192.

This is followed by 3,554 from Georgia and 3,056 from Algeria, two countries designated safe by the Government.

The State stopped offering accommodation to all new male asylum-seekers, citing a severe shortage

The latest statistics released by the Department of Integration show 2,067 male asylum-seekers are awaiting an offer of state shelter. This is up 61 since Tuesday.

On December 4, the State stopped offering accommodation to all new male asylum-seekers, citing a severe shortage.

Those without accommodation are directed to homeless day services, where they can access food, laundry, hygiene facilities and, from some services, tents.

Unaccommodated asylum-seekers are also entitled to an increased weekly allowance of 113.80.

Since December 4, a total of 3,814 male asylum-seekers have arrived, 381 were offered accommodation when they presented following a vulnerability triage and 1,366 initially refused accommodation were offered a place.

Currently, only unaccommodated asylum-seekers who are referred to the International Protection Accommodation Service as rough sleepers and having particular vulnerabilities are subsequently offered accommodation.

Meanwhile, a 90-day cut-off of free accommodation for the first Ukrainians who were accommodated under a new scheme introduced on March 14 kicked in on Wednesday.

Under the scheme, newly arrived Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) can avail of free accommodation in a designated accommodation centre for a maximum of 90 days. They will receive a weekly allowance of 38.80 per adult and 29.80 per child.

During their stay, they are not entitled to apply for standard social welfare assistance, but they can do so when they leave.

The number of Ukrainians in state-provided accommodation has reduced from 60,000 last November to just under 45,000 on June 11.
Late Late Show host and Co Down man Patrick Kielty has met the Pope in a private audience along with other comedians yesterday morning.

Mr Kielty, along with fellow entertainers Tommy Tiernan and Ardal OHanlon were among a group of around 100 comedians who met with Pope Francis.

The conclave of comedians also included Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Rock, Stephen Colbert and Conan OBrien.

The Vatican said the meeting was to celebrate the beauty of human diversity... [and] promote a message of peace, love and solidarity. It also said it promised to be a moment of meaningful intercultural dialogue and sharing of joy and hope.

The audience was organised by the Vaticans Dicastery for Culture and Education and Dicastery for Communication.

According to the Vatican News, Pope Francis told the comedians they are in possession of a precious gift, that can spread peace within hearts and between peoples, helping us to overcome difficulties and cope with daily stress.

Today's News in 90 Seconds: June 15

The Holy Father went on to highlight another miracle of comedians, the ability to make people smile even when tackling serious issues. You denounce the excesses of power, give voice to forgotten situations, highlight abuses, point out inappropriate behaviour but without spreading alarm and terror, anxiety or fear, he told them.

Pope Francis pointed out that in creation, Divine Wisdom practised your art for the benefit of none other than God Himself, the first spectator in history, with God delighting in the works that he had made.

Tommy Tiernan meets the Pope

Remember this, he told comedians. When you manage to bring intelligent smiles to the lips of even a single spectator, you also make God smile.

Thinking and speaking with a sense of humour helps us understand and get a sense of human nature, he said. Humour does not offend, does not humiliate, does not nail people to their faults, Pope Francis added. Unlike other forms of communication, he argued, humour is never against anyone, but is always inclusive and proactive, and arouses openness, sympathy, and empathy.

In fact, the Pope said, we can even laugh at God, just as we play and joke with those we love.

But, he said, this must be done without offending the religious feelings of believers, especially the poor.

Pope Francis concluded his address by blessing those present and their art.

Continue to cheer people up, especially those who find it hardest to look at life with hope, he said.

Ardal O'Hanlon meets the Pope

Help us, with a smile, to see reality with its contradictions, and to dream of a better world!

The meeting took place before His Holiness headed to Puglia for the G7 leaders summit.

Ardal OHanlon, who grew up in Carrickmacross, famously played Fr Dougal Maguire in Channel 4s cult classic Father Ted. His character questioned the Catholic religion as a whole and at one point forgot he was a priest.

And in Tommy Tiernans first appearance on The Late Late Show in 1997, his controversial routine based on the crucifixion caused hundreds of complaints to flood in for the Irish state broadcaster.

Some considered the stand-up performance by the Carndonagh man to be blasphemous. He won the Perrier Prize at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1998 with a routine largely based on his experiences following the broadcast.
Move comes as High Court is set to rule next week on Professor Philip Nolans sacking as head of SFI in fallout from bullying allegations

Declan Hughes is effectively the main government representative on the board of the agency

A senior civil servant has resigned from the board of the crisis-ridden state research agency.

Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) has sacked Professor Philip Nolan as its boss in the fallout from bullying allegations.

The former National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) member is seeking to have his dismissal overturned.

A High Court judge will give his decision on the matter next week.

But now Department of Enterprise secretary general Declan Hughes has resigned with immediate effect from the board of SFI.

Mr Hughes is effectively the main government representative on the board. His reasons for standing down are not clear, but it is believed he cited work commitments as the secretary general.

He was appointed to that role 13 months ago. The timing of his departure, ahead of the High Court ruling, has raised eyebrows.

Mr Hughes has been a member of the board since 2022 and was therefore involved in decisions of the board around investigating complaints against Prof Nolan and ultimately his sacking last month.

Declan Hughes has stood down from the board of Science Foundation Ireland. We are awaiting a replacement nomination from the department, a spokesperson said.

An investigation commissioned by the board of SFI found Prof Nolans conduct was at the upper end of inappropriate behaviour and just below bullying.

Prof Nolan was found to not be in breach of corporate governance, the investigation found his conduct did not constitute bullying, and it did not make any finding of misconduct or gross misconduct. And he denied all the allegations against him.

Five senior managers made protected disclosures, citing a host of serious allegations against their boss.

Prof Nolan is asking Mr Justice Rory Mulcahy to extend orders he made in recent weeks preventing his dismissal from his director general role. His lawyers argue there was no conceivable justification for the move. SFI denies his claims and is contesting his application.

SFI argues that as director general, Prof Nolan lost the dressing room, plain and simple and the organisation was not functioning normally, the organisations legal team says.

The SFI board has rebuffed any suggestion it acted other than in the best interests of the organisation. This is a highly qualified, highly experienced board of great calibre that takes its responsibilities very seriously, it argued in court this week.
Final seats have been decided after days of counting, so whos flying the flag for Ireland?

Mr Andrews began his career in politics in 1999 when he ran for a spot on Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, later serving as a TD from 2002 until taking a break from politics in 2012 and working as the CEO of charity Goal.

Barry Andrews (FF)

An incumbent MEP going into these elections, he was first elected to the European Parliament in 2019. However, Mr Andrews did not take his seat immediately.

Then, Dublin was just a three-seat constituency, but as a result of Brexit, Dublin gained a fourth and Mr Andrews took his seat in 2020. This time, though, he topped the polls and was elected on count 19.

Within Europe, he is a member of the Renew Europe Group.

Regina Doherty (FG)

Before her election to the European Parliament, Regina Doherty was a senator and former Meath TD.

Her bid for Europe was considered a surprise move, but she became the partys candidate after a selection convention in Drumcondra, beating junior minister Josepha Madigan and senator Barry Ward.

In the final days of the campaign, a war of words between coalition parties broke out after Ms Doherty accused the Green Party of being arrogant, talking down to voters and having an autocratic style.

She received the second-highest first-preference votes in the Dublin constituency after Mr Andrews.

Like the Fianna Fail candidate, Ms Doherty surpassed the quota on count 19 and was elected.

Lynn Boylan (SF)

Ms Boylan was the first of two Sinn Fein candidates elected to the European Parliament this week.

While not an incumbent, she has been an MEP before, but lost her seat in the 2019 election. Since then, she has been a senator and the partys spokesperson on climate justice.

Ms Boylan was one of two Sinn Fein candidates who ran in the election in Dublin, and she benefited from transfers from running mate Daithi Doolan. Throughout the count, she was in strong contention for one of the four seats, though her election was not a sure thing.

She took the third seat in the constituency and, like the other new MEPs, was elected on the 19th count.

Aodhan O Riordain (Lab)

Mr O Riordain was the final candidate to be elected to the European Parliament in Dublin and, like the others, got in on count 19.

The Labour TD has been a member of the Dail since 2011, but was a senator from 2016 to 2020.

He will be a member of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats group in the parliament, and has called for a housing commissioner to be set up in Europe.

As the counts went on in the RDS, Mr O Riordain was trailing Independent Ireland candidate Niall Boylan by 2,500 votes in count 18.

The elimination of the Green Partys Ciaran Cuffe and People Before Profits Brid Smith proved crucial for Mr O Riordain, securing him enough transfers to be elected.

Luke Ming Flanagan (Ind)

The incumbent MEP topped the polls during the first count in the Midlands-North West constituency and secured his seat in the European Parliament after count 19.

It was quite the achievement for the politician because he will now serve as an MEP for his third consecutive term.

When he first ran in 2014, Mr Flanagan said it would be on an anti-EU platform, but has since changed his stance.

While his prospects looked strong throughout the count in Castlebar, it was the transfers from Aontus Peadar Toibin that enabled him to exceed the quota.

He was first elected to the Dail in 2011, having previously served on Roscommon County Council.

Barry Cowen (FF)

The Laois Offaly TD was elected to the European Parliament on count 20 and was the second candidate to secure a seat in Midlands-North West.

The Fianna Fail MEP was a TD between 2011 and 2016 and was re-elected to the Dail in 2020. Mr Cowen is also one of four candidates whose election will trigger a by-election for their seat in the Dail.

During his election campaign, the newly-elected MEP controversially picked himself as the lead candidate of his party, which ran three candidates in Midlands-North West.

When taking his seat, Mr Cowen will be a member of the Renew Europe group.

Nina Carberry (FG)

Ms Carberry was one of the so-called celebrity candidates on the ballot papers for the European elections.

The former champion amateur jockey secured her place in the European Parliament without reaching the quota on count 21.

Ms Carberry is also known for having won RTEs Dancing With The Stars. Although she had no previous political experience, the Fine Gael MEP received 10.9pc of the first preference votes.

With her fellow Fine Gael MEP colleagues, she will join the European Peoples Party group which is a centre-right group and the largest in the parliament.

Maria Walsh (FG)

The Boston-born incumbent won the Rose of Tralee in 2014, representing Philadelphia after living there for three years. Her family moved to Shrule, Co Mayo, in 1994.

She entered politics five years after her Rose win, announcing her candidacy for the European Parliament under the Fine Gael banner.

Ms Walsh became the youngest MEP in the European Parliament in 2019, earning just over 10pc of first preferences in Midlands-North West.

She was elected yesterday without reaching the quota alongside Ms Carberry, for Fine Gael, which clinched two of the five seats on offer.

Ciaran Mullooly (II)

Mr Mullooly retired as RTEs midlands correspondent in 2021 after 25 years with the national broadcaster.

He began his journalism career with the Longford Leader, and after his retirement worked in tourism with Longford County Council. He has volunteered in the local area for more than three decades, including with Tidy Towns.

Mr Mullooly announced his candidacy for Independent Ireland earlier this year and earned 57,297 first-preference votes.

Sean Kelly (FG)

Incumbent Sean Kelly topped the poll in Ireland South, and has served as an MEP since 2009.

He entered politics following a lengthy career as a teacher and as an influential figure in the GAA, where he served as chairman of the East Kerry and County Kerry boards, and became the 34th president of the GAA in 2003.

He earned 92,579 first preferences in his first European election and has topped the poll on numerous occasions. Mr Kelly is a member of the EPP group and leader of Fine Gael in the European Parliament.

Billy Kelleher (FF)

Former junior minister Mr Kelleher first ran for election to the Dail in 1992, losing out by just 25 votes in Cork North Central, and instead taking a seat in the Seanad.

He was first elected to the Dail in 1997 and retained his seat during each consecutive general election, also serving as a junior minister in the Department of Enterprise during his time in office.

Mr Kelleher was elected to the European Parliament for Ireland South in 2019 and was returned to Brussels last weekend alongside running mate Cynthia Ni Mhurchu.

Michael McNamara (Ind)

The election of TD Michael McNamara to the European Parliament will prompt a by-election in Clare, where he first took a seat in the Dail in 2011 as a Labour candidate.

Mr McNamara, who is a barrister, lost the Labour whip when he voted against the government three times in 2015. He later lost his seat in the 2016 general election, but regained it as an independent in 2020.

He previously ran for Europe in Midlands-North West as an Independent in 2009, polling at just under 3pc of the vote share.

He was elected this week on count 20 with 8.2pc of first-preference votes.

Cynthia Ni Mhurchu (FF)

A barrister who is remembered for introducing Riverdance during the Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin in 1994, Ms Ni Mhurchu is a former radio host with RTE.

She also presented the Irish-language broadcast Cursai and the Lotto draw on RTE during the 1990s.

Ms Ni Mhurchu was a barrister for 27 years and specialised in family law. She was a first-time candidate for Europe and received 55,209 first-preference votes.

Kathleen Funchion (SF)

The election of Kathleen Funchion to the European Parliament will also trigger a by-election in Carlow-Kilkenny, where she has served as a TD since 2016.

She was previously elected to Kilkenny Borough Council in 2009, the first Sinn Fein representative in Kilkenny since 1923.

Ms Funchion ran for the Dail three times before her election in 2016.

She worked with the Siptu union as a workers rights advocate.

Ms Funchion attracted 50,580 first-preference votes in Ireland South and was elected on count 20 alongside Mr McNamara and Ms Ni Mhurchu.
Uisce Eireann has denied that problems identified at a water treatment plant two years ago had anything to do with a massive fish kill earlier this week.

The water utilitys chief executive Niall Gleeson has been summoned to a meeting by Environment Minister Eamon Ryan to discuss what Mr Ryan called a completely unacceptable, avoidable incident at the Freemount facility in Co Cork.

Thousands of fish were killed along a 4km stretch of the River Allow in the north of the county which runs directly beside the water treatment plant.

Uisce Eireann admitted there had been a spillage of a chemical, polyaluminium chloride (PAC) from the plant last weekend.

It contaminated a Special Area of Conservation and killed at least 5,000 fish, including juvenile Atlantic salmon which have suffered dramatic population decline as well as brown trout, lamprey, eel, stone loach, roach and dace.

It is the second such incident in just over a year. A similar chemical spillage from the Ennistymon water treatment plant killed thousands of fish in the Ballymacraven River in Co Clare in May 2023.

Mr Ryan referenced the Ennistymon incident in his letter to Mr Gleeson, saying he was concerned about the incidents at a time when there was significant pressure on Irelands native fish stocks.

He noted that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had audited the Freemount plant in August 2022 following a discharge of sludge to the River Allow.

The audit found sludge was not being adequately managed at the plant and the appropriate authorities were not properly alerted to the incident.

The EPA left Uisce Eireann with a list of nine works to be carried out to address the problems.

Mr Ryan said in his letter to Mr Gleeson that he wanted a full investigation of the fresh incident immediately.

In addition, we need to have full account of the specific systemic remedial action that Uisce Eireann took at the Freemount Water Treatment Plant following the last discharge, and if such action was taken, we need to know why another discharge has now happened so soon after, resulting in this very significant fish kill on the River Allow.

In a statement, Uisce Eireann said it had completed eight of the nine works recommended by the EPA while the final recommendation was being progressed.

We can confirm that none of these recommendations related to the issue which occurred in recent days, it said.

It added it had completed a clean-up operation following last weekends PAC spillage.

Uisce Eireann fully recognises the seriousness of this incident and we immediately informed the relevant bodies and are co-operating fully with Inland Fisheries Ireland in relation to their investigation of this incident.

The EPA and National Parks & Wildlife Service were also notified.

Detailed investigations are ongoing and additional remedial works are being undertaken at the plant to ensure no further discharge will occur.

It said Mr Ryans request to meet Mr Gleeson had been received and contact had been made with his department to arrange a suitable time.
The Cliffs of Moher, in County Clare, have been crowned Ireland's most popular filming location, according to new research.

The research was conducted by Tonybet, which analysed Instagram and Google search data to come up with the list of the top 10 filming locations in the country.

Coming out on top were the Cliffs of Moher, according to both Instagram and Google searches. The Cliffs of Moher attracted 724,000 Instagram posts and generated a monthly average of 190,740 Google searches globally.

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The famous spot features in a number of movies including The Princess Bride (1987) and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009).

The Cliffs of Moher were followed by the Wicklow Mountains, Achill Island, Powerscourt Estate, Ashford Castle, Skellig Michael, Malin Head, Lough Tay, Trim Castle and Inis Mor.

Irelands film sector has boomed in the last decade, producing various critically-acclaimed films, television series and 15 Academy Award nominations in the past two years alone. According to Screen Ireland, the total production spend in the Irish economy reached a record high of 500 million in 2021, despite challenges facing the industry due to the pandemic.
Darius Musinskas was served with a book of evidence contained a total of 53 charges and is expected to stand trial later this month.

A Lithuanian father of two is to stand trial accused of stealing over 17,000 in social welfare over a 12-month period.

Fifty-five-year-old Darius Musinskas, 25 Oliver Plunkett Park, Dundalk, Co Louth, was served with a book of evidence at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Bernadette Owens.

Garda Mervyn Henson gave evidence of having served the book of evidence, which contained 53 charges, on Musinskas prior to the days court business getting underway.

Darius Musinskas was served with a book of evidence contained a total of 53 charges and is expected to stand trial later this month.

Sgt Orla Keenan, said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had consented for Musinskas to be sent forward for trial to the next sittings of Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court in just over a weeks time.

The charges, all of which relate to dates between April 2020 and April 2021, allegedly took place at Bank of Ireland, Pearse Street, Mullingar, Westmeath.

Musinskas listened on in the body of the court beside a Lithuanian interpreter as Judge Owens remanded him on continuing bail.

Defence counsel Andrea Callan BL, asked for her clients legal aid to both continue and cover a junior counsel in light of the nature and volume of the charges before the court.

Darius Musinskas stands accused of stealing over 17,000 in social welfare.

Judge Owens also granted an application for Musinskas to be afforded a Lithuanian interpreter on his next court date and for legal aid to cover the cost of the book of evidence being translated into the Dundalk mans native tongue.

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In making those orders, Judge Owens gave Musinskas the alibi warning, informing him he had 14 days to notify the State if he intended to rely on alibi evidence during the course of his trial.

Musinskas was subsequently remanded on continuing bail to appear back before a sitting of Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court on June 25.
From the famous Excalibur sword being pulled from a rock at Childers Wood, near Roundwood, to Lindsey Lohan and Ed Speeler enjoying a romantic spin in an open-top sports car above the famous Bray to Greystones Cliff Walk, the Garden County has lured some of the worlds most famous directors to its green fields, mountains, lakes and villages.

Dubbed Europe's Hollywood by Jane Seymour, the countys locations have also doubled as international locations for Scandinavian settlements, as in Vikings and Vikings: Valhalla, as well as gothic Victorian streets in Penny Dreadful, which was shot in Bray.

But its not just about the landscape, as Wicklow is home to world-class film studios offering a wide range of pre- and post-production services, including Ardmore Studios and Ashford Studios, local crew with worldwide recognition and experience and, of course, there are the tax breaks.

While there are some established film trails that visitors can follow and sites that are worth a day out, many locations are more remote and bear little resemblance to what you may have seen on screen. And on that note, lets start with one of the most the zaniest films of them all shot in Wicklow . . .

Cocaine Bear, The Avoca Mines, Avoca

Based on the true story of a black bear that consumed a large amount of cocaine dropped from a drug smugglers airplane in rural Georgia, US, in the 1980s, Wicklows Powerscourt Waterfall and Avoca Mines were chosen as locations to represent the Georgian wilderness for the film which starred Ray Liotta and Keri Russell.

While Powerscourt Waterfall is easily accessible, Avoca Mines has been officially closed since 1982 and Wicklow Tourism warns the site itself should not be accessed by the public. For a drive-by, and to give a flavour of the scenery, it is still worth a trip if you are hardcore fan of the movie. The mines were also used for gritty scenes in Vikings.

Irish Wish, Lough Tay and Kilruddery House

Lough Tay.

One of Irelands hidden gems, Lough Tay, which is situated on the Luggala Estate in the Wicklow Mountains, proved to be the perfect spot to capture Irelands natural beauty on camera for the rom-com, Irish Wish. The best viewing point to see this marvellous lake is along the Military Road, at the junction with the Wicklow Way. The actual wishing chair, which is crucial to the movie's plot, is located near Lough Tay but is on private lands, so thats sadly off-limits.

The locations that are open to the public are both the Kennedy familys mansion, Killruddery House, in Bray, and Powerscourt Estate, where some of the driving sequences tied to the Kennedy family were actually shot.

Killruddery House has also been the location for several big movies in the past, including My Left Foot, Far and Away, Excalibur, The Tudors, Angelas Ashes and Camelot.

And ever since Laurence Olivier started the trend of Wicklow shoots by filming Henry V on the estate in 1944, over 25 different movies and TV series have been filmed or partially filmed at Powerscourt, including Black Beauty, Barry Lyndon, The Count of Monte Cristo, Ella Enchanted and King Arthur.

Disenchanted, Enniskerry

Enniskerry village being transformed for Disenchanted.

While the movie pretty much tanked, the village of Enniskerry was firmly placed on the map when it was transformed into a Disney wonderland for the shoot. Thousands of visitors flocked to the village as filming got under way over the spring of 2021, hoping to catch a glimpse of Hollywood stars Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey, but mostly what they got was caught in traffic and chaos. While the film crew and crowds have moved on, the magic of the village is still there and is well worth the trip.

Braveheart Drive, Hollywood

A battle scene from Braveheart.

Be warned that the Wicklow film drives are, lets say, as much of a concept than an actual route, so do keep your eyes peeled for the signposts, which have been in place since the trails were launched in 2002 and may have been nudged off course by the Wicklow winds.

A fitting start to the The Braveheart Drive is the village of Hollywood, as the route winds around Blessington Lakes, linking Ballyknockan and Lacken, where you can see the location for Mia Farrow's residence in the movie Widow's Peak, and Manor Kilbride, from where it heads over the Sally Gap where many scenes from Braveheart were shot.

The trail then goes into into Laragh and finishes in Glendalough. The 80km Braveheart Drive is a long day out, but does take in the sheer drama of the Wicklow Gap and wild Sally Gap, where many of the spectacular fighting and panoramic scenes from this Oscar-winning film were shot.

Excalibur Drive, Roundwood

The Excalibur Drive starts in Roundwood and takes in Lough Tay, the backdrop of Excalibur and heads into the west before arriving Powerscourt Estate. It then takes you into Bray, where Ardmore Studios has played host to classics like The Snapper, My Left Foot and Ella Enchanted, and more recently Penny Dreadful and Irish Wish. The drive then takes you into Greystones, where part of Hallow Road, starring Rosamund Pike were shot; Kilcoole of Glenroe fame, before looping back through Newtownmountkennedy to Roundwood.

Michael Collins Drive, Wicklow town

The Michael Collins Drive visits locations used in Neil Jordans historical movie starring Liam Neeson and Julia Roberts and begins in in Wicklow town. Some of the court scenes for the Pierce Brosnan film Evelyn were filmed in Wicklow Courthouse and from there the route heads out to Rathdrum, where Liam Neeson, as Michael Collins, addressed a large crowd in the square. The love scenes with Julia Roberts were shot upstairs in The Woolpack pub, while moving on, Hollywood Glen was used for the location of the ambush and assassination of Michael Collins. The trail also goes to to Avoca, former home of Ballykissangel and on to Arklow, where some scenes for Angela's Ashes were shot, before going into Redcross and past Brittas Bay, immortalised as the island of Elba in The Count of Monte Cristo.
Controversial rap trio Kneecap have gained attention again after placing stickers around the British Museum that claim the artefacts there are stolen from Ireland.

The hip hop group from west Belfast posted their escapades to their social media pages on Friday evening, with an accompanying caption that reads: Few bits we stuck around the British Museum today  place is huge and full of stolen treasures from other cultures and and people.

"Place would be empty only for the theft of everything they discovered...

Today's News in 90 Seconds: June 15

The actio caused widespread opinions, with one X user replying: Tiresome childish nonsense.

"A lot of that stuff would have been lost forever through theft and neglect but proper archaeologists preserved it.

Another person on Instagram commented: The Annals of Innisfallen, one of the longest records of Irish history describing events of years 433-1450 and written down by various monks in Killarney for over 400 years is held in -Oxford.

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The bands latest act of defiance comes on the same day that they released their debut album Fine Art.

They have also just announced a major homecoming show at Belfast's SSE Arena for this December.

The concert will take place on Saturday, December 21, 2024.

Tickets go on sale next Friday (June 21) from ticketmaster.ie and ssearenabelfast.com.

The headline show will round off a landmark year for Mo Chara, Moglai Bap and DJ Provai  with their award-winning eponymous feature film also hitting the headlines.

KNEECAP the movie is set for release in Irish cinemas on August 8, and in UK cinemas on August 23.

It is a fictional retelling of the controversial bands rise to fame, with X-Men star Fassbender playing the father of Naoise O Caireallain (Moglai Bap), an IRA veteran who fakes his own death and turns up as a yoga teacher.

The movie depicts the formation of the band as the three performers  O Caireallain, JJ O Dochartaigh (DJ Provai) and Liam O hAnnaidh (Mo Chara)  come together to create Kneecap and find themselves embroiled in a fight to have Irish recognised as the countrys native language.

All three bandmates play themselves, each landing an acting debut under the instruction of writer and director Rich Peppiatt.

In real life, the group was formed when Moglai Bap was out spray-painting with a friend on the eve of an Irish Language Act march in Belfast.

He had written Cearta (the Irish word for rights) on a bus stop when the police arrived and lifted his friend, while Moglai Bap managed to escape.

Their friend refused to speak English to the police and ended up spending a night in the cells awaiting a translator.

The incident inspired Kneecaps song C.E.A.R.T.A, which they intended to release just for the craic. After becoming a cult hit through the underground music scene, however, they have since risen to Hollywood heights.

Tickets for Irish cinema viewings are now available through the websites of participating cinemas.

The film will have its Irish premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh on July 9.
Tracey Emin says damehood marks another surprise twist in her life (Jane Barlow/PA)

British artist Tracey Emin has said that being made a dame is another brilliant surprise in her life.

The artist, known for her headline-grabbing 90s works Everyone I Have Ever Slept With and My Bed, has been given a damehood in the Kings Birthday Honours list for her services to art.

Dame Tracey has a good ring to it, the 60-year-old said in a statement to the PA news agency.

The Queen meeting Tracey Emin during the Sovereigns Creative Industries Garden Party at Buckingham Palace (Aaron Chown/PA)

Im very very happy. Another brilliant surprise in my life.

Born in 1963 in Croydon, south London, fashion student Dame Tracey dropped out of Medway College of Design in the 1980s to become a high-profile and notorious member of the group of contemporary artists dubbed the YBAs (Young British Artists).

During this time, Everyone I Have Ever Slept With 19631995, featuring a tent adorned with 102 names, was shown at Charles Saatchis Sensation exhibition held at the Royal Academy in London.

Since then, she has become known for her autobiographical and confessional artwork.

My Bed, an art installation featuring an unmade bed covered in debris, sold for more than 2 million at auction.

Artist Tracey Emin during a photocall with her piece My Bed (Nick Ansell/PA)

It was also among the contenders for the 1999 Turner prize, which was won by Steve McQueen for his film and video works.

Other works from Dame Tracey have included a 2018 neon sign in Londons St Pancras station saying I want my time with you, and a 2020 Royal Academy exhibition which showcased her paintings alongside the work of Edvard Munch.

Dame Tracey has often expressed her admiration for Norwegian painter Munch.

I fell in love with the paintings of Edvard Munch, because he made a painting called Jealousy that was about himself, she told The Independent in 2009.

I thought it was an incredibly open, self-effacing and defiant thing for a man in the early 20th century to do. By openly displaying his weakness it empowered him and gave him strength.

Tracey Emin was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2020 (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

In 2020, Dame Tracey was diagnosed with bladder cancer after discovering a tumour while working on a painting of a malignant lump, and underwent surgery which saw many of her reproductive organs removed and she was fitted with a stoma bag.

She later unveiled a new collection of nudes, for a show called A Journey To Death, which she said was a response to the cancer and resulting surgery.

In an interview with The Guardian, she spoke about having had a full hysterectomy, telling the publication: Is this sexy? No, of course it isnt. Everythings changed for me. My whole life has changed.

She also said at the time that she believes she had a premonition, when her entire world suddenly went dark and she saw an apparition, before her diagnosis.

She added: It was during the first lockdown, just before the banging of the saucepans for the NHS.

It was light, I was sitting in my living room waiting to look out the window and the TV was on  and suddenly it went off, the room went completely dark, and this apparition came towards me. I went, Oh, f****** hell!'

Tracey Emin (Ian West/PA)

In 2007, she represented the United Kingdom at the Venice Biennale, which is considered one of the worlds most famous art exhibitions.

The celebration of contemporary art takes place every two years, alternating with architecture, and Dame Tracey, at the time, was only the second solo British female artist at the Pavilion, following Rachel Whiteread in 1997.

During her early years, Dame Tracey studied painting at the Royal College of Art in London.

She later confessed that she destroyed all of the paintings she created during her time by throwing them into a skip, admitting she loved painting but was still really afraid of it.

It wasnt because I didnt care about them. It was because I cared about them too much, she said in an interview published in The Perfect Place To Grow: 175 Years Of The Royal College of Art.
When someone recognises me from TV, Im of value, when they dont, Im just the disabled-looking frail little lady

Actor and activist Liz Carrs new theatre project  part of her campaign against assisted dying  comes to Galway this summer. Here, the Silent Witness star talks about the childhood diagnosis that changed her life, her Irish ancestry and finding love with her wife of 13 years

Actor and disability rights activist Liz Carr. Photo: Linda Nylind

Tanya Sweeney Sat 15 Jun 2024 at 03:30

Liz Carr is telling me about a time, a few years ago, where she needed to hail a taxi in Central London. London black cabs are all pretty much wheelchair accessible, but if they see you in a wheelchair, they dont want to stop for you, as it means work, the actor says. They have to get out and get the ramp. Those of us who have lived this life get that this happens and they often drive on. To get around this as a wheelchair user, Carr usually hides and gets whoever shes with to flag the cab.
Motorcycle gang Hells Angels are back as they take flight with the Kinahans

The biker gang rose to notoriety in the US in the 1960s, became a corporation in 1996 and now one of its Australian leaders has reportedly struck a deal with the Irish cartel

Global reach: The Hells Angels now operate in 59 countries. Photo: Steve Thorne/Redferns

Liam Collins Sat 15 Jun 2024 at 03:30

Like another quasi-criminal organisation closer to home, the Hells Angels havent gone away, you know.
Photo courtesy: Screenshot grab from X video of BJP

New Delhi/IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has returned to India after participating in the G7 Summit held in Italy from June 13-15.

India was the outreach country in the summit.

PM Shri @narendramodi arrives in Delhi after the successful completion of the G7 and the G7 Outreach Summit in Italy. pic.twitter.com/phz0I4UPzA  BJP (@BJP4India) June 15, 2024

Earlier Modi posted on X, "He posted on X: "Had a very productive day at the G7 Summit in Apulia. Interacted with world leaders and discussed various subjects. Together, we aim to create impactful solutions that benefit the global community and create a better world for future generations."

Modi said: "I thank the people and government of Italy for their warm hospitality."

Had a very productive day at the G7 Summit in Apulia. Interacted with world leaders and discussed various subjects. Together, we aim to create impactful solutions that benefit the global community and create a better world for future generations.



I thank the people and  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 14, 2024

Modi met top leaders, including US President Joe Biden and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, on the sidelines of the event.

The Prime Minister on Friday called for the end of the monopoly in technology and said it must be made creative to lay the foundation of an inclusive society.

In an address at an Outreach session of the G7 summit in Italy's Apulia region, Prime Minister Modi said the countries of the Global South are bearing the brunt of uncertainties and tensions around the world.

"We have to collectively ensure that the benefits of technology reach all sections of society, to realize the potential of every person in the society, to help in removing social inequalities, and expand human powers instead of limiting them. This should not only be our desire, but our responsibility. We have to convert monopoly in technology into mass usage," he said.

"We have to make technology creative, not destructive. Only then will we be able to lay the foundation of an inclusive society. India is striving for a better future through its human-centric approach. India is among the first few countries to formulate a National Strategy on Artificial Intelligence," the Prime Minister said.

Under the stellar leadership of PM Shri Narendra Modi, India showcased its clout on the global stage at the G7 Summit in Italy. pic.twitter.com/T7qjncqeai  BJP (@BJP4India) June 15, 2024

He spoke about the launch of A.I. Mission.

"It is derived from the mantra "A.I. for All. As a founding member and lead chair of the Global Partnership for AI, we are promoting cooperation among all countries. During the G-20 Summit hosted by India last year, we emphasized the importance of international governance in the field of A.I. In the time to come, we will continue to work together with all countries to make A.I. transparent, fair, secure, accessible and responsible," PM Modi said.

Modi also spoke about his government's resolve to build a developed India by 2047.

"Our commitment is that no section of the society should be left behind in the country's development journey. This is also important in the context of international cooperation," he said.

The countries of the Global South are bearing the brunt of global uncertainties and tensions, PM Modi said, adding that India has considered it its responsibility to place the priorities and concerns of the countries of the Global South on the world stage.
Photo courtesy: X/@GiorgiaMeloni and X/@BJP4India

New Delhi/IBNS: "Hello from the Melodi team," says Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni taking a selfie with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Italy, giving a virtual shoutout to the netizens who casually refer to the two global leaders as Melodi.

Sharing a video on her X handle, Meloni said, "Hi friends, from #Melodi."

In the video, the Italian Prime Minister was heard saying, "Hello from the Melodi team." The two Prime Ministers were seen waving looking at the camera.

Reposting the video, Modi wrote on X, "Long live India-Italy friendship!"

In a picture which went viral on social media, Meloni can be seen clicking the selfie with Modi by her side while both were in all smiles.

The viral picture was almost a deja vu moment for the two global leaders whose selfie at the COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai turned out to be popular.

PM Narendra Modi and Italy's PM Giorgia Meloni's selfie on the sidelines of the G7 summit, in Italy. pic.twitter.com/wE1ihPHzeq  ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2024

On the work front, Modi Friday held bilateral talks with his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni with whom he had a "good meeting" to cement ties between two countries.

Modi also thanked her for inviting him to the G7 Summit. Earlier he was welcomed by Meloni in Italy.

India has been invited to the G7 Summit as an Outreach country.

The bilateral talks concentrated on India-Italy relations in areas like commerce, energy, defence, telecom and more.

"Our nations will work together in futuristic areas like biofuels, food processing and critical minerals," PM Modi posted in an X post.
Photo courtesy: Screenshot grab

Patna/IBNS: Former political strategist and Jan Suraj Abhiyan president Prashant Kishor has lashed out at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for touching the feet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the meeting of National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

In a rally during his ongoing mass outreach campaign in Bihar, Kishor said, "He brought disrespect to Bihar. The leader of 13 crore people of Bihar is touching the feet (of Prime Minister Narendra Modi) in front of the whole nation!"

"People ask me why I oppose Nitish Kumar when I was the one who helped him to win in Bihar in 2014. I oppose him now due to this behaviour.

"There is a huge difference between Nitish Kumar of 2014 and 2024. In 2014, Nitish Kumar didn't stoop to touch Modi's feet. Now he is ready to do anything to remain the Chief Minister," the aspiring politician added.

Nitish's Janata Dal (United) emerged as the kingmaker in the Lok Sabha polls 2024 winning only 12 seats to help Modi form the government as his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed to touch the majority mark.

The BJP, which had set 370 as its target, stopped at 240 seats, falling short of 32 from the majority mark.

Among various coalition partners, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party and JD (U) have the lion's share with 16 and 12 seats respectively.

The Opposition alliance- titled INDIA- could win 234 seats.

Kishor, who shot to fame helping Modi to win the Gujarat assembly elections in 2012 and Lok Sabha polls in 2014, has worked with several top Indian politicians including Nitish Kumar, Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal, Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Kishor had assisted the Nitish Kumar-led Grand Alliance in Bihar in 2015.

The Grand Alliance, which was formed by JD(U), Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress, had decimated Modi's BJP in that year's assembly polls.
Photo Courtesy: PIB

Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Saturday addressed a press conference and informed about the release of the 17th installment of about Rs 20,000 crore under PM-KISAN by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Varanasi on June 18, 2024, for the release of the 17th instalment of the PM KISAN scheme to the farmers and granting certificates to more than 30,000 self-help groups as Krishi Sakhis.

The event will be organized by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in coordination with the Govt. of Uttar Pradesh.

The event will witness the presence of esteemed dignitaries, including Governor, Uttar Pradesh, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and various other Ministers from the Government of Uttar Pradesh.

In his address during the press conference, Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan thanked the Prime Minister for entrusting him with the responsibility of an important department like agriculture and said that agriculture is the most important basis for fulfilling the resolve of a developed India.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that agriculture is the foundation of the Indian economy. Even today, most of the employment opportunities are created through agriculture.

The Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister said that today farmers are filling the granaries of the country.

He said that even earlier, agriculture and farmers have been the top priority of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, due to which many steps were taken for the welfare of farmers and even now, after assuming office, the Prime Minister first signed the 17th installment of Kisan Samman Nidhi to be released to the farmers.

Chouhan said that in his first program after becoming the Prime Minister for the third time, the highly anticipated 17th instalment of PM KISAN, amounting to more than Rs 20,000 crores, will be disbursed to over 9.26 crore beneficiary farmers by the Prime Minister with a single click of a button from Varanasi.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the Kisan Samman Nidhi is a central sector scheme launched on 24th February 2019 to supplement the financial needs of all land-holding farmers subject to certain exclusion criteria of higher income status.

He said that mmaintaining absolute transparency in registering and verifying beneficiaries, the Government of India has disbursed over Rs 3.04 lakh crores till now to more than 11 Crore farmers across the nation and with this release, the total amount transferred to the beneficiaries since the inception of the scheme will cross well over Rs 3.24 lakh crores.

The Union Minister said that on 18 June, the success of the resolution of developed India along with the prosperity of the farmers is going to start. Because on this day several Union Ministers will also be visiting 50 KVKs to interact with the farmers and create awareness amongst them about the various schemes of the Department. He said that around 2.5 Cr.

Farmers will join the event across the country. 732 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Over 1.0 lakh Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies, and 5.0 Lakh Common Service Centres (CSCs) from across the country will also participate in the event to create awareness amongst the farmers.

The Union Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Minister said that the Prime Minister has resolved to make three crore Lakhpati Didis, out of which about one crore Lakhpati Didis have already been made, 2 crore more are to be made. Krishi Sakhi is one dimension of that.

Chouhan said that to help the farmers, many sisters have been trained so that they can support the farmers through different works in farming and can earn an additional income of about 60-80 thousand rupees annually.

The Union Minister said that along with the program of releasing the installment of PM Kisan Prime Minister Modi will also grant Certificates to more than 30,000 Self Help Groups (SHGs) as Krishi Sakhis and as a token PM will distribute the certificates to 5 Krishi Sakhis.

The Krishi Sakhi program has been rolled out in 12 States in Phase  1: Gujarat, Tanil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Odisha, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, and Meghalaya. As on date, over 34,000 Krishi Sakhis out of 70,000 have been certified as Para-extension Workers.

Chouhan said that Krishi Sakhis are chosen as agriculture para-extension workers because they are trusted community resource persons and experienced farmers themselves.

The Krishi Sakhis have already received extensive training in various agricultural practices, making them well-equipped to support and guide fellow farmers effectively.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that keeping in view the important role of women in agriculture, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

He said that under PM-Kisan, financial benefit of Rs 6,000/- per year in three equal instalments, every four months, is transferred into the bank accounts of farmers families across the country through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode. On the other hand, under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, financial security has been guaranteed to more than 4 crore farmers.

Chouhan expressed happiness that despite the surge in global prices, the work of providing fertilizers at cheap rates to farmers by providing subsidy of Rs 11 lakh crore is continuing.

The Union Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Minister said that this program will be broadcasted live on DD, DD Kisan, My Gov, From development block office to gram panchayats, YouTube, Facebook, various Krishi Vigyan Kendra and more than five lakh Common Service centers across the country. He appealed to the farmers to participate in this program directly through any medium and connect with the program and the Prime Minister.

During the press conference, Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers welfare Shri Manoj Ahuja and Secretary, DARE Shri Himanshu Pathak were also present.
Photo courtesy: Facebook/Mallikarjun Kharge

New Delhi: Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, stating that the coalition government at the Centre was formed by mistake and could collapse at any moment, media reported.

In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the BJP secured 240 seats, falling short of the 272 needed for a majority, and had to rely on its allies to establish the government.

"NDA government has been formed by mistake. Modi ji doesn't have the mandate. It's a minority government. This government can fall anytime. We would like it to continue. Let it be good for the country. We should work together to strengthen the country. But our Prime Minister is habitual of not letting something go on well to continue. But we will cooperate towards strengthening the country...," Mallikarjun Kharge was quoted as saying by the media.

His remarks elicited a sharp retort from Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai who said Kharge is living in a "fool's paradise."

"After witnessing the democratic spirit in the swearing in ceremony, if Kharge thinks that the government might fall, then I think he is living in a fool's paradise," Annamalai said, reported India Today.

Kharge's criticism of PM Modi and the coalition government drew swift responses from his political rivals in Bihar as well.

JDU, which is part of the coalition, pointedly reminded Kharge of the history of past Congress-led coalitions.

Former Bihar IPRD minister and JDU MLC Neeraj Kumar questioned Kharge's understanding and challenged him to recall how the Congress-led governments under PV Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh survived, the report said.

Kumar pointed out that in 1991, the Congress, which had bagged the same number of seats as won by BJP in 2024, formed a minority government under the leadership of Narasimha Rao.

He highlighted how Rao skillfully managed to turn the minority Congress government into a majority within two years by engineering splits in smaller parties.

Kumar then rhetorically asked if Kharge was unaware of Congress's historical tactics. "Congress is now stuck in 99 ka Fer," he quipped, according to the report.
Photo Courtesy: Screengrab from viral video on X

A heart-warming moment was caught on camera when world leaders sang 'Happy Birthday' to wish German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Italy where they had assembled to attend the G7 meeting.

The video showed UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and later US President Joe Biden teaming up to wish the German leader.

The video has now gone viral on the internet.

Ich liebe das Internet pic.twitter.com/Kq3tewKjOI  Mattheus Berg (@MattheusBerg) June 14, 2024

Italy's Apulia hosted the G7 Summit this year with top world leaders, including Indian PM Narendra Modi, attending it.

Scholz has been serving Germany as the Chancellor of Germany since December 2021.
Photo Courtesy: UN News/Ziad Taleb

A cautious welcome was given by civilians in Gaza to this weeks Security Council resolution endorsing a ceasefire for hostages deal - mixed with frustration that the fighting continues with both Hamas and the Israeli Government signalling that the three phase plan falls short.

The US-led resolution calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of some hostages together with Palestinian prisoners, followed by the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas and the return of Palestinians to their homes throughout Gaza while humanitarian aid flows in at scale.

UN News correspondent in Gaza Ziad Taleb spoke to some of the displaced people forced to move multiple times to flee the relentless Israeli offensive amid continuing counter attacks from Hamas militants on the ground.

Yearning for normal life

Muhammed Jarbou, currently living in the city of Deir al-Baleh hailed the Council vote as a positive if belated move to try and end the bloodshed.

UN News/Ziad Taleb Mohammed Jarbou is currently living in Deir al-Baleh, Gaza.

Better late than never, he added. I hope that the Security Council in cooperation with the United Nations, neighboring countries, Arab and Western countries, will force Israel to implement this resolution."

He hoped for an end to the fighting so that we can return to how our lives were before October 7after this long period of war.

'The heart, is sad'

As for Ahmed Nasser, another person forced to flee his home in the northern Gaza Strip, described the resolution as useless because it failed to fall under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which authorizes the use of force to restore peace and security in exceptional circumstances.

Mr. Nasser pointed out that many decisions have been reached to aid Palestinians which have come to nothing.

People are tired. My children are in Gaza City and I am here. We want to live a decent life like other people.

Fayek Abu Assem agreed with that view. He voiced frustration, saying the resolution was similar to a previous ceasefire resolution - but he hoped this time it would be different so that Gazans could return to their own homes.

People are hungry and bored. The heart, is sad.

We do not see a glimmer of hope

Nidal Ashour is another temporary resident of Deir al-Baleh, who is fluctuating between welcoming the resolution and feeling frustration as the bombing and the violence continues unabated.

People cheered the decision but the next day everything was still the same, he told our correspondent.

Displacement, bombing, and killing continued. We do not see a glimmer of hope for the displaced to return to their homes."

But he stressed that it was better than no resolution at all. The decision is good, even though it was very late, after about nine months of murder and the loss of loved ones.

I want to visit my childrens graves

UN News/Ziad Taleb A woman who fled her home is now living in Deir al-Baleh, in the Gaza Strip.

One Palestinian woman, who asked for her name not to be used, expressed relief at the Council resolution. We hope that there will be a ceasefire because we are tired. We hope that the war will stop, she said.

Her children were killed in the north of Gaza Strip earlier in the war.

All she wants now is for Eid al-Adha to come upon us and for me to visit my martyred sons in their graves. We want to return to our homes.
Photo courtesy: x.com/KensingtonRoyal

London: Princess of Wales Kate Middleton, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment, made her first public appearance on Saturday since her diagnosis in January.

The 42-year-old British Royal attended the annual Trooping the Colour parade at Buckingham Palace, dressed in a pale outfit, accompanied by her children and husband, Prince William.

Thank you to everyone involved in Trooping the Colour. Always in awe of the work that goes into putting together such an incredible afternoon @RoyalFamily pic.twitter.com/9UaYRXyi81  The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) June 15, 2024



Enthusiastic bystanders cheered as they saw Kate, who looked her usual elegant-self, teaming her white outfit and a wide-brimmed hat.

Prince William participated in the ceremony on horseback.

All set for The King's Birthday Parade! pic.twitter.com/jbangtZvA3  The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) June 15, 2024

The event, known as Trooping the Colour, involves troops in full dress uniform parading past the king with their regimental flag, or "colour."

King Charles, who is also receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer, travelled in a carriage with Queen Camilla, a change from his horseback participation last year, as reported by the news agency AP.

Kate had announced her attendance on Friday through a social media post, sharing that she is making good progress with her preventative chemotherapy but is "not out of the woods" yet.

She expressed her gratitude for the thousands of kind messages she received from around the world following her cancer announcement in March.

In March, after a two-month absence from public life following abdominal surgery, there was widespread concern about Kate's health. Kensington Palace later disclosed that she is battling cancer and would be stepping away from her public duties.

"My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months ...Im looking forward to attending The Kings Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet," she wrote on Friday.

Kate Middleton is also set to meet King Charles, Queen Camilla, and other senior family members on the balcony of Buckingham Palace today, said the report.

In January, the Princess spent two weeks in the hospital following major abdominal surgery.

Two months later, she announced via a video message that tests had detected cancer and she would start preventative chemotherapy.

Kensington Palace has not provided further details about the type of cancer or her treatment, and only confirmed that the preventive chemotherapy began in February.
WUC website

The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) commemorates the 36th anniversary of the 1988 pro-democracy Uyghur student protest in Urumchi, East Turkistan.

June 15, 1988 marks one of the most significant large-scale public expressions of discontent against the Chinese governments discriminatory policies against Uyghurs.

Thousands of Uyghur students courageously raised their voices against the discriminatory policies of the Chinese government, as we understood the significance of this momentum, said WUC President, Dolkun Isa.

The entire system operated on discriminatory policies, which ultimately lead to the ongoing genocide in East Turkistan.

The Uyghur students protest movement of the 1980s aimed to educate Uyghur students across the country about their rights in accordance with the Constitution.

It was led by the current WUC President, student leaders Dolkun Isa, Waris Ababekir and Erkin Tursun.

The 1988 protests were preceded by large student protests in 1985, where thousands of Uyghur students took to the streets over discriminatory education policies, birth control policies, the effects of nuclear testing in the Lop Nur region, and the lack of genuine representation in government and employment opportunities.

On June 15, 1988, Isa and Erkin Tursun, representing Uyghur students, engaged in a five-hour intense debate with high-level Chinese government officials about these discriminatory policies.

After failing to find a compromise, the two student leaders returned and mobilised thousands of students in the streets of Urumchi together with prominent Uyghur activist and Isas classmate, Waris Ababekri.

Although the student democracy protests in East Turkistan were ultimately stamped out by the Chinese government, these demonstrations planted the seeds for the future of the Uyghur human rights movement.

The demonstrations furthermore proved to be a pivotal moment in the lives of Dolkun Isa, Waris Ababekri and many other Uyghur activists that set them down the path of human rights advocacy.

In the aftermath of the 1988 protests, Isa and Ababekir were expelled from the university and Isa was forced to flee the country in 1994. He later sought asylum in Germany, where he has continued to advocate for Uyghur rights.

Erkin Tursun later became a reputable TV producer and journalist, who worked for Ili Station for nearly 30 years.

On April 21, 2021, it was confirmed that he was serving a 20-year sentence for inciting ethnic hatred, discrimination and covering up crimes, according to Beijing authorities.

Waris Ababekri was reportedly sent to a camp at the beginning of January 2019 and released in mid-November. He passed away a week after his release, on 24 November 2019.

On this important commemorative day for the Uyghur people, the World Uyghur Congress reiterates its call to the international community to hold the Chinese government accountable for its continuous attack on Uyghur human rights, freedom, and democracy.

In the years since 1988 the repression of Uyghurs has escalated to a genocide and crimes against humanity.

Especially in light of Xi Jinpings intent to continue repressive policies, and world leaders meeting with Chinese officials while consistently prioritising business over human rights, it is even more important to highlight the longstanding human rights abuses against Uyghurs.
Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

The district administration in Pakistan's Chakwal region have put three leading members of the Ahmadiyya community under one-month detention allegedly to prevent them from offering sacrifice of animals on the occasion of upcoming Eidul Azha, media reports said.

Chakwals Deputy Commissioner Quratul Ain Malik issued three separate orders for the detention of the three men on June 10 and the police later arrested them and sent them to Jhelum prison, reported Dawn News.

The three men belonged to Dulmial village.

The Pakistani village witnessed mob violence when a religious destination belonging to the community was attacked, leading to the death of two people.

The worship place, a historic mosque built in the middle of the 19th century, had been sealed by the local administration after the attack and its fate still hangs in balance.

DC Malik in her orders, copies of which are available with Dawn, has stated that she received a report from the district police officer in which the latter alleged that all the three men may cause deterioration for law and order situation in the area and requested for the issuance of their detention orders under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order 1960.

The matter was discussed in the District Intelligence Committee held on June 10 which unanimously recommended that in order to prevent the sectarian conflict as well as law and order situation, all these three persons be detained.

Talking to Dawn, a spokesperson of Jamaat-e-Ahmadya Amir Mehmood said all three persons had been called for a meeting with the police officials and the assistant commissioner Choa Saidan Shah regarding the upcoming Eidul Azah on Monday.

There was also the presence of the complainants (opponents of the Ahmadya community) in that meeting. Immense pressure was placed on the Ahmadya delegation not to perform the Qurbani. Furthermore, while being harassed they were told to submit a surety bond stating that neither them nor any other Ahmadi in the district will perform Qurbani, he said.

Amnesty International urged Pakistani administration to immediately ensure release of the people.
Photo Courtesy: Pixabay

Activists of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) recently demonstrated in Pallandri region of the Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir against the excessive use of force and arrest of Kashmiri activists.

They demanded the immediate release of the arrested individuals.

PoJK has seen an increase in the detention of Kashmiri activists.

The arrests have triggered widespread protests.

The motives behind these detentions vary, ranging from political dissent to advocating for the rights of Kashmiris. Such actions highlight the broader issues concerning freedom of expression and civil liberties in the region, reported ANI.
Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

A head constable was gunned down in Pakistan's Nawan Killi area on Thursday.

The deceased was identified as Ziaur Rehman.

According to police, the armed men raiding motorbikes targeted the police official when he was passing through the bypass area, Dawn News,

The man received multiple bullet shots and died on the spot.

Police reached the spot and shifted the body of the cop to the hospital.

His body was later handed over to the family members.

No group has claimed responsibility.

This is the third killing of a cop in a similar manner in the country this month.
This is one of the most well-known institutes in India, offering air hostess training programs. They have a presence across various cities in India.


Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan threw a grand party in Mumbai to celebrate his mother Zeenat Hussain's 90th birthday. Heres a look at the star-studded guest list and highlights from the event:

Inside Aamir Khan's Mother's 90th Birthday Bash:

Actor Aamir Khan hosted the grand celebration in Mumbai to honour his mother, Zeenat Hussain. As the evening's host, Aamir ensured that everyone had a wonderful time, surrounded by family, friends, and Bollywood stars.

Who from the family attended?

Aamir Khan with his mother/ANI

Zeenat Hussain, the birthday lady, celebrated her 90th birthday with cake and love. Aamir Khan's daughter, Ira Khan, enjoyed the family celebration alongside Kiran Rao and Reena Dutta, Aamir's ex-wives, who were both present to celebrate the day with Zeenat.

Pictures From Inside The Birthday Party/News Agencies

Who from Bollywood attended?

Asha Parekh, a veteran actress and close friend of the family, was present. Juhi Chawla also shared a picture from the event on Instagram with Aamir, recalling their time together in 'Ishq'.

Viral Moments

During the celebration, heartwarming pictures captured Zeenat cutting the cake with her family. Additionally, candid shots captured happy moments of Aamir mingling and enjoying himself with guests.

This celebration was a beautiful mix of family, friends, and Bollywood stars, making Zeenat Hussains 90th birthday a memorable event.

Aamir Khans Professional Life

Aamir Khan, one of Bollywood's most celebrated actors, is known not only for his versatile performances but also for his intriguing personal life. Born on March 14, 1965, in Mumbai, India, Aamir comes from a family deeply rooted in the Indian film industry. His father, Tahir Hussain, was a film producer, and his uncle, Nasir Hussain, was a renowned filmmaker.

Also Read: Ahead of Aamir Khan's son Junaid Khan's film debut, know why ban Maharaj' is trending on X

In terms of his personal life, Aamir has been married twice. His first marriage was to Reena Dutta, whom he divorced in 2002 after a 15-year marriage. They have two children together: a son named Junaid and a daughter named Ira. Aamir later married Kiran Rao, a film director and producer, in 2005. They have a son named Azad Rao Khan, who was born through surrogacy.

Aamir Khan is known for being selective about his film projects, often focusing on quality over quantity. His dedication to his craft has earned him the nickname "Mr. Perfectionist" in Bollywood. Throughout his career, he has delivered iconic performances in films like "Lagaan," "Dil Chahta Hai," "Rang De Basanti," "Taare Zameen Par," "3 Idiots," and "Dangal," among many others.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.


While immigration has been a highly contested topic in the US, especially in an election year, a new report has shed light on the positive impact immigrants are having on the country's healthcare system. According to the Immigrant Healthcare Index, out of the 990,000 doctors in the US, nearly 26.5%, or 265,000, are immigrants.

One in five immigrant doctors are Indians

Among the immigrant doctors in the US, those born in India have emerged as the single largest group. According to the report, there are around 59,000 Indian doctors in the US, which translates to one in five (or 22%) of all immigrant doctors in the country.



Also read: British Indian Doctor Onboard An Air India Flight Saves Co-Passenger's Life

Pexels

India, China and Pakistan take top 3

India is followed by China, which has 16,000 immigrant doctors who trace their roots to China and Hong Kong, accounting for 6%. Pakistan took the third spot with around 13,000 medical practitioners, constituting 5% of the immigrant doctor population in the US.

Indian nurses in US

It is not just doctors that India has contributed to the US healthcare system. Out of the 540,000 registered immigrant nurses in the US, Indians make up around 6% of the workforce. There are around 32,000 Indians working as registered nurses in the US. The Philippines is the single largest source of immigrant nurses in the US, with 140,000 nurses.

UNSPLASH

The report further stated that Indians, with a total of 176,000 healthcare workers, accounted for 7% of the total immigrant healthcare professional population in the US.



US wants more Indian doctors

Last month, it was reported that the US, which is expected to face a shortage of at least 100,000 physicians by 2034, was looking at granting special J1 visas to around 5,000 doctors from India.

Also read: Philippines Allows Indian Students To Register, Practice Medicine There

Pexels

Indian medical students can practice in US

It should be noted that since 2023, students who have graduated from medical schools in India can practice in foreign countries, including the US. The National Medical Commission (NMC) of India received the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) Recognition Status for 10 years, allowing medical graduates from India to practice in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Amid the continuing heat wave in North India that has made normal life difficult for millions of people, a group of students from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Amritsar held a unique protest demanding the installation of air conditioning units in their dorms. According to reports, the canteen is one of the few areas of the IIM Amritsar hostel where AC has been installed.

Sleep protest by students

The students held a sleep protest in the air-conditioned college canteen area to call attention to the condition of their hostel rooms.

Also read: Heat Wave: IMD Launches Heat Index Sowing 'Real Feel' Temperatures

screengrab

In the videos that have gone viral on social media, dozens of students can be seen 'sleeping' in the canteen.

IIM Amritsar students protested against the management to get AC installed in their hostel by sleeping in the library that has AC. One of them said, "Modern problem requires modern solution  pic.twitter.com/d8D6rl9G9Q  Shubh (@kadaipaneeeer) June 14, 2024

According to some students, the demand for the installation of ACs in the hostel has been raised for years, but the administration has not taken any action.

screengrab

How social media reacted

The video has sparked much debate on social media, with many users expressing solidarity with the protesting students. Some argued that being one of the most prestigious colleges in the country, and given the amount the students pay in fees, providing ACs in the hostel is the least the institute can do for its students during the hot summer days.

For this much money I need AC even in washrooms pic.twitter.com/BiwEuu6IWo  Soura (@Soura242) June 14, 2024

IIM Amritsar was established by the Ministry of Human Resource Development in 2015 and is one of the youngest IIMs.

Also read: Meet Tarun Kumar Vashisth, The First Visually Impaired To Get A Ph.D. From IIM Ahmedabad

Heat wave across Punjab

Amritsar, like most parts of Punjab, has been experiencing an intense heat wave for the past few days.

On Friday, Amritsar recorded a maximum temperature of 44.8 degrees Celsius, the weather office said.

While blistering heat swept Abohar in Punjab, intense heat also prevailed in Gurdaspur, which recorded a maximum of 45.5 degrees Celsius, followed by Patiala, which registered a high of 45.2 degrees Celsius, it said.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Rosie Moore, renowned as the "world's hottest scientist," recently shared a harrowing experience on her Instagram. The ecologist revealed that during a trip to South America, she was diagnosed with a "deadly" mosquito-borne disease. Moore contracted dengue fever, a serious illness that brought her expedition to an unexpected halt.

Instagram

'Worlds hottest scientist' diagnosed with 'deadly' disease

In her video, Moore recounted how the journey began with numerous bug bites. She said, "But I didnt start feeling weird until a few days in." Initially, she noticed severe eye pain, which soon escalated to a high fever, rendering her bedridden and desperate to cool down.

Upon returning to the US, Moore experienced a severe rash outbreak. This prompted her to get tested, and the results confirmed she had dengue fever. In her video caption, she explained, There is no specific treatment for dengue, and while it can be fatal, most cases are less severe.

Moore detailed her symptoms before the diagnosis, including a significant loss of appetite despite hiking 9 to 12 kilometres daily. She admitted she was initially hesitant to share her ordeal, fearing it might deter others from exploring remote locations. However, she emphasized, But the trip was so worth it, and I would encourage anyone to get out there and see more remote places of the world.

When asked about her recovery, Moore mentioned her experience was probably worse due to the intense physical activity she engaged in while her body was struggling with the illness.

Dynamic journey of Rosie Moore

Rosie Moore, often dubbed the "world's hottest scientist," combines her scientific expertise with a modeling career, captivating audiences worldwide. An ecologist by profession, Moore uses her robust social media presence to highlight critical environmental issues. With a Ph.D. in Ecology from Stanford University, she specializes in biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management.

Instagram

Moores career is marked by adventurous field research in diverse ecosystems, from coral reefs to rainforests. Her work offers significant insights into climate change impacts. She has authored numerous publications and is a sought-after speaker at international conferences.



Also Read: How Were Pyramids Of Egypt Constructed? Scientists Say Extinct Branch Of Nile Could Be The Answer

Instagram

Also read: Scientists Discover Rocky Planet 'Super-Earth' With Atmosphere Outside Solar System

Her accolades include the National Geographic Explorer Award and the World Wildlife Funds Conservation Leadership Award. Dedicated to education, Moore mentors aspiring scientists and collaborates with NGOs and governments on impactful conservation projects. Her unique blend of scientific rigor and public charisma drives meaningful change in environmental preservation.



For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Nadia Khar, a social media influencer on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, is well-known for her fashion material, which frequently include luxury cars, vlogs, and short films. Recently, a video of her walking a tiger in Dubai went viral. In the video, Nadia claims the tiger is her pet and captions it, "Taking my pet tiger for a walk in Dubai is different."

What did the influencer do in the viral video?

Nadia Khar is spotted wearing tattered clothes | Image: Instagram

This post has received a lot of attention across various social media sites. Nadia Khar is spotted wearing tattered clothes as she walks a tiger inside a zoo and a public park in Dubai. The influencer is seen holding the tiger's leash.



The number of exotic animals owned as pets in Dubai has increased. This includes huge predators like tigers, lions, and bears, as well as more conventional options like monkeys and giraffes.

Also read: Meet Bagheera, 'Ghost of the Jungle,' In A Rare Sighting At Pench Tiger Reserve

These animals are maintained in private zoos inside homes. Humaid Abdullah, for example, has had celebrities pay visits to his collection of wild animals.

However, this practice raises questions regarding animal welfare and safety in such intimate settings.

How did people on the internet react?

These animals are maintained in private zoos inside homes | Image: Instagram

The video has received approximately 6 million views and more than 100,000 likes. Numerous social media users have also left comments on the post. "How are you able to walk around like this in Dubai and not get into trouble?" replied an individual. "Wow, what a brave woman you are," commented another user.



The number of exotic animals owned as pets in Dubai has increased. This includes huge predators like tigers, lions, and bears, as well as more conventional options like monkeys and giraffes.

Also read: Heartwarming Video: Golden Retriever Adopts And Nurtures Three Tiger Cubs

These animals are maintained in private zoos inside homes. Humaid Abdullah, for example, has had celebrities pay visits to his collection of wild animals.

However, this practice raises questions regarding animal welfare and safety in such intimate settings. Check the viral video here.

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.
Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates praised the company's current CEO, Satya Nadella, saying he is doing a great job. Reflecting on his connection with India during a podcast with Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, Gates said, I've had a wonderful relationship with India, starting with Microsoft where we hired some very smart IT graduates and brought them to Seattle.

He recalled, "Later, they returned and established a development centre for us, which is now in four locations with 25,000 people. Many of the amazing people I worked with at Microsoft were hired from India."

READ ALSO: From Sundar Pichai to Bill Gates: How tech CEOs and Founders limit screen time for their kids

Speaking about Satya Nadella, Bill Gates said, "At the top of that list is Satya, who is now doing a great job as CEO. In my digital-first career, the connection with India was enjoyable and greatly influenced what the company achieved. It was during that time I realised, 'Oh wow, India is a land of contrasts, first class in many ways, but still with a lot of poverty and challenges.'"

Gates also discussed the legal systems in India and the US, saying, "Believe me, the legal practices in the US won't work here. But just imagine, if you could make everyone in the legal system four times more productive, it would transform justice, as the current backlog is quite overwhelming. Here lies a potential solution."

READ ALSO: Did you know Chandrababu Naidu convinced Bill Gates to open Microsoft office in Hyderabad in just 40 minutes?

For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here


Have you ever wondered why the simple roti, a staple in Indian households for generations, is taxed at just 5 per cent, while the more indulgent paratha is taxed at 18 per cent GST? This difference in tax rates for two similar foods shows the complexities of Indias Goods and Services Tax (GST) system. In this article, we explore the reasons behind the GST rates for roti and paratha, uncovering the factors that determine the taxation of these key elements of Indian cuisine. From the ingredients of these flatbreads to the legal views shaping tax policies, join us to understand why there is a difference in their taxation.



Composition Differences

To understand why the GST rates differ, it's important to look at what roti and paratha are made of. Roti is a simple flatbread made from wheat flour, water, and salt, usually eaten with meals. Paratha, on the other hand, is a more elaborate flatbread with added ingredients like vegetables, spices, and oils, making it more processed.

READ ALSO: 'You See Biryani, Govt Sees GST,' Bengaluru Biryani Restaurants Raided For Tax Evasion Through UPI

Did you know? GST on roti is 5% but 18% on paratha - here's why | Freepik

Legal Rulings on GST

The GST issue for paratha was highlighted in 2021 by the Gujarat Authority for Advance Rulings (AAR). This case involved M/s Vadilal Industries Ltd., which sells packaged parathas. The company argued against the 18 per cent GST on parathas, noting that similar foods like bread and roti have lower GST rates.

Complex Composition and Higher Tax

However, the AAR upheld the 18 per cent GST for parathas due to their complex composition compared to simpler bread or roti. This decision was later confirmed by the Gujarat Appellate Authority for Advance Ruling (AAAR), reinforcing that parathas require a higher GST rate because they are more processed.

HSN Code Classification

The Harmonised System of Nomenclature (HSN) code helps determine the GST rate for items. Parathas fall under HSN code 21069099, setting them apart from simpler bread or roti. Parathas often come with heating instructions, further classifying them as needing additional processing before being eaten.

Lower GST for Simpler Preparations

Roti and chapati, however, are under HSN chapter heading 1905, which means they attract a lower GST rate of 5 per cent due to their straightforward preparation and consumption.

Evolution of GST Classification

Since GST was introduced, the classification and taxation of parathas have evolved. Initially, they were listed under Entry No.453 of Schedule-III in the CGST Rate Notification No.01/2017, with an 18 per cent GST rate. Later, they were reclassified under Entry No.23 of the same schedule, still attracting an 18 per cent GST rate without Input Tax Credit (ITC) claims.

Understanding the Tax Differences

The difference in GST rates between roti and paratha shows how tax authorities classify food items based on their composition and processing needs. While roti gets a lower tax due to its simplicity, the more intricate making of paratha justifies its higher GST rate. Understanding these differences helps us appreciate the reasons behind tax policies and their effects on everyday items.

READ ALSO: How tech CEOs and Founders limit screen time for their kids

For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here
Greeces socialist Pasok party is spinning in turmoil after its poor showing in European elections. Since then, Nikos Androulakiss leadership has come under fire, challenged daily by leading members of the party.

Some party members want a new leader chosen this year. A local newspaper reported that Mr. Androulakis may move to call for an unexpected election in July, instead of waiting until October 2025 as originally planned.

The partys website confirmed that Mr. Androulakis was considering the move but was concerned about low voter turnout.

His challengers agree that an election during summer is a bad idea. What is more they suggest the proposition may simply be a ploy to see how people react.

The final decision will be made at a party meeting on Wednesday afternoon.

By Angelos Moschovas

   iefimerida.gr


An Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt has directed all parties involved in the appeal filed by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Minister Nyesom Wike of the Federal Capital Territory, to maintain status quo pending the hearing of the substantive suit.

Recall that 27 pro-Wike lawmakers, led by Martins Amaewhule, had defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

At the time, they approached the court to stop moves to declare their seats vacant.

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However, the three-man panel of the Appeal Court, which sat virtually on Friday, adjourned the hearing of the substantive matter to June 20, 2024.

READ ALSO: Emir Tussle: Court Upholds Bayeros Rights, Awards N10m Against Kano Govt

The appeal panel advised the parties against taking any actions that would affect the main matter and further directed that the notice of appeal should be served on the defendants before the next adjourned date.

Amaewhule, on behalf of twenty-six others, is challenging the decision of the Rivers State High Court, which vacated their seats and restrained them from sitting or carrying out any legislative functions.

The state High Court had also affirmed Victor Oko-Jumbo as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and held that all the laws made by Amaewhule and 26 others are null and void.

Oko-Jumbo argued that the 27 defected lawmakers have lost their seats at the State Assembly, following their defection.

His argument is hinged on Section 109 (1) (g) of the Nigerian Constitution.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, has issued a warning against bribery and extortion at airports nationwide, ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, guaranteeing a hassle-free travel experience.

Obiageli Orah, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, confirmed this in a statement on Friday.

She assured Nigerians of a smooth travel experience, noting that steps have been taken to strengthen security systems to ensure the safety of lives and property.

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Orah advised travellers to arrive early at the airport to avoid missing their flights.

READ MORE: Ibadan Monarchy: Oba Olakulehin Takes Tour Of New Palace, Says He Knew He Would Become Olubadan

The statement reads, FAAN assures Nigerians of very seamless travel through our airports this Sallah festive season, as the authority has consistently taken measures to upgrade her security apparatus to ensure safety of life and property of the travelling public. FAAN, therefore, encourages all travellers to be at the airport early enough in order not to miss their flights as well as reduce rush.

International travellers must be at the airport three hours before departure, while local travellers must arrive about two hours before the flight schedule. Please ensure that you pack your luggage yourself. Do not leave your luggage unattended.

FAAN has expanded the screening area in order to give passengers a better flying experience. Keep an eye on your valuables while passing through screening. Ensure that you park your vehicle properly at the car park to avoid it being towed.

Please, do not engage the services of touts. The Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, at a recent event had sent out a severe warning to staff as well as all government agencies that operate at our airports that FAAN will ensure that whoever is culpable is punished.

Do not give bribes or encourage extortion. Respect rules and regulations in respect of carriage of prohibited articles, liquids, and gel. We have information desks at all our airports to assist you. Please make use of them, she said.


Muhammadu Sanusi, has disclosed that his reinstatement as Emir of Kano is an amendment of history following the damage done by Abdullahi Ganduje, former Governor of the State.

He stated this in an interview with Saturday Sun.

Ganduje had in March 2020, deposed Sanusi as the Emir of Kano, citing total disrespect to lawful instructions from the office of the Governor.

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The former Governor, with the help of the state assembly, also balkanised Kano into five emirates (Kano, Rano, Gaya, Karaye and Bichi), with emirs appointed to head each emirate.

The balkanisation persisted until May 2024 when the State Assembly passed the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Bill 2024.

The new bill which abolished the five emirates and all the appointments or offices arising therefrom, also stipulated that Governor Yusuf should restore the previous Kano emirate system.

Yusuf assented to the bill and Sanusi was reinstated shortly after.

Commenting on his reinstatement, Sanusi said Kano has existed for over 1000 years, adding that we are one people and nobody asked for new emirates

According to him, the Kano emirate was not created by the Nigerian constitution because it existed before Nigeria.

The law on the new emirates, he said, did damage to our historys fabric but the current governor restored things back to the original order.

His words: You see, this was something created, manufactured by the previous government. The people of Kano never asked to be divided. In parts of this country, you have had emirates and kingdoms created, and you can understand that. If you go to Kaduna State, at one time, you had everything under Zaria. But you had huge Christian minorities, different ethnic groups, and chiefdoms were created for them.

READ ALSO: ACourt Orders Rivers Assembly To Maintain Status Quo Over 27 Defecting Lawmakers

It makes sense if they felt that they did not want to be under the emirate system or under what they saw as a self-denial system. But Kano is a largely homogeneous society. If you see the Christians in Kano, they are part of us. They dont say they want to leave us. Theyre not asking for a different system. Nobody. If you go to Tudun Wada, we have Christians. You go to Rano, we have Christians. We had an issue in Rogo. You may remember that there was an issue. People went and burnt the church. I went there, took out my own personal money and rebuilt the church.

So, we are one people. Nobody asked for new emirates. So, what we are dealing with is a situation where somebody divided us.

But the truth is, when you take the larger picture, this is a kingdom that has existed for over 1000 years. If you go to the kings list in Kano, the kings list from Baguada starts in 999 AD. We have a list of kings. From Baguada up to me in my first term, I was the 57th. If you add my cousin and myself, Im 57th and 59th.

The Kano Emirate was not created by the Nigerian Constitution. The Emirate existed before Nigeria. The Kano Emirate existed before the Sokoto Jihad. Even Uthman Danfodio did not create the Kano Emirate. The emirate was there. All that happened was that some of his disciples waged a Jihad and conquered Kano. But Kano was in existence. You will never find a law in the Nigerian Constitution or any law that created the Kano Emirate.

So, how does a State House of Assembly get the Constitutional right to amend something that was not created or amend something that was not created by the Constitution, that does not even exist in the Constitution?

But the law you will see is an Emirs Appointment and Deposition Law, which already presumes that there is an Emirate. Its about how you appoint an Emir. But there is no law creating the Emirate. Therefore, when Ganduje wanted to create these Emirates, he could not find a law to amend. He started by amending Emirates Appointment and Deposition Law, which the court struck down. So, he had to, de novo, ex nihilo, out of nothing create a law and create emirates, new emirates that never existed. Something called a Kano Emirate with eight local governments. That emirate with eight local governments had not existed in our one thousand years of history. The same thing with the Bichi Emirate, Rano Emirate, Gaya Emirate. None of them existed in one thousand years of history.

So, they had the stools for four years and a new governor came on board and said we have to deal with this attack on our system, on our collective history. And he says we cannot in the interest of preserving something with a history of four years abolish a history of one thousand plus years. He says lets go back to the original order. That was all that happened. It was not targeted at any individual, at any family, at any person.
At least three persons, including foreigners, have been abducted by armed men suspected to be kidnappers in Lagos State.

It was gathered that the victims, involving the Managing Director of Fouani Company and three other Lebanese nationals.

They were reportedly kidnapped while traveling on a boat from Apapa to Victoria Island.

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A source familiar with the incident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told PUNCH Newspaper that the kidnappers had reached out, demanding ransom.

READ MORE: Lagos gunmen kill man, two sons, injure wife, daughters

He said: Yesterday (Friday) evening, the Managing Director of Fouani company (LG and Hisense) and three Lebanese were kidnapped around Falomo Bridge while traveling from Apapa to Victoria Island by boat.

The kidnappers have asked for $1.5m.

Confirming the incident on Saturday, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed that the Command had received the report.

He said: Yes we also got the report and we are already looking into it. I cant confirm it to you yet because I dont have the details for now.

But when Im done with my findings, I will come up with details and tell you their names and how it happened.


Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, says the National Assembly plans to introduce a bill mandating all 36 States of the Federation to comply with the new minimum wage law.

Speaking in Abuja on Friday, Adaramodu highlighted ongoing negotiations between the Federal Government and Organized Labour regarding a new minimum wage.

Recall that Federal Government had proposed a new minimum wage of N62,000, while the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) are advocating for N250,000.

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The Nigerian Governors Forum has since rejected the federal governments proposal, arguing that some states might need to borrow funds to meet the N62,000 wage.

Adaramodu however emphasized that the proposed legislation would ensure strict adherence to the new minimum wage.

READ ALSO: No Agreement With FG On Minimum Wage Was Reached, Theres Always Room For Adjustments  TUC

We are going to draft a watertight bill that the President will sign to ensure compliance as law, he said.

He noted that the law would apply not only to the Federal Government but also to states, sub-nationals, and the private sector. Non-compliance would result in sanctions.

Senator Adaramodu assured that when the executive bill is presented, the National Assembly will ensure it is comprehensive and enforceable.

We will invite legislators and organized labor to contribute to making the law. There will be clear sanctions for those who do not comply, he added.

Asked about the speed of passing the bill, Adaramodu stated, If possible, we will pass it within 30 minutes. It depends on the consensus reached between the federal government and organized labor.

He expressed confidence that the bill would receive quick approval once an agreement on the minimum wage is reached.

If the bill is presented right after Sallah, we will handle it swiftly for the benefit of Nigerian workers, he concluded.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured the Federal Bureau of Investigation that Nigeria is working hard to eliminate terrorism, cybercrime, and other criminal activities challenging the country.

Tinubu made this known during a meeting with the FBIs director, Christopher Asher Wray, at the State House in Abuja, on Friday, calling for collaboration between Nigeria and other countries in West Africa to get rid of crimes in the continent.

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In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the President acknowledged FBIs sophistication and reputation for excellence, expressing honour at the Directors visit.

The statement reads: We are working hard to eliminate terrorism, cybercrimes, sextortion, and I am glad that we have a good number of agencies that are involved in reducing these crimes to the barest minimum, and they are also well represented at this meeting.

READ MORE: Democracy Day: I Understand The Economic Difficulties We Face, Ill Always Listen To You  Tinubu Assures Nigerians

We cannot achieve this important feat of eliminating crimes without collaboration. Incidentally, as the Chairman of ECOWAS, Nigeria is also collaborating with other West African countries to fight economic and other related crimes.

It is an honour for me to receive Director Christopher Wray, the leader of an organization that has demonstrated consistent procedural sophistication and a reputation for excellence over several years. Your visit conveys the importance of Nigeria and Nigerian partnership in the work of Americas law enforcement institutions and vice-versa.

For us, it is a recognition of what stage we are at, who we are, and the level of interest both countries share in eliminating crimes locally and globally.
Since 2020, some 55 million square feet of warehouses have sprung up or are currently being built across the Philadelphia region, The Inquirer reported in May. A new bill aims to bring workers in the industry more protections and transparency about the production quotas they are held to. Read more

A bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross this month could bring transparency to warehouse workers about the production quotas they are held to and more protections from their employers about what those quotas can be.

The bipartisan Warehouse Worker Protection Act was introduced on June 5 by Norcross (D., N.J.). An accompanying Senate bill was introduced by Sen. Ed Markey (D., Mass.) in May.

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We understand a profit motive, but it cannot be above a workers safety, Norcross told The Inquirer about the bill.

Since 2020, some 55 million square feet of warehouses have sprung up or are currently being built across the Philadelphia region, The Inquirer reported in May. While the construction has brought jobs with it, many of the entry level positions can be physically demanding.

Warehouse work has seen a high number of worker injuries recently, according to an audit from the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General released in 2023. The audit notes that in 2021, warehouse injuries and illnesses were happening at a rate of 5.5 incidents per 100 workers  over double the rate across all industries.

The dangers of warehouse work can also be aggravated by production quotas, the audit notes.

Warehouse workers face hazards that can result in serious injury due to powered industrial trucks, loaded pallets, and the repetitive movements involved. These dangers can be compounded when time-based delivery quotas are used to drive production goals, the report notes. With high-speed fulfillment of online orders becoming the industry standard, some warehouse workers must work even faster.

Injuries on the job

The increasingly dangerous working conditions at warehouses across the country that result from these quota systems are wholly unacceptable, Norcross said in a statement.

Amazon, one of the companies in the industry, is known for its quick delivery speeds. Critics have said productivity tracking can be blamed for the amount of injuries workers experience.

Amazon has repeatedly denied that the company uses quotas.

Amazon is committed to manageable workloads, and employees are encouraged to work with intention, not speed, said company spokesperson Maureen Lynch Vogel. Like any business, we have performance expectations for all of our teams, but these expectations are based on multiple factors including the performance of the entire team, site-wide. Its a common misperception that Amazon has fixed quotas, but we do not.

The company also noted it has invested more $750 million this year toward additional safety initiatives, programs, and innovations.

The safety and health of our employees is, and always will be, our top priority. Since 2019, weve improved our recordable incident rate in the U.S. by 28%, and our lost time incident rate by 75%, which gauges the frequency of the most serious types of injuries, said Lynch Vogel.

The dangers of warehouse work have been felt locally in the region for years.

Amazon warehouses in Pennsylvania reported higher rates of worker injuries between 2017 and 2020 compared to other warehouses in the region, The Inquirer reported in 2021. Those workers either missed work or did light duties because of an injury.

More recently, workers at a West Deptford Amazon fulfillment center have also demanded better pay and working conditions, staging a strike in November as part of a multistate effort. The organizing committees that came together called on the company to stop issuing automated performance write-ups based on productivity metrics and to put an end to disciplinary measures also based on those metrics, The Inquirer reported in 2023.

Amazon denies that the company employees are given feedback via an automated process.

If an employee with sufficient tenure is consistently performing in the bottom 5% of their peers, managers will talk with the employee to understand whether they need help, additional training, or if there are barriers preventing them from meeting expectations, said Lynch Vogel.

What would the bill do?

The bill introduced this month includes requiring employers to disclose work quotas they impose on their workers. Employees would receive information about how those quotas are measured, repercussions for not meeting them, or incentives for achieving them.

If youre going to hold us up against a number, we need to know what that number is, Norcross said. We just want to know for the workers that when you do this, that theyre aware of it, and its not arbitrary, that there is a line that they can follow, and they know if theyre above it or below it, or dispute that its unreasonable.

The bill would also prohibit the kinds of quotas employers could use, including prohibiting quotas that prevent workers from going to the bathroom or from using breaks they are entitled to such as a meal or rest period.

The idea of not being able to go to the bathroom in the year 2024 seems a little ridiculous to all of us, Norcross said.

The bill would ensure an individual trained in first aid be available on-site to get injured workers treatment more quickly. It would also create a Fairness and Transparency Board within the Department of Labor to enforce the legislation.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a labor union that represents workers across the country, has been working for years to advance similar legislation at the state level.

We suggested those four items in our bill, but were willing to have the discussion, Norcross said. What were not willing to do is sacrifice peoples safety.
Mail carrier with the U.S. Postal Service at green mail storage container used to hold mail. Read more

A crew of thieves stole more than $200,000 from people across the Philadelphia region by breaking into United States Postal Service drop boxes, pilfering checks, and forging and cashing them, authorities said Friday.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced the arrests of 15 people she said were part of a ruthless Philadelphia-based organized crime ring that targeted postal drop boxes in the city and suburbs, including Willow Grove and Blue Bell.

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Members of the crime ring would often use force to steal master keys to open USPS drop boxes or purchase the keys on the black market, authorities said. Such keys range in value from $2,500 to $10,000, depending on the location of the box, with keys to boxes in more affluent neighborhoods fetching a higher price.

Members of the crime ring would often hit drop boxes on Sunday night and take garbage bags full of mail to the Camden apartment of alleged ringleader William Logan to sort through, according to a grand jury presentment recommending charges in the case. Logan would often pay these runners with guns he had acquired through straw purchases in Michigan, the grand jury said.

It was unclear from court records whether Logan had retained an attorney.

The group recruited people over social media to help, authorities said.

Members of the crime ring spent the profits on illegal guns and luxury items, among other things, the presentment said.

Henry said the group netted profits in the six figures, taking money from people who were trying to pay bills or send money to family and friends. Sometimes, she said, the crime ring would resort to violence, including the shootings of rivals and the robbery of a postal worker.

Logan, 28, was charged with multiple crimes, including corrupt organizations, conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated assault, and armed robbery. He and his codefendants were in custody, authorities said.

Theft from postal boxes has been a problem in the city and beyond for several years, authorities said.
Signs denouncing closure of UArts in front of the University of the Arts Dorrance Hamilton Hall on South Broad St. in Philadelphia on Sunday, June 9, 2024. Read more

Even now, University of the Arts accrediting agency and state and federal officials remain in the dark about whatever cataclysmic developments triggered the schools closure on June 7, representatives said Friday.

The news came at a student town hall meeting convened by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the accrediting agency. Heather F. Perfetti, the organizations president, reiterated that Middle States was as surprised by the institutions determination that they needed to close as so many of you.

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Perfetti expressed her regret to the students and parents who joined the Friday morning session.

We all believe that no academic journey should include this kind of severe and abrupt disruption, she said.

After University of the Arts canceled its own planned town hall meeting before it was scheduled to begin in the first week of June, the agency worked to bring together government officials and a representative from Alvarez & Marsal, the firm hired by the university to manage it through closure, to answer what questions it could.

Heres what we know and what we dont know about the closure, two weeks after it was announced:

Middle States will extend UArts accreditation in very limited circumstances.

Officials said they have asked university officials for a list of students who have finished requirements for degrees that were completed but not yet awarded, or those who have missing grades.

Our commission has always been prepared to extend the accreditation of the University of the Arts for the sole purpose of awarding degrees and grades that were completed but not yet processed, Perfetti said.

If a Temple merger happens, its not going to be soon.

Middle States officials acknowledged reports that University of the Arts is in merger talks with Temple University.

Though even if a merger were to happen, said Tracey Schneider, Middle States general counsel, Temple University would have to have that process reviewed and possibly approved by the commission, a process that will take a year, Schneider said. We truly want you to focus today on the immediate options you have in front of you for continuing your education.

Teach-out partners are six and counting.

Middle States has signed off on six teach-out partners, or universities that have formal agreements to accept students, transfer credits, and work through financial aid information. They are Moore College of Art and Design, Drexel University, Temple, Montclair State University, Point Park College in Pittsburgh, and the New School in New York.

More partners are working out details and will be announced, officials said.

Student academic records will be preserved, with thousands of transcripts already processed.

University of the Arts registrars office remains open, and students can get free copies of their digital transcripts and pay for physical copies. Three thousand transcripts have been processed since May 31, when then-president Kerry Walk announced the abrupt closure. (Walk has since resigned.)

Student records will be maintained well into the future, officials said, and will be sent to another institution to be kept there.

Refunds for summer and fall are coming.

For students who have already paid for summer and fall classes or housing, refunds will come, officials said.

We are still working through all of that, said Jenelle Beavers, a managing director with Alvarez & Marsal, the firm now running the institution. We will be issuing reimbursements for summer and fall; were working on process and timing. We know this is very important. We are doing the work to get those answers as soon as possible.

Student digital records and email access will remain for now, also.

Beavers said those left at the university were literally working around the clock to get these issues resolved, and totally appreciate these situations that youre in.

The future of the buildings is unknown, but artwork can be rescued.

Alvarez & Marsal representatives said that they had no idea what would happen to the universitys buildings, but that students who have artwork or other items still left inside will be able to retrieve them.

We will hold on to your items. You will have an opportunity to get them, Beavers said. We are not getting rid of anything. People should feel at ease that their items are intact.

Officials dont know why the university didnt seek help before closure.

One displaced student voiced a question many have said they wondered about in the days since the closure was announced.

Why didnt the school reach out to other schools for help? If the school was facing so much financial hardship, why didnt they reach out?

Perfetti shook her head.

I wish we could answer your question, but I think that everyone sitting around this virtual table is not in a position to answer, she said. We just dont know.

One student said he found the universitys conduct since May 31 absolutely, positively disgusting. He asked what might happen to the board of trustees and anyone who was responsible for the closure.

We took the most severe action that we could take as an accreditor, Perfetti said. Middle States withdrew University of the Arts accreditation almost immediately after university officials told them they were closing with just a few days notice to students.

We are working with the university, not the board, Beavers said. Im not sure that I can answer that.

Lynette Kuhn, chief of the Pennsylvania Department of Higher Education, Access and Equity for the Pennsylvania Department of Education, said her agency was taking this seriously to get to the bottom of what occurred, and how the events have unfolded. At the conclusion of those investigations, I believe each agency will have more answers in response to the timeline of events.

Sherrie Bell, acting division chief of the U.S. Department of Education section responsible for Philadelphia-area schools, concurred.

Were waiting to see what the state uncovers and well go from there, Bell said.
Antoinette Miller, 68, holds up dress choices for her granddaughter Taj Harris (left), 19, in her room at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia on June 12, before attending CHOPs annual Joshua Kahan Fund Prom. The annual event is designed to provide sick kids with a mental boost. Read more

On a sunny June afternoon, Taj Harris was tired of being tethered to feeding and IV tubes in a chilly room at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. With the blinds drawn, Harris and her grandmother watched MTV on a mounted flat-screen. The 19-year-old from Fairmount sat upright in bed in blue pajamas, a pink fuzzy blanket pulled up around her shoulders.

Harris was born with short-gut syndrome, a rare condition that has her body not absorbing nutrients from food because her small intestine is truncated. She had a bowel transplant just before her 16th birthday. That hospital stay lasted nine months.

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Now the donated organ  a small intestine  was failing.

In and out of the hospital her whole life, and currently six months into yet another CHOP stay, Harris has missed countless school field trips, birthday parties, and sleepovers. On good days, she says, she dances by herself with the door closed so nobody can see. On bad, she falls into depression, she said.

Today, she was determined to leave her hospital room, if only for an hour, wearing the fire-red dress draped on a hanger hooked to the metal springs of a rolled-up hospital cot. But she felt nervous looking at the dress, with its heart-shaped bodice, ruffled trim, and a netted shawl studded with jewels. She worried that it would no longer fit. That her fingernail polish, also red, needed a touch-up. Or shed be awkward at the event.

Im going to get out and just dance, she said, vowing to make it to CHOPs annual prom, her third and possibly last.

The event, held each prom season in memory of 2-year-old Joshua Kahan, who died of cancer, offers a chance for children and their parents to experience a rite of passage at a place where life can be monotonous and uncertain.

Kids of all ages, no matter what, get to have their first prom here, even if it could be their last one, said Kiersten Ferguson, of CHOPs Child Life team, which organized this years prom on Wednesday.

For Harris, prom provided a welcome escape from her hospital room and the gravity of her illness. The medicine she takes daily for her stomach has damaged her kidneys. She is now old enough to make her own decisions about whether to start the process for a kidney transplant. Her doctors have been candid about her odds.

They said I could decide if I want a kidney transplant, but then they also said its not 100% that Ill make it through, so I dont think I want to get it done, Harris said, her voice low as a whisper and hard to hear.

Her grandmother, Antoinette Miller, frowned slightly, arching her left eyebrow. On prom day, like almost every day, she sat sentinel at Harris bedside, wearing a starchy hospital blanket like a shawl.

She doesnt want the surgery because shes thinking shes not going to make it, her 68-year-old grandmother said. Shes going to make it. She is.

The teen is Millers sole grandchild from her only son. The pair spend so much time together that they bicker and joke like a married couple. When a reporter asked the teen whether she knew anything about the organ donor who gave her the intestine, her grandmother answered.

A little bit, Miller said.

That hes dead. Thats all, the girl said.

Yes, we knew that he had died, her grandmother said.

The teen rolled her eyes. You cant live without a bowel so, like, obviously. Im just saying. 

Miller shook her head. You can tell shes around adults more than shes around kids her age.

Harris misses being with friends, going outside and getting exercise. She had attended Freire Charter High School in Center City, which she loved. She switched to online learning when she got too sick to go.

Her mood lightened when the conversation turned to her prom dress.

She had bought it to wear at her 18th birthday party, which got canceled, either because she landed back in the hospital or because she got bad grades and her father was mad. Grandmother and granddaughter disagreed on which. They did agree that red is her color.

I feel like I look best in red, personally, the girl said.

Oh, yes, her grandmother added.

Her father, on his way from his job at the Philadelphia Water Department, planned to escort her to the prom in the hospitals airy Colket Atrium.

Prom kings and queens

Downstairs in the atrium, the party was already underway. Hospital employees cheered and clapped as little girls dressed in frilly princess dresses, toddlers with flowered headbands, and boys in tuxedos or suit jackets walked like Hollywood stars down a rope-lined red carpet. Some wore sashes that read Prom Court.

Kelly Reale pushed her 5-year-old son, Colton, down the carpet in a toy push car tricked out in gold streamers and twinkle lights. The boy, who sported a dress shirt and bow tie, has been at CHOP so long hes stopped asking when he can go home. Hes waiting for a heart transplant. He gets out of breath, but that didnt stop him from playing Skee-Ball at the carnival-themed prom.

Its nice for him to do something fun, said Reale, 39, of Ocean County, N.J.

A DJ played songs by the Spice Girls and Miley Cyrus. A dance troupe performed breakdancing and led kids in a line dance called The Waffle.

Danielle Winklers father steered her wheelchair to a table, where two CHOP hairstylists went to work. They wet her hair, applied curl product, and positioned a tiara on her head. Earlier in the day, a Child Life specialist came to her room with an assortment of gowns. She picked a blue satin dress. The 17-year-old from Newtown went to her junior prom in April but had to leave early because she felt sick.

This is awesome. It feels like a redo, said Winkler, who is at CHOP for a suspected gastrointestinal disorder.

The rest is still unwritten

An hour into the event, Taj Harris had yet to arrive. A CHOP employee texted her. She didnt reply.

On the speaker, Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield began to play.

Release your inhibitions. Feel the rain on your skin. No one else can feel it for you.  Drench yourself in words unspoken. Live your life with arms wide open. Today is where your book begins. The rest is still unwritten.

Harris emerged from the elevator and glided to the prom runway, escorted by her father in a red polo shirt that matched her dress.

She wore lipstick the color of poppy flowers and strappy, silver sandals. The dress fit her body perfectly.

Her grandmother dabbed tears with a tissue. She was so happy for Harris that she struggled to form words.

My heart, Miller said, is laughing.

The teens father, 49-year-old Edward Miller, soaked up the moment. My daughters beautiful.

Hes supportive of her decision to forgo a kidney transplant.

Really, she wasnt supposed to live this long, but as you can see, shes still standing here, her father said. We cherish every moment we can.
Anything that seems inauthentic or that they cant relate to, theyre turning away. People want to be inspired, but not basically lied to, says Gloria Ross, one of the unaesthetic moms on Instagram. Above, she sets up smartphones to record a video with daughter Sahara recently. Read more

Scroll through social media for too long and you might start to believe that everyone, tired moms included, wakes up with hot lemon water, follows a 10-step skin care routine, makes a beautiful breakfast and healthy lunch for their children in a spotless home, works out, and journals  all before those children wake up for the day.

Gloria Ross, a Philadelphia mom of three who posts content online as Mom Manager Glow, wasnt buying it.

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Im not setting up the camera, walking back into my bedroom, and pretending to wake up, she deadpans. Im not doing none of that.

Ross, 51, calls herself an unaesthethic mom, part of an online trend of unpolished, realistic content about parenting and domestic life. Its an antidote to the influx of highly curated content on Instagram and TikTok, often tagged with aesthetic home decor or aesthetic lifestyle.

These videos might show a mother making peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches from scratch, including baking the bread, or showing off their perfectly designed, neutral-toned nursery.

In contrast, Ross videos, usually titled A Day in the Life of a Philly Mom, follow along as she picks her daughter up from school, goes shopping for a new outfit, or packs a suitcase on the floor while her daughter snacks on ramen noodles.

There is a turn in what people are engaging with now, she says. Anything that seems inauthentic or that they cant relate to, theyre turning away. People want to be inspired, but not basically lied to.

Since she started posting her parenting content in November 2023  her first post was about her daughters experience at boarding school at Girard College  she has seen her TikTok account grow from a few hundred to more than 100,000 followers. She has joined the TikTok Creativity Beta Program, which allows users to earn money, and has signed with an influencer agency to handle brand deals.

Brianna Roman, a 29-year-old mother of two from Northeast Philly, gained a following online after posting about her journey as an unemployed single mom. Between gig work and seasonal jobs, her social media spots help pay the bills.

One of her first videos to go viral showed her cleaning out her car.

My car is definitely unaesthetic, she says. Its all banged up, the ceiling is peeling off, but Im not ashamed. My car gets me from A to B, it gets me where my kids need to be, and I dont have a car note.

People were saying, Thank you so much for normalizing this, its so hard to find a job that works with kids schedules, and, Thank you for normalizing saving money, she says.

But the unaesthetic-content trend isnt surpassing or replacing magazine-worthy mom content, says Jo Piazza, a Philadelphia writer who hosts the podcast Under the Influence, about the economy and culture around social media.

What is old is new again. The original mom blogs in the early days of blogging were about how difficult it was to be a mother and a woman in the world, Piazza says. With the rise of the very visual mediums of TikTok and Instagram, aspirational content took over.

I think that women are finally exhausted of those perfect-seeming images that make everyones life look like a magazine, Piazza says. Yet even as more influencers are showing the messy part of their life, accounts featuring those pristine images still go viral more often and get bigger brand deals.

The unaesthetic moms may be less filtered, but they still work hard to create content.

Ross wakes up at around 4 a.m. daily to make sure she responds to every single comment on her videos, even and especially the negative ones. (They dont realize theyre boosting my engagement, so I troll them back a little bit, she says.)

She films hours of footage from her and her daughters everyday lives, then edits videos and does voice-overs. A social-media manager by day, she analyzes SEO and engagement on her posts to find the most successful formula.

Roman plans out her posts for the week on Sundays and says she is chronically on her phone. She taught herself editing and is now expanding her business to sell digital products like budget planners she designed.

There is potential for it to be a full-time job, but you really have to treat it like a full-time job, she says. You cant go days without posting.

For mothers like Jasmine Catledge, a 33-year-old from South Jersey, making relatable parenting content is about the community, not income.

Reeling from postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter, now 3, Catledge found solace in the comment section of her videos, which feature her daughters daycare and keeps it real about picking her battles as a mom. (Chicken nuggets for dinner? There are bigger things to worry about.)

Theyre my internet besties, she says.

Social media can be very toxic and overwhelming, she says. Youre seeing moms doing playdates on a random Wednesday at 10 a.m., and you wonder, Why do I not have that life? Everyone should be seen, everyone should have that space. Maybe youre not married, maybe you dont have that forever home yet; you should still be able to scroll social media and find your people.
The Battleship New Jersey leaves the dry dock at the Philly Shipyard on Friday morning to cross the Delaware River to the Paulsboro Marine Terminal after undergoing renovations and inspections totaling $10 million. Read more

After a few treks up and down the Delaware River this spring, the Battleship New Jersey is returning home to the Camden waterfront, but first with a stop in Paulsboro.

The famed World War II-era battleship departed from its dry dock Philadelphia Navy Yard Friday morning following a $10 million face-lift that involved repainting and repairing the ships hull and installing a new deck made of teak.

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The vessel took a couple of hours to make the trip from South Philly back to the Paulsboro Marine Terminal, where it will remain until Thursday, when it makes the final leg of its journey back to the Camden waterfront (a limited number of tickets are available). The museum is expected to reopen to the public within the next few weeks.

The goal is to be fully open to the public prior to the July Fourth weekend, if not sooner, Marshall Spevak, CEO of the Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial, told The Inquirer last month.

You can watch Battleship New Jerseys return to South Jersey here:

The 45,000-ton vessel has been dry-docked at the same berth where it was built beginning in 1940. It entered service in 1942, one year after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and saw action in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. It was decommissioned in 1991 after about 50 years of military service, and was converted into a floating museum in 2001.

The battleship is part of the fabric of the community, Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen said last month. Its comforting knowing this piece of American history has been preserved for future generations,

On Friday, the vessel also carried a special guest  retired Navy Vice Admiral Douglas J. Katz, who served as the Battleship New Jerseys 18th commanding officer from August 1987 to May 1989.
Former President Donald Trump speaks at Sneaker Con at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia on Feb. 17. Read more

Former President Donald Trump is coming to Philadelphia next weekend.

The Republican presidential candidate will host a campaign rally in North Philadelphia at the Liacouras Center on Temple Universitys campus on June 22 at 7 p.m. Doors will open at 3 p.m.

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Trump and President Joe Biden have both focused considerable campaign effort on Pennsylvania, a crucial battleground state in each candidates quest to win in November.

Trump rarely visited Philadelphia during his 2020 presidential campaign, usually choosing to visit more rural  and white  parts of the state for his campaign rallies.

 READ MORE: Donald Trump is energizing some young Philly voters

As statewide polls show Bidens weaknesses here, Trumps camp believes he has a shot to make inroads with swing voters in Pennsylvania  even in a deeply Democratic city.

State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, whose district includes Temples Main Campus and who has been a staunch Biden supporter since early 2020, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that North Philly had helped remove Trump from the White House, and were ready to keep him out.

Trump briefly stopped in Philadelphia in February to announce his new sneaker brand at Sneaker Con at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Last month, Trump held a rally in Wildwood while he was still on trial in Manhattan for falsifying business records in relation to hush money payments, the first of Trumps criminal cases to go before a jury. Trump was convicted on all 34 felony counts.

In announcing the upcoming Philadelphia visit, Trumps campaign said in a statement Friday: The great people of Pennsylvania are feeling the effects of Bidens failed policies where it hurts the most  their wallets.

The statement added: Not only are the people of Pennsylvania hurting financially, but Bidens pro-criminal and open birder [sic] polices are putting families in harms way.

The Biden campaign responded with a statement from Kellan White, senior adviser for the Pennsylvania Democratic Coordinated Campaign: Donald Trump is a convicted felon and failed president who spent years running racist campaigns, implementing a racist agenda, and hurting Black communities in Pennsylvania every chance he got.

Earlier this month, the Trump campaign opened an office in the Holmesburg section of Northeast Philadelphia and held an event labeled as part of a Black Americans for Trump initiative. Later that same day, two Black congressmen who support Trump held a Congress, Cognac, and Cigars event near Northern Liberties to garner the black male vote.

One of the congressmen, Byron Donalds (R., Fla.), came under fire afterward for comments he made at the event suggesting that Black families were better off during the Jim Crow era of racial segregation.

With less than five months until the general election, Trump leads Biden narrowly in most polling of the critical state.
One person was killed and four others were wounded, including a 14-year-old boy and two 15-year-old boys, in a shooting late Friday night in Fairmount Park next to the citys Strawberry Mansion section, police said.

The shooting happened around 10:50 p.m. in the park along Greenland Drive near 33rd Street and Ridge Avenue. Police reported that there was a crowd of around 100 juveniles in the area when the gunfire erupted.

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A person only described as a female was pronounced dead around 20 minutes later at Temple University Hospital, police said. She had been shot in the chest and shoulder.

The 14-year-old boy, who was possibly shot twice, was transported by medics to Temple Hospital. The boys condition was not immediately available.

Police said a third person was wounded in the same shooting, but no further information on that victim was available.

A short time after the shooting, a 15-year-old boy with a gunshot wound to a leg showed up at Temple. The boy reported that he was shot several blocks away, but police said he may have been among the victims shot in or near the park.

About a half-hour later, a 15-year-old boy reported being shot in the leg at a gas station near the original shooting scene. His condition was not available.

Police reported no arrests.
In a 4-3 decision, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled Friday against Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasners lawsuit opposing the creation of a special prosecutor to pursue crimes on SEPTA.

And late Friday afternoon, state Attorney General Michelle Henry announced the appointment of Michael Untermeyer as the special prosecutor. Untermeyer is a former city and state prosecutor who also was one of the Democratic candidates whom Krasner defeated when he was first elected in 2017. He also unsuccessfully ran for Philadelphia sheriff last year.

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Krasners suit had argued that the law, passed late last year by state Republicans joined by dozens of Democrats, violates the state constitution by taking away some of his powers as the twice-elected district attorney and disenfranchising his voters.

In the majority opinion, Judge Anne E. Covey said that the law, known as Act 40, does not clearly, palpably, and plainly violate the Pennsylvania Constitution.

The matter now goes before the state Supreme Court.

Under the law, the special prosecutor would choose which crimes on SEPTA property to prosecute, leaving the rest for Krasners office.

At a news conference Friday afternoon, an animated Krasner said he was hopeful the states high court would side with him and the three dissenting Commonwealth Court judges.

Citing recent media reports, Krasner said that crime on SEPTA is dropping like a rock, that crime in the city of Philadelphia is dropping like a rock, that crime across the country is dropping like a rock. And if I read my coverage correctly, Philadelphia seems to be leading the way among major cities.

Krasner reiterated his previously stated argument for why the law was passed: We have said from the beginning and we will say it again, this has nothing to do with public safety and never did. This has to do with the disenfranchisement of Philadelphia voters by devaluing their vote.

The state attorney generals office said in a statement that the appointment of Untermeyer was moving forward because of the Commonwealth Court ruling. The law requires the attorney general to make the appointment.

Act 40 also requires that the special prosecutor live in Philadelphia and have at least fives years of experience in Pennsylvania as a prosecutor. The appointee cannot have been employed by the district attorney or the attorney general in the past six years.

We worked diligently to follow the mandates of Act 40 to fill the position, first by posting the opportunity, then interviewing applicants to ascertain if they fit the specific criteria established by the law, Henry, a Democrat, said in a statement. We selected a candidate who expressed a commitment to public safety while possessing the qualifications required by Act 40.

Republicans in Harrisburg have sought to limit or strip powers from Krasner, a progressive prosecutor whom conservatives accuse of prioritizing criminal justice reform over fighting crime.

State Republicans attempted to remove Krasner through impeachment, but Commonwealth Court sided with Krasner and halted the proceedings. That matter is now before the state Supreme Court.

State Sen. Wayne Langerholc Jr., a Cambria County Republican and primary sponsor of the legislation that created the law, said the Commonwealth Courts ruling validates the lawful intent of Act 40. This legislation is unequivocally constitutional, and any statement to the contrary is inaccurate as is evidenced by todays decision from the Commonwealth Court, Langerholc said in a statement.

Today is a win for law enforcement, riders of SEPTA and employees of SEPTA. Act 40 passed the General Assembly with broad bipartisan support and was signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro to provide additional resources to fight crime occurring on the SEPTA system, said Langerholc, who is chair of the Senate Transportation Committee.

The law calls for the special prosecutor to investigate and prosecute crimes that occur on SEPTA property in Philadelphia through 2026  the duration of Krasners second term.

SEPTA has welcomed the law, saying it needs to fight crime on the transit system and a special state prosecutor could help.

In December, the bill passed the Democrat-controlled House in a 159-44 vote. Most Philadelphia Democrats opposed it, except for three: State Reps. Amen Brown, Pat Gallagher, and Ed Neilson.

The bill passed the Republican-controlled Senate months earlier, but it languished in the House until it was revived as part of a larger budget deal negotiated with the governor.

Krasner on Friday denounced the intent of the legislation as racist politics targeting Black and brown voters in Philadelphia.

This is a statement from the legislature that Philadelphians dont know what theyre doing, that theyre not allowed to make decisions, that they dont have the wisdom, Krasner said.

This is a profound threat to democracy as we know it in the city of Philadelphia. So its much, much bigger than me, Krasner said.
Festivals across the region have been canceled due to unruly behavior. Read more

The drone light show had ended, and families and their children were heading to their cars.

Thats when the teenagers began to brawl.

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With lights dazzling overhead, hostilities flared among a group of hundreds of young people who arrived throughout the evening. By the time Gloucester Township Police Chief David Harkins realized he would need more officers, the gathering crossed over into chaos.

They were hostile to police, cursing, yelling, Harkins said. We just moved them over to a parking lot, trying to keep it separated from the families. Then they just openly started fighting among themselves. There was a lot of them doing TikTok videos, trying to make the officers look bad.

The unrest at the Gloucester Township Day festival on June 1 wasnt an outlier, but an extreme example of a trend growing in visibility across the Philadelphia region.

A recent spate of unruly incidents involving juveniles and young adults at fairs, carnivals, and spring flings is threatening the future of family-friendly celebrations, as officials struggle to confront fights and disruptions they say are becoming more brazen in nature and often fueled by social media.

A week after young people in Gloucester clashed with police  resulting in 17 arrests and multiple injuries  another large group of juveniles descended on Pennsauken Townships Summer Kick Off, where families had gathered to watch fireworks. That crowd, too, grew disruptive, police said. Four young adults and two juveniles were arrested, and the event ended early.

The disruptions are having a ripple effect. Besides evoking frustration among community members, the incidents have lawmakers calling for action and the tight-knit world of fair operators on edge over their industrys future as permits are revoked and profits put in jeopardy.

This stuff is just nonsense that does not need to happen, said Jeff Good of Goodtime Amusements, a carnival operator who was shut down in Exton this spring after a fight broke out nearby. I got friends in Chicago, I got friends in Florida, its happening everywhere.

A chaotic season

Harkins, a 29-year law enforcement veteran, had assumed the Gloucester celebration would go as smoothly as it had over the last four decades.

Instead, the police chief said, the unrest grew to a level he had never before seen at a family-oriented event.

Members of the crowd, many of them teenagers, cursed at officers and attempted to surround them as they broke up fights, according to Harkins. In one instance, a 33-year-old man rode his bike into the back of an officer, the police chief said.

He believes the meet-up was amplified by young people through social media.

Gloucester and Pennsauken officials have vowed not to cancel their events next year despite the unruly weekend. But as festival season enters its peak months, not all communities feel the same.

In May, officials in Upper Moreland Township announced that after a 111-year run, the Montgomery County communitys beloved June Fete Fair was canceled over public safety concerns.

The collective opinion of our public safety officials is, that while additional security measures proposed in the revised permit application were appreciated, the high risk of safety and security issues remain, said Township Manager Patrick Stasio in an email.

Stasio, without mentioning specific incidents, cited fights, assaults, robberies, and gun violence that overloaded public safety resources and led to cancellations of partial or all of certain events within our immediate area.

Other events disrupted or canceled over public safety concerns this year include the Broomall Fire Company Annual Carnival, the Dreamland Amusements Carnival at the Neshaminy Mall, the Exton Square Mall Carnival, the LEAD Fest Carnival at the Concord Mall, and Kennett Squares Kennett Blooms festival.

Abington native John Spiegelman, a township commissioner, cherishes his memories of taking his daughter to the century-old June Fete, riding the Ferris wheel, small coasters, and enjoying other fairground staples.

Its a sad situation, Spiegelman said. Its sort of a psychological and emotional hit for folks around here.

A challenge for law enforcement

Until recently, police departments had little reason to create elaborate public safety strategies for family-oriented events, with most work dedicated to keeping pedestrians safe from the influx of event-day traffic, according to Harkins.

Recent disruptions have Harkins and other New Jersey officials reconsidering their efforts.

Gloucester police typically staff about 50 or 60 officers to the spring celebration, according to Harkins; after observing reports of unruly teenage crowds at the Wildwood beach over Memorial Day Weekend, the police chief brought that figure closer to 70.

That still wasnt enough, he said.

Gloucester police eventually called for support from nearby departments, bringing in an additional 40 officers  and the department probably could have had more, Harkins said.

Other festivals are taking note. In Burlington County, the St. Charles Borromeo Churchs carnival in Cinnaminson announced this week that it was increasing its law enforcement presence during the weeklong event.

Harkins did not say whether Gloucester Township Day would be more heavily policed in the future, though he suggested that the township was considering whether to start the event earlier in the evening.

For Pennsaukens Summer Kick Off, police had staffed even more officers  about 85, according to Mayor Marco DiBattista  though Saturdays disruptions required additional police from three separate counties.

We will be tailoring our event in a fashion to not have another repeat, said DiBattista, who had just left a meeting to discuss the future of Pennsaukens celebration. Weve never had anything like this in the past.

Adding more police could be a challenge, DiBattista said, as officers are already stretched thin with other duties.

Were only going to have an event if we feel we can protect the event, the mayor said.

A threat to business

Ahead of the Exton Square Mall Carnival in May, Good, the operator of Goodtime Amusements, was ready for business.

The longtime carnival operator had a permit from local police and a safety sign-off from fire and EMS, and had erected fences around the festivals perimeter for added security.

That didnt stop the assault that resulted after a large, unruly group of teenagers gathered near the carnivals entrance  which led West Whiteland Township police to revoke Goods permit almost a week before his event was set to wrap.

Good, whose Hellertown company operates across eastern Pennsylvania, estimates the closure lost him more than $50,000 after expenses.

This is a huge financial hit, said Good, who was shocked that his company was penalized when he believes it was the responsibility of local police to control unruly gatherings. Its a shame, Good added, because its the community thats losing out.

Now Goods tight-knit world of carnies is chattering from the Jersey Shore to Pittsburgh, and the operator believes theres not a snowballs chance that someone doesnt go out of business within the next year due to cancellations.

Allen Bartlebaugh is also feeling the squeeze.

Bartlebaugh, of Bartlebaugh Amusements, was recently told by the sponsor of the Kennett Blooms festival that his event, which was supposed to take place over the weekend, was preemptively canceled based on the incidents in Exton and at the Jersey Shore.

It was a $30,000 hit, he said.

Now hoping to avoid other pricey shutdowns, Bartlebaugh and others in his industry are turning to tactics they hope will deter unaccompanied teenagers, fencing in their fairgrounds, and introducing cover charges.

A member of the Pennsylvania State Showmens Association, Bartlebaugh also hopes industry lobbyists will convince lawmakers to take action.

If youre citing public safety, youre terrorizing the public, Bartlebaugh said. If theres no retribution and theres no parenting, someones got to be held accountable.

A legal crackdown

New Jersey lawmakers such as State Assemblyman Dan Hutchison are heeding those calls.

Hutchison, a Democrat whose district covers the middle of the states Shore towns, is drafting a bill alongside party colleagues that aims to deter unruly teen behavior at public events and at the Shore. The announcement, inspired by the Gloucester incident, came with few specifics.

We want to make sure we create stiff penalties that deter this conduct, whether it be participation in a melee, or organizing this type of melee over social media, Hutchison said, adding that he plans to introduce the bill next week. If you can prove that somebody participated in the organization of this type of conduct, that should be penalized and punished.

We shouldnt have to have 150 police officers to protect the public, he later added.

Community members, too, question whether heightened reactions are feasible.

You cant cancel your way out of this, anymore than you can police your way out of this in the immediate term, said Spiegelman, the Abington commissioner, suggesting that a solution to youth unrest requires effort from teenagers parents and their school districts.

This is how things spiral, Spiegelman said. You could shut down the world for fear of anything.
Farmers have worked hard over the generations to eke out a living from the rugged but beautiful uplands of the Conor Pass in the Dingle Peninsula.

But the Governments recent decision to acquire the lands and develop it into the countrys newest National Park caused concern that these farming practices might be discontinued.

Those fears have now been dispelled by the National Parks and Wildlife Service which has committed to maintain the activities in what will be known as Pairc Naisiunta na Mara, Ciarrai The commitment was given at a recent meeting between regional NPWS staff and a delegation from the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA).

Irelands eighth and largest National Park will bring more than 70,000 acres of lands and seas into public ownership and will also include new sites at Inch Peninsula, Mount Brandon and the Owenmore River.

Housing, Local Government and Heritage Minister Darragh OBrien said bringing the Conor Pass and the lands at Inch into public ownership has enabled the creation of a wonderful Marine National Park, the first in Irelands history.

The Pairc will be dedicated to the protection and restoration of internationally significant biodiversity and archaeological heritage INHFA national council member for Kerry DJ Buckley welcomed the commitment to work with the existing farmers.

These farmers are critical in managing the existing landscape and sensitive habitats through sustainable grazing practices which we have been assured will be supported by the NPWS, he said.

Mr Buckley said concern had been expressed around the possibility of a major increase in visitors and the knock-on effect this will have in the area.

But commitments were given to the INHFA that any access will be tightly controlled and limited to existing pathways with assurances given that the surrounding area wont become a gigantic car park.

While the purchase of this land has received a lot of national attention, it is vital that local farmers and the wider community are involved in any future plans, as this is, above all else, their home, their community and their livelihoods.

With this in mind the INHFA will work to ensure the commitments given are delivered on in the coming months and years, he said.

Minister of State for the Office of Public Works Kieran ODonnell has also reassured those living in the Dingle Peninsula that the project would not impact their daily lives.

Speaking on RTE's Drivetime programme, he said they would be working with Kerry County Council and the local community, as well as farmers and fishermen in the area.

"We will be looking to put in place an overall universal master plan in terms of biodiversity and sustainability, and to grow the area in terms of tourism, but in a sustainable way," he said.

Minister of State Malcolm Noonan, with responsibility for the NPWS, told Kerry Fine Gael TD Brendan Griffin in the Dail that the new national park is an important and wonderful initiative by the State.

He said he and Minister O'Brien were clear that they want to develop a management plan for entire park and are embarking on that process.

The new Pairc, which is centred around Corca Dhuibhne, will unite some of Europes most ecologically valuable places in celebration of nature across land and seas.

It brings together new acquisitions such as the Conor Pass, the Owenmore River catchment, lands at Mount Brandon and the sand dune system at Inch Peninsula.

Sites already under State ownership, such as the limestone reefs of Kerry Head Shoals and the waters around the Blasket Islands, are also included.

Mountains, blanket bog, heaths, rivers, coastal dunes, limestone reefs, sea cliffs and some of the wildest land and seascapes in the country will be brought together in celebration of nature.

The Pairc will also honour the island and coastal communities who live alongside it by ensuring that their unique tapestry of cultural and natural heritage is central to the future story of this special place.

All lands within it are in State ownership and already designated under European Law, or as statutory Nature Reserves.

This means that there will be no additional regulatory burden or restriction on activities resulting from the creation of the Pairc.

Education Minister Norma Foley, a TD for Kerry, said she was delighted the astounding beauty of her home county and its pristine seas have been recognised by the creation of a second National Park in the county.

NPWS director general Niall O Donnchu said the new park is a celebration of heritage in all its forms.

Our biodiversity and natural heritage sit layered in harmony alongside monuments and historic wrecks from many periods.

This is a place of iconic significance and majestic beauty, at times shrouded in mist as a far outpost, ethereal in its past, evocative in its firing of the imagination, and vital in its biodiversity, he said.
Kate Middleton has made her first public appearance since her cancer diagnosis at a Buckingham Palace balcony appearance with the British royal family in honour of Britain's King Charles' official birthday.

Kate looked relaxed during her first day in the spotlight following her cancer diagnosis for the traditional Trooping the Colour ceremony, where her youngest child Louis stole the show again.

Louis was pictured yawning, trying to open a window and dancing to the military music as the princess and her young family watched the pomp and pageantry in Horse Guards Parade in honour of Charles.

After months of chemotherapy, which is still ongoing, Kate joined what is a family occasion on the national stage but kept a watchful eye on her children.

Her appearance was in doubt after she missed the final Trooping rehearsal last weekend, but with Charles also suffering from cancer the spectacle of military pomp and pageantry became a symbolic statement by the monarchy after a period of uncertainty.

During the day she was surrounded by other members of the family, with her husband Prince William on horseback, as were Anne, and Edward.

King Charles III salutes outside Buckingham Palace after the Trooping the Colour ceremony (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Charles also rode in a carriage with Camilla, a departure from last year because of his illness, and inspected the officers and guardsmen on Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall from the coach rather than from a horse.

Garrison Sergeant Major Stokes who helped plan Trooping praised Kate, he said: I think its such a nice thing for the Princess of Wales to come and attend today.

It is probably the only day we see the entire royal family together in public and I think the royal family really appreciate the day as well  its the closest thing we get in the United Kingdom to a national day, so all of that makes it incredibly special.

Kate and members of the royal family were cheered when they were first spotted in The Mall on their way to Trooping and Carol and Brian Haddow from Scotland were among thousands waiting to catch a glimpse of members of the monarchy.

Mrs Haddow said: `Well, like anybody going through chemotherapy, its a big thing for her to come out and do this. We were a wee bit back but she looked fine, happy to be involved and she was with the kids.

She said the royal family played an important part in bringing in tourism to the country, adding: Its a great thing to have a king or queen.

Kate said in a statement on Friday she was making good progress with her treatment but candidly added she has good days and bad days and, although she has been working from home, said I am not out of the woods yet.

Support from the public has made a deep impression on the princess, who said she had been blown away by the kind messages that had made a world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times.

The Prince and Princess of Wales with their children, Prince George, Prince Louis, and Princess Charlotte, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace (Gareth Fuller/PA)

In a change from last year, Kate did not join senior family members on a dais but watched the event from Arthur Charles Valerian Wellesley's former office with her children.

During the military spectacle, Louis was seen yawning as he viewed the ceremony from the historic building overlooking the parade ground, and later the young royal danced during the quick march of the Scots Guards to Highland Laddie.

Trooping the Colour is a social as well as a ceremonial occasion and the stands overlooking the parade ground were filled with about 8,000 spouses, girlfriends and parents of the guardsmen and officers on parade.

It featured more than 1,250 soldiers, including hundreds of guardsmen lined up in two rows who were inspected by Charles from his carriage with Camilla, Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, followed by the mounted royal Colonels.

The Princess of Wales and Prince Louis arrive for the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade, central London (Yui Mok/PA)

The colour, or regimental flag, that was trooped in front of the soldiers, an ancient ceremony to enable servicemen to identify their flag, was Charles' Colour of number 9 company, Irish Guards, the regiment Kate serves as Colonel.

Dark clouds threatened rain but luckily for organisers, the downpour came as the royal family left in carriages for their balcony appearance to watch the fly-past, with the rain ending as the first jets roared overhead and the Red Arrows provided the finale.

During the aerial show, William was pictured affectionately pulling Louis ears as Kate watched and grinned and when the national anthem was played big sister Charlotte gave her younger sibling a nudge to stand still.

Kates appearance was to mark the family occasion and she is not expected to return to full-time royal duties until she has fully recovered.
There's a surprising familiarity to the surrounding landscape as our bus meanders through the Croatian countryside.

The rugged, rocky terrain interspersed with greenery calls to mind the Burren, albeit with the addition of olive trees and the occasional groves that make it truly unique.

Its a karst landscape, our guide Andreas confirms, as he explains the similar ways the limestone region has formed and how the stone walls we see protect the soil from erosion  and, more recently, can help manage forest fires, the scars of which we notice throughout the week.

Built by hand, the walls once took 300 days to construct a mere two kilometres.

In Hotel Ilijaria in Croatias seaside town of Biograd na Moru, I am greeted by warm air hitting my skin.

Its my first time on the Dalmatian Coast and the weather is just as I expected  the Burren-like terrain not so much.

We are en route to Sibenik, a city about an hour south of Biograd no Moru, as part of a week-long tour with the Travel Department exploring Croatias Dalmatian Coast; three days of guided tours to nearby cities and islands, balanced with three days of leisure to soak up the sun, sea and explore as we please.

Before reaching the city, we pitstop at Sibenik Bridge. Spanning the Krka River, it offers vast views over the city and deep blue waters below.

Home to oyster and mussel farms, its another similarity that reminds me of the West of Ireland. Daintier than Irish natives, and more saline, we sample delicious Croatian oysters before continuing our journey.

With a population of 35,000, Sibenik is one of the three largest cities in Croatia, a coastal outpost overlooked by the striking St James Cathedral and St Michaels Fort.

Our walking tour takes us from the water through small streets, avoiding Greasy Street  named for the local butchers who threw their leftovers here  and opting for the route to the Cathedral instead.

Along the way, Andreas points out family emblems on the buildings, a glimpse into the influence of the Venetians on this city  the first of many insightful stories about the history of this little country, which is smaller than Ireland.

Elaborately carved ceiling of baptistery in Cathedral of St James in Sibenik, Croatia.

Visiting in the off-season has its advantages and we have the square to ourselves to appreciate the beauty of the cathedral, a Unesco heritage site hewn from limestone with a uniquely vaulted dome.

Once inside, the details of the basilica, known as this because of the three aisles inside, are quite special, but none more so than the baptistry down a passage to the right of the altar.

This small room made from limestone and breccia from a nearby island has a small window to the side as its only light source.

On a bright day, the natural light fills the room with a warm glow, highlighting the exquisite detail of the ceiling and drawing focus to the baptistry  today, a light bulb does the same job.

Its Sunday morning and a dark cloud looms over the town as our boat sails away from stormy weather to blue skies, bypassing a handful of Croatias islands, some inhabited and others privately owned, heading to deeper waters in search of dolphins.

Our captain doubles as our chef for the day and starts the morning by offering us a lavender-infused brandy shot, suggesting it is a necessary medicine for our journey.

The winds are strong as we sail, traversing open water for about an hour before noticing a couple of fins in the water. Two dolphins pop up and down in perfect unison, providing a magnificent afternoon show from the waves.

We moor at Vrgada, a quiet island with only a bar open this Sunday and us its only patrons. Suitably refreshed, we pilgrim uphill to a church at the top where were met with more marvellous views.

Below, our captain and crew are busy preparing our lunch: barbecued mackerel, chicken and salad. Its simple but delicious  a dressing of olive oil, garlic and basil poured over the mackerel, perfecting the flavour and satisfying even the non-fish eaters.

The scenery is the perfect lunch setting: rich orange soil, green trees and turquoise water, boats bobbing, and the only sound that of our captain offering another medicinal shot before we head back to the mainland where the dark cloud has turned to rain very briefly  the only rain of the week.

A ship with tourists at Krka national park, going to the Skradinski waterfall,

Krka National Park is less than an hour from our hotel and home to what is considered to be Europes widest waterfalls. We opt to visit as an additional tour on one of our leisure days.

Its the hottest day of the week and the trees provide welcome shade in the midday sun. These falls were not always a tourist attraction, our guide explains, as he shows us how hydropower was used to ful the flour mill and washing holes that are still present today.

From here, a wooden walkway meanders over the water, the sound of croaking frogs accompanies our trail, leading us to spectacular views of Skradinski waterfall.

The colours are dazzling  deep blues and vibrant greens. While it is crowded, people are considerate and there are viewing points ensuring youre never short of a stunning vista.

Our leisure days are spent swimming in the sea, something we discover that locals rarely do, favouring sailing and fishing.

The crystal clear waters are not only ideal for swimming but helpful for detecting sea urchins underfoot, which are very common on the Croatian seabed.

Luckily the water is deep enough to swim in, sparing me any prickly encounters. Sandy beaches are a rarity here, so we happily perch at the hotels sea view infinity pool watching the world go by.

Zadar: a waterfront view from the sea, Dalmatia, Croatia.

Zadar is our last stop  a city that has been bombed so many times that its old town is somewhat new with hints of ruins around.

Andreas tells us that Zadar has been ruled by so many countries, including Italy, Yugoslavia and Hungary, that there was a time when you could have lived in five countries over a period without having left your house.

The citys Sea Organ provides the soundtrack to our arrival. Fashioned from 35 underwater pipes that swallow air from the waves, we arent expecting much from the architectural delight.

Happily, passing boats create enough motion to ensure the musical instrument creates a unique melody.

Aerial panorama of Split, Croatia.

As we make the return journey to Split, meandering along the roads weve come to know over the week, I realise that Croatia is far more than the sum of its parts.

From islands to oysters, karts and cathedrals, sapphire waters and walled towns, its history, heritage and culture are mesmerising. One might go as far as saying that the Dalmatian Coast has more beauty spots than a well, you get it!

Melanie was a guest of the Travel Department.

Escape Notes

Travel Departments fully guided Croatias Dalmatian Coast trip rom 979pp, including flights from Dublin and 7 nights 4-star half-board accommodation.

Departures in September and October 2024, as well as April, May, June, September and October 2025.

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Calamari on the grill.

Taste Notes

Seafood is a permanent fixture on all menus in this region, but calamari is a local favourite.

Not the sliced and deep-fried version that we are more familiar with, but whole calamari, grilled and served with potato and chard.

Croatians eat the whole calamari, wasting nothing, and we try it for lunch on our first day. Its the perfect introduction to Croatian cuisine, requiring a simple annointing of local olive oil and sea salt to enhance its flavours.
A Cork man who was in a biker gang in Australia and served sentences there for serious crimes carried out a prolonged assault on his partner in Carrigaline  and the officer who investigated it believes the accused will kill her if he gets out. 53-year-old Shane Carroll threatened to kill the woman, kill her dogs by cutting their throats and burn the house down.

Judge Helen Boyle sentenced him to three years and nine months, with the last six months suspended, at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Shane Carroll, who had been living at Beechwood Court, Carrigaline, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to charges of assault causing harm, causing criminal damage and theft.

Sergeant Declan Healy described to the background to the violent crime at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

At 6.30pm on October 18, 2023, gardai at Carrigaline got a call to Beechwood Court in Carrigaline. A young woman said her mother called and told her to contact the gardai for help.

Gardai met the injured party, who had visible bruising and swelling to her face and blood all over her face and was in obvious fear. She said her partner Shane Carroll had assaulted her and was upstairs. Gardai at the scene advised her to go to a neighbour's house.

He was arrested for assault causing harm and he was handcuffed and conveyed to Togher Garda Station.

In the meantime, the injured party made a statement to gardai. She outlined that earlier that day she got up at 12 mid-day. She said she had been in pain from a fall in an unrelated incident the previous day. She said she spoke to Shane Carroll about spending time together and he became extremely abusive and aggressive.

He squeezed so hard around her neck she was unable to breathe. He threatened to kill her and her dog and to burn down the house. He hit her with his fists and kept shouting threats and abuse. He took a hand-held vanity mirror and broke it over her. In doing so, he received a cut to his hand. She fled to her bedroom.

He followed her and punched her with his fist and threatened her not to tell anyone. There were blood stains all over her face. He took possession of her phone to stop her ringing for help.

When he found there was no beer in the fridge he ordered her to accompany him to the off-licence. When he was in the shop getting the beer she was trembling and afraid she would have a fit while she was in the car.

When he got back he shook her violently trying to get her to stop. After getting beer he squeezed a beer can and spilled the contents on the floor. He spat at her and hit her. He assaulted her with her phone  he held the phone against her throat. He hit her in the face. She was afraid for her life.

He told her she would not be allowed out for a week so that no one would see the injuries to her face.

He hit his fist against the wall, which injured his hand. When he was distracted by this, it allowed her to contact her daughter who contacted gardai.

When Shane Carroll was interviewed, over two interviews he made no admissions. Later he said, 30 per cent of what was in it [statement of complaint] is true, the rest is piffle.

Shane Carroll is originally from Cork and in his late teens he went to Australia where he got involved with a biker group. He got a seven-year sentence for a kidnap-related offence in Australia and five years for an aggravated driving causing death.

The victim in the present case was not known to gardai before her report of this assault on her.

Sgt Healy said: My own opinion is if he gets out he will kill her. There was a defence objection to the expression of such an opinion. Judge Boyle said she would disregard it.

Sgt Healy said Shane Carroll was very volatile and has serious anger issues  When he is triggered you dont need to be getting in his way.

- If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please click here for a list of support services.
Last November, in the wake of the Dublin riots, People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy named a number of what he called far-right agitators in the Dail. These, he said, had been involved in inciting the riots, using what Murphy described as their chance to spread hatred and division.

Derek Blighe had a video saying we are at war, Murphy related. Blighe ran in the local elections for Cork County Council last week but was not elected. He also ran in the European elections in the Ireland South constituency, garnering 25,071 votes.

Currently, he is being sued for defamation by a Fermoy businessman on the basis of leaflets he distributed. Blighe was prominent in a campaign to stop asylum seekers being housed in the town last year.

Another name Murphy threw in was Philip Dwyer. Philip Dwyer, a creche creeper and dog kicker, streamed a video saying he was going into town, Murphy told the House. On Saturday, Dwyer was removed from the South Dublin count centre in Tallaght following a disturbance. He is due before the courts on a charge of allegedly engaging in threatening, abusive, and insulting behaviour outside a creche. He received 4,479 votes in the Dublin constituency for the European elections. In March, he tweeted that he was standing in the election for the children of this country.

Murphy also mentioned Gavin Pepper, who lives in the Finglas area of Dublin. Gavin Pepper [is] another far-right agitator who called people onto the streets for seven oclock, said Murphy.

On Saturday, Pepper was elected to Dublin City Council. Last April, Pepper clashed with Green Party councillor Hazel Chu, who is of Asian extraction. Pepper filmed her on a street while she was on the phone, repeatedly saying to her, Hazel, do ya like looking down on the working class people, do ya? After securing his seat, Pepper went all Trump-like in attempting to undermine the voting process: Pro replacement parties trafficked unpermitted immigrants to the polling stations to alter this election.

This was the first election in this jurisdiction where individuals who subscribe to the popular concept of far right achieved success at the polls. Others who got elected from the same extreme on the political spectrum were Glen Moore of the Irish Freedom Party in South Dublin and Patrick Quinlan for the National Party in Fingal County Council.

There was also a seat for Malachy Steenson, an Independent, on Dublin City Council. On his election, Steenson, a former member of the Workers Party, told reporters that his success sent a very clear message that the revolution has begun.

The contention is highly dubious. Numerous other far-right candidates failed to get elected to the 949 council seats. As things stand, the far-right representation is around 0.5% of seats in the State.

But there is significance in what represents the first encroachment into electoral politics of a movement that heretofore was confined to ugly protests and the spreading of hate and disinformation online.

The question remains as to whether the far right in this country can gain any kind of an electoral purchase.

A protester holds a placard reading 'It is dark in the land of lights' as she demonstrates against the far right after their success in the European elections in France. Picture: Sameer Al-Doumy/AFP via Getty Images

The picture in Ireland is at variance with what is happening across most of the EU. Marine Le Pens National Rally won 30% of the vote in France last weekend.

President Macron responded by calling elections for the national assembly.

His gamble is that when faced with Le Pens far-right party governing nationally, as opposed to sending them to Brussels, the French people will reject the extremists. Time will tell.

In Germany, Alternative fur Deutschland came second in the election with 16% of the vote, more than any of the three parties in the governing coalition garnered.

One of the leading figures in AfD, Maximilian Krah, said at the outset of the campaign that not all members of the Nazi SS were criminals. The party has voted to exclude him from its delegation of MEPs.

In Holland, Geert Wilders Party For Freedom got nearly 18% of the vote. Meanwhile, in both Italy and Austria, far-right parties, including Italian prime minister Giorgia Melonis Fratelli dItalia, pulled in more votes than any other entity in either country.

Despite that, the swing to the far right has not been as extreme as feared. The centre right European Peoples Party, of which Fine Gael is a member, remains the biggest of the five voting blocks in the European Parliament.

Plans by that group to re-elect Ursula von der Leyen as president of the European Commission do not require the far-right Identity and Democracy block which has seen an increase in support.

However, there is no doubt that the far right is on the march across the union and has now reached, albeit in a relatively miniscule electoral footprint, these shores.

Central to this shift in politics is the issue of immigration.

There is no country in Europe that has a very significant migrant population that does not have a significant party whose primary issue is that, said Ronan McCrea of University College London last weekend.

Every single country that has a lot of migration has a party that is upset about it, said Prof McCrea.

So I think in Irish politics going forward this is going to be an issue. We cant wish it away.

Ireland certainly qualifies as a country with a significant migrant population, mainly due to the success of the economy.

For instance, in the 2022 Census, 84% of the 5.165m population in the State were Irish-born. In 2023, the European Commission estimates, Irelands population grew by another 3.5%. The bulk of the most recent increases has been down to the war in Ukraine as the State is estimated to have taken in up to 100,000 refugees from that conflict.

There is no escaping these realities or that this is occurring at a time of a major housing crisis. In a broader sense, the whole provision of public services has not kept pace with increases in population over the last eight or nine years once the worst of the post-economic collapse recession was over. This increases tensions when there are increases in the population.

It is also the case that for the greater part the economy could not function without a major input of skilled and unskilled labour. Unemployment, for decades the scourge of Irish society, is for all practical purposes hovering around 4%, a historic low below which it would be extremely difficult to go.

While that is the general background in terms of population movements in the country, the main issue that has arisen over the last 18 months has been the accommodation of asylum seekers.

These numbers are pretty tiny compared to general population flows, with around 20,000 asylum seekers expected to apply for international protection this year. This has proven to be the crack in the door against which the far right has been pushing in recent years.

While these challenges do provide red meat for the far right, not all who had concerns around the issues could or should be thus labelled, according to Bryan Fanning, UCD professor of migration and social policy.

On one level you have a handful of people [who got elected] but they are small in number compared, for instance, to the number of people from ethnic backgrounds who made a breakthrough in these elections, he said. Racism does exist in various places. Online, its all over the place, when you come off Twitter you feel like having a shower, but that doesnt necessarily reflect reality. The right-wing nationalists, those who talk about plantation and wave the tricolour, thats ethnocentric nationalism but I dont think they have any great traction.

Ireland First candidate Derek Blighe in the count centre having been eliminated on the 16th count at Nemo Rangers GAA club in Cork. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

But what about Blighes 25,000 votes in Ireland South? Is that not a sign that there is some appetite out there for the extreme nationalism that is a mainstay of the far right?

That certainly is a very big number of votes, said Prof Fanning. But go back to Peter Casey in the Presidential election in 2018. He got a huge vote in that election on what looks like just having been an anti-Traveller platform. As soon as he went back to Donegal and tried to get elected locally his vote collapsed. So in terms of these kind of people having an impact on national politics I would guess that if Blighe stood for election as a TD he wouldnt get anything like that kind of vote.

The elections also saw the rise of Independents and entities standing on a platform highlighting what they would categorise as concern for the system in which international protection applicants are being dealt with.

Independent Ireland, set up late last year by rural TDs, had a good election, electing 20 councillors.

It also had a candidate in all three Euro constituencies with Niall Boylan missing out narrowly on getting a seat in Dublin and former RTE reporter Ciaran Mullooly elected in Midlands North-West.

The party is a broad church, but there is certainly an immigration-sceptic element to its platform. Seamus Walsh, a former Fianna Fail councillor in Galway who left the party over accommodation issues last year, stood for Independent Ireland and was re-elected to the council.

We have never been right wing, he said of his new party. We are not right wing, we love people, we are good people but we are disgusted with the way the Government is mishandling the immigration issue.

Other councillors around the country who were returned had taken prominent roles in protests in towns over accommodation of asylum seekers but more often than not it was just one of a number of features to an election platform.

Former MEP Mick Wallace, Independents4Change candidate, who lost his seat in the Ireland South constituency, at the count centre in Nemo Rangers, Cork. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Vigilance is required but the far right in this country is still lacking in a few vital elements were it to harbour ambitions of becoming an electoral force. In the first instance, there is no unity at that end of the spectrum. The election just gone was notable in that the far-right vote was all over the place.

Take the one entity that has a history reaching back more than a few years, the National Party. It split last year and both factions stood candidates under the party banner.

Justin Barrett, the former leader who earlier this year was parading on social media in a Nazi-style uniform, did dismally. Patrick Quinlan, deputy leader of the other faction, did get elected, but his leader James Reynolds got nowhere. Reynolds told local media in Longford that the reason for his dismal showing was the party brand: What Im told continuously [by people] was that they like James Reynolds but they didnt like the National Party.

Another problem is that there is no single figure around which those who subscribe to far-right philosophy can congregate.

The other issue that arises is the absence of a figure around which a movement could be built. Barrett is no Le Pen. Pepper is no Wilders. Blighe is no Nigel Farage.

The loose amalgam that exists has nobody who could present an acceptable face to the media  or social media  that can articulate or propagate the agenda.

None of which is to suggest that either or both of these handicaps cannot be addressed or that a Farage-type figure will not emerge. As of yet there is no sign of it.

The next test as to whether the far-right agenda of hatred and intolerance is going to have any political purchase here will be the general election. We might then get a better idea of whether this country is to embark down the same dark route as many of our European neighbours.
Mention penicillin and the name Sir Alexander Fleming, who discovered it, quickly trips off the tongue. Less well-known is his wife, Sarah McElroy, a nurse from Co Mayo who sold her nursing home in London to support his research.

McElroy said she knew Fleming had genius and wanted him to make the most of it: Alec is a great man, but nobody knows it, she said.

She was a great woman, too, and thanks to her homeplace, Kilfian, in north Mayo, more people know about this formidable woman whose moral and financial support allowed her husband to discover the antibiotic that revolutionised medicine.

That a woman born into a small Irish community had trained as a nurse, and gone on to own a private nursing home in London in the early years of the last century, is noteworthy in itself.

Sarah, or Sareen as she was known, and her twin sister, Elizabeth, ran a practice on Baker St that had such a good reputation that patients said they would go nowhere else for nursing care.

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Both sisters qualified as nurses in Dublin in 1907. After spending time in Australia, they moved to London.

They both married Fleming brothers, too: Sarah married Alexander in 1915 and her sister married his brother, John, a few years later.

But just as the Fleming brothers were very different, the McElroy twins were chalk and cheese: Sarah was outgoing, gregarious and energetic, Elizabeth was quiet and reserved.

If the sisters were opposites, so, too, were Sarah and her new husband.

In many ways, writes Kevin Brown in the biography Penicillin Man, for Alec and Sally [as Sarah was also known], as indeed for John and Elizabeth, it was the differences in their personalities that brought them together.

Whereas Alec was quiet, Sally was vivacious and lively, with a love of conversation and argument, which made her a convivial and popular hostess.

When they married on December 23, 1915, there was no time for a honeymoon: Fleming was on leave from wartime France. Shortly after the ceremony at the Catholic Church of Saint Charles Burroneo, Ogle St, in London, he returned to his post with the Royal Army Medical Corps.

He witnessed the deaths of many soldiers from wounds, but, more often, from the deadly infections that set in afterwards.

He argued in an article that the antiseptic treatment often did more harm than good. Flemings views were not accepted until he discovered lysozyme, an enzyme with antibacterial properties, in 1922.

The story of how it grew in a Petri dish he had forgotten in his famously disorganised laboratory  laying the foundation for his ground-breaking discovery  is well-known.

Sarah McElroy and her husband Sir Alexander Fleming. 'Whereas Alec was quiet, Sally was vivacious and lively, with a love of conversation and argument, which made her a convivial and popular hostess.'

The contribution made by Sarah, however, is much less known. Indeed, it might not be remembered at all had it not been for the people of Kilfian, who have done so much to flesh out the details of her forgotten life.

Kilfian local Sean Gilvarry says that Fleming is celebrated the world over, but there was nothing to acknowledge the woman who sold her nursing home so that her husband could continue his research.

McElroy was the motivator, the unseen force behind a discovery that changed healthcare for ever, yet, when the Kilfian Development Association began researching her, not everyone in her local parish knew what she had done.

That changed in 2001, with the unveiling by the couples only son, the late Dr Robert Fleming, of a monument honouring both Flemings. He said he recalled visits to Leigherntain House with his parents as a young child, and the farm, the river, fishing, and the family Irish Red Setter.

The house where Sarah and her twin lived with 10 siblings is no longer extant, but the monument standing near the church alerts attention to the woman who was born to Maria Flynn and her farmer husband, Bernard McElroy, around 1881.

I say around 1881, because there is evidence that Sarah shaved a few years off her age when she married the younger Alec.

It is far more interesting to pick through the relatively scant details to get a sense of a woman who took extraordinary measures to support her husbands research at St Marys Hospital in Paddington, London.

After the war, the couple rented a flat in Chelsea, where Sarah, to quote Kevin Brown, curator at the Alexander Fleming Laboratory Museum, proved to be a very capable and thrifty housewife.

The house where Sarah and her twin lived with 10 siblings is no longer extant, but the monument standing near the church alerts attention to the woman who was born to Maria Flynn and her farmer husband, Bernard McElroy, around 1881.

She was also an excellent cook, he adds, providing this fascinating vignette: At the dinner parties she arranged, sometimes thinking nothing of walking home to Chelsea from a West End theatre matinee to cook dinner for her guests, she would often throw out provocative statements to begin a discussion.

When the couples only son was born, on March 17, 1924, they spent more time at the cottage they bought in Suffolk.

It was a busy place at weekends, filled with visitors, or bustling with the regular parties the couple held for the local children.

When the Second World War began, the couples country home was requisitioned, while their city flat was hit during heavy bombardment of the city.

Alexander Fleming, with characteristic understatement, said: When I saw the entire window frame moving towards me, I decided to get out of bed.

They went to stay with friends and Sareen volunteered at the Shamrock Club, a canteen in the West End for Irish soldiers. If the war took its toll, she remained optimistic. It will be tough, it will be long, but we will win, she said.

She must have taken immense satisfaction in seeing how the widespread use of penicillin saved so many lives as the war went on.

When it was over, the couple moved back into their flat in London and spent more time in Suffolk. As Alexander Flemings international reputation grew, Sarahs health began to decline.

Shortly before she died, of Parkinsons disease, in October 1949, Fleming told a neighbour that he was pained that his discovery could not save her.

Sarah McElroy (right) with her son Robert.

It saved many others, though, including the life of a young boy in Ballina in 1943. His GP, Dr Aubrey de Vere Bourke, father of former president Mary Robinson, had just heard of the wonder drug. His five-year-old patient had bacterial endocarditis, but the penicillin that might cure him was not yet buyable.

Dr De Vere Bourke, however, begged the Richmond Hospital in Dublin to send him a supply. It arrived by courier, with special instructions on how to administer injections every four hours. The childs fever subsided and he went on to flourish.

We all felt that the product of Sir Alexanders research had saved a life, he wrote in a special brochure on the Fleming memorial published by the Kilfian Development Association.

And thanks to that association, we also know how crucial the woman born in its parish was to that research.
Agatha Christie might have regarded it as a foreseeable twist in the tale. If last weeks elections results point to one aspect of a predictable Irish psyche, its our reliance on a modesty that resonates with our scarred past, a tradition that we unfailingly fall back on in moments when we feel threatened.

Its a custom of opting for the status quo. There have been many such moments, but none more defining as when the safety of our children is threatened.

Throughout the campaign, many far-right candidates spoke about the importance of representing the interests of Irish parents who are deeply invested in the future of their children.

Commendable perhaps; but what about the mother who was putting her young children to bed last month while men wearing balaclavas, who claimed to be far-right, stood outside her house jeering and shouting abuse?

Her husband, an Irishman who happens to be our taoiseach, wasnt at home at the time.

Its moments such as this that tugged hard on peoples consciences last week, that in turn decided how they voted.

Ireland has had a long and violent history of men in balaclavas, men who bore weapons and murdered mercilessly, often while standing outside family homes and shooting innocent victims through the window.

We havent forgotten those days, nor should we ever.

When nameless thugs rang the Samaritans last April to warn that there was a bomb at the home of the minister for justice, there were two tiny children in the house being put to bed by their father.

The cowardly act came barely a month before the 50th anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, which killed 34 people who were going about their business, including a full term unborn child, and an entire family.

Families are sacred, but not if youre a thug in a balaclava.

Our past has been filled to the brim with sectarian violence. We dont ever want to witness it again.

Thats one clear message that people brought to the ballot box last week as a result of recent extremist behaviour and the riots in Dublin last November.

Within some circles last week there was a level of sheer disbelief that, as one man put it, people keep voting for the same people over and over.

Its one reason why so many voted for Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. Most of the people who came out were making a very clear statement: We dont want change, certainly not if it falls into the hands of dangerous extremists.

Despite a relatively low turn-out at polling stations on June 7, most voters appear to have been impressed by the new taoiseach, Simon Harris, whose promise is an all-inclusive style of leadership. Picture: Damien Storan/PA

Despite a drifting belief in the weeks ahead of polling that we were rising up as a people in ways that other countries appear to be, the outcome proved yet again that our regard for the importance of modesty and a distaste for major change is rooted in our predisposition for what makes us feel safe.

The notion of a far-right ideology becoming a political reality here is nothing short of terrifying.

Up until the collapse of the Churchs back-breaking reign of oppression in the mid-80s, Ireland was so conservative that any form of openmindedness was shunned.

It was tyrannical hell for many good and decent people who suffered and died because of its brutality.

Despite a relatively low turn-out at polling stations on June 7, most voters appear to have been impressed by a new taoiseach whose promise is an all-inclusive style of leadership, for however long that might last, with the same voters giving the two fingers to the notion of a far-right political system that might not be unlike the years of Church-enforced theocracy.

Last weeks elections outcome not only demonstrates how we are light-years from far-right governance, it proves we simply dont want it.

Its an anathema, boldly opposed by those who have wished all their lives, and been brave enough to campaign for years, for freedom of expression and a public pride in how they chose to live.

A clear message had emerged by the start of the week as the political landscape took a huge shift back to a centrist way of thinking.

People had spoken out by voting for familiarity.

Protests mixed with violence cause huge vulnerability. An instant reaction to uncertainty and oppression is to turn and run for the peaceful platform weve always felt steadier on.

Ironically, the violent thugs who showed up at protests in recent months  the same scrotes who brand themselves far-right, even though few if any of them have a jot about far right ideology and its devastating consequences  benefitted Fine Gael and Fianna Fail by quashing any doubts that traditional voters might have had in relation to who were the safest candidates to vote for.

While its widely accepted that the economy is healthier than its been in years, the mood of the country remains unpredictable and precarious.

Fear that history could repeat itself

In such times, people weigh up their options, the best outcomes, by reminding themselves of history and a fear that it could repeat itself.

A volatile riptide has rocked the political ship over the last 18 months, and in such circumstances an election is not a good time to practise new swimming skills.

In times of uncertainty, familiarity is at the heart of how we make important decisions.

For many, the right to vote is no different to the right to protect their families and their children.

Our elders have always taken the importance of casting their votes very seriously.

Many still remember the foreboding of what might have happened to our country if Hitler had won the war.

The worst mistake that Fine Gael and Fianna Fail could make now is to assume they know the mood of the electorate, and that such a mood reflects their popularity.

They dont, and it doesnt.

They just happened to be the safest parties to vote for in a country that will now become even more deeply divided than before.

Sinn Fein members need to reflect in the coming weeks and avoid a knee jerk reaction within the party, cognisant of the outcome of local elections five years ago and the change of fortune that followed. Only a fool would write them off.

Comparing the recent elections to the forthcoming general election is like comparing a single-seater plane to a jumbo jet. Irish people are proud of all theyve struggled to achieve over the years, which includes a lasting peace that took decades to become a reality.

Protests outside the homes of politicians will only serve to increase the support of decent people for those they elect who are essentially also decent people.

History has proved that the majority of those who call this island their home will neither tolerate any attempt to overthrow democracy, nor support people who believe theres a place for violence.

Men who wear balaclavas and stand outside the homes of politicans might believe they are heroes. Theyre not.

As revolutionary leader Michael Collins said: Where courage and judgement are equally required, a clever coward is better than a stupid hero.
Just before Christmas 2022, a young female political reporter in the national press was savaged on social media. Her crime was to report the news, which in this case involved the existence of a Sinn Fein-affiliated Facebook page on which some contributors had left racist comments.

The reporter got the pile-on treatment that was the lot of anybody perceived to have been critical of Sinn Fein. She was abused in every imaginable way, which was nothing too unusual at the time, particularly for journalists or political opponents.

The party claimed this frequent avalanche of abuse from what was referred to as Shinnerbots had nothing to do with Sinn Fein. The abuse, however, appeared co-ordinated.

One way or the other, the attack on this young woman was something of a watershed in the partys recent evolution. Thereafter, the abuse lightened and sometimes didnt appear at all. Somebody, somewhere decided it was not a good look for a party preparing for government to have affiliated dark forces abusing all and sundry online.

That was just one pitstop along the road Sinn Fein had embarked on following the 2020 general election. Its surprising success at the polls, including the realisation it had left maybe a dozen seats behind, convinced the party the next general election would see it over the line.

Two weeks before the incident described above, an Ipsos/MRBI poll had the party at 35%. The only way was up and into government at the next chance. The phrase in government, Sinn Fein would became omnipresent in public utterances.

The money man, Pearse Doherty, broke bread with bankers and stockbrokers, who in turn accepted this was a man they could do business with.

Behind the scenes, brainy boys and girls mapped out the road from radical protest to power. Out with the old, in with the newish. Bring on change, but not too much. They knew this country and particularly the economy is governed from the centre.

They knew the successful economic model was delicately, some might say precariously, balanced. They knew despite the rhetoric, the public, or more specifically the electorate, didnt want transformational change. That would have involved reworking the delicately balanced economy and Sinn Fein had no intention of presenting a hostage to fortune in that respect.

Sure, society was and is appalled at the housing crisis and young people in particular are disproportionately impacted. Absolutely, it was and is the case the health service does not function as it should in a proper democracy. But the changes would involve trying an alternative approach to housing and applying more energy to the health problems, not transforming government and society.

Smoothing the path to office

So the party set about smoothing its path to office. Issues like opposition to the Special Criminal Court were softened. The past had to be dealt with in other ways also.

In March 2022, 52,000 public statements from the preceding decades were erased. This was due to updating the website. Cynics posited it was an Orwellian attempt to erase a past in which the party had espoused the kind of extreme views that would have middle Ireland choking on their cornflakes.

More than anything, Sinn Feins economic compass was adjusted. There was no more talk of raising the corporate tax rate. A wealth tax was quietly dropped by dispatching it to a future commission. A sop to abandoning this basic tenet of a centre-left party was to propose a solidarity tax for those earning over 140,000, which would impact on a very small cohort of the electorate.

The money man, Pearse Doherty, broke bread with bankers and stockbrokers, who in turn accepted this was a man they could do business with. As time went on and the differences between Sinn Fein and the Government narrowed on big issues, the focus switched to just offering a different version of the incumbents, who were portrayed as out of touch and lacking in managerial competence more than anything else.

The project of hurrying the party along from protest to confident, competent alternative government was sucking diesel. Some in the partys traditional heartlands may have felt abandoned but the prospect of power was, well, all-powerful.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald made mistakes in her reaction to the Dublin riots and her promises on housing. Picture: Damien Storan/PA Wire

Then they got unlucky. The Government didnt fall. There was no national election for over four years. There is only so long you can keep up the performative anger without sounding like youre on autopilot.

In the wake of the economic crash in 2008  when the country did veer close to economic collapse  Eamon Gilmore in opposition was angry morning, noon and night. But he only had to wait a few years to get into office. Mary Lou McDonald would have bitten your hand off for an election two or even three years out from the last one.

They got unlucky with the challenges that arose in accommodating asylum seekers. Sinn Fein has been far more impacted by this issue than any other party. Back at their former base, some began to point out Sinn Fein was now adopting poses similar to the hated FFG, which of course they were because they had to on an issue like immigration if they wanted to govern in a modern European state.

McDonald lost her mojo

Their leader began to lose her mojo. Last December, McDonald made two major mistakes. Following the Dublin riots, she went on the attack when a shaken public was looking for reassurance the body politic was united against violent fringe actors.

Then she promised Sinn Fein would bring down the average price of houses in Dublin to 300,000. Anybody who had bought a house in recent years or was close to acquiring one was left wondering whether the Shinners were going to bring on negative equity. Others wondered if the party was reverting to the magic money tree of old.

Momentum slackened and some confusion set in. Wherefore change now? From flip to flop? So it went with asylum seekers, climate change, the recent referendums, hate crime legislation.

Sinn Fein had moved from being a rallying point for those who felt they were outside the system to queuing up for their turn in charge within the system. But they had run out of road.

Thats where the local and European elections found them, dazed and confused. The partys share of the vote in the locals was just under 12% and they failed to get a candidate elected in Midlands North West, where two were on the ticket.

They now have a short time in which to go away and dream it all up again. Next time around, they might start by realising, as Bertie Ahern observed last week, that change is a word, not a policy. And then perhaps the party will decide if it has core values it wants to stick by irrespective of whichever way the wind blows.
A bullish Mary Lou McDonald should have been going into the Dail instructing the Taoiseach to act on the peoples clear demand for change.

She should have been pointing to the massive surge in support for Sinn Fein and the decimation of the two main Government parties at local level.

She should have been confidently calling on Simon Harris, having lost the confidence of the people, to go to the Park immediately.

The results of the local and European elections do have people talking about an early general election, but it is purely in the context of how the current coalition might take advantage of better than expected results for Fine Gael and Fianna Fail and a poor showing for Sinn Fein.

Ahead of the next poll, whether that takes place in September, October, November, or March  the latter a claim no one is believing but which the three leaders continue to insist is the case  Sinn Fein is not the only party that needs to regroup and realign.

There are questions around how Independents, who secured a massive 28% of first-preference votes in the locals, might harness that energy at national level.

Parties on the left also need to confront the fact that self-inflicted splintering has weakened its voice overall.

At the other end of the political spectrum, the far right have made small inroads, but again a myriad of groupings make for an incoherent bunch.

The Government is not without its own weaknesses: Fianna Fail must address its Dublin issue; Fine Gael still has large gaps to fill as a wave of TDs prepare to exit national politics; and the Green Party must ensure the tide doesnt fully go out in a general election.

Sinn Fein

Going into last weeks elections, Sinn Fein had slumped to 23% in the polls, a massive nosedive from the peak of 36% exactly two years ago.

In the poll that mattered, the party only managed to achieve 11.79% of first preference votes at local level, which has converted into 102 council seats. Its a gain of 21, but still doesnt make up for the wipeout of 2019, which saw Sinn Fein lose 78 local authority representatives across the country.

As ballots were counted last weekend and early this week, TDs and backroom staff, still in shock, were bereft of a proper explanation.

McDonald tried to blame the electorate, who she claimed may have been confused, others suggested that strong Fianna Fail and Fine Gael incumbents prevented the party from gaining seats.

Questions around the party leader and her visibility in the lead-up to the polls have also been swirling. Arriving into the RDS on Sunday, a downbeat McDonald simply said she was sorry she didnt do better. It was in stark contrast to 2019, another bad election for the party: McDonald came out fighting, boldly stating that Sinn Fein arent cry babies; we dust ourselves down and we get back at it because thats what political activism is all about.

With the clock ticking down to a general election, McDonald needs work at speed to pull her party back up.

In recent days, though, she has stuck with the same narrative of an electorate who still want change.

McDonald and her party will have to realise that a vague slogan that worked in 2020 is no longer appealing to voters four years on.

The left

The election of Labours Aodhan O Riordain to Europe this week is seen by many in the party as a turning point.

But, to gain any real momentum or political ground, left-leaning parties know that they must consolidate or at least co-ordinate. It was a point acknowledged by Labour leader Ivana Bacik at the RDS, who spoke about collaboration with like-minded parties.

We need to align ourselves as a grouping, as a movement on the centre left, on the progressive left, and on the environmentalist movement because we know and weve seen, unfortunately across Europe, the rise of the far right, we know what were up against.

Having lost his European Parliament seat, Ciaran Cuffe of the Greens name-checked O Riordain, stating that he was heartened that committed legislators had been sent to Brussels: I think his message was a progressive one, it was a message what we need to do in Europe and what we need to do together.

A merger of Labour, which has returned 56 council seats, and the Social Democrats, which now has 35 local representatives, is logical but unlikely, at least in the short term.

However, the two parties, along with the Greens and others, should be thinking strategically when it comes to vote transfers and possibly even election pacts.

Election timing

With four TDs now elected to the European Parliament, elections before Christmas are a certainty.

While a rumour briefly did the rounds that the Government might move quickly to hold by-elections at the end of the summer, around Leinster House this week very few were of the opinion that constituency polls to replace Aodhan O Riordain, Barry Cowen, Michael McNamara, and Kathleen Funchion will actually take place.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin didnt manage to stifle a smile when he said: I like by-elections.

Of course, there are many reasons for this Coalition, which has continuously stressed the importance of stability, to remain in place to the end of term to ensure delivery on housing and other programme for Government priorities.

Now 67 days in office, Simon Harris is acutely aware that every hour and minute in the job counts. He knows his term as Taoiseach in this Government will be short-lived, going to the country even earlier than he has to is undoubtedly a difficult personal and political decision to weigh up.

At a private meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party on Wednesday evening, long-standing TD Michael Creed told Harris that the Government should not wait until March to call the next general election, warning against another winter campaign.

Providing Sinn Fein with the breathing space to regain confidence and public support by waiting until the spring is also a factor to be considered.

Interestingly, while pointing to the positives of remaining in office until next year, Terry Prone concluded, in her column in the 'Irish Examiner', that the political march of folly suggests the go early crowd will win.

It leaves Harris with a dilemma: In calling an early election, how do you explain the sudden change of heart of a Government that has been insistent in stressing the importance of serving a full term?

Having circuited the country, visiting summer shows, festivals, and fairs, Harris could easily arrive back to Leinster House in the autumn with a clear message from the people.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday predicted history being made at the Swiss-hosted conference which aims to plan the first steps toward peace in Ukraine.

Experts and critics say little substance or few big breakthroughs are expected because Russia is not attending.

The presidents of Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Kenya and Somalia joined dozens of western heads of state and government and other leaders and high-level envoys at the meeting, in hopes that Russia, which is waging war on Ukraine,could join in one day.

In a brief statement to reporters alongside Swiss President Viola Amherd, Mr Zelenskyy sought to cast the gathering as a success, saying: We have succeeded in bringing back to the world the idea that joint efforts can stop war and establish a just peace.

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a news conference as part of the peace summit (Laurent Cipriani/AP)

I believe that we will witness history being made here at the summit.

Swiss officials hosting the conference say more than 50 heads of state and government will join the gathering at the Burgenstock resort overlooking Lake Lucerne.

Some 100 delegations including European bodies and the United Nations will be on hand.

Who will show up and who will not has become one of the key stakes of a meeting that critics say will be useless without the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putins government, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and is pushing ahead with the war.

As US vice president Kamala Harris arrived at the venue, shuttle buses rumbled up a mountain road that snaked up to the site, at times with traffic jams, with police along the route checking journalists ID and helicopters ferrying in VIPs buzzing overhead.

Turkey and Saudi Arabia have dispatched their foreign ministers while key developing countries like Brazil, an observer at the event, India and South Africa will be represented at lower levels.

China, which backs Russia, is joining scores of countries that are sitting out the conference, many of whom have more pressing issues than the bloodiest conflict in far-away Europe since the Second World War.

Beijing says any peace process needs to have the participation of both Russia and Ukraine, and has floated its own ideas for peace.

Last month, China and Brazil agreed to six common understandings on a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, asking other countries to endorse them and play a role in promoting peace talks.

The six points include an agreement to support an international peace conference held at a proper time that is recognised by both Russia and Ukraine, with equal participation of all parties as well as fair discussion of all peace plans.

Mr Zelenskyy has recently led a diplomatic push to draw in participants to the Swiss summit.

Russian troops who now control nearly a quarter of Ukrainian land in the east and south have made some territorial gains in recent months.

US vice President Kamala Harris arrives at the Burgenstock resort (Keystone/Michael Buholzer/AP)

When talk of a Swiss-hosted peace initiative began last summer, Ukrainian forces had recently regained large swathes of territory, notably near the cities of southern Kherson and northern Kharkiv.

Against the battlefield backdrop and diplomatic strategising, summit organisers have presented three agenda items: nuclear safety, such as at the Russia-controlled Zaporizhzhia power plant; humanitarian assistance and exchange of prisoners of war; and global food security, which has been disrupted at times because of impeded shipments through the Black Sea.

That to-do list, encapsulating some of the least controversial issues, is well short of proposals and hopes laid out by Mr Zelenskyy in a 10-point peace formula in late 2022.

The plan includes ambitious calls, including the withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied Ukrainian territory, the cessation of hostilities and restoring Ukraines state borders with Russia, including Crimea.

Mr Putins government, meanwhile, wants any peace deal to be built around a draft agreement negotiated in the early phases of the war that included provisions for Ukraines neutral status and limits on its armed forces, while delaying talks about Russia-occupied areas.

Ukraines push over the years to join the Nato military alliance has rankled Moscow.

Andrzej Duda, President of Poland, arrives for the summit (Urs Flueeler/Keystone/AP)

Ukraine is unable to negotiate from a position of strength, analysts say.

The situation on the battlefield has changed dramatically, said Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Centre, saying that although Russia cant achieve its maximalist objectives quickly through military means, but its gaining momentum and pushing Ukraine really hard.

So a lot of countries that are coming to the summit would question whether the Zelenskyy peace formula still has legs, he said on Wednesday.

With much of the worlds focus recently on the war in Gaza and national elections in 2024, Ukraines backers want to return focus to Russias breach of international law and a restoration of Ukraines territorial integrity.

On Friday, Mr Putin called the conference just another ploy to divert everyones attention.

The International Crisis Group, an advisory firm that works to end conflict, wrote this week that absent a major surprise on the Burgenstock, the event is unlikely to deliver much of consequence.

Nonetheless, the Swiss summit is a chance for Ukraine and its allies to underline what the UN General Assembly recognised in 2022 and repeated in its February 2023 resolution on a just peace in Ukraine: Russias all-out aggression is a blatant violation of international law, it said.

Experts say they will be looking at the wording of any outcome document, and plans for the way forward.

Swiss officials, aware of Russias reticence about the conference, have repeatedly said they hope Russia can join the process one day, as do Ukrainian officials.

As leaders headed to the conference venue, the war raged on.

Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov of Russias southern Belgorod region, writing on social media, blamed Ukraine for shelling on Friday that struck a five-storey apartment building in the town of Shebekino, killing five people.

In Ukraine, shelling killed at least three civilians and wounded 15 others on Friday and overnight, regional officials said.
Haitian leaders have ousted Frantz Elbe, the director of Haitis National Police, following months of criticism that he was not doing enough to protect officers under attack by gangs.

Former Haitian police chief Normil Rameau, who was dismissed from the post nearly four years ago under a different administration, will once again take the helm of an underfunded and ill-equipped department that only has 4,000 officers on duty at a time in a country of more than 11 million inhabitants.

More than 2,500 people have been killed or injured across Haiti in the first three months of the year as gang violence continues to surge.

Police have come under attack from gangs (Odelyn Joseph/AP)

Among those killed have been nearly two dozen police officers, overwhelmed by gangs that control 80% of capital Port-au-Prince and have more powerful weapons.

The most recent killings targeted three officers from a newly formed anti-gang tactical unit who were on patrol in an armoured vehicle. A fourth remains missing.

Mr Rameaus appointment comes as a newly selected prime minister and Cabinet take the reins of Haitis government with a transitional presidential council at their side.

Mr Rameau previously served as director general of police under former president Jovenel Moise, who appointed him in August 2019. Prior to that, he oversaw the detective division.

He was ousted as police chief in November 2020 after Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe accused him of being incompetent and not producing results at a time when gangs were seizing control of more territory.

Haitis police unions have repeatedly called for Mr Elbes resignation and arrest, noting that gangs have raided and burned at least 30 police stations and sub-stations in recent months as part of a series of attacks that began on February 29.

The gangs targeted critical state infrastructure and the violence led to the eventual resignation of prime minister Ariel Henry.

On Wednesday, a police union known as SPNH-17 held a press conference to condemn the state of the department and deplore the officers killed.

Look at these young men, hacked to death, said spokesman Garry Jean-Baptiste as he pointed to rows of pictures behind him that depicted officers killed on duty.

The union also issued a statement on the day Haiti marked the creation of its police department.

Haitis National Police is 29 years old, but it still cant walkit hasnt grown because corruption and incompetence has held it hostage, it said.

Meanwhile, another police union known as SYNAPOHA called on newly installed Prime Minister Garry Conille this week to make strengthening the department a priority.

Garry Conille speaks to the press after his swearing-in ceremony (Odelyn Joseph/AP)

Mr Conille went along on a patrol with police on June 2, donning a flak jacket and helmet as he entered an armored vehicle. SNPH-17 said at the time that the prime minister would notice during the patrol that the country had no leadership and that criminals had too much control.

The prime minister must see the need to have another team at the top, the union said.

Mr Elbe was appointed head of Haitis National Police in October 2021, replacing Leon Charles.

Last year, under Mr Elbe, at least 36 officers were killed in gang-related violence from January to mid-August, according to a UN report.

The international community has provided training and other resources to help boost Haitis National Police, which also is awaiting the UN-backed deployment of a police force from Kenya.
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By Binoy Kampmark | 

( Middle East Monitor )  The ashes had barely settled on the Rafah tent camp incinerated by an Israeli air strike before the next, gorged massacre presented itself for posteritys gloomy archive. It was intended as a golden operation and had been months in the making. The rescue of four Israeli hostages, the killing of three others (bound to happen, say the experts) and the massacre of at least 274 Palestinians at the Nuseirat refugee camp were the end result.

The logistics that led to the bloodbath had been rehearsed with detail verging on the manic. Many a vengeful mind was at play. Two buildings were constructed for training purposes. Participants involved the special counter-terrorism unit Yamam, Israels internal security agency Shin Bet and members of the Israel Defence Forces . . . A high casualty rate would have already been contemplated given the remarks of IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari. We understood that in those apartments with those guards, daytime will be the ultimate surprise.

The lies barely had time to fledge. First, the numbers killed. Hagari could only count dozens, and knew of less than 100. He conceded to not knowing how many of such a reduced number were civilians. Israels Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, was happy to soften the carnage in attacking his countrys detractors. Only Israels enemies complained about the casualties of Hamas terrorists and their accomplices, he claimed, with vicious arrogance.

Then came the praise: manifold, effusive. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant cooed with satisfaction, calling the effort one of the most extraordinary operations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu merely offered the following morsel: Israel does not surrender to terrorism.

Furthermore, no civilian trucks, claimed the IDF, were used in the operation. Yet undercover vehicles were apparently deployed, one very much resembling those used by Israel to traffic commercial goods into Gaza; another being a white Mercedes truck packed and stacked with furniture and miscellaneous belongings typical of the dislocated and dispossessed. Disgorged from the latter, noted Palestinian eye-witnesses, were men in plainclothes and some ten heavily armed soldiers ready for mischief.

The commencement of firing signalled the start of the butchery.

The UN Special Rapporteur for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, stated with exasperation that the IDF had perfidiously hidden in an aid truck. This constituted humanitarian camouflage at another level. While expressing relief at the rescue of four hostages, the enterprise should not have come at the expense of at least 200 Palestinians, including children, killed and over 400 injured by Israel and allegedly foreign soldiers.

Al Jazeera English Video: War on Gaza: Trail of destruction after Israeli operation in Nuseirat

In time, it became clear that the mission, venerated for its secrecy and praised for its planning, had not caught the Hamas guards responsible for three male hostages by surprise. They duly engaged the Yamam operatives. Immediately, it became a war zone, reservist brigadier general Amir Avivi told the Washington Post. The Israeli air force commenced indulgent cover fire. Death reigned at Nuseirat for some 75 minutes, concealed by the now standard refrain by the IDF: Aircraft struck dozens of military targets for the success of the operation.

Other, more tormented descriptions seemed closer to the mark. The Intercept noted the observations of a Palestinian witness by the name of Suhail Mutlaq Abu Nasser. The area turned to ashes I couldnt find my wife and started calling out to those around me to ensure they were still alive. The account goes on to document the use of armed quadcopter drones, the presence of tank tracks, the hovering of Apache attack helicopters, the targeting of homes by missiles. Refugee camp resident Anas Alayyan was also convinced that the entire military operation by Israeli forces looked more like a mass execution.

There is a pattern here, a murderous ratio justified by that most elastic yet horrific of reasons: self-defence.

The hostage rescue went down a treat in Israel. The names of those captured by Hamas on 7 October and now rescued will be anointed in Israeli mythology: Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, Shlomi Ziv. But at what cost to those around them?

In addition to the slaughter, some indication of the aftermath was provided by Al Jazeera: The wounded were taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah, an already overwhelmed facility. Medics were in utter despair.

The scale of killing on this score also raises troubling issues with Israels closest ally. Despite some political grumbling in the ranks, the Biden administration remains steadfast in support of the occupation state. The killings in Rafah were still excusable because, in the words of US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, Israel had not engaged in a military operation on the scale of those previous operations [in Khan Younis and in Gaza City].

The hefty death toll of Palestinian civilians in the Nuseirat operation was of lesser concern to President Joe Biden than the welfare of Israeli hostages. Speaking in Paris, Biden welcomed the safe rescue of four hostages that were returned to their families in Israel. We wont stop working until all the hostages come home and a ceasefire is reached.

The sanguinary episode at Nuseirat is hard to stomach, even by Bidens rubbery standards. It stands to reason. The entire operation was buttressed by what the New York Times reported to be intelligence and other logistical support from the United States. Two Israeli intelligence officials also confirmed that American military officials in Israel provided some of the intelligence about the hostages rescued [on] Saturday. And let us not forget murderous military hardware, readily supplied from US defence companies. It follows that the lives of Israeli hostages, dubbed diamonds by their rescuers, are invaluable, the precious stones of Israeli-US policy. The Palestinians, on the other hand, are mere coal dust to be swept aside.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor or Informed Comment.

Via Middle East Monitor
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is attempting to peddle the line that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted the Biden proposal for negotiations toward a permanent ceasefire, but that Hamas has rejected it.

This position is simply dishonest, and forms part of a pattern whereby the Biden administration runs interference for the extremist, fascist Israeli cabinet, which has repeatedly rejected any call for a ceasefire. In fact, the Israeli government has issued no communique stating its acceptance of the Biden plan, and both Netanyahu and powerful cabinet members have on the contrary vocally rejected elements of the Biden plan.

On Sunday, according to the Israeli newspaper Arab 48, Netanyahu told the families of soldiers killed in the Gaza campaign, There was no deal because we will not give up on completing the war objectives. The main disagreement with Hamas revolves around the commitment to end the fighting without completing the objectives.

Netanyahus war goals are the complete destruction of Hamas (and apparently of Gaza in general). Netanyahu says he will not end the fighting until all his goals are fulfilled. He openly said that there was no deal because it would require stopping short of wiping out the people with whom he is negotiating.

Bidens three-stage plan begins with a pause in the fighting and partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, then a prisoner exchange and complete Israeli withdrawal, and then the rebuilding of the Gaza Strip. But this plan implies that the fighting would end permanently so that rebuilding could start. Netanyahu is rejecting this third stage and pledging to start the war back up as soon as the hostage exchange is complete. You have to ask what advantage the latter proposal has for Hamas, or for anyone in Gaza. Although Biden represented the plan as Israeli, Netanyahu has disputed that.

The Young Turks Video: Netanyahu Declares War on Bidens Peace Deal

After Mondays UNSC resolution for a ceasefire, a high Israeli official told Arab 48, Israel will not end the war before achieving all its goals. These included eliminating Hamas military and governing capabilities, returning all hostages, and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.

And this is why it is disingenuous for Blinken to say that Netanyahu accepted the Biden plan whereas Hamas rejected it.

Moreover, Netanyahus political coalition in parliament has a slim majority of 64 seats out of 120. His coalition partners, drawn from the Israel equivalent of neo-Nazis, have made it clear that they will withdraw from the government if he negotiates with Hamas.

Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir and Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich thundered that they would withdraw from Netanyahus government and cause the government to collapse if he accepted Bidens proposal. Their Religious Zionism/ Jewish Power fascist bloc has 14 seats, which would leave Netanyahu with only 50 and would cause him to lose the prime ministership.

This is why you havent heard Netanyahu give a speech saying he accepted Bidens proposal or that he accepted the UNSC ceasefire resolution. He cant. He wouldnt be prime minister the next day. This is why we have to hear from Blinken that Netanyahu privately assured him that he would go along with the Biden plan. And this is why Blinken has to put the blame on Hamas, because otherwise the Biden administration would have to admit that their own ally is refusing to cooperate.

It *is* refusing to cooperate.

So why is Blinken condemning Hamas for intransigence? Its leadership accepted the Biden plan, but just wants a guarantee that after a multi-phase hostage exchange there will be further negotiations toward a permanent ceasefire and that the Israelis wont just start the war back up as soon as the last hostage is out. It is a war crime for Hamas to have taken those hostages, and it is horrible that those poor people are still being held. But realistically speaking, Hamas took the hostages as bargaining chips. What Biden and Blinken are asking is for them to give the chips up for no gain, so that they end up being even weaker than before, as Netanyahu immediate revs back up his massive war machine.

These are the second and third phases that Hamas will accept, according to a text published by Middle East Eye:

The Second stage (42 days): 15. Announce restoration of a sustainable calm (cessation of military operations and hostilities permanently) and its commencement prior to the exchange of detainees and prisoners between the two sides  all remaining Israeli detainees who are living men (civilians and soldiers)  in exchange for a number of prisoners in Israeli jails and detention centers to be agreed upon, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. The Third stage (42 days): 16. The exchange of all human remains between the two sides after locating and identifying them. 17. The commencement of the implementation of the plan for reconstruction of the Gaza Strip for the duration of 3-5 years including houses, civilian facilities and civilian infrastructure and the support of all those affected under the supervision of a number of countries and organisations including Egypt, Qatar and the UN. 18. Ending the full blockade on the Gaza Strip, including opening of the border crossings, especially Rafah crossing, facilitating movement of people and transfer of goods, and providing electricity around the clock in all areas of the Gaza Strip. Guarantors of the agreement: Qatar, Egypt, the US, the UN, Turkey, Russia, and China.

Thats not a rejection of the Biden plan.

Blinken appears to believe that if he can get Netanyahu to pause the fighting and move to hostage negotiations, he can create momentum toward a truce and a cessation of hostilities, regardless of what the extremist Israeli government says in public.

But Blinken is naive if he thinks that Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir and Smotrich will yield to such mere diplomatic momentum.

Blinken is frustrated with Hamas because it wants more than a vague expectation of momentum toward a truce. It wants a genuine cease-fire and end of hostilities. This position implies that it does accept a ceasefire, it just doesnt believe that the Israeli government does. And given how truculent and slippery the Israeli government has been on this issue, you cant really fault this suspicion.

Yahya Sinwar and the other leaders of the Qassam Brigades, the Hamas paramilitary, who are doing the dickering are themselves wretched war criminals and you only wish they could be whisked off to the Hague for trial. If the Israeli military were merely trying to accomplish that goal, one could just wish it luck. The reason a ceasefire is necessary, however, is that the Israeli government is waging a total war on Gaza civilians. More tens of thousands of innocents will die if this war goes on. Biden said that the toll cannot be 60,000. But that is where we are headed.

The way you get a deal is for Biden to be presidential and read Netanyahu the riot act, and start bringing some pain to the far right government.

Otherwise, why bother to give that speech at the end of May? Is it just in hopes of gaslighting the left of the Democratic Party that the president is doing something? Because giving a speech is not diplomacy, and neither is being dishonest with us about Tel Avivs actual stance.




Saturday, June 15, 2024 - Renowned media personality Kamene Goro has shared her reasons for not wanting to have children.

Speaking during a reality show, the NRG radio presenter expressed her fear of childbirth.

Kamene also added that she already has significant responsibilities that have her committed full-time.

I feel like the process is extremely scary, and I am still trying to wrap my head around that entire thing.

"I mean, as we are, we already have his two children, I am still partly a child, and I have two dogs I dont think Im ready, Kamene said.

However, Kamene praised her husband, DJ Bonez, highlighting his excellent parenting skills.

She mentioned how well he cares for his two children, a boy, and a girl, and would thus make a good father.

Kamene was recently the subject of speculation among some Kenyans who thought they noticed a baby bump in a video she posted on social media.

She however dismissed the claims, insisting that the details in the picture were exaggerated.

Kamene got married last year at a lavish wedding.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.






Saturday, June 15, 2024 - Makadara Principal Magistrate Monica Kivuti has succumbed to the injuries that she sustained after she was shot by a Senior Police officer within the court premises on Thursday.

Monicas death was announced by Chief Justice Martha Koome.

"I wish to confirm to the Nation that Hon. Monica Kivuti, Principal Magistrate, Makadara Law Courts has lost the fight against the extensive injuries sustained during an open gun attack in Court," CJ Koome said in a statement.

"The Judiciary family stands in solidarity during this deeply traumatic time and calls for sensitivity and compassion as we share in grief. May Hon. Kivutis soul rest in eternal peace," Koome added.

She died while receiving treatment at the Nairobi Hospital where she had been receiving specialized treatment.

According to a source at the hospital, she died at 11 PM.

Her liver and intestine were raptured by bullets during the shooting incident.

The body was moved to Lee Funeral Home.

Kivuti was shot on Thursday afternoon at the Makadara Law Court after she made a ruling in a case involving a policeman's wife.

The police got angry after the magistrate cancelled his wifes bond.

The rogue officer, identified as Chief Inspector Samson Kipchirchir Kipruto, who was in charge of a police station in Londiani in Kisumu, pulled out a gun and shot the magistrate, injuring her.

Other officers in court responded immediately, with one of them shooting the offending policeman and killing him.

Kipruto had travelled from his workstation in Londiani to attend a court case where his ailing wife Jenniffer Wairimu, 48 years was an accused person.

In the case, she is accused of obtaining money by false pretence amounting to Sh2.9 million.

The woman had pleaded to be released on cash bail but the magistrate turned down the plea.

This is after she absconded court sessions over sickness.

A warrant of arrest was issued against her.

When she appeared on Thursday, June 13, her bail terms were cancelled and the magistrate ordered she be remanded at the Lang'ata Womens prisons.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.






Saturday, June 15, 2024  In what may be perceived as an indirect threat to President William Ruto, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has warned the President to ignore him at his own peril.

While speaking during a meeting in Kasarani, Nairobi, Gachagua alleged that his recent political stand had received the approval of the region and that he was acting on behalf of a larger group of people.

Gachagua claimed to have the full backing of the entire Mt Kenya residents.

"I am voiceless because I am just a representative and I say what they tell me to say. If you keenly listen to what I say, you will notice, it echoes the people's voice," the DP stated.

"If you see me taking a particular stand, just know it has been backed by a larger group of people," he added.

The DP went ahead to accuse a section of politicians of betraying the electorates and urged Kenyans to be wary of such leaders.

He also warned politicians against disrespecting those who elected them, claiming respect was key regardless of people's political stand.

"As a leader, once you are satisfied with what you have, don't show disrespect to those who elected you, let us not abuse them," Gachagua advised.

The DP also took a swipe at leaders criticizing him for being a villager, claiming he would not be offended by such comments.

Gachagua's sentiments come a day after the Majority Leader in the National Assembly Kimani Ichungwah hit out at the DP over the latters campaign seeking to unite Mt Kenya.

Speaking during a parliamentary session on Wednesday noon, the vocal legislator accused the second in command of fragmenting the nation.

The Kenyan DAILY POST








Saturday, June 15, 2024 - President William Rutos powerful aide, Farouk Kibet, has predicted that Kikuyu Member of Parliament, Kimani Ichungwah's star will rise until he becomes the President of Kenya.

During Gichuru Memorial High School's Thanksgiving on Friday, Farouk pointed out that five years ago, nobody gave Ichungwah a chance to become the Majority Leader.

Farouk argued that the lawmaker speaks a language that Kenyans across the ethnic divide understand.

He revealed that Ichung'wah had attended numerous fundraisers organized in Rift Valley and had been warmly welcomed.

Five years ago, Ichung'wah did not have the position of Majority Leader.

"Today, in Kenya, he is the Majority Leader; we do not know what his future holds.

"But if I predict correctly, this leader will one day be a national leader and will hold a significant national position because he speaks the language of Kenyans.

"When he comes to our area, we welcome him.

"He has come to organise nearly a hundred fundraising events for me, Kibet said.

Kibet spoke even as Ichungwah continues to lose popularity in his constituency for attacking Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who is regarded as the defacto Mt Kenya region political kingpin.

He has been nicknamed 'Muka wa Ruto'(Ruto's wife) for supporting everything that the President says.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, June 15, 2024  Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's Azimio took a swipe at President William Rutos government over its proposed 2024/2025 budget, terming it as a misplaced one.

While condemning the National Treasury's budget announcement on Thursday, Azimio principal Kalonzo Musyoka called on the international community to intervene.

The Wiper party leader also urged Kenyans in the diaspora to join their fellow citizens in condemning the recent budget allocations, saying the allocations did not prioritise the needs of Kenyans.

"In light of these grievous transgressions, we as a coalition urge the international community, and civil society organizations to stand in solidarity with Kenyans," Kalonzo commented.

"We also urge concerned citizens both at home and abroad to help in condemning the Kenya Kwanza regimes blatant disregard for the public good," he added.

Azimio further instructed all Members of Parliament affiliated with the coalition to lead from the front in rejecting the Finance Bill which is set to be tabled in parliament next week.

The government was also accused of perennially failing to address the plight of Kenyans and that the punitive taxes would plunge the country into an economic dilemma.

"What should Kenyans believe? This is a continuation of Kenya Kwanza's culture of lies. The Kenya Kwanza's regime fails to address the people's concerns," Kalonzo Musyoka questioned.

The Kenyan DAILY POST








Saturday, June 15, 2024 - Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has defended his quest to unite Mt Kenya, saying he is doing it because he has the backing of the locals.

Speaking during the commissioning of new classrooms at Manyatta Primary School in Ruai, Kasarani constituency on Friday, the DP said he speaks because he had listened to what the ground is saying.

I dont have a voice in this country. I listen to the ground. When you hear me speak, it is what the ground is saying, he explained.

He added that all positions he takes on the countrys affairs are supported by the people.

When you see me take a stand, there are so many people behind me saying that is the way to go, he said.

Gachagua has been facing criticism from President William Ruto's allies for allegedly spreading tribal politics through his calls for a united Mt Kenya region.

He is also a proponent of the one-man, one-vote, one-shilling revenue-sharing formula which has been rubbished by the president's camp as divisive.

Last Sunday, Gachagua maintained that he will not relent in pushing for the interests and unity of the Mt Kenya region.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Saturday, June 15, 2024 - National Assembly Majority leader Kimani Ichugwah has claimed that Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has been going across the country claiming President William Ruto will be a one-term President.

Speaking during a thanksgiving ceremony at Gichuru Memorial High School on Friday, Ichungwah, who is also the Kikuyu MP, stated that Gachagua has been undermining Ruto secretly and is planning to sabotage him.

The lawmaker claimed the DP had been trying to marshal his Mt Kenya political base to support him in sabotaging Ruto.

Ichung'wah stated that Gachagua had set his sights on taking over from Ruto in the 2027 General Election once he failed to deliver.

"Stop telling people at night, that William Ruto is a one-term president and you will marshall your community to undermine, to sabotage, the government of President William Ruto so that he fails that you become president," he stated.

The Kenyan DAILY POST








Saturday, June 15, 2024 - Nandi County Senator Samson Cherargei has come to the defense of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who has been receiving a barrage of missiles from men close to President William Ruto led by Kikuyu MP, Kimani Ichungwah.

Speaking in Ruai on Friday, Cherargei asked the National Assembly Majority Leader to respect the DP in his utterances.

The lawmaker claimed Ichung'wah wasn't disciplined as a child, referencing the incident where he shook the president's hand while pocketing.

"I want to ask Kimani Ichung'wah to respect you.

"He should stop being disrespectful; we see even when he greets the president, he puts his hand in his pocket.

"He deserves to be given a thorough beating; if he was not disciplined in primary school, then the rest of us will beat him," Cherargei said amid cheers

The lawmaker further faulted the MPs for flouting standing orders when they had a discussion on the DP in parliament.

He questioned why Speaker Moses Wetang'ula allowed the discussion to continue, urging him to be impartial in his duties

"I am very shocked. You've been an MP, and according to standing order number 87 of the National Assembly standing orders, the standing orders of the National Assembly do not allow your conduct or that of any other person to be discussed without a substantive motion, he stated.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, June 15, 2024 - Ugenya Member of Parliament David Ochieng has faulted President William Ruto's administration over its appointments.

Speaking in his constituency yesterday, Ochieng criticized the current government for selecting what he described as the most incompetent individuals to hold office.

According to Ochieng, a coalition partner in Kenya Kwanza, the current appointees are either underqualified or chosen based on tribal affiliations.

He further lamented that many of these appointees exacerbate the situation by appointing their clansmen and people from their own tribes.

Therefore, he warned that the country was at risk of missing out in its development agenda should the trend continue.

"We choose the most unschooled, the most uneducated, and the most tribal people to run the government. We cannot grow that way. If we do not put the best to run government then we shall never grow.

"When a vacancy arises, they give employment opportunities to their tribesmen and clan. The country cannot be run like that. We have to get the best," he stated.

Further, he explained why he had decided to speak out against the government which he helped from after the 2022 polls.

According to Ochieng, he could no longer keep quiet when things were going in the wrong direction given that the citizens were the most affected by poor service delivery.

Notably, the Kenya Kwanza administration has been ranking poorly in recent surveys with most appointees including cabinet secretaries scoring Ds in performance rank.

The Kenyan DAILY POST








Saturday, June 15, 2024 - Makadara Principal Magistrate, Monica Kivuti has died.

Kivuti was shot on Thursday by a police officer during a court session in Makadara Law Courts.

She was rushed to Metropolitan Hospital and later transferred to Nairobi Hospital where she succumbed

According to family sources, the magistrate succumbed to injuries she sustained from gunshots.

"Her liver and intestine were raptured by bullets," the source said.

Her family said the body was moved to Lee Funeral Home.

Magistrate Kivuti had been shot and injured in the leg and chest.

Kivuti was shot on Thursday afternoon at the Makadara Law Court after she made a ruling in a case involving a policeman's wife.

The judiciary said the magistrate had "canceled the bond for an accused person who had jumped bond and had failed to offer satisfactory explanations for jumping bond".

"Immediately this decision was pronounced, a person shot at the magistrate and injured her on the hip, it said in a statement.

The officer, identified as Chief Inspector Samson Kipchirchir Kipruto, who was in charge of a police station in Londiani in Kisumu, pulled out a gun and shot the magistrate, injuring her.

Other officers in court responded immediately, with one of them shooting the offending policeman and killing him.

The Kenyan DAILY POST








Saturday, June 15, 2024 - Gatundu North MP Elijah Njoroge Kururia has made his stand known on next week's voting on the draconian Finance Bill, 2024.

In a statement, Njoroge criticized Kenyans for allegedly pressuring lawmakers to reject the Finance Bill 2024, affirming his support for the bill as a backer of President William Ruto.

The Kenya Kwanza MP slammed Kenyans on his Facebook page for not understanding the budget-making processes.

He took time to educate Kenyans on the processes that a finance bill goes through before being enacted into law.

"You are all over calling and texting MPs, telling them to vote No to the finance bill.

"Wacheni ufala!! I noted that a section of citizens was duped into thinking that the bill was being voted for on Thursday. It was a lie. Thursday was budget day," Njoroge said.

He pointed out that it's ignorant of Kenyans to request that the MPs reject the entire Finance Bill 2024, yet lawmakers do not support the whole bill but specific clauses.

"MPs from different political parties will keep voting yes and no on different proposals.

"When Kimbelembeles calls MPs, don't tell them to vote No.

"Tell him what you don't like in the bill, not the whole bill.

"Read the bill and understand it so that you can point out what you do want to be approved by MPs...wacheni ukondoo" he added.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Yesterday, I couldnt get up in time in the morning and had to rush to the hospital without breakfast. I was just afraid of getting noticed by anyone from my department that I was a little late. When I reached the outpatient department (OPD), I just got a text from my consultant that he was not feeling well, and I had to see all the patients in his absence. In our department, the work goes on whether the consultant is there or not. The senior resident is responsible for continuing the OPDs and seeing the inpatients as well. The PA started bringing the patients one by one, and there were really a lot of patients. Some were follow-ups for radiation therapy, some were on hormonal treatment, some needed chemotherapy prescriptions, and some were having their first consultation in the oncology department. The people who work in oncology know very well that we cannot neglect even a single thing while prescribing these costly medications and have to examine the patient every time to assess the response and look for the side effects. Our consultants obviously have a lot of experience, and they know how to filter out the things that are relevant and important. They have a tight schedule and have limited time for counseling and listening to the patient. Some days they are irritable and in such a bad mood that the day is not only difficult for us but for the patients as well. Whenever I am seeing the patients in detail while in the absence of the consultant, the patients feel so happy and relieved that the consultant is not there to scold them. They share all of their problems and get examined head to toe that day. Most of them also express their complaints about the consultant to me and are so happy that they always want to see me again and get examined by me.

It was a difficult day for me because there were a lot of patients, and everyone wanted to be seen in detail. There were new patients as well, and some took even an hour to discuss their treatment plan in detail. Obviously, its their right to know everything about their future treatment, side effects, and prognosis.

The PA just has this thought that she has to complete her work and go home on time, and she is never considerate enough that the doctor can be hungry or thirsty as well. He or she can have needs like normal people too. I had to see all of those 25 to 30 patients in six hours because I had to go to the ward, as I was on call that day. Anyway, I saw all the patients, and most of them were really happy and satisfied. Many of them made me happy by hugging me and promised to remember me in their prayers. I think such moments are the real reward for the doctor when the patient leaves the office happily, and that too from the oncology clinic.

When I reached the ward, I saw a very young patient with metastatic carcinoma rectum. She had been suffering from stage 4 disease for the past year. All her treatments (palliative chemotherapy and colostomy) had been done in Germany, and she had just landed three days back in our hospital emergency with acute intestinal obstruction. The surgical team saw her in the ER and advised conservative management. I have no idea about what happened that day because the surgical team didnt admit her under their service and just referred her to oncology. I noticed that there were at least ten attendants with her. Our security has no control over the number of attendants in the hospital because nobody listens to them. The people think that they can do as they please just because they are paying a hefty amount as compared to the government hospitals where the treatment is almost free.

The attendants had a lot of questions for me, which gave me a hint that the primary physician had told them nothing at all. I tried to answer their queries in the best possible way I could. The patient was really sick, frail, and on continuous IV medications for pain relief. She was on total parenteral nutrition just because of her nil oral intake. Obviously, she was a clear-cut case of palliative care, and in my assessment, she was not a candidate for any kind of treatment in this condition. Her heart rate was 135 bpm, and her blood pressure was really low. She was drowsy as well. In the meantime, the staff came to tell me that the chemotherapy was ready to be administered to her. I wondered how we could administer chemotherapy to a patient in such a condition. I called the primary physician about how we could administer chemotherapy to her in such a condition, as she could have any reaction to chemotherapy as well. The consultant told me that he had already discussed with the family that the patient should be DNAR and had decided to prescribe the patient chemotherapy in palliative settings. He was not even listening to me, and I had already searched the whole file for DNAR documentation but couldnt find any. Despite his arguments, I didnt consider it safe to start the patient on chemotherapy in such a state. I sent the chemotherapy medicine back to the pharmacy. On further interaction with the family, I got to know that they were not at all ready for the patient to be DNAR code. They wanted every intervention to be done.

I dont know if it was a state of denial or the fear of losing their patient, but they were extremely aggressive towards me and the staff. The whole family of the patient was sitting around the bed, and all of their eyes were fixed on the vitals monitor all the time. When I suggested shifting the patient to the Intensive Care Unit, they simply declined and wanted all the interventions to be done in the ward because they knew that the charges of ICU in a private hospital are a lot higher compared to the ward. After half an hour, the husband started shouting, and his loud voice was making everyone in the ward uncomfortable. He had reservations about everything. According to him, the monitors were not working properly, the nurse didnt know how to do the IV cannulation, the blankets were not good, and the heating was not proper.

I called security and involved the inpatient department (IPD) supervisor as well and requested them to allow only two attendants with the patient as per policy, but they couldnt do anything. The IPD supervisor tried to counsel them a little but then left with advice for us not to mess with them. Every time anyone tried to have a dialogue with them, their answer was that they were paying a lot. Due to the situation, it became impossible for me to even go for a lunch break because they were not listening to the staff, and everyone was so terrified of them that they were not letting me leave. The situation continued for many hours, and the patient didnt improve at all. Whenever I suggested we shift her to the ICU, they declined and suggested we observe her for a little while more. The family members were giving a lot of conflicting statements themselves. They did not agree on a single decision among themselves. The husband wanted to retain the wife in the ward, while the mother and sister wanted their patient to be shifted to the ICU. The father had no opinion of his own and seemed dominated by his son-in-law.

Thankfully, all the other patients in the ward were stable, and I did not have to worry about them. All of my focus was on what could happen at the next moment. I was sitting numb with fear and hypoglycemia, maybe. I was worried for the girl, too, because we had tried a lot of medications, but nothing was working, and my mind was not even working properly due to fear and anxiety. I felt as if I had forgotten everything. The only times I left the ward were just to go to the chemo bay to check blood bags for transfusion. Whenever I left for a few seconds, the staff called me back.

In the end, she became more and more sick, and I had no other option but to shift her to the ICU. When the ICU team came, the senior fellow noticed that I was extremely worried. He handled the situation more tactfully than me and again discussed the code status with the family. The sister, who seemed the only sensible family member, finally agreed to move her to the ICU. And according to the husband, I was responsible for her condition in the end. He was shouting so loudly, and I felt as if he would slap me at any moment. After the patient was shifted to the ICU, I took a sigh of relief. When I looked at the clock, it was past midnight. I didnt realize that I was sitting in such a tense situation for many hours. Then I went to the cafeteria and the washroom. When I came back, I reviewed the records of all the other patients that I had neglected all day, and it took me a further three to four hours.

When I was done with everything, I felt as if the whole day had been very stressful for me. I remember those times when I was a fresh graduate and an intern at a public hospital. Being a junior doctor, I not only did the documentation, examination, diagnostic workup, and discharge work, but I was also responsible for moving the patient to another ward or radiology. I was responsible for getting their CT scans and X-rays done. I accompanied them to MRI rooms and had to make a lot of requests to the radiologists to do their scans because they never took the patient seriously until he or she was accompanied by the doctor. I used to roam around the whole hospital just in the hope of arranging life-saving medications for very sick patients. I did ambu bagging for whole nights on pediatric and adult patients in the hope of saving people. I used to draw the blood from all the patients and take them to the laboratory in person. I arranged blood and was responsible for the safe transfusion of blood products. I did dressings of every patient, changed stoma bags with my own hands, and monitored fluid intake and output on my own. I suctioned the secretions of patients with respiratory problems. I was responsible for maintaining the patients on inotropic support on my own. In my rotation during gynecology, the junior doctors were responsible for calling the patients attendants on the microphone to take consent before surgery or in case of an emergency. Men were not allowed in the labor room, OR, and ward, so we dragged the beds of our patients on our own. I feel as if the junior doctors were not only doctors but were considered transporters, clerks, nurses, dressers, and administrators, all in one. We couldnt complain that we were overworked because we were getting trained at that time. The case is not much different in the private setup now as well because we get humiliated every other day with an excuse by the patient that We are paying a lot. The hospital administration wants to get the work done by four to five people by a single person just because they want to earn. The junior doctor has to listen to each and every complaint of the patient. Once, a patient called me to his room just to complain that the cucumbers in his salad were not sliced properly.

I was tired and exhausted after the round the next morning, and when I booked a ride home, the rider was extremely unprofessional. He took the longest possible route to my home and rode the bike on all the bumpy roads of Islamabad. He took all the flyovers and highways that made me uncomfortable. I was so weary that I couldnt say a single word to him, although I felt as if I would slip from the bike at any moment. My hand became numb while gripping the handle on the back of the bike forcefully, and my shoulder started aching, but I had no energy left in me to complain.

These kinds of days always make me rethink my choice of choosing this profession as a career, and that too on my own will, just with a thought to help my people. I consider myself an empathetic physician and always think, why should I deprive my people of a doctor who is not only safe, kind, and knowledgeable but a great listener as well? But days like these make me think and reflect on my life. I feel as if I have wasted my whole 30 years. I couldnt learn a skill, I was just studying my whole life. I lost my happiness and liveliness somewhere on the way. My hair turned grey at an early age, and I already feel old compared to my non-doctor friends. I became more responsible for my age. I forgot my interests and the things that gave me joy. I dont know how to cook, I am zero at maintaining a household, I have no time to spend with my family, I have no life at all except to go to the hospital and come back. There is no concept of sick leave. I have to work even when I am sick, hungry, or sleep-deprived. I have no job security, and I am always fearful about my future. The employment options are very limited in Pakistan. The thought of becoming a failure makes me overthink every day. The bitterness of senior doctors makes me sadder every day. If I exclude the time it took to become a doctor from my life, I dont know if there are any years that I really lived.

When I reached home, after breakfast, I went for a walk. The sky was still the same. The flowers were still blooming. I thought of all the happy moments in my eight years of practice when the patients hugged me, were thankful for my care, and looked at me with love. I tried to remember all the people who had always showered me with prayers. I tried to recall each and every patient who became cancer-free after the long and difficult treatment, and I felt joyful. I think Pakistani doctors are a lot more talented and hardworking than other doctors because we not only learn to work and manage with limited resources, but we play a lot of other roles besides being doctors as well. But the majority of our people are thankless and never hesitate to physically or verbally abuse the doctors at any moment. No one comes to our rescue when the situation is like this. Maybe thats why most doctors try their best to leave this pathetic health care system, as their hard work is never acknowledged; they are underpaid and face physical and verbal abuse as well.

The author is an anonymous physician.
Its 4:57 p.m., and Im anxiously tapping my foot in a stuffy cubicle, trying to ignore the pain of my compression socks seemingly cutting off circulation to my feet. I quickly glance at the timer. Thirty-one seconds. I close my eyes and say a quick prayer as I feel the agile kicks of my daughter, who this week is measuring the size of a cucumber! I do one final pass of the questions marked with a small red flag before hesitantly hitting submit. Do you wish to end your exam? I didnt have this on my Bingo card  thirty-three weeks pregnant and sitting for a nine-hour medical licensing exam. Pursuing a medical degree is a taxing sacrifice, but as a nontraditional student who had dabbled in various other career paths before returning to my childhood dream of becoming a doctor, I felt fortunate to be given a chance. The sacrifice felt deeper, however, when I learned I was expecting a baby, and with it came the challenge of navigating motherhood in medicine.

There is an undeniable value of women  and particularly mothers  in medicine. Research has shown that female physicians spend more time with their patients than their male counterparts and have lower rates of mortality, morbidity, and readmission. Women now constitute over half (55.4%) of medical school matriculants in the United States, and the average age at matriculation is slowly increasing, necessitating the need for more emotional support, fertility education and benefits, and clarity in parental leave policies. As an aspiring obstetrician/gynecologist, I was keenly aware of the harsh reality of starting a family during medical training, as well as the potential detriment that comes with waiting until training is complete. Among U.S. female physicians who graduated from medical school between 1995 and 2000, nearly one quarter (24.1%) were diagnosed with infertility by their mid-30s. Similarly, a study of 692 women revealed that 42% had suffered at least one miscarriage, almost double the rate of the general population. Despite these statistics, fertility education is lacking in medical school curriculums. Only a minority of surveyed medical students received lectures on infertility (32.5%), in vitro fertilization (18.7%), or oocyte cryopreservation (9.2%). So, as I watched that second pink line come into view, I recalled the dozens of mentors who told me, There is never a good time.

There is a lack of standardized maternity leave among medical schools, residency programs, and hospitals. Current policies, if they exist, are deemed inadequate. In 2022, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education mandated a minimum of six paid weeks off for medical, parental, or caregiver leave once during residency training but does not stipulate that these weeks have to be separate from existing vacation or sick time. In a similar regard, the Family Medical Leave Act entitles eligible employees to up to twelve weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave, but for many, this amount of time away from work necessitates extending training. As a result, physicians take shorter maternity leave than nonphysicians (10.9 weeks vs. 12.0 weeks, p = 0.017), and 34% of physicians feel their health was negatively impacted by their length of leave. We must do better. Fortunately, the landscape is beginning to change: The American Medical Association has been studying the feasibility of a minimum twelve-week leave allowance as well as policies for those who have experienced miscarriage or stillbirth. There are also other effective ways in which we can support mothers in the workplace, such as flexible rostering, lactation rooms, and on-site childcare.

When I was on my internal medicine clerkship, deep in the trenches of the first trimester, I stuffed my scrub pants pockets with ginger chews and sour candies to keep the nausea at bay during morning rounds. I concealed my growing belly with one of my husbands oversized quarter zips in fear that my colleagues would view me as less serious about my education. Unfortunately, this feeling is far from uncommon. One study examined the workplace discrimination faced by female physicians and found that those who had children were often seen as disinterested, unavailable, and unwilling to work extra hours. This perspective has measurable negative effects. Among 22 program directors, 45% reported that their hiring decisions were influenced by the pregnancy plans of potential employees when this information was disclosed. This judgment is an unfortunate reality that so many face, despite the fact that many physician mothers feel their roles are intimately intertwined, with one job simply strengthening the other.

Now, Im mere weeks into motherhood, and here I am, sitting alone at 3:00 a.m. under harsh hospital lights with a choir of monitors beeping as my only company. EKG leads are peppered across my daughters seven-pound body, ready to alert us should things go awry once again. I stare at her lower lip  quivering, yet perfectly at peace  a far cry from the piercing screams they echoed earlier in the day. I cant help but think about the sixteen-year-old patient on my trauma rotation who suffered a traumatic brain injury after a motor vehicle accident and the eight-year-old on my pediatrics rotation  who was now eleven  and remained hooked up to life-support with no hopes of ever waking up. At this moment, its impossible for me not to worry about my own daughters long-term prognosis as I am reminded how quickly good fortune can change. Numerous factors play into the difficulty of pursuing motherhood and a medical career simultaneously, namely stressful work environments, poor sleep hygiene, advanced maternal age, lack of institutional support, student loan debt, and more. Yet, physician mothers are innately valuable to the profession and possess unique and desirable qualities that positively contribute to patient outcomes. Motherhood is teaching me selflessness, humility, empathy, and sacrifice, with both roles requiring I put anothers needs before my own. It is teaching me to be more acutely aware of my environment and trust my intuition, yet still support it with my medical knowledge. The synergy of the two allowed me to recognize when my daughters skin quickly transitioned from its ruddy newborn red and took on a sullen gray-blue hue. I knew how to act quickly, administer oxygen in the ambulance, and remain calm when at least a dozen health care providers attempted to access her pinpoint-sized veins. In medical school, Ive spent countless hours objectively assessing patients, developing differential diagnoses, answering UWorld questions, and flipping through Anki flashcards, but there is no study tool for maternal instinct. Medical school has taught me the science needed to be a physician, but motherhood is teaching me how to be a good one.

Gone are the days when middle-aged men were the only ones in the hospital donning a long white coat, as the image of a physician has expanded, and society must get on board. Motherhood breeds compassionate, diligent, attentive, and thoughtful physicians. Medical training often coincides with prime childbearing years, and the profession must work to help women excel in their dual roles as parents and physicians. Because, after all, no one works harder than a mom.

Nicolette Siringo is a medical student.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has advised farmers of two important opportunities regarding corrections to their 2024 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and other area-based schemes.



The first of these are preliminary checks which will identify any over-claims, overlaps or dual claims. Notifications are issued where the department finds such an error on the farmers 2024 BISS application. Where a farmer or advisor receives a preliminary check notification, they should log on to www.agfood.ie and respond before the deadline of 21 June 2024.

Secondly, notifications relating to the Area Monitoring System (AMS) were due to begin from 6 June 2024 for a minority of farmers.

The first round of AMS notifications are for the potential presence of artificial surfaces, for example: buildings, farmyard extensions and farm roadways, in land parcels(s). Farmers will have until 20 June 2024 to respond to these notifications.

Further rounds of AMS notifications will issue from July 2024 onwards.

These Preliminary Checks and AMS notifications allow the farmer the opportunity to rectify issues with their BISS and other area-based scheme applications, without penalty.

Farmers and advisors should check the correspondence section of their agfood.ie online account. Where a farmer is signed up for text message alerts, a text will issue to advise them that they have a notification on their agfood.ie account.
Enoch Burke has described as insulting a suggested offer that he be released from prison while Wilsons Hospital School is closed for the summer holidays.

Burke was once again before the High Court today for the latest review of his detention at Mountjoy Prison, where he is being held for refusing to stay away from the Westmeath school where he once worked.

Burke, who appeared before the High Court on Friday, remains in prison where he has spent the last eight months.

The teacher appeared before Justice Mark Sanfey for a review of the case, and to see if Burke was prepared to purge his contempt and agree to comply with the court order.

Burke denies that he is in contempt of court, and says he has wrongfully been imprisoned because of his objections to "transgenderism" following a direction by the school to call a then student by a different pronoun.

This is Enoch Burkes second stint behind bars for refusing to obey a court order to stay away from Wilsons Hospital School.

Teacher Enoch Burke also asked the High Court at a later stage to set aside the order underpinning his on-going incarceration at Mountjoy Prison, as he claimed it is "gravely flawed" and "unsound".

Once again he declined the opportunity to secure his immediate release by refusing to give an undertaking to comply.

The school suggested looking into the possibility of him being released during the summer holidays with a view to reviewing the situation when the school reopens.

Burke, however, described that as insulting and instead asked the court to hear an application to set aside the order, which he described as unsound.

The judge refused but agreed to sit later this month to hear submissions on whether he even has the jurisdiction to hear such an application.

In the meantime, Burke will remain in prison, unless he decides to purge his contempt.
Casement Park will be built on my watch, Northern Irelands First Minister Michelle ONeill has said.

Ms ONeill was addressing a major rally on Irish unification in Belfast on Saturday.

More than 2,000 people attended the Irelands Future Pathway to Change event in the SSE Arena.

Ms ONeill referred to the ongoing uncertainty over funding for the rebuilding of Casement Park GAA stadium in west Belfast.

The derelict ground has been earmarked as a venue for five Euro 2028 matches.

However, the funding needed to build the stadium in time for the tournament is still not in place and there are concerns the delays will see Belfast missing out on a tournament being jointly hosted by the UK and Ireland.

This week, GAA president Jarlath Burns was pessimistic about the prospect of the venue staging games in the showpiece soccer tournament in four years.

ONeill said her preference was that the ground would be ready in time for the Euros, but said that in any case it would be rebuilt while she is in office.

She said: In case there is any doubt out there, Casement Park will be built on my watch.

She also said she had a positive relationship with the DUPs deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.

She said: We have common ground, the common ground is prosperity for everybody.

Our common ground is around trying to build our community.

She said Westminster had shown it would never serve the interests of people in Northern Ireland, which demonstrated the need for constitutional change.

Eleven political parties from across the island are taking part in the event on Saturday.

Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, union leader Mick Lynch, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald and GAA president Jarlath Burns addressed the rally.

Ms McDonald said she supported a Citizens Assembly on unity.

She said: This cant just be left to the politicians, although the politicians have to lead on this.

We are now in the time where we have to actively make the preparations, we have to actively do the work.

She added: The main thing we need is seriousness about this.

We need the political system to stop dodging the question.

We need to accept that the change, the evolution, is happening now and politics and the politicians need to catch up.

Former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams also attended the event in Belfast.

Opening the event, senator Frances Black, Irelands Future chairwoman, said: It is undeniable that change is imminent.

The Alliance Partys Nuala McAllister took part in a panel discussion after party leader Naomi Long withdrew.

Ms McAllister said the priority for her party was to reform the Stormont powersharing institutions.

She said: We do not want to create a divide here where we radicalise on either side.

DUP founding member Wallace Thompson and loyalist paramilitary David Adams took part in a panel discussion called The Protestant Perspective.

The stated aim of Irelands Future is to promote debate and discussion about what a united Ireland would look like. It is campaigning for a referendum on reunification.

The group says Brexit has created a fresh impetus for constitutional change, with more people looking at unification as a way to mitigate the consequences of the UKs departure from the EU.

Delivering the keynote address, Mr Burns said everything has to be on the table in a discussion about unity.

He said: Everyone on the island needs to know that we are serious about respecting differing viewpoints and sincere about trying to accommodate the various traditions on the island  including those most recently arrived.

If the benefits to the people of the island in managing their own affairs and destiny in a pluralistic, non-threatening way are laid bare and become apparent, I would wager that most people on this island would think that worthy of consideration and exploration.
Colaiste Abhainn Ri, Callan is celebrating a big success in STEM, with their project announced as the winner of the AWS GetIT 2024.

AWS GetIT is a fully funded education programme and competition designed to inspire 12-14-year-old students, especially girls, to consider a future in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics).

The AWS GetIT programme gives students access to curriculum designed to help build foundational skills, learn about cloud tech, and design app ideas to solve real-life problems. Schools are paired with a dedicated AWS GetIT ambassador who supports the school and educator and acts as a role model. After completing the programme curriculum, schools can submit a student app idea for consideration in a countrywide AWS GetIT competition.

Fit Quick, by Colaiste Abhainn Ri, is an app aimed at tackling young people dropping out of sporting activity, particularly during the transition from primary to secondary school. The app is aimed at 11-19 year olds with the overall goal of encouraging maintaining interest in sport and physical activity during their teenage years.



Ryan Griffith, Sarah-Kate OShea, Lucy Crowley and John Power, Colaiste Abhainn Ri, Callan with teacher Aine Hamilton and AWS GetIT judges and ambassadors

The Callan students went to the AWS GetIT final which took place at the AWS offices in Dublin. The team presented their ideas to a judging panel of people working in the tech industry.

The finalists were invited to present their app ideas on the day and answer questions surrounding their design thinking cycle, teamwork, the issue they are tackling and the technology they will use.

CONGRATULATE

On behalf of AWS Id like to congratulate the contestants in this years AWS GetIT competition, each year we are completely blown away by the high level of innovation and creativity shown by secondary students across Ireland, said Mark Dunleavy, General Manager, AWS Ireland and Northern Ireland.

AWS GetIT empowers and inspires 12-14 year olds to consider a future in STEM and learn other key skills such as problem-solving and teamwork. It is also an opportunity for them to get face-to-face time with AWS ambassadors and gain real insight into what it is like to work in tech. At AWS, we hope that taking part in this competition is their first step in a journey towards an exciting and rewarding career in STEM.

Jane Dawson Howe, Country Manager Ireland, Slalom and AWS GetIT judge said: I was thrilled to be involved with AWS GetIT 2024. I was so impressed with the quality of the finalists' projects, and their determination to solve real-world problems. I was also amazed at their confidence, and how they communicated the impact of their ideas. Congratulations to all the students (and their teachers) on developing such compelling solutions. The future of technology for societal good is in the right hands!"

Frances Abeton, CEO and Co-Founder, Whyze Health and AWS GetIT judge said: I was truly captivated by the calibre of projects presented at the AWS GetIT competition. The students' work was not just impressive, but it also showcased their exceptional talent and creativity. This experience has reinforced my belief in the significant impact of integrating technology education in schools. It was a true privilege to witness such potential and support an initiative that empowers young people to excel in the tech industry.
Local Ireland, the association representing local news publishers across the country, has launched its annual Media Awards.

Entries are being sought across 17 categories with an additional category for Lifetime Achievement being nominated by the Local Ireland executive. Last year, the Kilkenny People was nominated in two categories.

This will be the ninth edition of the awards and the seventh to be sponsored by the National Lottery, who have their own special category for Best Community Story.

National Lottery Head of Corporate Affairs Jennifer Crowe said: We are incredibly proud of our continued association with the Local Ireland Media Awards that recognise the top-class journalists and media professionals who tirelessly serve our local communities.

The power of local media and local storytelling cannot be taken for granted as it plays such a pivotal role in inspiring, informing and transforming communities, values which we at the National Lottery recognise and champion through the funding raised for thousands of Good Causes across Ireland.

Local media outlets champion the stories that would otherwise remain untold, shedding light on the extraordinary individuals, events, and initiatives that shape the fabric of our society. We look forward to celebrating the exceptional work of local media.

President of Local Ireland and Head of Irish Times Regionals Dan Linehan said: Local Ireland is delighted to have the National Lottery onboard for the awards.

The awards are a chance to recognise and highlight the role of local publishers in their communities and showcase the best of local journalism. The National Lottery are ideal partners for the awards as a national brand and one that supports almost every community in Ireland.

Chair of the judges, author and broadcaster Alison OConnor, said: It is an honour to chair the judging panel for the Local Ireland Media Awards. The awards are all about recognising the very best of the work done in the newsrooms of regional newspapers across the country. The quality shines though in the many entries submitted.

This years awards will include three new categories  for Best Headline, Best Diversity Journalism and Best Sustainability Journalism.

Executive Director of Local Ireland Bob Hughes said: I am delighted that we have added three new categories to our awards and would like to welcome to the judging panel, novelist and newspaper columnist Dr Martina Devlin, award-winning journalist and Policy Editor of the Business Post Daniel Murray and Deputy Night Editor of the Irish Sun Gerry McCarthy. I also want to thank our returning judges for offering their expertise once again.

The judging panel also includes broadcaster and journalist Dearbhail McDonald, Emeritus Professor at TUD Michael Foley, Dawn Wheatley of DCU School of Communications, Managing Director of Kinetic Ireland Andrew Sinclair, photographer and former Irish Times Picture Editor Frank Miller, broadcaster and writer Valerie Cox, and journalist and author PJ Cunningham.

Entries for the awards close on June 28 with nominations announced early August.

Winners will be declared at a gala event at Mullingar Park Hotel on Thursday, September. The event will be hosted by Lyric FM presenter and Eurovision guru Marty Whelan.
By Kwak Yeon-soo

A pair of dogs gifted by Turkmenistans president during President Yoon Suk Yeols state visit will arrive in Korea on Tuesday, according to the presidential office, Friday.

Yoon, a dog lover, received a pair of Turkmen shepherd puppies  locally known as Alabai  from President Serdar Berdimuhamedow, on Monday as a symbol of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. The Alabai is officially listed as Turkmenistans national heritage.

President Yoon will raise the dogs at the presidential residence. With two Alabai dogs, the president will raise a total of eight dogs, an official at the presidential office said. The names of the puppies havent been decided yet.

Yoon and his wife are known to live with six dogs  Saeromi, Tory, Narae, Mari, Sunny and Olly  and five cats since they tied the knot in 2012.

First lady Kim Keon Hee is known to be a strong advocate of animal rights. She has openly supported a ban on all types of dog meat consumption.

In January this year, the National Assembly unanimously passed a bill banning the breeding and slaughter of dogs for consumption. The bill is set to be enforced from 2027. A ban on dog meat consumption was one of Yoons presidential campaign promises.

The official noted that many foreign leaders, including Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, have introduced puppies of domestic and rare breeds to Yoon during his state visits.
President Yoon Suk Yeol's Central Asia tour focused on boosting economic ties with resource-rich countries as part of his diplomatic push to secure critical minerals and energy supplies amid global supply chain uncertainties.

Yoon wrapped up a weeklong trip to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, Saturday, as Korea seeks deeper engagement with the strategically significant region rich in vital resources essential for cutting-edge chip and battery industries.

The state visits followed the first-ever Korea-Africa summit held last week, which focused on forging critical mineral partnerships in the region.

During his first trip to Central Asia since taking office in May 2022, Yoon introduced the "K-Silk Road" initiative, centered on creating a new cooperation model by linking Korea's innovative capabilities with Central Asia's abundant resources and development potential.

Korea, home to Samsung Electronics, SK hynix and major battery makers, aims to diversify its import portfolio of key industrial materials to reduce its reliance on a limited set of countries, including China.

Korea, the world's fourth-largest buyer of crude oil and natural gas, has also been seeking to enhance energy security amid growing geopolitical risks that weigh on the global supply chain.

At the top of the agenda was forging partnerships on the critical mineral supply chain.

Korea signed a bilateral critical minerals supply chain partnership each with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, paving the way for comprehensive cooperation, from joint exploration to the final use of these minerals.

Kazakhstan is the largest oil producer in Central Asia and a major gas producer, with the largest proven oil reserves in the Caspian Sea region. Turkmenistan's natural gas reserve ranks fourth in the world, while Uzbekistan's subsoil is rich in oil, natural gas, coal and uranium.

During the trip, Korean companies finalized major infrastructure deals.

Korean railway manufacturer Hyundai Rotem inked a $200 million deal to supply six high-speed trains to Uzbekistan Railways, the first export of high-speed trains developed using Korean technology.

In Turkmenistan, Hyundai Engineering signed two agreements with state-run companies to build a desulfurization facility and resume operations at a chemical plant. Daewoo Engineering & Construction is bidding for a contract to build two fertilizer plants.

These contracts are estimated to be worth approximately $6 billion, according to Park Chun-sup, senior secretary for economic affairs.

Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo said the summit diplomacy laid the groundwork for building mid- and long-term relationships by broadening the scope of cooperation.

"While Korea has mainly focused on energy and mineral development as well as infrastructure construction, efforts have been made recently to integrate resource, energy and infrastructure cooperation with green initiatives and atomic energy to address climate change," Kim said in a briefing Friday.

With Russia's influence waning and China's clout rising in recent years, Seoul officials emphasize Korea's commitment to practical cooperation free from political motives and its economic success story as a model for the former Soviet Union states that gained independence in 1992.

"When we engage in economic cooperation in Central Asia, there are no hidden agendas, only pure development cooperation such as with the Economic Development Cooperation Fund, talent development and technological collaboration. They seriously seek solutions that promote mutual prosperity from an economic perspective," a presidential official said.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Yoon's Central Asia trip is "a strategic summit diplomacy focused on broadening economic territory" and called for related ministries to implement the support measures.

"To ensure that the achievements of summit diplomacy help revitalize the economy, the public and private sectors should closely work together to swiftly take follow-up actions," Han said in a Cabinet meeting Tuesday.

Although the summits culminated in signing memoranda of agreements on the mineral supply chain, such as joint lithium mine exploration, and the development and commercialization of rare metals, it is expected to take a long time to produce tangible results.

The process of developing a mining project can take five to 25 years to become operational and generate revenue, with many projects failing despite substantial efforts and investments. Mineral refinement also poses challenges due to its energy intensity and the toxic by-products produced. (Yonhap)
'Cheongdam holds irreplaceable status in Korea'

By Anna J. Park

Cheongdam-dong is a representative high-end commercial neighborhood in the affluent southern part of Seoul, featuring dozens of flagship stores of global luxury brands lined up along the main street, along with fine dining and upscale lounge bars in the surrounding area.

Cheongdam saw substantive growth during the pandemic era, when pent-up demand due to social distancing and quarantine rules transformed into a surge in conspicuous consumption, leading to a boom in the luxury goods market.

Despite a slight decline in the global annual revenues of the luxury market last year, the popularity of Cheongdam, a highly sought-after luxury street, will continue to thrive. This growth is mainly driven by the maturation of the luxury market in Korea and the exclusive appeal of the prestigious location, high-end retail market experts noted.

During a recent interview with The Korea Times, Kelly Nam and Daniel Song, directors overseeing tenant representation for retail services at Cushman & Wakefield in Seoul, explained why Cheongdam holds an irreplaceable niche among all commercial zones in Seoul and shared their expectations for its future.

"The Cheongdam district has a unique history of being a home for high-end luxury items even before the late 1990s. The main street had been crowded with local high-fashion designers, before it became a sought-after destination by global luxury brands starting in the late 1990s. Since then, it has continually grown with more and more global high-fashion brands establishing a presence in the area, leading to explosive growth during the pandemic era," Nam said.

"These high-end luxury brands need to maintain their prestige and value over the long-term perspective, often spanning over 20 years. Thus, they can't afford to settle for unsuitable locations. This has led to a high demand for flagship stores in the Cheongdam district, a place where they can showcase their value in a stylish manner," Nam highlighted.

"Personally, I feel that the luxury industry itself is entering a mature phase in Korea, with local customers showing increased demand for watches and jewelry," she pointed out. This trend is evidenced by high-end global jewelry and watch brands, such as Van Cleef & Arpels and Tiffany & Co., recently opening their flagship stores or planning upcoming launches in Cheongdam.

According to figures from Cushman & Wakefield, the luxury goods sector accounts for 39 percent of Cheongdam's commercial area as of the first half of 2023, maintaining the top position with its share increasing 4.2 percent compared to the same period of 2022.

In comparison to the first half of 2019  before the COVID-19 pandemic  the neighborhood's total sales increased by 30.2 percent, marking the highest growth rate among Seoul's six major commercial areas. These areas include Hongdae, Myeongdong, Gangnam, Hannam/Itaewon, Garosugil, and Cheongdam.

"When it comes to the district's vacancy rate, the actual rate is less than five percent. Out of approximately 66 buildings located along the main road of the district, only two or three are currently vacant. And it's not that they are vacant because of a lack of demand from tenants. Rather, there are many tenants who want to move in, but the landlords are strategically considering what to do with their spaces, so they haven't yet rented the places out," Song said.

He emphasized that the key luxury streets of Cheongdam will continue to face constraints in availability, as physical stores remain crucial for luxury retailers, serving as a vital platform for brand promotion.

What sets these global high-end brands apart is their pursuit of long-term real estate leases to solidify their brand identities in the Korean market. Opening a flagship store in this affluent commercial district requires thorough preparation spanning two to three years, with lease contracts typically extending for at least over 10 years.

Another noteworthy characteristic of luxury brands is their trend toward increasing store sizes to offer customers enticing experiences. These spaces can include art galleries, immersive innovative concepts, and hospitality services like cafes or restaurants.

"Ultimately, the future consumers are those in their 20s and 30s. While they may not be able to make significant purchases of luxury goods now, they will increasingly become a key demographic as their incomes rise. That's why global brands are focusing on offering various experience-based services, incorporating food and beverage (F&B) services to engage with younger generations and create memorable experiences for them," Nam explained.

Both the long-term lease contracts by the global luxury brands as well as the trend of increasing store sizes have led the luxury streets in Cheongdam area to be remarkably resilient in terms of rental demand.

Moreover, an increasing number of luxury companies are considering investments in luxury retail real estate, either for their own use or as part of their investment portfolio.

Actually, Louis Vuitton Korea acquired a property worth 50.4 billion won ($36.6 million) in Cheongdam earlier this year. The property was previously owned by Maeil Holdings, the parent company of Maeil Dairies, covering 793 square meters. The property is not situated on the main road but on a side street of the high-end district, and Louis Vuitton Korea plans to construct a new building on this site to operate a restaurant.

Outlook for the future

Both real estate experts anticipate the Cheongdam district to maintain its unique status as Korea's most highly sought-after luxury destination.

"I think we can't argue about the strategic importance of Cheongdam in the commercial district. In Korean society, the region holds an irreplaceable status, representing high-end lifestyles and wealth. I don't believe there's a second or third district like Cheongdam that could replace its role within the country, although other districts can complement or support its role," Song said.

"Considering the undeniable irreplaceability of Cheongdam, the area is expected to undergo further development in terms of density. Now that key buildings located on the highly coveted main streets are mostly filled, the streets on the inner side will become much more dense with luxury retailers filling the spaces, as such brands would want to expand their various services within the region," he underscored.

Nam agreed with the outlook, adding that Cheongdam has shown a remarkable resilience in rental demand throughout the decades.

"In the late 2000s, media reports expressed concerns about increasing vacancy rates in the Cheongdam district. However, what is unknown to the media was that negotiations were actively underway during that period for lease contracts with global luxury brands in the area. This highlights the district's unique characteristics. Global luxury brands operate on a long-term perspective that moves at their own pace, which can differ slightly from external economic trends," Nam explained.
Korea, Japan and China held their first education ministerial talks in over four years Saturday to discuss cooperation in related areas and the promotion of exchanges among students.

The trilateral talks, the first since 2020 in China, were headed by Education Minister Lee Ju-ho, with the Japanese and Chinese sides headed by Education Minister Masahito Moriyama and Minister Huai Jinpeng, respectively.

First held in 2016 in South Korea, the tripartite education chiefs' gathering was established to discuss cooperation in areas involving education among the Northeast Asian neighbors.

On the agenda for Saturday's talks were the strengthening of cooperation in future education, the promotion of trilateral exchanges among future generations and ways to develop the joint Campus Asia program.

After the meeting, the ministers of the three neighboring nations released a joint declaration on education innovation.

The declaration said the three countries decided to share digital education policies and best practices to systematically promote digital transformation in all areas of education.

They also agree to encourage exchanges and cultural experiences among students in the countries and support various student activities, including youth sports and cultural events, in order to promote trilateral understanding and friendship.

At a trilateral summit between the leaders of the three countries held last month in South Korea, the three sides emphasized the importance of human exchanges, especially youth exchanges. (Yonhap)
President Yoon Suk Yeol stressed on Saturday the need for the country to maintain a strong military, as the nation marked the 25th anniversary of a 1999 inter-Korean naval skirmish near the maritime border.

"The history from 25 years ago reminds us once again that peace can be maintained through strong power," Yoon wrote on his Facebook page. "As the commander-in-chief, I promise to maintain a firm state of readiness to ensure the protection of the lives and safety of our people."

Yoon, who was touring Central Asia on a three-nation trip, also extended his gratitude to the military personnel for dedicating themselves to national defense, while pledging to build a stronger country with "our heroes."

The 1999 skirmish took place near the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border in the Yellow Sea, sinking one North Korean ship and wreaking havoc on nine others.

The South's Navy suffered no casualties, while South Korean officials estimated dozens of North Korean sailors were killed. (Yonhap)
By Robert Neff

In late 19th century, weather was often a catalyst for political unrest in Korea. Perhaps one of the most infamous examples was in the summer of 1882 when the Korean peninsula was on the precipice of change. The country was suffering from severe drought, the wells were dry and the crops were failing. Since early spring, sacrifices were made at the main city shrines and along the Han River beseeching gods for rain. Food became scarce and prices rose and thefts and robberies became widespread. Whispers amongst the superstitious claimed the kingdoms woes were signs of the gods displeasure that foreigners were being allowed to enter the country.

In July, the unrest eventually evolved into a general revolt targeting corrupt government officials and the small Japanese community. A large Korean mob  armed with stones, muskets, spears and bows and arrows and spears  attacked the Japanese legation, and, surprisingly, it immediately began to rain. It started out as a light drizzle but soon developed into a driving rain  further strengthening the belief amongst the superstitious rioters that the gods were aligned with their efforts to remove the foreigners from Korean soil. Blood and rain transformed the once parched land into a muddy mire.

The revolt was soon crushed and the leaders executed. The uneasy peace was threatened a year later on the anniversary of the attack on the Japanese legation. Whispered in the streets of Seoul was a tale of vengeance that was to be orchestrated by the Japanese for the previous year. According to the rumors, a number of Koreans were to be sacrificed to appease the restless spirts of the murdered Japanese. There were other dark rumors circulating  including a tale that blood was to be harvested from unmarried Korean women and children so that medicines could be made. According to one account, this so alarmed the population that young maidens were quickly married while others fled to the mountains.

The final rumor centered on the lack of rain. Once again, the superstitious blamed it upon Japanese. The music played at the Japanese Legation [had] effectually dispersed the wind and driven away the rain and the Japanese flag flying from its tall flagstaff angered the rain gods. Fortunately these rumors were just that  rumors. However, there were other violent incidents that occurred because of the lack of rain.

In the late 1890s, many people blamed the streetcars for the lack of rain. They reasoned that the streetcars tracks ran over the back of the dragon sleeping beneath the city, infuriating him and causing him to deny the city rain. Others claimed the electric wires disrupted nature  especially the clouds, which were sucked up leaving the city to suffer from long droughts. A number of streetcars were destroyed; not because of the lack of rain but because of the lack of safety awareness.

When the rain didnt come, the people often appealed to the gods. In an effort to be inoffensive, during droughts they refrained from using fans and parasols to combat the heat as these were believed to insult the gods by blocking the rain and chasing away the clouds. The butchering of animals was also postponed - presumably because the animals suffering would displease the spirits  but, conversely, animals were part of the sacrifices made to the gods.

In the summer of 1901, The Korea Review, an English-language magazine published in Seoul reported:

Sacrifices are being offered all over the country for the purpose of bringing rain. Several bags of nickels and a number of pigs were thrown into the Han River for this same purpose. His Majesty has been assured by the high officials of the land that there will be no scarcity but one of them has privately informed him of the desperate conditions of things. As yet His Majesty has not sacrificed in person.

Gyeonghoeru Pavilion at Gyeongbok Palace was one of the locations where the Korean monarch beseeched the spirits to bless the land with rain. During King Taejongs reign, one of the rain rituals involved children and salamanders. According to Prof. Shin Myung-hos book Joseon Royal Court Culture (translated by Timothy V. Atkinson):

The Lizard Pray-for-rain Rite entailed filling earthenware jars with large salamanders and having children strike the jars with sticks while chanting in unison that the beating will stop if rain starts to fall. The salamanders (water lizards) were believed to be dragons that could cause rainstorms. Such measures taken at the palace demonstrate how dire the situation could become to people who had to subsist on the crops they raised.

Even after three days of prayer and sacrifice, the rain failed to come. According to another account, boys in the southwestern part of the peninsula fashioned dragons out of straw and then beat them until they spit out rain clouds. It is unknown if they enjoyed any more success than the boys at the palace.

Pigs and salamanders were not the only animals involved. Some believed that divination of the weather could be made by observing a dog; if a dog was seen eating grass, it was an omen of terrible drought. If the drought did occur, rain could be summoned by throwing a dogs blood or its severed head into a body of fresh water. The belief was the spirits protecting the water would summon rain to wash away the blood and head. Sometimes pigs, instead of dogs, were used and their blood or urine was cast into the water.

Human urine was also used. According to Kim Yongjo, Director of Purenunsol People Culture Research Institute, in some villages the women would climb a nearby mountain and urinate together in hopes of provoking the gods to release a torrent of rain to remove their waste.

Sometimes, rituals and sacrifices were not required and just the kings presence was enough to persuade the clouds to release their life-saving moisture. Such was the case when King Sejong visited Mangwonjeon in the summer of 1425. For some time the region had suffered a lack of rain and, according to legend, as soon as he arrived, it began to rain. Delighted, he named the pavilion Huiujeong, meaning a pavilion meeting a delightful rain.

Read More Mangwonjeong and praying for rain

However, it was his father, King Taejong, who is associated with rain. Taejong frequently made sacrifices for rain and even on his deathbed, while the kingdom was suffering from a severe drought, he swore that when he died he would go and ask Heaven to send rain. According to legend, on the very day he died (the tenth day of the fifth moon of 1422  lunar calendar) it began to rain. In fact, it rained so hard that ten days later, the records state the rice crop was damaged by flooding.

Henceforth, this day became known as the Day of Taejongs Rain. An examination of diaries, correspondences and various diplomatic and naval records from 1883 through 1902 reveals it generally rained on this day in the Seoul/Incheon area. This year, the tenth day of the fifth moon is June 15, and, unsurprisingly, rain is in the forecast.

Robert Neff has authored and co-authored several books, including Letters from Joseon, Korea Through Western Eyes and Brief Encounters.
President Vladimir Putin said on Friday Russia would end the war in Ukraine only if Kyiv agreed to drop its NATO ambitions and hand over the entirety of four provinces claimed by Moscow, demands Kyiv swiftly rejected as tantamount to surrender.

On the eve of a conference in Switzerland to which Russia has not been invited, Putin set out maximalist conditions at odds with the terms demanded by Ukraine, apparently reflecting Moscow's growing confidence that its forces have the upper hand in the war.

He restated his demand for Ukraine's demilitarization, unchanged from the day he sent in his troops on Feb. 24, 2022, and said an end to Western sanctions must also be part of a peace deal.

He also repeated his call for Ukraine's "denazification," based on what Kyiv calls an slur against its leadership.

Ukraine said the conditions were "absurd."

"He is offering for Ukraine to admit defeat. He is offering for Ukraine to legally give up its territories to Russia. He is offering for Ukraine to sign away its geopolitical sovereignty," Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak told Reuters.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiyy told Italy's SkyTG24 news channel that Putin's comments amounted to an ultimatum, carefully timed to appear just before the Swiss summit.

"It is clear he (Putin) understands that there will be the peace summit. It is clear he understands the majority in the world are on Ukraine's side, on the side of life," he said.

"And on the eve of the summit, amid air raid sirens, the killing of people and missile attacks, he speaks as though he is issuing some sort of ultimatum."

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters at NATO headquarters in Brussels: "He (Putin) is not in any position to dictate to Ukraine what they must do to bring about peace."

The timing of Putin's speech was clearly intended to preempt the Swiss summit, billed as a "peace conference" despite Russia's exclusion, where Zelenskiyy seeks a show of international support for Kyiv's terms to end the war.

'Very simple' conditions

"The conditions are very simple," Putin said, listing them as the full withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the entire territory of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions in eastern and southern Ukraine.

Russia claimed the four regions, which its forces control only partially, as part of its own territory in 2022, an act rejected by most countries at the United Nations as illegal.

Moscow annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in 2014.

"As soon as they declare in Kyiv that they are ready for such a decision and begin a real withdrawal of troops from these regions, and also officially announce the abandonment of their plans to join NATO - on our side, immediately, literally at the same minute, an order will follow to cease fire and begin negotiations," Putin said.

"I repeat, we will do this immediately. Naturally, we will simultaneously guarantee the unhindered and safe withdrawal of Ukrainian units and formations."

Russia controls nearly a fifth of Ukrainian territory in the third year of the war. Ukraine says peace must be based on the full withdrawal of Russian forces and the restoration of its 1991 post-Soviet borders.

The weekend summit in Switzerland, which will be attended by representatives of more than 90 nations and organizations, is expected to shy away from territorial issues and focus instead on matters such as food security and nuclear safety in Ukraine.

The Kremlin has said the gathering will prove "futile" without Russia being represented.

Putin's conditions appeared to reflect his growing confidence in Moscow's ability to impose its own terms as its forces have gradually advanced in recent months.

Putin said "the future existence of Ukraine" depended on it withdrawing its forces, adopting a neutral status, and beginning talks with Russia. Kyiv's military situation, he said, would worsen if it rejected the offer.

"Today we are making another concrete, real peace proposal. If in Kyiv and in the Western capitals they refuse it as before, then, in the end, it is their business, their political and moral responsibility for the continuation of bloodshed," he said.

Ukraine and its Western allies describe the conflict as an imperial-style war of territorial conquest. Ukraine says any demand for its demilitarization or future neutrality would expose it to further Russian attacks.

Putin was speaking in the same week that the United States hit Russia with more sanctions, announced a 10-year security pact with Ukraine  seen as a potential precursor to eventual NATO membership  and reached a deal with its Group of Seven allies to use interest on Russian assets frozen in the West to back a $50 billion loan to Kyiv. (Reuters)
A Tesla apparently operating on one of the company's automated driving systems crashed into a parked police vehicle Thursday near Los Angeles, narrowly missing an officer who was managing traffic at another crash.

The Tesla driver told police in Fullerton, California, that he engaged the vehicle's self-drive system and used his cell phone, according to a police statement.

The collision appears to be another in a long list of crashes in which Teslas using a partially automated driving system hit firetrucks or police cars parked on roads with flashing lights activated. In the Fullerton case, the officer also had put out flares, authorities said.

Police said the crash was still under investigation, but called the California driver's conduct a clear violation of responsible driving practices and California law.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which has made Tesla recall its Full Self-Driving and Autopilot systems, said Friday it is aware of the crash and has contacted Tesla for more information.

Although the driver told authorities he switched on self-drive mode, police said they have not confirmed whether he was using Tesla's Full Self-Driving or Autopilot systems. A message was left early Friday seeking comment from Tesla.

Neither Full Self-Driving nor Autopilot can drive themselves, and Tesla tells owners that they must be ready to intervene at all times. Full Self-Driving, which is being tested on public roads by volunteer Tesla owners, can take on most driving functions, even on city streets, the company says. Autopilot is supposed to keep vehicles from hitting objects in front of them, and keep them centered in their lanes.

Fullerton police said the officer saw the Tesla coming, and he and a police dispatcher who was riding with him were able to quickly move to the side of the road. A potential disaster was averted, police said in the statement.

The Tesla driver stayed at the scene of the crash, which happened near an intersection at 12:04 a.m. Thursday. The driver is cooperating with police.

Officers were investigating a fatal crash at the time the Tesla hit the police car, authorities said.

While there are no laws against the self-drive mode, all rules and laws of the road still apply to the driver while controlling the vehicle," the statement said.

NHTSA began investigating Autopilot crashes into emergency vehicles in 2021, but closed the probe in April after Tesla agreed to recall the software and boost its driver monitoring functions. Later NHTSA began investigating whether the company's recall actually worked.

In documents explaining why the investigation was ended, NHTSA said it ultimately found 467 crashes involving Autopilot resulting in 54 injuries and 14 deaths.

In addition, the agency found 75 crashes and one death involving Full Self Driving. Its not clear whether the system was at fault. NHTSA last year made Tesla recall the software after finding that the system misbehaved around intersections and could violate traffic laws.

CEO Elon Musk said Thursday at Tesla's annual shareholders meeting that the safety of Full Self-Driving is better per mile than human drivers, but he did not give full underlying data. (AP)
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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was re-elected for a second term after his humbled ANC cobbled together an unprecedented coalition government.

Lawmakers in Cape Town voted overwhelmingly on Friday to put Ramaphosa, 71, back in office for another five years after the May 29 general election produced no outright winner.

"I am humbled and honoured that you, as members of the National Assembly, have... decided to elect me to be the President of the Republic of South Africa," Ramaphosa said in his acceptance speech.

The election marked a historic turning point for South Africa, ending three decades of dominance by the African National Congress of the late Nelson Mandela.

The party that led the anti-apartheid struggle won only 40 percent of the vote and, for the first time, lost its absolute majority in parliament.

It has now struck a deal to form what it calls a government of national unity.

"This is a historic juncture in the life of our country, which requires that we must work and act together," Ramaphosa said.

ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula said on Friday the broad coalition brings together a majority of the 18 parties that won representation in the 400-seat National Assembly.

These include the centre-right Democratic Alliance (DA), the Zulu nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party and other smaller groups.

Ramaphosa was re-elected by fellow MPs with 283 votes in a secret ballot.

He saw off a last-minute challenge by Julius Malema, the firebrand leader of the radical leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), whose candidacy gained 44 votes.

Ramaphosa will be sworn in next week in Pretoria and then unveil his new cabinet.

South Africa's BRICS allies Russia and China on Saturday welcomed Ramaphosa's re-election with President Xi Jinping sending him a congratulatory note and Russian President Vladimir Putin saying: "We highly appreciate your personal contribution to the development of strategic partnership between our countries".

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also congratulated Ramaphosa, hailing South Africa's "joint efforts to restore just peace in Ukraine."

"With your leadership and experience, South Africa is in good hands" the EU Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X.

Neighbouring Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa said Ramaphosa's second mandate was "ample testimony of the great confidence and trust" South Africans had in him.

- 'Illegal' -

Lawmakers cast their ballot one by one in a lengthy ceremony held in a Cape Town convention centre.

EFF members took the oath wearing red overalls and in some cases rubber boots and plastic construction worker helmets.

They declined to support the incoming administration, having refused to countenance joining an alliance with right-wing or white-led parties.

"This is not a government of national unity, this is a grand coalition between the ANC and white monopoly capital. History will judge you harshly," EFF leader Malema said, after conceding defeat.

Graft-tainted former president Jacob Zuma's new party uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), which came third in the election, has disputed the results and its MPs boycotted Friday's sitting.

"The sitting of the national assembly today as far as we're concerned is illegal and unconstitutional," MK spokesman Nhlamulo Ndhlela told AFP.

A former trade unionist turned millionaire businessman, Ramaphosa will preside over a government combining radically different political views.

The ANC is a historically pan-Africanist, progressive party of the left that has overseen welfare and economic empowerment programmes for poor, black South Africans.

The largest coalition party, the DA, pushes a liberal, free-market agenda. Smaller parties that are understood to have agreed to join the government range from the left to the far right.

"At the heart of this government of national unity statement is a shared respect and defence of our constitution and the rule of law," DA leader John Steenhuisen said.

- No easy road -

The agreement extended to regional coalitions in Johannesburg's Gauteng province and in KwaZulu-Natal, the Zulu heartland.

Zuma's MK won the most votes in the latter but was left empty-handed as coalition members managed to get a wafer-thin majority of 41 out of 80 provincial councillors.

DA's Steenhuisen said the coalition agreement included a consensus mechanism to deal "with the disagreements that will inevitably arise".

Ramaphosa first came to power in 2018 after Zuma was forced out under the cloud of corruption allegations.

Under his watch South Africa suffered from record power cuts, the economy languished and crime remained rife. Unemployment is at almost 33 percent.

He will now have the arduous task to bridge conflicting views within government to turn around South Africa's economic fortunes.

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Earlier on June 12, BTS' oldest member Jin was discharged from the military at the 5th Infantry Division training center in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi. Fans were ecstatic over his return, as the idol was set to attend the 2024 BTS FESTA event on June 13, which was held in Seoul.

During the event, Jin held a free hug session that aimed to embrace around 1,000 ARMYs, while wearing a sign that said "Hug Me." The session went viral online, as netizens were surprised by how wholesome the segment was than expected.

Unfortunately, ARMYs were enraged when a couple of fans attempted to kiss the idol, causing a stir online. They criticized the fans for invading Jin's personal space and making the idol visibly uncomfortable with the gesture.

To the second girl wearing a blue outer, it's clear that you initiated non-consensual touching/kissing, which made Seokjin flinched and felt uncomfortable. This behavior is also categorized as sexual harassment. People like you should never have been near any member. https://t.co/9M92Sx4Z2L June 13, 2024

The incident made its reach to the police authorities.

On June 14, Songpa Police Station confirmed that a complaint was received via the National Petition System, which includes an alleged breach of the Sexual Violence Punishment Act.

The police clarified that the complaint was indeed obtained through the National Petition System. However, a formal complaint has yet to be received, and that the suspects haven't been booked yet.

Furthermore, authorities followed up that they would review whether to investigate the complaint's details.

Police reports filed against fans who kissed BTS Jin during his hug-eventhttps://t.co/cUbomQ9yIf pic.twitter.com/Z8JCBCovb9 June 14, 2024

"We have received a complaint through the National Petition System, but a formal complaint has yet to be collected," the police shared. "We have not yet named the suspect."

Earlier on the same day (June 14), an individual referred to as "Ms. A" uploaded a post in a fan community stating that they had reported the fans due to misconduct and accused them of sexual harassment. Korean news outlets also shared a brief statement from the individual.

"Jin held a hugging session with 1,000 fans to celebrate his discharge from the military, but I couldn't help but be angry when I heard that it became controversial because some fans tried to sexually harass him. I filed a complaint to the police for the fans' violation of the Article 11 of the Sexual Violence Punishment Act,' which was a 'molestation in a crowded place."

Here's how netizens reacted to the complaint:

"The company should be the one going out to punish them, but that bast**d's company isn't doing anything."

"What is the company doing? They are so bad at their job."

"I get why fans would want to do this, but it just makes it into a bigger thing. I doubt Jin wants his returning fan event to end in prosecutions."

"If he does, he's a 31-year-old man who can handle it himself."

"It's just a mess."

"I don't know how one thinks that sort of behavior is okay. Creeps. Jin himself should make a report at the very least to show that this sort of behavior is not okay."

"I don't think they will go through with it unless Jin files the complaint himself."

"I get that it's disgusting but do fans really think something will happen if they report it themselves."

What are your thoughts on the incident at the hug event? Let us know in the comments below.

For more K-pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Fan Slammed For Attempting To Kiss BTS Jin During Hug Event

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Written by Israel Monte
New Delhi [India], June 15 (ANI): Despite unfavourable economic conditions in major markets such as the European Union (EU), the US, and West Asian nations, Indian textile exports grew by 9.59 per cent compared to the previous year in May 2024, the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) said in a report.

Simultaneously, Indian apparel exports saw a growth of 9.84 per cent during the same period.

Also Read | Fitness: Navigating the Path to a Healthier You.

The CITI in its report highlighted that the cumulative exports of textiles and apparel during May 2024 registered a growth of 9.70 per cent over May last year.

The country's overall exports for May 2024 surged to USD 68.29 billion. This was a substantial year-on-year increase of 10.2 per cent, according to data released by the Commerce Ministry on June 14.

Also Read | Indian Stock Markets Continue To Touch New Highs Post Formation of New Government Breaking Global Benchmarks in Equity Market Cap.

The analysis noted that during Apr -May' 24, Indian textile exports registered a growth of 6.04 per cent over the previous year, while apparel exports registered a growth of 4.46 per cent during the same time period.

The cumulative exports of textiles and apparel during April-May 2024 saw a surge of 5.34 per cent as compared to the same period last year.

The recently released export data revealed that sectors such as electronic goods, drugs and pharmaceuticals, organic and inorganic chemicals, engineering goods, petroleum products, plastics & linoleum, cotton yarn/fabs made-ups ( textiles manufactured), handloom products, etc., man-made yarn/fabs./made-ups, handloom products etc. performed well in the exports from the country.

Other merchandise products, such as meat, dairy and poultry products, mica, coal and other ores, minerals including processed minerals, RMG of all textiles, tea, coffee, rice, tobacco, carpet and handicrafts, oil seeds; and fruits and vegetables, did well too.

On Friday, Ashwani Kumar, President of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), highlighted that a positive trajectory was seen in May 2024, driven by robust order bookings.

Among the top ten export markets for India were the US, UAE, Netherlands, UK, China, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Germany and France. Considerably, in these markets, the exports registered a double-digit growth rate.

Breaking down export data released yesterday, the merchandise exports witnessed a 9.1 per cent rise to USD 38.13 billion, while service exports climbed by 11.7 per cent, reaching USD 30.16 billion. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Howrah, June 15: Eight workers, including four women, were injured after a boiler exploded in a rice mill in West Bengal's Howrah district on Saturday, police said. Three of the injured are undergoing treatment in a hospital in Uluberia while five others five others were discharged after first aid.

The boiler exploded during the lunch break of the mill situated in Madari village and only a few workers were inside at that time. Uluberia SDPO Nirupam Ghosh and Bagnan police station inspector in-charge Abhijit Das reached the spot with a group of police and RAF personnel after the incident. Dombivli Boiler Blast Video: CCTV Footage Capturing Exact Moment of Explosion at Chemical Factory in MIDC Surfaces, Death Toll Rises to 11.

Ghosh said the police have started investigation and forensic personnel can be called if necessary. After the blast, mill authorities and local people sent the injured to Bagnan Rural Hospital. As the condition of three of them was serious, they were shifted to Saratchandra Chattopadhyay Government Medical College in Uluberia. Rewari Blast: 100 Factory Workers Injured After Boiler Explodes at Factory in Haryana (Watch Videos).

Local MLA and state minister Pulak Roy visited the hospital and enquired about the condition of the three injured people.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Jun 15 (PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah Saturday hailed the listing of the Smritivan Earthquake Memorial Museum in Bhuj among the seven most beautiful museums in the world under the prestigious Prix Versailles Award.

In a post on 'X', Shah said the listing of Smritivan under the prestigious Prix Versailles Award will spread worldwide the fragrance of the memories of those people who lost their lives in the 2001 earthquake in Bhuj.

Also Read | Renukaswamy Murder Case: Court Extends Police Custody of Kannada Actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, Associates Till June 20.

"It is a touching moment for all of us as Smritivan in Kutch finds a place in the prestigious World Selection for the Prix Versailles Museums 2024.

"Envisioned by PM Shri @narendramodi Ji, Smritivan is a museum that preserves the memories of the people we lost in the devastating earthquake in 2001. Its inclusion in the World Selection for the Prix Versailles Museums 2024 will spread the fragrance of their memories worldwide," he said.

Also Read | Rudraprayag Tempo Accident: Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami Meets Victims After Vehicle Falls Into Gorge on Rishikesh-Badrinath Highway, Probe On (Watch Videos).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also hailed the inclusion of Gujarat's Smritivan memorial in the World Selection for the Prix Versailles Museums 2024.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Jammu, Jun 15 (PTI) The Jammu and Kashmir unit of Congress on Saturday passed a resolution here, appealing former party president Rahul Gandhi to take the role of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

The resolution was passed at a one-day convention of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chaired by J-K unit president Vikar Rasool Wani and attended by almost all senior leaders and workers, a party spokesman said.

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"Rahul Gandhi taking over as the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha is the need of the hour. This is the demand of general workers and the people of this country who desire a strong opposition to raise the issues faced by the common people," the spokesman said, quoting the resolution.

The convention, first after the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls which saw the BJP retaining both seats of Jammu region for the third term, also congratulated Sonia Gandhi on being elected chairperson of Congress Parliamentary Party, lauding her leadership and dedication towards the party throughout her political career.

Also Read | Rudraprayag Tempo Accident: Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami Meets Victims After Vehicle Falls Into Gorge on Rishikesh-Badrinath Highway, Probe On (Watch Videos).

The Congress also expressed serious concern over the deteriorating security situation in Jammu region and asked the government to take concrete action against terrorism and create a conducive atmosphere for holding Assembly elections by September 30 as has been directed by the Supreme Court.

Hitting out at the Centre and the J&K administration for alleged failure to control terrorism in the Union Territory, Wani accused the Modi government of "playing politics" claiming normalcy in J-K and "misleading" the entire nation regarding the ground situation.

He asked the government to ensure an atmosphere of safety and security and create situations conducive to holding assembly elections under the deadline given by the Supreme Court.

The Congress leader said the party and the INDIA bloc performed very well in the Lok Sabha polls, and appreciated the efforts and dedication of the party workers for managing to bring down the victory margin of the BJP in Jammu and Udhampur seats.

The convention began with two minutes of silence to mourn the death of nine persons including seven pilgrims returning from Shiv Khori temple, and CRPF jawan in recent terror attacks with participants praying for speedy recovery of those injured in the incidents.

The spokesman said the convention also passed a resolution on the prevailing security situation in J-K and condemned the recent terror attacks. The resolution asked the centre to take concrete action to eliminate the menace, and tell Pakistan in strongest terms to stop sponsoring terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

The JKPCC stands together with the government and the brave forces in dealing with the current situation and seeks restoration of an atmosphere of safety and security, the resolution said.

"We strongly urge the Central government and the UT administration to ensure incident-free Amarnath Yatra, scheduled to commence on June 29, at all costs," the spokesman said.

The party also passed a resolution on political affairs and the road ahead, urging the government to create a conducive atmosphere for holding the assembly elections immediately.

It said the Congress is fully geared up for the assembly elections and the Election Commissioner and the government are urged to ensure level-playing field in the matter of security to party leaders and prominent functionaries of the opposition parties in view of the deteriorating situation.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, June 14: The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Friday said that it would issue the admit cards for the University Grants Commission (UGC)-NET exams by tonight. The NTA will conduct UGC-NET in OMR mode across India on June 18. "NTA plans to issue UGC-NET admit cards by tonight. Please check at https://ugcnet.nta.ac.in Wishing the best to all the candidates who are going to take UGC-NET on 18 June 2024", said Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, Chairman, UGC. UGC NET June 2024 City Intimation Slip Released at ugcnet.nta.ac.in, Know How to Download

Earlier, the National Testing Agency and University Grants Commission (UGC) decided to shift the UGC-NET from June 16 (Sunday) to June 18, 2024 (Tuesday) to avoid clashing with the UPSC preliminary exam. NEET 2024 UG 'Paper Leak': Supreme Court Issues Notice on NTAs Plea Seeking Transfer of Pending Petition From Delhi High Court

UGC NET is a test to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for 'Assistant Professor' and 'Junior Research Fellowship Assistant Professor' in Indian universities and colleges. Notably, UPSC CSE is scheduled to be held on June 16 and was clashing with UGC NET.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
BSF and Punjab police with the recovered drone and narcotics. (Photo/X)

Amritsar (Punjab) [India], June 15 (ANI): The Border Security Force and Punjab police, in a joint operation, recovered a Chinese drone along with narcotics from a farming field in Amritsar, the force said

"On June 14, 2024, acting on information by the BSF intelligence wing about the presence of a drone with narcotics in the border area of Amritsar district, BSF troops, in collaboration with Punjab Police, launched an extensive search operation in the suspected area" the BSF said in a statement

Also Read | NEET UG 2024 Paper Leak: Bihar Polices EOU Serves Notice to 11 Candidates in Alleged Cheating Case.

BSF recovered one drone along with one packet of suspected heroin from a farming field adjacent to village Kahangarh in Amritsar district.

The BSF further said, "During the search operation, at about 8.10 pm, troops successfully recovered one drone along with one packet of suspected heroin with gross weight of 557 grammes from a farming field adjacent to village Kahangarh in Amritsar district. The narcotics were packed in a plastic container that was wrapped with yellow colour adhesive tape. A copper wire ring was also found attached to the packet."

Also Read | ONGC, Oil India Ltd To Gain Benefit As Government Cuts Windfall Tax on Petroleum Crude Oil, Effective From Today in Response to Declining Prices in International Market.

The recovered drone has been identified as a China-made DJI Mavic 3 classic.

The BSF added that reliable information and coordinated efforts by the BSF and Punjab police successfully recovered yet another illicit drone along with suspected heroin from across the border. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], June 15 (ANI): The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition filed by Leena Paulose, wife of alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, challenging the Delhi High Court order, which adjourned her bail appeal in the Rs 200-crore extortion case.

A vacation bench of Justices PV Sanjay Kumar and Augustine George Masih made it clear that accelerated proceedings in the case cannot be sought.

Also Read | NEET UG 2024 Paper Leak: Bihar Polices EOU Serves Notice to 11 Candidates in Alleged Cheating Case.

"Special Leave Petition is dismissed. Pending applications shall also stand dismissed," the bench stated in its order passed on June 14.

Paulose had filed an SLP against the Delhi High Court's May 20 order, which adjourned her bail plea for July.

Also Read | ONGC, Oil India Ltd To Gain Benefit As Government Cuts Windfall Tax on Petroleum Crude Oil, Effective From Today in Response to Declining Prices in International Market.

The bench noted that the plea was filed before the High Court on May 14 and then the notice was issued on May 20.

"You have been in prison for two years and eight months, as soon as you come to the court you require an order," the top court observed.

As the counsel representing Paulose requested the apex court for expedited proceedings, the bench said, "Not for us to arrange the board of the High Court."

As per the prosecution Chandrashekhar and his wife, Leena Paulose, were allegedly involved in running an organised crime syndicate with their associates since 2013 with the motive of pecuniary gain by cheating and extortion.

Both Chandrasekhar and his wife were arrested by the Delhi Police in September 2021 for their alleged role in the duping case. They are presently in judicial custody. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, June 14: Delhi's Tis Hazari Court on Friday extended the judicial custody of Bibhav Kumar, a former aide to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for one day. He was produced through video conferencing after the expiration of judicial custody in Swati Maliwal assault case. He was remanded to judicial custody on May 31 after his interrogation in AAP MP Swati Maliwal alleged assault case. Duty Metropolitan Magistrate Gita extended the judicial custody till Saturday.

The court extended the remand for one day as the Investigation Officer was not present. Advocate Karan Sharma appeared for Bibhav Kumar on Friday. He was arrested on May 18 by Delhi Police. A case was registered by Delhi police after receiving a complaint from Swati Maliwal on May 16. The incident of alleged assault is of May 13. Swati Maliwal Assault Case: Delhi High Court Seeks Police Stand on CM Arvind Kejriwal Aide Bibhav Kumars Bail Plea

Recently, Delhi's Tis Hazari Court dismissed the regular bail plea of Bibhav Kumar. The court dismissed the bail application in view of threats received by the victim, Swati Maliwal and apprehension of influencing the witnesses by the accused. While dismissing the bail application, the court observed, "In view of the fact that investigation is at an initial stage and there is a fear in the mind of the victim regarding her security as well as the security of her family members.... There is also apprehension that the accused Bibhav Kumar would influence the witnesses, if at liberty." Swati Maliwal Assault Case: HC Notice to Delhi Police on Bibhav's Bail Plea

"So I do not find any merit in the bail application of accused Bibhav Kumar. Hence, the present regular bail application of accused Bibhav Kumar is hereby dismissed," Special judge Ekta Gauba Mann ordered on June 7. It is the second bail plea which has been dismissed by the court. His first regular bail plea was dismissed on May 27.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Karachi, June 15: Authorities in Karachi apprehended a trader on Saturday for allegedly selling sacrificial goats with plastic teeth in the Gulberg Chowrangi area, as reported by ARY News. A circulating video on social media depicted a customer removing what appeared to be plastic teeth from one of the goats, prompting swift action from law enforcement.

The arrested trader, hailing from Hyderabad and in Karachi to sell animals for Eidul Adha, admitted under questioning by police that he was involved in the sale. Police seized seven additional goats as part of their investigation into the incident, according to ARY News. Animal Cruelty in Pakistan: Man Chops Off Camels Leg for Grazing in Agricultural Field, Horrific Video Surfaces.

"The video circulating on social media provided us with vital information about the sale of goats with artificial teeth, leading to the trader's arrest," a police official clarified. Eidul Adha, slated for June 17 following the sighting of the Zil Hajj moon on June 7, is a significant religious festival where Muslims commemorate Prophet Ibrahim's obedience to God by sacrificing animals. The meat from these sacrifices is traditionally shared with family and the less fortunate. Pakistan Shocker: 12-Year-Old House Help Girl Tortured to Death by Her Employers in Sargodha.

The tradition, rooted in the story of Prophet Ibrahimi, involves the sacrifice of animals over three days during Eid celebrations. Investigations into the case are ongoing, as authorities continue to look into the matter, ARY News reported.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
President Joe Biden's border crackdown is already sending thousands of undocumented migrants back to Mexico. However, the chief of the UNHCR, Filippo Grandi, says that several aspects of these US border restrictions may be breaking international laws.

Filippo Grandi serves as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). His agency recently issued its annual "Global Trends" report for 2023. That report found that the cumulative number of people who have been subjected to forced displacement rose to 120 million last year, which is around 6 million more people.

Grandi recently spoke with the Associated Press in an interview and touched on the various conflicts around the world, including Palestine and Sudan. However, he admitted that the US is facing the "most complex challenge" when it comes to refugees of any country in the developed world.

Despite this, he blasted the Biden administration's plans to enact new restrictions on migrants who are seeking asylum at the US-Mexico border, saying that the Biden border clampdown is a possible violation of international humanitarian law.

However, the UNHCR chief did praise Biden for his plans to resettle some 125,000 refugees in the United States, calling it "a very shining example of US generosity."

With these new US border restrictions, US officials are allowed to turn back migrants once the threshold of 2,500 encounters is met. The migrants would not be given the chance to plead for asylum and would be deported immediately, with a few exceptions, such as unaccompanied minors and people who genuinely look terrified of being sent back to their respective countries. However, they would receive a much stricter screening process than before.

Several rights groups in the United States have already sued the Biden administration over these border restrictions.

READ MORE: Hunter Biden Guilty Verdict: Joe Biden Says He Will Not Pardon Son and Will 'Respect the Judicial Process'

US Border Restrictions Under Joe Biden Already Affecting Migrants

Biden's border restrictions have already captured the attention of the UNHCR, as the migrants who have already been deported are facing a massive decision on whether or not to try again.

NPR's Sergio Martinez-Beltran was recently at the US-Mexico border and spoke with several migrants who were deported. Many of them admitted that they were turned back, including a 30-year-old mother and her two young children trying to flee cartel violence in Guerrero state. She told NPR that she plans to go back to Guerrero and admitted she did not know about the new Biden border restrictions.

Joe Biden Might Announce Protections for Certain Undocumented Immigrants Amid Border Restrictions

Meanwhile, President Biden is also expected to announce a new executive action geared towards protecting certain undocumented immigrants living in the United States from deportation.

Sources familiar with Biden's plan have told PBS News that it is expected to protect the undocumented spouses of US citizens from being deported and even allow them to work legally in the country. The decision is expected to give a more "streamlined pathway" for them to become US citizens. No final decision has yet been made on additional executive actions that might be taken.

READ MORE: Mexico Wearing Down Migrants as New Tactic to Deter Immigration Amid Biden Crackdown

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: President Biden delivers remarks on new action at U.S. border | NBC News
Former President Donald Trump convened a gathering of over 80 CEOs in Washington on Thursday, offering a pledge of potential tax cuts and reduced business regulations if re-elected in November.

Trump's remarks, delivered at the Business Roundtable's quarterly meeting, outlined plans to lower corporate taxes and revive economic policies from his previous term, promising continuity for corporate leaders, CNBC reports.

Donald Trump, aiming for a return to the White House, proposed lowering the federal corporate tax rate to 20% from the current 21%, a move he believes would bolster competitiveness and stimulate economic growth, sources familiar with the meeting disclosed.

Addressing a gathering that included top executives like JPMorgan Chase's Jamie Dimon and Apple's Tim Cook, Trump underscored the potential benefits of a reduced corporate tax burden, positioning it as essential for sustaining economic recovery and encouraging business expansion.

Trump also highlighted his administration's prior success in cutting taxes, citing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which he touted as a catalyst for job creation and corporate investment during his presidency.

He emphasized his intention to make these tax cuts permanent if elected, a move aimed at providing long-term stability for businesses navigating post-pandemic economic challenges.

READ NEXT: Donald Trump and Senator Mitch McConnell to Meet for First Time Since 2020

Policy Proposals and Reactions

In a "fireside chat" format with Larry Kudlow, his former economic advisor, Donald Trump further detailed his economic agenda, advocating for additional measures to stimulate the economy.

These included exempting tipped worker earnings from federal taxes, an initiative he introduced to rally support among working-class Americans in recent public addresses.

The Trump-US CEO meeting also served as a platform for Trump to criticize current economic policies under President Joe Biden.

Trump accused the Biden administration of stifling economic growth through excessive regulations and high taxes, contrasting this with his proposed deregulation and tax reduction agenda.

Trump's remarks resonated positively among many CEOs present, who have expressed concerns over potential policy shifts under a new administration, according to Bloomberg.

The prospect of a reduced corporate tax rate from 21% to 20% was welcomed as a potential boon for profitability and competitiveness in global markets, according to sources within the meeting.

Contrasting Visions and Future Prospects

The meeting underscored stark policy differences between Trump and Biden, particularly on economic matters.

While Trump advocated for aggressive tax cuts and deregulation to spur economic growth, Biden's administration has prioritized infrastructure investment, climate initiatives, and social welfare programs as key pillars of its economic strategy.

The contrasting visions presented at the Business Roundtable highlight the divergent paths the country could take depending on the outcome of the upcoming presidential election, the New York Times noted.

Trump's pitch to corporate leaders aimed to solidify support among key business constituencies, positioning himself as a champion of pro-business policies amid broader economic uncertainties.

The gathering of the Trump-US CEO meeting at the Business Roundtable reflects ongoing efforts to shape the economic agenda leading up to the 2024 election.

Donald Trump's proposals for tax cuts and deregulation resonate with corporate leaders seeking stability and favorable business conditions while also drawing criticism from opponents who argue such policies favor the wealthy and exacerbate economic inequality.

READ MORE: Trump Draws Thousands at First Nevada Rally Since New York

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Trump to meet with CEOs in DC - From CNBC Television
Infamous conspiracy theorist Alex Jones is in deep financial trouble as his unfounded claims about the Sandy Hook massacre have come back to bite him, and he may lose his InfoWars program because of this after a judge threw out his bankruptcy plan and ordered him to liquidate his assets to pay the lawsuits he lost.

The future of the InfoWars conspiracy theory/supplements hawking program is now in question after Judge Christopher Lopez ruled that Jones' proposed personal bankruptcy must be reorganized into a liquidation to pat the Sandy Hook families. The judge also rejected Jones's e attempted reorganization of his company, Austin, Texas-based Free Speech Systems.

According to the Associated Press, if the bankruptcy reorganization of Free Speech Systems were converted to a liquidation, Alex Jones could have lost ownership of not only his company, but also its social media accounts, the Infowars studio in Austin, and all copyrights as the company's possessions, because all of them would have been sold. Jones was seen smiling when the judge dismissed the company's case.

However, the future of the company and Jones's InfoWars program is still very much unknown as it is still unclear if the company and Infowars are allowed to keep operating during the efforts to collect on the $1.5 billion debt is still happening in the state courts in Texas and Connecticut, where the cases filed by the Sandy Hook families happened.

It is also unclear if the lawyers for the Sandy Hook families would go back to the bankruptcy court and ask the judge to liquidate the company as part of Jones' personal case. This is possible because Jones owns the business.

READ MORE: '2000 Mules' Donald Trump Propaganda Movie Still Being Spread After Being Debunked, Losing Court Battle

Sandy Hook Families Still Have Not Been Paid by Alex Jones

Jones owes the Sandy Hook families approximately $1.5 billion in judgments against him. However, those same families have yet to see a penny, and they could still ask the judge to liquidate his company.

If the judge rules in favor of the families, this could result in Info Wars being shuttered, according to CNN. Should this happen, a court-appointed trustee would be made to secure the company's assets and sell off parts of the infamous conspiracy theory and health supplement media empire.

"Infowars would no longer exist," Sandy Hook families' lawyer Christopher Mattei told CNN. Should this happen, Jones would be left without a platform to spread dangerous and hateful conspiracy theories that have spread false information in the US, from conspiracy theories that water turns frogs gay to various mass shootings being "false flag operations."

What the Bankruptcy Judge Said Regarding the Alex Jones Case

As to what the judge said during the trial, Judge Lopez noted that dismissing the case was the "right call and added that "the interim trustee, and later the permanent trustee, in Jones' personal case would have an interest in the case."

"Those trustees will make decisions about where things go," he stated. "We're not leaving things into the wind here."

READ MORE: Sandy Hook Controversy: Alex Jones' Wild Spending Criticized Amid Non-Payment To Conspiracy Theory Victims

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Alex Jones forced to liquidate assets and pay families of Sandy Hook victims - CNN
A car that was part of the motorcade belonging to Mexico President-Elect Claudia Sheinbaum crashed into another vehicle while traveling in Coahuila state, injuring several people and killing one. The president-elect, however, was ok.

Sheinbaum and her party were traveling north to meet up with President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. She was riding in the car behind the one that crashed and the rest of her motorcade was forced to stop at the scene of the collision. They checked on the people involved as they received attention from emergency staff.

Meanwhile, the person who died was not part of the motorcade but was instead riding the vehicle that crashed into one of the cars in the motorcade, according to Bloomberg. Sheinbaum's office released a statement, saying, "We deeply regret that a person in the other vehicle died."

The incident happened in the town of Monclova, and Mayor Mario Davila stated that the van that was escorting Sheinbaum was driving at high speed and did not stop when it collided with a local car.

Sheinbaum had just visited the infamous mine known as Pasta de Conchos when the incident happened. The mine was the site of a 2006 explosion that killed 60 miners. Almost 20 years later, the first remains have been found at the site earlier this week.

Mexico President-Elect Claudia Sheinbaum To Continue Predecessor AMLO's Judicial Reforms

Sheinbaum has been very busy as she awaits being sworn in as Mexico's next president. On Monday, she announced that she would encourage broad discussions over the proposed constitutional reforms by her predecessor and mentor, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO).

READ MORE: Claudia Sheinbaum Net Worth: How Much is the Mexico President-Elect Worth?

One of these reforms would include having Supreme Court justices in Mexico now being an elected position rather than an appointed one. This will also apply to some lower courts, and critics are sounding the alarm that these changes "would fundamentally alter the balance of power in Mexico."

The uncertainty stemming from these changes has caused the Mexican peso to plunge in value, yet AMLO and Sheinbaum are still pushing for these changes.

"With the current scenario of uncertainty, an exchange rate of 20 pesos per dollar for this year can't be ruled out," said financial analyst Gabriela Siller in a tweet on X.

AMLO Critics Worry Mexico President-Elect Claudia Sheinbaum Would Be Predecessor's Puppet

Meanwhile, as Claudia Sheinbaum prepares to take power from her mentor, many of AMLO's critics have expressed their worries that she would govern Mexico as AMLO's populist "puppet," given her closeness to him and her promising to continue his policies.

However, others are saying that she may inevitably go her own way, as she has promised to have a public debate on judicial reform and has also leaned more towards green energy as a climate scientist rather than embrace her mentor's love for fossil fuels.

As Semafor pointed out, these successors "inevitably go their own way," with author Francisco Goldman noting that "unlike AMLO, she is a politician of the twenty-first, rather than twentieth-century left."

READ MORE: Mexico President-Elect Claudia Sheinbaum Unlikely To Repeat AMLO's 'Bromance' With Donald Trump, Say Analysts

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Why US Corporations Are So Threatened by Mexico's Next President Claudia Sheinbaum - BreakThrough News
In an unusual moment of silence, Donald Trump stepped back as his Las Vegas supporters broke into an impromptu rendition of "Happy Birthday."

Acknowledging the occasion with reluctance, Trump remarked, "There's a certain point at which you don't want to hear 'Happy Birthday.' You just want to pretend the day doesn't exist."

However, the significance of turning 78 isn't lost on the former president, especially as he contemplates another potential presidential bid, according to CNN.

Trump vs. Biden: A Battle of Age and Fitness

Donald Trump's age has become a focal point, particularly as he eyes another term in the Oval Office.

At 78, he would surpass Biden's record as the oldest president at inauguration, should he win.

Concerns about Biden's fitness for office, fueled by his physical decline, have been exploited by Trump's allies.

However, Trump's mental acuity has faced scrutiny, particularly given his light travel schedule and apparent fatigue during public appearances.

Aversion of Donald Trump birthdays is well-known, with Ivana Trump once stating, "Donald hates his birthdays."

His 78th birthday seemed to evoke similar sentiments, as he expressed discomfort when supporters sang to him at a rally, The New York Times reports.

Despite his efforts to downplay age, both Trump and Biden attempt to paint each other as unfit for office, with campaign tactics focusing on portraying the opponent as old and out of touch.

Celebrating Donald Trump birthday in West Palm Beach, the ex-POTUS addressed Club 47 fan club members, surrounded by symbols of his presidency and campaign.

A towering cake adorned with Trump memorabilia set the stage for a festive atmosphere.

Despite the jubilation, Trump's speech touched on familiar campaign promises, including immigration reform and tax cuts.

READ NEXT: Donald Trump Convenes with US CEOs at Quarterly Business Roundtable

Strong Support Amid Controversy

Donald Trump's enduring popularity within the Republican Party was evident during his birthday celebrations.

Despite facing legal challenges and a divided party, Trump received a warm reception from lawmakers and supporters alike.

His influence remains significant, with many Republicans rallying behind him despite past controversies.

Meanwhile, the Biden campaign seized the opportunity to critique Trump's presidency, highlighting policy failures and legal troubles, AP News noted.

Biden's age, while a concern for some, is less scrutinized by Republicans than Democratic concerns about Trump's fitness for office.

Despite the tumultuous political landscape, Trump's visit to Capitol Hill showcased a united front among Republicans.

Leaders like Mitch McConnell, who had previously distanced themselves from Trump, endorsed him, signaling a unified Republican Party ahead of the next presidential election.

The event in West Palm Beach served as a testament to Trump's local support base. Organized by Club 47, the gathering aimed to demonstrate the community's backing for Trump, emphasizing his ties to the area and his enduring popularity among residents.

Donald Trump navigates the complexities of age and political speculation; his birthday celebration reminds him of his enduring influence within the Republican Party and the broader political landscape.

Whether he decides to pursue another presidential bid remains to be seen. Still, his presence continues to shape the dynamics of American politics.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Faces Pre-Sentencing Interview in NY Hush Money Case

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Trump celebrates 78th birthday | FOX 5 News - From FOX 5 Atlanta
Pope Francis is now the first pontiff to address the Group of Seven (G7) leaders during their summit in Italy. The pope challenged leaders of the world's wealthy democracies to "keep human dignity foremost in developing and using artificial intelligence (AI)."

Pope Francis was invited by the host country, Italy, and he was able to address a special session of the G7's annual summit.

"The perils and promises of AI" was on the world leaders' agenda for that session.

During his address to the G7, the first pontiff from Latin America offered an ethical take on AI, which is increasingly becoming a top agenda for international summits, government policy, and corporate boards, according to the Associated Press.

"Politicians must take the lead in making sure AI remains human-centric so that decisions about when to use weapons or even less-lethal tools always remain made by humans and not machines," he said in his speech.

"We would condemn humanity to a future without hope if we took away people's ability to make decisions about themselves and their lives, by dooming them to depend on the choices of machines," the pope added. "We need to ensure and safeguard a space for proper human control over the choices made by artificial intelligence programs: Human dignity itself depends on it."

It was noted that his concerns largely reflected the world leaders' as well. They vowed to "better coordinate the governance and regulatory frameworks surrounding AI" so that it would be "human-centered," as Pope Francis suggested.

"We will pursue an inclusive, human-centered, digital transformation that underpins economic growth and sustainable development, maximizes benefits, and manages risks, in line with our shared democratic values and respect for human rights," said the G7 leaders in a joint statement.

READ MORE: Pope Francis Sides With Peru Villagers Whose Lands Are Getting Stolen by a Catholic Group

Pope Francis Told Families To Keep Homilies Short Because 'People Fall Asleep'

Before the G7 summit, however, Pope Francis also addressed something many Catholics agree on, and that is to keep homilies shorter as priests tend to drone on and have some of their flock fall asleep.

He told priests that their homilies "must be short: an image, a thought, a feeling" and added, "Priests sometimes talk a lot and you don't understand what they are talking about."

The Argentinian also emphasized that homilies should not last longer than eight minutes "because after that time attention is lost and people fall asleep, and they are right."

Pope Francis Recently Met With Comedians From All Over the World at the Vatican

Aside from meeting with the G7, some of the most powerful leaders on Earth, the pope also met with comedians from all over the world, with 106 of them descending on the Vatican for the meeting.

He told the assembled comedians, which include Stephen Colbert, Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Rock, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and more, that they have the "power to spread serenity and smiles" in a world where people are immersed in "many social and personal emergencies," adding, "You unite people because laughter is contagious."

"You can also laugh at God, of course, and that's not blasphemy," he stated and added that "it can be done without offending the religious feelings of believers."

READ MORE: Argentina Rightwing President Javier Milei Hugs Man He Called a 'Filthy Leftist,' Pope Francis

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert & Whoopi Goldberg crack jokes at the Vatican - ROME REPORTS in English
Downtown Bethlehem Restaurant Week is scheduled to start on Sunday, June 23, and continue through Saturday, June 29.

The Downtown Bethlehem Association announced details of this years installment in a news release last week. The following restaurants are participating, according to the release:

1741 on the Terrace, 515 Main, Apollo Grill, Billys Downtown Diner, Edge Restaurant, Fegleys Bethlehem Brew Works, Historic Hotel Bethlehem  Tap Room, Mama Ninas, McCarthys Red Stag Pub and Whiskey Bar, Mediterranean Grill, Randevoo Restaurant, Steak & Steel Hibachi Inc., Tapas on Main, The Brick, The Flying Egg, Twisted Olive and Urbano Mexican Kitchen & Bar.

Most participating restaurants offer special menus and prices during the week. Additionally information is available on the Visit Historic Bethlehem website.

MORE: Pennsylvania Ice Cream Trail launched for 2024 just south of Lehigh Valley

Safeguarding Seniors symposium planned

Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan announced his office will hold a free symposium for the public to learn more about elder abuse issues and scams.

The Safeguarding Seniors event is scheduled for June 25 at DeSales University Center in Upper Saucon Township. It is being held in concert with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the district attorneys office said in a news release.

The public session begins around 1 p.m. with opening remarks and personal stories from family members of two local elder abuse cases who will share their real-life experiences, the release said.

Registration for the event is required and can be accessed at this link.

MORE: Lehigh County authorities prevent resident from losing $115K to scammer

More local headlines

Lehighvalleynews.com reports Mishka Premium Vodka received conditional approval last week from the Allentown Planning Commission to demolish the former A-Treat Bottling facility on East Livingston Street and replace it with a distilling facility.

MORE: Read the full lehighvalleynews.com story here.

Mcall.com reports Rothrock Motor Sales, the dealership off the 15th Street exit of Route 22 in South Whitehall Township, has been sold to Massachusetts-based DCD Automotive Holdings and now will carry the Nucar name.

MORE: Read the full mcall.com story here.

WFMZ.com reports Pennsylvania state Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh, is pushing for a bill that would allocate $10 million in funding for education groups and institutions to recruit high school students into teaching.

MORE: Read the full WFMZ.com story here.
A man who breached a safety order in Laois was told to find a new address or go to prison.

The man(35) who has a Laois address and cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted loitering near his ex partners house on January 24 last.

Garda Peter Leonard told the court he had received a complaint from the mans ex partner. Her mother had phoned her to tell her the mna was hanging around outside and she decided not to return home that night.

Garda Leonard said the defendant had 10 previous convictions including four for drugs and five for road traffic offences and one for a breach of a safety order.

Solicitor Josepine Fitzpatrick said the woman who took out the order subsequently moved to an address that was quite close to the accused. The court heard the accused now lives less than 10 doors away from the woman.

It clearly put her in fear but he does live nearby, she said.

She also said there had been no further incidents since the offence took place.

There was no aggravating factor in so far as there was no abuse, there was no bad language, she said.

The woman who took out the safety order took the stand.

I have severe depression and anxiety down to this, she said.

I was afraid before because he contacted me threatening my life and my families lives, she explained.

She told the court he visits a house two doors away from hers.

You can move away from this estate or you can move up to the Dublin Road, Judge Andrew Cody told the defendant in reference to the Midlands Prison on the Dublin Road in Portlaoise.

He has two choices, to move to the Dublin Road or to move somewhere of his choosing, he told Ms Fitzpatrick.

She said if given a week the man would be able to find alternative accommodation.

Judge Cody adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court on June 27 for finalisation.
World Refugee Week will take place internationally from the 17th to the 23rd of June, with the International Day for Refugees falling on June 20th.

Laois County Council Integration Team, in partnership with Laois Libraries, LOETB and various Tidy Towns groups, will be holding an array of events to celebrate throughout the week.

Here is a list of local events that have been announced;

Care for Our Home

Tidy Towns clean-ups

Take small actions to care for our shared home. Join your local Tidy Town for a clean up session.

19 June, 10am - Portarlington, Meeting point: Library

19 June, 7pm - Abbeyleix, Meeting point: Library

22 June, 10am - Portlaoise, Meeting point: Lyster Square

Make a New Connection

Open Library Days

Have a chat! Say hello to someone new in your neighbourhood.

20 June, 10am - Mountmellick Library Coffee Morning

20 June, 6pm - Abbeyleix Library Open Evening

Discover a Story

Art Exhibition

17 - 23 June Rathdowney Library, during opening hours.

Learn about refugees experiences through their artwork. Closing event for LOETB art programme.





VISIT A HUMAN LIBRARY

Borrow A Person Instead Of A Book -where real people become books, ready to share

their unique stories and experiences with you. The Human Library provides a safe space for people to break down social barriers through open and respectful conversation.

PORTLAOISE LIBRARY- 20th June 5pm-7pm.

PORTARLINGTON LIBRARY- 11am-12pm.

This week, the council announced in a press release;

"Refugee Week is the worlds largest arts & culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary.

Established in 1998 in the UK, this annual festival aligns with World Refugee Day, celebrated globally on June 20th. The theme for Refugee Week 2024 is Our Home.

From the places we gather to share meals to our collective home, planet earth: everyone is invited to celebrate what our 'Our Home' means to them. This year the Integration team partnered with Laois Libraries, LOETB and various Tidy Towns groups to deliver a number of events across county Laois. All of them have one aim: to send a message of welcome that can help everyone feel like they belong."

If you would like to establish your own event in celebration of World Refugee Week, visit this link.
A founding member of the DUP has said nationalists need to reach out to unionists as part of the discussion over Irish unity.

Wallace Thompson told the Irelands Future event in Belfast that he had received terrible abuse from unionists for suggesting that a united Ireland was inevitable.

He was taking part in a Protestants perspective panel discussion at the rally on Saturday.

Also taking part was former loyalist paramilitary and politician David Adams, who hit out at the Irelands Future movement for failing to reach out to unionists.

Mr Thompson described himself as an evangelical Protestant and a lifelong supporter of the Rev Ian Paisley.

He received applause for saying he was outside his comfort zone in taking part in the Irish unity event.

Mr Thompson said: My conscience is clear. I have no difficulties setting out what I have been saying in the last two or three years, especially since the Brexit vote and the (Northern Ireland) Protocol.

I am a unionist but I am on a journey. In that journey, it is vitally important that we all talk to each other as we think things through.

I would want to encourage my nationalist and republican fellow countrymen and woman to engage with the loyalist, unionist, Protestant community.

We may come across as triumphalist and bigoted, and all those things. I fully understand how perceptions can be vitally important in these matters.

But, as a community, we often feel beleaguered and besieged, and over the years much of what we have said and done has been brought about by that feeling of insecurity, which can come over as triumphalist and overbearing.

Mr Thompson said people had to try and move forward together.

He added: I understand there are changes going to happen. I used the word inevitable about a new Ireland and I have been caught on that since; but it is, I think, on the way at some stage in the future.

My own evangelical Protestant community have been surprisingly supportive but I have taken terrible stick and abuse from a lot of fellow unionists, which is sad but perhaps is inevitable.

Loyalist Mr Adams said: For an organisation like Irelands Future to ignore the need for reconciliation is bad enough, but worse by far, some of the most vocal leading lights have from the outset been expressing their opposition to it.

He added: An awful lot of Protestants feel that Irelands Future is on some sort of revenge mission, as in lets nail the six onto the 26 and the Prods can either fit in or clear off back to England or Scotland.
A Naas District Court defendant said that he 'didn't have time' to pay for the beer he shoplifted.

The man made the comments when he appeared before Judge Desmond Zaidan in court on Thursday, June 13 last.

The judge was told by gardai that the man shoplifted a number of cans of beer from a shop located in County Kildare last year.

He pleaded guilty to the offence.

An interpreter was appointed for the man, as he was a foreign national with little English, and he was also assisted by defending solicitor Brian Larkin.

When Judge Zaidan asked the man why he stole the cans, the interpreter put the question to him in his native language.

The man was seen speaking to the interpreter, and in turn, the interpreter was seen translating his answer into English for Mr Larkin.

After listening to the translation, Mr Larkin told the judge: "I think there may be a translation issue here"

When the question was put to the interpreter, she replied that the man said: "I didnt have time to pay for the beer."

Gardai said that the man has no previous convictions, and has not come to garda attention since the incident.

Judge Zaidan decided to apply the Probation Act on the mans case.
Former X Factor sensation, Mary Byrne is back at the Moat Theatre in Naas with, Check Me Out. Verdant Production and Rob Murphy are proud to announce this highly anticipated all-new show.

Directed by the talented Murphy, this one-woman performance promises to be a riveting and emotional journey through Marys remarkable life.

Fresh from her successful Irish and UK tour of Menopause The Musical 2, Mary Byrne returns to her roots to share her incredible story in her own words, live on-stage. This show is a deeply moving and intensely honest portrayal of Marys life. From her humble beginnings at the checkout counter to her unforgettable journey on X Factor, Mary takes the audience on a nostalgic ride filled with laughter, music, and heartfelt moments.

This world premiere production is set to grace the main stage of The Civic Theatre, promising an unforgettable experience for all attendees. Her performance will include some of the classic songs associated with Marys career to date: This Is My Life, This Is A Mans World and Always On My Mind.

The show comes to the Moat Theatre on August 17. Further information on www.moattheatre.com
Strong and specific apologies from the IRA and the Irish state for its historical treatment of non-Catholics could help to change hearts and minds over unification, Leo Varadkar has said.

The former premier said it had to be acknowledged that in its first decades of existence the Irish state was sectarian in character

He also said he believed the next Dublin government should consider using its budget surplus to set up a fund to prepare for the economic challenges of Irish unity.

Mr Varadkar was speaking at the Irelands Future event in Belfast on Saturday.

He told the rally that while he did not hold any government position any more, he still wanted to advocate for unity.

Mr Varadkar said: I think it is really important that the belief in unification isnt seen to be the preserve of any one particular party or one or two parties, it needs to be all parties and no party.

I think one of the most important things that we need to do is to make sure we maximise support for that and reach out to people who may be unenthusiastic about it south of the border and those who arent convinced or dont support it yet here north of the border.

Mr Varadkar said he hoped that under the next Irish government what is a longstanding political aspiration towards unification becomes a political objective.

He said: It means actively working towards it, preparing the ground for it, for the financial implications, talking about the model, the new constitution, what it might look like.

But I think for good reasons we prioritised the deal around Brexit, prioritised having the (Stormont) institutions functioning, and it is important that we dont do anything that might destabilise them.

He added: I think this (planning for unification) could be best done in a scenario where the Assembly, the Executive, the north south bodies are all operating.

The former Taoiseach said he was reluctant to set a target date for a unity referendum, but said he would like to see a conversation about what the criteria for calling a poll would be.

He also predicated a united Ireland would be an economic success.

Mr Varadkar said: I dont buy the idea that it will cost 20 billion euro a year or anything close to that.

But there will be a cost.

He said when he was Taoiseach a number of funds had been set up to prepare for the future.

We could set up a fund as well and start setting aside some of the surplus to prepare for that transition period.

The basic principle, which is a prudent one, at a time when we have a surplus and we wont have a surplus forever, we are setting aside money for costs that we know are going to rise like climate action, like infrastructure, like pensions.

I think it is reasonable to apply that same logic to unification and to start to set aside money now to ease that transition and also to reassure people who might be worried there will be an economic cost to them.

Mr Varadkar was then asked if, as part of a unity process, the IRA should apologise to victims or the Irish state for its past treatment of non-Catholics.

He said: I think we should certainly acknowledge that the first few decades of the Irish free state and the Irish state which followed was sectarian in character.

Mr Varadkar added: I think we have to acknowledge that for quite some time the Irish state gave the Catholic church a special position and therefore treated minorities as if they were in a different position.

I think we have to acknowledge that.

In terms of apologies I think apologies are appropriate but you have to be careful about them.

You can only apologise for things that happened, it has to be authentic, youve to mean it.

And you have to know it will be accepted too.

I often hear people who were republicans, who would have been supporters or involved in the IRA in the past, when they give apologies it is kind of a general language, apologies for what happened and everyone suffered and what everyone did.

I think if we are going to start to change minds and hearts among Protestant people, a much more stronger, specific apology for what was done and what we did, I think would help to change the hearts and minds.
European and local election results in Ireland create the prospect of another coalition of equals between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, Leo Varadkar has said.

The former Taoiseach said an instability could have been created if one party had got too far ahead of the other.

Ireland voted last week to choose 949 local councillors, 14 MEPs and the countrys first directly elected mayor, in the first nationwide elections in four years.

The results saw the two largest coalition parties, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, reinforce their positions while the main opposition party Sinn Fein fell short of expectations

Fianna Fail doubled its presence in the European Parliament to four, with Fine Gael also on four.

Fianna Fail emerged as the largest party in local government with 248 seats on councils, with Fine Gael close behind on 245.

The results have heightened speculation that Mr Varadkars successor as Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader, Simon Harris, could call an early autumn general election.

Speaking at an event in Belfast, Mr Varadkar, who is still a TD, welcomed the election results.

He said: My party winning the biggest share of the vote in both the European and local elections, which was a much better result than we had expected or hoped for.

I know general elections can be a different thing, it is a very different contest.

Mr Varadkar pointed out that his party had good results in the local and European elections five years previously but then fell short of expectations in the general election eight months later.

He said: One thing that probably is of significance and may be of political importance is that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are so close in elections.

I think that probably reassures both parties a little.

If one gets too far ahead of the other, that can create an instability.

The fact that the two are so close creates the prospect of another coalition of equals between the two parties where there isnt a junior or a senior partner.
The family of a 2024 Rose of Tralee contestant have said they are hugely concerned after Monica Reid went missing on Friday.

Police in New Zeland have released an alert over the missing 26-year-old who was last month selected as the 2024 Auckland Rose of Tralee. She is due to compete in the famous festival in Tralee in August.

UPDATE: 'Fly high you beautiful soul' - Missing Rose of Tralee contestant found dead

A police report says: "Police are urgently seeking sightings of Monica, aged 26. Monica has been reported missing by her family and there are concerns for her welfare.

"She was last seen on Friday afternoon (June 14) in Matipo Road, Te Atatu Peninsula and is believed to be wearing a purple/pink puffer jacket.

ABOVE: Monica (right holding flowers) after winning the 2024 Auckland Rose of Tralee competition

"If you think you may have seen Monica since yesterday afternoon, or have information which might help us find her, please call 111 and quote event number P059054868."

Monica's family members have also taking to social media in a desperate attempt to locate Monica.

READ NEXT: HSE in tablet warning amid 'overdose clusters' and death fears

Her sister posted: "My sister Monica Reid is missing. We are concerned and the police have been contacted. Please keep an eye out for her. She was last seen in Te Atatu in Auckland."

Their posts have been shared far and wide with one person commenting: "I met Monica up here through Rose of Tralee - we have shared with the Auckland Irish club and all the other roses. We are all so worried, sending you guys love and support and please let us know if there's anything more we can do to help."
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Expanding high-speed Internet access in Alberta - Combined federal and provincial investment of $153 million will connect more than 14,400 homes to high-speed Internet





ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE, AB, June 14, 2024 /CNW/ - Fairness for every generation means making sure everyone in Canada has access to reliable and affordable high-speed Internet, no matter where they live. That is why the governments of Canada and Alberta are bringing high-speed Internet access to underserved communities?including many Indigenous communities?across the province.

Today, the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, together with the Honourable Nate Glubish, Alberta's Minister of Technology and Innovation, announced over $153 million in federal and provincial funding for 24 projects to bring high-speed Internet access to more than 14,400 households in 120 rural and remote communities across Alberta. This includes over 800 Indigenous households.

This funding is part of an existing agreement between the governments of Canada and Alberta. On March 9, 2022, both governments announced a historic broadband partnership to invest up to $780 million to provide high?speed Internet access to Albertans in rural, remote and Indigenous communities. The governments of Canada and Alberta will continue to announce projects selected under this agreement over the coming months.

Everyone in Canada will have access to high-speed Internet by 2030, and 98% of Canadians will be connected by 2026. Canada is on track to meet its 2026 connectivity targets. These projects will contribute to reaching that goal, and the government will continue to invest in infrastructure that creates new opportunities in communities to make sure they can benefit from all of Canada's potential.

Quotes

"High-speed Internet is no longer considered just a luxury. The federal government funding committed today will bring reliable high-speed Internet to over 14,400 underserved homes in 120 communities across Alberta. All communities, large and small, need a reliable connection to grow their potential in this digital world."

? The Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

"Reliable Internet access is a necessity for our communities to thrive. Over 14,000 households throughout rural Alberta will be able to get access to the high-speed Internet services they deserve. I'm proud of our work on the Universal Broadband Fund, and I'm looking forward to seeing these projects get shovels in the ground."

? The Honourable Nate Glubish, Alberta's Minister of Technology and Innovation

Quick facts

Canada's Connectivity Strategy aims to provide all Canadians with access to Internet speeds of at least 50 megabits per second (Mbps) download / 10 Mbps upload.

Connectivity Strategy aims to provide all Canadians with access to Internet speeds of at least 50 megabits per second (Mbps) download / 10 Mbps upload. The Universal Broadband Fund is a $3.225 billion investment by the Government of Canada designed to help provide high-speed Internet access to 98% of Canadians by 2026 and achieve the national target of 100% access by 2030.

investment by the Government of designed to help provide high-speed Internet access to 98% of Canadians by 2026 and achieve the national target of 100% access by 2030. Today, 93.5% of Canadian households have access to high-speed Internet, compared to just 79% in 2014.

The Alberta Broadband Strategy aims to provide every household in Alberta with access to high-speed Internet by the end of the 2026?27 fiscal year.

with access to high-speed Internet by the end of the 2026?27 fiscal year. On March 9, 2022 , a Canada - Alberta broadband partnership was announced. Under this agreement, approximately 200,000 households across Alberta will be connected to broadband thanks to an investment of up to $780 million , co-funded equally by both levels of government.

, a - broadband partnership was announced. Under this agreement, approximately 200,000 households across will be connected to broadband thanks to an investment of up to , co-funded equally by both levels of government. In Alberta , 89.4% of households currently have access to high-speed Internet, compared to just 82.6% in 2017. By 2026, 97.7% of the province is projected to be connected to high?speed Internet.

, 89.4% of households currently have access to high-speed Internet, compared to just 82.6% in 2017. By 2026, 97.7% of the province is projected to be connected to high?speed Internet. Since 2015, the Government of Canada has invested more than $488 million in connectivity projects in Alberta .

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SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

14 june 2024 at 15:45

News published onand distributed by:
INTERFIELD GLOBAL SOFTWARE INC.? ANNOUNCES FILING OF REQUIRED CONTINUOUS DISCLOSURES AND RESTATEMENT OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS





VANCOUVER, BC, June 14, 2024 /CNW/ - Interfield Global Software Inc. (Cboe CA: IFSS) (the ??"Company")? is pleased to announce that it has filed its (i) audited annual financial statements, management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A"), annual information form and related ?certifications for the year ended December 31, 2023 (collectively, the "Annual Filings"); and (ii) interim financial statements, MD&A and related certifications for the three months ended March 31, 2024 (collectively, the "Interim Filings").

As more particularly set out in the Company's news releases dated April 1, 2024 and June 6, 2024, on April 8, 2024 the British Columbia Securities Commission ("BCSC") as the principal regulator of the Company issued a failure-to-file cease trade order (the "FFCTO") under ?National Policy 11-207 Failure-To-File Cease Trade Orders And Revocations In Multiple Jurisdictions ("NP 11-207") as a result of the Company's failure to file its Annual Filings on or before April 2, 2024, as required under applicable securities laws. With the Annual Filings and Interim Filings now completed, the Company is up-to-date with its continuous disclosure obligations and will work with the BCSC towards a full revocation of the FFCTO. There can be no assurance, however, that a full revocation of the FFCTO will be granted and all of the Company's securities will remain subject to the FFCTO until it is fully revoked.

Copies of the Annual Filings and the Interim Filings are available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

Restatement of Financial Statements

Subsequent to the completion of the reverse takeover transaction ("RTO") of the Company with Interfield Solutions Ltd ("Interfield") on February 15, 2023, the Company filed the audited consolidated annual financial statements of Interfield (being the RTO acquirer) for the year ended December 31, 2022 on March 31, 2023 ("2022 Subsidiary Financial Statements"). The Company has decided to restate the 2022 Subsidiary Financial Statements (the "2022 Restatement") and therefore the 2022 Subsidiary Financial Statements cannot be relied upon. Similarly, any previously issued or filed reports, press releases, investor presentations or other Company communications describing the financial results or other financial information in connection with the 2022 Subsidiary Financial Statements should no longer be relied upon.

The decision to restate followed a review conducted by the Company's new auditor and management's consideration of the appropriate application of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for the conversion of the Company's previously issued and outstanding convertible debentures which were subsequently converted in connection with the RTO to common shares in the Company and the related valuation of common share purchase warrants issued upon the closing the RTO in February 2023, and the reversal of the capitalization of certain development expenses. The material changes to be included in the 2022 Restatement will affect the Company's consolidated statement of financial position, consolidated statement of loss and comprehensive loss and consolidated statement of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2022. Please refer to Note 18 of the Company's audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023, available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com, for additional details on the 2022 Restatement.

About Interfield Global Software Inc.

The Company is a publicly listed company, with its common shares listed on the Cboe Canada. (Cboe CA: IFSS) and operates out of Dubai, U.A.E through its wholly owned subsidiary, Interfield Software Solutions LLC ("Interfield Solutions").

Interfield Solutions is a software company that services numerous industrial segments worldwide including oil and gas, mining and renewables. Interfield Solutions has two operating divisions, E-commerce and Software as a Service. Equipment Hound, the company's flagship product of its E-commerce division, is an industrial equipment marketplace that connects buyers and suppliers around the globe. Equipment Hound manages a catalogue of equipment from various suppliers and provides procurement solutions for buyers. It includes features such as requests for quotes, logistics support and third-party verification. ToolSuite, the company's flagship product of its Software as a Service division, is a cloud based data collection and management platform that digitizes industrial processes and provides real-time auditable data for clients.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Harold Hemmerich"

Harold Hemmerich, Chief Executive Officer & Director

Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer and Reader Advisory

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian ?securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-?looking information. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information regarding: the ?revocation of the FFCTO and trading of the Company's securities. ?There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be ?accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such ?forward-looking information. This forward-looking information reflects the Company's current beliefs and is based on ?information currently available to the Company and on assumptions the Company believes are reasonable. These ?assumptions include, but are not limited to the ability of the Company to complete the Annual Filings and Interim Filings in the noted ?timeframe. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors ?that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially ?different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other ?factors may include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social ?uncertainties; general capital market conditions and market prices for securities; delay or failure to receive ?board or regulatory approvals; the actual results of future operations; competition; changes in legislation ??affecting the Company; the timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; long-term capital ?requirements and future developments in the Company's markets and the markets in which it expects to ?compete;? or loss of key individuals. A description of additional risk factors ?that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in the Company's ?disclosure documents on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com. 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. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Readers are further ?cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as there can be no assurance that ?the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Forward-looking information ?contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. 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. However, the Company expressly disclaims any ?intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new ?information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities law.?

No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved the contents of this news release. The Cboe Canada Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

SOURCE Interfield Global Software Inc.

14 june 2024 at 20:35

News published onand distributed by:
Former French President Francois Hollande looks on as he visits the 48th edition of the Printemps de Bourges music festival in Bourges, central France, on April 26, 2024. GUILLAUME SOUVANT / AFP

France's former Socialist president Francois Hollande said on Saturday, June 15, that he would run for parliament again, the latest political twist following his successor Emmanuel Macron's surprise decision to call snap legislative elections.

Macron's dissolving of parliament after the French far right's victory in European parliamentary elections has swiftly redrawn the lines of French politics. A new left-wing alliance has emerged and the main right-wing party's leader has announced he is prepared to back an alliance with the far right, sparking in-fighting within his political family.

On Saturday, police estimated that a quarter of a million people protested across France against the prospect of the far right coming to power. But the latest polls still put the far right comfortably in the lead.

Hollande, France's president from 2012-2017, left office with record levels of unpopularity. He is hated by parts of the radical left and even the Socialist leadership regards him with suspicion. He said he would stand as an MP for the southwestern Correze department for the Nouveau Front Populaire, a left-wing grouping formed for the elections that includes the Socialists, hard-left, Greens and Communists.

Read more Subscribers only French elections: Francois Hollande, the last brick in the union of the left

"An exceptional decision for an exceptional situation," Hollande told reporters in the department's main town of Tulle, explaining his surprise comeback. "I am not seeking anything for myself," he insisted, after a flurry of recent media appearances sparked speculation he might be eyeing a run for the presidency. "I just want to be of service."

Socialists taken by surprise

While Hollande's entourage had already stated on Saturday morning that the former president would be a candidate under the banner of the Nouveau Front Populaire, the announcement seems to have taken the Parti Socialiste (PS) by surprise.

Officially, they reacted cooly to the move with the head of its election commission Pierre Jouvet simply saying that it "takes note" of the candidacy. But one senior party figure, asking not to be named, said they were "devastated" by the news while admitting: "We said we wanted the broadest possible left wing."

"I wasn't aware of it," said PS first secretary Olivier Faure in the afternoon, who was present at Paris demonstrations against the far right, while acknowledging Hollande's candidacy: "All those who adhere to (the) project and who are ready to defend together the colors of this Nouveau Front Populaire are welcome, so I take note and I hope he will run an active campaign."

The elections, with a first round on June 30 and the second on July 7, were called by Macron after the far right trounced his centrist ruling party in June's European elections.

Sarkozy speaks out

Another former president, Nicolas Sarkozy, stepped into the row over the decision of Eric Ciotti, the leader of the right-wing Les Republicains party, to seek an election pact with the RN. Ciotti's move provoked fury inside the party and a move by its leadership to dismiss him, which a Paris court blocked on Friday.

Sarkozy told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper that Ciotti should have consulted the party leadership over the coalition and put it to a members' vote. "Then the question could have been settled calmly and clearly," he said. But he doubted the wisdom of such an alliance, saying Les Republicains would be the junior partners. What is more, he said, prospective PM Bardella "has never been in a position to manage anything".

Hours after French football star Marcus Thuram called on voters to stop the far right coming to power, the French Football Federation, on Saturday, called for everyone to respect its "neutrality". Two days ahead of their opening match at the European Championships in Germany, the Federation called on everyone to "avoid any form of pressure and political use of the French team".
European flags fly outside the European Parliament on Feb. 7, 2024 in Strasbourg, eastern France. JEAN-FRANCOIS BADIAS / AP

Ambassadors from the EU's 27 member states on Friday, June 14, "agreed in principle" on beginning accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on June 25, the Belgian presidency of the EU's Council said.

"Ambassadors agreed in principle on the negotiating frameworks for the accession negotiations of Ukraine and Moldova. The Belgian presidency will call the first intergovernmental conferences on 25 June," it said.

EU ministers are due to formally approve the decision during a meeting on June 21. In the Netherlands, parliament must also give its consent.

Ukraine and fellow ex-Soviet neighbor Moldova applied to join the EU shortly after Russia launched its all-out invasion in February 2022.

A raft of EU countries have been pressing the bloc to formally start the talks on June 25 after leaders took the landmark decision to open negotiations in December.

But opposition from Hungary, the friendliest country to Russia in the EU, threatens to derail the move, which requires the unanimous support of member states.

Hungary takes over the rotating presidency of the legislative Council of the European Union in July and there are fears it could stall progress.

Earlier this month, the European Commission said Ukraine had met outstanding requirements including efforts to curb the power of oligarchs and better ensure the rights of ethnic minorities.

Starting the negotiations would still only put Ukraine at the start of what is likely to be a years-long process of reforms before it can finally become a member.
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Rooney Auctioneers are delighted to introduce this wonderful 3-bedroom bungalow to the market. Conveniently located in the village of Broadford, Co Clare this charming property commands wonderful views of the surrounding countryside from a mature, elevated site of approximately one acre.

Bordered to the south and west by mature woodland and gurgling stream, this property has a truly unique and picturesque setting.

This large site offers excellent potential for extension (subject to PP).

Close to a host of amenities within Broadford village, including local primary school, sporting facilities, a community centre, shops, and pubs, the location is easily accessible from Limerick, Killaloe, and other areas. Just 20 minutes from Limerick and Killaloe and just 10 minutes from Clonlara village, this property is an ideal commuter location providing a tranquil rural setting while still being close to major urban centres.

The property is in excellent condition throughout boasting bright, generously proportioned living spaces spanning to 1,300 sq ft.

Accommodation includes entrance hall, living room with built-in corner units and an inset stove, generous kitchen/dining room with dual south-west aspect taking full advantage of natural light and featuring a Morso stove and fitted kitchen units, three large double bedrooms with built-in wardrobes and a main bathroom with bath and shower.

This property is ready for immediate occupation and would be a wonderful family home for first time buyers or those seeking additional space with the potential to extend. Viewing of this wonderful property is highly recommended.
MEDICAL technology firm Stryker has celebrated the two-year success of its Tiny Forest.

The planting in 2022 was supported by local schools, and as part of the anniversary celebrations students were brought on a tour of the site to see how this sustainable initiative has grown at the Raheen Industrial Estate.

Inspired by a Japanese methodology, the Tiny Forest has growth rates up to five-times greater than traditional woodlands. It enhances local biodiversity and acts as a sanctuary for urban wildlife.

In promoting sustainability and biodiversity, the Limerick team, led by Joseph Hearney, have also installed a bee apiary onsite.

Albert Cummins, interim site lead, Stryker Limerick, explained how these actions are often inspired by their people.

A culture of sustainability motivates action. Our local initiatives are often the result of suggestions from our employees.

Whether it's reducing water, planting Tiny Forests or establishing pollinator habitats, we are always focused on what we can do better in our communities. Stryker aims to be at the forefront of sustainability initiatives, supported by an ambitious global strategy. We are proud of what the teams in Limerick and Ireland have achieved and look forward to seeing their future plans.

Strykers robust global sustainability strategy supports their goal to become carbon neutral by 2030.

Irish operations are on trend to reach this target, with its manufacturing sites now using 100% renewable wind-generated energy, reducing annual carbon emissions by 20,000 tonnes, equivalent to removing 4,000 cars from the road.

Additionally, all sites use 100% LED lighting, retrofitted with occupancy sensors.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into how titanium, accompanied by potentially falsified records, was used in commercial jets produced by Airbus SE and Boeing Co. The titanium originated from a lesser-known Chinese producer and made its way into the supply chain, raising significant concerns, as per a Bloomberg report.

According to Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc., the material was incorporated into parts via counterfeit documents. When this was identified, all suspect parts were quarantined and removed from Spirit production, said Joe Buccino, a spokesperson for Spirit. More than 1,000 tests have been completed to confirm the mechanical and metallurgical properties of the affected material to ensure continued airworthiness," as quoted by Bloomberg.

This incident is part of a broader issue the aviation industry has faced regarding unauthorized parts entering the supply chain. Last year, a scandal was uncovered involving a UK company that had sold fake aircraft parts with forged documentation worldwide, as per Bloomberg.

The New York Times reported earlier on Friday that the suspect titanium was used in parts for Boeings 737 Max and 787 Dreamliner jets, and the Airbus A220 model manufactured between 2019 and 2023. The issue arose from a batch of metal from a Chinese producer, with certificates appearing falsified upon inspection, as quoted by Bloomberg.

The FAA stated that Boeing had voluntarily disclosed that it was procuring material through a distributor who may have provided falsified or incorrect records. The FAA is investigating the scope and impact of the issue," as quoted by Bloomberg.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is also conducting an investigation after being informed of the titanium traceability issue by its partner aviation authority in Italy. EASA has no current evidence of a safety risk to the fleet but will continue to investigate the root cause of the documentation issues, as per the report.

EASA spokesperson Janet Northcote stated, EASA will investigate further the root cause of the document traceability issue and continue to closely monitor any new developments that could lead to a potentially unsafe condition in the fleet," as quoted by Bloomberg.

Boeing has assured us that it will remove any affected parts on aeroplanes prior to delivery and that the in-service fleet can continue to fly safely. This industry-wide issue affects some shipments of titanium received by a limited set of suppliers, and tests performed to date have indicated that the correct titanium alloy was used, the company said," as quoted by Bloomberg.

An Airbus spokesperson confirmed awareness of the situation and noted that numerous tests on parts from the same supplier confirmed the A220s airworthiness remains intact.

The integrity of every component used in the aviation industry relies on verified provenance to ensure safety and structural integrity. The suspect titanium was supplied by an unnamed Chinese company, allegedly using forged documentation to appear as if it originated from Baoji Titanium Industry, a reputable Chinese supplier.

The Aviation Supply Chain Integrity Coalition, which includes representatives from Boeing and Airbus, has been examining how to prevent unauthorized parts from entering the supply chain. Co-chair John Porcari mentioned at a Washington conference that the group completed the research phase for a report due this fall, which will contain recommendations for addressing the problem.

A coalition spokesperson indicated that the initial focus is on the propulsion supply chain, but the recommendations could apply across the aviation industry.
ROME (AP)  Italian anti-fascist activist Ilaria Salis returned to her parents house in the northern Italian city of Monza on Saturday evening, after being freed from house arrest in Budapest the day before.

A nightmare is over, her father Roberto Salis told journalists waiting for her at her home.

Now we must ensure that this accusation for which Ilaria believes she is innocent is dropped, he added.

Ilaria Salis was released after being elected as a new member of the European Parliament for the Italian Green and Left Alliance earlier this month.

The 39-year-old activist was elected during her time under house arrest in Hungary, where she is on trial and faces charges for allegedly assaulting far-right demonstrators.

European Parliament lawmakers enjoy substantial legal immunity from prosecution, even if the allegations relate to crimes committed prior to their election.

More than 170,000 voters in Italy wrote Salis name onto the ballot in a bid to bring her home from Hungary, where she has been detained for more than a year.

Salis became a hot-button political issue in Italy after images emerged of her handcuffed and shackled in a Hungarian courtroom where she faced trial.

The Italian activist was charged in Hungary with attempted murder after being part of a group of anti-fascists accused of assaulting individuals they believed were linked to the far-right Day of Honor last year.

The event, held annually on Feb. 11, sees far-right activists mark the failed attempt by Nazi and allied Hungarian soldiers to break out of Budapest during the Red Armys siege in 1945.

The alleged victims of the attack reportedly didnt complain to police.
(Bloomberg) -- Narendra Modi seized a window to end his diplomatic purgatory with the US and Canada.

The Indian prime minister arrived at the Group of Seven meetings bruised by disappointing election results and facing an outcry over a pair of assassination plots allegedly backed by his government.

Yet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the host of the summit, gave Modi prominent placement during Fridays events and the Indian leader took full advantage, striding over for encounters with two leaders whose governments have accused his own of murder plots.

Modi was placed at center stage for the family photo, a perch that allowed him to dart over to US President Joe Biden for a brief chat. He also shared a photo of a similar greeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Canada has accused India of killing a Sikh separatist on Canadian soil, while the US has leveled allegations of a failed attempt on another dissident in its country. India has generally downplayed the allegations, and in the US case chalked up the plot to rogue elements of the government.

But Modis invitation to the summit is a sign of Indias role in the emerging economic race between the G-7 and its rivals, particularly China. Biden and Trudeau meeting with him, however briefly, casts doubt on how long the outcry over the assassination allegations will linger.

The US has said its position on the alleged plots hasnt changed.

Weve made our views known on this issue, and it will be a continuing topic of dialogue between the US and India, including at very senior levels, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, one of Bidens top foreign affairs aides, said Wednesday.

A US official said Friday that Biden and Modi only spoke briefly.

On Saturday, a grim-faced Trudeau was repeatedly asked about his interaction with Modi but did not want to engage.

Im not going to get into the details of this issue, he told reporters in southern Italy. There are important, sensitive issues that we need to follow up on, but this was a commitment to work together in the coming times to deal with some very important issues.

Meanwhile, the Indian prime minister looked to be thoroughly enjoying himself at the summit. Meloni posted a clip of her and Modi, laughing cheerfully behind her.

Canadian police recently arrested four Indian nationals over last years killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was gunned down in a Vancouver suburb. The case is now before the courts and could take years to wind to a conclusion.

Modis government reacted furiously when Trudeau first accused India last September of orchestrating the assassination, rejecting the claim as baseless and expelling Canadian diplomats. Trudeau has long called on Modi to cooperate with the investigation, with the hope of moving forward constructively.

Indian officials have never walked back their initial denials, but there are signs that behind the scenes, Canada and India are now cooperating more fully on sharing information about the case.

That may have helped provide an opening for a conversation between the two leaders.

The last time Trudeau crossed paths with Modi in person was at the G-20 in New Delhi last year, and it was a very tense meeting because Canadian officials had spent weeks privately presenting evidence to Indias government of a hit job on Canadian soil. Trudeau at the time was largely iced out by Modi at that summit and then had his departure delayed after his plane broke down.

(Updates with comments from Trudeau from 10th paragraph.)

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(Bloomberg) -- Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets across France Saturday to oppose Marine Le Pens far-right National Rally, which is predicted to finish first in the upcoming snap legislative election called by President Emmanuel Macron.

The demonstrators are seeking to call attention to the nationalist partys policies on human rights, the environment, equal rights and economic matters.

Macron took a massive gamble when he dissolved the legislature on Sunday after his party was trounced by the National Rally in the European Parliament ballot. The move was designed to shore up his support at home, but he opened the door to Le Pen taking control of the French government.

Further complicating matters for Macron, a group of four left-leaning parties agreed to join forces, with polls indicating the coalition could become the second-biggest bloc ahead of the presidents Renaissance party. Because France has a two-round electoral system with a bar to move on to the second, many Renaissance candidates may not even make it to the final election day.

Were at a historic moment, at an uncertain time, its a bit like a jump into the unknown for our democracy, Marylise Leon, the general secretary of the union CFDT thats organizing protests, told France Inter radio Saturday. When its about the far right, we get mobilized.

As many as 350,000 people are expected to take part in the marches nationwide, according to the French police.

Separately on Saturday, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal unveiled the governments campaign program, which sought to show continuity with Macrons agenda, while assuaging the concerns of low-wage workers. Attal, who was initially stunned by Macrons decision to call the legislative election, emphasized law and order, tax cuts and climate efficiency.

People tell me: We dont want the economic ruin were being offered, Attal said in an interview on France 2 television. If the projects of the extremes triumphed at the ballot box, around a million jobs would be destroyed.

The political uncertainty and increasing likelihood the next government will push through costly measures for public finances spooked investors. Government bonds were at the heart of the rout, with the premium that investors demand to own 10-year OATs over German bunds posting the biggest weekly jump on record.

The selloff wiped about $210 billion off the value of French stocks, with banks Societe Generale SA, BNP Paribas SA and Credit Agricole SA  all big holders of government debt  losing more than 10% each.

The left-leaning coalition  dubbed the New Popular Front  ran into its own problems over the weekend as members argued with each other. Some top officials from France Unbowed  the far-left party that joined forces earlier this week with the Greens, Socialists and Communists  lashed out at their leader Jean-Luc Melenchon over the list of candidates theyll put forth.

Jean-Luc Melenchon has settled a score with me, France Unbowed lawmaker Alexis Corbiere, who was excluded from the candidate list, told the radio network Franceinfo Saturday. Its totally petty, petty, a settling of scores, when whats at stake is preventing the far right from taking power.

The four left-wing parties differ radically on policy matters, particularly when it comes to issues such as the middle east and the war in Ukraine. So its not a given theyll be able to stick together through two rounds of elections.

We cant lose time tearing ourselves apart, Francois Ruffin, a candidate for the alliance, told reporters at the start of a march in central Paris. We have to reassure the country, and we cant do that by throwing insults at each other.

He added that Melenchons decision to step back from the limelight since Sunday was good news and that that must remain the case so we can succeed in having the most serene, most calm campaign possible.

Former President Francois Hollande said that he will run in the election in his historic constituency of Correze.

The situation on the left mirrors the turmoil in the conservative Republicans party, which is embroiled in a lawsuit about whether its leader was legally expelled after he tried to form an alliance with Le Pens group.

Paris judges on Friday evening ordered a temporary suspension of Eric Ciottis ouster to give him time to file a lawsuit to argue the substance of his case. Ciotti claims hes still the Republicans president, and his lawyer had argued that rules were broken during the move to kick him out.

Macron has sought to portray his challengers on both the far left and far right as unfit to run the country, and has called both sides incoherent.

They are not ready to govern, Macron told reporters at the Group of Seven summit in southern Italy. There are two extreme blocks today who are not responsible, and who are promising gifts to people that are not financed.

His finance minister, Bruno Le Maire, warned earlier in the week that a victory by the left-wing alliance would lead to economic collapse and the countrys exit from the EU as he put fears over the economy at the center of the campaign.

Their program is complete madness, Le Maire said on Franceinfo radio. It will guarantee downgrade, mass unemployment and an exit from the European Union.

Officials in the new leftist bloc dismissed Le Maires claims regarding their economic program. They say Macrons tax cuts for wealthy individuals and on capital have left a gaping hole in the public finances.

Furthermore, its unclear the governments scare-mongering tactics will work, and theyre reminiscent of 2016 warnings against Brexit and Donald Trumps ascension to the White House.

The National Rally is on course to win as many as 270 of the 577 seats in the National Assembly, compared with 90 to 130 for Macron and his allies, according to a projection by pollster Elabe.

(Updates with the governments campaign program from the seventh paragraph.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
DETROIT (AP)  Donald Trump will use back-to-back stops Saturday to court Black voters and a conservative group that has been accused of attracting white supremacists as the Republican presidential candidate works to stitch together a coalition of historically divergent interests in battleground Michigan.

Trump is scheduled to host an afternoon roundtable at an African American church in downtown Detroit. Later he will appear at the People's Convention of Turning Point Action, a group that the Anti-Defamation League says has been linked to a variety of extremists.

Roughly 24 hours before Trump planned to address the conference, well-known white supremacist Nick Fuentes entered Turning Points convention hall surrounded by a group of cheering supporters. He was quickly escorted out by security.

Fuentes created political problems for Trump after Fuentes attended a private lunch with the former president and the rapper formerly known as Kanye West at Trumps Florida estate in 2022.

Trump's weekend plans underscore the evolving political forces shaping the presidential election this fall as he tries to deny Democratic President Joe Biden a second term.

Few states are expected to matter more in November than Michigan, which Biden carried by less than 3 percentage points four years ago. And few voting groups matter more to Democrats than African Americans, who made up the backbone of Biden's political base in 2020. But now, less than five months before Election Day, Black voters are expressing modest signs of disappointment with the 81-year-old Democrat.

Michael Whatley, the new chairman of the Republican National Committee, told Michigan Republicans at a dinner Friday that the state could not be more important.

Everybody knows if we dont win Michigan, were not going to have a Republican in the White House, Whatley said. Let me be more blunt: If we dont win Michigan, were not going to have Donald Trump in the White House.

We are going to determine the fate of the world in this election in November, he added.

Trump argues he can pull in more Black voters due to his economic and border security message, and that his felony indictments make him more relatable.

Democrats are offering a competing perspective.

Donald Trump is so dangerous for Michigan and dangerous for America and dangerous for Black people, Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, who is African American, said Friday.

He said it was offensive for Trump to address the Turning Point conference, which was taking place at the same convention center that was the epicenter of their steal the election effort.

Indeed, dozens of angry Trump loyalists chanting Stop the count! descended on the TCF Center, now named Huntington Place, the day after the 2020 presidential election as absentee ballots were being counted. Local media captured scenes of protesters outside and in the lobby. Police prevented them from entering the counting area.

The protests took place after Trump had tweeted that they are finding Biden votes all over in several states, including Michigan.

The false notion that Biden benefited from widespread voter fraud has been widely debunked by voting officials in both parties, the court system and members of Trump's former administration. Still, Trump continues to promote such misinformation, which echoed throughout the conservative convention over the weekend.

Speaking from the main stage, Turning Point founder and CEO Charlie Kirk falsely described the conference location as the scene of a crime.

Such extreme rhetoric does not appear to have hurt Trump's standing with Black voters, however.

Among Black adults, Bidens approval has dropped from 94% when he started his term in January 2021 to just 55%, according to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll published in March.

About 8 in 10 Black voters have an unfavorable opinion of Trump, with roughly two-thirds saying they have a very unfavorable view of him, according to an AP-NORC poll conducted in June. About 2 in 10 Black voters have a very or somewhat favorable view of Trump.

Trump won 8% of the Black vote in 2020, according to AP VoteCast. And in what is expected to be a close election, even a modest shift could be consequential.

Maurice Morrison, a 67-year-old lifelong Detroit resident, plans to attend Trumps church appearance. Morrison acknowledged that Trump, for whom he voted twice before and plans to again, is deeply unpopular in his community and even inside his home.

Once he decided to run for president as a Republican, that automatically made him racist. Thats his middle name now  Trump is racist  everybody I talk to, all the people I know, my family, said Morrison, who is Black. The man cares.

Meanwhile, thousands of conservative activists, most of them young and white, were eagerly awaiting Trumps keynote address Saturday night.

Turning Point has emerged as a force in GOP politics in the Trump era, particularly among his Make America Great Again movement, despite the ADL's warning that the group continues to attract racists.

Numerous individuals associated with the group have made bigoted statements about the Black community, the LGBTQ community and other groups, the ADL, an international anti-hate group, wrote in a background memo. While TPUSA (Turning Point USA) leaders say they reject white supremacist ideology, known white nationalists have attended their events.

Turning Point spokesperson Andrew Kolvet dismissed the ADL's characterization as smears and lies. He added that Turning Point has been blocking Fuentes from attending its events for years.

"The ADL is a scourge on America, which sows poison and division. Theyve completely lost the plot," Kolvet said, describing the ADL's criticism as a badge of honor.

Turning Point, long popular among Trump's MAGA fringe, is now a central player in mainstream Republican politics. The group's weekend speaking program featured a long list of established Republican politicians, including U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, and U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. It also included former Trump counselor Steve Bannon, who is set to report to prison by July 1 to begin serving a four-month sentence for defying a U.S. House subpoena.

In his remarks Friday night, Vivek Ramaswamy, who has emerged as a fierce Trump ally since unsuccessfully challenging Trump for the GOP presidential nomination, called on conservatives to reject what he said was the Democrats' embrace of diversity.

I am sick and tired of celebrating our diversity, Ramaswamy charged. It means nothing unless there is something greater that unites us.

___
US banking firm Wells Fargo & Co terminated over a dozen employees after finding them guilty of faking their work activity with the help of keyboard simulation, according to a Bloomberg report.

Also Read: Putin Demands Ukraine Abandon Four Regions for Peace Talks

The employees used to work in the bank's wealth and investment management unit, but they were terminated last month. However, whether the terminated employees were found guilty of keyboard simulation during Work From Home is unclear.

The fired employees worked in the bank's wealth and investment management unit, according to the report, which cited the bank's disclosures filed with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

"Wells Fargo holds employees to the highest standards and does not tolerate unethical behavior," a spokesperson told Reuters.

After the COVID era forced companies worldwide to shut down and switch to work-from-home mode, devices and software used to imitate employee activity grew popular. Such devices, known as mouse movers and mouse jigglers, are easily available on Amazon.com at low cost.

The finance industry returns to work from office in the US. Several finance companies in the US, including banks, have begun asking their employees to work from the office for a whole week. Companies like JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. have already ordered workers back to the office after the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Wells Fargo waited longer than its rivals to call employees back to the office.
(Bloomberg) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy vowed to press ahead in broadening international support for his war-battered nation as a leaders meeting in Switzerland risked falling short in finding a path for a just peace.

Chinas absence from the two-day meeting and the attendance of lower-level diplomats from the so-called BRICS states cast a shadow over efforts to win over the Global South. But the Ukrainian leader said the gathering would be the start of a process to force Russia to end its aggression and secure peace.

Even if they are not here today at the first summit, we have succeeded in bringing to the world that joint efforts can stop war and establish peace, Zelenskiy told reporters at the start of the meeting at a mountaintop resort outside Lucerne, Switzerland on Saturday.

After stopping off at a Group of Seven summit in Italy that yielded additional support, the Ukrainian leader turned his diplomatic efforts to potential allies outside the West. Ninety-two countries sent delegations to the summit, but the attendance list shows that attempts to maximize support among world leaders was a heavy lift.

US Vice President Kamala Harris, who announced a $1.5 billion assistance package and aid to repair Ukraines energy sector, came in lieu of President Joe Biden, who left the G-7 summit Thursday and plans to attend a fundraiser in California.

China, which has insisted that a forum that excludes Russia is unworkable, avoided the meeting. Among the other BRICS members, India sent a state secretary, while South Africa sent a lower-level official. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who was in Switzerland on Thursday himself to attend an International Labor Organization meeting, dispatched only an observer.

Putins Demands

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan accused China of giving in to Russian pressure by staying away  and said the absence was in line with Beijings assistance to the Kremlin, including the supply of inputs for Russias war machine.

I presume they are not here because Putin asked them not to come, and they obliged Putin, Sullivan told reporters on the sidelines of the summit. China has asserted that it stands for peace in Ukraine. A good way to have shown that would be to come here.

The struggle to widen the ranks of Ukraines allies risks sapping Zelenskiys war effort as the momentum in fighting has swung to Russia, which has exploited Kyivs depleted stocks of ammunition and manpower this year. A day before delegates arrived, Russias Vladimir Putin sought to raise the cost of any future peace  calling on Kyiv forces to withdraw from four Ukrainian regions partially occupied by his military as a condition for talks.

The US vice president, who called Russias war an attack on international rules and norms, rejected the demand and reinforced American support for Ukraine.

We must speak truth  he is not calling for negotiations, he is calling for surrender, Harris told the delegates. America stands with Ukraine not out of charity, but because it is in our strategic interests.

The Swiss summit did have high-level billing. G-7 leaders are represented, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also planned to attend. Turkey and Saudi Arabia sent their foreign ministers.

Scholz acknowledged that the meeting can be only a first step toward forming a consensus  and that once the process develops, Russia must be brought to the table.

This is a small diplomatic plant that we will now water so that it will grow, the German leader said.

For now, delegates will seek to reach an understanding over a narrower set of goals covering nuclear and food security and the return of abducted children to the war-battered nation. But leaders stressed that the number of delegates who came to the Swiss meeting underscored an already far-reaching consensus.

We have half the UN here, and hes preparing for a state visit to North Korea  so theres your story, outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told reporters, referring to Putins plans.

China and Brazil have made their own proposals to bring about an end to the war. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said that some 26 countries signed up to  or were seeking to join  the common understandings that underpinned the plan.

--With assistance from Arne Delfs and Samy Adghirni.

(Updates with Sullivan comments in seventh, eighth paragraphs.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
The Medical entrance exam NEET-UG has become a centre of controversy with several irregularities allegations pertaining to the exams. From students demanding reneet, plea for CBI probe, grace marks, paper leak to now a political slugfest, here's a look at what we know so far.

1. The Supreme Court on June 14 sought responses from the Centre and the NTA on a plea for a CBI probe into allegations of question paper leak and other irregularities in the exam. It added that the pleas will be taken up with other pending ones on July 8.

NEET UG 2024 Hearing Highlights 2. As reported by PTI, a petition has been submitted to the top court today by 20 students, requesting the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2024 exam. It also called for an investigation, supervised by the highest court, to be conducted by the CBI or another independent agency, into the purported irregularities in the test administered on May 5. The students who filed the petition had appeared for the medical entrance exam, has also sought a direction to the NTA and others to conduct the test afresh.

Students holding placards protest against the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination, in Bhopal on Friday. (ANI)

Also Read: NEET Exam Row: National Testing Agency releases FAQs amid result controversy 3. Earlier on Thursday, the Centre had informed the top court that the decision to grant grace marks to 1,563 NEET-UG 2024 candidates for admission to MBBS, BDS, and other courses has been revoked. It also informed that the NTA has decided to reconduct the NEET (UG) for 1563 candidates who had experienced time loss and these candidates can opt for a re-test on June 23. The results for the retest will be declared on June 30. However, the Centre added that if the candidate wishes to opt out of the retest, their previous marks, excluding the grace marks, will be considered for result purposes.

Ranchi: Members of National Students Union of India (NSUI) stage a protest over the alleged irregularities in NEET 2024 results, in Ranchi, Friday, June 14, 2024. (PTI Photo)(PTI06_14_2024_000142B)

4. Currently, the NTA or the Centre has denied all the controvery claims. Moreover, the NTA said that the sanctity of the exam was not compromised. It rather attributed the rise in the number of top scorers to increase in the competitiveness of the exam and increase in performance standards.

5. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan have said that that no childs career will be in jeopardy and said that Centre is committed to protecting the interests of NEET examinees.

6. With students demanding reneet, the six students from Haryana who scored perfect score are now in mental distress. One topper told HT, "What if I did not make it this time? Society will laugh at me and my family members. This undue pressure is troubling me now and it will impact my studies too.

Also Read: NEET UG 2024: Its a nightmare, 6 perfect scorers in Haryana worried after NTA withdraw grace marks 7. Another topper student who scored 720 after grace marks added, I have been the topper of my school in Class 10 and 12 and it was not magic that I did it again. The decision is just not fair as mentally we were relaxed amid celebrations by friends and family members. This news had turned into a nightmare, as quoted by HT.

8. The NEET not only has caused protest among student, but the opposition have come heavuly on the BJP government. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra slammed the party for attacking the dreams of the youth as soon as it took oath. Digvijay Singh demanded a probe and also called for the entire exam to be cancelled.

9. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav also launched a fierce attack on the central government and said that whether the BJP is in power at Centre or in state, paper leaks are "inevitable". Calling it a serious matter, Yadav wrote on X, The accused in custody is admitting that the paper has been leaked. Candidates, parents, students, and youth, all worried. The entire system is suspicious but the NDA government is so immersed in arrogance that it is completely ignoring the credibility of examinations in the country. Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin who has been the once who has called for NEET ban from the begining said, "Tamil Nadu was the first to say that NEET was a scam and now the entire country has started saying so, he said while speaking at a school education department function here. "We will surely end this one day. It's our responsibility. Society, financial or political situation should not be a barrier to your education. This is my aim and also that of our Dravidian model of governance."

10. Amid the controversy, many have been arrested across various states. As per PTI report, on June 14, five persons, including the principal and teacher of a school in Godhra town in Gujarat's Panchmahal district were arrested for allegedly trying to help 27 candidates clear the NEET-UG for a sum of 10 lakh each.
Mumbai: Indias private sector banks now have more employees than their state-owned peers. The development, a first in the industry, is a significant pointer to the increasing role of private lenders in creating jobs that were once the stronghold of public sector banks (PSBs).

Recent data from Reserve Bank of India (RBI) showed that private banks have moved ahead of PSBs by a margin of about 100,000 staff in FY24. As of 31 March 2024, private banks had 846,530 employees and PSBs, 746,679.

Recruiters said this has happened because private banks have ramped up hiring in information technology (IT) and digital banking, besides other roles. A big move by private banks into rural and semi-urban India, where PSBs have traditionally been present, has also meant they needed to hire more people in those parts.

Also read | Soaring profits are no reason to go slow on banking reform

At the same time, state-owned banks are not moving fast enough to replenish roles falling vacant through retirement. Others pointed to the swifter growth potential at private banks and the lack of publicity by state-owned peers about their openings as reasons why private banks have gained in strength.

In the past fiscal, PSBs have seen a net reduction (after factoring in exits and new joinees) of 9,965 employees. Private banks, on the other hand, added 100,918 employees in FY24.

Taking a five-year view, PSBs' headcount has shrunk by over 60,000 between FY19 and FY24, while private sector banks have added 370,140 employees over the same period.

Interestingly, private banks are also hiring more women. While women employees at PSBs shrank by 800 in FY24, private banks added more than 35,000 women.

More people for the rural push

Experts said the expansion of private sector banks into rural areas has led to more hiring in these banks. With customers in the hinterland more inclined to visit branches or seek help for digital banking, banks have increasingly added people in rural semi-urban centres, even more than in urban areas.

The private sector banks in the last year decided to focus on Bharat" and, therefore, went beyond tier-II cities with retail and micro finance banking, which needed a large number of people," said Monica Agrawal, managing director (financial services), Asia Pacific and India lead, board & CEO services at search firm Korn Ferry. They had already adopted the digital banking method over the last two years and now had to reach out into the hinterland, which led to a spike in recruitments."

Private banks added 23,821 employees in rural and semi-urban areas in FY24; that count was marginally less at 23,582 for urban areas.

To be sure, the majority of people joined in metros where private lenders added 53,515 employees. (RBI classifies areas as rural, semi-urban, urban and metropolitan.)

Meanwhile, while they are still hiring, some private banks have moderated the pace of adding employees. As per data shared on analysts calls, ICICI Bank added 12,000 employees in FY24, compared to 23,200 in FY23.

The attrition angle

That said, attrition at public sector banks is a fraction of what private sector banks face. For instance, SBIs attrition was 3% in FY23, whereas leading private banks had more than 30% attrition in the same period.

The PSU banks had not advertised some of their profiles and that their attrition is lower than private banks. However, private firms with reduced hierarchy, quicker promotion opportunities are now able to attract more talent among the younger job seeking candidates; the profiles in IT, digital, data science and specialist roles like economists are gaining traction," said Upasana Agarwal, partner, professional and financial services, ABC Consultants, an executive search and talent advisory firm.

Others said that the composition of employees is different in private and public sector banks.

Also read | Rating agencies look to RBI for curbing non-cooperation by companies

According to Anil Gupta, senior vice-president and co-group head of financial sector ratings at ICRA Ltd, the market share of public banks in advances and deposits is much higher at 59% and 64%, respectively. However, private banks will also have significant cross-sell staff when compared to public banks.

Hence, the composition of the employees and employee costs may not be directly comparable," said Gupta. He added that nonetheless, despite the share of assets being much larger for PSU banks, the employee expenses for public banks stood at 1.25% of their average assets in FY24, compared to 0.94% for private banks. That, Gupta said, reflects the better pay structure for employees of PSU banks.
On June 14, despite a sluggish start, the domestic benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty 50 closed higher, buoyed by gains in the auto and consumer durables sectors, while IT stocks saw profit booking, exerting downward pressure on the indices. The 30-share BSE Sensex ended the day up by 181.87 points or 0.24% at 76,992.77, and the Nifty 50 closed higher by 66.70 points or 0.29% at 23,465.60.

In the broader markets, the Nifty Midcap 100 rose by 1.05%, and the Nifty SmallCap 100 gained 0.8%, both outperforming the main indices. The India VIX, a gauge of market volatility, closed 4.93% lower on Friday.

Read here: Nifty 50 to hit 25,816 in 12 months; ITC, BEML among high conviction stock picks Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services, noted a temporary slowdown in market momentum due to a lack of new catalysts following the US Fed's hawkish stance, reducing expectations of an immediate rate cut. Domestic investors are now awaiting cues from the upcoming union budget, hinting at a period of consolidation in the near term. There's a growing sentiment that the government may prioritize welfare initiatives, boosting stocks driven by consumer spending.

Buy or Sell stocks for Tuesday  June 18 For the next trading session on Tuesday, June 18, Sumeet Bagadia of Choice Broking has recommended these three stocks - Bajaj Finserv, Reliance Industries and Tata Steel.

Read here: HDFC Bank vs Axis Bank: Which bank stock should you buy for long-term? BAJAJ FINSV BAJAJFINSV is currently trading at 1591.75 and has exhibited a noteworthy performance, demonstrating significant technical strength. The stock has surpassed all of its key short-term (20 Day), medium-term (50 Day), and long-term (200 Day) exponential moving averages (EMAs). This alignment above all major EMAs indicates a robust bullish trend, providing a solid foundation for further upward movement.

The stock has also experienced a breakout above the critical level of 1585 and has successfully sustained this level for a week. This sustained breakout is a strong bullish signal, suggesting that the stock has the momentum to continue its upward trajectory.

Moreover, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) has remained above 53.61 and continues to display an upward slope. The RSI's position and direction indicate strong market sentiment and growing buying interest in BAJAJFINSV, further reinforcing the bullish outlook.

Read here: Multibagger Stock: Tata Communications rallied over 100% in 2 years In summary, BAJAJFINSV's performance, supported by its position above key EMAs and a positive RSI trend, highlights the stock's potential for continued growth. Investors can consider this as a strong buy signal, with the expectation that the stock will maintain its upward momentum.

Based on our analysis, we anticipate a favorable upward movement for the stock and recommend buying BAJAJFINSV at a CMP of 1591.75, with a potential target range of 1675. However, it is important to note that our bullish outlook would be invalidated should the stock drop below 1555.

RELIANCE RELIANCE is currently trading at 2955.10 levels, showing significant technical strength. The stock has formed a bullish Engulfing pattern on the daily chart, signaling a potential reversal and strength following a period of sideways consolidation. This pattern often indicates a shift in market sentiment from bearish to bullish.

Read here: Jefferies lists 3 stocks that may rise if natural gas is included in GST The stock has a robust support level near 2895, which aligns closely with its 50-day EMA. This support level is critical as it provides a strong foundation, preventing further downside movements. Currently, RELIANCE is trading above its short-term (20-day), medium-term (50-day), and long-term (200-day) EMA levels, indicating a bullish trend across various time frames.

Additionally, the momentum indicator RSI has started to move higher, currently trading at 55.30. This upward movement in the RSI suggests increasing buying interest and strength in the stock's price action.

On the higher side, there is a minor resistance around 2983 levels. A successful breach of this resistance could lead to a strong upward move, with the stock potentially reaching a target of 3075. Investors holding the stock from lower levels should maintain their positions, while new investors can consider entering above the 2983 resistance level for potential gains.

Based on the above analysis we recommend buying RELIANCE at CMP of 2955.10 with a stop loss of 2895 for the targets of 3075.

Read here: 70% of Nifty Realty stocks delivered multibagger returns in one year TATA STEEL TATASTEEL is currently trading at 183.15 levels, exhibiting considerable technical strength following a robust breakout above the 175 level. This breakout signifies bullish momentum and suggests that the stock has the potential for further upward movement. TATASTEEL is also trading above its short-term (20-day), medium-term (50-day), and long-term (200-day) EMA levels, reinforcing the positive sentiment surrounding the stock

On the lower side, the 175 level acts as a strong support, providing a cushion against potential pullbacks. This level is crucial for maintaining the stock's bullish stance. If the stock sustains above the minor resistance at 185, it is likely to move towards the target price of 198 levels and beyond.

Additionally, the momentum indicator RSI has moved higher, currently trading at 62.80. This upward trend in the RSI indicates increasing buying interest and strength, suggesting that the stock could continue to rise further.

Read here: Modi 3.0: Can auto stocks deliver PSU stocks like returns in long term? In summary, TATASTEEL's strong breakout and its position above key moving averages indicate a bullish trend. Investors holding the stock should maintain their positions with a stop loss at 175, while new investors can consider entering once the stock sustains above 185, targeting 198 and higher.

Based on the above analysis we recommend buying TATASTEEL at CMP of 183.15, It can also be added on dips at 180 with a stop loss of 175 for the targets of 198.
As the boss of the worlds biggest oil company flew around the world in early June to drum up investor interest in one of the biggest share sales in recent years, he could breathe a sigh of relief.

Five years after Aramcos $29.4 billion listing had been marred by temper tantrums and U-turns that left it almost entirely reliant on local investors, Amin Nasser and a coterie of top Wall Street bankers had finally delivered the international deal Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman always wanted.

A large chunk of this months $11.2 billion share sale was allocated to foreign investors, leading one person involved in the process to describe it as the deal the IPO was supposed to be. Its success could create a template for future Aramco sell downs, which now seem likely as the Crown Prince  whos known as MBS  seeks cash to help fund his multitrillion-dollar Vision 2030 economic transformation project.

Were seeing an all of the above attempt to raise investment capital for the Vision 2030 gigaprojects, said Jim Krane, a fellow at Rice Universitys Baker Institute for Public Policy in Houston. Since the hoped-for FDI flows havent fully materialized, the Saudi government has turned to its tried-and-true backstop: Aramco.

This account of the share sale, which Bloomberg News first reported in January, is based on interviews with dozens of people directly involved in the offering, who asked not to be identified discussing private meetings and conversations. Representatives for Aramco and the Saudi government did not respond to requests for comment.

Two Years Out

Back in 2019, Aramcos initial public offering was marked by bitter clashes between investment banks and Saudi officials, who were angry that the IPO ultimately achieved a valuation of $1.7 trillion, much lower than the $2 trillion theyd hoped for at the time.

This years share sale went off much more smoothly. In truth, the offer has been in the works for years and bankers were able to work together more cohesively, allowing the deal to progress in recent months even as war raged across the Middle East, sending the price of oil gyrating in response.

The increased interest from foreign investors is testament to Saudi Arabias success so far in keeping the war in Gaza and its regional repercussions at arms length, said Torbjorn Soltvedt, an associate director of political risk at the consultancy Verisk Maplecroft.

Shortly after the IPO process was finished, Nasser got internal teams preparing for a secondary sale knowing that the kingdom was likely to want to further sell down its Aramco stake. He wanted Aramco ready to sell more shares whenever the government called.

About two years ago, MBSs closest advisors  including Aramco Chairman Yasir Al Rumayyan  started to hold secret meetings with bankers, investors and consultants to gauge when they could sell off more of the oil giant, which has long been considered one of the kingdoms crown jewels.

The Finance Ministry had been adding up how much it would cost to deliver MBSs vision. As it pondered the outlook for oil prices, estimates for government revenue and how much it could borrow while sustaining its credit rating, it foresaw a funding gap ahead.

Foreign direct investment had been picking up, but was still nowhere near where Saudi Arabia needed it to be. Selling off another stake in Aramco offered a good way to help the government bring in more cash.

The selloff is small enough so that domestic opponents wont get too upset, and it brings in foreign buyers to test the waters in the kingdom, Rice Universitys Krane said. If Aramco shares perform as touted, who knows, maybe a few of those buyers will become future foreign investors?

Russias invasion of Ukraine had also caused oil prices to soar to their highest level in years. Thats left Aramco sitting on billions of dollars of cash that it could use to boost dividend payouts. As the largest shareholder, that would help the Saudi state. Boosting the dividend yield would also address one of the major gripes of foreign investors.

Banks ultimately pitched the government committee on a variety of options  including having the sovereign wealth fund, which Al Rumayyan also runs, sell part of its stake in Aramco. Another proposal was a direct sale to other investors. In the end, a committee including Al Rumayyan, Finance Minister Mohammed Al Jadaan, and Economy and Planning Minister Faisal Al Ibrahim, settled on the government paring down its holding.

By the end of last year, the committee had given the deal a greenlight. Now, it was just a question of timing.

Bring Back Bankers

One of the first steps was to bring back the legendary rainmaker Michael Klein as well as bankers at Moelis & Co. as advisers. Both firms had managed to maintain their relationships with the Saudi government after working on Aramcos IPO.

They later brought on a series of banks, including Citigroup Inc., Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and HSBC Holdings Plc. Those firms were eventually joined by Bank of America Corp., JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Morgan Stanley.

Unlike during the IPO process, Aramco shares were already trading, meaning there was daily visibility into how investors valued the company. As a result, tensions were markedly lower. Without the backdrop of trying to bridge the expectations of mercurial owners and wary investors, bankers worked better together.

Still, it was difficult to find the right time for the deal: A potential launch in February was planned and then abandoned on concerns about political tensions in the Middle East. A sale in April was considered, but then dropped after Iranian airstrikes against Israel once again heightened tensions.

Markets seemed to be brushing aside each instance of geopolitical tension. Rather than spiking on the threat of widening conflict in the region, the price of oil was rarely above $90 a barrel. Investors, it seemed, were more worried about weak demand than supply disruptions.

The government told Aramco to get the deal done before the second half of June. By then, the fear was that investors had already made most of their allocations for year and that the specter of the US presidential elections would cause turmoil in markets.

Late in the evening on May 30, as bankers across Riyadh unwound amid the increasingly stifling desert heat, phones started ringing. Aramco had formally launched the share sale just a few hours ago. The company already had a large group of banks, but was now spreading the net wider.

Those calls came with a message: Youve been hired as a bookrunner. Aramco had already secured enough demand to cover the deal but the oil giant wanted to leave no stone unturned. These bankers were told to get ready to join a kickoff call within minutes.

With that, firms including BOC International, BNP Paribas SA, China International Capital Corp. and EFG Hermes were added. SNB Capital was named as lead manager, and a handful of other local banks also made it to the final roster.

$124 Billion Question

Nasser and the banks working on the sale soon took to the road, speaking with more than 100 investors in the lead up to the deals official launch on June 2. The road show took them far and wide, talking to regional sovereign wealth funds and the biggest fund managers across the US, Europe and Asia alike.

The deal ultimately priced in the bottom half of a proposed range and about 15% below Aramcos IPO price, without accounting for bonus shares the firm has issued over the years. Aramcos market capitalization remains some way off the $2 trillion MBS covets.

Many foreign funds that bought in this time around were passive investors looking to boost their holdings at a discount; theres also still some concern among some active investors that think the firm remains overvalued and the yield unattractive.

In the end, though, the $11.2 billion that the mega stock offering raised for Riyadh made it the biggest such deal globally in about three years and gave MBS loads of fresh firepower for his plans to transform the Saudi economy.

One key selling point was Aramcos $124 billion dividend  the worlds largest. The firms boosted its payout steadily since listing and the stock now offers a yield of around 6.6%.

Combined with the chance to buy in at a roughly 6% discount, many investors who sat out the IPO decided to jump in this time. About 125 new investors bought shares in this months offering.

In all, the deal attracted about $65 billion of orders and almost 60% of the shares went to foreign investors. Thats a far cry from the 23% allocated to foreign investors in the 2019 IPO, giving MBS the international sale he wanted all along.

Overseas demand has been the most interesting aspect of the share sale, said David Rundell, a former US diplomat with decades of experience in the Middle East.

That is a vote of confidence for MBS, he said.

With assistance from Archana Narayanan, Anthony Di Paola and Abeer Abu Omar.
At Tarq, Mumbai, the gallery space is charged with a different kind of energy, one of kinship and dialogue. On display are seven collaborative prints created by artist pairs Sameer Kulavoor and Vishwa Shroff, Savia Mahajan and Parag Tandel, Bodushura Mukherjee and Ronny Sen, Pratap Morey and Philippe Calia, Garima Gupta and Nibha Sikander, Soghra Khurasani and Saju Kunhan, and Rithika Merchant and Areez Katki. The works represent both points of commonality and departure between two artistic practices. Titled Overlaps , this show marks the 10th anniversary of the gallery, and highlights the ethos of collaboration and the sense of community that has defined Tarqs programming over the years.

The portfolio of prints on display represent rigorous artistic work and dialogue, underpinned by a spirit of fun, experimentation, and learning," states the gallery note. For Hena Kapadia, founder, Tarq, the process of pairing the artists and observing them engage in a series of meaningful dialogue with one another has been most rewarding. We have had a long engagement with all the artists, who have participated in the show. I am quite familiar with their interests and practices, and this understanding went into the deciding of pairs," she says. While the mediums and vocabularies of each artist might be different, the pairings were based on common strands of thought, motivations and concerns. The creative practitioners agreed to this experimental exercise, and the themes, which emerged in the process, were based on ideas of identity, space, architecture, and ecology.

For the show, Kapadia reached out to Pritam Arts, a 38-year-old screen print studio based in Lower Parel, Mumbai, run by a father-son duo, Prabodh and Prajval Mendon. The studio is known for experimenting with scale, medium, colour, and impressions, and seemed like a perfect fit for the project. To highlight the process behind the exhibition, the gallery space has been divided into two parts. One features the prints created by the artists, and in the second part, the print studio has been recreated to showcase the work done by the artists at Pritam Arts.

Also read: A powerful new exhibition on the forest residents of Aarey

Work on the show started months ago, with the paired artistsseparated by geographies and time zonesattending several video calls with Kapadia and Prajval Mendon. There was a lot to be discussed, be it the choice of colours for the screen print, the themes, and logistics of the artists being present for the final workshop held two weeks back at Pritam Arts. The overlaps were really interesting. Both Garima Gupta and Nibha Sikander, for instance, are really interested in ecology, and they based their works on the same bird species. Nibha created a cutout and Garima worked on a digital soundscape on the bird call," elaborates Kapadia. Ronny Sen and Boshudhara Mukherjee, who usually work with very different mediums, found a common ground in graphics.

Sameer Kulavoor was interested in seeing how the proposition would play out in the studio. Artists have very strong individual practices, and finding synchronised spaces within those can be tricky," he says. However, Kulavoors partner for the exhibition, Vishwa Shroff, and he set a grid to get going. They had the advantage of being based in the same cityMumbaiand Shroff would come over to Kulavoors studio to brainstorm and work.

My work has sharply shifted in its focus on architecture in the last five years or so. And that is a theme, which has run through Vishwas practice for a long time," he elaborates. Shroff showed him a drawing based on scaffoldings, which reminded Kulavoor of one of his works, and in turn he showed her drawings that Shroff could relate with. The idea to confuse peopleto make them guess which drawing had been made by which artist in the final workwas a by-product rather than an intentional attempt. It emerged during banter while working. For the exhibition, each artist was assigned one screen. But we decided to create a mix of both our drawings to be put on the two screens given to us," says Kulavoor.

Also read: Meet the people tutoring indie musicians about their rights

View Full Image Areez Katki and Rithika Merchant, Shes a Witch (2024). Courtesy Areez Katki, Rithika Merchant, and Tarq

The process of creating the artworks has been revelatory to most artists. Rithika Merchant, for instance, had never before had on her work or next to it. To me, the conversations of putting together the artwork have been as important as the final piece itself," she says. Merchant partnered with Areez Katki, both of whom have very different visual languages. The former, who is based in Mumbai, draws on iconography from myths and legends, interpreting them in a contemporary context. Her work looks at building worlds and speculative futures featuring hybrid creatures. She achieves this by using botanical and celestial imagery as well as elements from her own lexicon of symbols.

Katki, on the other hand, looks at objects and material culture, to investigate fragmentations of migrant identity. Both [his artistic and writing practices] examine the historic and the personal, using gestures which survey the nature of (our) relationships with sites and embodiments," states the artists bio.

Merchant feels that the kind of references that she and Katki make are somewhat similar, in their reference to esoteric imagery, for instance. We derive meaning from symbols," she says. Both the artists, who met at Tarq, have been friends for some time now. When the conversation for the show started, Katki was in Italy for the Venice Biennale. We started talking on the phone about some sort of an energy barrierthat sense of being overwhelmed in a crowd, and creating a psychological and physical barrier around oneself," she says. Katki asked her to start drawing, and then he would respond to it. So, Merchant created the central figure, the vines and the flowers, and Katki engaged with that through his signature gestures. To me, this meeting of the minds has been the most fascinating aspect of participating in Overlaps," says Merchant.

On view at Tarq, Mumbai, till 20 July, Tuesday to Saturday, 11am-6.30pm
Ayesha Susan Thomas, who is a Serbia-based theatre maker and co-founder of KathaSiyah Collective, a multi-lingual, feminist performance collective, has had her share of experiences with prejudiced gynaecologists in India. Wasnt medicine supposed to be an objective science? She spoke to other women, and each one had faced a judgemental gynaecologist or two, while in need of treatment.

She came across Dr Anamika Pradhans first-person account on Agents of Ishq, a multi-media project about sex, love, and desire. It was titled What Doctors (Really) Think About Sex, Abortion and Virginity, and delved into the lack of gender sensitisation in medical textbooks. Her research further led her to Dr Suchitra Dalvie, gynaecologist and co-founder of Asia Safe Abortion Partnerships, which works for womens sexual and reproductive health rights, who also wrote about dated medical textbooks.

Suddenly, her experiences as a woman and queer person were beginning to make sense. Over four years, she developed a satirical, interactive multimedia performance titled The Flabby-Breasted Virgin and Other Sordid Tales on modern and ancient interpretations of the female body through medical text. It started online in 2022 during the covid-19 pandemic. Now, the performance is available for viewing on demand on their website.
"My mother has a wonderful photograph of herself and her sisters and cousins holidaying in Gaza wearing fashionable 60s bikinis and Jackie Kennedy-style scarves over their heads secured with sunglasses. Born in Jerusalem, Phoebe Rison, a British blogger I follow, once shared what now sounds like a surreal memory of a place where beaches now house refugee tents and the death toll from the Israeli onslaught crosses 36,000.

She says oh it was the best place to go for the weekends, we would eat fish and go swimming and have lots of fun, writes Rison in her blog, The Olive Tree Kitchen. Gaza has such beautiful beaches, a charming harbour where fishing boats strewn with colourful nets come in to dock their catches.

Also read: Cut kitchen time, up your cooking game with a squid recipe The Gaza striphalf the size of Bengaluruwas no paradise even before the current apocalypse, destruction and Israels killing of more than 10,000 children, but besieged Gazans were known for their resilience and their ability to make the most of very little, in particular their ability to produce some of the Mediterraneans most delicious food.

It may appear strange to dedicate a column on food to a people battling hunger and malnutrition, but foodat the worst of timesis a means of remembrance, resistance, and resilience. I am conflicted about the concept of gastro solidarity, a collective expression of support through food, but you will find it widely expressed on Instagram and elsewhere.

The Palestinians have often been visited by catastrophe, and there are numerous accounts of how, over the decades, they have kept their culture and cuisine alive in refugee camps and places far from a home they may never see again.

Food is the most precious part of Palestinian heritage food is what keeps us together as Palestinians, says a refugee called Aisha Azzam who has worked on a collaborative history project with Canadian historian Elizabeth Vibert, known for her work on embattled communities. Im waiting to see their forthcoming film, Aishas Story, a chronicle of displacement and resistance born out of a grain mill that Azzam and her husband have run for 35 years in Jordans Baqaa refugee camp.

In her evocative 2018 book Zaitoun (or olive)one of my favourites from my kitchen libraryYasmin Khan notes that the most enduring aspect of Palestinian cuisine is its adaptability, undergoing a unique journey because of the eternally beleaguered nature of its people. The Palestinians are the worlds largest refugee community, with as many in exile as within what the United Nations calls the Occupied Territories of Palestine.

Khan, a writer and human-rights campaigner of Iranian-Pakistani extraction, wrote in the bookmore than six years agothat the cuisine of Gaza was under the biggest threat of disappearing, due to the crippling food blockage which has plunged the Gaza strip into devastating food poverty. Even then 80% of its 2 million people depended on UN food aid, and Gazas once flourishing fish industry, Khan wrote, is in the process of being eradicated.

Of Palestinian culinary variations, the food of Gaza is some of the most distinct and spare. It is not hard to understand the latter. Much of its food revolvesor revolvedaround fish, even after the Israelis over the years restricted its fisherfolk to a narrow section of a sea increasingly polluted with sewage, with electricity unavailable for treatment plants. The sea bass that once graced many Gazan tables is rare, and I cannot bring myself to make their fish, even though the recipe stares at me.

Olives are widespread in Palestinian cuisine, but I did not come across too many Gazan recipes with them. Olives, like so much else, have become a metaphor for conflict. The Israelis have intentionally cut down olive trees across the Palestinian territories.

Garlic, chillies and dill appear to be the mainstays of Gazan flavours, from what I could gather while researching the meal I prepared. It seems simple, but even the ingredients I used are now hard to find in Gaza. Avocados grew throughout the Strip, but it is hard to imagine many trees surviving in the wasteland of concrete rubble that is Gaza today. If they grow again, no Gazan will forget how they were used.

Green beans with olive oil

(both recipes adapted from Yasmin Khans Zaitoun)

Serves 3

Ingredients

250g green beans

1 onion, finely chopped

6-7 garlic cloves, finely chopped

Half tsp cumin powder

200g tomatoes, chopped

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp freshly ground pepper

Half tsp sumac

1 and a half tbsp light olive oil

Sea salt to taste

Method

Gently heat the olive oil, fry onions until translucent. Add garlic and saute for a minute. Add cumin and saute for a minute. Add the tomatoes, sugar, salt, pepper and sumac. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Add water if required.

Boil the beans in saucepan of water until cooked through. Drain and add to the tomato sauce. Adjust seasoning. Before serving, drizzle with half tbsp olive oil.

Gazan avocados Serves 2

Ingredients

1 avocado

2 garlic cloves, chopped

1 green chilli, finely chopped

1 tbsp Greek yogurt

Juice of half lemon

Half tsp sesame seeds

Half tsp freshly ground black pepper

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Sea salt to taste

Method

Chop avocado in large chunks after removing the stone. Mash roughly with a fork. Add green chilli, pepper, salt, lemon juice and mix. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. Serve immediately.

Our Daily Bread is a column on easy, inventive cooking. Samar Halarnkar is the author of The Married Mans Guide To Creative CookingAnd Other Dubious Adventures. He posts @samar11 on Twitter.
A recent autopsy report revealed that the man, allegedly tortured and killed by popular Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, died from shock and haemorrhage. The victim, Renuka Swamy, was found with 15 wounds on his body, NDTV reported. Swamy was allegedly beaten to death by actor Darshan and his associates.

Details of the Incident Renuka Swamy was a native of Chitradurga whose body was recovered in Kamakshipalya in Bengaluru on June 9. He was allegedly kidnapped from Chitradurga, Karnataka, over his comments on social media about Pavithra Gowda, Thoogudeepa's girlfriend.

His body showed multiple wounds and marks on the head, abdomen, chest, and other parts. As per the NDTV report, the autopsy indicated that his head rammed a mini truck in a shed in Bengaluru, where he was brought from Chitradurga. The police have seized this vehicle.

Authorities reportedly recovered wooden logs, a leather belt, and a rope used to torture Renuka Swamy. The police stated that Thoogudeepa allegedly arranged for three men to take the blame for the murder, offering them 5 lakh each. However, during interrogation, their involvement was revealed.

"It's a heinous crime. He (Darshan Thoogudeepa) has to face the consequences... there will be no interference from the government. There is no room for that," Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said on Thursday, as quoted by NDTV.

What happened in the case so far? Renukaswamy, a resident of Chitradurga, allegedly commented on the social media account of Pavithra Gowda, a small-time actress, accusing her of creating a rift between the actor and his wife. He also allegedly used "indecent language" and posted offensive messages, police sources told PTI news agency.

Darshan, popularly known as "Challenging Star", and 12 of his close associates were arrested on Tuesday for the murder of the 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor.

Earlier, a driver named Ravi, who transported Renuka Swamy from Chitradurga to Bengaluru, surrendered to the police.

Another accused, Raghu alias Raghavendra, had arranged Ravi's taxi and boarded it in Chitradurga city. Ravi went into hiding after the incident but later surrendered following advice from the taxi association in Chitradurga, as per the report.

Raghu, who ran a fan club for the Kannada actor in Chitradurga, was reportedly hired by the actor to gather information about Renuka Swamy. The victim's wife alleged that he was kidnapped near their house, as per the report.

The body was dumped on a road and discovered by a food delivery rider, who subsequently informed the police. CCTV footage showed two cars, one linked to Thoogudeepa, leaving the area after disposing of the body, as quoted by NDTV.
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP)  The president of Honduras has announced the creation of a new 20,000-capacity megaprison," part of the government's larger crackdown on gang violence and efforts to overhaul its long-troubled prison system.

President Xiomara Castro unveiled a series of emergency measures in a nationally televised address early Saturday, including plans to strengthen the military's role in fighting organized crime, prosecute drug traffickers as terrorists and build new facilities to ease overcrowding as narcoviolence and other crimes mount in the nation of 10 million.

Left-wing Castro's megaprison" ambitions mirror those of President Nayib Bukele in neighboring El Salvador, who has built the largest prison in Latin America  a 40,000-capacity facility to house a surging number of detainees swept up in the president's campaign of mass arrests.

Honduran security forces must urgently carry out interventions" in all parts of the country now witnessing "the highest rates of gang violence, drug trafficking, money laundering and other crimes, Castro said in her midnight address.

Authorities plan to immediately construct and send dangerous gangsters to a 20,000-capacity prison near the rural province of Olancho, in the country's east, said Maj. Gen. Roosevelt Hernandez, the army chief of staff.

Escalated police raids have driven up the Honduran prison population to 19,500 inmates, crammed into a system designed for 13,000, the Honduran national committee against torture, or CONAPREV, reported last year.

The government has rushed to build new detention facilities. Last year, Castro announced plans to construct the only island prison colony in the Western Hemisphere  an isolated 2,000-capacity prison on the Islas del Cisne archipelago about 155 miles (250 kilometers) off the countrys coast.

The Honduran defense council also demanded that Congress change the penal code to allow authorities to detain suspected gang leaders without filing charges and carry out mass trials, as they do for alleged terrorists.

The raft of measures marked the latest example of Castro's hard-line stance on security that intensified amid a surge of narcoviolence in 2022, when she imposed a state of emergency to combat the bloodshed and suspended part of the constitution  a page straight from the playbook of Bukele in El Salvador.

Like Bukele's anti-gang crackdown that has restricted civil liberties in El Salvador, Castros tactics have drawn criticism from human rights groups that accuse her government of taking its tough-on-crime tactics too far.

But Bukeles success in eradicating gangs that once terrorized large swaths of El Salvador has won him admiration across the region, including in Honduras, where a weary public wants to see results.

Last week, Honduran Security Minister Gustavo Sanchez announced that the government recorded 20% fewer homicides in the first five months of 2024 compared to the same period last year.
The AAP-led Delhi government issued a humanitarian appeal on Saturday for Haryana to discharge additional water into the Yamuna. The national capital has been facing a severe shortage amid heatwave conditions in recent days. Water Minister Atishi said the city was facing a shortage of 70 million gallons per day in production due to lack of raw water in the Munak canal and Wazirabad reservoir.

Delhi has made a humanitarian appeal to Haryana, urging the state to release some additional water for Delhi... Delhi government officers have also talked to Haryana Government officers, and on all probability, a delegation of senior officers of Delhi will travel to Chandigarh and meet Haryana officers... I even urge the Delhi people to consciously and carefully use the available water, she urged during a press conference on Saturday.

The Delhi government has already secured a promise of support from the Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu-led Himachal Pradesh government. However the calculation of data on the availability of water from Himachal Pradesh is yet to be done by the Board and could take some time. Himachal Pradesh government has indicated 130 cusec surplus water out of its share of the Upper Yamuna water.

ALSO READ: Delhi water crisis: We are ready to give; have no say if water comes via Haryana, says Himachal CM Sukhvinder Sukhu Meanwhile the BJP has blamed the Arvind Kejriwal-led government for the ongoing water scarcity amid persistent a heatwave.

Since the last 10 years, people of Delhi are facing water crisis and Arvind Kejriwal's government is responsible for this. Water Minister Atishi's only job is to tell lies...till 2013, Delhi Jal Board used to be in profit but today it is in debt of 82,000 crores, the whole money has gone to powerful people through the tanker mafia...Atishi should stop defaming Haryana, insisted BJP MP Yogender Chandoliya.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday claimed that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government-led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi may fall anytime.

People have elected Modi's minority government, it may fall anytime, reported PTI quoting Kharge.

Kharge added that the NDA government has been formed by mistake.

He (PM Modi) had himself said several times...'khichdi government'...if the majority is not there it may fall anytime. They won't take any decision. These are the things he himself said. The same thing I am repeating, said Kharge when he was asked to elaborate his remark.

Meanwhile, reacting to Kharge's remarks, JD(U) leader KC Tyagi said that the Congress chief is creating an environment of anarchy and disbelief by giving offensive statements.

"I condemn it, added Tyagi.

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also reacted to Kharge's remark and stated that 2014 onwards, the government of NDA has been formed with majority. "INDIA alliance was an alliance of opposition parties with no leader or policy...In Delhi, they fought elections in alliance whereas in Punjab they fought alone...These circumstances were an attempt to create confusion in the minds of people but the public has given an answer to it, ANI quoted Shekhawat as saying.

"NDA has a clear majority. We have won 292 Lok Sabha seats...I advise Mallikarjun Kharge to play the role of opposition," said Union Minister Ramdas Athawale.

Endorsing Kharge's statement, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari said that the NDA government has not been formed with the support of the people.

In the recently held Lok Sabha elections, BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 240 seats. Opposition's INDIA bloc secured 233 seats. The Congress Party won 99 seats.
The high-profile Sheena Bora murder trial has met with a major roadblock as a key piece of evidence has reportedly gone missing. Sheena Bora's remains that were sent for examination to JJ Hospital are reportedly untraceable, Ranjeet Sangle, the advocate of prime accused Indrani Mukerjea said on Friday, reported ANI. The development is likely to weaken the case against accused Indrani Mukerjea.

Also Read: Putin Demands Ukraine Abandon Four Regions for Peace Talks

During the murder trial, the prosecution told the CBI court in Mumbai that the bones, which the CBI claims to be of Sheena Bora are reportedly untraceable.

"The prosecution told the Central Bureau of Investigation court that bones, which the CBI claims to be Sheena Bora remains, are reportedly untraceable," ANI quoted Sangle. The next hearing in the case is set to take place on 27 June.

There was an extensive search carried out to locate the items examined by the forensic expert related to the murder trial, however, nothing was found, Special Public Prosecutor CJ Nandode told the court, reported ANI citing Sangle.

Repercussions of untraceable remains in the trial Remains of the victim in the case served as a crucial evidence against the accused. The initial examination of the remains were conducted by JJ Hospital forensic expert Dr Zeba Khan. Khan had confirmed that the collected evidence were of a human body. The examination was crucial to establish prosecution's story, reported ANI. Since the evidence is reportedly missing, Dr Khan's testimony would be taken without considering bones as evidence. Indrani Mukerjea, the prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case was granted bail by the Supreme Court in May 2022.

About Sheena Bora murder case Indrani Mukherjee is facing trial for allegedly killing her daughter Sheena Bora. The complain was lodged at the Byculla women's prison in Mumbai following her arrest in August 2015, after which she had spent over six years there.

Indrani has always maintained that Sheena was not murdered, and had gone abroad for her education in 2012, although Indrani could never prove her claims.
AUBURN, Maine (AP)  A Maine State Police tactical team fatally shot a man on a rooftop early Saturday after an hourslong standoff in which authorities said he opened fire at officers, two homes burned down, and one person who fought with the shooter remained missing.

Police issued a shelter-in-place order, evacuated homes and closed a section of the street in Auburn, trigging memories of the mass shooting in neighboring Lewiston less than eight months ago, when a gunman killed 18 people and injured 13 others in the deadliest shooting in Maine's history.

Its been an intense and tragic morning here in Auburn, said Timothy Cougle, the city's deputy chief of police, especially in light of the events that took place this past October.

Police said Leein Hinkley, 43, had been released on bail days earlier on a probation violation. He tried to break into a home just before 1 a.m. Saturday, and got into a fight with a man inside. A woman called 911 and fled through a window when she heard gunshots.

Auburn police officers found the woman hiding down the street about 10 minutes later, and she identified the person who broke in as Hinkley. Officers heard yelling inside the house and saw flames coming from the windows and engulfing the building. The man who fought with Hinkley is still unaccounted for, Cougle said.

The deputy chief said Hinkley fired shots at officers several times and was heard yelling at them from inside, and Auburn police called for the tactical team.

Shortly before 1:30 a.m. another house on the street was reported on fire. Hinkley fled, briefly hiding in a neighboring garage, then fled to a flat rooftop of a home down the street, where he began yelling and screaming while brandishing a firearm, police said.

Photos of scene show several vehicles parked beside the homes also burned, including a yellow school bus.

Col. William Ross of the Maine State Police said a tactical team located Hinkley on the rooftop with a handgun just after 5:30 a.m. and two troopers shot and killed him moments later. Ross did not provide details about what happened during the four-hour standoff.

Capt. Chris Moretto of the Auburn Fire Department said there were three explosions around 2:15 a.m. that were believed to be related to the fire, the Lewiston Sun-Journal reported. Another explosion was heard shortly before 3 a.m., the newspaper reported.

Ross said Hinkley had been in custody on a probation violation related to his conviction in 2011 of domestic violence and elevated aggravated assault, as well as a recent domestic violence arrest. However, he was released Wednesday after a court lowered his bail to $1,500 with conditions, including house arrest at a residence in Lewiston.

The Lewiston Sun Journal had reported in 2012 that Hinkley, of Sabattus, was sentenced to 20 years in the double stabbing of his former girlfriend and a good Samaritan who attempted to intervene.
Key events happened on this day, June 15: Several events occurred worldwide on this day in the past. Right from over 1,000 died in a fire aboard the steamboat General Slocum in New Yorks East River to the Second Continental Congress voted unanimously to appoint George Washington head of the Continental Army in 1775.

Take a look at the key events held on June 15. New York Steamboat disaster in 1904 In 1904, the PS General Slocum steamboat caught fire in New York's East River. The boat was carrying over 1,300 passengers, mainly German-American families on a church outing. The fire spread rapidly through the wooden ship, and many lifeboats were inaccessible or unusable. Additionally, most life preservers were faulty, leading to widespread panic. Many passengers who were unable to swim, drowned. The disaster resulted as one of the worst maritime disasters in US history.

Also Read: Hajj date 2024: Pilgrimage to start June 14; final month of Islamic calendar to begin on Friday Nik Wallenda's Niagara Falls tightrope walk in 2012 Nik Wallenda made history by becoming the first person to walk a tightrope over Niagara Falls. The walk, which spanned approximately 1,800 feet from the US to Canada, was performed on a steel cable. Wallenda faced heavy mist and strong winds but successfully navigated the treacherous conditions. This daring feat was broadcast live on television, captivating millions of viewers worldwide.

Also Read: Did you know? If you Google FRIENDS characters, theyll speak, shout and more Hijacking of a TWA Boeing 727 in 1985 In 1985, the Shiite Muslim hijackers of a TWA Boeing 727 beat and shot one of their hostages, U.S. Navy diver Robert Stethem (STEE-them), 23, throwing him out of the plane to die on the tarmac at Beirut airport. Over the next 17 days, the plane also made multiple stops across the Middle East. The terrorists demanded the release of 700 Shiite prisoners held by Israel.
Prince Louis, Prince William and Kate Middleton's youngest child, stole the show at the Trooping the Colour ceremony as he spotted dancing to the drum beats. Despite a gentle scolding from his sister, Princess Charlotte, the six-year-old continued to dance, making Kate smile. Videos of Louis, who is known for his mischivious acts, went viral on social media.

Netizens reacted delightfully Lol this kid is too cute!! one X user wrote.

While another user said Love Louis, love them all, another commented, while few asked, Where is William?

What instructions did Kate give to her kids? Kate and her children were spotted watching the procession from a building that overlooked the parade route.

A Mirror report cited, lip reader Nicola Hinckley said that Kate was spotted giving her kids some instructions. Probably, she said, "You stay there, OK?" and then was seen telling Charlotte, "Keep smiling and stay here for one moment."

During the ceremony, Kate focused on Louis, who became sidetracked and playfully tugged on the blind strings instead of facing the crowd. The six-year-old pulled on the white cord in his usual manner. Later, Louis was seen yawning and quietly conversing with the Princess of Wales, while the rest of the family watched the parade from the Major General's Office balcony.
After being fired from his job at Singapore firm NCS, an upset and confused Indian employee deleted 180 virtual servers, which resulted in a loss of USD678,000 ( 5.6 crore) to the company.

Thirty-nine-year-old Kandula Nagaraju, has now been sentenced to two years and six months' jail term by a Singapore court after he was found guilty of accessing company data without authorisation and deleting 180 virtual servers.

Also : Putin Demands Ukraine Abandon Four Regions for Peace Talks

According to Channel News Asia, Kandula Nagaraju, was upset that he was fired by NCS in October 2022 because of his poor performance and his employment ended on 16 November 2022.

Kandula was a part of a 20-member team responsible for managing quality assurance (QA) computer system at NCS. The company offers information communication and technology services.

Although Kandula's former team had access to new software, programs, and other virtual servers, there was no confidential information about the company. However, the servers and other data deleted by Kandula might have caused the company to incur a loss of crores.

Kandula felt upset and confused after termination Soon after his termination, Kandula felt confused and upset as he found himself performing well. He also thought that he had made good contributions to NCS during his employment, reported Channel News Asia referring to court documents.

After being fired by the company, Kandula had no other job in Singapore and he returned to India. Later, he used his laptop to gain unauthorised access to the system using administrator login credentials. He repeated the same process for six times between January 16 and January 17 in 2023 to wipe off company's server data.
Elon Musk, Teslas chief executive officer, on Saturday sought the elimination of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) from the elections in the United States.

Elon Musk, who is also the CEO of SpaceX, made the remark while responding to a post by Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the independent candidate for President of the United States, over alleged voting irregularities related to EVMs in Puerto Ricos primary elections.

In a post on X, Kennedy Jr said, "Puerto Ricos primary elections just experienced hundreds of voting irregularities related to electronic voting machines, according to the Associated Press. Luckily, there was a paper trail so the problem was identified and vote tallies corrected. What happens in jurisdictions where there is no paper trail?"

Kennedy Jr said that US citizens need to know that every one of their votes were counted, and that their elections cannot be hacked.

He further added that they need to return to paper ballots to avoid electronic interference with elections.

Reacting to Kennedy Jr's post on X, Elon Musk said that we should eliminate electronic voting machines.

"The risk of being hacked by humans or AI, while small, is still too high," said Elon Musk.

Elon Musk remark has been liked by over 1 lakh X users. While 20,000 users reposted, over 8,000 also reacted to it.

Of the several X users who reacted to Elon Musk's comment, one user said, "We should eliminate mail-in voting and drop boxes too."

"Agreed! Electronic voting machines are the only way theyre able to cheat in the elections," said another user.

"You would have been banned from Twitter for election interference for saying this had you not bought it," said user named Shame Horne.

One of the users said that electronic voting machines with paper backups and separate tabulators are probably the way to go.
Kate Middleton, Britain's Princess of Wales made her first public appearance on Saturday, months after revealing that she is diagnosed with cancer. She arrived at the Buckingham Palace wearing a pale outfit with her husband Prince William and their three children to attend "Trooping the Colour." The annual military parade in central London marks the official birthday of the British monarch, King Charles.

The users on social media were excited to see Kate Middleton after a long time. They expressed satisfaction that the Princess of Wales was looking healthy and happy. In the video, Kate Middleton can be seen smiling while talking with her kids in the royal chariot.

During the Trooping the Color ceremony, Prince William participated on horseback. This event involves troops in full dress uniform parading past the monarch with their regimental flag, known as the "color." Meanwhile, King Charles, who is currently undergoing treatment for an unspecified type of cancer, opted to ride in a carriage with Queen Camilla, instead of riding on horseback as he did the previous year.

Kate Middleton's cancer diagnosis Since her cancer diagnosis, Kate Middleton has been receiving preventative chemotherapy. Although her treatment is still ongoing, her health has improved significantly, allowing her to make her first public appearance since last December. She released a rare personal written message on Friday and revealed her health status. "I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days," Kate's statement said.

It is still not clear which type of cancer she is fighting against, and her office, Kensington Palace, has declined to give any further details on the cancer diagnosis.

The Buckingham Palace revealed about the cancer diagnosis of King Charles this year and informed that he is undergoing treatment for the same. He returned to public duties in April, but his official duties are limited to minimize risks to his recovery.
OBBURGEN, Switzerland  Dozens of world leaders converged on a Swiss resort Saturday to discuss how to bring peace to war-ravaged Ukraine, though any hopes of a real breakthrough were muted by the absence of Russia.

More than two years into the war, the combatants remain as far apart as theyve ever been, with Kyiv sticking to its demands that Russia leave all Ukrainian territory it has seized and Moscow pressing on with its grinding offensive that has already taken large swaths of eastern and southern Ukraine.

Despite Russias absence from the conference at the Burgenstock resort overlooking Lake Lucerne, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested that one measure of the event's success was "bringing back to the world the idea that joint efforts can stop war and establish a just peace.

Attendees faced a tricky balancing act, with many chastising Russia for breaking international law while hedging their positions to leave the door open for Moscow to join future peace talks that might bring about an end to the conflict one day.

Here, there are representatives from Latin America, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, the Pacific, North America and religious leaders," Zelenskyy said. Now, there is no Russia here. Why? Because if Russia was interested in peace, there would be no war."

We must decide together what a just peace means for the world and how it can be achieved in a truly lasting way, he said. At the first peace summit, we must determine how to achieve a just peace, so that at the second, we can already settle on a real end to the war."

About half of the roughly 100 delegations were led by heads of state and government. Analysts said turnout would be a key indicator about how much pull Ukraine and its staunch Western backers have with the broader international community.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday sought to cast a shadow over the Swiss-Ukrainian initiative for the conference. Some countries such as India, Turkey and Saudi Arabia that have retained ties, at times lucrative, with Moscow  unlike Western powers that have sanctioned Russia over the war  were also on hand.

Saudi Arabias foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, told the conference that credible peace talks will need Russias participation and require difficult compromise.

Turkey's foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, acknowledged the mistrust between Russia and Ukraine, saying each side regards the other partys steps as an extension of broader war effort."

"Excellencies, I must also note that this summit could have been more results-oriented if the other party to the conflict  Russia  was present in the room, he added.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, representing the United States while President Joe Biden attended a fundraiser in California, reiterated Americas full backing for Ukraine and announced $1.5 billion in new U.S. assistance for an array of projects such as energy infrastructure and civilian security.

China, which backs Russia, joined scores of countries that sat out the event. Beijing has said any peace process would require the participation of Russia and Ukraine, and has floated its own ideas for peace.

In a separate initiative last month, China and Brazil agreed to six common understandings toward a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, asking other countries to play a role in promoting peace talks to be held at a proper time with both Russia and Ukraine involved.

The standoff over Ukraine is steeped in security for Europe  it is the continent's deadliest conflict since World War II  and big-power geopolitics.

U.S. intelligence officials say China has increased sales of machine tools, microelectronics and other technology to Russia that Moscow is using to produce missiles, tanks, aircraft and other weaponry to fuel its war effort.

What is clear is that China is not here, and I presume theyre not here because Putin asked them not to come and they obliged Putin, said Biden's top foreign policy advisor, Jake Sullivan. And I think that says something about where China stands with respect to Russias war in Ukraine. I think countries should take notice of that.

Harris and Sullivan both acknowledged that not all participants were on the same page about an eventual peace settlement.

Russian troops who control nearly a quarter of Ukraine have made territorial gains in recent months. When talk of the Swiss-hosted peace summit began last summer, Ukrainian forces had recently regained large tracts of territory, notably near the southern city of Kherson and the northern city of Kharkiv.

The conference centers on three agenda items  seen as the least controversial bits of a 10-point peace formula laid out by Zelenskyy: Nuclear safety, including at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia power plant; possible prisoner of war exchanges; and global food security. The war has disrupted shipments of food and fertilizer through the Black Sea.

Zelenskyy's plan also called for the withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied Ukrainian territory, the cessation of hostilities and the restoration of Ukraines original borders with Russia, including Russia's withdrawal from occupied Crimea. With Ukrainian mostly on the defensive these days, those appear to be increasingly distant hopes.

Putin wants any peace deal to be built around a draft agreement negotiated in the early phases of the war that included provisions for Ukraines neutral status and limits on its armed forces, while delaying talks about Russian-occupied areas. Ukraines push to join NATO over the years has rankled Moscow.

He wants Ukraine to drop its bid to join NATO and pull its forces out of regions that Russia illegally annexed in 2022.

The situation on the battlefield has changed dramatically, said Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, noting that although Russia can't achieve its maximalist objectives quickly through military means, it is gaining momentum on the battlefield.

As world leaders discussed a pathway to peace in Switzerland, the war ground on in Ukraine, where shelling killed at least three civilians and wounded 15 others on Friday and overnight into Saturday, regional officials said.

Meanwhile, Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russias southern Belgorod region, blamed Ukraine in a social media post for shelling that struck a five-story apartment building in the town of Shebekino on Friday, killing five people. There was no immediate comment from Kyiv.

Ken Moritsugu in Beijing and Joanna Kozlowska in London contributed to this report.
Who knows what Charanjit Singh, industrialist, ex-member of Parliament and the man who gave India its first successful home-bottled cola, might have achieved, had he not passed away at the cusp of liberalization. His untimely death in 1990 left the rapidly growing soft drinks market wide open to his great rival, Ramesh Chauhan of Thums Up fame.

Both men had seized the opportunity thrown open to Indian entrepreneurs after global cola giant Coca Cola was evicted from India in 1977 for refusing to dilute its stake and divulge the secret formula for Coke. Singhs Pure Drinks family group had been the sole manufacturer and distributor of Coca-Cola in India since 1949. Naturally, its first instinct was to protest the governments move. But very quickly, entrepreneurial impulse kicked in and Coca Cola became Campa Cola, while emerging from the same bottling plants.

Even the bottle was suspiciously similar though the taste of the cola inside might have been a tad sweeter, differentiating it from the spicier Thums Up. Coca-Cola would sue Pure Drinks upon its return in the 1990s, forcing the Indian company to redesign its bottle in an out-of-court settlement but by then Singh had passed away and in any case, the Indian brand was in decline.

But in the early 1980s, India couldnt get enough of the new formula. Soon, Campa launched many other flavors besides cola - orange, lemon, apple and, in a hat tip to its Indianness, jeera as well.

The Great Indian Taste

Singh knew it wasnt the product that would sell but the spirit it could summon. Armed with the marketing slogan The Great Indian Taste, the new cola now proceeded to use every trick in the book to hook a newly emerging Indian middle class particularly the generation born after independence. To them the newbies appeal was straightforward - We are all in it together for the taste of it. Capturing the zeitgeist of the new generation, Campa Cola roped in a young Salman Khan in its 1983 TV commercial, probably the first ad for the 17-year-old who would soon be the heartthrob of the nation.

Salman Rushdie might have dismissed the Indian sodas as "disgusting local imitations'', but the poseurs were flying off the shelves. The two Indian cola giants were so powerful that in 1988 they stalled a proposal by Pepsi to launch its products in the Indian market (as part of a larger fruit and food products venture, in partnership with Voltas and Punjab Agro-Industries Corporation). For Pepsi, this was its second shot at the Indian market. Its first, in 1956, collapsed after it found Indians had little taste for its cola, forcing the US MNC to quit in 1961.

By now Singh and his brother Daljit Singh had built an impressive industrial empire with interests in multiple businesses and a string of franchises across the countrys small towns to whom they sold the Campa brand of concentrates.

But Charanjit Singhs ambitions were too huge to be bottled in a soft drink brand. In the 1980 Lok Sabha elections, standing on a Congress ticket he had beaten heavyweights like Vijay Kumar Malhotra of the Janata Party and Shashi Bhushan of the Congress (Urs) to win from the prestigious South Delhi constituency.

As reward, he bagged a prized project from New Delhi Municipal Corporation, beating out competition from the likes of East India Hotels Ltd, Indian Hotels and ITC's Welcomgroup, to build a new hotel overlooking the historic landscape of Lutyens Delhi and surrounded by historic sites like India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhawan. The two towers of his Meridien hotel soon became a capital landmark but they also marked the start of an unusual faceoff which would set a precedent in terms of Indian businesss ability to influence the media.

Campa Cola vs India Today

Against a background of rules related to flouting of floor area ratio (FAR) and zoning regulations in the building of the hotel, India Today magazine had planned a story for which it sent a questionnaire to the company. An incensed Singh, went to court and managed to get an order prohibiting the magazine from publishing the story. The case traveled through various courts before reaching the Supreme Court where Soli Sorabjee defended India Today. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Yeshwant Vishnu Chandrachud (father of present Chief Justice Dhananjay Yeshwant Chandrachud), Justice E.S. Venkataramiah and Justice A.N. Sen categorically rejected the notion of pre-censorship once and for all. Justice Sen in fact made the famous remark: "I cannot believe that a story in a newspaper or magazine can ruin anyone's business. If it can, the man's business worthiness cannot be much."

It was a prophetic statement. Over the next few years, Singhs soft drink empire would come under pressure from Thums Up and by the time he passed away, Chauhan controlled over 40% of the market, leaving Campa in distant second place, though it did dominate the Delhi market.

With Charanjit Singhs passing, a bitter family feud broke out that put paid to any chance of growth in either the cola or the hotels business. In 2022, Campa Cola was acquired by Reliance Industries for 22 crores.

Mint Explainer: Campa Cola and the power of nostalgia
Union Minister Suresh Gopi reportedly called former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi the "mother of India" and late Congress Chief Minister K Karunakaran a "courageous administrator".

Gopi, who is Bharatiya Janata Party's first MP from Kerala, said Karnuakaran and Marxist veteran EK Nayanar are his "political gurus", news agency PTI reported.

He said this while speaking to reporters after visiting the memorial of Karunakaran, "Murali Mandiram" located in Punkunnam. The BJP leader said he came to Karunakaran memorial to pay his respects to his "guru", while urging mediapersons not to add any political connotation to his visit.

Notaly, Suresh Gopi had won the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency by dashing the hopes of Karunakaran's son and Congress leader K Muraleedharan, who finished third in a triangular contest in the April 26 elections.

As per a PTI report, Gopi said that, as he viewed Indira Gandhi as "bharathathinte mathavu" (mother of India), Karunakaran was the "father of the Congress party in the state" for him.

He explained that describing Karunakaran as the "father" of the Congress in Kerala did not mean disrespect to the founders or co-founders of the grand old party in the southern state.

The actor-turned-politician also hailed the administrative capabilities of the Congress veteran and dubbed him as a "courageous administrator" of his generation.

He further said though he had expressed his desire to visit the Murali Mandiram in 2019 also, the veteran's daughter Padmaja Venugopal, who recently defected to the BJP, discouraged him due to political reasons.

Later, Suresh Gopi also visited the famous Lourde Mata Church in the city and offered prayers. He and his family's presentation of a golden crown to the idol of St Mary during his daughter's marriage was used by his political opponents to target him, alleging that it was not made of yellow metal but copper.
Political strategist and leader Prashant Kishor launched a scathing attack on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday. Speaking at a public meeting in Bhagalpur, Kishor said Kumar "sold the pride of the state people" and even "touched the feet" to ensure his own continuance in power.

He was referring to the time when Kumar tried to touched the feet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the the meeting of NDA Parliamentary Party, just ahead of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) forming the government after the Lok Sabha Elections.

"Nitish Kumar sold the pride of Bihar's people. The leader of 13 crore people, our pride, he is touching the feet in front of the entire nation. This man will become the chief minister," Kishor said.

Kishor, who has been running the 'Jan Suraaj' campaign, added that there's vast difference between how Nitish Kumar was in 2014 and how is he in 2024. He said this while responding to questions on why is he opposing Kumar now, when he had helped the chief minister in 2014. Kishor who had managed the JD(U) president's election campaign in 2015 and formally joined the party two years later.

"People ask me why I am now criticising Nitish Kumar, having worked with him in the past. He was a different man back then. In 2014, Nitish Kumar had not touched PM Modi's feet he didn't sell his conscious back then. Today, he is ready to do anything to remain the chief minister, Kishor said.

Nitish Kumar's JD(U) won 12 seats in the Bihar Lok Sabha Elections. It emerged as the key BJP's ally that helped the NDA to form government at the Centre. The BJP formed a coalition government after it failed to get a majority in the Lok Sabha on its own.

Kishor said, "There is so much talk about Nitish Kumar playing a key role in Modi's return to power. But how is the Bihar CM leveraging his position? He is not using his clout to ensure benefits for the state. He is touching feet to ensure that he remains in power, with BJP support, even after 2025 assembly polls."
HD Kumaraswamy, the Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises of India, reportedly raised concerns over the central government subsidy given to large firms like US-headquartered semiconductor manufacturer Micron. He questioned the company "potentially receiving 3.2 crore in subsidies for every job it creates" in Gujarat.

The new manufacturing unit will generate about 5,000 jobs. For this, we are giving them $2 billion [around 16,000 crore] in subsidies... If you calculate, thats 70% of the companys total investment, Kumaraswamy was quoted by the Times of India as saying on Friday.

The Union minister said he had asked officials "how justifiable it is to allocate such a significant amount of funds". He also questioned the benefits given to small-scale industries.

"Conversely, there are small-scale industries... In Peenya (an industrial estate in Bengaluru), there are small-scale industries. How many lakh jobs have they created? What benefits have we provided to them? I am contemplating these matters, such as how to safeguard the nations wealth," Kumaraswamy reportedly said.

He was speaking to party workers upon returning to Bengaluru after joining the third Narendra Modi government.

Opposition leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said Kumaraswamy raised a "valid question". She posted in X, "In Gujarat, promise to create 5000 jobs, subsidies worth USD 2 billion given to US based semiconductor manufacturer. For each job created GoI has given a subsidy of 3.2 crores."

Kumaraswamy offers clarification Kumaraswamy's JD(S) party is part of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. He took over as the Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises of India in Prime Minister Narendra Modi government last week. Meanwhile, the BJP is also in power in Gujarat.

After identifying the company in his address to party workers in Karnataka on Friday, Kumaraswamy clarified that he was not authorised to do so, the Times of India reported.

He told media houses on Saturday that he was "misquoted". He said, "I have not mentioned any state. Why has my statement been picked up like this? I have to be very cautious in the future."

He added, Bringing the semiconductor sector in India is strategic; we require it. Parallelly, we have to create jobs for the second-line sector, our small-scale industry...We are thinking about it and working out on it...

Micron Technology deal Micron Technology announced in June 2023 its plans to build a new assembly and test facility worth $2.75 billion in Gujarat. In a press release, the company had said, "Microns investment will be up to $825 million over the two phases of the project and will create up to 5,000 new direct Micron jobs and 15,000 community jobs over the next several years."
Oliver Goldsmith is a reminder that change and evolution has always been part of Irish society, Tanaiste Micheal Martin stated as he officially opened the 40th Goldsmith Literary Festival of south Longford and south Westmeath.



The Fianna Fail leader and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence told a very large gathering at The Rustic Inn, Abbeyshrule, that the 18th century literary figure could see educational, economic and political change taking place before him and anticipated much more to come.



For Goldsmith the objective of rural life was not to retain everything, or to change everything, his work resonated and still resonates because it envisaged rural communities which continue to develop while respecting their traditions.



During his years as a student, and then during his travels, he was deeply interested in understanding wider European society and culture  critically he saw himself as being part of that society and culture and saw Ireland and Britain within this European context.



His writing was deeply informed by European ideas and themes. His satires on class attitudes and absurdities amused audiences well beyond these islands.



It is hard to avoid thinking of this today in the middle of a campaign for members of the European Parliament.



From the earliest recorded history through to today, Irish culture and identity has always been strengthened when it engages actively and positively with the wider European context.



No nation, let alone a small one on the edge of a large continent, can expect to succeed and thrive by standing alone. No culture can survive and evolve if it tries to seal itself off, he said.

Also read: Longford's Literary heritage: A festival of Golden Moments



The Tanaiste added that Goldsmith also reminds us of the diversity of Irish identity.



One of our great strengths as a society is how there have always been many different strands to Irish culture and identity.



The Protestant community which Goldsmith came from has consistently made unique and positive contributions both at home and in introducing Ireland to a wider world.



The protection of Celtic archeological treasures, the revival of traditional music, the production of the Irish language printed works, these and many other activities were led by the Church of Ireland community.

PICTURES | Longford basks in sunshine as Skelly's Courtyard, Ballymahon plays host to Goldsmith The Glory Years



During Goldsmiths wanderings in Europe he often relied upon Irish monasteries for shelter. He and they saw nothing unusual in the son of a Church of Ireland cleric turning to Catholics for aid at times of need  both understood that their Irish connection came first.



Mr Martin congratulated the organisers for maintaining one of Irelands longest running literary festivals and for delivering a diverse and engaging programme for its 40th year.



This festival makes a very valuable contribution to presenting Longford and Westmeath to the wider world as a destination for tourism, but it also plays a vital role as a community activity bringing so many people together.



Two and a half centuries after his death, Goldsmiths brilliant last decade of work remains an important Irish cultural landmark.



Led by a community where he was born, and joined in support and contributions from far and wide, this festival is a fitting tribute to one of Irelands greatest literary figures.

PICTURES | Huge crowds in Longford to reflect on the life of acclaimed novelist, playwright and poet Oliver Goldsmith



In her keynote address award-winning journalist of The Irish Times and author of new book An Eye on Ireland Justine McCarthy also offered her reflection on a transformative period in Irish life over the last four decades.



I feel lucky to work as a journalist through some of the most momentous events and defining changes in our country, the darkest of them all was The Troubles in Northern Ireland and they spread beyond, followed by the brightest with the slow dropping of peace.



What I have learned from reporting on Ireland over decades is that the people of Ireland are brave and they are change makers.



It is those individuals that have put trust in people like me to tell their harrowing stories who have compelled us as a country to recognise our wrongdoings and to fix them.



The innocent people of awful tragedies or wickedness or cruel circumstance, they are the greatest heroes I know.



As a journalist I am their conduit because often time the only way for them to expose the truth and to achieve the vindication they are entitled to is by telling their stories. By doing that they change our world, and they make it better. These are stories that made us what we are, we cannot allow them to be twisted or manipulated or worse to be silenced in our age of misinformation and propaganda. All writers have an obligation to keep telling it as it is, she said.



Pre-eminent Goldsmith scholar Prof Michael Griffin of the University of Limerick told the audience of the important need to secure future interest in Goldsmiths writings for new generations of readers.

PICTURES | Big crowds flock to Longford to enjoy Ballinalee Connemara Pony Show



As we are in the 250th year of his death and the 40th anniversary of this festival, it allows us the time to assess what Goldsmith means to us. There is a vital need to continue to reassess his work constantly and to see how he can still speak to us on our contemporary issues," he said.



Several other leading academics of 18th century literature including Prof Ian Campbell Ross and Prof Aileen Douglas both of Trinity College Dublin and Dr James Ward of the University of Ulster illuminated this message in their lecture contributions at the Goldsmith Library in Ballymahon on Saturday.



A packed bus of countrywide Goldsmith enthusiasts also participated in the literary tour of Goldsmith Country which visited The Three Jolly Pigeons, the Old Schoolhouse, Lissoy Parsonage, Kilkenny-West Church, and the Hawthorn Bush among many other famous sites.

PICTURES | Sun smiles on spectacular Longford Vintage Club annual show & family fun day



A huge crowd also attended a specially written and produced play called The Misadventures of Oliver Goldsmith by Michael J Ford performed in The Bog Lane Theatre and Skellys Courtyard over the weekend.



Contributors John Casey, Robin Baird, Niall Nally, Denis Glennon, and Sean Ryan also delivered fascinating contributions as part of the Goldsmith Miscellany event alongside musical accompaniment.



The festival ended with Poetry at Pallas at Goldsmiths birthplace where dozens of pupils from primary schools in Westmeath and Longford received prizes and certificates for poems they entered in the Goldsmith Childrens Poetry Competition adjudicated by poet Mary Melvin-Geoghegan.



Charlie Flanagan of Empor NS won 1st prize, 2nd place went to Kathryn Kiernan of Empor NS, and third place went to Muhammad Issa Tariq of Tubberclair NS.

The first prize winner of the Goldsmith Adult Poetry Competition, adjudicated by poet Eugene OConnell, was Glen Wilson of Portadown, 2nd prize winner was Frank Farrelly of Waterford. Aidan Casey was also presented with an award for his Highly Commended entry.

PICTURES | Tears and cheers, agony and ecstasy at nail biting Longford local elections count



Bringing the 40th Goldsmith Festival to a close, chairperson Arthur Conlon said: "This year we organised eight separate events and every one of them has been a rip-roaring success. We had brilliant crowds at the different events and we really encourage you to come along again next year.





"We are very grateful for the tremendous support from Longford and Westmeath county councils and from Nally Brothers in Ballymahon. I want to give a huge thanks to our dedicated committee too for all their hard work. Here's to another 40 years of the Goldsmith Festival."
Center Parcs Longford Forest are pressing ahead with a major investment in their only Irish resort, near Ballymahon.



Three hundred jobs will be created during the construction of the major development at Center Parcs Longford Forest, with 250 permanent jobs once operational.



The 100 million new development will consist of 198 additional lodges, including four luxury treehouses, a new restaurant, an additional coffee house, an extension to existing restaurants, leisure and car park facilities, and the creation of additional treatment rooms and treetop sauna at the Aqua Sana spa and swimming pool.



The expansion marks its fifth year operating in Ireland in July.



Measures will also be put in place at all facilities to reduce energy consumption, including the use of high efficiency LED lighting.

PICTURES | Sun smiles on spectacular Longford Vintage Club annual show & family fun day



Low flow outlets will also be utilised throughout the development to reduce water consumption.



Construction will be completed in stages, starting in September.



During an online press briefing on Thursday last, Center Parcs executives outlined their ambitious plans for the resort.

Colin McKinley, CEO of Center Parcs said that, we are thrilled with the success of our Longford resort.

Also read: One of Longford's top public houses hoping to develop a glamping tourism project



We are delighted to announce this expansion, he added.



The CEO emphasised the large numbers of locals employed in the resort. 60% of the team working in the resort are from Co. Longford, he explained.

Mr McKinlay, remarked, "We are delighted to announce that following several years of planning, we will commence work on our expansion of Longford Forest this autumn. Year on year, we have seen an increase in the number of guests we have welcomed to Longford Forest and many returning families, who have really taken Center Parcs into their hearts.

Also read: Longford MEP Ciaran Mullooly insists his success was not borne from his RTE role



"Speaking of hearts, at Center Parcs we feel so fortunate to be geographically located at the heart of Ireland and have the ongoing support of the local community. We are thrilled to be able to create even more opportunities for them and boost the local economy further."



Another Center Parcs executive, Simon Kay, emphasised that there will be minimal disruption to guests during the expansion work.

We have no intention of closing the village. There will be little to no disruption to guests while the work is ongoing. We have done this many times. We have expanded successfully, he stated.

Also read: Sadness at death of popular Longford TidyTowns volunteer Eamon Ledwith



Guests are always at the front of our thoughts. We project the customer experience at all costs, he added.



Mr Kay went on to tell the briefing that, there is a huge level of customer loyalty, with 60% of customers returning to stay again.



Reacting to rumours of a possible sale of Center Parcs, Mr Kay commented that, that is a question for shareholders. Last year wasnt the right time.



Mr Kay added that luxury treehouses will be part of the expanded Center Parcs. These treehouses offer quality and space and will include a games room and a steam room, he stated.

PICTURES | Tears and cheers, agony and ecstasy at nail biting Longford local elections count
Jimmy Donoghue, Main Street, Granard, was indeed a gentleman as defined by the great Cardinal Newman who said the true gentleman avoids whatever may cause a jolt, he is patient, forbearing and resigned. His great concern being to make everyone feel at home.



Jimmy, who died on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, was truly one of Granard's greatest gentlemen.



Born in Granard (where he lived all of his life), he gave of his best to the 'town which he loved so well'. It was here that he built a successful hardware business with his wife Sheila and family, living over the shop (in the traditional manner of business people in the town).



Jimmy had learned his trade as a young man from a reputable and respected trader in the business  Joe Morrissey. The fact that Jimmy was a valued past president of the Hardware Association of Ireland some years back, is evidence of his profile in the hardware sector.



Jimmy lived through many changes in the evolving story of Granard and contributed to many facets of change in the town from the 1950s onwards. He was one of the first students of the early vocational system in the town and often recalled his attendance at classes held upstairs in the Market House in Granard.

PICTURES | Big crowds flock to Longford to enjoy Ballinalee Connemara Pony Show



From his early working days and as the years progressed, he was to become involved in many changes for the better in the town  the Show Committee where he was secretary in the early 1950s (to the late Tommy Quinn), member of the Chamber of Commerce which enabled and encouraged enterprises like Steegans, Glennons, Lite Pac, the Credit Union and other emerging facilities in the area.



The Town Commissioners were a strong arm of local government  men and women who liaised with Longford Co Council in addressing sanitary, amenities, housing, civic needs of the town and its environs. Jimmy was a Town Commissioner for years and was always available to listen and be an advocate for those with public service problems. He was the 'voice' for many and constantly aired the needs and issues for people at the monthly meetings.

Also read: One of Longford's top public houses hoping to develop a glamping tourism project



What Jimmy will be mostly remembered for is his interest and knowledge of local history. His commentaries on many 'walk-about' tours of the town covered everyone and everything worth mentioning  Battle of Granard 1798 and Big Pat Farrell, the old trades in the town, burning of Granard/War of Independence, John McCormack's famous singing in the Market House, Eddie Macken's successes, Granada Ballroom, well beloved characters in the town, the Harp Festivals of 1781  1785 and the bi-centenary Bun Fhleadhs of 1982 etc.



Jimmy could weave one story into another with accuracy, flair and humour, a little bit of mischief thrown in  always leaving the listener waiting for more.

Also read: Longford MEP Ciaran Mullooly insists his success was not borne from his RTE role



Jimmy's faith journey went back to his youth when he served the renowned Dean O'Kane at early morning weekday Mass in the old Parochial House (a landmark demolished shortly before Jimmy died). His commitment to the local choir right up to the end was a measure of his stamina. It was this living out of his faith, coupled with resilience and resignation that kept him going after the deaths of his beloved wife Sheila, his sons Joseph and John and younger sibling Elizabeth.

Jimmy's death in January was not only a great loss for his son Seamus, daughter in law Kate, grandchildren James, Tadhg, Emma but for the wider community whose lives he enriched with his presence, his positive community spirit and his store of history. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis. M.B.

Also read: 'So much for the slogan we need change - Longford people stick with tried and trusted
Three People Arrested During SLA Check in Huntington

Crime

By Long Island Published: June 15 2024

An SLA Inspection at Finleys of Greene Street, was conducted at 11:11 p.m.

Suffolk County Police last night arrested three people during a New York State Liquor Authority compliance check in Huntington.

Second Precinct Crime Section officers along with Second Precinct Patrol officers, New York State Liquor Authority, Town of Huntington Fire Marshal, and the Town of Huntington Code Enforcement Inspector, conducted an SLA Inspection at Finleys of Greene Street, located at 43 Green St., at 11:11 p.m.

Police arrested the following people for the following offenses:

 Sandra Finley, 78, of Cold Spring Harbor, the owner, was charged with Disorderly Premise, and

was issued three SLA citations.



 Jordan Gaffney, 34, of Freeport, a security guard, was charged with Unlicensed Security Guard.



 Adam Willet, 42, of Ridge, a security guard, was charged with Unlicensed Security Guard, Obstructing Governmental Administration, and Resisting Arrest.

The Town of Huntington Fire Marshals and Town of Huntington Code Enforcement Inspector issued four combined building, fire and code violations to the owner. The Liquor Authority observed gambling on the premise as well as several other violations. As a result of the inspection, the establishment was closed for the night.

A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
SPRINGFIELD  Jurors convicted Friday three men on charges stemming from a home invasion robbery at an illegal marijuana grow house in September 2019 in which the victim was beaten, tortured, and burned.

Paul Gayle, 26, Malik Erskine, 20, and Markendall Johnson, 21, were all tried this week in Hampden County Superior Court on charges of home invasion, kidnapping, mayhem and extortion, among others, linked to the attack. They have pleaded not guilty.

Johnson was charged as a youthful offender given his age at the time of the attack.

The victim, Shi Can Chen, suffered second- and third-degree burns over 60% of his body and required treatment at both Baystate Medical Center and Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston.

Chen spent 79 days at the Boston hospitals burn unit. He was forced to relearn to walk, talk and swallow. He remains disfigured and lifted his shirt for jurors this week, showing them his mottled skin.

Chen was zip-tied, beaten, burned with a hot machete and set on fire Sept. 30, 2019. He was forced to wire transfer $4,000. It was an hours-long ordeal until Chen ultimately rammed a door and escaped, fleeing and waiving down an off-duty police officer.

Chen had spent $50,000 to set up a grow operation in Springfields Forest Park neighborhood to raise money for a high-end wedding for him and his longtime girlfriend.

The victim in this case has suffered immensely both physically and mentally from the barbaric attack he suffered at the hands of the defendants, Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni said in a news release.

Sentencing is scheduled June 27.
The Instigators trailer has everything a Bay Stater needs: Matt Damon, Casey Affleck and Boston. The movie trailer, which premiered on Thursday, gave audiences a glimpse of the new film that was filmed throughout the city.

Released by Apple, the trailer reveals that the originally labeled crime thriller has more comedic elements than anticipated and plenty of action-packed car chases, according to Boston.com.

In the movie, Damon and Affleck play two Boston-area dads from different backgrounds. Damons character, Rory, is a former Marine who faces financial and family issues. While Rory follows the rules, Afflecks character, Cobby, is a career criminal who has a haphazard and boisterous personality, Boston.com reports.

These two characters are brought together for a robbery planned by Scalvo (Jack Harlow, White Men Cant Jump) and Mr. Besegai (Michael Stuhlbarg, A Serious Man) where they scheme to rip off ill-gained earnings which fund the corrupt mayor of Boston (Ron Perlman, Hellboy).

In the trailer, after the heist goes awry, Rory and Cobby are pursued by multiple police departments, fixers who work for the mayor, and vengeful crime bosses.

Trying to make a clean getaway, Rory convinces his therapist (Hong Chau, The Whale) to pose as his hostage, with her permission, according to Boston.com.

The movie was filmed in sections of Boston, Cambridge and Quincy last year, but was disrupted during the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in Boston, according to Boston.com.

Notable and popular locations, including Fenway Park, Wollaston Beach near Squantum Yacht Club, Bovas bakery in the North End and Boston City Hall are used in several comedic and action-packed scenes, Boston.com reported.

Bovas owner Ralph Bova told The Boston Globe that the bakery was used in a scene where a Boston police officer, played by Ving Rhames (Mission: Impossible), demands answers about the robbery.

The scene plays out as Rhames starts smashing all the showcases and food until someone talks, and no one says anything, Bova said. Theyre taking all my showcases out, and theyre putting in their prop showcases, but they still want my food.

Director Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity) and producer Kevin Walsh recalled filming a shootout outside Boston City Hall, along with a chase scene that takes Damon, Affleck, and Chau from the Back Bay to the Esplanade to the river roads, Boston.com reported.

We did a stunt thats along the Esplanade that runs along the Charles River, which theyve never shut down, Walsh told the AP. We did some stuff that youll never see in other films. It was challenging but really cool.

The Instigators also features actors Paul Walter Hauser (Black Bird), Alfred Molina (Spider-Man 2) and Toby Jones (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny).

Directed by Liman and written by Quincy native Chuck MacLean (City on a Hill), The Instigators was produced by Damon and Ben Afflecks new studio, Artists Equity, according to Boston.com.

The film will be released by Apple Original Films in theaters on Friday, Aug. 2. The film will then be released to the companys Apple TV+ streaming service, where it will debut globally on Friday, Aug. 9.
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.

Ali HaqqSebastian Restrepo

Ali Haqq

Age: 37

Community: Springfield

His story: Ali Haqq is a devoted community member in his native Springfield.

Through his firm Ali Productions, he represents local artists across various creative industries in the city.

Haqq is particularly proud of a recently launched project, a reality show focused on Springfields painters, musicians, comedians, dancers and other artists. He and his business partner produced a dozen episodes for Season 1 of The Real Creatives of Springfield and are working on more.

Haqq said he enjoys working with artists because he gets to help people pursue and achieve their dreams.

I get to learn from helping other people out, he said. I like being part of peoples lives and helping them.

Haqq said learned the value of community leadership from time spent at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services community center in Springfield growing up.

He would attend programming there as an adolescent and eventually began volunteering and working for the community center. It was like a second home, Haqq said.

Haqq has also worked on multiple local political campaigns. In the winter, he hosts events to help gather toys for children at the local YWCA.

Haqq said he is also active in the citys LGBTQ community. In 2021, he stood on the steps of City Hall alongside Mayor Domenic Sarno as the city for the first time hoisted the Transgender Pride Flag.

In his words: Believe in yourself, your ideas, and your abilities. ... Keep pushing forward, and never let anyone dull your sparkle.

Were always open to hearing about more inspiring people. If youd like to suggest someone else who should be recognized, please fill out this form.
MassLive recently asked readers to identify people they consider Black leaders in Massachusetts, working to make a difference in politics, education, business, the arts or another area of interest.

Profiles of these leaders will be published leading up to the Juneteenth holiday on June 19. These are people our readers have identified as inspirational, who may be doing good acts for their communities. They are being recognized for their accomplishments, leadership and commitment to inspire change.

Cynthia DavisSebastian Restrepo

Cynthia Davis

Age: 53

Community: Springfield

Her story: Cynthia Daviss journey in community leadership began with a focus on health and wellness. Its why she founded Fit and Focused Lifestyle and the non-profit organization Flags for Health and Wellness, Inc. Through both, Davis is trying to create a space to address the health and wellness needs of Springfields BIPOC community.

The goal is to create a vibrant and inclusive space, Davis said. We celebrate diversity and cultural roots, promoting a healthy lifestyle through instructed group exercises, fitness consultations, and access to nutritious food choices.

The non-profit, Flags for Health and Wellness, hosts an annual Flag Day event, which Davis said serves to enhance physical health but also strengthen community bonds and cultural pride.

On top of all that, Davis is also the president of the Massachusetts chapter of the African American Caucus of the Service Employees International Union, or SEIU AFRAM Massachusetts, a volunteer post. She described her role with the union as focusing on uniting members of African descent from across the region and engaging them in civics with initiatives like youth workshops and voter registration drives.

These activities are crucial in fostering a sense of community, empowerment, and active participation among our members, she said.

Davis said she has long believed in the power of collective action and its ability to address specific needs in a community. Its that belief and passion that led her to the union in the first place.

Davis said her involvement with Fit and Focused Lifestyle and Flags for Health and Wellness comes from a strong desire to see her community thrive.

By celebrating our diversity and cultural roots, we can foster a sense of pride and belonging while promoting healthy lifestyles, she explained.

Anyone seeking to pursue community leadership, particularly within the African American community, should be passionate and committed to their cause, Davis said. She also stressed the importance of collaboration and partnership with other Black leaders trying to make a difference.

A joint effort can amplify your impact and reach a broader audience, she said.

In her words: My work is essential because it addresses the unique challenges faced by Black communities. By providing education, resources, and opportunities for civic engagement, I try to empower individuals to take control of their lives and contribute positively to society.

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.
In New England, there may not be a bad time to enjoy a lobster but if you need an excuse to splurge on a fresh lobster, Saturday is National Lobster Day.

Though an unofficial holiday, some say National Lobster Day was established by Maine senators Angus King and Susan Collins to recognize lobsters place in American history and culture, DArtagan, a meat and produce retailer, reported.

Last year, National Lobster Day was celebrated by the Collins and King administration on Sept. 25, though platforms like Forbes, Daysoftheyear.com and DArtagan are celebrating Saturday, June 15.

Whether youre looking for a fresh, warm, buttered lobster roll or one chilled and coated in mayo and lemon  Mass. has got you covered.

In 2021 alone, Massachusetts captured 17 million pounds of lobster, according to Mass.gov.

While there is certainly no shortage of lobster in the Commonwealth, MassLive has narrowed a handful of lobster rolls endorsed by lobster-lovers.

Whether it be the portion, texture, flavor palette or all three  these rolls are considered some of the best  having made waves across the internet.

Cape Cod

The Lobster Trap in Bourne, Mass. offers large servings of hot-buttered lobster, spilling out of the bun, or a cold version to stay "chill," on a warm, summer day.The Lobster Trap

The Lobster Trap, Bourne

The Lobster Traps mission is to bring you the true Cape Cod experience, and what better way than to craft a top-tier New England classic?

The Lobster Trap offers two variations of the classic lobster roll  one rolled in hot butter and another chilled with mayonnaise. It costs $39 per roll.

You can get a fresh lobster roll at The Trap all year round, but lobster rolls are a sure sign of summer  good vibes, warm weather and a great time, The Lobster Trap General Manager Kyle Higgins told MassLive.

Read more: Fast food chain bringing back lobster menu items

Side-dish options offered with the roll include Cape Cod potato chips, french fries, hand-battered onion rings, coleslaw and veggies.

We give the people what they want, Higgins said. Right now, The Lobster Trap also has some jumbo lobsters in the house,  just in time to celebrate National Lobster Day.

If you go:

The restaurant is open daily from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m.

The Fish Shop is open daily from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

290 Shore Road, Bourne

The Lobster Trap is serving up some jumbo lobsters, and what better time to get one than National Lobster Day?The Lobster Trap

The Raw Bar at Popponesset Marketplace, Mashpee

The Raw Bar at Popponesset Marketplace, located at 259 Shore Drive, Mashpee, is known across the web as having one of the Bay States best lobster rolls.

On Yelp.com, customers visiting this Bay State seafood joint rave about this spot having the Capes best lobster roll. Others say its delicious and worth every penny.

Many reviews comment on the generous amount of lobster on each roll, with one user saying they were very generously proportioned, overflowing with delicious lobster meat, while another said they preferred The Raw Bars lobster roll to ones theyve had from Maine.

Its website refers to The Raw Bar lobster roll as a Classic Colossal. Cost is market price.

If you go:

Thursday, 11:30 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Friday, 11:30 a.m. until 11 p.m.

Saturday, 11:30 a.m. until 11 p.m.

Sunday, 11:30 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Boston area

Shown are the two variations of Row 34 lobster rolls. The left roll is a cold option and the right is warm and buttered.Row 34

Row 34, Boston, Burlington, Cambridge

Row 34 was named Bostons best lobster roll in 2021 by Boston Magazine, boasting a generous portion of meat and served hot with butter or cold with mayo.

Boston Magazine described this lobster roll as spilling over the bun, and served on a toasted brioche roll sturdy enough to contain the meat but mild enough to let the lobster shine.

Row 34 offers two lobster roll options  Ethels Lobster roll, which is a cold version, or a Warm Buttered Lobster Roll.

Row 34s Ethel Lobster Roll is named after the chefs grandmother, according to a spokesperson for the company.

The cold, creamy, classic is a Row 34 staple.

The roll features chopped celery, red onion, pickles, mayonnaise and creme fraiche, topped with fresh-squeezed lemon, celery and black pepper. The bun is a hand-rolled brioche seasoned with chopped rosemary.

The Warm Buttered Lobster Roll uses tail, claw and knuckle meat that is steamed and tossed in butter. The bread is a traditional New England soft roll. It is served with chips and coleslaw. It costs $42 per roll.

If you go:

Hours vary by location.

Here are the hours for the Boston, Burlington and Cambridge locations.

Yankee Lobster Co., Boston

Yankee Lobster Co., located at 300 Northern Ave., Boston, offers more than a dozen lobster dishes, including hot and cold lobster rolls, fried lobster rolls, lobster melts and lobster dinners in 1-, 2-, or 3-pound portions.

Yankee Lobster Co. has served fresh seafood to Bay Staters and beyond for nearly 75 years. It offers two variations of classic lobster rolls, including a Hot Buttered Lobster Roll, and a Traditional Lobster Roll, glazed in mayonnaise.

Its lobster roll is highly endorsed by guests on Yelp.com, with users from as far west as California commending the rolls flavor, texture and portion. It is described as stacked upon stacked of lobster, and very well made ... lobster not rubbery, just fresh taste.

Cost is market price.

If you go:

Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, 11 a.m. until 7 p.m.

North Shore

Seaport Grille, Gloucester

Seaport Grille, located at 6 Rowe Square, Gloucester, was nominated as one of the top six best places to get lobster rolls on the North Shore by Northshore Magazine in 2019.

Seaport Grille offers a fresh, lobster salad-style roll, topped with lettuce and situated on a grilled and buttered New England roll.

Many Yelpers note its flavor, texture and portions.

One review said the roll was super sapid, good texture and taste. Another described the dish as having big chunks of lobster, and a fresh taste.

Another said its lobster rolls are generously portioned, tender, gently supported on a small brioche roll. Cost is market price.

If you go:

Sunday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. until 9 p.m.

Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Central Mass.

Pinecroft serves a 6 oz portion of lobster on its rolls.Jeffrey Paquette

Pinecroft Dairy and Restaurant, West Boylston

Pinecroft Dairy and Restaurant has gained a following on Western Mass. food groups like Worcester Eats for its signature lobster rolls.

While guests have the option of ordering a cold or warm roll, owner Jeffrey Paquette said Pinecrofts specialty is the cold roll.

Its a six ounce portion of fresh lobster meat on a toasted brioche roll ... We treat it very gently, he said. We let the lobster shine.

The lobster in the cold roll is dressed in very light mayo and very little lemon, Paquette said, adding there isnt a lot of filler or dressing.

Pinecroft uses trail, claw and knuckle meat. Guests have the option of ordering a roll by itself or a lobster plate which comes with hand-battered onion rings, french fries and a side of homemade coleslaw.

It costs $30 per roll.

If you go:

Restaurant hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Ice cream windows are open daily.

539 Prospect St., West Boylston
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.

Ronald Molina-BrantleySebastian Restrepo

Ronald Molina-Brantley

Age: 43

Community: Springfield

His story: After earning his MBA from American International College, Ronald Molina-Brantley served as the COO of Valley Venture Mentors. In this position, he was able to build a solid foundation of skills to help mentor and provide strategic support to emerging businesses while also helping them with the challenges of growth and sustainability.

Molina-Brantley then joined Berkshire Bank as head of multicultural banking. He told MassLive, I dedicated myself to helping historically marginalized communities gain access to capital. My work at Berkshire Bank allowed me to witness firsthand the transformative power of providing financial resources and strategic guidance to underserved business owners.

Molina-Brantleys experience further reinforced his belief in the importance of equitable access to capital and support. With this belief, Brantley led initiatives that provided crucial financial resources and training, supporting many businesses in the community. In September 2021, Molina-Brantley and his husband, Kelvin, co-founded the Entrepreneurial and Business Collaborative (E&BC). Molina-Brantley said that the organization recognizes the systemic inequities that disproportionately affect minority, women, and LGBTQ-owned businesses.

These entrepreneurs often find themselves trapped in a cycle of debt and financial vulnerability due to a flawed and fundamentally broken system, Molina-Brantley told MassLive. This is not merely a failure of finance; its a failure of justice. Our work aims to rectify these disparities, creating pathways for marginalized communities to achieve economic independence and success.

In addition to E&BC, Ronald founded a local nonprofit called Seeding Ventures in March 2023. It offers the Micro-SEED Program (Supporting Entrepreneurs for Economic Development) for minority, women, and LGBTQ businesses in Western Mass. The Pilot Program is a revolving loan fund that provides a sustainable solution to these business owners and helps them overcome financial barriers and succeed.

Each of the trainings is designed to support the customers by enhancing their skills, expanding their business or finding a supportive network. As Brantley said, E&BCs goal is to build a thriving ecosystem where every entrepreneur can realize their potential and contribute to the economic vibrancy of our community.

Molina-Brantley continues working to uplift the community, advocate for equitable access to resources, and foster economic development. He hopes that by empowering entrepreneurs, it will create ripples of positive change.

I aim to build on this foundation, driving forward a legacy of empowerment, resilience, and success for the Black and African American community in Massachusetts and beyond, Molina-Brantley said.

Molina-Brantley encourages those who are pursuing work in supporting historically marginalized communities and fostering economic development to be grounded in commitment, empathy and have a strategic approach. He also encouraged others to commit deeply to their missions, embrace empathy, continuously expand their skills, build strong networks, advocate for systemic change and remain patient and persistent.

In his words: By staying committed, empathetic, knowledgeable, and collaborative, you can help create a more equitable and thriving community.

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.
Millions of Muslims in the United States will celebrate Eid al-Adha Monday, an important holy holiday when they spend time with loved ones, eating lamb and remembering their devotion to God.

Eid al-Adha, or the festival of sacrifice is the second most important Islamic holiday for Muslims, after Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, Mizra Yawar Baig, the imam of the Islamic Society of Western Massachusetts, explained to MassLive. It comes on the final day of the Hajj or the pilgrimage to Mecca, one of the five pillars of Islam, and is celebrated on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar, Baig said.

Although some will observe Eid al-Adha on the June 17, others will start at sundown on June 16. The difference in dates depends on how Muslims interpret Islamic law, according to Tahirah Amatul-Wadud, the executive director and chief legal officer for the Massachusetts chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Baig observes Eid al-Adha on June 17. He said the holiday commemorates the willingness of the prophet Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael at the command of God. But just before the sacrifice was carried out, God had substituted Ishmael with a lamb to kill instead.

This was obviously, as you can see, a huge test of the obedience and loyalty of the prophet Abraham and his son, Baig said.

This is to commemorate and remind us as Muslims that our primary and whelming allegiance is first and foremost to our creator, to the one who created us, who we worship and therefore who we must obey, he added.

On Monday, Muslims will attend their local masjid or mosque where a special prayer called Salat al-Eid is performed, according to Islamic-relief.org. Salat al-Eid consists of two units, or rakats, of prayer. The prayer is also accompanied by extra takbirs, which is saying Allahu Akbar, or God is the greatest.

On Eid al-Adha, those who have made the pilgrimage to Mecca also reenact Abrahams rejection of Satans temptation, according to The Conversation US. Muslims throw stones at a pillar that represents the devil.

During Eid al-Adha, its also common for Muslims who can afford it to sacrifice a sheep or a goat to eat, according to Baig. The meat is cut into three parts, with the first two going to family and friends and the last going to charity.

In the Quran, the Islamic holy book, charity is an important value.

Believe in Allah and his messenger, and give charity out of the (substance) that Allah has made you heirs of. For those of you who believe and give charity  for them is a great reward, the scripture reads.

Read More: Muslims around the world consider climate during Ramadan

Baig emphasized the importance of giving charity during Eid, as it might be the only occasion for some to enjoy meat.

There are countries, like India for example, where some people will eat meat only one day in the whole year and that is on the day of Eid al-Adha because they go to the houses of Muslims who are sacrificing and they are given meat as a gift, Baig said. That is the only day that theyre able to afford to eat meat because of how expensive it is.

The holiday is followed by a two-day festival where Muslims spend time with their relatives, friends and loved ones, Baig said.
Le leader de lOpposition a ete suspendu pour les deux prochaines seances apres son altercation avec le Speaker le 14 juin 2024.

Mr Speaker:

Hon. Members

Earlier this afternoon, the Honourable Leader of the Opposition, Dr Boolell willfully obstructed the proceedings of the House in a disorderly manner whilst I was addressing the House by way of an announcement.

I ordered Dr the Honourable Boolell to withdraw from the Chamber and while leaving, the Hon. Member made an improper gesture towards the Chair.

Hon. Members,

The conduct of Dr the Honourable Boolell is not only unbecoming but constitutes a breach of parliamentary decorum amounting to a grossly disorderly conduct following which I named him.

The Honourable Deputy Prime Minister:

Mr Speaker, Sir, in view of your decision to name Dr the Honourable Boolell, I beg under Standing Order 17(3) to take the time of the House for urgent business.

The Honourable Minister of Financial Services and Good Governance seconded.

Mr Speaker put the following question:

The question is that the Honourable Deputy Prime Minister be allowed under Standing Order 17(3) to take the time of the House for urgent business. Those in favour say AYE. Those against say NO. The AYES have it.

The Honourable Deputy Prime Minister:

Mr Speaker, Sir, having obtained your permission, I beg to move under Standing Order 29(1) to present a motion without notice.

The Honourable Minister of Financial Services and Good Governance seconded.

Mr Speaker put the following question:

The question is that the Honourable Deputy Prime Minister be allowed under Standing Order 29(1) to move a motion without notice. Those in favour say AYE.

Those against say NO. The AYES have it.

The Honourable Deputy Prime Minister:

Mr Speaker, Sir, in view of your decision to name Dr the Honourable Boolell, I beg to move that Dr the Honourable Boolell, be suspended from the service of the Assembly for todays sitting and the next two sittings unless unreserved apologies are tendered to the House.

The Honourable Minister of Financial Services and Good Governance seconded.

Mr Speaker put the following question:

The question is that Dr the Honourable Boolell be suspended from the service of the Assembly for todays sitting and the next two sittings unless unreserved apologies are tendered to the House. Those in favour say AYE. Those against say NO. The AYES have it.
One of the downsides for National governments of being a member of international organisations (the EC, OECD, the Council of Europe) is that they submit to regular audits of how they are performing and whether their actions are consistent with those required of members. Audits are submitted to governments in draft form for observations, and provide opportunities to moderate the most damning criticisms, or address them by actions or reassuring platitudes.

When you read a report where serious criticisms make it to the published version, you know that something is rotten in the State of Ireland. I have in mind the report issued in October 2023 by the Council of Europe (COE), entitled Monitoring of the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in Ireland. Since we have just had local elections, this is an opportune moment to reflect on its findings.

The Local Government Reform Act of 2014 was the last major change to our system of local governance. Before 2014 the system consisted of 29 counties, 5 cities, 5 boroughs and 75 town councils. The 2014 Act abolished town councils and boroughs and established 26 county councils, city councils in Dublin, Cork and Galway, and two combined city and county councils (Limerick and Galway), with a further sub-division into municipal districts (Mayo is divided in four: Ballina, Castlebar, Claremorris-Swinford and Westport-Belmullet). Territorially, Irish local authorities are the largest in Europe with an average size of 2,200 square kilometres. In terms of population, the average is 165,000, the highest in the EU.

Limited functions

The COE monitors found that the range of functions of Irish local government is more limited than in practically all other EU members. They noted the excuse offered: that central government lost trust in the ability of local government to carry out a wider range of functions in an effective and efficient way and that local councillors had a too parochial focus which reduced their ability to make bold strategic decisions. The roots of centralisation could be traced back to the Civil War, where it became the means of curbing tendencies of the losing party to re-establish its influence over parts of the country.

The limited range of functions and low central government trust in local government was reflected in its share of total national public expenditure of 8 percent, among the smallest in the EU, well below the EU average of 23 percent. The position of local government in Ireland is one of the weakest of all European countries, it has a more limited set of functions, represents a smaller share of public affairs and can only marginally influence the size of its resources. Using an autonomy index that measures the state of EU local governments, Ireland has the second lowest score. The monitors concluded that since local government does not manage a substantial share of public affairs under their own responsibility, Ireland violates Article 3.1 of the COE Charter.

The excessively strong position of Councils chief executives also limits the role of the elected representatives. The monitors noted that the practical relationships between the elected council and the chief executive varied from close co-operation and understanding to almost living in separate worlds. On the basis of the reporting in this newspaper, relationships in Mayo County Council are often at the separate worlds end of the spectrum.

Most worryingly, there is no mention in the Constitution of the types of local authorities that are protected and whole tiers of local government can be abolished through a decision of the Oireachtas, as in the 2014 reform. The peculiar nature of local government in Ireland was further illustrated by the fact that there is no formalised and regular process for consultations with local government during the national policymaking process.

Ad hoc basis

Although councillors and officials are often invited to pre-legislative scrutiny sessions by the joint Oireachtas committees, and the Minister may ask local government associations for advice, this is informal and carried out on an ad hoc basis.

When the COE monitoring delegation visited the Custom House in Dublin, HQ of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, it was informed that local government has been administrated and supported from this house for 200 years. The house was used by the British as the location where local government in Ireland was controlled, but after independence also by the Irish central authorities. This was a telling way of expressing how central government views local government  something that is administrated and not primarily regarded as self-governing units.

This system of central direction and oversight was characterised by the COE as a system of local government that is a combination of local self-government and state administration offices, under one roof. Just as Minister Grigory Potemkin would construct mock village facades to delude Russian Empress Catherine the Great during her rural tours that life was better than it actually was, Ireland has a kind of Potemkin form of local government. Its structure and organisation look and sound real, but it all falls apart under close scrutiny. The COE report was damning and its findings, helping to explain the wretched and disorganised state of regional development planning in Ireland.

But dont expect any genuine reforms are likely to be on policy agendas of the main Irish political parties. The consequences of Civil War politics still prevail, with especially dire consequences for the North West region.



MORE Read the Association of Irish Local Government's article on the Council of Europe's report here, where the full report can also be accessed.



John Bradley is a former ESRI professor and has published on the island economy of Ireland, EU development policy, industrial strategy and economic modelling.




A Mayo man living in Co Kilkenny has launched a traditionally built Achill currach in a midlands town to help two charities including the RNLI.

Proud Achill man Pat Sweeney alone with Pat Comerford from Ballyragget, Co Kilkenny and other friends formed the charity Pulling Together to Save Lives and built a traditional Achill currach in aid of Teac Tom Mental Health Services helping to prevent suicide and Achill RNLI saving lives at sea.

The currach was launched in Castlearms Hotel in Dullow, Co Laois on June 7 where a large number of people who helped build the boat and their sponsors came out in support. Teac Tom provides mental health services in Laois and surrounding areas, while Achill RNLI ensure safety off the shores of the west coast of Mayo.

Speaking at the launch, Pat Sweeney spoke of the importance of the RNLI who cover our coastlines to protect people who find themselves in difficulty at sea. Both charities are supported by volunteers and the good will of the public.

Neither of the two Pats or their friends had ever built a currach before but nine months ago they decided to build one based on the design of an Achill currach.

It was difficult to find plans to build a currach as generally the craft is handed down from father to son so the two men went to Achill to study and measure a currach and set to work. What is unique about the midlands currach is that it is built with nine or ten kinds of timber but a traditional Achill currach is made of yew wood.

Over the last couple of months the men have been busy putting the currach together and it will be soon ready to launch and put into the water. The seats of the boat are carved with the names of the builders in Irish by Aaron Purser, Burren Woodcraft, Co Carlow with an extra seat planned for Cairde friends.

The two Pats aim to row the River Barrow on July 5, 6 and 7 and then travel west to Achill on July 19 to test the currach on the Atlantic.

A big group from Kilkenny and Laois plan to travel to Achill to take the currach on the water and they also look to attend the Inishturk Regatta.

The currach supports three rowers but with the aim to raise funds for charity, people are invited to take turns to row with them to raise some funds for these essential services.

More information is available on their Facebook page Pulling Together To Save Lives and donations can be made on www.idonate.ie.
A man who raped his 12-year-old stepdaughter repeatedly over a two-month period in an egregious violation a decade ago has been jailed for 11 and a half years.

The man abused the girl on four separate occasions in 2014 when she was in her bed and on one occasion sleeping on the floor of her sibling's room in the hopes of avoiding him.

She confided in her mother after the second incident, but he went on to abuse her on two more occasions, including on Christmas Eve, the Central Criminal Court heard.

He put his hand over her mouth during the abuse and on one occasion he bit her breasts and pulled her hair, leaving clumps of it on her pillow.

The now 41-year-old man was found guilty by a jury of three counts of rape, two counts of anal rape and one count of sexual assault of the girl in their family home in the south-east of the country following a Central Criminal Court trial in Waterford earlier this year.

The abuse took place in November and December 2014, when she was 12 years old and he was 31, the sentence heard today (Friday June 14).

Social services were involved with the family and the girl, who was described as vulnerable, was taken into care. Her mother had mental health issues, the court heard.

The man continues to deny he abused the girl, and claimed she twisted her childhood as some sort of revenge against him, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor noted while sentencing him today. Defence counsel told the court he intends to appeal.

Ms Justice O'Connor noted that the complainant in the case grew up in a chaotic environment and there were issues relating to neglect during her childhood. She was a vulnerable person from a difficult background, the judge said.

She noted the man was acting as a stepfather to the girl and was a father figure when he abused her in the sanctuary of her own bed in her own home. There was an element of brutality in the offending, the judge said. She was violated in an egregious way, the judge said.

She noted a victim impact statement previously outlined by the complainant in which she said her childhood innocence was ripped away from her as a result of the abuse.

She has spent many years dealing with the aftermath of the abuse and her traumatic childhood and has gone on to make a good life for herself, surrounded by people who love her, care for and support her, the judge said.

The judge paid tribute to the young woman's courage in coming forward about the abuse.

The judge noted the man continues to maintain his innocence and does not accept the verdicts of the jury. He has no previous convictions and a good work history, the court heard.

Ms Justice O'Connor set a headline sentence of 13-and-a-half years and reduced it to an 11-and-a-half year term. She backdated it to when he went into custody in March.
Two Irish sisters are preparing to climb one of the world's tallest mountains on Sunday to honour of their late father, who made the climb himself 20 years ago.

Conor O'Duffy climbed Kilimanjaro in 2003 died from cancer 20 years ago.

Sarah and Jennifer O'Duffy are following in their fathers footsteps by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro  and are raising money in aid of oesophageal cancer.

Their father Conor died from oesophageal cancer 20 years ago, but before he did he managed to climb Kilimanjaro and raise thousands of euro for charity, even with his cancer spreading to his spine at the time.

The sisters have been planning a climb in his honour for several years, and will be raising money for the Oesophageal Cancer Fund, a charity which Sarah and Jennifer say is "one that is close to our hearts".

In a touching post on Instagram, the sisters explained the decision for the Kilimanjaro climb, saying it "stemmed from our own dads journey to the summit in 2003, in aid of the National Childrens Hospital, Dublin, while he was simultaneously battling cancer. We will be climbing on the year that marks his 20th anniversary".

"We are so incredibly proud of what he was able to accomplish and hope we have half his bravery and stamina come June," Sarah and Jennifer added.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Climbing 4 Cancer (@climbing4cancer)

So far, the sisters have raised over 28,000 through their idonate fundraiser.

Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast on Friday, Jennifer said they had lost their dad "when I was seven and my younger sister Sarah was four".

This whole experience, to be honest, has given us the opportunity to really sit down and relive a lot of memories with him and look through old photographs. In doing that we've just been discussing how amazing he truly was and even his achievement in climbing Kilimanjaro just proves that.
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Policy dilemmas emerge as experts debate expanding organ exchange beyond close relatives. #organdonation #ethics

Experts Debate Opening Up Organ Exchange Among Unrelated Individuals

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Living donation - (https://unos.org/transplant/living-donation/)

Experts suggest that opening up organ exchange among unrelated individuals could expand the donor pool, potentially saving many lives. While this move may seem promising, there are policy concerns and risks to consider. Currently, Indian laws primarily permit living donations from close relatives, including parents, siblings, children, spouses, grandparents, and grandchildren ().Reports indicate that the Centre is discussing the possibility of allowing organ exchange between unrelated individuals with non-profits and transplant surgeons. However, donations from distant relatives, in-laws, or long-time friends undergo additional scrutiny to prevent any financial exchanges.Dr. Sudeep Singh Sachdev, Director and Senior Consultant Nephrology at Narayana Hospital, Gurugram, emphasized that expanding organ exchange among unrelated individuals could enhance the donor pool in India, potentially benefiting countless patients awaiting transplants. Despite the medical concerns about organ rejection due to genetic differences, advancements in immunosuppressive therapies have improved the feasibility and success rates of transplants between unrelated donors.Dr. Bishnu Panigrahi, Group Head of Medical Strategy and Operations at Fortis Healthcare, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the urgent need to address Indias low donation rates compared to other countries with robust transplant programs.However, both experts stressed the importance of stringent regulatory measures to ensure ethical practices and prevent exploitation. They advocated for comprehensive pre-transplant evaluations and robust regulatory frameworks.Dr. Arvinder Soin, Chairman and Chief Surgeon at Medanta Institute of Liver Transplantation, expressed skepticism about the necessity of altruistic organ donations in India. He warned of the potential exploitation of the poor by the wealthy and called for a focus on improving deceased donation rates through public awareness campaigns and mandatory declaration of brain death in all ICUs.In conclusion, while the idea of expanding organ exchange among unrelated individuals may offer hope for addressing the organ shortage, it also raises complex ethical and regulatory challenges that must be carefully addressed.Source-Medindia
The iPhone 15 Pro Max, released in September 2020, has revolutionized the smartphone industry and set new standards for device design and performance. With its larger screen size, improved camera technology, and longer battery life, it has become one of the most popular smartphones on the market.







(Where Can I Buy An Iphone 15 Pro Max)

However, the prices for an iPhone 15 Pro Max can vary widely depending on your location and whether you plan to sell it after purchase or if you plan to trade it in for a newer model. Here are some steps you can take to determine where you can buy an iPhone 15 Pro Max without any format:

1. Determine where you want to sell: Before making a decision to buy an iPhone 15 Pro Max, consider where you plan to sell it. If you plan to sell it after purchase, you may want to check the options available online, such as Apples website or Amazons Marketplace. If you plan to trade it in for a newer model, you may need to visit your local dealership or look for pre-owned devices at your preferred retail location.

2. Check your inventory: If you already have an iPhone 15 Pro Max that you would like to trade in for a newer model, make sure to check your inventory to see if there are any pre-owned models available. You may also be able to find out if there are any gently used or secondhand models available through online retailers.

3. Visit your local dealership: Once you have found potential trade-in items, head over to your local dealership to see if they have any pre-owned models available. Many dealerships offer pre-owned products for sale at their showrooms, which is a great way to get the best deals on new phones. Additionally, you may be able to negotiate the price of a phone on behalf of the customer.

4. Shop for accessories: Before you finalize your purchase, it may be worth shopping for additional accessories such as case covers, cases, earbuds, or headphones to protect your phone from damage. These accessories can add value to your purchase and help ensure that you always keep your phone ready for use when needed.







(Where Can I Buy An Iphone 15 Pro Max)

In conclusion, purchasing an iPhone 15 Pro Max can be a rewarding experience, but it requires careful planning and consideration. By determining where you want to sell your iPhone 15 Pro Max, checking your inventory, visiting your local dealership, and shopping for accessories, you can increase your chances of getting the perfect phone for your needs.
The Rangers have re-signed outfielder Derek Hill to a minor league contract, reports Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News (X link). Hell head back to Triple-A Round Rock after electing free agency earlier in the week.

Hill first signed a minor league contract over the offseason and was selected onto the MLB roster at the end of May. He appeared in five games, including a pair of starts in right field. He went 2-9 with a walk and a stolen base in what marked his fifth year logging MLB time. Texas designated Hill for assignment a week ago; he cleared outright waivers on Tuesday.

A first-round pick of the Tigers in 2014, Hill played sporadically with Detroit. He combined for a .240/.291/.339 line in 95 games over parts of three seasons. Hill made a brief appearance with the Nationals a year ago, appearing in 13 games between late June and the early part of July. Hes a plus runner who can play all three outfield positions. He has never provided much in the batters box against MLB pitching though.

To his credit, the 28-year-old has been a productive Triple-A hitter. Hill owns a .295/.354/.502 slash in nearly 900 trips at the top minor league level. That includes a robust .333/.387/.659 showing over 142 plate appearances with Round Rock this season. Hills 6.3% walk percentage and near-25% strikeout rate were pedestrian, but he connected on eight homers, four triples and 10 doubles (albeit in a hitter-friendly setting).
The Rockies announced theyve placed catcher Elias Diaz on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to June 11, due to a strained left calf. Colorado reinstated Nolan Jones from the IL in a corresponding transaction.

Its not clear how long Diaz is expected to be out of action. His injury wont have much of an effect on the standings with Colorado sitting at the bottom of the NL West. An extended absence could have some implications for the trade deadline, though. Diaz has played well enough to be a rather straightforward deadline trade candidate. Last years All-Star Game MVP is hitting .303/.352/.439 across 216 plate appearances.

Diaz is not likely to maintain a .350 batting average on balls in play. Yet he doesnt need to hit .300 to be a capable hitter for teams looking to upgrade behind the plate. Hes performing well both at and away from Coors Field and has a modest 17.6% strikeout rate. Diaz has also fared well on the other side of the ball, throwing out 11 of 37 (29.7%) attempted basestealers. While pitch framing metrics have been down on his receiving skills for most of his career, Diaz has gotten plus grades in that regard in 2024.

The Rockies are paying Diaz a $6MM salary in the final season of a three-year extension. Unless Colorado extends him again in the next couple months, hell hit free agency next winter. Teams like the Cubs, Rays and Guardians could look for catching help around the deadline. The Phillies lost J.T. Realmuto for a month after he underwent meniscus surgery. Philadelphia doesnt need to make a significant catching acquisition at the moment, but any kind of delay in Realmutos rehab process could change that calculus. The Rox wouldnt get a huge trade return, but a healthy Diaz would be the best rental backstop available if the Blue Jays hold Danny Jansen.

Jacob Stallings, himself a possible deadline candidate for a contender that needs a backup catcher, will get the majority of the playing time with Diaz out. Colorado plans to use Hunter Goodman as their #2 option, tweets Patrick Lyons. Goodman only has one major league start behind the dish. He was a catcher at the University of Memphis and has started 73 games there in parts of four minor league campaigns. Questions about his glove have pushed him primarily to first base or the corner outfield.
Samir Jain is a Jaipur-based astrologer who has over 28 years of experience in the field of Astrology, Numerology, Palmistry and Vastu Shastra. He is also an expert in Jain Temple Vastu and Jain Jyotish. For more details, visit planetsastro.com, call/WhatsApp +91 8696930617 or email jainksamir@gmail.com.
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Long Barn, CA  Hearing loud shouting at night resulted in a Mi-Wuk Village man being arrested for what deputies found inside his pocket.

A recent report of a man causing a disturbance by yelling after 9 p.m. and refusing to leave the area brought Tuolumne County Sheriffs deputies to the 24000 block of Quartz Avenue near Clementine Avenue in Long Barn. Once on scene, deputies discovered 44-year-old Ian Jones was intoxicated and lying on the side of the road, partially in the roadway. Deputies helped Jones to his feet. According to sheriffs officials, he was unstable on his feet, was slurring his speech, and smelled of alcohol.

Jones was handcuffed and patted down. A pocketknife locked into the open position was discovered in his pants. Deputies arrested Jones for felony carrying a concealed dirk or dagger and public intoxication with the result that a person cannot care for their safety or others.
In a tragic turn of events, a 27-year-old man from Bulawayos Killarney suburb took his own life at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport on Thursday.

According to the Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Abednico Ncube, Cecil Elisha had been scheduled to board a flight to Johannesburg for a medical checkup. However, Elisha delayed returning from the airports international departure toilet, causing the flight to be delayed.

When airport security went to investigate, they found Elisha had used a nylon rope to hang himself from the hinge at the back of the toilet door.

The police report indicates that Elisha had intended to travel to South Africa for a medical appointment. Authorities are still investigating the circumstances surrounding his tragic death.

The police have urged the public to seek counselling and support when faced with difficulties, rather than resorting to suicide.

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Rep. Anna Luna (R-Fla.) introduces bill to ban chemical dyes, high-fructose corn syrup in food

Two new bills are on the congressional docket that would ban high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and certain chemical coloring additives from the United States food supply.

Introduced by Rep. Anna Paulina (R-Fla.), the Do or Dye Act and the Stop Spoonfuls of Fake Sugar Act would restrict the use of toxic dyes like Red No. 40 and Yellow Nos. 5 and 6 from food, as well as prohibit toxic HFCS from being used in foods.

If passed and signed into law, the two pieces of legislation would together amend the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to reclassify all foods containing these toxic ingredients as adulterated.

"It is time that we stop allowing unaccountable corporations and the complicit Food and Drug Administration to poison our families," Congresswoman Luna said in a statement. "Far too many Americans are suffering needlessly from type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes and mental health conditions as a result of artificial and harmful ingredients that are in nearly every refrigerator and pantry in our country."

"Not only are we consuming spoonfuls of high-fructose corn syrup every day, but many of the foods and snacks we consume have dyes linked to an alarming number of health conditions."

(Related: Did you know that the high-fructose corn syrup added to processed food is more often than not contaminated with toxic mercury?)

Indiana also trying to ban HFCS

At the state level, legislators in Indiana are also trying to ban HFCS from food and beverages sold in the state.

Originally proposed on Jan. 8, 2024, and referred to the state legislature's Committee on Public Health by Rep. John Bartlett (D-Ind.), House Bill 1074 would impose a "ban on high-fructose corn syrup as a food ingredient," citing numerous studies showing the additive is destructive to health. If passed, it would go into effect on July 1, 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. 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.

"High-fructose corn syrup has been found to increase risk of chronic conditions like obesity, diabetes and heart disease," wrote Bartlett in an email to FoodProcessing.com. "While HFCS is prevalent in many foods consumed daily, from fruit juice to condiments, many people are unaware of the risks associated with its consumption."

"Recently, Indiana was ranked as the 10th worst state when it comes to facilitating the healthcare needs of its inhabitants. The health department lists heart disease, cancer and respiratory diseases as the top causes of death for Hoosiers. They attributed a considerable number of cases being related to 34% of Hoosiers being overweight. Since HFCS has been linked to these prevalent conditions in Indiana, I found it appropriate to propose a measure that could reduce both healthcare costs and the risk of deadly diseases."

A 2004 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN) found that fructose is digested, absorbed and metabolized much differently than glucose, also known as table sugar. That difference is why HFCS is linked to obesity while regular sugar, when not consumed in excess, is not.

Bartlett's bill stipulates that any person "who recklessly violates this chapter commits a Class B misdemeanor." This presumably includes distributors, retailers and individuals who try to sell HFCS-containing foods or beverages in the state of Indiana.

Last October, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 418 into law banning Red No. 3, brominated vegetable oil (BVO), potassium bromate and propylparaben after Jan. 1, 2027. A similar bill was proposed in Illinois that would prohibit the sale or distribution of products formulated with BVO, potassium bromate and Red No. 3.

HFCS and chemical dyes should have been banned from food a long time ago  they are in Europe, after all. Learn more about the many poisons hiding in the U.S. food supply at StopEatingPoison.com.

Sources for this article include:

Luna.House.gov

Luna.House.gov (2)

Luna.House.gov

NaturalNews.com

FoodBusinessNews.net

FoodProcessing.com
POLL: Bidens approval rating drops to new record low

A new round of election data reveals that President Joe Biden's net approval rating has plummeted to an all-time low again , five months before the 2024 presidential election.

According to poll aggregator FiveThirtyEight, Biden's approval rating dropped to 37.4 percent on June 10 as support from non-White voters dwindled and the administration faced more intense criticism from progressive and anti-war Americans over its response to Israel's military actions in Gaza.

Biden's approval rating initially sank following the tumultuous withdrawal of the United States Armed Forces from Afghanistan in 2021 and has not rebounded since then. His previous lowest rating occurred in July 2022, coinciding with gas prices exceeding $5 per gallon. But this latest average poll marks his lowest point ever recorded by the organization.

Concurrently, the average poll also reveals that his disapproval rating reached a new peak of 56.8 percent, resulting in a net negative approval rating of 19.4 percentage points.

This new low in Biden's approval rating is attributed to a recent YouGov poll conducted from June 9 to 11, which recorded his approval at 36 percent and disapproval at 59 percent. But then, FiveThirtyEight adjusted these figures to 36 percent approval and 60 percent disapproval. (Related: GALLUP POLL: President Joe Bidens job approval rating slips to 38%.)

"Biden just hit a new all-time low in approval [37.4 percent) at 538," FiveThirtyEight founder Nate Silver posted on X, formerly Twitter, on June 10. "Dropping out would be a big risk. But there's some threshold below which continuing to run is a bigger risk. Are we there yet? I don't know. But it's more than fair to ask."

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.

"What's clearer IMO [in my opinion] is that Democrats would have been better served if Biden had decided a year ago not to seek a second term, which would have allowed them to have some semblance of a primary process and give voters a say among the many popular Democrats across the country," Silver said.

Biden still believes he is making progress in his 2024 re-election bid

This record-low approval rating places Biden far behind other recent presidents at a similar point in their tenures.

For instance, Biden's approval is three points lower than former President Donald Trump's on day 1,238 of his presidency and a full ten points below that of former President Barack Obama. Even one-term former President Jimmy Carter, often cited for his struggles with public opinion, held an approval rating two points higher than Biden's at this stage of his presidency.

But despite all the negative results in his poll, Biden still continues to project confidence on his campaign trails.

"Were building the biggest grassroots operation in the history of politics. Already, this is about grassroots, we have more than two million individuals, as of the end of May, 2 million individuals, roughly 90 percent of all contributors, who contributed less than $200. Two million. Two million," Biden said during a campaign trail in Connecticut, claiming that his administration has been making progress with the potential for further achievements.

"Weve raised more money than any president has at this point because of people like you. But the point is its a groundswell. Its all over America. Two million individual contributors," he added. "And the polls are moving our way."

Head over to JoeBiden.news for more stories about the incumbent president before the 2024 elections.

Watch this interview with a political strategist claiming President Joe Biden is the weakest incumbent candidate.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Biden support in swing states Michigan and Nevada PLUMMETS along with his approval rating.

Joe Bidens approval rating in DUMPSTER as Trump trounces opponents to win Iowa caucus.

GALLUP POLL: Bidens 13th quarter average approval rating hits the lowest ever among first-term presidents.

Bidens approval rating continues to plummet due to his inability to solve inflation and immigration crises.

Joe Bidens favorability rating the lowest of any U.S. president in 70 years.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

MSN.com 1

MSN.com 2

Brighteon.com
Big Pharma firm stops providing life-saving diabetes drug to Russian market

Eli Lilly will no longer be supplying life-saving insulin to the Russian market, with the Kommersant newspaper reporting that supplies of its Humalog-brand insulin are nearly exhausted. The drugs customer base is largely made up of children who have type 1 diabetes , which requires external insulin.

The Big Pharma manufacturer announced that it was going to stop sending non-essential drugs to Russia in March 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine. At the time, they said that this would include drugs like the erectile dysfunction medication Cialis but reassured patients that their diabetes and cancer drugs would continue to be delivered.

However, they have since tasked a Swiss subsidiary known as Swixx BioPharma with handling their Russian operations, and this company recently informed Russian authorities that it will stop all new deliveries of Humalog. They did not cite any reasons for the move, which is not being well-received by the patients who rely on the drug.

Although the Russian drug monitoring agency Roszdravnadzor insists that it has enough insulin lispro in circulation from domestic suppliers to meet the countrys yearly need, not everyone is convinced that the Russian alternatives make the grade.

For example, Maria Blokhina, who has a child with type 1 diabetes, said it is not that easy to switch to other types of insulin, especially when someone finds one that works well for them.

Parents are generally afraid to switch their children to other insulins. Besides, Humalog is time-tested, one might say, the standard fast-acting insulin. Almost 30 years of use has played a role in its reputation, as did the Lilly company itself, a pioneer in the production of insulin in the world, she said.

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.

She believes that many parents will be willing to buy the American version of the drug at a steep markup on the so-called gray market because they feel it is less risky than switching to the Russian versions.

True, the price of such packaging from Germany will be 15,000 rubles instead of 1,700 rubles we used to pay at the pharmacy. Parents are simply afraid to experiment, she said.

Russia could benefit from distancing itself from Big Pharma

However, there is a silver lining to this story: Russia will probably be better off in the long run if it does isolate from Big Pharma and its toxic drugs, especially since they already maintain that the three domestic substitutes available can fully meet patients needs.

Russian firm Geropharm manufactures one generic substitute, while Pharmsintez-Nord started producing the same type of insulin this year. This will mark a dramatic shift in supply as Eli Lillys offering made up nearly all of the insulin that was available on the Russian market as recently as 2019.

A spokesperson for Geropharm said: The departure of Eli Lilly should not affect Russian patients  the foreign manufacturer systematically reduced the volume of supplies of original drugs to our country, giving preference to other markets, which may be due to both economic considerations and the political position of the manufacturer.

Meanwhile, Eli Lillys website boasts that it has supplied more than 2 million doses of diabetes and cancer products to patients in Ukraine.

By moving away from the major Western pharmaceutical brands, Russia may be able to develop and access more reliable and safer medications. It is no secret that many major pharmaceutical firms engage in price gouging and give doctors kickbacks for prescribing drugs patients may not need. Moreover, they routinely downplay known side effects of their drugs and sometimes manipulate research studies to provide a more favorable outcome.

Although it may be daunting for people to switch to an unfamiliar brand of medication and the reasons that Eli Lilly is cutting off the Russian market may seem unfair to innocent children who depend on these drugs, distancing themselves from Big Pharma could prove to be a net positive in the long run.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

Lilly.com
Black women behaving badly has become a national trend

Whats happening with black women in America? Some are rising to power thanks to the DEI movement, which rewards skin color, gender, and sexual preference over merit, experience, or excellence. However, the problem arises once those women who are not qualified are placed in positions of power and leadership, where they often quickly crash and burn. From embezzling $15 million in COVID funds to engaging in shameless plagiarism, these meritless women have demonstrated that they are not up to the task and struggle with the responsibilities theyve been given. Naturally, they revert to what they know best: lying, cheating, and stealing. The whole situation is unfair to those black women in this country who succeed based on merit, honesty, and hard work to be lumped in with the large mass of meritless DEI incompetents.

(Article republished from Revolver.news)

Black women behaving badly has become a national pastime that can no longer be ignored. Weve compiled a list of some of the most infamous cases of black women in leadership roles behaving badly.

Big Fani Willis:

The current reigning queen of black ladies behaving badly is none other than Big Fani Willis. As the DA out of Fulton County, GA, she has paved the way for other DEI frauds to follow. With a completely stone-faced look on her smug face, she has accused innocent people of fraud and wrongdoing while her own closet is overflowing with dirty deeds. This woman, once hailed by many on the left and in the propaganda media as Black Girl Magic for going after President Trump with her sham indictments, has now been dethroned by her own immoral and criminal activitiestoo foolish to understand how to conduct herself or, at the very least, cover her tracks properly.

A sex scandal rocking President Trump's case in Georgia. A new motion says Fulton County DA Fani Willis financially benefited from hiring her inexperienced lover on the case. pic.twitter.com/LfjpDFzoPg  Jesse Watters (@JesseBWatters) January 9, 2024

Kim Foxx:

Kim Foxx, once the pride of Chicago and another Soros-backed black DA poised to make serious waves, ended up washed up like all the others on this shameful DEI list. Kim foolishly used her power to play politics, aiding a fraud and hoax artist named Jussie Smollett to escape justice. Eventually, Kims dirty deeds were exposed, and her career came to a disgraceful end. Yet again, we witness another black woman in power who couldnt handle the responsibilities her position demanded, succumbing to manipulation by those far smarter than herself.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett:

Texas Rep. Jasmine Crocket is bringing the hood to Capitol Hill. She has single-handedly infused yass queen vibes into US lawmaking. Gone are the days of respectable decorum and old-fashioned professionalism, now replaced by mile-long fake eyelashes, neon acrylic nails, and a head-bob that screams, Oh no, you didnt!

Wikipedia says Crockett was born in St. Louis, Missouri. She attended Mary Institute, St. Louis Country Day School, and Rosati-Kain, an all-girls Catholic high school in St. Louis, Missouri. She graduated from Rhodes College in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts in business administration. As an undergraduate, Crockett planned to become an anesthesiologist or certified public accountant before deciding to attend law school, which she stated was due to experiencing a hate crime while attending college.

The low-IQ left adores Jasmines dumbed-down hoodrat act. Meanwhile, the rest of the country watches, confused and concerned. What are we becominga nation of fools or fighters?

This is what Democrats know will play to the Sexyy Red generation. They will eat this up. Any rational human being Black or White thinks Jasmine Crockett looks like a ghetto fool. But the low-IQ Lefts base EATS THIS UP.pic.twitter.com/nUPg9wZQ8J  Rob Smith (@robsmithonline) May 17, 2024

Jasmines fabulous ghetto queen act is either just for show and votes or shes the real dumbed-down deal and the best example of DEI weve ever seen.

Kim Gardner:

Another Soros-backed prosecutor bites the dust. Kim Gardner, infamous for prosecuting the McCloskey couple who defended themselves at their home against an angry BLM mob, was ousted from office in utter disgrace. Once hailed as a strong, heroic black woman, Kim chose not to prosecute violent crimes, instead focusing on political antics to score woke points and boost her PR. Meanwhile, her city spiraled further into decay. Attorney General Andrew Baileys Kim Gardner Report outlines his successful petition in quo warranto that removed her from office after years of failing to prosecute violent crime in St. Louis.

MJ Truth Ultra:

MISSING: HAVE YOU SEEN KIM GARDNER? George Soros Bought and Paid for, Former Prosecutor, Kim Gardner, is Missing (or in Hiding)  Authorities have been trying to find her for several months now part of an ongoing investigation against her and also to serve her subpoenas, but she has vanished. Did somebody wack her? Where is that bish hiding? I made a nice flyer to help find her. ?

MISSING: HAVE YOU SEEN KIM GARDNER? George Soros Bought and Paid for, Former Prosecutor, Kim Gardner, is Missing (or in Hiding)  Authorities have been trying to find her for several months now part of an ongoing investigation against her and also to serve her subpoenas, but pic.twitter.com/ZLIUFMWyIX  MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) May 8, 2024

Kim was yet another budding Black Magic woman who behaved badly and fell from grace.

Tiffany Henyard:

Another black woman in power who has fallen shamelessly from grace is Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard. Her extravagant spending sprees are literally bankrupting the city, and she couldnt give two toots. She looks like an extra in a P. Diddy video as she rolls up with a security detail that makes Trumps team look like amateurs. Many believe that Tiffany, like so many DEI-promoted black women in high-level leadership roles, saw the money, couldnt resist, and dipped into the till to enrich herself and play baller.

Wall Street Apes:

Corruption On A Scale Only Seen In US Government Dolton, Illinois Mayor Tiffany Henyards spending sprees added $5 million in debt in just 2 yrs. Armed security protect her from questioning. Investigation finds tax payers are paying $13,000 EACH EVERY 2 WEEKS for her security But when we asked Henyard a few months ago about her use of tax dollars, she was quickly hustled out of the room by armed security. And on Facebook, in videos posted by Hanyard herself, we see her being driven around and surrounded by Dalton officers, which got us to wondering, why all the cops? We werent opposed to her having the security detail. We asked how long ark. And how often? Dalton trustee Brittany Norwood says Hennure began assembling her details shortly after being elected in 2021 using handpicked Dalton police officers. Using a freedom of information request, we obtained the work records for 6 of the officers assigned to Hanyards security detail at various times r and showed them to some of Daltons trustees. This is a freedom of information request we did to see how much overtime these officers are on her security detail. Oh, wow. 162 hours. 162. Oh, thats nothing. What goes through your mind when you see these numbers? Our Uh, it its its disappointing. Its frustrating. The officers are paid every 2 weeks, which without overtime is 80 hours. But when theyre put on Hennards detail, that 80 hours balloons to well over a 100 hours, sometimes 200 hours. Ark. And in the case of officer Terry Young last May, 303 hours worked over a 2 week period. Our That resulted in a single paycheck of more than $13,000. How? How does a person put in a 2 armed pay period. 303 hours. Thats impossible. Thats impossible. Its 336 hours. Go to sleep? In fact, there are 336 hours hours total in 2 weeks, meaning Young was not being paid for only 33 hours over that period. Other officers on the security detail are also racking overtime paychecks in the multiple 1,000 of dollars. Do you mind if I ask you a couple questions about your security detail? Absolutely not. This woman is corrupt to the core, previously: Tiffany A. Henyard, Mayor of Dolton, Illinois denies her salary of $300,000 per year. Proven true by her tax filing Spent $24k of tax payer money on restaurants in 1 year. Thousands on first class flights, Vegas trips, Vegas strip dining. Frequent trips to Bubba Gump Shrimp Company & Hot and Juicy Crawfish. Thousands on hotel and short term vacation rentals. The city mayor also just signed for a $149,000 Chevy Tahoe. How do these people get elected?

Corruption On A Scale Only Seen In US Government Dolton, Illinois Mayor Tiffany Henyards spending sprees added $5 million in debt in just 2 yrs. Armed security protect her from questioning. Investigation finds tax payers are paying $13,000 EACH EVERY 2 WEEKS for her security pic.twitter.com/bt5yuvJo15  Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) November 28, 2023

Tiffany is not just a DEI mooch but also a tyrant in the making. She acts as if shes above the law, simply because shes a relatively unknown mayor from a city most people have never heard of. Chances are, shell finally get her name in lightsafter shes convicted of fraud.

Marilyn Mosby:

This Soros-backed prosecutor was once celebrated as another Black Girl Magic triumpha woman cleaning up the mean streets of Baltimore, targeting not criminals but police officers. Marilyn became a pioneer in the war against the Blue. However, she ultimately found herself in a court of law, arrested, and indicted on fraud charges. Once again, we observe the pattern of black women in leadership roles succumbing to the allure of money. Some cant resist the pull and often end up caught in a web of cheating, lies, and fraud.

AP:

A former Baltimore city prosecutor who achieved a national profile for charging police officers in a Black mans death was spared prison time in her sentence Thursday for perjury and mortgage fraud. Democratic former States Attorney Marilyn Mosbys sentence includes 12 months of home confinement, 100 hours of community service and three years of supervised release. After the sentencing hearing, Mosby hugged her supporters, some of whom applauded when the judge announced the sentence. Im just so incredibly grateful, Mosby told dozens of supporters outside the courthouse. This is not over, but God was here today. Mosby was convicted of lying about her finances to make early withdrawals from retirement funds during the COVID-19 pandemic, and fraudulently claiming that her own $5,000 was a gift from her then-husband as she closed on a Florida condominium.

But the silver lining for Marilyn is that, unlike the rest of us, she got off easy. She wont face jail time and will serve her sentence from the comfort of her home.

Brenna Morello:

Corrupt former Baltimore prosecutor Marilyn Mosby gets to avoid PRISON after being convicted of mortgage fraud & perjury. Mosby was sentenced to 12 months of home detention. She was facing 40 years in prison. The judge overseeing her case was a Biden-appointee. The judge also ordered Mosby to forfeit her Florida vacation house, though Mosby will get back her down payment and 10% of the appreciated value. Folks, thats called dem privilege!

Read more at: Revolver.news
Group of doctors whose COVID-19 criticisms were censored can move forward with case, appeals court rules

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has issued a potentially precedent-setting ruling that sides squarely with the First Amendment in a case involving censorship of doctors' criticisms of COVID-19 measures.

The court has established a right to object to such censorship in response to a lawsuit filed by the Association of American Physicians & Surgeons Educational Foundation (AAPS), who sought the right to move forward with their censorship case after it was dismissed by the District Court for the Southern District of Texas. The appellate court believes that AAPS does have sufficient grounds to proceed.

The professional association is claiming that three other medical associations  the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG), the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), and the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM)  along with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas coordinated to suppress their members' speech related to COVID-19 measures such as vaccines, lockdowns and mask mandates.

Defendants wrongly misuse their authority in a politically partisan manner to chill speech critical of positions taken by Dr. Anthony Fauci, lockdowns, mask mandates, Covid vaccines and even abortion, the suit noted, adding: Defendants have acted in an apparently coordinated manner, using similar timing and terminology, to censor those who exercise their First Amendment rights on issues of public concern.

Medical associations threatened doctors with loss of board certification

The three associations that were identified as plaintiffs in the case threatened physicians affiliated with the AAPS with the loss of their board certification due to their criticism. Losing these credentials would have resulted in their exclusion from most insurance networks as well as the right to practice in many of the nation's hospitals. Although they lack the authority of official state medical boards, they have become de facto credentials for practicing and are therefore serving to censor physicians without being beholden to the type of political accountability that official state boards would have.

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 suit noted that although these groups claim to be non-partisan, they are outspokenly allied with the Biden Administration on fundamental issues of abortion, surgical and pharmacological transgender interventions, lockdowns, mask and vaccine mandates.

The executive director of AAPS, Dr. Jane Orient, said that the circuit courts opinion will allow the group to pursue its claim against censorship by the Biden administration.

However, the appellate court did side with the District Court in concluding that the allegations related to the Department of Homeland Security and Mayorkas were moot because the Disinformation Governance Board of the agency at the heart of the complaint has since been dissolved; the AAPS maintained that it took part in an unprecedented censorship campaign against members of the group.

The judges on the panel ultimately agree that the AAPS and organizations like it do have a constitutional right to fight against censorship that impacts their freedom of expression at events these groups organize. The AAPS applauded the decision, with AAPS General Counsel Andrew Schlafly stating: This landmark ruling will be cited nationwide for decades to come.

In addition to agreeing with the panel majority on the cases main issues, Fifth Circuit Judge James Ho wrote separately about his concerns about censorship in the U.S.

He wrote: In America, we dont fear disagreementwe embrace it. We persuadewe dont punish. We engage in conversationnot cancellation. We know how to disagree with one another without destroying one another. Or at least thats how its supposed to work.

Sources for this article include:

ReclaimTheNet.org

AAPSOnline.org
Dominion machines under scrutiny after hundreds of discrepancies detected in primary

Dominion Voting Systems electronic voting machines contract with the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico is under threat after contentious primaries produced upset results. According to election officials, some machines reported zero votes for certain candidates or reversed count totals. Counts reported by machines were also sometimes lower than paper counts.

(Article by Jack Montgomery republished from TheNationalPulse.com)

The concern is that we obviously have elections in November, and we must provide the [island] not only with the assurance that the machine produces a correct result but also that the result it produces is the same one that is reported, said Jessika Padilla, interim president of Puerto Ricos elections commission. She attributed the issues to problems in the machines software.

The Vice President of Puerto Ricos House of Representatives, Jose Varela, is attempting to summon Padilla to a public hearing on Thursday to address the issues, warning, We cannot allow the publics confidence in the voting process to continue to be undermined as we approach the general elections. Dominions current contract with Puerto Rico expires at the end of the month.

America First conservatives raised concerns about Dominion machines reliability and security following Joe Bidens contested victory in the 2020 election. The corporation responded by suing multiple people alleging issues with its systems, as well as news networks covering the allegations.

Last June, the Halderman Report exposed a range of critical vulnerabilities in Dominion machines. However, states, including Georgia, have left them in place, with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger telling the PhD computer scientists pressing for the issues to be addressed tough noogies.

Read more at: TheNationalPulse.com
DEPOPULATION UNDERWAY: Fertility rate among American women drops to all-time low

The fertility rate among American women has hit an all-time low

In May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that the birth rate in the United States plummeted to 1.62 births per woman in 2023, far below the replacement-level fertility rate of 2.1 births per woman of childbearing age. This 1.62 births per woman in 2023 represents the lowest rate recorded since the government began tracking fertility data in the 1930s.

Jennifer Calfas and Anthony DeBarros of the Wall Street Journal attribute the declining fertility rate to several socio-economic factors.

In their article, Calfas and DeBarros claim that women postpone their plans to have children or fully opt out of becoming parents due to career prioritization, improved access to birth control and economic pressures such as housing costs, student loans and childcare expenses. This delay often results in women having fewer children due to declining fertility with age. (Related: Hospitals across the U.S. closing down MATERNITY WARDS due to staff shortages, low birth rates.)

COVID-19 vaccines contribute to the global downward birth rate trend

Leo Hohmann also wrote in his article for Blacklisted News about the potential impact of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations on fertility, given that similar downward trends are observed in other countries.

A recent extensive study, conducted by Dr. Robert W. Chandler, backed this claim and revealed the correlation between the COVID-19 vaccines and the shocking drop in birth rates in Europe, Australia and Asia. The study suggests that nine months after the COVID-19 mRNA injections have been rolled out, the number of children being born substantially dropped in 13 out of 19 European countries, England and Wales, Australia and Taiwan.

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 Switzerland, the decline in births was the largest in 150 years. The study noted that the figures were more than during two world wars, the Great Depression and the advent of birth control. Also in Europe, Germany's birth rate plummeted 8.3 percent through three quarters of 2022.

In England and Wales, there was a 12 percent drop through June 2022. Their government reportedly stopped publishing data related to this.

In Australia, the number of children being born fell 21 percent from October to November 2021, which was followed by a 63 percent decrease from November to December of the same year. The study also presented Taiwan's report about the alarming drop in the birth rate.

However, conclusive evidence remains elusive and government or major philanthropic funding for such research remains limited. This, in turn, led to the conclusion of Hohmann that this lack of funding is part of a broader, covert agenda aimed at global depopulation.

"One thing you can count for certain, you wont find any government funding or Gates or Rockefeller funding of such studies. They are all on board with the eugenics program to wipe out billions of people and get the global population down to 1 or 2 billion, from the current 8 billion," Hohmann wrote.

Learn more about declining populations across the world at PopulationCollapse.com.

Watch this episode of "Light Listening" discussing the reasons behind the sharp decline in U.S. births.

This video is from The Lightbulb Initiative channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

CDC report: U.S. birth rate hit RECORD LOW in 2023, plummeting to 1.62 births per woman.

DEPOPULATION: American women are giving birth at record-low rates as fertility falls to 1.62 births per woman in 2023.

Do they know something we don't? New York Times predicted "massive POPULATION DECLINE over the next few decades" in 2021.

Over HALF of America's 24,295 cities could experience MAJOR DEPOPULATION by 2100.

Census Bureau: U.S. population projected to begin declining by 2100.

Sources include:

BlacklistedNews.com

100PercentFedup.com

DailyClout.io

Brighteon.com
Hezbollah strikes several Israeli army bases, key defense factory

Hezbollah is continuing to launch devastating strikes against military targets in northern Israel, including military bases , a major defense factory, and even one incident involving an Israeli fighter jet being targeted with anti-aircraft missiles

Hezbollah's recent escalated conflict with Israel has been ongoing since Oct. 7, in retaliation for the Israeli offensive against Gazans and the high number of Palestinian civilians being killed. (Related: Hezbollah urges Lebanon to "OPEN THE SEA" to migrant boats to further destabilize Europe.)

According to a statement from Hezbollah, on June 12, the Lebanese militant group fired a salvo of rockets and missiles, targeting an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) base at Ruwaisat al-Qarn in Shebaa Farms, a strip of land occupied by Israel since 1978 and claimed by Lebanon as part of the town of Shebaa.

The Hezbollah salvos also targeted two alleged IDF sites  Ramtha and Al-Samaqa  in Kfarchouba (also known as Kfar Shuba), a village internationally recognized as part of southern Lebanon not far from the Shebaa Farms that Hezbollah claims is still occupied by Israeli forces.

Hezbollah also claims to have struck a command center for the IDF's Northern Command in Ein Zeitim, about seven miles south of the border with Lebanon. The Northern Command's 91st Division  known as the Galilee Formation  was also specifically targeted when its reserve command headquarters at its standby base and its warehouses were targeted.

Hezbollah claims to have launched at least 17 military strikes against Israeli targets on June 12, a record number since the start of the conflict.

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.

Other major sites allegedly targeted by Hezbollah include a factory by Israeli defense company Plasan specializing in armoring military vehicles in the village of Sasa, less than three miles from the border with Lebanon; an Israeli Air Force Command and Control Base on Mount Meron, the tallest mountain in Israel; and military sites and barracks in Ramya, Al-Raheb and Zar'it.

Israeli fighter jet targeted with anti-air systems for the first time

Among Hezbollah's recent strikes against Israel comes from reports from Israeli media which the IDF later confirmed of a group of Hezbollah operatives who attempted to take down an Israeli fighter jet.

The incident, which occurred on Sunday, June 9, involved a team of Hezbollah militants stationed near the coastal city of Tyre who targeted an Israeli Air Forces fighter jet  possibly an F-16, although the actual aircraft that was targeted is still unconfirmed with anti-aircraft missiles as it was flying over southern Israel.

The IDF claims that the jet did not sustain any significant damage, however, it did acknowledge that the occurrence was a noteworthy development, as no Israeli fighter jets had been targeted before this incident. The IDF launched a counterattack "minutes later," claiming that a fighter jet "struck and eliminated" the Hezbollah unit that carried out the operation.

"It appeared to be the first use of anti-aircraft missiles in Lebanon against Israeli jets since war broke out eight months ago, and came after several weeks that have seen Hezbollah slowly ratchet up the scale, intensity and reach of hostilities," said the IDF in a statement.

While this is the first time that Hezbollah has targeted a piloted Israeli warplane, the militant group has had some success in using anti-aircraft missiles and other weapons against Israeli drones.

Just one day after this incident, videos circulated on social media showing Hezbollah successfully downing an Israeli Hermes 900 drone. At least two other Hermes 900s had been shot down before this incident. Furthermore, at least two Hermes 450 drones had already been shot down, with military analysts noting that Hezbollah is having increased success against medium- and large-sized Israeli drones.

Watch this footage of Hezbollah troops striking Israeli military sites, troops and air defenses.

This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon KILL TWO CHILDREN.

AMERICAN-MADE BOMB was used in Israeli strike that killed seven volunteer health workers in southern Lebanon.

Israeli strikes target emergency health centers in southern Lebanon, killing paramedics.

Israel airstrike kills Hezbollah commander in southern Lebanon.

Israel strikes target deep in Lebanon as conflict expands into new territories.

Sources include:

TheCradle.co

GreatGameIndia.com

Today.LOrientLeJour.com

AlJazeera.com

Brighteon.com
Whistleblower: Lack of Congressional oversight allowed CIA to RUN AMOK

The lack of congressional oversight over the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has caused it to run amok , according to whistleblower Pedro Israel Orta.

He shared this during an appearance on the "Health Ranger Report" hosted by the Health Ranger Mike Adams. Orta, a former CIA operations officer and analyst, noted that America is dealing with the same problems from the 1950s and 1960s that were exposed by the Church Committee (formally the Senate Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities) in the 1970s.

The whistleblower noted that the committee headed by the late former Sen. Frank Church (D-ID) managed to correct these problems. The committee's efforts also led to the formation of its more robust successors  the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence  to do oversight.

But according to the Health Ranger, the CIA lacks oversight and accountability as it can always claim that something is a "national security threat." The founder of Natural News and Brighteon.com also pointed to the carte blanche attitude pervasive inside the intelligence bureau.

"The reality is that that congressional oversight is extremely deficient and lacking, so the CIA knows that it can get away with certain violations  and they do so," said Adams. "There have been instances of the CIA breaking laws, and when Congress comes looking for accountability, the CIA basically flips [its] middle finger saying  'F**k you, we're not going to give you the information.'"

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.

He added that the CIA can't tell Congress all the "secret things" it is doing as lawmakers aren't qualified to understand it. Moreover, the representatives aren't trustworthy, with some of them possibly leaking these for campaign purposes. Such actions, Adams argued, would compromise and endanger the lives of CIA operatives around the world.

Orta: The CIA can work its way around restrictions

"If there were checks and balances, this wouldn't be happening," the Health Ranger continued. "But it seems like the CIA does whatever it wants, whether it's lawful or not."

Orta agreed, noting how the CIA can work its way around restrictions by creative means. He added that the CIA can work domestically on counterintelligence or counter-terrorism threat cases in the U.S., as long as it is working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). (Related: CIA is involved in domestic censorship collusion with Big Tech, bombshell report reveals.)

"So, the reality is the FBI and the CIA work hand-in-hand domestically. That is one way the CIA can work inside the U.S.," the whistleblower remarked.

Adams commented that the FBI could get involved with a domestic terrorist investigation along with the CIA to arrest so-called "terrorists" and take them to a "black site" or secret detention center. These alleged terrorists would then be subjected to torture, in a bid to obtain "information."

Orta stated there is nothing that can stop it if people are declared terrorism subjects or threats to the United States. He mentioned there are cases during the War on Terror where subjects were put on no-fly list. In some cases, people were kidnapped and extradited back to the country  or in others kidnapped, taken to a black site and tortured.

Adams said it is disturbing that America attempts to take a righteous moral posture to the rest of the world by lecturing other world leaders or countries that the U.S. is the standard of human rights, when they are violating the rights of others.

Follow DeepState.news for more stories about the CIA and the intelligence community.

Watch the full conversation between CIA whistleblower Pedro Israel Orta and the Health Ranger Mike Adams below.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

CIA, WEF run the entire mainstream media empire.

CIA officer brags agency "can put anyone in jail" by "setting 'em up"  Alex Jones announces intention to sue.

Mises.org: The FBI and CIA are enemies of the American people.

New evidence shows the CIA has turned on the American people.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

PedroIsraelOrta.com
Latest polls show majority of Americans now approve of MASS DEPORTATIONS for illegal immigrants

A new poll has found that immigration has become the top issue for potential voters this November, and that a majority of Americans are in favor of mass deportation

This is according to two recent polls, one conducted by Fox News and another conducted by Harvard University and market research firm The Harris Poll. The Fox News poll was carried out by Braun Research, Inc. between March 22 and 25. The Harvard/Harris poll was conducted between March 20 and 21.

Respondents to the Fox News poll were first asked whether they approved or disapproved of President Joe Biden's handling of immigration, and the results were not good for the incumbent.

Two-thirds of those surveyed, 67 percent, disapproved of Bidens handling of immigration, compared to just 30 percent who were happy with the job the president is doing on the issue.

That 30 percent approval rating is Biden's lowest on the issue in the 35 months Fox News has been surveying this question; on the contrary, the 67 percent disapproval rating is the president's worst on immigration ever.

Meanwhile, the Harvard/Harris poll further cemented how immigration is the top issue for voters, with 36 percent of those surveyed noting how immigration is at the top of their concerns.

Americans want a national program for deporting illegal immigrants

According to a new CBS News/YouGov poll, a strong majority of registered voters, as well as most Hispanics, would support a national program to deport illegal aliens from America.

The poll, published on Sunday, June 9, discovered that 62 percent of registered voter respondents would back "a new national program to deport all undocumented immigrants" that are currently residing illegally in the United States, while 38 percent of voters would oppose such a program.

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.

A majority of 53 percent of Hispanics would support the deportation of illegal migrants altogether, while 47 percent would be against it. (Related: New poll shows rising Latino support for border wall, mass deportation of illegals.)

The majority of Republicans (88 percent) and independents (60 percent) would back a vast deportation effort, as would a considerable minority of Democrats (38 percent).

Former President Donald Trump, who is currently leading in national polls over Biden, has been a strong proponent of a nationwide deportation program against illegal immigrants. He has repeatedly vowed to carry out "the largest domestic deportation operation in American history" if re-elected. Recently, during a campaign stop in Phoenix, Arizona, Trump said he wants "deportation" of illegal aliens, while "Biden wants an invasion."

The CBS News/YouGov poll further noted that, if a national deportation program came to fruition, most respondents would approve of local law enforcement units being empowered to track down and identify illegal immigrants in their communities.

Sixty-two percent said they would support "local police and law enforcement trying to identify which people were U.S. citizens, and which were undocumented immigrants."

A majority of independents (57 percent) and a supermajority of Republicans (84 percent) would be in favor of police being dispatched to identify illegal immigrants in the event of a national deportation operation. Interestingly, nearly half of Democrats (45 percent) would also support this.

Follow BorderSecurity.news for more stories about the ongoing illegal immigration happening in America.

Watch the video below to know why mass deportations are needed now to stop America's Third World demographic demise.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighten.com.

More related stories:

POLL: Immigration now the leading policy concern among U.S. voters.

Majority of Americans now favor MASS DEPORTATIONS of illegals, Axios poll finds.

Poll: 8 of 10 American voters consider illegal immigration crisis at the southern border as either "an emergency" or "a major problem."

Trump vows to implement the largest domestic deportation operation in American history if re-elected as president in 2024.

Sources include:

Revolver.news

CIS.org

Breitbart.com

Brighteon.com
Minnesota Somalian refugees outsmart U.S. government by RIGGING their food aid scam trial

A major food aid scam scandal has taken place in Minnesota by Somalian "refugees" who reportedly bilked U.S. taxpayers out of about $250 million.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) announced that federal criminal charges have been filed against 47 defendants who are said to have been involved in the fraud scheme.

According to the DoJ, African criminals posing as refugees exploited a federally funded child nutrition program during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "pandemic" when most people were distracted by all the fear and tyranny.

"These indictments, alleging the largest pandemic relief fraud scheme charged to date, underscore the Department of Justices sustained commitment to combating pandemic fraud and holding accountable those who perpetrate it," said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.

"In partnership with agencies across government, the Justice Department will continue to bring to justice those who have exploited the pandemic for personal gain and stolen from American taxpayers."

Anyone noticing a pattern from the people who committed the largest Covid Fraud in the US? pic.twitter.com/C4sH7omZkb  Paul (@WomanDefiner) September 22, 2022

(Related: Earlier this year, Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Somalia, abandoned her constituents by adopting a new Somalia First platform that prioritizes the interests of her homeland.)

Somalian refugee scam "largest pandemic relief fraud scheme yet"

The FBI's Christopher Wray also commented on the case to explain that these fake refugees stole public funds designated for children in need, calling the scheme "the largest pandemic relief fraud scheme yet."

"The defendants went to great lengths to exploit a program designed to feed underserved children in Minnesota amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, fraudulently diverting millions of dollars designated for the program for their own personal gain," Wray added.

"These charges send the message that the FBI and our law enforcement partners remain vigilant and will vigorously pursue those who attempt to enrich themselves through fraudulent means."

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.

U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger for the District of Minnesota added that the brazenness with which this scheme occurred is "of staggering proportions."

"These defendants exploited a program designed to provide nutritious food to needy children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, they prioritized their own greed, stealing more than a quarter of a billion dollars in federal funds to purchase luxury cars, houses, jewelry and coastal resort property abroad," he said.

"I commend the work of the skilled investigators and prosecutors who unraveled the lies, deception and mountains of false documentation to bring this complex case to light."

The 47 defendants face charges that span six separate indictments and three criminal "informations" with charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering and bribery.

Perhaps the worst aspect of the scheme is the way the defendants allegedly pretended to be poor, downtrodden, needy souls simply looking for a little food and some compassion. The reality of who they really are is much, much different.

At trial, these same alleged criminals conspired to rig and weaponize the judicial system  doing this seems easier than ever these days, does it not?  by buying off jurors with cash.

The Star Tribune reported that a "mysterious woman" dressed in "black" arrived at the suburban home of one of the jurors carrying a party bag stuffed with nearly $120,000 in payoff cash. The woman told the juror's father-in-law who answered the door that if the juror voted to acquit the defendants, the cash was his or hers, and that there would "be more of that present tomorrow."

The juror immediately reported the incident to the Spring Lake Park Police Department.

"This is outrageous behavior," commented Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson to U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel. "This is stuff that happens in mob movies."

If Americans remain complacent, their country is going to get flushed down the toilet by corrupt foreigners. Learn more at Collapse.news.

Sources for this article include:

Revolver.news

Justice.gov

NaturalNews.com
NATO plans to expand defense tech, intelligence sharing with Ukraine

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) plans to expand cooperation with Ukraine on defense technology and intelligence in response to the escalating conflict with Russia.

As tensions mount, NATO member states are reassessing their support for Ukraine's defense efforts and are increasingly willing to provide advanced weaponry and intelligence assistance.

NATO Assistant Secretary General for Innovation, Hybrid and Cyber David van Weel highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting that recent Russian advances have underscored the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures and closer monitoring of Russia's military capabilities.

The conflict has prompted NATO to allocate additional resources to address these evolving threats.

In light of the changing dynamics, the United States and Germany have taken unprecedented steps to authorize offensive actions against targets within internationally recognized Russian territory, signaling a significant shift in their approach to the conflict.

This decision reflects the growing recognition among NATO allies of the need to bolster Ukraine's ability to defend itself against Russian aggression. (Related: NATO allies inching closer to deploying soldiers to Ukraine.)

The agreement to finalize new frameworks for information sharing, including details on drone supply chains, underscores NATO's commitment to strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities.

By facilitating technology transfer and intelligence cooperation, NATO aims to empower Ukraine to effectively counter Russian aggression now and in the future.

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.

Ukraine's military strategy, which incorporates AI-enabled drones and advanced camouflage technology, demonstrates the country's determination to overcome Russia's numerical superiority through innovation and ingenuity.

NATO officials are also claiming that Russia's reliance on drones sourced from Iran and components from China underscores the limitations of its technological capabilities.

Moreover, Russia's development of technologies to evade detection by acoustic sensors highlights the ongoing arms race between the two sides.

Ukraine believes developing its tech sector can be key to fighting off Russia

Ukraine's defense technology development remains a top priority amid the conflict with Russia, positioning itself as a leader in the sector. The ongoing innovation in defense tech not only aids Ukraine's current defense efforts but also promises long-term growth for the country's digital economy. Spearheaded by initiatives like the BRAVE1 platform by the Ukrainian startup of the same name, the country is rapidly emerging as a global hub for defense technology innovation.

Despite the challenges posed by the war, Ukraine's IT industry continues to thrive, serving as a beacon of growth amid adversity. The Ukrainian Ministry of Digital Transformation is dedicated to supporting IT businesses through various means, including favorable tax conditions and free developer training programs.

Furthermore, Ukraine is fostering a dynamic venture capital ecosystem to support startups, particularly those focused on defense technology. The Ukrainian Startup Fund, overseen by the Ministry of Digital Transformation, has become the country's largest angel investor, pivoting toward defense tech projects in light of the conflict.

International investment is crucial to Ukraine's tech ecosystem, with initiatives like the European Innovation Council's funding allocation and the Seeds of Bravery project offering support to domestic startups. Ukraine's participation in international tech events further enhances its visibility and access to funding opportunities.

Looking ahead, Ukraine plans to launch an e-residency initiative to attract foreign entrepreneurs, bolstering its reputation as a global tech destination. This strategic focus on the tech sector, coupled with Ukraine's resilience and creativity in times of crisis, positions the country for significant economic growth and global recognition as a digital superpower.

Find out more about NATO's preparation for wartime contingencies by watching the video below.

This video is from the Evolutionary Energy Arts channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

NATO says fighter jets can carry nuclear weapons as tensions with Russia reach breaking point.

U.S. military and contractors are exploiting Ukraine conflict to test AI-powered military technology.

NATO to overstep Russia's red line as it mulls sending troops to train Ukrainian armed forces.

NATO has become military wing of globalist cabal that promotes the self-destruction of all nations in a depopulated world.

Russia's jamming technology reducing accuracy of U.S. weapons in Ukraine to just 10%.

Sources include:

EuromaidanPress.com

AtlanticCouncil.org

Brighteon.com
New report details Israels systematic sexual abuse and torture of Palestinians

A newly published report has revealed the harrowing extent of systematic sexual abuse and torture inflicted on Palestinian men, women and children by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).

The report, released on June 12 by the United Nations' Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and Israel, investigated multiple reports of human rights violations from Oct. 7 to Dec. 31. The commission focuses on Israeli attacks on Gaza, covering the first stages of the siege of Gaza, attacks on evacuating civilians, residential buildings and refugee camps.

They gathered thousands of open-source items and received over 350 submissions from individuals, groups, and organizations following their call for information on October 20, 2023. They also obtained geospatial analyses from the United Nations Satellite Center.

The Commission conducted remote interviews with victims and witnesses in Israel, the occupied Palestinian territories and other countries and met with stakeholders during missions to Turkey and Egypt. They gathered firsthand accounts from over 70 victims and witnesses, including many women and children, particularly regarding acts in Gaza since Oct. 7. Sexual and gender-based violence findings were based on victim and witness testimonies and forensic analysis of digital content. (Related: Horrifying details emerge of Israeli soldiers torturing and sexually abusing Palestinian detainees.)

According to the findings, these violations were not isolated incidents but potentially part of standard operating procedures. The commission cited instances where Israeli forces publicly stripped Palestinian women of their clothes and veils, while Palestinian men and boys have been disproportionately affected and victimized on many grounds.

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.

"Palestinian men and boys have been disproportionally affected and victimized on many grounds, but the Commission has also documented cases where women and girls were subjected to similar treatment. The Commission heard accounts from several male victims concerning mistreatment, including physical and mental abuse while being undressed, as well as forced public nudity while compelled to walk barefoot for prolonged periods of time between checkpoints," the UN inquiry wrote.

Disturbingly, the soldiers involved often filmed and photographed these acts.

"The men were photographed undressed, only wearing undergarments, forced into subordinate positions (tied to a chair, kneeling on the ground or lying on the ground blindfolded and tied) and/or subjected to physical abuse. In several cases the men are blindfolded, with their hands tied behind their back. The Commission also documented digital footage of Palestinians who have been captured by Israeli soldiers, some men having been stripped naked and, in some cases, physically assaulted by soldiers," the findings stated.

Testimonies from other reports and investigations show similar human rights violation

The commission report aligns with the testimonies reported by other news sites from Palestinians detained by Israeli forces.

For instance, a three-month investigation by the New York Times, published on June 6, also revealed the systematic sexual abuse and torture of Palestinians detained at the Sde Teiman military base and detention camp in the middle of the Negev desert in southern Israel.

Fadi Bakr, a law student from Gaza City, described his four-day interrogation as the worst four days of my life. He reported being taken to a disco room where the music was so loud that his ears began to bleed. Another detainee testified that he was forced to sit on a metal stick that penetrated his rectum, an account similar to another from a UNRWA report, which described a detainee being made to sit on a hot metal stick that felt like fire.

Former detainees also reported being punched, kicked, and beaten with batons, rifle butts, and a hand-held metal detector while in custody. One victim said his ribs were broken after being beaten with a rifle. Seven detainees reported being forced to wear nappies during interrogation, while another three said they received electric shocks. Eight former detainees described being blindfolded, handcuffed with zip ties and stripped to their underwear during their capture before being herded into military trucks with other half-naked men and transported to Sde Teiman.

Another Middle East Eye report from March also revealed the same, where detainees described being physically tortured with dogs and electricity, subjected to mock executions and held in humiliating and degrading conditions.

But despite all this reporting, Israel still dismissed the allegations as "evidently inaccurate" or "completely unfounded."

Watch this Oct. 10 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, warns about Israel potentially committing genocide against the more than two million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Whistleblowers detail ABUSE of Palestinian prisoners at Sde Teiman military base in Israels Negev region.

Palestinian political prisoners speak out about PHYSICAL and PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE they endured at the hands of Israeli captors.

War on Gaza: The Palestinian family executed in their home by Israeli forces.

Head of Israeli town suggests flattening Gaza Strip like Auschwitz concentration camp.

World reacts to Israeli attack on Jabalia refugee camp, many calling it inhumane or war crimes.

Sources include:

MiddleEastEye.com

OHCHR.org [PDF]

Brighteon.com
NewsBreak app slammed for using AI to write FAKE NEWS

The NewsBreak app has come under fire for using artificial intelligence (AI) to write fake news stories

Reuters cited how the app published a story on Dec. 24, 2023 about an alleged shooting in the city of Bridgeton in New Jersey. However, the Bridgeton Police Department (BPD) took to Facebook on Dec. 27 to debunk the story, writing that no such shooting took place and that the article written using AI was "entirely false."

"Nothing even similar to this story occurred on or around Christmas, or even in recent memory for the area [NewsBreak] described," the BPD wrote. "It seems this 'news' outlet's AI writes fiction they have no problem publishing to readers."

The company behind the app later told Reuters that it removed the fictional article on Dec. 28, four days after it was published. According to the company, "the inaccurate information originated from the content source" scraped by its AI. It also provided a link to the website where the content was obtained.

"When NewsBreak identifies any inaccurate content or any violation of our community standards, we take prompt action to remove that content," said the tech firm, which is headquartered in Mountain View, California and has offices in Beijing and Shanghai in China.

According to Reuters, Newsbreak has filled the void of local news outlets shuttering across the U.S. in recent years. The app, which bills itself as "the go-to source for all things local," has over 50 million monthly users and is only available in the United States. Reuters added: "It publishes licensed content from major media outlets  as well as [from] some information obtained by scraping the internet for local news or press releases, which it rewrites with the help of AI."

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.

Newsbreak's use of AI to write stories causing more harm than good

But in at least 40 instances since 2021, the app's use of AI tools affected the communities it strives to serve. Such negative impacts include erroneous stories being published, 10 stories from local news sites with fictitious bylines being created and content being lifted from competitor publications.

Reuters found these instances through a review of previously unreported court documents related to copyright infringement, cease-and-desist emails and a 2022 company memo registering concerns about "AI-generated stories." The news outlet also spoke to seven former employees who spoke on the condition of anonymity, citing confidentiality agreements with their erstwhile workplace.

Newsbreak was originally launched in the U.S. in 2015 as a subsidiary of the Chinese news aggregation app Yidian. Both Newsbreak and Yidian were founded by Jeff Zheng, who serves as the CEO of the American app. (Related: China using AI technology to IMPERSONATE U.S. voters, Microsoft confirms.)

The May 2022 company memo reviewed by Reuters was penned by Norm Pearlstine, a former executive editor at the Wall Street Journal and the Los Angeles Times. At the time, he had been working as a consultant for NewsBreak, advising the company about U.S. editorial businesses.

"I cannot think of a faster way to destroy the NewsBreak brand," Pearlstine wrote in the memo to Zheng. "I question the legality of creating fake accounts using content publishers put behind their paywalls. If I had learned about the practice while at the LA Times, I would have instructed our lawyer to seek a restraining order and sue for damages."

The consultant raised concerns about the app's use of AI tools to re-publish stories from local news sites under five fictitious bylines in his memo. Pearlstine later shared in an interview, after his former company cleared him to speak with Reuters, that he learned of the practice from a colleague. He also confirmed the memo's authenticity and attributed the lapse it referenced to a lack of journalistic experience.

"A fair number of people on the staff were either new to journalism or new to the U.S. market. That was part of the reason I felt I had to be very direct and very explicit in explaining why I thought this was important."

Visit NewsFakes.com for more similar stories.

Watch this video about Elon Musk warning that AI will surpass humanity if it isn't addressed.

This video is from the AmazingAI channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

U.S., Canadian AI companies COLLABORATE with Chinese experts to shape international AI policy.

NSA launches AI security center to protect the U.S. from AI-powered cyberattacks.

Mainstream publications collude with AI company to load searches with fake, AI-generated content.

Sources include:

Reuters.com

Brighteon.com
Former Pfizer VP warns COVID-19 vaccines intentionally designed to HARM, MAIM AND KILL and reduce human infertility

A former Pfizer scientist turned vaccine skeptic has warned the public that the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines are intentionally designed to harm, maim and kill people and reduce human fertility.

In October 2023, Mike Yeadon, the former vice president and chief science officer of Pfizer, delivered a speech at a vaccine awareness event in London to warn people about the vaccine scheme.

"If youve followed me, youll know Ive over 30 years in research in the pharmaceutical industry and biotech," Yeadon said. "That gives me the credentials to stand as it were in the shoes of the designers of these vaccines and answer the question: 'What were you thinking when you made these design decisions?'

"These materials were designed intentionally to harm, maim and kill, and to reduce human fertility. That is my verdict. If you add together the lies, the economic destruction, the murder and the intentional harm from the injectables, Im afraid the only conclusion I come to is [that] somebody up there wants to reduce the population," Yeadon continued. (Related: STUDY: COVID-19 vaccines linked to unexpected bleeding in women.)

Yeadon said he was "sure" the vaccines were intentionally designed to cause harm.

Yeadon has been warning the public about the adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccines for several years now

For years, Yeadon has been a vocal critic of the mRNA vaccines.

He has been repeatedly expressing his fears about their potential dangers and the possibility of a global depopulation agenda at different vaccine awareness events. So his 2023 speech was already repeated in other similar events throughout the years.

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.

For instance, in his speech that went viral on Facebook in 2021, Yeadon revealed all the lies he knew about the COVID-19 vaccines.

First, Yeadon claimed that asymptomatic transmission of COVID-19 is either "rare" or "doesn't happen." Second, Yeadon dismissed concerns about COVID-19 variants, claiming there is "zero chance" that people immunized through vaccination or prior infection would be susceptible to them. Third, Yeadon alleged that the COVID-19 vaccines are neither safe nor effective, citing the number of side effects reported in monitoring systems in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Moreover, Yeadon criticized the decision to vaccinate pregnant women, claiming it was made without proper reproductive toxicology studies.

Yeadon echoed the sentiments in an interview with Americas Frontline Doctors in March 2021. At that time, he warned people not to go near "top-up vaccines" or booster shots, as some COVID-19 vaccines including Pfizer and Moderna require two doses.

"Please warn every person not to go near top up vaccines. There is absolutely no need to them. As theres no need for them, yet theyre being made in pharma, and regulators have stood aside (no safety testing), I can only deduce they will be used for nefarious purposes. For example, if someone wished to harm or kill a significant proportion of the worlds population over the next few years, the systems being put in place right now will enable it. Its my considered view that it is entirely possible that this will be used for massive-scale depopulation," he said.

Learn more about the demographic crisis affecting countries all over the world at Depopulation.news.

Watch the video below to find out why the global elite wants depopulation by 2025.

This video is from the Third Watch channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Pfizer data reveals COVID-19 vaccines were NEVER safe for pregnant women.

Ben Armstrong: Pfizer knows the COVID vaccine is dangerous for pregnant women.

FDA has only now granted approval to Moderna's covid vaccine, meaning every injection before this was EXPERIMENTAL medicine  and the media lied to everyone about it.

More than 1 in 5 pregnant participants in Pfizer trials suffered a miscarriage, and both the FDA and CDC covered it up.

'What Ive seen in the last 2 years is unprecedented': Physician on COVID vaccine side effects in pregnant women.

Sources include:

InfoWars.com 1

Reuters.com

InfoWars.com 2

Brighteon.com
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department's 77th annual spring breeding duck survey has revealed a concerning decline in the state's waterfowl population.

The survey, a critical indicator of ecological health and biodiversity, showed a drop from 3.4 million birds in 2023 to approximately 2.9 million in 2024.

This year's count, while still 17% above the long-term average, marks a significant decrease that has conservationists and hunters alike paying close attention.

The Numbers Game



The 2024 breeding duck index is the 30th highest on record, but the figures are less encouraging when compared to the golden era of North Dakota's duck populations between 1994 and 2016.

Species such as mallards, pintails, and blue-winged teal have seen reductions ranging from 24% to 49% from those peak years.

Mike Szymanski, the migratory game bird supervisor for the department, attributes this decline to habitat loss, particularly the reduction of land enrolled in the federal Conservation Reserve Program and the disappearance of perennial grasses used by ducks for nesting.

Detailed observations during the survey have shown that all species were flat to down, with mallards down about 19%, pintails about 29%, and blue-winged teal roughly 13% lower than the previous year.

The decline is even more pronounced when compared to the peak breeding periods, with overall numbers for mallards, pintails, blue-winged teal, gadwall, wigeon, and northern shovelers down anywhere from 24% to 49%.

The state's record-high count of 5.4 million birds in 2002 seems a distant memory now, as the landscape conditions suggest that the state will seldom see numbers above 3 million breeding ducks.

Wetland Woes and Conservation Hopes

Despite a dry winter, spring rains provided some relief, resulting in 'fair' wetland conditions during the survey period.

However, the overall trend is downward, with the wetland count ranking as the 32nd highest in 77 years.

Szymanski remains cautiously optimistic, noting that late May and June rains could bolster renesting efforts and improve nesting probabilities for the remaining duck population.

The survey's timing coincided with 'fair' wetland conditions, a silver lining given the dry winter that preceded it. The wetland count for the spring was the 32nd highest in 77 years.

However, the overall trend is downward, and the need for conservation efforts is more pressing than ever.

Szymanski remains hopeful, citing late May and June rains as potential boosts for renesting efforts and overall nesting probabilities.

The importance of grassland and wetland conservation cannot be overstated. These ecosystems are not only vital for waterfowl reproduction but also for maintaining the ecological balance.

With the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's survey results expected in August, there is an anxious wait for data that could either confirm the decline or signal a turnaround.

Also Read: Can Ducks Fly or Are They Just Lazy to Take Off? Scientists Debunk the Myth

How do these declining duck numbers impact local communities and economies?

The declining duck numbers in North Dakota have a multifaceted impact on local communities and economies.

While the situation in North Dakota may differ, insights can be drawn from studies in other regions, such as the Philippines, where duck farming plays a significant role in local livelihoods.

Economic Impact

Ducks are an important source of income for many rural communities. They provide not only meat and eggs for consumption and sale but also feathers and down for various uses.

A decline in duck populations can lead to reduced income for farmers and those involved in related industries, such as feed suppliers and processors.

In areas where duck hunting is a tradition, there could be a decrease in tourism and associated revenues from hunters who visit for recreational hunting seasons.

Social Impact

Ducks often contribute to the social fabric of communities. They can be a source of nutrition, especially protein, and play a role in cultural practices and traditions.

The presence of duck farms can foster good relationships among neighbors and provide employment opportunities.

A decline in duck numbers may affect these social dynamics and reduce the availability of nutritious food sources.

Environmental Impact

Ducks are part of the local ecosystem and play a role in controlling pests and fertilizing land. A decrease in their numbers could lead to ecological imbalances, affecting crop production and the health of natural habitats.

Conservation Efforts

The decline in duck numbers highlights the importance of conservation efforts. Protecting and restoring grasslands and wetlands is crucial for waterfowl reproduction and maintaining the ecological balance. These efforts can also support the local economy by ensuring the sustainability of duck populations for future generations.

The decline in duck numbers can have significant economic, social, and environmental impacts on local communities. It underscores the need for concerted conservation efforts to protect these valuable resources and the livelihoods that depend on them.

Related article: Pink-Headed Duck: Researchers Unravel Mystery Behind Unique Feathers
California's agricultural inspectors have made a critical save by intercepting eggs of the spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect that poses a serious threat to grapevines, potentially jeopardizing the state's wine industry.

This detailed report delves into the discovery and the potential ramifications for California's vineyards.

The Alarming Discovery

The discovery occurred at the Truckee Border Protection Station, where officials found 11 viable egg masses of the spotted lanternfly on a metal art installation.

The artwork, shipped from New York, was destined for Sonoma County, a crown jewel in California's wine-producing regions.

The spotted lanternfly, native to Asia, has already caused significant damage in 18 states, and its arrival in California could spell disaster for the local wine industry.

The insect feeds on the sap of grapevines and leaves behind a sticky honeydew residue, which can attract other pests and lead to fungal diseases.

The stress on the plants can result in reduced yields, fewer bottles of wine for consumers, and in severe cases, complete vine death.

The economic impact of such an infestation could be devastating, as California accounts for an average of 81% of the total U.S. wine production each year.

The Potential Catastrophe for the Wine Industry

The California Association of Winegrape Growers has expressed grave concerns over the spotted lanternfly's potential to affect the entire winegrape industry in California.

The association warned that if additional egg masses from other shipments have entered the state undetected, they may produce adult spotted lanternflies in the coming weeks, with peak populations expected in late summer or early fall.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture has developed an action plan to eradicate the pests if they were to enter the state.

The public has been asked to report any sightings of the insect or its eggs to the CDFA Pest Hotline.

The metal art installation, initially sent back to Nevada after the discovery of the egg masses, was thoroughly cleaned before being allowed to continue to its destination in Sonoma County.

Also Read: Spotted Lanternfly May Not Damages Hardwood Trees Previously Thought To Be Resistant in North America

How can vineyards protect themselves from this threat?

Vineyards can take several proactive steps to protect themselves from the threat of the spotted lanternfly. Here are some key strategies based on expert recommendations:

Early Detection and Reporting:

It's crucial for vineyard owners to educate themselves on the appearance of the spotted lanternfly in its various life stages, including eggs, nymphs, and adults. Early detection and reporting to local agricultural authorities can prevent significant damage.

Canopy and Nutrition Management:

Practicing good canopy management and nutrition management can help. Healthy vines are more likely to suffer minimal damage and recover from infestations than weaker, less healthy vines.

Tree-of-Heaven Control:

The tree-of-heaven is a preferred host for the spotted lanternfly. Removing or managing these trees near vineyards can lower the risk for spotted lanternfly and help to reduce the insect's population. It's recommended to remove 90% of all tree-of-heaven on your property and use the remaining 10% as trap trees treated with a systemic insecticide from April through September.

Pesticide Management:

Avoid overuse of pyrethroids in vineyards as they can flare mealybug populations, which vector leaf roll virus. Save highly effective insecticides with good residual (like Brigade, Actara, Scorpion, Carbaryl, and Mustang Maxx) for use against the adults in late summer through harvest.

Vehicle and Equipment Hygiene:

Keeping vehicle doors and windows closed can avoid transporting the insect as hitchhikers. It's also important to check and clean equipment and vehicles that move between locations to prevent spreading the pest.

By implementing these measures, vineyards can significantly reduce the risk of spotted lanternfly infestation and protect their crops from this invasive species.

The interception of the spotted lanternfly eggs is a stark reminder of the ongoing vigilance required to protect California's vital wine industry from invasive species.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture, along with the winegrowers' association, continues to monitor the situation closely and urges public cooperation in reporting any potential sightings of this destructive pest.

Related article: Heavy Adult Feeding by Spotted Lanternflies on Young Maple Trees Hinders Tree Growth by up to 50%
In the coastal regions of Bangladesh, the relentless advance of the sea is not just a warning of a potential future crisis-it is the current reality.

The nation, known for its rich history and cultural tapestry, is now gaining a more somber reputation as one of the countries most rapidly losing land to rising sea levels.

Submerging Shores: The Immediate Threat

The phenomenon is not merely a statistical increase in water levels; it represents a tangible, immediate threat to millions.

Abdul Aziz, a 75-year-old fisherman, recounts how he had to relocate half a kilometer inland after a cyclone destroyed his home in 2007.

A year later, the sea claimed the land where his house once stood. Now, he fishes above what used to be his property, a stark reminder of the ocean's encroachment.

Government scientists have confirmed that the sea level around Bangladesh's coast is rising at one of the world's fastest rates due to climate change.

This rapid increase is expected to force at least a million people to relocate within a generation.

Abdul Hamid, the director general of the environment department, emphasizes that few countries feel the diverse effects of climate change as intensely as Bangladesh.

A Nation Underwater: The Long-Term Forecast

The situation is exacerbated by the country's geography. Bangladesh sits on the delta of the mighty Himalayan rivers of the Ganges and Brahmaputra, which flow into the Bay of Bengal.

This unique position contributes to the above-average sea level rise, driven by melting ice caps and the expansion of water volumes as the oceans warm.

A.K.M Saiful Islam, a lead researcher and member of the UN's IPCC climate change assessment body, warns that by 2050, the current rate of local sea level rise could displace over a million people.

His study, based on satellite data from NASA and its Chinese counterpart CNSA, shows an annual increase in sea level between 4.2 millimeters to 5.8 millimeters along the Bangladeshi coast-significantly higher than the global average.

The incremental rise might seem minimal, but for the estimated 20 million people living along the coast, the impact is devastating.

The destruction comes in waves, both literal and metaphorical, eroding not just the land but the very fabric of communities.

Also Read: Tiger Leaps onto Boat, Snatches Helpless Fisherman in East India

What are the government's plans to address this crisis?

The government of Bangladesh has been proactive in addressing the crisis posed by rising sea levels.

With the support of international partners like the World Bank, the government has embarked on several ambitious projects aimed at improving the resilience of the coastal zones. Here are some of the key initiatives:

Strengthening Infrastructure

One of the primary strategies has been the Coastal Embankment Improvement Project Phase 1 (CEIP-1), which focuses on rehabilitating and upgrading protection polders-areas of low-lying land reclaimed from the sea.

This project aims to mitigate the effects of tidal flooding and frequent storm surges, as well as improve agricultural production by reducing saline water intrusion.

The rehabilitation of 10 polders in six coastal districts is expected to provide direct protection for more than 724,000 people living inside the polder boundaries.

Enhancing Disaster Preparedness

In addition to infrastructure improvements, the Multipurpose Disaster Shelter Project (MDSP) has been implemented to save lives by providing shelters for those at risk from cyclones and storms.

These shelters also serve as safe schools for children in communities most vulnerable to natural hazards.

Nature-Based Solutions

The government is also investing in nature-based solutions, such as creating mangrove forests along the coastal belt.

Mangroves act as natural barriers to cyclones, subsidence, and sea level rise, offering a sustainable way to protect the coastline.

Long-Term Planning

Looking towards the future, the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 is a comprehensive development plan focusing on economic growth, environmental conservation, and enhanced climate resilience.

This plan lays out holistic and cross-sectoral action needed to improve productivity and minimize disaster risks.

National Adaptation Plan

Furthermore, the National Adaptation Plan of Bangladesh (20232050) has been developed to guide the country's efforts in becoming more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

This plan includes a robust program on data and analytics to inform decision-making.

These efforts reflect the government's commitment to not only protect its citizens and their livelihoods but also to preserve the nation's environmental integrity in the face of climate change challenges.

The plight of Bangladesh serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for global climate action. It highlights the need for both mitigation to reduce further environmental damage and adaptation strategies to cope with the changes already set in motion.

As the sea continues to claim more of Bangladesh's land, the world watches and learns, hoping to prevent similar fates in other vulnerable regions.

The stories of individuals like Abdul Aziz are not just anecdotes; they are the human face of a global issue that demands immediate attention and action.

Related article: 'Life-Threatening' Flooding Swamps Pensacola, Florida
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Will keep working together to further global good, says PM Modi after meeting US President Biden

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rime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with several world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, after the conclusion of the G7 Summit's Outreach Session in Italy's Borgo Egnazia on Friday.

"It's always a pleasure to meet POTUS Joe Biden. India and the USA will keep working together to further global good," the PM posted on X along with pictures of his meeting with the US President.

The visit to Italy is Prime Minister Modi's first overseas visit after assuming office for the third consecutive term and also his fifth consecutive participation in the summit.

While there was no formal bilateral meeting scheduled between the two leaders, the US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan had told reporters en route to Brindisi that Biden and PM Modi will have an "opportunity to encounter one another" during the G7 session as the schedule remains "fluid".

After speaking at the G7 Outreach Session on AI and Energy, Africa and Mediterranean, PM Modi also interacted with Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Jordan's King Abdullah and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

PM Modi also met his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of the event. Earlier in the day, PM Modi held back-to-back bilateral meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron, British PM Rishi Sunak, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

 Will keep working together to further global good, says PM Modi after meeting US President Biden

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PM Modi holds bilateral talks with PMs of Italy, Japan on sidelines of G7 Summit

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rime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Italy and Japan after the conclusion of the G7 Summit's Outreach Session in Italy's Borgo Egnazia on Friday.

PM Modi began the day holding back-to-back bilaterals with French President Emmanuel Macron, British PM Rishi Sunak, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

He then attended the G7 Outreach Session on AI and Energy, Africa and Mediterranean which was followed by interactions with several world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, before the official photo-op.

Imparting further momentum to the India-Italy partnership, PM Modi congratulated Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for the success of the G7 Summit.

"The leaders held discussions on expanding India-Italy Strategic Partnership in various spheres, including defence, cyber security, trade and investment, manufacturing, space, telecom, AI, digital, critical minerals, clean energy, and mobility, among others," the Ministry of External Affairs said after the bilateral between PM Modi and Meloni.

After holding talks with Japanese PM Fumio Kishida, PM Modi said: "It was a delight to meet PM Kishida on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Italy. Strong ties between India and Japan are important for a peaceful, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

"Our nations look forward to working together in defence, technology, semiconductors, clean energy and digital technology. We also wish to advance ties in infrastructure and cultural linkages."

The visit to Italy was Prime Minister Modi's first overseas trip after assuming office for the third consecutive term, and also his fifth consecutive participation in the G7 Summit.

Before leaving for Italy, PM Modi had warmly recalled his visit to the country for the G20 Summit in 2021.

"Prime Minister Meloni's two visits to India last year were instrumental in infusing momentum and depth to our bilateral agenda. We remain committed to consolidating the India-Italy strategic partnership, and bolstering cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and the Mediterranean regions," the Prime Minister had said in his departure statement.

After the conclusion of the G7 Summit's Outreach Session, PM Modi met with several world leaders, including US President Joe Biden.

"It's always a pleasure to meet POTUS Joe Biden. India and USA will keep working together to further global good," the PM posted on X along with pictures of his meeting with the US President.

He also interacted with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Jordan King Abdullah, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of the event.

 PM Modi holds bilateral talks with PMs of Italy, Japan on sidelines of G7 Summit

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Sunny Leone shoots for upcoming film in Karnataka, visits village school

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ctress Sunny Leone, who is awaiting the release of her upcoming film Quotation Gang, is currently shooting for her next project in Karnataka.

The actress recently went to a small village named Kabbali to visit a local school. A video, which has surfaced on social media, features that upon the actress' arrival to the school, the students were thrilled to see her.

The video shows her exploring classrooms, playing games, and taking pictures with the students.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Sunny has 'Quotation Gang' on the horizon. She will be seen alongside Priyamani of The Family Man fame and Jackie Shroff in the film. She essays the role of a rural mafia member in 'Quotation Gang'.

The film features her as an assassin who is a key member of a ruthless gang, which specialises in contract killings.

She also has auteur Anurag Kashyap's 'Kennedy in the pipeline. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last year and is set for a theatrical release soon. Additionally, she has an untitled film with Himesh Reshammiya and Prabhudeva in the works. Her upcoming Malayalam project is currently in production.

 Sunny Leone shoots for upcoming film in Karnataka, visits village school

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PM Modi continues to bat on front foot for Global South in his third innings

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he Group of Seven (G7) Summit held in Italy's Apulia on Friday has further solidified India's image as the leader of the Global South, right at the start of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's third consecutive term.

Having given resonance to the voice of the Global South over the last decade, especially during India's G20 presidency, PM Modi once again chose a major global platform to spotlight the concerns of developing countries during his first overseas trip after assuming office, earlier this week.

"The countries of the Global South are bearing the brunt of global uncertainties and tensions. India has considered it its responsibility to place the priorities and concerns of the countries of the Global South on the world stage," the Prime Minister said in his address at the Outreach Session of the G7 Summit.

With India having strongly established itself as an all-weather friend of Africa during his tenure, PM Modi also emphasised New Delhi's commitment to the continent.

"We have given high priority to Africa in these efforts. We are proud that the G-20, under India's chairmanship, made the African Union a permanent member. India has been contributing to the economic and social development, stability, and security of all African countries, and will continue to do so," he assured the world leaders gathered at the G7 event.

On Saturday, hours after his meeting with PM Modi at Borgo Egnazia, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz backed the Indian Prime Minister's efforts to further amplify the voices from the emerging countries and the Global South at international fora.

"The G7 is not an exclusive club. That is why here in Apulia we continued what we started in Elmau and spoke to many representatives of the Global South. This must continue to be the case in the future. Because we want a partnership from which everyone benefits," Scholz posted on X along with a photograph of him engaged in an animated discussion with PM Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during the G7 event on Friday.

Even as he pursues the goal of having a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047, PM Modi has made it clear that India's efforts to drive South-South cooperation will receive fresh momentum during his third term.

The attendance of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Seychelles Vice-President Ahmed Afif, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay at the PM's swearing-in ceremony sent a strong message that India will always remain committed to the cause of the Global South and the developing countries.

"PM Modi called for deeper people-to-people ties and connectivity in the region. He further added that India would continue to amplify the voice of the Global South in the international arena," the Ministry of External Affairs said after the PM's interaction with the leaders at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

In the past too, leaders of the developing countries across various continents instilled faith in PM Modi's leadership and counted on India as a reliable partner when it came to making their voices heard at the gatherings of world leaders amid the ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Last year, when he travelled to Port Moresby to host the third summit of the Forum for IndiaPacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC III Summit) jointly with his counterpart from Papua New Guinea, James Marape, leaders of the small island countries called themselves as "victims of global powerplay" and called on PM Modi to further elevate the issues of concern to the region.

"You are the voice that can offer our issues at the highest level as advanced economies discuss matters relating to economy, commerce, trade, and geopolitics. We want you to be an advocate for us as you sit in those meetings and continue to fight for the rights of small emerging nations and emerging economies," Marape said in his address.

Several countries in Africa and the Caribbean also consider India and Prime Minister Modi as their flag bearer on the global stage.

During her visit to New Delhi last October, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu hailed India as a powerhouse, an extended family member separated by a coastline, a friend for all seasons, and a leader of the Global South.

"Beyond familyhood and trade partnership, India is our strategic ally. India is now a powerhouse. It possesses the needed soft and hard powers enough to shape outcomes, influence change, and raise a voice to be heard in the lobbying corridors, and rooms where world decisions are made, and our fate as developing countries is decided," she said while receiving her first foreign honourary doctorate from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

Similarly, the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has time and again highlighted the significance of maintaining a "close and vibrant working relationship" with India -- a country they believe is playing a major role in having their voices heard at major global platforms.

India's position as a voice of the Global South is expected to further consolidate during Modi 3.0 using the Prime Minister's 5S approach of 'Samman, Samvad, Sahyog, Shanti, and Samriddhi', as was listed in the 'Sankalp Patra' released by the BJP for the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections.

"A distinct global image has been built in the last 10 years as India has emerged as a Vishwa Bandhu. Its maximum advantage will begin now. I am fully confident that the next five years will be extremely useful for the country as far as the global environment is concerned," the Prime Minister asserted in his first comments after staking a claim to form the government for the third consecutive time, last week.

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In wealthier countries with greater gender equality, men are more likely to eat meat more frequently than women, a new study reveals. The research team, led by the University of Zurich, examined the meat consumption patterns of more than 20,000 people from 23 countries. The findings could inform strategies for promoting plant-based and cultured meat as viable alternatives to traditional meat consumption.

Men tend to eat meat more frequently than women and people in wealthier countries tend to eat more meat than people in poorer countries. Paradoxically, gender differences in meat consumption are greater in countries with higher levels of gender equality and social and economic development, according to a study led by the University of Zurich (UZH). The authors suggest that this may be because individuals in these countries have greater opportunities to express their food preferences.

Gender differences in meat consumption strongest in Germany, Argentina, Poland and UK

Christopher Hopwood, professor of psychology at the University of Zurich, and colleagues examined differences in meat consumption between men and women in countries with different levels of social and economic development - as measured by life expectancy, years of schooling, and gross national income - and gender equality - as measured by economic participation, educational attainment, political empowerment, and health and survival. They analyzed survey data collected in 2021 from 20,802 participants from 23 countries in North and South America, Europe, and Asia. Participants reported their gender and how often they ate meat.

Except for China, India and Indonesia, men tended to eat more meat than women. The differences in meat consumption between men and women tended to be greater in countries with higher levels of gender equality and social and economic development, with the largest differences observed in Germany, Argentina, Poland and the United Kingdom." Christopher Hopwood, lead author

Incentives for plant-based and cultured meat may be most effective in developed countries

"Higher levels of gender equality and development may give women greater freedom to choose to eat meat less often and may also allow men to purchase and eat meat more often," concludes Hopwood.

The findings suggest that different strategies may be needed to promote reduced meat consumption in different contexts. The authors speculate that providing consumers with greater opportunities to consume plant-based meat alternatives or cultured (lab-grown) meat may be more effective in countries with higher levels of development, while providing incentives to produce plant-based meat alternatives or cultured meat may be more effective in countries with lower levels of development.
Tesla shareholders voted on Thursday to restore CEO Elon Musks record USD 44.9 billion pay package that was thrown out by a Delaware judge earlier this year, sending a strong vote of confidence in his leadership of the worlds largest electric vehicle maker.

The favourable vote doesnt necessarily mean that Musk will get the all-stock compensation anytime soon. The package is likely to remain tied up in the Delaware Chancery Court and Supreme Court for months as Tesla tries to overturn the Delaware judges rejection.

Musk has raised doubts about his future with Tesla this year, writing on X, the social media platform he owns, that he wanted a 25 per cent stake in the company in order to stop him from taking artificial intelligence development elsewhere. The higher stake is needed to control the use of AI, he has said.

Tesla also has struggled with falling sales and profit margins as demand for electric vehicles slows worldwide.

But at the companys annual meeting Thursday in Austin, Texas, Musk reassured shareholders that he will stick around, telling them he cant sell any stock in the compensation package for five years.

Its not actually cash, and I cant cut and run, nor would I want to, he said.

The company said late Thursday that shareholders had voted for Musks compensation plan, which initially was approved by the board and stockholders six years ago.

Tesla last valued the package at USD 44.9 billion in an April regulatory filing. It was once as much as USD 56 billion but has declined in value in tandem with Teslas stock, which has dropped about 25 per cent so far this year.

Chancellor Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick ruled in January in a shareholders lawsuit that Musk essentially controlled the Tesla board when it ratified the package in 2018, and that it failed to fully inform shareholders who approved it the same year.

Tesla has said it would appeal, but asked shareholders to reapprove the package at Thursdays annual meeting.

A separate vote approved moving the companys legal home to Texas to avoid the courts in Delaware, where Tesla is registered as a corporation.

Its incredible, a jubilant Musk told the crowd gathered at Teslas headquarters and large factory in Austin, Texas. I think were not just opening a new chapter for Tesla, were starting a new book. Musk and Tesla didnt win everything. Shareholders approved measures that trimmed board member terms from three years to one and cut the required vote on shareholder proposals to a simple majority.

Legal experts say the issue of Musks pay will still be decided in Delaware, largely because Musks lawyers have assured McCormick they wont try to move the case to Texas.

But they differ on whether the new ratification of the pay package will make it easier for Tesla to get it approved.

Charles Elson, a retired professor and founder of the corporate governance centre at the University of Delaware, said he doesnt think the vote will influence McCormick, who issued a decision based on the law.

McCormicks ruling essentially made the 2018 compensation package a gift to Musk, Elson said, and that would need unanimous shareholder approval, an impossible threshold. The vote, he said, is interesting from a public perception standpoint, but in my view it does not affect the ruling.

John Lawrence, a Dallas-based lawyer with Baker Botts who defends corporations against shareholder lawsuits, agreed the vote doesnt end the legal dispute and automatically give Musk the stock options. But he says it gives Tesla a strong argument to get the ruling overturned.

He expects Musk and Tesla to argue that shareholders were fully informed before the latest votes, so McCormick should reverse her decision. But the plaintiff in the lawsuit will argue that the vote has no impact and isnt legally binding, Lawrence said.

The vote, he said, was done under Delaware law and should be considered by the judge.

This shareholder vote is a strong signal that you now have an absolutely well-informed body of shareholders, he said. The judge in Delaware still could decide that this doesnt change a thing about her prior ruling and doesnt require her to make any different ruling going forward. But I think it definitely gives Tesla and Musk strong ammunition to try to get her to revisit this. If the ruling stands, then Musk likely will appeal to the Delaware Supreme Court, Lawrence said.

Multiple institutional investors have come out against Musks sizeable payout, some citing the companys recent struggles. But analysts said votes by individual shareholders likely put Musks pay over the top.

Early Friday, Tesla disclosed that shareholders voted for Musks pay package by 1,760,780,650 to 528,908,419, with about 77 per cent of all votes in favour. The companys shares jumped 3 per cent by the time the markets closedon Thursday and were up 1.2 per cent in premarket trading early Friday.

After the votes were announced, Musk began telling shareholders about new developments in the companys Full Self-Driving system. He has staked the companys future on development of autonomous vehicles, robots and artificial intelligence.

Full Self-Driving keeps improving with new versions, and its safety per mile is better than human drivers, Musk said.

This is actually going to work. This is going to happen. Mark my words, this is just a matter of time, he said.

Despite its name, Full Self-Driving cant drive itself, and the company says human drivers must be ready to intervene at all times. Teslas Full Self-Driving hardware went on sale late in 2015, and Musk has used the name ever since as the company gathered data to teach its computers how to drive.

In 2019, Musk promised a fleet of autonomous robotaxis by 2020, and he said in early 2022 that the cars would be autonomous that year. In April of last year, Musk said the system should be ready in 2023.

Since 2021, Tesla has been beta-testing Full Self-Driving using volunteer owners. US safety regulators last year made Tesla recall the software after finding that the system misbehaved around intersections and could violate traffic laws.

Musk also said the company is making huge progress on its Optimus humanoid robot. Currently it has two working at its factory in Fremont, California, that take battery cells off a production line and put them in shipping containers, he said.

Despite laying off the team working on Teslas Supercharger electric vehicle charging network, Musk said he thinks the company will deploy more chargers this year that are actually working than the rest of the industry. In the second half of the year, he expects to spend USD 500 million on Superchargers, Musk said.
Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL), the Indian arm of South Korean automaker Hyundai, has filed preliminary papers with Sebi to launch an initial public offering (IPO).

The proposed IPO is entirely an offer for sale (OFS) of 142,194,700 equity shares by Hyundai Motor Company, with no fresh issue component, according to the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP).

The companys IPO, if it goes through, would be the largest in India, surpassing LICs share sale of Rs 21,000 crore.

In February this year, it was reported that Hyundai Motor Company is looking to raise at least USD 3 billion (around Rs 25,000 crore) through an IPO.

It may dilute 15-20 per cent stake in HMIL to raise funds, news agency PTI reported citing sources.

Since the public issue is completely an OFS, Hyundai Motor India Ltd, the second largest carmaker in India after Maruti Suzuki India, will not receive any proceeds of the IPO.

According to a report by Reuters early this year, Hyundai Motor has appointed investment bankers JPMorgan and Citi to advise on its India IPO.

This development marks a significant milestone for the Indian industry as it will be the first initial share sale by an automaker in over two decades, following Maruti Suzukis listing in 2003.

In its draft papers, HMIL said it expects that the listing of the equity shares will enhance our visibility and brand image and provide liquidity and a public market for the shares.

HMIL commenced operations in India in 1996 and currently sells 13 models across segments.

It reported 7 per cent year-on-year increase in total sales at 63,551 units in May 2024 against 59,601 units in the corresponding month last year.

Domestic dispatch of vehicles to dealers saw 1 per cent rise to 49,151 units last month from 48,601 units in the year-ago period.

Exports grew 31 per cent in May to 14,400 units compared to 11,000 units a year ago.

(With agency inputs)
The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) officially rolled out the results for the Bihar Diploma in Elementary Education 2024 on June 14. Candidates who participated in the Bihar BSEB DElEd 2024 examination can check their scorecards by visiting the official BSEB website at secondary.biharboardonline.com. To access the results, candidates will have to enter their application number and date of birth in the portal.

The Bihar DElEd 2024 exam ran from April 1 to April 28, covering a comprehensive schedule. The exams were held across 53 examination centres in various districts, including Patna, Bhagalpur, Bhojpur, Siwan, Chhapra, Gaya, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, and Purnia. This year saw a significant rise in the number of candidates appearing in the exam, with a total of 6,81,982 registrations for the D.El.Ed. entrance examination.

BSEB DElEd Result 2024: Heres How to Download

Step 1: Candidates need to go to the official BSEB website at secondary.biharboardonline.com.

Step 2: On the homepage, look for and click on the link that says Bihar DElEd Result 2024.

Step 3: A new page will open where candidates will have to enter the application number and date of birth in the designated space.

Step 4: Upon entering the required details, click on the submit button.

Step 5: Once done, the Bihar DElEd Result 2024 will appear on your screen.

Step 6: Review all the details carefully and take a printout of the same for future reference and use.

Candidates who have successfully qualified the Bihar DElEd 2024 exam must gear up for the subsequent steps in their academic journey.

Counselling Process: Post the examination, BSEB conducts a counselling process where candidates will be allotted seats in various DElEd colleges based on their ranks and preferences.

Document Verification: Then, candidates will be required to take part in a document verification process.

College Admission: Post the counselling and document verification, applicants will receive their final college allotments. They must complete the admission formalities along with the payment of admission fees within the stipulated time frame to secure their seats.

Meanwhile, the Diploma in Elementary Education (DElEd) is an important qualification for those aspiring to become elementary school teachers. The exam trains aspirants with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in the teaching profession.

Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website.
The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) will close the registration process for the CS Executive Entrance Test (CSEET) July 2024 exam today, June 15. Candidates can apply for the ICSI CSEET 2024 exam by visiting the official website at icsi.edu. According to the schedule, the entrance exam will be held on July 6. Candidates who have passed or are appearing in the Senior Secondary (10+2) Examination or equivalent are eligible to apply for the ICSI CSEET 2024.

ICSI CSEET July 2024: Eligibility Criteria

Those who have passed or are currently taking the senior secondary (Class 12) examination or its equivalent test are eligible for the entrance exam.

ICSI CSEET July 2024 Exam: Steps To Apply

Step 1: Visit the official website of ICSI at icsi.edu

Step 2: On the homepage, go to the Latest@ICSIStudents section.

Step 3: Then click on the CSEET July 2024 registration link to apply.

Step 4: Proceed with the application form, upload the necessary documents, and pay the application fee.

Step 5: Check all the details and submit the ICSI CSEET form.

ICSI CSEET July 2024:Exam Details

The CS Executive Entrance Exam will be administered by remote proctoring, and note-taking, calculators, pens, pencils, paper, and other writing implements are prohibited. Students will be assessed on four subjects in the exam: current affairs and numeric aptitude, business communication, legal aptitude and logical thinking, and the business and economic environment.

Once candidates have registered for the entrance exam, the institute will provide them with a link to CSEET 2024 virtual teaching classes. To pass the exam, students must achieve at least 40 per cent on each paper and an overall average of 50 per cent.

ICSI CSEET July 2024: Application Fee

This year, ICSI updated the fee structure for the CSEET and other CS programmes. The CSEET registration fee has risen to Rs 2,000 from Rs 1,000 earlier. Despite the increase, the advance fees for the optional CSEET classes remain at Rs 1,000.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) acknowledges the CS qualification as equivalent to a masters degree.

Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website.
A survey conducted by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has revealed that 60 out of 62 hoardings installed in Mumbai lack the required no objection certificate (NOC) from the state-run body.

In a statement released on Friday, MHADA disclosed that the survey was carried out following directives from Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

The move comes after the collapse of a hoarding in Ghatkopar on May 13, which resulted in 17 deaths and over 70 injuries.

Over the past two months, MHADA has issued notices to owners of unauthorised hoardings, demanding their immediate removal.

The agency also warned that non-compliance would lead to the enforced dismantling of these structures with the help from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

MHADAs statement highlighted that while these hoardings had been installed with BMCs approval, they lacked MHADAs NOC, necessitating swift corrective measures.

The BMC has issued show cause notices to advertisers, requiring them to submit MHADAs NOC within a specified period. Failure to comply will result in the revocation of advertising permits and legal action under the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act 1888, the release stated.

Additionally, MHADA and BMC have jointly removed a 40 feet by 40 feet hoarding erected at Shubh Jeevan Cooperative Housing Society in Juhu without MHADAs approval.

We are committed to ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and protecting public spaces from unauthorised structures. This operation underscores our dedication to public safety. The safety of our citizens is paramount, said Sanjeev Jaiswal, vice president and chief executive officer of MHADA.

(With inputs from PTI)
Delhi Water Minister Atishi said on Saturday that the AAP government again urged the state of Haryana to release additional water on humanitarian grounds amid the increasing water crisis in the national capital during the prevailing heatwave conditions.

Addressing a press conference here, Atishi said that water production in Delhi has fallen by 70 million gallons per day (MGD). She mentioned that all seven water treatment plants, fed by the Munak canal, are producing less water. Delhi has made a humanitarian appeal to Haryana, urging the state to release some additional water for Delhi. Delhi government officers have also talked to Haryana Government officers, and in all probability, a delegation of senior officers of Delhi will travel to Chandigarh and meet Haryana officers, she said.

#WATCH | Delhi Water Minister Atishi says,  In yesterdays Upper Yamuna River Board meeting, Himachal Pradesh has reiterated, that it is ready to provide water to Delhi Himachal Pradesh has clarified that out of its share of the Upper Yamuna water, it has 130 cusec surplus pic.twitter.com/QvqVL9rc2k ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2024

Atishi stressed that Himachal Pradesh has reaffirmed its readiness to supply water to Delhi amid the crisis. She said that Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu assured full support in addressing Delhis water needs. This comes as AAP MLAs have written a letter to Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Paatil urging his intervention to solve the water crisis faced by the national capital.

Calling the situation very critical, AAPs chief whip in the Delhi Assembly Dilip Pandey on Saturday said the Yamuna water issue was an inter-state issue that required coordination of the Jal Shakti Ministry. Pandey said that in the letter from the AAP MLAs, time has been sought to meet the minister for a discussion on the matter.

Amidst Delhis water crisis, Chief Whip @dilipkpandey writes to Union Minister for Jal Shakti C.R. Paatil, seeking intervention and coordination with North Indian states to provide more water to Delhi, and requests a meeting on behalf of Delhis MLAs. pic.twitter.com/dRxAcjn4XM AAP (@AamAadmiParty) June 15, 2024

The AAP leader also said that instead of indulging in politics, all parties should work for a solution to resolve the water crisis and provide respite to the people of Delhi. The entire matter is related to intervene state coordination and without Centres intervention no solution will come out, Pandey told a press conference.

The ruling AAP has accused the BJP-ruled Haryana of stopping Delhis share of Yamuna Water. Delhis Water Minister Atishi has claimed that water production in the city has gone down because of the adequate availability of raw water from Yamuna. Pandey too accused the BJP government of indulging in politics over the issue. He said that illegal sand mining in the river in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh was obstructing flow of water through tiny dams.

Amid a water crisis in the national capital, the Delhi Congress held matka phod protests across the city on Saturday with its members smashing earthen pots to the ground. The protests began around 10 am in all 280 blocks in Delhi. Carrying earthen pots on their heads and Congress flags, the protesters raised slogans against the Delhi government and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Later, they threw the pots on the ground. Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav, who also joined the protests, demanded a special session of the assembly to discuss the issue. He had alleged on Friday that the Delhi government had not taken effective steps to address the water shortage in the city due to which, people had to run after water tankers.

(With agency inputs)
West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose on Friday evening issued a statement demanding the immediate replacement of Kolkata Police personnel posted on duty at the Raj Bhavan.

The Governor issued the statement in the wake of allegations that the city police personnel posted at the Raj Bhavan were not allowing the victims of post-poll violence in the state to meet him and update him about their grievances.

Earlier on Thursday, when the leader of opposition in the state Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, tried to enter the Raj Bhavan along with some of the victims of post-poll violence, they were denied entry by the police posted there citing Section 144 that has been imposed around the Raj Bhavan.

In his statement, the Governor also claimed that he will not meet the state minister in-charge of the police department unless the victims of post-poll violence are allowed to meet him.

Incidentally, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who also holds the Home portfolio, is in charge of the state police department.

Bose also claimed that he has urged the state administration to take all necessary steps to ensure that the post-poll violence is brought under control in the state.
A professor at a Madhya Pradesh college was left seriously injured after the alleged assault by some of his former students with sticks and chilli powder inside the campus, the police said.

The incident took place in the Government Jaywanti Haksar (JH) College on Friday afternoon by a former student and his associates. An attempt to murder case has been registered and efforts are on to nab the accused, Betul Superintendent of Police Nischal Jharia said.

The victim has been identified as Neeraj Dhakad, who is employed as an assistant professor at the Government Jaywanti Haksar (JH) College. After the assault, he has been referred to Bhopal for advanced treatment as his condition is serious.

As far as the assault goes, eyewitnesses suggested one of the accused, Annu Thakur, and 5-7 of his associates allegedly threw chilli powder into the eyes of Dhakad and then beat him with rods till he fell unconscious.

Nobody came to the victims rescue and he was rushed to a nearby hospital after the accused left, college sources told PTI.

A CCTV footage of the incident also emerged showing the accused with their faces covered and carrying sticks while approaching Dhakads room.

Kotwali police station in-charge Devkaran Deharia said a case had been registered against Annu Thakur and his associates, adding they would be arrested soon.

In his complaint, Dhakad said he was sitting in the Sanskrit department when five youths came, threw chilli powder in his eyes and rained at least 10 blows on his head with rods, apart from fracturing his hands and legs, a police official informed.

JH College Janbhagidari Samiti president Ghanshyam Madaan claimed the accused were not students of the college.

I was informed that 5-6 persons have attacked the professor and hit him with rods. They tried to kill him. Though the cause behind the assault is not clear, someone told me that sometime back a few students were trying to run away after snatching his seal and manhandling him. He prevented them from doing so, Madaan was quoted as saying by PTI.

(With PTI inputs)
Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said on Saturday that he plans to appear for a court inquiry next week following a stay order on an arrest warrant issued against him in a POCSO case.

On Friday, the Karnataka High Court restrained the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) from arresting Yediyurappa in connection with a POCSO case registered against him. It also directed the veteran BJP leader to appear before the CID, which is probing the case, on June 17.

#WATCH | Bengaluru: On a non-bailable warrant issued against him in a POCSO case, former Karnataka CM and senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa says, There was some important work thats why I had gone to Delhi. I told the concerned people that I would return on the 17th Everyone pic.twitter.com/wVSpe5Ex4R ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2024

Speaking after his return from Delhi, Yediyurappa said that he had already communicated his intention to cooperate with the inquiry scheduled for June 17. He expressed frustration over what he described as unnecessary confusion in the matter.

A Bengaluru court on Thursday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Yediyurappa in the case registered against him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on March 14 this year. The Special Investigation Team of the CID had moved the First Fast Track Court seeking an arrest warrant against him since he failed to appear for questioning on Wednesday. Yediyurappa had sought time to join the probe.

According to reports, the veteran BJP leader has gone to an undisclosed location in New Delhi. According to police, Yediyurappa has been booked under the POCSO Act and Section 354 A (Sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) based on a complaint by the mother of a 17-year-old girl who alleged that he molested her daughter during a meeting on February two this year, at his residence in Dollars Colony here.

Yediyurappa, who has denied the charge and said he would fight the case legally, had filed two separate petitions in the High Court, seeking anticipatory bail and quashing of the FIR. The High Court, which adjourned the hearing for two weeks, during the hearing observed that the 81-year-old Yediyurappa is now in the sunset of his life and it is not appropriate to arrest him.

Noting that Yediyurappa had sent a letter to the police volunteering to appear for inquiry on July 17, Justice Krishna S Dixit said, the court cannot jump to the conclusion that a case is made out for arrest or detention or for custodial interrogation of the petitioner who happens to be the former Chief Minister of the state and in the late evening of his life with ailments natural to that age. Senior Advocate C V Nagesh appeared for Yediyurappa and argued that the latter had been served notice under 41 (a) of CrPC and, hence, there was no requirement for his arrest.

Nagesh also cited Supreme Court verdicts and requested the court to grant anticipatory bail. On behalf of the Government, Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty appeared and tried to convince the court by saying Yediyurappa skipped two notices served by SIT. Shetty also said that an arrest warrant was necessary since Yediyurappa is not in Karnataka, adding that without a warrant other state police would not support them to take the accused into custody. Nagesh countered this by arguing that Yediyurappa had already appeared for questioning, given his voice sample and completely cooperated with the police.

(With agency inputs)
The Bombay High Court has directed the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) to consider a fresh plea seeking permission to slaughter animals during the Bakri Eid festival.

The court on Friday directed the corporation to decide by noon on June 16.

The MBMCs animal husbandry department on June 10 cancelled the temporary permission awarded to slaughter sacrificial animals during the festival.

The civic body revoked its June 5 order permitting slaughter after considering the local polices contention that it could lead to a law and order problem in the area.

Following this, the petitioner, Rizwan Khan, approached the high court seeking a stay on the civic bodys decision to cancel permission for slaughter.

A division bench of Justices Shyam Chandak and Revati Dere noted that the simpliciter law and order problem cannot be grounds for cancelling permission, which the corporation had granted on June 5.

However, during the arguments, we noted that the permission had not been granted strictly by certain acts/rules, and in particular, section 6 of the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, 1976 and Rules, 1978, the court said.

Considering the urgency of the matter, the bench directed the petitioner to file a fresh application before the civic body seeking permission to slaughter buffaloes at a designated place.

If such an application is made, having regard to the urgency, the concerned competent authority to decide the application/permission for the slaughter of buffaloes expeditiously and in any event on or before June 16, 2024, it said.

The bench directed the MBMC to consider all the acts/rules about animal slaughter, including provisions of the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, 1976.

The court said the decision has to be taken by noon on June 16, and the petitioner should be informed about it on the very same day before 2 pm.
A major fire broke out at a building in the Manipur secretariat complex near Chief Minister N Biren Singhs official bungalow here on Saturday evening, police said.

At least three fire tenders were pressed into the service to douse the blaze.

The reason for the fire is yet to be ascertained, an official said.
At least two women were killed after the wall of a three-storey house collapsed in a slum in the Antop Hill area of Mumbais Wadala on Friday. The incident occurred in Punjab Galli of Vijay Nagar slums at around 9:30 pm, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Disaster Control said.

A wall portion of the second and third floor of the ground plus upper three-floor hutment partially collapsed. Some of it is hanging precariously, an official said.

#WATCH | Maharashtra: Visuals of the house that collapsed in Vijay Nagar located in the Antop Hill area of Mumbai.According to the BMC, 2 people had died in the incident https://t.co/vx6LoTOLVG pic.twitter.com/NuwrZls5MW  ANI (@ANI) June 14, 2024

The Mumbai Fire Brigade rushed a team there and pulled out two persons from the debris.

Two women, identified as Shobadevi Mourya (45) and Zakirunissa Shaikh (50), were rushed to Sion Hospital where doctors declared them dead on arrival, the official said.

The work of clearing the rubble is underway and there are no details of any more victims in the tragedy.

Heavy rain lashed parts of Mumbai on Friday as Monsoon arrived earlier than predicted in Maharastra.

(With inputs from agencies)
The brother-in-law of newly elected Mumbai North West Lok Sabha MP Ravindra Waikar has been booked for allegedly using a mobile phone at a counting centre on June 4, when results of the general elections were announced, a police official said on Saturday.

The Vanrai police station official said the case against Mangesh Pandilkar was registered on Wednesday for his alleged act inside a counting centre in Goregaon, which is part of Waikars constituency.

Pandilkar was booked on the complaint of polling personnel Dinesh Gurav. An independent candidate noticed the former using a mobile phone despite a ban on such devices at the counting centre and alerted the returning officer. The RO in turn approached Vanrai police, he said.

Pandilkar has been booked under Indian Penal Code section 188 (disobeying official order), the official added.
A selfie and short clip of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni at the G7 summit in Italys Apulia are making waves online. Both the picture and the five-second video of the duo, famously known as Melodi, were posted by the Italian PM on Friday on her social media handles.

Long live India-Italy friendship, PM Modi wrote in response to Melonis post on X. The latest selfie marks their second notable photo together, following last years snapshot at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, which took the internet by storm. Meloni had captioned that photo Good friends at COP28. #Melodi. The moniker Melodi has since stuck.

READ MORE: In G7 Power Corridors, PM Modi Meets Biden, Trudeau, Meloni, Pope, Zelenskyy And Others In Diplomacy Blitz | Photos

READ MORE: Italian PM Meloni Greets PM Modi With Traditional Namaste As He Arrives At G7 Venue | Watch

This comes as PM Modi was in southern Italy for a day upon Melonis invitation for the G7 Outreach summit, marking his first foreign trip since beginning his third consecutive term. The bilateral talks and the viral selfie underline the diplomatic ties between India and Italy amid global engagements at the G7.

On the sidelines of the summit, Modi engaged in bilateral talks with Meloni, where she congratulated him on his electoral victory. According to the External Affairs Ministery, Modi expressed gratitude for the invitation and praised the summits successful conclusion.

During their bilateral meeting, Meloni congratulated PM for his third consecutive term as Prime Minister. PM Modi thanked PM Meloni for the invitation to participate in the G7 Outreach Summit and conveyed his appreciation for the successful conclusion of the Summit. The two leaders noted with satisfaction the regular higher political dialogue and reviewed the progress of the India-Italy Strategic Partnership. The two sides discussed bilateral defence and security cooperation and hoped to enhance the defence-industrial collaboration.

Had a very good meeting with PM @GiorgiaMeloni. Thanked her for inviting India to be a part of the G7 Summit and for the wonderful arrangements. We discussed ways to further cement India-Italy relations in areas like commerce, energy, defence, telecom and more. Our nations will pic.twitter.com/PAe6sdNRO9 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 14, 2024

They welcomed the forthcoming visit of the Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour and training ship ITS Vespucci to India later this year. PM Modi thanked the Italian Government for recognizing the Indian Armys contribution to the Italian Campaign during WW-II and informed that India will be upgrading the Yashwant Ghadge Memorial at Montone in Italy.
Months after the Pune police recovered mephedrone worth over Rs 3,600 crore, considered one of the biggest drug busts in the country, the investigation into the case was transferred to the Narcotics Control Bureau on Saturday, an official said.

It is a part of the process. We received consent from the central and state governments. After necessary permission from the court, Pune police have handed over the investigation to the NCB, said a senior crime branch official.

NCB is the apex coordinating body concerning drugs that also functions as an enforcement agency through its zones and sub-zones. NCB officials work closely with the Customs, state police and other law enforcement units.

According to the Pune police, they seized February 1,836 kg of mephedrone, commonly known as Meow Meow, worth Rs 3,672 crore from Maharashtra, Delhi and other parts of the country and uncovered an international narcotics trade link. The drug was produced in various cities.

Those involved in the racket had roped in a Delhi-based courier company and shipped some consignments of the drug to London, concealed in ready-to-eat food packets, police had said earlier, police had said earlier.

A large quantity of the contraband had been stored in a godown-like structure in Kupwad town of Sangli district in Western Maharashtra.

Mephedrone is a synthetic stimulant often associated with the rave party culture for its euphoric effects and is mostly abused by youngsters.

Nine persons have been arrested over the drug bust so far. It has been alleged that the mastermind of the mephedrone syndicate is one Sundip Dhunay, a British national of Indian origin. A red corner notice through Interpol has been issued against him, said officials.
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi slated to visit J&K and with the Amarnath Yatra coming up as well, central agencies, security forces and local administration are focused on ensuring comprehensive security measures following big spike in threats from terror groups and intelligence inputs indicating potential attacks in the Union Territory. These security measures are also important from the viewpoint of Assembly elections likely to be held after analysing the situation following the completion of the Amarnath Yatra.

While a security review meeting is scheduled on Sunday to be chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, sources say additional forces are likely to be deployed for the series of events lined up in J&K.

Forces were sent from Ranikhet, Guwahati, Patna and Lucknow among other locations to Jammu and Kashmir for the Amarnath Yatra earlier this month. Sources said central police forces have been stationed in J&K already, but after the recent spate of attacks, senior officials feel the requirement of more forces.

Sources added that as the focus area would be Jammu, forces there will get additional bulletproof vehicles for movement. The CRPF, which is deployed in J&K to assist local police, may utilise specialised Anti-Terror Quick Action teams in Jammu.

A top-level official supervising the operations told News18 that threat messages purportedly from different terror groups have now doubled in various social media groups. Central intelligence agencies have deployed a senior-level official who recently visited J&K to look after input generation.

We are seeing almost double the number of inputs since the June 9 Reasi attack in which nine civilians were killed in a bus. Forces are coordinating with intelligence agencies to act on inputs suggesting hideouts of terrorists, a senior government official said.

Similarly, a CRPF official deployed in J&K said multiple threat messages have been floating around. Camp attacks, fidayeen (suicide) attack, ambush, civilian killings  all type of threats are floating around ahead of three big events (PMs visit, Amarnath Yatra, elections). We are tracking these threats to know the authenticity so that corrective measures can be taken before any incident, the official said.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Friday reviewed J&K security in a meeting with senior officers of the MHA, official said.

The Home Minister also gave direction to call a meeting on June 16 in North Block to review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and preparation for Amarnath Yatra. L-G of Jammu & Kashmir, NSA, Union Home Secretary, senior officers from Army, police, J&K administration and the MHA will attend the meeting.

Three terror attacks have unfolded in J&K within 72 hours. Terrorists attacked a village near the international border on Tuesday evening, injuring a civilian. During a subsequent search operation, one terrorist was killed, while efforts were being made to flush out the other holed-up terrorist believed to have infiltrated from across the border.

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. In the firing, the bus plunged into a deep gorge, causing nine fatalities and injuring 41 others.
At least fourteen people lost their lives and twelve others sustained injuries after a tempo traveller veered off the Rishikesh-Badrinath Highway and fell into a deep gorge near Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand. The tragic incident happened near the Alakananda River.

Garhwal Inspector General of Police KS Nagnyal stated that the victims were tourists heading to Chopta in Uttarakhand. He confirmed that the vehicle was carrying 26 passengers, mostly residents of Delhi.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami informed that the injured have been rushed to the nearest medical center for treatment.

Expressing deep concern over the accident, Dhami directed the district magistrate to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.

Received very sad news of a tempo traveller accident in Rudraprayag district. Local administration and SDRF teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations. The injured have been sent to the nearest medical center for treatment. The district magistrate has been ordered to investigate the incident Dhami said in a social media post on X.

PM Announces Ex-Gratia Of Rs. 2 Lakh For Victims Families

The Prime Minister announced that an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from the Prime Ministers National Relief Fund would be given to the next of kin of each deceased, and Rs. 50,000 would be given to the injured.

An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM, the Prime Ministers office shared on X.

An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM @narendramodi https://t.co/LHdaTBVZBr PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 15, 2024

Union Home Minister also shared, My condolences are with the families of those who lost their lives in this accident. The local administration and SDRF teams are engaged in relief and rescue work and all possible help is being provided to the injured. I pray to God for the speedy recovery of the injured.

        :                    SDRF                         Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 15, 2024

This comes days after three women were killed after a bus fell into a gorge near Gangnani on the Gangotri National Highway in Uttarakhand.
World Wind Day is an important event for raising awareness about wind energy and its diverse uses. This particular day serves as a reminder of wind powers enormous potential and importance in combating climate change and supporting sustainable energy options. This special day is observed around the globe on June 15 every year.

While we are dealing with the negative effects of global warming, carbon emissions and greenhouse gases, humanity must take steps towards more sustainable energy options. The goal of the day is to increase awareness about the various uses of wind energy, as well as how it can change and redefine existing energy systems.

World Wind Day, which focuses on renewable energy sources, emphasises the necessity of harnessing wind power for a better and more sustainable future.

World Wind Day 2024: Theme

The World Wind Day theme aims to raise awareness of wind energys potential to change the world while simultaneously celebrating the benefits of this renewable resource.

Furthermore, the objective of the day is to educate and engage individuals, communities, and organisations about wind energys benefits, such as its capacity to cut greenhouse gas emissions, combat climate change, and create a cleaner, greener future.

World Wind Day 2024: History

The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) hosted the first Wind Day in 2007, ushering in this historic event. However, in 2009, the EWEA collaborated with the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) to develop Wind Day into a global celebration, broadening its reach and effect around the world.

These organisations expanded on the concept in 2012 by sponsoring a fascinating photo competition. The competition was centred on two appealing themes: The Wind in Mind and Future Wind. The major goal of this competition was to motivate people from all around the world to shoot and submit their most amazing wind-related photos.

EWEA and GWEC hoped to highlight the beauty, potential and relevance of wind energy through striking visual depictions by encouraging participants in the competition.

World Wind Day 2024: Significance

Wind energy is vital for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Countries that use wind power can dramatically lower their carbon footprints and move closer to meeting their climate change targets. Wind power presents an opportunity for countries to diversify their energy sources and lessen their reliance on imported fossil fuels. It improves energy security by utilising both domestic and renewable resources.

Wind energy helps to promote the transition to cleaner and greener economies, which aids in sustainable development. It promotes employment creation, technical innovation, and environmental stewardship for future generations.

World Wind Day 2024: How To Celebrate
Television actor Pankit Thakker has revealed that he was in Jammu when the Resai terror attack took place. The actor shared that he was supposed to start walking towards the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra. However, when he heard about the incident, he returned to his hotel. The attack, which targeted a bus carrying pilgrims to the Shiv Khori temple, left ten dead and several others injured earlier this week.

Pankit called the incident horrifying and told ETimes, It took me days to come out from the experience and talk about it. I have seen people in pain and the rush. It was scary. I am deeply saddened and outraged by the recent terror attack in Jammu Reasi. The violence that has been going on in Jammu & Kashmir in past few days is absolutely shameful. It is disheartening to witness innocent lives being lost and the escalating tensions in the region.

He further condemned the terror attack and urged people to stay united in order to send out a strong message to these terror groups. My heart goes out to all the victims and their families who have been affected by this brutal attack. It is devastating to think that peoples lives are being torn apart by such acts of violence. Jammu & Kashmir has always been a land of unparalleled beauty, but these incidents tarnish its reputation and disturb the peace that the region yearns for. Attack in Jammu Reasi is yet another reminder that we must stand united against such acts of cowardice and evil, the actor added.

Pankit, who was recently seen in Barsatein, further urged the authorities to strengthen security measures and concluded by saying, I wholeheartedly condemn this act of terrorism and call upon the authorities to take swift and decisive action in bringing the culprits to justice. We need to strengthen our security measures and ensure that such attacks do not recur in the future. The safety and security of our citizens should be our utmost priority. I empathize with the people of Jammu & Kashmir and to all those affected by this terror attack.

For the unversed, 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.

Several television actors including Abhishek Kumar, Kapil Sharma, Hina Khan, Rupali Ganguly and Ali Goni among others also expressed concern and paid tributes to those who lost their lives.
Amidst the ongoing turbulence in the relationship between Dalljiet Kaur and her estranged husband Nikhil Patel, the couple has consistently made headlines. Dalljiets social media posts have been rife with accusations of infidelity against Nikhil, while he has publicly acknowledged the end of their relationship and has also issued a legal notice to her.

Though Dalljiet has refrained from making an official statement concerning the rumored separation, fresh reports indicate that she has now taken legal action against Nikhil Patel. The stay order filed by Dalljiet prevents Nikhil from forcing her to leave their shared residence or disposing of her belongings. This development has created a significant buzz online today.

In a show of solidarity, actress Karishma Tanna took to Instagram to express her unwavering support for Dalljiet. Sharing the news on her Instagram story, Karishma called out Nikhil for his alleged wrongdoing and reassured Dalljiet of her steadfast loyalty. She wrote, Whatever happened shouldnt have happened. My full support is with my dearest friend @kaurdalljiet. This man has done wrong to her and I will stand by her till the end. Strong women do not seek revenge. They move on and allow karma to do the work!! Reposting Karishma Tannas supportive message on her Instagram Stories, Dalljiet Kaur expressed her gratitude towards the actress. She wrote, One day as it comes, KT. Thank you!

Amid Dalljiet Kaurs cryptic posts on her Instagram, Nikhil Patel gave an interview to ETimes, offering his perspective on the situation. He clarified that their marriage, conducted according to Hindu rituals, held cultural but not legal significance. Nikhil further explained that Dalljiet struggled with his lifestyle in Kenya, leading to numerous cultural clashes that strained their relationship. He noted that Dalljiets return to India marked the end of their marriage.

Previously, Dalljiet had shared a screenshot of one of Nikhils gym posts in her Instagram Stories, pointing out the initials SN visible in the photo. She juxtaposed this with other images featuring the same initials, questioning Nikhils openness on social media just eight months after she and their son had moved back to India. Dalljiet urged Nikhil to maintain some dignity on behalf of her and their children.
Television actress Dalljiet Kaur has moved to Nairobi City court in Kenya against her estranged husband Nikhil Patel. Reportedly, the actress has received a stay order from the court to prevent Patel from evicting her and her son from their home in Kenya.

As per the document obtained by Hindustan Times, the legal notice against Patel was issued by Milimani Court in Nairobi City, Kenya on June 11, 2024. Pending the hearing and final determination of this application, an injunction is hereby issued restraining the Respondent (Patel), his agents, employees and/or servants from evicting the Petitioner/Applicant (Kaur) and her child (Jaydon) and/or throwing out and/or whatsoever dealing with the personal effects and belongings of the Petitioner/Applicant in her matrimonial home (in Kenya), the notice read.

Earlier this month, Nikhil 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.

Rumours of Dalljiet and Nikhils separation first made headlines in February this year i.e. after 10 months of their wedding. It all started after the actress left everyone shocked by deleting all her wedding pictures from her Instagram handle. Not just this, she also dropped Patel from her name. Later, she also accused Nikhil of an extramarital affair.

Nikhil confirmed their separation in May this year when he told E-Times, 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 realized that the foundation of our blended family wasnt 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.

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, he added.

Dalljiet was recently in Kenya. However, the reason for her visit to the East African country isnt known.

This was Dalljiet Kaurs second marriage. She 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, it has now been revealed that Darshans fan died of shock and haemorrhage. As reported by NDTV, the autopsy report found 15 wounds on his body including marks on the head, abdomen, chest and other parts. It also suggested that Renuka Swamys head rammed a mini truck which was parked in a shed in Bengaluru and has now been seized by the police.

Previously, Karnataka police officials also claimed that Renuka Swamy was beaten with sticks by Darshan and his aides, who then allegedly threw him against the wall, which led to his death. It was Pavithra who instigated Darshan to punish Renukaswamy. Accordingly, the plan was hatched, sources said.

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. Reportedly, 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.

Darshan was arrested by the Bengaluru police from Mysuru on June 11 following which he was sent to 6-day police custody. His connection to the Renuka Swamy murder is being probed.

On Friday, police sources revealed that a series of evidences including wooden clubs and iron rods with which Kannada actor Darshan and his aides allegedly assaulted Swamy were found. Besides this, a rope which was allegedly used to tie Renuka Swamy was also found. The car, which was allegedly used to abduct Renukaswamy from Chitradurga to Bengaluru was also seized. Another car which was allegedly used to transport Renukaswamys body was been recovered.

15 people have been arrested in the case so far including Darshan and his close actress-friend Pavithra. Recently, Darshans co-star Pradosh and close aide Nagaraj were also arrested. Police sources claim that Nagaraj was looking after all the dealings of Darshan. He was reportedly also looking after Darshans farmhouse in Mysuru and was on the run ever since police arrested the actor earlier this week. Meanwhile, details about Pradoshs connection to the murder case are not known as of now.
Fardeen Khan is back and receiving praise for his big OTT debut. After nearly 14 years, he returned to the screens with Heeramandi. In a recent chat, Fardeen said that he regrets leaving the industry despite getting offers until a decade ago. He moved away from Mumbai, prompting filmmakers to think he wasnt interested in acting.

I kind of just completely took off. I used to come back to Mumbai every few months, but I pretty much just took off. Yes, there were offers at the time, all the way till 2014-15, but after that, people assumed that Ive moved out of the country. Thats a perception Im still trying to change. I live in India, Im based out of here now, this is home. But that was the perception before, and rightly so because I wasnt around, he told Pinkvilla.

He continued, There were offers up to a certain point, but then I put on a lot of weight and that was a signal to people that, Hey, hes obviously not interested. Most certainly I regret taking such a long break of 12 years. Its a big, big regret. It wasnt planned but I wish the gap was shorter, by at least 6-7 years. I needed some time off after I lost my father and for my personal reasons also.

When he returned to India, Fardeen Khan reached out to his former colleagues to kickstart his career again. He stayed in touch with Salman Khan, his co-star from No Entry. Sanjay Gupta offered me a film in our second meeting! It was scary when I came back, I felt like a newcomer all over again. It feels good that people havent forgotten you, people still want to see your work. Salman Ive been in touch with pretty much throughout. I met Mukesh Chhabra also. Im trying to convince people now that Im here and ready to work, he added.

After starring in Heeramandi, Fardeen Khan will star in the comedy Khel Khel Mein with Akshay Kumar and Taapsee Pannu, set for release on Independence Day weekend. He is also slated to feature in Visfot, a horror drama backed by Sanjay Gupta and T-Series, based on the Venezuelan movie Rock, Paper and Scissors from 2012.
Dr. Shriram Nene, Madhuri Dixits husband, recently talked about their marriage and its impact on health. He shared that life in America was different due to its anonymity and independence, whereas India has strong cultural ties. On marrying a celebrity, Nene said that he saw her as his wife and partner, not a celebrity.

In a conversation with Ranveer Allahbadia, he was asked about his life in America before marrying the Bollywood superstar. He said that in America, he had anonymity, independence, and a self-driven life. In India, there is a strong cultural presence and many ties, which makes it different. On being asked what it was like to marry a celebrity, Nene said, I dont know her like that. She is my wife and partner, and my encouragement to people is be what you always wanted to be and support the people with you. We are partners in a marriage where we look out for each other forever. If you develop that kind of relationship, it doesnt matter what they did. I never knew her past history and she never knew mine. We came from very different worlds yet similar. Like sub-region Maharashtra, same kind of language and background. Neither of us thought that this would happen. I would say this is the most amazing thing in my life.

He went on to add, It doesnt matter what you do for a living when you find your soulmate. At the end of day, what matters is your relationship and the fun that you have together.

He also discussed the challenges he faced in his marriage. Our main challenge is anonymity. We just wanted to put our pants in one leg at a time and behave like normal people. The luckiest thing is we both enjoy that. We are very grateful for everything. Praising wife Madhuri, he said that she is very down to earth and treats everyone, including her fans, with respect. We try to be good people. And I think, that should be the mantra for all of us. That will lead us to a better society. My kids have adopted it which I am charmed by to death, he added.
Sai Dharam Tej and Allu Arjun fans were left shocked recently when the rumours of their rift made headlines. It all started after Sai unfollowed the Pushpa star on Instagram. Now, their cousin Niharika Konidela has reacted to the reports of the alleged rift, saying if Sai has unfollowed Allu Arjun, he must have had his reasons.

Recently, Niharika Konidela was promoting her upcoming production Committee Kurrollu in Hyderabad when a reporter told her that Sai had unfollowed Allu on Instagram and asked if everything was not okay between the two. Niharika shared that she had no idea about it and said, Genuinely, I didnt know about this till you just told me. Im sorry, Im not aware of it. But, whatever it is, Im sure they have their own reasons, she added.

Why Did Sai Dharam Tej Unfollow Allu Arjun?

Earlier this week, a family source told Hindustan Times 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. However, both the actors teams have not reacted to the rift rumours as of now.

Allu Arjun has also been absent ever since Pawan Kalyans Jana Sena Party (JSP) won the Lok Sabha 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. However, before the elections, Allu had tweeted in support of his uncle Pawan but later went to Nandhyal to support YSRCP constituency candidate S Ravi Chandra Kishore Reddy.

Meanwhile, it is worth noting that Allu Arjun has also never followed anyone on X (formerly known as Twitter) and only follows his wife, Sneha Reddy, on Instagram.

How Is Allu Arjun Related To Sai Dharam Tej?

Allu Arjun is a son of Allu Aravind and a grandson of Allu Ramalingaiah, who was one of the most famous actors and producers in the Telugu film industry. On the other hand, Sai Dharam Tej is the son of Cheranjeevis sister, Vijaya Durga. Chiranjeevi (Sai Dharam Tejs uncle) is the son-in-law of Allu Arjuns grandfather, Allu Ramalingaiah. Therefore, Allu Arjun and Sai Dharam Tej are cousins.
Anil Kapoor starrer political thriller drama Nayak is one of the cult films. The film also starrer Rani Mukerji in the lead role. However, reportedly makers are planning Nayak 2 with the same actors in the lead. But did you know that Anil Kapoor was not the first choice? Yes, you are reading right. Shah Rukh Khan was first offered. He had signed also but then due to creative differences he did not work.

In an old interview with Rediff, Shah Rukh Khan revealed he had signed Nayak and took only one rupee as the signing amount. Did he (Shankar) also tell you that I signed for him and took a signing amount? You know how much? One rupee. I took one rupee from him. And told him I would give him dates in bulk whenever he wanted them, he said.

The superstar said he saw the Tamil original and loved it and then explained the reason why he still didnt do the Hindi remake. But I was not comfortable about doing the Hindi version. I told Shankar that in Tamil, that whole chief minister for a day thing worked brilliantly, but I did not think it was such a big issue in North India. I didnt think the concept would work as it is. So, on that project we had some issues  nothing major, just that we didnt think alike on a few things, so it did not make sense to do it. Nayak was released in 2001 and was directed by S.Shankar.

The latest report claims that Siddharth Anand is all set to make a sequel of the film with Milan Luthria as the director.

Nayak 2 will be produced by Siddharth and Mamta Anand under their banner, Marflix Pictures. Much like the original film, this one too is a big-scale commercial entertainer set against the backdrop of politics and will be directed by Milan Luthria. The makers have cracked a plot that organically leads itself towards Nayak sequel and has a strong undercurrent of being a vigilante flick, a source close to the development told Pinkvilla.

Nayak, a political thriller, was a remake of director Shankars own Tamil movie Mudhalvan. The film found its true audience when it became a fixture on television, being telecast repeatedly for several years after its release. Alongside Anil Kapoor and Rani Mukerji, the film also starred Amrish Puri, Paresh Rawal, and Johnny Lever.
Shahid Kapoor woke up and decided to treat his fans with a captivating post today. He added a drool-worthy picture to his timeline attached along with a short caption. Flaunting his killer looks, the actor posed for a selfie making our hearts skip a beat and we are not complaining. Along with the picture, the Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya actor wrote, Good morning.

The picture captured Shahid Kapoor in a clean look with short hair. Sporting a comfy style, the Padmaavat actor dressed in a black vest top and elevated his look with tinted sunglasses. On his way to somewhere, the actor was seemingly seated inside his car when he captured the selfie.

Besides being a Bollywood star, Shahid Kapoor is a devoted husband and proud parent of two kids. As his wife Mira Rajput recently took a significant step into the entrepreneurial world and launched her skincare brand, the actor immediately dropped a wholesome post to extend love and support to her.

In a heartwarming message, he wrote, Truly you are one of AKIND. I am so proud of you baby. You have worked tirelessly and with quiet belief and today the dream has come true. I cant express in words how proud I am of you. Waiting for my hamper so I can pamper me. You have always told me what products to use for my skin so not much has changed. The write-up was attached to a set of pictures featuring Mira posing against the backdrop of what seems to be her newly launched store.

Work-wise, the Haider actor last made his big screen appearance with Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya alongside Kriti Sanon. The romantic drama directed by debut directors Amit Joshi and Aradhana Sah was released earlier this year in February. Later, the film was released on the OTT platform Amazon Prime Video.

Next up for Shahid Kapoor is Deva. It is directed by Rosshan Andrews and stars Pooja Hegde, Pavail Gulati, Kubbra Sait, Abhilash Chaudhary, and Pravesh Rana in key roles. The action thriller follows the story of a brilliant and rebellious police officer investigating a high-profile case. The film is slated to release on October 11 this year.
Sushant Singh Rajputs sister Shweta Singh Kirti reveals she broke down on Friday (June 14) morning i.e. on her brothers fourth death anniversary. She was speaking to Instant Bollywood when she opened up about delayed justice and mentioned that the family is still in pain. Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead in his Mumbai apartment on June 14, 2020. While some suspected it to be a case of death by suicide, others had alleged foul play. His sister has been fighting for justice ever since.

I have complaints because we have shown so much patience. In a way, we call a spiritual being Dheera. And we all kept demanding with so much patience. But its been 4 years and we havent found anything yet. So, there is pain. When I woke up this morning, I was crying the whole time. After getting up, I always meditate in the morning. But today, I was just crying, she said.

Earlier in the day, Shweta also kept a prayer meeting at her Mumbai residence for Sushant. She also took to her Instagram handle to pen down an emotional note and asked for justice for her brother. Shweta pleaded authorities to probe what happened on June 14, 2020, and shared that she feels like giving up now.

Bhai, it has been 4 years since you left us, and we still dont know what transpired on June 14, 2020. Your death remains a mystery. I feel helpless and have pleaded with the authorities countless times for the truth. Im losing my patience and feel like giving up. But today, for one last time, I want to ask everyone who can help with the case to put your hand on your heart and ask yourself: dont we deserve to know what happened to our brother Sushant? Why has it become a political agenda? Why cant it be as straightforward as stating what was found that day and what is believed to have happened? PLEASE, I am requesting and pleadinghelp us move forward as a family. Give us the closure we deserve, she wrote.

In another Instagram post, Shweta asked if SSR deserved this injustice and wrote, Someone who wore his heart on his sleevewas it a fault to be so pure and loving in this cruel world? Its been 4 years of injustice to Sushant. Does he deserve this?

In March this year, Shweta issued a video statement and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to look into the CBI probe regarding her actor-brothers death. In her statement, Shweta shared that its been 45 months since her brother passed away but they still do not have any update from the investigating agency. She argued that Prime Minister Modis help will not only fasten the probe but will also provide relief to howling hearts.
Reena Roy, once a successful leading actress in Bollywood, was known for her charming onscreen presence. She solidified her presence in Bollywood with her amazing acting prowess in films like Apnapan (1977) and Aasha (1980). Reena Roys film Aasha is widely remembered for its brilliant storyline, acting skills and the song Sheesha Ho Ya Dil Ho. The 67-year-old actress talked about the picturisation of this track in an old interview. Reena Roy can be heard saying, Aasha ka gaana hi itna acchha tha aur kuch gaane aise hote hain ki jinmein hum kuch na bhi karein phir bhi bohot acha lagta hain. (Aashas track was phenomenal. Some tracks become mesmerising even though the artists do nothing in that track)."

According to Reena Roy, the credit for the successful execution of this track goes to Om ji (director J Om Prakash). She then added that she copied the mannerisms of Lata Mangeshkar for this track. These mannerisms comprised the way the Nightingale of India used to cough in between the tracks recording.

Lata Mangeshkar rendered her vocals to this track, while the hit music duo of Laxmikant-Pyarelal composed the music. Anand Bakshi penned the lyrics.

Aasha starred an ensemble cast of actors Jeetendra, Rameshwari, Girish Karnad, Bhagwan Palav and others.

Reena Roy shared the screen again with Jeetendra in the 1993 film Aadmi Khilona Hai directed by J Om Prakash. This happened by fluke, as she was not the first choice for this film. As per the reports, director J Om Prakash had initially cast Dimple Kapadia for this project. She had reportedly even shot for a few scenes, but it is said that her demands soon went above the roof. This forced the late director to reconsider the decision. Ultimately, differences caused Dimple to opt out of the film.

As per reports, when Aadmi Khilona Hais pre-production work began, Reena Roy had returned from Pakistan after divorcing her husband. She wanted to be in films again and asked her friend Jeetendra to help her. Jeetendra informed director J Om Prakash and he decided to cast Reena Roy.
June 15 is the fourth anniversary of Chinas brazen aggression in Galwan. Since early May 2020, amidst the global Covid-19 pandemic, China has been strategically positioning its military along the Western Sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India. This escalation in tensions can be traced back to the rise of Xi Jinping to the presidency of China. Beginning with the 2013 Depsang Standoff, Chinese assertiveness has become a recurring theme along the border.

Similar incidents occurred in 2014 and 2015, and again in the eastern sector during the 2017 Doklam Standoff, which resulted in a two-month-long military confrontation between China and India. However, these tensions were ultimately mitigated through diplomatic efforts. In May 2020, tensions flared once more when China objected to an Indian road construction project linking to the Galwan Valley.

This aggressive stance by China resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers, including Colonel Santosh Babu of the Bihar Regiment. On the other hand, while China claims to have suffered four casualties, multiple international reports suggest substantial losses to the tune of 40 fatalities suffered by the PLA during the clash. The Galwan clash significantly strained India-China relations, casting doubt on Chinas purportedly peaceful rise and raising concerns about its intentions due to its unilateral attempts to alter the status quo by force. Presently, India-China relations stand at a critical juncture. With China violating numerous international agreements it is in the interest of India to call for significant diplomatic re-evaluation.

Major Areas of Contention

While China has constructed extensive infrastructure in Tibet along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), including border roads and villages, bolstered by a significant presence of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army, India has undertaken similar infrastructure development projects within its territory along the border. Among these developments, the Darbuk-Shyok-DBO Road stands out as particularly crucial.

This strategic route, close to the LAC, links the border areas directly to Leh, the capital of Ladakh, cutting travel time from two days to merely six hours. Notably, areas in and around the Galwan Valley had begun witnessing heightened Chinese belligerence since 2013 which ultimately led to the Galwan clash.

Results of the Clash

It appears that Chinas strategic aims through these confrontations were two-fold: firstly, to foster a hyper-nationalist sentiment domestically and internationally, thereby diverting attention from its mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic. Secondly, to challenge Indias sovereignty and hinder its infrastructure development.

This shift in strategy involved rejecting the longstanding consensus and attempts to enforce the 1959 line in eastern Ladakh, which India has consistently dismissed. China endeavoured to achieve this by establishing a spurious patrolling point, PP-14, in the Galwan area and also made incursions at Kugrang Nullah (PP-15), Gogra-Hot Springs (PP-17), and up to Finger Four on the northern banks of Pangong Tso Lake.

What Changed in Galwan?

India and China share 3,488 km of the Line of Actual Control, stretching from the Union Territory of Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh. China frequently releases maps that depict Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh as parts of its territory, despite lacking historical control over these regions.

Post 1962 War the normalisation of relations and border discussions between India and China had commenced after a decade-long hiatus during the 1980s. Since that time, over 50 rounds of border talks have been conducted. The process of normalising relations began in earnest in 1993 when both nations signed the Agreement on Maintenance of Peace and Tranquillity in Border Areas. This agreement, which bans the use of force and advocates for the peaceful resolution of disputes, served as the initial significant confidence-building measure between the two countries.

A subsequent agreement, the Agreement on Confidence Building Measures in the Military Field Along the Line of Actual Control, was signed in 1996. This agreement aimed to prevent unnecessary military build-up to avert potential incidents along the border. In 2002, the Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Border Management was established, setting up multiple communication mechanisms, including periodic flag meetings between military officers of both countries.

These agreements and diplomatic efforts proved futile when China engaged in hostilities against Indian troops at Galwan in 2020. In this confrontation, China breached three established international legal norms viz, Unilateral Attempts to Change the Status Quo, Use of Force and Failure to Communicate.

Post the clashes, India outrightly acknowledged the loss of its 20 soldiers, However, China initially denied any casualties but later conceded the deaths of four of its soldiers. However, the Australian news outlet, The Klaxon, reported that 42 PLA soldiers perished in the clash, a figure significantly higher than what China disclosed to the international community.

Conclusion

The Galwan aggression has instigated a period of uncertainty in the relationship between the two nuclear-armed nations. Despite this, China did not accomplish the strategic objectives it had envisaged through the attacks. The Galwan clash will endure as a stark reminder for China that the unwarranted use of force not only damages international relations but also irreparably undermines Chinas claim to being a responsible global power.

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.
The dramatic rescue of four hostages in Gaza by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has brought some very uncomfortable facts to the fore that those demonstrating in solidarity with Hamas do not want to face. As the American-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas teeters again on the precipice, it is important for everyone to understand what is really happening in Gaza, especially the role of innocent civilians in the battle.

Noa Agramani has been one of the most recognised faces among the 250 Israelis and other nationals abducted by Hamas terrorists and taken back to Gaza on October 7, 2023. Her rescue and subsequent testimony of life as a hostage has certainly put paid to the narrative that its a black-and-white situation, with Israeli soldiers turning helpless Palestinian people in Gaza into cannon fodder and Hamas being heroic freedom fighters.

It has emerged that Noa was held hostage in the house of a journalist and a doctornotably the two professions that have been at the forefront of the story about what is happening inside Gaza. Now it is clear that no one can be taken as impartial or as non-sympathisers of Hamas; from reporters to medical staff, many are hand in glove with the terrorists. That certainly puts a huge question mark on the veracity of their accounts of the war.

The Palestinian journalist Abdullah Al-Jamal, killed during the rescue operation, may have been just a contributor to a US-based Palestinian journal rather than an employee of Al-Jazeera as was initially alleged, but media organisations do have sources that supply information. Al-Jamal could be just one of many such willing non-combatants who supplied information to media outletsand helped Hamas by keeping hostages in his home.

Noa, 26, Almog Meir, 22, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41, were held captive in two apartments in the densely-populated Nuseirat refugee camp. Noa told family and friends after being rescued that she was made to do menial work for her captors. That her location remained unknown to Israelis for so long and she was even moved to several apartments undetected indicates sympathy for Hamas among the civilian population.

In the video circulated by the IDF of their rescue of the four Israelis in two simultaneous operations, its soldiers can be seen coming under heavy fire. Hamas put the death toll of this Israeli rescue mission at 274 and IDF averred it was under 100 Palestinian casualties but neither indicated the number of civilians and combatants. The level of gunfire, however, indicated a big Hamas presence in that supposedly residential location.

But that fact escaped the notice of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who expressed condemnation for what he claimed were the deaths of hundreds of Palestinian civilians, and the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called it a bloodbath. Surely Hamas keeping up a barrage of gunfire at the IDF rescue team meant it had no qualms about civilian Palestinians becoming collateral damage? More deaths, more protests?

This latest rescue sounds uncannily like a redux of what happened on 4 July 1976, although the reactions of the world to the actions of an Israeli commando team that day were markedly different from the tenor in international forums now. On that day, Israeli commandos had flown 4,000 km to rescue 106 of its nationals being held hostage by a Palestinian terror group and two German affiliates at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda.

They managed to bring back 102, three were killed during the operation and one was murdered while in hospital by Ugandan soldiers, whose leader Idi Amin supported the Palestinians. The only Israeli casualty that day was Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahus older brother Yonatan, the team leader. Netanyahus determination to rescue all Israelis still held aliveand recover the bodies of those killedis thus not hard to understand.

The Gaza operation was carried out by the Yamam counter-terrorism unit and the Shin Bet intelligence agency along with the IDF. Like the Entebbe rescue, this mission was also planned for weeks, after getting precise information on the hostages locations and the layout of the area. And like Yonatan Netanyahus death at Entebbe, this mission too unfortunately led to the fatal wounding of Yamams chief inspector Arnon Zmora.

The Yamam unit entered the two buildings at the same time but whereas Noa was extracted without a problem, the other operation resulted in a gun battle in which Zmora suffered fatal injuries. An IDF officer later said many Hamas fighters came outpossibly from the warren of tunnelsas the hostages were being extracted leading to the heavy exchanges heard and seen in the IDF video. So the targeted area was clearly not totally civilian.

What more proof does the world need to conclude Hamas is cynically stashing hostages amid civilian families knowing the potential danger of doing so. During the rescue operations, the collateral damage was high but that was because Hamas deliberately chose to keep the hostages in that residential area. Hamas also used heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades against the IDF, showing their disregard for civilians in combat zones.

The impartiality of doctors, reporters and other civilians in this new type of war is definitely questionable. That the hostages did not even think of escaping indicates that the civilians in the apartments and alleys around them were very much part of the Hamas cordon and would have prevented them from doing so. But international organisations and world leaders appear to be playing to the gallery and ignoring these unpleasant truths.

World reactions remain remarkably skewed, with some leaders calling this Israeli rescue effort a war crimewhile nominally criticising Hamas too, of course. As legal experts have pointed out, no international court or tribunal has ever considered prosecuting those who conduct hostage rescue missions. And yet there is a concerted effort to brand all Israeli actions illegal, via protests in many countries and pressures on political leaderships.

Current international law cannot address or redress wars between a terror group and a country. As more nations come under attack from terrorist outfitsIndia has long been a targetnew laws and codes of conduct must be formulated to deal with this, wherein the legitimate entity is not put on par with an illegal organisation and combatants are redefined. A nation has a sovereign right to defend its territory and citizens; terror groups do not.

The author is a freelance writer. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Four terror attacks in four days south of the Pir Panjal range in the Jammu division of the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir signal not just a shift in the centre of gravity and area of operation of terrorists, but also the strategic intent of their handlers and controllers sitting in Pakistan. That Jammu has seen a steady rise in incidents of terrorism since the constitutional reforms in J&K in 2019 is not exactly a new revelation.

With the security grid in the Kashmir valley being strengthened, the terrorists have shifted base to the Jammu division, where the terrain offers them some advantages, as also relatively easier ingress and egress routes to Pakistani-controlled areas of the UT. Given the mixed population in this region, it isnt very difficult to find local support, more so because the political neglect of this region has made the ground fertile for subversive activity.

Alarm bells should have started ringing in corridors of power in both Srinagar and New Delhi many years ago when the first stirrings of political alienation in this belt started manifesting themselves. But a combination of hubris and self-deception, plus some strategic expediency, created a situation which allowed terrorists to restart their activities in this area.

For close to two decades, Jammu had been largely untouched by the scourge of terrorism. There were a few minor incidents but nothing that suggested a revival of terrorism in the area. But the ambushes of military vehicles, attacks on Army camps and clashes with security personnel since 2021 should have been seen as fitting a pattern that suggested that terrorists were trying to make a comeback in the region. There was, however, a frog in a pot syndrome that seemed to plague the security assessment of events in Jammu.

Perhaps this was also the reason that the security presence in this area was thinned down and a division strength redeployed to beef up the presence along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on the Northern axis facing China. Although this did create gaps in the security grid, it wasnt seen as a problem because this was a safe area.

However, now that the heat has been turned up, and things are starting to become uncomfortable, there is a better appreciation that what is happening in Jammu is not an isolated incident but part of a larger, more sinister plan of the terrorists and their handlers. This is also clear from the fact that in Kashmir, terrorists from proxy groups like The Resistance Front or Peoples Anti-Fascist Front were not well-trained, disciplined, or battle-hardened killers. These were merely radicalised and Islamised young men who wanted to prove their machismo by gunning down unarmed, defenceless civilians.

The terrorists operating in Jammu are, however, much better trained. The kind of ambushes and attacks carried out suggest that along with experienced terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, there could also be Pakistani regulars or ex-servicemen (mostly from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir) who have pressed into service. These terrorists appear to be operating in small 2-3 men groups (probably including a local) and living off the land. They make good use of the terrain to hit and run, and operations to track them are more complicated and manpower-intensive than in the Kashmir valley.

But with force levels increasing in the area and operations intensifying, it is only a matter of time before most of these terrorists are eliminated. However, beyond the immediate threat of a spike in terrorism in Jammu, the larger question remains: what has led to this situation? After all, the entire UT experienced very peaceful elections with an impressive voter turnout and engagement during the polls. Overall, the security situation in Kashmir is better than it has been in a long time. The 2019 constitutional reforms have changed the political and diplomatic equations in the erstwhile state and left Pakistan stunned, almost paralysed.

While all of this is undeniable, it is important for India to realise that its not a good idea to ever become complacent about an implacable enemy or an intractable problem, which is exactly what we might have been guilty of.

That the Pakistanis are down and out is a no-brainer. They are embroiled in domestic political turmoil, enmeshed not only in an extremely enervating Islamist insurgency in the Pashtun areas bordering Afghanistan, but also an unending Baloch resistance, and ensnared by a bankrupt economy. This is precisely why they desperately needed to signal to India that they remain in the fray, that they arent ready to throw in the towel, and are not going to let go of their beloved Kashmir cause, because to do that would be to accept Indian hegemony.

But the Pakistanis also know that they cannot afford a war-like situation with India. This means they need to carefully calibrate the violence to a point that stays below the threshold of tolerance in India. Otherwise, there could be another escalation from the Indian side  Balakot 2.0 or worse.

For the Gen Asim Munir-led military junta in Rawalpindi, rising tensions with India cut both ways: on one level, they make Pakistanis rally behind the Army, significantly reducing the disgust and disenchantment with the military, especially in Punjab; but on another level, rising tensions with India have a serious impact on an already struggling economy. Worse, at a time when security commitments are increasing on the western front with Afghanistan, an active eastern front with India imposes enormous pressure on the Pakistan Army, confronting them with a two-front situation.

One way to balance this is by asking the Chinese to increase pressure on Indias northern front. Perhaps this was discussed when Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his boss Gen Asim Munir visited Beijing around the time Indias election results were being declared.

What is clear, however, is that the spate of terror attacks is an open dare to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Pakistanis are testing him now that the elections are over and Modi is back, albeit with a reduced mandate. The primary reason why there was no major attack before or during the polls was because the Pakistanis wanted to avoid a redux of Pulwama and not give PM Modi another full toss to hit out of the ground. But now they want to see how much and how far they can push Modi 3.0 before he will respond, especially since he is now heading a coalition government. What the Pakistanis, who have a distorted military-run hybrid system, dont understand is that the threshold is much lower at 240 seats in Lok Sabha than it was at 303 seats. PM Modi will have to reaffirm his credentials on national security, not only to push back against the jibes and barbs from the resurgent Opposition, but also to live up to the expectations of his core constituency.

Therefore, chances are that there will be retaliation. It wont be a knee-jerk response. It might not even be a declared response like it was during the 2016 surgical strikes or the 2019 Balakot strike. But there will be a response. What will also force Modis hand is the election victory of a separatist in Kashmir and two in Punjab, which makes it necessary to disabuse Indias enemies (within and without) of the notion that they can destabilise India by weaponising democracy.

A message must be delivered not just to the separatists in India but also to their masters in Pakistan, that India will hit back and pay them in the same coin. Clearly then, tensions are likely to rise in the region. Going forward, the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) could end and skirmishes could once again start along Indias Western frontier.

The author is Senior Fellow, Observer Research Foundation. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
The election for the Lok Sabha Speaker has been scheduled for June 26, amid speculation that crucial NDA alliesthe TDP and JD(U)may stake a claim to the position. The BJP, however, seems unwilling to hand over the coveted post to an ally. There is talk of the BJP proposing the name of Andhra Pradesh leader Daggubati Purandeswari, sister-in-law of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu. However, a closer look at Andhras emotionally charged and highly fragmented politics reveals why Naidu may not want Purandeswari, who previously served as a Union minister under Manmohan Singh as a Congress nominee, in the position.

Purandeswari is married to Dr Daggubati Venkateswara Rao, a politician who was once Naidus competitor within the TDP, when father-in-law and legendary actor N.T. Rama Rao was calling the shots. On August 26, 1995, nine months into NTRs third term as chief minister of Andhra, his son-in-law and trusted lieutenant N Chandrababu Naidu rebelled against him. Naidu defended his coup, saying he had been forced to act against his father-in-law because of NTRs second wife Lakshmi Parvathis growing influence over party affairs and on the state government.

Lakshmi Parvathi was NTRs biographer, and he married her in 1993, much against his familys wishes. Although most of the 200 TDP MLAs sided with Naidu, Purandeswaris husband, Dr Venkateswara Rao, returned to NTR within a fortnight after Naidu refused to make him deputy chief minister.

In 2009, Dr Rao wrote a book to showcase the evil motives of his co-brother-in-law Naidu. In The Other Side of Truth (Nivedita Publications, 2009), Rao claimed that NTR was so enraged by Naidus revolt that he had asked his actor-son Nandamuri Balakrishna to go and murder Chandrababu for betraying him. NTR even wanted Balakrishna to show him the sword stained with Naidus blood.

Throughout his book, Venkateswara Rao constantly attempted to establish how Naidu was insincere, contrasting this with his own sincerity and commitment to NTR. He also claimed that Purandeswari approved of the August 26, 1995, political coup against her father. The author insisted that from the beginning of TDP in 1982-83, Naidu, who was a Congress minister in T Anjaiahs government, had wanted to become the chief minister and TDP president by ousting NTR.

To substantiate his claim, Rao quoted K. Rosaiah, a senior Congress leader who later served as chief minister of Andhra Pradesh and governor of Tamil Nadu. Rosaiah stated that Naidu nursed a grudge against his father-in-law even when NTR had launched the Telugu Desam Party in 1982. According to Rosaiah, Naidu had approached Indira Gandhi and expressed his desire to contest against NTR. But she said she was not in favour of any such thing and asked the party not to encourage him, Rao quoted Rosaiah as saying in the book.

In the book, Rao provides a detailed account of what happened on August 26, 1995. On that day when I landed at the Begumpet airport, about 40 TDP MLAs surrounded me asking me to come to the Viceroy Hotel. But I went home only to find Chandrababu Naidu, Harikrishna and Balakrishna [NTRs sons] sitting there and waiting for me, he writes. Chandrababu took me into a nearby room and told me that he will take over as the chief minister and party president. He told me that I will be made the deputy chief minister and Harikrishna will be appointed as general secretary of the party.

When Rao came out of the room, Harikrishna and others asked him what he and Naidu had discussed. I told them everything. Harikrishna was unhappy and demanded that he should be made a minister. I told him that he can become the deputy chief minister and I was not interested in joining the cabinet. Rao says two of NTRs sons sided with Naidu and two sons and a daughter (Raos wife Purandeswari) were with NTR. He also admits that despite his wifes plea not to join Naidu, he had gone to the Viceroy Hotel (the centre of the revolt). I committed an unforgivable sin, Rao wrote in the book.

Rao returned to the NTR camp a fortnight later and stayed with his father-in-law till the actors death. The disillusioned leader died in January 1996, allegedly due to a lack of proper medical care.

Naidus own version of August 1995 came sixteen years later in 2011, when he told scribes in Hyderabad how he had revolted against NTR to save the party and the state. Dushta shakti, he said, referring to Lakshmi Parvathi, had tried to destroy the party, and he had to protect it from the evil force.

I never thought even in my dreams that I would revolt against NTR. For me, NTR was not just a father-in-law, but a god whom I worshipped. But he was facing problems, having come under the influence of the evil force, and hence we were left with no other option to save the TDP, Naidu had said. We tried all means to check her (Lakshmi Parvathis) influence and save the party, but failed. Then, left with no option, we had to affect a leadership change and form the government (in 1995) in a democratic manner with the support of more than 200 MLAs, he further said.

When the TDP was formed, Naidu was a minister in the Anjaiah cabinet and a rising star in the state Congress, along with the late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, father of YSRCP leader Jagan Mohan Reddy. Both later joined NTR to help him build the TDP organisation.

Against this backdrop of family drama, intrigue, and distrust, the Speakers electionin the context of TDP and Purandeswaris involvementpromises to be an interesting new chapter in the saga that began in 1995.

The writer is a Visiting Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation. A well-known political analyst, he has written several books, including 24 Akbar Road and Sonia: A Biography. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
A war of words broke out between the government and the Opposition after Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena gave the nod to prosecute Booker prize-winning author Arundhati Roy for a speech about Kashmir she gave 14 years ago.

Roy along with Sheikh Showkat Hussain, a former professor in Kashmir, will be prosecuted under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for allegedly making provocative speeches at an event in Delhi in 2010.

Oppositions Reaction

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) condemned the action against Roy and said the move defies logic.

CondemnableThe Delhi LG has granted permission to prosecute Arundhati Roy under the draconian UAPA for a speech reportedly made 14 years ago  in 2010. Defies logic except the fascist kind.Timing is suspect since courts are on vacation, as are lawyers.Shameful and Condemnable! CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) June 14, 2024

Condemnable! The Delhi LG has granted permission to prosecute Arundhati Roy under the draconian UAPA for a speech reportedly made 14 years ago  in 2010. Defies logic except the fascist kind. Timing is suspect since courts are on vacation, as are lawyers. Shameful and Condemnable! the part said in a post on X.

Congress leader Hariprasad B K also condemned the LGs sanction to prosecute Roy, who is a brilliant mind, an internationally renowned writer, and a leading intellectual.

I strongly condemn the LGs sanction to prosecute Arundhati Roy who is a brilliant mind, an internationally renowned writer, and a leading intellectual.Fascism thrives on crushing dissent, particularly from intellectuals, artists, writers, poets & activists. @BJP4India  Hariprasad.B.K. (@HariprasadBK2) June 15, 2024

Fascism thrives on crushing dissent, particularly from intellectuals, artists, writers, poets & activists. BJP manufacture crises daily to distract and overwhelm dissenters enabling them to divert attention from their failures. This assault on free expression & democratic values is unacceptable, he said in a post on X.

Trinamool MP-elect Mahua Moitra also came out in Roys support and said, If by prosecuting Arundhati Roy under UAPA BJP trying to prove theyre back, well theyre not. And theyll never be back the same way they were. This kind of fascism is exactly what Indians have voted against.

BJPs Allegation

Reacting to the development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed Congress and questioned the grand old party for being empathetic towards separatist and terrorist organisations.

Taking to X, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla posted a video message questioning the Congress partys apparent unease regarding the ongoing judicial process.

Just now I got to know that LG sir has given sanction to prosecute Arundhati Roy, someone who generally speaks the language of separatism. But why are Congress and its ecosystem restless with the ongoing judicial process? Why are they shedding tears of grief? he asked.

Delhi LG approves prosecution of Arundhati Roy under UAPAWhy is the Congress ecosystem rattled ?First they support & take support from SDPI and now they cry for separatistsDoes it not believe Kashmir is integral part of Bharat ? From Afzal to Yakub  Congress puts Votebank pic.twitter.com/WHo2o3S182  Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) June 15, 2024

The BJP leader alleged that Congress has a history of siding with separatist ideologies.

Has Congress ecosystem already decided that they will stand with all the people belonging to the separatist gang? We saw that Congress partys leaders said that they will keep supporting SGPI In one instance Congress stands with SGPI, at other instances their leaders are seen supporting figures like Yakub Menon and Afzal Guru, both declared terrorists by the Supreme Court, he said.

Why is the Congress party and its ecosystem so empathetic towards the separatists and terrorist organizations? People who stand with the Tukde Tukde gang, people who say that Kashmir is not an integral part of India. Arundhati Roy could say this under the rule and protection of the Congress government in 2010, Poonawalla alleged.

He further accused the grand old party of standing with separatists and terrorists, and asked, Till how long will the Congress party keep protecting the separatists and terrorists? he asked.

The Case

The FIR against Roy and Hussain in the matter was registered on a complaint made by Sushil Pandit, a social activist from Kashmir, on October 28, 2010, following the orders of the Court of Metropolitan Magistrate, New Delhi.

Last October, the LG granted sanction to prosecute them under section 196 of CrPC for commission of offences punishable under different sections of the Indian Penal Code: 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief).

Roy and Hussain had allegedly made provocative speeches at a conference organised under the banner of Azadi  The Only Way on October 21, 2010, at Little Theatre Group Auditorium, Copernicus Marg, in Delhi.

Those who delivered speeches at the conference included Syed Ali Shah Geelani, SAR Geelani (anchor of the Conference and prime accused in the Parliament attack case), Arundhati Roy, Dr. Sheikh Showkat Hussain and Varavara Rao.

The event at the LTG auditorium was disrupted by the BJP.

When the initial sanction was granted last year, Chidambaram tweeted: There was no justification then to register a case against her on the charge of seditionThere is no justification now to sanction prosecution against her.
Undesired election results often bring chaos into the open. The Congress has been facing it for the better part of 10 years now. And ever since the 2024 Lok Sabha election results, the BJP is getting a taste of it too  in Tamil Nadu where supporters of Tamilisai Soundararajan and K Annamalai roughed each other up and in Uttar Pradesh where Sanjeev Balyan and Sangeet Som were embroiled in a war of words.

Now, the long-simmering tensions in Bengal BJP have spilled out into the open, with its former state president Dilip Ghosh and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari training guns at each other without naming one another ever since the partys tally dropped from 18 seats to 12 in a state where it had set an ambitious target to bag 30 of 42 Lok Sabha seats.

The BJP was so certain of achieving its Mission 25 that it upgraded its target to Mission 30. Now with 12 seats in its kitty and speculation that the Trinamool Congress is gearing up to whisk away a faction of the state BJP, simmering tension between Ghosh and Adhikari are becoming a public spectacle.

It is against this background that the Bengal BJPs core group will meet for the first time post-results on Saturday and the two sides will face each other in a room. A total of 24 members are expected to be present, including Sukanta Majumdar, state BJP president who is now also a Union Minister. But all eyes will be on two individuals when the meeting kicks off at 6 pm.

DILIP GHOSH: STAR IN REBELLION

Purely by numbers, Dilip Ghosh has been the most successful Bengal BJP president, delivering 18 seats for the party in 2019 elections  the highest to date. So when his seat was unceremoniously changed in the middle of the campaigning season from Medinipur to far away Bardhaman-Durgapur, it surprised not just him but many even in the rival TMC.

In 2019, the BJP had barely won the seat by a slim margin of 3,000-odd votes. It is no secret that I have been removed from Medinipur under a conspiracy, Ghosh said.

Air-dropped into a new terrain with unfamiliar cadres and new demography, Ghosh lost the seat by more than 1.37 lakh votes to TMCs Kirti Azad. Adding insult to injury, his previous seat Medinipur has also been snatched by the TMC.

After the results, Ghosh infamously said: I did not lose. The BJP has lost. To make me lose, they also had to lose the Medinipur Lok Sabha seat.

While Ghosh did not elaborate on who scripted the conspiracy or who had to lose, contextual reasoning leads to Suvendu Adhikari.

SUVENDU ADHIKARI: THE FAVOURITE PUNCHING BAG

Suvendu Adhikari, who switched to the BJP in December 2020 at an Amit Shah rally, has only become more powerful with each passing year. He is seen to be the eyes and ears of the BJPs central leadership when it comes to West Bengal affairs, regardless of many senior BJP leaders hostility towards him.

After the 2021 West Bengal Assembly election results, when the BJP fared well with 77 seats but a far cry from 200 paar, Adhikari became the face of the opposition with the LoP position in the Assembly. His critics say he also had the final say on ticket distribution before the partys CEC (Central Election Committee) took the decision.

Now, not just Ghosh but even Saumitra Khan, one of BJPs 12 MPs, has been firing salvos at Adhikari without naming him. Khan has made a strong allegation that some may have entered into connivance with the TMC. During his stint in the TMC, Adhikari was a close aide of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and kept the Nandigram agitation pot boiling for her. BJPs Bankura MLA Niladri Shekhar Dana also raised questions over leadership in the state.

Facing flak, Adhikari defended himself saying: When things go right and results are in our favour, they take credit. But when electoral performance is not up to the mark, they blame me.

WHY TIMING IS CRUCIAL?

With Sukanta Majumdar, a well-mannered professor who was keeping the seat warm so far, being brought to Delhi, the question of the next BJP president arises. While it is too early to speculate with BJPs central leadership awaiting similar rejig, supporters of both Ghosh and Adhikari want them to throw their hats in the ring.

Dilip Ghosh posted a cryptic tweet on X that simply read: Old is Gold. Adhikari, too, would prefer a shot at the top post, accumulating more power. Saturdays meeting comes at such a juncture when the old guard and the new guard will face each other in a room at the BJP office in Kolkata.

Adhikari, too, has been making comments that are reason enough for the central leadership to be worried. He said that regardless of what Mamata Banerjee has done, the people of the state have accepted her. Adhikari added that this is precisely why she is getting 45% vote share, a comment that can be construed as pro-Mamata.

Adhikari isnt factually wrong. According to Election Commission data, TMC received 45.76% of votes in West Bengal, while the BJP managed 38.73%. This gap of 7% ensured the TMC won 17 more Lok Sabha seats in the state.

But the fact that he is quoting this fact itself adds a dimension to the intra-BJP squabble in the state.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said that the MLAs who left his party in 2022 to join the Eknath Shinde-led camp leading to the split of Shiv Sena, will not be taken back into the party even if they want to come back.

Those who left us and now want to come back, they will be not taken back at all, said Thackeray adding that the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance will contest the Assembly elections in Maharashtra together.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) victory in the Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra is the beginning and not the end. Our alliance will win the upcoming assembly elections in the state as well, said Uddhav Thackeray.

Thackeray said people of the state showed how hollow the myth of the Bharatiya Janata Partys invincibility is.

Similarly, the Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar also ruled out any possibility of taking his nephew Ajit Pawar back to his party.

On the other hand, Congress leader Chavan said after the Lok Sabha poll results, a change of government was imminent in Maharashtra.

We Thank PM Modi: Sharad Pawar Takes A Dig At BJP

Nationalist Congress Party (SP) Chief took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and thanked him for making the political atmosphere conducive for the Maha Vikas Aghada (MVA).

We thank PM Narendra Modi for making the political atmosphere conducive for the MVA.

Pawars remarks were about the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections, in which the Congress won 13 seats, a quantum jump from the solitary seat it won in the state in 2019, while the Shiv Sena (UBT) bagged nine and the NCP (SP) eight.

Sharad Pawar was joined by Shiv Sena (UBT) supremo Uddhav Thackeray and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan for a joint press conference where all the leaders expressed confidence in the alliance for the upcoming Assembly elections.

The MVA Seat-sharing Arrangement

In the seat-sharing deal for the general elections, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party had the largest share of seats among the three parties. Of the total 48 Lok Sabha seats, the Sena (UBT) contested 21 seats, followed by Congress at 17 and NCP (SP) at 10.

In comparison, the ruling Mahayuti could bag just 17 seats, with the BJPs seat tally coming drastically down to nine from the 23 (it won in 2019). The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena won seven, while the Ajit Pawar-led NCP could get just one seat.
BRUSSELS:Meta Platforms will not launch its Meta AI models in Europe for now after the Irish privacy regulator told it to delay its plan to harness data from Facebook and Instagram users, the U.S. social media company said on Friday.

The move by Meta came after complaints and a call by advocacy group NOYB to data protection authorities in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Spain to act against the company.

At issue is Meta's plan to use personal data to train its artificial intelligence (AI) models without seeking consent, although the company has said it would use publicly available and licensed online information.

Meta on Friday said the Irish privacy watchdog had asked it to delay training its large language models (LLMs) using public content shared by Facebook and Instagram adult users.

"We're disappointed by the request from the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), our lead regulator, on behalf of the European DPAs  particularly since we incorporated regulatory feedback and the European DPAs have been informed since March," the company said in an updated blogpost.

It said the Irish request is a step backwards for European innovation and competition in AI development.

"Put simply, without including local information we'd only be able to offer people a second-rate experience. This means we aren't able to launch Meta AI in Europe at the moment," Meta said.

The DPC welcomed Meta's pause, saying its decision came after intensive engagement with the regulator.

Meta said the delayed launch of its AI models would also allow it to address requests from Britain's Information Commissioners Office (ICO).

The ICO welcomed Meta's decision, saying it would continue to monitor major developers of generative AI, including Meta, to review the safeguards they have put in place and ensure the information rights of UK users are protected.

NOYB's chair Max Schrems attributed Meta's temporary halt to the group's complaints filed last week.

"So far there is no official change of the Meta privacy policy, which would make this commitment legally binding. The cases we filed are ongoing and will need a determination," he said in a statement.
The Canadian Cancer Society has issued an apology for using the technical term for the cervix rather than the transgender-friendly term front hole with reference to cervical cancer screening. The apology comes after criticism by LGBTQ community and activists.

The charity organisation said that many trans men and non-binary people may have mixed feelings about or feel distanced from words like cervix. This is included in a disclaimer on their page dedicated to cervical cancer screenings for LGBTQ+ people. Within the Words Matter section, the organisation mentioned that several community members would rather use other terminology, such as front hole. The disclaimer was first brought to True Norths attention.

They continued by saying that they both recognise the necessity for simplicity and the limitations of the terms they have employed.

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, the term cervix is also used to normalise the reality that males can also have similar anatomical parts.

However, the decision met with criticism on social media.

A user wrote, I need to leave Canada ASAP. This is untenable.

I need to leave Canada ASAP. This is untenable.https://t.co/ecsfaWKsk6 Gad Saad (@GadSaad) June 5, 2024

Another user went on to declare that you dont deserve to work in the medical field if you cant refer to bodily parts by their proper names.

Canadian Cancer Society apologizes for not calling cervix front hole in non-binary disclaimerIf 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 https://t.co/MRSPEHmxhW  Dr. Greene-Liebowitz (@KimGLiebowitz) June 6, 2024

Another user expressed their complete support for transgender peoples freedom to self-identify and be accepted by other people but stated that misnaming medical words wont benefit any of them.

I wholeheartedly support the rights of trans people to self identify as they please and be respected by their peers, but misnaming body parts, medical terms etc. this way isn't going to do any good to any of them. Ehud Bar-Niv (@EhudBarNiv) June 6, 2024

It began by stating that persons who identify as transgender or non-binary face significant obstacles when trying to get healthcare, and they are less likely than cisgender people to get cancer examined.

According to reports, transphobia and discrimination, a lack of trans-specific resources, healthcare providers ignorance of issues impacting the trans community are some of the obstacles that might render taking part in cancer screening difficult for members of the trans community.

It was mentioned that people could not receive reminders for cervical cancer screenings if their medical records show that they are men. They should then discuss screening with their healthcare professionals.

The most prevalent cause of cervical cancer is the sexually transmitted infection known as human papillomavirus (HPV). Radiation, chemotherapy, medication and surgery are among the treatments available.

The non-profit organisation emphasised the significance of routine cervical cancer screenings beginning at age of 25 for all individuals, irrespective of gender or sexual orientation.

The Canadian Cancer Society has previously expressed opinions on matters pertaining to transgender health.

The organisation stated in 2023 that transgender women who had bottom surgery ought to consult with their doctors regarding the possibility of neo-cervical cancer, as this condition can be caused by HPV and result in cancer.
Ever heard the phrase Do it like Indians do thrown around for adding a dash of humor to anything and everything? Its because that Desi flair has its own charm. Recently, a guy nailed it during his trip to the US, blending hilarity with intelligence like a pro. How? By sharing snaps of famous US landmarks on Instagram with Hindi captions. Sounds simple, right? But hold on, it was anything but ordinary!

Sharing the screen grabs of his brothers IG stories on X, a user named Harisam Sharma wrote, So my brother is currently on a US trip and his captions are out of control now. Soon, the post went viral and the internet went wild. His captions were pure gold, mixing wit with Desi vibes flawlessly.

Also Read: Mumbai Polices Road Safety Message Inspired By Amitabh Bachchans Kalki 2898 AD Goes Viral

Besides the famous Wall Street Bull, he wrote, Baba bull ke sath Wall Street mandir me portfolio shanti yagya samapt kiya, which translates to Completed the peace ritual for my portfolio in the temple of Wall Street bull. Hilarious, right?

Referring to the Statue of Liberty as Liberty Chachi and humorously informing, Staten Island wali Liberty chachi ko unke bharatiya bhatije/bhatijio ki ram ram pohochai, which means Conveyed greetings from her Indian nephews/nieces Staten Islands Aunt Liberty.

And the cherry on top? A snap with a monkey caricature in Times Square, entertaining it with tales of Hanuman Ji. Now, thats creativity!

He even joked about the non-existent smog in New York compared to Delhis infamous pollution.

And the laughter doesnt stop there

Naturally, the post drew reactions from amused onlookers. Bro can become a popular writer, wrote one. Another offered to pay for these captions! Yet another pleaded, Dude .Ur brother is a gem ! Bring him back to India ! We cant lose him to team USA! while the fourth continued, Legend in my books.

Desis truly have a knack for turning the mundane into extraordinary. This just proves it!
Mumbai Police is known for its amusing social media posts on road safety and it has once again caught the attention of many users with its latest post on helmet use.

This time, Mumbai Police drew inspiration from Amitabh Bachchans portrayal of Ashwatthama in his upcoming film Kalki 2898 AD.

In the latest Instagram post by Mumbai Police, a short clip features the iconic dialogue of Ashwatthamas character, Main bacha lunga (I will save you), echoing a powerful message of protection.

Mumbai Police cleverly used this dialogue to urge bikers to prioritise their safety by wearing helmets.

Helmets to riders, Kal Aaj and Forever (Tomorrow, Today and Forever), read the caption of the Instagram post.

See the viral post here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mumbai Police (@mumbaipolice)

Since being posted online, the video clip quickly went viral on the internet and amassed over 7,90,000 views. It not only caught the attention of viewers but many were impressed with the creative way to deliver the message.

We got Mumbai police and Kalki 2898AD collab before GTA 6, one user remarked while another chimed in with enthusiasm, Its amazing and cool idea.

The posts innovative concept drew comments like Unexpected Collab and Kalki will rule the pan world movie.

One user was clearly awestruck by Amitabh Bachchans portrayal in the movie and commented, Amitabh sir as Ashwathama in Kalki.

Mumbai Police, boasting over 7,00,000 followers on Instagram, consistently leverages its platform to share important messages particularly regarding road safety and several other subjects.

During the recent voting for the Lok Sabha elections, Mumbai Police shared a message encouraging voter participation. In the post, Mumbai Police urged citizens to exercise their right to vote as they cleverly dubbed voting as The only Monday Blues to look forward to. It was a playful reference to the blue ink typically used to mark voters after casting their ballots.

The witty post, shared on social media a day before the voting, served as a reminder for Mumbaikars to exercise their democratic right.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mumbai Police (@mumbaipolice)

Meanwhile, the highly anticipated Kalki 2898 AD is a dystopian action film helmed by director Nag Ashwin and produced by C Aswani Dutt. Featuring a star-studded cast, including Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Kamal Haasan, Disha Patani and Brahmanandam, the movie promises an immersive cinematic experience.

Initially scheduled to release on May 9, 2024, Kalki 2898 AD faced a postponement due to Lok Sabha elections. It is now set to hit theatres worldwide on June 27, 2024.
SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Saturday called for eliminating electronic voting machines (EVMs) citing that these machines could be hacked by humans or artificial intelligence.

We should eliminate electronic voting machines. The risk of being hacked by humans or AI, while small, is still too high. https://t.co/PHzJsoXpLh Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 15, 2024

We should eliminate electronic voting machines. The risk of being hacked by humans or AI, while small, is still too high, Musk said, quote-posting a post by US presidential contender Robert F Kennedy Jr who initially wrote about EVM irregularities during elections in Puerto Rico.

Puerto Ricos primary elections just experienced hundreds of voting irregularities related to electronic voting machines. Luckily, there was a paper trail so the problem was identified and vote tallies corrected, US presidential contender Robert F Kennedy Jr. said in his original X post, citing the Associated Press.

What happens in jurisdictions where there is no paper trail? US citizens need to know that every one of their votes were counted, and that their elections cannot be hacked. We need to return to paper ballots to avoid electronic interference with elections, he further added.

My administration will require paper ballots and we will guarantee honest and fair elections, he said.

The Puerto Rican elections commission announced earlier this Tuesday that it is reevaluating its contract with a US electronic voting company after it found scores of discrepancies in voting following the islands heated primaries.

The problem stemmed from a software issue that caused machines supplied by Dominion Voting Systems to incorrectly calculate vote totals, the Puerto Rican poll bodys interim president, Jessika Padilla Rivera, told the Associated Press.

It should be noted that Dominion Voting Systems filed a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News in 2021, arguing the cable news giant, in an effort to boost faltering ratings, falsely claimed that the voting company had rigged the 2020 election.

Fox News agreed in 2023 to pay Colorado-based Dominion Voting Systems nearly $800 million to avert a trial in the voting machine companys lawsuit that would have exposed how the network promoted lies about the 2020 presidential election. Fox acknowledged in a statement the courts rulings finding certain claims about Dominion to be false, but no apology was offered after the settlement of the lawsuit.

Some Fox News employees elevated false charges that Dominion had changed votes through algorithms in its voting machines that had been created in Venezuela to rig elections for the late dictator Hugo Chavez.

Dominions employees, from its software engineers to its founder, have been harassed. Some received death threats. And the company has suffered enormous and irreparable economic harm, lawyers said in the 2021 lawsuit.

One employee, Eric Coomer, told the AP he had to go into hiding over death threats because of the false claims. He has sued the Trump campaign, conservative media columnists and conservative media outlets Newsmax and One America News Network.

(with inputs from Associated Press)
The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah says its intensified attacks along Israels northern border this week demonstrate to Israeli leaders that an all-out war would be costly, senior official Sheikh Ali Daamoush said in a sermon during Friday prayers.

Iran-backed Hezbollah militants launched dozens of rockets Friday in a third day of retaliation for the killing of a senior commander. The Israeli military said approximately 35 projectiles were identified.

Cross-border attacks by Israel and Hezbollah have been taking place almost daily since the war in Gaza began in October.

The escalation comes as some Israeli leaders have threatened all-out war to silence Hezbollahs rocket fire, and as the militant group seeks to pressure Israel during the cease-fire negotiations in support of its Palestinian ally Hamas.

U.S. President Joe Biden said Thursday he doesnt expect to seal a Gaza cease-fire deal shortly, as an American-backed proposal with global support has not been fully embraced by Israel or Hamas.

Israels war against Hamas in Gaza has killed more than 37,100 people, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count.

Palestinians are facing widespread hunger because the war has largely cut off the flow of food, medicine and other supplies. UN agencies say over 1 million in Gaza could experience the highest level of starvation by mid-July.

Israel launched the war after Hamas Oct. 7 attack, in which militants stormed into southern Israel, killed some 1,200 people  mostly civilians  and abducted about 250.

Currently:

 The US-built pier in Gaza is facing its latest challenge  whether the UN will keep delivering aid

 Israelis and Palestinians are hopeful but cautious over the latest cease-fire plan.

 What are the main sticking points in the cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas?

 Muslims start the Hajj against the backdrop of the destructive Israel-Hamas war

 US Navy faces its most intense combat since World War II against Yemens Iran-backed Houthi rebels

 Report by UN-backed experts cites crimes by Israeli forces and Palestinian militants starting 0ct. 7.

Follow APs coverage of the war in Gaza at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

Heres the latest:

JERUSALEM  Israel will not join a trilateral effort to stem fighting with Lebanons Hezbollah militant group proposed by Frances president, Israels defense minister said Friday.

As we fight a just war, defending our people, France has adopted hostile policies against Israel, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in a statement from his office rejecting the French proposal.

French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned the effort Thursday on the sidelines of the G7 conference in Italy. He said France, the U.S. and Israel had agreed to work jointly towards quelling tensions between Hezbollah and Israel, who have exchanged cross-border fire nearly every day since the war in Gaza began in early October.

We have agreed on the principle of a trilateral between Israel, the United States, and France to advance the roadmap we have proposed, said Macron.

Gallants rejection of the French proposal was criticized by senior officials in Israels Foreign Ministry in a rare public spat.

We disapprove of Minister of Defense Gallants attacks on France, the officials wrote Friday. They said France had supported Israel in many ways over the course of the war  by assisting Israeli defenses against an Iranian missile attack in April, by sanctioning Hamas and Iran, and by fighting antisemitism domestically.

Tensions are escalating dramatically on Israels northern border over the last few after an Israeli airstrike killed a senior Hezbollah commander. Hezbollah has fired hundreds of rockets toward Israel, igniting major fires in Israels north. In retaliation, Israel has continued to strike Hezbollah bases, with airstrikes in Lebanons south killing and wounding civilians.

WASHINGTON  The Biden administration has sanctioned a right-wing group of Israeli activists who have blocked humanitarian aid from reaching desperately hungry Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

The State Department sanctions were leveled Friday against Tzav 9, which has blocked a major highway in southern Israel in an effort to prevent the delivery of aid. U.S. officials say the group has also looted and set fire to trucks carrying aid through the West Bank toward Jordan.

In announcing the sanctions, the State Department said the Israeli government had a responsibility to ensure that humanitarian convoys could safely reach Gaza, and that acts of sabotage and violence would not be tolerated.

In a statement in response, Tzav 9 called the Biden administrations decision to impose sanctions shocking and asserted that the aid thats being delivered falls directly into the hands of Hamas. The group said it should not be required to feed the enemy and said that blocking aid was its right and duty.

BEIRUT  A senior official with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said its intensified attacks along Israels northern border will make it difficult for Israel to stage an all-our war on Lebanon because it knows the conflict would be costly.

The attacks are also pressuring Israel to end the war in the Gaza Strip, said Sheikh Ali Daamoush in a sermon during Friday prayers. His comments came as Iran-backed Hezbollah claimed it fired rockets into northern Israel in a third day of barrages, saying it struck several military posts including two in the towns of Metula and Misgav Am.

The Israeli military said approximately 35 projectiles were identified crossing from Lebanon into the areas of Kiryat Shmona and Kfar Szold in northern Israel earlier Friday. The army said that as a result of the launches, a fire broke out in the area of Kfar Szold. Israeli army artillery fired toward the sources of the launches, it said.

Lebanons state-run National News Agency reported an Israeli airstrike Friday on the border village of Kfar Kila. Late Thursday, an Israeli strike on the south Lebanon village of Janata killed two women and wounded 19, according to Hezbollahs Al-Manar TV.

Hezbollahs intensified attacks come after an Israeli strike late Tuesday killed the most senior military commander with the group since fighting began along the Lebanon-Israel border in early October.

These cross-border attacks have been taking place almost daily. This weeks escalation comes as some Israeli leaders have threatened all-out war to silence Hezbollahs rocket fire, which has displaced tens of thousands of Israelis, and Hezbollah seeks to exert pressure in support of its Palestinian ally Hamas during back-and-forth negotiations over a cease-fire in Gaza.

More than 400 people have been killed in Lebanon, mostly fighters, but they include over 70 civilians and non-combatants. Tens of thousands have also been displaced. On the Israeli side, at least 15 soldiers and 10 civilians have been killed.

JERUSALEM  Two high-ranking Israeli officials will visit the U.S. next week, said an Israeli official Friday, as a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal to end the grinding Israel-Hamas war hangs in the balance.

Israels strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer and national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi will fly to Washington next week, the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject matter.

The meetings come as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits the Middle East to try to bridge gaps between Israel and Hamas over the proposal, which U.S. President Joe Biden announced earlier this month. Its the latest serious attempt to wind down the war in Gaza.

Biden said Thursday he doesnt expect to cement the deal in the near future, as it has not been fully embraced by Israel or Hamas.

DEIR Al-BALAH  An Israeli airstrike on a home in the central Gaza city of Deir al-Balah killed two people and wounded several others including children, hospital officials said.

The bodies of the two men were brought to the Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah.

The seven wounded, including three children and one woman, were also brought for treatment at the hospital.

Earlier in the day, the bodies of two fishermen were brought to the hospital after they were shot by Israels navy, the officials said.

Israels war against Hamas in Gaza has killed more than 37,100 people, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count.

The Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel killed that sparked the war killed some 1,200 people  mostly civilians  and militants abducted about 250.

BORGO EGNAZIA, Italy  U.S. President Joe Biden said Thursday he doesnt expect to reach a cease-fire deal for Gaza in the near future, as Israel and Hamas have not fully embraced an American-backed proposal with global support.

Biden said international leaders at the Group of Seven summit in Italy had discussed the cease-fire, but when asked by reporters if a truce deal wound be reached soon, Biden replied simply, No, adding, I havent lost hope.

Earlier Thursday, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan pushed back against assertions that Israel isnt fully committed to the cease-fire proposal with Hamas.

Israel has supplied this proposal. It has been sitting on the table for some time. Israel has not contradicted or walked that back, Sullivan said. Hamas responded to the plan by offering amendments, and Sullivan said the goal is to figure out how we work to bridge the remaining gaps and get to a deal.

Hamas says the requested changes aim to guarantee a permanent cease-fire and complete Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza. The cease-fire proposal announced by Biden includes those provisions, but Hamas has expressed wariness whether Israel will implement the terms.

At a news conference later Thursday, Biden said, The biggest hang-up so far is Hamas refusing to sign on, even though they have submitted something similar.

He said it remains to be seen whether a deal comes to fruition. But he said he remains committed to pushing for the two sides to come together on the three-phase deal he publicly outlined late last month.
Cases of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS), a disease caused by a rare flesh-eating bacteria that can kill people within 48 hours, is spreading in Japan, a report by Bloomberg said. The nation recorded 977 cases this year, as per data recorded by the nations National Institute of Infectious Diseases. The government agency which tracks diseases and its spread in Japan said this years cases are higher than the record 941 cases reported for all of last year.

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) usually causes swelling and sore throat in children, known as strep throat. However, there are some types of the bacteria that can lead to rapid symptoms like limb pain and swelling, fever, low blood pressure, followed by necrosis, breathing problems, organ failure and death. People over 50 are more prone to the disease.

Most of the deaths happen within 48 hours. As soon as a patient notices swelling in the foot in the morning, it can expand to the knee by noon, and they can die within 48 hours, said Ken Kikuchi, a professor in infectious diseases at Tokyo Womens Medical University, was quoted as saying by news outlet Bloomberg.

Other than Japan, five nations from Europe reported to the World Health Organization an increase in cases of invasive group A streptococcus (iGAS) disease of which STSS is a part. The WHO says the rise in cases came after Covid restrictions were lifted.

At the current infection rate, Japan could see 2,500 cases this year, accompanied by a terrifying mortality rate of 30%, Kikuchi told the news outlet. Kikuchi also urged people to ensure that they maintain hand hygiene and treat open wounds. The expert said patients can carry the invasive bacteria in their intestines which could contaminate their hands through faecal matter.
A robbery at a cell phone store in Brazil took a dramatic turn when a worker shot the intruder multiple times, leaving him critically wounded. The incident unfolded swiftly as the alleged thief entered the store wearing a motorcycle helmet and brandishing what appeared to be a firearm.

Surveillance footage captured the tense moments as the suspect approached a seated female employee. Without warning, a male worker on the opposite side of the room drew his own weapon and fired several shots, causing the suspect to collapse. As other employees scrambled for cover, the scene underscored the split-second decisions in confronting armed intruders.

NEW: Suspected robber wearing a motorcycle helmet gets shot after trying to rob a cell phone store in Uvaranas, Brazil.As the robber appeared to pull out his gun, the store owner pulled out his own firearm & shot the man. The suspect was rushed to the hospital where he pic.twitter.com/oe4wdpVOHx  Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 14, 2024

Emergency services rushed the suspect to the hospital in very serious condition, while the employee who discharged the firearm was detained briefly for questioning before being released, UKs Daily Mail reported. The exact location of the incident and the identities of those involved were not immediately disclosed.

The shooting reignites debates over gun laws in Brazil, which were relaxed under former President Jair Bolsonaros administration but subsequently tightened by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in 2023. Despite an increase in firearm ownership, the British newspaper said Brazils homicide rate remained steady during Bolsonaros tenure.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday wrapped up an action-packed day in southern Italy, where he held several bilateral meetings with world leaders on the sidelines of the G7 summit. Together, we aim to create impactful solutions that benefit the global community and create a better world for future generations. I thank the people and government of Italy for their warm hospitality, PM Modi said in a post on X before departing. His plane later landed in New Delhi at around 10 am on Saturday. Here are the leaders Modi met on the sidelines of the G7 summit:

An important G7 Summit, where I presented Indias perspective at the world stage. Here are highlights. pic.twitter.com/amU77yJ79Z Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 15, 2024

Emmanuel Macron

The Prime Minister said he had an excellent meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, their fourth meeting in one year, and discussed ways to further strengthen the strategic partnership. The meeting with Macron is Modis first official bilateral meeting with an international leader since taking charge for his third term as Prime Minister earlier this month.

Rishi Sunak

The Prime Minister met his British counterpart Rishi Sunak and reaffirmed his commitment to further strengthen the India-UK strategic partnership in the third term of the NDA government. There is great scope to deepen ties in sectors like semiconductors, technology and trade. We also talked about further cementing ties in the defence sector, Modi wrote. The spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal described the meeting between the two leaders as fruitful.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Modi conveyed to Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting that India would continue to do everything within its means to support a peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict and that the way to peace is through dialogue and diplomacy.

The upcoming Swiss peace conference for Ukraine also figured in the Modi-Zelenskyy talks held on the margins of the G7 summit in Italys Apulia and the Ukranian president thanked the prime minister for sending a high-level delegation to the conclave over the weekend in Switzerland. During the meeting, Modi told Zelenskyy that India believes in a human-centric approach to find a solution to the conflict in Ukraine.

Giorgia Meloni

The Prime Minister held bilateral talks with Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni here during which they discussed defence and security cooperation and hoped for further enhancing the defence industrial collaboration. The two sides discussed bilateral defence and security cooperation and hoped for further enhancing the defence industrial collaboration, said a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Pope Francis

Joe Biden

Modi on Friday invited Pope Francis to visit India and said he admired the pontiffs commitment to serving the people. They met with a warm embrace at the Outreach session of the G7 Summit in Apulia, southern Italy where they joined other world leaders to deliberate on the topic of Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Africa and the Mediterranean. Modi and the BJP have made several overtures to the Christian community before the general elections in the country.

On the margins of the G7 summit in Italys Apulia region, Modi also had a separate interaction with US President Joe Biden. The Modi-Biden conversation came nearly seven months after Washingtons allegations of an Indian link to a foiled plot to murder Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York. Its always a pleasure to meet @POTUS @JoeBiden. India and USA will keep working together to further global good, the prime minister said.

Justin Trudeau

Modi held a brief conversation with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau against the backdrop of severe strain in India-Canada ties over the case relating to the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year. On his interaction with Trudeau, Modi posted on X: Met Canadian PM @JustinTrudeau at the G7 Summit. Both Modi and Trudeau were seen greeting each other during the encounter. It is not immediately known what transpired between Modi and Trudeau.

Met Canadian PM @JustinTrudeau at the G7 Summit. pic.twitter.com/e67ajADDWi Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 14, 2024

Japans Fumio Kishida

On the sidelines of the G7, the Prime Minister also met Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and discussed the importance of a peaceful, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Our nations look forward to working together in defence, technology, semiconductors, clean energy and digital technology. We also wish to advance ties in infrastructure and cultural linkages, the PM said.

Germanys Olaf Scholz

Modi also met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz with whom he discussed the India-Germany Strategic Partnership and how the two sides can play a major role in furthering global growth. Todays interaction with Chancellor Scholz was very productive. The India-Germany Strategic Partnership can play a major role in furthering global growth which is inclusive and sustainable, Modi wrote on X.

UN chief Guterres and Jordan King Abdullah

On the sidelines of the summit, PM Modi also met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Jordans King Abdullah II.

Presidents of Brazil, Turkey, UAE

The Prime Minister was also seen having a discussion with Brazils Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Turkeys Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UAEs Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was re-elected for a second term on Friday, after his humbled ANC cobbled together an unprecedented coalition government.

Lawmakers in Cape Town voted overwhelmingly to put Ramaphosa, 71, back in office for another five years after the May 29 general election that produced no outright winner. I am humbled and honoured that you, as members of the National Assembly, have decided to elect me to be the President of the Republic of South Africa, Ramaphosa said in his acceptance speech.

Last months election marked a historic turning point for South Africa, ending three decades of dominance by the African National Congress of the late Nelson Mandela. The party that led the anti-apartheid struggle won only 40 percent of the vote and, for the first time, lost its absolute majority in parliament. It has now struck a deal to form what it calls a government of national unity.

This is a historic juncture in the life of our country, which requires that we must work and act together, Ramaphosa said. ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula said on Friday the broad coalition brings together a majority of the 18 parties that won representation in the 400-seat National Assembly. These include the centre-right Democratic Alliance (DA), the Zulu nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party and other smaller groups.

Ramaphosa was re-elected by fellow MPs with 283 votes in a secret ballot. He saw off a last-minute challenge by Julius Malema, the firebrand leader of the radical leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), whose candidacy gained 44 votes. Ramaphosa will be sworn in next week in Pretoria and then unveil his new cabinet.

South Africas BRICS ally China welcomed Ramaphosas re-election on Saturday, with President Xi Jinping sending him a congratulatory note, according to state media. Earlier, Chief Justice Raymond Zondo had opened the parliaments first sitting, swearing in MPs in batches ahead of votes on the election of a speaker and deputy speaker.

The first post went to the ANCs Thoko Didiza and, in a first sign the power-sharing deal was working, the second went to the DAs Annelie Lotriet. Both are women and Lotriet is from South Africas white minority.

 Illegal 

Lawmakers cast their ballot one by one in a lengthy ceremony held in a Cape Town convention centre, as the parliament building is being rebuilt after a 2022 fire. EFF members took the oath wearing red overalls and in some cases rubber boots and plastic construction worker helmets.

They declined to support the incoming administration, having refused to countenance joining an alliance with right-wing or white-led parties. This is not a government of national unity, this is a grand coalition between the ANC and white monopoly capital. History will judge you harshly, Malema said, after conceding defeat.

Graft-tainted former president Jacob Zumas new party uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), which came third in the election, has disputed the results and its MPs boycotted Fridays sitting. The sitting of the national assembly today as far as were concerned is illegal and unconstitutional, MK spokesman Nhlamulo Ndhlela told AFP.

A former trade unionist turned millionaire businessman, Ramaphosa will preside over a government combining radically different political views. The ANC is a historically pan-Africanist, progressive party of the left that has overseen welfare and economic empowerment programmes for poor, black South Africans.

The largest coalition party, the DA, pushes a liberal, free-market agenda. Smaller parties that are understood to have agreed to join the government range from the left to the far right. At the heart of this government of national unity statement is a shared respect and defence of our constitution and the rule of law, DA leader John Steenhuisen said.

 No easy road 

The agreement extended to regional coalitions in Johannesburgs Gauteng province and in KwaZulu-Natal. Zumas MK won the most votes in the latter but was left empty-handed as coalition members managed to get a wafer-thin majority of 41 out of 80 provincial councillors.

Steenhuisen added that the coalition agreement included a consensus mechanism to deal with the disagreements that will inevitably arise. This is not the end of the process. And the road ahead will not be an easy one, Steenhuisen said, explaining that the two-week deadline imposed by the constitution to form a government did not leave enough time to iron out all details.

Ramaphosa first came to power in 2018 after Zuma was forced out under the cloud of corruption allegations. Under his watch South Africa suffered from record power cuts, the economy languished and crime remained rife. Unemployment is at almost 33 percent. He will now have the arduous task to bridge conflicting views within government to turn around South Africas economic fortunes.

Rapid, inclusive and sustainable economic growth was listed as a top priority in a draft of the coalition deal. GDP grew by only 0.6 percent in 2023 and was down 0.1 percent in the first three months of 2024.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday he would present Moscow a proposal for ending the war once it had been agreed by the international community.

He made the commitment in Switzerland during an address to an inaugural summit on peace in his country, attended by more than 90 countries, but not Russia.

Zelensky told the forum he hoped the summit would lay the groundwork for a just and lasting settlement with Russia.

We must decide together what a just peace means for the world and how it can be achieved in a lasting way, he said.

Then it will be communicated to the representatives of Russia, and so that at the second peace summit we can fix the real end of the war, he added.

Zelensky did not say if he was prepared to engage in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin directly.

On the eve of the summit, Putin laid out his own conditions for ending the conflict.

He called on Ukraine to withdraw its troops from the south and east of the country and renounce its ambitions to join the NATO military alliance, conditions quickly dismissed by Zelensky.

He is not calling for negotiations, He is calling for surrender, US Vice President Kamala Harris told Saturdays summit of Putins demands.

Western leaders lined up to pledge support for Ukraine and stress the need for a settlement on Kyivs terms.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said a ceasefire without serious negotiations with a roadmap towards a lasting peace would only legitimise Russias illegal land grab.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen insisted that freezing the conflict today with foreign troops occupying Ukrainian land is not an answer.

In fact, it is a recipe for future wars of aggression, she warned.

But some countries from outside Ukraines traditional circle of partners stressed the need to give Russia a voice and criticised some Western sanctions targeting Moscow.

Kyiv would have to be prepared for a difficult compromise if it wanted to end the conflict, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud told the conference.

And Kenyas President William Ruto blasted a recent G7 deal to offer a $50-billion loan to Ukraine secured against profits of frozen Russian assets.

The unilateral appropriation of Russian assets is equally unlawful, Ruto said in his opening address, after calling Russias invasion a horrifying spectacle of carnage and devastation.
The G7 leaders engaged in an unexpected moment of camaraderie as they kicked off talks in southern Italy, with a rendition of Happy Birthday for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. This light-hearted gesture preceded a day of serious talks on global challenges.

The atmosphere turned somewhat awkward as the leaders, including President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron, struggled to find harmony in their singing. The summit of developed economies of the world, initially dominated by discussions on Ukraine, shifted focus to Chinas role in international affairs.

Leaders addressed a spectrum of issues from security in the Asia-Pacific to fair trade practices, particularly concerning Chinas alleged support for Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The G7 nations, including Japan and the United States, underlined their unity in confronting China on multiple fronts, including economic policies that impact global markets.

Tensions surfaced during the summit as France and the US slammed Italys handling of sensitive issues, notably attempts to dilute references to abortion rights in the final summit statement, according to several British newspapers. Meanwhile, economic issues took center stage with the European Unions announcement of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, prompting accusations of protectionism from Beijing. Security concerns, particularly Chinas military activities in the Asia-Pacific region, were also addressed.

On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took centre stage as he highlighted the recently-held Lok Sabha elections in his address at an outreach session of the G7 summit and said the blessings that the people of India have given in the form of a historic win in the polls is a victory of democracy. In an address, PM Modi said the world community must work towards converting the monopoly in technology into mass usage to lay the foundation of an inclusive society and help eliminate social inequalities. He also said India will work with all countries to make Artificial Intelligence transparent, fair, secure, accessible and responsible.
The Princess of Wales, Catherine aka Kate Middleton and King Charles III appeared together on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the first time on Saturday since both began their cancer treatments.

Kate Middleton joined the Royal Family to watch the RAFs Red Arrows flypast, a signature aspect of the Trooping of Colours event, marking her triumphant return to public life as she undergoes chemotherapy.

BREAKING: The Princess of Wales joins the royals on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the RAF flypast.https://t.co/rkj4RQticu Sky 501 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/y883VUwJ3x  Sky News (@SkyNews) June 15, 2024

In a touching gesture from the monarch, Kate stood next to King Charles, unlike last year when Prince William stood beside him.

Catherine, Princess of Wales, on Saturday tentatively returned to UK public life for the first time since being diagnosed with cancer, attending a military parade in London to mark King Charles IIIs official birthday.

Kate, as she is widely known, travelled in a state carriage alongside her three children at the outset of the annual event before watching the ceremonial proceedings from a viewing point.

Her tentative return comes nearly three months after the princess revealed she was receiving chemotherapy treatment. She had not been seen at a public engagement since a Christmas Day service last year.

King Charles III and his daughter-in-law Catherine, Princess of Wales, have been battling cancer and ill health since the start of this year but both are now making tentative returns to public life.

Buckingham Palace on February 5 announced that Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer and has begun treatment. They said that the cancer was detected during his hospital procedure when he was admitted at The London Clinic for a corrective procedure to treat a benign enlarged prostate. It did not specify the type of cancer.

In an emotional video message, Kate informed the world on March 22 that she has cancer and has begun chemotherapy. She says she is well and getting stronger every day but asks for time, space and privacy as she completes her treatment. Charles at the time said that he is so proud of Catherine for her courage as good wishes pour in for her from around the world.

(with inputs from the Daily Mail and AFP)
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 country's entire livestock holdings, endangering herders' livelihoods and way of life, the AP reports. 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 Mongolia's economy and culturecontributing to 80% of its agricultural production and 11% of GDP. Thousands of families have lost over 70% of their entire herds.
A couple hiking in the desert south of Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California was rescued after running out of water, authorities said. On Sunday, the man called 911 and reported that his girlfriend was dehydrated and weak, according to a statement from the Riverside County Sheriff's Office posted Monday on social media. A search and rescue helicopter crew was dispatched on June 9, when temperatures reached triple digits, to the area known as Painted Canyon and found the couple huddled in a dry creek bed, the office said.

A video posted online by the sheriff's office shows the helicopter hovering above the couple lying on the desert floor, with the man trying to shield her with his body from the blazing sun and wind, per the AP. The man and woman were then hoisted into the helicopter one by one. The couple was flown to a landing zone, where an aeromedical helicopter rushed the woman to a hospital "due to her severe condition," according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit's Rescue 9 post.

The man was transported to a local hospital by ambulance, the sheriff's office told SFGATE. The deserts of Southern California are among the hottest areas in the state. On June 9, weather stations near the Painted Canyon area saw highs ranging from 100 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Weather Service. "Please remember as the temps increase, take more water than you think you will need, have a hiking plan, and tell two people where you are going," the sheriff's department advises.

(More Joshua Tree stories.)
The United States military unleashed a wave of attacks targeting radar sites operated by Yemen's Houthi rebels over their assaults on shipping in the crucial Red Sea corridor, authorities said Saturday, after one merchant sailor went missing following an earlier Houthi strike on a ship. The attacks come as the US Navy faces the most intense combat it has seen since World War II in trying to counter the Houthi campaignattacks the rebels say are meant to halt the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, per the AP . However, the Iranian-backed rebel assaults often see the Houthis target ships and sailors who have nothing to do with the war, while traffic remains halved through a corridor vital for cargo and energy shipments between Asia, Europe, and the Mideast.

US strikes destroyed seven radars within Houthi-controlled territory, the military's Central Command said. It didn't elaborate on how the sites were destroyed and didn't immediately respond to questions from the AP. "These radars allow the Houthis to target maritime vessels and endanger commercial shipping," Central Command said in a statement. The US separately destroyed two bomb-laden drone boats in the Red Sea, as well as a drone launched by the Houthis over the waterway, it said. The Houthis, who've held Yemen's capital, Sanaa, since 2014, didn't acknowledge the strikes, nor any military losses. That's been typical since the US began launching airstrikes targeting the rebels. The Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping, killed three sailors, seized one vessel, and sunk another since November, per the US Maritime Administration.

Meanwhile, Central Command said one commercial sailor from the Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk cargo carrier Tutor remained missing after an attack Wednesday by the Houthis that used a bomb-carrying drone boat to strike the vessel. "The crew abandoned ship and were rescued by [the] USS Philippine Sea and partner forces," per Central Command. "[The] Tutor remains in the Red Sea and is slowly taking on water." The missing sailor is Filipino, according to the state-run Philippine News Agency, which cited Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac. He said most of the Tutor's 22 mariners were from the Philippines. "We're trying to account for the particular seafarer in the ship and are praying that we could find him," he reportedly said Friday night. More here.

(More Yemen stories.)
The World War II mystery of what happened to a Finnish passenger plane after it was shot down over the Baltic Sea by Soviet bombers appears to finally be solved more than eight decades later. The plane was carrying American and French diplomatic couriers in June 1940 when it was downed just days before Moscow annexed the Baltic states, the AP reports. The seven passengersan American diplomat, two French, two Germans, a Swede, and a dual Estonian-Finnish nationaland two crew members were all killed.

A diving and salvage team in Estonia said this week that it had located well-preserved parts and debris from the Junkers Ju 52 plane operated by Finnish airline Aero, which is now Finnair. It was found off the tiny island of Keri near Estonia's capital, Tallinn, at a depth of around 230 feet. The downing of the civilian plane, named Kaleva, en route from Tallinn to Helsinki happened on June 14, 1940three months after Finland had signed a peace treaty with Moscow following the 1939-40 Winter War. The news about the fate of the plane was met with disbelief and anger by authorities in Helsinki, per the AP, who were informed that it was shot down by two Soviet DB-3 bombers 10 minutes after taking off from Tallinn's Ulemiste airport.

"It was unique that a passenger plane was shot down during peacetime on a normal scheduled flight," said Finnish aviation historian Carl-Fredrik Geust, who has investigated the case since the 1980s. Finland kept silent for years about the details of the aircraft's destruction, saying publicly only that a "mysterious crash" had taken place over the Baltic Sea, because it didn't want to provoke Moscow. The Soviet Union occupied Estonia on June 17, 1940, and Kaleva's was the last flight out of Tallinn. American diplomat Henry W. Antheil Jr., who is now considered one of the first US casualties of World War II, was aboard the plane. The 27-year-old was on a rushed government mission evacuating sensitive diplomatic pouches from US missions in Tallinn and Riga, Latvia, as it had become clear that Moscow was preparing to swallow Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

(More Finland stories.)
A lucky player from Stratford will be celebrating after winning $400,000 with Strike Four. The winning ticket was sold at Paper Plus Stratford in Stratford.

Fourteen lucky Lotto players will also be feeling stoked after each winning $19,356 with Lotto Second Division.

Three of them also won Powerball Second Division, taking their total winnings to $24,870.

The winning Powerball Second Division tickets were sold at Impulse Snacks & Lotto in Waitara, Unichem Stortford Lodge Pharmacy in Hastings, and on MyLotto to a player from Hamilton.

The winning Second Division tickets were sold at the following stores:
US President Joe Biden sent his deputy Kamala Harris to represent him - a decision that had riled Kyiv.

Harris announced more than US$1.5 billion in energy and humanitarian aid for Ukraine, where infrastructure has been pounded by Russian air strikes since the 2022 full-scale invasion.

On the eve of the summit, Putin said Russia would end the war if Kyiv agreed to drop its NATO ambitions and hand over four provinces claimed by Moscow. The conditions apparently reflected Moscow's growing confidence its forces have the upper hand.

But they were swiftly rejected by Ukraine and its allies.

"He's calling for surrender," Harris said, adding: "Let nothing about the end of this war be decided without Ukraine."

"Freezing the conflict today, with foreign troops occupying Ukrainian land, is not the answer. It is a recipe for future wars of aggression," added European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

China and Russia

China said it would boycott the event after Russia was frozen out of the process, with the US suggesting Beijing's decision was taken at Moscow's behest.

"Putin has no interest in a genuine peace," said British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

"He has launched a sustained diplomatic campaign against this summit ordering countries to stay away, spinning a phoney narrative about his willingness to negotiate."

Avoiding some of the most difficult issues, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz compared the summit to "a small plant that needs watering, nurturing and delicate care" that would yield results further down the line.

But countries including Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Kenya noted Russia's absence as a hurdle.

"I must also note that this summit could have been more result-oriented if the other party to the conflict, Russia, was present in the room," said Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said credible talks would involve "difficult compromise".
The pilot who survived last year's fatal helicopter crash at Sea World on Australia's Gold Coast has lost his battle with cancer.

Michael James, 53, was labelled a "hero" for safely guiding his damaged helicopter to land on a sandbank on January 2, 2023.

The crash happened after two helicopters collided mid-air near Main Beach, with one clipping the rotors of another. Members of the public, including jetski riders and boaties rushed to help the victims before emergency services arrived.

James was spotted pulling people from the wreckage immediately after the crash, before he got treatment for his own injuries.

He was diagnosed with cancer about three months later. A source told 7 News he died on May 24.
by Nurul Fitri Ramadhani

JAKARTA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Indonesians are currently experiencing the impact of rising prices for basic foods, such as rice, meat, chicken, and cooking ingredients, ahead of the Eid al-Adha holiday, which is set to occur next Monday.

As of Saturday, Indonesia's National Food Agency (Bapanas) reported that the average national price of rice increased by 0.4 percent to 15,500 rupiahs (approximately 0.9 U.S. dollars) per kilogram. Chilies, a staple ingredient in nearly all Indonesian dishes, saw a price increase ranging from 5.6 percent to 14.3 percent.

In Bandung, West Java province, the country's most populous province, the price of chilies increased up to 40,000 rupiahs (2.43 dollars) per kilogram. On normal days, the price was usually 36,000 rupiahs (2.18 dollars) per kilogram. Garlic price, meanwhile, went up from 43,000 rupiahs (2.61 dollars) to 48,000 rupiahs (2.91 dollars) per kilogram.

"The increases in chilies and garlic prices were caused by the low supply amid increasing demand ahead of sacrifice day," Gin Ginanjar, head of Bandung's Food Security and Livestock Service Office, told local media on Saturday.

Other regions have seen even greater price hikes. For instance, in Aceh province on Sumatra island, the cost of chilies has escalated to 75,000 rupiahs (4.55 dollars) per kilogram, up from the usual 50,000 rupiahs (3.03 dollars). Meanwhile, in Gorontalo province on Sulawesi island, chili prices have surged to 80,000 rupiahs (4.85 dollars) per kilogram.

"This is because most people need chilies to cook the meat of the sacrificed livestock that they will get on Eid al-Adha day. People have started hunting for the spices before Eid al-Adha," said Azam, a vegetable seller at the Lambaro traditional market in Aceh.

He said that all prices of spices had become unpredictable and no one knew when the prices would go back down to normal.

Eid al-Adha is celebrated as one of the most sacred days by Muslims worldwide, including in Indonesia, which has the largest Muslim population. The holiday is characterized by the sacrifice of animals like cows, goats, and sheep, and the performance of special communal prayers. This is followed by distributing the meat from the sacrificed animals to those in need.

By tradition, on Eid al-Adha, families gather and serve authentic Eid food, including opor ayam (made of chicken) and semur daging (made of beef).

Indonesian Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman said that although food prices went up ahead of Adha day, the government had ensured that the stocks were safe.

"We are now focusing on the national food situation, especially to anticipate the momentum of Eid al-Adha, but will guarantee that the stocks are safe," he said. 
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Report by Ashen Tharaka

Bahrain is set to relaunch direct flights to the United States by the end of 2024, according to US Ambassador to Bahrain Steven C Bondy.

The resumption hinges on a safety review by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of Bahrains civil aviation oversight.

Ambassador Bondy expressed optimism about the reviews outcome, stating that the FAAs recent visit to Bahrain yielded positive feedback.

Following a successful formal assessment, Gulf Air, Bahrains national carrier, could potentially launch direct flights to the US as early as November or December.

The FAAs officials came to Bahrain a month ago and they gave a very positive read out.

They have a lot of confidence about the Bahrain Civil Aviation Agency Ambassador said. The specific US destination will be a business decision by Gulf Air.

The return of direct flights is expected to boost trade and business opportunities between the two countries. Ambassador Bondy, shared this information during a roundtable discussion held on the sidelines of a reception at his residence.

A celebratory reception was held on Thursday evening to mark the 20th anniversary of the U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Dignitaries, government officials, and business leaders from both countries gathered to commemorate the agreements success and highlight its continued importance for bilateral economic ties.

US-Bahrain FTA

Since the agreement came into effect in 2006, bilateral trade has seen a substantial increase, nearly quadrupling in value. In 2005, prior to the FTA, two-way trade amounted to $782 million.

By 2018, this figure had soared to over $3 billion, representing the peak of trade volume between the two nations. While trade dipped slightly in recent years, with a volume of $2.85 billion recorded in both 2022 and 2023, the overall growth trajectory since the FTAs inception remains impressive.

Ambassador Bondy highlighted the presence of numerous American companies in Bahrains tech, defence, and banking sectors, underscoring the potential for further economic growth.

Bahrain is a very good location to pursue opportunities here and around the region, he said.

US - Bahrain Businesses

The Ambassador emphasized Bahrains attractiveness to American companies, citing its well-developed infrastructure and ongoing land reclamation projects aimed at expanding business opportunities.

In a move aligned with the governments directive and the Economic Development Boards (EDB) focus on reclaiming land for business expansion, a major American company has chosen to set up businesses in the kingdoms newly established trade zone, occupying all available space, according to a statement from the Ambassador.

An American company has decided to locate in the trade zone and take-up all the existing space. He said,

Tech and Regional Challenges

Bahrain prioritizes technological development for its economic growth, and Ambassador Bondy noted the willingness of American companies to assist in overcoming challenges in this sector.

The Ambassador acknowledged the disruptions caused by regional conflicts and recent attacks on commercial vessels, which ultimately raise costs for consumers.

Despite these challenges, Bahrains swift recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic positions it well for continued economic success.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Report by Ashen Tharaka

At a reception celebrating Bahrains National Day, Russias Ambassador to Bahrain, Dr. Alexey Skosyrev, reaffirmed Bahrains position on rejecting foreign interference and the imposition of external ideologies.

He emphasised that while Bahrain upholds its Islamic traditions, it also values peaceful coexistence between different cultures and systems.

Ambassador Skosyrev highlighted the strong partnership between Bahrain and Russia, citing the recent productive talks between President Vladimir Putin and HM the King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in Moscow.

Their meeting yielded seven cooperation agreements spanning various sectors, including education, healthcare, commerce, and culture.

The Ambassador expressed confidence that these agreements will significantly strengthen bilateral relations and also placed special significance on the King choosing Russia as his first destination after the Arab Summit and being the first Arab leader to visit Moscow following the inauguration of Russias new president.

He emphasized that Russia greatly values these gestures of goodwill.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Dr Ibrahim Farouk Obaid, the Head of the Medical Committee for the Kingdom of Bahrain's Hajj Mission, has stated that Bahrain's medical clinic in Mecca has received a number of Bahraini pilgrims and administrators since its opening.

Dr. Obaid explained that all the cases were mild and were handled according to the established procedures based on the nature of each case.

The majority of the cases were suffering from influenza, colds, headaches, joint pain, and muscle aches, in addition to visits for blood pressure and diabetes checks, he revealed.

The Head of the Medical Committee emphasised Bahrain's commitment to providing all the necessary preventive measures to protect the health and safety of the pilgrims.

He noted that the Medical Committee and its entire team are making every effort to serve the pilgrims, highlighting the role of the Medical Committee in the mission in following up on health awareness and providing guidance brochures to the Bahraini pilgrims and those visiting the clinic, in an effort to educate them of the best ways to prevent and avoid contracting diseases.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Report by Zahra Ayaz

A top Berkshire Hathaway food security expert has called for Bahrain to follow in the footsteps of Angola to achieve food security, where the company gives farmers seeds and tools and buys their produce, "This helps create job opportunities and development within the country, and thats what we want to do in Bahrain, Dr. Peter Jankovics, Regional Business Manager and international food security expert at Berkshire Hathaway, told The Daily Tribune in an interview.

He also highlights that despite the growing need for food security, Bahrain has yet to prioritise the development of a robust domestic food production sector.

However, experts here warn against following such paths, urging prioritisation of the development of the domestic food production sector.

They argue that by investing in local food production, the country can enhance its food security, reduce its reliance on imports, and provide its population with access to high-quality, affordable food options.

Explaining further, Dr. Peter Jankovics says, We give seeds and tools to Angola, and they produce the product, which we then buy, creating job opportunities and development within the country.

Thats what we want to do in Bahrain, he adds, while calling for Bahrain to take a more proactive approach to food security.

Speaking to The Daily Tribune, Jankovics points out that currently over 90 per cent of the Kingdoms food supply comes from other countries.

"This is a huge problem," Dr. Jankovics underlines, saying, We've come here to help, but progress has been slower than expected. He says the Gulf should address this issue with urgency.

In seven years, the population will double, and it's growing faster than the food industry can provide enough food, he warned. He also urges caution against relying on cheap imports for food security.

The expert noted that relying on cheap imported food items can also have negative health consequences for the population.

People usually dont go for high-quality food items; they go for the cheapest ones.

But that comes with high medical bills, as the negative effects don't show up immediately, but rather in the next generation, he explained.

The solution

To address these challenges, Jankovics highlighted the potential for Bahrain to forge partnerships with companies like the Carrinho Group, Angolas largest and fastest-growing agricultural company.

Such collaborations could help strengthen local economies, create job opportunities, and promote sustainable development.

We produce everything from agriculture to commerce, including cotton, sugar, and rice, among others. We have our own facilities to process what we produce, as well as our own shops.

Carrinho has also started exporting the products we make, Jankovics said.
AFP | Santiago

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Heavy rains battered south and central Chile on Thursday, killing one person and causing damage to hundreds of homes as authorities declared a state of catastrophe in five regions of the South American country.

A person died in the southern city of Linares when a street lamp post fell after hours-long downpours and strong winds, the Senapred disaster response service said.

In the latest official report, Interior Minister Carolina Toha said the worst of this frontal system is behind us, but we cannot let our guard down.

Earlier in the day, Chiles weather service issued the highest level of alarm, covering around 14 million of the 20 million people living in six of the countrys 16 regions, but this was later lifted as authorities said 80 percent of the storm had passed, and was headed for neighboring Argentina.

Prior to the arrival of the flood waters, Chiles central region had battled severe drought for 15 years.

We need boats to get people out, a resident in one of the affected towns, Curanilahue, told national television.
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Postal Code
A man convicted for his role in a drug trafficking ring that aimed to flood the streets of Trenton with heroin was sentenced Thursday to 20 years and five months in prison, according to a release from the U.S. Attorneys Office District of New Jersey.

Jerome Roberts, 53, of Burlington County, was convicted in Oct. 2021 of conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and distribution of 100 grams or more of heroin, the office said.

Roberts, who is also known as Righteous, was among a group that sold narcotics in the areas of Martin Luther King Boulevard, Sanford Street, Middle Rose Street, Southard Street, Hoffman Avenue, and Coolidge Avenue in Trenton between October 2017 and October 2018, federal prosecutors said.

Jakir Taylor and Roberts regularly supplied hundreds of bricks of heroin from another man, David Antonio, whom they referred to as Papi, investigators said.

Wiretaps showed that Taylor and Roberts agreed to obtain as many as 1,500 bricks, about 1.5 kilograms of heroin, from Antonio in a single delivery, authorities said. Roberts referred to it as the motherlode.

Taylor said that he intended to flood the streets of Trenton with this large supply and Antonio said as long . . . as I keep it flowing, we never gonna stop, the release stated.

Police surveillance and intercepted communications showed that on Aug. 10, 2018, Roberts obtained a supply of 200 bricks of heroin from Antonio which he redistributed to Taylor and others, the office said.

On Oct. 25, 2018, police arrested Roberts, Taylor, Antonio, and others who were not identified in the release and recovered more than 1.4 kilograms of heroin from Antonios home, federal prosecutors said.

Antonio pleaded guilty to his role and was sentenced in March 2020 to 17 years in prison while Taylor pleaded guilty and was sentenced in January 2023 to 19 years in prison.

Roberts was previously arrested in the summer of 2013 on three heroin dealing charges and received a seven-year prison term, with three and a half years without parole. It was unclear exactly when he was released.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
An Essex County jury convicted a man charged in a 2009 fatal stabbing in Newark, 15 years after he fled to the Dominican Republic, prosecutors said Friday.

A jury in state Superior Court in Newark on Wednesday found Cesar Campos guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and aggravated manslaughter, both first-degree crimes, plus related weapons charges, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens office announced.

Campos, 49, who lived in Newark at the time of the incident, was charged with fatally stabbing Ricky Lauracuent outside the Pink Cat Lounge at the corner of Park Avenue and North 13th Street, along a railroad embankment in the citys West Ward, Stephens office said. The office said the mother of Lauracuents children witnessed the stabbing.
The identities of the injured officers and suspect killed in a shootout with authorities Thursday morning in Woodbridge were released by the New Jersey Attorney Generals office Friday afternoon.

The suspect killed by police in the incident was identified as Karl Gregory, 46, of New York, New York, authorities said. The two officers injured were Woodbridge Police Officer Justin Nerney and New York Police Detective Matthew Mauro, officials said.

The shooting took place early Thursday morning at the Royal Alberts Palace hotel in Woodbridge as authorities searched for Gregory, who was a suspect in a fatal shooting in New York City.

On Wednesday, investigators from the New York City Police Department were searching for Gregory when an Automatic License Plate Reader in Woodbridge near the hotel on King Georges Post road identified his car in the area Wednesday night, officials said.

Police from Edison and Woodbridge responded to the hotel and found Gregorys car unoccupied in the parking lot, authorities said. The NYPD was notified about the car and responded to the scene where police from Woodbridge were briefed about the criminal investigation in New York, the Attorney Generals Office said.

At 12:21 a.m. Thursday, Woodbridge officers Drew Krupinski and Nerney, along with Detective Mauro from the NYPD were in the lobby of the hotel interviewing someone when officials said the elevator doors opened and Gregory exited into the lobby holding multiple bags.

According to a preliminary investigation, Gregory dropped the bags when he saw the officers and reached into a black backpack when an exchange of gunfire took place between Gregory, Krupinski, Nerney and Mauro.

Nerney, Mauro and Gregory were struck during the exchange, authorities said. Medical aid was provided to Gregory immediately following the shooting, but he was declared dead at the scene and a handgun was recovered near him, officials said.

Multiple shell casings were also recovered from the scene and will be compared to all of the firearms discharged at the scene, authorities said.

Nerney and Mauro suffered gunshot wounds and were transported to a New Brunswick hospital for treatment, according to authorities. Mauro was released Thursday and Nerney was released Friday, officials said.

A manager at the hotel and banquet hall was not available to answer questions or provide comment Friday evening.

No further information on the incident or investigation was provided Friday. It remains under investigation by the Attorney Generals Office under a 2019 law that mandates an investigation into any civilian death while interacting with law enforcement.

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Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X.
Starbucks workers are trying to unionize at a store in Parsippany, New Jersey, making it the only store in Morris County trying to form a union.

The employees are calling for fair compensation, job security and more influence in company decisions.
Its going to be a banner summer on Long Beach Island  or at least in the Alitos neighborhood.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and his wife, Martha-Ann, have sparked a flag war of Stars and Gripes in their little corner of Barnegat Bay, according to MSNBCs Stephanie Ruhle, who vacations on the island.

Long Beach Island, NJ has never been especially present on Flag Day  but according to my sources in High Bar Harbor (Alito neighborhood) ... tonight its a sea of: Pride Flags, American Flags, Israel Flags, Pro-Trump Flags, Never Trump Flags ... it appears that Martha-Ann Alito has activated the island, Rhule tweeted.

When a Twitter doubter responded, Photo or it didnt happen, Ruhle tweeted, Still in NYC, headed down tonight.

Alito and his wife have bathed the Supreme Court  already awash in corruption  in deeper controversy as Democratic Congressional leaders mull subpoenas and hearings while calling for Alito and Justice Clarence Thomas to recuse themselves from crucial rulings.

Almost weekly, there are new revelations of Thomas accepting gifts from right-wing activists that he never disclosed. In addition, Thomas wife, Ginni, has been connected to the Stop the Steal campaign through text messages uncovered by the Jan. 6 Congressional Commission.

Last summer, two years after an upside-down American flag  a symbol of the Jan. 6 insurrectionists  was flown outside Alitos home in Virginia, another controversial flag was displayed at his house in New Jersey, according to interviews and photographs obtained by the New York Times.

An Appeal to Heaven flag  also carried by insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021  was flown on a flagpole outside Alitos home on Long Beach Island in July and September of 2023. A Google Street View image from late August also shows the flag, according to the report.

In recently released recordings, Martha-Ann Alito told an undercover activist that she wanted to fly a religious flag at their LBI home because I have to look across the lagoon at the Pride flag for the next month, an apparent reference to celebratory LGBTQ+ displays during Pride month in June.

Her husband asked her not to, she said: Hes, like, Oh, please dont put up a flag.

Martha-Ann Alito also imagined making a flag with yellow and orange flames and the Italian word for shame in the center.

Meanwhile, Samuel Alito told the activist that he didnt believe compromise with liberals was possible.

On one side or the other  one side or the other is going to win, he said. I dont know. I mean, there can be a way of working  a way of living together peacefully, but its difficult, you know, because there are differences on fundamental things that really cant be compromised. They really cant be compromised. So its not like you are going to split the difference.

The recordings were made by liberal filmmaker Lauren Windsor, who said the pair were recorded at the Supreme Court Historical Societys annual dinner two weeks ago.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Windsor said she recorded the conversations with the Alitos because the Supreme Court is shrouded in secrecy, and theyre refusing to submit to any accountability in the face of overwhelming evidence of serious ethics breaches, I think that its justified to take these types of measures.
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Ricky Soleto was a regular at the UpStairs Lounge and met her partner Reggie Adams there. Reggie gave her the nickname Regina when they fell in love. They were at the French Quarter bar on the day of its deadly fire, June 24, 1973. Regina had left the bar to get money for dinner, but when she returned, the second-floor space was engulfed in flames.

The fire ultimately claimed the lives of 32 people, the deadliest fire in French Quarter history and the largest attack on LGBTQ people until the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando in 2016.

In Melange Dance Companys The UpStairs Lounge, some of the story of the community at the bar before the fire is narrated by Regina. The work celebrates their lives and commemorates the long-forgotten tragedy. It runs June 21-23 at Marigny Opera House, marking the events 51st anniversary.

Monica Ordonez, founder of Melange, created the original short version of the piece when she moved here from Miami just over a decade ago. That show also launched the company, which is marking its 10th anniversary. Ordonez developed the work into a full-length version for the 50th anniversary last year by adding more stories of patrons of the lounge and giving some dancers songs and monologues.

I have been inspired by this piece of history for the past 10 years, Ordonez says. Ive read every book and watched every documentary about it and researched different [bar patrons] stories, like Reggie and Regina, and John and Jane, a married couple  and she knew he was gay, and they made it work. Theres Mitch and Horace. Mitch escaped but then ran back into the fire to get Horace, and they both passed.

The UpStairs Lounge was a second-floor bar with red flocked wallpaper, a poster of Burt Reynolds and a jukebox full of songs like Lou Reeds Walk on the Wild Side and Elton Johns Crocodile Rock. The bar also served as a community center, hosting church services for the community, as well as Sunday beer busts and other parties and meetings.

The bar went up in flames when someone lit a fire in the stairwell leading to the upstairs entrance. And though the blaze was put out quickly, many people died. Bartender Buddy Rasmussen became a hero for leading many patrons out a back door. His story is told in the show.

Ordonez based her work on books including Let the Faggots Burn: The UpStairs Lounge Fire, by Johnny Townsend, who was able to interview many of the survivors, as well as Robert Fieselers Tinderbox: The Untold Story of the Up Stairs Lounge Fire and the Rise of Gay Liberation. She also contacted Robert Camina, director of Upstairs Inferno, and uses a montage from the documentary that pictures most of the fires victims.

Much of the show is about the patrons and the joy they found in the bar. The music in the show comes from the jukebox at the lounge. One survivor posted a YouTube thread of its songs, though its since been expanded with modern music.

The cast of 20 is different from last years production, and it better reflects the gender diversity at the bar, Ordonez says.

Though the story of the UpStairs Lounge has not been lost, its preservation recently made the news. A memorial plaque on Iberville Street was vandalized in April.

I think its important to be aware of the history because (LGBTQ) rights can be taken away, Ordonez says. Look at what happened with the plaque. Someone stole it and threw it in the garbage. Its unsettling.

Tickets $10-$75 via melangedanceofnola.com or marignyoperahouse.org.
Chef Clara Yun has seen plenty of ego in action at some of the swankiest hotels and restaurants on the West Coast, where she pursued her culinary career for the last 30 years. That is one reason why her understated pastry and pizza restaurant at 3704 St. Claude Ave. is called No Name Cafe.

Yun opened the Bywater spot quietly in November, serving freshly made pastries and coffee in the morning and thin-crust pizza and a handful of salads and pasta dishes throughout the day.

Nothing on her menu is fussy.

No Name Where 3704 St. Claude Ave., (504) 224-2979; nonamecafe.org When breakfast, lunch and early dinner Mon.-Sat. How dine-in and takeout Check it out Pizza, baked goods and more at a St. Claude Avenue cafe

Its really just about feeding people, Yun says.

For breakfast, theres egg and cheese on house-made sourdough toast, with the option to add sausage. In fact, sourdough is ever present, including in her croissants and in the slight tang of her perfectly crispy pizza dough.

The all-day menu offers six types of pizza, with toppings including vegetables, classic margherita, pepperoni and pesto and sausage. The 12-inch pies range from $12 for cheese to $19 for three meats.

The Caesar salad is outstanding, creamy with Parmesan cheese and the umami of Sicilian salt-packed anchovies. Pasta is topped with simple pomodoro sauce, Bolognese or chicken and pesto, and the hefty portions run $13-$17.

I really am trying to keep things affordable for the neighborhood, she says.

Yun previously worked at Epic Roasthouse, now Epic Steak on the Embarcadero in San Francisco, Catahoula in Calistoga, California, the Mandarin Oriental and Ritz-Carlton San Francisco and Post Ranch in Big Sur. Consulting brought her to The Dorchester in London and the Allison Inn in Oregon wine country. She also opened her own restaurant, Plenty, in Oakland, California, but sold it during the pandemic.

Last year, the Seoul native opted to get off the corporate merry-go-round and take a break from the pressure and long hours to regroup in New Orleans.

Her mentor, the late chef Jan Birnbaum, was from New Orleans. Birnbaum was one of Paul Prudhommes proteges at K-Pauls Louisiana Kitchen, starting as a baker and rising to lead cook within six years. He left his hometown for New York in 1982, then moved to California, where Yun worked with him at Catahoula and Epic.

Jan taught me so much, and New Orleans was always a part of him, Yun says. We visited many times, which is why I love New Orleans.

Though Yun was born in Korea, she spent much of her life in California. Her parents lived in Japan for a time, exposing her to both Korean and Japanese culinary culture.

No Name is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day but Sunday. Its also a venue for open mic nights and outdoor art exhibits during the St. Claude Arts Districts second Saturday art crawl, with other shows and events ongoing.

James Farnum brings Toussaint pop-up to Anna's and other spots James Farnum told us about working in fine dining, starting his pop-ups and what he's cooking at Anna's.

The space has sat empty since Garage Pizza exited a few years ago. On the outside, painted cutouts of second liners are a preview to more art inside. Freshly painted white walls provide a canvas for local paintings and photographs.

Theres a neon sign that says Coffee & Pizza on one wall, a scattering of bright orange high tops that pop with color, and an electric piano in a corner with speakers. Most days, Yuns rescue pup Pickle is on hand to greet customers.

She installed a high-heat pizza oven in the rear kitchen that transforms hand-thrown dough and toppings into a Neapolitan style pizza in just 90 seconds, with delicious results.

Yun already has some regulars, and she pours their favorite coffee drink before they even order. She urges first timers to call ahead if they want something special so that she can have it ready for them.

Hospitality and TLC drive this under-the-radar cafe, where a chef that has managed huge restaurants now sits quietly, taking care of her customers, her pup and herself.

Im keeping things simple in my life and in my restaurant, she says.
Afro-Cuban funk artist Cimafunk and bounce icon Big Freedia have collaborated and performed together a few times in recent years, especially after Cimafunk made a new home in New Orleans last year. The two appeared with The Soul Rebels in 2021, headlined the Bonnaroo Pride Parade last June, performed together last fall at New York's Blue Note Jazz Club and most recently, Big Freedia joined Cimafunk on stage in April at the Civic Theatre for the guest-fueled CimaFest.

Now, Cimafunk and Big Freedia have released the song "Pretty" together in celebration of Pride Month and Juneteenth. The bassy, Afro-Cuban groove samples conga drummer Ramon "Mongo" Santamaria's "Sofrito" and features Freedia rapping in English and Cimafunk in Spanish with lines about celebrating inner and outer beauty.

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder," Freedia said in a statement. "Let em know, you are beautiful inside and out! A true pleasure to be on the track with my brother Cima, furthering the beautiful connection we have between Havana and NOLA."

Check out the new song below.

Along with the song release, Cimafunk on Wednesday announced his third full-length album, "Pa' Tu Cuerpa" ("For Your Body"), will be released on Aug. 23. The album is now available for pre-order and pre-save on streaming platforms.

Cimafunk this year has already released the singles "Playa Noche" with Michael Brun and "Catalina" with Monsieur Perine, and "Pa' Tu Cuerpa" will feature further collaborations, including with funk giant George Clinton and New Orleans' Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews.

"This album is a result of my good fortune to be surrounded by beautiful cultures and truly talented people," Cimafunk says. "Its a reminder to live day by day with positivity and happiness. Each song is a story; an experience that was lived and thats what I like the most."

Cimafunk and his band La Tribu also will be on tour this summer and fall. Find more information at cimafunk.com.
Cattle graze in a field next to the Denka Performance Elastomer chemical plant in Reserve on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. Nine environmental groups have intervened on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency in an appeals court challenge by Denka of emission reduction rules the company says could shut its plant down. (Photo by Chris Granger, The Times-Picayune)
Republicans on Capitol Hill presented a cake to Donald J. Trump on Thursday and serenaded him for his 78th birthday. He is scheduled to spend Friday, his actual birthday, in Palm Beach, Fla., with a group of supporters, led by three Florida residents, called Club 47 USA.

Mr. Trump may be even more at ease with this group, which describes itself as a corporation formed to support the agenda and re-election of the former president, than he is with congressional Republicans. In October, Mr. Trump opened up to these supporters about the day during his presidency that the United States decided to move ahead with a drone strike on Irans top security and intelligence commander, Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani.

Nobodys heard this story before, Mr. Trump had said to the group. But Id like to tell it to Club 47, because youve been so loyal. He told them how disappointed he had been with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel on that day in 2020  even though he was talking to the group only four days after the deadly Oct. 7 attack led by Hamas on the country.

Ill never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down, Mr. Trump told the group.

Mr. Trump has indicated mixed feelings about his own birthday.
One of the nations most bitter House primaries took an even uglier turn this week, as an embattled Black Democrat repeatedly accused his white challenger of race-baiting in the New York City suburbs.

The charges by Representative Jamaal Bowman infused an element of unpredictability into the final days of a contest that has largely been defined by stark differences over the war in Gaza.

The latest episode started during a debate on Monday night, when the challenger, George Latimer, suggested that Mr. Bowman was more interested in representing San Francisco or Dearborn, Mich., a predominantly Arab American city, than white communities in his district, which includes parts of Westchester County and the Bronx.
Gerosa moved into the 2,100-square-foot space, which has a basement studio of the same size, in 2020, in search of a place where he could both live and work. But I didnt want to make a typical architects loft, he says. Thats not my style. Instead, hes created a warm, irreverent home and atelier that speaks to a lifetime of collecting and curating forgotten objects. The layout of the single-story building  which is open save for the guest suite at the back and the primary bedroom at the front  allows Gerosa to keep his various passions at his fingertips. In the span of a few moments, he might arrange flowers in the kitchen, pull reference books off the shelves in the office, then disappear into the workshop, where he resuscitates vintage furniture.
The federal agent who fatally shot the executive director of Little Rocks airport during an early morning raid in March was justified in his use of force, an Arkansas prosecutor said on Friday, ruling out any charges.

Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had executed a search warrant at the home of the director, Bryan Malinowski, 53, on suspicion that he had repeatedly sold guns without a license.

After agents entered the house, which sits on quiet cul-de-sac in Little Rock, Mr. Malinowski fired at them, shooting one agent in the foot, the authorities said. Another agent returned fire, shooting Mr. Malinowski in the head. Two days later, Mr. Malinowski died in a hospital.
A U.S. Army veteran spoke about being left blind by a snipers bullet in wartime Afghanistan. A Florida father said he lost his best friend when a roadside charge killed his eldest son, a Green Beret. A former bomb squad member described two decades of trauma and anxiety from dismantling a car bomb that could have killed him.

The physical and emotional carnage of the early years of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan was on display Friday as prosecutors presented their case to an 11-member U.S. military jury hearing evidence in the sentencing trial of a prisoner called Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi.

Mr. Hadi, 63, sat silently alongside his American military and civilian lawyers, mostly with his head bowed, throughout the testimony. Next week he will address the jury about his own failing health and trauma from time in U.S. detention, starting with several months in C.I.A. custody after his capture in Turkey in 2006.

The case is an unusual one at the court, which has focused on terrorism cases, such as the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. In an 18-page written plea, Mr. Hadi admitted that he served as a commander of Al Qaeda and Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan who had committed classic war crimes, including using civilian cover for attacks such as turning a taxi into a car bomb.
This was the pope who asked, Who am I to judge? in response to a question about gay priests in 2013. He announced last year that he would allow priests to bless same-sex couples, defying conservative critics in the Roman Catholic Church. And he apologized only weeks ago, in a statement from the Vatican, for using an offensive Italian term for gay men at a conference of bishops.

So reports that Pope Francis had repeated the slur during a meeting with priests in Rome this week set off a wave of confusion and hurt among some gay Catholics who have carefully parsed his comments over the years for signs of greater acceptance from the church.

In interviews and public statements, some supporters of more acceptance for L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics by the church said his remarks, made in reference to the presence of gay men in seminaries and the clergy, showed the limits of his tolerance. And some said they believed the pope may not have intended to convey bigotry, but that his pejorative language was jarring and unacceptable.

I was experiencing a sense of whiplash, said Michael OLoughlin, the executive director of an L.G.B.T.Q. Catholic ministry based in New York, who, like many gay Catholics, has struggled with his relationship to the church. Because Ive been so used to covering some of these positive developments, and then when something like this happens, its like, Whoa, what is this?
The U.S. military said on Friday that it would be temporarily moving a pier that was built off the coast of Gaza by the United States to deliver aid to the war-torn enclave, where world health authorities say there is catastrophic hunger and malnutrition, to keep it from being damaged in expected rough seas. Only a week ago, the military said that the pier had been repaired and reattached to the Gaza shore after breaking apart in turbulence.

The decision to temporarily relocate the pier is not made lightly but is necessary to ensure the temporary pier can continue to deliver aid in the future, the U.S. Central Command said in a post on social media, stating that the pier would be towed to Israel. The post added that the pier would be rapidly re-anchored off the coast of Gaza when the expected turbulence passed.

This relocation is the latest blow to the U.S. effort to facilitate aid deliveries by sea to Gaza.

President Biden announced the construction of the pier in March, the U.S. military worked on it in April and it was anchored off the coast of Gaza in mid-May as the flow of food and supplies through land borders had largely come to a halt following Israels incursion into Rafah, the southernmost city in the enclave. Shipments of aid by sea began immediately after the pier became operational, but fell far short of what humanitarian groups said was needed to meet the staggering levels of hunger and deprivation in Gaza.

The pier was damaged by rough seas in late May and had to be taken out of service. It was repaired earlier this month but only intermittently functioning. The latest announcement that it would pause operations came days after a Pentagon spokeswoman, Sabrina Singh, had said that the pier was working again after a break due to high sea states.

Since May, about 7.7 million pounds of aid have passed through the maritime corridor for distribution in Gaza, the U.S. Central Command said in its post on Friday. But how much of these supplies are getting to Gazans remains unclear.

Delivery from the pier to warehouses in Gaza is also facing obstacles. Cindy McCain, the executive director of the World Food Program, said on Sunday that the agencys work near the pier had been put on pause because, she claimed, some of its facilities were hit during Israels rescue of four hostages on June 8, an operation that killed scores of Palestinians, including women and children.

Im concerned about the safety of our people, Ms. McCain told CBS News. The World Food Program, a U.N. agency, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.
Israels defense minister on Friday rejected a diplomatic effort by France aimed at ending months of cross-border strikes between Israel and Hezbollah that have been intensifying this week and raising fears of a full-blown war.

The United States, France and other mediators have sought for months to find a way to stop the tit-for-tat strikes between Israel and Hezbollah, a powerful militia and political faction backed by Iran, which has been launching rockets and drones into northern Israel from southern Lebanon.

More than 150,000 people on both sides of the border have been displaced by the fighting. And Israel has warned that it is prepared to take stronger action to dislodge Hezbollah militants from southern Lebanon.

This week, both sides ramped up their attacks, raising fears of another front in the war as Israel presses ahead with its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

On Thursday, Emmanuel Macron, the French president, said France and the United States had agreed in principle to establish a trilateral group with Israel to make progress on a French proposal to end the violence.

But Israels defense minister, Yoav Gallant, who has called for Israel to take a harsher tack against Hezbollah, rebuffed Mr. Macrons overture on Friday. It was not clear if Mr. Gallant was speaking for the Israeli government.
Ben Vautier, a French artist and agitator who often worked under the moniker Ben, and who as a core member of the anti-art collective Fluxus blurred the boundaries of high and low, art and life, while adhering to the credo Everything is art, died on June 5 at his home in Nice, France. He was 88.

He died by suicide shortly after his wife, Annie Vautier, a performance artist he married in 1964, died of a stroke, his children, Eva and Francois, posted on social media. Unwilling and unable to live without her, they wrote, Ben killed himself a few hours later at their home.

Theirs was an intense, if tangled, relationship. We called her Sainte-Annie, Mascha Sosno, a friend, was quoted as saying in a recent article on the France Info website.

It was difficult to live with him, she added. They argued all the time, but in fact they adored each other, and he was inseparable from Annie, too.
Give-ING! That dress is giving! said Ncuti Gatwa with a burst of unbridled laughter. The newest Doctor Who had been shooting the same scene for several hours in Cardiff, Wales, where hangar-like spaces were teeming with crew and filled with sets and equipment for the show. (Yes, Whovians, the TARDIS was parked nearby.) Now, at the directors request, the new Doctor was improvising.

Gatwa (whose first name is pronounced Shoo-ti) laughs a lot, often at himself. Why do I keep moving this footstool? he asked a few minutes later as he tried to get into position for yet another take. Because the art department isnt here to do it for you, teased Varada Sethu, who joins the Doctor and his current companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) for some adventures in Gatwas second season. I have to do everything myself! cried Gatwa in a mock-tragic tone, before another eruption of mirth.

Born in Rwanda and raised in Scotland, Gatwa, 31, made his name playing the effervescent Eric in Netflixs Sex Education. But the lead role in Doctor Who, a British institution about a time-traveling alien and his human companion that has been a BBC stalwart for 60 years, has taken him to another level of fame.
By the time the marine biologist Roger Payne won the MacArthur genius grant in 1984, his fame was well-established: Credited with helping discover the song structure of humpback whales, he had popularized their mysterious groans and creaks with a series of field-recorded LPs that fueled the marine conservation movement.

By the 1990s, as part of a pop-science turn that would deliver to millions of viewers an infectious sense of awe for sea mammals, Payne was giving interviews, directing an IMAX film and narrating television documentaries in a patrician New England accent that made clear whale is spelled with an h.

He had also begun drafting a book. Part memoir, history and activism, Among Whales was designed to maximize concern for increasingly polluted oceans and reverence for their endangered giants. It was his first, and as he wrote, he sought editing help from a new friend, a writer he had met at a reunion for the MacArthur Fellowship: Cormac McCarthy.

McCarthy had won the inaugural MacArthur in 1981, when he was an obscure but revered writer at work on Blood Meridian. After that, he said, he went to every MacArthur reunion. He studiously avoided other writers at these events, but when he met Payne, the two became joined at the hip, Paynes widow, Lisa Harrow, recalled after his death. By 1986, they were traveling to Argentina to watch whales together.
His attempt to escape deportation from Germany by hiding on a westbound freighter  under the cargo cover of a new BMW  was desperate and ill conceived. With only 1.5 liters of water and some nuts and dates, Walid Kabil did not have enough supplies, heat or space to survive the April voyage.

He feared being returned to Morocco, where he said he had been arrested because of his political activism. But cold, aching and dehydrated, he sought help from the ships crew.

Then came the surprise. After the ship docked in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and he was handed over to Canadian border authorities to make his asylum claim, Mr. Kabil was sent to a provincial jail filled with people accused of violent crimes, including murder.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has told asylum seekers on social media that his country welcomes those fleeing persecution, terror & war, but Mr. Kabil and thousands of others seeking asylum have found that the welcome does not always apply to them.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York has declared the race her most pressing electoral priority. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont is slated to join her for a pre-election rally in the Bronx. And a powerful pro-Israel lobby working for the other side has already shattered spending records.

The House primary between Representative Jamaal Bowman, a left-wing Democratic darling, and George Latimer, a more moderate challenger, was always expected to be a marquee showcase of their partys divisions over the Israel-Hamas war.

But with early voting underway, the June 25 contest in New York has exploded into a proxy war for the Democratic Partys future, tearing open old wounds over race, class and ideology in the heart of a presidential election year.

On one side, nearly the entire local Democratic establishment, including Mr. Sanderss 2016 rival, Hillary Clinton, has lined up behind Mr. Latimer, the Westchester County executive. So has the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a pro-Israel lobby that has already spent $12 million  more than any other race in its history  to try to defeat Mr. Bowman over his criticism of Israel.
Gov. Kathy Hochul is exploring a ban on the wearing of face masks in New York Citys subway amid concerns that such coverings could shield the identities of those committing hate crimes.

Interviewed on CNN Wednesday night, Ms. Hochul was asked whether she supported Jewish leaders call for banning masks. She said she would consider reinstituting a prepandemic ban on wearing masks on the subway.

Ms. Hochul reiterated her position at a news conference in Albany on Thursday, saying that state officials would not tolerate individuals using masks to evade being responsible for criminal or threatening behavior.

Her comments came as New York City continues to be the site of steady protests that began after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7 and with antisemitic and Islamophobic hate crimes increasing. Yet, with state lawmakers having adjourned for the year, it was unclear if she could enact such a prohibition.
The most favorable gloss you could give to Donald Trumps effort to Stop the Steal is that it was an attempt to deal with real discrepancies in the 2020 presidential race as well as to satisfy those voters angry about the conduct of the election.

This, in fact, was the argument made by Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio in a recent interview with my colleague Ross Douthat. Vance defended the conduct of the former president and his allies, and condemned the political class for its attempt to try to take this very legitimate grievance over our most fundamental democratic act as a people, and completely suppress concerns about it.

Vance briefly analogized Trumps attempt to contest the election to that of the disputed election of 1876, describing the latter as an example of what should have been done in 2020. Heres what this wouldve looked like if you really wanted to do this. You wouldve actually tried to go to the states that had problems; you would try to marshal alternative slates of electors, like they did in the election of 1876. And then you have to actually prosecute that case; you have to make an argument to the American people.

Lets look at what happened in 1876. In that race, the Democrat, Gov. Samuel Tilden of New York, won a majority of the national popular vote but fell one vote short of a majority in the Electoral College. The Republican, Rutherford Hayes, was well behind in both. The trouble was 20 electoral votes in four states: Florida, Louisiana, Oregon and South Carolina. In the three Southern states, where the elections were marred by fraud, violence and anti-Black intimidation, officials from both parties certified rival slates of electors.
For two years, James Valdez lived in his S.U.V., so it was a relief when he moved into Branford Village, a community of tiny homes, in Los Angeles.

And then the flood came. And then another. During the first flood in August 2023, the water rose to the steering wheel of his S.U.V. Six months later in February, when water rushed through the complex again, residents were evacuated out of knee-high water to emergency shelters.

You learn to live with it, said Mr. Valdez, 58, whose 2016 GMC Acadia somehow survived ruin. At least you have a bed.
Lynn Conway, a pioneering computer scientist who was fired by IBM in the 1960s after telling managers that she was transgender, despite her significant technological innovations  and who received a rare formal apology from the company 52 years later  died on June 9 in Jackson, Mich. She was 86.

Her husband, Charles Rogers, said she died in a hospital from complications of two recent heart attacks.

In 1968, after leaving IBM, Ms. Conway was among the earliest Americans to undergo transition surgery. But she kept it a secret, living in what she called stealth mode for 31 years out of fear of career reprisals and concern for her physical safety. She rebuilt her career from scratch, eventually landing at the fabled Xerox PARC laboratory, where she again made important contributions in her field. After she publicly disclosed her transition in 1999, she became a prominent transgender activist.
President Bidens campaign expects to collect more than $28 million at a Los Angeles fund-raiser packed with celebrities on Saturday night in a Hollywood show of force.

Mr. Biden left a meeting of world leaders in Italy on Friday, skipping the final dinner to fly to Los Angeles for the fund-raiser, which will feature former President Barack Obama, the actors George Clooney and Julia Roberts and the late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel. Air Force One touched down in Washington only long enough to refuel for the continuing flight and landed in Los Angeles on Saturday morning.

The travel across 10 time zones illustrated the competing presidential and political demands on Mr. Bidens time as the campaign against former President Donald J. Trump accelerates. Aides said the taxing schedule made clear that even at age 81, he still demonstrates the endurance to manage his many duties.

The $28 million haul anticipated from Saturdays event was set to break a party record, overtaking the $26 million Democrats brought in from a fund-raiser in March in New York featuring Mr. Biden along with Mr. Obama and former President Bill Clinton.
Former President Donald J. Trump, courting Black voters at a church on the west side of Detroit on Saturday, sought to harness animus toward migrants crossing the border, sanitized his track record on race and sold himself as the best president for Black Americans since Abraham Lincoln.

As he spoke to roughly 200 people, Mr. Trump largely ignored his history of racist statements and his decades of calls for tougher policing that have fueled his three presidential campaigns.

Instead, during short remarks before a panel with Black residents of Detroit at the citys 180 Church, Mr. Trump tried to cast Mr. Biden as anti-Black, focusing intently on the presidents role in shepherding the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, a sweeping bill that criminal justice experts have said laid the groundwork for mass incarceration that disproportionately hurt Americas Black communities.

Image Though Black voters have overwhelmingly favored Democrats since the civil rights era, recent polls have shown the party losing some of their support. Credit... Brittany Greeson for The New York Times

Mr. Trump, at one point, seemed determined to ensure that Mr. Bidens role in the crime bill would be the events main takeaway. He falsely accused Mr. Biden of coining the term super predators and then insisted that those in the audience should not forget Mr. Bidens role, as a U.S. senator, in championing the bill and helping pass it.

He was the one with the super predators, Mr. Trump said of Mr. Biden. So just please remember that if youre going to vote Democrat  because you shouldnt vote Democrat.

Mr. Trumps visit was part of a larger effort by his campaign to chip away at Democrats traditional support among Black voters as he seeks to reverse his 2020 loss to Mr. Biden.

Though Black voters have overwhelmingly favored Democrats since the civil rights era, recent polls have shown the party losing some of their support. A New York Times/Siena College poll of battleground states in May showed 23 percent of Black voters supporting Mr. Trump, a record level. Mr. Trump won just 8 percent of Black voters nationally in 2020.

As he tries to appeal to Black voters, Mr. Trump often cites his record as president, but the reality is more complicated than what he often presents.

In Detroit, Mr. Trump highlighted the funding bill that he signed for Black higher education institutions, which Congress passed. And he celebrated his role in the First Step Act of 2018, his signature criminal justice reform bill.

But critics have said that Mr. Trumps frequent pro-police rhetoric while president often undercut his work on criminal justice reform. And while he often takes credit for a low Black unemployment rate during his presidency, he frequently overstates his role in it and ignores other economic indicators.

Saturdays round table in Detroit brought out a more diverse crowd, and a larger share of Black attendees, than is typical of a Trump campaign event, even as a significant number of the roughly 200 people in the crowd were white.

Angelo Brown, 61, a Black independent voter, said he had come to the event because he was still unsure which candidate he would vote for. And, he added, the chances of an independent getting in there, you know, are almost zero.

Though he did not support Mr. Trump in the previous two elections, Mr. Brown, who is retired, said he was open to a candidate who would help improve the economy and would bring about an end to the war in Ukraine.

At the church, Mr. Trump stuck to the themes that have animated his outreach to Black voters. He again tried to seize on pessimism over the economy by blaming Mr. Biden for inflation and high rents.

Mr. Trump also sought to stoke resentment toward immigrants, arguing that Mr. Biden had enabled the surge of migrants crossing into the United States, which he said had hurt the economic prospects of Black Americans. And he falsely claimed that 100 percent of the job growth under the Biden administration had gone to illegal immigrants.

Theyre coming into your community, and theyre taking your jobs, Mr. Trump said, repurposing an idea that successfully motivated his base of white working-class voters in 2016.

Mr. Trumps appeals to Black voters in recent months have been aggressive and direct  but sometimes clumsy.

Shortly before Mr. Trump arrived at the church, his campaign started a renewed outreach effort for Black Americans, Black Americans for Trump, which included endorsements from Black politicians, former professional athletes and entertainment figures like the model and singer Amber Rose and the rapper Kodak Black, whom Mr. Trump pardoned.

This year, Mr. Trump has hawked gold sneakers to young men of color and suggested that Black people related to him more after his mug shot was taken in Atlanta last year. He told a group of Black Republicans that Black people like him because he, too, had been unfairly targeted by the criminal justice system. And he has frequently accused Black prosecutors investigating him of reverse racism.

After the church event, Mr. Trump spoke at a convention hosted by Turning Point Action, an arm of Turning Point USA, an increasingly influential conservative group that courts young voters. Turning Points founder, Charlie Kirk, has been criticized for statements and social media posts with anti-immigrant or racist views.

The juxtaposition of the two events reflects the extent to which the Trump campaign is trying to knit together a mixed  and at times conflicting  coalition that expands beyond his conservative base as he looks to pick up battleground states he lost in 2020, including Michigan.

Image Mr. Trump stuck to the themes that have animated his outreach to Black voters, including pessimism over the economy. Credit... Brittany Greeson for The New York Times

Its an honor to be here, Mr. Trump said at the church after he took the stage. Its a very important area for us.

Such a sentiment was markedly different from the years in which Mr. Trump has denigrated Detroit, a majority Black city, which he previously referred to as one of Americas most corrupt political places while making broad and unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election.

And during his 2020 campaign, as Mr. Trump was frequently trying to stoke suburban fears around violence and crime in cities, he said in an interview that living in Detroit and other cities was like living in Hell.

Jasmine Harris, Mr. Bidens Black media director, criticized Mr. Trump for sanitizing both his past comments denigrating and disrespecting Black Americans and his record while in office.

We havent forgotten that Black unemployment and uninsured rates skyrocketed when Trump was in the White House, Ms. Harris said in a statement. And we sure havent forgotten Trump repeatedly cozying up to white supremacists and demonizing Black communities to his political benefit  because thats exactly what hell do if he wins a second term.

Mr. Trumps speech at the Turning Point event, in front of thousands of people, took place in the same convention center where his supporters had tried to interfere with the counting of absentee ballots in the 2020 election.

During his remarks, Mr. Trump repeated his blatantly false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him, and he again sowed doubt about the integrity of the upcoming election.

As has become standard. Mr. Trump, who turned 78 on Friday, attacked Mr. Bidens cognitive abilities. But as he argued that he is more mentally fit to be president, he referred to his White House doctor, Ronny Jackson, as Ronny Johnson.

Building on his comments about the economy at the church, Mr. Trump accused Mr. Biden of an inflation-causing spending spree. He then seemed to attack Mr. Bidens commitment to Ukraine with an aside about Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelensky.

I think Zelensky is maybe the greatest salesman of any politician thats ever lived, said Mr. Trump, who this year tried to block efforts to provide more aid to Ukraine. Every time he comes to our country, he walks away with $60 billion.

Simon J. Levien contributed reporting.
Once, after he executed a particularly tough-minded legal attack on Republicans, Bob Bauer remembers, a conservative magazine called him an evil genius. He took it as a compliment. I was very proud of that, he said. I thought, Thats cool.

For decades, Democrats have turned to him as their lawyer to wage battles against the opposition. Reverse a House race they seemingly lost? Accuse the other side of criminal activity? Go to court to cut off Republican money flows? Find a legal justification for an ethically iffy strategy? Mr. Bauer was their man.

But now Mr. Bauer, the personal attorney for President Biden and previously the White House counsel for President Barack Obama, is looking back and rethinking all that. Maybe, he says, that win-at-all-costs approach to politics is not really conducive to a healthy, functioning democracy. Maybe, in taking the genius part to heart, he should have been more concerned about the evil part.

In a new book, The Unraveling: Reflections on Politics Without Ethics and Democracy in Crisis, to be published on Tuesday, Mr. Bauer takes stock of what he sees as the coarsening of American politics and examines the tension between ethical decisions and the warrior mentality that dominates the worlds of government and campaigns today. And in the process of thinking about what went wrong, Mr. Bauer, who calls himself a committed partisan warrior, has stopped to wrestle with his own role in the wars.
There will be no opening statements. President Biden and former President Donald J. Trump will each have two minutes to answer questions  followed by one-minute rebuttals and responses to the rebuttals. Red lights visible to the candidates will flash when they have five seconds left, and turn solid red when time has expired. And each mans microphone will be muted when it is not his turn to speak.

The candidates will get a breather during two commercial breaks, according to debate rules provided by CNN to the campaigns and reviewed by The New York Times, but they will be barred from huddling with advisers while off the air.

The first presidential debate of the 2024 cycle is less than two weeks away, and both campaigns are racing to prepare for the first showdown sponsored directly by a television network in more than a generation. The 90-minute contest in Atlanta on June 27 is circled as one of the most consequential moments on this years campaign calendar, as Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump will outline their sharply contrasting visions for the nation, appearing together for the first time since their last debate, in October 2020.

The two men are readying themselves for the debate in ways almost as different as their approaches to the presidency itself. The Biden operation is blocking off much of the final week before the debate, after he returns from Europe and a California fund-raising swing, for structured preparations. Mr. Trump has long preferred looser conversations, batting around themes, ideas and one-liners more informally among advisers. He held one session at the Republican National Committee headquarters this past week.
President Biden was eager to get off the stage at the Group of 7 summit Thursday night, clearly a bit testy after answering questions about Hunter Bidens conviction and the prospects of a cease-fire in Gaza.

But at the end of his news conference with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, he couldnt seem to help jumping in as the Ukrainian leader spoke delicately about Chinas tightening relationship with Russia. He leaned into his microphone as soon as Mr. Zelensky was finished.

By the way, China is not supplying weapons for the war in Ukraine, Mr. Biden said, but the ability to produce those weapons and the technology available to do it.

So, it is, in fact, helping Russia, he said.

Throughout the Group of 7 summit meeting in Puglia, China has been the lurking presence: as the savior of Russias war machine, in the words of the summits final communique; as an intensifying threat in the South China Sea; and as a wayward economic actor, dumping electric cars in Western markets and threatening to withhold critical minerals needed by high-tech industries.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators crowded onto French streets on Saturday to denounce the rise of the countrys far-right political party and call on fellow citizens to block it from taking power in snap parliamentary elections set by President Emmanuel Macron.

The mostly peaceful protests, organized by the countrys five biggest labor unions, were widely supported by human rights associations, activists, artists and backers of a newly formed left-wing coalition of political parties, the New Popular Front. Most protesters painted a dark picture of the country under a far-right prime minister.

For the first time since the Vichy regime, the extreme right could prevail again in France, Olivier Faure, the leader of the Socialist Party, said while addressing the crowd in Paris.

That prospect brought out of retirement former President Francois Hollande, who announced on Saturday that he would run for legislative elections to help ensure that the far right would not take power.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine played the starring role at a peace conference in Switzerland on Saturday aimed at shoring up support for Ukraines negotiating positions in its war with Russia with the backing of as many nations as possible.

But some countries questioned the value of peace talks that did not involve negotiations between the warring sides.

There is no Russia here, Mr. Zelensky said, explaining to dozens of world leaders gathering at an Alpine resort why Russia was not invited to the meeting. Why? Because if Russia was interested in peace, there would be no war.

The two-day conference, which was attended by Vice President Kamala Harris, has emerged as Mr. Zelenskys highest-profile effort to bring countries beyond Europe and North America onboard with his vision for ending the war: a peace plan that would involve Russia withdrawing from all of Ukraine, paying reparations and facing justice for war crimes.
On Oct. 7, as the Hamas-led attack on Israel was unfolding, many Palestinians took to the streets of Gaza to celebrate what they likened to a prison break and saw as the sudden humiliation of an occupier.

But it was just a temporary boost for Hamas, whose support among Gazans has been low for some time. And as the Israeli onslaught has brought widespread devastation and tens of thousands of deaths, the group and its leaders have remained broadly unpopular in the enclave. More Gazans have even been willing to speak out against Hamas, risking retribution.

In interviews with nearly a dozen Gaza residents in recent months, a number of them said they held Hamas responsible for starting the war and helping to bring death and destruction upon them, even as they blame Israel first and foremost.

One Gazan, Raed al-Kelani, 47, said Hamas always acts in its own interests.

It started Oct. 7, and it wants to end it on its own terms, said Mr. al-Kelani, who worked as a civil servant for the former Palestinian Authority government in Gaza, which was run by a rival faction to Hamas before Hamas seized control of the territory in 2007.
Ukraine-Russia Peace Is as Elusive as Ever. But in 2022 They Were Talking. Representatives from the warring nations held peace talks in the early weeks of the Russian invasion. They fizzled. Documents from those talks show why any new ones will face major obstacles.

A draft Ukraine-Russia treaty from April 2022, published here in full for the first time.

With Russia and Ukraine locked in their third year of all-out war, there is no clear path to military victory for either side. Nor are there immediate prospects for a ceasefire and an eventual peace plan, with both sides sticking to irreconcilable positions.

Yet the issues that would need to be tackled in any future peace settlement are evident, and in fact were at the center of negotiations two years ago that explored peace terms in remarkable detail.

Documents reviewed by The New York Times shed light on the points of disagreement that would have to be overcome.

The documents emerged from negotiating sessions that took place in the weeks after the start of the war, from February to April of 2022. It was the only time that Ukrainian and Russian officials are known to have engaged in direct peace talks.

The talks failed as both sides dug in on the battlefield, but not before negotiators produced multiple drafts of a treaty that was supposed to guarantee Ukraines future security while fulfilling some of President Vladimir V. Putins demands.

Today, even with hundreds of thousands dead and wounded, Moscow and Kyiv appear further from peace than at any other time since the full-scale invasion. On Friday, Mr. Putin said Russia would agree to a ceasefire only if Ukraine handed over four regions the Kremlin has declared part of Russia and dropped its NATO aspirations. It was essentially a demand for capitulation, which the Ukrainian government immediately denounced.

Ukraines current demands  a withdrawal of all Russian forces from Ukrainian territory  also appear unrealistic given Mr. Putins apparent resolve and his armys current advantages. This includes the Crimean Peninsula, which Mr. Putin annexed in 2014 in a swift operation that he considers central to his legacy.

But at some point, both sides could return to the negotiating table again  a scenario that is expected to be discussed as Ukraine gathers scores of countries, though not Russia, for a peace conference in Switzerland this weekend. If and when Ukraine and Russia resume direct negotiations, the issues raised in the documents produced at the start of the war, including the status of occupied Ukrainian territories and Ukraines future security guarantees, would remain relevant.

Russia initially wanted Ukraine to recognize Crimea as part of Russia. Ukraine recognizes the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol as an integral part (subjects) of the Russian Federation and, in this regard, shall make comprehensive changes to the national legislation.

By April 15, both sides agreed to exclude Crimea from their treaty  leaving it under Russian occupation but without Ukraine recognizing it. Paragraph 1 of Article 2 and Articles 4, 5 and 11 of this Treaty shall not apply to Crimea and Sevastopol.

An examination of the documents shows that the two sides clashed over issues including weapons levels, the terms of Ukraines potential membership in the European Union, and specific Ukrainian laws on language and culture that Russia wanted repealed. Ukraines negotiators offered to forgo NATO membership, and to accept Russian occupation of parts of their territory. But they refused to recognize Russian sovereignty over them.

Ukraine proposed never joining NATO or other alliances. Ukraine does not join any military alliances, does not deploy foreign military bases and contingents 

Russia demanded that Ukraine make Russian an official language. Ukraine, within 30 (thirty) days after signing this Treaty, shall remove all restrictions on the use of the Russian language in any area in accordance with Annex 2.

Russia, stunned by the fierce resistance Ukraine was putting up, seemed open to such a deal, but eventually balked at its critical component: an arrangement binding other countries to come to Ukraines defense if it were ever attacked again.

At the time, little about these peace negotiations was known, and what has leaked out in the two years since has been shoehorned into wartime talking points by each side. Mr. Putin contends the West pressured Ukraine to reject a peace deal; Ukraine's Foreign Ministry says that if Russia wanted peace in 2022, why had it attacked Ukraine in the first place?

The Times is publishing the documents it obtained in full. They are treaty drafts dated March 17 and April 15, 2022, showing the two sides competing proposals and points of agreement; and a private communique at in-person talks in Istanbul on March 29 that summarized the proposed deal.

The documents were provided by Ukrainian, Russian and European sources, and confirmed as authentic by participants in the talks and other people close to them. Some aspects of these documents have emerged, but most of the material has not been previously disclosed.

In addition to reviewing the documents, The Times spent months interviewing more than a dozen Ukrainian, Russian and Western current and former officials and others close to the talks; they include three members of Ukraines negotiating team. Many spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the negotiations.

We managed to find a very real compromise, Oleksandr Chalyi, a member of the Ukrainian negotiating team, said at a panel discussion in Geneva last December. We were very close in the middle of April, in the end of April, to finalize our war with some peaceful settlement.

The Talks Begin

On Feb. 28, 2022, aides to Polands president met a group of senior Ukrainian officials at the border and ferried them by helicopter to a military base near Belarus. The Ukrainians then entered Belarus on their own and met a delegation of Russians led by an adviser to Mr. Putin, Vladimir Medinsky.

It was an unusual moment in the history of warfare: the start of direct talks between the invaders and the invaded, just days after Europes biggest war of aggression in three generations had begun.

Some of the Ukrainian negotiators who spoke to The Times thought that Mr. Putin had come to the table so quickly because he never expected his army to stumble so spectacularly. But as far as they could tell, the Russians sitting across from them had little sense of how badly their troops were doing.

Ukraines defense minister, Oleksii Reznikov, third from right; with an adviser to President Vladimir Putin, Vladimir Medinsky, and a Russian official, Leonid Slutsky, in Belarus. The photo was released by Belarusian state media. BeITA, via Shutterstock

When Oleksii Reznikov, the Ukrainian defense minister at the time, said his side had tallied 3,000 Russian soldiers killed in action, Mr. Medinsky appeared surprised and looked over at the top Russian military official at the table.

No, we only have 80 soldiers killed, the military official, Aleksandr Fomin, said, Mr. Reznikov recalled.

The negotiators soon shifted to video calls, with the Ukrainians dialing in from a conference room at Mr. Zelenskys presidential offices, Ukrainian negotiators said, or, a few times, from an underground bunker.

Ukraine made a significant concession: it was ready to become a permanently neutral state that would never join NATO or allow foreign forces to be based on its soil. The offer seemed to address Mr. Putins core grievance  that the West, in the Kremlins narrative, was trying to use Ukraine to destroy Russia.

An Early Draft

Though the two sides engaged in regular video sessions after meeting in Belarus, a treaty draft dated March 17 shows how far apart they remained. The Times reviewed an English-language version that Ukraine provided to Western governments.

Ukraine sought Russias assent to international security guarantees, by which other countries  including Ukrainian allies who would also sign the agreement  would come to its defense should it be attacked again. It wanted the treaty to apply to Ukraines internationally recognized borders, even as Russian troops were still trying to take Kyiv.

Ukraine wanted its allies to be treaty-bound to intervene if it was attacked again, such as by closing airspace over Ukraine, providing necessary weapons, using armed forces in order to restore and subsequently maintain the security of Ukraine as a permanently neutral state.

The Russian team wanted Ukraine and every other treaty signatory to cancel the sanctions against Moscow they had been levying since 2014 and to publicly call on other countries to do the same. Ukraine was to cede its entire eastern Donbas region and recognize Crimea as part of Russia. A seven-point list targeted Ukraines national identity, including a ban on naming places after Ukrainian independence fighters.

The latter demand illustrated one of Mr. Putins stated rationales for going to war: he had described Ukraine as an artificial country that should be considered part of Russia.

Russias treaty proposals read like a laundry list of Kremlin demands, including that Kyiv-controlled parts of eastern Ukraine be ceded to Russias proxy peoples republics. Ukraine recognizes the independence of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic within the administrative boundaries of the former Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine and, in this regard, shall introduce comprehensive changes to the national legislation. Ukraine shall cancel and henceforth not impose, and also shall publicly call on all states and international organizations to cancel and henceforth not impose, any and all sanctions and restrictive measures imposed since 2014 against the Russian Federation. Ban, with the introduction of criminal liability, the glorification and propaganda in any form of Nazism and neo-Nazism, the Nazi movement and organizations associated therewith, including holding public demonstrations and processions, construction of monuments and memorials and naming toponyms, in particular, streets, settlements and other geographical objects.

The draft included limits on the size of the Ukrainian armed forces and the number of tanks, artillery batteries, warships and combat aircraft the country could have in its arsenal. The Ukrainians were prepared to accept such caps, but sought much higher limits.

A former senior U.S. official who was briefed on the negotiations, noting how Russian forces were being repelled across northern Ukraine, said Mr. Putin seemed to be salivating at the deal.

American officials were alarmed at the terms. In meetings with their Ukrainian counterparts, the senior official recalled, We quietly said, You understand this is unilateral disarmament, right?

Pro-Russian demonstrators in front of seized government building in Simferopol, Crimea, in 2014. Sergey Ponomarev for The New York Times

Leaders in Poland  early and strong supporters of Ukraine  feared that Germany or France might try to persuade the Ukrainians to accept Russias terms, according to a European diplomat, and wanted to prevent that from happening.

To that end, when Polands president, Andrzej Duda, met with NATO leaders in Brussels on March 24, he held up the March 17 text, said the diplomat, who was present.

Which of you would sign it? Mr. Duda asked his counterparts, the diplomat said.

None of the NATO leaders spoke up.

A Breakthrough in Istanbul?

A few days later, on March 29, Russia and Ukraines representatives met at an Istanbul palace on the Bosporus. To some, the talks felt like a breakthrough driven by Russias battlefield struggles.

After each military setback, a member of Ukraines negotiating team said, Mr. Putin reduced his demands.

A photo released by the Turkish government showed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the opening of Ukrainian-Russian talks in Istanbul in March 2022. Murat Cetin Muhurdar/Turkish Presidential Press Service, via Agence France-Presse  Getty Images

In Istanbul, the Russians seemed to endorse Ukraines model of neutrality and security guarantees and put less emphasis on their territorial demands. Afterward, Mr. Medinsky, Russias lead negotiator, said Ukraines offer of neutrality meant it was ready to fulfill those principal demands that Russia insisted on for all the past years.

Ukraine summarized the proposed deal in a two-page document it called the Istanbul Communique, which it never published. The status of Crimea was to be decided over a 10- or 15-year period, with Ukraine promising not to try to retake the peninsula by force; Mr. Zelensky and Mr. Putin would meet in person to finalize a peace treaty and strike a deal on how much Ukrainian territory Russia would continue to occupy.

Zelensky and Putin would meet to hash out final differences, according to the discussions in Istanbul. The parties consider it possible to hold a meeting on ... ... 2022 between the presidents of Ukraine and Russia with the aim to sign an agreement and/or make political decisions regarding the remaining unresolved issues.

The communique, provided to The Times by a Ukrainian negotiator, described a mechanism in which other countries would intervene militarily if Ukraine were attacked again  a concept that the Ukrainians pointedly designated as Article 5, a reference to the mutual defense agreement in Article 5 of the NATO treaty.

To the Ukrainians, binding security guarantees were at the core of a potential peace deal that multiple countries would sign on to. Possible guarantor states: Great Britain, China, Russia, the United States, France, Turkey, Germany, Canada, Italy, Poland, Israel. The Guarantor States and Ukraine agree that in the event of aggression, any armed attack on Ukraine or any military operation against Ukraine, each of the Guarantor States, after urgent and immediate consultations between them  will provide  assistance to Ukraine, as a permanently neutral state under attack

But Russian officials sent mixed signals in public on whether the Kremlin was really ready to sign onto the deal. The Russians and Ukrainians returned to hourslong negotiating sessions by video call, exchanging treaty drafts via WhatsApp, negotiators said.

The Boss

In early April, after Russia withdrew from the outskirts of Kyiv, images of massacred civilians in the suburb of Bucha, some with their hands tied with white cloth, shocked the world. For Ukrainians, the idea that their country could strike a compromise with Russia seemed more remote than ever.

But Mr. Zelensky, visiting Bucha on April 4, said the talks would go on, even as Russia dismissed the Bucha atrocities as a staged provocation.

Bodies in Bucha being taken away for forensic examination in April 2022. Daniel Berehulak for The New York Times

Colleagues, I spoke to RA, Ukraines lead negotiator, Davyd Arakhamia, wrote on April 10 in a WhatsApp message to the Ukrainian team. He spoke yesterday for an hour and a half with his boss.

RA was Roman Abramovich, the Russian billionaire who played a behind-the-scenes role in the talks. His boss, Mr. Putin, was urging the negotiators to concentrate on the key issues and work through them quickly, Mr. Arakhamia wrote. (A member of the WhatsApp group showed that message and others to reporters for The Times.)

A spokesperson for Mr Abramovich said his role was limited to introducing representatives from both parties to each other and that following that initial stage, he was not involved in the process.

Mr. Arakhamias message suggested that Mr. Putin was micromanaging not only Russias invasion, but also its peace talks. At another point, Russias lead negotiator, Mr. Medinsky, interrupted a video conference by claiming that Mr. Putin was phoning him directly.

The boss is calling, Mr. Medinsky said, according to two Ukrainian negotiators.

Mr. Putins involvement and intentions during the 2022 talks were subjects of debate in Kyiv and Washington, Ukrainian and American officials said. Was he truly interested in a deal? Or was he merely trying to bog Ukraine down while his troops regrouped?

There were signs that Mr. Putin was micromanaging not only the Russian invasion but also the peace talks. Nanna Heitmann for The New York Times

We didnt know if Putin was serious, said the former senior U.S. official. We couldnt tell, on either side of the fence, whether these people who were talking were empowered.

One Ukrainian negotiator said he believed the negotiations were a bluff on Mr. Putins part, but two others described them as serious.

On April 15, five days after Mr. Abramovich told the Ukrainians about his meeting with Mr. Putin, the Russian negotiators sent a 17-page draft treaty to their presidents desk.

Sticking Points

Similar to the month-earlier version, the April 15 draft includes text in red highlighting issues in dispute. But such markings are almost entirely absent from the treatys first pages, where points of agreement emerged.

Negotiators agreed that Ukraine would declare itself permanently neutral, though it would be allowed to join the European Union.

Russia dropped its earlier objections to Ukraines full-fledged E.U. membership. The Parties to this Treaty share the understanding that Ukraine's status as a permanently neutral state is, subject to the provisions of this Treaty, compatible with Ukraine's possible membership in the European Union.

Much of the treaty would not apply to Crimea and another to-be-determined swath of Ukraine  meaning that Kyiv would accept Russian occupation of part of its territory without recognizing Russian sovereignty over it.

But crucial sticking points remained. Russia wanted the firing range of Ukraines missiles to be limited to 25 miles, while Ukraine wanted 174 miles  enough to hit targets across Crimea. Russia still wanted Ukraine to repeal laws related to language and national identity, and to pull back Ukrainian troops as part of a cease-fire.

Russias ceasefire proposal declared that Ukraine would need to withdraw its troops on its own territory. Ukraine carries out the withdrawal (return) of units of its armed forces, other armed formations, weapons and military equipment to places of permanent deployment or to places agreed upon with the Russian Federation.

The biggest problem, however, came in Article 5. It stated that, in the event of another armed attack on Ukraine, the guarantor states that would sign the treaty  Great Britain, China, Russia, the United States and France  would come to Ukraines defense.

A military vehicle making its way toward the Polish border from Germany for NATO exercises in April. Laetitia Vancon for The New York Times

To the Ukrainians dismay, there was a crucial departure from what Ukrainian negotiators said was discussed in Istanbul. Russia inserted a clause saying that all guarantor states, including Russia, had to approve the response if Ukraine were attacked. In effect, Moscow could invade Ukraine again and then veto any military intervention on Ukraines behalf  a seemingly absurd condition that Kyiv quickly identified as a dealbreaker.

Russia tried to secure a veto on Ukraines security guarantees by inserting a clause requiring unanimous consent. The Guarantor States and Ukraine agree that in the event of an armed attack on Ukraine, each of the Guarantor States  on the basis of a decision agreed upon by all Guarantor States, will provide  assistance to Ukraine, as a permanently neutral state under attack

With that change, a member of the Ukrainian negotiating team said, we had no interest in continuing the talks.

What Now?

Two years later, there are still no signs that Russia and Ukraine might return to the negotiating table. At a Swiss resort this weekend, Mr. Zelensky will seek to persuade dignitaries from about 100 countries and organizations, including Vice President Kamala Harris, that victory remains realistic.

Russia is not invited, and China, its most powerful partner, opted not to attend. Mr. Zelensky has pledged to keep fighting, describing his peace plan as one in which Russia withdraws from all of Ukraines territory, pays reparations and is punished for war crimes.

If we dont make progress this year, then we will try again next year, Mr. Zelensky privately told a European counterpart recently, according to a European diplomat who was present. And if we dont make progress next year, we will try again the following year, and the one after that.

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine is to meet with dignitaries from over 100 countries and organizations in Switzerland this weekend. Daniel Berehulak/The New York Times

Mr. Putin in recent months stepped up efforts to stoke Western divisions by portraying peace as having been within reach in 2022  and saying he was prepared to restart those talks. Ukraines leaders have dismissed Mr. Putins statements on the subject as deception.

Putin is a habitual liar, and his recent rants are no exception, Ukraines foreign ministry said in a statement.

Mr. Putin shifted to a harder line on Friday, insisting that he would order a cease-fire and negotiate only if Ukraine withdrew from the four regions that Moscow has claimed as its own and dropped its aspirations to join NATO.

Even before Mr. Putins latest demand, experts said it was hard to imagine going back to the kind of deal discussed in 2022. Ukraine is more determined than ever to join NATO, a message it will reinforce when leaders of the alliance meet in Washington next month.

Instead, the more likely end to the fighting could be an uneasy truce. Marc Weller, a Cambridge international law professor who specializes in peace negotiations, said he expected leading Western countries to focus on defending Ukraines future battle line with Russia rather than seek accommodation across it.

The Iron Curtain will now fall on the line of occupation administered by the Russians across Ukraine, Mr. Weller said.
The Sticking Points That Kept Russia and Ukraine Apart

Russia and Ukraine failed to agree on a range of critical issues when they held peace talks in the spring of 2022. Documents from those talks obtained by The New York Times shed new light on what those issues were  and what are likely to be the main sticking points in any future negotiations to end Europes biggest land war in generations.

President Vladimir V. Putin had referred to the 2022 talks as a foundation for any future deal, but shifted to a harder line on Friday, demanding Ukraine cede territory that is not even under Russian control. Ukrainian and Western officials have long suspected that Russia would not be willing to settle for anything less than the full subjugation of Ukraine.

1. Ukrainian neutrality:

Will it join NATO?

Ukraines efforts to join the Western military alliance were at the core of Mr. Putins justifications for invading the country in February 2022.

Russias Position Russia demanded that Ukraine never join NATO or other alliances; host foreign military bases or weapons; or conduct military exercises with other countries without its consent. In the 2022 talks, Russia pledged not to stand in the way of Ukraines possible membership in the European Union.

Ukraines Position Ukraine offered to become a permanently neutral state and to terminate international treaties and agreements that are incompatible with permanent neutrality. But in the two years since, Ukraines leaders have become more vocal about seeking to join the Western military alliance as Russias war has continued.

2. Security guarantees:

What happens if Ukraine is attacked again?

Pledges from other countries to protect Ukraine if Russia mounts another invasion are bound to be at the center of any durable peace, some experts say.

Ukraines Position Ukraine proposed a security mechanism that would be triggered in the event of an armed attack on Ukraine. The guarantor countries that signed on to the treaty would hold urgent and immediate consultations for no more than three days. Then, they would take individual or joint action as may be necessary to protect Ukraine, including establishing a no-fly zone, providing weapons and using military force.

Russias Position Russia agreed to much of Ukraines security guarantees proposal but with key exceptions. It balked at the idea of other countries establishing a no-fly zone or providing Ukraine with weapons. Most important, Russia sought to insert a clause that would require all guarantor countries  including Russia itself  to agree on military intervention. The idea stands as perhaps the most intractable sticking point in the draft, rendering the security guarantees moot by allowing Russia to veto any international response if it invaded Ukraine again.

There was also a question: What countries would actually be willing to guarantee Ukraines security? The United States, the U.K., France, China and Russia itself were all listed in the draft of the treaty as guarantors. Russia also wanted to include Belarus, while Ukraine wanted to add Turkey; its unclear whether the countries had given their assent. If Ukraine eventually joins NATO, the Western alliance will have to deal with similarly thorny issues about how to respond if Ukraine is attacked again.

3. Territory:

How much of Ukraine would remain under Russian occupation?

For Ukraine, a peace deal would be likely to come at the expense of accepting Russian control over some part of its territory.

Ukraines Position In the 2022 talks, Ukraine refused to recognize Russian control over any of the country, including Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014. But Ukraine did offer a deal in which the two countries would agree to resolve issues related to Crimea through 10 or 15 years of diplomacy, and would pledge to avoid doing so by military means. Ukraine appeared ready to accept some swath of the countrys east also remaining under Russian occupation, with the precise contours to be hashed out in a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Mr. Putin that never came. Mr. Zelenskys position has since hardened. He says Ukraine is fighting to liberate all internationally recognized territory, including Crimea, under Russian control.

Russias Position Russias stance has also fluctuated. At the outset of the 2022 negotiations, Russia demanded that Ukraine give up its entire eastern Donbas region and recognize Russian sovereignty over Crimea. By April, Russia had accepted a model in which Crimea and some other parts of Ukraine would remain under Russian occupation that Ukraine would not recognize as being legal. Now, however, Russias territorial demands appear more extreme. In September 2022, Mr. Putin declared four Ukrainian regions, in addition to Crimea, to be part of Russia, even though Ukraine still controlled much of that territory. On Friday, Mr. Putin went further than in the past, declaring that any ceasefire would be contingent on Ukraine ceding all four regions to Russia, none of which Russia fully controls.

4. How would a cease-fire work?

The logistics of how to put a truce into effect are likely to pose one of the most difficult challenges of any negotiations.

Russias Position An annex to the April 2022 draft added by Russias negotiators spelled out how Moscow saw a cease-fire taking hold. They said it would begin when the treaty was provisionally applied  defined as the day it was signed by Ukraine and most of the guarantor countries, including Russia. Both sides would not carry out actions that could lead to the expansion of the territory controlled by them or cause a resumption of hostilities. Under Russias proposed terms, Moscows troops would have more flexibility in withdrawing from the battlefield. While Ukraine would be required to withdraw immediately, Russias withdrawal would be the subject of separate consultations. International organizations could also be involved. Russia proposed that the United Nations monitor the cease-fire and that the Red Cross participate in the exchange of prisoners of war, interned civilians and the remains of the dead.

Ukraines Position The April 2022 draft shows that Ukraine rejected Russias proposal but does not show a Ukrainian counteroffer. Instead, Ukrainian officials pointed out that Russia could stop fighting at any time. A note inserted by Ukrainian officials into the March 2022 treaty draft says: The Russian side has ignored Ukraines numerous requests for a ceasefire.

5. Ukrainian national identity

When Mr. Putin announced his invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, he described one of his goals as the denazification of Ukraine. The term was widely interpreted as referring to the Kremlins goal of toppling Mr. Zelenskys government and replacing it with a puppet regime.

Russias Position But Russias definition of denazification shifted quickly after its initial invasion failed. Negotiators for Moscow wanted Russian to be declared an official language and laws promoting Ukrainian language and identity to be repealed. They inserted two annexes into the draft treaty listing the articles of the legal code and Ukrainian Constitution that they wanted repealed, referring to some of them as laws on nazification and heroization of Nazism.

Ukraines Position Ukraine balked at including any of Russias demands in a deal to end the war, arguing that they were not related to the subject matter of the treaty.

6. Limits on Ukraines military

Mr. Putin also called for Ukraines demilitarization when he announced his invasion, like denazification an ill-defined term.

Russias Position Russia sought caps on the size of Ukraines military, including its total strength (up to 100,000 people), and the quantity of different types of weapons it would have  147 mortars and 10 combat helicopters, for example. It also wanted the firing range of Ukraines missiles to be restricted to just 25 miles.
A future Labour government could be helpful for Ireland, former premier Leo Varadkar has said.

Mr Varadkar also said if Labour does form a government after next months General Election, he expects them to be more even-handed when dealing with Northern Ireland than the Tories.

The former Taoiseach was asked about the implications of the UKs July poll for the island of Ireland during an appearance at an event in Belfast on Saturday.

He said: I think if it is a Labour government that could be helpful for Ireland.

Certainly, they feel more of an attachment to the Good Friday Agreement than the Conservatives do.

It was a Labour prime minister Tony Blair who negotiated it.

They certainly will want a closer relationship with the European Union.

Mr Varadkar added: I think they will be more even-handed when it comes to dealing with Northern Ireland.

Whereas the Conservative Party is the Conservative and Unionist Party, I think the Labour Party is probably a bit more even-handed.

Mr Varadkar also welcomed Labour pledges to repeal the controversial Act to deal with the legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles.

Labour has said it would restore legacy inquests and the ability for Troubles victims to bring civil cases if it comes to power.

Mr Varadkar said: I think what they have said about legacy is very encouraging as well, that they will repeal and replace the legislation.

He was also asked about the influence of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage on UK politics.

Mr Varadkar said: Given the First Past The Post electoral system, they (Reform) still might not win any or many seats.

I do think a lot of people in the Conservative Party, when they started to adopt Ukips policies, when they agreed to have a referendum on Brexit, they thought that all of that would make Farage and his ideology and philosophy go away.

And werent they wrong?

I think that is a lesson to centre-right parties  and my party (Fine Gael) is a party broadly of the centre right  that when you start copying the policies of the radical right, its a slippery slope.

They dont go away, they often get stronger.
TULLAMORE District Court was told that 90,000 had gone through the credit union account of a man who was seeking free legal aid.

Details in relation to the account of Martin Cawley (29), Harbour Street, Tullamore were heard when he appeared before Judge Andrew Cody accused of committing offences on April 29 last at Harbour Street.

Mr Cawley is alleged to have obstructed gardai who were attempting to carry out a search under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

It is alleged the accused impeded or obstructed Garda Tom Dunne by running into a premises with a bag and obstructed Garda Darren Hughes by flushing a large quantity of white powder down a toilet.

A legal aid application was made on Mr Cawley's behalf by a barrister who said the credit union account of the accused had been frozen because of a separate garda investigation.

Garda Darren Hughes told the court a search warrant had been executed on December 31 last year at Harbour Street and 3,090 in cash was seized along with a Louis Vuitton belt worth 440 and a Louis Vuitton bag worth 1,500.

Garda Hughes said that subsequently gardai became aware that a large quantity of money had been going into Mr Cawley's account and about three hours after the initial search another 755 was seized.

In all during 2023, 90,000 had gone into the account and at the time it was frozen the balance was between 60,000 and 70,000.

Judge Cody asked the accused man: Can you explain that?

When Mr Cawley's barrister said the man had been in employment at the time, the judge replied: I'd like to examine him under oath if he wants legal aid.

When discussions were taking place between Mr Cawley and his legal representative Judge Cody said he wanted the accused in the witness box in the next 30 seconds or he would refuse his legal aid application.

In evidence, Mr Cawley said he had been working in a local furniture company, Glenwood, for five years and though he was not sure when he finished working there, it was about or or three years ago.

When the judge put it to him that the gardai were saying 90,000 had gone into his account in 2023 Mr Cawley said: I had a few accidents as well.

He said most of the 90,000 came from a compensation claim and though he was not sure, there may have been three or four accident claims.

Asked by Sergeant Kearns how he had received the money, Mr Cawley said it was by cheques.

Sergeant Kearns said Mr Cawley would have to bring evidence to court of the lodgements.

Judge Cody remarked: He's a man clearly earning a lot of money if he's paying tax on it or else he seems to be very unfortunate and making huge compensation claims.

He said if he was getting the money he had plenty of cash to pay a solicitor.

The judge was told the money could not be obtained and legal aid had been granted to him previously.

Judge Cody adjourned the legal aid application for a week to June 19 for evidence of Mr Cawley's unfortunate accidents.




No power was left in Negro hands.

W. E. B. Du Bois, Black Reconstruction in America: 1860-1880

Those spirits are going to have a field day around here. Every white person in this country, if they didn't lynch somebody themselves, then somebody in their family tree did. If you believe anything, you can believe that.

Percival Everett, Trees





White America has a point: we did take something from it. We, Black Americans, descendants of enslaved Africans, took away white America's belief in its collective innocence. We continue to deny white America peace . Our presence reminds them of the unpleasant. The irritating. Trouble. Past and present.





A good many white Americans moved toward self-appointed patrols, mobs, the KKK. These Americans gravitated to carrying out night raids, cross burnings. Lynchings.





A sacrifice wrapped in a ritual, is, as French philosopher Rene Girard writes, "the regular exercise of 'good' violence." And what is lynching? Or today's version of shooting the Black American while riding a car, or walking, or sleeping in their homes?





In the Jim Crow era, it's nothing like a lynching to whip a whole population into a state of euphoria since one visibly racially different victim becomes the chosen not only for committing violence, but also for the development of a discourse that advances denigrating and dehumanizing lies justifying the repetitive practice of lynching.

Ignoring the inherent violence in each perpetrator, as Girard would say, the narrative trains its followers to become actively anti-Black.





For this restoration of loss, a killing must take place.

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ACCRA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank has approved a four-million U.S. dollar grant to support the participation of local communities in climate action in Ghana, according to a release issued on Friday.

The grant, under the World Bank-managed Enhancing Access to Benefits while Lowering Emissions Trust Fund, aims to promote social inclusion and gender equality in climate finance.

In Ghana, the program particularly aims to boost social inclusion by sharing the benefits of the country's flagship emission reduction initiative, known as the Ghana Cocoa Forest Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Program, launched in 2016, the release noted.

By directly engaging 20,000 farmers from 100 communities, including women, youth, migrant farmers, and persons with disabilities, the program will significantly enhance social inclusion in climate action and provide equitable access to emissions reduction benefits, according to the release.

"This grant signing is a major milestone for amplifying the voices of Ghana's most vulnerable groups, particularly women, in the climate change discourse," World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone Robert Taliercio said.

The project will build capacity to increase the knowledge and skills of target groups to help them engage in emissions reduction programs, the release added. 
The war in Ukraine started two years ago and rages on today.

Seeking a way out of the current war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's chief aim was to rally as many nations as possible to attend the peace conference in Switzerland. Set to be convened at the Burgenstock resort this weekend, the Summit will be the fifth international attempt to ensure "a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine" based on the 10-point peace framework proposed by Kyiv in 2022, as stated by writer Cherry Hitkari in her story "Can Zelensky's Swiss Summit bring peace for Ukraine?"

The scheduled summit at the Burgenstock resort will be the fifth international attempt to ensure a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine based on the 10-point peace framework proposed by Kyiv in 2022. Zelensky recently flew off the handle on what he alleged to be China's defense and support of Moscow, its repeated refusal to meet Ukrainian leadership, and attempts to "disrupt the peace summit" on Russia's behalf. China's Defense Minister Dong Jun denied all allegations. Beijing, which maintains a "no limits" comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, stood by neutrality and reaffirmed respect for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Although it emphasizes its "close communication" with Switzerland, China will not attend the Summit. It cites the absence of the three foundational criteria for a successful peace process. The most critical factor is the organizers' refusal to invite Russia, which Beijing believes prevents a fair discussion given the absence of all concerned stakeholders. Beijing, however, has offered to convene a separate meeting with both parties, which Zelensky rejected.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Summit was a way for Ukraine and its Western allies to "pressurize" Moscow, claiming Russia was never invited. Several peace plans have been put forth since the war started in February 2022. Zelensky's 10-point peace plan, which focuses on issues such as nuclear safety and food security, does not only demand the restoration of Ukrainian territory captured by Russia but also Moscow's trial as an aggressor of war. While Russia described the peace plan as "not feasible and unrealistic," many, including NATO, the US, and France, supported it. Russia instead supported the failed Istanbul Communique', which emphasized Ukraine's neutrality and demanded Kyiv limit its military size and China's peace proposals as the basis of negotiations.

Beijing, so far, has proposed two frameworks: One on its own and the other in collaboration with Brazil. Apart from similarly arguing for nuclear safety and food security, China's 12-point proposal, "China's Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis," called for the "abandonment of Cold War mentality," opposing "bloc confrontation," indirectly criticizing NATO's expansion in Eastern Europe which Beijing believes has flared the conflict. The adoption of the recent 6-point proposal framed with Brazil stands in line with the previous proposal in addition to supporting a peace process recognized by both parties to the conflict, acceptable to both Russia and Ukraine, as well as opposing the practice of "dividing the world into isolated political or economic groups," continuing the criticism of NATO and Western attempts to sanction Russia.

At last year's Shangri-La Dialogue, Indonesia proposed its version of the peace plan. It called for withdrawing Russian troops, establishing a demilitarized zone, and a UN referendum on the "disputed territory." While almost all the peace plans converge on calls for nuclear safety and food security, Russia's participation as a party to the conflict and NATO's and Western military support for Ukraine remain significant points of contention. Such limitations have so far rendered all peace talks inconclusive. In other words, little can be done in Russia's absence. Its absence has caused China, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Pakistan to drop out. Only four Southeast Asian nations are likely to attend. India, which has maintained neutrality in the conflict, might attend but not be represented at the highest level.

Hitkari pointed out how shocking it was that President Joe Biden dropped out. Biden said peace means Russia "never, never, never, never occupies Ukraine." The struggle for peace in Ukraine means a will to create peace, as Hitkari said: "Those flying to Switzerland too are highly unlikely to radically change their respective positions on the War at this point in time; casting doubts whether the Summit is even slightly worth the candle in resolving the crisis. A lasting peace would require active and positive participation from both parties, genuine efforts, and firm political will on the part of all stakeholders to end the conflict. Without that, summits and peace processes, no matter how sincerely conceptualized, would be an endless spiral of inconclusive discussions and a hollow contest of talking points."

Peace is a complex process that requires the will for peace. When do the main power centers in our world develop that will? I feel the extension of NATO into Eastern Europe in the 1990s was a mistake, as it gave Putin-style politics a chance to say the West was interested in surrounding Russia. If peace is ever found in Ukraine, will the world's power centers (US, EU, China, and Russia) be able to develop a rules-based international order to build a true and lasting peace worldwide? Let's hope we can find a path for the sake of our domestic economy and the future of our world.

Jason Sibert is the Lead Writer of the Peace Economy Project
On June 13, the US Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the Food and Drug Administration's approval (in 2000) of mifepristone, aka RU-486, aka "the abortion pill."

The court ruled unanimously, but on an issue of standing rather than on the facts. The case was brought by a group of doctors who oppose abortion and do not themselves prescribe mifepristone for that use . "[A] plaintiff 's desire to make a drug less available for others does not establish standing to sue," Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh noted in the court's opinion.

The facts, however, are also important.

"If we had a war on abortion in this country," Libertarian presidential candidate Harry Browne told CNN two months before FDA approved mifepristone, "within five years, men would be having abortions."

Taking Harry's "slippery slope" argument at face value for its time -- he died in 2006 and is thus unavailable for comment on current kerfuffles over gender identity -- it's a fair riff on the title of his 1996 campaign book: Why Government Doesn't Work. The war on drugs hasn't "worked." The war on poverty hasn't "worked."

Men? Maybe not ... but women who choose to abort a pregnancy have enjoyed ways of doing so since time immemorial, government edicts to the contrary notwithstanding.

I don't have to like that choice. You don't have to like that choice. Women have that choice whether we like it or not, even if we go to courts or politicians to try to take it from them.

Harry didn't like that choice -- he was "pro-life" and morally opposed to abortion -- but wisely opposed government involvement in it. In fact, he opposed the very existence of the FDA (as do I), preferring to leave drug development, testing, and sales to the private sector.

It's unlikely that banning mifepristone would prevent so much as a single abortion. It would just push women toward other methods -- methods more likely to result in their own deaths in addition to the deaths of the fetuses involved. Fortunately, mifepristone would still be available on the black market, but that would become just another game of roulette -- is it the real thing or just a fake pill?

Banning mifepristone would also make it less available to for management of symptoms related to early miscarriage, as well as for patients with Cushing's syndrome, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and psychotic depression, all of which it's used to treat.

I'm well aware of the moral arguments against abortion. I don't make a habit of sharing my moral position on that issue.

I will, however, share my moral position on how to handle the issue in the moment. That moral position is to support women making difficult decisions, and to limit any argument over those decisions to gentle, understanding persuasion.

Legislation has never ended, and never will end, abortion. Even totalitarian regimes like that of Romania's Nicolae Ceauaescu have historically proven incapable of eliminating it. And trying to do it that way leads us toward such totalitarian outcomes.

Whatever their reasons, SCOTUS got this one right.
The interests of large business give US sanctions policy a special flavor. Any of us may find ourselves subject to sanctions even if the law does not require it.

Unfortunate misunderstanding

Although the US has not officially imposed sanctions against Ukraine, these sanctions are practically in effect. About 1 million Ukrainians living in the Zaporozhye and Donetsk regions controlled by the Ukrainian government cannot use international payment systems: SWIFT, Western Union, Monigram, RIA. But the services of the Ukrainian banking system are available to these people. This situation covers an area of 8,500 square miles, which is comparable in size with the State of New Jersey.

The problem arose at the end of 2022, when the EU adopted the 8th package of sanctions against Russia. The Ukrainian press wrote about this. (1) Sanctions operate on a territorial basis. People registered in the Ukrainian part of the Donetsk and Zaporozhye regions cannot use international payment systems anywhere. For example, if a citizen of Ukraine registered in the city of Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, comes to the city of Lviv, Lviv region, then he will not be able to use international payment systems. The address in the passport has become a curse for many people!

However, even by May 2024 the problem was not resolved. The author of these lines was unable to receive his fee from the USA for the article published in the American magazine OFFGRID Issue #61. This happened 09/05/24. My SWIFT payment was not processed by the system. Mary Mendence accountant CMG West LLC, the company that made the payment, told me: "It has to do with your location and sending money to your region. It is not allowed by OFAC." (2) The payment was blocked by Wells Fargo Bank, which acted in accordance with OFAC instructions. The bank employees did not ask me for any information. They simply blocked the payment.

I am a citizen of Ukraine and live in the city of Kramatorsk, Donetsk region. This city is the administrative center of that part of the Donetsk region that is controlled by the Ukrainian government. Since the first day of the war, I have been reporting about my life in the war for the American newspaper Red Hook Daily Catch. (3) For this work, I was nominated for the 2023 Pulitzer Prize in the category "Best Foreign Reporting." After such a background, finding yourself under American sanctions seems unthinkable. But it happened!

Correspondence with OFAC

Trying to understand the situation, I contacted OFAC. This is the correspondence. (4)

My letter:

"Hello. My name is Pavel Kulyuk, I am a Ukrainian journalist and Pulitzer Prize nominee. I have Ukrainian citizenship. I live in the city of Kramatorsk Donetsk region of Ukraine. This territory is controlled by the Ukrainian government.

"For me, on 09/05/24, CMG West LLC sent a SWIFT payment in the amount of $... The payment was made through Wells Fargo Bank. As reported Mary Mendence accountant CMG West LLC this payment was blocked at the direction of OFAC. What's happening? OFAC blocks sending SWIFT to Ukrainian citizens who live in territory controlled by the Ukrainian government? Why? It's like sanctions that don't work well. I hope to receive your answer to what is happening. I am ready to provide any documents you are interested in. With respect and sincerity, Pavel."

OFAC Response:

"Thank you for your email. OFAC does not stop, seize, or hold funds. Financial institutions stop to investigate and release, reject, or block transactions or accounts pursuant to U.S. sanctions regulations.

"If the name or identifying information of a party to your transaction is similar to that of an individual or entity on OFAC's SDN List or other sanctioned jurisdiction or activity, please be prepared to provide your financial institution with additional information to support your claim that the person involved in your activities is not the blocked individual or entity listed on one of OFAC's sanctions list or that the activity is not prohibited by OFAC sanctions.

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The Vancouver Police Department on Thursday released body-cam and dashboard video footage of an officer fatally shooting a man last Saturday.

Vadim Sashchenko, 43, died at the scene, according to police. The Clark County Sheriffs Office, which is independently investigating the shooting, identified the officer who shot him as Brandon Riedel, who has been involved in two other fatal police shootings in the past four years.
Medford nurse Dani Marie Schofield on Friday pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging her with 44 counts of second-degree assault on suspicion of harming nearly four dozen patients in Asante Rogue Regional Medical Centers intensive care unit by stealing fentanyl prescribed to them to ease their pain.

Jackson County Circuit Judge Laura Cromwell told Schofield that she didnt qualify financially for a court-appointed lawyer and no defense lawyer was present as the judge kept Schofields bail at $4 million despite a pretrial officers recommendation to lower it to $1 million.

Schofield complained to the court that shes been locked down in isolation in jail, hasnt received her medication, has had no contact with anyone and barely has running water.

She said she believes her family has contacted a lawyer to represent her and asked the judge how they should inform the court.

The judge instructed Schofield to file a grievance with the jail about the conditions and that a retained lawyer should contact the court. A pretrial conference was scheduled for June 24.

Police and prosecutors say Schofield took patients fentanyl for her own personal use and replaced the liquid drug with non-sterile tap water, causing them to develop life-threatening infections.

Of the 44 patients identified, 16 died -- most in the hospital but others after they were discharged, Medford Police Chief Justin Ivens said during a news conference Thursday afternoon.

The allegations range from July 25, 2022, through July 25, 2023, when Schofield stopped working at the hospital. Each count of second-degree assault alleges that Schofield knowingly caused serious physical injury.

These charges represent the highest level of charge the evidence in this case can support, Chief Deputy District Attorney Patrick P. Green said during the news conference. Investigators could not tie the patient deaths directly to Schofields alleged actions, Green said.

Green on Friday urged that Schofields bail be set no lower than $2 million considering the seriousness of the allegations. Each charge brings a mandatory minimum of five years and 10 months in prison with a potential maximum sentence of 10 years, he said.

That exposure alone makes her a considerable flight risk, Green said.

The 44 victims in the case also were vulnerable people who were getting care in the hospitals intensive care unit, he said.

If Schofield is able to post 10% of the bail and be released, the judge ordered her to have no contact with any of the victims, no contact with her former employer unless she requires emergency care, to possess no drugs or alcohol and to provide no caregiving to people who are disabled or 65 years or older.

Cromwell noted Schofield has a child and so the judge limited the no-caregiving condition to an older, vulnerable population.

The indictment resulted from a seven-month investigation into alleged drug diversion at the hospital, according to the Medford police chief. Two detectives and a supervisor were assigned to the criminal investigation after the hospital conducted an internal investigation.

In December, the hospital alerted police about a rising number of central line infections among patients in their care. The hospital had noticed a puzzling increase in central line infections. They are caused when germs are introduced through a central line or tube that is placed near a large vein, such as in the chest, neck or groin. Central lines make administering medications simpler. Schofield is suspected of delivering the non-sterile tap water, in lieu of fentanyl, through a central line.

The hospitals internal investigation isolated the infections to patients in the intensive care unit who had contact with Schofield from July 2022 to July 2023, when Schofield left the hospital, police said.

Ivens, the police chief, said detectives had contact with Schofield early in the investigation.

At some point in her job, she lost purpose in what she was doing and it led to this, which is truly tragic, he said.

The case was turned over to the district attorneys office in April. On Wednesday, 21 witnesses testified before a grand jury over eight hours and an indictment was signed. A warrant was then issued for Schofields arrest, according to court records.

Schofield, 36, was lodged by Medford police in the Jackson County Jail after she was arrested about 12:30 p.m. Thursday in the 5000 block of Rogue River Drive outside Eagle Point.

Jackson County Circuit Court clerk Emily Kaplan denied Schofield a court-appointed attorney, citing her equity in a 2019 Acura MDX, $348,780 equity in residential property in Medford and $20,000 in a bank account, according to court records.

A person is eligible for a court-appointed attorney at state expense if the person is unable to retain adequate counsel without substantial hardship in providing basic economic necessities to the person or the persons dependent family, according to the state. A clerk reviews an application to determine a persons financial eligibility.

Schofield voluntarily agreed to refrain from practicing as a nurse and to suspend her nursing license pending the outcome of the criminal case, Clark R. Horner, Schofields civil attorney, said this month in response to a pending civil suit against Schofield and the hospital.

The suit was filed in Jackson County by the estate of Horace Wilson, who died at the Asante Rogue Medical Center. He had sought care at the hospital on Jan. 27, 2022, after falling 10 feet from a ladder. He complained of abdominal and shoulder pain; a subsequent test revealed broken ribs and internal bleeding from his spleen, according to the suit.

Wilson suffered organ failure after developing a serious infection, treatment-resistant sepsis, on Feb. 12, according to the suit. He isnt listed among the 44 alleged victims in the indictment.

In response to the suit, Schofield denied she was negligent or caused injury to Wilson.

In Jackson County, 28 people are in jail on criminal charges without a lawyer appointed, including 17 who face felony charges. There are another 668 people who are out of custody on criminal charges who have not been appointed a lawyer in the county, according to a state dashboard.

-- Maxine Bernstein covers federal court and criminal justice. Reach her at 503-221-8212, mbernstein@oregonian.com, follow her on X @maxoregonian, or on LinkedIn.

Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com.
A motorcyclist died after crashing into a car in Southeast Portland Friday afternoon, marking the citys fourth traffic death since Thursday night, Portland police reported.

Officers arrived at Southeast 82nd Avenue and Mitchell Street just after 12:40 p.m. to find the motorcyclist dead. The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with officials, according to the police statement.

Southeast 82nd Avenue is closed between Raymond Street and Foster Road during the initial phase of the police investigation.

This is Portlands 7th death from a motorcycle crash this year, police reported. Two people died Thursday night after a motorcycle collision sent a rider and passenger over a Morrison Bridge ramp and into a parking lot.

Last week, a Southeast Portland crash left a motorcyclist dead and the driver of a car seriously injured. And a motorcycle rider died in a local hospital Wednesday after hitting a car in Gresham that day.

Early Thursday morning, a pedestrian was killed in an I-84 car crash, police reported.

Police ask anyone with information about Fridays crash to email crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov

Sujena Soumyanath is a reporter on The Oregonian/OregonLives public safety team. You can reach her at 503-221-4309 or ssoumyanath@oregonian.com.
Donald Trumps uninspired list of vice presidential prospects includes several men who have been critical of Trump, which could present problems for the ticket.

The former president  who has reportedly winnowed down his VP list to just a handful  needs somebody who can step into the Oval Office right away and be acceptable to the MAGA base.
The hit TV series, House of the Dragon, has returned with a Season 2 premiere on Sunday, June 16 at 9 p.m. on HBO and Max. Based on the George R. R. Martin viral show Game of Thrones that came from the best-selling books, the spinoff prequel has just revealed some exciting news for viewers and fans.

HBO recently announced that House of the Dragon will be renewed for Season 3. While it is unclear exactly when Season 3 will premiere, rumors are that the cast is already going back into production for the continuation of the dramatic saga any day now.

In addition to the House of the Dragon Season 3 news, Max is offering a limited-time one-week free trial, available right now. This is a great way to start watching House of the Dragon and taking advantage of the rare trial opportunity. Then, sign up for ad-free viewing at $16.99/month to continue watching seasons 2 and 3 of the fantasy series.

What is House of the Dragon about?

Set over 200 years before the start of Game of Thrones (2011) and based on the hit books by George R.R. Martin, House of the Dragon explores the civil war of House Targaryen and the events that led up to the story audiences know and love. Watch all the dragons, knights, deception, and drama for free with either a free trial of Max, or a free trial of DirecTV. If you are out of free trials, the cheapest way to watch all season long is by signing up for a monthly plan at $9.99/month (with ads) or get the ad-free experience for $16.99/month. Watch the House of the Dragon Season 2 trailer:

How can I watch episodes 1 and 2?

Episode 1 of Season 2 is called A Son for a Son, where Westeros braces for a civil war between a king and a queen. Next week, the highly anticipated Season 2, Episode 2 will air on Sunday, June 21 on HBO and Max, followed by Episode 3 on Sunday, June 30.

Who is in the cast of House of the Dragon Season 2?

You can check out the full cast and credits on IMDB, but here are some of the top actors in the most prominent roles:

Rhys Ifans as Ser Otto Hightower

Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen

Graham McTavish as Ser Harrold Westerling

Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole

Steve Toussaint and Lord Corlys The Sea Snake Velaryon

Eve Best as Princess Rhaenys Targaryen

How to watch House of the Dragon Season 2

WHAT: House of the Dragon Season 2

WHEN: Sunday, June 16 at 9 p.m. (new episodes premiere every Sunday)

CHANNEL: HBO and Max

STREAM: If you dont already have access to Max through a cable or satellite provider, you can sign up and watch on Max ($16.99/month without ads). The direct-to-customer streaming service is well worth the monthly fee with a slew of content including top shows and movies.
Showers are likely to continue in the Portland area on Saturday, with the chance of precipitation hitting 80%.

The National Weather Service says theres also a chance of thunderstorms  and that the level of precipitation would rise in that event, from the expected trace amounts of less than a tenth of an inch.
In Oregon

From the Oregon Department of Agriculture: Oregon does not have an established population of spotted lanternfly at this time, but it is critical that Oregonians keep an eye out for this pest. The ODA asks that the public report any potential sightings to the Oregon Invasive Species online hotline or call 1-866-INVADER. Please include location details and clear photographs.
On a Saturday in May, Sam Teusch recounted a family outing with his wife and their four children to a beloved spot in Indianapolis. They engaged in activities like ping pong and ring toss together.

Father Recounts Son's Tragic Suicide Due to Bullying

The following day, May 5, was a common Sunday morning for the Teusch family. Sam cooked breakfast while the kids played video games.

When his youngest son, 10-year-old Sammy, asked for pancakes, Sam and one of his 13-year-old twin sons went to a nearby store to pick up an ingredient they needed.

Upon returning home and calling Sammy down for breakfast, their lives changed dramatically. Sammy, a fourth-grade student nearing the end of the school year, had taken his own life at home, as recounted by Sam Teusch.

Teusch expressed regret over not insisting Sammy accompany him to the store, reflecting, "There was no sign that morning that Sammy was troubled or that something terrible was about to happen. It just happened suddenly."

He described the aftermath as a "nightmare," struggling to find words for days and unable to comfort his children or himself.

Despite his anguish, Teusch has chosen to speak openly about Sammy's life and death, hoping to avoid similar disasters. He emphasizes statistics showing the predominance of bullying among school-aged children and highlights the effect of bullying on mental health.

Describing Sammy as a spirited child who loved trying new foods and outdoor activities like fishing and stargazing, Teusch emphasizes Sammy's strong-willed nature and the family's deep love for him.

Teusch noted changes in Sammy's demeanor after their move to Indiana in 2022, attributing it to bullying at his new school. He emphasized that bullying can affect any child, regardless of appearance or background.

In response to Sammy's death, Teusch has advocated for anti-bullying measures, including supporting an online petition for legislation and collaborating with organizations focused on bullying prevention.

Reflecting on Sammy's struggles, Teusch expressed a wish for more support and understanding for children facing bullying, emphasizing the need for community-wide efforts to combat the issue.

Despite the painful loss, Teusch and his family are committed to preserving Sammy's memory and working towards positive change in honor of their beloved son.

Suicide Incident Among Young Children

On January 21, 2010, Jason Lance's world was smashed when he got a disastrous phone call after dropping off his 9-year-old son, Montana, at Stewart's Creek Elementary School in Texas.

Montana dreadfully died by suicide later that day in the school's nurse's bathroom. Lance, grappling with profound shock and grief, realized signs of Montana's struggles may have been missed.

This tragedy emphasizes the critical need for mental health awareness among students, as suicide rates among children aged 5 to 11 have been rising, especially among Black boys.

Experts highlight early screening for suicidal thoughts and improved prevention efforts involving pediatricians, teachers, and parents.

Efforts to enhance the accuracy of pediatric death investigations are also underway to inform effective prevention strategies.

Lance's experience highlights the urgent call for proactive measures to protect children's well-being, with a hope that increased focus on mental health could avoid similar tragedies in the future.
Two new articles went up today on the website of the Interpreter Foundation:

An Analysis of the Financial Incentives in Attacking the Restoration, written by Ron C. Rhodes

Abstract: With the popularity of social media growing exponentially, prominent critics of the Church are leveraging the platforms, particularly YouTube, as a key resource to produce thousands of negative videos about the Church. The accusations made in the videos about Church history, leadership, doctrine, and culture are so numerous that it could take months or even years to research fully, all while the flood of new content continues. It is easy for those exposed to the accusations to be overwhelmed by the sheer volume and, therefore, assume at least some of it must be true. This could place at least some members on a path to a faith crisis. While many members understand the need to seek information from reliable sources to cope with such accusations, for some it may also be of value to consider the financial incentives for the extensive hostile content being created. In this paper the business models and apparent revenue of several influential organizations are considered, which may help explain why the content, especially video content, is being produced in such volume. Financial incentives, of course, do not necessarily call a work into question but can be of interest in seeking to understand behaviors and the relationship between business models and organizational output and success.

Interpreting Interpreter: The Incentives of Apostasy, written by Kyler Rasmussen

This post is a summary of the article An Analysis of the Financial Incentives in Attacking the Restoration by Matthew L. Bowen in Volume 61 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreterseries is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/. The Takeaway: Rhodes provides financial context for the work of popular online organizations that are critical of the Church, suggesting that there are key monetary incentives for creating critical content that may help explain their prolific output.

Its Pride Month in Sweden  as it is around much of the world right now, though perhaps not in Gaza  and rainbow flags are much, much more visible here than are the flags of Sweden and the European Union. They fly from buses and trams and hang as banners in the huge Nordstan shopping center near us (where there is also a very large LGBTQ+ display and information center. They adorn public squares and major buildings and hotel reception desks, and the like. A new religion has swept over Sweden: In hoc signo vinces. Which makes all the more striking the news about gender-reassignment surgery that has been coming of Sweden for the past year or two, and to which this statement from the Deseret News editorial board alludes: Opinion: Europes example on gender treatment.

My wife and I went out today on a boat to and around the southern archipelago or island group that lies off the coast of Goteborg (or Gothenburg). These islands figure (as the Elfarsker or the river islets) in several of the Old Norse sagas, including the Laxdla saga, and probably in the Anglo-Saxon poems Widsith and Beowulf. Among other things, too, they were evidently popular locations for holmgangar, or duels, during the Viking Age, which were a legally recognized way of settling a dispute. (See the image above. The term holmgang literally means holm-going or island-going.)

It was raining when we walked over to the wharf and even when we boarded the boat, and most of the passengers fought for inside seats and stayed within, but we went up to the outside deck and found a place sheltered from the wind. The rain stopped as soon as we sat down and we had a very pleasant time for the whole cruise.

I briefly introduced Louis Herrey here two or three days ago. (Hes the organizer of our conference here in Sweden.) Since then, happily, a reader of this blog who calls himself mormonfray was able to locate the video that I was seeking of The Herreys  Louis and his older brothers Per and Richard  in a live performance of Youve Lost That Loving Feeling.

He and a senior missionary couple picked me and Scott Gordon and Keith Erekson up this evening and took us over to the chapel where well be holding our conference tomorrow. He recorded a brief interview with each of us that he intends to use online. And Keith was also interviewed for something that will go out on the Swedish Seminaries and Institutes channel. I believe that the other participants in our conference will be interviewed tomorrow

Im expecting that the audience tomorrow will be considerably smaller than it was eight or nine years ago, when we had a large turnout at a conference center. There are apparently several competing events happening and schools are on summer break, so many students are away. Moreover, Ive been told, local ecclesiastical authorities have been wary of lending their support to an unofficial venture such as this. They were wary last time, too, but President M. Russell Ballard apparently dialed them up and gave us his stamp of approval. Unfortunately, President Ballard wasnt available to endorse this years conference, and its a new crop of ecclesiastical leaders. Still, happily, tomorrows proceedings will be both live-streamed and recorded for future use.

One interesting side benefit of this trip is that Ive had serious conversations with well-positioned local people in each of our respective conference locations about making the Interpreter Foundation film Witnesses (and probably also its accompanying docudrama Undaunted: Witnesses of the Book of Mormon) available for Church Educational System use and for Church use generally in Italy, Sweden (and perhaps Scandinavia more broadly), and the German-speaking countries  and about having German and Italian subtitles provided. (I dont know yet whether they would even want or need that done in Swedish.) There is real interest, and Im very pleased at the prospect.

Posted from Goteborg, Sweden
Dizang asked Fayan, Where are you going? Fayan answered, Around on pilgrimage. Dizang then asked, What is the purpose of pilgrimage? Fayan replied, I dont know. Dizang said, Not knowing is most intimate.

Book of Serenity, Case 20

(What follows is a passage from Henry David Thoreaus lecture, Walking. He drew partially from his journals and in total seemed to have worked on it for several years. The complete essay ws first delivered as a talk at the Concord Lyceum on the 23rd of April, in 1851. He delivered it as a public talk a total of ten times, which is said to be the most he delivered of any of his essays. It was first published in the Atlantic Monthly two months after his death in 1862. The epigram and the title I add in appreciation for the Zen sense of these four paragraphs)

On Not Knowing

Henry David Thoreau

We have heard of a Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. It is said that knowledge is power, and the like. Methinks there is equal need of a Society for the Diffusion of Useful Ignorance, what we will call Beautiful Knowledge, a knowledge useful in a higher sense: For what is most of our boasted so-called knowledge but a conceit that we know something, which robs us of the advantage of our actual ignorance? What we call knowledge is often our positive ignorance, ignorance our negative knowledge. By long years of patient industry and reading of the newspapersfor what are the libraries of science but files of newspapers?a man accumulates a myriad facts, lays them up in his memory, and then when in some spring of his life he saunters abroad into the great fields of thought, he, as it were, goes to grass like a horse and leaves all his harness behind in the stable. I would say to the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, sometimes, Go to grass. You have eaten hay long enough. The spring has come with its green crop. The very cows are driven to their country pastures before the end of May, though I have heard of one unnatural farmer who kept his cow in the barn and fed her on hay all the year round. So, frequently, the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge treats its cattle.

A mans ignorance sometimes is not only useful but beautifulwhile his knowledge, so called, is oftentimes worse than useless, beside being ugly. Which is the best man to deal with: He who knows nothing about a subject, and, what is extremely rare, knows that he knows nothing, or he who really knows something about it but thinks that he knows all?

My desire for knowledge is intermittent, but my desire to bathe my head in atmospheres unknown to my feet is perennial and constant. The highest that we can attain to is not knowledge but sympathy with intelligence. I do not know that this higher knowledge amounts to anything more definite than a novel and grand surprise on a sudden revelation of the insufficiency of all that we called knowledge beforea discovery that there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamed of in our philosophy. It is the lighting up of the mist by the sun. Man cannot know in any higher sense than this, any more than he can look serenely and with impunity in the face of the sun. You will not perceive that, as perceiving a particular thing, say the Chaldean Oracles.

There is something servile in the habit of seeking after a law which we may obey. We may study the laws of matter at and for our convenience, but a successful life knows no law. It is an unfortunate discovery certainly, that of a law which binds us where we did not know before that we were bound. Live free, child of the mistand with respect to knowledge we are all children of the mist. The man who takes the liberty to live is superior to all the laws by virtue of his relation to the lawmaker. That is active duty, says the Vishnu Purana, which is not for our bondage; that is knowledge which is for our liberation. All other duty is good only unto weariness; all other knowledge is only the cleverness of an artist.
A Ghanaians groundbreaking achievements in promoting the value of indigenous knowledge and made in Africa evaluation approaches was recognized in a special ceremony in Accra, Ghana on 13 June.



The late Dr Sulley Bamidele Garibas work as international advocate for evidence-informed policymaking was now being celebrated at home in a ceremony that saw the launch of a special memorial issue of the African Evaluation Journal.



The journal, supported by the United Nations World Food Programme and partners, features articles

penned by scholars from across the world, inspired by Sulley Garibas vigour to challenge historical

thinking and tackle unequal power relations.



It was handed to the Gariba family during an intimate event held at the University of Ghana hosted by the African Evaluation Association and EvalPartners.



Barbara Clemens, WFP Country Director in Ghana, said: WFP is proud to be part of an initiative that

supports indigenous knowledge systems in Ghana and beyond. This special compilation of academic

work celebrates not only evidence itself, but also the very power of local stories and approaches that

strengthen these evidence systems.



Dr Mark Abrahams, the Journals Editor-in-Chief, said it was apt to celebrate Sulley Garibas legacy in this way as he played a key role in the Journals conception and was a founding member of its Editorial Advisory Board.



The African Evaluation Journal is delighted to commemorate Sulley with this special memorial issue, he said.



His friend and colleague, Prof Edward Jackson, poignantly said in a eulogy after his passing [in

2021]: Sulley understood that deep-seated asymmetries of power and knowledge prevented universal

access to affordable basic services. Because of this, he sought to equalize power and knowledge to

shatter these asymmetries and replace them with reciprocal partnerships of respect and mutual

benefit.



Inspired by Garibas theory of Made in Africa evaluation, three academic lectures led by EvalPartners,

took place in partnership with regional Voluntary Organizations for Professional Evaluation between

2022 and 2023. The first in Harare, Zimbabwe (held virtually), the second in Quito, Ecuador, and the third in Manilla, Philippines.



All three papers were included as academic articles in the memorial issue.



More than 15 years ago, Dr Gariba challenged those gathered at an AfrEA conference in Niamey, Niger,

to make evaluation our own. The Made in Africa evaluation challenge was not a point of arrival or

departure, but rather one that surfaced the beneficial attributes of indigenous knowledge systems and

practice.



These beneficial attributes strongly align with Agenda 2030 of the Sustainable Development Goals in the engagement of indigenous peoples to ensure inclusive and equitable development, and the

implementation of the SDGs.



The concepts that Sulley Gariba supported fully aligns with the WFP Office of Evaluations approach to

national evaluation capacity development, said Anne-Claire Luzot, WFP Director of Evaluation.



In particular the strengthening of evaluation systems in the Global South, in line with a UNGA resolution on country-led evaluation, leave no one behind and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.









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On Thursday, June 13, Richard Jakpa, the third accused in the ongoing ambulance case, underwent rigorous cross-examination by Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson's legal team.



This followed the trial judge, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, admitting an audio recording involving the Attorney-General and Jakpa into evidence earlier in the day.



During the cross-examination led by Dr. Aziz Bamba, Jakpa disclosed significant details about his interactions with the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice regarding the case.



AG asked me jail Ato Forson and I will free you - Jakpa



Under oath, Jakpa revealed that Godfred Dame had solicited his cooperation with assurances of securing his exoneration by the trial's conclusion.



He asserted that Dame had promised him a discharge at the submission of no case, prompting Jakpa to cooperate fully and share pertinent documents with the Attorney-General.



The businessman further stated that he believed the Attorney-General would support him based on these assurances.



This belief led to Mr Dame providing him with the addendum to the main contract between the Government of Ghana and Big Sea even before the prosecution had completed its case.



I met Dame at the residence of Supreme Court judge, Justice Yonny Kulendi - Jakpa



Moreover, Mr Jakpa informed the court that he had four meetings with the Attorney-General, some of which took place at the residence of Supreme Court Justice Yonni Kulendi, who happens to be Jakpa's cousin.



While Mr Jakpa initiated the first meeting, he indicated that subsequent meetings were arranged at the insistence of the Attorney-General.



AG said his target was Dr Ato Forson, not me  Jakpa



In a critical revelation, Jakpa asserted that Godfred Dame had explicitly stated that the primary target of the case was Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the current Member of Parliament for Ajumako Enyan Esiam Constituency and Minority Leader.



A-G told me that everybody knows his target is Dr Forson and as for me I was just added so that it wouldnt look like Dr Forson is being hunted, he said.



Without Finance Ministers authorisation seal, CAGD and BoG wont accept LCs  Jakpa to court



Richard Jakpa also detailed his standard procedures for interacting with the Ghanaian government as a businessman.



According to Mr Jakpa, communications typically originate from Secretaries of Chief Directors or Deputy Ministers, who forward letters to the office of the substantive Minister of Finance.



Mr Jakpa explained that upon receipt of these communications, the substantive Secretary of the Minister of Finance would seek approval from the Minister. Once approved, the Secretary would affix the authorisation seal on the letter.



Only then could the Controller and Accountant General's Department (CAGD) or the Bank of Ghana (BoG) proceed with implementing the instructions contained in the letter.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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In alignment with the government's Green Ghana project, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Damongo, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, has initiated a privately-led tree-planting drive in his constituency.



The launch, which took place on Friday, June 14, 2024, saw the MP underscore his dedication and unalloyed commitment to the greening of Ghana and building of a resilient climate.



The scope of the Green Damongo Project as disclosed by Hon. Samuel Jinapor indicates that over 32,000 trees will be planted to serve multiple purposes of beautifying the town and also contributing to the fight against climate change.



Divided into three phases, the first phase of Green Damongo will involve planting approximately 2,670 trees along major roads in the town and at selected sites such as the old and new markets, as well as the stretch from Military Junction to the hospital.



The second phase will extend over 66 km on each side of the road between Jojo Pe and Damongo, while the third phase will encompass each side of the road between Damongo and Sieyiri, totalling 83 km.



Tree species selected for the Green Damongo Project include the Savannah Mahogany and Cassia.



Other areas which will be captured in the exercise include, from Military Junction to Hospital road, Agric College junction to Kasha restaurant, from Damongo bypass to Agric College, and from Sawla highway to RCC.



Addressing an enthusiastic crowd of traditional leaders and residents who turned up massively with great eagerness to support his initiative, Hon. Jinapor charged the constituents to step as custodians of the environment and embrace their collective responsibility of protecting the environment.



He highlighted the Green Damongo project's goals, which include raising awareness about the need for collective action to restore the degraded landscape in Damongo and instilling the values of planting and nurturing trees, along with their associated benefits, in the youth of the area.



I stand before you today, in all humility and modesty, to say that, the Green Ghana Day initiative, has been wholeheartedly embraced by the entire citizenry and residents of Ghana. As Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, under whose stewardship this project was birthed, I have decided to bring the project home. For it is said, the power of a great idea is amplified when it is shared with the place that holds your heart.



This morning, I am honoured to share with you a vision that is close to my heart and crucial for the future of our community, the Green Damongo Project. Ours is a Constituency that is blessed with vibrant people, rich culture, and a promising future. However, to ensure that our future remains bright, we must take concrete steps today to safeguard our environment. One such step is the planting of trees on the medians of our roads.



Therefore, it is with great pleasure and deep sense of optimism that I unite with you once again, to launch this significant initiative, in our beloved Constituency. Today, we come together not just as natives and residents of Damongo, but as custodians of our environment, united by a shared responsibility to nurture and protect the natural environment that sustains us, he said.



The vibrant ceremony, graced by several dignitaries including the the Municipal Chief Executive for Damongo, Hon. Musah Karim Kusobari, the Deputy CEO of Forestry Commission, Mr. Nyadia Sulemana Nelson culminated in the planting of commemorative trees to signify the initiative's inauguration.



Chief Executive for the West Gonja Municipal Assembly, Mr Karim Musa paid special tribute to Hon. Samuel Jinapor for the initiative, describing it as a laudable gesture that will go a long to help reduce deforestation and land degradation in the area.



He explained that the municipality will ensure the success of the project by forming committees that will be tasked with monitoring and nursing the trees.



Launched in 2021 by the government of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and led by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources under Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, the Green Ghana Day initiative has become a significant movement for protecting and enhancing Ghana's forest and green cover.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Microsoft (MSFT.O) will not roll out "Recall", an AI-powered feature that tracks computer usage, with its new computers next week and will instead preview it with a smaller group later, the tech giant said on Thursday, amid concerns of privacy risks.



The Recall feature tracks web browsing to voice chats, creating a history stored on the computer that the user can search when they need to remember something they did, even months later.



Recall will now be available only for a preview on its Windows Insider Program (WIP) in the coming weeks instead of being broadly available for Copilot+ PC users on June 18, Microsoft said in a blog post.



The decision is "rooted in our commitment to providing a trusted, secure and robust experience for all customers and to seek additional feedback prior to making the feature available to all Copilot+ PC users," the Redmond, Washington-based company said.



Copilot+ PCs are a category of personal computers with artificial intelligence (AI) features that were unveiled in May.

The WIP is a public software testing program that allows millions of "Windows biggest fans" to preview upcoming features for the operating system.



The company said it plans to make the Recall preview available for all Copilot+ PCs coming soon after feedback from the WIP community.



Privacy concerns were raised soon after the announcement of this feature, with some social media users expressing fears that it could enable spying, while billionaire technologist Elon Musk called it a "Black Mirror episode", making comparisons to the Netflix series that explores the harmful effects of advanced technology.







Source: Reuters









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The third accused in the ongoing ambulance case, Richard Jakpa has revealed to the court that he met with the Attorney General and Minister of Justice Godfred Yeboah Dame on two occasions in 2022, both times around 10:30 PM.



Mr. Jakpa made this disclosure during his testimony on Thursday, June 13, while being cross-examined by the legal team of Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the first accused in the case.



Mr Jakpa stated that these meetings occurred at night, suggesting a level of secrecy and urgency in their discussions.



He described the interactions as significant, as they shaped his understanding of his role and the direction of the case.



According to Mr Jakpa, during these late-night meetings, Mr Dame assured him that he was not the primary target of the prosecution.



He recounted that the Attorney General emphasised that the main focus of the case was on Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.



This assurance, Mr Jakpa claimed, influenced his decision to cooperate fully with the Attorney General's office, including sharing crucial documents and information.



The 3rd accused added that he was led to believe he would be discharged at the submission of no case, which reinforced his willingness to assist.



The businessman further testified that as a result of these assurances, he was provided with the addendum to the main contract between the Government of Ghana and Big Sea even before the prosecution had officially closed its case.



This document, he asserted, played a critical role in the proceedings and his involvement in the case.



The revelations made by Jakpa during his cross-examination have added a new dimension to the ongoing trial, highlighting the interactions between the accused and the Attorney General.







Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman/Peacefmonline.com









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Several traders at Kumasi Kejetia market are heaping praise on the Chief of Staff, Hon Akosuah Fremah Osei Opare, for her unwavering support and dedication to their welfare and are also requesting NPP leaders to consider her as the running mate to Dr Mahamudu Bawumia due to her potentials.



According to the traders, Hon Osei Opare has consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of their needs and has worked tirelessly to address their concerns.



Her selflessness and leadership qualities have endeared her to the traders, who are now calling on the leadership of the New Patriotic Party to appoint her as the running mate to Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.



Peacefmonline.com reports that the traders, who are predominantly women in a Press briefing, say they have been inspired by Hon Osei Opare's passion and commitment to empowering women and vulnerable groups.



They believe that her appointment as running mate would be a fitting recognition of her hard work and a testament to the party's commitment to gender equality.



"We are confident that with Hon Osei Opare by his side, Dr Bawumia's ticket would be unbeatable," said one trader.



We believe that Hon. Fremah Akosua Osei Opare has the qualities and expertise to complement Dr. Bawumia's leadership and help the NPP achieve victory in the next elections," said, Kwame Yeboah a leader of the traders.



"We urge the leadership of the NPP to consider Hon. Fremah Akosua Osei Opare as the running mate to Dr. Bawumia. We believe she will be a valuable asset to the party and to Ghana as a whole," he added.







The traders' endorsement of Hon Osei Opare is seen as a significant boost to her chances of becoming the running mate.



Political analysts are already speculating about the potential impact of such a pairing on the party's fortunes in the upcoming elections.



While the party leadership is yet to make an official announcement, the traders' plea is likely to resonate with many within the party who value Hon Osei Opare's experience, expertise, and dedication to public service.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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As the sun sets behind the mountains in an exclusive neighbourhood 30 minutes from the Las Vegas strip, I can hear a recognisable voice singing behind a closed door.



"Is that Celine?" I ask.



Her security man guarding the hotel suite nods.



I am about to interview a musical megastar, and it sounds like she is in a cheerful mood.



But the iconic voice I can hear casually singing away is one that fans feared they might never hear again.



"Ive been dealing with problems with my health for a long time," she shared in an Instagram video in December 2022.



"I have been diagnosed with a very rare neurological disorder."



After that devastating announcement, Celine Dion pulled out of the remainder of her world tour, and has rarely been seen in public since.



Signs of trouble



The medical name for her little-known illness is Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), a neurological condition that causes muscles to spasm.



As we sit down to talk, Celine says it went undiagnosed for years.



The 56-year-old describes the distress she felt as a performer when she began to notice changes in her voice on tour.



"It was just feeling a little strange, like a little spasm," the Canadian star says.



"My voice was struggling, I was starting to push a little bit."

She demonstrates the subtle difference by singing the first few bars of her 1993 hit The Power of Love, showing how she was having to force her voice to hold the notes that once came more easily.



Occasionally, she would ask the conductor of her backing musicians to bring certain songs down a key for a few performances.



"I needed to find a way to be on stage," she explains.



She hoped singing fractionally lower might give her voice a chance to recover.



Read Full Story .... HERE >>> :









Source: BBC









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An Illinois man is at large on Friday after police in Lebanon County charged him with aggravated assault following an incident that left a bartender with a broken jaw, according to an affidavit.

Two men went to the Downtown Lounge Bar and Restaurant on the 700 block of Cumberland Street in Lebanon around 5:30 p.m. on June 12, police said. After being served, the restaurant asked the men to leave because of statements they made toward the staff, the affidavit said.

While leaving, one of the men  who police said had short hair and was wearing a white t-shirt  was trying to take a bottled alcoholic drink out of the bar, the affidavit said.

When one of the bartenders tried to stop the man, the man punched her in the face with a closed fist, breaking her jaw, police said. During the scuffle, a witness in the restaurant was also struck twice by the man on the left side of her head and neck, according to the affidavit.

Using video surveillance footage of the two men and speaking with other bartenders, investigators learned the men had been in the bar several times recently and one of the men was possibly from the Chicago area. Police also determined the man who was with the attacker lived on the 200 block of Gannon Street.

When police went to the Gannon Street address they found a vehicle with an Illinois license plate registered to Ricardo Berrios-Hernandez, 27, of Hometown, Illinois. After reviewing prior arrest pictures of Berrios-Hernandez, police determined he was the man wearing the white t-shirt who punched the bartender, the affidavit said.

The bartender who was attacked also selected the two men out of a photo lineup and referred to Berrios-Hernandez as Rico, the affidavit said.

The other man, who has not been charged in the incident, told investigators Berrios-Hernandez, a friend, is typically shy and he only punched the bartender after she grabbed him.

The bartenders jaw will require surgery, according to the affidavit.

A GoFundMe was started to help cover the bartenders medical expenses. As of Friday afternoon, the fundraiser has raised more than $3,700 toward its $10,000 goal.

An investigation regarding the incident is ongoing and additional people could be charged. Anyone with tips or information on Berrios-Hernandezs whereabouts is asked to call Lebanon police at 717-272-6611 or submit a tip through CrimeWatch.
Another college in Pennsylvania is closing.

Pittsburgh Technical College at 1111 McKee Road in North Fayette Township, Allegheny County, near Oakdale announced this week it will close on Aug. 9 or within 14 days of that date.

It is with a heavy heart that we must announce the difficult decision reached by the Board of Trustees: Pittsburgh Technical College will be closing its doors at the end of this quarter, the schools board of trustees said in a statement. Despite extensive efforts by our dedicated President, Dr. Alicia B. Harvey-Smith, to manage our situation and secure necessary funding, we have faced persistent challenges of declining enrollment and financial difficulties, leaving us with no viable path forward.

The school filed a WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act) notice with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry informing the state of the closing. The school informed the state that there would be layoffs but didnt say how many people will be laid off. The WARN Act is federal legislation that offers protection to workers, their families, and communities by requiring employers to provide notice 60 days in advance of a covered-business closing and covered-business mass layoff. The WARN notice was dated June 10.

The school has been around for more than seven decades and changed its name from the Pittsburgh Technical Institute in 2016.

We understand the profound impact this decision will have on our students, faculty, staff, and the entire community, the board said in its letter. Our immediate priority is to support our students in completing their education and transitioning to other institutions. We are committed to providing resources and assistance to ensure this process is as smooth as possible. We also extend our deepest gratitude to our faculty and staff for their unwavering dedication and commitment to our students and the college.

Two other schools in Pennsylvania are also closing. Cabrini University at 610 King of Prussia Road in Radnor Township, Delaware County, will close on June 30. Cabrini is laying off 363 people. The University of the Arts at 320 Broad St. in Philadelphia closed on June 7, and 704 people were laid off.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down a ban on bump stocks, the gun accessory used in the deadliest shooting in modern American history  a Las Vegas massacre that killed 60 people and injured hundreds more.

The courts conservative majority said Friday that then-President Donald Trumps administration overstepped its authority with the 2019 ban on the firearm attachment, which allows semiautomatic weapons to fire like machine guns.

Heres what to know about the case:

What are bump stocks?

Bump stocks are accessories that replace a rifles stock, the part that gets pressed against the shooters shoulder. When a person fires a semiautomatic weapon fitted with a bump stock, it uses the guns recoil energy to rapidly and repeatedly bump the trigger against the shooters finger.

That allows the weapon to fire dozens of bullets in a matter of seconds.

Bump stocks were invented in the early 2000s after the expiration of a 1994 ban targeting assault weapons. The federal government approved the sale of bump stocks in 2010 after the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives concluded that guns equipped with the devices should not be considered illegal machine guns under federal law.

According to court documents, more than 520,000 bump stocks were in circulation by the time the government reversed course and imposed a ban that took effect in 2019.

In this Oct. 4, 2017, file photo, a device called a "bump stock" is attached to a semi-automatic rifle at the Gun Vault store and shooting range in South Jordan, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)AP

Why were bump stocks banned?

More than 22,000 people were attending a country music festival in Las Vegas on Oct. 1, 2017, when a man opened fire on the crowd from the window of his high-rise hotel room. He fired more than 1,000 rounds in the crowd in 11 minutes, leaving 60 people dead and injuring hundreds more.

Authorities found an arsenal of 23 assault-style rifles in the shooters hotel room, including 14 weapons fitted with bump stocks.

In the aftermath of the shooting, the ATF reconsidered whether bump stocks could be sold and owned legally. With support from Trump, a Republican, the agency in 2018 ordered a ban on the devices, arguing they turned rifles into illegal machine guns.

Bump stock owners were given until March 2019 to surrender or destroy them.

What did the justices say?

The 6-3 majority opinion written by Justice Clarence Thomas said the ATF did not have the authority to issue the regulation banning bump stocks. The justices said a bump stock is not an illegal machine gun because it doesnt make the weapon fire more than one shot with a single pull of the trigger.

Justice Samuel Alito, who joined the majority, wrote in a separate opinion that the Las Vegas shooting strengthened the case for changing the law to outlaw bump stocks like machine guns. But that has to happen through action by Congress, not through regulation, he wrote.

The courts three liberal justices opposed the ruling. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in her dissent that theres no common sense difference between a machine gun and a semiautomatic firearm with a bump stock.

When I see a bird that walks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, I call that bird a duck, she wrote.

Do any states have their own bans?

At least 15 states and the District of Columbia have their own bans on bump stocks, though some could be affected by the high courts ruling.

Most state laws, however, remain in place because the decision covered the ATF rule, not the constitutionality of state-level bans, according David Pucino, legal director of the gun control think tank Giffords.

Pennsylvania does not have a ban on bump stocks.

Who challenged the ban?

A group called the New Civil Liberties Alliance sued to challenge the bump stock ban on behalf of Michael Cargill, a Texas gun shop owner. Cargill bought two bump stocks in 2018 and then surrendered them once the federal ban took effect, according to court documents.

The case didnt directly address the Second Amendment rights of gun owners. Instead, Cargills attorneys argued that the ATF overstepped its authority by banning bump stocks. Mark Chenoweth, president of the New Civil Liberties Alliance, said his group wouldnt have sued if Congress had banned them by law.

How did the case end up before the Supreme Court?

The Supreme Court took up the case after lower federal courts delivered conflicting rulings on whether the ATF could ban bump stocks.

The ban survived challenges before the Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the Denver-based 10th Circuit, and the federal circuit court in Washington.

But the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals based in New Orleans struck down the bump stock ban when it ruled in the Texas case last year. The courts majority in the 13-3 decision found that a plain reading of the statutory language showed that weapons fitted with bump stocks could not be regulated as machine guns.
HARRISBURG  The elected prosecutor in Philadelphia lost a court decision Friday in his lawsuit seeking to halt a law that directed a special prosecutor be appointed by the attorney generals office to handle crimes on the citys mass transit system.

A divided Commonwealth Court turned down District Attorney Larry Krasners argument that the law passed late last year by Republicans in the General Assembly, along with dozens of Democratic votes, violates the state Constitution.

Krasner, a Democrat, sued over the law in January, arguing it unconstitutionally stripped him of geographic jurisdiction, removed his core prosecutorial functions and other grounds.

He said he plans to appeal the 4-3 court decision to the state Supreme Court, which currently has five Democratic and two Republican justices.

Im not going to comment specifically on the various positions taken by the majority other than to say that we respectfully disagree with it and we look forward to the decision of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Krasner said in a phone interview.

The law gives the special prosecutor the ability to take over crimes within the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, known as SEPTA, and when that occurs, requires the district attorney to suspend investigations and proceedings and turn over the files to the special prosecutor.

It was passed amid concerns by some about crime in Philadelphia and their belief that Krasners progressive policies have made the situation worse. Krasner argues hes prosecuted the vast majority of crimes that come to his office from SEPTA. Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro signed the law.

Big-city progressive prosecutors across the United States have been on the defensive in recent years, battling recall efforts, tough-on-crime challengers in re-election bids and, in Krasners case, an impeachment procedure.

Generally speaking, progressive district attorneys support finding alternatives to imprisonment and refraining from prosecuting low-level crimes to reduce incarceration rates and address perceived social inequities in the criminal justice system.

In a dissent, Judge Christine Fizzano Cannon said the law improperly delegates the General Assemblys legislative authority, allowing the special prosecutor to decide what within means in regard to SEPTA. She said that was too vague and represents a fatal defect in the law. Cannon and two other judges said they would have thrown out the law.

SEPTA is an agency. It is an entity. It is not a specific place or a tangible thing. The meaning of within in relation to SEPTA conveys no concrete impression to the ordinary person; it is simply incomprehensible, Fizzano Cannon wrote.

She argued the law also violates the due process rights of criminal defendants by preventing them from challenging the special prosecutors authority.

Attorney General Michelle Henry announced Friday she appointed as special prosecutor Michael Untermeyer, a Philadelphia lawyer with experience as a prosecutor and hearing examiner. The news release announcing his appointment said the courts decision allowed Untermeyers hiring to proceed.

Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman, an Indiana County Republican, said in a statement responding to the court decision that Krasner has perpetuated lawlessness and the legislation means the prosecutors reckless inaction on crime will no longer negatively impact riders and employees of SEPTA.

The SEPTA prosecution jurisdiction bills primary sponsor, Sen. Wayne Langerholc, a Republican from Cambria County, has said he envisioned the special prosecutor as picking and choosing which crimes to pursue, leaving the rest to Krasner. The law is set to expire along with the end of Krasners second term in December 2026.

Krasner also is awaiting a Supreme Court decision about whether the state Senate can proceed with a trial regarding whether to remove Krasner from office. Republicans who controlled the House last session voted to impeach Krasner, but trial in the GOP-majority Senate is on hold while the high court weighs the matter.
By Matt DiSanto, Centre Daily Times (State College, Pa.) (TNS)

The U.S. Postal Service reported nearly 6,000 cases of dog attacks against its workers in 2023, and a good chunk of them came from Pennsylvania.

The Keystone State was responsible for more dog attacks on postal workers than nearly any other state last year, according to a recent report from the agency. These incidents can prove dangerous and costly for letter carriers, who may find themselves saddled with large medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and other costs, the USPS says.

Taking proper precautions can significantly help reduce the risk of dog attacks on postal workers. Heres what you need to know about Pennsylvanias attacks and some steps you can take to keep your dog and your local letter carriers safe.

According to its May 30 report, the USPS recorded 334 dog attacks on postal workers in Pennsylvania in 2023. That figure ranked fourth in the country behind California (727), Texas (411) and Ohio (359).

Pennsylvania  the fifth-most populous state in the country, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates  saw its number of dog attacks on postal workers increase by nearly 7% from 2022, when the commonwealth produced 311 such attacks. All but three states ranked within the top 10 saw their counts of dog attacks on postal workers increase from 2022 to 2023, according to the USPS report.

The list of states

Heres a look at the 10 states that recorded the most dog attacks on postal workers in 2023, according to the USPS:

1. California (727 attacks)

2. Texas (411)

3. Ohio (359)

4. Pennsylvania (334)

5. Illinois (316)

6. New York (296)

7. Florida (193)

8. North Carolina (185)

9. Michigan (183)

10. Missouri (180)

Los Angeles 65 dog attacks on postal workers led all U.S. cities last year, checking in ahead of Houston (56) and Chicago (48). Philadelphia, the sixth-most populous city in the U.S., was No. 9 overall with 34 attacks last year.

These were the 10 cities that recorded the most dog attacks on postal workers in 2023:

1. Los Angeles (65 attacks)

2. Houston (56)

3. Chicago (48)

4. St. Louis (46)

5. Cleveland (44)

6. San Diego (41)

7. Dallas (39)

8. Cincinnati (38)

9. Philadelphia (34)

10. Columbus, Ohio (33)

How can dog owners avoid attacks?

The USPS provides plenty of services and tips for those whose dogs might pose a threat to mail carriers. However, the agency says it knows even dogs perceived as non-aggressive can occasionally bite.

Consider taking the following steps:

Keep track of when mail tends to arrive at your home and make sure to secure your dog when delivery time is near

Consider signing up for informed delivery, a free USPS service that provides digital previews of incoming mail and packages. The tool can inform you when to expect mail carriers around your home.

Keep your dog inside your house or within a fence and away from doors. Consider keeping your dog securely in another room or on a leash so it cant attack or bite carriers while you collect your mail.

Remind children not to take mail directly from carriers. Dogs can view that as a threat and potentially become aggressive.

The USPS can stop mail service when carriers feel unsafe. In that case, you would need to pick up your mail at your local post office until carriers feel safe enough to resume regular deliveries. Prolonged issues regarding mail carrier safety may require dog owners to rent a box at their post office to receive their mail.

Mail carriers are trained to scout for areas where dogs might be present and are taught to avoid startling dogs and never assume dogs will not bite, among other tactics. USPS carriers also use digital tools, including handheld scanners, that may alert them to dogs on their routes.

Attacks on postal workers often prove costly, according to the USPS report. Recent information from the Insurance Information Institute found the average cost per insurance claim for a dog bite reached $64,555.

More:

Police in this Pa. city have killed 5 dogs so far in 2024

Central Pa. woman sentenced after attacking neighbor, killing dog

NJ cops shoot, kill dog ordered to attack them by owner
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich.  The Republican National Committee on Friday launched a swing state initiative to mobilize thousands of polling place monitors, poll workers and attorneys to serve as election integrity watchdogs in November  an effort that immediately drew concerns that it could lead to harassment of election workers and undermine trust in the vote.

The RNC says its plan will help voters have faith in the electoral process and ensure their votes matter. Yet, as former President Donald Trump and his allies continue to spread false claims that the 2020 election was marred by widespread fraud, the effort also sets the stage for a repeat of Trumps efforts to undermine the results  a gambit that ultimately led to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Trump allies already have signaled that they might not accept the results if he loses to President Joe Biden.

The RNC has said its new effort will focus on stopping Democrat attempts to circumvent the rules. The party will deploy monitors to observe every step of the election process, create hotlines for poll watchers to report perceived problems and escalate those issues by taking legal action.

The national party says it hopes to recruit 100,000 volunteers  a number some election experts have said would be difficult to achieve even in a high-profile presidential election year.

RNC Chairman Michael Whatley said Friday that the committee will place election integrity directors in 15 states, including the most hotly contest battlegrounds, and work with state parties to set up similar programs in the other states.

What we need to ensure is integrity in our electoral process, RNC Co-chair Lara Trump, the former presidents daughter-in-law, said during the kickoff event in Bloomfield Hills, in a suburban county that is crucial for winning Michigan. We can never go back and repeat 2020, but we can learn the lessons from 2020.

She said most of the RNC is currently focused on the committees election integrity program, which she called one of its kind.

Both parties have a long history of organizing supporters to serve as poll monitors, and the Democratic National Committee said it plans its own volunteer recruitment effort. Several election officials in presidential swing states said they feel this kind of transparency and engagement is one of the best ways to help skeptics feel confident in the many safeguards baked into the election process.

Yet the language surrounding the RNCs effort and how its being implemented could present broader concerns should it evolve beyond normal political party organizing, said David Becker, a former U.S. Justice Department lawyer who serves as executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research.

To do it in a way that feeds your voters with the idea that the election is going to be stolen, that prepares them to be angry if their candidate loses  that can be very dangerous, Becker said.

Trump pushed false claims of election fraud in 2016 and 2020 and has continued to predict a rigged election if he loses this year. During a rally in Las Vegas on Sunday, he said of Democrats, The only way they can beat us is to cheat.

Dont let them cheat, he said. Dont let them do anything.

RNC leadership  which Trump handpicked in a major overhaul of the committee earlier this year  has followed his lead in forecasting the potential for foul play in this years election. Lara Trump qualified her answer on CNN earlier this month when asked if shed accept the results.

I can tell you, yes, we will accept the results of this election if we feel that it is free, fair and transparent, she said. And we are working overtime to ensure that indeed that happens.

Asked Friday whether the committee planned to challenge the election certification process in any swing states Trump might narrowly lose, Whatley said, Were not going to cross any of those bridges right now.

For decades, the RNC was limited in its ability to coordinate poll watching and other election integrity activities by a federal court consent decree established to stop Republican-backed voter intimidation efforts. The decree was lifted in 2018.

The launch of the RNC initiative comes as the GOP faces a significant disadvantage compared to Democrats in traditional political infrastructure on the ground in key states, such as campaign offices, community centers and canvassers. Bidens campaign and his allies on the Democratic National Committee have opened hundreds of campaign offices nationwide, while Republican officials in many cases are still waiting for the Trump campaign and the RNC to engage.

DNC spokesperson Alex Floyd said the DNC, alongside our partners at the state and local level, wont let MAGA Republicans get away with these baseless attacks on our democracy, and we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to ensure that all Americans can make their voice heard at the ballot box.

The RNCs kickoff event took place at the headquarters of the Oakland County GOP, one of Michigans most influential local parties. Oakland County is an affluent Detroit suburb that for decades was one of Michigans premier bellwether counties.

While the county holds the largest number of Republican voters in the state, it has shifted increasingly Democratic in recent years, and Donald Trump has lost the county in both of his previous campaigns.

The RNC has focused many of its challenges ahead of the election in Michigan, a state Trump narrowly won in 2016 but lost to Biden in 2020. A review by Republican lawmakers found there was no widespread fraud in that years election and that Biden legitimately won the state. That aligns with reviews, recounts and audits in the other battleground states where Trump disputed his loss, all of which affirmed Bidens victory.

Despite those facts, conspiracy theories about voting and election fraud erupted in Detroit, the states most populous city, when poll watchers and challengers grew confrontational at the citys downtown convention center where ballots were brought and counted.

On Friday, Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey called that behavior unacceptable four years ago and said there wont be a repeat this year.

You werent successful when we didnt expect you in 2020. Now that we expect you, well, Im not concerned at all, she told the AP on Friday. Detroiters dont play. Were tired of being picked on.

She said the states new law allowing one poll watcher per eight poll workers will be enforced by federal agents and state and local law enforcement.

After Fridays kickoff in Michigan, the RNCs Protect Your Vote tour will hold events in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia, with more battleground state visits to follow.

Democrats and their allies in those states questioned Republicans motives, pointing out that their repeated lies about elections have been a driving force in undermining public trust.

North Carolina state Rep. Allison Dahle, the ranking Democrat on the House election law committee, said Republicans in her state should have focused on giving more resources to the State Board of Elections, including hiring staff, if they were so concerned about discouraging fraud.

Voters would have more confidence in elections if Republicans stopped lying about them, said Adam Bonin, a Philadelphia-based lawyer who has represented the Democratic Party and its candidates in high-profile election cases.
A 3-foot granite memorial in Susquehanna Townships Lincoln Cemetery sums up quite a life.

Scholar, humanitarian, churchman, civic-leader, educator, editor, publisher, lecturer, it reads.

William Howard Day was a significant 19th-century Black civil rights figure who made his mark in Harrisburg, in Pennsylvania and beyond.

He was Harrisburgs first Black school board member and president. He was Pennsylvanias first Black state employee. He knew Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, John Brown and Booker T. Washington. Civil rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois gave the keynote address at the dedication of Days memorial in Lincoln Cemetery a half-century after Days death.

Day was one of the most influential, resilient and dynamic Black leaders who lived in the nineteenth century, historian Todd Mealy writes in his biography of Day, Aliened American.

As Wednesday marks Juneteenth  when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, in 1865 learned they had been freed after the end of the Civil War  here are six facts about this key Black civil rights leader in Harrisburgs history.

Although a cemetery in Swatara Township bears his name, William Howard Day is buried in Lincoln Cemetery in Susquehanna Township. This memorial was dedicated in Lincoln Cemetery on Memorial Day in 1950 during a ceremony at which civil rights leader W.E.B. Du Bois spoke. Next year marks the 200th anniversary of Day's birth.Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

He was an abolitionist: Born in 1825 in New York City to a father who was a sailmaker and a mother who was active in the African Methodist Episcopal Zions mother church. Days father died when he was young, and with his mother unable to support him, Day was adopted at age 12 by a white abolitionist couple in Northampton, Massachusetts.

After graduating from Oberlin College in 1847, Day joined the Colored Citizens League, an early civil rights group; became involved with the Underground Railroad; lobbied the Ohio General Assembly for Black rights; and started several short-lived newspapers.

In 1856, he moved to modern-day Ontario, Canada, where he taught at settlements for people who escaped slavery in the U.S. Mealy writes that, on John Browns request, Day printed the constitution for the country Brown planned to form if his raid on Harpers Ferry had been successful.

In 1859, Day toured the United Kingdom to raise money for the Canadian settlements of former enslaved people. He lived there for four years before returning to the U.S.

He played a key part in the first civil rights march on Washington: The 1963 March on Washington, at which the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his I Have a Dream speech, is a landmark event in U.S. history. Nearly a century before that, on July 4, 1865, Day gave a keynote speech of his own on the back lawn of the White House in the first civil rights demonstration at the U.S. Capitol.

(S)everal thousand (Black) men, women and children from many parts of the country gathered at the door step of the White House and celebrated the 4th of July for the first time as free people, Mealy writes. Day helped usher in a new era of civil rights demonstration that King and his contemporaries would come to utilize one hundred years later.

Four months later, Day displayed his oratorical skills in Harrisburg. After the Civil War ended, the U.S. Colored Troops were denied participation in the Grand Review of the Armies in Washington D.C. So the Garnet Equal Rights League, a Black civil rights group, organized one in Harrisburg.

Day was selected as the main speaker at the event, and his description of the evils of slavery, praise for Black soldiers and call for political equality were hailed by the audience.

Historian Todd Mealy writes that William Howard Day "was one of the most influential, resilient and dynamic Black leaders who lived in the nineteenth century." Wikimedia Commons

He was Pennsylvanias first Black state worker: Day was an active Republican for much of his life, campaigning for presidential and gubernatorial candidates. His work earned him a job as a clerk in newly elected state Auditor General Harrison Allens office in 1873. Years later, Day said he was the first Black state employee in Pennsylvania.

In that capacity it appears that he was able to use his influence to secure state appropriation for black schools such as Lincoln University, historian Eric Ledell Smith notes in a paper in the Historical Society of Dauphin County archives.

Days tenure in the post ended in 1876 when Allen lost reelection.

He was a minister: Day was ordained an elder in the AME Zion Church in 1866. He served the denomination in a variety of ways, such as general secretary of the general conference for five terms and leader of the Sunday school association. Though he was suspended in 1880 for failing to publish the minutes of a general conference meeting, he was later reinstated and served as interim pastor of AME Zion congregations in Harrisburg and York.

He valued education: Day served as superintendent of Black schools in Maryland and Delaware in the Freedmens Bureau from 1867 to 1871. He built 140 schools, hired more than 160 teachers and enrolled about 7,000 students in that post, Mealy writes.

He moved to Harrisburg in 1871, living in the Old 8th Ward, a largely Black and immigrant neighborhood near the Capitol, for the rest of his life.

In 1872, he founded a Black newspaper, Our National Progress, which closed two years later because of financial struggles.

Day made his biggest local impact as a member of the Harrisburg School Board, to which he was elected in 1878 as its first Black member and on which he served six three-year terms.

He worked to desegregate the citys schools. Notably, he helped the first Black students enroll in the boys and girls high schools in the 1878-79 school year, Mealy writes.

Pennsylvania officially integrated its schools in 1881, although that didnt necessarily end segregation in practice.

Remarkably, he served as school board president from 1891 to 1893. Smith notes that Harrisburg wouldnt have another Black school board president until 1969, when James Rowland Sr. was elected.

Under his leadership, the board provided free textbooks to all students, extended the school year from six to seven months and built the coed Harrisburg Central High School on Forster Street.

The "Gathering at the Crossroads" monument was dedicated at Fourth and Walnut streets in Harrisburg in 2020. It depicts, from left, T. Morris Chester, Jacob Compton, William Howard Day and Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. The monument commemorates the Old 8th Ward, a largely Black and immigrant neighborhood that was wiped out in the early 20th century when the Pennsylvania Capitol Complex expanded. (Dan Gleiter, PennLive, 2020)

His name lives on: Day was beloved in Harrisburgs Black community and among many white people. A five-day celebration in 1898 marked his 50 years in public life.

And in the decades since his death in 1900 at age 75, his name has continued to live on in the Harrisburg area.

When the Harrisburg School District built the Lincoln School on State Street in 1905, today the districts administrative office, it renamed the original Lincoln School in the Old 8th Ward after Day.

In 1940, the William Howard Day Cemetery was chartered in Swatara Township and the William Howard Day Homes, a federal housing project, opened in Harrisburg.

There is a sad irony, though. Although Day dedicated his life to fighting for racial equality, the school, the cemetery and the housing project were established as segregated spaces.

And Day himself was buried in a majority-Black cemetery.

On Memorial Day in 1950, a ceremony marked the dedication of Days memorial, sponsored by the Black business group Club Twenty-One, in Lincoln Cemetery.

Since 2015, the Pennsylvania School Boards Association has given the William Howard Day Award to people and organizations for their contributions to public education.

And in 2020, a monument was unveiled at Fourth and Walnut streets to commemorate the Old 8th Ward, which was wiped out in the early 20th century when the Capitol Complex expanded; the 150th anniversary of the 15th Amendment giving Black men the right to vote; and the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment granting womens suffrage. Day is one of four figures depicted in the monument.

The rest of the inscription on Days memorial in Lincoln Cemetery sums up his remarkable life.

A life devoted to the intellectual, civic and spiritual uplift of man, endowed by God with unique talents to serve a common humanity, the memorial reads, which he did with humility, patience, fortitude and dignity.

Joe McClure is a news editor for The Patriot-News. Follow him on Instagram: @jmcclure5nine.
An updated excessive heat watch was issued by the National Weather Service on Sunday at 6 p.m. valid from Monday 11 a.m. until Friday 8 p.m. for Westmoreland Ridges, Fayette Ridges and Higher Elevations of Indiana as well as Mercer, Venango, Forest, Lawrence, Butler, Clarion, Beaver, Allegheny, Armstrong, Washington, Greene, Westmoreland, Fayette and Indiana counties.

The weather service says, "Dangerously hot conditions with heat index values up to 104 degrees possible."

"Heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events," adds the weather service.

Weather service Heat safety: Protecting yourself in hot conditions

Stay hydrated: Keep yourself well-hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.

Find cool shelter: Stay indoors in an air-conditioned room to keep cool.

Avoid sun exposure: Avoid direct sun exposure, protect yourself and check on vulnerable relatives and neighbors.

Child and pet safety: Never leave young children and pets alone in vehicles, especially during hot weather when car interiors can become dangerously hot in a matter of minutes.

Caution outdoors: If you must work or spend time outdoors, take extra precautions.

Select the ideal time: Consider rescheduling strenuous activities to early morning or evening if possible.

Recognize heat-related issues: Recognize the warning signs and familiarize yourself with symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Dress for comfort: Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing to stay cool.

Additional tips for outdoor workers:

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas for outdoor workers.

If someone is overwhelmed by the heat, swiftly relocate them to a cool, shaded location.

In emergency situations, dial 911 for immediate assistance.

These NWS heat safety recommendations are vital for your well-being during periods of high temperatures. Stay informed and take the necessary steps to protect yourself and others from the heat's potentially dangerous effects.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.
Today, the continuation of the 2024 World Series of Poker will see the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas play host to the conclusion of Event #36: $800 No-Limit Hold'em DeepStack. Yesterday, of the 4,278 entries, 259 returned to the felt to battle it down to the first-place prize of $342,551 and the converted gold WSOP bracelet. However, in an unexpected twist, the final nine players bagged and tagged last night and will be returning today, for an unscheduled Day 3, to determine the winner.

Heading into the final table in pole position is Timur Margolin who managed to amass an impressive sum of 44,350,000. Margolin is one of the most experienced players at the final table, having already claimed two career WSOP bracelets, but will be looking to add a third by the end of proceedings today.

Not far behind Margolin is Michael Allen who will have an arsenal of 31,400,000 chips that he will be using to try and claim his career-first WSOP bracelet. Both Allen and Margolin have nearly twice the number of chips as their third-closest competitor Vaughan Machado.

Michael Allen

With just nine big blinds separating Machado and the table short stack, Cole Uvila, action is expected to come thick and fast right from the first level of the day.

Final Table Seating and Chips

Rank Player Country Chips Big Blinds 1 Timur Margolin Israel 44,350,000 55 2 Michael Allen United States 31,400,000 39 3 Vaughan Machado United States 16,225,000 20 4 Jeremy Chen China 14,900,000 18 5 Francisco Riosvallejo Mexico 14,650,000 18 6 Adam Hendrix United States 14,200,000 18 7 Agharazi Babayev Azerbaijan 13,500,000 17 8 Joseph Couden United States 12,850,000 16 9 Cole Uvila Unites States 8,500,000 11

Cole Uvila

All nine remaining contenders have locked up at least $32,288, but the attention is firmly set on the $342,551 on offer, alongside the gold WSOP bracelet.

Remaining Payouts

Place Prize 1 $342,551 2 $228,321 3 $168,276 4 $125,074 5 $93,758 6 $70,890 7 $54,066 8 $41,597 9 $32,288

The unexpected Day 3 will begin today, June 15, at 1 p.m. local time as they play through the remaining 15 minutes of Level 37 with blinds at 400,000/800,000 with a big blind ante. All the action will be streamed on PokerGO with a one-hour delay and reporting here will be in sync with the stream so as to avoid spoilers.

Keep it locked in with PokerNews to make sure you dont miss a single moment of the action here at the 2024 World Series of Poker.
Welcome back to PokerNews, the official media partner of the 2024 World Series of Poker and home of live updates from all bracelet events.

Today sees Day 1b of Event #38: $1,500 Monster Stack No-Limit Hold'em kick off right here at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.

Day 1a played out on June 14 and attracted 3,139 entries for a current prize pool of $4,190,565. Today should significantly increase both those numbers.

From the Day 1a starters, 737 found a bag for Day 2. Those who did not bag can rebuy today or on Sunday's Day 1c.

Ryan Sullivan ended Day 1a as the chip leader with 915,000 in his stack. Players start with 50,000 in chips, so he was on quite a run!

Day 1a Top Ten Chip Counts

Rank Player Country Chips Big Blinds 1 Ryan Sullivan United States 915,000 305 2 Cristian Tuica United States 728,500 243 3 John Oshea Ireland 609,500 203 4 Joshua Heinzl United States 591,500 197 5 Gabriel Berrebi France 526,000 175 6 Vinicius Lima United States 525,000 175 7 Georg Jancev Canada 509,000 170 8 Ryan Leng United States 502,500 168 9 Joel Gossett United States 498,500 166 10 Kevin Javier Canada 474,000 158

The second of three starting flights in this event starts at 10 a.m. local time and will continue for 11 one-hour levels. There will be a 20-minute break after every two levels, with a longer 75-minute dinner break after Level 8 (about 7 p.m.). Day 2 starts on Monday, June 17, at 11 a.m.

PokerNews traditional coverage of this event starts on Day 2.

Flight Date Starting Time Late registration Day 1B Saturday, June 15 10 a.m. 11 Levels Day 1C Sunday, June 16 10 a.m. 11 Levels

Last year's $1,500 Monster Stack No-Limit Hold'em was won by Braxton Dunaway, a Texan oil and gas worker. The event's field of 8,317 entries generated a massive $11,103,195 prize pool. Dunaway beat Colin Robinson heads up to win his first bracelet and earn himself a $1,162,681 payday.

Poker runs in the family as Dunaway explained to PokerNews after his win: [The family is] at the College World Series. My son is in a tournament during that, which is for teenage boys. He won his first two games today and hes guaranteed like five more games.

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!

Become a Bigger Part of the Action With MyStack

What Else is Happening at the WSOP?

WSOP
A father-and-son arrangement is part of the plan at 1544 University Parkway  the base of operations for a family business that focuses on serving families in times of deep distress.

Cole Funeral Home dates back to 2007 and draws its name from that of the founder, Carl Cole III, whose decades of experience include work with several other funeral homes in the Aiken-Augusta area. His son, Shane Cole, is in the process of assuming more responsibility in the business, possibly en route to co-ownership.

"Shane and I make, I would say, 99 percent of our calls together," Carl said, referring to the service in which a professional visits the site of a death to remove the body.

Shane added, "The only reason why we would ever use a removal service is if the call is too far away, distance-wise  like, I had someone up in West Virginia, and we could not do that, so we had to send someone for that  or if we are on a funeral service, and we can't get away. The only time both of us are not on a call is if one of us is on, like, vacation."

Carl, a native of Pageland, in Chesterfield County, has visited hundreds of homes around South Carolina and eastern Georgia over the course of decades and has been based in Aiken for 45 years, working as a funeral director or embalmer.

"I started in high school, at age 14. I was with Sutton Funeral Home, in Pageland  When I graduated from mortuary school, in Atlanta, my uncle  my dad's youngest brother  was a highway patrolman here. He got me two interviews," he said.

One was with Posey Funeral Home's Graniteville facility (known now as Napier Funeral Home) and the other was with George Funeral Home, in Aiken. Carl opted for George. The years ahead included work with the Medical College of Georgia and such funeral homes as Shellhouse, in Aiken, and others that have changed names, ownership or both.
Passengers on a British airliner heading home from a vacation hot spot in Mexico made an expected stop in the Lowcountry this week  and spent far more time on the ground they wanted to.

The Boeing 787 operated by U.K.-based TUI Airways was diverted to Charleston International early June 11 to deal with a onboard medical emergency, according to a news report confirmed by airport officials.

An undisclosed number of passengers boarded the Dreamliner in Cancun and were headed to Manchester Airport in northwest England. The plane touched down in North Charleston during an inflight meal service around 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday and was expected to be on its way shortly afterward.

But while first responders were coming to the aid of the distressed passenger, a piece of equipment known as "cherry picker" damaged a door on the aircraft. Passengers were told to deplane.

Their stay would last more than a day  without access to their checked luggage.

The Manchester Evening News reported the weary vacationers were already delayed by four hours because of a separate health emergency on the same aircraft when it was en route to Cancun.

"You just couldn't make it up," Staffordshire resident and passenger Mel Lerner told the newspaper. "Two medical emergencies in one day, then a cherry picker damaging the door."

The airport provided meals and water to the passengers after they cleared customs and booked and paid for 171 rooms with an assist from seven hotels in the area, spokesman Spencer Pryor said Friday.

CHS also provided transportation and shuttles to nearby Tanger Outlets so the travelers could stock up on necessities, he said.

Pryor called it a collaborative effort, noting that participating hotels offered to extend their breakfast hours Tuesday for the displaced travelers to ensure they got a hot meal.
Those with travel plans to areas in Florida for business or leisure over the next week or two will see lingering impacts. Airports across the country are also seeing delays. Read moreNeed to travel to Florida post-Hurricane Milton? Here's what you need to know.
ROCK HILL  Palmetto movie-lovers have more time to see "Bull Street," a South Carolina-based drama starring Loretta Devine and Amy Madigan.

The film opened June 7 at Regal Cinemas in Rock Hill, Columbia and Mount Pleasant. Director Lynn Dow said the theatres initially agreed to show it for a week. Regal extended the movie through June 20, allowing Dow and executive producer Wendy Tucker-Tannock to attend a few showings and meet with theater-goers after the movie.

They took questions at the Regal Manchester in Rock Hill on June 13, then did the same in Columbia the next night.

It's part of their efforts to get the film shown elsewhere across the country.

"One of the most important things they told me in Hollywood was 'Don't go back down South, Lynn, it's a small market,' " Dow told people at the Regal Manchester. "I told them, I made it there, we're going to finish there and we'll show them how big we are in South Carolina."

The movie covers themes of mental illness, historical race relations in the South, family strife and property rights. "Bull Street" follows a small-town personal injury lawyer who was raised by her grandmother, Mrs. Big-Gal, played by Devine. When an Ivy League lawyer questions their ownership of the family home and its surrounding land, the stage is set for a legal clash.

Devine has hundreds of film and TV appearances, including the Oscar-winning Crash and ABCs Greys Anatomy.

"She knew I was somewhat intimidated," Dow said about her role directing Devine. "But she told me it's a beautiful script, I must direct her and I needed to forget about all the other movies she's done."
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-15 18:00:45

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LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / June 15, 2024 / Blockchain Intelligent Technology Summit / Intelligent technology company AGIQT QUANTIFY LIMITED today announced its 2024 strategic development plan. AGIQT has established long-term and stable strategic cooperation with many international cryptocurrency exchanges. It currently serves BINANCE, COINBASE, HUOBI, OKX, BYBIT, COINCHECK, BITSTAMP, MEXC, LBANK, PHEMEX, KUCOIN and other internationally renowned cryptocurrency exchanges. With the help of AI-driven intelligent quantitative trading strategies, AGIQT has greatly improved users' investment returns. Looking to the future, AGIQT is committed to further optimizing and enhancing its services to meet the changing needs of the cryptocurrency community.The main development initiatives in 2024 include:Opening the AGIQT-3 version: After the joint efforts of the OpenAl technical team, the kernel of AGIQT has been upgraded to ChatGPT4.7. The upgraded AGIQT-3 intelligent robot has a smarter mindset, which can ensure that users can achieve more profits in each quantitative arbitrage. In the future, various versions of AGIQT will be gradually opened to users.Advantages of intelligent robot leasing investment: No need to log in to quantitative trading every day. By renting an intelligent robot and entrusting the AGIQT intelligent robot to manage it, you can achieve AI full intelligent service. After the corresponding number of days is over, the principal and interest will be directly credited to your wallet account balance.Technical enhancement: Introducing cryptocurrency filters and custom alerts for trading signals, aiming to provide users with timely and relevant investment opportunities.Cryptocurrency strategy evolution: Implementing the "cryptocurrency copy trading" strategy to support novice investors by allowing novice investors to imitate the investment strategies of experienced professionals.Market expansion: Firmly committed to expanding AGIQT's market influence through participating in industry conferences, establishing strategic alliances, and continuous brand promotion efforts.Bright futureAGIQT will lead the small number of people to get rich through the crypto market. It will cooperate with people from all walks of life in countries around the world to contribute to economic development and the prosperity of the cryptocurrency market. It will provide employment opportunities for more than 100 million people around the world, provide customers with all-round services, and establish a good reputation.Are you still envious of the stable capital growth ability of financial giants? Have you ever imagined that one day you would have robots working for you all day? This is AGIQT, and through it, this will no longer be a dream! Here, we redefine the future of the financial world! With a shared data architecture and convenient algorithmic trading foundation, we believe that everyone can become their own asset manager through AGIQT, so that their assets can be safely and steadily increased.About the companyAGIQT Quantify is headquartered in London, UK. It is currently a professional company with superb technical strength and team integration in Europe. It is a leading force in the field of cryptocurrency quantitative trading. AGIQT is a quantitative trading system based on artificial intelligence technology. Its main feature is to automatically execute trading strategies to maximize investment returns and reduce risks. Specifically, AGIQT converts trading decisions into computer algorithms by automating the execution of preset investment strategies, making the trading process more transparent, efficient, and able to respond quickly to market changes.For more information, please contact:Contact Details Company name: AGIQT QUANTIFY LIMITEDContact Person: Mr. Sylvain Thomas Gabriel Marie MichelContact email: quantify@ agiqt.ai City & Country: London, UKWebsite: https://agiqt.ai SOURCE: AGIQT QUANTIFY LIMITED
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VICTORIA, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 14, 2024 / AI/ML Innovations Inc. (the "Company") (CSE:AIML)(OTCQB:AIMLF)(FWB:42FB) announced that it has entered into a shares for debt transaction with Wonderful Ventures LLC of Las Vegas, Nevada ("WV"). The Company entered into a finder's agreement dated June 7, 2024 with WV wherein WV would assist the Company in the search for a new CEO. Pursuant to the terms of the Finder's Agreement, the Company will pay CAD $67,600 to WV by a cash payment of $30,000 and the issuance of C$37,600 in Common Shares of the Company (the "Shares for Debt Transaction"). Pursuant to the Shares for Debt Transaction, the Company will issue an aggregate of 750,000 Common Shares, at a deemed price of $0.05 per Common Share. The proposed Shares for Debt Transaction is subject to the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange.The Common Shares issued will be subject to a four-month hold period.About AI/ML Innovations Inc.https://aiml-innovations.com/ AI/ML Innovations Inc. has realigned its business operations to capitalize on the burgeoning fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), with an initial investment focus on emerging digital health and wellbeing companies that leverage AI, ML, cloud computing and digital platforms to drive transformative healthcare management solutions and precision support delivery across the health continuum. Through strategic partnerships with Health Gauge (95.2% owned by AIML), Tech2Heal (up to 22% ownership rights, with 12.44% currently owned by AIML), AI Rx Inc. (70% owned by AIML) and other planned accretive investments, the Company continues to capitalize on expanding growth areas, to the benefit of all the Company's stakeholders. AI/ML's shares are traded on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol "AIML", the OTCQB Venture Market under "AIMLF", and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under "42FB".On behalf of the Board of DirectorsTim Daniels, Executive ChairmanFor more information about AI/ML Innovations:For detailed information please see AI/ML's website or the Company's filed documents at www.sedarplus.ca.For further information, contact: Blake Fallis at (778) 405-0882 or info@ aiml-innovations.com THIS PRESS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY OFFER, SALE, OR SOLICITATION OF SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN THE UNITED STATES IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SALE, OR SOLICITATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE: AI/ML Innovations Inc.
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DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / June 15, 2024 / Each year over 120,000 Coloradans are affected by debilitating chronic wounds, negatively affecting their quality of life and presenting significant health-related risks. Recognizing that access to specialized wound care is challenging for many, and that telehealth can play a major role in improving the state of care for thousands of Coloradans, The WISH Clinic, a premier skin rejuvenation and wound care clinic located in Arvada, Colorado, is partnering with Clara Care, offering specialized telehealth wound services to provide access to advanced wound care in the convenience of patients' homes.Studies dating to 2015 demonstrate that integrating in-person advanced wound care and telehealth provided by wound specialists accelerates healing times, reduces the wait time required to see a specialist, and can significantly reduce overall costs. The pandemic has since demonstrated that telehealth is a critical solution to ensuring everyone, regardless of geographic location, work and life requirements, or socio-economic status, can benefit from the improved access to specialty care afforded by telehealth."With Clara Care, we can touch patients from plains to peaks - this partnership creates a truly elevated wound care experience," said Dr. Traci Kimball, MD MBA, General Managing Partner The WISH Clinic.Of the nearly half a million Coloradans who will be admitted to the hospital this year, close to 52,000 are likely to develop a pressure injury, one of the most debilitating and expensive wounds to treat. Tragically, of the 320,000 people living with diabetes in Colorado, 80,000 are at risk of developing serious complications like diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), which can lead to infection, gangrene, amputation, and ultimately premature death. By partnering with Clara Care, The WISH Clinic is helping tackle these big challenges, integrating specialized telehealth services seamlessly into WISH's in-clinic advanced care and ensuring patients have the personalized care they need at the right time, from the convenience of their home.Dr. Phil Fidler, MD FACS, Chief Medical Officer, Clara Care, concludes, "At Clara Care, we treat the whole patient by addressing the wounds directly as well as underlying health conditions so that we can accelerate patient healing and keep people healthy. By partnering with The WISH Clinic, we know that when patients need the best possible in-person care, Dr. Kimball and her team will be there to provide it." About The WISH ClinicAbout Clara CareClara Care Inc., headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts, is a specialized telehealth company, caring for chronic wound and post-operative patients nationally. Clara integrates accredited and experienced wound care providers with partner practices as an extension of their care. This enables practices to better manage chronic wounds and post-operative healing journeys via remote monitoring, ongoing specialty check-ins, and comprehensive care coordination, including episode management.Contact InformationTraci KimballGeneral managing partnerdrtracik@ thewishclinic.com (720)557-6510SOURCE: The WISH ClinicView the original press release on newswire.com
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Marks the 27th Acquisition in PortfolioAUSTIN, TX / ACCESSWIRE / June 15, 2024 / Viking Capital, a distinguished private equity firm renowned for its expertise in elevating multifamily properties, is thrilled to announce the successful culmination of its 27th acquisition - the highly coveted Villas at Sundance. This exceptional property, boasting 252 units, is strategically situated in the heart of the rapidly growing city of New Braunfels, Texas, in the Texas Innovation Corridor along Interstate 35 between Austin and San Antonio.Villas at Sundance Villas at Sundance represents a significant milestone in Viking Capital's illustrious portfolio of multifamily assets, perfectly aligning with its unwavering commitment to providing exceptional investment opportunities to its discerning investors.About Villas at Sundance:Villas at Sundance stands as a premier multifamily investment opportunity within Viking Capital's esteemed portfolio, offering 252 units. Strategically positioned in New Braunfels, recently recognized as the "Third Fastest Growing City in the Country," Villas at Sundance benefits from its strategic location amidst exponential growth.Key Investment Highlights:This strategic acquisition underscores Viking Capital's dedication to identifying properties poised for growth and value creation. With a purchase price of $37,500,000, Viking Capital secured this asset at a substantial discount, positioning it as an exceptional investment opportunity.Portfolio Milestone:Villas at Sundance marks a significant milestone as Viking Capital's 27th successful acquisition, contributing to the firm's impressive track record of over $876 million in assets acquired. This milestone underscores Viking Capital's unwavering commitment to strategic growth and its ability to deliver value to investors consistently.About Viking Capital:Viking Capital is a leading private equity firm specializing in multifamily properties. It is dedicated to delivering robust returns to its esteemed investors. For further details about Viking Capital and its investment opportunities, please visit www.vikingcapllc.com Contact InformationAshley PenrodDirector of Marketingapenrod@ vikingcapllc.com 2088599720SOURCE: Viking CapitalView the original press release on newswire.com
On a quiet, frigid Sunday afternoon, Zainab Bala, a 24-year-old entrepreneur well into the third trimester of her second pregnancy, told the three women gathered in her home in Kano that she thought it was time to go to the hospital. She was taken to the Murtala Mohammed Hospital posthaste. Her husband, Mr Bala, also joined them in the clinic.

It took a while before the providers attended to Mrs Bala. When they did, a midwife handed a list to her husband to purchase the standard items required for conducting a delivery: surgical gloves, sutures, surgical blades, sanitary pads and detergents for cleaning.

Mr Bala argued that maternal services should be free in the states general hospitals and, therefore, he would not buy anything. He was adamant that the midwife was trying to cheat him until other men told him that they had all bought the same items for delivery.

This type of misunderstanding happens regularly between health workers and patients in Kano public hospitals, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

Free Maternal Care

The Kano State Government has a Free Maternal Health Care Policy, a plan that covers the costs of delivery and postnatal services in all secondary and tertiary health facilities but out-of-pocket spending is still common. Initiated in 2001, the policy targets every pregnant woman in Kano with a full benefits package covering antenatal, delivery care, and postnatal care.

The services involved in the free maternity care programme include free antenatal care (including card and antenatal drugs), free vaginal and assisted vaginal delivery (forceps and vacuum), free caesarean section (elective and emergency), free post-abortion care services, free management of ectopic and free laparotomy for obstetric complications.

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How successful is the policy implementation?

Other programmes in the state that positively impact maternal health care are free treatment for children under five and free vesicovaginal fistula repairs.

Successive governments have maintained the policy so as to eliminate out-of-pocket (OOP) payments and enhance the utilisation of maternal health services.

However, a PREMIUM TIMES investigation has shown that inadequate planning and financing of the free maternity policy has resulted in overstretched facilities, overworked staff and dissatisfied clients.

Our findings also reveal that, due to the policys insufficient funding, out-of-pocket spending remains the popular method of financing maternity services in public hospitals in Kano.

My husband spent more than N40,000 on the delivery that day, Mrs Bala told PREMIUM TIMES in May.

Due to endemic poverty in many parts of Nigeria, including large parts of Kano, many families cannot afford medical care. Women, in particular, often struggle to pay for costly treatments, which could lead them to forgo lifesaving prenatal and postnatal care.

The leading barrier to healthcare for Nigerian women and children is the money for treatment. More than half of women reported that getting money for treatment was a severe problem in accessing health care, the Kano government said.

This was why the Kano government initiated free maternal care in all public secondary health care facilities of the state in 2001.

In May 2023, the Kano State Assembly passed the Free Maternal and Child Healthcare (FMNCH) Bill into law. This made the state the first in Nigeria to enact the law, a move that received wide commendation. The law is also supposed to provide access to quality health services for women and children.

While many residents applaud the efforts, patients and health providers said much more needs to be done, especially about funding.

What the government provides is not enough to cater for a third of the patients going to Murtala Mohammed Hospital, said a senior official at its Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics.

Most times, the medical items they provide to serve for a month dont go beyond seven days, said the official who agreed to speak off the record because of civil service rules on press interviews.

Residents continue out-of-pocket spending

Two days after giving birth to her second child in May, Hafsat Auwal woke up cheerful. By the standards of a woman recovering from childbirth while caring for a toddler, she was said to be feeling energetic.

But by the next morning, Ms Auwal began feeling intense fatigue, an aching back and a headache that did not respond to ibuprofen.

As the day wore on, her head and back pain became excruciating, and she had trouble catching her breath. Her family took her back to Murtala Mohammed Hospital, where she gave birth. At the hospital, it was a busy Monday afternoon when Mrs Auwal was wheeled into the high-risk cases area.

It was an emergency case, and we spent more than N100,000, Mr Auwal told PREMIUM TIMES.

Such costs of postpartum treatment were supposedly covered by the state government under the Free Maternity Act. Its unforeseen, and we had to get these items before they even attended to her, Mr Auwal said.

For many people, access to lifesaving maternity treatments and medication is not available. Patients continue out-of-pocket payments  spending pushing households below the poverty line.

Recently, the President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Uche Ojinmah, said the rising costs of healthcare were pushing Nigerians deeper into poverty.

Nigeria should develop a health sector development bank to help the local pharmaceutical industry, Mr Ojinmah said.

In 2022, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that about 80 per cent of Nigerias population has fallen into poverty as they struggle to pay hospital bills.

Our story, based on on-the-ground reporting and interviews with multiple sources, including families and health providers, shows that despite a law to the contrary, the Kano State Governments underfunding of healthcare means that out-of-pocket spending remains the main method of financing maternity services in public hospitals in Kano.

Aside from patients incurring out-of-pocket payments, PREMIUM TIMES found that some problems associated with the free maternal policy are patients having to wait for long periods during antenatal care, verbal abuse by some health workers, bad outcomes such as the death of infants and complications attributable to health workers negligence, and difficulty in accessing drugs and ultrasound.

Poor maternity care

Some residents said although maternal care is free, they found the services to be below standard. One such person was Hannatu Abubakar. Her malcontent was understandable. In 2022, the 26-year-old lost her child to medical negligence at the Nuhu Bamali Hospital in Kano.

We accessed the free maternal healthcare for the birth of my first child, and the baby died due to the negligence of the nurses, Ms Abubakar said. It is better to pay than to experience that again.

Now, Ms Abubakar is pregnant again and is in her third trimester. Shes been receiving antenatal care at a private clinic, and providers have informed her about a caesarean section plan.

I will pay any amount for good maternity care, she told PREMIUM TIMES in May.

However, only a few women are as financially buoyant as Ms Abubakar. Thousands of women rely on the states public hospitals for maternal services, and many share their discontent with prolonged waiting time during antenatal care in facilities offering free maternal health services.

Overstretched facilities

At Abdullahi Wase Hospital in the state, Rabi Ibrahim feels that the facility is understaffed and overcrowded, making the free maternal services ineffective.

Ms Ibrahim, a resident of the Panshekara area of the state, delivered her three children in public hospitals. The 37-year-old said she had all the children through caesarean section, the first being in 2012.

I had my first child here, and we paid for delivery and postnatal care. Its difficult to access the so-called free maternal services when you look at the number of women coming here, Ms Ibrahim said, adding, We always have to buy even the most basic things for delivery such as gloves.

Hafsat Abdulmumin, 41, has similar concerns. She delivered a baby girl at Murtala Hospital in April via Caesarean Section. Ms Abdulmumin was on admission for three days, and her family spent N109,000 purchasing the medical items needed for her surgery.

Ms Abdulmumin said aside from the bill, the waiting period is unnecessarily long. She said that because the hospital is understaffed, patients, especially those on admission, dont get the care they deserve.

The official of the Murtala Hospital conceded Ms Ibrahim and Ms Abdulmumins points but said it was beyond our control.

The hospitals are understaffed, and people are coming here in large numbers, partly because primary health care centres in rural areas are not functional. Therefore, we received patients from all parts of the state coming to the city for maternity care.

Even if the staff are determined to do their best, they cant handle the services promised, said the official, who said he wasnt authorised to speak to journalists.

The hospital gets more than 70  80 patients a day, most of them receiving antenatal care, while a few come for immunisation.

Since the Kano state free maternity service provision removed user fees, data shows an increase in the number of patients receiving maternal services (Antenatal Care, delivery, and caesarean section).

However, researchers said there has yet to be a significant corresponding increase in human resources for health. The state had a ratio of one doctor to 11,500 persons as of 2023.

This is another major constraint of free maternity services in the state and it compromises the quality of maternity services in the state, Hadiza Galadanci, a professor of gynaecology and obstetrics, said in a reproductive health article.

There are 1,183 health facilities across Kanos 44 Local Government Areas (LGAs). Of this number, 1,142 are primary healthcare centres, 97 per cent of the total. Most of them struggle to provide basic healthcare to people, especially in rural areas; therefore, most patients go to general hospitals in the city centre.

PREMIUM TIMES contacted Kano State Health Commissioner Abubakar Labaran for comment, but he has not responded. Mansur Nagoda, the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Health Management Board, also said he would get back to our reporter when contacted over the telephone. He was yet to do so as of the time of this report.

Maternal and child mortality remains a significant public health problem in Kano and Nigeria in general. In 2020, the latest year for which data is available by WHO, Nigeria recorded extremely high maternal deaths at 1,047 per 100,000 live births, ranking third in Africa behind South Sudan and Chad.

Women in the poorest households bear the brunt of most of these deaths. They are the least likely to access lifesaving obstetric services. According to the WHO, almost all maternal deaths are preventable with the use of quality obstetrics services.

In her research article titled, Programmes and Policies for Reducing Maternal Mortality in Kano State, Nigeria, and published by African Journal of Reproductive Health, Ms Galadanci said, eclampsia is one of the major causes of maternal death in Kano State, although case fatality rate for eclampsia has reduced significantly with the introduction of magnesium sulphate in the treatment of eclampsia especially in the tertiary health facilities.

Other major causes of death are postpartum haemorrhage, anaemia and puerperal sepsis, according to the researcher.

Underfunded Health Sector

Although the Kano State Government has increased its budgetary allocation over the years, experts believe it still needs to do more.

About N144 billion was allotted to the states health sector in the last five years.

The governments total health expenditure was put at N10.5 billion in 2020; N10.7 billion in 2021; N33 billion in 2022; and N39.1 billion in 2023.

Out of the N437 billion budgeted for 2024, the government earmarked N51 billion for its health sector (11 per cent).

This falls short of the commitment in the Abuja Declaration, which Nigeria and 43 other African countries signed in 2001. The pact commits governments to spending at least 15 per cent of annual budgets on public health. The Nigerian government and the sub-unit Kano government have yet to achieve this.

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The Nigeria Police Force has raised an alarm that the ongoing police constable recruitment exercise was marred by alleged corruption and irregularities.

The list of successful candidates in the recruitment exercise was recently published by the Police Service Commission (PSC).

The Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, who disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, expressed surprise over an alleged disappearance of names of screened candidates who were successful in the last stage of the process.

Mr Adejobi, an assistant commissioner of police, said the police authorities decided to raise the alarm after scrutinising the PSC list of the successful candidates.

He explained that the PSC list was subjected to scrutiny following receipt of a series of complaints from candidates alleging corrupt practices in the recruitment.

The Force spokesperson said the police authorities have dissociated themselves from the PSC list of successful candidates.

He said the published list also contains several names of candidates who failed either the computer-based test (CBT) or the physical screening exercise or both.

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He pointed said some of those disqualified over medical issues also made the list of successful candidates as published by the PSC.

Most worrisome is the allegation of financial dealings and corrupt practices leading to the outcome where unqualified and untrainable individuals have been shortlisted, he stated.

Reviewing the list

Mr Adejobi said the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, had written a letter of objection to the Chairperson of the PSC on Monday, informing him of the discoveries in the list.

The reaction of the IGP was without prejudice to the power of the commission to recruit for the police as ruled by the Supreme Court but this power does not include the power to recruit unqualified and untrained individuals for the police, he said.

The Force spokesperson argued that the IGPs letter was in light of the fact that the Nigerian police, not the PSC, bear the brunt of recruitment of unqualified individuals into the force.

The Nigeria Police Force therefore takes exception to this unpleasant development and calls for a total review of the process with a view to recruiting qualified, competent, trainable and productive hands into the Nigeria Police Force, in line with the vision of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubus led administration on police reform, he said.

He stressed that the police were concerned about the plights and ordeals of prospective recruits, who have been subjected to all forms of rigorous screening exercise, adding that they would ensure that the process was thoroughly reviewed.

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The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has declared that deploying 350 additional operatives to the mining marshals underscores the federal governments commitment to reforming the mining sector.

The mining marshals are deployed across the 36 states and the FCT to prevent illegal mining and smuggling of minerals in the country.

Speaking at the Passing Out Parade for the new operatives at the NSCDC headquarters, the minister, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mary Ogbe, lauded his interior counterpart, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for their collaboration in combating illegal mining.

Highlighting the successes recorded by the mining marshals, the minister noted that their efforts have significantly reduced illegal mineral haulage and the activities of unlicensed operators nationwide.

It will be recalled that since the inauguration of the first batch of 2,220 mining marshals, over 200 illegal mining suspects have been arrested, with 133 prosecutions underway and confiscated illegally mined minerals forfeited to the federal government.

Todays Passing Out Parade of the second batch will further increase our numbers, ensuring wider coverage and enhancing the operational effectiveness of the squad. As we integrate and improve collaboration between mining marshals and Federal Mines Officers (FMO) across the country, we aim to intensify sector sanitisation and boost investor confidence, leading to increased investments and development in the mining industry, Mr Alake stated.

In his remarks, NSCDC Commandant-General Abubakar Audi revealed that the new operatives underwent an intensive 8-week training programme, preparing them to strengthen the mining marshals operations and intensify efforts against illegal miners nationwide.

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The Minister of Interior, Mr Tunji-Ojo, addressing the newly inducted marshals, emphasised that the mining marshals are a product of successful collaboration between the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the Ministry of Interior.

He highlighted the need for continued training and deployment to ensure comprehensive coverage of the countrys vast mining areas and maximise the benefits of solid minerals.

The progress made so far exemplifies effective collaboration. With this second batch, we have more personnel on the ground, but we must continue training and deploying to protect our mining areas and ensure our nation reaps the full benefits of its solid minerals for economic development, Mr Tunji-Ojo added.

The induction of the new operatives brings the total number of specially trained and kitted mining marshals deployed nationwide to 2,550.

*Segun Tomori*

Special Assistant on Media to the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development.

14th June, 2024.

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The African Development Bank has appointed Eric Ogunleye, a seasoned macroeconomist, as Director of the African Development Institute, effective June 1.

Mr Ogunleye, a Nigerian national, has nearly 20 years of experience in macro and development economics, capacity development, public governance and regulatory reform, monitoring and evaluation, and policy advisory. His career includes designing and leading innovative, context-specific capacity development and policy advisory initiatives at the highest levels of national governance, achieving significant global partnerships and impactful results.

He previously served as the Officer in Charge of the African Development Institute and Manager of the Institutes Policy Management Division. He was also previously an Advisor to the Chief Economist and Vice President of the Economic Governance and Knowledge Management Complex. He played a crucial role in developing and implementing the Bank Groups Capacity Development Strategy (2021-2025) and related initiatives, such as the Public Finance Management Academy for Africa and the Macroeconomic Management Academy for Africa.

Mr Ogunleye has significantly enhanced the Institutional Capacity Building and Fiduciary Clinics, which now consistently cover 20 country portfolios annually, improving the quality of the Banks operations and portfolios in Regional Member Countries.

In December 2022, Mr Ogunleye successfully launched the Public Finance Management Academy for Africa, featuring an 18-month structured training program across the entire public financial and debt management cycle. This initiative has trained over 145 public officials from 45 African countries as Public Finance Management experts. He currently leads multiple technical assistance projects, including macroeconomic modelling and policy dialogues, to address entrenched and emerging development challenges in African countries. He has also forged numerous partnerships at global, continental, regional, national, and sub-national levels to support these initiatives.

Before joining the Bank, he was Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on International Trade and Finance and later as Special Advisor to the Chief Economic Advisor to the President. He played a pivotal role in policy research, institutional capacity development, and monitoring and evaluation of socio-economic policies. He contributed to Nigerias Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, which lifted the country out of recession. Additionally, he served as a long-term consultant (Country Macroeconomist) in the Nigeria Country Department of the Bank Group, coordinating macroeconomic analysis in Nigeria and supporting the Banks diverse development projects portfolio.

Mr Ogunleyes previous roles also include Research Fellow at the African Center for Economic Transformation, Doctoral Researcher at the United Nations Universitys World Institute for Development Economics Research, Doctoral Research Intern at the World Trade Organization, and International Research Consultant at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. He has also taught and conducted research as a Lecturer at the University of Calabar, Nigeria.

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He holds a PhD and MSc in Economics from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, a BSc degree in Economics from the University of Calabar, Nigeria, a Cambridge Certificate in Advanced Programme on Rethinking Development Economics in Africa, and an Executive Certificate in Public Policy from Harvard University.

Expressing his gratitude for the appointment, Mr Ogunleye said, I am truly humbled, honoured, and pleased by the confidence reposed in me by President Akinwumi A. Adesina for this appointment. I am deeply fascinated and appreciate his consistent penchant for excellence and recognition of talent. I use this opportunity to renew my commitment to the Bank, its leadership, and regional member countries in deepening my support for strengthening institutional capacities in all forms in regional member countries.

Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group, commented: I am pleased to appoint Dr. Eric Kehinde Ogunleye as Director of the African Development Institute. Eric is a focused and strategic leader with first-class expertise in key areas of institutional capacity development support to regional member countries. I am confident that he will continue to leverage his vast experience and global partnership across all spheres of capacity development for delivery at scale for our regional member countries.

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Some Nigerian Islamic clerics performing the 2024 pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia offered special prayers for President Bola Tinubu during Arafat on Saturday.

The clerics Bala Lau, the chairman of the Jamaatul Izalatul Bida Wa Iqamatissunna, Bashir Umar, Kabiru Gombe and host of others prayed for president Tinubu and Nigeria during the special prayer session.

They offered the prayers in English, Hausa, Fulfulde, Nupe, Yoruba, Igbo and Kanuri.

The clerics beseeched Allah to guide Nigeria through its current challenges and bring them to an end.

They specifically implored Allah to bring an end to banditry and insecurity, destroy the forces of Boko Haram and terrorism, revitalise the economy and lift the nation out of stagnation.

They also sought divine intervention for Nigerias peace, prosperity, and progress.

In his vote of thanks after the prayer session, NAHCON Commissioner, Abubakar Yagawal, thanked the clerics for honouring the commissions invitation to attend this years Hajj.

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Mr Yagawal said the commission sponsored 152 Islamic clerics to the 2024 Hajj.

The NAHCON has sponsored 152 clerics to Hajj this year. We brought back even those who had not come to Hajj for a very long time. We thanked them for accepting our offer and came.

NAHCON Chairman, Jalal Arabi, after the session, also expressed gratitude to the clerics for the prayers.

Arafat day is a sacred day for Muslims. It is the ninth day of the Dhul-Hijja, the 12th month in the Islamic calendar.

Muslims performing Hajj visit the Mountain of Arafat to pray and worship Allah as ordained by Prophet Muhammad SAW.

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has urged Muslim residents of the FCT to embrace the values of unity and sacrifice during the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

In a statement on Saturday, Mr Wike highlighted the significance of Eid-el-Kabir, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, which commemorates Prophet Ibrahims (AS) unwavering faith and obedience to Allah (SWT).

Mr Wike asked the faithful to reflect on the virtues of sacrifice, selflessness, and devotion.

Eid-el-Kabir teaches us the importance of caring for one another and sharing our blessings, especially with those less fortunate.

As we celebrate, let us embody these values by showing compassion, generosity, and support to our neighbours and the wider community. In these challenging times, let us unite and look out for one another, fostering a spirit of solidarity and kindness, he said.

The minister reminded the Muslim community that the FCT was established on similar principles of unity and the imperative of peaceful co-existence for all Nigerians sharing a common destiny.

Call for prayers

During this period, Mr Wike called on the Muslims to pray for Nigerias peace, stability, and prosperity.

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He also urged them to pray for the administration of President Bola Tinubu and the Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to steer the nation towards a brighter future.

Prayers and support are crucial in achieving our administrations goals and ensuring that Nigerian leaders are guided by wisdom and integrity, he said.

Commitment to development

Mr Wike reaffirmed the FCT Administrations commitment to developing the nations capital.

We are dedicated to providing the necessary infrastructure that will enhance the quality of life for all residents.

Our continuous efforts in building roads, schools, hospitals, and other essential services demonstrate our commitment to making the FCT a model for progress and development, he stated.

The minister highlighted the significant strides in improving infrastructure, enhancing security, and promoting economic opportunities within the FCT.

We remain committed to sustaining these efforts and exploring new initiatives that benefit our residents, he added.

Mr Wike called for the cooperation of all FCT residents in supporting government policies aimed at uplifting the communitys well-being and maintaining Abuja as the pride of the nation.

As we celebrate, let us not forget to be security conscious and obey all extant rules and regulations, especially traffic and sanitation laws.

Let us renew our dedication to the principles of Eid-el-Kabir, and may our sacrifices be accepted, and may we be rewarded with peace, joy, and prosperity, he said.

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The Albinism Association of Nigeria (AAN) has urged the federal government to implement the National Policy on Albinism.

The group made the call during a one-day meeting with the albinism community and other disability groups in commemoration of the annual International Albinism Awareness Day held in Lagos on Thursday.

The policy was enacted in 2019 as part of measures to improve the socio-economic well-being of Persons with Albinism by guaranteeing equal access to education, healthcare and social inclusion.

The theme for this years event was 10 Years of IAAD: A Decade of Collective Progress.

In her keynote speech, the Executive Director of AAN, Bisi Bamishe, lamented that despite a national policy, persons with albinism continue to face discrimination, social exclusion, and barriers to education, healthcare, and employment.

Persons with albinism are suffering and it seems there is no hope, even though a national policy supporting our course of living was initiated; hence, the need to ensure a review and implementation because of the prevailing negative circumstances faced by PWAs, Mrs. Bamishe noted.

Priority concerns

She further said that priority must be given to the prevention and treatment of skin cancer as the disease is their greatest enemy.

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The government should make provision for cancer treatment, regular skin checks and sunscreen in all teaching hospitals across the six geo-political zones of the country, she stated.

Albinism is a genetic condition that causes the lack of pigment in skin, hair, and eyes. It is sometimes accompanied by visual impairment. According to the National Institute of Health, the highest burden of cutaneous cancers is found in albinos.

People with albinism experience psychological challenges due to stigmatisation, discrimination and segregation. The policy is meant to address these.

Lagos pledges unwavering support

On her part, the Managing Director, Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, who was represented by Kilani Toluwalope, a deputy director in the agency, assured of her unwavering commitment to addressing the challenges faced by the albino community.

LASODA remains committed to looking into their issues. Whenever something comes up, they might not get done immediately but we will continue to give them that support and address their challenges. Regarding skin cancer, presently we are working with the Dermatology unit in LASUTH. They (albinos) can testify that we dont joke with the issue of cancer because it is very dangerous, she stated.

Despite its many challenges, the albino community in Nigeria has recorded some progress in the past decade.

We have a national body now, the Albinism Association of Nigeria, which is the national umbrella body for persons with albinism. We have more employment opportunities and those with low self-esteem have worked on themselves and are taking giant strides, the CEO, Lagos Albinism Awareness Foundation, Josephine Omolola, said in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES.

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The police in Abia State, South-east Nigeria say they have rescued three children abducted in the state.

The children are all from the same parents, the police said.

The police spokesperson in the state, Maureen Chinaka, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

Ms Chinaka, an assistant superintendent of police, recalled that the command received a report on 10 May 2024 that the three children were abducted by an unknown cyclist from Amaoba Okoro village in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State.

The spokesperson said the children  aged between four and eight  were taken away by the cyclist who was hired by their grandmother to convey them home after the children visited her.

We are happy to announce that all the three children have been rescued and reunited with their family, she said.

She said one of the children was rescued at Ekwulobia, a community in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra on 21 May while the second was rescued two days later at Nkpor in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state.

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The third child, she added, was rescued at Warri in Delta State, South-south Nigeria on 13 June.

The police mentioned the names of the rescued children, but this newspaper cannot disclose them because they are minors.

Arrest of reverend sister, four others

Ms Chinaka said investigation and efforts to rescue the children lasted from 10 May to 13 June 2024, during which five suspects  four females and one male  were arrested.

The police spokesperson identified the female suspects as Chizoba DJ, Glory Umuna, Georgina Nonye Okoye and Pauline Alozie, a Catholic reverend sister.

She gave the name of the arrested male suspect as Philip Ibe.

The suspects were arrested variously at Amawbia and Nkpor in Anambra State, as well as Warri in Delta State.

They are in custody and will be charged to court very soon, she stated.

Ms Chinaka said the police in the state appreciated the assistance of some government officials and local security units in the rescue operation.

The police spokesperson advised residents of the state to be security conscious and ensure the safety of their children.

Do not leave children with unfamiliar persons, and report suspicious persons with children to the police or other security agencies, she said.

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As Nigeria marks the 20th anniversary of World Blood Donor Day, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, has appealed to Nigerians to increase voluntary blood donations, as the country faces a shortage of blood supply donations.

Mr Pate made the call on Friday at the 2024 World Blood Donor Day press briefing organised by the National Blood Service Commission.

The minister, represented by the Acting Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Chris Isokpunwu, said Nigerias blood shortage is leading to avoidable deaths and diseases.

Unfortunately, much less is currently donated, leading to avoidable deaths, morbidities, or ill health, particularly among our womenfolk, newborns, and children, and victims of road traffic accidents and insurgencies, he said.

Blood donation

Citing data from WHO, Mr Pate noted that out of the 118.5 million blood donations collected globally, 40 per cent of these are from high-income countries.

He said according to WHO 2023, out of the 118.5 million blood donations collected globally, 40 per cent of these are from high-income countries, which is about 16 per cent of the worlds population.

However, data on the donation rate in Nigeria shows that more than 80 per cent of blood collected is from family replacement and commercial blood donors, he said.

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He further stated that WHO advised that blood collection, testing, processing, storage, and distribution activities be coordinated nationally through integrated blood supply networks, governed by a national blood policy and legislative framework to ensure uniform quality and safety standards.

The minister noted that research has shown that the safest and most reliable source of blood comes from regular, voluntary donors, rather than paid donors.

He said the World Health Assembly has urged countries to develop blood systems based on voluntary donations, aiming for self-sufficiency.

Access to safe blood and blood products is a key component of an effective health system and a significant building block for the successful achievement of health-related Sustainable Development Goals, he said.

With a population of over 200 million, Nigerias estimated blood need is about 2 million units annually.

Blood infusion critical to the health sector

In his goodwill message, the Director General of the National Blood Service Commission, Saleh Yuguda, emphasised the need for regular, unpaid blood donations to ensure universal access to safe blood transfusion.

Mr Yuguda noted that blood transfusion is a vital component of healthcare, providing life-saving support to patients facing severe medical conditions.

He explained that by receiving blood and blood products, patients can extend their lives and enjoy improved quality of life.

He added blood transfusion plays a crucial role in facilitating complex medical and surgical procedures, making it essential in maternal and child care, as well as during natural disasters and man-made crises.

Recently data indicates that more people are dying from lack of access to blood and blood products (because of RTA, obstetric haemorrhage, cancer-related bone marrow suppression etc) than communicable diseases in developing countries, he said.

World Blood Donor Day

The minister noted that the World Health Organisation (WHO) established World Blood Donor Day 20 years ago to promote voluntary blood donation and safe blood practices.

Speaking on the 2024 theme: 20 Years of Celebrating Giving: Thank You, Blood Donors, Mr Pate noted that it allows appreciating the kindness of donors.

He said: This day gives us the opportunity to celebrate the progress made and the lives saved due to the selflessness of blood donors worldwide. Blood donation is a gesture of kindness, a symbol of solidarity, and a testament to humanitys capacity for compassion.

Every blood donation is a precious gift. Each donation has the potential to save up to three lives, making blood donors true heroes among us.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to every one of you who have rolled up your sleeves to donate blood. Your kindness, compassion, and commitment to helping others are truly admirable.

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Three weeks after President Bola Tinubu ordered the review of the list of members of the governing councils and boards of federal tertiary institutions, the government, on Friday night, released the new list.

In the new list, prominent leaders and members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) including its pioneer National Chairman and former Governor of Osun State, Adebisi Akande; APCs Governorship Candidate in the 2023 general election in Kano State, Nasir Gawuna, among others, are appointed.

In the old list, Muhammed Mana was announced as the Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Ibadan but he has now been replaced by Mr Akande. Similarly, Mr Gawuna has replaced Udo Udoma as the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Bayern University, Kano.

Also noticeable on the list is the appointment of Lanre Tejuoso, a former Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) who was appointed a member of the Council of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, in the former list, has been named the Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Sarwan Tarka University, Makurdi, Benue State, in the new list.

Announcement

According to a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, General Services, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the release of the list followed the approval of the President.

A total of 560 individuals were appointed to the governing councils: five members each, including a chairman for 51 federal universities, 24 federal colleges of education, and 37 federal polytechnics.

According to the statement, the selection of the chosen individuals is aimed at ensuring the effective management of Nigerian tertiary institutions across the country.

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Why list review?

The directive by Mr Tinubu that the former list should be reviewed followed complaints by many concerned parties including academicians and members of the ruling party over the allegation of lopsidedness.

Others also accused the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, of populating the list with indigenes of his home state of Adamawa with about 32 persons on the list while other states such as Oyo and Niger had one and four persons respectively on the list.

The federal government-owned institutions have been without governing councils since the presidents directive for their dissolution in June 2023.

ASUU, in May, issued the government a twoweek ultimatum to reinstate councils whose tenures were yet to expire as of the time of the dissolution order and reconstitute those whose tenures had elapsed.

It described Mr Tinubus dissolution of the university councils as illegal, adding that it has paved the way for a series of illegalities on the various campuses.

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Gunmen have attacked Ogbaru Local Government Headquarters in Anambra State, South-east Nigeria.

The incident happened on Saturday morning, PREMIUM TIMES gathered.

The council headquarters is in Atani Community.

Residents told this newspaper that the gunmen stormed the secretariat and started firing sporadic shots before setting vehicles within the premises ablaze.

We woke up this morning and saw all the vehicles in flames, said one of the residents who asked not to be named.

A video clip, apparently recorded shortly after the attack, has been circulating on various social media platforms.

In the clip, seen by PREMIUM TIMES, at least five vehicles were razed by the hoodlums.

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From the clip, the vehicles razed included two pickup trucks, two buses and one tricycle truck.

However, one of the pick up trucks was partially burnt.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The police spokesperson in Anambra State, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the attack in a statement on Saturday evening.

How the gunmen attacked the secretariat

Mr Ikenga, a deputy superintendent of police, said no life was lost in the attack.

The spokesperson said four of the vehicles razed by the hoodlums belonged to vigilante operatives in the area.

He said information available to the police indicated that the gunmen, in large numbers, arrived at the secretariat on motorcycles and one other vehicle, shooting indiscriminately.

However, they faced strong resistance from the vigilante operatives until the police response team arrived. Due to the superior firepower of the security operatives, the gunmen fled the scene, he said.

Mr Ikenga said, in response to the attack, the deputy commissioner of police in charge of operations in the state led a joint security force comprising personnel of the Nigerian army, Navy, and other security agencies to the scene for an on-the-spot assessment.

Ongoing onslaught operations are being carried out to apprehend the culprits, he stated.

The spokesperson said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Nnaghe Obono, has condemned the attack.

Mr Obono, according to the statement, commended the security operatives for their bravery in carrying out the counter operation.

The police commissioner assured residents of Anambra State that the police will sustain the collaboration with other security agencies in the fight against criminals in the state.

Worsening insecurity

Like other states in Nigerias South-east, security has deteriorated in Anambra State with frequent attacks by armed persons.

The attacks often target security agencies, government officials and facilities.

The Nigerian government has accused the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region. But the group has repeatedly denied their involvement in the attacks.

IPOB is a group leading agitation for an independent state of Biafra which it wants carved out from the South-east and some parts of the South-south Nigeria.

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The Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence has backed its House of Representatives counterpart on the call for new aircraft for President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kassim Shettima.

The Chairman of the Committee, Umar Shehu Buba who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES Saturday night from Saudi Arabia, where he is performing this years hajj, said not quickly overhauling the presidential air fleet could endanger the lives of President Tinubu and his deputy.

The House Committee on National Security and Intelligence had in a report forwarded to the presidency asked the federal government to immediately procure two airplanes for Messrs Tinubu and Shettima to secure the transportation of the countrys top officials.

The call by the House Committee immediately triggered widespread criticisms by some Nigerians who questioned the wisdom in buying new aeroplanes at a time Nigeria is facing severe economic hardship.

But speaking on the matter Saturday, Mr Buba said, Have you seen the report of the committee? The committees recommendations are clear enough. To arrive at those recommendations, the committee conducted an investigative hearing and interacted with officials of the Presidential Air Fleet.

The committee obtained the necessary information, which led it to call for the overhauling of the Presidential Air Fleet. It is true that our country is facing economic difficulty, but that will not be a justification to jeopardize or endanger the lives of our president, our vice president, other top officials of government and that of any citizen for that matter.

We are all aware of the air mishaps in Iran and Malawi recently, which claimed the lives of the president and vice president of those countries, respectively. We commiserate with the people and governments of those counties. But we must also, as a people, do whatever is necessary to lower the possibility of such disasters in our country.

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No sacrifice is too much to pay for the safety of our leaders and citizens. We elected them. So, we have a collective responsibility to protect them at all times.

When asked why lawmakers are pushing for new aircraft for the nations top leaders but uninterested in calling on the government and President Tinubu to pay a decent minimum wage to workers, the Senator said, I am not a spokesman for the House Committee. You can ask its members that question. But I expect you to know that the committees remit is national security and intelligence.

The recommendations they made are related to those matters. The safety of our leaders and the health of the presidential air fleet are matters of national security concerns.

By raising those matters, it does not mean the committee members do not care about the issue of minimum wage, which is already being well handled by government and organised labour.

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Europe has been quite busy perfecting policies of denying migrants their fundamental human rights by paying third parties to do the dirty job. For instance, the Rapid Support Services (RSF), which has been primarily responsible for the genocide in Darfur since 2003 and is engaged in war crimes in its on-going battles against the regular Sudanese military, has received millions of euros from the EU. They are payments to stop, by the use of brutal force, Sudanese, Somali, Eritrean and Ethiopian migrants from travelling to Europe from Sudanese soil.

The ongoing right wing shifts in the European parliamentary elections give the impression that there are seismic shifts in the plates of its politics. Please dont worry yourself. There are no possibilities of earthquakes. These are mere rumblings in the belly of its body politic.

It is said that Europes far-right gained historic grounds in the elections, but the lesson for us in the underdeveloped countries is that it is better to view the right parties as becoming essentially the same. The lines between the right, centre right and far right, are becoming blurred.

Yes, the so-called far-right made political gains in Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Italy and France. But also, some centre-right politicians made moves to the far-right, especially to fight against migration.

In France, for instance, tougher legislation was passed in December 2023 against migration. President Emmanuel Macron, who claimed to have been fighting the far-right in his country over the years, was on the same page with them. He rationalised his anti-migration shift as a shield that we needed.

But that did not shield him and his party at the European polls. Expectedly, the National Rally in France made gains at the expense of President Macron. Also expectedly, Macron switched into panic mode. Dazed by the defeats, he called for legislative elections in France this month; three months early. Dont mind the gambler.

In Germany, the right wing, Alternative for Germany (AfD), beat Chancellor Olaf Schozs centre left Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the elections by 16 per cent.

Although the far-right made gains, its 150 seats in the European parliament of 720, does not amount to any dramatic shift; what it does is to announce that significant populations in Europe are beginning to shed their toga of human rights and liberal disposition.

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while Europeans think they have the right to freely migrate to other parts of the world, their political leaders are using any means possible, including criminality, to keep people from the underdeveloped countries from migrating to Europe. This includes consciously letting would-be migrants who can be saved, to drown in the turbulent seas. The Italian government of Premier Giorgia Meloni has a policy of denying ships with endangered migrants, safe harbour.

Before the elections, Europe, which is never tired of talking about partnerships and shared prosperity with Africa, Asia and the Middle East, had been quite busy virtually criminalising migration.

To be sure, they are not opposed to European migration or continued occupation of other parts of the world. Just last month, France violently put down protests in New Caledonia, a colony in the South Pacific. France does not only want a continuation of the so-called right of its citizens to migrate to that territory, but also, the French parliament voted that recent French arrivals in the territory would have the right to vote in provincial elections. The simple plan of France is to flood the colony with its citizens and eventually in democratic elections out-vote the indigenes and, transform the colony to a full French territory.

So, while Europeans think they have the right to freely migrate to other parts of the world, their political leaders are using any means possible, including criminality, to keep people from the underdeveloped countries from migrating to Europe. This includes consciously letting would-be migrants who can be saved, to drown in the turbulent seas. The Italian government of Premier Giorgia Meloni has a policy of denying ships with endangered migrants, safe harbour. It is a crime in that country for a ship with rescued migrants to rescue other migrants from the waves, no matter the danger they face.

Greece has been more audacious by sinking migrant vessels and hiring undocumented migrants as police auxiliaries to attack, torture and force back migrants into Turkish borders.

Europe has been quite busy perfecting policies of denying migrants their fundamental human rights by paying third parties to do the dirty job. For instance, the Rapid Support Services (RSF), which has been primarily responsible for the genocide in Darfur since 2003 and is engaged in war crimes in its on-going battles against the regular Sudanese military, has received millions of euros from the EU. They are payments to stop, by the use of brutal force, Sudanese, Somali, Eritrean and Ethiopian migrants from travelling to Europe from Sudanese soil. With such funds, the RSF buys arms and continues to carry out war crimes against the Sudanese. There are now over 10 million displaced Sudanese and double that number in need of urgent food aid. The EU had, in order to fund the militia, branded the RSF killing machine as a border force. As recent as Wednesday, 6 March, the British Foreign Office was in secret talks with the RSF allegedly to persuade it to allow peace to reign.

In Euro-Asia, the EU, under its 18 March, 2016 Pact with Turkey, agreed to pay the latter 6 billion to accept migrants forced to leave Europe, especially Greece. The job of Turkey is to force such migrants into mass concentration camps and shut the gates of Europe against them. In addition, Turkey is given the task to stop fresh migrants, especially from Syria, reaching Europe. One of the carrots dangled before Turkey was accelerated EU membership. Interestingly, this has failed to materialise eight years later. However, with massive crackdown, the flow of migrants into Europe through Turkey was reduced by 95 per cent in two years.

One of the EUs most successful outsourcing of brutality on migrants heading to Europe, is the business deal with Morocco. In exchange for substantial EU financial payments, Morocco stopped 75,000 migrants from reaching Europe in 2023. It has also tried to use the migration gambit to join the EU as a member. But the latter rejected the Moroccan application on the basis that it is not an European state.

Taking advantage of the near-anarchy in Libya, Europe pays the Libyan government to keep migrants from reaching Europe by force. Under a Memorandum of Understanding signed on 2 February, 2017, the Italian government funds Libya to secure its borders and prevent migration.

The EU offered Tunisia, 105 million for border management in a so-called partnership programme. This money is simply a contract for the Tunisian government to stop migrants from crossing to Europe from Tunisian territory.

One of the EUs most successful outsourcing of brutality on migrants heading to Europe, is the business deal with Morocco. In exchange for substantial EU financial payments, Morocco stopped 75,000 migrants from reaching Europe in 2023. It has also tried to use the migration gambit to join the EU as a member. But the latter rejected the Moroccan application on the basis that it is not an European state.

In the case of Britain, it signed a 14 April, 2022 Asylum Partnership Agreement with Rwanda. Under this, thousands of migrants are to be deported to that African country for a fee of $146 million. But the 4 July election in Britain has caught up with the deportation plans. So, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says the forced deportations will come after the elections.

In its own case, Australia in Oceania has been quite busy honing its anti-migration policies. It out-sourced migration to Papua New Guinea where vast detention camps were established. Before these open prisons for migrants were closed, some had spent up to five years in detention.

What the European parliamentary elections tell us in Africa is that the gloves are coming off. There will not just be tougher migration to Europe, but tougher times for non-White people, even if they are European citizens.

Owei Lakemfa, a former secretary general of African workers, is a human rights activist, journalist and author.

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If anyone is in doubt that stupidity is winning globally, look no further than the United States of America. Recently, the land of Lincoln, Franklin, and Hamilton, once a crucible where inspiring leaders are forged, has been overrun by individuals lacking discernment in overwhelming numbers. Today, a convicted felon is not only aspiring to lead but is a leading contender to occupy the Peoples House  the very house he encouraged his goons to desecrate just a few years ago.

There is a prevailing, albeit false, narrative that the core of Donald Trumps voter base is solely driven by racism and white supremacy. While its true that virulent racists and staunch bigots find his actions and rhetoric invigorating, this view is overly simplistic. The majority of his supporters do not fit this profile. Trumps supporters can be broadly categorised into three overlapping demographics.

Firstly, there is a significant segment of white America that feels increasingly marginalised, believing that whites are losing control and being sidelined in a nation built by their forebears. For them, the threat posed by Russia or China pales in comparison to the fear of an America where whites are outnumbered by people of colour and no longer the dominant economic force.

They point to factors such as affirmative action, cancel culture, the emphasis on diversity, the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, and the jaded conspiracy theory that Democrats encourage illegal immigration to boost their ranks. These are seen as practices eroding white power in America. While Republicans, especially those from the alt-right, often discuss these issues, this group believes that no one captured their anger and frustration as effectively as Donald Trump.

Secondly, there are the billionaires and corporate titans who find the Democratic Partys fiscal policies, which emphasise higher taxes on the rich, appalling. These individuals will support whoever carries the Republican Partys banner, regardless of their moral standing. Their bottom line is to support the party that will increase their wealth. This group doles out millions to fund super PACs, many of which work covertly to promote racial tension and continuously attack core American values and institutions.

In October 2010, Pam Martens of Wall Street on Parade authored an article describing how secret slush funds were used to instill fear among Americans to influence electoral outcomes. She reported that about seven weeks before the 2008 Presidential election, Donors Capital Fund, a dark money group linked to billionaire Charles Koch, donated $17,778,600 to the Clarion Fund. This money was used to produce and distribute 28 million DVDs of a documentary titled Obsession: Radical Islams War Against the West, a race-baiting, fear-mongering film meant to incite fear and discontent within white America about the prospect of a black president.

For an average white person who watched that DVD, one can only imagine how it might have deepened suspicions of not just blacks but other racial minority groups in America. You can begin to empathise with such an individual who might see a messiah in Donald Trump, someone positioned to protect their kind. Years later, Charles Koch publicly apologised, expressing regret about the divisive role he played, though he continued to write big checks to candidates who deny Joe Bidens victory in the last election.

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While these two groups exist, Trumps base is most accurately depicted by a third group, which is the most powerful due to their sheer number and the passion they bring to the table. These individuals are predominantly whites residing in small towns and blacks, particularly of African descent, who perceive a morally dubious individual as a representation of Christianity and a messianic figure advocating for conservative values.

These individuals are very passionate about their beliefs but lack the mental depth required to fully appreciate the broader implications of their actions on society. To them, America is suffering from the sin of LGBTQ rights, which they believe has been imposed by liberals. They have been influenced by conservative talk show hosts who portray liberals as mostly pedophiles running worldwide sex trafficking rings. Members of this group are notoriously impulsive and easily swayed by superficial or misleading information.

They carry on like highly devoted members of a Trump cult, rationalising his most irrational, asinine, and egregious actions. If Trump were to stand in front of a crowd and shoot someone, they would argue that the victim deserved to die and that Trump, out of his love for humanity, did us a favour by eliminating a nuisance. Youve likely seen them interviewed at MAGA rallies, and youve probably shuddered at some of the things they say.

Even amidst the lies and deception, many Americans today can see through the noise and are profoundly disgusted by Trump and the extensive damage he has inflicted on the American brand. However, one wouldnt deduce this from their actions. They only express their disgust among friends but fail to take any further action. In contrast to Trump supporters, who are willing to donate their last penny to his campaign, these individuals rank voting low on their list of priorities, let alone donating to a campaign aimed at defeating Trump and his allies. In essence, they possess the wisdom to recognise the peril of Trumps ascent but lack the fervour to translate that recognition into action.

During the 2016 U.S. presidential election between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, I heard my friends who chose to stay home, confident that the majority of Americans were wise enough to prevent a candidate like Trump from reaching the White House. The outcome, however, proved otherwise. This phenomenon underscores an unfortunate reality: in many cases, it is those with passion, rather than wisdom, who often shape the world. Passion drives action, while wisdom often hesitates.

That 2016 election also underscored a critical dynamic in democratic systems: the ability to mobilise passionate, albeit less informed, voters can be more decisive than appealing to a well-informed but less engaged populace. In a system where every vote counts equally, the intensity of support can outweigh the depth of understanding.

Trumps campaign, characterised by its emotional appeals, sensationalism, and stark deviation from political norms, resonated deeply with a significant portion of the electorate. His supporters, galvanised by his unorthodox style and promises to disrupt the status quo, turned out in droves, propelled by a fervour unmatched by the more measured and policy-oriented Clinton campaign.

One thing democracy has done to our world is to let fools rule over the wise. This may sound harsh, but it reflects a fundamental flaw in democratic systems: the principle of one person, one vote does not discriminate between informed and uninformed, wise and foolish. In such a system, those who can ignite the passions of the masses, regardless of the substance of their platform, often prevail.

Fools are guided by their hearts and not their heads, but they are passionate, impulsive, and by far outnumber the wise. A candidate who is able to capture the heart of this majority, no matter how terrible, wins. This creates a perilous scenario where emotional appeals and sensationalism can triumph over rational discourse and evidence-based policy-making.

There is a saying that the greatest argument against democracy is a one-minute conversation with an average voter. This saying underscores the notion that an average voter is often unable to look at issues dispassionately, being ruled by emotion rather than reason. This emotional susceptibility can lead to the election of leaders who are skilled at manipulating these passions rather than those who are genuinely competent and wise.

The tension between passion and wisdom in governance is not a new phenomenon. Throughout history, charismatic leaders who could stir the emotions of the masses have often risen to power, sometimes with disastrous consequences. Julius Caesars populist tactics in ancient Rome, the fervour behind Napoleon Bonapartes rise in post-revolutionary France, and the emotionally charged rhetoric of leaders like Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini in the 20th century all demonstrate the potent force of passion in shaping political landscapes.

In each of these cases, the appeal to emotion and the mobilisation of fervent support played a crucial role in their ascent. The consequences of their rule, however, were often catastrophic, leading to wars, widespread suffering, and the erosion of democratic institutions.

In the modern era, the role of media and technology has further amplified the power of passion-driven politics. Social media platforms, in particular, have revolutionised the way information is disseminated and consumed, often prioritising sensationalism and emotional engagement over factual accuracy and rational debate. The algorithms that drive these platforms are designed to maximise user engagement, often by promoting content that elicits strong emotional reactions.

This dynamic creates a fertile ground for populist leaders who can harness these tools to spread their message and mobilise support. The echo chambers and filter bubbles created by social media can further entrench individuals in their beliefs, making it difficult for reasoned discourse to penetrate. The rapid spread of misinformation and fake news exacerbates this problem, leading to a political environment where emotions reign supreme.

Addressing the imbalance between passion and prudence in democratic systems is no easy task. It requires a multifaceted approach that includes education, media reform, and institutional safeguards.

Education is perhaps the most critical component. A well-informed electorate is less susceptible to emotional manipulation and more capable of making reasoned decisions. Investing in civic education that emphasises critical thinking, media literacy, and the importance of evidence-based policy-making can help cultivate a more discerning and wise electorate.

Media reform is also essential. Encouraging responsible journalism, promoting fact-checking, and creating incentives for media outlets to prioritise accuracy and depth over sensationalism can help counteract the influence of emotional appeals. Social media platforms, in particular, need to take greater responsibility for the content they promote and the impact it has on public discourse.

Dale Carnegie, the renowned American writer, once said, When dealing with people, let us remember we are not dealing with creatures of logic. We are dealing with creatures of emotion, creatures bristling with prejudices and motivated by pride and vanity. This quote underscores the reality that humans are emotional, often misinformed, and driven by insecurities and a desire for status.

When faced with the choice between understanding how the world should work in theory versus how it actually operates in practice, prioritise the latter. Historian Will Durant aptly put it: Logic is an invention of man and may be ignored by the universe. Embracing this perspective allows us to navigate the complexities of human behaviour more effectively and achieve more realistic and impactful outcomes.

One of the fundamental flaws of democracy is the belief in the wisdom of the masses. However, this belief can be tested when passion overrides reason, and the uninformed dictate the direction of a nation. This is not an indictment of democracy itself, but a call to address the vulnerabilities within democratic systems that can be exploited by those who seek to manipulate emotions for personal gain.

The democratisation of foolishness is a phenomenon that transcends borders and political ideologies. If you were to try to convince some of my brothers and sisters east of the Niger that IPOB is not the solution to our problems, they would likely see you not just as a fool but as a bloody traitor. They will refer to you as an Otelectuals, a derogatory term for the man who thinks with his bunghole rather than his cerebrum. You will become that someone who did not understand life and was cut off from the people, in Milan Kunderas The book of Laughter and Forgetting.

This is a reminder that in a democratic society, the responsibility to protect the integrity of the system lies with the people that know better. While the challenge of balancing passion and prudence in democratic systems is significant, it is not insurmountable. By fostering a more informed electorate, promoting responsible media practices, and strengthening democratic institutions, we can create a political environment where wisdom has a greater chance of prevailing over folly.

To secure the future of democracy, it is imperative that we vigorously counter misinformation, prioritise empirical evidence over emotional reactions, and maintain a steadfast commitment to holding our leaders accountable. Passive observation is not an option; our active participation is essential. Those who possess knowledge but choose not to act are no better than those consumed by ignorance. The wise should choose action over apathy, ensuring that democracy continues to illuminate the path toward progress and hope for generations to come.

Osmund Agbo is the author of Black Grit, White Knuckles: The Philosophy of Black Renaissance and a fiction work titled The Velvet Court: Courtesan Chronicles, along with other publications.

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The social justice implications of the NELFUND are multi-faceted. First and foremost, the programme directly addresses the issue of educational inequality, ensuring that talented and deserving students from marginalised communities are not denied the chance to fulfil their academic and professional aspirations due to their socioeconomic statuses. By levelling the playing field and providing equal access to educational financing, the NELF empowers these students to pursue their dreams and contribute to the nations collective progress.

In a country as diverse and complex as Nigeria, issues of inequality, access, and opportunity have long been at the forefront of the national discourse. Education, in particular, has been identified as a critical pathway to social mobility and economic empowerment, yet barriers to quality education have persisted, disproportionately impacting marginalised communities. Establishing the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) represents a significant step towards addressing this challenge and promoting greater social justice within the Nigerian education system.

The NELFUND, launched in 2024, is a government-backed initiative to provide affordable and accessible education financing to students from low-income backgrounds. By offering interest-free loans and flexible repayment terms, the programme seeks to remove the financial obstacles that have historically prevented many Nigerians from pursuing higher education. This is a crucial intervention, as the high costs of tuition, fees, and living expenses have long been a significant deterrent for students from disadvantaged communities, effectively denying them the opportunity to unlock the transformative potential of education.

The social justice implications of the NELFUND are multi-faceted. First and foremost, the programme directly addresses the issue of educational inequality, ensuring that talented and deserving students from marginalised communities are not denied the chance to fulfil their academic and professional aspirations due to their socioeconomic statuses. By levelling the playing field and providing equal access to educational financing, the NELF empowers these students to pursue their dreams and contribute to the nations collective progress.

Beyond its direct impact on educational and economic outcomes, the NELFUND also catalyses social justice by challenging deeply ingrained societal biases and power structures. By prioritising the needs of marginalised groups, the programme sends a powerful message about the governments commitment to equity and social inclusion

Moreover, the NELFUND focus on low-income people aligns with the broader goal of reducing poverty and promoting inclusive economic development. Education, as a powerful driver of social mobility, can break the cycle of intergenerational poverty by equipping individuals with the knowledge, skills, and credentials necessary to secure well-paying jobs and create economic stability for themselves and their families. As more students from disadvantaged backgrounds access higher education through the NELFUND, they will be better positioned to contribute to the growth and diversification of Nigerias economy, ultimately benefiting society as a whole.

Beyond its direct impact on educational and economic outcomes, the NELFUND also catalyses social justice by challenging deeply ingrained societal biases and power structures. By prioritising the needs of marginalised groups, the programme sends a powerful message about the governments commitment to equity and social inclusion, signalling a shift away from the historical marginalisation of specific communities. This, in turn, can help to foster a more just and inclusive social fabric, where opportunities are distributed more fairly, and the voices of the traditionally underrepresented are elevated.

the Nigeria Education Loan Fund stands as a critical intervention in the pursuit of social justice in Nigeria. By addressing the financial barriers to higher education, empowering marginalised people, and fostering inclusive economic development, the NELFUND has the potential to catalyse a more just and equitable future for the country.

Of course, the success of the NELFUND in realising its social justice objectives will depend on its practical implementation, robust monitoring and evaluation, and the governments continued political will to sustain and expand the programme. However, the mere existence of such an initiative represents a significant step forward in Nigerias journey towards a more equitable and just society, where the transformative power of education is accessible to all.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

In conclusion, the Nigeria Education Loan Fund stands as a critical intervention in the pursuit of social justice in Nigeria. By addressing the financial barriers to higher education, empowering marginalised people, and fostering inclusive economic development, the NELFUND has the potential to catalyse a more just and equitable future for the country. As Nigeria grapples with the complex challenges of growth and nation-building, initiatives like the NELFUND offer a beacon of hope, demonstrating the transformative power of education in driving social progress.

Fred Femi Akinfala is the executive director, Finance and Administration, NELFUND.

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When Reverend Father George Ehusani called me up to get some of our media cohorts to put out opinions and editorials in commemoration of this years Fathers Day, little did he know he was providing inspiration for my own contribution to the significance of fatherhood in raising a morally upright family. World over, 16 June is a day set aside to commemorate fatherhood, paternal bond and the influence of fathers in the society. According to Fr George, part of the problem of our society is the dysfunction of its most basic unit of the family arising from irresponsible parenting by its head (father).

In the words of Father G, as we fondly call him, being a father goes beyond a mans ability to procreate children to his capability to nurture them into responsible members of the society through his emotional, spiritual, moral and material provision, as the prevalent culture of irresponsible fatherhood has exacerbated the general problem of irresponsible citizenry in our dear Nigeria. And there is no better day than Fathers Day for the media to help raise awareness about the need for proper parenting through responsible fatherhood in our beloved country.

The truism that being a father goes beyond a mans ability to procreate is most evident in the life of Father George Ehusani, an intellectual priest of the Holy Roman Catholic Church and the executive director of Lux Terra Leadership Foundation; an organisation I have had the privilege of working with for many years. Working closely with Fr George on the many projects embarked upon by his Foundation gave me a rare insight into his vision for humanity of a world that is made better by fraternal love, understanding, accommodation and peaceful coexistence under an atmosphere of freedom, justice, inclusion, equity and fairness. In Father George, my belief in the fact that the purpose of faith is the betterment of humanity is reinforced and that any faith that is devoid of humanism is not of God.

Whilst, Father George is famous for his fiery sermons on social justice, good governance and most recently his earth shaking intervention on the need for the government of Nigeria to pay a living wage to its long suffering people, not many know that his social crusades stems in part from his desire to bring succour and shared prosperity to many struggling families in Nigeria. In a Christlike manner, Father George is only but a shepherd watching out for security and welfare of his flock, using his sermons as a guide towards the righteous direction. And beyond the use of his sermon to preach publicly against vice, while admonishing righteousness in high places, Father George is also practicing what he preaches in private.

Whereas, his oath of celibacy prevents him from activities that could result into procreating children of his own in the over four decades he has been a priest, Father George has become the father of many children. And like the father that Christ Jesus was of the multitude he fed, healed and saved from eternal damnation, Father George has been for the emotional, spiritual, moral and material needs of all that are blessed enough to have their crossed with his. Beginning with those of us who are staff members of Lux Terra Leadership Foundation to members of the various parishes he has conducted priestly duties in, to members of the surrounding community, Father George has been a father in words and deeds.

Many years ago while serving as the parish priest of the Catholic Church of Assumption in the affluent neighbourhood of Asokoro in Abuja, Father George looked out of the window of his grand cathedral into the surrounding slums of Kpaduma and other villages in search of children to father. Father George understood that for these families to escape the eternal damnation of poverty and misery will be for their children to be provided quality education. So, Father George left the comfort of his affluent neighbourhood and took a walk into the surrounding slums to adopt over thirty children in the first instance. And with all of them in primary school at the time, Father George took over the payment of their school fees and general welfare until they finished their elementary studies.

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Upon completion of their primary education, Father George enrolled them in some of the most prestigious private secondary schools in Asokoro in a manner reminiscent of the good old days when the children of the rich and poor, high and low, small and mighty attended the same school. And it turned out that given equal opportunities and access to quality education, social status is not a barrier to academic excellence as some of Fr Georges children from the slums graduated at the top of their classes at the expensive schools they attended with the children of the rich, high and mighty in Asokoro. To the Glory of God these children have made progress at various institutions of higher learning both at home and overseas. Earlier in the year, we converged on Lux Terra Chapel to celebrate the first graduate among Fr Georges children who bagged an LLB (Hons) Law Degree following his successful Call to the Nigerian Bar. Also in attendance was another of Father Georges daughter who had completed her six year study for a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) and was doing her Housemanship at the National Hospital Abuja.

Clearly, a man does not have to procreate to be a father so long as he takes up the responsibility of fatherhood just as a mans ability to procreate without taking up the accompanying responsibility fatherhood does not make necessarily make him father. In the life of Father George Ehusani, it is clearly evident that being a father goes beyond just siring children and his good example of responsible fatherhood should inspire and influence a more appropriate parenting culture in the overall interest of fixing our broken society and upholding moral righteousness in our country Nigeria.

Majeed Dahiru, a public affairs analyst, writes from Abuja and can be reached through dahirumajeed@gmail.com.

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The pro-Wike lawmakers attempt to regain control of the Rivers House of Assembly suffered a setback at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt on Friday.

A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Hamma Barka, rejected the lawmakers request to vacate a Rivers State High Court order empowering Governor Siminalayi Fubara-backed lawmakers to continue with legislative business in the state assembly.

The appeal was filed by a former speaker of the assembly, Martin Amaewhule and 24 others against the Speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo and five others.

Mr Amaewhule and 24 other lawmakers in the assembly, whose seats were declared vacant following their defection to the APC, are loyal to the immediate-past governor of the state, Nyesom Wike (now FCT minister) while Mr Oko-Jumbo and two other lawmakers who are currently in charge of the assembly are allies of Governor Fubara.

The appellate court also rejected the request by Wikes allies to set aside the trial courts order restraining them from parading themselves as members of the state assembly.

Justice Barka further rejected their request to restrain Governor Fubara-backed lawmakers from parading themselves as members of the state assembly.

The judge ordered parties in the suit to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the appeal.

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What Wikes allies want

Mr Amaewhule-led faction, dissatisfied with the order of the trial court, filed an appeal asking the appellate court to, among other requests, order a stay of execution of the interim injunction earlier given by the trial court.

The lawmakers also asked the appellate court to issue an order restraining Governor Fubara from implementing the decision of the trial court and for the trial court to stay proceedings pending the determination of the appeal.

It further asked the court to restrain Mr Oko-Jumbo and two others from parading themselves as members of the state assembly.

The Mr Oko-Jumbo-led assembly, since he emerged as speaker under controversial circumstances, had confirmed the appointment of commissioners, and carried out other legislatives businesses, a development which prompted the pro-Wike lawmakers to ask the Court of Appeal to issue an order setting aside the sittings, proceedings, and deliberations done by the Fubara-backed lawmakers.

Court ruling

The Court of Appeal, in its ruling, ordered all parties to maintain the status quo, pending the determination of the appeal before it.

I have equally studied the prayers of the applicants. A critical study of the prayers deals with the substance of the issues on appeal, and dealing or granting the same will tantamount to determining the issues on appeal at this interlocutory state, which this court will decline to do, Justice Barka stated.

The certified true copy of the court ruling was sent to PREMIUM TIMES by Chukwudi Nelson, the spokesperson to Governor Fubara.

Background

The oil-rich Rivers State has been enmeshed in a political crisis since October last year after some lawmakers backed by Mr Wike initiated an impeachment plot against Governor Fubara.

The crisis was triggered by the struggle over the control of political structure in the state between Governor Fubara and Mr Wike.

The political rifts between the two former allies worsened despite a peace deal brokered by President Bola Tinubu.

The pro-Wike lawmakers, after the peace deal, had returned to the assembly and conducted legislative business, overriding Governor Fubaras veto on bills.

The lawmakers had, at least six times, overrode Mr Fubaras veto to bills, a development that forced the governor to declare that the pro-Wike lawmakers were no longer members of the states assembly and had lost their seats, having defected to the APC.

Days after the declaration, Mr Oko-Jumbo emerged a new speaker of a three-member faction of the assembly.

Mr Oko-Jumbo, after his emergence, secured a court order restraining the pro-Wike lawmakers from parading themselves as members of the assembly, which prompted the pro-Wike lawmakers to file the appeal.

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BERLIN, June 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Flor de Cana, the renowned premium rum brand celebrated for its exceptional quality and unwavering commitment to sustainability, received the unprecedented distinction of being honored with two awards at the prestigious German Brand Awards 2024: "Excellent Brands Award - Consumer Goods" and "Special Mention - Product Brand of the Year". Flor de Cana received these awards thanks to the quality and excellence of its products and its leadership in sustainable practices.

Flor de Cana Rum

Flor de Cana has an award-winning portfolio of premium rums that are aged naturally, without sugar or artificial ingredients, in bourbon barrels for up to 30 years to obtain their exceptionally smooth flavor. Some of its most known expressions include Flor de Cana 12 Year, Flor de Cana 18 Year and Flor de Cana 25 Year.

As a family-owned brand that dates back to 1890, Flor de Cana has long championed environmental and social responsibility. These awards reaffirm the brand's dedication to sustainable practices, such as being the world's first Carbon Neutral and Fair Trade certified spirit, distilling its rum with 100% renewable energy, planting one million trees since 2005 and owning company school and hospital for benefit of employees and their families.

The German Brand Awards celebrate outstanding brand work across all industries, evaluating criteria such as brand identity, sustainability, and overall market performance. For any company, receiving a German Brand Award is a testament to their commitment to excellence, bolstering their reputation and reinforcing their position as a leader in their respective field.

About Flor de Cana

Flor de Cana is a premium rum brand and the world's first Carbon Neutral and Fair Trade certified spirit. From an 1890 family estate, it's distilled with 100% renewable energy and naturally aged at the base of an active volcano without sugar or artificial ingredients. The brand is recognized as a global leader in sustainability, receiving distinctions such as "World's Most Sustainable Rum Brand" (USA), "Ethical Award" (UK) and "Sustainable Spirits Producer" (France). www.flordecana.com

Contact: corporatecommunications@flordecana.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2438401/Flor_de_Can_a_Rum.jpg
ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, June 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- IQ Medical Ventures has rebranded as IQ Women's Health. This strategic transformation underscores the company's commitment to addressing the diverse and unique needs of women in healthcare. Our mission is to accelerate innovation and support the development of groundbreaking solutions that enhance women's health outcomes globally.

About IQ Women's Health

Johan F.M. Remmerswaal, Managing Director at IQ Womens Health

IQ Women's Health is dedicated to fostering innovation and supporting the development of cutting-edge solutions in women's health. The organization caters to the needs of physicians, start-ups, and investors, providing the resources, network, and regulatory guidance necessary to succeed in advancing women's health outcomes worldwide.

Why women's health

The decision to rebrand and focus on women's health stems from a deeply personal place. Throughout their journey as IQ Medical Ventures, the team has first handedly seen the gaps and opportunities in women's healthcare. The stories of countless women seeking better health solutions, the dedication of physicians striving to provide exceptional care, and the innovative ideas from start-ups looking to make a difference have all inspired the organization. Women's health is not just a market; it is a critical area where innovation can lead to profound improvements in quality of life.

The journey and commitment

Building on extensive experience in the healthcare sector, IQ Women's Health recognizes the critical need for advancements in women's health. The organization is fully dedicated to leading this transformation by providing essential resources, a robust ecosystem, and expert guidance. Whether a healthcare provider with pioneering ideas, a start-up aiming to revolutionize women's health, or an investor seeking impactful opportunities, IQ Women's Health is there to support every stage.

A Personal note from the leadership

"We believe in the power of innovation to transform women's health," said Johan F.M. Remmerswaal, Managing Director at IQ Women's Health. "Our rebranding and renewed focus demonstrate our dedication to advancing healthcare solutions that will have a lasting, positive impact on the lives of women worldwide. Coming from a family with four older sisters, having lost the youngest and her daughter to breast cancer, having listened to the countless complaints about the one-sided trials in our industry; we just want to say we heard you! The personal stories and challenges we've encountered along our journey have reinforced our resolution to make a meaningful difference in this field."

Join IQ Women's Health in advancing women's health

IQ Women's Health invites all stakeholders to join in the mission to advance women's health through innovation and collaboration. Together, a healthier, brighter future for all women can be created.

For more information

For more information about IQ Women's Health and their services, please visit www.iq-womenshealth.com or contact directly at +31 (0)10 261 9100.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2436574/Johan_FM_Remmerswaal.jpg
Gift from Ambry Genetics founder Charlie Dunlop to advance academics, research

IRVINE, Calif., June 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of California, Irvine has received a $50 million donation from Orange County biotech entrepreneur Charlie Dunlop for the School of Biological Sciences. His gift will create an endowed fund that will provide unrestricted support for academic and research activities within the school.

In honor of Dunlop's transformative contributions and pioneering spirit in biology and medicine, UC Irvine will rename the school the Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences, setting an inspiring example for future students to innovate and apply groundbreaking discoveries.

Dunlop is one of the leading biotech scientists and entrepreneurs in Orange County. He founded Ambry Genetics in 1999 in a small office above a Harley-Davidson motorcycle shop after raising about $500,000 from friends and family.

The company became a pioneer in genetic testing and is the first in the world to offer such tests as hereditary cancer panels and clinical exome sequencing. Additionally, Dunlop championed the open sharing of genetic data. This openness has revolutionized the industry and catalyzed advancements in health sciences globally. During his time at Ambry, Dunlop found UC Irvine to be a valuable source of scientific personnel, regularly hiring biological sciences graduates. Dunlop was president and chairman of the board of Ambry Genetics until it was sold to Konica Minolta in 2017.

"UC Irvine is a huge asset to California, to the community and to Irvine," Dunlop said. "It would have been impossible to build a business like Ambry without UC Irvine and the higher education system in California. My focus is biology because it is the kind of science where dedication at the bench translates directly to success. My experiences with children's hospitals reaffirm the critical importance of our science. Whether aiding sick patients, supporting ecosystems or conducting basic research, the advancement of our field is vital. This is why I have chosen to make this contribution."

With over 4,000 undergraduates and 300 graduate students, the Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences is currently one of the largest academic units at UC Irvine. Multidisciplinary research and academic opportunities exist in the areas of cancer and infectious diseases, developmental biology and genetics, environmental and evolutionary studies, mechanisms of gene expression, neurodegeneration, learning and memory disorders, structural biology, stem cell therapies, and science education.

SOURCE Regents of the University of California on behalf of the University of California, Irvine
DIAMOND BAR, Calif., June 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SEMA - the Specialty Equipment Market Association - is deeply disappointed that California's Senate Bill (SB) 301 , legislation aimed at incentivizing the conversion of gas and diesel-powered cars into Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs), was vetoed by California Governor Gavin Newsom.

Authored by California Senator Anthony Portantino, SB 301 sought to establish the groundbreaking Zero-Emission Aftermarket Conversion Project (ZACP) under the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Despite being lauded as a "Job Creator" by the California Chamber of Commerce and receiving unanimous support from lawmakers, the bill faced a veto at the Governor's desk. This program would have provided rebates of up to $4,000 to California residents undertaking the conversion of eligible used vehicles, with stringent guidelines ensuring compliance with safety, range, and affordability criteria.

"SEMA is profoundly disappointed by Governor Newsom's lack of foresight in vetoing SB 301." Post this

This missed opportunity is glaring, especially as California boasts several programs promoting new ZEV purchases but lacks support for ZEV conversions of existing gas-powered vehicles. This setback hinders the rollout of a program that bolsters cleaner air, reduces carbon emissions, and fuels job growth and economic prosperity statewide.

California's reputation as an innovation hub rings hollow with this veto. SB301 was poised to be a catalyst for progress. With over 149,000 jobs and a significant $40 billion economic impact, the specialty automotive aftermarket stands as a vital contributor to California's economy. This bill represented a chance to supercharge the industry, aligning seamlessly with the Governor's stated priority of advancing cleaner vehicles.

"SEMA is profoundly disappointed by Governor Newsom's lack of foresight in vetoing SB 301," said Mike Spagnola, SEMA's president and CEO. "This legislation would have advanced environmental sustainability and leveled the playing field for aftermarket conversions while fostering innovation, supporting small businesses, and providing consumers with affordable and sustainable transportation options."

SEMA remains steadfast in its commitment to advocating for policies that promote innovation and sustainability within the automotive industry. While SB 301 may not have secured the Governor's signature this time, SEMA will continue collaborating with lawmakers, stakeholders and the community to advance initiatives that drive innovation.

For inquiries or further information, please contact Christian Robinson at [email protected] .

About SEMA

SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association founded in 1963, represents the $51.8 billion specialty-automotive industry. The industry provides appearance, performance, comfort, convenience and technology products for passenger and recreational vehicles. Association resources include market research, legislative advocacy, training and product development support, as well as leading trade shows such as the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nev., and the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show in Indianapolis, Ind. For more information, visit www.sema.org , www.semashow.com , or www.performanceracing.com .

SOURCE Specialty Equipment Market Association
BEIJING, June 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In Beijing, the essay topic for the English test of this year's gaokao focuses on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Chinese middle school student Li Hua was asked to offer some suggestions to his foreign friend Jim, who wants to write a piece on this subject. To help enlighten Jim as well as those who are interested in China's development, the Global Times invited several foreign experts and observers to share their insights on China's great achievements in various spheres over the past seven and a half decades. This is the fourth piece of the series.

Almost 75 years ago, "The Chinese people have stood up!" - Mao Zedong proclaimed on October 1, 1949, in Beijing, as he announced the establishment of the People's Republic of China. Following a horrific civil war, the violent trauma of Japanese aggression and a century of humiliation from Western powers, the people of China looked forward to a new beginning. Their country was impoverished, a peasant nation where the average annual earnings constituted a mere 49.7 yuan ($6.85), and the average life expectancy was just 35 years old in 1949.

But fast forward 75 years, China is a very different place. The elderly of today, those in their 80s, are able to share their experiences with younger people of the dramatic transformation that their country has witnessed over the course of their own lifetimes. No longer is China a backward, helpless, or impoverished country. It has developed to become an economic giant and the largest commercial and industrial nation on earth. From 35 years, China's average life expectancy has more than doubled to 78 years, overtaking the US, while the nationwide per capita disposable income was 39,218 yuan in 2023, even surpassing some countries in Europe.

This rapid economic development has seen China become a world leader in infrastructure in a short space of time. Since 2008, the country has assembled the world's largest high-speed rail network at 43,700 kilometers and 259 airports. China's major cities, such as Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen have effectively become world leaders in business, manufacturing, technology and education. The iconic skyline of Shanghai's Lujiazui, which just 45 years ago did not even exist, is a testament to China's success in "reaching the sky" and its rapid pace of change. The city has also become home to some of the world's most famous attractions, such as Disneyland and Legoland Park.

The development of China's communications infrastructure is equally impressive with over 3.748 million 5G base stations. Similarly, it has become a world leader in renewable energy infrastructure. China has also become the world's largest exporter of cars and electric vehicles have made breakthroughs in particular, overtaking traditional market heavyweights in the sector such as Japan.

Besides, China is no longer a nation "in need of help" but a nation that frequently "offers help" on the global stage. From its own development experience, China has become a critical source of aid, support and development for the Global South, with its model standing as a great inspiration. Projects such as the Belt and Road Initiative have connected nations and provided opportunities throughout the world, through landmark projects such as the China-Laos Railway, the China-Europe Railway and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. China is changing the global economic landscape for the better. Once a nation in need of development, China has become an "exporter" of development. Through its population size and growing consumerism, China has become the largest and most lucrative export market in the world for many countries, offering unparalleled opportunities.

But more importantly, for the Chinese people, China has been able to escape the humiliation of the past. The PRC is creating a strong, unified and sovereign Chinese state that breaks from the oppression, subjugation and colonialism of the old. The country has the strength to repel foreign aggression, to protect its territorial integrity and to ensure the horrors of the past will never be repeated.

From the perspective of three-quarters of a century, China has entered a new age, one which its people have long deserved and been longing for. It has overcome great trauma and difficulty to establish itself as a modern country, which its population can benefit from and take pride in.

SOURCE Global Times
Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates ambitious entrepreneurs who are shaping the future

DALLAS, June 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) announced that Alfonso Montiel, CEO of SilverStone Health was named an Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 Southwest Award finalist. Now in its 38th year, Entrepreneur Of The Year is the preeminent competitive business award for audacious leaders who disrupt markets, revolutionize sectors and have a transformational impact on lives. Over the past four decades, the program has recognized the daring entrepreneurs with big ideas and bold actions that reshape our world.

Five years ago, Montiel discovered his life's mission as a hospice volunteer, providing solace to those who would have otherwise faced their final moments alone. Through these profound experiences, he began to see the cracks within the at-home sector of the healthcare system and the physical and emotional toll it was having on patients who were leaving the hospital, tasked with traversing an unknown system while simultaneously managing a complex medical condition.

Driven by these experiences, Montiel's mission crystallized: No one should have to walk through the healthcare journey alone, especially not the most vulnerable among us. He envisioned a system where all necessary home-based services were connected and available in one place, ensuring patients and families could seamlessly transition to the health services they needed as their conditions changed. Montiel wanted to create a new model in healthcare that truly provides continuous, uninterrupted care while also removing the complexities of navigating the healthcare and insurance systems. He believed that by shouldering the burden of care coordination and addressing the medical needs of patients, they could enjoy better health outcomes, improve their quality of life, and have the freedom to focus on the most meaningful aspects of their lives before they ever needed hospice.

This vision led to the founding of SilverStone Health, a revolutionary physician-led model for post-hospital care at home with fully integrated services, including home health, palliative care, hospice, specialty physician services, telemedicine, wound care, and professional home assistance. Designed to help patients and families facing injuries, chronic conditions, advanced diseases, and terminal illnesses, each service is delivered to patients' homes, nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, memory care environments, and senior living communities. What makes SilverStone Health truly special is its proprietary system designed to fill the gaps in healthcare, preventing patients and families from falling through the cracks. Starting with just 17 patients, SilverStone Health's compassionate and coordinated approach has resonated deeply within the community. Today, the company serves several thousand patients daily and is a beacon of hope and stability for patients and caregivers who no longer have to walk the healthcare journey alone.

In addition to Entrepreneur Of The Year, EY US supports other entrepreneurs through the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women program and the EY Entrepreneurs Access Network to help connect women founders and Black and Hispanic/Latino entrepreneurs, respectively, with the resources, network and access needed to unlock their full potential.

Sponsors

Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards include presenting sponsors PNC Bank, Cresa, SAP and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. In the Southwest program, sponsors also include Platinum sponsors DFIN and Haynes and Boone LLP, Gold sponsors BGSF, Marsh and Roach Howard Smith & Barton and Silver sponsors Big Picture Inc., Pierpont Communications and The Slate.

About Entrepreneur Of The Year

Founded in 1986, Entrepreneur Of The Year has celebrated more than 11,000 ambitious visionaries who are leading successful, dynamic businesses in the US, and it has since expanded to nearly 80 countries and territories globally.

The US program consists of 17 regional programs whose panels of independent judges select the regional award winners every June. Those winners compete for national recognition at the Strategic Growth Forum in November where National finalists and award winners are announced. The overall National winner represents the US at the World Entrepreneur Of The Year competition. Visit ey.com/us/eoy.

About EY

EY exists to build a better working world, helping to create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets.

Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate.

Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

PR Contact: Vanessa Owens, Marketing & Communications Director

Company: SilverStone Health www.SilverStoneHealthcare.com

Tel: 214.954.7285

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE SilverStone Health
RADNOR, Pa., June 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com) informs investors that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against Fastly, Inc. ("Fastly") (NYSE: FSLY). The action charges Fastly with violations of the federal securities laws, including omissions and fraudulent misrepresentations relating to the company's business, operations, and prospects. As a result of Fastly's materially misleading statements and omissions to the public, Fastly's investors have suffered significant losses.

If you suffered Fastly losses, you may CLICK HERE or go to: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/fastly-inc?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=fsly&mktm=r

You can also contact attorney Jonathan Naji, Esq. of Kessler Topaz by calling (484) 270-1453 or by email at [email protected]. The lead plaintiff deadline is July 23, 2024.

CANNOT VIEW THIS VIDEO? PLEASE CLICK HERE or go to: https://youtu.be/MVbQwTvArKo

DEFENDANTS' ALLEGED MISCONDUCT

On February 14, 2024, Fastly issued a press release providing full year ("FY") 2024 revenue guidance in a range of $580 million to $590 million. In that same press release, Fastly's CEO was quoted stating, "[t]his quarter demonstrated the progress we've made in operational and financial rigor resulting in strong gross margins and non-GAAP net income," and "[o]ur go-to-market, packaging and channel efforts through 2023 delivered an inflection in our customer acquisition as we closed out the year. This positions us well for 2024, driving our mission to make every user experience fast, safe, and engaging."

On May 1, 2024, Fastly announced its Q1 2024 results. Despite Fastly's positive statements just weeks before about its performance and near-term business prospects, Fastly reported revenue of only $133.52 million, missing consensus estimates. Fastly also lowered its fiscal year 2024 revenue guidance to a range of $555 million to $565 million, significantly below its previously issued FY 2024 revenue guidance of $580 million to $590 million, and likewise below consensus estimates of $584.62 million for the same period.

Then, on May 2, 2024, Bank of America downgraded Fastly stock from a "Buy" rating to an "Underperform" rating and cut its price target on the stock from $18 per share to a mere $8 per share. On this news, the price of Fastly shares declined by $4.14 per share, or approximately 32.02%, from $12.93 per share on May 1, 2024 to close at $8.79 on May 2, 2024.

WHAT CAN I DO?

Fastly investors may, no later than July 23, 2024, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP encourages Fastly investors who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information. The class action complaint against Fastly, Kula v. Fastly, Inc., et al., Case No. 24-cv-03170, is filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CASE OR GO TO: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/fastly-inc?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=fsly&mktm=r

WHO CAN BE A LEAD PLAINTIFF?

A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.

ABOUT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLP

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country and around the world. The firm has developed a global reputation for excellence and has recovered billions of dollars for victims of fraud and other corporate misconduct. All of our work is driven by a common goal: to protect investors, consumers, employees and others from fraud, abuse, misconduct and negligence by businesses and fiduciaries. The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com.

CONTACT:

Jonathan Naji, Esq.

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP

(484) 270-1453

280 King of Prussia Road

Radnor, PA 19087

[email protected]

May be considered attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

SOURCE Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP
NEW ORLEANS, June 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until July 1, 2024 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Globe Life Inc. f/k/a Torchmark Corporation (NYSE: GL), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's shares between May 8, 2019 and April 10, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Long term holders of GL are also encouraged to contact the firm. This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

Get Help

Globe Life investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-gl/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.

About the Lawsuit

Globe Life and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On April 11, 2024, investment research firm Fuzzy Panda reported that the Company and its subsidiaries had engaged in widespread insurance fraud by adding policies to existing users' accounts without consent, underwriting policies for dead and fictitious people, and also maintained a hostile workplace where sexual harassment, drug use, and sexual assault went unchecked.

On this news, the price of Globe Life's shares fell by $55.76 per share, or 53%, from a closing price of $104.93 per share on April 10, 2024, to a closing price of $49.17 per share on April 11, 2024.

The case is City of Miami General Employees' & Sanitation Employees' Retirement Trust v. Globe Life Inc., et al, No. 24-cv-376.

About ClaimsFiler

ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations.

To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com.

SOURCE ClaimsFiler
NEW ORLEANS, June 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until June 24, 2024 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE: LNC), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's securities between November 4, 2020 and November 2, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Get Help

Lincoln National investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-lnc/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.

About the Lawsuit

Lincoln National and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On November 2, 2022, post-market, the Company released its 3Q 2022 financial results, disclosing a net loss of $2.6 billion for the quarter, compared to a net income of $318 million for the third quarter of 2021 the previous year, due to "net unfavorable notable items of $2.0 billion, or $11.62 per share, related to the company's annual review of DAC and reserve assumptions," and that the Company "incurred a $634 million goodwill impairment to the life insurance business."

On this news, the price of Lincoln's shares fell by $17.27, or 33.2%, to close at $34.83 per share on November 3, 2022, on unusually heavy trading volume.

The case is Meade v. Lincoln National Corporation, et al., No. 24-cv-01704.

About ClaimsFiler

ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations.

To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com.

SOURCE ClaimsFiler
LOS ANGELES, June 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against Roblox Corporation ("Roblox" or "the Company") (NYSE: RBLX) for violations of 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investors who purchased the Company's securities between November 15, 2023 and May 8, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"), are encouraged to contact the firm before August 12, 2024.

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected].

The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.

According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Roblox misrepresented the reliability of its revenue projections from sources such as its shared economy with content creators and advertising. The Company actually had little certainty about its revenues and struggled to convert daily average users ("DAUs") into paying customers. Based on these facts, the Company's public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about Roblox, investors suffered damages.

Join the case to recover your losses.

The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.

CONTACT:

The Schall Law Firm

Brian Schall, Esq.,

www.schallfirm.com

Office: 310-301-3335

[email protected]

SOURCE The Schall Law Firm
NEW ORLEANS, June 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until August 5, 2024 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE: SMG), if they purchased the Company's shares between November 3, 2021 and August 1, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.

Get Help

Scotts investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-smg/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.

About the Lawsuit

Scotts and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On August 2, 2023, the Company disclosed disappointing financial results including a decline in quarterly sales for fiscal third quarter of 6%, a decline in gross margin by 420 basis points, as well as a cut to fiscal year EBITDA guidance by a staggering 25% and a $20 million write down of "pandemic driven excess inventories."

On this news, the price of Scotts' shares fell by $13.58 per share, or 19%, from a closing price of $71.44 per share on August 1, 2023, to a closing price of $57.86 per share on August 2, 2023.

The case is City of Hialeah Employees' Retirement System v. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, No. 24-cv-03132.

About ClaimsFiler

ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations.

To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com.

SOURCE ClaimsFiler
NEW YORK, June 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company ("Scotts" or the "Company") (NYSE: SMG). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

The class action concerns whether Scotts and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

You have until August 5, 2024 , to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired Scotts securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On June 8, 2022, Scotts disclosed that replenishment orders from its U.S. retailers were more than $300 million below target in the month of May alone. The Company told investors that 2022 full-year earnings would be roughly half of its prior guidance. The Company also announced plans to take on additional debt to cover restructuring charges as it attempted to cut costs.

On this news, Scotts' stock price fell $9.05 per share, or nearly 9%, to close at $93.13 per share on June 8, 2022.

Then, 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 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.

On this news, Scotts' stock price fell $13.58 per share, or 19%, to close at $57.86 per share on August 1, 2023.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Danielle Peyton

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, June 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against UnitedHealth Group Inc. ("UnitedHealth" or the "Company") (NYSE: UNH). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

The class action concerns whether UnitedHealth and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

You have until July 15, 2024 , to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired UnitedHealth securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On February 27, 2024, The Wall Street Journal ("WSJ") reported that the U.S. Department of Justice ("DOJ") has launched an antitrust investigation into UnitedHealth. Specifically, the WSJ reported that DOJ investigators have been interviewing healthcare industry representatives in sectors where UnitedHealth competes to determine the possible impacts of acquisitions made through its health services arm, Optum.

On this news, UnitedHealth's stock price fell $27.04 per share, or 5.15%, over the following two trading sessions, to close at $498.28 per share on February 28, 2024.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Danielle Peyton

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, June 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Ecopetrol S.A. ("Ecopetrol" or the "Company") (NYSE: EC). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Ecopetrol and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On May 22, 2024, Ecopetrol issued a press release "report[ing] that between May 3, 2024 and May 9, 2024, the Company and its subsidiaries, Cenit Transporte y Logistica de Hidrocarburos S.A.S. ('CENIT') and Oleoducto Central S.A. ('Ocensa') were notified" that Colombia's "Superintendency of Industry and Commerce (SIC) opened an investigation and formulated charges to determine alleged infringements to the laws on protection of free economic competition".

On this news, Ecopetrol's American depositary receipt ("ADR") price fell $0.41 per ADR, or 3.34%, to close at $11.88 per ADR on May 22, 2024.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Danielle Peyton

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, June 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Toyota Motor Corporation ("Toyota" or the "Company") (NYSE: TM). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Toyota and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On June 3, 2024, The New York Times published an article entitled "Toyota and Other Japanese Carmakers Say They Mishandled Safety Tests." The article reported that "Toyota [. . .] and other top Japanese automakers [acknowledged] that internal investigations found they had mishandled vehicle testing on dozens of models over the past decade." Further, "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."

On this news, Toyota's American depositary share ("ADS") price fell $5.34 per ADS, or 2.45%, to close at $212.17 per ADS on June 3, 2024.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Danielle Peyton

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
Attendees Included Event Chairperson Beth Stern, Howard Stern, Event Host Maria Milito, Event Entertainer Taylor Dayne, Honorees Rachael Ray & John Cusimano, Kathryn Erbe, Robyn Schall, Dan Mannarino, and Others. Proceeds from Celebrity-Filled Gala Fund Animal League America's No-Kill Mission to Rescue, Nurture, Adopt, and Educate.

NEW YORK, June 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- North Shore Animal League America, the world's largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization, hosted a "Celebration of Rescue" on Friday, June 14 at the spectacular TriBeCa Rooftop under the stars, overlooking the shimmering lights of Lower Manhattan and the Hudson River. This year's event drew attendees from all sectors of New York's animal-loving community and beyond, many of whom have adopted from North Shore Animal League America.

Animal lover/adopter and radio icon Maria Milito (NYC's & I Heart Radio's Q104.3) helmed the evening's festivities as Host and North Shore Animal League America foster-parent, spokesperson, and Board Member Beth Stern served as the event's Chairperson.

NORTH SHORE ANIMAL LEAGUE AMERICA'S "CELEBRATION OF RESCUE" HONORS 80-YEARS OF LIFE-SAVING WORK Post this

A rooftop cocktail hour under the stars was followed by the night's program, which highlighted dedicated rescue efforts and heartwarming adoptions by Animal League America. The organization's SVP of Operations Joanne Yohannan spoke passionately about the 80 years Animal League America has been leading the no-kill movement in animal welfare.

The Rachael Ray Foundation was honored with this year's Crystal Collar Award, recognizing their extraordinary dedication to Animal League America's ongoing mission to save the lives of animals in need. Rachael Ray and John Cusimano attended and accepted the award on behalf of The Rachael Ray Foundation.

American pop music icon Taylor Dayne took to the stage and had attendees up and dancing to her biggest hits and swooning to her soulful ballads.

Among the "bold face names" to stride our blue carpet while cradling adorable, adoptable puppies, in addition to Event Chairperson Beth Stern and her husband, radio legend Howard Stern, Host Maria Milito, performer Taylor Dayne, North Shore Animal League America SVP of Operations Joanne Yohannan, and The Rachael Ray Foundation's Rachael Ray and John Cusimano, were film/tv/stage Actress Kathryn Erbe, ABC News' Will Ganss, WPIX-11 Anchor Dan Mannarino, WPIX-11 Reporter Alex Lee, WPIX-11 Reporter Hazel Sanchez, Comedian Robyn Schall, SiriusXM/The Howard Stern Show Executive Producer Gary Dell'abate, North Shore Animal League America Board Member/Treasurer Don LaRocca, Jr; animal rescue & adoption advocate Bessy Gatto, and Fashion Designer Mark Bouwer.

Celebration of Rescue sponsors included Fetch Pet Insurance; Michael & Alyson Strianese; Production Solutions; MWI Animal Health; Neuberger Berman; Northwell Health; Scooter's Coffee; Zeta Global LLC; Boehringer Ingelheim; Covetrus; Morgan Stanley; Antech Diagnostics; BNY Mellon Wealth Management; Direct Mail Processors (DMP); Jovia Financial Credit Union; New York Vet Show; Tito's Handmade Vodka; Zoetis; Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.; The Kranzdorf Family; Perlman & Perlman LLP; Sanky Communications; Save The Duck.

In Kind Donations courtesy of Bow Bridge Blooms, LLC; The Cake Don; Insomnia Cookies; Jessa V and The Fringe; Montaria Wine; RR Donnelley RRD; Scooter's Coffee; and Wolffer Estate.

To learn more about Celebration of Rescue, the Online Auction, and to donate, visit www.animalleague.org/celebrationofrescue

Celebration of Rescue supports North Shore Animal League America's ever-expanding no-kill mission with all proceeds from the event dedicated to the ongoing no-kill mission to Rescue, Nurture, Adopt, and Educate. With this support, Animal League America will be able to save many more animals' lives and provide the best quality of life for those in their care as they await adoption into responsible, loving forever homes.

For more information on our life-saving work, visit www.animalleague.org

DROPBOX OF CELEBRATION OF RESCUE ASSETS & HIGHLIGHTS

Media Contact:

KATHLEEN LYNN

Senior Director of Communications

Phone: (516) 528-7878

Email: [email protected]

ABOUT NORTH SHORE ANIMAL LEAGUE AMERICA

North Shore Animal League America - the world's largest no-kill rescue and adoption organizationhas saved the lives of more than 1.1 million dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens at risk of euthanasia. Through our many innovative programs, we reach across the country to rescue animals from overcrowded shelters, unwanted litters, commercial breeding facilities, natural disasters and other emergencies and find them responsible, loving homes. As a leader in the no-kill movement, we are dedicated to promoting shelter pet adoptions; encouraging spay/neuter programs; reducing animal cruelty; ending euthanasia; and advancing the highest standards in animal welfare. Please join us in saving the lives of innocent animals by donating to support our lifesaving mission. www.animalleague.org.

TWITTER @animalleague.org INSTAGRAM @animalleague.org FACEBOOK North Shore Animal League America TIKTOK @animalleague Hashtag #GetYourRescueOn

SOURCE North Shore Animal League America
NEW ORLEANS, June 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until July 15, 2024 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: UNH), if they purchased the Company's shares between March 14, 2022, and February 27, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.

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UnitedHealth and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

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On this news, the price of UnitedHealth's shares fell by $27 per share, erasing nearly $25 billion in shareholder value.

The case is City of Hollywood Firefighters' Pension Fund v. UnitedHealth Group Inc., No. 24-cv-1743.

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SOURCE ClaimsFiler
Straits Forum sees steady grassroots exchanges despite erratic cross-Strait relations

Xinhua) 09:23, June 15, 2024

This photo taken on June 17, 2023 shows the venue of the 15th Straits Forum in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

BEIJING, June 14 (Xinhua) -- The Straits Forum, which advocates inclusive and grassroots cross-Strait exchanges, is entering its 16th year with strong vitality despite the ups and downs of relations between the Chinese mainland and the Taiwan region.

This year, the main conference is scheduled to commence on Saturday at the forum's primary venue in the coastal city of Xiamen, east China's Fujian Province. Approximately 50 events will be held across various cities in the province, which is situated just across the Strait from Taiwan.

About 7,000 people from diverse backgrounds in Taiwan are expected to participate in the forum, including representatives of political parties, event co-sponsors, professionals in various industries, leaders of social organizations and members of religious circles.

The first Straits Forum was held in 2009, a year that witnessed a series of breakthroughs in cross-Strait relations. That year, the regular consultation mechanism between the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) began to take shape, with six agreements signed.

In the same year, mainland companies began formally investing in Taiwan, and regular air services between the two sides were launched. Thus direct cross-Strait mail, transport and trade links were established in full.

With booming economic cooperation and frequent interactions between authorities on both sides, the need of a smooth channel for people-to-people exchanges gave birth to the Straits Forum. Nearly 10,000 people attended the inaugural event, over 8,000 of whom were from Taiwan.

But the rosy days of cross-Strait exchanges drew to a close when the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) took office in Taiwan in 2016.

The DPP authorities rejected the 1992 Consensus -- a common political foundation for cross-Strait dialogue, and the ARATS-SEF consultation mechanism was suspended. Tensions and confrontations have since risen due to the DPP's separatist attempts for "Taiwan independence."

Despite this altered political backdrop, the Straits Forum has persisted. More than 330,000 people from the mainland and Taiwan attended the forum over the last 15 years. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands were able to take part in forum events online or in person.

Past forums have seen young people seeking career opportunities, martial arts enthusiasts exchanging training tips, disabled people sharing their personal stories, community workers meeting with their counterparts across the Strait and followers of various religions holding discussions.

At these forums, a total of 139 preferential policies to boost cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation were announced, covering areas from air services and travel permits to employment and investment.

"The Straits Forum is like a carnival for people across the Strait. We sit down, chat and bring our hearts closer to each other," said Wu Chia-ying, vice president of the Association of Taiwan Investment Enterprises on the Mainland. "It is an annual rendezvous that we are very much looking for."

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Hongyu)
FASANO, Italy, June 15 (Xinhua) -- During the ongoing G7 summit, leaders of member states gathered in southern Italy to look for common ground in challenges including the Ukraine crisis and the governance of artificial intelligence (AI).

On Friday afternoon, the group issued a joint communique, which had been the subject of much debate and disagreement among the G7 members during the drafting process.

According to the communique, the group has reached a deal on using the interests of frozen Russian assets to finance around 50 billion U.S. dollars of loan for Ukraine.

On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the measure as "theft" and vowed that it would not go unpunished.

Previously, the group had long been divided on how to outline such a plan. The specifics of the loan deal remain unclear and could take months to finalize in the upcoming negotiations.

Earlier in April, Russia said it was considering lowering the level of diplomatic relations with the United States if Washington took practical measures to confiscate its assets.

Another focus of the summit is the future of AI governance. There have been debates on balancing boosting innovation and mitigating potential risks. EU countries advocate stringent AI regulations, pushing for a legally binding framework, while the United States favors a more hands-off approach.

While noting a "safe, secure, and trustworthy AI," the communique lacked concrete steps toward a unified approach, acknowledging that "approaches and policy instruments may vary across G7 members."

Notably, the communique did not mention the issue of abortion, which was also one of the major disputes among the member states.

The summit took place at a time when leaders of the member states were facing a difficult political situation at home.

Days ago was the 2024 European Parliament Election, during which the governing parties in many G7 member states suffered a heavy setback.

Votes for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democratic Party saw its record low during the election, while French President Emmanuel Macron had to take the risk of calling new legislative elections after suffering losses to the far-right opposition.

The summit was met with fierce opposition from local citizens. Demonstrations erupted across the area, with protesters shouting "stopping the war" and "we don't need the G7." 
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





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New Delhi, June 15 : India is the only South Asian country that will attend a Swiss-hosted Ukraine peace summit over the weekend at Switzerland's Buergenstock resort near the city of Lucerne, according to a list of participating states released by the organisers.

More than 90 countries -- half from Europe -- and organisations including the United Nations, have confirmed their participation in the summit while Russia (not invited), China, and Pakistan are some notable absentees who will not join the talks.

India will be represented by Pavan Kapoor, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Refusing the invitation, China has said, "Since Russia will not attend the meeting, Ukraine's unilateral attendance of the peace summit will become meaningless."

Beijing has said that rather than a peace summit, it is a platform for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to promote his "peace formula".

Notable attendees will include UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, US Vice President Kamala Harris, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The summit will aim to chart a path toward peace in Ukraine.
Moscow/Kiev, June 15 : The Ukrainian Air Force has reported that Russia launched several attacks on Ukraine using various missiles, including Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.

The modern Kinzhal missiles are feared because they are difficult to intercept with current defence systems due to their high speed and explosive power.

Public broadcaster Suspilne reported, citing residents, that multiple explosions were heard early Friday in the western Ukrainian region of Khmelnytskyi.

The region houses a key Ukrainian airbase near the town of Starokostyantyniv, which is expected to host Western F-16 fighter jets supplied by Ukraine's allies.

Explosions were also reported near the capital, Kiev, attributed to air defence operations, as noted by Mayor Vitali Klitschko on Telegram.

Earlier in the night, Russia launched a combined airstrike on Ukraine using cruise missiles, rockets, and combat drones. The Ukrainian Air Force said that at least two Kinzhal missiles were used in the assault.

Near Kiev, firefighters continued efforts to extinguish a fire at an industrial plant that had been smouldering since Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Ukraine carried out a major attack consisting of more than 80 drones on Russian border regions in the early hours of Friday, the Russian Ministry of Defence reported.

It said that 70 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were intercepted over the Rostov region alone.

The Belgorod, Volgograd, Voronezh and Kursk regions, as well as the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which Russia annexed in violation of international law in 2014, were also affected.

The information could not be independently verified.

The governor of the Rostov region, Vasily Golubev, reported power outages in several villages.

According to initial findings, there were no deaths or injuries.

In the Voronezh region, falling debris caused minor damage to an oil depot, authorities said. However, no people were injured there either.

Russia invaded Ukraine at the end of February 2022 and has been waging a large-scale war against the neighbouring country ever since.

--IANS/DPA

int/sha
Brussels: Flags of the European Union fly outside the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, May 21, 2021. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong/IANS). Image Source: IANS News

Brussels, June 15 : The Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) has announced that EU ambassadors agreed "in principle" on the negotiating frameworks for the accession talks of Ukraine and Moldova.

The presidency on Friday revealed on its official social media account on X that the first intergovernmental conferences will be convened on June 25 when European affairs ministers are scheduled to meet in Luxembourg.

A European Commission spokesperson said a week ago that both countries had met all the necessary steps for accession negotiations to formally begin, Xinhua news agency reported.

The 27 EU member states must unanimously agree to start the negotiations, which typically take years to conclude.

Moldova applied for EU membership in March 2022, while Ukraine applied in February of the same year. Both countries were granted candidate status in June 2022. In December last year, EU leaders agreed to open membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova.
New Delhi, June 15 : After attending the G7 meeting and holding multiple bilaterals during his day-long visit to Italy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday returned to Delhi.

The PM said that he had a productive day after interacting with world leaders.

He posted on X, "Had a very productive day at the G7 Summit in Apulia. Interacted with world leaders and discussed various subjects. Together, we aim to create impactful solutions that benefit the global community and create a better world for future generations."

PM Modi also thanked the people and government of Italy "for their warm hospitality".

The Prime Minister also said, "An important G7 Summit, where I presented Indiaas perspective at the world stage. Here are highlights," and posted a video link to the important event.

He held back-to-back bilaterals with French President Emmanuel Macron, British PM Rishi Sunak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Japanese PM Fumio Kishida.

He then attended the G7 Outreach Session on AI and Energy, Africa and the Mediterranean which was followed by interactions with several world leaders.

After the conclusion of the G7 Summit's Outreach Session, PM Modi met with several world leaders, including US President Joe Biden.

He also interacted with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Jordan King Abdullah, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Pope Francis on Friday on the sidelines of the G7 summit and invited him to visit India.

The visit to Italy was Prime Minister Modi's first overseas trip after assuming office for the third consecutive term, and also his fifth consecutive participation in the G7 Summit.
Kolkata, June 15 : A fresh tussle has evolved between the Governor's House and the state secretariat in West Bengal over the oath ceremony of the two elected Trinamool Congress legislators in the recently concluded bypolls to two Assembly constituencies namely Bhagawangola in Murshidabad district and Baranagar in North 24 Parganas district.

Kolkata, June 15 (IANS) A fresh tussle has evolved between the Governoras House and the state secretariat in West Bengal over the oath ceremony of the two elected Trinamool Congress legislators in the recently concluded bypolls to two Assembly constituencies namely Bhagawangola in Murshidabad district and Baranagar in North 24 Parganas district.

Sources said that although 11 days have passed since Trinamool Congressa Reyat Houssen Sarkar and Sayantika Banerjee got elected, their oath ceremony is caught in the middle of technical glitches of communication between the state secretariat of Nabanna and the Raj Bhavan.

As per the official protocol, the state Parliamentary Affairs department is supposed to communicate with the Raj Bhavan regarding the oath ceremony of the newly elected legislators. An official and written communique is supposed to be sent from the said department to the office of the Governor.

However, sources said in the case of Sarkar and Banerjee, although an official and written communique has reached the office of the Governor, it is not from the minister in charge of the state Parliamentary Affairs department but from the office of the secretary to the West Bengal Assembly.

No return communique, sources added, had been given from the office of the Governor on this count, posing a grave uncertainty over the entire issue.

Incidentally, on Friday only Governor C.V. Ananda Bose issued a statement demanding the immediate replacement of Kolkata Police personnel posted on duty at the Raj Bhavan here.

The Governor issued the statement after the leader of the opposition in the West Bengal Assembly complained that the city police personnel posted outside Raj Bhavan stopped him and some of the victims accompanying him to enter the premises on Thursday evening.

In his statement, the Governor also claimed that he would not meet the state minister in charge of the police department unless the victims of post-poll violence were allowed to meet him. Incidentally, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who also holds the Home portfolio, and is in charge of the state police department.
New Delhi, June 15 : The Congress on Saturday held a 'Matka Phod' protest in all 280 blocs of the national capital over the water crisis and accused the AAP government of failing to tackle the tanker mafia.

Congress, a constituent of the INDIA bloc alongside the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has slammed the state government, as well as the Central government, for "neglecting" public grievances and "providing cover" to tanker mafias.

"Today, I participated in the Matka breaking demonstration in Shakarpur, Delhi, along with District President Manoj Yadav Ji, Surendra Sharma Ji, Murari Lal Ji, Delhi Congress leaders and local area residents. Delhiites are suffering the consequences of tanker mafia, leakage and the government's negligence. We will strongly convey the voice of the rights of the people of Delhi to the government," Devender Yadav, President of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee, said in a post on X.

While, the AAP is blaming the neighbouring states, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, for "deliberately halting" Delhi's water supply, Congress alleges that despite Himachal Pradesh releasing 133 cusecs of water, it did not reach the capital. The party demanded an investigation into this issue and the tanker mafia's activities.

In a recent meeting, Delhi Congress leaders, including former MPs and MLAs, also discussed the Central government's "indifference" to the water scarcity in Delhi.

"The severe water shortage, especially in scorching summers, leads to conflicts and quarrels among residents in many parts of Delhi," local people, who were protesting alongside Delhi Congress leaders, said.

They slammed the AAP for its "inability" to curb the illegal diversion of water by tanker mafias.

The local people complained that during summer, they do not receive water for 2-3 days.

"Moreover, when tap water is available, it is often contaminated, forcing us to buy expensive bottled water," they said.

Earlier, Delhi BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri also led a similar protest against the AAP in Chhatarpur, where a significant number of women participated in it, carrying pots on their heads and breaking them while raising slogans.
Kolkata, June 15 : The mortal remains of Dwarikesh Pattanayak, a native of West Bengal's West Midnapore district who was one of the victims of the deadly fire in Kuwait, reached the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata on Saturday.

West Bengal Fire Services Minister Sujit Bose was present at the airport to receive the mortal remains on behalf of the state government.

BJP legislator from Asansol-Dakshin Assembly constituency in West Burdwan district, Agnimitra Paul and other leaders from the state were also present at the airport to pay homage to the departed soul.

Minister Bose informed media persons that the state government would take the entire responsibility of taking the body to his residence and even performing the last rituals.

"The state government will also consider whether compensation can be provided to the family of the victim," he added.

Agnimitra Paul said that it is unfortunate that several youths from West Bengal have to go outside even at the risk of their lives in search of livelihood.

"This is because there is a lack of investment and industry in the state. Lack of employment opportunities are prompting talented youths like Pattanayak to stay away from home and family," she added.

Pattanayak was employed as a mechanical engineer in Kuwait.
Mumbai, June 15 : Actor Pankit Thakker, who is known for shows like 'Kumkum - Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan', 'Bahu Hamari Rajni Kant', 'Tujhse Hai Raabta' and others, has recollected how he managed to escape the recent terrorist attack in Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir.

Mumbai, June 15 (IANS) Actor Pankit Thakker, who is known for shows like 'Kumkum  Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan', 'Bahu Hamari Rajni Kant', 'Tujhse Hai Raabta' and others, has recollected how he managed to escape the recent terrorist attack in Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir.

The actor shared that he went to Jammu and Kashmir to seek blessings from Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra. However, before he could do that, he got to know about the attack and returned to his hotel. He shared that he couldn't complete his pilgrimage.

In an interview to a media outlet, Pankit said: "It was horrifying. It took me days to come out from the experience and talk about it. I have seen people in pain and the rush. It was scary. I am deeply saddened and outraged by the recent terror attack in Jammu's Reasi."

On June 9, terrorists opened fire at a bus carrying pilgrims when it was en route to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra from the Shiv Khori temple.

The actor called the violence going on in Jammu and Kashmir "absolutely shameful," and said that it is disheartening to witness innocent lives being lost and the escalating tensions in the region.

He further mentioned: "My heart goes out to all the victims and their families who have been affected by this brutal attack. It is devastating to think that people's lives are being torn apart by such acts of violence. Jammu & Kashmir has always been a land of unparalleled beauty, but these incidents tarnish its reputation and disturb the peace that the region yearns for. Attack in Reasi is yet another reminder that we must stand united against such acts of cowardice and evil."
Los Angeles, June 15 : Hollywood acting legend Robert De Niro reflected on his career when he recently appeared with Quentin Tarantino at the 2024 Tribeca Festival's De Niro Con for a screening of their 1997 movie 'Jackie Brown'.

After the screening, the veteran actor opened up about being fired from a project in the 1970s, reports People magazine.

Talking about his time on the set of the 1977 romantic comedy 'The Goodbye Girl', he said: "I shot for about two weeks. It was the worst."

As per People, he was replaced by Richard Dreyfuss, and the script was rewritten. After the title change, the rom-com became the motion picture that fans know it as today. The story of how De Niro left the project has been reported in the past, including in Shawn Levy's 2014 biography 'De Niro: A Life'.

The actor said that there was only "maybe three times in my life I've ever had that kind of experience with [a] director," referring to working with director Mike Nichols. He clarified that even in those past instances, they were plays and that he never had such an experience on the set of a film.

"I was sitting in my camper and you feel this dread of just, just not working," De Niro recalled. He said he happened to hear some of the crew walk by outside of his trailer and say, "He's just not funny."

"That's electric. I couldn't have felt worse at that moment," De Niro said. The 'Goodfellas' talent said that about three days later, he received a call from Nichols with the director expressing that he was headed in a different direction for the production.
New Delhi, June 15 : Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Saturday appealed to the newly elected MPs to jointly work together and run the Parliament smoothly

In a post on X, he said, "Govt is positively looking forward to work- together with all the Political parties and hon'ble members to run the Parliament smoothly, with very high quality debate and discussion."

The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha is scheduled to start on June 24 and will conclude on July 3.

"I'm hopeful that all the newly- elected hon'ble Members will contribute in maintaining the rich traditions of Indian Parliament, enhance it's glory and uphold the dignity of the house to serve the nation," the Minister said in his post.

The Minister also shared an excerpt from a speech delivered by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the Lok Sabha in 2000.

During this session, the newly elected MPs will be sworn in, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha will be elected and President Droupadi Murmu will deliver her customary address to Parliament.

On Wednesday, Minister Rijiju posted on X, "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. The 264th Session of Rajya Sabha will commence on 27.6.24 and conclude on 3.7.24."
Ranchi, June 15 : The mortal remains of a youth from Jharkhand's Ranchi, who died in the Kuwait fire tragedy, reached here on Saturday morning.

A large number of people had gathered outside the airport.

As soon as the body of 25-year-old Ali Hussain was brought outside, people present there turned emotional as the deceased's family members started wailing.

Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Rahul Sinha, who was present at the airport, handed over a cheque of Rs 5 lakh to Ali Hussain's father Mubarak Hussain as government assistance to his family. Labour department officials were also present on the spot.

The Central government has also announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of all the victims of the fire tragedy.

Ali, a resident of Nizam Nagar, Hindpiri in Ranchi, had gone to Kuwait about 25 days ago. He was very happy after getting the job as a salesman there, said his family.

He used to talk to his family on the phone every day. When Ali did not call on Wednesday, the family got worried. An attempt was made to call him, but the phone was not connected. Ali Hussain's death was reported by a relative living in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

His last rites will be performed at the cemetery in Doranda. His brother Adil Hussain had gone to Mecca for a religious pilgrimage and will be returning on Saturday.

The bodies of 45 Indian workers, who died in the Kuwait fire incident, reached India on Friday in a special Air Force plane.

An official of Jharkhand's State Migrant Control Room said that the information about the death of Ranchi resident Ali Hussain was received from the Ministry of External Affairs. Since then, the Migrant Control Room has been in touch with his family.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren said, "The news of the death of Ali Hussain who had gone to Kuwait is sad. The government is with his family in this hour of grief. We pray to God that they get the strength to bear the grief."
Srinagar, June 15 : Even when markets had more than usual presence of shoppers in J&K's Srinagar and other cities and towns of Kashmir on the eve of the holiest Muslim festival of Eid-ul-Azha on Saturday, the traditional high-pitch buying and selling has not been witnessed this time.

The sacrificial animal markets in the Eidgah area of Srinagar and other places also witnessed low-key business activity.

The most sought-after items were bakery, poultry, vegetables, garment, toy and firecracker shops as people were seen buying things for the ensuing Eid festival that falls on Monday.

Traffic movement was more than usual on streets and highways of Srinagar and other districts of the Valley as locals came out to buy essentials of life in big or small ways to celebrate the holy festival.

Muslims throughout the World offer animal sacrifices on Eid-ul-Azha to commemorate the historical sacrifice made by Prophet Abrahim. He offered his son for sacrifice to please Allah and while he was moving the blade blindfolded on his son, Ismail's throat, a Ram from heaven replaced Ismail under the father's knife. Abrahim celebrated the acceptance of the great sacrifice and Allah's intervention to save his son, Ismail.

It is as thanksgiving of that historical movement that Muslims offer animal sacrifices on Eid-ul-Azha, which also marks the end of the holy Hajj pilgrimage each year.

There was a lot of haggling going on between the buyers and the sellers in the animal markets of the Valley with many sellers saying they were not even getting the returns for their effort to tender their flocks of goats and sheep.

Mushtaq Bijard, an animal trader said he had got the flock of goats and sheep from Rajouri district of Jammu division and here he was struggling to sell his flock.

"I am afraid that I might have to take most of the flock back to Rajouri for want of getting enough buyers. That would incur further expenditure because the buyers are not offering the right price that would meet my requirement", Bijard said.

Despite all the low-key market activity on Saturday, the bakery shops were still doing brisk business while those selling electronic gadgets, mobile phones, fridges, TVs and washing machines were complaining of a lack of buyers despite having announced discounts on Eid shopping.

Locals say they can't avoid buying bakery items like cakes, pastries and cookies on Eid eve since children always look forward to these edibles around the Eid festival.

"I cannot afford to offer animal sacrifice this year, but my son likes the cream cake that has to be on the table first thing on Eid day. Thus buying a bakery is no indication of lavish spending around this Eid festival," said Asif, a senior local journalist.

Kashmir has had a record number of tourists in the first quarter of 2024. The tourists spend money in hotels, on taxis, for Shikara rides on the local lakes, and buying handicraft items like shawls, papier machie items and even carpets in some measure. Why the money is not circulating to the ground despite such unprecedented tour and travel trade is perplexing many.

Local economists argue that the number of people directly or indirectly dependent on the tourist industry is not even 30 per cent of the Valley's total population.

"The biggest industry in Kashmir is horticulture and our apple trade has not been doing very well for the last few years because of bad and unexpected weather resulting in hailstorms and also because the markets are getting apples from other places like Iran and Afghanistan that puts our produce to severe competitive prices and resultant losses due to cold storage expenses, transport, etc.," said Manzoor. Ahmad, an orchardist from Pulwama district.

Authorities deputed market-checking squads to ensure that the consumers were not overcharged by unscrupulous traders.

Special Eid prayers will be offered at different mosques and Eidgahs on Monday. Authorities have made arrangements for sanitation, security and healthcare around bigger mosques and Eidgahs in the Valley and the Jammu division.

Whether Kashmiris indulge in Eid eve shopping in small or large numbers, the festivities of the holy occasion are already in the air.

The prevailing peace in the Valley has made Eid festivities possible and Kashmiris have learnt to appreciate the prevailing calm after having seen the worst kind of violence during the last three decades.
New Delhi, June 15 : When tech billionaire Elon Musk says that future wars will be won by nations with the most effective drones, he is not bluffing at all.

The Indian Army has received the first batch of 'suicide drones' called 'Nagastra-1' which can strike enemy training camps and launch pads in border areas with precision and save soldiers' lives.

According to reports, these high-tech drones are made in India by Economic Explosives Limited (EEL), a subsidiary of Solar Industries in Nagpur.

The Army placed an order of 480 such drones and at least 120 of them have reportedly been delivered.

What are these 'suicide drones'?

'Nagastra-1' is a type of "loitering munition", where the aerial weapon is designed with an in-built warhead, designed to loiter around an area until a target is located and then crash into it.

These indigenously developed drones offer more selective targeting as the attack can be changed mid-flight or even aborted.

In a 'kamikaze mode', the drone can neutralise any threat with a GPS-enabled precision strike with an accuracy of 2 metres.

Weighing around 9 kg, the fixed-wing electric unmanned Ariel vehicle (UAV) has an endurance of 30 minutes, a man-in-loop range of 15 km and an autonomous mode range of 30 km.

It can apparently carry a 1 kg warhead up to a range of 15 km and an upgraded version can carry a 2.2 kg warhead up to 30 km distance.

In case a target is not detected or if the mission is aborted, the suicide drones can be called back and make a soft landing with a parachute recovery mechanism, enabling them to be reused multiple times.

Drone-based wars are now frequent worldwide.

Earlier this month, Ukraine attacked Russian targets with a total of 25 combat drones, with one drone said to have reached deep into the Russian Caucasus.

Yemen's Houthi group also claimed fresh attacks on the US aircraft carrier Eisenhower, another US warship and four commercial cargo vessels in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea via drones earlier this month.

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.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden last year announced a slew of defence and technology deals, including armed SeaGuardian drones.

The two leaders welcomed India's plans to buy General Atomics's armed MQ-9B SeaGuardian UAVs, which will be assembled in India.

The drones will enhance the ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) capabilities of India's Armed Forces across domains.
Bengaluru, June 15 : BJP leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who was elected as an MP in the recently concluded Lok Sabha election, on Saturday resigned as a member of the Assembly.

Speaking to reporters here after submitting his resignation from the Shiggaon Assembly seat, Bommai said, "Our national leaders have made certain decisions for this reason. I will work in Parliament to find solutions for interstate water disputes such as those involving the Krishna and Cauvery rivers, which impact irrigation projects."

He urged the state government to process the application according to the laid-down procedures to secure central funds for the Upper Bhadra project. "Previously, I stationed my officers in New Delhi for six months and secured Rs 3,800 crore under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP)," he said.

"I will speak with the concerned state and central ministers to secure the Rs 5,000 crore reserved for the Upper Bhadra project. We had made all preparations to announce the Upper Bhadra project as a national project. To date, the central government has not designated any project as a national project here. However, due to our pressure, an assurance was given to provide Rs 5,000 crore," Bommai stated.

"I have submitted my resignation from the Shiggaon seat as I have been elected as the Haveri MP. I thank the people of the Shiggaon constituency for electing me for four consecutive terms to promote development. I have carried out many development works in the constituency. I have also spoken to CM Siddaramaiah about further development," Bommai added.
Bari, Italy : German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is keeping expectations low for the international peace conference in Switzerland aimed at helping chart a path toward the end of the war in Ukraine.

"This is a diplomatic seedling that we are watering so that it can grow," he said in an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF on Saturday morning.

The conference opens later on Saturday. It will focus on peace in Ukraine and will be attended by President Volodymyr Zelensky. Russia has not been invited.

The German chancellor spoke ahead of his departure from the three-day G7 summit near the southern Italian city of Bari. He will then join dozens of other world leaders at the Swiss-hosted Ukraine peace conference near Lucerne.

Scholz said he hoped the conference would "lay the foundation" for further negotiations that Russia would take part in.

He also called on Russia's allies, including China, to "exert their influence" on Moscow. However, China is also not taking part in the gathering.

--IANS/DPA

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Mumbai, June 15 : Actress Sunny Leone, who is awaiting the release of her upcoming film 'Quotation Gang', is currently shooting for her next project in Karnataka.

Mumbai, June 15 (IANS) Actress Sunny Leone, who is awaiting the release of her upcoming film aQuotation Ganga, is currently shooting for her next project in Karnataka.

The actress recently went to a small village named Kabbali to visit a local school. A video, which has surfaced on social media, features that upon the actress' arrival to the school, the students were thrilled to see her.

The video shows her exploring classrooms, playing games, and taking pictures with the students.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Sunny has 'Quotation Gang' on the horizon. She will be seen alongside Priyamani of aThe Family Mana fame and Jackie Shroff in the film. She essays the role of a rural mafia member in 'Quotation Gang'.

The film features her as an assassin who is a key member of a ruthless gang, which specialises in contract killings.

She also has auteur Anurag Kashyap's 'Kennedya in the pipeline. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last year and is set for a theatrical release soon. Additionally, she has an untitled film with Himesh Reshammiya and Prabhudeva in the works. Her upcoming Malayalam project is currently in production.
Kochi, June 15 : Fourteen Keralites, presently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kuwait, are reported to be out of danger.

The fire that broke out at a labour camp in Kuwait on Wednesday left 45 Indians dead, of which 24 were Keralites.

Of the 24, 23 bodies arrived at Kochi on Friday, while the other Keralite whose family is based in Mumbai, the body was taken there.

The dead and injured were employees in a company co-owned by Keralite K.G. Abraham who has multiple business interests in the Middle East and also owns a five-star hotel in Kochi.

According to his son, after the tragedy struck, Abraham, unable to bear the aftermath of the fire, has been admitted to a hospital, here.
Thiruvananthapuram, June 15 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is likely to end his dilemma on Monday over which Lok Sabha seat to retain -- Wayanad or Raebareli.

Sources in the Congress said that he will make the decision known on Monday.

Gandhi won both the seats with a thumping majority.

In Wayanad, he was the sitting Lok Sabha member which he contested and won in the recently concluded polls. He also won from Raebareli, considered to be the family's traditional seat. It was last represented by his mother Sonia Gandhi, who did not contest the seat and became a Rajya Sabha member.

Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday was in his constituency to thank his voters where he said that he was in dilemma over which seat to retain and which to quit. He said whatever decision he makes, all will be happy.

After this statement, speculation is rife that his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, may be fielded from here.

At a public meeting in Kalpetta on Wednesday, State Congress president and Kannur Lok Sabha member K. Sudhakaran said that Rahul Gandhi will vacate the Wayanad seat for the larger interest of the party.

However, Congress legislator and former State Minister A.P. Anilkumar, who represents the Wandoor Assembly seat in the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, said all of them want Rahul Gandhi to retain the Wayanad seat.
Itanagar, June 15 : BJP MLA Tesam Pongte was unanimously elected as the Speaker of the 8th Arunachal Pradesh Assembly on Saturday.

Pro-tem Speaker Ninong Ering announced that Pongte was elected unopposed as the Speaker of the Assembly as no other nomination had been received for the post.

Pongte, who was elected from the Changlang North Assembly segment in the April 19 elections, told the House that he would try to administer the House without any prejudice and give an equal opportunity to all members to participate in debates and deliberations, irrespective of political affiliation.

BJP's Kardo Nyigyor, who was elected from the Likabali Assembly constituency, was also elected uncontested as the Deputy Speaker of the House.

Pongte was the Deputy Speaker in the previous Legislative Assembly.

Chief Minister and leader of the House Pema Khandu congratulated Pongte and assured him that all BJP MLAs would cooperate with him to ensure smooth conduct of business in the House.

Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein and several ministers and MLAs from all parties congratulated the new Speaker.

Officials said that the two-day special session of the 8th Arunachal Pradesh Assembly was summoned by Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) K.T. Parnaik from Friday, when all 59 newly elected MLAs, including Chief Minister Pema Khandu, took the oath administered by Pro-tem Speaker Ninong Ering.

The BJP secured 46 seats -- five more than its 2019 tally -- in the 60-member Assembly.

The National Peopleas Party (NPP) headed by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma won five seats, followed by the Ajit Pawar-led NCP at three, the Peopleas Party of Arunachal with two, and the Congress one. Three seats were won by Independent nominees.

The NPP, the NCP and the PPA have already announced their support to the BJP government.
Bengaluru, June 15 : Karnataka Minister for Large and Medium Industries, M.B. Patil, on Saturday termed the US-based Micron Technology potentially receiving Rs 3.2 crore in subsidies for every job it creates at its planned semiconductor unit in Gujarat as unjustifiable.

Speaking to reporters here, Patil said, "If this applies to Gujarat, the same formula should be followed in other states as well to create more opportunities."

Patil also said that if a company is given this much incentive, it could be considered a public sector undertaking (PSU).

"It could be a welcome step if higher incentives are extended to create a conducive industrial ecosystem. So this policy should be the same for other states as well. However, currently, the Central government's approach seems to only favour Gujarat, which is the Prime Minister's home state," said Patil, as he expressed concern that this could lead to a disparity among the states.
Moscow, June 15 : Russian authorities said on Saturday that seven people have been killed by Ukrainian shelling on the Russian border region of Belgorod.

Four bodies were pulled from the rubble of a partially collapsed apartment block in the town of Shebekino, the civil defence said.

One woman who was rescued later died in hospital, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote on Telegram.

The building had been damaged on Friday after Ukrainian attacks on Shebekino.

Shebekino lies around 5 kilometres from the border with Ukraine. Most residents have left the town.

On the other side of the border sits the Ukrainian town of Vovchansk, around which Russian and Ukrainian troops are currently engaged in fierce fighting.

Gladkov also reported one death each in the Russian towns of Oktyabrsky and Murom. Shebekino was shelled again on Saturday.

Ukraine has been fending off a large-scale Russian invasion for more than two years. The border region of Belgorod serves as a deployment area and logistics base for Russian troops. The eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv is also attacked from there.

--IANS/DPA

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Bhopal, June 15 : All six Union ministers from Madhya Pradesh will be visiting the BJP headquarters in Bhopal on Sunday.

State BJP unit would welcome the Union ministers at a function and congratulate them for becoming part of PM Narendra Modi's new cabinet.

The general secretary of Madhya Pradesh BJP, Bhagwan Das Sabnani, who is also MLA from Bhopal, told IANS that the state unit of the party has decided to congratulate all six Union ministers at party headquarters on Sunday.

Sabnani also informed that Khajuraho MP and state unit chief, VD Sharma has requested all six Union ministers and they have agreed to join the welcome ceremony.

Notably, five Lok Sabha MPs and one Rajya Sabha MP have been inducted as Union ministers in PM Modi's new cabinet.

Former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who won from Vidisha, has been made the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. He will also be heading the Ministry of Rural Development.

Jyotiraditya Scindia, who won his fifth Lok Sabha poll from Guna, has been given the Ministry of Communications as well as the Ministry of Development of North-East Region.

Eight-time BJP MP, Virendra Kumar Khatik, who won from Tikamgarh, has been given the charge of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Two newly elected Lok Sabha MPs -- Durga Das Uikey (Betul), Savitri Thakur (Dhar) -- and Rajya Sabha member L. Murugan, have been inducted as the Minister of State (MoS).

BJP won all 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Thiruvananthapuram, June 15 : Two days after the Kerala High Court directed the registration of an FIR against former Director General of Police (DGP) Siby Mathews for allegedly disclosing the identity of a rape victim in his book titled 'Nirbhayam', a local police station in the state capital city registered a case.

Now 72, Mathews, who took voluntary retirement from service in 2011, was later appointed the chief information officer.

While in service, he led the probe teams in quite a few cases that hit the headlines including the now infamous ISRO Spy case, the Kalluvathukal Liquor tragedy which left 33 dead in 2000 and a few others.

The petitioner in the case who approached the High Court seeking the registering of an FIR is retired Deputy SP of Police K. K. Joshua who was a former junior colleague of Mathew and both of them were part of the then Kerala Police probe team that probed the now infamous ISRO Spy case.

Joshua had earlier registered a complaint with a local police station in the state capital and the district police chief.

As he did not get a "favourable" response, the petitioner then approached the High Court which asked the concerned authorities to consider the complaint.

The court after hearing all the sides directed the police to register an FIR and conduct a thorough investigation in compliance with the Lalitha Kumari judgment.
Dwarka, June 15 : Police seized 56 kg charas valued at Rs 27 crore from Gujarat's Devbhumi Dwarka district on Saturday.

Police teams conducted a large-scale search operation during which 64 packets of unclaimed charas were recovered from the coastal area.

This marks the third major contraband seizure in a week in the region.

A thorough search of the entire coastal area was conducted to ensure that no additional narcotics were hidden.

Over the past week, police have seized charas from three different locations in Devbhumi Dwarka district.

Fifty-five packets of high-quality charas were recovered from the coastal areas of Gorinja, and Chandrabhaga.

In a separate operation, Ahmedabad police seized 9.801 grams of ganja worth Rs 98,000 from the SG Highway area and arrested one person in this connection.

The accused was identified as Nandkishore Yadav.

During interrogation, Yadav revealed that a man named Ramesh from Nepal supplied the ganja.

The Crime Branch has registered a case and initiated an investigation to trace the network involved in this drug trafficking.
Mumbai, June 15 : Buoyed by its impressive performance in Maharashtra in the just concluded Lok Sabha elections, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP (SP) on Saturday decided to contest the upcoming Assembly elections unitedly to dislodge the MahaYuti regime from power.

Following a preliminary meeting of the opposition alliance, the MVA partners said that winnability is the sole criterion and there is no big or small 'brother' as all are equal with only one objective -- to unseat the MahaYuti government comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP.

The meeting was attended by NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, his son Aditya Thackeray, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, and senior Congress leaders Prithviraj Chavan and Balasaheb Thorat, among others.

At the media briefing following the meeting, Sharad Pawar, Aditya Thackeray, and Prithviraj Chavan claimed that the MVA will work hard to repeat the performance of Lok Sabha elections and defeat the MahaYuti in the upcoming Assembly elections slated for September-October this year.

In the recent elections, the MVA won 31 out of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, while the MahaYuti allies bagged the remaining 17 seats.

The MVA leaders said the opposition alliance also comprising smaller parties like the CPI, CPI-M, AAP, and Peasants and Workers Party of India will arrive at a seat-sharing formula at the earliest.

They also said that many social and non-political organisations are with the MVA and their association will continue in the Assembly polls to defeat the MahaYuti.

In a subtle jab, Pawar said the more meetings Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds for the upcoming Assembly elections, the more strongly the MVA will move towards majority.

Claiming that in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, the Prime Minister addressed 18 election rallies and held one roadshow in Maharashtra but the voters in all those places backed the MVA candidates, Pawar said, "I consider it my duty to thank Prime Minister Modi."

"The people who were with the MVA in the general elections will remain with us for the Assembly elections as well," said Uddhav Thackeray.

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said, "In the Lok Sabha elections, people showed great support for the MVA. Also, the farmers of the state taught the BJP a good lesson. In some places, there were attempts to polarise the voters on religious lines, but they did not affect the election outcome."

To a question on a write-up in the RSS mouthpiece 'Organiser' that claimed Ajit Pawar's inclusion in the MahaYuti reduced the BJPas brand value, Pawar said, "The RSS only spoke of its experience."

"The people have exposed chinks in the BJP's invincibility narrative. But the Lok Sabha election was not the final, as the battle has just begun. The MVA will fight the Assembly elections with more strength," said Uddhav Thackeray.

"An atmosphere was created before the Lok Sabha elections that no one could defeat the BJP. But the people of Maharashtra showed how false their invincibility was. The Lok Sabha elections were a battle to save the Constitution. But this is only the beginning as the battle has just started," he added.

On whether he would accommodate the party legislators who deserted him in the past, Thackeray said, "They will not be taken back."

Similarly, Pawar also said that there is no question of taking back his estranged nephew Ajit Pawar and the other legislators who deserted his party.
Chandigarh, June 15 : Underlining that votes polled in favour of the BJP in Punjab in the Lok Sabha polls is a step towards the party's bigger role, state BJP President Sunil Jakhar said on Saturday the party's vote bank has increased to 18.5 from 6.5 per cent.

He said a significantly higher voter percentage showed the party has "done better and needs to keep working hard to achieve its aim of serving the state in the next Assembly polls".

"We have done better in Lok Sabha polls but better is not enough and we need to succeed more to serve the state in 2027," Jakhar told the media here while accepting that the results of traditional seats of Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Hoshiarpur were not on expected lines.

"We have secured over 18.5 per cent of votes from our earlier performance of 6.5 per cent, which shows we have done better and people of all communities have voted for the BJP," said Jakhar, expressing gratitude to party workers, leaders and people for their support.

"We have identified mandals (constituencies) in which we have performed exceedingly well and the party will honour our mandal and booth pradhans (heads) with Sammaan Patras," he said.

Jakhar, amid the presence of Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Ravneet Bittu, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the inclusion of the latter in the Union Cabinet.

"Ravneet Bittu's induction reflects the PM's special focus on Punjab," Jakhar said.

Underlining that people's trust in the BJP in Punjab has lent greater responsibility to the party, Jakhar said though the BJP at present has two legislators in the Assembly, it will play the role of true Opposition to "expose the illegal nexus" between AAP and Congress.
Mumbai, June 15 : Popular actress and social media influencer Avneet Kaur, has addressed the talk about her marriage and cleared the air with a mix of humour and sincerity that there is no wedding happening anytime soon.

Avneet Kaur was interacting with media on the sidelines of a launch event in Mumbai.

When asked about her marriage, she said: "Now this one question has been asked so many times, I don't know why everyone is so worried about my marriage, let me tell you, there is plenty of time in my marriage, so calm down and wait a little longer."

"I personally believe in love marriage, but if I can get my parents' blessings for a love marriage, it becomes arranged and love marriage, I wish to have something like that, and if I cannot get it, I think I am going to cry alone then," she added.

The young actress has a whopping 32 million followers on Instagram. Avneet also added that she loves glamour and fashion, and her new movie 'Luv Ki Arrange Marriage', is an extension of love for fashion.

She said: "Glam and fashion for me are never going to end, I'd love to style myself, I love fashion, I love everything about fashion. In my new movie, 'Luv Ki Arrange Marriage', I have done many glamorous looks in it."

'Luv Ki Arrange Marriage' is directed by Ishrat R. Khan, written by Raaj Shaandilyaa, also stars Sunny Singh, Annu Kapoor, Supriya Pathak and Rajpal Yadav in key roles. The film is streaming on ZEE5.
Mumbai, June 15 : Rapper Badshah has issued a statement after his show was stopped midway in Dallas, Texas.

The rapper said the show promoter was at fault for not coordinating properly with the local administration.

Stating that he is "heartbroken and bummed about what happened", Badshah said he was really looking forward to performing in Dallas but due to a discrepancy between the local promoters and the production company, he was forced to cut short the set and stop the show midway.

"Promoters need to be better equipped, especially for large-format shows and this kind of nonchalance is just unacceptable to most performing artistes. It takes a considerable amount of energy and effort to put together a tour of considerable scale.

"This isn't fair to the fans who spend their hard-earned money to purchase tickets, and it definitely isn't fair to the whole crew who pours their hearts into putting on these tours. We rehearse for weeks, plan for months, and travel tirelessly to give you the best possible experience," he said in the statement.

Badshah also said that the music industry is all about respect - respect for the fans as much as it is about respect for the artistes and the support crew.

"My management tried everything in their control to salvage the situation and ensure a smooth run. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience, disappointment and irritation caused due to this sheer lack of management from the promoter's end.

"We will make sure things are better managed in the future with a more competent promoter team that prioritises a quality experience and understands that music and touring is a serious business," the rapper added.
Imphal, June 15 : After the Manipur government, several Naga civil bodies and organisations in the state have urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to repatriate illegal Myanmar immigrants to their country, sources said on Saturday.

Sources said that the Naga organisations submitted a memorandum to the Union Home Minister earlier this week requesting him to deport illegal Myanmar immigrants.

The memorandum pointed out that around 5,457 illegal immigrants from Myanmar are being sheltered in eight Tangkhul villages in Manipur's Kamjong district adjoining Myanmar and they have outnumbered the local residents.

After visiting the Indo-Myanmar border areas recently on a fact-finding mission, the United Naga Council (UNC), Naga Women's Union (NWU), All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM) and Naga People's Movement for Human Rights (NPM-HR) submitted the memorandum to the Union Home Minister.

A UNC leader said that a section of migrants are involved in illegal and anti-social activities and the law enforcing agencies are unable to effectively control such activities.

"Although biometrics have been captured for 5,173 persons, monitoring the activities of adult male inmates (illegal immigrants) has become a huge challenge as the authority cannot regularly conduct verification exercises amidst the fluctuating numbers of inmates between daytime and night in those makeshift refugee camps," the UNC leader said refusing to be named.

A Manipur home department official said that the state government in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs and the central security forces has deported 115 Myanmar nationals, including women and children in three phases since March 8.

The Myanmar immigrants have been deported through the Moreh border in Manipur's Tengnoupal district.

Manipur has around 400 km of unfenced border with Myanmar.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said earlier that although India is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, it has given shelter and aid to those fleeing the crisis in Myanmar on humanitarian grounds.

Since the military took over Myanmar more than three years ago, at least 8,000 Myanmarese have taken shelter in Manipur's Tengnoupal, Chandel, Churachandpur and Kamjong districts, while over 36,000 people have taken shelter in Mizoram.

Following the advice of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Manipur government has been collecting the biometric details of the Myanmar nationals sheltered in the state.

The Mizoram government, however, initially turned down the MHA's appeal to collect biometric data of the Myanmar refugees. However, recently the stste government decided to collect the biometric details of the refugees.
New Delhi, June 15 : The Group of Seven (G7) Summit held in Italy's Apulia on Friday has further solidified India's image as the leader of the Global South, right at the start of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's third consecutive term.

Having given resonance to the voice of the Global South over the last decade, especially during India's G20 presidency, PM Modi once again chose a major global platform to spotlight the concerns of developing countries during his first overseas trip after assuming office, earlier this week.

"The countries of the Global South are bearing the brunt of global uncertainties and tensions. India has considered it its responsibility to place the priorities and concerns of the countries of the Global South on the world stage," the Prime Minister said in his address at the Outreach Session of the G7 Summit.

With India having strongly established itself as an all-weather friend of Africa during his tenure, PM Modi also emphasised New Delhi's commitment to the continent.

"We have given high priority to Africa in these efforts. We are proud that the G-20, under India's chairmanship, made the African Union a permanent member. India has been contributing to the economic and social development, stability, and security of all African countries, and will continue to do so," he assured the world leaders gathered at the G7 event.

On Saturday, hours after his meeting with PM Modi at Borgo Egnazia, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz backed the Indian Prime Minister's efforts to further amplify the voices from the emerging countries and the Global South at international fora.

"The G7 is not an exclusive club. That is why here in Apulia we continued what we started in Elmau and spoke to many representatives of the Global South. This must continue to be the case in the future. Because we want a partnership from which everyone benefits," Scholz posted on X along with a photograph of him engaged in an animated discussion with PM Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during the G7 event on Friday.

Even as he pursues the goal of having a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047, PM Modi has made it clear that India's efforts to drive South-South cooperation will receive fresh momentum during his third term.

The attendance of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Seychelles Vice-President Ahmed Afif, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay at the PM's swearing-in ceremony sent a strong message that India will always remain committed to the cause of the Global South and the developing countries.

"PM Modi called for deeper people-to-people ties and connectivity in the region. He further added that India would continue to amplify the voice of the Global South in the international arena," the Ministry of External Affairs said after the PM's interaction with the leaders at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

In the past too, leaders of the developing countries across various continents instilled faith in PM Modi's leadership and counted on India as a reliable partner when it came to making their voices heard at the gatherings of world leaders amid the ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Last year, when he travelled to Port Moresby to host the third summit of the Forum for Indiaa"Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC III Summit) jointly with his counterpart from Papua New Guinea, James Marape, leaders of the small island countries called themselves as "victims of global powerplay" and called on PM Modi to further elevate the issues of concern to the region.

"You are the voice that can offer our issues at the highest level as advanced economies discuss matters relating to economy, commerce, trade, and geopolitics. We want you to be an advocate for us as you sit in those meetings and continue to fight for the rights of small emerging nations and emerging economies," Marape said in his address.

Several countries in Africa and the Caribbean also consider India and Prime Minister Modi as their flag bearer on the global stage.

During her visit to New Delhi last October, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu hailed India as a powerhouse, an extended family member separated by a coastline, a friend for all seasons, and a leader of the Global South.

"Beyond familyhood and trade partnership, India is our strategic ally. India is now a powerhouse. It possesses the needed soft and hard powers enough to shape outcomes, influence change, and raise a voice to be heard in the lobbying corridors, and rooms where world decisions are made, and our fate as developing countries is decided," she said while receiving her first foreign honourary doctorate from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

Similarly, the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has time and again highlighted the significance of maintaining a "close and vibrant working relationship" with India -- a country they believe is playing a major role in having their voices heard at major global platforms.

India's position as a voice of the Global South is expected to further consolidate during Modi 3.0 using the Prime Minister's 5S approach of 'Samman, Samvad, Sahyog, Shanti, and Samriddhi', as was listed in the 'Sankalp Patra' released by the BJP for the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections.

"A distinct global image has been built in the last 10 years as India has emerged as a Vishwa Bandhu. Its maximum advantage will begin now. I am fully confident that the next five years will be extremely useful for the country as far as the global environment is concerned," the Prime Minister asserted in his first comments after staking a claim to form the government for the third consecutive time, last week.
New Delhi, June 15 : In order to provide an ideal life for the elderly, widows and the disabled, if there is a need to change the rules and regulations of the scheme, then amendments should also be made, Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said.

In a meeting on the action plan for the next 100 days of various schemes of the ministry, the Minister emphasised implementing the action plan in a strong and effective manner.

"We all have to work together with full strength on every scheme of rural development, only then Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of a developed India will be fulfilled," said Minister Chouhan.

While discussing the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), the minister mentioned that we have to structure the project for an ideal life for the elderly, widows and the disabled, "for which we have to take every problem seriously".

Emphasising the importance of District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committees (DISHA), the minister said there is a need to strengthen the Disha Committees further.

The minister said he would write a letter to all the newly-elected MPs to request them to ensure that the meetings of the Disha Committees are held on time.

On Thursday, Minister Chouhan told officials to work towards achieving the target of creating three crore Lakhpati Didis in villages ahead of the three-year deadline as part of a stepped-up action plan.
Burgenstock, June 15 : Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky believes that the peace conference in Switzerland will increase the pressure on Moscow, but other conference attendees were not so optimistic.

The two-day meeting of 92 states and eight international organisations brought back the idea that joint efforts could stop a war and establish trust and peace, Zelensky said on Saturday shortly before the delegations began their deliberations.

"We have managed to give diplomacy a chance."

Swiss President Viola Amherd dampened expectations.

"Our goals are modest," she said, explaining that the aim of the conference was to inspire a process for lasting and just peace. The importance of international law as the basis of the international order is central to this, she said. "Russia's attack violates this in the most serious way," Amherd said.

Russia was not invited to take part in the conference, and China, an important ally of Moscow, is also not attending.

Even if there is only limited hope for concrete results, the summit is seen as an important sign of international solidarity with Ukraine. It is also about gaining the broadest possible international support for the Ukrainian peace plan with a complete withdrawal of Russia from Ukrainian territory.

--IANS/DPA

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Bengaluru, June 15 : Pavithra Gowda, one of the prime accused in the murder of a fan of Kannada superstar Darshan, is just a co-star of the actor and not his wife, Darshan's counsel Anil Babu clarified on Saturday.

Darshan, his 'partner' Pavithra Gowda, and 14 others were arrested earlier this week on charges of murdering Renukaswamy (33), a resident of Chitradurga.

The probe so far revealed that Renukaswamy was a big fan of Darshan and had sent derogatory messages to Pavithra Gowda on social media. The victim was allegedly kidnapped, brought to Bengaluru, kept in a shed, and brutally tortured to death.

Speaking to reporters after visiting Darshan at the Annapoorneshwari Nagar police station on Saturday, Anil Babu said, "I have met Darshan twice after his arrest. I am representing Darshan through his wife, in-laws, and family members. His wife Vijayalaxmi is sad with some sections of the media projecting Pavithra Gowda as Darshan's wife. She can't even go outside."

According to Anil Babu, Vijayalaxmi wants to clarify to the media and the people of Karnataka that she is the only legally married wife (of Darshan), and there is no one else other than her.

"The couple has one son. Pavithra Gowda is a co-artiste and friend of Darshan, and there is no relationship between them," he said.

When asked about the police and the authorities addressing Pavithra Gowda as Darshan's wife, Anil Babu said most probably they did so by mistake.

"There is no record to prove that Pavithra Gowda is Darshan's wife. Had they been married, there should have been some documents, but there is nothing to show that she is the wife of Darshan," Anil Babu maintained.

"Darshan is married to only one person, which is Vijayalaxmi," he added.

Asked about Darshan's state in police custody, the counsel said, "He is doing fine. We cannot ask many questions in the presence of the police other than his health condition, etc. Darshan had pain in his shoulder and ankle."

"A media trial is going on with reports already claiming that Darshan will get 14 years in jail. We will move a bail application before the sessions court at an appropriate time after getting the necessary documents," he said.

To recall, Pavithra Gowda had put up a post on social media celebrating 10 years of her 'relationship' with the actor, which Vijayalaxmi strongly objected to as she slammed her for 'destroying' her family.

While the actor's fans were divided over their support for either of the two women, Renukaswamy had backed Vijayalaxmi and sent derogatory messages to Pavithra Gowda that reportedly triggered a chain of events leading to his death.
New Delhi, June 15 : A team of researchers has discovered a protein which can also play a critical role in the immune system's defence against cancer.

Researchers at the University of Turku in Finland found TIMP-1, a protein traditionally known to prevent damage to the body's cells and tissues.

They discovered this protein also has a key role in the body's immunity against cancer, a finding which can improve the effectiveness of current cancer treatments.

TIMP-1 protein is produced by dendritic cells, which are responsible for initiating immune responses and boosting the immune systemas ability to recognise and destroy cancer cells.

Researcher Carlos Rogerio Figueiredo from the University of Turku said for patients deficient in TIMP-1 expression, our discovery helps create rational therapeutic innovations.

Figueiredo added that the findings are also relevant for fighting infections by viruses and bacteria, as the process is part of a universal mechanism that fights microorganisms and cancer in a similar fashion.

The study was published in the journal Genes & Immunity, which is part of the Nature Portfolio series.

The study used samples from the Finnish Auria Biobank for clinical-oriented discoveries, which were further validated with the latest biochemical and immunological tools to propose a new molecular view of how the body fights cancer.
Tehran, June 15 : Iran and Sweden have completed a prisoner swap, according to the government of Oman, which mediated the process.

Citizens from both countries were flown to Muscat, the capital of the small state on the Persian Gulf, on Saturday.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson confirmed that two Swedish citizens were on their way home.

According to information from Tehran, Hamid N., who had been sentenced to life in prison in Sweden for mass executions of political prisoners in Iran at the end of the 1980s, was released. The Iranian, 63, was sentenced in Stockholm in July 2022.

There was no confirmation of this from Stockholm. Kristersson merely said that Iran had made the two Swedes "a pawn in a cynical negotiating game with the aim of releasing the Iranian citizen Hamid N." from Swedish custody.

EU employees Johan Floderus and Said Asisi, who had been sentenced to five years in prison in Iran, were released by Tehran, Kristersson said. At least one other Swedish citizen, the physician Ahmad Resa Jalali, is still in an Iranian prison.

Relations between Sweden and Iran had recently cooled considerably due to the diplomatic cases. In May last year, Tehran executed a Swedish-Iranian dissident who had been accused of terrorist activities. Critics had repeatedly accused Iran of trying to free Hamid N. by imprisoning Swedish citizens.

--IANS/DPA

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Mumbai, June 15 : Telugu film 'Double iSmart' starring Ram Pothineni has locked August 15 as its release date after the Allu Arjun-starrer 'Pushpa 2: The Rule', scheduled to hit theatres on Independence Day, was postponed indefinitely.

Mumbai, June 15 (IANS) Telugu film aDouble iSmarta starring Ram Pothineni has locked August 15 as its release date after the Allu Arjun-starrer aPushpa 2: The Rulea, scheduled to hit theatres on Independence Day, was postponed indefinitely.

The makers of aDouble iSmarta announced the new release date with a poster that shows Ram in a power-packed avatar sporting three horizontal lines of 'Vibhooti' with a Shiva Lingam and a flambeau in the background.

With this year's Independence Day falling on a Thursday, it will be a perfect time for releasing the film given that the long weekend will continue till Raksha Bandhan on Monday (August 19).

While Ram has reprised his role in aDouble iSmarta, Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt plays the antagonist with Kavya Thapar playing the leading lady.

Sam K. Naidu and Gianni Gianneli are the cinematographers for the movie that has music by Mani Sharma.

The film is produced by Puri Jagannadh and Charmme Kaur on Puri Connects banner.

Directed by Puri Jagannadh, aDouble iSmarta will be released in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi.
Panaji, June 15 : Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday urged the people to take to bamboo production to protect the coastal areas from soil erosion.

He was interacting with elected representatives and officers of local bodies in a 'Swayampurna Goa' programme through a webinar.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized on agriculture after taking oath for the third time. Our farmers should not be deprived of schemes, all should get them," he said, adding that the zonal agricultural officers should help the farmers.

"We have focused on bamboo plantation. Wherever there are rivers and beaches, soil erosion is taking place on a large scale. We can stop this by planting bamboos," Sawant said.

"This is a cash crop. There are nine types of bamboo varieties available in the state. If we can plant bamboos, then it will help us to protect the coast. Let us focus on bamboo plantation," he said.

Sawant said that the state government is talking to the Bamboo Mission for a 'buy-back system'. "In five years one can earn by selling bamboo, we are having a word with the concerned officers in that regard," Sawant stated.

According to the environment and climate change department, the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management in the Beach Carrying Capacity Report has observed that overall for a coastal stretch of about 105 km, 35% of the coast is rocky terrain, 20% is stable, 27% is under erosion and 17% of the coast experiences accretion.

MLAs from the coastal areas of the state had complained about the soil erosion taking place on the beaches, which is affecting tourism.
Jeddah, June 15 : Over 175,000 pilgrims from India have converged on the sacred Mount Arafat outside Mecca in Saudi Arabia and are currently busy with their prayers on the holiest day of the Haj pilgrimage, Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia, Suhel Ajaz Khan, said on Saturday.

"The Indian Haj Mission along with the Saudi Haj Ministry and various other service providers have made all the arrangements of moving the pilgrims from Mina to Arafat, including their stay in Arafat and for their return. After today, the main ritual of the Haj will be over," Ambassador Khan said in a video posted by the Indian Haj Mission.

The Indian authorities in Mecca said they are "leaving no stone unturned" in providing assistance to the pilgrims.

"Ensuring that sick Indian Haj pilgrims reach and stay in Arafat as part of their Haj rituals, 24 ambulances and 2 buses have been put on service by Indian Haj Mission for carrying 54 sick pilgrims from Mina to Arafat where there will stay till sunset, today," the Indian Haj Mission posted on X on Saturday evening.

It is expected that about 25 lakh pilgrims from all over the world, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, will perform Haj this year.

India has received a total quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims for Haj 2024 with 1,40,020 seats reserved for pilgrims to proceed through the Haj Committee of India, and 35,005 pilgrims permitted to proceed through Haj group operators.

Last month, in a historic first, Indian Haj pilgrims arriving at the Jeddah airport travelled to Mecca by the High-Speed Haramain Train instead of buses.

The arrangement, which will make the journey of the pilgrims more comfortable, has been facilitated by India's Consulate General in Jeddah in coordination with the concerned Saudi authorities.

The government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been making efforts over the last few years to make the Haj pilgrimage a transparent, uniform, cost efficient, safe and spiritually fulfilling experience for the pilgrims.

The Indian Haj Mission - the biggest operation of its kind handled by the government of India outside the Indian borders - has closely coordinated logistics with the concerned Saudi authorities to make the new initiative a success.
New Delhi, June 15 : 'Two Decades of the Quad: Diplomacy and Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific', a new report by Observer Research Foundation, (ORF) and East West Center, Washington DC assesses the Quad's achievements and potential amid the ongoing geopolitical churn, increasing bilateral and multilateral cooperation among member countries, and the need for diversifying channels of collaboration, given the growing regional and global responsibilities.

Moving beyond traditional security concerns, the Quad has transformed from a budding security dialogue into a multifaceted partnership with far-reaching goals through the creation of six leader-level working groups.

Since regrouping in 2017, the Quad has announced the creation of six working groups which focus on a variety of policies and initiatives.

During the inaugural Leaders' Summit held virtually in March 2021, the group announced a Quad Vaccine Partnership -- later renamed the Quad Health Security Partnership -- alongside the establishment of a Critical and Emerging Technologies Working Group and a Climate Working Group.

A Space Working Group was established later that year during the first in-person Leadersa Summit held in Washington.

Satu Limaye, Vice President, East West Center; Director of East West Center Washington and one of the report's authors, pointed out some key issues for the Quad to address going forward.

"To what extent should the Quad be securitised? Next is the institutionalisation of Quad a" how formal should it be and how does that affect its functioning? Third is operationalising, i.e. delivering. We have a great agenda, but the question is sustainability and delivery of public goods."

Limaye also noted: "(It is important to consider)aintegrating the Quad with other institutions that are rising a" Partners in the Blue Pacific, Indian Ocean organisations and other kinds of proliferating multilateralism in the region in this very contested and fragmented international system. Finally, how can we coordinate with regional countries and institutions on public goods delivery?"

Reflecting on the future potential of the Quad, the report forecasts that the partnership's six working groups will address a diverse array of challenges and opportunities in the Indo-Pacific.

These range from preparing the region for challenges posed by China to ensuring that intra-regional processes adhere to principles of free, open, inclusive, and responsible conduct.

As the Quad continues to expand and institutionalise its cooperation, its primary imperative is to promote strategic balance while sustainably responding to demand signals from the region.

The Quad Counterterrorism Working Group's focus on an adaptive approach, encompassing technological cooperation and regional partnerships, highlights the commitment of the Quad countries to address the multifaceted nature of the terrorism challenge in the Indo-Pacific region.

Committed to dialogue, cooperation, and collaboration, the Quad aims to tackle shared security challenges, foster economic prosperity, and uphold the principles of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

As the Quad progresses and broadens its agenda, it will continue to be a crucial pillar of regional security and stability.

A foundational initiative of the Quad, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) remains a core element of Quad cooperation.

With the Quad's renewed focus on providing public goods in the Indo-Pacific, HADR has become a key mechanism given the Indo-Pacific is the most disaster-prone region in the world.

Harsh V. Pant, Vice President, Studies and Foreign Policy at ORF and one of the report's authors says" "The Quad has emerged as a crucial platform for fostering regional stability and economic growth. Its current role involves addressing pressing challenges such as maritime security, cyber threats, and climate change, while promoting a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific."

Pant added that "Looking ahead, the Quad's roadmap focuses on enhancing cooperation through its six working groups, which tackle issues ranging from countering China's influence to ensuring adherence to international norms and principles. This strategic collaboration aims to strengthen regional resilience and uphold a rules-based order".

The report concludes that while the Quad is neither a military alliance nor a mutual defence agreement, maritime security cooperation is central to the partnership's mission of supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Mumbai, June 15 : Actress Taapsee Pannu, who recently married her boyfriend Mathias Boe, said it wasn't a secret wedding, but more like a private and personal event.

On March 23, Taapsee married Danish badminton player Mathias Boe after 11 years of dating.

Ever since the wedding, fans have been waiting to see the bridal look.

When asked about the same, Taapsee said, "I don't think I have given thoughts about my bridal look... It wasn't a secret wedding, it was a private and personal event. So, I did not think about issuing a press release. If at all I get an idea, I will be the first one to share it with you all."

After 'Dunki', Taaspee will be next seen in 'Phir Aayi Haseen Dillruba' and 'Khel Khel Mein', and the actress is excited to see her fans' reactions to the two movies of different genres to be released back-to-back.

"Two of my movies, 'Haseen Dillruba' and 'Khel Khel Mein' are releasing this year... One is a romantic thriller, while the second is an out-and-out comedy. Both the films are different and I think they will be released close to each other. I am looking forward to the reaction of the audience to the two films. One is a Netflix original, while the other will release in theatres."

'Khel Khel Mein' will hit the theatres on August 15.
New Delhi, June 15 : Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda along with Minister of State Anupriya Patel presided over a review meeting of the Department of Pharmaceuticals on Saturday.

The Minister emphasised the need to focus on PM Modias vision of 'Viksit Bharat @ 2047' and also reviewed the five-year agenda and the 100-day action plan.

The five-year plan would focus on enhancing drug security, Aatmanirbharta in medical devices, expansion of the Jan Aushadhi Scheme, and making medicines and treatment affordable for the citizens.

The Health Minister also directed that quality should receive a renewed focus and that all drugs and medical devices manufacturing plants should be upgraded to world-class standards over the next three years.

Senior officials presented a detailed overview of the pharma and MediTech sectors and gave a presentation on the regulatory framework and the schemes implemented by the department.
Hague, June 15 : A new Dutch government is likely to take office by the end of June as the four coalition parties have reached an agreement on all candidate ministers and state secretaries.

The parties -- Party for Freedom (PVV), People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), New Social Contract (NSC), and Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB) -- have been engaged in long and tedious negotiations over forming a coalition government following the elections in November 2023, Xinhua News Agency reported.

A breakthrough was made in May when they struck a deal on forming a new government and then on a new prime minister, Dick Schoof, who is not a member of any of the coalition parties.

A few days ago, the parties reached a consensus on the candidates for the government ministries.

Accordingly, Caspar Veldkamp (NSC) would be the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, along with Ruben Brekelmans (VVD) as Minister of Defense, Eelco Heinen (VVD) as Minister of Finance, and Sophie Hermans as Minister of Climate and Green Growth.

However, due to a security service investigation, PVV had to withdraw the intended Minister of Asylum and Migration Gidi Markuszower from the list. While the exact details remain unclear, the Intelligence Service (AIVD) classified him as an "integrity risk" years ago.

The PVV then proposed its MP Marjolein Faber as the new Minister of Asylum and Migration. VVD leader Dilan Yesilgoz openly expressed doubts about Faber in the media, nearly pushing the new coalition to the brink of collapse.

This led to a crisis meeting on Friday called by government explorer Richard van Zwol, who affirmed Faber's candidacy, noting she passed the screening.

The move will pave the way for the Schoof cabinet of PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB to be sworn in and officially start work by the end of June, in just over two weeks. From next Monday to Wednesday, Van Zwol will receive all the intended ministers for personal meetings, which he emphasized as crucial. These meetings serve as a type of job interview and a time for candidates to disclose anything that might affect their appointment.

Following the meetings, hearings will take place in the House of Representatives for one week. The deadline for Van Zwol's final report on the formation of the new government is June 26, with the swearing-in ceremony expected shortly afterward.
Harare, June 15 : Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has congratulated Cyril Ramaphosa on his reelection as the President of South Africa.

In his congratulatory message on Friday, Mnangagwa reaffirmed his commitment to working closely with Ramaphosa to further strengthen and deepen strong ties that exist between Zimbabwe and South Africa, glued together by shared history, culture, and family ties, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Mnangagwa further underscored his commitment to continue working with Ramaphosa at the regional and multilateral levels to bolster regional integration, as well as to seek enduring solutions to global challenges.

"On behalf of the government and the people of the Republic of Zimbabwe, and, indeed, on my own behalf, it is my honor and privilege to extend to you, our sincere and heartfelt congratulations following your reelection as the President of South Africa," Mnangagwa said.

Ramaphosa, leader of South Africa's ruling African National Congress, was reelected by the National Assembly on Friday as the nation's president for the next five years.
Kolkata, June 15 : The leader of opposition in West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Saturday sought permission from Kolkata Police for a sit-in demonstration outside the Raj Bhavan here with the victims of post-poll violence in the state.

"Previously, when the Trinamool Congress sought permission from the city police to stage a sit-in at the same spot, they were given the nod. Trinamool then held a sit-in demonstration for five days. Now I have sought a similar permission. I will send another reminder to the police Commissioner on June 18," Adhikari said before leaving for Cooch Behar to meet the victims of post-poll violence.

The development came after Governor C.V. Ananda Bose on Friday night issued a statement demanding the immediate replacement of Kolkata Police personnel posted on duty at the Raj Bhavan.

The Governor issued the statement in the wake of allegations that the police personnel posted at the Raj Bhavan were not allowing Adhikari and the victims of post-poll violence to meet him and update him about their grievances.

When Adhikari tried to enter the Raj Bhavan on Thursday along with some of the victims of post-poll violence, they were reportedly denied entry by the police posted there citing Section 144 that has been imposed around the Raj Bhavan.
New Delhi, June 15 : Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday lashed out at the Congress and its leaders for 'spreading canards and peddling lies' in its 'desperation' for power and said that the people will give a befitting reply to it in the Assembly elections, scheduled in next three months.

The Chief Minister also dared the Leader of the Opposition and former Congress CM to release a white paper on employment opportunities during the party's 10-year tenure (2004-2014), to put on record as to how many jobs it gave to youth.

"I challenge Bhupinder Singh Hooda to issue a white paper on how many jobs it provided in the 10-year rule," he said at a public gathering in Yamunanagar.

His challenge comes against the backdrop of Hooda's assertions that the BJP, after facing a rout in Lok Sabha polls, will be wiped out in the upcoming Assembly elections.

"Our 9.5 years is far better than their 10-year rule. We gave more jobs and took development to the masses. Their governance was marked by divisive discourse while ours was driven by inclusive growth," the Haryana CM added.

Nayab Singh Saini, referring to Rahul Gandhi's repeated boast of democracy under threat during the LS election campaign, said that the Congress party resorted to utter lies but this time, people will not believe in its antics.

He said that the state will go to polls in the next three months and the Congress and INDIA bloc will again spread fake propaganda but the BJP workers will 'expose' its lies this time.

The Haryana CM also described the 'Har ghar se naurki' drive during Congress tenure as an utter lie and claimed that even then, it unabashedly befooled and beguiled the people with fake promises.
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Hawn, Oliver Pen New MG Series Francesco Sedita and Rob Valois at Penguin Workshop have taken world rights to a new series of middle grade novels titled The Kindness Club by actor Goldie Hawn and bestselling author Lin Oliver. The four-book deal was handled by Alan Nevins at Renaissance Literary & Talent in collaboration with Ellen Goldsmith-Vein at the Gotham Group. Hawn is the cofounder of the emotional literacy nonprofit Mind Up, and Oliver is a co-founder of the Society of Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators. Nevins said the series will follow three unique friends who learn to problem-solve and help others through acts of kindness. The first book in the series is scheduled for publication in 2026.

Bloomsbury Orders the Cheese Cake

In an exclusive submission, Mark Kurlansky (Salt and Cod) has sold world rights to a novel, Cheese Cake, to Nancy Miller at Bloomsbury. Harriet LeFavour will edit. Danielle Svetcov at Levine Greenberg Rostan brokered the deal. Bloomsbury said the novel, Kurlanskys first in a decade, follows a series of Upper West Siders as they attempt to interpret a perplexing historical recipe for Roman cheesecake, in turn revealing their own histories. The book is scheduled for May 2025.

Legacy Picks Durantes Old Brain

In a preempt, Amina Iro at Legacy Lit has acquired world rights to Old Brain, New World by psychologist and Rutgers University research professor Kristina Durante. Leila Campoli at Stonesong represented Durante. Legacy Lit said the book is based on the authors original research on evolutionary mismatch and will offer readers ways to restore our sense of control in an uncontrollable, fast-paced world. A 2026 publication is planned.

Nix Sells Two to Harper Voyager

Garth Nix (The Old Kingdom series) has sold North American rights to two books to David Pomerico at Harper Voyager. Jill Grinberg at Jill Grinberg Literary Management negotiated the deal. Grinberg said the first book, Massif, set for a 2025 release, is an epic science fiction novel set in a universe where the crew of a small ship must deal with the aftermath of battle, and the unwinding of the mystery that transported humanity to the stars. The second novel, The Even-Handed Booksellers of Edinburgh, is a continuation of the bestselling series that began with 2020s The Left-Handed Booksellers of London and continued with The Sinister Booksellers of Bath. Edinburgh is planned for a 2026 publication.

Chang Brings Rage and Monsters to S&S

In her first acquisition, Simon & Schuster assistant editor Brittany Adames took North American rights to two books by National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 honoree K-Ming Chang (Bestiary). The deal was negotiated by Julia Kardon of HG Literary, after an auction. S&S said the first book is a novel titled Rage Will Be Your Savior, which is about three young Asian women who summon a demon. The second is a story collection titled Exhausted Monsters, which the publisher said explores queerness and the possibility of new worlds, using monsters and demons to confront heteronormativity and patriarchy. Rage will be published in 2026.

Dell Pulls Randalls Strings

Breanne Randall (The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic) has sold North American rights to Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things to Natalie Hallak at Dell, in a preempt. Natalie Lakosil at Looking Glass Literary and Media brokered the deal. Dell said Strings is about a witch and her two sisters on a collision course with an enemy coven and its handsome, mysterious leader, and the forbidden love story that threatens to undo them all. No pub date was announced.
As we reported in Publishers Weekly, the Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals this week heard the state of Iowa's bid to lift the temporary block placed on the state's controversial book banning law, SF 496, on June 11 in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Signed by Iowa governor Kim Reynolds in May 2023, SF 496 seeks to ban 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. The law's passage prompted two separate legal challenges last fall, and in an emphatic 49-page opinion and order issued last December, federal judge Stephen Locher found the law unconstitutional and issued an order blocking key provisions.

But at Tuesday's 30-minute hearing (which you can listen to here), the appeals expressed strong concerns about the plaintiffs broad "facial challenge" to the constitutionality of the law, with one justice harshly questioning the district courts acceptance of the plaintiffs' challenge, and suggesting that the proper legal challenges at this juncture should be filed against individual school districts. Arguing for plaintiff Penguin Random House, attorney Frederick J. Sperling insisted that the facial challenge was proper. The question that's actually before this court is whether this overbroad and vague statute is constitutional, and it's not," he argued.

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 be 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."

Meanwhile, as we also reported in Publishers Weekly, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that state superintendent Ryan Walters overstepped his authority by attempting to force the Edmond Public School district to remove two books deemed inappropriate. "We conclude that a local school board possesses statutory authority to maintain and control its local school library, and one aspect of this control includes discretionary selection for providing supplemental educational books and instructional material deemed appropriate by the local school board in compliance with state statutes," the unanimous decision reads.

The decision comes after state superintendent Ryan Walters oversaw the creation of new rules governing library content in schools last year, including the inception of a library media review committee to assess content. The move drew national headlines after it was disclosed that far-right social media star Chaya Raichik, who runs the controversial account Libs of TikTok, was appointed to the committee.

The Oklahoma Voice reports that Edmond school officials praised the courts decision, saying the ruling wasnt about the books in question but, more broadly, about who gets to choose them. "Todays decision protects our locally elected school boards role in creating policies that determine how library materials are selected and reviewed," reads a statement issued by the district.

In a statement, PEN America applauded the ruling. "After being accused by State Superintendent Walters of 'peddling porn,' school libraries are once again free to curate according to their own local standards and librarians professional expertise. Other states, including South Carolina and Utah, should take heed as they attempt to exert increased state control over local decision making."

 Todays decision protects our locally elected school boards role in creating policies that determine how library materials are selected and reviewed. 

Meanwhile, in South Carolina, the State reports that the state legislature is finalizing new rules that would require minors to have parental permission to view books that contain allegedly "prurient" material. "The conference committee finalizing the states spending plan starting July 1, adopted a Senate proposal to require county libraries to certify they are not offering any books or materials that 'appeal to the sexual interest of children under the age of 17 in childrens, youth or teen book sections of libraries,'" reads the report. "The material will only be made available if the childs parent gives explicit consent."

The Houston Chronicle reports that many parents in the Houston Independent School district are upset after seeing photos of a school library that has been transformed into a discipline center under a recently adopted plan. "The photo features rows and rows of desks, placed closely together in near-uniform positions, all facing one direction," the article states. "A long row of tables stacked with computers is on one side of the room. There is nothing else in the former library, except for a sign that reads 'You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax, all you need is a book.' The quote is from Dr. Seuss, perhaps an odd leftover from the previous layout as there are no books to be found in the room, nor is Dr. Seuss part of the NES curriculum."

The Washington Post reports on a Florida school district that banned a book about banned books. The Indian River County school district banned Alan Gratzs Ban This Book, which told the story about a fourth graders quest to return her favorite book to her school library after it had been removed. The overwhelming irony of banning a book about book banning has been enough to keep people from banning it for a little while, Gratz told the Post.

NBC Out reports that a digital library is offering hundreds of free books with LGBTQIA+ themes. The Queer Liberation Library has a catalog with more than 1,200 books. Sara Katherine, who noticed a lack of support for LGBTQIA+ youth when she moved back to her hometown of Valparaiso, Indiana, from New York, said she discovered the resource and spread the word. "I was able to tell them, 'Hey, guess what? I have something free for you, and its thousands of books you can read where there are characters just like you who are falling in love, who are having adventures," she told reporters.

First Coast News in Florida reports on a group of parents joining a lawsuit against the Florida Department of Education. The suit was brought after the St. Johns County school board restricted several books to specific grade levels. "Every parent has a right to direct the education and upbringing in this state and theres only so much a parent can do," one of the parents, Stephana Ferrell, said.

Over at Book Riot, Kelly Jensen begins her weekly censorship news roundup with a look at state legislation that proposes to discourage book banning.

And finally this week, Fox 13 reports that Orem, Utah has adopted new policies to protect employee free speech after the city retaliated against librarians who criticized the city for banning Pride displays in the library, and effectively "banned all library employees" from participating in the Utah Library Association. "A year later, Orem librarians are back with the ULA and a new policy was just implemented," the report states. What prompted the change? The threat of legal action. "The city said changes were 'made based upon research conducted by the legal department.'"

The Week in Libraries is a weekly opinion and news column. News, tips, submissions, questions or comments are welcome, and can be submitted via email. Previous columns can be viewed here.
Numbers could be classified further into (140) marketing and (160 or 161) for service calls to easily identify the purpose of the call in the future.

Kindly note the image has only been posted for representational purposes. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on Friday, June 14, 2024, said the new 160 number series will reduce spam and ensure customers do not miss out on important service and transactional calls.

In a meeting with the Reserve Bank of India, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (Irdai) and Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) and more than 25 banks and other financial institutions on Friday, TRAI discussed the burgeoning problem of spam and ways to tackle it, officials said.

So far, numbers in the 140 series have been allocated for all commercial purposes. These could be classified further into (140) marketing and (160 or 161) for service calls to easily identify the purpose of the call in the future.

In the first stage, it has been earmarked for all entities regulated by the RBI and regulators like Sebi, Irdai and PFRDA.

'Once it is implemented, it shall help in the easy identification of the calling entity and will prevent the duping of innocent citizens by fraudsters,' Trai said.

It was also discussed that the operation of the 140 series, at present being used for promotional purposes, is being migrated to the DLT platform and scrubbing of digital consent is also being operationalised.

'With the implementation of the above two measures, substantial control on spam calls from 10-digit numbers is expected,' Trai said.

Representatives of public and private sector banks, members of the Association of National Exchanges Members of India (ANMI) and all the telecom service providers were present at the meeting.

DCA push

The Digital Consent Facility (DCA) established by telecom service providers was also discussed in detail at the meeting, Trai said.

The DCA facility enables the acquisition of digital consent of the customer and further enables senders such as banks, insurance companies, and other entities to send promotional communications over SMS and voice to customers irrespective of their DND status.

A unified platform to seek, maintain, and revoke the consent given by customers towards receiving commercial communication from businesses, DCA was brought in to give consumers control over who can message them.

However, Trai has repeatedly flagged the slow pace exhibited by operators like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, and BSNL in onboarding private businesses onto the system.

But the operators have blamed the sluggish response from the industry.

'The role and obligations of senders such as banks, insurance companies, and other entities with respect to TRAI regulations were also deliberated and it was decided to whitelist URLs/Apks in the content templates, use a minimum number of headers and content templates, and take immediate action against the entity/telemarketer in case of misuse of senders credentials,' Trai said on Friday.

Till now, there had been no unified system for customers to provide or revoke consent. In the earlier system, customer consent was obtained and maintained by businesses.

The problem often starts when these businesses purchase bulk short messaging services (SMS) from a telemarketer to send SMS texts to their clients and customers.

As a result, telecom service providers such as Access Providers (APs) could not check the veracity of consent.

No Charges For Multiple SIMs

Kindly note the image has only been posted for representational purposes. Photograph: Priyanshu Singh/Reuters

Trai has not proposed introducing fees for mobile and landline numbers to ensure the efficient allocation and use of these finite resources, the regulator clarified on Friday, June 14, 2024.

The regulator quelled speculations that it intends to impose charges on customers for holding multiple SIMs or numbering resources.

Aiming to create a sustainable pool of new phone numbers for the country's nearly 1.2 billion and rising mobile phone connections, Trai last week issued a consultation paper on revising the National Numbering Plan.

With a tele-density of 85.69 per cent as of March 31, 2024, it expects the current total of 1,199.28 million telephone subscribers to continue rising.

In 2003, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) conducted a comprehensive review and revision of the national number plan to accommodate the rapid increase in subscribers.

Subsequently, the National Numbering Plan 2003 was designed to allocate numbering resources for 750 million telephone connections across the country.

The plan aims to assess all factors affecting the allocation and utilisation of TI resources and proposes potential modifications to enhance the allocation policies and utilisation procedures, ensuring an adequate reservoir of TI resources.

In the same consultation paper, Trai highlighted the global practice of charging for Telecommunication Identifier (TI) numbers by the governments, and pointed out the Telecom Act, 2013 gives the Centre power to allot TI after imposing charges.

It had argued that imposing charges is one way of 'ensuring judicious and efficient use of any finite public resource'.

'The ownership of the numbering space resides with the government, granting service providers usage rights over the designated number resource during the tenure of their licenses.

'It is evident that numbers represent an exceedingly valuable public resource which is not infinite,' it had said.

The allocation of numbering resources in some of the countries worldwide is done on a chargeable basis, covering various categories such as mobile numbering resources, vanity numbers, and numbers for national interest, it had said.

However, Trai has taken a different stance since then. 'Trai has consistently been advocative of minimum regulatory intervention promoting forbearance and the self-regulation of market forces,' it added.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
'Investors should do proper analysis before putting in their money in NFOs as most new launches are in the high-risk thematic space.'

IMAGE: Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy Christo Anestev/Pixabay.com

New fund offerings (NFOs) by mutual funds (MFs) are set to gather pace with the election uncertainty getting over, equity prices remaining buoyant, and volatility subsiding.

Since June 4, when the election results were announced, MFs have approached the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) for 14 NFO approvals.

Overall, there were 20 fund launches in this month.

Another close to two dozen NFOs, which were filed with Sebi in the past two months, are also in the pipeline.

The fund launch momentum, especially in the equity space, has been strong in the past year amid positive equity market sentiment.

In the calendar year 2023, MFs launched 51 active equity schemes, which collected a total of Rs 36,657 crore (Rs 366.57 billion).

In the first five months of CY 2024, MFs have launched 19 active equity funds and collected Rs 23,515 crore (Rs 235.15 billion).

Including the SBI Automotive Fund NFO's Rs 5,710 crore(Rs 57.10 billion) collection, the aggregate goes up to nearly Rs 30,000 crore (Rs 300 billion).

"NFOs are an easier route for fund houses to raise money compared to their existing schemes as NFOs are sold through a story rather than past performance." said Dhirendra Kumar, CEO of Value Research.

"Hence, during periods of positive equity market sentiment, launches go up. Investors should do proper analysis before putting in their money in NFOs as most new launches are in the high-risk thematic space," he added.

"The launches in the equity space are linked to the market performance. This is evident from trends seen in the past," added Amit Bivalkar, Founder, Sapient Finserv.

Among the filings made with Sebi this month, eight are active equity funds and seven are passive equity funds.

The most common category is the business cycle fund with three filings in the last 10 days by Bank of India MF, Motilal Oswal MF and DSP MF.

Business cycle funds try to invest in sectors or themes that are likely to see a recovery or stronger growth vis-a-vis other sectors.

They look to generate higher returns by buying cyclical sectors during the equity market bull phase and defensive sectors during a downturn.

The manufacturing theme, which has seen a few launches in the recent month, is also set to see two more launches.

Other recent filings in the active equity space include Bajaj Finserv largecap fund, Motilal Oswal Digital and Technology Fund, and ITI Large & Mid Cap Fund.

On the debt side, Franklin Templeton MF is preparing for a revival.

The fund house, which completed the liquidation of the six debt funds that were abruptly closed in 2020, has sought Sebi's go-ahead to launch a medium-to-long duration fund, gilt fund with a 10-year constant duration, and a long-duration fund.

Regulations allow MFs to launch only one scheme in the active equity space except for the sectoral and thematic category.

As most fund houses have funds in all the active fund categories, the launches are mostly in the thematic category and passive space.

The hybrid fund category has also seen a spurt in MF interest post the change in debt fund taxation in April 2023.

The multi-asset allocation category has seen the most launches in the hybrid space with 12 launches in the financial year 2024.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
Please promise, especially those millions who trust you with their hard-earned money, never to let your voting preferences determine your actions on the markets.

The most appalling and scary phenomenon was fund houses and brokerages going out on election yatras and writing copious reports promising more than 300 for the BJP.

That was your wish as voters. Your investors are paying for it now, points out Shekhar Gupta.

IMAGE: Results for India's general elections on a screen inside the Bombay Stock Exchange, June 4, 2024. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

If truth be told, we got our biggest headline of Verdict 2024 when the trends became established just after noon and news broke that Narendra Modi had called Chandrababu Naidu.

Sharad Pawar followed with calls to both Naidu and Nitish Kumar.

We will obviously take the point further and first list the three outcomes that follow.

And then, before we go into a deeper analysis of these and other takeaways, list four rants too.

The three outcomes first.

The first, that Indian politics has returned to its default post-1989 pattern of coalitions after a decade's interregnum.

Second, the Bharatiya Janata Party under Modi looks beatable.

And third, the Congress, with a tally close to 100, has revived. A short break for my rants now.

All those who said India's democracy is dead and buried, over, that we are no-hopers under fascist rule, please sit down, take and drink Kool-Aid.

You can gulp a beta blocker with it if you think you need it. But consult your doctor first.

All those who said India's voters are now such polarised, fried-in-desi-ghee Hindutva nuts that they will keep voting against Muslims, and thereby for Narendra Modi, please say sorry to the 642 million people who went out to vote in an almighty heatwave.

The third is the most important and I should have probably put it first.

Promise yourself in future never to undermine the credibility of the election system in India: Whether it is the electronic voting machines, the institution of the Election Commission and the election commissioners, the personnel who toil at making this marvel possible.

Peacefully, calmly and credibly. The Indian election system is a global, public common good.

Never knock it. For perspective, held at the same time as India's, the Mexican elections saw 37 candidates assassinated.

Not one was harmed here. Mexico's per capita income is nearly four times India's.

And the last, a request to bankers, investors, fund managers. Look at the market convulsions. Please promise, especially those millions who trust you with their hard-earned money, never to let your voting preferences determine your actions on the markets.

Political analysis, I agree, has a heady sex appeal.

But it carries risks to your reputations and your investors' money.

So leave it to people like us. We aren't as smart as you, but we have that one attribute an innocent and impassioned may not: Healthy political scepticism.

The most appalling and scary phenomenon was fund houses and brokerages going out on election yatras and writing copious reports promising more than 300 for the BJP.

That was your wish as voters. Your investors are paying for it now.

IMAGE: Narendra D Modi arrives at the National Democratic Alliance meeting at Samvidhan Sadan in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo

Rants over, we return to politics. This verdict signals the return of normal politics.

The stage is now set for the next battles: The state elections of Maharashtra, Haryana, and Jharkhand.

Just after that, hold your breath, Jammu and Kashmir, where the BJP got only two out of the six Lok Sabha seats.

For each, this result has a dire warning for the BJP.

In Maharashtra, its number is less than half of what it was in 2019 although it had one more ally (Nationalist Congress Party and Shiv Sena).

More important, both the allies, or the breakaway factions it prised away from the originals, are now dead in the water.

The Maharashtra voter has made it clear that she sees the originals as the real Shiv Sena and NCP.

The BJP is now in an unfamiliar situation of having to shore up its own defences as the MLAs on Shinde-Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-NCP weigh a homecoming threat to the BJP.

If Maharashtra is the biggest prize a rejuvenated Opposition would seek, Haryana is a direct threat to the BJP.

In 2019, it swept all 10 seats in the state with a 58.2 per cent vote. Now it's lost five to a rising Congress.

The last-minute chief minister change bombed. The prospect of losing a state next to Delhi would worry the BJP.

In the third major state headed for polls, Jharkhand, the equation has now changed.

Against the sweep of 2019, when it won 11 out of 14 seats, the BJP has now lost three, all to the Congress-JMM coalition, all in tribal areas.

If this momentum continues, the coalition will see a chance of bucking anti-incumbency.

Of course the BJP will probably review the wisdom of keeping Hemant Soren in jail.

IMAGE: Modi with Telugu movie superstar Chiranjeevi and his younger brother Jana Sena party chief Pawan Kalyan at Naidu's swearing-in ceremony. Photograph: ANI Photo

These three state elections will be the lung-opener as a new Indian Political League begins after Parliament is constituted.

Pace will be relentless as just the capital.

Again, the wisdom of keeping Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia in jail will need to be reviewed.

Linked to that, what does the new government do with the two jailed 'radicals' -- Engineer Rashid and Amritpal Singh -- who've won with huge majorities in Baramulla and Khadoor Sahib, respectively!

From politics, we shift to governance. This won't be a BJP but an NDA government, and Cabinet.

This hasn't been the case for a decade. In fact, most of the time the two Modi governments did not even have an NDA Cabinet minister besides the late Ram Vilas Paswan.

Doctrine of necessity and survival will now make the BJP concede spaces to allies, especially Chandrababu Naidu.

Prepare also for renewed demands from both Naidu and Nitish for special status for their states. They now have leverage.

Odisha is much more a consolation win for the BJP. It is their first win in the state and also with a clear majority.

For one seen as mostly a 'heartland' party, it is also another coastal state, the first in the east.

But its ambitious southern march is stopped, favourite target Mamata Banerjee is stronger and the losses

in Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya threaten it with a Congress revival there.

Actually, the upshot of this verdict can be stated in just two words: Game on.

By special arrangement with The Print

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Hundreds of Bhopal residents have joined hands to save over 27,000 trees that they fear would be chopped to make space for VVIP bungalows in the city, even mulling to launch a protest akin to the 'Chipko Andolan'.

IMAGE: People under the banner of Bhojpal Jan Kalyan evam Vikas Parishad stage a protest against the proposed cutting of 29,000 trees to build bungalows for ministers, MLAs and officers at Shivaji Nagar and Tulsi Nagar locality, Bhopal on Friday. Photograph: ANI Photo

A top Madhya Pradesh government official, however, said on Saturday that no such plan has been finalised.

For the past ten days, citizens, students, and green activists have been campaigning against what they call a plan by the MP Housing Board to construct bungalows for MLAs and bureaucrats by clearing trees at Shivaji Nagar and Tulsi Nagar, one of the greenest patches in Bhopal.

Many of them, including women and a Bharatiya Janata Party MLA, worshipped and clung to trees on Friday vowing to protect them.

MP Housing and Urban Development Principal Secretary Neeraj Mandloi said nothing will happen to the trees immediately.

"It was a concept floated by the Housing Board before the Urban Development Minister. As of now, there is no approval or final proposal before the government. The government is fully sensitive to the protection of trees. There is no proposal to cut the trees as of now," he said.

Environmental activist Dr Subhash C Pandey, who is among those leading the campaign, said they will wait for the government's reaction to their movement.

"In the meantime, we are mulling to launch a massive protest akin to Chipko Andolan if the government does not act," he said.

Launched in the 1970s in Uttarakhand (then a part of Uttar Pradesh), Chipko Andolan was a movement wherein people clasped to the trunk of trees to stop them from being felled by loggers.

"There are indications that over 27,000 trees, seventy per cent of them heritage ones, are going to be chopped for the (housing) project," he said.

Pandey said their delegation met MP Housing Board Commissioner Chandramauli Shukla and Housing Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya over the issue, but was told that compensatory saplings would be planted if such a project comes up.

"Not a single sapling planted to compensate for the felling of trees for the metro train project, Smart City and a private concern's huge complex in the past in Bhopal has survived," he said.

Pandey said he would also move the National Green Tribunal to save the trees.

South-West Bhopal BJP MLA Bhagwan Das Sabnani, who worshipped trees in his constituency and publicly supported the campaign on Friday, did not respond to phone calls.

A local Hindi daily quoted him as saying that development should not be at the cost of greenery.

A similar campaign had been launched when the same stretch of green tract was picked up for the Smart City Project but it was shifted to TT Nagar following public outburst.
'China is India's primary strategic challenge, which will not go away.'

IMAGE: President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi with neighbouring countries' heads of State and government at Rashtrapati Bhavan, June 9, 2024. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo

Engaging China at home and abroad, and ensuring the survival of two mega economic corridors connecting India to Europe, West Asia and Russia, would remain key priorities of the ministry of external affairs under the new NDA government.

While the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs has congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the election victory, both countries remain locked in confrontational positions on a host of issues.

This ranges from issues such as border disputes in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh to multilateral machinations over India's membership in the Quad grouping.

It also includes efforts to secure a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council.

"It is important for both India and China to emerge from the current cul-de-sac in their relationship. China is India's primary strategic challenge, which will not go away," Ashok K Kantha, former ambassador of India to China, recently told Business Standard.

On a global scale, India is trying to gain a toehold in competition with China in diverse areas where Beijing has long held sway.

This includes pacts with African countries to secure critical minerals and expanding lines of credit to fund infrastructure projects across the continent. These projects had seen huge amounts of Chinese investments over the past decade.

The MEA would also need to ensure the survival of two key trade corridors that is set to entrench India into the global economy.

The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) -- connecting India to Western European markets -- and the International North-South Transport Corridor -- connecting India to Russia -- have seen full support from all parties, but little movement on ground.

As always, the external affairs minister will have to ensure that India's interests in its immediate neighbourhood are secured.

This is something which has increasingly become tenuous.

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu attended the swearing in ceremony, a sign that both nations have made headway in rectifying the recent nosedive in relations.

He was joined by Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Leaders of two nations with which ties have repeatedly oscillated in the last 10 years of the Modi government -- Nepal and Sri Lanka -- were also present.

Helming the MEA, Minister S Jaishankar has repeatedly stressed that diplomatic resources would be used to broaden trade and investment opportunities for India.

Ensuring the continued promotion of Make in India and the economic growth story abroad, especially by capitalising on its G20 success, remains a key focus, officials said.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Authorities in Kuwait have launched a crackdown on illegal property extensions in the wake of a devastating fire at a seven-storey building that claimed the lives of 50 people, including 46 Indians, according to a media report on Saturday.

IMAGE: Mother of Akash Sasidharan Nair, one of the victims of the fire that broke out in a building in Kuwait, mourns next to the body of her son that was brought to his home, at Pathanamthitta in Kerala, on June 15, 2024. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters

Most deaths were due to smoke inhalation while residents in the building were sleeping when the fire broke out early Wednesday in Kuwait's southern city of Mangaf in Ahmadi Governorate.

The building was home to 196 migrant workers, mostly Indians.

The incident triggered calls for action against real estate landlords and company owners who violate the law to house large numbers of foreign labourers in extremely unsafe conditions to cut costs.

The Kuwait Municipality has launched a rigorous crackdown on illegal property extensions, the Arab Times newspaper reported.

This tragic incident has shed light on the long-standing issue of unauthorised modifications to buildings, prompting authorities to take decisive action to prevent such disasters in the future.

For years, the illegal conversion of property spaces has been a pervasive issue in Kuwait.

Basement parking areas have been transformed into warehouses, while ground-floor open spaces have been converted into housing units and shops, all in the pursuit of additional income.

These modifications, often carried out without proper approval, compromise the safety and integrity of buildings, the paper said.

An India Embassy team on Friday visited all 5 hospitals where 25 injured Indians are receiving medical treatment.

They enquired about their medical condition.

'Most patients are already in touch with their families,' the Embassy of India posted on X.

The investigation team of the fire department said on Thursday that the fire was caused by an electric short circuit in the room of the building guard and spread to other places. The guard's room is located on the ground floor.

Citing security sources, the paper said that there were 179 workers inside the building when the fire broke out, while 17 were outside. Of the 196 residents, 175 are Indians, 11 are Filipinos and the rest are from Thailand, Pakistan and Egypt.

According to an official, many of the victims suffocated while trying to run down the stairs because they were filled with smoke. He added that the victims could not go to the rooftop because the door was locked.

NBTC Group, where the victims of the fire tragedy were employed, issued a statement, extending its deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims and injured.

In response to the devastating accident, NBTC Group is providing immediate financial support to all affected families, underscoring its commitment to social and humanitarian responsibility.

'We affirm our commitment to all the decisions and directives issued to ensure accountability for what led to this tragic incident," the paper quoted the statement as saying.

'We continue to stay in close contact with the families of the deceased and injured,' it said.

The company is also working in coordination with the Ministry of Health and medical teams to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured until they fully recover, it said.

'We also announce that immediate support will be provided to all the families of the victims and the affected, stemming from our social and humanitarian responsibility, and our belief in the necessity of assisting those affected in such difficult times,' the statement said.

K G Abraham, a Kerala businessman based in Kuwait, is a partner and managing director of the firm.
Political strategist turned activist Prashant Kishor charged Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with having "touched the feet" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure his own continuance in power.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi being greeted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during the National Democratic Alliance Parliamentary Party meeting at the Samvidhan Sadan, in New Delhi on June 7, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Kishor, who has been running the 'Jan Suraaj' campaign, was addressing a public meeting in Bhagalpur on Friday.

"People ask me why I am now criticising Nitish Kumar, having worked with him in the past. He was a different man back then. His conscience had not been put up for sale," said Kishor, who had managed the JD-U president's election campaign in 2015 and formally joined the party two years later.

"The leader of a state is the pride of its people. But Nitish Kumar brought shame to Bihar when he touched the feet of Modi," he alleged, referring to the NDA meeting in Delhi last week.

Kumar's Janata Dal-United won 12 seats in Lok Sabha polls to emerge as the second largest ally of the BJP, which failed to get a majority on its own.

"There is so much talk about Nitish Kumar playing a key role in Modi's return to power. But how is the Bihar CM leveraging his position? He is not using his clout to ensure benefits for the state. He is touching feet to ensure that he remains in power, with BJP support, even after 2025 assembly polls," Kishor said.

Notably, Kishor had first shot into fame in 2014 for handling the spectacularly successful Lok Sabha poll campaign of Modi. By the time he gave up political consultancy in 2021, Kishor had worked for several high-profile politicians, including Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray chief Uddhav Thackeray and Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar supremo Sharad Pawar on Saturday said there was no question of taking back those leaders who had deserted the two parties.

IMAGE: Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan along with Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray, NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar, and others address the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) joint press conference, in Mumbai on Saturday, June 15, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The two leaders were speaking at a joint press conference of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) of the Sena-UBT, the NCP-SP and the Congress, first after the Opposition alliance outperformed the ruling coalition in the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra.

An MLA of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, however, pooh-poohed the assertion, stating that nobody was interested in going back.

During the press conference here, both Thackeray and Sharad Pawar said 'there is no question of taking rebel leaders back'.

Reacting to the statement, Sanjay Shirsat, an MLA of the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, said Thackeray should first take care of his own flock.

"Who is going, in the first place? It is not that anybody from our side went to 'Matoshree' (Thackeray's residence) and was thrown out. We have no interest in going back there. They should take care of their people," he said.

The Shiv Sena split in June 2022 after a rebellion by Eknath Shinde, who went on to become Maharashtra chief minister, while the Nationalist Congress Party broke into two factions after Ajit Pawar joined the state government along with eight MLAs in July last year.

Following a stellar performance by the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi comprising the Shiv Sena-UBT, the NCP-SP and the Congress in the Lok Sabha polls in the state, there is speculation about some leaders from rival factions wanting to return.

During the first press conference of the MVA after Lok Sabha results were announced on June 4, both Thackeray and Sharad Pawar categorically said 'there is no question of taking rebel leaders back'.

In the just concluded Lok Sabha polls, Parner MLA Nilesh Lanke had switched from the Ajit Pawar faction to the one headed by Sharad Pawar and won from Ahmednagar defeating sitting BJP MP Sujay Vikhe Patil.

Similarly, Bajrang Sonawane also left the Ajit Pawar-led NCP and contested the Lok Sabha polls from Beed on an NCP-SP ticket. He defeated former state minister and senior BJP leader Pankaja Munde.

On the other hand, the BJP's tally in the state came down from 23 in the 2019 general elections to nine this time, while the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP had to be contend with seven and one wins, respectively.

In Maharashtra, which has 48 Lok Sabha seats, the Congress led with 13 wins, followed by nine for the Shiv Sena-UBT and eight for the Sharad Pawar-led NCP-SP.

There is reportedly discomfort within the NCP and the Shiv Sena, allies of the ruling BJP, after the swearing in of the Narendra Modi government on June 9.

The Ajit Pawar faction was asked to make do with one berth of minister of state with independent charge, which it refused, while only Buldhana MP Prataprao Jadhav of the Shinde-led Sena was included in the Union government as minister of state (independent charge) though the party has seven MPs.
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader B S Yediyurappa, facing a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act charge, returned to Bengaluru on Saturday and said he will appear before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on June 17 for questioning.

IMAGE: JP leader BS Yediyurappa. Photograph: ANI Photo

The former CM returned a day after the Karnataka high court had restrained the CID from arresting him in connection with the POCSO case.

It also directed the veteran BJP leader to appear before CID, which is probing the case, on June 17.

Addressing reporters in Bengaluru, Yediyurappa said, "I had gone to Delhi for a pre scheduled programme. I had informed in advance in writing that I will appear for an inquiry on June 17. The High Court has given an order restraining CID (from arresting). I'm appearing for an inquiry on Monday. Unnecessarily some tried to create confusion, I don't want to blame anyone, everyone knows the fact."

"... people will teach a lesson to those indulging in conspiracies," he said.

A court in Bengaluru on Thursday had issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Yediyurappa in the case registered against him under the POCSO Act on March 14 this year.

The Special Investigation Team of the CID had moved the First Fast Track Court seeking an arrest warrant against him since he failed to appear for questioning on Wednesday.

According to police, Yediyurappa has been booked under the POCSO Act and Section 354 A (Sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) based on a complaint by the mother of a 17-year-old girl who alleged that he molested her daughter during a meeting on February two this year, at his residence in Dollars Colony in Bengaluru.

Yediyurappa, who has denied the charge, said he would fight the case legally.

He has filed two separate petitions in the high court, seeking anticipatory bail and quashing the first information report (FIR).

The victim's mother, who had levelled the charge against Yediyurappa, died at a private hospital in Bengaluru last month, due to lung cancer.

Earlier this week, the victim's brother had moved the court alleging that though the case was registered on March 14, no progress has been made in the investigation.

The petitioner prayed the court for a direction to the police to arrest Yediyurappa and interrogate him.

After the Sadashivanagar police registered the case in March, the Karnataka Director General of Police Alok Mohan had issued an order transferring it to the CID for further investigation.

In April, the CID collected the voice sample of Yediyurappa after summoning him to the office.
Laos' supply to China would be critical if conflict cuts Chinese access to Western imports of potash.

Lets start with the good news  potentially great news, in fact  for Southeast Asia: Laos could be sitting on 10 billion tons of potash, one of the three main fertilizers used in global agriculture.

In 2022, a subsidiary of the Chinese company Asia-Potash International announced a $4.3 billion investment in a potash mining venture in Khammouane province. This deal grants exploration rights to 48 square kilometers for potassium ore.

The company reckons it can start with producing 1 million metric tons of potash annually, scale up to 5 million tons by 2025 and eventually reach 7 to 10 million tons. For a comparison, Canada, the world's largest potash producer, exported around 23 million metric tons, valued at approximately $6.6 billion, in 2023.

In 2022, Laos's potash exports were valued at approximately $580 million, representing about 1.7 percent of global supply. It isnt inconceivable that Laos will become a global player.

Location helps Laos

Geography is key. Next door is China, the world's largest importer of food and food inputs, and the worlds third-biggest purchaser of potash. China imports around 8 million metric tons each year, about half of its demand, although that is increasing.

China is the worlds biggest producer of potatoes, which are very reliant on potassium. Chinas potato heartlands  Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan provinces  are on Laos doorstep. Guangdong province, Chinas main banana producer, isnt too far away.

Theres ample room for Laos to expand potash exports in Southeast Asia, too. Indonesia, the worlds fourth-largest potash importer, bought around $2.1 billion worth in 2022, with Laos holding a 6 percent market share.

Malaysia, the sixth-largest importer, spent around $1 billion on potash, with Laos having a 2 percent share. Laos is already the largest supplier of potash to Vietnam, with exports worth about $82 million in 2022.

Officials with Sino-Agri International Potash Co., Ltd. and the Lao government sign a memorandum of understanding March 24, 2023, to build a smart eco-industrial city in Khammouane province. (Pathedlao)

If, for instance, Laos was to replace suppliers like Jordan and Israel and capture a 20% share of Chinas potash import market, its exports could rise to around US$750-800 million, making potash Laos second-largest export product, after energy.

Right now, the spot price for potassium chloride is US$307 per metric ton. So, loosely, 10 million tons exported a year would bring in around US$3 billion.

Expectations shouldnt be that high, though. Its one thing for a Chinese investor to promise to produce 10 million tons a year and its another thing for it to actually deliver it.

And because it's a Chinese firm selling the goods, most of the money wont stay in Laos. And there are already the same complaints as with every Chinese investment: Asia-Potash International isnt hiring local workers.

Geopolitics

Nonetheless, estimates vary, but there still could be between $30 million and $300 million in annual revenue for the Lao state. Almost certainly it will be towards the lower end, but its not to be sniffed at by the badly-indebted government.

However, consider the geostrategic implications.

Up until now, China hasnt really needed Laos. It lacks the strategic importance of Cambodia, with its naval base on the Gulf of Thailand, or the trade routes offered by Myanmar, where China is developing a $7 billion port to access the Indian Ocean for oil and LNG imports from the Gulf.

In 2022, Laos accounted for a mere 0.1 percent of China's total imports; food makes up less than a tenth of that, so Laos isnt a solution to Chinas future food insecurity.

A bulldozer works on a large hill of potash at the Dead Sea Works in Israel's Sodom area, Feb. 16, 2016. (Menahem Kahana/AFP)

Chinas primary import from Laos is pulped paper, not energy. Instead, China constructs hydropower dams and coal-fired stations in Laos, which generate electricity sold to Thailand and Vietnam.

Geostrategically, Laos is a useful ally for Beijing to have because of its ASEAN membership, but Vientiane holds little weight in the regional bloc.

Should something drastic occur in Laos  such as the fall of the ruling communist party or the emergence of an anti-China government  Beijing would be displeased and Chinese investments would be at risk, but China's national security would be unaffected.

That situation changes if Laos becomes a significant supplier of potash. If projections are correct and Laos can produce between 7-10 million tons of potash annually, it could theoretically more than meet Chinas entire import demand. That makes Laos a national security interest for Beijing.

Food security

The Chinese government is preparing itself for military conflict. It knows that in the event it launches an invasion of Taiwan or attacks a rival state in the South China Sea, the West will hammer it with economic sanctions so damaging it would make the retribution reaped on Russia look like a slap on the wrist.

Self-sufficiency and diversification are the buzzwords. But its doubtful that China  arguably the country most dependent on world trade and on U.S. protection of shipping routes  could survive such sanctions.

Even short of war, food security has long been a major concern for China., for reasons too long to go into. According to Xi Jinping, the supreme leader, food security is the foundation for national security.

Beijing is also concerned that its reliance on imported fertilizer inputs could pose a major threat to its food security. Theres no way China can achieve the food self-sufficiency that Xi wants, as was spelled out in a detailed study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a U.S. thinktank.

Farmers operate rice seedling transplanters in Taizhou, in eastern China's Jiangsu province, June 12, 2024. (AFP)

China can domestically produce enough nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers, the latter essential for phosphate-hungry rice. But almost all of Chinas phosphate is produced in Xinjiang and Tibet, far away from the rice-growing Han heartland and where the local population is largely hostile to rule by Beijing.

China will remain dependent on imports of potash, which accounts for more than four-fifths of all Chinas fertilizer imports. Thats why it has been trying to diversify away from Canada towards countries like Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan  and now Laos.

In the event of a conflict and Western sanctions, China would immediately lose access to potash from Canada, the U.S., Israel and Jordan  countries that accounted for over half of Chinas import supply in 2022 .

Sourcing Belarussian and Russian supplies has become more unreliable since the Ukraine War, and both are in competition with one another on that front. That would leave Laos.

Possibly, this could give Vientiane leverage with Beijing. Knowing how important food inputs would be to China in the event of global sanctions, Vientiane might push for major write-offs off part of its high national debt of 130 percent of GDP, most of which is owed to China.

More likely, this would incentivize Beijing to exert a stronger hand over Laos; it means Beijing couldnt tolerate anything that might affect the flow of potash. That makes the relationship much more imperial.

A mine engineer examines a piece of raw potash in the Mosaic Potash Colonsay mine in Colonsay, Saskatchewan, Canada, Sept. 24, 2009. (David Stobbe/Reuters)

David Hutt is a research fellow at the Central European Institute of Asian Studies (CEIAS) and the Southeast Asia Columnist at the Diplomat. He writes the Watching Europe In Southeast Asia newsletter. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of RFA.
In this photo released by Free Huang Xueqin & Wang Jianbing, Chinese journalist Huang Xueqin holds up a #METOO sign for a photo in Singapore in Sept. 2017.

A court in southern China on Friday handed down a prison sentence of five years to feminist journalist Sophia Huang after finding her guilty of "incitement to subvert state power."

The Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court also handed a three-year, six-month jail term to labor activist Wang Jianbing for the same offense. Time already served since their initial detention in September 2021 will be taken into account, according to a copy of the judgment posted to social media.

Security outside the court building was tight, with large numbers of plainclothes and uniformed police officers, as well as security volunteers in red armbands, campaigners said.

Journalists weren't allowed to approach the building, according to a campaign group working for their release.

The court also confiscated 100,000 yuan (US$13,800) in assets from Huang and 50,000 (US$6,900) yuan from Wang.

Neither Huang nor Wang has been allowed to receive visits from family members since their detention, but have been allowed legal representation within parameters set by the authorities, fellow activists said.

A security guard stands on duty outside the Guangzhou Intermediate Peoples Court, May 7, 2015. (Paul Traynor/AP)





Huang told the court she planned to appeal the sentence and conviction, the Free Huang Xueqin and Wang Jianbing support group said via its X account, adding that Wang plans to consult with his lawyer before deciding whether to appeal or not.

"Tomorrow will be their 1,000th day in detention," a friend of the pair who gave only the nickname Xiao Cao for fear of reprisals told RFA Mandarin. "It would be a violation of their freedom and dignity to hold them for just one day."

The day before

Huang and Wang were detained on Sept. 19, 2021, the day before Huang had planned to leave China via Hong Kong for the United Kingdom, where she planned to embark on a master's degree in development with a prestigious Chevening Scholarship.

Wang, who is a labor and healthcare rights activist, had planned to see her off on her journey.

They were put on trial for "incitement to subvert state power," a charge frequently used to target peaceful critics of the ruling Chinese Communist Party.

In this photo released by Free Huang Xueqin & Wang Jianbing, Chinese labor activist Wang Jianbing poses on Mount Lushan in Jiangxi province in April 2021. (Free Huang Xueqin & Wang Jianbing via AP)

Amnesty International's China Director Sarah Brooks said neither Huang nor Wang have committed any crime.

"These malicious and totally groundless convictions show just how terrified the Chinese government is of the emerging wave of activists who dare to speak out to protect the rights of others," Brooks said in a statement on the Amnesty International website.

"The Chinese government has fabricated excuses to deem their work a threat, and to target them for educating themselves and others about social justice issues such as womens dignity and workers rights," she said, calling for the pair's unconditional release.

Before being targeted by the authorities in 2019, Huang had been an outspoken member of the country's #MeToo movement, and had carried out a survey of sexual harassment and assault cases among Chinese women working in journalism.

Huang was present at a million-strong protest in Hong Kong on June 9, 2019, against plans to allow extradition to mainland China, and was detained for "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble" in October 2019, before being released on bail in January 2020, a status that often involves ongoing surveillance and restrictions on a person's activities.

Huang had previously assisted in the investigation and reporting of a number of high-profile sexual harassment allegations against professors at Peking University, Wuhan University of Technology, Henan University and Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou.

The case against Huang and Wang is believed to be related to their attendance at weekly gatherings with fellow activists, hosted by Wang Jianbing, the statement said.

The Chinese authorities systematically use national security charges with extremely vague provisions, such as subverting state power and inciting subversion of state power, to prosecute lawyers, scholars, journalists, activists and NGO workers.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
Bulldozers have made several major roads impassable amid a buildup of insurgent forces in the area.

Military junta troops have destroyed major roads that connect several towns and cities controlled by rebel forces in northern Myanmars Shan State in what could be preparation for renewed fighting in the area, residents told Radio Free Asia.

Junta forces used bulldozers on Wednesday to damage a road connecting Namtu township and Namsang Man Ton, which has been under the control of the Taang National Liberation Army, or TNLA.

On Thursday, junta bulldozers made a section of the Lashio-Hsenwi road impassable. That part of the road, which leads to Hsenwi, Kun Long and Chinshwehaw townships, is an area controlled by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, or MNDAA.

The TNLA, MNDAA and Arakan Army together make up the Three Brotherhood Alliance, which in October launched an offensive that has dealt the military a series of defeats, pushing government forces back.

Residents of Lashio told RFA that security has been tightened at the entrance to the strategic town, which is home to the militarys northeast command headquarters.

The road leading to Lashio city under the control of Brigade 6 of the Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA) was destroyed by the junta, June 13, 2024. (PSLF/TNLA News via Telegram)





Thats likely a reaction to a nearby buildup of forces by the Three Brotherhood Alliance, a resident told RFA on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

Its been apparent that the junta has also been gathering its forces and weapons near the area controlled by the ethnic armed organizations, the resident said.

Moreover, insurgent forces have been seen near Lashio, the resident. And now the roads to Lashio have been cut off. It is expected that conflict will occur very soon.

Ceasefire violation

A resident of Moe Meik township, who requested not to be named, told RFA that people are already fleeing to safe areas ahead of expected armed clashes between the junta and the alliance.

We have learned that the ethnic alliance force is headed to this area, he said. Almost all the people have left the town now.

The destroyed roads have led to a rise in the price of rice and other goods, a Namtu township resident told RFA. Gasoline has increased from 3,600 kyat (US$1.72) to 4,000 kyat (US$1.91) per liter and is being sold on a limited basis, he said.

In nearby Kutkai township, the price of rice has risen by 50,000 kyat (US$24) per bag as people rush to buy supplies, a resident there said.

Three Brotherhood Alliance and junta representatives agreed to a Chinese-brokered ceasefire during a round of talks in January. Less than a week after the agreement, both sides were accused of violating the deal.

Members of the Kokang army (MNDAA) clean up the Rantheshan camp, which they had just captured, October 29, 2023. (The Ko Kang via Facebook)





Junta forces carried out artillery shelling on June 9 on a TNLA outpost between Pang Tin and Man Pying villages, which is located about 32 kilometers (20 miles) away from Moe Meik.

Troop movements and other preparations by the TNLA are in response to the shelling, several residents said.

TNLA spokeswoman Lway Yay Oo told RFA that the junta is violating the January ceasefire agreement, and they will carry out retaliatory attacks if junta troops conduct more military action.

It was found that the junta has sent more drones and forces in northern Shan state. They are also cutting off routes, he said. It is deliberately creating fear in the public.

Calls by RFA to junta spokesperson Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun for a response to the TNLA spokeswomans remark went unanswered.

Its unlikely that members of the Three Brotherhood Alliance would accept another ceasefire, military and political commentator Hla Kyaw Zaw said.

Even if China tries to prevent it again, the TNLA will not stop its mission, he said. Now that the junta has cut through the roads, the TNLA has reason to attack.

Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.
Tibetan President Penpa Tsering, center, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and International Campaign for Tibet Chairman Richard Gere, celebrate the 16th anniversary of the reception of the Congressional Gold Medal by the Dali Lama at the Capitol, Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023.

The leader of Tibets government-in-exile on Thursday won the Democracy Service Medal from the U.S.-based National Endowment for Democracy, recognizing Sikyong Penpa Tserings commitment to advancing democracy and promoting the dignity of the Tibetan people.

In his acceptance speech, Tsering dedicated the award to Tibetans inside Tibet and in exile, and to the Dalai Lama, acknowledging the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leaders role in defending democracy and human rights for all Tibetans.

"I am an ordinary person, but His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama is the architect and spirit behind everything that we are now or what we have today, he said. during the award ceremony at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington.

This award is for the people I serve, said Tsering, who is head of the Central Tibetan Administration.

The award, which honors people defending democracy worldwide, was also given to former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, Russian opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza and Free Belarus leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

The Dalai Lama reacts after receiving the National Endowment for Democracy's Democracy Service Medal during a ceremony at the Library of Congress in Washington, Feb. 19, 2010. (Jason Reed/Reuters)

Since taking office after winning the 2021 democratic elections which saw a 77% voter turnout, Sikyong Penpa Tsering has worked to counter Chinese influence and mobilised Tibets allies to speak up against the suppression of cultural identity within Tibet, said Castro. In recognition of those efforts, its my honour to present the 2024 democracy service medal to Sikyong Penpa Tsering on behalf of the National Endowment for Democracy.

Also on Thursday, the Tibet Action Institute received the endowments Democracy Award for its work in documenting the Chinese Communist Partys efforts to erase Tibetan children's identity by forcibly enrolling them in state-run boarding schools in Tibet.

The Regional Center for Human Rights and the Waey Organisation also received the Democracy Award.

The National Endowment for Democracy, founded in 1983, promotes democracy worldwide through grants funded primarily by the U.S. Congress.

Resolve Tibet Act

The ceremony came a day after the U.S. Congress passed the Resolve Tibet Act, urging China to resolve the Tibet-China dispute through dialogue. It now awaits President Joe Biden's signature to become law.

It 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.

The National Endowment for Democracy's Democracy Service Medal is pictured before being presented to the Dalai Lama at the Library of Congress in Washington, Feb. 19, 2010. (Jason Reed/Reuters)

Tsering welcomed the passage of the bill and expressed hope that Biden would sign it into law soon.

He also confirmed that a congressional bipartisan delegation led by Rep. Michael McCaul and which includes Pelosi, is set to meet with the Dalai Lama and Central Tibetan Administration leaders in India on June 19.

Tsering also presented Pelosi  a long-time Tibet supporter and strong China critic  with her award, while lauding her unwavering fight for democracy, and against authoritarianism, everywhere.

Pelosi commended the endowment for its efforts to highlight global injustices.

One of the cruelest tactics used by oppressors is to imprison people and make them disappear, hoping they will be forgotten. she said.

But we do not forget them, she said. Our members of Congress, in a bipartisan manner, consistently raise their nameswhether on the House floor, in meetings with heads of state, or during visits to other countries.

Additional reporting by Yeshi Tashi and Tenzin Pema. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster.
U.S. President Joe Biden emphasized the need for a diplomatic arrangement for the return of both Lebanese and Israeli civilians to their homes on both sides of the Israeli-Lebanese border in a call on October 9 with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the White House said.

Biden also condemned Irans ballistic missile attack against Israel on October 1, a White House statement said.

Biden "affirmed Israels 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.

Biden spoke with Netanyahu earlier about Israel's plans to retaliate against Iran for a missile attack last week, according to statements from both the White House and the Israeli prime minister's office on October 9.

The White House statement said Biden and Netanyahu "agreed to remain in close contact over the coming days both directly and through their national security teams."

The call comes amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, an armed group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon.

The Middle East has been on edge awaiting Israel's expected response to Iran's largely ineffective missile attack, which Tehran carried out in retaliation for Israel's escalation in Lebanon, including the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in a video published on Israeli media that Israel's response "will be deadly, precise, and above all surprising."

Biden last week said he would not support Israel striking Iranian nuclear sites as part of its retaliation. He also said that, if he were in Israel's shoes, he would think about alternatives to striking Iranian oil fields.

Israel has faced calls by the United States and other allies to accept a cease-fire deal in Gaza and Lebanon but has said it will continue its military operations until Israelis are safe.

U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller warned on October 9 that Israel must avoid conducting military operations in Lebanon like those it has conducted in Gaza.

"I'm making very clear that there should be no kind of military action in Lebanon that looks anything like Gaza and leaves a result anything like Gaza," Miller told journalists.

The White House statement said Biden and Netanyahu discussed the urgent need to renew diplomacy to release the hostages held by Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and the EU. Biden also discussed the humanitarian situation in Gaza, the White House said.

Israels bombardment of central and northern Gaza in recent days has killed dozens of people and trapped thousands in their homes, Palestinian officials said.

Hezbollah, a 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 call between Biden and Netanyahu took place as Israeli forces stepped up their ground offensive against Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon.

On October 9, Hezbollah said in a statement that its fighters had used artillery and rockets against Israeli troops near the Lebanese border village of Labbouneh.

In a separate statement, the group said it engaged in combat with Israeli forces as they "attempted to infiltrate the border town of Blida" in southeast Lebanon.

The Israeli Army said early on October 9 that it had intercepted two projectiles fired from Lebanon as air-raid alarms sounded in and around Caesarea, a coastal city south of Haifa.

The latest fighting comes as fears grow of a larger conflict in the region after Israel also claimed that the successor to Nasrallah has likely been "eliminated."



Gallant said on October 8 that Hezbollah was an "organization without a head" and there's no one left to make decisions.

Netanyahu later echoed those comments, saying, "We've degraded Hezbollah's capabilities."



"We took out thousands of terrorists, including Nasrallah himself and Nasrallah's replacement, and the replacement of the replacement," Netanyahu said.

Hashem Safieddine, a top Hezbollah official and a cousin of Nasrallah, was widely expected to be named to the group's top position, but his whereabouts and condition remain unknown since an October 2 Israeli strike on a suspected Hezbollah leadership meeting.



Hezbollah has not commented on Safieddine's fate, although unidentified members have told various media that the group had lost contact with him since the attack.



Safieddine has been declared a global terrorist by the United States.
Delegates from some 100 states and organizations arrived in Switzerland on June 15 for a two-day peace summit for Ukraine. Ahead of the summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin said there would be no peace unless Ukraine made major territorial concessions and remained outside NATO. Kyiv called the comments "manipulative" and "absurd." Russia was not invited to the summit.
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.
Reuters

Meta Platforms will not launch its Meta AI models in Europe for now after Ireland's privacy regulator told it to delay its plan to harness data from Facebook and Instagram users, the US social media company said on Friday.

The move by Meta came after complaints and a call by advocacy group NOYB to data protection authorities in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Spain to act against the company.

At issue is Meta's plan to use personal data to train its artificial intelligence (AI) models without seeking consent, although the company has said it would use publicly available and licensed online information.

Meta on Friday said the Data Protection Commission (DPC) had asked it to delay training its large language models (LLMs) using public content shared by Facebook and Instagram adult users.

"We're disappointed by the request from the DPC our lead regulator, on behalf of the European DPAs ... particularly since we incorporated regulatory feedback and the European DPAs have been informed since March," the company said in an updated blogpost.

It said the request is a step backwards for European innovation and competition in AI development.

"Put simply, without including local information, we'd only be able to offer people a second-rate experience. This means we aren't able to launch Meta AI in Europe at the moment," Meta said.

The DPC welcomed Meta's pause, saying its decision came after intensive engagement with the regulator.

Meta said the delayed launch of its AI models would also allow it to address requests from Britain's Information Commissioners Office (ICO).

The ICO welcomed Meta's decision, saying it would continue to monitor major developers of generative AI, including Meta, to review the safeguards they have put in place and ensure the information rights of UK users are protected.

NOYB's chair Max Schrems attributed Meta's temporary halt to the group's complaints filed last week.

"So far there is no official change of the Meta privacy policy, which would make this commitment legally binding. The cases we filed are ongoing and will need a determination," he said in a statement.
June 15, 2024

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsflash

Newsroom, 15.06.2024, 14:10

JUDICIARY  The indictment in the Revolution case, in which the former president of Romania, Ion Iliescu, is also accused, was annulled, for the second time, by the High Court of Cassation and Justice. The High Court judges have given the military prosecutors a deadline of five days to specify whether they further send the file to Court or redo the investigation. In October last year, the Bucharest Court of Appeal decided to start the trial in the Revolution case, in which former president Ion Iliescu, former deputy prime minister Gelu Voican-Voiculescu and former head of military aviation Iosif Rus are accused of crimes against humanity. The Court found then that the indictment drawn up by the military prosecutors was legal. The defendants appealed the solution to the High Court, which has now identified irregularities in the indictment.

PATRIOT  As of Friday, the Romanian Air Forces have two operational Patriot anti-missile systems, after the first one entered the combat service in 2022. The US Embassy in Bucharest hailed the moment and said that Romania now has the air defense capacity to protect its citizens and its territory. The NATO exercise RAMSTEIN LEGACY 24 took place between June 3-14, in the Capu Midia range, integrating air and anti-missile defense structures. About 1,300 Romanian and allied military participated in it. The exercise contributed to increasing interoperability and practice tactics, techniques, and procedures for defensive operations. According to the US Embassy in Romania, with these exercises, Romania has demonstrated high levels of technical expertise and competence to defend against advanced air threats.

CANDIDATES  PSD and PNL, the parties that make up the ruling coalition in Romania, will each have their own candidate in the presidential elections this year. The leaders of the two political parties, the Social-Democratic prime minister Marcel Ciolacu and the former Liberal prime minister Nicoale Ciuca, expressed their wish that the ruling formula be preserved, saying that this collaboration can work even if the political partners will be contenders in the presidential elections. However, the two did not rule out a collaboration with other parliamentary parties. Ciuca was open to receiving any support for liberal policies, while Ciolacu said that the social democrats have the ability to build a new political alliance. He ruled out a rescheduling of the next polls. However, Nicolae Ciuca would like to postpone the presidential elections, citing difficulties in education activities after the election, given that many polling stations are set up in education units. In the European elections, held on June 9, PSD and PNL ran on a joint list and obtained 48.7% of the votes.

ELECTIONS  The vote count in the local and European elections in Romania are in the final stage, according to the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP). Most delays are in the vote count for councilors and county council presidents, where a little more than half of the constituencies were centralized. The mayors and local councils have entered most of the data, but the mayors of districts 1 and 2 of the capital Bucharest continue to challenge the result according to which they lost the elections. Clotilde Armand and Radu Mihaiu, members of the Save Romania Union, an opposition party in the Bucharest Parliament, announced that they have filed criminal complaints, claiming that they have evidence of the irregularities reported in recent days. According to the latest data, made public on Friday evening by the Central Electoral Bureau, the Social Democratic Party and the National Liberal Party, part of the ruling coalition, obtained 36.66% and 31.19% respectively, of the mandates for mayor. The Alliance for the Union of Romanians, in the opposition, collected over 6%, and the United Right Alliance, of which the USR is also a part, received almost 1% less.

JOBS  In 2023, Romania was the country in the European Union with the highest rate of young people who do not study or have a job, according to Eurostat data. Figures show that 19.3% of the young Romanians aged between 15 and 29 are neither employed nor studying. Romania is followed by Italy, Greece and Bulgaria, the latter with approximately 14%. In the Netherlands, on the other hand, only 4.8% of young people are not involved in the two activities. Sweden, Malta and Slovenia follow, all with less than 7%. At European level, this indicator decreased by 0.5% compared to the previous year and by 5% compared to 10 years ago and stands at 11.2%. The European target is 9% for the year 2030 and already a third of the member states have reached this threshold. (EE)
Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (HMIL) is gearing up for what could become the largest initial public offering (IPO) in Indias history

According to the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) filed with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Hyundai Motor India aims to raise approximately $2.5 billion (Rs 20,800 Crores) to $3 billion (Rs 25,000 Crores) by offering 142.2 million equity shares, which represent 17.5% of its post-offer paid-up equity share capital. This IPO is anticipated to surpass the record set by Life Insurance Corporation of Indias (LIC) $2.7 billion issue in 2022.

Details of the Offering

The proposed IPO is set to make a significant impact on the Indian stock market, potentially valuing Hyundai Motor India at between $25 billion (Rs 2.08 Lakh Crore) and $30 billion (Rs 2.5 Lakh Crore). This valuation underscores the companys robust performance and strategic market position as Indias second-largest carmaker by passenger sales volume, trailing only Maruti Suzuki. In the fiscal year 2023, Hyundai Motor India reported revenue of Rs 60,000 crore and profits of Rs 4,653 crore, making it the most profitable among non-listed car manufacturers in the country.

Hyundai Motor India plans to allocate 35% of the total equity on offer to retail individual investors, aiming to broaden its shareholder base and enhance market liquidity. This strategic move is designed to leverage the heightened investor interest in one of Indias most prominent automotive brands.

Historical Context and Future Prospects

Hyundai Motor Co., the South Korean parent company, established its first manufacturing plant in India in 1998. Over the years, the company has solidified its presence in the Indian market, now holding a 15% share. Recently, Hyundai announced new investment plans in India worth approximately $3.75 billion, aimed at expanding its production capabilities and enhancing its electric vehicle (EV) offerings.

Strategic Benefits

The DRHP highlights the strategic benefits of the IPO, including increased visibility, enhanced brand image, and the provision of liquidity and a public market for the companys equity shares in India. These factors are expected to position Hyundai Motor India favourably against growing competition from both domestic players like Tata Motors and international entrants such as Tesla.

As Hyundai Motor India advances towards this monumental IPO, it is poised to not only set a new benchmark in the Indian stock market but also to reinforce its commitment to growth and innovation in one of the worlds fastest-growing automotive markets.
With their sophisticated profiles, robust performance and hi-tech features, Mahindra born-electric EVs can emerge as global bestsellers

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) has achieved a significant milestone in the Indian market by surpassing Tata Motors to become the countrys second most valuable company. M&Ms market capitalization has climbed to INR 3,65,193 crore, exceeding Tata Motors market cap of INR 3,29,041 crore. This achievement came as M&Ms stock price increased by 3%, hitting a new 52-week high of INR 2,946.

Mahindra new-gen EVs to target UK, Western Europe

In addition to its impressive market cap growth, Mahindra is also making strides in the global market with ambitious plans for the electric vehicle (EV) segment. The company has outlined plans to launch seven new EVs by 2030. These born-electric vehicles will help Mahindra expand its reach into new geographies, building on its existing global footprint.

With its current range of ICE SUVs, Mahindra already has a strong global presence. Markets served include Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, SAARC and Africa and Middle East. This global footprint will be further expanded with the upcoming born-electric SUVs. Mahindras born-electric EV portfolio comprises the XUV.e and BE range. There are plans to launch the electric versions of Thar, Scorpio and Bolero as well. These will go on sale as Thar.e, Scorpio.e and Bolero.e.

Newer markets for Mahindras upcoming EVs include the UK and Western Europe. The company has strategically established its design centre Mahindra Advanced Design Europe (MADE) in Oxfordshire, England. This unit focuses on the design aspects for Mahindras upcoming born-electric EV products. Test mules of XUV.e and BE electric cars have revealed an exciting, futuristic design format that has potential to attract customers across diverse geographies.

Focus on performance, advanced equipment

Mahindra upcoming new-gen EVs will be positioned as high-performance machines, offering an array of premium, hi-tech equipment. These EVs will be utilizing the advanced INGLO platform, optimized for efficiency, speed, safety and adaptability. In addition to a comprehensive range of ADAS features, Mahindra upcoming EVs will have panoramic sunroof, 5G support and 360 surround view. Other highlights include an edge-to-edge panoramic touchscreen display, OTA updates and a wide range of connectivity features.

Talking about performance, the battery packs for XUV.e and BE range EVs are expected to be of 60-80 kWh capacity. Power output will be 170 kW for rear-wheel drive variants and 250 kW for all-wheel drive models. 0 to 100 km/H will take around 5-6 seconds. Charging will be pretty quick, with around 80% achievable in less than 30 minutes when using a 175-kW fast charger.

Mahindra EVs launch timeline

XUV.e8 will be the first new-gen EV product, expected to be launched by the end of this year. XUV.e8 is essentially the electric version of XUV700. XUV.e9 is also under development, which will be the coupe version of XUV.e8. The BE range comprises BE.05, BE.07 and BE.09. The first among the BE range, likely BE.05, is expected to debut in 2025. Beyond that, Mahindra will be introducing the electric versions of Thar, Scorpio and Bolero.

To meet increased demand for its EVs, Mahindra has plans to increase production capacity to 10,000 EVs by end of FY25. By FY26, production capacity will be scaled up by an additional 8,000 units. In comparison to FY20, Mahindra aims to increase overall capacity by 3.5-times by FY26.
Tata Motors has sold 7 lakh Nexon SUVs in 7 Years  They have launched 7 in 7 Celebration Offer for Nexon buyers

Tata Motors, in a bid to celebrate the seventh anniversary of its popular SUV, the Tata Nexon, has announced significant price cuts on various Nexon variants, with discounts reaching up to Rs 1 lakh. This special offer will be available from June 15 to June 30, 2024.

Tata Nexon Celebration Offer

Since its launch, the Tata Nexon has been one of the top-selling SUVs in India, crossing the 7 lakh units milestone. However, in recent months, Nexons sales have witnessed a decline, with the model not featuring in the top 10 cars list over the past two months. Market analysts attribute this dip to the rising popularity of the newly launched Mahindra XUV 3XO, which has significantly impacted Nexons market share.

In response, Tata Motors has rolled out an attractive discount scheme to rejuvenate Nexons sales. The highest discount of Rs 1 lakh is available on the Creative + S variant, making it an extremely attractive option for potential buyers. Both petrol and diesel variants of the Creative + S are included in this offer. Below is the detailed discount structure for various Tata Nexon variants:

Tata Nexon Variant Fuel Discount Smart (O) Petrol 0 Smart Petrol 16,000 Smart + Petrol 20,000 Smart + Diesel 0 Smart + S Petrol 40,000 Smart + S Diesel 0 Pure Petrol 30,000 IPure Diesel 20,000 Pure S Petrol 40,000 Pure S Diesel 30,000 Creative Petrol/Diesel 60,000 Creative + Petrol/Diesel 80,000 Creative + S Petrol/Diesel 1,00,000 Fearless Petrol/Diesel 60,000 Fearless S Petrol/Diesel 60,000 Fearless + Petrol/Diesel 60,000 Fearless + S Petrol/Diesel 60,000

Tata Motors strategic move to provide substantial discounts is expected to revive Nexons sales and regain its standing in the competitive SUV market. The timing of this promotion aligns perfectly with the ongoing automotive market trends, as consumers are likely to capitalize on these deals. Hat tip to Motor Arena India for this exclusive update.

Mr. Vivek Srivatsa, Chief Commercial Officer, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd., said, Since its launch in 2017, the Nexon has set new standards in design, safety, comfort and driving pleasure. Over the past seven years, the unwavering support and love of its expanding customer base have made the Nexon an iconic brand in the industry. With a wide choice of powertrains and personas, we have ensured that there is an ideal Nexon for every evolving need and discerning choice of our customers. To celebrate this landmark achievement of 7 lakh sales in 7 years and to express our sincere gratitude to the growing Nexon family, we are passing on exciting price benefits for both existing and new customers.

Tata Nexon Panoramic Sunroof Incoming

The introduction of panoramic sunroofs in cars has become a major attraction in Indias automotive market. Mahindra recently debuted the new XUV 3XO featuring this expansive sunroof, marking it as the first in the sub 4-meter SUV category to offer such a feature. This innovation has led to a surge in bookings for Mahindra. Following suit, Tata Motors is preparing to launch the Nexon with a panoramic sunroof in the upcoming months, as revealed in leaked images.

Tata Nexon is equipped with engine options including a 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine delivering 120 PS and 170 Nm torque, and a 1.5-litre turbo diesel engine producing 115 PS and 260 Nm torque. Transmission choices range from 5-speed manual, 6-speed manual, 6-speed automated manual transmission (AMT), to 7-speed dual-clutch automatic (DCA) for the petrol variant, while the diesel variant offers 6-speed manual and 6-speed AMT options.

Tata Motors has been consistently innovating and enhancing its vehicle lineup, ensuring high safety standards, advanced features, and competitive pricing. The current discount scheme on the Nexon variants underscores Tata Motors commitment to providing value to its customers and maintaining its legacy in the Indian automotive industry.
The debate over a bill that sought to prohibit so-called conversion therapies in Colombia was definitely shelved on Wednesday, according to pro-children and family legislators and activists. The so-called "Efforts to Change Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression" (ECOSIEG) bill  also dubbed Inconvertibles  was supposed to be debated this week, raising concerns about the possible loss of parents authority over their children.

The permanent delegate ambassador of Colombia to UNESCO, Viviane Morales, warned in the newspaper El Tiempo that the bill threatens parents with imprisonment for the crime of torture (from eleven to twenty-two years in prison) when they want to exercise their care and guidance over their minor children regarding such delicate issues as sexuality and family culture.

Ahead of the scheduled debates, the Evangelical Confederation of Colombia (CEDECOL) called on the churches to participate in a national prayer and fasting plan, with intercession chains and vigils throughout the country.

For each strategy, we are proposing the following prayers: Pray that the LORD heals our land (2nd Chronicles 7:14). Pray for the bill 270-2024 to be shelved in the First Commission of the Senate of the Republic, which will be held on Tuesday, June 11 (Jeremiah 29:12-13). And declare BLESSING on our nation Colombia (Psalm 33:12), CEDECOL wrote in a document that was shared with evangelical churches.

Surprisingly, the debate was postponed on Tuesday due to lack of a quorum because only eight of the 22 senators who should have been present at the debate showed up.

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Educational neuropsychologist Liliana Castaneda, an advocate for children and families who opposed the ECOSIEG bill, speculated that the inexplicable absence of the senators was due to a very important phenomenon [that] has happened here, [which] is that we have made a lot of noise at a social level.

Many people are already aware of the project. Not all the Colombian population, but many people. So, I think that if somehow these senators were to come forward and approve the bill, it would be like a 'sacrifice' that they would make. [Because] we would bring their names to light and this could become their political death, she said.

Castaneda also noted at that time, If this bill is sunk in this legislature, they would have to start the whole process again, and they have already won more than half of the process. Four debates are required for it to be approved in the country and they have already won two debates. So, if it is reintroduced, we start again from scratch. With the big difference that if they reintroduce it, many people will already know about the bill.

She also commented that Colombia is characterized for being pro-family. Colombia is a conservative country. The common people who do not profess an evangelical Christian faith, but a Catholic faith, who are the great majority of Colombians in our nation, are defenders of the family and children," she said, noting that even the indigenous tribes went to collect signatures against the bill because they are in favor of the protection of children and the family.

On Wednesday, the bill was supposed to be debated again. However, other items were being debated first with bill 270-2024 scheduled last and eventually there was not enough time to discuss it. According to the rules, it was the last opportunity to discuss the initiative, which means the bill was shelved.

In a video disseminated on social media, Senator Lorena Rios of the Colombia Justa Libres party announced that the sinking of the bill 270 of the year 2024 called Inconvertibles was achieved because the term expired.

Christian pro-family activist Jonathan Silva also released a video from the Senate of the Republic stating that the bill 270 Inconvertibles - ECOSIEG, which sought to harm children, attack the Catholic and Evangelical Christian Church, has just been sunk. Thanks to all those who united, those who collected signatures, those who prayed, those who believed that it could be done. We will continue to defend the truth as far as we can.

Silva added that if it is presented again as it is, we will oppose it again... This is a miracle, a blessing!

According to sources consulted by Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily Internationals Spanish edition, the proponents of the legislation intend to reintroduce a bill next July.
Annabel Monaghan

(credit: Jo Bryan Photography)

Annabel Monaghan is the author of the novels Nora Goes Off Script and Same Time Next Summer. Her third novel for adults, Summer Romance (Putnam, $19 paperback; reviewed in this issue), follows a single mother who finds herself caught up in a fling as she's struggling to balance parenthood, her impending divorce, and grieving her mother's death.

Tell us about the inspiration behind Summer Romance.

This book began in a messier way than most of my books. I knew I wanted to have a professional organizer whose life was a mess. And I wanted her to have an affair with her divorce attorney. But that didn't really work for the story, so he morphed into this "alternative" skateboarding guy. By the third page, I realized that she was also grieving her mother's death. It turned into a book about grief and quick romances, and the ways we present ourselves to the world.

We tend to think of summer flings as the province of the young. But Ali and Ethan are grown adults with careers, mortgages, and (in Ali's case) children. What makes a summer romance appealing to them?

I've been thinking about the nature of summer romance since I was a young person having a summer romance. There's this appeal to diving into a relationship without having to think about practical things. (Does this guy have health insurance? Does he file his tax returns on time?) You open yourself up to somebody without any strings or worries. As the summer goes, it gets more intense, and then there's the goodbye. It's a perfect relationship with so little expectation, and there's no big breakup, no tears at the end. I wanted to run Ali through that process as an adult, and see how you can suspend disbelief in the way things are going to end, and just enjoy it for a while. But, of course, you can't ultimately do that--because eventually there are real feelings.

I also wanted Ali to have some joy. She's stuck, and feeling low. I've been there: stuck, thinking, I don't know what to do now. Joy can get you unstuck--laughter can get you unstuck. The fun of a new experience can be enough to get the energy flowing, and move things around.

Ethan definitely brings Ali joy, but it's more than that. What does his presence do for her?

First of all: romance is never going to rescue you, ever. But another person can turn a mirror on you, so you see yourself in a different way and decide to make changes. I think that's what happens in all my books. I hate a book where the guy calls and everything is fine, and all your problems are solved. But I do think somebody seeing you for who you are--nurturing you and bringing you joy--can change your perspective. You can think, I feel good, and I want more of this.

Ali can organize anyone else's life, but even opening her own mail proves much more difficult. Why is that?

I think this is really common. When my friends call me with a problem, I give them the best advice. It's so much easier to give someone else advice about their situation or their relationship, because you're not sitting in all those feelings. You're so connected to your own stuff--the stuff in your house, your emotional stuff--that sometimes you can't see your way out of it. I tried to move Ali through that process--getting rid of stuff, like her mother's soup tureen, that holds these expectations of the person she did not become.

Ali holds frequent one-sided conversations with her mother, Nancy, who died two years ago. Tell us about that.

My mom passed away when I was 39. We were very close: I spoke to her on the phone every single day. I ran everything by her. When she passed away, I was so sad. Then, about five years later, without her standing next to me, I started thinking about things differently. I started re-processing our relationship differently, from a distance.

Sometimes your parents have expectations of you. For example: my children are adults, and I have an expectation of how they should be spending their time that has nothing to do with how they're spending their time. I think we do this with our parents, our children, even our friends: we expect them to act a certain way. And there's the act of letting go of people you love, learning to say, Live your life exactly how you want to live it, and I'll love you anyway--rather than saying, Please redo everything to fulfill my dreams for you.

As she grieves her mother's death, Ali also realizes she wants to be a different mother than the mother she had.

At one point, Ali comforts her daughter Greer after a seventh-grade crisis, but chooses not to agree with her that it's the end of the world. This is a shift from how Ali's own mother parented her. Nancy just wanted to protect Ali from the pain. The truth is that as we move through this life, we're going to have lots of pain--disappointments and heartbreak and all that. If we always try to protect each other from the pain, we create a whole generation of people who are terrified of anything ever going wrong. What we need to do is sit with someone in their pain and acknowledge that it is hard, and that you will get to the other side, and you'll be all right.

This book wrestles with learning to let go: of our own expectations, of people we love, of other things. Can you talk about that?

So I just got my first dog five years ago. I didn't have a dog before that because I think it's crazy! You buy the dog, you fall in love with the dog, and you know the dog is going to die. The first week we had the dog, that's all I could think about. But what I learned is: if something's not going to last forever, the joy is still worth it. You might have a dog; you might befriend an elderly person, the way Ali befriends her neighbor Phyllis, and the joy is worth it. I think I've learned that over the last few years, and I definitely re-learned that while writing this book.

For years, Nancy and Ali would perform a wishing ritual at the beginning of summer. What would you wish for in your own "champagne summer" ritual?

I have a lot of transitions coming up this summer. I'm moving out of my house; my son's going to college; I'm launching this book. So my wish for this summer is not to race through it. I want moments of pause and stillness. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams
India is positioning itself as a strong contender to China in the global chipmaking industry by hosting the Semicon exhibition for the first time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched three semiconductor projects valued at Rs 1.25 lakh crore, with the goal of transforming India into a significant semiconductor hub.

The projects are anticipated to create substantial employment opportunities, with TEPL's greenfield project alone generating over 30,000 jobs. India's rise as a major player in the global semiconductor supply chain signifies a strategic shift in global supply chains and highlights India's potential as a global technology powerhouse.

Union Railways and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that India has commissioned four semiconductor manufacturing units and, in the next five years, the country will become one of the biggest semiconductor hubs in the world. This ambitious vision is supported by projections from Hong Kong-based Counterpoint Technology Market Research, which estimates that India's semiconductor-related market will reach $64 billion in 2026, nearly triple the size in 2019.

The Indian government's commitment to the semiconductor industry is further demonstrated by the presence of key figures at the foundation stone-laying ceremony. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of State (MoS) Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(MeitY); Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister (CM) of Assam; Bhupendra Patel, CM of Gujarat; Vellayan Subbiah, Chairman of CG Power & Industrial Solutions Ltd.; and Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons were present on the occasion.

The semiconductor projects are projected to create significant employment opportunities, with TEPL's greenfield project alone expected to generate over 30,000 jobs. This supports Prime Minister Modi's assertion that India delivers on its commitments, reflecting his government's dedication to establishing the country as a semiconductor manufacturing hub.

The growth of India's semiconductor industry extends beyond large corporations. Two Karnataka-based companies, Saankhya Labs (a subsidiary of Tejas Network) and Sensesemi Technologies, have received approval under the Design-Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme. These firms are developing advanced technologies such as Systems on Chip (SoC) for Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) and IoT devices, further strengthening India's position in the global semiconductor market.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  From a new literacy curriculum to specialty rooms for reimagining learning, Staten Island public schools will see plenty of changes when they reopen in September for the 2024-2025 academic year, Dr. Marion Wilson, schools superintendent for Staten Island, recently told the Advance/SILive.com.

On the forefront to kicking off the school year is a major citywide literacy initiative. At a time when half of New York City students arent reading proficiently, the initiative aims to ensure students become confident readers and can learn basic algebra.

The chancellor and the mayor say it all the time, if we dont have more kids reading on grade level, we want to make sure were producing those citizens when they leave our system that they can have the basic foundational skills that they need, said Wilson, who is entering her fourth year as the superintendent for District 31, which encompasses all traditional public schools on Staten Island.

Here are some of they key things Staten Island school communities can expect for the 2024-2025 academic year, according to Wilson.

In this file photo, Borough President Vito Fossella and Wilson feed off the energy of the students at the kick-off event for the 2024 Readers are Leaders competition at PS 65 in Stapleton. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)Staten Island Advance

New literacy curriculum

The New York City (NYC) Reads program  which began in several other school districts in the city last September  declares literacy and reading instruction as the core focus and overriding priority of public schools in the city Department of Education (DOE).

Phase 2 of the initiative includes an expansion to all Staten Island elementary schools for the 2024-2025 school year, which will adopt the Into Reading curriculum, according to Wilson. A product of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH), it offers the same Into Reading program in Spanish, which will be used for schools with dual-language programs.

In this file photo, Wilson, third from right, is pictured with New York City Schools Chancellor David C. Banks and other education officials. (Courtesy/Dr. Marion Wilson)Dr. Marion Wilson

The curriculum touts itself as being based on research in the essential elements of literacy and gives teachers access to texts for whole-class shared reading. It utilizes the five pillars of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. It supports the science of reading, which ensures students are able to both decode text and comprehend text in order to read.

While its not mandated for middle and high schools, Wilson explained that many schools with students in grades 6-8 and 9-12 have opted into the literacy program. It will provide continuity for all students in K-12.

Wilson said she also looks forward to more literacy shifts, like small-group instruction and data-informed instruction based on assessments.

Not saying all of this wasnt happening before, but I think within New York City Reads, its really helping to streamline and build that coherence across the Island, said Wilson. I think many schools are using different things, and it isnt a one-size-fits-all approach. But we need that coherence of whether they transfer from one side of the Island or from one school to another school  kids need to have that routine.

Reimagined learning

Wilson explained that many schools on Staten Island are looking to reimagine the learning experience for students.

Many campuses across the borough are opening new STREAM (science, technology, robotics and reading, engineering, arts, and math) rooms, as well as incorporating STREAM into lesson plans.

Discussing career pathways for young people is also starting early on in elementary grades, according to Wilson.

How is what youre teaching them going to be connected to what they want to do later on? asked Wilson. And its okay if they change, but I want  even in kindergarten  just drawing a picture of what I grew up I want to be and then really showing them that if youre learning, problem solving or speaking and listening skills, this is going to help you in the long run.

Wilson said her goal for students graduating high school on Staten Island is leave with one of the three Es  employed, enrolled, or enlisted. It means the district office is looking at graduation rates, college and career readiness, and different career pathways for students.

Going into my fourth opening of a district, thats something that you should look forward to for District 31, said Wilson.

Mental health

New York City schools are working to increase mental health supports and social emotional learning, which had a bump in priority during the pandemic. Schools are using transformation tables to teach life skills, and using the RULER method to recognize, understand, label, express, and regulate emotions. Its supported throughout the school day to understand students feelings and how it may impact school work or other actions.

What I find is interesting is kids tell you about it, said Wilson. So instead of getting frustrated, because I dont know how to do something, Im now giving my teacher feedback so she can help me.

Last month, Borough President Vito Fossella, government health officials, school leaders and local partners in health care unveiled the plan, titled the Behavioral Health Blueprint for Staten Island Children and Young Adults that aims to support children and young adults from pre-K through 24 years old. Staten Island youth are experiencing an alarming increase in mental health conditions, particularly depression and suicidal ideations, according to data.

We really have to address the mental health of our young people because what theyve been through, especially like my graduating seniors from high school now they missed out on a complete eighth-grade graduation, she said. The effects are still being felt. So that trauma-informed pedagogy approach is something that Im very proud.

Pictured here is a new meditation area at PS 20, Port Richmond. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)Staten Island Advance

Its why schools are also opening meditation rooms to provide a safe space for children, including those in crisis or who need a quiet place. Wilson said there are less disruptions in classrooms because of meditation rooms, according to data the district has been tracking.

As a district, were really paying attention to social emotional, academic learning. That is not something we do for those who just display those behaviors, but we do for everyone, said Wilson.

Last month, Borough President Vito Fossella, government health officials, school leaders and local partners in health care unveiled the Behavioral Health Blueprint for Staten Island Children and Young Adults that aims to support children and young adults from pre-K through 24 years old. (Staten Island Advance/Annalise Knudson)Annalise Knudson

Bullying and social media

District 31 will continue to partner with local elected officials to push responsible digital citizenship and understanding the implications of using social media in a negative way.

The big example I always give when Im talking to young people  when you put something on social media, its like water. Once it comes out the faucet, you cant put it back in. Its there forever, said Wilson. And we have to teach kids empathy, but also compassion. We have to teach them that you can do these things. Everyone wants to be an influencer. And they want to be just not an upstander but a bystander, and theyll see someone going and I think were trying to really combat it head on.

The superintendent said she works with student leaders on the Student Advisory Council to talk about issues like bullying and social media. Those leaders then return to their schools to effectuate change among their classmates.

Our school leaders are really taking it seriously and Im making them take it seriously. Were not letting anything slide. Were following the protocol. Were reporting it. Were investigating. Were addressing it and were not dismissing it, said Wilson.
SUBSCRIBER BENEFIT: This graduation season, SILive.com is offering a perk exclusively for subscribers: Log in, click on the photo gallery to see if we photographed your favorite graduate and choose GET PHOTO to download free print-quality images. Plus, get 50% off the purchase of graduation-related keepsakes. If youre not already a subscriber, sign up here. Note to mobile app users: To download high-resolution photos, please access this story from a standard mobile or desktop/laptop web browser.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The Richard H. Hungerford School hosted its heartwarming graduation ceremony at its main site in Sunnyside on Friday, June 14, recognizing the 32 eighth-grade graduates.

The color guard team  Noah Talovera, Samsideen Babatunde, Nicholas Rivera, and Joseph Cartagena  followed the Class of 2024 as they processed down the aisle. Joseph Cartagena began the ceremony by singing the national anthem.

Assistant Principal Jacqueline Musumeci welcomed proud families, staff, paraprofessionals, related service providers, and middle school graduates, What a special moment this is to reflect and celebrate, she began.

Hungerford School 2024 Valedictorian, Eva Katayev (left), and 2024 Salutatorian, Ibrahim Elsayed (right). - (Courtesy/Hungerford School) Hungerford School 2024 Valedictorian, Eva Katayev (left), and 2024 Salutatorian, Ibrahim Elsayed (right). (Courtesy/Hungerford School)Hungerford School 2024 Valedicto

Today marks the culmination of your journey through middle school and the exciting beginning of your high school adventure, said Assistant Principal Musumeci. It has been amazing to witness your growth during these formative years.

You embraced the transition to our Hungerford family, tackled challenging subjects, developed new skills, and formed lasting friendships with peers and staff. We are incredibly proud of how youve faced challenges, presented yourselves throughout the year, and continued to build lasting memories. Above all, we admire your ability to keep moving forward despite adversity, added Musumeci.

Principal Kristin McHugh delivered warm remarks, celebrating the sunny graduation morning and honoring the eighth-grade students as they move on to high school. She encouraged applause for the graduating students and expressed her thanks to the school community for their support.

Our 8th-grade graduation is quite different from our high school graduation. Moving from 8th grade means embracing new classes, new experiences, new learning, and new goals. You are now moving to be more independent, have better communication skills, and learn about the community you will soon be an even bigger part of, said Principal McHugh.

I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to your teachers here at the main site and at I.S. 24, your paraprofessionals, the school aides whom parents interact with daily, and our secretaries whom you rely on each day, added Principal McHugh, and to the parents  thank you for trusting us to care for your children every single day.

The first guest speaker and one of Hungerfords high school students, Mary Ansbro, highlighted the ceremony, noting her personal growth and participation in the schools production of Moana Jr.

I am so happy you are going to high school. I have grown up a lot and Im always learning and growing. I wish you all good luck and if you ever need help, you can ask me: youve got a friend in me, said Ansbro.

Kelly Henry, community liaison for State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, spoke on behalf of the senator. Although Senator Scarcella-Spanton couldnt be here, she extends her warmest congratulations to all the young achievers ready to embark on this next chapter.

Congratulations to the incredible graduates on reaching this important milestone. You have all shown tremendous growth over the past few years; Dream big, set goals, and work hard to achieve them, said Henry.

As you step up to the next level, know that Senator Scarcella-Spanton and our entire office will be cheering you on every step of the way.

The Hungerford dance team performed before speeches from the valedictorian Eva Katayev, and salutatorian Ibrahim Elsayed.

It is an honor to be here as salutatorian of the Class of 2024 today, said Elsayed.

Elsayed expressed gratitude, We have very special people in our lives who have supported us to get to where we are today, starting with our parents, families, loved ones, teachers, administration, and friends, he said.

These are the people who have helped me adapt to this community. Congratulations, Class of 2024.

Eva Katayev, the valedictorian from I.S. 24, thanked those who supported her, I have a lot of people to thank for making this moment possible, she said.

First, I want to say thank you to my mom and dad for always believing in me and pushing me to work hard. On behalf of our graduating class, I want to thank Principal McHugh for making our school beautiful and enjoyable. I also want to express appreciation to our teachers, paras, and therapists for helping us learn and grow stronger.

THE CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION ARE:

Ezette Allenyoumans, Ibrahim Alsayid, Amalia Bermudez, Kaitlyn Bradshaw, David Cacace, Michael Carrion, Nichola Chirieleison, Sebastian Cruz, Alexander Jr. Demita, Tyler Dene, Jayden Estrada Castill, Katia Gonzalez, Jahmuri Wright Hill, Nehemiah Isma, Eric Jeffrey, Chloe Joseph, Shawn Kafader, Eva Katayev, Nathan Kowlessar, Alejandro Lewis Castillo, Dana Flores Martinez, Jessica Mason, Jacob Niedle, Enzo Pereira, Gianna Perry, Sofia Rivas Amayas, Isabella Rosenbloom, Agustin Serrano, Sheung Yu Serra Tsang, Aiden Weingarten, Jonathan Weingarten, and Adam Zarieh.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The prices of New York Lottery scratch-off tickets vary, but these 10 games in New York that only cost $1 each can have big payouts.

Given the low price tag, those games come with the lowest payouts, but that doesnt mean players cant still see a big payday.

State data shows that as of Friday, April 26, there were millions of winning tickets left in circulation for those games that cost $1 to play. Heres a look at how many of those tickets are out there for each game, and the top prize for each one.

5 TIMES LUCKY

Number of winning tickets still in circulation  2,613,827

Top prize in circulation  18 tickets worth $5,000

Low prize  1,248,842 tickets worth $1

7-11-21 TRIPLER

Number of winning tickets still in circulation  346,772

Top prize in circulation  one tickets worth $2,100

Low prize  188,822 tickets worth $1

CASH X5

Number of winning tickets still in circulation 620,155

Top prize in circulation  one tickets worth $5,000

Low prize  259,956 worth $1

FAST $50

Number of winning tickets still in circulation  340,427

Top prize in circulation  two tickets worth $500

Low prize  174,254 tickets worth $1

FIND $50

Number of winning tickets still in circulation  398,304

Top prize in circulation  4,637 tickets worth $50

Low prize  222,513 tickets worth $1

HOLIDAY 7S/LUCKY 7s

Number of winning tickets still in circulation  613,755

Top prize in circulation  three tickets worth $7,000

Low prize  339,355 worth $1

INSTANT TAKE 5

Number of winning tickets still in circulation  10,408,426

Top prize in circulation  78 tickets worth $5,555

Low prize  6,800,874 worth a free INSTANT TAKE 5 ticket

LOOSE CHANGE

Number of winning tickets still in circulation  4,735,183

Top prize in circulation  325 worth $500

Low prize  2,855,542 2 worth $1

LUCKY 7S

Number of winning tickets still in circulation  5,214,047

Top prize in circulation  19 tickets worth $7,000

Low prize  2,458,104 worth $1

LUCKY 7S

Number of winning tickets still in circulation  908,605

Top prize in circulation  six tickets worth $2,700

Low prize  587,340 tickets worth $1

MATCH 2 WIN

Number of winning tickets still in circulation  310,668

Top prize in circulation  one ticket worth $5,000

Low prize  123,718 tickets worth $1

XTREME MATCH

Number of winning tickets still in circulation  1,104,904

Top prize in circulation  six tickets worth $5,000

Low prize  439,804 tickets worth $1

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about the New York Lotterys scratch-off games, visit nylottery.ny.gov/scratch-off-games.

The New York Lottery continues to be touted as North Americas largest and most profitable lottery, contributing $3.6 billion during fiscal year 2021-2022 to support education in New York state.

New York Lottery revenue is distributed to local school districts by the same statutory formula used to distribute other state aid to education. It takes into account both a school districts size and its income level; larger, lower-income school districts receive proportionately larger shares of lottery school funding.

New Yorkers struggling with a gambling addiction, or who know someone who is, can find help by calling the states toll-free, confidential HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (467369). You can also contact your regional Problem Gambling Resource Center directly for a referral to treatment services (state-certified or private) in your area, or contact a Recovery Center for a referral to treatment services (state-certified or private) in your area.

If you or a loved one has questions or needs to talk to a professional about gambling, you can also call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit 1800gambler.net for more information.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Hundreds of people lined Bay Street and gathered in Stapletons Tappen Park on Saturday to commemorate Juneteenth  the national holiday which honors the day when enslaved African Americans in Texas were informed that they were free.

Its important to tell this story of how our ancestors were liberated, said Dorcas Meyers, founder of Roc-A-Natural Cultural Foundation, who organized the event and dressed in 19th century attire for the Freedom Players historical reenactment of the enforcement of General Orders No. 3  an American legal decree issued in 1865, freeing all remaining slaves.

Gregory Taylor poses with Dorcas Myers, founder of Roc-A-Natural Cultural Foundation and organizer of the third annual Staten Island Juneteenth Freedom Parade. (Owen Reiter for the Staten Island Advance)Owen Reiter

This is a celebration and a commemoration of our freedom, Meyers continued. This event and this day are about peace, love and understanding.

The holiday, which will be officially celebrated on Wednesday with school and bank closures, honors the date of June 19, 1865, which marked the effective end of slavery in the United States  even though the Emancipation Proclamation was issued more than two years prior in 1863. Originating in Galveston, Texas, Juneteenth has been celebrated annually on June 19 by African Americans since the late 1800s. It was declared a national holiday in 2021.

159 1 / 159 3rd Annual Staten Island Juneteenth Freedom Parade

Having Juneteenth named a national holiday was such a very important milestone, said Travis Carter, the Staten Island representative for New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. And events like this, which celebrate inclusivity and cultural diversity, are equally important.

I am so proud of the way Staten Island came out and represented, Meyers added. Stapleton is the heart of this community and so many people are here for this very important celebration.

Children gather for Juneteenth festivities at Tappen Park in Stapleton. (Owen Reiter for the Staten Island Advance)Owen Reiter

The Freedom Parade & Festival, now in its third year, was hosted by the Roc-A-Natural Cultural Foundation in collaboration with the Friends Who Think Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Organization and Shaolin Ryders. The 1.6-mile march traversed along the Bay Street Corridor from Von Briesen Park in Fort Wadsworth to Tappen Park, flooding the streets with music and colorful balloons and flags.

There were several parade themes, each represented by a specific float:

The Harriet Tubman Parade Float featured Assata Alston dressed as the American abolitionist and social activist and included the free enslaved and African Drums with Gregory Taylor and Femi NYC.

The Madam C.J. Walker Parade Float  an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and political and social activist  focused on entrepreneurship and highlighted the work of Black-owned clothing brands.

The Civil Rights Freedom Fighters Float, featuring the ATU 726 Black Caucus, boasted signage honoring freedom fighters throughout African American history.

The Afrofuturism Float projected music by DJ Girl On the Rocks and carried participants wearing bold, colorful, and creative futuristic attire dedicated to the evolution of Black thought and culture.

Marchers are reflected in the helmet of a member of the Port Richmond High School JROTC. (Owen Reiter for the Staten Island AdvanceOwen Reiter

Nearly 100 community members marched together during the Freedom Parade, which was led by the Port Richmond High School marching band and JROTC Color Guard. At the end of the route there were live performances by local artists, an array of vendor tables and a health pavilion sponsored by the Friends Who Think Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Organization.

The event concluded with a historical reenactment and traditional African dance performance by students from PS 59 in New Brighton.

Additional Juneteenth events will be hosted in the borough this week. On Sunday, June 16, residents can visit Historic Richmond Town to honor the holiday and participate in special programs, including demonstrations of hearth cooking, discussions of social history, and historical reenactment. And on Wednesday, at 11 a.m. in Fairview Park in Charleston, the Urban Park Rangers will highlight historic African Americans who have contributed to fields of environmental science and conservation.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A memorial service in honor of the life and legacy of veterans advocate Lee Covino was held at the Father Capodanno Memorial Chapel in Fort Wadsworth on Saturday.

The service, hosted by Borough President Vito Fossella and Covinos daughter, Mariel, was a celebration of his legacy of public service and support for veterans on Staten Island and nationally.

Pews of the Father Capodanno Memorial Chapel were filled with family, friends, veterans, members of Rolling Thunder, and several politicians to pay their respects to Covino, who passed away at the age of 72 in May.

A memorial service in honor of the life and legacy of Lee Covino was held at the Father Capodanno Memorial Chapel in Fort Wadsworth on Saturday. (Dennis Rees for the Staten Island Advance).Dennis Rees

Covino was a U.S. Army veteran who, after retirement, served as veterans affairs advisor to borough presidents Guy Molinari, James Molinaro and James Oddo. It was in this role, Fossellas office noted in a press release, that Covino advised local elected officials on how to best support veterans, and directly advocated for the needs of the Staten Island veteran community.

Covino served in the Army from 1970-71 during the Vietnam War. He became an advocate for veterans affairs as a peer counselor while attending the College of Staten Island on the GI Bill from 1973-1977.

From 1980-1984, he worked as an intervention counselor for the VAs Vietnam Veterans Outreach Center in Brooklyn and Staten Island, assisting close to 1,000 Vietnam era and combat vets.

A memorial service in honor of the life and legacy of Lee Covino was held at the Father Capodanno Memorial Chapel in Fort Wadsworth on Saturday. (Dennis Rees for the Staten Island Advance).Dennis Rees

In July 1990, he was appointed to the cabinet of Borough President Guy V. Molinari, where he served as the veterans affairs advisor and director of contracts & procurement. He continued his tenure in the administrations of Molinaro and Oddo, until his retirement in March 2014.

In May 2002, Lee was appointed to the citys Veterans Advisory Board by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. He was re-appointed to the board by the mayor in 2007 and 2012, ending his term as vice chairman of the board in April 2015.

Over the years, Covino had played a major role in bringing the Vet Center and the VA Clinic to Staten Island, as well as in obtaining a Staten Island bus link to the VA Hospital in Brooklyn.

A memorial service in honor of the life and legacy of Lee Covino was held at the Father Capodanno Memorial Chapel in Fort Wadsworth on Saturday. (Dennis Rees for the Staten Island Advance).Dennis Rees

He was a steadfast presence at public events supporting veterans causes. He always heeded a call to action on behalf of vets and led the charge many times over the years to oppose any budget cuts to programs designed to help vets.

Covino was a member of the VFW, American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America, the Catholic War Veterans, AMVETS, the NYC Veterans Alliance and the 369th Veterans Association. Covino also served as treasurer of the United Staten Island Veterans Organization, Inc. (USIVO), an umbrella group of Staten Island veteran organizations which sponsor the annual Memorial Day Parade.

A memorial service in honor of the life and legacy of Lee Covino was held at the Father Capodanno Memorial Chapel in Fort Wadsworth on Saturday. (Dennis Rees for the Staten Island Advance).Dennis Rees

He was to be inducted into the New York State Senates Veterans Hall of Fame later this year.

I am immensely proud to honor Mr. Covino posthumously as this years honoree for the New York State Senates Veteran Hall of Fame, state Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton said. Even in his final days, he remained dedicated and proud of his work with the veteran community. He was supposed to be released the day after he passed away, and despite his condition, he was so proud and determined to attend this years event.

He was installed into the CSI Alumni Hall of Fame in March 1989. In 2004, the College of Staten Island archives catalogued a collection of veterans issues which Lee was involved in from 1973  1994.

Covino is survived by his daughter, Mariel, and three grandchildren, Melina, Michael, and Samantha. His wife of 43 years, Catherine (nee Valuri), died in 2017.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New York state may make changes to graduation requirements for high school students to receive their diploma  which would also do away with the mandate that students take Regents exams.

On Monday, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) presented its vision to implement recommendations of the New York State Blue Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures, which are designed to bring greater equity within the states education system. Four years after the commission was formed, it presented several recommendations in November 2023 to ensure educational excellence and equity for all students.

A major change involves the Regents exams.

To receive a high school diploma in New York state currently, most students are required to take at least five Regents exams, which measure student achievement. Those required exams include English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies and an additional Regents exam.

Now, the state is proposing a de-coupling of specific assessment requirements for graduation. It means students wouldnt need to pass Regents exams or a +1 Pathway Assessment in order to graduate from high school.

However, the exams would still be available as one of the measures students can demonstrate proficiency to receive a high school diploma.

During Mondays Board of Regents meeting, NYSED staff proposed four transformative actions based on those recommendations.

Here is a closer look at those four proposals.

Adopt New York State Portrait of a Graduate

This is intended to create a shared understanding of the skills and knowledge that New York state public school graduates have mastered.

To earn a high school diploma, a student will have to demonstrate proficiency in each component of the portrait, meaning that they must be critical thinkers, innovative problem solvers, literate across all content areas, culturally competent, socially-emotionally competent, effective communicators and global citizens, according to the state.

Re-define credits

NYSED proposes to re-define credits to focus on proficiency rather than upon the completion of time-based units of study, which is the current practice for most students.

The goal is to expand ways in which students can demonstrate mastery of learning standards and attainment of various components of the Portrait of a Graduate.

Students would be permitted to demonstrate proficiency in a number of different ways, including: approved work- or service-based learning experiences; dual credit programs such as early college high school; earning a New York state seal or credential; traditional high school courses; approved Career and Technical Education programs; participation in the arts; and passing approved assessments, including Regents exams.

It would support the needs of all students, including students with disabilities and English language learners, due to the flexibility of demonstrating proficiency.

Sunset diploma assessment requirements

NYSED is recommending de-coupling specific assessment requirements from graduation requirements. This means students will not longer need to pass the Regents exams or a +1 Pathway Assessment in order to graduate from high school.

Regents exams will still be available as one of the measures students can demonstrate proficiency. Students will continue to be assessed through multiple measures at the local level to demonstrate their learning, and will still take specific state-level assessments required by federal law to track progress across New York.

Move to one diploma

The department recommends moving to a system with only one diploma available to all New York state public school graduates.

Districts would be required to confer diplomas to all students who satisfy the states requirements.

This approach would eliminate the local diploma, the advanced designation diploma would become a seal or endorsement, and districts would be authorized to add additional seals and endorsements.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Although Fathers Day weekend looks to present idyllic conditions, the week to come will bring about the first heat wave of 2024.

The anticipated weather event has been the major meteorological story of the week as it presents potentially dangerous conditions. Yet one would not expect a surge in temperatures considering the weekends weather.

National Weather Service (NWS) Meteorologist Brian Ciemnecki notes that temperatures are only expected to reach the lower 80s on Saturday before dipping into the upper 70s on Sunday.

Pleasant conditions are expected today and tomorrow as high pressure builds in from the west. Temperatures both today and tomorrow will be in the 70s and lower 80s.

Visit https://t.co/wTqdsonfJ9 for more details. pic.twitter.com/ZTykxAz1y6  NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) June 15, 2024

Again, with those low humidity values, its going to feel like the actual temperature outside, Ciemnecki said.

From there, things start to heat up, and despite Mondays low humidity, temperatures are still slated to reach the upper 80s. But the heat wave truly begins on Tuesday, when New York City is expected to breach the 90-degree mark.

On Tuesday, Ciemnecki reports that temperatures will rest in the lower 90s, but it could feel as though figures are in the upper 90s.

What happens is we have an area of high pressure thats over the area (the Great Lakes area) for the weekend, and then it moves offshore off to the east, and as it does, the winds will shift around and bring in more of a warm, moist air mass from the south, Ciemnecki added.

Conditions will foster a string of hot days making for a heat wave anticipated to feature temperatures at least in the lower to mid 90s from Tuesday through Saturday, according to Ciemnecki.

As of now, the warmest days of the heat wave look to be Thursday and Friday. The NWS reports that temperatures on both days look to reach the upper 90s on Staten Island.

A National Weather Service graphic shows forecast highs in New York City for Friday, June 21, 2024. (Courtesy of the National Weather Service)(Courtesy of the National Weathe

The heat on the horizon has spurred the NWS to issue a hazardous weather outlook for many parts of the state in an effort to alert residents.

Ciemnecki was unable to provide a date for a definitive conclusion to this heat wave. Those air conditioners might be working overtime for quite awhile.

The last time New York City experienced a stretch of consecutive 90-degree days was Sept. 5 through Sept. 8, 2023, as reported by AccuWeather. On Staten Island temperatures reached a high of 96 on Sept. 5, as recorded by the Advance/SILive.com weather station.

Typically, the mean high temperature for June is around 80 degrees, as detailed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations (NOAA) Online Weather Data for Central Park, gathered between 1991 and 2020.

A WARNING FROM GOV. KATHY HOCHUL

The awaited extreme heat event has prompted Gov. Kathy Hochul to urge New Yorkers to look out for their neighbors and take precautions.

Now, we must be cognizant of the fact that heat is the number one cause of death for weather-related fatalities here in the United States, Hochul warned

Check on your neighbors during this extreme heat event and also have water with you at all times in case you start becoming dehydrated, Hochul added.

In her remarks, Hochul noted that in Syracuse, it has not been predicted to be this hot for this long since the 1950s.

The governor assured residents that the state will continue to provide updates on this extreme event.

So, this is going to feel like temperatures exceeding 100 degrees, Hochul said. Think about that. Summer is just beginning. Upstate New York and other parts of our state are not accustomed to having this level of extreme heat. And extreme heat is where theres two to three days in a row of intense heat and humidity with temperatures of 90 degrees or above. This can take people off guard.
Opponents of the newly declared Illawarra offshore wind zone have vowed to maintain their opposition despite Energy Minister Chris Bowens announcement on Saturday morning that the enormous scheme would go ahead, smaller and further from shore than earlier proposed.

Alex OBrien of the community action group Responsible Future said the organisation was not reassured by Bowens decision that the zone would be shrunk by a third to 1022 square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean, from Wombarra in the north to Kiama in the south, and pushed to 20 kilometres offshore rather than 10.

Offshore wind has a big head start in northern Europe but is in its infancy in Australia. Credit:

Making the announcement at BlueScope Steel, Bowen said he had listened to concerns about the potential visual impact of turbines that could tower 260 metres above the water. At 20 kilometres offshore, you wont see those turbines on most days, he said.

In its new form, the zone could produce just under 3 gigawatts of power, or enough energy to provide power to 1.8 million homes once developed, Bowen said.
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FoodRestaurant news The fakes are getting better: Restaurants hit with counterfeit money crime With their credit cards maxed out, more diners are using cash, but alarmingly some of it is high-quality fake in another blow to the struggling hospitality industry. Dani Valent June 14, 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

Melbourne hospitality businesses are already doing it tough, with diners spending less and costs soaring. Now restaurateurs also have to worry about counterfeit currency. Twice in the past month, Omar El Deek from South Yarras Cosi has discovered that customers paid for their meals with fake $50 and $100 notes. Its never happened before. Both times, my wife counted the money in the office the next morning, and it was clearly fake. You can tell when you look at it properly. The touch is different, the plastic window on the $50 note doesnt have the coat of arms. A counterfeit $100 note presented to TWS Gai Wong chicken restaurant. Luis Ascui El Deek thinks customers at his Italian restaurant were unaware they were carrying counterfeits. I dont believe they were trying to scam us, he says. The notes were in circulation. After the second occasion, he bought a detector machine for $300 and is now running every note through it. We take the money off the table, run it through the machine and if it bounces back, we will let the customer know, he says. With the cost-of-living crisis, criminality goes up, we need to be aware of everything in this world and take defensive techniques. El Deek is resigned to adding counterfeit sleuth to his list of capabilities. You need to be an expert in everything now, he says. Not just food, wine, you need to be the accounting manager, marketing manager, everything. Its only the brave who survive in restaurants these days.

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Philip Leong, from TWS Gai Wong chicken restaurant, holds a counterfeit $100 note at his restaurant in North Melbourne. Luis Ascui Cosi is not the only restaurant to find fake money in their till. TWS Gai Wong in North Melbourne had a customer pay for a $3 soft drink with a fake $100 note. They came in during a very busy time, says owner Philip Leong, whose restaurant serves Malaysian chicken rice. They looked at the menu, then came to the counter and said, Ill just grab a drink and paid with the hundred bucks. It was a quick manoeuvre, and they were very chatty with my staff who, without thinking, gave the change. As Leong counted the takings at the end of the night, he suspected something wasnt right. The texture felt a bit off, he says. There you go: we are $97 down. To me, that is quite a lot of money because my food is only $17. Its like a family and a half who havent paid. With business already down by about 20 per cent, its a big hit. In St Kilda, Nikki Laski at 90-year-old Monarch Cake Shop has seen it all. I have a collection of counterfeits, she says. Whats changed is that the fakes are getting better. Some of them look like something a child made at home off the printer but the ones Ive taken over the counter recently are better quality and harder to spot, she says. There are ways, though. I turn from the customer and walk towards the till and hold the note in my hand and do a little rip in the paper, she says. If it rips, its a fake. Nikki Laski owner of Monarch Cakes says counterfeit money is getting better. Simon Schluter

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Unlike Omar El Deek, she believes anyone passing over fake currency is well aware of it. Someone comes in with a $50 note and buys something small for $2 or $3. Instantly, shes on alert and does the tear test. If it rips, I say to them, Oh my god, someone has given you a fake. I never accuse them, and they take it back. Laski is seeing more customers paying with cash in the past few months. People are over-extended, they cant put it all on the credit card any more, she says. They are drawing on their cash reserves, coming in with boxes from the roof, under the bed. Her staff are all trained to spot fakes. Things are tough enough these days, she says. When youre stretched as we are, getting a fake note is like taking $50 and throwing it into the rubbish bin. Its money that you dont want to lose. The Reserve Bank of Australia publishes counterfeiting statistics every six months. The number of fake notes detected has sat between 2855 and 3831 each quarter since March 2022. The quality varies greatly, with some fakes created as hell money. These are offerings to ancestors, designed to be burnt in some Chinese cultures, and have none of the security features of real currency. Other banknotes are made to be spent, which is a crime with a maximum penalty of 14 years jail. I handed my notes into the police, and they said theyre the best ones theyve ever seen, said El Deek. They are clearly in circulation. What to do if you suspect money is fake Handle as little as possible and store safely in an envelope.

Note details on how it came into your possession.

Report it to police (keeping counterfeit currency is an offence).

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How to tell if money is fake Refer to the Reserve Bank of Australias Counterfeit Detection Guide, which outlines security features for each currency denomination and series. Australian notes are printed on polymer, which returns to shape after being scrunched and cannot be easily torn. Newer notes include clear windows, raised print and shadow images and parts of the banknote fluoresce under ultraviolet light.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size This story is part of the June 16 edition of Sunday Life. See all 14 stories . Meeting her future husband on an Australian TV dating show was not something Snezana Wood (nee Markoski) had seriously considered. As a single mother from Perth, and the oldest female contestant at 34 when she took part in the third season of The Bachelor in 2015, she felt the odds were not in her favour. From concealing filming schedules from her boss and taking extended leave from her full-time job in retail to not being able to see her nine-year-old daughter Eve while making the show, Wood wondered what she had set herself up for. But it was a risk worth taking: she walked away from the show hand in hand with bachelor Sam Wood, a love story that is still going strong. Wood is the first to admit she had no idea how appearing on the show would take her from anonymity in the Perth suburbs to an access-all-areas reality-TV life  The Bachelor brought instant fame and, eventually, 330,000 Instagram followers. Now, almost a decade since she found her happily-ever-after, Wood reveals all in her memoir, Untold: A Story of Love, Motherhood, Heartbreak and Change. In the book, the 42-year-old opens up about her Macedonian upbringing, the impulsive decisions that shaped her formative years, raising Eve while living with her parents in their family home, and finding love on national television. A lot of people only knew me as the girl on The Bachelor, or as Sams wife, and I felt ready to address that by writing a book, says Wood, whos had to reorganise this interview several times due to the demands of raising her daughters Eve, 19, Willow, 6, Charlie, 4, and Harper, 2. People assume Im sitting at home doing a few social media posts here and there and twiddling my thumbs. Its hardly that. Life raising a family is busy. SNEZANA WOOD People assume Im sitting at home doing a few social media posts here and there and twiddling my thumbs. Its hardly that. Life raising a family is busy. But I will say that I did feel a bit empty after the show ended and I wondered what would happen in my life next.

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When Wood began writing Untold, it became a purging of sorts, a chance to go back into her emotional archives and make peace with her past. But that also required sharing it and being okay with putting private conversations on bookshelves for all to read. Viktoria & Woods shirt, top and trousers. Dissh belt. Chanel earrings from Hawkeye Vintage. Credit: GK Photography It was also an opportunity to better understand herself. Having become pregnant with Eve at 24 and married her babys father five months into her pregnancy, she still wasnt sure why shed married. Or why she stayed in an on-and-off relationship with Eves father for six years. She also wondered whether her parents migrant mentality had affected her career choices. I think many people can relate to me and have gone through some of the same things I have, says Wood of her heart-on-sleeve approach. Wood was born in Australia into a strict North Macedonian family  she is the eldest of three alongside her sister Lidija, whom she describes as her best friend, and brother Robert  but the family moved back Macedonia when she was four years old to reconnect with and hold on to cultural traditions. It was a period of huge adjustment for Wood, who felt torn between two cultural identities. Then, when her parents decided to return to Australia a year later, she again found herself sitting on the outside looking in. An ongoing part of that was being bullied. Reflecting on my years at high school was tough, says Wood, who wrote Untold during breaks in which Sam took the girls to their second home in Mount Martha, Victoria. Recounting those details for the book took me right back. It did feel like a therapy session. Life didnt happen effortlessly for me and I really want to set that perception straight. I kept moving forward despite some choices I made, no matter how much chaos I experienced or how many things were going wrong in my life. I always chose to chase the life I really wanted and thats how I got to where I am today.

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Behind a white picket fence in the family home in Elsternwick, Melbourne, is where the majority of Woods work/family juggle happens. Though Eve is about to relocate to New York to study fashion and marketing, with her three younger daughters requiring daycare and school drop-offs and pick-ups, she and Sam are in peak parenting mode. Loading Becoming a mother for a second, third and fourth time wasnt necessarily on the cards for Wood, but meeting Sam changed everything. When I went on the show, the thought that he might like to start a family didnt really cross my mind, she says. The couple welcomed their first child, Willow, in 2017 and tied the knot in 2019. As soon as Willow came along, it felt like a new start for me, says Wood. All my experiences of motherhood with Eve started to come back. But the fact I had Sam to help me through every aspect, from the birth to bringing her home, that was new. Giving that attention was so natural for him and [motherhood] felt easy with the right person, she continues. Knowing how to pack a bag for a baby that lasts a week, that was second nature to me. A man wanting to know was foreign in my experience, but Sam was so keen to be part of the journey. Sandro jacket. Homebodii x Snezana shirt. Her own jewellery Credit: GK Photography Their journey has also involved becoming a social media it couple. Theyve built on their profiles and turned them into wealth by developing fitness apps, putting their names to products and investing in property. Personal trainer Sam went from almost broke to selling his 28 by Sam Wood fitness app for $71 million. Snezanas contributions to the family fortune come through lucrative collaborations with fashion and jewellery brands. Theyre clearly an inspiration for other couples seeking fame via reality TV.

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Wood says the reason their marriage works is that theyre both on the same life page  chasing family happiness and sticking together through thick and thin. Sam was hugely supportive, for instance, when Wood, who went to university at the age of 30 and graduated with a degree in molecular biology in 2016, was diagnosed with ADHD in 2022. Being diagnosed with ADHD answered so many questions as to why I did things the way I did, and why I still do them so differently to someone like Sam, she says. The diagnosis helped me understand myself better. Bassike suit, Best Jumpers knit, vintage Comme des Garcons shirt. Credit: GK Photography Sharing her family journey on social media can mean crossing rocky terrain, but Wood is fine with that and quite at ease sharing cute baby snaps, birthday celebrations and fashion collaborations. When it all gets too much, she switches off socials and watches her favourite movie, Iron Man. I love anything action, she says. It takes me out of my head and into another zone. I love action, thriller and high drama. I cant do romance. When it comes to inspiration, Wood looks to Spice Girl turned fashion entrepreneur Victoria Beckham. Ive always loved Victoria, her style and the fact she is real. She might look perfectly put together, but shes as silly as the next person and has a great sense of humour when she uses social media. She has a posh exterior, but shes not that at all. I love how down-to-earth she comes across. Perhaps theres also a nod to the Beckham family in the way the Wood clan do life back in Melbourne  the loving glances caught on Instagram, the whole family beautifully dressed in their staged yet humble photos. Its an aspirational lifestyle captured one frame at a time. When it comes to fashion, Wood loves to mix luxury and high-street fashion brands  Zara jeans with Tom Ford stilettos, or a Balmain and Supre combination. Shes also about to launch a new seasonal collaboration with Homebodii. I dont say yes to just anyone, she says. When I put my name to something, it has to speak to me and align with my values.

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If you think being mistakenly overpaid by your employer and having them ask you to return the money is bad, spare a thought for the Australians who are currently facing that very request from the worlds richest person, Elon Musk.

Earlier this week, this masthead revealed at least six former employees of Musks social media platform X (nee Twitter) have received legal notices requesting they repay between $1500 and $70,000 in overpayments dating back to January 2023.

Can an employer ask you to pay back wages? And more importantly, should they? Credit: Dionne Gain

The overpayments, according to X, were the result of a currency conversion mix-up when moving from US to Australian dollars, meaning the employees (who had just been made redundant) had their entitlements paid out at a conversion rate above what they were expecting. If there were ever to be a silver lining to being made redundant, surely this would have been it.

But now, X has come knocking for the money and is warning the former employees that if they dont play nice and comply with the request, the Australian arm of the company reserves the right to begin legal proceedings to obtain not just the overpayments, but also any interest accrued on the amount owing.
It is not suggested Bhuiyans extreme views are endorsed more broadly by a protest movement that has mobilised to raise justified concerns about Israels bloody response to the Hamas attack, which has cost more than 37,000 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza health authorities.

Police threatening to shut down student encampments are acting in obedience to the corrupt state, while Muslim groups that deal with Australian politicians are sell-outs.

In social media posts, Bhuiyan has written that Muslims will continue resisting until Israel is completely wiped off the map, from the river to the sea. He supports armed resistance against Zionist barbarism.

In a break from filming, as students in graduation garb flanked by their parents passed the university quadrangle where the protesters had also set up camp, Bhuiyan explained he was Stand For Palestines multimedia co-ordinator but politely declined an interview. Hes not so reserved online.

The group emerged shortly after the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7 that left more than 1200 Israelis dead and dozens taken hostage, and as Israels brutal and bloody response was under way.

Hours later, the vision compiled by Al-Aksha Bhuiyan was edited and distributed online via a slick campaign platform, Stand For Palestine.

On a sunny Friday afternoon in May, as prominent Sydney sheikh Ibrahim Dadoun led protesters through Sydney Universitys quadrangle chanting free Palestine slogans, a diligent encampment regular filmed with his mobile phone.

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Where Hizb ut-Tahrir is regarded warily by many in the Muslim and broader community due to its hardline views, limiting its membership, Stand For Palestine has no obvious extremist baggage.

The most prominent is Stand For Palestine, a pop-up group that operates across multiple online platforms and works in coalition with several Muslim groups, including at least one that was unaware of Hizb ut-Tahrirs role in pulling the strings.

As it seeks to recruit and radicalise, Hizb ut-Tahrir is using front groups to infiltrate the university encampment and pro-Palestine movements.

Bhuiyan is a cog in Hizb ut-Tahrirs sophisticated campaign to seize on legitimate grievances about the Gaza conflict to muster support for the controversial groups goal to destroy Israel as part of the creation of a caliphate ruled by Islamic law and stretching across majority-Muslim nations.

While there is no suggestion Hizb ut-Tahrir has any official role in the regular weekend rallies that have drawn thousands to the streets in Sydney and Melbourne, the groups Australian chapter is highly active and seeking to influence the broader protest movement.

But Bhuiyans activities on campus and online shed rare light on a hidden and fringe pocket of the pro-Palestine movement: that involving the Australian operation of a radical international Islamist group, Hizb ut-Tahrir. In January, the group was banned in Britain as a terrorist organisation after it expressed support for Hamas, itself a proscribed terrorist outfit.

As for Hizb ut-Tahrirs banning as a terror outfit in Britain, Bhuiyan says it is a wake-up call for Muslims to finally come out of the illusion of their cozy relationship with the West and embrace the struggle of  Islam v kufr [non-belief] .

The enemies know very well the voices they need to suppress, he wrote.

Two weeks after October 7, Bhuiyan, who regularly shares and promotes Hizb ut-Tahrir events and media releases on social media, decried Facebooks decision to shut down one of the groups accounts.

Despite the groups long history of antisemitism and hate speech, and its January banning in Britain, it has attracted almost no recent public scrutiny in Australia, save for the occasional removal of content deemed offensive by the tech giants.

A deep dive of the online accounts of its backers also reveals that Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia has stepped up its presence in mosques and youth groups.

In a few months, it has gained 33,000 followers across social media, helped organise protests in Sydney and Melbourne and encouraged demonstrations and the defacing of the prime ministers office.

Founded in 1953 in the Middle East, Hizb ut-Tahrir has publicly differentiated itself from violent outfits such as Islamic State. IS, in turn, has snubbed Hizb ut-Tahrir as too soft and scholarly.

The ban was supported by the Labour opposition but sparked intense debate in Britain about whether it was justified or a politically charged stunt by a Conservative government lagging in the polls. Some critics highlighted Hizb ut-Tahrirs historical repudiation of violence in its quest for a caliphate.

Hizb ut-Tahrirs UK chapter had earlier published a media release describing Hamas attackers as heroes and urging the Muslim world to be inspired by the stunning impact of the resistance group. British officials also cited Hizb ut-Tahrirs involvement in a pro-Palestine rally in London.

He claimed the group was an antisemitic organisation that actively promotes and encourages terrorism, including praising and celebrating the appalling 7 October attacks.

In mid-January, British Home Secretary James Cleverly announced Hizb ut-Tahrir would be declared a terrorist organisation to ensure that anyone who belongs to and invites support for them will face consequences.

Roose is a sceptic of the British decision to ban Hizb ut-Tahrir as a terror group, but he insists the group should be scrutinised in Australia, just as he supports scrutiny of neo-Nazi cells.

This masthead is not suggesting Hizb ut-Tahrir supporters are terrorists or that all its members condone terrorism.

They might not be necessarily crossing that line into advocating terrorism, but there is inherent violence in what theyre doing, he says.

Deakin University extremism expert Josh Roose says Hizb ut-Tahrir has used the Gaza conflict to boost its activism. Credit: 60 Minutes

Deakin University extremism expert Josh Roose says the group is unquestionably extremist and has seized on the violence in Gaza as their time to shine.

Hizb ut-Tahrir was also criticised during the Lindt Cafe siege inquiry, which found that gunman Man Haron Monis had attended several of the groups events before taking hostages in the Sydney cafe in December 2014. The inquirys final report cited terrorism experts who labelled Hizb ut-Tahrir an Islamic extremist group that could act as a gateway to explicitly violent groups.

The British debate about the effectiveness of the ban mirrored discussion in Australia in 2015, when former prime minister Tony Abbott sought but failed to have the group proscribed, arguing the federal government had to tackle the people and the organisations that justify terrorism and act as its recruiting agents  such as Hizb ut-Tahrir. Australia and the UK have differing legal tests for proscription.

He also believes there is a pressing and clear case to strength Australias hate speech legislation to combat Hizb ut-Tahrirs violent rhetoric and antisemitism.

Yet, it has avoided publicity in Australia, even as the groups local adherents engage in activities almost identical to its British counterparts.

Like so much modern activism, it began with a series of online posts. Hours after fighters flooded into Israel, Hizb ut-Tahrirs international headquarters posted a historical video of the founder of the groups Australian arm, Ismail Alwahwah, who died last year after a busy life that included a stint in a Jordanian jail and frequent scrutiny in Australia for virulently antisemitic preaching.

Ismail Alwahwah, traditionally known as Abu Anas (father of Anas), founded Hizb ut-Tahrirs Australian branch. Credit: Hibz ut-Tahrir

In the video, Alwahwah is portrayed as a visionary who foresaw the calamity befalling what he called the evil illegal occupier and who had vowed that Israels inevitable humiliation would inspire Muslims to celebrate, laugh and smile.

Shortly after that, Ismails Sydney-based son, Anas Alwahwah, posted his own video. Under a caption that read, May God have mercy on my father and grant quick victory, it showed a man on a motorcycle wearing a black balaclava and military battle vest favoured by the Hamas fighters who had just streamed over the Gaza border.

Anas Alwahwah is the son of Hizb ut-Tahrir Australias late founder, Ismail Alwahwah, and is a senior activist for the group.

Anas Alwahwah is a senior Hizb ut-Tahrir activist in his own right. While generating none of the public profile of his father, he was named on the paperwork when Hizb ut-Tahrir applied to the Office of Fair Trading NSW to be registered as an incorporated association in 2013. He has become an active organiser and participant in the groups events over the past 12 months.

Another of Ismails relatives, Amer Alwahwah, who is also closely aligned with Hizb ut-Tahrir, gave a speech describing the events of October 7 as an inspirational moment that set the spark but that required further friction from our end.

This is why the flood of al-Aqsa was initiated  because what does a flood do? It runs, it moves, it drags and it drowns. And all it took was one flood to drown  many traitors.

On October 8, Hizb ut-Tahrir called an emergency gathering for Palestine at Lakemba in Sydneys south-west.

A video of the event shows Anas Alwahwah passing through the screen as radical Islamist Ibrahim Dadoun, another regular at previous Hizb ut-Tahrir events, embraced Ismail Alwahwahs video prophecy.

Im smiling and Im happy, Dadoun said, as news bulletins around the world were still broadcasting images of terrified Israeli hostages, including civilians who had attended a dance party, being bundled into Hamas trucks.

Following Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, Sheikh Ibrahim Dadoun said he was elated and described the deadly offensive as a day of courage. Credit: Instagram

Im elated. Its a day of courage, its a day of pride, its a day of victory. This is the day weve been waiting for.

While Dadouns comments, which he later denied, condoned the killing of civilians, were reported in Australian news bulletins and condemned by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, no one drew the link to Hizb ut-Tahrir.

The groups Australian chapter similarly avoided scrutiny after it republished a call to arms issued by Hizb ut-Tahrirs Palestine branch aimed at convincing armies in Muslim nations to join Hamas fight against Israel.

The Mujahideens Attack on the Jewish Entity Mandates the Ummah and its Armies to Rush to Support Them, the press release republished by Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia stated.

It also described how Hamas capturing of Israeli soldiers and the hoards [sic] of their settlers arouses feelings of pride and dignity. The release lauded the killing of Jewish soldiers and settlers and the courage of the mujahideen.

A separate press release issued by Hizb ut-Tahrirs Australian office on October 8 endorsed the surprise dawn raid of October 7 undertaken by the brave Muslims of Palestine.

There is no solution to occupation except to persist with resistance efforts, the release said, attacking Albanese while praising the courage of individuals involved in the terror attack and calling on neighbouring Muslim armies to join the fight against Israel.

In the days after October 7, Hizb ut-Tahrirs Australian activists would issue this call to arms repeatedly.

On December 2, during a fiery speech, Anas Alwahwah claimed Hizb ut-Tahrir was actively lobbying Muslim soldiers to break their chain of command and enter the Gaza war to realise the dream of a caliphate.

The sharia obligation is for people who have the capability to rise and wage jihad  they have an obligation to wage jihad today, right now, Anas preached.

Hizb ut-Tahrir has a wing  a secret wing thats [sic] job is only to contact armies  to convince them to be on the side of the ummah [global Islamic community].

Hizb ut-Tahrir has statesmen ready to assume [caliphate] rule from day one. So when you present that to the armies, it shows that this is serious work. We are not playing games here.

Anas Alwahwah also celebrated the new year in Australia with a social post. It pictured Hamas rockets being fired towards Israel, comparing them to New Years Eve fireworks that reached many cities inside Israel including Tel Aviv.

His post also celebrated that, despite widespread bombardment of Gaza, Hamas tunnel network was intact: One thing is for sure; the underground city has not been harmed!

Roose says the post is one of several that reflect the way Hizb ut-Tahrir has sought to wrap its long-standing vision for a caliphate around the Gaza conflict, hoping the latter would propel the former.

Hes celebrating the launch of missiles on Israel  Its clear as day, Roose says. Its their attempt to go out there and build, and to talk about the legitimacy of their struggle and their movement, and to attempt to recruit.

Anas talking points mirror Hizb ut-Tahrir Australias press releases, both depicting the war in Gaza as a fight between Islam or the Kuffar [non-believers].

In early January, Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia released a branded video showing footage of Hamas terrorists on October 7 firing RPGs, shooting automatic rifles and paragliding into Israel.

Flier promoting Hizb ut-Tahrirs protest in Lakemba the day after the October 7 attacks. Credit: Instagram

The video was accompanied by the words: The Al-Aqsa Flood has made clear the reality of the clash. It is a clash of civilisations, between the Muslims and their enemies. It is a clash between kufr [non-belief] and iman [faith]. It is enmity against the Islamic Ummah.

When it was Amer Alwahwahs turn to inspire, he published a video on social media with a caption describing the October 7 attacks as the flood of Aqsa battle that would ensure the liberation of Palestine. He said it was written today by the blood of martyrs and advocated for the installation of Jerusalem as the future capital of the caliphate.

Hizb ut-Tahrir activist Amer Alwahwah.

In another post, he quoted the spokesperson of the military wing of Hamas, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Ubaida: This battle will change the face of the region.

God willing, there will be a region without a Zionist entity or Zionist Arab regimes.

But Hizb ut-Tahrir in Australia also had a less radical face. It was on display at the Sydney University quadrangle at a series of events in May. Its genesis was many months earlier.

The birth of a front group

Before Stand For Palestine, there was Stand4Uyghurs.

In 2022, Al-Aksha Bhuiyan posted about the latter group as part of a new campaign raising awareness about the injustices facing the Uyghur Muslims of east Turkistan at the hands of the Chinese government.

The campaign platform appears to be in line with what extremism scholar Richard McNeil-Wilson  who is a strident critic of the British decision to proscribe Hizb ut-Tahrir  has described as the groups adept use of front groups to mask their operations.

One of the two authors/administrators for the groups website was Moey Alwahwah, another of the relatives of Hizb ut-Tahrir Australias founder.

Speakers at its launch included Sheikh Ibrahim Dadoun and another Hizb ut-Tahrir activist, who noted the important contribution of Hizb ut-Tahrir in lending help and an important hand with the logistics and the volunteers.

After October 7, multiple Stand4Uyghurs social media platforms were quickly patched over with a new name: Stand For Palestine.

If Stand4Uyghurs was busy, Stand For Palestine was prolific.

One of Stand For Palestines first messages was circulated online by former senior Australian Hizb ut-Tahrir activist Uthman Badar (he resigned from the group in 2019 but remains closely affiliated) on October 13.

Titled Friday Khutbah [sermon] Talking Points, it praised the Hamas attack as a justified response to years of Israeli oppression, describing October 7 as an act of audacious resistance that had left the worlds Muslims happy.

Badar also mentioned the Stand For Palestine design was to be used across multiple initiatives in a campaign to support Palestine.

Soon, Anas Alwahwahs name would appear as one of the administrators of the Stand4Palestine WhatsApp group, along with his relatives Amer and Mohammed.

Mohammed Alwahwah, a relative of Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia founder Ismail Alwahwah. He is the administrator of the Stand4Palestine WhatsApp group.

Metadata reveals the Stand4Palestine Telegram group is administered by a Tunisian Hizb ut-Tahrir activist.

On November 6, the new group encouraged a boycott of Jewish-owned businesses Spotlight and Anaconda, with a follow-up on November 8 featuring a change.org petition.

On November 21, it pressed for a boycott of Kogan, calling it a propagator of Zionism and its ideology.

On November 10, it joined other pro-Palestine groups in encouraging its supporters to protest in Caulfield for the Burgertory restaurant subjected to arson attack with a call to display our disdain and strength of our community. The protest involved violent clashes between supporters of Israel and Palestine that required a synagogue to be evacuated.

When the Sydney University encampment was created, Stand For Palestine activists arrived with tents and cameras. Among them was a familiar cast of longtime Hizb ut-Tahrir supporters.

On May 23, the group promoted a talk at the university quadrangle by Mohammad Alwahwah, the second he had delivered on campus. Two days later, Amer Alwahwah hosted an on-campus talk with a Palestinian activist. Amer and the same activist gave the same talk under the Hizb ut-Tahrir banner a week after that.

Hizb ut-Tahrir backer Dadoun also appeared on the university campus as part of events organised by Stand For Palestine, with Dadoun leading a march while chanting from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.

Dadoun explained to the encampment that the chant needed to be repeated often and loudly because this is what makes the Zionists tremble in the knees.

When this masthead approached Dadoun on campus, he refused to answer questions.

In May, Al-Aksha Bhuiyan introduced himself to this masthead on campus as the multimedia organiser for Stand For Palestine.

When called by this masthead in early June, Bhuiyan described himself as a Hizb-ut Tahrir supporter but said the Alwahwahs were its leaders. He confirmed Hizb-ut Tahrir was involved in both Stand4Uyghurs and Stand For Palestine, but said the group was working as part of a broader coalition of activists.

Asked about his own online comments, such as his seeming support for armed resistance against Zionist barbarism, the quietly spoken and polite Bhuiyan declined to offer an explanation.

Like the Alwahwahs, Bhuiyans online advocacy makes it clear he believes Islam endorses the removal of Israel, with the Jewish state subsumed into a wider Islamic caliphate.

He recently urged his social media followers to attend a Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia meeting that shouldnt be missed because it would explain why the two-state solution endorsed by the UN and Australia should be opposed.

Bhuiyan also believes Hizb ut-Tahrir is being unjustly targeted.

We have seen pervasive attempts to ban the advocacy for the khilafah [caliphate] worldwide, now made clear in the UK through the example of proscribing HT  the only prominent group with a focus on advocating for the re-establishment of the khilafah.

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In a statement, organisers of the Sydney University protest said the camp was made up of a variety of groups and organisations including socialists, queer activists and Muslim students.

Were a broad and diverse community here to simply demand our university cut ties with genocide and Israel, the statement said.

On Friday, the university instructed the protesters to end their eight-week occupation.

If the proscription debate does flare up in Australia, it is likely it will only entrench the Islamist groups narrative that the west offers Muslims nothing except persecution.

At a Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia event in early May, Anas Alwahwah urged Australians to recognise the Gaza conflict as a clash of civilisations ... between the West and Islam and hold on to this fact with an iron fist.

Everything that came from the West, from systems, from monies, from concepts, from nation states, from rulers, from borders, from identities, has been utter evil for us and a source of humiliation.

For more, watch 60 Minutes on Sunday night at 8.05pm.
Loading Co-operatives operate according to seven international principles of co-operation based on self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity. Many of those are not found in other forms of tenure, said Crabtree-Hayes, the co-author of The Value of Housing Co-operatives in Australia. How do they work? Community housing provider Common Equity chief executive Nick Sabel said housing co-operatives are run by the people who live in them.

It is a housing model that engages residents in decisions that affect their lives and facilitates communities to deliver their own housing their own way, he said. At Stucco, residents are obliged to attend about two hours of meetings a week as well as two additional hours of work for the co-op. Unlike renting, we are our own landlords, so we have to decide what to fix when and how much money to spend on things ranging from fixing leaks to structural work for the whole building, Horwitz said. What are the advantages of co-ops? Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals chief executive Melina Morrison said a housing co-op sits between renting and ownership: Residents have the affordability of renting and the security and agency of owning.

Unlike subsidies for market housing which assist house prices to grow, co-op housing, which is run at-cost, helps to stablise prices, she said. Ellsmore said housing co-ops also provide security and control for residents: Around the world we see co-operatives provide housing for people who would not otherwise be able to afford it. But  Active involvement in governance and management can be time-consuming and co-operatives are not very well understood in the housing system, which makes them difficult to establish. In smaller co-operatives, problematic individual members can create tensions, Crabtree-Hayes said. However, given their operational principles, co-ops are arguably better structured to address instances of conflict than strata.

Elspeth Cameron has lived in the Palace Womens Co-op for 10 years  one of eight voting members who live in two residential buildings. She pays $210 a week for a two-bedroom apartment, but rents vary according to a members income up to the market rate of $570 a week. Elspeth Cameron is one of eight members of the Palace Womens Co-op in Sydneys inner west. Credit: Edwina Pickles Cameron occasionally feels like tearing my hair out during meetings, but she said differing viewpoints about how to maintain the property do not poison relations. Why are there so few housing co-ops in Sydney? Co-ops comprise an estimated quarter of Zurichs housing stock and about 21 per cent in Vienna and Copenhagen.

In Sydney, there are also housing co-ops for artists and Vietnamese seniors as well as students and women, but Crabtree-Hayes said less than 0.1 per cent of Australias housing stock is a co-op. Earlier this year, the City of Sydney sold a row of terraces at a discounted price to Common Equity to set up a housing co-op for transgender women. Morrison said funding for starting co-ops dried up in the 1990s and growth has been slow since then. In Australia we need two things - a return to a dedicated stream of funding for housing co-operatives for lower income households, and long-term low-interest loans to not-for-profit housing co-ops providing housing to middle income households, she said. Morrison also said there was not as much need for co-ops in Australia while wages kept pace with house prices.

Now that house prices have risen at a much faster rate, we dont have an alternative ownership system in place to help bridge that gap, she said. Loading Are co-ops just for low-income people? Crabtree-Hayes said co-operatives provide housing for people on a range of incomes from very affordable rentals through to luxury homes, with sizeable sectors providing ownership options at entry-level prices, especially in northern Europe. John Lennon and Yoko Ono lived in a New York housing co-operative, the Dakota, and key plot lines in Sex and the City referred to the characters co-op homes, she said.
Brisbanes three major environmental centres are facing reduced staff and access when they should be scaled up because they offer substantial tourism benefits close to the CBD, the states main conservation body says.

The Queensland Conservation Council believes they should all be reimagined as environmental tourism drawcards  within 30 minutes of the CBD  for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Brisbane has three major environment centres: Boondall Wetlands, Downfall Creek at Chermside West and Karawatha Forest in Karawatha near Stretton and Underwood.

Staff from the Boondall Wetlands centre may be relocated to operate the Planetarium at Mt Coot-tha. Credit: Brisbane City Council

Each has walking trails through different ecosystems  Boondall has wetlands and wet sclerophyll forests, Downfall Creek has small patches of rainforest and dry sclerophyll forest, while Karawatha has koala eucalypts.
Metadata reveals the Stand For Palestine Telegram group is administered by a Tunisian Hizb ut-Tahrir activist, while its WhatsApp group is managed by three Australian Hizb ut-Tahrir figures. Key backers of the group have also regularly spoken at Stand For Palestine-branded events and delivered sermons and lectures at the Sydney University student encampment. In a statement in response to questions by this masthead, camp organisers said the encampment was a coalition of groups and organisations: Were a broad and diverse community here to simply demand our university cut ties with genocide and Israel. Sydney University ordered the sprawling camp to pack up and leave campus on Friday, almost eight weeks after it sprung up.

Loading It is not the first time the group has used a popular cause to gain support. Before rallying under the Stand For Palestine banner, the group was behind the Stand For Uyghurs campaign protesting against human rights abuses of the Muslim minority in China. Following October 7, social media accounts actively rallying behind the Stand For Uyghurs cause were quickly rebranded as Stand For Palestine accounts, and within days began promoting events and sharing content about Israels counter-offensive in Gaza. British counter-extremism expert Hadiya Masieh, who was a member of Hizb ut-Tahrir for a decade before leaving the group in the aftermath of the 7/7 bombings in London in 2005, said Hizb ut-Tahrir preyed on vulnerable people and used popular causes as a hook. Hizb ut-Tahrir, like other extreme groups, will use any mechanism they can to push their agenda, she said.

They divide, they prey on people, and they brand and market themselves very well. So they are very interested in using as many avenues as possible. A day after Hamas had launched its co-ordinated attack in southern Israel, killing about 1200 people and taking another 250 hostage, radical Islamist preacher Sheikh Ibrahim Dadoun shared his feelings of elation with the crowd at a Hizb ut-Tahrir-sponsored gathering in Lakemba, in Sydneys south-west. Im smiling and Im happy, Dadoun told attendees. Im elated. Its a day of courage. Its a day of pride. Its a day of victory. This is the day weve been waiting for. He later denied that the statements meant he was condoning the killing of civilians.

Since then, the group has issued calls for armies from Muslim-majority countries to ignore artificial borders and respond to their divine obligation to join Hamas in its fight against Israel, and referred to the conflict in Gaza as a first step in the establishment of a global caliphate. If a handful of Muslims could rattle the occupation and the entire international community in a single morning, what then could be achieved by the collective efforts of the surrounding armies of Muslim countries? a Hizb ut-Tahrir press release dated October 8 read. The liberation of Palestine by the Muslims will be the start of the liberation of humanity from the clutches of the West, and that day is sooner than we think inshallah [God willing]. When this masthead approached Dadoun for comment, he refused to answer questions. Hizb ut-Tahrir have been around for a long period of time, Roose said. Many people view them as redundant, as irrelevant, to the conversation. However, in recent years in particular, they have become more active, and the extent of their rhetoric, and the potential violence inherent in their rhetoric, is also concerning.

It is this rhetoric that prompted British Home Secretary James Cleverly to controversially proscribe Hizb ut-Tahrir as a terrorist group in January, arguing it would hamstring the groups ability to operate and allow authorities to come after its supporters. The move has been criticised by civil libertarians, Muslim groups and some security experts who claim it curtails free speech and risks pushing the group underground where it would be harder to monitor. A Hizb ut-Tahrir protest in London in November. Credit: Alamy Stock Photo The decision came after the British chapter praised the October 7 attacks and Hamas as heroes, and fantasised about what a unified Muslim world could achieve if this can be done by a resistance group. Hizb ut-Tahrir further inflamed the situation by holding a pro-Palestine rally in London where members made inflammatory speeches calling for jihad and Muslim armies to intervene in Gaza.
A long-running Melbourne program bringing together secondary students from Muslim, Jewish and Christian schools has closed due to a lack of funding and community tensions over the war in the Gaza.

The Building Bridges school interfaith program started in the aftermath of the September 11 terror attacks and brought together year 10 and 11 students for a chat and pizza.

John Rogerson, chair of the WellSpring Centre, which ran the discontinued school interfaith program Building Bridges. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui

These kids end up with friendships out of it, said John Rogerson, chairman of the WellSpring Centre, a Christian organisation that ran Building Bridges until this year.

We had one kid get up and say, I never appreciated that people from other religions would have an AFL team they support, he said.
Warning: this story contains graphic content

There is a dangerous backlash emerging against the prosecution of sexual assaults, which runs counter to everything we know about violence against women and which should be called out for what it is  misogyny and outdated attitudes masquerading as concern for the principles of justice.

Last Wednesday saw the overturning on appeal of the sexual assault convictions of rugby league star Jarryd Hayne. The former NRL player has faced three trials over his 2018 sexual encounter with a then-26-year-old woman in her Newcastle home on the night of the National Rugby League grand final.

Jarryd Hayne leaves prison on Wednesday. Credit: SMH

Hayne, who vehemently denies the rape allegation, drew blood from the womans vulva during oral and digital sex that he said was consensual, but she said wasnt. As in most alleged sexual assaults, there were no witnesses, there was a dispute over consent, and the complainant behaved in the aftermath in ways that might seem counterintuitive. As in most alleged sexual assaults, the complainant and the accused knew each other, at least a little  they had been chatting on social media before meeting in person.
The midpoint of whats been dubbed the year of democracy feels like an apposite moment to pause and take stock. What trends are emerging amid the tumble of overseas elections? How might they influence politics in Australia, as Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton delineate the battlespace for the next federal election?

The most obvious storyline to emerge is also the most ominous: the rise of far and hard-right parties, and the populist appeal of anti-immigration and anti-green policies. At last weekends European elections, EU politics took a rightward turn.

Illustration: John Shakespeare. Credit:

In France, Marine Le Pens National Rally won double the vote of Emmanuel Macrons centrist Renaissance Party. In Germany, the ultra-nationalist Alternative for Germany party (AfD) received a larger share of the vote than Chancellor Olaf Scholzs centre-left Social Democrats  despite being hit by the withdrawal of its lead candidates who had stated that members of Hitlers SS were not all criminals. Far-right parties, in the EUs two most important bellwether democracies, are on the march. So spooked was Macron that he called snap parliamentary elections in the belated hope of heading off Le Pen at the pass.

In the UK election, the mighty Conservative Party, one of the worlds most well-oiled election-winning machines, looks like being decimated. Even before Rishi Sunaks catastrophic decision to leave the beaches of Normandy ahead of a D-Day commemoration involving other international leaders, the Tories faced a shellacking. At the 2019 election, the party won 365 seats. Now it might struggle to retain 100. A near-extinction event is predicted, its worst election result in 100 years.
The May 2022 election was a breakthrough moment for the Australian Greens. For the first time in the partys history it won a second Senate seat in every state of Australia, taking its representation in the red chamber to a record high of 12 seats (though theyve since lost one after Lidia Thorpe defected to the crossbench).

But more significantly, after 12 long years as the partys only MP in the lower house, party leader Adam Bandt was joined by three new colleagues in the green chamber as the Greens swept the Queensland seats of Griffith, Ryan and Brisbane.

Max Chandler-Mather with Greens party leader Adam Bandt. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

In the lead-up to that election, a then-member of the Morrison cabinet confidently told me that if teal candidates were standing in the northern capital, the Liberals might have been in trouble  but because the alternative was either a Greens or Labor candidate, they would be OK. How wrong they were.

The next election could be even more consequential for the balance-of-power party. The Greens are targeting a long list of lower house seats (thats nothing new) and their ambition should not be lightly dismissed.
A local couple paid $1.8 million  some $200,000 above the reserve  for a four-bedroom house in Yarraville, outbidding three other parties at auction.

With four registered bidders hesitant to make the first offer for 31 Wilkins Street, Village Real Estate auctioneer Huss Saad placed a vendor bid of $1.5 million.

Nobody ever wants to start, Saad joked with the crowd.

The auction was one of 1003 scheduled across Melbourne on Saturday. By evening, Domain Group recorded a preliminary auction clearance rate of 62.6 per cent from 720 reported results, while 91 auctions were withdrawn. Withdrawn auctions are counted as unsold properties when calculating the clearance rate.
Everything you post or share on Facebook or Instagram can be used to train Meta AI. Generative AI tools have been caught regurgitating exact copies of their training data  for example, spitting out verbatim paragraphs of New York Times articles (now the subject of a legal complaint) and images of real people. It means your Facebook status update from a decade ago may end up in AI-generated text without your explicit consent. Generative AI tools have been caught regurgitating exact copies of their training data. Credit: AP Meta has been hit with complaints in 11 countries over the practices but says its simply following the same approach as other AI firms, such as Google and OpenAI. A Meta spokeswoman said the company was committed to building AI responsibly. With the release of our AI experiences, weve shared details about the kinds of information we use to build and improve AI experiences  which includes public posts from Instagram and Facebook  consistent with our privacy policy and terms of service, the spokeswoman said.

While we dont currently have an opt-out feature, weve built in-platform tools that allow people to delete their personal information from chats with Meta AI across our apps. Depending on where people live, they can also object to the use of their personal information being used to build and train AI consistent with local privacy laws. Loading Trust must be earned Photoshop parent company Adobe faced a wave of user complaints this month when changed its terms of service, suggesting it was giving itself access to users work, even work protected by non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements. Adobe may access, view, or listen to your content through both automated and manual methods, but only in limited ways, and only as permitted by law, its terms of service read. The company clarified that we may access your content through both automated and manual methods, such as for content review.

Photoshop customers were up in arms about the changes, before the company issued a blog post saying it would not train its generative AI on customer content and that its language should have been clearer. In a world where customers are anxious about how their data is used, and how generative AI models are trained, it is the responsibility of companies that host customer data and content to declare their policies not just publicly, but in their legally binding terms of use, the company said. Trust must be earned. The reality is that weve already trained AI. Without your explicit permission, major AI systems have been trained on large swathes of the internet, including your public Facebook posts, your Reddit comments, or the blog you made in high school. If youve ever made a YouTube video, it may have been used by OpenAI to train ChatGPT. Everything you post or share on Facebook or Instagram can be used to train Meta AI. Mark Pesce, author and futurist The tech giants initially used data scraped from all corners of the internet for their AI models. Theyre now beginning to pay the likes of News Corp, Associated Press and Reddit for their data, as well as turning to their own users, who they can effectively mine for free.

The murky methods employed by the tech giants to train their AI  and the subsequent backlash from users who feel theyve gone too far  raise issues of user consent and questions about the direction of the internet. The issue is not new: were already used to giving up our data to help make our online experience more personalised. Netflix might suggest movies based on what youve watched, your fitness app will likely provide data to third-party companies to drive targeted ads, and your news app likely tracks your location to serve you more localised stories. What is new, however, is a push to allow Australian users to opt out of the mass digital data scrape. Very few Australians would have a detailed understanding Australias former human rights commissioner Edward Santow says the fact we cant opt out of Facebooks AI training is cause for an urgent privacy overhaul.

Former Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow. For Australians to not have an opt-out, that reflects that Australias legislation has become out of date and really needs to be modernised to deal with these sorts of issues, said Santow, who is now a professor of responsible technology at the University of Technology Sydney. Australians shouldnt be subjected to inferior protections of their privacy as compared with places like the European Union. Santow wants Australias privacy laws to shift closer to privacy-conscious Europe, which gives its users more control over how their personal information is used. Privacy reform has been in the works for years, and legislation to overhaul Australias outdated privacy laws is expected later this year.

What we hear all the time from Australians is what they really want is purer and stronger protections regarding when a persons information can and cannot be used. And this is a very good example of where government could be clearer in simply drawing some red lines, Santow said. Loading I think very few Australians would have a detailed understanding of how those larger language models have been trained on their data. I would be fairly confident in saying that the vast majority of Facebook and Instagram users wouldnt have anticipated that their posts would be used for that purpose. There are also worries that the now-constant stream of cyberattacks and data breaches will inevitably reach the personal data used to train AI models.

Artificial intelligence expert Niusha Shafiabady, an associate professor at Charles Darwin University, says when companies such as Meta collect their users data to feed AI algorithms, it puts those users at a heightened security and privacy risk. AI to be used to identify the patterns is not something new. It has been used for this purpose and similar ones before. Users are right to have concerns about their security  Using and collecting data from emails and different sources of communication opens another door to security risks for the users, she said. Users should decide how much they get out of these technologies in trading their privacy and security. Active consent is needed Some companies are taking the opposite stance to Meta and are declaring they wont touch user data to train their AI models.

Tech giant Apple says it does not train its models with private data or user interactions, in a clear distinction from Meta and Google. Another such company is Leonardo Ai, an Australian start-up that has more than 15 million users. Its software competes against the likes of Midjourney and ChatGPT, and more than 1 billion unique artworks have been created on its platform. The companys latest model, dubbed Leonardo Phoenix, has been trained on a combination of licensed, synthetic and open-sourced data, rather than data from its users. JJ Fiassons Leonardo Ai is one of the most hyped companies in Australias technology scene. Credit: Oscar Colman According to Leonardo Ai co-founder JJ Fiasson, its incumbent upon AI companies to communicate clearly how users data is or isnt being used to maintain trust.

Weve already got a couple of agreements in place around large licensed datasets, he said. I believe thats generally where the market is headed, and I think it makes a lot of sense. Loading I know theres concern around the use of user data, and thats something people need to have a level of active consent around. The rapidly heating up AI arms race means there is urgency for regulatory action now, according to Santow. Its maybe another year or so where that process of building takes place, and then its moved through a different phase, which is really about tuning those large language models, he said.
A Chinese journalist who launched her countrys MeToo movement and was arrested the day before she was due to fly to Britain to study has been jailed for five years.

Sophia Huang Xueqin was sentenced by a court in Guangzhou on Friday. According to documents obtained by a group of activists campaigning for her release, she was found guilty of inciting subversion of state power.

Chinese journalist Huang Xueqin holds up a #Metoo sign for a photo in Singapore in September 2017. Credit: AP

Huang and another activist, Wang Jianbing, were arrested in September 2021, on the eve of her flight to Britain to begin a masters degree at Sussex University on a Chevening scholarship, which is funded by the UK government.

The journalist kicked off the MeToo movement in China by publicising the case of a graduate student who made allegations of sexual harassment against her PhD supervisor at one of Chinas most prestigious universities.
Europe has shifted to the right, even to the hard right in places. In the European Parliament elections this week, Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Poland and Spain voted to send right-wing delegates to the European Parliament. And its not just the older voters, the same demographic that was blamed for Brexit in the UK; Europes young people voted rightward too.

France voted so consistently for the Marine Le Pen-backed National Rally that the centrist President Emmanuel Macron called a national election in shock. But its silly to be shocked; the social problems that preceded the significant shift to the right have been brewing for a long time.

Marine Le Pen, leader of National Rally, and party president Jordan Bardella at a European Parliament election campaign rally. Credit: Bloomberg

Naturally, Australian hand-wringers have immediately found a way to onshore the EU alarm. They have declared Opposition Leader Peter Dutton our own Trump-like figure. The claim is ludicrous. Dutton is a moderate on the scale of the latest EU elections. Canberra is not in the same pickle as Paris because he and others have played the boogeyman when it was needed. But Australia can, with just a little bit of effort, find itself exactly where the EU is now.

The first step would be for Australias insulated classes to keep virtue-signalling on immigration. Virtue-signalling is when you telegraph your deep well of empathy on an issue to show others what a wonderful person you are. Sometimes signallers really only want to say nice things. But signal services, virtuous ones included, reach far and wide.
US ramps up Sudan aid, warns of risk of historic famine



Washington, June 14 (AFP) Jun 14, 2024



The United States on Friday announced another $315 million for hungry Sudanese as it pressed the warring sides to end obstruction of aid, warning that a famine of historic proportions could unfold without urgent action.

The assistance will include food and drinking water, as well as malnutrition emergency screening and treatment for children.

It comes as estimates say that five million people inside Sudan suffer extreme hunger, with food lacking also in neighboring countries where two million Sudanese have fled.

"We need the world to wake up to the catastrophe happening before our very eyes," Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters.

"We've seen mortality projections estimating that in excess of 2.5 million people -- about 15 percent of the population -- in Darfur and Kordofan, the hardest-hit regions, could die by the end of September," she said.

"This is the largest humanitarian crisis on the face of the planet, and yet somehow it threatens to get worse," she said, pointing to expectations that the key border crossing will become unpassable with the rainy season.

A UN humanitarian appeal for Sudan has received only 16 percent of its target, with much global attention focused instead on Gaza, where aid workers have also warned of famine risks.

Samantha Power, the administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), said Sudan could be in worse shape than Somalia in 2011 when some 250,000 people died after three consecutive seasons without enough rain in a country grappling with near anarchy.

"The most worrying scenario would be that Sudan would become the deadliest famine since Ethiopia in the early 1980s," when as many as 1.2 million people died, she said.

Sudan descended into war in April 2023 when the generals in charge of the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) took up arms to seize control, rejecting a plan to integrate.

With the two sides battling for power across the country, Power said that deliveries of aid across the rival sides' lines of control was "virtually non-existent."

Power strongly criticized both sides. The RSF, she said, has been "systematically looting humanitarian warehouses, stealing food and livestock, destroying grain storage facilities and wells in the most vulnerable Sudanese communities."

The army, in turn "completely contradicts its commitments and its responsibility" to the Sudanese people by blocking aid from crossing the border with Chad into Darfur, she said.

"The really clear message here is that it is obstruction, not insufficient stocks of food, that is the driving force behind the historic and deadly levels of starvation in Sudan," she said.

"That has to change immediately."



- Diplomacy struggles -



Repeated US-led efforts to end the conflict have failed, with many observers concluding that the warring generals each think they can win on the ground.

A number of foreign powers have supported rival forces. Sudan expelled diplomats from the United Arab Emirates on allegations of fueling the RSF, while Egypt, Turkey and Iran have backed the army.

Recent fighting in El-Fasher, the last city in Darfur outside RSF control, has killed more than 220 people, according to charity Doctors Without Borders.

The UN Security Council on Thursday demanded that the RSF halt the siege, with all countries voting in favor except Russia, which abstained.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken late last month called Sudan's army chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and pressed both for humanitarian access and a resumption of diplomacy between the two sides.

Talks last year in the Saudi port city of Jeddah, brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia, only briefly paused fighting, and a US push to restart the process has been unsuccessful.

"We know that there is no acceptable military solution to this conflict," Thomas-Greenfield said.

"We have been disappointed with the delays."
Israel hits Gaza as tensions surge on Lebanon border



Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories, June 14 (AFP) Jun 14, 2024



Israeli forces struck Gaza and battled Hamas militants on Friday as truce efforts failed to make progress and tensions surged on Israel's northern border with Lebanon.

Witnesses reported strikes on the southern city of Rafah and central areas of the Gaza Strip.

At Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the central city of Deir al-Balah, men gathered over the body of an 11-year-old boy who died during a bombardment of nearby Bureij refugee camp.

In a black singlet, the child lay on a floor smeared with fresh blood, a white bandage covering the top half of his face, AFP images showed.

The Israeli military said troops continued operations in central Gaza, where warplanes struck a militant cell in the Zeitun area.

Witnesses in Rafah, on Gaza's southern border with Egypt, reported helicopter fire, while Hamas's armed wing said its militants fired mortar rounds at Israeli troops near the Tal al-Sultan neighbourhood.

The war began after Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

The militants also seized 251 hostages. Of these, 116 remain in Gaza, although the army says 41 are dead.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 37,266 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-ruled territory's health ministry.

The toll includes at least 34 deaths over the past 24 hours, the ministry said on Friday.



- Border escalation -



Fears of a broader Middle East conflict have surged again, with Lebanon-based Hezbollah fighters, who are backed by Iran and allied with Hamas, launching waves of rockets, missiles and drones against Israeli military targets.

Hezbollah said intense strikes since Wednesday were retaliation for Israel's killing of one of its commanders.

Sirens sounded in northern Israel, where police said munitions had hit in the Kiryat Shmona area, with no reports of casualties.

The military said "approximately 35 projectiles were identified crossing from Lebanon". "A number" of them were intercepted while some caused fires.

Israeli forces responded with shelling, the military said, also announcing air strikes on "Hezbollah terror infrastructure" across the border.

Two women were killed in a strike on Jannata in southern Lebanon, village official Hassan Shur said, the latest deaths in near-daily exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and the Israeli military since the start of the Gaza war.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that his country and the United States would work separately with Israeli and Lebanese authorities to ease tensions.

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant rejected the initiative, decrying "hostile policies against Israel" by France, which last month had barred Israeli firms from an arms trade show.

A spokesperson for the Israeli prime minister's office and senior foreign ministry officials however said Gallant's remarks do no reflect the government's position.

During a Middle East trip this week to push a Gaza ceasefire plan, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said "the best way" to help resolve the Hezbollah-Israel violence was "a resolution of the conflict in Gaza and getting a ceasefire".



- Truce 'hang-up' -



At a summit of G7 leaders in Italy, US President Joe Biden called Hamas "the biggest hang-up so far" to reaching a deal on a Gaza truce and hostage release.

The Palestinian group has insisted on the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire, demands Israel has repeatedly rejected.

Blinken has said Israel backs the latest plan, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose far-right coalition partners are strongly opposed, has not publicly endorsed it.

Biden's roadmap for the first truce since a week-long pause and hostage-prisoner release in November includes a six-week ceasefire, hostage releases and Gaza's reconstruction.

The World Food Programme said that "as fighting escalates in the south and centre of Gaza, the toll on civilians is devastating."

But "with lawlessness inside the Strip... and active conflict", it has become "close to impossible to deliver the level of aid that meets the growing demands on the ground", the UN agency's deputy executive director Carl Skau said.

"More than anything, people want this war to end," Skau added in a statement after a two-day visit to Gaza.

The World Health Organization has said more than 8,000 children under five have been treated for acute malnutrition in Gaza.

AFP images from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital showed the grieving family of a 10-year-old boy who died suffering from malnutrition. His limbs appeared thin and his ribcage was clearly visible.



- US sanctions -



The United States, Israel's close ally, imposed sanctions Friday on an Israeli group whose activists have blocked Gaza-bound aid convoys.

"Individuals from Tzav 9 have repeatedly sought to thwart the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, including by blockading roads, sometimes violently," the US State Department said.

"They also have damaged aid trucks and dumped life-saving humanitarian aid onto the road."

G7 leaders in a statement at the end of their summit urged the "rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need", and said the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, must be allowed to work unhindered in Gaza.

Israel had accused 12 of the agency's 13,000 Gaza staff of involvement in the October 7 attack, prompting a number of donor governments to temporarily suspend their contributions. An independent review said Israel did not support its claims with evidence.

The G7 statement also called for aid flow through "all relevant land crossing points" including the Rafah border, which has been shut since Israeli forces launched a ground operation in the city in early May.

As Muslims worldwide prepare to mark Eid al-Adha starting Sunday, Gazans lamented the shortages of essential goods.

"There is no Eid spirit," Mohammed Shabat, who like most of Gaza's population has been displaced by the war, said outside his tent in Deir al-Balah.

burs-it/ami/kir
DRC 'coup' trial suspects mistreated: lawyers



Kinshasa, June 14 (AFP) Jun 14, 2024



Lawyers for 51 defendants on trial over an alleged coup attempt in DR Congo, including three Americans, alleged Friday that suspects in the case had been mistreated in detention.

They urged the court to annul evidence from earlier hearings involving their clients, alleging irregularities such as the absence of interpreters.

The alleged coup bid struck on May 19 when armed men attacked the home of Economy Minister Vital Kamerhe before raiding the building housing the offices of President Felix Tshisekedi.

US nationals Marcel Malanga and Taylor Christian Thomson, both 21, and 36-year-old Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun are among 51 people accused by the Congolese military of participating in the coup.

Their lawyers said minutes from the hearings were drawn up without the assistance of interpreters -- even though the defendants speak English and the hearings were conducted in French.

Thomson's defence said that he had lodged a civil claim in the case, denouncing acts of "inhuman and degrading treatment" during his arrest, referring to videos of the defendant stripped naked that were widely circulated on social media.

Lawyers for Jean-Jacques Wondo, a Congolese-Belgian, requested "provisional release on health grounds".

Wondo is "diabetic and hypertensive", but since his arrest he has been forbidden to take his medication, "which is suicidal", said lawyer Peter Ngomo.

The trial began on June 7 in Ndolo military prison where all the defendants are being held.

In the first hearing, Judge Freddy Ehume told the court that the actions of the three Americans were "punishable by death".

The next hearing will take place on Tuesday.
US Supreme Court strikes down ban on gun 'bump stocks'



Washington, June 14 (AFP) Jun 14, 2024



The US Supreme Court ruled on Friday that a ban introduced by ex-president Donald Trump's administration on bump stocks -- devices which allow semi-automatic rifles to fire like a machine gun -- is unconstitutional.

The case stems from the worst mass shooting in US history, in October 2017, when a man fired on a crowd attending an outdoor music concert in Las Vegas, killing 58 people and wounding around 500.

Most of his 22 guns were equipped with bump stocks, allowing them to fire as many as nine bullets a second.

The court voted along ideological lines, 6-3 in favor of the conservative justices, that the Trump administration did not follow the law after the shooting in extending a ban on machine guns to include bump stocks.

"This case asks whether a bump stock -- an accessory for a semiautomatic rifle that allows the shooter to rapidly reengage the trigger (and therefore achieve a high rate of fire) -- converts the rifle into a 'machinegun,'" said Justice Clarence Thomas, writing the opinion for the majority.

"We hold that it does not."

The Trump campaign -- keen to play up the pro-gun credentials of the last administration, despite it introducing the bump stock ban -- said the court's decision "should be respected."

Leading lobby group the National Rifle Association (NRA) welcomed the ruling as having "properly restrained executive branch agencies to their role of enforcing, and not making, the law."

But it sparked howls of outrage from gun control activists and Democrats, with President Joe Biden's reelection campaign denouncing the court for prioritizing the gun lobby over "the safety of our kids."

"Weapons of war have no place on the streets of America, but Trump's Supreme Court justices have decided the gun lobby is more important than the safety of our kids and our communities," campaign spokesman Michael Tyler said in a statement.

Esther Sanchez-Gomez of gun control group Giffords blasted the conservative justices for having "sided with the gun lobby instead of the safety of the American people," pointing to polling showing more than eight in 10 Americans favor a ban.



- 'Quacks like a duck' -



The government first acted on the issue in 2018, following another mass shooting at a Florida high school which left 17 people dead, when the Justice Department under Trump moved to declare the detachable devices illegal.

In December of that year, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) revised its regulations on bump stocks, declaring that they fall under a 1934 law passed by Congress banning machine guns.

Brian Fletcher, deputy solicitor general in President Joe Biden's Justice Department, told the court when it heard oral arguments in February that bump stocks allow a user to "empty a 100-round magazine like the ones used in the Las Vegas shooting in about 10 seconds."

"Those weapons do exactly what Congress meant to prohibit when it enacted the prohibition on machine guns," Fletcher said.

But lawyers for Michael Cargill, a gun seller from Texas, challenged the move claiming the ATF had overstepped its bounds in classifying bump stocks with machine guns.

Oral arguments focused on the technical definition of a machine gun in the 1934 law, which was passed during the Prohibition era, well before the invention of the bump stock.

Thomas said in his opinion the law defines a machine gun strictly as a weapon capable of firing "automatically more than one shot... by a single function of the trigger."

But the ruling prompted a robust dissent from liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who said the court's definition of "machine gun" was at odds with the ordinary meaning.

"When I see a bird that walks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, I call that bird a duck."
Canadian Navy ship join US, Russian subs in Cuba



Havana, June 14 (AFP) Jun 14, 2024



A Canadian Navy patrol ship docked Friday in Cuba, which is also hosting two nuclear-powered submarines -- one American and one Russian.

The HMCS Margaret Brooke docked in Havana on its way back from "a successful deployment in the Caribbean basin," the Royal Canadian Navy said on Facebook.

It "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," it added.

It was the Navy's first visit to Havana since 2016 and to Cuba since 2018, said the statement.

A US nuclear-powered submarine arrived in Cuba, the Pentagon said Thursday, a day after a Russian nuclear sub also docked there.

The fast-attack submarine USS Helena was in Guantanamo Bay as part of a routine port visit, previously planned, the US Southern Command said.

The Russian nuclear-powered sub Kazan -- which Cuba said was not carrying nuclear weapons -- arrived in the Cuban capital Wednesday.

It was accompanied by the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, as well as an oil tanker and a salvage tug.

The unusual Russian deployment so close to the United States -- just 90 miles off the Florida coast -- came amid major tensions over the war in Ukraine, where the Western-backed government is fighting a Russian invasion.

The United States military said it had been monitoring the Russian ships and they posed no direct threat.

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.

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Leaders head to Ukraine peace summit under shadow of Putin demands



Lucerne, Switzerland, June 15 (AFP) Jun 15, 2024



World leaders headed to Switzerland on Saturday for a first summit on peace in Ukraine, after Vladimir Putin demanded Kyiv effectively surrender if it ultimately wants negotiations with Moscow.

The two-day gathering at the luxury Burgenstock resort brings together Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and more than 50 other heads of state and government, but without Russia taking part.

Switzerland says the aim is to lay the early groundwork for a path to peace eventually involving Moscow, but Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday branded the summit a "trick to distract everyone".

He said Moscow, which launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, would cease fire and begin peace talks "immediately" if Kyiv pulled its troops out of the east and south and gave up its NATO membership bid.

Zelensky slammed Putin's demands as a territorial "ultimatum" reminiscent of Nazi Germany's dictator Adolf Hitler, while NATO and the United States also immediately rejected the hardline conditions.

After almost a year of stalemate, Ukraine was forced to abandon dozens of frontline settlements this spring, with Russian troops holding a significant advantage in manpower and resources.

But since mid-May, Russian progress has slowed and Zelensky hopes to swing the momentum further with the back-to-back G7 and peace summits.



- G7 $50 bn, security deal -



The G7 summit in Italy, which Zelensky attended, offered on Thursday a new $50 billion loan for Ukraine, using profits from the interest on frozen Russian assets.

Leaders of the Group of Seven rich democracies said they would support Ukraine "for as long as it takes".

Zelensky said the new loan would go towards "both defence and reconstruction", while Putin branded the move as "theft", warning it would "not go unpunished".

Meanwhile, a landmark 10-year security deal signed by Zelensky and US President Joe Biden on Thursday will see the United States provide Ukraine with military aid and training, with Zelensky calling it a bridge to joining the NATO defence alliance.

Biden will not go from Italy to Switzerland, sending instead his Vice President Kamala Harris, while the other G7 leaders from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Italy are due to attend.

The EU chiefs and the presidents of Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Finland and Poland are among the others heading to Switzerland.

The Summit on Peace in Ukraine aims to see the 92 attending countries agree a final declaration on some tentative basic principles.

Russia's BRICS allies Brazil and South Africa are only sending an envoy, and India will be represented at the ministerial level, while China will not take part at all without Moscow's presence.



- Finding common ground -



The summit is being held at the ultra-exclusive Burgenstock hotel complex perched high above Lake Lucerne in classic picture-postcard Swiss scenery.

The gathering will focus on narrow themes, based on common ground between Zelensky's 10-point peace plan presented in late 2022, and UN resolutions on the war that passed with widespread support.

The summit aims to find paths towards a lasting peace for Ukraine, based on international law and the United Nations Charter; a possible framework to achieve this goal; and a roadmap as to how both parties could come together in a future peace process.

Experts have warned against too-high expectations from the gathering.

"Meaningful negotiations that could truly end the devastating war in Ukraine remain out of reach, as both Kyiv and Moscow stick to theories of victory that amount to outlasting the other," the International Crisis Group think tank said.

"Kyiv and its backers will be hard pressed to get tangible results from the meeting... beyond reaffirmations of the UN Charter's principles of territorial integrity."



- Nuclear, food, humanitarian focus -



A plenary session involving all delegations will be held on Saturday.

On Sunday, three topics will be discussed in detail in working groups: nuclear safety, freedom of navigation and food security, and humanitarian aspects. These will look at Black Sea shipping, prisoners of war, civilian detainees and deported children.

A second summit is envisaged, and Zelensky's chief of staff Andriy Yermak said Tuesday that Kyiv hoped Russia would attend and receive a "joint plan" presented by the other attendees.

The Burgenstock mountain is surrounded by the lake on three sides and the hotel complex is on a ridge some 450 metres above the water, making it relatively easy to seal off from traditional physical threats.

However, the Swiss government said its websites have been repeatedly hit with cyberattacks in the build-up to the summit, and has noted a surge in misinformation.

Samuel Charap, a Russia expert at the RAND think tank, said of the Swiss summit: "Russia is clearly going out of its way to demonstrate its pique with it... that tells you something.

"Avoiding the expansion of the pro-Ukraine coalition: they're concerned about this," he told AFP.

rjm-burs/nl/rlp/smw
North Korea building roads, walls inside Demilitarized Zone: Yonhap



Seoul, June 15 (AFP) Jun 15, 2024



North Korea's military has been building roads and walls inside the Demilitarized Zone that separates it from the South, the Yonhap news agency reported Saturday.

The construction activities are taking place north of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) that runs through the middle of the DMZ, the South Korean agency said, citing an unnamed military source.

The report follows an incident last week when South Korean forces fired warning shots after North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the MDL.

South Korean authorities said it was likely accidental, and Yonhap quoted a military spokesman as saying some of the North Koreans were carrying work tools.

"Recently, the North Korean military has been erecting walls, digging the ground and constructing roads in some areas between the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) and the Northern Limit Line in the DMZ," the military source said, according to Yonhap on Saturday.

It was not clear what they were building, the source told Yonhap.

When asked about the report, the South Korean military said in a statement that it was "closely tracking and monitoring the activities of the North Korean military", and that "further analysis is required".

It said it could not share the South Korean response to these actions "to ensure the safety of the personnel proceeding with an operation", without offering further details.

South Korea's spy agency told AFP this week that it had detected signs that North Korea was demolishing sections of a railway line connecting the two countries.

That followed an escalation in the propaganda war between the two Koreas.

North Korea sent more than a thousand balloons carrying trash into the South, describing them as retaliation for the propaganda balloons sent the other way by anti-Pyongyang activists.

Then, South Korea resumed blasting K-pop songs and news broadcasts at the North, using loudspeakers installed at the border.

The resumption of the loudspeaker campaign prompted Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, to threaten an unspecified "new countermeasure".

North Korea strictly controls the flow of information inside its borders, and is extremely sensitive about its people gaining access to South Korean content, especially pop culture.

It has previously threatened artillery strikes against the South Korean loudspeakers -- a psychological warfare tactic that dates back to the 1950-53 Korean War.
Sweden says Russian bomber violated its airspace



Stockholm, June 15 (AFP) Jun 15, 2024



A Russian SU-24 bomber violated Swedish airspace near the strategic Baltic Sea island of Gotland, leaving only after Sweden scrambled a JAS-39 fighter jet, Sweden's military said on Saturday.

The incident on Friday occurred three months after the Scandinavian country became a full member of NATO, dropping two centuries of military non-alliance.

"On Friday afternoon, a Russian SU-24 jet fighter violated Swedish airspace east of Gotland's southern tip. The Swedish air combat command warned the Russian aircraft with a verbal call," the Swedish armed forces said.

"When this was not heeded and the aircraft did not deviate from its route, it was dismissed from Swedish airspace by a rote JAS-39 Gripen," it said.

The violation was "brief", the military said.

"The Russian actions are not acceptable and demonstrate a lack of respect for our territorial integrity," the head of Sweden's air force, Jonas Wikman, said.

Gotland is located fewer than 350 kilometres (217 miles) from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

Swedish military doctrine holds that whoever controls Gotland is able to broadly control air and naval movements in the Baltic Sea.

Sweden reopened its garrison on Gotland in 2018 after years of slashed military spending saw it close in 2004.

Russia's unilateral annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014 had prompted Sweden to start beefing up its military again.

Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 then led to Sweden's historic decision to join the NATO military alliance.

The last time Russia violated Swedish airspace was in March 2022, when Swedish fighters intercepted two Su-24 and two Su-27 fighter jets over Gotland.
CORRECTED: Sweden says Russian bomber violated its airspace



Stockholm, June 15 (AFP) Jun 15, 2024



A Russian SU-24 bomber violated Swedish airspace near the strategic Baltic Sea island of Gotland, leaving only after Sweden scrambled two JAS-39 fighter jets, Sweden's military said on Saturday.

The incident on Friday occurred three months after the Scandinavian country became a full member of NATO, dropping two centuries of military non-alliance.

"On Friday afternoon, a Russian SU-24 jet fighter violated Swedish airspace east of Gotland's southern tip. The Swedish air combat command warned the Russian aircraft with a verbal call," the Swedish armed forces said.

"When this was not heeded and the aircraft did not deviate from its route, it was dismissed from Swedish airspace by two JAS-39 Gripens," it said.

The violation was "brief", the military said.

"The Russian actions are not acceptable and demonstrate a lack of respect for our territorial integrity," the head of Sweden's air force, Jonas Wikman, said.

Gotland is located fewer than 350 kilometres (217 miles) from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

Swedish military doctrine holds that whoever controls Gotland is able to broadly control air and naval movements in the Baltic Sea.

Sweden reopened its garrison on Gotland in 2018 after years of slashed military spending saw it close in 2004.

Russia's unilateral annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014 had prompted Sweden to start beefing up its military again.

Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 then led to Sweden's historic decision to join the NATO military alliance.

The last time Russia violated Swedish airspace was in March 2022, when Swedish fighters intercepted two Su-24 and two Su-27 fighter jets over Gotland.
Ukraine summit to open in Switzerland, seeking path to peace



Burgenstock, Switzerland, June 15 (AFP) Jun 15, 2024



World leaders were set to join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday for a summit on peace in his country. But without Russia in attendance, it is being seen as merely a first step in a long process.

Switzerland, which is hosting the two-day gathering at the luxury Burgenstock mountain resort, has sought to temper expectations, framing the event as laying the groundwork for a path to peace, with future summits envisioned involving Moscow.

But in a combative speech on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin slammed the conference, and demanded that Kyiv effectively surrender before any actual peace negotiations.

Zelensky branded Putin's demands a territorial "ultimatum" reminiscent of Nazi Germany's dictator Adolf Hitler, while NATO and the United States also immediately rejected the hardline conditions.

"What we need is not a dictated peace but a just and equitable peace which takes into account Ukraine's (territorial) integrity and sovereignty," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told broadcaster ARD before heading to the summit.



- 92 countries taking part -



The conference, convening exactly 100 countries and global institutions, comes at a perilous moment for exhausted Ukrainians and outgunned soldiers, more than two years since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

More than 50 heads of state and government figure among the attendees, including all of the G7 leaders who have been meeting in Italy -- with one notable exception.

US President Joe Biden is instead sending his Vice President Kamala Harris.

"I look forward to standing with our allies and partners in support of Ukraine's effort to secure a just and lasting peace," Harris said on X before leaving for the summit.

She is due to meet Zelensky shortly after her helicopter sets down in Burgenstock.

The leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan are attending, as is the European Union chief and the leaders of Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Fiji, Finland, Ghana, Kenya and Poland.

Russia's BRICS allies Brazil and South Africa are meanwhile only sending an envoy, and India will be represented at the ministerial level.

China is absent, insisting it will not take part without Moscow's presence.



- Low hopes on front line -



After almost a year of stalemate, Ukraine was forced to abandon dozens of frontline settlements this spring, with Russian troops holding a significant advantage in manpower and resources.

Near Ukraine's embattled eastern front, hopes for any major breakthrough are nearly nil.

"I'd like to hope that it will bring some changes in the future. But, as experience shows, nothing comes of it," Maksym, a tank commander the Donetsk region, told AFP.

And in Kyiv, Victoria, a 36-year-old energy industry worker, said she was "exhausted" by the war and wanted to believe the summit would help end it.

But, she said, "I'm a realist in life, so I don't have high hopes."

Experts have also warned against too-high expectations from the gathering.

"Meaningful negotiations that could truly end the devastating war in Ukraine remain out of reach, as both Kyiv and Moscow stick to theories of victory that amount to outlasting the other," the International Crisis Group think tank said.

"Kyiv and its backers will be hard pressed to get tangible results from the meeting."



- G7 $50 bn, security deal -



But since mid-May, Russian progress has slowed and Zelensky hopes to swing the momentum further with the back-to-back G7 and peace summits.

Zelensky arrived at Burgenstock on Friday evening after the G7 summit agreed to offer a new $50-billion loan for Ukraine, using profits from the interest on frozen Russian assets.

Leaders of the Group of Seven rich democracies said they would support Ukraine "for as long as it takes".

Zelensky said the new loan would go towards "both defence and reconstruction", while Putin branded the move as "theft", warning it would "not go unpunished".

Meanwhile, a landmark 10-year security deal signed by Zelensky and Biden on Thursday will see the United States provide Ukraine with military aid and training, with Zelensky calling it a bridge to joining the NATO defence alliance.

Also on Friday, the EU's 27 member states agreed "in principle" on beginning accession negotiations with Ukraine.

- Nuclear, food, humanitarian focus -



The summit is being held at the ultra-exclusive Burgenstock hotel complex perched high above Lake Lucerne in classic picture-postcard Swiss scenery.

The summit aims to find paths towards a lasting peace for Ukraine, based on international law and the United Nations Charter; a possible framework to achieve this goal; and a roadmap as to how both parties could come together in a future peace process.

A plenary session involving all delegations will be held on Saturday.

On Sunday, three topics will be discussed in detail in working groups: nuclear safety, freedom of navigation and food security, and humanitarian aspects.

These will look at Black Sea shipping, prisoners of war, civilian detainees and deported children.

A second summit is envisaged. Zelensky's chief of staff Andriy Yermak said on Tuesday that Kyiv hoped Russia would attend and receive a "joint plan" presented by the other attendees.

Samuel Charap, a Russia expert at the RAND think tank, said of the Swiss summit: "Russia is clearly going out of its way to demonstrate its pique with it... That tells you something.

"Avoiding the expansion of the pro-Ukraine coalition -- they're concerned about this," he told AFP.

rjm-nl-burs/gil
Harris announces over $1.5 bn more US energy, humanitarian aid for Ukraine



Washington, June 15 (AFP) Jun 15, 2024



US Vice President Kamala Harris announced on Saturday more than $1.5 billion in new aid for Ukraine, mainly for its energy sector and in humanitarian assistance, more than two years after Russia's invasion.

Harris, who is attending a two-day peace summit in Switzerland's luxury Burgenstock mountain resort, said the aid included $500 million in new funding for energy assistance.

Another $324 million in previously announced USAID funding would also be redirected to address emergency energy needs.

"This funding will repair energy infrastructure damaged in the war, expand power generation, encourage private sector investment, and protect energy infrastructure," Harris said in a statement.

"These efforts will help Ukraine respond to Russia's latest attacks on Ukraine energy infrastructure by supporting repair and recovery, improving Ukraine's resilience to energy supply disruptions, and laying the groundwork to repair and expand Ukraine's energy system."

The new package, from USAID and the State Department, also includes more than $379 million in humanitarian assistance.

This will "help address urgent needs of refugees, internally displaced persons, and conflict-affected communities impacted by Russia's brutal war against the Ukrainian people," Harris said.

The State Department, with the support of Congress, will provide another $300 million in Ukrainian civilian security assistance, she added.

"This support will help them safely operate on the front lines of the war to defend Ukraine's territory, rescue civilians targeted by the Kremlin's attacks, protect critical infrastructure, and investigate the over 120,000 registered cases of war crimes and other atrocities," Harris said.
France, Germany, UK condemn Iran's latest nuclear measures



Paris, June 15 (AFP) Jun 15, 2024



France, Germany and Britain on Saturday condemned Iran's "latest measures", after the United Nations atomic watchdog said the country was expanding its nuclear capacities.

The three allies said Iran's moves were undermining a landmark 2015 deal on its nuclear programme, after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Thursday said the country was strengthening enrichment facilities at two sites.

"These measures will again increase Iran's stock of enriched uranium and enrichment capacity, whose levels have already surpassed the limits set" by the 2015 deal, the French, German and British foreign ministries said in a joint statement.

The condemnation came more than a week after the countries tabledt a resolution at an IAEA board of governors meeting criticising Tehran's lack of cooperation with the nuclear watchdog, the first such move since November 2022.

Iran condemned the resolution as "hasty and unwise".

It denies seeking to develop a nuclear weapon, saying its atomic programme is for peaceful and civilian purposes.

Germany, France and Britain said it was unacceptable that Iran presented its measures as a reaction to the resolution.

They reiterated their commitment to a diplomatic solution preventing Tehran developing a nuclear weapon.

According to the IAEA, Iran is the only non-nuclear weapon state to enrich uranium to the high level of 60 percent -- just short of weapons-grade -- while it continues accumulating large uranium stockpiles.

The IAEA has said Tehran has significantly ramped up its nuclear programme and now has enough material to build several atomic bombs.

The Islamic republic has gradually broken away from its commitments under the 2015 deal it struck with world powers.

The accord provided relief from Western sanctions in exchange for curbs on Iran's atomic programme.

It fell apart after the unilateral withdrawal of the United States under then-president Donald Trump in 2018.

Efforts to revive the deal have so far failed.
Italy PM slams Putin's 'propaganda' on Ukraine peace talks



Bari, Italy, June 15 (AFP) Jun 15, 2024



Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday slammed as "propaganda" Russian President Vladimir Putin's demand that Ukraine effectively surrender before any peace talks.

"It doesn't seem particularly effective to me as a negotiation proposal to tell Ukraine that it must withdraw from Ukraine," she said at the end of a G7 summit in Italy, and as an international conference on ending the conflict opened in Switzerland.

"Let's say it seems more like a propaganda initiative... to create a narrative that wants to provide counter-information on where the responsibilities for the conflict lie."

Putin -- who was not invited to the Switzerland meeting -- had on Friday slammed the conference and demanded that Kyiv effectively surrender before any actual peace negotiations.

Meloni sent her foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, to the talks on Saturday and is due to attend herself on Sunday.

At the G7 summit on Thursday and Friday in Puglia, the leaders of the United States, France, Germany, Britain, Japan, Canada and Italy agreed on a new $50 billion loan for Ukraine, as proof of their long-term support.

Meloni said Saturday that the United States, Canada, Britain and "probably" Japan will contribute to the loan, but not European Union countries.

The loan would be backed by the profits on the interest of an estimated 300 billion euros' worth of Russian central bank assets frozen by Western countries following the February 2022 invasion.

G7 leaders said they hoped to provide at least some of the loan to Ukraine this year, to help with defence, Kyiv's budget and reconstruction.

But crucial details still need to be hammered out, including who would provide the money and how they would share the risk in the event that the loan is not repaid.

The United States has said it is willing to put up the entire $50 billion but does not expect to do so, saying it would be a "loan syndicate" and the G7 leaders would "share the risk".

"European nations are currently not involved in this loan... Europe is already contributing by identifying the guarantee mechanism for the repayment of this loan," Meloni said.
Roadside bomb kills six Somali soldiers



Mogadishu, June 15 (AFP) Jun 15, 2024



A roadside bomb planted by the jihadist group Al-Shabaab killed at least six soldiers including a senior military commander in southern Somalia, police and local officials said on Saturday.

The blast occurred during a routine military operation near Gofgadud town, some 30 kilometres (18 miles) from the southwestern city of Baidoa, they said.

"Six members of the army including Colonel Mohamed Dheere died on the spot," Hassan Mohamed, a military officer in Baidoa told AFP by telephone.

Several others were wounded, he added, without specifying the number.

Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda affiliated group, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Bombings and other attacks are common in the capital Mogadishu and Baidoa, although few have been recorded in recent months.

Last week, Somalia's government said five of its soldiers died in a battle in which they killed nearly 50 fighters in Ceeldheer north of Mogadishu.

The president of the Southwest state, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed, sent his condolences to the families of the soldiers and praised Dheere for his key contribution in the fight against Al-Shabaab.

Dheere "played an important role in ensuring the security of the country," Mohamed said in a statement, adding he will be "remembered" for the operations that defeated the Islamist group.

Al-Shabaab has been waging a deadly insurgency against the fragile central government in Mogadishu for more than 16 years.

Although driven out of the capital by an African Union force in 2011, they still have a strong presence in rural Somalia.

They have carried out repeated attacks against political, security and civilian targets, mostly in Somalia but also in neighbouring countries including Kenya.

Somalia's beleaguered federal government has joined forces with local clan militia against the Islamists, retaking swathes of territory in central Somalia in an operation backed by an AU mission known as ATMIS and US air strikes.

But the offensive has suffered setbacks, with Al-Shabaab earlier this year claiming it had taken multiple locations in the centre of the country.
Hezbollah keeps up pressure on Israel days after commander's death



Beirut, June 15 (AFP) Jun 15, 2024



Hezbollah kept up retaliatory attacks on Israel Saturday, days after an air strike killed one of its commanders, while a Palestinian group said one of its fighters was killed in south Lebanon.

Senior Hezbollah commander Taleb Abdallah was killed in an Israeli strike in the village of Jouaiyya on Tuesday along with three comrades.

The Iran-backed movement said Saturday it targeted the Meron base in northern Israel with "guided missiles", and sent "attack drones" towards another Israeli base "as part of the response to the attack and assassination carried out by the enemy in Jouaiyya".

Israel and Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, have traded near-daily cross-border fire since the Palestinian militant group's October 7 attack on Israel which triggered war in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army had confirmed it carried out the strike targeting Abdallah, describing him as "one of Hezbollah's most senior commanders in southern Lebanon".

On Saturday, the Israeli army said "two projectiles were fired from Lebanon toward the IDF (army) Aerial Control Unit in the area of Meron in northern Israel", reporting "no injuries or damage to the unit's capabilities".

It also said "several aerial targets were identified crossing from Lebanon into Israeli territory" and striking in the Goren area. It said there were no reports of casualties but that "a fire broke out".

"Aircraft struck a Hezbollah terrorist" in south Lebanon's Aitarun area, the military said, adding that "artillery fired to remove a threat", also in the Aitarun area.

The armed wing of Palestinian militant movement Islamic Jihad later said one of its fighters had been killed in south Lebanon.

On Wednesday, top Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine vowed the group would "increase the intensity, strength, quantity and quality of our attacks", in an address at Abdallah's funeral.

A Lebanese military source said Abdallah was the "most important" Hezbollah commander to have been killed since the start of the war.

The cross-border violence has killed at least 471 people in Lebanon, most of them fighters but also including 91 civilians, according to an AFP tally.

Israeli authorities say at least 15 Israeli soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed.
Ukraine seeks path to just peace at Swiss summit



Burgenstock, Switzerland, June 15 (AFP) Jun 15, 2024



President Volodymyr Zelensky said he hoped to find a route to a "just peace" as soon as possible, as a first international summit on pathways to end Russia's war in Ukraine opened on Saturday.

More than 50 world leaders were due to join Zelensky at the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland for a two-day peace summit -- though with Moscow rejecting the event, it only has the modest ambitions of laying the groundwork for ending the conflict, now in its third year.

"I believe that we will witness history being made here at the summit," Zelensky said as the event began, calling for a "just peace".

"Everything that will be agreed upon at the summit today will be part of the peacemaking process.

"We have succeeded in bringing back to the world the idea that joint efforts can stop war and establish a just peace."

The summit is aimed at trying to agree a basic international platform for eventual peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow.



- Putin demands effective surrender -



Swiss President Viola Amherd said future summits were envisioned, eventually involving Russia, and that this one would "take concrete steps" towards a "lasting peace".

"We can prepare the ground for direct talks between the warring parties: that is what we are here for," she said.

Ukraine has suggested Russia could attend a second summit, where it would be presented with any joint plan agreed by the other attendees.

"We have to talk to the enemy. We cannot negotiate peace between likeminded countries," Slovenia's President Natasa Pirc Musar said ahead of the talks.

In a combative speech on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin had slammed the conference and demanded that Kyiv effectively surrender before any actual peace negotiations.

Zelensky on Saturday said the only person who wanted the war was Putin and has rejected the Kremlin leader's "ultimatums".

NATO, the United States and several Western countries also dismissed Putin's hardline conditions.



- 92 countries taking part -



Some 100 countries and global institutions, including the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, are convening at the Swiss luxury mountainside resort for the talks.

The heads of some non-European countries, like Chile, Ghana and Kenya, are also attending.

But US President Joe Biden sent his Vice President Kamala Harris, who announced more than $1.5 billion in new aid for Ukraine, mainly for its energy sector and in humanitarian assistance.

Russia's BRICS partners Brazil and South Africa are only sending an envoy, and India will be represented at the ministerial level.

China is absent, insisting it will not take part without Moscow's presence.



- Low hopes -



The gathering comes at a perilous moment for Ukraine on the battlefield, with Russian forces advancing against outmanned and outgunned Ukrainian units.

Near Ukraine's embattled eastern front, hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough are nearly nil.

"I'd like to hope that it will bring some changes in the future. But, as experience shows, nothing comes of it," Maksym, a tank commander in the Donetsk region, told AFP.

Outside the summit venue, the wife of a Ukrainian soldier captured by Russia said she hoped the leaders could agree "some exchange process for the prisoners of war".

"I want to see my husband," said Hanna, who fled her home in the southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol and now lives in Sweden.



- Nuclear, food, humanitarian focus -



In addition to laying the groundwork for a peace settlement, specific talks at the summit will focus on three narrower areas: nuclear safety, freedom of navigation and food security, and humanitarian aspects.

That includes prisoners of war and the issue of Ukrainian children taken to Russia or Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine.

"One of the major themes is to see how we can... finally obtain a result in bringing back deported children," said Didier Reynders, the EU Commissioner for Justice.

Kyiv accuses Russia of abducting almost 20,000 Ukrainian children, and the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Putin over the accusations.

Moscow rejects the claims and says it has relocated children away from frontline fighting for their own protection.

Attendees are wrangling over a possible final joint declaration, according to sources close to the discussions cited by Swiss public news agency Keystone-ATS.

Kyiv has insisted that terms like "Russian aggression" and references to the "territorial integrity" of Ukraine appear in any joint communique, but it remained unclear if more than 90 countries could get behind such wording.

Arriving at the Burgenstock gathering on Saturday, Finland's President Alexander Stubb said Ukraine "comes to these discussions from a position of strength".

G7 leaders this week agreed to a $50-billion loan for Ukraine using profits from the interest on frozen Russian assets, and Kyiv also inked a 10-year security agreement with Washington for military aid and training at that summit.

On Friday, the European Union's 27 member states also agreed "in principle" on beginning accession negotiations with Ukraine.

rjm-jc-burs/nl/bc
Zelensky says will present peace plan to Russia once agreed



Burgenstock, Switzerland, June 15 (AFP) Jun 15, 2024



Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday he would present Moscow a proposal for ending the war once it had been agreed by the international community.

He made the commitment in Switzerland during an address to an inaugural summit on peace in his country, attended by more than 90 countries, but not Russia.

Zelensky told the forum he hoped the summit would lay the groundwork for a "just" and "lasting" settlement with Russia.

"We must decide together what a just peace means for the world and how it can be achieved in a lasting way," he said.

"Then it will be communicated to the representatives of Russia, and so that at the second peace summit we can fix the real end of the war," he added.

Zelensky did not say if he was prepared to engage in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin directly.

On the eve of the summit, Putin laid out his own conditions for ending the conflict.

He called on Ukraine to withdraw its troops from the south and east of the country and renounce its ambitions to join the NATO military alliance, conditions quickly dismissed by Zelensky.

"He is not calling for negotiations, He is calling for surrender," US Vice President Kamala Harris told Saturday's summit of Putin's demands.

Western leaders lined up to pledge support for Ukraine and stress the need for a settlement on Kyiv's terms.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said a ceasefire without "serious negotiations with a roadmap towards a lasting peace... would only legitimise Russia's illegal land grab."

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen insisted that "freezing the conflict today with foreign troops occupying Ukrainian land is not an answer.

"In fact, it is a recipe for future wars of aggression," she warned.

But some countries from outside Ukraine's traditional circle of partners stressed the need to give Russia a voice and criticised some Western sanctions targeting Moscow.

Kyiv would have to be prepared for a "difficult compromise" if it wanted to end the conflict, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud told the conference.

And Kenya's President William Ruto blasted a recent G7 deal to offer a $50-billion loan to Ukraine secured against profits of frozen Russian assets.

"The unilateral appropriation of Russian assets is equally unlawful," Ruto said in his opening address, after calling Russia's invasion a "horrifying spectacle of carnage and devastation".
Israel army says eight soldiers killed in Gaza



Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories, June 15 (AFP) Jun 15, 2024



The Israeli military said eight soldiers were killed in Gaza Saturday when their armoured vehicle was struck by a bomb, in one of the deadliest blows for the army since the war began in October.

Captain Wassem Mahmud, 23, and seven other soldiers "fell during operational activity in southern Gaza," the military said in a statement.

"Their families have been notified."

The military said the vehicle was hit in the Tal al-Sultan area of Gaza's far-southern city of Rafah, where troops are engaged in fierce street battles with Palestinian militants.

Preliminary enquiries suggested the vehicle "got hit as a result of an explosion of a side bomb," the military said in a statement.

It said the magnitude of the blast suggested that the bomb had set off a secondary explosion inside the vehicle.

"The explosion was significant and may have been caused by the initiation of the explosive material on the vehicle," the military said.

"All this is not supposed to happen and therefore the incident is being examined.

"There was a very serious damage to the vehicle and those in it, and a large explosion making it difficult to identify and locate the bodies."

Military spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a televised briefing later on Saturday that "there was a strong explosion".

He said the blast was "apparently from an explosive device planted in the area or from the firing of an anti-tank missile".

Thousands of Israelis meanwhile gathered in Tel Aviv for the weekly protest against the hard-right government's handling of the war, an AFP correspondent reported.

"Every soldier who dies is like a family member who dies. We experience it as a collective loss," said one of the protesters, Graciela Barchilon, 68.

"I feel a lot of anger and disappointment. I believe this government is not working and we have to go to elections now."

Saturday's losses were among the heaviest for the military since it began its ground offensive in Gaza on October 27.

Twenty-one soldiers were killed on January 22 when rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) fire hit a tank near two buildings where they were carrying out an operation, the military said at the time.

The buildings exploded as troops had planted explosives in them after the structures had been identified as "terrorist infrastructure" in the area, it said.

Saturday's deaths take to 306 the military's losses since October 27.

The war began with Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7 which resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 37,296 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.
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A Conservative spokesman said: We have taken bold action to empower parents in making the choices that are best for them  whether that be by giving parents more flexibility and choice surrounding their paternity leave or rolling out the largest ever expansion of childcare.
He said: I can only assure President Zelensky about what I would do if I was Prime Minister, but I am able to give him that reassurance that our support for Ukraine will continue not just today, but for as long as it takes but I can make that commitment to him because Ive made the decision to increase defence spending.
It is probably the only day we see the entire royal family together in public and I think the royal family really appreciate the day as well  its the closest thing we get in the United Kingdom to a national day, so all of that makes it incredibly special.
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The attribute of appointing the European commissioner belongs to the prime minister, declared on Saturday the head of the Executive, Marcel Ciolacu, stating that he will also have a discussion with the president Klaus Iohannis on this subject.

He was asked in Buzau about the option that would be circulated to support Nicolae Ciuca in the presidential candidacy in exchange for the guarantee that he will be retained as prime minister and also that a social democrat will be proposed for the post of European commissioner which will return to Romania.

"First of all, the attribute of appointing the European Commissioner belongs to the Prime Minister. It is also a discussion in the coalition and I will also have a discussion with the President of Romania, who is, in fact, Romania's representative at the European Council. The negotiations regarding the Commissioner have already have been started for six months and with several European leaders, we had telephone discussions yesterday. Things are in the right direction, especially institutionally," said Marcel Ciolacu.

The Head of the Executive visited the Aurel Vlaicu Aeronautical Personnel Training and Training Air Base, from Boboc, on Saturday, where the Boboc Air Show - BOBAS 2024 air rally is taking place.
ST. LOUIS  Tyson has been sued, again, over the closure of the companys plant in Dexter, alleging the shutdown devastated chicken farmers in the area.

A lawsuit filed this month seeks class action status for a group of about 45 farmers. The suit alleges that local families took on millions of dollars of debt and built chicken farms to meet Tysons contract requirements, at the companys urging. Tyson then shut down the site in southeast Missouris Bootheel region, as it moved to improve profit margins with a sweep of plant closures across the country last year.

Beyond the heavy job losses  700 in a city of 7,900 people  and fears about city tax revenues, the closure sparked anxiety for the farmers in the area who relied on the poultry plant to buy their chickens. Farmers around Dexter were dependent on the Tyson plant because chickens can only be transported a short distance, both for animal welfare and because the birds are more likely to die on longer journeys.

After word of the closure came out in August, Dexter officials said they were told by company representatives that Tyson was unlikely to sell the plant and property to another chicken producer, which threatened to leave the chicken farmers without a buyer.

Elected officials pushed back. In September, U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley wrote in a social media post that he had spoken with Tyson CEO Donnie King, who said he was willing to sell to a competitor.

And a family of farmers sued Tyson, alleging that the closure would reduce the value of their operations to nearly nothing. (Records show that the case was moved to federal court, and the groups reached a settlement in October.)

But in December news broke that Tyson had reached a deal to sell the plant to a Mississippi-based egg producer, Cal-Maine, which would convert the site into an egg grading facility. A purchase price was not disclosed.

The sale to Cal-Maine decimated former Tyson chicken farmers, the lawsuit said, whose farms were financed and built exclusively for the chicken slaughter system.

The latest suit also alleges that despite Tysons claim that it was open to selling to a competitor, Cal-Maine officials were at the Dexter plant the day after the shutdown was announced.

Portions of the lawsuit are redacted surrounding references to a 25-year property use agreement that Tyson and Cal-Maine allegedly reached for the site. Russell Oliver, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, said in a statement Saturday that those sections are subject to a protective order filed by Tyson, but that the property use agreement prevents certain activities on the former Tyson complex.

The lawsuit says the plaintiffs dont believe the redacted information should be confidential, and that they plan to seek the courts permission to file an unredacted version.

Tyson needs to quit hiding these documents and make them public. The farmers and the entire community deserve to know what has happened to the lifeblood of the local economy, Olivers statement read.

Reached for comment on the lawsuit Saturday, Tyson spokesperson MaKenzie Williams said she had no information to share.
Allan Mueller, a former state senator from St. Louis who later served on the Missouri Public Service Commission, drowned earlier this week in the Lake of the Ozarks, authorities said.

The Missouri Highway Patrol said state troopers found Mueller, 81, floating face down early Tuesday morning in the lakes Spring Cove. He was wearing a flotation device, the patrol said.

The patrol said he had last been seen about 5 p.m. Monday on his dock and had been reported as a missing person to Camden County authorities.

Mueller was a Democratic member of the state Senate from 1977 to 1983 and before that was in the state House for six years.

He ran for the 1st District U.S. House seat in 1982, losing to incumbent William Clay in the Democratic primary.

Mueller was appointed to the Public Service Commission, which regulates utility companies, by then-Gov. Christopher Bond in 1983 and continued on the panel until 1996, including a three-year stint as chairman.

He moved his residence to Jefferson City while he was on the commission. He continued to live there and was elected Cole County treasurer.

His legislative career included chairing the Senate Energy and Environment Committee and House Consumer Protection Committee.

At one point, he sponsored legislation shaping the duties and powers of the state public counsels office, which represents consumer interests before the PSC.

Mueller grew up in the Baden neighborhood on the citys north side; his late father, Aaron Barney Mueller, was a longtime St. Louis alderman.

Mueller went to the old McBride High School and earned a bachelors degree in marketing from St. Marys University in Texas. He was a Marine Corps veteran and spent 13 months in Vietnam as a combat engineer.

In addition to his governmental work, he headed a real estate and marketing firm in St. Louis.

Among the survivors are his wife, Carol Mueller of Jefferson City; a sister, Mary Sande of Reno, Nevada; three sons, Luke Mueller of Jefferson City and Ryan Mueller and Mark Mueller, both of Denver; a daughter, Abbie Mueller of Jefferson City, and eight grandchildren.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. June 28 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jefferson City, followed by a visitation.

Updated at 11:15 a.m. Saturday
BARI, Italy  The Group of Seven leading industrialized nations turned their attention to migration, artificial intelligence, economic security and the Indo-Pacific region on Friday, the second and final day of their summit in Italy.

The gathering in a luxury resort in Italys southern Puglia region also discussed other major topics, such as financial support for Ukraine, the war in Gaza, climate change, Iran, the situation in the Red Sea, gender equality and Chinas industrial policy and economic security.

We are working together and with others to address the pressing challenges of our time, the G7 leaders said in a final communique, noting their solidarity with Ukraine, support for a deal that would lead to an immediate cease-fire and release of hostages in Gaza, investment in sustainable infrastructure in Africa and commitments to address climate change and migration.

Divisions emerged during the summit, however, notably over the lack of a reference to abortion in the summits final declaration.

Asked if the G7 gathering has lived up to expectations, French President Emmanuel Macron was circumspect.

The aim of the G7 is to create convergence and be able to remove misunderstandings. Its not a place where you decide emergency measures or regulate things, he said, adding that there was true convergences on Ukraine and Mideast.

Migration was the first topic of discussions Friday, with the leaders mulling ways to combat trafficking and increase investment in countries where migrants start out on often life-threatening journeys.

The issue is of particular interest to summit host Italy, which lies on one of the major routes into the European Union for people fleeing war and poverty in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Right-wing Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, known for her hard-line stance on migration, is eager to increase investment and funding for African nations as a means of reducing migratory pressure on Europe.

The leaders launched the G7 Coalition to prevent and counter the smuggling of migrants, the summits final declaration said, noting the seven nations would focus on the root causes of irregular migration, efforts to enhance border management and curb transnational organized crime, and safe and regular pathways for migration.

Meloni has a controversial five-year deal with neighboring Albania for the Balkan country to host thousands of asylum-seekers while Italy processes their claims. She also spearheaded the Mattei Plan for Africa, a continent-wide strategy to increase economic opportunities at home to discourage migration.

For its part, Britain has a deal to deport some asylum seekers to Rwanda, though no flights have yet taken off. Human rights organizations blast the agreement as unethical and unworkable.

The United States also is struggling with a growing number of migrants. President Joe Biden introduced new policies to limit migration after a bill he tried to get through Congress failed to pass.

Apart from the G7 nations of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the U.S., the Italian hosts also invited several African leaders  Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Kenyan President William Ruto and Tunisian President Kais Saied  to press Melonis migration and development initiatives.

Rights groups decried what they said was a lack of ambition in support for developing countries.

The ONE Campaign, which advocates for investment in Africa, said it found the G7 and EU institutions share of aid going to Africa was at its lowest point since 1973.

Without any concrete action, the G7 in Italy amounts to no more than pointless platitudes, said David McNair, executive director at The ONE Campaign. Though the summits final statement reflects promises of increased partnership between the G7 and Africa, there are very few specifics on what new financing, if any, will be available.

Pope Francis also became the first pontiff to address a G7 summit, delivering a speech on artificial intelligence. Other invitees include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The summit opened Thursday with a strong show of support for Kyiv: an agreement on a U.S. proposal to back a $50 billion loan to Ukraine using frozen Russian assets as collateral.

Biden also signed a bilateral security agreement with Zelenskyy, aiming to send a signal to Russia of American resolve in supporting Kyiv.

But some cracks appeared among the G7 leaders, notably French President Emmanuel Macron deploring a lack of a reference to abortion in the summits final document.

The statement after last years summit in Hiroshima, Japan, expressed a commitment to provide access to safe and legal abortion to women and girls, and pledged to defend gender equality and the rights of members of the LGBTQ+ community.

The word abortion was absent from this years final communique, although it included a reference to promoting sexual and reproductive health rights.

Why these 9 cities attract the most international travelers Why these 9 cities attract the most international travelers #9. Cancun, Mexico #8. New York City #7. Bangkok, Thailand #6. Hong Kong #5. Paris, France #3. Dubai, United Arab Emirates #2. London, England #1. Istanbul, Turkiye
Maj. Gen. Brian Wolford speaks to reporters after taking command of Marine Corps Installations Pacific at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, on June 14, 2024. (Keishi Koja/Stars and Stripes)

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION FUTENMA, Okinawa  A general with extensive Indo-Pacific experience began his third Okinawa tour Friday as he assumed command of Marine Corps Installations Pacific.

Maj. Gen. Brian Wolford took over for Maj. Gen. Stephen Liszewski during a ceremony inside a leaky hangar on the air stations flight line.

Wolford, most recently the commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea, led the 3rd Marine Logistics Group on Okinawa from July 2020 to June 2022. He first deployed to the island in the 1990s as a motor and logistics officer.

He kept his remarks brief to the audience of roughly 350 Marines, U.S. and Japanese officials and family members.

I promise to you that I will give you 100%, he said. I expect from you 100%. I came here to win. That is why we are here  to win.

Liszewski oversaw the command through the later stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and helped restore regular day-to-day operations following the lockdowns. In his remarks, he addressed the threats facing the Indo-Pacific region.

Its no secret that since the end of the Second World War, the United States has maintained forward forces in the Indo-Pacific region to maintain peace and stability, he said. Its also no secret to anybody that at this particular time, that peace and stability is being challenged by a number of potential adversaries.

Maj. Gen. Brian Wolford, left, takes command of Marine Corps Installations Pacific from Maj. Gen. Stephen Liszewski, right, at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, on June 14, 2024. (Keishi Koja/Stars and Stripes)

The command oversees Marine bases in Japan, South Korea, Hawaii and Guam, home of the services newest installation, the still-under-construction Camp Blaz. Its mission includes command and control, oversight and budgeting for those installations.

The stand-in force needs a place to stand, and that place is MCIPAC, Liszewski said. The Marines and sailors standing behind me are representative of the 10,800 sailors, Marines, civilians and host nation employees that work at those commands in the Pacific, from Hawaii in the east to Camp Mujuk in the west.

The ceremony, which took place at the height of Okinawas rainy season, was moved from command headquarters at Camp Foster to MCAS Futenma due to inclement weather.

Liszewski and Maj. Gen. David Maxwell, commander of Marine Corps Installations Command in Washington, D.C., cracked jokes about the hangars leaking ceiling. They pointed out that while construction has ramped up on facilities throughout the Pacific during Liszewskis tenure, theres still work to be done.

Number one, these guys are blue collar workers, Liszewski said. Day in and day out, its not about who gets the credit. Its about operating with a bias for action. When you see an opportunity, seize it. If you see a challenge or an obstacle, knock it down. But drive on, take action, make mission and get ready for the next challenge, because in the installations business there is always one sitting around the next corner.

Maj. Gen. Stephen Liszewski, outgoing leader of Marine Corps Installations Pacific, speaks during a change-of-command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, on June 14, 2024. (Keishi Koja/Stars and Stripes)

During Liszewskis tenure, Marines on Okinawa renewed natural disaster agreements with local mayors in 2022, allowing four designated U.S. bases to open their gates to Okinawans seeking shelter or higher ground in the event of a natural disaster.

The native of Annapolis, Md., heads to Arlington, Va., to serve as vice director of the Joint Staff.

Wolford first deployed to Okinawa in the 1990s as a lieutenant serving as a motor transport and assistant logistics officer for 3rd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment; 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment; and Battalion Landing Team 2/6, according to his official biography.

In South Korea, he served as director for plans, policy and strategy for U.N. Command, Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea.

He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1987 and served three tours in Iraq and two in Afghanistan, including as commander of Bagram Airfield from 2019 to 2020.

Wolford said his prior service on Okinawa will help him relate to people here.

I think my biggest challenge  it really falls on me, he told reporters after the ceremony. Just like the Marines have to know their job really well, I have to know mine. So, Im going to spend the next couple of weeks really learning about everything that MCIPAC does in support of the community, in support of the MEF and the joint force.
A truck carries humanitarian aid across the Trident Pier off the Gaza coast on May 19, 2024. (U.S. Army)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. military is preparing to temporarily remove its humanitarian pier off the coast of Gaza because of anticipated sea conditions, a U.S. official said on Friday, the latest challenge to the effort that has been hampered by bad weather since it was put into place in May.

The floating U.S. military pier off Gaza had just resumed bringing humanitarian aid into the enclave after being suspended over the weekend.

The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that the pier would likely be moved to the Israeli port of Ashdod until sea conditions improve.

Aid began arriving via the U.S.-built pier on May 17, and the United Nations said it transported 137 trucks of aid to warehouses, some 900 metric tons, before the U.S. announced on May 28 that it had suspended operations so repairs could be made.

The U.N. said Friday it had still not resumed transportation of aid from the pier to U.N. World Food Program warehouses.

Our security colleagues are still working to ensure that secure conditions for humanitarian work can be re-established, said deputy U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq.

U.S. President Joe Biden announced in March the plan to put the pier in place for aid deliveries as famine loomed in Gaza, a Hamas-run enclave of 2.3 million people, during the war between Israel and the Palestinian militants.

The pier is estimated to cost hundreds of millions of dollars for the first 90 days and involve about 1,000 U.S. service members.
Intelligence agencies here have warned for several years that foreign powers, including China and India, are seeking to interfere in Canadian society, targeting not only politicians but also businesses, nonprofits, universities and dissidents. (Carlos Bongioanni/Stars and Stripes)

TORONTO - Canadian lawmakers knowingly or through willful blindness accepted money from foreign powers, colluded with foreign officials to improperly interfere in parliamentary business to the advantage of the foreign state and gave information obtained in confidence to a foreign intelligence officer.

Some were, in the words of the intelligence services, semi-witting or witting participants in efforts of foreign states to interfere in our politics.

These are among the explosive claims leveled in a new report made public by a committee of lawmakers thats now rattling Parliament.

In a country thats grown used to reports of Chinese and other foreign meddling, this one from the all-party National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians has landed this month like a bomb, raising familiar questions about how seriously the Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is taking the threat.

Adding to the anxiety is the committees decision to withhold the names of the individuals accused, how many there are and what they are alleged to have done - redactions that have had the effect of casting a shadow over the entire body.

We have had a number of reports now on this particular issue, and this was by far the most direct and strongest, said Stephanie Carvin, a former national security analyst for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.

Intelligence agencies here have warned for several years that foreign powers, including China and India, are seeking to interfere in Canadian society, targeting not only politicians but also businesses, nonprofits, universities and dissidents. The issue gained new prominence when media reported that China sought to interfere in the last two federal elections in 2019 and 2021 that returned Trudeaus Liberals to power.

After an initially muted response, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, who has a double-digit lead over Trudeau in opinion polls, is calling on the government to name names.

The government has refused, arguing that the police should investigate and lay charges if warranted. It has also said that releasing names would risk disclosing sensitive sources and methods and could impugn the reputation of current and former lawmakers based on intelligence that might be uncorroborated or unverified without providing them due process.

Its  more complicated than it looks, Ward Elcock, ex-head of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. Im  a little surprised that [the committee] went as far as they did in identifying that there were individuals within Parliament who crossed the line.

Government officials have instead urged opposition party leaders to obtain the security clearances necessary to review an unredacted version of the report. Poilievre has refused, arguing that it would tie his hands and prevent him from holding the government to account on the issue.

Two other party leaders did; their impressions left many asking whether theyd read the same document.

Green Party leader Elizabeth May told reporters Wednesday that shes concerned that foreign powers see Canada as a pretty vulnerable, soft target, but was relieved after reading the report because none of whats in it could be considered disloyalty to Canada.

But on Thursday, New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh said reading the report had left him more alarmed. He called the lawmakers it implicates traitors to their country. He also accused Trudeau and Poilievre of putting politics before the national interest.

The committee, known as NSICOP, reports to the prime ministers office. After the Globe and Mail newspaper reported last year on alleged attempts by China to meddle in Canadas last two federal elections, Trudeau tasked the committee with probing foreign interference. China has denied the claims.

Its report names China as the main actor seeking to interfere in Canadian affairs and India the second-most significant threat. Leadership and nomination races of several federal political parties, including both Trudeaus Liberals and Poilievres Conservatives, have been targets.

The committee noted the particularly concerning case of a former member of Parliament allegedly maintaining a relationship with a foreign intelligence officer and proactively providing the officer with information provided in confidence.

It found a persistent disconnect between the gravity of the threat and the measures taken to counter it. While some of the activity described might be illegal, it said, its unlikely to lead to criminal charges, given the challenges of protecting classified information in court.

NSICOP members obtain high-level security clearances; theyre required to swear to secrecy for life. Committee Chairman David McGuinty told reporters Wednesday that the focus on what he described as a narrow part of a 92-page report was unfortunate.

The document includes recommendations for addressing foreign interference - many of which have been included in previous reports probing the issue. McGuinty, a Liberal member of Parliament, called on lawmakers to set aside partisanship and implement them.

We cannot play with national security and intelligence, McGuinty said. There are peoples lives and careers and reputations at stake here. We have folks in the field, we have sources and methods, we have relationships with foreign governments.  This is not a game.

In dealing with the accused individuals, analysts say, the government has options. Party leaders, they note, have booted members of Parliament from caucus for far less than the report alleges.

Party leaders are the stewards of their party, and like the nominees, the candidates in any election are approved by the party leaders themselves, said Carvin, now a professor of international relations at Ottawas Carleton University. They get the final say as to who is a candidate and who isnt.

In parallel to the NSICOP investigation, the Trudeau government last year launched a public inquiry into alleged foreign election interference. In an interim report, released last month, Quebec Court of Appeal Justice Marie-Josee Hogue found the meddling did not alter the overall outcome of the 2019 and 2021 votes.

Still, she said, its possible that it did affect results in a small number of electoral districts, and it undermined the right of voters to have an electoral ecosystem free from coercion or covert influence.

Parliament has called on Hogue to investigate the allegations that current and former lawmakers aided foreign powers, effectively passing the buck. Shes required to release a final report by the end of the year.

Its frustrating because its not solving anything, Carvin said. It really feels that Parliament is trying to get a federal judge to do the dirty work for them.
Rear Adm. Gregory Huffman delivers remarks near Adm. Samuel Paparo, head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, during the Joint Task ForceMicronesia assumption-of-command ceremony at Anderson Air Force Base, Guam, June 14, 2024. (Manasseh Demissie/U.S. Air Force)

The Department of Defense established a new senior command on Guam on Friday as it moves to counter Chinas growing influence in the region.

Joint Task Force-Micronesia, headquartered on Nimitz Hill, is the newest command on the 212-square-mile island that has increasingly become the U.S. militarys Indo-Pacific stronghold. The task force is expected to coordinate defenses, oversee humanitarian missions and act as a direct conduit for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

Rear Adm. Gregory Huffman, formerly the commander of Joint Region Marianas, stepped in as the task forces inaugural leader during a Friday ceremony at Andersen Air Force Base.

The occasion marked the establishment of the first two-star command in the region in over 70 years, according to a Friday news release from the task force. The task force assumes some broader regional responsibilities from the existing Joint Region Marianas, commanded by Rear Adm. Brent DeVore, with which it shares a headquarters.

Joint Task Force-Micronesia is focused on breaking down barriers and strengthening our ability to work as a team to ensure a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, Huffman said during the livestreamed ceremony.

The new command will be responsible for a significant portion of the southwestern Pacific Ocean, including the U.S. territories of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and Wake Island, and the independent Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands and Palau.

We will be postured and ready to not only support warfighting, but to shape the forces within our region, Huffman said. We will continue to develop and expand our infrastructure throughout the region to enhance freedom of maneuver and improve sustainment.

The Pentagon over the past decade has steadily increased the military presence on Guam, most recently with the establishment of Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz and a newly proposed missile defense system.

Camp Blaz is expected to receive about 1,300 members of III Marine Expeditionary Force and another 3,700 as a rotational force. In May 2023, the Missile Defense Agency began the proposal process for a comprehensive, 360-degree defense system that could counter ballistic, cruise and hypersonic weapons.

The developments are a direct countermove to Chinas growing military might and increasing aggression in the region, said Adm. Samuel Paparo, head of Indo-Pacific Command.

The concept of JTF-Micronesia and the Guam defense system has been in the works for years as the military of the Peoples Republic of China continues its alarming buildup in its capacity, modernization and aggressive behavior, he said during the ceremony. Our mission to defend the homeland of Guam  and it is the homeland  has become urgent.

Deterring aggression will be the new task forces highest duty, Paparo added.

The Defense Department views Chinas growing military capabilities and claims of large swaths in the region  primarily Taiwan and the South China Sea  as a significant threat and has repeatedly called it the United States pacing challenge.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin talks with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg at NATO headquarters in Brussels on June 14, 2024, during a meeting of allied defense ministers. The defense leaders could not reach an agreement on a new funding plan for Ukraines military. (NATO)

NATO defense leaders were unable to reach agreement Friday on a new funding plan for Ukraines military, with some members balking at the $40 billion annual commitment sought by the alliances top official.

Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he will continue to push for a sturdier funding plan in the weeks leading up to NATOs summit in July in Washington, where President Joe Biden and other heads of state are expected to approve an array of new alliance measures.

Stoltenberg wants more long-term pledges from allies when it comes to supporting Ukraine. His plan involves a commitment of funds based on a percentage of a countrys gross domestic product.

It will give more predictability and transparency and ensure fair burden sharing within the alliance, Stoltenberg said. And most importantly, it will send a message to Moscow that they cannot wait us out.

But at the end of two days of talks at NATO headquarters in Brussels, some members said such a commitment was too much.

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said Stoltenbergs plan would mean spending nearly $4 billion annually for his government, which already fails to meet NATOs defense spending benchmark that calls for member states to dedicate 2% of GDP to defense.

Italy said it does not agree to the commitment.  When we reach 2%, we will discuss further investments, Crosetto told reporters on the sidelines of the NATO meeting.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin answers reporters' questions at NATO headquarters in Brussels on June 14, 2024, following a meeting of the alliance's defense ministers. They did not reach an agreement on a new funding plan for Ukraines military. (Defense Department)

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, speaking at the end of the ministerial, sought to put pressure on allies who are still falling short of the 2% mark. Currently, 18 of 32 members hit the target, a sharp increase from only three members in 2014.

But that is no substitute for each ally living up to its commitment, each and every single one, Austin said.

Still, allies made progress in other areas, with members agreeing Friday to put NATO in charge of efforts to arm and train the Ukrainian military.

So far, that effort has been a U.S.-led mission, carried out at U.S. Army Europe and Africa headquarters in Wiesbaden. Now, a NATO command team will be set up to do the job.

Stoltenberg said the initiative will involve about 700 military personnel from various allied countries and will be led by a three-star general in Wiesbaden. That general will report to Gen. Christopher Cavoli, NATOs supreme allied commander.

The NATO mission will include oversight of the training of Ukrainian troops at bases in allied countries as well as management of the transfer of arms to Ukraine.

These efforts do not make NATO a party to the conflict, but they will enhance our support to Ukraine to uphold its right to self-defense, Stoltenberg said.

Gen. Christopher Cavoli, head of U.S. European Command and NATO's supreme allied commander, meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Wiesbaden, Germany, on Dec. 14, 2023. Allies agreed June 14 in Brussels to put NATO in charge of efforts to arm and train the Ukrainian military, led by a three-star general in Wiesbaden who will report to Cavoli. (Susanne Goebel/U.S. European Commmand)

With the war now in its third year, the fighting in Ukraine is locked in a virtual stalemate. In recent weeks, Russia has made incremental gains, but U.S. and NATO officials say they have seen no sign that Russian forces are poised for any major breakthrough.

On Friday, Putin said he was ready for a cease-fire in Ukraine, stipulating that if Kyiv gives up its NATO ambitions and withdraws from a swath of territory in eastern Ukraine, he will halt hostilities.

Both Austin and Stoltenberg panned Putins proposal.

He is not in any position to dictate to Ukraine.  He could end this today if he chose to do that. And we call upon him to do that and to leave Ukrainian sovereign territory, Austin said.

Added Stoltenberg: Its not for Ukraine to withdraw forces from Ukrainian territory. Its for Russia to withdraw their forces from occupied Ukrainian land.
A Siskiyou County sheriffs deputy writes a violation notice at an unlicensed cannabis farm where illegal pesticides had been used. All five farms searched that day showed evidence illegal pesticides had been burned to fumigate plants. (Paige St. John/Los Angeles Times)

In coordinated raids last September, multiple California agencies stormed a network of illegal cannabis-growing warehouses across Oakland while state cannabis regulators singled out a salmon-colored warehouse complex surrounded by 7,000-volt security fencing.

The warehouse building  home to two licensed cannabis operations  was highly-likely the conduit that illegal growers used to ship their product into the legal market, a state agent told a judge. Inside the rooms, inspectors found 43,000 plants growing beneath high-intensity lights. None had the tracking tags required to be placed on legal plants.

But the surprise was what was found in the mens room.

Beside Hot Shot insect foggers and jugs of familiar chemicals were mylar bags labeled in Chinese. Inside each were cellophane packets of wood shavings soaked in unknown pesticides.

The same kinds of packets had been found earlier that year on illegal farms in Siskiyou County, where lab tests had revealed a cocktail of dangerous insecticides and fungicides that when burned would emit a cloud of pest- and mold-killing smoke. Among the unusual substances was isoprocarb, which is not permitted in the United States; profenofos, an organophosphate so harmful its use here was discontinued in 2016; and fenpropathrin, an acutely toxic insecticide that is fatal if inhaled.

Additional tests would show the warehouse plants were tainted with some of the same pesticides.

Contraband Chinese pesticides present a new challenge for California cannabis regulators as they struggle to keep harmful chemicals out of licensed products. Some of the poisons are so unfamiliar that few chemical analysis labs in the state would be equipped to test for them if California required it.

A Los Angeles Times investigation based on confidential state records, public files, online sales and social networks found that in the last three years, the use of contraband Chinese pesticides on cannabis farms has spread across California.

Yet officials have not issued warnings to alert those working on cannabis farms about the dangers of these chemicals, or mandated cannabis products sold to the public be tested for them.

But their presence has prompted multiple warnings to law enforcement personnel, including by the state Department of Pesticide Regulation, the California National Guard and the state Environmental Protection Agency.

Internal state warnings caution that short-term exposure to the contaminants can cause headaches, irritated eyes, nosebleeds and sore throats. Hazardous-materials statements and scientific literature show the greatest harm is likely from long-term exposure to low doses, carrying the risk of cancer, memory loss, psychosis, developmental problems in children and death.

I think the scariest thing with this stuff is whats going to happen down the road, said Sheriffs Det. Sgt. Cory Persing of Siskiyou County, where in 2022 a county environmental health officer, armed with Google Translate on her cellphone, first deciphered the labels on similar packages.

Environmental citations issued by the California State Water Resources Control Board show the Chinese-labeled fumigants predominantly appear on Asian-owned farms, in keeping with agricultural practices.

Smoke fumigation is not common practice in the United States, but is used frequently in China in place of pressure sprayers to aerosolize chemical treatments.

Some of the products appearing on cannabis farms are registered pesticides in China and sold online by vendors in Asia. Others are unbranded, bearing only links to WeChat accounts with California phone numbers and monikers that translate to whatever bro, Spider 1 and Spider 2.

An online marketplace aimed at Chinese immigrants in California also carried the unbranded fumigants for sale, as did a Chinese-language site devoted to cannabis cultivation. Both turned out to be associated with a San Joaquin County businessman, Adam Yang, whose social media account included a video demonstration of burning the pesticides inside a cannabis greenhouse and whose Pinterest site offered photos of customer text messages for door-to-door delivery of the contraband pesticides in Los Angeles and nationwide shipping.

The ads even told buyers they could fumigate on buds to be trimmed and sold for smoking. Rest assured that it can be used normally during the flowering period, the ads stated.

Yang acknowledged his sites promoted the pesticides, but said they were part of a collaboration with a partner he declined to identify. My role was limited to platform management, and I was not involved in the direct sales or endorsements, Yang said by email.

The Chinese-labeled pesticides have shown up now in at least six California counties, at both illegal and licensed growing operations. The poisons were present on half of 25 illegal farms in Siskiyou County raided by a state task force during a July 2023 sting operation that saw three officers require medical treatment after suffering exposure.

They were also present on five farms raided by Siskiyou County sheriffs deputies in late April, accompanied by a county health officer who wore protective gear and a respirator to safely bag the pesticides. On one farm, deputies retrieved a large box holding dozens of the Chinese-labeled pesticides from the food pantry, where it had been stashed next to a large sack of rice. More of the fumigants were in a hutch, and inside two greenhouses half-cut beer cans sat by the walls, their interiors filled with the black char of burned pesticide.

One of the farms cultivators  who gave only her first name, Feng  said she did not believe the fumigants were dangerous. She pointed to a surgical mask on her face, indicating that she wore protection when burning them.

Reports from a California National Guard lab and a Humboldt County ecology company show most of the packages found initially in Siskiyou County contained blends of insecticides and fungicides. Those tests identified 21 hazardous chemicals. California screens legal weed products for only six of those substances, meaning the bulk of the hazardous pesticides would be undetected in the legal market.

These sites are highly contaminated with a diversity of chemicals and concentrations, the report from the Integral Ecology Research Center cautioned, noting each bag contained at least one chemical fatal if inhaled and telling law enforcement personnel to use extreme caution during all operations.

The chemicals included five pesticides never permitted for use in the United States, among them chlorthiophos and the nerve agents fenobucarb and isoprocarb.

Also common was profenofos, with early symptoms of exposure that include headache, nausea and dizziness, tremors, vomiting, confusion and unconsciousness. It is fatal if inhaled.

Siskiyou County has begun requiring cannabis enforcement officers to undergo periodic testing for blood poisoning. Nobody actually tells us what they mean. What is normal? What is high? said Persing, who said he and his staff frequently have nosebleeds after cannabis farm raids.

California pesticide regulators and the National Guard last year issued their own law enforcement advisories, then broadened them as the Chinese pesticides appeared in Trinity County to the north, Alameda and Contra Costa counties on the coast, and San Diego and San Bernardino counties to the south. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife in March reminded agents to undergo blood poisoning checks.

Were concerned not only for first responders, but also users, said Sheriffs Det. Chris Bassett in San Bernardino County, whose team found the Chinese pesticides last year on five farms, including two in Los Angeles County. Hopefully someone requires this stuff to be tested for on legal weed, Bassett said.

Only six of the 25 pesticides found in the Oakland raid are on the state Department of Cannabis Controls testing list for products sold in licensed stores. The agency has not moved to add the rest of the chemicals to the list, though police reports and state records show it has encountered the pesticides on weed entering the market.

Last October, Siskiyou County deputies stopped a box truck leased by a Los Angeles cannabis distributor and vape manufacturer, VBX Labs LLC. Police reports show the truck carried 4,500 pounds of illegal cannabis trim  typically used to make concentrated oils for vape products  stuffed into 204 black garbage bags.

Previous such illegal loads to licensed distributors had been intercepted, but this time the Department of Cannabis Control sent samples of the confiscated weed to a state agriculture lab for testing. The ensuing order revoking VBXs cannabis distribution license cited the discovery of a single prohibited chemical  paclobutrazol  commonly used by growers to increase the size and density of flower buds.

The state lab test results reviewed by The Times show the weed in VBXs box truck also was tainted with 16 other pesticides, including ones unique to the Chinese fumigants: isoprocarb, fenobucarb, fenpropathrin and profenofos. None of those are screened in cannabis products by the state, though other regulations prohibit their use as unregistered pesticides.

The presence of Chinese-labeled pesticides was also omitted from the Department of Cannabis Control order revoking the licenses at the Oakland warehouse raided in September. The agency cited only the presence of two prohibited chemicals routinely tested for in licensed cannabis. It left out lab findings, viewed by The Times, documenting isoprocarb, clothianidin, profenofos and fenpropathrin.

Nor did Cannabis Control agents immediately destroy the Oakland weed upon seeing contraband chemicals in use. Instead, agents quarantined the 43,000 plants and 1 ton of drying weed, telling operators who already had failed to report the fate of 88 prior crops to leave the contaminated plants standing while Cannabis Control decided what to do.

A state agent returned a month later to find some of the plants gone, new ones growing, and more Chinese pesticides on site.

The month after that, yet more quarantined cannabis, including harvested plants, had vanished, according to a state report.

Regulators did not revoke the warehouse licenses until three months after the raid. There was no indication where the tainted weed  a threat to anyone who consumed it  had gone.

2024 Los Angeles Times.

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The Sgt Stout vehicle pictured in an undated photo. The Armys short-range, air-defense vehicle was previously known as M-SHORAD Increment 1. The vehicle honors Sgt. Mitchell William Stout who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Vietnam War. (U.S. Army)

WASHINGTON  An armored vehicle that the Army uses for short range air defense will be named the Sgt Stout to honor an artillery soldier who earned the Medal of Honor, service officials announced Saturday.

Army leaders unveiled the new name for the vehicle during the services 249th birthday celebration at Fort Belvoir, Va. The vehicles name honors Sgt. Mitchell William Stout, who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Vietnam War.

Army officials unveiled the M10 Booker, the first new major combat vehicle in two decades, at the services birthday celebration last year.

The vehicle is what matters the most but getting to also honor an American hero like Sgt. Stout is pretty cool, Doug Bush, the Armys assistant secretary for acquisition, logistics and technology, told reporters prior to Saturdays announcement.

Stout was born in Knoxville, Tenn., and served with Battery C of the 1st Battalion, 44th Artillery Regiment, 108th Artillery Group. On March 12, 1970, he distinguished himself during an attack by a North Vietnamese Army company on his units position at Khe Gio Bridge, according to his medal citation.

Stout was in a bunker with members of a searchlight crew when the position came under heavy enemy mortar fire and a ground attack. When the intensity of the mortar attack subsided, an enemy grenade was thrown into the bunker.

Sgt. Stout ran to the grenade, picked it up, held it close to his body and started to get out of the bunker. Upon reaching the door, the grenade exploded, Bush said. Having shielded the blast with his body, he protected his fellow soldiers from further injury or death.

Sgt. Mitchell William Stout pictured in an undated photo. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1974. (Army)

Stouts family received his Medal of Honor in 1974 from then-Vice President Gerald Ford. He is the only air-defense artillery soldier to receive the award.

The Sgt Stout vehicle, which was previously known as M-SHORAD Increment 1, is part of a broader system for short-range air defense. M-SHORAD stands for maneuver short range air defense. The defense system detects, tracks and engages aerial threats such as drones, rotary and fixed-wing aircraft, rockets, artillery and mortars, Bush said.

The Sgt Stout consists of a Stryker armored vehicle equipped with a stinger missile launcher, an XM914 30 mm cannon, an M240 machine gun and a radar system.

Its a mixture of many different, vital capabilities that make it very effective on todays and tomorrows battlefield, said Brig. Gen. Frank Lozano, program executive officer for missiles and space.

Short-range missile defense was a prominent part of the Army strategy in Europe for several decades but became an afterthought with the collapse of the Soviet Union and the rise of counterinsurgency warfare elsewhere in the world.

However, in 2018, the Army re-established an active SHORAD battalion in Germany. The 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment was stood up with Avengers, a Humvee-based system that was developed in the 1980s.

The Army announced in 2019 that it was creating more short-range air defense battalions. Col. Mark Holler, commandant of the Air Defense Artillery School at Fort Sill, Okla., said at the time that Russias invasion and takeover of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014, which he described as a wake-up call, fueled the decision for the new battalions. More so, drones have become a critical battlefield weapon during Russias latest invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing war since February 2022.

The 5th Battalion, 4th ADA Regiment based in Ansbach, Germany, was the first to field the M-SHORAD in 2021.

Some versions of the vehicle will incorporate directed-energy weapons, such as a 50-kilowatt, high-energy laser.

The Army delivered a prototype system in about a year, accelerating the initial operating capability by four years. We are now on the path to field multiple battalions of this capability, Bush said.

The Army is working on fielding four M-SHORAD battalions, Lozano said. They have fielded the 5th Battalion, 4th ADA in Germany and the 4th Battalion, 60th ADA at Fort Sill, Okla. The Army is working to field the 6th Battalion, 56th ADA at Fort Cavazos, Texas, and eventually field the 2nd Battalion, 55th ADA at Fort Liberty, N.C.

The Army could have as many as 361 Sgt Stout vehicles by no later than fiscal 2031, Lozano said.

The Army announced in February force structure changes that called for four additional M-SHORAD battalions. Lozano said the plan is for those battalions to be part of the National Guard.
Darius Musinskas was served with a book of evidence at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court

Darius Musinskas was served with a book of evidence contained a total of 53 charges and is expected to stand trial later this month.

A Lithuanian father of two is to stand trial accused of stealing over 17,000 in social welfare over a 12-month period.

Fifty-five-year-old Darius Musinskas, Oliver Plunkett Park, Dundalk, Co Louth, was served with a book of evidence at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Bernadette Owens.

Garda Mervyn Henson gave evidence of having served the book of evidence, which contained 53 charges, on Musinskas prior to the days court business getting underway.

Darius Musinskas was served with a book of evidence contained a total of 53 charges and is expected to stand trial later this month.

Sgt Orla Keenan, said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had consented for Musinskas to be sent forward for trial to the next sittings of Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court in just over a weeks time.

The charges, all of which relate to dates between April 2020 and April 2021, allegedly took place at Bank of Ireland, Pearse Street, Mullingar, Westmeath.

Musinskas listened on in the body of the court beside a Lithuanian interpreter as Judge Owens remanded him on continuing bail.

Defence counsel Andrea Callan BL, asked for her clients legal aid to both continue and cover a junior counsel in light of the nature and volume of the charges before the court.

Darius Musinskas stands accused of stealing over 17,000 in social welfare.

Judge Owens also granted an application for Musinskas to be afforded a Lithuanian interpreter on his next court date and for legal aid to cover the cost of the book of evidence being translated into the Dundalk mans native tongue.

In making those orders, Judge Owens gave Musinskas the alibi warning, informing him he had 14 days to notify the State if he intended to rely on alibi evidence during the course of his trial.

Musinskas was subsequently remanded on continuing bail to appear back before a sitting of Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court on June 25.
Ioana Stanciu pleaded guilty to public drunkenness, threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour and criminal damage.

An out-of-work builder urinated in a garda station cell after he was arrested for drunkenly banging on doors in the hostel where he lived.

Ioana Stanciu (40) who tended to drink to excess when unemployed had no recollection of the incident in the station, a court heard. Judge Miriam Walsh fined him 550.

Stanciu, with an address at a hostel on Gardiner Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty to public drunkenness, threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour and criminal damage.

Dublin District Court heard gardai were called to the hostel where the accused was intoxicated, disruptive and banging on doors on December 11.

He was arrested and taken to Store Street garda station, where he urinated in the cell, causing damage.

He had previous convictions for public order offences and criminal damage.

Stanciu moved here from Romania a year-and-a-half ago and had worked sporadically in the construction industry, his solicitor Andrew Broderick said.

On the night of the incident there was something going on and he felt frustrated at how he was being treated but accepted there was no excuse for kicking on doors.

Its unfortunate that he, at times, seems to be unable to control his behaviour as he should when out of work, Mr Broderick added.
William Phelan described himself as a chronic alcoholic who was drinking a 700 ml bottle of vodka and six to eight cans of cider every day

A MAN subjected his niece to an horrific campaign of harassment on Facebook and left dozens of threatening and crude voice mails on her phone.

Small farmer and chronic alcoholic William Phelan (56) from Paddock, Mountrath, Co Laois also left the woman in fear that her house would be burned down after his relentless onslaught

In one message Phelan warned hed done it before and in another case that he knew people hed met in prison who would finish her husband and son if she ignored him.

She said in a Victim Impact Statement at Portlaoise Circuit Court that the harassment started years before the period in 2023 for which he was charged.

Even after Phelan had been charged and given bail he continued to send threatening messages which became more aggressive depending on how much he had drunk.

William Phelan

The woman said she felt guilty over what her husband and teenage children had to endure because she hadnt dealt sooner with her uncles harassment.

She thought he would leave her alone if she ignored him but, at one point, he left as many 30 voice mails on her phone in a single day.

Phrases such as that he was an atom bomb ready to go off left her terrified what might happen.

When a brother passed away, she said Phelan would make calls from the grave, an act she said had an effect on her she cant describe.

She described the Facebook commentary as sinister and lewd that could be seen and shared by anybody and left scars that will never heal.

Trips into town to go to the shops became anxiety filled as Phelan would be sitting in the town square drinking, watching the comings and goings.

They installed a CCTV system at their home such was her fear that Phelan would carry out his threats to burn her house down.

After one court hearing when Phelan got bail after reassuring the court he would stop, he was back harassing her in 48 hours.

She described him as an expert in manipulating facts and sees himself as the victim and has shown no remorse.

Judge Keenan Johnson described the womans statement as powerful and gave him an insight into the effect of Phelans offending.

A garda witness gave evidence of the threatening messages including one in which Phelan told the woman if you dont answer the phone Im going to burn you out.

Phelan also pleaded guilty to an arson charge for setting a fire that badly damaged a takeaway premises in Mountrath.

The officer said when interviewed Phelan described himself as a chronic alcoholic who was drinking a 700ml bottle of vodka and six to eight cans of cider every day.

When various social media posts including those of a sexual nature were read to him Phelan admitted he had written them.

He told officers that Facebook was no fun unless you were drunk and that he would not attack or rape his niece but would like to be her boyfriend.

Phelan also said he got a kick out of frightening her and putting the sh*ts up her after being asked about one message in which he threatened suicide.

The garda said it was very traumatic for the woman and her family and it continued when he got bail, blatantly breaking the conditions for his release.

He was re-arrested and has been in custody since July last year.

It was heard Phelan who lived alone on a 40-acre farm since the death of his mother in 2011 has 64 previous convictions.

While the bulk of them were for public order offences it also included a conviction for making threats to kill.

His counsel said that his alcohol dependency became worse and worse and a medical report suggests he suffers from depression.

He expressed his remorse it was added, and while in prison his mental health had improved as he remained free of alcohol or any other substances.

Judge Johnson said they were very serious crimes and Phelan would be facing a significant long-term sentence and adjourned the case for a week.
He was also charged with being intoxicated in a public place and of using threatening and abusive behaviour on the same date.

A Cavan senior footballer has been remanded on bail after appearing in court charged with assaulting a man in Mullingar.

Oisin Kiernan (25), Rockross, Cavan, came before a sitting of Mullingar District Court this on Thursday afternoon charged with assaulting the man at Oliver Plunkett Street, Mullingar, Westmeath on August 8, 2023.

He was also charged with being intoxicated in a public place and of using threatening and abusive behaviour on the same date.

The accused, who is expected to line out for the Breffni county against Roscommon in the All-Ireland group stage this weekend, initially appeared in court last September.

On that occasion, Kiernan was charged with public order before reappearing in April where a section 3 assault charge was also issued.

In defence, solicitor Louis Kiernan said he had expected the alleged victim to be in court and intimated to the court for an adjournment.

Sgt Orla Keenan, for the State backed up those calls as Judge Owens revealed that the court had yet to decide on jurisdiction as to whether the case can be heard in the District Court or sent to the Circuit Court which has wider sentencing powers.

Kiernan was consequently remanded on bail to a sitting of Mullingar District Court on July 4.
She took the opportunity to run from the apartment and sought help from a girl outside, using Google translate to type I was raped

A man who sexually assaulted and raped his housemate in a terrifying ordeal that unfolded over a number of days has been jailed for seven years.

The woman, who had recently arrived in Ireland, spoke no English and knew no one else in the country, remained in her room for two days after the initial sexual assault until she was then raped.

The Central Criminal Court heard that she ran from the apartment afterwards and sought help from a passerby, typing I was raped into Google Translate on her phone.

The 65-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect the womans identity, pleaded guilty to sexual assault of the woman on October 19, 2022, and raping her on October 21, 2022. He has no previous convictions.

Passing sentence yesterday, Mr Justice Paul McDermott said this had been a very frightening ordeal for the woman which extended over several days. He said the initial assault had clearly terrified her and rendered her effectively a prisoner in her own room, until the awful experience two days later when she was raped.

He noted the events still deeply affect her physically and mentally, impacting on her sense of security and her attitude to life

The judge set a headline sentence of eight years and six months on the rape count.

Mr Justice McDermott noted that the accused had been a hardworking man since he came to Ireland in 2020 and had not come to any garda attention. He noted that he also had language difficulties, was isolated from his family in custody, and would serve the sentence in Ireland as a foreign national.

He also noted the mans guilty plea and age in mitigation. He said he was also taking into account that there had been a severe breach of trust, as the man knew the woman had language difficulties and no family in the country.

Mr Justice McDermott imposed concurrent sentences totalling seven years, which he backdated to October 2022, when the man went into custody. He also ordered three years of post-release supervision.

Detective Garda Aisling McDermott of the Divisional Protective Service Unit at Kevin Street, Dublin, told Elis Brennan SC, prosecuting, that the injured party arrived in Ireland about two weeks before the events. She moved into a small apartment, where the accused was the other tenant.

The court heard the accused helped her to get a job and gave her a loan.

On October 19, 2022, the then 25-year-old woman was in the kitchen when the then 63-year-old accused started to touch her, saying please, please, pushed her against a wall and pulled down her trousers. He wanted her to touch him and put her hand on his penis.

The young woman said this disgusted her, so she went to her room, where she remained for two days, afraid to come out.

Two days later he knocked on her door and tried to enter, so she left the room and went to the kitchen. He sat on a chair there touching and rubbing her. He grabbed her when she tried to walk away and pushed her into his bedroom, forcing her face down on the bed.

She fought him and screamed as he tried to remove her clothing before he raped her. She managed to push him off and run back to her room. He attempted to follow her but went back to his own room.

She took the opportunity to run from the apartment and sought help from a girl outside, using Google translate to type I was raped. Gardai were alerted and came to the scene.

Gardai spoke to the accused man, and he accepted he had sex but said it was consensual. He said she started crying and he stopped but later said he did not put his penis into her vagina or ejaculate.

During an examination at the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit, swabs were taken from the injured partys vagina, and semen was found with the DNA matching the accused man.

In her victim impact statement, the woman told the court that she was physically unwell for three months after the assault. She said she was left homeless and out on the street.

She said she had come to Ireland with lots of dreams, but they all fell apart. She said it was a very hard blow to be raped in an unknown country, where she was alone and did not speak the language. She said her life and attitudes have been changed and she has been deeply affected.

Gerardine Small SC, defending, said her client wishes to apologise for his outrageous behaviour.

She asked the court to take into account his guilty plea, lack of prior convictions and strong work history. She said he had indicated remorse and submitted that time in custody would be more difficult for him as an isolated foreign national. He has been using his time in custody productively.
Maksymilian Lesniak pleaded guilty to threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour at the airport on April 27 last year.

A passenger who racially abused a Ryanair worker, telling her to go back to Africa, has been spared a criminal record after paying the woman 500 in compensation.

Maksymilian Lesniak (34) was waiting to board a plane at Dublin Airport when he made monkey noises at the black airline staff member, asking her if she wanted a banana.

Lesniak, a chef of Ardeen, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare, pleaded guilty to threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour at the airport on April 27 last year.

The case was heard in March and when it came back before Dublin District Court, a judge applied the Probation Act on hearing the 500 had been paid.

Earlier, the court was told Lesniak had been at the departure gates in Terminal 1 when he abused the woman, who is black.

He said, Go back to Africa, made monkey noises and asked her if she wanted a banana, a garda sergeant told the court.

She made a complaint and airport police were contacted.

The worker later stated that the abuse had been very aggressive and she had changed her job as a result.

On the day, Lesniak, who has been in Ireland for five years, was returning to Poland for the first time in a long time and had too much to drink, his solicitor Daniel Hanahoe said.

There was a confrontation because the gate had been changed at the last minute and Lesniak was attempting to get to the new gate, Mr Hanahoe said.

He accepts the language he used was extremely distasteful, the solicitor said. He doesnt necessarily accept all the language alleged.

However, Lesniak was admitting the offence and accepted he behaved inappropriately, Mr Hanahoe added.
Officers at the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau discovered the cash, along with a counting machine and financial ledgers during the raids on Thursday night

An Eastern European mob who specialise in transporting crime cash for Irish gangs have been dealt a serious blow after gardai seized more than 1 million from a Dublin home on Thursday.

Two men  believed to be Ukrainian nationals  were arrested in connection with the money haul from an address in the Knocklyon area of south Dublin.

One of the men is due in court later today while the second man has been released without charge and a file will be sent to the DPP.

Officers at the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau discovered the cash, along with a counting machine and financial ledgers during the raids on Thursday night.

Gardai suspect the cash was amassed by an organised crime gang who have become the leading money-movers on the island of Ireland.

It is believed the Eastern European gang are transporting a staggering 2 million worth of crime-cash a month out of the country for homegrown drugs gangs.

The transnational gang are not involved in other forms of criminality and solely focus on the movement of money in and out of the country.

Read more Two arrested and 1 million in cash seized in raid targeting crime gang in Dublin

Detectives believe over the last six months they have become the number one cash-transfer gang operating in the State and have ties with criminals in most counties in Ireland  as well as across the border.

While the gang offer their couriering service to Irish mobs, they have a separate organisational structure and act solely as money-agents.

This week, gardai released photographs of the cash haul showing bundles of 50 and 100 notes in plastic bags confiscated following raids on Thursday night.

A garda spokesman said the searches were conducted as part of an intelligence-led operation targeting serious and organised crime.

The arrested men, aged 35 and 44, were detained on suspicion of facilitating an organised crime group to commit a serious offence, contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006.

Both men are currently detained pursuant to the provisions of Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at a Garda Station in the Dublin area.

Gardai said the seizure was made as a result of an ongoing intelligence led investigation targeting serious and organised crime. with officers attached to the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), conducting a search of a residential property.

Two men, aged 35 and 44-years-old, were subsequently arrested on suspicion of facilitating an organised crime group to commit a serious offence, contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006.

Both men are currently detained pursuant to the provisions of Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at a Garda Station in the Dublin area.

Following the seizure, Garda Assistant Commissioner Justin Kelly said the cash haul showed the levels of profits to be made from organised crime.

"This substantial seizure of cash shows the vast profits being made by Transnational Organised Crime Groups who inflict such damage upon our communities, he said.

"It should also be clear from this that there is a direct link between personal use drugs consumption and the pernicious activities of such groups.

"We, in An Garda Siochana, are determined to disrupt the drugs networks bringing drugs into our country and to make Ireland a hostile environment for these criminals to operate.

"Targeting such money laundering operations is a key strategy for our organisation, as this removes cash that would otherwise be reinvested by such groups into further criminal activity, and it strikes at the heart of the criminal business mode.
McDonagh is linked to people who were the focus of the garda raids in north Dublin

ASSOCIATES of a convicted people smuggler were the targets of a massive garda operation last week in which assets worth 240,000 were frozen.

Edward McDonagh was jailed in the UK in September 2019 after being caught red-handed driving four illegal immigrants through a ferry port.

McDonagh is linked to people who were the focus of the garda raids in north Dublin as part of a wide-ranging investigation into organised crime in the Coolock area, according to Sunday World sources.

The operation is focused on suspected money laundering, the sale and supply of drugs, possession of weapons, immigration offences, illegal waste disposal and suspected theft, according to the Garda Press Office.

When Edward McDonagh from Northern Close, Coolock, appeared in a Welsh court he was described as a born-again Christian

McDonagh pleaded guilty to facilitating the attempted breach of immigration law in July 2019.

A prosecuting barrister told the court how McDonagh had paid in cash for a one-way journey from Dublin to Holyhead in Anglesey for a car with five people.

He gave false and when stopped in Wales by border officials it appeared he did not know his passengers and McDonagh said he was giving them a lift to Britain.

"He said he brought the Albanian nationals as a favour for a friend."

Photograph of items seized by gardai

McDonaghs defence lawyer said the born-again Christian was of previous good character and a hard-working family man.

"It's a tragedy to find him before the court in these circumstances," the lawyer said.

He said McDonagh had been returning a favour to a fellow traveller while facing a combination of pressures.

"There was a temptation to get some easy money. This was a venture that was never going to succeed.

"It was a very ill-judged decision to get himself involved in this."

Items seized by gardai

The judge at Caernarfon crown court said that a degree of deterrence was called for and sentenced him to 21 months in prison.

"You didn't know any of them. Your motivation was a financial one," the judge told McDonagh.

"The integrity of the immigration system is something the courts have to maintain."

The Albanians had been returned to Ireland by the time the case came to court.

During last weeks raids, officers froze 241,000 worth of assets in various bank accounts and 40,000 worth of designer clothing, jewellery and shoes.

They also seized 32,750 in cash and 15,000 worth of cannabis herb.

Three men from Georgia were also arrested and are expected be deported after entering the country illegally.

Detectives in Coolock led the opeation but were backed up by the Emergency Response Unit, the Garda National Immigration Bureau, the Garda National Protective Services Bureau and the Garda Dog Unit were also involved.

Support was also provided by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau, the Public Order Unit and regional units in the DMR North

Gardai said in a statement: "Gardai from the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) North conducted a search operation this morning, Monday 27th May 2024.

"The operation was conducted as part of ongoing investigations into organised criminality in the Coolock area.

"This mornings operation was conducted by 140 members of An Garda Siochana from various units

"Locations in Coolock, Balbriggan and Finglas were searched as part of the operation which focused on suspected money laundering, the sale and supply of drugs, possession of weapons, immigration offences, illegal waste disposal and suspected theft.
The incidents, which also include an arson attack, took place across several days this week.

Two men were arrested by gardai investigating a number of incidents in west Dublin this week including shots being fired.

One man has since been charged and is due before the courts later today, while a second man has been released without charge.

The incidents, which also include an arson attack, took place across several days this week.

Gardai investigating criminal incidents of arson and the discharge of a firearm in the Ronanstown and Clondalkin areas, between the 8th and 15th May 2024, have arrested two men, a spokesperson said.

Both men who are aged in their 20s were held for questioning under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at garda stations in Dublin.

One man has since been charged and is due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice this morning Saturday, 15th June 2024 at 10.30am, the spokesperson added.

The second man has been released without charge and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Gardai said investigations are ongoing.
The suspect appeared in cuffs for the Columbian Justice photographer

The Colombian Justice Ministry announced the capture of a major international drug trafficking suspect this week.

The Dutchman was busted in Colombia on Wednesday and is considered the mastermind of an international criminal drug organization, according to De Telegraaf newspaper.

The man  named as D.R Tromp - is suspected of large-scale trafficking and smuggling of cocaine across the Atlantic.

Tromp appeared before the media in a pink t-shirt with a hand bag and light, khaki trousers whilst surrounded by armed cops.

The operation was reported by the Public Prosecution Service of the South American country, which has released the photo of the Dutchman.

The alleged criminal is flanked by members of a military unit that combats drug trafficking.

The Dutchman, who is said to be of Colombian descent, is accused by the Public Prosecution Service of being the leader of a criminal gang involved in large-scale coke smuggling.

The group he allegedly heads shipped the hard drugs from Cartagena, a port city in northwestern Colombia.

The cocaine would be transported from there, hidden in containers, to Europe and Asia.

The man, named fully by the Colombian authorities as David Ricardo Tromp, is also accused of sending cocaine to the Netherlands and China hidden in the luggage of travellers.

The gang was based at Cartagena airport and Tromp was (allegedly) in charge of persuading people to carry the drugs, and providing them with accommodation, transportation, international permits and air tickets, Dutch News report.

He has been charged with trafficking, manufacture and possession of narcotics and, according to the Colombian authorities, has accepted the charges.
The teenager has been named locally as Reece Donohue (17) who was from Upper Main Street, Kilnaleck, in Co Cavan.

Tributes have been paid to a teenager who lost his life in a tragic work incident in County Cavan on Thursday afternoon.

The teenager has been named locally as Reece Donohue (17) who was from Upper Main Street, Kilnaleck, in Co Cavan.

The fatal incident occurred at the Wilton site at Kifagh, near Ballyjamesduff shortly after 4.30pm on Thursday June 13th.

Gardai and emergency services attended, but the 17-year-old worker was pronounced deceased at the scene.

His body was removed from the scene to the mortuary in Cavan General Hospital and a post-mortem examination was subsequently carried out.

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) were also notified, and a file will be prepared for the Coroner's Court.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Wilton Waste said: The company offers their deepest condolences to the employee's family at this very sad time.

"As a mark of respect, the company has decided to close the gates until further notice."

Local Fine Gael Councillor Trevor Smith said the people of the wider Kilnaleck area are shocked and saddened by this awful tragedy.

He described the deceased was a popular young lad, and that the local community in Kilnaleck and surrounding areas were reeling in shock from the news.

He added I'm sure the local community will support Reeces family in any way they can, said Cllr Smith, who also expressed his deepest sympathies to the teenager's family.

Another local who knew the family described Reece as A lovely young man who never caused a fuss.

While another described him as a lad that any mother would be proud to have as your son.

Reece who was a pupil at Saint Clares College in Ballyjamesduff in Cavan is survived by his parents Mary and Brian and siblings Jade, Amber and Niall.

No funeral arrangements have been made as yet.

A spokesperson for An Garda Siochana said they will now prepare a file for the Coroners Court.

Gardai and emergency services were alerted to a fatal workplace accident at a premises in Cavan yesterday afternoon, 13th June 2024 shortly after 4.30pm.

A 17-year-old male was pronounced deceased at the scene. His body has been removed from the scene to the mortuary in Cavan. A post-mortem will take place in due course.

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has been notified.

A file will be prepared for the Coroner's Court.
For new manager Catherine Fletcher, working in the Citizens Advice Bureau is in her blood.

My mother was a volunteer in South Auckland [CAB] for 30 years, so we grew up hearing about issues that everyday people deal with, says Catherine, who has recently taken the helm of Taurangas CAB.

It feels good to follow in her footsteps. Mum wrote the training manual, served on the national committee, and was awarded a Queens Service Medal for her work.

The manual has been updated, but the issues remain the same, says Catherine.

People needing food parcels, struggling to pay high rent, not being able to find a rental property, domestic violence and employment exploitation. Those problems arent going away.

At Tauranga CAB Catherine manages a team of 55 volunteers who range in profession from lawyers to physiotherapists, and undergo rigorous training.

When you talk to us, youre getting accurate information from dedicated people with a great wealth of knowledge.

We collaborate with organisations like the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Multicultural New Zealand and Womens Refuge so that our advice is up-to-date and more relevant than if you searched online yourself.

The Citizens Advice Bureau isnt government funded  so it relies heavily on community support and donations.

We have five outreach clinics; Welcome Bay, Papamoa, Te Puke, Greerton and Omokoroa and wed like to stretch out to Katikati, so we need more volunteers to make that happen, says Catherine.

One of the new tools on the website is designed for youth, so were hoping to attract younger volunteers as well as people from different cultures.

Find out more about Tauranga CAB in Catherines monthly column in The Weekend Sun. Turn to page 28 for her first instalment.
Police checkpoints in Marokopa have been scaled back as an investigation into the disappearance of Tom Phillips and his three children continues.

"This was planned, as part of the current phase of this ongoing investigation," says Acting Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders.

"Residents of Marokopa and the surrounding areas will continue to see a Police presence in the area and we continue to encourage people to approach our staff if they have credible, current information that could lead to the safe return of Ember, Maverick and Jayda Phillips."

The children have been missing since December 12 2021, when they were taken by their father, Tom Phillips, to a location unknown but thought to be in Western Waikato within Marokopa or the surrounding areas.

"After three days of this phase of the operation weve had over 70 new reports of information on the subject of the missing people, via phonecall, email and personal approaches offering information," says Inspector Saunders.

"Were continuing to assess the information and conduct follow-up enquiries."

On Tuesday Waikato Police announced a $80,000 reward for information that leads to the location and safe return of missing children Ember, eight, Maverick, nine, and Jayda, 10, Phillips.

Inspector Saunders says as a result of their enquiries Police have identified a number of credible reports that are being investigated further.

"We cannot provide details while the investigation is ongoing, but we are committed to getting a result as soon as possible.

"While Marokopa continues to be a focus for the ongoing investigation, enquiries are being caried-out in surrounding areas including Honikiwi and Otorohanga and were appealing for anyone who has observed suspicious behaviour in these areas in recent months to please contact Police."

Inspector Saunders says their message hasnt changed.

"We continue to urge anyone with credible, current information that will lead to location and safe return of Ember, Maverick and Jayda to the right thing and tell Police what you know.

"Alternatively, you can email the dedicated email address op.curly@police.govt.nz or contact Police on 105 or online at 105.police.govt.nz clicking Update Report and referencing file number 211218/5611."
The road is clear following a vehicle crash at Mount Maunganui on Saturday morning.

Police received a report of a two-vehicle crash where a vehicle was rear ended on the intersection of Tay Street and Marine Parade around 9.45am.

"There were no injuries and the road was not blocked," says a police spokesperson.

At the scene?

Phone 0800 SUNLIVE or email newsroom@thesun.co.nz
One person has been taken to hospital following a vehicle crash at Kopu early Saturday morning.

Police responded to reports of a single vehicle crash where a vehicle collided with a pole on Paeroa Kopu Road, Kopu, around 2.30am.

"One person was transported to Thames Hospital," says a police spokesperson.

At the scene?

Phone 0800 SUNLIVE or email newsroom@thesun.co.nz
Four lucky Lotto players from Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury will be toasting an incredible win after each winning $250,000 with Lotto First Division in Saturday nights live Lotto draw.

The winning tickets were sold at Green & Grocery World in Auckland, and on MyLotto to a player from Wellington, and two players from Canterbury.

Powerball was not struck on Saturday evening and has rolled over to Wednesday night, where the jackpot will be $5 million.

Meanwhile, a lucky Strike player from Stratford will also be celebrating after winning $400,000 with Strike Four. The winning Strike ticket was sold at Paper Plus Stratford in Stratford.

14 Lotto players win Second Division

Fourteen lucky Lotto players will be feeling fantastic after each winning $19,356 with Lotto Second Division in Saturday nights live Lotto draw.

Three lucky players also won Powerball Second Division, taking their total winnings to $24,870.

The winning Powerball Second Division tickets were sold at Impulse Snacks & Lotto in Waitara, Unichem Stortford Lodge Pharmacy in Hastings, and on MyLotto to a player from Hamilton.

The winning Second Division tickets were sold at the following stores:

Store Location New World Kumeu Kumeu Pt Chevalier Lotto Plus Auckland Woolworths Botany Auckland Woolworths Dinsdale Hamilton MyLotto (+PB) Hamilton MyLotto Tauranga Impulse Snacks & Lotto (+PB) Waitara Pak n Save New Plymouth New Plymouth Napier City Pak n Save Napier Unichem Stortford Lodge Pharmacy (+PB) Hastings Vogel Street Pharmacy Palmerston North New World Waimate Waimate Woolworths Oamaru Oamaru New World Balclutha Balclutha

Anyone who bought their ticket from any of the above stores should check their ticket as soon as possible in-store, on MyLotto, or through the MyLotto App.

Lotto NZs Text to Play service has now ended, which means customers can no longer buy tickets via text. There are still lots of other ways customers can play our games. Find out more at https://mylotto.co.nz/lotto/text-service.

Lotto NZ exists to return 100% of its profits to Kiwi communities through lottery grants programmes run by Te Puna Tahua NZ Lottery Grants Board.
Fayetteville, N.Y.  Gov. Kathy Hochul packaged a Syracuse visit Friday to highlight the demolition of a longtime city eyesore with a stop in the suburbs to raise some campaign funds.

Fayetteville resident Susan Crossett, a Central New York business leader and friend of the governor, hosted a fundraiser in her home Friday afternoon. Hochul, who earned her bachelors degree from Syracuse University in 1980, said after her official event in the city that Crossett is among her many deep connections in the region.
Syracuse, NY - The Syracuse City School District will dismiss the majority of its students early every day next week -- except on Monday -- as the Syracuse area braces for an historically brutal heat wave.

Tuesday, Thursday and Friday will be half-days for all elementary, middle school and preK-8 buildings. Thats where nearly 11,000 of the districts 19,000 students attend school.

Only 13 of the districts 30 schools are fully air-conditioned.

Staff will be released after the students are released, district officials said.

The high schools, which have air conditioning, will remain on regular schedule. Regents exams will be held as scheduled, a school spokesman said.

All schools are closed on Wednesday to observe Juneteenth.

Central Square schools announced earlier today they would have half a day on Tuesday at its elementary schools and middle school. Half days were already scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

Three consecutive days next week -- Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday -- are expected to be 94 degrees or hotter in Syracuse. Thats never happened this early in June, according to weather service records.

The citys pools will begin opening next week. The first one opens Wednesday at Kirk Park.
Rahulkool Senior - BHPian



Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,433 Thanked: 1,940 Times

View My Garage





Re: F is for fun - BMW F850GS Adventure



1. 23L tank - I have done 3000 kms as of now and seen DTE of 600+ kms on a full tank of petrol, very convenient.

2. Semi active electronic suspension, very comfortable ride. You can change the preload at a flick of a button. It can dynamically adjust the damping while riding as well.

3. Keyless ride - very convenient while riding, especially with gloves.

4. Bi directional quickshifter - not the best one in the market but works well.

5. 5 riding modes - Rain, Road, Dynamic, Enduro and Enduro pro. I am most comfortable in road mode, have changed to enduro mode once and felt the ride height was way too much for me to manage.

6. All the essentials like center stand, lower engine guard, top box and pannier racks.

7. Really great LCD speedo console with the easy to use wheel controller.

8. Very good wind protection, the bike is huge and provides good protection for the lower body, my bike comes with a smaller windshield as its the rally variant, so far I am finding it okay.

9. Comfort seats - which are again optional on other markets as far as I know.

10. Spoke rims + tubeless tyres with TPMS. Tubeless tyre was something I was not ready to compromise.

11. Decent enough LED aux lights.

12. Heated grips, although not much useful for me.



Finally booked at the end of Feb 2024. There were two colors available: Katamata Matte metallic and Triple black. I wanted the gold wheels, so the only option was kalamata matte metallic. Gave the booking amount of 2L. Sales advisor told me the wait time is 45-60 days, depending upon if the bike is available in India or if it needs to be imported.



On-road price is 17.15L including 21k for 5 year RSA and 22k for 4th and 5th year extended warranty unlimited kms, no discounts. I am yet to buy RSA and Extended warranty. Planning to get it next month. Insurance was 59k, got it from showroom itself as I didn't find much difference in pricing even if I opt to get it outside.



Bike comes with a physical user manual, thank god for that. I hate the recent trend of giving just a PDF copy. User manual is very detailed and well written like anything german. Also very very small tool kit which consists of a spanner, screwdriver and a plastic lock of some sort.





Triple black color





I started following up for status after 10 days of booking, at least expecting the vin no while the bike is allocated. Then I learned that katamata matte metallic is discontinued by BMW and no longer available. This issue dragged on for a week. They were pushing a triple black bike to me with some discounts but didn't like the black color. I was ready to cancel the booking if I could not get the right color. Finally the showroom guy said they can not do anything and I can follow up directly with BMW for resolution.



Send a mail to BMW the same evening asking how the showroom took booking for this color if it was discontinued. Got a call from BMW immediately, they said they will get back in 2 days. Next day they called me to confirm that one bike is available in another city and they can move it to chennai, confirmed the same.



Showroom told me to do the full payment first, I asked them to share vin no and bikes photo at least, I was planning to make the payment only after looking at the bike but showroom folks said that the bike was already billed to another showroom and they will not move it without taking full payment. Finally got the photo and vin no. of the bike on 19th march. Paid the full amount on 21st march, bike was moved to chennai on 27th March. Went to the showroom on 28th March and did a PDI. All looked fine except the battery, which was very weak, they confirmed that the battery would be changed before delivery. Odo showed 5kms.





On the PDI day









Requested them to use a flatbed for RTO registration and they obliged. Bike was sent to the RTO on 2nd April.



SA shared these images from the RTO









Finally took delivery on 4th April with odo showing 5km. I had a trip coming up in a week, so I couldn't ride the bike much in the first month of ownership. Still vividly remember having a red Funduro 650 poster on my wall when it was launched sometime in 1996. Back then I could only dream of owning a bike like that someday.



Just before the reveal









Cake cutting with a few friends.





Odo reading at the time of delivery.





Went straight to the temple for divine blessing.





Finally at home parking, parked next to Interceptor, it looks huge.







Likes

Comfort for rider as well as pillion

Smooth engine

Fully loaded bike in terms of features

Big tank

Looks are subjective, I wont say bike looks good but it looks purposeful, if that makes sense

21 front with 90/90 tyre, 17 rear with 150/70 tyre



Cons

Weight, a lot of it, bike is 248kg with 23liters of fuel, could be a handful

875mm seat height. I am very much used to it now. But for some it might be a deal breaker

Maintenance and parts are expensive



Safety:

Dual front 305mm discs and single rear 265mm disc

Bike comes with cornering ABS

Dynamic traction control with wheelie control

Slipper clutch with bi directional quick shifter

Stability control - I am not sure what it is lol, remember reading it somewhere on the spec sheet.

Adjustable windscreen and hand/foot levers



Switchgear and cluster design:

I really like the LCD panel and the layout, it's a clutter free and easy to read even in daylight. On the left of LCD there is a proprietary BMW connector, which can be adapted to various ports like USB charging, it can be also used for charging the bike battery. There is a regular USB port on the right side of the LCD. Rear view mirror provide decent coverage and I dont see any reason to change them.



Left switchgear

Scroll wheel for navigating menu, it has a left & right movement as well. By far the best navigation on bikes I have used.

Menu rocker for selection/back operation.

Turn indicator with auto cancel feature

Horn is slightly hard to reach due to the scroll wheel, especially with gloves.

Dedicated button for traction control and suspension preload/damping

Hazard button

Auto headlamp and DRL button

Cruise control switch and toggle

High beam on the front which is not visible in this pic

Aux light switch below the RVM mount.



Right switch gear

Starter button

Mode button to cycle through 4 pre selected riding modes

Heated grip button







Styling

Frankly most of the adventure bikes are not so good looking IMO, this is no exception. But as i said, its looks purpose built and some might find that beautiful.



Usage

So far I have done little over 3000 kms and most of it done on highways. Interceptor is going to stay for the city duties.



Build

Overall fit and finish of the bike is good. I don't see any reasons to complain.



Riding the bike

I find the riding position to be good. Seats are also quite good, not too firm, neither too soft. Bike is very smooth, so much so that few might find it little disconnected, no feel. Even interceptor is very smooth but still you feel the engine working below. This bike feel very damped everywhere, i like it, but it could be a deal breaker for some.



Engine pulls easily even in low RPM, drive by wire throttle action is very smooth and sorted. It does 100 kmph around 3700 RPM, very relaxed at that speed. Exhaust note is decent being a 270* parallel twin, it has a nice burble when decelerating. The intakes pipes are below the LCD console and you can hear the intake growl while riding the bike. The 853cc engine produces 95bhp @ 8250rpm power and 93nm @ 6250rpm torque.



Handling is fine for such a huge bike, it gets into the corners effortlessly. Suspension is on the softer side, combined with the 21 front, it just glides over bad roads.



Clutch action is little on the harder side, but quickshifter takes care of that. The gear shifts are also a little stiffer compared to the Interceptor but I feel it will get better over time as the test ride bike was much softer.



Have ridden a few hundred kms in night and found the LED headlamps and aux lamps to be good and sufficient.



Connetivity and app is useful, the phone get paired to the LCD. You can also pair the rider and pillion helmet comm to the LCD. All the phone/music controls can be done through the LCD and scroll wheel. All the rides gets recorded on the BMW app with ton of data like speed, rpm, ABS/Traction control activation, tilt angle etc. Compared to Transalp or even the newly launched 800DE, 850 felt more VFM choice. BMW bikes in India are fully loaded and come with all options. With the Transalp, even the center stand is extra. Also I liked the calm and relaxed engine of 850 more, rather than the Transalp or Tiger 900 which are a bit more sporty in nature. Purely personal preference. Few features which BMW comes loaded with, in no particular order.1. 23L tank - I have done 3000 kms as of now and seen DTE of 600+ kms on a full tank of petrol, very convenient.2. Semi active electronic suspension, very comfortable ride. You can change the preload at a flick of a button. It can dynamically adjust the damping while riding as well.3. Keyless ride - very convenient while riding, especially with gloves.4. Bi directional quickshifter - not the best one in the market but works well.5. 5 riding modes - Rain, Road, Dynamic, Enduro and Enduro pro. I am most comfortable in road mode, have changed to enduro mode once and felt the ride height was way too much for me to manage.6. All the essentials like center stand, lower engine guard, top box and pannier racks.7. Really great LCD speedo console with the easy to use wheel controller.8. Very good wind protection, the bike is huge and provides good protection for the lower body, my bike comes with a smaller windshield as its the rally variant, so far I am finding it okay.9. Comfort seats - which are again optional on other markets as far as I know.10. Spoke rims + tubeless tyres with TPMS. Tubeless tyre was something I was not ready to compromise.11. Decent enough LED aux lights.12. Heated grips, although not much useful for me.Finally booked at the end of Feb 2024. There were two colors available: Katamata Matte metallic and Triple black. I wanted the gold wheels, so the only option was kalamata matte metallic. Gave the booking amount of 2L. Sales advisor told me the wait time is 45-60 days, depending upon if the bike is available in India or if it needs to be imported.On-road price is 17.15L including 21k for 5 year RSA and 22k for 4th and 5th year extended warranty unlimited kms, no discounts. I am yet to buy RSA and Extended warranty. Planning to get it next month. Insurance was 59k, got it from showroom itself as I didn't find much difference in pricing even if I opt to get it outside.Bike comes with a physical user manual, thank god for that. I hate the recent trend of giving just a PDF copy. User manual is very detailed and well written like anything german. Also very very small tool kit which consists of a spanner, screwdriver and a plastic lock of some sort.Triple black colorI started following up for status after 10 days of booking, at least expecting the vin no while the bike is allocated. Then I learned that katamata matte metallic is discontinued by BMW and no longer available. This issue dragged on for a week. They were pushing a triple black bike to me with some discounts but didn't like the black color. I was ready to cancel the booking if I could not get the right color. Finally the showroom guy said they can not do anything and I can follow up directly with BMW for resolution.Send a mail to BMW the same evening asking how the showroom took booking for this color if it was discontinued. Got a call from BMW immediately, they said they will get back in 2 days. Next day they called me to confirm that one bike is available in another city and they can move it to chennai, confirmed the same.Showroom told me to do the full payment first, I asked them to share vin no and bikes photo at least, I was planning to make the payment only after looking at the bike but showroom folks said that the bike was already billed to another showroom and they will not move it without taking full payment. Finally got the photo and vin no. of the bike on 19th march. Paid the full amount on 21st march, bike was moved to chennai on 27th March. Went to the showroom on 28th March and did a PDI. All looked fine except the battery, which was very weak, they confirmed that the battery would be changed before delivery. Odo showed 5kms.On the PDI dayRequested them to use a flatbed for RTO registration and they obliged. Bike was sent to the RTO on 2nd April.SA shared these images from the RTOFinally took delivery on 4th April with odo showing 5km. I had a trip coming up in a week, so I couldn't ride the bike much in the first month of ownership. Still vividly remember having a red Funduro 650 poster on my wall when it was launched sometime in 1996. Back then I could only dream of owning a bike like that someday.Just before the revealCake cutting with a few friends.Odo reading at the time of delivery.Went straight to the temple for divine blessing.Finally at home parking, parked next to Interceptor, it looks huge.Comfort for rider as well as pillionSmooth engineFully loaded bike in terms of featuresBig tankLooks are subjective, I wont say bike looks good but it looks purposeful, if that makes sense21 front with 90/90 tyre, 17 rear with 150/70 tyreWeight, a lot of it, bike is 248kg with 23liters of fuel, could be a handful875mm seat height. I am very much used to it now. But for some it might be a deal breakerMaintenance and parts are expensiveDual front 305mm discs and single rear 265mm discBike comes with cornering ABSDynamic traction control with wheelie controlSlipper clutch with bi directional quick shifterStability control - I am not sure what it is lol, remember reading it somewhere on the spec sheet.Adjustable windscreen and hand/foot leversI really like the LCD panel and the layout, it's a clutter free and easy to read even in daylight. On the left of LCD there is a proprietary BMW connector, which can be adapted to various ports like USB charging, it can be also used for charging the bike battery. There is a regular USB port on the right side of the LCD. Rear view mirror provide decent coverage and I dont see any reason to change them.Left switchgearScroll wheel for navigating menu, it has a left & right movement as well. By far the best navigation on bikes I have used.Menu rocker for selection/back operation.Turn indicator with auto cancel featureHorn is slightly hard to reach due to the scroll wheel, especially with gloves.Dedicated button for traction control and suspension preload/dampingHazard buttonAuto headlamp and DRL buttonCruise control switch and toggleHigh beam on the front which is not visible in this picAux light switch below the RVM mount.Right switch gearStarter buttonMode button to cycle through 4 pre selected riding modesHeated grip buttonFrankly most of the adventure bikes are not so good looking IMO, this is no exception. But as i said, its looks purpose built and some might find that beautiful.So far I have done little over 3000 kms and most of it done on highways. Interceptor is going to stay for the city duties.Overall fit and finish of the bike is good. I don't see any reasons to complain.I find the riding position to be good. Seats are also quite good, not too firm, neither too soft. Bike is very smooth, so much so that few might find it little disconnected, no feel. Even interceptor is very smooth but still you feel the engine working below. This bike feel very damped everywhere, i like it, but it could be a deal breaker for some.Engine pulls easily even in low RPM, drive by wire throttle action is very smooth and sorted. It does 100 kmph around 3700 RPM, very relaxed at that speed. Exhaust note is decent being a 270* parallel twin, it has a nice burble when decelerating. The intakes pipes are below the LCD console and you can hear the intake growl while riding the bike. The 853cc engine produces 95bhp @ 8250rpm power and 93nm @ 6250rpm torque.Handling is fine for such a huge bike, it gets into the corners effortlessly. Suspension is on the softer side, combined with the 21 front, it just glides over bad roads.Clutch action is little on the harder side, but quickshifter takes care of that. The gear shifts are also a little stiffer compared to the Interceptor but I feel it will get better over time as the test ride bike was much softer.Have ridden a few hundred kms in night and found the LED headlamps and aux lamps to be good and sufficient.Connetivity and app is useful, the phone get paired to the LCD. You can also pair the rider and pillion helmet comm to the LCD. All the phone/music controls can be done through the LCD and scroll wheel. All the rides gets recorded on the BMW app with ton of data like speed, rpm, ABS/Traction control activation, tilt angle etc. Last edited by Axe77 : 15th June 2024 at 09:32 . Reason: i > I and other minor tidy up edits.
scorpi0N BHPian



Join Date: Apr 2024 Location: Mumbai Posts: 28 Thanked: 400 Times

A Summer in Scandinavia

Prologue



It was in 2022, down with Covid and reading another Martin Beck novel (a set of police procedural novels based in Stockholm), that the idea of visiting Sweden first occurred. In 2021, as normalcy was slowly returning after COVID lockdown, my wife and I were considering going out of the country for a trip. As luck would have it, we were both struck with COVID in early 2022 and were confined to rest and isolation. During this time, I completed all ten Martin Beck novels and was intrigued with Stockholm. As a long time admirer of Borgen, a Danish political TV drama, I always had an innate desire to spend a few days in Copenhagen. I shared the idea of visiting Copenhagen and Stockholm with my wife, who agreed reluctantly initially (which wasnt a surprise as these are not popular tourist destinations). Her full-hearted agreement was secured later, after her wish to see the Norwegian fjords was accommodated. And thus a Summer in Scandinavia was conceived!



Trip Plan



After a lot of reading and research, the final plan which was crystallized was the following:









Days 1 to 4: Copenhagen





It would not be an exaggeration to state that our pleasant first day experience in Copenhagen set the tone for the entire trip. Even today I can clearly recall that day. We landed at Copenhagen airport at around 1:30 PM local time on a day in August, after a tiring 13 hours of travel, with a layover in Dubai. We had heavy backpacks of 40L and 70L and reaching the hotel from airport was the only thing in mind after we landed. The weather was pleasant and days were long and, after a quick bath and lunch, we gathered the strength to go for a one hour guided sightseeing boat trip in the evening (included in the Copenhagen card). And wow! What an incredible experience! All tiredness just vanished! It was such a wonderful and enjoyable experience. All thanks to the beautiful surroundings and the wonderful guide, who kept the entire ride extremely amusing and joyful. We got a sense of Danes association with water, their taking pride in their Vikings heritage, their rivalry with Sweden and just how scintillating Copenhagen truly was.













The Copenhagen Opera House





The Little Mermaid

The Copenhagen Opera HouseThe Little Mermaid

Next few days were spent exploring Copenhagen and nearby towns of Roskilde, the erstwhile Danish capital, and Hillerod, famous for Frederiksborg Castle.





The highlights of our visit were the following three. 1. Viking ship museum in Roskilde

Danes, and the Scandinavians in general, have a strong association with boats/ships and with water. They own boats and take them out on lakes/canals for a spin, like we do our cars for leisure drives.





This connection with water and ships is attributed, to an extent, to their heritage from Vikings (seafaring people from 8th century onwards originally from Scandinavia); although being surrounded by water the association is organic. The Viking museum in Roskilde, about an hour from Copenhagen by train, is a celebration of the Viking heritage of the Scandinavians. The wonderful museum showcases ships from various Viking ages. We were able to appreciate the evolution of Viking ships over the years, the hard work done by a variety of people on excavation and techniques adopted by the museum for meticulous preservation. The icing on the cake was a small workshop, where people can just learn a few basic tricks related to shipmaking.













A bit about Roskilde. It is a charming small city and, till a few centuries ago, was the capital of Denmark. The other major attraction apart from the ship museum is the Roskilde Cathedral.





The Roskilde Cathedral





The Roskilde Cathedral

2. Lost in Hillerd

This happened by chance. We had gone to Hillerd, a small town an hour from Copenhagen, to visit the famous Frederiksborg Castle.





We took a train from Copenhagen to Hillerd, and boarded a bus bound towards Frederiksborg Castle from outside the Hillerd station. I think we completed the visit by 1 PM and were thinking of having lunch back in Copenhagen. We decided to walk to the station as it was nearby, through a beautiful market area. I put the location in the maps app and we started walking. The market was nowhere there and I think we ventured deep into the residential areas with beautiful houses and a great deal of greenery. Wife observed that the vegetation was very different, with lots of berries and maple trees.

She was enjoying the walk and observing things, while I was thinking why isnt the route like the way I had read. Eventually, we reached a small stadium and then I realised that I had selected stadion instead of station. After realising the mistake we had to backtrack and take another road to the station. What was supposed to be a 30 minutes walk turned out to be a 2 hours stroll. The best part  it was the most wonderful walk which we had during the entire trip through the quiet roads, beautiful houses and among the berry trees!



























3. Nyhavn in Copenhagen

This is the highlight of Copenhagen. Nyhavn (pronounced as nee haw) means new harbour. It is the most vibrant area in entire Copenhagen, with a small river/lake in the middle, and both sides surrounded by restaurants, eateries and hotels. One can grab a beer or an ice cream and sit by the river to enjoy, or have snacks / dinner in one of the restaurants with outside seating by the river. Each evening in Copenhagen summer, when the sun sets at 9 PM, could be spent here.







Day 4/5: End of Copenhagen stay and a day in Malmo



For one day we stayed in Malmo, Sweden also. While a reasonably big city, its not famous for tourism. I was fascinated with the resund Bridge and wanted to cross it. The bridge connects Copenhagen and Malmo through a large body of water (a strait, to be more technical). Initially, it was supposed to be a 3 days stop over and then onwards to Stockholm; later, on insistence of wife, Norway visit was added for two days and Malmo stop cut to a single night.



The most unpleasant experience in the entire trip was here. We were cheated by a shopkeeper. We went to a Souvenir shop, which was fairly big in size. We noted that most of the items did not have any price tags. Nevertheless, we selected a few souvenirs and went for billing. The owner did not seem to be a local. Later, I would get to know that Malmo has a significant immigrant population and, in fact, its infamous (relatively less than some other European cities though) for crimes. Coming back to the point, the guy said if we pay in cash he will give some discount. Now, we also had some US Dollars and asked if he could accept them. He agreed and quickly did some calculations on a calculator. He explained all the rates pretty fast and we went along with the payment. After coming out we realised that we had been cheated with bad rates and possibly higher prices and no receipt as well. We were not prepared for this experience in Sweden and decided to be more careful from then onwards.



Nevertheless, Malmo is a fine city  very colourful. It was slightly drizzling but we decided to take out our raincoats and waterproof shoes, purchased specifically for our Bergen sojourn on the advise of a friend in Oslo. We explored Malmo in the light rain and, barring the unpleasant experience, we liked the charming place.















Restuarant India!

It was in 2022, down with Covid and reading anothernovel (a set of police procedural novels based in Stockholm), that the idea of visiting Sweden first occurred. In 2021, as normalcy was slowly returning after COVID lockdown, my wife and I were considering going out of the country for a trip. As luck would have it, we were both struck with COVID in early 2022 and were confined to rest and isolation. During this time, I completed all tennovels and was intrigued with Stockholm. As a long time admirer of, a Danish political TV drama, I always had an innate desire to spend a few days in Copenhagen. I shared the idea of visiting Copenhagen and Stockholm with my wife, who agreed reluctantly initially (which wasnt a surprise as these are not popular tourist destinations). Her full-hearted agreement was secured later, after her wish to see the Norwegian fjords was accommodated. And thuswas conceived!After a lot of reading and research, the final plan which was crystallized was the following:It would not be an exaggeration to state that our pleasant first day experience in Copenhagen set the tone for the entire trip. Even today I can clearly recall that day. We landed at Copenhagen airport at around 1:30 PM local time on a day in August, after a tiring 13 hours of travel, with a layover in Dubai. We had heavy backpacks of 40L and 70L and reaching the hotel from airport was the only thing in mind after we landed. The weather was pleasant and days were long and, after a quick bath and lunch, we gathered the strength to go for a one hour guided sightseeing boat trip in the evening (included in the Copenhagen card). And wow! What an incredible experience! All tiredness just vanished! It was such a wonderful and enjoyable experience. All thanks to the beautiful surroundings and the wonderful guide, who kept the entire ride extremely amusing and joyful. We got a sense of Danes association with water, their taking pride in their Vikings heritage, their rivalry with Sweden and just how scintillating Copenhagen truly was.Next few days were spent exploring Copenhagen and nearby towns of Roskilde, the erstwhile Danish capital, and Hillerod, famous for Frederiksborg Castle.The highlights of our visit were the following three.For one day we stayed in Malmo, Sweden also. While a reasonably big city, its not famous for tourism. I was fascinated with the resund Bridge and wanted to cross it. The bridge connects Copenhagen and Malmo through a large body of water (a strait, to be more technical). Initially, it was supposed to be a 3 days stop over and then onwards to Stockholm; later, on insistence of wife, Norway visit was added for two days and Malmo stop cut to a single night.The most unpleasant experience in the entire trip was here. We were cheated by a shopkeeper. We went to a Souvenir shop, which was fairly big in size. We noted that most of the items did not have any price tags. Nevertheless, we selected a few souvenirs and went for billing. The owner did not seem to be a local. Later, I would get to know that Malmo has a significant immigrant population and, in fact, its infamous (relatively less than some other European cities though) for crimes. Coming back to the point, the guy said if we pay in cash he will give some discount. Now, we also had some US Dollars and asked if he could accept them. He agreed and quickly did some calculations on a calculator. He explained all the rates pretty fast and we went along with the payment. After coming out we realised that we had been cheated with bad rates and possibly higher prices and no receipt as well. We were not prepared for this experience in Sweden and decided to be more careful from then onwards.Nevertheless, Malmo is a fine city  very colourful. It was slightly drizzling but we decided to take out our raincoats and waterproof shoes, purchased specifically for our Bergen sojourn on the advise of a friend in Oslo. We explored Malmo in the light rain and, barring the unpleasant experience, we liked the charming place. Last edited by scorpi0N : 13th June 2024 at 07:49 .
Overview: Qualcomm chips powering the lineup of Copilot+ PCs that Microsoft has heavily promoted are based on designs that Arm claims Qualcomm does not have the rights to use. Amid its lawsuit, Arm stated that it wanted to halt the impending shipments of numerous notebooks, but Qualcomm disputes the complaint. The Copilot+ PCs will likely still launch next week, but the situation casts uncertainty on Arm's licensing deals going into 2025.

Microsoft, Qualcomm, and several other PC vendors will launch a series of laptops next week that Microsoft is promoting as a new foundation for Windows on Arm and the emerging AI PC trend. However, Arm claims that the inaugural Copilot+ PCs violate its intellectual property rights.

The trouble began after Qualcomm purchased Nuvia, which had a license from Arm to design processors for servers. When Qualcomm redirected Nuvia's efforts toward other projects, eventually leading to the Snapdragon X chips at the heart of the Copilot+ PCs, Arm canceled Nuvia's licenses, allegedly revoking Qualcomm's right to them. This is the basis of Arm's 2022 lawsuit against the chipmaker.

Qualcomm countered with the claim that its other Arm licenses already cover the designs used for the Snapdragon X. Furthermore, differing interpretations of Nuvia's contract may call Arm's power to terminate Nuvia's license into question.

In any case, Microsoft, Qualcomm, Dell, HP, Acer, Asus, Samsung, and Lenovo plan to launch Copilot+ PCs on June 18, and the lawsuit has virtually no chance of stopping the shipments. The Qualcomm v. Arm trial is set to begin in December, and some observers predict an out-of-court settlement.

Despite the looming legal battle, Arm is leveraging the renewed interest in its instruction sets to make bold claims about the future of Arm PCs. CEO Rene Haas predicts that 50 percent of Windows PCs will use Arm chips before the end of this decade.

The initiative aims to bring efficiency improvements to Windows PCs similar to the gains Apple achieved with its Arm-based Apple Silicon SoCs. Microsoft is also using the launch as an opportunity to join the AI PC trend alongside Intel, AMD, and Apple, which have begun incorporating NPUs for local generative AI processing.

Other companies, including Nvidia, are also preparing Arm PC chips. Arm might be using its rising popularity and the lawsuit to push its clients toward new, more lucrative licensing deals.
Why it matters: Many of Nvidia's competitors want to steal some of its market dominance. One name that keeps coming up is Broadcom. A closer look tells us why. Its XPUs consume less than 600 watts, making them one of the most power-efficient accelerators in the industry.

In a note to investors this week, Bank of America said, "Consider it a top AI pick." It wasn't talking about Nvidia, even though BofA considers Green Team the undisputed winner of the GPU wars. It was referring to Broadcom, which recently announced a 10-to-1 stock split and better-than-expected revenue in its second-quarter earnings report. The company projected a higher-than-anticipated $51 billion in sales for the 2024 fiscal year.

Bank of America's analysts project the company's 2025 fiscal year sales to be $59.9 billion, for a 16-percent year-over-year gain. Analysts point to efficiency gains from Broadcom's VMWare acquisition last year, upsells, and its potential growth in custom chips as key indicators for its 2025 predictions. If BofA is right, Broadcom's market cap could put it into the Trillion Dollar Club with a handful of other tech luminaries, including Microsoft, Apple, Nvidia, Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta.

For this to happen, it will have to butt heads with Nvidia, which currently has a market cap lead of $3.4 trillion to Broadcom's $804 billion. Moreover, Nvidia's CUDA architecture has gained a near-monopoly in AI workloads for hyperscalers like Meta, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon, its largest customers. It has a vast ecosystem of software, tools, and libraries built around it that has further locked in customers and created a high barrier to entry for competitors like Broadcom.

Each of those companies would love to reduce their reliance on Nvidia, so Broadcom is positioning itself as an alternative by offering custom AI accelerator chips, known as XPUs, to cloud and AI companies. At a recent event, Broadcom noted that demand for its products is snowballing, pointing out that a state-of-the-art cluster two years ago had 4,096 XPUs. In 2023, it built a cluster with over 10,000 XPU nodes that required two layers of Tomahawk or Jericho switches. The company's roadmap is to extend this to over 30,000 and eventually one million.

An advantage that Broadcom emphasizes is the power efficiency of its XPUs. At less than 600 watts, they are among the lowest-power AI accelerators in the industry.

It also has a different worldview of the chip market, which it says is moving from CPU-centric to connectivity-centric. The emergence of alternative processors beyond the CPU, such as the GPU, NPU, and LPU, requires high-speed connections, which is Broadcom's specialty.
China's domestically manufactured commercial freight drone passed its first flight test.

The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) verified to a Chinese news source that the HH-100 prototype took off from Xi'an, Shaanxi province's capital, on June 12, Interesting Engineering reported.

AVIC XAC Commercial Aircraft Co., Ltd., a Xi'an subsidiary, developed the HH-100, with two main components of unmanned aerial vehicles and ground-based control stations. The company told Xinhua News Agency that the HH-100 prototype met all test parameters.

Developers call the HH-100 a cost-effective, high-capacity aircraft as it can take off at 4,409 pounds (2,000 kilograms), carry 1,543 pounds (700 kilograms), and fly 323 miles (520 kilometers) at full weight.

For freight transport, the HH-100 has a service ceiling of 5,000 meters and a maximum cruising speed of 186 mph (300 km/h). The drone's capacity is around 4 cubic meters. With these features, AVIC plans to use the HH-100 drone for branch-line logistics and short-range deliveries.

In the future, the drone could also be utilized in forest and grassland firefighting, relief supplies, and emergency communication relays.

AVIC said the HH-100 is essential to its mission to bring affordable and dependable commercial unmanned aerial systems to the low-altitude market.

Watch the successful flight of the HH-100 in this video:

China's homegrown HH-100 unmanned cargo aircraft completed its maiden flight test in northwestern province of Shaanxi on Wednesday, according to the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). https://t.co/BRvOwxbhIh pic.twitter.com/9o6WyLgcoS  CCTV+ (@CCTV_Plus) June 12, 2024

Tech Firms Investing Big Time in Cargo Drones

The report cited an info from South China Morning Post stating that the China Centre for Information Sector Development under the Industry and IT Ministry recorded 117.4 billion yuan (US$16.2 billion) in civil drone income last year, up 32% year-over-year.

The drone industry's quick rise highlights its importance to China's low-altitude economy. Since 2021, China has implemented laws and regulations to boost the civil drone industry, which is expected to have over 2,300 firms and 1,000 mass-produced drone products by 2023.

The worldwide drone business invests heavily in cargo drones for fast, efficient, and environmentally friendly logistics. Amazon and Walmart are testing drone deliveries in the US, demonstrating their logistical potential.

Recently, Amazon's Prime Air service reached a milestone with FAA clearance to extend drone deliveries. With the agency's approval to fly drones "beyond the visual line of sight," Amazon intends to speed up and improve online order delivery, per a previous TechTimes news story.

This certification lets Amazon fly drones farther without operator control, speeding deliveries and expanding coverage. The FAA verified that the permit extends to College Station, Texas, where Amazon began drone deliveries in late 2022.

Amazon views this clearance as a chance to expand drone operations, while privacy campaigners and aviation stakeholders worry about airspace management and safety.

Weaponizing Drones Against Stink Bugs

Aside from making waves in the freight industry, drone technology is also innovating the agriculture sector. The University of Modena and Reggio Emilia are testing the efficacy of AI and drones to manage the brown marmorated stink bug, a major orchard pest in North America and southern Europe, as earlier reported by TechTimes.

Life Sciences associate professor Lara Maistrello conducted a study to enhance the efficiency of pest management using drone technology. The study found that drones stopped adult stink bugs. Researchers believe this approach will boost integrated pest control by providing precise, environmentally adaptable forecasts.
Scientists stated that worldwide ozone layer protection measures have been a major achievement, showing that harmful gases are dropping faster than projected.

Experts, according to Science Alert, attribute the sharp drop in HCFCs to the 1987 Montreal Protocol. The global agreement sought to phase out ozone-depleting compounds found in refrigeration, air conditioning, and aerosol sprays. They say tougher national laws and industry restructuring ahead significantly helped.

According to new research, HCFCs, which deplete the ozone layer, peaked in 2021, five years ahead of forecasts.

'Huge Global Success'

The study's principal author, Bristol University's Luke Western, said things are going well, noting that global efforts to restore the ozone layer have been "a huge global success."

He added that there is a positive outlook that "environmental treaties" can be effective "if properly enacted" and observed. By 2010, CFCs were no longer used. By 2040, the use of HCFC compounds will be stopped.

The study, first published in Nature Climate Change, used data from the Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment and the US National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration to assess these pollutants' atmospheric levels.

CFCs and HCFCs are greenhouse gases. CFCs remain in the atmosphere for hundreds of years, whereas HCFCs stay roughly two decades. The use of products containing the chemicals will continue to impact the ozone layer for years, even after their discontinuation, and it may take four decades for the ozone layer to return to 1980s levels, per the UN Environment Programme in 2023.

The stratosphere, Earth's second layer of protective gases, relies on the ozone layer. According to National Geographic, ozone gases in the top layers absorb ultraviolet (UV) light, warming the stratosphere.

Ozone, a tiny gas with only three molecules per 10 million air molecules, absorbs sunlight and is critical. Life needs some sun radiation, but too much is dangerous.

The ozone layer shields life on Earth by trapping UV light, which can penetrate the skin and harm DNA in plants and animals. UVB and UVA are the two main UV types. UVB exposure can cause sunburns and basal and squamous cell carcinomas.

New Threat to Ozone Layer: Low-Orbit Satellites

Satellite debris threatens the ozone layer's recovery as harmful compounds in the atmosphere are declining. According to a report from Phys.org, aluminum oxide particles in the atmosphere have grown eightfold between 2016 and 2022 due to the rising number of low-Earth orbit satellites, according to Geophysical Research Letters research. These particles might erode the Earth's ozone layer, reversing its protection.

A University of Southern California study discovered that aluminum oxides do not react chemically and can harm ozone molecules for decades as they travel through the stratosphere.

The researchers calculated that by the time the planned satellite constellations are complete, annual aluminum oxide emissions will increase by 646 percent.

The report emphasizes the necessity of monitoring and regulating satellite contamination, which has been disregarded in the race to deliver worldwide internet service. The researchers noted that satellite re-entry pollution might delay ozone layer regeneration by decades.
Remote workers who use 'mouse-mover' technology to fake their activity are getting caught more frequently. Designed to mimic mouse movements and keyboard strokes, these tools create the illusion that an employee is actively working at their computer. This is becoming a concern for companies as they strive to maintain productivity and integrity within remote work setups.

Remote Work Deception, Monitoring Technology

Wells Fargo recently fired over a dozen employees for using these tools to make it look like they were working when they were not. According to BBC, which cited information from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), these employees were discovered during an investigation that revealed they were using devices or apps to simulate computer activity.

It's still unclear how these employees had jobs where mouse movements measured their productivity. The FINRA disclosures did not specify whether these workers were caught using the tools while working from home. However, it is known that all the employees who were fired were part of Wells Fargo's wealth and investment management unit.

These devices and software have been available for years, but their use soared during the pandemic. These tools gained popularity, with many employees suddenly working from home without direct oversight. Commonly known as "mouse movers" or "mouse jigglers," they are readily accessible online and can automatically move a computer's cursor or mimic keyboard strokes without human input.

Many companies use software to track these inputs to ensure remote employees are productive and at their computers. As remote work has persisted beyond the pandemic, these monitoring tools have become more advanced. They can now detect the patterns that indicate a "mouse jiggler" is being used, no matter how random they appear.

The battle between "mouse jigglers" and detection tools is ongoing and will evolve as both technologies improve. There might never be a definitive winner, but with remote work becoming more common, companies should consider redefining how they measure productivity for employees working from home.

With the rise of remote work, some employees resort to these devices to appear busy, but companies are increasingly investing in sophisticated monitoring tools to detect such fraudulent activity. As a result, employees using 'mouse-movers' face disciplinary actions, including termination.

Wells Fargo's Shift to Hybrid Office Model

Wells Fargo, headquartered in San Francisco, began implementing a "hybrid flexible model" in early 2022, requiring employees to return to the office. Under this model, most staff are expected to be in the office at least three days a week. Management committee members must be on duty four days a week, while certain employees are required to be on duty five days a week.

Ranked as the nation's fourth-largest lender, the bank has focused on expanding its wealth management division under CEO Charlie Scharf and his deputy, Barry Sommers, who joined the company in 2020. The wealth management unit faced significant challenges following scandals in 2016, which led to the departure of many advisers and their high-value clients.
Pope Francis made history by addressing the G7 summit, where he emphasized the importance of preserving human dignity in developing and applying artificial intelligence. As the summit host, Italy invited Pope Francis to speak at a dedicated session focused on AI's implications. This marked the first time a pope participated in a G7 summit.

Making History as the First Pope to Attend G7 Summit

Pope Francis urged leaders from wealthy democracies to prioritize human dignity in developing and using artificial intelligence. He cautioned that this powerful technology could reduce human relationships to mere algorithms.

Francis used his moral influence at the Group of Seven, invited by Italy to speak at a special session of their annual summit focused on the challenges and potentials of AI. This marked the first time a pope participated in the G7, providing an ethical perspective on a topic gaining prominence in global discussions among international summits, government policies, and corporate strategies.

As highlighted by the Associated Press, Francis emphasized that politicians must take the lead in ensuring AI remains centered around humanity. This means humans should always make decisions about using weapons or other tools.

Francis underscored the importance of preserving people's autonomy in decision-making, cautioning against a future where machines override human choices. He emphasized the need to establish and maintain human control over artificial intelligence programs, stressing that the essence of human dignity is at stake.

Read Also : G7 Leaders Recognize Urgent Need for Governing AI

Addressing Pope Francis' Concerns

The final statement from the G7 summit largely echoed his concerns. Leaders pledged to improve coordination on the governance and regulations of AI, ensuring it remains "human-centered." They also recognized the potential effects on labor markets as machines replace human workers and on the justice system due to algorithms predicting recidivism.

They declared their commitment to a digital transformation that is inclusive and focused on people, promoting economic growth and sustainable development. Their goal is to maximize benefits while effectively managing risks, all guided by shared democratic values and respect for human rights.

Francis joined countries and global organizations at the summit in advocating for stricter regulations on AI, particularly in response to the rapid growth of generative AI exemplified by OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot.

Earlier this year, the Argentine pope used his annual peace message to propose an international treaty ensuring the ethical development and use of AI. He argued that technology must incorporate human values like compassion, mercy, morality, and forgiveness to avoid significant risks.

While he didn't repeat this specific call during his speech, Francis emphasized the responsibility of politicians to take the lead. He also urged a complete ban on lethal autonomous weapons, often referred to as "killer robots," asserting that machines should never decide to take human lives.
X is facing, yet again, another threat of being banned in Indonesia, but now, it is not because of a misunderstanding and is pointing out its recent policy change, which straight-up allowed porn content on social media. The threat talked about a possible ban for Elon Musk's X as it violates the country's laws that prohibit pornography content distribution.

Previously, Musk's Twitter name change to X also triggered a possible ban for the platform, but after verifying that it was social media, it was pulled back.

X Indonesia Ban Threats Surface Again Due to Porn Content

Indonesia recently revealed a threat of ban against X's entire social media platform after it allowed displaying pornographic content on the platform, according to Reuters' recent report. Indicating that this potential ban might take place if X doesn't comply, Indonesia's Minister of Communications and Informatics, Budi Arie Setiadi, revealed this.

The Southeast Asian country has a law passed in 2008 called the 'Pornography Law,' which disallows the distribution of explicit content.

According to Setiadi, X has already received a letter of warning regarding a possible ban on the country if it does not comply, and reportedly, Musk has not yet responded to it.

X's Second Time to Face Possible Ban in Indonesia

PC Mag reported that this is Musk and X's second time facing a possible ban on social media in Indonesia, as previously, it was because of Twitter's name change. The Indonesian government previously thought that 'X.com' was a porn site and temporarily blocked the platform in the country, but it was later clarified that it is a social media network and not an adult website.

Elon Musk Allowing Porn on X

There has been unfiltered and unnoticed porn content on Twitter/X circulating for a long time now, but with Musk's takeover of the platform, it has since seen a focus from the company. Earlier this March, it was reported that X tested hiding porn content or NSFW posts on the platform in special groups, one where users may get a chance to join, view, and share behind closed doors.

Moreover, Elon Musk believes in free speech, and this means extreme measures, including the reinstitution of previously banned accounts, seeing looser guidelines regarding controversial topics, and of course, porn. This June, X's new content policy for pornography and explicit content was revealed, officially allowing these kinds of materials and designating them as 'artistic expression.'

While these documents are hidden behind a consent notice, they also allow AI-generated content, following a recent fiasco with Taylor Swift where she was deepfaked into disturbing and explicit scenarios.

Now, X is facing another scrutiny for X's porn content, and this time, it is with Indonesia and its law against pornography distribution, and non-compliance from the company may lead to it being banned.
Iceland's only whaler says unlikely to hunt this year



Reykjavik, June 14 (AFP) Jun 14, 2024



The head of Iceland's sole whaling company said Friday he was unlikely to hunt whales this year despite obtaining a government-issued licence this week for the 2024 season.

Iceland, Norway and Japan are the only three countries that allow commercial whaling despite fierce opposition from animal rights activists.

On Tuesday, Iceland's Fisheries, Food and Agriculture Minister Bjarkey Olsen Gunnarsdottir granted Hvalur, the only whaling group left in Iceland, a licence to hunt 128 fin whales.

But Hvalur head Kristjan Loftsson said Friday the minister's decision came so late that he would probably not be able to ready his boats in time to hunt this season.

Whaling in Iceland generally takes place between mid-June and September.

Loftsson applied for the licence in January after his previous five-year licence expired.

"If she really thinks that you can start this kind of activity with a day's notice, then she is on a different planet than most Icelanders," Loftsson told Icelandic public broadcaster RUV.

"We haven't been able to prepare anything," he said.

Whalers have struggled in recent years to meet their quotas.

Last year, the country suspended whaling for two months following a government-commissioned inquiry that concluded the methods used did not comply with animal welfare laws.

Monitoring by the government's veterinary agency showed that the hunters' explosive harpoons were causing the whales prolonged agony, with the hunt lasting up to five hours after they had been harpooned.

The shortened 2023 season, which lasted only three weeks, ended with 24 fin whales killed. The quota was for a total of 209 whales.

Another company hung up its harpoons for good in 2020, saying it was no longer profitable.

The charity Humane Society International (HSI) has urged Iceland "to put an end to this needless cruelty for good".

"It is devastatingly disappointing that Minister Gunnarsdottir has set aside unequivocal scientific evidence demonstrating the brutality and cruelty of commercial whale killing and allowed whales to be killed for another year," Adam Peyman from HSI told AFP.

Peyman called the decision a "new shameful entry in the conservation history books".
Sinkholes threaten luxury property in Chile's resort city



Vina del Mar, Chile, June 15 (AFP) Jun 15, 2024



It was meant to be paradise on earth: a luxury apartment building standing just a few meters away from the beach with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean.

However, intense rains that have lashed Chile in recent days caused a giant sinkhole to open underneath this high-end property in the resort city of Vina del Mar, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of residents.

The 13-floor building with 200 apartments worth up to $500,000 each is now sitting atop a hole that is 15 meters (50 feet) long and 30 meters deep, the third such hole that opened here in less than a year.

Sergio Silva, 77, one of the few residents still left at Euromarina II, was trying to shove some of his belongings into a car to take them to a safer place because more rains are expected.

"We are taking important things, not everything," Silva told AFP.

Residents of the building that stands below Euromarina II, at sea level, have also had to abandon their homes for fear that it would collapse on them.

"Some people have left out of precaution. Those of us who remain are prepared in case of emergency or if we have to evacuate," says Claudio Camus, 43, a resident of the Eurovista building that stands beneath Euromarina II.



- 'Impudent' sale -



The high-end property is located on a 28-hectare dune field that until 1994 was part of a state-protected nature sanctuary.

But a change in regulations allowed high-rise and high-density construction in the area, and there are currently 44 luxury buildings here.

Then, in August and September last year, two landslides undermined the foundations of three other buildings: the Kandinsky, Miramar-Renaca and Santorini. Even the coastal road has been cut off due to the broken pavement.

"The risks that were taken by building there are gigantic," Vina del Mar mayor Macarena Ripamonti told AFP, adding that the real estate was "sold in a very impudent manner."

The urban expansion on the dunes posed a clear risk -- and intense storms, the result of the El Nino weather phenomenon or the consequences of climate change, proved the critics right.

"It is a fragile sector that should have been preserved," says urban planner and mayoral candidate Ivan Poduje, calling it a "bad urban planning decision."

Experts say the sinkholes are caused by overflowing rainwater collectors.

While engineers work to fix the water collection system, Ripamonti, the mayor, says she will leave nothing to chance: "I am not going to allow another building to be built there."
Albania's shepherds race to save sheep from crushing heatwave



Vlore, Albania, June 15 (AFP) Jun 15, 2024



A crushing heatwave has forced shepherds in southern Albania to rush forward the shearing of their sheep to save them from suffocating in their wool coats under the soaring temperatures.

In the Dukat plain, which runs from the Ceraunian (Thunderbolt) Mountains to the Adriatic Sea, temperatures are already reaching 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) and beyond.

The shearers have been forced to start work at dawn and finish by late morning to escape the worst of the exceptional heat.

The sheep, weighed down by the thick coats and packed tightly together in a small enclosure, bleat as they wait to be sheared in the scorching sun.

The bells around their necks punctuate the clip of the shears and the chat of the shepherds as they work.

"The heatwave of the past few days, with temperatures suddenly abnormally high" meant the shepherds had to move fast, biologist Nexhip Hysolokaj told AFP.

Shearing normally takes place at the end of June but the brutal change in climate has forced shepherds to bring it forward.

The sheep were struggling, said Hysolokaj. "Unexpected heatwaves can be fatal" for them, he added.

Unshorn sheep are at far more risk because their wool prevents their sweat from evaporating.



- Clipped the traditional way -



"They can stand the cold," said 64-year-old shepherd Syrja Brahimi as he clipped away at a sheep.

"But they have a lot of problems with the heat, so we have to hurry up and get rid of the wool that suffocates them."

Brahimi invited his friends friends and fellow shepherds to help him shear his 150-strong flock.

He in turn will help shear and deworm the flocks of each one of his colleagues, before they move their sheep up into the mountains over the summer.

Despite the urgency this year, the days of shearing are also a period of celebration as the shepherds gather.

And here, they still do it the traditional way, hand-clipping their sheep rather than using electric shears.

"It's more human," said Syrja.

As the hours pass -- and the heat rises -- the silence is gradually replaced by the good-natured chat of a day among friends.

Bread and cheese washed down with coffee and raki -- a traditional brandy popular in Albania and much of the Balkans -- help make the hard work and punishing heat easier to bear.



- 'Our children' -



"You have to finish the job before 10:00 am to protect the sheep from the scorching sun," said another shepherd, 61-year-old Feim Koci. He was already drenched in sweat.

"I started shearing my first sheep at the age of 15, a difficult job but one I've done with love," he added.

"Ewes and rams are our children, our family, our life.

Koci, his head and neck covered with a white blouse to protect him from the sun, plucked another sheep from the flock and readied his shears.

"One has to be very careful when using the shears in order not to traumatise the animal by cutting its skin and hurting it", he said.

"The animal needs to feel reassured," he explained. "We talk to it, stroke it... It has to understand that nothing bad is going to happen to it."

Koci sharpened his shears on a whetstone before starting on the next sheep.

Once he was done, he moved it quickly moved to the shade of a makeshift tent covered with ferns -- for even shorn, he said, the sheep were still at risk from heatstroke.



- 'We won't give up' -



This year's higher temperatures have not only brought forward the shearing season, it has also affected milk production, said Brahimi.

From 65 kilogrammes (143 pounds) per ewe last year, they are now down to 50, he said.

But the shepherds are holding on.

"As long as we're alive, we won't give up," said Koci. "We'll find solutions to save our sheep.

"But here we're all over 60, there are no young people remaining in the village, they've all left for the city or abroad.

After all the hard work, they still won't be able to sell their wool. This was about saving the sheep rather than going to market.

With world prices as low as they are, they cannot give the wool away, so it will end up being dumped.

"These sheep will finish at the butcher. There's no other choice," said Brahimi.

He could not keep the tears from his eyes.
The city of San Antonio is considering potential land use and zoning changes around Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas Inc.s plant on the South Side. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

The city of San Antonios proposed changes to land use and zoning patterns around Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas Inc.s plant on the South Side has caused confusion among property owners in the area.

Those changes include whats known as the Texas A&M Regional Center Plan, a document that would guide land use around the Texas A&M University-San Antonio and Toyotas plant, and an industrial compatibility overlay district, which would add a zoning component.

The overlay would consist of two zones, with Zone A limiting new residential and commercial development within 1 mile of the facility and Zone B extending another mile outward and restricting new residential projects. Creating such an overlay is one of the strategies outlined in the regional center plan. The plan and the overlay are posted on the citys website.

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The Planning Commission and Zoning Commission have postponed decisions on both the regional center plan and the overlay district. The panels make recommendations to the City Council, which has the final authority on the matter.

The Express-News talked with Rudy Nino, assistant director of the citys planning department, about the history of the proposals, how theyll work and whose property is within the overlay district. The following has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Q: What was the impetus for creating the Texas A&M Regional Center Plan and the industrial compatibility overlay district?

A: The Texas A&M plan is an implementation of the comprehensive plan. The comprehensive plan was adopted in 2016, and City Council directed staff to implement it and start working on all regional center plans. The A&M plan was started in 2018 and really got going in terms of the engagement part in 2019. It was evident pretty early on in that planning process that folks understood that this is a burgeoning economic generator, theres a lot of industrial activity that could potentially be happening down there.

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South Side residents take photos of an updated proposal at a San Antonio Planning Commission meeting about potential land use and zoning changes around Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas Inc.s plant on the South Side. Jessica Phelps

Obviously, the Toyota manufacturing plant is there, and they really wanted Toyota at the table participating in the planning process. We met with with Toyotas folks. They designated some people to meet us, but they said, We dont want to be on the planning team. Let the community do that and make the recommendations. We just have to be able to provide some input. We talked to them specifically about the the concerns folks had about industrial and transitions and where is it appropriate to build certain types of uses. In follow-up discussions, it was, Look, we are mainly concerned with transitional land use. We are concerned about ensuring that people are going to be safe in their homes, that new residents wherever theyre going to be have good quality of life. The planning team focused on wanting to see more growth and opportunity on the South Side, and theres a need for infrastructure and growth.

Ultimately, this discussion about transitional land use, how do you accomplish that? The way you accomplish that is by creating some certainty. One of the recommendations was to look at an overlay district. But we wanted to make it more more focused on probably a 2-mile area around the manufacturing plant instead of three. We proposed that, and they said that seems fair. We put it in the plan with principles about where to guide growth around the South Side.

Were most concerned with the future health and safety of people who could be living by an industrial use, because at the end of the day, were talking about a piece of property that is zoned mixed heavy industrial. If folks are permitted to live within close proximity of that site, we dont know  down the road  what that site ultimately could contain. You could have a different use down the road. We dont think that thats the right approach to protect peoples public health and safety.

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As part of that process, there were 17 planning team meetings, four community meetings and other events as well as online surveys. There was quite a bit of robust engagement.

Q: If the City Council approves the industrial compatibility overlay district, would that supersede or replace the buffer zone in the Starbright Agreement?

Editors note: The deal that the city proposed to Toyota to convince the company to build a manufacturing plant here is known as the Starbright Agreement. It created a 3-mile zone to discourage residential construction and other uses Toyota considered incompatible with manufacturing. Critics have long contended it amounts to contract zoning, an illegal quid pro quo in which Toyota has authority over whats built.

A: When it comes to the Starbright Agreement, it has nothing to do with the Texas A&M Regional Center plan. We have not even referenced the Starbright Agreement as part of the process. The Starbright Agreement was an economic development incentive package that was adopted with the intent of bringing Toyotas manufacturing plant here. Were talking about a future land use planning process. There was a discussion of course in the Starbright Agreement about this 3-mile area with at least an additional look, additional scrutiny about land use and zoning decisions happening. But it doesnt direct us to do anything. Lets take a look, lets see if theres going to be some compatibility issues or not, and then we move on. At the end of the day, and we know what that 3-mile baseline is, and we said lets go ahead and provide some certainty. Were hearing from folks in the community that they want certainty down there so that they know where folks can ultimately build, and the city can provide that, and the best mechanism to provide that would be through an overlay.

One of the things that was brought up in the Planning Commission process was the idea that it felt too stringent, that we should be more broad and provide that higher level planning guidance. The commission continued the plan to a later meeting. We heard their comments and concerns, and we worked with them to get some guidance on some of the things that they would like to see. We made some adjustments to the text of the plan, and one of the things we said was that we could broaden the language. We took out the language about 2 miles and 3 miles and just said within one of the strategies an overlay district should be considered.

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Again, there was this idea that within a 3-mile radius theres some additional scrutiny in land use and zoning cases. That doesnt mean that we recommend approval or denial strictly based on a 3-mile distance. Weve approved many cases that are within 3 miles of the Toyota plant. Every case is a case-by-case basis, and the City Council has the ultimate authority to zone and adopt land use classifications. We would prefer to provide certainty and to provide a very specific zoning overlay.

Q: Whats the difference between the 2- and 2-mile areas around the plant?

A: We said look, we feel like giving a lot of additions for land use and zoning within a 3-mile area really is  we dont feel thats necessary. We think that we can scale that back. We think that 2 miles is more than fair because were hearing growth and opportunity and this is what folks want on the South Side. We said we think that thats appropriate, we think that we need to scale that back, give us your thoughts. They were comfortable with what our approach is going to be. They said as long as we are focused on ensuring that were not going to have residences so close to us that its obvious that theres land use transition discrepancy here, then it makes sense. They didnt oppose that.

Q: What is the regulatory piece of the regional center plan and the overlay district?

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A: The plan provides a blueprint for how the community would like to see that particular regional center grow over the next 10 years. It does have a future land use map, which is primarily the regulatory component, with other recommendations about infrastructure needs and economic development and so forth. But the future land use plan guides the type and pattern of development that folks want to see within this area. If youre categorized as light industrial, for example, then it states within the city code the applicable zoning districts that are consistent with that land use category. Somebody can request that it be changed, if they want to, and go through the city process.

The industrial compatibility overlay district will essentially add a tag. Lets say that your property is zoned C-2. It would say C-2 ICOD-1. Lets say that youre within the 1- to 2-mile area and your land is zoned C-2, then you can continue to use your property as a C-2 use because industrial and commercial are allowed within that area. If somebody wanted to add residential density to that area and they wanted to change the zoning, they can avail themselves of the standard city process as well.

One of the questions folks asked at a Planning Commission was, am I going to have to move? No. Nobody has to move because of the adoption of an overlay district.

A good portion of these properties are not currently zoned residential. A lot of them are zoned industrial. Its as you get farther and farther away that youre starting to see pockets of other types of zoning than industrial. A lot of the uses that have been discussed arent permissive today.

You can use the property for whatever its zoned for. The issue is going to be whether or not you want to add additional densities, and we provide some exemptions. For example, if youre working on a project that adheres to the zoning and land use classifications on your property, youre allowed to continue with that project.

Editors note: According to the overlay proposal, existing homes could be repaired and enlarged, but owners could not add accessory dwelling units or subdivide their property. Undeveloped platted lots with residential zoning could be developed but not subdivided, while unplatted empty lots could be developed but not exceed one dwelling per acre. Owners with unplatted, undeveloped property with residential zoning would have to register with the city by Dec. 31, submit a plat and plan within two years, and build their project within five years.

Q: With the future land use plan thats part of that regional center plan, what would it mean for existing land use classifications?

A: Nothing would change under their current use now. Down the road, if the city initiates a larger rezoning in order to create a zone that is consistent with the future land use plan, then we will engage with those property owners and have that conversation about ensuring that the zoning and the land use plan are consistent.

Q: If someone lives in Bexar County but not within the limits of the city of San Antonio, would the plan or the overlay district apply to their property?

A: We dont zone in the county.

Because of the way that the state law is written, we have to notify property owners about a potential zoning and we have to also notify tenants. The best way that we can make sure that everyone who needs to get a notice gets one is by sending them also on postal routes. But postal routes dont conform to our planning boundaries. In many cases, they extend far beyond the boundaries of what were trying to talk about. So weve had a lot of conversations with folks who really arent impacted at all by the zoning or land use planning, and folks who are in the county, explaining to them that this doesnt affect them at all.

The language on the notices is also mandated by the state. There were a lot of folks who I spoke with outside Zoning Commission and Planning Commission meetings who said the notices scared them and they thought they would have to move. I had to explain that is not the case at all, and the language and the size of the language is mandated by the state, and Im sorry if that startled you and your family. In most of those cases, the notice doesnt even apply because they live in the county or theyre outside of the boundaries of the proposal.

Q: Is there a way for someone to look up online whether their property is within the proposed overlay district?

A: We have provided notices through the Zoning Commission process that state where the actual overlay district parameters are. Through contacting our staff and through our website, we can also get folks the information that they need. The Zoning Commission did make a request for the staff to conduct a community meeting so that folks can get more information and ask questions. Its hard to ask questions at a public hearing. Were going to conduct a community meeting July 2, and well have very large maps. The goal is to provide a copy of the overlay district as part of the package. We want to make sure that its as comprehensive as possible so that folks have that information in hand and can ask questions.

I encourage folks to please reach out to our staff so that we have the opportunity to give you the right information and to give you the time that you need to get your questions answered.

Q: Does the regional center plan have to be approved by the City Council in order for the overlay district to be approved as well?

A: Theyre two separate processes. One is not necessarily reliant on the other. The City Council has ultimate authority over zoning and land use decisions.

We also have other overlay districts around the city that have a similar flavor to them, such as districts limiting intensity around military bases.

Q: At the Planning Commission meeting June 12, the citys legal staff said that city staff could take the proposed regional center plan directly to the City Council because commissioners had twice delayed voting on a recommendation. Do city staff intend to take the plan to a vote at council June 20, as originally proposed?
Lobbyist John-Paul Blandthorn has been sacked from prominent Labor-linked firm Hawker Britton, with the former senior government adviser denying allegations of bullying.

Blandthorn, the brother of Allan government minister Lizzie Blandthorn and a former adviser to ex-premier Daniel Andrews, told The Sunday Age that he was seeking legal advice.

John-Paul Blandthorn denies allegations of bullying.

He was listed as a director at Hawker Britton until Friday, when his profile was removed from its website.

Two sources who are across the details of the matter, speaking anonymously because they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly, said staff were told at a meeting on Friday morning that Blandthorn was no longer working with the company.
Genuine introspection needed to revive BJPs fortunes in State





MUMBAI,

IN THE wake of the BJPs Lok Sabha tally coming down from 23 to 9 in Maharashtra, senior party leader and State Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday stressed the need for genuine introspection and a strategy to revive the outfits fortunes. Addressing a meeting of the party aimed at taking stock of the results of the Lok Sabha elections, Fadnavis claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost several seats due to polarisation. We require a strategy and genuine introspection. Just analysis is not enough, he said. Heavens have not fallen. We got only two lakh votes less in the State, while in Mumbai we received two lakh more votes. BJP was ahead in 130 Assembly segments. But there was tremendous polarisation, the former Chief Minister said. There was a false narrative that the BJP would change the Constitution if voted to power. This narrative was strong in the first three phases. But we countered this narrative well after the three phases. Hence, we (Mahayuti alliance) could win only four out of the 24 Lok Sabha seats in the first three phases and bagged 13 of the 24 seats in the remaining phases, he claimed.

The Mahayuti alliance  comprising BJP, Shiv Sena (led by Eknath Shinde) and NCP (led by Ajit Pawar) got 17 out of the total 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, while the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) secured 30 seats of the total 48 seats. Fadnavis asked the party cadre to start working for the upcoming State Assembly elections by maintaining its present vote share. If we increase our vote percentage even by one per cent, we will sweep the Assembly polls, he added. Accusing the Opposition parties of spreading several false narratives against the BJP, Fadnavis asked the party office-bearers and leaders to strongly counter them. Recently, there was a narrative that the State is getting less Central funds. In reality, we were getting 5.1 per cent and now it has been increased to 6.3 per cent. Fund distribution criteria is fixed by the NITI Aayog, he said.

There was a narrative that the Wakf Board had been given Rs 10 crore funds by the Government, while in reality the amount was Rs 2 crore, he said. There was a narrative of not conducting a lottery for the Bombay Development Department (BDD) chawls, but in reality the lottery was supposed to happen on May 20, but was postponed due to the Lok Sabha elections in Mumbai on that day, Fadnavis added. Similarly, it was being said that smart meters will be installed, but no such decision has been taken, he claimed. A resolution congratulating Narendra Modi on his taking over as the Prime Minister for the third consecutive term was passed during the BJP meeting, where newly-elected party MPs were felicitated. Talking to reporters after the meeting, state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule accused the Opposition of spreading lies against the ruling alliance. We are confident that we will fare very well in the assembly elections and form a government in the state again, he said.
Bhujbal: Wanted to fight from Nashik, was keen on RS nomination as I wish to become an MP





PUNE,

MAHARASHTRA Minister and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said on Friday that he desires to become an MP and thats why he wanted to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Nashik and was also keen on Rajya Sabha nomination. Bhujbal was replying to questions over reports claiming that he was upset after Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP president Ajit Pawars wife Sunetra Pawar was nominated for the Upper House. Asked if injustice was meted out to him over Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha tickets, the prominent OBC leader said the question should be asked to them. Sunetra Pawar on Thursday filed nomination papers as the NCP candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha bypoll, days after she lost the Lok Sabha elections from Baramati. The bypoll was necessitated after Praful Patel vacated his seat and got elected for the full term of six years in February. It is my desire (to become an MP). That is why I was ready to contest from Nashik Lok Sabha seat.

As I had been told that my ticket was finalised in Delhi, I had started working but when the decision (to announce the name) dragged on for a month, I stopped as there was enough humiliation, said Bhujbal. He said Hemant Godse of Shiv Sena, NCPs partner in the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, was also trying to get the ticket from Nashik. Bhujbal said he then decided he would be okay with whoever got the ticket. Shiv Sena (UBT)s Rajabhau Waje won the Nashik seat. Bhujbal said when it comes to party affairs, not all things fall in place as per ones wishes. There could be reasons (for not giving him tickets). Sometimes, its destiny or some sort of compulsion, he said. He did not respond when asked if dynastic politics was at play in NCP. On Thursday, Bhujbal had said that though he was keen on a Rajya Sabha ticket, he was not upset with Sunetra Pawars nomination, which he described as a collective decision of the party.

Decision on RS ticket taken by top NCP body, Bhujbal not upset, says Ajit: MAHARASHTRA Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday said the decision to field his wife for Rajya Sabha bypoll was taken by his party NCPs apex body and denied reports that senior colleague Chhagan Bhujbal was upset over the move. Ajit Pawars wife Sunetra on Thursday filed nomination papers as the NCP candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha by-poll in Maharashtra, days after she lost the Lok Sabha elections from Baramati. The by-poll was necessitated after NCP leader Praful Patel vacated his seat and got elected to the Upper House of Parliament for a full term of six years in February.
Delhi LG sanctions prosecution of Arundhati Roy, Sheikh Showkat Hussain under UAPA





NEW DELHI,

DELHI Lt Governor V K Saxena has accorded sanction to prosecute author Arundhati Roy and a former professor in Kashmir under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for allegedly making provocative speeches at an event here in 2010, Raj Niwas officials said on Friday. The FIR against Roy and former Central University of Kashmir professor Sheikh Showkat Hussain was registered following the orders of the Court of Metropolitan Magistrate, New Delhi, they added. There was no immediate reaction from Roy and Hussain. The FIR in the matter was registered on a complaint made by Sushil Pandit, a social activist from Kashmir, on October 28, 2010. Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena has sanctioned the prosecution of Arundhati Roy and former Professor of International Law in Central University of Kashmir, Dr. Sheikh Showkat Hussain, under section 45 (1) of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the case, a Raj Niwas official said on Friday.

Last October, the LG had granted sanction to prosecute them under section 196 of CrPC for commission of offences punishable under different sections of the Indian Penal Code: 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief). Roy and Hussain had allegedly made provocative speeches at a conference organised under the banner of Azadi - The Only Way on October 21, 2010 at LTG Auditorium, Copernicus Marg, here. The issues discussed and spoken about at the conference propagated the separation of Kashmir from India, said the official.

Those who delivered speeches at the conference included Syed Ali Shah Geelani, SAR Geelani (anchor of the Conference and prime accused in the Parliament attack case), Arundhati Roy, Dr. Sheikh Showkat Hussain and Varavara Rao. The complainant filed a complaint under Section 156(3) of CrPC before the Metropolitan Magistrate Court, New Delhi, who disposed the complaint on November 27, 2010 with the directions to register an FIR. Accordingly, an FIR was registered and investigation was carried out, they said.
Elected from two constituencies, Sikkim CM vacates Soreng-Chakung





GANGTOK,

SIKKIM Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Friday resigned as the MLA of Soreng-Chakung Assembly constituency and decided to retain his other seat, Rhenock. His resignation was accepted by Speaker M N Sherpa, according to a notification issued by the Sikkim Legislative Assembly (SLA). Tamang was elected from the two seats in the Assembly elections. The SKM swept the polls, winning 31 of the 32 constituencies.

In pursuance of Section 70 of the Representation of People Act, 1951 read with Rule 91 of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, P S Tamang, member, elected from 07-Soreng-Chakung and 19-Rhenock Assembly constituencies has tendered his resignation from 07-Soreng-Chakung Assembly constituency on June 14, 2024, the notification issued by SLA secretary Lalit Kumar Gurung said. Consequently, Soreng-Chakung Assembly constituency stands vacant with effect from the afternoon of June 14, 2024, it said.

The 56-year-old Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) president will represent Rhenock seat in the Assembly. Earlier in the day, Tamang announced his decision to vacate Soreng-Chakung seat in a Facebook post, saying, I apologise to the people of Soreng-Chakung constituency as I have decided to step aside, allowing an honest and loyal party functionary to serve you as your legislator. He took the decision in compliance with the Conduct of Election Rules 1961, under Section 67/A, which mandates that one of the two constituencies must be relinquished within 14 days of the announcement of results.
FULL SPECTRUM





WHEN the situation warrants it, the State is left with no other option than taking stringent steps. India is doing exactly that as is evident from Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modis directions to officials to deploy full spectrum of counter-terror capabilities to tackle the situation in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). This is needed to prevent the situation from deteriorating into a festering wound. For years, the situation in J&K was allowed to go worse by the then regimes. The terrorists had a free hand to turn the Paradise on Earth into a hell for the common people. The political establishment there made it a point to align with separatist elements and not disturb the latter. The viewpoints of foreign powers like China, Pakistan, and occassionally the US and European powers also were taken into consideration by the then Indian Governments when it came to dealing with the situation in Indian territory of J&K. Article 370 was oft-cited to block any corrective action. Hence, for years, J&K was viewed as not fully integrated. Several things changed since the dispensation under Mr. Modi assumed power at the Centre. Not only did he usher in an era of development through various big-ticket projects, but also started correcting the historic wrongs at various levels -- political, diplomatic, geographical, military, Constitutional.

The biggest step was abrogation of Article 370. Action against separatists, crackdown on terror-financing network, pointed response to terrorist attacks on Indian forces at Pulwama and Uri, elimination of terrorists, enhancing international awareness about J&K being inalienable part of India, were other actions. Making J&K as well as Ladakh as Union Territories was part of a strategy to restore normalcy in the strife-torn and sensitive region. Mr. Modi and Union Home Minister Mr. Amit Shah had, from time to time, stated that elections would be held soon in J&K. Hence, after taking concerted measures for some time, the Government of India waited patiently for peace to prevail and situation to be conducive for holding elections. Of course, focus remained on maintaining law and order in Kashmir Valley. But, the separatist-militant nexus backed by terror-harbouring fundamentalist Pakistan appears to have gotten new lease of life with help from some powers that are unable to digest Indias rise on international forum. Hence, in the past some time, terrorists concentrating on otherwise peaceful Jammu region appears like strategic thinking by powers using Pakistan-backed terrorists as pawns in the Great Game of geopolitical dominance.

The pattern in the dastardly acts of terrorists has to be read with the political opposition utilising it to target the Centre instead of condemning the terrorists. Also, this has to be read with the latest joint statement of China and Pakistan mentioning about Jammu and Kashmir dispute. With several factors back on the scene with respect to J&K, the Government is left with no other option than to tackle it by deploying full spectrum of counter-terror capabilities. If situation warrants, and in the interest of parliamentary democracy to be restored in J&K, the Government may initiate measures beyond counter-terror capabilities too. Given the impressive track record of the Government under Mr. Modi, this may well be on plate. As reflected in the Council of Ministers, the third term of Mr. Modi as Prime Minister is about continuity and expertise. The continuity refers to policy matters including the policy about J&K. If required, it will be aided by calibrated aggression against terror networks and cross-border support to anti-India forces too.
PM Modi, Macron discuss strategic ties...

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said he had an excellent meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, their fourth meeting in one year, and discussed ways to further strengthen the strategic partnership in areas like defence, nuclear and space. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the G7 summit here in the southern resort town of Italy. The meeting with Macron is Modis first official bilateral meeting with an international leader since taking charge for his third term as Prime Minister earlier this month. Modi thanked President Macron for his warm wishes on assuming office for the third consecutive term.

Had an excellent meeting with my friend President @EmmanuelMacron. This is our fourth meeting in one year, indicating the priority we accord to strong India-French ties, Modi posted on X. Our talks covered numerous subjects such as defence, security, technology, AI, Blue Economy and more. We also discussed how to encourage innovation and research among the youth, he wrote. Modi also conveyed his best wishes to Macron on the hosting of the Paris Olympics, which begins next month. France will host the 2024 Summer Olympics from July 26 to August 11. The two leaders reviewed India-France bilateral relations, focusing on the Horizon 2047 Roadmap and the Indo-Pacific Roadmap.

PM tells Zelenskyy, talks only way to peace...

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Friday conveyed to Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting that India would continue to do everything within its means to support a peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict and that the way to peace is through dialogue and diplomacy. The upcoming Swiss peace conference for Ukraine also figured in the Modi-Zelenskyy talks held on the margins of the G7 summit in Italys Apulia and the Ukranian President thanked the Prime Minister for sending a high-level delegation to the conclave in over the weekend in Switzerland. In the meeting, Modi told Zelenskyy that India believes in a human-centric approach. The two leaders exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine and the upcoming Summit on Peace being hosted by Switzerland.

In a post on X, the Ukranian President said he and Modi talked about the Peace Summit and issues on its agenda and that he thanked the Indian Prime Minister for sending a high-level delegation to it. Modi described the meeting with the Ukranian president as very productive and said India is eager to further cement bilateral relations with Ukraine. Had a very productive meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. India is eager to further cement bilateral relations with Ukraine, Modi said on X. Regarding the ongoing hostilities, reiterated that India believes in a human-centric approach and believes that the way to peace is through dialogue and diplomacy, he said.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Modi and Zelenskyy exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine and the upcoming Peace Summit in Switzerland. We discussed the development of bilateral relations and trade, in particular in the context of the Black Sea export corridor functioning, Zelenskyy said on X. We explored the possibility of exchanging experience in the use of new technologies in agriculture, he said.
HC seeks affidavit from Principal Secretary for relocation of Swami Vivekananda statue





Staff Reporter

The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has directed the State Government to outline its plans for removing the Swami Vivekananda statue near Ambazari lake along with illegal constructions on the Naag river, and river cleaning measures on Friday. The High Court has instructed the Principal Secretary of the Urban Development Department to submit an affidavit with details of the proposed actions by July 3. This directive came during a hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) presided over by Justice Nitin Sambre and Justice Abhay Mantri. The High Court asked the State Advocate General Dr Birendra Saraf about what action was taken against the encroachment and who are the officers saving the encroachers. Dr Saraf responded that a period of seven days should be given for the removal of encroachment. The High Court verbally stated that the officers should be informed how much cost should be imposed on them. No action has been taken by any officer.

The High Court mentioned that various administration departments are involved in this and further asked Dr Saraf how much time is required. The Division bench further stated that first, the Municipal Commissioner and the Principal Secretary should submit their affidavit, then the court will decide what to do. The High Court has ordered the government officials to submit an affidavit to determine the water-carrying capacity of the Naag river and what action would be taken for the relocation of the statue and illegal construction. In the previous hearing, the High Court had ordered that a high-level committee headed by the Divisional Commissioner should make a decision within a month to shift the statue to another place as the monument was constructed near the Ambazari lake in a no-development zone.

As the committee failed to submit a report, the court on Wednesday raised strong objections. The court stated that the monsoon has arrived. So, do you want to save the statue or do you want to save the lives of the citizens? Which option do you choose? It may be mentioned here that due to heavy rains in September 2023, the water of Ambazari Lake entered into the shops and hundreds of houses which cuased huge financial loss to the citizens. Therefore, citizens have filed a Public Interest Litigation. Advocate Tushar Mandlekar represented the petitioners, Adv General Dr Birendra Saraf appeared for the State, Adv Ravi Sanyal for MPCB, Adv Prashant Sathianathan for the petitioners, and Adv Gemini Casat for NMC, Adv Girsh Kunte for NIT, and Adv Jaideep Chandurkar for the Irrigation Department.
India, France negotiating Rafale marine jet deal







NEW DELHI,

INDIA and France are carrying out negotiations for the price and other related issues for the all-important 26 Rafale Marine fighter aircraft deal for the Indian Navy. The talks were earlier supposed to be held on May 30 but were postponed to June second week, apparently in view of the pending election process of the Lok Sabha polls. The French delegation is in New Delhi, including officials from their Directorate General of Armament which is looking after the sale of the Rafale jets to India, defence sources told ANI. The Indian side in these Government-to-Government talks is represented by the officials from the Directorate General of Acquisition under the Ministry of Defence and other military officers from the user side, they said.

The overall project is likely to be worth over Rs 50,000 crore and would help increase the number of these advanced aircraft in the Indian inventory to 62 with the existing 36 in the Air Force fleet. The aircraft would be operated from the aircraft carriers of the Indian Navy including the INS Vikramaditya and the INS Vikrant. As per the plans, the Indian Navy will deploy these aircraft at the INS Degha in Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh as their home base. France had submitted its response to Indias tender for buying 26 Rafale Marine jets for the Indian Navys aircraft carriers - INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya in December last year.
DUBAI/KUWAIT CITY/Kochi,

THE death toll of Indians killed in the massive fire in Kuwait has risen to 46 with one more person succumbing to injuries as authorities said that an electrical short circuit in the room of the guard on the ground floor of the building caused the blaze that killed 50 people. Most deaths were due to smoke inhalation while residents in the six-storey building were sleeping when the fire broke out early Wednesday in Kuwaits southern Ahmadi Governorate. The building was home to 196 migrant workers, mostly Indians. One of the injured died overnight, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya told reporters, raising the death toll of Indians to 46. Three other deceased are Filipinos and the identity of one of the victims has not been established, the Kuwait Times newspaper reported on Friday. Meanwhile, an Indian Air Force (IAF) flight carrying the mortal remains of 45 Indians who died in the tragic fire incident in Kuwait two days ago, landed at the international airport here at around 10.30 am. Of the 45 mortal remains carried by the IAF C130J aircraft, 31 were received at the airport here.

The 31 bodies include 23 Keralites, 7 Tamilians and one person from Karnataka, officials said. Vijayan, speaking to reporters at the airport, said that pravasis (expatriates) were the lifeline of Kerala and the deaths of so many Indian expatriates in the fire was a huge disaster for the country. The CM also said that the incident was also a huge disaster for the expatriate community. Union Minister of State for Tourism and Petroleum Suresh Gopi, who was at the airport to receive the mortal remains, said that pravasis are held in high regard by the state and Centre for the hard work they put in while working abroad. The tragedy is very painful, he said. The CM paid tribute to the deceased by placing wreaths on their coffins, while Gopi laid red roses to pay his last respects. Union MoS for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, who accompanied the mortal remains on the IAF flight, and Tamil Nadu Minister for Minorities Welfare and Non-Resident Tamils Welfare Gingee K S Masthan also paid tributes to the deceased at the Cochin airport. A guard of honour was given by the police to the deceased.

The remaining 14 bodies were sent to Delhi in the same aircraft as a domestic flight from Kochi, airport authorities in Kerala said. After the plane arrived in the national capital, newly elected MPs Yogender Chandolia and Kamaljeet Sehrawat stood on the tarmac with folded hands as the caskets were lowered from the aircraft. The investigation team of Fire Department said on Thursday that the fire was caused by an electric short circuit in the room of the building guard and spread to other places. The guards room is located on the ground floor. Citing security sources, the paper said that there were 179 workers inside the building when the fire broke out, while 17 were outside. Of the 196 residents, 175 are Indians, 11 are Filipinos and the rest are from Thailand, Pakistan and Egypt. According to an official, many of the victims suffocated while trying to run down the stairs because they were filled with smoke. He added that the victims could not go to the rooftop because the door was locked.
Modi meets Biden, Trudeau, others during G7 Summit







By Aditi Khanna

BARI,

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met a host of world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, on the sidelines of the G7 Summit here in the southern resort town of Italy. Its always a pleasure to meet @POTUS @JoeBiden. India and USA will keep working together to further global good, Modi said in a post on X along with some photographs of their interaction.Modi held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida on the margins of the summit and is believed to have discussed issues of mutual and regional interests.

Modi also met Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau at the G7 Summit. This was their first face-to-face meeting after Trudeau claimed that the Indian Government agents were involved in the killing of a Khalistani separatist in Canada last year. Canada has arrested four Indian nationals in connection with the case. Met Canadian PM Justin Trudeau at the G7 Summit, Modi tweeted. The ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Trudeaus allegations. India has dismissed Trudeaus charges as absurd and motivated. Pleased to meet @UN Secretary General, Mr. @antonioguterres in Italy, Modi said in a post on X.

Prime Minister Modi had a good meeting with UN chief Guterres, his office said. Modi also met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Brazil President Lula da Silva and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.The interactions in Italy continue...Delightful conversation with President @LulaOficial, President @RTErdogan and His Highness Sheikh @MohamedBinZayed, Modi posted along on X with a photo with them.
Muslims begin Haj pilgrimage in Saudi





MINA (Saudi Arabia),

IN SWELTERING temperatures, Muslim pilgrims in Mecca converged on a vast tent camp in the desert on Friday, officially opening the annual Haj pilgrimage. Ahead of their trip, they circled the cube-shaped Kaaba in the Grand Mosque, Islams holiest site. More than 1.5 million pilgrims from around the world have already amassed in and around Mecca for the Haj, and the number was still growing as more pilgrims from inside Saudi Arabia joined. Saudi authorities expected the number of pilgrims to exceed 2 million this year. This years Haj came against the backdrop of the raging war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Palestinian militants, which pushed the entire Middle East to the brink of a regional war between Israel and its allies on one side and Iran-backed militant groups on the other.

Palestinians in the coastal enclave of Gaza were not able to travel to Mecca for Haj this year because of the closure of the Rafah crossing in May when Israel extended its ground offensive to the strips southern city of Rafah on the border with Egypt. Palestinian authorities said 4,200 pilgrims from the occupied West Bank arrived in Mecca for Haj. Saudi authorities said 1,000 more from the families of Palestinians killed or wounded in the war in Gaza also arrived to perform Haj at the invitation of King Salman of Saudi Arabia. The 1,000 invitees were already outside Gaza  mostly in Egypt  before closure of the Rafah crossing.

We are deprived of (performing) Haj because the crossing is closed, and because of the raging wars and destruction, said Amna Abu Mutlaq, a 75-year-old Palestinian woman from Gazas southern city of Khan Younis who had planned to perform Haj this year. They (Israel) deprived us from everything. This years Haj also saw Syrian pilgrims travelling to Mecca on direct flights from Damascus for the first time in more than a decade.
Shah reviews J&K security situation





NEW DELHI,

UNION Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of several terror incidents there, including an attack on a bus ferrying pilgrims, sources said. He called a high-level meeting on June 16, to be attended by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha, top officials of the Army, CRPF and others to review the prevailing situation in the Union Territory and steps taken to check terror incidents. During Sundays meeting, the Home Minister will also take stock of the preparedness for the annual Amarnath Yatra which will begin on June 29, sources said.

The Home Minister was briefed about the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the steps taken following the terror incidents, they said. Terrorists struck at four places in Reasi, Kathua and Doda districts of J&K over the past four days, killing nine pilgrims and a CRPF jawan, and leaving seven security personnel and several others injured. Two suspected Pakistani terrorists were also killed in an encounter with security forces in Kathua district and a large quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered from them.

On Sunday, terrorists opened fire on a 53-seater bus carrying pilgrims when it was en route to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra from the Shiv Khori temple. The bus, carrying pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi, plunged into a deep gorge following the gunfire, killing nine people and injuring 41 others. On Tuesday, terrorists fired at a joint checkpost of the Rashtriya Rifles and police at Chattergalla in Bhaderwah while a search party in the Gandoh area of Doda district was attacked on Wednesday, resulting in injuries to seven security personnel, including a police personnel.
The western diamondback rattlesnake is the most widespread venomous snake in Texas. In a bizarre episode from 1923, the U.S. Army experimented with poison gas as a way to control the diamondback population in San Marcos. Shannon Tompkins / Houston Chronicle

Texans have a complicated relationship with rattlesnakes. Theyre beautiful, venomous and frightening. And for people who work the land, they have always represented a mortal peril.

A century ago, the U.S. Army experimented with a new way to control the rattler population in rural South-Central Texas: by gassing the reptiles with chemical agents left over from World War I.

This strange episode is documented in news accounts from the period. It might seem odd for the Army to unleash poison gas on snakes that were out in the wild just being snakes. Stranger still is how the animals reacted to the assault: with the equivalent of a shrug, if journalists' descriptions are to be believed.

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It happened in 1923. Farmers in the San Marcos area appealed to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for help dealing with swarms of western diamondbacks that emerged from their burrows every spring. The big rattlers were a terror to farmers and ranchers, one reporter wrote.

The USDA turned to the Army, and the Army put the problem in the hands of Maj. George M. Halloran, chemical warfare officer for the Eighth Corps Area at Fort Sam Houston.

Halloran was not one for half-measures.

Mustard gas, phosgene, and chlorine, deadly accompaniments of war, will be turned upon large dens of rattlesnakes, according to an Associated Press report published in the Houston Post on May 27, 1923.

These were heavy armaments, the same poison gases that sent 91,000 soldiers to their graves during World War I, disabled thousands of others and inspired some of the eras most searing poetry.

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Mustard gas causes severe burns, blisters and eye damage, even blindness. Chlorine combines with moisture in the lungs to form hydrochloric acid, causing speedy death or permanent lung damage. Phosgene, the deadliest of them all, suffocates its victims. Phosgene and a related agent, diphosgene, caused an estimated 85% of all gassing deaths during World War I.

Against such weapons, could snakes stand a chance?

Hallorans men launched their attack on a den of rattlers in the rocky hills around San Marcos, according to a New York Times account summarized in the May 1923 edition of U.S. Army Recruiting News.

Pressurized machinery was used to force phosgene and chlorine into a cave where the snakes were molting.

Soon after the fumes had filled the crevices the rattlers began stirring about and could be seen crawling among the rocks near the main entrance of the cave, according to the account.

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The serpents appeared unfazed.

The chemical warfare specialists then trained a nozzle on a large rattler slithering along a ledge and sprayed it with so much phosgene that the monster was completely enveloped in clouds of the gas. Rather than curl up and die, the snake quickly changed his course and hid behind some rocks.

That was enough to kill a regiment, one of the soldiers said in astonishment.

There was no doubt the deadly gases had penetrated deep into the cave, because several large rats, barely alive, staggered to the surface, and it was the opinion of officers that large numbers of the rodents never lived to reach the top, the Times reported.

Two rattlesnakes that were exposed to the phosgene and chlorine for a full hour were captured with wire snares and held for observation. They were alive next morning, the article said.

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The creatures then were subjected to a heavy dose of tear gas, which, like the battlefield chemical agents, had no effect on them.

A boy looks into a pit holding western diamondback rattlesnakes in Sweetwater, Texas, site of a yearly rattlesnake roundup. Ronald W. Erdrich/Associated Press

As the Army personnel discovered, its hard to kill rattlers by gassing their burrows. One reason is that snakes have a slow metabolism, especially when hibernating. This characteristic renders them unusually resistant to the effects of poison gas, according to a 1962 paper (Control Methods for Snakes) by two snake specialists at the University of California at Davis.

Another problem is knowing how much gas to use. Its hard to judge the size of a subterranean den and harder still to seal all the openings so gas cant escape. Snakes can move around within a burrow to find nooks and crannies the gas hasnt reached.

Killing snakes with gas is one thing. Using it to drive them to the surface is another. For decades, Texas snake hunters have used gasoline mist to flush rattlers from their burrows so the snakes can be bundled for sale and slaughtered at rattlesnake roundups.

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Critics long have sought to prohibit the gassing of burrows, arguing that even if the snakes survive, the fumes can kill foxes, burrowing owls, toads and other wildlife.

A proposal to ban the practice reached the Texas Wildlife Commission in 2016 but was pulled from the agenda at the last minute. At this point, there is not enough support from either the community or legislative oversight for the department to move forward with regulating the use of gasoline to collect rattlesnakes, the commission said at the time.

In 1923, there was even less of a constituency for humane treatment and protection of snakes. If a means of exterminating the rattler can be worked out, an invaluable service will have been done, said the New York Times account summarized in U.S. Army Recruiting News.
Mini airport

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IMPHAL, Jun 15: MLA LM Khaute has met with Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu in New Delhi and has urged him to construct a mini airport at Churachandpur, said Northeast Live on its page on Facebook.

As per the post, LM Khaute met with the Minister and submitted a repre- sentation for constructing a mini airport in Chura-chandpur, and discussed issues facing the people with regard to air connectivity.

"Churachandpur MLA LM Khaute meets Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu in New Delhi. Submits representation for a mini airport in Churachandpur and discusses issues faced by people with regard to air connectivity," said Northeast Live on Facebook.
Lachung, a town in the Mangan district of Sikkim, is currently facing a critical situation where 1,215 tourists are unable to leave due to heavy rain and road closures. C S Rao, Principal Secretary of Tourism and Civil Aviation, confirmed this today and stated that among the stranded tourists, 15 are foreigners with 10 from Bangladesh. However, Mr. Rao assured that all tourists are safe and secure. The local authorities have advised the stranded tourists to remain in their current locations for their own safety.

The Office of the Chief Secretary of Sikkim Government is in discussions with the relevant ministry to arrange for the airlifting of all tourists, as long as weather conditions permit. The Sikkim authorities have also devised a plan to transport them by land in the event that conditions improve. The Chief Minister of Sikkim, Prem Singh Tamang, led a high-level meeting at Mintokgang today to address the recent disaster that has significantly impacted the state. The main focus of this meeting was to strategize and coordinate our response efforts in order to restore normality and ensure the safety and well-being of the residents. During the meeting, officials presented detailed reports on the extent of the damages, with a particular emphasis on critical road disruptions and immediate challenges faced by affected individuals.

They evaluated the destruction of infrastructure, particularly key roads and bridges essential for transportation and relief operations. Meanwhile, engineers from the Irrigation and Waterways department in West Bengal are closely monitoring the situation following a weather forecast predicting heavy rainfall in Mangan and surrounding areas in Sikkim within the next 24 hours. The flow of water from the Teesta river has resulted in partial impacts on Kalimpong, Darjeeling, and Jalpaiguri. In response, the authorities of the Teesta Barrage Project have systematically opened almost all gates. Chief Engineer Debasish Moulik reported a discharge rate of 3,500 cubic metres per second yesterday. Kalimpong, Alipurduar, and Jalpaiguri districts are expected to receive heavy (7- 11 cm) to very heavy (12-20 cm) rainfall between 14 and 18 June, with Alipurduar potentially experiencing extremely heavy (20 cm) rainfall on 14 June.

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In the past 24 hours, Hasimara, Banarhat, and Alipurduar have already seen significant rainfall, causing local rivers to reach danger levels. Hasimara received 151 mm while Alipurduar received 141 mm of rain during this period. A Flood Control Room has been established since 1 June of this year. Chief Engineer Krishnendu Bhowmick of North Bengal has reported that engineers are closely monitoring the situation based on reports from the Central Water Commission, specifically regarding rivers originating from Sikkim and neighbouring country Bhutan which flow through northern north Bengal.
Trinamul Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee has urged the councillors of Kolkata Municipal Corporation ( KMC) to pull up their socks and intensify their contacts with local people. The Trinamul Congress is going to launch a programme titled Your councillor in your doorstep shortly. The step has been taken keeping in mind the Assembly election which is scheduled to be held in 2026. The councillors have been asked to meet the residents of high rise buildings and housing complexes and listen to their grievances. There is no place for being complacent in the party.

The councillors will go to the people to make them aware of various state run schemes. Abhishek Banerjee has taken leave on health ground but he will prepare the road map which will be followed during the campaign for the 2026 Assembly election. Miss Banerjee and Mr Abhishek Banerjee, national general secretary of the party have said over and again that non-performers have no place in the party and the party leaders should take a lesson from the performance of Biju Janata Dal in the recently concluded Assembly election which was held along with the general election in Odisha. Despite increasing its tally to 29 from the earlier 22 in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, in north Bengal the Trinamul Congress bagged only one seat out of eight. The Trinamul Congress won Cooch Bihar seat but was defeated by the BJP in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Raigunj, Balurghat and Malda south.

The party has already appointed Mr Firhad Hakim to oversee North Bengal, replacing Aroop Biswas. During analysis, it was found that a majority of the non-Bengali voters had lent their support to Trinamul Congress, while may middle class Bengal voters turned their backs to the party. In Kolkatas ward 72, which falls under Bhawanipore Assembly constituency from where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was elected, it has been found that many upper and middle class Bengali families did not cast their votes in the Lok Sabha election. In ward 70, Trinamul trailed behind though the councillor Mr Asim Bose is very popular in the area. It also came to light that Trinamul Congress across the state did better in the rural areas than urban areas. Party leaders said the negative campaigns on television and social media had its impact on the voters in the urban areas while in the rural areas people saw the development that has taken place at the grassroot level

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Calcutta High Court today imposed some riders before clearing the deck for the leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari to meet the Governor CV Ananda Bose at the Kolkata Raj Bhavan along with victims of post-poll violence. Justice Amrita Sinha, of Calcutta High Court set some dos and donts for the leader of the Opposition to adhere to to resolve the alleged stand-off between Mr Adhikari and the city police, who the leader of the Opposition alleged denied him entry to Raj Bhavan to meet the Governor on the pretext of Section 144 of the IPC despite had an invitation for a meeting with Mr Bose.

In a ruling today, Justice Sinha cleared Mr Adhikaris entry to RaJ Bhavan to meet the Governor with victims of post-poll violence, but placed some riders for the leader of the Opposition, saying he first would have to seek Governors appointment afresh and then should it be granted, he would be free to meet the Governor along with the victims of post-poll violence. But before that he would have inform police in advance how many people would accompany him to meet the Governor and how many vehicles would be there.

Justice Sinha, during the hearing today, made a sharp observation on the alleged role of police in trying to deny Mr Adhikari entry into the Raj Bhavan by asking whether the Governor was put under House arrest. In response, the state governments counsel pleaded that the police merely had asked Mr Adhikaris personal assistant to inform them on whether any victim of post-poll violence would accompany them and if so, how many. Meanwhile, West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose on Friday evening issued a statement demanding the immediate replacement of Kolkata Police personnel posted on duty at the Raj Bhavan after Mr Adhikari was denied entry to meet him

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After two weeks of blistering heat waves, South Bengal is anticipated to get some respite next week. The Regional Meteorological office has forecastr the advancement of the monsoon in parts of South Bengal in the next four to five days. According to the weather department, conditions are now favourable for further advance of Southwest Monsoon into some more parts of Gangetic West Bengal, remaining parts of sub Himalayan West Bengal, Northwest Bay of Bengal, Odisha, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and some parts of Bihar in the next four to five days. According to the weather scientists, the monsoon in Bengal generally follows the path of South to North and East to West. The monsoon has already set foot in North Bengal which is being pounded by heavy downpours. It is at present in the Bay of Bengal area. The upcoming weather conditions could favour the onset of the rainy season in parts of South Bengal next week, informed a weather scientist.

As pointed out by the weather officials, despite the favourable conditions, South Bengal is anticipated to get light rainfall while a few isolated places could get moderate rains. In addition, what is being considered as some relief by the weather scientists is the dip in day temperatures. The RMC is anticipating the mercury to fall by a few notches from Monday. From next week, after 17 June, the day temperature is expected to fall by three to five degrees and hover around 32 to 35 degree Celsius. The dip in the day temperature would be brought by the Southwest Monsoon that will have a considerable impact in various parts of South Bengal, pointed out the official. However, the date or expected time of the onset of the monsoon in Kolkata is yet to be affirmed by the weather office.

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Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, on Friday said the Adani Group is looking forward to forge a long-term partnership with Tanzania  one of Africas most promising and strategically important nations  across industries including ports, renewable energy, and airports.

Gautam Adani met Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, saying it was fascinating to hear from her about the future of Africa.

It was an honour to meet the charismatic President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Her Excellency @SuluhuSamia, the Adani Group Chairman posted on X.

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Fascinating to hear her deep insights about the future of Africa and discuss the possibilities for forging a long-term partnership with one of Africas most promising and strategically important nations, he added.

Gautam Adani further said they are excited about the Adani Group leveraging its expertise across various infrastructure sectors, including ports, renewable energy, airports, transmission, distribution and rail to help build world-class infrastructure in Tanzania.

Last month, Adani International Ports Holdings signed a 30-year concession pact with the Tanzania Ports Authority to operate and manage Container Terminal 2 (CT2) at the Dar es Salaam Port in the eastern African country.

Adani International Ports Holdings is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. (APSEZ). Karan Adani, Managing Director, APSEZ, had said that the move is in line with APSEZs ambition of becoming one of the largest port operators globally by 2030. Dar es Salaam Port is a gateway port with a well-connected network of roadways and railways.
BJP MP Manoj Tiwari alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is in power in the MCD, started demolishing the houses of the poor after facing defeat in the Lok Sabha elections in the national capital.

In a post on X in Hindi, Tiwari said, After the shameful defeat in Delhi, the AAP government that came to power in MCD has started demolishing the houses of the poor.

The Kejriwal gang, enraged by the crushing defeat even after joining hands with the Congress, has started targeting the common people, the BJP MP further said.

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We are on the ground and will oppose this atrocity, Tiwari added.

The BJP made a hat-trick in Delhi sweeping all seven parliamentary constituencies of the national capital while the Opposition INDIA bloc, comprising the AAP and Congress, drew a blank.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the AAP and Congress contested the seven seats in alliance in the national capital, with the AAP contesting four and the Congress three seats.

The seven parliamentary constituencies are Chandni Chowk, East Delhi, New Delhi, North East Delhi, North West Delhi, South Delhi, and West Delhi.
The Delhi government on Saturday alleged that the national capital is facing a severe water crisis as the supply from Haryana has significantly dwindled, resulting in a reduction of water production by 70 million gallons per day (MGD).

Delhi Water Minister Atishi has alleged that the citys water production has dropped to 932 MGD due to insufficient inflow from Haryana.

She said the water level at the Wazirabad Barrage has plunged by six feet to 668.5 feet, and the water received from Munak Canal has decreased to 902 cusecs.

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The Minister further said in response to the emergency, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has connected borewells in West Delhi to underground reservoirs and increased the number of tanker trips to 10,000 daily.

In this regard, on Saturday, the Delhi Water Minister had called an emergency meeting of DJB officers and directed to increase the number of tankers in the city as per the need. Along with this, Minister Atishi also had a phone conversation with Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and got an assurance of help from the Himachal government.

Minister Atishi appealed to the people of Delhi and said there is a constant shortage of water in the city. In such a situation, people should use water carefully and save water. If the areas of Delhi which do not have water shortage, use water carefully and save water, then it will provide water to those areas of Delhi where there is water shortage.

She said during this severe heatwave in Delhi, the temperature in Delhi is reaching 46-47 degrees Celsius and there is a water crisis in Delhi.

Even now, water is not reaching Delhi in sufficient quantity. The water level at Wazirabad Barrage should be 674.5 feet but it is only 668.5 feet right now. That is, the water at Wazirabad Barrage has almost finished, and no water is coming at all. On the other hand, Delhi is also not getting enough water from the Munak Canal. On June 10, Delhi received 925 cusecs of water from Munak Canal, which decreased to 919 cusecs on June 11, decreased to 903 on June 12, reached 906 on 13 June, and decreased to 902 cusecs on June 15, Atishi said.

The Delhi Water Minister said, Due to the decrease in the amount of water Delhi is getting from both sources, Wazirabad Barrage and Munak Canal, the water production in Delhis water treatment plants is decreasing. Normally, these water treatment plants produce 1,005 MGD of water daily, but due to the shortage of raw water, this figure has been continuously decreasing for the last week. On June 6, it was 1,002 MGD, which fell to 958 MGD on June 10, it was 939 MGD on June 13th, and yesterday it fell to 932 MGD. That is, Delhi has produced 70 MGD less water than normal.

The water of Munak Canal goes to 7 water treatment plants, but due to the shortage of water, the production of these water treatment plants has been affected. And due to the less production of 70 MGD water, the shortage of water in many areas of Delhi persists, she added.

Atishi further added that in this situation, emergency tube wells have been installed and connected to the supply network.

She said these tubewells have been installed especially in many parts of West Delhi including Bawana, Narela, Dwarka, and Nangloi, where there was a lot of water shortage.

Given the emergency, borewells have been connected to the local UGR. Along with this, the trips of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) tankers have also been increased. Now 10,000 trips of tankers are being done by the DJB in a day. And the DJB is supplying about 10 MGD of water through tankers, the Delhi Water Minister said.

She said an emergency meeting was also called today on the issue of the water crisis.

In this, the Delhi Jal Board was instructed to make a new assessment and on that basis, the number of tankers should be increased and water should be delivered through tankers to the places where water is not reaching. The fixed points for sending water tankers should also be increased because until Delhi gets water in sufficient quantity and water production increases, water can be delivered to those areas only through tankers, the Delhi Water Minister said.

Yesterday, a meeting of the Upper Yamuna River Board was held to improve this situation but it did not yield any result. Himachal Pradesh has reiterated in this meeting that it is ready to give its surplus 137 MGD water to Delhi. All the Upper Yamuna States whether its Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, or Delhi, all these states have been allocated a share of Yamuna water. But the board has asked for some documents and calculations from Himachal Pradesh on this, she mentioned.

Minister Atishi shared that she had a phone conversation with Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday morning. In this conversation, the Chief Minister of Himachal has assured that Himachal is ready to provide whatever information the Upper Yamuna River Board needs from Himachal as soon as possible. He said Himachal Pradesh has extended a helping hand to Delhi. It may take some time for the Upper Yamuna River Board to make a decision.

She said, In such a situation, we (Delhi) have requested Haryana on humanitarian grounds to give some additional water to Delhi. The Upper Yamuna River Board has advised Delhi and Haryana to hold a bilateral meeting and consider whether Haryana can give some extra water to Delhi. Also, Delhi government officials have talked to Haryana government officials.

And a delegation of senior Delhi government officials will go to Chandigarh tomorrow and meet Haryana officials. We appeal to the Haryana government on humanitarian grounds that, considering the current situation in Delhi, the Haryana government should give some extra water to Delhi, she said.

We can talk about the shares of Yamuna water after the severe heat waves but at present due to heat waves an emergency has arisen and we appeal to Haryana to release water on humanitarian grounds, said the Delhi Water Minister.

Minister Atishi conveyed that the inspection of water pipelines is going on by the teams of DJB and the Revenue Department. Information is also being received from social media in this regard.

Sharing this, she mentioned that, yesterday through social media, news of pipeline leakage was received from a place in Kondli. That pipeline leakage has been fixed within 12 hours.

In this water crisis, we cannot waste even a drop of water. In such a situation, I appeal to the people of Delhi that, if they get news of water leakage anywhere, then inform Delhi Jal Board on X , we will immediately take cognizance of it, she concluded.
Five shops were gutted after a fire broke out at the Vasant Vihar market in the city early Saturday morning.

Luckily, no harm was caused to anybody in the incident.

According to the Delhi Fire Services (DFS), 10 fire tenders were rushed to the spot after receiving a call at 05.08 am regarding a fire in a shop located in the C-Block of Vasant Vihar.

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The fire had spread to five shops located on the ground, mezzanine, and first floors of the building. The total area of the building is 200 square metres, a DFS official said.

The blaze was extinguished at 7.50 am, he said, adding that no casualties were reported in the incident.

It may be recalled that 50 shops were gutted in a massive fire that broke out in North Delhis Chandni Chowk area on Thursday.

Last month, multiple fire incidents were reported in the capital, including the one that engulfed Baby Care New Born Hospital and claimed the lives of six infants.

In the wake of the tragic incident, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena ordered a comprehensive ACB probe into the registration of private nursing homes in Delhi.

Other incidents include a factory fire in outer Delhis Mundka Industrial Area and a blaze at a garment showroom on Ajmal Khan Road in Karol Bagh.
Whether driving down Kolkatas Chowringee Road, which cuts through the ancient citys central business area, Esplanade, or walking along the spacious, colonial-era sidewalks that line it, it would be arguably impossible to not throw at least a cursory glance at the stately Statesman House, which has towered into the skyline since the British ruled India.

In fact, when the heritage-conscious people of Bengal discuss the iconic architecture of Kolkata, which the colonizers had chosen to make it its capital, this majestic building finds an integral mention.

The building, situated on 4 Chowringhee Square is, of course, most famously known as the headquarters of one of the countrys oldest and most respected English dailies, The Statesman.

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Established in 1818 the newspaper continues to be published from here and two decades ago, has started the Bengali vernacular version, Dainik Statesman.

Few would be oblivious to the fact that Statesman House, which has been declared a heritage building, has been under renovation. The large, lime-green scaffolding sheets, covering the imposing structure from roof to ground has drawn curious comments from citizens from within the city and outside.

Is Statesman House being renovated? Is Statesman House being promoted/developed? Is the old Statesman House going to be demolished and turned into a modern multi-story high-rise or mall? The questions galore.

Mr Vineet Gupta, Director of The Statesman, in an attempt to quash unfounded rumors, explains that Statesman House, which has been declared a Grade IIA Heritage property as classified by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, is under renovation in accordance Heritage property rules and regulation. For The Statesman, retaining the legacy and heritage of this property is of prime consideration, he says. The renovation was mandated for the preservation and restoration of the structure which has played a significant and integral role in highlighting the exquisite architectural history of the city of Kolkata.

On 29 August, 2019, the Heritage Conservation Committee met and had approved a proposal for what has been termed an adaptive re-use of The Statesman House as well as a new construction of 2B+G+V storied business building without changing the Heritage Status of the property. Mr Gupta explained that the restoration and renovation has entailed that a number of exclusive and premium businesses are established within the premises in keeping with demands of modern era compulsions, both economic as well as evolutionary in terms of culture. According to sources, the countrys top retail brands have shown interest in leasing space in the building and negotiations are on to achieve the highest possible rental return per square feet.

The beeline is attributed to The Statesman Houses significant positioning. Located at what is considered the heart of the citys center, it is effectively the locus of the juncture of the Kolkatas famed division of north and south.

Looking at it from a historical perspective, clearly the British went for one of the most prime locations to set up a press during a time when unprecedented churnings were taking place, politically, economically, culturally, socially.

Consider the distances from the important administrative buildings of that era (a number of which continue to be used for the same purposes): It is only 800 meters from Governor House or Raj Bhavan and one and a half kilometers from the Writers Buildings, which was the West Bengal Secretariat and the seat of government until chief minister Mamata Banerjee shifted it to Nabanna, across the river. The Assembly House and the Calcutta High Court are situated 2 and 1.3 kilometers respectively.

Interestingly, colonial era clubs like Calcutta Club (2.9 kilometers) , The Bengal Club (1.5 kilometers), not to mention market areas like the iconic and ancient New Market (900 meters) are all in close proximity to this ancient press hub. Even the grand hotels of yore, like the erstwhile Grand Hotel (now Lalit Hotel) and Oberoi Grand Hotel (750 metrs) are within walking distance from the site of Statesman House. The more recent entry to this hallowed list of grand hotels is of course The Taj Bengal, which is 4.1 kilometers from The Statsman House. Readers who are impressed by these figures would also like to perhaps note that even the earlier transport routes and stopovers were well connected to The Statesman House with Howrah Railway Station being only 3.8 kilometers away and the central tram terminus at Esplanade being quite literally a stones throw away.

Interestingly, iconic colonial-era monuments like Victorial Memorial (2.9), not to mention the Maidan and Brigade Parade Ground, the locus of hundreds of political rallies, as well as Park Street (Kolkatas Champs- Elysees are all in the vicinity of The Statesman building site.

While all this has immensely upped the commercial value of the property, for the Heritage Conservation Committee, the prime consideration obviously was the preservation of heritage and legacy of the structure. There is no denying that The Statesman House is prime property even, or perhaps especially, today, said a member of the Heritage Conversation Committee who was a part of the 2019 meeting when the proposal was made and the signatory to the resolution passed in a subsequent meeting in 2020. Our prime duty is ensure the conservation of legacy and heritage; however, our discussion did take into account the importance of economic compulsions too while simultaneously keeping in mind the upholding of heritage.

Putting it in perspective, an employee of The Statesman said, It feels great to be a part of the heritage and work at The Statesaman House. But to be honest, one of the most attractive for those who have to commute daily is its location. She points out that it nestles between two subway stations, Esplanade to the south and Chandni Chowk to the north and she is eagerly waiting for the east-west metro line from Howrah to Sealdah station to start. I hear that operations are expected to commence in June this year. Thatll be a real help.

Statesman House occupies a land area of 5,743 square meters or about 86 cottahs. It is a freehold property, which has been under single ownership ever since it was allotted by the Calcutta Improvement Trust in 1929.

Statesman House was originally designed by M/s Ballardie, Thompson and Mathews, the leading architectural firm of British India and the construction work was done by Martin Burn & Co Limited.

The Plans for adaptive reuse and refurbishment have been prepared by M/s Dulal Mukherjee and Associates, under the direct supervision of Mr Dulal Mukherjee, a leading conservation architect of the country.

The refurbishment work is being done by Merlin Projects Limited.

In November 2019 the Kolkata Municipal Corporation sanctioned the building plans submitted by The Statesman Ltd for refurbishment and adaptive re-use of the building for mercantile/retail purposes. In terms of the sanctioned plans, an area of nearly 200,000 square feet will be available for retail purposes.

The sanctioned plan has provided for about 200 car parking spaces in a new basement, plus a multi-level car parking facility. Investors looking to lease space consider this an added attraction. We think this convenience will increase traffic flow to the building, which is good for business, says a city businessman, Sanjay Goenka (not to confuse with industrialist Sanjeev Goenka, whose CESC building, another famous city landmark, is incidentally just across the road from Statesman House).

According to a source, the building is expected to be complete by August 2024. To quote the source, The civil construction work which involved reinforcement of all columns and beams, replacement of old slabs, reconstruction of two staircases and refurbishment of grand staircase is in the final stages of construction. Work on installation of passenger escalators and seven elevators is also on. Civil work on the facade is nearing completion, and woodwork is complete. Glass work and flooring work has commenced, as well as AC ducting, plumbing and electrical work.

The revolving door at the main entrance to the building will be reattached. The iconic archives will be retained if in digital form. In fact, The Statesman still retains the old newspaper clippings, mellowed and yellowed with age, brittle and fraying at the edges and takes its popular column Hundred Years Ago from this file. It finds pride of place in the dusty shelves of oblivion and it will still find pride of place perhaps in a new glass cased shelf.

Detractors talk about loss of legacy or heritage with modernization or commercialization. Once upon a time, the land where Chowringhee Square (where Statesman House was constructed), were part of three verdant villages Kalikata, Gobindapur and Sutanuti. Trees were chopped down and water bodies were possibly filled.

Perhaps no other witness to the citys changing, evolving legacy and heritage is as deeply attached to the surroundings as is the ancient river, Hooghly, the part of the Ganges that flows through Bengal. Statesman House is only three kilometers away from this silent river.
Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni on Saturday posted a video with PM Narendra Modi on her X account with a special mention of the viral social media hastag #Melodi.

In the post, Meloni says Hello from the Melodi team as Modi laughs loudly. The Italian PM also captioned the post, Hi friends, from #Melodi.

The video posted on X broke the internet and garnered over 2.6 million views in less than two hours. At the time of writing the article, the post had 127k likes, 33 k retweets and 9.7 k comments.

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Watch the viral Melodi video below:

Modi visited Italys Apulia to attend the G7 Summit on Melonis invitation.

On the sidelines of the summit, PM Modi held a bilateral meeting with her Italian counterpart and several other head of states, including US President Joe Biden and UK PM Rishi Sunak.

The prime minister also shared highlights of his Italy visit on his social media handle and said, An important G7 Summit, where I presented Indias perspective at the world stage.

After his meeting with Biden, Modi has said that India and the USA will keep working together to further global good.

Its always a pleasure to meet POTUS Joe Biden. India and the USA will keep working together to further global good, the PM posted on X along with pictures of his meeting with the US President.

Earlier today, Modi arrived in New Delhi after attending the G7 Summit in Italy.
Former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has called the inquiry commission set up by the Congress government to probe the alleged irregularities in the power sector during his tenure as illegal. He has urged retired chief justice Narasimha Reddy, who heads the commission, to step down, accusing him of disregarding the principles of natural justice with his conduct.

Rao was miffed by certain comments made by the retired chief justice before the media on the alleged irregularities in the power sector, particularly the power purchase agreement with Chhattisgarh, even before the former chief minister deposed before the commission.

In a long letter to the head of the inquiry commission, Rao, more popularly known as KCR, explained the power situation in Telangana after its formation in 2014 and the constraints faced by his government. After the bifurcation of the state, there was a shortfall of 2700MW in Telangana and AP violated the reorganisation act by not supplying 1500MW. Telangana, linked only to the Southern Grid, could not find surplus power anywhere other than neighbouring Chhattisgarh.

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Rao accused the Congress government of being politically vindictive. The current government had ordered the commission of inquiry with a clear political motive and to discredit the earlier government, wrote KCR. He further said that the commission headed by the former chief justice was itself illegal.

Bypassing the well-known legal standing that inquiry commissions cannot be constituted against the orders of the Electricity Regulatory Commission (ERC), Mr Revanth Reddys government has set up a Commission of Inquiry under your chairmanship. Your taking charge of the commission without informing the government that the constitution of such a commission was illegal, that too despite being a former chief justice of the High Court, is highly regrettable, added the former chief minister. He placed his objections on record for the decision of the inquiry commission to begin the proceedings illegally and allegedly without examining the issues in proper perspective.

Rao also justified his decisions when the state was undergoing a severe power crisis, saying that exceptional situations warrant such extraordinary decisions. He further accused the retired chief justice of vilifying the BRS government, stating that he had lost the moral standing to head the commission of inquiry. I believe you have crossed the limits (by going) beyond the terms of reference in apportioning unjustified blame on the government which shows your determination to discredit the erstwhile government, KCR said, adding that it would be futile for him to depose before the commission.
The Odisha Government has announced Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia to legal heirs of two Odias who died in 12 June fire accident in Kuwait as their mortal remains were brought to Biju Patnaik International Airport here airport on Saturday by a special aircraft.

The deputy Chief Ministers- KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida- received the bodies at the port and paid their last respects to the departed souls.

Santosh Kumar Gouda, a native of Ranajhali village of Ganjam district and Mohammad Jahur from Karadapalli village in Cuttack district, were among the 45 Indians killed in the horrifying fire at the Al-Mangaf multi-storeyed building in the gulf country.

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Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi took X handle to express deep condolences towards the bereaved family members.

Many people lost their lives in the terrible fire in Kuwait. The news of the death of two Odia sons Mohammad Zahoor and Satish Gowda is very sad. I offer my condolences to the bereaved families and pray to Lord Jagannath for the liberation of the immortal soul, newly elected CM Majhi bemoaned in the X platform.

I am deeply shocked over the untimely death of both Md Juhar and Santosh. Our CM Mohan Majhi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh from the Chief Ministers Relief Fund to the bereaved families, said KV Singh Deo.

The family members of the deceased workers were heartbroken and fought back tears as the mortal remains arrived at the airport.

The native villages of the fire victims plunged into deep mourning following the untimely demise of the sons of the soil. A pall of gloom descended the villages as death of two Odias convulsed the locals to a state of shock.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Saturday, instructed that a nodal officer should be assigned for each project, and they should give a weekly progress report.

He also said that senior officials should review each project every fifteen days, and there should be a meeting with public representatives once a month to discuss the projects progress.

CM Yogi was conducting a review of development works and law and order at the Annex building here with public representatives and officials.

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During this, he said that every project should have a set deadline and should be completed within that time in a quality manner. He also inquired about the current progress of projects from various departments, including the Public Works Department, Irrigation Department, Municipal Corporation, Water Corporation, GDA, and GIDA.

He instructed that the registration of land for acquired development projects should be expedited, and compensation should be distributed as soon as possible. Any delay in this process will be unacceptable.

The Chief Minister emphasized that a nodal officer should be assigned to supervise each construction project to ensure they are completed on time and with quality. This nodal officer should provide weekly progress updates to senior officials.

He also said that public representatives should be involved in monitoring all projects. Officials should meet with public representatives every month to inform them about the progress of development works and consider their suggestions.

The Chief Minister said that the monsoon season is approaching, and it is crucial to ensure there are no water logging issues anywhere when it rains.

Over the past few years, good work has been done to address the problem of waterlogging, but continuous efforts are needed to achieve excellence in this area. He directed officials to complete the cleaning of all drains on time and emphasized the need to focus consistently on the Goddhoiya Nala project to mitigate water logging issues.

While reviewing flood prevention projects, CM Yogi emphasized the need to accelerate efforts in flood protection works. He urged officials to assess the condition of embankments along with the public representatives. Take suggestions from them for better work.

The CM said that concerted efforts have successfully controlled Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES). Preparations are underway to continue combating these diseases in the upcoming monsoon season.

He reviewed the Ekla Dam project and emphasized the development of Miyawaki forests in the area.

The CM instructed officials to prioritize sensitivity towards drinking water, cleanliness, and other civic amenities. Ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply in cities and villages was also highlighted.

He urged officials to regularly and sensitively address citizens issues during Janata Darshan. Resolving complaints received through the Integrated Grievance Redressal System (IGRS) and seeking feedback from complainants were also emphasized.

During the review, the CM warned that officials showing laxity in resolving citizen issues would face strict action.

The Chief Minister also highlighted that Gorakhpur has become a favored destination for entrepreneurs in recent years. He stressed the responsibility of officials to hold meetings with these entrepreneurs and address their concerns. The CM also directed for organizing job fairs every month to provide maximum employment opportunities to the youth.

During the law and order review, the Chief Minister underscored the importance of maintaining a zero tolerance policy towards crime and criminals. He emphasized the need for stringent and continuous action against mafia elements.

The Chief Minister instructed to increase police patrolling, foot patrols, and to improve the response time of PCR vans.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi early Saturday returned home after concluding his first trip abroad in his third term in office after attending the G-7 Summit in Italy.

In a post on X, he said: Had a very productive day at the G-7 Summit in Apulia. Interacted with world leaders and discussed various subjects.

He said: Together, we aim to create impactful solutions that benefit the global community and create a better world for future generations. I thank the people and government of Italy for their warm hospitality.

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had invited India as an Outreach Country at the G-7 summit held in Italys Apulia region from July 13-15.

The summit had participation from the seven member countries, the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and France, as well as the European Union.

At the G-7 Summit, PM Modi reiterated Indias commitment to advocating for the well-being of the Global South, emphasising the significance of Africa in global affairs. He underscored Indias dedication to fostering close ties with Africa, citing the landmark moment when the African Union became a permanent member of the G20 during Indias presidency.

The Prime Minister addressed the G-7 Outreach Session on artificial intelligence (AI) and Energy, Africa, and the Mediterranean, touching upon various subjects, including the transformative role of technology in human progress.

Spoke at the G-7 Outreach Session on AI and Energy, Africa and Mediterranean. Highlighted a wide range of subjects, notably, the wide scale usage of technology for human progress. The rise of technology in various aspects of human life has also reaffirmed the importance of cyber security, he said.

Mr Modi said he spoke about how India is leveraging AI for its development journey. It is important that AI remains transparent, secure, accessible and responsible.

On the energy front, the PM outlined Indias approach focused on availability, accessibility, affordability, and acceptability.

He reaffirmed Indias commitment to fulfilling its Climate Change Conference of the Parties (CoP) commitments ahead of schedule and emphasised Indias efforts to transition towards a sustainable, green era based on the principles of Mission LiFE.

Additionally, Mr Modi highlighted the Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam campaign aimed at promoting environmental sustainability and making the planet more habitable for future generations.

On the sidelines of the G-7 Summit, the PM held bilateral meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron, UK PM Rishi Sunak, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

He also interacted with US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Canada PM Justin Trudeau and Pope Francis.

On his meeting the Italian PM, he said Had a very good meeting with PM@GiorgiaMeloni. Thanked her for inviting India to be a part of the G7 Summit and for the wonderful arrangements. We discussed ways to further cement India-Italy relations in areas like commerce, energy, defence, telecom and more. Our nations will work together in futuristic areas like biofuels, food processing and critical minerals.

On meeting the US President, he said: Its always a pleasure to meet @POTUS@JoeBiden. India and USA will keep working together to further global good.

On his meeting the German Chancellor, the PM said his interaction with Chancellor Scholz was very productive. The India-Germany Strategic Partnership can play a major role in furthering global growth which is inclusive and sustainable.

Meeting the Japanese PM, he said, It was a delight to meet PM Kishida on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Italy. Strong ties between India and Japan are important for a peaceful, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Our nations look forward to working together in defence, technology, semiconductors, clean energy and digital technology. We also wish to advance ties in infrastructure and cultural linkages.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the PM-KISAN schemes 17th instalment amounting to nearly Rs 20,000 crore in Varanasi on 18th June.

The event will be organised by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in coordination with the government of Uttar Pradesh.

Disclosing this at a press conference on Saturday, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Chouhan said the prime minister would be granting certificates to more than 30,000 self-help groups as Krishi Sakhis.

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He said Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath would be present on the occasion.

Mr Chouhan called agriculture the foundation of the Indian economy. Even today, most of the employment opportunities are created through agriculture.

He said farmers are today filling granaries of the country. Agriculture and farmers have been the top priority of the Prime Minister, he said, and as a result, the Government took several steps for the welfare of farmers.

Just after assuming office, in his first order, the prime minister signed papers for the 17th instalment of the Kisan Samman Nidhi for release to the farmers. In his first public engagement, after becoming the prime minister for the third time, the highly anticipated 17th instalment of PM KISAN, amounting to more than Rs 20,000 crore, will be disbursed to over 9.26 crore beneficiary farmers by the prime minister with a single click of a button from Varanasi.

The agriculture and rural development minister said that the Kisan Samman Nidhi is a central sector scheme launched on 24th February, 2019 to supplement the financial needs of all land-holding farmers subject to certain exclusion criteria of higher income status.

He said that maintaining absolute transparency in registering and verifying the beneficiaries, the Government of India has disbursed over Rs 3.04 lakh crore till now to more than 11 crore farmers across the nation and with the latest release, the total amount transferred to the beneficiaries since the inception of the scheme will cross well over Rs 3.24 lakh crore.

The Union minister said that on 18 June, the governments resolution of developed India, along with prosperity of farmers, will start getting implemented.

On that day, several Union Ministers will also be visiting 50 KVKs to interact with farmers and to create awareness among them about various schemes of the Department. He said that around 2.5 crore farmers will join the event across the country.

To create awareness among farmers, 732 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), over one lakh Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies, and five lakh Common Service Centres (CSCs) from across the country will participate in the event.

The Agriculture and Rural Development Minister said the Prime Minister has resolved to make three crore Lakhpati Didis, out of which about one crore Lakhpati Didis have already been made, and two crore more are to be made.

The Krishi Sakhi is one dimension of that. Mr Chouhan said that to help the farmers, training has been given to many women so that they can support the farmers through different works in farming and can earn an additional income of about Rs 60,000 to Rs 80,000 annually.

He said that along with the programme of releasing the instalment of PM Kisan, the Prime Minister will also grant Certificates to more than 30,000 Self Help Groups (SHGs) as Krishi Sakhis and as a token, he will distribute the certificates to five Krishi Sakhis.

The Krishi Sakhi programme has been rolled out in 12 States in Phase1, which include Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Odisha, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, and Meghalaya. As of date, over 34,000 Krishi Sakhis out of 70,000 have been certified as Para-extension Workers.

Mr Chouhan said that Krishi Sakhis are chosen as agriculture para-extension workers because they are trusted community resource persons and experienced farmers themselves. The Krishi Sakhis have already received extensive training in various agricultural practices, making them well-equipped to support and guide fellow farmers effectively.

The minister said that keeping in view the important role of women in agriculture, the ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

He said that under the PM-Kisan scheme, a financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per year in three equal instalments, every four months, is transferred to the bank accounts of farmers families across the country through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.

On the other hand, under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, financial security has been guaranteed to more than four crore farmers. He expressed happiness that despite the surge in global prices, fertilizers are still provided at cheap rates to farmers by continuing the Rs 11 lakh crore subsidy.

The minister said the PM KISAN programme will be broadcast live on television and through Krishi Vigyan Kendras and more than five lakh Common Service centres across the country. He asked farmers to participate in it directly through any medium and connect with the programme and the Prime Minister.

During the press conference, Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Secretary Manoj Ahuja and DARE Secretary Himanshu Pathak were also present.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav has announced a compensation of Rs one crore and a government job to one of the family members of martyr CRPF Soldier Kabir Das Uikey who was killed in a terrorist attack in Jammu on June 11.

The MP CM visited the bereaved family members at late Uikeys home in village Pulpuldoh in the Chhindwara district of the state of Friday.

CM Dr Yadav expressed his profound grief and paid tribute to the martyr. The CM assured all possible help by the state government.

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Kabir Das Uikey had sustained critical bullet injuries during an encounter with terrorists at Saida Sukhal village in the Kathua district of Jammu late evening on June 11.

Despite efforts to save him, he succumbed to his injuries on June 12.
The National Congress Party-Sharad Chandra Pawar (NCP-SCP) chief, Sharad Pawar, on Saturday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that wherever Modi held roadshow and rally, they (Opposition candidates) won.

Wherever the Prime Ministers roadshow and rally took place, we won. That is why I consider it my duty to thank the Prime Minister, Pawar said.

In the recently held Lok Sabha elections 2024, the BJP suffered significant losses in several states, including the Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.

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In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP had 62 seats in 2019 but its tally came down significantly to 33 in 2024 general elections. The party also lost the prized Faizabad (Ayodhya) seat, where its victory was being considered almost certain.

Besides UP, the saffron party and its allies had to suffer losses in Maharashtra, a state it rules in alliance with the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) and NCP (Ajit Pawar).

In the state, Modi held around 18 rallies and roadshows. The BJP lost Solapur, Madha, Latur, Dharashiv seats where Modi campaigned for his partys candidates.

Overall, the BJP and its NDA allies reportedly lost in 77 seats where Modi campaigned.

However, despite the narrower than expected victory, the BJP emerged as the single largest party and formed government for the third straight term with the help of its NDA allies.
One must tread extremely cautiously on sub judice matters, especially if they pertain to the uniform as it must stand tall to defend the citizenry, at the borders or within, at all times. It is for good reason that the Uniform is spared the societal morass, partisan passions, and unnecessary usurpations in the discourse, as it compromises on the healthy distance from competitive politics. Sadly, even the sword arm of the nation has seen many unwarranted taints of politicisation, bias, and partisan appropriations that dilute its apolitical perceptions.

The Uniform has an indoctrinated culture of reserve on expressing any partisan/political reaction or preferences, whilst in service. Therefore, there is also a reciprocal duty on people in positions of power to act with deference and respect towards those on duty, to not be patronising or provocative towards them. After all, those in Uniform are also humans with families in civilian environs facing societal challenges, while the soldiers continue operating in challenging conditions with surreal expectations to uphold their professionalism, irrespective of the work conditions or familial situations, back home.

Therefore, any incident of their purportedly falling short of their duties must be investigated with seriousness, sensitivity, and holistically to understand the circumstances and shortcomings in conduct, if any. Such instances do not need the protection of hyper-nationalists, or conversely, those who attribute a agenda, as the institution of the Uniform (unlike in a country like Pakistan) does not have an independent agenda of its own, though, instances of individual culpability can never be ruled out. That said, within the landscape of various Uniforms in the Indian context, the Policing services (State Police, Central Investigative Agencies, and the various Central Armed Police Forces) who work in close contact with politicians, have come under increasing questions of misuse, beholden conduct, and partisan alignments. Unfortunately, the politicians do not recognise the dangerous dilutions and provocations that their behaviour and opinions inflict on the policing services.

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This is especially because the mandated distance from politicians is knowingly compromised, unlike that for the Armed Forces. Sadly, they too are getting unhealthily invoked in the partisan fight for oneupmanship. For certain organisations like the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), that challenge manifests daily with its task to enforce the various security procedures and protocols, yet maintaining a peoplefriendly approach. Their natural exposure and public interface can run into millions of interactions given the tasks at airports, railway stations, metros, industrial facilities, government buildings and other security duties, daily.

Given the inherent and regrettable sense of entitlement that consumes many Indians with its unique VIP (or even VVIP) culture, there is a shameful tendency to believe that such people are above the procedural laws. Handling such vain and boorish behaviour can result in difficult situations for the security personnel. Yet the onus on maintaining civility, professionalism, and politeness in the face of such odds, is warranted. While standing up to power is expected (in order to ensure the due diligence of procedures) ~ tact, restraint, and ignoring certain expected provocations is mandated. It must be always remembered that many amongst the Indian Armed Forces who guard the borders may not agree with many of the dispensations, policies, orders, or even utterances ~ however, that cannot be justification for lowering the guard or conducting themselves in a manner that does not behoove a soldier. Some may even feel strongly about the socio-political issues facing their families back home, however the same does not legitimise any expression of a reactionary nature, whilst in service.

Many pay the ultimate price as part of their service conditions, even if they disagree with the dispensation of the day ~ after all, they are representing and defending the Constitution of India and its citizens (without fear, favour, or bias towards anybody), and not any political party or person. Sadly, while the same spirit is mandated in equal measure on the politicians, bureaucrats, and suchlike VIPs, they do not demonstrate reciprocal decency and dignity towards service personnel on duty. However, the culture, rules and traditions of the Uniform affords no justification (however justifiable in any other realm) to react to any provocation, similarly. It is often an unfair and unequal expectation, but it is so. Therefore, unsurprisingly the Indian Soldier always tops the public trust/confidence perceptions, whereas the politicians are always at the bottom of the heap. Societal views may differ but for the Uniform nothing justifies dereliction of duty; therefore the Indian Army Officer who tied a civilian to his jeep (whatever be the circumstances) in Kashmir was duly ticked off for his unbecoming act.

The maxim that two wrongs dont make a right is useful as it was also true that the ground situation (and the accompanying operational reality) did put the errant officer and his troops to immense risk of life and limb, but that unfortunately (howsoever unfair it is) does not justify a reactionary wrong. That is the oft unseen nobility, professionalism, and personal sacrifice with which the soldier puts himself/herself to defend the country and its citizens (however oblivious and ungrateful, they be). The Sri Lankan soldier who attacked the then Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, as he was reviewing the formal Guard of Honour was subjected to a Court Martial and sentenced to prison. His plea that he was enraged by Indias ostensible interference in Sri Lankas domestic affairs with its purported support to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), was held as untenable. He did have many within the Sri Lankan polity sympathizing with his act, but the service rules brook no dereliction of duty, whatever be his personal opinions. The recent incident at Chandigarh airport is undergoing the due process of review and it would be improper to comment on the same without full knowledge of facts.

Everyone, especially the parties involved, must hold their horses (which they sadly didnt by making the same old insinuations and aspersions that have polarised and inflamed the country). While the immediate action of arresting the errant service professional is done, it is important to spare a thought for service personnel, their service conditions, and the unseen amount of hurt that they have to endure as humans with families and emotions. While the Uniform will always put discipline and professionalism over all circumstances and provocations (as they must) ~ it is sad that we dont hold other institutions and VIPs (especially politicians) to similar standards of restraint in public domain.

(The writer is Lt Gen PVSM, AVSM (Retd), and former Lt Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Puducherry)
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) led by chief minister M K Stalin has emerged as a formidable force in Tamil Nadu, successfully securing alongside its allies a clean sweep of the states 39 Lok Sabha seats. This outcome underscores the effectiveness of Mr Stalins political strategy, deeply rooted in ideological coherence, inclusive coalition building, and grassroots mobilization. One of the primary drivers of DMKs success was its commitment to nurturing a robust and ideologically consistent coalition. Since the 2019 elections, Mr Stalin has diligently built and maintained the Social Progressive Alliance, which later became part of the INDIA bloc.

This coalition includes a diverse array of parties and social organisations representing different segments of Tamil Nadus socio-political landscape. Such an inclusive approach ensured broad support, uniting various communities against the BJPs policies. Central to this coalitions strength was the ideological clarity that Mr Stalin emphasised. The DMKs opposition to the BJPs Hindutva ideology was not just a political stance but was deeply rooted in the Dravidian movements historical and ideological foundations. This movement advocates for dignity, social justice, secularism, and state autonomy.

By consistently communicating this opposition, Mr Stalin ensured that the message resonated deeply with both party cadres and voters. The DMKs various wings ~ Youth, Women, Students, and IT ~ played a crucial role, organising continuous programmes to educate and mobilise supporters against what they perceived as the BJPs authoritarian policies. Grassroots mobilisation was another critical element of Mr Stalins strategy. Under his leadership, the DMK revitalised its party structures down to the hyper-local level, ensuring a strong presence across every street in Tamil Nadu. This grassroots organisation was essential in countering the electoral strategies of the AIADMK, BJP, and other opponents. The DMKs focus on maintaining strong internal communication and coordination stood in stark contrast to ruling parties in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, which relied heavily on non-party entities for grassroots work. In a state with high digital penetration, the DMKs proactive digital engagement was also pivotal. The partys IT Wing played a key role in countering the BJPs well-funded digital campaigns. By leveraging professional consultants for strategic insights while managing day-to-day digital operations internally, the DMK maintained an effective and responsive communication model. This dual strategy ensured that the party could engage with voters in real-time, counter misinformation, and defend its ideological stance across social media platforms. Additionally, Mr Stalins administration implemented comprehensive social welfare schemes that addressed the diverse needs of Tamil Nadus populace. Programmes like the Kalaignar Womens Rights Grant Scheme and free bus travel for women were used to display commitment to social equity. These initiatives contrasted sharply with the strategies of parties in other states, which focused more on direct benefit transfers and consultant-driven approaches. The 2024 Lok Sabha election results in Tamil Nadu highlight the importance of a wellrounded political strategy. The DMKs success illustrates how effective coalition building, grassroots mobilisation, digital savvy, ideological clarity, and comprehensive social policies can create a formidable electoral force

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Afghan authorities plan to build a new dam in its national capital of Kabul, the media reported.

The economic commission has discussed the construction of a new dam in Sarobi district of Kabul, according to the office of the acting deputy prime minister for economic affairs, reported Xinhua News Agency.

This project will be built in two phases, with a production capacity of 111 megawatts in the first phase, Matiullah Abid, spokesperson of the Ministry of Energy and Water, was quoted as saying.

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Afghanistan has been facing a power shortage.

The country needs 850 megawatts of electricity per year, with 620 megawatts imported from neighboring countries including Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, and 230 megawatts supplied by domestic sources, according to Afghanistans power company Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, as host of the G7 summit, has prevented the group of industrialised democracies from reaffirming a clear commitment to the right to abortion in their final declaration, DPA has learned from diplomatic sources.

The declaration, traditionally issued on the summits last day, will only say that women have the right to adequate, affordable and quality health services, including when it comes to sexual and reproductive care.

At the G7 summit in Japan last year, the leaders took an explicit position on the topic. The text said women must have access to safe and legal abortion and post-abortion care.

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The difference of opinion over the language surrounding abortion broke out into the open on Thursday evening, with French President Emmanuel Macron expressing his disappointment over this years likely outcome.

Macron noted that in France, a womans right to abortion and the freedom to control her reproductive autonomy is a constitutionally protected right.

Meloni, who heads a coalition of centrist and far-right parties, then accused Macron of using the G7 forum to campaign in Frances upcoming snap election.

She said this years text would be different simply to avoid unnecessary repetition from the final G7 communique in Japan.

After Macrons resounding defeat to the far-right in the European Parliament elections, he dissolved the National Assembly, Frances lower house of the Parliament, on Sunday.

French citizens will be voting in Parliamentary elections in just a few weeks.

Among the G7 nations, the US has seen a major rollback in reproductive rights since a 2022 ruling by the Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v Wade case that had codified the right to abortion.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Italy and Japan after the conclusion of the G7 Summits Outreach Session in Italys Borgo Egnazia on Friday.

PM Modi began the day holding back-to-back bilaterals with French President Emmanuel Macron, British PM Rishi Sunak, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

He then attended the G7 Outreach Session on AI and Energy, Africa and Mediterranean which was followed by interactions with several world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, before the official photo-op.

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Imparting further momentum to the India-Italy partnership, PM Modi congratulated Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for the success of the G7 Summit.

The leaders held discussions on expanding India-Italy Strategic Partnership in various spheres, including defence, cyber security, trade and investment, manufacturing, space, telecom, AI, digital, critical minerals, clean energy, and mobility, among others, the Ministry of External Affairs said after the bilateral between PM Modi and Meloni.

After holding talks with Japanese PM Fumio Kishida, PM Modi said: It was a delight to meet PM Kishida on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Italy. Strong ties between India and Japan are important for a peaceful, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

Our nations look forward to working together in defence, technology, semiconductors, clean energy and digital technology. We also wish to advance ties in infrastructure and cultural linkages.

The visit to Italy was Prime Minister Modis first overseas trip after assuming office for the third consecutive term, and also his fifth consecutive participation in the G7 Summit.

Before leaving for Italy, PM Modi had warmly recalled his visit to the country for the G20 Summit in 2021.

Prime Minister Melonis two visits to India last year were instrumental in infusing momentum and depth to our bilateral agenda. We remain committed to consolidating the India-Italy strategic partnership, and bolstering cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and the Mediterranean regions, the Prime Minister had said in his departure statement.

After the conclusion of the G7 Summits Outreach Session, PM Modi met with several world leaders, including US President Joe Biden.

Its always a pleasure to meet POTUS Joe Biden. India and USA will keep working together to further global good, the PM posted on X along with pictures of his meeting with the US President.

He also interacted with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Jordan King Abdullah, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of the event.
Admiring his commitment to serve people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday extended an invitation to Pope Francis to visit India at an early date.

Met Pope Francis on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. I admire his commitment to serve people and make our planet better. Also invited him to visit India, the Prime Minister posted on X after meeting the Pope at the G7 Summits Outreach Session in Borgo Egnazia.

As he entered the meeting venue and met the world leaders, the Pope was greeted with a hug from PM Modi.

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In October 2021, the Pope received PM Modi during a private audience at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, which was also the first meeting between an Indian Prime Minister and the Pope in more than two decades.

In June 2000, late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had last visited the Vatican and met the then Pope, John Paul II.

India and The Holy See have friendly relations dating back to the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1948. India is also home to the second-largest Catholic population in Asia.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of the G7 Summit here on Friday (local time).

Met Canadian PM @JustinTrudeau at the G7 Summit, PM Modi said, sharing a post on X, after the meeting.

The meeting happened amid strained diplomatic relations between the two countries after Trudeau had accused the agents of the Indian government of killing terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada last year. However, India has dismissed the accusations as absurd and motivated.

Nijjar, who was designated a terrorist by Indias National Investigation Agency in 2020, was shot and killed outside a Gurdwara in Surrey in June last year.

The G7 summit is being held from June 13-15 in Italys Apulia region, where India has been invited as an Outreach Country to the summit and has participation from the seven member countries, the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and France, as well as the European Union.

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni received global leaders, including UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, among others, for the 50th Summit of the Group of Seven (G7).

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had invited PM Modi to attend the G7 Summit. It is Indias 11th and PM Modis fifth consecutive participation at the G7 Summit.

Italy, which has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the G7 Summit Outreach Sessions, is Indias fourth-largest trading partner in the European Union, with bilateral trade currently standing at USD 15 billion.

The two countries have close and friendly relations and celebrated 75 years of diplomatic relations last year.

On January 1, Italy assumed the G7 Presidency for the seventh time.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with several world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, after the conclusion of the G7 Summits Outreach Session in Italys Borgo Egnazia on Friday.

Its always a pleasure to meet POTUS Joe Biden. India and the USA will keep working together to further global good, the PM posted on X along with pictures of his meeting with the US President.

The visit to Italy is Prime Minister Modis first overseas visit after assuming office for the third consecutive term and also his fifth consecutive participation in the summit.

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While there was no formal bilateral meeting scheduled between the two leaders, the US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan had told reporters en route to Brindisi that Biden and PM Modi will have an opportunity to encounter one another during the G7 session as the schedule remains fluid.

After speaking at the G7 Outreach Session on AI and Energy, Africa and Mediterranean, PM Modi also interacted with Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Jordans King Abdullah and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

PM Modi also met his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of the event. Earlier in the day, PM Modi held back-to-back bilateral meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron, British PM Rishi Sunak, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.


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Kotak Securities Chairperson Uday Kotak has slammed the system wherein companies allot shares to creditors on a preferential basis to repay debt, asking if financial markets create money out of thin air.



This comes after cash-strapped Vodafone Idea said it will issue Rs 2,458 crore in preferential equity to vendors Ericsson and Nokia in a bid to clear their dues partially.

However, Kotak did not name Vodafone Idea in his post on X. Financial markets create money out of thin air? the banker asked in the post.

A model for companies in financial difficulty: issue equity to creditors to repay their debt. If the stock is well traded, the creditor can sell in the market and get paid by investors, he added.

Her further asked, What is that story about Peter and Paul? referring to the proverb about robbing Peter to pay Paul.

The debt-laden telecom firm said it will allot preferential shares worth Rs 1,520 crore to Nokia and Rs 938 crore to Ericsson. This is subject to approval by shareholders at the EGM scheduled for July 10. Once the shares are allotted, Nokia will own 1.5 per cent stake in the company and Ericsson 0.9 per cent.

The move is part of the telecom operator's bid to stand up against bigger players Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel as it plans to launch 5G network while improving its existing 4G services.
A US court has levied a $194 million fine on Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for misappropriation of trade secrets, the company said in a regulatory filing.

The IT giant, which is the second largest company in the country in terms of market capital, said it is taking necessary steps to protect its interest through review or appeal as it has strong arguments against the judgement.

"The company believes that the Judgement has no major adverse impact on its financials and operations," the tech major said in the filing.

The court order, which was sent to the company on June 14, was in response to a case registered against TCS by Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), alleging misappropriation of its trade secrets before the US District Court, Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division. CSC is now merged with DXC Technology Company (DXC).

"The court ordered that the company is liable to CSC for USD 56,151,583 in compensatory damages and USD 112,303,166 in exemplary damages. The court also assessed that the company is liable for USD 25,773,576.60 in prejudgment interest through June 13, 2024," the TCS said in the filing.

TCS, which was the largest gainer among Top 10 Indian firms, saw its market valuation surging to Rs 14.08 lakh crore after a Rs 80,828.08 crore hike last week.
Tamil Nadu's principal opposition party, AIADMK, on Saturday announced a boycott of the July 10 bypoll to the Vikravandi Assembly constituency, alleging the ruling DMK will unleash 'violence' and not allow people to vote 'independently.'

S Ramadoss, founder of the Pattali Makkal Katchi, a constituent of the BJP-led NDA in Tamil Nadu announced that his party's vice-president C Anbumani, will contest the Vikravandi bypoll.

Following deliberations with senior leaders at the AIADMK headquarters, 'Puratchi Thalaivar MGR Maaligai,' Edappadi K Palaniswami announced that his party will boycott the bypoll.

Palaniswami, also the leader of the opposition, alleged that the state ministers and DMK workers, apart from misusing power will also flex their money and muscle power and unleash violence and lawlessness and not allow people to vote independently. Hence, the bypoll will not be fair and free and considering such factors, the "AIADMK will boycott the July 10 bypoll to the Vikravandi Assembly segment."

The AIADMK general secretary, in a statement, cited several allegations made in the past against the DMK including the 'Thirumangalam formula' and 'Erode East formula,' of confining people in 'sheds' like cattle to prevent opposition from reaching out to them and to somehow win their votes through allurements. The ruling party had, however, dismissed all such allegations as false.

Palaniswami expressed confidence of returning to power in Tamil Nadu by winning the Assembly election to be held in 2026.

Thirumngalam formula is a reference to opposition's allegation of inducement/cash for votes in Thirumangalam Assembly segment in a bypoll held in 2009 during the DMK regime. Bypoll to Erode East Assembly constituency was held in 2023 and DMK's ally Congress party's senior leader EVKS Elangovan won.

Speaking to reporters, senior AIADMK leader D Jayakumar said the party has taken the decision considering the ground reality. "What is the ground reality? This decision (to boycott) is based on that," he said answering a question on PMK and Naam Tamilar Katchi announcing candidates for the bypoll.

"If the bypoll is held democratically, the AIADMK will be the winner. Can the Election Commission ensure democratic polls? Can it ensure 100 per cent free and fair election? Can the poll body say that even a single rupee cannot be distributed (to voters as inducement) by anyone?" he asked.

Jayakumar, a former minister in the previous AIADMK regimes asked if authorities could say that all checkposts will be monitored.

"We saw in Erode (East), was there a checkpost? he asked and alleged 'movement' of cash to induce voters. Also, during that bypoll people were lodged in sheds from morning to evening, he alleged and accused the DMK of committing 'murder of democracy' and said the Vikravandi bypoll will witness similar scenes. The boycott will not have any impact on the AIADMK and, "we believe in democracy, DMK believes in lawlessness."
It may well be India's 11th participation in G7 Summit and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's fifth consecutive participation at the G7 Summit, but it had a special significance  it is Modis first overseas trip after assuming office in his third consecutive term.



Fresh from a successful conclusion of the Indian parliamentary election, the worlds biggest festival of democracy and the biggest in the history of humanity till date  Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the concerns of the Global South in his speech at the Outreach session.

Modi said, The countries of the Global South are bearing the brunt of global uncertainties and tensions. India has considered it its responsibility to place the priorities and concerns of the countries of the Global South on the world stage.

We have given high priority to Africa in these efforts. We are proud that the G-20, under India's chairmanship, made the African Union a permanent member, he added.

The PM also held out on the need for technology to be equitable. We have to collectively ensure that the benefits of technology reach all sections of society, to realize the potential of every person in the society, to help in removing social inequalities, and expand human powers instead of limiting them We have to convert monopoly in technology into mass usage. We have to make technology creative, not destructive, Modi said.

On the sidelines, there were several bilateral meetings with world leaders that would further Indias standing in the global arena.

In his bilateral meeting with Europes military powerhouse France, Modi and French president Emmanuel Macron agreed to further intensify strategic defence cooperation with increased focus on Make in India. The other aspect of the talks included nuclear, space, education, climate action, digital public infrastructure, connectivity and cultural initiatives.

Defence and security, trade and economic collaboration, critical and high technology sectors were the key areas of focus in Modis talk with UK PM Rishi Sunak.

In his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Modi underlined that India continues to encourage peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy, and reiterated that India would continue to do everything within its means to support a peaceful solution.

Significant progress was achieved during the Modis talks with Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni where they called for expanding commercial ties in clean energy, manufacturing, Space, S&T, telecom, AI and critical minerals to build resilient supply chains.

In his meeting with Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida, PM Modi affirmed that bilateral ties with Japan will continue to receive priority in his third term.

India is not a member of the G7, the grouping of seven most industrialised nations in the world, but for the worlds most populous nation with more than 17 per cent of the worlds population, its increasing diplomatic, economic, and military heft is making it a nation very hard to ignore in the worlds fast-changing geo-strategic dynamics.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra recently pointed out, 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.

During its recent presidency of the G20, India not only came out with flying colours in building a global consensus on a number of contentious issues but also in acquiring recognition as a leading voice of the Global South. In the G7 meet in Italy, that was what was highlighted.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant expressed hope that Pope Francis will visit Goa during his India tour. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had extended invite to the Pope when they met during the recent G7 Summit.



Sawant tweeted, Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodiJi met HH Pope Francis @Pontifex on the sidelines of G7 Summit in Italy. Hon'ble PM admired his commitment to serve the people and extended an invitation to Pope to visit Bharat, and we hope the visit includes Goa.

A few months back, Sawant had said that the state government would be inviting Pope Francis for the decennial exposition of the relics of St Francis Xavier at Old Goa, scheduled to be held during later part of the year. Christians constitute around 27 per cent of Goa's total population.

Modi met Pope Francis on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Italy and said he had extended an invite to the Pope to visit India. Modi tweeted, Met Pope Francis on the sidelines of the @G7Summit. I admire his commitment to serve people and make our planet better. Also invited him to visit India.

-with inputs from agencies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday, left for India after concluding his day-long visit to Italy during which he attended the G7 summit and held bilaterals with several world leaders, including US President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

"Had a very productive day at the G7 Summit in Apulia. Interacted with world leaders and discussed various subjects. Together, we aim to create impactful solutions that benefit the global community and create a better world for future generations. I thank the people and government of Italy for their warm hospitality," Modi tweeted after his meetings.

The PM held a brief conversation with his Canadian counterpart Trudeau against the backdrop of severe strain in India-Canada relations over the case relating to the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year.

The ties between India and Canada came under strain following PM Trudeau's allegations in September last year of the "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar in British Columbia. New Delhi had rejected Trudeau's charges as "absurd" and "motivated."

Modi's conversation with Biden came nearly seven months after Washington's allegations of an Indian link to a foiled plot to murder Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York. "It's always a pleasure to meet @POTUS @JoeBiden. India and USA will keep working together to further global good," the prime minister tweeted after meeting with Biden.

During his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, the two leaders reviewed bilateral relations, focusing on the 'Horizon 2047' Roadmap and the Indo-Pacific Roadmap. Discussions included cooperation in defence, nuclear, space, education, climate action, digital public infrastructure, connectivity, and cultural initiatives such as the National Museum partnership and enhancing people-to-people ties. They agreed to further intensify strategic defence cooperation with an increased focus on Make in India, according to a press release from the PMO.

Modi also met UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and discussed the implementation of the 'Roadmap 2030' and expressed happiness on progress in all areas of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership including regular high-level political consultations, defence and security, trade and economic collaboration, critical and high technology sectors and people-to-people ties.

Modi discussed with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ways to strengthen bilateral relations, the situation in Ukraine and the upcoming Summit on Peace being hosted by Switzerland. The PM told Zelenskyy that India continues to encourage peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy, and reiterated that India would continue to do everything within its means to support a peaceful solution.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni congratulated Modi for his third consecutive term as PM. Modi thanked PM Meloni for the invitation to participate in G7 Outreach Summit. The two leaders called for expanding commercial ties in clean energy, manufacturing, Space, S&T, telecom, AI and critical minerals to build resilient supply chains. They also discussed bilateral defence and security cooperation and hoped for further enhancing the defence and industrial collaboration.
Delhi Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Atishi urged the Haryana government to provide additional water to the national capital as several new areas are reporting water shortage.



Addressing presspersons, Atishi said the water supply to the national capital is falling short and all seven water treatment plants fed by the Munak Canal are producing less water. Water in Wazirabad pond is almost finished. Munak canal, which is fed by two other canals, is also short of water. Water production in Delhi has fallen by 70 million gallons per day, she said. The normal water production of around 1,002 MGD in Delhi went down to 932 MGD on Friday because of lack of raw water, she added.

Atishi added, Emergency tube wells have been made in many areas of Delhi and linked with the water supply. Especially in Bawana, Dwarka, and Nangloi Delhi Jal Board (DJB) tankers are making 10,000 trips in a day. DJB is supplying nearly 10 MGD of water via tankers. We have asked the DJB to provide extra tankers wherever necessary and conduct an assessment wherever tankers are unable to reach.

Saying new areas of water crisis are coming up, Atishi said Himachal Pradesh has said it is ready to provide water to Delhi. In yesterday's Upper Yamuna River Board meeting, Himachal Pradesh has reiterated, that it is ready to provide water to Delhi. Himachal Pradesh has clarified that out of its share of the Upper Yamuna water, it has 130 cusec surplus water, ChiefMinisterSukhvinder Sukhu has assured of all possible support, she said.

"The Delhi government has appealed to Haryana to release additional water for the people of the city on humanitarian grounds," the minister said and added that issues related to the share of Yamuna water can be discussed after heatwave conditions abate. Atishi said officials from Delhi would meet counterparts in the Haryana government and discuss the release of water.

However, Atishi urged Delhi people to consciously and carefully use the available water.

-with inputs from agencies.
Former Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa, who is facing investigation in a POCSO case, said he will appear before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on June 17 for questioning.

"I had gone to Delhi for a pre-scheduled programme. I had informed in advance in writing that I will appear for an inquiry on June 17. The High Court has given an order restraining CID (from arresting). I'm appearing for an inquiry on Monday. Unnecessarily some tried to create confusion, I don't want to blame anyone, everyone knows the fact, he said after returning from Delhi.

The Karnataka High Court on Friday granted the BJP leader interim relief from arrest but directed him to appear before the investigators on June 17.

The Sadashivanagar police registered the case against Yediyurappa on March 14 and the investigation was handed over to the CID on the same day. On Thursday, a Bengaluru court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against him.

The former CM has been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Section 354 A (Sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code based on a complaint by the mother of a 17-year-old girl who alleged that he sexually assaulted her daughter during a meeting on February two this year, at his residence in Dollars Colony.

The 54-year-old woman, who had leveled the charge against the BJP leader, died at a private hospital in Tumkuru last month, due to lung cancer.

Meanwhile, the BJP veteran, who had dismissed the allegations, has filed a separate petition in the high court seeking to quash the FIR against him.
A Bengaluru court on Saturday extended the police custody of Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, his friend Pavithra Gowda and eleven others, who were arrested in a murder case, by five days.

With the court order, the accused will continue in police custody till June 20.

They were produced before the 21st Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court on Saturday as their custody was to end on Sunday. The court would be shut on Sundays and Monday (Bakrid).

During the hearing, the advocates of Darshan and others requested the court to send them to judicial custody. However, the probe team argued that crucial evidence and equipment used to torture the deceased needs to be recovered and hence an extension of the police custody is required.

Drashan, popularly known as the Challenging Star, and 12 others were arrested in connection with the murder of Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor.

Renukaswamy, hailing from Chitradurga, was found dead near a stormwater drain next to an apartment in Sumanahalli on June 9. Media reports suggest that the victim had been posting inappropriate social media messages against actor Pavithra Gowda, who is known to be close to Darshan.

Darshan was arrested from his farmhouse on June 11 after police recovered CCTV footage to establish that the actor was present during the alleged assault on Renukaswamy, leading to his death

According to reports, one of the accused, Raghavendra, who is part of Darshan's fan club in Chitradurga, had brought Renukaswamy to a shed in R.R. Nagar, on the pretext that Darshan wanted to meet him. It was in this shed that he was allegedly tortured and killed.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been reelected by lawmakers for a second term after his African National Congress and the Democratic Alliance struck a historic deal to form a coalition government by setting aside their rivalry.

Ramaphosa's ANC lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in 30 years in last month's elections. It got 40 per cent of the vote, while the Democratic Alliance (DA) came second with 22 per cent.

The new government of national unity combines Ramaphosa's ANC, the centre-right DA and smaller parties.

Ramaphosa, 71, easily won the late Friday vote against Julius Malema, leader of the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). Ramaphosa got 283 votes and Malema just 44.

Parliament earlier in the day also elected Thoko Didiza of the ANC as Speaker and Annelie Lotriet of the DA as Deputy Speaker. Ramaphosa is expected to announce his new Cabinet after his inauguration on Wednesday.

In his victory speech, Ramaphosa hailed the new coalition, and said voters expected the leaders to "act and to work together for the good of everyone in our country".

His election, which ended days of speculation, came close to midnight on Friday with last-minute inter-party discussions to establish a government of national unity (GNU). The Parliament session witnessed frequent interruptions and long voting processes.

The ANC teamed up with the largely-white DA, and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), which came fifth, as well as the minority party Patriotic Front (PF), drawing mixed reactions from both members of their respective parties and citizens.

Some welcomed the alliance as a new era in South African politics which would send a strong message of reconciliation and bolster the ailing economy, especially after Mkhonto we Sizwe (MK) - the new party started by ousted former president Jacob Zuma - and the EFF, which came fourth, refused to work with the DA.

Others said the ANC had sold out the citizens of the country by partnering with the DA, which had been the official opposition and opposed several ANC policies since the latter first came to power under Nelson Mandela in 1994.

The GNU partners however were unanimous that the coalition was in the interests of the people of South Africa.

We were voted for by six million people who want us to continue the transformational agenda to changing the lives of the people for the better, ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula said at a media conference as the voting inside Parliament continued. He conceded that the ANC could not do it alone. We are in no position to govern this country alone. We need to work with others, Mbalula said.

DA leader John Steenhuisen was also buoyant.

The statement that emerges from the past two weeks of intense but very mature negotiations charts a new course for our nation. At the heart of this statement is a shared respect in defence of our Constitution and the rule of law, including the Bill of Rights, in its entirety, Steenhuisen said.

IFP spokesperson Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi said the party had agreed to vote for the candidates proposed by the ANC.

As leaders, the people of this country entrusted us and it is up to the 400-member who are in the house to decide as to how they take the country forward, Buthelezi said.

I'm just excited that South Africa has been put first by our leaders, said PF leader Gayton McKenzie.

South Africa was on a knife edge until 20 minutes before the start of the session on Friday morning when there was still uncertainty about the GNU.

MK surprised analysts and polls by coming third in the elections but decided to stay away from the Parliamentary session to protest alleged irregularities in the election, for which they have not provided any proof yet despite lodging a legal procedure.

EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu said the DA was born out of the colonial apartheid era and was only interested in protection of white minority interest and privileges.

Other minority parties refused to join the GNU, but with just a few seats in Parliament, some with only one, their votes were considered negligible in the final tally.

Premiers for the nine provinces were also elected at separate sittings in provincial capitals.

A coalition inspired by the national GNU led to the IFP defeating MK, despite the latter's majority of 45 per cent in KwaZulu-Natal province, for the Premier's position.

In the Western Cape, which has been governed by the DA for several years already, its candidate was returned to the Premiership. All seven other provinces, including the economic hub of Gauteng, now have ANC premiers again.

Amid concerns that investors would stay away if EFF and MK with their nationalisation policies came to power, shares on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange surged as news of the GNU emerged, especially in the financial sector.

The ANC had always polled above 50 per cent since the country's first democratic elections in 1994, which saw Nelson Mandela become president. However, support for the party has been dropping significantly because of anger over high levels of corruption, unemployment and crime.

Addressing South Africa's parliament after his confirmation, Ramaphosa called back to his party's first presidential victory 30 years ago.

"We have been here before, we were here in 1994 when we sought to unite our country and to effect reconciliation - and we are here now," he said.
Amid Canada-India diplomatic tensions, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the concluding day of the G7 summit said there was a commitment to work together to deal with the important issues.

Trudeau had met PM Modi on the sidelines of the G7 summit held in Apulia, Italy. This is the first time both leaders are meeting after Trudeau alleged India's role behind the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had strongly rejected the 'baseless' allegations by Canada. MEA had called its claims "absurd" and "motivated".

"I'm not going to get into the details of this important, sensitive issue that we need to follow up, but this was a commitment to work together, in the coming times, to deal with some very important issues," Trudeau told reporters at a press conference in Savelletri Di Fasano in Italy on Saturday, the concluding day of the three-day G7 Summit.

Earlier, both the leaders had met on the sidelines of the G20 summit hosted by India last year.

Soon after the meeting on Friday evening, the Canadian Prime Minister's Office said the leaders had a "brief discussion on the bilateral relationship". Trudeau had congratulated Modi for being re-elected as the PM. This was Modis first foreign trip after assuming the office as PM in a historic third term.

Nijjar's murder is being probed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Four Indian nationals have been arrested in this connection by the RCMP.

India on several occasions had raised the concerns of pro-Khalistani separatists gaining momentum in Canada. Nijjar was shot outside a Sikh temple in Surrey on June 18 last year.
Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales made her first public appearance, since her cancer diagnosis, on Saturday at the Trooping the Colour ceremony grand parade marking the official birthday of King Charles III.

The Princess of Wales, Prince William and their children joined King Charles and Queen Camilla on Buckingham Palace's balcony to watch the flypast.

Kate on Friday announced that she would attend the royal birthday celebrations after making progress in her treatment. It was in March, that Kate had announced that she was undergoing chemotherapy after getting diagnosed with cancer.

In a statement, Kate said that she is making good progress after undergoing treatment. "But as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days," she said. Kate also added that she has a few more months of treatment.

Kate travelled in a horse-drawn carriage from Buckingham Palace down the grand avenue known as the Mall with her children George, 10, Charlotte, 9, and 6-year-old Louis for the ceremony.

Huge crowds turn out each June to watch the parade, which begins with a procession involving horses, musicians, and hundreds of soldiers in ceremonial uniform from Buckingham Palace.

For the ceremony, Prince William in military dress uniform rode on horseback.

Charles, who also is being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer, travelled in a carriage with Queen Camilla, rather than on horseback as he did last year.

Around 1,400 soldiers, 250 military musicians and more than 200 horses take part in the parade. The equine participants included Trojan, Tennyson, and Vanquish, three of the five military horses.
Bari (Italy), Jun 15 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday left for home after concluding his day-long visit to Italy during which he attended the G7 summit and held bilaterals with several world leaders including British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron and Pope Francis.

In an address at an Outreach session of the G7 summit in Italy's Apulia region, Modi called for ending the monopoly in technology and said it must be made creative to lay the foundation of an inclusive society.

The prime minister spoke extensively on the importance of ending monopoly in technology with a particular emphasis on artificial intelligence. Modi said India is among the first few countries to formulate a national strategy on artificial intelligence.

On the sidelines of the summit, Modi met US President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Macron, British Prime Minister Sunak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Pope Francis and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida among others.

The meeting with Macron was Modis first official bilateral meeting with an international leader since taking charge for his third term as Prime Minister earlier this month.

Besides India, Italy invited leaders from 11 developing countries in Africa, South America and the Indo-Pacific region to attend the G7 Summit.
Dubai/Kuwait City, Jun 15 (P-TI) Authorities in Kuwait have launched a crackdown on illegal property extensions in the wake of a devastating fire at a seven-storey building that claimed the lives of 50 people, including 46 Indians, according to a media report on Saturday.

Most deaths were due to smoke inhalation while residents in the building were sleeping when the fire broke out early Wednesday in Kuwait's southern city of Mangaf in Ahmadi Governorate. The building was home to 196 migrant workers, mostly Indians.

The incident triggered calls for action against real estate landlords and company owners who violate the law to house large numbers of foreign labourers in extremely unsafe conditions to cut costs.

The Kuwait Municipality has launched a rigorous crackdown on illegal property extensions, the Arab Times newspaper reported.

This tragic incident has shed light on the long-standing issue of unauthorised modifications to buildings, prompting authorities to take decisive action to prevent such disasters in the future.

For years, the illegal conversion of property spaces has been a pervasive issue in Kuwait.

Basement parking areas have been transformed into warehouses, while ground-floor open spaces have been converted into housing units and shops, all in the pursuit of additional income.

These modifications, often carried out without proper approval, compromise the safety and integrity of buildings, the paper said.

An India Embassy team on Friday visited all 5 hospitals where 25 injured Indians are receiving medical treatment.

They enquired about their medical condition.

"Most patients are already in touch with their families." the Embassy of India posted on X.

The investigation team of the fire department said on Thursday that the fire was caused by an electric short circuit in the room of the building guard and spread to other places. The guard's room is located on the ground floor.

Citing security sources, the paper said that there were 179 workers inside the building when the fire broke out, while 17 were outside. Of the 196 residents, 175 are Indians, 11 are Filipinos and the rest are from Thailand, Pakistan and Egypt.

According to an official, many of the victims suffocated while trying to run down the stairs because they were filled with smoke. He added that the victims could not go to the rooftop because the door was locked.

NBTC Group, where the victims of the fire tragedy were employed, issued a statement, extending its deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims and injured.

In response to the devastating accident, NBTC Group is providing immediate financial support to all affected families, underscoring its commitment to social and humanitarian responsibility.

"We affirm our commitment to all the decisions and directives issued to ensure accountability for what led to this tragic incident," the paper quoted the statement as saying.

"We continue to stay in close contact with the families of the deceased and injured," it said.

The company is also working in coordination with the Ministry of Health and medical teams to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured until they fully recover, it said.

"We also announce that immediate support will be provided to all the families of the victims and the affected, stemming from our social and humanitarian responsibility, and our belief in the necessity of assisting those affected in such difficult times," the statement said.

K G Abraham, a Kerala businessman based in Kuwait, is a partner and managing director of the firm.
Obburgen (Switzerland), Jun 15 (AP) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday predicted history being made at the Swiss-hosted conference which aims to plot out the first steps toward peace in Ukraine even though experts and critics say little substance or few big breakthroughs are expected because Russia is not attending.

The presidents of Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Kenya and Somalia joined dozens of Western heads of state and government and other leaders and high-level envoys at the meeting, in hopes that Russia  which is waging war on Ukraine  could join in one day.

In a brief statement to reporters alongside Swiss President Viola Amherd, Zelenskyy already sought to cast the gathering as a success, saying: We have succeeded in bringing back to the world the idea that joint efforts can stop war and establish a just peace.

I believe that we will witness history being made here at the summit, he said.

Swiss officials hosting the conference say more than 50 heads of state and government will join the gathering at the Burgenstock resort overlooking Lake Lucerne. Some 100 delegations including European bodies and the United Nations will be on hand.

Who will show up  and who will not  has become one of the key stakes of a meeting that critics say will be useless without the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin's government, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and is pushing ahead with the war.

As US Vice President Kamala Harris arrived at the venue, shuttle buses rumbled up a mountain road that snaked up to the site  at times with traffic jams  with police along the route checking journalists's IDs and helicopters ferrying in VIPs buzzed overhead.

Meanwhile, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia have dispatched their foreign ministers while key developing countries like Brazil, an observer at the event, India and South Africa will be represented at lower levels.

China, which backs Russia, is joining scores of countries that are sitting out the conference, many of whom have more pressing issues than the bloodiest conflict in far-away Europe since World War II. Beijing says any peace process needs to have the participation of both Russia and Ukraine, and has floated its own ideas for peace.

Last month, China and Brazil agreed to six common understandings on a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, asking other countries to endorse them and play a role in promoting peace talks.

The six points include an agreement to support an international peace conference held at a proper time that is recognised by both Russia and Ukraine, with equal participation of all parties as well as fair discussion of all peace plans.

Zelenskyy has recently led a diplomatic push to draw in participants to the Swiss summit.

Russian troops who now control nearly a quarter of Ukrainian land in the east and south have made some territorial gains in recent months. When talk of a Swiss-hosted peace initiative began last summer, Ukrainian forces had recently regained large swaths of territory, notably near the cities of southern Kherson and northern Kharkiv.

Against the battlefield backdrop and diplomatic strategising, summit organisers have presented three agenda items: nuclear safety, such as at the Russia-controlled Zaporizhzhia power plant; humanitarian assistance and exchange of prisoners of war; and global food security  which has been disrupted at times due to impeded shipments through the Black Sea.

That to-do list, encapsulating some of the least controversial issues, is well short of proposals and hopes laid out by Zelenskyy in a 10-point peace formula in late 2022.

The plan includes ambitious calls, including the withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied Ukrainian territory, the cessation of hostilities and restoring Ukraine's state borders with Russia, including Crimea.

Putin's government, meanwhile, wants any peace deal to be built around a draft agreement negotiated in the early phases of the war that included provisions for Ukraine's neutral status and limits on its armed forces, while delaying talks about Russia-occupied areas. Ukraine's push over the years to join the NATO military alliance has rankled Moscow.

Ukraine is unable to negotiate from a position of strength, analysts say.

The situation on the battlefield has changed dramatically, said Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Centre, saying that although Russia "can't achieve its maximalist objectives quickly through military means, but it's gaining momentum and pushing Ukraine really hard.

So a lot of countries that are coming to the summit would question whether the Zelenskyy peace formula still has legs, he told reporters in a call Wednesday.

With much of the world's focus recently on the war in Gaza and national elections in 2024, Ukraine's backers want to return focus to Russia's breach of international law and a restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity.

On Friday, Putin called the conference just another ploy to divert everyone's attention.

The International Crisis Group, an advisory firm that works to end conflict, wrote this week that absent a major surprise on the Burgenstock," the event is unlikely to deliver much of consequence.

Nonetheless, the Swiss summit is a chance for Ukraine and its allies to underline what the UN General Assembly recognized in 2022 and repeated in its February 2023 resolution on a just peace in Ukraine: Russia's all-out aggression is a blatant violation of international law, it said.

Experts say they'll be looking at the wording of any outcome document, and plans for the way forward. Swiss officials, aware of Russia's reticence about the conference, have repeatedly said they hope Russia can join the process one day, as do Ukrainian officials.

Most likely, the three items under review will be endorsed by the participants. But then the big question is OK, 'what comes next?' Gabuev said. And I don't think we have a very clear answer to that question yet.

As leaders headed to the conference venue, the war raged on.

Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov of Russia's southern Belgorod region, writing on social media, blamed Ukraine for shelling Friday that struck a five-storey apartment building in the town of Shebekino, killing five people. There was no immediate comment from Kyiv.

In Ukraine, shelling killed at least three civilians and wounded 15 others on Friday and overnight, regional officials said. (AP)

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Obburgen (Switzerland), Jun 15 (AP) Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday pledged America's full support in backing Ukraine and global efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in the face of Russia's invasion, representing the United States at an international gathering on the war and meeting with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss his country's vision for ending it.

As she arrived at the meeting venue overlooking Lake Lucerne for what would be a 28-hour dash from Washington and back, Harris announced USD 1.5 billion more in US assistance through the State Department and the US Agency for International Development. That includes money for energy assistance, repairing damaged energy infrastructure, helping refugees and strengthening civilian security in the wake of the aggression by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

War is not our choice. It's Putin's choice, Zelenskyy said alongside Harris before their private meeting. And with this summit today, we will do everything we can to start moving toward real peace.

Harris responded: I am here today to stand with Ukraine and the leaders from around the world in support of a just and lasting peace. She added that as we look forward to that peace and work toward that, the United States is committed to helping Ukraine rebuild.

President Joe Biden was in Los Angeles after three days at the Group of Seven summit in Italy, where he held talks with Zelenskyy. Biden flew straight from Europe to California for a Saturday night fundraiser with Hollywood A-listers George Clooney and Julia Roberts.

That decision to skip the summit on Ukraine spotlights the competing election-year demands facing Biden as he tries to balance a complicated domestic and foreign policy agenda while running against former President Donald Trump. It also reflects the growing profile Harris has found making the case for a second Biden term as the 2024 campaign heats up.

Being vice president means you take a lot of hits for the team, Matt Bennett, who served as an aide to former Vice President Al Gore, said before Harris' trip. In the past, these moments on the global stage have been good for her. She looks presidential and very capable among world leaders.

Zelenskyy, for months, publicly lobbied Biden and other world leaders to take part in the meeting, even warning that their absence could further embolden Putin in his 28-month war. Biden ultimately decided to send Harris and White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan to represent the administration.

Skipping the summit is a missed opportunity for the president and for the United States, said Bradley Bowman, senior director of the Centre on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies in Washington. That said, sending the vice president with the national security adviser is not exactly sending the junior varsity team.

Biden has increasingly turned to Harris as he tries to reassemble the coalition of voters behind the victory over Trump  and one needed again to help win a second term. Harris has taken a more visible role in making the pitch for Biden to a diverse cross-section of the Democratic base.

She visited an abortion clinic in Minneapolis to spotlight the administration's record on the issue. She has launched an effort to highlight economic development on Biden's watch, with a particular focus on minority communities.

And she's crisscrossed the country to talk about issues such as marijuana legislation and gun violence as Biden's standing with that winning coalition from 2020 has shown signs of eroding. She squeezed in a visit to Atlanta on Friday to promote the administration's economic agenda before boarding Air Force Two for her red-eye flight to Switzerland.

But like Biden, Harris has also seen her standing among Americans diminish. About 4 in 10 registered voters have a somewhat or very favourable view of Harris, according to a recent Associated Press-NORC Centre for Public Affairs Research survey. About half have a somewhat or very unfavourable view of her, and about 1 in 10 don't know enough to say. Her favourability ratings are similar to Biden.

The Trump campaign needled Harris for her fill-in role in Switzerland, with spokesperson Karoline Leavitt saying the vice president has failed thus far at every task she has been given and will continue to embarrass our country at the Ukraine summit.

Trump and his allies have occasionally gone after at Harris, suggesting that a vote for Biden is effectively a vote for Harris eventually becoming president.

The White House, in explaining Biden's decision to skip the summit, noted that the president met twice with Zelenskyy in a week  on the sidelines of the G7 summit and the previous week while both were in France to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

Russia was not invited to the Swiss summit. Putin on Friday promised to "immediately order a cease-fire in Ukraine and begin negotiations if Kyiv started withdrawing troops from the four regions annexed by Moscow in 2022 and renounced plans to join NATO. Ukraine called Putin's proposal manipulative and absurd.

Biden may have softened the disappointment over his absence from the Ukraine meeting with a series of announcements in recent weeks aimed at further bolstering Ukraine.

G7 leaders this week announced a USD 50 billion loan package for Kyiv that will leverage interest and income from the more than USD 260 billion in frozen Russian assets.

Biden and Zelenskyy on Thursday signed a security agreement that commits the US over 10 years to continued training of Ukraine's armed forces, more cooperation in the production of weapons and military equipment, and greater intelligence sharing.

Biden has approved sending Ukraine another Patriot missile system. Zelenskyy had been pleading with US and Western allies for even more Patriots as Kyiv struggles to defend against Russian strikes on Ukraine's power grid and civilian areas, as well as military targets.

And late last month, Biden eased restrictions that kept Ukraine from using American weaponry to strike inside Russia. This allows strikes into Russia for the limited purpose of defending the second-largest city of Kharkiv, which sits 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the border and has been bombarded with attacks launched from inside Russia. (AP) PY

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Helsinki, Jun 15 (AP) The World War II mystery of what happened to a Finnish passenger plane after it was shot down over the Baltic Sea by Soviet bombers appears to finally be solved more than eight decades later.

The plane was carrying American and French diplomatic couriers in June 1940 when it was downed just days before Moscow annexed the Baltic states. All nine people on board the plane were killed, including the two-member Finnish crew and the seven passengers  an American diplomat, two French, two Germans, a Swede and a dual Estonian-Finnish national.

A diving and salvage team in Estonia said this week that it had located well-preserved parts and debris from the Junkers Ju 52 plane operated by Finnish airline Aero, which is now Finnair. It was found off the tiny island of Keri near Estonia's capital, Tallinn, at a depth of around 70 metres (230 feet).

Basically, we started from scratch. We took a whole different approach to the search, said Kaido Peremees, spokesman for the Estonian diving and underwater survey company Tuukritoode OU, explained the group's success in finding the plane's remains.

The downing of the civilian plane, named Kaleva, en route from Tallinn to Helsinki happened on June 14, 1940  just three months after Finland had signed a peace treaty with Moscow following the 1939-40 Winter War.

The news about the fate of the plane was met with disbelief and anger by authorities in Helsinki who were informed that it was shot down by two Soviet DB-3 bombers 10 minutes after taking off from Tallinn's Ulemiste airport.

It was unique that a passenger plane was shot down during peacetime on a normal scheduled flight, said Finnish aviation historian Carl-Fredrik Geust, who has investigated Kaleva's case since the 1980s.

Finland officially kept silent for years about the details of the aircraft's destruction, saying publicly only that a mysterious crash had taken place over the Baltic Sea, because it didn't want to provoke Moscow.

Though well documented by books, research and television documentaries, the 84-year-old mystery has intrigued Finns. The case is an essential part of the Nordic country's complex World War II history and sheds light into its troubled ties with Moscow.

But perhaps more importantly, the downing of the plane happened at a critical time just days before Josef Stalin's Soviet Union was preparing to annex the three Baltic states, sealing the fate of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania for the next half-century before they eventually regained independence in 1991.

Moscow occupied Estonia on June 17, 1940 and Kaleva's doomed journey was the last flight out of Tallinn, though Soviets had already started enforcing a tight transport embargo around the Estonian capital.

American diplomat Henry W. Antheil Jr., who is now considered one of the first US casualties of World War II, was aboard the plane when it went down.

The 27-year-old Antheil, the younger brother of the acclaimed composer and pianist George Antheil, was on a rushed government mission evacuating sensitive diplomatic pouches from US missions in Tallinn and Riga, Latvia. as it had become clear that Moscow was preparing to annex the small Baltic nations.

An Associated Press wire item dated June 15, 1940 noted that Henry W. Antheil Jr. of Trenton, N. J., attached to the United States Legation in Helsinki, was killed in the mysterious explosion of a Finnish airliner yesterday. In the US media, Antheil's death was overshadowed by much bigger news from Europe at the time: the Nazi occupation of Paris.

The US Embassy in Tallinn has thoroughly documented and researched the case over the years.

Embassy spokesman Mike Snyder told the AP that news of the possible location of the wreck of the Kaleva passenger plane is of great interest to the United States, especially since one of the first US casualties of the Second World War, Diplomat Henry Antheil, occurred as a result of the plane being downed.

Earlier this month, the US ambassador in Estonia, George P. Kent, shared a post on X that included photos of Antheil, Kaleva and a memorial plaque by the American Foreign Service Association in Washington with Antheil's name engraved in it.

Kaleva was carrying 227 kilograms (500 pounds) of diplomatic post, including Antheil's pouches and material from two French diplomatic couriers  identified as Paul Longuet and Frederic Marty.

Estonian fishermen and the lighthouse operator on Keri told Finnish media decades after the downing of the plane that a Soviet submarine surfaced close to Kaleva's crash site and retrieved floating debris, including document pouches, that had been collected by fishermen from the site.

This has led to conspiracy theories regarding the contents of the pouches and Moscow's decision to shoot down the plane. It still remains unclear why precisely the Soviet Union decided to down a civilian Finnish passenger plane during peacetime.

Lots of speculation on the plane's cargo has been heard over the years, Geust said. What was the plane transporting? Many suggest Moscow wanted to prevent sensitive material and documents from exiting Estonia.

But he said that it could have simply been a mistake by the Soviet bomber pilots.

Various attempts to find Kaleva have been recorded since Estonia regained independence more than three decades ago. However, none of them have been successful.

Not even the US Navy's oceanographic survey vessel Pathfinder could locate remains of the plane in a 2008 search around the Keri island in a venture commissioned by the Estonian government from the Pentagon.

The wreckage is in pieces and the seabed is quite challenging with rock formations, valleys and hills. It's very easy to miss small parts and debris from the aircraft, Peremees said. Techniques have, of course, evolved a lot over the time. As always, you can have good technology but be out of luck.

New video taken by underwater robots from Peremees' company show clear images of the three-engine Junkers' landing gear, one of the motors and parts of the wings.

Peremees and his group are absolutely convinced the parts belong to Kaleva because of the distinctive and recognizable design of the German-made Junkers Ju 52, one of the most popular European passenger and wartime transport planes in the 1930s and early 1940s.

The plane was operated by the predecessor of the Finnish national airline Finnair.

Jaakko Schildt, chief operations officer of Finnair, described Kaleva's downing as a tragic and profoundly sad event for the young airline that Finnair, then named Aero, was in 1940.

Finding the wreckage of Kaleva in a way brings closure to this, even though it does not bring back the lives of our customers and crew that were lost, Schildt said. The interest towards locating Kaleva in the Baltic Sea speaks of the importance this tragic event has in the aviation history of our region.

Peremees said his company would now focus on creating 3D images of Kaleva's debris and discuss with Estonian authorities about the possibility of raising some of the items and, if found, the plane's cargo and human remains.

Snyder from the US Embassy in Tallinn said that Washington is closely monitoring the diving group's efforts.

We are following the investigation of the site and will be happy to discuss with our Finnish and Estonian (NATO) allies any developments resulting from recovery efforts, Snyder said.

A stone memorial set up in the early 1990s to the victims of the Kaleva crash is located on Keri, and Helsinki's old preserved Malmi airport terminal building, where Kaleva was supposed to arrive, has a memorial plaque set up in 2020 with the names of the victims. (AP) PY

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Bari (Italy), Jun 15 (PTI) The Group of Seven industrialised nations have committed to promoting concrete infrastructure initiatives such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) in the G7 Summit Communique issued at the end of the three-day G7 Summit, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Communique was issued on Friday evening after the customary family photo at the luxury resort of Borgo Egnazia, where the G7 also reiterated a commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law.

Prime Minister Modi attended the G7 Summit at the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the host.

We will further promote concrete G7 PGII (Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment) initiatives, flagship projects, and complementary initiatives to develop transformative economic corridors for quality infrastructure and investment, such as the deepening of our coordination and financing for the Lobito Corridor, the Luzon Corridor, the Middle Corridor, and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, also building on the EU Global Gateway, the Great Green Wall Initiative, and the Mattei Plan for Africa launched by Italy, reads the communique.

Billed as a path-breaking initiative, the IMEC envisages a vast road, railroad and shipping network among Saudi Arabia, India, the United States and Europe to ensure integration among Asia, the Middle East and the West.

The IMEC is also seen as an initiative by like-minded nations to gain strategic influence in the face of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which 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 hosted by India in Delhi last year.

About the Outreach session on Friday on the topic of Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Africa and the Mediterranean addressed by Modi, the Communique reads: In a spirit of shared responsibility, we warmly welcome the participation of the Leaders of Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, India, Jordan, Kenya, Mauritania, Tunisia, Turkiye, and the United Arab Emirates.

We will step up our efforts to enhance interoperability amongst our AI governance approaches to promote greater certainty, transparency and accountability while recognizing that approaches and policy instruments may vary across G7 members. We will take a risk-based approach in these efforts as we seek to foster innovation and strong, inclusive, and sustainable growth.

Among the other priorities of the summits agenda, the communique registers unwavering support for Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.

It notes: With a view to supporting Ukraines current and future needs in the face of a prolonged defence against Russia, the G7 will launch Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) Loans for Ukraine, in order to make available approximately USD 50 billion in additional funding to Ukraine by the end of the year.

Therefore, without prejudice to possible other contributions and standing together, the G7 intends to provide financing that will be serviced and repaid by future flows of extraordinary revenues stemming from the immobilisation of Russian sovereign assets held in the European Union and other relevant jurisdictions. To enable this, we will work to obtain approval in these jurisdictions to use future flows of these extraordinary revenues to service and repay the loans.

Pope Francis became the first pontiff to join the participants of the G7 hosted by Italy  US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel.
Borgo Egnazia (Italy), Jun 15 (AP) Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni on Saturday dismissed a cease-fire offer for Ukraine by Russian President Vladimir Putin as propaganda, as she wrapped up a Group of Seven summit that saw a deal reached for a USD 50 billion loan to Ukraine.

The loan will be provided by the US, UK, Canada and possibly Japan, Meloni said. The frozen Russian assets to be used as collateral are mainly in Europe, so Europe is already contributing by identifying the guarantee mechanism, she added.

The loan agreement was reached at the opening Thursday of the two-day annual meeting of leaders from the G7 countries of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States in southern Italy's Puglia region.

Asked about Putin's cease-fire proposal, Meloni said it seems to me more like a propaganda move than a real one.

The Russian president said Friday he would immediately order a cease-fire in Ukraine and start negotiations if Kyiv begins withdrawing troops from the four regions Moscow annexed in 2022 and renounces plans to join NATO.

If President Putin's proposal is: We are willing to have a peace negotiation if Ukraine recognizes the invasion of Ukraine and gives up the occupied parts ... doesn't seem particularly effective to me as a proposal, Meloni said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was one of several world leaders who attended the G7 as a guest, has rejected what he called an ultimatum by Putin to surrender more territory.

Switzerland was hosting a peace conference for Ukraine Saturday, although with Russia staying away, it was doubtful whether any major breakthroughs could be reached.

During the news conference, Meloni was asked about the Israel-Hamas war and why the G7 had not condemned Israel over the civilian deaths resulting from its offensives in Gaza.

I think we need to remember who started all this and it wasn't Israel, but someone who killed civilians, women and children, Meloni said, referring to the October 7 attack by Hamas in southern Israel that left around 1,200 people dead and sparked the war. Israel's bombardment and ground attacks in Gaza have killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials, who don't give the breakdown of civilians and fighters.

Now we must work for peace, which means dialogue, recognizing Israel's right to be safe, to live in peace, and the right of the Palestinians to have their own state in which to live peacefully, she said. It is the only way to address this problem, our job is to dialogue with everyone.

However, she said, Israel was falling into a trap in its response to October 7.

It looks like Israel is jumping into a trap. For the trap of Hamas was to isolate it. It seems it is working, Meloni said, adding that Israel's friends need to give clear words to Israel, for its safety  and this is exactly what Italy is doing.

The Italian premier also expressed satisfaction that the G7 spoke for the first time about migratory flows and the fight against human traffickers.

We must guarantee to everyone the right not to emigrate and to leave one's home, she said.

Known for her hard-line stance on migration, Meloni had introduced the subject as the summit's host and has been eager to increase investment and funding for African nations as a means of reducing migratory pressure on Europe.

Italy is one of the main entry points into the European Union for people fleeing poverty and conflict in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

In their final summit communique, the G7 announced a coalition to counter the smuggling of migrants, noting the seven nations would focus on the root causes of irregular migration, efforts to enhance border management and curb transnational organized crime, and safe and regular pathways for migration. (AP) NPK

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Obburgen (Switzerland), Jun 15 (AP) Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday pledged America's full support in backing Ukraine and global efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in the face of Russia's invasion, representing the United States at an international gathering on the war and meeting with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss his country's vision for ending it.

As she arrived at the meeting venue overlooking Lake Lucerne, Harris announced USD 1.5 billion in US assistance through the State Department and the US Agency for International Development. That includes money for energy assistance, repairing damaged energy infrastructure, helping refugees and strengthening civilian security in the wake of the aggression by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russia's aggression is more than just an attack on the lives and the freedom of the people of Ukraine", Harris told leaders from 100 nations and global organisations participating in the summit.

It is not only an attack on global food security and energy supplies. Russia's aggression is also an attack on international rules and norms and the principles embodied in the UN Charter, Harris said. She said the US was committed to continuing to impose costs on Russia and we will continue to work toward a just and lasting peace", reaffirming words she used at the start of her private meeting with Zelenskyy.

For Zelenskyy, the gathering was a beginning toward finding a real peace".

The world majority definitely wants to live without bloody crises, deportations, and ecocides, Zelenskyy said. And so every nation that is not represented now and that shares the same values of the UN Charter in deed and word, will be able to join our work at the next stages.

President Joe Biden was in Los Angeles after three days at the Group of Seven summit in Italy, where he held talks with Zelenskyy. Biden flew from Europe to California for a Saturday night fundraiser with Hollywood A-listers George Clooney and Julia Roberts.

That decision to skip the summit on Ukraine spotlights the competing election-year demands facing Biden as he tries to balance a complicated domestic and foreign policy agenda while running against former President Donald Trump. It also reflects the growing profile Harris has found making the case for a second Biden term as the 2024 campaign heats up.

Being vice president means you take a lot of hits for the team, said Matt Bennett, who served as an aide to former Vice President Al Gore. In the past, these moments on the global stage have been good for her. She looks presidential and very capable among world leaders.

Zelenskyy, for months, publicly lobbied Biden and other world leaders to take part in the meeting, even warning that their absence could further embolden Putin in his 28-month war. Biden ultimately decided to send Harris and White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan to represent the administration.

Skipping the summit is a missed opportunity for the president and for the United States, said Bradley Bowman, senior director of the Centre on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies in Washington. That said, sending the vice president with the national security adviser is not exactly sending the junior varsity team.

Zelenskyy told fellow leaders that with the gathering they had managed to avoid a frightening trap of the war: the division of the world into camps. But he said they had much more to accomplish with the conference.

At the first peace summit, we must determine how to achieve a just peace, so that at the second, we can already settle on a real end to the war," he said.

Biden has increasingly turned to Harris as he tries to reassemble the coalition of voters behind the victory over Trump  and one needed again to help win a second term. Harris has taken a more visible role in making the pitch for Biden to a diverse cross-section of the Democratic base.

But like Biden, Harris has also seen her standing among Americans diminish. About 4 in 10 registered voters have a somewhat or very favorable view of Harris, according to a recent Associated Press-NORC Centre for Public Affairs Research survey. About half have a somewhat or very unfavourable view of her, and about 1 in 10 don't know enough to say. Her favorability ratings are similar to Biden.

The Trump campaign needled Harris for her fill-in role in Switzerland, with spokesperson Karoline Leavitt saying the vice president has failed thus far at every task she has been given". Trump and his allies have occasionally gone after at Harris, suggesting that a vote for Biden is effectively a vote for Harris eventually becoming president.

Russia was not invited to the Swiss summit. Putin on Friday promised to immediately order a cease-fire in Ukraine and begin negotiations if Kyiv started withdrawing troops from the four regions annexed by Moscow in 2022 and renounced plans to join NATO. Ukraine called Putin's proposal manipulative and absurd. Harris said Putin is not calling for negotiations. He is calling for surrender. America stands with Ukraine, not out of charity but because it is in our strategic interest."

Biden may have softened the disappointment over his absence from the Ukraine meeting with a series of announcements in recent weeks aimed at further bolstering Ukraine.

G7 leaders this week announced a USD 50 billion loan package for Kyiv that will leverage interest and income from the more than USD 260 billion in frozen Russian assets.

Biden and Zelenskyy on Thursday signed a security agreement that commits the US over 10 years to continued training of Ukraine's armed forces, more cooperation in the production of weapons and military equipment, and greater intelligence sharing.

Biden has approved sending Ukraine another Patriot missile system, something Zelenskyy says is desperately needed to defend against Russian strikes on Ukraine's power grid and civilian areas, as well as military targets.

And late last month, Biden eased restrictions that kept Ukraine from using American weaponry to strike inside Russia. This allows strikes into Russia for the limited purpose of defending the second-largest city of Kharkiv, which sits 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the border and has been bombarded with attacks launched from inside Russia. (AP) PY

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Bijapur, June 15 (PTI ) Security forces on Saturday recovered three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by Naxalites along an under-construction road in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, police said.

The IEDs were planted between Gadamali and Kader villages under Naimed police station limits, where road construction activity is underway, an official said.

A joint team of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)'s 231st battalion and the district police along with their separate Bomb Disposal Squad units, who were out on a road safety duty, defused the IEDs while carrying out a de-mining exercise, he said.

"Three IEDs that were planted using the command switch mechanism along the under-construction road were recovered by the BDS teams. The two IEDs weighing 30 kg each and another one weighing 10 kg were placed beneath the earth in a bid to harm the patrolling security personnel," he added.

The bombs were later neutralised by the BDS, he added.

Naxalites often plant explosives to target security forces during anti-Naxal operations in the Bastar division, comprising seven districts, the police said.
Mumbai, Jun 15 (PTI) Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said the victory of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra is the beginning and not the end, and expressed confidence that the opposition alliance will win the upcoming assembly elections in the state.

Thackeray, whose party is a constituent of the MVA, was addressing a joint press conference of the MVA members in south Mumbai, where NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan also spoke.

The three parties also held a preliminary meeting for the state assembly polls scheduled later this year.

Thackeray said people of the state showed how hollow the myth of Bharatiya Janata Party's invincibility is.

"Lok Sabha poll victory for Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is not the end, it is the beginning," the former chief minister said.

Congress leader Chavan said after the Lok Sabha poll results, change of government was imminent in Maharashtra.

Taking a swipe at the prime minister, Pawar said, "We thank PM Narendra Modi for making the political atmosphere conducive for the MVA."

In the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections, the Congress won 13 seats, a quantum jump from the solitary seat it won in the state in 2019, while the Shiv Sena (UBT) bagged nine and the NCP (SP) eight.

In the seat-sharing deal for the general elections, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party had got the largest share of seats among the three parties. Of the total 48 Lok Sabha seats, the Sena (UBT) contested 21 seats, followed by Congress at 17 and NCP (SP) at 10.

In comparison, the ruling Mahayuti could bag just 17 seats, with the BJP's seat tally coming drastically down to nine from the 23 (it won in 2019). The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena won seven, while the Ajit Pawar-led NCP could get just one seat.
Mumbai, Jun 15 (PTI) The mortal remains of Denny Karunakaran, one of the 45 Indians killed in a devastating fire in Kuwait, arrived in the city in the early hours of Saturday.

The remains were kept in a mortuary, and the last rites would be performed on Sunday, said his father, Baby Kutty, a resident of Malwani in the western suburbs.

The body of Denny (33) was received by his family at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport around 3.45 am.

Kutty said Denny had travelled to Kuwait four years ago and was an accounts and sales coordinator with NBTC.

"I spoke to him around two months ago, and we had planned to fix his marriage. I met him two years ago, he was looking to buy a flat and was working hard. His death has come as a shock to his family, friends and neighbours," the distraught father said.

Denny studied at Wilson College in south Mumbai and moved to Bible College in Punalur, Kerala, for further studies.

At least 49 foreign workers, 45 of them Indians, were killed and 50 others injured in the fire at a seven-storey building in Kuwait's Mangaf on Wednesday.

The remaining deceased were Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian and Nepali nationals.

The building in southern Kuwait's Mangaf area housed around 195 migrant workers.
Kolkata, Jun 15 (PTI) Four people, including two women, were injured in a fire triggered by an LPG cylinder explosion in an apartment in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district on Saturday, police said.

The incident occurred in the Maheshtala area this morning when the cylinder kept on the balcony of the flat on the top floor of the building exploded, a senior officer said.

Four fire tenders were pressed into service, and the balcony of the apartment was severely damaged due to the intensity of the explosion, he said.

The four people sustained burn injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital, the official added.
Kolkata, Jun 15 (PTI) Bike-borne miscreants fired a number of shots at a moving luxury car owned by a businessman in the busy Belgharia area in the northern outskirts of Kolkata on Saturday afternoon, the police said.

While the occupants of the car - the businessman and his driver - escaped unhurt, the sedan bore signs that eight bullets hit the left side of the vehicle, a senior police official said.

The incident on busy B T Road, with several offices, commercial establishments and Kamarhati Municipality building nearby, triggered panic as police stepped up naka checking to track the miscreants who were on two motorbikes.

The Belgharia police station is also located nearby.

The official said forensic experts will examine the car as part of investigation.

BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar told reporters the incident proves the increasing lawlessness in the state under TMC rule, where gun-toting miscreants roam around attacking people in Kolkata and its outskirts.

He said a day back, a youth was shot at and injured in central Kolkata by unidentified assailants following a dispute over parking of two-wheelers.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is doing precious little to rein in the criminals and her police are busy collecting bribes from trucks, he alleged.

TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said it was an isolated incident and the overall law and order situation in the state is good.
By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

It is one of the most widely used, yet controversial, methods of reheating food on a blech for the Shabbos day meal. Across the country, this method is used to reheat fully cooked food every Shabbos morning. The method involves taking food, such as a kugel, out of the fridge and placing it on top of an upside-down 9 by 13 pan that is on the blech.

The Shulchan Aruch (OC 253:5) discusses the permissibility of putting fully-cooked food on top of another pot on Shabbos  the reason being is lefi shain derech bishul bkach  because it is not the normal manner of cooking. Food, even if it is dry and fully cooked, cannot be placed on a blech itself on Shabbos if it can reach a heat of Yad Soledes Bo. This is not because of the prohibition of cooking on Shabbos, but because of another prohibition called Mechzi kmevashel  it appears like you are cooking.

WHAT KIND OF POT?

But what kind of pot are we discussing? Does it have to be a pot with food in it? Or can it simply be an empty 9 by 13 pan that is put upside down on top of the blech? This very question is mired in controversy. In other words, there is a debate between contemporary Poskim as to whether it is permitted.

THOSE WHO FORBID

Some Poskim, including Rav Elyashiv ztl (cited in Rabbi Yitzchok Rubins Orchos Shabbos Vol. I p. 100)and Rav Binyomin Zilber ztl (1917-2008), hold that it cannot be an empty 9 by 13 upside down pan, but rather a pot with food in it that is already on the blech.

THOSE WHO PERMIT

Other Poskim, including Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach ztl (cited in Shmiras Shabbos Khilchasa, tikunim Chapter One note 112) and Rav Shmuel Vosner ztl (1913-2015) in his Shaivet HaLevi (Vol. I #91 Machar), disagree and rule that it is entirely permitted. Rav Zilber in his Az Nidberu (Vol. III #14 vhalom Raisi) cites Rav Vosner and questions how two forms of covering a flame can make it equivalent to a full pot.

THE SOURCE OF THE CONTROVERSY

Ah, but what is the origin of this dispute? There is an apparent contradiction in the words of the Shulchan Aruch between what he writes in Sif Gimel and what he writes in Sif Hay. Here is the scene in Sif Gimel:

You wake up Shabbos morning and see that the food in your pot is burning. You are worried that it will burn even further. If you fulfill the five conditions of Chazarah, you are permitted to remove the burning pot and place an empty vessel on top of the Kirah, and then place the burning pot on top of the empty pot. You must ensure that you do not put the pot on the ground and that the pot is still boiling.

We see clearly that placing the pot containing the food [which will eventually be placed upon that empty pot] on the ground is NOT PERMITTED. The only way that it would be permitted to place it on the empty pot  is if the 5 conditions of Chazarah are met. (1] The food must still be warm 2]The food must have been fully cooked 3] Your hand should still be on it 4] You should have intent to put it back on the fire 5] The fire must have been bleched  covered)

In Sif Hay, the Mechaber rules that one may place food that is cool but has been already fully cooked by Friday on top of a pot that is on the covered fire, such as bread, because this is not the manner of normal cooking.

We see from Sif Hay that one may place food on top of a pot without a need to fulfill the five conditions of Chazarah. How do we resolve the apparent contradiction?

THE BIUR HALACHAS RESOLUTIONS

The Chofetz Chaim in his Biur Halacha(Vyezihairshelo yasim in Sif Gimel) quotes two resolutions  that of Rav Yechezkel Landau (1713-1793) in his Dagul Mervavah and that of Rav Yoseph Teomim (1727-1792) in his Pri Magadim (Aishel Avrohom 253:33).

The Dagul Mervavah holds that the Shulchan Aruch is adopting the position of the RaN who limits the leniency found in Sif Hay to bread, because bread is not generally baked on top of a stovetop. However, the Chofetz Chaim points out that both the Magain Avrohom and the Vilna Gaon hold that the Mechaber rejects the view of the RaN and thus finds the Dagul Mervavahs resolution somewhat a bit .

The Chofetz Chaim advocates strongly for the resolution of the Pri Magadim. He writes that Sif Hay deals with placing it on top of a pot and it is not at all considered like it is on top of a covered flame (equivalent to ketumah) or an oven with the fuel removed (grufah). Sif Gimel, on the other hand, refers to a case where the empty pot is merely serving as a means of reducing the heat and it is still considered on top of on oven with a covered flame (equivalent to ketumah) or an oven with the fuel removed (grufah).

EXPLAINING THE PRI MAGADIM

There is, however, a debate as to how to understand the Pri Magadim. The debate is between the Chazon Ish ztl (OC 37:11) and Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach ztl.

The Chazon Ish is of the opinion that the distinction between the two cases revolves around which heat is heating the upper pot. If the lower pot is empty, then it is the heat of the oven that is actually heating the upper pot and it is no different than a standard oven whose fire has been dampened or its fuel has been removed (and it is forbidden to place a pot on it). If the lower pot is filled with food, then it is the heat of the food that is heating the upper pot and that is not a normal way of cooking. Thus, according to the Chazon Ish  an upside-down pot would be ineffective according to the Pri Magadim.

Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach ztl is of the opinion that it would be effective according to the Pri Magadim. When asked by the author of the Meor HaShabbos (see Vol. II p.557), Rav Shlomo Zalman answered that the Chazon Ish did not hold that the blech is considered like Ketumah (an oven with reduced heat).

CONCLUSION

It is this authors opinion that most Poskim permit using the empty upside-down ubiquitous 9 by 13 pan to heat up cold food, notwithstanding that Rabbi Yitzchok Rubin shlita disagrees with the heter to do so.

While we are on the subject, this author would like to recommend [email protected], (053-319-6164) for anyone that wishes to send food to a child in Eretz Yisroel . The owner grew up in this authors house and is a fantastic chef.

The author can be reached at [email protected]
Elon Musk hailed 'the most awesome shareholder base' after Tesla investors backed his record-breaking 44billion pay deal.

Despite opposition from major investors, 77 per cent of shareholders backed the largest pay award in US history.

Influential proxy advisers, Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass Lewis, opposed the deal and Tesla's eighth-largest shareholder, Norway's sovereign wealth fund, came out against the package.

Record award: But critics of the pay deal have voiced concerns about Elon Musk's erratic behaviour

But after the pay deal was finally approved at the annual shareholder meeting in Austin, Texas, Musk took to the stage and said: 'I just want to start off by saying, hot damn, I love you guys. We have the most awesome shareholder base of any public company.'

Critics of the pay deal have voiced concerns about Musk's erratic behaviour and ability to commit given his roles in other firms including social media platform X, formerly called Twitter.

A Delaware judge voided the package in January, deciding it had been inappropriately set by the board. The deal was agreed six years ago and linked to performance targets.

But the Delaware judge will now scrutinise the vote and must decide if Musk, 52, improperly influenced the result.

Shareholders also agreed for the company to move its legal home to Texas from Delaware.

Musk posted on X that he had sent a cake decorated with the Latin phrase 'vox populi vox dei'  meaning 'the voice of the people is the voice of God'  to Delaware as a 'parting gift'.
Superdry boss Julian Dunkerton cheered a 'turning point' after a 10million rescue plan was approved.

Shares in Superdry sky-rocketed 86.3 per cent after it reassured investors it would not go bust.

Superdry had warned of potential insolvency in April but said it hoped to make changes such as rent reductions with landlords and leaving the London stock market.

In fashion: Chief executive Julian Dunkerton and wife Jade Holland Cooper

Co-founder and chief executive Dunkerton, 59, said: 'This is a crucial next step in our journey and a turning point for the business.'

He said he would be investing a 'significant amount' of his own money into ensuring 'that the business continues to survive over the long term'. The plan means he will go from owning just over 20 per cent of the business to 75 per cent.

Chairman Peter Sjolander said: 'This is a crucial step towards delivering the restructuring of the business and ensuring that Superdry is in the best possible shape.'
SAPD is under fire as students from Arizona State University investigate the mishandling of evidence in the 2023 death of an 8-month-old child. Express-News /File photo

The San Antonio Police Department is under fire after students from Arizona State University investigated the mishandling of evidence in the 2023 death of an 8-month-old child.

Last year, Rosalinda Martinez died after she was shot during a fight between her parents over a handgun, according to court documents. Her parents, Ruby Mora and Alejandro Martinez, were both charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and reckless bodily injury to a child.

Mora was arrested on April 18, 2023, and the elder Martinez was taken into custody on May 7. They are currently in Bexar County jail, awaiting trial.

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According to a report by the Texas Observer, the students believe that SAPD lost a crucial piece of evidence in this case. SAPD disclosed to the students from the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at ASU that they had lost the bullet in baby Martinezs case.

Records given to the students showed that SAPD assigned a barcode to the bullet, which had been booked into evidence as ONE (1) APPARENT LIVE FC 9MM LUGER ROUND.

James Tocci, the elder Martinezs defense attorney, declined to comment to the students on whether the missing evidence will impact his clients case.

The students looked into the city of San Antonios audits of police evidence handling procedures. The most recent audit, conducted last month, confirmed bullets and casings would be stored in the property room but also said the audit specifically excluded activities conducted by the Homicide Unit and the Firearms/Ballistic Unit.



It was reported that outside those units, evidence preservation controls are adequate and working as intended.

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Three prior city audits of SAPDs evidence handling procedures, conducted between 2006 and 2019, showed a pattern of leniency regarding access to evidence storage areas. All three audits found the SAPD needed to tighten security.

In a March interview with SAPDs public information officer, Nicholas Soliz, students reported that he couldnt answer whether the department knew about the missing evidence.
A few more crime stories to consider this weekend as we offer this quick roundup of shooting, police action, court cases and the ongoing effort to get the public involved in the fight against rising violence.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Kansas City police investigating shooting that left one with critical injuries The shooting happened just after 5 p.m. in the 7100 block of Indiana Avenue.

Kansas man who bit infant sent to KC area hospital sentenced to prison The Kansas man who bit an infant who had been sent to a Kansas City area hospital has now been sentenced to prison.

'A violent murder': Carthage man accused of killing wife near KC, driving body to SW MO A Carthage man has been charged with one count of abandonment of a corpse in Jasper County and one count of second-degree murder in Miami County.

Accused 18-year-old shooter of Lawrence teen now in custody An 18-year-old sought by Lawrence Police is now behind bars following the fatal early-morning shooting of a 17-year-old.

Days after carrying grandmother's casket, KC man was killed in Crossroads shooting McKinley Johnson was killed in a homicide early Monday morning in Kansas City, days after the funeral of his grandmother.

'I was treated worse than an animal during the 11 years spent on death row' David Hosier, who was executed on June 11 for a crime he insisted he didn't commit, described the harrowing conditions of Missouri's death row, where he spent the last 11 years of his life

Kansas City, Missouri, police ask public for information in Sunday shooting Detectives with the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department are asking the public to share any information relating to a shooting Sunday night.

Developing . . .
A dire warning . . . Kansas City middle-class white ladies are ready to steal your dog even if they helped to fire most of this town's unionized animal control workers . . . Check-it:



As temperatures soar to nearly 100 degrees, the safety of pets becomes paramount. KC Pet Project has already rescued a significant number of animals this summer.



"For an animal that has been in the sun all day without water, that can be deadly," Ryan Johnson, Chief of Animal Services at the KC Pet Project, warned.



The organization conducts routine wellness checks throughout the metro area to protect animals from the sun.



"As the temps continue to increase, we're going to see more demand from the community to respond to these calls of dogs left outside in the heat," Johnson said . . .



In addition to their rescue efforts, the KC Pet Project also employs a team of animal cruelty investigators. They urge the public to report any signs of abuse or neglect to the KC Pet Project.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
The countries and islands in the Caribbean have been a favorite for countless travelers who enjoy heading to the beach. The beaches of Aruba are no exception to this. In fact, the country's beaches are some of the most beautiful and picture-perfect beaches you'll find anywhere in the world.

If you're planning on heading to Aruba for the summer, here are some beaches you definitely have to add to your itinerary:

Eagle Beach

If you're looking for a beach that has been rated as one of the best in the world, then you should definitely head to Eagle Beach. Eagle Beach is the widest beach in the whole of Aruba, and it's one of the many beaches that have white sand.

Eagle Beach is likewise home to two fofoti trees in Aruba, which have been widely photographed through the years. Do take note that these tress are protected, and everyone is required to obey rules and regulations regarding it.

Related Article : These Dive Sites in Aruba are a Must for Any Wreck Diver

Mangel Halto

Those looking for a smaller, more secluded beach, Mangel Halto definitely fits the bill. Those looking to go snorkeling or diving should likewise head to this beach as it is one of Aruba's best options for those activities.

Shore diving, in particular, is a popular activity here, and divers may see some yellowtail snappers and parrot fish during the dive. Mangel Halto is also surrounded by mangroves, so make sure to appreciate and enjoy them during your stay.

Palm Beach

When visiting a beach, many travelers put a lot of importance on the color of its sand. In particular, many travelers prefer white sand beaches. If you're one of those people, make sure to check out Palm Beach.

One of the more popular tourist hangouts and resort locations, Palm Beach is a strip that is two miles (3.2 kilometers long) of calm, clear waters and white sand. Since it is where you can find high-end resorts and casinos, those looking for a memorable nightlife should head here.
If it is returned to government, the United National Congress will review the operations of 
Denmark has become the first NATO country to invest in the production of weapons in Ukraine.

Thats according to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Ukrinform reports.

Defense Ministers Rustem Umerov of Ukraine and Troels Lund Poulsen of Denmark at a meeting held as part of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group signed a memorandum on the purchase of weapons and equipment from Ukrainian manufacturers.

"This is a big step, as Denmark has become the first foreign NATO country that will invest its funds in the production of weapons on Ukrainian territory. This proves that the Ukrainian defense industry is ready to cooperate at the international level and is able to meet the highest standards," Umerov said.

According to Ukraines Deputy Defense Minister for Strategic Industries Serhii Boiev, the document is important because the parties have agreed on the procedure for financing, so in the future, this process will happen faster.

He also added that this mechanism could be implemented as part of similar agreements with other partners of Ukraine.

"We are grateful to the Danish government for its consistent support and constructive dialogue that leads to real results," Boiev said.

The 23rd meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group was held in Brussels on June 13.

Photo: Ukrainian Defense Ministry
The war is gradually moving beyond Ukraine's borders, therefore achieving a just peace in Ukraine as soon as possible and returning to international law is in the interests of all.

Swiss President Viola Amherd said this before the opening of the Peace Summit, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"The situation in the world is difficult, the war goes beyond the borders of Ukraine," Amherd said, adding that Switzerland advocates peace and dialogue.

The world order should be built on the foundations of the UN Charter, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine "deeply violated" it, the politician said. She noted that people in the occupied territories have suffered greatly for almost two-and-a-half years, but the violation of international law harms not only them.

"If we want to inspire the peace process, Russia must join it someday. This is clear to everyone. We as an international community can do our part to prepare the ground for peace talks between the two warring parties. This is what we are here for," Amherd said.

She recalled that 92 countries and 8 international organizations were represented at the peace conference. She said it was important that in addition to Europe, which is widely represented at the Summit, other regions also join it.

"The goal is known: we want to start the process of achieving a just peace in Ukraine based on international law and the UN Charter," Amherd said.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has congratulated Ukraine and Moldova on the start of EU accession negotiations.

She said this in a post on the social media platform X, Ukrinform reports.

Congratulations to Ukraine and Moldova on this milestone in your EU integration journey! Sincere congratulations to President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Maia Sandu on this significant achievement.

Read also: EU ambassadors agree on negotiation framework for accession of Ukraine and Moldova

She added she is confident the European Georgian nation will join your ranks soon.

As reported, on June 14, the EU countries at the level of permanent representatives agreed in principle on the negotiating frameworks for the accession negotiations of Ukraine and Moldova. The Belgian presidency will convene the first intergovernmental conference on this issue on June 25.

Photo: AA
In a significant legislative move, Republicans in the House Education and Workforce Committee advanced a resolution to block President Biden's recent expansion of Title IX protections for LGBTQ+ students. This action sets the stage for a potential legislative clash with the Senate and the White House.

Background on Title IX and Biden's Expansion

Title IX, enacted as part of the Education Amendments of 1972, prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs and activities. President Biden's administration finalized new regulations in April 2023 to expand these protections to include discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. These changes aim to ensure a more inclusive and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ students, while also addressing sexual harassment, supporting pregnant and parenting students, and bolstering overall protections against sex discrimination.

Congressional Review Act and Republican Opposition

The House Education and Workforce Committee, led by Republicans, passed a resolution of disapproval invoking the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which allows Congress to overturn federal regulations within 60 days of their finalization. If passed by both the House and Senate, the resolution can block the new Title IX rule, though it remains subject to a presidential veto.

The resolution passed along party lines, reflecting deep partisan divisions. Republicans argue that Biden's Title IX expansion represents an unprecedented redefinition of civil rights law that threatens the rights and opportunities of female students. They claim the new rules would compel schools to allow "biological men" into women's locker rooms and bathrooms, undermining efforts to provide safe educational environments for girls and women.

Key Republican Perspectives

Representative Mary Miller of Illinois, a co-sponsor of the resolution, strongly criticized the Biden administration's Title IX rule. "Joe Biden's Title IX rule is an act of hate. Someone must stand up and say 'enough,'" she declared. Representative Lisa McClain of Michigan echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need to protect female athletes and preserve the original intent of Title IX. "Our daughters deserve better," McClain stated, accusing President Biden of prioritizing radical agendas over women's rights.

Democratic Defense of the New Title IX Rule

Democrats on the committee defended the new regulations, arguing that they align with the Supreme Court's 2020 decision in Bostock v. Clayton County. This landmark ruling held that discrimination based on sex under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 includes discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Representative Mark Takano of California described the expanded Title IX protections as a necessary response to the hostility and discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ students. He warned that overturning the rule would have "disastrous consequences" for these vulnerable students, particularly during Pride Month.

Judicial Intervention and Future Outlook

Late Thursday evening, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking the new Title IX regulations from taking effect in Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, and Idaho. The judge ruled that the Education Department lacked the authority to enact such sweeping changes without clear congressional authorization, citing the major-questions doctrine which demands higher scrutiny for regulations with significant economic and political implications.

Broader Legislative Agenda and Implications

The Title IX resolution was one of nine bills considered during the committee's markup session. Other proposals included new standards for handling antisemitic harassment and preventing student athletes from unionizing. Representative Virginia Foxx, the committee's Republican chair, emphasized the collective aim of these bills to enhance safety, security, and rights for students, parents, and workers.

The House's resolution against the Biden administration's Title IX expansion highlights the ongoing partisan struggle over civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ students. While the resolution is unlikely to pass in the Democrat-controlled Senate, it underscores the broader political and ideological battles shaping the future of education policy in the United States. The outcome of this legislative and judicial conflict will have significant implications for the rights and protections of LGBTQ+ students across the nation.
On Wednesday night, California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA) witnessed a dramatic and intense protest as over 50 demonstrators occupied the student services building.

This bold action, which resulted in university President Berenecea Johnson Eanes and several administrators being barricaded inside, marked a significant escalation in campus activism. The incident not only highlighted the growing discontent among students but also posed serious questions about the university's ability to manage such situations effectively. The occupation, which ended early Thursday morning, left behind significant damage and underscored the broader context of ongoing protests and student movements at CSULA.

Occupation of the Student Services Building

On Wednesday night, over 50 protesters at California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA), occupied the student services building, creating a tense standoff that lasted for hours. The protesters barricaded multiple administrators, including university President Berenecea Johnson Eanes, inside the building. The demonstration, which drew attention from students, faculty, and local authorities, was part of a broader wave of campus activism. The protest's intensity and the significant administrative response highlighted the growing unrest among students and the challenges faced by university leadership in addressing their concerns.

As the hours passed, most administrators managed to find a way to exit the building. However, about a dozen, including President Eanes, chose to remain behind "to manage the situation," according to university spokesperson Erik Frost Hollins. Their decision to stay underscored the seriousness with which the administration viewed the protest and their commitment to finding a peaceful resolution. The occupation ended early Thursday morning when the protesters dispersed, leaving behind a trail of damage and raising questions about the future of student-administration relations at CSULA.

READ MORE : California State University System Holds Minimal Indirect Investments In Israel, Plans No Changes Despite Calls For Divestment

Significant Damage and Aftermath

In the aftermath of the protest, authorities declared the student services building a crime scene due to the extensive damage caused by the occupation. Spokesperson Erik Frost Hollins reported "significant damage" to the first four floors of the building, which were covered in graffiti and littered with broken furniture and equipment. The scale of the destruction highlighted the depth of the protesters' anger and the lengths they were willing to go to make their voices heard. This incident has prompted a critical evaluation of security measures and the university's approach to handling such demonstrations.

The university has not yet provided a detailed estimate of the repair costs, but the cleanup and restoration efforts are expected to be substantial. The damage has disrupted student services, forcing the administration to find alternative ways to provide essential support to students. This situation has further strained the relationship between the administration and the student body, with both sides grappling with the fallout from the night's events. The university's response to this incident will likely shape its policies and approach to student activism in the future.

Broader Context of Campus Activism

The occupation of the student services building at CSULA is part of a larger pattern of campus activism that has been gaining momentum across the country. Elsewhere on the CSULA campus, protesters have inhabited a pro-Palestinian encampment for over 40 days, underscoring the diverse and intersecting issues driving student activism. These protests reflect broader societal debates and the increasing willingness of students to take direct action to address perceived injustices.

At CSULA, the protest and the prolonged occupation of the pro-Palestinian encampment signal a campus community deeply engaged with global and local issues. The administration's challenge lies in addressing these concerns while maintaining order and ensuring the safety and well-being of all students. This delicate balance requires open communication, empathy, and a willingness to engage in meaningful dialogue with student activists.

The events at CSULA serve as a reminder of the powerful role that student activism can play in shaping university policies and priorities. As campuses across the country continue to witness similar movements, the lessons learned from CSULA's experience will be invaluable for other institutions facing their own challenges with student protests. Universities must find ways to support student expression while fostering an environment of mutual respect and understanding.
LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Jun, 2024) Federal Minister for Law, Justice, and Human Rights Senator Azam Nazir Tarar has said that the government is taking revolutionary steps for the welfare of lawyers, emphasizing a heartfelt connection with the bar.

Addressing a check distribution ceremony at the Punjab Bar Council here on Saturday, he highlighted that, in addition to federal government assistance, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has also approved a grant of one billion rupees for the bar.

Azam Nazir Tarar announced the dismissal of cases against lawyers involved in protests, acknowledging their significant role in national politics. He condemned the Attock incident, affirming that the culprits are in custody and that the federal government would provide all possible financial and legal support to the families of the victims. "Law is a noble profession, and those who uphold the Constitution and law should not engage in vandalism," he said, adding that his bond with the bar is profound and he feels at home among fellow lawyers. He noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has given clear directives for the welfare of the legal community, and the government is committed to implementing revolutionary measures in this regard.

The law minister shared that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has instructed the provision of state-of-the-art facilities and a conducive environment for women lawyers, including amenities for mothers with young children. Clean seating areas and cafeterias for male lawyers would also be provided to ensure their comfort. He said, While the government is implementing revolutionary measures for your benefit, you, as legal professionals, also have certain responsibilities.

 He mentioned that, on the directives of the Chief Minister of Punjab, the 780 cases filed against lawyers during protests have been dismissed.

He praised the legal communitys pivotal role in national politics, stressing that those who don the black coat must uphold the dignity of their noble profession and avoid destructive actions. He called for unity within their ranks to ensure justice and strengthen democracy.

Expressing sorrow over the Attock shooting that resulted in the deaths of two lawyers, he described the late Israr Ahmad as highly professional. He recounted that upon learning of the incident, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif immediately ordered an investigation. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also assured full support for the families of the deceased.

Tarar emphasized that while they cannot bring back their colleague, every possible step will be taken, in collaboration with the bar, to support his family and ensure justice. He noted that terrorism charges have been added to the case and that the suspects are in custody.

Tarar concluded by distributing checks to representatives of various district and tehsil bar associations, including those from Pakpattan, Bahawalpur, Multan, Vehari, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura, and Lahore, as well as tehsil bars in Pattoki, Renala Khurd, Chishtian, Fort Abbas, Baroonabad, and Depalpur. He acknowledged the federal government's economic constraints but described the grant as a small token of support, promising that the governments efforts for the welfare of lawyers will continue.
KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Jun, 2024) Approximately 12,781 police officers have been assigned to ensure security during Eid-ul-Azha prayers throughout the city.

According to a Karachi Police spokesman on Saturday, under the directives of Additional IGP Karachi Imran Yaqoob Minhas, the deployment includes 5,600 officers and personnel in the East Zone, 3,656 in the South Zone, and 3,525 in the West Zone.

Additionally, around 2,170 officers and personnel will oversee security at collection points for sacrificial animal hides.

Security measures have been heightened at all major shopping centers, markets, and other crowded locations. The traffic police have also been instructed to maintain smooth traffic flow in the city during Eid-ul-Azha.
Skardu, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Jun, 2024) One of two Japanese climbers was found dead and his body recovered from a mountain in northern Pakistan on Saturday, with a search ongoing for the second man, a government official said.

Ryuseki Hiraoka and Atsushi Taguchi were attempting to summit the 7,027-metre (23,054-foot) Spantik mountain in the Karakoram range before they went missing this week.

"The dead body of a Japanese climber was found, and a search is ongoing for the second climber," Wali Ullah Falahi, the Shigar district deputy commissioner, told AFP.

He later added that the body had been identified as Ryuseki Hiraoka.

He said the body was found 300 metres (984 feet) below Camp 3, which is set at around 6,200 metres (20,341 feet) and where climbers prepare for the final summit.

The search by high-altitude climbers and experts was backed by two Pakistan Army helicopters.

The pair had reached base camp on June 3 and were attempting the climb without the help of porters.

They were last seen on June 10 and the alarm raised the following day by fellow climbers who had expected to cross paths with them.

A military helicopter spotted the climbers on Thursday, but the search was suspended due to poor weather conditions.

Spantik, also known as the Golden Peak, is described as a "relatively accessible and straightforward peak" on the website of a tourist company, Adventure Tours.

The country is home to five of the world's 14 mountains higher than 8,000 metres -- including K2, the world's second highest.

In 2013, more than 8,900 foreigners visited the remote Gilgit-Baltistan region, according to government figures, where most of the Karakoram range is located, with the summer climbing season running from early June to late August.

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Charities welcomed Australias decision to provide an additional $6.6 million to the World Food Program to help people in the Gaza Strip who are facing possible famine.

The new aid, announced Wednesday, brings Australias total of humanitarian aid for Gaza to $47.9 million since the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel ignited the war.

Save the Children Australia called the assistance vital. Its chief executive, Mat Tinkler, told local media that the entire child population in Gaza [is] at risk of famine and that there are still more than a million children in desperate need of support.

A coalition of charities, including Oxfam Australia and Caritas Australia, an aid agency of the Australian Catholic Church, said in a statement that unimpeded humanitarian access was crucial to the people of Gaza who were physically and psychologically traumatized, sick and starving.

The additional aid was announced by Australian Minister for Youth Anne Aly at a conference convened by Egypt, Jordan and the United Nations in Jordan.

Aly said the humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic.

Aly represented Australia in place of Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, who said in a statement that her government continues to press for a cease-fire, for humanitarian aid to reach Gazans in desperate need, and for hostages to be released.

Wong said Australia supported the cease-fire endorsed Monday by the U.N. Security Council.

Aly told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the conference also looked at how Gaza would be rebuilt after the war, saying that education will be important.

So, really looking at what are the early efforts that can be put into rebuilding of Gaza, she said, not so much the infrastructure and rebuilding cities, but really, almost, rebuilding the people.

Israeli authorities have said they have daily assessments with international aid organizations operating in Gaza to review the situation and respond to the needs on the ground.

Australia, which has said Israel has the right to defend itself, supports a two-state solution in which Israel and a future Palestinian state coexist within internationally recognized borders.

The Gaza conflict has divided public opinion in Australia, where there have been large pro-Palestinian demonstrations and rallies by supporters of Israel. Community groups have reported an increase in anti-Muslim and antisemitic abuse since the war began eight months ago.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang is toasting a turnaround in trade ties with Australia on Sunday with a trip to a major winegrowing region that was hit by Beijing's sanctions.

The highest-ranking Chinese official to visit Australia in seven years, Li's four-day trip offers the prospect of lucrative trade after Beijing lifted punitive measures against a string of major Australian exports.

China is by far Australia's biggest trading partner, taking in nearly 30% of its exports last year including major commodities iron ore and coal.

Two-way trade reached $216 billion in 2023.

"Mutual respect, seeking common ground while shelving differences and mutually beneficial cooperation" are key to growing China-Australia relations, Li said on his arrival in Adelaide on Saturday.

The premier recalled Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's fence-mending trip to Beijing last November, saying: "China-Australia relations were back on track after a period of twists and turns."

Li is to visit winemakers in the famed Barossa region near Adelaide, hometown of Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who is credited with helping stabilize relations with China.

Wine was among a string of Australian exports, along with coal, timber, barley, beef, and lobsters subjected to Chinese sanctions in 2020 during a diplomatic rift with the former conservative government.

Those sanctions cost Australian exporters an estimated $13 billion a year.

But they have been gradually lifted since Albanese's government entered power in 2022 and adopted a softer diplomatic approach toward China.

Li and Albanese are to hold talks behind closed doors in Canberra on Monday, encompassing fractious issues of foreign influence, human rights, rivalry in the Pacific and alleged unsafe behavior by China's military in the region.

But the Chinese premier, who will also head to a lithium mine in Perth, is focusing his visit on economic opportunities.

"Australia has endured a long period of deep freeze, where it was not possible to have any sort of official conversations with China, which I think is a bad situation," said Melissa Conley Tyler, honorary fellow at the University of Melbourne's Asia Institute.

Li's visit sends a message that "Australia is back to being seen as a friendly country rather than the unfriendly, hostile country we were seen as during those years of maximum tension," she told AFP.

Setting the warmer diplomatic tone, Li will first visit the Adelaide Zoo where giant pandas Wang Wang and Fu Ni have been on loan from China since 2009.

Hopes are high that the pair  instruments of China's so-called Panda diplomacy  will be allowed to stay despite producing no offspring in their time together.

"The pandas have been a great part of the lives of many Adelaide families and so we look forward to that continuing," Australia's foreign minister said in a television interview Sunday.

Behind the diplomacy, the impact of China's trade measures lingers.

Chinese tariffs had effectively blocked premium Australian wine exports worth an estimated $660 million a year.

Three months after they were scrapped, Australian wine producers remain hesitant to rush back into pretariff levels of trade with China, said Paul Turale, marketing manager at industry body Wine Australia.

"It will take some time to grow to what the industry was before," he told AFP.

Australia's rock lobster industry, one of the last still suffering under the Chinese sanctions, is hopeful that Li will remove them, too, during his visit.

"More than 20% of Australian jobs reply on trade, so growing our export opportunity is fundamental to Australia's continued economic success," Business Council of Australia chief executive Bran Black said ahead of the visit.

"Australia's trade with China will continue to be a priority and we are pleased there is a continuing stabilization of the relationship."
The crew of a Greek-owned vessel damaged in an attack by Yemeni Houthi militants has been evacuated, and the abandoned ship is drifting in the Red Sea, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said Friday.

One sailor from the Tutor, a Liberia-flagged coal carrier, remains missing, officials in the Philippines said.

The attack near the Yemeni port of Hodeida on Wednesday caused severe flooding and damage to the engine room and left the Tutor unable to maneuver.

Iran-aligned Houthis claimed responsibility for the missile strike on that vessel and another, the Verbena, in the Gulf of Aden, over the past days. Their attacks also damaged two other ships in the last week, "marking a significant increase in effectiveness," British security firm Ambrey said.

The Houthis have used drones and missiles to assault ships in the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden since November, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza war. They have sunk one ship, seized another vessel and killed three seafarers in separate attacks.

"This situation cannot go on," International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said in a statement.

The Tutor's 22 crew members are mostly Filipino, Hans Cacdac, the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers secretary, told a press conference in Manila.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the country's authorities were coordinating with the UKMTO to take the crew members to Djibouti and bring them home.

The missing crew member was believed to be trapped in the engine room, maritime sources said.

"We are still ... trying to account for the particular seafarer in that ship. We are praying we could find him," Cacdac said.

The ship's Athens-based manager, Evalend Shipping, has not responded to Reuters' requests for comment.

Tsavliris Salvage Group has been assigned to tow the ship, which is carrying 80,000 metric tons of coal, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The project will involve two vessels. The first is expected to reach the Tutor on Monday morning and the second on Tuesday evening.

The Houthis' air and sea campaign has disrupted global shipping, causing delays and costs to cascade through supply chains. At least 65 countries and major energy and shipping companies  including Shell, BP, Maersk and Cosco  have been affected, according to a report by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency.

INTERCARGO, which represents dry cargo ship owners, urged states to enhance maritime security in the area.

"We demand that all involved parties cease their deliberate and targeted attacks on innocent seafarers with immediate effect," it said.
Native Americans today say they still face barriers to casting their votes, six decades after U.S. President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act.

Many live miles away from voter registration and polling sites and lack access to reliable transportation.

Others may not have traditional mailing addresses and cannot satisfy voter registration requirements. Voting by mail can be iffy, according to O.J. Semans, a Sicangu Lakota citizen living on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota and co-executive director of Four Directions, a voting rights advocacy group that has worked on behalf of tribes in several states.

You must remember, the old Pony Express [mail delivery on horseback] wasnt meant for reservations. It was for outposts and settler towns, Semans said. The U.S. Postal Service has neglected every Indian reservation in the United States when it comes to ensuring we have equality.

A 2023 study of mail service on the Navajo Nation  the largest reservation in the U.S.  notes that when deciding where to open post offices during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the U.S. Postal Service picked locations that would advance military objectives and serve the interests of Anglo-American settlers.

Post Offices are fewer and farther from each other on reservation communities; there are fewer service hours; and we show in a mail experiment that letters posted on reservations are slower and less likely to arrive," the study said.

Post offices exist on Semans Rosebud Reservation, but they no longer accept general delivery.

So, if you want to vote by mail, you can request an absentee ballot and fill it out. But youd never get the ballot back, he said.

States pass restrictive laws

The 1965 Voting Rights Act banned traditional forms of voter discrimination such as literacy tests, character assessments and other practices widely used to disenfranchise minority voters.

It authorized the federal government to oversee voter registration and election procedures in certain states and localities with histories of discriminatory practices, and it also required those jurisdictions to obtain preclearance from the Justice Department or a federal court before changing voting laws or procedures.

In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the formula for deciding which localities needed preclearance as unconstitutional, opening the way for states to pass new voting laws.

During a Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing in 2021, Jacqueline De Leon, an enrolled member of the Isleta Pueblo and a staff attorney at the Native American Rights Fund, or NARF, described some conditions for Indigenous voters.

In South Dakota, Native American voters were forced to vote in a repurposed chicken coop with no bathroom facilities and feathers on the floor, she testified.

In Wisconsin, Native Americans were required to cast their ballots inside a sheriffs office.

NARF, tribes fight back

In 2021, President Joe Biden created the Interagency Steering Group on Native American Voting Rights to report on barriers facing Native voters.

Native American communities have not been immune, but indeed have been packed or divided by district lines that dilute their vote or otherwise discriminate, the group reported.

In November 2021, North Dakotas Republican-led legislature approved a new legislative map that separated state House districts on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation and the Fort Berthold reservation, home to the Three Affiliated Tribes.

The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and Spirit Lake tribes filed a federal lawsuit arguing that the new map violated the Voting Rights Act by packing the Turtle Mountain band  that is, concentrating them into a single electoral district to reduce their influence in other districts, and cracking  or dividing  the Spirit Lake tribe across districts to dilute their voting power.

A conservative judge found this was a clear violation of the Voting Rights Act, De Leon told VOA. And rather than protect its Native constituents where there was a violation, the state has appealed, trying to just block the cost of action as opposed to remediating the discrimination.

Arizona passed a law in 2022 requiring voters to provide proof of their physical address.

And that was really an attack on the Native vote because about 40,000 homes in Indian Country in Arizona don't have traditional addresses on them or any way to prove residential location, De Leon said.

With NARFs support, the Tohono Oodham Nation and the Gila River Indian Community in 2022 filed suit in U.S. District Court for Arizona. In 2023, the court ruled in their favor, finding that the address requirements violated tribe members constitutional right to vote.

With five months to go before Novembers general election, Semans said, Indigenous voting rights activists must stay vigilant.

With this new Supreme Court, even rulings that we got years ago that were positive for Indian country could change before then, he said. Things can change on a dime.
Supplies of food to southern Gaza are at risk after Israel extended its military operations to Rafah, and those displaced by the offensive there face a public health crisis, a senior U.N. official said Friday.

While hunger and the risk of famine have been most acute in northern Gaza in recent months, the situation is now deteriorating in the south, said Carl Skau, deputy director of the U.N. World Food Program.

The main pipeline for aid earlier in the eight-month-old war was from Egypt into southern Gaza. But this was largely cut off in early May when Israel expanded its campaign in the city of Rafah, where much of Gaza's population was sheltering.

"We had stocked up before the operation in Rafah so that we had put food into the hands of people, but that's beginning to run out and we don't have the same access that we need, that we used to have," Skau said after a two-day trip to Gaza.

When Israel advanced in Rafah, many of those who had taken refuge there were displaced again northward and toward an evacuation zone in Al-Mawasi, an area on the coast.

"It's a displacement crisis that brings a protection catastrophe, really, that a million or so people who have been pushed out of Rafah are now really crammed into a small space along the beach," Skau said.

"It's hot. The sanitation situation is just terrible. We were driving through rivers of sewage. And it's a public health crisis in the making."

Military operations, delayed Israeli authorizations and increasing lawlessness within Gaza have all hampered aid distribution.

Skau said that although more food was reaching northern Gaza, basic health care, water and sanitation were needed to "turn the curve in the north on famine completely." Israel needed to let more health care goods into Gaza, he said.

Israel says it puts no limit on humanitarian supplies for civilians in Gaza and has blamed the United Nations for slow or inefficient deliveries.

And in news that could make the aid situation worse, the U.S. military is preparing to temporarily remove its humanitarian pier off the coast of Gaza because of anticipated sea conditions, a U.S. official said Friday. It is the latest challenge to the U.S. effort, which has been hampered by bad weather since the pier was put into place in May.

The floating U.S. military pier off Gaza had just resumed bringing humanitarian aid into the enclave after being suspended over the weekend.

The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that the pier would likely be moved to the Israeli port of Ashdod until sea conditions improve.

Aid began arriving via the pier on May 17, and the U.N. said it transported 137 trucks of aid to warehouses, some 900 metric tons, before the U.S. announced on May 28 that it had suspended operations so repairs could be made.

The United Nations said on Friday it had still not resumed transportation of aid from the pier to U.N. World Food Program warehouses.

"Our security colleagues are still working to ensure that secure conditions for humanitarian work can be re-established," said deputy U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq.

Since Hamas launched a terror attack October 7 on Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages, Israel has embarked on an offensive to eliminate Hamas from Gaza. In recent weeks, Israel says its forces have killed 30,000 people, the majority of them combatants. The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza says 37,266 people have died, most of them women and children, but it does not estimate how many of the dead were combatants.
Eight Israeli soldiers were killed Saturday in an explosion in southern Gaza as they traveled in their armored vehicle. Meanwhile, Israeli forces continue to press in and around Gaza's southern city of Rafah, killing at least 19 Palestinians.

The eight soldiers "fell during operational activity in southern Gaza," the military said in a statement. "Their families have been notified," the military said.

The early morning explosion occurred near Rafah and was caused by either a Hamas-placed explosive or anti-tank missile, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesman said.

Saturday's losses were among the heaviest in one day for the Israeli military and brings the total of its casualties to at least 306 since the beginning of Israel's full-scale ground offensive in Gaza on October 27.

Since Hamas launched a terror attack October 7 on Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages, Israel has embarked on an offensive to eliminate Hamas from Gaza. In recent weeks, Israel says its forces have killed at least 30,000 people, the majority of them combatants. The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza says 37,296 people have died, most of them women and children, but does not estimate how many of the dead were combatants.

The Israeli military said Saturday its soldiers seized large quantities of weapons in Rafah, both above ground and in an extensive underground tunnel network built by Hamas. It also said Hamas militants had fired rockets from the humanitarian area in central Gaza on Friday.

"This is a further example of the cynical exploitation of humanitarian infrastructure and the civilian population as human shields by terror organizations in the Gaza Strip for their terrorist attacks," the military said.

A cease-fire agreement that would stop the fighting and trade Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners appears distant.

A spokesperson for the Islamic Jihad armed wing, Al-Quds Brigades, a Hamas ally, said Saturday in a video posted on Telegram that Israel would get its hostages back from Gaza only if it ended the war and withdrew its forces from the enclave.

Later Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a video of his own, saying the only way to free the hostages is to defeat Hamas.

Mediators for Qatar and Egypt plan to engage Hamas militants soon to see if there is a way to push ahead with a Gaza cease-fire proposal offered by U.S. President Joe Biden, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Saturday.

Sullivan spoke to reporters on the sidelines of a Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland.

Meanwhile, in the north, residents in the Gaza City suburbs said at least 15 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes on two houses while four others were killed in separate attacks in the south, according to medics.

West Bank violence

The Palestinian health ministry said Israeli troops killed a Palestinian teenager in the northern West Bank town of Beit Furik on Saturday. The teen was killed by Israeli fire, according to a statement by the Palestinian health ministry posted on Facebook. An Israeli army official confirmed that troops opened fire during a raid in the occupied West Bank territories.

Two other Palestinians were injured when Israeli forces stormed the town, east of Nablus, "firing live bullets at local residents" according to Palestinian news agency Wafa.

"Hits were identified," an Israeli military official told AFP without elaborating. He said that troops were operating in the Nablus area when "dozens of suspects hurled rocks at Israeli security forces, who responded with riot dispersal means and live fire."

The West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, has seen an increase in violence since the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza was triggered on October 7.

At least 546 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops or settlers in the territory since the war broke out, according to Palestinian officials.

At least 14 Israelis have been killed by Palestinian attacks in the West Bank over the same period, according to Agence France-Presse.

Humanitarian crisis continues

The World Food Program said the toll of the war on civilians in Gaza is "devastating."

It has become "close to impossible to deliver the level of aid that meets the growing demands on the ground," the U.N. agency's deputy executive director Carl Skau said Friday.

The World Health Organization has said more than 8,000 children younger than 5 have been treated for acute malnutrition in the enclave.

Supplies of food to southern Gaza are dwindling since Israel extended its military operations to Rafah and those displaced by the offensive there face a public health crisis, Skau said.

The main corridor for aid earlier in the eight-month-old war was from Egypt into southern Gaza. But this was largely cut off in early May when Israel expanded its campaign in the city of Rafah, where much of Gaza's population was sheltering.

Israel's military operation in Rafah has generated a displacement crisis as many of those who had taken refuge there fled again northward and toward an evacuation zone in Al-Mawasi, an area on the coast.

"A million or so people who have been pushed out of Rafah are now really crammed into a small space along the beach," Skau said.

"It's hot, the sanitation situation is just terrible. We were driving through rivers of sewage. And it's a public health crisis in the making."

Distribution of aid has been hampered by military operations, delayed Israeli authorizations and increasing lawlessness within Gaza.

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters, Agence France-Presse and The Associated Press.
The chairperson of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday outlined what he described as failures by the U.S. Agency for Global Media to adequately investigate allegations and whistleblower complaints.

A 73-page report described a three-year investigation into whistleblower complaints about an employee at the USAGM network Voice of America, or VOA, including allegations of falsifying credentials and the mishandling of a contract.

Chairman Michael McCaul, a Republican representative from Texas, said, Given the important work of USAGM and VOA to provide accurate news around the world, I am extremely concerned about the agencys serious investigative blunders despite the alarming complaints.

McCaul described the case as the tip of the iceberg in a statement, and staff representing Republicans on the committee said on background that it feeds into previous concerns about whether the agency properly vets foreign-born staff. However, the report focuses on the investigation into one employee.

The report found credible evidence of wrongdoing, including that the employee in question did not hold a doctorate or equivalent from a French university as stated on a resume; mishandled a major contract; awarded excessive overtime pay to favored employees; and faced persistent complaints about an abrasive leadership style.

Because the incident involves a personnel issue at VOA, which does not typically comment on such matters, the network is not naming the employee.

The report further notes that an investigation under former President Donald Trumps appointed leadership at VOA had found grounds to dismiss the senior staff member in 2021 after an investigation that included the handling of a $950,000 contract.

After a change in administration, the McCaul report notes, the termination was reversed, and the employee was moved to a new department.

An independent investigation by the Office of Special Counsel, or OSC, released in May 2023, described the case as a particularly complex matter and said it was beyond the scope of this review to evaluate the merits of several allegations made against the individual; however, CEO Office involvement will be examined.

The OSC added that the USAGM Labor and Employee Relations investigators tasked with looking into the allegations faced intense pressure to conclude in 2021 that the employee should be terminated.

The report by McCaul includes testimony and interviews with senior USAGM and VOA officials and staff. It states that once the agency was provided evidence to support the claims of falsified credentials, USAGM moved to issue a reprimand to the employee.

Staff representing Republicans on the committee, speaking to VOA on background, said that during the committee investigation, they found USAGM had failed to thoroughly investigate the whistleblower complaints and other issues regarding oversight and negligence.

The staff said the reports findings and USAGMs apparent failure to take appropriate action reflect wider and far-reaching concerns about the agency, including whether political bias played a role.

A statement emailed to VOA and attributed to USAGM CEO Amanda Bennett said her office cannot comment on specific personnel matters.

But, Bennett said, We unequivocally reject the Committee's allegations that the agencys investigation of an employees background was politicized, corrupt or mismanaged in any way.

Noting that the agency stands by its final decision in investigating complaints, the statement said its staff made tremendous efforts to locate evidence relevant to the matter in question, and aggressively pursued every possible avenue to conduct a thorough investigation.

Mark Zaid, an attorney who represents the employee in question, told VOA via email, The Committee's one-sided report continues an unexplained vendetta that has spanned two Administrations against his client.

He charged the report included many incomplete, misinterpreted and defamatory conclusions.

But, Zaid said, he agrees with the Committee on two things.

First, there is a great deal of confusion surrounding the equivalency of French and American Ph.D.s, including among various experts, he said. Second, USAGM has mishandled this investigation from the beginning, particularly by interfering with [the clients] right to counsel and denying [the clients] appropriate due process.

He noted that contrary to a footnote in the report, USAGM did not share details with Zaid, in his capacity as the employee's attorney, or keep him updated about what the agency was doing in regard to the McCaul investigation.

Members of McCauls staff told VOA on background that the committee intends no ill will toward the employee but that as a congressional oversight board it is their duty to investigate whistleblower complaints and follow the facts.

The main focus of the report is on whether the employee held an advanced degree, as stated on the person's resume and on the VOA website. McCauls report says it was able to quickly establish three years ago that the credentials were incorrect.

Zaid told VOA that attorneys have repeatedly provided documentation to confirm the degree, and enough evidence exists to show the qualification has been properly described.

Gregory Meeks, the leading Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued a statement that called McCauls report one-sided. Meeks said, however, that USAGM should address the Committees oversight questions and concerns."

The findings in McCauls report serve as a case study of a wider problem, according to the committee staff, who spoke on background.

The report calls for the employee to be terminated as per the earlier Labor and Employee Relations investigation and for USAGM to rectify its vetting process.

USAGMs actions raise questions about the agencys ability to vet its own staff, and I am extremely concerned Democrats who criticized the agency under the last administration have gone silent instead of working in good faith to serve Americans who deserve transparency and accountability, McCaul said in a statement.

It requests the agency deliver a report to Congress on vetting procedures within 90 days.
There is a "very real" risk that a miscalculation along Lebanon's southern border could trigger a wider conflict between Hezbollah and the Israeli military, two United Nations officials in Lebanon warned Saturday.

The United Nations special coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, and the head of U.N. peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, Aroldo Lazaro, said they were "deeply concerned" about the recent escalation along Lebanon's border.

Iran-backed Hezbollah last week launched the largest volleys of rockets and drones yet in the eight months it has been exchanging fire with the Israeli military, in parallel with the Gaza war.

"The danger of miscalculation leading to a sudden and wider conflict is very real," the two officials said in a written statement Saturday.

The United States and France are working on a negotiated settlement to the hostilities along Lebanon's southern border. Hezbollah says it will not halt fire unless Israel's military offensive in Gaza stops.
Myanmar's military government has launched a major effort to block free communication on the internet, shutting off access to virtual private networks  known as VPNs  which can be used to circumvent blockages of banned websites and services.

The attempt to restrict access to information began at the end of May, according to mobile phone operators, internet service providers, a major opposition group, and media reports.

The military government that took power in February 2021 after ousting the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi has made several attempts to throttle traffic on the internet, especially in the months immediately after their takeover.

Reports in local media say the attack on internet usage includes random street searches of people's mobile phones to check for VPN applications, with a fine if any are found. It is unclear if payments are an official measure.

25 arrested for having VPNs

On Friday, the Burmese-language service of U.S. government-funded Radio Free Asia reported about 25 people from Myanmar's central coastal Ayeyarwady region were arrested and fined by security forces this week after VPN apps were found on their mobile phones. Radio Free Asia is a sister news outlet to Voice of America.

As the army faces strong challenges from pro-democracy guerrillas across the country in what amounts to a civil war, it has also made a regular practice of shutting down civilian communications in areas where fighting is taking place. While this may serve tactical purposes, it also makes it hard for evidence of alleged human rights abuses to become public.

According to a report released last month by Athan, a freedom of expression advocacy group in Myanmar, nearly 90 of 330 townships across the country have had internet access or phone service  or both  cut off by authorities.

Resistance that arose to the 2021 army takeover relied heavily on social media, especially Facebook, to organize street protests. As nonviolent resistance escalated into armed struggle and other independent media were shut down or forced underground, the need for online information increased.

The resistance scored a victory in cybersphere when Facebook and other major social media platforms banned members of the Myanmar military because of their alleged violations of human and civil rights, and blocked ads from most military-linked commercial entities.

Users unable to connect

This year, widely used free VPN services started failing at the end of May, with users getting messages that they could not be connected, keeping them from social media such as Facebook, WhatsApp and some websites.

VPNs connect users to their desired sites through third-party computers, making it almost impossible for internet service providers and snooping governments to see what the users are actually connecting to.

Internet users, including online retail sellers, have been complaining for the past two weeks about slowdowns, saying they were not able to watch or upload videos and posts or send messages easily.

Operators of Myanmar's top telecom companies MPT, Ooredoo, Atom and the military-backed Mytel, as well as fiber internet services, told The Associated Press on Friday that access to Facebook, Instagram, X, WhatsApp and VPN services was banned nationwide at the end of May on the order of the Transport and Communications Ministry.

The AP tried to contact a spokesperson for the Transport and Communications Ministry for comment but received no response.

The operators said VPNs are not currently authorized for use, but suggested users try rotating through different services to see if any work.

A test by the AP of more than two dozen VPN apps found that only one could hold a connection, and it was slow.

The military government has not yet publicly announced the ban on VPNs.
Desperate hands clutched at Ali Elwan's arms, legs and neck, and screams misted his ears, as he spat out saltwater and fought for three hours to keep afloat in the night, dozens of miles from land.

Although a poor swimmer, he lived  one of just 104 survivors from the wreck of a dilapidated old metal fishing boat smuggling up to 750 migrants from North Africa to Europe.

"I was so, so lucky," the 30-year-old Egyptian told The Associated Press in Athens, Greece, where he works odd jobs while he waits to hear the outcome of his asylum application. "I have two babies. Maybe I stay(ed) in this life for them."

Thousands have died in Mediterranean Sea shipwrecks in recent years as migrants from the Middle East, Asia and Africa seek a better life in the affluent European Union.

But the sinking of the Adriana a year ago Friday in international waters 75 kilometers (45 miles) off Pylos in southern Greece was one of the worst. Only 82 bodies were recovered, so that hundreds of families still lack even the grim certitude that their relatives are dead.

Travelers seek 'best life'

Elwan, a cook whose wife and children are in Cairo, said he still gets phone calls from Egypt from mothers, brothers and wives of the missing.

"We (left) home to get best life for family and until now (their families) know nothing about them," he said.

And after a year there are only hazy answers as to why so many lives were lost, what caused the shipwreck, and who can be held answerable.

Migrant charities and human rights groups have strongly criticized Greece's handling of the sinking and its aftermath.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said Thursday "a credible process for accountability" was needed.

"It is unconscionable that one year since this horrific tragedy, the investigation into the potential liability of (Greece's) Coast Guard has barely progressed," HRW official Judith Sunderland said in the groups' joint statement.

The Greek coast guard, migration ministry and other officials did not respond to AP requests for comment ahead of the anniversary.

Authorities had a coast guard boat on the scene and merchant ships in the vicinity during the trawler's last hours. They blame smugglers who crammed hundreds of people into an unseaworthy vessel  most in an airless hold designed to store a catch of fish  for a nightmare voyage from Libya to Italy.

They also say the Adriana capsized when its passengers  some of whom wanted to press on for Italy after five dreadful days at sea, others to seek safety in Greece  suddenly surged to one side, causing it to lurch and turn turtle. And they insist that offers to take the migrants off the ship were rebuffed by people set on reaching Italy.

Elwan  who says he was on deck with a clear view of what happened  and other survivors say the lurching followed a botched coast guard attempt to tow the trawler. He claimed the coast guard hurriedly cut the towline when it became evident the Adriana would sink and drag their boat down with it.

"If you find the ship (at the bottom of the sea), you will find this rope" still attached to it, he said.

But the logistics make such a feat nigh-on impossible, Greek authorities say, as the ship rests some 5 kilometers (more than 3 miles) down, at one of the Mediterranean's deepest points.

The coast guard has denied any towing attempt, and allegations that its vessel tried to shift the trawler into neighboring Italy's area of responsibility.

A naval court began investigating last June, but has released no information on its progress or findings.

Court drops charges

Separately, in November Greece's state ombudsman started an independent probe into authorities' handling of the tragedy, bemoaning the coast guard's "express denial" to initiate a disciplinary investigation.

Last month, a Greek court dropped charges against nine Egyptians accused of crewing the Adriana and causing the shipwreck. Without examining evidence for or against them, it determined that Greece lacked jurisdiction as the wreck occurred in international waters.

Effie Doussi, one of the Egyptians' defense lawyers, argued that the ruling was "politically convenient" for Greek authorities.

"It saved the Greek state from being exposed over how the coast guard acted, given their responsibility for rescue," she said.

Doussi said a full hearing would have included testimony from survivors and other witnesses, and let defense lawyers seek additional evidence from the coast guard, such as potential mobile phone data.

Zeeshan Sarwar, a 28-year-old Pakistani survivor, said he's still waiting for justice, "but apparently there is nothing."

"I may be looking fine right now, but I am broken from the inside. We are not getting justice," he told the AP. "We are not receiving any information about the people of coast guard ... that the court has found them guilty or not."

Elwan, the Egyptian, said he can still only sleep for three or four hours a night.

"I remember every second that happened to me," he said. "I can't forget anything because (I) lost friends in this ship."

A journey of life and death

The journey that preceded the wreck also was horrendous.

Survivors said Pakistanis were confined in the hold and beaten by the crew if they tried to stir. But Arabic-speaking Egyptians and Syrians enjoyed the relative luxury of the deck. For many, that spelled the difference between life and death when the ship capsized.

"Our condition was very bad on the first day because it was the first time in our life that we were traveling on the sea," Sarwar said.

"If a person ... tried to vomit, then they used to say that you have to do it right here on your lap, you can't get (outside)," he said. "On the fifth day, people were fainting because of hunger and thirst. One man died."

Elwan said he left for Europe secretly, telling his wife he would be away for months, working at an Egyptian Red Sea resort.

He's upset that he's still to be granted asylum, unlike many Syrian survivors who, he said, have moved on to western Europe.

"Only people from Egypt can't get papers," he said. "I've been working for 10 months to send money for my family ... If someone says come and move rubbish, I will go and move this rubbish, no problem for me."

If he gets residence papers, Elwan wants to work in Greece and bring his family over.

Otherwise, "I will go to Italy, maybe Germany. I don't know."
Rescuers in northern Pakistan have retrieved the body of one of the two Japanese climbers who had gone missing earlier in the week while attempting to scale a 7,027-meter (23,054-foot) mountain.

Waliullah Falahi, a senior area administrator, confirmed to VOA Saturday that Pakistani army helicopters are assisting high-altitude porters in the search for the second Japanese national. He identified the deceased climber as Ryuseki Hiraoka.

Expedition organizers said Hiraoka and his partner, Atsushi Taguchi, were trying to summit Spantik mountain, also known as the Golden Peak, in the Karakoram range without the help of porters before they disappeared Wednesday.

Hiraoka and Taguchi are reported to be experienced climbers. Hiraoka is a well-known Japanese mountain guide who has summited Mount Everest five times and climbed several other 8,000-meter mountains and many peaks in the Andes and the Pamirs.

The men were last seen Monday, and the alarm was raised by fellow climbers who had expected to cross paths with them the following day.

A military helicopter spotted the climbers Thursday, but the search was suspended due to poor weather conditions. Japanese climbers from another expedition were also reportedly assisting in the rescue efforts.

Pakistans northern Gilgit-Baltistan region is home to five of the world's 14 peaks above 8,000 meters, including K2, the worlds second-highest mountain, at 8,611 meters (28,251 feet) above sea level.

Eight others are in Nepal, including Mount Everest, the worlds highest, and one is along the Nepalese border with the Tibetan region of China.

Thousands of foreigners travel to Gilgit-Baltistan during the summer climbing season, from early June to late August.
The Philippines has asked a United Nations body to formally recognize the extent of its undersea continental seabed in the South China Sea, where it would have the exclusive right to exploit resources, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Saturday, in a move that rejects Chinas vast territorial claims to the region.

The Philippine government submitted information to the U.N. Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf on the extent of its undersea shelf in the South China Sea, off western Palawan province, after more than a decade and a half of scientific research, the department said.

China did not immediately comment, but it will likely contest the Philippine move.

The undersea region where the Philippines seeks to formally establish its sovereign rights under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS, covers the Spratlys, a chain of islands, islets, reefs and atolls that has been fiercely contested over the years by China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. Indonesia has also confronted Chinese coast guard and fishing fleets in the gas-rich Natuna Sea at the fringes of the South China Sea.

Incidents in the waters tend to overshadow the importance of what lies beneath, Philippine Foreign Assistant Secretary Marshall Louis Alferez said. The seabed and the subsoil extending from our archipelago up to the maximum extent allowed by UNCLOS hold significant potential resources that will benefit our nation and our people for generations to come.

Today, we secure our future by making a manifestation of our exclusive right to explore and exploit natural resources in our extended continental shelf entitlement, Alferez said.

Under the 1982 U.N. convention, a coastal state could have exclusive rights to exploit resources in its continental shelf, a vast stretch of seabed that can extend up to 648 kilometers (350 nautical miles), including the right to authorize and regulate any kind of drilling.

The Philippines undersea continental shelf could potentially overlap with those of other coastal states in the South China Sea, including that of Vietnam. Philippine officials expressed readiness to hold talks to resolve such issues based on UNCLOS.

Philippine permanent representative to the U.N. Antonio Lagdameo said the move can reinvigorate efforts of states to demonstrate their readiness to pursue UNCLOS processes in the determination of maritime entitlements and promote a rules-based international order."

Hostilities and tensions in the disputed waters have alarmingly escalated, particularly between China and the Philippines over two disputed shoals, since last year. Chinese coast guard ships and suspected militia vessels have used powerful water cannons and dangerous blocking maneuvers against Philippine coast guard patrol ships and navy boats that have injured Filipino navy personnel, damaged their supply boats and strained diplomatic relations between the two countries.

After a tense standoff between Philippine and Chinese ships near a shoal in 2012, the Philippines brought its disputes with China the following year to international arbitration. The arbitration panel invalidated Chinas claim to virtually the entire South China Sea in a 2016 ruling, but Beijing refused to participate in the arbitration, rejected the decision and continues to defy it.
Britain put on a display of birthday pageantry Saturday for King Charles III, a military parade that marked the Princess of Wales first public appearance since her cancer diagnosis early this year.

The annual event was also a show of stability by the monarchy after months in which the king and Kate, wife of heir to the throne Prince William, have been sidelined by cancer treatment.

In a symbolic display of unity, Charles, Queen Camilla, William, Kate and their children were joined by other members of the royal family on a Buckingham Palace balcony at the end of the Kings Birthday Parade. The family waved to the gathered crowd as they watched a flyby of military aircraft to cap ceremonies marking the monarchs official birthday.

It was the first time Kate has appeared in public since December. She disclosed in March that she was undergoing chemotherapy for an unspecified form of cancer.

I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days, Kate said in a statement released Friday, adding that she faces a few more months of treatment.

Kate said she is not out of the woods yet and officials stress that Saturdays engagement does not herald a full return to public life.

Huge crowds turn out each June to watch the birthday parade, also known as Trooping the Color, which begins with a procession involving horses, musicians and hundreds of soldiers in ceremonial uniform from Buckingham Palace.

The first public sight of the 42-year-old princess came when she traveled in a horse-drawn carriage from the palace down the grand avenue known as the Mall with her children, George, 10, Charlotte, 9, and 6-year-old Louis. Bystanders cheered as they caught a glimpse of Kate, dressed in a white dress by designer Jenny Packham and wide-brimmed Philip Treacy hat.

She watched the ceremony with the children from the window of a building overlooking the Horse Guards Parade, a ceremonial parade ground in central London. Louis yawned broadly at one point in proceedings but mostly watched intently.

Prince William, in military dress uniform, rode on horseback for the ceremony, in which troops parade past the king with their regimental flag, or color. The display of precision marching and martial music stems from the days when a regiments flag was an essential rallying point in the fog of battle.

Charles, who also is being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer, traveled in a carriage with Queen Camilla, rather than on horseback as he did last year. The king inspected the troops from a dais on the parade ground, saluting as elite regiments of Foot Guards marched past.

Five regiments take it in turns to parade their color, and this year it was the turn of a company of the Irish Guards, which has Kate as its honorary colonel. The troops in scarlet tunics and bearskin hats were led onto the parade ground by their mascot, an Irish wolfhound named Seamus.

Charles, 75, disclosed his cancer in February, and has recently eased back into public duties. He attended commemorations last week for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe on June 6, 1944.

In one of the many quirks of British royal convention, Saturday is not the kings real birthday  thats in November. Like his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, before him, Charles has an official birthday on the second Saturday in June. The date was chosen because the weather is generally good, although early sunshine on Saturday gave way to a blustery, rainy day in London.
Some shelters south of the U.S. border are caring for many more migrants now that the Biden administration stopped considering most asylum requests, while others have yet to see much of a change.

The impact appears uneven more than a week after the temporary suspension took effect. Shelters south of Texas and California have plenty of space, while as many as 500 deportations from Arizona each day are straining shelters in Mexico's Sonora state, their directors say.

"We're having to turn people away because we can't, we don't have the room for all the people who need shelter," said Joanna Williams, executive director of Kino Border Initiative, which can take in 100 people at a time.

About 120 are in San Juan Bosco shelter in Nogales, across the border from the Arizona city with the same name, up from about 40 before the policy change, according to its director, Juan Francisco Loureiro.

"We have had a quite remarkable increase," Loureiro said Thursday. Most are Mexican, including families as well as adults. Mexico also agreed to accept deportees from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

A shelter in Agua Prieta, a remote town bordering Douglas, Arizona, also began receiving more Mexican men, women and children last weekend  40 on Sunday, more than 50 on Monday and then about 30 a day. Like those sent to Nogales, most had entered the U.S. farther west, along the Arizona-California state line, according to Perla del Angel, a worker at the Exodus Migrant Attention Center.

Mexicans make up a relatively large percentage of border arrests in much of Arizona compared to other regions, which may help explain why Nogales is affected. Mexicans are generally the easiest nationality to deport because officials only have to drive them to a border crossing instead of arranging a flight.

In Tijuana, directors of four large shelters said this week that they haven't received a single migrant deported since the asylum ban took effect. Al Otro Lado, a migrant advocacy group, consulted only seven migrants on the first full day operating an information booth at the main crossing where migrants are deported from San Diego.

"What there is right now is a lot of uncertainty," said Paulina Olvera, president of Espacio Migrante, who houses up to 40 people traveling in families, predominantly from Mexico, and has others sleeping on the sidewalk outside. "So far what we've seen is the rumors and the mental health impact on people. We haven't seen returns yet."

Biden administration officials said last week that thousands have been deported since the new rule took effect on July 5, suspending asylum whenever arrests for illegal crossings hit a trigger of 2,500 in a single day. The officials, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity, were not more specific. The halt will remain in effect until arrests fall below a seven-day daily average of 1,500.

"We are ready to repatriate a record number of people in the coming days," Blas Nunez-Neto, assistant homeland security secretary for border and immigration policy, told Spanish-language reporters after the policy was announced.

The Homeland Security Department did not immediately respond to a request for figures on Friday and neither did the National Immigration Institute in Mexico.
At least seven people have been killed in unrest in Democratic Republic of Congo's North Kivu province, local officials said on Saturday, after people took to the streets to protest a surge in deadly attacks by suspected Islamist rebels.

The Allied Democratic Forces, a rebel group affiliated to the Islamic State group, are alleged to have killed more than 40 people in an attack on Mayikengo village this week and more than 80 in attacks on other villages in the eastern province the previous week.

The insecurity has fueled public frustration, leading to the killing of two soldiers and their driver in Lubero territory by a crowd who torched their vehicle overnight on Friday, local official Julio Mabanga told Reuters.

On Saturday, further clashes in the area between security forces and local residents led to the deaths of another three people: a civilian, a soldier, and an agent of the ANR national intelligence service, Mabanga said.

A similar protest broke out in the city of Butembo on Saturday, with hundreds of youths taking to the streets, wielding sticks, chanting and singing songs to denounce the widespread insecurity, according to a Reuters reporter.

"I'm here at this roundabout, barricading the road. We sympathize with our killed compatriots," said Daniel Sivanzire Paluku, one of the protesters, who said they needed to block the roads to monitor who was coming and going.

Butembo Mayor Mowa Baeki Telly confirmed one civilian was killed during clashes between security forces and protesters in the city.

The ADF originates in neighboring Uganda but is now based in mineral-rich eastern Congo. It has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group and mounts frequent attacks, further destabilizing a region where many militant groups compete for influence and resources.

It has not been possible to reach the ADF for comment on the attacks.

The U.S.-based SITE Intelligence Group, which follows militant websites, said on Friday the Islamic State had published communiques from its so-called Central Africa Province division claiming responsibility for the killing of 51 people in attacks in North Kivu this week. It has also claimed to have beheaded more than 60 people in a single attack in the province on June 7.
A Venezuelan presidential candidate said Saturday that three opposition activists were detained arbitrarily ahead of July elections in a campaign marred by allegations of political persecution.

"They have been missing since yesterday. ... It is an unjust and arbitrary detention," said Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia of the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD), the largest opposition coalition in Venezuela.

"It is not known at this moment where and how they are," Gonzalez Urrutia said of the three at a campaign event in Caracas.

The three missing people are Juan Iriarte, coordinator of opposition party Vente, and two activists of the Popular Will party, Luis Lopez and Jean Carlos Rivas.

Vente said on X, formerly Twitter, that they worked with opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and had helped organize campaign activity in Maiquetia, a port city in central Venezuela.

"It is a forced disappearance," Machado, who has been banned from standing in the July 28 election by courts loyal to President Nicolas Maduro, told reporters Saturday.

The opposition has for months alleged political persecution of its leaders and supporters through arrests, judicial procedures and obstacles to competing in elections.

Venezuela's government has not commented on the three detentions but regularly accuses the opposition of plotting against Maduro, who is looking to secure a third term in power.

At least 13 of Machado's activists have now been detained since January, while six others with arrest warrants have taken refuge in the Argentine embassy.

To date, there are 278 political prisoners in Venezuela, according to a count by NGO Foro Penal.
Once a year, Muslim pilgrims flowing into Saudi Arabia unite in a series of religious rituals and acts of worship as they perform the Hajj, one of the pillars of Islam. As they fulfill a religious obligation, they immerse themselves in what can be a spiritual experience of a lifetime for them and a chance to seek God's forgiveness and the erasure of past sins.

Here's a look at the pilgrimage and its significance to Muslims.

What is Hajj?

Hajj is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia that is required once in a lifetime of every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to make it. Some Muslims make the journey more than once.

Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, in addition to the profession of faith, prayer, almsgiving and fasting.

When is Hajj?

The Hajj occurs once a year during the Islamic lunar month of Dhul-Hijja, the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar year. This year, Hajj will take place this month.

What's the significance of Hajj to Muslims?

For pilgrims, performing Hajj fulfills a religious obligation, but it's also a deeply spiritual experience of a lifetime for many. It's seen as a chance to seek God's forgiveness for past sins, to grow closer to God and to walk in the footsteps of prophets.

Communally, Hajj unites Muslims of diverse races, ethnicities, languages and economic classes from around the world in performing religious rituals and acts of worshipping God at the same time and place. That leaves many feeling a sense of unity, connection, humility and equality. Pilgrims also show up with their own personal appeals, wishes and experiences.

Many pilgrims bring with them prayer requests from family and friends that they would like to be said on their behalf.

Some spend years hoping and praying to one day perform Hajj or saving up money and waiting for a permit to embark on the trip.

In 2019, nearly 2.5 million Muslims performed Hajj before the coronavirus pandemic disrupted religious and other gatherings the world over and took its toll on the Islamic pilgrimage. Last year's Hajj was the first to be held without COVID-19 restrictions since the start of the pandemic in 2020.

Ahead of the journey, preparations may include packing various essentials for the physically demanding trip, seeking tips from those who've performed the pilgrimage before, attending lectures or consuming other educational material on how to properly perform a series of Hajj rituals as well as spiritually readying oneself.

At times, pilgrims brave intense heat or other challenging conditions during the pilgrimage.

What are some of the rituals that pilgrims perform?

Pilgrims make the intention to perform Hajj and they enter a state of "ihram." Being in ihram includes abiding by certain rules and prohibitions. For instance, men are not to wear regular sewn or stitched clothes that encircle the body, such as shirts, during ihram; there are simple ihram cloth garments for men instead. Scholars say the intention is to discard luxuries and vanity, shed worldly status symbols and immerse the pilgrim in humility and devotion to God.

A spiritual highlight of Hajj for many is the standing on the plain of Arafat, where pilgrims praise God, plead for forgiveness and make supplications.

Other rituals include performing "tawaf," circumambulating, or circling the Kaaba in Mecca counterclockwise seven times.

Muslims do not worship the Kaaba, a cube-shaped structure that they consider the metaphorical house of God; it's the focal point toward which devout Muslims face during their daily prayers from anywhere in the world.

Pilgrims also trace the path of Hagar, or Hajar, the wife of Prophet Ibrahim, Abraham to Jews and Christians, who Muslims believe ran between two hills seven times searching for water for her son.

Among other rituals, pilgrims throw pebbles in a symbolic stoning of the devil.

What is Eid al-Adha?

Eid al-Adha, or the "Feast of Sacrifice," is the Islamic holiday that begins on the 10th day of the Islamic lunar month of Dhul-Hijja, during Hajj.

Celebrated by Muslims around the world, Eid al-Adha marks Prophet Ibrahim's test of faith and his willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of submission to God. During the festive holiday, Muslims slaughter sheep or cattle and distribute some meat to the poor.
A peace summit for Ukraine in Switzerland this weekend will be attended by at least 90 countries and organizations except Russia. World leaders explore ways of ending the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two. G-7 world leaders boost support for Ukraine while aiming to raise the cost to Russias war efforts. U.S. and NATO leaders were at odds over the extent to which Ukrainians can use Western-provided weapons to hit military targets inside Russian territory. The U.N. nuclear agency or IAEA says Iran is expanding its nuclear capabilities
Although more rain could trigger additional isolated Florida flooding, forecasters say the strong, persistent storms that dumped up to 50 centimeters (20 inches) in southern parts of the state appear to have passed.

Some neighborhood streets in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas still have standing water, although it is rapidly receding, officials said.

The worst flooding risk was the last three days, said Sammy Hadi, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Miami. The heaviest rainfall has concluded.

The no-name storm system pushed across Florida from the Gulf of Mexico at roughly the same time as the early June start of hurricane season, which this year is forecast to be among the most active in recent memory amid concerns that climate change is increasing storm intensity.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis held a media briefing in Hollywood, south of Fort Lauderdale, and said while more rain was coming, its likely to be more typical of South Florida afternoon showers this time of year.

We are going to get some more rain today, maybe throughout the balance of the weekend. Hopefully its not approaching the levels that it was, but we have a lot of resources staged here, and well be able to offer the states assistance, he said.

DeSantis said the state has deployed about 100 pumps in addition to what cities and counties are using to try to clear water from streets.

Florida Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said while flooding was extensive, there were no reports of destroyed homes and very few of severely damaged homes. No deaths or serious injuries have been reported.

We dont think theres going to be enough damage to necessarily qualify for a federal disaster declaration, DeSantis said. But he added the storms may have affected enough business to qualify for Small Business Administration assistance.

The downpours hit Tuesday and continued into Wednesday, delaying flights at two of the states largest airports and leaving vehicles waterlogged and stalled in some of the regions lowest-lying streets. The main problem was hundreds of vehicles that were stranded on streets as people were unable to navigate the flood waters.

Looked like the beginning of a zombie movie, said Ted Rico, a tow truck driver who spent much of Wednesday night and Thursday morning helping to clear the streets of stalled vehicles. Theres cars littered everywhere, on top of sidewalks, in the median, in the middle of the street, no lights on. Just craziness, you know. Abandoned cars everywhere.
World leaders came together in Switzerland on Saturday in a show of support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's 10-point peace plan and to apply pressure on Russia to end the war in Ukraine.

"I believe that we will witness history being made here at the summit. May a just peace be established as soon as possible," Zelenskyy said on the first day of the two-day summit, which drew more than 90 nations.

Zelenskyy saw the wide attendance as a success and expressed hope that declarations stemming from the talks would shape the peacemaking process. But China's reluctance to participate has subdued expectations that Russia will be isolated on the international stage. Russia was not invited to attend.

"Ukraine never wanted this war. It's a criminal and absolutely unprovoked aggression by Russia," he said at a news conference alongside Swiss President Viola Amherd, who said the conflict had brought "unimaginable suffering" and violated international law.

According to a draft text obtained by Reuters, the summit communique blames Russia's war in Ukraine for large-scale human suffering. It also makes three points:

Ukraine's nuclear power plants "including Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, must operate safely and securely under full sovereign control of Ukraine."

The world's food security depends on "free, full and safe commercial navigation, as well as access to seaports in the Black and Azov Seas. ... Attacks on merchant ships in ports and along the entire route, as well as against civilian ports and civilian port infrastructure, are unacceptable."

All prisoners of war must be released and "all deported and unlawfully displaced Ukrainian children, and all other Ukrainian civilians who were unlawfully detained, must be returned to Ukraine."

The final communique is subject to change and is to be issued Sunday at the summit's end.

US pledges support, aid

Earlier Saturday, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris stood in for U.S. President Joe Biden. During a meeting with Zelenskyy, Harris pledged America's unwavering support for Ukraine and announced more than $1.5 billion in aid for Ukraine's energy infrastructure and its humanitarian needs after Russia's 27-month invasion.

"This war remains an utter failure for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin," Harris said. "It is in our interest to uphold international norms."

The $1.5 billion pledge includes $500 million in new funding for energy resources and the redirecting of $324 million in previously announced funds toward emergency energy infrastructure repairs and other needs in Ukraine, the vice president's office said.

Harris also announced more than $379 million in humanitarian assistance from the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development to help refugees and others affected by the war.

On the eve of the summit, Putin offered terms to end the war: Ukraine must drop its ambition to join NATO and give up the four provinces Russia now claims: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

On Saturday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni slammed Putin's demands as "propaganda."

"It doesn't seem particularly effective to me as a negotiation proposal to tell Ukraine that it must withdraw from Ukraine," she said at the end of a G7 summit in Italy, and as the international conference on ending the conflict opened in Switzerland.



"Let's say it seems more like a propaganda initiative ... to create a narrative that wants to provide counter-information on where the responsibilities for the conflict lie."

The United States, Ukraine and NATO dismissed Russia's conditions.

"He is not calling for negotiations, he is calling for surrender," Harris said.

"I must also note that this summit could have been more result-oriented if the other party to the conflict, Russia, was present in the room," said Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

NATO defense ministers approved a new plan Friday for reliable long-term security aid and military training for Ukraine.

Ukraine also signed a bilateral 10-year security agreement with the U.S. on the sidelines of the G7 meeting. Russian officials, including Putin, denounced the agreement as "null and void."



Meanwhile, the war continued in Ukraine, where at least three civilians were killed by shelling that wounded 15 others late Friday and overnight into Saturday, according to regional officials.

The governor of Russia's southern Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said in a social media post Saturday that Ukraine was behind shelling Friday that killed five people in a five-story apartment building in the town of Shebekino. Kyiv has not commented on the strike.

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters, Agence France-Presse and The Associated Press.
* ANC lost majority in May 29 vote, still biggest party

* In a first, free-marketeer DA joins national government

* Ramaphosa re-elected for second term

By Wendell Roelf and Nellie Peyton

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Reuters) - The African National Congress and its largest rival, the white-led, pro-business Democratic Alliance, agreed on Friday to work together in South Africa's new government of national unity, a step change after 30 years of ANC rule.

Once unthinkable, the accord allowed President Cyril Ramaphosa to win a second term in office. He was re-elected by lawmakers with 283 votes.

The deal between two sharply antagonistic parties is the most momentous political shift in South Africa since Nelson Mandela led the ANC to victory in the 1994 election that marked the end of apartheid.

"It will once again be a privilege and pleasure to serve this great nation ... (as) president," the 71-year-old leader said in a speech to parliament, describing the coming government as an era of hope and inclusivity.

"That a number of parties that had opposed each other... have decided to work together to deliver this result has given a new birth, a new era to our country," he said.

The ANC lost its majority for the first time in an election on May 29 and spent two weeks in talks with other parties that went down to the wire on Friday morning as the new parliament was convening in Cape Town.

"Today is a historic day for our country," DA leader John Steenhuisen said.

"And I think it is the start of a new chapter ... of us putting our country, ... its interests and its future first."

The National Assembly had earlier elected a DA lawmaker as deputy speaker, after choosing an ANC politician as speaker - the first concrete instance of power sharing between the two parties.

Long seen as unbeatable in national elections, the ANC lost support in recent years as voters wearied of persistently high levels of poverty, inequality and crime, rolling power cuts and corruption in party ranks.

WATERSHED MOMENT

The DA's entry into national government is a watershed moment for a country still processing the legacy of the racist colonial and apartheid regimes.

The party wants to scrap some of the ANC's Black empowerment programs, saying they have not worked and have mostly benefited a politically-connected elite. It says good governance and a strong economy would benefit all South Africans.

For that reason, some ANC politicians have expressed hostility to the presence of the DA in the government. The hard-left Economic Freedom Fighters, which captured nearly 10% of the vote, meanwhile accused itof representing the interests of the privileged white minority - a charge the DA strongly disputes.

"We do not agree to this marriage of convenience to consolidate the white monopoly power over the economy and the means of production," EFF leader Julius Malema said in a speech in parliament after Ramaphosa's election.

"We refuse to sell out."

Others took a less dismal view of the new racial dynamics.

"The ANC was also failing. They need a partner so they can rise again. DA is mostly white people so if they came together we can have more power and maybe a lot can change, even jobs could be created," Bongani Msibi, 38, a street vendor in Soweto, told Reuters TV earlier in the day.

Helen Zille, a senior DA figure for former leader of the party herself, said Steenhuisen's skin color was irrelevant.

"The melanin-quotient of the DA leader is the least significant aspect of this historic agreement," she said in a post on X critical of some media headlines.

INVESTORS WELCOME DEAL

Two smaller parties, the socially conservative Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the right-wing Patriotic Alliance, will also take part in the unity government.

The ANC won 159 of 400 seats in the National Assembly, while the DA got 87. The populist uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party led by former President Jacob Zuma has 58, the hard-left Economic Freedom Fighters 39 and the Inkatha Freedom Party 17.

The inclusion of the IFP, with its ethnic Zulu base, may help sweeten the DA pill for ANC voters. The Patriotic Alliance draws its support from the colored (mixed-race) community.

A statement of intent of the government of national unity was circulated to party negotiators by the ANC's Mbalula.

Among the "basic minimum program of priorities" outlined in the document, seen by Reuters, were rapid, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, the promotion of fixed capital investment, job creation, land reform, infrastructure development, structural reforms and fiscal sustainability.

London-based research firm Capital Economics said investors favored a coalition involving the ANC and DA because there was expected to be policy continuity or an acceleration of reforms - and because the EFF and MK - both of which want to nationalize banks and privately-owned land - are excluded from policymaking.

Zuma's MK came third in the election but alleged it was robbed of victory by vote-rigging, and is boycotting the new parliament. On Friday, an IFP official was elected as premier of the KwaZulu-Natal province, Zuma's stronghold, with the support of the DA, ANC and one other party, beating the MK candidate.

Shutting the MK out of the province's government, even though it had won the larger number of votes with 45%, could cause serious trouble in KwaZulu-Natal, where hundreds were killed in violence in 2021.

(Additional reporting by Alexander Winning, Tannur Anders, Bhargav Acharya, Sfundo Parakozov, Kopano Gumbi, Nqobile Dludla and Tim Cocks; Writing by Silvia Aloisi; Editing by Tim Cocks, Alex Richardson, Alistair Bell and Diane Craft)
Whos ready to put the UNIT in unity? This weeks episode of Doctor Who is a team mission on Earth. After the TARDIS skids into UNIT headquarters, the Doctor and Ruby join up with familiar faces, including Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, Rose Noble, an upgraded Vlinx, and Colonel Ibrahim. The military organization that investigates alien threats has also made a couple of new hires: Harriet is the head of UNITs archive, while child genius Morris Gibbons is its scientific adviser.

The Doctor is hoping UNIT can help him look into two women. First, theres Susan Twist, whose face weve been seeing all season. On this planet, shes Susan Triad, an IT genius who goes by the nickname Sue. Luckily, UNIT has already been keeping tabs on her, and even has a live feed as she rehearses a speech shell be making to the United Nations today about her S Triad Technology. (Its about to go worldwide for free, but the tech has been out for a while  Donna mentioned in The Giggle that UNIT uses Triad, and fans with much better eyesight than me spotted Triad ads on a bus in The Church on Ruby Road.)

Former companion Mel has gone undercover on Susans media team, taking daily DNA samples of Susan that have so far all come back human. UNIT also hasnt found anything alien in her software. Still, the Doctors definitely still intrigued, given that S Triad is an anagram of TARDIS  and his granddaughter is named Susan.

Then theres Rubys birth mother. According to the Doctor, hes time-locked out of the moment that she abandoned Ruby on Christmas Eve because he already went there once to save baby Ruby from the goblins. Harriet points out that CCTV cameras were nearby that night, and Ruby goes home to retrieve a VHS tape with the grainy footage.

When Carla realizes that mothers can be involved in UNIT, she decides she wants to come along to the nitwit tower, too. Next-door neighbor Mrs. Flood is recruited to watch Cherry, who beams and hints that shed like a cuppa. Well, wed all like a lot of things that arent going to happen, Mrs. Flood replies. Looking out at an approaching storm, she ominously adds, He waits no more.

The Doctor wants to analyze Rubys tape with a Time Window. Kate splutters that the Doctor forbade UNIT to experiment with time technology, then immediately admits theres one ten floors down. Carla and Mel have arrived by now, so theres a small crowd watching when the Doctor, Ruby, and Colonel Winston Chidozie (head of Time Window Security) get behind the glass.

Weve seen the Doctor step through Time Windows that kinda operate like doorways, but this one is more like a 3-D projector. It starts snowing before Morris even hooks the tape up to the system, and then Rubys memories and the VHS give the Time Window enough power to show us the night she was abandoned. Rubys hooded mother walks toward the Doctor and Ruby, but its as if theres TV static over her. She speeds by in a surge of energy, and no one catches a glimpse of her face. In contrast, when the TARDIS arrives, it appears almost solid. If time is memory and memory is time, then what is the memory of a time machine? the Doctor muses.

While the past Doctor saves baby Ruby, her birth mother stops walking and breaks down in tears. Carla also starts crying, wishing she could tell this woman that she took Ruby in. And now weve arrived at the part of the memory thats been changing for the Doctor. We see the hooded figure turn and point right at the Doctor(s) standing in front of the TARDIS. So far, the Doctor has so far been physically restraining a sobbing Ruby, telling her she cant move and interfere with this fixed point in time. But he must be incredibly curious about this woman because, despite Kates protests, he instructs Colonel Chidozie to go see if theres anything else she couldve been pointing at. Chidozie moves out of sight behind the TARDIS.

Morris is the first to notice the appearance of a swirling, growling cloud of black dust that contains red lights. What is that? he asks. When is that? Kate adds. According to Morriss readings, its hot, cold, radioactive, and dead all at the same time. So  something outside the laws of the known universe? Sounds like another god is on the way.

Chidozie, who has vanished, responds to Ruby after she brings up their Manchester connection. He says hes lost in hell, and that something ancient and waiting has seen into his soul. The Window explosively powers down, and Kate rushes in to see Chidozies dust-covered corpse.

The Doctor decides its time for Mel to take him to Susan. He stops to punch an elevator  Chidozies death probably hasnt helped with the Doctors suspicion that he brings disaster wherever he goes  but Mel tells him to pull it together. There are only a few minutes before Susan is scheduled to give her speech. As she walks away from a short conversation, the Doctor asks if she dreams about the people and places weve seen in past episodes. She doesnt respond, but the Doctor can tell she remembers.

Meanwhile, Harriet has taken charge of analyzing the VHS tape, which now includes footage of the black cloud. When rewinded, the recording reveals that the TARDIS is at the heart of the cloud. Interesting! Looks like the time lock didnt apply to this time machine.

The TARDIS parked in UNIT HQ groans. The Doctor, listening in over comms, says hes heard that noise before. The Doctor chalked it up to Rogues moral void last week. But the sound also reminds me of a certain classic serial  could it be?

Kate clears the room of nonessential staff, and at the Doctors orders, sends Ruby to the Time Window. The Vlinxs scan confirms that theres a life-form on the TARDIS that is somehow woven into the fabric of the ship itself, and Harriet launches into an unsettling monologue about someone who has hidden in the howling void and seduced the vessel. People can be described as vessels, but Im inclined to believe that shes talking about the TARDIS, especially since she adds, The Lord of Time was blind and vain and knew nothing. The Doctor suddenly asks what Harriets full name is. Its Harriet Arbinger. Weve got another harbinger of the gods.

Meanwhile, a sinister voice interrupts Susan Triads speech. She starts rambling about her dreams, and the words on her teleprompter change. I am returning, one line reads. Harriet is speaking in unison with the same deep, echoing voice. After name-dropping a bunch of gods, she declares that the ultimate one has returned. The cloud around the TARDIS shows itself and transforms into a giant, dog-like creature with red eyes.

And there it is. Susan Triad Technology is short for Sue Tech  Sutekh. (And yes, Gabriel Woolf reprising his role as the original voice of Sutekh.) If you havent watched Classic Who, Sutekh was introduced in the four-part 1975 serial Pyramids of Mars. He was described as the last of the Osirans, an alien race whose wars inspired Egyptian mythology. His goal is to destroy all life. The Fourth Doctor only managed to defeat Sutekh because he hadnt actually returned yet; Four made the time corridor that Sutekh was traveling through extend so far into the future that he died of old age before ever reaching the end. Or so we thought! The 2016 comic story Old Girl reveals that Sutekh managed to step sideways into the Void, where he was trapped with many gods from other realities  until the salt trick freed some of them, perhaps?

The reveal of Sutekh as a villain doesnt answer everything, of course. The broken Time Window powered up so that Ruby is once again staring at her birth mom on Christmas Eve, reminding us that we still dont know who she is or why she was pointing. Also, its still not totally clear how Sutekh returned. Why did Susan need to be scattered across time and space? Does she have anything to do with the taken-over TARDIS?

The Doctor doesnt have time to ponder these questions, though. Susan has collapsed and risen with a mask-like face and red eyes. After turning a staffer to dust with a touch of her hand, she approaches him. Did you think I was family, Doctor? Sutekh says through her. I bring Sutekhs gift of death. For you, and for all in your tiny, vile, incessant universe. Considering that the Fourth Doctor once said that there wasnt a lifeform in the galaxy that could stand against a freed Sutekh, it makes sense that Fifteen seems too horrified to even attempt to run. How is he gonna get out of this? Since we end on a cliffhanger, weve got a week to wonder.

Cut for Time (Lord)

 Ruby has really found her footing as a companion. I almost forget that shes so new to this that she still needs to have regeneration explained to her.

 Morris checks the probability of a trap throughout the episode. I know were all focused on Sutekh now, but maybe the Trickster truthers shouldnt give up yet on their theories that the god of traps will play a role in the finale?

 Jemma Redgrave is so funny when shes disgruntled. I rewinded just to look at Kates face when the Doctor granted Carla access, and when he guffawed at UNITs primitive Time Window.

 The Doctor says that due to timey-wimey reasons, he can have a granddaughter before a daughter. I mean, his family tree has always been complicated; Jenny was born solely from a tissue sample of Ten.

 Skip this if you want to go into the finale blind, but the official synopsis for the episode is already out: The Doctor has lost, his ageless enemy reigns supreme, and a shadow is falling over creation. Nothing can stop the devastation  except, perhaps, one woman. Who do we think that woman is? Ruby? Her birth mother? The Doctors daughter or granddaughter? Kate? Mel?  Cherry Sunday, because shell never get her cup of tea if the world is destroyed?
Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Janet Jackson

Shell only match your freak if youre nasty. Ms. Jackson remixed her own song Nasty with Ms. Tinashes Nasty during her concert last night in Utah during her Together Again tour. This morning, Tinashe reacted to a video of the performance at a loss for words: Woahhhhh  Jackson has been a huge inspiration for Tinashe; a few years ago, she tweeted that Jackson is one of her biggest idols. The next generation of artists has been showing Jackson a lot of love lately: Taylor Swift name-dropped her in Snow on the Beach a few years ago, and just recently, Victoria Monet paid homage to her zoot suit in her Alright music video. Now Jackson is showing love right back, and Tinashe has an answer to her question. A truly full circle moment for freak matching.
Photo: Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu via Getty Images

It feels like just yesterday that people were crying on Cornelia Street after finding out its all joe-ver. Now, tortured man Joe Alwyn feels ready to talk about his former relationship with his ex Taylor Swift. A year after news spread that the two had broken up after 6.5 years, Alwyn spoke with The Sunday Times about Swift in the most Joe Alwyn-way possible avoiding the initial question given to him and just going with his (most likely pre-prepared) statement. When asked if he heard the Tortured Poets Department, an album mostly about Swifts situationship with The 1975s Matty Healy with some songs about Alwyn sprinkled in, he admitted he wasnt going to answer directly. He said, I would hope that anyone and everyone can empathize and understand the difficulties that come with the end of a long, loving, fully committed relationship of over six and a half years. That is a hard thing to navigate. What is unusual and abnormal in this situation is that, one week later, its suddenly in the public domain and the outside world is able to weigh in There is always going to be a gap between what is known and what is said. I have made my peace with that. This is coming from the man who kept bringing up coins when talking about Swift a few years ago; a detailed, personal answer was probably not in the cards.

As everyone knows, we together  both of us, mutually  decided to keep the more private details of our relationship private. It was never something to commodify and I see no reason to change that now, Alwyn concludes in the interview. And, look, this is also a little over a year ago now and I feel fortunate to be in a really great place in my life, professionally and personally. I feel really good. However, he does leave us with one little nugget of Taylor Swift lore; he hints to the interviewer hes not the muse for The Black Dog by slyly sharing hes never been to Vauxhall, the neighborhood in London where the bar is located. At least he leaves us with one mystery solved.
Photo: Alessandra Benedetti/Corbis/Getty Images

All of Stephen Colberts dreams came true as Pope Francis welcomed him  along with 106 other comedians and comic artists from around the world  to the Vatican for an audience on June 14. While the official list announcing the invitees included Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Jim Gaffigan, Whoopi Goldberg, Tig Notaro, Chris Rock, and Conan O Brien, also in attendance to represent American comedy at the event were Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Mike Birbiglia, and Ramy Youssef.

The pope addressed the gathered comedians and their guests for about ten minutes, saying they possess a precious gift and went on to add that humor does not offend, humiliate, or put people down according to their flaws. While communication today often generates conflict, you know how to bring together diverse and sometimes contrary realities. He then issued the directive that the comedians must help us, with a smile, to see reality with its contradictions, and to dream of a better world. Once hed delivered this speech in Italian, the gathered entertainers lined up to shake his hand, giving us a brief glimpse at how each celebrity deals with meeting a pope who may only sort of know who they are, if at all.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Louis-Dreyfus seemed extremely excited to meet the pope. She recorded his entrance from the front row on her phone as she waved gleefully to him like hed just nailed a tap routine at a Little Miss pageant.

Photo: EWTN via YouTube

After the event, she described the pope as a wonderful man with a wonderful, kind smiling face. If I had to guess, I think the pope does know who Julia Louis-Dreyfus is  you cant be a man of the people without seeing Seinfeld at some point  and he seems as delighted to shake her hand as anyone with a Max subscription would be.

Photo: EWTN via YouTube

Stephen Colbert

Photo: EWTN via YouTube

Obviously, this was a huge day for Colbert, one of Americas most beloved and least-threatening champions of Catholicism. If you know nothing else about Colbert, youll quickly learn how big a deal this was by the way he filmed the pope addressing the crowd from his seat in landscape mode, a mode we usually reserve for cinema.

He and his wife  complete in a black lace veil  were clearly moved by their chance to meet the Holy Father, with Colbert saying something to the pontiff that did amuse him. Afterward, without his glasses and with his eyes brimming with tears, Colbert gushed about how hed just read the popes memoir and would love to do a cooking segment with him: Evidently, he makes a great tortellini in brodo. Perhaps thats what he pitched during their handshake?

After meeting with #PopeFrancis today at the Vatican, Stephen Colbert @StephenAtHome reveals he wants to do a cooking segment with the pope after reading about his cooking abilities in his memoir. pic.twitter.com/9X6v8pT5Cw  Justin S. McLellan (@McLellan_Js) June 14, 2024

Whoopi Goldberg

Photo: EWTN via YouTube

Whoopi did not ask the pope to be in Sister Act 3 but clarified that shell probably send an email. Its good to give people time to sit with big decisions like that. But ultimately, this whole day was old hat for Whoopi, who already got to meet Pope Francis on her own last year. Theyre basically best friends at this point.

Y aqui llega Whoopi Goldberg

Primeras impresiones tras el encuentro con el #Papa #Vaticano pic.twitter.com/tMWh2jpgl0  Eva Fernandez (@evaenlaradio) June 14, 2024

Conan OBrien

Photo: EWTN via YouTube

Conan OBrien must go  to a store in Rome immediately to buy a hat, because Italy in June is clearly a hostile climate for the Irish. OBrien  who the pope will always remember as the tallest ginger man with a sunburn he ever did see  bowed to the pope like an upstanding gentleman, describing the experience to EWTN as quite something. He talked briefly about the use of having a moral compass in showbiz, saying he thinks his success can be attributed in part to having pretty good manners. He also said the pope gave him a rosary, which he plans to give to his mom  a very good boy indeed!

"I think he said, I hate you Conan O'Brien!"... Just after Pope Francis met with over 100 comedians at the Vatican this morning, I asked @ConanOBrien about the special audience.  pic.twitter.com/wteLLT3G8b  Colm Flynn (@colmflynnire) June 14, 2024

Chris Rock

Photo: EWTN via YouTube

Rock was just really, really happy to be there, whether the pope knows who he is or not. He shared a brief greeting and gave the pope an arm tap before stepping off to the side, where he proceeded to take a selfie with the pope (and Evelyn McGee-Colbert, wife of Stephen) in the background for his Instagram Story.

Photo: Chris Rock via Instagram

Mike Birbiglia

Photo: EWTN via YouTube

If anyone understands their place in the world and in this room, its Birbiglia, who carried the placard from his seat against his chest so the pope could see his name in large letters as he approached. Honestly, its a brilliant way to introduce yourself to the pope most likely to subscribe to your podcast.

This Lady Who Brought Olive Oil

Photo: EWTN via YouTube

Several people brought gifts for the pope like drawings, paintings, and rocks(?). But I have a deep respect, maybe even a profound love, for this woman who just skipped the pope handshake entirely and immediately handed him a bottle of olive oil, which she then explained the significance of to him in great detail. May we all find a bottle of olive oil we love so much we have to bring it directly to the leader of the global Catholic church.

Jimmy Fallon

Photo: EWTN via YouTube

Fallon had to follow the olive-oil lady, which is no good since the Holy Father was undoubtedly still reeling from that ladys passion for the oil. But the look on the popes face when Fallon greeted him suggests that the late-night host did manage to charm the pontiff with his trademark messy hair and aw, shucks demeanor. Good for him!

Jim Gaffigan and His Boys

Photo: EWTN via YouTube

Gaffigan knew better than to try and chat with the pope, instead turning straight to the camera for the photo. The pope also clearly loved seeing kids in this mostly adult-filled line, and Gaffigan brought two.

Photo: EWTN via YouTube

Photo: EWTN via YouTube

He and his sons wore matching seersucker for the occasion, and each boy had their own rosary for the pope to bless. Later, Gaffigan shouted out brand Rag & Bone on social media for supplying his pope-meeting digs. No one on earth is more ready to meet a pope than a Gaffigan.

The Pope told me I was his favorite comedian. Such an incredible experience. This followed the Pope addressing a room of 200 comedians from throughout the world. It felt like a meeting of everyone who couldnt behave in church. Thanks to @ragandbone for the fancy suit, shirt pic.twitter.com/VDTBuTAthS  Jim Gaffigan (@JimGaffigan) June 14, 2024

Stephen Merchant

Photo: EWTN via YouTube

Merchant was not part of the American delegation, but the fact that he was here at all is extremely amusing. He greeted the pope so quickly, you have to assume he was bracing for whatever his friend Ricky Gervais will have to say about this when he gets back.

The Lady Who Brought a Plant

Photo: EWTN via YouTube

Its clear from this interaction that the popes second-favorite thing  after seeing a child  is seeing a plant. He loved getting this plant! And who could blame him? Plants make great gifts for everyone but especially people who have a full staff and lots of natural light.
Its hard to know these days who to believe about anything.

Maybe this was always so, but now that online media platforms are open to everyone the sheer amount of information coming at us is vast and vague. This was certainly true in the recent election.

As I write this I am preparing to go to the local school to vote. So if you are reading this now, its all over bar the shouting.

How did you vote? What was it that informed who you chose as Number 1? How did you make your decision? Was it head or heart that led you?

For many of us the person who we liked the most or simply saw the cut of their jib and thought shes okay got our vote. But thats really not good enough is it?

We elected many people to hugely important jobs without scrutinising them via a job interview or even a detailed CV.

While some candidates have to jump through a lot of hoops to get on the ballot paper, others saunter on there like its as simple as throwing your hat in the ring for a raffle.

There was no possible way for us to get to know them all enough to put them into one of those jobs. All I could do was to get an impression of them from a media performance or an interpersonal exchange.

Not that there was any hope of meeting them, as out here in the sticks, they rarely or never call.

Some of them appeared on TV or were interviewed on local radio. People in politics are often good at talking, arguing or even being overly nice!

None of these traits have impressed me enough to know that they will do a good job as my elected representative.

Most of them postered their faces on our roadways and flooded our postboxes with leaflets and all of them were singing their own praises and trying their best to engage us in their views.

While this is all very traditional, it seems outdated, expensive and very wasteful too.

But most importantly at the end of it all, I still dont really know them and Im very unlikely to give a vote to someone that I have never laid eyes on except on the side of a pole.

It becomes quite tedious when media interviewers feel they have to ask challenging questions and put up opposing arguments, creating shouting matches, which are a turn off.

Sometimes I just want to know why they got into politics, what was the moment that made them think that being an elected representative was the way of life that they wanted to pursue, and what they are most proud of and connected to? Could they ever just appeal to the heart rather than the head for a few minutes!

The European Parliament is especially complex. I tried my best to understand the structures, the hierarchies and the many committees.

I examined the track records of the candidates and tried to figure out what possible influence their participation would have on our lives here.

As I write this I have yet to vote and I am still completely boggled by the EU. In the end I will vote for the woman I trust and the one who seems to have the clearest grasp of the EU and how to work within it.

They say that you get the politicians you deserve, so its down to us who we decide to elect.

Local issues were the most important for the Local Elections. But the issues that each of us care about locally differ from person to person, community to community. How to decide?

I looked back at the famous photograph of the male councillors standing outside Waterford's City Hall taking up the No position to the Repeal the 8th Amendment Campaign in 2018. It was an image that sent out a very strong message of being out of touch with the rights of women and almost 70% of voters in this constituency who voted Yes!

Ive crossed all of them off my list for sure.

They simply showed the world that they were out of step and couldnt be trusted to represent the issues of their own female constituents. Sure they will all probably be re-elected without my vote!

The low level of womens participation in Waterford is appalling. There are some great women on the ballot paper and some of them have made consistent contributions to the work of the Council already. If we want to increase the numbers of women in politics we women who have the vote must go out and vote for women.

Who are you voting for, I asked a few women I know. They were all more likely to tell me who they wouldnt be voting for! The very raising of the conversation evoked quite a few rants about politics and the state of the country.

But is it too easy to rant and rave about politics, and much harder to follow and engage? The biggest impression I got during the run-up to election day was the lack of interest and the apathy so many people expressed.

Lets hope our votes got the best people into those jobs and that they are people we can trust. Because for most of us, voting is usually a massive leap of faith.
The June 15 Edition

Surveys suggest young people worldwide are becoming disengaged from politics. This is bad news for not just democracy, but for the calibre of our future leaders. Part of the reason  apart from rising social apathy  is that a politicians life isnt easy: the gruelling hours, the pressure to be constantly on top of policy, the loss of privacy, the verbal combat on the floors of parliament. Only a rare few are cut out for the job, and its clear from Jane Cadzows cover story today, that Max Chandler-Mather is one of them. People in Canberra tend to dismiss Chandler-Mather as an overgrown student politician, too idealistic for his own good, Cadzow says of the 32-year-old Greens MP for Griffith, but I found his earnestness and optimism refreshing. Deputy editor, Greg Callaghan
More bison amble by and within an hour we spot a bear  a solitary black bear  50 metres off the road. Its the first of 15 black and grizzly bears we see over several days. Around another bend, theres a trio of female elk. Its a four-legged bonanza even though weve just skirted the northern road, yet to venture deeper into the park. Curiouser and curiouser  American martens. Credit: iStock As its Friday and we have no desire to spend the weekend jostling for parking spots, we head out via Roosevelt Arch, which marks the north entrance, and voila  were back in Montana. Any traveller wanting a taste of Yellowstone and a guaranteed wildlife encounter can drive from Silver Gate to the Arch any time, as its one of the few roads open year-round. My driver and long-time friend lives in Montana, so we plan to trip around her state and head back mid-week. Before visiting Yellowstone, the only knowledge I had was gleaned from watching Yogi Bear. Instantly Im impressed with how humans and wildlife co-exist and how the thermal sites are so easy to visit, thanks to hundreds of kilometres of roads, excellent boardwalks and superb visitor centres.

It wasnt always so. Although opened in 1872 as Americas and the worlds first national park, following President Ulysses Grants signing of the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act that declared it public land, little protection was actually offered. Hunters and souvenir collectors plundered wildlife and took away chunks of calcified terraces and geysers, while shrewd entrepreneurs charged visitors for tents and bathing in the springs. Help was enlisted from the army, which set up Fort Yellowstone in 1886 and administered it until the National Park Service was established in 1918. Based at Mammoth Springs, the forts 36 remaining buildings comprise the parks administrative headquarters and museum, and its lawns are home to a herd of wild elk. Close to the action  Yellowstone National Park Old Faithful Inn. A few days later were back and spend the night in West Yellowstone, a classic tourist town in Montana that grew up a kilometre from the parks west entrance, the busiest of the five gates. It makes sense to get up early to beat the crowds (they say there is a 1.5-hour queue to get in during the summer), so we book a 6am pick-up with tour operator Yellowstone Safari Company.

Our guide, Nate, reassures us that despite the lashing rain, wildlife are most active in the morning and not the least worried about the weather. Hes hoping well see grey wolf (theres a 50-50 chance) and bear and knows well see bison. Today there are about 6000 bison in the park, remarkable considering there were just a few hundred in the US in the late 1880s, including those on private ranches; millions of the animals, which ironically are the nations emblem, were hunted to near extinction. They are the most dangerous of the parks animals and prolific signs warn visitors to keep a 23-metre distance, despite the lure of the selfie. Grand Prismatic Spring is a highlight. Credit: Adobe Stock We travel along the Gibbon River, then swing left onto the Grand Loop, the main 230-kilometre thoroughfare, resembling a misshapen figure-eight, which travels to the parks major sites. Theres a north and south loop, intersecting at Canyon Village, roughly in the centre. We pull up at Roaring Mountain, a mini-hill pumping out steam from a dozen fumaroles and then pass by Obsidian Cliff. Composed of igneous rock formed by rapidly cooling lava, this landform produced flint as sharp as surgical scalpels used by Native Americans for tool-making some 10,000 years ago. We stop at Mammoth Hot Springs, one of the parks highlights where a series of boardwalks wind past travertine terraces with names like Cleopatra and Minerva, formed when hot springs rise through calcium carbonate and deposit calcite. Not long afterwards, we spot a cinnamon bear, a subspecies of black bear, and two cubs gambolling in the long spring grasses; next we spy roan pronghorn sheep and sandhill cranes and their young, but no wolf. Its a shame, but theres a wolf sanctuary in West Yellowstone, which we later visit.

Overall, we clock up 11 bears for the day, photographed from the recommended distance of at least 91 metres. For two nights we stay at Canyon Village, the largest of the six accommodation centres in the park and an excellent base to explore the south loop, which has the lions share of big-ticket attractions. Next day I stand on the north rim of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, which I didnt even know existed; this gorge 32 kilometres long, 305 metres deep and 1200 metres at its widest point, was created by a volcanic eruption 630,000 years ago. Dozens of hiking trails wind around it, and lookouts provide panoramic views. We opt for the short but seriously steep route down to Red Rock Point for a close-up view of the Lower Falls (the higher of two falls at 93 metres), which plunge into the Yellowstone River. Later we take the Brink of the Upper Falls walk to stand a metre above the edge of this thunderous cascade. Dont adjust your screen  the rainbow delights of Grand Prismatice Spring up close. Credit: iStock From the canyon, we drive to Mud Volcano, another geothermal pocket with a wealth of sights, like Dragons Mouth Spring, where waves of hot water ebb and flow through a cavern producing a roaring sound. The path is flanked by Cooking Hillside where the trees have indeed been cooked by steam. Early explorers called this the most repulsive and terrifying sight. Again, my hearts in my mouth, not because I fear falling in or because I hate the smell, but because we see that bison are on the move. They are milling in the car park and some venture onto the boardwalk and rangers are issuing instructions to keep clear.

We skedaddle and head to the Grand Prismatic Spring, in the Midway Geyser Basin, a park favourite and my pick of the sights as well. It takes its name from the brilliant colours at its perimeter  pink, orange, brown and green  formed by thermophiles or heat-loving microorganisms, and the iridescent blue waters at its centre. With a 113-metre diameter, it is the third largest in the world, after Frying Pan Lake in New Zealand and Dominicas Boiling Lake. With 13,000 geothermal features, Yellowstone is a massive hotspot. But no visit is complete without taking a seat, a safe 100 metres away, from the most famous geyser and Yogi Bears favourite, Old Faithful. As predicted, 90 minutes after the previous eruption, it blows, sending a plume of boiling water 40 metres into the air, as its steam drifts across the landscape in the late afternoon breeze. We gasp, applaud, then head into Old Faithful Lodge for a farewell drink. THE DETAILS FLY

Bozeman International Airport, Montana, is 144 kilometres from the north entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Delta and United Airlines have services from Australia, with several connections. See delta.com/; united.com
Dallas: A Southwest Airlines passenger flight in April came within 400 feet (120 metres) of slamming into the ocean off the coast of Hawaii after weather conditions forced pilots to bypass a landing attempt.

The Boeing 737 Max 8 jet briefly dropped at an abnormally high rate of more than 4000 feet per minute before the flight crew pulled up to avoid disaster, according to a memo that Southwest distributed to pilots last week, which was seen by Bloomberg News.

The US is moving to fast-track the recertification of the Boeing 737 MAX. Credit: AP

No one was injured on the flight, which safely returned to its departure airport in Honolulu.

After inquiries from Bloomberg, the US Federal Aviation Administration said it was investigating the incident.
Jacob Beltran covers crime, breaking news and general assignments for the Express-News. He can be reached at jbeltran@express-news.net.

A San Antonio native, Jacob began his journalism career in 2010. He's worked for the student-run newspaper for San Antonio College, The Ranger, and for Texas A&M University-San Antonio, The Mesquite.

He enjoys video games, photography and exploring during his free time.
Tourism and Westport have long been comfortable bed-fellows and a simple mention to anyone of this enchanting visitor hotspot generally gives rise to personal accounts of lovely experiences enjoyed in this must-see West Mayo destination.

But now a tourism chief has thrown down the gauntlet to those operating in the hospitality sector in Westport to think bigger and reach further, beyond the already successful domestic tourism market, to cast their eyes at gaining a cut of a much larger market, worth over 6 billion annually, in the form of overseas tourism.

Alice Mansergh, chief executive of Tourism Ireland, was guest speaker at the well-attended Westport Tourism Organisation annual general meeting, held in the Sean Staunton Room at Westport Town Hall on Monday, May 27 last. Ms Mansergh advised that visitors to Ireland are now looking for lived experiences of the Irish way of life on their travels to Ireland, whether that be following along the path of the Wild Atlantic Way, which in recent times has enjoyed huge promotional success through Hollywood movies such as The Banshees of Inisherin and the recently released Irish Wish on Netflix. Alternatively, they want to dig in deep and get involved in activities that characterise Irish life, such as collecting turf from the bog and baking Irish soda bread, in order to be able to return home with new insights and a small sense of what it is to be Irish.

Ireland is all about getting out and about, slow tourism, spending time in local communities, enjoying traditional music. There is progress to be made but also so many stories to be told, she said.

Overseas bonanza

Opening her presentation, the Tourism Ireland chief said she had just come from Westport House where it was lovely to see all the developments taking place as the Estate and Resort prepared to officially launch its new Westport Adventure Park offering.

On the role of Tourism Ireland, the chief executive said the body was set up in the wake of the Good Friday Agreement to market Ireland, including Northern Ireland, as a tourism product overseas and that it works hand-in-hand with Failte Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland, which support development of the domestic tourism product.

Overseas tourism is worth 6 billion per annum to the economy across the island and supports over 300,000 jobs, 70% of which are outside the cities. Everything you do to develop your destination makes it a job for us to market overseas, she said.

She further revealed that 67% of the Tourism Ireland target audience is already aware of Ireland and that "year-on-year we see an increase in overseas tourists and expect the same this year, with levels now having returned to above pre-Covid times".

Hotel occupancy is also above and beyond pre-Covid, although we all know the space of accommodation available to tourism has changed," Ms Mansergh remarked. "Regarding air access, 90% arrive via air and again it has recovered to pre-Covid levels, which makes Ireland unique and this year, it will be 5% ahead of 2023 and will be 14% up on markets like the UK. So we should be really proud of how we are getting people on to the island after the pandemic.

Alice Mansergh, CEO, Tourism Ireland, speaking at the AGM of Westport Tourism Organisation. Picture: Frank Dolan

Sustainable tourism

Noting Westports main success as a destination for domestic visitors, the Tourism Ireland chief suggested the popular resort could additionally tap into the overseas market by staging innovative annual and seasonal events, such as around the celebration of Hallowe'en, which she stated is really an "Irish tradition dating back 2,000 years and thus belongs to Ireland". She challenged those in the room to "have a think of how you would bring people from across the world to Westport to celebrate Hallowe'en and get a feel of why Ireland is special at this time of year".

We think there is huge potential for Hallowe'en. In the US, it is more celebrated but not everybody knows it originated here in Celtic culture and so we need to reclaim it.

Revealing Tourism Ireland is set to launch an autumn festival under the banner Home for Hallowe'en, she said: This is an invitation to everybody here to be part of this.

Pointing out that hotels in Ireland have 80% occupancy in the summer months but only 70% in October, she added: There is great pick-up on St Patricks Day and the recent St Brigids Day promotions. There was a 230 million reach over St Patricks Week when we invited everyone around the world to feel a little bit Irish - one of our surveys also showed that up to four times more people were researching Ireland during these weeks.

Ms Mansergh also highlighted how sustainable tourism is now an important selling point, with a recent survey revealing 50% would pay more for such offerings. She then announced that Tourism Ireland will be launching an All-Ireland assurance scheme this year, awarding badges to tourism businesses "that have made great strides in sustainable tourism".

"It will be a badge of honour showing you are focusing on our green potential, that we can then promote through our events and marketing, she said.

New thinking

As it happens, new thinking on selling the Westport product was also highlighted by the Westport Tourism Organisation, as chairman Donal OShea revealed it has started to market attractions beyond Westport for tourists to feed into, thus improving the lived experience offering for visitors throughout Mayo that simultaneously promotes the entire region.

This is following on from a Failte Ireland conference last year that gave us the idea to expand outside of Westport to show people who come to Westport what is also there for them to see and do, which benefits everybody in return," he said.

One local councillor who in recent times has been calling for a new Wow Factor in the town is Christy Hyland. He claims that Westport is "tired looking" and he reiterated the point at the tourism AGM.

We are certainly an award-wining town and have won many awards over the years but we are not progressing more and more as we should," he remarked.

While staying in the comfort zone is never recommended for those seeking growth, happily, Cllr Peter Flynn was able to point out numerous good news tourism developments for the area in recent times, and was also able to share some just-announced great news, as he reported that following a workshop that morning on the Westport Local Area Plan (LAP), it had been agreed that the long-mooted marina development project at The Quay, would now be officially included in the plan - and would, therefore, as Marine Working Group member Alex Blackwell pointed out, "finally, proceed".

Wild Atlantic Way success

Ms Mansergh noted that the Wild Atlantic Way is now "an award-winning destination on our hands, that has won so many awards including from Lonely Planet and the National Geographic". She said that Tourism Ireland also works in conjunction with Screen Ireland on the many new films being produced along its route, and showed a clip of presenter Julia Bradbury on Channel 4, as she told viewers of her Irish Journey series that: Ireland has captured the imagination of the world. I defy anyone to come here and not just to smile, the magic never stops in this enchanting country.

Ms Mansergh added: We tend to film behind the scenes and gain publicity from that and then market what the locations in those films were and why you should visit them. We have already co-produced 22 long-form films showing what the route offers and we also bring international journalists here, which all adds up. Over the last 10 years, this publicity as advertising would have cost one billion euros, so you can see the power of earned media simply through marketing the Western Way route and stories around it.

Noting that 2024 marks the 10-year anniversary of the Wild Atlantic Way, she added that Tourism Ireland has a "whole series of promotional videos made to mark the milestone", showing a clip of one with the catch-line: Fill your heart with Ireland' and 'Discover more at Ireland.com'.

The attendance at the annual general meeting of Westport Tourism Organisation in the local Town Hall. Picture: Frank Dolan

Partnerships and support

In order to lock in growth, Ms Mansergh also said that partnerships, which mark much of the success of Westports tourism industry, was the way to go, adding: A key piece will be having air and sea access partners market routes focusing on regional airports to bring people straight into the Wild Atlantic Way; 38% arriving at Shannon are already heading straight there and we love to market where the route is viable, stimulate demand and bring people straight in. There is nothing like local tour guides working together with local businesses with a saleable attraction. We put these in touch with an international clientele and to date we have facilitated about 25,000 of such commercial meetings.

Reaching out to local tourism businesses, the Tourism Ireland chief executive pointed out that "to increase the value of overseas of tourism is our goal", adding: We want to do this by inspiring visitors to come here and by strengthening our partnerships with tourism operators. We are inspiring visitors with advertising and publicity campaigns, not just to be aware of Ireland but to consider coming and booking their trip. We have activities running across 14 markets creating over a billion marketing opportunities a year. We want people to take visiting Ireland from their bucket list destinations and bring them right through to discovering our hidden gems.

Offering suggestions as to how those operating in the tourism sector in Westport and Mayo could get involved in the drive to attract the overseas market, the tourism chief advised: Share your stories and content on our social channels; join webinars and e-zines for insights and get involved as local businesses at overseas sales events. Also, when people have visited, the journey is not over. We want them to follow us online and become advocates for Ireland; we talk to 20,000 people daily and that amplifies once they spread the message out on their own social media platforms."

Noting that individual stories and content can be uploaded to the websites, she added: You are all now invited to be part of that.

The presentation was warmly welcomed as "very enlightening and inspiring" by WTO chairman Donal OShea while WTO secretary Muriel Barry concluded: This was a very positive talk that gave attendees a belief that tourism in Ireland and Mayo has a great future - and the best is yet to come!

For further information, see www.touirismireland.com/opportunities and www.westporttourism.com.
There has been a major archaeological development in Ballina in recent days as the lost site of Ardnaree Castle has now been located and given protected status by the National Monument Service of Ireland, due to the initiative, insight and persistence of a team of Ballina volunteers.

Building on research and evidence presented as part of the Battle of Ardnaree documentary, produced by the Ballina Community Clean-Up Group in 2021, volunteers under the banner of the Ard na Riagh Preservation Group have produced indisputable evidence that Ardnaree Castle once stood tall on Palmyra Hill on the east bank of the River Moy in Carrowcushlaun West townland, 100 metres west of St Michaels Church on Church Road.

This site location is referred to in medieval texts as Ard na Riagh (The Hill of Executions) from where Ardnaree takes its name and is the founding stone of Ballina town. Hitherto, the town was widely considered to have evolved around the establishment of the Augustinian Abbey in 1427, but this development has reset the town's origins to at least 150 years earlier. In a history-making event, Ardnaree Castle is now offered the same protection as the nearby Augustinian Abbey.

Ardnaree Castle can be considered a site of some significance given the frequency of annalistic references to a site that was regularly contested and usurped throughout the high and late medieval period. The documentary sources provide evidence that the Anglo-Normans built a fortification at the site between 1235 and 1266 and it remained in English hands until 1371, when it was taken by the O Dowds. Between 1371 and 1614, the site was contested by the ODowds of the Barony of Tireragh and the Bourkes of Tirawley on opposite sides of the River Moy, and it was in the possession of Thomas Bourke in the year 1614. During this period the Battle of Ardnaree (1586) took place at or within the environs of the site, where 3,000 Scottish mercenaries and their families, half of them women and children, lost their lives at the hands of Sir Richard Bingham and English forces.

The historical references to the occupation of the castle cease after 1614, but cartographic sources depicting a castle as well as several associated structures inform us that the castle survived at the site until the latter half of the 18th century. The last known reference to the site is from 1829 when it is reported the castle was in ruins with only fragments of walls remaining above ground. However, despite the fact that all visible above-ground evidence of the castle site has been removed, the potential for sub-surface structural remains as well as associated artefacts and occupational evidence remains high.

Following the Ard na Riagh Preservation Group detailed submission report to the National Monument Service highlighting these research findings, the site of Ardnaree Castle was officially put on the map on June 6th. The recognition and status of this historic castle site guarantees its protection under the National Monuments Acts 1930-2004. This hugely significant status is excellent news for potential heritage tourism in the north Mayo capital.

Ard na Riagh Preservation Group consists of Martin Devaney and Dermot Rice, who originally managed the Battle of Ardnaree project for Ballina Community Clean-Up Group, from which the initial evidence of the location of the now-confirmed castle site was identified. Colm McLoughlin who has a Masters in urban historical geography from the University of Galway and is history officer with the Ardnaree Sarsfields GAA club brings a wealth of experience in local history research to the team.

The team is completed by the expertise of Ballina native Thomas Joyce, who has a Masters in Landscape Archaeology from the University of Galway and has more than 20 years of experience as a research and field archaeologist in Ireland and the UK. All four are volunteering their services to the development of this special project.

Ard na Riagh Preservation Group paid tribute to the local landowners at and around the Ardnaree Castle site, who, they said, were the proud custodians of the town's earliest heritage and hoped that they would ensure its conservation for future generations. Thanks are also extended to all who have contributed to this project to date. Further developments are expected from the group in the very near future.
A plaque has been unveiled in Ballina in memory of a teenager who died after he was shot by the Royal Irish Constabulary over 140 years ago.

Patrick Melody was aged just 14 when he was mortally wounded in Ballina by the RIC on May 5th, 1882. The commemoration event, held by the National Graves Association (NGA) and the McLoughlin family, who are descendants of Patrick Melody, included guest speakers Nicky McLoughlin, local historian PJ Clarke and Aidan Lambert, secretary of the Invincibles Reinterment Committee.

The plaque was unveiled at Pearse Street on the building currently occupied by the Ballina Neighbourhood Youth Project, adjacent to Supermac's.

PJ Clarke gave an account of how local people were celebrating the release from prison of Michael Davitt and other Land League members when the incident occurred. A band of young boys were beating a drum and playing tin whistles when they were stopped by the RIC and the instruments were confiscated. The local people tried to negotiate the return of the instruments which led to an altercation with the police.

Under the orders of Sub-Inspector Ball, the RIC fired several shots into the crowd, wounding seven boys all under the age of 16. Patrick Melody died from his injuries at the workhouse hospital in Ballina on May 21st.

Aidan Lambert highlighted other killings by the RIC in the latter part of 1881 which contributed to the establishment of the Invincibles to hit back at the British authorities in Dublin Castle. The Invincibles assassinated Lord Frederick Cavendish, the chief secretary for Ireland and Thomas Henry Burke, the permanent undersecretary within 24 hours of the Ballina shootings.

Michael Conmy, the NGAs Mayo representative, laid a wreath at the ceremony. The wreath was later moved to the Melody family plot in Leigue Cemetery where Patrick is buried.
Congratulations to Rev (Dr) John Cunningham, Pullronaghan, Kiltimagh who celebrated the Golden Jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood for the Diocese of Phoenix, USA on Saturday evening, June 1 last.

A special Mass was celebrated in the Church of the Holy Family on that date, followed by dinner and dancing at the Park Hotel. Among the 200 plus in attendance were 70 Yanks who came from America, as well as others from England and Canada.

Fr John had his first dance of the night with his beloved aunt, Nora Rooney, his mother's youngest sister, who lives across the River Glore from him. At 95, she can still dance and tell a good story. She is the last of that generation in their family and is a cherished treasure to them all.

Fr John tells how it all began for him way back when he was a young boy:

It started out in a tent of canvas tarps, which regularly collapsed in a storm. Then in 1959, when I was 10 - after urgent pleas - my dad built me a proper church, sturdy and made of plywood. I was over the moon with my backyard chapel, playing Mass, and dreaming of becoming a real priest one day.

"I hung a large crucifix over the altar and plaques of DeGrazias Stations of the Cross on the side walls. St Patricks statue was enshrined, along with framed pictures of the Sacred Heart and the Blessed Mother. My sister made vestments and mom supplied the port wine. Using an empty aspirin bottle, I pressed circular shapes out of slices of white bread for hosts. With Bible and missal, candles and incense, holy water, and songbooks at hand I was all set.

"Sometimes, kids on the block would assist. But I had to organise them, drilling them on their Latin responses and when to ring the bell. "When a family friend or neighbour wouldnt make it to Mass of a Sunday morning, the word went out that they could catch my Mass in the afternoon. And so, I often had a tiny congregation, on lawn chairs, joining in.

"Looking back, it was creative and fun, but also meaningful. For my childhood enactments in that little church were a sign of where my life would lead. In 1981, the little church was moved to 'Carraigcoise', my cabin near Flagstaff, Arizona - a few yards from my parents grave.

"My mom used to say, 'Signs is on him', meaning I was marked for the priesthood from the start. My folks hailed from Mayo: Delia McNicholas (Kiltimagh) and Jim Cunningham (Foxford). I was their sixth child, the baby. Anyway, it has been a wonderful journey. Now Ive come full circle and returned to Mayo.

"At 16, I was electrified by the thought of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and almost became a Jesuit. Then in my mid-life, I was influenced by C.G. Jung. These were my two paramount mentors, who have fundamentally shaped my thinking. I founded two parishes in my time, and I continue to teach religious studies online for Arizona State University.

"We are on the cusp of a new paradigm, one based on contemporary cosmology. Scientific discoveries have brought us breathtaking new insights into evolution and the universe. I hope to write a book helping Catholics to make sense of it all and how our ancient faith must adapt to reality as understood in the 21st century."
Weather Alert

Bulletin: ...FROST ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 9 AM EDT FRIDAY... * WHAT...Temperatures as low as 33 degrees will result in frost formation. * WHERE...A portion of central Pennsylvania. * WHEN...From 2 AM to 9 AM EDT Friday. * IMPACTS...Frost could harm sensitive outdoor vegetation. Sensitive outdoor plants may be killed if left uncovered. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Take steps now to protect tender plants and vegetation from the cold. Potted plants should be brought inside. The frost will occur mainly in valley locations. &&

Info:

Type: Frost Advisory

start_time_local: 2024-10-11T02:00:00-04:00

end_time_local: 2024-10-11T09:00:00-04:00

county_name:

state: PA

headline: Frost Advisory from FRI 2:00 AM EDT until FRI 9:00 AM EDT

county_fips:

category: Met

url:

urgency: Expected

severity: Minor

certainty: Likely

geographicname: Schuylkill County

state_name: Pennsylvania
Support your local hospice and win big in the Summer Super Draw!

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Jun 15th, 2024

A Wrexham-based hospice is giving members of the public the chance to win incredible prizes and support its work at its upcoming Summer Super Draw.

Taking place on Friday 21 June the annual Nightingale House Hospice event has a top prize available of 5,000.

Funding raised through the lottery helps to support the vital care and support the hospice provides to people in the community.

Mrs James, the winner of the Nightingale House Christmas Super Draw in 2023, said: Winning the Christmas Super Draw made the world of difference to me.

I was so lucky to win 3,000 on the Nightingale House Lottery, and I put it towards going on a holiday of a lifetime to Singapore, Australia, and a 13-day cruise around New Zealand. It was a definite windfall.

I support the hospice as I have had cancer myself and know so many people who have been supported by the hospice movement.

Without this facility to support people, the outcome for many at their lowest would be so different.

Giving to this charity makes a difference to so many, and if, like me, you are lucky enough to win, it can make a difference to you too.

Amanda Kinsey, Lottery Promotions Manager, said: We are so grateful for the ongoing support we receive from our lottery supporters and the wider community with our annual Super Draws.

Your support means that year on year, the Summer Super Draw raises an average of 30,000 towards patient care.

Thank you! Dont forget, you need to be in it to win it!

Playing the lottery and participating in the Summer Super Draw significantly contribute to the hospices funding.

In 2023, these contributions accounted for 11% of the hospices income, amounting to 433,653. This year, Nightingale House hopes to reach 466,798.

Nationally, lotteries provide a 7% income for hospices, according to a 2023 report by Hospice UK.

By participating in the Summer Super Draw, you will have a chance to win substantial prizes and play a crucial role in supporting the compassionate care Wrexham Hospice provides to those in need.

The winning ticket numbers will be announced on Friday, 21 June.

Tickets can be purchased online via the Nightingale House Hospice website, over the telephone at 01978 313134, or in person at Wrexham Hospice.

The final date for entering the draw is 11:59pm on Monday, 17 June, 2024.
Some 5,000 Renault workers at the Ayrton Senna Industrial Complex (CAS) in Sao Jose dos Pinhais, in the metropolitan region of Curitiba, in the southern Brazilian state of Parana, are continuing their struggle in defiance of the unions attempts to end the movement with a defeat.

Striking Renault workers at the Ayrton Senna Industrial Complex (CAS) in Sao Jose dos Pinhais [Photo: simec.com.br]

Workers voted for a new 24-hour strike on June 11, just a week after the Metalworkers Union of Greater Curitiba (SMC) ended a 29-day strike.

At the time, SMC president Sergio Butka said that the end of the strike was a vote of confidence by the workers in the company, which committed itself to presenting a new proposal within 72 hours.

The workers primary demand is the hiring of 300 workers to keep up with the intense pace of the production line. Throughout the strike, the company offered to hire 50 workers, and now, after the suspension of the strike, it offered 70, but this was again rejected by a mass assembly, resulting in a new walkout at the factory.

The workers had demonstrated dissatisfaction and anger with conditions at the company during the strike. They rejected the companys proposal three times in a row. In addition to hiring, the movement is also demanding R$30,000 (US$5,600) in profit sharing (PS) and a 6.8 percent pay rise, compared to the R$25,000 (US$4,700) PS and just over a 4 percent pay rise offered by Renault.

Being overworked on the production line has caused workers to fall ill systematically. According to union data published on the Legislative Assembly of Parana website, a thousand workers are currently on leave from the factory due to repetitive strain injuries.

Also, according to the SMC itself, evidence of the current intensity of work is the worker engagement rate on the production line, which is at 95 percent, that is, within the work process, the worker has only 5 percent time to take a breath.

The daily Bem Parana reported that workers cannot leave the production line even for bathroom breaks. According to it, Due to the lack of absentees, there are reports of workers having to wait up to 40 minutes to use the bathroom.

With a daily output of around 800 vehicles, the plant stopped producing 15,545 vehicles during the strike. The movement also affected the Horse engine plant in the same complex as Renault, which has around 600 workers producing 900 engines daily.

To pressure the workers to return to work, Renault/Horse had cut their pay and had the support of the capitalist courts, which ruled the strike illegal.

In the first decision of the Regional Labor Court, on May 9, Judge Marco Antonio Vianna Mansur ordered an immediate return to work, stating that there was a clear appearance of an abusive work stoppage and imposing a daily fine of R$30,000 (US$5,600) on the union if it failed to comply with the decision. As the strike movement continued, on May 17, the Court increased the fine to R$100,000 (US$18,700).

The suspension of this fine was the unions great victory. In ending the 29-day strike, the SMC claimed that the company accepted the proposal to suspend the court injunction against the strike movement.

The Renault plant in Sao Jose dos Pinhais currently has around 5,000 workers, 3,500 of whom are production staff and 1,500 management staff. Thats 2,000 fewer workers than in 2020 when a strike brought the plant to a standstill.

At the time, the workers were mobilizing against a mass layoff by the company. Even then, the workers told the WSWS that they were falling ill because of the intensity of the production line. They also denounced the company for trying to take advantage of the pandemic to discard employees with illnesses or injuries acquired at work.

The strike lasted for 20 days and even faced police repression. The movement ended with the union agreeing to reinstate some of the 747 dismissed workers on the condition that others would give up their jobs through a Voluntary Dismissal Plan.

The current condition of a reduced and over-exploited workforce is the product of a series of defeats led by the union, whose president, Sergio Butka, has revealed himself in recent years to be an essential player for capitalist interests in the region.

The role played by Butka and the SMC was exposed in a statement by the president of Renault in Brazil in December of last year when the company announced R$2 billion (US$370,000) in investments at the plant for the production of a completely new C-SUV with a hybrid engine.

According to the companys website, For this investment cycle, the conditions granted by the state of Parana and the current collective agreement with the Metalworkers Union of the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba (SMC), representing Renault in Brazil, were critical.

As well as being the president of the SMC, Butka is the president of the Metalworkers Federation of Parana (Fetim) and of the Forca Sindical in Parana. Forca Sindical is the countrys second largest trade union federation. While having around 1,700 affiliated unions, its job is to keep workers divided in each of these unions, blocking the unification of their struggles nationally and internationally.

Renault is a French company with plants worldwide and is part of an international race for profits amid a restructuring of the auto industry with a focus on electric and hybrid vehicles. This restructuring has been carried out through a jobs bloodbath internationally.

It is in this context that the struggle of the workers at Renault in Brazil has unfolded. The movement for more jobs at Renault cannot be taken forward by Butka and the SMC. This movement requires the political independence of the workers from the union bureaucracies and the capitalist state, as well as an international orientation, which addresses workers in other factories not only in Brazil but around the world.
Today, hundreds of thousands of people will march against the far right in cities across France, after President Emmanuel Macron reacted to far-right parties gains in the June 9 European elections by dissolving the French parliament and calling snap elections for June 30 and July 7. There is mounting concern among workers and youth over the growth of the neofascist National Rally (RN).

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen speaks as Jordan Bardella, president of the French far-right National Rally, listens at the party election night headquarters. [AP Photo/Lewis Joly]

Immediately after the election was announced, Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the France Unbowed (LFI) party, announced the creation of a New Popular Front. This is a political trap for those seeking to halt the rise of the far right and police-state militarism. It aims to block a struggle for socialism by subordinating workers to a debilitating alliance with parties of capitalist government like the bourgeois Socialist Party (PS), the Stalinist French Communist Party (PCF) and the Greens. These corrupt parties can only lead their followers to disaster.

Speaking of his alliance with the PS and PCF, Melenchon said on June 10:

We spoke today to confront the countrys historic situation after the results of the European elections and the dissolution of the National Assembly. We call for the constitution of a new popular front gathering in an unprecedented form all the humanist, trade union, nongovernmental and citizens left forces.

For the first time since the fall of the Nazi-collaborationist Vichy regime in 1944, the far right is poised to form a government in France. It is moving ever closer to power, moreover, as the NATO powers back genocide in Gaza and unleash their first war against Russia since the Nazi war of annihilation against the Soviet Union.

Macron has called these elections with the first round just before and the second round just after the July 4 snap elections in Britain, and before a July 9 NATO war summit in Washington. This summit will discuss plans by Macron and other officials to escalate the NATO war with Russia in Ukraine. These plans are opposed by 70 percent of the population in France and 80 percent in Germany. Macron aims to use the snap elections to prepare the ruling establishment to wage war on working class opposition at home so it can wage imperialist war abroad.

Melenchon pledges that his Popular Front coalition will now advance a program that makes a clean break, listing measures to be taken during the first 100 days of the Popular Front government. He adds, Our goal is to govern to respond to democratic, ecological and social emergencies and for peace.

But Melenchons Popular Front is not a force for peace and democracy. Its perspective is a government standing on capitalist property relations, defending the interests of French imperialism. It ties workers and youth to the pro-austerity PS, which supports war with Russia under the guise of aid to Ukraine, and whose record of back-channel ties to the far right dates to its foundation in 1971 by the former Nazi-collaborationist Francois Mitterrand.

The term Popular Front is associated with the worst betrayals of the working class. In the 1930s, it supported Stalinist slanders against Trotsky in the Moscow Trials and blocked a struggle of the working class for power and for socialism during the 1936 French general strike. The liberal and social-democratic parliamentarians of the French Popular Front ultimately in their majority voted dictatorial powers to Vichy leader Philippe Petain in 1940.

The first challenge in fighting the resurgence of the far right is to explain how it came to pass. How is it that, in what was long considered one of Europes most left-wing countries, in which a mass movement of armed resistance to Vichy developed in the working class, that the political heirs of Vichy are poised to take power?

It is not that mass fascist paramilitary organizations like the Nazi Brown Shirts or the French Milice have emerged. But unlike fascist leaders of Hitlers era, who had to fight mass communist parties in the working class, the far right today does not need such militias to grow. It gains strength firstly from the imperialist bourgeoisies relentless pursuit of war, austerity, and social inequality, to which the neofascists give the most determined expression.

Moreover, the neofascists feed off the bitterness and confusion produced among workers and middle-class people by decades of betrayals by social democracy, Stalinism and descendants of renegades from Trotskyism.

Melenchons claim that his Popular Fronts policies are new is perhaps his greatest lie of all: It is repeating what Melenchon has done for a half-century.

He began in Pierre Lamberts Organisation communiste internationaliste (OCI) as the OCI broke with the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), the leadership of the world Trotskyist movement. The OCI rejected Trotskyism to instead support the Union of the Left between the PCF and the PS. Melenchon himself joined the PS in 1976.

After Mitterrand took power in 1981 and swiftly abandoned his election promises and instead imposed austerity, Melenchon became a senator. He worked closely with Mitterrand as the PS government joined the US-led war in Iraq in 1990-1991 and helped form the pro-business European Union. After Mitterrand died, Melenchon was a PS minister in the 1997-2002 pro-austerity Plural Left government.

In the 21st century, after the disintegration of the PCFs mass working class base amid the Stalinist dissolution of the Soviet Union, he became a leading promoter of the populist theories of middle-class anti-Marxists. In his 2014 The Era of the People, he wrote that the people takes the place that the revolutionary working class once occupied in the politics of the left. Calling to get beyond socialism, he advocated a peoples revolution, stressing it is not the old socialist revolution.

These anti-worker, anti-socialist and anti-Trotskyist arguments must be rejected. Threats of war and neofascist rule irrefutably show that capitalism is in a mortal crisis. The way forward is for the European and international working class to revive its connections to the heritage of the October Revolution. Workers must take control of world economy and industry from the war-mad capitalist aristocracy before it mounts a military escalation that could trigger a nuclear conflagration.

The far rights rise indicates not the impossibility, but the urgency of the struggle for socialism. Trotsky made this point about the danger of the growth of support for fascism in the mass peasantry of France in the 1930s.

In Whither France, as he fought to found the Fourth International against the Popular Front between Stalinists, social democrats and liberals, he wrote:

It is false, thrice false, to affirm that the present petty bourgeoisie is not going to the working-class parties because it fears extreme measures. Quite the contrary. The lower petty bourgeoisie, its great masses, only see in the working-class parties parliamentary machines. They do not believe in their strength, nor in their capacity to struggle, nor in their readiness this time to conduct the struggle to the end.

Todays rising far-right vote, mainly among rural workers and workers in areas deindustrialized by successive PS governments, does not mean these workers oppose class struggle. Many have joined explosive movements like the 2018-2019 yellow vest protests against social inequality. However, they can only be won from the far right based on a determined, Trotskyist struggle against NATO, Macron and the corrupt bureaucracies of todays Popular Front.

The Parti de legalite socialiste (PES), the French section of the ICFI, advocates the broadest protests and strikes against fascism and imperialist war. Military escalation and austerity will bring Macron and NATO into collision with the workers in France and internationally. But to prosecute this struggle, it is necessary to build rank-and-file organizations of struggle in the working class, opposing fascism and war in an international movement for socialism.
The United States Supreme Court issued six decisions over the last two days as the current term advanced toward its traditional conclusion before the July 4 holiday.

The Supreme Court as composed June 30, 2022 to present. Front row, left to right: Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., Associate Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr., and Associate Justice Elena Kagan. Back row, left to right: Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Associate Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, Associate Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, and Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. [Photo: Fred Schilling, samling av USAs Hyesterett]

One ruling dismissed an injunction against the approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of mifepristone, a medication used to induce abortion during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy but without affirming any future right to access. Another decision struck down a regulation of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives (ATF) that barred the use of bump stocks on semi-automatic assault rifles.

The high court still has 23 cases to decide, virtually all of which could have profound political and social impacts. These include:

Donald Trumps claim that he cannot be prosecuted for crimes committed while carrying out his official duties as president

Whether January 6 insurrectionists can be charged with obstruction

Whether persons subject to domestic violence restraining orders have a Second Amendment right to possess firearms

Whether a municipality can jail the unhoused for sleeping in public

Whether a state can limit abortions during medical emergencies

Whether federal immigration authorities can separate a US citizen from her spouse without any procedure

Three cases involving federal regulatory agencies and three cases involving internet speech.

Thursdays holding dismissing the injunction against mifepristone was based solely on the plaintiffs lack of standing to bring a lawsuit, a fundamental principle arising from the separation of powers. The requirement that plaintiffs have standing forces the federal judiciary to stay in its lane by deciding only actual cases and controversies involving claims of actual injury, thus prohibiting advisory opinions.

Following the Supreme Courts obliteration of the constitutional right to abortion access two years ago in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, a small group of anti-abortion doctors sought a nationwide injunction against mifepristone, access to which was no longer constitutionally protected. The group deliberately filed in the Amarillo Division of the Northern District of Texas, where the only federal judge is Matthew Kacsmaryk, a religious fanatic appointed by Donald Trump, whose result-oriented decision making is well documented and favored by extreme right-wing litigants.

Despite the obvious fact that the plaintiffs had no personal stake in whether other doctors prescribed mifepristone to their own patients, i.e., alleged actual injuries as required by the constitutional requirement of standing, Kacsmaryk enjoined the distribution of mifepristone nationally, supposedly because the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had not conducted adequate testing before approving it in the year 2000, or expanding access in 2016, although decades of studies had established its medical safety.

The reactionary Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, headquartered in New Orleans, upheld Kacsmaryk on the issue of standing but ruled that the FDAs initial approval was outside the statute of limitations and could not be enjoined. The Fifth Circuit affirmed the rest of Kacsmaryks order, thus restricting mifepristone to the first seven weeks of pregnancy and requiring multiple in-person visits with a physician.

The lack of standing is obvious, and the US Supreme Court stayed the Fifth Circuit ruling pending its own review. Thursdays unanimous decision by Justice Brett Kavanaugh rejected the plaintiffs claims that they suffered injury because their own medical practices might somehow be affected by other medical practitioners prescribing mifepristone to their own patients. Kavanaugh called this an unprecedented and limitless approach that would seemingly not end until virtually every citizen had standing to challenge virtually every government action that they do not like.

While legally correct, the decision does not protect access to mifepristone from reactionary state laws or future FDA actions. It has no effect on the Supreme Courts earlier elimination of the constitutional right to abortion access. The fact that the Supreme Court had to step in and vacate such outrageous lower court rulings, however, is itself revealing in regard to the growing disregard for basic legal norms among neo-fascist judges.

In another notable ruling, on Friday the Supreme Court invalidated by a vote of 6-3 the 2018 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) regulation banning bump stocks, which are sold to replace the fixed stocks on commercially available semi-automatic assault rifles, such as the AR-15, to make them capable of continuous fire with a single trigger pull.

The National Firearms Act of 1934 outlawed private possession of fully automatic firearmslabeled machineguns in the statutewhich are defined as weapons capable of continuous fire by holding the trigger down. The bump stock emulates a classic machine gun by harnessing a legal semi-automatics recoil energy to repeatedly bump the shooters stationary trigger finger, creating continuous fire.

The ATF enacted the ban after the horrific October 1, 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada, that resulted in 58 deaths and more than 500 wounded, the most deadly mass shooting in US history. Investigation revealed that the shooter used bump stocks attached to legally purchased semi-automatic assault rifles to inflict the carnage.

Justice Clarence Thomas wrote on behalf of the six right-wing justices that a semiautomatic rifle equipped with a bump stock is not a machinegun because it cannot fire more than one shot by a single function of the trigger. And even if it could, it would not do so automatically. ATF therefore exceeded its statutory authority by issuing a Rule that classifies bump stocks as machineguns.

On behalf of the three moderates, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote that this was an easy case because an assault rifle with a bump stock automatically shoots more than one shot with a single trigger pull. Todays decision to reject that ordinary understanding will have deadly consequences, Sotomayor wrote. The majoritys artificially narrow definition hamstrings the Governments efforts to keep machineguns from gunmen like the Las Vegas shooter.

While the opinions of Thomas and Sotomayor go into detail about the mechanics of weapons, neither addresses the expertise of federal regulatory agencies such as the ATF to construe relevant congressional enactments on such technical issues. The justices disregard for the ATF is part of the broader attack on regulatory agencies favored by business interests seeking relief from all restrictions on their ability to generate profits. The Supreme Court will have more to say on those issues shortly.

In another case decided Thursday, the Supreme Court unanimously reversed an injunction obtained by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and affirmed by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The injunction compelled Starbucks, the gargantuan coffee shop chain, to continue to employ baristas who alleged they were terminated for trying to unionize, while their claims of unfair labor practices were under administrative review by the NLRB.

The case was sent back to the lower courts with instructions to reconsider the injunction under a stricter standard more favorable to employers.

The alignment of the Supreme Courts so-called liberal wing, all women nominated by Democrats, with the six right-wing justices, all nominated by Republicans, against the Starbucks workers demonstrates the dominance of capitalist class interests across the high courts narrow political spectrum.

Finally, in a 5-4 decision authored by Justice Samuel Alito, the Supreme Court on Friday reversed two lower court rulings that allowed foreign nationals living in the United States to challenge removal orders issued in their absence on the basis that they did not receive the statutorily required notice of the removal hearings. Justice Ketanji Jackson wrote the dissent, which Neal Gorsuch joined along with Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.
A meeting of Western Sydney University (WSU) staff and students last week voted to form a rank-and-file committee to oppose the job destruction and restructuring at WSU College. To join the inaugural meeting of the committee, to be held on zoom this Wednesday June 19 at noon, contact: cfpe.aus@gmail.com

In what can only be described as a case study in bureaucratic censorship, National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) representatives yesterday removed a well-known rank-and-file union member from a Western Sydney University (WSU) College staff meeting called to discuss the sweeping jobs cuts and pro-business restructuring at the college.

Gabriela Zabala

As soon as the online Zoom meeting commenced, Gabriela Zabala was ejected. She received a message saying the host had removed her, without any explanation. Her repeated attempts to rejoin the meeting were also rejected, leaving her colleagues perplexed and concerned about what had happened to her.

The unions move badly backfired, however, once members were able to contact Zabala and she sent them the screenshot of her removal.

Screen shot of the Zoom meeting removal notice sent Gabriela Zabala [Photo by Gabriela Zabala]

Two members in the meeting then introduced a procedural motion demanding Zabala be allowed to rejoin the meeting, which was passed by a majority. That vote is a blow to the unions hostile efforts to prevent a democratic discussion on the need to fight against managements job destruction of WSU College staff.

Not only is Zabala one of the educators who faces losing her job at WSU College, WSUs wholly-owned feeder college. She is widely-known and respected among her colleagues for taking a leading role in initiating the formation of a WSU rank-and-file committee to launch a campaign across WSU and the university sector to prevent the job destruction.

The sparse attendance at the meetingless than 20 out of a workforce of some 200also showed how little support the NTEU has at WSU College. That is because of its history of betrayals of members interests, and now its acceptance of WSUs destructive change proposal.

The union has reached a deal with management to modify the final change plan to facilitate job losses and restructuring by encouraging staff to apply for so-called voluntary redundancies, which is intended to stifle staff members opposition.

Trade union bureaucrats have used this method for decades to pressure workers into quitting and taking miserable retrenchment packages to help employers get them out the door.

Yesterdays NTEU meeting itself was poorly advertised. It was only confirmed by emails from NTEU branch president David Burchell on Wednesday afternoon, a day before management, with the unions go-ahead, released the final version of its blueprint on Thursday.

The change proposal

This administration/union proposalincorporating tenuous offers to apply for redundancy packages and other modifications proposed by the NTEUunderscores the necessity to take the dispute out of the hands of the union apparatus.

The plan confirms the overall elimination of the equivalent of 17.6 full-time positions (17.6 FTE), saving WSU $2.8 million a year. This includes the disestablishment of all 20 FTE Learning and Teaching Coordinator positions, the disestablishment of all 16.8 FTE First Year Experience Coordinator positions and the reduction of teacher positions from 44.6 to 28.5 FTE.

Educators will still be forced to compete directly against each other in a spill and fill selection process, for the remaining jobs. The heaviest cuts will remain to the arts, English and humanities subjects, thus depriving students of access to critical, broad-based courses, rather than the narrow vocational ones demanded by employers.

Educators who are selected for employment can be pushed into lower-paying posts, with their present salary level only promised for 12 months.

The plan also confirms that all subjects in the re-badged Destination College, as of 1 January 2025, will be taught as four-week intensive blocks. This block method means even more onerous workloads for teachers and coordinators, with all assessment and marking to be completed in just one month.

It also makes it virtually impossible for casual teachers, many of whom rely on semester-by-semester work at other institutions to make ends meet, and further erodes the quality of the courses for students.

The document asserts that the restructuring is needed to ensure the colleges long-term economic sustainability. The NTEU is enforcing this agenda in line with its 2022 enterprise agreement with WSU management, in which it pledged to assist the College to remain competitive in the market, which meant it may need to change its structure, operations, and priorities to meet business requirements.

Zabala, when she was eventually readmitted after 40 minutes to the scheduled one-hour meeting, was given just three minutes to speak, preventing any real discussion on her resolution, which she read out to the meeting:

We call on all staff, whether NTEU members or not, to reject the WSU managements change proposal, and demand the retention of all jobs, with no loss of pay or conditions. We resolve to launch a campaign across WSU as a whole and throughout the university sector to win the support of all our academic and professional colleagues to defeat the destruction of our jobs and conditions. We support the formation of a rank-and-file committee to organise this campaign.

Zabala objected to her exclusion from the meeting, saying it was completely anti-democratic and showed how unions treated their members.

Despite the majority vote overturning Zabala's exclusion, union officials provided no explanation for their action. At a previous meeting, another rank-and-file committee participant, WSU educator Mike Head and NTEU member, was likewise evicted on the pretext that he was not employed by WSU College.

Yesterdays meeting finished in a mood of confusion and disillusionment, sowed by the NTEU, with members asking numerous questions about managements plan. Burchell said he could not answer the questions, instead asking members to email them to him.

Burchell has previously falsely accused Zabala of exploiting the WSU College cuts to recruit members to the Committee for Public Education (CFPE), the educators rank-and-file network, and the Socialist Equality Party (SEP).

Zabala and Head have always explained that they are supporters of the CFPE and SEP. They have pointed out that it is no accident that socialists are organising the campaign against the cuts, necessitated by the NTEUs refusal to do so.

That is because taking a stand for quality education and the defence of jobs and conditions means rejecting the dictates of management, governments and the corporate elite, as well as the union bureaucrats who enforce their demands.

The final management plan claims that the College enrolments will have dropped by 43 percent by the end of 2024 from 2021, but that is not the fault or responsibility of the over-worked staff and their students.

As the document admits, the restructuring is driven by increased competition. It states: An increase in alternative entry programs, lowering of university entry requirements and growth in alternative options across the post-secondary education sector are creating increased competitive pressures, impacting student options and decisions.

This ever-greater scramble by university managements for enrolments underlines the Albanese Labor governments continued under-funding of universities, which has forced managements to increasingly depend on fees from international students, whose numbers the government is now slashing.

According to various reports, as many as 8,000 jobs could be destroyed in the tertiary education sector during the next six months as a result. That shows the difficulty that displaced WSU College staff will face if they accept the NTEUs advice to seek redundancy offers.

It also demonstrates that the battle at WSU College is a critical one for educators everywhere. If the NTEU-backed restructuring is not defeated it will set a benchmark for the entire sector.

Labors financial squeeze is being intensified by its pro-business Universities Accord, which demands the wholesale reshaping of tertiary education to satisfy the specific employment and research needs of big business and the preparations for war, such as the AUKUS military pact against China.

The first task of the WSU Rank-and-File Committee will be to organise an information campaign throughout WSU and other universities and call for support for a university-wide and broader campaign to defeat the restructuring and job cuts.

We call on WSU staff and students who agree with this standwhether union members or notto join this Wednesdays meeting and help launch and build the committee. To attend the meeting, to be held on Zoom at noon, or send a message of support, contact the CFPE:

Email: cfpe.aus@gmail.com

Facebook: facebook.com/commforpubliceducation

Twitter: @CFPE_Australia
Extensive rain storms battered South Florida this week causing widespread flooding across the region. Beginning on Tuesday, rain totals reached up to 19 inches in Hollywood and 20 inches in northern Miami, nearly double the monthly average precipitation in Miami County. Rain totals along the Gulf Coast were reported at 6-7 inches in several counties and up to 10-11 inches in others.

Two women react as they see flooding on their street, Thursday, June 13, 2024, in North Miami, Florida. [AP Photo/Marta Lavandier]

The heavy rain caused several feet of flooding in many areas. Images from several cities show cars stranded on the street and people wading nearly waist deep amid high flood waters, while nearly 1,200 flights to and from airports in Southern Florida were canceled or delayed due to the storms.

Chuck Watson, a disaster modeler for Enki Research, told Bloomberg that the total damage from the storm could cost more that $1 billion.

In response to the storms, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency and Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis each declared local states of emergency.

Meteorologists expect the storm system to abate over the weekend. The bulk of the rain fell over Tuesday and Wednesday with smaller storms on Thursday and scattered rainfall on Friday. Despite the breakup of the storm system, flash flooding risk still remained high, with official flood warnings remaining in effect until Friday evening.

The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that even smaller rainfall events could cause flash flooding because of the several days of rain that saturated the soil. With soils soaked and many areas still flooded, there is nowhere for additional rain to drain to, creating the potential for severe flash flooding events, with the NWS expecting some areas to receive up to 4 more inches of rainfall on Friday. Additional rain could materialize in the coming days as storm systems develop in the waters around Cuba.

With the lower risk of flooding, the Weather Prediction Center decreased the flood threat level from the maximum of four earlier this week to a three, keeping flood watches in effect for over 7 million people.

According to Florida Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie, there have not been any reports of destroyed homes and few severely damaged homes and no deaths attributed to the flooding. However, two people did die and three others were injured in a car crash on Wednesday in Collier County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol, attributed to the wet weather conditions. The NWS reports that nearly half of flood-related deaths in the United States involve a vehicle every year.

The heavy rains and flooding come just over a year after similar flooding events last April. Several days of intense rain in mid-April 2023 brought precipitation totals to 14-20 inches of rain across the Fort Lauderdale metro region and a high of 25.91 inches in Fort Lauderdale itself.

This means southern Floridians have seen two 1,000-year rain events in back-to-back years. A 1,000-year event is a recurrence interval, defined as a 0.1 percent chance of occurring in any given year or a likelihood of occurring once every 1,000 years. The statistical likelihood of such events is based on the long-term history of weather events, generally going back 30 or more years. But accelerating climate change, driven by irrational capitalist industrial production, is altering the frequency of such events.

This latest storm was fueled by record-breaking surface water temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. Recent research has shown that when surface temperatures warm from 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, tropical rainfall increases five times. Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) show that surface water temperatures in the Caribbean and around Florida have been around 85 degrees this week and have been well above average by several degrees since January.

Record-breaking temperatures are fueling predictions for a severe hurricane season this year. Colorado State University (CSU) released its hurricane forecast for 2024 in April with a prediction for 11 hurricanes this year, its highest prediction ever. CSUs previous high prediction was nine hurricanes in 2005, one of the most active hurricane years in recorded history and the year of the catastrophic Hurricane Katrina. Since 1851, the first year records began, only seven years have had 11 or more hurricanes.

In total, the CSU report predicts a total of 23 named storms. If accurate, it would be the second largest number of named storms recorded behind 2005 with 28.

This is reflective of a changing climate that is creating an increasing number of extreme weather events. Of the top 10 recorded years for hurricanes and tropical storms in the United States, six have been in the 20th century.

Over the past several decades increasing global temperatures have increased ocean temperatures by nearly one degree Celsius. Increased heat adds moisture to weather events and increases the energy in tropical storms. In the United States this has translated to worse hurricane seasons and increased damage from storms and flooding.

Amy C. Clement, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Miami, told the New York Times, just like most of climate change, its the ratcheting up of either the frequency or the intensity of things that do happen normally, like heat waves. So theres more of them, or they last longer.

And this is a global process. Catastrophic flooding in Brazil earlier this month killed 75 people as three months of rain fell in just two weeks. As the storms battered Florida, even worse rain and flooding displaced thousands of people in Chile, including in the capital Santiago, prompting the government to declare a disaster zone. Intense rainfall in northern Colombia also resulted in a state of emergency as thousands were left stranded last week.

As climate change fuels extreme rain and flooding events it is also causing severe droughts. While northern Colombia suffered from flooding the capital Bogota begs for rain with reservoirs at less than 20 percent capacity. Other major cities around the world, such as Mexico City and Johannesburg, South Africa are facing similar levels of water shortage.

In regions suffering from extreme drought the soil dries and becomes hydrophobic, or resistant to water infiltration. When the rains finally do come, they can cause severe flash flooding as water fails to percolate into the soil.

Inaction by all the capitalist governments of the world is exacerbating the climate crisis. Billions of dollars that could be dedicated to fighting climate change are instead spent on war and genocide. And when communities are flooded and destroyed by extreme weather events, there is often too few resources dedicated to recovery. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said during a press conference that he did not believe the damage was enough to warrant a federal emergency declaration, meaning federal funds will not be made available for those whose homes were damaged.

Inadequate responses to natural disasters are common in the United States. Communities in New Orleans are still feeling the effects of Hurricane Katrina nearly 20 years later, and victims of the recent wildfire, which destroyed the city of Lahaina in Maui, received just $700 from FEMA to cover immediate needs and an average of just $3,780 per home from the Biden administration in assistance.

While the environmental disasters may be natural, their impact is largely human-made, as proper resources and infrastructure to mitigate damage and offer relief are starved to make more money available for war and corporate profits.
The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) are standing a slate of candidates for elections to the student parliament (StuPa) at Berlins Humboldt University (HU) to take place June 18-19, 2024. Come to our next event June 17, at 7 p.m.: The false accusation of antisemitism and the trivialisation of Nazi crimes at HU, (Audimax II at Campus Nord of HU, Philippstrasse 13, 10117 Berlin).

Since the brutal police operations against peaceful student protests at the Free University and against the student occupation of the Institute of Social Sciences at Berlins Humboldt University (HU) in April and May, the attacks on opponents of the war and critics of the genocide in Gaza have become ever more severe. The IYSSE is calling on students and university staff to protest against the massive restrictions on freedom of expression and academic freedom.

A woman is carried away by police officers during a pro-Palestinians demonstration by Student Coalition Berlin in the theater courtyard of Freie Universitat Berlin in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. [AP Photo/Markus Schreiber]

The scenes of aggressive police violence that took place at HU in May set a shocking precedent. As in a dictatorial regime, police officers beat up and arrested peaceful students who were protesting against the pro-war policy. A journalist from the Berliner Zeitung, who clearly identified himself as a member of the press, was also brutally beaten.

During the eviction of the student protest at the Institute of Social Sciences (ISW) on the orders of the Berlin Senate (state executive), lawyer Benjamin Dusberg was also arrested, although he made himself recognisable as a lawyer. Criminal charges were brought against him and over 20 other people involved on suspicion of breach of the peace. The actions of the Berlin police have taken on a new quality, Dusberg told Tagesspiegel.

Indeed. The violent eviction of the ISW is now being used as a starting point to enforce an authoritarian police regime at the university. University management has filed criminal charges against the students involved for trespass and damage to property, as announced in a letter to HU staff and students on June 11.

The police are also investigating seven members of the RefRat/Asta (Student Union) of the HU for serious trespass. Those affected have applied to the student parliament for financial support for their legal fees. As they explain, it is the task of the student representatives to be present at events such as the ISW occupation: We deeply condemn the fact that representatives are now to be prosecuted for having fulfilled their role as student representatives.

The criminalisation of students and their representatives in the RefRat is intended to spread a climate of intimidation and fear. Anyone who protests peacefully or expresses criticism of the massacre in Gaza and the complicity of the German government is to be persecuted and silenced.

The attack on basic democratic rights such as freedom of expression and assembly is not only directed against students, but also against lecturers and professors. The latest revelations by broadcaster NDR show how aggressively the federal coalition government of the Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and Liberal Democrats (FDP) is trying to suppress any form of dissent from its political line. Internal emails show that Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger (Free Democratic Party, FDP) wanted to take far-reaching authoritarian measures against academics in May.

After police officers stormed the Free University in April and used force to break up a peaceful Gaza protest camp organised by students, almost 400 professors and lecturers signed an open letter defending the students. The first signatories were joined by over 1,000 other lecturers. The Minister of Education then asked her departments to examine whether she could cancel funding already granted to the academics. She also looked for potentially criminally relevant statements in the open letter in order to use them against the lecturers.

This scandalous attack on academic freedom is a further step towards a right-wing dictatorship. HU doctoral student and political scientist Ilyas Saliba, who is researching authoritarian regimes in the Arab world, told taz: Checking whether it is possible to take action against disagreeable academics under criminal, service and funding law is an authoritarian practice. We know this from the Middle East, North Africa or Hungary, where critical scholars are denied a future perspective in science.

Naika Foroutan, professor of Social Sciences at HU, who co-signed the open letter and is therefore herself in the crosshairs of the federal government, emphasised to taz that research was primarily financed by third-party funding, which often comes from the Ministry of Education. Im now wondering whether projects submitted by my institute or by colleagues who signed the letter will be assessed differently or rejected outright.

The education ministers attempt to introduce a censorship regime through the back door initially failed because her staff expressed concerns about her authority to take such measures. But no one should delude themselves that the federal government will not continue to look for ways to suppress critical academics.

Anyone who does not submit to the governments pro-war policy and accept the authoritarian methods of the police state will have the funding tap turned off and be threatened with criminal charges. Most recently, the smear campaign by the media and politicians against the president of Berlins Technical University, Geraldine Rauch, showed that even harmless likes for posts critical of Israel are not acceptable.

On campus, university management is systematically cracking down on student opposition to the genocide. An IYSSE event on the topic was banned for months. That is why we, together with other student groups, held a powerful rally in front of the main building in December. Only a fortnight ago, two IYSSE events were authorisedalbeit under strict conditions. Only members of the university are allowed to attend, and all bags must be checked at the entrances, including for weapons including pocket knives, batons or objects that can be used as suchas if there had ever been any form of violence at IYSSE events.

These authoritarian restrictions are an act of political censorship and are aimed at intimidating and deterring participants. The IYSSE immediately protested against this in writing and called on the university administration to lift the restrictions. We explained: As a university group, we want to hold a public event in which all interested parties can participate. The requirement would represent a serious restriction of the university as a public place.

However, without addressing the content, the HU administration reiterated the requirement in another email and enforced it at the first IYSSE event. HU security staff carried out ID and bag checks at the entrance. Police officers were even posted in front of the entrance to the Audimax hall, where the event took place. The threatening backdrop and censorship are reminiscent of conditions in dictatorships. Students and lecturers are placed under general suspicion, their bags checked for weapons as if they were potential serious criminals.

People who are not members of a Berlin university were only able to follow the event because the IYSSE had organised a live broadcast in a public square. For more than 10 years, we have been organising events on political and historical topics at the HU and inviting all interested parties to join the discussionstudents and university employees as well as young people and workers.

The title of the last event, which was recorded on video, posed the question: What next in the fight against police violence and genocide? The speakers explained that the genocide in Gaza can only be stopped by an international movement of the working class, which is directed against all wars and their root cause, capitalism.

It is this perspectivean orientation and extension of the student protests to the working classthat the university management and all parties in the Berlin Senate (state assembly) and federal government fear the most. That is why they want to keep the working class off campus with censorship and police measures.

Other student groups at HU are also affected. The student group Decolonise Charite had already invited students to an event on May 31 entitled Being a doctor where there are no more hospitals at the North Campus, which also includes the Charite Berlin University Medical Centre. Two doctors reported on the dramatic effects of the Israeli war on healthcare in the Gaza Strip.

But here, too, a security guard stood at the entrance on behalf of the university management and prohibited external participants from entering. Even an entire school class with its teacher was turned away by security. According to the organisers, 270 people attended the event. According to the groups spokesperson, a new code for working groups at the Charite campus is also to be introduced, under which only working groups with a medical connection would be permitted.

These measures all have one goal: the truth about the war crimes in Gaza should not be heard, further resistance among students should be contained and a political discussion about the necessary conclusions from the protests should be prevented.

Against this backdrop, it is sheer mockery when the university management now declares in a letter dated June 11 that it wants to return to peaceful and respectful discourse. In the letter, university management calls for, among other things, a study of definitions of antisemitism as well as a critical examination of social science theories to which an affinity for antisemitic patterns is attributed. In plain language, this means that lecturers who deal critically with Zionism and the genocide of the Palestinians in their courses or writing are to be defamed as antisemites and subjected to attacks.

In its letter, the university management uses cliches such as an in-depth academic debate on the Middle East and multi-perspective analyses. However, its authoritarian approach to opponents of the war and dissenting opinions on the Gaza genocide proves that it wants to bring the HU ideologically into line with the government and enforce full support for Israel and its war policy in the Gaza Strip.

While anyone who speaks out against the Israeli genocide is defamed as an antisemite, right-wing extremist professors such as Jorg Baberowski have been politically and financially supported for years. The HU history professor not only trivialises the Holocaust, but also legitimises authoritarian methods of rule.

In 2018, he wanted to set up a radical right-wing think tank for dictatorship research at the HU to investigate dictatorships as alternative [social] orders. Only the protests of the IYSSE and other students were able to stop the establishment of this dictatorship centre. Despite this, Baberowski has received plenty of research funding and political backing from the Ministry of Education. His ideas of an authoritarian state are now being put into practice.

In February 2020, Baberowski even tore down IYSSE election posters with his own hands and hit one of our StuPa representatives when he caught him doing so. University management then fully backed Baberowski and did not even decide on a complaint to the supervisory board. This effectively gave right-wing forces on campus a free pass to tear down IYSSE posters and attack its members. Last year, Ukrainian nationalists sabotaged our StuPa election campaign with the full backing of the university.

This year, the IYSSEs election campaign is being attacked and censored again. Our posters were systematically and extensively torn down and destroyed by political opponents and university employees. Members of the IYSSE have documented this in the last few days and found several perpetrators tearing down the posters. The IYSSE called on the HU management in writing to condemn these anti-democratic interventions in the election campaign and to take measures to stop them. However, the university administration remains silent and thus backs the attacks.

The sabotage and censorship on campus is not an expression of the strength of the university administration and the federal government, but of their fear of growing resistance among students and workers. The European elections have once again shown how much hatred there is in the population for the parties of the coalition government and their policies of escalating war and social cuts.

The IYSSE are running in the StuPa elections on June 18-19 to fight among students for a socialist and international movement against war and capitalism. We will not allow socialists and opponents of war to be suppressed and will not be intimidated by the measures taken by the university.

We therefore call on all students: Protest against the authoritarian police regime at Humboldt University! Defend freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and academic freedom! Come to our next event in large numbers and elect the IYSSE (List 2) to the student parliament!
The US-led axis of imperialist powers concluded a whirlwind week of summits Friday, including the G7 Summit, a meeting of the NATO defense ministers, and the Ukraine contact group, all of which had the effect of significantly escalating their global war against Russia and China.

President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shake hands after signing a security agreement on the sidelines of the G7, Thursday, June 13, 2024, in Savelletri, Italy [AP Photo/Alex Brandon]

These summits set the stage for the upcoming July 9-11 NATO summit in Washington D.C., which is expected to see a qualitative escalation in the level of direct NATO involvement in the war against Russia in Ukraine.

The most high-profile of this weeks summits was the G7 meeting, in which leaders from the US, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom met in Italy, under the auspices of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a disciple of Benito Mussolini who has publicly praised the fascist dictator as a good politician.

The summit moved toward a direct seizure of Russian assets worldwide, committing $50 billion from the interest on seized Russian assets to Ukraine for the war effort. With a view to supporting Ukraines current and future needs in the face of a prolonged defense against Russia, declared the communique, the G7 will launch Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration Loans for Ukraine, in order to make available approximately $50 billion in additional funding to Ukraine by the end of the year.

At the G7 summit, US President Joe Biden and President Zelensky also signed a 10-year defense agreement that further solidifies Washingtons involvement in the war with Russia. Announcing the agreement, Biden called it another reminder to Putin: Were not backing down.

Along these lines, the G7 summits communique declared, Ukraine is defending its freedom, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity against Russias brutal and unjustifiable war of aggression.

Crucially, the G7 made its most explicit condemnation to date of Chinas economic ties with Russia, accusing the countrys government of providing material support to Russias war machine and of efforts to facilitate Russias acquisition of items for its defense industrial base. The summit communique declared, We express our deep concern at the Peoples Republic of Chinas support to Russia.

The G7 likewise offered a de facto endorsement of Israels genocide in Gaza, which has killed over 40,000 Palestinians since October, 2023, declaring: We express our full solidarity and support to Israel and its people and reaffirm our unwavering commitment towards its security.

The same day as the communique was published, NATO concluded a meeting of the alliances defense ministers to set the stage for the upcoming NATO summit in Washington.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg declared that NATO had made significant progress in expanding its involvement in the Ukraine war and military rearmament targeting Russia.

Stoltenberg said the main goal of next months summit was to transition NATO into playing the lead role in arming and coordinating the flow of weapons to Ukraineas opposed to ad-hoc agreements between individual NATO members and Ukraine.

He said:

We have agreed on a plan that sets out how NATO will lead the coordination of security assistance and training. NATO will oversee training of Ukrainian armed forces at training facilities in Allied countries, support Ukraine through the planning and coordination of donations, manage transfer and repair of equipment, and provide support to the long-term development of Ukraines Armed Forces.

Stoltenberg, practicing the big lie, asserted the central point of his proposals by flatly denying it, declaring, These efforts do not make NATO a party to the conflict.

The truth is precisely opposite. In fact, the central point of these changes is to make NATO an ever more direct party to the conflict, playing the lead role in coordinating logistics, planning, training, and command-and-control.

These summits followed the announcement by Biden last week that the United States has authorized Ukraine to use US-provided long-range weapons to strike directly inside of Russia, and formal moves by the government of France to create a coalition of countries that will be sending ground troops to Ukraine.

Even as NATO is increasing its direct involvement in the war in Ukraine, it is making active plans for a much broader war with Russia spanning the entire European continent. Stoltenberg declared at last years NATO summit that Allies agreed on the most comprehensive defense plans since the Cold War.

These plans are now being put into place. Stoltenberg declared:

Allies are offering forces to NATOs command at a scale not seen in decades. Today we have 500,000 troops at high readiness across all domains, significantly more than the goal that was set at the 2022 Madrid Summit.

He added:

NATO has also doubled the number of battle groups on the Eastern flank. Allies are also taking on larger, more demanding exercises to test our abilities. This year, Steadfast Defender included some 90,000 troops across Europe.

Most ominously, Stoltenberg declared, We also discussed the ongoing adaptation of our nuclear capabilities. We are a nuclear Alliance.

This statement comes amid a report last week in the New York Times that the United States, on top of a multitrillion-dollar program to modernize its existing nuclear arsenal, is making plans to expand the total number of nuclear weapons it deploys.

The rate of NATOs military rearmament is staggering. A recent report by the Atlantic Council think tank noted:

NATO has moved to double the size of the four battle groups established in 2017 on the eastern flank, and added four more, matched by five air policing missions. The United States has added an additional brigade set of prepositioned equipment in Europe, forward-based two additional F-35 squadrons in Europe, and increased its presence on the eastern flank from brigade to division size, augmented by a corps forward headquarters with enablers.

This weeks summits followed the conclusion of the monthly meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, chaired by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin.

Austin boasted of the staggering losses on the Russian invaders, inflicted by Ukraine and its backers. He declared:

Since Putins full-scale invasion in February 2022, at least 350,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded. Ukrainian forces have sunk, destroyed, or damaged 24 Russian vessels in the Black Sea. And since September of last yearjust before the Kremlin began its renewed offensiveRussia has lost more than 2,600 combat vehicles across the front lines in Ukraine.

Despite this gloating over alleged Russian losses by US officials, the military situation for Ukraine is disastrous; the country is facing a major conscription crisis following the deaths of hundreds of thousands of soldiers on the front lines and growing popular opposition to the dictatorial Zelensky government and NATOs war to the last Ukrainian. This military disaster forms the context of moves by the US and NATO to expand their own involvement in the war, which threatens to rapidly escalate out of control and engulf not only all of Europe but the whole world.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited New Zealand this week, ahead of visits to Australia and Malaysia, as part of the Chinese governments attempts to counter the far-advanced war preparations against it, led by the United States. Even as the US and its allies escalate their proxy war against Russia over Ukraine, risking nuclear war, and support Israels genocide in Gaza, Washington continues to militarise the Indo-Pacific and is seeking to goad China into an attack on Taiwan, to provide the pretext for war.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, June 13, 2024 [Photo: Christopher Luxon Facebook]

Lis visit to New Zealand was the first by a Chinese premier since 2017. He held talks with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and business leaders, highlighting New Zealands heavy dependence on trade with China, which took about 27 percent of NZs exports last year.

Victoria University of Wellington political analyst Geoffrey Miller wrote that Lis aim was to remind Luxon just how important China is to New Zealand and to warn the government: dont put it all at risk by aligning too closely with the US.

New Zealand is an imperialist ally of the US and part of the US-led Five Eyes intelligence network. Successive governments have participated in the criminal wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the previous Labour government sent troops to Britain to assist in training Ukrainian conscripts for the US-NATO proxy war against Russia. Both Labour and the current National Party-led government have issued statements identifying Russia and China as the main strategic threats facing the world.

Whether by coincidence or not, Foreign Minister Winston Peters, from the virulently anti-Chinese New Zealand First Party, was outside the country when Li visited Wellington (Peters was on an official trip to East Timor). Peters is leading the push for New Zealand to join the second pillar of the AUKUS (Australia-UK-US) pact, aimed at further boosting military cooperation.

On Thursday, Luxon said he and Li discussed our significant economic relationship, which benefits people in both countries with two-way trade in goods worth nearly $38 billion. They signed agreements on boosting trade and business ties. Li told the media: China is ready to be part of New Zealands endeavour to double the value of [its] exports in the next decade.

Luxon told the media, however, that the two leaders spent half of their discussion on areas of disagreement, including allegations that China carried out a cyber attack on New Zealands parliament in 2021which Beijing denies. He said Li had expressed Chinas firm opposition to AUKUS. In his public comments, Li warned that differences between the two countries should not become a chasm that blocks exchanges and cooperation.

Meanwhile, sections of the New Zealand media and political establishment are stepping up their efforts to promote a more openly anti-China posture.

Media organisation Stuff timed the release of an online documentary on Chinese interference to coincide with Lis visit. The documentary The Long Game is largely based on allegations by pro-Washington academic Anne-Marie Bradywho has received NATO funding and whose work has been praised by former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

In 2017 Brady accused members of the Labour and National parties of being Chinese spies, without any evidence. She also accused almost all Chinese organisations in NZincluding cultural organisations, language training centres, student groups, academics with links to China, and media outletsof being tools of the Chinese Communist Party and called for them to be placed under surveillance.

Stuffs documentary also revives Bradys allegation that a car crash in New Zealand in July 2020, which killed two Chinese dissidents, was the result of sabotagedespite a Coroner finding that it was caused by a head-on collision. The driver of the other vehicle involved was found guilty of careless driving causing death.

The documentary also airs allegations, which date back roughly 20 years, that Chinese agents carried out a kidnapping and an attempted kidnapping of two dissidents in New Zealand.

The Long Game features interviews with former Labour Party defence minister Andrew Little, who says Chinese interference is a real threat and it is probably growing. Last August, Little declared that New Zealands military needed more funding in case it is called on to join a war in the South China Sea.

The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), co-chaired in New Zealand by National Party MP Joseph Mooney and Labour MP Ingrid Leary, has called for an inquiry into the documentarys allegations. IPAC is a network of politicians from 27 legislaturesled by the US and its imperialist allieswhose campaigns are designed to enable a coordinated response to challenges associated with Beijings recent behaviour, according to its website.

IPACs Australian co-chair, Senator James Paterson, says in The Long Game that China is a more severe foreign intelligence foe than any other we have ever faced This is the most dangerous strategic environment since World War II.

While the media dials up the anti-China hysteria, New Zealands National Party-led coalition government is continuing to strengthen its participation in military exercises aimed at threatening and provoking China.

Reuters reported last month that Australia, Britain, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore agreed to stage more complex military drills in the region this year involving drones, fifth-generation fighter planes and surveillance aircraft as part of the Five Power Defence Arrangement.

Pro-Palestine groups are opposing the New Zealand navys participation in the RIMPAC exercise, which begins on June 26. The US-led exercise will involve 25,000 troops from 29 militaries, including Israeli forces.

Defence Minister Judith Collins said New Zealand had to be involved in order to strengthen interoperability with its allies. Announcing a major increase in military spending in last months budget, Collins declared that the world was increasingly unstable and there would be more military deployments in future.

As well as continuing to train Ukrainian forces, the Luxon government has sent military personnel to the Middle East to assist with the US-led bombing of Yemen, in order to defend supply routes for Israels war machine. In addition, Collins announced this month that another 41 troops will be sent to the Korean Demilitarised Zone, to join 11 already there as part of the United Nations forces.

New Zealand is deepening its involvement on three fronts of what is developing into a global conflict. The aim of the US is to counter its economic decline through the redivision of the world, at the expense of Russia, North Korea, Iran and its proxies, and especially China, which is Washingtons main economic rival.

Notwithstanding its economic ties with China, New Zealands ruling class is determined to keep its seat at the imperialist table, in order to benefit from the coming war. Despite some verbal denunciations of the Gaza genocide, from Labour and its allies, the Greens and Te Pati Maori, none of the parties in parliament represents an anti-war tendency. Only a unified struggle against the capitalist system, uniting workers internationally on the basis of a socialist program, can put an end to imperialist war.
The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in Sri Lanka are holding a public meeting titled, Free Ukrainian socialist Bogdan Syrotiuk! in Colombo on Sunday, July 7.

On April 25, Bogdan Syrotiuk was arrested by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in frame-up charges of treason. He is a leader of the Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists (YGBL), a Trotskyist organisation active in the former Soviet Union, including in Ukraine and Russia.

Currently held in onerous conditions in a high security prison in the city of Nikolaev (Mykolaiv), he faces a life-long prison term, the equivalent of a death sentence, if found guilty of the bogus allegations.

The YGBL is politically affiliated to the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI). The Colombo meeting is part of the global campaign being waged by the ICFI to demand Bogdans immediate release.

The real reason for Bogdans arrest and detention is his principled opposition, as a socialist internationalist, to the capitalist regimes of Zelensky and Putin and the ongoing US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine that has cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians and Russians. Bogdan fights for the socialist unity of workers and youth, in Russia, Ukraine and other former Soviet republics, against the war.

The accusations of treason against Bogdan are based on bogus claims that he is an agent of the Putin regime. The allegations rely on articles and speeches he has written for the World Socialist Web Site, further exposing the fraudulent character of the charges. The consistent and principled political opposition of the WSWS, the YGBL and Bogdan to the Putin regime is well established in these articles.



The frameup and imprisonment of 25-year-old Comrade Bogdan is not just an antidemocratic attack on an individual but on the international working class as a whole.



The ICFIs campaign for the release of Bogdan is winning broad support from workers, young people, students and artists globally. On June 13, the ICFI held internationally coordinated pickets of Ukrainian embassies and consulates in Istanbul, London, Paris, Berlin, Washington D.C., Toronto, Canberra and Sydney, protesting Bogdans arbitrary detention and demanding his immediate release.

We urge students, academics, workers and youth to attend this crucial meeting in Colombo in defense of Bogdan Syrotiuk and join our campaign for his immediate release from prison.

Date: Sunday, July 7, 3 p.m.

Venue: National Library Auditorium

14 Independence Avenue

Colombo 07
Johnny Canales is shown at the 2005 Billboard Latin Music Awards in Miami. The legendary host of The Johnny Canales Show highlighted Tejano artists for much of the 1980s and 1990s. Rodrigo Varela/WireImage

U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro on Friday honored the legacy of the legendary Johnny Canales, the host of a popular music show who died Thursday.

In a speech before the U.S. House of Representatives, Castro spoke about Canales and his effect on the Tejano music industry, helping to launch the careers of many stars, like Selena.

Johnny was a champion for civil rights, an advocate for veterans, and a musician in his own right, Castro said. But he was best known as the host of the Johnny Canales Show, a bilingual variety show that ran for decades in the United States and Latin America.

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READ MORE: TV host Johnny Canales helped launch Selena and other Tejano luminaries

Castro, who has long been a champion for more Latino representation in mass media, also included a reference to Canales well-known catchphrase.



To his loyal fans, Johnny was best known for his catchphrase: You got it. Take it away!  the words of encouragement he would share with all the performers who joined him on stage, Castro said. Johnny, you will always be remembered, especially among your loyal fans in South Texas.

The Johnny Canales Show, which debuted in 1983 in Corpus Christi, provided a showcase for Tejano performers at a time when such platforms were scarce. Fans tuned in weekly to see both up-and-coming and established Tejano artists.

Johnny Canales, host of the "Johnny Canales Show" for many years, is introduced for his lifetime achievement recognition during the Tejano Music Awards at the Alamodome on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2012. Billy Calzada/San Antonio Express-News

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It aired for almost two decades in various forms, including on Telemundo and Univision. At one point, it was broadcast in Los Angeles, Miami and other U.S. cities and across Latin America as well as in South Texas.

Canales, 76, had been in declining health in recent weeks. A May 17 post on the Facebook page for Corpus Christi Cronica, a community news site, said Canales has been dealing with health complications since 2008 after a stroke.

A couple of days later, Canales responded with a video, thanking his fans for their prayers and support.

A frail-looking Canales ended his short message with his famous catchphrase: You got it. Take it away.
Kenya Moore Claims She's 'Not Going Anywhere' Despite Being Suspended from RHOA for Oral Sex Poster Scandal

A source confirms to PEOPLE that Moore will be suspended from the Bravo series until the network completes its investigation into the incident

Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Kenya Moore

Kenya Moore is speaking out after being suspended from The Real Housewives of Atlanta for an oral sex poster scandal.

While Bravo cameras were rolling on Thursday, June 6, the reality star, 53, unveiled explicit posters of new RHOA cast member Brittany Eady performing oral sex at the grand opening of her new Kenya Moore Hair Spa, PEOPLE can confirm.

The other individual involved in the sex act depicted on the poster is not yet clear, and Eady was not in attendance at the spa when the posters were revealed.

A source tells PEOPLE Moore unveiled the posters after Eady allegedly threatened her costar using the word gun." However, a second source close to production disputes that, saying, At no time was Kenya ever threatened with a weapon nor was there ever a weapon present during the course of production."

As a result of the incident at the spa, the first source confirms to PEOPLE that Moore has been suspended from RHOA. She wont know whether shell return to filming until an outcome of the networks investigation is complete.

A rep for Bravo did immediately return PEOPLEs request for comment.

Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images Kenya Moore of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" television series attends BravoCon 2023 at Caesars Forum on November 3, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Related: Tamar Braxton Reveals Why She Turned Down The Real Housewives of Atlanta: All Money Aint Good Money

In the wake of the incident, Moore turned to Instagram Live on Friday, June 14, telling her followers, You will be seeing me. Im not going anywhere despite all this stuff.



Moore previously addressed the incident on June 8, writing on X (formerly known as Twitter), I would never engage in revenge porn, I have never distributed private images or footage of anyone, nor solicited images owned by others to use to threaten or blackmail.

I have always been vindicated. I cant talk about STORY even with people planting fake news #sweet16.

Related: Kenya Moore Confirms Return to The Real Housewives of Atlanta for Season 16: 'I'm Not Going Anywhere'

Following the reveal of the images  which were allegedly available online  at Moores hair salon, her RHOA costar Drew Sidora, who was in attendance, seemingly reacted on social media, writing on X (formerly known as Twitter), Im flabbergasted and floored 

Eady also reacted to news of the incident on her Instagram Story. Its never a good feeling being targeted or HAZED by someone I thought would embrace me into a new circle, that I never met, she wrote, per Queens of Bravo.

For the record, the businesswoman and podcast host added, Ive never once had possession of any weapons or threatened anyone ever. Ive never been to jail, in fight, or even had as much as a speeding ticket. Thats not my character. I am hurt by the narrative thats being displayed. Wrong is wrong.

She also shared information about Georgia law that prohibits the distribution of sexually explicit images without consent of the person depicted.

Related: Kenya Moore Has Stopped Self-Blaming for Her Divorce Years After Trying to 'Save' Her Ex from His Own Red Flags

Moore announced her return to RHOA in April. "I may be 'Gone With the Wind Fabulous,' but Im not going anywhere! " she wrote, captioning a video of her dancing to her beloved 2012 song.

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 Real Housewives of Atlanta can be streamed on Peacock.



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If theres one thing you can count on while watching a dating show, its that, if there are two sides to some scandalous tale that might or might not have happened, the producers will never tell you whos lying. Take, for example, this weeks batch of Perfect Match episodes on Netflix. Did perennial F-boy Harry Jowsey actually kiss Too Hot to Handle star Melinda Berry during a guys retreat, despite being in a relationship with Love Is Blind alum Jessica Vestal? Or is Harry telling the truth when he claims that Melinda made it all up to cause drama? We, the confused viewers at home, might never know!

For the uninitiated, the premise of Perfect Match is simple: Dozens of oiled-up Netflix stars gather at a gorgeous villa in the hopes of finding a partner. Each night, they must choose who to match with, and in the morning, the couples face compatibility challenges. Whoever wins each challenge gets control of the boardroom, which means they can send fellow contestants on blind dates with new people. In the end, the couple voted most compatible wins bragging rights and a free vacation.

Jessica Vestal and Harry Jowsey Netflix

During his time on Too Hot to Handle, Harry made his name as a player. At the start of his run on Perfect Match, he bragged that the winning couple from last seasonGeorgia Hasserati and Dominic Dom Gabrielbroke up after Georgia cheated with him. He now claims that hes healed himself through therapy and self-help books and is ready to find a real, lasting love, but his actions tell a different story.

Perfect Match Has Perfected the Trash TV Formula

First, Harry paired up with Elys Hutchinson but was annoyed that she (understandably) did not immediately trust himso he dumped her at the first opportunity for Jessica, a single mother whose no-nonsense attitude made her a breakout star on Love Is Blind Season 6. Harry claimed to be smitten and excited to become a stepdad, but you wouldnt know it from his behavior at the guys retreat this week.

Because Perfect Match loves to stir the pot, our couples split up for separate mens and womens mixers. The guys hung out with all of the women who were either eliminated from or never welcomed into the house, and the women did the same with all the extra men. As one might imagine, some people behaved better than othersand Harry would fall into the others category.

Regardless of whether Harry kissed Melinda, he admitted to having crossed a line. He shamelessly flirted with herincluding doing a body shot off her bellyand carried her around the retreat, koala-hug style. Melinda also told Jessica that Harry said told her, Ill put a baby in you, which, yuck. Even Harrys version of that soundbite, itd look good if you were pregnant, gave me instant hives.

Of course, the shows producers had a great time intercutting his statements of devotionlike, The only person my heart beats for is Jesswith shots of him making a complete ass of himself, grinning and telling the guys, Were in trouble. The only person aside from Melinda who affirmatively said that Harry kissed her is fellow Too Hot to Handle alum Holly Scarfone; everyone else claimed they saw nothing.

Melinda Berry Netflix

Still, Harry did himself no favors when he returned to the house. Jessica found him moping in their room under the covers, where he said hes been fucking crying. He immediately asked her why she was being so hostile (eye-roll) before confessing that he felt bad because at the mixer, he wasnt the best representation of you and [her daughter] Autumn. Ill say!

For all his blubbering, Harry never admitted that he had even been accused of kissing Melinda; instead, he just said hed carried her and that she was setting him up. Jessica was not born yesterday, so she suspected that Harry was not telling her the full truth. And yet, by the next morning, when all of the un-coupled men and women arrived at the villa for one final messy mixer, Harry and Jessica were apparently at the I love you stage of their relationship, which actually left me speechless.

Who the Hell Paid Netflix Star Harry Jowsey $40K for Sex?

What can we say about the scene that unfolded over the course of the day? Harry spent the day vomiting, and Jessica got mad at Melinda for telling her about the kiss in front of everyone, which felt like misplaced anger, but what do I know? Later on, Melinda went for the jugular anyway, informing Jessica privately that Harry had also told her, I just wanna fully fuck you, which seemed to finally push Jessica over the edge.

Naturally, we ended this week on a cliffhanger ahead of the finale. Will Jessica stick with Harry and give him another chance to prove hes not a complete sleaze bucket, or has she had enough? For the sake of Jessica and women everywhere, lets hope shes finally done.

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The Prince of Wales' private outing was not announced in advance

Chris Jackson/Getty

Prince William paid an under-the-radar visit to the Secret Intelligence Service of the United Kingdom.

On June 14, the Court Circular  the official record of past royal engagements  revealed that the Prince of Wales, 41, visited the secret service known as M16 the day prior.

"The Prince of Wales this afternoon visited the Secret Intelligence Service," said the entry. No further details were disclosed.

According to the Court Circular, the heir to the throne most recently visited M16 on Feb. 23, 2022, the same day the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. However, the Daily Mail reported that the 2022 stop "was thought to have been long-planned."

In the spring of 2019, Prince William discreetly spent three weeks immersing himself in the operations of M16, the Security Service (M15) and the Government Communications Headquarters, his office announced after it wrapped. The royal was eager to learn more about the work of the United Kingdoms Security and Intelligence Agencies, Kensington Palace said at the time.

Karwai Tang/WireImage Prince William at the funeral of Sir Bobby Charlton at Manchester Cathedral on Nov. 13, 2023 in Manchester, England.

Related: Kate Middleton Seen for First Time Since Cancer Announcement in New Photo, Says 'I Am Not Out of the Woods Yet'

"With the threat level for international terrorism in the U.K. set at SEVERE or above for the last five years, the Duke was keen to see first-hand the extraordinary work that staff across the Security and Intelligence Agencies do," the palace said about the program.

King Charles' eldest son also voiced his gratitude for the opportunity and the work of the forces.

"Spending time inside our security and intelligence agencies, understanding more about the vital contribution they make to our national security, was a truly humbling experience," Prince William said in a statement. "These agencies are full of people from everyday backgrounds doing the most extraordinary work to keep us safe We all owe them deep gratitude for the difficult and dangerous work they do."

Related: How Prince William Is Doing Behind the Scenes as Kate Middleton Shares Health Update



Tomorrow, Prince William is expected at Trooping the Colour, the British Army's public celebration for King Charles' official birthday. On June 14, Kate Middleton confirmed that she will attend the epic event, which will be her first public appearance since announcing her cancer diagnosis in March and her first public outing with the royals since Christmas.

The Princess of Wales, 42, shared in a personal letter that she is "making good progress" as she undergoes chemotherapy, and Prince William has been there for his wife.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

"The Prince is pleased to see The Princess starting to engage with the work and projects that are important to her," a Kensington Palace spokesperson says. "He will continue to focus his time on supporting his wife and children while continuing to undertake his public duties."

Chris Jackson/Getty Prince George, Kate Middleton, Prince Louis, Prince William and Princess Charlotte on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023.

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Your favorite Sesame Street characters are coming to San Diego as part of their new live tour.

Sesame Street Live! Say Hello will bring the characters from Sesame Street to life in a brand-new interactive show touring the U.S. and Canada in 2024.

Dreamworks Land, new nighttime drone show debut at Universal Orlando

The live show is stopping in San Diego on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, starting at 6 p.m. at the San Diego Civic Theatre.

Summer concerts in San Diego: A guide to outdoor shows

At the show, fans can sing and dance along with Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, and their friends from Sesame Street, while enjoying fun surprises along the way, the event announcement said.

Sesame Street Live to tour the U.S. and Canada with brand-new production (Photo: Round Room Live)

Sesame Street Live to tour the U.S. and Canada with brand-new production (Photo: Round Room Live)

Sesame Street Live to tour the U.S. and Canada with brand-new production (Photo: Round Room Live)

Sesame Street Live to tour the U.S. and Canada with brand-new production (Photo: Round Room Live)

Sesame Street Live to tour the U.S. and Canada with brand-new production (Photo: Round Room Live)

Sesame Street Live to tour the U.S. and Canada with brand-new production (Photo: Round Room Live)

The tour began in Portland, Maine in April, ending on Dec. 7 in Providence, Rhode Island.

Tickets are available online here. There is also an optional photo experience available. Children ages 2 and older require a ticket. Children under 2 are permitted on lap.

Fireworks, concerts and more happening in San Diego Memorial Day weekend

The San Diego Civic Theatre is a cashless venue. No cameras or recording is allowed. Visit sandiegotheatres.org/civic-theatre for more information on the venue, parking and directions, safety and security and much more.

Fans can visit SesameStreetLive.com for a full list of tour dates and to purchase tickets.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Portwood previous said that her partner had walked out of their home on June 9 after a 'discussion' and had not come back

Amber Portwood/Instagram, Bryson City Police Department Amber Portwood, Gary R. Wayt

Teen Mom star Amber Portwood's missing partner Gary Wayt has been found.

On Friday, June 14, three days after he was first declared missing by the Bryson City Police Department in North Carolina, Wayt, 39, was found. Police wrote in an update shared on Facebook that the "case is closed."

"Gary Wayt has been located," the post read. "No further information available at this time."

PEOPLE has reached out to the Bryson City Police Department for further comment.

On June 11, the same day he was reported missing, police confirmed to PEOPLE that they had obtained video footage of Wayt in Oklahoma, over 900 miles away from where he was last seen.

Related: Teen Mom Star Amber Portwood's Partner Gary Wayt Spotted in Oklahoma amid Disappearance: Authorities

He was first reported missing on June 11 after the Teen Mom star, 34, said the couple had had a "discussion" on June 9, although Portwood added that it "was not a big blowout fight or anything like that." Wayt left the house that day with his keys and wallet  but not his phone  and did not come back, she said.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

"Nobody was heated or anything, it was emotional because it had something to do with the fact of his parents being Vietnamese and me being who I am," Portwood said in a YouTube livestream. "He was very upset about this, I was upset. We do not yell at each other, we do not hurt each other."

On the same day that police said Wayt was seen, Portwood called the situation a "huge deal" and emphasizing her concern.

"His parents, everybody is very worried. I am worried," Portwood said on YouTube. "We are very scared right now."

Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic, Bryson City Police Department Portwood in 2017, and Wayt.

Related: Teen Mom's Amber Portwood Speaks Out Following Partner Gary Wayt's Sudden Disappearance: 'Very Scared'

"We are very in love. This man asked me to be with him, this man then asked me to marry him," she added.

Portwood first introduced Wayt in an episode of Teen Mom: Next Chapter that aired earlier this month.

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 a source who spoke with US Weekly, the couple began dating in January after they met on a dating app, and Wayt proposed "within the last two weeks" of the episode airing.

He reportedly proposed using a ring crafted from "a family stone that was reset into a new ring." An insider told the outlet they had been in "couple's therapy" before getting married and were "doing the work to prevent problems before they start.

Portwood made her first TV appearance on 16 and Pregnant, in which her ex-boyfriend Gary Shirley, made frequent appearances. The two were together from 2008 to 2011 and share a 15-year-old daughter named Leah. She also shares 6-year-old son James with her ex, Andrew Glennon.



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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The City of El Paso remembered an important moment in Texas, U.S. and Black history with a Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 15.

The event was held from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Nations Tobin Park, 8831 Railroad Dr.

Photos by Sebastian Esquivel/KTSM

The celebration, organized by the Parks and Recreation Department in partnership with the nonprofit organization Black El Paso Voice, was an opportunity to commemorate and learn more about Juneteenth, the news release said.

Juneteenth celebrates the day when all slaves were officially freed in the United States. This year, Juneteenth will be observed on Wednesday, June 19.

The founder of Black El Paso Voice, Monica Tucker, spoke on the importance of learning the significance of this moment in history.

Its truly about when we were all free. Of course, we celebrate July 4th, 1776, but not all of us were free in 1776, she said. So its important for everyone to understand that because we werent all free, June 19th, 1865, means a lot. Its history. I wouldnt be able to sit here today if that didnt happen.

The event was a free, outdoor celebration that included family games, activities, live music, jumping balloons, food, informational booths and more.

ABOUT JUNETEENTH

Juneteenth  also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day or Emancipation Day  celebrates the day that Texas slaves learned of their freedom, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. The earliest documented Juneteenth Celebration took place in Galveston, Texas in 1866. The federal government officially declared Juneteenth a national holiday on June 17, 2021.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Melissa Sullivan is owner of The Posh Peacock, an estate sales company serving greater Orlando. I love that I am helping families through a difficult transition, and putting their once loved items into new, appreciative hands while keeping them out of the landfill, Sullivan says.

Ten years ago, when clearing out my parents home of 50 years, I had no idea what I was getting into, let alone what I was doing. I had never been to an estate sale, now I was going to have one. I took a week off from my job in Florida, flew to California and dove headfirst into the quicksand, a paralyzing quagmire of family history, memories, sentiment, legend, and surprise-filled boxes, and all laced with my own guilt for being so ill-prepared to handle it all.

But I couldnt wallow. Though I had no earthly notion what anything should sell for, I made wild stabs at pricing so I could meet the goal of clearing out the house to get it on the market. The proceeds would help pay for my elderly parents long-term care.

I get PTSD just thinking about it. The memories of this life-altering ordeal came flooding back this past week as I talked with Melissa Sullivan, owner of The Posh Peacock, an estate sales company serving greater Orlando.

Where was she when I needed her?

Sullivan fell into the world of estate sales four years ago after working in IT for 25 years. Ready for a career change, she started helping a woman who had a small, private estate sale company, but no technical skills. She didnt accept credit cards, and didnt have a website, said Sullivan, who fixed that. Shortly after, the woman died of cancer. Sullivan kept the business going and growing.

Today, Posh Peacock, handles about 25 sales a year.

Knowing services like hers exist to clear out family homes and turn material objects into cash and freedom just makes me so happy. My soul feels lighter because I now know I can stop worrying about all those jam-packed homes out there threatening to fall like avalanches onto the heads of adult children.

Though an estate sales company can be just what a family needs, some intrepid types want to tackle the sales themselves, which has its own rewards. Either way, I found Sullivans insider information useful. Though too late for me, maybe these takeaways can help you:

Marni: Who are your clients?

Melissa: Two-thirds of the homes we clear belong to people downsizing or moving into assisted living. One third belong to someone who has passed. If the owner has died, we sell every item in the house after family members take what they want. For downsizers, we assess what theyre taking with them to see if enough remains to justify an estate sale, the equivalent of about four rooms of furniture, plus household goods.

What if downsizers want to hold their own estate sales?

You dont need an estate sales company. Families who want to do this themselves can follow the same process we do. Empty all cupboards, closets and drawers. Separate out trash. Set aside what you want to keep or give to someone. Everything else you can sell or donate. The two most difficult parts of the job are pricing and having enough help to make sure items dont walk away. Many pricing tools are available now. One is WorthPoint.com, an app that lets you look up items and find suggested pricing. Looking up eBay sold prices is another good resource.

How do you prevent theft?

We dont allow purses or backpacks inside. We also group small items together near the jewelry counter, which is staffed constantly, and have staff trained to watch every exit.

How much does the average sale gross, and what is your cut?

The usual split is 60% to the client, 40% to the estate sales company. Most homes we liquidate gross $12,000 or more. In that case, the homeowner would get $7,200, and we would get $4,800. That goes for staffing, which runs about $2,500, advertising, and art consultants or appraisers we bring in to help us price collectibles.

How long does the process take?

We are in and out in a week. Day one, six-to-eight workers go through the house, and inventory everything. Then we clean and polish merchandise, so it shows well, and stage the sale, creating vignettes so the house looks like a boutique. Over the next few days, we price and photograph items to promote the sale online. Friday the sale starts. On Saturday, prices drop 25% (on art and collectibles) to as much as 50%, and on Sunday we discount by 60%. Monday, anything left goes to a local charity and the client gets a donation receipt.

Whats worth more than people expect, and whats worth less?

Clothing, especially vintage clothing, costume jewelry and tools sell really well. Tools hold their value because no one cares if they look old. Coins and stamps dont go for as much as they used to. And I still remember how heartbreaking it was to tell one woman that her collection of over 200 Madame Alexander dolls in their original boxes wasnt worth much.

How can owners help?

We welcome any appraisal or other information they have about their valuables. Most important is that they take anything they do not want sold off the premises, or buyers will find it.

What should those wanting to hire an estate sales company look for?

Ask what they do with items left after the sale. The company should donate them and give you a receipt so you can write off the donation. However, some companies take possession, resell the items and take all the profit. Its a chronic problem in the industry. Make sure the company you hire has sufficient liability insurance. Also ask about any extra fees beyond the commission.

What do you wish more people knew?

For some of their beautiful furnishings, like living room sets, they will be lucky to get 20% of what they paid. This is where research tools can help. I learned early on that you will make more money if you lower your prices slightly. Price too high and items will sit, then go for much less.

Marni Jameson is the author seven books, including the newly released Rightsize Today to Create Your Best Life Tomorrow: A Motivational Guide for Those Seeking Their Ideal Home Later in Life, and What to Do With Everything You Own to Leave the Legacy You Want. You may reach her at marnijameson.com.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: MARNI JAMESON: A behind-the-scenes look with an estate sales expert
Being a father is truly awesome joy. And, yes, an awesome responsibility. But you wont do anything more worthwhile in your life than caring for a tiny little human being nurturing into childhood then preteen then from exuberant teen into proud early adulthood. A more beautiful life experience does not exist. Congratulations to all fathers.

We begin with a reminder the Magnolia Drive Trial project is in full swing with detours closing access to through-traffic. Local traffic, those living along the stretch of Magnolia Drive between Pontiac Drive and Diamond Street, will be allowed within the construction limits. Your options for access may change so keep alert.

Kerry Forest dangers

Q. Jeannie writes, coming out of Tredington Park to turn onto Kerry Forest is very dangerous. The cars come down at high rates of speed and is a blind curve coming out l have almost gotten crushed several times. All I want to do is turn right and go to Ace Hardware or go through the roundabout to go somewhere else. Can we please have something to protect us as we turn out of our neighborhood?

When school is in session using the other exit is not an option until the school time ends and the traffic clears out.

A. Getting crushed is not at all an exaggeration. We all know the 30 mph speed zone is properly and prominently posted on Kerry Forest Parkway and too promptly ignored. I believe you prefer Trotters Walk as your choice to enter KFP however you dont need signs or signals.

The protection you ask for is sufficient traffic law enforcement of the 30 mph speed zone. Street Scene once again looks to our Tallahassee Police and Sheriffs Departments asking to vigorously patrol this area which is replete with fast moving traffic in violation of the 30 mph posted speed which, over the months, I have timed as high as 53 mph.

Pisgah Church Road, one of several canopy roads in Tallahassee, Florida, as seen on Thursday, March 14, 2024.

Right balance for canopy roads

Q. John, a long time contributor to the public good through his community volunteer service and writings to Street Scene, is a staunch advocate/ supporter of our Canopy Roads. In reading my response to Berthas warriors protecting Old Bainbridge Canopy Road north, asks; what about the four proposed roads through the Miccosukee Greenway and adjacent Canopy Road at Dempsey Mayo, Edenfield, Thornton and Miles Johnson?

A. Yes beautiful wooded land suffers as small encampments become small communities and small communities become small towns, then large towns become cities which then become metropolitan areas then megalopolis. Street Scene has watched beautiful small Las Angeles, Miami and Atlanta become nearly unmanageable. Which is probably why I champion our Canopy Roads. However, I dont permit fixed objects, aka trees, encroaching close to or against any road pavement edge. In the transportation safety profession large trees are known as immovable objects when an errant passenger vehicle comes in contact with them.

Trees of medium proportion are known to exact capital punishment on drivers who may, as most drivers do from time to time, allow their cars to drift off the road and onto the shoulder. When we inadvertently drop onto the shoulder of a road we lift our foot from the accelerator, slow down and recover by carefully pulling back onto the paved road. When a tree is growing into the edge of pavement there is no shoulder and no chance for recovery.

As for proposed roads through the Miccosukee Greenway and adjacent Canopy Road at Dempsey Mayo, Edenfield, Thornton and Miles Johnson the same thing goes. A sufficient shoulder recovery area must be part of any new design or redesign. Law enforcement is an absolute necessity to make sure upheaval to our Canopy Road communities is not allowed, nor destruction to any canopy.

New 'no outlet' sign needed

Q. Wendy, a member of the Rosehollow Board of Directors asks Street Scene for help in replacing the No Outlet sign at the corner of Thomasville Road and Brockton Way. This is critical as we get traffic in our small community looking for a back entrance to Oven Park. There is no back entrance. I have contacted the city of Tallahassee and the Department of Transportation but no one is willing to replace the No Outlet sign. Can you be of help.

A. Yes, Wendy, Street Scene can always be of help. By the time you read this weeks Street Scene the No Outlet sign will be in place. There are many communities similar to Rosehollow where drivers unfamiliar with the area find themselves lost and disoriented at night having to enter private property, back up and turn around, or park and ask for directions.

Street Scene recognizes the potential for disaster for children and adults being struck by vehicles operated by frustrated drivers maneuvering in various ways to find their way out and onto the main road from whence they came. All traffic control, signs, signals, and markings have tremendous value in public safety. When a deficiency in any traffic control device is found let Street Scene know about it.

Seeking old columns, a word from commissioner

Q. Mack is asking how to retrieve archived Street Scene columns.

A. Mack, look for Full access print and digital subscriptions in Section A of the print edition or online go to Tallahassee.com.

Street Scene is always glad to hear from our elected and appointed officials, Federal, State, County and City. Last April we received a thank you from Leon County Commissioner Rick Minor. Commissioner Minor appreciated Street Scene bringing attention to the Safe Streets for All project.

A very worthwhile public safety initiative championed by Commissioner Minor brought forward by the Capital Region Transportation Planning Agency (CRTPA).

Thank you Commissioner Minor, for inviting Street Scene to review and comment.

Street Scene Philip Stuart Guest columnist Retired state trooper Philip Stuart.

Philip Stuart is a retired Florida State Trooper, Traffic Operations Projects Engineer and Forensics Expert Witness. Write to crashsites@embarqmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Happy Father's Day and drive safe this week | Street Scene
The Corning Museum of Glass is celebrating Pride Month with a new self-guided program to highlight the significant contributions of LGBTQIA2S+ people to the world of glass art.

"The Corning Museum of Glass is celebrating Pride Month with several activities to engage our visitors from the Corning community and beyond, said Kelci Sibley, a Corning Musuem of Glass spokesperson. Guests can take a Pride Self-Guided tour of art in our collection that centers LGBTQIA2S+ experiences from contemporary artists to ancient glass pieces.

Sibley said the museum is also excited to bring back the special fan-favorite rainbow color mix to the Make Your Own Glass experience for hot worked projects.

All month long, the Pride flag will fly over the Museum as a reminder that all people are welcome, safe, and valued at the Museum.

The Pride flag will fly over the Corning Museum of Glass throughout June as a physical reminder that all people are welcome, safe, and valued at the Museum, said CMoG.

Pride Month is a deeply meaningful time of year for our community, Sibley said.

Pride Month commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York and celebrates the LGBTQ community and the fight for equal rights.

The Stonewall Uprising began on June 28, 1969, when police raided the Stonewall Inn, a prominent gay bar in Manhattans Greenwich Village. The protests that followed are credited with a shift in LGBTQ+ activism in the U.S.

In celebration of Pride Month, the Corning Museum of Glass is featuring a special Pride rainbow mix to color Make Your Own Glass hotwork projects.

The following year saw some of the first Pride parades in Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York.

More: Past Meets Present Fashion Showcase in Corning walks 'Runway for a Cause'. See photos.

Today, Pride Month presents an opportunity for visibility and community. In addition to celebrating LGBTQ love and joy, its also a time to highlight important policy and resource issues the community faces.

The fifth annual SoFLX Pride Festival was held in Corning earlier this month.

This article originally appeared on The Leader: CMoG marks Pride Month with art tour, rainbow color mix
20 "Too Viral For Their Own Good" Tourist Destinations That've Been All But Ruined By Their Immense Popularity

When visiting a new destination, you'll probably want to check out some of the "must-visit" attractions  the spots written up in all the guidebooks and travel blogs. But unfortunately, some tourist destinations have become too famous for their own good. So, I rounded up first-hand accounts of these attractions from Redditors and members of the BuzzFeed Community, all of whom love to travel. These are the worldwide tourist attractions that they say, unfortunately, have been spoiled.

1."Versailles. I knew it would be busy; it was summer, but it was a massive bucket list visit for me, so we went anyway. But there were SO many people inside the palace that I could see way more people than the actual rooms and treasures (the Hall of Mirrors had no magic for me due to crowds), and we felt like cattle being herded. However, we loved the gardens and other buildings."

u/Content_Fan5826 Nurphoto / NurPhoto via Getty Images

2."The Trevi Fountain in Rome. It's so crowded. Next time, I'll just buy a postcard because I couldn't get much closer than three blocks away anyhow."

u/julbo1974 Travelpix Ltd / Getty Images

3."Jemaa el-Fnaa (Market Square), Marrakesh. Of all the places we visited in Morocco, Jemaa el-Fnaa was the biggest disappointment. It's full of knock-off clothes and guys trying to get you to take pictures with cobras. In general, Marrakesh is awesome, but the market is a letdown."

u/deleted Anadolu / Anadolu via Getty Images

4."Takeshita Street in Harajuku, Tokyo. I couldn't move my elbows an inch without bumping into someone, and almost every shop had a 30-minute line. I went so that I could see the Harajuku-style fashion associated with Takeshita Street, but I hardly saw any of that. So essentially, I was packed like a sardine for hours while waiting in long lines to shop for overpriced clothes. I love Tokyo, but I won't return to Harajuku anytime soon."

u/danganranger Richard A. Brooks / AFP via Getty Images

5."Oktoberfest in Munich. As a German myself, it's horrible and mostly a place for wannabe celebs to get photographed and tourists who don't know any better. There are also Germans, of course, but smaller towns have much better and more authentic Oktoberfest if that's what you're looking for."

hummingbird Christof Stache / AFP via Getty Images

6."Oia, Santorini. I went in October expecting a quieter season, and it was still packed! Some tourists were super rude, too."

u/needtravelhelp1 Athanasios Gioumpasis / Getty Images

7."Banff National Park. As a Canadian, I feel that tourism in Banff is destroying the environment. It's hard to enjoy the beauty of this place when you're constantly seeing such disrespect for it around you."

u/Autumn-Kaleidoscope David Clapp / Getty Images

8."The Leaning Tower of Pisa. It's essentially a field of tourists trying to take a picture of the tower without other tourists, plus souvenir shops trying to sell things to those tourists."

u/Korpikuusenalla Athanasios Gioumpasis / Getty Images

9."Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia. I don't mind crowds in cities, but Plitvice is supposed to be a peaceful natural setting and felt more like a theme park."

u/deleted Nurphoto / NurPhoto via Getty Images

10."Bondi Beach in Sydney. It's a mediocre beach, and it's always very crowded during the summer, so you hardly have space to swim or enjoy yourself."

u/crocodiledendi Mark Evans / Getty Images

11."The Vatican, and specifically inside St. Peter's Basilica. This was pre-COVID, so my experience may be different now, but there were so many people. I wanted to stay inside the Sistine Chapel to admire the ceiling paintings, but I was being pushed along, and it was so noisy."

u/noxobscurus "The Sistine Chapel. It was incredible to see in person, but it was shoulder-to-shoulder with people, and they were trying to usher everyone through as fast as possible, so I felt like I was in the way and couldn't stay long. I would have loved to gaze quietly at the ceiling and take it all in for several minutes, but that wasn't an option." u/Atheist_Alex_C Future Publishing / Future Publishing via Getty Images

12."Cinque Terre, Italy in August. We felt like sweaty sardines packed in everywhere we went."

u/zozobinx Athanasios Gioumpasis / Getty Images

13."Yellowstone National Park. It is fantastic if you find yourself in a spot where it's just you or a few other tourists. However, most of the main sites are so full of people that it feels like Disney World at some point instead of nature. It's also infuriating to see so many tourists disrespecting nature by walking off the paths/boardwalks and leaving trash around."

u/wyatt_sw George Rose / Getty Images

14."The Pyramids of Giza. This might be harsh, but the swarm of aggressive market vendors surrounding the pyramids makes visiting this site a nightmare. One woman on our tour group asked a guard to take her photo, and he refused to return her phone unless she paid him. The whole time, we were yelled at and haggled into buying headscarves and assorted souvenirs, which ruined my experience. I spent months looking forward to the trip and felt so disappointed."

u/TheTrustyCrumpet Jewel Samad / AFP via Getty Images

15."Pretty much any tourist destination in Bali. It's a beautiful place with amazing food and friendly people, but the pushy salespeople on the street outside every tourist destination trying to extract every rupiah on me for tourist knick-knacks ruined a lot of the good vibes."

u/PeterJoAl Education Images / Universal Images Group via Getty Images

16."The Disney parks in Orlando. We paid an absolute fortune for tickets, and the place was so overcrowded that it wasn't fun."

u/st2826 Gary Hershorn / Getty Images

17."The Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center in NYC. It's so packed I got just close enough to barely squeeze out. I didn't even really see the tree. The setting always looks so nice in movies. And also Times Square. It's stressful being there, and I still don't understand why there's gridlock traffic. Everyone needs to honk their horn constantly as if there is anywhere to go. I'm just a country boy, I guess..."

u/deleted John Moore / Getty Images

18."The Mona Lisa room in the Louvre is incredibly frustrating, entirely because of the other tourists. I got as close as I could before a group of tourists almost pushed me to the floor. I was there as part of my studies for my master's in art history, so it was infuriating. In my humble opinion, there are much better paintings in the Louvre."

Clothilde Xinhua News Agency / Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images

19."Dubai. This city is talked up as one of the best tourist destinations in the world, but when I was there it felt like an amusement park under construction. I felt like I was constantly being shuttled from one tourist trap to another."

u/NamerNotLiteral Sopa Images / SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

20."Waikiki Beach in Oahu. It's a horrible, crowded concrete beach surrounded by traffic and overpriced chain stores. Go to literally any other beach in Oahu. Or, for an even cooler experience, drive up to the island's North Shore and pick a spot on any one of the many quiet beaches there to enjoy the gorgeous scenery."

u/rachelgraychel Eugene Tanner / AFP via Getty Images

Do you have one to add? What is a popular tourist attraction that felt overrated, spoiled, or simply not worth visiting? Tell us in the comments or in this anonymous form.

Note: Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Music has charms to soothe the savage beast is a line from a seventeenth century play with so much truth to it, it has been remembered long after everything else about play and playwright has passed out of popular knowledge. And while I dont know if I would slap on the latest Taylor Swift were I to accidentally run into a bear in the woods, its certainly true that music can soothe the not-so-savage beast in this clip.

Here we see an adorable orange and white guinea pig named DinDin, who makes her home in Paris alongside several other little critters and her human mother, who likes to play piano for DinDins enjoyment.

View the original article to see embedded media.

This woman regularly posts content about her pet guinea pig DinDin, even though she actually has several other animals. Its Din Din, a gorgeous orange and white guinea pig, who gets all the love online, especially when the little creature snuggles up in a hollow of her piano to listen to her play.

We stan a musical animal, but at least with this one, shes not howling along with the tune.

Related: Guinea Pig Who Always Wants to Be with Mom Has Stolen Our Hearts

I dont have a lot of experience with guide pigs myself, but one time at a petting zoo, I got to hold one in my lap and listen to its delightful squeaks, grunts, and other little noises. I was completely enchanted. Maybe the music of a guinea pig hat charms to soothe my inner savage beast?

Do Guinea Pigs Like Music?

Its clear that DinDin loves music. Every time she is placed but he piano she snuggles up and flattens her body against the wood, either listening intently or just enjoying the vibration of the chords.

Though there are no studies specifically testing a guinea pigs enjoyment of music, it is clear froths sample size of one that DinDin, at least, loves classical piano.

The Care and Keeping of Your Guinea Pig

Guinea pigs are popular pets because they are adorable, small, and they make those aforementioned sweet little grunting squeaks. (Im telling you, its second only to a cats purring when it comes to satisfying pet noises.) They are highly sociable animals, and are gentle and easygoing, which make them wonderful pets, even for children.

Guinea pigs need access to fresh green grass hay as well as plenty of fresh water. They also eat specially formulate guinea pig pellets, supplemented with vitamin C as well as the occasional fresh fruit or vegetable (especially crunchy veggies like carrots, apples, bell peppers, and romaine lettuce.

Their habitats or enclosures should be of a suitable sizee to allow free movement and letting them get sufficient exercise. Wood shaving bedding is best and should be regularly cleaned. Make sure to give your guinea pig a small enclosure such as a box or other den that they can retreat to be alone, hide, and feel safe when they are stressed out.

Guinea pigs are highly social animals who do well with lots of human interaction. In fact, they do best in pairs as the two guinea pigs can play with each other and keep each other occupied when their humans are not around.

But can the guinea pig friend learn to play the piano? It remains to be seen.

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Java and more: A coffee shop with a special mission is about to open in Shrewsbury

Kader Kapadia and his wife, Salwa Zakaria, are opening the first MOTW Coffee & Pastries franchise, in Shrewsbury.

SHREWSBURY  Get ready to sip some coffee with a shot of community-building.

Thats the combination Kader Kapadia and his wife Salwa Zakaria hope to bring to customers when they open MOTW Coffee & Pastries in Shrewsbury.

Its the first MOTW franchise scheduled to open in Massachusetts. If all goes well, Kapadia said, doors will open to the public in mid- to late late July in the Marketplace shopping center, 378 Maple Ave.

MOTW Coffee is a franchise that grew out of an Instagram account, @muslimsoftheworld, started by Sajjad Shah when anti-Muslim sentiments were alarmingly high, according to the companys website. Shahs Instagram account has more than 700,000 followers (including Kapadia and Zakaria).

"My wife and I have had a passion for coffee for as long as we can remember, said Kapadia, explaining how he got into the business. Both Kapadia and Zakaria work full-time in health care information technology, so after spending considerable time at the shop when it first opens, they will hand over much of the duties to a management team and a set of baristas.

One of the baristas will be the couples 17-year-old daughter, Emaan.

For the record, Kapadia's favorite coffee drink is a caffe americano, while Zakaria's is caramel macchiato. They drink a lot of coffee, especially when hosting parties in their Andover home.

Instagram fuels business

Besides a passion for coffee, Kapadia said, the companys humanitarian mission was a reason why he and his wife invested in the business. The company's website says it has raised millions of dollars for worthy causes, from medical care to providing shelter in Yemen and Ethiopia.

Super excited is how Kapadia described his feelings opening the first Massachusetts location. Its meant to be a place to socialize and get know one another in the community.

To foster that sense of community, Kapadia said board games will be in the shop. Standup comedy nights could be part of the lineup, besides a full range of coffee drinks and pastries.

Place to hang out

Unconventional was a word Kapadia used to describe the business. He said that unlike competitors that are grab-and-go operations, he wants customers to hang out and get to know each other. To do that, especially on weekends, the plan is to stay open until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.

The Massachusetts location will be the seventh in MOTWs nationwide lineup, joining others in New Haven, Connecticut; another near Chicago; and four in the Indianapolis area.

Kapadia and Zakaria visited one of the Indianapolis shops last summer.

We fell in love with it, said Kapadia. On a whim, the couple thought about opening a franchise in Massachusetts to meld their passion for coffee with joining the companys humanitarian mission.

Its how we fell into this, said Kapadia.

Contact Henry Schwan at henry.schwan@telegram.com. Follow him on X: @henrytelegram.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: First MOTW Coffee franchise in Massachusetts to open in Shrewsbury
MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11)  La Sala is a place for LGBTQ+ people in Washington Heights to feel at home.

La Sala provides a safe space to for teens and young adults. It started with eight transgender women seven years ago. Currently, there are more than 100 people who benefit from the center.

A group of friends got together at La Sala Friday evening. Demi Figueroa was voguing her night away. As a transgender woman, she says the place means sanity.

We need to be around people like ourselves. We need to feel like we can have a space to come together and hang out. Sometimes we dont feel comfortable going out to make friends, said Figueroa.

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Founded in 2017 by the Dominican Womens Development Center, La Sala, which translates into the living room, is a drop-in program for LGBTQ+ youth in uptown Manhattan.

When I first came to the organization, I came because of that because of the homelessness in youth. Latinos are the first ones to kick their child out because they are gay, said Elizabeth Javier, the program director. She added most of the members of La Sala have been displaced overnight from their homes.

La Sala currently has about 130 active members from all over the tri-state area and beyond. Members also get help with food, clothing, laundry, counseling, education, finding permanent housing and employment. They can come in to shower and take a nap if they need to.

It creates a sense of community being here. La Sala represents a safe space for my community, which is very important because we dont have too many safe spaces up here in Washington Heights and the Harlem area, said Nelson Barrera, who joined La Sala when it first opened. He now works for the center as a peer educator helping young adults in crisis.

They are safe spaces that they are hoping to expand across the five boroughs. They are aiming to also to able to provide housing for unsheltered LGBTQ+ youth for a period of at least 72 hours.

We know there is a taboo within our Latino culture when it comes to LGBTQ. And we wanted a space where children and teens can become accepted that feels like home, where parents can get information, said Carolina Capella, director of the Dominican Womens Development Center.

For Georgiana Rivamontes, La Sala is not only where he found her extended family.

My mom, she wasnt so fond with it. She was shocked. What, youre gay? She was not happy with it, Rivamontes said.

This living room is where she also found ways to navigate her own coming out process.

You feel welcomed, a bond, a connection. You feel like you belong, and that is very important for us LGBT to feel that, said Rivamontes.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
In the midst of the pandemic when most people were subject to a stay-at-home order, Linda Paider of Two Rivers spent some of that time experimenting in the kitchen. She especially enjoyed trying out new recipes in her Instant Pot. One of those recipes changed the course of her career.

She was looking at social media when she saw photos and raving reviews for an Instant Pot cheesecake.

I was testing new recipes and thought, That sounds good. I think Ill try that, she said.

What she didnt anticipate was the reaction of friends. They loved the texture and taste. That led to trying more conventional methods of making cheesecakes and testing a variety of flavors. The friends were impressed and encouraged her to pursue it as a business.

At the time, Paider was working as a certified medical assistant, a job she had held for almost a decade.

She said, It came to a point about one and a half years into the pandemic that I had to decide between staying at my job and quitting making cheesecakes or making cheesecakes and quitting my job. I decided to make cheesecakes.

It was a risky proposition. Not only was the economy still struggling because of the pandemic, she had no experience in starting a business. Despite that, she forged ahead. Her close friends, especially those who had business experience, helped with the planning. One of the first items on the agenda was choosing a name.

My friends and I were tossing out ideas and someone said, How about Linda Loves Cheesecake'? That name sounded right and it just stuck, Paider said.

The next steps included the usual. She worked with her accountant to form an LLC, filed for a sales tax number, registered the business name, and set up separate bank accounts. When a boutique closed in her friends building, she also found a retail space.

Remodeling included the addition of a commercial kitchen.

I worked with the health department to come up with a plan and make sure everything was in compliance," Paider said. "I had started in early 2020, and the kitchen was done by June of that year.

In addition to cheesecake, other retail products were added. She had some favorites from Door County and brought in items like Door County Coffee, freeze-dried cherries, and cherry snack mixes. A company that made cherry salsa and barbecue sauce packaged it for her store and added her label.

I wanted to add Door County items because Two Rivers is like a small Door County and I love Door County. When I was designing the store, I contacted some of the shops I visited and decided to sell some of my personal favorites in the store, she said.

The items have been popular, but the highlight is definitely the cheesecake. By 2021, the sales were growing as word of mouth and social media brought people in the door. She listened to customers and took suggestions and came up with recipes for more than 100 different types of cheesecake. About seven are featured each week on a rotating basis.

I was still nervous about the business, but it was getting better, Paider said.

To increase sales, she turned to wholesale and began to contact some of the more exclusive restaurants with a request they consider selling Linda Loves Cheesecake on their dessert menus.

I started calling restaurants, and if they were interested, I met with them and brought in a sample platter of cheesecake to try along with a price list," she said. "I ended up with about 10 of them deciding to purchase it.

The restaurants, in northeastern Wisconsin and Door County, helped increase sales and also brought increased name recognition. She plans on spending time contacting more restaurants this winter, but a recent addition to the business has added to her work schedule.

Linda Paider of Two Rivers is the owner of Linda Loves Cheesecake, which includes a retail store in Two Rivers and a food truck.

Earlier this year, Paider decided to join the food truck crowd. She found a used trailer in Florida and made the trip there to pick it up. It was priced right and only a few things needed to be changed to bring it up to code. Steamed hot dogs were added to the menu and the trailer was named Desserts N Dogs Cruiser. In addition, she sells shaved Hawaiian ice, edible cookie dough, cheesecake cups, and frozen brownies on a stick. The cheesecake slices are kept separate to drive customers to her store.

Her work schedule now includes baking for the store and restaurants, filling custom orders, working in the retail shop, and hitting the road with the food truck.

I do all of the ordering, wash the dishes, do the baking, contact restaurants and make sure deliveries are made," Paider said. "I send out invoices, market the business, update social media, decorate, and handle the administrative work. An accountant handles the major bookkeeping.

That amounts to about 50 hours a week. It isnt unusual to see on the schedule posted online that she will be at the shop until 2 p.m. before leaving for a food truck engagement that will last well into the evening. The good news is that the truck has far exceeded expectations.

She said, I have been overwhelmed by how well the food trailer went over. I am booked out all summer. I wanted to do the Manitowoc Farmers Market and then I signed up for a number of food truck rallies.

Her efforts have been recognized, not only by increasing sales, but also by the community. Although she didnt win at last months Progress Lakeshores annual awards breakfast, she was selected as a nominee for the Entrepreneurial Achievement Award.

All of this has her dreaming big. She would like to lease a space with a bigger kitchen, increase wholesaling to restaurants, add employees, finish designing a website, add an ecommerce site, and continue to grow custom and retail sales.

To accomplish that, one of the main challenges is pricing because the cost of ingredients keeps going up and there are limits to how much customers will be willing to pay. Slices of cheesecake cost between $5.99 and $6.99, but that will likely increase in the next month. There are lower cost options for ingredients but quality is imperative to her success.

She is working with her accountant to look for other areas where she might be able to reduce expenses. As she does that, Paider will continue to work toward achieving her goals.

She said, I have learned that if you truly want something in life, it is well worth fighting to get what you want. You may have to work harder and many more hours than expected, but in the end it all pays off. It feels good when people come up to me and say, I love your cheesecake.

Tina Dettman-Bielefeldt is co-owner of DB Commercial Real Estate in Green Bay and past district director for SCORE, Wisconsin.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Linda Paider turns joy of making cheesecakes into successful business
Looking for secluded beaches near Pensacola? Try these five spots

When we enter the heart of summer, finding a secluded or quiet spot at Pensacola Beach feels like a pipe dream.

Last year, Visit Pensacola recorded over 2 million visitors to Escambia County and many of those headed right to Pensacola Beach. Most Pensacola Beach tourists frequent the areas hotspots, like Casino Beach, but there are still plenty of areas along Pensacola Beach where you can grab a less crowded spot and even more areas around Pensacola where you can soak up some sun along our famous sandy white beaches.

Here is where you can beach without the crowds. Mostly.

Fort Pickens

If youre already on Pensacola Beach, heading westward to Fort Pickens is a great option. Fort Pickens is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore and requires an entry fee to visit. You can find the prices below.

Once youre in, you can do more than lounge around the beach, though thats a good idea, too. You can explore the historic fort, which served as one of several Third System forts built along the U.S. coastline to protect important waterways in the early 1800s.

Fort Pickens also offers the perfect campgrounds for those wanting to enjoy a bit of nature, history and the beach. The campgrounds are part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore and are located on Santa Rosa Island, south of Pensacola and Gulf Breeze.

Shelling at Pensacola Beach: Can you go shelling at Pensacola Beach in the summer? Sure! Here's what to know

Site amenities include fire pits, picnic tables, a paved pad for parking, heated showers and restrooms. There are both electric and non-electric sites available, but RV campers should be aware of some size restrictions due to low limbs and bushes.

Entrance fees for all Gulf Island National Seashore areas are the same:

Per person (pedestrian, cyclist, etc.) : $15

Motorcycle : $20

Vehicle : $25

Park annual pass: $45

For non-commercial groups:

Vehicles with a capacity of 15 or less : $25

Vehicles with a capacity of 16-25, ages 16 and older : $15 per person with a max fee of $45

Bus/motor coach with a capacity over $26, ages 16 and older: $15 per person, max fee of $100

Johnson Beach

Birds walk along the shore at Gulf Islands National Seashore's Johnson Beach in Perdido Key on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021.

Perdido Key Beach has some nice beach spots, too, but the main beach area can get crowded, too. Johnson Beach National Seashore is another option that requires you to pay that entry fee, but you cant put a price on the tranquility offered by peace of mind.

Part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, Johnson Beach is a designated recreational area along the barrier island. Youll find lifeguards, facilities and a parking lot that is ideal for water-based recreational activities and even some light hiking.

The park includes parking areas, seven accessible boardwalks, a pavilion and a half-mile bike and pedestrian trail. Please note that pets arent allowed.

Park East

Well beyond the restaurants, the bars, the iconic beach ball tower and even Portofino resides Pensacolas own quiet, oceanfront oasis  Park East. There isnt much to say about Park East, which is exactly why its on this list.

Its a simple public beach access point well out of the way from the commotion of Casino Beach, where you can throw down a towel, pitch a beach umbrella and not have to worry about accidentally getting stepped on by someone struggling to navigate more crowded beaches.

Visiting Pensacola Beach? Heading to Pensacola Beach this summer? Here's everything you need to know before you go

Whats also great about Park East is that its not simply out in the middle of nowhere. It has public restrooms, showers, over 100 parking spaces, a snorkeling reef, and if you have a pet you can easily walk to our designated dog beaches at lots 21.5 and 28.5.

Park East is located about 1.8 miles east of the Portofino Island Resort. This link will bring up the access points coordinates on Google Maps.

Navarre Beach

View a sunny day on Navarre Beach on Aug. 4, 2020

Before it was dubbed Floridas most relaxing place, Navarre Beach in neighboring Santa Rosa County was known as Floridas best kept secret. Regardless of which slogan you believe fits the most, both can be applied in equal parts as Navarre Beach is a quieter and more relaxing version of Pensacola Beach.

You wont find the same options when it comes to restaurants and bars, but what you will find is miles of sugary-white beach and emerald-green water that stretch as far as you can see. While you can certainly enjoy a relaxing afternoon soaking up the sun, you can also kayak, paddleboard, snorkel, rent private tours and more.

Opal Beach

Last and certainly not least is Opal Beach, located almost smack-dab in between Pensacola and Navarre Beach. The Opal Beach Complex is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore and sits along Highway 399.

This stretch of beach got its name in 1995 after Hurricane Opal flattened the dunes, essentially creating the beach. Amenities include public restrooms, drinking water, outdoor showers, picnic shelters and plenty of opportunity for fishing.

Like Fort Pickens and Johnson Beach, access to Opal Beach requires an entrance fee.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola Beach too crowded? Try these secluded Pensacola area beaches
Buried in the cellar of George Washington's Mount Vernon home, a treasure trove was waiting to be discovered  an enormous amount of preserved cherries. Archaeologists discovered 35 glass bottles with cherries, Mount Vernon officials announced on Thursday, just a few weeks after two bottles were found in April.

"Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine this spectacular archaeological discovery," said Mount Vernon President Doug Bradburn.

Archaeologists discovered 35 glass bottles of cherries in the cellar of George Washington's Mount Vernon home. / Credit: George Brown/ Mount Vernon Ladies' Association

Mount Vernon officials said the cherries, which included gooseberries and currants, were buried in five storage pits in the mansion's cellar. They had been hidden for about 250 years before being unearthed during ongoing renovation projects at Mount Vernon. Of the 35 bottles, 29 were found intact.

Washington lived at his Virginia family's estate for most of his life. He took over management of the property in 1754, and slowly built and added to the home. The family depended on hundreds of enslaved people to run Mount Vernon.

35 bottles of cherries were discovered buried in the cellar of George Washington's Mount Vernon home. / Credit: George Brown/ Mount Vernon Ladies' Association

"The bottles and contents are a testament to the knowledge and skill of the enslaved people who managed the food preparations from tree to table, including Doll, the cook brought to Mount Vernon by Martha Washington in 1759 and charged with oversight of the estate's kitchen," Mount Vernon officials said in the statement.

"These artifacts likely haven't seen the light of day since before the American Revolution, perhaps forgotten when George Washington departed Mount Vernon to take command of the Continental Army," Bradburn said.

Cherries discovered buried in the cellar of George Washington's Mount Vernon home are analyzed. / Credit: George Brown

The quality of the preserved, albeit fragile, bottles revealed intact fruit, pits and pulp, providing "an incredibly rare opportunity to contribute to our knowledge of the 18th-century environment, plantation foodways, and the origins of American cuisine," said Jason Boroughs, principal archaeologist at Mount Vernon.

Analysis of a small sample found 54 cherry pits and 23 stems. The stems were neatly cut and left on before the cherries were bottled. Researchers said they believe the pits are ripe for DNA extraction and possible germination.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Multnomah County Animal Services announced that it is holding a summer adoption sale as its kennels are at capacity.

Multnomah County spokesperson Alicia Mendez told KOIN 6 News that Animal Services currently has the ability to fill five more dog kennels and 14 more cat kennels. However, workers have already started converting office spaces into kennels to make room for all the animals.

Technically, [Animal Services] has already reached capacity, Mendez said. Pets are currently in offices, hallways, and are in our flex space areas. We are actively seeking creative solutions to ensure positive outcomes for all animals in our care, but we urgently need the communitys support.

Officials rescue 30 riders trapped upside-down at Oaks Amusement Park

As of Friday, Animal Services has 65 pets available for adoption, including 33 dogs and a variety of rabbits, puppies, kittens and cats.

The Animal Services shelter, located at 1700 Historic Columbia River Highway in Troutdale, is offering a Suns Out, Tongues Out adoption special through the end of June to help with the overcrowding. During the adoption sale, the county is charging $25 for dogs and puppies, $15 for cats and kittens and $5 for rabbits and pocket pets like guinea pigs, hamsters and rodents.

We ask that community members consider adoption or fostering a pet at this time, Mendez said. Additionally, we are asking members of the public to call [Animal Services] before bringing in any stray animals. If possible, we request that community members temporarily hold stray pets until kennel space becomes available. We are happy to provide food and supplies to those willing to assist in this way. We thank the community for their understanding and cooperation during this challenging time.

Northbound Interstate Bridge lanes to close for weekend sign maintenance

People can check out the countys stock of available pets through the Multco Pets website, or by visiting the shelter during regular business hours.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Owners passing the reins on historic 1899 Victorian home near Charlotte. Look inside.

An 1899 Victorian Queen Anne-style home hit the market this month in the historic district of York, South Carolina, 40 minutes from Charlotte.

Spencer and Jordan Barkin are selling their home at 2 Kings Mountain St. for $575,000, according to its listing by Keller Williams Realty agent Kim Bigach.

The home has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979.

The interior includes formal rooms for dining and entertaining.

High ceilings, custom woodwork

The couple have lived in their 3,145-square-foot home since February 2021, Jordan Barkin told The Charlotte Observer on Friday.

Our favorite aspects of the house are the high ceilings, custom woodwork and wrap-around veranda, he said in an email.

Our dogs love looking out through the bay windows at the birds and deer that pass through the property, which encompasses 3/4 of an acre, Barkin said.

The home is on a lovely corner in Yorks verdant historic district, he said.

The house is a walk away from shops, restaurants and town festivities, according to the listing.

Heart pine flooring, winding staircase

The home has four bedrooms and three bathrooms.

A slate walkway and patio lead to the wrap-around porch.

The interior includes heart pine flooring throughout the home, along with a chefs kitchen, large pantry and wet bar, formal rooms for dining and entertaining and a winding staircase.

The home at 2 Kings Mountain St. in York, S.C., is for sale for $575,000.

The home has six fireplaces, reconditioned claw foot tubs; eccentric moldings and transoms; and plenty of natural lighting, according to its listing.

The house is a walk away from shops, restaurants and town festivities.

Jordan Barkin said he and his husband are selling the house to begin the next chapter in our lives, visiting friends and family across the U.S.

The house, he said, speaks to those who love character and history, and we look forward to passing the reins to the next generation of stewards.

The home has reconditioned claw foot tubs.

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Salisbury Zoo announces new exhibit spaces, other big improvements at gala. All to know.

The Salisbury Zoo held its 70th Anniversary Gala recently, and used the celebration to also announce some big improvements coming to the beloved attraction.

Here's what to know about those exciting improvements.

Eagles get new home at zoo, new ones for bears, coati in works now

During the gala, the ribbon was officially cut on the George J. Mengason Eagle Exhibit, which has been many years in the making. The zoos bald eagles, Cheveyo and Sam, cannot fly, but they now have access to a much larger exhibit that will allow more space for flighted birds in the future. Mengasons widow, Jane Ellen Mengason, cut the ribbon.

Jane Ellen Mengason cuts the ribbon on the Salisbury Zoo's new George J. Mengason Eagle Exhibit during the Salisbury Zoo's 70th Anniversary Gala on June 8. Zoo Director Chuck Eicholz stands next to her. Holding the ribbon are City of Salisbury Arts, Business and Culture Department Director Allen Swiger, left, and Zoo Commission Chairman Clifton Griffin.

The largest planned project is a new Andean bear exhibit, which is expected to break ground this fall. This project, at an estimated $6 million cost, will completely reshape the Salisbury Zoo and provide a much larger habitat for Andean bears. This exhibit will be ideal for Andean bear breeding. Visitors will also have an opportunity to see the bears at eye-level as they are climbing in the trees from a second-floor observation area.

A new coati exhibit is expected to break ground in July. The previous exhibit, which has been demolished, was outdated and did not meet the requirements for a breeding colony. The new exhibit will be able to host a troop of four to six coatis.

Additionally, improvements have been made to the infrastructure at the zoo and a pavilion by the Education Center is planned.

Salisbury Zoo director excited about 'important projects'

Zoo Director Chuck Eicholz presents on the new Andean bear exhibit planned for the Salisbury Zoo during the Salisbury Zoo's 70th Anniversary Gala.

Salisbury Zoo Director Chuck Eicholz shared his enthusiasm for the big projects.

There are so many important projects in the works at the Salisbury Zoo, said Zoo Director Chuck Eicholz. I enjoyed sharing more about whats to come with guests at the Salisbury Zoos 70th Anniversary Gala, and Im thankful for the support of all who attended and contributed. As we embark on these projects, community support will continue to be vital.

The zoos Education Department is also in the process of being overhauled with new partnerships, programs and events, and the Guest Services Department will launch a new membership program this summer, with additional member events to come.

During the gala, the Salisbury Zoo received recognition from elected officials at the federal, state and local levels for reaching its 70-year anniversary.

Salisbury Zoo working toward regaining key accreditation

Members of the Eastern Shore Delegation present a citation to the Salisbury Zoo during the Salisbury Zoo's 70th Anniversary Gala. From left are Salisbury City Administrator Andy Kitzrow, Zoo Director Chuck Eicholz, Maryland Sen. Mary Beth Carozza and Maryland Delegates Wayne A. Hartman and Charles J. Otto.

The Salisbury Zoo is working toward regaining its accreditation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and is currently part of the Pathway Toward Membership program. The zoo plans to reapply for this accreditation in 2026.

The Salisbury University Foundation, Inc., and Sea Gull Century served as the platinum sponsor for the gala, and their support, along with the support of numerous other sponsors, was integral to the galas success. To make a donation to the Salisbury Zoo, visit salisburyzoo.org/donate.

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Salisbury Zoo announces new exhibit spaces, other vital improvements
PETOSKEY  A major life milestone is coming for one Petoskey resident, who is getting ready to celebrate her 100th birthday on Monday.

Born June 17, 1924, Marjorie Upton grew up in a small mining town in the Upper Peninsula, Painesdale. The daughter of a teacher and an engraver, Upton moved to Detroit to study nursing at the Henry Ford Hospital. During World War II, she moved up to Petoskey as a part of the Cadet Nurse Program.

She graduated from the nursing program in 1945 but stayed in Petoskey to work at the Little Traverse Hospital.

Marjorie Upton turns 100 years old on June 17, 2024.

A few years later, in 1948, she met her husband, John Perce Upton. He was a radio operator in World War II.

By 1949, they built and moved into their first home together  the one in which she still currently resides. Originally, the plot of land cost them just $150, she said.

They moved into a home in Petoskey, one with a view of Lake Michigan from the sitting room.

I still have my view, she said.

Over 11 years, the Uptons had seven children of their own, and later took in the best friend of one of their daughters after her parents deaths.

A napkin holder with "Marjorie Davey" engraved into it. Marjorie Upton said her father engraved the piece for her with her maiden name on it.

In 1971, her husband died and Upton returned to work, working part time at Little Traverse Hospital again before working at Emmet County Medical Care Facility, now known as Bay Bluffs. When her husband passed and she returned to work, Upton only had three kids left in the house.

Upton never remarried, or even dated, really, her daughter Laura Webb told the News-Review.

She didn't really date because she was so busy raising her kids at this point, Webb said. She just didn't really have time but as she aged, she gathered this great group of friends who were widows, divorcees, (or had) never been married, all these lady friends.

(Left to right) Craig Webb, Marjorie Upton, Fran Upton and Jon Upton pose for a photo.

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In addition to having a great group of friends, many of whom she met at the St. Francis Xavier church, she spent a lot of time traveling as well. Upton has gone river rafting and camping on the Colorado River, and has traveled to places like Sweden, Finland and her favorite, Norway.

In a long life, ones destined to see some hardship, but even then, Webb said, Upton worked to keep up a positive attitude.

She just keeps moving forward, Webb said. "My dad died, she goes Yes, it was hard but I just keep going forward. A lot of times, she just says It is what it is, what will be will be. Her outlook on life and how she deals with problems is pretty good.

In her free time, Upton likes to read and stay active, often walking around the yard and picking up any fallen debris, she said. Theres even a bag of peanuts sitting on the kitchen counter so she can feed the chipmunks.

It's a true gift, I feel very fortunate, very lucky to have my mother still in my life, Webb said. She's got her wits about her. She's active. She's only a block from the water, so she walks down to go watch the sunset. I just think that is such a gift.

 Contact reporter Karly Graham at kgraham@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KarlyGrahamJRN.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: 'She just keeps moving forward': Petoskey resident Marjorie Upton celebrates 100th birthday
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I was young and living in sunny Coronado, California. My buddies and I decided to do a day trip to Tijuana, Mexico. We drove 30 minutes south and, surprisingly, we crossed into Mexico by walking through a spinning gate, almost like we were going into a theme park.

Wow, that was way easier than I expected, I thought.

The day went great and we went out to wander some local towns, which were rustic, dry, and full of animated people. We drank tequila, tried the local food, and enjoyed each others company.

Seven good hours later, we decided to head back  and faced the reality that getting into Mexico is much easier than getting into the United States. A weaving line stretched far out in front of me. I began huffing and puffing, wondering why the hell wed decided to do this day trip in the first place.

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We only waited about ninety minutes in the end, which wasnt nothing. But the experience, and my attitude towards that line completely ruined the whole thing for me when I look back on it.

And like me, I suspect many of you have had to deal with painfully long wait times. What if we could better contend with these waits? The problem originates with state boredom, and how people largely misunderstand it. Heres how to reverse it and to live better.

The corrosive effects of waiting on mood

Psychologist, Dr. David C. Jangraw, ran an experiment where they had people answer standard psychology questions online and then rate their mood periodically. Of note, the questions and tasks were relatively mundane and repetitive. On average, they found that peoples mood declined by 2% per minute (which they called mood drift over time). This is significant, given the sample pool included more than 28,000+ participants.

Your mood, scientifically, is defined by the cumulative sum of rewards and punishments youve felt. One of those punishments is waiting, and feeling intense boredom.

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Boredom is generally defined as a lack of interest, stimulation or purpose. In my case, standing in the long line, staring at the back of another persons head, in the heat, waiting to step a few steps forward, felt torturous  especially in context to the fun day wed had in the city.

There are two key types of boredom. State boredom is, as the name implies, a state of being, an ephemeral mood that can pass at any given time. Trait boredom is the susceptibility one has to this boredom. Like people, some dogs tend to have it. For example, working dogs, like German and Australian shepherds, who are also smart and energetic, can be quite frustrating if they get bored because they get themselves into trouble and start breaking things.

But mostly  its state boredom you have to worry about as its far more common. The scary thing is that state boredom is correlated to a list of bad things: withdrawal from work, political extremism, frustration, distress, property damage, and a reduced motivation.

A key driver of state boredom is a lack of autonomy: You feel you have no control over a given situation. For example, as a kid, I had to do chores around the house, including cleaning, making beds, raking leaves, and more. It was excruciatingly boring, especially in context to the other things that needed to be done. My parents had to drag me to each task, and remind me to get back to cleaning, which I know was painful for them as well.

But if I had just focused on these tasks, and on doing them correctly, my life would have been so much better.

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The other challenge is one of expectations. State boredom can be a result of you wanting everything to be wholly exciting or interesting at any given time  which is partly why people spend their free time scrolling on their phones in waiting rooms. They arent comfortable with just being.

Tricks to beat state boredom

One solution is to practice mindfulness. For example, I will just start to notice little things going on around me if Im in an airport waiting for my flight. Ill look at dynamics between people and couples, and wonder what is driving those interactions. Ill wonder how the middle aged married couple has come to seemingly loathe each other as their kids play around them. What could have happened to get them to this point?

This shifts that sense of autonomy back to me. I am no longer at the mercy of some doctor or worker who is busy with other people. Ive now claimed that time for my own use, and to use at my discretion, even if its through something subtle. I also remind myself, Is my time that valuable? Am I really royalty? Am I using every second of my day to save lives?

You can pivot this into something creative. For example, I have a notes app on my phone, that I will use to note things I observe happening between people. This often becomes quite inspirational for stories that I write, and youve likely read a few of them prior.

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And even if this doesnt sound appealing  know that it is among the better of the available options.

Behavioral scientist, Dr. Jonas Dora ran a study examining peoples coping mechanisms with boredom during their workday. He found that when bored, people were more likely to scroll social media  but that after doing so, they reported feeling more drained.

Whats amazing is that  boredom can be a fantastic creative tool. One study found that, during the lockdowns in COVID-19, some people found immense reward in pursuing creative outlets they hadnt been involved in prior  taking up things like painting, knitting, and writing. It proved great for their overall wellbeing and mood.

When the pandemic hit, I had quit my job to become a writer just six months prior. It was an opportune moment for me to lockdown, focus on my craft and push content. Its not to say that Im glad the pandemic happened  but it was a reminder of the value of using so much vacant time for the better.

Lastly, its important to stay calm. The passage of time is a highly context dependent feeling. When you are stressed, time can feel like it is taking forever and induce state boredom.

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For example, researchers had people with arachnophobia look at photos of spiders for 45 seconds without telling them how long they were looking at the spiders. Unsurprisingly, the participants tended to rate the passage of time as being significantly more than it actually was. This is why you often hear people referring to difficult but short events as being, The longest 20 seconds of my life.

In short, relax. Perception plays a huge role in the passage of time and can exacerbate state boredom. Sitting and lamenting that you are in a waiting room does nothing to help you be more patient.

If you feel youre constantly bored, its possible you suffer from trait boredom. If you think you might, I strongly recommend seek therapy from a licensed therapist, as state boredom is a longer term problem related to self control, which can lead to depression and substance abuse.

A parting thought

I would remind people that being bored is a problem of luxury. I once went on a high school field trip to a local prison, as a sort of scared straight experience. And if there was anything I left from that experience with, it was that I loved my freedom.

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Ask any prisoner who spends 20+ hours a day in a tiny prison cell what its like, and I suspect many will tell you how bored they are. Theyd beg to have the life you have, walking out in the sunlight, feeling the wind on your face, being away from other men shouting in their cells all night, being able to choose what you eat for lunch, to use the bathroom in private, to call and visit friends when it is convenient. You have so many simple comforts that go unnoticed.

Take time to appreciate these things and be mindful of the incredible gift that life has afforded us. Sitting in that waiting room was never a huge waste of your time. The waste was your choice to be bored while doing so.
It was 1994 when a handful of organizers created the Delaware Juneteenth Association  not just to celebrate Black history, but also armed with a mission statement to develop programming to address problems in the community.

Thirty years later, the organization is continuing to grow and hosted its largest annual event on Saturday: the Juneteenth freedom parade and festival, which drew about 3,000 people to Wilmington's downtown and the Riverfront.

"We started with a flicker, and now we're the keeper of the flame," said Sylvia Lewis-Harris, one of six co-founders, led by main founder Bernie Wilkins, as she looked out at the crowd from under a tent.

Parade doubles in size

Saturday's parade had 60 units marching down King Street from Rodney Square to the Riverfront, doubling last year's effort celebrating the holiday, which is Wednesday. The parade ended at Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park with a six-hour festival celebration with children's rides and music by R&B singer Christopher Williams ("I'm Dreamin'") and The Odyssey Band.

Lines stretched down the sidewalk for the most popular food vendors, lured by the smells of whiting and catfish sandwiches from Vern's Fish Fry and cajun crab macaroni and cheese and fried shrimp from Krys' Soul Kreations.

The 2.4-acre Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park is named after Underground Railroad figures and abolitionists Harriet Tubman and Wilmington's Thomas Garrett, who is believed to have helped almost 3,000 enslaved people to freedom.

Members of the Tri-City Reapers cheerleaders perform during the Delaware Juneteenth Association parade along King Street in Wilmington preceding the Juneteenth Festival Saturday, June 15, 2024.

"Having it here really makes it poignant," Lewis-Harris said of the park, which began hosting the Juneteenth festival several years ago after it moved from Christina Park a few blocks away.

Juneteenth now a state of Delaware holiday

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Liberation Day, is celebrated June 19 commemorating the day in 1865 when the Emancipation Proclamation was read in Galveston, Texas, announcing all slaves in the state were free.

It came more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the proclamation, which had formally freed the slaves in rebellious states. Many slave owners didn't comply and enforcement was slow to reach Texas.

Vintage cars with the Soul Riders Auto Club ease down the roadway during the Delaware Juneteenth Association parade along King Street in Wilmington preceding the Juneteenth Festival Saturday, June 15, 2024.

In 2020, the murder of George Floyd, who was Black, at the hands of white Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, spawned widespread protest nationwide and in Delaware.

Less than a month after Floyd's murder, Gov. John Carney announced all state offices would close in observance of Juneteenth. In 2022, it became a permanent state holiday.

A history lesson in freedom

It was the first time at the event for Charles Hayward, a longtime retired state of Delaware employee.

Marchers with Black Voters Matter take part during the Delaware Juneteenth Association parade along King Street in Wilmington preceding the Juneteenth Festival Saturday, June 15, 2024.

Hayward, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the oldest intercollegiate historically African American fraternity, attended with his wife, Saundra, who was celebrating her Juneteenth birthday on a park bench with a cup of ice cream.

"I was raised here and wanted to come down and show support, knowing the background of the park. There's a lot of history here," said Hayward, now living in Brandywine Hundred.

First-year association president Styna Marisa LeCompte says Juneteenth and the celebrations around it are especially important for the younger generation.

The Delaware Juneteenth Association parade moves along King Street in Wilmington preceding the Juneteenth Festival Saturday, June 15, 2024.

"Nowadays with our youth, they sometimes aren't taught history, never mind Black history," she said. "They need to know whose shoulders they are standing on."

JUNETEENTH IN DELAWARE: 8 must-see events that you can attend

MORE ON JUNETEENTH: Delaware's oldest Juneteenth organization kicks off observance with flag-raising ceremony

Juneteenth observance and Delaware Juneteenth Pageant still to come

Chelsea Stanley, Miss Delaware of Miss for America Strong waves during the Delaware Juneteenth Association parade along King Street in Wilmington preceding the Juneteenth Festival Saturday, June 15, 2024.

In addition to the weekend parade and festival, the association will host a Juneteenth observance service at Cornerstone Fellowship Baptist Church (20 W. Lea Blvd., Wilmington) on Wednesday at noon.

The Rev. Dr. Jesse Wendell Mapson Jr., senior pastor of the Monumental Baptist Church in Philadelphia, will be the guest preacher with music by the Rev. Justin Powell and an appearance by Miss Juneteenth Delaware Erin Hubbard Witcher.

This year's Juneteenth events will end June 29 at 5 p.m. with the 27th annual Delaware Juneteenth Pageant at The Baby Grand (818 N. Market St., Wilmington). Tickets are $15 for adults and $7.50 for ages 12 and younger at thegrandwilmington.com.

Have a story idea? Contact Ryan Cormier of Delaware Online/The News Journal at rcormier@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier) and X (@ryancormier).

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Food, music and freedom lesson served up for Juneteenth in Wilmington
TOPEKA (KSNT)  A Wamego teenager is hosting family events in Topeka to raise money for a mission trip to Ecuador.

Josie Mehl, 19, traveled to the South American country last year, and is now gearing up for her second visit next summer.

Kind of the first time we went, we were experiencing everything for the first time. So, the second time around, now I kind of know a little bit about the community, Mehl said.

Nexstar turning 28, KSNT celebrating by giving back in Topeka

On Friday, June 14 she is hosting a family movie night at 6:30 PM at the Topeka Bible Church. Parents can drop off their children or come with them to watch Finding Nemo. To reserve a spot, email jason@discovertbc.com.

For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Watch rare birth of twin elephant calves in Thailand as baby girl surprises everyone

A 36-year-old elephant gave birth to twins at a zoo in central Thailand in a rare surprise for caretakers and the mother herself.

Caretakers only planned on Chamchuri giving birth to one calf on June 7 at the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Kraal, about 50 miles north of Bangkok, according to BBC. As the team cleaned the boy calf and helped stand him on his knees, Chamchuri's surprise arrived: a girl.

Buddhist monks from from Wat Traimit in Bangkok blessed the mother and twins at a ceremony Friday, The Associated Press reported. Both calves were treated with bananas and cartons of milk.

Video shows the mother and her twin babies appearing healthy and tranquil, which wasn't quite the vibe at the birth.

Rare twin elephants were born at the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Kraal in Thailand.

Scared mother breaks caretaker's leg who was protecting surprise infant

The surprise female calf came as a shock to Chamchuri, who proceeded to panic.

Workers restrained the mother to prevent her from stepping on her daughter in an incident that left one caretaker injured, the BBC reported. Charin Somwang, 31, broke his leg while restraining the mother and said he only felt the extend of his pain once he arrived at a hospital.

"Its normal that the new mother will always try to kick or push the baby," Somwang told the outlet. "I was afraid that she might break the baby elephant, so I put myself forward and tried to block the mother from the smaller one."

Footage posted on social media showed the caretakers' difficulty separating the female calf from the mother, who still had blood on her hind legs from the birth, according to BBC.

Male-female twin elephants are extra rare

Twin births among elephants are one in 100, but male-female births are even rarer, according to research charity Save the Elephants.

Elephant mothers often lack the amount of milk needed to support two calves, Save the Elephants founder Iain Douglas-Hamilton said in a 2022 report.

Once Chamchuri's female calf stood up, the team cheered, veterinarian Lardthongtare Meepan told BBC.

"Weve always wanted to see elephant twins," Meepan said. "But not everyone can see this because it doesnt happen a lot."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Elephant welcomes rare twin calves after surprise birth in Thailand
Water hemlock is one of the deadliest plants in the world. But that doesn't mean you to have to remove it from your yard.

Last week I received a call from a lady who had a weed growing in her backyard that she couldnt identify. Her neighbors had told her it was dangerous and that she should burn it. She wanted to check in with Extension before she did anything.

I wanted to see for myself what it was. I had a guess after she told me it had white flower clusters and she lived on the river. I drove over to the Lakeshore area where her backyard was waterfront. The view was beautiful, and I watched a bald eagle soar overhead as I walked the property. Then I saw the pretty white flower clusters sticking out over the assorted grasses and forbes that made up her yard. I was afraid she might have a stand of water hemlock (Cicuta maculata) but I was still unsure. I looked closer and saw that the stems had purple streaks and the leaves were alternately placed along the stem. I had brought my gloves and pruners with me to cut into a stem. It was hollow inside. Thats when I knew it was water hemlock.

What is the most poisonous part of water hemlock?

Water hemlock is one of the deadliest plants in the world. It is a cousin to the poison hemlock that did in Socrates. All parts of the plant are toxic and contain a chemical called cicutoxin. Within 30-60 minutes of ingestion, a person will experience nausea, vomiting, tremors, cramps and convulsions. The most poisonous part of the plant is the root. In 1992, a 23-year-old man and his brother were out foraging for wild ginseng root in Maine. He collected and ate 3 bites of water hemlock root by mistake. Despite emergency services arriving within 30 minutes and having aggressive treatment at a hospital, he succumbed within three hours. The older brother, who had only taken one bite, was treated and survived.

What other plants look like water hemlock?

According to data from the CDC, from 1979 through 1988, at least 58 people died after ingesting a misidentified poisonous plant. There are a few plants that look a lot like water hemlock. One is Queen Annes lace (Daucus carota). This plant is in the carrot family and grows as a wildflower though it is not native to the United States. All parts of the plant are edible, whether cooked or raw. Flower clusters can be fried and have a carrot-like flavor. The stems are hairy, and the flower clusters have a dark purple bloom in the center.

Another look-alike is elderberry. People often collect the fruit for use in pies and jams. It also grows on lake and pond shores and has white flower clusters. However, the inside of the stem is pithy and the leaves are arranged opposite each other along the stem.

Where is water hemlock found?

I contacted a weed scientist and a botanist at the University of Florida to help me advise the lady. The weed scientist told me that complete eradication of this plant was going to be near impossible and the strategy could be to simply leave it alone. The plant is not harmful unless a person or animal eats it. The botanist agreed and noted that water hemlock is native to Florida and was growing by the river in its natural habitat.

It serves as a host plant for the black swallowtail butterfly and provides nectar for numerous pollinators. It is true, as I walked along the stand of hemlock, I couldnt help but notice lots of bee activity and I did see caterpillars on one of the plants. My client has a dog, but she has been walking the dog on a leash in the front yard away from the plants. While there are numerous reports of people and livestock being poisoned by water hemlock, there have been no reported cases with dogs. I reassured my client that it was not like poison ivy and that touching it could not hurt you. To try to keep it from spreading, you can mow the affected area very close to the ground. Repeated mowings will reduce the plants ability to compete with other plants in the area. Spot treatments of herbicides can also be applied to keep the plant in check. Systemic herbicides that go through all plant parts such as glyphosate or 2,4-D works best when applied in late spring and early summer. Plants growing in wet or submerged areas need to be treated with an herbicide specifically labeled for use in aquatic areas, if treatment is even needed.

Our native water hemlock provides nectar for pollinators and food for butterfly caterpillars. It poses no risk to people or pets as long as it is not eaten. Florida has many other plants that are commonly grown on purpose in our landscape that are also very toxic. Sago palm, oleander, and angel trumpet are the three top of mind. So, you can love and co-exist with a toxic plant when caution is taken.

Tonya Ashworth is an extension agent and environmental horticulture and Master Gardener coordinator with UF/IFAS in Duval County.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Water hemlock is poisonous. Here's what you should know about it
Where to see Fourth of July fireworks in the Wilmington area

The city of Wilmington invites the public to take in fireworks during Independence Day along the Cape Fear River downtown.

The Fourth of July is a time to celebrate freedom and the country's independence. And what better way to celebrate Independence Day than with a big bang.

Here is a list of places in the Wilmington area to see spectacular fireworks.

If you know of any fireworks happening, please email Cheryl.Whitaker@StarNewsOnline.com.

New Hanover

Celebrate Independence Day early by heading to the Carolina Beach Boardwalk for the Independence Day Fireworks by the Sea & Boardwalk Blast to be held Wednesday, July 3. Fireworks at 9 p.m. This is weather permitting and can change without notice. Details: 910-458-2977.

Wilmington's 4th of July Fireworks will be held along the historic downtown Wilmington Riverwalk. Fireworks begin at 9:05 p.m. on Independence Day. Details: 910-772-4177.

Brunswick

The town of Oak Island in conjunction with the North Carolina 4th of July Festival, will hold "Beach Day" on Monday, July 1 with anniversary fireworks at 9 p.m. at Oak Island Pier, 705 Ocean Drive, Oak Island. Details: https://nc4thofjuly.com/events-calendar/ or 910-457-5578.

The North Carolina 4th of July Festival will hold fireworks at 9 p.m. on Independence Day at the Southport Waterfront Park, 146-176 E. Bay St., Southport. Details: https://nc4thofjuly.com/events-calendar/ or 910-457-5578.

July 4th Fireworks at Ocean Isle Beach will be held 9:15 p.m. on Independence Day. Fireworks will be launched from the Ocean Isle Beach Pier, 1 W. First St. Free. 910-579-5163.

Pender

Surf City will hold its annual Independence Day celebration, sponsored by Surf City Parks, Recreation and Tourism, on Wednesday, July 3, at Soundside Park, 517 Roland Ave. Fireworks at dusk.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Where to see July 4th fireworks in Wilmington, NC
Wind Cave National Park may not be the only national park with a cool cave, but that doesnt make it any less special.

I think the caves are a little bit like people, said Tom Farrell, chief of Interpretation at the park. They're all a little different. They have their own story to tell.

Wind Cave, for instance, is the sixth longest cave in the world and among the most complex.

Larger caves (are) spread out over a larger area. Weve got 167 miles of cave crammed under 1.2 square miles on the surface, he said.

And that's not all there is to see at the Wind Cave. Heres what else travelers should know about the latest national park in USA TODAYs yearlong series.

What is so special about Wind Cave?

Delicate boxwork appears to sparkle in the light at Wind Cave National Park.

We have the best example of boxwork found anywhere in the world, Farrell said. I like to brag we have the best boxwork in the solar system because the Mars Rover sent back some pictures that kind of look like crude boxwork, but ours are better.

He compared the honeycomb-like calcite formations hanging from the caves ceilings and walls to fragile peanut brittle.

Unlike a stalactite and a stalagmite that could continue to grow if they had more water dripping on them, these things, once you break them, they're broken, so theyre very rare and very delicate, he said.

How much does it cost to get into Wind Cave National Park?

A park ranger points to a map of Wind Cave.

Its free to enter Wind Cave National Park, but there are fees for ranger-guided cave tours. Most tours cost less than $10.

Can you go into Wind Cave without a tour?

No. Its too dangerous, Farrell said. Either people would crawl off trail and get lost,or people could vandalize the cave, so to protect the cave and protect the visitor, youve got to go with a ranger.

Guided tours range from the 30-minute Accessibility Tour to the Wild Cave Tour, where we give you a hardhat, elbow pads and knee pads and take your crawling in the cave for three to four hours, he said.

A caver explores Half Mile Hall at Wind Cave National Park.

How big is Wind Cave National Park?

Wind Cave National Park spans roughly 34,000 acres above ground. Below the surface, its namesake cave extends at least 167 miles. Farrell said there are around 3,000 leads still waiting to be explored.

We're gradually expanding and learning a little bit more about the cave, he said. It's an exciting place to be.

Just dont follow your GPS to get there.

You will get lost, the parks website warns in bold letters. Many GPS units locate the park visitor center north on South Dakota Highway 87. The coordinates for the Visitor Center are N43 33' 22" W103 28' 38".

The park is about 11 miles north of Hot Springs, South Dakota. The nearest commercial airport, Rapid City Regional Airport, is more than 60 miles away in Rapid City.

An elk looks out on the valley in autumn at Wind Cave National Park.

How long do you need at Wind Cave National Park?

If it's just going to explore the cave, you could do it in half a day, Farrell said. If you're going to go hiking or whatnot, you definitely need at least a day. There are more than 30 miles of trails in the park.

Travelers should note that the cave itself is closed this summer to allow for elevator updates. Instead of guiding visitors into the cave, rangers will lead interactive virtual tours in the park auditorium, allowing visitors with mobility impairment or claustrophobia to view parts of the cave they may never experience otherwise.

A bison bull rests at Wind Cave National Park.

Theres plenty else to see above ground, including black-footed ferrets, prairie dogs, elk, and a very unique bison herd.

This time of year, it's great because they have new calves that are cinnamon-colored, Farrell said.

Additionally, new exhibits are expected to open at the parks visitor center later this summer, sharing more of the Native history of the land.

If you can't find something that you're passionate about here, you're just not trying, Farrell said.

Who are the Native people of Wind Cave National Park?

Rankin Ridge Trail leads visitors up to the highest point in Wind Cave National Park. "On clear days, you can see Badlands National Park and Buffalo Gap in the distance,"according to Wind Cave's website.

More than 20 Native American tribes are historically tied to the land, according to the park:

Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe

Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma

Crow Creek Sioux Tribe

Crow Tribe

Eastern Shoshone Tribe

Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe

Fort Belknap Indian Community

Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma

Lower Brule Sioux Tribe

Lower Sioux Indian Community

Northern Arapaho Tribe

Northern Cheyenne Tribe

Oglala Sioux Tribe

Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma

Ponca Tribe of Nebraska

Rosebud Sioux Tribe

Santee Sioux Nation

Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate

Spirit Lake Tribe of Fort Totten

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation) Fort Bethold

Upper Sioux Community

Yankton Sioux Tribe

What are some fun facts about Wind Cave?

A bison calf relaxes in the grass at Wind Cave National Park.

Farrell shared these five facts about the park:

For the Lakota people, this is their origin site where they emerged from underground and where bison were born into Lakota oral history. Wind Cave National Park played an important role in helping save bison from extinction with the reintroduction of 14 bison from the Bronx Zoo in 1913. Esther Brazell was hired as a park ranger at the cave in July of 1916, making her the first female park ranger in the National Park Service. Wind Cave National Park is the sixth-oldest national park in the system and one of the oldest caves in the world, making it a place where one can be fully immersed in ancient earth. This national park is still being explored. Cave explorers are continuing to find more rooms and passages.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota is worth visiting
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  A search for two Louisiana girls, who were allegedly abducted after their mother was killed, has ended tragically in Mississippi.

Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade said the suspect at the center of an Amber Alert, Daniel Callihan, was captured in Jackson after a chase.

According to Wade, 4-year-old Erin Brunett was found dead in a wooded area. Her sister, 6-year-old Jalie Brunett, was found alive, and was taken to a Jackson hospital for treatment.

Wade said he didnt believe Callihan is the girls father, but didnt elaborate further.

Sketch released of suspect in rape of 13-year-old girl at Queens park

The police chief said there was evidence that could be associated with human trafficking at the location where Callihan was found, including small animal cages. Wade said Jackson police have contacted human trafficking investigators to assess the scene.

Authorities said the Amber Alert was issued Thursday for the two girls, who were abducted after their mother was killed in Loranger, Louisiana.

Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards said 35-year-old Callie Brunett was found dead by her father on the floor of her bedroom inside her locked mobile home. She had been reported missing by her parents 24 hours earlier. They had last spoken to her Tuesday morning.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
CHICAGO  One man is dead, and two adults and two children were injured after a fire early Saturday morning in the citys South Shore neighborhood.

According to Chicago police, a fire started in a three-flat apartment around 2:30 a.m. in the 2400 block of East 78th Street.

After firefighters arrived on scene, a 24-year-old man was pronounced dead, and two boys  Ages 2 and 7  were taken to Comer Childrens Hospital. Police said the 7-year-old is in critical condition, and the 2-year-old is in good condition.

Arson attack in Bridgeport leaves woman dead, 12-year-old girl injured

Along with the deceased 24-year-old and two hospitalized children, a 27-year-old man and a 24-year-old women were both taken to local hospitals in good condition, with the 27-year-old mans injury being unrelated to the fire.

Police said there are at least 23 total displacements from the fire at this time.

The incident remains under investigation.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation quietly investigating roughly 100 blocks in and around Brooklyn's toxic Gowanus Canal in September to determine how many properties contaminated with hazardous vapors.

The state is quietly investigating roughly 100 blocks in and around Brooklyns toxic Gowanus Canal to determine how many are contaminated with cancer-causing vapors and other hazardous substances, The Post has learned.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation began its probe in September following public outcry over reports it waited nearly two years to alert the public that cancer-causing vapors nearly 22 times the amount considered safe escaped from polluted soil and into a popular shuffleboard club.

Records show recent air-quality tests inside the Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club on Union Street have since come back as safe once steps were taken to reduce harmful fumes by venting underground contaminants  but many other properties in the testing area, where thousands of people live and work, continue to show high traces of toxicity.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation began investigating roughly 100 blocks in and around Brooklyns toxic Gowanus Canal to determine how many properties there have been hit with hazardous vapors. Helayne Seidman

One building, which DEC refused to publicly identify, had air levels of the chemical trichloroethylene, or TCE  an industrial solvent linked to cancer, Parkinsons disease and other ailments  450 times above acceptable levels, according to tests taken last year.

Similar tests conducted in 2023 at 543 Union St., a massive 19th Century-era building occupied by 22 businesses, also found TCE fumes on site dozens of times, including one reading 255 times above safe levels.

Many other neighborhood buildings are former manufacturing sites that saturated soil with toxic coal tar.

Over the past century, much of the coal tar  dubbed black mayonnaise by longtime residents  also seeped into the canal, which is one of the nations most polluted waterways and undergoing a massive federal Superfund cleanup.

DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Maher insisted his agency is committed to working with Gowanus-area property owners to get buildings tested and then mitigate any potential contaminants.

We are all in on this community, Maher told The Post. Were doing a lot of really important work and are really excited about the progress we are making.

Thomas Jensen tests soil and groundwater at a private construction site at 300 Nevins Street near the Gowanus Canal to see if theres contaminants. Michael Nagle

However, residents said theyre disgusted with the DECs and other government agencies lack of transparency  and terrified for their own health.

This should be about cancer prevention and making sure people arent breathing in this stuff and getting sick, fumed Seth Hillinger of the advocacy group Voice of Gowanus.

[But] the state is doing just the opposite of what they should be doing to get the word out. Theres no signage anywhere  no warnings telling the public a building tested toxic.

Martin Bisi (left) and Seth Hillinger of the grassroots group Voice of Gowanus say the state DEC should be doing a better job informing the public that many sites along he canal could be hazardous for occupants. Michael Nagle

Many revelations only came to light thanks to Toxics Targeting, an Ithaca, N.Y.-based environmental database firm hired by Voice of Gowanus that discovered damning DEC documents buried on the agencys website.

DEC knew by early 2023 about the astoundingly high TCE contamination, [but] never mentioned the actual contaminant levels in multiple meetings, never posted a single warning sign, said Walter Hang, who heads Toxics Targeting.

This is shockingly irresponsible. Gov. [Kathy] Hochul must be held accountable for failing to safeguard public health in the Gowanus Canal community.

However, the lack of information about the investigation could also be traced directly to property owners.

At one site, readings showed contaminants 450 times the amount considered safe. Source: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation records. New York Post

DEC targeted 626 properties to test during the ongoing first phase of its soil vapor intrusion study, yet so far only about 100 agreed to provide access, agency officials said.

DECs policy is to let property owners decide if testing is needed, even if the site is surrounded by known toxic land.

Hiillinger and other residents attribute the lack of cooperation to many property owners being worried that bad test results could cause their property values to plummet.

Property owners could also lose steady rental income as theyd be required by law to tell tenants if theyre living or working in a toxic building.

Joan Rodriguez, who owns a home on the corner of President and Bond streets, agreed to have part of her basement tested in November by a DEC contractor for harmful vapors.

Although her home was deemed safe, she still fears shes in danger as more high-rise construction projects continue to be built along the canal.

The horrific fumes coming off the Gowanus Canal were too stinky for some people Wednesday walking over the Union Street Bridge. Michael Nagle

Like some environmentalists and other residents, shes concerned the new construction was hastily greenlighted by state and city officials desperate to relieve New Yorks housing shortage  but without allowing for a full environmental cleanup.

These critics allege coal tar and other toxic substances could be shifting underground during construction to other properties through a waterway connecting to the canal.

We live here because we want to live here  and made that choice before anyone told us these buildings were toxified, said Rodriguez, 65.

DEC said it requires large mixed-use developments in the states environmental cleanup programs to investigate the potential movement of groundwater contamination and ensure the projects do not create new health risks. The agency also said 17 of the 100 properties tested were found to have unsafe air.

Peter Dumbadze, an architect who works at 543 Union Street, said hes not worried about the building being a health hazard because recent tests show the air inside is safe. Michael Nagle

Peter Dumbadze, who runs an architecture firm at 543 Union, said hes not worried about his health because DEC and the US Environmental Protection Agency took steps to ensure the buildings air is now safe  and the most recent tests show it.

However, he is worried about the overall health of the neighborhood.

Were seeing a lot of development [on] a lot of soil that hasnt been tampered with in over 100 years, he said. At least here, we are seeing remediation efforts.
On the left, in blue, is an X-ray image of an accreting supermassive black hole (shown inset as artwork) composited on an optical image of galaxies in the deep universe. On the right is an IllustrisTNG simulation of galaxies showing how they evolve on the cosmic web of matter. | Credit: F. Zou/Penn State, et al.; Observations: The XMM-SERVS Collaboration; Simulations: The TNG Collaboration; Illustration: Nahks TrEhnl/Penn State/Penn State

The black hearts of galaxies have had their history told almost in full for the first time, as astronomers combined X-ray observations with detailed supercomputer models to chronicle the growth of supermassive black holes over 12 billion years of cosmic history.

In doing so, the scientists have shown that the black hole at the core of our Milky Way galaxy attained its four million solar masses relatively late in its history.

Supermassive black holes range from millions of times more massive than our sun to billions of times more massive, but their origins are unclear and how they grew to such enormous masses has been a challenge for astronomers to understand.

Now, however, astronomers Fan Zou and W. Niel Brandt, both of Penn State University, have led a team that connected the two mechanisms of black-hole growth from observations and simulations. The results may provide some answers at last.

Related: NASA telescope spots 'cosmic fireworks' and faint echos from the Milky Way's supermassive black hole

"A very big question is how do these supermassive black holes grow so massive?" said Zou while presenting their work at the 244th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Wisconsin.. "To address that, we need to track the overall growth history of these supermassive black holes."

As mentioned, black holes grow via two main mechanisms. One is through the accretion of cold gas from their host galaxy. This gas forms an accretion disk around the black hole itself and matter from the disk gradually spirals towards the black hole's core. The accretion disk can grow so dense that friction between gas molecules causes it to heat up to millions of degrees, radiating X-rays in the process. The other mechanism occurs during galaxy collisions. When this happens, not only do galaxies merge, but their supermassive black holes also eventually coalesce and release a burst of gravitational waves .

Tracking cosmic voids

To assess how much the accretion of gas contributes to the growth of supermassive black holes, the study team scoured through more than 20 years' worth of archival data from NASA 's Chandra X-ray Observatory , the European Space Agency's XMM-Newton mission and the eROSITA X-ray instrument on board the joint GermanRussian Spektr-RG spacecraft. The researchers were able to identify X-ray signals coming from about 8,000 rapidly growing supermassive black holes.

"When supermassive black holes accrete the surrounding gas they emit strong X-rays, so by detecting them in the X-ray bands we can measure their accretion power," said Zou.

They then turned to the IllustrisTNG cosmological supercomputer simulation to model galaxy mergers throughout cosmic history. From there, the team combined X-ray data showing growth through accretion with the results of the simulated mergers to gain an understanding of how and when supermassive black holes grew over the past 12 billion years, from 1.8 billion years after the Big Bang to today.

These simulations "capture the overall large-scale structure [of the universe] but also are able to probe individual galaxies," said Zou.

Supermassive black hole stories

A spacey expanse that fades from starry black on the left to gaseous blue on the right half. A white square captures a small purple star on the left. White lines extend from the bottom corners to an image in the bottom left of yellow and red gas circling a black spot that shoots white light up and down.

Zou and Brandt found that the X-ray data shows accretion has been the dominant driver of black-hole growth during all epochs of cosmic history. Furthermore, the more massive the galaxy, the faster the supermassive black hole inside grew by accretion. Mergers, on the other hand, are less prominent drivers of black hole growth according to the simulations, but can still have some influence.

"Accretion dominates the supermassive black-hole growth in most cases and mergers make some notable secondary contributions," said Zou.

These results also show that supermassive black holes grew more rapidly earlier in the universe, with new ones frequently appearing. By about 7 billion years ago, however, the total number of supermassive black holes had become more or less settled with few new supermassive black holes forming. Mergers had more of an impact in later history, peaking in their importance to black-hole growth about 4 billion years ago.

"We found that once the universe reaches about 40% of its age, the overall demography of supermassive black holes is very similar to the demography of supermassive black holes that we see in the local universe," said Zou.

The astronomers even specifically modeled our galaxy's black hole, Sagittarius A* , and concluded that it grew most of its matter relatively late in cosmic time . This growth would have been mainly through accretion, with the majority of the Milky Way's mergers with other galaxies taking place more than 8 billion to 10 billion years ago . However, the European Space Agency 's Gaia mission has recently found evidence for a dwarf galaxy that collided with the Milky Way just 2 billion to 3 billion years ago. Dwarf galaxies are thought to contain intermediate-mass black holes, measuring tens to hundreds of thousands of times the mass of our sun, and it is possible that one could have merged with Sagittarius A* to boost our black hole's mass.

Related Stories:

 Hubble Telescope maps high-speed 'burps' from nearby feeding supermassive black hole for 1st time

 Heaviest pair of black holes ever seen weighs 28 billion times more than the sun

 Why are some supermassive black hole jets so short? Astronomers may have cracked the case

Because the results only take us back to 1.8 billion years after the Big Bang, they don't describe how the seeds for supermassive black holes first formed. This remains a quandary for cosmologists, particularly as the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope have found surprisingly massive black holes very earlier in the history of the universe. How they grew to be millions of times the mass of our sun in less than a billion years is currently unknown.

One paper describing the findings was published in March in The Astrophysical Journal , with a second paper waiting in the pipeline.
CHICAGO  An investigation is underway after a teen boy was fatally shot on the citys West Side on Friday night.

According to Chicago police, the deadly shooting unfolded just before 8:30 p.m. in the 1300 block of South Independence Boulevard in North Lawndale.

Officers said the victim, a 13-year-old boy, was standing on a sidewalk in the area when an unknown individual opened fire.

The boy was shot in the head and taken to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines

Currently, it is unclear what led to the shooting and officers say no arrests have been made.

An investigation into the deadly shooting is now underway and authorities have not yet identified the victim killed.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact CPD Area Four Detectives at 312-746-8251 or dial 911.

Those with information that could help authorities in their investigation can also leave a tip at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed anonymously.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
At 13, she escaped Nazi Germany and came to Fort Worth. But the rest of her family ...

Our Uniquely Fort Worth stories celebrate what we love most about Cowtown, its history & culture. Story suggestion? Editors@star-telegram.com.

Erika Meyer, a teenage Holocaust refugee who spent three years with a foster family in Fort Worth, left a legacy of letters, brittle with age, which have lately drawn interest from a Rhineland historian, a British biographer, and an Austrian screen writer.

Erika (1925-2013), who arrived at Fort Worths Texas & Pacific train station June 27, 1938, with her hair in pigtails, quickly integrated into the social swing at McLean Junior and Paschal Senior High schools. She cut off her braids and enjoyed swimming, cycling and especially her new extended family.

The week she arrived, local newspapers reported that she spoke but two sentences in English: I glad to be here, and No go back, ever. An article in the Fort Worth Press included a photo of Erika with her local hosts, Harry and Lena Bockstein, themselves immigrants from Czarist Russia when they were young.

Harry Bockstein had begun life in Fort Worth peddling limes. By the time he welcomed Erika into his home, he had four grown children and was president of West Texas Produce Co., a business with 150 employees. His sociable wife, Lena, a committed Zionist, was once crowned local Hadassah Queen.

News clipping of a story from the Fort Worth Press, June 19, 1938, about Erika Meyers arrival in Fort Worth.

The Bockstein family had applied in 1937, through German Jewish Childrens Aid and the National Council of Jewish Women, to house a child who would be among the lucky refugees to depart Nazi Germany on a Kindertransport. Plans were optimistically announced to place 10 refugees a month in private homes. But red tape in the German Reich and obstinate bureaucrats at the State Department created one delay after another.

The Bocksteins, who had selected Erika from among photos of several children, had given up hope when word arrived on June 24, 1938, that the girl would arrive by train in three days.

To teach her fluent English, they arranged for tutoring from another German immigrant, Paula Kroner, 35, a cousin of Dr. Edwin Schwarz, the citys first pediatrician. The tutor had fled Germany in January 1938, when Jews were allowed to leave with half their savings. By the time Erika departed in June, Jews in flight could no longer bring currency, only personal belongings. Erikas mother had lovingly filled two trunks with clothing, placing handwritten notes to her daughter between dresses and sweaters along with antique silver and Bavarian china as presents for the Bocksteins.

Letters show impact of Nazism

Erikas mother, father, 5-year-old sister Helga, grandmother and other relatives mailed several letters a week to the Bocksteins two-story yellow-brick home on Windsor Place. Those letters, handwritten between 1938 and 1941 on several hundred sheets of paper, were donated in 2021 to New Yorks Leo Baeck Institute for the Study of German-Jewish History and Culture. The letters contents  at times personal, poignant and painful  are slowly being translated into English from Sutterlin, an old-fashioned German handwriting style. The contents reveal how the rise of Nazism impacted Erikas family in Langenfeld, a Rhineland village between Dusseldorf and Cologne.

The name of the street where her family lived changed from Hauptstrasse to Adolf Hitler Strasse, according to German historian Gunter Schmitz, who has studied the fate of the regions Jews. On Kristallnacht, Nov. 10, 1938, Storm Troopers destroyed Meyer Brothers, the clothing and furniture store that Erikas father and uncle operated.

Later letters reflect her parents desperate efforts to join Erika in the United States. To immigrate, the family needed diplomatic connections, letters to refugee agencies and financial sponsors. The Bocksteins likely tried to help.

Erika Meyer, a German refugee who arrived in Fort Worth in 1938, was a sophomore when her photo appeared in the 1941 Paschal High School yearbook.

As Erika grasped how trapped her family was in wartime Germany, she moved to Brooklyn at the end of 1941 and transferred from Paschal to James Madison High. Perhaps from New York the teen thought she could lobby immigration officials for her familys entry to the U.S. While waiting tables at Woolworths, she met Norman Aronstam, a salesman. The couple married on Valentines eve in 1944 and spent their one-night honeymoon at Manhattans landmark Essex Hotel, according to the New York Times.

Well into the 1950s, Erika held out hope that her relatives had survived the Holocaust and somehow made their way to New York. Her son Elliot Aronstam, a retired Broadway accountant, says in a recorded online exhibit of the Leo Baeck Institute: I remember my father going downstairs from our apartment and just walking around the area ... because my mother is saying ... I know that theyre here. I know that theyre out there. We have to go find them.

Ultimately, it was verified that Erikas parents and little sister had been deported from Dusseldorf Dec. 11, 1941. Her father perished at a ghetto in Riga, Latvia. Her mother and sister were murdered at Stutthof, a notorious death camp in Poland.

Biography on Erika Meyer

It is so important to keep alive stories like these, said British writer Ariana Neumann, who is writing a biography that focuses on Erikas life from 1936 to 1945. Neumanns recent book, When Time Stopped: A Memoir of My Fathers War and What Remains, won the Dayton Literary Peace prize in 2021 and a 2020 National Jewish Book Award.

Austrian screen writer Manfred Corrine is working with Gunter Schmitz, the Rhineland historian, on a documentary about Erikas cousin, Edith Meyer. Edith and her non-Jewish fiance were arrested trying to cross the border to Switzerland. She perished in Auschwitz. He was shot trying to escape.

Erika Meyers legacy continues. In Cowtown, Naomi Rosenfield, former director of the Jewish Federation of Fort Worth and Tarrant County, recalled that in the 1990s, when the local community resettled dozens of Soviet Jews, the Bocksteins son-in-law, Sol Taylor, quietly underwrote many of the costs, including funerals for elderly Russian immigrants.

What motivated Taylor were the warm experiences his wifes family had when they shared their home and good fortune with a teenager named Erika Meyer.

Hollace Ava Weiner, an archivist, author, and historian, is director of the Fort Worth Jewish Archives.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Authorities offered details on the warrants served Thursday as part of a nationwide, multi-agency sweep of what it alleges is an outlaw motorcycle club.

Kenneth Parker, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, alleged that the Thug Riders Motorcycle Club operated a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in violence like murder, arson and assault. He also alleged that club members and associates took part in extortion and identity fraud.

The Thug Riders Motorcycle Club was originally founded in 2003, and remains a violent gang today, and is located throughout the United States, said Parker before listing other countries around the world in which the gang allegedly operates.

The 14 members indictments are split across three different counts:

Count 1: Racketeering Conspiracy, a count punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Count 2: Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Aid of Racketeering, punishable again by a prison term of up to 20 years.

Count 3: Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering, Conspiracy to Commit Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, punishable by three years in prison.

Count 4: Attempted Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering, again punishable by three years in prison.

The indictment alleges the racketeering conspiracy began in January 2019.

Officials rescue 28 riders trapped upside-down at Portland amusement park

Parker alleged the members of the Dayton, Ohio chapter of the TRMC engaged in a number of overt acts in support of the enterprise, including:

Blowing up the vehicle of a former member in Huber Heights in May 2021 for not paying $1,000 and giving up his motorcycle.

Killing a man in a September 2021 shootout in Harrison Township by firing more than 40 rounds into the vehicle the man was occupying alongside three others.

Firing more than 190 rounds into the Lexington, Kentucky, clubhouse of a rival motorcycle club in April 2023.

Causing an incident in a Dayton bar in June 2023 after being denied service due to their jacket patches. TRMC members allegedly broke the leg of one patron.

Attacking and firing a shot a rival gang member in July 2023 at another Dayton bar.

Travelling to the Springfield clubhouse of a rival gang and engaging in a shootout that resulted in one of the TRMC members being shot twice in the face.

Let this indictment send a message that we will continue to work diligently together to address any person or organization that would like to bring harm to our community, said Parker. And thats regardless of the perpetrator being on foot, riding a bicycle, driving a car or, as in this case, traveling our streets and highways on a motorcycle.

During Thursdays raids, law enforcement arrested:

Juan A. Robles, 45

Joey A. Marshall, 44

Jared T. Peters, 37

Brandon W. Fisher, 26

John A. Smith, 37

Norman D. Beach, 49

Michael S. Henry, 40

Daniel B. Hutton, 39

Michael L. Reese, 44

Mathew J. Hawkins, 32

Joseph M. Rader, 32

Justin J. Baker, 29

Cody D. Hughes, 28

Brent A. Egleston, 36

Court documents allege Robles was key in organizing the Dayton chapter in 2019, currently serving as the Midwest Regional boss.

Others also allegedly held leadership roles with the club. Marshall allegedly served as the regional sergeant at arms, while Peters was the alleged president of the Dayton chapter, with Fisher as the chapters sergeant at arms and Smith as its enforcer.

By addressing these individuals and their leadership positions in the motorcycle club, we have dealt a serious blow to this violent organization operating in the Dayton area, surrounding communities, throughout the state of Ohio and other states, said Parker.

John Nokes, assistant special agent in charge of ATFs Columbus field division, said that approximately 300 law enforcement personnel simultaneously executed arrest and search warrants across the United States Thursday.

Among the pieces of evidence seized in the sweep, were 100 firearms, 15,000 rounds of ammunition and digital data that will be used to widen the investigation, said Nokes.

The Dayton chapter maintained clubhouses in Dayton and in Harrison Township.

Included in the coaltion:

The Federal Bureau of Investigation

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms

Montgomery County Sheriffs Office

Dayton Police Department

Huber Heights Police Department

with assistance from the Springfield, Columbus, Riverside, Fairborn, Xenia, Lexington and Richmond police departments; Greene, Miami and Clark county sheriffs offices; Ohio State Fire Marshals Office and Ohio State Highway Patrol

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ATHENS, Ala. (WHNT)  A 15-year-old boy died after being shot by an Athens police officer on Saturday.

According to Athens Police Chief Anthony Pressnell, officers responded to a home on Elles Drive after receiving a call about the teen acting out of control and threatening family members with weapons around 2:15 p.m.

Limestone County deputies arrest man for meth, marijuana found during traffic stop

Upon arrival, the 15-year-old was armed with guns and knives. Pressnell said that the teen went to different rooms in the house and threw knives at the officers.

Pressnell tells News 19 that the teen pointed a rifle at officers, firing once and missing them. Police then returned fire and one round wounded the teen, according to the chief.

Officers administered first aid until Athens Fire and Athens EMS arrived on the scene. Presnell said the teen received medical treatment but later died.

The Athens Police Department says the investigation has been turned over to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys State Bureau of Investigations.

The agency said Tuesday that the findings of that investigation would be turned over to the Limestone County District Attorneys Office once it is completed.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
A team of 19 Apple Valley Unified School District students, along with one teacher, will be heading to Atlanta later this month to represent the district in the national SkillsUSA competition.

The students, who are part of the district's Career Technical Education program, earned their spot in the nationals following a successful showing at the state-level competition held in Ontario in April, according to the district. The competition will take place June 24 through June 29.

"SkillsUSA is a national organization that provides students with the opportunity to showcase their skills and knowledge in various technical, trade, and leadership fields," district representatives said in a written statement. "To qualify for the national competition, students had to receive first place in the state competition."

Apple Valley Unified School District students take part in the SkillsUSA State competition in Ontario in April, 2024.

In a district first, a teacher will also be competing after Granite Hills High School Medical Pathway teacher Jennifer Hunt was named CTE Advisor of the Year during the state contest.

Granite Hills High School Principal Adam Powell congratulated her for the achievement.

"Ms. Hunt is such a skilled teacher and although she hates the spotlight being on her instead of the students, being in the running for Advisor of the Year is well-deserved and we hope she enjoys the moment," he said.

The 19 students will be competing in a variety of categories:

 Action Skills: Kaleb Manahl (Apple Valley High School) CNC Programmer: Ethan Aschenbrenner (Apple Valley High School) Customer Service: Grace Davis (Granite Hills High School) Graphic Communications: Skye Becks (Apple Valley High School) Job Skill Demo A: Brooklyn Hickey (Apple Valley High School) Job Skill Demo Open: Mellonie Alexander Wade (Apple Valley High School) Medical Assisting: Nayelli Vargas (Apple Valley High School) Nurse Assisting: Taylor Fore (Apple Valley High School) Practical Nursing: Kara Sanchez (Apple Valley High School) Screen Printing Technology: Giovanni Guardado (Apple Valley High School) Teamworks (1 team of 4 students): Alejandro Flores, Genaro Zapata, Omar Morales,Cody Pratt (Apple Valley High School) Web Design (1 team of 2 students): Kaydence Lopez De Arriaga, Sierra Peck (AppleValley High School) Welding Fabrication (1 team of 3 students): Travis Osburn, Jacob Lawler, JudahMorrison (Apple Valley High School)

The team has been "preparing rigorously" for the challenge, according to the district statement.

More: Sultana High grad scores double scholarships from College of Saint Mary

Apple Valley High School Principal Brian Goodrow commended the students are their accomplishments and cheered them on as they head to the nationals.

"We are thrilled to see our students excel and earn the opportunity to compete on a national stage," he said. "Their achievements are a testament to the quality of our CTE programs and the commitment of our instructors. We wish them the best of luck in Atlanta."

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Apple Valley USD students qualify for national SkillsUSA competition
TYLER, Texas (KETK)  Two men were both arrested in Tyler on Friday in connection to a murder in Mississippi.

26-year-old Nacogdoches County man arrested for child sex crimes

According to the Vicksburg Post, Devonte Gary, 27, died because of gunshot wounds after being shot on June 6 in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace reportedly said that four people were arrested in connection to the shooting.

Wilmar Johnson and Willie Johnson. Photos courtesy of Smith County Jail records.

Willie Johnson, 24, and Wilmar Johnson, 23, were arrested in Tyler on Friday, according to Smith Jail Records. Pace reportedly said that two other men, Calbert Calbo Cosby, 22, and Jermaine Bones Johnson, 45, were both arrested in Memphis on Friday in connection to the shooting.

Smith County Jail records show that Wilmar Johnson has been charged with murder and drive by shooting while Willie Johnson has just been charged with murder. Wilmar is being held on a $6 million bond and Willie is being held on a $1 million bond.

Pace reportedly said that the shooting was targeted and not random.

An investigation into into the shooting is underway and anyone with information is asked to call 601-636-1761 for the Warren County Sheriffs Office or 601-636-2511 to reach the Vicksburg Police Department.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
Saving lives sometimes comes down to being in the right place at the right time, authorities said

Grand County Sheriff's Search and Rescue/Facebook 2 Men Save Dad and His Young Sons from Drowning in Colorado River

Two men are being hailed as heroes after saving a father and his two sons from drowning in Colorado.

Saving lives sometimes comes down to being in the right place at the right time, the Grand County Sheriff's Search and Rescue said in a Facebook post on June 9.

In its caption, the department explained how a father's outing with his sons quickly took a dangerous turn when their inflatable kayak flipped over in the Colorado River. Luckily, two civilians intervened and got the family to safety, and a third snapped a photo of the rescue theyll never forget.

Related: N.J. Family Narrowly Escapes Injury After Block of Ice Crashes Through Roof: It Smashed Everything

A 40-year-old man was in an inflatable kayak with his 2 sons, 8 and 10 years old, when they flipped in whitewater upstream from a popular beach near Mile Marker 6 on Highway 128, the organization said.

Moab, Utah resident Gaar Lausman, a former associate of the department, happened to be spending time at the beach and witnessed the incident unfold.

Per the post, Lausman lept into action, using his paddle board to help the children, but was unable to assist the father.

The 10-year-old was reportedly wearing a belt-pack PFD that inflated with a C02 cartridge. That PFD had flipped the boy over so he was face down in the water."

The local agency added that the 8-year-olds personal floatation device was too big and failed to keep his head above water. Still, Lausman retrieved the children.

With their dad still stuck in the water, trying his best to stay afloat, life-long Moab resident Daniel Wright just happened to be traveling upstream on his jet ski.

Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty The Colorado River near Blythe, California, US, on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022.

Related: Body of Ohio Boy Recovered Days After He Was Swept Away by Rip Current in Front of His Mom

Lausman flagged Wright down, getting his attention to ask for help pulling the father from the water. However, by this time, the man was hardly able to be seen due to factors such as the rivers fast currents.

Wright had actually passed within a few feet of the man, who was almost completely submerged at the time and virtually unnoticeable because of the substantial amount of high-water debris, the post said.

Wright spun his jet ski around and reached for the man just as he went underwater again while raising his hand in desperation. Moab resident Eric Odenthal snapped the accompanying photo at that moment, the Facebook post added.

I was just terrified, really, because the guys head was only partially out of the water, and as I was coming over to him, he went under a couple times, Wright told Fox 13.

Getty

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Once all three members of the family were safely on dry land, they declined assistance from an ambulance.

Grand Countys Emergency Services sincerely thanks Gaar Lausman and Daniel Wright for their life-saving efforts. Because of you, that family gets to go home, the department said.

They also used the rescue as an opportunity to educate residents and readers on the importance of using adequate, properly-fitted, and properly-worn PFDs everywhere on the Colorado River.



The rivers surface can appear deceptively calm, while violent currents just a few inches underwater can pull a swimmer down or sweep a person farther from shore, they said.

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I was just crying. I was more happy, I was alive, a rider said after being taken off the ride and safely returned to the ground

Portland Fire & Rescue/Facebook Passengers stuck upside down on Oaks Amusement Park's AtmosFEAR in Portland on June 14, 2024

More than two dozen people are recovering after a theme park ride in Oregon left them hanging upside down for more than 20 minutes.

On Friday, June 14, 28 passengers were riding Portland's Oaks Amusement Park's AtmosFEAR at around 2:55 p.m. when the ride stopped in its place, suspending them all upside down in its "apex position," the park said in a statement shared to X (formerly Twitter).

According to the amusement park, the ride operators working on AtmosFEAR  which can operate on either a 180- or 360-degree setting as it sends its riders flipping through the air on a loop  called 911 and began initiating "emergency procedures."

First responders, including Portland Fire & Rescue, arrived on the scene around 3:20 p.m., the park said. Within minutes all of the riders were taken off the ride and safely returned to the ground.

"We wish to express our deepest appreciation to the first responders and our staff for taking prompt action, leading to a positive outcome today, and to the rest of the park guests who swiftly followed directions to vacate the park to make way for the emergency responders to attend to the situation," park officials wrote in the statement. "Most of all, we are thankful that the riders are safe and with their families."

Park visitor Daniel Allen told local ABC affiliate station KATU that the experience stunned him so much that he began to cry when he finally touched the ground.

Portland Fire & Rescue/Facebook Portland Fire & Rescue responding to the incident on June 14, 2024

"I was crying, not of joy, not of anything, I was just crying. I was more happy, I was alive. I don't think I've ever appreciated my life more. This is really an acknowledgement moment for me," he told the outlet.

Fellow AtmosFEAR rider Jordan Harding also told the outlet that although she did not suffer any medical issues from being stuck upside down, the entire experience was uncomfortable.

"My entire waist below was asleep," she said. "[A fellow rider] told me, he was like, 'You have to hold your legs back.' It was so hard. It was so bad."

"So there's this like woman firefighter, and she's like tiny, and she's like, 'Oh I got you,' " Harding continued, describing her rescuer. "I'm like, 'Are you sure?' And she literally, like, picked me up, and I was just so overwhelmed and everything, I gave her, like, the biggest hug."

One rider, who had pre-existing health conditions prior to the incident, was transported to a local hospital as a precaution, the park said. All other riders were assessed by first responders and given the go-ahead to go home.



According to a Facebook post shared by Portland Fire on Saturday, June 15, rescue teams had previously trained for this scenario, and the amusement park added in its statement that the team had even been trained to respond to an emergency on this exact ride.

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"[Firefighters] have preplanned this scenario and were en route to the site ready to deploy to put our plan into action," the fire department wrote in the post. "It may have taken a few minutes longer to return everyone to the ground, but we are ready for this and many other unique emergencies. We leave nothing to chance as we preplan and train on what 'could' happen before it actually happens."

According to the park, AtmosFEAR first opened in 2021 and has "operated without incident" until Friday  which was also the park's first day of operation for the 2024 summer season.

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Oaks Park told KATU that it would initiate an investigation with the help of the ride's manufacturer and state inspectors in an attempt to figure out what caused the ride to stop.



The park closed for the day soon after the incident, officials added, and Oak's website states that the attraction will be closed until further notice.



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(KRON)  Three Hells Angels Motorcycle Club members operating out of the Bay Area were all sentenced to spend the rest of their lives in prison, U.S. District Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey announced on Friday.

Prosecutors said this subset of Hells Angels members mainly operate out of Sonoma County but also have bases in Santa Rosa and Fresno. Ramsey described Hells Angels members and the following case as a brutal brotherhood whose deeds should shock the conscience of us all.

53-year-old undergoes surgery after getting shot in Antioch

Here are the names of the following Hells Angels members in this case:

Jonathan Nelson, 46, aka JonJon

Russell Taylor Ott, 70, aka Rusty

Brian Wayne Wendt, 45

FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp describes the three as the most violent of the dozens convicted.

On October 10, 2017, a federal grand jury indicted eleven members and associates of the chapter for a swath of criminal activity, including murder, narcotics distribution, assaults, robberies, extortion, illegal firearms possession, and obstruction of justice, prosecutors said.

Approximately a year later, a grand jury returned a superseding indictment, adding a charge of murder related to the killing of Hells Angels member Joel Silva.

Nelson, who was then the president of HASC, arranged for Ott to take Silva to Fresno, and Silva agreed to travel there with Ott. After the two arrived at the Hells Angels Fresno clubhouse, Wendt, then president of the Fresno Hells Angels charter, shot Silva in the back of the head, the indictment said.

The following morning, Silvas body was delivered to a local crematory and was incinerated, prosecutors said.

In addition to the Silva murder, the indictment said this Hells Angels chapter made clear threats of harm to anyone cooperating with the police concerning the motorcycle club.

Elon Musk, SpaceX sued over alleged sexual harassment by former employees

The jury convicted the three Hells Angels members with the following:

Participating in a racketeer-influenced and corrupt organization conspiracy

Conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering

Prosecutors said Nelson was also convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering and use or possession of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. Five other defendants pleaded guilty to charges of RICO conspiracy and have been sentenced to terms in prison of up to 84 months, prosecutors said.

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SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  Police say three are in custody and four were injured after a fight occurred Friday night at Montage Mountains Adult Swim.

Friday night 22/28 News reported a heavy police presence at Montage Mountain where multiple different police units and ambulances were seen in the parking lot.

According to the Lackawanna County Communication Center, the incident occurred around 10:25 p.m. when officers on the scene were told of a fight circle happening in the parking lot.

The Scranton Police Department said 22-year-old Divine Naysa Nari Taylor from Ithaca, NY, 25-year-old Nyree Keyna Tawa Pemberton from Ithaca, NY, and 29-year-old Kwesi Elias Green from Hanover Township, PA have been charged after the altercation left four injured.

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Police on the scene say they saw Green swinging at two females Pemberton and Taylor. Officers say they stepped in to control the fight before he ran closed fists into Pemberton knocking her unconscious.

The criminal complaint states an argument occurred inside the event and when the event was over they came after the victim again pulling a knife out, stabbing her and Green.

Police note during the investigation they discovered a weapon at the scene, Green and the victim had knife lacerations on their body.

The release states Taylor and Pemberton are not Pennsylvania residents and are being held at Lackawanna County Prison.

22/22 News reached out to Montage Mountain regarding the incident.

Thank you for reaching out. Last nights incident occurred after our event ended and away from the waterpark in the parking lot as guests were leaving. Weve had our Adult Swim for many years now, in fact this is our 11th year. We have always made a strong effort to operate safely and successfully. Through the years weve worked closely with the Scranton Police Department, partnering with their officers onsite as well as our own security staff to ensure guest safety. It is never a good situation when two young individuals decide, for whatever reason, to engage each other in a parking lot and fight. For our part, everyone involved acted quickly and professionally to control the situation and prevent escalation. Montage Mountain Resorts thanks the SPD, assisting first responders, and our own staff for their hard work, and we acknowledge all of our Adult Night guests who came to have a good time and refused to allow this isolated event to grow. Tyler Crawford, Director of Resort Relations

Officials say this remains an active investigation.

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WASHINGTON, N.C. (WNCN)  Some river sites in North Carolina failed a weekly water quality test that checks for fecal bacteria, according to a group that surveys sites across the state.

Many sites of more than 50 tested passed the test this week, which officials attributed to a lack of rain that kept nasty stuff from being washed into rivers, according to a news release from Sound Rivers.

Sound Rivers, which issues a weekly report called the Swim Guide, checks recreational sites throughout the summer in the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico watersheds.

Elevated levels of fecal bacteria in the water can bring an increased risk of gastrointestinal illness and skin infections for pets and humans alike.

But, along the Neuse River, Slocum Creek southeast of New Bern failed the test this week  for a fourth week in a row. Officials with Sound Rivers said a lengthy investigation revealed the likely source is failing septic systems.

Further east, two sites failed on the Pamlico River area this week: the Washington waterfront and Blounts Creek at Cotton Patch Landing, east of Washington, Sound Rivers reported.

Sites across North Carolina rivers are monitored for E. coli bacteria in freshwater and enterococci bacteria in salt water, Sound Rivers said.

Results are released every Friday afternoon by Sound Rivers.

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3 Supercommuters share how they travel through multiple states to get to work each week

Supercommuters travel at least 75 miles or three hours to get to their jobs.

Business Insider spoke with three supercommuters about the reasons they supercommute to work.

One commuter said she has the best of both worlds when traveling from NYC to Michigan.

Over the last few years, many US workers have found themselves traveling farther to get to work but going into the office less often, thanks to hybrid work models.

They routinely wake up before sunrise to venture at least 75 miles to their workplace or spend at least three hours commuting to their job. Some of these supercommuters could move closer to their office, but they choose not to.

Business Insider spoke with three commuters who have traveled through multiple states to get to work each week. They shared the main reason they refused to move closer to their jobs.

Flying to Michigan weekly for work gave this New Yorker the best of both worlds

Miller on the University of Michigan football field. Courtesy of Susan Miller

When BI spoke with Susan Miller in April, she had already been supercommuting for over two years.

The college professor shared how she lived in New York City but was flying to Ann Arbor, Michigan, weekly to teach at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.

The 500-mile flight only takes two hours each way and costs her between $120 and $250 for a roundtrip ticket. The school doesn't cover her commute, but Miller uses her airline credit card to rack up miles and discounts.

"I enjoy the fresh air from the lakes and the nature of the Midwest, as opposed to city life," Miller told BI.

At the same time, the professor said she loves returning home to take advantage of everything that makes New York City exciting and interesting.

Living in the Delaware suburbs on an NYC salary made this four-state commute worth it

Kyle Rice. Courtesy of Kyle Rice

Kyle Rice started traveling from Wilmington, Delaware, to NYC every morning for work in February.

Even though Rice traveled 125 miles through four states to reach his project manager job at an EMS software company, it only took him two hours to get to work each day on the Amtrak and subway.

"I'd never consider relocating to NYC because it wouldn't be smart financially," Rice told BI.

His new six-figure job allowed him to double his salary, but he was spending $1,510 monthly on commuting. First, he'd drive eight minutes to Amtrak and catch the 6:30 a.m. train from Wilmington to Newark, New Jersey. That ride took an hour and 37 minutes.

Then Rice would hop on the PATH in Newark and ride that railway for 30 minutes into NYC. Despite the traveling expense and time, Rice said his home in Delaware is way more affordable than living in New York City.

When BI interviewed Rice in May, his job had shifted his in-office schedule from daily to twice a week.

Traveling from LA to New York four times a month made this flight attendant happier

Mercier works for an airline but said his extra morning commute from LA to NYC was sometimes stressful. Courtesy of Malick Mercier

In 2023, flight attendant Malick Mercier moved to Los Angeles to live in a place with more creatives. But he was still a New York crew member.

"I knew that there'd be more creative people in Los Angeles, and I was finding myself really happy here on layovers," Mercier told BI.

Four times a month, he'd spend between five and eight hours commuting from LA to New York, and he said it wasn't easy. The airline worker would sometimes have to take three buses just to get to the Los Angeles International Airport before starting his 2,400-mile flight to work. And he'd book his ticket the night before or the day of his commute.

Mercier said occasionally getting to work on time was risky, but he always made it. His love and passion for his job made it all worth it.

"Plenty of people are like, 'Is it worth it?' And I feel like, yes, because this is my dream."

If you're a supercommuter or tried supercommuting and want to share your story, email Manseen Logan at mlogan@businessinsider.com.

Read the original article on Business Insider
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said a 4-year-old boy was found dead in a car on Friday afternoon.

Just after 5 p.m., MPD responded to Galloway Street and South Dakota Avenue NE for the report of an unconscious child. Police said they found a 4-year-old boy unresponsive inside a car.

He died there.

Man killed, child injured in shooting at Potomac High School football game, police say

MPDs Special Victims Unit is investigating, and the medical examiner was working to determine how the child died as of Saturday.

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4-way stop at dangerous Fresno intersection is just the start of fixing it

4-way stop at dangerous Fresno intersection is just the start of fixing it

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  A Fresno intersection where a nearby homeowner was almost hit by a car when he was checking his mail is now getting a four-way stop as part of city efforts to curb the number of crashes there.

Fresno City Councilmember Luis Chavez officially unveiled the four-way stop at the intersection of Tulare Avenue and Minnewawa Avenue on Friday, describing it as one of Fresnos most dangerous intersections.

Dangerous Fresno intersection to become all-way stop

Chavez referenced the video that went viral showing Fresno resident Ruben Almaraz collecting his mail and narrowly avoiding being hit by a car. Chavez says there have been several collisions at the intersection and wants to thank those who made the city aware of the problem.

I want to thank the folks that called in, the residents. This was truly one of those projects that were community led and community sustained and making sure this project came to fruition, said Chavez.

Before the City of Fresno could start work on the intersection, Fresno County had to effectively give up its management of its side of the intersection of Tulare Avenue and Minnewawa Avenue. The northwest, northeast, and southwest corners that were once the county right-of-way are now fully within the City of Fresnos right-of-way jurisdiction.

David Tangipa from the office of Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig says that Fresno County has the most road miles than any other county in California.

So with partnerships of the City of Fresno, partnerships with the county, and public works department and local elective leaders that are taking the initiative to just make things safer, Tangipa said.

Chavez said the four-way stop is a temporary safety mechanism. He says in the next couple of months as the shopping center down the road on Clovis Avenue is being built out, the intersection will have a traffic light installed.

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The eROSITA bubbles balloon over the center of the Milky Way. | Credit: Jeremy Sanders/Hermann Brunner/Andrea Merloni/Eugene Churazov/Marat Gilfanov/IKI/eSASS/MPE

Could an invisible planet lurk at the edge of our solar system ? Can black holes ricochet through space like intergalactic billiard balls? Did our own galaxy's black hole "wake up" with a bang millions of years ago  and could it do so again?

These may not be the questions that first drove humans to study the stars thousands of years ago. But, as astronomers look ever deeper into the dusty corners of the cosmos, peculiar discoveries have forced them to grapple with ever-stranger questions about the nature of our universe and the limits of what could be lurking out there.



From our own cosmic backyard to the distant depths of the early universe, here are five of the most mysterious objects that scientists have discovered in space  and the best explanations for what they are.

Planet Nine

An artist's rendering of a faraway planet in our solar system

DOES PLANET 9 EXIST?

an illustration showing the hypothetical Planet 9 with blue rings and a question mark over it, with stars and a galaxy in the background

Planet Nine: Is the search for this elusive world nearly over?

Read more:

 How long would it take to reach Planet 9, if we ever find it?

 Vera C. Rubin Observatory: The groundbreaking mission to make a 10-year, time-lapse movie of the universe

 8 strange objects that could be hiding in the outer solar system

Far beyond the orbit of Neptune, a mysterious, massive entity may be moving through the ring of icy objects that surrounds our solar system. Scientists studying this region have found that the orbits of more than a dozen rocky objects are being subtly altered, as if being tugged on by the gravity of an enormous, unseen planet  a theoretical object known as Planet Nine.

This hidden world is estimated to be anywhere from five to 10 times as massive as Earth and to take up to 10,000 years to complete a single orbit of the sun. But besides the strange "kinks" in the orbits of nearby objects, there is still no concrete evidence of Planet Nine's existence. If it's out there, slowly orbiting more than 500 times farther from the sun than Earth does, the mysterious world is far too dim to detect with current telescopes.

However, the forthcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory , which is currently under construction in Chile and will eventually record a 10-year time-lapse video of the night sky, should be able to spot more evidence of the elusive world  potentially confirming or denying its existence once and for all.

The "runaway black hole"

An illustration of a black hole zooming away from its galaxy, with a trail of stars following behind it.

In April 2023, astronomers reported the detection of something never seen before: a "runaway" black hole , untethered from any galaxy and blazing through space at 4,500 times the speed of sound with an enormous trail of stars streaking behind it.

The black hole is estimated to be 20 million times the mass of Earth's sun, while its bright tail could measure more than 200,000 light-years long (about twice the diameter of the Milky Way ). Observations from the Keck telescope in Hawaii found that one end of this stellar trail appears to be linked to a distant dwarf galaxy, from which the freewheeling black hole may have been astronomically yeeted.

Black holes form the hearts of large galaxies like our Milky Way, anchoring the surrounding gas, dust and star systems in place. So how can one of these cosmic behemoths simply vamoose? According to the study authors, it's possible that the black hole once orbited a second black hole in a rare binary arrangement  then, when a third black hole was introduced to the system during a galaxy merger, the chaotic gravitational interactions sent one black hole flying into the wild black yonder. If confirmed by follow-up studies , this will be the first evidence that black holes can escape their galaxies.

James Webb telescope's JUMBOs

An image of the Orion Nebula captured by the Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes.

Black holes are not the only cosmic runaways; planets have also been spotted on the lam, and in far greater numbers. In 2023, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) detected more than 500 free-floating "rogue" planets careening through the Orion Nebula. Roughly 80 of these were spotted orbiting each other in binary pairs  a phenomenon with no clear explanation. Because these rogue worlds are roughly as large as Jupiter, scientists named them Jupiter-mass binary objects  or JUMBOs.

NASA estimates that there may be trillions of rogue planets wandering our galaxy, many of which were shunted out of orbit during the chaotic early days of star system formation. However, current models fail to explain the existence of JUMBOs. One theory suggests that these bizarre objects formed directly from collapsing clouds of gas and dust in interstellar space, in a scaled-down version of how stars form. Another theory says a passing star could have pushed the objects out of orbit, but models have shown that this explanation is highly unlikely . For now, JUMBOs pose a jumbo-size puzzle for astronomers.

The Fermi bubbles

The gargantuan Fermi Bubbles are only visible in gamma-ray light. Where did they come from?

The black hole at the center of our galaxy is (hopefully) not going anywhere anytime soon, but it has acted up in unexpected ways in the not-too-distant past. Astronomers can see the evidence of massive, energetic eruptions from our black hole in the form of two sets of gargantuan bubbles  known as the Fermi bubbles and eROSITA bubbles  that tower over our galaxy. These overlapping lobes of energy straddle the center of the Milky Way like an enormous hourglass, stretching roughly 25,000 light-years above and below our central black hole. Measured together, the bubbles span about half the width of the galaxy itself.

Despite their extraordinary size, you can't see them in the sky; the Fermi bubbles, filled with fast-moving particles called cosmic rays, can be spotted only by telescopes that detect gamma-rays, while the eROSITA bubbles  filled with extremely hot gas  are visible only as X-rays.

Astronomers don't know exactly how the bubbles formed, but a 2022 study suggested that they are the result of a gargantuan black hole explosion that lasted more than 100,000 years , beginning roughly 2.6 million years ago, when vast quantities of matter poured into our black hole's maw. If confirmed, this hypothesis would suggest that our black hole was active much more recently than once thought.

The big question

A galaxy shaped like a question mark against a dense field of stars and galaxies

While studying a peculiar smear of starlight known as Herbig-Haro 46/47, JWST spotted something even more mysterious in the distant background of its image  a deep-space swoop of hot gas shaped perfectly like a question mark .

It's unclear exactly what the object is or how far away it is, but its reddish color in JWST images suggests that the object is exceptionally ancient, with its light stretching into ever-redder wavelengths as it crosses vast cosmic distances to reach us. It may be a galaxy, or perhaps several galaxies in the midst of ripping each other apart during a chaotic merger, researchers told Live Science's sister site Space.com in 2023.

Whatever it may be, the cosmic question mark is just one of many puzzles introduced by JWST's groundbreaking observations. Uncovering its identity may have to take a back seat to more pressing questions  like, are we completely wrong about our understanding of the universe ?
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)  The 51st conference on broadcast meteorology and seventh conference on weather warnings and communication was held in Myrtle Beach for the first time.

The American Meteorological Society hosted the four-day event with more than 200 meteorologists in attendance across the country along with Norway and Australia.

Those in attendance were able to learn more about different weather patterns around them through various discussions being held by key speakers.

Danielle Dozier, the chief meteorologist for News13s Huntsville, Alabamas sister station, WHNT, said the conference was a great way to learn new aspects on weather topics they may not have known about.

Weve got topics like space, weather and communication, and tropical weather and severe weather, and we have a bunch of really great speakers as well that present, she said.

Our job is to help protect the public. Thats what we do as broadcast meteorologists, Dozier continued. If its a heat wave, we want to tell them what the temperature, what the heat index is. If its severe weather, are we going to have severe thunderstorms, are we going to have tornados? So, our job is to relay that information and the impacts from the weather to the best of our ability.

She said having these discussions makes them better broadcast meteorologists.

Joe Martcci, a board member for the Certified Digital Meteorologist Program and a meteorologist in New Jersey, said the conference has helped him learn how to re-imagine his weather forecasts.

It used to be talk about the past, then the present ,then the future, hes saying start with [what] people around you are talking about first, he said.

Other speakers included CEO and President of The Ocean Positive Foundation, Bruckner Chase, where he held an immersive exploration of coastal safety to help participants better understand different ocean conditions. Between weather, water, waves and people, he talked about how effective communication is to staying safe during an ocean emergency.

He said his take-10 rule on stopping, calling, looking and staying safe is how beachgoers can stay safe at the beach.

I spent the past several years working with NOA and the National Weather Service developing the wave-safe series that took a demographic and geographic look about how we communicate about coastal safety, Chase said. The meteorologists here are a key piece in how do we keep or community safe?'

* * *

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.

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New York Attorney General Letitia James is getting behind an effort to change state law that could ban face coverings at protests  following a surge in hateful attacks involving masked antisemites.

In an exclusive statement to The Post, a spokesperson for James said that the states top attorney is in discussions with Gov. Kathy Hochul and lawmakers over the push to bring back New Yorks mask ban  which she supported scrapping during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, right before the George Floyd demonstrations began to rage.

This is a complex legal matter and we are currently in discussions with lawmakers on this issue, the statement from James office reads.

In New York, no one should be able to hide behind a mask to spew hate.

New York Attorney General Letitia James is getting behind an effort to change state law that could ban face coverings at protests  following a surge in hateful attacks involving masked antisemites. AP

While James role is purely advisory at this stage of the lawmaking process, her opinion carries significant weight given that she is the one who would ultimately be charged with defending such a law in court were it to be reimplemented and challenged.

Back in May 2020, James had penned a letter to state lawmakers expressing her full-throated support of repealing the more than two century-old ban on group mask-wearing, arguing it was a necessary step to enforce public health directives during the pandemic.

The Legislature voted to repeal the law three days after Floyds death at the hands of a Minneapolis cop, an incident that sparked nationwide protests.

Jewish leaders have recently called on lawmakers to bring the law back  arguing its allowing virulent anti-Jewish protesters to spew hate while escaping accountability.

We will not tolerate individuals using masks who may be responsible for criminal or threatening behavior, Hochul said Thursday, pointing out a shocking incident in which masked thugs took over a subway car in Manhattan earlier this week and ordered Zionists to get out.

In an exclusive statement to The Post, a spokesperson for James said that the states top attorney is in discussions with Gov. Kathy Hochul and lawmakers over the push to bring back New Yorks mask ban. abbaleh/X

Hochul said she was working with lawmakers after Jewish leaders calls, first reported by The Post, to reinstate the anti-masking law, with the talks largely, but not entirely, focused on subways.

Mayor Eric Adams went a step further, saying, I agree with those who are calling for removal of the ban, not only for the protesters who are using vile language, but also for criminal behavior in an interview on 77 WABCs Cats & Cosby Thursday evening.

Cowards hide their faces. Dr. [Martin Luther] King did not hide his face, Adams told hosts John Catsimatidis and Rita Cosby.

Now is the time to go back to the way we were pre-COVID, where you should not be able to wear masks at protests.

State pols, both Republican and Democrat, are starting to come around to the idea of bringing back the law, which banned gatherings of people covering their faces  and carried a penalty of 15 days in jail.

This is a complex legal matter and we are currently in discussions with lawmakers on this issue, the statement from James office reads. FreedomNewsTV

I am pleased to see Democrats at every level begin to snap back to reality on public safety  even if it is just a result of low poll numbers, said Assemblyman Mike Reilly, who sponsors a bill that would revive the ban and implement stiffer penalties for groups of assailants who threaten people or vandalize property while masked.

Governor Hochul must call us back to Albany immediately to do this, Reilly (R-Staten Island) told The Post on Friday, referring to the fact that the Legislature, whose session ended last week, would need to come back to Albany to take special action.

Though its unclear exactly how in-depth the talks are, James does sometimes get involved in crafting policy.

Earlier this year she played a major role in drawing landmark legislation to give parents more control over how their kids interact with addictive social media feeds.

One anti-Israel protester was caught on video while on the NYC subway telling Zionists to get off the train. X / @AvivaKlompas

That legislation is almost certain to be challenged in court where James would lead its defense.

Hochul made clear that any action on a mask ban would include major exemptions for health concerns as well as cultural and religious reasons.

We are still fine tuning it to make sure everyone who is immunocompromised or has a religious reason can continue to wear masks but, otherwise, it should revert to the pre-pandemic law, state Sen. Jim Skoufis (D-Orange) told The Post Friday about the bill he backs.

The piece of legislation Skoufis sponsors with Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (D-Bronx) is similar to Reillys, but would mostly just reimplement the former law.

Some of these antisemitic incidents Im seeing is like what happened to Jews in Nazi Germany before the war, Dinowitz said.

The Bronx pol, as well as Skoufis, say they think any masking ban should expand beyond just applying in the subways, which Hochul said was her primary focus on Thursday.

I dont see why subways would be any different than above ground, Dinowitz noted.

Hochul  who called the antisemitic takeover of the subway car vile and disgusting behavior  didnt delve into many specifics on how she planned to move forward on the issue.

Lawmakers have left open the possibility of coming back to Albany to take up measures to secure a revenue source for the MTAs capital plan after Hochul suddenly scrapped the congestion pricing scheme that had been set to go into effect June 30.

But its unclear if and when they would do so and whether masking legislation could get tacked onto the agenda.

We agree that no one should be able to hide behind a mask to spew hate, and we look forward to potential solutions, Scott Richman, Regional Director for the Anti-Defamation League told The Post Friday.

A new group, the #UnMaskHateNY Campaign, announced Friday its formation to help push the initiative.

Tactics of intimidation by those wearing masks date back to the racist atrocities of the Ku Klux Klan, the group wrote in a statement.

Today, we have watched in horror as individuals with hidden identities have terrorized New Yorkers with covered faces and no consequences.

I commend Gov. Hochul and Attorney General James for raising this important issue in the middle of a public safety emergency said Jewish Community Relations Council CEO Mark Treyger.

What were witnessing are the tactics of the Nazis from the 1930s playing out in 2024. They realize that mask covering is a barrier for law enforcement to hold bad actors using Nazi tactics accountable.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Memphis International Airport officials are releasing new details after an Uber driver was shot during an attempted carjacking at the airport parking lot.

The shooting happened just after midnight Monday in the airports cell phone lot on Jim McGhee Parkway and Winchester. A man was taken to Regional One Hospital after he was shot in his right upper thigh.

Rideshare driver shot in attempted carjacking at Memphis Airport, officials say

According to a report from the Memphis Airport Police Department, two Uber drivers were waiting in the cell phone lot when four men in masks approached them in a white sedan.

Police released photos of the suspects (below).









One of the victims reportedly said that the group asked for help inflating a tire. The report says one of the men asked for $3 to drive to the service station and use the air pump.

When the victim said he didnt have any money, Memphis Airport Police say the suspect pulled out a handgun and demanded the victims keys. Memphis Airport Police say the armed suspect also took that victims wallet.

The report states that the victim handed over his keys. According to Memphis Airport Police, the other suspects tried to steal the victims vehicle but couldnt put the car in gear.

41 shots fired at car near airport; man, woman critical

According to the report, the armed suspect then demanded the keys to the other victims car. Memphis Airport Police say the victim told the suspect he wasnt giving up his car.

The suspect reportedly shot the victim and took his keys. Memphis Airport Police say the suspects couldnt put that car in gear, either.

The report states that the suspects then got back into their white sedan and drove away. Police say the suspects were driving a white Malibu or Toyota with no license plate.

According to the police report, there was no camera footage of the shooting and all of the lights in the north end of the cell phone lot were out when the shooting occurred.

The Memphis Airport Police Department is asking anyone with information on the shooting to call 901-922-8298.

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I-65 southbound left lane in Conecuh County now open: ALEA

Editors Note: This story has been updated to reflect where the lane closure occurred.

UPDATE (4:27 p.m.): The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency announced the roadway is now open.

ORIGINAL STORY:

CONECUH COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG)  A disabled vehicle has caused a lane closure on Interstate 65 in Conecuh County, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

The left lane of southbound I-65 in Conecuh County near mile marker 98 is closed and will be for an undetermined amount of time, ALEA said.

First jubilee of the year spotted in Point Clear; multiple citations handed to participants

ALEA troopers are monitoring the situation, according to a spokesperson, and will provide updates.

News 5 will provide updates as more information becomes available.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  A former FBI agent was convicted Friday of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl while serving as an Alabama state trooper  a law enforcement job he landed even after he was kicked out of the FBI amid earlier claims that he raped a co-worker at knifepoint.

Christopher Bauers case, first detailed in an Associated Press investigation, showed how he was able to hide a checkered past and move from one law enforcement job to another with the help of an allegedly forged letter making it appear he was eligible for rehire.

Bauer, 44, was found guilty of first-degree sodomy and sexual abuse of a child under 12 following a weeklong trial during which his attorneys claimed the girl had made up the allegations. Sentencing was scheduled for Aug. 1.

Bauer, who has been jailed since his 2021 arrest, faces similar child sex abuse charges outside New Orleans. Louisiana state police said Friday they intend to extradite him following the Alabama proceedings.

Messages were sent to Bauers attorneys seeking comment. Bauer did not respond to a letter AP sent him in jail.

During the Alabama trial, the child, who is now a young teen, testified through tears that she was repeatedly abused by Bauer over a period of years, too scared to say no or to tell anyone what was happening.

Jurors also saw a recording of the childs 2021 interview with a child abuse investigator in which she described the same abuse.

The AP is withholding some details of the allegations to protect the girls identity. Law enforcement became involved after the child eventually told a friend and the friends parent alerted the school.

Bauer took the stand and testified in his own defense during the trial, responding no, never when asked if he had abused or sodomized the child.

If she said I did something to her, then yes thats a lie, he said on cross-examination.

Bauers time in the FBI was not discussed in detail at the trial. The judge granted a defense request to exclude statements about the allegations by a co-worker in Louisiana that he had raped her at knifepoint.

The FBI has said Bauer forged a letter that scrubbed his record clean and helped clear the way to his hiring by the Alabama state police in 2019. The document, obtained by AP, confirmed his decade of creditable service and deemed him eligible for rehire.

After Bauers arrest, the FBI told the AP the letter in question was not legitimate but declined to comment on its subsequent investigation. Federal authorities did not charge Bauer but had been prepared to do so if he had been released from state custody, according to two former law enforcement officials who werent authorized to discuss the federal inquiry and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Bauers arrest came amid a reckoning in which the FBI pledged to crack down on sexual misconduct following AP reporting that found a pattern of supervisors avoiding discipline and retiring with full benefits even after claims of sexual misconduct against them had been substantiated.

The case also highlights the slipshod system of decertification in the United States in which problematic officers have remained in law enforcement by joining a new agency or relocating to a different state. For years, federal law enforcement agencies did not provide data on fired or disciplined agents to the National Decertification Index.

Alabama authorities either overlooked or were unaware of Bauers earlier misconduct. APs investigation found he omitted his ouster from the FBI on his application to the Alabama state police, including that he had been suspended without pay and stripped of his security clearance in 2018 amid a string of sexual misconduct allegations he faced working in the FBIs New Orleans office. An internal inquiry found that Bauer, at a minimum, violated FBI policy, including by having sex in an FBI vehicle.

Many of the allegations played out in Louisiana court filings that had been public for a year when Bauer was hired in Alabama. The woman who accused him of rape, a co-worker of Bauers at the FBI, wrote in an application for a restraining order that Bauer had choked her and made her scared for my life.

Bauer has disputed those claims, telling colleagues the acts were consensual. But the woman previously told AP that Bauer sexually assaulted her so frequently her hair began to fall out.

It was a year of torture, she said. He quite literally would keep me awake for days. I couldnt eat. I couldnt sleep, and in six months I went from 150 pounds to 92 pounds. I was physically dying from what he was doing to me.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com.
Alex Jones must sell off his personal assets in order to make the families of murdered students in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting whole, after he repeatedly defamed them and challenged facts on the tragedy.

A Texas bankruptcy judge ruled Friday that Jones could liquidate his assets, rejecting a plan to liquidate Jones company, Free Speech Systems, which owns InfoWars. Earlier this month, Jones agreed to liquidate personal assets by converting his bankruptcy filing to Chapter 7.

Jones, the far-right influencer and host of Info Wars, infamously referred to the devastating mass shooting as a false flag and claimed that no one died.

The 2012 shooting in Sandy Hook, Connecticut killed 26 people, including 20 children. Jones was first sued in 2018 for the false statements. As of September of last year, the families had yet to see any owed payments from Jones.

He owes more than $1.5 billion from multiple separate lawsuits to the victims of his lies, who faced death threats and psychological harm due to Jones.

Jones will now have to hand over his assets to a trustee, including his $2.8 million Texas home, though the integrity of his company was spared. Per Judge Christopher Lopez, it was not in the best interest of creditors, including the Sandy Hook families, to tear Free Speech Systems apart, though he noted the unusual span of time that its bankruptcy case has dragged on, according to the Associated Press.

Jones has spread conspiracies and misinformation for more than three decades, defaming not just Sandy Hook victims but Parkland shooting victims too, as well as making false statements about a D.C. pizza parlor, which was the victim of a conspiracy-driven shooting.

Jones also financed and allegedly coordinated parts of the January 6 attacks on the U.S. Capitol, failing to make an immunity deal with federal prosecutors.
Alex Jones was ordered Friday to pay the $1.5 billion settlement to the families of children slain in the Sandy Hook Elementary mass shooting by liquidating his personal assets.

Judge Christopher Lopez of the U.S. bankruptcy court for the southern district of Texas, Houston division, ruled on Jones bankruptcy claim Friday, determining how the InfoWars media founder and Alex Jones Show host will pay his 2022 Sandy Hook settlement after ceaseless false reports that the 2012 shooting was a hoax and a conspiracy.

Jones filed for bankruptcy protection in 2022 alongside the InfoWars parent company Free Speech Systems, but Lopez moved to convert Jones personal bankruptcy proposal to liquidation. According to court filings obtained by TheWrap, the former host has $9 million in assets.

Jones has already made moves to sell his Texas ranch, which is reportedly worth around $2.8 million. Hes also looking to sell his gun collection and other assets to pay his debts, according to AP. Jones Austin area home and select other assets are exempt from the liquidation.

Judge Lopez has yet to make a decision on the liquidation of Free Speech Systems assets.

This is probably the end of Infowars here very, very soon. If not today, in the next few weeks or months, Jones said before Fridays hearing. But its just the beginning of my fight against tyranny.

Jones initial 2022 bankruptcy filing came after the families of the 2012 Sandy Hook tragedy won lawsuits in both Connecticut and Austin. Those judgements were more than $1.4 billion in Connecticut and $49 million in Texas.

Back in December, Elon Musk allowed Jones back onto social media platform X after many activists worked to get the conspiracy theorist banned from a number of sites. Although it was disheartening to some at the time, experts were convinced the damage he could cause now would be muted.

Alex Jones reach will be muted due to the number of users fleeing the platform on a regular basis. On a per capita basis, X has fewer users that will be exposed to such content, Julianna Kirschner, a lecturer at USCs Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, told TheWrap at the time.

The post Alex Jones Ordered to Liquidate Assets to Pay $1.5 Billion Sandy Hook Settlement appeared first on TheWrap.
What do these things have in common?

Fireworks.

A shovel.

A slingshot.

A rocket.

Explosives.

Umbrellas with metal tips.

They are items visitors are prohibited from carrying into the security footprint of the Republican National Convention next month in Milwaukee. An ordinance approved by the Milwaukee Common Council takes into account the potential danger of a range of items, such as axes, pellet guns and even hard materials larger than 0.75 inches thick.

That all makes sense, right? You know what is allowed?

Guns.

You read that right.

Firearms such as a Glock, Colt Python and Ruger Blackhawk, all capable of inflicting deadly harm, can be brought into the security area outside the Fiserv Forum and other buildings where the convention is being held. This inconsistency is a cause for concern, particularly in an environment where emotions can run high.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and the U.S. Secret Service released the map of the security zone for RNC venues of Fiserv Forum, the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena and the Baird Center.

It's essential to strike a balance between personal freedoms and public safety. While I understand the desire of gun advocates to bring their firearms into security areas, it's crucial to ensure the safety of all attendees. The current state statute allows for this, but perhaps it's time to reevaluate and adjust this law to reflect the needs of our changing society.

Gun controversy overshadowed by bickering over protest area

Isnt it funny how this topic flies under the radar while lawmakers bicker about where protesters can stand when the RNC folks arrive in Milwaukee?

Milwaukee Ald. Scott Spiker said the fact that guns can be allowed in the soft security area looks ridiculous. Still, little can be done because the state law says, You shall not, as a municipality, enact restrictions on firearms and ammunition that are more restrictive than the state has.

Baraboo a media circus after father's despicable shove at high school graduation

Common Council President Jose G. Perez said, our city attorney advised us, and we expect the Police Department and all the other entities working and organizing the RNC to make sure it's safe for everyone. But it is a concern.

More than two dozen items cannot be brought into the secure area downtown. Water Street borders this area to the east, North Ninth Street to the west, and Cherry Street to the north and West. Clybourn Street to the south.

The "security footprint" refers to the area surrounding a section of downtown that will be under the control of the U.S. Secret Service, permitting access solely to individuals holding valid credentials.

My grandfather had wise advice about carrying a gun

Its important to note that not all guns will be allowed into the area. Machine guns, fully automatic weapons, short-barreled shotguns, and silencers, all of which are prohibited under state law, are banned according to the City Attorney's Office.

That may offer some comfort to some, but the fact that pistols will be allowed in the area is enough to give some people pause. As a responsible gun owner, I have always adhered to the principle of not carrying my firearm unless necessary. My grandfathers advice to carry only when I intend to use it has stuck with me.

Part of the problem we see or read about daily is that there are too many people with guns who should not have them in the first place, either legally or illegally.

During the RNC from July 15-18, the Milwaukee police will already have a lot to handle in terms of maintaining peace and ensuring the safety of our city.

To everyone planning to attend, I strongly advise leaving your guns at home stored securely.

Reach James E. Causey at jcausey@jrn.com; follow him on X @jecausey.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee GOP convention worryingly doesnt ban guns in secure zone
Almost 2,000 consumers cut off from power grid in Chernihiv Oblast because of Russian attack

More than 1,700 consumers have been cut off from the power grid because of a Russian attack that damaged an overhead power transmission line of Chernihivoblenergo, Chernihiv Oblast power company, on the night of 14-15 June.

Source: press service of the Ministry of Energy

Details: It was reported that, at one point, 1,765 households in 12 settlements in Chernihiv Oblast lost power due to the attack on the overhead power transmission line.

In addition, the Ministry of Energy said that the Russian attack on a high-voltage substation cut off power to household consumers and caused disruptions in train traffic in Ukraines east. Some consumers have already been supplied with power, and work is underway to repair the damage.

Background:

On Saturday, 15 June, regional power distribution companies across Ukraine will apply rolling power outages from 08:00 to 23:00.

Ukrenergo CEO Volodymyr Kudrytskyi said that next week the situation in the Ukrainian power system will be much more complicated than today.

"It is quite possible that Ukrainians may receive five to six hours of electricity a day in winter, but everything will depend on the circumstances.

Starting from 24 June, critical infrastructure will be given priority in power supply, while the rest of the electricity will be distributed evenly among the oblasts.

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  The Alzheimers Disease Association of Kern County has new equipment that will help save lives.

The center received a new AED, or Automated External Defibrillator, from the California Cardiovascular and Neurology institutes, which partners with local dedicated students around town.

It makes me feel good knowing that I can improve the survival rate of someone having a cardiac arrest by over 70%, said incoming freshman, Kabir Singh.

Temperatures to gradually decrease in time for Fathers Day

Other students had immediate family members in mind.

For me, if my grandpa, he lives up in Idaho.., said Landon Wells. Just the feeling that hell be safe if anything does happen and an AED can help bring him back to life, it really ensures me so I wanted to bring that to the community here.

The center says the new AED will significantly boost the capacity to respond swiftly and effectively in situations involving cardiac arrest.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Americans awareness of Juneteenth is on the rise: Survey

Far more Americans are aware of Juneteenth and are going to celebrate it this year than in years past, a new survey found.

The survey, conducted by YouGov, polled Americans on their awareness of Juneteenth, now a federal holiday that marks the day in 1865 when Black slaves in Texas learned of their freedom after the Civil War, the last people to be emancipated.

While the holiday is officially marked on June 19, early celebrations across the country are already underway.

The survey found that 90 percent of Americans are now aware of the holiday compared to in 2022, 74 percent said they knew what it was.

Seventy-seven percent of respondents know at least a little about Juneteenth and 17 percent say they know a lot about the holiday.

Black Americans were more likely, 32 percent, to say they know a lot about the holiday. Twenty-two percent of Hispanic Americans know a lot about the holiday, while 13 percent of white Americans say the same.

Among the respondents who have heard of Juneteenth, 68 percent correctly identify why the holiday is celebrated.

In 2021, President Biden signed legislation that made Juneteenth a federal holiday.

Earlier this week, Biden marked the upcoming holiday with a concert on the White House lawn. Amid the celebration, he warned of old ghosts in new garments trying to take us back, making it harder for Black people to vote and attacking diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

Juneteenth is celebrated because it was the day that the final slaves were notified of their freedom, more than two years after President Lincoln legally freed enslaved people in states that had seceded from the union.

The nearly 250,000 slaves in Galveston, Texas, however, had no idea they had been freed until Gordon Granger issued an order declaring the proclamation.

The date has been celebrated as Americas second Independence Day by Black communities for more than one-and-a-half centuries until formally becoming a federal holiday three years ago.

The YouGov survey was conducted May 23-26 among 1,152 people and has a margin of error of four percent.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Experts have said that mifepristone, part of a two-drug regimen, has a record of safety and efficacy in more than two decades of use. (Chris Coduto/Getty Images for UltraViolet).

In the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Courts unanimous ruling Thursday to maintain current access to the abortion medication mifepristone, abortion-rights advocates and opponents vowed to continue their respective battles over the drug.

Mifepristone is one of two drugs used to treat miscarriages and terminate a pregnancy during the first trimester, and is the most common method of abortion in the U.S. Anti-abortion groups, in conjunction with conservative religious law firm Alliance Defending Freedom, sought to revert the FDA guidelines to 2016, when the prescribed gestational time frame was three weeks shorter and there were more requirements around who could prescribe it and where and when provider visits had to take place. The case made its way to the nations highest court after outspoken anti-abortion U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Texas ruled that mifepristones approval should be revoked, followed by a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals opinion that agreed in part, saying the restrictions should revert to pre-2016 rules.

In a unanimous decision rejecting the anti-abortion groups challenge to the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations regulation of the drug, justices agreed that the case lacked standing, saying there was no clear injury to the plaintiffs to warrant reinstating the restrictions.

The plaintiffs do not prescribe or use mifepristone. And FDA is not requiring them to do or refrain from doing anything. Rather, the plaintiffs want FDA to make mifepristone more difficult for other doctors to prescribe and for pregnant women to obtain, Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote in the opinion. Under Article III of the Constitution, a plaintiffs desire to make a drug less available for others does not establish standing to sue.

Wendy Heipt, attorney for advocacy organization Legal Voice, said the fact that the unanimous ruling is focused on standing is helpful, because thats an area of law that has been in question in many reproductive rights-related cases since the Dobbs decision in 2022.

Im not relaxing; its not over. But the fact that this one rogue judge in Texas opened the courthouse doors to people who had no right to be there was a real challenge to the way our judicial system works, so I am reassured that there are still rules, Heipt told States Newsroom.

Many reproductive rights and medical organizations issued statements following the ruling, including the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights research organization that has closely tracked abortion pill use in the two years since the Dobbs decision.

We are relieved by this outcome, but we are not celebrating, said Destiny Lopez, acting co-CEO of the Institute, in a statement. From the start, this case was rooted in bad faith and lacking any basis in facts or science. This case never should have reached our nations top court in the first place and the Supreme Court made the only reasonable decision by leaving access to medication abortion using mifepristone unchanged.

Nikki Madsen, co-executive director of the Abortion Care Network, said she wasnt surprised by the ruling, but noted it only preserves the status quo.

Its just not enough, Madsen told States Newsroom. We know that the anti-abortion extremists are relentless, and their goal is to truly chip away at any abortion access. So todays decision just preserves access, but its really not enough for the people across the country who are truly navigating a human rights crisis right now.

Three intervenor states expected to continue fight at district court level

Alliance Defending Freedom, the conservative law firm that argued the case, is the same organization that argued in favor of the Dobbs decision that returned abortion regulation to the states. In a statement, ADF attorney Erin Hawley said the ruling was disappointing, but that they will continue to advocate for womens health.

The FDA recklessly leaves women and girls to take these high-risk drugs all alone in their homes or dorm rooms, without requiring the ongoing, in-person care of a doctor, Hawley said, adding that ADF is grateful to attorneys general in Idaho, Kansas and Missouri who successfully intervened in the case at the district court level with Kacsmaryks approval, because they intend to keep litigating the case there.

In a statement posted on X on Thursday, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey wrote, Todays ruling only applies to standing; the court did not reach the merits. My case is still alive at the district court. We are moving forward undeterred with our litigation to protect both women and their unborn children.

Baileys spokesperson did not give any further details about what that case would look like, and Idaho Attorney General Raul Labradors office did not respond to a request for comment.

According to Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, a national anti-abortion organization, those attorneys general will move forward with the case based on harms suffered by women in their states.

Abortion opponents target abortion drugs from multiple angles

Anti-abortion opponents have been fighting against the expansion of access to medication abortion since the FDA first approved the regimen in 2000, and they say they are not deterred by Thursdays ruling.

The Justices simply discussed the issue of legal standing and did not reach the merits of the case, Carolyn McDonnell, litigation counsel at national anti-abortion policy shop Americans United for Life, told States Newsroom in a statement. Its still an open question whether the FDA unlawfully deregulated mifepristone.

Longtime anti-abortion activist Rev. Pat Mahoney, chief strategy officer for the Stanton Public Policy Center, said the Supreme Courts decision in this case was instructive, if not what abortion opponents wanted.

Theres, I think, a misconception that a loss is a loss, and that isnt always the case, Mahoney told States Newsroom. Sometimes a loss helps define the parameters for bringing the next case and next case, and believe me, there are going to be next cases on medical and chemical abortions. So now we know this isnt a route to go.

Mahoney said that like past legal defeats for the anti-abortion movement, this ruling offers at least a partial road map, such as the one abortion opponents followed after the Supreme Court ruled in 1992s Planned Parenthood v. Casey that abortion until fetal viability was a federal right but that states could pass regulations that didnt create an undue burden for people seeking abortions.

That ruling led to hundreds of restrictions and regulations around the country that kept nudging the viability and undue burden lines  limiting abortion access even before Roe v. Wade was overturned. Mahoney said his organization and others are pursuing various legislative proposals, such as regulating the disposal of embryonic and fetal remains following a medication abortion, which most people have at home or in private settings.

Americans United for Life said in a statement following the ruling that it will continue to offer legal prescriptions for the strengthening of protections for unborn children from abortion pills through action on the federal and state levels in both executive and legislative branches of government, including through executive enforcement of the Comstock Act and RICO Act.

Ever since Roe v. Wade was overturned, resurrecting the long-dormant Comstock Act to ban the mailing of abortion drugs and equipment (something legal scholars and historians say is an inaccurate interpretation of the law and how it was applied) has been the long-term focus of East Texas pastor Mark Lee Dickson and his partner Texas attorney Jonathan Mitchell.

They have been pushing various legal and legislative strategies to prevent people from obtaining abortions in states where its still legal. They have helped pass dozens of local ordinances in Texas and other states with restrictions that challenge current federal law, such as banning interstate travel to obtain an abortion. In New Mexico, where abortion is legal and largely unrestricted, a challenge to two local ordinances based on the Comstock Act await a ruling from the New Mexico Supreme Court.

The U.S. Supreme Court did not address the Comstock Act in its opinion, but Kascmaryk cited the old law in his initial ruling last year. Major conservative groups are pushing former President Donald Trump, if reelected this fall, to enforce the Comstock Act along with other federal abortion regulations. Trump has stayed silent about what he will do.

In the meantime, anti-abortion groups have not stopped pursuing other cases.

I can confirm that there are several attorneys in the pro-life movement that are planning on bringing a number of different lawsuits relating to abortion-inducing drugs and the harm that they cause to mothers and their unborn children, Dickson told States Newsroom.

Mahoney also said groups like his are working with attorneys on a potential class-action lawsuit against abortion-pill manufacturers. He said they are actively gathering testimony and information from women who have been hurt through medical chemical abortions.

Were working on it, said Mahoney, adding, It took us 50 years to overturn Roe.

The post Anti-abortion groups say Supreme Courts mifepristone ruling wont deter them appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
Mifepristone, FDA-approved for pregnancy termination up to 10 weeks gestation, is used in about 63% of U.S. abortions. (Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

In the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Courts unanimous ruling Thursday to maintain current access to the abortion medication mifepristone, abortion-rights advocates and opponents vowed to continue their respective battles over the drug.

Mifepristone is one of two drugs used to treat miscarriages and terminate a pregnancy during the first trimester, and is the most common method of abortion in the U.S. Anti-abortion groups, in conjunction with conservative religious law firm Alliance Defending Freedom, sought to revert the FDA guidelines to 2016, when the prescribed gestational time frame was three weeks shorter and there were more requirements around who could prescribe it and where and when provider visits had to take place. The case made its way to the nations highest court after outspoken anti-abortion U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Texas ruled that mifepristones approval should be revoked, followed by a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals opinion that agreed in part, saying the restrictions should revert to pre-2016 rules.

In a unanimous decision rejecting the anti-abortion groups challenge to the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations regulation of the drug, justices agreed that the case lacked standing, saying there was no clear injury to the plaintiffs to warrant reinstating the restrictions.

The plaintiffs do not prescribe or use mifepristone. And FDA is not requiring them to do or refrain from doing anything. Rather, the plaintiffs want FDA to make mifepristone more difficult for other doctors to prescribe and for pregnant women to obtain, Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote in the opinion. Under Article III of the Constitution, a plaintiffs desire to make a drug less available for others does not establish standing to sue.

Wendy Heipt, attorney for advocacy organization Legal Voice, said the fact that the unanimous ruling is focused on standing is helpful, because thats an area of law that has been in question in many reproductive rights-related cases since the Dobbs decision in 2022.

Im not relaxing; its not over. But the fact that this one rogue judge in Texas opened the courthouse doors to people who had no right to be there was a real challenge to the way our judicial system works, so I am reassured that there are still rules, Heipt told States Newsroom.

Many reproductive rights and medical organizations issued statements following the ruling, including the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights research organization that has closely tracked abortion pill use in the two years since the Dobbs decision.

We are relieved by this outcome, but we are not celebrating, said Destiny Lopez, acting co-CEO of the Institute, in a statement. From the start, this case was rooted in bad faith and lacking any basis in facts or science. This case never should have reached our nations top court in the first place and the Supreme Court made the only reasonable decision by leaving access to medication abortion using mifepristone unchanged.

Nikki Madsen, co-executive director of the Abortion Care Network, said she wasnt surprised by the ruling, but noted it only preserves the status quo.

Its just not enough, Madsen told States Newsroom. We know that the anti-abortion extremists are relentless, and their goal is to truly chip away at any abortion access. So todays decision just preserves access, but its really not enough for the people across the country who are truly navigating a human rights crisis right now.

Three intervenor states expected to continue fight at district court level

Alliance Defending Freedom, the conservative law firm that argued the case, is the same organization that argued in favor of the Dobbs decision that returned abortion regulation to the states. In a statement, ADF attorney Erin Hawley said the ruling was disappointing, but that they will continue to advocate for womens health.

The FDA recklessly leaves women and girls to take these high-risk drugs all alone in their homes or dorm rooms, without requiring the ongoing, in-person care of a doctor, Hawley said, adding that ADF is grateful to attorneys general in Idaho, Kansas and Missouri who successfully intervened in the case at the district court level with Kacsmaryks approval, because they intend to keep litigating the case there.

In a statement posted on X on Thursday, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey wrote, Todays ruling only applies to standing; the court did not reach the merits. My case is still alive at the district court. We are moving forward undeterred with our litigation to protect both women and their unborn children.

Baileys spokesperson did not give any further details about what that case would look like, and Idaho Attorney General Raul Labradors office did not respond to a request for comment.

According to Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, a national anti-abortion organization, those attorneys general will move forward with the case based on harms suffered by women in their states.

Abortion opponents target abortion drugs from multiple angles

Anti-abortion opponents have been fighting against the expansion of access to medication abortion since the FDA first approved the regimen in 2000, and they say they are not deterred by Thursdays ruling.

The Justices simply discussed the issue of legal standing and did not reach the merits of the case, Carolyn McDonnell, litigation counsel at national anti-abortion policy shop Americans United for Life, told States Newsroom in a statement. Its still an open question whether the FDA unlawfully deregulated mifepristone.

Longtime anti-abortion activist Rev. Pat Mahoney, chief strategy officer for the Stanton Public Policy Center, said the Supreme Courts decision in this case was instructive, if not what abortion opponents wanted.

Theres, I think, a misconception that a loss is a loss, and that isnt always the case, Mahoney told States Newsroom. Sometimes a loss helps define the parameters for bringing the next case and next case, and believe me, there are going to be next cases on medical and chemical abortions. So now we know this isnt a route to go.

Mahoney said that like past legal defeats for the anti-abortion movement, this ruling offers at least a partial road map, such as the one abortion opponents followed after the Supreme Court ruled in 1992s Planned Parenthood v. Casey that abortion until fetal viability was a federal right but that states could pass regulations that didnt create an undue burden for people seeking abortions.

That ruling led to hundreds of restrictions and regulations around the country that kept nudging the viability and undue burden lines  limiting abortion access even before Roe v. Wade was overturned. Mahoney said his organization and others are pursuing various legislative proposals, such as regulating the disposal of embryonic and fetal remains following a medication abortion, which most people have at home or in private settings.

Americans United for Life said in a statement following the ruling that it will continue to offer legal prescriptions for the strengthening of protections for unborn children from abortion pills through action on the federal and state levels in both executive and legislative branches of government, including through executive enforcement of the Comstock Act and RICO Act.

Ever since Roe v. Wade was overturned, resurrecting the long-dormant Comstock Act to ban the mailing of abortion drugs and equipment (something legal scholars and historians say is an inaccurate interpretation of the law and how it was applied) has been the long-term focus of East Texas pastor Mark Lee Dickson and his partner Texas attorney Jonathan Mitchell.

They have been pushing various legal and legislative strategies to prevent people from obtaining abortions in states where its still legal. They have helped pass dozens of local ordinances in Texas and other states with restrictions that challenge current federal law, such as banning interstate travel to obtain an abortion. In New Mexico, where abortion is legal and largely unrestricted, a challenge to two local ordinances based on the Comstock Act await a ruling from the New Mexico Supreme Court.

The U.S. Supreme Court did not address the Comstock Act in its opinion, but Kascmaryk cited the old law in his initial ruling last year. Major conservative groups are pushing former President Donald Trump, if reelected this fall, to enforce the Comstock Act along with other federal abortion regulations. Trump has stayed silent about what he will do.

In the meantime, anti-abortion groups have not stopped pursuing other cases.

I can confirm that there are several attorneys in the pro-life movement that are planning on bringing a number of different lawsuits relating to abortion-inducing drugs and the harm that they cause to mothers and their unborn children, Dickson told States Newsroom.

Mahoney also said groups like his are working with attorneys on a potential class-action lawsuit against abortion-pill manufacturers. He said they are actively gathering testimony and information from women who have been hurt through medical chemical abortions.

Were working on it, said Mahoney, adding, It took us 50 years to overturn Roe.

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The post Anti-abortion groups say Supreme Courts mifepristone ruling wont deter them appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 25: UltraViolet advocates are seen at the American Pharmacists Association Annual Conference at the Phoenix Convention Center on March 25, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. Advocacy group UltraViolet are urging pharmacists to reaffirm that Mifepristone, a medication abortion drug, is safe, effective and essential. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images for UltraViolet)

In the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Courts unanimous ruling Thursday to maintain current access to the abortion medication mifepristone, abortion-rights advocates and opponents vowed to continue their respective battles over the drug.

Mifepristone is one of two drugs used to treat miscarriages and terminate a pregnancy during the first trimester, and is the most common method of abortion in the U.S. Anti-abortion groups, in conjunction with conservative religious law firm Alliance Defending Freedom, sought to revert the FDA guidelines to 2016, when the prescribed gestational time frame was three weeks shorter and there were more requirements around who could prescribe it and where and when provider visits had to take place.

The case made its way to the nations highest court after outspoken anti-abortion U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Texas ruled that mifepristones approval should be revoked, followed by a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals opinion that agreed in part, saying the restrictions should revert to pre-2016 rules.

In a unanimous decision rejecting the anti-abortion groups challenge to the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations regulation of the drug, justices agreed that the case lacked standing, saying there was no clear injury to the plaintiffs to warrant reinstating the restrictions.

The plaintiffs do not prescribe or use mifepristone. And FDA is not requiring them to do or refrain from doing anything. Rather, the plaintiffs want FDA to make mifepristone more difficult for other doctors to prescribe and for pregnant women to obtain, Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote in the opinion. Under Article III of the Constitution, a plaintiffs desire to make a drug less available for others does not establish standing to sue.

Wendy Heipt, attorney for advocacy organization Legal Voice, said the fact that the unanimous ruling is focused on standing is helpful, because thats an area of law that has been in question in many reproductive rights-related cases since the Dobbs decision in 2022.

Im not relaxing; its not over. But the fact that this one rogue judge in Texas opened the courthouse doors to people who had no right to be there was a real challenge to the way our judicial system works, so I am reassured that there are still rules, Heipt told States Newsroom.

Many reproductive rights and medical organizations issued statements following the ruling, including the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights research organization that has closely tracked abortion pill use in the two years since the Dobbs decision.

We are relieved by this outcome, but we are not celebrating, said Destiny Lopez, acting co-CEO of the Institute, in a statement. From the start, this case was rooted in bad faith and lacking any basis in facts or science. This case never should have reached our nations top court in the first place and the Supreme Court made the only reasonable decision by leaving access to medication abortion using mifepristone unchanged.

Nikki Madsen, co-executive director of the Abortion Care Network, said she wasnt surprised by the ruling, but noted it only preserves the status quo.

Its just not enough, Madsen told States Newsroom. We know that the anti-abortion extremists are relentless, and their goal is to truly chip away at any abortion access. So todays decision just preserves access, but its really not enough for the people across the country who are truly navigating a human rights crisis right now.

Three intervenor states expected to continue fight at district court level

Alliance Defending Freedom, the conservative law firm that argued the case, is the same organization that argued in favor of the Dobbs decision that returned abortion regulation to the states. In a statement, ADF attorney Erin Hawley said the ruling was disappointing, but that they will continue to advocate for womens health.

The FDA recklessly leaves women and girls to take these high-risk drugs all alone in their homes or dorm rooms, without requiring the ongoing, in-person care of a doctor, Hawley said, adding that ADF is grateful to attorneys general in Idaho, Kansas and Missouri who successfully intervened in the case at the district court level with Kacsmaryks approval, because they intend to keep litigating the case there.

In a statement posted on X on Thursday, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey wrote, Todays ruling only applies to standing; the court did not reach the merits. My case is still alive at the district court. We are moving forward undeterred with our litigation to protect both women and their unborn children.

Baileys spokesperson did not give any further details about what that case would look like, and Idaho Attorney General Raul Labradors office did not respond to a request for comment.

According to Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, a national anti-abortion organization, those attorneys general will move forward with the case based on harms suffered by women in their states.

Abortion opponents target abortion drugs from multiple angles

Anti-abortion opponents have been fighting against the expansion of access to medication abortion since the FDA first approved the regimen in 2000, and they say they are not deterred by Thursdays ruling.

The Justices simply discussed the issue of legal standing and did not reach the merits of the case, Carolyn McDonnell, litigation counsel at national anti-abortion policy shop Americans United for Life, told States Newsroom in a statement. Its still an open question whether the FDA unlawfully deregulated mifepristone.

Longtime anti-abortion activist Rev. Pat Mahoney, chief strategy officer for the Stanton Public Policy Center, said the Supreme Courts decision in this case was instructive, if not what abortion opponents wanted.

Theres, I think, a misconception that a loss is a loss, and that isnt always the case, Mahoney told States Newsroom. Sometimes a loss helps define the parameters for bringing the next case and next case, and believe me, there are going to be next cases on medical and chemical abortions. So now we know this isnt a route to go.

Mahoney said that like past legal defeats for the anti-abortion movement, this ruling offers at least a partial road map, such as the one abortion opponents followed after the Supreme Court ruled in 1992s Planned Parenthood v. Casey that abortion until fetal viability was a federal right but that states could pass regulations that didnt create an undue burden for people seeking abortions.

That ruling led to hundreds of restrictions and regulations around the country that kept nudging the viability and undue burden lines  limiting abortion access even before Roe v. Wade was overturned. Mahoney said his organization and others are pursuing various legislative proposals, such as regulating the disposal of embryonic and fetal remains following a medication abortion, which most people have at home or in private settings.

Americans United for Life said in a statement following the ruling that it will continue to offer legal prescriptions for the strengthening of protections for unborn children from abortion pills through action on the federal and state levels in both executive and legislative branches of government, including through executive enforcement of the Comstock Act and RICO Act.

Ever since Roe v. Wade was overturned, resurrecting the long-dormant Comstock Act to ban the mailing of abortion drugs and equipment (something legal scholars and historians say is an inaccurate interpretation of the law and how it was applied) has been the long-term focus of East Texas pastor Mark Lee Dickson and his partner Texas attorney Jonathan Mitchell.

They have been pushing various legal and legislative strategies to prevent people from obtaining abortions in states where its still legal. They have helped pass dozens of local ordinances in Texas and other states with restrictions that challenge current federal law, such as banning interstate travel to obtain an abortion. In New Mexico, where abortion is legal and largely unrestricted, a challenge to two local ordinances based on the Comstock Act await a ruling from the New Mexico Supreme Court.

The U.S. Supreme Court did not address the Comstock Act in its opinion, but Kascmaryk cited the old law in his initial ruling last year. Major conservative groups are pushing former President Donald Trump, if reelected this fall, to enforce the Comstock Act along with other federal abortion regulations. Trump has stayed silent about what he will do.

In the meantime, anti-abortion groups have not stopped pursuing other cases.

I can confirm that there are several attorneys in the pro-life movement that are planning on bringing a number of different lawsuits relating to abortion-inducing drugs and the harm that they cause to mothers and their unborn children, Dickson told States Newsroom.

Mahoney also said groups like his are working with attorneys on a potential class-action lawsuit against abortion-pill manufacturers. He said they are actively gathering testimony and information from women who have been hurt through medical chemical abortions.

Were working on it, said Mahoney, adding, It took us 50 years to overturn Roe.

The post Anti-abortion groups say Supreme Courts mifepristone ruling wont deter them appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
The abortion drug mifepristone, also known as RU486, is pictured in an abortion clinic February 17, 2006, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Phil Walter/Getty Images)

In the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Courts unanimous ruling Thursday to maintain current access to the abortion medication mifepristone, abortion-rights advocates and opponents vowed to continue their respective battles over the drug.

Mifepristone is one of two drugs used to treat miscarriages and terminate a pregnancy during the first trimester, and is the most common method of abortion in the U.S. Anti-abortion groups, in conjunction with conservative religious law firm Alliance Defending Freedom, sought to revert the Food and Drug Administrations guidelines to 2016, when the prescribed gestational time frame was three weeks shorter and there were more requirements around who could prescribe it and where and when provider visits had to take place.

The case made its way to the nations highest court after outspoken anti-abortion U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Texas ruled that mifepristones approval should be revoked, followed by a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals opinion that agreed in part, saying the restrictions should revert to pre-2016 rules.

In a unanimous decision rejecting the anti-abortion groups challenge to the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations regulation of the drug, justices agreed that the case lacked standing, saying there was no clear injury to the plaintiffs to warrant reinstating the restrictions.

The plaintiffs do not prescribe or use mifepristone. And FDA is not requiring them to do or refrain from doing anything. Rather, the plaintiffs want FDA to make mifepristone more difficult for other doctors to prescribe and for pregnant women to obtain, Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote in the opinion. Under Article III of the Constitution, a plaintiffs desire to make a drug less available for others does not establish standing to sue.

Wendy Heipt, attorney for advocacy organization Legal Voice, said the fact that the unanimous ruling is focused on standing is helpful, because thats an area of law that has been in question in many reproductive rights-related cases since the Dobbs decision in 2022.

Im not relaxing; its not over. But the fact that this one rogue judge in Texas opened the courthouse doors to people who had no right to be there was a real challenge to the way our judicial system works, so I am reassured that there are still rules, Heipt told States Newsroom.

Many reproductive rights and medical organizations issued statements following the ruling, including the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights research organization that has closely tracked abortion pill use in the two years since the Dobbs decision.

We are relieved by this outcome, but we are not celebrating, said Destiny Lopez, acting co-CEO of the Institute, in a statement. From the start, this case was rooted in bad faith and lacking any basis in facts or science. This case never should have reached our nations top court in the first place and the Supreme Court made the only reasonable decision by leaving access to medication abortion using mifepristone unchanged.

Nikki Madsen, co-executive director of the Abortion Care Network, said she wasnt surprised by the ruling, but noted it only preserves the status quo.

Its just not enough, Madsen told States Newsroom. We know that the anti-abortion extremists are relentless, and their goal is to truly chip away at any abortion access. So todays decision just preserves access, but its really not enough for the people across the country who are truly navigating a human rights crisis right now.

Continued fight at district court level

Alliance Defending Freedom, the conservative law firm that argued the case, is the same organization that argued in favor of the Dobbs decision that returned abortion regulation to the states. In a statement, ADF attorney Erin Hawley said the ruling was disappointing, but that they will continue to advocate for womens health.

The FDA recklessly leaves women and girls to take these high-risk drugs all alone in their homes or dorm rooms, without requiring the ongoing, in-person care of a doctor, Hawley said, adding that ADF is grateful to attorneys general in Idaho, Kansas and Missouri who successfully intervened in the case at the district court level with Kacsmaryks approval, because they intend to keep litigating the case there.

In a statement posted on X on Thursday, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey wrote, Todays ruling only applies to standing; the court did not reach the merits. My case is still alive at the district court. We are moving forward undeterred with our litigation to protect both women and their unborn children.

Baileys spokesperson did not give any further details about what that case would look like, and Idaho Attorney General Raul Labradors office did not respond to a request for comment.

According to Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, a national anti-abortion organization, those attorneys general will move forward with the case based on harms suffered by women in their states.

Abortion drugs targeted from multiple angles

Anti-abortion opponents have been fighting against the expansion of access to medication abortion since the FDA first approved the regimen in 2000, and they say they are not deterred by Thursdays ruling.

The Justices simply discussed the issue of legal standing and did not reach the merits of the case, Carolyn McDonnell, litigation counsel at national anti-abortion policy shop Americans United for Life, told States Newsroom in a statement. Its still an open question whether the FDA unlawfully deregulated mifepristone.

Longtime anti-abortion activist the Rev. Pat Mahoney, chief strategy officer for the Stanton Public Policy Center, said the Supreme Courts decision in this case was instructive, if not what abortion opponents wanted.

Theres, I think, a misconception that a loss is a loss, and that isnt always the case, Mahoney told States Newsroom. Sometimes a loss helps define the parameters for bringing the next case and next case, and believe me, there are going to be next cases on medical and chemical abortions. So now we know this isnt a route to go.

Mahoney said that like past legal defeats for the anti-abortion movement, this ruling offers at least a partial road map, such as the one abortion opponents followed after the Supreme Court ruled in 1992s Planned Parenthood v. Casey that abortion until fetal viability was a federal right but that states could pass regulations that didnt create an undue burden for people seeking abortions.

That ruling led to hundreds of restrictions and regulations around the country that kept nudging the viability and undue burden lines  limiting abortion access even before Roe v. Wade was overturned. Mahoney said his organization and others are pursuing various legislative proposals, such as regulating the disposal of embryonic and fetal remains following a medication abortion, which most people have at home or in private settings.

Americans United for Life said in a statement following the ruling that it will continue to offer legal prescriptions for the strengthening of protections for unborn children from abortion pills through action on the federal and state levels in both executive and legislative branches of government, including through executive enforcement of the Comstock Act and RICO Act.

Ever since Roe v. Wade was overturned, resurrecting the long-dormant Comstock Act to ban the mailing of abortion drugs and equipment (something legal scholars and historians say is an inaccurate interpretation of the law and how it was applied) has been the long-term focus of East Texas pastor Mark Lee Dickson and his partner Texas attorney Jonathan Mitchell.

They have been pushing various legal and legislative strategies to prevent people from obtaining abortions in states where its still legal. They have helped pass dozens of local ordinances in Texas and other states with restrictions that challenge current federal law, such as banning interstate travel to obtain an abortion. In New Mexico, where abortion is legal and largely unrestricted, a challenge to two local ordinances based on the Comstock Act await a ruling from the New Mexico Supreme Court.

The U.S. Supreme Court did not address the Comstock Act in its opinion, but Kascmaryk cited the old law in his initial ruling last year. Major conservative groups are pushing former President Donald Trump, if reelected this fall, to enforce the Comstock Act along with other federal abortion regulations. Trump has stayed silent about what he will do.

In the meantime, anti-abortion groups have not stopped pursuing other cases.

I can confirm that there are several attorneys in the pro-life movement that are planning on bringing a number of different lawsuits relating to abortion-inducing drugs and the harm that they cause to mothers and their unborn children, Dickson told States Newsroom.

Mahoney also said groups like his are working with attorneys on a potential class-action lawsuit against abortion-pill manufacturers. He said they are actively gathering testimony and information from women who have been hurt through medical chemical abortions.

Were working on it, said Mahoney, adding, It took us 50 years to overturn Roe.

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The post Anti-abortion groups say Supreme Courts mifepristone ruling wont deter them appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
President Bidens recent executive order severely limiting access to asylum for people seeking safety at the U.S.-Mexico border further imperils those fleeing dangerous conditions and betrays Bidens campaign promises to restore asylum. This anti-immigrant executive action resembles failed immigration policies that only worsen a dire situation that already leaves migrants seeking asylum in continually perilous conditions  especially Black migrants who are the most unlikely to attain asylum while also being the most likely to need asylum in the first place.

The horrific immigration system under Donald Trump and the effects it is still having during the Biden administration were wreaking havoc in the asylum process thus far. Bidens newest inhumane policies gutting asylum will only fuel the extreme prejudice already predominant in our immigration system.

Black immigrants experience anti-Blackness at every step in the migration and asylum process as they flee violence and oppressive conditions in search of safety. In the Uncovering Truth Report published two years ago, the data shows that Black migrants experience abuse and disturbing patterns of racist and violent incidents at a disproportionately higher rate than non-Black migrants while in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention.

The report found that despite Black migrants only accounting for six percent of the total ICE detention population today, 28 percent of all abuse-related reports came from Black migrants. The report also reveals through a Freedom of Information Act request that despite Black migrants only making up four percent of the total ICE detention population during 2012-2017, they made up 24 percent of all people in solitary confinement. And in one of these instances of solitary confinement at Stewart Detention Center, a 27-year-old Black Panamanian migrant, Jeancarlo Alfonso Jimenez Joseph, was found unresponsive after spending 19 days in solitary confinement.

Additionally, Freedom for Immigrants  an organization that provides non-governmental, independent oversight of the U.S. immigration detention system  reported that over 53 percent of their most high-intensity and life-threatening cases that required their intervention during that six year period were for Black migrants.

Black migrants experience racism within detainment, but also via the way in which they are detained. Last summer, over 100 Mauritanians and other African asylum-seekers were detained by ICE at Adelanto detention center in California at a time when other non-Black asylum-seekers were released to their communities. The prejudice experienced by these Black asylum-seekers was furthered by the Biden administration's failure to provide language rights to those who spoke African indigenous languages.

Expedited hearings also disproportionately impact Black migrants who require time to get information from home countries required for their asylum cases. Black asylum-seekers often have complex claims for protection, and the time allotted under expedited schemes result in arbitrary forced-return to the countries they fled. The lack of time allotted for these complex asylum cases will only continue to harm Black migrants as they are designed to allow the U.S. to evade the responsibility to provide asylum protections.

Recently, we saw a situation in which a queer Senegalese asylum-seeker who entered the U.S. was detained by ICE in California and was not released with the others who were processed with him. Instead this asylum-seeker was held without bond in spite of efforts to have him released and get the support he needed to pursue his asylum claim. He was then expelled back to Senegal using these unfair and unjust expedited hearings aimed to prevent migrants from the opportunity to receive asylum.

It is important to note that the immigration policy Biden is putting forth this year echoes a 2018 effort by President Trump to block migration that failed miserably and put us in the situation we are in today.

Instead of moving away from draconian policies that only mimic the United States' criminal enforcement system that funnels Black migrants into the immigration detention and deportation system, Biden is choosing a craven embrace of failed Republican immigration policies that disproportionately endanger Black migrants.

We do not need a more restrictive, more inhumane immigration system. We need an immigration system that respects the right to mobility and the rights and dignity of people seeking refuge in this country. Biden needs to use every action in his power to address the serious flaws in the immigration system in a way that is more humane and actually solves the crisis by providing pathways to citizenship, strengthening our asylum system, creating an inclusive immigration system that fights anti-Blackness, and ending the detention of migrants.
(KRON)  Antioch police are warning residents of a recent series of bank robberies that have surged in the last 90 days. Police are currently investigating 10 recent bank robberies in Antioch, six of which happened after victims left the bank and were robbed in the banks parking lots. Four of the 10 robberies happened at different locations after victims left the bank, police said.

Police said most of the thieves have been targeting victims cell phones, wallets, and money.

Bank parking lot robberies:

On March 25, a victim was approached by a suspect on their bicycle when they drove up to an ATM in the Bank of America in Somerville. Police said the victim was robbed of their phone and wallet.

On April 3, police said a suspect robbed a victim of their cash and cell phones after pulling out of a drive-through ATM in the same Bank of America in Somerville.

On April 4, a victim was robbed of their phone and wallet after a suspect ran up to the victim while pulling cash out of a Chase Bank ATM on Delta Fair.

On April 10, a suspect demanded property from a victim after they got into their car at the Chase Bank parking lot on Lone Tree Way. Police said this was an attempted robbery, but the victim left before the theft occurred.

On May 20, a victim was robbed in a parking lot after making a deposit for the county fair at BMO Bank in Somerville.

On June 11, a victim was robbed in a parking lot after they cashed their check at Chase Bank on Lone Tree Way.

Victims followed home from bank visits:

On April 1, a victim was followed home from a Walnut Creek bank. The victim was robbed at home, and police said the victims purse was taken from them. No arrests were made.

On May 22, a victim arrived home from a Chase Bank in Somerville. Police said the victims purse was taken from them after they were knocked down to the ground. No arrests were made.

On June 8, a victim parked across the street from Chase Bank on the 2300 block of Buchanan Road before police said the victim got robbed of their jewelry. No arrests were made.

On June 11, while a victim was driving away from Chase Bank on Delta Fair Boulevard, a suspect tried breaking into the victims car by breaking their car window. Police said the victim drove off with nothing taken from them.

Warning from police:

We have detectives working diligently to make arrests. We are asking our community to be vigilant and take precautions. If you see something, say something, Antioch PD said in a statement.

To prevent further thefts from occurring, police are warning residents of the following:

Trust your instincts and be observant of your surroundings

Show confidence and get away as soon as you sense trouble

Avoid carrying large amounts of money

Walk in well-lit areas

Dont hesitate to report any suspicious behavior to the authorities

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
A descendant of a Grand Duke and a former vice-governor in Russia has reportedly been arrested in Italy for allegedly helping the son of a Putin ally flee Italy to avoid extradition to the United States.

The man, a Russian national and Swiss resident named Dmitry Chirakadze, 54, was arrested at an airport in Italy for helping organize the escape of Artyom Ussthe son of the ex-Krasnoyarsk region governor, Aleksandr Uss. Chirakadze had just landed from Sardinia, where he and his wife own a luxury resort, according to Corriere Della Sera and other local media.

Chirakadze also reportedly owns a large hunting estate in Krasnoyarsk whose grounds are reportedly a favorite of Aleksandr Uss.

Artyom Uss had been detained in 2022 at the Milan Malpensa airport after Washington accused him of participating in a scheme to export American military technology to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine. In order to avoid extradition to the United States, he broke free from his house arrest and fled to Russia last year with the help of Russian security services, according to Italian investigators.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the individuals who helped Uss flee have ties to a Serbian organized crime group. The U.S. Department of Justice has announced an award of up to $7 million for information leading to his arrest or conviction.

Uss faces up to 30 years in prison in the United States.

Chirakadze was one of the promoters and organizers of Uss escape, and allegedly took on a higher level organizational role in the plot, the Italian prosecutors office said. Prosecutors there described him as an aristocrat descended from a grand duke of Georgia.

Shady past

Chirakadze and Uss ties go back years. Chirakadzes wife, Lyubov Orlova, controls a majority of Luxury Sardinia S.R.L., which owns Hotel Don Diego, which boasts a private beach and poolside lunch service nestled on the island of Sardinia just across from the islands of Tavolara and Molara.

Since 2021, Aleksandr Uss youngest daughter, Alexandra Uss, owns the Cypriot company, Dunegenes Trading Limited, which has a share in Luxury Sardinia S.R.L., according to iStories.

According to the Italian prosecutors office, Chirakadze is a shareholder in several Russian companies with members of the Uss family as well.

But beyond allegedly organizing transnational escape routes for the prodigal Uss son, Chirakadze has a storied past in the extractive sector in Siberia, complete with infighting between Russian businesses, connections to shady Russian oligarchs, misuse of funds, and even one reported attempt on his life.

Chirakadzes brush with trouble began while practicing swimming in the freezing waters of one of Moscows parks, where he befriended entrepreneur Mikhail Zhivilo, who ran the MIKOM investment firm in the 1990s, according to RFERL. Chirakadze soon became a junior partner at MIKOM, which fought over the aluminum business with Oleg Deripaska, a Russian oligarch sanctioned by the United States. Deripaska had sought to wrest control of NKAZ, a major aluminum producer, away from MIKOM.

When MIKOM lost control of NKAZ and transferred ownership to Sibirski Aluminum and Russian AluminumDeripaska enterprisesNKAZ U.S. trading partners accused Sibirski Aluminum, Russian Aluminum, and Deripaska of fraud, murder, and money laundering.

The murder accusations dont stop there.

In 1997 during a visit to his mothers home in Moscow, hitmen attacked Chirakadze on the street with a metal pipe and stabbed him eight times in the neck and chest, according to an RFERL and Kommersant report from the time. He reportedly went to the ICU and suffered a traumatic brain injury.

Eventually, when his friend Zhivilo was accused of planning a murder against the governor of Kemerovo, Chirakadze took over as acting president of MIKOM.

In the late 1990s, he was tied to the misuse of a World Bank loan of 17 billion rubles for the coal mining industry, according to Kommersant. Chirakadze had been serving as the vice-governor of the Kemerovo region. But the region, which received the World Bank loan for the coal mining industry, had allocated some of the money to a dairy plant instead, according to Kommersant.

In the early 2000s, Chirakadze charted a new path and invested hundreds of millions of rubles to create pravo.ru, which provides online services for Russian courts and distributes information on court decisions in Russia. (Although at the time of development, he was accused of using another companys systems to develop pravo.ru.)

On the run

Chirakadze allegedly worked with a ring of criminals to smuggle Uss out of Italy. Five men accused of helping Uss escape Italy by car through the Balkans have already been detained.

Chirakadze and Uss wife, Maria Yagodina, had allegedly approached one of the co-conspirators and suggested that Uss leave Italy promptly, according to the Corriere Della Sera. That alleged co-conspirator, Vladimir Jovancic, a Bosnia and Herzegovina national known as Vlad the old man, according to LUnione Sarda, has already been interrogated and arrested.

Jovancic had told the Italian authorities that the Russian gentleman who was with us he had everything proposed, he was in charge of how the operation move[d].

The day after an Italian court approved Uss extradition to the United States, Uss escaped from his home. Jovancic planned to arrive at Uss home under the pretext of delivering groceries to Uss, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice. At his home, Jovancic provided Uss with bolt cutters, which Uss used to remove his electronic ankle monitoring device.

They used cars registered in different countries and Serbian, Bosnian, Italian and Slovenian phone numbers to distract investigators, according to Reuters.

The Italian prosecutors office said there are serious indications of guilt for Chirakadze and that they have traced phone traffic to point the finger at him.

His locations were perfectly compatible with the places of interest already identified by the investigators, in particular those where preparatory meetings and meetings have taken place for the organizational phases (luxury hotels and restaurants in the province of Milan), the office said, according to a translation from Milano Today.

The authorities announced on Friday they are also looking for Yagodina, Uss wife, who also fled to Russia.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin said two Cotton Plant city employees are in the Woodruff County Jail after an investigation by his office.

Griffin said members of his offices Public Integrity Unit worked with officers of the Augusta Police Department and Woodruff County Sheriffs deputies to investigate the two employees. As a result of the investigation, 47-year-old Katrina Criswell and 29-year-old Lakeyia Alexander are facing charges of theft of property, a class D felony, and are currently held in the jail, he said.

Attorney General Tim Griffin files challenge to ruling removing Arkansas from ATF lawsuit

A release from Griffins office said Criswell and Alexander worked for the citys mayors office. In February 2023, while the mayor was out on medical leave, the pair falsified time sheets to show them working more than their allotted 20 hours per week, investigators said.

Officials said that because of the added hours, more than $5,000 in unauthorized wages was paid.

Those who work in local government hold a special public trust, as they are closest to the people, Griffin said in a statement. Both of the accused falsified their time sheets to claim more hours than they were authorized to work, thus increasing their salary without the knowledge and approval of the Mayor of Cotton Plant or the City Council.

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin joins with Missouri AG, four other states filing suit to stop Title IX changes for transgender student-athletes

Griffin added that stealing from a city that employs you is an affront to the hardworking taxpayers.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Arkansas hunters need to get to their keyboards before they start dusting off their harpoons and spotlights.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission said it would begin accepting alligator hunt applications at 8 a.m. June 15. The permit application period will remain open through 11:59 p.m. June 30.

Arkansas closes a record-setting 2023 alligator season

The AGFC has added two additional hunting areas for the 2024 season, making for 10 across south Arkansas. The two new areas are in Alligator Management Zone 3, with one permit available at Yellow Lake in the Pine Bluff Arsenal and six for the newly formed Delta Wetland Complex of Lake Grampus, Lake Wallace, Lake Enterprise, Lake Chicot and Grand Lake.

The following permits are available for the 2024 alligator hunt:

Alligator Management Zone 1

Eight permits for Millwood Lake

Four permits for Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois DArc WMA

Five permits for Little River

One permit for Sulphur River WMA

One permit for Lake Erling

Alligator Management Zone 2

One permit for Bragg Lake

One permit for Lake Columbia

Alligator Management Zone 3

19 permits for the Lower Arkansas River Wetland Complex, made up of the Arkansas River backwaters near Arkansas Post

One permit for Yellow Lake at the Pine Bluff Arsenal

Six permits for Delta Complex

You dont see that every day: Photos show alligator trap turtle in jaw on Florida golf course

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission assistant chief of fisheries Eric Brinkman said the Yellow Lake permit has unique requirements.

Hunters applying for the Yellow Lake permit should also note that Pine Bluff Arsenal has special regulations to access the area, Brinkman said. There are several other bodies of water on the PBA but alligator hunting will only be open on Yellow Lake.

Melissa Phillips harvested this 12-foot, 2-inch alligator she harvested with the help of her husband Heath Phillips and sister Shannon Vickers on the first night of Arkansass 2023 Alligator Season. The alligator weighed approximately 530 lbs. Photo Courtesy Melissa Phillips.

Brinkman added that applicants for Yellow Lake would need to go through an arsenal-mandated-and-administered background check since a firearm is used. Only permit holders and designated assistants will be allowed on-site and must go through an arsenal checkpoint.

All alligator hunters must undergo an online hunt orientation before going to the field. The orientation lays out the most important details and frequently asked questions about the hunt.

Man says his emotional support alligator, known for its big social media audience, has gone missing

The orientation and additional hunt information is available at AGFC.com/Alligator.

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Fifty miles up the coast from Gaza, where an Israeli offensive continues to shatter the besieged strip, Israels former chief spy Tamir Pardo is a world away from the war without end, in his office in Israels tech hub in the manicured city of Herzliya. From 2011 to 2016 Pardo was the director of Israels foreign intelligence agency, Mossad. He says the seeds that led to this moment of dread were sown over the previous two decades.

The bloody, unprecedented attack on Oct. 7, 2023, sparked widespread Israeli anger at a government that promised them perpetual calm in lieu of peace.

The worst security failure since the country was founded showed up the limits of militarized segregation, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu championed as a low-cost way to dominate Palestinians. After years of relative calm and a booming economy, that lie was brutally exposed on Oct. 7.

The shock has led to broad domestic support for a relentless military assault on Gaza in retaliation, but the problem of what to do next echoes the debate over what went so catastrophically wrong.

At 71 years old, Pardo feels the country is less secure andunable to make tough choices about its future or willing to address its most pressing problemhas less vision than when he joined Mossad in 1980. He believes Israels future depends on addressing the question of Palestinian rightsa question that was rarely asked and was left unanswered in the calm before the war.

Former Mossad Director Tamir Pardo and former US Central Intelligence Agency Acting Director Michael Morell at the Harvard University Kennedy School in 2016. Paul Marotta/Getty Images

Should we take from this that we need to change reality, he asks, believing that continuing to deny Palestinians their basic rights will only lead to more bloodshed. Or should we learn from this that [weve] shown too little force and [we] should crush them with greater might, so that theyll be even more afraid of us?

Pardo spent his career clandestinely and ruthlessly targeting those deemed a threat to Israel, but from that fight, he learned a lesson that eludes most Israelis. Force alone cannot protect it. Youll never be able to quash the aspiration for liberty, he says.

As part of a months-long investigation into the causes of Israels greatest intelligence and security failure, and how it continues to shape its war in Gaza, The Daily Beast spoke with a former Israeli prime minister, a serving senior Israeli military official, a former Mossad chief, two former national security advisers and a former senior officer with the Israel Security Agency, Shin Bet. They describe a culture of arrogance toward Palestinians in the security and political establishment.

Israels leaders were confident their military prowess and vast technological superiority could keep at bay the dire consequences of the reality they imposed over decades of continued expansion on Palestinian land. Throughout Netanyahus tenure, segregation and expansion have been treated as the permanent political solution.

The former and current officials describe the decision not to heed multiple intelligence warnings as the result of Israels security establishment eating the poisoned fruit of the Netanyahu era. While divided on their answer to Pardos question, they all believe that a flawed theory left Israel vulnerable and stuck in a war that still has no end in sight eight months on.

Israels decision to respond to Oct. 7 by crushing Gaza with greater might has been resoundingly clear to Palestinians. Fighting pangs of hunger, Mohammed Abedallah scours the sparsely stocked stalls in Al-Mawasi, the packed area on the ragged, polluted southern Gaza seashore that Israel has declared a safe zone. He has been forced to flee three times since the war began.

The 36 year-old from Gaza City fled Rafah just before Israel smashed its way into Gazas last standing city in what appeared to be open defiance of another Biden Administration red line. When the shells started landing, an estimated 1 million people who had taken refuge in the supposed safe haven were forced to leave. The U.S. Administration has adopted the Israeli description of a limited operation to describe the block-by-block advance instead of a full invasion but it makes no difference to Abedallah and his family. Gaza City, then Khan Younis and now Rafah, says Abedallah. Its almost the same drama over and over again.

Wherever they go, Israeli attacks follow in a war where Israel has destroyed or damaged the majority of Gazans homes, decimated the public infrastructure and forced people back into the rubble they previously fled.

Abedallah carried his elderly mother in his arms as they fled in terror from Israeli air strikes on their Gaza City home in October. She died a month later, trapped in the squalor of an overcrowded UN school in Khan Younis that was supposed to be a place of refuge. As winter rains set in and the ground fighting grew closer, Abedallahs family was sleeping in the schools courtyard as the skies turned a fiery red during long nights of Israeli bombardment. With little shelter from the elements, he had to watch helplessly as his mother succumbed to illness, unable to get medical treatment while suffering from exposure.

When Abedellah then fled for Rafah as Israel flattened Khan Younis, his 83-year-old father was too weak to walk the nearly six miles. Held in the rain for nine hours at a checkpoint and taunted by Israeli soldiers, he describes troops using a megaphone to order the crowd of people it held up to shout that the people want Hamas to leave. Children cried and they all feared being killed in the street, Abedallah recalls. He then describes soldiers using the shovelhead of a bulldozer to transport his father and others who couldnt walk. I guess it was their most humane act, he says. The rest isnt so humane.

Doctors in Gaza Reuse Medical Implants Cut Out of Victims

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the rights of Gazas more than 2 million Palestinians to protection from genocide are at risk of irreparable damage, and ordered Israel to take immediate measures, including halting its Rafah offensive, to ensure these rights. The International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan is seeking arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and three senior Hamas officials for war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

Disease and hunger are rampant because Israel has choked off supplies of food, fuel, and medicine, leading a UN Commission of Inquiry into the war to accuse Americas staunch ally of using starvation as a weapon of war. For Palestinians, this is the worst existential crisis since the 1948 war, when Israel dispossessed an estimated 750,000 Palestinians who were driven from their homes and lands, in an event Palestinians call the Nakba, or the catastrophe.

The shock and revulsion caused by the Hamas-led Oct. 7 assault on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 civilians and soldiersaccording to Israeli government figureswhile 250 others were taken captive in a series of grisly massacres, sparked a rage at Gaza thats been channeled by Netanyahus embattled hardline government. Shaped by the transition from being able to ignore the Palestinians kept out of sight under Israeli rule to having to grapple with the explosion of violence from places that had been locked away for years, its a rage that continues to turn one of the worlds most densely populated places into rubble in an offensive thataccording to Gazas health ministryhas killed more than 37,000 Palestinians from all walks of life.

Israeli soldiers patrol Israels southern border with the Gaza Strip on June 13, 2024. Jack Guez/Getty Images

For the families of the hostages whose pleas for their loved ones have gone unanswered, its a different kind of horrific nightmare. One hundred and five Israeli and foreign hostages were released as part of a prisoner exchange during a weeklong ceasefire in November, but the rest are still held by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Eight months on, captives continue to die from injuries suffered in the attacks, harsh conditions and Israeli air strikes, pushing their loved ones into the leading role of a widespread protest movement demanding that Netanyahu strike a deal with Hamas that releases all the captives. Relying on the widespread fury that still sustains support for the war, however, Israels prime minister has dodged U.S. brokered ceasefire proposals and vowed to keep fighting until Hamas is eliminated.

In the weeks leading up to Oct. 7, Israel moved troops from its border with Gaza to bolster security for settlers, carrying out a wave of expansions and attacks on Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank. Told by Netanyahu since 2009 that they could ignore decades of occupation, maintained indefinitely through a carefully crafted and executed strategy of divide and rule, Israelis watched as the walls that were supposed to protect them crumbled in a single bloody morning. Facing demands for answers alongside widespread calls for vengeance, Netanyahu launched an unprecedented and indiscriminate war.

Several investigative reports, including by the New York Times, have documented in the months since the attack that in May 2022, Israeli military intelligence was already in possession of Hamas detailed plan for a multipronged infiltration operation. While the timing of the attack was not known, the likelihood it would actually be carried out was dismissed as low.

Codenamed Jericho Wall, the 40-page military document was a detailed blueprint of Hamass plans for a massive assault that aimed to overcome Israels fortifications and storm military posts and Israeli communities around Gaza. Israeli intelligence knew of Hamas intentions of pouring its fighters en masse into Israeli territory. They had details of how it would use motorbikes, cars, paragliders and fighters on foot under the cover of thousands of rockets fired into Israel. They even understood its intentions to use explosive-dropping drones, anti-tank missiles, and IEDs to take out Israels elaborate surveillance systems, communication networks and the automated machine guns mounted on Israels numerous fortified watchtowers. In short, they knew in detail of Hamas plans to overrun the high tech wall of concrete and firepower sealing Gaza in. On Oct. 7, the attack that Hamasthe Palestinian Islamic nationalist organization that has run Gaza since 2007 and fought six wars with Israelcodenamed Al Aqsa Flood, was a near carbon copy of the plans detailed in Jericho Wall.

Eyal Hulata was head of Israels National Security Council during Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapids brief premiership in 2022. He says that he never saw Jericho Wall. He thinks it should have crossed Netanyahus desk, but he doesnt know if it was treated as serious enough to have been. I would want to say it must have. But I cannot, he told The Daily Beast.

Hulata sees Israels military, technological and intelligence advantage amid periods of quiet as creating a confirmation bias. He believes that maintaining tight control over Palestinians while Israel thrived led the security establishment to believe their control and the countrys security was unshakable. I wouldnt put it on tech per se, he says of Israels failure to prevent Oct. 7. But I will say it keeps us [in] comfortable places, he says, suggesting Israels vast military technology advantages over Palestinians lulled the countrys political and military leadership into a false sense of security.

Hulata doesnt believe Oct. 7 was simply the result of an intelligence oversight or breakdown of information flow. He thinks the problem lies in a mentality that Israel can continuously control its rule over Palestinians rather than resolving its conflict with them: I think the policy of managing the conflict has collapsed before our eyes.

Uzi Arad, a seasoned state security insider, says that security interests took a back seat to political ones under his former boss, Netanyahu. Puffing on a cigar on the second floor balcony of his Tel Aviv home, the former national security adviser and Mossad director of research is animated as he tells stories about Netanyahus miscalculations. He says it was self-interest that led the prime minister to pursue a policy of deepening the wedge between Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, and accuses him of now putting his political survival ahead of Israeli national interests in the way he directs the war. According to Arad, Netanyahu sought to fracture the Palestinians by opposing a Palestinian state and failing to seek a political resolution in order to deliver calm in lieu of peace.

The more he had coalition partners who were pro-settlement, and against a Palestinian state, the more he had to take that into consideration politically and even personally, the more he subjected this policy and Gaza to his overall interest, he said.

Arad recalls meetings where Netanyahu took the view that Gaza and the West Bank should be dealt with as two separate entities and contends that in his tenure leading Hamas in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar encouraged this approach. Deceived into thinking it was a lasting solution, Netanyahu, he says, believed that Hamas was kept in check by a decade and a half of unending blockade amid regular wars. He says this outlook was then adopted by the security establishment and resulted in a belief that Hamas could be placated by a modest increase in access to foreign funds and permits for a small number of Gazan laborers to work in Israel. That theory was a flawed theory from the outset, Arad says, arguing its adoption was for political expediency and a reassuring narrative of a dominance that Palestinians couldnt shake. There is a question to what extent the intelligence people were politicized in their assessment because it was comforting.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses a press conference at the Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Centre on June 8, 2024 in Ramat Gan, Israel. Jack Guez/Getty Images

Netanyahus predecessor, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, is livid about the kind of war Israel finds itself in and how it got here.

Its all bullshit, he tells The Daily Beast, sitting in his Tel Aviv office, which is filled with reminders of the days he was in power.

Olmert, Israels only prime minister to be jailed for corruption, is accusing Netanyahu, who is also on trial for corruption, of using the war to try and force Palestinians out of Israel permanently.

The only major Israeli political figure to publicly call for a ceasefire, Olmert believes the Netanyahu government is using the war to transform Israel and the territories it occupies. Pointing to a ruling coalition that includes far-right settler nationalists and expansionists like National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who have openly called for the expulsion of Palestinians, he sees a government using the war to further entrench the religious nationalist vision of an exclusively Jewish Israel between the Jordan river and Mediterranean sea.

The Israeli government is saying openly that we will move them to Egypt, says Olmert about threats by leading cabinet ministers to expel Palestinians. They want a comprehensive war but a comprehensive war is made for one thing, for the chaos that will allow them to keep us in the West Bank, expel Palestinians in the West Bank and create the political conditions that will allow annexation.

Netanyahus stated war goal of destroying Hamas politically and militarily was originally Olmerts in 2008. The former prime minister still believes that had he been politically able to march to Gaza City, he would have routed Hamas with far less cost. The first PM to launch a Gaza war and the last one to launch one in Lebanon believes, however, that the root cause of the gravest security failure in Israels history lies in the countrys system of segregated rule over Palestinians that Netanyahu has treated as a low-cost, permanent solution.

Olmert, who was the last Israeli leader to negotiate toward a final settlement with the Palestinians, says a lack of humility and contempt for Palestinians has shaped the security and political establishments decision to disregard the warnings of a looming attack, and fail to address the fundamental issues that paved the way for it.

The most significant failure was arrogance and the inability to absorb the idea that the Arabs can be smart enough to do what we would have done under similar circumstances, he says. We thought we are the start-up nation, we are sophisticated, we are the smart guys. The Arabs, these bunch of primitives, turned out they were smart, he says, mocking the prevalent Israeli attitude.

Its a sentiment shared by Gonen Ben Itzhak, a senior former Shin Bet handler who arrested Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, and was credited with turning Israels most senior Hamas asset, Mosab Hassan Yousef, during the second intifadathe Palestinian uprising that raged from 2000-2005. He described Israels war asin parta campaign of revenge against Palestinians, noting that rather than downplaying and denying the scale of its damage to civilians, Israel has expressed pride in the staggering devastation it has brought upon Gaza. Thats why we count bodies, he says of Israels boastful broadcasting of its wrecking of the enclave.

Pardo says that even though Netanyahu looms large over Israels current position as its longest serving prime minister, he doesnt think the Israeli leader and his far-right coalition partners, such as Ben-Gvir, should be exclusively blamed for seeing permanent Israeli rule through segregation as the solution. It is our problem, all of us, he says. In fact, the worst ones in my opinion are those in the center, and left, he continues, pointing to a political consensus created over nearly two decades that saw no need or urgency in changing Israels oppression of Palestinians. I have nothing to argue over with Ben-Gvir. He thinks the way he does, Pardo says, before contending that 50 percent of the Israeli population thinks the same as Ben-Gvir at the end of the day. For this, he points the finger at the political left and center for not offering an alternative to Netanyahus plan to exacerbate Palestinian political divisions to maintain the quiet, while dispossessing Palestinians of their lands and depriving them of their basic rights.

For decades Israel has expanded an elaborate system of segregating Palestinians. It allowed Israelis from Tel Aviv to the occupied West Banks hilltop settlementsillegal under international lawto live in separate bubbles on top of or next to Palestinians and ignore them at the same time. Sealing off Gaza from the world, Israel has built towering concrete walls to cut off occupied East Jerusalem from the West Bank, which it controls with troops and dual legal systems that give Israeli settlers all the protections of Israeli civilian law, while stateless Palestinians are subject to the judgment of army officers under military law.

Comparing Israeli rule over Palestinians to South Africa under apartheid, the former intelligence chief believes the majority of Israels Jewish citizens accept denying rights to Palestinians. Now I dont want to say this outloud, but its natural, like the 17- or 18-year-old who in 1960 was in South Africa [and] didnt see a Black person as someone facing a predicament, Pardo says. When [Palestinians] try to challenge this reality, then theyre the ones who arent OK, he says. Who are they to even want rights?

Israels ability to ignore Palestinians, however, didnt last. As the images of the unfolding Oct. 7 attack spread, acute vulnerability replaced the sense of invincibility that Israelis had cultivated over the last decade and a half.

Israeli soldiers were still battling Gazan fighters to regain control of neighborhoods in southern Israeli towns and kibbutzs all around him on Oct. 8, but 23-year-old George Elkhazov was just relieved to be alive. A resident of Ofakim, 11 miles from Israels wall sealing off Gaza, his world and what he thought possible radically changed as he watched Palestinian fighters banging on his door through the doorbell camera.

Protesters hold signs and flags during a demonstration calling for a hostage deal, on May 20, 2024, in Jerusalem. Amir Levy/Getty Images

Standing on the sidewalk outside his gate hours after the attack, he pointed to where residents of the working-class community were gunned down on the street.

Across the road from his small bungalow home sat a truck with Gaza license plates that carried the fighters. A green military bag and shattered glass were strewn around the bullet-riddled vehicle. According to Elkhazov, it took 17 hours for Israeli security forces to regain control of the community and release a couple who were taken hostage by Hamas fighters. Machine-gun spray covers the homes and cars. Blood smears the walls of a neighborhood bomb shelter littered with bullet casings.

I only thought this could happen in my worst nightmares, says Elkhazov. Now I think it will happen again.

Living under periodic rocket fire since the build up to the 2008-2009 Gaza war, he had a sense of security provided by Israels Iron Dome missile defense system. That sense was shredded when he received a call up for reserve duty while still hiding and waiting for Israeli forces to rescue him on Oct. 7. Where were the cameras and the spotters in the watchtowers, he says, lamenting the failure of Israels digital and increasingly automated ramparts around Gaza to hold up under attack.

Elkhazov grew up next door to the Palestinian enclave, and Israels blockade has been ongoing most of his life. Like most Jewish Israelis his age, he has never been to Gaza as a civilian. After his experience on Oct. 7, he no longer believes that the isolated and besieged community, whose inhabitants are mostly descendants of refugees from the 1948 war, should continue to exist. We need to flatten Gaza, erase Gaza.

From the horror on the border, the torment felt from the attacks quickly permeated across Israel, shaking the nation as people from across the country and political spectrum united in furry, grief, and desire for vengeance. After a decade and a half of economic prosperity and relative security, Israelis found themselves in a new, less confident reality, Pardo says. What [Hamas] did in the villages of the Western Negev was to show us that we arent invincible.

When air-raid sirens started blaring in Tel Aviv, and stories of mass killings in southern Israel mounted, Israelis transformed. The citys cafes and bars went from being institutions of social escape that made the desperation and misery across Israels nearby walls feel a world away, to a shaky refuge in an inescapable grim reality. The coffee, the music, the drinks and the billowing clouds of weed smoke stayed the same but people now gathered to talk about lost friends and family members, and wonder if they would ever feel secure again. Rather than ignore the Palestinians like in the era before the war, Israeli attention focused on them as discussions about their annihilation became pervasive and hundreds of thousands of Israeli army reserves mobilized for the invasion of Gaza. Tel Aviv was no longer a place of escape from the region but a subdued city where for the first time in nearly two decadesdespite the comfortseveryone felt close to the hell of war.

We were all very furious, scared, we felt alone, says Noam Permont, sitting in his bright fluorescent cubical office at a south Tel Aviv medical cannabis dispensary he owns in a partnership. A soft-spoken, open, self-described Israeli liberal, the 45-year-old father of three lives in an upper-middle-class Tel Aviv neighborhood, and worked in biotech ventures as part of Israels booming economy before getting into the medicinal weed business. Part of the mass anti-government protests before the war, Permont remains a strong opponent of Netanyahu and the government, and holds the prime minister responsible for Oct. 7. [Netanyahu] wanted to be remembered as the protector of Israel, he says. Hell be remembered as the precise opposite.

At the same time he has supported the war and sees its scale of devastation as acceptable. They went medieval on us and we retaliated, he says of the Hamas-led attack from Gaza and Israels blanket destruction in the besieged strip. We did what was necessary.

Permont is, historically, a supporter of the two-state solution and ending Israels occupation, but the attacks that started this war have changed his outlook. His vision of an end to occupation and a two-state solution now sounds far more circumspect and conditional. In any future settlement, the particular security measures that will have to be taken will be extremely severe, he says. Lets say separation is going be very, very, very distinct.

In the past couple of months, a re-established sense of security is emerging in central Israel despite the countrys first, yet thwarted, Iranian missile and drone attack, ongoing fierce fighting with Hezbollah on Israels northern border with Lebanon, and the war that continues to consume Gaza. In Tel Aviv, Permont sees a new bubble inflating. Anti-government protesters have returned to the streets, now targeting the governments handling of the war, but not against the war itself, and Permont describes an environment where people act as if the war is over, despite no end in sight. We have been very, very comfortable in our bubbles. In a way this has been a wake-up call, he says. But I dont think it was.

In an effort to establish a sense of security and deterrence, and restore Israels confidence, the country deployed its most advanced tech and weapons to wreak destruction on Gaza on a scale that matches the national discourse of indiscriminate punishment. Israels panopticon-like surveillance gives it the ability to strike almost any target above ground in Gaza with precision, constantly watching Gaza from the skies and monitoring its telecommunications and deluge of metadata. Israel has also been able to survey and penetrate Hamas vast underground tunnel network, using specialized forces and new robotic technology, but to a much more limited degree.

Throughout this war, the massive amounts of information this surveillance produces has been fed into AI programs called Lavender and The Gospel, which use it to produce targets for the Israeli military. Exposed in investigations by The Guardian, the progressive Israel-Palestine English language publication +972 Magazine and its Hebrew sister outlet Local Call, the programs not only compile long target lists in record time, but also go into incredible detail about the number of civilians likely to be killed and wounded in a given attack. The reports describe how pre-authorization of 15-20 civilian casualties has been programmed as acceptable for airstrikes on low-ranking alleged Hamas targets.

Speaking on condition of anonymity because of his active service, a senior Israeli military official insists that it is people who sign off on the attacks with the knowledge of estimated civilian cost. A soldier reviews all this information and still decides that the attacks on Gazans are worth it, while the tech simply helps them locate and hit more places, faster. The whole way we select targets is very human intensive, he says. Robots arent going to conduct a war for Israel.

Technology was probably the most helpful thing [to] eventually turn the battle in our favor, the military official says, describing Israels regaining of control in the countrys south and launching its all encompassing offensive. However, Israel has yet to achieve any of its stated military objectives. Its Rafah invasion hasnt led to Hamas destruction or killed its senior leadership. Israel rescued a captured soldier in October, two civilian hostages in Rafah in February, and four others in central Gazas Nuseirat refugee camp in June during the deadliest attack since December, killing more than 270 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. And yet Israel hasnt come close to saving the vast majority of those still held captive in the Strip.

The senior official believes the war is a time for political resolutions to take a back seat to an uncompromising assault, but he sees Netanyahus strategy of trying to contain Hamas and treating Gaza and the West Bank as separate entities as creating a deep conceptual mistake that led to an unforgivable strategic error. I think they have made a very big mistake that they will live with for the rest of their lives.

We are fighting the war because animals came and attacked our citizens, he says. The statement echoes comments made by Defense Minister Gallant as he cut off Gazas access to food, fuel, medicine and water on Oct. 9. Those words are being cited as evidence of Israels intent to commit genocide in South Africas case at the ICJ. We are fighting an all-out war against Hamas, period, continues the military commander. This war is different because we are fighting to eliminate them.

Frustrated with growing international condemnation of Israels war, the battle-hardened soldier blames Hamas for Gazas destruction, dismissively describing the reality and cost of victory as inevitable. Sorry, we will win, sorry, they will lose.

Amidst inescapable horror, Hind Khoudary, 28, has watched Israel use the most advanced weapons systems in an inescapable onslaught that has caused her world to explode. The Palestinian journalist, who has been picked up as a correspondent by Al Jazeera English, has been one of the few journalists to report on Israels ground invasion into the north last fall, and to continue reporting from central Gaza throughout the war. In November, while Israel regularly cut Palestinian phone and internet communication as it pressed its ground invasion into northern Gaza, Khoudary beat the blackouts and continued reporting using an international electronic sim card that works off Egyptian and Israeli networks. As the Israeli military pounded its way to encircling Gaza City, she was in the Jabalia refugee camp with the residents of a neighborhood that Israel flattened from the air. She watched as desperate people pulled at slabs of concrete from their apartment buildings with their bare hands, trying to save loved ones buried under the rubble. Since launching its Rafah invasion, Israel has again made Jabalia a central target in its simultaneous assault in northern Gaza. The scenes Khoudary witnessed during Israels initial invasion have been repeated across Gaza throughout the war.

Its obvious that this attack is a collective punishment of Palestinians, says Khoudary. She cut her teeth reporting in 2018, covering mass protests against a blockade Israel has imposed since 2007. Surviving multiple wars and a blockade for most of her life, she watched as Gazans marched on the wall Israel sealed them in with, and saw a generation of young Palestinians crippled or killed by Israeli bullets. Yet the carnage of this war is something beyond what she thought possible. I met a man in Jabalia today who knows 100 people under the rubble. He told me that he wont flee because if hes going to die, he wants to die with dignity. An hour after she left Gazas largest refugee camp for families Israel dispossessed in 1948, Israel bombed it again.

The West Banks hilltop city of Ramallah, where the PA has its limited seat of government, is 10 miles and one wall away from the capital Palestinians aspire to create in occupied East Jerusalem and has long felt divorced from Gazas fate. Since the war, however, Ramallah-based pollster and political analyst Khalil Shikaki says that Palestinians fear the same future wherever they are. Given what the Israelis are currently doing, the massive destruction against civilian life and civilian infrastructure is leading Palestinians to conclude that their mere existence as a people is now threatened by Israel, says Shikaki, who has been gathering data on the Palestinian publics perspectives since the 1990s. Palestinians realize that what is happening in Gaza could spill into the West Bank.

When Gaza fighters poured into southern Israel on the morning of Oct. 7, the army immediately put the West Bank under lockdown, closing the checkpoints and freezing Palestinian movement. Eight months on, The Palestinian Authoritys (PA) Ministry of Detainee and ex-Detainee Affairs has recorded upward of 9,000 people taken prisoner in daily Israeli military raids on Palestinian communities and regular clashes with Palestinian fighters. Over 500 have been killed in the raids and attacks by settlers since the war started, according to the PA Health ministry.

Palestinian cities and towns still remain largely cut off from each other with most checkpoints surrounding them still closed. The main roads between Palestinian communities have few Palestinian-plated cars as occupied commuters are held up by tight checkpoints, while their lives are regularly threatened by settlers who block intersections and attack them on their commute.

Across the West Bank, Israeli settlers have responded to the war by increasing attacks on Palestinian towns and villages. Focusing on smaller, isolated villages, settlers have forcefully displaced 18 Palestinian communities with impunity since Oct. 7. In the south Hebron hills, European Union placards on schools they funded are now fixed to empty buildings in hamlets turned to ghost towns. Its a message to West Bank Palestinians that they are also a target of expanding war and displacement, and that no one will protect them.

On the Israeli-bulldozed streets of the northern West Banks Jenin refugee camp, a densely packed working-class community of 23,000 people who descend from refugees from the Haifa region, fighters from the Jenin Brigade have responded to the settlers. Standing in a stucco garage pockmarked with bullets on a previously paved road as Israeli drones circle overhead, Ibn Qanun, a Jenin Brigade fighter in his late twenties, says they have retaliated by expanding beyond the camp to ambush the army during raids. He says now they are also targeting settlers from the expanding settlements. The young man, who is aged by circumstance, sees his fate tied up in the course the war takes and since it began he feels he is fighting to support Gaza while resisting an emerging Nakba.

Ibn Qanun was a law student at the American University of Jenin when he was first arrested by Israel and jailed for eight years for taking up arms with Palestinian Islamic Jihad, but he has long given up on the idea that the law can change his circumstances for the better. Instead, hes eager to finish our interview and rejoin the fighters patrolling the camp, checking the makeshift barricade of barbed wire and twisted rebar meant to slow army advances down. From Israel, nothing can be won with law, he says, echoing a growing sentiment among Palestinians that force is the only language Israel understands.

Leading Palestinian scholar Rashid Khalidi says he can see the logic of former colonial powers at play in the way Israel is waging its war. The Columbia University history professor and Edward Said Chair points to the 1945 Setif and Guelma massacres in colonial Algeria where the French authorities responded to the killing of 100 French settlers by massacring thousands of Algerians. If you dont keep the colonized in their place, theyre going to overwhelm you, Khalidi says, portraying Israels unrestrained military action in Gaza as a 21st-century version of the colonial strategy of disproportionate and overwhelming force.

Khalidi says there is a difference in the gory statements being made through atrocities by Palestinian fighters on Oct. 7 and Israel since. While Israel is conditioning control and dominance, Hamas wants to force Israel and the world to reckon with the reality Palestinians have been forced to endure while their plight was sidelined.

When you pressure people and push them into smaller and smaller spaces, make their space your space, kill them if you want and you create a situation where they have no alternative, he contends. Then theyre going to lash out when they see an opportunity and do unto you what you have been doing unto them as you took their land away.

It is a feeling shared by Pardo, the former chief Israeli spy who fears what his country has become and the consequences of what it is doing to the region. Unable to ignore Palestinians any longer, he watches as his country continues to use all its military power to force them out of sight rather than coming to terms with a reality where they live differently together.

More than eight months into the war and losing global public opinion, things are not going Israels way, despite all its seeming might. Charged with committing atrocities, facing increased boycotts and intensifying diplomatic isolation, Israel is also struggling to achieve its stated military goals and refuses to declare its vision for a postwar future. The Palestinian demand to end decades of oppressive Israeli rule is again being discussed by leaders the world over, as the war continues to reduce their homeland to slabs of stucco and twisted rebar.

The author of The Hundred Years War on Palestine doesnt see this war leading to a better outcome for the people of the region.

Fearful for relatives in Gaza and worried about his family in the West Bank, Khalidi sees these political shifts in the context of the carnage. That doesnt mean any good change will come.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A Miami arts nonprofit set off a controversy last month when it removed pro-Palestinian artwork from a Walgreens window display in Miami Beach. The decision came after a complaint alleged that it was hate speech, and the removal left a blank space on the wall.

Weeks later, several South Florida artists have filled the space in protest with more pro-Palestinian artwork.

In one painting, the phrase Liberation then! Liberation now! wraps around a watermelon, a symbol of Palestinian solidarity. There are photographed portraits of people wearing wearing keffiyehs. A framed red poster reads divest from death. White letters written across the window glass read, Killing the flowers will not delay spring.

A group of South Florida artists protested nonprofit Oolite Arts May 3 decision to remove an artwork with the pro-Palestinian phrase from the river to the sea from an art exhibition at a Miami Beach Walgreens. The artists quietly filled the blank space on the wall with more pro-Palestinian artwork this week.

Its is the latest in an ongoing saga that has embroiled Miamis tight-knit arts community since May 3 when nonprofit Oolite Arts removed a piece of art that referenced the controversial pro-Palestinian phrase from the river to the sea, which is often criticized as anti-Semitic hate speech that calls for violence against Jews.

The art was in a Walgreens window display at 67th Street and Collins Avenue. Oolite and Walgreens have had a partnership to display artwork at two Miami Beach locations since 1999.

The removed artwork was part of an art installation called How we live like water, by South Florida artist Vu Hoang Khanh Nguyen, who goes by Vu and uses they/them pronouns.

Vu shared the protest art on Instagram Friday morning, referring to it as a week-long pop-up group exhibition featuring works that reflect themes of grief, resilience, and solidarity.

Its just to keep the conversation going, keeping eyes on Palestine and the other ongoing genocides in the world, Vu told the Miami Herald. Its kind of a time stamp and an act of defiance at the same time.

A group of South Florida artists quietly added pro-Palestinian artwork to an art exhibition at a Miami Beach Walgreens to protest nonprofit Oolite Arts.

In a statement through a spokesman, Oolite said: We were just made aware that something had been placed in the window and we are reviewing.

The controversy surrounding Oolite and Vus work reflects a larger global conversation surrounding the Israel-Hamas war. Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 240 hostages. Israel responded by attacking Gaza with a stated goal of eliminating Hamas, killing about 37,000 Palestinians. Israel has been heavily scrutinized internationally for its military offensive in Gaza.

The backstory

Oolite Arts, seen here from Lincoln Road, has started a relief fund to help artists

Founded in 1984 as ArtCenter/South Florida, Oolite Arts is well known in Miamis arts community. The organization, which has a location on Lincoln Road in South Beach, provides free studio spaces, grants and exhibition opportunities. Many of the artists critical of Oolites recent decision have received grant funding, studio spaces and housing stipends from the organization before.

Vu, who participated in an Oolite residency program in the past, said a curator from Oolite reached out to them last August about creating a Walgreens installation. Vu said Oolite approved a proposal for the exhibition, which largely focuses on themes of water and migration.

Vu and some friends installed the exhibition, including pottery, fishing nets and paintings, the week of March 20. Thats when Vu came up with the idea to include the artwork referencing from the river to the sea, the artist said.

Miami artist Vu Hoang Khanh Nguyens artwork on display at a Miami Beach Walgreens was removed by arts nonprofit Oolite Art after recieving complaints about a portion of the work referencing the pro-Palestinian phrase from the river to the sea. The work was removed after it had been on view sinch March 27. An image of the work was shared on a written statement Vu posted online about the incident.

Born in Vietnam, Vu said they sympathize heavily with the plight of the Palestinian people, in part because their parents were refugees of the Vietnam War. Vu said their artwork was a call for peace, not violence.

Its this transgenerational passage of trauma that is a repercussion of war, and then Im witnessing it happen to people presently, Vu said. I just decided it was the least I could do to use my voice with whatever platform I had.

About four weeks went by before Oolite received a complaint about the artwork.

In an interview with the Herald earlier this week, Oolite board chair Marie Elena Angulo said she received a call from a man on May 3 who said he was asked by some Jewish community members to reach out to her to question why that piece was on the Walgreens window in the middle of a Jewish community. She told him she was not aware of the piece and would look into it.

Angulo said she then contacted the Oolite co-interim directors and the executive committee, a subset of the board of directors, about the artwork. Angulo and the executive committee decided to remove the artwork, she said. A co-interim director called Vu that afternoon to let them know that the artwork would be taken down. By 4 p.m., Angulo said, the artwork was gone.

An artwork by Vu Hoang Khanh Nguyen, an artist who goes by Vu, that referenced the phrase from the river to the sea was removed by arts nonprofit Oolite last month. Tensions have remained high in Miamis arts community, and some artists have called to boycott the organization.

Days after the work was removed in early May, Vu posted a public statement online about the incident and said that Oolite did not consult with them before it decided to remove the work. An open letter written by fellow artists in support of Vu accused Oolite of censorship. The open letter called for a public town hall to discuss the matter and Angulos resignation, who artists suspected of deciding to remove the artwork unilaterally. The open letter received over 700 signatures.

After Oolite resident artists met with interim director Maggy Cuesta in mid-May over Zoom, an in-person meeting between Vu and Angulo was scheduled for June 20.

The protest

A group of South Florida artists protested nonprofit Oolite Arts May 3 decision to remove an artwork with the pro-Palestinian phrase from the river to the sea from an art exhibition at a Miami Beach Walgreens. The artists quietly filled the blank space on the wall with more pro-Palestinian artwork this week.

Tensions remained high in Miamis arts community for the next month, with some strongly condemning Oolites decision on social media, and others, including some Jewish artists, supporting its decision. The conversation was ignited again on June 4 when Oolite posted a statement from its board of directors, effectively standing by its decision to remove the work and apologizing to those offended by the artwork and the artworks removal. Oolite said its contract with Walgreens prohibits controversial works.

We believe strongly in the right to artistic expression, but the particular phrase highlighted in this piece is perceived by many as a literal call for violence against them, the statement said. The organization also said it is conducting a policy review.

Many artists were unimpressed with the statement and took to the comment section to air their grievances. Just two days later, some called for a boycott, asking for artists to not participate in Oolite exhibitions, film screenings, lectures and open studios events until the organization agrees to a town hall with the greater artistic community. The boycott does not ask artists to leave Oolite studios or refuse grant money.

Angulo said she has received supportive messages from arts community members and added, no one is willing to speak up because everyone is terrified of saying anything in support of Oolite because the few people who have had been obliterated on social media.

Angulo told the Herald she stands by her and the executive committees decision to remove the artwork. She said she would have made the same decision if she had gotten a call from a Black resident about racist imagery in a Walgreens window.

Theres an appropriate place for that artwork, which is not the private window of a drugstore in the middle of a Jewish community, Angulo said. No matter who you ask, that phrase is controversial. It doesnt matter who uses it. If its used by Israel, its controversial. If its used by the Palestinians, its controversial.

A group of South Florida artists quietly added pro-Palestinian artwork to an art exhibition at a Miami Beach Walgreens to protest nonprofit Oolite Arts.

The day the artwork was removed, Vu said, the board told the curator to arrange with Vu to replace the work. They said that I cant leave the wall empty because that would be a political message, Vu said. But, Vu said they were never given specific instructions or a deadline to replace the art.

Its silly that they made me address the political statement of the blank wall because I was like, OK, Ill address it, the artist said.

Vu and some friends quietly arranged to fill the blank space with artworks that were installed over the last couple of days, Vu said. Vu was out of town and did not participate in installing the artworks. They declined to comment on how the artists got into the Walgreens window space.

I didnt want it to be just me saying something, Vu said. I wanted it to be a collective statement.

Among the artists with work in the window is Elias Rischmawi, a Miami-based Palestinian artist who uses they/them pronouns. Rischmawis work is a photograph of a person whose shoulders are draped in a keffiyeh and whose face is covered by a cloth. A $20 bill covers the mouth.

Rischmawi said the photograph was inspired by instances of censorship they have experienced as a Palestinian artist in Miami. Its a critique of art institutions portraying themselves as leftist and for the community, but theyre not progressive for Palestine, Rischmawi said.

Though Rischmawi isnt sure if Oolite will take the works down, the artist said it was important to participate.

People are going to be mad, but I think people will question, too, and be curious. I hope it opens more dialogue and conversation, Rischmawi said. Thats also the point of this protest, if you want to call it that. Its to create dialogue.

This story was produced with financial support from individuals and Berkowitz Contemporary Foundation in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners, as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.
Fast radio bursts flash in the sky over Earth. | Credit: NRAO Outreach/T. Jarrett (IPAC/Caltech); B. Saxton, NRAO/AUI/NSF

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are intense, short-lived blasts of radio waves hailing from beyond the Milky Way that can emit the same amount of energy in just thousandths of a second that the sun takes three days to emit.

However, despite their power and the fact that around 10,000 FRBs could erupt in the sky over Earth every day, these blasts of radiowaves remain mysterious. One of the biggest puzzles surrounding FRBs is why most flash once and then disappear while a tiny minority (less than 3 percent) repeat the flash. This has led scientists on a quest to discover the mechanisms that launch FRBs. Some even believe different celestial objects can produce both repeating and non-repeating FRBs.

Scientists from the University of Toronto used the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) to focus on properties of polarized light associated with 128 non-repeating FRBs. This revealed the one-off FRBs seem to originate in faraway galaxies that are much like our own Milky Way, as opposed to the extreme environments that launch their repeating cousins. The results could bring scientists closer to cracking the lingering celestial puzzle of FRBs at last.

Related: Hubble Telescope finds surprising source of brightest fast radio burst ever

"So far, when we've thought about FRBs, we've only looked at them in the same way that we would look at a star in the sky, thinking about how bright it is, maybe figuring out how away far it is, things like that," research lead author Ayush Pandhi, a Ph.D. student at the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics and the David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics at the University of Toronto, told Space.com. "However, FRBs are special because they also emit polarized light, meaning the light coming from these sources is all oriented in one direction."

The key difference about this research is it really drilled down on the investigation of polarized light.

Polarized light is made up of waves that are orientated in the same way  vertically, horizontally, or at an angle between those two directions. Changes in polarization could explain the mechanism that launched the FRB and thus reveal what its source was. Polarization can also reveal details about what environments the FRB needed to traverse before reaching our detectors on Earth. This study represented the first large-scale look at the non-repeating 97% of FRBs in polarized light.

There has been a gap in non-repeating FRB research because it is much easier to observe repeating FRBs as astronomers already know where they are going to occur, meaning it is possible to point any radio telescope at that patch of sky and wait. With non-repeating FRBs, astronomers must have a telescope that can look at a large area of the sky all at once because they don't really know where the signal will come from.

"They could pop up anywhere in the sky. CHIME is unique in that sense because it looks at such a large patch of the sky all at once," Pandhi said. "Also, people have not really looked at that polarization yet because it's much harder to detect just on a technical level.

"Other studies have looked at the polarization of maybe 10 non-repeating FRBs, but this is the first time where we've looked at more than 100. It allows us to reconsider what we think FRBs are and see how repeating and non-repeating FRBs may be different."

To repeat or not to repeat?

In 2007, astronomers Duncan Lorimer and David Narkevic, who was Lorimer's student at the time, discovered the first FRB. It was a non-repeating burst of energy that's now commonly referred to as the "Lorimer Burst." Five years after this, in 2012, astronomers discovered the first repeating FRB: FRB 121102. Then, more repeating bursts gradually revealed themselves.

Astronomers naturally wonder whether there is a different phenomenon behind these two types of FRBs. And Pandhi 's team indeed found that non-repeating FRBs seem to be a little different from repeating FRBs, as most of the former seem to come from galaxies like our own Milky Way.

An illustration of a fast radio burst in polarized light as seen by the CHIME observatory

While the origins of FRBs are shrouded in mystery, these bursts of radiowaves can act as messengers of the environments they pass through while racing to Earth. That information is encoded in their polarization.

"If the polarized light passes through electrons and magnetic fields, the angle at which it's polarized rotates, and we can measure that rotation," Pandhi said "So if an FRB passes through more material, it'll rotate more. If it passes through less, it'll rotate less."



The fact that the polarization of non-repeating FRBs is less than that of repeating FRBs indicates the former seems to pass through less material or weaker magnetic fields than the latter. Pandhi added that, while repeating blasts of radiation seem to be coming from more extreme environments (like the remains of stars that have died in supernova explosions) their non-repeating brethren seem to emerge in slightly less violent environments.

"Non-repeating FRBs tend to come from environments that have either weaker magnetic fields or less stuff around them than repeating FRBs," Pandhi continued. "So repeating FRBs seem to be a little bit more extreme in that sense."

earth on the top right corner with red, yellow and blue wavelengths reaching it from a fast radio burst.

An artist's impression of a fast radio burst (FRB) reaching Earth, with colors signifying different wavelengths. (Image credit: Jingchuan Yu, Beijing Planetarium)

Are neutron stars off the hook?

One of the big surprises this research delivered for Pandhi was that the polarization of non-repeating FRBs seems to clear one of the major suspects behind their launch: highly magnetized, rapidly spinning neutron stars, or "pulsars."

"We know how pulsars work and we know the types of polarized light we expect to see from a pulsar system. Surprisingly, we don't see that much similarity between FRBs and pulsar light," Pandhi said."If these things are coming from the same type of object, you might expect that they have some similarities, but it seems that they're actually pretty different."



In terms of figuring out what objects launch FRBs, Pandhi thinks expanding our understanding of the polarization of these bursts of radiowaves could help narrow down theoretical predictions.

"If we're confused between multiple different theories, we can now look at the polarized light and say, 'Okay, well, does this rule out any theories that we haven't already ruled out?'" he said. "It provides another parameter, or even a few extra parameters, to help us rule out theories about what they could be until we have one that sticks."

Related Stories:

 Astronomers discover record haul of 25 new repeating 'fast radio bursts'

 Record-breaking radio burst could help us find the universe's missing matter

 Shortest 'fast radio bursts' ever discovered last only 1 millionth of a second

Pandhi continued by explaining that this study has laid the groundwork for future FRB investigations; he, himself, is working on a way to disentangle polarization of FRBs that occurred in the Milky Way from those that occurred in their other galaxies and closer to the source of their emission.

This should help us better understand the mechanisms behind the launch of FRBs, but for Pandhi, it is the mysterious nature of these cosmic blasts of energy that ensures he will be investigating them for some time to come.

"I mean, what's more mysterious than explosions happening thousands of times per day all over the sky, and you have no idea what's causing them?" Pandhi said. "If you're a little bit of a detective who likes to solve mysteries, FRBs are just a mystery that is just begging to be solved."

The team's research was published on Tuesday (June 11) in the Astrophysical Journal.
RICHMOND COUNTY, Ga. (WJBF)  An Augusta man has been arrested after authorities say he set two residences on fire.

According to the incident report, deputies responded to one residence on Kissingbower Road in reference to a domestic, and deputies say when they arrived, they saw a large fire that continued to get bigger stemming from household items such as a couch, clothes, and pillows and that continued to spread throughout the back of one residence leading up to another residence.

Deputies say they saw Rodney Allen Phinezy, 42, at the top of the stairs, and after a few attempts to get him down, authorities say that Phinezy was detained.

The incident report states that a witness says he was sitting in his vehicle when he saw Phinezy throwing numerous items off of the staircase, and he saw the female victim, who was identified as his wife, leaving the residence on foot.

ALSO ON WJBF: Three arrested, allegedly stole nearly $5,000 worth of baby formula from Columbia County stores

The incident report also states that the witness provided deputies with video footage of the incident showing Phinezy throwing numerous items off the top of the stairs and throwing more items on top of the fire while it was lit causing damages to both residences on the property as well as other items.

According to the incident report, the items damaged by the fire were the A/C unit, the rear exterior wall, front residential staircase, and other items.

The resident in the neighboring residential space that was also involved in the fire said that she did not see Phinezy start the fire, but the witness, who she says is her friend, told her that Phinezy was doing this.

Authorities say that the damage done to both residences and items were done without consent of the owners.

According to the Richmond County Sheriffs Office, Phinezy was arrested on two counts of first degree arson and was booked into the Charles B. Webster Detention Center on Thursday, June 13th.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
Motorists pay a bridge toll at Gateway International Bridge in Brownsville to cross into Matamoros, Mexico in this March 2023 photo. The U.S. Consulate General in Matamoros has issued a security alert, warning about kidnappings for ransom occurring on buses leaving Reynosa. Miguel Roberts, MBI / Associated Press

The U.S. Consulate General in Matamoros has issued a security alert, warning about kidnappings for ransom occurring on buses leaving Reynosa, across the border from McAllen in the Rio Grande Valley.

The alert said the kidnappers appeared to be targeting passengers with ties to the U.S., including citizens and residents.

The U.S. Consulate General in Matamoros is aware of organized kidnappings for ransom occurring on intercity buses departing Reynosa, Tamaulipas. says the alert issued Friday. These kidnappings appear to specifically target passengers with connections to the United States, including U.S. citizens and residents. The kidnappers typically demand ransoms of thousands of dollars for each victim.

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The Department of States travel advisory for the state of Tamaulipas is a Level 4  do not travel due to crime and kidnapping.

The alert said people should avoid traveling by bus in or through Tamaulipas. It also advising being aware of your surroundings and notifying friends and family of your safety.

Tamaulipas has long been under a travel warning. In March 2023, gunmen kidnapped four U.S. citizens who crossed into Mexico from Texas to buy medicine. They were caught in a shootout and two were killed. The other two were later found alive.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer takes part in a press conference after a meeting and a joint cabinet meeting with the Minister-President of Bavaria in the Hofgarten. Sven Hoppe/dpa

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said on Saturday that preaching to the Western choir about the need to pressure Moscow over Ukraine is "not enough" and engaging countries in the global south is needed.

"We are like in a Western echo chamber. We are all in agreement, but that is not enough," said the Austrian head of government on the fringes of the two-day meeting on the Burgenstock near Lucerne.

For the European Union and the United States, it was a matter of finding more allies to increase the pressure on Moscow in the Ukraine war.

"Without parts of Asia, Africa and South America, we will not be able to get the Russian Federation to change its mind," he said.

Countries such as India, Brazil, China and South Africa are particularly important here, he said. The fact that India and Brazil were represented at the meeting - albeit not at ministerial level - was a "first glimmer of hope," said Nehammer.

The two-day meeting of 92 states and eight international organizations aims to outline the first steps towards a possible peace process in the Ukraine war.
Update: Man stabs bystander trying to intervene during robbery at Encinitas Home Depot

ENCINITAS, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)  An announcement could be heard via helicopter in the Encinitas area Saturday.

The San Diego Sheriffs Department said authorities were looking for a felony suspect who was believed to be armed with a knife. He was seen around Calle Barcelona and El Camino Real.

The announcement began shortly before 9 a.m. Saturday.

The department described the individual as a short, 21-year-old Hispanic man. He was believed to be wearing a gray hoodie, blue jeans and a brown hat.

In an update later that day, police said the suspect, dentified as Hernan Padilla, was wanted in connection to a stabbing. Padilla has since been arrested by authorities.

The full details can be found here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Autopsies show the shooting deaths of a St. Johns County Fire Rescue lieutenant and his wife were a murder-suicide, according to a Sheriff's Office investigation.

Lt. Shawn Yarbrough, 46, and his 34-year-old wife, Andrea Nicole Nahrup Yarbrough, were found dead at about 9:20 p.m. Thursday inside their home in the Entrada subdivision of St. Augustine, the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office said in a Friday night news release.

Autopsies performed earlier Friday by Wendolyn Sneed, chief medical examiner for the District 23 Medical Examiners Office, showed both died of gunshot wounds.

Andrea Yarbrough's death was ruled a homicide, while her husband's death was ruled a suicide, the Sheriff's Office said.

"Based on the initial investigation at the scene, autopsy results, and interviews, this is believed to be a tragic isolated incident," the Sheriff's Office said in the news release.

St. Johns County Fire Chief Sean McGee offered condolences to both families as well as voiced the department's shock and sorrow in social media posts Saturday afternoon.

"The recently reported events were unexpected, shocking and tragic for all those affected. As a department, we are profoundly saddened by the loss of life, recognizing its enduring impact on the families and children of those affected," McGee posted.

McGee said his "heartfelt prayers and sincerest condolences" were with the victims, their families and friends, who are grieving.

Shawn Yarbrough had been with St. John's Fire Rescue since March 2004, his LinkedIn page showed.

Andrea Yarbrough was a financial manager. The couple had been married since Dec. 11, 2022, according to her Facebook page.

The couple shared four children according to their respective Facebook pages, which were filled with photos of family outings and other happy events.

It was unclear whether the children were home when the shootings happened.

Madison Nahrup posted a tribute to her slain older sister on Facebook. Nahrup said she was "having a billion different feelings; numbness, anger, confusion, sadness, and all the feelings in between" about her sister's death.

"She was trying to build a life and a family that she always had dreamed of. Always striving for the best, never allowing failure to be an option. So proud to be a mother, so eager to watch her daughter and step-sons grow into who they are," Nahrup posted.

Nahrup also posted a link to a GoFundMe page established for her niece Lillian, who is the 11-year-old daughter of her slain sister.

Saying she wished she had been there more for her sister, Nahrup urged domestic violence victims as well as those who suspect a domestic violence situation to seek help immediately.

Deputy-involved shooting: St. Johns County matches 3 years' worth of deputy shootings with third in 2024

"You truly never know what is happening behind closed doors or off social media. But if you are suffering from domestic violence or know someone who is, please seek help or encourage them to," Nahrup posted.

In his condolence message, McGee posted that the Fire Rescue department is "actively extending support" to its members and their families in the aftermath of the murder-suicide.

"This includes access to peer counseling, professional counseling services and resources from the International Association of Firefighters Peer Support Team," McGee said.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Deaths of St. Johns Fire Rescue lieutenant, wife ruled murder-suicide
Autopsy done on Tri-Cities man found inside tanker trailer at fertilizer plant

An autopsy was done Friday afternoon on a man who died June 7 inside a tanker truck trailer at a Pasco fertilizer company.

However, a determination of the cause of death is pending toxicology test results, Franklin County Coroner Curtis McGary told the Herald on Friday evening.

Viktor Voloshin, 56, was cleaning the trailer with water from a hose at Two Rivers Terminal when he fell in or climbed inside.

Two Rivers Terminal is a fertilizer and chemical formulator, distributor and importer on Glade North Road near Pasco, according to the companys website.

Franklin County Sheriffs officials say foul play is not suspected.

The chemicals he was hauling gave off hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide fumes, but no determination has been made about whether they played a role in Voloshins death.

Family members told the Herald that they believe he climbed inside the tanker.

Voloshin was last seen on security cameras about 4:15 p.m. standing on a ladder spraying water on the inside of the tanker.

People noticed he had disappeared about 45 minutes later and called 911.

A 56-year-old man was found dead after falling into or climbing into a tanker trailer at a Pasco fertilizer company.

He was found dead inside of the tanker and his body was recovered by Franklin County Fire District 3 rescuers.

The Washington state Department of Labor and Industries has been waiting on the autopsy report before determining whether to launch a formal investigation.

A GoFundMe for Voloshin was organized by Andrew Lavrentiev, who said he leaves behind his wife of 34 years, 12 children  six of them still living at the family home  and 16 grandchildren.

He was the best father we could ever ask for, said a statement from the family included in the GoFundMe. He was always the friendliest person in the room.
Avian flu, H5N1, has been found in Austin wastewater. How can you protect yourself?

Bird flu, H5N1, is now showing up in Austin's wastewater, Austin Public Health said this month. It said, however, that the threat of a person contracting H5N1 still remains low.

"It is important to note that current influenza trends are low and the detection of influenza viruses in wastewater does not necessarily indicate undetected human cases," health agency officials said. "Influenza in wastewater can also come from other sources, such as birds or livestock or secretions/excretions into wastewater from infected cows or other animals in the area."

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Mindy Cohen spoke to reporters last week at the Association of Health Care Journalists convention in New York about avian flu. Unlike COVID-19, which was a new virus, avian flu is "something we've been studying and prepping for for decades," she said. That includes already having tests, vaccines that can be adapted to this strain, and treatments, including Tamiflu.

Dairy cows have been spreading H5N1 avian flu around the United States, including in Texas. No human-to-human cases have been found.

"Right now, it is not human-to-human," she said. "We have a lot of avian flu (in the United States). We have a lot of work to do. The overall risk to the population is currently low, but we need to stay ahead of the virus."

That means stopping the virus at its source, which currently is outbreaks in dairy farms and the poultry farms, she said.

In the United States, there have been three human cases since the outbreak in dairy farms this year and one case in 2022. All the cases, including a Texas case this year, have come from people working directly with diseased cows or poultry.

Austin Public Health said it is "working with our local health care partners to provide the latest information on the virus, including symptoms and testing."

The health agency regularly monitors what diseases are showing up in the community, including clinics and hospitals, as well as what is in the wastewater, Dr. Desmar Walkes, the Austin-Travis County health authority, said in April.

According to the CDC's recent report:

9,495 wild birds have been detected with the disease, but not in Central Texas counties

96 million poultry in 48 states, including Texas, have had the disease.

90 dairy cattle herds in 12 states, including Texas, have been infected

Four human cases have been found, all from contact with infected livestock

Why might H5N1 not turn into a pandemic?

Public health officials are concerned that H5N1 will adapt and be able to be transmitted from human to human. That has not happened yet. Even in the 1990s, human cases had some exposure to a diseased animal.

Austin Public Health is waiting for a first case of human-to-human transmission. "That would trigger those response plans," Walkes said, including messages on ways to protect ourselves.

The current influenza antiviral medications are thought to work on H5N1 and can be given to people who have been exposed to it, even before they have symptoms. We also have a strategic national stockpile of antivirals in case of an outbreak, Walkes said.

Mass production of a vaccine could put vaccinations in arms within months. Right now, manufacturers are not planning to add H5N1 to this fall's flu vaccine, but they could if cases increase.

"We are in a much better place," Walkes said compared with where we were when COVID-19 emerged.

How is H5N1 spread?

Right now, the virus is spread to humans through a diseased animal. Either someone has touched the animal, its feces or bodily fluids without protective gear such as a mask and gloves and then touched their eyes or mouth or they have breathed in those animal products.

What are the symptoms in humans?

The flu-like symptoms include:

Fever (temperature of 100 degrees or more) or feeling feverish or chills

Cough

Sore throat

Runny or stuffy nose

Headaches

Fatigue

Eye redness (conjunctivitis)

Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath

Diarrhea

Nausea

Vomiting

Seizures

From previous outbreaks and the current one, the symptoms can be mild or severe, including hospitalization and death. In some outbreaks, the fatality rates have been as high as 50%, Walkes said.

Anyone who has flu symptoms and has been exposed to a sick or dead animal should let their doctor know about that exposure.

What can we do to prevent spreading H5N1?

Some precautions include:

Don't touch a dead or sick animal. Call animal control at 311.

Don't drink unpasteurized milk or eat unpasteurized cheese.

Continue to do the things we did during COVID-19, including washing your hands frequently.

Don't put your hands in your mouth, nose or eyes.

Cover your cough.

Stay home if you are sick.

Wear a mask if we have a high concentration of illness.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: What are the Avian flu symptoms? Virus found in Austin wastewater
Azov Brigade commander thanks US for authorising use of US-supplied weapons  video

Colonel Denys Prokopenko, Commander of the Azov Brigade belonging to Ukraine's National Guard, has expressed gratitude to the administration of US President Joe Biden for lifting the ban on arms supplies to the brigade.

Source: Prokopenko in a video address

Quote from Prokopenko: "I would like to congratulate all the soldiers of the 12th Special Forces Brigade Azov and the entire civilised world on the victory over Russian propaganda.

In Azov, we know that no matter how difficult [the] situation may seem, there is always a solution. The only question is the efforts we are ready to put in to overcome it, the coherence of [the] work and the professionalism of the team.

These are the qualities that Azov servicemen demonstrate on the front line every day. They have also proved to be key in our unit's systematic work to unblock the transfer of weapons and training from the United States to Azov. The Russian propaganda-induced ban, that had been in place since 2017, has been overcome.

I thank the United States of America for their attentive review of this issue and the right decision, which will qualitatively strengthen our unit and, with it, the entire defence and security forces of Ukraine."

Read also a column by Denys Prokopenko: Why does Azov still not receive Western weapons?

Details: Prokopenko further expressed his gratitude to the command of Ukraine's Interior Ministry, National Guard, and Ukrainian Embassy in the United States and to everyone who supported Azov.

Quote from Prokopenko: "You are all true friends of Azov, our reliable support. Azov will never forget [what] you did for us in these difficult times.

We will justify the responsibility entrusted to us, and with our discipline, resilience and bravery in battle, we will prove the effectiveness of this decision.

The colossal combat experience that all soldiers, sergeants and officers of Azov possess, combined with modern American weaponry, will become a deadly force for the enemy of Ukraine."

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El Dorado County cannot enforce its ban on programs that distribute clean syringes for now, a judge ruled Friday.

The ruling by El Dorado Superior Court Judge Gary S. Slossberg is the latest in an ongoing legal battle between the county and the state health officials over the ban on needle exchanges, which the California Department of Public Health contends oversteps state law.

The preliminary injunction temporarily keeps El Dorado officials from enforcing last years ban on such operations by the Board of Supervisors in unincorporated areas. A similar ordinance passed in Placerville, which is named in the suit, will be determined at a later date.

The decision doesnt mean the fight between the state and county is over  a pending trial next year will determine whether the ordinance violated state law.

Since an original suit challenging El Dorados ordinance was filed by Attorney General Rob Bonta and CDPH lawyers in March, the county has counter-sued alleging that the states authorization of Sierra Harm Reduction Coalition to carry out such a program in the county has contributed to a rise in overdoses and jeopardized public safety.

Slossberg, in his ruling, did not offer an opinion on the case or the cross-complaint.

State law gives CDPH broad authority in approving the programs notwithstanding any other law to combat the spread of HIV infection, viral hepatitis, and other potentially deadly bloodborne infections. The law also directs state officials to work with county officials balance the concerns of law enforcement with the public health benefits.

Supervisor Wendy Thomas, chair of the board, wrote that the states lawsuit had bullied the county out of enacting the ordinance, which she said protects children and adults in our communities.

In a state teeming with homelessness, crime, drug addiction and overdose deaths, how dare they sue us in defense of public health? Thomas said when the March suit was filed. The first principle of medicine is Do No Harm, and we have local data that proves that a syringe exchange program has indeed caused much harm in El Dorado County.

County supervisors passed an ordinance in December that would stop new safe syringe programs, or SSPs, from forming and halt operations of existing ones. The ban reflected the position of many El Dorado leaders, including Sheriff Jeff Leikauf, who said that such programs have made crime, drug use and waste more unmanageable.

The state health officials fought back against the ban by filing a suit against the county and Placerville. The state contends that local jurisdictions cannot override state law, which allows the programs to operate. Californias Health and Safety Code exempts any harm reduction staff engaged in the distribution of hypodermic needles or syringes to participants in clean needle and syringe exchange projects from prosecution.

Needle exchange programs are one part of addressing drug use and addiction through harm reduction, a practice of abating the dangers of drug addiction without requiring abstinence from a substance. State officials have embraced the evidence-based practice of providing drug users with clean needles so they are less likely to contract and spread diseases like HIV and hepatitis C by sharing needles.

Sierra Harm Reduction, a nonprofit group, has been distributing clean needles and other services in the El Dorado area since it was approved by CDPH in 2020.

The injunction ordered by Slossberg will remain in place until a ruling is made. The two sides return to court to set a trial date in November; arguments will be heard the countersuit in August.

In a statement to the Los Angeles Times about the ruling, El Dorado District Attorney Vern Pierson said we will propose narrowing the ordinance in an effort to allow the county to renew enforcement.
If anyone was the best pick to lead and train the next generation of Army officers at Ohio State University's Reserve Officers' Training Corps, or ROTC, it seemed that Lt. Col. Michael Kelvington was the one.

Kelvington, an infantry officer, has a thick combat resume with 14 deployments under his belt, including one as a company commander in the 82nd Airborne in 2012 when several soldiers were killed in the Zharay district of Afghanistan. Throughout his career, much of it spent in the 75th Ranger Regiment, he was awarded a Bronze Star with Valor and two Purple Hearts, among other accolades.

No one would question his combat bona fides -- increasingly rare experience as the post-9/11 wars recede into the past -- that brought him to the ROTC program at OSU. But everything came crashing down.

Read Next: The Army's Recruiting Problem Is Male

A Military.com investigation found that Kelvington was fired from his role in April and formally replaced June 7 amid allegations of sexual misconduct. The misconduct allegedly involved at least three cadets, ranging from touching them inappropriately, making overt sexual references and gestures to having at least one prolonged sexual relationship. In some cases, those encounters or advances may have happened on campus and sometimes involved alcohol.

High school Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps programs have come under intense scrutiny over the past couple of years due to reports of widespread sexual misconduct by instructors with underage cadets. In 2022, a congressional report found that 66 instructors had been accused of sexual misconduct with high school students over the preceding five years. Congress passed legislation in December that provides more oversight of those programs for younger cadets, according to The New York Times.

The full scope of the Army's misconduct investigation of Kelvington during his time heading the ROTC program at OSU was unclear.

With the investigation ongoing, the Army's firing of Kelvington before completing it suggests the allegations are credible. Military.com's own investigation included reviews of emails, internal documents, text messages, police reports, photos and video and interviews with nearly two dozen cadets, school faculty and Army officials.

"West Point grad, Ranger, infantry. ... Everyone wanted to be mentored by him because of his wealth of experience," one female cadet told Military.com on the condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to speak to the media. "He really seemed to have our best interests in mind."

Kelvington declined to be interviewed for this story or to issue a comment. It was unclear whether he had hired an attorney. He was replaced by Lt. Col. Steven Spiker, a human resources officer, who most recently led the ROTC program at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio.

Some of Kelvington's credibility among the women in the program came from him disenrolling a male cadet amid allegations of sexual misconduct. For most cadets, Kelvington was their first exposure to the Army and was meant to set an example for what a leader is supposed to be.

"This was a betrayal and really shook us," another female cadet told Military.com on the condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to talk to the press.

U.S. Army Cadet Command became aware of Kelvington's conduct in December, after some initial allegations were made. But he continued pursuing a relationship with at least one cadet, sources with direct knowledge of the investigation told Military.com.

It was unclear when other Ohio State ROTC staff became aware of the allegations, but some cadets allege staff were aware for weeks before incidents involving sexual harassment and assault were flagged to higher-ups in the Army.

Kelvington was eventually given a "no-contact" order on Jan. 22, according to an Army spokesperson, in which he was ordered to stay away from cadets and cease communications. But he violated those campus police orders at least twice in February and March, according to law enforcement records reviewed by Military.com, though the specifics of the violations were unclear.

"[Kelvington] has continually violated a no-contact order," one police report noted.

Kelvington's alleged misconduct, now made public, echoes other similar issues faced by OSU's cadets. Three women currently in the program allege they were victims of sexual harassment or assault from male cadets, but have declined to report it.

"I just ... didn't really know how that would be received," said a third female cadet, who alleges she was assaulted by a male cadet.

"It was a confusing time, and who are we going to report things to? We all know what was going on at the time," she added, referring to Kelvington's investigation. Her alleged assault occurred at around the same time as his investigation started.

Even after the investigation and his termination, Kelvington was inducted into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame in May for valor in combat in Afghanistan during his time as a platoon leader. He was also given a local car dealership award for military valor.

Related: Head of Ohio State Army ROTC Suspended, Under Investigation for Allegedly Violating 'Stay Away' Order
The administration is shaking up federal immigration detention and enforcement amid a push to cut costs systemwide and increase detention capacity to implement President Bidens new asylum policy.

The bombshell cost-cutting plan came out Monday, when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the closure of the South Texas Family Residential Center, a 10-year-old detention facility better known as Dilley.

Advocates are reporting other cost-cutting measures  in particular, they are concerned that detainees are no longer allowed a weekly phone call that for many represented their only connection to the outside world, and to legal representation.

While its unclear whether the need to expand border detention is driving all the changes, advocates say thats a distinction without a difference.

I think that all of these steps are a part of their rightward shift on immigration policy, both on asylum and the border and detention, and what they perceive to be the way to go politically, with no consideration for the harm that it imposes on immigrant communities, said Nayna Gupta, director of policy at the National Immigrant Justice Center.

So, the question of whether it links to the order last week, you know, doesnt really matter when weve seen the pattern from this administration of an embrace of immigration detention as a way to enforce immigration laws and respond to challenges politically on immigration, she added.

The Biden administrations political challenge on immigration has only grown over the past three years  its efforts to tighten controls at the border have been brushed off by Republicans and decried by the left.

The limited expanded legal pathways introduced by the Biden administration have similarly been denounced as an illegal invitation to foreign nationals by the right and as an insufficient humanitarian safety valve by immigrant advocates.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told a group of reporters that the administration has no plans to further expand those legal pathways through ports of entry because of operational constraints, according to NPRs Sergio Martinez-Beltran.

Administration officials, however, are pushing for an expansion of ICEs arrest and detention capabilities.

That push is rooted in a disconnect that officials see between the tasks demanded of ICE by Congress and the resources provided by legislators.

In an exclusive interview on NewsNations Elizabeth Vargas Reports, acting ICE Director Patrick Lechleitner said the agency needs Congress to increase its funding.

According to ICE officials, the agencys non-detained docket  migrants released to the interior with either deferred removal or pending cases  has grown to about 7.5 million people.

People on the non-detained docket can be required to check in with ICE as seldom as once a year, or they can be plated in the alternatives to detention program, which mostly means electronic monitoring through bracelets or phone-like devices.

Lechleitner complained that ICE has relatively few agents to monitor that group.

Thats like a probation parole officer overseeing about 7000 people. Its silly. Its really crazy. Its just so large and its, its untenable, he said on NewsNation. We dont have enough people to arrest our way out of this.

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Those complaints strike at the core of the fundamental divisions between the Biden administration and immigrant advocates, who see a threat in an expanding immigration enforcement system.

The experience of immigrant communities is that the more we bloat and expand a punitive immigration enforcement system, the more permanent that approach to immigration becomes, Gupta said.

So, these changes, whether they want to think theyre temporary or not, they contribute to an inflated enforcement system that costs American taxpayers a ton of money, imposes irreparable harm on immigrant communities, and does nothing to actually solve humanitarian challenges at the border where theyre facing political pressure, she added.

And advocates who work where the ICE rubber meets the road say the agencys changes  whether tied to the asylum proclamation or not  are worsening outcomes for foreign nationals caught up in the system.

In the closure announcement Monday, ICE officials underscored that Dilley was the most expensive facility in the system, and that by eliminating it the agency would net a 1,600-bed expansion of the detention system.

Theyre telling [detention center operators], lower your cost. And what does that mean? Lower the standard of life, said Maru Mora-Villalpando, a community organizer with La Resistencia, a group thats focused on abuses at the Northwest ICE Processing Center (NWIPC) in Tacoma, Wash.

Every time somebody dies or we know of a medical neglect case, the first thing that we see from ICE is the same statement. We take very seriously the wellbeing and health of the people under our custody  Im paraphrasing that, but they always send the same template response. Yet you see the conditions, Mora-Villalpando continued. Thats not what it is. So, for ICE, its always claiming they dont have enough money and they keep asking for more money to Congress, and they get more money.

She told The Hill that in addition to cutting the free weekly phone calls at NWIPC, severe cutbacks in cleaning staff and detainee work programs has led to worsening sanitary conditions at the facility.

What ICE under the Biden administration is signaling, is that when it comes to peoples liberty, and their lives, and their rights, theres a bottom line. And they are most interested in their best bang for their buck, regardless of what basic rights are violated, Gupta said. They are willing to cut off access to phones for detained people to call their loved ones in the name of having more beds and detention facilities.

Beyond denouncing those conditions, advocates are concerned that draconian immigration enforcement is being normalized.

Immigrants have always been, since Ive been here in the U.S., the scapegoat. One way or another. As long as youre an immigrant and a person of color, youre the scapegoat. All the problems [are] because of you, Mora-Villalpando said.

Its all about us. The scapegoat. Scapegoating our community, and it has worked, she continued. Really a lot of people that vote, they want to see that because its so much easier to blame one specific community than to actually understand and do a critical analysis of the root causes of the different problems that we have as a country and as a community.

That political scapegoating, Gupta added, is out of character for a Biden administration operating from a place of fear.

If the Biden administration was operating from a place of confidence and strength rather than fear, then theyd be able to put forward an agenda to beat Donald Trump without throwing under the bus the most vulnerable, marginalized and powerless communities, Gupta said. Bullies throw under the most vulnerable because theyre scared, and thats what these actions are about.

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President Joe Biden arrived in Los Angeles on Saturday morning ahead of a campaign fundraiser scheduled for downtown in the evening.

Air Force One touched down at Los Angeles International Airport after coming straight from the recent G7 Summit in Italys southern Puglia region, where Biden met with other world leaders and Pope Francis.

On Saturday evening, Biden will take part in a campaign fundraiser at the Peacock Theater in downtown L.A. to raise money for his re-election bid. There, hell be joined by former President Barack Obama and some Hollywood power players like George Clooney and Julia Roberts.

The event will be emceed by late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel.

Angelenos may want to avoid the downtown area on Saturday night as traffic caused by the fundraiser could be severe. The Secret Service issued a statement claiming that Bidens motorcade route wont be disclosed for security purposes, but several street closures and parking restrictions will be in place.

As with many political events in the Southland as of late, protests are expected in the area. A Jewish group demanding an embargo on arms sales to Israel, Jewish Voice for Peace  Los Angeles, issued a statement claiming that the group will protest outside the fundraiser.

The downtown L.A. event will likely be the incumbents final stop in Southern California ahead of Novembers election. Bidens presumptive Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump, held a similar event in Newport Beach just last week.

While the deep-blue state of California isnt typically a factor in presidential elections, its considered crucial for candidates of all parties for fundraising purposes. The state hasnt been tallied for a Republican candidate in the electoral college since George H.W. Bush narrowly defeated Michael Dukakis in 1988.

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President Bidens reelection campaign unveiled a bilingual video Saturday, attacking former President Trump for his aversion to the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy  a 2012 program that protects immigrants who came to the U.S. as children from deportation.

The video, titled Here to Stay, features clips from DACA recipients  more commonly known as Dreamers  who address the former president by name in a mixture of Spanish and English. The participants hit Trump over his rhetoric against immigrants and laud the Biden administrations moves to protect them.

Joe Biden has a track record of protecting Dreamers like me, one recipient, who identified himself as Mario, said in the 49-second video, which was unveiled on the 12th anniversary of the DACA program. Another participant, named Maria, also lauded Biden and Vice President Harriss commitment to protecting the policy, including the administrations move to expand health care eligibility under the Affordable Care Act to DACA recipients earlier this year.

They also called out Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee, for trying to separate the Dreamers and accused him of demonizing immigrants.

The clip also features a quick sound bite of the former president claiming migrants are poisoning the blood of our country. His continued use of the phrase has drawn scrutiny for its connection to Nazi Germany.

Trump has for years used incendiary rhetoric about immigrants to fire up his base, but in recent weeks, he has turned up the intensity even more, warning about migrant crime  a category the former president said he branded himself to refer to violence by those who came into the country illegally. He has also threatened mass deportations if reelected in the fall.

In response, the participants urged voters to put their support behind Biden in November.

The Biden-Harris campaign also dropped a new ad Saturday, called Standing with Dreamers, featuring the vice presidents renewed vow to fight for DACA.

A spokesperson for the Biden-Harris campaign said in a statement that the administration will continue their work to fortify the program.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will never stop fighting for Dreamers, as they have proven time after time, Campaign Manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez wrote Friday. Dreamers are essential to the fabric of our country and America is their home.

Trump on the other hand is doubling down on authoritarianism, embracing racists like Joe Arpaio, and is promising to end DACA, separate families and institute mass detention camps for immigrants, she continued. Trump will do anything to benefit himself and his corporate allies and nothing to improve the lives of the American people.

Chavez added that the American people deserve a president whos focused on delivering solutions for them and their families  only Joe Biden is that president.

During a rally in Phoenix last week, the former president was seen with ex-Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who the Biden campaign has labeled Americas most infamous racist sheriff. The campaign launched a quick-hit ad against Trump following the encounter with the former law enforcement official, who is deeply unpopular with Latinos.

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President Bidens reelection campaign dropped a new ad Saturday highlighting his administrations work on gun violence prevention, just a day after the Supreme Court invalidated the Trump-era prohibition on bump stocks.

In the 30-second ad, shared with The Hill, Biden blames former President Trump for the conservative-leaning courts decision on Friday.

The Biden administration-has defended the regulation, which banned the device that converts semi-automatic weapons to ones capable of firing hundreds of rounds per minute, in front of the high court after the Trump administration first implemented it in the wake of the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting.

When Trump was president children gunned down in classrooms, innocent people killed in church and massacred at a concert. Still, Trump did nothing, Biden said in the ad, arguing that the former president has often sided with the National Rifle Association.

It also notes that Biden has taken steps to expand background checks and, late last year, established the Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

You and your family deserve to be safe and Im going to fight like hell to see to it that you are, Biden said in the ad.

The advertisement also notes that murder rates are down under the Biden administration. Murders are down about 20 percent in more than 200 cities across the U.S., according to an analysis in April from criminal justice consulting firm AH Analytics.

If you care about the gun violence crisis in this country, there is only one candidate in this race with a proven record of successfully taking on the gun lobby and only one candidate who will ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, Biden communications director Michael Tyler said in a statement. Thats President Biden.

In a 6-3 decision Friday, authored by conservative Justice Clarence Thomas, the court said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)s rule classifying firearms with bump stocks as machine guns stretched the law too far  ruling in favor of the challenger. Liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor hit back at Thomas in a scathing dissent.

Justice Samuel Alito, however, added that Congress still had to ability to rule separately on the ban. Biden, responding to the court decision, reupped his push on Congress to do just that.

Congress must ban bump stocks, pass an assault weapon ban, and take additional action to save lives, he wrote Friday on social media platform X. Send a bill to my desk. I will sign it immediately.

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Biden on Friday issued a strong condemnation of a series of horrific acts of antisemitism that occurred in New York City over the past week. Theres just one problem: None of the instances Biden cited were antisemitic, despite the media outrage.

Tweet Screenshot President Biden: The horrific acts of Antisemitism this week  including a demonstration celebrating the 10/7 attack, vandalism targeting Jewish homes, attacks on Jewish faculty at college campuses, and harassment of subway riders  are abhorrent. Antisemitism doesn't just threaten Jewish Americans. It threatens all Americans, and our fundamental democratic values.

Bidens post references three events that occurred in New York City. The first was a Day of Rage protest by Palestinian liberation group Within Our Lifetime, in response to the killing of an estimated 274 Palestinians during a deadly operation by Israel that retrieved four hostages. The protest Monday began at Union Square before traveling to Wall Street, where the organizers criticized an exhibit recreating the wreckage of the Nova Music Festival, where on October 7, 2023, Hamas militants attacked festival goers, leaving 350 people dead. Prior to this protest, a person who had attended the exhibit described it as a wretched and perverse experiment in grotesquery and published widely circulated photos of notes left by other attendees rife with Islamophobic rhetoric and support for Israels devastation of Gaza.

Twitter screenshot @souljagoytellem: Went to an exhibit here in NYC about the Nova Festival Massacre that occurred on October 7th. The responses I found to the exhibit struck me quite strongly. With four photos of index cards reading things like "Our Unity will let us heal The Gazans are all Amalek They should be wiped off the earth"

The protest organizers decried the exhibit as manufactured consent: a display intended to elicit support for Israels destruction of Gaza. As part of their condemnation, Within Our Lifetime described the festival itself as like having a rave next to a concentration camp, eliciting cheers of agreement, followed by some demonstrators lighting smoke bombs and flares. Soon after, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, who had previously attended the Nova exhibit and described it as a moving, heart-wrenching remembrance of the Oct 7 massacre condemned WOLs protest, saying viscous targeting of the exhibition is not pro-peace. It is repulsive and vile. I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. WOL followed up, explaining their protest against what they described as one of the most egregious zionist propaganda projects in our city, writing in part, The Nova Exhibition serves only one purpose: to make this level of colonial violence acceptable to the US public. A recent article in TimeOut states that the Nova Music Festival Exhibition seems to urge viewers to focus on what happened on October 7 and not muse over the events that preceded or came after.

The second incident Biden condemnedvandalism targeting Jewish homesstems from vandalism against leadership at the Brooklyn Museum. The origin of the claim appears to have come from New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who in the early hours of the morning on Wednesday posted photos of one vandalized home, writing, 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.



Media picked up Landers claim, and for roughly a day all reported that the vandalism intentionally targeted Jewish board members. As Arno Rosenfeld of The Forward noted, this was not true, and he pointed to a correction by The New York Times, which initially ran an article with the claim, only to later correct with a note that almost none of the targeted members were Jewish. The anonymous vandals released a statement explaining that their vandalism was in response to the museum calling the cops on protesters during a demonstration on May 31, and named four individuals in positions of leadership at the museum and on the museums board of trustees.

The third incident Biden describes, attacks on Jewish faculty at college campuses, appears to be tied to a recent congressional hearing where notoriously pro-Israel Columbia assistant professor Shai Davidai was invited by Republican representative Jason Smith to testify about Antisemitism, Radical Faculty, and the Failure of University Leadership. Davidai is well known at Columbia for falsely conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism, collaborating with student agitators against pro-Palestine protests, and having his Columbia ID card briefly suspended to keep him off campus after expressing intent to send more pro-Israel agitators to the middle of the schools Gaza Solidarity Encampment to antagonize student protesters.

The fourth incident Biden references is perhaps the most disingenuous: Protesters filled subway cars while commuting from Union Square to Wall Street during Within Our Lifetimes protest. As the car filled with pro-Palestine demonstrators, one protester jokingly remarked to the car, Raise your hand if youre a Zionist. This is your chance to get out, a nod to the density of pro-Palestine protesters on the subway train. This remark was reinterpreted by the mayor as a threat, with calls to identify the protester and a spokesperson for the mayor stating, Threatening New Yorkers based on their beliefs is not only vile, its illegal and will not be tolerated.

Claims of antisemitism where there is little to no evidence of that being the case actively hinder the fight against antisemitism and prejudicial hate more broadly. As Rosenfeld notes, The hair trigger tendency to take a maximalist interpretation of what is antisemitic, including glossing over some material facts, means that you can easily lose your demand for sympathy on a technicality.

That Biden has elevated these claims speaks to either a corrupted game of outrage telephone, or intentionally disingenuous misframing to denigrate protests that rightfully criticize his policies on Gaza. Regardless, we will likely see people with an incentive to neutralize protests for Palestine leap on this opportunity, issuing a new round of policies to crack down on constitutionally protected First Amendment activity.
President Biden and former President Trump are ramping up their messaging toward Black male voters, underscoring the political power the demographic will hold in November.

Though Black voters overwhelmingly identify as Democrats, concerns that Black men are leaving the party have circulated since 2020, when Trump secured 12 percent of Black voter support.

Now, some observers say Black men could decide the presidential winner in November.

I dont know your pathway to victory without Black men, said Mondale Robinson, founder of the Black Male Voter Project.

But he added that strides have to be made with the every day Black male voter, not just the ones who are politically engaged.

The majority of Black men in this country dont see themselves in any of this, said Robinson, who is also mayor of Enfield, N.C. Sixty percent of Black men sit out election after election after election and [candidates] keep doing the same strategies. So I think to them, whats your path to victory without these Black men?

While Black voters interests cover a range of issues including education and health care, experts and advocates alike agree that if either party wants to win over Black men in time for the election, they need to focus on the economy.

Black voters in this cycle are prioritizing many of the issues that weve been seeing over the past couple of cycles, said Terrance Woodbury, founding partner of HIT Strategies polling group. But the first is the economy, although I do think theres some discrepancy here because when Black voters are saying economy, we hear them talking about costs, and thats not necessarily jobs or wages.

According to a recent survey from Pew Research Center, 77 percent of all Black voters said they would vote for Biden if the election were held today, while 20 percent of Black men said they would vote for Trump.

But while some polls suggest an ideological shift among Black men, this doesnt mean they will show up at the ballot box on Nov. 7, according to Shelley Wynter, a member of the Georgia Black Republican Council.

Black men still represent the lowest percentage of turnout, Wynter noted.

Part of whats keeping Black men from the ballot box, he added, is that no one is talking about the issues most important to them.

We focus on the women because we know the elders and women are going to be at the polls, said Wynter, a Trump supporter.

This year, Trumps team has tried to center Black male voters in their messaging.

In February, Trump attempted to lean into popular culture by introducing a sneaker line at Sneaker Con in an effort aimed at Black men. He also tried to connect with them by referencing his legal troubles in an apparent attempt to highlight the racial disparities in the criminal justice system.

Trump also indicated he would consider choosing a vice president of color as his running mate, though Robinson doubts this will have any impact on Black mens voting habits.

Theyre thinking that you can use a face that looks like ours to motivate Black men to go to the polls, but that does not work, Robinson said. Theyre thinking about Black men in the context of the 60s, when Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael were leaders of a certain section of Black men. These brothers who are not voting dont believe anybody is their leader, and if youre not a trusted messenger, you can send Jesus Christ and knock on their door but youre probably not going to persuade them.

But Trumps team is pushing forward.

Recently, the former president traveled to New Yorks South Bronx neighborhood, where he spoke to a crowd that had large portions of Black and Latino residents. And on Saturday he will be participating in a roundtable in Detroit, a majority-Black city.

President Trump is showing up in Black communities and listening to voters where they live, Janiyah Thomas, the Trump campaigns Black media director, told The Hill in a statement.

Polls, and every other measure of public support, reflect that historic numbers of voters in the Black community are abandoning Biden and moving towards President Trump.

But Woodbury isnt convinced this support for Trump will hold up through November.

There is a gender gap amongst Black men and Black women  where Black men are about 4 points less likely to support Joe Biden than Black women  but thats a very minor gap, Woodbury told The Hill.

The bigger issue, Woodbury said, is the generation gap.

HIT Strategies has found a 30-point difference between young Black voters and older Black voters support for Joe Biden.

But Bidens campaign is convinced the administrations successes on student loan forgiveness, record-low Black unemployment rates and passage of reforms like banning no knock warrants, coupled with Trumps history of racially-charged remarks, will keep Black voters from supporting the former president.

Donald Trump has spent his life and political career disrespecting Black men every chance he gets: he entered public life by falsely accusing five black men of murder, denigrated George Floyds memory, and launched his political career trying to undermine the first Black president as the architect of birtherism, Sarafina Chitika, a Biden campaign spokesperson, told The Hill in a statement.

Its why the first thing he did after taking over the RNC was shut down its minority outreach centers, and its why his campaign has no Black outreach program to speak of. President Biden is on the campaign trail showing up  himself  to earn, and not ask for, Black Americans support. That is what leadership looks like.

Antjuan Seawright, a Democratic strategist, said Black men are a vulnerable demographic right now. The party that speaks to those vulnerabilities the most, he added, will be the party to win Black mens support  and with it, the White House.

We have to acknowledge the pain and frustration  and that theres work to do, Seawright said.

Theres some who do not understand that you cannot undo 400-plus years of neglect in one or two election cycles, he added. People see these vulnerabilities, and they want to play into those vulnerabilities, but what Im confident in is that [Black men] will not be fooled  we see through the fog and understand whos been for us and whos been against us, who will fight for us and who will fight against us, but also whos trying to do things to take away some of the basic fundamentals that weve been able to recently unlock and enjoy as Black men in this country.

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WASHINGTON  Three years ago, when President Joe Biden met with leaders of the world's largest democracies in Cornwall, England for his first Group of Seven summit after taking office, he declared, "America is back at the table."

But as Biden gathered in Fasano, Italy this week for perhaps his final G7 summit, the uncertainty over his upcoming election clouded whether that message will endure.

Looming over Biden's meetings this week with G7 leaders, which concluded Friday, were the possible return of former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, to the White House as well as recent right-wing victories in the European Union Parliament in France and Germany. Both threaten shared common goals of the coalition including continued support for Ukraine in its war against Russia  a commitment that was the dominant theme of this year's G7 talks.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and US President Joe Biden attend a skydiving demonstration at Borgo Egnazia Golf Club San Domenico during the G7 Summit hosted by Italy in Apulia region, on June 13, 2024 in Savelletri.

To that end, Biden and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a 10-year security agreement that pledges U.S. military support for Ukraine's well beyond Biden's term, yet the commitment could unravel if Trump wins the next election or a divided Congress chooses not to keep financially backing Ukraine.

"The prospect of the further weakening of the political center on both sides of the Atlantic looms over all the conversations," said Charles Kupchan, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, an independent think-tank, and professor of international affairs at Georgetown University.

"And in part, some of the steps that took place at the G7 were attempts to buy an insurance policy, of a sort, against the ascent of political leaders or political parties not particularly enthusiastic about supporting Ukraine," he said.

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, has said he supports aid to Ukraine in the form of loans but has not given a clear position whether the U.S. should back Ukraine financially long term. Trump has said he could orchestrate a peace deal between Ukraine and Russian in 24 hours if elected to a second presidency.

Trump has threatened to remove the U.S. from NATO, if elected to a second presidency, if European nations don't increase their financial obligations to the alliance. "Why isn't Europe giving more money to help Ukraine?" Trump wrote in an April 18 post on his social media web site Truth Social.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) and US President Joe Biden sign a bilateral security agreement during a press conference at the Masseria San Domenico on the sidelines of the G7 Summit hosted by Italy in Apulia region, on June 13, 2024 in Savelletri.

Trump election could 'completely upend' many G7 goals

Among other G7 goals that would be in jeopardy under a potential second Trump presidency are global efforts to fight climate change, which the former president has repeatedly downplayed as a major threat.

"Look, one of the great things about the G-7 is we're all democracies, so the leaders here don't get to pick and choose how things go in their countries politically day in, day out," Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security adviser, told reporters in Italy when asked about the impact of November's presidential election on G-7 talks. "They leave that to the people of their countries."

Like Biden, other G-7 leaders face their own election tests: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last month announced a snap July 4 election amid growing public frustration with his Conservative Party. And French President Emmanuel Macron called for parliamentary election, to begin June 30, after a thumping defeat for his liberal centrist party in the EU elections.

Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) at the National Republican Senatorial Committee building on June 13, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Ahead of this week's G7 summit, John Kirby, the National Security Council's coordinator for strategic communications, reflected on Biden's first G7 summit in Cornwall England: "There was a real sense of relief in the room that America was back and actually leading at the table," Kirby said to reporters.

"And that's still more true now than ever," he said, pointing to Biden's message that the U.S. must "step up in solidarity and demonstrate that democracies can still deliver for our people and for people all over the world."

Upon entering office in 2021, Biden positioned his foreign policy as one countering the rise of autocracies in the world as he embraced U.S. leadership in traditional western alliances in a striking departure from Trump, who pushed an "America first" agenda on the global stage.

When he was president, Trump famously refused to sign a joint statement with G7 allies amid lingering tensions over tariffs after the group's 2018 summit in Quebec City, Canada. Trump lashed out at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Twitter as he flew away from the gathering on Air Force One.

Daniel Hamilton, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institutions Center on the United States and Europe, said G7 priorities would get "completely upended" if Trump defeats Biden in November.

"Just look at the record," Hamilton said. "When he was president, he didn't do much with the G7. He didn't sign the agreements. They had a huge confrontation. I don't think he'll see those kinds of meetings as very useful and we'll go back to the kinds of issues we had before."

What G7 allies agreed on in Italy

In an communique signed off by Biden and other G7 leaders before they left Italy this week, leaders pledged  among many other areas  to remain in solidarity with Ukraine; support the Gaza cease-fire deal presented to Hamas for the release of Israeli hostages; reaffirm a commitment to gender equality; take concrete steps to address climate change and pollution; and support a free and open Indo-Pacific while opposing what the Biden administration has said is China's overproduction of exports.

Kupchan, who worked in the National Security Council in both the Clinton and Obama administrations, said it's hard to say which G7 priorities could be undercut if Trump defeats Biden in the November election because "Trump 2.0 could be different that Trump 2.0"

"The biggest impact, I think, would be that G7 partners and allies around the world would have no choice but to question American reliability and American steadiness," he said. "That's less because of particular policies that Trump might implement and more because it would be amply clear the United States is passing through a phase of profound polarization and political dysfunction."

He added: "Allies that have depended heavily on the United States for their security would have no choice but to hedge."

Biden and other G7 leaders also met Friday with Pope Francis, who used his rare appearance before the coalition to warn them that rapidly evolving artificial intelligence must never get the upper hand over humanity.

Pope Francis greets US President Joe Biden before a working session on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Energy, Africa-Mediterranean at the Borgo Egnazia resort during the G7 Summit in Savelletri near Bari, Italy, on June 14, 2024.

The agreement between Biden and Zelenskyy stablishes a framework for long-term U.S. assistance for Ukraine forces and signals unity with 15 other nations that have signed similar pacts in support of Ukraine.

Biden said the deal seeks to provide weapons and ammunition to Ukraine over the 10 years, expand intelligence sharing between the two countries, train Ukrainian troops at European and U.S. military bases and invest in Ukraine's defense industrial base. The pact, Biden stressed, does not involve committing U.S. soldiers to Ukraine.

"If you want to see it as 'Trump-proofing,' one can see it that way," said Hamilton, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute of Johns Hopkins Universitys School of Advanced International Studied. "But I think they're just trying to send a message to Putin, as much as to Donald Trump, that they are supporting Ukraine."

NATO meeting next month in US gives Biden big opportunity

In a related move, the U.S. and other G7 leaders agreed to provide Ukraine a $50 billion loan to rebuild damaged infrastructure and purchase weapons that will be backed by interest from Russian assets that were frozen after Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Pope Francis poses with the G7 heads of State on June 14, 2024 in Fasano, Italy.

The Biden administration also announced $300 million in new sanctions on key parts of Russian's financial sector as well as Russian individuals and companies helping Russia's war efforts.

Biden said the set of new actions shows Putin that "he cannot wait us out, cannot divide us, and we will be with Ukraine until they prevail in this war."

Biden has made continued U.S. membership of NATO a central issue in the 2024 election, accusing Trump in February of sending "a dangerous" and "un-American signal to the world" when he threatened in a speech not to come to the aid of NATO countries attacked by Russia.

It's a debate that Biden wants, and it sets up the next major opportunity for him to display a united front for Ukraine: July 9 to 11, when he plays host to the 2024 NATO Summit held in Washington.

"For now, the level of unity that we see in the G7 and in NATO is impressive," Kupchan said. "But I think the questions that nobody can answer are: How long is this going to last? And is this going to be enough to keep Ukraine on its feet?"

Contributing: Reuters. Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden's pledge with G7 leaders clouded by Trump's possible return
Eight members of the NYC Council has asked a Charter Revision Commission created by Mayor Eric Adams to put a referendum on the November ballot so voters can decide whether to repeal a series of updates to the Big Apple's sanctuary city policy over the past decade that help criminals avoid deportation and jail.

New York City voters in November could have the power to repeal misguided and dangerous sanctuary city laws that severely limit the NYPDs ability to cooperate with the feds on immigration matters and are a clear threat to public safety.

Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island), Robert Holden (D-Queens) and six other members of the City Councils Common Sense Caucus fired off a letter this week to a newly-appointed Charter Revision Commission, asking it to put a referendum question on the ballot to determine whether to roll back the sanctuary laws that help criminals avoid deportation.

We are writing to urge the Charter Revision Commission to advance a ballot initiative asking voters if New York City should repeal recent so-called sanctuary city laws that prohibit members of law enforcement and other agencies from cooperating with federal authorities to help detain or remove unauthorized, non-citizens who have committed crimes in our city, says the letter dated Tuesday.

Despite the massive uptick in migrants over the past two years, NYC has been a sanctuary city defending migrant rights since 1989. AP

We feel these laws, as currently construed, are not only misguided and dangerous, they have strayed far from their original purpose of fostering public safety. Ultimately it should be put to voters to decide who is right.

Earlier this month, Holden and Borelli drafted legislation to repeal the sanctuary laws  but they realize its a pipe dream to think the Councils left-wing majority would pass it.

So theyre hoping for better luck with the commission, which was appointed by Mayor Eric Adams, a retired NYPD cop and moderate Dem who has said the current rules are too soft on crime.

Some Common Sense Caucus members expect to pitch the referendum plan in person during a future public hearing hosted by the commission. Both Holden and Borelli said they believe voters would back their proposed ballot initiative.

Migrants being dropped off at Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan. Seth Gottfried

The letter makes clear the council members prefer NYC returns to its original sanctuary-city policies, which were first enforced in 1989 under then-Mayor Ed Koch to help ensure non-citizens who are victims of crimes can cooperate with authorities without fear of being deported.

However, then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg updated the rules in 2011, prohibiting the city from honoring federal immigration detainer requests unless a warrant is issued and the targeted non-citizen is on a terrorist watch list or convicted of murder or another serious crime within five years.

A series of controversial left-wing policies pushed into law from 2014 to 2018 by then-Mayor Bill de Blasio dramatically limited the NYPD and city Correction and Probation departments ability to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents even further.

They also outlawed city buildings, including the Rikers Island jail complex, and other city resources from being used to enforce federal immigration laws.

The results of the changes have been predictable, the pols wrote, noting the NYPD rejected all 109 detainer requests it received from ICE last fiscal year, while the Correction Department handed over only 11 of 201 non-citizens requested.

The current system is a threat to public safety, they added.

For instance, murdered Georgia nursing student Laken Riley might still be alive if it wasnt for the sanctuary city policies, critics have said.

The 22-year-old was found dead Feb. 22 on the University of Georgias campus, six months after her alleged killer Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, was arrested in Queens and charged with endangering a child.

In January, a mob of migrants got caught on camera beating up on cops near Times Square . DCPI

The NYPD had no choice but to cut the Venezuelan-born Ibarra loose  instead of turning him over to federal immigration officials  because he didnt have any major crime convictions.

Commission Chairman Carlo Scissura the letter would be reviewed but declined further comment.

Kayla Mamelak, a spokesperson for Mayor Adams, said its the Charter Revision Commissions job to decide what ballot questions go before New Yorkers in November, and the mayor will respect whatever independent decision it makes.
Col. Oleh Avtomeenko was wounded while performing a combat mission in Donetsk region, on the first days of the Russian full-scale invasion in late February 2022, and lost his eyesight.

And now, after 20 years in Ukrainian Army, he has to say goodbye to it and learn how to move on in complete darkness. But he refused to surrender.

"When you are a military, you understand why that happened to you -- because you connected your work, your profession with a certain risk for your life and health -- it was your conscious choice of yours," said Avtomeenko, 46.

PHOTO: Col. Oleh Avtomeenko, left, with fellow soldiers in Avdiivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine, in 2019, in a handout photo. (Oleh Avtomeenko)

The former deputy commander of a mechanized brigade said he feels sorry for civilians who have nothing to do with army, but who have also lost their eyesight during the Russian war against Ukraine.

"First six months I was completely devastated, it couldn't be any worse, thinking that life is over, my military career is over, all my plans for the future are ruined and I have lost everything," Avtomeenko said.

The next six months were a period of acceptance for him, as he realized what happened to him and there was nothing that could be done to change it.

No wonder that Avtomeenko became one of the five first students of "Touch Point," a project initiated by Ukrainian Ministry of Education, the NGO Public Health Alliance and the Lviv Educational and Rehabilitation Center "Levenya."

PHOTO: Col. Oleh Avtomeenko at the training centre in Lviv, Ukraine, in March 2024. (ABC News)

MORE:After 2 years near the front, a Ukrainian medic reflects on war, family and his country's future

During two weeks of its first phase this March, four veterans and one civilian woman learned how to navigate in space without eyesight, including cooking and working with computers and smartphones. Avtomeenko traveled to Lviv to participate.

"The state did not manage to build a solid, flexible and organized system in order to help people who have sacrificed their health during this war," explained Vira Remazhevska, the co-organizer of the courses and the founder of the first in Ukraine educational and rehabilitation center, "Levenya."

The president of the nongovernmental group Association of Special and Inclusive Education Workers insists that from the very beginning of the war, when Russian forces entered Crimea in 2014, this problem has unfortunately become a matter of concern mostly for NGOs.

"One of our goals was not only to help particular people but also to try to shape and formulate such kind of social service in the country," said Remazhevska.

PHOTO: Col. Oleh Avtomeenko with his sons in Ukraine in a handout photo taken in 2021. (Oleh Avtomeenko)

Long before the project started, Remazhevska and her team were helping the veterans, consulting with them at first via the phone, providing them with psychological support. They taught them how to deal with basic needs, for instance, how to brush their teeth by putting the toothpaste not on the toothbrush but directly on the teeth.

This March, on the premises of the local professional college of hotel, tourist and restaurant service in Lviv, the participants of the project learned not only how to use laptop, cellphone and other digital gadgets, but also how to cook and how to walk using the white cane.

"It is supposed to become the extension of their hand and actual substitute of their vision  indoors and outdoors," Remazhevska said.

In her opinion, "A spatial orientation instructor who teaches a person to walk is responsible for his life, because he must teach him first of all safety."

PHOTO: Col. Oleh Avtomeenko at the training centre in Lviv, Ukraine, in March 2024. (ABC News)

After the first stage of the project, Remazhevska noticed that people who have lost their eyesight as a result of injury often suffer from severe concussions.

According to her, the rehabilitators are also dealing with massive psychological problems not only of the veterans but also of their families' members: "This is a tragedy of a whole family, a tragedy of relationships, when a person who was the support, the backbone of the family, suddenly becomes a helpless person."

"I am a living proof that one can live despite blindness -- I think that is the best example we can provide in order to push people for further development," says Volodymyr Pyrig, 35, a journalist and blind trainer at the program.

PHOTO: Blind journalist Volodymyr Pyrig teaches another veteran, Anton Bohach, to use a laptop in Lviv, Ukraine, in March 2024. (ABC News)

Pyrig, who has been blind since birth, has for years has been serving as a translator of many programs for the blind into Ukrainian, in particular  a program that allows blind people to work freely with a computer.

During the 10 days Pyrig worked with three veterans.

"At first, the guys just needed more communication with other blind people  they asked me a lot of questions not related directly to the training," Pyrig said.

"On the one hand, they already knew how to clean the apartment and do other stuff at home, but, on the other hand, they were not ready to go shopping or to cook. I shared with them some basic knowledge to let them use and multiply it."

According to Pyrig, Avtomeenko managed to be very quick in terms of orientation, learning how to work independently and now he works on the computer with relative confidence --from time-to-time reaching out to Pyrig with some additional questions.

Another veteran, Anton Bohach, a volunteer and former truck driver from Kropyvnytskyi, learned how to use a smartphone but said he was not ready to deal with the computer, explaining that he doesn't feel a proper push to start working in this direction.

PHOTO: Col. Oleh Avtomeenko at the training centre in Lviv, Ukraine, in March 2024. (ABC News)

MORE: 'Not going to leave': Family returns to Kharkiv after fleeing when Russia invaded

"Maybe, it is a matter of some psychological implications, as he has lost his vision only in September last year -- roughly speaking, not enough time passed since then at the moment," Pyrig said. Due to his observations, Those who lost their sight earlier in life often behaved more confidently, were more relaxed, more open, he said.

The third veteran, Denys Abdulin, also a volunteer and former boxer from Bila Tserkva, already knows what he wants to do. as He said he plans to become a professional masseur.

In Pyrig's opinion, the Ukrainian society is reacting better to the needs of the blind people but there is still some discrimination left -- especially in terms of labor.

"In the majority of cases there is a prejudice that if you are blind, it automatically means that you are not going to make it, you are incapable of doing some job," he said. "There is even no chance to try through the internship  in order take your chance to prove that you actually can."

The training made a difference for Avtomeenko, who said, "It was great  after the first two or three days I understood that with this (blindness) you can live and live coolly setting no limits for yourself."

PHOTO: Col. Oleh Avtomeenko at the training centre in Lviv, Ukraine, in March 2024. (ABC News)

The common day for Avtomeenko starts with workout, shower, shaving, coffee and feeding the cats. And then he normally spends the rest of his time on his laptop working with his channel on Telegram.

"At first, I planned to work on the blog about the life with blindness, common questions and problems to resolve, how to live in the city and use some social establishments for physically impaired people," Avtomeenko said.

Then he added some military analytics and other news from Ukraine, but after complete mastering the laptop he plans to dedicate his work to other blind people: "To tell them more about technologies, gadgets and applications that can simplify or comfort their lives."

He is sharing his videos through his video blog, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube -- letting people know what the life of a blind person looks like: "I work mostly on the laptop, listen to some content on YouTube, and learn English or Polish languages through the audio lessons as I need to develop myself  there is no point in being stuck in the moment."

Avtomeenko says his own motto is his personal message to other veterans who have lost their eyesight or limbs: "Do not stop. I know, that this is hard. I have been there myself. Nothing is impossible  if someone else made it, you can make it as well and if no one made it  you can be the first one to do that."

By the end of these two weeks of rehabilitation, Avtomeenko said, he became more self-sufficient, more autonomous, learned how to walk, how to do many other things.

PHOTO: Col. Oleh Avtomeenko with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Avdiivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine, in a handout photo from 2019. (Oleh Avtomeenko)

He remembers, that some of the veterans were saying that it would be better if they had lost the leg instead of their eyes being damaged: "It makes no sense to compare someone's else story with your own or try to understand how it is to be in other's shoes  everybody is living their unique story, you just have to overcome it and accept it as it is."

Remazhevska said that not all young men who have lost their eyesight are willing to participate as there are several factors -- previously gained negative experience of rehabilitation in medical facilities, loss of self-confidence and loss of trust to the state.

"Some are just doing nothing, staying at their homes making no efforts, and some are just too tired to search the truth," she said.

But Remazhevska insisted that even two weeks can make a difference for some severely wounded veterans and civilians as they may gain a lot. She cited Lyudmyla, a woman from Vyshgorod and the only civilian participant of the course, saying, "I have spent 18 months in darkness, in the dark pit, and these two weeks became the brightest period in my life."

Blinded after Russia invaded, a Ukrainian commander dedicates himself to helping others losing their eyesight originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
(The Hill)  Boeing and Airbus emphasized that there are no safety concerns after revealing Friday that some titanium parts used in their aircraft had falsified documentation, triggering a federal investigation.

Boeing did not say which models of aircraft or how many were affected by the titanium parts, but the company emphasized that it does not believe the discovery impacts safety.

Our analysis shows the in-service fleet can continue to fly safely, Boeing said.

Airbus said the parts wound up on its A220 model, a relatively small airliner that is used on shorter routes, but that the model is still airworthy.

Numerous tests have been performed on parts coming from the same source of supply, said Airbus, which has its main offices and assembly plant in France. They show that the A220s airworthiness remains intact.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it will launch an investigation into how parts without proper documentation were installed on aircraft. Boeing said it will remove the parts from planes that have yet to be delivered to customer airlines.

The FAA is investigating the scope and impact of the issue, The Associated Press reported. The agency said Boeing reported the issue with an unnamed distributor who may have falsified or provided incorrect records.

Spirit AeroSystems, Boeings main manufacturing subsidiary, said titanium parts came with counterfeit paperwork.

This is about titanium that has entered the supply system via documents that have been counterfeited, Spirit spokesperson Joe Buccino told the AP. When this was identified, all suspect parts were quarantined and removed from Spirit production.

Buccino said more than 1,000 tests have been conducted on the material to ensure continued airworthiness.

The investigation, first reported by The New York Times, was sparked when a parts supplier found corrosive damage on titanium parts. Titanium alloy parts are extremely common in aerospace manufacturing, selected for the metals strength and heat resistance.

It also comes as Boeing and Spirit are already under intense scrutiny for the manufacturing process of the 737 Max series aircraft. A previous FAA investigation after a door blew out of a flight in January found severe lapses in the companys safety protocols in manufacturing.

There are issues around the safety culture in Boeing. Their priorities have been focused on production and not on safety and quality, FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker said in March. And so, what we are really focused on now is shifting that focus from production to safety and quality.

The FAA said its six-week audit of Boeing found multiple instances when the companies allegedly failed to comply with manufacturing quality control requirements.

The Associated Press contributed.

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JACKSON COUNTY, Fla (WDHN)  Those living in Cottondale, Florida, will want to boil tap water next week.

The boil water notice will go into effect on Tuesday, June 18, at 8:00 a.m.

The notice is due to water line repair, and city line water will be turned off until the repairs are made. It will be in effect until the line repair is done and a bacteriological survey shows the water is safe to drink.

The affected areas will cover:

Willow Street, starting at Registers Meat Company to Short Street, including Register Lane

Chipley Street, from Willow Street to Elliot Drive

Short Street from Willow Street to Elliot Drive

Broad Street, from Elliot Drive to Magnolia Street, and Pippin Lane

The City of Cottondale officials advise boiling all tap water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes for at least one minute.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com.
Counterterrorism police and the FBI are investigating a campaign of bomb hoaxes and death threats aimed at officials on British Caribbean islands.

An anonymous group has claimed responsibility for a series of bomb hoaxes that grounded a flight from Bermuda to London last month, and has threatened to start assassinating government officials if their demands are not met, The Telegraph can reveal.

The threats are linked to the detention of five American tourists on gun charges in the British-owned Turks and Caicos islands, which sparked a minor diplomatic incident between the islands and Washington last month.

The Americans were caught at airport security with ammunition in their luggage, and face up to 12 years in prison under strict laws designed to reduce gun crime.

One of the Americans, Bryan Hagerich, has since been given a suspended sentence and allowed to return home to Pennsylvania, following diplomatic pressure from the US State Department and several congressmen.

The five Americans claim the ammunition was inadvertently left in their luggage and that they had not intended to use it while in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Second phase of terror threat

The arrests have prompted a terror campaign, which began in early May. The FBI told The Telegraph the incidents are ongoing after the group threatened a second phase of terror action this month.

On May 5, a bomb threat sent by email to LF Wade International Airport in Bermuda claimed explosives had been planted in the terminal and on a British Airways flight to Heathrow.

The plane was evacuated on the runway while officials scrambled to secure the area. A recording of a conversation between the pilot and air traffic control, confirming passengers were under threat, has since been posted online.

Bomb threats were also issued to airports in several other British overseas territories, including the British Virgin Islands, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Cayman Islands and Anguilla.

Bryan Hagerich, left, and Ryan Watson are facing charges in Turks and Caicos - NEWSNATIONNOW

The following day, the hoaxers emailed authorities to warn the threats would continue if the Americans were not released.

This is your final warning, we will bomb threat the entire f---ing Caribbean, not just British overseas territories, we will bomb threat schools, airports, factories, ports, hotels, government buildings among others, the email said.

What happened yesterday is a tiny fraction of what is to come. If that doesnt work, we will actually start assassinating government officials, not fake threats but actual assassinations.

The message, which was sent from a Russian email address, names the Turks and Caicos police chief Edvin Martin and attorney-general Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles as targets.

It said that the detained tourists hurt nobody and that their arrest was devastating families in the US.

Malicious hoax

The campaign to release the Americans has been backed by senators John Fetterman and Markwayne Mullin, and the National Rifle Association.

The Bermudan government has said it is working with US and UK authorities to trace the source of the bomb hoaxes but has not told residents about the death threats, or that the incidents are linked to the arrested Americans.

Officials in London believe the terror campaign is a malicious hoax and are working with the FBI to trace the source.

British officials are also working with the governments of several overseas territories to strengthen emergency protocols at airports because of the threats, and to train local law enforcement officers to deal with them.

An FBI spokesman said: The FBI is aware of the ongoing incidents and is in contact with our foreign partners.

The Foreign Office declined to comment on the investigation, citing security concerns.

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Iran has begun feeding uranium into three cascades of advanced centrifuges at its Natanz nuclear facility, the IAEA said - Maxar Technologies/AFP

Britain, France and Germany have condemned Iran for accelerating its enrichment of uranium, which is just short of weapons grade, to further expand its nuclear programme.

The United Nations atomic watchdog said Tehran was strengthening enrichment facilities at two sites, and plans to install others in the coming weeks.

In a joint statement, Britain, France and Germany warned the moves undermined the 2015 deal which offered Iran relief from Western sanctions in return for tight limits to its stockpile of enriched uranium.

These measures will again increase Irans stock of enriched uranium and enrichment capacity, whose levels have already surpassed the limits set by the 2015 deal, the three allies said on Saturday.

The agreement effectively collapsed after Donald Trump withdrew the US from the accord in 2018.

Tehran has pursued nuclear enrichment just below weapons-grade levels ever since, although US intelligence agencies believe it has yet to begin a weapons programme.

However, the Islamic Republic already has enough material to build several atomic bombs should it choose to pursue them, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Donald Trump withdrew US support for the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 - Saul Loeb/AFP

The Islamic Republics latest strengthening of enrichment sites comes after Britain, France and Germany tabled a resolution at an IAEA board of governors meeting criticising its lack of cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.

Iran condemned the resolution as hasty and unwise. It denies seeking to develop a nuclear weapon, saying its atomic programme is for peaceful and civilian purposes.

Germany, France and Britain said it was unacceptable that Iran presented its latest measures as a reaction to the resolution.

Iran is legally obliged under the Non-Proliferation Treaty to fully implement its safeguards agreement, which is separate to the 2015 deal, the countries said.

Iran has begun feeding uranium into three cascades of advanced IR-4 and IR-6 centrifuges at its Natanz enrichment facility, the IAEA said on Friday.

Cascades are a group of centrifuges that spin uranium gas together to enrich the uranium more quickly.

So far, Iran has been enriching uranium in those cascades up to two per cent purity. Iran already enriches uranium up to 60 per cent - just short of weapons-grade.

Iran also plans to install 18 cascades of IR-2m centrifuges at Natanz and eight cascades of IR-6 centrifuges at its Fordow nuclear site.

Each of these classes of centrifuges enriches uranium faster than Irans baseline IR-1 centrifuges, which remain the workhorse of the countrys atomic programme.

Hassan Rouhani (right), then president of Iran, visits a nuclear facility in 2019 - REX

According to the IAEA, Iran is the only non-nuclear weapon state to enrich uranium to levels of 60 per cent while it continues accumulating large uranium stockpiles.

The US has called the moves nuclear escalations which have no credible peaceful purpose.

Matthew Miller, the spokesman for the US state department, said: These planned actions further undermine Irans claims to the contrary. If Iran implements these plans, we will respond accordingly.

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Vladimir Putin's regime has adapted to beat the sanctions imposed by the West, the report says - Alexander Kazakov/Pool/AFP

Britains sanctions regime is ineffective and has become highly politicised, a legal expert has warned.

Dean Armstrong KC, a specialist on international sanctions, argues the broad sanctions introduced following Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022 set a dangerous precedent which has been used against Israel.

Mr Armstrong conducted a legal examination of the sanctions regime in conjunction with the International Legal Forum (ILF)  an Israel-based coalition of lawyers committed to combating terror and promoting the rule of law.

In the introduction to the report, Arsen Ostrovsky, the chief executive of the ILF, said he decided to engage Mr Armstrong after Lord Camerons decision to sanction Israeli nationals described as extremist settlers.

The top lawyer, whose findings are published exclusively in The Telegraph, concluded that sanctions have been levied without due process and fail to constrain the intended target. Instead, he says, they have had a dire effect on innocent British nationals and their families.

The Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 (SAMLA) forms the bedrock of the UKs sanctions regime. When an individual is sanctioned, key freedoms are restricted such as their ability to receive money, travel and own property or assets.

UK measures largely arbitrary

But UK sanctions, Mr Armstrong wrote, are largely arbitrary. He went on: The standard of proof required is well below the criminal standard which is concerning given the effect of the penal sanctions imposed.

Thus, UK sanctions effectively act as a form of quasi-criminal liability without due process.

Mr Armstrong, who has worked on several civil and criminal sanctions cases, also highlighted the difficulty sanctioned individuals have in appealing.

He wrote: Once listed, the target cannot challenge the listing in a court of justice without first having applied for a ministerial review. Hence, the same institution of state, the government, which imposed the sanction is the one reviewing its merits when challenged.

In the vernacular, it is judge and jury.

As an example of this lack of due process, Mr Armstrong cited the Governments decision in February this year to impose asset freezes and travel bans against Israeli settlers accused of committing human rights abuses against Palestinians.

He wrote: The targeted Israelis face quasi-criminal consequences without a court trial, and the only justification for the Governments nebulous decision is a cursory public statement.

On May 3, the Foreign Secretary announced further sanctions on X aimed at Israelis who he described as extremist settlers undermining security and stability and threatening prospects for peace.

This example, according to Mr Armstrong, demonstrates the unlawful, politically motivated and arbitrary nature of the UK sanctions regime.

Russia increased trade with China and India

Mr Armstrong also stressed that the sanctions themselves are ineffective in achieving their foreign policy objectives.

In the case of sanctions against Russia following the countrys invasion of Ukraine, Mr Armstrong argues, they have had the unintended effect of increasing Russias trade with China, India and other countries.

He stated: The UK designs measures to hurt Russia, but the latter eventually adapts, forcing the UK to re-evaluate its measures. The only ones who are constrained and coerced are the innocent people of the target state.

Mr Ostrovsky closed his introduction by warning: Depending on the identity of the government in the UK, Israel could quickly find itself facing a situation under which the sanctions regime applied to Russia is now applied to Israel.

UK Jewish community or business leaders supportive of Israel could find themselves under sanctions by specific politicians making arbitrary decisions without due process.

The same would apply to elected officials in Israel.

Sanctions a vital tool

When asked for a response, the Foreign Office referred The Telegraph to comments made by the Foreign Secretary as part of his sanctions strategy: For Britain and our partners, sanctions are a vital tool for pursuing our interests and protecting our values.

They send a signal. But they also have a tangible impact. By targeting particular individuals or resources, they impose costs on those we target, thereby changing their calculus. Allied with adept diplomacy, they can constrain an adversary or deter them from an unwise course of action.

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By Michael Holden

LONDON (Reuters) - Kate, Britain's Princess of Wales, is due to make her first public appearance on Saturday since surgery five months ago revealed the presence of cancer, saying she was making good progress through treatment but was "not out of the woods".

Kate has undergone preventative chemotherapy since the cancer announcement, and while treatment is ongoing, her improved health means she will be able to appear in public for the first time since last December.

She is set to accompany her three children in a carriage during "Trooping the Colour", an annual military parade held in central London to mark the monarch's official birthday.

She will also join King Charles, Queen Camilla and the other senior family members on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, the high-profile pinnacle of the event.

Kate spent two weeks in hospital in January after she underwent major abdominal surgery, and two months later she announced in a video message that tests had revealed the presence of cancer, and she would begin preventative chemotherapy.

In a message on Friday, she said she had been "blown away" by the thousands of kind messages from across the globe, which had made a world of difference to her and her husband, heir-to-the-throne Prince William.

"I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days," her statement said.

"I'm looking forward to attending The King's Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet."

Her office, Kensington Palace, has declined to give any details about the type of cancer or about her treatment, other than to say the preventative chemotherapy had begun in February.

Her illness has coincided with that of Charles, 75, who has also been undergoing treatment for cancer. He returned to public duties in April, and has remained busy, although his diary commitments are being limited to minimise risks to his recovery.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said Charles was "delighted" that Kate would be in attendance on Saturday.

(Writing by Alistair Smout; Editing by Sandra Maler)
Broadway just lost a Detroit-born superstar who inspired some of the best in theater

I left the water spray at Hart Plaza's restored Dodge Fountain, which, like Michigan Central Station, was being celebrated for a comeback. I headed to southwest Detroit for Mexican food.

Then I headed home and grabbed the phone to make a call I had missed making for four days.

Mayor Mike Duggan (L) presents a key to the city to Tony-winning Broadway producer and Detroit native Ron Simons during "Broadway Comes Home to Detroit" at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History on July 24, 2022.

I was calling Ron Simons to ask him to come for the announcement of this years class of creatives being honored by the Office of Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship (ACE), people who will receive medals for 25 years or more of service to Detroit arts and culture. I wanted him to place the ACE Medals, which we treat like Kennedy Center Honors medallions, around the necks of honorees.

But before I could dial, the phone rang, getting in the way again. It was a friend in New York telling me he had bad news.

I braced myself for a sad update about a mutual theatre acquaintance in Los Angeles who had been sick for months.

Instead, I heard: Ron Simons had passed.

More: Ron Simons, native Detroiter and 4-time Tony winning producer, dies at 63

I asked him to say it again because I had to have misheard him. I had Ron on the brain. I was just about to call Ron. I was tired. Ron was going to come to Detroit. Surely, I misheard. Ron would answer the phone.

But he wont. Hes gone. And I cant unhear the words Ron Simons had passed.

And for hours, I sat thinking of his impact on theatre, on Broadway, on the all the performers and audiences whose lives he changed because he knew and often said that theatre needs to reflect everyone, tell all the stories. What is any genre if it does not look like America, look like your state, look like your city, look like your family  in some way?

As with passings, our first thoughts are usually these: When was the last time I saw him? Did I tell him how great he was? Did I thank him for being who he was? Did we talk about his latest project or mine?

But my first thoughts were: Oh, how glad I am that Mayor Mike Duggan celebrated him, along with other Broadway stars two summers ago at The Wright. So many Detroiters were working on Broadway that year that Mayor Duggan and a team of Detroiters visited the Big Apple to honor them and took it by storm. Dinner at Sardis. Presentations to a Detroiter, uber-playwright Dominique Morisseau, before the curtain went up on her play Skeleton Crew, for which Phylicia Rashad would win a Tony.

Related: Broadway shows boast record number of Detroiters, prompting big New York City celebration

A few months later, when several Detroiters were nominated for  or won -- Tony Awards I told the mayor he had to go back to New York. He said, No. Bring em here.

So we did, and the Detroit royalty of Broadway, which included iconic producer Woodie King, beloved actor Ruben Santiago-Hudson, the brilliantly prolific Morisseau, the Tony Award-winning actor Michael R. Jackson  and Ron Simons, all came. They laughed. They met up with a former teacher who trained most of our best and brightest in theatre.

Related: Retired Detroit drama teacher helped launch careers of many Broadway, Hollywood actors

And then they were gone, off to slay more dragons, make more magic and produce or act in more shows that reflect who were all are inside and out.

Ron was only 63 years old. Yes. Only. 63. He had so much more to do, so much more to offer.

Now, three days before the Tony Awards, the spotlight already is a little dimmer. I had decided not to go this year. Maybe Ill change my mind, stand outside with a candle in the wind, marking a moment that the show better recognize, immortalize, be inspired by.

This is a devastating loss that comes with a monumental challenge. The rest of us now must step up a little higher, be a little bolder in our determination to not be erased or ignored or diminished. We must do it for Ron.

That is his legacy, that and great Broadway shows  and being another superstar from Detroit.

Rochelle Riley is the citys Director of Arts and Culture, head of the Office of Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship (Detroit ACE). She was a nationally syndicated columnist at the Free Press from 2000 to 2019. She can be reached at rochelle.riley@detroitmi.gov.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ron Simons was a Detroit-born superstar who inspired many in theater
Bus Ride for Justice for Noah Bush heading to Atlanta for Jesup Walk for Justice

The family of 8-year-old Noah Bush and their supporters are sending a bus to the metro Atlanta area to pick up supporters for a Walk for Justice in Jesup.

The 8-year-old died about a month ago and was found in a pit on May 16.

While the Wayne County Sheriffs Office is still investigating the death, they said they have not found evidence of foul play.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

However, Bushs family said they dont believe he drowned in the pit because he was afraid of deep water.

Bush was found in a no-trespass area near his home, with the Wayne County Sheriffs Office saying the boy took off his shoes and wandered into the water, where he drowned. His family has hired a private investigator to look into the circumstances surrounding his death, and the sheriffs office has requested the Georgia Bureau of Investigation assist in their investigation.

RELATED STORIES:

The GBI shared a statement with Channel 2 Action News that read,

The Wayne County Sheriffs Office has asked the GBI to assist in a limited investigative capacity. By state law, the Sheriffs Office would have to make a request for the GBI to investigate before we could proceed further.

On Saturday, a Bus Ride For Justice for Noah Bush is coming to the metro area to pick up residents, who are being asked to get on the bus and travel to Jesup to attend a Walk For Justice in support of Bushs family.

The bus will arrive at Victory Outreach Church located at 2175 Metropolitan Pkwy SW at 4 a.m. and will leave for Jesup at 4:30 a.m.

The bus will return to Atlanta at 4:30 p.m. In order to get on the bus, participants have to register.

To register for the free bus ride, head online here.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Come 2029, skywatchers can glimpse at least one "star" in the sky made by humans.

Earlier this week, NASA announced plans to place a small satellite in Earth orbit at a little over 22,000 miles (35,400 kilometers) above our planet's surface  far enough for the satellite to mimic a real star to telescopes on Earth . Scientists say the satellite, named Landolt, wouldn't be bright enough to be seen with the unaided eye, but if you happen to have a personal telescope at home, you may be able to spot a shoebox-sized object hovering above the United States in a stationary position.

The mission's primary goal is to help calibrate telescopes on Earth and create new, more accurate catalogs of the brightnesses of real stars.

Once in orbit, the satellite will beam eight onboard lasers at ground-based telescopes, which would observe the "artificial star" in the same frame as their science targets. After measuring how much of the lasers' light  which would have a predetermined brightness  gets absorbed by our planet's atmosphere, astronomers can compare it with about 60 real stars, thereby cataloging stellar brightness, as seen from Earth, more precisely than conventional methods can achieve.

"Lasers in space is a pretty cool selling point, as is getting to work on a mission," mission team member Jamie Tayar , an assistant professor of astronomy at the University of Florida, said in a statement . "But scientifically, what we're trying to do here is really fundamental."

Related: Bark! Meow! Cluck! NASA uses lasers to beam pictures of pet dogs, cats and chickens to the ISS

Better catalogs of stellar luminosities will boost the accuracy with which various properties of stars, such as their brightnesses, sizes and ages are measured. This accuracy, in turn, can allow scientists to fine-tune other measurements that rely on stellar brightnesses and distances as well. For instance, stellar dynamics like these help us measure the universe's age and how quickly it has expanded over time . Astronomers can also more precisely infer how much energy emanates from stars, which could aid the search for orbiting exoplanets with potentially life-friendly conditions.

"There are so many big questions in astronomy : How did we get here? Are there other planets like ours? Do aliens exist?" said Tayar. "But those are really hard questions, and so to answer them the measurements have to be really good, and they have to be right."

Normally, to measure the universe, astronomers rely on stars referred to as "standard candles," which can be likened to light bulbs of known wattage. Brightness and distance factors for these stars are well-recorded, and are thus used as tools to measure distances between other stars or galaxies and Earth. Those measurements, however, were made in the 1990s and "have become the principal source of error in measuring the luminosity for a majority of stars," according to a news release by the University of Montreal in Canada, which is involved with the mission.

"When we look at a star with a telescope, no one can tell you today the rate of photons or brightness coming from it with the desired level of accuracy," said Peter Plavchan of George Mason University, who is the principal investigator for the mission. "We will now know exactly how many photons-per-second come out of this source to 0.25 percent accuracy."

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Data from the $19.5-million Landolt mission will reduce uncertainties in brightness measurements of stars from 10 percent to one percent, astronomers say. "That makes a difference when propagated into the properties of exoplanets and, believe it or not, some of the parameters used to determine the structure of the universe ," Angelle Tanner of the Mississippi State University, who leads the mission's science and manages a sub-grant of $300,000, said in another statement .

The mission is named in honor of the late American astronomer Arlo Landolt, who is best known for his photometric standard star lists, which are widely used as calibration yardsticks when studying new objects in the sky. Mission control will be based out of the George Mason University's campus in Fairfax County, Virginia, with collaborations with scientists from 12 institutions. The payload itself will be built by the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology, which is headquartered in Maryland.
By Kanishka Singh

(Reuters) - The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and other institutions in the state conducted graduation ceremonies on Friday without the disruption of protests over Israel's war on Gaza, with proceedings largely undisturbed.

The United States, Israel's key ally, has seen months of pro-Palestinian protests ranging from marches in Washington and vigils near the White House to the blocking of bridges and roads near train stations and airports in multiple cities, along with encampments on many college campuses.

UCLA commencement ceremonies were "poignant and simply beautiful," the school said. UCLA's commencement celebrations had over 60 events scheduled from Friday to Sunday.

The Los Angeles Times reported a number of graduates wore keffiyeh scarves, which have become a symbol of solidarity with Palestinians, at the Luskin School of Public Affairs. The newspaper also said dozens of graduates peacefully walked out of the Luskin ceremony but overall a festive atmosphere prevailed throughout for tens of thousands of graduates and visitors.

Commencement ceremonies were also scheduled at UC Santa Cruz, UC Davis and UC Irvine.

University protests in recent months have seen occasional violence while police have made arrests on campuses to clear encampments. Pro-Palestinian activists encamped at UCLA were violently attacked by a mob weeks ago.

Student protesters have demanded an end to the war, a halt to U.S. support for Israel and divestment by their schools from companies with ties to Israel.

More than 37,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israels eight-month-old assault on the Gaza Strip, say health officials in the Hamas-ruled enclave. The war has also displaced nearly the entire 2.3 million population in Gaza, caused widespread hunger there and led to genocide allegations that Israel denies. The war began when Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7 , killing 1,200 people and abducting some 250 others, according to Israeli tallies.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; editing by Diane Craft)
Gianfranco Becchina was convicted in Italy in 2011 of dealing illegally in antiquities - Gianni Cipriano

A leading archaeologist is calling for Bonhams to withdraw two Roman antiquities from a forthcoming London auction, claiming that evidence suggests they were looted.

Dr Christos Tsirogiannis told The Telegraph the two items feature in photographs seized in police raids from two traffickers in stolen artefacts.

One is a Roman portrait head, probably the Emperor Titus, which is estimated to fetch between 50,000 and 70,000. Dating from circa 70-100 AD, and 27cm high, it is lot 171 in an auction scheduled for July 4.

Dr Tsirogiannis, who is an affiliated lecturer at the University of Cambridge, said that a polaroid image of the same head, apparently on a white towel, was among items seized by police from Giacomo Medici, who was convicted in Italy in 2004 of dealing in stolen artefacts.

The auctioneer gives the objects provenance as private collection, France as well as the Royal-Athena Galleries, New York and private collection, USA, acquired from the above in 2002. Since 2017, The Manhattan District Attorney has recovered  also with the help of Dr Tsirogiannis  many looted items from Royal-Athena, which no longer exists.

Dr Tsirogiannis said: So basically no verified provenance  and of course, Medici is not mentioned.

The Roman portrait head, probably the Emperor Titus, is estimated to fetch between 50,000 and 70,000

He also pointed to Lot 57 , a beautiful Roman silver plate decorated with a reclining river god, dating from circa 3rd Century AD. Measuring 31.5cm in diameter, it is estimated to sell for between 20,000 and 30,000.

Dr Tsirogiannis said that a poster featuring that plate was among material seized from Gianfranco Becchina, who was convicted in Italy in 2011 of dealing illegally in antiquities and twice in Greece in recent years.

The auctioneers provenance states that it is property from a Princely Collection, acquired at Cultura [international art fair] in Basel in October 2002, adding that it was loaned to the Antikenmuseum Basel from 2002 to 2018.

Dr Tsirogiannis heads illicit antiquities trafficking research for the Unesco chair on threats to cultural heritage at the Ionian University in Corfu, Greece.

The late Paolo Giorgio Ferri, the Italian public prosecutor who prosecuted traffickers in looted antiquities, gave Dr Tsirogiannis access to tens of thousands of images and other archival material seized in police raids from Medici, Becchina and dozens of traffickers.

Over the past 18 years, Dr Tsirogiannis has identified more than 1,700 looted antiquities within auction houses, galleries, museums and private collections, alerting Interpol and other police forces and playing a significant role in repatriating antiquities.

The Roman silver plate decorated with a reclining river god is estimated to sell for between 20,000 and 30,000

They include an ancient Greek bronze horse, which Sothebys in New York planned to sell in 2018 until he notified the authorities of its links to a disgraced British antiquities dealer. In 2020, Sothebys lost its legal challenge and Greeces culture minister described the courts ruling as a significant victory for countries fighting to reclaim antiquities.

In 2019, Bonhams cancelled the sale of an ancient Greek drinking vessel after Dr Tsirogiannis alerted police authorities with photographic evidence linking it to Becchina. It was repatriated a few months later to Italy.

Dr Tsirogiannis is outraged that auction houses are repeatedly selling antiquities with vague provenances.

He is unconvinced by their claims that they make extensive checks with all relevant authorities: If they did, it would be to their benefit to advertise it in the provenance of every piece, saying that we have checked it with the Italian or other authorities. Instead, they are continually found with antiquities linked to convicted and notorious traffickers.

Francesca Hickin, director of the Bonhams antiquities department, said: It would be in our shared interest for the contents of the archive to be made accessible to auction houses. Bonhams has verified the provenance for these items which is in its cataloguing and in the public domain. The Roman silver plate is from a well-known princely collection.

The portrait head is a piece that was published by reputable expert Jerry Eisenberg in 1997. We have strict procedures in place to help us ensure that we offer for sale objects that we are legally able to sell. We have had no communication from any law enforcement agency regarding these items.

The Basel museum declined to comment.

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The Democratic chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said he wants to work with Republicans to hold back the International Criminal Court (ICC) from issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defense minister over allegations of war crimes in the Gaza Strip.

While Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the committees outgoing chair, has rejected a Republican, House-led effort to sanction the ICC, he did not rule out sanctions specifically as he answered questions from reporters at the Capitol on Thursday.

Im not going to get into specifics, there are a lot of tools that are at our disposal to deal with concerns, he said.

He criticized a Republican-led bill that passed the House earlier this month as not well drafted.

That bill would impose financial sanctions and travel restrictions on ICC officials. Democrats critical of the bill said it had far-reaching, unintended consequences that would force U.S. allies or American businesses to cut off work with the ICC or risk penalties themselves.

Cardin said he was looking for a bipartisan way forward and that he had had positive conversations with the administration to stop the ICC from going forward with its planned arrest warrants for Israeli officials.

ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan said last month he is asking the court to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and three senior Hamas officials for bearing criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Israels supporters balk at drawing an equivalency between Israels eight-month war against Hamas and the triggering action, the Hamas attack against Israel on Oct. 7. In that attack, Hamas fighters streamed into Israel and killed about 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages. Around 120 hostages are still held in Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip.

To put any reference to anything being equal between Hamass activities and Israels activities is an affront to humanity, and it gives Hamas more credibility than they should ever have, Cardin said.

Democrats have criticized Israels handling of the war, which has killed tens of thousands of people and led to the wide-scale destruction of the Gaza Strip, along with warnings of a humanitarian catastrophe.

The committee chair said he wants to focus on a strategy that has the ICC recognize Israels justice system as having the strength to investigate any wrongdoing by the Israeli military before bringing it to the level of international action.

Were looking at a way that gives us the best chance for an off-ramp for the prosecutor general to recognize that there is a responsibility for complimentary systems, theres a responsibility to allow Israel an opportunity to deal with these issues, he said.

Israels still at war. So were looking at a way that will provide the right type of leverage from the United States, and I must tell you, I think the strongest message that we can send is one that is bipartisan, and not one that divides the Democrats and Republicans in Congress with the president.

Sen. James E. Risch (R-Idaho), the ranking member of the committee, has threatened to block committee work in order to force cooperation on ICC legislation. The Republican senator has put his support behind the House-passed bill but is open to working through differences with Democrats, according to an aide in his office.

But he put the onus on Democrats to approach Republicans with an effort at compromise.

Our staff will continue to work with the majority staff on finding a path forward to move legislation before the summers end, said Suzanne Wrasse, spokesperson for the senator.

Senator Risch is willing to pursue multiple avenues for the Senate to work on ICC legislation but despite several offers made by Risch and his colleagues to negotiate, Democrats have not responded substantively and we havent made progress.

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Catherine, Princess of Wales joined other British royals on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the Kings official birthday, capping her first public appearance since being diagnosed with cancer.

The Princess of Wales, her husband William, their children George, Charlotte and Louis gathered together with King Charles and Queen Camilla to watch a Royal Air Force flypast. They waved and smiled at the crowd, who responded with cheers.

The Princess, also known as Kate, was earlier driven in a state carriage with her children from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade to watch the celebration, known as Trooping the Colour. She could be seen wearing an Irish Guards regimental broach, a nod towards her role as their honorary colonel.

The family were later seen watching events from a viewing point, while Kates husband William, the Prince of Wales, rode on horseback.

For Kate, it was her first public appearance since Christmas Day  weeks before her cancer diagnosis.

Kate stepped away from public duties in January, following what Kensington Palace said at the time was surgery for a non-cancerous abdominal condition. In March, amid speculation about her wellbeing, she revealed she had been diagnosed with cancer after the operation, and was undergoing treatment.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla were also taken in a carriage from Buckingham Palace, bringing cheers from the packed crowds as they made their way slowly up The Mall. The King took part riding a carriage rather than on horseback this year due to his own cancer diagnosis.

People of all ages gathered along the length of the Mall for the event. Some onlookers are wearing Union Jack bucket hats and fascinators, while others are waving flags. Some sang the national anthem.

Prince George, the Prince of Wales, Prince Louis, the Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, King Charles III, Queen Camilla and the Duchess of Edinburgh on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. - James Manning/PA Wire

The Princess of Wales and her children were driven up the Mall to watch Trooping the Colour. - James Manning/PA Wire

Kate gave an update on her health on Friday, saying she had made good progress in her recovery. But she said she expected her treatment to last for a few more months and was not out of the woods yet.

Trooping the Colour is the magnificent military spectacle which sees 1,400 officers and soldiers, together with 400 musicians and 200 horses, process through the streets of London from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade, while crowds line the route.

The event - one of the highlights of the royal calendar - is a tradition marking the official birthday of the British sovereign for more than 260 years. However, Charless actual birthday is in November.

Britains Kings and Queens have doubled up on their festivities since the 18th century, holding both a public celebration  the official birthday  and a more private event on the real date.

Royal fans hold a cardboard cutout of Catherine, Princess of Wales, as they wait on The Mall outside Buckingham Palace. - Henry Nicholls/AFP/Getty Images

Thousands took to the streets to watch the annual celebration. - Chris Jackson/Getty Images

The tradition is believed to have started with the party-mad King George II in 1748. Like Charles III, George was born in November, when British weather is often far from ideal.

Proving that point, the weather took a downward turn as events neared their end. Crowds waiting for the King to arrive back at the palace were lashed with heavy rain and gusts of wind. Some onlookers struggled to hold their umbrellas in place.

Speaking about Kates appearance on the balcony, David Betteridge, 66, told CNN that she looked well so hopefully that is a good sign.

Its really nice to see her back actually, he added. For the most part we stayed dry. But we got pretty wet just after the ceremony when the parade had finished. It rained very hard.

Anna Yang, 30, who was visiting the UK from China on holiday, said she saw the flypast from her hotel nearby. It was great. Its our first time, even in our own country, seeing all the national aircraft going through the sky, she told CNN. It was incredible.

But anti-royalists turned out too, some of whom chanted shame and not my king!

This years proceedings were adapted as the 75-year-old Charles continues his treatment for an unspecified form of cancer.

Doctors have been encouraged by his progress, allowing him to resume public-facing duties in April, but each engagement he carries out is reviewed and adapted where appropriate.

For the events on Saturday, he carried out his review of troops seated in an Ascot landau carriage alongside Queen Camilla.

Three of the British Armys horses which bolted across in London in April returned to duty and took part in this weekends birthday parade. The two remaining horses are enjoying a summer holiday in the Chilterns and will return to service in due course, according to the army.

CNNs James Frater and Rob Picheta contributed reporting.

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EYEWITNESS (WBRE/WYOU)  Juneteenth Day is still a few days away but celebrations kicked off in Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties. Plenty of people gathered at both events.

Saturday afternoon was rich in black culture, from the food to the music all in celebration of Juneteenth.

What was billed as a Juneteenth Jubilee Block Party brought out a big crowd to Scranton.

While this marked the fifth time this event was held in the Electric City, Juneteenth has been celebrated nationally for decades.

It marks the day when Texas became the last state in the Confederacy to be informed that enslaved people were free.

The Black Scranton Project helps make sure our history is not forgotten.

I feel like its a really great celebration of freedom and again like we dont always have to be so focused on like black trauma. I think theres so many other things that we can celebrate and I think this is one of those events, said Gynis Johns the founder and CEO of the Black Scranton Project.

Raising awareness for elder abuse in Lackawanna County

The event featured a hair braiding booth, food, and a skating rink just to name a few. One attendee who now calls Scranton home says its nice to have something like this in the community.

You know to see a lot of people that look like me and such a small town is you know reassuring coming from a large city to a smaller town and you know seeing people that look like me having this community in this support a lot of people that have similar values. I think its very important, explained Sena Adia from Scranton.

As Juneteenth kicks off here in Scranton the celebration continues over in Wilkes-Barre.

This celebration at Martin Luther King Junior Park is the third such one in the Diamond City.

Its important for us to have these kinds of events to continue to celebrate the diversity that exists in this area and boost up our voices our stories our needs and just provide a safe space in the community to be seen and heard and celebrated its very important, said Rose Daniels the Vice President of the Wilkes-Barre NAACP.

Whether its held in Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, or anywhere else in the U.S. leaders believe Juneteenth should be embraced the same way as other cultural celebrations.

Juneteenth isnt just for black people. Its for everyone and I think we should start supporting other cultures and ethnicities the same way we support the Italian Festival or the St. Patricks Day Parade. Everyone there is Irish or Italian but we all come out and have a good time tasting the culture and try the culture and learn new things and I think this can become that, stated Johns.

Juneteenth is not till next week Wednesday but many decided to start their celebration early.

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Central Coast oil ports were essential during WWII  so government blocked shipments to Japan

During World War II, Japan launched a handful of attacks on the coast of California, Oregon and Washington after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

One of the most notable was the shelling of oil facilities at Elwood north of Santa Barbara by the submarine I-17 on Dec. 20, 1941. Another was the torpedoing and sinking of the Union Oil tanker Montebello by submarine I-21 on Dec. 23, 1941.

One of the reasons the Central Coast was targeted was that the Japanese forces knew of the area, since they bought much of their oil from ports on the Central Coast before the war.

The Union Oil facility at Avila Beach was so vital to the war effort that General Dwight Eisenhower sent a 1942 telegram commendation saying that the Allied War effort hinged on the oil that shipped from the San Luis Obispo County beach town.

It was at one point the largest volume oil port in the world.

Meanwhile, just north of Morro Bay, the Estero Bay oil port had its own storied history beginning in 1929.

Estero is Spanish for estuary so it continued the fine tradition Central Coast doubled naming like Cuesta Grade, Laguna Lake and Morro Rock.

A portion of the Chevron Estero Bay facility seen in Aug. 30, 1994.

Pipelines carried oil from Kern County and the Kettleman Hills to tankers, heated pumping stations pushed the gooey crude to a pier at the sea port.

The facility was bypassed by inland pipeline to refineries at the end of the 20th Century.

Today property once used by Chevron (formerly Standard Oil of California) to ship oil to tankers is in the process of transitioning to open space.

Via other nearby landings, Estero Bay was also used as a terminal to ship jet fuel to Lemore Air Force Base and fuel oil to PG&Es Morro Bay Power Plant.

Texaco and Mobile also rented berths from Standard Oil.

At one point a super tanker facility was proposed for the area, but those plans were never realized.

What was happening in SLO County on eve of U.S. entering World War II?

Turn the clock back to July 26, 1941, and war clouds were gathering: Japan had invaded China.

Front page of the San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune on July 26, 1941, documents war preparations and the cut off of oil to Japan. It also included this map illustrating the Japanese invasion of French Indo-China, later Vietnam.

A map on the front page had an ominous foreshadowing, showing Japan had occupied Cam Ranh Bay in French Indochina, now Vietnam. It also showed nearby areas that would be under attack by the end of the year, the oil-rich Dutch East Indies and the Philippines.

We now know World War II would arrive in America at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, less than five months from this publication.

General Douglas MacArthur was called out of retirement by President Franklin Roosevelt and given command of American and Philippine forces in the southwest Pacific.

Roosevelt also froze Japanese assets in the United States which prevented the empire from being able to pay in gold for oil. Historians point to the cut-off of oil as the final precipitating decision for the Japanese Empire to act on a plan to attack the United States.

Other news stories on the front page included a four-lane highway was proposed for Camp San Luis Obispo and plans being made for what is now Vandenberg Space Force Base, thought then it was an unnamed and unbuilt army camp at the mouth of the Santa Ynez River.

Civic organizations in San Luis Obispo County were also collecting scrap metal for defense industries, including aluminum.

A story in the July 26, 1941 Telegram-Tribune detailed the stop in oil shipments to Japan:

Front page of the San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune July 26, 1941 documents war preparations and the cut off of oil to Japan.

Oil Shipment to Japan From Local Ports Stopped

Avila and Estero Bay shipments of oil to Japan faced complete stoppage today with the proclamation of President Roosevelt freezing Japanese assets in the United States.

Nearly 15 percent of Californias total production  much of which has been flowing through loading piers at Avila and Estero Bay to Japanese tankers  has been sustaining Japans war machine in China, according to military experts, and oil executives were in agreement that the presidents proclamation would shut the outgo completely.

Oil company officials stated today that the present financial setup made it impossible to ship oil to Japan under the presidents proclamation.

They pointed out that oil shipments to Japan in the past have been paid for in gold deposited in San Francisco banks. If such assets are impounded by government decree, the oil shipments must automatically be stopped, it was pointed out.

Last Japanese tanker to take cargo at Avila was the Toa Maru. It docked July 20 and sailed the next day.

Customs officials at Avila had received no word this morning regarding procedure for future entry and departure of Japanese vessels.

Oil company officials here report that the government has been steadily limiting the mount of oil which has been shipped to Japan. Since January, few vessels have docked at local ports to take on oil cargoes for the Orient.
Channel 9 obtained a report on an investigation into the Holly Hill Police Department on Friday.

In March, Channel 9 reported that Holly Hill police Chief Jeff Miller and a captain resigned amid allegations.

Since then, two sergeants have been placed on paid leave.

Some of the incidents described by victims in that report allegedly happened during their work day and others outside of work.

They range from inappropriate photos of the captain and sergeant to inappropriate touching.

Read: Investigation into misconduct at Holly Hill Police Dept. reveals shocking details, sheriff says

Channel 9 is still going through the report page by page, but we do know that it includes multiple accusations of inappropriate sexual behavior by Miller, a captain and two sergeants.

At least one of the victims is a female office, the report said.

She said in the report that she was dealing with sexual harassment at work.

During one incident in July 2022, the victim said that she was at the bar with another officer when Holly Hill police Sgt. Shannon Fountain came up behind her, grabbed her waist and pulled her back into his groin.

Read: Deputies investigate officer-involved shooting in Holly Hill

The chief, captain and a sergeant resigned due to their alleged involvement.

The discipline of a fourth law enforcement officer -- a sergeant -- is still under review.

The city manager said he was profoundly dismayed by what he read in the report.

Channel 9 is still reviewing the lengthy report and will report live updates on Eyewitness News at 10 and 11.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Geng Shuang, China's deputy representative to the United Nations, called on Ukraine and Russia to start peace talks as soon as possible at the UN Security Council meeting on June 15.

The remarks came on the eve of the Global Peace Summit that will bring together representatives of over 90 countries to discuss peace in Ukraine on June 15-16 in Switzerland. The summit was initiated by Ukraine, and Russia wasn't invited. China is not expected to participate.

China previously proposed a peace plan in February 2023, which was praised by Russia, dismissed by the West, and received a mixed response from Kyiv.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier on June 14 that as a condition for peace negotiations, Ukrainian troops must leave Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. He added that Ukraine must recognize Russia's illegal annexation of the four regions and abandon any ambition to join NATO.

Weapons may end a war, but they cannot bring lasting peace. China calls on the parties to the conflict to demonstrate political will, come together, and start peace talks as soon as possible to achieve a ceasefire and halt military actions," Geng told the UN Security Council meeting.

Ukraine invited China to the peace summit back in January, but Beijing indicated it would not attend. The Chinese government said its required terms for attending were not met, as not both countries involved in the war would participate.

After Beijing signaled its refusal to participate, President Volodymyr Zelensky accused China of working hard to prevent countries from attending the summit.

Beijing has been pushing its alternative peace plan ahead of the upcoming event in Switzerland, Reuters reported on June 13, citing undisclosed diplomatic sources.

The Chinese proposal was phrased vaguely but presented as an alternative to Zelensky's peace plan, which is backed by Kyiv's Western partners and will be discussed on June 15-16 in the Burgenstock resort.

Zelensky's 10-point peace formula, a plan first outlined in the fall of 2022, calls for a complete withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine, punishing those responsible for war crimes, and the release of all prisoners, among other goals.

Read also: Opinion: 8 lessons from Russias war in Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
(Bloomberg) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang began the first visit to Australia by a senior Beijing leader since 2017, signaling improved ties between the two nations at a time of escalating security tensions in the Asia-Pacific region.

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Li arrived in the southern city of Adelaide on Saturday for the first leg of his trip. He toured the citys zoo on Sunday morning to visit Australias only pair of pandas, Wang Wang and Fu Ni. As part of the trip, Li announced the much loved couple would be returning to China after 15 years, but promised to replace them with a new pair of the iconic animals.

In the afternoon, Li paid a visit to a South Australian winery, a symbolic stop for the premier following Chinas lifting of punishing tariffs on local wines earlier this year.

Beijings No. 2 official will travel to the national capital, Canberra, for meetings with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday, before heading to mining powerhouse Western Australia. In Perth, Li is expected to visit a critical minerals project with links to Chinese business.

The premiers visit caps a rapid warming in relations between Australia and China since the election of Albaneses center-left Labor government in May 2022. Just two years earlier, a trip by such a senior Chinese official would have been inconceivable, given the near breakdown in relations with Beijing imposing punitive trade measures on Australian goods.

Yet for all the bonhomie of Lis tour, underlying tensions remain. These include Australias increasingly important role in the emerging US-led security architecture in the Indo-Pacific thats arrayed against Beijing, near-misses between the countries militaries and Canberras reluctance to let China invest in key industries.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia would raise all points of difference with Beijing during Lis visit, including tensions over Taiwan and a suspended death sentence handed down to Australian writer Yang Hengjun in February.

We will deal with those issues and many other issues where we do have to navigate a set of differences of views between how China operates in this region and the sort of region Australia and many others want to engage in, she said in an interview Sunday on the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

The current state of relations appears unsustainable, said Bec Shrimpton, director of defense strategy and national security at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

The intractable, the long-term, the strategic and the structural issues in the relationship remain, she said. They are danced around, they are talked about gingerly, they are talked about merely enough to say they have been talked about.

In just the past year, Australian and Chinese forces have engaged in standoffs in the Asia-Pacific. In May, Canberra accused a Chinese fighter jet of firing flares near an Australian military helicopter in the Yellow Sea, just six months after a separate incident resulted in the injury of a navy diver.

Former Australian Ambassador to China Ric Smith said while normalization of relations between Canberra and Beijing is a worthy aspiration, it remained to be seen whether it was sustainable in the long term.

It will depend on cleverness on our part, he said at a Lowy Institute event in Canberra on Friday. And on how aggressive China chooses to be in relation to this lower level demander, as they see it.

Smith, who was Australias ambassador from 1996 to 2000, said the improvement in relations so far had been a superficial normalization. Theyve got to see, and weve got to decide, whether were serious about that or not, he said.

While Albanese and his government have stuck firmly to language geared toward stabilizing the relationship with China, Beijing has pushed for closer ties. One particular area of focus for the Chinese government is greater access for their businesspeople to Australias critical minerals sector.

China has long had a near-monopoly on supply of refined materials such as lithium, graphite and rare earths, which are vital to high-tech manufacturing and the green energy transition. In recent years, Australia has been working with the US and other partners such as Japan and the European Union to try to diversify critical minerals supply chains.

Allan Trench, a professor at the University of Western Australia, pointed out that struggles over global resources can often produce disastrous results.

Critical minerals are almost the new oil of this age and oil has been at the center of conflicts over the last 100-plus years, said Trench, a mineral economist, geophysicist and business management consultant. We want to avoid a monopoly and conflict developing over critical minerals over the next couple of decades.

While the Australian government says it welcomes all interest from foreign investors, in practice there appears to be no appetite to greenlight Chinese requests, irritating Beijing. Earlier this month, Treasurer Jim Chalmers ordered a China-linked investor to divest its stake in a rare earths miner.

--With assistance from Paul-Alain Hunt.

(Updates with winery visit in third paragraph.)

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(Bloomberg) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiangs visit to Australia is a really significant step for the two nations relationship, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Saturday.

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Li will land in Australia for a four-day trip on Saturday, heading to Adelaide, Canberra and Perth as part of the first visit by a Chinese premier since early 2017, when relations began to deteriorate.

This follows Lis visit to New Zealand, where he pledged to strengthen economic ties with Wellington. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the two premiers had discussed issues such as foreign interference, the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

While the trip 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.

Lis visit recognizes the key economic and broader relationship between Australia and China, Chalmers said at a press conference in Queensland state. Were looking forward to engaging with Premier Li and his colleagues on this really important visit.

Chalmers will also sign the Memorandum of Understanding on the Strategic Economic Dialogue with National Development and Reform Commission Vice Chairman Liu Sushe that was agreed last year.

We believe that engagement is good for our people, its good for our economy and its good for our country more broadly, and thats what this visit is all about, Chalmers said. Weve made really encouraging progress stabilizing the relationship with China but in a way which is consistent with our values and our interests.

When asked by a journalist if the Australian government will confront the Chinese prime minister on humanitarian issues, Chalmers said we are prepared to speak up for those values and interests when thats appropriate.

We dont pretend that isnt sometimes a difficult relationship to manage or a complex relationship to manage, he said. And so we disagree with the administration when we need to, we engage where we can and I think weve seen some of the fruits of that, certainly in terms of the economy over the last couple of years.

(Adds Lis NZ visit in third paragraph. A previous version of this story was corrected to clarify its the first visit by a Chinese premier in more than seven years.)

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China at UN calls on Ukraine and Russia to meet each other halfway

Geng Shuang, China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, has called on Ukraine and Russia to "meet each other halfway" and start peace talks as soon as possible.

Source: China Times; UN Security Council meeting, convened at Russian request on the eve of the Peace Summit in Switzerland

Quote from Shuang: "Weapons may end a war, but they cannot bring lasting peace. China calls on the parties to the conflict to demonstrate political will, come together and start peaceful talks as soon as possible to achieve a ceasefire and halt military actions."

Details: Shuang also called on the international community to "prioritise peace and humanity, intensify efforts to promote peace and talks, avoid escalation of confrontation, unite efforts to overcome the negative consequences of the crisis [as China calls Russia's invasion of Ukraine] and work together to create conditions for a political settlement of the crisis."

Shuang stated that China's position on Ukraine is "consistent and clear": "China will continue to uphold an objective and impartial position, maintain close communication with all parties, persistently advocate and promote talks, exert relentless efforts and play a constructive role in facilitating the quickest possible political resolution to the crisis in Ukraine."

He also stated that the US spread lies that China supported the war initiated by Russia, emphasising that trade between the US and Russia has never ceased, even after the beginning of the war.

According to Shuang, China has always called for peace and facilitated talks to advance a political solution.

Quote: "China has not provided lethal weapons to any party to the conflict and has always strictly controlled dual-use goods. Economic and trade cooperation between China and Russia complies with WTO [World Trade Organisation] rules and market principles. It is not directed against third parties and does not violate international law. In fact, trade exchanges between the US and Russia have never ceased, even after the beginning of the war."

Meanwhile, Geng Shuang called on the US to stop attacking and "smearing China because of the Ukrainian issue" and also to cease unilateral sanctions against Chinese businesses.

Background:

Reuters reported that China, which would not attend this weekend's Peace Summit in Switzerland, was lobbying world governments ahead of the Swiss meeting to promote its peace plan.

The Chinese proposal envisages holding an international peace conference "at a proper time that is recognised by both Russia and Ukraine, with equal participation of all parties as well as fair discussion of all peace plans".

UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps accused China of providing or preparing to provide lethal weaponry to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine.

The US accused China of aiding Russia in achieving military objectives in Ukraine and warned of sanctions for supporting the Russian war.

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By Kirsty Needham

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Australia on Saturday, saying relations were "back on track" as he started the first visit by a Chinese premier to the major trading partner in seven years.

Australia is "uniquely positioned to connect the West and the East" and stands as "an important force of economic globalization and world multipolarity", Li said at Adelaide's airport, according to a statement from the Chinese embassy.

Bilateral relations are "back on track after a period of twists and turns", Li said.

Australia is the biggest supplier of iron ore to China, which has been an investor in Australian mining projects, though some recent Chinese investment in critical minerals has been blocked by Australia on national interest grounds.

China imposed trade restrictions on a raft of Australian agricultural and mineral products in 2020 during a diplomatic dispute that has now largely eased.

During his four-day visit, Li will also visit the capital Canberra and mining state Western Australia.

"A more mature, stable and fruitful comprehensive strategic partnership will be a treasure shared by the people of both countries," Li said.

He is expected to visit a pair of pandas on loan from China to Adelaide's zoo on Sunday. A lunch with wine exporters until recently shut out of the Chinese market will show trade ties have smoothed after the dispute that suspended A$20 billion ($13 billion) in Australian agriculture and mineral exports through last year.

Li arrived from New Zealand, where he highlighted Chinese demand for New Zealand's agricultural products.

China is the biggest trading partner of Australia and New Zealand. Canberra and Wellington are seeking to balance trade with regional security concerns over China's ambitions in the Pacific Islands.

In New Zealand, Li visited major dairy exporter Fonterra on Saturday after signing agreements with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on trade and climate change, with human rights and foreign interference also on the agenda.

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham and Sam McKeith in Sydney; Editing by William Mallard)
Chinese premier lands in Australia on first such visit in 7 years

Chinese Premier Li Qiang waves on his arrival at Adelaide Airport, Australia, Saturday, June 15, 2024. Li is on a relations-mending mission with panda diplomacy, rock lobsters and China's global dominance in the critical minerals sector high on the agenda during his four day visit to Australia. (Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/Pool Photo via AP)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)  Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Australia on Saturday on a relations-mending mission with panda diplomacy, rock lobsters and Chinas global dominance in the critical minerals sector high on the agenda.

His visit is the first by a Chinese premier in seven years and is expected to pave the way for President Xi Jinpings first journey to Australia since 2014.

Bilateral relations collapsed during Australias previous conservative administrations almost decade in power, with Beijing imposing a series of official and unofficial trade barriers in 2020 on Australian products which cost exporters billions of dollars.

This is the second stop of Li's tour after New Zealand, and will end in Malaysia.

Before leaving New Zealand, the premier told an audience in the city of Auckland on Saturday that his country was committed to creating a first-class business environment and supporting foreign enterprises to develop in China, according to Chinese state media.

Li said there was vast potential for China and New Zealand to collaborate in areas such as green development and that Beijing welcomed New Zealand enterprises, such as dairy company Fonterra, that seized such opportunities, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

During the Australian leg of his travels which ends on Tuesday, Chinas most powerful politician after Xi, is expected to visit Adelaide Zoo in the South Australia state capital where his Air China flight landed from Auckland.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas greeted Li on the Adelaide Airport tarmac.

Li will also visit a Chinese-controlled lithium processing plant in the Kwinana Beach industrial estate in Western Australia state, as well as Australias Parliament House in the national capital Canberra.

China initiated a reset of the relationship after Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses center-left Labor Party was elected in 2022.

Relations with the previous administration collapsed over legislation that banned covert foreign interference in Australian politics, the exclusion of Chinese-owned telecommunications giant Huawei from rolling out the national 5G network due to security concerns, and Australias call for an independent investigation into the causes of and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beijing imposed an array of official and unofficial trade blocks in 2020 on a range of Australian exports including coal, wine, barley and wood that cost up to 20 billion Australian dollars ($13 billion) a year.

All the trade bans have now been lifted except for Australian live lobster exports. Trade Minister Don Farrell predicted that impediment would also be lifted soon after Lis visit with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao.

Id be very confident that the visit this week will result in a very successful outcome for lobster producers, Farrell told reporters Wednesday.

Many observers expect Australia will be more cautious about its future economic relationship with China after being subjected to what many see as economic coercion in recent years.

Australian National University China expert Benjamin Herscovitch describes an emerging expectations gap between Beijing and Canberra.

Beijing, now that the coercion campaign is over, wants to  turn the page and launch into a more expansive, more positive, more cooperative bilateral relationship, Herscovitch said.

Canberras saying: Look. Hold on. We want the trade restrictions gone and we want high-level diplomacy restored. But were not interested in deeper science and technology cooperation with China because we see that potentially from an Australian point of view as a security threat, Herscovitch added.

Li intends to visit Tianqi Lithium Energy Australias processing plant south of the Western Australia capital Perth on Tuesday to underscore Chinas interest in investing in critical minerals, news media have reported. The plant produces battery-grade lithium hydroxide for electric vehicles.

Australia shares the United States' concerns over Chinas dominance in the critical minerals, which are essential components in the worlds transition to renewable energy sources.

Citing Australia's national interests, Treasurer Jim Chalmers recently ordered five Chinese-linked companies to divest their shares in the rare earth mining company, Northern Minerals.

Less controversially, Li is expected to make a visit Sunday to Adelaide Zoo, which has been the home of China-born giant pandas Wang Wang and Fu Ni since 2009.

The Adelaide Advertiser newspaper has reported Li will announce the pandas will be replaced by another breeding pair after they return to China in November.

While the bilateral economic relationship is recovering from plumbing new lows in recent years, the security relationship between the two free trading partners appears more tense.

An annual poll by the Sydney-based Lowy Institute foreign policy think tank released in June found 53% of Australian respondents saw China as more of a security threat than an economic partner.

Albanese has said he will raise with Li during an annual leaders meeting on Monday recent clashes between the two countries militaries in the South China Sea and Yellow Sea which Australia argues endangered Australian personnel.

The premier spent three days in New Zealand, a free trade partner with which China has enjoyed a more harmonious relationship than it has with Australia. Li described China and New Zealand as "good friends.

His next stop will be Malaysia, where bilateral relations are further complicated by competing territorial claims in the South China Sea.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told Li on Saturday: China is one of New Zealands most important and consequential relationships.

Li used the trip to express concerns at New Zealands contemplation of joining a military technology-sharing arrangement under Australias AUKUS pact with the United States and Britain. The pacts primary aim is to provide Australia with a fleet of submarines powered by U.S. nuclear technology.

___

Graham-McLay contributed from Wellington, New Zealand.
Chukchansi using paper genocide for more casino money, former council members say

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Former members of the tribe that operates Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino say tribal leaders are removing members in large numbers without due process.

Thomas Pisano, Debben Beesley, Claudia Gonzales, Jessica Alvarez, and Patrick Alvarez all say they have the documentation to prove their heritage and connection to Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians and they have all received disenrollment notices after years of being in the tribe.

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According to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the documentation needed for enrollment into a federally recognized tribe varies from tribe to tribe.

Thomas Pisano, a former member of the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians.

Thomas Pisano, who once sat on Chukchansis tribal council, says he was asked for allotment papers to prove his heritage and right to enrollment.

Allotment paper from the land management, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pisano said. Showing thats your proof that you did get the land and you are who you say you are.

According to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, a native allotment is a parcel of land that is conveyed from the federal government to an individual applicant who qualifies under the law. Pisano says his grandfather had ties to the Francisco Rodriguez allotment, so he was able to provide his allotment documentation to the Chukchansis enrollment committee.

At one point, Pisano says he was even a card-carrying member of the Chukchansi tribe and worked at the casino for 15 years; now hes disenrolled from the tribe.

Disenrollment isnt about ascertaining historical truth, said Indigenous rights lawyer Gabriel Galanda. Its about accomplishing a certain political goal, which is eradicating and exiling political opponents.

Glanada says systematic and unjustified disenrollment is a problem across tribes and is in itself an inhumane practice.

Its hard to imagine anything more inhumane than telling a youth who has grown up believing they belong somewhere  and now theyre being told they dont belong, Galdanda said. That is the height of indignity and inhumanity in America.

Jessica Alvarezs children participate in tribal dances.

Jessica Alvarez could not hold back her tears talking about how disenrollment has affected her children

Galandas words are echoed by those of Jessica Alvarez whos family has faced disenrollment across three generations.

Alvarez says she was sent a letter of disenrollment in December. She says her family was accused of dual enrollment with Table Mountain, but Table Mountain provided her with documentation proving the tribe has never recognized her or her father.

Alvarez says the council did not care and she could not hide the situation from her children, who were also sent disenrollment letters.

I have my six-year-old daughter crying to me, telling me, what did we do so wrong to be kicked out of the tribe? Alvarez said. This is a form of disrespect to the resilience that their ancestors had because the enrollment department is trying to rewrite our ancestors history and diminish what they went through.

Alvarezs father Patrick says he too is hurt by the tribes actions against his grandchildren, and says he believes it all comes down to money.

Theyve paid off the casino. Its been paid off, Patrick said. Now theyre trying to trim the fat.

Claudia Gonzales, a former member of the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians.

Claudia Gonzales agreed with Patrick Alvarez and said there are council members who are adamant about trimming the fat. Gonzales, like Pisano, once sat on the tribes council. She says under her leadership the tribe was able to pay off the casino.

But Gonzales says if she had known paying off the casino would lead to more infighting and her eventual disenrollment she would have never helped pay off the bond loan.

If we knew this was coming, then we would have taken precautions and measures to protect the general membership from those few that decided they want to try to create paper genocide, Gonzales said.

Indigenous rights lawyer Gabriel Galanda says another issue is the well-being of those who rely on general funds from the tribe to live.

What disenrollment really accomplishes is it cuts out the safety net of an Indigenous person from underneath them  social service benefits, educational benefits, health care benefits, or general welfare benefits.

Galanda says the worst part is that nothing can be done about it since Chukchansi is a sovereign nation.

Yes, they can do whatever they want with or without regard for tribal law and there is nobody in the country who cares enough to do anything about it, Galanda said.

For those disenrolled, Galanda says he wishes he could spread hope, its all too little too late at this point.

Tragically, I have no hope that these relatives will be saved from disenrollment or exile, Galanda said.

The cold, the cold, hard truth is that this country does not care about them. It does not care about the health and welfare of the first peoples of this country.

YourCentralValley.com reached out to the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians for a statement and received no comment in 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 YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
Three weeks before the 2020 presidential election, a group of former CIA directors broke cover to make an extraordinary intervention in the race between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

They could not possibly have imagined the firestorm they would ignite  and how it would ultimately plunge US intelligence agencies into the political debate amid growing mistrust of government institutions among the Right.

In October 2020, the Trump-backing New York Post was reporting on damaging emails from a laptop belonging to Mr Bidens son, Hunter.

The smoking gun material included emails on dubious foreign business dealings, sexually explicit photos and a raunchy, 12-minute video of a crack-smoking Hunter with an unnamed woman, the paper said.

Regardless of its provenance, it was highly embarrassing for the Biden team, and had the potential to inflict serious damage on the Democratic campaign.

Within days, 51 former intelligence officials had taken the unusual step of circulating an open letter warning the kompromat had all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation. The signatories included John Brennan, Barack Obamas CIA Director, and James Clapper, his director of national intelligence, while social media companies limited the spread of the New York Post story after it was published.

During the final presidential debate, days before the polls opened, Mr Biden parried attacks from Mr Trump about the laptop by citing the letter, calling the material a Russian plant.

In the intervening years, multiple news organisations have confirmed the authenticity of at least some of the laptop material.

It came, as the New York Post had reported in 2020, from a hard drive recovered from a laptop Hunter had abandoned at a repair shop in Delaware.

During the final presidential debate, days before the polls opened in 2020, Mr Biden parried attacks from Trump about the laptop by citing the letter, calling the material a 'Russian plant' - AFP

But how the laptop saga divided opinion among Americans of different political stripes is just another illustration of how febrile the countrys discourse has become.

The row has reignited in the wake of Hunters conviction this week on federal gun charges, and in which material from the laptop was instrumental.

For Republicans, this was proof of a Washington establishment intent on tipping the election scales in the Democrats favour.

A fringe of the Right has gone further, casting it as supporting evidence to unsubstantiated claims of a CIA plot.

Democrats have dismissed the claims as a conspiracy theory. Caution over the laptop, they argue, was necessary given Russian election interference efforts during the 2016 campaign.

The 51 former intelligence officials acknowledged their intervention came despite them having no knowledge of whether the laptop material was genuine or not, and without evidence of Russian involvement.

Hunter Biden and his wife Melissa Cohen Biden during his trial. At one point, a prosecutor held up Biden's silver MacBook Pro for jurors to see - Kevin Dietsch/Getty

The laptop and the hard drive were seized by the FBI, after the shops owner alerted the authorities, though not before he copied the data and handed it to Trumps allies.

However unsavoury its origin, this was no Russian hack.

That was underscored in dramatic fashion during the trial of the presidents son. At one point, a prosecutor held up Hunters silver MacBook Pro for jurors to see.

An FBI agent called to the stand in Wilmington, Delaware, testified to the authenticity of deeply personal messages and sordid photos retrieved from the device which were used to demonstrate Hunters drug addiction.

Following his conviction for lying about his drug use to buy a gun, the Right has taken a victory lap, and touted vindication over the infamous laptop, and their claims of a biased intelligence community.

In other words, Fox News host Sean Hannity told viewers in an opening monologue, you were lied to on a very high level just before an election by numerous people and entire institutions.

Jim Merrill, a GOP strategist, said Hunters conviction was unlikely to be top of mind for voters in November, but the laptop saga could become a rallying point for the [Trump] base that feels like there is this coordinated effort to protect the president.

Its a reminder that facts can be seen through two very different prisms, facts can be fitted to suit a partisan perspective, and it happens on both sides, he told The Telegraph. I certainly think thats happened in this case and it underscores how difficult it is to gain consensus on anything.

Democrats have downplayed the impact of Hunters case on his fathers re-election effort, although some concede it cuts into their ability to highlight Trumps own conviction.

However Scott Jennings, a prominent Republican strategist, said the laptop controversy would have tangible repercussions for the Biden campaign.

Bidens ability to recover is going to be based somewhat on whether people find him to be credible, he told ABC News. And now, one of the problems is they know full well he lied right to their face about this laptop.

Some GOP officials have gone further and demanded repercussions for the intelligence community.

The 51 intelligence officials who interfered in the 2020 election by signing the fraudulent letter carried out their own information operation against the American people and must be held accountable, Wisconsin senator Ron Johnson said.

Many of the signatories, including Mr Clapper and former CIA chief Leon Panetta, have said they had no regrets about their involvement in discrediting the laptop story.

It served as nothing more than a warning letter, said Mark Zaid, a lawyer for seven other signatories.

It is impossible to say what impact the letter had on the 2020 campaign, but in 2024, it has made Americas intelligence agencies another front in the White House battle.

Pete Giangreco, a strategist who previously worked for Mr Obama, said the biggest impact of Hunters conviction was that it completely undermines Trumps claims that the justice system is rigged.

I think the laptop was one of the great fizzles of all time, he said, in reference to Republicans claims Hunter was given preferential treatment by the Justice Department.

The fact is, Hunter Biden was convicted of a crime thats rarely ever prosecuted as a first time offence of somebody whos got a drug problem, he said. So it kind of doesnt hold any water. The laptop was no smoking gun. It was kind of a fantasy, and he actually got tougher treatment than what is usually normal for the offence that he had.

He added: Its not even the biggest lie the Right is pushing. I mean, youre talking about folks who still to this day claim the election was rigged.

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US forces destroy Houthi radars in Yemen that allowed Iranian-backed group to target commercial ships, CENTCOM says

US forces launched successful attacks late this week on Houthi radars that helped facilitate the Iranian-backed groups ongoing assaults on ships in the Red Sea, according to US Central Command.

CENTCOM said the US military destroyed seven radars in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, which had allowed Houthis to target maritime vessels and endanger commercial shipping.

The strikes followed a Wednesday Houthi attack on a Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned and operated ship that left one civilian mariner missing.

The attack on the ship caused severe flooding and damage to the engine room, CENTCOM said. The crew abandoned ship and was rescued by US and partner forces, including the USS Philippine Sea.

The cargo ship is still in the Red Sea and is taking on water, CENTCOM said. The ship is drifting from its last reported position, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations.

In addition to the attacks on the radars, US forces destroyed one uncrewed aerial system launched from Yemen and two uncrewed surface vessels in the Red Sea, according to the CENTCOM statement.

The Houthis have launched dozens of missile and drone attacks directed at ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since Israel launched its invasion of Gaza following Hamas October 7 attack.

On Thursday, Iran-backed Houthi militants struck another cargo ship, the M/V Verbena, in two separate missile attacks in the Gulf of Aden, severely injuring a civilian mariner and causing fires on board, according to CENTCOM. The wounded mariner from the M/V Verbena was medically evacuated by aircraft from a nearby US warship.

Two days later, the crew issued a distress call indicating it was abandoning the ship due to continued fires and an inability to control them, CENTCOM said Saturday. Another commercial ship responded to the distress signal and is transporting the mariners to safety. Notably, the Iranian frigate IRIN Jamaran was 8 nautical miles from the M/V Verbena and did not respond to the distress call, CENTCOM said in a statement on X.

This continued reckless behavior by the Iranian-backed Houthis threatens regional stability and endangers the lives of mariners across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The Houthis claim to be acting on behalf of Palestinians in Gaza and yet they are targeting and threatening the lives of third country nationals who have nothing to do with the conflict in Gaza, CENTCOM said in a statement earlier this week. The ongoing threat to international commerce caused by the Houthis in fact makes it harder to deliver badly needed assistance to the people of Yemen as well as Gaza.

The US and UK have carried out several rounds of strikes against the Houthis in Yemen, including as recently as last week, to try to degrade their weapons supplies. But the Houthis have shown no signs of halting their attacks.

The United States will continue to act with partners to hold the Houthis accountable and degrade their military capabilities, CENTCOM said.

This story has been updated with new reporting.

CNNs Philip Wang contributed to this report.

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The interim CEO of Wichitas largest abortion clinic resigned Friday, and the clinics board hired a national healthcare consultant in hopes of reopening this summer.

Trust Women Wichita has not offered abortions for nearly a month after its board of directors reportedly fired the clinics co-executive directors  Schaunta James-Boyd and Rebecca Tong  and installed board member Shukeyla Harrison as interim CEO of the clinic.

The change resulted in a mass exodus of abortion doctors, who reportedly resigned in protest, and directors, who were either fired or resigned after Harrison took charge. Sapphire Garcia, a newly elected president of the board, has taken a leading role in explaining the changes but said in a June 15 email that she was not elevated on the board until after key personnel had already left.

Additionally, no physicians or staff resigned in response to my election to the role of board president on May 13th, Garcia said.

Harrison, a doctoral student in leadership studies, instructor and coordinator of the Edgerley-Franklin Leadership Scholars program at Kansas State University, resigned Friday after about two months on the job, according to a news release from Garcia.

The Trust Women Foundations board of directors announced that it hired Health Management Associates, a healthcare research and consulting firm, to partner with the staff and physicians in Wichita and Oklahoma City to resume patient care, the release says.

The board is confident that this step will enable Trust Women to resume patient care this summer, the release says.

Trust Women did not immediately respond to questions about the news release on Friday.

Garcia has declined to say when she estimates the clinic could reopen.

Trust Women is one of a handful of clinics in the region that provided surgical abortion up to 22 weeks of pregnancy, the legal limit in Kansas. It was among the closest clinics for many patients who live in states that have banned abortion, including Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana.

The nearest clinics that provide abortions past 20 weeks are now in Overland Park, Colorado Springs and across state lines from St. Louis in Illinois, according to Abortion Finders website.

Leadership shakeup leads to exodus

After being appointed interim CEO, Harrison began firing directors within the nonprofit organization, former employees told The Eagle. Others who had been with Trust Women for years quit in protest, including 10 of the clinics 16 physicians, according to Rewire News Group, an advocacy group that covers reproductive rights. Rewire was first to report that the clinic had stopped providing abortions last month.

Trust Womens medical director, advocacy director, director of communications and the person who had been covering the duties of a vacant development director position left the organization in May, and the clinic has not been operational for abortion care since around May 20.

Trust Women would not comment on the departures. Former Trust Women employees told The Eagle that the medical director and advocacy director were fired while the other two quit.

Garcias Friday news release does not say why the clinic closed or how the consultants will help the clinic begin providing abortions again.

HMA consultants who have decades of experience in academic medical centers, Planned Parenthood affiliates, independent clinics and federally qualified health centers will begin work tomorrow, partnering with Trust Women staff and physicians until the end of the year, Garcia said in the statement, adding that Jessica Wannemacher, the clinics director of clinical operations, will be working most closely with HMA.

Garcias statement said Harrison resigned in conjunction with retaining HMA.

The board thanks her for her work, and for taking on the job at a difficult time, Garcias news release says. We are grateful for Ms. Harrisons service during this time of change and growth at Trust Women and wish her the best in her future endeavors.

Note: This story was updated on June 17 with details about Sapphire Garcias role at Trust Women and the timing of her selection as president of the Trust Women Foundation Board.
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will face a challenge if they try to interrupt each other at the upcoming CNN debate: Their mics will be muted when its not their allotted time to talk.

That is one of the details that CNN released today for its June 27 event in Atlanta, where Biden and Trump will meet for the first time this cycle. If all goes as planned, this also will be the earliest general election debate; all others have taken place in the fall.

More from Deadline

CNN also will take advantage of the expected blockbuster audience with two commercial breaks scheduled, another departure from the past. The campaign staff will not be allowed to interact with the candidates during those breaks.

Both candidates agreed to the debate last month, sidelining the Commission on Presidential Debates, the bipartisan panel that has organized general election matchups since 1988.

Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will moderate the debate. The network said that both candidates have agreed to accept the rules and format of the debate, as outlined in the letters that CNN sent to the campaigns.

Candidates also will appear at a uniform podium  aka lectern  and the only materials they will be allowed to have with them will be a pen, a pad of paper and a bottle of water.

The muting of mics became an issue after the first debate of the 2020 cycle, when Trump repeatedly interrupted Biden, to the point where Biden snapped him, Will you shut up, man? There was more limited muting of mics during the second debate that cycle.

The debate will have no studio audience, although other media will be at the site but not in the room. The network also is planning for the post-debate spin room. The feed of the debate will be made available to other networks as well.

A lingering question is whether independent Robert Kennedy Jr. will qualify for the debate. Candidates must have averaged 15% in four separate polls identified by CNN. Kennedy has reached that threshold in three. But he also has to appear on enough state ballots to have a shot of winning 270 electoral votes. According to CNN, he is on the ballot in six states, or 89 electoral votes.

Biden and Trump also have agreed to a Sept. 10 debate sponsored by ABC News, with David Muir and Linsey Davis moderating.

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(Bloomberg) -- Colombias lower house approved President Gustavo Petros pension reform bill, representing a victory in his campaign to overhaul the nations conservative economic model.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The law dramatically increases the states role in pension provision, making the government the manager of around 70% of all worker contributions, while private funds will receive the rest.

The project forms part of Petros package of welfare reforms, with a health care and labor market reforms still going through congress. After the approval of the pension bill, Petro lauded the reform as the biggest achievement for Colombian workers in years.

The initiative creates a program to expand subsidies for elderly Colombians living in poverty, and eliminates competition between the public and private pension systems. The law also allows private funds to charge a fee on assets under management and creates a savings fund to pay for future pension compensation, to be managed by the central bank.

Petros lower house coalition approved the bill by simply endorsing the text that lawmakers had already cleared in the senate, potentially opening the door to legal challenges. The tactic sparked criticism from opposition lawmakers, and even some government supporters.

Carlos Edward Osorio, a lower house representative from the opposition Democratic Center party said hell challenge the reform in the constitutional court, arguing that lawmakers didnt have sufficient opportunity to debate the bill.

Market Impact

Markets wont react negatively to the bills approval as the impact on public finances will be felt over the long term, Julio Romero, an analyst at Corficolombiana, said by phone.

Jackeline Pirajan, an economist at Scotiabank Colpatria, said regulators will have an important role in preventing government interference from leading to mismanagement of the new savings fund.

According to the bill, the contributions from workers salaries up to 2.3 times the monthly minimum wage, equivalent to about $750, will go into the public system, while the balance goes into the private system. Private pension funds currently receive about three quarters of the volume of worker contributions, Corredores Davivienda estimated.

(Updates with analyst comments from seventh paragraph)

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Columbus man with prior convictions sentenced to over nine years in prison on firearm charge

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  A Columbus man with prior felony convictions was sentenced to serve over nine years in prison on a firearm charge, according to the United States Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Georgia.

Devontae Jammell Morris, 29, pled guilty to one count of illegal possession of a firearm back on Jan. 29.

The charge stems back to Nov. 19, 2022, when a Muscogee County Sheriffs Office (MCSO) tried to pull over a vehicle that sped out of a parking lot on Buena Vista Road.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, Morris was behind the wheel and did not initially stop for the deputy. When Morris did stop, the U.S. Attorneys Office says he ran across the road into a store.

Deputies found Morris in a bathroom with $1,752 in cash and a small amount of drugs. Officers also found a semi-automatic Glock pistol with a TruGlo laser, a Glock magazine, an extended magazine, bullets and a digital scale in his vehicle.

Morris had prior criminal convictions including aggravated assault, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and aggravated battery.

This is what U.S. Attorney Peter Leary had to say on Morris case.

Felons with lengthy violent criminal histories who illegally possess guns can expect federal prosecution and should count on stiff sentences, said Leary. Law enforcement at every level and across the Middle District of Georgia is working to reduce violent crime and make our communities safer.

Morris will serve three years of supervised release upon completing his prison sentence.

This case was investigated by the Muscogee County Sheriffs Department and ATF. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Crawford Seals.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A Columbus officer has lost his job after engaging in sexual acts multiple times while on duty at a local grocery store, according to the divisions chief.

Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant spoke with NBC4 on Friday, where she disclosed she terminated Officer Robert Spann for actions while on special duty at an unspecified Kroger in the area. A document dated for Tuesday detailed Bryant made the decision to fire him for violating the divisions rules of conduct with consensual sexual activity with a store employee.

Robert Spann. (Courtesy Photo/Columbus Division of Police)

Bryant had been notified by the Columbus Inspector Generals Office about a complaint filed against Spann in October.

He was caught on camera doing some sexual acts and it was an excessive amount of times, Bryant said. I want to believe at least nine times that was caught on camera, and when that was brought to the inspector generals attention regarding an investigation, they in turn contacted us.

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Bryant said that she and the inspector generals office deliberated on whether or not there would be a criminal investigation against Spann, but the store played a role in the decision as well.

Once it was determined that it was not going to be criminal because Kroger chose not to prosecute, it was then investigated by the inspector general, Bryant said. The recommendation was made that there be discipline regarding what he did. It was brought to our attention. It came here and ultimately we made the decision that he should be fired.

Spann was one of two officers fired within a week. In a separate case, Bryant and the citys director of public safety, Kate Pishotti, decided to terminate Officer Donovan Bever after a videotaped arrest where he shoved a teens face into a concrete sidewalk and held him by his dreadlocks.

Pishotti also released a statement regarding Spanns termination.

Whether an officer is on duty being paid by the taxpayers of Columbus or a private special duty entity, they represent this division and are expected to conduct themselves accordingly, Pishotti wrote. Officer Spanns conduct violated his oath and his duty to serve, and brought dishonor to the division of police. His inappropriate conduct while in a uniformed capacity neglected his responsibilities. The kind of behavior demonstrated here is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

Pizza Hut abruptly closes four central Ohio locations

Bryant said that Spann and Bevers actions do not represent her team as a whole.

When you have 2,000-plus employees, theres going to be a couple of people that may do things that are not best for the agency or that may exceed even to criminal conduct, Bryant said. But the majority of our officers are out here doing some phenomenal work, have great relationships with our community and I really want people to know that we are focused on making sure that we support our officers, that we encourage them, that we get them the best training and that we continue to build those bridges in our community.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A Columbus police officer is out of a job thanks to his actions caught on bodycam during a 14-year-old boys arrest.

In a document dated for Tuesday, the Columbus police chief and director of public safety decided to terminate Officer Donovan Bever. They charged him with violating the divisions rule of conduct, noting abusive or violent behavior and violating its policy on use of force.

The document details multiple examples of Bevers conduct during a Feb. 19 arrest of a 14-year-old boy as the reasoning behind his termination:

While arresting the teen, Bever grabbed him by his dreadlocks and forcefully caused his head/face to strike a concrete walkway. The facts of the case did not justify the use of force as objectively reasonable, according to the document.

Bever forcefully pushed the teens face into the concrete walkway.

Bever removed a phone charger and another unidentified object from the teens pockets during a search, then threw them at him and struck him in the face.

After placing the teen in handcuffs, Bever told the teen you move, I will break your face.

Making the teen stand up, Bever then escorted him by his dreadlocks to a police van.

While conducting another search of the teen, Bever aggressively struck him in the groin with his hand.

The officer was one of two to be fired within a week. In a separate case, Chief Elaine Bryant decided to terminate Officer Robert Spann after saying he engaged in excessive sex acts with a store employee while working special duty at an area Kroger.

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Bryant sat down with NBC4 after the firings, describing her emotions after reviewing Bevers bodycam video.

It angers me. Im disappointed. Im angry. Im frustrated because this is not what we stand for and there was absolutely no reason or justification for treating a 14-year-old or anyone like that, Bryant said.

Director of Public Safety Kate Pishotti also released a statement Friday afternoon, saying the 14-year-old deserved better.

Officer Bevers actions were unacceptable, and as it pertains to his employment,

indefensible, Pishotti wrote. What I saw on that video and read in this investigation was wholly

incompatible with the values of the Columbus Division of Police.

Donovan Bever. (Courtesy Photo/Columbus Division of Police)

The video from the same Feb. 19 arrest showed Bever was conducting a traffic stop with another officer for a pedestrian in the roadway while patrolling in Linden. At about 4 p.m., they rolled up on two 14-year-old boys they had seen earlier. When the officers approached the pair of teens, they took off running.

They were walking in the street, doing what kids do, Bryant said.

Pizza Hut abruptly closes four central Ohio locations

The second officer got out of the police car within the apartment complex and ran toward the boys, while Bever drove the car around to a different area. When the second officer spotted the two teens across the lawn, he pulled out and aimed his firearm in the boys direction and shouted Drop to the ground right now.

Continuing to advance on the pair, the second officer yelled Get on the f***ing ground or Ill shoot you. He then strained his voice to shout On the ground several times. The teens followed the officers instructions. He then approached and began to place one of the boys into handcuffs while he was face down on the ground.

While the second officer began to arrest the first teen, Bever caught up to the group. Bevers bodycam recorded him running over to the other teen, grabbing the boys dreadlocks and shoving him face down into the sidewalk. Bever continued to pull on the teens dreadlocks to steer him, as Bever used his other hand to place the boy into handcuffs.

A still from terminated Officer Donovan Bevers bodycam shows him holding a teen by his dreadlocks and forcing his head into a sidewalk. (Courtesy Photo/Columbus Division of Police)

The footage showed Bever continuously pushing the boys face into the ground, while the teen is heard repeating Im sorry several times. One of the teens can also be heard repeating Im complying, Im complying.

Bryant watched the bodycam video with NBC4 after deciding to fire Bever, describing these actions as the ones leading to Bevers firing.

At that point the excessive use of force, there was a head shove into the ground, Bryant said. There was some objects being thrown into the young mans face and then you will see him stand up and escort him to the wagon by his hair.

Pizza Hut abruptly closes four central Ohio locations

When Bever then rolled the teen onto his back, he could be heard saying, You move, I will break your face. While searching the teens pockets, he pulled out a phone charger and another unidentified object and threw them in the 14-year-olds face. After forcefully rolling the teen around to his other side, the teen was visibly bleeding from his mouth.

Bever then took the teen to a police van for another search, holding him by his dreadlocks. Once there, Bever could be heard asking the teen you got AIDS?

Bever was relieved from duty the day after the arrest, but wasnt fired until months later. Bryant said the division spoke with the 14-year-olds grandmother, his legal guardian, after the incident.

They were disappointed about the actions of the officers, but they were relieved and happy with the swift action that the department and the director of public safety took in addressing this issue, Bryant said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
AKRON, Ohio (WJW)  Mayor Shammas Malik on Friday announced the cancellation of all large events on public property in the city set for Saturday, June 15, and Sunday, June 16, due to safety concerns posed by several city council members.

Its been nearly two weeks since a mass shooting during a birthday party near the intersection of Kelly and 8th avenues killed one person and injured 27 others. At least 45 shots from five different weapons were fired. No arrests have been made.

Local community warned to keep toilet lids closed

Malik said eight council members, some of whom represent wards where Juneteenth-related events were set for the coming weekend, signed and emailed a letter to him on Friday afternoon, referencing the June 2 shooting and calling it irresponsible to allow Juneteenth events to continue this weekend.

When I get a letter like that, I take it seriously, Malik said at a hastily called media briefing on Friday evening. Despite the deference to our city council members, in this instance, there is no credible threat to this weekends Juneteenth events.

The letter, which you can read below, was signed by Council President Johnnie Hannah, Ward 5; Vice President Jeff Fusco, at-large; and Councilmembers Margo Sommerville, Ward 3; Brad McKitrick, Ward 6; Sharon Connor, Ward 10; Sam DeShazior, Ward 1; Phil Lombardo, Ward 2; and Jan Davis, Ward 4.

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Less than two hours before a scheduled concert on Friday in Akrons Lock 3 park, the mayor announced the park would be closed and that the concert would be canceled.

Draw the Line, an Aerosmith tribute band, and Floco Torres & Free Black were set to perform in the park at 7 p.m., according to the concert schedule.

Also canceled Friday were the Concerts in the Park and Water Tower Market at Triangle Park. Other canceled events that were set for this weekend include:

Saturday, June 15

Sunday, June 16

The West Akron Parade and Juneteenth Fathers Day Celebration at Buchtel Community Learning Center and Kerr Park

Church in the Park at Davenport Park

Wellness on the Plaza on Cascade Plaza

Cleveland cyber incident confirmed to be ransomware attack; City Hall to remain closed

As amends for event organizers, performers and vendors who he acknowledged were likely frustrated, Malik also announced the city on Friday afternoon had secured the John S. Knight Center along East Mill Street for a city-led Juneteenth event on the holiday, Wednesday, June 19.

Malik said the city has for 26 years celebrated the Juneteenth holiday, which commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S.

Thats why were going to work to make sure Wednesdays event is special.  Were going to make sure vendors are whole, he said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
A Virginia school district was sued this week after it restored Confederate military names for two buildings, foreshadowing a broader battle that is heating up ahead of the election.

The Virginia NAACP sued the school board in Shenandoah County after it voted to change Mountain View High School to Stonewall Jackson High School and Honey Run Elementary back to Ashby Lee Elementary.

The NAACP argues in its federal lawsuit that students constitutional rights were violated by the districts act of reverting back to Confederate names. It invoked the First Amendment and 14th Amendment in its lawsuit, saying it prohibits racial discrimination in state-supported institutions.

By celebrating the memory of these traitors every time a child walked through the school doors, by embracing the cold wind of intolerance and division and insensitivity, the Shenandoah County School Board has resurrected the ghosts of the Jim Crow era, NAACP Virginia State Conference President Cozy Bailey said.

The group asked the U.S. District Court in Harrisonburg to remove the Confederate names and mascots from the schools.

This is directly linked to efforts to keep Black children out of school, to subjugate Black communities and keep them away from the benefits of education, said Tyler Whittenberg, deputy director of the Opportunity to Learn program for the Advancement Project. I have no doubt that this was the intent of the board members when making this decision.

According to a tracker from Education Week, about 340 schools in 21 states around the U.S. have names based on Confederate figures.

I think they are creating an inhospitable environment for students of color to really learn and thrive socially, James Jones, assistant professor and director of the Center for Politics and Race in America at Rutgers University, said of the change in Virginia. I do believe that this is a trend; I do believe that changing these things back to honor the Confederate is a trend that we are likely to see across the country.

After George Floyd was killed by police in 2020 in Minneapolis, a wave of at least 61 schools removed Confederate names from their buildings, Education Week found.

But the momentum has slowed, and those who see honoring Confederate names as part of their heritage and history have worked to get those names back.

Confederate statues were taken down, the names of Confederate soldiers were removed from buildings and it really was a good moment for many of us in the movement, Whittenberg said. Right after that, we saw a lot of the backlash and really just blatant attacks on all of the gains for education equity.

Experts contend that the attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts have led to an environment ripe for these changes at schools.

The movement first started in Republican-states such as Texas and Florida, which completely eliminated DEI initiatives at state universities, leading to the loss of hundreds of jobs. This move has spread to states not fully under Republican control, such as North Carolina.

Good for the UNC-Chapel Hill board for recognizing common sense and pushing back against the woke mob. Now is the time to prioritize campus safety, not virtue signaling, said Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) after the vote to remove DEI from North Carolina public universities was announced.

More than a dozen states have also passed laws restricting teaching about race, and multiple states have banned Advanced Placement African American studies classes from their curriculum.

I think were sort of seeing with these broader DEI attacks, they have started locally, and we have seen them spread across the country, Jones said.

Activists hope to see success in the NAACP lawsuit, but they also say it is just one way they are fighting back.

School board elections are going to continue to be extremely important. The conservative right has made it a point to really pour a lot of energy to the school board races, and these races may not typically do a lot of turnout, but when you allow this small group of people to then take these things, or implement really harmful decisions that impact negatively the lives of black and Latin X students more people need to take action, Whittenberg said.

I would just encourage people to get active to support local organizations that are fighting for education, equity, he added.

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A controversial fuel facility originally proposed in Ormond Beach now has an opportunity to move elsewhere.

Gov. Ron DeSantis included $10 million for the relocation of Belvedere Terminals in the states budget.

The terminal initially proposed for Hull Road in Ormond Beach is needed to help strengthen the states fuel supply after hurricanes.

Channel 9 has reported that residents have been pushing back against the plan for the past ten months. In that time, lawsuits were filed, and people protested.

Read: Fight over a controversial fuel terminal in Volusia County takes a turn

What happens next is up to the company, but Volusia County Council Chair Jeff Brower said he has no idea what Belvedere is considering.

Maybe theyre talking to Brevard, maybe theyre talking to Flagler, I dont know. But they are not talking to us, said Brower.

The county has not heard from the company since it responded to Belvederes site plans in April. Brower added the relocation funds cant be used for anything except moving to another area.

Read: Volusia County Council rejects site plans for proposed fuel terminal in Ormond Beach

At this point, residents are reluctant to say they are relieved.

You never know with government, so I mean go DeSantis for making this decision. That is amazing because families should come first and safety and the community and environment should come first, said Suzanne Thomas.

Eyewitness News asked Belvedere what other sites it was considering or if it had updated plans and a spokesperson said they would sit down with us once Belvedere is ready to announce its progress in detail.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Cooling centers set to open as temperatures jump in Lynchburg

LYNCHBURG, Va. (WFXR) As weather forecasts predict temperatures to reach the mid-90s next week, The City of Lynchburg is opening up cooling centers at multiple locations across the Hill City.

Here are the locations that will serve as cooling centers during the week of June 17:

Lynchburg Public Library  Main Branch, 2315 Memorial Avenue & the Downtown Branch Library, 216 12th Street, Monday  Saturday, 9:30 a.m.  5:30 p.m. NOTE: Both locations will be closed Wednesday, June 19 for the Juneteenth holiday.

Department of Human Services Lobby  99 Ninth Street, Monday  Friday, 8:30 a.m.  5:00 p.m. NOTE: Closed Wednesday, June 19 for the Juneteenth holiday.

Miller Center  301 Grove Street, Monday  Friday, 8:30 a.m.  5:00 p.m. NOTE: Closed Wednesday, June 19 for the Juneteenth holiday.

Miller Park Pool  2100 Park Avenue, open daily (including Wednesday, June 19 with free admission on this date), 1:00 p.m.  6:00 p.m., $3 per person ages three and up.

Lynchburg Community Market  1219 Main Street, Tuesday  Saturday, 7:00 a.m.  2:00 p.m. NOTE: This location will be open Wednesday, June 19.

Salvation Army, 2215 Park Avenue, dining room will be open Wednesday  Saturday, noon  4:00 p.m.

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Along with providing cool spaces, cold water will also be available at the listed locations.

With the incoming heat wave, the Virginia Department of Health is also encouraging residents to:

Drink water

Keep cool indoors

Dress for the heat

Limit physical activity

Do not keep children or pets in cars

Check on your neighbors

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
John Robert Johnny Boone, who once ran a multi-state marijuana-growing operation known as the Cornbread Mafia, has died at age 80.

Boone died Friday night, Joe Keith Bickett wrote in a Facebook post Saturday.

Boone, known to some as the Godfather of Grass and the King of Pot, was something of a legend.

A native of Washington County, Boone was raised by his grandfather and as a young man won 4-H competitions showing sheep and growing tobacco, according to a 2017 Courier-Journal profile.

As an adult, he became adept at a different kind of farming.

He grew pot in Belize for a time and served a stint in federal prison after a bust related to that, the Courier-Journal profile stated.

In 1987, he was caught growing pot in Minnesota and spent a decade in prison.

That bust of the self-named Cornbread Mafia involved 29 farms in nine states, including Kentucky, according to media reports. Scores of people were prosecuted.

An assistant U.S. attorney described the operation in a 1989 Herald-Leader article as the largest domestic marijuana producing organization in the history of the United States.

At the time, federal authorities were referring to the Cornbread Mafia as the Marion County Marijuana Cooperative and had formed a special task force to combat it. Between 1985 and 1989, they said theyd seized 182 tons of marijuana with a wholesale value of $364 million.

In the 1989 article, authorities described farms bought specifically for growing marijuana that were outfitted with alarm systems and booby-trapped fields protected by dogs.

And Boone, who by then had been sentenced to prison, was named as one of the co-ops leaders.

In 2008, Kentucky State Police used aerial surveillance to discover 2,400 marijuana plants on the farm where Boone was living in Washington County.

Boone fled and spent nearly eight years on the run before he was found and arrested in Canada in 2016.

He pleaded guilty to a federal charge that he conspired to possess more than 1,000 marijuana plants with the intent to grow and distribute the weed, and in March 2018, he was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison.

Bickett, who served time after being convicted as part of the Cornbread Mafia and later wrote a series of books about it, went on to work with Boone to form a company that sells CBD, according to the News-Enterprise in Elizabethtown.

Boone was much-loved in his stomping grounds around Marion and Washington counties, and many took to social media to share remembrances of him on the Bickett and Boone Facebook page.

He was a great friend to many of us, Bickett wrote. Always willing to help his friends and neighbors. Prayers and thoughts for all the Boone family. He will be greatly missed.

James Higdon, who wrote The Cornbread Mafia: A Homegrown Syndicates Code Of Silence And The Biggest Marijuana Bust In American History, said in a post on the social media platform X that Boone was one of the greatest outlaw cannabis growers of all time. A true Kentucky legend.

Arrangements for Boone were incomplete Saturday afternoon.

A very good man and benefactor to many in his community. RIP, Johnny Boone https://t.co/dMqbNh0n3F  m hatmaker (@69barnabus69) June 15, 2024
County officials giving away 5,000 boxes of food in DeKalb County, citing high grocery prices

Local faith leaders and DeKalb County officials are giving away 5,000 boxes of food to residents.

According to the county, all of the items provided in the 5,000 boxes will be directly sourced from Georgia, whether they are fruits and vegetables, eggs or chicken hindquarters.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The giveaway will be held at multiple locations in the county, starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

Count officials said their monthly food distribution will be to celebrate Fathers Day for June.

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We are celebrating and honoring all fathers and father figures who have loved and supported their families, said DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond.

For the giveaway, DeKalb County is partnering with more than churches. Theyll also be working with La Vision Newspaper and the Chamblee Coalition for Homelessness.

The food giveaways will be at the following locations:

New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, 6400 Woodrow Rd., Stonecrest, Ga. 30038

Beulah Missionary Baptist Church, 2340 Clifton Springs Rd. Decatur, Ga. 30034

Saint Philip AME Church, 240 Candler Road SE, Atlanta, Ga. 30314

Shy Temple CME Church, 2030 Wesley Chapel Road, Decatur, Ga. 30035

Big Miller Grove Missionary Baptist Church, 3800 Big Miller Grove Way, Stonecrest, Ga. 30038

Berean Christian Church, 2201 Young Road, Stone Mountain, Ga. 30088

The Covenant Church, 1700 Corey Blvd., Decatur, Ga. 30032

Rehoboth Baptist Church, 2997 Lawrenceville Highway, Tucker, Ga. 30084

Plaza Fiesta, 4166 Buford Highway NE, Atlanta, Ga. 30345

Funding for the purchase of Georgia-grown produce and chicken came from American Rescue Funds allocated to the county, according to the DeKalb County Government.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Court document: Defendant said he saw son digging soon after Crystal Rogers disappearance

A newly unsealed court document sheds light on a location in the search for Bardstown mother Crystal Rogers body.

One of the defendants charged in the Nelson County murder case told Kentucky State Police he saw two men digging in Coxs Creek soon after Rogers went missing in July 2015.

Steven Lawson told state police he saw Joey Lawson and Jeremy Thompson digging at 400 Thompson Hill Road within five days of Rogers disappearance, according to the state police document unsealed in Nelson Circuit Court Friday.

Lawson told state police he believed it was on July 4, the court document states.

Rogers mother reported her missing July 5, 2015, after having last seen her two days earlier. Rogers car  with her purse, keys and phone inside  was found along Bluegrass Parkway the same day she was reported missing.

State police said they met with Steven Lawson, whose name is also spelled Stephen Lawson in court records, at 509 Thompson Hill Road Nov. 21.

He states that they were burning and digging at 400 Thompson Hill Road with a Skid-Steer. He stated that he was burning large amounts of wood in a hole at the request of David Thompson on the 509 side, the state police document says.

A skid-steer is a piece of construction equipment often used for digging. State police said Lawson had previously denied that the Skid-Steer had ever left the construction sites after Rogers disappearance.

Both Steven Lawson and his son, Joseph Lawson, have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to murder, along with charges related to evidence tampering.

Rogers ex-boyfriend, Brooks Houck, has pleaded not guilty to charges of complicity to murder and complicity to tampering with physical evidence.

Neither David Thompson nor Jeremy Thompson was charged in the case. An obituary indicates that a Jeremy Thompson, 46, of Coxs Creek, died in November 2022, and his father, David Thompson, also of Coxs Creek, died in 2021.

WAVE News reported that authorities were digging at the same location in Coxs Creek in December, and the Nelson County prosecutor told the television station then that the work was being done in connection with a murder investigation. No information was provided then about what case they were investigating, WAVE reported.

Police and FBI have searched a number of locations over the years but have never revealed what they found or given any indication that they had located Rogers body.

Defendant says he was promised immunity in Crystal Rogers case. Will charges stand?

New filing in Crystal Rogers murder case indicates Brooks Houck wanted her gone
Cracks in one of Nevadas oldest dams force rangers to limit campground access

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Cracks in one of the states oldest dams have prompted rangers to limit access to Angel Lake campground in Northern Nevada and crews are working to make repairs.

Forest officials have asked the public to avoid the Angel Lake area until emergency stabilization work is completed.

Right now, water is slowly being released to lower the lake level three to four feet to relieve stress on the dam face and to allow the repairs to take place, District Ranger Josh Nicholes said.

This is a temporary fix until the District can determine a more permanent one, he said.

If the dam does fail, a large flow of water could take a lot of sediment downstream and cause damage to the watershed. The dirt-and-rock dam was built in the 1880s.

The area is southwest of Wells, Nevada, where Interstate 80 and U.S. 93 meet. Its one of the most scenic areas of the state, not far from Lamoille Canyon in the Ruby Mountains. Angel Lake is 6 hours north of Las Vegas.

The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests Mountain City-Ruby Mountains-Jarbidge Ranger District manages the area, and they are making public safety the top priority. With all the heavy equipment working in the area of the dam, it is unsafe for anglers and other recreationists to visit the area at this time, Nicholes said.

Forest Service engineers and road crew are working with the state to make emergency repairs, which have been complicated by sinkholes on the top of the dam created by seepage.

Emergency repairs are expected to be complete by June 21.

Angel Lake sits at an elevation of 8,000 feet, covers 13 surface acres, and has a maximum depth of 35 feet.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Cruise Passenger Says She Was Scammed Out of $15,000 Trip After Accidentally Posting Booking Number on Facebook

In a series of TikTok videos, Tiffany Banks recounted the day her family was set to embark, only to find out their reservation had been canceled

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A would-be cruise passenger has drawn major attention online after recounting her harrowing experience of falling victim to what she believes was a vacation scammer.

In a series of TikTok videos, Tiffany Banks shared the events of the day her family was set to embark on a Carnival Cruise Line voyage. Early that morning, she received an email from the company, confirming the cancellation of their reservation.

Banks, who had reserved the ship's Excel Presidential Suite a year in advancethe largest accommodation availableimmediately reached out to the company for what she assumed was a message sent in error. Despite initial unanswered calls, she eventually spoke with a representative who initially informed her that their reservation had been automatically voided by the system.

However, she says a subsequent revelation from a manager found that an unauthorized individual had accessed the online system and canceled their booking.

"We talked for over two-and-a-half hours, and the only solution they were willing to offer was two interior rooms," Banks emphasized in one of her videos. An interior room is typically the cheapest and least desirable on a cruise ship.

"I just can't even fathom, how do they think that's right? Two interior rooms for an Excel Presidential Suite which we have nearly $15,000 tied up in for this vacation including excursions," she vented, underscoring the substantial financial investment.

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Related: Woman, 24, Gets Sick During Trip to Europe. Unable to Fly, She Boards Boat Bound for Florida (Exclusive)

Despite the company's offer, Banks staunchly refused the alternative, arguing that it fell short of their original booking standards. Additionally, she expressed frustration over the company's refusal to issue a refund due to their policy of not issuing refunds for cancellations made within 15 days of the cruise date.

"I don't even know, like are you kidding me," Banks exclaims in one of her posts. "I'm like, we're in a bad episode of Punk'd right now, like this can't be... this doesn't happen."

Despite the cancelled trip and her refusal of the cruise line's alternative offer, Banks and her family traveled to Miami anyway, where they were denied boarding at the dock and left to watch the ship sail away without them.

Getty Images Stock image of cruise ship.

Then, several days later, Banks received a call from Carnival with an explanation: their reservation had been accessed by a bad actor.

In another TikTok video, Banks reveals that after further communication with the cruise line, she believes she and her husband were victims of identity fraud.

A few weeks before their cruise, the couple had accidentally shared their booking reference number in a photo on Facebook. Consequently, she alleges someone used that information to access their booking online and cancel it 48 hours before their departure.

The company disclosed that the IP address of the perpetrator was from British Columbia, but beyond that, no further details could be ascertained, she says.

Hinterhaus Productions/Getty

"Unfortunately, this guest failed to heed well-documented and very common travel safety and security advice," a Carnival spokesperson told PEOPLE.



"It is never a good idea to post personal information about your travel plans, including a confirmation number for a booking, which could allow a bad actor or identity thief to use that information in inappropriate or even illegal ways," they added.

They continued, "With a busy summer travel season underway, we are reminding our guests about several things to make their travel go smoothly."

The same advice is true for other travel documents including passports or plane boarding passes.

Carnival offered Banks $10,404 in future cruise credit, contingent, she claims, upon her public acknowledgment that the issue had been resolved. However, Banks and her family have decided they are not interested in sailing "ever again."



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CARLISLE, Pa. (WHTM)  Cumberland County held a naturalization ceremony on Friday that welcomed 27 new Americans.

The new citizens came from 14 different countries to the historic courthouse in Carlisle to celebrate the end of their naturalization processes. The county has this ceremony every year on or around Flag Day.

Knowing that theres all these different countries coming to the United States or these individuals coming to the United States, its very welcoming, Cumberland County prothonotary Dale Sabadish said. This is a very happy moment for us.

Cumberland County has been holding these ceremonies for 230 years.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
"Id like to see it gone": Teardown begins on Parkland shooting site

Families of the victims of one of the most horrific shootings in U.S. history watched as demolition began on a building at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 students and teachers were murdered in 2018.

The building stood empty for more than six years, at first kept preserved as a crime scene as Nikolas Cruz, who shot more than 30, faced prosecution for the horrific killings. Cruz was sentenced in 2022 to life without parole after changes to Florida law stopped jurors  who toured the building still containing the blood stains and bullet shells left by the Valentines Day shooting  from enacting the death penalty.

The shooting, in which Cruz utilized an AR-15 assault rifle, came mere months after the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, where 60 were killed using more than 20 firearms and bump stocks, a device that effectively converts a traditional gun into an automatic-adjacent one.

A Supreme Court ruling Friday morning ended a 2018 federal regulation regulating the use of bump stocks, to the dismay of Parkland survivor David Hogg, who took to X to voice his disapproval.

Ah, yes because who doesnt need the ability to freely turn a semiautomatic AR-15 into what in effect is a machine gun? This is f***ing insane, Hogg wrote.

As the fate of the site remains unclear, families and friends of victims of the largest mass shooting at a high school in U.S. history weigh-in on how they want the space to be used; including Dylan Persaud, who was a student at the school in 2018.

Id like to see it gone, Persaud, who lost 7 friends in the violent act, told NBC6 Florida. It puts a period on the end of the story. They should put a nice memorial there for the 17."

Along with Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, other mass shooting sites, including Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, and Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, are subject to demolition.
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) A gunman who fatally shot a woman and injured two others in a shooting last summer in Lancaster County was sentenced Friday, according to officials.

Timothy Allen, 21, of Lancaster, was sentenced to spend between 16 and 45 years in prison Friday by Lancaster County Judge Merrill Spahn, county District Attorney Heather Adams said.

Allen pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, attempted homicide, aggravated assault and other related charges, according to Adams. He will also have to pay $13,450 in restitution.

It was around 3 a.m. Saturday, June 17, when Allen opened fire on a crowd of people fighting at E New Street and N Plum Street and struck Amdrella Cartel, 27, according to court documents. The county coroners office ruled her cause of death to be from a gunshot wound to the head.

Two other people were hospitalized from the shooting, and one of them needed immediate medical attention, according to the charges filed.

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Surveillance video that captured the deadly shooting and witnesses helped investigators identify Allen as the gunman, court docs say. Allen was seen pulling out a handgun and firing multiple shots into the crowd.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A stalled pattern across the United States, featuring a building heat dome in the East and waves of cool air in the Northwest, will put the middle of the nation at risk for daily rounds of severe thunderstorms through Tuesday. AccuWeather meteorologists warn that flash flood dangers may mount as the stormy weather repeats right through the end of the week.

The zone from Kansas to Minnesota will be positioned in an atmospheric bottleneck of sorts, where moisture from the Gulf of Mexico will meet up with storms rolling in from the Pacific Ocean, resulting in days of downpours.

While there will be some periods of dry weather to enjoy, the cumulative impact of the wet weather in this area could lead to more than just temporary travel and outdoor activity disruptions, despite not every day being a complete washout. People who have outdoor plans scheduled this week are encouraged to keep an eye on the sky and heed any warnings issued.

There will be no rest for the weary as the same areas that faced severe weather and flooding downpours this past weekend will face more rounds of potentially damaging thunderstorms as a weather front wobbles across the north-central United States.

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Through Tuesday, that area at risk for damaging thunderstorms will feature a similar corridor from Nebraska through Minnesota and into southwestern Ontario. By Tuesday night, potent thunderstorms can develop farther south as well, into part of Kansas. Flash flooding may be the greatest concern after dark as storms lose their wind potency but drench the same areas in heavy rainfall.

Minneapolis is included in the zone where thunderstorms can pack a punch with hail, high winds and downpours. An isolated tornado or two cannot be ruled out.

"Those traveling on interstates 29, 35, 90 and 94 will want to have alerts enabled on their AccuWeather app as these storms and downpours could threaten travel plans," Pydynowski said.

Secondary roadways may be blocked by debris in the form of fallen trees and downed powerlines. Hail and isolated tornadoes will be among the severe weather hazards possible early this week, in addition to damaging wind gusts.

Tuesday may produce a more widespread severe thunderstorm risk, in terms of the number of reports, when compared to the beginning of the week. In addition, wind gusts in thunderstorms will not have to be as high to cause trees to topple over because the ground will be saturated in some areas by this point.

AccuWeather's expert long-range team expects the bottlenecked pattern to remain in place into the last full week of June, resulting in additional rounds of severe weather and downpours across the northern tier of the nation's midsection.

Each round of thunderstorms could unload 1-3 inches of rain, with locally higher amounts possible where thunderstorms sit for an extended time or move over the same general area in a phenomenon known to meteorologists as "training" thunderstorms. Through this week, some locations that get hit more than once could receive over half a foot of rain.

AccuWeather expects the flash flood risk to be highest by the latter part of this week and this weekend due to the cumulative effect of the days of rain leading up to that time frame.

Experts urge motorists to be vigilant and to avoid areas of high water. Flooded roadways are particularly difficult to properly assess at night.

Additional reporting by AccuWeather meteorology intern Peyton Simmers.

Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
The wife of Dau Mabil, accompanied by her family, held a press conference Friday doubling down on her claims that she was not involved in the disappearance and death of her husband.

Karissa Bowley, Dau's wife, said the event at a private property near Belhaven University was held in response to the ongoing investigation and the spreading of rumors surrounding Dau's death.

"From the beginning, we've all demanded a thorough, competent, timely investigation into what happened, and we still demand that to this day," Bowley said. "I'm feeling very deeply the loss of Dau in my life, in my heart. So, I rely on our community very much to keep pushing for justice for Dau, for answers and for support."

During an April 30 court hearing, new details were revealed through court documents depicting a strained relationship between Mabil and Bowley.

Court records show in the days leading up to when Mabil went missing, texts messages revealed Bowleys concerns with Mabil's drinking and alleged verbal and physical abuse. Court records also show Mabil considered leaving Bowley in a March 22 text, which was sent three days before his disappearance.

These messages became public more than a month after Mabil went missing in the Belhaven area in late March and weeks after his body was pulled from the Pearl River in Lawrence County on April 13.

James Bowley, Karissa's father, Spencer Bowley, Karissa's oldest brother, Karissa Bowley, Dau Mabil's wife, and Bonnie Bowley, Karissa's mother at press conference on the disappearance and death of her husband in Belhaven on Friday.

More on: Widow denies any connection to death of Dau Mabil. Texts show a strained marriage

Several questions from Lisa Ross an attorney for Bul Mabil, Dau' brother, angled at implications about whether Bowley had something to do with Dau's disappearance. Bowley testified for nearly two hours.

The questioning closed with Paloma Wu, who is representing Bowley, asking Bowley if she killed Mabil or knew who did. Inside the courtroom, Bowley said no. And at the Friday press conference, Bowley still said no.

Spencer Bowley, Karissa's oldest brother, said the accusations on Bowley taking part in Dau's death or that the Bowley family played a part in Dau's death was and is "blatantly false."

What is the status on Dau Mabil's autopsy?

On May 2, Hinds County Chancery Court Judge Dewayne Thomas issued two orders involving the remains of Dau Mabil, one of which states that an independent autopsy of Dau's remains will continue at the "direction and expense" of Bul Mabil.

According to court records, the State Crime Lab will store the body until the investigation and the independent autopsy are completed. Both parties are said to be notified once the investigation is complete.

Thomas said the autopsy results will be released to the public upon Karissa Bowley's receipt of the findings.

Spencer Bowley told reporters he confirmed Friday with a representative with Capitol Police that authorities are still waiting to receive the "full autopsy report." Spencer said he believes the toxicology report is still in-process which could "take a long time to finish up."

Spencer said the family has also reached out to Dau's brother, Bul Mabil, and Bul's attorney to begin the process of the second autopsy.

"We've heard from them that they have someone in mind or that they've already selected somebody to have that autopsy performed. We've asked them who that is, so we can go ahead and start the process of coordinating the logistics with that person to try to get the second autopsy done as quickly as we need. But they haven't gotten back with us yet regarding who this person actually is, so we haven't really been able to confirm whether they meet the qualifications," Spencer said.

What happened after Dau Mabil went missing?

According to Lawrence County Sheriff Ryan Everett, an initial autopsy revealed that no foul play was involved in Dau's death.

But Bul Mabil, Daus brother, rejected those findings and compared Dau's death to the 1955 murder of Emmett Till.

Bul, along with attorney Lisa Ross and Dau's foster mom, Valeena Greer, criticized the investigation conducted by Capitol Police as "insufficient" and have requested the Jackson Police Department to assist, according to previous Clarion Ledger reporting.

Bowley expressed what she called "frustration" at the Friday press conference with authorities "inability to work together."

"The case was kind of claimed by both Capitol Police and JPD, but they did refuse to behave as if they were working on this one in the same case. They were very much working on two different cases, so we were frustrated with that. We were frustrated by the slowness and kind of calmness that they seemed to have about the whole situation," Bowley said.

"We had concerns like if it was me missing, instead of my babe, missing, how quickly would people and police departments, drop whatever they were doing to try to find me," Bowley said.

Spencer Bowley, Karissa Bowley's brother, added to Karissa's comments stating the priority has been to get to the bottom of what happened to Dau.

"With Dau's death, I did lose a brother. I lost someone who I knew going back to high school, who I loved as he became a part of my family. But I can only imagine the levels of grief that I would be feeling if I lost one of the three blood siblings that I've shared my entire life with. I know that I would be desperate for answers if I did not have them," Spencer said. "And I can't blame Bul or anybody else for being distrustful of police forces in a state like Mississippi that has already killed so many Black men and has done so for centuries."

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Wife of Dau Mabil on rumors in death investigation
U.S. President Barack Obama announces that the administration will stop deporting most young illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children during a Rose Garden event at the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 15, 2012. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI

On this date in history:

In 1215, under pressure from rebellious barons, England's King John signed the Magna Carta, a crucial first step toward creating Britain's constitutional monarchy.

In 1752, Benjamin Franklin, in a dangerous experiment, demonstrated the relationship between lightning and electricity by flying a kite during a storm in Philadelphia. An iron key suspended from the kite string attracted a lightning bolt.

In 1785, two Frenchmen attempting to cross the English Channel in a hot-air balloon were killed when their balloon caught fire and crashed. It was the first fatal aviation accident.

In 1846, the U.S.-Canadian border was established.

Henry Ossian Flipper, the first Black cadet to graduate from West Point on June 15, 1877. File Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army

File Photo by Chris Corder/UPI

In 1877, Henry Ossian Flipper, born a slave in Thomasville, Ga., became the first Black cadet to graduate from West Point. The U.S. Army later court martialed and dismissed him, but President Bill Clinton posthumously pardoned him in 1999.

U.S. Marines move through the ruins of Garapan on up to the front lines to help wind up the battle of Saipan Island on July 6, 1944. On June 15, 1944, U.S. forces invaded the Japanese-occupied Mariana Islands in World War II. By day's end, a beachhead had been established on the island of Saipan. File Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Defense

In 1904, the excursion steamboat General Slocum caught fire on the East River in New York, killing 1,121 people.

In 1934, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established on a tract of land straddling North Carolina and Tennessee. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the park on Sept. 2, 1940.

Archivist Allen Weinstein (L) and David Rubenstein unveil a 1297 original of the Magna Carta at the National Archives in Washington on March 3, 2008. On June 15, 1215, under pressure from rebellious barons, England's King John signed the Magna Carta, a crucial first step toward creating Britain's constitutional monarchy. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI

In 1944, U.S. forces invaded the Japanese-occupied Mariana Islands in World War II. By day's end, a beachhead had been established on the island of Saipan.

In 1987, Richard Norton of Philadelphia and Calin Rosetti of West Germany completed the first polar circumnavigation of Earth in a single-engine propeller aircraft, landing in Paris after a 38,000-mile flight.

In 2007, a Mississippi jury convicted a reputed Ku Klux Klansman, James Ford Seale, in the abductions and killings of two black teenagers 43 years earlier. Seale was sentenced to life in prison and died in 2011.

In 2012, an executive order by President Barack Obama would allow hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children to legally seek work permits and obtain documents such as driver's licenses. The program was called the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.

File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

In 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federal civil rights law protects LGBTQ workers from being fired based on their sexual or gender orientation.

In 2023, a British parliamentary panel concluded that former Prime Minister Boris Johnson intentionally misled the House of Commons when he told it there had been no lockdown parties in Downing Street during the COVID-19 pandemic.

File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  D.C. police were investigating a double shooting that happened Friday evening near a Safeway in Northwest D.C.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said it happened in the 3800 block of Georgia Ave. There, officers found a male and female, both had been shot but were still conscious.

Heat resources: DC Mayor activates Heat Emergency Plan for the District

(Mariel Carbone/DC News Now)

(Mariel Carbone/DC News Now)

MPD said to look out for a male wearing dark clothes and white shoes. He was driving a white car and was last seen heading southbound on Georgia Avenue in Northwest.

Anyone with information was asked to call 911 with the event number: I20240298665

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  D.C. police was investigating a shooting that left a girl injured Friday night.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said it was investigating a shooting in the 5100 block of Southern Ave.

DC police investigating double shooting near Safeway in Northwest

MPD said the girl was shot in Prince Georges County, along the border between the county and D.C. She was still conscious.

Anyone with information was asked to call 911 with the event number: I20240298876

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(Danielle Prokop/Source NM)

The $883.7 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) heads to the U.S. Senate without expanding a program to compensate people for radiation exposure by the federal government.

The package for fiscal year 2025 narrowly passed the U.S. House of Representatives along mostly partisan lines at 217-199 after introductions of right-wing amendments barring spending on issues range from abortion to combating climate change.

The package includes increases in pay for members of the military and higher food and housing stipends. The bill includes provisions that ban the Pentagon from paying for or reimbursing expenses relating to abortion services. It further bars the Tricare health care program from gender-affirming surgery for transgender troops and freezes any hires for diversity, inclusion and equity positions.

Much of the amendments were adopted in the 2023 defense package passed in the House along party lines, but were ultimately cut from the final version.

An effort to expand Radiation Exposure and Compensation Act was attached to last years defense package, but was stripped during conference on the bill.

The unique fund offered lump-sum payments to certain civilians living downwind of test sites, uranium miners before 1971 and federal workers on atomic test sites who experience certain cancers and diseases linked to radiation.

The program, nicknamed RECA, expired last week. Legislation to broaden the benefits to Americans across the Western U.S. and Guam has sat before the House for months after passing the Senate 69-30 vote in March.

On Wednesday, Republican House leadership blocked bipartisan efforts from Congress members to expand RECA, with a committee vote killing an amendment to the defense package.

The amendment was introduced by the Republican Representative of Guam, James Moylan, and Rep. Anne Wagner (R-Missouri). Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, who sits on the House Rules Committee, moved to approve the amendment, which failed in a 4-9 vote.

Committee members expressed skepticism about the $50 billion cost to expand the program, echoing previous objections from Republican House leadership.

In remarks on the floor after the rules committee vote, Leger Fernandez said Congress is failing to act, while downwinders and uranium miners deal with the fallout of cancer, diseases and early death.

Blocking a vote on our bipartisan RECA amendment is walking away from the opportunity to do right by these communities, whom we have hurt, she said.

This is the latest in a string of disappointments for advocates, including people bombed more than 78 years ago in the areas surrounding the Trinity Test Site, who have never been compensated by the federal government.

The NDAA still requires passage through the Senate, and reconciliation between the two versions before becoming law.

All three New Mexico representatives voted against the bill.

Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) told reporters in a press conference after Fridays vote, that she and others in the New Mexico delegation will push for expansion.

We are regrouping, we are identifying other opportunities, and of course pushing for it to be attached to the NDAA in the Senate or through conference, she said.

She pushed back on arguments that expanding RECA, which has paid out $2.5 billion since 1990, is too expensive.

How is it that we can spend trillions of dollars every year, on all of these programs  defense and nondefense, and health care  but we cant take care of the very people that have been impacted by our federal governments weapons program, Stansbury said.

The Senate could take the bill up as soon as the next few weeks, or it could stretch into the coming months.

Sen. Ben Ray Lujan said in a recent interview that he would work to expand RECA. The defense package is one of the options, said Adan Serna, a spokesperson Lujan said Friday.

Senator Lujan continues to push for the House to hold a vote on the Senate-passed bill to save and strengthen the RECA program, Serna wrote in an emailed statement. If the House fails to act, he will consider all possible options to extend and expand RECA, including the NDAA.

Source New Mexico is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Source New Mexico maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Shaun Griswold for questions: info@sourcenm.com. Follow Source New Mexico on Facebook and X.

The post Defense package heads to Senate sans RECA appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.
Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith. Credit: Florida House of Representatives

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Orlando-area Democrat Carlos Guillermo Smith, the first openly LGBTQ Latino elected to the state Legislature, will return to Tallahassee as a state senator after he qualified for the Florida Senate District 17 seat in Central Florida without opposition on Friday.

In addition to Smith, nine incumbent House Democrats won automatic bids to return to Tallahassee as qualification closed Friday in either the Aug. 20 primaries or the Nov. 5 general election.

Today, we sent 10 champions back to Tallahassee to continue the fight, holding onto key seats in the Florida House and electing two new dynamic leaders to the Florida Senate, Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried said in a press release. And Republicans didnt even put up a fight, leaving 22 seats uncontested.

Mack Bernard, a Democratic Senate candidate who filed to run in the special election to succeed Bobby Powell in District 24, automatically won his seat earlier this week when the qualifying period ended without any opponent filing to run against him.

Fried boasted that, for the first time since the 1990s, there is a Democrat running in every House and Senate district in the state.

Democrats made history, she said. Its a record-breaking accomplishment for the Florida Democratic Party and a stark contrast to the party we inherited after 2022  a party Republicans declared dead just one year ago.

Participation trophy

Republicans, however, dont appear to be sweating it out too much. Their ranks continue to dominate in the Florida Legislature, with supermajorities in both the Florida House (84-36) and Senate (28-12) going into this falls general election. They enjoy a lead of more than 900,000 registered voters over Democrats statewide.

As I have said before, the @FloridaGOP is focused on winning not moral victories or a participation trophy, Republican Party Chairman of Florida Evan Power said on X on Friday.

Smith was first elected to his Central Florida House seat in 2016, but lost his bid for re-election in 2022 to Republican Susan Plasencia. He began running more than a year ago for the Senate District 17 seat in Orange County that has been held by Democrat Linda Stewart, who was term-limited and thus unable to run again.

My heart is full of gratitude for this community who has entrusted me with the responsibility of serving as their state senator, Smith said in a written statement after he learned he had been elected to the seat.

Since last year, our campaign has knocked on over 10,000 doors in Senate District 17. We know that voters are frustrated with the direction our state has been heading, and theyve had enough. Rents and property insurance premiums are soaring, over a million Floridians have recently lost health care, and Tallahassee has turned our classrooms into political battlefields.

Smith has worked for the LGBTQ advocacy group Equality Florida since 2015 and now serves as a senior policy adviser to the organization, which issued a press release upon the announcement that he had been elected to the Senate.

In 2022, while seeking reelection to the Florida House, Carlos was targeted by the Republican Party, who invested millions to flip his seat, said Sratton Politzer, chair of Equality Florida Action PAC, in a statement. They have tried to block Carlos at every turn and at every opportunity, but they only made him stronger.

Other Democrats

As previously mentioned, nine Florida House Democrats ended up winning re-election on Friday when they drew no Republican opponent at the qualifying deadline. They are:

Rep. Yvonne Hayes Hinson in House District 21

Rep. Jervonte Edmonds in House District 88

Rep. Kelly Skidmore in House District 92

Rep. Christine Hunschofsky in House District 95

Rep. Dan Daley in House District 96

Rep. Lisa Dunkley in House District 97

Rep. Hillary Cassel in House District 101

Rep. Felicia Robinson in House District 104

Rep. Dotie Joseph in House District 108

The post Democrat Carlos Guillermo Smith is now back in the Florida Legislature appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) did not mince words with how he felt about the Supreme Courts decision Friday to strike down a ban on bump stocks.

During an interview on CNN, Heinrich claimed that Justice Clarence Thomas was not being honest about the components of bump stocks  a modification that gives the shooter the ability to easily fire multiple rounds quickly.

In his written opinion, Thomas said the stock does not convert a semi-automatic rifle into a machine gun, any more than a shooter with a lightning-fast trigger finger does.

Supreme Court bump stock decision hurls gun rights back into spotlight

CNN host Brianna Keilar played a segment from a YouTube video that showed an AR-15 rifle being fired both with and without a bump stock. It also pointed out differences in how the gun performed in both cases.

She then asked the senator for his reaction to Thomas statement.

Its just not honest. I know these mechanisms. Ive seen not just the videos, but Ive used some of these weapons, he said. Hes not being honest about what this does, and it is incredibly dangerous.

Heinrich added that theres no legitimate use, for the bump stocks.

Who is going to use these bump stocks? Its going to be street gangs and cartels and mass shooters, Heinrich said. And innocent Americans are going to die because of this decision. I find it incredibly troubling.

His comments come after the high court ruled against the regulation, which was implemented by former President Trump in the wake of the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, considered the deadliest in U.S. history. In that incident, the shooter used a bump stock to kill 60 people and wound hundreds of others.

The Biden administration has long argued for the ban, after pressing Congress multiple times to pass legislation to ban all semi-automatic weapons.

But, in a 6-3 ruling along ideological lines, the Supreme Court found the categorization stretched the law too far, ruling in favor of a Texas gun store owner who challenged the ban after surrendering his two bump stocks.

Following the decision, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a harsh dissent, claiming the decision eviscerates regulations on machine guns.

Today, the Court puts bump stocks back in civilian hands, Sotomayor, who was joined by liberal Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, wrote. To do so, it casts aside Congresss definition of machinegun and seizes upon one that is inconsistent with the ordinary meaning of the statutory text and unsupported by context or purpose.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Are Democrats trying to pull one over on California voters? It sure looks that way | Opinion

Californias Democratic leaders are seriously overplaying their hand by trying to force a tough-on-crime initiative off the November ballot.

Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire threatened to put a kill switch in some much-needed legislation aimed at curbing retail theft.

Heres how it would work: If the Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act were to pass in November, then the anti-theft bills would be defunct.

Its an obvious ploy to induce supporters of the initiative to take it off the ballot, denying voters the opportunity to say yea or nay to the measure. Democratic leaders are so certain of their super majority at the Capitol that they feel emboldened to game the system and then they dont have the nerve to answer legitimate questions about their behavior.

Right now, Californians need relief from the retail thefts that have been increasing statewide at the expense of merchants and consumers who pay higher prices as a result of losses incurred by businesses. A bipartisan package of 14 bills was supposed to provide that needed relief, but now Democratic leaders are willing to use it as leverage to ensure they get their way.

Heres what the anti-theft bills would do

Among other measures, the package of bills would:

Impose tougher sentences for some types of serious retail crimes.

Allow multiple thefts committed by the same person, but in different locations, to be combined to reach the $950 felony threshold.

Make it easier to prosecute vehicle break-ins.

Expand and make permanent a retail crimes task force.

Allow stores to seek restraining orders against customers who steal, vandalize or assault employees.

Lawmakers intend to fast-track most of the bills, which means they would take effect as soon as the governor signs them.

That makes sense.

This doesnt: Threatening to undo everything if the ballot measure passes.

An effort to fix Proposition 47





So whats in this ballot measure that has some Democrats so worried?

It includes some anti-theft provisions similar to those in the package of bills, but it goes beyond that.

The Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act targets Proposition 47, the 2014 voter-approved initiative intended to keep non-violent, non-serious offenders out of overcrowded prisons.

Here are some of the new measures provisions:

It creates a new class of crime, the treatment-mandated felony. That gives prosecutors the discretion to charge hard drug possession as a felony following two previous drug convictions. Offenders would be given the choice of entering a treatment program or going to jail.

Increases penalties for hard drug trafficking, including fentanyl, and sets up a system to warn convicted drug dealers and manufacturers that they could be charged with murder if they continue to sell and someone dies as a result.

Increases penalties for the most serious retail thefts.

Allows someone with two or more prior theft convictions to be charged with a felony, regardless of the value of property stolen in the most recent offense.





The backlash begins

Opponents of the ballot measure say its passage would undo badly needed criminal justice reform, alleging that Californias prisons would be packed with minor offenders  a disproportionate number of them Black and people of color.

Those are concerns that should be articulated for voters. Instead, Democratic leaders are communicating their distrust of voters by attempting to keep the measure off the ballot.

That could backfire.

In fact, it already has. Some Democratic lawmakers are distancing themselves from the plan to add the sunset clause.

I am removing my name as co-author immediately from two retail theft bills that will be amended to make them inoperable if voters pass the Proposition 47 reform measure this November. I oppose the amendments to these two bills, and I was not consulted about them, state Sen. Marie Alvardo-Gil, a Modesto Democrat, wrote on X.

On top of that, supporters of the ballot initiative appear more committed than ever to get their measure before the voters.

Theyre accusing Democrats of trying to pull one over on the voters, in the words of San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow, who posted a video urging voters to contact their lawmakers to object to the tactic.

Democrats fail to act on concerns about crime

If the measure does get on the ballot  and we expect that it will  this will be a key test of Democratic strength.

It is, by the way, a test that Democrats have brought on themselves by failing to recognize that Californians have serious concerns about crime. Theyve been making this mistake over and over again. It has given life to Republicans who may be in the minority politically, but who are reading voter anxiety over public safety better than the majority party.

No one wants a return to the 1990s when Republican governors and district attorneys thought they could arrest and incarcerate their way out of any problem. But no one needs coercive tactics from Democrats that prevent a new kind of debate on public safety: One that acknowledges the prosecutorial abuses of the past while recognizing that more needs to be done to address crime in California.

California cant have that conversation unless the Democratic leadership emerges from its partisan bubble.

Its not too late to reverse course.

Democrats, enough of the coercive tactics. Stop trying to block the Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act from the ballot.

This editorial represents the views of the opinion editorial boards at The Sacramento Bee, Fresno Bee, Modesto Bee, Merced Sun-Star and The Tribune in San Luis Obispo.
Watching focus groups isnt a good way to make yourself feel better about America, especially when their participants assert inconvenient truths. I know this first hand because for the last four years, I have acted as Senior Adviser to the Research Collaborative, which has done 25 focus groups and frequent surveys this year alone, zeroing in on different demographics in two critical voting blocks across six battleground states: disaffected Democrats, who previously voted for Biden and are now considering sitting it out, skipping the top of the ticket, or voting third party; and disaffected swing voters, who vote across party lines when they vote at all.

If my colleagues and I took a shot everytime someone in these groups decried the Democrats as doing nothing on the fascism front, wed have cirrhosis.

As one disaffected Democratic white woman from Arizona said in April, I dont think any of them care really. Even if Democrats won the House, the Senate, the presidency, theyve had it before  didnt do anything then.

Last month, a disaffected white Democratic man in Pittsburgh pointed out that Biden ran in part on protecting Roe v. Wade, and noted that Democrats stalled for weeks on legislation codifying federal protections for abortion, despite the early leak of a draft Dobbs decision overturning the landmark high court decision. Not that I have a womb, he went on to say, but materially for me as an individual and as a voter, it doesnt really matter whether the Republicans are actively taking the rights away or the Democrats are allowing them to be taken away because theyre being corroded regardless.

On June 11, a multi-state online swing Latinas focus group similarly found the Democratic response to Dobbs frustrating. As one participant put it, Democrats need to get it together. Yesterday, actually. The fact that there are women suffering through this  Republicans are being loud, theyre standing up.

Democrats may gnash their teeth at what feels unfair  these voters dont understand the filibuster, state laws are not under Bidens purview  but the general lament that a right-wing rampage is happening on Democrats watch is not temporally wrong. Nationwide legal protection for abortion did indeed come undone under Biden. Voter suppression  from prohibitions on handing out water, to polling place closures, to license to baselessly challenge peoples votes  went into overdrive in red and purple states during the Biden years.

The higher-information folks in these conversations offer up details about how Dems milquetoast approaches have failed, from allowing Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to deny Merrick Garland a Supreme Court seat, to not insisting Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg retire and therefore making room for Amy Coney Barrett on the bench. They note how Democrats had a governing trifecta for two years and failed to codify Roe or pass voting rights legislation that would have combated state-based efforts to seize peoples most fundamental freedoms over our bodies and our ballots.

Democrats did not just fail to protect voters from MAGAs efforts to drag red state residents back a century. They did not try very hard  and to many voters, that still appears to be the case. See: the initial response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Biden and other Democrats have since lost their aversion to speaking about what was once called the a-word. But many disaffected voters believe actions speak louder than words, and they are disappointed on this front.

The same goes for the tepid approach to pushing through the Freedom to Vote and John Lewis Voting Rights Acts. To be sure, Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema cosplaying as Democrats while sucking up donor dollars were absolutely impediments to passage. But Democratic leaders in the Senate and the White House rarely spoke about Manchin and Sinemas roles in shutting down these critical bills  and chose not to put public pressure on these senators to pass them. Since Authoritarianism 101 rests on undermining the electoral process, as MAGA knows, Bidens reelection campaign could help spotlight the threat and demonstrate their commitment to tackling it by continuing to tout plans to pass legislation for voting rights and ensuring free and fair elections.

More recently, despite recordings and reports of corruption and conflicts of interest among Republican-appointed justices on the Supreme Court, the response from Senate Democrats has been fairly limited, even as justices push the nations laws far to the right, overturn key parts of the Biden agenda, and consider giving Donald Trump a license to commit crimes with a lifetime immunity shield.

Voters are increasingly aware of and incensed about these supremely obvious examples of justice being a pay-to-play proposition. And while anger is directed at Supreme Court justices, theres spillover onto Democrats who appear to be doing nothing about it.

We posed this forced choice to a sample of 1,216 likely voters May 31-June 1: Thinking about Justices Thomas and Alito accepting gifts from billionaires, Thomass wifes role in January 6 and Alitos flags, which of the following more closely represents your view?

Despite the clear partisan priming, voters favored a statement saying that Senate Democrats must pursue investigations into potential conflict of interest and wrongdoing by Supreme Court Justices, especially as they are currently considering whether or not Donald Trump is immune from facing criminal trial for his alleged role in the attempted overthrow of the 2020 election by 12 points over the argument that Senate Democrats must allow the Supreme Court to remain independent and should not interfere in the actions of this separate branch of government.

Unsurprisingly, this split was much larger among Democratic voters, who favor action over allegiance to norms that no longer exist by 81 percent to 19 percent. Undecided voters also demonstrated a serious preference for oversight  63 percent to 37 percent.

Reflecting on whether this election represents a fork in the road between contrasting futures, a different white man in the aforementioned Pittsburgh group offered us this analogy: I put it as if you were driving towards a lake, but you were going to head into the lake, and that one choice feels like youre speeding towards the lake and the other feels like youre driving downhill and then the brakes fail. But ultimately, youll both end up in the lake the same way, just at a different speed and a different sort of intensity. Answering this same question this month, a South Philadelphia white woman quipped, I think its more like a fork in the electrical outlet. I think were damned if we do and were damned if we dont.

Is it any wonder theres a lack of belief in the efficacy of voting, especially among disaffected Dems, who feel that they were told to turn out in 2020 to stop terrible things from happening, only to see those terrible things happen anyway? Its challenging to sell voters on the same premise this year.

Though swing voters offer oddly rosy recollections of Trumps purported economic prowess or assert that under his tenure the world wasnt at war, the voters in our groups arent actively championing him. And the disaffected Dems are repulsed by him and MAGA Republicans more generally. However, both swing voters and disaffected Democrats voice constant frustrations about a continuation of the status quo.

So, if folks arent keen on four more years of the present, what does that leave us? Painting for voters the hellscape that awaits them under MAGA Republican rule. Handily, Republicans have typed it up in over 900 Heritage Foundation-authored pages. Its called Project 2025 and offers such choice delights as purging the civil service of anyone unloyal to the regime, restricting contraception, dismantling the Department of Education, eliminating labor and environmental protections  and those are just some highlights!

When we test out elements of Project 2025 or show voters direct quotations from Trump, they respond with swift and widespread disapproval. Turns out, Americans like porn and they dont want anyone trying to have it outlawed and its purveyors imprisoned  as Project 2025 claims it will do. People outside the cult of Trump arent so hot on a MAGA dictatorship.

Where we run into problems is that when voters learn for the first time of these horrors, many wonder why Democrats dont seem to be speaking out about them or fighting back. In an online group across battleground states on June 11, one swing Latina participant summed up these sentiments, saying that the Democrats have to step it up. Where is the counter agenda? More darkly, Asian-American disaffected swing men the same night didnt like MAGAs plan but noted that at least they have one.

Still, others dont believe that Trump and MAGA will pass this agenda. From May 17-19, we asked a sample of 1,213 likely voters, As part of an effort called Project 2025, right-wing think tank the Heritage Foundation researched, developed, and released a 920-page agenda that sets out Republican plans for every aspect of Americans lives, from elections to education and from health care to religion. It includes banning abortion and contraception, eliminating corporate regulations, and increasing presidential power. Which of the following do you feel is most likely to occur if Republicans regain control of the government in November? A mere 21 percent of voters selected Republicans would succeed in implementing this agenda.

Flipping this question on its head, we asked the following of 1,216 likely voters from May 31-June 1: Republicans have outlined a comprehensive agenda for Donald Trumps second term. This agenda includes restricting access to contraception and abortion, removing checks on the power of the president, and making cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Regardless of how you feel about it, which of the following best describes why Republicans will succeed in enacting their agenda if they regain power in November? Given a list of arguments for why Republicans could enact their will, 26 percent of voters maintained incredulity.

Whats most striking is that members of this unbelieving lot are 9 points lower in their support for Biden today than they were in 2020, whereas the rest of the samples support for the president remains unchanged. This fits with a pattern noted by New York Times chief political analyst Nate Cohn: The less tuned in voters are to Trumps recent statements and plans, the more their support for Biden has eroded.

The widely reported fact of Biden bleeding support from key 2020 constituencies including young people and people of color merits a cold hard look at causation. Pundits pounced to attribute these drops to some sudden onset of Trump-attraction and insist Biden has to moderate. But in reality, most of those moving away from Biden are either utterly unaware of or refuse to credit MAGAs well-laid plans to control our lives and our livelihoods. The erosion in support isnt driven by the lure of Trump and cannot be cured by Biden adopting lite versions of his policies. It stems from lack of awareness of what Trump and the rest of the MAGA mob say and intend; thus the only way forward is to ensure voters hear the alarm bells and believe the emergency is real.

Its both accurate and entirely fair to lay much of public ignorance and incredulity at the medias door. But we cannot expect voters to believe that the house is indeed on fire, that the threat of fascism is nigh, if the firefighters, that is our current leaders, arent attempting to put out the blaze.

Anat Shenker-Osorio is a political strategist and communications researcher for progressive campaigns.

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DENVER (KDVR)  The Denver Fire Department is taking firefighting into the future using drones to respond to emergencies.

Denver first launched its drone program five years ago after receiving a grant. Since then, the department has trained and licensed seven drone pilots and developed a program to use the technology to assist in emergencies.

We put the drone up, were going to see 100% of whats going on, said Todd Bruin, assistant superintendent of fire alarm at Denver Fire Department.

The drones give them a birds-eye view of a fire. It also has a camera equipped with different modes including infrared and thermal imaging to help pinpoint hotspots, locate a missing person or detect other features that would be impossible to see with the naked eye.

Police: Armed robbers in Aurora home invasion claim to be delivery workers

Denver Fires most advanced drone can fly in rain, snow and wind up to 40 miles per hour. Its camera can zoom in more than half a mile and maintain a steady image.

The video is broadcast in real time to monitors in three of the departments specialized response vehicles. The feed can also be sent to dispatch, fire officials and field crews.

Youve got a controller with a screen thats only 5 inches. Thats no good to anybody. Its good to me, but my incident command needs to see what Im seeing, Bruin said.

Drone view over a building as fire trucks hose it with high water streams

Drones can inspect fires before people arrive

The main use for the drones is during fires. They can inspect a structure before firefighters go in to minimize danger. The department can also use the recorded videos to learn what went right and what may have gone wrong during the response.

Denver Fire also uses drones during swift water rescues, search and rescue operations and high-angle rescues.

I thought it was going to be all about drones and flying. Its very little flying. We put the drone up and we park it. And everything else happens on the back end, Bruin said.

Unacceptable: Utah governor condemns Denver for sending migrants to Salt Lake City

The department plans to double its drone team in the future. The goal is to have a pilot available 24 hours per day, seven days a week. Currently, overnight fires require an on-call pilot to respond.

One of Denver Fires long-term goals is for a drone to get the first view of every emergency.

Well have strategic drones throughout the city that are on roofs of buildings. When a call comes in, the drone will take off. Itll go to the incident before police, fire, EMS even arrive, Bruin said. Theyll get eyes on the scene and well know right away how serious that incident is ahead of time.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Gov. Spencer Cox talks to journalists at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on the last night of the legislative session, Friday, March 1, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

A rift is growing between Utah and Denver over the Colorado citys monthslong effort to purchase bus tickets for recently arrived migrants, some of whom wind up in Salt Lake City.

Staff with Denver Mayor Mike Johnston say theyve been transparent  Utah Gov. Spencer Cox says otherwise. Regardless, families are showing up in Utah, and the state says its resources are strained.

Jordan Fuja, a spokesperson for Johnston, said Denver has served over 42,000 newcomers. The vast majority of them arrive on buses chartered from Texas, and had no intention of ever coming to Denver, she said.

Thats why part of our operations include purchasing tickets for newcomers to get to their desired location, where they may have support networks or job opportunities, Fuja said.

But Cox, in a statement on Friday, called the practice completely unacceptable.

We recently learned that the Democrat mayor of Denver has been sending illegal immigrants to Utah without proper notification or approval, the governor said, arguing that its an example of the failed catch-and-release policy of the Biden administration.

According to Jennifer Napier-Pearce, a spokesperson for Cox, Denver informed the governors office in May that it was paying to transport recently arrived immigrants to a number of cities, including Salt Lake City. In the last 30 days, Napier-Pearce said 59 people have been bused or flown to Utah  but the state doesnt always get a heads up when a new family arrives from Colorado, she said.

Just over two weeks ago we learned of an immigrant family at the Salt Lake City airport who had been sent by Denver officials with no resources and no place to go. Denver did not consult with us prior to instigating this practice, she said. Since learning of Denvers policy, weve worked with Salt Lake County and Salt Lake City to push back on the Department of Homeland Security, the city of Denver, the state of Colorado and the Biden administration demanding they immediately stop this practice.

Napier-Pearce said the governors office is working with Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County to communicate to migrants and advocacy groups along the U.S.-Mexico border, and other cities including Denver, that Utah is struggling to provide services to the recent arrivals.

Denver must end this practice and Congress and the president must do their job and fix this untenable situation, she said.

Coxs comments on Friday were in response to a KUTV report that pointed to almost 2,000 migrants relocating from Denver to Salt Lake City over two years. The story drew on reporting from Denverite earlier this year that found the city had paid for 1,680 bus tickets to Salt Lake City for asylum seekers since 2022.

Utah Republicans were not pleased with the report.

State Sen. Daniel McCay, R-Riverton, took to social media to criticize the Denver mayor for exporting illegal immigrants to Utah as part of his solutions oriented leadership.

Even illegal immigrants dont want to be in (Denver). Cant say I blame them but this is a big problem, said McCay.

And Coxs gubernatorial challenger, outgoing Rep. Phil Lyman, R-Blanding, repeated his claim that Utah is a sanctuary state, a loose term with no legal definition that often refers to cities or states that dont cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

Just as Biden has made our entire country a sanctuary for illegal aliens, Governor Spencer Cox has made Utah a sanctuary for illegal aliens. Why do we have a Republican governor who is in lockstep with the policies of the Biden administration? Lyman said.

Sanctuary policies often include prohibiting city employees or police from asking about immigration status, preventing local law enforcement from being deputized by ICE to carry out federal immigration law, restricting the construction of immigration detention centers or refusing to allow ICE agents into jails without a warrant.

According to the Utah Sherriffs Association, which issued a strongly worded statement on the issue in April, Utah is not a sanctuary state. The Utah Department of Public Safety and Cox have also pushed back on that label.

Aden Bater, the director of migration and refugee services at Catholic Community Services Salt Lake City office, was unfamiliar with the report out of Denver. But he told Utah News Dispatch that every week roughly 30 new faces show up at Catholic Community Services weekly informational meetings about asylum processing. They come from around the world and country, some having just arrived at the southern border, others relocating from cities, including Denver.

Regardless, Batar pushed back on the idea that anyone is being sent to Utah. Nonprofit groups or cities may offer assistance, but he doesnt see people who were forced to resettle here.

People have the right to go wherever they want, wherever they have friends or relatives. Based on that, they are assisted with bus passes. If they want to go to Utah, they can get a bus token to Utah. If they want to go to California, they can get a bus token to California, he said.

Batar said the last two months have been busy, but not abnormally so. Numbers ebb and flow in resettlement, often picking up during the spring and summer months.

They come from all over the world, often fleeing war, gang violence and persecution  families from Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, El Salvador, Hondorus, Venezuela, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and more are showing up in Salt Lake City, and have for years. There are almost 70,000 refugees living in Utah, according to both Batar and other state officials.

Those newcomers are usually in one of two groups  refugees and asylum seekers. Refugees arrive directly from a refugee camp, and come through the traditional resettlement program, a process that can take years. Theyre fully vetted and interviewed by federal officials and are eligible for benefits through the program.

Asylum seekers present themselves at a U.S. port of entry, which can be along the border or at a U.S. airport. They show officials that they have an asylum claim, which is defined as a credible fear of persecution. Like refugees, they are vetted and interviewed at the port of entry, then their case is referred to an immigration court.

Many of the people coming from Latin America are the latter.

Batar on Friday said calling them illegal immigrants is a misnomer. Even if their claim of asylum doesnt meet the legal definition, they are still following U.S. immigration law by showing up at a port of entry. While their case plays out in the courts, they are free to live where they want.

A report from the American Immigration Council found that 83% of migrants attend their court hearing  those who fail to show often did not receive notice or faced hardship in getting to court, the report stated.

The U.S. is one of the countries that signed the Geneva Convention. We need to point that out, said Batar. We have a legal obligation to protect the safety of these individuals, and thats why theyre being sent to immigration court. The court will hear their case and decide whether they have an asylum case or not.

On Friday, Utah Democrats echoed Batar. In a statement, the House Minority Caucus emphasized that Denver is not proactively choosing to send migrants to Utah.

Amidst the debates and policies regarding immigration, its crucial to remember that asylum seekers are real people, including many children, who have endured incredibly harsh conditions and arrived here with hopes and dreams of a better life, said House Minority Leader Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City.

Romero, in a statement, said her office was in close communication with the Denver Mayors Office.

The report concerning Denver is nothing new  instances of asylum seekers receiving free bus tickets to Utah have been reported previously. That includes a story earlier this year from Utah News Dispatch on families being dropped off at a Salt Lake City bus station, forced to sleep outside in below-freezing temperatures.

Instances like this have drawn condemnation from Cox, who has repeatedly called on Congress and the White House to pass some kind of immigration reform. On Friday, he aired those grievances again.

Every state has received illegal immigrants and Utahs resources are completely depleted. All 50 states, including Utah, are now border states due to the failed immigration policies of President Biden and Congress. Once again we call on the Biden administration and Congress to solve this crisis, the governor said in his statement.

Colorado Newslines Chase Woodruff contributed to this report.

The post Denver mayor says the city is transparent with migrant operations. Utah begs to differ appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A man was arrested after being accused of committing an armed carjacking in Vancouver on Friday.

The suspect was identified by the Clark County Sheriffs Office as 22-year-old Edin M. Fallon.

The sheriffs office had responded at 8:45 a.m. on reports of someone pointing a handgun at victims, demanding they exit the vehicle, and stealing their 1970s Ford F1 pickup truck near the 4500 block of Northeast 54th Avenue. Officials said the suspect fled south on that same street.

Authorities release footage of police shooting man after report of gun and aggressive German shepherd

The stolen car was later found with someone inside it by an officer of the Vancouver Police Department. The truck then became disabled on southbound Interstate 5 near the exit for NE Fourth Plain Blvd, Clark County Sheriffs Office said in a release.

After that, a high-risk vehicle stop was conducted involving multiple law enforcement agencies, including additional CCSO deputies, VPD officers, and Washington State Patrol units. They also found a gun in the truck.

Fallon was arrested, identified by the carjacking victim as the alleged suspect and booked into Clark County Jail on robbery and car theft charges.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Deputies seize over $400,000 in illicit U.S. currency in Iredell County

The Iredell County Sheriffs Office has announced it seized over $420,000 in illicit United States currency last month.

On May 24, deputies conducted traffic stops on separate vehicles and discovered each of them had large amounts of cash.

When questioned by the deputies about the money, each occupant in the vehiles denied knowing how the money got there, and no one claimed ownership.

An investigation revealed that the money found inside the vehicles was the proceeds of illegal narcotics crimes and other criminal activity.

ALSO READ: 20 violent criminals taken off the streets after 3-month operation

This investigation is a reminder of the ongoing, proactive efforts being made by the Iredell County Sheriffs Office to combat drug and currency smuggling through Iredell County, and it is a glaring reminder of how the proceeds of illegal activity travel our interstates almost daily, said Iredell County Sheriff Campbell.

Deputies said the United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations has been contacted in connection with this case.

The investigation is active and ongoing.

VIDEO: CMPD Captain Mike Harris: Guns used as currency on streets
Deseret News archives: It started on this day in 1850 for the Deseret News

The front page of the first issue of the Deseret News on June 15, 1850.

A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.

We propose to publish a small weekly sheet, as large as our local circumstances will permit, the Deseret News announced on June 15, 1850. It would be designed, editor Willard Richards said, to record the passing events of our State and in connection, refer to the arts and sciences, embracing general education, medicine, law, divinity, domestic and political economy and everything that may fall under our observation, which may tend to promote the best interest, welfare, pleasure and amusement of our fellow citizens.

That first edition was printed in the adobe mint office.

And 174 years later, the Deseret News is still working hard to meet its mission statement: Liberty & Truth.

Also known through the years as the Deseret Evening News and the Deseret Morning News, the news organization continues to chronicles news events and issues in Utah and the West, and to offer perspective about what concerns families and conservative-minded groups throughout the nation and world.

More than a century and a half later, the Deseret News is the longest-running news organization in Utah and the states oldest continuously operating business. In addition to its website and mobile app, the Deseret News publishes a weekly edition (delivered by mail), Deseret Magazine and the Church News.

Here are some recent archived stories about the Deseret News:

The Deseret News turns 173 today. Heres where we stand

160 years of history through the eyes of the Deseret News

Happy birthday, Deseret News! A look back at our first issue and others through the ages

Deseret News front page Sept. 11, 2001, the day of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks by terrorists.

On our 150th anniversary

Deseret News Archives
Community safety stood at the forefront as state and local officials joined residents Saturday at a church on Detroit's east side for a rally and march against gun violence.

Hundreds flocked to the Church of the Messiah for its 17th annual Silence the Violence event, one of the largest anti-gun violence marches in the country. A packed audience listened as leaders including U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Lansing; Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist; Detroit Police Chief James White and Detroit City Councilman James Tate spoke to attendees before the crowd took their call for peace to the city's streets.

Officials spoke of the need to combat gun violence through community unity and legislative actions.

"The issue of gun violence is all of our responsibility, every single one of us, and no one's role is more important than the other," said Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield. "Elected officials, clergy, organizations, nonprofits, businesses, block club members, everyone has a role to reduce gun violence."

A student marching band performs during the 17th annual Silence the Violence gun violence prevention march on Detroit's east side Saturday June 15, 2024.

It's time to put an end to the cycle of gun violence through action, said Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist.

"There are too many parents who bury children to gun violence, there are too many brothers who bury sisters to gun violence, there are too many children who bury their own parents to gun violence," Gilchrist said. "This is something that we don't have to accept.

"It's our responsibility that we use the tools at our disposal to do everything we can in our power to make sure that people can get to tomorrow, to make sure that families can be whole as they get to next week, to make sure that everyone can have full access to that dream of health and wealth that gun violence has cut short for too many people in this city, this state, and in this country."

Slotkin told the crowd that gun ownership must be safe and responsible as she recalled learning to hunt with guns as a child and carrying guns in war overseas.

"Michigan is the place where we're going to break the idea that either you're a gun owner or you care about the safety of our children," Slotkin said.

More: Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald launches new foundation to prevent gun violence

A key issue behind gun violence is unsecured firearms, said Wayne County Sheriff Raphael Washington. He encouraged gun owners to keep their weapons safely secured, especially when children are home alone this summer. The Wayne County Sheriff's Office has free gun locks available to community members.

The event got its start in 2007 with Detroit residents marching in their neighborhood to honor loved ones killed by gun violence, according to organizers. It has grown over the years to a thousand-person event, including a marching band and community resource fair.

Janice Nash, a retired educator from Detroit, said the event represents an initiative to come together and protect the community  "saving lives, not only children, but everybody," she said.

Following the speeches, a large, diverse crowd of all ages took to the neighborhood streets, carrying signs and chanting. Led by a marching band, attendees made their way along East Lafayette Street to Van Dyke, then down Kercheval Avenue to East Grand Boulevard before ending back at the church. The procession was flanked by Detroit police on foot, on bicycles, on horseback and in police cars and vans, securing the route and blocking off roads to vehicular traffic.

Residents watched from their windows, front porches and sidewalks as the marching band played, dancers and twirlers performed and marchers shouted chants like "silence the violence" and "this is our city, keep it safe."

The marching band, Church of the Messiah's band, is a literacy program that helps lead area high school students to college, said Pastor Barry Randolph. Daron Maravin, a recent graduate of Oak Park High School, played the drums and cymbals in the marching band and enjoyed the opportunity to meet new friends, he said.

"I get to play with people that I never met before. I've been playing the drums since middle school, so that got me encouraged to play with them," Maravin said.

Bringing more voices into the local gun violence prevention movement is key, Nash said, adding:

"The more people that can come aboard to support the cause and get the message across, the better."

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit, Michigan officials march against gun violence with church
Immediately after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, filmmaker Evgeny Afineevsky made a bold prediction.

Ukraine, the country he documented in his 2015 Oscar-nominated film Winter on Fire, would fight Russias aggression, he said, until the last drop of blood.

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Evidence has shown he did not misread Ukraines resolve. The country has withstood continual Russian attacks on its civilian population, constant assault on its infrastructure, and even weathered fluctuating support from the U.S. Congress. The Ukrainian people have remained steadfast  and so, too, has Afineevsky, devoting himself to documenting Ukraines effort to remain a sovereign nation.

Director Evgeny Afineevsky at the 79th Venice International Film Festival.

His film Freedom on Fire: Ukraines Fight for Freedom  now in contention for News & Documentary Emmys  has screened before lawmakers in Washington, DC, major national security conferences in Europe and North America, and at the Vatican, at a special screening attended by Pope Francis. Afineevsky has returned repeatedly to Ukraine to gather more footage, revising his documentary from the original version that premiered at the 2022 Venice Film Festival.

I wanted to show from inside the desire of Ukrainians to fight and fight till the end, he says, from the front lines of the war to show the furious fight for their own motherland Thats why I was updating and updating and updating.

Freedom on Fire: Ukraines Fight for Freedom

It was important to show that the scope of the atrocities has continued. And its not about military targets, as Russia claims, but its civilian places. It was also important for me to show that it affects ecology because its also an ecological genocide, he says, citing Russias destruction of a dam over the Dnieper River last June, which sent toxic waste from power plants streaming far and wide. (Ukrainian President Zelenskyy called Russias act an environmental bomb of mass destruction).

What has remained consistent through all the iterations of Freedom on Fire is the opening scene  ordinary Ukrainians gathering in the dimly-lit basement of a building for a very unexpected event, given the circumstances: a standup comedy performance.

They have resilience, they have dignity, they are ready to die for their motherland. But the most important thing, they have a great sense of humor and humanity, Afineevsky tells Deadline.

A makeshift memorial to civilians killed in Izyum, Ukraine amid the Russian invasion.

The filmmaker says he learned from Cries from Syria, his 2017 documentary about the devastating civil war in that country, that audiences cannot absorb much graphic footage of violence. In Freedom on Fire, the opening sequence tempers the grim reality above ground.

Thats why this scene was really important for me, he says. It was really important to set the tone for the entire movie.

The film also serves as a counterweight to the narrative pushed by Russian President Vladimir, that its his nation thats an aggrieved victim. Putin has found mouthpieces for his message  on Capitol Hill. A few days ago, on a podcast hosted by Steve Bannon, Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama called Pres. Zelenskyy a dictator and vouchsafed Putins benign intentions. He doesnt want Ukraine, he doesnt want Europe, Tuberville claimed. Hes got enough land of his own. He just wants to make sure that he does not have United States weapons in Ukraine pointing at Moscow.

Afineevsky says that purported reading of the situation is utterly and dangerously wrong.

Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

Im always cautioning [people] and saying, Hey, were in a World War III and its important to stand with Ukraine. I think it was a few years ago, Putin had one of his talk shows where he was answering questions. And he asked kids where the Russian borders end. And the kids said, The Bering Strait. And Putin said, No, no, no, no, no. The Russian borders never end. And its a great sentence to remind people that his ambition does not have any limits, Afineevsky says. Putin doesnt believe in the borders that exist right now. He sees Russia as one big country over the entire globe, basically.

Ukrainian civilians take cover in Freedom On Fire: Ukraines Fight For Freedom

Afineevsky sees the West falling prey to Russias propaganda machine. I openly say the war that we are fighting today is a hybrid war. On one side we do have missiles, bombs that are falling on Ukraine, killing people. Its not just the frontlines today; its everywhere in Ukraine. There is no safe place. But at the same time, there is another side of this war and its an information war. Through disinformation, through social media engagement, Russia is manipulating people, dividing countries. We have a great example of that in the United States, and they are dividing the European Union, and they are manipulating people. Its quite an effective weapon in todays world. Its quite an effective weapon.

The filmmaker adds, We need to remind our people that todays propaganda portion of the war is also on our territory. Propaganda, first of all, its invisible. Second, it doesnt need an American visa or European visa. It crosses our border so fast, and it pierces our brains or our friends brains and our friends who, without any suspicion, are sometimes reposting things or throwing things in the middle which theyre not even checking. And then the snowball continues and its a very dangerous thing.

Director Evgeny Afineevsky with a Ukrainian journalist featured in Freedom on Fire

The documentarians traditional role of truth seeker and truthteller becomes even more essential in such a polluted information environment. Afineevsky, who was born in what was then the Soviet Union, and now makes his home in the U.S., is continuing his engagement with Ukraine. Hes at work on a new documentary that will focus on children, the wars youngest victims.

Its important for me to give a voice to the kids, to give a voice to the younger generation because it is obvious that Russia is not only trying to destroy Ukraine, theyre also working against the future generation of Ukrainians, Afineevsky says. Theyre trying to brainwash them, theyre trying to reeducate them, theyre abducting them, theyre trying to change their identity. And I think for me, as somebody who witnessed all these things, who witnessed the war, I wanted to give the voice to the little ones.

He says despite the trauma many Ukrainian kids have sustained  some lost limbs to Russian missiles, others lost their parents  the children he has met remain unbroken.

They can be a great inspiration, exactly in the same way I started Freedom on Fire with the comedy club scene  because I want to show the resilience, the strength, the humanity. So thats coming in my next project.

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Divers find remains of Finnish WWII plane that was shot down by Moscow with a US diplomat aboard

The Junkers Ju 52 aircraft "Kaleva" by the Finnish airline Aero is parked at the Katajanokka seaplane harbor in Helsinki equipped with floating bottom skis. Photo dated July 14, 1936. With U.S. and French diplomatic couriers aboard, the civilian plane was shot down over the Baltic Sea by Soviet bombers on June 14, 1940 just days before Moscow annexed the three Baltic states. The mysterious case which claimed the lives of nine people is being solved after 84 years as an Estonian diving group has located the aircraft's wreckage off a tiny island close to Tallinn. (Finnish Aviation Museum via AP)

HELSINKI (AP)  The World War II mystery of what happened to a Finnish passenger plane after it was shot down over the Baltic Sea by Soviet bombers appears to finally be solved more than eight decades later.

The plane was carrying American and French diplomatic couriers in June 1940 when it was downed just days before Moscow annexed the Baltic states. All nine people on board the plane were killed, including the two-member Finnish crew and the seven passengers  an American diplomat, two French, two Germans, a Swede and a dual Estonian-Finnish national.

A diving and salvage team in Estonia said this week that it had located well-preserved parts and debris from the Junkers Ju 52 plane operated by Finnish airline Aero, which is now Finnair. It was found off the tiny island of Keri near Estonia's capital, Tallinn, at a depth of around 70 meters (230 feet).

Basically, we started from scratch. We took a whole different approach to the search, Kaido Peremees, spokesman for the Estonian diving and underwater survey company Tuukritoode OU, explained the groups success in finding the planes remains.

The downing of the civilian plane, named Kaleva, en route from Tallinn to Helsinki happened on June 14, 1940  just three months after Finland had signed a peace treaty with Moscow following the 1939-40 Winter War.

The news about the fate of the plane was met with disbelief and anger by authorities in Helsinki who were informed that it was shot down by two Soviet DB-3 bombers 10 minutes after taking off from Tallinns Ulemiste airport.

It was unique that a passenger plane was shot down during peacetime on a normal scheduled flight, said Finnish aviation historian Carl-Fredrik Geust, who has investigated Kalevas case since the 1980s.

Finland officially kept silent for years about the details of the aircrafts destruction, saying publicly only that a mysterious crash had taken place over the Baltic Sea, because it didnt want to provoke Moscow.

Though well documented by books, research and television documentaries, the 84-year-old mystery has intrigued Finns. The case is an essential part of the Nordic countrys complex World War II history and sheds light into its troubled ties with Moscow.

But perhaps more importantly, the downing of the plane happened at a critical time just days before Josef Stalin's Soviet Union was preparing to annex the three Baltic states, sealing the fate of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania for the next half-century before they eventually regained independence in 1991.

Moscow occupied Estonia on June 17, 1940 and Kalevas doomed journey was the last flight out of Tallinn, though Soviets had already started enforcing a tight transport embargo around the Estonian capital.

American diplomat Henry W. Antheil Jr., who is now considered one of the first U.S. casualties of World War II, was aboard the plane when it went down.

The 27-year-old Antheil, the younger brother of the acclaimed composer and pianist George Antheil, was on a rushed government mission evacuating sensitive diplomatic pouches from U.S. missions in Tallinn and Riga, Latvia, as it had become clear that Moscow was preparing to swallow up the small Baltic nations.

An Associated Press wire item dated June 15, 1940 noted that Henry W. Antheil Jr. of Trenton, N. J., attached to the United States Legation in Helsinki, was killed in the mysterious explosion of a Finnish airliner yesterday. In the U.S. media, Antheil's death was overshadowed by much bigger news from Europe at the time: the Nazi occupation of Paris.

The U.S. Embassy in Tallinn has thoroughly documented and researched the case over the years.

Embassy spokesman Mike Snyder told the AP that news of the possible location of the wreck of the Kaleva passenger plane is of great interest to the United States, especially since one of the first U.S. casualties of the Second World War, Diplomat Henry Antheil, occurred as a result of the plane being downed.

Earlier this month, the U.S. ambassador in Estonia, George P. Kent, shared a post on X that included photos of Antheil, Kaleva and a memorial plaque by the American Foreign Service Association in Washington with Antheils name engraved in it.

Kaleva was carrying 227 kilograms (500 pounds) of diplomatic post, including Antheils pouches and material from two French diplomatic couriers  identified as Paul Longuet and Frederic Marty.

Estonian fishermen and the lighthouse operator on Keri told Finnish media decades after the downing of the plane that a Soviet submarine surfaced close to Kaleva's crash site and retrieved floating debris, including document pouches, that had been collected by fishermen from the site.

This has led to conspiracy theories regarding the contents of the pouches and Moscow's decision to shoot down the plane. It still remains unclear why precisely the Soviet Union decided to down a civilian Finnish passenger plane during peacetime.

Lots of speculation on the planes cargo has been heard over the years, Geust said. What was the plane transporting? Many suggest Moscow wanted to prevent sensitive material and documents from exiting Estonia.

But he said that it could have simply been a mistake by the Soviet bomber pilots.

Various attempts to find Kaleva have been recorded since Estonia regained independence more than three decades ago. However, none of them have been successful.

Not even the U.S. Navys oceanographic survey vessel Pathfinder could locate remains of the plane in a 2008 search around the Keri island in a venture commissioned by the Estonian government from the Pentagon.

The wreckage is in pieces and the seabed is quite challenging with rock formations, valleys and hills. Its very easy to miss small parts and debris from the aircraft, Peremees said. Techniques have, of course, evolved a lot over the time. As always, you can have good technology but be out of luck.

New video taken by underwater robots from Peremees company show clear images of the three-engine Junkers landing gear, one of the motors and parts of the wings.

Peremees and his group are absolutely convinced the parts belong to Kaleva because of the distinctive and recognizable design of the German-made Junkers Ju 52, one of the most popular European passenger and wartime transport planes in the 1930s and early 1940s.

The plane was operated by the predecessor of the Finnish national airline Finnair.

Jaakko Schildt, chief operations officer of Finnair, described Kalevas downing as a tragic and profoundly sad event for the young airline that Finnair, then named Aero, was in 1940.

Finding the wreckage of Kaleva in a way brings closure to this, even though it does not bring back the lives of our customers and crew that were lost, Schildt said. The interest towards locating Kaleva in the Baltic Sea speaks of the importance this tragic event has in the aviation history of our region.

Peremees said his company would now focus on creating 3D images of Kalevas debris and discuss with Estonian authorities about the possibility of raising some of the items and, if found, the planes cargo and human remains.

Snyder from the U.S. Embassy in Tallinn said that Washington is closely monitoring the diving groups efforts.

We are following the investigation of the site and will be happy to discuss with our Finnish and Estonian (NATO) allies any developments resulting from recovery efforts, Snyder said.

A stone memorial set up in the early 1990s to the victims of the Kaleva crash is located on Keri, and Helsinkis old preserved Malmi airport terminal building, where Kaleva was supposed to arrive, has a memorial plaque set up in 2020 with the names of the victims.
Republican elected officials in a small Arizona county talked with state lawmakers and activists about hand-counting ballots there in 2022 and urged their counterparts in other counties to push for hand counts as well, newly released public records show.

The records from Cochise county, a Republican stronghold along the US-Mexico border, only came to light after a lawsuit from a watchdog group, American Oversight, and took well over a year to be released. The original records request from American Oversight was filed in November 2022.

They show how Tom Crosby and Peggy Judd, two of the three-member board of supervisors, were both advocating for hand-counting ballots as election denialism and skepticism gripped the county. The two supervisors also delayed certification of the countys election results in 2022, which resulted in criminal charges in a case that is still ongoing.

The records also show that there was confusion among constituents, and at times the supervisors themselves, over what the plan was and how it could be executed, especially as courts issued rulings. It appeared from records that earlier in the process, both supervisors were doubtful a hand count could happen, especially so close to an election  but, once the idea gained momentum on the right and got national attention, they kept pushing.

Experts warn that hand-counting ballots is often more costly, less accurate and more time-consuming than machine tabulation. Fears over machines rely on false claims that votes were injected into counts or systems were otherwise hacked. A push for hand counts across the country could serve as another basis to undermine election results this year.

They will not stop, Chioma Chukwu, interim executive director of American Oversight, told the Guardian. Theyre going to continue until they get what they want, which is pushing for hand counts, delaying the certification of election results if the election does not go their way in November.

Already, one supervisor from Mohave county, another Republican-led area, sued to contest the idea hand counts are not allowed, and state lawmakers who were actively calling for hand counts in the midterms are still in office.

In Arizona, several state lawmakers contacted Judd to help advance or praise the hand-count idea, with one offering legal advice from legislative lawyers on the ability to conduct a full hand count and another claiming no state laws would impede them. The courts disagreed  a lawsuit stopped a full hand count from proceeding, and the supervisors lost the case again on appeal.

This demonstrates what we suspected, which is that there was a lot of influence and coordination from the Arizona state legislature, putting pressure on and supporting counties that were willing to push for these full hand counts in order to further their goals, Chukwu said.

Related: Republican who refused to certify Georgia primary a member of election denialist group

For Crosby, doubts over tabulation machines played into his desire for a hand count, records show. He brought up a local ballot problem from 2012 caused by human error which he believes was not properly remedied, saying he was 10 years ahead of todays election integrity proponents. He said he was personally inclined to think [voting machines] probably can be hacked.

He also regularly corresponded with activists who claimed tabulation machines were not properly certified, a claim the state had repeatedly debunked. The records also show where Crosby gets some of his information. When someone shared an article from the rightwing news site Gateway Pundit, he wrote back that he watched Gateway Pundit, too. When a reporter from the Epoch Times, a far-right outlet, sought comment, he said, I respect Epoch Times.

When constituents contacted Crosby to oppose the hand count, he frequently asked them for their definition of democracy. I say majority rule, he wrote back. When one person sent an email detailing their opposition, he replied: You should be aware that whoever loses will cry foul.  You might be on the other side of the table next election.

Crosby declined to respond to questions from the Guardian unless his entire responses were printed in full, noting that no news people have agreed to that yet.

For Judd, her interest was in part a reaction to constituents and a hope that a hand count could assuage election doubts. At times, she defended the countys elections and said she didnt believe there were problems. When people emailed her to oppose the hand count, she replied with a long explanation that it would bring understanding and greater faith in the process for everyone.

Judd told Votebeat this April that she never pushed for the hand count. Her actions behind the scenes, like talking to lawmakers and contacting other county supervisors and encouraging them to try to hand-count ballots, undermine those claims. She texted one person to say there were efforts to get her on Steve Bannon or Mike Lindells shows to spread the word, adding: We need to make this bigger and we can.

In one email she said, hand counting is as American as apple pie. She spoke against the people trying to prevent the hand count, including the then secretary of state, Katie Hobbs, who she said has all election directors singing in chorus against hand counts.

Chukwu said the records showed an active role in her pushing for the hand count.

Judds attorney said because she was a defendant in an active criminal case, she would not be talking with the media.

In an email with an activist, she mentions talking with Lupe Diaz, a state representative, to get his input on the issue. Diaz gave me a great addition to the reason for following through on this, she wrote. If the county, attorneys or otherwise, blocks this effort it further solidifies that the Elections Dept has something to hide.

In an email to a local activist, she said she spoke with the state senator David Gowan, who was 100% behind the hand count and offered ideas for how to get the plan to a vote. Gowan messaged Judd on a few occasions to offer support.

There are so many in the Senate, who support you guys on the hand count, Gowan wrote to Judd. Just want you to know, many of them are watching online right now.

Judd wrote to an assortment of supervisors in other Arizona counties, imploring them to also try to hand-count ballots.

So here is a plea to you, she wrote. If your county can handle this bold of a move and even if you dont think they can. Please make an effort. It takes a majority of the board or the chairman to call a special meeting. Call it and see what happens.

The county did not respond to a request for comment on why it took so long to turn over the records. American Oversight said its goal with filing suit over the records was to provide insight and accountability on how the hand-count process happened and enforce public access to documents.
When Gov. Ron DeSantis needed a place to host a signing ceremony for a bill banning homeless people from sleeping in public, the Florida Republican chose Miami Beach. It wasn't picked just for its iconic beach and breakers.

Last September, Miami Beach enacted a similar prohibition on public sleeping, which DeSantis praised at the March ceremony as a compassionate measure that would also keep the streets "clean" and "safe."

It's been a selling point for South Florida. Republican Miami Mayor Francis Suarez bragged last year, during his brief presidential campaign, that because of the city's "different approach" to the issue of homelessness, there were only about 600 unsheltered people in Miami. Oh, you can see homeless people here. Plenty of them if you want to, in downtown, near the beaches, and around popular tourist spots like the Wynwood neighborhood. But it's not like walking through Washington, D.C., or Portland, Oregon, where underpasses and public parks are stuffed with tents.

This is partly a shell game played by local authorities. The Miami Police Department has an ominously named "Homeless Empowerment Assistance Team" (HEAT) that clears tent camps, and the city recently paid a $300,000 settlement to end a lawsuit over improperly trashing homeless people's property, including an urn containing the ashes of a woman's mother. There are local and county ordinances to make life tougher for people living on the street, and at one time the county was considering a grotesque proposal to move them onto a small island next to a wastewater treatment plant.

But Miami has managed to avoid large-scale chronic homelessnessand Ron Book, the chair of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, will tell you with a straight face that if a few things break his way, he will end homelessness altogether in the county in under two years.

In addition to chairing the trustthe government agency that coordinates funding and delivery of homeless aid in the countyBook is a prominent lobbyist and attorney, so he has a lot of practice in the field of confident speaking. But he also says he has the numbers to back his claim up.

In the early 1990s, more than 8,000 people were camping on the streets and sidewalks of Miami-Dade County.

"When I started 32 years ago, we were in a similar place to Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Houston, Dallas, New Orleans, Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Boston, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York City, Washington, D.C.," Book says. "We all had between 8,000 and 11,000 unsheltered individuals."

According to the trust's January headcount, there were 1,032 unsheltered people in Miami-Dade County. "Too many," Book says, "but I don't have 60,000 unsheltered like they do in San Francisco, and I don't have 79,000 the way they do in L.A."

Book's claim of being able to bring that number down to zero in Miami is stunningmaybe even scoff-worthybecause in so many other parts of the country homelessness seems intractable no matter how much money politicians throw at it. And they've thrown a lot.

Los Angeles voters approved a $1.2 billion bond in 2016 to build 10,000 units of permanent supportive housing. Three years later, the city had finished only 1 percent of the promised units. In 2018, California voters passed a $2 billion bondmeasure that promised 20,000 new housing units. CalMatters reported earlier this year that fewer than 2,000 have been finished.

New York City recently spent tens of millions of dollars on "intensive mobile treatment" teams to provide homeless people with medication and connect them with services. So far, the program has delivered lackluster results: The New York Times reported in February that the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene "had not set clear standards to measure its effectiveness despite spending more than $37 million on the initiative last year alone." In one case, a team lost track of a man prone to psychotic episodes; that man later pushed a 92-year-old woman, causing her to hit her head on a fire hydrant.

Despite all that money, homelessness in the U.S. surged to a record high in 2023, driven by rising rents, tight housing markets, and the end of pandemic-era financial relief and eviction bans. An annual one-night headcount in January 2023 by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) found more than 650,000 people were living in shelters, tents, or carsup 12 percent over the previous year.

In response, state legislatures and city councils across the country have passed bills to crack down on homelessness, including putting homeless people in government-run camps. Homeless advocacy groups argue that cities can't criminalize their way out of the problem, but conservatives and a vocal bloc of disillusioned liberals say they are done tolerating open-air drug use and unsanitary tent camps.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has taken up a case on whether cities can ban homeless people from sleeping in public even if there's no available shelter space, potentially setting the stage for a huge shift in the civil rights of homeless people in the United States.

"It's been a series of 5- to 10-year plans at the state, federal, and city level in California to end homelessness, and every time it's 'Oh, we just didn't quite build enough housing' or 'We just didn't quite do enough of this, didn't quite spend enough money,'" says Devon Kurtz, public safety policy director at the Cicero Institute. "It's starting to look really, really foolish."

But is there a way for homeless policy to thread the needle between feckless progressivism and reactionary overcorrection, and does Miami really have a different approach? What has worked in Miami-Dade County has not been the most punitive measures or a one-size-fits-all solution but a flexible variety of aid, a friendly housing market, and rules against police harassment. Unfortunately, the political tide has turned against the latter two.

The Housing-Industrial Complex

If you want to trace how the political backlash to San Francisco's homelessness problem has moved through the rest of the country, the Cicero Institute is an instructive place to start.

The Cicero Institute was founded by Joe Lonsdale, an exSan Francisco venture capitalist and co-founder of Palantir Technologies. Since 2021, the institutenow based in Austin, Texashas been drafting model legislation for statehouses. The goal is to break the current model restricting how homeless grant funding is used across the country and expand the boundaries of how municipal governments can police homelessness. So far it has seen versions of its model bills passed in Texas, Missouri, Kentucky, Georgia, and Florida.

The think tank opposes what it calls the "homeless-industrial complex" and specifically the "Housing First" approach that currently dominates federal and state responses to the problem.

Housing First prioritizes getting people into permanent supportive housing without preconditions on sobriety, treatment, employment, or other factors. It inverted the traditional model of homeless services, which moved people from shelters to transitional programs and treatment and then finally to housing. The idea is that stable housing is the biggest contributor to getting homeless people back on their feet, and everything else will flow easier from there.

Housing First gained momentum under the George W. Bush administration. Since 2009, the federal government has prioritized permanent supportive housing and rapid rehousing programs for federal HUD grants. In 2016 California enacted legislation requiring all housing programs to adopt this model, which ruled out common reasons for rejecting applications, including criminal history and lack of rental history. Nor can a tenant be required to be in treatment or evicted for substance abuse in and of itself.

"We know, and studies have shown, that when people have housing that meets their needs and have supportive services that meet their needs, they do really well," says Jesse Rabinowitz, campaign and communications director for the National Homelessness Law Center. "In D.C., 95 percent of people in permanent supportive housing stay housed after their first year. This is an incredible success story. It's just that we don't have enough of it."

The Trump administration originally supported Housing Firstformer HUD Secretary Ben Carson wrote in 2017 that there was a "mountain of evidence" supporting itbut soured on the policy when progressive cities like Portland and San Francisco became useful punching bags. The bipartisan consensus on Housing First crumbled.

The Cicero Institute, the libertarian Cato Institute, and the conservative Manhattan Institute argue that Housing First has been costly and ineffective in many states, especially California, and that the research supporting it elides worrying data about poor behavioral health outcomes. In D.C., landlords and residents say the city's supportive housing program has moved people with mental health issues and drug addiction into buildings without providing enough security or support, leading to violence and dysfunction.

What's beyond dispute is that the funding prioritization for Housing First has led to a predictable squeeze in other types of shelter. In California, for example, the number of transitional housing beds dropped by 50 percent between 2013 and 2019.

"We're seeing this pattern over and over again where when you over-invest in permanent supportive housing, you actually take resources away from what works for different types of clients," Kurtz says. "And a lot of what we're trying to do at Cicero is just say, let's have a multifaceted approach for a very complex and heterogeneous population."

But the Cicero Institute's reasonable critiques of Housing First policy are only an appetizer course for a menu that also includes a large number of measures to create and raise criminal penalties.

Among the Cicero Institute's proposals is creating drug-free zones around homeless services. The Cicero Institute claims drug-free zones have a "proven record of success" in all 50 states, but in reality they have little deterrence effect, are rarely if ever used to prosecute their intended targets, and blanket whole neighborhoods in enhanced sentencing zones. A 2017 Reason investigation found that 38 percent of Memphis, Tennessee, was covered in drug-free zones. Those zones dramatically increased criminal charges for drug offenders, many of whom were often driving through zones or in private residences, turning petty drug crimes into mandatory minimum sentences that rivaled those for second-degree murder and rape.

Government-Run Tent Camps

The statewide public camping ban that DeSantis signed into law in Miami Beach was also inspired by the Cicero Institute. It bans homeless people from sleeping or camping in public and preempts local governments from allowing it.

One of the bill's most controversial provisions also requires local governments to construct encampments with adequate sanitation and security to place homeless people if shelters are over capacity.

The bill drew widespread condemnation from homeless advocacy groups. Book takes a more hard-line stance than others in his field; he doesn't support policies that make it easier for people to live on the streets or maintain an addiction, and he's cautiously optimistic about the bill. But even he is leery about the camp requirements.

"Our approach has always been a measured outcomeperformance, evidence-based solutions to ending homelessnessand encampments don't do it," he says.

Gainesville, Florida, opened a government-sanctioned tent camp in 2014. But without a plan to move people out of it, it devolved into violence and drug abuse until it was closed. Government-run tent camps have also been surprisingly expensive in other jurisdictions. The average per-tent operating cost of a safe camping site in San Francisco, Portland, and San Diego was $61,000, $34,000, and $28,750, respectively.

"In all of the aforementioned cities, the yearly costs of renting an average-priced apartment are cheaper than the per-tent costs of a safe camping site," Reason's Christian Britschgi reported.

Still, Book is encouraged that the Florida Legislature is actually paying attention to homelessness for once. And despite the bill's flaws, he thinks it will force counties and cities to come up with real, concrete plans to address homelessness.

"In 32 years of leading our efforts into homelessness, there has never been a time where there has been legislative leadership and executive branch leadership prepared to even talk about homelessness, let alone do anything," he says.

Another provision in the law creates a private right of action for Floridians to sue local governments that fail to enforce the ban on public camping. This type of mechanism has appeared in several of Florida's other recent culture war bills, and critics worry it will lead to a barrage of lawsuits.

"One of two things will happen. The cities and counties will need to arrest everyone on the streetwhich is currently considered unconstitutional unless there is space in local homeless shelters, which there isn't, thus leaving the cities and counties vulnerable to civil-rights lawsuits," Martha Are, executive director of the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida, wrote in an Orlando Sentinel op-ed. "Or the cities and counties will ignore the statute, and so they'll face lawsuits from residents and businesses upset over the public presence of people who are homeless. In fact, jurisdictions are likely to face both types of lawsuits."

Although supporters of the Florida law and camping bans in general have framed them as a compassionate measure to direct homeless people to services, the laws ultimately rely on police to enforce them. And police are not a gentle, guiding hand. Their job is to arrest people breaking the law.

From 1992 to 2019, Miami was prohibited under the terms of an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit settlement from arresting homeless people for sleeping, bathing, or other activities.

David Peery was homeless in Miami from 2008 to 2018. He was also the class representative for homeless plaintiffs in the resulting consent decree. He says Miami complied with the agreement "sporadically." Miami police still harassed homeless people downtown. He remembers one instance where police continually bothered him over three nights, with one officer trying to tell him that where he was sleeping was excluded from the terms of the consent decree.

"He didn't know that I was actually in the federal court litigation, and I knew the agreement backwards and forward," Peery says. "They did this type of harassment for about three days in a row. And I'm at the point where I'm literally hallucinating from sleep deprivation because I can't get more than 90 minutes worth of sleep at a time."

In 2019, a federal judge terminated the consent decree after ruling that "overwhelming evidence supports the finding that City police will not revert to arresting [homeless] individuals."

A Miami Herald review of arrests made after Miami Beach's public sleeping ban was enacted found Miami Beach police officers asked "only vague questions about whether homeless people want shelter or other assistance before detaining them. Officers do not appear to discuss the availability of beds in specific shelters, offer transportation to the shelters or explain that declining services will result in their immediate arrest."

Human Whac-a-Mole

Looming over all of this is a pending Supreme Court case that could upend the legal standard for how cities can police homelessness.

Late last year, the Supreme Court agreed to hear Johnson v. Grants Pass, a case concerning the current precedent in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.

A 2021 National Homelessness Law Center study on laws criminalizing homelessness found that 48 states have implemented at least one law prohibiting or restricting the conduct of homeless people. But the 9th Circuit put a limit on those laws in the 2018 case Martin v. City of Boise, ruling that it violates the Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishment to arrest or fine people for sleeping outside if there is no available shelter space.

"As long as there is no option of sleeping indoors, the government cannot criminalize indigent, homeless people for sleeping outdoors, on public property, on the false premise they had a choice in the matter," a 9th Circuit panel wrote.

Shortly after, several homeless individuals filed a lawsuit challenging a public camping ban in Grants Pass, a small town in southern Oregon. The 9th Circuit blocked Grants Pass from enforcing the ordinance, Grants Pass petitioned the Supreme Court, and now the majority-conservative Court will have a say on whether it's constitutional to arrest someone for being involuntarily unsheltered.

The city of Grants Pass, the Cicero Institute, and others argue that the 9th Circuit precedent ties the hands of local governments.

"It just ends up being kind of a mess and I think that it puts too much burden on small towns in particular," Kurtz says. "It misunderstands the level of involvement that local government has in the construction of shelters, since all of this is being run primarily through the Continuum of Care, which are unelected nonprofits that control all federal money going into a state for homelessness and otherwise keep their finger on the scales of how they respond."

Continuum of Care is a term of art for local or regional programs, such as the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, that administer homeless assistance funding. Kurtz is correct that small towns have limited control over how that money is spent.

But Rabinowitz argues that Grants Pass is trying to have it both ways, refusing to provide housing and intentionally trying to drive homeless people out through criminalization. He notes that the town's housing has a 1 percent vacancy rate and precious little shelter space.

"There's a gospel rescue mission that requires you to go to church services twice a day, work for the mission six hours a day, six days a week, and pay $100 a month to stay there," Rabinowitz says. "If you're too old or too sick to meet the work requirements, you can't stay there at all, which really means people have no other choice."

Oregon Public Broadcasting reviewed city meeting minutes and found that in 2013, Grants Pass hosted a community roundtable "to identify solutions to the current vagrancy problems." At the meeting, a "question was raised about [literally] driving repeat offenders out of town and leaving them there." A city council member "stated the point is to make it uncomfortable enough for them in our city so they will want to move on down the road."

Advocates worry that if the Supreme Court overturns the 9th Circuit precedent, it will lead to an arms race between cities trying to craft the most punitive and unwelcoming anti-homeless laws. "That's not a solution that actually ends homelessness," Rabinowitz says. "That's just a solution to play human Whac-a-Mole."

Is a Miami Miracle Possible?

So what makes Miami a relative success story? After peaking in the 1990s, homelessness in Miami-Dade began declining over the next decade after several new shelters opened. The county funded a large chunk of its homeless services through a 1 percent tax levied on restaurant checks.

Book also cites the trust's use of outreach teams to keep contact with people on the street. Every day, 365 days a year, a team of medical professionals drives around Miami-Dade County doing welfare checks on homeless people.

The program was started in 2014 by Lazaro Trueba, a now-retired Miami-Dade Homeless Trust administrator who noticed that people with mental health issues were being picked up by police, temporarily committed to psychiatric hospitals, and then dumped back on the street before their psychotropic medications had time to take effect. Other local nonprofits that coordinate with the trust also run street teams.

Over the 2010s, more low-income and supportive housing projects were finished, creating more space for people to move into permanent housing. Book also says the trust works to identify people at risk of homelessness through eviction or foreclosure. These tools mean there are multiple points of potential intervention, including before someone is homeless.

Did it work? Well, the number of people on the street in Miami-Dade county is roughly the same now as it was in 2015. But that's still better than many metropolitan areas have been doing.

To finish the job, Book says he needs more housing.

The trust plans to bring the number of homeless down to zero by aggressively expanding the county's supply of permanent supportive housing and affordable rentals. Book's been working on identifying buildings suitable for adaptive reuse, such as old hotels and mothballed government facilities. One of the trust's first targets was a 107-room La Quinta hotel in Cutler Bay that it wanted to convert into affordable rental units for senior citizens and veterans ready to leave shelters. The trust is aiming to purchase the hotel for $14 million. The estimated cost to retrofit the rooms is $650,000, which, according to an April status report from the Miami-Dade mayor, results in a per-unit estimated cost of $136,915. Book says he also wants to experiment with building less-expensive tiny houses.

The Miami-Dade Homeless Trust has a roughly $90 million operating budget, about two-thirds of which is spent on permanent housing. Book is trying to pass two new restaurant taxes to fund the additional housing he says he needs.

But the trust has been running into a problem: Despite the extreme housing shortage, local politicians and residents don't want any affordable housing near them, nor do they want to see homeless people or acknowledge the relationship between the lack of the former and the prevalence of the latter.

This is a familiar issue: Around the country, cities have used zoning ordinances, code enforcement, and lengthy permitting processes to stop churches and charities from operating shelters and soup kitchens. The Cutler Bay project has been on ice since December due to local opposition.

"I got a county commissioner who previously supported it, and then when 12 people showed up opposing it in her district, she got cold feet on me," Book says. "I'm fighting for approval to acquire that, but NIMBYism is alive and well."

There may not be a perfect solution to ending homelessness, but there are some clear principles to reduce the friction for those working to do so.

First, localities should radically liberalize housing policy and ease zoning regulations. There's a clear correlation between housing supply and homelessness; the states in which housing is most expensive and least abundant are, by and large, the states with the biggest homeless populations. Even if Housing First works, it works only when housing is readily available or easily constructed. In places determined to keep housing supply and density low, like California, Housing First has been wildly expensive for what it delivers.

Second, governments should allow for a broad and flexible range of aid and services, instead of mandating one-size-fits-all solutions. Sometimes a town needs an emergency shelter more than an apartment block, and vice versa. Let motivated problem-solvers figure out the details instead of relying on sclerotic bureaucracies. Let people experiment with tiny houses, with RV hookups, and with other nontraditional housing. Repeal occupancy caps and prohibitions on multifamily housing.

Third, government entities running programs intended to reduce homelessness should audit the performance of the programs in order to avoid the sorts of boondoggles we've seen in New York City and Los Angeles. Programs that don't work should be shut down or reformed. Peery, now the founder and executive director of the Miami Coalition to Advance Racial Equity, reports that the city's shelter system is "middling," still demeaning and inadequate for the city's chronically homeless, and that there still needs to be more housing stock.

At the same time, local authorities should closely monitor enforcement to ensure that tools like involuntary commitment are not being used inappropriately or inhumanely. The condition of being homeless is not a crime, and it does not negate anyone's civil rights or necessitate being shunted into a government-run camp on the edge of town.

Book likes to say that he created his own luck in life, as if he can will things into being just by declaring it will be so. "We will reach an end to homelessness in my community," he promises.

But that will require the political will to create abundant, affordable housing and treat the homeless as individuals with rights, not problems to be swept away.

"No one voluntarilyleaves four walls and a locked door and a roof over their head to live unsheltered on the streets, vulnerable to theft, violence, sleep deprivation, and constant attacks on your privacy," Peery says. "What sense does that make? Why would anybody subject themselves to that type of constant pain?"

The post Does Miami Have the Answer to Homelessness? appeared first on Reason.com.
ST. LOUIS  One woman is hurt after a domestic dispute led to a shooting Saturday morning in north St. Louis. Authorities have arrested the alleged gunman.

The victim, a 42-year-old woman, is being treated for critical injuries. The suspect, identified by police as 71-year-old Earnest Stewart, was in a romantic relationship with the victim prior to the incident.

Berkeley police identify victims in weekend double homicide

The shooting happened around 5 a.m. Saturday in the 4200 block of Penrose Street in St. Louis OFallon neighborhood.

Authorities responded to a street nearby and found the victim with an apparent gunshot wound to her right thigh. The victim told police she was in a verbal argument with Stewart, though it later became physical and ended with her being shot.

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Police later found Stewart nearby and arrested him without incident. He was also found in possession of a weapon suspected in the shooting.

Stewart was charged with first-degree domestic assault, armed criminal action, unlawful possession of a firearm and fourth-degree assault amid the investigation. Police say he is a previously convicted felon and is in custody without bond.

The victim is currently hospitalized in critical, but stable condition. SLMPD is handling the investigation.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
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Does Donald Trump actually need any human help?

The once and potentially future president went on Logan Pauls podcast and mused about AI, including its potential to replace his speechwriters.

I had a speech rewritten by AI out there, one of the top people, Trump said, per a writeup in The Guardian. He said, Oh, youre gonna make a speech? Yeah? He goes, click, click, click, and like, 15 seconds later, he shows me my speech thats written thats great, so beautifully. I said, Im gonna use this. Ive never seen anything like it.

We dont know when or if Trump used that speech. But its hard to imagine that AI chatbots, known for their riveting on the one hand, on the other hand, in conclusion style of argumentation, could capture Trumps signature style. No details about sinking boats, sharks, or electrocution, Id guess. Nonetheless, Trump joked to Paul he is ready to fire his speechwriters.

Would such a move matter? He doesnt lean too heavily on their speeches anyway. There is a sense in which those around Trump seem to feel, this time around, that its not even worth asking the question of whether they should let Trump be Trump. Trump will be Trump. Theres not really a choice, theres not much those around him can do to intervene, and theres not many left with the spine to try. Take this New York Times report on Trumps debate prep, which doesnt actually involve any prepping for debates, just refreshers from his staff on the policies Trump allegedly supports (as if those are not prone to change based on gut feeling, barometric pressure, or a well-placed donation from an executive).

One can imagine a Trump campaign ideas team staffed entirely by chatbots: chatbots to write speeches, chatbots to give policy refreshers, chatbots to speculate on new and innovative ways the election may be or may have already been stolen. It might not change much about how the former president moves in the world, given the low level of resistance to his worst ideas currently exhibited by those humans around him, but it might reduce the number of Trumps codefendants after the fact.

Anyway. Heres whats on tap this weekend.

Kate Riga writes on the Supreme Courts unsurprising abortion decision this week, and the damage it might do in the weeks to come.

Josh Kovensky looks for the now barely seen Proud Boys, and finds them lying in wait.

Emine Yucel was on the Hill Thursday trying to report as hoards of other reporters hounded senators for details of Trumps visit to the Hill. She recounts the experience.

The danger of electric vehicles, according to Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Lets dig in.

 John Light

Celebrating That The Supreme Court Meandered Its Way To The Obviously Correct Decision

(Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Court Accountability)

The Supreme Court did its job this week in FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, the case where anti-abortion doctors attempted to get mifepristone yanked from the market. Cue the ticker-tape parade.

Seriously though  with this Court, often so hellbent on reverse engineering its way into preferred policy outcomes, it was by no means a predetermined conclusion that the justices would find that the anti-abortion plaintiffs obviously lacked standing to bring the suit. The waters were further muddied by the justices own actions; they chose to hear the case rather than turning it away on spec; both Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas would have allowed the 5th Circuits decision (which reimposed restrictions on the drug) to stand while the Court considered the case.

But they came out with a unanimous decision, realizing, rightly, that granting standing to doctors who couldnt prove an injury would throw wide the courthouse doors to lots of other people whose chief complaint is not liking something that someone else is doing.

The Biden campaign scrambled after the decision to remind reporters that the happy outcome of this case does not mean mifepristone is safe. Campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said on a call that Trumps second term agenda threatens women in all 50 states and that Donald Trump could ban mifepristone without Congress or the courts.

Theyre clearly worried that ill-informed complacency could replace the nationwide urgency to beat back abortion restrictions borne from the Dobbs decision (a boon to Democrats). She added that abortion would be a centerpiece of Bidens debate strategy later this month.

The Biden team may not have to worry; I suspect that the joy over this non-heinous abortion decision will be short-lived. Were still awaiting the Courts decision in Moyle v. United States, on whether federal emergency room standards trump state abortion bans. From a legal standard, its another easy case: Federal laws preempt state ones. But the right-wing justices sounded determined to decide against the U.S. government at oral argument, getting frustrated as Justice Sonia Sotomayor brought in real-world anecdotes of the suffering letting Idahos ban govern emergency care would unleash.

Its the same Court as ever. They just couldnt quite stomach an argument so flawed that a 1L would know to decide against it.

 Kate Riga

Loud and Proud

(Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

I wrote this week about the Proud Boys. The group was everywhere during the Trump years, doing battle with his opponents and buttressing his supporters. But at the Trump trial  including on the day of its dramatic end  they were nowhere to be found.

That surprised me. Throughout the trial, Trump had complained that his fans were being blocked from coming to show their support. I was there every day, and saw neither blockage nor a significant number of his supporters. But the Proud Boys struck me as different. During the Trump years they proudly acted as his auxiliaries, claiming to provide security for him and his supporters. Why werent they there for him at his moment of maximum legal peril?

The answer is that theyre standing back and standing by, avoiding situations that might subject them to further scrutiny from the FBI. In other words, theyre avoiding situations that might cause mass arrests, like the courthouse as Trumps verdict was announced. It reflects many things: the groups relative weakness when compared to 2020, for sure, but also a certain canniness. They recognize that they are damaging for Trump; as one chapter put it, the requirement then is not to disband themselves, but to lie low and wait until November to act.

 Josh Kovensky

Words Of Wisdom

(Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

If there was an attack on our nations capital, Joint Base Andrews would be responding. Are we going to have to sit around and wait for our military members at Joint Base Andrews to charge their electric vehicles to come into the nations capital to defend us in case of an attack?

Thats Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) speaking on the House floor earlier this week.

The conspiracy theoryloving congresswoman introduced an amendment to the 2025 defense budget Wednesday, trying to withhold funds authorized to the Department of Defense that may be used for electric vehicles or electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

The MAGA hatred for everything electric vehicle is well known but this ridiculous argument is a new one for me

MTG really seems confused about how electric cars and electronics work in general. Somebody ought to tell her you can charge things ahead of time.

Thankfully House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) shut it down quickly.

Let me assure you that as basic readiness theyll be charged in the same way that the gas tanks are currently full. Okay? Smith said.

 Emine Yucel

Let Them Eat Cake

(Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

As I exited the metro station this Thursday, I ran straight into a wall of DCs infamous humidity. That I expected. I did not expect the wall of reporters and cameras that greeted me in front of the Capitol Hill Club.

Former President Donald Trump was on the Hill meeting with Republican lawmakers, but I was not there to cover him: I was tracking Senate Republicans efforts to explain why they refused to support the Democrats bill to codify in vitro fertilization despite repeatedly claiming they are all for the procedure. I spent most of Thursday debunking one of their go to arguments: that IVF is not under threat at the state level.

After the Trump meeting was over, many of those reporters I had seen earlier swarmed the Senate basement in the hope of getting details on the closed-door meeting.

As I fought my way into the scrums to ask senators about IVF and the bill they were walking up to the Senate floor to vote on, I expected that most of the other reporters would ask instead about the topics of discussion during the Trump meeting. Its normal, after all, that the press wants to cover what the presumptive GOP nominee said in his first meeting at the Capitol since Jan. 6.

But as senator after senator walked by, reporters were shouting over each other, tripping over the stairs and other members of the press to get their recorders close enough to the conversation to instead ask about mundane details of and how Republican lawmakers kissed the hand.

Did you sing him happy birthday?

Was there cake?

What kind of cake did you guys get for the former president?

Squeezing into the scrums of sometimes more than seven or eight reporters chasing a senator walking down the narrow hallways of the basement connecting the Senate to the senate office buildings, all I heard were those same questions over and over again.

What a scene I thought to myself Here I was covering a major threat to reproductive rights and I could barely get any question in because everyone else wanted to hear what kind of cake Trump ate.

 Emine Yucel
Donald Trumps campaign is taking a vastly different approach to 2024 compared to 2020, with plans for fewer staff and expenses, including what they view as superfluous brick and mortar offices. Instead, the campaign pledges to run a more efficient operation that will rely heavily on data modeling, microtargeting and relying on wealthy conservative groups for data, infrastructure and significant bank accounts to help find Trump a pathway to the 270 electoral votes needed to secure victory in November.

[The] ability to work with outside groups on field work alleviates the need to have the same size staff footprint as in previous cycles, allowing us to retain a greater share of resources for advertising and paid voter contact programs than in past cycles, a senior Trump adviser told CNN.

Of those groups, perhaps one of the most important is Turning Point Action, which is hosting Trump in Michigan Saturday, his second engagement with the organization in as many weeks. Turning Point was one of several groups that sat down with campaign advisers Chris LaCivita and James Blair during a donor retreat earlier in the year that focused on how outside groups could best assist Trumps reelection effort.

TPA  an affiliate of Turning Point USA, the youth organization started by Trump ally Charlie Kirk  is aiming to ultimately spend $108 million dollars on a get-out-the-vote effort in key battleground states, according to two sources familiar with the plans. The Chase the Vote program has built out infrastructures in Arizona, Wisconsin and Michigan, all states that Trump won in 2016 but lost to President Joe Biden in 2020. While Trump speaks to the crowd this weekend, the group is planning to sign up more local volunteers as well as pass out job applications to beef up their program, particularly in the Wolverine State.

Democratic operatives have mocked Trumps campaign for their limited hired staff on the ground, as Bidens team has continued to build out its own massive ground game operation.

You need boots on the ground to win an election, one veteran Democratic strategist said, who spoke on condition of anonymity to speak candidly. [The Biden campaign] is far outpacing Trumps operation on this front.

But Trumps team insists they do have people on the ground  they just arent all paid by the campaign.

The TPA program is built around relational organizing, a form of community organizing that requires hired ballot chasers, full-time staff who are trained to build relationships with specific members of the community and ensure they vote in the upcoming election.

Kirk and Tyler Bowyer, TPAs chief operating officer, created the program after Republicans faced major losses in the 2022 election.

Using data from the last several election cycles, TPA has identified thousands of right-leaning low propensity voters including voters who have voted for a Republican in recent cycles, but did not cast a ballot in 2020 or 2022 and cannot be relied on to show up in November. Many of these voters are in Republican districts.

The prevailing wisdom of the consultant class before was lets go to those swing districts and really try and move those voters. Well, we dont agree, one source familiar with the plans told CNN. Were going where the Republicans are. Were going to drive up score in those areas and get the people that stayed home in 2020 or 2022.

Ballot chasers are hired locally and given a list of 400 to 600 of these voters that they are responsible for getting to the polls this cycle however they can, within the law of the state  including driving them to cast their ballots, helping mail their ballots and encouraging early voting.

We want them to be the mayor of their territory, TPA spokesman Andrew Kolvet said. Theyre throwing BBQs in the park, theyre getting to know their neighbors, theyre hosting local events so that when voting month comes along, they already have a relationship with these individuals so they can get as many pieces of paper in the ballot box as they can.

The 2020 election was decided by a handful of voters in three states. TPA plans to engage with hundreds of thousands of voters in these states, Kolvet added.

The approach of relying on outside groups is untested. Advisers said this would be unlike any other traditional campaign strategy in modern history  only made possible by a recent Federal Election Commission ruling that allows campaigns to directly work and coordinate with outside groups. Its also born out of a crucial challenge the Trump campaign has yet to solve for: money.

Trumps campaign has struggled for months to keep pace with Bidens growing war chest amid the former presidents ever mounting legal fees.

Republican operatives described the effort as valiant but risky.

You are placing a lot of a trust in these [outside groups], who might be hard to manage, said one operative, who spoke on condition of anonymity to offer a candid assessment.

A former RNC official who requested anonymity to speak candidly said, Theres not a presence being built up, they dont have a footprint. They have a handful of staffers in the states.

This isnt a messaging war, the former official said. This is going to be a turnout fight  when you dont have people out there building relationships and you dont have the intense infrastructure, you dont have as many offices, you dont have as many bodies.  it seems that they are miscalculating how this election is going to be won.

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Dozens of people gathered in a park in Toronto's Gay Village on Friday evening to remember a prominent Egyptian activist for 2SLGBTQ+ rights who died in Canada four years ago.

The group paid tribute to Sarah Hegazi, who sought asylum in Canada after being arrested and tortured in her native Egypt, in Barbara Hall Park.

Hegazi was 30 when she died of apparent suicide on June 13, 2020. She had said she wanted to help others who were targeted for their sexual orientation and political beliefs.

Ahmed Agha, a friend of Hegazi, said she was inspiring. Originally from Syria, Agha met Hegazi in Egypt, before they both came to Canada seeking aslyum.

"She was so kind. She would talk to me and tell me: 'Ahmed, be patient. Don't give up. One day we'll go to Canada and be safe and you can be yourself and not be ashamed of you who are and of your identity as ... non-binary,'" Agha said.

"To see this community all coming together to celebrate Sarah and still have her fighter soul inside us, it's so meaningful."

One part of the mural in honour of Sarah Hegazi is pictured here. (Tyler Cheese/CBC)

Hegazi was imprisoned in the fall of 2017 after waving a rainbow flag at a concert in Cairo by the Lebanese band Mashrou'Leila. The waving of the flag associated with 2SLGBTQ+ liberation outraged many in the Egyptian establishment. It ignited a three-week anti-gay crackdown by the authorities, in which Hegazi was the only woman arrested.

She said in later interviews that she was tortured by the Egyptian government for three months before her release on bail. Fearing her eventual prosecution as an openly gay woman, Hegazi fled to Canada shortly after.

In a CBC News interview in 2018, she spoke of the trauma of her imprisonment which she said included torture by electric shock. Though she made a home in Toronto, she desperately missed her family.

"I wouldn't know anyone here. Just alone. Completely alone," she had said.

The vigil included photos, drawings, flowers and food. (Tyler Cheese/CBC)

The vigil for Hegazi was held near a mural, painted by artist Keitha Keeshig-Tobias, that stands as a memorial to Hegazi along Church Street.

Christin El-Kholy, an organizer of the vigil, said it's important to take the time to remember Hegazi.

"She was incredibly brave. She was soft spoken, but the things that she did write and the things that she did say and the ways she showed up for people are [things] that I will never forget," El-Kholy said.

El-Kholy said it's just as important to her to follow in her footsteps "by going on to continue to do the work that she fought for, fighting for the rights of people like her who are still being persecuted."

A friend captured a photo of Sarah Hegazi hoisting a rainbow flag at a concert in Cairo in 2017. She was arrested and tortured by the Egyptian authorities not long after. (Amr Magdi/Twitter)

If you or someone you know is struggling, here's where to get help:
BUERGENSTOCK, Switzerland (Reuters) - Following is the complete text of a draft communique issued for the so-called High-level Summit for Peace for Ukraine being hosted in central Switzerland from June 15-16, seen by Reuters on Saturday.

"Joint Communique on a Peace Framework Switzerland, 15-16 June 2024

"The ongoing war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine continues to cause large-scale human suffering and destruction, and to create risks and crises with global repercussions for the world. We gathered in Switzerland on 15-16 June 2024 to enhance a high-level dialogue on pathways towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine. We reiterated resolutions A/RES/ES-11/1 and A/RES/ES-11/6 adopted at the UN General Assembly and underscored our commitment to upholding International Law including the United Nations Charter.

"This Summit was built on the previous discussions that have taken place based on Ukraine's Peace Formula and other peace proposals which are in line with international law, including the United Nations Charter.

"We deeply appreciate Switzerland's hospitality and its initiative to host the High-Level Summit as expression of its firm commitment to promoting international peace and security.

"We had a fruitful, comprehensive and constructive exchange of various views on pathways towards a framework for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, based on international law, including the United Nations Charter. In particular, we reaffirm our commitment to refraining from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, the principles of sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of all states, including Ukraine, within their internationally recognized borders, including territorial waters, and the resolution of disputes through peaceful means as principles of international law.

"We, furthermore, have a common vision on the following crucial aspects:

"1) Firstly, any use of nuclear energy and nuclear installations must be safe, secured, safe-guarded and environmentally sound. Ukrainian nuclear power plants and installations, including Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, must operate safely and securely under full sovereign control of Ukraine and in line with IAEA principles and under its supervision.

"Any threat or use of nuclear weapons in the context of the ongoing war against Ukraine is inadmissible.

"2) Secondly, global food security depends on uninterrupted manufacturing and supply of food products. In this regard, free, full and safe commercial navigation, as well as access to sea ports in the Black and Azov Seas, are critical. Attacks on merchant ships in ports and along the entire route, as well as against civilian ports and civilian port infrastructure, are unacceptable.

"Food security must not be weaponized in any way. Ukrainian agricultural products should be securely and freely provided to interested third countries.

"3) Thirdly, all prisoners of war must be released by complete exchange. All deported and unlawfully displaced Ukrainian children, and all other Ukrainian civilians who were unlawfully detained, must be returned to Ukraine.

"We believe that reaching peace requires the involvement of and dialogue between all parties. We, therefore, decided to undertake concrete steps in the future in the above-mentioned areas with further engagement of the representatives of all parties.

"The United Nations Charter, including the principles of respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states, can and will serve as a basis in achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

(Reporting by Thomas Escritt)
OFALLON, Mo.  An investigation is underway after a driver fatally struck a child Friday morning in OFallon.

The OFallon Police Department reports that a nine-year-old boy died in the collision. His identity has been withheld at this point of the investigation.

The collision happened around 11:45 a.m. near the intersection of Harmony Lane and Vine Street. Investigators say a driver in a work truck struck the victim while he was riding his bike in front of his familys home.

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Neighbors tell FOX 2 that the child was visiting family members from out-of-state.

My friend got hurt and its really sad because he was a really good friend and he was really funny. And I just think that they should put some kind of thing down here because I still want to have a friend, said Iann Cardinelli, a friend of the victim.

Officers have not confirmed if the driver in the crash was speeding. Neighbors stated speeding has been an issue.

It happens over here all the time, said neighbor Tina Meeks. Its not just today. Its every day of the week. Ive contacted the mayors office about it because of the construction workers being run over, almost ran over, and hit multiple times. Seeing the roofing companies coming in and out and everything.

It used to be a cul-de-sac. They made it a through street ever since the service road is one-way. Ever since they made it a through street, people drive through here very fast, said neighbor Lauren Dodson.

First responders attempted life-saving measures upon arrival. The victim was rushed to hospital for treatment, where he was later pronounced deceased.

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The OFallon Police Department says the driver remained on scene after the collision and is cooperating with authorities. Police say the driver was a 19-year-old from St. Louis County.

OFallon police ask anyone who might have surveillance video of the crash or witnessed it to contact their department with any relevant information.

The OFallon Police Department added this statement in a news release:

The OFallon Police Department would like to extend or sincerest condolences to the family of the juvenile victim. We are committed to taking action to prevent any future incidents through education and enforcement. Traffic and pedestrian safety are top priorities of the OFallon Police Department, and we urge all residents to use caution and be on the lookout for pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and other motorists when operating a vehicle.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Hot, dry and windy conditions are expected this weekend in southern Utah, setting the stage for sparks to blaze into wildfires.

The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings across a large portion of southwestern and south-central Utah, from St. George to Lake Powell. The threat will begin Saturday and stretch into Monday.

It can happen just like that: Utah officials urge caution ahead of what could be an extreme fire season

A red flag warning means that fire weather conditions are occurring or imminent, due to a combination of strong winds, low humidity and warm temperatures. Under these conditions, wildfires can quickly grow out of control.

A map of the red flag warnings in effect this weekend. (credit: KTVX)

Per weather officials, the fire threat Saturday will be around Lake Powell and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Wind gusts in the area could blow up to 30 mph and relative humidity is expected to be around 5-10%.

Between Sunday and Monday, the threat moves into southwestern Utah. By Monday morning, winds could gust up to 45 mph and relative humidity will be as low as 5-10%.

Those heading out into the southern desert during these times are encouraged to be careful with campfires, avoid activities that might create sparks, and to be aware of any local fire restrictions.

Red flag warnings are also tools to alert fire managers on federal lands that conditions are highly unfavorable for prescribed burns, as any fire could grow out of control.

Other red flag warnings have been issued in southern Utah this week, as a heat wave brought temperatures across the state into the triple digits.

On Thursday, the Little Twist Fire blazed up in Fishlake National Forest, southeast of Beaver. The fire started as a prescribed burn but grew out of control, resulting in some trail closures.

Local residents told ABC4 they were concerned about breathing the wildfire smoke.

I wish that they would gather the wood up, truck it somewhere and burn it someplace thats not up the mountain and we dont have to breathe the smoke every summer, said Don Dade, of Beaver.

McKenzie McInelly, who works in Beaver, said that she sees the value in prescribed burns but says people fear their cabins being destroyed when the flames go out of control.

It is kinda scary, people losing what they have worked for, she said.

According to the National Parks Service, prescribed burns are purposely-caused fires for managing vegetation, used to reduce wildfire fuel loads, restore natural woodlands, and manage the landscape.

Sometimes, the vegetation is cut first with a mechanical treatment, stacked in piles and then burned when weather conditions allow. At other times, the cut-up wood is removed from the forest when its considered to dangerous to burn.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The local justice system is in crisis.

Recent incidents highlight the troubling trend. Police arrest someone. That person is charged with serious crimes. Then that person winds up back on the streets because there arent enough public defense attorneys to represent him.

Local and state governments must work together to address this crisis with urgency to preserve confidence in the judicial system, protect public safety and honor the constitutional rights of all.

This month, Benton County Superior Court Judge Diana Ruff ordered the bail eliminated for six suspects because they didnt have legal representation for a lengthy period.

They are innocent until proven guilty, but the crimes they are accused of include burglary, various sexual offenses and rape. That should worry people. Someone credibly accused of sexual assault is free  not because the courts found him innocent but because the government is struggling to uphold his constitutional rights.

Dont fault the judge. Her duty is to uphold the rights of all, and defendants have the right to an attorney and a speedy trial. When the state cant provide both, it would be unjust to leave someone languishing in a jail cell. The public defender shortage is a national problem, often most acutely felt in rural communities.

Last year, the National Public Defense Workload Study, published by the American Bar Association, the National Center for State Courts and the RAND Justice Policy Program, recommended that public defenders handle no more than 59 cases annually for the least serious felonies.

And while the Washington State Bar Association already decided that felony attorneys shouldnt handle more than 47 cases year, there arent enough lawyers to meet those goals.

In the short term, counties must increase their funding for public defense, ensuring that people accused of serious crimes have adequate representation and public defenders are adequately compensated for their vital work. The alternative is releasing people accused of crimes or having judges recruit attorneys at much higher public cost.

Both Benton and Franklin counties raised the pay for defense attorneys last year but they must find ways to keep the attorneys they have, attract more and possibly hire more support staff.

For the long term, Washington state legislators must act.

Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco, has proposed multiple bills to address the problem, but they have faced strong headwinds in the Democrat-controlled Washington Legislature.

One of her bills would have had the state cover half of the cost of public defense by 2028 and would have directed the Office of Public Defense to recommend other reforms for the Legislature to consider. Another bill would have recreated an Indigent Defense Task Force to evaluate the defender shortage. Both bills failed in committee.

A third bill passed and was signed by the governor. It prioritizes funding for training public defenders and prosecutors who will work in rural areas. Thats contingent on lawmakers actually allocating the money, though.

Lawmakers stripped a provision from the bill that would have paid off law school loans for attorneys who go into public defense, an odd result given the current national Democratic focus on student debt relief. Torres ideas to ease the public defender shortage and her focus on rural communities deserved better in Olympia.

Perhaps lawmakers will return to them in the future as the crisis worsens, but Torres wont be around for long to fight for them. Democrats convinced a judge to draw new legislative districts that moved the Latina Republican out of the district she now represents.

The State Bar Association also has a role to play by actively recruiting attorneys for public defense cases.

By collaborating with law schools, legal firms and individual attorneys, the Bar Association can help bridge the gap and provide the legal representation every accused individual deserves.

If local governments dont come up with money and state lawmakers dont help, its only a matter of time until an accused defendant who is set free for lack of a public defender commits another terrible crime that might otherwise have been prevented.
Defendant Oscar Martinez III, left, speaks with defense attorney Michael DeLeon at his murder trial in the 187th District Court. He is accused in a botched robbery that left two people dead in February 2022. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News

Oscar Martinez III, then 19, allegedly pointed a rifle at the Edison High School junior who was trying to sell him marijuana in 2022, jurors at Martinezs murder trial have heard.

The realistic-looking weapon turned out to be an air rifle.

In a case in which prosecutors are blaming Martinez for how a robbery of the drug dealer turned into a deadly shootout, that revelation came during cross-examination of one of the younger brothers of Christopher Mejia, 14, who was killed in the melee.

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Martinez, now 21, is on trial for the deaths of Mejia and Enrique Bocanegra, 66. But it was the marijuana dealer, Jerry Ortiz. then 17, who shot both victims  and who almost wept on the witness stand describing how Bocanegra was his friendly neighbor.

Shot in the chest as he made lunch, Bocanegra died in his kitchen at home in the 800 block of Mariposa, near the convenience store on Blanco Road where the teens had set up the drug deal.

Mejia and three of his brothers accompanied Martinez to the meetup. Ortiz testified he surrendered a bag of marijuana when several of his purported customers pointed guns at him, including Martinez, who had a rifle. He said he didnt use his own pistol until Mejia confronted him, tried to grab it and shot first.

One of Mejias brothers, now 15 and not being identified because he is a minor, testified late Thursday as a prosecution witness. He said the driver of the SUV the group arrived in was his older brother, Joshua Mejia, 17 at the time, who had set up the drug deal with Ortiz on Instagram.

The teen told the jury that all of us were friends with Martinez for a long time. He said that before they jumped in his mothers SUV, Martinez discussed with the others how they were going to buy some weed but also that we should rob this guy.

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Questioned by prosecutor Daniel Escobar and later by defense attorney Michael DeLeon, the teen contradicted himself several times, saying he didnt know that there were guns in the vehicle, but also that Martinez pulled out a firearm and demanded Ortizs shoes, and received them. He said he didnt know Christopher had a gun but that when his brother got out of the vehicle, he was shooting.

I heard (shots) coming from the passengers side, but my head was down, the witness said.

Defense Attorney Michael DeLeon, right, questions Jerry Ortiz on Thursday about how people were holding guns during a fatal robbery in 2022. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News

He said he exited the SUV to help his brother, wrapping his shirt around Christophers face, where the blood was coming from.

Christopher died at the scene from a gunshot wound to the head that also pierced his neck, a medical examiner later testified Friday.

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The teen said Martinez picked up shell casings from shots fired from inside the vehicle and threw them out of the SUV. At one point the witness said Martinez had the guns in his possession, but later said he believed one of his other brothers took the guns, ran off and disposed of them.

DeLeon asked if the teen knew that three firearms and a black toy rifle had been collected from the crime scene. On Friday, he and a prosecutor agreed it was an air rifle.

In response the teen said initially that he didnt remember, but moments later said he saw Martinez with a black pistol, and that he shot from the vehicle.

DeLeon challenged the teen, who several times said, I dont remember about details he had spoken about when questioned by the prosecutor.

The defense attorney also pointed out that the teen had signed an immunity deal from the Bexar County District Attorneys Office in exchange for his testimony.

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Online court records indicate that Martinez was charged with capital murder of multiple persons, which later was reduced to murder. The DAs Office dropped a similar charge against Ortiz almost a year after the shooting.

Records also indicate that Joshua Mejia, 19, pleaded no contest as part of a plea agreement and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He is in the Bexar County jail awaiting transfer to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
By James Mackenzie and Nidal al-Mughrabi

JERUSALEM/CAIRO (Reuters) -Eight Israeli soldiers were killed in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday, the military said, as forces continued to push in and around the southern city of Rafah and strikes hit several areas of Gaza, killing at least 19 Palestinians.

The soldiers, all members of a combat engineering unit, were in an armoured carrier that was hit by an explosion that detonated engineering materials being carried on the vehicle, apparently in contravention of standard practice, the military said. It said the early morning incident, in the Tel al-Sultan area in the west of Rafah, was being investigated.

The armed wing of the Palestinian militant group Hamas said the vehicle had been trapped in a prepared minefield that set off the explosion.

Israeli tanks advanced in Tel al-Sultan and shells landed in the coastal area, where thousands of Palestinians, many of them displaced several times already, have sought refuge.

Despite growing international pressure for a ceasefire, an agreement to halt the fighting still appears distant, more than eight months since the start of the war in October, with the near-daily cross-border exchanges of fire with Hezbollah militia fighters in southern Lebanon intensifying.

In Israeli airstrikes on two houses in Gaza City suburbs, residents said at least 15 people were killed. Four others were killed in separate attacks in the south, medics said.

The Israeli military on Saturday said its forces in Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza, close to the border with Egypt, had captured large quantities of weapons, both above ground and concealed in the extensive tunnel network built by Hamas.

It said militants had on Friday fired five rockets from the humanitarian area in central Gaza, two of which fell in open areas in Israel and three fell short in Gaza.

"This is a further example of the cynical exploitation of humanitarian infrastructure and the civilian population as human shields by terror organizations in the Gaza Strip for their terrorist attacks," the military said.

PROTESTS

The deaths of the soldiers may complicate the political situation facing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a week after centrist former general Benny Gantz quit the government, accusing Netanyahu of having no proper strategy for Gaza.

Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday in the latest of the now weekly protests by families and supporters of hostages still held by Hamas, demanding an agreement to bring them home.

In a video statement issued late on Saturday, Netanyahu said there was no alternative but to stick to the goals of the war to defeat Hamas and bring the hostages back.

Although surveys show solid support among the Israeli public for continuing the war against Hamas, the protests underscore the divisions in Israeli society that have reopened following a period of unity at the start of the war.

The Islamic Jihad armed wing, Al-Quds Brigades, said on Saturday Israel could only regain its hostages in Gaza if it ended the war and pulled out forces from the enclave.

Islamic Jihad is a smaller ally of Hamas, which led a rampage in southern Israel on Oct. 7 in which 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. More than 100 hostages are believed to remain captive in Gaza, although at least 40 have been declared dead in absentia by Israeli authorities.

Since a week-long truce in November, repeated attempts to arrange a ceasefire have failed, with Hamas insisting on a permanent end to the war and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Netanyahu refuses to end the war before Hamas is eradicated.

At least 37,296 Palestinians, at least 30 of them in the past 24 hours, have been killed in Israel's military campaign to eliminate Hamas, according to the Gaza health ministry.

(Additional reporting by Maayan Lubell; Editing by David Holmes and Ros Russell)
An 18-year-old has been arrested and charged in the fatal shooting of Isaiah Neal, 17.

Lawrence police arrested Cir Allen Keith Glover on Friday in connection with the shooting. He is currently being held in Douglas County jail.

Neal was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds around 1:15 a.m. Thursday at a home on Alabama Street in Lawrence, according to police. He was pronounced dead at Lawrence Memorial Hospital on Thursday morning.

Officers began looking into Glover as a suspect after receiving a tip, the Lawrence Police Department wrote on social media.

Glover has been charged with second-degree murder, according to the Lawrence Police Department. The shooting had multiple witnesses, The Star reported.

The Miami County Sheriffs Department worked with Lawrence police to locate Glover overnight and into Friday morning, the Lawrence Police Department wrote. The department also posted on social media, seeking the publics help in finding Glover.

Neal was a high school student in the Lawrence Public School District, The Star reported.
(KRON)  On Wednesday, eight former SpaceX workers filed a lawsuit against the rocket maker company and its owner, Elon Musk. The lawsuit accuses Musk of overseeing a pervasively sexist culture and Animal House environment, with women allegedly evaluated on their bra size and consistently made uncomfortable with sexual references.

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Before this suit was filed, the eight SpaceX employees had previously submitted an open letter to SpaceX management challenging the illegal hostile work environment endured. The complaint alleges that Musk personally ordered the Plaintiffs terminations after the submission of the letter, Anne B. Shaver, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, told KRON4.

Elon Musk trumpets SpaceX as the leader to a brave new world of space travel, but runs his company in the dark ages, Shaver said.

The suit alleges that 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 suite references several comments made by Musk, mostly on his social platform, X, including a post telling former YouTube CEO Chad Hurley: If you touch my wiener, you can have a horse.

Despite being posted on his personal account, the plaintiffs believed Musk intentionally drew users to parallelly keep up with his X account when following SpaceX news and updates. According to the suit, the SpaceX company handbook also references Musks account as a source of approved company news that employees could share publicly.

Unsurprisingly, the lawsuit reads, employees and the public alike perceived Musks Twitter feed to be a representation of SpaceXs culture itself.

Plaintiffs believe 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 suit read.

holland-thielen-et-al-complaint-with-exhibit-aDownload

Wednesdays lawsuit accuses SpaceX and Musk of retaliation and wrongful termination in violation of California law and further accuses the company of sexual harassment and sex discrimination.

The plaintiffs seek unspecified compensatory and punitive damages and an order barring SpaceX from continuing to engage in its allegedly unlawful conduct.

Paige Holland-Thielen, one of the plaintiffs, said in a statement released by her lawyers that the suit was an important milestone in our quest for justice.

We hope that this lawsuit encourages our colleagues to stay strong and to keep fighting for a better workplace, she said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
(KRON)  On Wednesday, eight former SpaceX workers filed a lawsuit against the rocket maker company and its owner, Elon Musk. The lawsuit accuses Musk of overseeing a pervasively sexist culture and Animal House environment, with women allegedly evaluated on their bra size and consistently made uncomfortable with sexual references.

Before this suit was filed, the eight SpaceX employees had previously submitted an open letter to SpaceX management challenging the illegal hostile work environment endured. The complaint alleges that Musk personally ordered the Plaintiffs terminations after the submission of the letter, Anne B. Shaver, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, told KRON4.

Elon Musk trumpets SpaceX as the leader to a brave new world of space travel, but runs his company in the dark ages, Shaver said.

Princess of Wales says shes making good progress in cancer treatment, will attend a public event

The suit alleges that 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 suit references several comments made by Musk, mostly on his social platform, X, including a post telling former YouTube CEO Chad Hurley: If you touch my wiener, you can have a horse.

Despite being posted on his personal account, the plaintiffs believed Musk intentionally drew users to parallelly keep up with his X account when following SpaceX news and updates. According to the suit, the SpaceX company handbook also references Musks account as a source of approved company news that employees could share publicly.

Unsurprisingly, the lawsuit reads, employees and the public alike perceived Musks Twitter feed to be a representation of SpaceXs culture itself.

Plaintiffs believe 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 suit read.

holland-thielen-et-al-complaint-with-exhibit-aDownload

Wednesdays lawsuit accuses SpaceX and Musk of retaliation and wrongful termination in violation of California law and further accuses the company of sexual harassment and sex discrimination.

The plaintiffs seek unspecified compensatory and punitive damages and an order barring SpaceX from continuing to engage in its allegedly unlawful conduct.

Man wanted by INTERPOL for child rape arrested in Gastonia

Paige Holland-Thielen, one of the plaintiffs, said in a statement released by her lawyers that the suit was an important milestone in our quest for justice.

We hope that this lawsuit encourages our colleagues to stay strong and to keep fighting for a better workplace, she said.

Nexstar reached out to SpaceX for comment but have not heard back yet.

This isnt the first time SpaceX and Musk have faced claims of harassment. Back in 2021, former employee Ashley Kosak published an essay titled, At SpaceX, were told we can change the world. I couldnt, however, stop getting sexually harassed. Among Kosaks claims include male colleagues grabbing her body and making other unwanted sexual advances. Five former SpaceX employees echoed Kosaks experience with their own, with the Verge reporting the former employees said HR did not handle their complaints seriously.

In a statement, Laurie Burgess, an attorney also representing the plaintiffs, said: Musk thinks hes above the law. Our eight brave clients stood up to him and were fired for doing so. We look forward to holding Musk accountable for his actions at trial.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
How Emmanuel Macron lobbed a grenade at the hard-Right and blew up French politics

The black and white photograph that captured the moment the French president told his cabinet he was dissolving parliament

It is a picture that will go down in the annals of French political history.

Taken from behind Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace, the black and white photograph captures the moment the French president told his cabinet he was dissolving parliament and calling snap elections.

Shock, resignation and anger are etched onto the faces of those present, including that of Garbiel Attal, Mr Macrons ascendant prime minister who like many of his MPs could soon be out of a job.

You can feel the contempt in Gabriel Attals eyes, said Philippe Moreau Chevrolet, a specialist in political communication and lecturer at Sciences Po. The emotions running through the characters are sincere, violent and negative.

Frances youngest-ever prime minister understands that he has reached the pinnacle of his career at the age of 35, and that its over, noted Gaspard Gantzer, ex-Socialist president Francois Hollandes former communications adviser.

But even then, Mr Macrons cabinet could not have anticipated the turmoil that the presidents decision would unleash in the week that followed.

Emmanuel Macron during the press conference over early parliamentary elections on Wednesday - Blondet Eliot/ABACA/Shutterstock

Mr Macron himself reportedly said that Sundays extraordinary announcement, moments after his crushing European election defeat to Marine Le Pens RN party, led by her 28-year-old dauphin Jordan Bardella, was an act of political arson designed to upend French politics.

I threw my unpinned grenade at their feet

Ive been planning this for weeks, and Im thrilled, he told an Elysee confidant on the sidelines of an event commemorating a Nazi massacre on Monday morning, according to a report in Le Monde. I threw my unpinned grenade at their feet. Now we will see how they get on

The French presidents metaphor was apt. Since Sundays extraordinary announcement, the French Right has imploded while the Left has formed an unlikely and precarious alliance.

Mr Macrons gambit has set up a battle for the soul of France that could see the hard-Right return to govern the country for the first time since the Second World War.

It was a small clique of the Presidents closest advisers, including his eminence grise Alexis Koehler and influential heritage adviser Bruno Roger Petit, who, unbeknownst to his ministers, spent weeks working out the plan, some say with the help of ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy.

Their logic appears implacable.

French Prime minister Gabriel Attal during a campaign trip, as a left wing union supporter holds a placard reading 'Popular Front' - LOIC VENANCE

After two years hamstrung by a lack of parliamentary majority, the elections on June 30 and July 7 will end what Mr Macron calls an extremist fever afflicting French politics. The rationale echoes Charles de Gaulles famous appeal to voters to halt le chienlit, or mess, of the May 1968 Left-wing street revolt.

The theory is that the French will come to their senses and rid the nation of what Mr Macron has dubbed far-Right demagoguery which captured 40 per cent of the vote on Sunday.

The clarification of the political landscape that the President called for on Sunday evening is in the process of taking place. In chemistry, we call this precipitation, one satisfied aide remarked.

Macron wanted to blow up Frances political landscape

Political journalist Francois-Xavier Bourmand of LOpinion said: When he was elected in 2017, Macron wanted to blow up Frances political landscape by replacing the traditional Left-Right split with conservatives versus progressives.

Dissolution is an attempt to finish what he started in extremely brutal manner, he told the Telegraph.

More prosaically, Macron also knew he was heading for a no confidence motion this autumn over the budget and that his government would likely fall anyway. So he chose dissolution rather than having it imposed upon him.

The prospect explains why the master of the clocks, as Mr Macron likes to be called, told stunned ministers: It is better to write history than to submit to it.

So much for the theory.

Many from within his own alliance are furious at a coup de poker they fear will likely lead to legislative Armageddon.

Many people are stunned and bewildered

Arnaud Michel, who ran for MEP in Mr Macrons camp and is a member of the allied Horizon party of ex-prime minister Edouard Philippe, was scathing.

Many people are stunned and bewildered. RN clearly has the wind in its sails and will campaign on placing Jordan Bardella as prime minister, he told the Sunday Telegraph.

I am doubtful that the electoral dynamic will change in the space of three weeks compared to the EU vote, which had nothing to do with European issues and was fought and won on national considerations.

The legislative elections risk being another referendum against the President, he warned. I can tell you from personal experience his name was not welcome when I canvassed at markets. Many legislative candidates from his camp have already indicated he will not feature on their campaign tracts.

He also warned that Mr Macrons project fear approach to the Le Pen camp, including claims the markets will collapse should it win power due to its hugely costly programme was increasingly inaudible.

French far-right Rassemblement National (RN) party leader Marine Le Pen - FRANCOIS GREUEZ/SIPA/Shutterstock

The threat that they will arrive with jackboots and the sky will fall in no longer works. I come from the Pas-de-Calais region where towns run by RN can see that has not been the case, on the contrary people are voting for them more and more.

On Friday, finance minister Bruno Le Maire, warned that an RN victory would spark a financial crisis in the euro zones second-largest economy due to its untenable pledges to cut electricity prices, VAT on gas, and increase public spending.

The economic argument doesnt work that well either. Yes there will be certain number of market shocks if they win, but history has shown when you look at Georgia Meloni or Liz Truss, markets force governments to act a certain way. RN will likely be in a coalition with certain conservatives who will refuse to let the economy go to the dogs, said Mr Michel.

Already, the Macron plan appears to be going awry.

If anything, Ms Le Pens anti-immigrant party is gaining ground, polls have shown, as voters shun Mr Macrons warnings of disaster if it comes out in front in the legislative ballot.

The Rally is on course to increase its parliamentary seats from 88 at present to 220 to 270 seats in the National Assembly, a survey by Elabe for the news channel BFMTV suggested. That is close to the 289 seats that would give it an absolute majority, forcing Mr Macron to ask it to govern in cohabitation with his presidency - and turning him into a lame duck.

Mr Macrons centrist Renaissance bloc would be further weakened and overtaken by a revived alliance linking the centre-Left Socialist party, the radical Unbowed France, the Greens and the Communists, the survey showed.

To reach power, Ms Le Pen and Mr Bardella, her campaign leader, are seeking an alliance with parts of the stricken Republicans party, the closest France has to the Tories and heir to the conservative movement founded by Charles de Gaulle.

Squeezed between Mr Macrons centrist bloc and Ms Le Pens Rally, the Republicans leadership this week collapsed after Eric Ciotti, its chief, announced a pact with the Rally without telling colleagues. They united to fire Mr Ciotti, 58, a hard-line MP from Nice long the Rights Mr Security and who once called for a Guantanamo a la francaise for convicted terrorists still deemed a security threat.

The politburo expelled him from the party, but he has refused to go. He turned up for work at party headquarters in central Paris on Thursday and said the courts would rule on the illegal decision to oust him by party heavyweights including Senate leader Gerard Larcher.

Arguing that he was in tune with the party faithful who wanted an alliance with the Rally, Mr Ciotti said his colleagues were far out of touch with reality when they hammer on about the dangers of fascism.

An electoral poster of the French far-right Rassemblement National (RN) party - JOEL SAGET

On Friday night, the meltdown on the Right continued after a Paris court annulled his exclusion, leaving it unclear who is in control of the party of Chirac and Sarkozy.

As the power struggle dragged on, Ms Le Pen - who is gunning for the presidency in 2027 and wants Mr Bardella to run the government - confirmed that her party was preparing a national unity cabinet with experienced conservatives from outside its ranks. Mr Bardella said the Rally would field joint candidates with LR in 70 constituencies but for now it is unclear who they are.

Like Mr Ciotti, Ms Le Pens niece Marion Marechal has sought to capitalise on the RNs rising popularity and has been striving for a formal alliance for her the Reconquest party since the snap election call on Sunday.

But Eric Zemmour, the television pundit who founded the party in 2021, was clearly shocked when she announced the plan live on Television.

Lets put the interests of France before those of the party, she said.

An incensed Mr Zemmour later said his vice president had beaten the world record for betrayal.

A New Popular Front

In a bigger blow to the Macron camp, the French Left has miraculously set aside vitriolic splits over Europe, Ukraine and the Middle East that festered during the EU elections to forge a New Popular Front  a nod to the pre-war Left-wing alliance to keep out fascist sympathisers.

On Wednesday, Mr Macron depicted its most radical member, Unbowed France, as a dangerous threat equal to Ms Le Pen but such scaremongering has gained little traction. The Elabe poll showed the Left-wing front on 28 per cent of voting intentions, compared with 31 per cent for the Rally and 18 per cent for Mr Macrons Renaissance.

Unbowed France, or LFI, and its leader, Jean-Luc Melenchon, 72, a fiery Trotskyite who admires Hugo Chavez and who refused to call Hamas a terrorist organisation, has the largest Left-wing group in parliament but its presence in the coalition is a bugbear to many in the moderate Socialist party.

Mr Macron slammed the new alliance as unnatural, baroque and indecent. He wondered, he said, how its voters would square LFIs support for Gaza, their antisemitism, hostility to the EU and Nato, and approval of President Vladimir Putin with the Socialists pro-EU and pro-Ukraine stance.

However, that line of attack was seriously dented when Raphael Glucksmann, a former political journalist and film director whose Socialist-backed Place Publique group came third in EU elections, threw his weight behind the Left-wing alliance on Friday.

We cant leave France to the Le Pen family, Mr Glucksman, 44, son of a French philosopher, he told broadcaster France Inter.

The new coalition was the only way to prevent a far-Right victory in the forthcoming polls, he said, reassuring his electorate that a more consensual figure than Mr Melenchon would be picked as prime minister.

French protests against the far-right parties' significant gains in European Parliament elections turned violent on Saturday - Anadolu

One person alone was responsible for plunging France into chaos, he went on, and that is Mr Macron.

He has opened the way to power for the far-Right. Since Sunday night, Ive had a knot in my stomach.

Then on Saturday, as tens of thousands of people took to the streets of French cities to march against the rising hard-Right, Mr Hollande, the former president, said he would stand again  a political comeback that took even his allies on the left by surprise.

Mr Hollande left office with record levels of unpopularity and is detested by some within the radical left, while even the Socialist leadership regard him with suspicion. But he will nevertheless stand as an MP for the southwestern Correze department for the New Popular Front.

An exceptional decision for an exceptional situation, Mr Hollande said of his comeback.

But even as Mr Hollande joined the fray, LFI appeared to be sliding towards the same chaos that has riven the Right amid allegations of a purge of members who criticised its leadership.

With chaos unfolding across the political spectrum, Mr Macron remained defiant at this weeks G7 summit in Italy, insisting that his counterparts had praised his move.

They all said: This is courageous, said Mr Macron.

Courage or political suicide, France will find out on July 7.

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'Entire lives that have to be renewed': 12 years of DACA marked by lengthy processing delays

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The Deferred Action program for immigrants brought into the country without authorization as children turns 12 this year. However, the uncertainty beneficiaries face over the future of the program remains as present as when it began in 2012.

The latest challenge that many active Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA recipients face has been lengthy delays beyond a standard 120- to 150-day wait period to renew their status and two-year work permits, according to immigrant rights organizations.

That has placed many recipients at risk of losing their jobs and livelihoods, forcing them to face added stress as they continue navigating a temporary program with no outlook for a permanent solution on the horizon, even if most Americans support granting Dreamers authorized status.

That's why we need to continue the fight to get something permanent, said Diana Pliego, a strategist for federal advocacy efforts at the Los Angeles-based National Immigrant Law Center. The delays that are happening, it's just part of the larger uncertainty that people are experiencing with DACA right now because of where it is and the courts, and the fact that it's been under attack for so long."

The National Immigrant Law Center published a guide for DACA recipients experiencing delays several years ago. Pliego said in January the group began to hear more frequently from recipients at risk of losing their status over the most recent delays.

DACA recipients Blanca Collazo, Karime Rodriguez, Melissa Solis Hernandez and Mayte Sanchez (left to right) attend a celebration for the 11th anniversary of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals at Metro Tech High School in Phoenix on June 17, 2023.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the government agency responsible for processing the renewal applications, said in a memo that the delays were due to a "technical issue," but did not go into detail. The agency did not respond to a request for comment.

Advocacy and legal groups working with DACA recipients to renew their applications told The Arizona Republic that the delays have impacted many beneficiaries, causing some to lose their jobs as they wait for the document to arrive.

Immigrant Heritage Month: Arizona observes amid tightening border control

Relief that 'a piece of paper can give you'

DACA recipients in Arizona say not having this conditional status  and the work permit that comes with it  is life-altering.

Ileana Salinas, a Phoenix resident, has been a DACA recipient since its inception, applying and reapplying six times. At the end of 2023, as she neared the end of the two-year protection period, she submitted her DACA renewal application just as she had done years before.

A couple of days later, USCIS emailed her a receipt for the roughly $500 fee along with a case number. That was the last communication Salinas would receive from the agency about her renewal status for months.

Even as her DACA renewal process stalled, she said, life had to continue.

The bills continue. I have to have a roof over my head. I have to eat. I have to put gas in my car to be able to look for other sources of income, Salinas said.

When her DACA permit expired at the end of 2023, she was placed on leave at her job as a program manager at a local nonprofit. Her life suddenly became very different. Without a work permit, she was forced to work odd jobs to make ends meet and dip into her savings to pay her most pressing bills.

I started to ask around if anybody needed help with anything. One of my friends needed help with her receipts as she prepared to file her taxes. Then I started to make pastries. My mom and I started to make (them) together, Salinas said. We offered them to family and friends for a donation. I used to be a translator, so I offered my translation services to two other contacts that I knew.

Without DACA, Salinas also lost her Arizona drivers license, which expired at the same time her work permit did. That made it harder to make money, but also brought back fears from a time before DACA. In 2009, Salinas was placed in deportation proceedings  a fate she avoided after the Deferred Action program began.

I was undocumented and being afraid of being stopped, knowing that I didnt have protection from deportation, she said.

Across the U.S., legislators sent letters urging USCIS to resolve the delays impacting applicants. In an April response to a letter penned by members of Congress, the agency stated that "several thousand DACA renewal requests filed from approximately August 2023 to February 2024 were impacted by a technical issue that has since been resolved."

The agency added that it devoted additional resources to resolve the issues, adding that "DACA renewal requests that have not already been resolved will be reviewed within the next 30-45 days."

In April, nearly half of all Democrats in the House of Representatives signed a letter to the head of USCIS urging the agency to prioritize pending renewal applications and allocate the necessary resources to process them quickly. The lawmakers who signed included Ruben Gallego, Raul Grijalva and Greg Stanton.

"While the processing backlog is fixed, we also request for USCIS to work on providing DACA recipients with the automatic extension that a majority of individuals receive upon submitting a valid application for the renewal of their employment authorization," the letter said.

Twenty-five Senate Democrats issued their own letter to USCIS days later, expressing their concern with the delays. They pointed out that DACA status for nearly 150,000 active recipients would lapse between March and September.

Senators urged USCIS to change its policies so DACA recipients could finish out the full term of their status, rather than restart it on the date their application is approved. Under this current practice, DACA recipients often lose several weeks or months of their two-year status because they are encouraged to apply early.

"This would prevent DACA recipients from accruing unlawful presence through no fault of their own due to processing delays," the letter said.

Salinas was made aware of this memo after she contacted a local representative to help with her issue. It was after reading it that she realized that her case was a part of a larger problem.

Approximately five months after submitting her renewal application, Salinas finally received an email stating her DACA status was approved. It took more than two weeks to get her work permit in the mail.

It was a big relief, what a piece of paper can give you, she recalled.

The delays are not uniform across the board. Some DACA recipients have had their renewal applications processed in weeks. For others, its taking months.

For Natchel Bello, 26, who lives in San Diego, the delays reinforced the feeling that DACA recipients like her have little control over their lives and their future.

It kind of gave me a reality check that ... it offers a glimpse of what is possible in the future if DACA was to end on a larger scale, Bellos said.

Like Salinas, Bello has applied six times to obtain the permit. She used her DACA status to get her master's degree in organizational management from the University of Arizona in Tucson in 2023 and took a job as an analyst for a company in San Diego.

Every year and a half, Bello gets her renewal application ready, saves up the money to pay the renewal and legal fees, mails the application and waits to receive the renewed document in the mail. But this time around, shes still waiting, she said.

She applied to renew her permit in March, nearly nine months before her permit expires this year. Her application has remained in the first of three steps of the process, she said.

Shes thankful she still has several months for USCIS to process her renewal. But it doesnt keep her from worrying about the impacts if she were to lose her status. In addition to her job and livelihood, she worries about her husband, a U.S. citizen, whos on her health plan.

It's our entire lives that have to be renewed every year and a half, Bello said.

Dreamers come of age as future of DACA remains uncertain

Then-President Barack Obama implemented DACA in 2012. But the program has remained frozen since then. Only the people who applied before his second term ended in 2016, and for a brief enrollment window in 2021, can continue to renew their status.

Currently, there are more than a half-million people with active DACA status, according to USCIS  an additional 250,000 people previously had deferred action status. As DACA recipients have grown up, some have gained legal status or other types of relief. However, attempts to open enrollment to other potentially eligible immigrants have been unsuccessful.

At the root of the uncertainty over the future of DACA is a challenge by Texas to the constitutionality of the program before the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which previously ruled against an earlier version of the program.

Immigration rights activists take part in a rally in front of the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC on November 12, 2019.

The 5th Circuit is expected to issue at any moment the dates for hearings and oral arguments about the strengthened version of DACA. That decision will likely be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which could take up the case as soon as its next term.

In that time, DACA recipients have continued to live in limbo and face delays at USCIS. But not all of them are recent.

Alejandra Castellanos experienced a major delay trying to renew her DACA status in 2022. At the time, Castellanos had moved back in with her family in Phoenix. She made sure to update her address with USCIS, and even received confirmation from the agency.

In November 2022, she submitted her DACA renewal application. She recalled getting a confirmation letter right away, giving her hope of a speedy process. But as the months passed, she kept waiting.

I'm checking the USCIS website to see what the estimated timeframe is for this, and then I see that it's actually already been delivered. And I obviously didn't get it, Castellanos said, I tried to call in a bunch of times. I honestly don't remember how many times I called to try to get more information.

Still, months went by without Castellanos hearing back from USCIS about the whereabouts of her DACA paperwork. Adding more pressure to her situation, her employer requested to review her work authorization documents as part of a transition to a hybrid work model. They gave Castellanos until September 2023 to show proof she could work legally in the U.S.

She decided to get legal advice. Her E-Verify was cleared for her to work. Castellanos was even able to get her license with the document she first received from USCIS. But despite her attempts to save her job, she was fired in August 2023.

Castellanos said she lost her dream job, working at a company that she had hoped to develop her career in. She immediately called USCIS.

I was really angry, I was crying, I was yelling at them. I basically just put my foot down. I told them I (wasnt) going anywhere until (they) resolve this for me.

After about 20 minutes, they found the error. USCIS had sent her documents to her old address. Several days later, she received her DACA paperwork. But the repercussions of being in legal limbo already had taken a toll.

Throughout that uncertain period, Castellano said her hair was falling out and she lost weight over the stress. She also worked odd jobs and took significant pay cuts.

I got to the point where I thought about like, ending my life because I had absolutely no money. I felt like I was losing everything, she said.

She credits her family for helping her through that time.

New poll shows ongoing support for Dreamers

The results of a new poll commissioned by the Washington-based advocacy group National Immigration Forum show that two-thirds of all Americans, regardless of party affiliation, support giving Dreamers legal status and a path to citizenship.

Efforts to pass solutions through Congress have stalled. Because they enjoy broad support, permanent protections for DACA recipients and other undocumented youth have often been used as a bargaining chip, folded into larger bills that attempt to take on more contentious immigration or border security issues.

Standalone bills like the DREAM Act, which gave Dreamers their moniker, have consistently failed to gain enough traction in Congress since the last major attempt in 2010 fell five votes short in the Senate. That precipitated the creation of the DACA program two years later.

The two-part poll, conducted by the Forum and the Bullfinch Group in mid-May, asked 1,200 adults and 1,000 registered voters across the country if they support or oppose having Democrats and Republicans work together to provide legal status for Dreamers if they pay taxes and meet other requirements.

Sixty-seven percent of adults and 68 percent of voters said they were in favor. Support for legal status for Dreamers remained consistent across all demographics among adults and voters. Even registered Republican voters, which showed the greatest opposition, had a 25-point margin in support.

DACA recipients and other Dreamers are our family, friends, neighbors and co-workers. Businesses, schools, churches and law enforcement leaders all want the certainty that legislative solutions will provide, Jennie Murray, the president and CEO of the National Immigration Forum, said in a statement.

For advocates like Karen Tomlin, the founder and director of the Los-Angeles based Justice Action Center, that type of support fuels their efforts to find a permanent solution.

In the absence of a long-term fix, Tomlin said Congress should provide USCIS with more resources that will allow the agency to not only process its application backlog more quickly, but also improve communication with applicants.

She also encouraged USCIS to consider applying automatic extensions to the work permits for DACA recipients experiencing delays in their renewal applications, to avoid having lapses or risk people losing their jobs.

This is an agency who does life-changing things for a lot of humans, right? Tomlin said. But we need to properly fund that agency, so they aren't forced to choose whose application am I going to do on time, and who's going to get shut out.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: DACA anniversary marked by lengthy processing delays
A chemical plant-smattered stretch of Louisiana between New Orleans and Baton Rouge is already known as "Cancer Alley" due to disproportionately high levels of illnesses related to chemicals released by the area's many manufacturing facilities. Now, according to a new study from researchers at Johns Hopkins University, the stretch of land  which, again, is already called Cancer Alley  is even worse off than scientists already thought.

The study, published this week in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, examined the rates of a toxic gas called ethylene oxide in the air covering the Louisiana region. Ethylene oxide is a known and potent carcinogen linked to lymphomas, breast cancer, and other health and life-threatening illnesses, and was banned in the European Union back in the early 1990s. But ethylene oxide is used to manufacture other chemicals, and though the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes its toxicity, chemical plants in Louisiana's Cancer Alley stretch continue to use the poisonous gas in their production processes  and as a result, leak ethylene oxide into the air.

And yet, though it's long been known that the plants leak the poisonous gas, this new Johns Hopkins research finds that the EPA has been grossly underestimating exactly how much ethylene oxide is actually in Cancer Alley's air. According to these new findings, the area's average ethylene oxide level is double what previous EPA models suggested  and well beyond levels considered safe for area inhabitants.

"We expected to see ethylene oxide in this area," said study senior author Peter DeCarlo, an associate professor at the university's Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, in a statement. "But we didn't expect the levels that we saw, and they certainly were much, much higher than EPA's estimated levels."

As explained in the study, any level of airborne ethylene oxide above 11 parts per trillion (PPT) is considered dangerous for long-term exposure (which, we should note, isn't really that much, and speaks to how toxic the gas is.) Horrifyingly, the researchers found ethylene oxide levels above 11 PPT in three-quarters of the overall area they studied, with average levels for affected areas hovering around 31 PPT.

"We saw concentrations hitting 40 parts per billion," said DeCarlo, "which is more a thousand times higher than the accepted risk for lifetime exposure."

The findings are staggering. And as the researchers note, those who live and work in the area have never  until now  had access to this kind of detailed, accurate data about ethylene oxide figures. And it's important to note that Cancer Alley's Black residents are disproportionately likely to develop petrochemical industry-related illness, and that the EPA has openly accused Louisiana lawmakers of engaging in environmental racism.

"There is just no available data, no actual measurements of ethylene oxide in air, to inform [plant] workers and people who live nearby what their actual risk is based on their exposure to this chemical," DeCarlo added.

As Grist reports, the EPA  which very much needs to update its modeling data  moved this year to install heavier regulations on ethylene oxide use and emissions. And though that's certainly a necessary step, experts have continued to warn that the agency and other regulating bodies have been very slow to take it.

"The fossil fuel and petrochemical industry has created a 'sacrifice zone' in Louisiana," Antonia Juhasz, a senior researcher on fossil fuels at Human Rights Watch, said earlier this year after the global nonprofit released a devastating report about the health consequences of Cancer Alley's rampant chemical and fossil fuel pollution. "The failure of state and federal authorities to properly regulate the industry has dire consequences for residents of Cancer Alley."

Indeed, mitigating future exposure through strict regulations is essential. But so, too, is supporting the people and communities currently living ethylene oxide's harms.

"These monitors are good," Rise St. James founder Sharon Lavigne, whose community action group opposes petrochemical expansion, told Grist of the Johns Hopkins report. "But in the meantime, people are dying."

More on pollution: Scientists Discover the Villains Destroying the Planet
People take part in the Equality Parade, a yearly Pride parade in Warsaw. Volha Shukaila/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Some 20,000 people demonstrated in the Polish capital Warsaw on Saturday in favour of more rights for gays and lesbians and other sexual minorities.

Under the slogan "The time for equality is now," they spoke out in favour of the introduction of a registered civil partnership for same-sex couples and called for opening marriage to all.

The demonstrators also called for better protection against hatred, hate speech and discrimination. Many participants in the so-called Equality Parade waved rainbow flags to promote diversity and tolerance.

The mayor of the Polish capital, Rafa Trzaskowski, also took part. "Warsaw is a smiling, tolerant and European city," the politician said, the Polish PAP news agency reported.

Trzaskowski said he hopes that all the demands that have been talked about for many years will finally be realized.

A new liberal government in power in Poland since December under Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced improvements for homosexuals.

But Poland's national conservative President Andrzej Duda could veto any reforms.

A participant takes part in the Equality Parade, a yearly Pride parade in Warsaw. Volha Shukaila/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Rainbow flags are displayed for sale before the start of the Equality Parade, a yearly Pride parade in Warsaw. Volha Shukaila/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
The European Union has accelerated its production of projectiles and will match Russia's production capacity in 2025, EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton said in an interview with French news outlet La Tribune on June 14.

The performance of the European defense industry has been lackluster, as the EU failed on its promise to deliver 1 million artillery shells between March 2023 and 2024. After supplying only about half of the promised rounds, Brussels shifted the deadline to the end of this year.

"By the end of this year, the EU plans to reach the level of 1.7 million projectiles per year, and in 2025 to match the production capacity of Russia, that is, to produce 2.5 million projectiles per year," Breton said.

Reports have suggested that Russia is managing to produce artillery shells at triple the speed of Ukraines allies for a quarter of the price.

Earlier this month, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin claimed that his country had increased ammunition production by more than 20 times.

"We accelerated the production of ammunition," Breton said. "In March 2023, we produced 500,000 shells a year in Europe and were already better than the Americans, who produced only 300,000. But since then, we have doubled this capacity."

The EU adopted the first-ever European Defense Industrial Strategy (EDIS) in March to support the competitiveness and readiness of the blocs defense industry amidst growing threats from Russia.

Breton also emphasized that the bloc must continue to increase defense purchases "against the tension in relations with the Russian Federation," as Europe "must continue to rearm in the coming years."

"This need is shared by many EU member states and can benefit our defense industry. But it must be able to deliver weapons to the European army on time."

Read also: Russian shell production three times greater than of Ukraines allies

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EU leadership welcomes Ukraine and Moldova on another step towards EU membership

The heads of key institutions of the European Union have welcomed the decision to approve the negotiation framework for Ukraine and Moldova and promised to support these countries on the way to EU membership.

Source: European Pravda

Details: Charles Michel, President of the European Council, welcomed the agreement in principle on the negotiating framework for negotiations on Ukraine and Moldova's accession.

Quote: "Look forward to the first intergovernmental conferences with both. We keep our promises and we will support you along the way to membership," Charles Michel stated.

I welcome the in principle agreement on the negotiating frameworks for accession negotiations for Ukraine and Moldova.



Look forward to the first intergovernmental conferences with both.



We keep our promises and we will support you along the way to membership. https://t.co/rVwUIO1ILT  Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) June 14, 2024

Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, also joined the celebration.

Quote: "I welcome this important step. The European Parliament will keep working closely with both countries towards accession," Roberta Metsola wrote on Twitter (X).

I welcome this important step.



Ukraines and Moldovas future is in the EU.@Europarl_EN will keep working closely with both countries towards accession.



   https://t.co/iZrBR2OPxP  Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) June 14, 2024

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, called the decision "a huge step forward in your journey towards the EU."

Quote: "The European Commission will stand by your side every step of the way," Ursula von der Leyen added.

Congratulations to Ukraine and Moldova.



This is a huge step forward in your journey towards the EU.



The @EU_Commission will stand by your side every step of the way. https://t.co/RzB1XwX1da  Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) June 15, 2024

Background:

On the eve, the permanent representatives of the EU member states, in principle, approved the negotiation framework for negotiations on Ukraine's and Moldova's accession.

The decision of the EU ambassadors means that, as planned, an intergovernmental conference will be held on 25 June, which will officially start negotiations on Ukraine and Moldova's accession to the EU.

Hungary, at the level of permanent representatives, blocked a decision about "insufficient progress made by Ukraine on national minorities". But after assurances that its demands would be present in the negotiation framework, Hungary lifted the veto.

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EU members will not be for now directly involved in a $50 billion loan for Ukraine, as they will instead focus on developing the guarantee mechanism, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on June 15.

The loan, which was announced during a G7 summit on June 13 with the pledge to deliver it to Ukraine by the end of the year, is backed by revenues from frozen Russian assets.

"The loan of about $50 billion has already been announced (and will) be provided by the United States, as well as Canada, the United Kingdom, and probably Japan, within the limits of its constitutional constraints," Meloni said at a press conference at the end of the summit.

"Currently, European nations are not involved in this loan, also considering the fact that the assets are all mobilized in Europe," she said, adding that EU members will instead focus on providing a guarantee mechanism for repaying the loan.

Western countries have frozen $300 billion in Russian assets at the start of the full-scale war, with roughly two-thirds being held in Europe.

The technical aspects of the loan are yet to be decided by EU finance ministers, Meloni added. During the summit, G7 leaders agreed to launch the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) mechanism to deliver the loan.

An American official told Reuters that Washington was authorized by Congress to cover $50 billion but hopes that other countries will contribute as well. Canada said it is ready to provide $5 billion for the loan.

Read also: G7 confirms agreement on $50 billion loan for Ukraine backed by Russian assets revenue

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A jury late Friday found a former Clearwater police officer not guilty of raping a tourist in Clearwater Beach last October.

Nicolas Paloma faced felony charges of sexual battery and bribery after police said he picked up an intoxicated woman in his police vehicle in the early morning hours of Oct. 15 and coerced her into sex acts. Paloma was later arrested and fired from the department.

The jury of five men and one woman deliberated for roughly an hour in Pinellas County court, concluding just before 7:30 p.m.

Paloma, 30, smiled and pumped his fist as he rose to exit the courtroom. In the hallway, he shared a group hug with family members who had watched the four days of trial.

Not guilty, Paloma said when asked for comment after the verdict. His attorney, Roger Futerman, said he was very happy with the jury. Members of Palomas family thanked and embraced Futerman and his co-counsel, Katie Ingram.

Palomas acquittal came two days after the woman accusing him took the stand. She said on Wednesday that the officer spotted her walking into a roundabout after she was nearly struck by passing cars. He threw on the emergency lights of his unmarked police Ford Explorer to stop her, she recalled.

The Tampa Bay Times is not naming the woman due to the sensitive nature of the allegations.

The woman accused Paloma of telling her she was disorderly and jaywalking, and instructing her to get in his car. She said he drove her around Clearwater Beach for nearly 30 minutes, mentioning that he was looking for a place with no cameras. Eventually, he pulled into a darkened area and coerced her to perform sex acts, she testified.

I felt I had to do what he wanted, she said on the stand. At the conclusion of her testimony, she broke down in tears.

Futerman, the lead defense attorney, repeatedly described the case as a matter of he said/she said  one in which jurors had to decide whose version of events was more credible. Paloma did not deny having a sexual encounter with the woman but said it was consensual.

This is mutual participation by two people, Futerman said. If you have a doubt about the consent in this case, you must find Mr. Paloma not guilty.

Paloma took the stand Friday and said the woman had been flirting with him when he first encountered her around midnight while he was working an off-duty security shift at Cocos Crush Bar. He testified that he came across her again walking through the roundabout and turned on his emergency lights. The moment was caught on surveillance video.

I told her, Hey, you got to be careful, you almost got hit by a car,  Paloma said.

He said he offered her a courtesy ride to her hotel.

Prosecutors, in building their case, had noted that Paloma turned off his body-worn camera and police computer, which would have allowed his car to be tracked by GPS. On the stand, Paloma described those as habitual actions he took on his way home after work.

He was driving her around aimlessly for 30 minutes, said prosecutor Christie Ellis. He was trying to make small talk with her. But he was always implying youve got to do something for me.

Paloma said he drove to several Marriotts because the woman didnt remember where she was staying. Police used surveillance footage and information from the GPS before it was turned off to determine that he had traveled to four Marriotts, including the womans, which he said she did not recognize.

After he drove around, Paloma testified, the woman initiated a sexual encounter with him. He expressed regret in court for allowing it to happen.

When he dropped her off at the hotel, he said, she threw a drink at him and stormed off, complaining that he would not walk her inside.

Within days, police surrounded Palomas Clearwater home, including K-9 units and a helicopter. He was arrested and brought into the station as officers confiscated his unmarked vehicle and equipment.

Paloma told jurors no one explained what he was being arrested for until he was in handcuffs and being booked.

He repeatedly asserted that he had no indication the woman, a married mother of two, was drunk when he picked her up  though blood and urine tests presented in court Thursday indicated her blood-alcohol content at the time of the incident was likely between 0.102 to 0.291, above the threshold at which Florida law presumes its unsafe for a person to drive.

During an hourlong cross-examination, prosecutors repeatedly pressed the former officer, asking whether he at any time thought the womans behavior was abnormal or a sign she was drunk.

He wants you to believe that he, as a trained law enforcement officer, had no idea she was intoxicated. Is that reasonable? Absolutely not, Ellis said during the states closing argument.

The defense focused on what they called inconsistencies in the womans initial statements to police as well as cellphone records that appeared to show her repeatedly hanging up on her friend during the car ride when she told jurors she felt she was in danger.

Futerman characterized her actions as those of an extremely aggressive and assertive woman under the influence of alcohol. In his closing argument, he showed jurors security camera footage of her walking into the lobby of the hotel and arguing with her friend.

After the jury returned their verdict, Clearwater Police Chief Eric Gandy, who called Palomas actions reprehensible in the days after his arrest, said though he respects and accepts the outcome of the trial, it does not change the fact that the former officer breached the public trust.

Former Officer Nicolas Paloma engaged in multiple policy violations, including sexual activity with a citizen he stopped in a police car while in full uniform, Gandy said. The verdict does not change the fact that his actions diminished the publics trust and cost him his career.

Times staff writer Dan Sullivan contributed to this report.
Ex-Cop Sentenced to 1 Year in Jail for Forcing Man in Custody to Lick Urine from Floor of His Cell

Michael Christian Green, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of acting under color of law to deprive a person of his civil rights

AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis Officer Michael Christian Green walks out of a federal courthouse in March 2024

A former Mississippi police officer who admitted to forcing a man in custody to "lick" his own urine off the floor of his jail cell has been sentenced to one year in federal prison.

Three months after Michael Christian Green, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of acting under color of law to deprive a person of his civil rights, the ex-cop has now been sentenced to 12 months in prison, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Southern District of Mississippi.

His time in prison will be followed by another year of supervised release and fines, CNN reported.

The City of Pearl, while not the sentencing body on this case, is glad to have this part of our recent history put behind us, the municipality told the outlet in a statement.

The actions of Michael Green were reprehensible and inexcusable, and we have been deeply grieved to have been associated with this incident. We hope that this sentencing can help the victim and his family in their healing process, and were grateful to our federal partners who helped bring this terrible incident to justice swiftly," the statement continued.

Green is now scheduled to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons on July 26, per CNN.

Greens lawyer, Bradley Alan Oberhousen, did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment on Saturday.

Related: Miss. Man Urinates in Holding Cell, Ex-Police Officer Orders Him to Lick It Up

Getty Police sirens

Green's actions were previously captured on security footage on Dec. 23 at the holding cell of the Pearl Police Department.

Federal court documents obtained by PEOPLE said that Green responded to a report of a family disturbance at a local Sams Club, before arresting and transferring a man to the police department  where he relieved himself in a holding cell after officers ignored his request to use a restroom.

After moving the man into booking, Green ordered him to go suck it up right now, per allegations made in court documents by U.S. Attorney Todd W. Geen.

You see this phone? I will beat your f------ a-- with it. Youre fixin to go in there, and youre gonna lick that piss up. Do you understand me," the officer reportedly instructed the man, the documents said.

He then took out his cell phone to film the ordeal, as he demanded the man "dont spit it out." The man then repeatedly vomited into a trashcan, the court documents added.

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Green did not have a government interest or law enforcement purpose in ordering B.E. to lick his urine, the U.S. attorney wrote in the criminal information, arguing that the officer willfully deprived the man of his Constitutional right not to be deprived of liberty without due process of law, which includes the right of a pre-trial detainee to be free from conditions of confinement that amount to punishment.

Green joined the Pearl Police Department in June 2023 and resigned on Dec. 27 following an internal investigation, city spokeswoman Therese Apel previously told PEOPLE.



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An Ex-Cop's Own Lawyer Might've Helped Him Get Sentenced to Life For the Murder Of A 16-Year-Old Girl

During opening statements of the trial of Miles Bryant, an ex-cop accused of the kidnap and murder of 16-year-old Susana Morales, Bryants attorney Tracy Drake called her client cold and callous.

She even warned that the jury would not like him.

Hold him [Bryant] guilty for the death of Susana Morales, Drake told the jury.

And thats just what the jury did after only six hours of deliberation: A Gwinnett County, Georgia jury found Bryant, 23, guilty of malice murder, felony murder, kidnapping and false report of a crime. He was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

According to a Gwinnett County news release, after texting her family that she was on her way home from a friends house, Morales was never heard from again. It wasnt until seven months later that her remains were found.

The Life 360 app installed on Morales phone was marked as key evidence pinpointing her last known location. Bryants own cell phone records helped tie him to the site where Morales was later found, according to Atlantas WSB-TV.

Bryant admitted to dumping Morales body in the woods, but the exact cause of death was never determined. A gun registered to Bryant was also found at the scene. The sentencing came almost two years after her original disappearance.

The trial, which began on June 3, was full of testimonies from Morales friends and family.



She was really uplifting. She was nice to everybody. She was a really loving person, Morales boyfriend said during his testimony.

During the trial, Police Officer Xavier Biggers, who worked closely to find Morales, also took the stand and became emotional as he spoke about how obsessed he became with finding the young girl.



I have a daughter the same age, Biggers told the court. It really touched me that I thought it was my duty to try to find her.



Bryants lawyers filed a motion for a new trial.



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Joe Clark will be the new superintendent of the Waterloo Local School District, starting in August.

A Northeast Ohio native will return to Portage County as superintendent of Waterloo Local School District, starting in August.

Joe Clark, former superintendent of Nordonia Hills School District, was appointed Thursday to the position. He will replace Angela Terella, who has led the district since 2021. Terella will leave Aug. 1 to become assistant superintendent of Hudson City Schools.

Clark, a native of Tallmadge, served in Nordonia Hills from 2009 to 2023, most of those years as superintendent. He left the area for a year to take a job as superintendent of Westerville City School District in the Columbus area.

Before his time in Nordonia Hills, Clark served in a variety of positions in Kent, Barberton and Springfield. He holds bachelor, master and doctorate degrees from Kent State University.

Brian Pusateri, president of the Waterloo Board of Education, said Terella recently announced her resignation, which also was formally accepted on Thursday. The board asked the Summit County Educational Service Center to help find a new superintendent.

"We were fortunate to get someone as qualified as Joe on that short notice," he said. "We kind of jumped on it."

Clark said he loves the area and is looking forward to serving in Waterloo.

"I'm excited to come back," he said.

Waterloo voters recently approved renewal of a levy, but the district has had a hard time getting new money from voters. In November, voters approved a 4.39-mill, five-year renewal levy to avoid an operating deficit. However, in May 2023, Waterloo voters turned down an 8.3-mill replacement levy, which was a combination of three taxes that were expiring. District voters previously rejected more than a dozen requests for new funding.

Reporter Diane Smith can be reached at 330-298-1139 or dsmith@recordpub.com.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Ex-Nordonia Hills superintendent Joe Clark to lead Waterloo Local
Experts recommend wheat farmers grow different crops as fungal plant disease decimates global wheat fields  here's what this could mean for our food supply

A new study has found that rising global temperatures could lead to a sharp increase in wheat blast, a fungal disease that threatens wheat crops, Down To Earth reported.

What's happening?

According to the study published in the journal Nature Climate Change, wheat blast currently threatens roughly 16 million acres of cropland. By 2050, that number will rise to more than 33 million acres if current trends continue.

Wheat blast is a relatively new threat to global crop production, with the first reported instance occurring in Brazil in 1985, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It has proved to be fast-acting and deadly to wheat crops.

It is only one of the threats wheat crops face because of changes in climate, but it could be significantly impactful, with the study estimating that it could cut worldwide wheat production by 13% by midcentury.

Why is wheat blast important?

Wheat blast does well in warm and humid conditions  and the overheating of our planet has led to changing weather patterns. Extreme weather events are becoming more powerful and frequent overall, while warm and humid conditions are generally increasing (with localized variations).

Extreme weather has contributed to displacement and caused billions of dollars worth of damages, while rising temperatures and humidity levels have led to many other uninvited consequences, such as the spread of mosquito ranges and, now, the spread of crop-killing fungi.

Wheat is not the only crop being affected by changing conditions. In Texas, the state's last remaining sugar mill was recently forced to close its doors after being unable to endure the megadrought that has affected the region.

What's being done about wheat blast?

The study pointed out that farmers may need to move away from wheat and switch to a different crop that is less susceptible to disease, such as maize. This is already occurring in midwest Brazil, per Down To Earth. It also suggested that farmers could alter their sowing dates to avoid the worst of the outbreaks.

Scientists are also hard at work developing wheat blast-resistant wheat varieties. Elsewhere, scientists have discovered how to breed wheat crops that are resistant to drought.

Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet.
UK royals unite on palace balcony, with Kate back at her first public event since cancer diagnosis

Prince William, and Kate Princess of Wales on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with their children Prince George, left, Prince Louis, front centre, and Princess Charlotte wave to the crowds after the Trooping the Color ceremony, in London, Saturday, June 15, 2024. Trooping the Color is the King's Birthday Parade and one of the nation's most impressive and iconic annual events attended by almost every member of the Royal Family. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

LONDON (AP)  Britain put on a display of birthday pageantry Saturday for King Charles III, a military parade that marked the Princess of Wales  first appearance at a public event since her cancer diagnosis early this year.

The annual event was also a show of stability by the monarchy after a testing few months in which both the king and Kate, wife of heir to the throne Prince William, have been sidelined by cancer treatment.

In a symbolic display of unity, Charles, Queen Camilla, William, Kate and their children were joined by other members of the royal family on a Buckingham Palace balcony at the end of the Kings Birthday Parade. The family waved to the gathered crowd as they watched a flyby of military aircraft to cap ceremonies marking the monarchs official birthday.

It was Kate's first appearance at a public event since December. She disclosed in March that she was undergoing chemotherapy for an unspecified form of cancer.

I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days, Kate said in a statement released Friday, adding that she faces a few more months of treatment.

Kate said she is not out of the woods yet and officials stress that Saturdays engagement doesn't herald a full return to public life.

Huge crowds turn out each June to watch the birthday parade, also known as Trooping the Color, which begins with a procession involving horses, musicians and hundreds of soldiers in ceremonial uniform from Buckingham Palace.

The 42-year-old princess traveled in a horse-drawn carriage from the palace down the grand avenue known as the Mall with her children George, 10, Charlotte, 9, and 6-year-old Louis. Bystanders cheered as they caught a glimpse of Kate, dressed in a white dress by designer Jenny Packham and wide-brimmed Philip Treacy hat.

She watched the ceremony with the children from the window of a building overlooking Horse Guards Parade, a ceremonial parade ground in central London. Louis yawned broadly at one point in proceedings, but mostly watched intently, even dancing along to the military music.

William, in military dress uniform, rode on horseback for the ceremony, in which troops parade past the king with their regimental flag, or color. The display of precision marching and martial music stems from the days when a regiments flag was an essential rallying point in the fog of battle.

Charles, who also is being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer, traveled in a carriage with Queen Camilla, rather than on horseback as he did last year. The king inspected the troops from a dais on the parade ground, saluting as elite regiments of Foot Guards marched past.

Five regiments take it in turns to parade their color, and this year it was the turn of a company of the Irish Guards, which has Kate as its honorary colonel. The troops in scarlet tunics and bearskin hats were led onto the parade ground by their mascot, an Irish wolfhound named Seamus.

Charles, 75, disclosed his cancer in February, and has recently eased back into public duties. He attended commemorations last week for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe on June 6, 1944.

In one of the many quirks of British royal convention, Saturday is not the kings real birthday  thats in November. Like his mother Queen Elizabeth II before him, Charles has an official birthday on the second Saturday in June. The date was chosen because the weather is generally good, though early sunshine on Saturday gave way to a blustery, rainy day in London.

The rain held off for most of the ceremony but began pelting down as the massed troops escorted the royal carriages back to Buckingham Palace past soggy but enthusiastic crowds.

Blue sky briefly returned as the family emerged onto the balcony to watch a flyby that included the Royal Air Force aerobatic team, the Red Arrows, trailing red, white and blue plumes of vapor.

Thousands of royal fans in raincoats and umbrellas cheered, as a smattering of anti-monarchist protesters chanted Not my king.

Spectator Joseph Afrane, 60, said that he was happy to see Kate return  and to get a big wave as she passed by.

It was fantastic when I heard it on the news yesterday," he said. I thought, God, I thank you for bringing Kate back, because shes very hardworking.

Spectators who braved the volatile weather were treated to a display of pomp and precision involving 1,400 soldiers, 250 military musicians and more than 200 horses. The equine participants included Trojan, Tennyson, and Vanquish, three of the five military horses who sparked mayhem in April when they bolted and ran loose through central London, crashing into vehicles and causing chaos during the morning rush hour.

The army says the other two horses are recovering well and are also expected to return to duty.
Claim:

HarperCollins, which owns the publishing company that holds the U.S. rights to the NIV Bible, removed 45 complete verses from it.

Rating:

Rating: False

Context:

The verses weren't "removed" from the NIV Bible, according to its publisher; they were relocated to same-page footnotes in order to distinguish between older and newer versions of biblical texts.

In 2024, a nearly decade-old meme began to spread across Facebook claiming that 45 complete verses had been removed from the New International Version Bible by HarperCollins, its publisher:

https://www.facebook.com/katherine.l.henry/posts/pfbid02NNgdDXp82YXo4XKVag5CfqihoBitGjrJawSQWsS5TK1L2uJmJ8L2AFuBC6gwRr4il

We previously fact-checked this claim in 2015, when the meme first began to circulate on the social media platform. We found in that fact check that the verses had not, in fact, been removed.

When we reached out to Zondervan, the Christian publishing company owned by HarperCollins that publishes the NIV Bible in the U.S., a representative directed us to a PolitiFact article that rated the claim about "removed verses" false.

What we now know as the Bible is a compilation of many books written in different times and places. Translating the books from their original languages (Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek) has often been extremely difficult. The USC Viterbi School of Engineering called the task time-consuming and labor-intensive in a 2023 article, pointing out that translators often have to explain concepts that have no meaning in certain cultures. There are hundreds of known versions of the Bible in the English language alone. The New International Version, the King James Version and the New Standard Version are three of the most popular. There are notable differences between all of them.

In a 2015 Facebook comment, Zondervan addressed complaints about the so-called "missing verses" in the NIV, writing that some verses were converted to footnotes in order to distinguish the verses that weren't verifiable in the most reliable biblical manuscripts the translators had available at the time:

Often times, readers will come across what they feel are "missing verses" in their NIV Bible. These verses, however, are not really missing. They are included in the footnotes on the same page of the Bible where the "missing" passage is located. During the exacting translation process for the NIV Bible, some verses were found not to be included in the oldest or most reliable manuscripts that the NIV translators had available to use. Most of these manuscripts were discovered after the King James Version was first translated, some 400 years ago. When those verses could not be verified by the more reliable or older manuscripts, the NIV translators moved them to a footnote to reflect greater accuracy. Please be assured that your NIV Bible is extremely accurate, trustworthy and reliable. Additional information on the translation process and use of footnotes is located in the Preface of your NIV Bible. If you have any other questions, please let us know.

Biblica, the company that licenses the publishing rights to the NIV to Zondervan, also discussed the claim on its website, in similar terms:

The verses or phrases that appeared in the KJV, but have been "omitted" in most trusted translations today, are not found in the oldest and most reliable manuscripts. Modern translators include or reference them in footnotes. These footnotes are intended to help the reader understand that certain perceived differences in the text are due to improved biblical scholarship. The treatment of these verses has not changed recently and reflects a consensus among the majority of Bible scholars.

We've previously fact-checked other claims about the Bible, including the rumor U.S. President Joe Biden said he "almost wanted to buy [a Bible] just to see what the hell's in it."

Sources:

Anderson, Avery. "To the Ends of the Earth: Bringing the Bible to Languages Never Before Reached." USC Viterbi | School of Engineering, https://viterbischool.usc.edu/news/2023/06/to-the-ends-of-the-earth-bringing-the-bible-to-languages-never-before-reached/. Accessed 11 June 2024.

"HarperCollins at 200." HarperCollins Publishers, https://200.hc.com/?post_type=post&p=1362. Accessed 11 June 2024.

Johnson, Jesse. "Farewell, NIV." The Cripplegate, https://thecripplegate.com/farewell-niv/. Accessed 11 June 2024.

Liles, Jordan. "Did Biden Say of the Bible, 'I Almost Wanted to Buy One Just to See What the Hell's in It'?" Snopes, 26 Apr. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/biden-trump-bible-quote/.

The 2011 Revision of the NIV. https://www.bible-researcher.com/niv.2011.html. Accessed 11 June 2024.

When Was the Bible Written? | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/question/When-was-the-Bible-written. Accessed 10 June 2024.
Fact Check: Talk of $8,700 Stimulus Checks for Qualifying Americans Trended on Google. Here Are the Facts

Claim:

The IRS is issuing $8,700 stimulus checks to qualifying Americans in 2024.

Rating:

Rating: False

In June 2024, Google users searched far and wide for answers regarding a rumor claiming qualifying Americans would each receive an $8,700 stimulus check. Some users tapping on the Google search bar may have noticed a "trending search" displayed as "irs $8700 stimulus check irs gov." This trending search seemed to indicate IRS.gov contained more details about some new stimulus check legislation.

The "trending searches" list displayed other hot topics alongside the search about stimulus checks, including North Korea sending balloons carrying manure and trash into South Korea, and a woman partially swallowed by quicksand on a Maine beach.

A rumor in Google trending searches claimed the IRS was issuing 8700 dollar stimulus checks to qualifying Americans.

A list of Google's trending searches as of June 11, 2024.

The mention of stimulus checks might remind some U.S. readers of the COVID-19 economic impact payments and child tax credit payments from 2020 and 2021. Those genuine payments came directly from the IRS.

To be clear, this rumor claiming the IRS was issuing $8,700 stimulus checks in 2024 is false. If the stimulus check offering were real, prominent news websites would widely cover the developments. We found no credible news reports about any new stimulus checks in June 2024.

Snopes contacted the IRS by email to ask about the false rumor. In response, IRS media relations specialist Robert Marvin directed us to a news release from July 2023 warning of text-message and email scams playing off the genuine economic impact payments from 2020 and 2021. Part of that news release read, "But while the stimulus payments ended long ago, the related scheme has evolved and changed as scam artists look for new ways to adjust their message to trick people."

Scams Promising Stimulus Checks, Subsidies, Incentives and Benefits

As of this writing, it's not entirely clear why the search about $8,700 stimulus checks from the IRS trended in the first place. In the past, similar false claims of free money for Americans originated in scammy paid ads displayed to users on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or some other social media platform or website. Those paid ads claimed the current U.S. president, Congress, the IRS or some other government-affiliated person or body approved or would be issuing money or checks in the form of a stimulus, subsidy, incentive or benefit.

Users who clicked on those past paid ads landed on websites not affiliated with the government. Those websites asked users to fill out surveys, apparently to refer users to companies in the case they qualified for various services for homeowners, seniors or other groups of consumers. Depending on the ad, a commission fee might have been the goal of the people managing the false ads, perhaps for the referral and collection of user data.

Genuine Assistance Programs

The official government website USA.gov warns, "The government does not offer free money or grants to people for personal needs." Readers looking for legitimate websites offering federal assistance programs should refer to the following information from the same USA.gov page:

Federal assistance programs can provide financial help with living expenses or business costs. Use these free, official government websites to search for programs you might be eligible for: Each program has its own eligibility rules, application process, and deadlines.

USA.gov says consumers can report to the FTC any "free money" scams they receive in the form of texts, emails, ads or websites.

Sources:

"Advance Child Tax Credit Payments in 2021." Internal Revenue Service, https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021.

"Avoid 'Free Money' from the Government Scams | USAGov." USA.gov, https://www.usa.gov/no-free-money.

"Economic Impact Payment Information Center." Internal Revenue Service, https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payment-information-center.

Kim, Hyung-Jin, and Kim Tong-Hyung. "Bizarre Psychological Warfare Using K-Pop and Trash Balloons Raises Tensions between the 2 Koreas." The Associated Press, 11 June 2024, https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-south-loudspeaker-trash-balloons-kpop-460f4e3d6a036a26595891210287924c.

LaMagdeleine, Izz Scott. "No, Standard Medicare Doesn't Cover 'Grocery Benefit Programs.'" Snopes, 26 Mar. 2023, https://www.snopes.com//news/2023/03/26/medicare-grocery-benefit-programs/.

Liles, Jordan. "Beware of '$3,600 Stimulus for Homeowners' Scams." Snopes, 7 Dec. 2021, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/stimulus-homeowners-facebook/.

"Quicksand Doesn't Just Happen in Hollywood. It Happened on a Maine Beach." The Associated Press, 6 June 2024, https://apnews.com/article/maine-beach-quicksand-supersaturated-sand-4bd10fd737d283d939d99e026e209884.
Claim:

A viral video authentically shows former U.S. President Donald Trump waving to "nobody" during his visit to the Charlotte Motor Speedway on Memorial Day Weekend 2024.

Rating:

Rating: Unproven

Context:

The video is real, and was taken during Trump's visit to Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 26, 2024. But it's unclear whether he was waving at "nobody." There is a distant crowd in the background, and there could be a crowd behind him.

The last Sunday in May is sometimes referred to as the Greatest Day in Motorsport  avid racing fans in the U.S. can get up early to watch the Monaco Grand Prix, then flip over to the Indianapolis 500 and end the day with NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600.

On that day in 2024, at least one former U.S. president was enjoying some of the action. Donald Trump visited the Charlotte Motor Speedway for the running of the Coca-Cola 600. One particular clip of Trump at the racetrack went viral on social media sites like X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok because it appeared to show the former president waving to fans, except no fans could be seen. The president appeared to be surrounded by tarmac.

Snopes readers wrote in and asked us if the video was real. We were able to conclusively prove that the video was real, though it's unclear whether Trump was truly waving to "nobody," and if so, why.

We found plenty of evidence from multiple sources that confirmed Trump was at the Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600, with footage showing him greeting fans and talking with drivers. However, it took a while to eventually stumble on the viral clip, because as it turns out, Trump waving at a "non-existent crowd" is actually something that's been captured on video multiple times.

In this case, we eventually found the original video from sources on X. The video was posted by Margo Martin, Trump's deputy director of communications, on May 26, 2024, the day of the Coca-Cola 600. Given that the video came from a Trump campaign official who frequently posts videos of the former president on the campaign trail, we were able to confirm that the video was real.

This only confirms that the video was real, however. There were some people sitting in the grandstands; however, it's unclear whether Trump was waving to them, especially since they were so far away from him. Another counterargument is that there could simply be people Trump was waving to not shown in the video.

If he was waving to nobody (as he's been documented doing before), why he was doing so is a different story. One plausible explanation is that Trump's team was filming him waving in order to use it in future campaign advertisements, where editing techniques could make it look like Trump was waving to fans.

We should note these kinds of potential gaffes  waving at "nobody  are often used by political commentators on both sides of the aisle to suggest their unfavored candidate is senile and therefore unfit to hold the office of president.

Sources:

Lepore, Stephen M. "Trump Is Ridiculed over Footage of Him Waving to NASCAR Crowd." Mail Online, 27 May 2024, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13462901/Trump-ridiculed-footage-waving-NASCAR-crowd-North-Carolina.html.

Noah Lewis. Donald Trump Attending NASCAR's Coca Cola 600 on Memorial Day Weekend. 2024. YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPrV1aKFYbY.

Peter Stratta. Donald Trump Visits NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 to Honor Troops. 2024. YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mHb8Ag7Z_U.

TikTok - Make Your Day. https://www.tiktok.com/@joyreidofficial/video/7373749109078969642. Accessed 14 June 2024.

---. https://www.tiktok.com/@davidwontshutup/video/7373469248951307562?q=trump%20at%20nascar&t=1718389566850. Accessed 14 June 2024.

---. https://www.tiktok.com/search?q=trump%20waving%20to%20no%20one&t=1718390059418. Accessed 14 June 2024.

---. https://www.tiktok.com/@earnestkingjr8/video/7373677804954783022?q=trump%20waving%20at%20nothing&t=1718307434685. Accessed 14 June 2024.

---. https://www.tiktok.com/@harryjsisson/video/7373497265534635306?q=trump%20waving%20at%20nothing&t=1718307434685. Accessed 14 June 2024.

"X.Com." X (Formerly Twitter), https://x.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1800294907329867842. Accessed 14 June 2024.

"---." X (Formerly Twitter), https://x.com/margommartin. Accessed 14 June 2024.

"---." X (Formerly Twitter), https://x.com/margommartin/status/1794844581441487115. Accessed 14 June 2024.

"---." X (Formerly Twitter), https://x.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1794852091187658871. Accessed 14 June 2024.

"---." X (Formerly Twitter), https://x.com/hamzullahdarman/status/1799985638260851145. Accessed 14 June 2024.

"---." X (Formerly Twitter), https://x.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1801013820501995797. Accessed 14 June 2024.
Butchered Prospects

It seems the lab-grown meat industry just hasn't managed to serve up something people want to sink their teeth into.

In a development that augurs ill for the burgeoning food sector, SFGate reports that a Bay Area-based startup called SCiFi Foods, which had dreams of bringing "hybrid" burgers made of a mix of plants and lab-grown beef to the masses, is shutting down just six months after it had announced the completion of its first meat-growing facility.

In a LinkedIn post on Tuesday, the company's co-founders Joshua March and Kasia Gora painfully admitted that SCiFi failed to bring a single meat product to market. Or in other words, not one of their Franken-patties ever managed to grace stores and restaurants.

"Unfortunately, in this funding environment, we could not raise the capital that we needed to commercialize the SCiFi burger, and SCiFi Foods ran out of time," they wrote.

The company's struggle, March and Gora added, "reflects the challenges that the cultivated meat and general meat alternative markets are facing today."

Sausage Making

As icky as the idea sounds to some people, lab-grown or "cultivated" meat promises to solve a lot of ethical quandaries. No animals would be harmed in making it. And if the bioreactors to cultivate it became efficient enough, it would also spare us the guilt associated with the harrowing environmental toll of the meat industry.

Proponents also argued that, in a future that foregoes slaying animals for food, it would make for a much more palatable alternative than plant-based ones, as many people are unwilling to entirely give up meat.

But a lot of practical hurdles stand in the way, with the exorbitant costs associated with growing the meat being the biggest. When the venture first started out in 2019, a single SCiFi burger cost $20,000 to create, the cofounders said. Over five years, the company's scientists were only able to bring that down to a still eye-watering  but perhaps no more mouth-watering  $15,000.

Rotten Luck

Few could predict just how volatile a political issue ersatz meat would turn out to be, however. Along with waning enthusiasm for the industry, the cofounders said, they also blame the hostile "culture wars" in the US for their failures  and it's not hard to understand why.

Last month, Florida Governor Ron Desantis outright banned the lab-grown meat industry from the state, no doubt inflaming public opinion on the matter across the country. Just two weeks later Alabama followed suit and also enacted a ban.

At least on a federal level, regulators appear more equitable. Last year, the US Department of Agriculture approved two companies, Upside Foods and Good Meat, to sell cultivated chicken products, in a breakthrough for the industry.

But since then, Upside Foods, considered a leader among meat-fakers, has been hampered with setbacks and scandals, including a pause on expanding its facilities and scrutiny over allegedly misleading the public on how its cultivated chicken is made. And now, if SCiFi's fate is any indication, the forecast is ever grimmer.

More on meat: Arnold Schwarzenegger Points Out Flaw in Gene-Hacked Meat Rice
Labour has confirmed in its manifesto that it will end the VAT exemption for independent schools - Stefan Rousseau/PA

Are you having to borrow from the bank, a loved one or your property to pay school fees? We want to hear from you, email: money@telegraph.co.uk

Labours plans for private schools are becoming a stark reality for parents.

The party confirmed in its manifesto this week that it will end the VAT exemption for independent schools, which could add 20pc to fees as early as September.

But with average annual day school fees already at a record 18,063  up from 16,656 last year  many families are at the limit of what they can afford.

The worry is that a further hike will resign them to battling for a place at an oversubscribed state school.

Hoping the problem will go away is no longer an option. The latest polling puts Labour more than 20 points ahead of the Tories  and points to a huge majority in the Commons in less than three weeks time.

Some parents are considering remortgaging their homes, moving abroad or even changing religion to keep providing their children with a top quality education.

Edwards* two children, aged seven and 10, attend a fantastic mixed private school on the outskirts of Epsom. He said parents are feeling frustrated and angry at Labours policy which has forced him to consider pulling both children out.

All our local schools are heavily oversubscribed, he said. The only one which isnt and within our catchment area has the Ofsted rating of needs improvement and has prior issues of knife crime.

The other option is to home-school them. But it means my kids will miss out on being surrounded by friends, interacting, playing and learning together. This will be damaging to them and their mental health.

He and his wife both work full time in the City and are on good salaries, but having to find an extra 20pc for school fees is a complete no-go.

Its causing us sleepless nights, he said. At Eton and Harrow therell be Bentleys outside. At our school the parents are ordinary working people  roofers, painters and decorators, taxi drivers. You see doctors and nurses coming in their scrubs straight from work.

The couple has even considered trying to get their children into the local Catholic school, despite the family not being Catholic.

Do we have to start changing our religion to attend a nearby comprehensive? We would have to renew our wedding vows.

If youre not Catholic you drop down to 13th rank on the priority list. But even the Catholic school is at full capacity. Or we could sell our house  but even then you still have no guarantee youll get in. Its ridiculous  you may as well move abroad.

For families already considering quitting Britain for higher pay, lower taxes, sunshine and a better quality of life, a steep increase in school fees will be the final straw. But those on more modest salaries do not have this escape route.

Ellen* and her husband live in Oxfordshire with their 12-year-old daughter who attends a private girls school costing 7,500 a term.

Their daughter was at a state primary, and the expectation had been for her to go on to the local comprehensive.

Our hearts werent singing about this but we couldnt afford to go private, said Ellen, who works a low-grade admin job at the University of Oxford. Her husband is out of work after Covid forced his business to close.

But after attending a community outreach programme run by a prestigious private school, her daughter applied for a means-tested bursary, and won a place.

The familys household income is low enough for her daughter, who is flourishing at the school, to have 100pc of her fees paid for.

Ellen is incredibly grateful for the financial help from the school, but worries what will happen if the bursary does not rise to match a 20pc increase in fees.

An extra 20pc would work out at 4,000 a year, she said. Money is very tight, and this would be a complete non-starter. It would not be at all affordable.

Ellen is also anxious that the bursary might be removed altogether. Headteachers have warned that the VAT raid would force private schools to cut scholarships and bursaries to the poorest students.

A total of 182,675 pupils currently receive some level of help with their fees, representing a third of all private school pupils, according to trade body the Independent Schools Council.

The value of this financial support hit a record 1.4bn this year, up 10.2pc on last year, with an estimated 80pc provided by the schools themselves.

Ellen says she would be forced to send her daughter to the local secondary school if the support is withdrawn.

It would be a dreadful outcome  [the school] is really oversubscribed. I would not look forward to having to explain that to my daughter.

What Im most sad about is the division [the policy] will cause. It will deny other kids the opportunity my daughter had. Some children, especially those with special educational needs, are just not suited to the state sector.

Parents have already been hit by substantial increases in fees in recent years. Average fees for boarders went up nearly 9pc in 2023 and now stand at a record 42,459 a year.

Families resort to remortgaging homes

David Boddy, chair of ASIS, a business consultancy for the education sector, told The Telegraph that parents are remortgaging their homes in anticipation of Labours VAT raid.

He described how one family from Birmingham was considering taking out a loan to keep their two children in private school.

He said: The father came to me with tears in his eyes saying we just dont know how we can continue if fees go up another 20pc.

When you see these hard-working middle and working class families who really value education, its heartbreaking.

William* and his wife have two children aged nine and 11 at an independent school near Southampton.

He runs a recruitment company which his wife also does some work for, as well as being a stay-at-home mother.

We are a hard-working family, he said. A huge proportion of our total earnings is spent on our childrens education.

The school is very well regarded locally and has provided an amazing start to life for children over many years, but this could be the final straw.

Fees have been rising at uncomfortable rates in the last few years, it is already a squeeze, and this is with the school keeping increases to an absolute minimum.

He adds that the atmosphere is awful among parents at his childrens school, who genuinely feel like its a terrible policy.

To add 20pc seems bonkers. Theres a misperception that everyone in the system is rich  and that schools can afford it.

William has calculated that if fees rise by 20pc he would need to find an extra 8,000 a year, which he would struggle to afford.

Our options would be to pull the kids out and apply for state school places or spend less on other things  save less and not pay into our pensions.

Sir Keir Starmer has promised to spend part of the 1.5bn he claims the policy will raise on plans for empty primary school classrooms to be turned into nurseries to create an extra 100,000 childcare places.

Around a third of the of the money will go towards recruiting 6,500 new state school teachers.

But headteachers have warned that Labour must stem the recruitment crisis plaguing the teaching profession if it hopes to make meaningful improvements to the state sector.

William believes the policy will not only cripple hard-working families, but also fail to achieve its stated goals.

It feels like a cheap political message. Its misleading the public  it tries to say that the money will pay for thousands of new teachers.

But theres an exodus of teachers from the profession and schools cant fill the vacancies theyve got  so what benefit is creating more vacancies?

*Names have been changed.

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Former White House communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin said former President Trump talked about executing people multiple times at White House meetings.

Farah Griffin joined Mediaites Aidan McLaughlin to discuss her time in the Trump administration and what she thinks a second Trump term could look like.

McLaughlin asked Farah Griffin, now a co-host on The View, why she thinks several powerful Republicans, like former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and former Attorney General Bill Barr, are backing Trump despite knowing the destruction he could cause.

Its power, she responded. I think  powers just one of the most enticing things we have in society.

Farah Griffin noted an April interview Barr did with CNNs Kaitlan Collins, where she asked the former attorney general if he remembered when the former president said the person who leaked information about him going into a bunker during the 2020 George Floyd protests should be executed.

Barr said he remembers that the former president was very mad about that. He said he couldnt remember if Trump specifically called for someone to be executed but wouldnt dispute it, although he doubts it would have actually been carried out.

Farah Griffin said she was there during that meeting and that Trump straight up said a staffer who leaked the story should be executed.

But there were others, where he talked about executing people, she said.

And Im like, how [do] you rationalize that that is a person fit, in sound judgment to be president of the United States? Farah Griffin continued.

She argued that Haley, Barr and other Republicans who were once critical of Trump but now have come to support his presidential campaign against President Biden are reading the tea leaves.

They know theres a very real chance hes going to be president again, and theres not a lot of glory or like, victory in being right, but being on the wrong side of Trump, she said. I think thats ultimately what it comes down to.

Farah Griffin said she really wanted to root for Haley but thought it was pathetic that she endorsed Trump in mid-May after suspending her own bid for president. She knows better than to do that, Farah Griffin said.

She continued, noting that nearly every Republican that has been on a presidential ticket, besides former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) and presumably former President George Bush, has denounced Trump.

Everyone that we entrusted, who has risen to the level of seriousness that they could see themselves in the Oval [Office] says, Oh, no, no, this guy should not be in the Oval Office, she said.

The former presidents campaign responded to Farah Griffins remarks, accusing her of lying about her experiences working under the Trump administration.

Alyssa Farrah is so thirsty for attention shell lie about her time in the White House to overstate her role and importance, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said in an emailed statement to The Hill. She should be answering questions about her role at the infamous Bombay Club debacle instead.

Updated on June 17 at 8:05 a.m. EDT

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Fatal crash could signal the end to Spitfire flying in the UK

There were no Spitfires in the Trooping the Colour flypast amid an ongoing investigation into the fatal crash of a plane three weeks ago - GEOFF PUGH/TELEGRAPH

A retired RAF officer has warned that the ongoing grounding of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) could lead to the end of all Spitfire flying in the UK.

Terry Holloway, a retired group captain who was responsible for the BBMFs engineering practices in the 1990s, warned that risk averse military regulators were placing all British warbird flying in jeopardy.

His warning comes after the BBMF missed out on the Trooping the Colour flypast amid an ongoing investigation into the fatal crash of a Spitfire three weeks ago.

Military authorities investigation into the death of Squadron Leader Mark Long, who was at the vintage fighters controls, could result in a decision to permanently ground the display team, the retired group captain said.

Those investigations are being led by the Military Airworthiness Authority (MAA).

Mr Holloway said: There are a lot of people, me included, who have concerns about the RAF itself being very risk averse, and the MAA in particular being risk averse.

There is a concern that if the MAA decides to ground permanently Merlin-engined aircraft, that will spread into the civil sector.

Spitfires, along with the BBMFs Hurricanes and its Avro Lancaster bomber, are powered by Rolls-Royce Merlin engines.

Mr Holloway, who spent 34 years in the Air Force as an engineering officer, said he feared that the outsourcing of vintage RAF aircraft overhauls to the private sector over the last few decades had led to a loss of engineering knowledge.

In turn, he claimed, military regulators who oversee the BBMF could lack the in-depth knowledge needed to confidently declare that its aircraft are safe to fly again after Mays crash.

Risk-averse regulators could err on the side of excessive caution, he warned.

The other concern in the civilian warbird industry, continued the retired group captain, is because the BBMF is effectively the benchmark model for similar aircraft operations in civilian hands.

A decision by the MAA to ground the BBMF could provoke civil regulators into looking twice at civilian warbird operations of the type seen at hundreds of airshows around the country every year.

Spitfires, along with the BBMF's Hurricanes and its Avro Lancaster bomber, are powered by Rolls-Royce Merlin engines - GARETH FULLER/PA

Mr Holloway, who retired from the RAF 28 years ago, oversaw the BBMFs engineering practices and was also in charge of bringing its vintage Dakota paratrooper-dropping aircraft onto the flights books in the 1990s.

Arguing for the military authorities to provide more transparency into their investigation into the fatal crash of the BBMF Spitfire in May, Mr Holloway pointed out that civilian-operated vintage aircraft made it across the Channel for the D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations earlier this month.

The BBMF fleet remains grounded whereas the civilian Spitfire fleet continues to fly quite safely without any problems, he said.

Mays crash was the first ever fatal accident in the BBMFs history.

Senior RAF sources, describing the sequence of events, said that the pilot took off as normal from RAF Coningsby for a scheduled air display at East Kirkby, a nearby museum.

The Spitfire, military serial number MK356, got airborne heading east from Coningsby, raised its wheels and made a 180-degree turn to the right.

At that point the pilot, Sqn Ldr Long, broadcast a mayday emergency call shortly before crashing near houses a few hundred yards from the airfields boundary fence.

Mr Holloway, who is himself a private pilot, speculated that the cause of the crash could have been a problem with the fighters 27-litre Merlin engine.

I hope thats not the underlying cause of the problem because if it is, understandably, people would want to say, Well, can we accept the risk that there isnt another one out there waiting to happen?

The MoD was contacted for comment.

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'I feel like I'm corrupting you': Douglas Anderson teacher headed to prison for misconduct

A parent of a Douglas Anderson School of the Arts student shared a cell-phone photo in March 2023 of then-teacher Jeffrey Clayton being placed in a police car.

A once-lauded vocal teacher at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by three years of probation Friday after a packed courtroom heard his recorded, intimate phone call with a teenage student.

I can still feel my hands on your skin, Jeffrey Clayton told the girl nearly 50 years younger than him.

I feel like Im corrupting you, Clayton said later, asking the then-16-year-old whether she fantasized about being with him.

That was the point of sentencing Clayton, 66, who pleaded guilty in April to violating a statute that forbids teachers having sexual conduct with students or seeking or engaging in romantic relationships.

Jeffrey Clayton's jail booking photo following his March 2023 arrest.

Asking questions: Police want to ask 140 Douglas Anderson School of the Arts students about campus misconduct

You were the adult here, Circuit Judge Tatiana Salvador told Clayton, who also pleaded guilty to two lesser felonies just over a year after being handcuffed on campus and loaded into a squad car in March 2023.

The arrest helped spotlighted a history of rumors and complaints about teacher behavior at Douglas Anderson, a hugely competitive magnet school that U.S. News and World Report this year ranked as the 30th-best high school in Florida.

Fallout from the arrest prompted the school district to commission an outside review of how misconduct complaints have been handled. Little has been made public so far about any findings.

The recording played Friday was made by investigators who had already talked to the girl, identified only by initials, and arranged the discussion to have evidence of Claytons interaction with his student.

Hearing the conversation, I felt embarrassed. I felt dirty, Salvador said.  It was creepy.

Commentary: Mark Woods: Canceled play wasn't 'Indecent' but some Duval school incidents are

Three other unnamed female students also testified that Clayton spoke or acted inappropriately during instruction or rehearsals, damaging their self-image in the process. Some said they struggled with trusting adult men following their exposure to his attention.

Among spectators in the courtroom was School Board member Lori Hershey who has a daughter who attended Douglas Anderson and a niece enrolled now.

She said afterwards that hearing the testimony had been hard and that she applauded the girls for speaking up in a way she hoped would help them find closure.

Parents in their vehicles line San Diego Road to pick up their children as students leave the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in this 2021 photo.

Defense attorney John Rockwell tried to salvage material from the recording to help his client, pointing out that the inappropriate physical acts Clayton admitted were limited to kissing his student and placing his hands on her. (A sentencing memo Rockwell filed specified the teacher had been briefly placing his hands on her buttocks and cleavage area (on top of her clothing).

No one argued Clayton had sex with his student, and during the recording the teacher asked her, youve never had sex, right?

Rockwell also drew an agreement from the lead detective on Claytons case that a review of voluminous text and email records found no evidence of inappropriate contact with other students or minors.

State sentencing guidelines for Clayton prescribed about 34 months behind bars.

A plea agreement where prosecutors agreed not to pursue other charges against Clayton included a requirement that Rockwell not ask for less than the guideline sentence, but prosecutors asked for 15 years in prison, leaving Salvador a wide timespan to consider.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville teacher gets prison for misconduct with student
Fico ally Peter Pellegrini to be sworn in as Slovakia's president

President-elect of the Slovak Republic Peter Pellegrini arrives at the ceremonial meeting of the National Council of the Slovak Republic on the occasion of his swearing-in. Jaroslav Novak/TASR/dpa

Peter Pellegrini, a close ally of left-wing populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, will be sworn in as president of Slovakia on Saturday.

The 48-year-old is due to take the oath of office in a ceremony in front of parliament in Bratislava at midday.

Pellegrini won the run-off election in April with 53.1% of the vote, beating out former foreign minister Ivan Korcok.

Ukraine featured prominently in the campaign, with Pellegrini advocating a cautious stance on arms deliveries to Kiev - a position that is in line with Russia-friendly Fico.

Pellegrini previously served as prime minister from 2018 to 2020 and as parliamentary speaker.

The incumbent Zuzana Caputova, a lawyer and rights activist, did not run for a second five-year term despite her continued popularity as president.

Pellegrini's Voice - Social Democracy party is part of Slovakia's governing coalition, led by Fico. The right-wing populist Slovak National Party (SNS) is also part of the fractious coalition.

Presidents in Slovakia have few executive powers, although they can veto laws. The president is commander-in-chief of the armed forces and represents the country of nearly 5.5 million in visits abroad.

Slovakia and its fellow EU members were stunned by an assassination attempt against Fico last month that left the prime minister seriously injured.

Slovakia's new president Peter Pellegrini signs the oath of office at his inauguration during a ceremonial meeting of the Slovak parliament. alek Vaclav/CTK/dpa
Slovakia's new president Peter Pellegrini signs the oath of office at his inauguration during a ceremonial meeting of the Slovak parliament. alek Vaclav/CTK/dpa

Peter Pellegrini, a close ally of left-wing populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, was sworn in as president of Slovakia on Saturday.

The 48-year-old took the oath of office in a ceremony at the Slovak Philharmonic in Bratislava in front of members of parliament.

Pellegrini won the run-off election in April with 53.1% of the vote, beating out former foreign minister Ivan Korcok.

Ukraine featured prominently in the campaign, with Pellegrini advocating a cautious stance on arms deliveries to Kiev - a position that is in line with Russia-friendly Fico.

Pellegrini previously served as prime minister from 2018 to 2020 and as parliamentary speaker.

The incumbent Zuzana Caputova, a lawyer and rights activist, did not run for a second five-year term despite her continued popularity as president.

Pellegrini's Voice - Social Democracy party is part of Slovakia's governing coalition, led by Fico. The right-wing populist Slovak National Party (SNS) is also part of the fractious coalition.

Presidents in Slovakia have few executive powers, although they can veto laws. The president is commander-in-chief of the armed forces and represents the country of nearly 5.5 million in visits abroad.

With the swearing-in of Pellegrini, the left-wing nationalist camp now holds the two most important political offices in the country.

The opposition fears that the coalition will now push through controversial plans such as the proposed dissolution of the public radio and television broadcaster RTVS.

Slovakia and its fellow EU members were stunned by an assassination attempt against Fico last month that left the prime minister seriously injured.

President-elect of the Slovak Republic Peter Pellegrini arrives at the ceremonial meeting of the National Council of the Slovak Republic on the occasion of his swearing-in. Jaroslav Novak/TASR/dpa
Ukraine is starting the path towards peace from a position of strength and is in a stronger position than three weeks ago, Finnish President Alexander Stubb said at Ukraines global peace summit in Switzerland on June 15.



During the summits plenary meeting, Stubbs noted that this week has favored Ukraine. He highlighted the G7 summit, the start of EU negotiations, NATO support, as well as Ukraines summit that gathered over 100 representatives.



(Ukraine is) much stronger than what it was three weeks ago, let alone three months ago, he said.



He added that it was important to have a follow-up to the summit as soon as possible, stressing that peace is a process rather than an end state.



Country representatives and organizations from 101 nations are attending the peace summit held at the Burgenstock resort, outside the city of Lucerne. Kyiv said it hopes to develop a new joint peace plan based on Zelenskys 10-point peace proposal, although it is open to opinions from other countries.



Stubb praised Ukraines global peace summit as an achievement and said it was important for the West to hear from voices around the world.



He also stressed that it is important to listen to President Volodymyr Zelensky and all those that want a just and sustainable peace based on the UN Charter and international law.

Read also: Swiss president: Peace process without Russia is inconceivable



Zelensky said that the summit aims to show that peace and security is possible and will focus on three different points: Nuclear safety, food security, and the release of prisoners and deportees.



Once a peace formula is agreed upon, an action plan will be presented to Moscow in a second peace summit, he said.



Zelensky met leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) in Italy on June 13-14. The summit signaled positive developments for Ukraine, with bilateral security agreements signed with the U.S. and Japan.



Zelensky said the agreement with the U.S., "clearly states that America supports Ukraine's efforts to win this war. He described the deal as a "bridge" to Ukraine's future NATO membership.



Japan will provide Ukraine with $4.5 billion in 2024 and will continue to support Ukraine throughout the next 10 years. The two countries agreed to cooperate on cybersecurity, countering foreign interference, combating organized crime, and ensuring maritime order, among other spheres.



The G7 leaders confirmed a plan on June 13 to give Ukraine a $50 billion loan by the end of the year using interest from some $300 billion in frozen Russian assets. Although technical details are still being ironed out.



On June 14, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU announced that EU ambassadors agreed on the negotiating frameworks for the accession negotiations of Ukraine and Moldova. Talks will start on June 25.

Read also: Putin names ceasefire demands, including Kyivs complete withdrawal from four Ukrainian regions

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Fire in Kyiv Oblast is put out after burning for over three days

Firefighters putting out the fire. Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

On the morning of 15 June, firefighters in Kyiv Oblast finally put out a fire caused by a Russian attack on the night of 11-12 June.

Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Details: The fire blazed at an industrial business for over three days before being extinguished at 07:21 on Saturday.

Hundreds of firefighters and four fire trains were reported to be working at the scene.

Background:

The fire broke out at an industrial facility due to a Russian attack on Kyiv Oblast on 11-12 June.

Ukraine's air defence shot down 29 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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In this aerial still image provided by KABC-TV, firefighters respond to an explosion and fire in a large front-loader that was burning and sending thick, black smoke into the air southeast of Palmdale, Calif., Friday, June 14, 2024. A Los Angeles County firefighter was killed in the line of duty in an incident involving a vehicle fire or explosion, authorities confirmed Friday. (KABC-TV via AP)

LITTLEROCK, Calif. (AP)  A Los Angeles County firefighter was killed and another was injured Friday after responding to a vehicle fire at a quarry in a desert community north of Los Angeles, authorities said.

An explosion occurred shortly after a firefighting crew arrived at the quarry in Littlerock around 2:10 p.m., killing the 19-year veteran firefighter who was based in the nearby city of Palmdale, L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said.

Marrone hadn't been to the site of the explosion and didn't know how the fire in the front end loader started or what exploded. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's office will conduct an investigation, he said.

Television images from the scene showed the front loader burning and sending thick black smoke into the air.

I asked that everyone please allow our firefighters the space that they need to process our profound loss, Marrone said.

A second firefighter who was near the blast was taken to Antelope Valley Medical Center but did not suffer any serious injuries and would be released later Friday, he said.

The name of the dead firefighter would be released once his wife and children were notified, Marrone said.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose district includes the Littlerock area, said her heart was heavy to learn of a firefighter losing his life on the line of duty.

Its a sobering reminder of the dangers our first responders face every day," she said in a statement. We owe them our steadfast support as they grapple with this loss.
First red flag warning of 2024 issued in Northern California

(FOX40.COM)  Californias first red flag warning of 2024 has been issued for much of the northern Sacramento Valley, according to the National Weather Service.

The warning extends from northern Solano County to Redding and from Yuba City to eastern Lake County.

Wildfire Information

Zonehaven, CAL FIRE and NIXLE: Websites you can use for wildfire information

AlertCalifornia live cams to provide more insight into natural disasters

These are the items to include in your emergency kit in case of a disaster

The warning is under effect from 11 p.m. on Saturday to 8 p.m. on Sunday with winds forecast to reach up to 20 mph and gusts up to 35 mph.

Under a red flag warning, conditions make it more likely for fires to ignite and spread much faster as lower daytime humidity dries out fuels while strong winds rapidly spread the fire.

Injured man rescued after jumping from cliffs into American River

This warning comes days after the NWS said that much of the Sacramento Valley will experience critical fire weather conditions from Saturday through Monday.

The NWS advises that vehicles should be kept off dry grass, and matches and cigarettes should be disposed of properly to avoid creating sparks.

Sparks can be created by dragging trailer chains, mower blades striking rocks, chainsaws, grinders, welders and more.

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HOUSTON COUNTY, Ala (WDHN)  Fire and emergency crews rushed to the scene of a farmhouse fire in Houston County Friday afternoon.

The fire began sometime after noon in the 7000 block of County Road 95 in Gordon.

The homeowners tell WDHN the farmhouse that caught fire was abandoned at the back of the property, and no one was inside.

After almost an hour of fighting the flames, crews were able to contain the fire, preventing damage to the surrounding woods. However, the home was a total loss.

Courtesy of RickeyStokesNews

Courtesy of RickeyStokesNews

Courtesy of RickeyStokesNews

The cause of the fire has not been released.

Lucy Fire, Gordon Fire, Ashford Fire, Lovetown Fire, and Cottonwood Fire responded to the scene.

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Flight delayed after child refuses to buckle seat belt  infuriated passengers tell him to get off

A flight in Colombia had to be delayed after a little hellion refused to sit down and fasten his seatbelt -- prompting fellow flyers to demand he be booted from the plane.

Hes so grounded.

A ten-year-old traveler was tossed from an airplane after throwing a tantrum when asked to buckle up for takeoff.

The infuriating episode unfolded aboard a short-haul Latam flight in Colombia, after the cheeky child failed to heed crew member instructions  or his parents pleadings.

A ten-year-old traveler was tossed from an airplane after throwing a tantrum when asked to buckle up for takeoff. Alamy Stock Photo

Now we are waiting for the passengers who do not comply with the regulation to please disembark, said a flight attendant in the clip. Alamy Stock Photo

The captain was eventually forced to vacate the runway and return to the gate.

One frustrated flyers video of the delay-making disturbance has now gone viral  making the horrid little hellion a social media star.

According to local reporting, the situation stretched out over a full hour before security arrived to help remove the pint-sized prat and his do-nothing dad.

Dear passengers, we previously informed you that, if the regulations were not complied with, we could not start the flight, explained a flight attendant on camera while describing the delay.

Now we are waiting for the passengers who do not comply with the regulation to please disembark.

Security personnel take the little hellion and his father off the plane. ElInformador_SM/X

Passengers shouted at the boy to get off. ElInformador_SM/X

The offenders cabin mates appeared to react harshly to being held hostage by a misbehaved kid  many were quick to reprimand the terrible tykes father for failing to keep the child in line.

At one point, people could even be heard yelling at the dad to get off the aircraft.

Before things could get even uglier, security personnel arrived and escorted the pair from the plane.

While most seemed to support the airlines decision, one woman could be heard defending the kid, yelling: He has rights, its a child.

Grownups are the most frequent offenders, but bad behavior in general has become a familiar part of flying nowadays.

In April, a Spirit Airlines passenger was forced to deplane after snapping her teeth and growling at fellow passengers in a meltdown for the ages.

Last month, a chaotic brawl erupted aboard an Eva Air flight from Taiwan to the United States, after one flyer flipped his lid over his seatmates coughing.

Fed-up flight attendants recently dished their passenger pet peeves  and the list was nearly endless, from unwanted touching to unwarranted use of the call button.
Florida Democrats secured a candidate in every House and Senate district race in the state by the end of the electoral qualifying deadline Friday, a rare feat for any party but even rarer for one whose efforts in the Sunshine State were deemed to be a lost cause, following an abysmal performance in the 2022 midterms.

The achievement is actually historic: Its the first time in the last 30 years that Democrats have fielded candidates in all 140 legislative seats up for election this year, reported the Tampa Bay Times.

Party leaders were quick to celebrate the unprecedented milestone.

Democrats made history in Florida today, party chair Nikki Fried said in a statement. Since control of Florida flipped in the mid-90s, no party has contested every seat in both chambers of the legislature.

Florida Democratic Party candidates and campaigns director Danielle Hawk underscored the significance of contesting every race, describing the unified, comprehensive effort as critical.

By contesting every race and competing everywhere, Republicans will have to spend more defending their position and unpopular policies, Hawk said. We are not going to just let Republicans walk into office without being held accountable.

Ten of those candidates ran unopposed in their districts, guaranteeing automatic wins in November. And while all of those districts were already blue, Democrats did flip a district in January, hinting at voter dissatisfaction with the reigning conservative party and foreshadowing Fridays win.

What actually clinched the win for Democrats was this massive margin with [nonpartisan voters] and perhaps some Republican moderates, as well, Democratic elections analyst Matt Isbell told the Orlando Sentinel at the time. If anything, this should be concerning for the GOP because it indicates a voter anger that maybe they have not understood.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Three Florida residents pleaded guilty on Friday to threatening pregnancy resource centers that advised about alternatives to abortion, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Caleb Freestone, Amber Smith-Stewart and Annarella Rivera visited anti-abortion pregnancy help centers throughout the state and painted threatening messages on the buildings, according to the DOJ.

Some of the messages included: If abortions arent safe then niether (sic) are you, and WERE COMING for U, according to the DOJ.

These defendants vandalized pregnancy resource centers with threatening messages meant to terrify the employees of those centers, Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general for the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division, said in a statement. Violence and threats have no place in the national discourse about reproductive rights. The Justice Department is committed to holding accountable those who seek to interfere with access to reproductive health services in our country, without regard to the point of view of the defendants or their victims.

A sentencing hearing date has not yet been set. All three face up to 10 years in prison.

Charges are still pending against a fourth person, according to the DOJ.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Flying with marijuana: Will TSA stop you for edibles, CBD products in your luggage?

(NEXSTAR)  Its already been a busy summer of travel  the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reports that as of early June, seven of the agencys 10 busiest travel days have happened in 2024  so theres a good chance youll find yourself filing through airport security sometime soon.

There are numerous things youll be allowed to bring with you through a TSA checkpoint. Sure, you may have to quickly chug the water you forgot to empty from your bottle and put your shampoo in one of those little travel containers, but you shouldnt have any other problems.

When it comes to traveling with marijuana, regardless of what form its in, its a bit more complicated.

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Over the last couple of years, more and more states have legalized recreational and medical use of marijuana. In 2023, Ohio became the 24th state to do so. Kentucky also legalized medical marijuana last year, but patients will have to wait until next year for the program to officially launch.

Federal authorities also appear poised to reschedule marijuana as a less dangerous drug in the U.S. While that doesnt mean it will be immediately legal nationwide, it could be a step in that direction.

Until then, however, bringing marijuana in your carry-on could delay you more than a sudden thunderstorm directly over the airport.

Can you bring edibles or CBD products through TSA?

It depends. TSA does have some guidelines on what cannabis products you can have in your checked bag or carry-on: those with no more than 0.3% THC on a dry weight basis, and those approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Currently, the FDA has only approved four such products: Epidiolex, a cannabidiol (or CBD); and three synthetic cannabis-related drug products: Marinol and Syndros, both considered dronabinol, and Cesamet, a nabilone, which can be used to treat nausea and vomiting caused by cancer medicines.

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So if your edibles or CBD products meet those requirements, youre allowed to fly with them.

These rules apply regardless of what airport  and what state  youre flying to or from.

What if I have other marijuana products?

You may, or may not, be stopped by a TSA agent. Ultimately, those agents are focused on detecting security threats and protecting the nations transportation system, a TSA spokesperson tells Nexstar.

If during the security screening process, an item is identified as a potential security threat, additional screening will occur, the spokesperson adds. If during that follow-up screening a TSA officer discovers anything that violates local, state or federal law, TSA refers the matter to the appropriate law enforcement agency. TSA remains focused on carrying out our transportation security priorities.

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A TSA spokesperson previously told Nexstar that officers dont search for marijuana or any other illegal drugs but are required to report it if they find it during the screening process. Local law enforcement will then decide what steps, if any, are taken.

The TSA has gone out of its way to say that its focus is not on marijuana, Larry Mishkin, an Illinois lawyer at the Hoban Law Group, which offers legal services for individuals in the marijuana industry, previously told The Washington Post.

What if marijuana is legal in the state Im traveling to or from?

Youll be able to bring through marijuana products that adhere to the TSA rules outlined above, but you may still be forced to ditch your items before moving through the security checkpoint.

Some airports, like OHare in Chicago, have amnesty boxes that allow travelers to abandon their weed before security. Los Angeles International warns passengers that while its airport police division has no jurisdiction to arrest individuals if they are complying with Californias marijuana law, TSA screening stations are under federal jurisdiction.

Additionally, because of TSAs rules regarding marijuana, your airline likely wont permit such products on their planes. Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, for example, explicitly say passengers are not allowed to transport marijuana on their flights, with the latter noting that anyone traveling with or transporting marijuana on American flights does at their own risk.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
An employee at Food 4 Less in Palmdale returns shopping carts. Workers at Food 4 Less locations across California this week voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, alleging labor violations. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Nearly 6,000 workers at Food 4 Less locations across California this week voted to authorize a strike if Kroger, the grocery chain's owner, continues with what they say are labor violations during ongoing contract talks.

The vote comes after several locals of the union, United Food and Commercial Workers, filed multiple claims of unfair labor practices with the National Labor Relations Board in late May. The union has accused Food 4 Less managers of undermining negotiations, surveilling and discriminating against union members, and trying to prevent employees from participating in union activity.

After a five-day voting period ended Friday, union officials announced workers had "overwhelmingly" voted to approve a potential strike. They declined to disclose how many workers had voted in favor and against the authorization.

Food 4 Less executives have decided to resort to unlawful tactics instead of following federal labor law and treating the bargaining process with the respect and seriousness that it deserves," the union said in a statement after the vote. "Food 4 Less is trying to intimidate, bully, and strong-arm us into accepting a contract that is less than what we deserve and far less than what their parent company, Kroger, offers to other union grocery workers in the area."

A spokesperson for Food 4 Less criticized the union's decision to seek the strike authorization, saying, It remains our goal to put more money in our associates pockets."

Weve remained committed to negotiating in good faith. From the start, our focus has been on reaching an agreement that benefits our hardworking and dedicated associates, said Salvador Ramirez, corporate affairs manager at Food 4 Less/Foods Co. We are deeply disappointed that UFCW Southern California chose to leave the bargaining table before contract expiration, rather than working together to prioritize the needs of their members.

The mandate gives the unions bargaining committee more leverage at the negotiating table as Food 4 Less officials know the union could call for employees to walk off the job at any time.

Negotiations over a new contract began nearly three months ago and soon became tense, said Kathy Finn, president of UFCW Local 770, which represents grocery workers in Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties and is among the seven union locals involved in the negotiations.

The union locals last negotiated a contract with Food 4 Less in 2021; that contract expired June 8.

The union has no plans to strike imminently and is preparing for negotiations to resume Monday, Finn said.

Food 4 Less workers are pushing for pay parity with their counterparts at Ralphs. Kroger owns about 300 Ralphs and Food 4 Less stores in the state.

Clerks at Food 4 Less who check groceries and stock shelves make about $4 less in hourly wages than those with the same jobs at Ralphs. Thats in part because the company classifies its Ralphs locations as supermarkets while treating Food 4 Less stores as warehouse stores.

But workers and union leaders, who say there is little meaningful difference between the two chains, also allege a racial element to the pay inequalities. Food 4 Less stores tend to be in lower-income Black and brown communities, while Ralphs generally are in whiter and wealthier areas, the union says. When asked about the allegation, Food 4 Less representatives declined to comment.

The company's latest proposal offers an hourly rate increase of about a $1 each year over the course of the contract, amounting to a total boost of $3.25. The union is pushing for about double that increase.

In a statement about the company's proposal, which was sent to workers Monday, Bryan Kaltenbach, president of Food 4 Less, said, "Hardworking and dedicated associates are the heartbeat of our company, and our goal is to continue to provide market-competitive wages and benefits that we know are so important to our associates and their families."

On Friday afternoon outside a Food 4 Less in Westlake, workers gathered around a table set up to cast their votes.

Jeanne Coleman, a cashier at the Westlake store, voted to approve a strike. She said that besides pay parity with Ralphs, she's concerned about understaffing. At night, there might be just two cashiers on duty to field the rush of customers who come in to shop after work. Customers waiting in line will begin making calls asking the store to open up another station, she said.

"It's ridiculous, the issues we have to deal with, but they don't want to pay us," Coleman said.

When the union announced it would hold a strike authorization vote, the company began posting notices to hire temporary workers at rates higher than many workers are currently paid, said Tyrone Severe, a cashier at the Westlake store.

"They are trying to hire nonunion workers and pay them more, instead of just negotiating with us," Severe said. "We think that sucks."

Members of the union's bargaining committee accused the company of bargaining in bad faith. For example, during bargaining sessions scheduled for three consecutive days last week, the company's negotiators showed up late and would leave the negotiation table for hours at a time, workers said.

Visits by Kaltenbach to various stores in recent weeks struck workers as an intimidation tactic.

Christopher Watkins, 24, a meat cutter at a Food 4 Less store in Inglewood, said he's previously seen the president visit his store about twice a year, but in recent weeks hes seen him about four times.

Food 4 Less did not comment in response to specific questions about worker claims of intimidation and treatment at the bargaining table.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A new form of male birth control isnt a pill or a shot: How does it work?

(NEXSTAR)  The availability of a reversible form of male birth control is coming closer to fruition after researchers presented further evidence that this particular method  which suppresses the production of sperm  is safe, relatively easy and, importantly, effective.

The researchers, presenting last week at the Endocrine Societys annual conference, shared promising results from the latest clinical trials of the NES/T method, which combines testosterone with a progestin that signals the brain to stop stimulating sperm production.

But unlike some forms or existing birth control for women, this form doesnt come in a pill, and it isnt administered as a shot.

Its a gel thats rubbed on the shoulders.

Its mind-blowing, how well this works, Dr. Mitchell Creinin, of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UC Davis Health, told Nexstar. I never thought in my career that Id ever see a male contraceptive get this far and do this well.

Creinin, also the director of the departments Complex Family Planning Fellowship, has been involved with the latest trial phase of the gels testing (Phase 2B) at the UC Davis Health labs. Hes also worked as part of an investigative network organized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) since its inception in the 1990s, albeit on trials of female contraceptives.

The NIHs National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), too, is also behind the development of this NES/T method, with Creinin working as part of a clinical trial team overseen by Dr. Diana Blithe, the chief of the NIHs Contraceptive Development Program.

The eventual widespread availability of this new male birth control, Creinin said, could be akin to the introduction of the birth control pill in 1960.

Men are going to want to be part of this process more, in preventing pregnancy, Creinin believes.

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The transdermal gel was developed using Nestorone, a brand name for the progestin developed at the labs of the Population Council, a non-government research organization dedicated to reproductive and related health issues. The Nestorone blocks the pituitary hormones that regulate sperm production  but it also decreases the intratesticular levels of testosterone in patients, Dr. Regine Sitruk-Ware, a reproductive endocrinologist with the Population Council, told Nexstar. Thats why the gel combines Nestorone with testosterone, the latter being included to bring testosterone levels back into a normal range.

Specifically, the doses of NES/T gel involved in the latest trials (5 milliliters) contain 8 milligrams of Nestorone and 74 milligrams of testosterone, according to Sitruk-Ware. With this combination, the vast majority of the studys subjects saw decreased sperm production  to zero in most cases, Creinin said  within four to 12 weeks of starting the gel, researchers at UC Davis Health observed. (Times varied depending on how quickly the male subject depleted the reserves of sperm already produced and stored in the body, Creinin explained.)

The gel also offers a few other benefits that current male contraceptives dont.

The condom has a very high rate of failure when its not properly used, and it interferes with the act. Its not an ideal method, Sitruk-Ware said. [And] a vasectomy is irreversible.

Rubbing a gel on the shoulders instead, Creinin added, is only about as inconvenient as brushing your teeth once a day.

We didnt have anybody drop out because they said it was too tough, or a problem, Creinin said of the study participants, who were instructed to rub the NES/T dose on dry skin, on the front of the shoulders, and allow it to dry for two minutes. For the gel to work, they also couldnt wash it off for four hours, and were instructed to wipe it off if they planned to come into contact with another persons skin (e.g., during sex).

Once youre on this, you dont have to be as strict as women do, Creinin said, explaining that a user could shift to the night if they planned to hit the beach one morning, or otherwise couldnt keep their skin dry for four hours after application.

Theres enough hormone in there that it lasts for a good [while]. You dont withdraw right away.

It doesnt necessarily need to be rubbed on the shoulders, either. Thats just what the studys participants were instructed to do, for consistency among the trial subjects.

It can be anywhere, Creinin said. We had some men, they had a little dry skin, we had them move it to their belly.

But that raises the question: Why a gel? Could it not be a pill?

Nestorone is a great progestin with very minimal side effects. It doesnt work orally, explained Creinin.

Researchers in 2016 had also experimented (and saw some success) with an injectable contraceptive for men, though the gel method appears to have fewer serious side effects  such as mood swings, more frequent urination, changes in skin or hair, according to UC Davis Health  that occur in a small percentage or users.

Theyre relatively minor, and on par or less than women have with an oral contraceptive, Creinin said.

Also like reversible methods of birth control for women, discontinuing use of the gel returns the users to a more fertile state. Sperm counts usually get back to normal ranges in about three to six months.

My guess is, when its in common use, itll probably be as effective as a birth control pill, Creinin said.

Sitruk-Ware said the Population Council is already seeing evidence of increased interest in a male birth control method, especially in the post-Dobbs era.

We need to give males more methods. They have to be able to decide on their own paternity, their own family size. And now, we have seen this evolution of men willing to share this responsibility, she said.

Creinin too is impressed by the number of male participants who wanted to take part in the study.

I really have so much more faith in men now. I think men do really want to be part of this process.

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Unfortunately, theres still quite a way to go before a product like the NES/T gel is introduced to the market. A full Phase 3 study needs to be completed, and it wont be cheap.

In our collaboration with the NICHD, we are looking for partners as we do not have enough funds to continue, to conduct the Phase 3, Sitruk-Ware said. We would need to enroll almost three times as many couples as we had during the ongoing (Phase 2B) study.

If all goes well, Phase 3 could begin in 2025 or 2026, and would likely last three or four years, Creinin said. After that, it could take another few years to finalize the results to submit to the FDA, and for the FDA to analyze and approve the findings.

When and if they do, Creinin said, itll be a game-changer for contraceptive health.

Whatever method gets to the market first  its going to help move things along, and change the way our kids grow up and think about contraception, he said.

There will be a shift. And its one that we need.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Former Google engineer partners with scientists to create groundbreaking tool to 'spy' on beavers: 'It's really exciting'

A few years back, former Google employee Eddie Corwin started a passion project centered around the most unlikely of subjects: beavers.

As Wired reported, Corwin was looking for a way to help the company become a better steward of water. After researching the sizable impact of beaver wetlands  they can hold millions of gallons of water  he and a sustainability consultant who worked with Google, Dan Ackerstein, started sculpting an ambitious plan to use satellite imagery to detect beaver dams and ponds.

The pair eventually teamed up with programmers to develop an algorithm. Then, in May 2023, a team of beaver researchers published a scientific paper showing that the model was correct 98.5% of the time.

The applications are numerous and could help scientists estimate beaver populations and calculate these rodents' ecosystem services  among other things, beaver ponds can provide other species with refuge during wildfires and can even stop fires in their tracks.

Beavers' firefighting abilities are incredibly significant in a world that faces increasing risks from wildfires because of warming temperatures. For instance, one study predicted that wildfire smoke in the U.S. will worsen significantly by 2054. Another group of scientists announced that even people living in areas where wildfire risk is currently low could be in danger as our planet continues to overheat.

Wildfires add dangerous pollution to the air. One research team predicted that more than 125 million Americans will be exposed to at least one day of unhealthy air quality per year by 2050, due mostly to increased wildfire smoke.

Wildfires cause $394 billion to $893 billion in damage each year, according to the Joint Economic Committee. This includes property loss, health impacts from smoke, income loss, and watershed pollution.

Not to mention that wildfires also speed up the warming of our planet, which endangers communities in a number of ways, from increased frequency of heat waves to droughts that threaten food and water supplies.

According to the Wired article, one of the model's most promising applications could be in California, which has faced more than its share of painful drought, wildfires, and flooding in recent years. In fact, one major insurer just stopped offering new coverage to Californians going forward.

That's why the new beaver-infrastructure search model will be getting its first test run in the Golden State  The Nature Conservancy and Google will be running the model this year to look for every beaver dam and pond in California.

"All of our efforts in the state should be taking advantage of this powerful mapping tool," Kristen Wilson, the lead forest scientist at the Nature Conservancy, told Wired. "It's really exciting."

After the California run, the model's developers aim to train it for other geographical areas with different types of landscapes.

"That's the challenge for the future  how do we make this more universally accessible and usable?" Corwin told Wired.

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Former Holly Hill Police Chief Jeffrey Miller.

Former Holly Hill Police Chief Jeff Miller exposed himself and repeatedly asked a rookie female officer to perform a sex act on him, according to an internal affairs investigation released Friday. Miller also bragged about having sex with women, including suspects, victims and witnesses of crimes, according to the report.

Miller resigned on March 15 during the investigation, which has revealed shocking allegations of sexual harassment at the Holly Hill Police Department. The investigation also led to the resignation of Holly Hill Police Capt. Chris Yates on May 23. Sgt. Shannon Fountain resigned this week.

The incident with Miller is one of several explosive allegations in the report.

The former rookie officer said the incident happened in either April or May of 2008. She said there was an "inner circle" of people at the police department that included Miller and Yates. She was a rookie at the time and she was excited that the inner circle had asked her to join them for a social gathering.

She said she didnt want to have to worry about drinking and driving, so she had a friend drive and accompany her. She said they went to Razzles Nightclub in Daytona Beach and met with the group.

She said at the end of the night as she walked with her friend to the car, Miller came up behind her and offered her a ride. Her friend said no and the two women left.

Miller did not accept no, the report said.

He drove after them and kept texting the female police officer that he just wanted to talk and be friends. The womans friend told her to ignore him. The two women ended up pulling over at Ross Point Park and she got in the car with Miller. Her friend left.

Once inside Millers car, the woman said they were just talking. Miller then exposed himself and urged her to perform a sex act, she told investigators.

And I did not say no and he did not physically force me and it is very humiliating," she said.

She said that at the time, Miller was not yet police chief, he was an investigator. However, due to his status within the "inner circle," she feared losing her job if she did not comply.

After Miller started saying some really (expletive) up things" to the woman, she became scared and stopped and Miller then began groping her, she told investigators. She told Miller she was sick and to take her to her mom and dads house but he refused.

She told Miller she needed something to eat and he finally agreed to take her to a restaurant.

Miller told her that he and his zone partner at the time had a game about how many women in the city they could sleep with. She said she recalled Miller bragging about how many women he had slept with in Holly Hill.

She said the women "were victims of crimes, suspects of crimes and witnesses."

During an interview with FDLE, Miller admitted to some sexual misconduct but denied the "egregious allegations" made by two people. Miller admitted to groping several women in the form of tickling but said the women reciprocated. He admitted to asking to see his subordinate's breast but said it was done in a joking manner.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Ex-Holly Hill Police officer coerced into sex act by former chief | report
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  State Senator Roger Thompson (R-Okemah) submitted a letter on Friday announcing his resignation, which will take effect on November 1.

Thompson was first elected into the Oklahoma State Senate back in November 2014. He served as co-chair of the Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding which assessed recommendations for utilization of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. He currently serves as a member of the Finance and Rules Committee and was appointed to serve on the Executive Committee of The Council of State Governments Southern Office in 2023.

OKLAHOMA POLITICS: Pro Tem Treat reflects on the 59th Oklahoma Legislature regular session

Thompson served as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee but was replaced by Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat (R-Oklahoma City) back in April stating in a news release, He has been an invaluable appropriations chairman and I have the highest regard for Sen. Thompson. However, as we continue our transition into our new transparency efforts, it is vital to move forward accordingly.

Senator Chuck Hall (R-Perry) became the new Appropriations Chairman following Thompsons removal.

I am grateful and honored to have had the opportunity to serve the people of Senate District 8 for the last 10 years, said Thompson in the resignation letter addressed to Pro Tem Treat.

Senator-Thompson-ResignationDownload

Pro Tem Treat released a statement following Sen. Thompsons resignation submission:

Senator Roger Thompson has been a wonderful friend and great partner in the Senate over the last 10 years. His faithful stewardship of the budget the past several years has led to record savings and record investments in education, behavioral health and infrastructure. Sen. Thompson has also helped navigate the Legislature through many difficult times, especially through the ARPA process. His work on developing the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency as co-chair has been instrumental in the successful outcomes we have seen come out of this office. Senator Thompson has a servants heart through and through. Even before coming to the Senate, he served in numerous roles in his community, including as a pastor for his local ministry and as a missionary in overseas outreach. Senator Thompson has served his state well and while I look forward to continuing our friendship moving forward, the Senate is losing a valued member of our family. I wish him and his wife, Pamela, well on whatever is in store next for them. Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Trump was reportedly infuriated when it leaked that hed sheltered in the White House bunker during the protests over the death of George Floyd in 2020.

Trump was reportedly infuriated when it leaked that hed sheltered in the White House bunker during the protests over the death of George Floyd in 2020. Photograph: Gerald Herbert/AP

Former White House communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin has disclosed that Donald Trump repeatedly mused out loud about executing people at several meetings while she worked for him during his presidency.

Griffins claim, which she made in a podcast recording with Mediaite released on Friday, is likely to add to concerns that a return for Trump to the Oval Office could be characterized primarily by political retribution.

The former communications director for the Trump administration told the outlet she had been at a meeting at which he straight up said a staffer who leaked  should be executed, referring to an anonymously sourced report that the former president had gone into a secure bunker at the White House at the height of the racial justice protests prompted by a Minneapolis police officers murder of George Floyd.

There were others where we talked about executing people, Griffin said.

In response to Griffins comments, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung told Newsweek: As President Trump has said, the best revenge is the success and prosperity of all Americans.

Related: Biden wishes Trump a happy 78th birthday as campaign goes into offense over age

Under the constitution, a president has no direct power to enforce capital punishment. But the president does have the power to appoint attorneys general who oversee key decisions concerning federal capital punishment.

Rumors around Trumps interest in summary executions have been making the rounds for years. As he geared up to run for a second presidency in November, Trump reportedly asked three people: What do you think of firing squads? And he has repeatedly backed expanding the use of the federal death penalty.

According to Rolling Stone, Trump has also mused about bringing back hanging and the guillotine  all while televising their use  because it would help put the fear of God into violent criminals.

A Trump spokesperson said at the time to Rolling Stone that either these people are fabricating lies out of thin air or the outlet is allowing themselves to be duped by these morons.

But the Trump 2024 campaign has also said that if the former president returned to office, he was going to be asking everyone who sells drugs, gets caught selling drugs, to receive the death penalty for their pain.

During the final three months of Trumps first term, the US executed 13 federal prisoners by lethal injection  a significant acceleration in the use of the death penalty by the federal government.

Prior to that, only three people had been executed since 1963. But under the Trump administration, the federal government allowed any method of execution that was legal in the state where the death penalty was being carried out.

Terre Haute federal prison in Indiana, where Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh was executed in 2001, has used hanging, electrocution and lethal injection.

Trump attorney general Bill Barr has said that if Trump had won a second term in 2020, there had been an expectation that use of the federal death penalty would continue at an accelerated pace.

Griffins claim that Trump called for the execution of a White House staffer is loosely corroborated by Barr during an interview he gave to CNN in April in which he recalled that Trump had been very mad about the White House bunker leaker.

Barr said he couldnt remember whether Trump specifically called for someone to be executed and doubted it would ever have actually been carried out. But he also said he wouldnt dispute that Trump had called for someone to be executed over the bunker leak.

Griffin left the White House in December 2020, weeks after Trump lost the election to Joe Biden but refused to accept the legitimacy of the result. She is now a commentator for CNN and co-host of the NBC talkshow The View.
What is the Forward Party and why is a Daytona Beach native taking a leading role?

Kerry Healey, former lieutenant governor of Massachusetts, meets with attendees of a Florida Forward Party candidate showcase in Maitland on Thursday, June 13, 2024. Healey, who grew up in Ormond Beach and graduated from Seabreeze High School in Daytona Beach, is executive chair of the Forward Party's national board.

MAITLAND  With the Republican and Democratic parties fielding unpopular presidential candidates, a trend toward unaffiliated voters has only gained momentum, and a small band  emphasis on small  of Floridians have chosen to start their own political party.

The Florida Forward Party, which formed in 2023, has endorsed its first candidates this year and showcased them at a forum in Maitland Thursday. Those attending also heard from a Daytona Beach native and former Massachusetts lieutenant governor who's the executive chair of the national Forward Party.

Kerry Murphy Healey quit the Republican Party on Jan. 7, 2021, but she said she had earlier found that her views as a Massachusetts Republican were different than those of national Republicans.

"I have felt that my views were partially on one side, and partially on another," Healey said, "and that maybe we're also wanting to get things done. Wanting to do things in a different way, a more pragmatic way, and when I looked at Forward, that's what they were going to do."

Nate Smolensky, state director for the Florida Forward Party, speaks at a gathering in Maitland on June 13, 2024.

Rejecting 'partisan pageantry'

Nate Smolensky, the Forward Party's state director, said Florida has nearly 4 million voters registered as independent or no-party affiliation, despite the fact that the state's closed-primary system incentivizes voters to become members of the Republican or Democratic party.

"You have to really believe in it and really not like the parties to not register with either one," Smolensky said.

"There is a need (for the Forward Party) because of our politics' continued deterioration into partisan pageantry," Smolensky said. "Whichever side you think is worse, whichever is more dangerous, the division itself holds an existential threat to our democracy."

Independents don't like being put into a box, so there is a need to be considered a new kind of party.

"We want to find the dignity to handle discussions, handle conversations with opponents. We want to see the intellectual humility to treat complex problems as complex problems. We want to see transparency in political intentions and political motivators."

How a Daytona Beach native moved Forward

Healey, who graduated from Seabreeze High School and worked as a teen at The News-Journal, went on to Harvard and became chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party before becoming Mitt Romney's lieutenant governor between 2003 and 2007. She later became president of Babson College.

She described another occurrence that steered her toward a third party.

"I bumped into Josh Gottheimer (a Democratic congressman from New Jersey), and all of our positions aligned, and so one of us was probably in the wrong party," she said. "Or maybe both of us are in the wrong party and there simply wasn't a party that was properly representing people who were not in the mainstream of either the Democratic party or the mainstream of the current Republican Party."

The Forward Party started with former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang. Two years ago, the party merged with the Renew America and Serve America movements, with Yang and former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman becoming co-chairs.

Healey lived in Daytona Beach from the time she was 2 years old until she graduated high school.

She became interested in politics in high school and interned at the Florida State House with former Florida state Rep. Hyatt Brown, whose insurance company, Brown & Brown, has grown to be one of the industry's leaders.

"I had a little glimpse into the political world and at that time it looked very Democratic and it looked very male. I wasn't sure there was a place for me there because I was feeling that I would probably become a Republican and I didn't see a role model for myself," she said.

Years later, when she was living in Beverly, Massachusetts, she ran for office as a Republican despite the fact that the state's GOP captured only 13% of registered voters at the time. "I felt that I needed to be true to myself and my beliefs and to run as a Republican and I was very fortunate that after a while I became chairman of the party there and I was able to recruit Mitt Romney to come back and run in 2002-2003."

I couldn't have asked for a better mentor and a more decent person to work with in Mitt Romney. Even after our time together in office, I've learned to appreciate his character more and more over time."

A Massachusetts Republican isn't the same as a national Republican, she said.

Surveys have shown a larger percentage of Americans consider themselves to be politically independent than Democrats or Republicans.

Healey aims to learn how the Forward Party can reach out to voters who have been disenfranchised by either major party and what matters to them.

She also said the party is not fielding a presidential candidate but is rather focusing on building the organization from the grassroots of local and state elected officials.

Kim Kline, a no-party affiliation candidate for Florida House District 2 in Pensacola, talks with an attendee of a Florida Forward Party event in Maitland on June 13, 2024. Kline has been endorsed by the Forward Party.

Property insurance crisis animates Forward-endorsed candidate

The Florida Forward Party's first elected official in Florida is Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe, a former Democrat and Libertarian. On Thursday, Marlowe sat on a panel with two Forward Party-endorsed candidates for Florida House, Kim Kline of Pensacola and Banks Helfrich, a Clermont independent.

Kline is running for Florida House District 2 in Pensacola as a no-party affiliate candidate. She owns two apartment buildings for seniors and is a former high school government teacher.

Kline said the reason she's running is to find solutions to problems, specifically the skyrocketing cost of homeowners' insurance.

"I want to be able to focus on the best solutions out there and not the solutions that are tied to a political party platform that is created in Washington, D.C., and has absolutely nothing to do with the panhandle of Florida," she said. "One of the big frustrations I saw when I first started going down this rabbit hole was that state politicians are not talking about state issues."

Ormond Beach resident's reaction to hearing from Forward

The Forward Party registered 456 people  out of more than 22 million Florida residents  as of February. Orange County had the most of all counties, 45, with Volusia County having 15.

One future member could be Carrie Anne Templeton, an Ormond Beach resident who said Thursday she intends to change her party affiliation to the Forward Party.

"I grew up Republican. My family is Republican. I love Florida, but I am also a woman and I went to college so I have more progressive ideas on certain topics, and I just don't fit into either of the parties' mold," Templeton said.

As someone who is considering running for office, Templeton said she feels more comfortable with Forward, as it doesn't have a platform.

"I can be a person with ideas and they would welcome me and support me in that way," she said.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: What is the Forward Party? Florida members showcase independents
As some 500,000 Left-wingers marched in Frances cities yesterday, shouting anti-Fascist slogans, never had Lenins phrase seemed more apposite: There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.

Upended by Emmanuel Macrons decision last week to call a snap election after the hard-Right National Rally won over a third of the vote in the European elections, French politics is now in a state of chaos. Macron deliberately chose the shortest constitutionally-compatible timeline, with a first round to be held on June 30, and the runoff on July 7.

Defiance, hostility and suspicion reign between adversaries, but also among so-called allies, forced by circumstances into unnatural coalitions. Parties that have just finished competing for voters in a proportional representation system now face a first-past-the-post contest, and have spent last week frantically cobbling together alliances.

The Left-Green alliance, calling itself the New Popular Front, coalesced under the leadership of Jean-Luc Melenchons La France Insoumise (France Unbowed). Its European election campaign focused on Gaza in a naked bid for votes from the young and the banlieues. They flew more Palestinian flags than French ones (and quite a few from former French colonies like Algeria and Tunisia, with explicit anti-French slogans), and more than one march ended in violence.

Now, in an election where local factors matter in each constituency, the Palestinian slogans and keffiyehs have miraculously vanished: the NPF is battling fascism at our door. The official party platform published on Friday is even more extreme than ever, calling for the suspension of EU treaties with Israel and taxes on everything.

There will be kilometric taxes on imported goods proportional to distance travelled, a reinstatement of the wealth tax, an inheritance cap, a lower pension age, higher minimum wage and more benefits paid to all, but most of all to the migrants who must be properly welcomed. It is an ideal document for the National Rally to campaign against.

Into this mess stepped former socialist president Francois Hollande, who was pushed out by his economy minister, one Emmanuel Macron, in 2017. He announced yesterday that he was standing in his old Central France constituency of Correze (neighbouring Jacques Chiracs), offered himself as a rampart against extremism, and waxed emollient about the NPF economic platform. This was an opportunity to remember that Hollande was long best-known in French politics for affecting to bring together radically-opposed factions in order to win elections.

On the other side, the National Rally has embarked on its campaign with high hopes, but few polls give it a majority in the National Assembly. It needs electoral alliances with the moderate Right. The current president of Les Republicains, Nicolas Sarkozys and Jacques Chiracs old party, is the southerner Eric Ciotti, who decided Les Reps would sign non-competing accords with the Rally, with the best-placed candidate at the end of the first round stepping down to favour the other. This led to calls for his removal from leadership, and a decision to do so that was then overturned by a judge. There will therefore be two competing Les Reps candidates in some constituencies.

Mid-yesterday afternoon, at the time of writing, large cheerful crowds converged on Place de la Nation, flying Palestinian flags and convinced that they were at the threshold of power. Calls to avoid violence have so far been heeded  but with tensions building, only a single spark is required for France to ignite.

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FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  People who are caught breeding or selling animals without the proper license in Fresno could possibly be fined up to $1,000 per animal in an effort to help combat the overpopulation animal crisis in the city, according to Fresno City council members in a meeting Thursday morning.

The possible resolution comes after two separate protests supported by community members and local animal activists were held in the City of Fresno in the past months.

The protests, spearheaded by local animal activist Mona Ahmed, called for Fresno County and the City of Fresno to fine backyard dog breeders to help reduce the strain on local animal shelters.

On Thursday, city council members spoke of a possible resolution that was supported by both City Council President Annalisa Perea and City Council Member Garry Bredefeld.

Its no surprise that we have an overpopulation of animals in our city, our streets, in our shelters. Weve talked about it for a while now, said Fresno City Council President Annalisa Perea. It is a crisis. It really is.

Perea said the citys shelter, Fresno Animal Center, currently houses 140 cats and 230 dogs in a shelter that was built to only hold around 102.

I do think theres more that we can be doing as a city to help with this overpopulation of animals in our streets and this item will hopefully help us get a little bit closer to doing that.

Part of the proposed resolution would place a temporary moratorium on the issuance of new unaltered dog licenses until the three-month moving average of the daily inventory count of all dogs at the Animal Center is equal to or less than 75 percent of the Animal Centers total dog kennel capacity.

Perea says she would like the council to fine up to $1,000 for those caught breeding or selling animals without the proper licenses, with activists in the meeting mentioning they see these animals being sold often inside the Cherry Auction and along the streets on Cherry and Central Avenues.

I would rather do it right the first time and set the framework for fines at the maximum penalty possible to go after these breeders, said Perea. These breeders are breeding a lot faster than we can save these poor animals. Its about time we do more and step up and stop this crisis on our streets.

The city council president mentioned that the city is spending record amounts of money on spay and neutering, but would like to stop the problem where it is starting  through illegal backyard breeders.

I commend folks like Mona weve heard your name several times today, but youre a staple in the community. Ive stepped up to the plate and have fostered dogs myself and its tough work. So I cant imagine the folks that are fostering and they now feel like they have their own animal center in their own backyard.

City council member Bredefeld also mentioned how he would like to raise the price for unaltered/altered dog licenses.

If breeding licenses should be $5,000 because theyre making lots of money on this, then we should be charging whatever it is, said Bredefeld.

Mona Ahmed, the local animal activist who has worked to bring awareness to the situation, says she is finally finding some hope to hold onto.

Yesterday listening to all the city councilmembers, I really saw hope. We all had tears in our eyes. I was crying all the way home, said Ahmed. I am so happy that they see the problem and that theyre going to do their best to solve this issue because no animal deserves to die.

The Fresno City Council says they will meet to speak about this topic and strengthen the resolution, as well as vote on it at next weeks city council meeting.

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FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  A retired K-9 from the Fresno County Sheriffs Office passed away at 10 and a half years old, the Fresno County Sheriffs Office said on Friday.

Arco was a Belgian Malinois who was born on Oct. 14, 2013, in the Netherlands. Sheriffs officials say he arrived in the United States when he was 3 years old and was selected by his handler, Deputy Andrew Bright, to become part of the Fresno Sheriffs K-9 Unit.

Arco worked an assignment in patrol in 2016 and retired in 2022.

During his time at the unit, deputies say Arco attended many school events throughout Fresno County and was loved by all the students and staff that he met. He was a very friendly dog who loved to work and be around his friends.

Arco assisted Fresno County Sheriffs deputies, specialty teams, and other agencies.

According to the sheriffs office, Arco did a phenomenal job at protecting his handler and his law enforcement family for years as he helped to locate many violent criminals, only needing some pets and praise in return. One of those occasions was in August 2020, when he took down a man who stole from Fresno County field workers and pulled a knife on them.

Arcos favorite place to go at work was Shave Lake during the winter. Deputies say he loved the snow. When he retired, he loved to play around in the backyard and was the protector of his family. He peacefully passed away earlier this week.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
Rep. Scott Odenbach, R-Spearfish, on the House floor during the 2024 legislative session. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

Rep. Scott Odenbach has to wonder why he went to so much trouble. The Spearfish Republican was the driving force behind two legislative attempts to create a center for civic engagement at Black Hills State University. Little did he know, all he had to do was put in a good word with the Joint Appropriations Committee and the center that had been rejected multiple times by his colleagues in the Legislature would get the funding it needed.

Odenbachs quest began in 2023 with a bill that sought to fund a Center for Exceptionalism at BHSU. Exceptionalism is a conservative buzzword that translates into something like: Your country is fine, but ours is GREAT!

That version of the center was charged with creating curriculum for K-12 schools that would teach students to balance critical thinking with love of country. Indeed, some of the backers of the bill waxed on about love of country to the extent that it seemed students who came up short in that department were destined for failure.

Because of its $150,000 price tag, the bill needed a two-thirds majority in the House or 47 favorable votes. It failed twice on 46-23 votes.

This year, Odenbach edited exceptionalism out of the title of the center, instead hoping to capitalize on the reputation of a recently deceased and beloved professor to create the Nicholas W. Drummond Center for Civic Engagement. Odenbach called the new bill a generalist approach.

While the bill held fewer specifics about what the center would do, it inspired the same patriotic fervor in lawmakers who spoke in favor of the legislation, with one saying students need to know why America is an affirmative good and another claiming students need to learn about the greatness of our democracy.

Obviously even in its generalist version, exceptionalism was alive and well with the bills backers. The bill did appeal to Odenbachs House colleagues, flying through that chamber with a 63-5 vote. It did not, however, get as warm a greeting in the Senate where it again failed by one vote, 16-17.

Now heres where the story gets weird. Faced with legislative setbacks in not one but two legislative sessions, the civic engagement center got new life from the Joint Appropriations Committee. As noted in a South Dakota Searchlight story, committee members slipped BHSU an extra $926,406 in funding. The executive director of the Board of Regents told the appropriators that was surely enough to cover the estimated $200,000 in start-up money the center would need.

Lawmakers who had balked at funding the center approved the new dollar amount for BHSU, including the funding for the civic engagement center, when they approved the state budget bill.

In a Dakota Scout story, BHSU President Steve Elliott said the center would be tasked with developing curriculum, creating civics-focused events on campus and providing experiential learning opportunities as well as civic programming.

According to South Dakota Searchlight, BHSU will present the centers progress to the Legislature during the 2025 session. If its already up and running, perhaps the centers representative can explain the civics lesson inherent in the centers creation. Maybe that person can justify how the center was created and funded by a Legislature that proved multiple times that it didnt think such a center was a good idea.

Maybe that civics lesson can explain to lawmakers what two years worth of committee hearings and floor debates were worth. Maybe that civics lesson could teach lawmakers the actual significance of the votes they took after their wishes were so casually flouted by appropriators who were willing to spend money on a project that lawmakers rejected three times.

Maybe the civics lesson here is that the real power in Pierre is located with the people who control the state checkbook. It would seem that the rest of the Legislature is just going through the motions.

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The post The funding of a civic engagement center is its own civics lesson appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
What in the world could possibly bring the two of us together? One of us is a slightly reformed Reaganite, the other a slightly chastened social democrat, each of us mugged by authoritarianism. In the 1980s and 1990s, one of us worked for Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush; the other worked in the presidential campaigns of the Reverend Jesse Jackson Jr. and co-founded a progressive third party.



And yet, here we are, collaborating on a project that we believe can help restore the political health of the country we both love. What unites us is the understanding that our government is failing because politics is failing. At the heart of that political failure is a two-party system that pushes the citizenry into two hyperpolarized camps and discourages the coalitions and compromises essential to public problem-solving.



This is a systemic problem. It will not suddenly vanish even if, as is our shared hope, President Biden is reelected.



Its a crisis familiar to most Americans. Substantial majorities tell pollsters that they want a way out of the two-party doom loop. But the solution is not a third party or independent presidential candidate: That always fails. At best they get a flurry of attention before fading into obscurity. A few are remembered, but only because they are seen, rightly or wrongly, as having played the role of a spoiler.



Still, the predictable failure of third-party candidates should not distract us from the need to solve the structural problems of the two-party system. The incentives baked into our system are in no small part responsible for bringing us to the precipice of authoritarianism.



Whats needed is a practical and achievable reform that pushes back against the hyperpartisan polarization that makes politics both juvenile and destructive. Partisanship itself is not badindeed its essential to a functioning democracy. But it has to be accompanied by rules and structures that incentivize positive-sum coalitions between parties. Were stuck in a zero-sum world in which such coalitions are punished, not rewarded.



There is a way out, or at least a beginning of a way out. And the good news is that this path isnt that complicated. We dont need to invent something brand new. We need to revive fusion voting, which was commonplace in America throughout the nineteenth and into the early twentieth century. Fusion voting is the practice of a third party cross-nominating a candidate of one of the major parties. This candidate appears on the ballot under two different labels, with the votes tallied separately but then added togetherfusedto determine their total.



In a fusion system, minor parties are both independent and relevant. They retain a threat of exit should neither major party nominate an acceptable candidate. More commonly, fusion parties will push or prod a major-party candidate to be better on a few key issues, and in return will nominate them. This is more constructive for the polity and more satisfying to the voter than a spoiler or wasted vote. Vote for the candidate you prefer, says the fusion party organizer, under the party label closest to your values.



Fundamentally, fusion voting produces more choices for the voterbut its more parties, not more candidates. The path out of the two-party doom loop runs not through eliminating or weakening parties but rather through a system that encourages and rewards coalitions between parties.



Once legal in every state, fusion voting is now largely forgotten. But theres little doubt that fusion parties have played a constructive role in American history. Nearly all of the efforts to expand the meaning of We, the People, whether by abolitionists, farmers, workers, suffragists, prohibitionists, freedmen, silverites, or populists, involved fusion parties. Fusion allowed them to demonstrate that their views enjoyed meaningful support among the voters, which in turn allowed them to negotiate with their major-party ally.



No doubt the major parties disliked having to bargain with minor-party partners, but bargaining is essential in politics. The Whigs were mushy on slavery, and Free Soilers spined them up. Democrats were nervous about taking on the trusts, but the Populists insisted that they stand up for debtors and farmers. Fusion creates incentives for compromise between groups that do not agree on everything but do agree on enough to get things done.



Over time, fusion was outlawed by major-party leaders who could not resist the temptation to write rules in their own favor. It remains legal and common only in Connecticut and New York, where attempts to ban fusion failed. But imagine what a better position wed be in as a country if we had these old rules in all states. A multiparty democracy could emerge, and it would surely include a centrist-minded fusion party that would moderate the current tendency toward polarization.



Such a party today could offer unhappy centrist voters a safe way to make a statement about problem solving and bipartisanship without risking splitting the anti-Trump voters and enabling the reelection of Trump. How? By endorsing the major-party candidate most committed to maintaining American democracy and then demonstrating to that candidate that a nontrivial percentage of voters want him to make good on the promise of moderation that got him the fusion partys nomination. This could very well lead to the election of a critical mass of genuinely moderate, pro-democracy Republicans to the House of Representatives, whose presence could arrest and someday even reverse the GOPs never-ending lurch to the right.



Fusion will not be legalized in time for the 2024 election, but there is progress toward its reemergence. In a few states, anti-Trump Republicans along with independents and some moderate Democrats are already trying to revive itthe New Jersey Moderate Party, the Common Sense Party in Michigan, and the just-launched United Kansas Party are harbingers. They each assert that they will not run stand-alone candidates with no chance of winning. Rather they propose to legalize fusion via litigation to overturn the various state bans as an unconstitutional abridgment of the freedom of association. If they succeed, these new fusion parties intend to cross-nominate major-party candidates who share their commitments to democracy, rule of law, and commonsense policymaking.

All Americans should hope they succeed. More broadly, we should make it a national project over the next few years to reintroduce fusion voting in many states. Otherwise, come 2028 well be back in the exact same placefrustrated by a two-party system that polarizes and then artificially limits our choices. That is, assuming we still have a democratic election system come 2028.
A gas pipeline near the Russian city of Saratov is on fire, local officials said on June 15.

"According to the preliminary information, the cause was an unusual heat, which led to depressurization and combustion," Saratov Oblast Governor Roman Busargin claimed on his Telegram channel.

The pipeline has been shut off. Emergency services are working on the site and no casualties were reported.

Busargin said the incident took place near the village of Storozhevka on the outskirts of the city of Saratov, around 470 kilometers (290 miles) east of the Ukrainian border.

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Local residents reported several explosions, and a powerful fire could be seen in the area.

A similar incident took place at a gas pipeline near the Russian village of Kuyeda in Perm Krai in February. In April, Ukraine's military intelligence shared footage of a burning oil pipeline in Russia's Rostov Oblast.

Ukrainian intelligence services have been linked to a number of sabotage operations and attacks on Russian territory, targeting transport, military, or energy infrastructure.

Read also: Partisans: Russian communication station destroyed in sabotage attack in Moscow Oblast

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A large fire broke out at a gas storage facility in the Russian city of Saratov on Saturday, 15 June.

Source: Saratov Oblast Governor Roman Busargin; Latvia-based Russian media outlet Meduza, citing Telegram channels

Details: According to Busargin, "early reports indicate that a depressurisation occurred on the gas pipeline near the [the settlement of] Storozhevka due to the abnormal heat, which caused the fire to start".

Later, the official added that "the landscape fire has been contained, and the remaining gas is being burned out of the pipeline, after which the combustion will stop".

Meanwhile, Meduza, citing Telegram channels, noted that the fire was visible in the Tatishchevo district of Saratov Oblast, located several kilometres away from the fire site, with flames reaching 50 metres in height.

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A Georgetown man has pleaded guilty to murder in the death of his estranged wife after she filed for divorce. Ricardo Quinones, 39, will serve a life sentence in prison, according to a news release Thursday from the Williamson County district attorney's office.

He will be eligible for parole after serving 30 years.

Quinones was indicted on a higher charge of capital murder in the shooting death of Lindsey Whitman in 2022 and his trial was supposed to begin on June 24, the release said. If convicted of capital murder, Quinones would have received a life sentence without the chance of parole, said prosecutor John McMillin.

Quinones, however, offered to plead to the maximum sentence for the lower charge of murder, officials said. "In consultation with Whitmans family, prosecutors agreed to accept the plea as a means of providing the family with finality to the criminal justice proceedings," the release said.

Lindsey Whitman was killed by her husband in Georgetown after she filed for divorce, officials said. Ricardo Quinones has pleaded guilty to murder.

We are pleased that Mr. Quinones has been brought to justice," District Attorney Shawn Dick said in the release. "This guilty plea ensures he will be held accountable for his horrific actions and can no longer threaten the safety of our community. This case is a heartbreaking reminder of the devastating impact domestic violence can have on families. Our deepest condolences go out to Ms. Whitmans loved ones as they navigate this unimaginable loss."

Whitman's brother, Brad Whitman, said on Friday that he has appreciated the support from law enforcement since his sister was killed.

"I've never seen the support I saw yesterday in the sentencing hearing," he said. "Every single officer on duty that night from the officers to the police chief was in that courtroom and it was mind blowing. It was a huge loss for them and some of them were taking it really hard."

Ricardo Quinones

More: Police: Georgetown man faces murder charge after handcuffing, shooting estranged wife

Georgetown police officers had tried to negotiate with Quinones before he shot his wife, according to an arrest affidavit. Whitman said his sister had a business staging homes but declined to comment further about her.

The crime happened on Dec. 27, 2022, less than two weeks after Lindsey Whitman, 31, filed for divorce, the release said. At the time, it said, Whitman and the couple's young daughter were living at a home in Georgetown while Quinones was residing elsewhere.

It said that during the early morning, Quinones, disguised in a black ski mask, snuck into Whitman's home with a gun, handcuffed her and threatened her with the gun and a knife. Their daughter, who also was at the home, called 911 and then escaped through a bedroom window after officers arrived, police have said.

More: Travis Hall gets 99 years for killing his wife, Julie, a beloved Hutto teacher's aide

Police forced their way inside the home after hearing gunshots, the release said. They found Whitman's body in a bedroom, officials said. Whitman was handcuffed and shot twice in the head through a pillow placed over her face, according to the release.

Quinones escaped the scene but a task force from the Austin County sheriff's office arrested him several hours later in Columbus, according to officials.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Georgetown man pleads guilty to killing estranged wife, gets life
A scarf with the logo of the Central Committee of German Catholics lies at the closing press conference of the 103rd German Catholic Day in Erfurt. Hendrik Schmidt/dpa

German Catholics have agreed to continue their reform process in close coordination with the Vatican.

At the end of a two-day meeting of the Synodal Committee, a reform committee, in Mainz on Saturday, it was decided to set up three commissions to examine how the intended reforms can be implemented.

The Synodal Committee is to prepare a Synodal Council in which bishops and lay people will consult and make decisions together.

These plans led to a serious crisis in the German Bishops' Conference's relationship with the Vatican at the beginning of this year. The centre of the Catholic church considers such a strong involvement of the laity to be incompatible with canon law.

The crisis was finally resolved in talks between the German bishops and the Roman Curia with the Germans promising to consult the Vatican before making any important decisions or changes.

The chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, Georg Batzing, said afterwards that this path was being taken "very consciously in conjunction with the universal church level." Batzing, who is the bishop of Limburg, said that when the World Synod meets again in Rome in the autumn "our concerns will have been brought forward by us beforehand."

He and several other German bishops plan to travel to Rome again for talks on June 28.

Thomas Schuller, a canon lawyer from Munster who was elected to one of the commissions, told dpa that all the bishops had worked hard in Mainz, particularly with regard to the statutes for the proposed Synodal Council.

"The Vatican's requests and occasional threats of bans are having an effect and are now allowing all issues to be dealt with in a recognizably more realistic manner," he said, adding that German clergy are "no longer chasing after pipe dreams.

"The bishops are clearly keen to liaise closely with the Roman authorities on the consultations that are now underway."
European Union countries failed to approve a new sanctions package targeting the Russian gas industry after German authorities intervened to block the deal at the last minute.

The measures would have banned EU member states from re-exporting Russian liquified natural gas (LNG) from EU ports and financing planned Arctic and Baltic LNG terminals. German officials reportedly expressed concern about an expanded measure that would force EU companies to guarantee their customers cannot go on to sell sanctioned goods to Russia.

This restriction previously only applied to firearms, military equipment, and dual-use goods with both a military and civilian application. Berlin is concerned that the expansion of this measure to non-dual-use civilian products, such as chemicals or metalworking equipment, could harm German small businesses.

Belgium was forced to split talks on the new sanctions package into two separate discussions following Germany's opposition to new sanctions against Belarus.

Both France and Germany opposed EU sanctions on Belarus, which were introduced to close a trade loophole that has allowed Russia to import luxury cars and other banned goods produced in Western countries.

This latest package would have been the 14th round of EU sanctions against Russia since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

An anonymous source told Politico that the European Commission is now working with the German chancellery to convince Berlin to lift the veto.

Initially a hesitant partner, Berlin has become Ukraine's second-largest military donor after the U.S., although German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is still reluctant to supply some key capabilities, namely Taurus long-range missiles.

Read also: FT: US proposes $50 billion Ukraine loan conditional on EU extending sanctions against Russia until end of war

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Germany marks veterans day for first time since end of Second World War

Two DC-3s which were used in the Berlin Airlift in 1948 - ANDREAS ARNOLD/AVALON

Germanys retired soldiers marked Saturday with their first Veterans Day since the end of the Second World War, breaking the countrys decades-old taboo over celebrating its armed forces.

Army veterans held a series of low-key events across the country on the first day dedicated to their service, with official events set to take place every June 15th starting next year.

Former soldiers met up to visit war memorials, organised information stands and went on motorcycle tours together on the first day of an event described as long overdue by MPs in Berlin.

We finally feel that we have been accepted and recognized in society, said Bernhard Drescher, head of the Association for German Veterans, a group that has been campaigning for a veterans day for over a decade.

Now it is up to politicians, society and us in the veterans association to fill this day with life, he added.

The first official event will be organised by the Defence Ministry next year.

Landmark decision

On Friday, MPs from four of the main factions in the Bundestag, Germanys parliament, invited veterans to the Reichstag to meet the politicians who had drafted the bill to re-introduce veterans day celebrations that passed in a landmark decision two months ago..

Gemany owes it to its veterans to hear their stories, said Bundestag speaker, Barbel Bas, at the event.

She added that the return of war to Europe meant it was a good moment to establish a visible veterans culture.

For years, a dedicated day for former soldiers was nowhere near the top of the political agenda in Germany, a country still wary of its own military past.

However the Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused a seismic shift in societal attitudes, with Germans now questioning whether the decision to slash defence spending after the Cold War was naive.

Speaking days after Russian troops crossed the border into Ukraine, Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor declared the start of a Zeitenwende, or new era, in which Germany would pour billions of euros into revamping a military that had been neglected for decades.

Parties like the Greens, who have 118 of the 733 seats in the current parliament, that were long associated with pacifism have become some of the most hawkish voices on providing Ukraine with military hardware.

Green MPs joined lawmakers from Mr Scholz Social Democrats and other factions to pass the law introducing a veterans day.

Only the hard-Left Die LInke party opposed the move.

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Germany sets aside unease over its military to celebrate first Veterans Day

Germany is marking its first Veterans Day since World War Two on Saturday, a once unthinkable move that sets aside long-standing unease over the honoring of its soldiers.

In a sign of the Zeitenwende, or changing of the times, that Germany is undergoing in the wake of the Ukraine war, the country is actively seeking to increase the prestige of its military.

Germany has for decades felt uncomfortable over such pageantry given the role of its soldiers in World War II and the Holocaust.

But a bill to introduce an annual national Veterans Day was voted in on April 25 after being approved by nearly all parties in the German parliament.

Only the far-left Die Linke party raised objections. Party co-chairman Ates Gurpinar implied this was due to the partys pacifist stance.

We on the left reject this Veterans Day, he told CNN in a statement. It is based on cheap symbolic politics and at the same time ensures the minister of defenses promise of war-readiness.

The new legislation states that the day should be celebrated publicly and visibly every year on June 15. It also mandates improvements to services providing mental and physical care for veterans, including rehabilitation and therapy.

The commemorations, modeled on Armed Forces Day in the UK and Veterans Day in the US, will honor all Germans who have worn military uniform  not only those wounded or killed in combat. Germany has around 10 million veterans, according to its ministry of defense.

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius described the move as a strong, important and, yes, an overdue signal of recognition and appreciation.

During the Cold War, Soviet-occupied East Germany celebrated its National Peoples Army with military parades. An equivalent was never established in the West.

Following the end of World War II, the first combat mission in which German soldiers took part was the Kosovo War in the late 1990s. Since then the most significant deployments of the German armed forces, or Bundeswehr, have been in Afghanistan and Mali.

But the biggest spur to creating a Veterans Day has been Ukraine.

Germany was initially reluctant to send heavy weaponry to Kyiv for fear of becoming directly involved in the war, but eventually bowed to international pressure. Now, Berlin is the second-biggest supplier of military aid to Ukraine.

The war against Ukraine has created the need for a significant build-up of the Bundeswehr (armed forces), increased spending and also recruitment, Johannes Kiess, a sociologist at the University of Leipzig, told CNN. It was an opportunity, he added, that made it appear appropriate to upgrade the military symbolically as well.

A relationship of respect

This Saturday, the day will be marked with an event in Berlin. From next year, commemorations will take place nationwide.

Johannes Arlt, a former soldier who was deployed four times to Afghanistan and three times to Mali from 2014 to 2019, is now a lawmaker for the ruling center-left Social Democrats (SPD). He played a prominent role in forming the new Veterans Day bill.

Speaking to CNN, Arlt said he experienced first-hand the lack of recognition of the Bundeswehr in German society, particularly for deployments abroad, but acknowledged that this appears to have changed in recent times.

For a long time, there appeared to be a sparse interest in people who served abroad, and there used to be little empathy, but we find that the population now has a great deal of respect for the Bundeswehr.

Arlt explains he believes a Veterans Day in Germany is important to commemorate military service  in all its facets  and thank the men and women who are committed to security in our country.

Arlt said he experienced horrors during his military service abroad that he would not wish anyone to witness. I had my worst experiences in Mali in 2019, he said. I flew a drone and saw all the things that others didnt see on the front line. I was also present at massacres and had to watch these things and couldnt do anything.

I wouldnt wish that on anyone.

Mental health support leaves room for improvement

Part of the reason for the move is to improve the health services offered to soldiers returning from assignments overseas, as well as to raise awareness of what they have to endure.

Army veteran Andreas Eggert served in the Bundeswehr from 1999-2013, first in Kosovo and then in Afghanistan. He was diagnosed with PTSD in 2013 and went into rehabilitation in 2014. He is welcoming the efforts to improve aftercare for soldiers, many of whom are left with physical or psychological damage.

Mental illness was still frowned upon in my time, especially if you were in a specialized assignment like I was, it was difficult to deal with it openly, he told CNN. But I did it back then, in 2013, I spoke out it openly and was criticized a lot for it.

Eggert says that he has seen the Bundeswehrs rehabilitation programs improve over the years, but there is still work to be done.

Army veteran Andreas Eggert served in Kosovo and Afghanistan. He was diagnosed with PTSD in 2013 - Courtesy Andreas Eggert

[The programs] are not optimal, and the care is not optimal either. There are not enough therapists, especially not in the Bundeswehr. The Bundeswehr hospitals that do a good job are often overstretched There is a lot of room for improvement.

Regardless of the debate around marking Veterans Day, it is clear the country has had to adapt its anti-militaristic stance in recent years.

Pistorius has previously warned that Germany needs to prepare for a worst-case scenario regarding the specter of war in Europe. He has also not ruled out introducing some form of military conscription.

For now, though, the soldiers CNN spoke to were simply grateful for the acknowledgment.

I dont see myself as a hero, quite the opposite, but what I have missed is a time or even a day when we can also remember those who have fallen during their assignments, said 42-year-old Stefan Huss, an active soldier who twice served in Afghanistan.

He added: We have been fighting for this for a long time.

Nadine Schmidt reported from Berlin and Sophie Tanno reported from and wrote in London. CNNs Matthies Otto contributed reporting.

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'It's going to get toasty' as New England heat wave hits Tuesday. Will Cape Cod escape it?

It looks like summer got the message. An extended period of unusually hot and humid weather is slated to move into New England next week, bringing uncomfortable conditions and excessive heat to much of the region and possibly challenging high temperature records.

According to the National Weather Service forecast discussion, a "warming trend begins on Monday, but the significant heat/humidity potential looks to begin Tuesday and peak in the Wed. through Fri. time frame."

"A lot of the Northeast is going to be dealing with this heat," said Torry Dooley, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service Boston/Norton office. "It's going to get toasty."

Beach trips and umbrellas may be a good way to stay cool on Cape Cod next week. Warmer temperatures and higher humidity are in the forecast.

In Massachusetts, Dooley said locations in the Merrimack River Valley and the Connecticut River Valley will likely see the highest temperatures. Forecasts call for a high near 100 in Springfield on Thursday, with Lowell expected to reach 98 degrees.

But the cooling effect of the ocean will likely keep Cape and Islands temperatures lower, said Dooley. The National Weather Service forecast calls for a high temperature near 80 in Hyannis on Thursday, with Nantucket expected to see a high of 75 degrees.

Heat safety tips from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

However, locations on the Cape will still experience high levels of humidity next week. Even though temperatures will be lower than on the mainland, it could still feel rather uncomfortable on Cape Cod, especially during the middle of the day, said Dooley. He suggested limiting strenuous activity to earlier morning and later evening hours during the warm days next week.

Cape Cod beaches could offer a refreshing way to chill out next week, as water temperatures are still on the cool side. According to the National Weather Service, water temperatures in Nantucket Sound are running between 65 and 67 degrees, with Cape Cod Bay clocking in between 59 and 62 degrees and the Atlantic Ocean on the eastern side of Outer Cape Cod checking in between 59 and 61 degrees.

Here is the Hyannis forecast for next week from the National Weather Service:

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 74. South wind 6 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

Monday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. South wind around 8 mph.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Southwest wind 7 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Tuesday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64. Southwest wind 6 to 8 mph.

Juneteenth: Sunny, with a high near 79. Southwest wind 7 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Wednesday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. Southwest wind around 8 mph.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 7 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Eric Williams, when not solving Curious Cape Cod mysteries, writes about a variety of ways to enjoy the Cape, the weather, wildlife and other subjects. Contact him at ewilliams@capecodonline.com. Follow him on Twitter: @capecast.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Heat wave on the way? Cape Cod weather forecast for hot Northeast week
The only thing Rick Scott is better at than bad timing is hypocrisy. The Republican senator and Earthworm Jim lookalike released a campaign ad touting his support for in vitro fertilization on Fridayless than 24 hours after voting against the Right to IVF Act.

The caption for the poorly-timed campaign ad reads, Each of my 7 grandkids is a precious gift from God. But sometimes families need help. You can count on this grandpa to always protect IVF. In the ad, the Florida senator mentions that his youngest daughter is receiving IVF treatments and that she and I both agree IVF must be protected.

The ad was first posted to Scotts X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday morning, and was quickly hit with a fact-check that Scott voted to kill the Right to IVF Act the day before.

Each of my 7 grandkids is a precious gift from God. But sometimes families need help.



You can count on this grandpa to always protect IVF.



Watch my latest campaign ad pic.twitter.com/UEf5ByrFeo  Rick Scott (@ScottforFlorida) June 14, 2024

Senate Democrats have attempted to pass legislation to codify access to contraception and IVF into federal law this past week, with Senate Republicans voting opposed and killing the bill each time. Senate Republicans, meanwhile, have offered a much weaker bill in support of IVF that would withhold Medicaid funding for the procedure and released a signed letter stating their support for IVF hours before voting down protections. Their softball bill was rejected, with Senator Patty Murphy calling it a PR tool, plain and simple.

The effort to codify access to IVF and contraception comes ahead of an increasingly fraught general election season. The Southern Baptist Convention voted to oppose IVF on Tuesday, with Trump ramping up support for their cause. He provided a pre-taped appearance for the SBCs anti-abortion forum hosted by a group that describes abortion as child sacrifice. Trump praised the extremist group, promising they would make a comeback just like no other group.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Utah Gov. Spencer Cox announced today, June 14, that he is calling the state legislature into a special session starting June 19 starting at 4 p.m.

Cox outlined the seven reasons for the session in a proclamation, the entirety of which can be read below. State law limits the issues legislators can tackle in a special session. Only these seven issues can be addressed in the upcoming session.

Amendments to SB 161: This bill, called Energy Security Amendments, was tackled in the regular session. This issue largely deals with the state taking over the Intermountain Power Project near Delta, Utah. The coal-powered plant serves 23 Utah communities but has drawn controversy due to fossil fuel involvement in climate change. Taking action under SB 57: This bill, known as the Utah Constitutional Sovereignty Act, is supposed to allow Utah to ignore the U.S. Department of Educations changes to Title IX regulations. Repeal dates: This would allow legislators to consider amendments to parts of the states code regarding statutory repeal dates, including completing standardization that the legislature began in the regular session. Consider actions on federal overreach: This issue would fight the federal governments actions regarding public lands. Exchange students: This issue would allow legislators to consider amendments to state codes regarding exchange students in the statewide online education program. Amendments to SB 221: This bill, called the School District Amendments, changes how school districts are created in Utah. Appointments: This would allow the Utah Senate to consent to appointments made to state offices and boards by Cox.

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Gov. Spencer Cox claimed Friday that the mayor of Denver is sending immigrants to Utah without proper approval, calling the alleged actions unacceptable on Twitter/X.

We recently learned that the Democrat mayor of Denver has been sending illegal immigrants to Utah without proper notification or approval. This is completely unacceptable and follows on the failed catch-and-release policy of the Biden administration, his post said in part.

The Salt Lake City Police Department told ABC4 that 15 people arrived in Salt Lake City last month from Colorado, all of whom had gone through federal processing. Police say social workers transported them to Ogden because the shelters in Salt Lake County were full.

Jon Ewing, a representative of the Denver Department of Human Services, confirmed that they had helped people travel to Salt Lake City over the past 30 days, however, he said they have been incredibly transparent with all of our newcomer operations.

READ NEXT: Gov. Cox calls legislature into special session starting June 19

They say over the past year and a half they have helped approximately 2,000 people travel to Salt Lake City, with 59 of those people having departed in the last 30 days.

The vast majority of newcomers arriving in Denver do so on buses chartered from Texas and had no intention of ever coming to Denver. Thats why part of our operations include purchasing tickets for newcomers to get to their desired location, where they may have support networks or job opportunities, Ewing said.

Ewing added the destination is always chosen by the newcomer, and many choose to go to other locations like New York and Chicago.

To date Denver has served more than 42,000 people from the southern border, assistance which has included helping to house thousands of people and assisting more than 2,000 individuals with securing legal work, he said.

Cox said every state has received immigrants and Utahs resources are completely depleted.

All 50 states, including Utah, are now border states due to the failed immigration policies of President Biden and Congress, Cox said. Once again we call on the Biden administration and Congress to solve this crisis.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Gov. Brian Kemp has suspended Rabun County Sheriff Chad Nichols following his arrest by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Kemp signed the executive order on Friday saying Nichols was suspended for 60 days, effective immediately.

Rabun County jail records show Nichols faces charges of public indecency, sexual battery and violation of oath by a public officer.

TRENDING STORIES:

The Rabun County Sheriffs Office has no comment on the ongoing and active investigation being conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigations, Rabun County Sheriffs Office Public Information Officer Kevin Angell said to Channel 2 Action News previously.

Nichols was booked into the Rabun County Detention Center by his own deputies last month following his arrest.

The GBI said once the investigation into Nichols is complete, the case file will be handed over to the Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney.

RELATED NEWS:
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper took out his veto stamp to oppose a bill that would require more teenagers facing criminal charges to be tried initially as adults.

House Bill 834 requires 16- and 17-year-olds who commit certain felonies to be tried first as adults in the states superior courts.

Currently, these teenagers are tried in the states juvenile court after a petition is filed. They are transferred over to the states superior courts after probable cause is found or they are indicted. The bill includes a mechanism for these cases to be transferred back to juvenile court, The News & Observer previously reported.

In his statement Friday evening, the Democratic governor wrote that most violent crimes, even when committed by teenagers, should be handled in adult court. However, there are cases where sentences would be more effective and appropriate to the severity of the crime for teenagers if they were handled in juvenile court, making communities safer. This bill makes this important option highly unlikely and begins to erode our bipartisan Raise the Age law we agreed to four years ago.

While a number of Senators worked to make this legislation better than the original bill, I remain concerned that this new law would keep some children from getting treatment they need while making communities less safe. Instead, the legislature should invest significantly more in our juvenile justice system to ensure resources are available to help prevent crimes and appropriately deal with children who break the law, he wrote.

Coopers veto is unlikely to hold. The General Assembly has a Republican supermajority, allowing it to override Coopers stamp if three-fifths of the members of both legislative chambers vote together.

In the House, all GOP lawmakers voted in support of the latest version of the bill except for Rep. John Faircloth of Guilford County. All but seven Democrats opposed the bill.

Among those who voted in the Senate, all Republicans and all but four Democrats backed the bill. Those opposing it were Democratic Sens. Mary Wills Bode, Lisa Grafstein, Natalie Murdock and Gladys Robinson.

Raise the Age and juvenile court

Raise the Age was passed into law in 2017 and implemented in 2019. It pulled 16- and 17-year-olds accused of misdemeanors and low-level felonies in North Carolina from the adult system into the juvenile justice system.

During debates in committees and on the House floor before the vote, multiple Democratic lawmakers expressed concerns with the bill rolling back these juvenile protections.

Those in favor have said the bill is a procedural change allowing the juvenile justice system to function more smoothly. A main proponent of the bill, Robeson County Republican Sen. Danny Britt, said in mid-May during a Senate floor vote that the bill is trying to deal with these violent A-E felonies, trying to deal with these individuals that are mostly prosecuted in superior court but through a lengthy transfer process, a very convoluted transfer process. What were not doing is rolling back Raise the Age.

With Raise the Age, we had the goal of rehabilitating many of the youth who had committed crimes, said Rep. Amos Quick, a Greensboro Democrat, during a House debate.

I dont think anyone in here is in favor of crime. I certainly am not in favor of crime, but I am in favor of juveniles. Juveniles who commit offenses need rehabilitation, not to have the book thrown at them, he said. This legislation is the wrong move to make, he said.

The ACLU of North Carolina sent a letter to Cooper urging him to veto the bill.

Prosecuting children as adults causes significant harm to young people and does nothing to address the underlying causes of youth crime, says the letter.

The juvenile justice system requires far more accountability, counseling, education, and family involvement than the adult system and it works better, it says. Recidivism is significantly higher when children go through the adult system rather than receive the services and punishment from the juvenile system.

Under the Dome

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The renowned whiskey writer Clay Risen recently recounted in The New York Times how nal t'eel, a Mexican corn varietal grown on the Yucatan Peninsula for more than 4,000 years, was saved when a local craft distillery started making whiskey with it. While a gripping and inspiring tale on its own, the resurgence of nal t'eel is also part of a much larger story arc. Over the last decade, the heritage whiskey movement has explodedpart of an even larger ancient and heirloom grain revival.

While there is disagreement on what constitutes an "heirloom" or "heritage" grainsome point to grains developed prior to World War II whereas others define them as varietals brought to the New World by immigrantsthey have become catch-all terms for grains that have not undergone significant genetic modification regardless of their age. The results range from whiskey made with Jimmy Red Corn to an artisanal bakery's millet-and-sorghum sourdough loaf.

It's not just hipsters, foodies, and the health-conscious who are swapping their bleached flour for stone-ground buckwheat. The world's ancient grain market is projected to grow at a 37 percent compound annual growth rate, reaching $10 billion by 2032. As Sarah Herrington, a nutritionist at Brio-Medical, summarized it: "We're seeing a return to the traditional, over the conventional."

Yet "the conventional" is growing, not shrinking. Since the early 1990s, the acreage planted in the basic "big four" cropscorn, soybeans, wheat, and cottonhas expanded. If consumers are increasingly interested in a return to old-school grain and crops, why aren't more farmers following suit?

Answer: the U.S. government.

Switching crops could mean turning down what is essentially free money. The government subsidizes up to 60 percent of the cost of crop insurance premiums, but that comes with a catch: This and other subsidies are heavily skewed toward monoculture farminggrowing a single crop on most or all of a farm's available acreage. This means less crop diversity, less experimentation with obscure grain varietals, and less sustainable and regenerative farming practices. It also increases soil erosion and the use of fertilizer and pesticides.

Modern farm policy began under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, with the aim of helping struggling farmers during the Great Depression. That initial legislation applied to a specific list of commodity crops, and although the list has expanded somewhat over time, it remains limited and discourages farmers from experimenting with specialty types of grain.

"Todays crop insurance, for farmers like myself raising corn, soybeans, and wheat, is generous and safe," says Doug Doughty, a grain and livestock farmer in Missouri. "It guarantees a profitable yield and revenue. At the same time, that discourages innovation into more specialty crops that could better diversify and benefit our food supply." Empirical research has likewise demonstrated that subsidies reduce crop diversification, as farmers often replace non-subsidized crops with ones that are subsidized.

We see this play out in the realm of perennial cropsdefined as crops that live longer than two years and therefore don't need to be replanted annuallywhich, alongside heirloom crops, are key players in the modern regenerative agriculture revival. The environmental benefits of perennial crops are vast: They sequester more carbon than annual plants, limit soil erosion, and reduce the use of pesticides.

One of the most promising perennial grains is Kernza, a wheatgrass species that many see as a replacement for conventional wheat and other cereal grains. While researchers just recently made Kernza viable, its derivation from wheatgrass means its ancestry goes back millennia. Kernza lasts for 3 to 5 years, and its deep root system not only helps it pull carbon out of the air but also allows the plant to better survive extreme weather events such as droughts.

Yet only around 4,000 acres of Kernza are currently planted in the U.S.and as agricultural economists have pointed out, it will never be able to replace traditional annual crops unless the system is overhauled. "You can't just change the crops," the University of Iowa economist Silvia Secchi told NPR in 2022. "This is a whole system that we need to modify."

That's because the current crop insurance system is tied to losses sustained annually, not losses over a multi-year span. Therefore, although many perennial grains can technically be insured, there is no ready mechanism for insuring the entire lifetime productivity of a perennial crop. Perennials also often require more up-front time and investment to bear results, which is likewise not accounted for under the current insurance program.

The repercussions extend beyond grain to other rediscovered crops as well. American hazelnuts, which some have been heralding as a replacement for soybeans in the Upper Midwest, are likewise perennials and face a similar uphill battle.

Unsurprisingly, those that benefit most from the current systemBig Agriculture and large global seed conglomerateslobby vociferously for protecting the current system and maintaining the monoculture monolith.

"As long as you have economic protection over one crop, then it prejudicially diminishes the viability of an innovative competitor in the marketplace," Polyface Farms owner (and self-described "Christian libertarian environmentalist capitalist lunatic") Joel Salatin said in 2014. In his perfect world, he added, we would "shut down the [Department of Agriculture] and let farmers rise and fall with their own innovation and the savvy of the marketplace."

Taking the opposite approach to American farm policy, New Zealand decided in the 1980s to eliminate almost all of its farming subsidies. Rather than experiencing calamity, farm productivity increased, agriculture grew as a percentage of the country's overall GDP, and biodiversity improved as fertilizer use declined.

As long as our government keeps a thumb on the scales and determines what crops our farmers should prioritize, we will miss out on the many known benefits and those yet to be discovered about more diverse grains. A new farm bill is moving through Congress now, and the debate over it will reach a crescendo in the coming weeks. It might be time to pick up a bottle of heritage whiskeynot just for relief, but to offer some solidarity to this small corner of the food world.

The post Government Subsidies Keep Your Food Boring appeared first on Reason.com.
Governor issues his own order on outside PR: 'It's wasteful and we're putting a stop to it.'

Call it the gubernatorial veto that became an executive order.

On Friday afternoon, nearing a deadline, Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt issued a media statement saying he'd signed 74 bills and vetoed five. Buried in that announcement was a notice that Stitt had used his line-item veto authority on Senate Bill 1122, removing sections 15 and 16 of the measure.

Section 16, a late-minute addition by state Rep. Mark McBride during the final days of the legislative session, would have prevented state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters from using education funds to contract with public relations and marketing firms outside of Oklahoma.

Stitt announced his veto of the section at 3:30 p.m. Friday.

"Section 16 would prevent SDE from using any funds, appropriated or otherwise, for securing media interviews, public relations or other public promotions except for participating in federal grant programs," the governor's veto message said. "The plain meaning of this language is unclear, but it is reasonable to assume that it could be interpreted to prevent SDE from recruiting teachers to teach our school children; prevent SDE from addressing constituent concerns and prevent any number of routine public communications needed for an agency overseeing thousands of employees and a majority of our students," the governor's veto message said. "For these reasons I have vetoed Section 15 and 16 of enrolled Senate Bill 1122."

Only 29 minutes later, the governor issued a second media statement. This statement said the governor had issued an executive order that did pretty much the same thing as section 16, the one he vetoed.

"We all have to remember, the money we spend doesn't belong to us - it belongs to Oklahoma taxpayers," the governor's statement said. "Oklahomans expect my administration to steward each tax dollar well, and that's exactly what we're going to do. It makes no sense for state agencies who pay the salaries of communications staff to outsource work to PR firms via sole source contracts. It's wasteful and we're putting a stop to it statewide."

Executive Order 2024-12 prohibits state agencies from entering into sole source contracts with public relations, marketing or communications firms and vendors and mandates, unless there is a statutory directive to the contrary, that all contracts with PR vendors be procured through a minimum 30-day request for proposal. The executive order also mandates that agreements currently in place that were secured via sole source shall not be renewed and shall terminate at the end of the current contractual term and implements restrictions on future contracts.

The order  along with the veto  followed several incidents involving Walters and his contract with out-of-state public relations and marketing firms.

On at least three occasions since he took office, Walters has contracted with outside public relations or marketing firms. Last year, he contracted with a Houston company, Precision Outreach, to produce what he has referred to as public awareness videos that depicted teachers unions in a negative light and insinuated that transgender students were a threat to other students.

Those videos, which were shown at public state Board of Education meetings, cost $22,500 in taxpayer money.

A $50,000 contract between the agency and Precision Outreach, signed Jan. 3, includes the production of 10 social media posts and two videos a month.

Walters has made heavy use of outside PR, marketing firms

The investigative news website Oklahoma Watch and Oklahoma City television station KOKH reported in March the state Department of Education had spent $50,000 with Virginia-based Vought Strategies to set up national media interviews for Walters. In late May, Oklahoma Watch also reported the SDE had paid Vought Strategies $20,000 for the firms work from September through January and had agreed to pay $30,000 more for work from March through June.

In mid-March, after the first such reports about the contract with Vought Strategies surfaced, House Speaker Charles McCall publicly suggested the Legislature could develop guidelines to end that practice, a statement that became SB 1122.

Under that bill, the education department was prohibited from using money appropriated it or "under the control of the agency to be encumbered or expended for the purpose of securing media interviews, public relations, or other public promotional purposes unless expressly required to participate in a federal grant program.

In an email to lawmakers sent in late May, Walters said the education department's legal counsel was of the belief that all departments and programs will need to be shuttered as an implementation of this law. He said the agencys offices of school security, teacher recruitment and retention, SoonerStart, school choice and legal services would be negatively impacted, or potentially shut down if the bill became law. Walters also said the agencys website, state Teacher of the Year program and Teacher Signing Bonus programs also could be shut down.

That day after the legislative session ended, Stitt spoke about the issue but didn't commit one way or the other when asked if he'd sign or veto the bill.

"If someone is using state resources for self-promotion, that's wrong. I want to stop that," the governor said then, noting his first executive order in 2019 was to ban state agencies from hiring lobbyists. "I may do another executive order to stop state agencies from hiring outside PR firms. I don't like it. I don't like it. But I also don't like picking on one executive agency, or the Department of Education. If there's a rule that's good for one agency, maybe let's have it across the board for all state agencies. Let's not pick on just one agency.

Stitt also said if an agency has an internal communications department  as the state Department of Education does "then why are we hiring a PR person? I think it's a waste of taxpayer money all across the board."

Friday, the governor said Executive Order 2024-12 underscores his administration's commitment to conservative governance and safeguarding tax dollars by implementing strict guidelines and regulations for state agencies. The executive order goes into effect immediately and will be distributed to OMES, the directors of state agencies, and the governor's advisors to ensure full implementation.

McBride, Walters and other groups weigh in on veto, executive order

While the controversy surrounding SB 1122 and the executive order that followed it grew Friday evening, McBride, who authored Section 16 of the bill, told The Oklahoman he was pleased by Stitt's action.

"I am pleased the Governor signed Senate Bill 1122. This bill provided critical legislative guidance to our States largest appropriated agency," said McBride, R-Moore. With his line-item veto of Section 16, and his corresponding Executive Order expanding the provision to all executive branch agencies, he has accomplished my goal when writing that section, which is ensuring our tax dollars are not being spent to promote an individual or a political career of an elected official."

McBride said it was vital that taxpayers have confidence that when the Legislature funds agencies, those same elected officials will ensure that spending is free from waste and abuse.

"I am grateful the Governor has joined me in that mission to cut out unnecessary self promotion and keeping our agencies focused on the mission at hand, which is providing core services to the people of the State of Oklahoma," McBride said.

At the same time, Walters issued his own brief media statement:

The efforts of the teachers unions, radical RINO leftist Mark McBride, and Speaker McCall failed," Walters' statement said. "This is an unprecedented attack on me and my office and resulted in a disgraceful attempt to silence millions of Oklahoma parents. Oklahomans are not fooled by the political gamesmanship and reached out in huge numbers to remind everyone that the parents are in charge and want schools free of woke indoctrination, radical gender games, and critical race theory, and are demanding common sense outcomes for their kids.

A short time later, following the release of the governor's executive order, Walters' spokesman, Dan Isett, issued a second media statement. This one contained only one sentence: "The Governors Executive Order does not affect any existing vendor contracts at OSDE," Isett said.

Isett's second statement came at the same time the Human Rights Campaign  a vocal critic of many of Walters' policies  released a media statement, calling the governor's executive order a major victory in the effort to hold Walters accountable.

Today is a major victory for Oklahomans who have demanded their legislators hold Ryan Walters accountable for failing their kids, their schools, and their communities, HRC President Kelley Robinson said. Superintendent Walters thought he could bully LGBTQ+ students, drive Oklahomas schools, ranked 49th in the country in K-12 education, into the ground, and use taxpayer dollars to boost his own political profile without repercussions. But Oklahoma parents, education advocates, the LGBTQ+ community and allies, and ultimately, elected officials of his own party, refused to let that happen."

Walters, Robinson said, is a victim of his own hubris and incompetence  and these accountability measures are the result. "HRC was proud to work with our partners on the ground, including Freedom Oklahoma, Defense of Democracy, and more, to ensure that Walters faced the consequences demanded by his constituents," Robinson said.

For McBride and other lawmakers, the evolution from preventive legislation to executive order was worth the controversy.

"It sounded pretty matter of fact to me," McBride said. "And was obviously directed primarily at one agency. It's deflect, delay, deny."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Stitt vetoes measure to slow Walters' PR use, subs in executive order
A meeting run by the Kentucky state auditors office was disrupted by some unwelcome guests Thursday morning.

Hackers began showing pornographic images that were visible on the screens of everyone online viewing a meeting of the State Committee for School District Audits, Louisvilles WAVE television station reported.

Despite internal precautions to ensure a smooth meeting, unfortunately there were disruptive individuals present at the June 13 meeting, Joy Pidgorodetska Markland, communications director for the Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts, said in a statement. Once the disruption was taken care of, the meeting proceeded accordingly.

Pidgorodetska Markland said the committee is charged with reviewing the contracts for annual audits of local school system finances, and to comply with the states Open Meetings Act, the meetings are publicly available for anyone to join.

There was not a quorum present at Thursdays meeting, and the committee did not take any action, she said.

Pidgorodetska Markland said the auditors office is continuing to take steps toward ensuring the SCSDA meetings are transparent and easy to access while still conducting safe meetings for this committee to discuss important matters.

Herald-Leader politics reporter Alex Acquisto contributed to this article.
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Investigators from the Fresno Fire Department are asking for the publics help to catch an arson suspect.

They believe 32-year-old Ramona Leal is responsible for four separate arson fires at homes throughout Fresno. They say a main factor in the discovery of the womans identity, was handwritten notes left at each crime scene.

Woman sets Fresno homes on fire, wanted, firefighters say

The series of fires that we found had some commonality between them. Which was a handwritten note posted on the exterior of the structure prior to them being set on fire, said Deputy Fire Marshal Jay Tracy of Fresno Fire.

Tracy says Leal started fires at homes on West Avalon, North Glenn, North Orchard, and South Lily Avenues over the last several weeks.

He says she used gasoline in each fire set.

There were people actually in each of these residences that she set on fire, he revealed.

Tracy says theyre just thankful nobody was seriously injured or killed, and adds fortunately, through the connection of the notes, fingerprints at two of the scenes, good information, and collaboration, they were able to establish Leal as their primary suspect.

Ive got some great investigators but we also have some great resources over at Fresno PD, and with the California Department of Justice that weve utilized to help us identify this person.

Now, theres a warrant for Leals arrest for multiple suspected felonies.

The charges she faces right now, theres two, two different felonies. Theres one for igniting the structure thats inhabited and one for utilizing an accelerant, Tracy said.

He says its likely more felony charges could come as the investigation progresses.

As for Leal, the 32-year-old has no prior criminal history and no known motive for the fires.

If you know anything about any of the incidents or Leals whereabouts, youre asked to call Fresno Fire investigators.

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Security guards stand guard as Haiti's Prime Minister Garry Conille leaves after attending the inauguration of the nation's new cabinet in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph)

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP)  Haitian leaders have ousted Frantz Elbe, the beleaguered director of Haitis National Police, following months of criticism that he wasnt doing enough to protect officers under assault by gangs.

A government official not authorized to speak to the media told The Associated Press on Saturday that former Haitian police chief Normil Rameau will once again take the helm of an underfunded and ill-equipped department that a U.N. report notes only has around 4,000 officers on duty at a time in a country of more than 11 million inhabitants. Rameau had been dismissed from the post nearly four years ago under a different administration,

More than 2,500 people have been killed or injured across Haiti in the first three months of the year as gang violence continues to surge.

Among those killed are nearly two dozen police officers, overwhelmed by gangs that control 80% of Port-au-Prince and are better-equipped and have more powerful weapons. The most recent killings targeted three officers from a newly formed anti-gang tactical unit who were on patrol in an armored vehicle. A fourth remains missing.

From 2015 to 2024, more than 320 police officers have been killed, with 120 of them slain under Elbes administration, according to a survey released this week by the local nonprofit group National Network for the Defense of Human Rights.

Rameaus appointment comes as a newly selected prime minister and Cabinet take the reins of Haitis government with a transitional presidential council at their side.

Rameau previously served as police director-general under slain former President Jovenel Moise, who appointed him in August 2019. Prior to that, he oversaw the detective division. He was ousted as police chief in November 2020 after Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe accused him of being incompetent and not producing results at a time when gangs were seizing control of more territory.

Neither Rameau nor Elbe returned messages for comment.

Haitis Office of Citizen Protection praised the selection of Rameau as police chief and demanded that he act swiftly to stop gang activity and establish a security plan to curb violence.

It also urged police to push judicial authorities to open investigations into the killings of citizens, including journalists, and into what it called the spectacular escape of more than 4,500 prisoners in March after gangs stormed Haitis two biggest prisons. The office said that the attack took place with the complete indifference of Elbe and the former ministers of justice and public security.

Haitis police unions have repeatedly called for Elbes resignation and arrest, noting that gangs have raided and burned at least 30 police stations and substations in recent months as part of a series of attacks that began on Feb. 29 that targeted critical state infrastructure and led to the eventual resignation of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

On Wednesday, a police union known as SPNH-17 held a news conference to condemn the state of the department and deplore the deaths of the officers.

Look at these young men, hacked to death, spokesman Garry Jean-Baptiste said as he pointed to rows of pictures behind him that depicted officers killed on duty.

The union also issued a statement the day Haiti celebrated the creation of its police department.

Haitis National Police is 29 years old, but it still cant walk  it hasnt grown because corruption and incompetence has held it hostage, it said.

Meanwhile, another police union known as SYNAPOHA called on newly installed Prime Minister Garry Conille this week to make strengthening the department a priority.

Conille went along on a patrol with police on June 2, donning a flak jacket and helmet as he entered an armored vehicle. SNPH-17 said at the time that the prime minister would notice during the patrol that the country had no leadership and that criminals had too much control.

The prime minister must see the need to have another team at the top, the union said.

Elbe was appointed head of Haitis National Police in October 2021, replacing Leon Charles.

Last year, under Elbe, at least 36 officers were killed in gang-related violence from January to mid-August, according to a U.N. report.

The international community has provided training and other resources to help boost Haitis National Police, which also is awaiting the U.N.-backed deployment of a police force from Kenya as it struggles to contain gang violence and boost morale.

The survey by the National Network for the Defense of Human Rights, which interviewed 132 police officers, confirmed long-known issues, including unpaid salaries, inexistent health care and a lack of psychological help, Police officers for the most part do not receive additional training after graduating from the academy and are forced to use old and substandard equipment, the survey found.

It also noted that certain police officers work with gangs: Consequently, the police institution, weakened by state authorities, severely hit by insecurity and welcoming into its midst agents who are in collusion with criminals, tries as much as possible to confront the situation of general decay.

___

Danica Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
MERKEL, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  Traffic was diverted off I-20 in Merkel Friday afternoon after a fatal crash.

The crash happened in the westbound lanes of the interstate near Sonic in Merkel around 2:10 p.m.

Police at the scene told KTAB and KRBC that a white SUV carrying 3 men of undisclosed ages lost control at the top of an embankment while traveling east toward Abilene, causing their SUV to roll into the westbound lanes.

One of the men was killed upon impact, one was seriously injured, and the third sustained minor injuries, according to police, who say the deceased was not wearing his seat belt.

The deceased has been identified as 43-year-old Rogelio Cortinaz of Abilene. The driver was transported to the hospital and is in stable condition, and another person was transported with minor injuries.

No other vehicles were involved in this crash. Merkel police said the cause of the drivers loss of control is still under investigation.

This is the second fatal crash in Merkel in 2024, which Police Chief Phillip Conklin said is the most in a single year since he joined the department 10 years ago.

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Vice President Harris lauded the Biden administrations moves to protect recipients under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program Saturday, the 12th anniversary of the Obama-era policy.

The story of Dreamers is a story of America. Dreamers across our Nation serve in our military, teach in our classrooms, and lead our small businesses as entrepreneurs. They are our neighbors, classmates, and loved ones, she wrote in a statement. Their ambition and aspiration power our communities, economy, and country  and they deserve our protection.

I have worked alongside President Biden to preserve and fortify DACA, including by ensuring Dreamers have access to affordable health care, which will improve the health of all communities, Harris added.

But, the vice president said, it is ultimately up to Congress to fortify protections for the recipients under the program, which safeguards immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children from being deported.

Lawmakers must pass legislation that creates a path to citizenship, she wrote. The time for a lasting solution is long overdue.

Biden echoed her sentiments in his own statement Saturday, saying he was proud of the contributions that Dreamers have made to the country.

Twelve years ago today, President Obama and I announced the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to allow our young people to live and work in the only country theyve called home, he wrote in a statement, shared by the White House. Since then, DACA has provided more than 800,000 Dreamers with the ability to work lawfully, pursue an education, open businesses, and contribute their enormous talents to make our communities better and stronger.

While Vice President Harris and I will continue fighting for our Dreamers, only Congress can provide permanent and lasting stability for them and their families. Congress must still act, the president added.

Bidens reelection campaign also dropped two videos Saturday hitting former President Trump on his controversial immigration stance  including threats to end the DACA program  and promoting the duos commitment to protecting Dreamers and finding a path to citizenship for them and their families.

In one ad, titled Standing with Dreamers, Harris also blasts Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee, for what she called cruel and ineffective immigration policies during his administration, including separating families and threats to deport millions of people if reelected.

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HENRY COUNTY, Va. (WFXR)  The Henry County Sheriffs Office reports a 42-year-old man was arrested after allegedly stealing multiple vehicles in Collinsville on Friday, June 14.

According to the sheriff, dispatch received a report about someone allegedly stealing a 2012 Blue Subaru Abreeza from the Family Dollar on the 2500 block of Virginia Ave. The owner of the vehicle told deputies he witnessed the incident and gave a description of the suspect.

Ten minutes later, another stolen vehicle, a White 2010 Toyota Prius, was reported in Collinsville on Printers Lane. The owner of the vehicle also stated he witnessed the crime and gave a similar description to deputies on the scene.

Following the two reports, the sheriffs office says they found the 2012 Subaru Abreeza at the Collinsville Library on Virginia Ave. As deputies were recovering the vehicle, a worker at a local Auto Tech reported that the suspect described by both vehicle owners allegedly parked the Prius at his store and then ran across the street towards the Econo Lodge.

Pulaski Speedway murder suspect arrested in Ohio, police say

Deputies then responded to both the Auto Tech and the Econo Lodge. The Prius was found at the Auto Tech store. The suspect was allegedly found hiding in a restricted area of the motel and identified as 42-year-old Deangelo Tywan Waller.

Waller was taken into custody by deputies without incident and charged with two counts of Felony Grand Larceny.

He is currently being held at the Henry County Detention Center without bail.

WFXR News will update you with further information if it is released.

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I recently had the privilege of representing Fresno County for a week at the International Science and Engineering Fair, the worlds largest international pre-college science competition, in Los Angeles this year. It was an amazing experience, and it made me aware of two things: first, just how large an impact science fairs have had on my love for learning, and second, how lucky I am to have role models who encouraged innovative thinking throughout my childhood  a resource many children dont have today.

Studies have shown that a lack of resources at home and school is linked with lower academic performance.

In the 2023 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress scores for Fresno County, 93.42% and 99.34% of students did not meet state standards for English and math, respectively.

Opinion

As someone who took the test, I do not believe these scores accurately measure students ability. Very few individuals my age are interested in excelling academically when learning consists only of assignments, homework and tests. Understandably, they do not feel engaged.

Several weeks ago, I visited Riverview Elementary School to share my experiences participating at local and state science fairs. It was amazing to see students so excited about science. Not only were they super bright (smarter than I was at that age!), but they were also eager to apply what they were learning in school to address real-world issues.

So what explains the lack of enthusiasm among my peers? Year after year of grueling classes and punishing grading systems have extinguished this feeling among some of my classmates. From personal experience, I feel that our entire community  and subsequently, our test scores  would directly benefit if students love for scientific investigation was nurtured throughout all stages of their education.

Science fairs show promise as a solution to this issue. After I visited Riverview, I started the Moon and Back Foundation to promote a love for learning among youth. This summer, were hosting a virtual science fair summer camp, completely free of charge, to help students develop solutions to tackle the problems they see in the world around them.

We plan on collaborative, all-inclusive group meetings where everyone has a chance to share their thoughts and ideas, thereby encouraging an atmosphere thats not only constructively competitive but synergistic. Mentors will assist and guide students as they navigate their projects, with a final presentation at the end of summer and prizes for top projects.

Were also working with local coordinators to develop a county science fair specifically for elementary and middle school students. According to a study published in PLoS One, roughly 60% of science fair participants felt the activity increased their interest in a career in science or engineering. Conversely, the study also showed that students who were required to participate showed decreased interest.

Science fairs will only be effective if students want to participate. I hope that we, as a community, will be able to come together to collectively foster a learning environment that allows students to pursue their interests rather than blindly follow a curriculum.

Although I hope to provide younger students the opportunity to pursue scientific endeavors, it is up to them to take the leap and join the effort. I have the utmost faith that they will.

Shiv Mehrotra-Varma is a junior from Clovis North High School with an interest in scientific research, policy, and sustainability. As a native-born Fresnan, he loves to help out in the community.
High school teacher tries to pay premium for sex acts with California teen, feds say

A 58-year-old former high school teacher is facing prison time after pleading guilty to looking for sex acts with a 16-year-old in California, federal officials said.

In 2023, Sean Stevenson, a high school science teacher with University City High School in San Diego at the time, believed he was meeting with a 16-year-old to engage in sex acts, according to a June 13 news release by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of California.

Stevenson was looking for commercial sex with a woman who identified herself as Kash, prosecutors said.

Stevenson offered Kash a premium to bring him a girl under the age of 18, officials said.

Over text message, Stevenson told Kash, the younger the better, officials said.

When Kash suggested an 18-year-old, Stevenson replied, not young enough, officials said.

Kash was later arrested as part of the sex trafficking investigation, and an undercover agent continued the conversations, prosecutors said.

Thats when the agent, posing as Kash, offered a 16-year-old cousin for commercial sex, officials said.

As the communication continued, Stevenson stated he was interested in her and negotiated a $140 fee to meet up, officials said.

Stevenson arrived at the location to meet the 16-year-old and was arrested in October with the $140 in his car, prosecutors said.

Stevenson pleaded guilty June 13 to seeking commercial sex with a teenage girl while he was a teacher.

McClatchy News reached out to University High School for a statement on June 14 and was awaiting a response.

Mr. Stevenson was a trusted member of the community who preyed upon our most vulnerable youth, Christopher Davis, acting special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations San Diego, said in the release. HSI is fully committed to working with our law enforcement partners to rescue victims and aggressively investigate allegations of human trafficking and sexual exploitation of children. We encourage anyone who has information related to human trafficking and sexual exploitation of children to report it to law enforcement immediately.

McClatchy News reached out to Stevensons lawyer on June 14 and was awaiting a response.

Stevenson is facing life in prison with a 10-year mandatory minimum sentence, officials said.

He is set to reappear in court in September for his sentencing, according to the release.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 911.

To report potential trafficking situations, you can contact the national hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or chat with the online hotline.

Convicted sex offender tries to meet up with 13-year-old he met on Reddit, feds say

Man sexually assaults woman in parking lot, tries to kidnap her daughter, CA cops say

Man performed lewd acts on kids during nap time, then threatened them, CA cops say
The Home Secretary has demanded an urgent explanation after police officers rammed a cow that was charging around a residential area.

James Cleverly condemned the action as appearing to be unnecessary and heavy handed after footage emerged showing a police vehicle running over the animal twice.

Surrey Police has opened an internal investigation into the matter and promised to refer itself to the independent police watchdog.

Chris Packham, the naturalist, described the officers involved in the incident as monsters.

The incident occurred late on Friday night when police received reports that the cow was running amok in Staines-upon-Thames.

Surrey Police said the cow was running throughout the evening, including on main roads, and that they received reports that it had run into a car and towards pedestrians.

One video shows the animal trotting down a residential street, before being rammed by a four-by-four police vehicle from behind, throwing it off its feet.

The cow can then be seen struggling to stand up. However, before it makes it to its feet the vehicle approaches at a slower speed and traps its head and upper body by its front left wheel.

In a statement, Surrey Police said it happened after multiple unsuccessful attempts to capture the cow over a number of hours.

It said that officers had become extremely concerned about the publics safety.

The cow suffered a large cut to its leg, the force said, and was being assessed by a vet.

Nevertheless, Mr Cleverley, who has ultimate responsibility for the policing, took to X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday afternoon to express his concern.

I can think of no reasonable need for this action, he said. Ive asked for a full, urgent explanation for this.

It appears to be unnecessarily heavy handed.

Stills from the footage show the calf trapped underneath the car

Responding to the video, Mr Packham, a BBC presenter, said on X, formerly Twitter: I dont know where to start with this.

But its surely illegal and must be investigated and prosecuted.

What sort of monster rams a calf? Twice?

Another user described the action as so unnecessary, adding: Its an escaped cow, not a criminal.

The police force said it has referred the incident to its professional standards department, notified the Independent Office for Police Conduct, and would make a voluntary referral in due course.

Chief Insp Sam Adcock said: I know that this has caused distress and Id like to thank the community for their concern. The decision to use the police car is one that was only taken after other methods to stop the cow had failed. There will be an investigation into the actions that led to this, but our focus at all times is on ensuring the safety of the public.

I know there are videos circulating of this incident, which the public may find distressing. I would ask that these videos are sent directly to us to help with our investigation.

The police earlier said that the cow had been secured in a local park.

The animals owner has been located.

Please see our statement below regarding a cow on the loose in Staines-upon-Thames yesterday. The cow has been seen by a vet & is receiving treatment for a large cut to its leg. If you have any info or footage, please submit via our online reporting tool: https://t.co/Ynfx68k3mW pic.twitter.com/UWqdj44Bis  Surrey Police (@SurreyPolice) June 15, 2024

Megan McCubbin, a zoologist and wildlife presenter, said: This is one of the most heartbreaking and disgusting things Ive seen.

I hope whoever is behind the wheel of this police car is confronted by the repercussions for their horrific actions.

That poor poor animal.

Police forces must refer incidents to the IPOC if their actions result in a member of the public being seriously injured or dying while in custody, after contact with the police, after a police shooting, or in a road accident involving police.

Forces can also refer incidents if they have concerns about the conduct of their officers.

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By Gustavo Palencia

TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) -Honduran authorities announced a slate of measures on Friday intended to cut down on organized crime, including the construction of a new prison, collective trials and terrorist designations for gang members.

President Xiomara Castro said in a late-night television address that security forces should be deployed to "urgently execute interventions across parts of the country with the highest incidences of gang crimes, such as murders for hire, drug and firearm trafficking, extortion, kidnapping and money laundering."

The measures echo the mass trials and "mega-prison" pioneered by President Nayib Bukele in neighboring El Salvador, measures that have drawn ire from rights groups alleging abuses but which have lowered the country's murder rates and won him widespread popularity.

Honduran government leaders announced plans to immediately build a prison to hold some 20,000 in the sparsely populated area between the eastern departments of Olancha and Gracias a Dios. This would massively expand the country's current prison capacity, which holds some 20,000 inmates across 25 prisons in overcrowded conditions.

The authorities also said the Honduran Congress must reform the penal code so that drug traffickers and members of criminal gangs who commit specific crimes, such as those listed by Castro, are designated as "terrorists" and face collective trials.

Hector Gustavo Sanchez, who heads the national police force, said a list of "intellectual authors, leaders and gang members" was being distributed and that the immediate arrest of those on the list was being ordered.

Operations will also be launched to locate and destroy plantations growing marijuana and coca leaf - the key ingredient in cocaine - as well as centers being used to process illegal drugs.

Honduras declared a state of emergency in December 2022, suspending parts of the constitution as it sought to crack down on a rise in crime it attributed to gangs.

(Reporting by Gustavo Palencia; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Kylie Madry and William Mallard)
Bishop Hill will host the 15th annual Honor Flight benefit on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Colona School. There will be a pulled-pork lunch, bluegrass music, a live auction and raffle.

All proceeds will be donated to the Honor Flight of the Quad Cities.

More than $160,000 has been raised since the start of the benefit.

To learn about the Honor Flight of the Quad Cities, visit here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
Osceola Countys election-year ballots will feature two fierce community advocates vying to dislodge an incumbent county commissioner, a contender for Kissimmee mayor who exposed a ghost candidate scheme, and a school board member running for reelection after being acquitted of a battery charge.

Those and other races were set with the close of candidate qualifying at noon on Friday, with the primary election set for August 20.

In Osceola Countys District 3, which encompasses the southwestern portion of the county including Poinciana, longtime Democratic incumbent Brandon Arrington must fight to keep the seat hes held since 2008 from challengers Debbie Rambis, Eric Montgomery and FiorDAliza Frias.

Democrat Rambis, a retired nonprofit executive, successfully lobbied the county commission to move a planned green energy factory away from her Bellalago neighborhood and preserve over 300 acres of Mac Overstreet Park. Montgomery, running as part of the Libertarian Party of Florida, is a substitute teacher who often advocates for controlled growth at county commission meetings. The Republican in the race is Frias, a native of the Dominican Republic with significant experience in politics. In 2011 she won a city commission seat in West New York, New Jersey, and in 2018 she ran as a Democrat for District 53 in the Florida House of Representatives but lost in the primaries.

Osceola County Commission District 1, which encompasses the countys tourist-centric area including Celebration, will see incumbent democrat Peggy Choudhry face off against newcomer Republican Disvany Martinez.

The race for Commission District 5, the fastest growing district in Osceola which includes the city of St. Cloud, pits Republican incumbent Ricky Booth against Democrat Dianna Liebnitzky.

In the packed race for mayor of Kissimmee, former Seat 1 city commissioner Olga Castano is hoping her four years of experience will give her an edge over her newcomer opponents Olga A. Carino, John Cortes and Jackie Espinosa. Carino, born in Puerto Rico, is a co-owner along with her husband of the popular downtown Kissimmee restaurant Carinos Cafe.

Cortes, a retired New York City Corrections Officer, served three terms as a state house representative in the Kissimmee-based District 43 from 2014 to 2020. But his runs for Kissimmee mayor in 2006 and 2008 failed, as did his campaign for city commissioner in 2004 and 2010.

Espinosa, owner of Matador Tacos & Tapas Bar in downtown Kissimmee, currently leads the other candidates in fundraising with over $48,000. In 2022 Espinosa filed a lawsuit accusing her opponent in the race for District 4 Commissioner, Carlos Irizarry, of taking part in a ghost candidate scheme to siphon off Hispanic votes and help incumbent Commissioner Cheryl Grieb retain her seat. The lawsuit was dismissed but it prompted a year-long investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement that led to Irizarrys arrest and conviction on 14 charges of campaign finance reporting violations.

Kissimmee voters will also choose among Noel Ortiz, Jaime Reyes and Lisandra Roman as the next commissioner for Seat 1. The race for Kissimmee City Commission Seat 3 will pit incumbent Carlos Alvarez III against Rubin Anderson, Wade A. Choate and Nichole Wagoner de Arguello.

In the race for District Two of the county school board, incumbent Julius Melendez is facing two opponents, Bethzaida Garcia and Diana Graniela. But Melendez has not raised any money and his reputation may be harmed after he was charged last year with battery and serving alcohol to an underage girl. Ultimately he was found not guilty.

Voters will chose among Brian Bennett, Paula Bronson, Scott Ramsey and Dylan J. Reinsel to fill the vacant District 5 school board seat.

In St. Cloud, voters will choose among Phil Lantry, Jennifer A. Paul and Mandy Shafer for Seat Two. Kolby Urban was the only qualifier for Seat Three. Tony Busby, Chris Robertson and Adam Wagner are running for mayor.

In the race for Osceola County Sheriff, Sheriff Marcos Lopez, the first Hispanic to helm the agency, is facing four Democratic primary challengers, one of whom is his predecessor, Russ Gibson. Also running is Luis Tony Fernandez, a former deputy who lost to Lopez in the 2020 general election.

But there are new faces vying to be the next sheriff as well, both former employees of Lopez  Wiley Black, a major in the Sheriffs Offices criminal investigations division before he was fired for undisclosed reasons, and former community services supervisor Amaryllis Rivera. If elected, Rivera would be Osceola Countys first woman sheriff.

Whoever makes it to this years November election would go against Republican Donnie Martinez, a businessman with no law enforcement experience except for recently graduating from a local college police academy.

Sentinel Staff Writer Cristobal Reyes contributed to this report.
on June 24, the Hot Springs Citizens Committee's affordable housing subcommittee will host a public panel discussion event, "Pathways to Housing in Hot Springs" at the Hot Springs Community Center, pictured here.

HOT SPRINGS - As in most everywhere else throughout Western North Carolina, in Hot Springs, the issue of access to housing is one of the most pressing issues facing the town, and the town has formed a subcommittee in its best attempt to tackle the topic.

The newly formed Hot Springs Citizens Committee's affordable housing subcommittee will hold its first meeting June 24 at the Hot Springs Community Center in a free, community-organized event, "Pathways to Housing in Hot Springs."

Panelists for the event will include Mayor Abby Norton; Ben Houser, Hot Springs zoning administrator and a contractor with Appalachian Construction Group; Chris Eastman of State Employees Credit Union; Madison County Planning Board member Ken Kashuba; Hot Springs Housing Authority Executive Director Melanie Prater; and Steve and Cindy Dubose, who own Mountain Home Properties, a local real estate agency.

When the five Hot Springs Town Board candidates met the last week of October 2023 in a candidate town hall ahead of the election, the candidates weighed in on affordable housing, as it was and is one of the most talked about issues facing the town.

According to Andy Fulton, the Hot Springs Citizens Committee's vice chair, the "Pathways to Housing in Hot Springs" event will focus on education and awareness of home ownership and rental availability in Hot Springs. The public event will see the panelists discuss homeownership, renting, new construction, financing, zoning as well as funding opportunities through state programs that assist with down payments.

With Mountain Home Properties, the DuBoses primarily serve Madison County, but also Buncombe, Haywood, Swain and Jackson counties. Cindy DuBose has worked in real estate in Western North Carolina for more than 30 years.

In a May 2022 conversation with Cindy DuBose, she said she has witnessed an "incredible increase in sales" in Madison County, and a particularly pronounced change in areas of Hot Springs.

"In Madison County, and especially out in Spring Creek or Laurel, it was not unusual for things to be on the market for six months to a year, maybe even longer for some places," DuBose said.

"But what was on the market that had been sitting for a long period of time, everything has sold really fast. There's just not much left at all."

Ike Lassiter, one of the members of the Hot Springs Citizens Committee, said the ideal for the presentation/panel discussion event originates with the Construction Professionals Network Institute's April 2023 two-day workshop in Hot Springs, in which the organization and Appalachian State Universitys Department of Geography and Planning conducted a post-workshop report with recommendations to support subsequent action for the town.

According to the report, sustainable growth and shared community values were the two strongest sentiments that residents expressed at the workshop.

"The competing interests between growth and cost control is one of the most significant points of contention in the town, as residents warned against relying too heavily on tourism, but also advocated for building more affordable housing," the report said.

According to Lassiter, while the affordable housing subcommittee has met a number of times, the June 24 meeting will be the first meeting open to the public.

More: Workshop findings: Tourism concern Hot Springs residents have tourism concerns, want sustainable growth, report reveals

More: Madison County housing concerns Want to move from Asheville to Madison County? Expect availability, infrastructure limits

More: Hot Springs Citizens Committee Hot Springs forms 'citizens committee' in hopes to address tourism, growth concerns

More: Hot Springs candidates on issues Hot Springs candidates weigh in on Robert E. Lee plaque, tourism, other issues

The affordable housing subcommittee is one of a number of the town's subcommittees under its Hot Springs Citizens Committee. The Citizens Committee has 16 members, including Chair David Wagner and Kristin Robinson, who serves as secretary treasurer.

Norton said the subcommittees would help with issues such as acquiring grant funding for City Hall, as well as repairs to the community center.

"They'll be responsible for the priority of these recommendations from CPNI and do subcommittees, so that way everybody won't be working on the same thing."

But according to Lassiter, the issue of affordable housing is maybe the most difficult one to tackle.

"It's a real challenge," Lassiter said. "There's another subcommittee that deals with town-owned properties, like the community center. Things like that, in a way, it's easier to deal with. You just have to get money and get a decision made.

"When you're talking about housing with people, you get very broad, complicated business."

While the question of abandoned properties is an issue that Lassiter said is also "lurking in the background," the topic of public housing will be one of the main talking points in the June 24 discussion and presentation.

"What we're going to talk about now is what can be done," Lassiter said. "There's public housing, and there's Section 8 housing, which is run out of Mars Hill, which is federally subsidized. Melanie Prater is going to be there representing Hot Springs Housing Authority. There are several places in town that have publicly-owned housing, and Prater handles that project."

Prater will also discuss the concept of Section 8 housing in Hot Springs, Lassiter said.

The "Pathways to Housing in Hot Springs" event will take place June 24 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Hot Springs Community Center, located at 43 Andrews Ave. N. in Hot Springs.

Johnny Casey has covered Madison County for The Citizen Times and The News-Record & Sentinel for three years. He earned a first-place award in beat news reporting in the 2023 North Carolina Press Association awards. He can be reached at 828-210-6074 or jcasey@citizentimes.com.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Hot Springs to host affordable housing presentation, panel discussion
Several drafters of a proposed constitutional amendment to enshrine the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act in the state Constitution participated in a public forum in Little Rock on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. From left: attorney David Couch, Arkansas Press Association Executive Director Ashley Wimberley, Democratic state Sen. Clarke Tucker, attorney Jen Standerfer and former independent state representative Nate Bell. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate)

Several drafters of a proposed constitutional amendment to enshrine the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act in the state Constitution participated in a public forum in Little Rock on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. From left: attorney David Couch, Arkansas Press Association Executive Director Ashley Wimberley, Democratic state Sen. Clarke Tucker, attorney Jen Standerfer and former independent state representative Nate Bell. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate)

This story was updated at 7:11 p.m. on June 14, 2024 to include comments from Arkansas Citizens for Transparency, and again at 4:15 p.m. on June 17, 2024 to include comments from the Arkansas Bar Association.

Police officers handcuffed Bentonville attorney Jen Standerfer on Friday and escorted her out of the Hot Springs Convention Center after she collected two signatures for citizen-initiated ballot measures, she said.

Standerfer is a founding member of the nonpartisan Arkansas Citizens for Transparency (ACT), which received Attorney General Tim Griffins approval in January to seek support from registered voters in hopes of putting two government transparency measures on the November ballot.

The incident marks at least the second time in the last month that supporters of potential ballot measures faced police opposition while collecting signatures in a public space ahead of a July 5 deadline.

In May, Little Rock police told supporters of a proposed constitutional amendment that would create a limited right to abortion that they could be arrested for obstructing traffic. The canvassers told reporters they were not blocking traffic but instead sought the attention of drivers while standing on a public sidewalk.

The Arkansas Bar Association held its annual conference from Wednesday to Friday in Hot Springs. Standerfer said in an interview that she attended the conference as a member of the association and to complete her required continuing education as an attorney. She said she brought petitions for both measures in case anyone wanted to sign them.

One proposed measure would alter the state Freedom of Information Act to codify a definition of a public meeting, broaden the legal definitions of a governing body and communication among members of government bodies, create stiffer civil penalties for violating the FOIA and protect citizens right to appeal FOIA decisions, among other things.

The other proposed measure would amend the state Constitution to create the right to government transparency, defined as the governments obligation to share information with citizens.

Proposed acts require 72,563 signatures by July 5 in order to appear on the November ballot, while proposed amendments require 90,704 signatures.

Standerfer said Hot Springs police first asked her to stop soliciting signatures Thursday evening when she brought a wagon full of petition documents with a sign on it into the convention center. She complied with the request not to bring the wagon and sign back Friday morning, she said.

The convention center has a policy against solicitation of any kind, said Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot Springs, which runs the convention center.

We have an obligation to the people who rent our space that they can use it without being bothered, Arrison said.

He added that the content of the petitions had nothing to do with the opposition to Standerfer collecting signatures.

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Standerfer said she did not ask anyone for signatures or share information about the proposed ballot measures unless someone approached her and asked about them directly.

It didnt feel contentious to me. This wasnt me going up to people and saying Hey, can I talk to you about the FOIA? she said. Literally, it is the most minimally intrusive kind of speech Anytime someone approaches me about it, I will engage with them.

After two people signed petitions on Friday, police approached Standerfer and said both the convention center and the bar association did not want her soliciting signatures. Officers threatened her with jail time, handcuffed her and escorted her from the building, but then removed the handcuffs and said she had been trespassing but would not be charged or sent to jail, she said.

Arrison said he was not present Friday and did not see Standerfer collect signatures or interact with police, but she must have done something that made them think she was soliciting signatures again.

The Hot Springs Advertising and Promotion Commission owns the convention center and is responsible for spending the citys 3% tax on prepared food and lodging to promote the city. The commission authorized nearly $4.5 million in capital improvements for the center last year, according to the Hot Springs Sentinel-Record.

Standerfer said she was not trespassing at the convention center, contrary to what police told her, because it was paid for with taxpayer dollars.

She also said it was unusual for the Arkansas Bar Association to take issue with her being willing to collect signatures because its conferences consistently have a political undertone. Attorneys frequently run for office, and Standerfer herself once ran as a Democrat for a seat in the state House of Representatives.

I have never been at a bar meeting where you did not have a candidate wearing a sticker, or hand you a sticker, hand you a palm card or ask you for support in an election, she said.

She added that the Bar Association told her it took no position on the government transparency ballot measures, but the Hot Springs police told her the organization wanted her to leave because she was collecting signatures.

I would hope that government bodies that serve the people would do the people the service of telling them, Hey, weve got a policy against that, before calling the police and having them removed from the building, Standerfer said. Its sad to me that weve lost this sense of community because people are so incensed by the idea of politics.

Arkansas Citizens for Transparency issued a statement Friday night promising to continue fighting for Arkansans right to know.

While Arkansas Citizens for Transparency strongly supports the rule of law, this protection must also extend to Standerfers constitutional right to advocate for the First Amendment, the group said.

The Arkansas Bar Association and the Hot Springs Police Department did not return requests for comment as of Friday evening.

The Advocate has sent FOIA records requests to the police department, asking for Standerfers arrest report, if there is one, and the body camera footage from the officers that escorted her from the convention center.

On Monday, the Bar Association said in a statement that no one who was authorized to speak on behalf of the organization asked convention center representatives to remove Standerfer from the premises but instead informed her of the centers policy against solicitation.

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The post Hot Springs police handcuff advocate for government transparency, remove her from public venue appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Republican Congressman Glenn GT Thompson (R-Penn.) is excited for the farm bill to hit the House floor.

We brought the voices of American agriculture to the table, Thompson said.

The House farm bill includes nutrition program assistance and rural support funding like net crop insurance.

It allows a farmer and a rancher to pay, to pay enough bills off to keep farming for the following year, Thompson said.

Thompson is also proud the farm bill includes critical support for dairy farmers, especially in his central Pennsylvania district.

Dairy is our largest commodity. And the dairy margin coverage is, a fairly new, risk management program, Thompson said.

About 80% of the farm bill is dedicated to food and nutrition programs, like SNAP, which Thompson says is necessary.

The nutrition title is about food security and it and, and rural America. We should take great pride that we help neighbors in need, Thompson said, This is a really strong bipartisan bill.

House Democratic Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) doesnt agree.

That, in fact, is an inaccurate statement. But no surprise, Jeffries said.

Jeffries criticized the bill for cutting nearly $30 billion in food and nutrition assistance and says it will fail because of that.

No one. Believes with any degree of credibility that the farm bill that emerged out of the AG committee has a shot, Jeffries said.

Despite Jeffries expectations, the Senate has a similar version of the farm bill and Thompson is confident both versions will pass, and the chambers will meet in the middle.

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House GOP passes defense bill that Dems say is poisoned

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  House lawmakers passed the annual defense spending bill Friday. But several amendments created controversy for a bill that typically has large bipartisan support.

House Republicans say the Defense spending bill strengthens the military at a critical time.

Its necessary. We got a world in crisis, Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.) said.

The roughly $844 billion plan includes a nearly 20% pay raise for junior troops and a smaller raise for all other servicemembers. Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett says its long overdue.

I like the fact that some of our service members can come off of food stamps for goodness sakes, Burchett said.

It also allocates more than a billion dollars to improve military housing. Pennsylvania Congressman Dan Meuser says the changes will help lagging military recruitment.

This is done to send a message that we value you, we want to pay you more, we want you to have a better quality of life for you and your family, Meuser said.

The bill had numerous amendments and Democrats pushed back on several from the GOP they say poison the bill.

One reverses the Pentagons policy to pay for travel of those seeking abortions. Another eliminates diversity, equity and inclusion positions at the Defense Department.

Like a bulletin board for a bunch of right-wing graffiti. Anti-gay, anti-DEI , anti-affirmative action, so-on, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said.

Raskin said thats why a majority of Democrats voted against whats usually a largely bipartisan bill.

Its totally wrong to use national defense legislation as a billboard for all of your right-wing ideological causes, Raskin said.

The legislation now heads to the Democratic-controlled Senate, where its likely to change.

I totally expect them to wreck it, Rep. Burchett said.

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The House passed a large defense bill Friday evening that included a provision that would automatically enroll young men between the ages of 18 and 26* for the Selective Service.

The House's version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which would authorize $895 billion in military spending, passed by a vote of 217199. It's unlikely to be picked up by the Democrat-controlled Senate because of numerous amendments regarding abortion, diversity efforts, and transgender medical treatments. The Selective Service provision, though, is part of an enduring bipartisan effort to keep the framework for military conscription in place, even though the draft ended in 1975.

Automatic registration would replace the coming-of-age tradition that all 18-year-old male U.S. citizens experience when they get a card in the mail from Uncle Sam informing them that they're required under threat of criminal penalties to register for the Selective Service.

Supporters of the legislation framed it as a more efficient and cost-effective method.

"By using available federal databases, the [Selective Service] agency will be able to register all of the individuals required and thus help ensure that any future military draft is fair and equitable," Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (DPa.) said on the House floor. "This will also allow us to rededicate resourcesbasically that means moneytowards reading readiness and towards mobilizationrather than towards education and advertising campaigns driven to register people."

The other, unspoken effect would be removing young men's choice to engage in civil disobedience.

The draft is a hobby horse for Houlahan, an Air Force veteran. She also spearheaded a House bill in 2021 to require women to register with the Selective Service, effectively doubling the draft pool.

As Reason's Matt Welch wrote in 2021, the Selective Service is not a proud part of America's civic fabric but an on-again-off-again tool of the Pentagon:

The Selective Service System was first founded in 1917 to feed bodies into America's World War I efforts. It was disbanded in 1920, fired back up in 1940, re-formatted in 1948, and then terminated in 1975 as part of Washington's decisive shift to an all-volunteer military. Then a panicky President Jimmy Carter in 1980, alarmed by the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan, reinstituted draft registration as a just-in-case rite of passage for boys to complete within 30 days of their 18th birthday, under theoretical penalty of five years imprisonment and (eventually) up to $250,000 in fines. While there have only been 14 convictions for Selective Service refuseniks, and none since 1986, those 100,000 or so young men per year who disobey Washington's marching orders are typically barred from working government jobs, receiving student loans, and (in around 40 states) obtaining a driver's license.

There is a growing centrist consensus among liberals and hawkish conservatives on expanding the Selective Service. The American Civil Liberties Union, for example, is fighting for the right of women to be conscripted and argues that the Selective Service is an example of overt sex discrimination.

But equality in the service of a broader deprivation of rights is no virtue, and conscription remains an immoral institution at its core.

"Conscription of any kind contravenes any constitution that professes to guarantee individual liberties," Fred Etcheverry wrote in Reason in 1972, when the draft remained an active menace to young men. "Otherwise, what is to prevent conscription from being the twelve months Senator Taft feared or the two years we now have, the four years of the National Service Act Bill, or forever? If conscription is limited to an emergency, then who decides what is an emergency? Is ten percent unemployment a sufficient enough emergency to warrant conscription?"

Mandatory national service of some sort or another is a perennial bad idea trotted out by nationalists and technocrats concerned about "unity," but America's all-volunteer military is not a self-inflicted weakness. It's a sign of strengtha free citizenry's confidence that they will know when to fight. The Selective Service is a vestige of fear. It should be abolished, not made more equitable and efficient.

*CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misstated the proposed age range of automatic enrollment in the Selective Service.

The post House Passes Bill To Automatically Register Young Men for the Draft appeared first on Reason.com.
Hungary explains why it lifted its veto on start of Ukraine's EU accession talks

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said that his country succeeded in including all its conditions in the negotiation framework on the basis of which Ukraine's accession to the EU will be negotiated.

Source: Szijjarto on Facebook

Details: Szijjarto stated that after "intense discussions", the EU agreed that the negotiation framework for Ukraine should include all of Hungary's demands regarding the observance of the rights of national minorities.

"Some member states did not want to hear about this condition, but we made it clear that we insist on restoring the rights of minorities to preserve their national identity, use their mother tongue and study in their mother tongue," he commented.

Now, Szijjarto said, the negotiating framework states that Ukraine "must return to the Hungarians of Zakarparttia the rights taken away from them in recent years."

Background:

The day before, the permanent representatives of the EU member states agreed on the negotiation framework for the accession talks between Ukraine and Moldova.

The decision of the EU ambassadors means that on 25 June, as planned, an intergovernmental conference will be held to officially launch the accession negotiations between Ukraine and Moldova.

Hungary, at the level of permanent representatives, blocked the decision, speaking of "insufficient progress made by Ukraine on national minorities." At the same time, the European Commission gave a positive verbal assessment of the progress of European integration reforms in Ukraine and Moldova in early June.

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Hunter Biden, 54, was found guilty on all three charges he faced during his trial about a 2018 gun purchase, where he was accused of lying on federal paperwork, claiming he was not using or addicted to drugs at the time of purchase.

He is now facing up to 25 years in prison.

Following his guilty verdict, many experts claim Hunter Biden's story is helping to raise awareness regarding addiction.

Looking Back At The President's Son's Addiction History

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The son of President Joe Biden has been public about his struggles with addiction and has openly discussed his addiction to drugs, including cocaine and alcohol. It has, unfortunately, had an impact on his personal and professional life.

Hunter Biden has sought treatment for his addiction issues multiple times and has acknowledged the toll that addiction has taken on his relationships, career, and family. The 54-year-old has also spoken about his efforts to recover and maintain sobriety.

His openness about his struggles has contributed to broader conversations about addiction, treatment, and recovery in society. His recent gun trial has only intensified these conversations.

Hunter Biden's Story Raises Awareness

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William C. Moyers, vice president of Public Affairs and Community Relations at Hazelden Foundation, advocates for others to pay attention to Hunter's story, which ultimately helps bring awareness to addiction.

Hunter Bidens story is a story that all too many Americans know intimately, he said, per BBC. Its a good thing if, at the end of the day, we shift our conversations and our focus away from just piling on and instead recognize that addiction is a public health crisis and that recovery is possible.

Dr. Lucas Trautman, medical director at a chapter of American Addiction Centers in Mississippi, also acknowledged how Hunter's story may be more relatable than Americans realize.

Every family, whether youre coastal or in the American heartland, probably has a family member or an extended family member who [has] a substance use disorder, Dr. Trautman told the outlet. Were constantly trying to destigmatize substance use treatment so that people come forward. Any time we use a public figure who has a substance abuse disorder for political gain and paint them in a nefarious light, it could stigmatize other people suffering from addiction."

How The President's Son's Trial Affected The U.S.

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Others spoke out, including Pat Aussem, vice president at Partnership to End Addiction, who works on programs for families, advocating for addiction following Hunter Biden's story.

We need to get substance use out in the public, people talking about it, and developing the policies and strategies and tools put in place to holistically help people," he said.

Hunter Biden Talks About Recovery

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While Hunter Biden says he is "disappointed by the outcome," he is looking towards his road to recovery.

I am more grateful today for the love and support I experienced this last week from Melissa, my family, my friends, and my community than I am disappointed by the outcome. Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time.

Hunter's lawyer, Abbe Lowell, added "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. Through all he has been through in his recovery, including this trial, Hunter has felt grateful for and blessed by the love and support of his family.

President Joe Biden On His Son's Trial

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The President of the United States spoke on his son's guilty verdict, explaining that while he is President, he is also a father.

"Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today," he said in a statement, per CNN. "So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery."

"I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal. Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that," the President added.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, help is available. SAMHSAs National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357.)
An independent investigation into New Yorks handling of the COVID-19 pandemic found that former Gov. Andrew Cuomos (D) response engendered public mistrust and sowed confusion.

The investigation, commissioned by current Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), found that Cuomos administration and its lack of communication with agencies and facilities, particularly nursing homes, across the state resulted in resources wasted and mistrust among individuals.

The report, released Friday by The Olson Group, noted that New York State was frequently categorized as the United Statess epicenter for the disease.

COVID-19 rapidly spread through New York City and across the state, testing every facet of emergency preparedness, public health, human services, and disaster response and recovery, the report said.

New York was presumed to be one of the most prepared states for an infectious disease outbreak, investing in the development of pandemic plans and bolstering its healthcare establishments, the report noted.

The report argued that New York was prepared for other health emergencies, like the outbreak of H1N1, but as COVID took over, Cuomo moved away from the states established plan and toward the promotion of top down initiatives, often based on outside expertise.

Cuomo, who resigned from office in 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations, issued hundreds of executive orders to mitigate the spread of the virus, the group said.

Cuomo particularly drew criticism for his handling of nursing facilities and the impact the pandemic had on the elderly. The group found that policies on how nursing homes should handle COVID were rushed and uncoordinated. Still, the report acknowledged that fatality rates in New York were consistent with the rest of the country.

The Cuomo administration was scrutinized for its policy that required nursing homes to readmit recovering COVID-19 patients to avoid hospitals from being overwhelmed. State fatality figures significantly undercounted the deaths, The Associated Press reported.

Cuomos spokesperson, Rich Azzopardi, defended the governors approach in a statement to the AP.

While this report cuts through the political garbage that has consumed the nursing home issue and points out how circumstances were consistent nationwide, its ridiculous to suggest that this pandemic response be treated the same as H1N1 or Legionnaires outbreaks, the statement said.

Earlier this week, Cuomo was called to testify before the House committee investigating the pandemic about his alleged failure to cooperate with an investigation into the states nursing home policies during COVID.

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High voltage power lines run along the electrical power grid on May 16, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. The U.S. Senate approved three of President Joe Bidens nominees to serve on the nations top energy regulatory panel this week. Industry, renewable power and environmental groups cheered the vote on the new members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Three nominees by President Joe Biden to serve on the nations top energy regulatory panel, which had risked losing a quorum, were approved this week by the U.S. Senate.

The vote to approve the new members  two Democrats and a Republican  for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission was cheered by industry, renewable power and environmental groups alike, who said a full a complement of commissioners is essential to the body meeting the challenges posed by an aging electric grid, a fast-shifting generation mix and debates over natural gas infrastructure, among other pressing energy issues.

We are pleased to see FERC will be restored to a full roster, which will help provide regulatory certainty and the attention needed on key questions impacting our nations energy systems, said Todd Snitchler, president and CEO of the Electric Power Supply Association, or EPSA, which represents companies that own power plants in competitive electricity markets.

Having a full complement of five commissioners will allow FERC to keep advancing the vital work needed to deliver reliable, affordable and clean power to everyone around the country, said Ted Kelly, director of clean energy at the nonprofit Environmental Defense Fund.

FERC, which regulates interstate transmission and wholesale sales of electricity, as well as interstate transmission of natural gas and oil, among other responsibilities, rarely shows up on peoples radar screens, said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. But its mission is essential. Every time you turn on the light or touch the thermostat or see new power lines go up, the rules, regulations (and) policies of FERC are at work.

Leaving the seats vacants, Schumer said, could create serious backlog and delay, potentially slowing down new projects that power peoples homes and cites.

The new commissioners are: David Rosner, a Democrat and FERC energy industry analyst; West Virginia Solicitor General Lindsay See, a Republican who led the states successful legal fight against the Environmental Protection Agencys carbon rules; and Judy Chang, a Democrat, energy economist and the former undersecretary of energy and climate solutions for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She is also an adjunct lecturer and senior fellow at Harvards Kennedy School.

They join Chairman Willie Phillps, a Democrat, and Commissioner Mark Christie, a Republican. Commissioner Allison Clements, a Democrat, announced earlier this year she would not seek a second term. By law, FERC has five members, with no more than three from the same political party. They are appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate and serve five-year staggered terms.

Though the commission will maintain a 3-2 Democratic majority, at least one environmental group has been critical of Rosners selection.

Friends of the Earth called Rosners fossil fuel ties disqualifying and blasted his work with the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, headed by the powerful and pro-coal Sen. Joe Manchin, of West Virginia who in May switched his registration from Democrat to independent. Manchin recommended Rosner, who was also previously a senior policy advisor at the U.S. Department of Energy and an associate director at the Bipartisan Policy Centers energy project, for the commission seat last year, Politicos E&E News reported. The Koch Industries-linked American Energy Alliance has also criticized Changs past opposition to new natural gas pipelines. But for the Senate, at least, the relatively smooth confirmation process appeared to show that having a full complement of commissioners was preferable to picking fights over individual nominees.

We all know that having a fully staffed FERC is going to make a lot of difference in what we do in this country, Manchin told his colleagues Tuesday, adding that each of the nominees had cleared his committee with extremely strong bipartisan support.

Each of the nominees demonstrated deep experience on energy and legal matters, a commitment to follow the law and work within the authorities Congress has provided to FERC and a recognition that all of our nations sources play an important role providing affordable, reliable energy to families and businesses across our country.

Sen. John Barrasso, a Republican from Wyoming and the ranking member on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, noted that FERC went for seven months without a quorum during the Obama administration, putting many projects that help keep the lights on, help heat our homes and aid our allies abroad on hold.

While I may not agree with each of the nominees on all the items all the time, all of them are well qualified, he said.

The post Industry, clean power groups breathe a sigh of relief as Senate approves energy regulators appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
High voltage power lines run along the electrical power grid on May 16, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. The U.S. Senate approved three of President Joe Bidens nominees to serve on the nations top energy regulatory panel this week. Industry, renewable power and environmental groups cheered the vote on the new members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Three nominees by President Joe Biden to serve on the nations top energy regulatory panel, which had risked losing a quorum, were approved this week by the U.S. Senate.

The votes to approve the new members  two Democrats and a Republican  for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission was cheered by industry, renewable power and environmental groups alike, who said a full a complement of commissioners is essential to the body meeting the challenges posed by an aging electric grid, a fast-shifting generation mix and debates over natural gas infrastructure, among other pressing energy issues.

We are pleased to see FERC will be restored to a full roster, which will help provide regulatory certainty and the attention needed on key questions impacting our nations energy systems, said Todd Snitchler, president and CEO of the Electric Power Supply Association, or EPSA, which represents companies that own power plants in competitive electricity markets.

Having a full complement of five commissioners will allow FERC to keep advancing the vital work needed to deliver reliable, affordable and clean power to everyone around the country, said Ted Kelly, director of clean energy at the nonprofit Environmental Defense Fund.

FERC, which regulates interstate transmission and wholesale sales of electricity, as well as interstate transmission of natural gas and oil, among other responsibilities, rarely shows up on peoples radar screens, said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. But its mission is essential. Every time you turn on the light or touch the thermostat or see new power lines go up, the rules, regulations (and) policies of FERC are at work.

Leaving the seats vacants, Schumer said, could create serious backlog and delay, potentially slowing down new projects that power peoples homes and cites.

The new commissioners are: David Rosner, a Democrat and FERC energy industry analyst; West Virginia Solicitor General Lindsay See, a Republican who led the states successful legal fight against the Environmental Protection Agencys carbon rules; and Judy Chang, a Democrat, energy economist and the former undersecretary of energy and climate solutions for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She is also an adjunct lecturer and senior fellow at Harvards Kennedy School.

The Senate approved the nominations of Rosner and See on Wednesday, June 12. A final vote on Changs nomination took place Thursday, June 13.

They join Chairman Willie Phillips, a Democrat, and Commissioner Mark Christie, a Republican. Commissioner Allison Clements, a Democrat, announced earlier this year she would not seek a second term. By law, FERC has five members, with no more than three from the same political party. They are appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate and serve five-year staggered terms.

Though the commission will maintain a 3-2 Democratic majority, at least one environmental group has been critical of Rosners selection.

Friends of the Earth called Rosners fossil fuel ties disqualifying and blasted his work with the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, headed by the powerful and pro-coal Sen. Joe Manchin, of West Virginia who in May switched his registration from Democrat to independent. Manchin recommended Rosner, who was also previously a senior policy advisor at the U.S. Department of Energy and an associate director at the Bipartisan Policy Centers energy project, for the commission seat last year, Politicos E&E News reported. The Koch Industries-linked American Energy Alliance has also criticized Changs past opposition to new natural gas pipelines. But for the Senate, at least, the relatively smooth confirmation process appeared to show that having a full complement of commissioners was preferable to picking fights over individual nominees.

We all know that having a fully staffed FERC is going to make a lot of difference in what we do in this country, Manchin told his colleagues Tuesday, adding that each of the nominees had cleared his committee with extremely strong bipartisan support.

Each of the nominees demonstrated deep experience on energy and legal matters, a commitment to follow the law and work within the authorities Congress has provided to FERC and a recognition that all of our nations sources play an important role providing affordable, reliable energy to families and businesses across our country.

Sen. John Barrasso, a Republican from Wyoming and the ranking member on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, noted that FERC went for seven months without a quorum during the Obama administration, putting many projects that help keep the lights on, help heat our homes and aid our allies abroad on hold.

While I may not agree with each of the nominees on all the items all the time, all of them are well qualified, he said.

The post Industry, clean power groups breathe a sigh of relief as Senate approves energy regulators appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
A new initiative to help homeless teenagers and young adults has tripled the number of beds available in Central Florida, but the region needs more as the homeless population surges, advocates say.

The Brighter Days Community Initiative, announced this week, is the first in the area to focus solely on teenagers and young adults ages 16 to 24.

This segment of the population often cited safety concerns when seeking refuge in adult shelters, according to Aja Hunter, youth project director at the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida, which is running the new effort with other community organizations.

The initiative, funded by a federal grant, wants to find more hotels, apartments and even spare rooms in residents houses to help provide more young people with a safe place to live. It has already added 180 beds for teens and young adults up from 70 previously available, but that still falls short of the demand.

Last year, 1,529 young adults sought housing assistance in Central Florida, and the school districts identified 427 students older than 16 who were homeless.

Earlier this month, the homeless network announced the Orlando area faced a homeless crisis with a raging river of people who are asking for help because of rising housing costs.

Hunter said parents are losing their homes because of rising rent and leaving their older teens and young adults to fend for themselves.

They are sleeping in cars or couch surfing and not having consistent housing, Hunter said.

The Brighter Days effort began in 2022 with a $8.4 million federal grant awarded to the network. To secure all the funding, the group needs to raise an additional $1 million in matching funds.

State Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, who helped the network get state money for the initiative, said it needs to be creative as it looks to expand housing options.

Find types of units that maybe status quo wouldnt consider housing options, but as long as they are safe and air conditioned and meet basic health standards, then we absolutely should consider that as a housing option, Eskamani said.

Yasmine Arencibia was 19 years old when she became homeless. She was working as a shift manager at McDonalds and living in her 2007 Honda Civic.

At night, she would park in unattended parking garages and climb into the back seat to sleep.

My windows werent tinted, so I had to try and cover them with pillows. I didnt live in a good neighborhood. A lot of people would knock on the windows. It was scary, said Arencibia, who now serves on the Brighter Days youth advisory board.

She had a membership to Planet Fitness, where she would shower, and a storage unit for her belongings.

When she was 23, she applied for housing assistance through Impower, one of the organizations which teamed up with the Homeless Services Network for the new initiative.

Impower provided housing and mental health support and also helped Arencibia earn her high school diploma and learn life skills, like how to balance a budget.

Brighter Days aims to provide similar wraparound services, such as childcare, transportation and help with paying utilities.

The initiative also funds a drop-in center, where the youth homeless can drop-in to receive crisis counseling and peer support, or a free meal and a hot shower.

But the most immediate objective is to find them a home.

When you provide the housing up front, it gives people a leg up as they continue on their path towards success, said Hunter.

The challenge with a housing first approach, however, is the lack of affordable housing in Central Florida.

In 2019, the median monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment in the Orlando area was $1,264. It has since climbed to $2,011 a month.

Brighter Days has used its grant money to pay for rooms in hotel and apartment complexes and is looking for property owners with spare rooms or garage apartments interested in becoming hosts to a homeless teen or young adult.

Unlike previous programs, a person doesnt have to be homeless to apply for assistance. Instead, they they can ask for help earlier, when struggling to pay rent and utilities.

If we can step in now, we have an opportunity to provide our youth with an education, a career path and a chance to become self-supporting tax paying citizens, said Martha Are, the networks CEO.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (L) boards the government plane alongside his wife Britta Ernst after the conclusion of the G7 summit to fly on to the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland. Michael Kappeler/dpa

An international conference opening in a secluded resort in Switzerland on Saturday is set to discuss the first building blocks of a peace process in the Ukraine war.

National leaders and other high-ranking representatives from 92 countries as well as from international organizations are expected to attend. Russia, however, was not invited.

They are to discuss issues ranging from grain exports from Ukraine, the safety of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant and humanitarian issues including prisoner exchanges.

The United States, Kiev's most important ally, will be represented by Vice President Kamala Harris.

Harris announced after her arrival in Switzerland that the US was giving more than $1.5 billion in new aid for Ukraine, much of it to go towards the energy sector and humanitarian assistance.

A slew of leaders from Europe will be there, including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

"This is a diplomatic seedling that we are watering so that it can grow," Scholz said in an interview with broadcaster ZDF on Saturday morning.

Scholz said he hoped the conference would "lay the foundation" for further negotiations that Russia would take part in.

The meeting is taking place on Ukraine's initiative and President Volodymyr Zelensky is attending. He arrives, as will several leaders, directly from the Group of Seven (G7) meeting in southern Italy, which was largely focused on the Russian war.

Russia currently occupies around a fifth of Ukraine's territory, including the Crimean peninsula, which it illegally annexed in 2014.

Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded on Friday that Ukraine completely relinquish the territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhya and the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea as a condition for an end to the fighting. Kiev rejected the idea as absurd.

The Swiss conference on Saturday and Sunday primarily aims to mobilize international support for Ukraine - including from countries that are friendly to Russia.

But China, which is Putin's most important ally, is not participating. Other influential friends of Russia such as India and South Africa will be there, but are not even represented at ministerial level. Brazil is only participating as an "observer."

There are other high-profile absences, too.

Zelensky travelled to Saudi Arabia this week, sparking speculation that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has a good relationship with Putin, could come. However, the guest list published by the Swiss hosts on Friday evening only includes Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.

Around half of those attending the meeting in a luxury hotel high on the Burgenstock, a mountain ridge on Lake Lucerne, are from Europe and the other half from the rest of the world.

The Swiss hope that a further conference will be decided this year - and that this would include Moscow, which launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart addressed the state convention held at the Prairie Meadows Events Center in Altoona June 15, 2024. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Democratic elected officials at their partys state convention emphasized Saturday that the issues of abortion and education could help the party regain ground from Republicans in the state.

Iowa Democrats are facing steep challenges in Iowa. Following the 2022 midterm elections, the states congressional delegation is made up entirely of Republicans, and all statewide elected officials except for Iowa Auditor Rob Sand are also members of the GOP. In the Statehouse, Republicans hold a majority in the House and supermajority in the Senate.

At Prairie Meadows Events Center in Altoona, Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart called for Iowa Democrats to prepare for the 2024 general election, and to be ready for a potentially tough road ahead. She talked about her experience growing up on a farm in Iowa, having to pick rocks with her siblings on farmland.

Sometimes, I think were in a rocky place right now, right? Hart said. And weve got to pick up that rock that makes the most sense for us.  Find the thing that you can do, that you can contribute to this effort, and do it in spades. Thats what weve got to do from now until November.

But House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst said she believed there was ample opportunity for the minority party to flip seats across the state this election. As Democrats prepare to volunteer, fundraise and knock doors in the lead-up to the Nov. 5 general election, Konfrst said that message discipline should be at the top of everyones minds.

Iowans are voting on two issues this year, Konfrst said. Whats on their mind is public education and abortion  and reproductive freedom. And guess what? Theyre with us.

Democrats need to focus on access to abortion and public K-12 education, Konfrst said, in light of recent GOP measures on both. This year, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law a measure making changes to Iowas Area Education Agencies that received significant backlash during the legislative session. The agencies provide special education and other support services to children with disabilities and their families.

The year before, Reynolds signed into law the states Education Savings Account program, allowing Iowa families to use public funds for private school tuition and associated costs. Democrats say both of these programs are unpopular with Iowans and harm the states public school system, especially rural school districts.

Additionally, the state is awaiting an Iowa Supreme Court decision on the six-week abortion ban signed into law during a special session in July 2023. The law was passed following a June 2023 split court decision that let an injunction on a similar so-called fetal heartbeat law from 2018 in place.

Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll results show that a majority of Iowans support abortion being legal in all or most cases, have a favorable view of AEAs and opposed private school scholarships.

Senate Minority Leader Pam Jochum, who is not running for reelection, said that it was up to Iowa Democrats to focus on these issues as they hit the campaign trail. She said that as Republicans have focused on culture war policies, Democrats are committed to opposing GOP efforts on issues like abortion and taking books containing depictions of sex acts out of school libraries  another 2023 measure currently being challenged in court.

Iowans want us to focus on issues that affect their everyday lives, like affordable childcare and health care and housing and collective bargaining rights and public education, Jochum, of Dubuque, said. They do not want us arguing over bathrooms and bedrooms and books.

Speakers also called for Democrats to campaign and prepare to support President Joe Biden in the 2024 general election. The convention is where Iowa Democrats officially announced delegates to send to the Democratic National Convention. This years national convention is set for Chicago Aug. 19-22 to support Biden, the presumptive presidential nominee. Biden won the support of all 40 delegates in Iowa Democratic caucuses, conducted via a mail-in presidential preference ballot for the first time this nomination cycle.

At the convention, Iowans heard from Vice President Kamala Harris in a video message thanking Democrats for their support, and emphasizing the need for Biden to win against former President Donald Trump in the Nov. 5 presidential election.

Ultimately, in this election, we each face a question: What kind of country do we want to live in? Harris said in the video. A country of compassion, freedom and rule of law? Or a country of chaos, fear and hate? We each have the power to answer that question with our voice, with our feet and with our hope. And together we will win.

The Democratic congressional nominees, candidates Sarah Corkery, Lanon Baccam and Ryan Melton  the nominees taking on incumbent Republican Reps. Ashley Hinson, Zach Nunn and Randy Feenstra respectively  will also address the event. Democrat Christina Bohannan, running against U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, is not scheduled appear at the convention.

The Republican Party of Iowa held its state convention May 4.

The post Iowa Democrats at state convention pin 2024 hopes on abortion, education issues appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Full Text: Speech by Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the welcoming gala dinner in New Zealand

Xinhua) 09:31, June 15, 2024

Chinese Premier Li Qiang addresses a welcome banquet held by various social communities of New Zealand at Auckland Museum in Auckland, New Zealand, June 14, 2024. Li attended the welcome banquet together with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon here on Friday. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

WELLINGTON, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Friday delivered a speech at a welcoming gala dinner in Auckland, New Zealand.

The following is the full text of the speech:

Remarks by H.E. Li Qiang

Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China

At the Welcoming Gala Dinner in New Zealand

Auckland, June 14, 2024

Your Honorable Prime Minister Christopher Luxon,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends,

Good evening! It's such a pleasure to join so many friends in the beautiful city of Auckland. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, I would like to extend heartfelt thanks to people from across the New Zealand society who have given care and support to the development of China-New Zealand relations over the years. I also wish to send my best regards to the warm and friendly people of New Zealand.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of President Xi Jinping's visit to New Zealand and the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between our two countries. At such an important moment, l am honored to be invited by Prime Minister Luxon to visit this land of fascinating beauty and abundance. We are delighted to see that in the past decade, China-New Zealand relations have made historic progress, and cooperation in various fields has advanced with unprecedented breadth and depth. New Zealand was the first developed country in the West to sign a Belt and Road cooperation document and upgrade its free trade agreement with China. China, on its part, has remained New Zealand's largest trading partner and biggest export market. Two-way trade has doubled from around NZ$20 billion to around NZ$40 billion. Our exchanges and cooperation in areas such as culture, tourism and education, and at the sub-national level are flourishing, and the number of sister provinces/states and sister cities has grown to 42 pairs. The fruitful results of our friendly cooperation have not only generated tangible benefits to our peoples, but also greatly contributed to prosperity and stability of the region and beyond.

If we delve deeper into history, more stories of friendship and more fruits of cooperation between China and New Zealand will come into view. In the past 52 years of diplomatic ties, China-New Zealand relations have long been a pacemaker in China's engagement with the wider developed world, and set many records along the way. The history of friendly exchanges between our two countries, which can be traced back to the 1860s when the first group of Chinese people arrived in Otago, spans nearly 160 years. For over one and a half centuries, our exchanges have continued to deepen, our cooperation has become closer, and our friendship and mutual understanding have kept growing. What I want to stress here is that despite the distance between us and the difference in national conditions, China and New Zealand have forged a natural bond of affinity and empathy, based on our many commonalities and similarities.

First, we both respect Mother Nature. China and New Zealand are both countries with magnificent landscape and diverse ecosystems. Reverence for nature is an integral part of our traditional values. That is why we both attach great importance to environmental protection and appreciate the necessity of green development. New Zealand is renowned for being a "land of the long white cloud" and "pasture under the blue sky." Capitalizing on its rich natural endowments, New Zealand is a developed country with advanced agricultural and pastoral sector, and an example to the world on ecological sustainability. New Zealand's experience offers valuable inspirations for China's modernization drive. The Chinese people believe in harmony between man and nature. Over the past years, guided by the vision of "lucid waters and lush mountains being invaluable assets," China has made vigorous efforts to promote green and low-carbon transition, and emerged as a leader of new energy vehicles, wind power, photovoltaic and other technologies. The green development of China and New Zealand not only benefits the two countries but also makes positive contribution to building a clean and beautiful world.

Second, we both embrace cultural diversity. China and New Zealand are both countries of multi-ethnicity. Through the exchanges, mutual learning and integration of various ethnic groups, inclusiveness has become a hallmark of both our cultures. In New Zealand, the Maori, Pacific Islands, European and Asian cultures enrich and inspire one another. In China, the distinctive cuisines, clothing styles, dialects and architectures of different regions shape the vibrant landscape of the Chinese culture. Our embrace of cultural diversity has fostered an open mindset in both countries. We both understand that resisting change will make one fall behind the times, while mutually beneficial cooperation is the only way leading to common progress. For the past decades, China and New Zealand have stayed committed to free trade, embraced the trend of economic globalization, and gained real benefits in this process. We have demonstrated with our own experience that openness and cooperation are the critical enablers of national development and prosperity.

Third, we both pursue innovation and creativity. New Zealand has a longstanding reputation for having a robust innovation culture. Since the end of the 19th century, New Zealand has been working to boost agricultural productivity through pasture grass improvement, selective breeding and other new technologies, which makes it a world leader in agricultural technology. With continuous breakthroughs in motors, electronic control and other technologies, New Zealand has nurtured a group of world-renowned high-end brands like Fisher&Paykel. China also attaches great importance to science, technology and innovation. In recent years, we have fully implemented the innovation-driven development strategy, bringing a constant stream of new technologies, new industries and new business forms. In the Global Innovation Index 2023 published by the World Intellectual Property Organization. China and New Zealand both have a high ranking. Our two countries have a lot in common on innovation. This provides a solid foundation for enhancing our cooperation.

Fourth, we both stand for world peace. This largely stems from our similar national characters. New Zealanders like to call themselves Kiwis. The term, as I have learned, refers to a bird and a fruit, and both are sweet and lovable. This nickname is now widely known in the world and has become a symbol of the kind, genuine and friendly people of New Zealand. In China, we often say that peace is precious, kindness is essential and sincerity is paramount. This is a principle hardwired into us by the 5,000-year Chinese civilization. Shaped by our shared traits, China and New Zealand adopt a similar philosophy and approach when it comes to international relations. We both underscore that countries should pursue peaceful relations and seek dialogue and cooperation, not confrontation or conflict, and that only in this way can regional and world peace and tranquility be safeguarded through joint efforts.

These precious commonalities are a valuable asset for our two countries. They have played a large part in the steady progress and fruitful cooperation between China and New Zealand in the past 52 years. Both sides need to cherish and protect the asset, and tap more into it as we continue to grow China-New Zealand relations.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends,

Changes unseen in a century are unfolding faster across the world, and world peace and development is confronted with many difficulties. But just as a New Zealand proverb goes, "Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you." China is ready to join hands with New Zealand to stay true to our common values, carry forward our tradition of friendship and create an upgraded version of China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership, so as to generate strong momentum for stability and development in our two countries, the region and beyond.

First, we should deepen and expand cooperation across the fields. China and New Zealand enjoy great economic complementarities and broad space for cooperation. We need to cement the foundation of cooperation in traditional areas such as biomedicine, agriculture and food, and keep looking deeper for potential in emerging areas such as new energy and the digital economy to expand win-win cooperation and nurture new sources of growth.

Second, we should make our cooperation better serve the people. This is the ultimate goal of our cooperation. The people's well-being should be our important consideration in conducting bilateral cooperation, and inform our decisions on policy making, project planning and inputs, so strategic choices are made that truly benefit the people. We will include New Zealand in China's unilateral visa waiver program. This will further facilitate personnel exchanges between our two countries.

Third, we should contribute to peace and development in the Asia-Pacific and beyond. We need to strengthen communication and coordination on multilateral affairs, uphold the U.N.-centered international system and the international order based on international law, encourage all to practice true multilateralism, and work hand in hand to contribute our wisdom and energy to regional and global peace, stability, development and prosperity. In particular, amid the sluggish global economic recovery, China stands ready to work with New Zealand to be the force we are for global economic recovery and growth.

The Chinese economy has enjoyed an ever stronger momentum of recovery since the beginning of this year. In the first quarter, it got off to a good start with a 5.3 percent growth year on year, and maintained strong consumption, steady increase in investment, elevated levels of imports and exports and rising market confidence. In particular, the high-tech manufacturing industry and emerging industries are showing good momentum and fast strengthening China's new sources of growth. Forecasts for the Chinese economy are being upgraded by international institutions including the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. China will continue to be the largest engine of global growth. Looking over a longer horizon, the Chinese economy will sustain a positive trajectory over the long run as we advance Chinese modernization in all respects through high-quality development and continuously unlock tremendous demand from our huge market of 1.4 billion people. More development in China is a great opportunity for the world. We are ready to continue to share opportunities with other countries to achieve common development.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends,

Auckland is known as the "City of Sails." We Chinese say, "In a boat race, those who row the hardest win." Going forward, let us row together, and set sail towards a brighter future of China-New Zealand friendship and cooperation!

Thank you!

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Hongyu)
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.

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It's going to take "hard work" for Iowa Democrats to have a successful election in November, party Chair Rita Hart told the party's state convention Saturday morning.

Speaking at the Prairie Meadows Events Center in Altoona, Hart encouraged Democrats to "find the thing that you can do that you can contribute to this effort and do it in spades."

"Its going to be a long, hard haul until November," she said. "Lets support each other. Lets encourage each other. Lets do this hard work together, because thats the only way it can be accomplished."

Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart addresses the party's state convention at the Prairie Meadows Events Center in Altoona on Saturday, June 15, 2024.

Iowa Democrats this year are seeking to reelect President Joe Biden, break Republicans' hold on all four of the state's seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and cut into Republican majorities in the Iowa House and Senate.

The party played a recorded video message from Vice President Kamala Harris, who touted the administration's efforts to cancel student loan debt, cap insulin costs at $35 per month for seniors and tackle climate change.

"When we win in November, we will finish the job," Harris said. "We will raise the federal minimum wage, expand access to paid family leave and affordable child care and invest billions of dollars to lower rents and help more Americans buy a home."

Senate Minority Leader Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, said Democrats are fighting for freedoms this year.

"It is our duty to keep that torch of freedom lit for generations to come," she said. "And we will keep that torch of freedom lit by reelecting President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. We will keep the freedom lit, the torch of freedom lit by electing Christina Bohannan, Sarah Corkery, Lanon Baccam and Ryan Melton to the United States House of Representatives."

She said Democrats are facing an "extremist movement," pointing to Republican policies restricting transgender students from school bathrooms that align with their gender identity and banning books that depict sex acts from schools.

"We, Iowa Democrats, are the party of the people and never forget it," she said. "Iowans want us to focus on the issues that affect their everyday lives, like affordable child care and health care and housing and collective bargaining rights and public education. They do not want us arguing over bathrooms and bedrooms and books."

House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, said Democrats can flip Republican-held seats in the Iowa House this year and expand their 36-member minority.

"We can get to the majority as soon as humanly possible," she said. "Not as soon as I want, but sooner than they think. We are going to get this done."

She said Democrats can win races in November by staying focused on education and abortion rights, rather than other issues that Republicans want to talk about.

"Message discipline is critically important this year," Konfrst said. "Every year, but this year especially. Because Iowans are voting on two issues this year. Whats on their mind is public education and abortion and reproductive freedom. And guess what? Theyre with us. So thats what were going to talk about."

Konfrst encouraged Iowans to sign up for text alerts from the party to be informed when the Iowa Supreme Court issues a ruling in the coming weeks on whether the state's Republican-passed six-week abortion ban is constitutional.

Republican Party of Iowa spokesperson Luke Wolff released a statement criticizing Democrats' platform and touting Republicans' record on raising teacher pay and cutting taxes.

"Today, the Iowa Democrats will gather to host their state convention where they will outline their extreme, far-left platform that shapes their party," he said in the statement. "Iowa Democrats wonder why they are in the super-minority while they align themselves with Biden and continue to push out-of-touch policies such as high taxes, open borders, and abortion up until birth."

Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that the Republican Party of Iowa's statement was issued by Luke Wolff.

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Democrats urge focus on education, abortion in November elections
Iran agreed Saturday to release two Swedish nationals held in Tehran for over two years in exchange for a convicted Iranian war criminal tied to the 1988 mass killing of protestors critical of the Islamic Republic in the capital city.

While state-run media in Iran made unsubstantiated claims that Hamid Nouri was illegally detained, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson countered that European Union diplomat Johan Floderus and a second Swedish citizen, Saeed Azizi, were facing a hell on earth, The Associated Press reported.

The Swedish government has worked intensively for them to be released, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson wrote on social media platform X. Today, they will land on Swedish soil and be reunited with their families and loved ones.

In a statement following the swap announcement, Kristersson claimed Iran used the Swedish prisoners as pawns in a cynical negotiation game. He suggested their goal was always to free Nouri. It has been clear all along that this operation would require difficult decisions; now the government has made those decisions.

Floderus was arrested in 2022 as he was preparing to leave Iran with his friends. Azizi was detained in November 2023 and later sentenced to five years in prison.

The prisoner swap was mediated by Oman, according to a post from its Foreign Ministry.

We rejoice at the news of the liberation of EU colleague & Swedish citizen Johan Floderus and his compatriot Saeed Azizi, the EUs top diplomat Josep Borrell Fontelles posted on X. We thank Swedish & Omani authorities.

Nouri was arrested in 2019 and later convicted of war crimes due to his role in the mass execution of political prisoners in 1988. The late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash last month, was also complicit in the death commissions that executed thousands of dissidents near Tehran.

The Islamic Republic has paved its way to exchange prisoners for money or release its criminals by taking citizens of other countries hostage and accusing them of baseless accusations, prominent Iranian human rights advocate Atena Daemi wrote on X. Instead of resisting the coercion and hostage-taking of the Islamic Republic, they prioritize the interests of their people and their country and have proven this many times.

Iranian media has also released footage of Nouri returning to Iran. The video shows him limping off the airplane and being embraced by his family.

I am Hamid Nouri. I am in Iran, he said, per the AP. God makes me free.

Nouri was the first Iranian to be tried under the principle of universal jurisdiction, a legal policy which determines some crimes are so grave that they can be prosecuted anywhere. Nouri received a life sentence, which Amnesty International hailed at the time, and Iran decried as unlawful.

Iran holds another Swedish prisoner, Ahmadreza Djalai, who Amnesty International has said previously was at risk of execution due to the conviction of Nouri.

Last year, the U.S. and Iran swapped 10 prisoners, including Siamak Namazi, who Iran had held for eight years. The U.S. government freed five Iranians and unblocked the transfers of $6 billion in frozen Iranian oil funds, a move that was heavily criticized by conservatives.

Authoritarian regimes like Iran and Russia have increasingly resorted to baselessly arresting Westerners to use in negotiations with the West, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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A distorted narrative painting Israel as a country of colonisers has become an accepted truth, particularly among a generation whose concept of global politics has been formed by social media sized snippets.

It is a tawdry falsehood. Given that many Israelis were driven out of surrounding Middle Eastern countries and many others were survivors of the Holocaust, branding them colonial is laughable  but also deeply dangerous.

My own grandfather was nine when, in 1935, his parents managed to get him out of Mashhad in north-east Persia (now Iran)  a city where being Jewish was punishable by death  to the safety of Jerusalem, where his grandparents lived. Following pogroms in Mashhad a century earlier, those who werent murdered or didnt manage to escape were forced to convert.

But while outwardly those converts kept Islam, even taking Arabic names (my Jewish grandfather took the name Abdul Rachman), at home they preserved their identity and traditions. My grandfather, who moved to London in his 20s, would tell me about their underground synagogues, clandestine matzah baking on Passover and secret Shabbat observance.

He also remembered being told to play on the streets and make as much noise as possible. It was only when he was a little older he realised the din was to disguise the sound of the shofar being blown on Jewish New Year  and the tragic price they would have paid if they had been discovered.

In Baghdad my husbands grandfather wasnt having a great time either. The Jews of Iraq had lived happily under British rule but, after Iraqi independence, anti-Semitism increased. Jews were no longer allowed to hold public office, their houses were regularly looted. Riots saw them murdered and abducted. Most of the Jews fled, leaving everything they possessed behind.

If you can spot a colonialist in this story so far, please do stop me. These are just two of the forgotten pieces of Middle Eastern history that feed into the story of Israel. An estimated 850,000 Jews were driven out of their homes in countries including Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Tunisia, Iran and Libya, many joining the Jewish communities that had been in Israel for millennia.

The Holocaust survivors, who arrived after liberation in 1945 and more in 1948, also dont fit the colonial bill. For the Jews who came before the Holocaust, anti-Semitism was still the motivation. They may have been white but they dont fit the white oppressor narrative theyve been branded with. Those people, so many desperate and destitute, turned swamps into farmland and literally made the desert bloom.

If anything, the story of Israel is the very inverse of colonialism. When Israel gained independence in 1948 the indigenous population, whether Jewish, Muslim, Christian or Druze, were given the vote. And it became a beacon for womens suffrage in the Middle East, particularly for Muslim women. Israeli-Arabs are now part of the fabric of society  they are judges, broadcasters, soldiers, sportspeople and politicians. The Muslim party United Arab List was part of the 2021 coalition.

Thats the inconvenient truth that doesnt fit the social media narrative. There were of course other Muslims who fled Israel in 1948, or were forcibly evicted. Some went to the West Bank and others to the Gaza Strip, where many of their descendants still live.

But its important not to give that story the social media treatment too, and erase its historical context. It happened during a war, after Israel was attacked by Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. So many of these details have been erased, distorting Israels history and its very story of existence. This casting Israel as a colonial force and branding the concept of Zionism as malevolent is crushing real debate rather than encouraging it  and stoking hatred with it.

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In Israel, right-wing settlers question the delivery of aid to Gazans, while Israeli peace activists advocate for the passage of aid trucks.

A Palestinian truck driver is back on the road delivering flour, sugar and salt to Gaza after being attacked by right-wing Israeli settlers last month.

Tamer Muhtaseb and his partners were attempting to deliver much-needed goods at the Tarqumiya checkpoint between the West Bank and Israel, when he was assaulted, according to Muhtaseb, by Israeli settlers who he says sabotaged his truck by throwing bags of flour onto the road.

"They forced us to get out of the car, they started to throw the aids, if I got close to the car, they would hit me," Muhtaseb said. "If you say any word they beat you; they handcuffed me."

(Amir Cohen/Reuters)

The Israel Defense Forces has told ABC News that they condemn attacks on truck drivers.

Before aid reaches Gaza, it changes hands multiple times. Muhtaseb and the other Palestinian drivers line up their vehicles at the last checkpoint in the West Bank before transferring their goods onto Israeli trucks for transportation through Israel.

The trucks are supposed to reach one of the five gate crossings from Israel to Gaza, but even then they face more protests.

ABC News got a chance to speak with a woman settler at the Tarqumiya checkpoint who said she is trying to block the aid from going to the hands of Hamas.

"The people who receive this food, they raped and murdered our children, and we should not give them food," the unidentified woman said. "This money today finances Hamas in Gaza."

MORE: Israels actions during hostage rescue may amount to war crimes, UN agency says

She also said, "It's not hate, and the settlers don't hate them. Rather, it's the opposite. The settlers want to live in peace."

Many Israelis believe that some of the aid Gazans receive is stolen by Hamas, something aid groups deny.

Since the start of the war, the issue of aid has been deeply divisive and highly politicized. Aid groups say that Israel could be doing far more to ensure that desperately needed aid is reaching Gaza. Israeli peace activist Alon Lee Green is advocating for the passage of aid.

"We've been witness to so many escalating attacks here," Green said. "We've seen those right-wing attacking the trucks. They even set trucks on fire. Sent two Palestinian drivers to the hospital. It's a fight over the soul of our own society."

UN agencies are sounding the alarm over high starvation levels, especially in the northern part of the strip.

(Staff Sgt. Malcolm Cohens-Ashley/U.S. Army via AP, FILE)

The UN World Food Program has paused its distribution of humanitarian aid from an American-built pier off Gaza due to safety concerns following one of the deadliest days of the war. It's the latest setback for the $300 million pier, which had only just returned to operation after being damaged by rough seas.

However, Israel insists that enough aid is being authorized for delivery and that aid groups are the ones creating logistical challenges that result in a bottleneck.

"I've been working in Palestine for five years," Andrea de Domenico, head of the UN Humanitarian Office, said. And I've gone through three wars in Gaza and constant problems and situations in the West Bank. And I learned that everything is politicized in this place. I'm pretty much convinced that there is an intent to set us up for failure."

Some aid groups argue that land routes are the most efficient way to deliver aid. Although settler disruptions may not significantly impact aid delivery to Gaza, peace activists like Green patrol the area to ensure that aid faces one less hurdle on its journey to the people of Gaza.

Green was asked if it feels like they are screaming into a void.

"In the first weeks and months of the war, because we felt very isolated and very alone and attacked from every direction," Green said. "But more and more forces are joining us in the call for a ceasefire, in the call for humanizing all the people that live here."

"People that have been killed in Gaza are not bringing us more safety," Green said. "And seeing people starving in Gaza is just something that will create more violence that not only Palestinians will pay the price of, but also Israelis will be hurt. I mean, we are bound to somehow live on this land together."

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that mediators will keep working to finalize a ceasefire deal after Hamas proposed changes to a U.S.-backed plan. Some proposed changes were considered "workable," while others were not.

Israel right-wing settlers question delivery of aid to Gazans, peace activists advocate for passage of aid trucks originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
By Crispian Balmer

BARI, Italy (Reuters) -Since taking office in 2022, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has proved a pragmatic partner on major international issues, assuaging fears she would be a dogmatic conservative unwilling to compromise.

But at the Group of Seven summit that she hosted in southern Italy this week, Meloni showed she had some red lines dear to her nationalist camp that she was ready to fight for, especially issues relating to the family and reproduction rights.

In the build-up to the June 13-15 summit, attention had been firmly focused on securing a deal on a multibillion-dollar loan for Ukraine, using frozen Russian assets, and creating ways to level the playing field in trade with China.

Broad consensus was found on both issues and hailed as proof of Western unity in the face of global challenges.

Then, out of the blue, diplomats revealed that Italy had demanded the removal of specific reference to "safe and legal abortion" from the final G7 statement and also wanted to water down language on vaccination funding.

Despite being isolated, Meloni largely got her way on both issues, using Italy's position as rotating president of the wealthy nation club to lead the negotiations where it wanted, diplomats who followed the discussions told Reuters.

"Meloni is against abortion and always has been, so that was her red line and honestly we pushed early on. But when the presidency said 'no' that was that," said a European diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Like many arch-conservative groups in Europe and the United States, Meloni's Brothers of Italy party is opposed to abortions and calls for the promotion of traditional family values.

"She has thrown a bit of red meat to her supporters," said Daniele Albertazzi, politics professor at Britain's Surrey University and an expert in political populism.

"She wants to stress that she is not on the same page as some progressive leaders on these sort of issues because this is part of her identity and it has been diluted since she became prime minister," he added.

FRENCH REGRET

French President Emmanuel Macron, a centrist who has clashed with Meloni in the past over social concerns, including migration, told reporters at the summit that he regretted the fact there was no longer specific reference to "abortion".

Meloni shrugged off the dispute, arguing on Saturday that this week's statement made it clear that the G7 continued to support the aims of its Hiroshima declaration, which backed access to abortion, meaning it was redundant to repeat the previous text.

"I sincerely believe that the controversy was totally contrived," she told reporters, adding that she had no intention of outlawing abortion in Italy.

However, signalling that there had been genuine discomfort over Italy's position, a senior U.S. official said President Joe Biden had objected to an initial draft that removed reference to abortion and made no mention of Hiroshima.

A senior White House official later said Biden fully supported the final wording of the 2024 communique. "He felt strongly about the language that made it through," he said.

Pope Francis, an outspoken opponent of abortion, was a guest at the G7 summit and Italy's Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, who is Meloni's brother-in-law, said this week it would not have been appropriate to talk about pregnancy terminations in the statement given his presence at the meeting.

A European diplomat, who declined to be named, said that during discussions on whether or not to use the word, an Italian counterpart had told fellow negotiators: "the pope will never accept it". They then corrected themselves to say: "Oh, I mean, my prime minister will never accept it", the diplomat said.

Italian officials did not immediately comment on this.

While Meloni's objection to abortion has long been known, the move to water down the language on vaccinations came as more of a surprise.

Italy removed a line included in the 2023 communique which called for "investment in global health through vaccine manufacturing capacity worldwide". This year, there was just a reference to "regional vaccines manufacturing initiatives".

Vaccine scepticism has embedded itself in conservative camps both in the United States and Europe.

While Meloni herself did not endorse no-vax campaigners during the COVID pandemic, her party opposed many of the tough COVID regulations imposed at the time, which required Italians to be vaccinated in order to go to work, use public transport, or enter shops and restaurants.

"She's not anti-vax, but she's partially anti-vax," said one of the European diplomats who followed the negotiations.

Meloni's office declined to comment.

(Reporting by John Irish, Angelo Amante, Andrea Shalal, Thomas Escritt and Crispian Balmer; Editing by Mark Potter)
Jeopardy! champion Winston Nguyen arrested in front of his students as elite NYC school probes him over explicit photos: sources

An ex-con and math teacher at an elite Brooklyn private school who was once a contestant on Jeopardy! was arrested last week as part of an investigation into sexualized images being spread across social media, sources said.

Convicted thief Winston Nguyen  who served time in Rikers for stealing $300,000 from an elderly couple  was arrested at St. Anns School in Brooklyn Heights last Thursday in front of a crowd of students.

Nguyen wasnt charged, but is being investigated by the Brooklyn District Attorneys office, sources confirmed to The Post.

Winston Nguyen was arrested in front of a crowd of students at St. Anns School in Brooklyn. Erik Thomas/NY Post

He was released Saturday.

We are awaiting a decision from the Brooklyn DAs office regarding charges against Mr Nguyen, his lawyer, Frank Rothman, told The Post in an email.

We are expecting some movement in the near future.

A spokeswoman for Saint Anns  where high school tuition costs more than $60,000 per year  confirmed to the Daily Beast, which first reported on the story, that Winston is a suspect in an ongoing investigation related to the dissemination of intimate images via social media.

Upon his arrest on Thursday he was immediately placed on leave by the school and he remains on leave, the spokesperson noted.

Nguyen has been teaching at St. Anns School since 2020  just one year after he was sprung from Rikers Island. Helayne Seidman

The day of Nguyens arrest, Saint Anns Head of School Kenyatte Reid notified parents that the middle- and high-school mathematics educator had been arrested over an investigation that dates back to January 2024.

Reid did not reveal what the investigation involved until days later, when he told parents in a follow-up email that it related to inappropriate sexualized images and that Nguyen was barred from contacting anyone in the school community and from visiting the school, the Daily Beast reported.

This incident is very disturbing to all of us, Reid wrote We pride ourselves on our amazing faculty and a learning environment rooted in trust.

Nguyen has been teaching at St. Anns School since 2020  just one year after he was sprung from Rikers Island for using an elderly couple as his personal piggy bank.

He pocketed more than $300,000 while working as the couples home health aide and used the cash to buy ballet tickets and a trip to Florida.

During his time in jail, Nguyen publicly blasted the Department of Corrections conditions, twice calling into a radio show to speak with Mayor Bill de Blasio, and later filing a lawsuit against the city.

St. Anns said it had conducted a comprehensive background check that includes criminal records during the hiring process.

A nonviolent criminal record may not preclude employment, the school spokesperson told The Daily Beast. The school gives a careful and discerning assessment of a job candidates potential fit with the school.

Winston Nguyen appeared in two Jeopardy! episodes, where he won the season finale of Season 30. Youtube / Jeopardy!

Nguyen did not respond to a request by The Post for comment.

St. Anns School is a renowned institution that boasts a laundry list of celebrity alumni and staffers.

Girls creator Lena Dunham, artist Jean-Michel Basquiat and Maya Hawk, the daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, are among the famous former students.

Tuition for the luxury school starts at $52,900 for preschoolers and rises to $60,525, plus a litany of additional fees, for high school students.
PATERSON, N.J. (PIX11)  The road they chose was not an easy one. But on this day, their service to our nation is honored.

To honor local veterans Albert Carballo and David Gibbions, Paterson-based Dynasty Auto Body, GEICO and NABC Recycled Rides gave both of them refurbished cars  the gift the freedom and independence.

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I cant even express the words, its life-changing, said Gibbions.

It was very emotional, you know? Because its something you dont expect, said Caraballo. To get an opportunity like this and a blessing like this, Im lost for words.

Carabello, of Bloomfield, served in the Army National Guard for 16 years. Getting to work using only mass transit, his commute takes about 3 hours every day, and thats on top of his volunteer work and taking care of an ailing parent. Now, with his refurbished Nissan Sentra, he says his commute will be cut to 1 hour.

Im thinking of my family, said Gibbions, of Hackensack. Im thinking of the veterans we lost that arent here anymore who gave their lives so that we could be free, so that I could be here to accept this gift.

Gibbiobs is an Air Force veteran who served as a Russian language specialist. Sadly, when he left the Air Force, he became homeless.

Today, he works for the VA, and will get there in in a 2018 Hyundai Tuscon.

It helps me get to where I need to [go], take care of everything I need ot take care of, said Gibbions.

The veterans received their cars on, of all days, Flag Day, the holiday that honors the adoption of the symbol of our nation, the symbol they fought to protect.

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Jesus vs Pride? Culture war on full display in Sacramento when it doesnt have to be | Opinion

With Pride Month in full swing, the rainbow pride flag is ever present during celebrations, parades, festivals, and on summer clothing.

Its also a symbol in Americas culture war that never seems to end.

Recently, I took a trip to San Francisco with my partner who is queer. Among the many neighborhoods we visited was the historic Castro District, a significant birthplace of gay rights and gay activism in America.

In the 1960s, gay-owned establishments came to the neighborhood, followed by an influx of gay people looking for a cheaper place to live and a community. Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to a public office in California, lived in the Castro with his partner.

While me and my partner walked down the street, looking at all the different establishments dressed up in rainbow colors, we decided to go into a store. It didnt have any rainbow decorations. We encountered a gentleman pointing a camera at the owner of the store, asking him if he acknowledged Jesus. Feeling harassed, the owner told him kindly to leave the store, as he felt that the gentleman was being aggressive.

At the next store, we were told that the same guy had harassed them as he had the previous shop owner.

Now, I dont call myself the smartest man, but Ill never understand why anyone would harass people in a neighborhood celebrating gay history by asking them if they believe in Jesus.

But thats where we are in this culture war. Those who believe were in some spiritual conflict for the soul of our country will use any moment to attack those they believe are the enemy.

Power in the name of Jesus

Sacramento had its Pride festival and parade on June 8 and 9 and the culture war was on full display. On the same weekend as the festival, a Let Us Worship rally took place only blocks away. Signs that read Jesus Revolution were held by attendees. Some wore shirts with Worship is our war cry on them. You could even see Trump 2024 campaign flags and Jesus 2024  Our Only Hope dressed up in a Trump logo.

Now to be fair, organizers said that the rally wasnt in direct opposition to the Pride festival. But the rhetoric shared was purposeful and divisive.

The rainbow first comes up in the Book of Genesis, Josie Saenz, an attendee of the rally, said. A rainbow symbolizes Gods promises over our life, to protect us as Christians. It represents my walk with God.

At what point do we as Christians take back a symbol that was meant to represent Christianity and that now, in the world, represents sin?

Regardless of what some want to say, rainbows can be whatever you want them to be. The original Pride flag was created in 1978 when Milk asked activist Gilbert Baker to create a symbol of pride for gay people.

Each color has its meaning:

Red: Life

Orange: Healing

Yellow: Sunlight

Green: Nature

Blue: Serenity

Purple: Spirit

The meaning behind the rainbow is what matters to the millions of gay people in our country, particularly those who fight for their rights every day in states that choose to create laws targeting members of the LGBTQ+ community. And yes, even cities in California are not home to pro-rainbow flags.

How does having a rainbow pride flag hinder someones connection to Jesus? One would think attacking other people, alienating them only for who they are attracted to, would disconnect one from Christ, who taught to love first, not judge.

If you find yourself in a group or just around people who use words and phrases like war and take bake our country they are not seeking to act with love or understanding. They are extremists who are blinded by their prejudices.

Is extremism normal?

We find ourselves at an interesting point in American society, where merely accepting someones identity can be considered an act of extremism in some circles.

How does one sway the bible-thumping conservative crowd or the pride-loving queer person into seeing the others point of view? Its quite simple, you dont.

But what the average American can do is just be themselves and try to see through the noise and let common sense prevail.
A jet disappeared in Vermont over 53 years ago. Experts believe theyve found it in Lake Champlain

Kristina Nikita Coffey was four years old when the plane her father had boarded lost contact with air controllers and disappeared over Lake Champlain in Vermont on a snowy night in 1971. The crash site was never found, but over the years she held out hope it would be uncovered, steadily accumulating newspaper clippings and documents related to the case.

So it was a surprise when her cousin, Barbara Nikitas, called on May 28 with news: An underwater searcher had found the jet on which her father, George Nikita, had embarked with four other men 53 years ago.

When I called her, I think she was stunned because we didnt know Garry was doing the search, Nikitas told CNN, referring to the searcher. It was a shock on all levels.

After seeing the photos of the jet underwater, Nikita Coffey says she knew it was the right plane.

I knew it, she said of the plane carrying her father. Ive looked at that picture of the plane my whole entire life.

What happened aboard the plane that night is still a mystery.

On January 27, 1971, the aircraft departed Burlington, Vermont, toward Providence, Rhode Island. The takeoff appeared normal to the control tower, according to Garry Kozak, the underwater searcher who found the jet. But shortly after takeoff, the controller lost all radar contact. There was no mayday or communication from the jet, Kozak says. On board were Nikita, Donald Myers, Robert R. Williams, III, Frank B. Wilder and Kirby Windsor.

An initial search for the jet was unsuccessful, Kozak says. It was winter and the bitter cold temperatures had frozen the lake, making immediate subsequent searches impossible. By spring, the ice melted and searches recovered some debris from the plane. More search attempts followed. Over the next 53 years, more than 17 searches were carried out to find the plane, all unsuccessful, according to Kozak.

The plane is seen before it crashed on January 27, 1971. - Courtesy Garry Kozak

Kozak first learned of the plane crash from a friend in the 1980s. The fact that so many attempts had failed intrigued him.

Ive always been challenged by finding stuff underwater, so that was the personal satisfaction for me to solve something that everybody else had sort of forgotten, Kozak told CNN. Secondly, for the family because I had spoken with some of the family members back in 2014 when one of the searches was being put together.

When searches were conducted, Kozak believes the plane was within the searched areas but had been overlooked on scans.

Ive worked on many aircraft crashes over the years, but I have a pretty big mental library on the kind of anomaly I should be watching for when I read data, Kozak said.

Kozak says in his field some may overlook what seems to be a pile of rocks. Frank K. Wilder, the son of passenger Frank B. Wilder, agrees. He says he knew the plane was going to be hard to find based on this fact.

Most people think the airplane is in one piece and its on the bottom and that would be easy to find, but in reality the plane is debris to a lot of small pieces and thats a lot harder to identify, Wilder said.

Lost and found again

The jet was found in approximately 200 feet of water west of Juniper Island, about 3 miles from Burlington. From the video and pictures captured, experts could see the planes red and black accent stripes. Nearby, they also saw two turbine engines and a broken wing. The wreck site was left undisturbed.

Even though it was over 53 years ago, the passengers children still remember the day their lives changed forever.

I remember my mom just crying and this terrible scream. I dont think I really understood at that point what it all meant, Wilder said.

Nikitas still remembers the impact the crash had on her mother.

My mother and her two brothers were very close. They were always there for each other, and I think she felt like, I cant be there for my brother. I cant find him. I cant properly bury. That always resonated with me, she said.

After many years of search attempts and some false leads, families had to move on, said Charles C. Williams, son of Robert Williams, III.

Its hard to explain the limbo that this created, Williams said. Six months turns into a year and a year turns into two and theres just been no answers. Thats really super, super hard on families.

But the search never stopped for many of them.

With her cousin, Nikita Coffey started reaching out to other families cited in the news articles she saved. They say their group has been a source of support.

This event happened, and I think its probably fair to say we all went our separate ways. You live your life and you feel like youre carrying this burden by yourself, Williams said.

Its been wonderful because most people dont understand what youre going through, but with this group, we understand and its nice to have that support, Wilder added.

As more news outlets report the story, Williams says that people have reached out amid a resurgence of details about the case.

For them to have been lost and now kind of found again. I think its really neat that people are seeing that and reaching out, but for the families its also got a sense of sadness to it because now we know, Williams said.

Nikita Coffey thanks every person who volunteered their time to help them find the crash site. Those many searches allowed them to cross locations off when another one began.

Theyre family now. I cant say enough about them. I cant thank them enough for their tireless effort, Nikita Coffey said.

Now that the crash site was found, the National Transportation Safety Board will make its evaluation to confirm its the right aircraft. The agency has received an information package about the case from the Federal Aviation Administration, according to a NTSB spokesperson.

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. 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, spokesperson Peter C. Knudson told CNN in a statement.

While the crash site may have been found, its important to the passengers children the next generation also knows about their fathers.

Thats what we really want to get across, she said. (They were) five amazing men that left a hole in many peoples hearts because of their loss, not just their family, their colleagues, their friends.

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Jewish man harassed by anti-Israel mob on NYC subway recalls masked protesters cruel taunt: Bro, if you only knew who I was

A Jewish straphanger who said a masked protester harassed him on a New York City subway train believes the creep was emboldened by having his face shielded  going so far as to taunt: Bro, if you only knew who I was.

It took every ounce of restraint to not say, Youre wearing a mask, no one knows who you are,' Josh Savitt, the straphanger, recalled in an interview Friday.

Savitt, 35, exclusively spoke to The Post about the hateful run-in, which unfolded Monday as he came face-to-masked-face with a mob of anti-Israel protesters who swarmed a downtown Manhattan exhibit memorializing the victims of the Oct. 7 Nova Music Festival terror attack.

Josh Savitt, 35, said a masked protester singled him out as a Zionist on a subway train Monday. James Messerschmidt

He felt the experience showed what a revived mask ban could do to curtail growing harassment by antisemitic protesters.

Im in favor of reimposing that, because Ive seen firsthand the things people feel comfortable with, he said.

As long as he had his mask on and his anonymity he felt free to talk tough.

A protester in a Hezbollah t-shirt harassed a Jewish man on a subway train. abbaleh/X

Savitt, a Jewish lawyer who grew up in the city, said he exited the Nova exhibit Monday and jumped into a No. 4 or 5 train at Fulton Street, which was filled with hundreds of protesters, whom he documented in a series of viral tweets.

The mobs hateful antics  including chanting Long live the Intifada  were among a spate of widely condemned antisemitic incidents that prompted Gov. Kathy Hochul and Jewish leaders to call for the return of a protest mask ban, particularly on the subway.

Gov. Kathy Hochul is mulling the return of a mask ban. Paul Martinka

But Savitt said any feeling of safety outside the demonstrations  where there were police and security guards  dissolved as exhibit-goers like himself and protesters spilled onto the subways together.

Protesters in another subway train, seemingly a No. 5, were captured on video demanding that Zionists raise their hands and warned this is your chance to get out.

Savitt said he actually stopped wearing his kippah, or religious head-covering, on the subways after Oct. 7 to avoid antisemitic confrontations, but was inspired to do so again after the Nova Exhibit.

Free Gaza is seen scrawled across a train door. abbaleh/X

Being visibly Jewish drew the attention of a masked protester, who wore a t-shirt emblazoned with the flag of the Hezbollah terror group, who said, according to Savitt: Yo, weve got a Zionist here.

The hateful hooligan got angry when Savitt held up his phone, adjusting his mask to hide more of his face and intimidatingly trying to close the distance between them, Savitt recalled.

He also demanded that Savitt hand over his phone and delete photos of him.

A series of viral tweets recounted Josh Savitts experience with protesters after the Nova exhibit. abbaleh/X

He said something to the effect of were going to find you, were going to get you,' Savitt said.

Savitt called the protester a bully. James Messerschmidt

Savitt was heartened that other straphangers called out the protester and told him to stop.

New York is one of those cities where people usually leave you alone, but in those moments where they stand up for what New York is and what it is not, thats really awesome, he said.

For Savitts part, he said  as a 6-foot-2-inch man who has had security training  the encounter was less intimidating and more profoundly sad.

He called the protester a bully who appeared to have fun intimidating and harassing people.

Savitt said he didnt file a police report because, although the protester was threatening, it never got to the point of a physical assault.

His purpose was to intimidate me and make me feel afraid, Savitt said. The reason I wasnt is because he was a bully  and Im not afraid of bullies.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  Johnson City Schools Superintendent Steve Barnett says hes happy with the districts English Language Arts scores on the 2024 Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP), despite the looming threat of the so-called third-grade retention law.

Were pleased, Barnett told News Channel 11. Were pleased with the work that was done in schools this year. We are very similar to the data that we saw last year in third grade. In our fourth grade, we can tell that theres an increase in the number of students that were proficient this year.

TDOE shares data from 2024 TCAP following retention laws

63% of the districts third graders and 68% of the districts fourth graders scored proficient on the ELA portion of the exam. 64% of 2023s third graders scored proficient; 65% of fourth graders scored proficient.

Excluding some English Language Learners, students with a disability that impacts reading and a few other student groups, the remaining students could have to repeat a grade, if they dont meet standards set out in the law.

Thanks to changes to the law this year, visible in the edited pathways to promotion graphic produced by the Tennessee Department of Education, students have several more ways to reach the next grade.

The revised Pathways to Promotion document contains eight routes to promotion, compared to the original documents six routes.

Overall, Barnett said he is not expecting many, if any, students to face retention. In fact, he said the law has had a minimal impact on the district.

For us, it didnt really change the way we do things in a lot of ways at the school level, Barnett told News Channel 11. The things that have changed, its made summer school longer days. I dont think thats necessarily beneficial.

The district is 14 days into its summer school program, and, at least for Woodland Elementary teacher Dr. Kristi Presley, the effort is paying off.

I know it sounds crazy, its just 20 days, but it really does make a difference, Presley, who is teaching third grade this summer, told News Channel 11. You can take a slower approach to make sure (students are) really getting it in spending time individually to make sure students who may have struggled or who just need extra practice before going on fourth grade, that they have that extra time and attention to really get it right.

Though Barnett isnt worried, Presley said she can sense stress from students who know retention is on the table.

I do worry about kids and retention, Presley said. I know that all kids want to do well. All kids want to succeed. All kids want to go on to the next grade level with their friends. Its a big deal to be facing retention in third grade because of the test.

Students currently attending summer school will not face retention, provided that they attend 90% of instructional days and demonstrate adequate growth on the test given at the end.

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Speaker Mike Johnson said Friday that the House will take their contempt of Congress case against Attorney General Merrick Garlands to court, after the Justice Department (DOJ) refused to pursue charges.

It is sadly predictable that the Biden administrations Justice Department will not prosecute Garland for defying congressional subpoenas even though the department aggressively prosecuted Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro for the same thing, Johnson said in a statement, referring to two allies of former President Trump, The Associated Press reported. This is yet another example of the two-tiered system of justice brought to us by the Biden administration.

Earlier Friday, the DOJ issued a determination that Garland had committed no crime when he failed to meet the demands of House Republicans who subpoenaed audio of special counsel Robert Hurs conversation with President Biden amid the presidents classified documents probe.

CNN reported that Johnson said he would be certifying the contempt records to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia and he will be moving to enforce the subpoena of Attorney General Garland in federal court.

The news comes after House Republicans voted earlier this week to hold Garland in contempt of Congress after DOJ declined to turn over the audio. Republicans already have the transcript of the conversation and Biden did not discuss anything relevant to the GOPs impeachment investigation, per the department.

In a statement after the vote, Garland said it was deeply disappointing that the House turned congressional authority into a partisan weapon.

The DOJs Friday determination is in line with a memo from the DOJs Office of Legal Counsel that said Bidens claim of executive privilege over the tapes protects the attorney general from being prosecuted.

The department noted that it declined to prosecute Attorney General Bill Barr, who was held in contempt in 2019. House Democrats voted to issue a referral against Barr after he refused to provide documents related to an investigation into Trump, per the AP.

The Justice Department also did not prosecute former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows after he was held in contempt for not cooperating with the House panel investigation the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

Navarro and Bannon were prosecuted for contempt of Congress for defying Jan. 6 related subpoenas, however. Navarro has been imprisoned since March and Bannon will report to a federal prison in the coming weeks.

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A judge could soon decide on a trial date for a man charged in the deaths of four University of Idaho students who were killed more than a year and a half ago.

Bryan Kohberger was arrested roughly six weeks after the bodies of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves were found at a rental home near the Moscow campus Nov. 13, 2022. The students were stabbed, and investigators said they were able to link Kohberger  then a graduate student at nearby Washington State University  to the crime using DNA found on a knife sheath at the scene, surveillance videos and cellphone data.

A judge entered a not guilty plea on Kohbergers behalf in a May 2023 hearing, and for the past several months Kohbergers defense attorneys and Latah County prosecutors have been wrangling over the evidence and other data gathered throughout the investigation.

So far, 2nd District Judge John Judge has not set a trial date, noting that the case is particularly complicated in part because prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty if there is a conviction.

But that could change later this month. On Thursday, Judge scheduled a June 27 hearing to discuss the schedule for the rest of the case, including dates for the trial as well as for a possible sentencing.

A sweeping gag order has prevented Kohberger, attorneys on both sides, law enforcement officials and others involved in the case from commenting.

Earlier this month Judge said investigators working for Kohbergers defense team would be added to a list of attorneys and defense experts who are allowed to review sealed DNA records that law enforcement used to narrow the the pool of potential suspects. The DNA was used for investigative genetic genealogy, in which material found at a crime scene is run through public genealogical databases to find a suspect or a suspects relatives.

In his June 7 order, Judge also said the defense team is not allowed to contact any relative who shows up in the records and who was not already known to them without advance permission from the court.

Prosecutor Bill Thompson had argued previously that the DNA records were not relevant because they were not used to secure any warrants and would not be presented at trial. But Judge disagreed, saying last year that the defense team had shown that they needed to review at least some of the records as they prepared their case.

Kohbergers attorneys are also asking for a change of venue. The judge has yet to rule on that request.
Judge to decide whether man found guilty in Holly Bobo murder will get new hearing

SAVANNAH, TENN. (WKRN)  A judge is set to rule as to whether there will be a new evidentiary hearing in the case of murdered 21-year-old nursing student Holly Bobo.

In a videotaped interview from December 2023, a key witness in the case against convicted murderer and rapist Zachary Adams said he lied when he told the jury about Adams involvement in Bobos death.

Jason Autry was sentenced to eight years for his involvement in Bobos kidnapping, rape and murder. He was originally facing a longer sentence, and potentially the death penalty, had he not entered into an agreement with the State and testified against Adams during the trial.

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Adams has maintained his innocence but his prior requests for a retrial have been denied.

However, with Autry recanting his testimony, Adams has filed for a new evidentiary hearing in the case. On Friday, Judge Bradberry heard arguments from the State of Tennessee and Adams attorneys as to whether Autrys new admission warrants a new trial.

District Attorney General Jennifer Nichols argued that in addition to not having properly submitted relevant documents. Nichols argued their case against Adams holds even without Autrys testimony and Autrys credibility was part of the 2017 trial.

I stood here when the Hardin County jury in that box turned verdicts against Zachary Rye Adams, Nichols said. It was an eight-count indictment and after each county Judge McGinley polled the jury. So, if you were in this courtroom you heard 96 guiltys.'

Adams attorney, Douglas Bates, noted Autry was under the threat of the death penalty if he did not testify against Adams and the testimony reduced his sentence to just eight years.

Im not saying that Mr. Autry stood on his innocence for years. The question will be what made him change in the fall of 2016. Mr. Autry said in his video, It was because I didnt think I had a chance at trial,' Bates told the Judge.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Bates also argued that some of the states procedural arguments shouldnt supersede finding out what truly happened in this case.

I want to remind the court; I am asking for an evidentiary hearing. I am not here to convince you how to rule in that evidentiary hearing, Bates said.

Judge Bradberry requested additional information from both parties within the next couple of weeks and said he would issue a ruling a few weeks after he gets it.

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El Dorado County cannot enforce its ban on programs that hand out clean syringes as a legal battle continues between the county and the California Department of Public Health, a Superior Court judge has ruled.

Judge Gary S. Slossberg granted a preliminary injunction to prevent El Dorado County from enforcing an ordinance that makes it unlawful to operate syringe programs in its unincorporated areas.

The judge said he was not weighing in on the heated arguments for or against syringe programs, which provide sterile needles to people who use drugs, but whether the Department of Public Health had a "reasonable probability" of prevailing in its argument that the county ordinance clashes with state law.

Friday's decision does not end the courtroom dispute over whether the ban passed by the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors was preempted by state law, as public health officials have argued, or opposing claims by county officials that the syringe program was improperly approved by the state. Slossberg said Friday that the preliminary injunction is meant to remain in place pending a later trial.

Read more: California communities are banning syringe programs. Now the state is fighting back in court

The Department of Public Health filed suit against El Dorado County and its county seat of Placerville this year contending that their bans on syringe programs defied the state health and safety code.

The state health department first authorized the nonprofit Sierra Harm Reduction Coalition to operate a syringe program in the county four years ago. State officials have long endorsed such programs as a proven way to prevent HIV and hepatitis C from running rampant as people share contaminated syringes.

California law gives the public health agency the power to approve syringe programs anywhere that deadly or disabling infections might spread through used needles, "notwithstanding any other law."

Local bans on syringe programs have nonetheless sprung up across California as city and county officials argue that handing out free syringes does more harm than good. El Dorado County leaders passed their rule in December, which was followed in February by a similar ordinance in Placerville.

The lawsuit lodged by the California Department of Public Health drew objections from El Dorado County leaders: Earlier this year, Dist. Atty. Vern Pierson called it "madness" and argued that California officials were "seeking to impose the normalization of hardcore drug use."

In a cross-complaint filed against the Department of Public Health, the county said that the syringe program approved by the state had caused "profound nuisance and public safety impacts," including a "drastic increase in discarded needles," and that overdoses had risen since it started.

Read more: Five arrested over 'sham hospices' alleged to bilk Medicare for over $15 million

The county said in a legal filing that since the ban went into effect, "there has been a reduction of syringe waste, decreased incidents of public nuisance, and a resulting reduction of the burdens on law enforcement."

It also accused the public health department of failing to follow state requirements when it approved the syringe program.

The judge did not weigh in on the cross-complaint lodged by El Dorado County at the Friday hearing. In a court filing, California officials said studies show that syringe programs provide important resources for needle disposal and play a crucial role in preventing overdoses. They credited the Sierra Harm Reduction Coalition with handing out thousands of boxes of Narcan, a brand of naloxone, a medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose.

The Department of Public Health argued in a legal filing that stopping the syringe program would be likely to ramp up HIV and hepatitis C infections among people who use drugs, increasing state costs for their care; lead to more deaths from drug overdoses; and reduce access to options for syringe disposal, among other harmful effects.

Because of the bans, "our most vulnerable, stigmatized, and marginalized community members are actively being denied lifesaving interventions," Sierra Harm Reduction Coalition interim executive director Shilo Jama said in a court filing.

Slossberg said that although he was preventing the El Dorado County ordinance from being enforced, the county might have other mechanisms to address nuisance issues that were not addressed by the decision.

Pierson, the district attorney, said in a statement Friday that we will propose narrowing the ordinance in response to comments made by the judge.

The California Department of Public Health said in a statement that it was pleased with the courts decision that upholds that states role in protecting the publics health while this case proceeds.

The Friday ruling applies only to the ordinance passed by El Dorado County. Attorney Mona Ebrahimi, who represents the city of Placerville, said a hearing involving the city had been postponed.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Juneteenth celebrates just one of the United States 20 emancipation days  and the history of how emancipated people were kept unfree needs to be remembered, too

The actual day was June 19, 1865, and it was the Black dockworkers in Galveston, Texas, who first heard the word that freedom for the enslaved had come. There were speeches, sermons and shared meals, mostly held at Black churches, the safest places to have such celebrations.

The perils of unjust laws and racist social customs were still great in Texas for the 250,000 enslaved Black people there, but the celebrations known as Juneteenth were said to have gone on for seven straight days.

The spontaneous jubilation was partly over Gen. Gordon Grangers General Order No. 3. It read in part, The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.

But the emancipation that took place in Texas that day in 1865 was just the latest in a series of emancipations that had been unfolding since the 1770s, most notably the Emancipation Proclamation signed by President Abraham Lincoln two years earlier on Jan. 1, 1863.

As I explore in my book Black Ghost of Empire, between the 1780s and 1930s, during the era of liberal empire and the rise of modern humanitarianism, over 80 emancipations from slavery occurred, from Pennsylvania in 1780 to Sierra Leone in 1936.

There were, in fact, 20 separate emancipations in the United States alone, from 1780 to 1865, across the U.S. North and South.

In my view as a scholar of race and colonialism, Emancipation Days  Juneteenth in Texas  are not what many people think, because emancipation did not do what most of us think it did.

As historians have long documented, emancipations did not remove all the shackles that prevented Black people from obtaining full citizenship rights. Nor did emancipations prevent states from enacting their own laws that prohibited Black people from voting or living in white neighborhoods.

In fact, based on my research, emancipations were actually designed to force Blacks and the federal government to pay reparations to slave owners  not to the enslaved  thus ensuring white people maintained advantages in accruing and passing down wealth across generations..

Reparations to slave owners

The emancipations shared three common features that, when added together, merely freed the enslaved in one sense, but reenslaved them in another sense.

The first, arguably the most important, was the ideology of gradualism, which said that atrocities against Black people would be ended slowly, over a long and open-ended period.

The second feature was state legislators who held fast to the racist principle that emancipated people were units of slave owner property  not captives who had been subjected to crimes against humanity.

The third was the insistence that Black people had to take on various forms of debt in order to exit slavery. This included economic debt, exacted by the ongoing forced and underpaid work that freed people had to pay to slave owners.

In essence, freed people had to pay for their freedom, while enslavers had to be paid to allow them to be free.

Emancipation myths and realities

On March 1, 1780, for instance, Pennsylvanias state Legislature set a global precedent for how emancipations would pay reparations to slave owners and buttress the system of white property rule.

The Pennsylvania Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery stipulated that all persons, as well negroes, and mulattos, as others, who shall be born within this State, from and after the Passing of this Act, shall not be deemed and considered as Servants for Life or Slaves.

At the same time, the legislation prescribed that every negroe and mulatto child born within this State could be held in servitude unto the age of twenty eight Years and liable to like correction and punishment as enslaved people.

After that first Emancipation Day in Pennsylvania, enslaved people still remained in bondage for the rest of their lives, unless voluntarily freed by slave owners.

Only the newborn children of enslaved women were nominally free after Emancipation Day. Even then, these children were forced to serve as bonded laborers from childhood until their 28th birthday.

All future emancipations shared the Pennsylvania DNA.

Emancipation Day came to Connecticut and Rhode Island on March 1, 1784. On July 4, 1799, it dawned in New York, and on July 4, 1804, in New Jersey. After 1838, West Indian people in the United States began commemorating the British Empires Emancipation Day of Aug. 1.

The District of Columbias day came on April 16, 1862.

President Abraham Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclamation. Getty Images

Eight months later, on Jan. 1, 1863, President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation that freed the enslaved only in Confederate states  not in the states loyal to the Union, such as New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky and Missouri.

Emancipation Day dawned in Maryland on Nov. 1, 1864. In the following year, emancipation was granted on April 3 in Virginia, on May 8 in Mississippi, on May 20 in Florida, on May 29 in Georgia, on June 19 in Texas and on Aug. 8 in Tennessee and Kentucky.

Slavery by another name

After the Civil War, the three Reconstruction Amendments to the U.S. Constitution each contained loopholes that aided the ongoing oppression of Black communities.

The Thirteenth Amendment of 1865 allowed for the enslavement of incarcerated people through convict leasing.

The Fourteenth Amendment of 1868 permitted incarcerated people to be denied the right to vote.

And the Fifteenth Amendment of 1870 failed to explicitly ban forms of voter suppression that targeted Black voters and would intensify during the coming Jim Crow era.

In fact, Grangers Order No. 3, on June 19, 1865, spelled it out.

Freeing the slaves, the order read, involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property, between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them, become that between employer and hired labor.

Yet, the order further states: The freed are advised to remain at their present homes, and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts; and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.

The meaning of Juneteenth

Since the moment emancipation celebrations started on March 1, 1780, all the way up to June 19, 1865, Black crowds gathered to seek redress for slavery.

A Black woman raises her fist in the air during a Juneteenth reenactment celebration in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 2021. Mark Felix /AFP/Getty Images

On that first Juneteenth in Texas, and increasingly so during the ones that followed, free people celebrated their resilience amid the failure of emancipation to bring full freedom.

They stood for the end of debt bondage, racial policing and discriminatory laws that unjustly harmed Black communities. They elevated their collective imagination from out of the spiritual sinkhole of white property rule.

Over the decades, the traditions of Juneteenth ripened into larger gatherings in public parks, with barbecue picnics and firecrackers and street parades with brass bands.

At the end of his 1999 posthumously published novel, Juneteenth, noted Black author Ralph Ellison called for a poignant question to be asked on Emancipation Day: How the hell do we get love into politics or compassion into history?

The question calls for a pause as much today as ever before.

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: Kris Manjapra, Tufts University

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Kris Manjapra 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.
Juneteenth, Jim Crow and how the fight of one Black Texas family to make freedom real offers lessons for Texas lawmakers trying to erase history from the classroom

The news was startling.

On June 19, 1865, two months after the U.S. Civil War ended, Union Gen. Gordon Granger walked onto the balcony at Ashton Villa in Galveston, Texas, and announced to the people of the state that all slaves are free.

As local plantation owners lamented the loss of their most valuable property, Black Texans celebrated Grangers Juneteenth announcement with singing, dancing and feasting. The 182,566 enslaved African Americans in Texas had finally won their freedom.

One of them was Joshua Houston.

He had long served as the enslaved servant of Gen. Sam Houston, the most well-known military and political leader in Texas.

Joshua Houston lived about 120 miles north of Galveston when he learned of Grangers proclamation.

It was read aloud at the local Methodist Church in Huntsville, Texas, by Union Gen. Edgar M. Gregory, the assistant commissioner for the Freedmens Bureau in Texas.

If Juneteenth meant anything, it meant at least that Joshua Houston and his family were free.

Joshua Houston and his family in October 1898. Courtesy of the Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Republic of Texas Presidential Library, Huntsville, Texas

But there was more too.

The promise of freedom meant that more work needed to be done. Families needed to be reunited. Land needed to be secured. Children needed to be educated.

Indeed, the radical promise of Juneteenth is embodied in the community activism of Joshua Houston and the educational career of his son Samuel Walker Houston.

The violent white reaction to Black political power

Within a year of Grangers proclamation, Houston had established a blacksmith shop near the Huntsville town square and moved his family into a two-story house on the adjoining lot.

He helped found the Union Church, the first Black-owned institution in the city, as well as a freedmens school to begin educating African American children.

In 1878 and 1882, a Republican coalition of Black and white voters opposed to conservative Democratic rule elected Houston as the countys first Black county commissioner, a powerful position in local governance.

Despite this dramatic turn of events, Houstons political story was hardly unique.

In the two decades following emancipation, 52 Black men served in the state Legislature or the states constitutional conventions.

But that number had fallen to two by 1882.

Opposition to Black freedom had been a powerful force in the states political culture since emancipation.

Armstead Barrett, a former slave in Huntsville, recalled in 1937 that an enraged white man had reacted to Grangers Juneteenth order by riding past a celebrating Black woman and murdering her with his sword.

In 1871, the violence continued when the white citizens of Huntsville stormed the county courthouse and aided the escape of three men who had lynched freedman Sam Jenkins.

Later, in the 1880s, attacks on Black elected officials, their white political allies and Black voters escalated dramatically.

In the early 1900s, changes in state election laws, including the introduction of the poll tax, effectively disenfranchised most Black voters and many poor whites as well. Voter participation dropped from roughly 85% at the high tide of Texas populism in 1896 to roughly 35% when the poll tax became effective in 1904.

As a result, Robert Lloyd Smith was the last Black legislator for nearly 70 years when he finished his term in 1897.

That wall of white supremacy at the state Capitol would not crack again until 1966, when federal voting rights legislation and Supreme Court rulings nullified schemes to deny African Americans the ballot.

These changes enabled the election of Black officials such as Barbara Jordan, the first African American woman to serve in the Texas Senate.

Like father, like son

On an unknown date, a few years after Juneteenth, Joshua Houstons son Samuel Walker Houston was born free in the bright light of Reconstruction.

Although he spent his adulthood in some of the darkest years of Jim Crow, he continued his fathers work as an educator and community leader. Following a short stint at Atlanta University in Georgia and Howard University in Washington, D.C., Samuel Walker Houston returned to Huntsville and founded a school in the nearby Galilee community.

Houstons school was named for him and served as one of the first county training schools for African Americans in Texas. It enrolled students at every level, from first grade through high school, and provided a curriculum based on Booker T. Washingtons Tuskegee model of vocational training.

Young women at Houstons school received training in homemaking, sewing and cooking, while young men learned carpentry, woodworking and mathematics.

By 1922, enrollment at the school had grown to 400 students, and it was recognized by contemporaries as the leading school of East Texas. In the 1930s, Houstons school was absorbed into Huntsvilles school district, and he became the director of Black education in the county.

This 1919 photograph shows officials laying the foundation for a new building at the Samuel Walker Houston Training School. Jackson Davis Collection of African American Educational Photographs, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library

Houston encouraged a practical education for Black Texans, but he also believed that young Texans of all races needed to learn an account of history that differed from the white supremacist narrative that dominated Southern history.

Toward this end, he joined with Joseph Clark and Ramsey Woods, two white professors who pioneered race relations courses at Sam Houston State Teachers College. Together, the group led the Texas Commission on Interracial Cooperations effort to evaluate Texas public school textbooks during the 1930s.

In an analysis of racial attitudes in state-endorsed textbooks, they found that 74% of books presented a racist view of the past and of Black Americans. Most excluded the scientific, literary and civic contributions of Black people, while mentioning their economic contributions only in the period of slavery before the Civil War.

Instead, the group argued, books designed for both Black and white Texans needed to take the opportunity  to do simple justice by including Black history and the struggle for the exercise of equal civil, political and legal rights.

White Texans refused to adopt a textbook in the 1930s that taught the fundamental equality of the races, or portrayed Reconstruction, as it is now widely understood, as a missed opportunity to establish a more just and egalitarian Texas.

But Houston and his white counterparts were motivated by the conviction that progress, both for African Americans and for Texas, required a more honest and progressive account of the state and its history.

The Juneteenth Parade in Huntsville, Texas, circa 1900. Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Republic of Texas Presidential Library, Huntsville, Texas.

An ongoing battle for equality

Todays legislative efforts in Texas and elsewhere to restrict the teaching of systemic racism in public schools ignore the lessons and realities represented by Joshua and Samuel Walker Houstons lives.

The argument used for supporting such restrictions is that divisive concepts like the history of racism may make some students feel uncomfortable or guilty.

That sort of thinking echoes the same justification provided by Texas lawmakers in 1873, when many argued that the states schools must be segregated to ensure the peace, harmony and success of the schools and the good of the whole.

But the opposite is true.

In reality, the prohibition on teaching the darker chapters of our past creates a segregated history.

Instead, as Samuel Walker Houston recognized, young Texans must have a more honest account of the past and of one another to progress into a unified and egalitarian society.

Texas history is both the story of people who dedicated their lives to the work of advancing freedom and the story of powerful people and forces that stood against it.

One cannot be understood without the other.

Americans cannot appreciate the accomplishments of Joshua and Samuel Walker Houston without examining the vicious realities of Jim Crow society.

The lesson of their lives, and of the Juneteenth holiday, is that freedom is a precious thing that requires constant work to make real.

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: Jeffrey L. Littlejohn, Sam Houston State University and Zachary Montz, Sam Houston State University

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The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
A federal appeals court threw out the Department of Justices (DOJ) foreign agent case against Steve Wynn, former Wynn Resorts CEO and finance chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC), on Friday.

The DOJ filed a civil suit against Wynn in May 2022, trying to compel him to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), a transparency statute that requires agents of foreign interests seeking to sway U.S. policy or the public to disclose certain information.

Wynn pressed then-President Trump and other administration officials in 2017 to extradite Chinese businessman Guo Wengui, a critic of the government who had sought asylum in the U.S., the DOJ lawsuit alleged.

The Wynn case was the first civil suit brought under FARA in more than three decades, the government said at the time.

But the casino mogul denied acting as a foreign agent for China, and a lower court dismissed the case in fall 2022.

A three-judge panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit affirmed the lower courts decision.

Even accepting the governments allegations as true, Wynn long ago ceased acting as a foreign agent, he has no present obligation to register, the judges wrote.

Without commenting on the specifics, we are delighted with the result. It is a well-deserved finish to a long ordeal for our client, said Bob Luskin, a partner at Paul Hastings LLP who led Wynns defense team.

The Friday decision is a blow to the Justice Departments heightened enforcement actions to root out undisclosed foreign influence in the U.S. in recent years.

The DOJ did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Deputy Cameron Macdonalds black sunglasses glinted in the morning sun as he handed a man in a pickup truck a traffic citation, the flashing police lights reflecting off the mans truck.

It was part of an multi-agency effort Friday to increase enforcement on aggressive driving in the Kansas City metro, as traffic fatalities have soared.

As part of the initiative, the Clay County Sheriffs Office teamed up with Kansas City Police Department, all with one goal in mind  cracking down on aggressive driving.. In Clay County, those efforts included around 10 marked and unmarked police cars from both departments, as well as an officer undercover as a panhandler at a busy intersection. The officer stood at the intersection calling out violations over a radio.

Officers including Deputy Macdonald searched for aggressive driving behaviors such as speeding, reckless lane changes, driving too close to other vehicles and license plate violations, Macdonald said.

Last year in Kansas City, there were 102 traffic deaths, nearing the city record of 103 in 2020. The Clay County Sheriffs office investigated just two traffic fatalities in 2023, according to an annual police report.

But so far this year in Kansas City alone, there have been 47 traffic fatalities, compared to 34 as of June 2023.

In around a three hour period on Friday, Macdonald handed out around three traffic citations and made one arrest. Others that he pulled over received warnings. The area for the Clay County operation, a bustling business area near NE Barry Road and Route 291, was chosen because of how often crashes occurred there, Macdonald said.

The operation comes soon after Kansas City leaders announced they have dedicated $4 million to the citys Vision Zero initiative, which aims to make roads safer.

Aggressive driving and excessive speed are dangerous for everyone and will not be tolerated on Clay County roadways, A Facebook post by the Clay County Sheriffs Office said.

In Missouri, convictions for careless driving can lead to sentences of up to six months in prison or a maximum fine of up to $1,000. In Kansas, careless drivers can face up to 90 days in prison or a fine of up to $500.

The Stars Robert A. Cronkleton contributed to reporting.
Kansas should get its ducks in a row then make a play for the Chiefs  if plan makes sense

If you dont live in the Midwest, you may not understand the intricacies of Kansas City.

In our view, while its technically two cities divided by the Kansas River, its really one big community spanning two states. You might feel differently depending on which side of the state line you live on, but thats a discussion for another day.

Regardless of that stance, we know that both sides are part of Chiefs Kingdom and ultimately want what is best for the community and the team.

Its common knowledge that the Chiefs would like to renovate their home in Arrowhead Stadium. That effort was shot down by Jackson County, Missouri, taxpayers in in April.

A general overall aerial view shows Kauffman Stadium in the foreground and Arrowhead Stadium at the Truman Sports Complex.

In doing so, theyve left a small  but possible  opening for leaders in Kansas to potentially lure the Chiefs over the river to the Kansas side.

The Topeka Capital-Journals Jack Harvel reports some lawmakers said there's a chance the topic will come up during the June 18 special session, and Republican leadership have confirmed in a joint statement to media they're pursuing the Chiefs.

"The potential to establish a home for the Chiefs family here on the Kansas side of the state line is an opportunity that deserves a thorough conversation. We have reached out to the Chiefs organization and asked them to weigh in on the possibility of using Kansas' unique STAR Bond funding tool and explore what that collaboration could hold," Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, and House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, said in a joint statement.

We would love to see the Chiefs find a home in Kansas. So many people who dont pay close enough attention probably already assume the Chiefs are in Kansas. Even former President Trump was famously confused by the notion of the Chiefs in Missouri.

And now, the Kansas City Royals are showing interest in hearing proposals from the state of Kansas.

Heres the sticking point: Does this make sense for Kansas?

The STAR Bonds plan is intriguing, and wed like to know a little more. Legislators should look at any potential cost to taxpayers and ensure that it is a wise use of the financing tool.

We think it would be a good use of the special session  after lawmakers and Gov. Laura Kelly find a compromise on a package of tax cuts for Kansans.

If the move would prove to be a long-term revenue-enhancing benefit to Kansas, go for it. We do ask that due diligence be done first.

We probably only have one shot at this and  to some degree  it seems like a Hail Mary at best. So lets get it right for Kansas and Chiefs Kingdom.

Dont fumble the opportunity.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas should make a play for the Chiefs if financial cost is sound
The Kansas Supreme Court on Friday suspended the law license of a current lawmaker and placed a former lawmaker on probation.

The high court immediately suspended Rep. Carl Maughan, R-Colwich, as part of an attorney discipline case stemming from a DUI case where he represented a client despite a conflict of interest. The matter is separate from his ongoing criminal charges for alleged drunk driving in Topeka.

Maughan's one-year suspension starts immediately, and before his law license can be reinstated, Maughan will have to undergo a reinstatement hearing.

The court also suspended former Rep. Mark Samsel, R-Wellsville. But his two-year suspension was stayed, on the condition that he successfully complete two years of probation. If he does, no reinstatement hearing will be required.

Rep. Carl Maughan on the House floor on April 26, 2024.

Rep. Carl Maughan had conflict of interest in legal case

The court said Maughan's disciplinary action stemmed from a conflict of interest in his representation of a client in a murder and DUI case.

Maughan represented Bret Blevins in Sedgwick County District Court after a 2016 crash that killed two people and injured others.

But Maughan was also an attorney for Blevins' girlfriend, who was the other occupant of the vehicle that sped through a residential neighborhood and ran a stop sign, causing the deadly crash. Blevins and the girlfriend had drunk alcohol and used methamphetamine before the crash, and both accused each other of being the driver.

It was the girlfriend and her husband who hired Maughan to represent Blevins. The girlfriend then testified against him at trial.

The jury convicted Blevins on all charges, including two counts of second-degree murder, and he was sentenced to nearly 61 years in prison. The Kansas Court of Appeals overturned his convictions in 2021, finding that because Blevins did not receive effective assistance of counsel.

Blevins has since entered a deal where he pled guilty while maintaining his innocence, and he has been sentenced to about 17 years in prison. He has also filed a legal malpractice lawsuit against Maughan.

The Supreme Court decision said that Maughan "stipulated to the alleged violations, but even if he had not, the evidence before the hearing panel clearly established the charged misconduct violated" multiple rules of professional conduct.

During the disciplinary case, Maughan failed to comply with court rules on probation, prompting the Office of the Disciplinary Administrator to change its recommendation from probation to a six-month suspension. When Maughan did not show up for the Supreme Court hearing in May and didn't file a required affidavit in advance of it, the office changed the recommendation to a yearlong suspension.

Former Rep. Mark Samsel, R-Wellsville, had his law license suspended Friday by the Kansas Supreme Court, but the suspension is stayed pending probation.

Former Rep. Mark Samsel hit student while substitute teaching

The court said that Samsel's disciplinary case stemmed from an April 2021 incident where, "while substitute teaching, Samsel kicked and shoved one high school student and grabbed another high school student by the shoulders."

Videos of the incident in the classroom showed him ranting about suicide, sex, masturbation, God and the Bible, and a student told a detective that Samsel kicked him in the testicles.

Samsel was charged in Franklin County with three counts of battery, which were pled down to disorderly conduct. He also voluntarily surrendered his substitute teaching license.

He entered an agreement with the Office of the Disciplinary Administrator where he stipulated to professional conduct violations while also saying that an untreated mental health disorder caused the misconduct. They had recommended a one-year suspension.

"After full consideration, we hold that a two-year suspension is the appropriate discipline under the circumstances," the Supreme Court said. "We acknowledge respondent's mental health was a contributing factor to his misconduct, and he has made significant progress in this respect upon diagnosis and adherence to a successful treatment protocol. But given the nature of the underlying conduct, we believe a suspension of more than one year is warranted."

However, that suspension is stayed if Samsel can successfully complete two years of probation where he will be subject to supervision.

When Samsel addressed the Supreme Court during his May hearing, he apologized for his "terrible" conduct and said it was "a manic episode from a bipolar disorder I didn't know I had."

He said that at the time of the incident and in the following months: "I thought God was calling me to still make this an event to bring attention to mental health. I obviously was wrong in hindsight, but at the time, I thought I was correct."

Since then, he said, doctors have found a medicine that works and he has not experienced symptoms. He now practices law part-time on business contracts and similar work, and, "I actually honestly enjoy the practice of law again."

Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@gannett.com. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas Supreme Court disciplines lawyers who are recent lawmakers
The Kansas Supreme Court has barred a Republican state lawmaker from practicing law in the state for at least one year for his handling of a Wichita murder case.

Rep. Carl Maughan, a Colwich Republican, violated multiple sections of the Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct while representing 57-year-old Bret Blevins in a deadly 2016 crash that killed two Starkey clients, Dirk MacMillan, 46, and Leonard Dusty Atterbery, 25, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled.

The violations included conflicts of interest, failure to safe-keep a clients property and misconduct prejudicial to the administration of justice.

Maughan did not return a phone call Friday afternoon.

The disciplinary decision said it was Maughans third disciplinary action. His first two violations of the rules of professional conduct  for lack of diligence in 2007 and meritorious claims and contentions in 2010  resulted in diversion agreements and were ultimately dismissed.

The complaint against Maughan stems from his failure to properly address conflicts of interest in the Blevins case.

Blevins and his girlfriend, Tammy Akers, were the only occupants of the vehicle that struck a Starkey van. Akers was a key witness, and Maughans defense strategy included implicating her as the driver. The conflict arose because Maughan had previously represented Akers in DUI cases and because Akers and her husband had paid Maughan $30,000 to represent Blevins.

Maughan had argued that he secured conflict-of-interest waivers from Blevins and Akers, but the Kansas Supreme Court found that Maughan failed to properly address the conflict and that the waivers failed to fully inform them of the consequences of the conflicts of interest.

At trial, Maughan blamed Akers for the crash, arguing that she was the driver. Maughan later explained that his knowledge of her history and record  from his prior work as her lawyer  allowed him to be more aggressive on cross examination of Akers, according to the Supreme Court decision.

Akers testified that Blevins was the driver. Blevins convicted and sentenced to more than 60 years in prison for two counts of second-degree murder in 2017.

The Kansas Court of Appeals found in 2021 that Blevins attorney had several conflicts of interest which adversely affected his representation and ordered a new trial. Blevins pleaded guilty to multiple involuntary manslaughter charges in December 2023, and he was sentenced in March to 13.5 years in prison, including the more than 7 years he has already served.

Blevins filed a civil lawsuit against Maughan in the Kansas 18th District court in December over his handling of the case. He alleged Maughan committed legal malpractice. He claimed Maughan told him to invoke the Fifth Amendment because there was evidence, including DNA evidence, that would potentially implicate Akers in the crime. Akers then testified against Blevins as a key States witness.

Blevins is seeking an award in excess of $75,000 in that case.

Maughans failure to safe-keep property violation stemmed from his decision to deposit the $30,000 payment from Akers into his law firms operating account, instead of a trust account, as is required by law.

The Kansas Supreme Court ruled that Maughans actions harmed Blevins, Akers, victims and their families and placed an undue burden on resources of the criminal justice system.

Maughan has said he terminated his re-election campaign. But his name is on the ballot for the Kansas House District 90 primary alongside three other Republican candidates because he missed the deadline to have it removed. He announced he would drop out of the race last month after he was charged with two misdemeanors and two traffic violations in Topeka: possession of a firearm while under the influence, DUI, failure to signal a lane change and failure to maintain safe passage from a single lane.

Empty Fireball bottle & a loaded gun: How a Kansas lawmakers DUI arrest went down

Kansas Republican legislator drops out of race after DUI, gun charges
Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, has made her first official appearance since she announced her cancer diagnosis in a video released on March 22. The royal attended the final and most prestigious ceremonial event of the annual Trooping the Colour, marking the King's Birthday Parade in style.

After arriving at Buckingham Palace in a car, Kate, 42, was pictured in the royal carriage with her three children: Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6. Dressed in a striking white dress with navy, nautical features, Katewho is the honorary colonel of the Irish Guards, a Foot Guards regiment of the British Armysmiled as she watched the regiment march. After exiting the carriage, Kate was pictured enjoying the parade from a window, pointing out certain elements to her three young children.

Kate Middleton smiled in the carriage alongside her children, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte, during Trooping the Colour on June 15, 2024, in London, England. Samir HusseinGetty Images

The Princess of Wales arrived at the event with her husband, Prince William, Prince of Wales, and their three children. Henry NichollsGetty Images

Meanwhile, King Charles IIIwho enjoys two birthdays as a ruling monarchstood in salute of the marching army members, who were in their full regalia complete with the iconic King's Guards bearskin hats. Alongside him, Queen Camilla stood to attention, marking the special occasion as her husband was saluted. Charles' eldest son, Prince William, who took on the title Prince of Wales after his father became King, took part in the royal proceedings, serving on horseback.

Although King Charles would typically also be on horseback, His Majestywho in February announced his own diagnosis of an undisclosed type of cancerinspected the parade on foot, standing and saluting.

King Charles III saluted the troops as he arrived in a horse-drawn carriage alongside his wife, Queen Camilla. Chris JacksonGetty Images

The Trooping the Colour ceremony at the Horse Guards Parade, central London, celebrates King Charles III's official royal birthday. Yui MokGetty Images

Following the parade, Kate and her children were transported back to Buckingham Palace, where theyalong with Prince William, King Charles, and Queen Camillatook to the balcony to watch the Royal Air Force (RAF) flypast.

Prince Louis, who had earlier been spotted dancing, could be seen animatedly reacting to the loud noise of the flypast. Although the young royal was also pictured stifling yawns as he observed the event, he excitedly spoke to his parents and siblings throughout. At one point, older sister Charlotte was spotted seemingly instructing Louis on how to stand properly, pointing out how he should have his arms by his side.

Kate Middleton was joined by her familyincluding an animated Prince Louison the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour on June 15, 2024 in London, England. Neil MockfordGetty Images

Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, was pictured laughing with her youngest child, Prince Louis, on the Buckingham Palace balcony. Samir HusseinGetty Images

Kate's appearance marks a significant return to public life, yet the mother-of-three is open about the challenges ahead. Although she attended Trooping the Colour, the royal may well be absent from future events, as her recovery is set to continue over the coming months. In March, Kate revealed she had been diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer following a planned abdominal surgery in January. She revealed she was undergoing a course of "preventative chemotherapy."

All set for The King's Birthday Parade! pic.twitter.com/jbangtZvA3  The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) June 15, 2024

In an update shared on June 14, in which Kate announced she would be attending the King's Birthday Parade, the royal said she is learning to be patient and listen to her body. In the post shared across the Prince and Princess of Wales' social media accounts, Kate said: "I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On those bad days you feel weak, tired, and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well."

I have been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months. It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times.



I am making good progress, but as anyone going pic.twitter.com/J1jTlgwRU8  The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) June 14, 2024

Informing the public on the status of her cancer treatment, Kate said it is "ongoing and will be for a few more months."

The royal expanded: "On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home."

Write to Olivia-Anne Cleary at olivia-anne.cleary@time.com.
Kate Middleton made her first public appearance since revealing her cancer diagnosis.

The Princess of Wales attended the 2024 Trooping the Colour, celebrating King Charles birthday on Saturday. She stood on the balcony with her husband, Prince William, and their three children  George, Charlotte and Louis.

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On Friday, Middleton shared that she would be returning to some royal duties this summer, starting with the kings celebration, while she continues to undergo cancer treatment.

I have been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months, she wrote on social media Friday. It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times. I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.

The annual celebration of the monarchs birthday marked Middletons first appearance back in the spotlight after stepping back from her royal duties in January while recovering from a routine surgery.

After months of speculation about the princess health, with some conspiracy theories going as far as to say she was missing, Middleton announced in a video that she had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing treatment.

In her Friday social media post, the princess also provided an update on her health, writing, My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months. On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56)  A major pornography website, Pornhub, will be removing access in Kentucky rather than comply with a new law that is set to go into effect on July 15.

On Thursday, Kentuckians attempting to access the website were greeted by a warning letting them know, You will lose access, with a Kentucky state flag.

House Bill 278 was signed into law by Gov. Andy Beshear on April 5 after receiving bipartisan support. The bill requires websites with content that may be harmful to minors to collect proof that a user is an adult before allowing them to access it.

Student loans: Why millions can skip their July payment

Pornhub said it believes the age verification requirements pose a violation of privacy.

We dont want minors accessing our site and think preventing that from happening is a good thing. But putting everybodys privacy at risk wont achieve that, reads the popup.

Limiting or banning traffic in states is not new for Pornhub, which has blocked traffic in other states like Utah and Texas due to age verification laws.

Aylo, Pornhubs parent company, argues that device-based verification is the better solution.

We support processes and solutions that ensure minors do not access adult material

and have repeatedly stated our concern with mandatory platform-level verification.

It must effectively protect children while ensuring user safety and privacy, reads a news release from Aylo.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Its kill or be killed: Why knife crime is spreading among children in leafy suburbia

Teenager Shawn Seesahai was hanging out with a friend in a Wolverhampton park when he was subjected to a brutal and completely random machete attack that ended his young life.

He was 19 and the two boys who killed him were just 12, making them Britains youngest convicted murderers in over 30 years.

What prosecutors described as a horrifying and random act of brutality unfolded over mere minutes on November 13 2023, but it was the result of a much longer journey towards violence for the 12-year-old attackers.

Obsessed with knives, one of the killers, as yet unnamed for legal reasons, said he had bought the machete for just 40 months earlier.

Wearing dark hoodies and masks, he sent videos of himself posing with the 16-inch blade to friends because he thought it was cool, while perusing knives for sale online and listening to rap music that graphically described stabbings and murder.

Charities and experts warn that the boy is not an exception, but a symptom of a deadly trend spreading among Britains children  and a warning of more violence to come.

The Wolverhampton murder encapsulates where we are as a society, says Patrick Green, CEO of the Ben Kinsella Trust.

"Knife crime is likely to get worse," says Patrick Green, CEO of Ben Kinsella Trust, which was set up in the memory of Ben, 17, who was stabbed in an unprovoked attack in 2008 - Jamie Lorriman

All the key indicators are now pointing in the wrong direction  the kids carrying knives are getting younger, online marketplaces are making knives easy to get and social media is promoting and glorifying it.

They all give us the impression that this is a problem that is likely to get worse.

In an attempt to educate young people about the dangers of carrying knives before its too late, the London-based charity that was set up in the memory of Ben, 16, who was stabbed to death in an unprovoked attack in Islington in 2008, now delivers workshops to primary school children, and it is far from the only organisation now targeting that age group.

When we started work as a charity in 2011, we identified the last year of primary school and first year of secondary school as a massive transition year, Green says. The majority of knife carrying then was by 15, 16 and 17-year-olds, so our view was to get in there early.

But what were seeing now is the age creeping much closer to where we thought children were more or less exempt, and the Wolverhampton case is a good example of that. Those 12-year-olds would have been carrying knives for quite some time.

While such habits have long been associated with teenagers who are part of gangs or exploited to carry drugs by county lines networks, a growing number of children with no link to criminality are now believed to be carrying knives simply because they are afraid.

When the Ben Kinsella Trust surveyed almost 10,000 young people who attended its London workshops, it found that a quarter thought arming themselves with a blade would protect them.

More than a third said they did not feel safe walking the streets, two thirds were anxious about knife crime in their area, and children under the age of 12 were even more likely to be scared than their older peers.

Meanwhile, despite a recent decrease in the overall number of murders with a knife or sharp object involving victims in the 13-19 age group, teenagers remain over twice as likely to be fatally stabbed than they were 10 years ago, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics.

In total, 82 per cent of murders among teenage victims involve the use of a knife or sharp instrument. Among victims of all ages, the figure stands at 41 per cent.

Malachi Nunes used to carry a knife. Aged 14, and living in an area of the West Midlands marred by gang warfare between the notorious Burger Bar Boys and Johnson Crew, he says he took up a weapon out of fear.

I would be waiting at a bus stop and gangs would stop in their cars and ask me what gang I was with, he says. What do you do as a young person when nobody is there to protect you?

He carried knives for five years but was never caught up directly in violence, and chose to disarm after being arrested and cautioned by the police. Looking back at the period, Nunes admits making stupid decisions but says he was confused on how to survive. He is now trying to help young people facing the same situation.

His Ambitious Lives group runs workshops, training and mentoring programmes for young offenders and those at risk of criminal exploitation in the West Midlands, which has the highest number of recorded knife crime offences per head of population in England and Wales.

Even before the Wolverhampton murder, Nunes had mentored young boys carrying knives in the same city. There was one particular young person there who carried a knife because he had an older brother who was in a gang and in jail, he says.

He felt he had to carry a knife because the gangs would either try to bring him on board, or attack him. Its a domino effect.

Malachi Nunes, who used to carry a knife himself, is now a 'behaviour mentor' seeking to help protect young people from exploitation

Nunes believes knife possession is spreading to ever-younger children because of fear generated by a combination of their own experiences, reports of knife attacks in their neighbourhoods and what they see on social media.

He has personally mentored boys as young as nine who have already carried knives, and have even taken them to school. He warns that the trend will breed further violence.

A lot of young people do not have intentions to stab someone [when they start carrying a knife] but there can be circumstances where they feel its a kill or be killed situation, he says. The fear factor means they think I need to do that before someone does that to me.

Nunes is one of several youth mentors and charity workers who fear a snowball effect, where increasing fear fuels rising knife possession and raises the risk of deadly fights breaking out between teenagers who may never have intended to harm anyone.

Dr Charlotte Coleman, who researches the psychology of knife crime at Sheffield Hallam University, says that knives are often perceived as defensive weapons initially but ultimately increase childrens propensity for violence.

I dont think any young person picks up their first knife and thinks I want to stab someone, but thinks that this is what other people are doing or this is what I need to do to protect myself. But then obviously, once you normalise that knife carrying, [using the knife] is the next step along that path.

Colemans research has also found that knives have become a status indicator for boys, giving them a feeling of power that they can physically brandish on the streets and online.

Nunes says the rise of drill rap, which has been used by some gangs to threaten rivals and incite violence, has also glamorised knife carrying and made associated clothing styles fashionable.

It means that unarmed teenagers with no links to criminality are choosing to dress like gang members, in a distinctive uniform of dark or monochrome sportswear and designer trainers, sometimes accessorised with black balaclavas or gloves.

The uniform

An undated photograph issued by West Midlands Police of one of the two 12-year-old boys thought to have become the youngest knife murderers in the UK

Black balaclava Dark, monochrome colours Baggy sportswear Gloves

I have a few young people I mentor with undiagnosed ADHD and autism, and they have confidence issues and wear balaclavas for that reason, Nunes says. For some of them a balaclava is just like a pair of trainers, its a fashion accessory. Since Covid its just been allowed.

Such emulation can be dangerous, with older gang members on the lookout for younger teenagers they believe may be willing to work in the drug trade for cash or expensive gifts.

If you are acting like you want to be in that life, if youre wearing a balaclava and embracing the culture, they see that as a weakness to bring people in, Nunes warns.

County lines gangs, who operate out of large cities to target smaller towns and rural areas with drugs, are constantly recruiting children to act as mules in the belief they are unlikely to be known by police and face lenient sentences if caught.

The lucrative model of drug dealing, which has been prevalent for the past seven years, was linked to a rise in stabbings because of turf wars and robberies between gangs, and the increased carrying of knives by exploited teenagers.

Nunes fears county lines gangs are more rife than ever in the cost-of-living crisis, with children in deprived areas finding the money on offer very appealing. But he and other youth workers are seeing knife possession spread out of traditional crime hotspots to leafy and affluent areas with little history of gang activity and violence.

Mentor Gideon Buabeng has been finding himself increasingly working in what he calls the lovely bits of Surrey, among children who have no link to criminality.

Gideon Buabeng speaking to King Charles during an Invest in Futures reception at The Savoy in London - Peter Cary/PA

I recently worked with a young person in a lovely home, who said he ordered a knife because it looked nice and his friend told him about it, he says.

Then one day someone tried to take his jacket and he took it out for protection. He took the knife out in public and got arrested for it. The parents couldnt believe it  because we have this perspective of knife crime being linked to gang crime, parents arent prepared.

Buabeng grew up in Croydon and became unwittingly associated with local gangs as a teenager, with his childhood links leading to him being targeted in a ferocious stabbing when he was a university student studying in Leicester.

After surviving the attack and getting his degree, he founded the Our Pain 2 Power group to fight youth violence, and is now running programmes for children down to the age of seven.

Buabeng recalls a recent case involving a child in Year 5 [age 9-10] who slept with a knife under his bed because he was scared, warning that public services have been too focused on teenagers with gang links in known hotspots, sending the cops down there and leaving everyone else out.

Youth mentors such as Gideon Buabeng say that unconstrained internet access is contributing to the rise in knife crime

This affects every young person in the nation, he warns. You get schools saying we dont have that issue here, its a lovely area  until something happens and they all start panicking. Its not the particular, certain areas  social media connects us all.

Buabeng says unconstrained internet access is allowing young children to view not just violent drill rap videos and social media glamorising knives, but footage of real stabbings and even terrorist atrocities that desensitise them to violence.

Theyre seeing crazy things by the age of 11 or 12, theyre laughing at videos of people having their heads chopped off, he says. Kids shouldnt be having access to certain things online, this shouldnt be happening.

While the Online Safety Act aims to force social media companies to protect children by properly filtering content and enforcing age limits, the new regulatory system underpinning the law is untested and campaigners fear it will be ineffective. Some groups are calling for parents to take a greater role in monitoring their childrens online activity, and spot any red flags themselves.

If you understand youth culture, youll understand the signs, but parents of today dont know how to use social media like the kids do, Nunes says. I encourage parents to learn the apps kids are using because the evidence will be on there. Look at their Snapchat conversions, look at their Whatsapp groups.

Earlier this year, the family of 18-year-old Owen Dunn, who was stabbed to death in Swindon in December 2022, started a campaign called Check Your Children.

Owen was carrying a knife when he was murdered by two machete-wielding boys as he cycled to meet his girlfriend. He did not use the weapon, but his killers unsuccessfully attempted to claim self-defence at their trial.

Zoe Mitchell, Owens mother, wasnt aware her son was in possession of a knife until after his death and said afterwards: Youve got to think, it could just possibly be my kid [carrying a knife]. It doesnt hurt just to check them.

The charity Owens World was set up in his memory, and is now reaching out directly to parents and guardians, as well as children themselves.

The parents of Owen Dunn, who was stabbed to death in Swindon in December 2022, were unaware he was carrying a knife

Owen was carrying that knife for protection because of a previous incident but his mum didnt know  if he had confided about the incident before the murder he would probably be alive now, CEO Jo Davis says. Our campaign is about parents taking responsibility for their kids and being knowledgeable. They havent got a clue what to look for and they dont know what to do.

Members of Owens World are also going into primary schools and Cub Scouts groups to speak to children directly, trying to warn them of the dangers of carrying knives and assure them that theres not as many people carrying knives as you think there are.

The younger we get them the better  once they start going up to secondary school and getting in with the wrong friends, you can get lost, Davis adds. Prevention is better than cure and thats what were here for.

She believes dangerous gaps have opened up between the many overlapping law enforcement, health agencies, social services and arms of government that control factors linked to knife crime.

There are so many agencies but no one takes responsibility for it, she adds.

The government has been attempting to crack down on knife crime through multiple routes, including increasing stop and search, legislating for tougher prison sentences and banning so-called zombie knives. Meanwhile, police forces across the UK have launched waves of operations against county lines gangs, knife seizure programmes and efforts to take down drill rap songs linked to outbreaks of violence.

But official figures show that knife crime has risen by seven per cent year-on-year in England and Wales, partly driven by rocketing knifepoint robberies. Fatal stabbings stood at 239 last year, broadly unchanged on the 235 recorded in 2022, and knives are the weapons used to kill the vast majority of teenage murder victims.

Last month, police chiefs revealed that illegal dealers were knowingly selling weapons to under-18s via social media channels, including TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram. Meanwhile, websites that openly advertise their wares on the internet continue selling large knives that are sent to buyers in the post, with age verification processes that can be easily fooled.

DNA Leisure, which described itself as the UKs go to website for knives, tools, axes and knife accessories, announced the commercial decision to stop the sale of bladed articles on Thursday, after a string of murders were committed with swords and blades purchased from it.

But Google searches conducted by The Telegraph show that people looking up the website are being targeted with adverts for weapons available from rival retailers, including large survival and hunting knives with serrated blades.

The Ben Kinsella Trust believes there will be no quick fix to either the availability of such weapons, or childrens willingness to possess and use them.

All politicians so far have tried to find silver bullets for tackling knife crime but there isnt one, CEO Green says.

You can buy a machete for 20, and there are practical things the government can do to stop that, but more needs to be done about the underlying factors. You need to tackle all elements of it and that requires a vast amount of money, its a huge challenge.

In the meantime, Buabeng and his fellow youth workers fear they will see the fall-out from more and more children carrying knives.

Its getting worse, its getting so much worse, he says.

What makes them want to carry a knife and stab someone, whats happening in their life?

We always miss the journey that gets there, I always get called when its too late.

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ABILENE, Texas (BigCountryHomepage.com)  For KTAB/KRBCs parent company, Nexstars, 28th Founders Day, loads of station employees volunteered to make the Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene shine. In addition, local Veterans were invited to be celebrated with a free meal. Speaking at that celebration was one of KTABs resident Veterans, Bob Bartlett.

One of the best things we can do for Veterans: KTAB/KRBC volunteers at Abilene Veterans Cemetery

Bob joined the US Army Reserve in the late 1960s, some of which was served at the 490th Civil Affairs Battalion before it relocated in the mid 2000s.

The KTAB legend came to join the Army at the end of his college career, inspired by a professor of his. Not long after, he would travel from Michigan to Fort Ord in California for basic training. The US Army would lead Bob to Panama, South Korea, and other locations during the Vietnam War.

During an informal luncheon with local Veterans, Bob spoke before those in attendance to give everyone a glimpse into what it was like being a broadcaster and serving in the Army Reserve simultaneously.

What the audience didnt know was I left the unit, drove to the station, prepared the broadcast. When I went on the air I was still wearing my fatigues and my combat boots Because we were sitting behind a desk and nobody could see, Bob said just ahead of holding for laughter.

With gratitude to the Veterans who made it out to the Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene, Bob concluded, You served your country. You did everything that you could to preserve us, preserve our history, and preserve what what we live for. So, once again, thank you very much and have a blessed day.

Another station Veteran, meteorologist Pete Beretta, served at the fire department at Dyess Air Force Base before moving to the Abilene Fire Department. He spent his morning alongside other station volunteers scrubbing, scraping, and shining Veteran headstones.

I hope someday when Im laid to rest out here, a stranger comes by and just says, let me spruce you up, buddy,' Pete added.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
The Opposition leader has spoken about the sanctity of the NHS in quasi-religious tones - OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images

What exactly are Labours plans for the National Health Service?

I appreciate this question could be applied to almost every policy area, as this weeks publication of the partys manifesto was intentionally free of surprises  including detail. But while Labour has played a strategically vague game in recent months  in order to keep their options as flexible as possible  the NHS had been one of the few areas where the party had been far bolder about its plans for pragmatic reform.

Yet while so much of the manifesto mirrors Labours narrative leading up to the campaign, its chapter on the NHS does not. The 139-page document is lacking any serious plan for reform or detail about how the party will integrate more private and independent sector care into the system.

Something seemed off from the start of the campaign, when Keir Starmer, in the first TV debate, said he would never use private healthcare to get a friend or family member faster access to surgery. It was an odd answer for several reasons, including the robustness of the response, suggesting there was no person, ailment or length of delay that could change his mind.

It also seemed to jar with what his shadow health secretary Wes Streeting wrote in The Telegraph just a week prior, promising to go further than New Labour ever did to enable the NHS to form partnerships with the private sector that goes beyond just hospital.

But the most curious part of the answer was Starmers choice of language. Of all the reasons he could have given for ruling out private or independent care, he went for the quasi-religious one: I use the NHS it runs through my DNA.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting has displayed a more pragmatic approach towards the use of private healthcare than Sir Keir - REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska

What would Streeting make of this reasoning? It is by no means a new line from Labour  or any other party for that matter.

Around this time last year politicians piled into Westminster Abbey for the NHSs 75th birthday, giving worship to the state institution. But it is also what Labour has been trying to pivot away from.

Streeting is often the first to insist that the NHS isnt something to envy or revere, especially when outcomes for patients rank so poorly compared to neighbouring countries. I suspected another strategic move: no need to spook viewers at home with a soundbite on NHS reform, which isnt exactly a popular topic at the best of times. Save the details for the manifesto, where plans can be fully explained.

We have that manifesto now, and not only are the details about NHS reform omitted, there is no suggestion whatsoever of a serious overhaul.

The document states that more investment into the NHS must go hand in hand with fundamental reform. Yet what follows seems to be a series of tweaks and slogans that mean nothing on their own.

The party describes the winter crisis cycle as some Tory import, as if the NHS didnt experience winter breaking points throughout the noughties. Its an almost guaranteed consequence of a system that deliberately operates close to full capacity, regardless of who is in charge.

The root reform it claims is necessary is not really explained. Instead the document lists out the kinds of promises we hear from all the major parties when they dont want to fully acknowledge the scale of the UKs health system problems.

Plans to harness the power of technologies like AI to transform the speed and accuracy of diagnostic services is how Labour says it will pivot from emergency to preventative care. Its the healthcare equivalent of the magic money tree for the economy: a tool to save the day without tackling any of the underlying problems in the system.

Some 40,000 additional appointments a week are promised, which supposedly will appear thanks to voluntary cooperation from doctors and nurses  who have been very clear one of their main problems is exhaustion from too few staff and too many hours worked.

The party promises thousands more medical staff  while also planning to reduce immigration. It pledges to turn the National Health Service into a Neighbourhood Health Service  a nice slogan with no substance behind it.

But perhaps the biggest indicator Labour is retreating is their stated ambition for waiting times. Their main priority now is to grip waiting lists  something that is likely to happen regardless of party, as the Institute for Fiscal Studies predicts waiting lists will start coming down consistently but slowly over the rest of the year.

But the partys ambition is to return to the current standards where patients should expect to wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral for consultant-led treatment of non-urgent health conditions.

Is this really the plan, after so much brave talk of underperformance and reform? Patients, often in pain, still waiting months for necessary treatment?

Where did the ambition go? Yes, transparency has its risks. Theresa May learned this the hardest way in 2017, when plans to address gaps in social care funding quickly got dubbed the dementia tax.

The truth hurts, and brutal honesty about the NHS would have turned off a few voters. But it would have also enabled Labour to enter No 10 with a clear mandate to start reform on day one: surely a worthwhile trade-off for a party that is not only polling spectacularly, but presumably wants to set itself up for success if it finds itself in power next month.

The weekend before polling day, junior doctors in the British Medical Association will be staging their pre-election strike. It reflects their feelings about the Government  but it should also be viewed as a warning shot to Labour.

Streeting has already found himself up against the BMA in the past, and has stood his ground. But that battle only becomes harder if he finds himself in charge. Labour could have been on the front foot in the upcoming debates and stand-offs that will inevitably take place if serious reform is tabled, were it able to say that their plans were vocalised, and voted for, in the election.

Instead they watered it all down, to further secure a very secure-looking election. A strategic election tactic that may make it much harder to govern.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Big swings in water levels at Lake Mead arent expected to repeat over the next two years, according to projections released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

For now, projections that are updated each month in Reclamations 24-month study arent changing much. Lake Mead is expected to hit a low of 1,059.83 feet in November 2024, just 5 feet lower than its current level, 1,064.81 feet at noon on Friday. Those are measures of the lake surfaces altitude  the number of feet above sea level.

From there, Lake Mead will climb to 1,066.08 feet in February 2025, and then drop to 1,052.62 feet by July 2025. Projections show the lake reaching 1,067.11 feet  the highest level in the 24-month forecast  in March 2026.

A view of Lake Mead from Hoover Dam on Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Greg Haas / 8NewsNow)

How reliable are the projections?

The projections arent always accurate. They just show the range of possibilities based on the best models available. Projections made a year ago missed the mark at Lake Mead by 9 feet.

The most probable inflow numbers are used in generating the report each month. Alternate reports chart minimum probable and maximum probable data. This months report is remarkably similar to projections released in May.

The 24-month study released in May 2023 projected Lake Mead to be 1,058.20 feet in May 2024. But it actually hit 1,067.08 feet, according to the Bureaus records. Looking ahead a year to May 2025, last years report is in line with the study released on Friday: 1,056.01 feet (2023 projection) and 1,057.11 (2024 projection).

For Lake Powell, the most probable numbers were quite a bit more out of whack.

Last years 24-month study had Lake Powell hitting 3,586.94 feet in May 2024. It was actually about 18 feet lower, at 3,568.69 feet. Looking ahead to May 2025, the 2023 projection expects Lake Powell to reach 3,592.95 feet. The current projection is 3,575.17.

Iconic speedboat breaks Lake Meads surface, but is it history or a hunk of junk?

If it seems like theres something wrong with the math, remember that Reclamation controls how much water comes out through each dam on the Colorado River. After water dropped almost low enough to disrupt power production at Glen Canyon Dam in recent years, Reclamation has made it a priority to keep enough water upstream to prevent Lake Powell from dropping that low again.

Nevada, Arizona and California have proposed a major change in how the federal government makes decisions related to water allocations. Those states want the total water content in the Colorado River Basin to guide the decisions, not just the surface levels of Lake Powell and Lake Mead  which can be manipulated by Reclamation.

A strong finish to winter

Snowpack isnt usually an interesting topic in early June, but sometimes Mother Nature saves the best news for last. Late-season weather gave a little boost to snow water equivalent (SWE) measurements, especially in the Colorado River Headwaters region of the area that feeds the river that supplies 40 million people with the water they need.

In early April  typically the peak for SWE levels  Bureau statistics showed the Upper Colorado River Basin at around 111% of normal. Two months ago, that was welcome news.

And its gotten better since then. On June 6, SWE levels were at 179% of the median level over the past 10 years. On Friday, that had dropped to 132% (blue box at the center of the map above).

At the end of April, when snowmelt is usually happening at a fast and furious pace, SWE levels took an uncharacteristic turn for the better (bright blue line in the chart below):

Granted, the peak level in early April makes the most difference. But for a couple of weeks in late May to early June, the basin had a better water year than a year ago (red line in the chart above). The winter of 2023 helped Lake Mead and Lake Powell recover after an a dry 2021-22.

The years 2019 and 2023 stand out as the best water years over the past decade.

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Lara Trump vows to prosecute anyone who cheats in an election: We will track you down

Lara Trump vows to prosecute anyone who cheats in an election: We will track you down

Lara Trump, the co-chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC) and former President Trumps daughter-in-law, promised Friday to prosecute anyone who cheats in an election, threatening we will track you down.

This year is the year we do it, Lara Trump said at Turning Point USAs Detroit convention. We are also sending a loud and clear message out there to anyone who thinks about cheating in an election: We will find you, we will track you down and we will prosecute you to the full extent of the law.

Lara Trump and other RNC officials kicked off a massive effort to mobilize thousands of election integrity watchdogs to monitor every step of the election process and create hotlines for poll watchers to report perceived problems and escalate those problems through legal action. The initiative immediately drew concerns that it will lead to the harassment of election workers, The Associated Press reported.

What we need to ensure is integrity in our electoral process, Lara Trump said at the event hosted in a critical county in Michigan. We can never go back and repeat 2020, but we can learn the lessons from 2020.

Her father-in-law, Trump, has continued to refuse to accept the results of the 2020 presidential election, and he and his allies have spread false claims of voter fraud, resulting in immediate legal battles after the election.

Trump allies already have signaled that he might not accept the results of this years election if he loses to President Biden.

Lara Trump also refuses to accept her father-in-laws 2020 loss. In an April interview with CNN shortly after accepting the RNC position, she claimed Democrats committed massive fraud in the 2020 election.

After Trump overhauled the RNC, selecting Lara Trump and Chair Michael Whatley, the Party has taken a new turn. They are urging voters to utilize early voting and mail-in ballots, something they vehemently opposed during the 2020 campaign.

Trumps team, working with the RNC, launched a voter education effort about early-voting methods in each state, urging Republicans to vote early to avoid inconsistencies and unexpected obstacles. The former president said in a video supporters should make a plan and vote any way possible.

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Large chunk of ice falls from sky, crashes through NJ familys roof

Large chunk of ice falls from sky, crashes through NJ familys roof

PATERSON, N.J. (PIX11)  A New Jersey family is picking up the pieces after a large chunk of ice fell from the sky and ripped through their attic.

The Federal Aviation Administration is aware of the freak accident that experts believe came from an airplane.

While living under a busy flight path in Paterson, New Jersey, the roar of a jet engine is nothing new. However, a thunderous crash startled the Gomez family Wednesday night after a massive chunk of ice rocketed through their roof.

Luckily, we didnt get hit, said Paul Gomez, who bought the house on East 38th Street a few months ago.

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We were sitting down having a great time eating with family when out of nowhere we heard a helicopter noise, his daughter Sabrina recalled.

They all ran inside to their third floor on East 38th Street and found destruction.

It went through the roof, hit the floor so hard it cracked the second-floor ceiling, Gomez said.

A review of nearby flights from Newark Airport around 9:42 p.m. shows several aircraft flew close by or right over their neighborhood.

The police officer said it was probably from an airplane, Gomez told PIX11 News.

Accidental aircraft biohazard discharges that form into ice have happened but are rare, according to aviation experts.

Its a wild card here what caused this, remarked Dr. Joe Schwieterman, a professor at DePaul University.

The Gomez family said there was no odor left behind, and the ice had a bluish hue.

It was kind of a bluish ice color, like an iceberg, Sabrina Gomez explained.

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Dr. Schwieterman is a transportation professor who studies such phenomena. A really unusual situation, but something about the chemistry of the plane, the water or lavatories or external from the plane. Its scary stuff.

The FAA told PIX11 News it generally investigates incidents like this.

The damage from this skyfall could cost the family up to $20,000, Gomez said. One in a million. One in a million. It just had to be my house.

The FAA told the family it would be on site Monday to investigate, but for now, it would be up to his insurance to cover the bill.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A 34-year-old Las Vegas man was convicted Friday on drug charges by a federal jury in Florida.

Noel Alfredo Garcia faces a minimum of 10 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida.

Garcia and another man were involved in the transport of nearly 30 pounds of methamphetamine from Victorville, California, to Lakeland, Florida, according to evidence presented at trial. The Florida Highway Patrol stopped Garcia on Jan. 29, 2024, and officers found the methamphetamine in his trunk.

Garcia was indicted on March 12.

Phone records showed he constantly communicated with co-defendant Jesus Villapudua before and during Garcias drive to Florida. Prior to this delivery, Garcia made multiple other trips across the country to transport narcotics and the proceeds of narcotics sales, according to trial evidence.

Villapudua pleaded guilty to the same offenses on May 23.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Florida Highway Patrol, with assistance from the Bradenton Police Department.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jeff Chang and Samantha Newman.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Police agencies from across the Las Vegas valley arrested 12 men during a sex offender verification operation across Clark County.

The arrests occurred between June 3 and June 7 during an in-person operation ensuring sex offenders were compliant with their registration.

Those arrested were: David Duenas, 43; David Perry, 45; John Simmons, 51; Jeremiah Gard,

39; Ryan Hamm, 60; Brian Monegan, 62; Casey Saunders, 26; Scott Billings, 49; Giezi BurrionDiaz, 29; Lawrence Sayles, 65; Nathaniel Whaley, 51 and Anthony Buncie, 62.

David Duenas, 43; David Perry, 45; John Simmons, 51; Jeremiah Gard, 39; Ryan Hamm, 60; Brian Monegan, 62; Casey Saunders, 26; Scott Billings, 49; Giezi BurrionDiaz, 29; Lawrence Sayles, 65; Nathaniel Whaley, 51 and Anthony Buncie, 62 were arrested during Operation Summer Shield 2024, a multi-jurisdictional sex offender verification operation,

By the end of the operation, 1,840 sex offenders were contacted, resulting in 12 arrested.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department reminds sex offenders who are required to register that they must verify their address with law enforcement according to the tier assigned to them.

Tier 3 offenders required to check in quarterly

Tier 2 offenders required to check in bi-annually

Tier 1 offenders required to check in annually

The arrests were part of Operation Summer Shield 2024 and included several agencies including The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service Nevada Violent Offender Task Force, Nevada State Police- Parole and Probation Sex Offender Unit, Nevada State Police Division of Investigations, the North Las Vegas Police Department, the Henderson Police

Department, the Boulder City Police Department, the Clark County School District Police

Department and the Las Vegas City Marshals.

The public can access Offender Watch, a website, and mobile app that can be used as a tool for parents to identify houses they may want their children to avoid.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  After a man was struck and killed by a car Friday morning while trying to cross I-84, transportation officials are addressing concerns raised about keeping pedestrians and drivers out of harms way.

Portland police said the driver stayed on the scene to cooperate after striking the pedestrian early in the morning, with the freeway now back open. Police said theyre still working to figure out why the man, who had no mode of transportation, was crossing.

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KOIN 6 News saw camps near the crash site, a common occurrence all around the interstate in Portland. For the safety of drivers and pedestrians, we asked the Oregon Department of Transportation whats being done to keep people from walking onto our most dangerous corridors.

People are getting injured, theyre getting killed out there on the freeways and weve got to do what we can to put a stop to this, said Don Hamilton, an ODOT spokesperson.

The fatal crash occurred on I-84 just west of the I-205 interchange just after 4 a.m.

Teen girl injured in car crash down ravine off East Historic Columbia River Gorge Highway

ODOT said in addition to incoming infrastructure improvements, such as increased lighting and street markings, the department is using some of the funding granted by the Oregon legislature to help remove graffiti to also deter people from walking onto the freeways.

A fatal crash blocked Interstate 84 eastbound on Friday June 14 (ODOT)

Some inhibitions on the areas: thats going to mean some additional fencing, some additional steps that we can take to try to prevent people from getting down into the freeways into harms way, Hamilton said.

ODOT said they plan to ramp up those safety improvement efforts this summer, saying similar tactics have been used to deter people from camping and walking near dangerous overpasses before, such as under the Steele Bridge.

Thunderstorms could impact Fathers Day plans in the Pacific Northwest

The camps along the freeways are especially dangerous because people are running across the freeways, oftentimes at night. Its really, really dangerous. This is why we are always working with police, were working with social service agencies to try to get those camps away, Hamilton said.

Hamilton said they plan to implement more landscaping deterrents like the rocks placed under the Steele Bridge. However, when KOIN 6 checked that very spot Friday afternoon, we saw several people camping despite an illegal camping notice.

Im in this particular area because I have to be in close proximity to the feeding stations, Ty, who is experiencing homelessness, told KOIN 6.

Deputies arrest man accused of armed carjacking in Vancouver

Ty acknowledged he could improve on his own personal responsibility, such as always remembering to push the crosswalk button before crossing the street. However, he said another part of the equation for street safety falls on the City of Portland.

I dont think the city has all of these areas properly regulated with lights, and signs and so forth, Ty said. One is out of my control, like what the city chooses to do with its money but I need to take my life more seriously given the statistical facts.

The City of Portland said half of the 24 pedestrian deaths last year were of people experiencing homelessness. In fact, the city saw a record-breaking 69 traffic deaths in 2023, overall.

Police said there have been 27 people killed in crashes this year, one shy of the 28 deaths recorded this time last year.

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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.
At least 70 drones used in attack on Russia's Morozovsk airbase, Budanov confirms

The Morozovsk airfield, located in Russia's Rostov Oblast, was attacked by at least 70 drones on June 13, the War Zone media outlet said on June 14, citing Ukraine's military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov.

Rostov Oblast Governor Vasily Golubev said the previous day that Russian air defense units faced a "mass attack" of drones, which caused a fire and disruptions to the local power supply.

Russia's Defense Ministry then said that 70 drones had been shot down over the oblast.

Budanov said that he was "waiting for information" about the extent of the damage caused at the airfield, which satellite imagery has confirmed hosts Su-34 fighter jets.

The War Zone republished satellite imagery from Planet Labs, which showed both jets at the airfield before the attack and some subsequent evidence of damage caused.

Russian Telegram channels conceded that the attack on the airbase had occurred, but some claimed that all the drones had been downed, while others claimed that some had struck the airbase and possibly killed as many as six pilots.

The claims could not be independently verified, and Budanov did not comment on possible casualties.

It was not the first reported attack on the Morozovsk airbase, which is located some 180 kilometers (111 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

Sources confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that drones had struck the airbase in April in a joint operation carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Ukrainian military.

At least six military aircraft were destroyed, and another eight were damaged, according to the source. Furthermore, about 20 Russian soldiers were reportedly killed or wounded.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the information.

When asked if Ukraine planned to attack the airbase again, Budanov said "yes."

Read also: We set a precedent. Ukraine officially presents Unmanned Systems Forces

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A captain that served for three decades in the Lees Summit Fire Department has died, the department announced Saturday.

Gene Martin, 55, served as a firefighter and captain in Lees Summit for the past 30 years. In an announcement on Saturday, the fire department said Martins unwavering commitment and service left a mark in the community.

Captain Martin exemplified the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and dedication, the fire department said in a news release. His contributions have been invaluable, and his absence will be profoundly felt by all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him.

The fire department said Martins legacy will continue to inspire and guide them as they move forward.

We extend our deepest condolences to Captain Martins family, friends, and fire department family.

The fire department said it will share details about memorial services for Martin when they are available.
Left-wing group or Republican front? Democrats challenge new third party in NC

A Democratic group contends that a new left-wing political party seeking recognition in North Carolina is a front intended to harm Joe Bidens reelection campaign, and its asking the State Board of Elections to investigate.

Clear Choice Action, a group targeting third-party presidential campaigns, accused the Justice For All Party, which hopes to place Cornel West on the presidential ballot in North Carolina, of misleading signers of its petition for party recognition.

In a letter sent to the state board on Thursday, Clear Choice says it found deficiencies in thousands of signatures upon reviewing JFAs petition sheets, which, if disqualified, could put the party below the legal threshold to be certified.

When a full independent review of JFAs petitions is completed by the State Board of Elections ... we are confident they will fall short of the valid signature threshold, based on our detailed, line-by-line analysis, Pete Kavanaugh, Clear Choice Actions founder and a former Biden aide, said in a statement.

In a statement to The News & Observer, Italo Medelius, North Carolina co-chair of JFA, said Clear Choices complaint was full of falsehoods and misinformation.

By trying to keep us off the ballot, through manufactured falsehood, the party is justifying our very existence, Medelius said. The two parties are out of control, and they will not stop until all parties, except the two sovereigns, are barred from the ballot.

JFA appears to have met the signature requirement to be certified as a new party in North Carolina, but the state board, which has a 3-2 Democratic majority, has yet to vote on the groups petition.

Clear Choice has also also targeted Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s third-party campaign in North Carolina, sending a similar complaint to the state board.

The North Carolina Democratic Party has also submitted challenges of Kennedys and Wests parties to the state board.

At a rally on Friday, speakers from a variety of third parties denounced efforts to keep West and Kennedys parties off the ballot.

There are groups trying to pressure and coerce the state board not to certify us  these are the same groups that will tell you in order to save democracy, they will eviscerate democracy, said Ryan Rabah, North Carolina vice chair for Kennedys We The People party. ... We have followed all the rules, we have followed all the statutes, and we deserve to be certified immediately.

Alleged GOP ties and signature irregularities

In its 29-page letter to the state board, Clear Choice lays out a variety of allegations about JFAs petition campaign.

It references reporting from NBC News which found that several signature-gatherers working for JFAs petition campaign had ties to a Republican consulting firm.

One Republican activist collecting signatures for West told attendees at a Trump rally in North Carolina that having West on the ballot helps take away votes from Joe Biden, NBC reported.

JFAs entire petitioning effort is a sham driven by Republican-party affiliated voters and groups to dilute support for President Biden and other Democrats, attorneys for Clear Choice wrote in the letter.

Medelius denied this claim, saying that JFA is chaired by unaffiliated union members and has no registered Republicans or Democrats in its executive committee.

How does this claim, notwithstanding its blatant untruthfulness, have any relevance to the complaint at hand? he said. It doesnt, its a piece of political warfare through the organs of government.

Clear Choice also points to alleged improprieties in JFAs petition sheets. It says it conducted a thorough review of the sheets after receiving them in a public records request.

These deficiencies include illegible signatures, incorrect addresses and similar handwriting across multiple signatures, Clear Choice claims.

The News & Observer reported earlier this month that Clear Choice engaged in a text campaign to question supporters of Wests and Kennedys parties about their decisions to sign the petition for ballot access.

Citing responses to those texts, Clear Choice says 431 signers of JFAs petition told them they wish to withdraw signatures, claim they did not sign, or we misled by circulators.

The State Board of Elections has not indicated when it will vote on Kennedys or Wests petitions for party recognition.

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A planned south Georgia monkey breeding facility had its ongoing court battle take another step forward on Thursday in the states Court of Appeals.

The city of Bainbridge is home to the Flint River, and if its supporters succeed, a breeding facility meant to house at least 30,000 monkeys for use in medical testing.

Plans to build the $300 million facility by Safer Human Medicine, which were originally agreed to by the Decatur County Development Authority, have been put on pause as legal battles and opposition by residents continue.

After the Development Authority canceled their approval and tried to revoke Safer Human Medicines tax benefits to build in the county, Channel 2 Action News reported the company sued.

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Thursdays court hearing was the latest step in the process, with attorneys for Safer Human Medicine and the Decatur County District Attorney Joe Mulholland telling the judges that it was his job to ensure the public was safe and that his opposition to the breeding facility was to serve that role.

As the DA, Im the gatekeeper to ensuring my public is safe. Im the gatekeeper to make sure local government does what theyre supposed to do and follow the law and make sure backdoor dealings dont happen, and to make sure that companies like Safer Human Medicine have to follow all the rules, cant slap people on the back, coming in my community, and trying to put 30,000 monkeys by the Flint River, Mulholland said.

He said that was why district attorneys sign bond validations, which at the start of his comments hed said was a responsibility of the DA hed previously been unsure of.

Pushing back on the DAs comments, an attorney for Safer Human Medicine said the initial deal to develop the facility in Bainbridge had not been conducted in secret or in a backdoor dealing.

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First of all, I just want to tell yall that the notion that his project was done in secret or somebody ran out in the middle of the night and was going to build this $300 million project is just preposterous, Hugh Peterson said. There were two television news stories that were run about this project.

The appeals court pressed Peterson on what they said was a potential lack of proper notice, but he contended that things were done properly and by statutory procedure. He said Mulholland had been served papers, such as petitions, bond documents and plans for the facility to inform him of the development proposal.

Even though the development authority revoked their approval, Safer Human Medicine said in court that they had followed the legal requirements and had not done anything wrong, so they plan to move forward with development.

At the hearing, an attorney for the development authority that they were still intent on completely unwinding the project in addition to invalidating the bonds that were supposed to be issued.

As previously reported by Channel 2 Action News, following a public comment period in January, and further review by the county commission, the tax abatement was put up for reconsideration on Jan. 30.

The District Attorney filed a Motion for Reconsideration or in the Alternative to Set Aside the Validation Order in the Superior Court, according to a lawsuit filed by the breeding company, prompting the reversal decision.

The court did not make a decision on how to proceed. Mulholland told WALB that he expects a decision in a few months.

In addition to the appeals process in state court, Safer Human Medicine opened a lawsuit against the Decatur County Development Authority alleging their reversal of approval had constituted a breach of contract and are seeking damages and legal expenses.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Letter carriers rallied outside the Vibrant Arena in Moline on Friday to call for the passage of the national Protect Our Letter Carriers Act.

The bipartisan legislation addresses the rise of violent crime committed against letter carriers as they carry out their duties. It calls for replacing old collection boxes with new ones that require electronic keys to prevent robberies.

The bill would also update sentencing guidelines for assaulting a mail worker to the level of an assault on a law-enforcement officer.

Since 2020, there have been more than 2,00 attempted or actual robberies and assaults involving postal workers nationwide.

Comptroller support

Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza on Friday joined the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), the Illinois AFL-CIO and other officials to call for passage of the Protect our Letter Carriers Act (H.R. 7629). The bipartisan legislation was introduced in March of 2024, and addresses the rise in violent crime against postal carriers on the job.

Letter carriers delivered mail during the pandemic when many of us stayed in our homes, said Mendoza in a news release. Every day they brave all sorts of weather and face unexpected hazards. Letter carriers deserve to feel better protected, and those who assault or rob them deserve to be punished.

Protecting our letter carriers should be like protecting our first responders who must work in challenging communities. We need to do everything we can to increase safety in the workplace so that mail carriers make it back to their families every night.

Letter carriers have been facing the growing threat of violence across the nation. No one should have to go to work wondering if they will be attacked, or even return home that day, said Pat Devaney, IL AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer. The letter carriers who deliver our mail are the eyes and ears of our communities. They are often the first to respond in an emergency or to notice unusual activity. These public servants are committed to our neighborhoods at every level. We need to do everything in our power to prioritize their safety and well-being. When we protect our letter carriers, we are investing in our communities.

The bill also:

Addresses outdated arrow keys which are used to open certain mailboxes such as the big blue collection mailboxes. Thieves try and steal these keys, so the goal is to replace them with electronic keys which could be disabled if stolen.

Calls for more investigation and prosecution of crimes against letter carriers and harsher sentencing for the assault or robbery of a mail carrier, on par with crimes committed against federal law enforcement officers.

Provides federal funding for infrastructure and security upgrades.

I encourage members of Congress to work together on this legislation and better protect our hardworking postal carriers, says Mendoza.

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Letters to the Editor: LAX is awful, but the FlyAway bus is great. Why not expand that service?

To the editor: One needs only to look at the infamous Thanksgiving images of a completely gridlocked 405 Freeway to understand that efforts to improve the unacceptable ground transportation situation at Los Angeles International Airport have little chance of succeeding. ("In a city known for traffic, LAX is a standout for its gridlock. Can it be fixed?" Opinion, June 11)

The improvements under construction may divert traffic from the infamous roadway horseshoe connecting the terminals, but they are unlikely to materially reduce traffic to the LAX area. Apparently, owner Los Angeles World Airports continues to cling to the fanciful ideal that, despite clear limitations, all travelers are entitled to arrive and depart the airport in a single-occupant vehicle.

How do we know this? Look at the plight of LAX FlyAway.

At $9.75 one-way, FlyAway bus service can reduce vehicle traffic to the airport, is cost-effective to passengers and carries a far lower price tag than the billions of dollars and decades of waiting involved with building out the Metro system.

And despite these obvious benefits, only two FlyAway lines  yes, two  operate in a region as vast as Greater Los Angeles.

So instead of expanding the FlyAway service, LAWA is effectively building a new horseshoe for private automobiles and a frightfully expensive connection to a Metro system that does not yet serve alarmingly large swathes of the region. Unfortunately, despite great cost and fanfare, LAWA's plans appear destined for failure.

Reagan McClymonds, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: Tens of thousands of travelers fly into and out of LAX every day. Your article features three who complain. From that microscopic sampling, you get a front-page headline that calls LAX "the worst airport I've ever been to."

But much of the article is actually interviews and quotes by transportation experts that LAX is a strong work in progress racing to the 2028 Olympics. These are positive, including a couple that says LAX is far better than the chaos at Atlanta's airport, the nation's busiest.

Yes, Los Angeles has gridlock. However, the headline should reflect how good LAX is, and that it will soon be a great, world-class airport.

Mark Shapiro, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: Years ago, The Times had an article that stated people live with civic mistakes for decades. I say, scrap the LAX People Mover and overpriced parking structures and finally build a train to the airport.

In New York, the simplicity of a plane icon showing the way to JFK Airport is easy to follow. In Chicago, seeing the trains speeding to O'Hare International Airport in the middle of traffic jams causes envy in me. At that airport, you take a few escalators down and you board a train  no cars, no traffic.

B.P. James, Long Beach

..

To the editor: In addition to the problems enumerated in this article, LAX is arguably the worst airport for elderly and handicapped patrons.

All these "improvements" relate to reducing traffic and getting people out of the terminals via shuttle buses and the People Mover, yet how will an elderly or a handicapped traveler navigate these?

LAX accommodates these travelers while inside the terminal with personnel accompanying them on electric carts from the ticket desks through the gate and in reverse to baggage claim on return trips. However, once they get their luggage, they are on their own.

Elderly travelers should be able to walk outside the terminal and grab a taxi like in every other city in the world, not have to schlep their luggage on a shuttle to a remote lot where they will have to wait in yet another line.

Wendy Prober-Cohen, Tarzana

..

To the editor: The "shiny Tom Bradley International" terminal is cited in your article on LAX. What a joke!

I recently spent three weeks in Spain and Portugal, enjoying immaculate, well-designed air and rail terminals of all vintages and states of construction, only to come home to LAX's worn-out and nightmarish Tom Bradley terminal.

There is no excuse for the pandemonium and utter lack of maintenance. Broken and abandoned luggage carts lie about, urinals are stopped up, dusty trash surrounds escalators, and the baggage claim is dilapidated. I pity fliers who are handicapped, elderly or traveling with children.

LAX needs a complete redesign, not Band-Aids.

Richard Stanley, Los Feliz

..

To the editor: I must take issue with your claim that LAX does not have a direct connection to public transit. Everyone in my area knows the most convenient way to and from LAX is the FlyAway bus from Union Station in downtown Los Angeles.

I took that bus yesterday and it arrived within 30 minutes in the middle of rush hour. If you grab the early bus it can be there in 22 minutes. I've done it.

John Kwiatkowski, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: Hey, L.A. Times, how about knocking down the headline whining and negativity a notch?

We live here and are all aware of our city's big issues. We could use some help and positivity, not more sand in our face.

Kenneth Thompson, Manhattan Beach

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
People march in Amarillo, Texas, last year in response to a lawsuit attempting to ban the abortion drug mifepristone. (Justin Rex / Associated Press)

To the editor: The concept of "standing" is not as interesting as the fight for womens reproductive rights, but the focus on the fact that the case challenging the drug mifepristone dealt with abortion slights the truly important part of the decision. ("What a relief. The Supreme Court did the right thing on mifepristone," Opinion, June 13)

In unanimously rejecting the suit, the Supreme Court strongly affirmed that nobody can use the court system to challenge government action just because they have "sincere legal, moral, ideological and policy objections." Real injury must be shown, not the outraged righteousness so frequently demonstrated by advocates from the fringes of the political spectrum and those who wish to impose their religious beliefs on others.

As emphasized in the court's opinion, the forum to address those objections is political. Barred from using their favorite judges in Texas, this lesson will not be lost on the far right.

This case should serve as a huge wake-up call to anyone who thinks federal regulation of everything from pollution to food health and safety is not at stake in the November election.

Stephanie Scher, Pasadena

The writer is a former attorney.

..

To the editor: This preposterous lawsuit was initiated by a group of doctors whose standing to file is based on the far-fetched notion that one day in the distant future, the doctors might be called upon to treat a patient who suffers some unknown side effect after using mifepristone. Thankfully, the Supreme Court rejected their suit.

This case should have been dismissed immediately upon filing. It is taught on the first day of law school that the right to bring a civil action is based on the moving party's showing of direct harm. Otherwise, anybody could sue anybody else at any time for any speculative damage.

What's next? Emergency room doctors might file suit against General Motors for manufacturing cars that might one day be involved in a crash, requiring the doctors to treat an injured passenger?

The obviously biased judges who heard this case before the Supreme Court should have dismissed it for lack of the plaintiffs' standing. Not doing so set a dangerous precedent that conflicts with hundreds of years of established legal procedure.

Charles Kent, Rancho Mission Viejo

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Lightning strike causes fire behind Stoneham residence, officials say

Authorities responded to a Stoneham home on Friday for a reported lightning strike.

According to fire officials, a blaze broke out behind the area of 109 Fellsview Road.

The flames did not extend to the house, but heavy fire could be seen in the rear of the residence.

Officials say a lightning strike during Friday afternoons storms was the cause of the fire.

There were no reports of any injuries.

Melrose firefighters provided mutual aid at the scene.

Fire this afternoon behind 109 Fellsview Rd caused by a lightning strike. Fortunately the fire did not extend to the house. Box alarm response with an extra Engine from Melrose pic.twitter.com/NMOW3508ll  Stoneham Fire Department (@StonehamFire) June 14, 2024
Photo illustration by Getty images

After a long and contentious day, Arizona state lawmakers did not vote to pass their budget bills on Friday as theyd hoped. Instead they planned to reconvene on Saturday morning as lawmakers from both political parties decried the lengthy negotiation process as well as specifics of the proposed budget.

Lawmakers must approve a state budget before the end of the 2024 fiscal year, which ends June 30, or the state will face possible shutdowns of critical government functions. Additionally, state leaders must figure out a way to fix a $1.3 billion deficit over the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years, prompting budget cuts for most state agencies.

Democratic legislators took umbrage with a plan to allocate $75 million of state opioid settlement funds to the Department of Corrections. That money, which the state got through a lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies in the wake of the opioid crisis, has restrictions on how it should be used. Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes has threatened to sue the governor and lawmakers if the proposal makes it into the final version of the budget.

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Mayes believes that using the money to backfill holes in the Department of Corrections operating budget would put the $1.4 billion the state is set to receive in the settlement at risk of legal challenges. However, Mayes office has previously described transfers to the DOC as qualified usage of the settlement money.

Gov. Katie Hobbs and legislative leaders face more challenges than issues with reallocation of the opioid money if theyre going to get enough lawmakers on board to pass the budget theyve been working on for the past few months.

A letter-writing campaign is underway after the Area Agency on Aging began raising concern over a shift of its budget allocation from one-time to ongoing funding. The $5 million in funding the agency is anticipating to receive would be pushed to next year, putting more than 700 seniors at risk of losing certain services, according to the agency.

On Friday, lawmakers began the procedural motions to move the budget bills forward, but did not vote on them. Lawmakers also voted on a number of other measures during a day marked by lengthy negotiations and numerous stops and starts. Some lawmakers objected to the way the entire process played out.

This could be a very good bill, it could be a very bad bill. I wouldnt know because we havent been afforded the time to read the bills, Rep. Alexander Kolodin, R-Scottsdale, said when explaining why he was voting against one of the bills. He later added that legislators only had 48 hours to read the 1,000 page budget that was provided to them.

Sources at the capitol told the Arizona Mirror that rank and file Democrats and Republicans were upset over what they saw as the process moving too quickly. Lawmakers took several extended breaks throughout the day as Republican and Democratic leadership took time to speak to their caucuses about the proposed budget.

On Thursday, lawmakers had shared that they intended to end the legislative session the next day, but by late Friday the House of Representatives voted to adjourn until Saturday morning. The Senate chose to recess until the same time.

Shortly after adjourning, the House Republicans X account, formerly known as Twitter, said that they have the votes to pass the budget.

The House has the votes to pass the state budget, the post said. To allow time for the legislative language to be drafted and distributed to members for review, the Speaker has decided to adjourn and reconvene in the morning at 8:00 a.m., at which time we will pass the state budget.

But Senate Democratic members posted a selfie from inside the Capitol late Friday saying the budget in its current form does not have the votes to pass in the Senate.

The proposed budget would initiate a number of cuts across state agencies which has also been a point of contention among lawmakers, the governors office and the agencies that would see their budgets slashed.

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A long time coming: Former students react to sentencing of former DA teacher Jeffrey Clayton

A former music teacher at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts was sentenced to 10 years in prison, today. This was after Jeffrey Clayton pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct with a minor.

Fridays court hearing was difficult for many, especially for the girls who testified on the witness stand. Former students and a school board member said this was an emotional day, but they are relieved to get some closure.

Clayton walked away in handcuffs to face a 10-year prison sentence followed by 3 years of probation.

When delivering Claytons sentence, the judge said, You should have known better, you were the adult here.

It has been a long time in the coming, for sure, said witness J.C.

Clayton was the former vocal chair at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. He was arrested last year and pleaded guilty to sex crimes involving a 16-year-old student a couple of months ago. That student just graduated and spoke in court Friday.

Another recent graduate identified as J.C. also testified against Clayton as a witness.

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I am just so happy that were able to finally put it mostly to rest, and that he is somewhere where we know he cannot hurt anyone else, J.C. said.

Clayton apologized in court before new evidence in the case was heard.

The prosecutors shared a recorded phone call between Clayton and the 16-year-old victim. The call referenced going further than kissing. And, the judge called the interaction creepy.

It isnt only creepy, it was disgusting, former DA student Shyla Jenkins said.

Jenkins graduated from Douglas Anderson in 2002, and she says the most shocking thing to learn was how long this had been going on.

I started at DA before Clayton was there  he came my junior, Jenkins said. And what those victims got up there and said was exact behavior that started with us So many of those girls could have been saved, and that was emotional.

School board member Dr. Lori Hershey also reacted to his sentence.

It was an emotional day in the courtroom, Dr. Hershey said. But we have a responsibility to keep students safe and I applaud the courage of the women who spoke up.

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Dr. Hershey said the district is working to make things better.

Im confident with the legal counsel that we have and that it will improve, Dr. Hershey said.

J.C. said shes happy to be helping other girls in the future.

As for Clayton, he will also have to follow sexual offender conditions related to not being able to interact with children.

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Look my son in the eye and tell him why Labour will ruin his education

Desperate parents have been forced to remortgage, move abroad or change religion to afford fees under the Labour leader - Oli Scarff/AFP

A military mother told Sir Keir Starmer to look her 10-year-old son in the eye and explain why Labour is planning to ruin his education by imposing VAT on private schools.

Marie Gardner, who served in the armed forces for almost 25 years and toured Iraq, said she will have no choice but to pull her child out of school because of Labours planned 20pc tax raid if it wins the election.

Ms Gardner, from Oxfordshire, said she confronted the Labour leader and his team during a visit to Portsmouths Historic Dockyard on June 5 and said: Sir Keir I am worried about my children and your proposed tax on my childrens education is the single thing that keeps me awake at night.

The mother-of-two added: Look my son in the eye and explain why you are about to ruin his chances for the education that he is thriving in.

Ms Gardner said her two children previously attended local state schools but as her eldest son struggled to adjust, she and her husband made the decision to forgo holidays and a new car to help give their son the best future possible.

Her son now attends Pinewood School in south Oxfordshire, which charges 22,000 a year.

She told The Telegraph that Sir Keirs team, who had been visiting the city as part of a D-Day service, then organised a meeting in which only the Labour leader, Jill Cuthbertson, his head of private office, Ms Gardner and her son were present.

Ms Gardner said she explained that the 20pc levy, which the Labour leader has vowed to introduce, will force her to pull her child out of private school.

Ms Gardner said the private meeting lasted 15 minutes and ended with Sir Keir apparently promising he would reflect on her concerns and discuss them with his team.

She told him: The most viable option we had was a local independent school that would meet our sons academic and social needs. Even in the short term I have seen my child flourish and grow.

It has cost us our savings, it has caused financial implications to our mortgage, we drive a car that was made when Labour were last in power and that I pray keeps going.

It means we dont take family holidays and we make big sacrifices. But its for our children and lets face it, they are why I live and breathe.

Ms Gardner said she also raised concerns about the policys impact on the state schools sector.

Both my children will suffer because of this policy. This policy will hit state schools as hard as it hits independents. The state schools are at capacity, she told Sir Keir.

You will have a direct impact on state school children whose classes will be oversubscribed and pushed to extremes, putting more pressure on teachers and on school budgets.

All Labour will create is a much more pronounced class divide and lose the support of a swathe of mid-salary earners who feel more punished than ever and a future generation who will recognise this Labour government as the team that destroyed their education.

Ms Gardner said the leader rebutted the claims and reiterated the policy would fund 6,500 new state school teachers.

But she told The Telegraph: He [Sir Keir] said he would go away and reflect and that he always brings these discussions back to his team.

In Labours 142-page manifesto released on Thursday, the party said the tax raid would raise 1.5bn, and fund a raft of measures including new expert teachers and Ofsted reform.

The publics fears about larger class sizes come amid a public row between senior Labour figures about the impact of the VAT raid.

Shadow Attorney General, Emily Thornberry, last week said: It would be fine if we have to, in the short term, have larger classes.

But the comments were labelled as  wrong by Sir Keir who said analysis by the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank  which estimates up to 40,000 pupils will be forced out of private schools - shows there will be negligible impact.

Ms Gardner said she agreed with Sir Keir that state schools needed more funding, but told him: There are smarter ways to raise money for education and not by punishing children and hardworking parents.

Labours 1.5bn figure, quoted in its manifesto, is 190m less than the 1.7bn figure which the party initially quoted in January 2023.

Julie Robinson, chief executive of Independent Schools Council, which represents the private schools sector, previously urged for more clarity on the policy.

Ms Robinson said: Schools and families certainly need clarity on Labours proposals  they cannot plan based on headlines.

At the same time, there is great uncertainty about whether the policy will do what it is designed to do: there is a real possibility it will not raise any money for state education.

The Labour party was approached for comment.

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Louisiana is likely to contract with Loyola University College of Law in New Orleans to handle death penalty cases. (Canva image)

Gov. Jeff Landrys administration plans to contract with Loyola University College of Law in New Orleans to represent people facing the death penalty as well as youth charged with first-degree murder. The school would be one of five entities getting money to handle capital punishment defense for the state.



State Public Defender Remy Starns briefly outlined plans Wednesday during a public hearing to move a $1 million state contract for capital punishment defense from the Capital Appeals Project, a private, nonprofit law firm, to Loyola. The change is expected to take place July 1, when the states new budget year begins, though the agreement hasnt been signed yet.



Madeleine Landrieu, a retired state appellate judge and the law schools dean, said defending people against the death penalty aligns with the Catholic universitys mission. The Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Jesuits, the religious order which runs Loyola, have advocated for the end of capital punishment.



I thought it was a great fit, Landrieu said in an interview Friday. The Jesuits are social justice warriors.

The work would include death sentence appeals, post-conviction proceedings and some work not related to capital punishment. Under the contract, the law school would also represent a small group of so-called juvenile lifers, adults who are serving life sentences without parole for crimes they committed while underage, as well as teens under age 17 charged with first-degree murder.

Loyola plans to hire the Capital Appeals Projects lawyers who have been working on the cases to continue handling them. Landrieu said it was important to preserve the expertise of those established capital punishment defense attorneys.

The law school will also offer a new class on death penalty defense in conjunction with the state contract. Landrieus hope is Loyola can entice students to go into death penalty defense.

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The state is obligated to pay for legal defense against capital punishment, even if it is handled by an outside group like Loyola.

Thats a legal responsibility that lies with the state. It is not relieved of its financial obligation by partnering with Loyola, Landrieu said.



In the next fiscal year, Starns has proposed spending $6.2 million on outside attorneys who represent defendants in capital cases, the same as last year, but some of the money will be going to different entities.

Loyola will receive $1 million, and four other groups will split the rest, according to state public defender budget documents.



Three nonprofit law firms  Capital Defense Office of Southeast Louisiana ($1.3 million) Louisiana Capital Assistance Center ($1.4 million) and Mwalimu Center for Justice ($1.3 million)  will receive the bulk of the funding. Louisianas 19th Judicial District in Baton Rouge will receive $1.28 million after merging with another nonprofit death penalty law firm, Baton Rouge Capital Conflict Office, in 2023.



Initially, Starns had proposed sending Loyolas state funding through the Orleans Public Defender Office, but the new state Public Defender Oversight Board nixed that plan earlier this week. Instead, they directed Starns to contract directly with the university from the state level.

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The post Louisiana likely to pay Loyola law school to handle death penalty cases appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.  One man died and four others were hospitalized after an apparent drive-by shooting in Fort Lauderdale on Friday night, police said. On Saturday, they identified the man who died as Michael McKinney, 33.

Fort Lauderdale Police have since found the vehicle used in the shooting but are still seeking help from the public as they search for suspects.

He was a loving father, McKinneys fiance, Tarnecia Burch, told the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Saturday. A fighter. He always tried his best to make things right when he wronged.

The two had a 2-year-old son together, and McKinney also had an 8-year-old daughter, she said.

Officers and Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue had responded to the 2300 block of Northwest Eighth Street shortly after 7 p.m. Friday and found five men who had been shot, Det. Ali Adamson, a spokesperson for the police department, said in an email.

Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue took all five men to Broward Health Medical Center. McKinney was pronounced dead at the hospital and one man is in critical condition. The three others injured are expected to survive, Adamson said. Police are not releasing their identities due to the status of the case.

Adamson said the shooter or shooters fled before officers arrived in the area west of Interstate 95 between Sunrise and Sistrunk boulevards. She did not provide information about the vehicle involved in the shooting, but said detectives had located it and were investigating it further.

Burch said that someone had jumped out of a van and started shooting at McKinney, but did not have more information.

He had been in prison before but had since turned his life around afterwards and got a job, she said.

Anyone with information should contact Fort Lauderdale Police immediately or provide information anonymously by contacting Broward County Crime Stoppers.
This Aug. 2023 photo shows Lynn Ann Conway at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Conway, a pioneer in the design of microchips that are at the heart of consumer electronics who overcame discrimination as a transgender person, has died, Sunday, June 9, 2024. (Marcin Szczepanski/University of Michigan via AP)

Lynn Conway, a pioneer in the design of microchips that are at the heart of consumer electronics who overcame discrimination as a transgender person, has died at age 86.

Her June 9 death was announced by the University of Michigan, where Conway was on the engineering faculty until she retired in 1998.

She overcame so much, but she didnt spend her life being angry about the past, said Valeria Bertacco, computer science professor and U-M vice provost. She was always focused on the next innovation.

Conway is credited with developing a simpler method for designing microchips in the 1970s, along with Carver Mead of the California Institute of Technology, the university said.

Chips used to be designed by drawing them with paper and pencil like an architects blueprints in the pre-digital era, Bertacco said. Conways work developed algorithms that enabled our field to use software to arrange millions, and later billions, of transistors on a chip.

Conway joined IBM in 1964 after graduating with two degrees from Columbia University. But IBM fired her after she disclosed in 1968 that she was undergoing a gender transition. The company apologized in 2020  more than 50 years later  and awarded her a lifetime achievement award for her work.

An employee who is transgender had brought Conway's story to the attention of executives.

We deeply regret what you went through, and I know I speak for all of us, said Diane Gherson, who was senior vice president of human resources, according to a transcript.

Dario Gill, director of research, told Conway: Quite simply: You have helped define the modern computing industry.

Conway told The New York Times that the turnabout was unexpected and stunning.

IBM recognized her death Friday.

Lynn Conway broke down barriers for the trans community and pushed the limits of technology through revolutionary work that is still impacting our lives to this day, said Nickle LaMoreaux, IBMs chief human resources officer.

In a 2014 video posted on YouTube, Conway reflected on her transition, saying there was hardly any knowledge in our society even about the existence of transgender identities in the 1960s.

I think a lot of thats really hit now because those parents who have transgender children are discovering ... if they let the person blossom into who they need to be they often see just remarkable flourishing, Conway said.

The native of Mount Vernon, New York, had five U.S. patents. Conway's career included work at Xerox, the National Science Foundation and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, part of the U.S. Defense Department. She also had honorary degrees from many universities, including Princeton University.

___

AP reporter Matt O'Brien in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this story.

___

Follow Ed White at https://twitter.com/edwritez
BERWICK, Maine  Rachael Casagrande said she will work to change local and state animal cruelty laws after her parents' dog, a 4-year-old husky named Rowdy, was legally shot and killed by a neighbor.

The worst part, she said, is the neighbor, a man she and her husband know, tried to cover up the dog's death. The neighbor shot the dog on his property, according to Casagrande and Berwick police.

Police said the man told them he shot the dog to protect his chickens.

Rachael Casagrande and her husband, David Bornstein, are seen with family dogs, including Rowdy, right, at their wedding. Rowdy was recently shot and killed by a neighbor.

"When it was finally sorted out, he admitted to police he shot the dog," said Rachael Casagrande. "He tried to hide the body, and he destroyed Rowdy's GPS and regular collars. We don't even have those as mementos of Rowdy. And he was charged by Berwick police only with criminal mischief, for destroying the collars."

The night Rowdy was shot and killed

Casagrande said Rowdy was shot about 1:30 a.m. on May 26 after breaking through a screen at their home. Her parents' dog was staying with her family over Memorial Day weekend.

"We were all asleep and didn't realize it until we woke up, about 7 a.m.," she said.

Jason Casagrande, Rachael's father, said they are devastated. He said their other two dogs, Cash and Patch, are mourning with them, "looking for their brother, waiting for him to return."

"When we woke up, my wife (Rebecca) asked where Rowdy was," said Jason, who lives in Pelham, Massachusetts. "I looked at the app for his GPS, and it said the collar was offline. At first, I thought we forgot to charge it. Then I found it was at 86% charge, but offline."

Police explain Maine law on shooting dogs

Rowdy, a husky, was shot and killed on a neighbor's property in Berwick, Maine.

Berwick police Capt. Jerry Locke said under Maine law, the neighbor had a right to shoot Rowdy.

Maine Title 12 Conservation Law states: "An owner of domestic animals, livestock or poultry, a member of the owner's family or a person to whom is entrusted the custody of domestic livestock or poultry may kill any dog killing or attacking the domestic animals, livestock or poultry."

"He said it was 'worrying' his chickens, and it was 1:30 in the morning," Locke said. "He was allowed to protect his animals, and he said he has shot coyotes in the past on his property. The bad part is that he tried to cover it up. We have coverage 24/7, and he should have called us to report what happened."

The neighbor told police he shot the dog thinking it was a coyote, and he took the collars to the dump after he realized it was a dog.

Locke said the neighbor could only be charged with criminal mischief, a misdemeanor that is likely to result in a fine, for the destruction of the dog collars.

The neighbor, reached by phone Friday, declined to comment for this story.

How Rowdy's body was found

Rachael Casagrande said when Rowdy went missing, her family posted about it on Facebook. Another resident found Rowdy's body, off the road in high grass.

She said her family, while still searching went to the neighbor looking for Rowdy, too. At first, she said, he told them he hadn't seen Rowdy. She said it was only when police confronted him with the GPS collar data indicating it went offline on his property that he admitted to shooting the dog.

Jason Casagrande and his daughter both said the dog was known to the neighbor who shot Rowdy, and acknowledged it was not the first time the dog had strayed into the abutting yard.

"We talked with (the neighbor) about this before, the last time in October," Jason said. "Rowdy has never hurt any of his animals, but we let him know we would pay for any instances should it ever occur. He said that seemed fine."

Now, the family is mourning.

"Rowdy was the absolute sweetest and most cuddly boy," Rachael said. "He was so trusting of humans but did have a bit of an adventurous side, so we always took extra precautions to keep him from running off. When he did run off, we always found him getting pets from some new friends."

"I took him everywhere with me," said Jason. "He was my buddy. ... I wasn't sure about taking a third dog, how it would work out, but it worked out great. The other dogs love him and miss him. We do, too."

Family looks to change town ordinance and Maine law

"The animal cruelty laws in Maine are really poor, and we are trying to get them changed so this doesnt happen to another family," said Rachael.

She said her family plans to start with the Berwick Board of Selectmen, hoping to establish an ordinance that would require a resident who shoots a dog to notify police.

"We'd like to get that changed here and then maybe statewide if we can," she said. "We also want to work to make better animal protection laws because there really isn't anything to protect them. We have contacted animal welfare groups."

Rachael said she is very sad about losing Rowdy, but also very angry dogs' lives seem to be valued so little.

"This man killed our beloved family member, took measures to keep the truth from us," she said. "He is barely even getting a slap on the wrist because he told police that he was protecting his property. ... Everyone involved agrees that his crime is much more egregious than what he is being charged with, but no one can help us. Our entire community is outraged, and we are hoping to get awareness out so we can initiate change."

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Maine family wants law changed after neighbor kills dog, hides body
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 19-year-old man was arrested earlier this week for allegedly making a terroristic threat at a public pool in Canutillo, the El Paso County Sheriffs Office said.

Jonathan Dominick Rubio, 19, was arrested on Thursday, June 13 and was charged with making a terroristic threat causing fear of imminent bodily injury during an incident at the pool at Gallegos Park, according to the Sheriffs Office.

He was taken to the El Paso County Detention Facility and booked under a $7,500 bond.

According to the Sheriffs Office, deputies were sent out to the County pool at 7351 Bosque Road in Canutillo in reference to a terroristic threat in progress.

Upon arrival, deputies and an assisting constable were told about two people inside a vehicle who possibly had weapons.

Deputies were able to find the individuals and ordered them out of the car.

The subjects eventually complied with the order and were taken into custody safely, according to the El Paso County Sheriffs Office.

After further investigation, one male was charged with terroristic threat. Deputies searched the vehicle and did not find any weapons, according to the Sheriffs Office.

Deputies also met with witnesses who said they didnt see any weapons either.

Two female acquaintances of the suspect were detained for public intoxication and were released later to a responsible party, according to the Sheriffs Office. No ages were given on the females who were detained for public intoxication.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A Multnomah County jury has found a 39-year-old man guilty in the assault, rape, and sodomy of a woman in June 2022, the district attorneys office announced Friday.

James Earl Griffin Jr. received his verdict on June 13, which included two counts each of first-degree rape and first-degree sodomy. It also included charges of first-degree sexual abuse, fourth-degree assault, and coercion.

Thunderstorms could impact Fathers Day plans in the Pacific Northwest

Griffin was found not guilty of two counts of first-degree kidnapping. His sentencing is expected to take place July 11.

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Man with 'far-right ties' arrested for knife attacks on two children in Finland

Man with 'far-right ties' arrested for knife attacks on two children in Finland

A man suspected of stabbing and seriously wounding a 12-year-old in Finland has been arrested on Thursday.

Finnish public broadcaster Yle reported that intelligence officials have identified the 33-year-old suspect as having ties to far-right extremism.

According to local authorities, the incident occurred around 6:30 pm on Thursday in the Valkea shopping center in Oulu, where a 12-year-old Finnish victim with a foreign background sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The Finnish police said the criminal investigation is at an early stage and the exact motive for the act is still unknown.

"A man born in 1990 is suspected of having stabbed the 12-year-old victim from behind several times. After that he tried to go after a minor who was in the company of the other victim of stabbing," the police statement said.

Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo condemned what he described as "the brutal attack on children".

"Far-right violence is a real threat in Finland. There is no room for extremism of any kind in this country. The government acts determinedly against extremism and violence". he wrote on a post in X.

The court will review the suspect's case for two counts of attempted murder on June 17.
CHICAGO  A man was killed and a woman was critically injured after a gunman opened fire into a car on the citys Northwest Side early Saturday morning.

According to Chicago police, the deadly shooting unfolded just after 2:30 a.m. in the 3000 block of North Cicero Avenue, in Belmont Cragin.

Officers say the two victims, a 30-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman, were sitting inside a vehicle in the area when another car drove up and someone inside opened fire.

Suspect accused of shooting 70-year-old man during argument on Northwest Side charged

The two victims were both struck by gunfire and drove themselves to the hospital where the man later died from his injuries and the woman remains in critical condition.

Currently, it is unclear what led to the shooting and no arrests have been made.

Authorities did not provide a description of the person responsible and an investigation is underway.

13-year-old boy killed in West Side shooting

The victim killed has not yet been identified.

Anyone with information on the deadly shooting is asked to contact CPD Area Five Detectives at 312-746-6554 or dial 911.

Those with information that could help authorities in their investigation can also leave a tip at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed anonymously.

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An Ohio businessman showed an egregious disregard for one of the state's natural resources, and now he's set to pay the price.

What's happening?

As reported by The Hill last month, Mark Shepherd of Kenton, Ohio, pleaded guilty to violating the Clean Water Act by "dumping about 7,000 gallons of wastewater containing pollutants and hazardous substances" into the Scioto River, which led to the death of over 40,000 fish. The United States Department of Justice wrote in a news release that Shepherd committed the disdainful action in April 2021.

According to court documents, Shepherd was accused of "negligently" flooding the river with wastewater that contained ammonia. The Hill noted that the pollutants were alleged to have come from two businesses owned by Shepherd, one of which specializes in transporting hazardous substances.

The release stated that the wastewater flowed nearly 20 miles from where Shepherd allegedly dumped it. A fisherman in Hardin County alerted authorities of the dead fish popping up in the river, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources eventually determined that a whopping 43,094 fish were killed by Shepherd's flagrant act. The department estimated the value of the dead fish to be nearly $22,500.

Following his guilty plea, Shepherd's sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 12.

"There's a right way and a wrong way to do business  and when your business pollutes Ohio's natural resources, you will be held accountable," Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said, per The Hill. "I'm grateful for our many partners who work together to keep our land, water and air clean."

Why is this important?

Originally implemented in 1972, the Clean Water Act is a significant piece of legislation aimed at maintaining and restoring the integrity of the nation's waters. The EPA stated that the CWA "made it unlawful to discharge any pollutant from a point source into navigable waters, unless a permit was obtained."

Environmental contamination like Shepherd's dumping of hazardous materials can severely affect fish populations. One such case involved a fertilizer spill that resulted in a near-mass killing event of fish across a 60-mile stretch of rivers in Iowa and Missouri. This ecological disaster was caused by an open valve in a storage tank at an agricultural business, leading to the death of nearly 789,000 fish.

Shepherd's violation isn't the only example of disregarding the Clean Water Act. For instance, in Charleston, South Carolina, residents recently threatened to sue the city government after raw sewage seeped into the streets, which they claim is a clear violation of federal law, specifically the CWA. The nonprofit Charleston Waterkeeper accused the city's utility company of failing to prevent these spills, which have been happening since 2015.

These actions are serious breaches of environmental regulations and demonstrate the ongoing challenges in enforcing clean water standards.

What's being done about this?

These incidents highlight the importance of strict regulations and oversight to prevent such instances of significant water pollution. Shepherd is likely facing a hefty fine for his disregard for the environment.

In a similar case, an Oregon man who was arrested for pouring bleach into a hatchery tank that killed 18,000 salmon that would have been released into the wild faced a potential fine of $750 per fish, which amounted to an eye-popping $13 million.

It's crucial for communities and environmental groups to remain vigilant against harmful disposal of hazardous waste and advocate for stronger enforcement to protect our water resources.

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Man posed as an exterminator before breaking, entering into NC home

BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA)  Deputies in Asheville need the publics help in identifying a man who broke into a home.

According to the Buncombe County Sheriffs Office, the man was pictured breaking and entering into an East Asheville home.

Do you recognize this man? If so, call the Buncombe County Sheriff's office.

Do you recognize this man? If so, call the Buncombe County Sheriff's office.

Do you recognize this man? If so, call the Buncombe County Sheriff's office.

Before he broke into the home, he told the residents of the home that he was a pest exterminator.

Officials said the man has been spotted in the Chunns Cove, Kenilworth and Tunnel Road area.

The date and time that the break-in occurred has not been shared by the sheriffs office.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Welch at (828) 250-4462.

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Man sentenced to 2 years in prison in connection to deadly May 2022 shooting

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN)  A man in Travis County was sentenced to two years in prison in connection to a deadly shooting that happened in May 2022, court documents said.

The shooting happened on May 23, 2022 in the 1800 block of West Slaughter Lane, near Menchaca Road. The Austin Police Department responded to the scene and found a man in his 20s dead. An arrest warrant affidavit identified the man as Jose Alberto Aguirre Castellanos.

APD investigating deadly shooting in south Austin

Then, two days later, officials arrested Juan Lopez-Espinoza and charged him with murder, according to court documents.

Lopez-Espinoza entered a guilty plea and was convicted on an offense of deadly conduct discharge firearm. Additionally, he is entitled to 738 days of jail credit, according to court documents.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A man was sentenced to more than nine years in prison after being convicted of robbery and other charges when he stole from multiple stores at knifepoint inside the Washington Square Mall last year.

Jesus Esteban Flores was sentenced to 109 months in prison and three years of supervised release for the crimes, the Washington County District Attorneys Office announced on Friday.

Beaverton native Cameron Brink embracing hectic summer ahead

Officials said Flores began a spree of crimes in a short period of time after he entered the Southwest Portland mall on September 17, 2023. Placing a large kitchen knife on a shoe counter, he asked a department store clerk for a pair of shoes in his size. Flores took them without paying, shoplifted a hat from an adjacent store then went outside to slip the shoes on.

He re-entered the mall, went to a different store, tried to steal multiple shirts by hiding them under his clothes, and was confronted by an employee. The employee backed off after Flores showed the person a knife in his waistband and stepped toward them. Flores verbally threatened the victim and brandished the knife in hand as he exited the store.

Soon, the security officers of the Washington Square Mall began to take action. One followed Flores throughout the mall. Noticing he was being trailed, Flores threatened the security officer, pointing his knife and making threats on their life outside a main mall entrance. The security officer backed off but other security officers watched from afar and alerted law enforcement.

Officials rescue 28 riders trapped upside-down at Oaks Amusement Park

What ensued was a confrontation between Flores on a bicycle and the Tigard Police Department that ultimately ended in his arrest. As the Washington County District Attorneys Office explained in a release:

Tigard police officers confronted the defendant as he attempted to leave the area on a bike. They identified themselves and ordered him to drop the knife. After the defendant refused multiple orders, they fired 40mm less lethal foam rounds at the defendant. Officers then seized the knife, returned the merchandise, and took the defendant to jail.

Last week, a Washington County jury convicted Flores of two counts of first-degree robbery, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon and second-degree theft. He will serve his sentence at the Oregon Department of Corrections.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Police are investigating after a man was shot and killed at a Northwest Oklahoma City apartment complex Thursday night.

Thats sad, said Cerone Neal, who lives nearby. I dont know what to say right now I can just pray for the family, thats all I can do. Pray for the victim. Hope they find justice.

ORIGINAL STORY: Police investigating fatal shooting in NW Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City Police were called to the Putnam Green Apartments near Rockwell Ave. and Wilshire Blvd. around 10:15 p.m. They found a man with a gunshot wound outside of an apartment.

According to the witnesses he was fixing to walk out the door, the door comes open, the suspect fires a round, the victim goes down, transported to hospital where he later died, said Lt. Jeff Cooper with OKCPD.

Three women who were inside the apartment when the incident happened were too shaken up to go on camera, but told KFOR the victim was only 19.

In a release, police said it appears the teen was involved in an armed confrontation when he was shot.

The women in the apartment said they believe he was targeted.

LOCAL NEWS: Still against the law: OKCPD issue reminder to gun owners after road rage arrest

This incident comes less than a week after a 17-year-old was gunned down at a gas station about a half a mile away.

People are just acting crazy out here, said Adriana Watson, who lives in the complex. Its just only going to get worse. I dont see it getting any better.

So far, no arrests have been made. Anyone with information is asked to call the Homicide Tip-Line at (405) 297-1200.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Man taken to hospital after being found shot in vehicle in north Lexington

A man was taken to a hospital Friday night after being injured in a shooting.

The Lexington Police Department found the man with a gunshot wound inside a vehicle after they were called to the area of North Broadway and Haggard Lane at about 6:50 p.m., said police Lt. Brandon Helm.

Helm said the man was alert and speaking when officers arrived, and his injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

The suspect was gone when officers arrived, police said in a Facebook post.

Anyone with information was asked to call police at (859) 258-3600. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers by calling (859) 253-2020, visiting Bluegrasscrimestoppers.com or using the P3 Tips app at p3tips.com.
Man wanted by INTERPOL for child rape arrested in Gastonia

Man wanted by INTERPOL for child rape arrested in Gastonia

GASTONIA, NC (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  An international fugitive wanted in Honduras for the rape of a child was arrested following a traffic stop, according to the Gaston County Police Department.

On Sunday, June 2, an officer pulled over Elvis Jose Cabrera Martinez around West Franklin Boulevard in Gastonia. Martinez was listed by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) as wanted for felony child rape.

Man found inside Iredell County fire station linked to vehicle break-ins: Sheriffs Office

Martinez was arrested and is being held at the Gaston County Jail awaiting extradition to Honduras. He was also charged with driving an unregistered vehicle without a license.

The Gaston County Police Departments Fugitive Apprehension and Suspect Tracking (FAST) team was responsible for the traffic stop and arrest.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Two people were rushed to the hospital after a shooting in Frayser, police say.

Memphis Police responded to a shooting at North Watkins and Overton Crossing at 4:08 p.m. Friday.

Police say a man and a woman were taken to Regional One Hospital. The man reportedly went in critical condition, while the woman was in non-critical condition.

Memphis Police say the suspects fled the scene in a gray vehicle.

If you have any information regarding this incident, call Memphis CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Candidates for the Senate District 46 seat, David Pilchman, left, and Sam Wargin Grimaldo stand during the second day of candidate filing in April at the state Capitol.

It's one of the few blue spots in a bright red state.

With the exit of Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd  think term limits  there's now a four-way battle for the Senate District 46 seat. The district is an awkward L-shaped creature that stretches from NW Eubanks at its top all the way to Del City and down to SW 89 Street.

Two Democrats, Mark Mann and Sam Wargin Grimaldo, are seeking the Democratic nomination. The winner will face Republican Charles Barton and independent David Pilchman in November.

However, due of the district's voter registration and its culture, the next senator will probably be either Mann, 52, or Grimaldo, 36. Fundraising totals show Mann leading his opponents. As of June 3, Grimaldo reported raising and spending more than $39,000, while reports from the state ethics commission said Mann has raised and spent more than $71,000. Barton's latest report listed $6,613 raised and $4,398 spent. Pilchman's latest report listed $696 raised.

Mann's campaign, however, said the commission's figure was incorrect.

In a statement sent to The Oklahoman on Saturday, Adam Graham, Mann's campaign manager said the total listed for Mann was incorrect due to a system error with the ethics commission's Guardian System. The correct total raised for Mann was $137,053.19. The total expended is $119,408.94, he said. Graham said the Ethics Commission was aware of the system error and is working with the vendor to fix it.

Still, unlike many legislative campaigns this spring, the Senate District 46 race has been a largely positive, issue-focused campaign. And the issue is education.

Barton: a lifetime of fixing things

Republican Charles Barton said he has been fixing and empowering others "for a long time."

Charles Barton is a Republican candidate for Senate District 46.

He is a longtime aircraft mechanic at Tinker Air Force Base, and his campaign website notes that he was "determined to learn to fix things himself." He said his work experience and his efforts in his community have made him "empathetic to the struggles common to many Americans."

Barton said he would work closely with other organizations to develop programs that support families at every stage of life. "My initiatives will include marriage counseling, parenting workshops, and youth mentoring programs to nurture the minds and spirits of each individual," Barton said in a posting on his website. "Furthermore, I will advocate for policies that support the welfare of all family members, from prenatal care to senior services, reinforcing the value of life and family unity in our community."

In addition to support for families, Barton said he would push the state's common education system to ensure the best outcomes for students and teachers in our Oklahoma public schools.

"As a former teacher and homeschool dad, I also understand that each child has a different learning style and different educational needs that sometimes need to be met with creativity and innovation," Barton said on his website. "My goal is to empower parents to maximize their childrens potential success by giving parents access to the broadest range of tools and solutions to allow their children to thrive, regardless of race, income, or zip code."

He said he would promote the value of high school graduation and continuing education through vo-tech training or college, "which have been proven to raise the standard of living for families and generations to come."

Barton wrote that he would work to address the critical needs of the district's infrastructure.

"My comprehensive plan involves the repair and maintenance of roads and bridges, the enhancement of our public transportation systems, and the upgrading of essential public facilities such as parks and libraries," he said. "I will also focus on investing in energy-efficient public lighting and improving sidewalks and bike paths to create a more accessible and environmentally friendly community. These improvements are vital not only for enhancing daily life but also for attracting businesses and tourism, thereby boosting our local economy."

Pilchman: inspire others to become more involved

Independent candidate David Pilchman said when he was growing up, "voting wasnt part of the conversation about how to be a good citizen."

David Pilchman is an independent candidate for Senate District 46.

"Those duties mostly consisted of keeping to yourself, being 'the best' in whatever you put your mind to, and 'Dont be breaking the law while youre breaking the law,'" he wrote on his campaign website. "I've talked with so many Oklahomans who are passionate about their communities and their state, but feel so disconnected from the process of governing. They are disheartened by the system and would rather disengage than be disappointed."

Pilchman, a theater producer, earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Oklahoma and has been affiliated with the Oklahoma City Repertory Theater, Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center and C.N.S. Productions.

Voting in Oklahoma, he wrote, while easy in theory, has its barriers to participation and voter purges are only one of the problems.

"Even for voters who are ready to participate, there arent always opportunities because too many of our state legislators are running unopposed, or in races that will be decided in a closed primary because candidates from only one party are on the ballot," he said. "This is why I am running as an Independent and why I will be documenting my process along the way. I hope this campaign can help demystify what it takes to be a candidate for office in Oklahoma, and inspire others to step up and step into the process."

Pilchman said his campaign had three key messages: "Kindness, respect, and understanding above all else. We need it in our communities and we need it in the Capitol and quality of life for all Oklahomans  housing, taxes, education, and access to resources all contribute to creating a high quality of life for the people living in this state."

He said he was passionate about issues surrounding voting and Initiative petitions, housing, child services, public education, ending the death penalty, gun sense laws, access to the arts and health services.

"Everyone gets a voice at the table. Im here to listen and represent you," he said.

Mann: campaign is a chance to move education conversation back to where it should be

Democratic candidate Mark Mann is quick to acknowledge that Senate District 46 is a blue district in a deep red state  with a caveat. "It's a blue district but it is a blue district that I think could be purple if you didn't have a discussion about the issues the district cares about," he said.

A well-known Democrat from the area, Mann said his campaign has been endorsed by the Oklahoma Public Employees Association, the Teamsters Local 886, the Oklahoma Professional Firefighters Association, the AFL-CIO and the Oklahoma City American Federation of Teachers.

Mann said the top two issues in the district are protecting women's reproductive rights and "fully funding education and doing everything we can to stop state Schools Superintendent Ryan Walters' rhetoric."

Mann said while he doesn't believe there is the will at the state Capitol to impeach Walters, he does believe Walters' ability to threaten teachers and school districts could be rolled back through legislation.

"The way to take care of Ryan Walters isn't some weird scheme of making the state superintendent non-partisan or an elected state board of education," he said. "They way you take care of Ryan Walter is to remove certification and accreditation from under the state board and state superintendent and move it over to Commission on Education policy."

Certification and accreditation are two policies, Mann said, that Walters has weaponized.

"Schools are scared, board members are scared, superintendents are scared and teachers are scared," he said. "They should be. You remove those two things and, in effect, he's just a mouthpiece. He can go scream from the top of his lungs about whatever he wants to as long as he can't go after teachers and school districts."

Mann said a good look at the needs of the state  education, housing, workforce development, infrastructure  shows that now is not the time for another tax cut. "We have all these needs," he said. "And we need to invest in people."

Mann said problems such as a shortage of affordable housing and health care continue to plague Oklahoma. He said his experience will allow him to go toe-to-toe with a Republican supermajority. "There's a big difference in terms experience and ability to mobilize people to move issues at the Capitol," he said. "It's all about experience. Even if you don't get everything you want at first, you don't give up."

Grimaldo: increase voter participating, affirm the rights of people, engage the under-engaged

Sam Wargin Grimaldo may be one of the younger candidates in the race, but he doesn't see that as an issue. An attorney, Gramaldo wants to leverage his mixed cultural background with his experience as an attorney to be the district's next state Senator.

"We you look at the district, it really covers my life experience," he said. "Someone needs to be there to speak up for people and I recognize my experience facilitates that for me. I'm hoping to do that for members of my community who have not had access to those levers of power."

He said the district, which he calls the most diverse legislative district in the state, will be ground zero at this efforts to engage communities that have been bypassed  or, as he calls it, under-engaged.

"I think my district has been one of those communities," he said. "We take them for granted because Democrats are generally more favorable on issues like immigration and my district is largely Latino, with a heavy immigrant background, so we fail to engage them. It's a double-edged sword."

Grimaldo said public education and house are two of the larger issues on the district. He said the state's Landlord Tennant Act needs revision and updating. "A quick eviction process can lead to homelessness," he said. "And we've seen an increase in that in Central Oklahoma. There are some controls we could enact at the legislative level to address that."

He said he supported the repeal of the state's portion of the grocery sales tax but added that the state's infrastructure continues to need investment. "There are areas that need funding, such as public transport," he said. "For areas like Oklahoma City, large urban areas, would help propel us for the growth we want to see."

State government, Grimaldo said, should meet the needs of the people it governs and Oklahoma has a long way to go. He said it's easy to call for smaller government and tax relief but harder to make sure those benefits apply to everyone equally. He said he was the 'true progressive' in the race and that many who support progressives have given up because issues aren't being addressed.

"It's about engaging communities that have not been engaged and bringing true representative leadership to those communities by including them," he said.

Oklahoma's primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, June 18. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Mann, Grimaldo leading four-man contest in Senate District 46 race
How many homes and cars were damaged by the floods in South Florida? Take a look

Hundreds of people will be filing claims for water damage to their homes and cars in the coming days as South Florida tries to recover from three days of flooding rain.

And expect for more wet weather over the weekend. Forecasters dont think the weather will be as bad as during the week, but its still a concern for hard-hit areas, mostly in northeastern Miami-Dade and southern Broward. Some flooded areas, including Miami Beach, Hallandale Beach and North Miami, have seen more than a 20 inches of rain since Tuesday.

Heres how South Florida was affected:

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.

South Florida sees more than a foot of rain

South Florida has seen 8 to 14 inches of rain since Tuesday, with North Miami and Hallandale Beach recording up to 20 inches of rain and Miami Shores recording 21.66 inches, according to the weather service. Miami Beach saw more than a foot of rain. The most rainfall recorded in southern Florida during this weeks deluge  nearly 28 inches of rain  was at Big Cypress National Preserve Headquarters in Collier County, according to the weather service.

Carlos Armstrong,25, rides to his damaged home by flood waters near NE 123 street and 11th Court in North Miami on Thursday, June 13, 2024.

600+ flood-related auto claims filed

 As of Friday morning, State Farm has received more than 600 auto claims in southern Florida since Tuesdays deluge began. The car insurance company said that the majority of the claims its received across Miami-Dade, Broward, Sarasota and Palm Beach counties are for flood damage. It expects to see the claim count balloon as the region is hit with more rain through the weekend and more drivers discover flood damage in their cars, trucks and SUVs.

 Fort Lauderdale police on Friday told the Miami Herald it had found about 65 abandoned vehicles due to the flooding this week.

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.

At least 100 homes with water damage

Its difficult to know how many South Florida homes were damaged by flooding water. Homeowners will be taking photos and contacting their home insurance or the National Flood Insurance Program to submit claims.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday during a news briefing in Hollywood said its unlikely that Broward County will qualify for FEMA disaster assistance because there doesnt seem to be enough damaged homes.

Based on visual inspections in hotspot areas, the city of Hollywood alone, for example, estimates that at least 100 homes were left with some type of water damage from the flooding rain. The county needs about 1,000 homes with major damage to request aid, according to Kevin Guthrie, the director of the states emergency management division that is tasked with responding to disasters like hurricanes and flooding.

Robert Lee, at right, and his next door neighbor Robert Husted, at left, survey the flood waters surrounding Lees home at NE 123 street and 11 Court in North Miami, Florida on Thursday, June 13, 2024.

Right now we dont have any reports of any destroyed homes at all, said Guthrie during the briefing, noting that it was the states rapid response to the flooding rain that likely helped reduce damage.

However, both DeSantis and Guthrie say its possible small-business owners can get financial assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Businesses can complete a damage assessment survey online at FloridaDisaster.biz by selecting South Florida Flooding from the drop-down menu. This will help the state gather data, assess needs and potentially help the county qualify for some financial assistance, Guthrie said.

A Miami-Dade pump works to move water from the street after heavy rains on Thursday, June 13, 2024, in Miami Shores, Fla.

Pumps to help clear flooding

Cities, counties and the state have pumps available to clear flooding. And the pumps have been working overtime:

 20 of 90 temporary stormwater pumps brought by the state to South Florida are operating to help clear flooding, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Managements Friday update. More than 12 million gallons of water have been pumped out of flooded areas so far, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Friday at a news briefing in Broward County.

 Miami deployed 12 of its 14 temporary pumps for the flooding, in addition to the citys 13 permanent pump stations. Miami also sicced a squad of 10 roving vactor trucks on the flooding hot spots, large trucks that suck up excess water on the street.

Allapattah resident Marvin Morales isnt relying on government officials to fix the flooding in his neighborhood. Today, his own pump was draining out the water that flooded his backyard. This isnt the only measure hes taken to fight the flooding. He built a concrete wall around his back porch two years ago. Before that, water would flood and reach his windows. The same wall saved him from home damage this year. Morales said commissioners come into this neighborhood to campaign, but they dont actually maintain the streets in Miami, Florida on Thursday, June 13, 2024.

 Fort Lauderdale deployed 22 temporary stormwater pumps and 15 Vactor trucks.

 The South Florida Water Management system used five additional temporary pumps, one in Miami Beach and four along the Miami River, to the east of Miami International Airport.

 Miami Beach used six temporary pumps in flood-prone spots, in addition to its 48 permanent pump stations, and seven Vactor trucks.

Dozens of rescue calls

 Hollywood says it received more than 50 calls requesting rescue due to flooding.

 The Broward Sheriffs Office and Fire Rescue received more than 200 calls on Wednesday alone that resulted in water rescues. Of those calls, 174 were from Hallandale Beach. The city saw 26 high-water rescues  some by boat. Some of the people rescued included a dog and a young mother with a baby, according to the city.

Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue received 174 calls alone from Hallandale Beach Wednesday, June, 13, 2024 that resulted in rescues. One of the people rescued was a dog.

 Miami-Dade police got about three dozen rescue calls from people trapped in homes or businesses by rising floodwaters, as of Thursday morning.

 311 received more than 430 calls so far related to flooding and clogged drains, Miami-Dade County told the Miami Herald on Friday.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) said Dr. Anthony Fauci belongs in prison for crimes against humanity at a conservative conference in Detroit on Saturday.

Greene gave a speech at Turning Point USAs Peoples Convention this weekend, where she dug into Democratic politicians and the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ill never forget when the Biden administration and Nancy Pelosi, as speaker of the House, brought in nearly 30,000 National Guardsmen and turned our Capitol complex into a military base, she told the audience. They masked schoolchildren. They shut down schools. They closed beaches. They silenced your speech.

They attacked the very core of our freedoms, all for a virus that they made in a lab in Wuhan, China, she added. And yes, Doctor Anthony Fauci should be tried for crimes against humanity.

The crowd then broke into cheers of Lock him up! to which Greene responded: I can assure you, if I have anything to do with it, we will lock him up! He belongs in prison!

Fauci Kills Puppies: Inside the Forgotten Fake Beaglegate Scandal

Crimes against humanity generally refers to large-scale attacks on civilians in the form of murder, torture, sexual violence, enslavement, persecution, and enforced disappearance. Previous leaders charged with crimes against humanity include Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony, former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, and leaders of the Nazi party.

Fauci, a career public health official, is a frequent target for conservatives who claim his advocacy for masking and social distancing restricted their freedoms.

At a hearing before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic this month, Republicans accused him of funding research that started the pandemic and of covering up the lab leak theorythe same theory Greene referenced in her speech, which posits the virus originated from a lab in Wuhan, China. (Greene also suggested Fauci should be imprisoned at that hearing.)

I cannot account nor can anyone account for other things that might be going on in China, which is the reason why I have always said and will say now, I keep an open mind as to what the origin is, Fauci said at the time.

The convention where Greene spoke Saturday is the brainchild of Turning Point USA, a young conservatives group started by right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. Other speakers this week include former President Donald Trump and his son, Donald Trump Jr.; Rep. Matt Gaetz; former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Steve Bannon, and Ben Carson.

According to a report by Mother Jones, while Turning Point is billed as a youth organization, the conference itself was heavily attended by conservatives in their forties and beyond. Per the report, one of the conferences biggest sponsors this year is the Association of Mature American Citizens.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni speaks at the press conference for the closing of the 2024 G7 Summit held in the city of Fasano at Borgo Egizia. Marco Cordone/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Italy's right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wants to wait for the official nomination from the conservative European People's Party (EPP) in the European Parliament before deciding on the presidency of the future EU Commission.

"The proposal is a matter for the EPP, and when it is complete we will make our assessments," said Meloni on Saturday at the end of the G7 summit in southern Italy.

She said it was important that Italy was given "appropriate" consideration in the new Commission. It must also be clear "that Europe has understood the message of the European elections."

The EPP, a group of conservative parties across the continent, performed best in last Sunday's European elections. It wants the current Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to be given a second five-year term in Brussels.

However, it is uncertain whether the German conservative politician would get enough votes from her current supporters in the European Parliament if she were nominated by the EU heads of state and governments. She may therefore have to rely on votes from Meloni's far-right party Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy).

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni speaks at the press conference for the closing of the 2024 G7 Summit held in the city of Fasano at Borgo Egizia. Marco Cordone/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Merchant ship threatens to sink after Houthi attack in the Red Sea

Armed rebels of the Iran-backed Houthi militia take part in a demonstration. Osamah Yahya/dpa

Following an attack by Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen, a merchant ship is in danger of sinking in the Red Sea.

Following the evacuation of the crew, the ship was drifting unmanned off the coast of Djibouti and sinking, the British authority responsible for the safety of merchant shipping, UKMTO, said on Saturday.

A heavily damaged cargo ship had already sunk at the beginning of March following a Houthi attack.

According to the US Central Command, the Houthi militia attacked the ship with two cruise missiles on Thursday. The Ukrainian-owned cargo ship Verbena, which is operated by a Polish company, was on its way to Italy with building materials on board.

The attack caused a fire. Initially, a seriously injured sailor was evacuated.

A Houthi military spokesman confirmed that the militia had attacked the Verbena.

The crew brought the fire under control and continued their journey to the next scheduled stop for the time being, UKMTO had said. But the crew was then brought to safety and the ship was left to its fate.

In early March, the Rubymar, a badly damaged cargo ship sank off the coast of Yemen, almost two weeks after an attack by the Houthi militia.

The US military warned of an environmental disaster because the vessel was carrying around 41,000 tons of fertilizer.

One of the most important shipping routes for world trade runs through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. In recent months, the Houthis have repeatedly attacked civilian cargo ships there.

The militants have said the attacks are intended to support Palestinian militant group Hamas by making it more difficult for cargo ships to reach Israel.

In response to the attacks, the United States and the United Kingdom have carried out several military strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen.
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was elected to serve as the chair of the Western Governors Association.

The governor was elected to the position during the groups annual meeting in Olympic Valley, California, and will replace Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon. The group represents the leaders of the 22 westernmost states and territories.

State auditor says $15K flight was a waste of taxpayer funds

Lujan Grisham said her primary initiative will be addressing the regions housing challenges. Too many working-class families lack access to housing that meets their needs, and it diminishes quality of life and threatens our vibrant economic growth, Lujan Grisham said in a news release. We are laser focused on removing obstacles, reducing development costs, and putting new resources and public land in play to deliver this badly needed housing.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Military families lodged almost 53,000 complaints about their housing in six years, official figures show.

Between 2018 and 2023, 52,886 complaints were sent to the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), the Ministry of Defence (MoD) agency which manages Armed Forces housing, according to a Freedom of Information response.

The worst year was 2022, when 11,593 families complained about the standard of their housing. By 2023, that figure had fallen to 9,216.

Troops living in barracks - which accommodate single service personnel  made a further 273 complaints between December 2021 and April 2023.

The DIO manages around 49,000 homes in the UK on behalf of the MoD and operates four regional accommodation maintenance services contractors, who are paid to maintain service housing.

Many service families believe the system is broken and have complained for years about missed maintenance appointments and sub-standard repairs.

There have been reports that young children have ended up in hospital with breathing conditions caused by black mould in service homes.

Facebook group offers support

Military families have created their own Facebook group where they can offer support and advice on how to deal with sub-standard housing.

Col Philip Mercer, a former military intelligence officer, told The Telegraph that the failure by both Labour and the Tories to comment on the state of Armed Forces housing during the election campaign is a disgrace.

He said: The reality is that the 50,000 complaints submitted is just the tip of the iceberg, many more complaints are lost in the system. The military says its people are its most important asset but that is clearly not true.

Last month, the Kerslake Commission, which published a report into the quality of military housing, found that military families were being forced to live in damp, mouldy homes, riddled with pests and plagued by shoddy gas and electrical fittings.

In its Homes Unfit For Military Heroes review, the organisation accused the Government of failing to make up for years of underfunding within the MoD, which has left a large proportion of military housing in a dilapidated state.

The report also warned that the pitiful state of service housing was causing personnel to leave the Armed Forces at a time when they are facing a recruitment crisis.

Insiders believe the true scale of the military housing problem has been understated - Kevin Wheal/Alamy Stock Photo

Gen Sir Richard Barrons, Britains former head of Joint Forces Command, branded the situation unacceptable and called for an urgent overhaul to avoid driving more troops away.

The general, who served on the commission, said: Decent and affordable accommodation is crucial for the wellbeing of our Armed Forces personnel and is essential for maintaining the operational effectiveness of our national defence.

Yet for many years the accommodation for many service personnel and their families has been poor, and in many cases unacceptable.

A tax on goodwill

Sub-standard accommodation has effectively become a tax on the goodwill of highly prized people that directly undermines operational effectiveness and retention of our Armed Forces.

Asked for comment, the MoD provided a statement made by a minister to parliament saying: Currently, 96 per cent of service family accommodation (SFA) meets or exceeds the Governments Decent Homes Standard.

This Government continues to invest significant sums to improve the quality of UK SFA. The Defence Command Paper Refresh committed an additional 400 million over two years.

In 2023-24, Defence allocated and spent 220 million to implement damp and mould remediation in approximately 4,000 homes, refurbished about 1,000 long-term empty homes, provided 3,000 homes with replacement windows and doors, 1,000 homes with replacement kitchens and bathrooms, and upgraded heaters and boilers in 1,500 homes.

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BEIRUT (Reuters) - There is a "very real" risk that a miscalculation along Lebanon's southern border could trigger a wider conflict between Hezbollah and the Israeli military, two U.N. officials in Lebanon warned on Saturday.

The United Nations special coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, and the head of U.N. peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, Aroldo Lazaro, said they were "deeply concerned" about the recent escalation along Lebanon's border.

Iran-backed Hezbollah last week launched the largest volleys of rockets and drones yet in the eight months it has been exchanging fire with the Israeli military, in parallel with the Gaza war.

"The danger of miscalculation leading to a sudden and wider conflict is very real," the two officials said in a written statement on Saturday.

The United States and France are working on a negotiated settlement to the hostilities along Lebanon's southern border. Hezbollah says it will not halt fire unless Israel's military offensive on Gaza stops.

(Reporting by Maya Gebeily; Editing by Mark Potter)
A missing 6-year-old girl was found near the body of her 4-year-old sister in Mississippi on Thursday, authorities said, after the girls mother was found dead in their Louisiana home.

The body of the girls mother, 35-year-old Callie Brunett, was discovered in Loranger, a town in Louisianas Tangipahoa Parish. The same day she was found, Daniel Callihan, 36, was arrested across the state line in Jackson, Mississippi on suspicion of killing Brunett and abducting Jalie Brunett, 6, and Erin Brunett, 4, parish sheriff Daniel Edwards said.

Investigators believe Callihan killed Brunett and took the girls on Wednesday, Edwards said in a news conference Friday evening. Brunetts parents reported her missing late Wednesday night, he said.

The body of Erin Brunett, 4, was found next to her reportedly unharmed older sister after their mother was found dead in Louisiana Facebook / Louisiana State Police

Callihan was arrested Thursday after a brief chase, authorities said, according to local NBC affiliate WDSU.

Edwards said Callihan led investigators to a wooded area, where they found 6-year-old Jalie alive near Erins body.

Callihan had lived in Tangipahoa Parish and had been in an on-again, off-again relationship with Brunett, Edwards previously said, according to WDSU.

There is no reason to believe Callihan is the father of the two girls, Edwards said Friday evening.

Brunetts car, which was also missing from her home, was pinged by a license plate reader in Jackson, authorities said. Investigators said they tracked down Callihan after receiving a report of a man trying to enter several homes, WDSU reported.

Edwards said Callihan is expected to be charged with first-degree murder in the death of Callie Brunett, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, and armed robbery. He said Mississippi authorities said they plan to also charge Callihan with the murder of Erin Brunett.

A woman who investigators believe is an accomplice of Callihans was arrested Friday at a south Jackson motel, Edwards said.

Victoria Cox, 32, is expected to be charged with crimes in Mississippi and Louisiana, said Edwards, who declined to elaborate on the exact nature of those charges but said she and Callihan had recently been intimately involved.

It is unclear whether the older girl was injured. She was hospitalized before being picked up by her grandparents, who took her home with them to Louisiana, U.S. Marshals said, according to WPAT.

Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade said it was unclear why Callihan was in south Jackson, but he said the investigation was ongoing, including into whether the house in Jackson near where the girls were found had been used by human traffickers.

Edwards said Friday that he has not learned of any information to substantiate Wades speculation that human trafficking played a role in this case.

The FBI has joined the multi-state investigation alongside local law enforcement, the agency said in a statement Friday, calling the killings an unspeakable tragedy.

Callihan is currently being held in the Rankin County Jail in Mississippi.

Related...
MO woman convicted of murder and imprisoned more than 40 years is innocent, judge rules

A Missouri judge ruled Friday there is clear and convincing evidence that a woman imprisoned for more than four decades in Missouri is innocent.

Attorneys for Sandra Sandy Hemme, now 64, immediately moved to free her from Chillicothe Correctional Center. If released, Hemmes prison term will mark the longest known wrongful conviction of a woman in U.S. history.

Hemme was convicted in a 1980 murder in St. Joseph. In an 118-page memorandum, Livingston County Circuit Judge Ryan Horsman said evidence directly ties a now-deceased police officer to the killing of Patricia Jeschke.

His decision comes after a three-day evidentiary hearing in January where Hemmes legal team presented arguments supporting her innocence. The Missouri Attorney Generals Office fought to uphold her conviction.

The attorney generals office did not immediately respond to an email and text message sent Saturday morning seeking comment.

Horsman wrote that violations in Hemmes case occurred in two ways: The state did not hand over exculpatory evidence to Hemmes defense, resulting in what is known as a Brady violation, and her trial attorney fell below professional standards.

Buchanan County prosecutors now have 30 days to decide whether to re-try Hemme or dismiss the charges.

Judges findings

Horsman noted that no forensic evidence connected Hemme to the murder. She did not have a motive and there were no witnesses tying her to the crime.

The only evidence linking Ms. Hemme to the crime was that of her own inconsistent, disproven statements, statements that were taken while she was in psychiatric crisis and physical pain, Horsman said in the order.

A detective admitted that Hemme, who was on anti-psychotic medication and sedatives, was not totally cognizant of what was going on. Over a series of interviews while she was hospitalized, she told conflicting stories. At one point, she said a man who picked her up from the hospital was the killer. Investigators discovered he was in a locked detox facility in Kansas at the time of the murder and the capital murder charge against him was dropped.

Evidence instead points to Michael Holman, a former St. Joseph police officer who later went to prison for another crime and died in 2015. He was questioned once in Jeschkes death. Horsman said Holmans links to the murder are substantial and objective.

Holmans truck was seen in the area the day of the murder, his alibi could not be corroborated and he used Jeschkes credit card after he said he found it in a purse in a ditch. A pair of gold horseshoe-shaped earrings identified by Jeschkes father was also found in Holmans possession.

Horsman said a report about the earrings was never turned over to Hemmes defense attorney. Three FBI reports on forensic evidence were also not disclosed. Information about Holmans criminal conduct in the months before and after the murder were also withheld.

The nondisclosure of that evidence resulted in a trial that was fundamentally unfair, resulting in a verdict unworthy of confidence, Horsmans order said.

He also found that Hemmes trial counsel was ineffective. Her attorney failed to use evidence showing Holman was near Jeschkes home and did not locate or interview him as an alternative suspect. The attorney also failed to present evidence about Hemmes psychiatric distress and confusion.

This court can thus reach the merits of Ms. Hemmes claims because she is the victim of a manifest injustice, Horsman wrote.

Hemme has been in prison for more than 43 years.

Horsman could grant Hemmes release while prosecutors decide if she will be re-tried or if the case will be dismissed. In arguing for her release, her attorneys said she is an elderly woman with health conditions who is not a flight risk. She has family in Missouri who she would reside with.

Several wrongful convictions have been brought to light in recent years in the Kansas City metro. Ricky Kidd, Kevin Strickland and Keith Carnes were exonerated in Kansas City cases. Lamonte McIntyre and Olin Pete Coones were freed in Kansas City, Kansas, cases. The five together spent 119 years in prison for crimes they did not commit.
More tornadoes move into Mid-South as climate changes

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Research suggests climate change is increasing the number of tornadoes across the Mid-South, while reducing the number in parts of traditional Tornado Alley.

Dr. Victor Gensini, a leading researcher on the topic, estimates there are one or two extra-strong tornadoes per decade in the Mid-South because of climate change.

You guys are in the biggest increasing trends, he said. So if you look at a place like Memphis and you do a time series of the number of tornadoes, the number of strong tornadoes from the late 1970s to current, that trend is upward significantly in a place like Memphis and in many portions of the Mid-South.

That may not sound like a lot, but were already in one of the biggest tornado hotspots in the world.

Its barely been a year since deadly tornadoes leveled Rolling Fork and Silver Springs, Mississippi, as well as Covington, Tennessee and Wynne, Arkansas. Our region is especially prone to these types of disasters.

Historic Arkansas church reopening 1 year after tornado

Stephen Strader researches the topic and explains why.

Probably one of the bigger factors is higher poverty rates, Strader said. You have an aging population, you have infrastructure thats not in great shape and you also have a prevalence of manufactured housing which do not perform well in significant tornado events.

On top of vulnerability the area has seen a population explosion over the last 70 years, which gives tornadoes more to hit.

But theres no reason to be scared if you stay prepared and know what life saving action during a tornado.

For more tornado safety tips, click here to go to the NWS website.

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Donald Trump suggested in a new interview that he might lose the upcoming debate on "purpose" to keep President Joe Biden on the ticket.

The former president, who was being interviewed on conservative Real America's Voice, was asked what would happen if Biden performs poorly at the debate and Democrats replace him as their nominee.

"Well, you know, interestingly, they've done polling, and I do better against almost everybody," Trump told host Steve Gruber.

"And so they don't want to take him off. Maybe I'm better off losing the debate. I'll make sure he stays. I'll lose the debate on purpose. Maybe I'll do something like that," the former president said.

The Biden campaign played Trump's comments in a loop on X.

CNN will host the first debate of the 2024 presidential election on June 27.
Motorcyclist dies while en route to hospital after crash near Goldfield

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A motorcyclist has died following a crash about 20 miles southwest of Goldfield in Esmeralda County, according to Nevada State Police.

The crash occurred on Friday shortly before 2 p.m. along State Route 266 and Mile Marker 26.

No one else was involved in the crash, according to NSP. The motorcyclist was taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries following the crash but died on the way to the hospital, police said.

State Route 266 remained open with no road closures on Friday afternoon.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Motorcyclist found dead at scene of crash on 82nd Avenue

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Police are investigating a fatal motorcycle crash that happened on Southeast 82nd Avenue and Mitchell Street early Friday afternoon, officials say.

Officers responded to the scene just north of Southeast Foster Road around 12:40 p.m. and found the motorcyclist already dead at the scene. The driver of the car involved in the crash remained at the scene to help police with their investigation.

Thunderstorms could impact Fathers Day plans in the Pacific Northwest

Southeast 82nd Avenue between Southeast Raymond Street and Foster Road reopened around 5:30 p.m., police said.

Anyone with information related to this crash is encouraged to contact police.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.

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A file photo of P-81, a young male mountain lion who was killed by a vehicle in January 2023. Another cougar was similarly struck and killed early Saturday on the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills. (National Park Service via AP)

A mountain lion was found dead Saturday morning on the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills, not far from a wildlife crossing being built to reduce the number of cougar fatalities.

The puma's body was discovered about 5 a.m. in the far right lane of the freeway near Liberty Canyon Road, according to the California Highway Patrol. Troopers moved the cougar to the shoulder of the highway and enlisted the help of California Fish and Wildlife, which confirmed Saturday morning that it collected the mountain lions body for gathering DNA.

The cougar, which was not wearing a monitoring collar, was killed near the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, a $92-million passageway that extends over the busy 10-lane freeway, said Beth Pratt, regional executive director of the National Wildlife Federation. It was likely hit by a car; she said there was fresh blood on the freeway. She said not much else is yet known about the mountain lion, including its age or sex.

The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is under construction in Agoura Hills on Saturday. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Obviously we have a solution coming, but it didn't come soon enough for this cat, Pratt said. This is just another harsh reminder that this is the right place [for the crossing].

Construction of the wildlife passage began in 2022, and it is set to be completed in 2026. It is considered the largest wildlife crossing in the world, Pratt said, in a much-needed area where mountain lions are known to attempt to cross.

Already, there are signs that other animals are using the crossing, and by the end of the year, officials hope to begin adding soil and plants to the crossing so that it blends into the environment and creates a safe space for the animals, Pratt said.

Ten lanes of freeway traffic pass below the construction site of the $92-million Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing on Saturday. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

In January, Uno, a female mountain lion often seen patrolling the mountains in Orange County, was killed after being struck by a vehicle on a road near the Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve. The cougar, identified as F312, had been tagged by researchers in 2021 when she was about 2 years old.

In January 2023, mountain lion P-81 was killed on Pacific Coast Highway, probably struck by a car, the National Park Service announced. The 4-year-old male cougars remains were collected on PCH near Las Posas Road in Ventura County.

In July 2022, mountain lion P-89, a 2-year-old male, was fatally struck by a car on the 101 Freeway in Woodland Hills. That death came about a month after a 5-year-old female mountain lion had been killed by a car in the Santa Monica Mountains.

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The Traffic Enforcement Unit of the Muscatine Police Department was recently honored at the 32nd Annual Governors Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) Conference with the presentation of the 2024 Commissioners Award for Traffic Safety for their outstanding efforts in occupant protection, a news release says.

From left are Corporal Matt Fowler and Lieutenant Ryan Buss (City of Muscatine)

The conference was held in the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny on June 5-7. The Occupant Protection Award is given to an individual/team/organization who has continuously promoted occupant protection with innovative programming, and who planned/implemented/participated in effective initiatives directed at child restraint or seat belt usage.

We have been at 95-96 percent in occupant protection (seat belt use) the past several years, Lt. Ryan Buss of the Traffic Enforcement Unit said. And that says a lot about our community.

Corp. Matt Fowler added that safety is the primary objective of the unit.

People will remember you if you are nice to them but will not remember the lesson or the reason for wearing seat belts, Fowler said. A ticket, however, is a stronger reminder of the lesson of why it is important to wear seat belts.

The Traffic Enforcement Unit, created in 2022 from a GTSB grant, has dedicated a great deal of time and effort into taking traffic violations seriously and making an impact for the betterment of the entire community.

I am pleased to announce that we were granted this distinction by the Commissioner of Public Safety and the GTSB, Buss said. To my knowledge we have never received this type of award.

Fowler and Captain Jeff Jirak were at the GTSB conference to accept the award.

According to the Iowa Crash Analysis Tool (ICAT), Muscatine has had eight fatality accidents within the city limits of Muscatine since 2014.

If we were to have eight homicides in that same time frame, consider the amount of time and resources that would be focused on those eight individual cases, Buss said. While we may not consider traffic enforcement a focal point in our department, a small amount of effort truly does bring about changes in the driving behaviors of our community and therefore makes it safer to drive on the streets of Muscatine.

Fowler recalled a presentation during the conference that compared crime with traffic incidents. A murder occurs every 34 minutes in the United States but a traffic fatality occurs every 16 minutes, and a violent crime occurs every 24 seconds while a traffic injury occurs every 14 seconds. And while a property crime occurs every four seconds, a property damage crash occurs every six seconds.

There is not a lot of emphasis put on traffic deaths and/or injuries by the public because of the nature of the incident, Fowler said. Murders and violent crime will always get more attention.

Wearing seat belts is just one part of the Occupant Protection work. The other parts include slowing down and obeying traffic control devices. Putting on the seat belt can save your life and the lives of those in your vehicle, the release says.

You are 18 times more likely to be killed in an accident if you are not wearing a seat belt, Fowler said.

Since its founding in 2022, the Traffic Enforcement Unit has issued 143 citations for Occupant Protection. The top four citations are for speeding, not wearing a seat belt, operating under the influence, and, climbing quickly up the charts, is distracted driving.

We have had several accidents recently, both in town and in the county, where distracted driving played a part in the cause of the accidents, Buss said. This is a growing problem and one that we hope we can help to change.

Buss added that a lot of people just think we are targeting them when they are stopped under this program, but he wants the people to know that it is all about reducing the number of accidents, injuries in the accidents, and excessive speeding.

The one thing not often realized is the potential lives that have been saved due to changing driving behavior through issuing citations or, at the very least, providing warnings for the behavior.

Buss gave a big thank you to all those who have dedicated their time and effort into the area of traffic enforcement.

Your efforts to educate the public and make Muscatine a safer place is positive recognition to the Muscatine Police Department and to our community, Buss said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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As the Naperville Fire Department celebrates 150 years, firefighters look back at what it means to answer the call

This year, the Naperville Fire Department is turning 150.

From a small volunteer unit to one that now boasts 200-plus paid personnel, the department has seen generations filter through its ranks, watched a city change around it and left a footprint that far outpaces its age.

As Naperville Fire commemorates a century and a half of service, the Naperville Sun spoke with firefighters past and present for a look back at its legacy:

Michael Rechenmacher

Growing up, Michael Rechenmacher used to play with his dads boots.

He knew, since he was little, he had some shoes to fill with the Naperville Fire Department.

Rechnenmarker was a Naperville firefighter for 35 years. He served as a volunteer, paramedic, captain and eventually battalion chief. But he knew the department far before he had any titles. And the department knew his name long before that.

His dad, Lt. Richard Rechenmacher, was a volunteer firefighter in Naperville for 25 years. His involvement, Rechenmarker recalled of his dad, was really a product of chance  and instinct.

Richard Rechenmarkers first year with the department was 1946. After serving in World War II, he had returned to Naperville and was living at the corner of 5th Avenue and Loomis Street. One day, while he was working on a car outside his house, he heard a big crash, Rechenmarker remembered from his dads stories. It was the sound of one train slamming into another: the deadly Naperville train wreck of 1946.

He ran down to survey the scene and started helping where he could. Amid the disaster, he was approached by the then-fire chief, who commended his quick response and asked if hed ever do it again. So he did.

Watching his dad volunteer, Rechenmacher, now 75, always wanted to follow in his footsteps, he said. As soon as he was old enough, he joined as a volunteer himself.

For a while, it was a family affair, with him and his dad volunteering together. But then tragedy struck. On Dec. 7, 1970, his dad was one of three firefighters killed in the line of duty when their engine collided with a coal truck while en route to a house fire.

Still, Rechenmacher stayed.

I thought, well, what am I going to do? he said. Quit and do nothing? My dad wouldnt have liked that.

Rechenmacher retired from the Naperville Fire Department in the early 2000s. He remembered his tenure in ranks, from being paid part time to running fire stations as a full-fledged employee. But he also made note of the smaller moments.

There were nights spent roughhousing at the fire station, maybe engaging in a pillow fight or two. Rechenmacher and his company cooked together. They were his brothers, he said.

It was good. A lot of fun. There were tough (moments), too. I lost a good friend. My dad. But you just try to keep that out of your mind and remember the good. He had a lot of great times, Rechenmacher added, smiling.

He was privy to a lot of change too.

Jim Collins

When Jim Collins, 73, became a Naperville firefighter in 1977, he was part of a small, but growing group of full-time personnel filling the department that for much of its history had relied primarily on volunteers like Rechenmachers dad.

Really, volunteerism is what Naperville Fire was founded on. Formally, the department dates back to 1874, when Naperville established its first volunteer fire company, according to Sun archives. But even before that, fires were still handled by volunteers, albeit through more informal bucket brigades.

It took 50 years after that initial company for Naperville to hire its first full-time firefighter. Volunteers, however, remained for decades after. Until 1960, when the city began to rapidly grow and city services had to follow. With more acreage and people to cover, using mostly volunteer firefighters became impractical so its paid on-call system was phased out.

Collins recalled watching the transition take shape firsthand.

When I got (to the department), the volunteers were the ones that had most of the authority, he said. Then, as time went on, more and more full-timers were hired.  Then we kind of took over, and the volunteers were actually backup for us.

Collins stayed with Naperville Fire for more than 28 years. By the time he retired, the department, like the city, was much bigger. But the vast change was bonding for him and the firefighters who managed it together, Collins said.

He remains friends with them today.

Alan Rohlfs

The people have stuck with Alan Rohlfs too.

From 1984 to 2002, he served as Naperville fire chief. As the town grew, so did the department. Under Rohlfs, the ranks went from 40 employees to 200 and three fire stations to eight, all while the citys population tripled to nearly 150,000.

But remembering those 18 years, he spoke of his staff.

I had some incredibly talented and committed people. Nine to five didnt mean anything to them, he said. We worked weekends, spent a lot of time away from our families to keep up with the growth and  make the department grow the right way.

Rohlfs, 84, was 42 years old when he started with the Naperville department. He took the job as chief after 20 years working as a firefighter in Hartford, Connecticut, where he was from.

His time with Naperville were some of the most incredible 18 years of my life, he said.

Even 22 years into retirement, Rohlfs still keeps tabs on his old department. He has the department radio on all the time, he said, just to be in the know.

Its something thats in your blood, I guess.

Though not directly involved anymore, Rohlfs said its been exciting to see new faces come in and carry on the torch.

The department is still so important to me, he said. Its something I care deeply about.

Mark Puknaitis

From one chief to another, fierce pride is a familiar feeling.

Mark Puknaitis has been at the helm of the fire department for 16 years. His reflections echoed that of his predecessor.

To me, this has been much, much more than a job, he said. Much more than a career. Even more than a calling. (Acting) as the fire chief for the Naperville Fire Department has been a bestowed honor.

Puknaitis said hes proud of how far the department has come over the past 150 years. And he hopes it continues to grow. Maybe not like it did in Rohlfs years, but in other ways.

Lets not be afraid of change, he said.

To commemorate Naperville Fires 150th anniversary, theres a lot planned, Puknaitis said. Celebrations, in fact, have already started.

Earlier this spring, Naper Settlement launched a new exhibit honoring the department that will run through December. The department itself has issued commemorative badges and patches for the anniversary. And later this fall, there will be a special open house to pay tribute to the milestone.

Puknaitis says giving the departments 150 years their due means a lot to him.

Our community needs to know what the Naperville Fire Department is all about today, but they also need to know how we got here, he said.

tkenny@chicagotribune.com
Fit Check

Ever have a wardrobe malfunction so bad you wish you could skip work? Well, if you were a NASA astronaut, that's a privilege you could take advantage of  if you are willing to put up with the arduous experience of living in orbit.

Case in point: on Thursday, NASA was forced to call off a planned spacewalk outside the International Space Station due to "spacesuit discomfort"  and what that specifically means or entails remains unclear.

According to an update from the agency, the astronauts scheduled for the excursion, Tracy C. Dyson and Matthew Dominick, had fully suited up before the mission was called off just an hour before the spacewalk, set to be NASA's 90th at the ISS, was supposed to commence.

Comforting News

So far, NASA hasn't divulged any further details, but Reuters reported that just minutes before the spacewalk was called off, another NASA astronaut, Mike Barratt, was heard asking flight controllers for a private line to discuss a medical issue.

It's unclear if this pertained to the cancellation, and we also don't know which astronaut was having the discomfort problem.

At the very least, it doesn't sound like it was anything too severe. In its update, NASA said that all "crew members on the station are healthy, and spacesuits are functioning as expected."

It has not said whether there will be a make-up spacewalk, but the space agency did confirm that the next one will take place on June 24.

Nagging Issue

This is not the first time that extravehicular activity at the ISS was called off due to suit issues. In 2019, NASA's first all-female spacewalk was somewhat embarrassingly postponed when one of the astronauts discovered that her spacesuit didn't quite fit.

More harrowingly, in 2022, the agency had to suspend almost all scheduled spacewalks after water was found in the helmet of an astronaut that had just completed an excursion.

This latest incident isn't quite as dramatic as those past two, but perhaps it'll reignite discussion on when NASA will finally update its astronauts' iconic outfits.

More on the ISS: NASA Apologizes for Broadcasting Emergency on Space Station
Since arriving at the International Space Station on June 6, Boeing Starliner astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have contributed to the upkeep of the station and assisted with space walks and scientific research. NASA Screengrab/UPI

June 14 (UPI) -- Starliner's return to Earth is now delayed to June 22 or later, NASA announced Friday.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who embarked on the long-awaited Boeing Starliner mission June 5 and docked at the International Space Station the following day, will have to spend a little more time in orbit than originally planned.

Both astronauts were originally set to complete a full assessment of the Starliner on board the ISS in just under a week, but the mission was lengthened due to a need to collect more information about the spacecraft.

"We are continuing to understand the capabilities of Starliner to prepare for the long-term goal of having it perform a six-month docked mission at the space station," NASA Commercial Crew Program Manager Steve Stich said in a blog post.

This is the second delay in Starliner's return to Earth, following an announcement this week that the spacecraft would disembark from the ISS on June 18.

The return mission originally was pushed forward to give ISS astronauts more time to perform a space walk originally planned for Thursday 13, but that mission was scrubbed an hour before it started because of what astronauts said was "spacesuit discomfort."

In the meantime, Wilmore and Williams will perform tests of the spacecraft's aft thrusters and review its hatch operations. They also will perform "safe haven" drills to prepare the capsule for an emergency situation.

The crew also will work to better understand some of the anomalies Starliner experienced on its journey into low-Earth orbit, including a helium leak that led to a May 6 launch scrub.

Since then, four other helium leaks have been discovered, as well as a valve in the capsule's service module that was not properly closed.

Since arriving at the ISS, Wilmore and Williams have contributed to the station upkeep and assisted with space walks and scientific research.

NASA and Boeing officials will provide more information on the Starliner mission's progress during a press briefing at noon EDT Tuesday.

The primary and backup landing sites for the capsule's return in the southwestern United States are yet to be determined.
These are the conditions around Logan Pass on May 30th, 2024. Deep snows and fresh flakes dominate the mountain views even as summer approaches on May 31, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the National Park Service)

Expect mountain passes with especially high elevations above 6,000 feet, like Homestake Pass outside Butte, to have snowy conditions on Tuesday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Its looking more likely for people to literally be driving through snow, said meteorologist with the National Weather Service Jeff Kitsmiller on Friday. That could catch a lot of people off guard this time of year.

Western Montana is expected to see widespread precipitation and a winter storm watch in higher elevations at the start of next week, he said. Monday going into Tuesday, elevations around 6,000 feet and above are expected to see snow, and Kitsmiller said those planning to recreate in the backcountry should be prepared for winter conditions or consider changing plans altogether.

Snow in June is always a possibility in Montana, but could be unusual if it gets down to lower elevations. Floods shouldnt be a concern, as Kitsmiller said the rivers largely have enough room for the precipitation.

The valleys could get snow; Kitsmiller said conditions could mirror the few inches of snow the state saw in May.

You cant rule it out, said Kitsmiller, of NWS Missoula.

Kitsmiller said the May snow saw lots of broken tree branches because the trees had started to get leaves in, and this event could be worse as the trees largely all have their leaves now.

Definitely one of our concerns would be tree damage and power outages, he said.

Montanans know snow can come any month of the year, but Kitsmiller said snow this late into June typically stays up in the higher elevations. He said this system may bring snow levels lower than normal for mid-June in Montana, meaning it could be more of a five-year or 10-year type of event.

Getting lots of rain and snow would also help stave off the fire season, he said, helping the state not to dry out too quickly.

Getting a nice big, widespread rain event is very beneficial, he said.

A U.S. Department of Agriculture water supply outlook report published in early June found recent weather helped improve water supply overall, but parts of the state remain below normal, with the Kootenai, lower Clark Fork, Jefferson, and Upper Madison river basins experiencing below-normal precipitation last month.

He said people who plan to recreate in higher elevations should prepare for things like fallen trees that may block roads and warned that snow might prevent people from being able to get back down.

People that are backpacking would need to prepare for winter and bring lots of layers and be able to get their bodies warm to avoid hypothermia.

Really the best thing is to push off plans and not really go out if people can, he said.

The post National Weather Service: Winter storm watch for high elevations early next week appeared first on Daily Montanan.
NC Governor vetoes bill that would send more juvenile offenders to the adult system

Gov. Roy Cooper (Photo: Office of the Governor)

Governor Roy Cooper issued a veto late Friday of a bill that would modify the definition of delinquent juvenile and send more 16- and 17-year-olds to the adult court system.

Most violent crimes, even when committed by teenagers, should be handled in adult court. However, there are cases where sentences would be more effective and appropriate to the severity of the crime for teenagers if they were handled in juvenile court, making communities safer, said Cooper in statement released by his office.

Cooper said he worried the legislation is a step toward eroding the bipartisan Raise the Age law passed just four years ago.

While a number of Senators worked to make this legislation better than the original bill, I remain concerned that this new law would keep some children from getting treatment they need, Cooper explained.

Senator Mujtaba Mohammed, D-Mecklenburg, said during a committee hearing last month kids are actually punished in juvenile court.

The great thing about juvenile courts is that you get one judge, you get that one kid, you get the same prosecutor, you get the same juvenile defender, and the most important piece, its the only jurisdiction where you get to hold parents accountable, said Mohammed.

More than 400 teens were transferred to adult court from juvenile court last year.

Gov. Cooper is now encouraging the legislature to invest significantly more in the juvenile justice system to ensure resources are available to appropriately deal with children who break the law.

Read more about House Bill 834 here.

The post NC Governor vetoes bill that would send more juvenile offenders to the adult system appeared first on NC Newsline.
The Dutch government will fund an additional 10 million for language training for Ukrainian citizens who have been forced to evacuate their country due to Russian aggression.

Source: message of the Dutch government, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The funding will allow local authorities in the Netherlands to continue the work of language courses for Ukrainians in 2025.

Quote: "Learning the language enables [Ukrainians  ed.] to obtain a suitable profession for which they were trained in Ukraine. Knowledge of the language also helps in establishing a connection with local residents and participating in society," the Dutch government explains.

The Netherlands allocated 15 million for language training in 2023, with an additional two million euros allocated at the start of the year.

The decision was made in light of the European Commission's recommendation to prolong temporary protection for Ukrainian citizens for another year; the final decision by EU ministers should be reached by the end of the month.

Hessen seeks to become the first federal land of Germany to introduce Ukrainian as a second foreign language in schools. The Ministry of Culture in the capital of Hessen, Wiesbaden, announced a competition for future experts and teachers.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Were celebrating Nexstars Founders Day of Caring.

Every year, News 2 picks a non-profit for staff to volunteer with in Middle Tennessee. We spent the day in Wilson County with an organization that helps kids with special needs, and they use horses to do it.

Southern STARRS in Lebanon is a nonprofit that specializes in helping special needs students through therapeutic horseback riding sessions. News 2 helped with painting the pony barns, building fences, tree removal and much more.

 Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts 

WKRN volunteer at Founders Day 2024. (Source: WKRN)



The organization puts on classes and camps that help children with special needs do physical activity that strengthens their core. Those activities also help develop social and spatial awareness.

WKRN volunteer at Founders Day 2024. (Source: WKRN)

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

The groups director and lead instructor, Rodina Key, said that help from volunteers goes a long way.

We appreciate it so much because we have many volunteers that come out here. We have staff that put in an endless amount of hours to keep this going, Key said. To see that other people out in the community find us important and care about this program means so much to us and to our hearts. Its honestly the only way that we can keep this place going.

For more information on how you can volunteer with the nonprofit, look for information 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 WKRN News 2.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A jury returned a guilty verdict Friday afternoon against a Niagara Falls man who allegedly killed a woman in 2022, according to the Niagara County District Attorneys Office.

On December 10, 2022, 35-year-old Daniella Patterson was shot and killed in Niagara Falls.

Niagara County District Attorney Brian Seaman said she was sitting defenseless in a car when the defendant shot at her from close range. 43-year-old Marchello Gildersleeve continued to shoot at her as the car drove off, according to Seaman.

Gildersleeve was found guilty by the jury of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

He is scheduled to return to court Aug. 30 and faces 40 years to life in prison.

Latest Local News

Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
The Department of Energys National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announced this week it has selected PanTeXas Deterrence, LLC for the management and operating contract for the Pantex Plant located outside Amarillo, with an estimated annual value of $1.5 billion.

PanTeXas Deterrence, a limited liability company, consists of BWXT Technical Services Group, Inc.; Fluor Federal Services, Inc.; SOC LLC and the Texas A&M University System (TAMUS), according to an NNSA news release. The contract includes a four-month transition period, currently planned to start in mid-July, and a five-year base period with three five-year options, for a total contract period of up to 20 years and four months if all options are exercised, NNSA said. Texas A&M said this could amount to a total of approximately $30 billion.

TAMUS is already part of Triad National Security LLC, the team that manages the Los Alamos National Laboratory along with Battelle Memorial Institute and the University of California.

Pantex Wind Turbine

It is a privilege to be part of the management of another component of the countrys nuclear deterrent, TAMUS Chancellor John Sharp said in a university news release. We take our national security responsibilities seriously, and we will bring the same level of care and expertise to Pantex as we have done for the past several years to Los Alamos.

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS) currently holds the contract for Pantex, as well as the Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee. The Pantex portion of CNS contract expires on Sept. 30 and will be extended until the transition period is complete, NNSA said, "to provide stability for the workforce employed under the current contract, and to ensure efficient continuity of operations for the vital NNSA missions performed there." NNSA said the contract awarded to PanTeXas Deterrence presented the best value to the government when all factors were considered.

NNSA said it has designed the contract and transition period to minimize the impact on workers at Pantex.

"Aside from a handful of top managers, the contract requires PanTeXas Deterrence to offer a position to all current employees it deems necessary for completing the requirements of the contract, and to offer the same pay to all employees who remain in their current positions," the NNSA release states. "PanTeXas Deterrence will also be required to become the sponsor of the existing benefit plans. "

The PanTeXas Deterrence team also includes three pre-selected small business subcontractors: TechSource, Los Alamos Technical Associates, Inc., and Mission Assurance Alliance, which is a joint venture comprising Longenecker & Associates, Inc. and Paschal Solutions.

For over 40 years, Pantex has been the nations primary nuclear weapon assembly and disassembly center, allowing the nuclear deterrent to stay safe, secure, and reliable at all times, said Jill Hruby, NNSA Administrator. The selection of PanTeXas Deterrence through full and open competition will help us accelerate weapon delivery and technology insertion, execute our infrastructure modernization, and continuously improve safety and security.

The PanTeXas Deterrence team was purpose-built to bring the very best of industry experience together to meet crucial global security imperatives, said Heatherly Dukes, president of BWXTs Technical Services Group. We look forward to getting started with a strong emphasis on safe and secure operations in full support of NNSAs integrated Nuclear Security Enterprise.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: NNSA awards estimated $30 billion Pantex management contract
Former President Donald Trump stopped in Washington, D.C., Thursday to rally Republican lawmakers behind his 2024 candidacy and look ahead to the 2025 legislative agenda. But before his first visit to Capitol Hill since his Jan. 6, 2021, remarks on the Ellipse and the subsequent Capitol riot, Trump roused the highest-ranking Republican in Congress with an audacious demand.

In a phone call to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., in the days after his felony conviction in New York, the former president began to roll out a campaign to wield the powers of Congress against the Democrats he charges with "weaponizing" the justice system against him, Politico reports.

"We have to overturn this," Trump told Johnson during the call, characterized by Trump's lingering anger over his conviction and frequent F-bombs, according to sources who have heard accounts of the exchange from the speaker.

Trump's reported aim to "enlist House Republicans" in efforts to have his conviction overturned "not only shows the former president lacks a basic undertaking of how our system of government works, but it also demonstrates his continued disrespect for our criminal justice system," Temidayo Aganga-Williams, a former federal prosecutor and senior counsel to the House Jan. 6 Committee, told Salon.

"Trump had his day in court and the jury rendered its fair verdict," said Aganga-Williams, a white collar partner of Selendy Gay PLLC in New York. "Trump can appeal his verdict through normal channels, but instead he is looking to subvert norms."

Trump, both the nation's first former president to be charged with a crime and its first to be convicted, was found guilty late last month of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records after prosecutors alleged he sought to unlawfully conceal an alleged sex scandal with an adult film actress from voters ahead of the 2016 presidential election. He has denied wrongdoing and the affair allegations, continuing to rail his prosecution post-verdict as "rigged."

The presumptive GOP nominee's sentencing is scheduled for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention in Wisconsin. Legal experts previously told Salon that, as a first-time offender of a low-tier felony, the former president is likely to avoid jail time.

"Our system of justice is one that can be trusted, regardless of what Trump says," Aganga-Williams said. "The former president isn't a victim of our system, he's rightfully being held accountable by the system."

Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told Salon that the reported exchange between Trump and the speaker was reminiscent of Trump's 2020 call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in the wake of the election, pressuring the state official to "find 11,780 votes" needed to overturn his electoral defeat in Georgia.

Unlike Raffensperger, however, Johnson sympathized with the former president's aggravation. He was the most high-ranking Republican leader to attend Trump's Manhattan trial and assailed it as an "illegitimate sham" that's "all about politics" outside the courthouse, continuing the criticism of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's case he took up before he won the speaker's gavel.

One person familiar with the conversation told Politico that Johnson didn't need much convincing. The former attorney already thought the House could play a role in alleviating Trump's legal woes, and the duo have spoken about the matter a number of times since.

In actuality, the House can't do much, legal experts said. Congress has "no lawful ability" to actually get the former president's conviction overturned, according to Barbara McQuade, University of Michigan law professor and former federal prosecutor.

It's a "separation of powers issue as well as a federalism issue," Rahmani explained. The federal government doesn't have any authority over the states other than what is authorized by the Constitution, and in this case, such authorization couldn't exist because it applies to two separate branches of government.

"You're talking about the federal legislative branch trying to tell the state executive branch what to do," he said.

The status of Trump's conviction, then, is "a matter for New York State courts, not Congress," McQuade told Salon. Trump has already vowed to appeal.

Most of what Congress could do is "retaliate against Alvin Bragg" by way of cutting federal grants and funds awarded to state and local prosecutors, and demanding the D.A. "testify about how he is using grant money in his work," McQuade added.

But Johnson doesn't appear to have the backing needed to deliver for the former president within the scope of Congress' duties either, Politico notes. Within the party's slim majority in the lower chamber, swing-district members run skittish while GOP efforts to impeach President Joe Biden have all but died out.

A Wednesday contempt vote against Attorney General Merrick Garland just barely passed, and a series of proposals aimed at what Republicans call "rogue prosecutors," namely those investigating Trump, appear to lack traction among members.

Wednesday afternoon also saw House Republican leaders whipping a bill from Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C., that seeks to permit presidents charged at the state level to move those cases to the federal court  a move that would effectively strip the power of officials like Bragg and Fani Willis, the Fulton County district attorney handling Trump's Georgia prosecution. Fry's bill, filed in April 2023 and reported by the Judiciary Committee last September, is only now being prepped for possible floor consideration.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

The speaker has also discussed the possibility of using the appropriations process to target special counsel Jack Smith's cases against Trump with Judiciary Committee chair and faithful Trump ally Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.

None of these proposals have the votes needed to pass, Politico notes. Senior appropriator Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, called the notion of slashing Smith's funding was "stupid."

I dont think its a good idea unless you can show that [the prosecutors] acted in bad faith or fraud or something like that, he told the outlet. Theyre just doing their job  even though I disagree with what they did.

We accuse Democrats of weaponizing the Justice system. Thats exactly what wed be doing, added another skeptical senior Republican granted anonymity to speak without fear of right-wing backlash.

Still, Johnson's leadership remains steadfast in its goals. Fry  who told Politico he has not yet spoken to Trump about his proposal  aims to educate his GOP colleagues in the chamber on the legal precedent, arguing that, if federal legislators, executive officials and judges can already legally attempt to have their local cases moved to federal court, the president should too.

In my experience so far, the more [House members] have heard about it, the more comfortable they are with it, he said. Its not a unique concept.

The federal removal Fry describes, however, comes with its own caveat, McQuade noted.

"Federal removal already exists, but only for crimes committed while in office within the scope of official duties," she said. "To strip state courts of jurisdiction for crimes committed outside of federal office would be a violation of states rights."

Even if Trump-allied Republican lawmakers put forth their best efforts with his other trials, nothing can be done to assist the former president with his conviction, especially with his sentencing weeks away, Rahmani and McQuade said.

"Frankly, it's too late. He's been convicted. He's going to be sentenced on July 11 and there's going to be a judgment," Rahmani said. "There's no law that's going to pass the House, pass the Senate  controlled by Democrats  and be signed into the law by Biden that's going to help Donald Trump."

"All they can do is use the political process to undermine public confidence in the conviction," McQuade added.

Aganga-Williams said that House Republicans won't find success in trying to "obstruct" remaining Trump prosecutions in "any material way" because they lack the political power.

Instead, "these efforts will contribute to the continued erosion of faith in our institutions," he argued. "These attempts to interfere suggest to the American people that these prosecutions are not supported by the evidence and that's simply not true. Our system may not be perfect but it is good and it has been more than fair to Trump."
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The northbound lanes of the Interstate Bridge will close over the weekend while officials work on road sign maintenance.

The closure will begin Saturday, June 15 at 11 p.m. and continue until 7 a.m. on Sunday, June 16, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Motorcyclist found dead at scene of crash on 82nd Avenue

The northbound on-ramp to I-5 from Hayden Island and the northside sidewalk will also be closed during this time.

As a detour, Washington-bound traffic should take Interstate 84 east to Interstate 205 north across the Glenn Jackson Bridge over the Columbia River, officials said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
NY bill bans selling hot restaurant reservations for up to $650 on the black market

Theyre taking black market reservations off the menu.

Reselling hard-to-get bookings at elite Big Apple restaurants would be banned under a new bill that aims to crack down on internet hustlers who block New Yorkers from their favorite eateries by scalping dinner reservations like concert tickets.

The legislation would fine the middlemen  some of whom make as much as $70,000 a year  for booking hard-to-get mealtimes on websites such as Resy and OpenTable and then reselling them without the restaurants permission, said Assemblyman Alex Bores (D-Manhattan).

Resellers are hawking reservations at Carbone in the West Village for up to $450 per table. Gabi Porter

The prices range from $340 for a scalped spot at the fashionable Italian red sauce joint Carbone to $650 at the trendy Polo Bar.

And thats before even paying the price for the meal.

It is absolutely absurd, Bores, who sponsored the state bill, said of the practice. [It] stops the family that wants to go out for a special meal to celebrate a graduation, or the couple that wants to celebrate an anniversary.

[Resellers] are getting in the way of New Yorkers going to their favorite restaurant, he added, calling the market nefarious.

Dubbed Restaurant Reservation Anti-Piracy Bill, the legislation also helps prevent no shows when food world scalpers fail to resell seats at tables on websites such as Appointment Trader.

Melissa Fleischut, President of the NY Restaurant Association, said ditched reservations have tripled in recent months due to the resellers, burning workers ranging from servers to chefs.

Its a significant impact on a restaurant thats trying to make good money, pay their staff, keep everybody employed, pay their bills, said Fleischut, who supports the bill.

Black market reservations at the West Village Italian eatery sell for hundreds of dollars. Gabi Porter

Andrew Rigie, Executive Director of the New York City Hospitality Alliance, said the bill would help crack down on the practice.

Restaurant reservation scalping has been an issue thats gone on for many years. But the rise of third party websites that facilitate the scalping have made the issue explode, he said. So if we can ban them, it will reduce the unauthorized sale of reservations.

The bill has passed through the houses of the state legislature and must either be signed or vetoed by the Governor by the end of the year.

It establishes fines for third-party restaurant reservation services that arrange unauthorized reservations with food service establishments.

Assemblyman Alex Bores (D-Manhattan) sponsored the bill banning third party reservation sellers. Getty Images

The website Appointment Trader is used to book black market restaurant reservations. appointmenttrader.com

Customers at Big Apple eateries cheered the bill as a bid to level the culinary playing field.

Its good that its banned, said Will Levi, 34, who was dining at Cafe Dante in the West Village Thursday. It gives very rich people an edge over people who just wanna go to the restaurant they like, and who cant spend extra money just to get there.

Some black market sellers have made a career out of snapping up reservations at New York City hotspots such as the Italian eatery Carbone in the West Village, Maison Close in Soho and Ralph Laurens Polo Bar in Midtown.

On Thursday, dinner reservations at Carbone were selling for roughly $150 to $450 on Appointment Trader.

Bores says resellers end up causing no shows at restaurants. AlexBores/X

Others diners called reservation resales an unfair use of technology.

The people that are buying and reselling the reservations are using computer software to get the reservation immediately before any human being can get their hands on it, said George Kyriakos, 55, who was dining at Carbone Thursday evening.

So regular people who want a reservation at Carbone dont have a chance.

Ganesh Vilas Ubale, the general manager of the South Indian restaurant Semma  where the reservation waiting list is 1,151 names long  also praised the bill, saying it will make dining out more affordable.

We are very happy and elated that it has been passed. That everyone has accepted it, including all the restaurants. Its going to work in our favor, he said.

When I first heard about these black market sales, oh my God, he said. They were charging people like crazy.

In May, reps from Resy along with more than a dozen restaurateurs wrote a letter in support of the bill, saying it would protect consumers but also support the sustainability of small business and the restaurant industry.

Carbone, Polo Bar and Maison Close didnt return The Posts requests for comment Friday.

-Additional reporting by Valentina Jaramillo
New York leaders blasted a US Supreme Court decision Friday that reversed a ban on bump stocks, the devices favored by mass shooters that effectively turn semiautomatic weapons into machine guns.

The 6-3 ruling by the nations top court overturned a Trump-era federal prohibition.

New York Citys local ban on the rapid-fire device will remain in effect, Mayor Eric Adams said.

But Adams said in a statement, While these devices remain illegal in New York City, this decision  and the legacy of this Supreme Court  makes our country less safe.

Reversing a federal ban on bump stocks will make every American less safe, said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Andrew Schwartz/SplashNews.com

Bump stocks have been put to deadly use in mass shootings such as the 2017 slaughter that killed 58 people at a Las Vegas country music festival.

Former President Donald Trumps administration banned the device in 2019, and the Empire State followed suit the next year.

But bump stocks have still been illegally used, includin gagainst New Yorkers by the racist in the 2022 Buffalo mass shooting.

Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a statement Friday in which she erroneously linked the illegal use of bump stocks to the 2022 mass shooting at a Buffalo supermarket where a white supremecist killed 10 black people.

Bump stocks effectively make semiautomatic firearms shoot like machine guns. AP

Exactly one month ago, we marked the anniversary of the deadly Buffalo massacre  the horrific day when a hate-fueled gunman murdered ten of our neighbors, using a bump stock to transform his firearm into an even deadlier weapon.

She repeated the mistake in a post on X which she later deleted.

Asked later about the misstatement by the Associated Press, Hochul spokesperson Maggie Halley said the governor had only been speaking generally about dangerous, illegal modifications of weapons made to inflict mass casualties including bump stocks.

Attorney General Letitia James  who has engaged in a high-profile legal battle with the NRA  also condemned the decision.

Gov. Kathy Hochul noted a bump stock was used by the racist shooter in the 2022 Buffalo massacre. Andrew Schwartz/SplashNews.com

This decision jeopardizes the safety of every community in this country, she tweeted.

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, writing for the majority, found that bump stocks cannot be considered illegal machine guns.

We conclude that a semiautomatic rifle equipped with a bump stock is not a machinegun [sic] because it does not fire more than one shot by a single function of the trigger,  he wrote.

State Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, who chairs New Yorks Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian caucus, noted the ruling came during Gun Violence Awareness Month.

While Justice Clarence Thomas explanation of a fully automatic weapon may legally justify the use of this accessory, it does not change the fact that it has enabled individuals to claim the lives of countless innocent Americans across the country, she said in a statement.

With Post wires
The New York Times (NYT) on June 15 published for the first time a purported draft of a Ukraine-Russia peace treaty from early 2022 that was never signed.

Moscow and Kyiv held unsuccessful talks in Belarus and Turkey in the early months of the full-scale war, and no subsequent direct negotiations have been led since then.

The news comes as Switzerland is hosting a global peace summit for Ukraine, gathering close to 100 countries but excluding Russia. The participants hope to draft a joint peace plan they could present to a Russian representative at the next meeting.

The Wall Street Journal reported on the content of the unpublished 2022 peace terms already back in March, but the NYT published the 17-page draft in full, which it verified with participants in the talks.

Both sides agreed to exclude Crimea from the treaty, leaving it under Russian occupation without Ukraine recognizing Russian sovereignty over it.

The status of Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine was to be decided in later talks between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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Ukraine offered to abandon aspirations to join NATO or any other military alliance, but the treaty allowed Kyiv to enter the EU.

Russia also demanded the lifting of all sanctions, repealing Kyiv's laws related to language and national identity, and limiting Ukraine's Armed Forces.

Ukrainian negotiators agreed to this in principle but called for higher caps than those proposed by Russia. U.S. and Polish officials were reportedly alarmed at these terms, with one senior American official calling it "unilateral disarmament."

The NYT said that the most important sticking point was connected to security guarantees under which powers like the U.K., the U.S., China, and France would come to Ukraine's defense if it were attacked.

Russian representatives reportedly demanded veto power on these guarantees, meaning they could block international intervention if Moscow itself decided to invade again.

With this demand, the Ukrainian team "had no interest in continuing the talks," one Ukrainian official told the NYT.

The NYT's sources said that some of Russia's maximalist demands from the first phase of the talks were gradually dropped as Ukraine managed to turn the tide on the battlefield.

Even after a Ukrainian counteroffensive pushed Russia from Kyiv Oblast and uncovered the site of massacres of civilians in Bucha, Zelensky said the talks would go on.

According to the outlet, it remains unclear whether Putin, who was "micromanaging" the Russian negotiating team, was serious about the treaty.

"We couldn't tell, on either side of the fence, whether these people who were talking were empowered," a former senior U.S. official told the outlet.

Read also: Zelensky: All parts of the world represented at peace summit

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Your home is your residence  but is your domicile?

Ahead of a contentious ballot measure over whether to tax mostly empty South Lake Tahoe vacation homes, the El Dorado County elections office issued an open letter to all voters in the city this month clarifying where someone can legally register to vote for the November election.

In the June 6 letter, written by El Dorado elections director Bill ONeill, officials said they sought to clarify the law about where a person may register if they own a home in South Lake Tahoes city limits. The letter  complete with legal citations and the states election code  was meant to rebuke what officials called misleading information recently circulated around town.

We became aware of misleading information being circulated to residents of South Lake Tahoe about where and under what circumstances a citizen can register to vote, ONeill said in a statement about the letter, which was shared by county officials on Friday afternoon.

ONeill said officials want to do all we can to get residents to vote, but where they register to vote depends on where they live.

At issue: Whether a home in South Lake Tahoe is a voters domicile or just a residence.

Whats the difference? Language and the law, ONeill wrote.

Voter registration is only permissible in the location of a persons domicile, and not in connection with any other residence a person may own or have, the letter says. More specifically, while it is possible to have multiple residences, to include for example vacation or second homes, a person may have only one domicile at a given time.

The misinformation that had circulated, according to county officials, suggested that someones South Lake Tahoe residence  be it their weekend home or vacation property  gave them the ability to register to vote. The implication was that anyone who owned a property in the city could switch registration from where they usually live to South Lake Tahoe, giving them the ability to vote on the ballot measure. If approved, the initiative would tax homeowners $6,000 a year for any property left vacant for more than half the year.

The letter contains information based on case law, the county said. They cited People v. Superior Court, a 2011 Los Angeles case involving whether former state Sen. Roderick Wright  later convicted of perjury and voter fraud  could be charged with violating election law. Wright was found guilty in 2014, for voting in a place he did not live, an Inglewood apartment complex he owned, and lying about it as he represented the south L.A. district.

A domicile is defined as a fixed place of habitation in which the person has the intention of remaining, or, if absent, an intention of returning, county officials said, citing the Wright case, which cites election code. The citation goes on: On the other hand the residence of a person is that place in which the persons habitation is fixed for some period of time, but wherein he or she does not have the intention of remaining ... thus, at a given time, a person may have more than one residence.

ONeill in his letter tried to simplify the distinction, citing an explanation from the El Dorado County District Attorneys Office offered during a similar issue in 2011 for residents of Fallen Leaf Lake: A vacation (or second) home is a residence, not typically a domicile.

Courts have traditionally considered factors which may indicate a domicile that might include where one works, enrolls children at school, receives mail, sees their primary physician, where their vehicles are registered, the address on a drivers license, where you receive your homeowners exemption, or handles other matters of similar import, the D.A. Office said at the time.

In other words, county officials said, any person could have multiple residences, only one residence could be considered a persons domicile, the home where they live most of the time.

It is illegal, therefore, for a resident to register to vote using an address that is a residence rather than their domicile, which is at the crux of the misinformation we have become aware of, ONeill said in Fridays statement.

While never stated in the letter or news release, El Dorado County officials are trying to tamp down anger surrounding the South Lake Tahoe Vacancy Tax, a measure that qualified for the ballot last month and has since divided the city.

The measure  which garnered 2,500 signatures to land on the Nov. 5 ballot  has split the city over whether to impose an eventual $6,000 annual tax on housing units that are empty for more than six months out of the year.

Proponents made up of residents, many of them renters, say the initiative would give property owners a reason to rent out empty homes, addressing the areas affordable housing crisis. As the Los Angeles Times noted, roughly 40% of housing units in the city are used as vacation homes or rentals, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and city figures.

Homeowners, as well as business and real estate interests, say a tax wont alleviate the housing shortage or force the city to build more units, and would be a form of taxation without representation for owners of second homes.

The campaigns for and against the measure have become so contentious, according to Politico, that a rally for supporters at the American Legion hall late last month was canceled after the hosts were swarmed with angry calls.

The county and its letter to voters sidestepped the controversy, encouraging residents to register while aiming to clear up any confusion concerning eligibility to vote in elections in the city of South Lake Tahoe.
The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office is conducting interviews with an alleged kidnapping victim and witnesses who said they saw her being abducted from an Oklahoma City coffee shop on Friday, a spokesman said.

The incident resulted in a Kasey Alert being issued on Friday to alert the public that Isabel Brown, 43, had been kidnapped about 1:35 p.m.

More: You're 'fixin' to'? And where's 'the city'? Decoding Oklahoma slang

Public Information Officer Aaron Brilbeck said the sheriff's office received multiple phone calls from witnesses who said Brown was abducted in front of the Coffee Jerk coffee shop near NW 178 and MacArthur Boulevard. He said she was found later by a sheriff's deputy.

"We got several phone calls from people who reported seeing an adult female shoved into a silver Chevy Malibu with a paper tag by two or three males who may have guns and were wearing masks," Brilbeck said. "About a half an hour later, one of our deputies picked her up in the 9900 block of North May."

Brilbeck said EMSA was called to assess Brown's condition. He said she was not injured.

"At this point, we don't believe that it was a random kidnapping. We believe the motive may have been robbery," he said.

"We are interviewing her and interviewing witnesses, trying to figure out what happened."

More: Federal judge issues temporary injunction blocking key provision of House Bill 1775

What is a Kasey Alert?

A Kasey Alert is a notification system for missing adults in Oklahoma between the ages of 18 and 59. The alerts are issued by law enforcement when an adult goes missing under suspicious circumstances, or if authories believe the missing adult may be in danger. It was named for Tahlequah man and Cherokee Nation citizen Kasey Russell, 29, who went missing in McAlester in 2016. The first Kasey Alerts started in November 2023.

The Kasey Alert system is similar to the Amber Alert system for missing children, and the Silver alert system for older adults.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Officials investigate alleged kidnapping after woman is found uninjured
Barrel of Laughs

The oil industry may have a reckoning on the horizon. According to a new report from the International Energy Agency, the world is headed towards a ludicrous surplus in oil supply that could see prices tumble and the industry's position falter  a forecast in no small part attributed to the growth in renewables, especially solar.

This impending oil "glut," as the energy watchdog predicts, will come after a peak in global oil demand in 2029, plateauing at 105.6 million barrels per day.

With a continued drop in demand in the following year, the supply will overshoot that figure by about 8 million barrels per day  a disparity that hasn't been seen since the lockdowns at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Such a massive oil production buffer could usher in a lower oil price environment, posing tough challenges for producers in the U.S. shale patch and the OPEC+ bloc," the IEA said in its annual report, referring to the coalition of the world's leading oil producers that includes Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Striking it Poor

In advanced economies, where oil demand has already been declining for decades, the IEA estimates that it's set to further fall from 45.7 million barrels per day in 2023 to 42.7 million by 2030.

On the opposite side of that equation, producers such as the US and OPEC+ members have only ramped up investments in oil, and their contributions are expected to drive production upwards with China and India, both hugely expanding economies with massive populations and a growing number of drivers, as the biggest customers.

But China's economic growth, which has accounted for around 60 percent of the uptick in global oil demand for the past decade, the IEA said, is expected to slow in the coming years, and with it its appetite for oil.

Furthermore, the IEA sounds very optimistic about the impact renewables will have. A greater adoption of electric vehicles  of which China is the world's leading manufacturer  plus a bump in solar energy will be the biggest difference makers, more so than other forms of clean energy technology.

And we may already be seeing signs of that right now, with solar proving so efficient at times that prices are dipping into the negative in certain markets. On the other hand, EV adoption seems less like a sure thing right now than it did a few years ago as sales falter. And so the future remains a slick thing to grasp  though hopefully not oil slick.

More on energy: New Concrete That Stores Electricity Could Turn Whole Homes Into Batteries
Martin Yates' company first struck oil 100 years ago 15 miles southeast of the small town of Artesia in southeast New Mexico, paving the way for what became known as the shale revolution decades later as fossil fuel production boomed in the Permian Basin.

The industrys growth created thousands of jobs, drove state revenue by about $15 billion in the last fiscal year, and today is the regions defining industry.

Author Alex Epstein said the growth in American oil and gas could continue, centered in southeast New Mexico, well beyond the next decade despite predictions that peak oil demand could hit by 2033. He said the main impediment to the ongoing oil boom were policies at the state and federal level aiming to mitigate environmental impacts but also impacting economic growth.

Author Alex Epstein speaks the 100th anniversary celebration of the first oil well in southeast New Mexico, June 14, 2024 at the Artesia Country Club.

Epsteins comments came during a ceremony June 14 at the Artesia Country Club marking the 100th anniversary of the Illinois #3 well, the first well that produced oil in southeast New Mexico in 1924, along with the first state oil royalty check of $135  the equivalent in 2024 of $2,394.

An author of several books on energy and energy policy, most recently Fossil Future: Why Global Human Flourishing Requires More Oil, Coal and Nwhatural Gas  Not Less, Epstein argued government policies and decision-making in the energy sector should be driven by how it impacts the success of the human race. He defined the concept of human flourishing as allowing people to live long, healthy lives and have the "ability to seek fulfillment."

The idea is that when youre talking about energy and its various environmental effects, looking at it as the perspective of how does it affect flourishing, which is different from the current state of saying how does this impact the environment, Epstein said during an interview with the Carlsbad Current-Argus. So, I think its good to impact our environment in many cases. Its good if it enhances human flourishing.

Local officials, residents and oil and gas industry leaders attend the 100th anniversary celebration of the first oil well in southeast New Mexico, June 14, 2024 at the Artesia Country Club.

Communities throughout southeast New Mexico experienced the kind of flourishing Epstein described in the decades since that first well, said New Mexico Rep. Cathrynn Brown (R-55) of Carlsbad. Brown said after oil was struck in Artesia, the entire region became the focal point of American energy development.

She said the industry was a top employer in her district, which spans parts of Eddy and Lea counties, New Mexicos two Permian Basin counties within the western Delaware sub-basin of the Permian. She also argued oil and gas accounted for about half of New Mexicos budget.

Once you hit oil here, people got interested in the whole area, Brown said at the event in Artesia. We have some of the best rock in the world. Its truly one of the top employers. Thats true for Artesia, Carlsbad, even Loving.

Of the centennial, Brown said it was an occasion to be honored as the start of an industry that came to define the states economy.

Its a milestone worth celebrating, Brown said. It changed the state for the better. These are people who do big things and accomplish big things.

New Mexico Rep. Cathrynn Brown attends the 100th anniversary celebration of the first oil well in southeast New Mexico, June 14, 2024 at the Artesia Country Club.

But concerns for pollution and reportedly worsening air quality and water scarcity grew in New Mexico amid the boom in oil and gas production. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and her administration, since taking office in 2019 pushed and enacted several policies intended to tighten requirements on oil and gas producers to reduce the environmental impacts.

The New Mexico Environment Department in 2022 put in place new rules to increase the frequency of state-required leak detection and repairs at well sites and other oil and gas facilities, targeting volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions released by fossil fuel facilities and believed to form ground-level ozone of smog.

The Environmental Protection Agency said it was considering designating the entire Permian Basin, in both New Mexico and Texas, in violation of state air quality requirements, a move that could restrict future federal oil and gas permitting.

Environmentalists also tied oil and gas pollution to increasing aridity and drought in the state, causing worsening wildfires including the Calf Canyon Hermits Peak and Black fires that each burned more than 300,000 acres in northern and southwest New Mexico, respectively.

Despite these concerns Epstein said stricter environmental rules on oil and gas, both at the state and federal level, were sad as they threatened to stymie the industry New Mexico relies on.

I consider it very sad, Epstein said. I think its very unjust and hurtful that an industry that brings so much to the state is demonized by the very people who depend on it.

Hanson Yates, grandson of Martin Yates and president of Santo Petroleum said the region was in its "Golden Age" of oil and gas production.

Hanson Yates addresses the crowd during a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the first oil well in southeast New Mexico, June 14, 2024 at the Artesia Country Club.

Yates said 8.8 billion barrels of oil were produced in southeast New Mexico since his grandfather first found the resource beneath Artesia.

He said more than 3 billion of those barrels, about a third, were generated in the last nine years, meaning the region was on track to see continual growth.

"Think about that. It's impressive," Yates said before the crowd. "The overwhelming impact of the oil and gas industry in New Mexico cannot be overstated. The state simply cannot function without a healthy oil and gas business."

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 rules 'sad' says Alex Epstein at Artesia event
Iran and Sweden have completed a prisoner swap, according to the government of Oman, which mediated the process.

Citizens from both countries were flown to Muscat, the capital of the small state on the Persian Gulf, on Saturday.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson confirmed that two Swedish citizens were on their way home.

According to information from Tehran, Hamid N., who had been sentenced to life in prison in Sweden for mass executions of political prisoners in Iran at the end of the 1980s, was released. The Iranian, 63, was sentenced in Stockholm in July 2022.

There was no confirmation of this from Stockholm. Kristersson merely said that Iran had made the two Swedes "a pawn in a cynical negotiating game with the aim of releasing the Iranian citizen Hamid N." from Swedish custody.

EU employee Johan Floderus and Said Asisi, who had been sentenced to five years in prison in Iran, were released by Tehran, Kristersson said. At least one other Swedish citizen, the physician Ahmad Resa Jalali, is still in an Iranian prison.

EU Foreign Affairs Representative Josep Borrell welcomed their release on X on Saturday.

"We rejoice at the news of the liberation of EU colleague & citizen Johan Floderus and his compatriot Saeed Azizi. We thank Swedish & Omani authorities," the EU's top diplomat said.

"Other EU citizens are still arbitrarily detained in Iran. Well continue to work for their freedom together w/ EU MS involved," he added, referring to member states. Borrell the Swedish and Omani authorities.

Prisoner exchange promptly criticized

Mariam Claren, daughter of the German-Iranian Nahid Taghavi, who was imprisoned in Iran's notorious Ewin prison, expressed her shock on the X platform.

"Let me be clear," she wrote, "I am happy for the freed hostages and their families. But what message did the EU sent to Tehran? More people will be taken hostage, hostages who were left behind might be executed. And most important: what a slap in the face of the families of Nouris victims."

Oman has made a name for itself as the "Switzerland of the Middle East" and endeavours to support political conflicts in the region as a neutral player. The country has mediated between Iran and Saudi Arabia, for example, and in talks between the West and Iran over the latter's nuclear programme.

Relations between Sweden and Iran had recently cooled considerably due to the diplomatic cases. In May last year, Tehran executed a Swedish-Iranian dissident who had been accused of terrorist activities. Critics had repeatedly accused Iran of trying to free Hamid N. by imprisoning Swedish citizens.
One of the best things we can do for Veterans: KTAB/KRBC volunteers at Abilene Veterans Cemetery

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  Nexstar Broadcasting celebrated the companys 28th anniversary of founding. To mark the occasion, KTAB/KRBC staff assisted in cleaning up the Texas Veterans Cemetery.

KTAB anchor Bob Bartlett speaks at Abilenes Nexstar Founders day about broadcasting & serving in the US Army Reserve

During Founders Day, Nexstar stations nationwide choose a spot to give back to their community. Here in Abilene, we decided to go to the Texas Veterans Cemetery to preserve the dignity of our fallen Veterans.

Many who work at our station, from reporters to salespersons and production assistants to anchors, were seen getting their hands dirty cleaning the Texas Veterans Cemetery. Brad Kerr, the director of the Veterans Cemetery, outlined what it means to have this aid honoring our Veterans.

One of the best things that I think we can do for our Veterans is provide a beautiful, clean, peaceful, final resting place. But in this community, we never have a problem because so many people like yall are willing to come out and give us a hand, Kerr said.

KTAB/KRBC staff give back to community for Founders Day of Caring

Today is not only about showing appreciation to Veterans and their families; Its also very important for our station. Frank Healer, a known KTAB anchor throughout the eighties and nineties, was laid to rest at the Veterans Cemetery. Healer was a Sweetwater native, and Meteorologist Pete Beretta reflected on seeing several names known to those cleaning the cemetery.

Were seeing a lot of familiar names. This is one of them. He was a member of my church. His sons a good friend. Retired police officer Migliore, Beretta said as he cleaned the gravestone of a family friend.

Part of knowing where we are now is knowing where we come from, and for Nexstar Reporter Tobin Smith, his roots lie deep in the Texas dirt.

This is my grandfather, said Smith. Joe K. Smith served in the Korean War as an artilleryman and a gunner and received a Purple Heart. He never talked about how he received that Purple Heart. Part of the sacrifice that these brave men and women make is sheltering us from those horrors.

KTAB and KRBC celebrate Nexstar Founders Day of Caring by volunteering

After the cleanup, Veterans were invited to attend Founders Day and treated to a free lunch and shirts commemorating their service. Bob Bartlet, a U.S. Army Veteran, spoke at the lunch ceremony and thanked his fellow Veterans for their sacrifices and commitment to our freedom.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
One in custody after woman barricades self in home in Rainsville

RAINSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  The Rainsville Police Department (RPD) says a woman is in custody after a welfare check turned into a heavy police presence due to a person barricaded inside a home.

RPD said officers answered a welfare check call at a residence on Lee Avenue at 5:23 p.m. The department said when officers arrived they found a woman barricaded in her home and threatening to harm both herself and officers with a firearm.

Limestone County deputies arrest man for meth, marijuana found during traffic stop

Authorities said the DeKalb County Sheriffs Office Special Response Team (SRT) was notified and quickly responded to the scene.

According to RPD, officers and SRT attempted to get the woman to leave the home for nearly 2 hours but were unsuccessful. The department said tear gas was ultimately deployed and the woman was taken into custody without incident.

Chief Michael Edmondson said there was no threat to the community during the incident. He also thanked the SRT for their assistance in the incident.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
One in Four Voters Are Double-Haters, Rejecting Trump and Biden

(Bloomberg) -- The ranks of the double-haters  voters who say they dont like either major party presidential candidate  are at a historic high and make up one-quarter of the electorate, according to a new analysis from Pew Research Center.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Thats nearly twice as many as at this point in 2020.

Double-haters were a key factor in Donald Trumps upset win in 2016, when they broke for the Republican candidate over Democrat Hillary Clinton. But President Joe Biden won many of those voters over on his way to winning the White House in 2020.

Biden and Trump are taking roughly equal measures of these disillusioned voters in battleground states, with Biden winning 25% to Trumps 22%, a May Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll shows.

But the biggest threat to Biden and Trump is that voters turned off by them will simply stay home  or find refuge in an independent candidate like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is polling at 24% among those voters in the Bloomberg/Morning Consult survey. Other third-party candidates are taking a combined 12%.

Growing political polarization is driving the unpopularity. The Pew analysis found that presidential candidates are only slightly less popular within their own party than they were three decades ago, but that voters of the opposing party are much more negative.

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Editors note: This is the second story in a series examining law enforcements expanded use of surveillance technology in Virginia.

A Norfolk Circuit Court granted a defendants motion to suppress evidence obtained by the citys Flock license plate reader cameras without a search warrant, ruling the Fourth Amendment protects the right to privacy.

Installing a global positioning system (GPS) device on a vehicle to track a citizens whereabouts is a search and requires a warrant, Judge Jamilah LeCruise wrote in a five-page ruling. The Court finds that due to the breadth of FLOCK cameras covering the entire City of Norfolk and the storage component is also akin to a GPS device and requires a warrant.

Flock license plate reader cameras are proliferating across the state, with 172 devices installed last year in Norfolk. Data obtained from the cameras is frequently used as evidence, with police and prosecutors hailing the technology as a powerful public safety tool. While the judges ruling has not halted the use of the cameras, and an appeal is expected, legal experts say more challenges are likely coming.

While police argue the cameras are a force multiplier that helps them solve crime, civil liberties advocates have raised concerns about the broad and unregulated surveillance powers.

Flocks license plate reader cameras snap photos of vehicles and the immediate surroundings and store the images in the cloud for 30 days. Flock subscribers can automatically access images collected by the cameras they own. They can also form data-sharing partnerships with other subscribers and search each others databases. Numerous Hampton Roads police departments have the technology.

The citizens of Norfolk may be concerned to learn the extent to which the Norfolk Police Department is tracking and maintaining a database of their every movement for 30 days, LeCruise wrote in the May 10 ruling. The defendant argues what we have is a dragnet over the entire city retained for a month and the Court agrees.

The defendant, Jayvon Antonio Bell, faces one count of robbery using a firearm, one count of using a firearm in the commission of a felony and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery by using a firearm. The charges stem from a robbery of a Chesapeake video game store. The judges ruling states that a witness provided investigators the license plate number of a gray Dodge minivan leaving the scene and Norfolk police located and stopped a minivan with that license plate number using Flock cameras.

LeCruises ruling explained the Fourth Amendment safeguards the privacy of individuals against arbitrary invasions by governmental officials.

The Commonwealth argues that vehicles are different because the defendant did not have a privacy expectation in the public sphere, it states. However, a person does not surrender all Fourth Amendment protection by venturing into the public.

LeCruise cited two seminal Supreme Court cases in the ruling that have further defined citizens rights to privacy. United States v. Jones from 2012 established that the installation of a GPS tracking device on a vehicle, without a warrant, is an unlawful search under the Fourth Amendment. United States v. Carpenter from 2018 found the government must obtain a warrant to access the historical location data from a persons cellphone.

The ruling, which cites previous reporting by The Virginian-Pilot on the citys vast Flock camera system, further emphasized that there are many ways the technology could be abused. It cited concerns that the Norfolk Police Department allows all officers unfettered access to the data and does not require special training to use the system.

Christopher Bettis, a defense attorney with the Office of the Public Defender, argued the case. He was unavailable for comment. Carter Kovalcheck, assistant public defender, emphasized the defense made a narrow argument.

We are not saying that the police cannot use the cameras; they just need to get a warrant if they want to access the database, he said.

Reactions to the ruling are mixed.

Norfolk Commonwealths Attorney Ramin Fatehi said data obtained from the cameras is being used all the time as evidence.

I was frankly surprised that we didnt see a challenge to it sooner, he said. That is the duty of defense lawyers to stress test these things. They have a duty to their clients to do so  so we knew it was coming.

Fatehi, however, said he respectfully disagreed with the ruling because he does not believe drivers have a reasonable expectation of privacy on public roads. Calling the cameras a game changer, he said the technology is helping police solve crimes and allocate their human capital more efficiently amid low staffing levels.

He said the cameras also are reducing the need for widespread traffic stops or stop-and-frisk tactics.

The only people who get stopped with Flock are people who are in cars that are either stolen or are connected to some other crime, he said. This is far more effective than pretextual traffic stops and far more respectful of peoples rights.

Meanwhile, Alison Powers, director of policy and education for the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission, believes the courts ruling hit the nail on the head.

It was reassuring to see that there are some judges who agree that this type of surveillance should require a warrant, she said. We are in a new age with the type of information that can be gathered and harnessed (from cameras).

Powers, however, doesnt expect one case will have far-reaching impacts.

Theres no law that says they need a search warrant so until we have that, I think agencies will keep using it until there is enough of these (suppression motions) in one city or county that police would maybe consider stopping, she said.

The courts ruling has not affected the Norfolk Police Departments use of the cameras, spokesperson Noel Lipieko confirmed.

Both Fatehi and Powers expect to see more suppression motions.

I am expecting challenges all over the commonwealth, Fatehi said. At the first opportunity that I or any other prosecutor has, we will appeal this up to the Virginia Court of Appeals.

It is one of the only things that a prosecutor has the right to appeal  the suppression of evidence  and this is a vital crime-fighting tool and the appellate courts need to weigh in.

Katie King, katie.king@virginiamedia.com
Editors Note: Carrie Sheffield is a columnist and broadcaster in Washington, DC. She earned a masters in public policy from Harvard University, concentrating in business policy. She earned a BA with honors in communications at Brigham Young University and completed a Fulbright fellowship in Berlin. She is a volunteer and donor for Hope In NOVA, a pregnancy resource center in Falls Church, Virginia. The views expressed in this commentary are her own. Read more opinion articles on CNN.

Thursdays unanimous Supreme Court ruling against the plaintiffs in US Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine means the current Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations allowing the use of the abortion drug mifepristone remain in place.

Barry Morgenstein

Unfortunately, the Supreme Courts rejection was based on standing  whether the plaintiffs had the right to sue based on having suffered under the law at issue  not the underlying arguments about patient safety and FDA protocol brought forth by a group of nearly 30,000 physicians and other health care professionals. The group asserted that the FDAs own label says that roughly one in 25 women who take chemical abortion drugs will end up in the emergency room.

I disagree with the courts ruling that these doctors do not have standing. The fact that this case was successfully litigated by the plaintiffs under lower federal courts supports their claim to have standing. And Kristen Waggoner, president and CEO of Alliance Defending Freedom, the nonprofit legal organization representing the plaintiffs, told ABC News about how these doctors need to care for women who have used mifepristone, involving them directly in its use and effects. And theres no question that its in the publics interest especially among doctors to prevent medical harm.

But even with its ruling that the plaintiffs lacked standing, the Supreme Court could have used the opportunity to offer some discussion of the core issues in its opinion. Instead, the court took a narrow view, clearly unwilling to consider whether chemically induced abortions from mifepristone pose undue risks to women meaning the FDA had failed in its legal obligations to protect the health, safety and welfare of girls and women. The court also declined to consider the human rights abuse of taking an unborn childs life.

The court also sidestepped the issue of the executive branch overreach this case embodies, even as it could soon strike a major blow against administrative agency deference if, as expected, it overturns the precedent established by Chevron v Natural Resources Defense Council in another case it is ruling on this session.

Taken altogether, the abortion pill decision raises questions for pro-life activists like myself who are concerned that the political backlash against the Supreme Courts 2022 Dobbs ruling striking down Roe v Wade, which had recognized a constitutional right to an abortion, is dissuading the justices from making substantive rulings on important cases on abortion.

Chief Justice John Roberts track record gives reasons for particular concern. He has been called an incrementalist since at least 2009 by voices as diverse as various professors with University of Virginia School of Law, as well as Federalist Society lecturer Kristin E. Hickman in Harvard Law Review, along with The New York Times Adam Liptak and Josh Gerstein, POLITICOs senior legal affairs reporter.

This goes beyond style and temperament; when major but controversial legal issues are ignored in favor of issuing narrow rulings on technicalities, it appears that Roberts is letting politics and criticism influence his decisions. Thats a problem, even for his fellow justices. Gerstein reported that Roberts colleagues objected to the chief justices proposal in the Dobbs case to at least temporarily avoid overturning Roe even as it sided with the state of Mississippi in keeping its near-ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

The courts conservatives dismissed Justice Roberts stance as unprincipled and impractical, while the liberal justices called it wrong without detailing their objections, Gerstein wrote.

Roberts generally likes to avoid sweeping rulings, worried about their broad social impacts instead of strict fidelity to the laws under the Constitution. The chief justice has repeatedly claimed that justices should not be political. In his 2005 confirmation statement, he insisted that judges should be invisible umpires and not politicians who can promise to do certain things in exchange for votes. In 2016, he expressed concerns that cavernous partisan divides harmed public opinion about the role of the Supreme Court.

The mifepristone case shows how this undermines the public interest in two ways. On the one hand, it avoids providing legal clarity on policies in urgent need of review, here the use of mifepristone. On the other, it suggests that the court is actually more interested in political considerations and preserving the courts legacy vis-a-vis public opinion by avoiding a lightning-rod issue rather than issuing a ruling on the merits of the case.

This dynamic is only strengthened by the fact that political backlash can come from both sides. In addition to the popularity of chemical abortion, dramatic decisions going beyond the most narrow confines of a case can be labeled as legislating from the bench. This idea of legislating from the bench draws the wrath of conservatives each time Ive heard it mentioned in my nearly two decades of observation and activism within the conservative movement.

If Thursdays ruling is a sign that the post-Dobbs court is trying to avoid politics, that would be unfortunate for not just pro-life activists but all Americans, who deserve a court concerned with fidelity to the law rather than mass opinion.

The high court would do well to heed the caution of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher: Standing in the middle of the road is very dangerous; you get knocked down by the traffic from both sides.

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This article was originally published in The Conversation.

Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court decision that desegregated public schools, stands in the collective national memory as a turning point in Americas fight for racial justice. But as the U.S. observes its 70th anniversary, Brown also represents something more somber: It ultimately led to thousands of Black teachers losing their jobs.

Before Brown, Black teachers constituted 35% to 50% of the teacher workforce in segregated states. Today, Black people account for just 6.7% of Americas public K-12 teachers, even as Black children make up more than 15% of public school students.

As researchers focused on education policy, teacher diversity, critical research methods and teacher quality, we believe this is an important piece of unfinished business for a country still reckoning with systemic racism. In our view, the best way to fulfill Browns promise and confront the national teacher shortage is to hire more teachers of color.

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How Black teachers ranks rose and fell

Before Brown, Black children often were excluded from public schools or forced into underfunded and unsafe schools. Rather than accept these conditions, many Black communities pooled limited resources to build private schools of their own, buy curricular materials and hire Black teachers.

Conditions were vastly unequal to those for white children at the time, but the presence of Black teachers provided Black children with deep value and care.

Prior to 1954, there were about 82,000 Black teachers in the United States. A decade later, with hundreds of segregated schools closing, more than 38,000 Black teachers had been fired by white school leaders. As the community-run schools for Black children disappeared following the end of legalized segregation, so too did the Black educators who staffed them.

Brown had mandated integration for students but said nothing of their educators.

Related

Brown v Boards Untold History: The Families Who Joined Forces to Sway SCOTUS

The importance of Black teachers

In the decades since, parents, social justice advocates and researchers have documented the importance of teachers of color and pleaded for teacher workforce diversity. They argue that Black teachers support student learning and social and emotional development of children of color in ways that lead to better outcomes.

One study found the presence of Black math teachers increased the likelihood that Black students enroll in rigorous math classes. Another found that Black students taught by at least one Black teacher from kindergarten through third grade were 13% more likely to graduate from high school and 19% more likely to attend college than same-race peers who did not have a Black teacher.

Still, the teacher workforce remains stubbornly white-dominated. Why? Research shows problematic certification measures, adverse working conditions and discriminatory hiring practices contribute to keeping Black people from becoming teachers or keeping their teaching positions.

Related

More Black Teachers: A Push to Revive Schools in Nations Fastest-Shrinking City

Certification exams are barriers to entry

Obtaining a professional license is a critical milestone in a teachers career. Yet licensure policies and exams long have kept Black teachers out, similar to race-based policies such as literacy tests that once prevented Black people from voting in the segregated South.

By several measures, standardized tests have been found to be biased against people of color. Research shows they contain culturally biased questions that privilege white test-takers.

Whats more, certification and licensing exams prevent the entry of Black people into teaching and determine which teachers are retained. As a result, from 1984 to 1989, about 21,500 Black teachers lost their jobs, according to one study of the impact of reliance on licensure exams and policies.

This gatekeeping function is especially troublesome because other studies show exam results are poor predictors of teacher effectiveness. In one study, Black teachers in North Carolina with low exam scores nonetheless had positive outcomes on Black student achievement.

Difficult work conditions lead to turnover

Black teachers have the highest rate of turnover among teachers, both white and nonwhite. When asked to reflect on their careers, longtime Black teachers say they face constant racist microaggressions from fellow teachers, non-Black parents and district personnel.

Black male teachers in particular say their expertise is overlooked and that they are forced to play disciplinarian for Black boys. Other studies show Black teachers are systematically sorted into schools with fewer resources, chronic turnover and leadership instability.

Last-in-first-out hiring policies exacerbate the issue. Layoffs of this nature disproportionately affect the students most often taught by beginning teachers and teachers of color.

All of this makes teaching a precarious profession for Black educators.

Discriminatory hiring practices

Teacher hiring practices have made this cycle, and they can break it, too.

One study found equally qualified Black teacher applicants receive fewer job offers than white candidates. When hired, Black teachers are more likely to be selected by principals of color, and they, too, are a disproportionately small percentage of school leaders.

Principals say they seek teachers who best fit their school culture. Yet research shows that definitions of fit rely on subjective traits and personal attributes, and often this means excluding Black teachers.

The nation faces a massive teacher shortage, but there is no shortage of potential teachers of color. Seven decades after Brown, it is a lack of willingness to hire and retain them that is missing.

The Conversation

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Neighbors in part of our area are worried after a string of car break-ins.

As reported on News Center 7 at 11, the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office said the people responsible are an organized group of criminals.

John Weber has lived in a neighborhood in Washington Township for five years.

For the most part, we have a fairly quiet neighborhood where everybody knows everybody, Weber said.

But since the break-ins everybody is worried.

You violated the sort of trust of not being able to keep our car in your driveway locked or unlocked, Weber said.

He learned his car was broken into Thursday night and immediately looked at his camera.

He said it recorded a video of people going through his and his neighbors cars.

>> Son accused of killing his mother charged for mothers murder 17 years later; $1M bond set

Decided to call the sheriff, because I had really good pictures. They came out, took a report, Weber said.

News Center 7 reached out to the Mongomery County Sheriffs Office for more information.

A spokesperson for the sheriffs office said the break-ins are the work of an organized group or groups of criminals that go through suburban neighborhoods ransacking unlocked cars.

The sheriffs office said the thieves usually look for car keys, valuables, and unsecured guns.

Weber said they didnt take any of those items from his car.

I know they took a makeup case out of somebodys car, decided it wasnt of value, and tossed it into my neighbors yard, he said.

Weber wants deputies to destroy this group of criminals by arresting its leaders.

The guy driving the truck is using the kids because he knows that it can be juvenile court if they get caught. But the guy driving the truck will drive off and leave the kids in a heartbeat. So I think the guy driving the truck needs to be caught, he said.

The Montgomery County Sheriffs Office said they have a multi-jurisdictional task force to crack down on these types of crimes.

News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.




















With a crowd of hopefuls seeking to replace him, Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez is launching a reelection bid that may prove as tumultuous as his term in office.

Lopez has attracted attention since his 2020 election for more than being Osceolas first Hispanic sheriff. While he made good on some of his campaign promises  from expanding Spanish-language services to overseeing the agencys first real-time crime monitoring center  his administration has been at the center of controversy in its handling of the 2022 killing of Jayden Baez and providing misleading information about botched drug trafficking prosecutions cited in the suspension of Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell.

No surprise then that he drew four challengers in the Democratic primary, most prominently his predecessor Russ Gibson, who was elected Osceola County Sheriff in 2016 but lost to Lopez in the 2020 primary by just 620 votes.

Luis Tony Fernandez, a former deputy, will also run again, this time as a Democrat after Lopez cruised to victory in the 2020 general election with two-thirds of the vote while Fernandez ran with no party affiliation.

Gibson announced his comeback bid in January 2023, the first major candidate to do so, and has promised to return student resource deputies to the countys charter schools after Lopez removed them ahead of the 2021-2022 school year, citing rising costs. Gibson has already taken direct jabs at the incumbent, most recently after Lopez posted the photo of a dead body believed to be 13-year-old Madeline Soto on his campaign page on Instagram.

While the Sheriffs Office apologized for the posting, Lopez later maintained in an interview with radio station WDBO that the photo was not Soto and accused his critics of using her death for political purposes. A Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation into the posting is ongoing.

Fernandez, who accused Lopezs team of smearing him in the 2020 election, has called for greater transparency in his run for sheriff, along with improving frayed relations with the State Attorneys Office.

The contest has also attracted two of Lopez former employees: Amaryllis Rivera, a one-time supervisor for the Sheriffs Offices community services division, and Maj. Wiley Black, who led the criminal investigations division.

Rivera, who began working at the Sheriffs Office in 2006 while a reservist in the U.S. Air Force, resigned last year to run for sheriff, pledging to improve community relations and clean up the agencys image following Lopezs scandals. She would be the first woman elected Osceola sheriff.

Blacks entry has raised eyebrows, as he was one of Lopezs first picks for his top brass after three decades at the Sheriffs Office. A decorated cop and military veteran, he was fired around the time a grand jury cleared the deputies who killed Baez but sharply criticized the departments policies and training. The office has not released records surrounding Blacks removal and Lopez declined to explain it when asked by an Orlando Sentinel reporter earlier this year.

If elected, Black promises to use his experience to, among other things, bring transparency to the agency and further support recruitment efforts.

The winner of the primary will face Donnie Martinez, the sole Republican candidate. A longtime businessman, Martinez has no law enforcement experience beyond being a recent law enforcement academy graduate from Eastern Florida State College. Still, Martinez said he is running to re-allocate funds to fight crime without adding additional cost.

Early voting for the primary begins Aug. 5 and continues to Aug. 18. Election day is Aug. 20.
Kate Brindley/States Newsroom

As the political season gets into full swing, Ottawa County Republicans have seemingly divided into two groups: those backed by far-right fundamentalist group Ottawa Impact and those backed by more traditional conservative groups.

Shortly after the county GOP bucked tradition and announced its candidate endorsements May 16 for several county, state and U.S. offices, another conservative group issued its own endorsements  the difference clearly shows a growing division between OI Republicans and traditional conservatives.

The county GOP didnt return a request for comment, but did post a statement on its website explaining the reasoning behind the move: This year, in the face of severe Democrat attacks on our county, our party has taken a proactive stance to ensure that our voice is heard loud and clear.  It is imperative that we elect conservative leaders who will champion traditional values and protect our constitutional freedoms.

Not all conservatives are on board with that approach.

Ottawa Impact is a political action committee that was formed in 2021 over frustrations with county and state COVID-19 mitigation measures. It is led by self-described parental rights advocates Joe Moss and Sylvia Rhodea and currently holds a six-seat controlling majority on the 11-member Ottawa County Board of Commissioners.

Kurt Van Koevering, a longtime Republican activist and chair of the Conservative Ottawa PAC, said the divisions between county conservatives are more evident than ever.

It was a long-standing practice that the party didnt endorse in the primary as part of big tent policy. It was a desire that every candidate had a fair opportunity to compete in the primary, and then unite as an organization in the General Election, he said for a story in the Zeeland Record, a local newspaper he owns and operates.

Van Koevering helped form Conservative Ottawa PA after he and fellow citizens became concerned about the controversies that have come to characterize the government of Ottawa County.

Its no longer about who the best candidate is, Van Koevering said in an interview with the Advance.

Theyve taken over the party, and they claim that these Republicans are not Ottawa Impact, but you look at their endorsements, theyre totally Impact, he said.

Youve got a prosecutor candidate thats never filed for a search warrant, never conducted a felony trial and they think that hes qualified? he said of OI-endorsed Republican Greg Todd, versus someone thats done multiple murder trials? he said of chief assistant county prosecutor Sarah Matwiejczyk, who is running as a Republican.

Van Koevering said its more about loyalty to Ottawa Impact, referring to Todds willingness to kiss the ring.

Van Koevering said its obvious when reviewing the higher office Ottawa GOP endorsements, where U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, a longtime Republican incumbent, received only four votes, instead backing county GOP Chair Brendan Muir, who has never held elected office.

The Republican Party is divided, but youll look at their endorsement convention where Bill Huizenga got four votes and the chairman of the party got 180-some votes, he said.

He also pointed to the recent recall election of OI Republican Lucy Ebel, who lost to Democrat Chris Kleinjans on May 7.

Then you have Ebel, who lost the recall election for District Two, normally a district thats 55-45 Republican and went 60-40 for a Democrat and they still went back and re-endorsed her? To me, thats saying theyre not listening to the voters. They are just focusing on their agenda and their agenda only, Van Koevering said.

Several local candidates seeking countywide office denounced the GOP endorsement convention, saying they werent even interviewed before the vote.

Eric DeBoer is the current undersheriff of Ottawa County. Hes seeking the top sheriff post this year and said its disappointing that the local party opted to meddle before the Aug. 6 primary.

I am not invited to the Ottawa GOP nominating committee meeting. I have never received a questionnaire, nor have I been interviewed by any member for vetting, he said. Historically, the party has stayed out of primary races. It has been up to the voters in the primary to choose their candidate. Unfortunately, this does not seem to be what the Ottawa GOP is about anymore. Instead, it is about consolidating power into the hands of a few.

CO looked at candidates who hold traditional Republican values, are demonstrably qualified leaders, show respect for their fellow citizens and leaders, are fiscally responsible and believe in limited government, Van Koevering said.

CO sent each candidate a questionnaire pertaining to issues challenging the respective offices.

The questionnaires along with the candidates resumes and endorsements were reviewed by the PAC during the selection process, he said.

Ottawa GOP endorsements

Board of Commissioners:

1st District, Gretchen Cosby (OI endorsed)

2nd District, Lucy Ebel (OI endorsed)

5th District, Joe Moss (OI endorsed)

6th District, Kendra Wenzel (OI endorsed)

7th District, Rachel Atwood (OI endorsed)

8th District, Sylvia Rhodea (OI endorsed)

9th District, Roger Belknap (OI endorsed)

10th District, Jason Koert (OI endorsed)

11th District, Allison Miedema (OI endorsed)

Sheriff, Jon Anderson (OI endorsed)

County Treasurer, Ben Genser (OI endorsed)

Prosecutor, Greg Todd (OI endorsed)

_____________________________

Conservative Ottawa PAC endorsements

Board of Commissioners:

1st District, Jim Barry

2nd District, Jordan Jorritsma

5th District, Mark Northrup

6th District, Shawn Haff

7th District, John Teeples

9th District, Phil Kuyers

11th District, Richard Van Dop

Sheriff, Eric DeBoer

County Treasurer, Cheryl Clark

The endorsement for prosecuting attorney will be coming at a later date as we are working to develop relevant questions for this position, said Van Koevering.

Van Koevering said he believes that OI has a need to control.

They want to be able to dictate whats happening in every aspect of county government, he said. They want to dictate what crimes are prosecuted and what crimes are not and what laws are enforced and what laws are not because they think that the government has become over burdening.

Last summer, the OI-led board championed the idea of Ottawa being a constitutional county, which came shortly after the Democratic-controlled state House passed gun-reform legislation, often referred to as red flag laws.

Prior to the board vote, Moss said he was very happy to fulfill that commitment that I made very publicly and have supported for a long time.

Ottawa Impact did not respond to a request for comment on this story.

Meanwhile, the anti-abortion group Right to Life of Michigan issued its own set of endorsements, where the group favored all OI incumbents and a handful of OC-backed candidates.

Right to Life of Michigan did not return a request for comment.

The group often wields great influence among conservative groups, however, there have been internal frustrations over the years.

Pete Hoekstra, current MIGOP chair, noted when he ran for the 2010 Republican gubernatorial nomination, Right to Life of Michigan backed then-state Attorney General Mike Cox  despite backing Hoekstra previously while he served as a U.S. representative. Now-former Gov. Rick Snyder ended up winning the GOP primary and the general election.

I had a 100% pro-life voting record, and when I ran for governor, Right to Life endorsed one candidate and four out of five of us were clearly pro-life, he said.

Hoekstra, 70, said the significance of endorsements varies.

So endorsements are totally dependent on the credibility of the organization, making the endorsements, he said.

Michigan Right to Life county commissioner endorsements

1st District, Gretchen Cosby (OI endorsed)

2nd District, Jordan Jorritsma (CO endorsed)

2nd District, Lucy Ebel (OI endorsed)

4th District, Jacob Bonnema

5th District, Joe Moss (OI endorsed)

6th District, Shawn Haff (CO endorsed)

6th District, Kendra Wenzel (OI endorsed)

7th District, Rachel Atwood (OI endorsed)

7th District, John Teeples (CO endorsed)

8th District, Sylvia Rhodea (OI endorsed)

9th District, Roger Belknap (OI endorsed)

10th District, Jason Koert (OI endorsed)

11th District, Allison Miedema (OI endorsed)

Van Koevering said conservatives need to get past the infighting because current divisions are creating opportunities for progressive candidates and groups.

Weve got to really stop doing the circular firing squad; were shooting ourselves, he said. And weve got to realize that a lot of stuff thats happening is because were killing each other instead of focusing on running campaigns and getting good people elected. Theyve gone from referring to us as RHINOs to now calling us Democrats.

Hoekstra agreed that Republicans need to stop the infighting and get to work winning elections.

We dont want to be in the press talking about internal fights for the last four or five months, he said. Weve got to focus on November.

The post Ottawa County conservative groups offer dueling endorsements before the Aug. 6 GOP primary appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Over $4 million in federal disaster assistance provided to Mass. residence a month after approval

One month after President Joe Biden signed a disaster flooding declaration for Massachusetts, FEMA has provided 779 households with $4,863,642 in federal disaster assistance.

According to FEMA, they have approved $2,973,973 to help homeowners and renters with temporary housing and home repairs.

Another $1,889,668 is being provided to help survivors replace personal property with storm-related necessities like childcare, storage, disaster medical and dental expenses, and other disaster-related items.

We will continue to work with our state and local partners, making every effort to reach those affected by the September storms, said Federal Coordinating Officer Bob Fogel. Our goal is to ensure that everyone who is eligible for FEMA assistance receives it.

Flash flooding caused extensive damage in Leominster in September 2023 causing more than $36 million in damages in the city. after an unprecedented 11 inches of rain fell in the city in just a matter of five hours.

FEMA home inspectors have completed 963 inspections, and FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance specialists have reached out to over 2,000 survivors to provide information about registering.

Since the declaration FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers have seen 514 individuals and have taken 175 registrations.

Two DRCs are currently open, one in Attleboro (at Bristol Community College, 11 Field Road) and one at the Leominster City Hall (25 West Street).

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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SAN ANSELMO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 06: In this photo illustration, water flows from a tap on July 06, 2023 in San Anselmo, California. According to a study by the US Geological Survey, nearly half of the tap water in the United States is contaminated with "forever chemicals" that are considered dangerous to human health. Per and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, or PFAS, are chemicals that linger in the body and are linked to health issues like cancer, obesity, liver damage, decreased fertility, thyroid disease, high cholesterol and hormone suppression. (Photo Illustration by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Pennsylvanias Department of Environmental Protection doesnt regulate private water supplies the way it does with public water utilities, the agency wrote Friday in a response to questions posed by PublicSource.

As a result, a DEP spokesperson wrote, the agency doesnt typically determine the quality or safety of an individuals private water supply, nor does it usually investigate the cause of a persons complaint about their well.

DEP can, however, collect and evaluate data to determine whether or not a causal relationship exists between a water quality complaint and oil and gas activity.

In the case of the Lumber Pad frack out in New Freeport, the agency investigated, and did not identify a rapid worsening of water quality, according to the spokesperson. DEP provided PublicSource with partially redacted copies of letters to 13 water complainants, and in 11 of those cases the agency wrote that it cannot conclude that the water supply was adversely impacted by the incident. For the remaining two, which were spring water systems, the agency determined they were not impacted by oil and gas activity. The agency continues to investigate 10 additional complaints.

DEP outlined its general process for handling complaints of water problems when theres a potential tie to oil and gas activity. The agency:

Looks at any baseline information on water quality prior to the oil and gas activity

Sends geologists to visually inspect the property, water supply and well site

Where a release or spill of fracking fluids may be involved, tests for constituents of concern known to be associated with those fluids

If warranted, conducts more testing, notably including reviews for other substances used in oil and gas extraction and for chemicals that naturally occur in the given area

Sends the water user a detailed determination letter, plus a fact sheet meant to help people to understand the data.

If it determines that oil and gas activity affected water quality, the DEP and the drilling operator continue to investigate and sample, with an eye to understanding the extent of the impact.

On its website, DEP offers guidance to water supply owners to regularly test their private water supply https://www.dep.pa.gov/Citizens/My-Water/PrivateWells/Pages/default.aspx.

Rich Lord is the managing editor at PublicSource and can be reached at rich@publicsource.org.

This article first appeared on PublicSource and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

The post Pa. environmental regulators take measured approach to private water supply complaints appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
Pacific Indigenous leaders have a new plan to protect whales. Treat them as people

For Maori conservationist Mere Takoko, losing one whale is like losing an ancestor. The animals taught our people about navigation across the Pacific, particularly across the Milky Way And this is information that was given to our ancestors.

The environmental activist from the small town of Rangitukia, on New Zealands east coast, is spearheading a movement of Indigenous groups in the Pacific pushing to protect the magnificent marine mammals, inking a groundbreaking treaty to make them legal persons with inherent rights.

The document is part of a multi-pronged effort to safeguard whales, which also includes quantifying their monetary value as carbon-depleting bioengineers of our oceans, and deploying the latest tech to track boats that harm them.

While the declaration is non-binding and would still need government recognition to become law, conservationists hope personhood will lead to enhanced protection for these creatures, with many species endangered.

Our mokopuna (grandchildren) deserve an ocean brimming with life, where the melodies of whales echo across the vast expanses, Maori King Tuheitia Potatau said at the signing of the treaty in the Cook Islands. Along with the Maori of New Zealand and groups from the Cook Islands, Indigenous leaders from Tahiti, Tonga, Hawaii, and Easter Island signed the He Whakaputanga Moana treaty.

Mere Takoko (right) signs the He Whakaputanga Moana declaration in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. - Josh Baker/Conservation International

According to the document  whose name means Declaration of the Ocean  granting personhood to whales ensures them freedom of movement without enduring mental suffering caused by human activities, and the entitlement to inhabit a healthy environment free from pollution, unsustainable fishing practices, ship strikes and climate change.

Marchs signing came at a time when six out of the 13 great whale species are classified as endangered or vulnerable, with an estimated 300,000 whales and dolphins falling victim to fisheries bycatch each year, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Some whale species, such as the North Atlantic right whale, have dwindled to fewer than 360 individuals.

We are seeing unprecedented rates of decline in our whales, said Takoko, who serves as vice president of Conservation International Aotearoa and the leader of the Hinemoana Halo Ocean Initiative, which aims to recover populations of sacred species. Aotearoa is the Maori name for New Zealand.

A descendant of the Ngati Porou, Te Whanau a Apanui and Rongowhakaata tribal Nations, the expert in climate change and Indigenous tribal development has previously acted as a senior advisor to the New Zealand government.

In the coming months, she plans to engage with various countries throughout the Pacific to discuss whale personhood legislation. She said she hopes for further progress at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa in October, which will be attended by Britains King Charles III.

Takoko and her team are confident the initiative will succeed, and there is precedent. In 2017, the Maori gained legal personhood for New Zealands Whanganui River, after a decades-long fight.

Since then, there has been an increase in efforts to improve the rivers condition. In 2023, authorities broke ground on a multimillion-dollar port project aimed at reviving the rivers health and restoring activity in its harbor, CNN affiliate RNZ reported. Additionally, a 17-member strategy group composed of Indigenous leaders, mayors, conservation groups and others was established to promote the health and well-being of the river and secure government investment.

In responses to CNN, New Zealands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Cook Islands Office of the Prime Minister both noted that the He Whakaputanga Moana has been developed by indigenous groups, separately from their respective governments.

New Zealand has domestic legislation in place that provides for the full protection of whales. Internationally, New Zealand remains a strong advocate within the International Whaling Commission for the protection of whales and the moratorium on commercial whaling, said the Wellington ministry.

The Cook Islands office said it had yet to receive a formal submission from indigenous leaders on the declarations implementation.

For the campaign to achieve personhood for whales, Takoko has assembled an international group of experts.

Maori King Tuheitia Potatau and Tou Travel Ariki, Cook Islands President of the House of Ariki, at the signing of the He Whakaputanga Moana declaration in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. - Josh Baker/Conservation International

Michelle Bender, the efforts Seattle-based legal counsel with Ocean Vision Legal, says assigning whales personhood doesnt exactly mean they have the same rights as humans. She clarifies that personhood provides entities with certain rights and responsibilities under the law.

Its about recognizing that these living beings have intrinsic value and are worthy of protection, regardless of what people might find beneficial and how we might use that element of the ecosystem, Bender told CNN.

With personhood, human interests do not automatically trump the interests of whales their needs are to be given serious consideration in the decisions and disputes affecting their health.

Whale-safe ocean

Before human activities and whaling, scientists say the oceans were filled with 4 million to 5 million whales. Now they estimate the oceans have just a little over 1 million remaining.

Whale populations were decimated by commercial whaling in previous centuries and while that has now mostly stopped, Japan is a Pacific nation that continues to carry out controversial scientific hunts despite widespread international opposition.

Nonetheless around 20,000 great whales are killed every year by ship strikes alone, experts say. Additionally, whales are increasingly threatened by fishing net entanglements and climate change.

Global ocean heat has hit a new record high every single day for the last year, causing severe consequences for marine life.

Carlos Duarte, a world-leading marine ecologist and professor at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology who works closely with Takokos team, says more whales have been dying recently due to starvation. Because the very warm state of the ocean has been unusual, it has actually reduced ocean productivity and the whales are not able to meet their food requirements, he told CNN.

Aside from recognizing whales intrinsic worth, some experts are pushing for a dollar value to be placed on the animals, with humans held responsible for any damage to the ecological commodity.

They include Ralph Chami, the initiatives chief economist, based in Washington, DC. Chami says such a valuation would recognize animals contributions to the Earth and the services they provide to benefit the economy.

A Humpback whale jumps in the surface of the Pacific Ocean at the Uramba Bahia Malaga National Natural Park in Colombia, on August 12, 2018. - Miguel Medina/AFP/Getty Images

Most people are used to valuing dead nature, Chami told CNN. Every time I ask people at dinners, whats the value of a salmon? They say 50 bucks, thats my plate. They dont think of the value of a salmon that is frolicking freely in the ocean.

In an article published with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Chami estimates that the value of a living whale surpasses $2 million, based on the carbon it sequesters over its lifespan.

Scientists and marine experts note the crucial role of whales in the oceans carbon cycle, acting as fertilizer pumps by consuming nutrients from the deep sea and releasing them at the surface through defecation. This nourishes phytoplankton, which generates about half of the worlds oxygen and absorbs substantial amounts of CO2, equivalent to the capacity of four Amazon rainforests.

People dont realize that the Pacific Ocean is the worlds largest carbon sink, Takoko said. Through this initiative, our aim is to restore vital blue habitats. And the whales are a big component part of ensuring that those blue habitats can thrive because of all the services they provide as bioengineers of our oceans.

According to Duarte, assigning whales a monetary value lays the groundwork for a system of penalties for anyone responsible for harming these animals. And with legislation recognizing whales as legal persons worth $2 million, the Hinemoana Halo team claims shipping companies and insurance firms could eventually be financially liable for whales they harm.

To hold companies accountable, Takoko and her team hope technology can be integrated into ships to prevent whale strikes and entanglements.

Right now, we have near nothing as a solution, Emily Charry Tissier, founder and CEO of Canadian marine mammal monitoring startup Whale Seeker, told CNN. But the tools exist today to be able to avoid the majority of these mortality situations, she added.

Charry Tissier and her team are paving the way by using artificial intelligence to monitor and protect marine life. She says shipping companies can deploy technology such as drones and infrared cameras to detect whales and avoid ship strikes.

The long road ahead

Ahead lies a lengthy journey for the Hinemoana Halo Ocean Initiative to ratify personhood recognition for whales.

In addition to garnering support from nations and the broader international community, the personhood initiative faces the challenge of integrating technology into existing ships. Nonetheless, the team remains optimistic that once insurers realize the potential financial liabilities, installing such technology will become imperative.

Ships equipped with this technology could benefit from reduced insurance premiums. Their stocks are going to do better, and consumers would favor them due to their whale-free shipping label, Chami told CNN.

Despite the daunting task of implementing this technology across the worlds oceans, significant stretches of shipping lanes, where ship strikes and entanglements frequently occur, could be safeguarded once a few major nations enact personhood legislation, according to Duarte.

Consider the Cook Islands, for instance: Despite having a collective population of fewer than 20,000 people, its marine territory spans more than 2 million square kilometers (772,000 square miles). Enactment of personhood legislation by Pacific states alone would cover a substantial portion of the worlds oceans, Duarte told CNN.

The teams optimism is further buoyed by the global communitys aspirations to protect marine life in international waters. Nearly 200 countries agreed to a legally binding high seas treaty at the United Nations in the previous year, pledging to safeguard 30% of Earths land and oceans by 2030, CNN previously reported.

It typically takes about two decades from the introduction of these policies to witnessing their impacts and benefits. And that really points to what we need to do to achieve a healthy ocean, Duarte told CNN.

The remarkable recovery of the humpback whale serves as a testament to the potential for oceanic restoration. Decimated by whaling between the late 1700s and the mid-1900s, the humpback has rebounded from an estimated 200 individuals to more than 60,000 today, according to Duarte. This came after a global ban on commercial whaling was instituted by the International Whaling Commission in 1986.

If we can recover humpback whales, then we should be able to recover almost any component of the ocean, Duarte said.

And Takoko echoed his optimism: The fire, so to speak, has been ignited by the traditional leaders of Polynesia, and I believe with the community behind us, we will succeed in this plan.

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Elder Quentin L. Cook, left, smiles at the Rev. A.R. Bernard, founder of the Christian Cultural Center megachurch of New York, recipient of the New York Latter-day Saint Professional Association Visionary Leadership Award at the Riverside Church in New York City on Saturday, June 8, 2024. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

This article was first published in the ChurchBeat newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox each Wednesday night.

The Book of Mormon urges readers to make scripture come alive in their own, modern lives so they can see Gods active love for them and understand how his teachings apply to them right now.

That principle was illustrated colorfully and thoughtfully on Saturday night by a Christian preacher as he was being honored by the New York Latter-day Saint Professional Association at a banquet attended by Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Jesus explained to his disciples that his message would be processed differently by those who heard it, said the Rev. A. R. Bernard Sr., who received the associations Visionary Leadership Award for his work as the founder, CEO and senior pastor of the Christian Cultural Center, the largest evangelical church in New York City.

He explained the impact of modern American secularization  and the need for religions to work together to overcome it to help the needy  through the Parable of the Sower. In that New Testament allegory, Jesus Christ showed how seeds of truth or faith do based on the type of soils  or hearts, or environments  where they are planted.

The Rev. Bernard described all four soils from the parable in modern terms:

The first soil was called wayside, he said, better understood (today) as the beaten path, the status quo, the current social and political context that is often resistant to change. And it would be that environment that the message would have to penetrate, and of course, that would be the most difficult environment. Those of you who are familiar with it, it was because of that resistance to change that the devil would come immediately and take away the seed that was sown before becoming productive.

He also talked about stony ground, the transiency of superficial commitment, and boy, do we see more of that in our society, where people will try things out and move on. That translates into (multiple) marriages, a host of changes along the way that never speak of permanency of groups and groundedness in belief or participating in society.

He also talked about thorny ground  popular culture, the trends, issues and narratives that drive, shape and inform the social, political, spiritual, moral landscape, the lust for power, fame, greed, ambition, notoriety and celebrity status.

Then he talked about good grounds that speak of the discriminating mind who could understand and appreciate the value of the message, the value of the word of the kingdom, like the Pearl of Great Price, like the treasure in the field that one would sell all to obtain, to possess these very special words, this very special message of the kingdom.

While the Rev. Bernard used the parable to talk during the award banquet about the influences of modern society, he made it clear in an interview with the Deseret News that he saw himself in the parable and that he saw that soils  people  can change.

For example, he was a banker for 10 years before he felt called to serve God and started a small church with four people rooted in some strongly held, specific evangelical traditions. He thanked God Saturday night for the journey that led him to change his own life.

That wasnt the only journey he has navigated with Gods help, he said.

Elder Cook praised the Rev. Bernard specifically for always seeking to meet the needs of people beyond his faith tradition.

His exemplary service in building faith and reducing suffering needs to be celebrated, Elder Cook said. This marvelous Christian leader is fully deserving of the associations Visionary Leadership Award. He not only addresses the spiritual needs of the members of his congregation but also in a Christ-like manner ministers to the temporal needs of members and nonmembers of his congregation and the community.

But while serving outside the circle of his church was natural to Rev. Bernard when he began the Christian Cultural Center, he said working together inclusively with many different faiths was not as seamless. But today, he is the chair of the executive committee of New York Gov. Kathy Hochuls statewide interfaith advisory council, and Saturday nights banquet was attended by representatives of Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Baptist and Christian faith groups.

He now is a student of what he said is New Yorks rich interfaith history, but that the blossoming of cooperation over the past two decades has been a revelation.

Over time, Ive watched soil change right before my eyes, and whereas ecumenism and interfaith dialogue and interfaith collaboration and interfaith cooperation was resisted by the status quo, thats changing, he told the Deseret News. All of a sudden we realize the need to find common ground to work together towards the common good. Its that change, even in my own tradition, that allows for relationships like the one that we have and we share with (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).

The impact of those relationships is real. The Christian Cultural Centers program to feed the hungry has expanded from helping 25,000 people a year to 135,000 people a year because of a decision to collaborate with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

When New Yorks governor asked the Rev. Bernard for help when the only supermarket in a Buffalo, New York, area closed because of a massacre, he again collaborated with Latter-day Saints who supplied enough food to feed 2,000 families and supply local food pantries for four months.

Thats collaboration, he said. Thats working together, thats changing the status quo, thats (changing our own context to lead us) to deeper, more grounded commitments.

And its a clear example of applying Christs teachings and examples, he said to close his acceptance speech:

When we think about Jesus conversation with the woman at the well, his healing of the centurions servant, his story of the Good Samaritan, we understand that he was trying to tell us that his message of love, faith, compassion and outreach goes beyond our little tribe, our little group, our little tradition and its open to a universal embrace and inclusiveness that forces us to work together, to collaborate together, to network our resources, to build bridges, to respond to the needs, that we can indeed exemplify what it means to be a person of faith working towards the common good. Thank you for this partnership. Thank you for this honor.

My recent stories

Latter-day Saint professionals honor New York pastor, coach Andy Reid as examples of faith and service (June 9)

DA withdraws charge against Latter-day Saint stake president (June 7)

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Behind the scenes

President Russell M. Nelson, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, greets Christian Cultural Center Founder Rev. A.R. Bernard in the Church Administration Building on Thursday, June 16, 2022. | Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Elder Quentin L. Cook, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, moderates a panel of religious leaders at Brigham Young University in Provo on Thursday, June 16, 2022. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Elder Quentin L. Cook, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and his wife sister Mary Cook meet with Christian Cultural Center Rev. A.R. Bernard in Brooklyn on Friday, March 4, 2022. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated a truck load of food for the needy. | Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Parents charged with abuse of corpse after remains consistent with missing baby are found

The parents of 8-month-old Miya Rudd are among four people facing more charges after Kentucky State Police found a body believed to be that of the missing baby in Ohio County Friday.

Charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and failure to report the death of a person were filed Friday against Miyas parents, Gage Rudd and Tesla Tucker, along with the babys grandfather, Ricky J. Smith, and another man, Brodie C. Payne, all of whom are from Reynolds Station, state police said late Friday.

State police said more charges are likely.

An autopsy will be needed to confirm that the decomposing remains found hidden inside the family home Friday are those of Miya and to determine how she died, state police said.

Authorities have been searching for the baby for more than a week, after family members reported that they had not seen her since late April.

When investigators found Rudd, 30, and Tucker, 29, at a motel in Owensboro, they said they did not know where their child was.

The two were then charged with child abandonment, possession of fentanyl, trafficking in methamphetamine, first-degree child abuse, trafficking in marijuana, trafficking of legend drugs and engaging in organized crime.

Smith, 56, was also charged with first-degree child abuse, abandonment of a minor, engaging in organized crime and numerous drug-related charges.

And state police had announced Thursday that they were charging Payne, 28, with a number of drug charges because of his role in the illegal drug operation held at the Rudd residence.

Payne, who was already being held in the Daviess County Detention Center on charges related to an ongoing drug trafficking investigation, had been living at the Rudd house for about six months before he was arrested May 20, state police said.

During the search for the baby, state police also arrested four other people, three of whom were Miyas grandparents.

Her grandmother, Billie Smith, 49, was arrested on an outstanding warrant for second-degree assault  domestic violence, when state police went to her home looking for Miya.

As state police pulled in at Smiths house, Timothy Roach, 37, was seen throwing drugs under his vehicle, state police said. He was charged with second-degree possession of a controlled substance and first-degree prescription controlled substance not in proper container.

Miyas other grandparents, David and Taletha Tucker, had been caring for Miyas three siblings because social services had removed them from the parents.

When state police searched their home in Owensboro, they seized electronics and arrested both of them. David Tucker, 53, was wanted on a warrant for non-payment in a previous case, and Taletha D. Tucker, 50, was charged with being a fugitive from Indiana.
UPDATE 6/16 11:16 a.m.: The family of the man who was shot by police on Saturday was at the scene after the incident.

On Sunday, the family provided a statement to ABC4.com about the situation.

Our family woke up June 15th to the devastating news that our brother had been shot and killed by the South Jordan police. No parent or sibling should have to endure this type of situation. We are grieving the loss of our beloved brother; our brother was facing challenging mental health issues. At this time, we are asking for privacy while we grieve and wait for information to understand exactly what happened so we can begin healing. Statement from the family

ORIGINAL STORY: One dead after officer-involved shooting in South Jordan

UPDATE 6/15 5:37 p.m.: The areas that were closed for the investigation have been reopened.

SOUTH JORDAN, Utah (ABC4)  One person died after an officer-involved shooting in a South Jordan park on Saturday, according to a press release from the South Jordan Police Department.

Police said officers responded to Glenmoor Field after receiving a call about a suspicious person who was reportedly looking through car windows.

READ NEXT: Man accused of assaulting 2, trying to disarm officers at SLC Intl Airport

The person was located at an area park and produced a knife as they were contacted by officers, police said in the release.

Officers reportedly used less lethal force to try and detain the suspect, who was uncooperative as officers spoke to them, police said.

After multiple attempts to gain compliance were ineffective, the subject advanced on officers with the knife and was shot, police said.

The suspect was then taken into custody and taken to a hospital, but died in the hospital.

Police said the investigation was expected to continue into Saturday afternoon, and the areas of Skye Drive and Skye Park remained closed as the investigation continues.

The incident is being investigated by the Officer Involved Critical Incident team, and the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, according to the police department.

Police did not immediately release information about what time the incident occurred.

There is no further information at this time.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
PASCO COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA)  A Pasco County woman who was accused of unlawfully removing her children from the United States has been indicted on a federal charge, according to the Department of Justice.

Krupaben Himanshu Bhatt, 37, of Odessa, is charged with international parental kidnapping, a press release said.

Pastor sentenced to 35 years for stealing churches

According to the indictment, in January, Bhatt unlawfully removed her two kids from the United States in an attempt to obstruct the parental rights of their father.

The indictment did not say where the children were taken.

If Bhatt is convicted, she faces a maximum of three years in federal prison.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Peace Summit declaration still being negotiated, not all participants may support it, media reports

Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Switzerland on 14 June. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

Negotiations on the final declaration of the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland are still ongoing, and organisers expect that the document may be adopted without the agreement of all parties.

Source: Swiss news agency Keystone-SDA, citing diplomatic sources, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Media sources expect that negotiations on the final declaration of the peace summit will continue "until the last minute" on Sunday, when the event concludes.

"There are still a few contentious points among the delegations. In some cases, disagreements reportedly revolved around specific words," the agency notes.

The Peace Summit organisers do not yet know if the final declaration will be adopted by all participants. A scenario is being considered where the declaration is published without consensus, and each country can indicate whether it accepts it or not.

Background:

On the eve of the summit in Switzerland, problematic provisions of the final document of the meeting, which could have had undesirable consequences for Ukraine, were corrected  the text of the decision was changed in recent days.

Several states that had planned to attend the Peace Summit in Switzerland have decided not to go there after the draft decision was changed in favour of Ukraine.

Read more: Ukraine Peace Summit turns hard on Russia. How leaders amended the final decision under criticism.

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Peace summit would yield more results with Russia present, Turkish FM says

Ukraine's global peace summit would be "more result-oriented" if Russia had participated in the talks, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said during the summit's plenary session on June 15.

The peace summit, held at a resort near Lucerne in Switzerland June 15-16, brings together over 100 representatives from different countries and international organizations. Russia was not invited to attend the conference.

Fidan called the talks "a glimmer of hope to start with" but said they "could have been more result-oriented" if Russia had attended.

"We believe that there is a growing need for a comprehensive and inclusive strategy that uses diplomacy and negotiations to ensure the implementation of measures already taken," Fidan said.

Fidan cited Turkey's negotiation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative as an example of a diplomatic solution during wartime.

Turkey has sought to position itself as a mediator in Russia's war against Ukraine and has previously offered to host peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow. The final rounds of unsuccessful peace talks in 2022 took place in the Turkish city of Antalya.

The focus of the peace summit in Switzerland is Ukraine's peace formula, a 10-point plan that calls for the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory. The Kremlin has rejected the proposal, with Russian President Vladimir Putin saying Moscow would only enter negotiations if Ukraine withdraws forces from Russian-occupied regions.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said during the summit that Ukraine plans to invite Russia to a second global peace summit, after forming an action plan with other participants.

Read also: Zelensky: All parts of the world represented at peace summit

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
(WHTM)  Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry has appointed Michael Utermeyer to serve as Special Prosecutor assigned to prosecute crimes on the Philadelphia Public Transportation Authority, or SEPTA.

Henry was given the authority to name a special prosecutor through Act 40 of 2023, which was ruled constitutional by Commonwealth Court on Friday.

Untermeyer, most recently, has worked as a private attorney and has 15 years as a prosecutor. He has previously served as as special counsel to the Office of Inspector General, Deputy and Senior Deputy Attorney General, and as an Assistant District Attorney.

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Hes also served as a hearing examiner for the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

We worked diligently to follow the mandates of Act 40 to fill the position, first by posting the opportunity, then interviewing applicants to ascertain if they fit the specific criteria established by the law, Attorney General Henry said. We selected a candidate who expressed a commitment to public safety while possessing the qualifications required by Act 40.

This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
(WHTM)  A Pennsylvania man was sentenced to three months in prison for his role in the January 6 attack.

The Justice Department says Anthony Nolf of Birdsboro will also serve five months of home detention as a condition of 36 months of supervised release. Hell also pay $2,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to one count of civil disorder last October.

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Nolf attended the Stop the Steal rally in Washington D.C. on January 6 and entered the West Plaza at the Capitol. Once there, the Justice Department says, Nolf assisted in removing protective fencing and passed it back to others at the riot.

Nolf then proceeded to the Lower West Terrace Tunnel where he witnessed the assault of law enforcement and participated in a heave-ho against a police line. The Justice Department says Nolf could be seen lowering his body and dropping his shoulder into the rioters.

The FBI arrested Nolf on April 5, 2023.

This case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Divisions Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorneys Offices for the District of Delaware and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 on Friday stood by its decision to conduct a clandestine disinformation campaign in the Philippines in 2020 that aimed to sow doubt about China's COVID-19 vaccine during the height of the global pandemic -- a campaign that was first revealed in a bombshell report by Reuters.

The U.S. military launched the disinformation campaign following a decision by then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper to loosen restrictions on such operations, and used phony online accounts posing as Filipinos in an effort "to discredit China's Sinovac inoculation -- payback for Beijing's efforts to blame Washington for the pandemic," Reuters reported. At the time, the Philippines was struggling to vaccinate its population and had one of the worst death rates in the region.

The Philippines disinformation campaign marks an unusual use of military power in a country that has often been a U.S. ally in a strategically crucial region and at a time of great public health risks. Lisa Lawrence, a Defense Department spokeswoman, did not deny Reuters' reporting on the operation, which was done under the administration of former President Donald Trump and continued for some time under the Biden administration.

Read Next: The Army's Recruiting Problem Is Male

The Pentagon "conducts a wide range of operations, including operations in the information environment (OIE), to counter adversary malign influence" and "this process is deliberate, methodical, and comprehensive," Lawrence said in a statement. "The DoD uses a variety of platforms, including social media, to counter those malign influence attacks."

Lawrence also echoed Reuters' reporting, saying, "China [in 2020] initiated a disinformation campaign to falsely blame the United States for the spread of COVID-19."

Reuters found at least 300 accounts on X, formerly Twitter, "that matched descriptions shared by former U.S. military officials familiar with the Philippines operation."

The posts from those accounts "centered on the slogan #Chinaangvirus," which in the Philippine language Tagalog means "China is the virus." They often focused on giving credence to the false claim that, since vaccines sometimes contain pork gelatin, the Chinese-made shots could be forbidden for Muslims under Islamic law.

The social media activity began during Trump's administration when Esper signed a secret order that made it easier for commanders to compete with Russia and China by enabling them to bypass the State Department when conducting information warfare against the two countries, Reuters reported.

The report also noted that the program "continued months into Joe Biden's presidency ... even after alarmed social media executives warned the new administration that the Pentagon had been trafficking in COVID misinformation."

Experts have long objected to the use of vaccines and vaccination campaigns as part of military operations, arguing that they not only lead to a loss of trust and confidence in vaccines as a whole but have also endangered medical workers.

Perhaps the biggest outrage came after it was revealed in 2011 that the CIA used a fake hepatitis vaccination program as part of its efforts to track down and kill Osama bin Laden, who was hiding in Pakistan.

The ruse led to outrage from doctors worldwide and a promise in 2014 from the CIA not to use immunization programs as cover for its operations in the future.

However, the damage had been done, and backlash against unrelated polio vaccination efforts in the region took hold. Attacks against vaccination workers continue to this day. Pakistan and Afghanistan are now the only two countries that have yet to be declared free of wild poliovirus type 1.

Related: Pentagon Complied with COVID-19 Waiver Rules According to Watchdog But Services Moved Slowly
Peter Pellegrini, a close ally of the populist prime minister, is sworn in as Slovakia's president

FILE - Slovakia's President elect Peter Pellegrini speaks during joint press statements with incumbent President Zuzana Caputova at the presidential palace in Bratislava, Slovakia, Thursday, May 16, 2024. Pellegrini, a close ally of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, was inaugurated Saturday, June 15, as the president of Slovakia, succeeding Zuzana Caputova, the countrys first female head of state. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP)  Peter Pellegrini was sworn in as the president of Slovakia on Saturday in a ceremony that took place amid heightened security following an assassination attempt on his close ally, populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, a month ago.

Pellegrini called for national unity in his speech at a special session of Parliament that took place at the seat of the Slovak philharmonic, becoming Slovakias sixth president since it gained independence after the disintegration of Czechoslovakia in 1993.

We are one nation, one society, one Slovakia, he said.

The 48-year-old Pellegrini beat pro-Western career diplomat Ivan Korcok in the presidential runoff vote on April 6. His victory cemented Ficos grip on power by giving him and his allies control of major strategic posts.

He succeeded Zuzana Caputova, the countrys first female head of state and a staunch backer of neighboring Ukraine in its fight against Russias invasion. She didnt seek a second term in the largely ceremonial post.

Fico didnt attend the ceremony as hes still recovering after being shot in the abdomen while greeting supporters on May 15 in the town of Handlova. The assailant was arrested.

Ficos leftist Smer (Direction) party won Sept. 30 parliamentary elections on a pro-Russian and anti-American platform.

Pellegrini, 48, who favors a strong role for the state, headed the left-wing Hlas (Voice) party to the third-place finish in the vote and joined a governing coalition with Fico and the ultranationalist Slovak National Party.

Critics worry Slovakia under Fico will abandon its pro-Western course and follow the direction of Hungary under populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

The new government immediately halted any arms deliveries to Ukraine. Thousands have repeatedly taken to the streets across Slovakia recently to rally against Ficos pro-Russian and other policies, including plans to amend the penal code and take control of the public media.

Pellegerini, who became Parliaments speaker after the election, never questioned Ficos policies.

He was Ficos former deputy in Smer when he became prime minister in 2018, after Fico was forced to resign following major anti-government street protests over the killing of journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee.

Pellegrini had temporarily parted ways with Fico after the scandal-tainted Smer lost the previous election in 2020, but their reunion enabled made the creation of Ficos government.

The president of the nation of 5.4 million people picks the prime minister after parliamentary elections, swears in the new government and appoints Constitutional Court judges. The president can also veto laws, though Parliament can override the veto with a simple majority, and challenge them at the Constitutional Court. The head of state also has the right to pardon convicts.

The government, led by the prime minister, holds most executive powers.
(Bloomberg) -- The Philippines asserted its exclusive rights to South China Sea resources off its western coast with an official filing before a United Nations commission.

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The Department of Foreign Affairs said the country submitted information to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, registering entitlement to an extended continental shelf in the Western Palawan region in the disputed sea.

Today, we secure our future by making a manifestation of our exclusive right to explore and exploit natural resources, Assistant Secretary for Maritime and Ocean Affairs Marshall Louis Alferez said in a statement Saturday.

Watch: Why the South China Sea Could Spark a War

The Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has pushed back against Chinas claims to the resource-rich sea while bolstering US defense ties. His government has signaled its determination to explore the waters for energy resources, emboldened by a 2016 legal victory rejecting Beijings claims.

China has however maintained its presence in the key waterway, leading to tense clashes with Philippine vessels.

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MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines filed a claim with the U.N. on Saturday to an extended continental shelf (ECS) in the South China Sea, a waterway where it has had increasingly confrontational maritime disputes with China.

"Today we secure our future by making a manifestation of our exclusive right to explore and exploit natural resources in our ECS entitlement," Marshall Louis Alferez, foreign ministry assistant secretary for maritime and ocean affairs, said in a statement.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam. Portions of the strategic waterway, where $3 trillion worth of trade passes annually, are believed to be rich in oil and natural gas deposits, as well as fish stocks.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 found China's sweeping claims have no legal basis, a ruling Beijing rejects.

China's embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday's U.N. filing.

In its confrontations with Philippine government and fishing vessels, China's coastguard has stepped up the use of water cannon, collision and ramming tactics and, according to Manila, use of a military-grade laser. An armada of Chinese fishing boats is considered by the Philippines and its allies to be a sea militia.

The Philippines sought to register its entitlement to an extended continental shelf in the West Palawan Region facing the South China Sea.

The submission, cleared by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, follows a comprehensive technical and scientific study of continental shelf in the West Philippine Sea, the foreign ministry said, referring to a part of South China Sea within its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.

The Philippines said it was using an entitlement under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea to establish the outer limits of its continental shelf, comprising the seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas up to 350 nautical miles.

The U.N. in 2012 confirmed Benham Rise, which is off the Philippines' east coast and not under dispute with China, as part of the Philippines' extended continental shelf.

(Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by William Mallard)
PHOENIX (AP)  Phoenix police discriminate against Black, Hispanic and Native American people, unlawfully detain homeless people and use excessive force, including unjustified deadly force, according to a sweeping federal civil rights investigation of law enforcement in the nations fifth-largest city.

The U.S. Justice Department report released Thursday says investigators found stark racial disparities in how officers in the Phoenix Police Department enforce certain laws, including low-level drug and traffic offenses. Investigators found that Phoenix officers shoot at people who do not pose an imminent threat, fire their weapons after any threat has been eliminated, and routinely delay medical care for people injured in encounters with officers.

The report does not mention whether the federal government is pursuing a court-enforced reform plan known as a consent decree  an often costly and lengthy process  but a Justice Department official told reporters that in similar cases that method has been used to carry out reforms.

Interim Phoenix Police Chief Michael Sullivan said in a statement that they need time to thoroughly review the findings before considering any next steps. A top police union official, meanwhile, called the Justice Department investigation a farce, and warned that a consent decree would hurt officer morale.

Darrell Kriplean, president of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, which represents about 2,200 Phoenix officers, takes a question after the release of a Department of Justice report on the Phoenix Police department during a news conference Thursday, June 13, 2024, in Phoenix. The Justice Department said that Phoenix police discriminate against Black, Hispanic and Native American people, unlawfully detain homeless people and use excessive force, including unjustified deadly force. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) AP

The Department of Justice is not interested in making local police departments and the communities they serve better, said Darrell Kriplean, president of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, which represents about 2,200 officers. This action demonstrates that they are only interested in removing control of local police from the communities that they serve through consent decrees.

Attorney General Merrick Garland called the report an important step toward accountability and transparency. He said in an email that it underscores the departments commitment to meaningful reform that protects the civil rights and safety of Phoenix residents and strengthens police-community trust.

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said in a statement that city officials would meet June 25 to get legal advice and discuss next steps.

I will carefully and thoroughly review the findings before making further comment, Gallego said.

The Justice Department said Phoenix officers enforce certain laws  such as low-level drug and traffic offenses, loitering and trespassing  more harshly against Black, Hispanic and Native American people than against white people who engage in the same conduct.

Black people in the city are over 3.5 times more likely than white people, for example, to be cited or arrested for not signaling before turning, the report says. Hispanic drivers are more than 50% more likely than white drivers to be cited or arrested for speeding near school zone cameras. And Native American people are more than 44 times more likely than white people  on a per capita basis  to be cited or arrested for possessing and consuming alcohol.

Officers investigating drug-related offenses also were 27% more likely to release white people in 30 minutes or less, but Native Americans accused of the same offense were detained longer, the department said. And Native Americans were 14% more likely to be booked for trespass, while officers cited or released white people accused of the same offense.

There is overwhelming statistical evidence that the disparities are due to discrimination, the Justice Department said.

Phoenix has a population of 1.6 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Race and ethnicity figures show 2% of the population is Native American, 7% is Black, nearly 43% is Hispanic and 41% is non-Hispanic white.

Of the more than 2,500 officers who work for the Phoenix Police Department, 68% are white, 21% are Hispanic and 4% are Black.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, who leads the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division, criticized Phoenix for over-policing homeless people, including arrests without reasonable suspicion of a crime. More than a third of the Phoenix Police Departments misdemeanor arrests and citations were of homeless people, the report says. The DOJ investigation began in August 2021.

Litigation is an option if the Justice Departments efforts to secure a consent decree are unsuccessful.

We remain very hopeful that we can build on the track record of success that we have had in other jurisdictions across our country and put in place a consent decree that contains the strong medicine necessary to address the severe violations identified, Clarke said.

Similar DOJ investigations in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Baltimore and elsewhere have found systemic problems related to excessive force and civil rights violations, some resulting in costly consent decrees that have lasted for years.

In Phoenix, a 2020 case accusing 15 protesters of being in an anti-police gang was dismissed because there wasnt credible evidence; in 2017, a challenge coin was circulated among officers depicting a gas mask-wearing demonstrator getting shot in the groin with a projectile; and in June 2019, cellphone video emerged showing officers pointing guns when they confronted an unarmed Black couple with two small children they suspected of shoplifting.

Poder In Action, a Phoenix group that advocates for people of color and workers, said the findings were no surprise.

We never needed a DOJ investigation to tell us this, the group said in a statement. The data and the stories from residents have been telling us this for years.

The report said some police shootings happened because of officers reckless tactics, and that police unreasonably delay providing aid to people they have shot and use force against those who are unconscious or otherwise incapacitated.

In one instance, police waited more than nine minutes to provide aid to a woman whom officers had shot 10 times, the Justice Department said. The woman died.

The investigation zeroed in on the citys 911 operations. Even though Phoenix has invested $15 million to send non-police responders to mental health calls, the city hasnt given the 911 call-takers and dispatchers necessary training.

Officers assume people with disabilities are dangerous and resort to force rather than de-escalation tactics, leading to force and criminal consequences for those with behavioral health disabilities, rather than finding them care, the Justice Department said.

City Manager Jeff Barton said in a message to city employees late Thursday: We are taking all allegations seriously and are planning to review this lengthy report with an open mind.

___

Associated Press reporters Rio Yamat in Las Vegas; Anita Snow in Phoenix; and Alanna Durkin Richer Washington, D.C., contributed to this story.
In 2015 alone, 1,146 people died during or after interactions with law enforcement officials in the US. In 2016, the death toll was 1,093, per The Counted, a special report and database from The Guardian. (In both years, the vast majority of deaths were classified as due to gunshot wounds, with a small number of fatalities after individuals were tased, struck by police vehicles or reported as a death in custody.)

For the photographer Diana Matar, seeking to memorialize these deaths  and the liminal spaces they represent  proved overwhelming to consider as a project, even at a smaller scale. She narrowed her focus down to four states; California and Texas, because they had the highest number of such incidents across the country, and Oklahoma and New Mexico because they consistently had some of the highest rates per capita.

I thought I could photograph (where) every encounter happened in two years in these four states, and it just became impossible, Matar told CNN. Timewise, financially, in every possible way.

Still, over some three years of photography trips, Matar drove hundreds of miles across the four states, visiting more than 300 locations where people had died during (or following) an encounter with law enforcement officers in 2015 and 2016. 110 of these images are published now in the monograph My America; quiet, monochromatic images of everyday sites like parking lots, rural roads and suburban sidewalks.

Mharloun Saycon, 39, was shot and killed by police officers at an arcade in Long Beach, California, on December 14, 2015, after allegedly threatening patrons with a knife. Saycon's family, who claimed officers knew of his mental health condition, later settled with the city for $2 million. - Diana Matar

Charles Pettit Jr., 18, was shot by a police officer in Midwest City, Oklahoma on October 15, 2015, and died days later in the hospital. - Diana Matar

Monique Deckard, 43, was shot and killed by police officers outside her apartment in Anaheim, California, on March 8, 2015. - Diana Matar

Patches of grass at an empty roadside mark the place where 40-year-old Terence Crutcher was killed by a police officer in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2016. In Addison, Texas, birds perching on telephone wires overlook the site where 16-year-old Jose Cruz was murdered by an off duty police officer that same year. (In 2018, the officer was sentenced to 10 years in prison, having been found guilty of murder and aggravated assault.) Two chairs on a sunny sidewalk in Los Angeles, California, indicate where 37-year-old Norma Guzman, 37, was shot and killed by police officers in 2015.

Beside each image in the book are three brief lines of biographical information: the name of the deceased, their birth and death years, and the sites location.

I was really adamant about how the photographs would be presented. I just wanted it to be a name, said Matar, who consulted family and victims support groups. I didnt want the last thing to be thought of about these people was the way they died. These were people, with lives.

There are so many images, and so many images of violence that we kind of turn off, Matar added continued of todays era of social media and smartphones. I think we need space to digest, and I wanted to approach this in a way that was quite quiet. I wanted images that did not reinforce the violence. I wanted images that you can look at, and imagine this very banal place as the last place someone has been.

Norma Guzman, 37, was shot and killed by police officers in Los Angeles, California, on September 27, 2015. "According to authorities, officers shot Guzman after she was being "unruly" while armed with a knife," Matar wrote in "My America," also noting that "Guzmans family subsequently released security footage which shows Guzman was shot only ten seconds after police arrived at the scene." (The family later received a $1.95 million settlement from the Los Angeles City Council.) - Diana Matar

Rodney Turner, 22, was shot and killed by a police officer responding to reports of a home invasion at an apartment complex in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on January 3, 2016. - Diana Matar

Ian King, 31, died after being shot by officers called to the scene of an alleged assault on a delivery driver in Ponca City, Oklahoma, on December 21, 2016. - Diana Matar

An internationally acclaimed photographer and distinguished artist at Columbia Universitys Barnard College in New York City, Matars relationship with documenting landscapes and violence is rooted in her own personal experiences. In 1990, her father-in-law was forcibly disappeared by the Gadhafi regime in Libya, and was never seen by his family again. I was familiar with this idea of the legacy of state-sponsored violence and what it does intimately to a family but also really looking at it through photography and what these landscapes hold, Matar said.

Matar was born in California but has lived abroad for nearly two decades. Her photographic practice has taken her to locations across Libya, North Africa, Italy and Ukraine looking at the intersections of landscape and memory, in particular examining spaces where people had been killed or forcibly interned. But before beginning her work on My America, she had never turned her lens on the US.

In 2014 and 2015, the police killings of Black men and boys including Eric Garner in New York City, 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, 12-year-old Tamir Rice in Cleveland, Ohio and Walter Scott in Charleston, South Carolina, captured on camera and shared on social media, sparked national protests and a racial reckoning. Matar felt compelled to return to America. I had worked on issues around landscapes of violence and state violence for many years outside of my home country, and I wanted to start researching what was happening from that point of view (in the US).

Using a range of sources  including victim databases, media coverage, district attorney documents and police reports  Matar made her work during six lengthy road trips. She would watch videos or local news coverage of what happened at the location right before photographing the site in question. That really was very emotionally affecting, she said.

Terence Crutcher, 40, was shot and killed by a police officer in Tulsa, Oklahoma on September 16, 2016. Though the officer was later charged with first degree manslaughter, she was found not guilty by a jury at trial. - Diana Matar

Clemente Najera, 38, was shot and killed by a sheriff's officer in Elsinore, California, on April 15, 2016. - Diana Matar

Jose Rodriguez, 19, died during a confrontation with police in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on December 22, 2015. - Diana Matar

Every time I got out of the car, I was very aware I was not just taking a photograph of a landscape or of a building. I was photographing something that held the last moments of someones life  unless they had been taken to hospital, it was the place where these deaths happened. It made me think about my country, and made me question so many things. 

Of all the sites Matar visited, she said only seven had a memorial of some kind, whether that was a mural, flowers, memorabilia or photos. In a way, though, the photographs and the information placed alongside them in My America have a memorial-like quality of their own; Matar emphasizes this was a conscious decision in the books design. I wanted a lot of white space in there, because I wanted the viewer to sit and think, and not just move on quickly, she said.

While the biographical information next to each photograph is sparse, Matar researched and wrote a longer passage of text dedicated to each persons life, and death, which is included in the books final pages.

She describes her research of the wider issues relating to law-enforcement related deaths as even more affecting than the process of making the photographs. This is exemplified in a series of pages in the middle of the book which outline key statistics related to such deaths, those impacted and factors involved  like that the number of people who die in encounters with police each year (around 1,000) has not changed in the nine years since Matar started researching the project in 2015.

16-year-old Jose Cruz was fatally shot by an off-duty police officer in Addison, Texas, on March 13, 2016. The officer was later convicted of murder and aggravated assault. - Diana Matar

When you see all the things that go into why this is occurring  the lack of mental health beds, the lack of arms training, the racial injustice  theres so many things that come together in this particular challenge, Matar reflected. This book is placing this type of violence in a continuum of a lot of violence in the history of the country.

I dont have an illusion that this work is going to change anything, she continued. What I do think, though, is that point a camera at something, researching something, writing about something  all these things require great attention. And that attention is saying that this matters, this really matters.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A drug investigation centered around a home in Tigard has resulted in the arrest of one man.

During the serving of the warrant, a car got away after crashing into multiple law enforcement tactical vehicles, with that driver still not identified, the Tigard Police Department said.

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The main suspect in the investigation, 29-year-old Tevis Wilson, was arrested during the raid and is accused of drug trafficking and gun-related charges. Police also seized drugs and ammunition.

Tigard Police and other law enforcement agencies conduct a drug raid of a home, leading to one arrest. June 14, 2024 (courtesy Tigard Police Department).

Tigard Police and other law enforcement agencies conduct a drug raid of a home, leading to one arrest. June 14, 2024 (courtesy Tigard Police Department).

Tigard Police and other law enforcement agencies conduct a drug raid of a home, leading to one arrest. June 14, 2024 (courtesy Tigard Police Department).

Tigard Police and other law enforcement agencies conduct a drug raid of a home, leading to one arrest. June 14, 2024 (courtesy Tigard Police Department).

After receiving a warrant from a judge following a weeks-long investigation into the home near SW Oak Street and 67th Avenue, Tigard Police officers, detectives and the Washington County Tactical Negotiations Team partnered up to conduct the raid early Thursday morning.

As the team arrived, three people were getting into a car in the driveway. As TNT worked to block in the car, one person ran back inside the home. The driver then backed into an armored truck, pulled forward and drove through the yard and hit a second TNT vehicle to get away, Tigard Police said in a release. A patrol officer tried to stop the car as it sped through the neighborhood, but the driver did not stop. Investigators are working to identify that person at this time. Thankfully, nobody was hurt.

How Tigard first responders are using drones to fight fires

Wilson was found at the property and was safely arrested, police said. He is being held in the Washington County Jail on charges that include methamphetamine possession, hindering prosecution and unlawful ammunition possession due to a prior domestic violence conviction.

Police said the investigation first began after neighbors reported suspicious activity, such as a large number of people coming and going at all hours, complaints about animals and trash and suspected drug activity.

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Over the past 24 hours, the Russians have carried out attacks along the entire line of contact, with 81 combat clashes taking place. The situation is the most intense on the Pokrovsk front.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 22:00 on 14 June

Quote from the General Staff: "A total of 81 combat clashes have taken place as of this moment.

The enemy is intensifying attacks on Ukrainian defenders on the Pokrovsk front. During the day, the aggressor carried out 29 assault and offensive operations there.

Russian occupiers are most active in the areas of Novooleksandrivka, Sokil and Novopokrovske. In total, Ukrainian defenders have already repelled 17 attacks there, and 12 more combat clashes are ongoing.

The situation in the combat areas is difficult, but it is being controlled by the Ukrainian defence forces. Our soldiers are making efforts to prevent the enemy from advancing deep into Ukrainian territory. According to the information currently available, today [14 June  ed.], the aggressor's losses on this front amounted to 263 people killed and wounded.

Moreover, several occupiers surrendered. A total of a tank, three artillery systems, eight vehicles and five armoured combat vehicles were destroyed [on this particular front]. In addition, two vehicles, five armoured combat vehicles, two tanks and three enemy guns were damaged."

Details: On the Kharkiv front, Russian forces attempted to storm the positions of Ukrainian troops in the areas of Vovchansk and Tykhe three times with the support of their aircraft. All attacks were repelled.

Ten combat clashes took place on the Kupiansk front. The Russians tried to improve the tactical situation in the vicinity of Petropavlivka, Synkivka and Pishchane. Near Synkivka, all Russian attacks were repelled, and fighting is still ongoing in the areas of Petropavlivka and Pishchane.

On the Lyman front, Russian troops attacked Ukrainian positions nine times in the areas of Hrekivka, Terny and Nevske. The situation is under control: four clashes ended, and five are still ongoing.

On the Kramatorsk front, Russian activity near Andriivka was unsuccessful.

There were 20 combat clashes on the Kurakhove front. The Russians remain highly active, trying to advance in the areas of Krasnohorivka, Paraskoviivka and Kostiantynivka. The Ukrainian defence forces repelled 16 Russian attacks, and four are still ongoing.

It is reported that as of 22:00 on 14 June, Ukraines Air Force and units of Rocket Forces and Artillery hit 15 areas where Russian personnel was concentrated, as well as three air defence systems, three artillery pieces, two ammunition storage points and one more important facility belonging to the Russians.

Over the course of the day, the Russians launched six missile attacks on Ukraine's territory using 17 missiles. In addition, 38 airstrikes were recorded using 57 aerial bombs. They also deployed 490 kamikaze drones. At the same time, the Russians fired more than 3,000 times at the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and populated areas using various types of weapons.

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DENVER (KDVR)  Aurora police are investigating an armed robbery Wednesday by several people who claimed to be delivery workers.

It happened around 8:45 p.m. in the 4100 block of South Richfield Street.

They were dressed in construction vests and claimed they were there to drop a package off, the Aurora Police Department posted on social media. The suspects were holding a package and waited for the residents of the home to open the door. When they did, the suspects forced their way in and robbed the family.

Couple wanted after man shot at Aurora chicken restaurant

Police said no severe injuries were reported, but they believe the home was targeted because they run a business out of their home. Two children and their caretaker were in the home, including a 6-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl.

Doorbell video image of man in fluorescent construction vest entering home

Anyone with information on an incident similar to this one is asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

Police warned the public:

Delivery drivers usually wear branded uniforms.

Packages typically do not require a signature or that you physically accept the package.

If your mail seems suspicious, contact the carrier and be sure to report any crime to police.

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Police also suggested that anyone with concerns consider alternate delivery options, like a P.O. box or choosing the option to pick up the package.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
BALTIMORE -- An undocumented migrant was arrested for the high-profile murder of Rachel Morin, the mother of five who was killed along a popular hiking trail in Harford County Maryland in August of 2023.

Victor Antonio Martinez Hernandez, a 23-year-old from El Salvador, was arrested on Friday at a bar in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler said on Saturday during a news conference.

He is being charged with first-degree murder and first-degree rape.

Harford County deputies are working to extradite Martinez Hernandez to Maryland, which could take 30 to 60 days.

Harford County State's Attorney Alison Healy will be the prosecutor on the case, according to Gahler.

How was Hernandez captured?

The sheriff said a lead involving genetic genealogy led them to their suspect in Oklahoma.

Officers said when they approached Hernandez at the bar, he lied about who he was and his alleged crimes.

"Hopefully he'll never have the opportunity to walk free again," Gahler said.

"Patience will win in the end"

Morin was found murdered after she went missing after going for a walk along the Ma & Pa Trail in Bel Air.

Law enforcement believe the suspect hid in a drainage culvert and attacked Morin while she was walking. Authorities were able to link her murder to an assault and home invasion in Los Angeles, California, that took place on March 26.

Her family released a commercial plea in April for justice in the investigation. Finally, there is some closure for them.

"At one point when things seemed really bleak and hopeless, the lead detective said to me -- he said, 'Patience will win in the end.'" Rachel's mother, Patty Morin said.

Rachel Morin a Maryland mother of 5 children was murdered on a popular hiking trail. / Credit: CBS Baltimore

Connected to other violent crimes

Martinez Hernandez had crossed the border into the U.S. in February 2023 after an arrest warrant was issued for the murder of a young woman in El Salvador in January 2023, Gahler said.

Then, in March of 2023, investigators say he assaulted a 9-year-old girl and her mother at a home in Los Angeles.

The suspect has connections in the Washington, D.C. area, in both Virginia and Prince George's County, Maryland, and has ties to known gangs, Gahler said.

"Victor Hernandez did not come here to make a better life for himself or his family," Gahler said. "He came here to escape the crime he committed in El Salvador. He came here and murdered Rachel and, God willing, no one else."

Lead disclosed on Morin's birthday

Morin's murder suspect was arrested just weeks after what would have been her 38th birthday.

"On May 20, on what should've been Rachel's 38 birthday, and in a poetic coincidence or perhaps Rachel's own divine assistance, our investigators uncovered a lead that led us to this day," Gahler said.

"It's just a relief"

Harford County community members, especially those who use the Ma & Pa Trail, told WJZ they feel safer with Martinez Hernandez in custody.

"It's just a relief and God bless that family," Bel Air resident Pat Balducci said. "So, I'm glad for them."

Emily Hung contributed to this report.

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LEBANON COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) A bartender in Lebanon County was attacked while escorting two people out of the building, and one of the suspects managed to escape from police days later when they were trying to take him into custody, according to a news release.

Ricardo Berrios-Hernandez, 27, of Illinois, was identified Friday as one of the suspects in the assault at the Downtown Lodge, located at 734 Cumberland Street, and was charged with a felony count of aggravated assault and a misdemeanor count of simple assault, online court documents show.

According to Lebanon City Police, Berrios-Hernandez and another person were told to leave the establishment around 5:20 p.m. Wednesday, June 12, by the bartender, who then followed them out, for their behavior, and was then assaulted by one of the people. After the assault, both suspects ran away.

During the investigation, police said they spoke to a resident at the building who knew the suspects and failed to cooperate, thus causing the investigation to be delayed.

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Police zeroed in on a home at the 200 block of South Gannon Street Thursday where one of the suspects was living and were able to confirm that they were involved in the assault.

Police said that while they were there, the second suspect, identified as Berrios-Hernandez, jumped from a second-floor window and escaped.

Police are looking for Berrios-Hernandez and anyone with information on his whereabouts or about the assault is asked to contact them at (717) 272-6611.

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The investigation is ongoing and police said there is a possibility of more suspects being charged. Police did not say if the other man at the bar with Berrios-Hernandez has been charged.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Police seize property from people never charged and take months to return it

A Buffalo mother of three children sometimes spent upwards of $900 a week for Uber rides to kids events, the laundromat, college, and work, when police seized her only car and held it for nine months, even though she was never charged with a crime.

In another case, a local business owner had his two work vehicles seized, and ultimately had to shutter his business. He, too, was never charged.

In a third case, a man shot in a chaotic incident dropped his phone while getting away. Police seized it from the ground, and kept it for months, even telling his attorney he would get it back if he provided the password. He was never charged with crimes.

In all three cases, property owners had to hire attorneys to file Article 78 cases against the Erie County District Attorneys Office to try to get their property back. Thats the only way they can get in front of a judge when they are not charged with crimes.

According to the Erie County District Attorneys Office, law enforcement can seize and hold property as evidence for as long as needed as part of an ongoing criminal investigation and/or pending criminal proceeding.

But two local attorneys interviewed by News 4 Investigates view the seizures as a slippery slope and believe that property owners are not getting due process in some instances.

Its reminiscent of redcoats going into houses and taking what they want and leaving, said attorney Louis Mussari. Its a bad look.

Acting District Attorney Michael Keane defended the seizures in each case. When seized property may have been used as an instrument in a serious crime, it could take longer to return the items to the rightful owners, even when they are not charged, Keane said.

The decisions that we make on whether evidence should be seized, whether it should be held until we can get a search warrant, those are really fact-specific situations, Keane said. And normally, to be safe, we ask a judge for a search warrant and we have to meet a certain standard in order to get a judge to sign an application, and to approve a search warrant..

Case 1: Mother goes without vehicle

The Buffalo mother, who asked not to be identified because she does not want people to assume she did anything wrong, was without her vehicle for nine months.

Police seized her SUV on Sept. 22, 2023, under the belief that her ex-boyfriend used it as a getaway vehicle for a retail theft ring. A co-defendant was also charged, law enforcement officials said.

The woman said she had no idea her ex-boyfriend used her vehicle to commit crimes. In fact, her petition states that on Sept. 1, 2023, she filed a domestic violence report that stated she let [her ex-boyfriend] use her vehicle, but he refused to bring it back.

She said police entered her workplace, embarrassed her in front of co-workers, and demanded to search her home without immediately showing her the warrant.

They had my whole job surrounded, she said.

She realized as police searched her home that her name was not on the warrant.

Keane said her name did not have to be on the warrant, because they had evidence that her ex-boyfriend had stayed at her home. The woman denied her ex-boyfriend lived with her. She has one child with her ex.

I got a lawyer, she said. They told me that my vehicle was being seized for all this stuff that I still cant make sense of everything thats going on.

She also alleges a law enforcement official told her she would receive her vehicle back if she provided the password to her ex-boyfriends phone. She didnt know the password.

Her petition states, the vehicle should be released back to its rightful owner, who is on record stating the vehicle was used without her continued consent, after the vehicle was searched for items related to her ex-boyfriends case.

On Dec. 4, 2023, News 4 Investigates inquired with the district attorneys office about her vehicle, when John Flynn was district attorney.

It appears that our office has not received a request to release the vehicle, the district attorneys office stated in an email. When you brought the issue to our attention, DA Flynn directed one of our ADAs to work to have the vehicle released to the owner.

But that release did not happen until April, after her ex-boyfriend pleaded guilty to one count of enterprise corruption. The co-defendant pleaded guilty to the same charge.

Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane

Keane said the return of her vehicle was also delayed, because her ex-boyfriend posted bail and fled until the spring. In addition, Keane said they asked the suspects attorney if hed approve the release of her vehicle, to which he agreed once he got his clients approval. Keane said the approval came a few weeks ago.

I agreed that we should try to get the car back to her as soon as possible, Keane said. But we cant do that without getting [the suspects] attorney to agree to it, and hes got an opportunity to inspect it, and photograph it, and test it if he thinks its necessary. We did that and it took weeks and weeks for that to take place.

The seizure of her vehicle has had a profound impact on her family. She had to take Ubers all the time. In addition, she had to continue paying her car note and the insurance.

Keane said he is not insensitive to the negative impact the seizure has had on the mother, but there were steps they had to follow to avoid accusations of violating their discovery obligations, which could lead to sanctions.

But the other side of that also is that what were concerned about is over $70,000 in goods were stolen from retailers across this county by two guys that were taking advantage of those retailers, and it certainly sounds like they were, at least one of them, was taking advantage of the woman that owned this vehicle.

Case 2: Work truck seized

Police seized a work truck and van from a local general contractor related to an investigation that involved a childhood friend who worked for him. This was a year ago.

The business owner has never been charged.

He had to close his $1 million-a-year business because he did not have his work vehicles and tools, although the acting district attorney said he was allowed to remove his tools.

And while the business owner recently got the van back, police are keeping the truck for an undetermined amount of time, because it is evidence in the case involving his friend.

Im 100% innocent, the man said in a phone call. Theyre telling me that I am indirectly involved, but they never brought charges on me. They didnt do anything.

His friend is charged with four sexual assault-related crimes, including rape, unlawful imprisonment and kidnapping.

On June 13, 2023, police noted on the warrant that the investigation involved stolen property and evidence of human trafficking. This is when police seized his work truck and tools.

On June 23, 2023, police seized his work van registered to his construction business. His Article 78 petition alleges the seizure of the van was illegal because police had not secured a warrant.

The Buffalo Police Department and the Erie County District Attorneys Office have had over five months to examine, test and determine if the vehicles seized provide any useful evidence in their investigation, the mans Article 78 petition states. Their continued exercise of dominion and control of Petitioners vehicles is unreasonable and unconstitutional.

Robert Quinn, Buffalos deputy corporation counsel, said no illegal seizure occurred. Rather, he said the owner of the vehicles must have a clear showing of arbitrary and illegal action, without reasonable explanation or excuse and a clear legal right to what he is requesting.

Quinn stated that property seized by police cannot be returned until a conviction, acquittal or judges order.

Case 3: A dropped cell phone

On Dec. 4, 2023, the din of gunshots sent people scurrying. One of them was Milton Jones, after being shot in the leg.

He dropped his phone while leaving. Police later seized his phone off the ground, eventually downloaded all its data, and still kept it for months. Authorities didnt know if the phone would have any evidence to help solve the shooting, therefore his attorney said it should have never been seized.

Jones was never charged.

On Jan. 3, 2024, a judge signed a search warrant to pull data off Joness phone. Law enforcement had 10 days to execute the search warrant before it expired.

Attorney Louis Mussari

Mussari, Joness attorney, alleges the deadline passed before the phone was searched.

The retention of the iPhone is wrongful, because it constitutes a deprivation of plaintiffs property without due process of law, Mussari stated in Joness petition. The search warrant has expired, the plaintiff has not been charged with any offense related to the chattel, so there is no legal authority for defendant to continue depriving plaintiff of his property.

Keane said the seizure of Joness phone was completely appropriate.

It could have had evidence on it of the crimes that occurred that day, which are still unsolved, Keane said. And he didnt want to provide us the passcode. He could have gotten the phone back sooner. Im sure he had reasons for not providing it, but I dont have any problem with police officers or our office in that situation asking for his passcode. I have no problem, no hesitancy as all with that.

Police told Mussari that Jones abandoned his phone. But Mussari said thats false, because Milton accidentally dropped it, and tried for months to get it back.

I dont see how this is any more evidence of a crime than the grass that the phone was on top of, Mussari said. Theres no indication that this has any probative value, and theres no particularity listed in the warrant.

Jones got his phone back in April by filing an Article 78 petition.

Attorneys raise constitutional concerns

Nick Texido, a local criminal defense attorney with no association to any of the three cases, said these types of seizures happen everywhere he practices, but are more prevalent in Erie County.

Texido represented a college student who had his phone seized for almost five months. He was with a group of friends, and one brought a roommate.

Little did they know, he had a gun on him, Texido said.

The suspect owned up to having the gun, but Texido said police arrested all four occupants and seized all their phones.

This is a rhetorical question, but do you have photographs of every item you possess on your phone? Texido said. An illegal handgun is not going to have a receipt. So, youre not going to find that on the phone. I think a lot of the phones being seized should not be being seized in the first place.

Attorney Nick Texido

Texido said his client had to provide a DNA sample before police returned the phone.

Texido said if law enforcement seizes personal property, they must promptly file a search warrant to check the items for evidence. Sometimes, search warrants are never filed, he said. Other times, he said a search warrant is not executed within 10 days.

Theyre taking months to even apply for a warrant, Texido said.

The only way this problem can be fixed, Texido said, is by suing law enforcement.

Texido said in this case, he questions whether police had the right to seize phones from the other three occupants in the vehicle.

But when you havent even applied for or executed a search warrant, and its been months, no, I dont think they should be holding onto those phones, Texido said.

Seizures require police to have probable cause that the property contains evidence of the crimes they are investigating.

I think its outrageous, Texido said. I think that the main issue is seizing the phone in the first place in many cases. The police seem to think, oh well, this person committed a crime, or we think he did, so we get to seize his phone. No. Again, its got to be more likely than not that the phone is going to contain evidence of that crime for which you have probable cause. And some crimes just arent amenable to that.

Mussari said if law enforcement wants to seize property, its got to be done in a way that passes constitutional muster.

He doesnt believe it always does. He said he gets a lot of calls from people seeking their property back, especially those not charged with crimes.

One of the most amazing things about this U.S. is due process, Mussari said. And these things that govern interactions between the government and the police or government and private citizens. Thats a principle that needs to be upheld.

Latest Local News

Dan Telvock is an award-winning investigative producer and reporter who has been part of the News 4 team since 2018. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.

Luke Moretti is an award-winning investigative reporter who has been part of the News 4 team since 2002. See more of his work here.

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GREENBELT, Md. (DC News Now)  The Greenbelt Police Department said it was investigating a shooting that left a woman dead Friday night.

The shooting happened in the parking lot of 7913 Mandan Road just before 9 p.m. There, officers found a woman suffering from a gunshot wound.

Anne Arundel County police investigating shooting

She was taken to the hospital and was in stable condition.

Police said there was no threat to the surrounding community.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
The state emblem of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern police can be seen on the uniform of a policewoman. There has been condemnation of an attack in northern Germany that resulted in a Ghanaian girl and her father being injured. Marcus Brandt/dpa

There has been condemnation of an attack in northern Germany that resulted in a Ghanaian girl and her father being injured.

According to initial police findings, an 8-year-old Ghanaian girl and her 10-year-old sister were attacked by a group of around 20 teenagers and young adults. The 8-year-old and her father, who intervened, were taken to hospital with injuries described as mild.

The attack took place on Friday evening in the town of Grevesmuhlen in the north-eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The attackers are said to have kicked the younger girl in the face. When the children's parents intervened, a fight broke out.

Police arrive on scene as taunts reportedly continue

When the police arrived on the scene, one person from the group is said to have hurled racist insults at the victims as they were leaving.

The police are now investigating a breach of the peace, grievous bodily harm, incitement of hatred and insult. Officers are looking for witnesses to the incident. They took down names after arriving on the scene and some of these people are possible suspects, a spokesman for the police operations control centre told dpa.

Mayor speaks of "bottomless hatred"

Grevesmuhl Mayor Lars Prahler told German public radio station NDR 1 Radio MV that he was shocked at the violence.

"This racially motivated offence simply leaves me stunned. It shows bottomless hatred and uninhibited inhumanity and cannot be excused." The fact that they were teenagers is also no excuse, he said.

Prahler expressed his sympathy to the girls' family and announced that he would contact them in the near future.

The local town festival on Saturday is to go ahead despite the incident. "Because we don't want to let such actions by marginalized groups dictate how we want to live together as a city society," the mayor said.

"I believe we are living in very difficult times right now, where complex problems are out in the open and those who use dull slogans and simple solutions can snag people," said Prahler. It is time for the majority of society, which opposes society sinking into racist imagery, to make its voice heard and set an example, he said.

State politicians say no place for racism in society

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Premier Manuela Schwesig wrote on X: "The injured girl is 8 years old - as young as my daughter. We must not allow hatred and hate speech to poison our society and violence to threaten our children."

State Interior Minister Christian Pegel condemned the attack in the strongest possible terms. "You don't attack people, especially not children, and certainly not for racist motives," he said on Saturday.

Politicians call for young people to find the perpetrators

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's Integration Commissioner Jana Michael spoke on Saturday of a "despicable and shocking act." She appealed to the members of the youth group to name the perpetrators and not to remain silent due to peer pressure.

"Every witness who remains silent is complicit and prevents the investigation of this disgusting violence against children."

The district administrator of Northwest Mecklenburg, Tino Schomann, spoke of an intolerable crossing of a red line.

"Despicable acts like this leave me speechless". There is no place for violence in the district. "Acts like this are a disgrace. To attack the weakest members of our society from within a group can hardly be surpassed in cowardice!"

Nikolaus Kramer, leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) parliamentary group, which is strongly opposed to immigration, also condemned the attack.

"This brutal lack of restraint towards children is appalling and must be consistently punished. There is nothing to excuse or trivialize here!"

Many in Germany blame the AfD for increased tensions over immigration and the tone of the debate.

Left-wing domestic politician Michael Noetzel said, "What the hell is going on in our federal state? The racist attack in Grevesmuhlen cannot be surpassed in its vileness." He was at a loss for words in the face of such a cruel and cowardly act.

"Not only in Grevesmuhlen, but also in Schwerin, Rostock and other places in the state, racist and Nazi perpetrators apparently feel increasingly emboldened and authorized to strike."
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he thinks the United States allies are worried that global adversaries, namely Russia, see President Biden as weak and find his presidency an opportunity to gain an advantage.

Pompeo, a Fox News contributor, joined Fox News Sandra Smith Friday to discuss national security. He argued that the three Russian warships that reached waters in Cuba this week, at one point passing less than 30 miles off the coast of Florida, are worrisome.

Pompeo noted other recent news, including the arrests of several people with suspected ties to the Islamic State and the influx of migrants at the southern border, and said Russia has determined there is literally no risk to moving ships into Cuba.

I think the bad guys view our president as failed and weak and I think our allies are very worried that America wont be there when they need them, he said.

His statements follow the reports of the Russian fleet of warships and small boats crossing into the Havana Bay this week. A Russian nuclear-powered submarine, not assessed to be carrying nuclear weapons, was also spotted. The ships are expected to partake in air and naval exercises in the coming weeks and U.S. officials said the drills are not considered to be a threat.

Pompeo said Americans should be much less worried about the Russian fleet sailing nearby because its an isolated incident but they should be concerned that there is a pattern of the Biden administration failing to protect the most basic security interests of the United States of America.

He also highlighted the influx of migrants coming from around the world at the U.S.-Mexico border and hopes the FBI has their arms around it but said there is no way to count on law enforcement when thousands of people are entering the country.

These arent just from Mexico and Central America any longer, he said. This risk is very real and I fear that one day we will wake up to a really bad outcome as a result of the failed border policies over the last three and a half years.

Its not the first time Pompeo has slammed Biden. In April, Pompeo said Bidens response to a threat from Iran did nothing to deter the country from retaliating against U.S. ally Israel in the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict.

After a report raised questions about Bidens declining mental acuity, Pompeo sounded the alarm, saying the president cant follow basic skill sets that every leader of the free world needs to have. Pompeo said Bidens state poses an enormous risk for the U.S. because adversaries can sense that Americas leader is declining.

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Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he is confident that former President Trump will pick a good vice president.

Pompeo, a Fox News contributor, joined Fox Newss Sandra Smith to discuss Trumps highly anticipated announcement for his running mate, President Bidens capabilities and national security.

Smith questioned Pompeo, a Trump supporter and former Trump administration official, about if he was on the former presidents shortlist for running mates.

Pompeo dodged the question but said he thinks Trump will choose someone fit for office.

The president will pick someone serious and capable of executing the duties of the president of the United States, I am confident of that, he said.

Trump visited House and Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill Thursday and later said that his running mate was probably in the room during the meeting. He said hes still not sure who his vice-presidential candidate will be but that has a pretty good idea.

The shortlist of hopefuls includes Reps. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) and Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) as well as Sens. JD Vance (R-Ohio), Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), among other high-profile Republican options.

The former president announced this week that he will reveal his pick at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee next month.

Pompeo said there were lots of good folks standing behind Trump during his Washington meetings.

He then said he would be worried if Vice President Kamala Harris, who is seeking a second term with 81-year-old Biden, needed to take over as commander-in-chief.

A handful of those would be great pics for vice president, he said about the Republican choices. I dont want to talk about conversations that may be being had or not, but suffice it to say, compared to the current vice president, who I would be deeply worried to have sitting as our Commander in Chief, I am very confident the President of the United States, or Donald Trump, who I hope will be the president of the United States again, will pick a really good vice president.

Im convinced that he will, Pompeo concluded.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  At an event with the worlds top leaders, Pope Francis stole the show. The Pope visited the G7 Summit in Italy with a warning for the politicians gathered there about the perils of artificial intelligence.

The visit was historic, as Francis was the first Pope to ever come to the G7 Summit.

At the event, he delivered a speech urging political leaders to keep ethics in mind when developing and using AI.

We need to ensure and safeguard a space for proper human control over the choices made by artificial intelligence programs: human dignity itself depends on it, Pope Francis said.

He also sat down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where the leader of the war-torn nation shared a message of gratitude.

Thank you so much. Thank you for your prayers for Ukraine, Ukrainians, for peace, Zelenskyy said.

Ukraines ongoing war with Russia has been a major focus of the summit.

On Thursday, the G7 leaders announced an agreement to give a $50 billion loan package to Ukraine, with the funding coming from frozen Russian assets.

President Biden also signed onto a 10-year security agreement between the U.S. and Ukraine.

We know what Ukraine is capable of doing when given the material to defend themselves. And thats exactly what theyre doing now, Biden said.

He then reaffirmed his promise that Ukraines allies will support the war effort for as long as it takes.

Theyll have what they need and get it there as quickly as we possibly can, Biden said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
From the Stirewalt on Politics on The Dispatch

Bernie Moreno, Republican candidate for Senate, speaks at the Columbiana County Lincoln Day Dinner in Salem, Ohio, on March 15, 2024. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Theres a very simple way to think about the battle for control of the United States Senate: Democrats have a one-seat majority and have essentially ceded one defeat in one race, West Virginia, where incumbent Joe Manchin is retiring.

That means that in all but the most unlikely scenarios, the only way Democrats can hang on to the Senate majority would be to: a) successfully defend every single other seat they currently have to get at 50-50 tie, and b) win the presidency and keep a Democratic vice-president to cast the deciding vote.

Its certainly not impossible, but it leaves them little room for error. And of the 33 Senate seats that are up for grabs this year, the seven most competitive seats are all in Democratic hands. To even have a chance for a vice-presidentially empowered majority, Democrats will have to pitch a shutout, and they will have to do so in five swing states (Michigan, Nevada, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin) and two red states (Montana and Ohio).

We told you a similar story in 2022, though. Not only did Democrats hold all of their seats in a tough climate and with an unfavorable map, they flipped a seat in swing-state Pennsylvania. Its far from impossible that they could repeat the feat.

But there are some important differences, this time.

First, its a presidential year, and lower-propensity, working-class voters who typically vote Republican will turn out in greater numbers. The correlation between the presidential and Senate votes will be high, tight, and strong. Thats fine for the party in power in blue-tinged states, but very tough in the red states.

Second, if the 2022 map was unfavorable for Democrats, this one is just ghastly. By the coincidence of Senate classes, the number of Democrats up for re-election is dramatically higher than Republicans. Its the same class that was up when Barack Obama won a second term a dozen years ago and when Republicans took a midterm beating over the Iraq War in 2006. This is their most vulnerable cohort. While Republicans had a handful of seats that needed defending in 2022, the only two GOP seats that are even remotely competitive are in Texas and Florida. As we know from the previous point, it will be hard to get a challenger through in a presidential year in two states that will probably go solidly for the red team.

Third, in 2022 Republicans failed because they nominated more flakes than a box of cereal. That doesnt seem to be happening at a similar scale so far. Tuesdays Republican primary in Nevada was indicative. The mainstream GOP and MAGA united behind the best candidate and will cause real headaches for the Democratic incumbent. Now, its not certain that this will happen in the last remaining primary in a competitive stateMichigan on August 6but it seems to be the most likely possibility. In just one race, Arizona, do Republicans appear willing to throw away a likely win for the sake of a flaky nominee.

For all those reasons, the chances of Democrats holding the Senate, even if President Joe Biden salvages his re-election, look quite poor right now. But there may yet be flakes undetected, and Senate Democrats are certainly running well ahead of Biden. We will keep watching and keep updating as the race rolls on.

For your convenience, we have divided the races into five categories: Solid Democratic, Solid Republican, Lean Democratic, Lean Republican, and, the most competitive, Toss Up. So, without further ado, on to the rankings:

Toss-Up

Michigan (open seat): Incumbent: Debbie Stabenow (retiring); Democratic seat since 2000; 2020 result: Biden +2.8

Nevada: Incumbent: Jacky Rosen (first elected 2018); Contest: Jacky Rosen (D) / Sam Brown (R); Democratic seat since 2018; 2020 result: Biden +2.4

Ohio: Incumbent: Sherrod Brown (first elected 2006); Contest: Sherrod Brown (D) / Bernie Moreno (R); Democratic seat since 2006; 2020 result: Trump +8.1

Lean Republican

Montana: Incumbent: Jon Tester (first elected 2006); Contest: Jon Tester (D) / Tim Sheehy (R); Democratic seat since 2006; 2020 result: Trump +16.4

Lean Democratic

Arizona (open seat): Incumbent: Kyrsten Sinema (retiring); Contest: Ruben Gallego (D) / Kari Lake (R); Independent seat (serves in Democratic majority) since 2022; 2020 result: Biden +0.3

Pennsylvania: Incumbent: Bob Casey Jr. (first elected 2006); Contest: Bob Casey Jr. (D) / Dave McCormick (R); Democratic seat since 2006; 2020 result: Biden +1.2

Wisconsin: Incumbent: Tammy Baldwin (first elected 2006); Contest: Tammy Baldwin (D) / Eric Hovde (R); Democratic seat since 1957; 2020 result: Biden +0.6



Likely Democratic

Maryland (open seat): Incumbent: Ben Cardin (retiring); Contest: Angela Alsobrooks (D) / Larry Hogan (R); Democratic seat since 1976; 2020 result: Biden +33.2



Likely Republican

Florida: Incumbent: Rick Scott (first elected 2018); Contest: Rick Scott (R) / Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D); Republican seat since 2018; 2020 result: Trump +3.3

Texas: Incumbent: Ted Cruz (first elected 2012); Contest: Ted Cruz (R) / Colin Allred (D); Republican seat since 1993; 2020 result: Trump +5.6

SENATE RANKINGS CONTINUED BELOW

Holy croakano! We welcome your feedback, so please email us with your tips, corrections, reactions, amplifications, etc. at STIREWALTISMS@THEDISPATCH.COM. If youd like to be considered for publication, please include your real name and hometown. If you dont want your comments to be made public, please specify.

STATSHOT

Biden Job Performance

Average approval: 40.2%

Average disapproval: 56.2%

Net score: -16 points

Change from one week ago:  0.6 points

Change from one month ago:  1.8 points

[Average includes: Echelon Insights: 42% approve-58% disapprove; Monmouth: 39% approve-57% disapprove; Financial Times: 42% approve-56% disapprove; TIPP: 36% approve-52% disapprove; NewsNation: 42% approve-58% disapprove]

General Election

Donald Trump: 42.0% ( 0.6 points from one week ago)

Joe Biden: 39.4% ( 0.6)

Robert F. Kennedy Jr: 9.8% (  0.6)

[Average includes: Emerson: Trump 44%-Biden 38%-Kennedy 6%; TIPP: Trump 38%-Biden 38%-Kennedy 10%; NPR/PBS/Marist: Trump 44%-Biden 40%-Kennedy 8%; Quinnipiac: Trump 38%-Biden 41%-Kennedy 14%; Fox News: Trump 43%-Biden 40%-Kennedy 11%]

TIME OUT: ENERGY INDEPENDENCE

Laphams Quarterly: So, can we sayoutside a chemical reactionwhat human energy is?  It was of particular interest to late-nineteenth and early-twentieth-century philosophers. Schopenhauer wrote about mans will to live, Freud of the libido being energys vital source, while in 1907, in his book Creative Evolution, the French philosopher Henri Bergson identified an elan vital that impelled consciousness and evolution. This notion also corresponds to the German word Lebensdrang, which translates as life-urge. Most languages have their own terms for it: Scottish Gaelic has two, luth (energy) and beothachd (vigor); Mandarin Chinese three, liliang (strength), nengyuan (power), and jingli (energies in the plural); and Hindi at least four, covering energy systems, consumption, sources, and supply.  [H]uman energy, fully defined, recalls a maxim attributed to W.B. Yeats: Every conquering temptation represents a new fund of moral energy. Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.

SENATE RACE RATINGS CONTINUED

Solid Republican

West Virginia (open seat): Incumbent: Joe Manchin (special election 2010); Contest: Glenn Elliott (D) / Jim Justice (R); Democratic seat since 1958; 2020 result: Trump +38.9

Indiana (open seat): Incumbent: Mike Braun (first elected 2018, running for governor in 2024); Contest: Jim Banks (R) / Valerie McCray (D); Republican seat since 2018; 2020 result: Trump +16

Missouri: Incumbent: Josh Hawley (first elected 2018); Republican seat since 2018; 2020 result: Trump +15.4

Mississippi: Incumbent: Roger Wicker (first elected 2006); Contest: Roger Wicker (R) / Ty Pinkins (D); Republican seat since 1988; 2020 result: Trump +16.5

Nebraska: Incumbent: Deb Fischer (first elected 2012); Contest: Deb Fischer (R) / Dan Osborn (I); Republican seat since 2012; 2020 result: Trump +19.1

Nebraska: Incumbent: Pete Ricketts (appointed 2023); Contest: Pete Ricketts (R) / Preston Love Jr. (D); Republican seat since 1996; 2020 result: Trump +19.1

North Dakota: Incumbent: Kevin Cramer (first elected 2018); Republican seat since 2018; 2020 result: Trump +33.3

Tennessee: Incumbent: Marsha Blackburn (first elected 2002); Republican seat since 1994; 2020 result: Trump +23.2

Utah (open seat): Incumbent: Mitt Romney (retiring); Republican seat since 1976; 2020 result: Trump +20.5

Wyoming: Incumbent: John Barrasso (appointed 2007, elected 2008); Republican seat since 1976; 2020 result: Trump +43.3

Solid Democratic

California (open seat): Incumbent: Laphonza Butler (appointed 2023); Contest: Adam Schiff (D) / Steve Garvey (R); Democratic seat since 1992; 2020 result: Biden +29.2

Connecticut: Incumbent: Chris Murphy (first elected 2012); Democratic seat since 2012; 2020 result: Biden +20.1

Delaware (open seat): Incumbent: Tom Carper (retiring); Contest: Lisa Blunt Rochester (D) / Eric Hansen (R); Democratic seat since 2000; 2020 result: Biden +18.9

Hawaii: Incumbent: Mazie Hirono (first elected 2012); Democratic seat since 1976; 2020 result: Biden 29.4

Maine: Incumbent: Angus King (first elected 2012); Independent (caucuses with Democrats) seat since 2012; 2020 result: Biden +9.1

Massachusetts: Incumbents: Elizabeth Warren (first elected 2012); Democratic seat since 2012; 2020 result: Biden +33.5

Minnesota: Incumbent: Amy Klobuchar (first elected 2006); Democratic seat since 2000; 2020 result: Biden +7.1

New Jersey: Incumbent: Bob Menendez (first elected 2006); Contest: Andy Kim (D) / Curtis Bashaw (R) / Bob Menendez (I); Democratic seat since 1982; 2020 result: Biden +15.9

New York: Incumbent: Kirsten Gillibrand (special election 2009); Democratic seat since 1976; 2020 result: Biden +23.2

New Mexico: Incumbent: Martin Heinrich (first elected 2012); Democratic seat since 1982; 2020 results: Biden +10.8

Rhode Island: Incumbent: Sheldon Whitehouse (first elected 2006); Democratic seat since 2006; 2020 result: Biden +20.8

Vermont: Incumbent: Bernie Sanders (first elected 2006); Independent (caucuses with Democrats) seat since 2001; 2020 result: Biden +35.4

Virginia: Incumbent: Tim Kaine (first elected 2012); Democratic seat since 2006; 2020 result: Biden +10.1

Washington: Incumbent: Maria Cantwell (first elected 2000); Democratic seat since 2000; 2020 result: Biden +19.2

MAILBAG

Has anyone ever run the numbers to see if electoral votes were counted in all states by congressional district wins (like Maine and Nebraska) how the results might have changed (or not) in close years like 2004, 2016, and 2020? At first I thought the party that won the House in that year would have their nominee elected, but then thought about assigning the two electoral votes representing senators from each state to the candidate who won the state. Not sure what would happen next.Michael Wells, Holland, Massachusetts

Mr. Wells,

Great question! I have never seen exactly such an analysis, and havent looked very hard because its a little bit immaterial.

The argument for changing the Electoral College to work by congressional district instead of by state is that it would change the way candidates campaign and voters behave. Theres no incentive for candidates now to try to win the dozens of swing districts that currently get no attention on the presidential level because they are locked in lopsided majority states. In the Madison plan, blue islands in red states and red regions of blue states would get all kinds of attention and voters would have new incentives to participate.

As for the two electoral votes that correspond to the senators, those would be awarded to the statewide winner.

Thanks much and all best,

c

In your response to the question about Kennedy potentially throwing the election to the House, you stated that the House can vote for ANY candidate that receives any electoral votes. I hadnt realized we amended the language in the 12th Amendment, which restricts the choices to the top 3 candidates that receive electoral votes and the top 2 candidates for vice president in any Senate election. Still always enjoy your newsletters and your Sunday show.Steve Arthur, Arlington, Virginia

Mr. Arthur.

Right you are. The piece has been updated to remedy my thoughtless error.

Thank you for flagging.

All best,

c

I was a bit disappointed in the way your interview went with your two guests on Sundays show. I have almost completely stopped watching the Sunday political shows because I seldom learn anything new and can pretty well predict what the questions will be and how they will be answered. I watch your show hoping to be better informed and given things to think about. I was surprised you let [Rep. James Clyburn] off the hook on his disregard on polling numbers that he did not agree with. I was even more surprised you let Ralph Reed ramble on and on about how charitable and apolitical the Christian community is. You could have easily challenged him specifically on the evangelical right and their abandonment of Christian values and their willingness to worship the Trump cult instead of the Bible. I also believe there are several local politicians who are attempting to ban contraception. I do read your work in The Dispatch and will continue to catch your Sunday show.Tom Coyne, Buffalo, New York

Mr. Coyne,

I wish I could disagree with you more vehemently, but I definitely take your point.

The television interview, especially with a remote guest, is an imperfect medium and I am a very imperfect practitioner.

The balance one is trying to strike in these situations is between allowing guests to have their say and holding them to account. If you argue points with the guests, you dont get to the topics you want to discuss, but neither can you allow obvious falsehoods or evasions to go unnoticed. This is made more difficult in a remote interview because of the delay between what is said and what is heard. To interrupt a guest takes a sustained barrage from the anchor, not the easy back-and-forth of in-person conversation.

While Im sure I might have done better with both Rep. Clyburn and Mr. Reed, if I am going to have to err on either the side of being argumentative or of being too passive, Id rather avoid argumentation since theres already way too much of that on television as it is.

But every week I get another chance to do better at finding the balance. I appreciate you sticking with us.

All best,

c

You should email us! Write to STIREWALTISMS@THEDISPATCH.COM with your tips, kudos, criticisms, insights, rediscovered words, wonderful names, recipes, and, always, good jokes. Please include your real nameat least first and lastand hometown. Make sure to let us know in the email if you want to keep your submission private. My colleague, the sorely missed Nate Moore, and I will look for your emails and then share the most interesting ones and my responses here. Clickety clack!

CUTLINE CONTEST: HE COULD HAVE BEEN A CONTENDER

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on former U.S. President Donald Trumps guilty verdict in his hush-money trial before speaking on the Middle East at the White House on May 31, 2024 in Washington, DC. Biden said Trump had a fair trial and an impartial jury found him guilty on all 34 counts and added it is dangerous for anyone to say the trial was rigged. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

A gift to Cutline Contest entrants this week: a recognizable figure, an odd expression, and an otherwise blank canvas on which to paint your gags. Our winner, though, was the one who found a way to take a culture reference and marry to a political joke about President Joe Bidens penchant for exaggeration:

Thats when I told Mike Tyson to bite this, if he dared. He didnt dare.Michael Smith, Georgetown, Kentucky

Winner, Ask Momn Them Division:

Do I know where I am? Im rightcheer.Tom Walk, Greensboro, North Carolina

Winner, With a Rebel Yell Division:

Do you think more of those kids will vote for me if I pierce this ear?Kevin Hodge, York, Pennsylvania

Winner, Yeeeesh Division:

Biden reacts to latest swing state polls.David Porter, Tampa, Florida

Winner, Summer of Love Division:

Biden out of the blue breaks into a mournful rendition of Teach Your Children by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.Kevin Cook, Fort Worth, Texas

Winner, Burrowing In Division:

The doctors think the brain worm got in right here.Michael Smith, Georgetown, Kentucky

Winner, Inside Jokes Division:

Would anyone like to buy a Michael Avenatti Campaign button, cheap? For real, no hyperbole.Bob Goldman, Gilroy, California

DANE COOKS HARDEST HIT

Deutsche Welle: Denmarks food agency has recalled three brands of South Korean instant ramen, warning that they were so hot they might cause acute poisoning. The noodles are made by Seoul-based Samyang Foods, one of South Koreas 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. Capsaicin is an active ingredient in chili peppers as well as the chemical compound that causes the burning sensation when humans eat peppers. It can also be a neurotoxin and pose a health hazard. The noodle dishes marketed as extremely strong must no longer be sold because consumers and especially children risk acute poisoning, the Danish agency said.

Nate Moore contributed to this report.

Read more at The Dispatch

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'Pride needs to become more than just a party,' LGBTQ elected officials talk obstacles

Over 40 LGBTQ+ elected officials from around Ohio gathered at Columbus City Hall Friday, the day before many of them would march in the Columbus Pride Festival, to discuss hostile legislation and strategies to combat it.

This is the second time in two years City Council President Shannon Hardin invited LGBTQ+ officials to gather before Columbus Pride Festival. The gathering, which does not have an official name, is a way for elected officials to connect, talk about policy that harms the LGBTQ+ community and policies that can support it.

Following a private meeting where the group heard a presentation from Equality Ohio about harmful legislation in the statehouse, some officials addressed media about the purpose of the gathering including Hardin and Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood.

Read more: Why Ohio ranks poorly when it comes to safety for LGBTQ+ people

"As our movement has grown and become mainstream, Pride has become a party, a celebration of visibility, Hardin said to reporters. But today, as we face attacks from certain politicians and extremists who back them, folks who want to erase our love, who want to bully our kids, Pride needs to become more than just a party. It needs to be a show of force, of solidarity.

Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin speaking at a gathering of over 40 LGBTQ+ Ohio elected officials. To his right in orange is Ohio Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood.

Hardin said Pride must remain a political movement even as it becomes more commercialized, which is why they gathered that day to discuss policy.

Attendees included school board members, city council members, township trustees and healthcare providers from various cities.

Hardin and Antonio both said that Ohio being unwelcoming to LGBTQ+ people is a detriment to the states economy. Antonio said people who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community and people who are not are turned away because they want to live in a place that is welcoming to friends and family.

Council Communications Director Jose Rodriguez said that last years meeting produced a collaboration between several municipalities that funded the National Association of Social Workers.

More: The Power of Pride: 3 stories of Columbus LGBTQ+ people telling how they celebrate, endure

The funding helped train social workers to help transgender children living with the hostile environment that exists in Ohio, Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said those discussions also helped coordinate resolutions in several cities that reminded people that transgender people live in Ohio and that they are supported.

Sam Duling, legislative analyst, said the discussions at Fridays meeting included how Columbus can share the resources it has for LGBTQ+ people that cities further away do not provide.

City Council: Parking, ADA compliance and more raised at public hearing on Columbus' zoning overhaul

Duling said an example includes police training from the Kaleidoscope Youth Center, who has met with Columbus police about how to interact with people who have an LGBTQ+ background.

Not every community thats two hours away knows that that resource is there for them too.

LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, an organization that works to help LGBTQ+ candidates win elections gathered names of officials to invite to the event, Rodriguez said.

There is no closet big enough to contain us and hell no, were not going, Antonio said.

DHunt@gannett.com

@donovanhunt9

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Local leaders across Ohio discuss LGBTQ issues, policy before Pride
OXON HILL, Md. (DC News Now)  Prince Georges County police said that a man was killed and a child was injured after a shooting during a football game at Potomac High School on Saturday.

The Prince Georges County Police Department (PGPD) said that officers responded to the shooting around 11:20 a.m.

Police said that a man and a child were in the bleachers and had been shot. Responders took the man to the hospital, where he died.

Truck ends up on Metro tracks after crash in Montgomery County

PGPD said that the child was driven to the hospital and is expected to survive.

(Zach Coleman/DC News Now)

(Zach Coleman/DC News Now)

In a press conference, PGPD Chief Malik Aziz said a verbal altercation escalated when someone pulled out a gun and started firing.

They appear to at this stage, to know each other, and bring some issue that occurred outside of this game, Aziz said. And brought it to a game where young people, [a] seven-year-old, were playing a football game.

As of 2:20 p.m., PGPD said that officers were still searching for a suspect who escaped after the shooting.

[Police] will absolutely bring closure to this case. We expect to apprehend a suspect in pretty short order, said County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, who called for tougher gun legislation.

There was security present at the game, but not police. County leaders said that could change in the future because of Saturdays shooting.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police by calling 1-866-411-TIPS or submit a tip online.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
WOODBRIDGE, Va. (DC News Now)  The Prince William County Police Department (PWCPD) said it was investigating two separate shootings that seemed to be related to each other.

On Wednesday at around 3 p.m., officers went to the Woodwind Villa Apartments, located in the 14500 block of Piccolo Ln., to investigate a shooting. There, they found a 31-year-old man in the 1440 block of Richmond Hwy. who had been shot.

The victim was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Prince William County police investigating shooting in Woodbridge

As PWCPD continued its investigation, it found out that another shooting had happened on a nearby walking path. Multiple people were seen running away from that path after the shooting.

Not long after, a second shooting happened which involved the victim and two other men. The victim ran towards Richmond Highway, where officers found him injured.

The two other men had already gotten away by the time officers arrived at the scene.

Officers also found two apartments that were hit by gunfire and shell casings.

There were no other injuries or property damage that was reported.

PWCPD said the victim would not cooperate with detectives during its investigation into the two shootings.

Anyone with information was asked to call (703) 792-7000 or submit a tip online.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Kate, the Princess of Wales, took part in the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony Saturday to honor King Charles IIIs 75th birthday.

The event, complete with a military parade, is her first public appearance since revealing her cancer diagnosis earlier this year. It also serves as a show of stability for the royal family as both Kate and king undergo cancer treatments.

The princess  who is married to heir to the throne Prince William  gave a rare health update Friday, saying she was improving, but not out of the woods yet.

I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days, Kate, 42, said in a message posted Friday on Kensington Palaces social media platform X account.

She also shared her gratitude to those who have sent messages of support, adding that it has made a world of difference to her family as they continue to navigate through the illness.

Kates diagnosis was unveiled in March after weeks of speculation and conspiracy theories sparked after she disappeared from the public eye and a digitally altered family photo made the rounds on social media. She later apologized for the confusion over the image.

The mom of three said the cancer was discovered following a January hospitalization for abdominal surgery. The type of cancer has not been disclosed for either member of the royal family.

The first public view of the princess came when she traveled in a horse-drawn carriage from Buckingham Palace to the grand avenue with her children, The Associated Press reported. Wearing a white dress and wide-brimmed hat, she waved as bystanders cheered.

Later, she joined her family on the balcony of the palace to watch the British military planes fly by in honor of the kings birthday.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Chester D. Turner, seen here during a court appearance, is on death row after being convicted of 14 murders in California. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

A man Los Angeles prosecutors once described as one of the city's most prolific serial killers has been charged with another slaying: a woman in Utah in the late 1990s.

Utah authorities on Friday announced the filing of an aggravated murder charge against Chester Turner in the killing of 22-year-old Itisha Camp in Salt Lake City, where Turner had moved after absconding from parole in California.

Turner is on death row in the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center after being convicted of killing 14 women in the 1980s and '90s along the Figueroa Corridor, an area then notorious for sex work, drug crimes and violence. Most of his victims were raped and strangled.

It must have been profoundly difficult for Ms. Camps family and loved ones over the last 25 years, not knowing if the suspect in her murder was still out in the public," Salt Lake County Dist. Atty. Sim Gill said in a statement. "We hope the filing of this charge brings some relief to Ms. Camps loved ones and our entire community, knowing that the defendant is already behind bars."

Read more: Jury decides death for convicted serial killer Chester Dewayne Turner

Gill said the case was solved thanks to the diligence of Salt Lake police cold case investigators.

Camp's body was found by three teenagers in a stairwell behind a business south of the city's downtown in September 1998. She had a scarf around her neck, and an autopsy revealed she had been strangled. Investigators also discovered evidence that she may have been sexually assaulted.

DNA from the scarf was uploaded into CODIS  the FBIs nationwide Combined DNA Index System  which led investigators to Turner, according to authorities.

According to a post on the Utah Department of Public Safety's website, Camp had been in the city for only two or three weeks before her body was found. She had supported herself by doing sex work in the South State Street area, the post said.

Detectives later learned that Turner had moved to Utah from California the same year, in violation of his parole. The investigation turned up a police report from an assault in Salt Lake City in 1998, in which Turner was listed as a victim.

Read more: Map: Serial killers in South L.A.

Turner, a one-time pizza deliveryman, was one of at least five serial killers who preyed on victims in South L.A. in the 1980s and '90s, around the height of the city's crack-cocaine epidemic.

Police initially suspected others in three killings of which Turner was ultimately convicted. They charged and convicted a part-time janitor in the 1992 slayings of Mary Edwards and Deborah Williams. That man spent 11 years behind bars before DNA tests exonerated him and implicated Turner in 2004.

Another man was charged in connection with the death of Cynthia Annette Johnson, who was killed in 1997. The case against the man was later dropped, and Turner was convicted of her murder.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
As protesters trashed Cal State L.A. center, questions about why police were not called in

Barricades remained around the student services building at Cal State Los Angeles on Thursday. The building was taken over Wednesday afternoon. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

As pro-Palestinian protesters took over and barricaded the Cal State Los Angeles student services building Wednesday night, university police issued a mutual aid call that brought officers from the Los Angeles Police Department and California Highway Patrol to the campus.

Although the officers were prepared to enter the building and clear out the protesters, top university officials never gave them approval to move in, according to two law enforcement sources with knowledge of the incident.

Around 9 p.m., The Times observed police staging in front of the university public safety station, a short distance from the student services building.

LAPD and CHP officers remained there before eventually leaving, said the two law enforcement sources, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. At some point in the night, protesters scrawled pro-Palestinian slogans all over the windows. A video from ABC7 showed a broken glass door, ransacked cubicles and people wheeling copy machines out of the building.

It remains unclear exactly why police did not take action.

On Friday, university spokesperson Erik Frost Hollins said the law enforcement sources were misinformed about the chain of events but would not elaborate, to avoid revealing tactical information.

University officials had instructed staff members who were in the eight-story building to shelter in place after 50 to 100 protesters entered about 4 p.m. Wednesday, according to Frost Hollins.

About 60 staffers remained inside for roughly two hours before security officers established a safe exit route. Many left, but about a dozen  including Cal State L.A. President Berenecea Johnson Eanes, whose office is in the building  voluntarily stayed behind.

Read more: After 'significant' vandalism overnight, Cal State L.A. president says encampment must end

Pro-Palestinian student groups wrote on social media around 5 p.m. that Eanes said she would negotiate with them. Later, they posted claims that she did not follow through.

Most of the protesters left voluntarily by 1 a.m. Thursday, university officials said. University police who entered that morning found only a handful of people still inside, the law enforcement sources said.

In a statement released Thursday, Eanes said that university officials had been "in ongoing formal and informal communication" with members of a pro-Palestinian encampment that had been on campus for more than a month.

"So long as the Encampment remained non-violent, I was committed that the university would continue to talk," she wrote.

She said the damage to the building would affect student services, including "admissions, records, accessible technology, basic needs, new student and family engagement, Dreamer resources, and educational opportunity programs.

Those who participated in the destruction would be "held accountable," she wrote, adding: "The Encampment has crossed a line. Those in the Encampment must leave."

The pro-Palestinian groups said in a news release Thursday that Eanes has refused to continue negotiations or make meaningful progress toward meeting the demands of the student body. Delaying negotiations past the end of the spring semester at a commuter campus shows clear bad faith and an attempt to wait out students instead of actively working to reach an agreement.

The groups are asking, among other things, for the university to divest from defense companies, remove law enforcement from campus and make a statement supporting an immediate and permanent cease-fire in Gaza.

They emphasized that university administrators were free to leave the building after the takeover Wednesday night "whenever they desire with escorts, which has been repeatedly communicated both directly and on Instagram."

On Friday, on a mostly deserted campus, the student services building was cordoned off, with security guards milling around the front.

The encampment was the main hub of activity, with a perimeter sturdily constructed out of crates and construction netting, as well as pro-Palestinian signs that declared the area a liberated zone and asked to drop tuition not bombs.

A woman, who said she was a UCLA student and would not give her name, sat at a welcome tent outside the encampment. After Eanes declaration Thursday that the protesters had crossed a line, she said she didnt know what was next for the group.

Were ready for anything, she said.

She said she felt that Eanes had conflated those who committed the vandalism at the student center with the protesters at the encampment. She said they had no plans to disperse, despite the president's warning.

We stay here until the president meets our demands, she said, adding that Eanes had moved too slowly to negotiate with the group.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
People set off flares during a protest against hard-Right gains in European Parliament elections - Anadolu

French police clashed with protesters in Rennes and Paris on Saturday as tens of thousands of people took to the streets in marches against the hard-Right.

Police in Rennes deployed tear gas against black-clad protesters who appeared to throw projectiles towards their lines.

Paris authorities reported numerous attempts at damage, with at least one person being arrested.

Riot officers in the French capital reportedly used tear gas against demonstrators who tried to vandalise a bus stop.

Tens of thousands take part

Tens of thousands of Left-wing marchers took to the streets to protest against the hard-Right, who are on course to win snap elections later this month.

In Paris, demonstrators set off from the Place de La Republique, in the east of the city before marching on to the Bastille square.

Holding banners that read Liberty for all, Equality for all and Fraternity with all, the protesters were mobilised by labour unions, student groups and NGOs to protest against the countrys anti-migration National Rally.

Tear gas is deployed in an attempt to control protesters - LOU BENOIST

Ahead of the first round of voting for a new parliament on June 30th, the National Rally are leading on 30 per cent, one point ahead of a new Left-wing coalition called the Popular Front.

We need a democratic and social upsurge

President Emmanuel Macrons centrist Renew party is trailing in third on 18 per cent.

We need a democratic and social upsurge. If not the extreme right will take power, French unions said in a statement Friday. Our Republic and our democracy are in danger.

In Nice on the the French Riviera protesters marched down Jean Medecin Avenue, the citys main shopping street, chanting against the National Rally, as well as against Mr Macron.

A protester stands in a cloud of tear gas - ROMAIN PERROCHEAU

Some 150 protests were organised across the country, with large marches taking place in Marseilles, Toulouse, and Lyon.

French police said that 21,000 officers had been mobilised to ensure security at the rallies, with several hundred thousand people expected to take part across the country.

Macron called snap election

Mr Macron called a snap legislative election after suffering a heavy defeat to Marine Le Pens party at last Sundays EU election.

In the EU vote, Ms Le Pens hard-Right party took in almost double the votes that Mr Macrons party mustered.

Protesters sing chants during a demonstration in Marseille - Daniel Cole

The French president has urged voters to stick to the centre lashing out at unnatural alliances at both extremes... who will not be able to implement any program.

Mr Macron will remain president until 2027 even if his Renew party loses the vote, the second round of which will be held in July.

However, his presidency would be severely weakened if the National Rally were to take control of the government and legislative policy.

Following Mr Macrons surprise decision to call a snap election, the countrys former Socialist president Francois Hollande announced he would run for parliament again.

Mr Hollande, who was Frances president from 2012-2017, left office with record levels of unpopularity. He is hated by parts of the radical left.

He said he would stand as an MP for the southwestern Correze department for the New Popular Front, a left-wing grouping formed for the elections that includes the Socialists, hard-left, Greens and Communists.

An exceptional decision for an exceptional situation, Mr Hollande told reporters in the departments main town of Tulle, explaining his surprise comeback.

I am not seeking anything for myself, he insisted, after a flurry of recent media appearances sparked speculation he might be eyeing a run for the presidency.

I just want to be of service.

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YORK COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) Just under 40 pounds of marijuana coming from across the country to Pennsylvania was found by investigators last week at a shipping facility, State Police say, and two men are facing charges.

According to the charges filed by State Police in York, Brandon Smith, 26, and Justin Johnson, 26, both of Maryland, allegedly picked up the parcel and were taken into custody.

State Police said they seized the parcel that was from California at a Dauphin County shipping facility Thursday, June 6 and searched it. The parcel was being sent to an address in Spring Grove.

Inside the package was around 37 pounds of marijuana and two pounds of THC solid, according to a criminal complaint, that State Police tested and came back positive for THC.

While the Spring Grove home was being surveyed by investigators Friday, June 7, the duo arrived to get the package, the complaint says. They were then identified and taken into custody by State Police, who noted they also saw marijuana inside their vehicle.

The pair face a felony charge of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver.

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Both Smith and Johnson are out of York County Prison after they posted their bails that were each set at $15,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 3.

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Public warned to stay away amid police standoff with gunman at burning home in Maine

Police entered into a standoff with a gunman at a burning house in Maine early on Saturday June 15, 2024 (Screenshot / Sun Journal)

Police have warned the public in Auburn, Maine to avoid an area where law enforcement entered into a standoff with a gunman at a burning home.

A shelter-in-place order has been lifted, police said on Facebook just after 6am.

In a statement to the Lewiston Sun Journal, police said: There is no danger to the public.

They added: There will continue to be a heavy police and fire presence around the scene. Officials ask the public to avoid the area if possible.

The Independent has contacted Auburn Police and Maine State Police for comment.

One woman was shot and taken to Central Maine Medical Center, according to the Sun Journal, but the total number injured is unclear.

Fire and rescue crews, and police, rushed to Russell Avenue in Auburn, western Maine early on Saturday morning after gunfire and explosions were reported, and at least two houses caught on fire.

The gunman was reported to be holed up in a garage in the area but it remains unclear if he was alone at the residence. Fire crews were at the scene to douse the houses while police worked to locate the gunman. Homes in the immediate vicinity were evacuated and a part of the street was blocked off.

An emergency alert was sent out to area residents telling them to shelter in place and Central Maine Power shut down electricity to the area.

The Maine Police State tactical team got to the area at about 2.45am when the gunman was still at large.

Jeremy Perron got a phone call from a neighbor saying that the house next door to his was in flames and that he should leave. Moments later, he got a second call from the neighbor saying that he should stay in the home as there was a gunman shooting at police, he told the Lewiston Sun Journal.

Police later told Perron he needed to get out. While going to his garage to get his car, he could hear a man say: Dont do it! Dont do it, man! I dont want to hurt anybody.

Another resident told the paper that the gunman was heard screaming at police and another individual, possibly a girlfriend. As the situation unfolded, about 10 gunshots could be heard during the span of a minute.

Androscoggin County Sheriff deputies also responded to the scene as did police from Lewiston and Mechanic Falls.

Auburn fire captain Chris Moretto said three explosions could be heard at about 2.15am, which were thought to be connected to the fire. Another explosion was heard shortly before 3am as more state police officers got to the area.

At 3.15am, heavy smoke was seen overhead and by 3.30am, those watching the situation from their porches were told by police to head inside and go down into their basements. At around 4am, the situation was still ongoing, police wrote on social media.
QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11)  More than a hundred artists and groups in Queens are receiving grants to help fund their creative initiatives.

Its all a part of the Queens Arts Fund, which will distribute nearly half a million dollars this year.

The Queens Arts Fund is an annual grant program that supports arts in the borough. It is funded by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and administered by the New York Foundation for the Arts.

This is your New York City tax dollars going into your community, said Laurie Cumbo, the commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs. Queens is the most diverse borough in New York City, as we know. Theres so much creativity, diversity and artists from all around the world, and this incredible fund allows them to realize their ideas.

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In total, nearly $460,000 will be given out to 138 Queens-based artists, artist collectives and groups. The recipients include poets, photographers, performance artists and musicians, among others.

The New York Foundation for the Arts said the goal of the fund is also to support groups who share their art with the community.

It is really important to us when the panel reviews that there are many opportunities for the public to experience whatever it is thats going on, said Michael Royce, the CEO of the New York Foundation for the Arts.

Aurora Reyes and her husband, Basilio Georges, who are residents of Jackson Heights, Queens, have a love for all things flamenco.

Its a means of expression, Reyes said. Youre constantly communicating and expressing your life as reflected through flamenco.

Thats why they started Flamenco Latino, a dance company that infuses jazz, salsa, blues and even hip hop with flamenco.

Five years ago they started Mas Alla, a series of summer concerts and events. The nonprofit said putting the series together is an expensive undertaking.

It would be next to impossible to produce this event without some kind of grant funding, Georges said.

Thats why they applied for the Queens Arts Fund to support the series.

We were ecstatic we got the full award! Thats never happened to us before, Reyes said.

Flamenco Latino said it is extremely grateful for the support.

Queens, its the worlds county, and theres so much diversity represented that needs to be supported, Reyes said.

The couple is hoping the investments not only continue but also grow.

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Polish President Andrzej Duda has sharply commented on Putin's ultimatum demands for "peace talks" with Ukraine.

Source: European Pravda; Andrzej Duda, quoted by Polish radio station RMF FM

Details: Speaking about Putin's demands for Ukraine, Duda called them "impressive". In his opinion, Putin thus showed the entire international community "the quintessence of Russian brutal imperialism".

Quote: "Putin demands territories from which Russian troops have already been driven out," the Polish president said, adding that this already indicates a brutal attack on a sovereign, independent state and unfounded territorial demands.

"Russia says: yes, we will continue to violate international law; we deeply respect the entire international order," Duda said.

He said that Russian imperialism should be condemned, "the head of this dragon should be cut off, and this should happen thanks to the tough position of the free world".

Background:

On Friday, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin presented new so-called "conditions for starting peace talks": Ukrainian troops must withdraw from the entire territory of four Ukrainian oblasts, and Kyiv must declare that there are no plans to join NATO.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine said that Putin's so-called ultimatum to start "peace talks" aims to disrupt the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy compared Putin's proposal with the actions of Nazi Germany.

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The state emblem of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern police can be seen on the uniform of a policewoman. There has been condemnation of an attack in northern Germany that resulted in a Ghanaian girl and her father being injured. Marcus Brandt/dpa

There has been condemnation of an attack in northern Germany that resulted in a Ghanaian girl and her father being injured.

According to initial police findings, an 8-year-old Ghanaian girl and her 10-year-old sister were attacked by a group of around 20 teenagers and young adults.

The attack took place on Friday evening in the town of Grevesmuhlen in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

State Interior Minister Christian Pegel condemned the attack in the strongest possible terms. "You don't attack people, especially not children, and certainly not for racist motives," he said on Saturday.

The attackers are said to have kicked the younger girl in the face. When the children's parents intervened, a fight broke out.

When the police arrived on the scene, one person from the group is said to have hurled racist insults at the victims as they were leaving.

The police also reported that up to eight people from the group took part in the attack. The injured girl and her father were taken to hospital by ambulance. Their wounds were described as minor.

The police are now investigating a breach of the peace, grievous bodily harm, incitement to hatred and insult. Officers are looking for witnesses to the incident.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed the FY 2025 budget into law on May 7, 2024 at a ceremony in Atlanta.

In this week's installment of the On Our Radar series, Gov. Brian Kemp provided a dispatch from a business visit to South Korea where he met with Hyundai officials. Also, proposed alterations to the former Hunter MacLean building on Reynolds Square went through the Metropolitan Planning Commission's Historic District Board of Review and were continued to allow for updates more compatible with contributing resources in the area.

Lastly, the Downtown Neighborhood Association has a couple updates related to philanthropy and its position on the Civic Center site's future.

If you have neighborhood updates, organization events or news tips you think could be of service to Savannahians, send them to elasseter@savannahnow.com. Also reach out if there are stories here you would like to know more about. Deadline for the On Our Radar series will be the end of day each Friday.

Kemp holds call with Savannah news media during South Korea visit

Kemp said his first full day in South Korea featured meetings with a "prospect," leaders of SK that has a battery plant in Commerce, Georgia, then finished with meetings with Hyundai officials. Conversations with Hyundai officials entailed the progress of construction on its Bryan County Metaplant and the success of Hyundai's electric vehicle sales.

Hyundai Motor America recently reported its EV sales from this year's first quarter jumped 61% compared to Q1 last year. The Bryan County Metaplant will predominantly produce electric vehicles, although it recently announced it will also produce hybrids.

Kemp also said workforce was a top topic across all the business meetings. Kemp's workforce pitch to businesses touts the Georgia Quick Start program, which is the "best workforce development program in the country," he said.

The governor also said he told the business leaders that Georgia is a state that continues to grow. Georgia was the fourth fastest growing state in 2022-2023, according to U.S. Census Bureau statistics.

The trip is Kemp's second international tour of the country, according to reporting by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The visit comes as South Korea has emerged as one of Georgia's largest international business partners. There are currently 144 facilities in Georgia with a South Korean parent company, according to a state press release.

"It's just the consistency in our state, we've had a consistently good business environment," Kemp said.

Former Hunter MacLean building, future Westin Vacation Club, gets more time in HDBR

The Hunter Maclean building on on Saint Julian Street.

The HDBR unanimously voted Wednesday to continue a petition for alterations to the former Hunter MacLean building with the request there be updates to make the building more visually compatible with contributing buildings in the area.

The HDBR's staff report said the updates meet visual compatibility standards but encouraged "further study" of visual compatibility opportunities in order to strengthen the building's connection with the Landmark Historic District.

One common comment by HDBR board members detailed hopes the facade fronting Reynold's Square would be more prominent. The future vacation club's lobby will front East St. Julian Street to the south. The building sits on a trust lot, which typically have frontages facing the squares.

"Facing the square should at least appear to be the primary facade in my view," said board member Michael Higgins. "It's taking kind of a secondary back seat here."

The building was purchased by Marriott in August 2023, according to reporting by Savannah Agenda. The building is set to be converted to a Westin Vacation Club.

The HDBR's vote to continue the item provided no more than 90 days for an updated proposal.

DNA adjusts Civic Center position after survey, donates to local nonprofits

The DNA is one of the primary stakeholders in the project to decide the future of the Civic Center site, which comprises about seven acres in the heart of the National Historic Landmark District. Given a public engagement process on the site's future was kicked off by the City of Savannah this year, the neighborhood association released a new survey to gauge residents' input.

A survey from 2023 showed that some 60% of residents supported a complete demolition of the site's existing structures for redevelopment of the land. Such a position was the one recommended by an Urban Land Institute report in 2019, which has been formally endorsed by DNA since the 2023 survey.

The new survey results showed a shift, however, with more residents supporting keeping the Johnny Mercer Theatre. The change amounts to a near 50/50 split for demolishing the entire complex and keeping the Mercer Theatre.

That shift resulted in a change in DNA's formal position on the project, which was announced to membership in a recent newsletter. The new position advocates for restoring as much of the Oglethorpe Plan as possible, while not making a formal recommendation on the Mercer Theatre's future.

"The membership changed," McDonald said. "They listened to the community and understand the need for the theater from the arts community."

A map showing the plan for the Civic Center that was endorsed by the Savannah City Council two years ago, which would lead to keeping part of the complex and demolishing the rest.

Also included in that newsletter was news that the organization's annual Holiday Tour of Homes will not take place in 2024. McDonald said it was hard to find new sponsors for the tour given the immense planning the project takes, which McDonald compared to a full-time job.

The Holiday Tour of Homes is one of the primary sources for DNA's philanthropy, which it has been using to make community donations for 48 years. The group earned $50,000 from last year's tours and donated to 20 local community organizations.

Although the tours will not take place, McDonald said the organization still plans to give back to local organizations. This year's grant recipients included the Historic Savannah Foundation, Emmaus House, Frank Callen Boys & Girl's Club and Flannery O'Connor Childhood Home Foundation.

"We give donations to them to honor and support them for what they do, and how they support the community," McDonald said.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah News Update: Gov. Kemp speaks on business visit to South Korea
Pride flags and colors on the Stonewall Inn bar, in New York City on 3 June 2019.

Pride flags and colors on the Stonewall Inn bar, in New York City on 3 June 2019. Photograph: Bebeto Matthews/AP

Rainbow flags lining the Stonewall National Monument in New York City to celebrate Pride month were taken down and destroyed this week, police said, marking the second year in a row that the flags have been vandalized during the annual celebration of the LGBTQ+ community throughout June.

Authorities received a report early on Friday about the missing flags at the monument in Manhattans Greenwich Village neighborhood.

A preliminary investigation found that an unidentified person had removed and destroyed multiple flags at the site on Thursday night. The person then fled, the police said.

There were no injuries reported, and no arrests have been announced. The investigation is ongoing, the police department said on Saturday morning.

New York city council member Erik Bottcher, who is gay and whose district includes Greenwich Village, posted images of the damaged flags in a social media post, writing: Anyone who thinks this will intimidate our community is badly mistaken.

Last night, bigots vandalized the Stonewall National Monument, snapping flag sticks & stealing 3/4 of the flags around the permitter of the park. Also, someone burned Pride decorations at 22nd St. in Chelsea. Anyone who thinks this will intimidate our community is badly mistaken. pic.twitter.com/x6K033UXBL  Erik Bottcher (@ebottcher) June 14, 2024

New Yorks attorney general, Letitia James, described the vandalism as disgusting and called on anyone with information to contact the police. In New York, we stand for love and acceptance, not hate and bigotry, James wrote.

The desecration of Pride decorations is unacceptable under any circumstances and especially hateful during Pride Month, Democratic New York representative Dan Goldman wrote. As a community, we must push back against hate of any kind.

The New York City mayor, Eric Adams, who on Thursday hosted a Pride month party at his official residence at Gracie Mansion, also condemned the vandalism.

Hate has no place in our city, and nothing will change that, Adams wrote. We love the LGBTQ+ community and celebrate them during Pride and all year round. Well always have your back, and we will bring whoever defaced the Stonewall monument to justice.

The Stonewall National Monument includes Christopher Park and the Stonewall Inn, where gay men, lesbians and drag queens reacted to a police raid in 1969 with a riot that turned into the LGBTQ+ rights movement in America and around the world.

In 2016, the Obama White House designated the Stonewall Inn as the countrys first-ever national monument to the LGBTQ+ equality movement. That was less than two weeks after 49 people were shot to death in a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

Last year, Pride flags at the monument were vandalized on three separate occasions during Pride month. Three men were arrested in connection to the incidents and charged with criminal mischief as a hate crime.

Less than a day after the flags were broken and stolen this week, a replacement for every one had been mounted, WABC reported.I wish people would just educate themselves on Stonewall and the amazing things that happened here, a resident told the outlet. It was a really, really powerful moment and for people to just take that away from people is just very, very disappointing and sad.
NOTE: The accompanying video explains what people should know about fentanyl.

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  A convicted drug trafficker who goes by the name Bad News is heading to prison for the next 15 years, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday.

Bad News, otherwise known as 31-year-old Treveris Montel Coward, of Raleigh, was given the sentence by a judge on Wednesday after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting the distribution of fentanyl in the Raleigh area which led to a 22-year-old womans death in April 2017.

Treveris Montel Coward (Wake County Sheriffs Office)

Cowards sentencing comes more than 20 months since he pleaded guilty in October 2022, and that guilty plea came more than five years after the womans overdose death, according to a release from the DOJ.

Not missing the opportunity for a name pun, United States Attorney Michael F. Easley said This defendant was the worst kind of coward, rendering aid to an overdose victim only to sell her one final deadly dose. Narcotics dealers take note of this 15-year sentence  if your drugs kill, you will pay a heavy price.

The victims death, Easley explained, came the day after a separate overdose that she survived with the help of Coward.

On April 10, 2017, Easley said the victim received suspected fentanyl from Cowards girlfriend, Amanda McLeod, before suffering an overdose.

Coward and his co-defendant Reginald Webbwho has since been sentenced to spend the next 16 years in prison for distributing fentanyl and heroinwere called to help the 22-year-old. It was discovered that Coward did render aid to the victim and she survived on April 10.

The very next day, despite the overdose, Coward and Webb provided her with more fentanyl, which in turn, brought about another overdose which resulted in her death, court documents showed.

Coward distributed fentanyl to a vulnerable 22-year-old individual who was susceptible to an overdose, which led to her tragic death, said Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson. The Raleigh Police Department will continue investigating and apprehending prolific drug dealers and will not yield in the fight against fentanyl.

Coward will spend the next 15 years in prison, Webb will spend the next 16 years in prison and McLeod is still awaiting her sentencing after pleading guilty to distributing fentanyl and aiding and abetting in February 2021.

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(Bloomberg) -- Cyril Ramaphosa was reelected as South Africas president, hours after his African National Congress agreed a power-sharing deal with business-friendly opposition parties.

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Ramaphosa won 283 of the votes cast by members of National Assembly on Friday night, and Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema 44. Parties including the Democratic Alliance and Inkatha Freedom Party supported the incumbents candidacy for another five-year term, and in exchange will be allocated cabinet posts and key positions in the legislature.

This is a historic juncture in the life of our country, which requires that we must work and act together to entrench our constitutional democracy and the rule of law, and build a South Africa for all of its people, Ramaphosa said after his election in Cape Town. It is with this in mind that I declare that I accept the mission you are giving me.

The FTSE/JSE Africa All Share Index rose 0.9% on Friday following the formation of the broad alliance, while the rand gained as much as 0.7% to 18.305 per dollar.

South Africa has been in political flux since May 29 elections, when the ANC lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since it took power three decades ago, garnering slightly more than 40% of the vote. While the ANC proposed the country be ruled by a broad alliance known as a government of national unity, former President Jacob Zumas new uMkhonto weSizwe Party and the leftist EFF refused to join, leaving the DA, IFP and other smaller parties as its members.

The 400-member assembly earlier elected the ANCs Thoko Didiza, a former agriculture minister, as speaker and the DAs Annelie Lotriet as her deputy. Ramaphosa is due to be inaugurated on June 19 and announce his cabinet soon thereafter.

The participants are united in their shared respect for the constitution, and will work together to grow the economy, create jobs and tackle crime, DA leader John Steenhuisen said in a speech on the partys YouTube channel. Positions in the cabinet and legislatures will be allocated broadly in proportion to the parties share of seats, although appointments have yet to be discussed, he told reporters.

The makeup of the ruling coalition has buoyed financial markets because the new administration is likely to back Ramaphosas efforts to rein in state debt and tackle power shortages and logistics snarl-ups that have hobbled Africas biggest economy. The exclusion of parties that support land expropriation and the nationalization of mines and banks will also help shore up investor sentiment.

A framework for the new government is still being worked out, and its unclear which small parties will join, with the situation still very fluid, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula said in an interview.

The next phase will be to form a national dialog with all parties in the government of national unity in which policy will be hammered out, said Corne Mulder, chief whip of the Freedom Front Plus, the seventh-largest party. These discussions wont include any changes to the constitution.

We may have an interim cabinet until that national dialog is concluded, Mulder said. Although Ramaphosa wants to reduce the size of the cabinet, he may be forced to keep it at the current numbers in order to accommodate everybody.

The durability of the governing coalition will be put to the test over coming months, given the historically fractious relations between its members.

The ANC has previously sought to portray the DA as representing the interests of big business and South Africas White minority, and has in turn been accused of governing ineptly and failing to tackle endemic corruption. And the ANC and IFP fought an undeclared civil war in the 1980s and 1990s that was fueled by the apartheid regime and claimed thousands of lives before a truce was declared.

Power-sharing at municipal level has also been problematic. Control of several of South Africas main cities that are ruled by multiple parties has repeatedly changed hands as allegiances have shifted, and the instability has caused the delivery of water, refuse removal and other services to grind to a near-halt.

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One of South Africas most experienced politicians, the 71-year-old Ramaphosa will play a central role in trying to ensure the new administration runs smoothly and endures. He trained as a lawyer, co-founded the National Union of Mineworkers and established a reputation as deft negotiator when he led the historic talks that ended apartheid and produced the nations first democratic constitution.

He was appointed president in February 2018 and faced the formidable tasks of fixing an economy hamstrung by years of mismanagement, policy uncertainty and an energy crisis, addressing a chronic lack of jobs and tackling the graft that became institutionalized during his predecessors tenure.

He made some headway, firing a number of officials implicated in corruption and instituting several reforms, but power shortages, inept state institutions and the coronavirus pandemic have hindered efforts to engineer a turnaround.

You can follow Bloombergs reporting on Africa on WhatsApp. Sign up here.

--With assistance from Arijit Ghosh and Monique Vanek.

(Updates with Ramaphosas comments in third paragraph. An earlier version of this story corrected the vote count for Malema in second paragraph.)

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Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) criticized his Republican colleagues in Congress Saturday after they met with former President Trump in closed-door meetings earlier this week, calling the positivity around the visit a scandal and a disgrace.

The Maryland lawmakers remarks come just two days after Trump made a visit to Capitol Hill Thursday  his first since the Jan. 6, 2021, attacks  and attempted to paint a picture of GOP unity.

Well, he came back to the scene of his crime. He made no apology to 150 Capitol officers, MPD., Montgomery county police officers who were injured and wounded by the mob he unleashed against us on that day, Raskin said in an interview on MSNBCs The Weekend.

There were Republicans who had at least tried to cry foul at that moment, who now have completely swallowed all their misgivings  [and] theyre trying to pretend like nothing big happened and Donald Trump can feel proud that he has consolidated cultish type control and power over the Republican Party, he continued. But its a scandal and a disgrace for the country.

In brief remarks to the press following his meetings, Trump touted the great relationship he has with Republican lawmakers and vowed that any differences would get worked out. The presumptive GOP nominee for president also seemingly mended ties with some of his most vocal critics in the party, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and outgoing Utah Sen. Mitt Romney.

The former president has also propped up Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) in recent weeks, even inviting him to give remarks at his Mar-a-Lago resort. Johnson was among a group of GOP lawmakers who attended Trumps hush money trial in Manhattan, which recently ended with a historic conviction.

All they talked about was politics, how theyre going to try to get more people elected to give Donald Trump more power, Raskin said, after the panel played a clip from Johnson after the meeting with Trump, where he said the party was unified in helping each other win in November.

When asked if the embrace of Trump by Republicans could be a preview of whats to come if hes reelected to the White House, Raskin seemed to agree.

Whats happening in the Republican Party, whats happening with congressional Republicans: Absolute corruption of their duty, Raskin replied. I mean, we swear an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States not to uphold one guy or one party, or the interests of one billionaire sugar daddy, and yet, thats whats taking place now.

And yesterday, they bowed down to the gun manufacturers, and gave them exactly what they wanted throwing out the rule of law, he added, invoking the Supreme Courts decision Friday to invalidate a ban on bump stocks  a device that when added to firearms can convert semi-automatic weapons to ones capable of firing hundreds of rounds per minute.

The ban was put in place by Trump after a gunman used the device to kill five dozen Las Vegas concertgoers in 2017, the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.

The Friday ruling comes as the former president, who was endorsed by the National Rifle Assocation earlier this month, has looked to cast himself as the best friend of the Second Amendment and vowed more protections for gun owners if he wins in November.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
LAKE CHARLES, La. (KLFY)  A Lake Charles man, a registered sex offender, has been arrested and charged with sex crimes involving children, authorities said.

Carey B. Sollay, 47, of Lake Charles, is charged with indecent behavior with a juvenile and computer aided solicitation of a minor.

In 2021, Sollay was convicted of possession of child pornography in Lafayette, authorities said.

On June 13, detectives with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriffs Office Special Victims Unit received an indecent behavior complaint regarding a convicted sex offender. Detectives said Sollay was having sexually inappropriate conversations and sending explicit photos of himself to what he believed to be juveniles.

The same day Sollay was located and questioned by detectives at which time he confirmed the allegations, officials said.

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He was arrested and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center. At the time of his arrest, he was in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons, housed at a local work release facility.

Bond details were not released.

Latest news

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com.
After Republicans tried to ban it last year, the World Naked Bike Ride returns to Madison

MADISON  Less than a year after lawmakers in the state Capitol attempted to ban it, the World Naked Bike Ride made a triumphant return to downtown Madison on Saturday.

About 200 participants rolled toward the statehouse around 11:30 a.m., soliciting cheers, high fives, waves, cellphone photos and causing some adults and children to look away.

Many take part in the ride as an expression of body positivity and as a protest of greenhouse gas emissions. Other participants say the ride helps their confidence and mental health, or attend after surviving breast cancer and having mastectomies.

Holly McEntee, who has participated about seven times, had seen the ride happen in the past but was struck when she saw a short film about it.

"I was not feeling great. I was really unhappy with my job, I had gone through a breast cancer diagnosis," she said. "And I was watching this film, and everybody was so happy. Let's face it, it's kind of silly ... and I thought to myself, 'I'm going to do that.'"

"No one really knows I do this," said Larry, another longtime participant from the Chicago suburbs. He takes part in the ride for body positivity and sees it as a "liberating and freeing experience. Something different."

Nicholas Wootton, who made the short film and is working on a documentary about the ride, has participated in Madison's ride every year but one.

"Some people say it's really crazy. But for a certain subset of people, when they're on the bicycle and they're naked and they're riding, they're like, 'This is me. This is who I am,'" Wootton said.

Wootton was once arrested at the Chicago World Naked Bike Ride, but there aren't many legal risks to participating in Wisconsin. Madison police haven't issued citations to participants in over a decade, and the organizer of the Milwaukee event  held a week later this year  consults with police and the district attorney about the legality of the event.

More: The World Naked Bike Ride is back in Milwaukee this summer. Here's what you need to know

But Republicans heightened scrutiny of the event after a young girl participated last year. A conservative Dane County supervisor said he no longer brings his family to the farmers market or State Street after the incident.

"If you're attending the farmers market or walking around with your kids, they're going to be subject to this, whether they like it or not. And not everybody is aware this is going on," Republican Rep. Cindi Duchow from Delafield, who authored bills last fall aimed at shutting the ride down, said in an interview.

Lawmakers' attempts to ban ride missed last steps to becoming law

For a while last year, there was a chance the annual ride would not be allowed to return in Madison, or anywhere else in Wisconsin. After a girl believed to be about 10 years old participated and was photographed during the ride last year and police determined no state laws were broken, Republicans went about making changes to those laws.

More: A young girl's participation in Madison's Naked Bike Ride didn't violate state law, police say. Here's why.

The girl's participation received attention in a congressional hearing, with Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany questioning an unsuspecting Attorney General Merrick Garland about the incident. Tiffany and U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald had asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate, though Garland suggested it was a local and state issue.

Larry said maybe people shouldn't have taken pictures, though McEntee said the girl was "happy and comfortable" at the ride last year. At one hearing, a statement from the girl's mother said she and her daughter had participated multiple times. Participants have long said that nudity is not the same as sexuality.

A young girl, though unconfirmed it was the same girl who participated in the past, also took part this year, leading the crowd down State Street.

"Especially (for) girls, there's a lot of horrible messaging out there," like not being skinny enough, McEntee said. "Everybody should have an opportunity to feel good about themselves and to feel comfortable."

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers had said "it's probably not a really good idea" for children to participate but doubted the need for the bills after one incident. He never had a chance to sign the bills or reject them with his veto  they never reached his desk.

The two GOP-authored bills aimed at ending the Naked Bike Ride did pass the Senate in January. with one Democrat and all Republicans voting for them. But the proposals never reached a floor vote in the Assembly, which could have sent them to Evers. That's the fate some bills reach at the end of a session; they are passed by one chamber and not the other.

Duchow, one of the lead authors, said the verbiage needed to be tightened in one bill and lawmakers ran out of time to redraft it and get it through the Senate. She said she would bring the bills back next session.

"In theory, all of my colleagues agreed with me," Duchow said. "I can tell you, when I brought it up in caucus, the people who are from up north and not from the area here, thought I was kidding."

Participants, artists defended free speech in public hearings

At hearings for the bills last fall, lawmakers debated whether the legislation's wording could have unintended consequences. One of the bills would have changed the language in state law from "indecent" exposure of genitals in public to simply "intentional" exposure, with exceptions for breastfeeding or diapering a baby.

The other bill would have prohibited people from allowing minors to attend "an event at which a group of adult participants intentionally expose their genitals, buttocks or other intimate parts in a public area." It would also ban taking pictures of nude children at the event, unless for the purpose of immediately reporting it to police.

A participant in the Naked Bike Ride poses for a portrait as he travels past the lakeside at James Madison Park in Madison, Wis., on Saturday, June 15, 2024.

Sen. LaTonya Johnson, a Democrat from Milwaukee, was concerned the bill could be interpreted to prevent parents from bringing children to a Beyonce concert, for example, where dancers may show their buttocks on stage. Senate President Chris Kapenga said he doubted Beyonce wouldn't hold concerts in Wisconsin "because she can't expose her crack."

Republican authors of the legislation, including Kapenga, made clear the bills were a response to the incident at Madison's World Naked Bike Ride. But artists testified that the bills could criminalize their work with nude models.

Participants defended their right to assembly to lawmakers and argued Republicans themselves have focused for years on enhancing individual rights like the right to work or carry a firearm.

"There are issues of personal rights and personal expression that are at stake here; those matter. There are issues of parental rights that were at issue; those are also critically important," Wootton said. "It is still an act of peaceful protest and deserves legal protection."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Naked Bike Ride returns to Madison after legislation to ban it failed
I am often asked about the reasons and mechanisms behind the deportation of Ukrainian children. It is especially difficult to understand for Western audiences. What is deportation? How do Russians take Ukrainian children? And, most importantly, why do they do it?

Since 2014, 20 per cent of Ukrainian children have been living in Russian-occupied territories or have been deported to Russia or occupied territories. Among the children rescued by Save Ukraine are tens of thousands from conflict zones.

We have already returned more than 360 children from Russia and Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine. And our rescue missions continue.

In 2014, nearly a million children found themselves in the occupied territories of Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk. How many of them were deported to Russia is still unknown. Now some of these children are being militarised and used as weapons against their fellow Ukrainians. These children are fighting on the side of Russia.

The return of Ukrainian children will undoubtedly be a crucial aspect of the peace summit in Switzerland. Any meaningful peace agreement must address the humanitarian crisis caused by the abduction and displacement of innocent children during the conflict.

First and foremost, the return of Ukrainian children is a moral imperative. These children have been forcibly separated from their families and communities, enduring unimaginable trauma and uncertainty. Their safe return is essential not only for their wellbeing but also for the healing and reconciliation of Ukrainian society as a whole.

Moreover, the repatriation of abducted children is a tangible step towards building trust and fostering goodwill between conflicting parties. It demonstrates a commitment to upholding basic human rights and international humanitarian law, laying the groundwork for genuine reconciliation and lasting peace.

Teenagers Serhiy (left) and Denis Berezhnyi (centre right) stand at the Save Ukraine HQ in Kyiv with Mykola Kuleba (right) after being rescued from occupied Crimea in June 2023. Ukrainian flags are draped over their shoulders, as is custom for all children upon their return home (Save Ukraine)

By prioritising the return of Ukrainian children at the peace summit, world leaders can send a powerful message of solidarity and support to the people of Ukraine. It will serve as a symbol of hope for the countless families still waiting for the return of their loved ones and reaffirm the international community's commitment to justice and compassion.

Ignoring the plight of these children risks perpetuating cycles of violence and resentment, undermining the prospects for long-term peace and reconciliation.

Therefore, as world leaders gather in Switzerland to discuss the future of Ukraine, they must prioritise the return of kidnapped children as a vital component of any comprehensive peace agreement. Only by addressing the human cost of the conflict can we hope to build a future where all Ukrainian children can grow up in safety, security, and peace.

We are grateful to everyone who joins and investigates the terrible crimes of the Russians against Ukrainian children. Work such as that carried out by The Independent contributes to the awareness of the entire international community that, in the heart of Europe, in 2024, crimes against humanity are being committed.

Our call to action today is not just a plea for awareness but a demand for international support and accountability. The annihilation of Ukrainian culture and the forced assimilation of our children into Russian society is a deliberate strategy that cannot be ignored. We urge you to support Ukraine and hold those responsible accountable. There must be a mechanism for returning children.

Mykola Kuleba is the founder and CEO of Save Ukraine  the largest network for rescuing children from war in Ukraine
In order to get on the ballot in President Joe Bidens home state, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has turned to a group whose leaders include Trump supporters and election deniers, one of whom claims he was in D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021.

Despite Delawares measly three electoral votes, the third-party candidate desperately needs to get on the ballot in enough states to have a shot at qualifying for the first presidential debate, on June 27 in Atlanta.

The Biden and Trump campaigns have no interest in Kennedy joining them, as The Daily Beast has reported.

Now Kennedy, 70, has enlisted the help of the Independent Party of Delaware (IPD), which has the ability to put forward its own candidate in November.

In doing so the Kennedy campaign has, not for the first time, placed itself in the company of some extreme Trump supporters.

In May, Kennedy appeared at an event hosted by the Constitutional Coalition of New York State, a group with ties to Trump and the Stop the Steal movement, which advances the former presidents electoral fraud lie.

Now, in Delaware, Kennedy is working with the IPDa party whose vice chairman, Phil Dyer, has admitted he was in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021the day Trump sent a mob to attack the Capitol, in a deadly attempt to stop certification of Bidens election win.

So I was there Jan 6th, Dyer tweeted in August 2022. I left after hearing Trump because everything was peaceful. Never thought he made any threats. Never thought the Capitol would be stormed.

Nonetheless, Dyer has also called for another insurrection, posting in February this year that Jan 6 part 2 is action packed. Get out the popcorn. The month before, he reposted a meme showing a gallows with the caption, I am past the point of just wanting them in prison. The original poster explicitly referred to the Biden administration.

Dyer has asked, Can we bring Trump back before the nukes start going off? and Can we bring Trump back before we are all dead?

In February he also posted a baseless claim about Black people supposedly ganging up to jump innocent whites.

The same month, Dyer compared his family heritage to the legacy of slavery in the U.S., complaining about how his grandparents were Irish slaves. Where are our reparations? Oh yeah only blacks get them.

The same month, Dyer said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY)the House Democratic leader and the first Black American to hold the postshould be sent to Guantanamo Bay.

He has also said LGBTQ+ Pride Month and Black History Month contribute to the demoralization of the straight white man.

Kennedy, in contrast, is a scion of a famous Democratic political dynasty: His father was the New York senator and U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, a younger brother of President John F. Kennedy. This year, though, RFK Jr. is widely seen as a menace to the political establishmenta spoiler candidate likely to damage another Democratic president, Biden, and help Trump, the Republican, in battleground states.

Among leaders of the party that Kennedy wants to use to get him on the ballot in Delaware, Dyer has repeatedly expressed support for Trump and has said he plans to vote for him in 2024.

Nor is Dyer alone in holding hard-right views. IPD Chairman Donald Ayotte has repeatedly claimed the 2020 election was stolen, and defended the Confederate flag, according to screenshots of Facebook posts and stories obtained by The Daily Beast.

In a 2022 Facebook post showing a Confederate flag, Ayotte wrote, It is My View That This Is A Part Of American History. Good Or Bad, That This Is A Reminder That Slavery Is Unbelievably Wrong.

Kathy DeMatteis, the IPD creative director, has also expressed support for Trump.

In October 2022, she tweeted: If you are claiming that there was no Evidence of election tampering in the 2020 election than [sic.] how do you explain the Federal Reserve Board of Governors giving me back my money when they closed my election bank account down when I ran for Governor of Delaware?

Dyer, Ayotte and DeMatties did not respond to requests for comment.

Nor did the Kennedy campaign.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Rich tourists rejoice! Greece is finally doing something about the cruise ship problem.

Rich tourists rejoice! Greece is finally doing something about the cruise ship problem.

Greece's prime minister reportedly aims to limit cruise ships at Mykonos and Santorini.

The islands have become overrun by cruise passengers over the last few years.

And the rich tourists staying on the island aren't happy about it.

Tourists headed to the expensive hotels of Mykonos and Santorini: rejoice!

Greece's prime minister is reportedly moving to limit the number of unattractive cruise ships clogging the harbors of the country's most popular islands  ruining views of sunsets and leading to overcrowding on the picturesque narrow streets.

"There are people spending a lot of money to be on Santorini and they don't want the island to be swamped," Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told Bloomberg.

Since the pandemic, the European nation has seen an influx of tourists. About 36 million people visited Greece last year, up 20.8% from 2022, according to data from the Bank of Greece.

The increased demand, in addition to macroeconomic factors, has made the country more expensive to visit, with the average overnight stay costing 8.6% more in 2023 than in 2022, also according to the Bank of Greece.

Some who want to experience the islands without the high costs have turned to cruises, whose passengers have grown disproportionately  a 61.1% increase, year over year  the Bank of Greece reported. On Mykonos and Santorini, two of the most popular islands, the number of passengers arriving by cruise increased by 74% and 57%, respectively, according to a report by the Greek Tourism Confederation.

That's led to headaches for the local population, as well as those paying a lot of money to stay on the islands, which have become expensive travel destinations for the well-heeled looking to visit luxury hotels and shop at designer stores. Mykonos has a Soho House (it costs over $1,000 per night in peak season) and several Louis Vuitton boutiques, plus a pop-up. Santorini has a Nobu.

But the influx of cruise passengers who descend on the islands has made their iconic white alleyways almost impossible to navigate, and the enormous vessels they arrive on have marred the famous views.

Last summer, visitors and locals took to social media to complain.

"Another inconsiderate cruise ship blocking the sunset," one X user in Mykonos said.

"Streets are full even in the middle of the day with sun beating down," Georgios Hatzimanolis, who often documents the ships going in and out of the port during his summers in Mykonos, wrote last year. "Not sure this is enjoyable for them or for the rest of visitors, certainly not sustainable."

"It was much dirtier, more crowded and overdeveloped in ugly ways than when I visited it twice ten years ago," a Reddit user said of Santorini. "Used to be stunning back in 2012. The local government has let tourism ruin the island.

"In Santorini, even tourists complain about the great number of tourists," Greece's ombudsman said in a report released on Thursday.

Reducing the number of ships allowed will be a welcome change for those who want to enjoy their expensive lemonade without a throng of (likely less rich) tourists ruining their meal.

The boats that will still be received with open arms? Yachts, which tourists seemingly have no problem with. In fact, Koru, the superyacht owned by Jeff Bezos, has already made its way to Greece for the summer.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Ridgewood  the eighth hottest homebuying town in New Jersey in May, with a median home price of $1.18 million  is known to have homes sell for a pretty hefty price tag. But one home just raised the bar, setting a record for the most expensive home sale on the village's east side.

The home at 104 Brookside Ave. was originally listed for $3.495 million on April 4. After receiving multiple offers, the home was under contract in just six days and sold for $3.7 million on May 10. Before this, the home just next door  102 Brookside Ave.  had been the priciest property to sell on Ridgewood's east side, at $3.15 million.

The six-bedroom, seven-bathroom Craftsman-style home has about 4,126-square-feet of living space on a 0.78-acre lot. It features a gourmet kitchen, a banquet-sized dining room, a large family room and a first-floor bedroom. There is a large primary suite and four other bedrooms on the second floor, a third floor with an additional bedroom and a finished lower level with a custom kitchenette, home gym, storage and space for an office or extra bedroom.

The home at 104 Brookside Ave. in Ridgewood, which sold for $3.7 million in May.

The home was initially built in 1900, but listing agents Laura Gill and Ally Donoghue of The Gill Group at Keller Williams Village Square Realty said the property underwent an extensive renovation in 2021. While it was updated to include modern conveniences, the remodel involved maintaining some of the property's unique, traditional details.

The home is centrally located on Ridgewood's east side and within walking distance of the Hawes, Travell and Somerville elementary schools.

"Really something about this house is that it is the perfect blend of classic architecture," Gill said. "That's why people still move to Ridgewood. They want that charming, beautiful exterior and yet, it has all the modern amenities. So it just has these luxurious amenities throughout and a modern, very fresh and livable floor plan."

The home at 104 Brookside Ave. in Ridgewood, which sold for $3.7 million in May.

Donoghue said one of these classic features is the home's wraparound, screened-in porch, which adds both curb appeal and desirable outdoor living space to the home. The property also backs up to the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook, which she said offers a scenic view throughout the home, including through the French doors, the great room and the primary bedroom.

When it came to preparing the property to be listed, Donoghue said there wasn't much to do besides cleaning and touching up certain details.

"In a luxury market like that, every single small detail is obviously so important. Even the little things like bringing a painter through a couple of days before it went live to do tiny little touch-ups, deep cleaning, power washing  all of those things are really what we focused on," she said. "Then, we just tried to showcase the house as best as possible. We had a professional stager, an interior designer, walk through the space and make sure that the furniture placement was right, that the colors were showing properly and to add finishing touches. Simple things like that can make a really big difference."

The home at 104 Brookside Ave. in Ridgewood, which sold for $3.7 million in May.

Once the home was listed, Donoghue said Keller Williams only did private showings instead of holding open houses. She said they did this to vet potential buyers, and to ensure that anyone putting in an offer had strong finances, whether it be through preapprovals or proof of funds.

In the end, she said a cash offer was accepted, and that the buyers and sellers were able to agree on terms fairly quickly, which made the process as smooth as possible.

"The average days on the market in Ridgewood is 16. So it is a very fast moving market, but especially for a luxury home to be under contract after five days is pretty quick," Gill said. "In a process like this, it's just really important to align yourself with the right team who's going to have that attention to detail, do the right preparation, market and has the right connections."

Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay , on X @maddiemcgayy , and sign up for her North Jersey Living newsletter. Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her at MMcGay@gannett.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Ridgewood real estate just set a price record. Again
SPRINGDALE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  A Rogers man accused of shooting at and threatening to kill a pregnant woman and her family pleaded not guilty on Wednesday, according to court documents.

Jose de Jesus Ortiz, 20 (Courtesy: Washington County Sheriffs Office)

Jose de Jesus Ortiz, 20, was arrested by Springdale police on April 28 on first-degree attempted murder, first-degree terroristic threatening, and second-degree criminal mischief charges.

A woman told police she had been in a verbal and physical argument with De Jesus Ortiz with whom she had a sexual relationship, according to a preliminary report.

The woman said the argument began in Fayetteville when she told De Jesus Ortiz of her pregnancy and her belief that he was the father.

She said De Jesus Ortiz began to get upset and physical with her. The woman then left De Jesus Ortiz in Fayetteville.

Springdale police accuse Rogers man of shooting at, threatening to kill pregnant woman

The woman said De Jesus Ortiz began to message the other woman in Springdale. In the messages, he allegedly told the woman he was going to kill her and her family multiple times, according to the report.

The woman reportedly had one of De Jesus Ortizs guns while in Springdale, and parked at a gas station, the report said. De Jesus Ortiz found her at the gas station and allegedly shattered one of the windows in her car. The woman told police she then drove away.

De Jesus Ortiz told the woman that if she returned his gun, he would not kill her. She then agreed and met up with him to return the gun.

The woman said he got out of his vehicle with three other men who were masked. De Jesus Ortiz then put a mask on and pulled out a gun. He pointed the gun at the woman and fired several times but she escaped unharmed, according to the report.

De Jesus Ortiz has a trial date set for November 18. He is being held in the Washington County Detention Center on a $500,000 bond.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
The boyfriend of Giselle Tapia-Salazar, the mother of four found hanging from a Texas dock, is maintaining that he had nothing to do with her death, as investigators comb through thousands of video files, looking for clues as to what really happened to her.

James Hart claims that Giselle got up to use the restroom in the middle of the night, and never returned.

"There are so many questions and there's no answers. I don't understand why because we have cameras all over this marina," Hart said through tears in an interview with KHOU, "there should be no doubt about this. There should be no way this isn't all filmed."

"I want justice for Giselle and for myself."

A neighbor who lives near the marina also spoke to the outlet about the nature of Hart and Salazar's relationship, saying that the couple "fought like crazy, and loved like crazy."

The neighbor also corroborated that there was history of disturbance calls at Hart's boat in the past.

On May 31, officers responded to reports of "a woman hanging off a dock of a marina" in the 700 block of Davis Road, according to the League City Police Department, adding that callers told authorities that the body appeared to be "lifeless" and "hung from a rope."

Responding officers and League City Fire Department staff quickly pronounced the woman, later identified by friends as Salazar, dead at the scene.

Nearly two weeks after her body was discovered, police say that foul play is suspected.

"Because of the position of her arm, we believe she probably passed away somewhere else. Rigor mortis set in and then she was moved, her arms stayed in that position," League City Police Lt. Eric Cox told KHOU.

Authorities are still waiting on a medical examiner's report and a toxicology report to determine her true cause of death.
Romania will not allow Russian and Belarusian delegations to attend OSCE Parliamentary Assembly

The Romanian authorities have refused to issue visas to Russian and Belarusian delegations to attend the annual session of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly (PA), which will be held in Romania from 29 June to 3 July.

Source: Radu Filip, spokesperson for Romania's Foreign Ministry, on Saturday, 15 June, as reported by European Pravda, citing News.ro news outlet

Details: According to Filip, Bucharest has denied the Russian delegation access to the annual session of the OSCE PA, a move that applies to all members of the delegation, parliamentarians and technical staff.

"The decision of the Romanian side is based on Romania's known and consistent stance towards the Russian Federation in the context of the ongoing aggressive war against Ukraine," Filip said.

The official added that the restriction on participation in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly also applies to Belarus, "which supports the war unleashed by the Russian Federation".

The Russian delegation has previously refused to attend at least two sessions of the OSCE PA  in autumn 2023 in Yerevan and in winter 2024 in Vienna. Russian parliamentarians also did appear at the sessions in the UK and Canada in 2022 and 2023, respectively, due to a lack of visas.

Background:

In July 2023, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly adopted a declaration recognising Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Earlier this year, Russia announced its suspension from the OSCE PA.

The Parliamentary Assembly brings together 57 member states of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

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A runner has died while participating in the Ultra Trail of Haut-Giffre (UTHG) competition on Saturday, organizers said in a statement, amid rough weather conditions in the area.

It is with great sadness that we announce that UTHG has just learned of a tragic event with the accidental death of a racer, organizers said. All our thoughts are with the victims family and relatives, the statement added.

The runner was not identified in the statement and organizers said first responders provided aid while awaiting transport.

In such circumstances, we have decided to cancel the rest of the event, the statement added.

CNN has reached out to the organization for further comment.

The incident involved four runners who fell off a trail due to a slippery track, the local prosecutor told CNN affiliate BFMTV on Saturday.

The four runners fell in a mountainous area made slippery by the weather, Bonneville public prosecutor Karline Bouisset told BFMTV.

One of the four people included a man in his 50s who died at the scene and was believed to have passed away due to a cardiorespiratory arrest, Bouisset told BFMTV, adding that the exact cause of death would be determined by an autopsy.

Among those who fell, two men were severely injured but were in stable condition, according to Bouisset. The fourth person involved was a woman who suffered a less severe injury. The three injured runners had all been transported to a hospital, according to Bouisset.

The prosecutors office had launched an investigation into the incident, she told BFMTV.

The three-day run takes place in the eastern French department of Haute Savoie, in the French Alps, and was set to run from June 14 to 16.

Organizers were forced to postpone the start of the run due to difficult weather conditions earlier on Saturday.

Mountain weather forecasts warned of intense meteorological conditions for the northern French Alps early Saturday morning, around the time of the tragedy.

At the end of the night/beginning of the day, an active disturbance sweeps across the region from west to east, said Meteo Alpes, an independent weather service provider specialized in the northern French Alps, on Thursday.

A brief thunderstorm is possible, with wet condition for lower level and snow will appear under the highest intensities starting at 2600/2700 meters, its forecast said.

Its not clear how many runners in total were injured during the bad weather.

According to a statement from the organizers early on Saturday, all participants were expected to have been evacuated by Saturday afternoon.

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Russia has carried out 38 airstrikes and deployed 490 kamikaze UAVs in the past 24 hours  Ukraine's General Staff

Throughout the day on 14 June, the Russian forces launched six missile attacks on Ukrainian territory, totalling seventeen missiles. In addition, 38 air strikes were recorded, using 57 guided aerial bombs and 490 kamikaze drones.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook; information as of 21:29 on 14 June

Details: Russia used a variety of weapons to launch almost 3,000 assaults on the positions of the Ukrainian army and surrounding villages.

In the same time period, Ukraines Air Force, Rocket and Artillery Forces targeted 15 clusters of Russian personnel, three air defence systems, two ammunition depots, and another critical object.

There were 81 combat clashes recorded at the front.

On the Kharkiv front, the Russians attempted to carry out assaults in the vicinity of Vovchansk and Tykhe three times, each with air support..

10 combat clashes with the Russian forces occurred on the Kupiansk front.

On the Lyman front, Russian troops attacked Ukrainian positions nine times.

On the Kramatorsk front, the Russian actions in the area of Andriivka proved to be unsuccessful.

Quote: "The enemy of the Ukrainian forces is attacking heavily on the Pokrovsk front. Throughout the day, the aggressor carried out 29 assaults and hostile activities. The Russian invaders continue to be most active in the area of Novooleksandrivka, Sokol and Novopokrovsk. In total, 17 attacks on the Ukrainian defenders' positions were staved off, with another 12 combat clashes underway. The situation is difficult, but the Defence Forces have everything under control. Our soldiers are working to prevent the enemy from advancing into Ukrainian territory.

According to current information, the aggressor's casualties in this direction totaled 263 killed and injured. In addition, some invaders surrendered. We destroyed one tank, three artillery systems, eight automobiles, and five armoured combat vehicles. In addition, two vehicles, five AFVs, two tanks, and three enemy cannons were damaged.

There were 20 combat clashes that occurred on the right of the Kurakhiv front. The invaders are still quite active, attempting to push near the settlements of Krasnohorivka, Paraskoviivka and Kostiantynivka. The Defence Forces have repelled 16 enemy attacks, four of which are currently underway."

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Three civilians have been killed and five others injured as a result of a Russian attack on the Volnovakha district in Donetsk Oblast.

Source: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutors Office

Details: The Russian army attacked the village of Ulakly in the Volnovakha district on 15 June 2024. Investigation materials indicate that the Russians used a Smerch multiple launcher rocket system with cluster munitions. The munitions hit a residential area.

As a result of the attack on the settlement, a 30-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman were killed. Another 32-year-old resident received fatal injuries and died during transportation to hospital.

Photo: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutors Office

Five citizens, aged from 27 to 63, received injuries of varying severity while they were near a local store at the time. They were taken to hospital, where they received qualified medical care.

Photo: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutors Office

Several houses and cars were damaged in the settlement.

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Russias increasing use of hybrid and gray-zone attacks against European countries is posing a major challenge for the U.S. and NATO: how to respond without sparking a major conflict with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Baltic countries, Poland and the Czech Republic in particular, are raising alarm that acts of sabotage  and sometimes fatal attacks against individuals  allegedly sponsored by Russia are a growing threat to Europe and the defensive alliance.

Russia is throwing at us all the time new challenges, new risks, and hybrid has turned to be one of the serious ones for the alliance, Estonias ambassador to NATO, Juri Luik, said in an interview with The Hill in Washington last week.

In all seriousness, we have to respond because if we dont respond, this will grow. And Russia will feel that there are no limits to what they can do in our countries, and obviously, there is also a discussion among allies about what would be the best responses.

Just in the past few weeks, Estonia has raised alarm that Russia was behind the GPS jamming and disrupting of a commercial flight, and that Russia is sowing confusion along the border by removing maritime border lines.

Poland has blamed the recent death of a Polish border guard as part of the larger, hybrid threat from Belarus and directed by Moscow. Lithuania has said Russia was likely behind a March attack on a Russian political dissident in Vilnius.

A hacking group based in Russia is accused of carrying out a dangerous cyberattack against major hospitals in London this month, and instances of arson across NATO countries  targeting supply warehouses for Ukraine but also civilian sites like an Ikea in Lithuania  have raised suspicions of Russian sabotage.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged late last month that the Kremlin was intensifying its hybrid attacks against NATO members and raised the possibility of potential retaliation.

We know what theyre up to, and we will respond both individually and collectively as necessary, he said following a meeting with foreign ministers of NATO countries.

It is important for countries to respond, including collectively as NATO, to show Russia that lines cannot be crossed, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told a group of Baltic officials during a meeting in June.

But NATO countries are likely going to have to accept some risk because Russias hybrid activities are too cost-effective for them to stop. Theres no clear answer to establish deterrence, officials at the meeting discussed.

John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson, said that the U.S. is closely watching Russian malign activity, but said its efforts to counter Putin were focused on sanctions targeting Russias war economy and increasing military and economic support for Ukraine.

We are watching these, quote, unquote, hybrid attacks, to use your phrase, closely, Kirby said, responding to a question from The Hill about whether the topic would be addressed at the leaders summit of Group of Seven nations this week, or at the NATO summit to be held in Washington in July.

We are certainly mindful that these are the kinds of things that Russia has done in the past and has certainly continued to prove their capability of doing now. It is a page from their playbook.

The leaders of the Bucharest Nine  the countries on NATOs eastern flank  expressed urgency in a statement earlier this week: We are deeply concerned about Russias recent malign hybrid activities on Allied territory, which constitute a threat to Allied security, they said.

These incidents are part of an intensifying campaign of activities which Russia continues to carry out across the Euro-Atlantic area, including sabotage, acts of violence, cyber and electronic interference, provocations related to Allied borders, disinformation campaigns and other hybrid operations.

Estonias Ambassador to NATO Juri Luik speaks in an interview with The Hill in Washington in June. (Credit: Karl-Gerhard Lille/Embassy of Estonia)

Luik, Estonias ambassador to NATO, said responses so far are focused on defensive actions, but that information-sharing between countries experiencing these types of attacks should be prioritized.

Our position is that we should be unified, we should also be public, meaning we should inform the public what Russia is doing and explain how they operate, he said.

And of course its very important to exchange information between allies, because often the modus operandi of those various groups are pretty similar. Exchange of information is important.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, following a meeting of NATO Defense Ministers on Friday, said the alliance is prioritizing intelligence sharing and that potential action likely includes imposing further restrictions on Russian intelligence personnel, restricting their movements or possibly expelling them.

What NATO has done is to partly make Allies aware that these are not kind of individual random things, theyre part of a campaign from Russia or a campaign of hostile actions, he said.

Elisabeth Braw, author of The Defenders Dilemma: Identifying and Deterring Gray-Zone Aggression, said these provocations are hard to detect and predict. And there are no clear guidelines for a response.

The reason theres no punishment is because its not a military attack, so we dont have a rule book for how to respond, she said. Theres also a major challenge of assigning blame. It took seven years for Czech authorities to point to Russia as behind an arson attack in 2014.

We cant respond in kind, and issuing condemnations doesnt exactly frighten the perpetrator, said Braw, who is also a senior fellow with the Atlantic Council in its Transatlantic Security Initiative.

Braw also questioned whether its NATOs responsibility to respond to gray-zone attacks, and said its more important for governments to build resilience within the public and private sector.

The thinking hasnt really advanced much since the last NATO summit, she said.

The government will need to involve  when they think of a proper defense and retaliation strategy  the private sector, she added, citing a number of initiatives from Sweden, the Czech Republic, Finland and Australia as having built up collaboration with wider society in identifying and pushing back against such threats.

The Swedish Psychological Defense Agency is a really good model for when it comes to detecting disinformation that comes from abroad  the Czech Republic has gray-zone exercises to which companies are invited, I think its a brilliant scheme. Thats something I hope other countries will pick up, and essentially, copy [and] paste what the Czechs have done.

Braw also suggested that with information-sharing between NATO allies, member states who were not victims of attacks could quietly impose visa restrictions on individuals identified as perpetrators.

Many governments are totally unused to this whole-of-society approach, and it is really difficult frankly. I work on a lot of these thorny issues, and it is really hard to figure out.

Can Kasapoglu, a nonresident senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, warned Russia may increase hybrid attacks against defense manufacturing facilities in Europe surrounding the NATO summit.

He highlighted as major warning signals a fire in May at a chemical plant in Germany, whose parent company is connected to manufacturing air defenses for Kyiv, and the foiling of an arson attempt, labeled as terrorism, in the Czech Republic.

Thinking like a Russian and studying the Russian military mindset, [Europes] defense industry would be under huge risks from the Russian subversive and sabotage activities following the [NATO] summit. We have to be very careful about that, he said.

Kasapoglu called for a reshaping of how countries view Russias malign activity, pointing to actions that extend well beyond NATOs European borders, to include Russias military and political influence campaigns in Africa, and propaganda efforts meant to turn global south countries against the West.

The first action we have to take is to understand that we do not even have a right diagnosis  If the diagnosis is wrong, I can guarantee that the treatment will be wrong, he said.

I would call it unrestricted Russian warfare. The Russian way of warfare does not have to be, and is not restricted by, the Western intellectual boundaries that we are fooling ourselves with. The Russian way of warfare is unrestrained warfare. Warfare by all means.

The NATO summit, taking place in Washington July 9 through 11, will be a test of how seriously the alliance  and the U.S. in particular  is taking the threat.

The U.S. position is of crucial importance in NATO, and especially because the U.S. is the host country, which gives it even more added importance, Luik told The Hill.

The positions are not yet cast in stone.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Russia kills and wounds civilians in attacks on Kharkiv Oblast

Aftermath of the Russian attack on Kharkiv Oblast. Photo: Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration

At least one person was killed and two wounded in Russian attacks on Kharkiv Oblast on 14 June.

Source: Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration

Details: It is noted that Russian forces dropped five aerial bombs on the village of Kutuzivka, hitting farms and damaging agricultural machinery and a house.

In Hlushkivka, a Russian projectile hit the ground near a kindergarten.

A woman, 58, was killed.

Two residential buildings were destroyed and three houses were damaged as a result of a Russian attack on the village of Bohuslavka.

Two people were injured: a man and a woman who lived in one of the houses.

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Russian troops on the Vremivka front were three times more active on Saturday than on the previous day, with 10 attacks being recorded there.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 22:00 on 15 June

Quote: "Compared to the previous day, the activity of the Russian occupiers on the Vremivka front has tripled. Today, the aggressor attacked the front line ten times near Vodiane, Urozhaine and Staromaiorske. The situation is tense. Measures are being taken to stabilise the situation."

Details: A total of 91 combat clashes took place on the front line on Saturday. The situation was most intense on the Pokrovsk front.

The Russians have launched two missile strikes and 39 airstrikes on Ukrainian territory over the past day, deploying 48 guided bombs and 423 kamikaze drones. They fired more than 3,000 times on Ukrainian positions and populated areas using various types of weapons.

On the Kharkiv front, Ukrainian defenders successfully thwarted six Russian attempts to improve their position near Vovchansk and Tykhe during the day.

The total number of combat clashes on the Kupiansk and Lyman fronts increased to 15. The Russians tried to push the Ukrainian defence forces back from their positions near Petropavlivka, Pishchane, Andriivka, Hrekivka, Makiivka, Nevske, and Serebrianka forest. 12 attacks were repelled, and three clashes are ongoing near Hrekivka and Nevske. The situation is under the Ukrainian defenders control.

On the Siversk front, the Russians made four unsuccessful attempts to attack Ukrainian positions near Verkhnokamianske and Rozdolivka. Four attempts to dislodge the Ukrainian defenders near Hryhorivka, Chasiv Yar and Klishchiivka on the Kramatorsk front also failed.

The situation on the Pokrovsk front is still tense. The number of combat clashes has increased to 33 since the beginning of the day. The Russians are most active near Ocheretyne. They continue their attempts to break into Ukrainian combat formations near Novooleksandrivka, Yevhenivka, Vozdvyzhenka, Kalynove, Sokil, Novoselivka Persha, Karlivka and Umanske. The defence forces have repelled 25 Russian attacks; eight clashes are still ongoing.

Preliminary estimates indicate that Russian losses on this front amounted to 232 people, 86 of whom were killed. One armoured combat vehicle and two mortars for five vehicles were destroyed. Three cannons, a mortar and a vehicle were damaged.

On the Kurakhove front, the Russians carried out 11 assault attacks near Nevelske, Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Pobieda, Paraskoviivka, Novomykhailivka and Kostiantynivka. So far, nine attacks have been successfully repelled. The situation remains tense near Krasnohorivka, where two clashes are currently taking place. Ukraines defence forces are taking measures to prevent the Russians from advancing deeper into the territory of Ukraine.

On the Orikhiv front, three Russian attacks in the vicinity of Mala Tokmachka and Robotyne were unsuccessful. There were no losses of [Ukrainian] positions or territory.

On the Prydniprovske front, the Russians latest attempt to attack Ukrainian troops' positions near Krynky failed.

There were no significant changes on the other fronts.

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Russian aircraft gets lost in Swedish airspace for the first time since Sweden joined NATO

On the evening of 14 June, Sweden recorded a violation of its airspace by a Russian Su-24 bomber.

Source: Swedish Defence Forces in a press release; European Pravda

Details: The Swedish Armed Forces report that a Russian Su-24 violated Swedish airspace east of the southern tip of Gotland. The Swedish side sent a warning to the aircraft but received no response.

After that, two Swedish Jas-39 Gripen fighters were raised to accompany the Su-24. According to the Swedish Armed Forces, the violation was brief.

Quote: "Russia's behaviour is unacceptable and shows disrespect for our territorial integrity. We have been following the whole course of events and were on the spot to intervene," said Commander of the Swedish Air Force Jonas Wikman.

The last time Russia carried out such unauthorised flights was in 2022, when Russian Su-27 and Su-24 violated Swedish airspace, even before the country became a NATO member.

Background:

Finland also spoke of airspace violations by Russian fighter jets, as it joined NATO along with Sweden after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

It was reported that the number of NATO fighter jet sorties to intercept Russian aircraft approaching NATO airspace over the Baltic Sea region increased by 20-25% in the first quarter of 2024.

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Russian airstrike causes destruction in Kharkiv Oblast  photos

Aftermath of Russian attack on the village of Kutuzivka. Photo: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office

On 14 June, the Russian army carried out airstrikes at the village of Kutuzivka, Kharkiv Oblast.

Source: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office on Telegram

Quote: "The pre-trial investigation determined that on 14 June, at about 16:20, the enemy carried out airstrikes on the village of Kutuzivka in Kharkiv Oblast."

Aftermath of Russian attack on the village of Kutuzivka

Photo: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office

Details: The Russians also damaged agricultural structures and equipment, as well as residential buildings. There were no injuries.

Aftermath of Russian attack on the village of Kutuzivka

Photo: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office

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Russian forces attacked eight communities in Sumy Oblast on June 14, killing one civilian and injuring seven, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported.

The communities of Khotin, Yunakivka, Myropillia, Krasnopllia, Velyka Pysarivka, Esman, Shalyhyne, and Shostka were targeted during the day's attacks.

A drone attack in Esman struck a bus carrying 20 civilian passengers and injured three people. In Shostka, a missile attack killed one person and injured four others.

Russian forces assailed the Sumy border with multiple weapons throughout the day, including drones, mortars, artillery, and missiles. A total of 38 explosions were recorded.

Strikes against Sumy Oblast have become increasingly destructive in recent months. A Russian rocket attack on May 29 on Krasnopillia killed two civilians and injured three others.

Amid intensified attacks, Ukrainian authorities have ordered evacuations from the region. Sumy Oblast borders Russia's Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod oblasts.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Kyiv claims entire Russian tank company destroyed in Donbas

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Russian attacks over the past day damaged an energy facility in Chernihiv Oblast and a high-voltage substation in an unspecified location in Ukraine's eastern region, Ukraine's Energy Ministry said on June 15.

The attacks caused almost 1,800 households to lose power in Chernihiv Oblast, as well as an unknown number of households to lose power in Ukraine's east. A powerline was also disconnected for "technical reasons" in Kirovohrad Oblast, causing some households to lose electricity, the Energy Ministry said.

The attacks caused a deficit in the country's power supply, requiring additional electricity to be diverted from Poland.

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.

In a "worst-case" scenario in which Ukraine is unable to repair damaged energy facilities and prevent future attacks, Ukrainians could experience up to 20 hours of blackouts a day, Executive Director of Ukraine's largest privately-owned energy company DTEK Dmytro Sakharuk told the Kyiv Independent in an interview on June 9.

Russian missile and drone attacks have reportedly destroyed 9 gigawatts (GW) of Ukraine's capacity.

Read also: Ukraine wants to restore energy facilities damaged by Russia by winter with allied help, Zelensky says at Berlin conference

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Russian forces hit the village of Ulakly in Donetsk Oblast on June 15, killing three people and injuring five, Governor Vadym Filashkin said.

Russia reportedly hit the settlement with cluster munition launched from a Smerch rocket launcher at around 9 a.m. Kyiv has repeatedly accused Moscow of using cluster munitions in attacks against civilian areas.

The civilians who were killed include two women aged 32 and 39 and a 30-year-old man. Two administrative buildings, a house, a shop, and eight cars were damaged, Filashkin said.

Ulakly lies in the Volnovakha district in the southwestern part of Donetsk Oblast. The oblast has been partially occupied since 2014 and suffers Russian attacks on a daily basis.

Over the previous day, Russian strikes injured six residents of Donetsk Oblast.

Read also: Police find evidence of Russian cluster munitions in Kyiv Oblast

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Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of Ukraine's Defence Intelligence, has said that Ukrainian forces used at least 70 drones to strike at the Russian Morozovsk airbase (Rostov Oblast) on the night of 13-14 June.

Source: Budanov in a comment to The War Zone project

Details: Budanov said that the operation was launched from the territory of Ukraine and at least 70, and likely even more, Ukrainian Dragon and Splash drones struck the Morozovsk airfield.

He added that the damage assessment is currently underway and that they were "waiting for information" on whether any aircraft were destroyed or damaged.

At the same time, the images from Planet Labs show damage to the roof of the hangar located on the maintenance platform, and two Su-34 fighter-bombers are visible inside.

Morozovsk airfield. Photo: Planet Labs

Morozovsk airfield. Photo: Planet Labs

Earlier, OSINT analyst Brady Africk published satellite images of the Morozovsk airfield before and after the attack on the night of 13-14 June.

This was the second large-scale attack on Morozovsk by Ukrainian drones in the last two months.

Budanov also stated that the airbase would be attacked again.

Specifically, he answered "yes" to the question of whether Ukrainian forces were planning another air attack on the airfield.

Background:

The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that on the night of 13-14 June, air defence forces supposedly intercepted and destroyed 87 Ukrainian drones over the territory of Russia and temporarily occupied Crimea.

Russian Telegram channels wrote that residents of the town of Morozovsk reported explosions at night and a fire in the city. The Astra Telegram channel reiterated that there was a military airfield in Morozovsk that had already been attacked on 5 April 2024.

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Russian troops fired missiles in the direction of Poltava Oblast on Saturday evening.

Source: Ukraine's Air Force; Filip Pronin, Head of Poltava Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Details: At 23:00, a threat of ballistic missile use was announced in Poltava Oblast and a number of other oblasts.

The Air Force reported a missile threat to Kremenchuk.

The Air Force later reported that a second round of missiles had been launched in the direction of Poltava Oblast.

Filip Pronin, Head of Poltava Oblast Military Administration, posted that "the enemy is attacking Poltava Oblast".

Update: Pronin later said early reports indicated that there were no hits in the oblast and no injuries were reported.

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Nearly 200 infrastructure facilities bombarded by Russians over past day

Photo: Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

Over the course of 14 June, Russian forces have launched attacks in 11 of Ukraines oblasts.

Source: Media Centre of Ukraines Ministry of Defence

Details: A total of 84 settlements and 185 infrastructure facilities were attacked, resulting in civilian deaths and casualties.

The military said various types of weapons were used in the attacks: mortars, artillery, tanks, multiple rocket launchers, UAVs, missile systems, and tactical aircraft.

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Source: Petro Andriushchenko, an advisor to the mayor of Mariupol

Quote from Andriushchenko: "Hranitne is becoming the main logistical vessel for the occupiers in supplying the front line at the Volnovakha-Vuhledar-Kurakhove front-Donetsk line due to the road and railway bridges.

We marked on the map (point 1 and the orange path) which bridge we are talking about. The preferred route (without the bridge) is marked in red. Point two is where fortifications and logistics junctions are being built (number two)."

Details: Andriushchenko explained that these bridges solved the issue of Russian logistics from Rostov.

He noted that the "disappearance" of these bridges would increase the logistics route by 70 kilometres and the convoy's journey by 10 hours.

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Sacramento has lost one of its few river deck dining sites. It is City Halls fault | Opinion

One of Sacramentos only river deck restaurants has lost its deck because the landlord refuses to maintain it.

The landlord is the City of Sacramento.

The Rio City Cafe in Old Sacramento, with its stunning view of the Tower Bridge, the site of countless wedding proposals, finds itself confined to dry land. The city ordered the deck closed in April for safety reasons and there are no plans to fix it.

Despite a lease commitment to properly maintain the deck, city staff is not following through with a 2022 City Council directive to seek construction bids to complete deck repair this summer. Instead, the City Council just approved a five-year capital improvement program that sets aside no money for any fix.

Opinion

The city of Sacramento has said for years how they wanted to revitalize Old Sacramento, how they want to turn this into a diamond of Sacramento, said Rio City General Manager Jimmy Gayaldo, a part owner. Instead, the city is harming the district by walking away from its contractual maintenance responsibilities as a landlord, depriving the public of a rare dining vista.

Its an example of how Sacramentos finances are completely upside down and getting worse every budget.

The deck of the Rio City is part of an estimated $1.4 billion in undeferred maintenance projects needed city-wide. In comparison, the entire city budget is approximately $1.6 billion.

Thats just half of the structural problem. The city also has $1.6 billion in unfunded pension liabilities for its employees. To get out of this fiscal hole, the city essentially would have to shut down for two years to get out of debt.

The city estimates the cost to fix the deck at $5 million, according to spokesman Tim Swanson. The city at this time has not been able to identify that amount of funding to complete the repairs, he said. If construction is not completed, there could be potential rent reductions.

Gayaldo estimates that the deck historically generated 70 percent of the restaurants revenue. The city of Sacramento cut our legs off. This is the first year were going to be without our decks. We dont know if we can make it work.

It is unclear what the city has been doing with Rio Citys lease payments of about $300,000 a year. We have no idea where our lease money has gone, Gayaldo said. The capital improvement program budget shows only $26,796 in available, unobligated funds.

Mark and Stephanie Miller have been the main owners of Rio City since its inception in 1994. The restaurant is a replica of a Southern Pacific Railroad warehouse. Up until this point, we had a great working relationship with the city, Gayaldo said. Weve never asked anything from the city.

Even during COVID while the restaurant was shuttered, Rio City paid its lease. There are other businesses that didnt pay anything and were forgiven, Gayaldo said.

Rio Citys contract reads that the city shall provide access to, and maintain in good condition and repair at its cost.maintenance of the existing decking within the leased premises. Rio City has held up its end of the bargain for three decades. City Hall has not.

Swanson said this is no easy fix for the city. The repairs required for the deck are extensive and expensive and can only be completed during the six-month regulatory construction season along the Sacramento River (May-October), he said. Work in the river isnt allowed during fish migration season, particularly for salmon.

Gayaldo said the contractor identified to fix the deck has a temporary solution that costs $750,000. Swanson said city engineers think the cost is double that. Even if true, that doesnt explain the citys refusal to keep the deck in good condition.

In the end, the city has simply broken itself.

A lone city council member, downtowns Katie Valenzuela, suggested at this weeks meeting that the city confront its deferred maintenance problem. I really do want to think about a strategy, she said. This comes up every budget Ive been on council. Its affecting peoples daily lives.

But Californias highest-paid city manager, Sacramentos Howard Chan, seems to have no plan.

The Rio City Cafe has been a steady anchor of this state historic park, one of the citys crown jewels. Efforts to improve the citys riverfront experience are now going backward, not forward.

To the derelict landlords of the Sacramento City Council: You have two acceptable choices. One is to keep with your word, honor your lease commitment and maintain Rio Citys river infrastructure in good condition. Or you should notify the state of California that you can no longer be proper stewards in Old Sacramento and launch a transition of building oversight.

The citys mismanagement of the Rio City Cafe is nothing short of a civic travesty and an embarrassment.
A 23-year-old man convicted by a jury of attempted murder for a drive-by shooting in Tacoma that prosecutors said was retaliation for a gang robbery was sentenced Friday to 50 years in prison.

Pierce County prosecutors say Alexander Semaj Isaiah Carson has been committing crimes since he was 11 years old. He started off small  thefts, burglaries and other non-violent property crimes.

Soon, Carson graduated to more dangerous offenses such as robberies. The justice system offered resources and opportunities for the young man to rehabilitate himself, but it was no use, prosecutors said. Carson liked violating the law and terrorizing his enemies, they said.

It was that path that led Carson to the passengers seat of his co-defendants car on March 25, 2023 at a smoke shop on Portland Avenue. There, Superior Court Judge Susan Adams said before pronouncing sentence, he directed the driver, Jeremy Vanzant-Volpe, and another man in the car to don their black balaclavas and follow their target, Treyvon Clark, to his Eastside home.

Alexander Carson is sentenced for the drive-by shooting and first-degree assault and first-degree attempted murder in a gang-related shooting that left a 22-year-old man shot in the head, in Pierce County Superior Court on Friday, June 14, 2024, in Tacoma, Wash.

Once there, Carson stuck his hand out the window and shot a handgun modified for automatic fire, spraying 19 bullets in two seconds. Clark was struck in the forehead. Deputy prosecuting attorney Sunni Ko said Friday that Clark would be dead if not for modern medicine and the plate he had in his skull from a previous shooting.

Carson and Vanzant-Volpe, 22, were convicted May 23 in a joint jury trial. Vanzant-Volpe was the only witness to testify for the defense, according to court records. Both men were found guilty of first-degree assault and drive-by shooting. Carson was convicted of first-degree attempted murder, but Vanzant-Volpe was acquitted of that crime. He is to be sentenced Aug. 2.

Jurors also found Carson guilty of first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle and attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle. The latter two charges stemmed from Carsons arrest, when he fled from Tacoma Police Department officers in a stolen vehicle onto Interstate 5, reportedly going over 130 mph and weaving in and out of traffic. Carson crashed into another vehicle while trying to take an exit in King County, then ran from officers down a steep embankment where he was apprehended.

Ko asked the court to give Carson a high-end sentence for the crimes, 50 years in prison. She argued it was justified by the defendants utter lack of remorse and his decision to follow his victim to his home, wear a face mask to conceal his identity and fire an automatic weapon.

What jurors in the case didnt hear about, Ko said, were the defendants ties to gangs. She said prosecutors had a gang expert who would have testified that the shooting was retaliation for a robbery the week before at a rap studio that involved two different sets of gangs. But testimony related to the defendants gang ties was excluded from trial.

Im asking the court to send a sentence, render a sentence that keeps our community safe and whole, away from Mr. Carson, who is in fact a danger to the community in every aspect of the law, Ko said.

Carsons defense attorney, Dana Ryan, told Adams he didnt believe anyone planned the shooting. He said it was a crime of opportunity that occurred in a split second.

I dont think anyone in that car knew that the victim would be standing outside, but he was, so shots were fired, the attorney said.

Before Adams handed down the sentence, she heard from the mother of Clark, Amanda Banks, and one of Carsons aunts, Lydia Flanagan, who traveled to court from the East Coast with at least 10 other relatives to support Carson.

Banks told the judge of the trauma that still follows her from the shooting and her sons grueling road to recover. She relives the shooting every day, she said, and still hears the gunshots when she closes her eyes.

Treyvon Clark, 23, was paralyzed when he was shot in the head March 25, 2023 in a gang-related shooting in Eastside Tacoma. On Friday, June 14, 2024, the man convicted of shooting him was sentenced to 50 years in prison.

Her son spent 17 days on life support and will never be the same, Banks said. Clarks arm was paralyzed, and he suffered a brain infection. Banks recalled having to teach her son how to breathe on his own again. She said he cant do anything without having a caregiver around 24 hours a day, including care for his own son or play his favorite video game, Fortnite.

The mother asked Adams to impose the maximum sentence possible. She said it wouldnt be fair for Carson to have a life beyond prison while her own son is the way he is now.

Maybe my son is alive in body, but hes not the same son as before, and he never will be, Banks said.

Flanagan explained how she, like her nephew, was once seduced by the streets of Tacoma and landed in prison, and that what was playing out in court Friday was the sad cycle of gang life.

She said the environment the young men involved in the case grew up in is absolutely unforgiving, and she asked Adams to consider the influence of gangs when deciding what sentence to impose.

I know that the culture these young men are pressured to become part of plays the biggest role, Flanagan said. Not having father figures or hope for anything beyond what we see in the dark alleys of Tacoma. Those alleys shape countless young minds.

Flanagan said the prior offenses read off by the prosecutor sounded eerily similar to the record of Carsons father and her brother, except his record began at the age of 8. Now, she said, his father was released three years ago from a 30-year sentence and was thriving as a man of God. She said she hoped that one day Carson would mature. She said he is a smart man with a beautiful heart, but she didnt think many people had been able to experience it

The aunt said she thought it was important to remember that Carson was shot six times a short time before this incident by the victim and a friend. The statement drew sharp denials from the courtroom gallery where Clarks family was seated, and Adams threatened to remove anyone who couldnt stay quiet.

Flanagan apologized and said she didnt intend to specifically accuse Clark. She said she was thankful that the victim had recovered.

This is the sad cycle of gang life, and no one wins. Flanagan said. And sometimes children  they never become men.

When it was Carsons turn to address the court, he shook his head and put his face in his hands.

May only God judge me, Carson said.

Adams handed down the defendants sentence, and he was led away. Relatives in the gallery told him they loved him as he left the room.

After court adjourned, Banks told The News Tribune she was satisfied with the judges sentence. Asked if she hoped to hear any kind of apology from Carson in court, Banks said she knew he wouldnt apologize.

He didnt care, the mother said.

Alexander Carson is sentenced for the drive-by shooting and first-degree assault and first-degree attempted murder in a gang-related shooting that left a 22-year-old man shot in the head, in Pierce County Superior Court on Friday, June 14, 2024, in Tacoma, Wash.
TechCrunch

Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg said on Thursday that 159 employees (roughly 8.4% of staff) accepted a severance package that the company had offered to those who disagreed with his direction of WordPress and his handling of the tussle with web hosting provider WP Engine. In a blog post, Mullenweg said the package offered $30,000 or six months of salary, whichever is higher, but the employees who took it would not be eligible to be re-hired by Automattic. Nearly 80% of people who took the offer worked in the company's Ecosystem / WordPress division, and the rest were in Automattic's Cosmos businesses, consisting of apps like Pocket Casts, Day One, Tumblr and Cloudup.
San Francisco park where a grandmother was fatally beaten will now have her name

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  The San Francisco park where a grandmother was beaten and then later died from her injuries will now bear her name.

Family and friends will gather Saturday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially usher in the newly named Yik Oi Huang Peace and Friendship Park.

The park, formerly Visitacion Valley Playground, will be a visible tribute to an Asian immigrant working-class woman, according to a memorial website maintained by Huangs granddaughter, Sasanna Yee.

The event will feature Chinese lion dancing, West African drumming and other cultural healing festivities.

A look into the Valencia Street bike path controversy

Huang, then 88, was on her usual morning walk in the citys Visitacion Valley neighborhood on Jan. 8, 2019 when she was attacked. She suffered a broken skull, arms and neck. Her home was burglarized minutes afterward.

Huang went on to receive long-term care at a hospital but died in January 2020 at age 89. While her assault preceded the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes during the pandemic, it nevertheless rattled the citys Asian community.

Keonte Gathron, 24, was arrested in connection with the attack within days. He remains jailed while awaiting trial on murder and other charges, according to online county jail records.

Yee has since become a proponent of addressing anti-Asian hate, racial healing and restorative justice.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's mining minister plans to meet with his Chilean counterpart in Santiago at the end of July to discuss potential investments in lithium, a Chilean government source said on Friday.

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef told Reuters in a recent interview that the Middle Eastern country is interested in obtaining lithium overseas as it aims to enter the electric vehicle (EV) sector.

Chile is the world's second-biggest producer of lithium, a material key to making the batteries that power EVs. The global shift towards EVs has created a rush by carmakers and global powers for the ultralight metal.

Chilean newspaper Diario Financiero first reported plans for the Saudi visit to Chile, saying Alkhorayef was expected to meet with mining minister Aurora Williams. It also said Saudi Arabia was interested in meeting with Codelco and Enami, the state-run mining companies tasked with bringing the Chilean government into the lithium industry.

Both companies are seeking private sector partners to launch new lithium projects - Codelco in the Maricunga salt flat, and Enami in brine deposits known as Altoandinos.

The Mining Ministry and Codelco did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Enami said it has not received any meeting requests from Saudi officials or companies.

Chile's mining ministry in April said it had been approached by the Saudi embassy in Santiago about hosting a delegation this year to discuss potential investments in the sector.

Saudi ambassador in Chile Khalid Alsaloom in a social media post last week said he met with Williams to discuss topics of mutual interest.

(Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon and Fabian Cambero; Editing by Sam Holmes)
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, speaks during a TV interview after the conclusion of the G7 summit. The heads of state and government of the industrialized nations USA, Canada, Great Britain, France, Italy, Germany and Japan met for their annual summit in a luxury hotel in Borgo Egnazia in Apulia in the south of Italy. Michael Kappeler/dpa

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is keeping expectations low for the international peace conference in Switzerland aimed at helping chart a path toward the end of the war in Ukraine.

"This is a diplomatic seedling that we are watering so that it can grow," he said in an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF on Saturday morning.

The meeting, which opens later on Saturday, is taking place on Ukraine's initiative and President Volodymyr Zelensky is attending. Russia has not been invited.

The German chancellor spoke ahead of his departure from the three-day G7 summit near the southern Italian city of Bari. He will then join dozens of other world leaders at the Swiss-hosted Ukraine peace conference near Lucerne.

Scholz said he hoped the conference would "lay the foundation" for further negotiations that Russia would take part in.

He also called on Russia's allies, including China, to "exert their influence" on Moscow. However, China is also not taking part in the gathering.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, speaks during a TV interview after the conclusion of the G7 summit. The heads of state and government of the industrialized nations USA, Canada, Great Britain, France, Italy, Germany and Japan met for their annual summit in a luxury hotel in Borgo Egnazia in Apulia in the south of Italy. Michael Kappeler/dpa

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is hoping that that punitive tariffs the EU has threatened to slap on Chinese electric vehicles can still be prevented in negotiations with Beijing.

Scholz said he had been "firmly promised" that the EU's talks with Beijing would take place with this goal in mind, and that it was "the right way to go."

He said the dispute could be resolved by the end of the month if all goes well.

The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, threatened on Wednesday to impose import tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles of up to 38.1%, after an investigation found evidence of illegal support from subsidies.

The higher import duties will only be applied if the EU and China cannot find a solution to the issue, and would come into force from July 4.

According to the commission, Chinese electric cars are normally around 20% cheaper than models built in the EU.

The German automotive industry has come out against the higher tariffs. It fears that the government in China, a key market, could impose retaliatory duties on electric cars imported from Europe.
Scholz says Russia must be included in Ukraine peace process

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrives at Zurich airport alongside his wife Britta Ernst to take part in the Ukraine Peace Summit. Michael Kappeler/dpa

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has spoken out in favour of involving Russia in a peace process for Ukraine.

"It is true that peace in Ukraine cannot be achieved without involving Russia," Scholz at the peace conference in Switzerland on Saturday.

At the same time, he called on Russia to withdraw completely from partially occupied Ukraine.

"Russia could end this war today or at any time if it stops its attacks and withdraws its troops from Ukraine," Scholz added.

Russia has so far refused to heed the call for peace on the basis of international law and the UN Charter.

More than two years after the Russian attack on Ukraine, the summit on the Burgenstock, a mountain ridge above Lake Lucerne, is intended to explore ways to achieve peace in Ukraine.

More than 90 countries are taking part. However, Russia has not been invited. China, Russia's most important ally, has cancelled.
"I was very upsetI'm like, Why did we even come?  Linda Ramirez, the parent of a high school student with special needs, tells PEOPLE

Courtesy of Linda Ramirez Ashlynn Rich's graduation ceremony

Linda Ramirez tells PEOPLE that her daughter, Ashlynn Rose Rich, and several other students with special needs from Sprayberry High School were excluded from fully experiencing their May 25 graduation ceremony

The Cobb County School District offered an apology over what happened on June 13 during a school board meeting

"[My daughter] was a little hurt by not being able to sit out there with the general ed graduates," Ramirez tells PEOPLE

Georgia school officials apologized on Thursday, June 13, over a high school graduation ceremony last month in which students with special needs were allegedly excluded from fully participating and instead sat in a hallway during the commencement.

In an interview with PEOPLE on Friday, June 14, Linda Ramirez, the mother of Ashlynn Rose Rich, a student from Sprayberry High School in Marietta, says her daughter and the other special ed students were segregated from the rest of the students at the ceremony held at Kennesaw State University (KSU) on May 25. She calls the apology from the Cobb County School District a first step.

"I did thank them for their apology and let them know that's what I wanted, a formal apology, because it should have never happened," she says.

Ramirez says that she wanted Rich to participate in the main commencement ceremony at Kennesaw State University like what her older siblings have experienced. But Rich and several other students with special needs didn't have that opportunity, according to Ramirez.

All the members of her IEP [individualized education program] team knew that Ashland was to graduate at KSU," she says. "That was always our first thing. Then I was asked later on if Ashlynn would be participating in the special needs graduation held at Sprayberry during the school day. And I said, 'Sure, why not? She's going to be in school anyways.' I'm not going to exclude her from it. So she did also do that. But the understanding is the KSU is the big one."

Related: Family of Girl with 'Profound Autism' Worried She Wouldn't Get Proper Therapy  Now She's Graduating High School

Ramirez says that she didn't know that Rich and the other special ed students weren't going to be with the general ed students until the day of the ceremony. She recalls having a phone conversation with a teacher when she arrived at the commencement.

I said, Where will [Ashlynn] be sitting? Oh, she's not sitting with the general ed students. And I said, What? Then it got very noisy and I hung up the call. I don't know if it was because I was upset because I heard something I didn't want to hear, but it was too late. The ceremony started at that point."

Ramirez says that the special ed students weren't able to view or hear what was happening at the ceremony such as the speeches and music. They call the special needs students one by one [to] walk across the stage and exit out a left hallway, to exit outside behind the building," she adds. "And by the time they were done, they were just starting the general ed kids commencement ceremony as far as issuing diplomas. I was very upsetI'm like, Why did we even come? 

Courtesy of Linda Ramirez Ashlynn Rich's graduation ceremony

Everybody that had a special needs child got up to go collect their kids, Ramirez continues. And during this, the commencement ceremony is in full, it's happening. So our kids missed it all. They didn't get the turn of the tassel. They didn't get to see the opening speeches, and they didn't get that big walkout.

In an interview with ABC affiliate WSB, Ashlynn Rose Rich noted, I feel depressed and upset for graduation, for the whole ceremony."

Related: High School Student with Disability Felt 'Robbed' After Having to Sit in Audience for Graduation

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In a statement shared with PEOPLE on June 14. a representative for the Cobb County School District wrote: Every year we graduate approximately 8,000 students and every special needs parent, in every Cobb school, chooses how their child is celebrated. Some Cobb families choose a full graduation ceremony, some choose to protect their child from noise, stimuli or attention in a variety of ways. Every child's needs are discussed individually, and confidentially, so the specific needs of our special needs students are met.

This year, although initial reports indicated those choices were offered, we discovered they were not offered to one student at Sprayberry High School, the statement continued. Our expectation, and the parent's, was not fully met. As a result, [Cobb County School District Superintendent Chris Ragsdale] apologized to the student and family in last nights [June 13] Board meeting.

At a June 13 school board meeting, Ragsdale apologized for what happened at last month's commencement, per a subsequent report from WSB.

Courtesy of Linda Ramirez Ashlynn Rich

While I cannot say more about the experience of the Rich family at the Sprayberry ceremony, I can say this. First, on behalf of the district, I apologize to Ashlynn and her family. It does not matter how well-intentioned it appears a decision was made, it should have been a parental decision, he said.

Ragsdale also noted that the district launched an investigation after learning what happened at the ceremony for the Sprayberry students, adding that it is "being handled as a personal and professional matter."

Earlier in the same meeting, Rich addressed the school board members, saying, per WSB, I felt mistreated and discriminated against because I was not allowed to sit with my classmates. Many of my friends are regular students and it made me sad that I couldnt sit with them and experience graduation together.

Asked what Ashlynn thought of the recent apology from the school district, Ramirez tells PEOPLE: She thought it was great. That's about all she said to me, that someone actually recognized her and did apologize to her. She was a little hurt by not being able to sit out there with the general ed graduatesShe understands that they were wrong and they said they were sorry.



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Read the original article on People.
School starts fundraiser for family of 9-year-old Jonael Zambrano-Cardona, who was fatally shot while playing in his bedroom in Milwaukee

Greater Holy Temple Christian Academy started a fundraiser for the family of 9-year-old Jonael Zambrano-Cardona, who was shot and killed in Milwaukee by a stray bullet while playing in his room following a barrage of gunfire outside his home.

Jonael just finished third grade at his school that same day. "He had a bright future ahead of him," wrote Edward DeShazer, executive director of the academy, on the GoFundMe page.

"We want to rally around his family in their time of need and help them with whatever costs that are to come," he said.

Milwaukee police said the shooting took place just after midnight Thursday in a condominium complex on the 9000 block of North Swan Road. Jonael would later die at a hospital. Attempts to reach his family have been unsuccessful.

Jonael's cousin, Maynor Antunez, started a separate GoFundMe page for the family to help cover funeral expenses.

Mayor Cavalier Johnson said he was notified about the shooting around 2:30 a.m. Thursday and right away communicated with police and personnel with the Office of Community Wellness and Safety.

"I don't know all the details surrounding it, but what I do know is that it should not have happened," Johnson said Thursday. "There's no how, no way, that a kid ... on the night of the last day of school, before summer break, should have lost his life because somebody decided to shoot a gun.

"It's a challenge that we continue to ... address here in this community."

Residents of the Woodlands Condos told the Journal Sentinel that they've seen more crime in the complex since the local homeowners association did away with its security guards.

Police have not announced an arrest. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 414-935-7360 or, to remain anonymous, contact crime stoppers at 414-224-Tips or P3 Tips.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Fundraiser for 9-year-old Jonael Zambrano, fatally shot in Milwaukee
How schools are being built to thwart shooters

(NewsNation)  More than six years after the 2018 massacre in Parkland, Florida, which left 17 people dead, the high school building where the tragedy occurred is being demolished.

In response, school administrators nationwide are focused on architectural strategies to prevent future incidents like Parkland and similar tragedies from the past two decades.

How can schools enhance safety in the design stage?

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School was preserved for evidence reasons and is being torn down as schools nationwide arent only changing how students prepare and practice for potential attacks, but also reconsidering seating arrangements, entry and exit strategies, and the overall design of classrooms and school buildings.

Student loans: Why millions can skip their July payment

While many campuses have metal detectors, architects are taking a step further by designing open, welcoming environments that prevent isolating students, and ensure first responders can access campuses quickly in the worst-case scenarios.

Schools nationwide have been making upgrades for some time. These changes range from subtle adjustments to significant overhauls.

What kind of changes are schools implementing?

Architects emphasize features such as fencing, limited entry points that can be locked during school hours, multi-point buzzer systems, minimal landscaping to reduce hiding places, and shatter-resistant film over windows.

For students, measures include clear backpacks, safe rooms in classrooms, and even whiteboards that can be used as bulletproof shields.

Kenneth Trump, a school safety consultant, told NewsNation that while schools can improve the physical features, students and staff need to understand how to use these safety features.

Judge blocks Bidens Title IX rule in four states

You can either combine some basic fundamental physical security measures, limited access, secured vestibules, visitor management, adult supervision of children in common areas while still having the first and best line of defense being a well-trained highly alert staff and student body, said Trump, president of the National School Safety & Security Services.

Every school and state handles safety uniquely, with no set federal guidelines.

The International Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Association (CPTED), a nonprofit with the motto designing out crime, offers guidance.

Critics argue there should be stricter gun laws rather than focusing on altering school designs.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Biologists have camera-tagged the first baby great white shark -- which they named Liberty -- in a "nursery" of maneaters off the coast of New York City.

You might not want to be around these babies when theyre teething.

Biologists have camera-tagged the first baby great white shark  which they named Liberty  in a nursery of maneaters off the coast of New York City.

Its the focus of a National Geographic episode called Baby Sharks in the City, streaming July 8 on Disney+ and Hulu and July 9 on Nat Geo, part of Sharkfest programming that starts June 30.

Dr. Tobey Curtis, a shark scientist with NOAAs Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, said the 100-foot-deep nursery the team studied during the two-week expedition last year likely produces hundreds of great whites each year. Nat Geo

The shark daycare center is located in the New York Bight, a huge ocean triangle formed by Cape May, NJ; Montauk Point, LI, and NYC.

Capt. Greg Metzger, who heads the South Fork Natural Museum History Museum on Long Island, said scientists have been studying baby white sharks in New York since the 1960s, but it was only in the past decade that the existence of the nursery was confirmed.

Dr. Tobey Curtis, a shark scientist with NOAAs Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, said the 100-foot-deep nursery the team studied during the two-week expedition last year likely produces hundreds of great whites each year.

The babies are on their own from day one. Sharks dont have parental care at all, Curtis explained.

The scientist said larger adult white sharks do occasionally pass through Long Island via the New York Bight but they very rarely overlap during the summertime when the pups are there.

Curtis said the pups are left alone and the adults travel further North  Cape Cod, Maine and Canada. And the pups hang out off Long Island and so they are relatively protected there, he added.

Capt. Greg Metzger looks at the tear in his shirt after a close call with a baby great white shark that got away. Nat Geo

Research scientist Megan Winton preps the video tag during the two-week expedition. Nat Geo

The National Geographic episode called Baby Sharks in the City, streams

July 8 on Disney+ and Hulu and July 9 on Nat Geo, part of Sharkfest programming

that starts June 30. Nat Geo

Winton prepares the video tag as they look at baby great white sharks off the coast of Long Island. Nat Geo

The top map (A) features shark activity on the South Shore of Long Island while the

bottom map (B) is the optimum nursery located within the New York Bight, which is basically

if you drew a line connecting Cape May, NJ to Montauk on Long Island. Scientific Reports (Sci Rep)

Curtis said when the weather gets colder in the fall and the water starts to cool off, they all migrate south.

He noted that the waters off Long Island are healthy and the conditions are just right for baby sharks for a number of species, including makos, duskees, sandbar and sand tigers.

The scientist said the water gets warmer off New Jersey than it does on Eastern Long Island, so as the summer progresses . . . most of the white sharks are further east. Theyre closer to Montauk and theyre spending less time off Jersey.

The bottom line?

Metzger said over the first four years of their life, the sharks are basically

traveling the entire East Coast. Nat Geo

Megan Winton bestowed the name Liberty on the tagged baby white. Nat Geo

I was happy. Shocked. It was a major bucket list thing for me, Bogin, a

Little Egg Harbor, NJ resident told The Post. Courtesy of Travis Bogin

New Yorkers will be surprised how exciting and how much life is going on out there. Theres whales and dolphins and sea turtles and seals and all kinds of fish. New Yorkers may not appreciate how healthy the ocean is in their backyard, Curtis said.

Travis Bogin appreciates the diversity of life in local waters.

Bogin, 39, was fishing solo 12 miles off Atlantic City Wednesday when he hooked a 5-and-half-foot great white.

I was happy. Shocked. It was a major bucket list thing for me, the Little Egg Harbor, NJ resident told The Post.

The babies are on their own from day one. Sharks dont have parental care at all, Dr. Tobey Curtis explained. Nat Geo

As for last summers baby-shark expedition, Metzger said, The big splash was to put a very sophisticated camera tag on a baby white shark. So we were able with a lot of blood, sweat and tears to catch Liberty and put the tag on and follow her around.

Metzger said over the first four years of their life, the sharks are basically traveling the entire East Coast.

The captain said the latest crop of younger-than-a-year sharks have probably been here for a few weeks.

Noted Megan Winton, a research scientist who bestowed the name Liberty on the tagged baby white, Theres this popular perception that sharks are kind of these mindless killing machines that are right off of our beaches. But the more we study them, the more we learn that is certainly not the case. We are just starting to scratch the surface of what we know about these animals with these new technologies.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  In a 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a ban that outlawed bump stock firearm attachments nationwide.

The ban came from the Department of Justice in the aftermath of a 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas at a country music festival where the shooter used a semi-automatic rifle modified with a bump stock.

Bump stocks are added to semi-automatic weapons to increase their rate of fire.

Previously, the law only prohibited private citizens from owning machine guns, which are fully automatic. Following the Vegas shooting, the DOJ modified the definition of machine gun to include guns with bump stocks attached.

The Supreme Court is rejecting that definition, saying guns with bump stocks are distinct from machine guns.

27 News spoke with Jeffrey Boyd at Ace Pawn & Gun, who says even though they dont sell bump stocks, the ruling is a win for gun owners.

Once the foot gets in the door, you never get it out, Boyd said. Any government oversight infringes on the peoples rights. The second amendment is a right we were all born with; to have and to bear arms to be able to protect ourselves.

The ruling has once again stirred up debate on gun control legislation. Moms Demand Action Kansas took to social media, saying in part:

The Supreme Courts reckless decision has put us all at risk. Congress must take action now and pass bipartisan legislation to ban bump stocks nationwide to help prevent another mass tragedy. Moms Demand Action Kansas via Facebook

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Nearly 20 people robbed a jewelry store in less than two and a half minutes on Wednesday, June 12

Sunnyvale DPS Afuhia Lavakeiaho, Ofa Ahomana

A group of almost 20 people broke into a jewelry store in Sunnyvale, Calif., on Wednesday, June 12, and stole armfuls of jewelry in less than three minutes, the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety said in a press release.

The thieves broke into PNG Jewelers, located at 791 E. El Camino Real, and smashed nearly every display case. After a two-minute and 15-second raid, they ran out with loads of jewelry, per the release. No one was hurt during the robbery.

On Friday, June 14, the stores surveillance video was released. In the footage, two employees are seen at the front of the store, when they hear a noise at the front door and then move behind different internal doors.

getty

Related: Woman Sought in 6 Jewelry Store Robberies Across the Southeast

Then, one by one, almost 20 people file in and swing hammers and tools to break the glass cases filled with jewelry before they put the pieces in their bags, police said. Quickly, they leave the store, and one final person stays back after every one to smash the final glass case.

One employee then emerged from her hiding spot and examined the room. Police responded to the scene around 1:30 p.m. local time and have not yet estimated the amount of damage or merchandise taken. Additionally, some of the stolen jewelry has been recovered.

The suspects fled the store in multiple vehicles before authorities arrived. However, the officers did locate two suspect vehicles as they were attempting to flee the area. The officers attempted vehicle enforcement stops, but both vehicles evaded, leading to pursuits, per the press release. The officers then followed the vehicles onto Highway 101.

Sunnyvale DPS Tavake Esafe

Related: $1M Worth of Jewels Stolen After Robbers Cut 'Gaping' Hole Through Adjacent Store's Wall

But once they lost sight of the first vehicle, officers ended that chase. Meanwhile, as they pursued the second vehicle, the suspects threw the stolen jewelry from the moving vehicle, and once the authorities lost sight of the second vehicle, the chase ended.

Shortly after, the vehicle was found on Highway 101 near Whipple Ave with five suspects  Tonga Latu, Tavake Esafe, Ofa Ahomana, Kilifi Leaaetoa, and Afuhia Lavakeiaho  who then fled the scene on foot, according to the press release. Four of the suspects were taken into custody, while the fifth was found by the polices service dog.

Sunnyvale DPS Tonga Latu

They are in custody at Santa Clara County jail for various offenses, including armed robbery, felony vehicle evasion, resisting arrest, burglary, conspiracy to commit a crime, vandalism, possession of burglary tools, and outstanding warrants, police said.

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Mercury News reports that officers are investigating whether the Wednesday robbery is connected to a similar robbery in May at Nitin Jewelers, another Sunnyvale jewelry store.

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In Deir Al-Balah, a city in the Gaza Strip, Marwa Al-Hasanat has found a way to bring some joy to her community amid the destruction and hardship of war in the form of a roadside bookstore.

Al-Hasanat, 22, a lifelong lover of books inspired by her grandfather who authored three of his own on the Arabic language, started an online bookstore in June 2022 called Marwa.Book. But since the war began on Oct. 7, Al-Hasanat has not been able to purchase books to sell online from Gaza City, where she used to get her supply. The intermittent internet connection throughout the current war has also left her online bookstore inoperable.

PHOTO: Abdul Hakim, Marwas cousin, with Marwas little brothers help, arranges their bookstore in order to attract the eyes of passers-by on the streets of Deir Al-Balah. (Diaa Ostaz/ABC News)

Al-Hasanat told ABC News she has experienced her own tragedies in the current conflict.

After a bombing in November hit the house adjacent to hers, her father was killed, she said. Al-Hasanat was trapped under rubble for 15 minutes, she said. Ultimately she was able to escape and survived; she said in an interview with ABC News.

"During the war, what does not kill us makes us stronger. Since I emerged from under the rubble for about 15 minutes, I was saying that I am still alive, but no one hears me or knows about me. After they took me out [of the rubble], I felt that I had a mission and a purpose in this world. I was not killed because of the bombing. So I have a goal," Al-Hasanat said.

MORE: Israel-Gaza live updates: State Department 'disappointed' by Hamas' 'continued haggling and delay'

Al-Hasanat said she had a newfound determination. Despite losing her father, she wanted to continue to pursue and share her love and passion for books. If she could not sell her books online, she decided she would start selling them in the street.

PHOTO: Marwa Al-Hasanat stands in her homein Deir Al-Balah, surrounded by the books and memories that inspire her mission to spread hope and culture in Gaza through reading. (Diaa Ostaz/ABC News)

Enlisting the help of her cousin Abdul Hakim, she set up a modest stand amidst the street noise filled with displaced people, aiming to support her family after her father's death and to continue spreading the culture she deeply cherished.

Al-Hasanat has seen a positive reaction from her community to the roadside bookstore, she said.

"The community is very interactive with the library because they want to read and learn. We spread culture, and they change their mood by reading. They feel that they are on a journey and challenge motives and war. We are an educated society. It is truly interactive," Al-Hasanat told ABC News.

PHOTO: In one of the streets crowded with displaced people in Deir Al-Balah, Abdul Hakim, Marwa's cousin, manages their roadside bookstore, bringing the joy of reading to the bustling streets despite the surrounding chaos. (Diaa Ostaz/ABC News)

The community's response to Al-Hasanat's street bookstore was overwhelmingly positive, she said.

Hiba Al-Za'anin, who was displaced from Beit Hanoun to Deir Al-Balah, said that she was grateful for the presence of the bookstore, and Al-Hasanat's idea in the street, especially after she bought the novel "Anne of Green Gables."

MORE: Israeli special forces dressed as Palestinian refugees for hostage rescue: Sources

A displaced person from Gaza City lost his wife in a bombing there, he told ABC News. His wife loved reading, he said, so he is grateful that he's been able to continue his wife's reading journey by buying books and novels from Al-Hasanat.

"Reading books motivates people ... provides food for the soul, and also motivates them for the future," Hakim told ABC News.

Even though there are challenges to running her roadside bookstore  there is a constant fear of danger, and bombings could start at any minute  she believes the books are "sending a message."

"I am sending a message to everyone in society to read, look for a new life in books, instead of the life we live, we are looking for a semblance of life. If you read, you will find a lot of life in books," Al-Hasanat said.

Selling books amid bombs: How a woman is bringing hope to war-torn Gaza through reading originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Sen. Blanco honors women who have served in military

Sen. Blanco honors women who have served in military

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  State Sen. Cesar Blanco, D-Texas, held a Women Veterans Day event to honor the countless women who have selflessly served our nation, the State of Texas and our local community through their dedicated military service, according to his office.

The event was held Friday, June 14 at El Paso Community Colleges Administrative Services Center, Building A, 9050 Viscount Blvd.

As a proud supporter of 85(R) SB 805, which officially designated June 12th as Women Veterans Day in Texas, Senator Blanco continues to champion the recognition and appreciation of women veterans, the press release stated.

Senator Blanco recognized three local women veterans: retired Sgt. Maj. Robin A. Johnson; Sgt. 1st Class Maria C. Gonzalez; and Spc. Alicia Cox.

Women Veterans Day is usually recognized on June 12. Texas has recognized Women Veterans Day since 2017.

Im proud to honor our women veterans. Whether on the front lines or in support roles, their sacrifices and contributions have been invaluable. Their resilience and dedication inspire us all, and it is our privilege to recognize their service and commitment to our nation, Blanco said in the news release.

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The PSC redistricting map proposed by Sen. Keith Regier, R-Kalispell, in Senate Bill 109. (Courtesy image)

A Helena law firm challenging the Public Service Commission redistricting map drawn and approved by Republican lawmakers last year is now in a fight with the sponsor of the bill that changed the map and the Montana Department of Justice over the communications the senator had regarding why he drew the map the way he did.

Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Christopher Abbott in February ruled that the map  drawn by Sen. Keith Regier, R-Kalispell, and approved by the Republican supermajority legislature  is likely an unconstitutional gerrymander because PSC Districts 3 and 5 were drawn to disfavor voters on the basis of political ideas.

His order said the map likely was illegally designed to favor Republicans and limit the influence of voters more likely to vote for Democrats or candidates of other political parties.

But he let the map stay in place for the time being because if he would have struck it down, the PSC districts would have reverted to a map that disadvantaged other groups and was found to be unconstitutional. Drawing PSC districts is the legislatures job, and Abbott declined to step in.

During the session, Regiers amendment to his Senate Bill 109, which ended up being the final map, split up 14 counties and all of Montanas largest cities into separate districts except for Butte-Silver Bow, which Democrats criticized as an obvious way to water down Democratic votes in each district.

Regier denied knowledge of a partisan lean in the map and had said while the measure was going through the legislature that he drew the districts in order to ensure the minimum amount of population deviation among them.

Upper Seven Law, which is representing Montana Conservation Voters and eight individual plaintiffs in the case, in May issued subpoenas to Regier calling on him to appear at a deposition in August and to produce a list of records that include documents and communications that were involved in crafting the new maps.

The attorneys for the plaintiffs say the junque file that typically includes all the written communications lawmakers and others have during the crafting a bill, which can reveal more behind the motivations and stakeholders for a bill, was thin and they are seeking the information as part of discovery in their suit against the Secretary of State.

In his February order, Abbott wrote the record contains no information about who assisted Senator Regier in drafting the maps and what motivations they may have harbored.

The Upper Seven Law attorneys believe that subpoenaing records and deposing Regier might help them better understand how Senate Bill 109 and the redrawn map came about and whether it was drawn to disfavor voters on the basis of political ideas.

But Attorney General Austin Knudsens office, which is representing Regier in the subpoena fight, asked Abbott last week to quash the subpoena, claiming an absolute legislative privilege exists that prohibits Regier from producing the records or being deposed because a provision of the state constitution says a legislator shall not be questioned in any other place for any speech or debate in the legislature.

The Attorney Generals Office said in its filing it believes Regier and his communications should be off limits because they involve legislative deliberations on pending legislation and because they say the request is speculative of Regiers motives for the bill without any justification.

Senator Regier objects based on both the constitutional and common law privilege. Because the constitutional privilege affords an absolute evidentiary and testimonial privilege, the Court must quash the subpoena on those grounds, Deputy Solicitor General Brent Mead wrote in his motion to quash the subpoena. Even under the qualified privilege, Plaintiffs fail to meet the narrow exceptions that justify the extraordinary intrusions into a co-equal branch of government.

Mead also argues that the request for records, which include nine ranges of topics, by Upper Seven is overly broad and could sweep up communications with other lawmakers or constituents that would not be relevant evidence in a case involving a decision to pass a bill made by the entire legislature.

Upper Seven Law issued the initial subpoena to Regier on May 16, then an amended version on May 29. The Attorney Generals Office sent a letter back to the firm the next day initially making the claim that legislative privilege barred the subpoenas, and Upper Seven responded on June 3, calling the claims of blanket privilege and refusal to produce a privilege log meritless.

The map at issue was introduced by Senator Regiernot the other 149 legislatorsand the legislative record is remarkably thin. There is no information in the record about who drew the map or how it was drawn, the letter from attorney Dimitrious Tsolakidis said. The unknown origins of SB 109s map are central to understanding whether political affiliation was a substantial factor in its creation, and Senator Regier appears to be the only legislator who can explain how it came into existence.

Tsolakidis added that if there is legislative privilege Regier can assert, it would have to be qualified privilege and must be evaluated under a balancing of interests. He said the need for discovery material is high and in the public interest. Mead filed the motion to quash three days later.

On Thursday, Upper Seven attorney Constance Van Kley filed a brief in opposition of the motion to quash outlining why the plaintiffs believe Regiers and the Attorney Generals Offices assertion of absolute privilege is incorrect and an extreme one.

Over five hundred years after legislative immunity was created, language intended to protect legislators from retributive prosecution is being asserted to block not a prosecution, not a civil lawsuit, not only a deposition, but all discoveryeven production of a privilege log and documents shared with non-legislators, and even in the face of evidence supporting Plaintiffs claims of intentional discrimination interfering with all Montanans fundamental right to vote, the filing says.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs say in the filing that Regier and Meads motion contains multiple citations to case law from other jurisdictions that do not have provisions in their state constitutions like Montanas right to know. They also argue that the two are misreading the constitutions immunity provision.

Far from giving legislators an opportunity to legislate in secret, it provides protection for that which occurs out in the open, as demanded by our Constitution, Van Kley wrote in the filing.

The firm is asking the court not to quash the subpoena even if it finds there is some form of legislative privilege that applies. And if that privilege does apply, the constitutional protections against partisan gerrymanders should outweigh the privilege and force Regier to provide some of the requested information, the attorneys argue.

The Right to Know is critical to maintaining transparency in government, Van Kley said in a statement. Absolute legislative privilege would eviscerate the fundamental right to access government informationand hold government actors accountable at the ballot box.

The Secretary of States Office has requested a jury trial in the case, which the plaintiffs oppose; the two sides are scheduled to deliver oral arguments on that question on July 8. They could also discuss the subpoena and motion to quash if those are not resolved by then, Van Kley said.

2024-06-14 - BIO Motion to Quash - FINAL

The post Sen. Regier challenging subpoena of records tied to creation of new PSC district map appeared first on Daily Montanan.
The Shaler Township Police Department traveled to Virginia this week to escort a soldier killed in the Vietnam War to Arlington National Cemetery.

PHOTOS: Shaler Township police escort soldier killed in Vietnam War to Arlington National Cemetery

Shaler Township police escorted the body of Army Specialist Joel Daniel Coleman from Pittsburgh on behalf of a Shaler Township Gold Star family on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, June 12, 2024, the Shaler Township PD had the honor of escorting the body of Army Specialist Joel Daniel Coleman from Pittsburgh, PA, to Arlington National Cemetery on behalf of a Shaler Township Gold Star family. He was buried with Full Military Honors  ShalerTownshipPolice (@PoliceShaler) June 15, 2024

Special Coleman was killed in action as a result of enemy gun fire on May 5, 1966, police said. He was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor and the Purple Heart.

He was also buried with full military honors, police said.

The tremendous sacrifice of all the brave men and women who have fought and died for this country can never be forgotten. Please remember them and their families who carry the burden of this immense loss, Shaler Township police said.

Shaler Township police also thanked Maryland State Police and Arlington County police who assisted in the effort.

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When will Shawnee County pick up your trash during week of Juneteenth?

TOPEKA (KSNT)  Some customers in Shawnee County will need to get their trash out a day early next week.

The Shawnee County Solid Waste Department will not pick up trash Wednesday in observance of Juneteenth. Crews will return to work Thursday, June 20, according to a schedule from the Shawnee County Solid Waste Department.

Photo Courtesy/ Shawnee Co. Solid Waste Department

Customers who normally get their trash picked up on Wednesday will instead get their trash picked up with customers on Tuesday, June 18. Everyone else will get their trash picked up on their normal day next week.

Shawnee County Solid Waste will not pick up yard waste or bulky items next week.

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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Shells purchased from outside the European Union under an initiative launched by Czechia are arriving in Ukraine "in a matter of days".

Source: Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky in an interview with Radio Liberty

Details: Commenting on the progress of the Czech initiative, Lipavsky said that "the first batches of ammunition are arriving in Ukraine shortly" and that Prague will be able to purchase and continuously supply "a significant amount of ammunition" throughout 2024.

"We have 20 countries that have committed to take part in the initiative. Five of them have already sent money, and now we can conclude agreements and purchase ammunition from various countries and then send it to Ukraine so that it can rightfully defend itself against Russian aggression," he added.

Lipavsky refused to specify when the deliveries would take place but reiterated that five countries taking part in the initiative  Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Portugal and Canada  have already sent funding, and the deals they have funded are now in the process of being implemented.

Read more: "We can find 1.52 million shells for Ukraine within a year. I don't understand why there isn't money for this"

"We need to move from promises and sympathy to a signed and funded agreement, which is the challenge today... We know that Ukraine needs a lot of large-calibre ammunition, and we have a great capacity to provide it. Therefore, we hope to conclude more such agreements," he said.

Background:

In February, Czech President Petr Pavel said that he had found 800,000 shells in countries outside the EU and NATO, including 122mm- and 155mm-calibre ammunition, that could be supplied to Ukraine.

The Czech initiative could provide the Ukrainian Armed Forces with 50,000 to 100,000 large-calibre shells per month.

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HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA)  Home surveillance video shows two teens kicking a door to someones house in Spring Hill.

The Hernando County Sheriffs Office shared the video after arresting the two 15-year-olds responsible.

Stupid activity: 2 Hernando teens arrested for kicking in doors to homes for social media challenge

The sheriff said it may have been part of a social media challenge but reminds people what they did is a crime, they will be charged, and they couldve been shot.

The department reports four cases of these kick-in burglaries in the last two weeks.

Around 4 a.m. Wednesday, Bradley Rickstrew said he was asleep, with some lights on in his Spring Hill home.

I woke up to three really loud bangs, Rickstrew said. I didnt know what their intent was. I didnt know if they were trying to steal, if they were trying to break in, if they were trying to cause harm.

Rickstrews neighbor shared their home surveillance, which captured two people in Rickstrews driveway using a flashlight, and they appeared to be looking into a car.

They walked away, then minutes later they came back, kicked on the door, then ran away.

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Sheriff Al Nienhuis said that since being caught, the teens had no intention of actually going into the house.

They certainly could have been shot and killed by an armed homeowner, and the homeowner would have every right to do that, Sheriff Nienhuis said.

Early Tuesday morning a woman who asked to remain anonymous reported her door kicked in, and it actually opened up.

Those responsible left a footprint on the door, which the woman said detectives were able to pull the footprint.

Rickstrew said he and his neighbors are stunned by this activity.

Ding dong ditch is one thing but like this was more serious intent for sure, Rickstrew said.

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The two 15-year-olds are charged with four counts of burglary each. The sheriffs office said they were released to their parents.

Sheriff Nienhuis said about a week ago, a woman grabbed her shotgun and shot through her door at a person she wasnt expecting, who was banging on the door. The person was not injured.

He added that that is an example of how bad it couldve gotten for those teens.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (WAVY)  Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) told reporters Friday that several provisions in the current Senate version of the National Defense Appropriations Act would benefit military members and their families in Hampton Roads. The Armed Services Committee passed the spending package Friday.

The plan includes a pay raise for everyone associated with Department of Defense.

This is a very good [pay raise] at a time when our service members and their families really need it, Kaine said. A 4.5% pay raise for military personnel, and a 2% pay raise for DoD civilian employees.

The Senate proposal adds 1% more for junior enlisted E-1 thru E-3 bringing them to a 5.5% increase.

The Newport News Shipyard builds the Virginia Class submarines, and the bill adds $900 million so that an additional submarine can be built. It also has $175 million for additional work on aircraft carriers. Kaine said the overall goal for the number of subs and surface ships remains 355, but the actual current number is closer to 300.

The pace of production has been really slowed down by workforce issues and not having an adequate ship and sub workforce, Kaine said. Provisions in this bill bring more suppliers into the supply chain and get them ready to go and do top quality work quickly.

Kaine said rather than focus on the 355 target, hed like to see emphasis on more effective surface and submarine vessels.

The Senate proposal also provides for help on two key local bases when it comes to families quality of life.

Child care development centers  both in the Hampton Roads area, one at Little Creek and one at Oceana, these are really important investments that we hear about all the time, Kaine said.

In a couple months, a Senate/House conference committee will work out the final defense budget that will be presented to President Joe Biden later this year.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Shots fired during a police pursuit in Tipton County ended with one suspect in custody and two others still at large.

At 1:40 a.m. on Saturday morning, deputies in the area of Tabb Drive in Munford saw a gray colored Volvo SUV traveling down the street with no operational headlights.

As they approached the intersection of Highway 51, the deputies noticed that there were two Summit Roofing trucks traveling in tandem with the Volvo.

According to Tipton County Sheriff Shannon Beasley, due to the time of day and the drivers suspicious behavior, the deputies suspected that the trucks were stolen and the driver of the Volvo was a third suspect.

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The deputies attempted to stop all three vehicles to investigate and when they did, the Volvo and one of the Summit Roofing trucks immediately flew down Kimbrough towards Nancy Lane Park. The second Summit Roofing truck drove down Maple Drive.

A pursuit ensued with the Volvo and one of the trucks. As they approached the area of Nancy Lane Park, deputies said at least one shot was fired from the suspects vehicle.

The chase continued down Rosemark Road into Shelby County and once into the city of Memphis, the truck and Volvo split up and pursuits continued with both vehicles.

With the assistance of the Shelby County Sheriffs Office and the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Volvo was eventually stopped on Sam Cooper near Perkins where the driver was taken into custody.

A search of the Volvo revealed a .223 caliber magazine and 16 grams of methamphetamine. Deputies said that after a lengthy pursuit, the probable weapon that fired the shots was not recovered.

The driver of the Volvo has been identified as Herbert McKnatt. The 31-year-old has been charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, felony reckless endangerment and possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver.

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The Summit truck, which was also pulling a trailer, lost the trailer at one point during the pursuit and the truck was last seen heading into Southaven and has since been recovered in Mississippi. The second Summit truck was found abandoned behind the Kroger area shopping center in Atoka shortly after the incident began.

Deputies said the drivers of the two Summit Roofing trucks have not yet been caught.

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** UPDATE: MSHP released a statement Saturday saying Christine Louise Fitz was found safe.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.  The Missouri State Highway Patrol released an Endangered Silver Advisory Alert for a missing woman out of Platte County, Missouri on Saturday.

According to the MSHP, 66-year-old Christine Louise Fitz was last seen just after 4 a.m. on Saturday morning walking southbound from her home at the 7800 block of Northwest Missouri Highway 9.

Fitz is suffering from early stages of dementia and Alzheimers, MSHP said.

Police ID man, teen killed in east Kansas City shooting

She is described as standing at 5 foot 9 inches tall and weighing approximately 280 pounds. The MSHP also said she has gray hair and blue eyes and was last seen wearing a blue and white coat with horses on it.

A photo of missing Christine Louise Fitz of Platte County, Missouri from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

If you or anyone you know has seen Fitz or have any information regarding her whereabouts, contact 911 or the Platte County Sheriffs Office at (816) 858-3521.

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Simon Baron-Cohen, who first became involved with autism research in the summer of 1981, says teachers need to be 'compassionate' when dealing with pupils who are autistic - John Lawrence

The findings of the infected blood inquiry highlighted the appalling human cost of the scandal, after those in authority  doctors, ministers, and officials  chose for four decades to ignore expert warnings that lives were being lost needlessly. And four decades, points out Sir Simon Baron-Cohen, is roughly the same length of time that he  as one of the worlds leading researchers into autism  has been lobbying successive UK governments to address the alarming rate of suicide among autistic people, seven times higher than among non-autistic people.

Yet, despite his efforts, it was only last year that autism was finally named as a high-risk factor in the UKs official Suicide Prevention Strategy. The comparison with the infected blood inquiry is interesting, says the 65-year-old director of Cambridge Universitys Autism Research Centre, knighted in 2021 for services to autistic people. We have known for a long time about the mental health crisis in the autism community; 70 to 80 per cent of autistic people have depression or anxiety. And suicide rates are not going down.

Because of official inaction? People are dying by suicide. Those who are not dying are living very unhappy lives. And it doesnt need to be that way.

We are meeting in his very tidy rooms at the top of a steep staircase in Trinity College, one of Cambridges grandest. His rooms give little away, though a copy of Men, Anna Fords popular and provocative 1985 feminist survey in which her male subjects revealed how easy they found it to lie and cheat, stands out among rows of academic publications, and hints that Baron-Cohen does not inhabit an ivory tower.

In his public life, he is familiar with the corridors of power and so, in our conversation, he picks his words with care to avoid being labelled a firebrand. Shouting from the rooftops and decrying those in power is not his way.

He is someone who guards his privacy. The questions that inevitably come because he shares an unusual surname with his cousin Sacha, the actor and controversial creator of Ali G and Borat, contribute to that. The two are, he says, very close. The full stop after these words is almost audible.

Likewise, press interviews are rare. This one has taken a year to organise but, like many people who make it almost impossible to reach them, in person he is far from daunting. Quietly spoken with a slightly nervous, toothy smile, his default is reasonableness personified in his blue cotton open-necked shirt and drain-pipe jeans.

It makes the moments all the more powerful when, his moderate tone never wavering, he allows himself to land a punch. Such as when he is describing how, in 2014, his Autism Research Centre published a study showing that two-thirds of autistic adults had felt suicidal, and one third had planned or attempted suicide.

All the relevant ministers and mandarins were given a copy, some no doubt by hand. It took 10 years for that research to be acted upon [by including autism in the Suicide Prevention Strategy]. And in that time a lot of people have died.

He cannot give an exact figure because the Government still does not publish the number of deaths by suicide each year of autistic people. At the beginning of last month, to coincide with the high-profile inquest into the suicide of 16-year-old Caitlyn Scott-Lee at Wycombe Abbey School in Buckinghamshire, Baron-Cohen was one of the signatories to an open letter to the Government demanding it changes this policy.

Co-signatories included Chris Packham and Jools Holland, both ambassadors of ACE (the Autism Centre of Excellence), the campaigning organisation that Baron-Cohen founded in 2017 after giving a speech to the United Nations on the denial of human rights to autistic people. We need to know why autistic people are falling through the gaps. What could have been done to save those lives? We need proper scrutiny.

Sitting tall and upright in his chair opposite me, he is still mulling over the parallels with the inquiry into the infected blood scandal. Having a whole review like that, he muses, will be too late to help those fatalities, but it may be what autism needs, a really thorough review of the neglect. We are neglecting autistic people.

Negligence is a serious charge when there are 1.2 million autistic people in the UK, or 2 per cent of the population. As an example, some years ago I created an autism clinic in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough as part of my work here.

It was initially funded by a charity because the NHS would not fund it. Then the Autism Act came in in 2010 and required NHS trusts to have an autism pathway, so the NHS took it over. But here we are 14 years later, rates of autism have gone up substantially, and yet they still only have two full-time clinicians.

How does such negligence make him feel? He pauses to consider before replying. It is frustrating, it is heartbreaking, it is preventable. We want autistic people to be living fulfilling lives, having good opportunities for education and fair employment. But employment rates among autistic people are appallingly low, only 15 per cent. To me, these are signs that society is not working for autistic people.

There is quite a range between frustrating and heartbreaking. Frustrating means you hope things would go quicker. In my case it doesnt mean I am giving up.

Simon Baron-Cohen first became involved with autism research in the summer of 1981. He had just graduated in human sciences from New College, Oxford. I got a job as a teacher in a very small unit for autistic kids. I heard about it by chance but something sparked my curiosity.

He grew up in a Jewish family in Golders Green, north-west London, as one of five children. His father, Vivian, had been a teacher but then opened a chain of menswear shops, including the eclectic Baron of Piccadilly next to Londons Savile Row.

His sister Suzie, two years younger than him, was born with Sturge Webers Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder. The impact on her was physical, she was in a wheelchair, and she had learning difficulties. She had almost no language, epilepsy and needed 24-hour care. Institutional care was what was recommended.

That is what was agreed for his sister, though later in life he moved her to supported housing near his home before her death at 54 in 2014. In his eulogy, he said that his familys life had been richer for having shared the journey with her. And he has subsequently linked growing up with his sister to his interest in people who think or develop differently.

There was, he recalls of his childhood, a lot of stigma attached to disability. And when, post-university, he started as a teacher at the Family Tree school in Barnet, then one of the few specialist autism schools in the country, there was a lot of stigma around autism.

We were right on the cusp of old theories, attributing autism to the family and particularly the mother. [It was said] that these were children who werent developing social relationships perhaps because they hadnt had the primary social relationship with the mother.

Simon Baron-Cohen, pictured at Cambridge University, says autistic people are 'generally not enjoying school' and has repeatedly called for government intervention - John Lawrence

At the Family Tree, a new approach was being tried out, with just six children being taught by six teachers. There were cameras on every wall to tape the interactions so we could review them at the end of the day to see what worked and what didnt. There wasnt a framework for how to teach these kids and how to connect with them.

The experience hardened his resolve to research autism for as long as I remained interested and here I am 40 years later. His post-graduate qualifications in psychology were done at University College London, and then the Institute of Psychiatry. In 1994, he came to Cambridge and has stayed ever since.

By the time of his arrival, he and his lawyer wife Bridget Lindley already had two children, Sam and Kate. Robin arrived soon afterwards.

Lindley was another at the forefront of her field, her achievements at the pioneering Family Rights Group, working with the families of children caught up in the care system, were marked by an OBE in 2014. She died of cancer in March 2016 at just 56.

As before with his cousin, Baron-Cohen places family matters off-limits. I think that is a bit too personal, he says when I ask if he attends the synagogue he helped found in Cambridge. Even on anti-Semitism, he is reluctant to be drawn.

Thats probably not relevant to my career. It is well-documented that it has increased in the last six months. It is part of the experience of being Jewish that there is racism. So anti-Semitism is there, but we should just call it what it is, which is racism.

Within a few yards of Great Court, the vast main quadrangle at Trinity College, there is a tent encampment in Cambridge of pro-Palestinian protestors. Does he have a view on it? I dont think protests should be cleared out of the way. The one here is peaceful which is good, a sign of democracy.

He is keen to get back to talking about autism. There are, he explains, two aspects to his research  the base science of what causes it and the more practical, day-to-day business of developing new methods for assessing its impact on lives and finding what interventions can mitigate that.

In this second category he will publish later this year a report on how schools deal  or dont  with autistic pupils. Again it is a bit heartbreaking. You only get one chance at school. Ideally it should be fun, enjoyable and allow you to reach your potential.

Autistic people are generally not enjoying school, he says, adding there are high rates of dropping out, poor mental health in their teens and before, and anecdotally are underachieving.

If he had a single piece of advice for teachers working with autistic pupils, what would it be? It is all about asking the individual, what do you need? If they need predictability, always sit them in the same place. Or a quieter environment, then arrange it. Have some compassion.

On the causes of autism, one theory he has explored points to unborn babies hormone exposure in the womb. It is part of the complex set of causes. We know that autism runs in families, so it is partly genetic and that is probably the bigger fraction, with some people estimating it at 60 or 70 per cent. But that still leaves a big chunk - which is where hormones in the womb  testosterone and oestrogen  come in.

Prenatally, these hormones change the whole body including brain development. Some accounts of what these hormones do talk about them masculinising the body and the brain.

When he was starting out on his research, the received wisdom was that autism was something that mainly happened in boys and men. It is a characterisation that his work has changed. His 2003 book, The Essential Difference: Men, Women and the Extreme Male Brain, described male brains as wired for systemising and female brains for empathising. It was an argument that saw him accused of gender stereotyping.

My interest in gender is to try to understand the connection with autism. I was one of the first people to bring these two areas of research together and see what we could learn about autism.

In a lengthy blog on her website, JK Rowling, pictured in 2022, explained her concern about sex and gender issues and the connection between autism - FilmMagic

He was not, he stresses, defining roles for men and women. One of the things that is a common misunderstanding of anyones work on gender differences is that the findings dont apply to all people of one sex or gender. They are simply average differences if you take a group of males and a group of females. You find average differences. So, you have girls whose interests are much more common among boys and vice versa.

Given this work, it is no surprise to find Baron-Cohens research on high rates of autism in transgender and gender diverse people quoted approvingly in last months Cass Review of gender identity services. We contacted 36,000 autistic people online, he explains of the references in the report, and asked them how they identified  male, female, non-binary or trans. What we found were much higher rates of autistic people who identify as non-binary or transgender. Thats an interesting question.

So interesting that it was raised in June 2020 by JK Rowling, in a lengthy blog on her website, in which she explained her concern about sex and gender issues. She argued that the connection between autism and those wanting to transition needed to be better understood before such life-changing decisions should be approved. Does he agree?

I am pleased that the Cass report is saying that if a child or young person comes to a gender clinic, they should be screened for autism because autism might not have been picked up yet. It is about providing the right support. If you overlook autism, you wouldnt be doing a service to that period.

But the Harry Potter author seemed to be suggesting a slow-down in treatment of gender identity until the link with autism is better understood? Im not an expert in gender identity but what I am saying is that if someone is struggling in some way with their mental health and is unhappy, the job of the clinician is to find out why.

It could be gender issues, and that needs to be explored. But it could be undiagnosed autism and that needs to be explored.

Among the reasons autism used to be seen as something that mostly occurred in men, he says, was that so many women were going undiagnosed. More broadly, he recalls, diagnosis was hit or miss, the only people being diagnosed in the 1990s were those with learning difficulties.

Today it is the absolute reverse. We have extended the definition of autism and talk of an autism spectrum. That reminds us that there are huge variations between autistic people.

When he started out, the male to female rate was roughly four to one. Today, people estimate it is may be three or maybe two males for every one female. As stigma has reduced, particularly on girls and women, more females have felt comfortable to seek a diagnosis.

He worries that there may remain some underdiagnosis in women. There may be more pressure from society on girls and women to be sociable and communicative. And so autistic females hide their autism. It is sometimes called camouflaging or masking.

One of the many challenges with statistics concerning levels of autism is how long people are having to spend on NHS waiting lists for diagnosis. Some are waiting years. It is as bad as it has ever been.

In principle, he says, the sooner autism is diagnosed the better. Some of our research shows you can diagnose it as early as 18 months. We did that research in the 1990s. Yet the reality is it is not happening until school age, secondary school, or even adulthood.

Is that delay down to lack of resources? Partly that, partly stigma, sometimes a family cushioning a child or teenager so the challenges dont become apparent until they are ready to transition to independence.

Despite all the drawbacks of the current figures, it is undeniable that they are skyrocketing. Today, autism is one in 36. Back when I started it was four in 10,000, so considered extremely rare. Today it is considered as common.

As well as underdiagnosis, might there also be a risk of overdiagnosis? I am less worried about that. I think the rates we see today are getting closer to the true rate.

One consequence of underdiagnosis is the knock-on impact on NHS budgets for services for autistic people. At a time when public knowledge is growing, more information on autism is readily available online, the word itself is regularly used, the money ministers make available for the support that is required is nowhere near sufficient.

It is the waste of life that pains him most  whether lives ended by suicide because preventative strategies have taken so long to put in place, lives blighted by poor understanding and poorer support services, or lives that have so much unrealised potential.

I think of autism as both a disability and a difference. The difference part is that these are individuals who think differently and their differences may include talents and strengths that can be an asset in the workplace.

A general election is in progress. Does he believe Labour, if elected, might handle things any better for the autism community?

It remains to be seen. We know the problem. The reality is nowhere close to the ideal, or even satisfactory. It is below satisfactory. And it is not changing.

The adjectives he uses mirror those used in another public service to judge the performance of schools. If a school is below satisfactory, swift action is taken. That, he says, is a good comparison.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The Socorro Independent School District will not be closing its aquatics center and will not relocate P-K classes from the historic Escontrias building, the acting superintendent wrote in a letter to the districts parents.

Acting Superintendent James P. Vasquez thanked parents and students for a wonderful end to the school year and said he was writing in the spirit of transparency.

Closing the aquatics center and transferring P-K students from the Escontrias building were a couple of action items the district was thinking of doing to combat a multimillion budget deficit.

I am happy to provide a couple of silver linings to our situation. We will not close the aquatics center and we will not relocate the Pre-K classes from the Escontrias historical building to the newer facility. After much deliberation and listening closely to our employees, parents and community, it is in the best interest of our students and district to leave the programs as they are. Thank you to everyone who shared their invaluable input, Vasquez wrote.

Vasquez also wrote that district taxpayers were overcharged last year and their tax rate will be adjusted for the coming school year.

The districts M&O tax rate (maintenance and operations) exceeded the maximum compressed rate determined by TEA (Texas Education Agency) by .0166 cents, Vasquez wrote.

For a house valued at $246,000, that came to about $24 for the year, he wrote.

We are not alone in this situation; 10 districts in the state are in a similar scenario this year and last year, 100 Texas school districts also faced this issue, Vasquez wrote.

The district will make an equal reduction in the tax rate for the 21024-215 school year  that is the M&O tax will be .0166 cents less in the upcoming year, he wrote.

The district has been hurt by a declining enrollment, he added.

The fact that the state Legislature has not passed a bill to properly fund public schools has exacerbated our budget situation, Vasquez wrote.

While we continue to navigate the challenges, it is important for me to personally inform you of our situation, Vasquez wrote. I want to reassure you that we are actively working to move the district forward, which includes proving regular updates to inform you of the efforts to right our path.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Fighting continues on the Pokrovsk front, and this part of the front line is the most intense.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 10:00 on 15 June

Details: Ukrainian and Russian forces clashed 112 times on 14 June.

According to the updated information, the Russians launched six missile attacks on Ukrainian positions and populated areas, using 17 missiles, 33 airstrikes (including dropping 56 aerial bombs) and firing over 3,000 times, 104 times from multiple-launch rocket systems.

A total of 31 combat clashes have taken place since the beginning of Saturday, 15 June. The Russians carried out 12 airstrikes using 19 aerial bombs and fired on the Ukrainian defenders positions 547 times. Russian forces also used 18 kamikaze drones for attacks.

On the Kharkiv front, Russian troops have tried to drive Ukrainian troops from their positions three times since the beginning of the day. An attack was repelled near the village of Tykhe. Fighting continues in two locations near Vovchansk.

Five combat clashes are currently taking place on the Kupiansk front. The Russians are trying to drive Ukrainian units from their positions in the areas of Petropavlivka, Andriivka, Hrekivka and Nevske. The situation is under control.

On the Siversk front, the Russians carried out unsuccessful attacks near Rozdolivka. The fighting continues.

The situation remains the most tense on the Pokrovsk front, as it was yesterday. Three combat clashes are currently taking place in the areas of Novooleksandrivka, Yevhenivka and Novoselivka Persha. Three attacks have already been repelled. The Ukrainian defence forces continue to make efforts to stabilise the situation and inflict fire damage on the Russians.

On the Kurakhove front, five Russian attempts to break through the defences near Pobieda and Paraskoviivka were successfully repelled.

On the Vremivka front, Ukrainian defence forces have been repelling an attack near Staromaiorske since the beginning of the day. The situation is under control. Four combat clashes have already ended near Urozhaine and Vodiane. The Russians suffered losses and are regrouping.

On the Orikhiv front, the Russians made two unsuccessful attempts to force Ukrainian troops from their positions near Mala Tokmachka and Robotyne. The Russians losses are being confirmed.

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A Smyrna High School teacher was arrested at her Smyrna home Wednesday and charged with three counts of offensive touching stemming from incidents in her classroom with her students, Smyrna police said.

The arrest comes as a separate, monthslong criminal investigation into abuse claims at Smyrna Elementary School continues.

Forty-year-old Kanika Jackson was arrested this week following a four-month Smyrna police investigation in conjunction with the Delaware Department of Justice, sparked by a call to the state's Division of Family Services hotline alleging Jackson was verbally and physically abusive toward students in her class.

Police said the investigation revealed Jackson "placed her hands on students in a physical manner, causing them offense and alarm" on three separate occasions during the most recent school year, which recently concluded.

A Smyrna High School teacher was arrested Wednesday and charged with three counts of offensive touching in her classroom. The entrance to Smyrna High School in March 2016.

"In one instance, she allegedly grabbed a students hair and pulled it. In another, she is alleged to have grabbed a students neck and shaken them. In the final incident, she is alleged to have grabbed a student by the neck and pushed them into a wall," police said.

Jackson was arrested around 11:30 am. Wednesday without incident, charged with three counts of offensive touching and released on her own recognizance pending a court hearing.

The Smyrna School District placed Jackson on leave at the start of the investigation in February, according to a district statement released Thursday.

The ongoing Smyrna Elementary School investigation

The separate investigation into abuse at Smyrna Elementary School also began in February and is still active, Smyrna police reported this week.

Smyrna Elementary School is located at 121 S. School Lane.

No additional details were released about the status of the investigation.

At the time, the Smyrna School District released a statement about the case: "A report was made to the Smyrna School District on February 16, 2024, alleging possible professional misconduct in a classroom at Smyrna Elementary School. As part of our multi-faceted approach to keep our students safe, we have taken all precautions, including contacting law enforcement and providing alternative staff to instruct students. The investigation is active and on-going."

On May 30, the school issued another statement to the school community, which has been awaiting its results.

"The Smyrna School District would like to inform everyone that recently there have been inquiries regarding the Smyrna Elementary investigation from earlier this school year," it read. "While we are still unable to release any details, we are fully cooperating with the Smyrna Police Department and Department of Justice.

"As always, we remain committed to the care, safety, and well-being of our students, and we, like you, do take these allegations seriously."

Have a story idea? Contact Ryan Cormier of Delaware Online/The News Journal at rcormier@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier) and X (@ryancormier).

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Smyrna High School teacher Kanika Jackson arrested by Smyrna police
Pass Christian

I drove around my old hometown of Pass Christian recently and was saddened by what is has become. There were cheap, ugly houses everywhere, crammed together with no yards or green spaces. There were new businesses in equally ugly buildings that just changed the ambiance of my once beautiful town. There was one bright spot, however. I was surprised to see a lone, beautiful oak tree in a beautiful green space on Scenic Drive near the main street. Kudos to the landowner for preserving this little piece of paradise.

No monument

Someone wrote in wondering where Donald Trumps monument was because George Floyd has one. Seriously? Mr. Floyd was not trying to hijack democracy and lie his way into a dictatorship, and Mr. Trump has not had a cops knee on his neck until he quit breathing. Mr. Floyds monument is not there to extol his virtues as a perfect person, but to bring attention to racial injustice and excessive force by police. Since Mr. Trump once said no one, no one has done more for Black people than he has, I feel certain he must have contributed some of his vast, ill-gotten wealth to build that monument.

We the people

Gov. Tate Reeves wants to eliminate the income tax, which benefits businesses, but does not want to lower grocery tax or give us better access to health care, which benefits residents. Yet we still vote for these politicians. Yawn.

Economy: Good or bad?

A Sound Off asked: What the heck is going on with our economy? Is it good or is it bad? Republicans have seized the narrative on that issue. They keep blaring over media loudspeakers that the economy is terrible. It isnt. It is doing very well, and that scares them so they have to lie and exaggerate about it and hope enough voters will believe them to help Donald Trump win. Are all segments of our economy doing equally well? They never do in a capitalist system. Different segments of the population have to fight for what they can get, so the distribution of wealth is always shifting in a capitalist system. If you want a distribution of wealth with which all segments are happy, move to a Communist country. But there youll find it only in theory, not fact.

Doth protest?

Rachael Maddow says she fears Donald Trump will put her in jail. Is she admitting that she is guilty?

Mixed marriages

The article speculating whether laws against mixed marriages are subject to coming back. Just sit anywhere and people-watch. Its too late for that. Youd better not take a DNA test. You might get a surprise.

Food prices

Mississippi is not concerned about families not being able to feed themselves. Our legislators have blocked food tax reductions and school lunches. Are you advocating government control of food prices? If you are, Im with you.

Tax confusion

Im confused. Is this some of the new math being taught? The announcement of the Harrison County Board of Supervisors for the proposed ad valorem tax for the coming school year is June 17th. The announcement shows the portion of the budget is 24% for both years. However, the proposed new budget is some $6 million less but the 24% is $2 million more than the current years budget. How does that work?

The real embarrassment

No, President Biden is not an embarrassment. Donald Trump was, and is, an embarrassment. Do you think Trump would have said that he respects the rule of law if his son was just convicted of breaking the law? Biden said he would respect the decision of Hunters trial, and he would not pardon him. Thats the mark of a man to respect. However, I am not so sure that Trump would pardon any of his children anyway. Trump only watches out for himself.

Whats going on?

There is a constant flow of new people walking down Victory Street. I suspect there is some kind of drop-and-release situation going on in the Willow Wood apartments. Is the city responsible for this? It is in close proximity to GHS if anyone cares.

Gun control

So now that Hunter Biden is convicted of falsifying his gun application, maybe will see more regulations. Lets examine gun owners by taking blood samples after a shooting. We already have government control over womens bodies. Why not?

The election

How could one be enthusiastic about President Biden? He has shown the signs of aging and mental deterioration, particularly in recent times. Unfortunately, he most likely wont finish his next term for various reasons. Donald Trump may not be the personality you admire but this country needs help. The reserve bench  in the Democratic Party is not very strong, unless you like Kamala Harris or California. Use common sense, please.

Send your Sound Offs to soundoff@sunherald.com.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa won re-election Friday after the African National Congress recently forged a new political coalition with the Democrat Alliance Party. File Photo by Jemal Countess/UPI

June 15 (UPI) -- A new political coalition enabled South African President Cyril Ramaphosa secure another term as the nation's president Friday.

A deal struck among members of Ramaphosa's African National Congress and members of Democratic Alliance Party resulted in the South African Parliament re-electing Ramaphosa Friday evening.

Ramaphosa's re-election chances dimmed in May when the ANC lost its majority status in Parliament after voters expressed frustration regarding a relative lack of improvement for the nation's Black population. ANC got 40% of the vote, while the DAP came second with 22%.

Corruption, unemployment and crime also made voters unhappy with the status quo in the South African Parliament.

May's vote was the first time in 30 years that the Nelson Mandela-founded ANC lost its majority status in the South African Parliament.

The ANC and the nation's second-largest political party, the DAP, created a new coalition that Ramaphosa on Friday said will "work together for the good of everyone in our country."

Ramaphosa next will create a new cabinet that will include members of the DAP as well as the ANC.

The ANC held majority status since 1994, when South Africa first held democratic elections and Mandela was elected president.
A woman raises her hand in praise during the Southern Baptist Convention, Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at the Indiana Convention Center.

The postponed launch of a Southern Baptist Convention sexual predator database has been met with skepticism from some abuse survivors and others who saw it as the key piece in a series of reforms promised three years ago.

"Once again, the Southern Baptist Convention has kicked the can down the road," said Christa Brown, a well-known survivor of clergy sex abuse and a longtime advocate for sex abuse reform in the nation's largest Protestant denomination.

But a Southern Baptist leader said the database aimed at keeping sexual offenders from moving from church to church is closer to reality than ever before  it just won't be launched by a task force charged with implementing abuse reforms.

More: Southern Baptists weigh in on issues dealing with women: IVF and female pastors

With the database project in limbo, what happens next?

At this week's Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, the Rev. Josh Wester, of North Carolina, chairman of the denomination's Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force, said there were already 100 names that have been vetted for placement on a Ministry Check database. He said the task force is handing responsibility for the online listings over to the denomination's Executive Committee because challenges regarding liability insurance and funding for reforms have prevented the much-anticipated database from being launched.

Mike Keahbone [Provided]

"I wish that, standing before you today, I could say that the Ministry Check website is now online, but I cannot do that," Wester told delegates, called messengers, gathered in Indianapolis, Indiana. "What I can tell you is that even though we have encountered unbelievable obstacles in the process, in the course of trying to establish the Ministry Check website, we are right now closer than we have ever been."

The Rev. Mike Keahbone, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Lawton, served on Wester's task force and is also a member of the Executive Committee. He reiterated Wester's comments.

He said he felt confident that the Executive Committee and its new president Jeff Iorg would see the database project to fruition.

"I have a lot of confidence that the EC will do what it's tasked to do now, and being on the EC, I have an opportunity to be a watchdog for it," Keahbone said.

More: Southern Baptist Convention elects next president after two runoff votes

The denomination  Oklahoma's largest faith group  has been considering the database in response to a newspaper investigative report, and a subsequent independent report on the internal handling of sex abuse allegations by top leadership. Messengers at the denomination's 2022 annual meeting voted to have a database of sex offenders created.

Keahbone said he was grateful that messengers' meeting in Indianapolis approved the task force's recommendation to establish the Ministry Check database website and creation a permanent home for the denomination's abuse prevention and response. At the meeting, the task force also promoted a new curriculum for churches to use to prevent sex abuse and respond to sex abuse allegations.

"We determined the tasks that were the most necessary were, one, to make sure that there is a Ministry Toolkit that addresses prevention and response," Keahbone said. "The second part is to figure out what to do with the Ministry check website."

The Lawton minister also said he expected that the latest developments would draw criticism, including some from sex abuse survivors, but also some members of the denomination who did not think the issue of sex abuse reform deserved the level of attention it has received in recent years.

More: Southern Baptists' list of alleged abusers contains at least 20 people with Oklahoma ties

A survivor's skepticism

Brown, an attorney and author, said she viewed the delayed launch of the database as "little more than self-serving performative PR maneuvers for institutional image-management."

"For many survivors and advocates, this long trailing out of promises and platitudes, with nothing tangible to show for it, has amounted to heaped-on cruelty," she said in an email.

As part of her longtime advocacy efforts, Brown began contacting Southern Baptist leaders in 2006 to sound the alarm about the lack of accountability for preachers and other ministry leaders credibly accused of sexually abuse.

Christa Brown, a survivor of clergy sexual abuse and well-known advocate for abuse reform in the Southern Baptist Convention. Brown is the author of new book, Baptistland: A Memoir of Abuse, Betrayal, and Transformation.

She created the StopBaptistPredators.org website, which she maintained for several years by compiling media reports on Baptist clergy sex abuse cases. StopBaptistPredators.org became a database of convicted, admitted and credibly accused Southern Baptist clergy sex abusers. Eventually, she spoke with the Rev. Wade Burleson, an Enid pastor (now retired), who asked the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee to explore the idea of creating a database in 2008.

In her new book "Baptistland: A Memoir of Abuse, Betrayal and Transformation" released in May, Brown shared her story about being sexually abused by a Southern Baptist minister when she was a Texas teenager.

This week, she said she didn't think Southern Baptist leaders' efforts were "robust" enough.

"Protecting kids and congregants against clergy sex predators is simply not something they care about  not really," Brown said.

More: 'Real people have been hurt': OK Southern Baptist leader discusses database recommendation

"If they did, the response would have been far more robust by now. Instead, we've had this long trailing out of task force after task force, and glossy brochure after glossy brochure, and all of it amounting to near-nothing."

For his part, Keahbone pushed back at the criticism.

"In the grand scheme of things, we have not gone very far, but we can't go very far until we take our first steps," he said.

"So, time is going to tell the story of whether Southern Baptists are really serious about abuse reform, and I feel confident that we have laid the foundation that allows those steps to be taken."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Southern Baptist Convention says sexual predator database postponed
Southwest Airlines plane comes within 400ft of slamming into ocean near Hawaii

Southwest Airlines plane comes within 400ft of slamming into ocean near Hawaii

A Southwest Airlines flight plunged within 400 feet of the ocean near Hawaii in April, according to a newly-revealed memo.

The document, shared with the airlines pilots last week and obtained by Bloomberg News, stated that a Boeing 737 Max 8 briefly plunged at an unusually fast 4,000 feet per minute before the crew pulled out. The April 11 incident occurred after adverse weather conditions led the pilots to pull out of a landing attempt.

There were no injuries and the flight returned to Honolulu. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told The Independent that it is investigating the incident.

The Independent has contacted Southwest Airlines for comment. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it has information to release at this point.

The incident comes amid other reported safety issues after airlines increased flights following the pandemic. Southwest is facing increasing pressure from Elliott Investment Management, as well as other investor, as it struggles with its finances, Bloomberg reported.

Nothing is more important to Southwest than safety, the airline told the outlet. Through our robust Safety Management System, the event was addressed appropriately as we always strive for continuous improvement.

Data from the flight tracking site, ADS-B Exchange, reveals that the flight plunged from 1,000ft to 400ft in just a few seconds on April 11. It then began to climb quickly.

Former pilot and flight instructor Kit Darby told Bloomberg that the pilot was pitching up and pitching down with the power and close to out of control  very close. It would feel like a rollercoaster ride.

The Southwest review shows that the incident took place after a landing attempt was unsuccessful in harsh weather conditions and pilots had been unable to see the runway.

The memo states that the captain chose to put the newer first officer in charge during the short flight despite the bad weather.

The first officer inadvertently pushed forward on the control column. The officer was following the movement of the thrust lever caused by the planes automatic throttle.

The pilot subsequently decreased the speed, and the descent began. Alarms sounded, stating that they were getting too close to the surface, prompting the captain to order the first officer to up the thrust, causing the plane to climb aggressively at 8,500 feet per minute, the memo stated.

Darby told the outlet that flights approaching an airport for landing usually descend at about 1,500 to 2,000 feet per minute, slowing down to about 800 feet when the aircraft is about five miles away.

The Southwest review found that pilot monitoring and improved communication between crew members is vital. It said it would look at internal and industry data connected to its protocols for procedures and training.

In December 2022, a United Airlines flight came within around 750 feet of the ocean after it plunged just after takeoff. Investigations by the FAA and NTSB found that the incident was caused by miscommunication between the pilots on the plane.
ST. LOUIS  A St. Louis father faces felony charges over the death of his four-month-old child earlier this week.

Prosecutors with the St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office have charged Jordan Greene, 20, with abuse of a child resulting in death and statutory sodomy amid the investigation.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has identified the victim as his daughter, 4-month-old Harmoni Greene.

Four spots near St. Louis where World War II bunkers still exist

SLMPD responded to a call in the 1500 block of Olive Street on Monday after a report of an unresponsive child. Harmoni was later rushed to a hospital, where she was pronounced deceased.

A Child Abuse Unit assumed the investigation, which led to an autopsy. The autopsy revealed that Harmoni had suffered a skull fracture, broken ribs, and internal injuries. Investigators say her injuries were consistent with physical and sexual abuse.

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The Medical Examiners Office determined that Harmoni died from blunt force trauma to the head and torso, classifying her death as a homicide.

Police requested a warrant for Jordan Greenes arrest on Friday, according to Missouri court records.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
Looking east from McHenry Avenue toward the city of Riverbank at the proposed River Walk housing development. Photographed west of Riverbank, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023.

Sixty years ago, in 1963, the California Legislature created the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), an important state agency which regulates when and where cities can expand their borders in the states 58 counties. LAFCOs must consider the effect that any proposal will produce on existing agricultural lands. By guiding development toward vacant urban land, LAFCO assists with the preservation of our valuable agricultural resources while addressing urban infill.

In 2016, Stanislaus LAFCO granted Riverbank a 1,479-acre annexation and Sphere of Influence expansion intended to accommodate the citys growth for the next 20 years. Currently, the City of Riverbank is requesting yet another border expansion. The majority of the newly proposed 1,535-acre Sphere of Influence expansion is to accommodate River Walk, a proposed senior living development with 2,4002,800 residences. This raises serious concerns about increased traffic and how it can possibly be mitigated on McHenry, Coffee and Patterson roads.

Opinion

One of LAFCOs main charges, as put forth by the legislature, is to protect and promote agriculture. The majority of Riverbanks proposed 1,535-acre Sphere of Influence expansion area is considered prime farmland.

Before granting any expansion to its borders, Stanislaus LAFCO is requiring Riverbank to identify a range of alternatives that focus on lands within the Sphere of Influence on non-prime lands. LAFCO cites ample acres in the citys 2016 expansion, within city limits, to accommodate housing. This is demonstrated in Riverbanks Housing Element inventory of 6,712 potential housing units.

LAFCOs Sphere of Influence states that boundaries shall, to the extent possible, maintain a separation between existing communities to protect open space and agricultural lands and the identity of an individual community. Riverbanks proposed expansion extends along the Stanislaus River to McHenry Avenue, adjacent to development in the unincorporated Del Rio community area. If the countys community plan and Riverbanks proposed expansion were developed to their extents, no separation of communities or agricultural land would remain north of Patterson and Ladd Roads.

The proposed River Walk project is adjacent to the Stanislaus River, a natural resource that provides open space, wildlife habitat and aquifer restoration. The River Walk project hopscotches over Riverbanks current Sphere of Influence in order to locate on a scenic river. But the land along the river is a flood plain, and Riverbank has made no reference to the structural soundness of the levees that were constructed over 70 years ago, nor is there reference to the impacts of climate change on the river flow. Additionally, 150 acres of the project are riparian habitat.

If Stanislaus County intends to remain one of Americas top 10 ag producing counties, it must protect its prime farmland. If our cities accommodate growth by incrementally expanding their borders, Stanislaus County is destined to follow the path of Los Angeles County  it will become a commuter county with traffic congestion, crime, unaffordable housing and all the costs associated with unsustainable growth (with the caveat that Los Angeles County was the nations most productive agricultural county for 45 years, until 1955).

Each of the countys nine cities needs to accommodate growth by building up, repurposing underutilized and blighted areas, infilling and putting development on the poorest soils. Stanislaus County already has plans to develop 88,558 acres within its cities and their general plans. There are hundreds of acres available for housing within Riverbanks Sphere of Influence. Stanislaus Countys formal response to the proposed River Walk project states, Its premature and does not maintain a logical land-use pattern.

Simply stated, Riverbank lacks a justifiable reason to further expand its borders.

Jeani Ferrari is chairperson of Farmland Working Group. Members of the Farmland Working Group, Stanislaus Audubon Society, League of Women Voters, Stanislaus, Friends of the Swainsons Hawk, Sierra Club, Yokuts Group and Voters for Farmland also contributed to this piece.
(Bloomberg) -- Britains main opposition leader Keir Starmer said hes concerned with results of recent elections in the European Parliament, which prompted Frances decision to call a snap election that risks building support for the far right.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Starmer, whose left-wing Labour Party is leading the Conservatives in polls less than three weeks before the UK election, said, I want to see progressive parties succeed in Europe and Im concerned where I see right or very right wing politics taking hold.

The remarks underscore the potential for a sharp political rift in Europe, with the EU drifting to the right just as the UK is poised to have a left-wing government in office for the first time in 14 years.

French President Emmanuel Macrons response to the advance of right-wing parties in the EU parliament election was to call a vote for the legislature in his own country. Thats opened the risk that Marine Le Pens far-right party gets into office, something the finance minister Bruno Le Maire hass warned could trigger a financial crisis.

Asked if hes concerned about Macrons gamble and the risk to markets from the political makeup of Europe after the recent elections, Starmer replied, Were a progressive party.

I am very concerned about economic stability, he said. Because I think that if theres one hallmark economically over the last 14 years, its chaos and instability thats had a massive impact on investment. So the massive impact on individuals who take an example is still paying hundreds of pounds more a month on their mortgages.

Starmer spoke on a visit to Bassetlaw Hospital in Nottinghamshire, where he was campaigning to unseat UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in the election on July 4.

Macrons decision rattled markets, sending yields on French bonds surging, an echo of the chaos that coincided with Liz Trusss brief tenure as UK prime minister. Starmer this week has sought to deliver no surprises that could upset investors.

The same would be true of spending commitments, then you lose control of the economy, and its working people that pay the price, he said.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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Lauren Miller, who was denied access to an abortion in Texas, listens during a hearing with a U.S. Senate Judiciary subcommittee on June 12, 2024. The subcommittee held the hearing to discuss abortion bans and interstate travel to access them after the 2022 Supreme Court ruling that overturned the right to an abortion.

Lauren Miller, who was denied access to an abortion in Texas, listens during a hearing with a U.S. Senate Judiciary subcommittee on June 12, 2024. The subcommittee held the hearing to discuss abortion bans and interstate travel to access them after the 2022 Supreme Court ruling that overturned the right to an abortion. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  When Lauren Miller flew from her home state of Texas to Colorado two years ago she felt a moment of relief when the plane took off  not because she had been delayed for hours or because she needed a vacation, but because she was about to meet with doctors who would be able to treat her complicated pregnancy with twins.

Miller, whose family has been in the Lone Star State for eight generations, testified Wednesday before a U.S. Senate panel about the struggles she faced after learning in 2022 one of the twins brains wasnt developing correctly and was about half fluid.

One of our twin sons was going to die. It was just a matter of how soon, Miller testified. And every day that he continued to grow, he put his twin and myself at greater and greater risk.

The fear was complicated by Texas strict restrictions on abortion, which forced Miller to seek out treatment options without her doctors assistance.

Miller testified that, thankfully, she had a longtime friend she could trust who was an OB-GYN, who understood the landscape of abortion laws and knew doctors who could help address her diagnosis.

She fortunately knew an OB-GYN in Colorado, in a safe state, Miller testified. And Ill never forget getting on the phone with him and his first words were, My feet are on the ground in Colorado, and I can answer anything you ask.

Miller said the best option for her and her family was to have a single fetal reduction, but that was technically an abortion and she couldnt get it in Texas.

While discussing how to travel, she and her husband debated leaving their cell phones at home and only using cash out of fear of being tracked or facing prosecution for traveling for the procedure. But they ultimately took a flight instead of driving due to how sick she was at the time.

We didnt tell anybody what had happened, Miller said Wednesday. We didnt tell anybody what we had done because we were so scared.

Bill on interstate travel

The hearing on interstate travel was held by the Senate Judiciary Committees subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights.

Rhode Island Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, the panels chairman, said Congress should pass legislation from Nevada Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto that would reaffirm that people have a right to travel between states for reproductive health care.

Cortez Masto testified before the committee on Wednesday that her home state has seen a drastic increase in patients traveling for abortion care during the last two years and that the bill would protect those people and their doctors.

Our legislation reaffirms that women have a fundamental right to interstate travel and makes it crystal clear states cannot prosecute women or anyone who helps them for going to another state to get the critical reproductive care they need, Cortez Masto said. The Freedom to Travel for Healthcare Act would also protect healthcare providers in pro-choice states like Nevada, who help these women traveling from out of state.

The right to travel is already fundamental throughout the United States, but several GOP states have begun looking for ways to block their residents from traveling for abortions.

Right to travel

Jocelyn Frye, president of the National Partnership for Women and Families in Washington, D.C., testified during the hearing that attempting to bar travel is highly problematic, inconsistent with long-standing constitutional protections and Supreme Court precedent, and would bring even more disruption to our healthcare system.

Frye told senators that the right to travel between the states is one of the bedrock foundations of the United States that was included in the Articles of Confederation, which were approved before the Constitution, though the right is also found in that document.

The efforts to really impede the right to travel, really go to the heart of our Constitution and our democracy. Frye said. And, you know, even in a world where people disagree on a lot of things, our ability to go from state to state of our own accord is a fundamental principle.

Frye also referenced Supreme Court Associate Justice Brett Kavanaughs concurring opinion in the case that overturned the constitutional right to an abortion, where he affirmed that people seeking abortions have a right to travel between states.

Kavanaugh wrote: For example, may a State bar a resident of that State from traveling to another State to obtain an abortion? In my view, the answer is no based on the constitutional right to interstate travel.

The post State abortion bans forcing interstate travel, U.S. Senate panel hears appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
University of South Florida. Credit: USF Facebook page

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

The state of Florida is free to forbid college professors from criticizing the governor in the classroom, an attorney argued on behalf of the state during an appellate court hearing over the Stop WOKE Act  adding that those professors are free to seek work elsewhere if they dont like a legislature-controlled curriculum.

Academic freedom and when the government can insert itself into the classroom were focal points for a U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit panel consisting of judges Charles Wilson, appointed by former President Bill Clinton; and Britt Grant and Barbara Lagoa; both appointed by former President Donald Trump.

That response came from Charles Cooper, representing the state, during oral arguments Friday.

Yes, because in the classroom, the professors speech is the governments speech, and the government can restrict professors on a content-wide basis and restrict them from offering viewpoints that are contrary to  , Cooper said before one of the judges interrupted him.

The panel asked Cooper whether the state was OK with students in Florida learning entirely different sets of facts than in states with different politics.

Thats the genius of federalism, your honor, Cooper said. These are state institutions and the states themselves get to make decisions on the content of the courses taught in their schools, and that includes viewpoints, your honor.

If professors cannot conform to the states commands, Cooper said, they can seek states friendlier to their viewpoints.

Cooper insisted the state has the ultimate authority to decide course content.

There is no case  they have cited none and we have found none  that holds that individual professors have a right of academic freedom to override and contradict the course content choices of their university and certainly not of the state legislature, Cooper said.

The law

The appeal in two challenges to the Stop WOKE Act (formally the Individual Freedom Act) centers around higher education instructors who felt the law was restricting their freedom of speech. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the act into law in 2022, making it illegal for schools or businesses to offer viewpoints on certain topics related to race, color, national origin, or sex.

Some of the outlawed viewpoints include that:

A person, by virtue of his or her race, color, national origin, or sex is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously.

A persons moral character or status as either privileged or oppressed is necessarily determined by his or her race, color, national, origin, or sex.

And that merit, excellence, hard work, fairness, neutrality, objectivity, and racial colorblindness are racist or sexist, or were created by members of a particular race, color, national origin, or sex to oppress members of another race, color, national origin, or sex.

Ability to learn

Plaintiff LeRoy Pernell, a professor at the Florida A&M University College of Law, argued in a written statement that the law puts at stake the ability of society to learn, discuss, and develop tools for combatting the complex issue of racism in our country without being gagged by those who would dictate that only state-approved thought may be promoted.

The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Florida, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and Ballard Spahr law firm represent the university plaintiffs. Arguing before the court Friday were Leah Watson of the ACLU of Florida and Greg Greubel of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.

A federal trial court ruled in August 2022 that the state of Florida was attempting to impose its stance on the existence of systemic racism and sexism in the workplace and public schools in violation of the First and Fourteenth amendments.

You cant censor your way to freedom

Greubel argued on behalf of Adriana Novoa, a history professor at the University of South Florida, that you cant censor your way to freedom.

Its much more concerning to give the state legislature the power to redefine objectivity, to tell students what to believe, Greubel said.

The only way that you get to any of these terrible hypotheticals that the state advances that people will be teaching  that the holocaust never happened, or any other kind of conspiracy theories  is if the state gets the power to do that; if the state says, Heres the conspiracy theory and dont debate it, dont talk about it, just accept our version of the truth. That is something that weve never allowed the government to do, especially in the area of higher education.

Students go to college expecting free debate, Greubel added.

We do not assume that our students minds need to be coddled, Greubel said. We assume that our students need to be engaged in very rigorous debate with one another.

Watson of the ACLU insisted that professors enjoy First Amendment rights in the classroom, although they are not unlimited.

Theyre balanced against the universitys interest in effective teaching on a case-by-case basis, Watson said. The university, as I mentioned, has to uphold non-discriminatory academic standards. The line is that they uphold the academic standards. They have to fulfill the mission of the university. What they cannot do is suppress viewpoints.

She added: Its very rare for the legislature to reach so far into the classroom but, when it has happened, the [U.S.] Supreme Court has been clear about the parameters of academic freedom.

Cooper conceded the law would be unconstitutional if applied to private colleges. The key, he continued, is to balance the interests of public employees against those of the state. Professors are state employees and therefor limited in speech by what the state mandates, he said.

The restrictions apply only in class and conversations outside the classroom if related to teaching, he said.

The purpose of the law is only to suppress disfavored views, Watson maintained. And this is important, because the classroom is peculiarly the marketplace of ideas. It is where you go to debate, critique and discuss contradictory views.

The post State asserts expansive control over classroom speech in Stop WOKE Act appeal appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  Prosecutors have paused its case against the man accused of murdering two women in a park and taking a child from one of them.

Authorities claimed Alek Collins shot and killed Samantha Cisneros and Taryn Allen at Ned Houk Park in Clovis last month.

Story continues below

He is also accused of wounding a 5-year-old and kidnapping a baby, taking her to Texas. Collins is facing federal charges for the kidnapping.

With that case pending, prosecutors in Curry County have dismissed the state murder charges without prejudice, meaning they can be brought back.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
States sending the most people to Tennessee

Fewer Americans moved in 2022, according to the latest census data, but of those who did, 1 in 5 moved to a different state.

Population growth has returned to pre-pandemic norms; Southern states continued to record influxes in population, while the Northeast saw the biggest drops, particularly in New York and Pennsylvania. These trends largely continued into last year, according to United Van Lines annual movers study. States with the most inbound moves in 2023 were Vermont, Washington D.C., South Carolina, and Arkansas, which moved up 14 spots from the year before.

Stacker compiled a list of states sending the most people to Tennessee using data from the Census Bureau. States are ranked by the number of people who moved to Tennessee from a different state in 2022.

Keep reading to find out which states sent the most people to Tennessee.

You may also like: Counties with the worst commutes in Tennessee

#25. Maryland

 2,635 people moved to Tennessee from Maryland in 2022, making up 1.17% of new residents that moved from another state

 It was the #17 most common state for people moving away from Maryland

#24. Missouri

 3,102 people moved to Tennessee from Missouri in 2022, making up 1.37% of new residents that moved from another state

 It was the #17 most common state for people moving away from Missouri

#23. Wisconsin

 3,494 people moved to Tennessee from Wisconsin in 2022, making up 1.55% of new residents that moved from another state

 It was the #11 most common state for people moving away from Wisconsin

#22. New Jersey

 3,517 people moved to Tennessee from New Jersey in 2022, making up 1.56% of new residents that moved from another state

 It was the #18 most common state for people moving away from New Jersey

#21. Indiana

 4,067 people moved to Tennessee from Indiana in 2022, making up 1.80% of new residents that moved from another state

 It was the #11 most common state for people moving away from Indiana

You may also like: Where refugees in Tennessee are arriving from

#20. Colorado

 4,105 people moved to Tennessee from Colorado in 2022, making up 1.82% of new residents that moved from another state

 It was the #22 most common state for people moving away from Colorado

#19. Arizona

 4,584 people moved to Tennessee from Arizona in 2022, making up 2.03% of new residents that moved from another state

 It was the #17 most common state for people moving away from Arizona

#18. Washington

 4,661 people moved to Tennessee from Washington in 2022, making up 2.06% of new residents that moved from another state

 It was the #15 most common state for people moving away from Washington

#17. Louisiana

 4,772 people moved to Tennessee from Louisiana in 2022, making up 2.11% of new residents that moved from another state

 It was the #6 most common state for people moving away from Louisiana

#16. Ohio

 5,708 people moved to Tennessee from Ohio in 2022, making up 2.53% of new residents that moved from another state

 It was the #12 most common state for people moving away from Ohio

You may also like: Counties with the worst droughts in Tennessee

#15. New York

 5,821 people moved to Tennessee from New York in 2022, making up 2.58% of new residents that moved from another state

 It was the #17 most common state for people moving away from New York

#14. Michigan

 5,843 people moved to Tennessee from Michigan in 2022, making up 2.59% of new residents that moved from another state

 It was the #8 most common state for people moving away from Michigan

#13. South Carolina

 6,557 people moved to Tennessee from South Carolina in 2022, making up 2.90% of new residents that moved from another state

 It was the #5 most common state for people moving away from South Carolina

#12. Pennsylvania

 6,568 people moved to Tennessee from Pennsylvania in 2022, making up 2.91% of new residents that moved from another state

 It was the #14 most common state for people moving away from Pennsylvania

#11. Arkansas

 7,202 people moved to Tennessee from Arkansas in 2022, making up 3.19% of new residents that moved from another state

 It was the #3 most common state for people moving away from Arkansas

You may also like: Bestselling cars in Tennessee

#10. North Carolina

 7,391 people moved to Tennessee from North Carolina in 2022, making up 3.27% of new residents that moved from another state

 It was the #9 most common state for people moving away from North Carolina

#9. Kentucky

 8,227 people moved to Tennessee from Kentucky in 2022, making up 3.64% of new residents that moved from another state

 It was the #3 most common state for people moving away from Kentucky

#8. Alabama

 9,375 people moved to Tennessee from Alabama in 2022, making up 4.15% of new residents that moved from another state

 It was the #3 most common state for people moving away from Alabama

#7. Virginia

 9,450 people moved to Tennessee from Virginia in 2022, making up 4.18% of new residents that moved from another state

 It was the #10 most common state for people moving away from Virginia

#6. Mississippi

 9,491 people moved to Tennessee from Mississippi in 2022, making up 4.20% of new residents that moved from another state

 It was the #1 most common state for people moving away from Mississippi

You may also like: The top careers hiring for AI skills in Tennessee, according to job postings

#5. Illinois

 12,602 people moved to Tennessee from Illinois in 2022, making up 5.58% of new residents that moved from another state

 It was the #8 most common state for people moving away from Illinois

#4. Texas

 12,862 people moved to Tennessee from Texas in 2022, making up 5.69% of new residents that moved from another state

 It was the #14 most common state for people moving away from Texas

#3. Georgia

 14,770 people moved to Tennessee from Georgia in 2022, making up 6.54% of new residents that moved from another state

 It was the #6 most common state for people moving away from Georgia

#2. California

 22,565 people moved to Tennessee from California in 2022, making up 9.99% of new residents that moved from another state

 It was the #12 most common state for people moving away from California

#1. Florida

 25,318 people moved to Tennessee from Florida in 2022, making up 11.20% of new residents that moved from another state

 It was the #5 most common state for people moving away from Florida

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Hired security personnel wait for voters outside the Leon County Supervisor of Elections office on Nov. 3, 2020 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The federal government has sought to bolster election security for years through a popular grant program, but the wildly fluctuating funding levels have made it difficult for state officials to plan their budgets and their projects.

Rising misinformation and disinformation about elections, often fueled by conspiracy theories, as well as threats against election workers, make the grants especially important, according to elections officials.

But U.S. House Republicans are seeking to eliminate funding for election security grants  known as Help America Vote Act, or HAVA grants  in this years appropriations process, a move they unsuccessfully attempted last year as well.

We continue to unnecessarily risk the very integrity of our elections and American democracy, Georgia Democratic Rep. Sanford Bishop said Thursday, June 13, during committee debate on the funding bill.

Bishop, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, said he was concerned about the outdated and the insecure voting systems around the country that pose a very, very serious threat to our national security and to our democratic system.

It is irresponsible to ignore the wake-up call, Bishop added. Our nations election systems are currently and constantly under attack by foreign actors that are threatening our democratic values.

The bill was approved by the GOP-led House Appropriations Committee with no money in it for the grants.

Gideon Cohn-Postar, legislative director at Issue One & Issue One Action, said during an interview with States Newsroom that while the grants have traditionally been bipartisan, several factors have affected backing for the program in recent years.

It remains something that many Republicans in both the House and the Senate support, Cohn-Postar said. But its also been caught up, I think, in some of the false information about elections that began to spread in 2020.

Former President Donald Trump, now the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has continued to falsely claim that the 2020 election was stolen.

Issue One writes on its website that the organization strives to unite Republicans, Democrats, and independents in the movement to fix our broken political system and build an inclusive democracy that works for everyone.

Grant funding decreases

Congress approved $55 million in election security grants during the last appropriations process, which wrapped up this spring. That action came after the Republican-controlled House, which proposed zero dollars, conferenced with the Democratic-controlled Senate, which had proposed $75 million in funding.

That final funding level was a decrease from the $75 million that Congress approved in both fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022.

Congress didnt approve any election grant funding in the annual appropriations bill during fiscal year 2021. However, that followed lawmakers allocation of $425 million in the prior years bill as well as an additional $400 million in one of the COVID-19 emergency spending bills.

Cohn-Postar said that several states have sought to make their HAVA grants last more than one year by spending less than they receive, or saving the money up for bigger projects.

Louisiana, for example, hasnt spent any of its election security grant funding since 2018, in preparation for overhauling its election system. New Hampshire passed a state law that collects the grant funding in an endowment and then only spends a portion of that each year.

But that careful budgeting and uncertainty about how much grant funding Congress might provide in the next year has led federal lawmakers to look at states use of the grants skeptically, Cohn-Postar said.

The key thing weve come across  is about half of the states have only spent about half of their HAVA grants, Cohn-Postar said. And that gets brought up in every conversation that Congress has about these grants. They say, Hey, why should we appropriate more if you havent spent?

Congress, he said, sometimes uses states careful, thoughtful budgeting as an excuse to not give them money.

Republicans in Congress are also looking to reduce federal spending overall and have made cuts throughout many of the dozen annual spending bills, including the Financial Services bill, which includes the HAVA grants.

Incredibly important in Maine

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said during an interview the grants have been incredibly important, especially in the absence of sustainable elections funding from the federal government.

We have seen the rapid evolution of cybersecurity threats and threats against election infrastructure over the last several years, Bellows said. As the threats evolve, so must our preparedness. The election security grants are fundamental to our ability to make investments in improvements in our central voter registration system and cybersecurity protections for that system.

Congress inability or unwillingness to create a predictable, stable funding program for states to administer federal elections is unfortunate, she said.

We are very proud that Maine has always enjoyed safe, free and secure elections, Bellows said. But make no mistake, the lack of sustainable ongoing federal funding is a potential vulnerability in the future.

Washington state Elections Director Stuart Holmes said in an interview he plans his annual budget around not getting HAVA election security grants and is pleasantly surprised when Congress does provide the funding.

Through my entire career, theres only been two rounds of HAVA that were significant investments into elections, Holmes said. So its a great surprise to get an extra million dollars at the beginning of the year. But it does make it pretty much impossible to prepare and plan for anything if you have to spend it.

The grants dont expire at the end of the fiscal year and the federal government doesnt claw back unspent funding, allowing the states to take different approaches to how they use the money.

Holmes said during his interview with States Newsroom that the funding approved in fiscal 2020 allowed the state to create an entire team of cybersecurity professionals to be dedicated to protecting our infrastructure.

In the state of Washington, we have a centralized voter registration and election management system, and never before had we had dedicated election professionals that are watching the logs, preparing our system, testing our system and collaborating with other professionals to do testing, Holmes said. So were in a better position than weve ever been.

Even so, he said, local election officials would certainly look forward to a stable funding source from the federal government as it relates to federal elections.

New Hampshire election fund

New Hampshire Secretary of State David M. Scanlan said when Congress passed the HAVA program in 2002, it told states the funding was primarily to set up a statewide voter registration database, ensure every polling place had accessible voting equipment, provide poll workers with training and set up voter education programs.

The New Hampshire Legislature at the time told the secretary of state to use the initial allocation from Congress to meet the requirements, but then to establish an election fund with the remaining money.

Originally, the secretary of state could use one-twentieth of the total funding in the account for annual costs of maintaining the federal mandates, but that is currently one-twelfth of the total amount in the fund.

New Hampshire has been doing a good job with the money that we have, but theres no question that the funds have helped us put in place security measures for our electronic systems, Scanlan said.

The state, he said, has used its federal election security grants to hire vendors that specialize in keeping the electronic systems safe.

When New Hampshire set up a new voter registration database, the state used the funding to ensure none of the software included anything nefarious.

Weve really been making sure that the systems that were building are clean and that theres not something malicious lurking in the shadows, Scanlan said. Weve taken some really good steps that give me real confidence that our systems are in good shape.

Advocating for consistent, reliable federal funding

JP Martin, deputy communications director for the Arizona secretary of state, declined States Newsrooms request for an interview with the secretary of state, offering only to provide written responses to questions on HAVA election security grants.

Martin wrote in an email that fluctuating levels of federal funding have significantly impacted our strategic planning and budgeting.

The uncertainty of future allocations compels us to be cautious with expenditures, focusing on priorities such as enhancing physical security measures for voting equipment, Martin wrote. For instance, securing equipment in cagesnow requires a liftgate-equipped truck due to their increased weightdemonstrates the challenges of managing technological and budgetary constraints under limited HAVA funding.

Congress declining to provide election security grants in the future could significantly strain Arizonas election infrastructure, he wrote.

Currently, the state is under a hiring freeze, and our focus remains on supporting counties, especially with the recent changes such as the date of the primary and legislation extending ballot curing to weekends, Martin wrote. We are prioritizing increased cybersecurity training and advocating for consistent, reliable federal funding to ensure the smooth administration of elections, emphasizing the necessity of sustained financial support from Congress.

The post States struggle with unreliable federal funding for making sure elections are secure appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Hired security personnel wait for voters outside the Leon County Supervisor of Elections office on Nov. 3, 2020 in Tallahassee, Florida

Hired security personnel wait for voters outside the Leon County Supervisor of Elections office on Nov. 3, 2020, in Tallahassee, Florida. (Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The federal government has sought to bolster election security for years through a popular grant program, but the wildly fluctuating funding levels have made it difficult for state officials to plan their budgets and their projects.

Rising misinformation and disinformation about elections, often fueled by conspiracy theories, as well as threats against election workers, make the grants especially important, according to elections officials.

But U.S. House Republicans are seeking to eliminate funding for election security grants  known as Help America Vote Act, or HAVA grants  in this years appropriations process, a move they unsuccessfully attempted last year as well.

Louisiana hasnt spent any of its election security grant funding since 2018.

We continue to unnecessarily risk the very integrity of our elections and American democracy, Georgia Democratic Rep. Sanford Bishop said Thursday during committee debate on the funding bill.

Bishop, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, said he was concerned about the outdated and the insecure voting systems around the country that pose a very, very serious threat to our national security and to our democratic system.

It is irresponsible to ignore the wake-up call, Bishop added. Our nations election systems are currently and constantly under attack by foreign actors that are threatening our democratic values.

The bill was approved by the GOP-led House Appropriations Committee with no money in it for the grants.

A red "Vote" sign greets voters as they trickle into a downtown Baton Rouge precinct Saturday, Oct. 13, 2023, for the statewide primary election.

Gideon Cohn-Postar, legislative director at Issue One & Issue One Action, said during an interview with States Newsroom that while the grants have traditionally been bipartisan, several factors have affected backing for the program in recent years.

It remains something that many Republicans in both the House and the Senate support, Cohn-Postar said. But its also been caught up, I think, in some of the false information about elections that began to spread in 2020.

Former President Donald Trump, now the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has continued to falsely claim that the 2020 election was stolen.

Issue One writes on its website that the organization strives to unite Republicans, Democrats, and independents in the movement to fix our broken political system and build an inclusive democracy that works for everyone.

Grant funding decreases

Congress approved $55 million in election security grants during the last appropriations process, which wrapped up this spring. That action came after the Republican-controlled House, which proposed zero dollars, conferenced with the Democratic-controlled Senate, which had proposed $75 million in funding.

That final funding level was a decrease from the $75 million that Congress approved in both fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022.

Congress didnt approve any election grant funding in the annual appropriations bill during fiscal year 2021. However, that followed lawmakers allocation of $425 million in the prior years bill as well as an additional $400 million in one of the COVID-19 emergency spending bills.

Cohn-Postar said that several states have sought to make their HAVA grants last more than one year by spending less than they receive, or saving the money up for bigger projects.

Louisiana, for example, hasnt spent any of its election security grant funding since 2018, in preparation for overhauling its election system. New Hampshire passed a state law that collects the grant funding in an endowment and then only spends a portion of that each year.

But that careful budgeting and uncertainty about how much grant funding Congress might provide in the next year has led federal lawmakers to look at states use of the grants skeptically, Cohn-Postar said.

The key thing weve come across  is about half of the states have only spent about half of their HAVA grants, Cohn-Postar said. And that gets brought up in every conversation that Congress has about these grants. They say, Hey, why should we appropriate more if you havent spent?

Congress, he said, sometimes uses states careful, thoughtful budgeting as an excuse to not give them money.

Republicans in Congress are also looking to reduce federal spending overall and have made cuts throughout many of the dozen annual spending bills, including the Financial Services bill, which includes the HAVA grants.

Incredibly important in Maine

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said during an interview the grants have been incredibly important, especially in the absence of sustainable elections funding from the federal government.

We have seen the rapid evolution of cybersecurity threats and threats against election infrastructure over the last several years, Bellows said. As the threats evolve, so must our preparedness. The election security grants are fundamental to our ability to make investments in improvements in our central voter registration system and cybersecurity protections for that system.

Congress inability or unwillingness to create a predictable, stable funding program for states to administer federal elections is unfortunate, she said.

We are very proud that Maine has always enjoyed safe, free and secure elections, Bellows said. But make no mistake, the lack of sustainable ongoing federal funding is a potential vulnerability in the future.

Voters in Minneapolis, Minn., line up to vote during the 2018 midterm elections.

Washington state Elections Director Stuart Holmes said in an interview he plans his annual budget around not getting HAVA election security grants and is pleasantly surprised when Congress does provide the funding.

Through my entire career, theres only been two rounds of HAVA that were significant investments into elections, Holmes said. So its a great surprise to get an extra million dollars at the beginning of the year. But it does make it pretty much impossible to prepare and plan for anything if you have to spend it.

The grants dont expire at the end of the fiscal year and the federal government doesnt claw back unspent funding, allowing the states to take different approaches to how they use the money.

Holmes said during his interview with States Newsroom that the funding approved in fiscal 2020 allowed the state to create an entire team of cybersecurity professionals to be dedicated to protecting our infrastructure.

In the state of Washington, we have a centralized voter registration and election management system, and never before had we had dedicated election professionals that are watching the logs, preparing our system, testing our system and collaborating with other professionals to do testing, Holmes said. So were in a better position than weve ever been.

Even so, he said, local election officials would certainly look forward to a stable funding source from the federal government as it relates to federal elections.

New Hampshire election fund

New Hampshire Secretary of State David M. Scanlan said when Congress passed the HAVA program in 2002, it told states the funding was primarily to set up a statewide voter registration database, ensure every polling place had accessible voting equipment, provide poll workers with training and set up voter education programs.

The New Hampshire Legislature at the time told the secretary of state to use the initial allocation from Congress to meet the requirements, but then to establish an election fund with the remaining money.

Originally, the secretary of state could use one-twentieth of the total funding in the account for annual costs of maintaining the federal mandates, but that is currently one-twelfth of the total amount in the fund.

New Hampshire has been doing a good job with the money that we have, but theres no question that the funds have helped us put in place security measures for our electronic systems, Scanlan said.

The state, he said, has used its federal election security grants to hire vendors that specialize in keeping the electronic systems safe.

When New Hampshire set up a new voter registration database, the state used the funding to ensure none of the software included anything nefarious.

Weve really been making sure that the systems that were building are clean and that theres not something malicious lurking in the shadows, Scanlan said. Weve taken some really good steps that give me real confidence that our systems are in good shape.

Advocating for consistent, reliable federal funding

JP Martin, deputy communications director for the Arizona secretary of state, declined States Newsrooms request for an interview with the secretary of state, offering only to provide written responses to questions on HAVA election security grants.

Martin wrote in an email that fluctuating levels of federal funding have significantly impacted our strategic planning and budgeting.

The uncertainty of future allocations compels us to be cautious with expenditures, focusing on priorities such as enhancing physical security measures for voting equipment, Martin wrote. For instance, securing equipment in cagesnow requires a liftgate-equipped truck due to their increased weightdemonstrates the challenges of managing technological and budgetary constraints under limited HAVA funding.

Congress declining to provide election security grants in the future could significantly strain Arizonas election infrastructure, he wrote.

Currently, the state is under a hiring freeze, and our focus remains on supporting counties, especially with the recent changes such as the date of the primary and legislation extending ballot curing to weekends, Martin wrote. We are prioritizing increased cybersecurity training and advocating for consistent, reliable federal funding to ensure the smooth administration of elections, emphasizing the necessity of sustained financial support from Congress.

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The post States struggle with unreliable federal funding for making sure elections are secure appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
TALLAHASSEE, FL - NOVEMBER 03: Hired security personnel wait for voters outside the Leon County Supervisor of Elections office on November 3, 2020 in Tallahassee, Florida. After a record-breaking early voting turnout, Americans head to the polls on the last day to cast their vote for incumbent U.S. President Donald Trump or Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. (Photo by Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The federal government has sought to bolster election security for years through a popular grant program, but the wildly fluctuating funding levels have made it difficult for state officials to plan their budgets and their projects.

Rising misinformation and disinformation about elections, often fueled by conspiracy theories, as well as threats against election workers, make the grants especially important, according to elections officials.

But U.S. House Republicans are seeking to eliminate funding for election security grants  known as Help America Vote Act, or HAVA grants  in this years appropriations process, a move they unsuccessfully attempted last year as well.

We continue to unnecessarily risk the very integrity of our elections and American democracy, Georgia Democratic Rep. Sanford Bishop said Thursday during committee debate on the funding bill.

Bishop, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, said he was concerned about the outdated and the insecure voting systems around the country that pose a very, very serious threat to our national security and to our democratic system.

It is irresponsible to ignore the wake-up call, Bishop added. Our nations election systems are currently and constantly under attack by foreign actors that are threatening our democratic values.

The bill was approved by the GOP-led House Appropriations Committee with no money in it for the grants.

Gideon Cohn-Postar, legislative director at Issue One & Issue One Action, said during an interview with States Newsroom that while the grants have traditionally been bipartisan, several factors have affected backing for the program in recent years.

It remains something that many Republicans in both the House and the Senate support, Cohn-Postar said. But its also been caught up, I think, in some of the false information about elections that began to spread in 2020.

Former President Donald Trump, now the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has continued to falsely claim that the 2020 election was stolen.

Issue One writes on its website that the organization strives to unite Republicans, Democrats, and independents in the movement to fix our broken political system and build an inclusive democracy that works for everyone.

Grant funding decreases

Congress approved $55 million in election security grants during the last appropriations process, which wrapped up this spring. That action came after the Republican-controlled House, which proposed zero dollars, conferenced with the Democratic-controlled Senate, which had proposed $75 million in funding.

That final funding level was a decrease from the $75 million that Congress approved in both fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022.

Congress didnt approve any election grant funding in the annual appropriations bill during fiscal year 2021. However, that followed lawmakers allocation of $425 million in the prior years bill as well as an additional $400 million in one of the COVID-19 emergency spending bills.

Cohn-Postar said that several states have sought to make their HAVA grants last more than one year by spending less than they receive, or saving the money up for bigger projects.

Louisiana, for example, hasnt spent any of its election security grant funding since 2018, in preparation for overhauling its election system. New Hampshire passed a state law that collects the grant funding in an endowment and then only spends a portion of that each year.

But that careful budgeting and uncertainty about how much grant funding Congress might provide in the next year has led federal lawmakers to look at states use of the grants skeptically, Cohn-Postar said.

The key thing weve come across  is about half of the states have only spent about half of their HAVA grants, Cohn-Postar said. And that gets brought up in every conversation that Congress has about these grants. They say, Hey, why should we appropriate more if you havent spent?

Congress, he said, sometimes uses states careful, thoughtful budgeting as an excuse to not give them money.

Republicans in Congress are also looking to reduce federal spending overall and have made cuts throughout many of the dozen annual spending bills, including the Financial Services bill, which includes the HAVA grants.

Incredibly important in Maine

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said during an interview the grants have been incredibly important, especially in the absence of sustainable elections funding from the federal government.

We have seen the rapid evolution of cybersecurity threats and threats against election infrastructure over the last several years, Bellows said. As the threats evolve, so must our preparedness. The election security grants are fundamental to our ability to make investments in improvements in our central voter registration system and cybersecurity protections for that system.

Congress inability or unwillingness to create a predictable, stable funding program for states to administer federal elections is unfortunate, she said.

We are very proud that Maine has always enjoyed safe, free and secure elections, Bellows said. But make no mistake, the lack of sustainable ongoing federal funding is a potential vulnerability in the future.

Washington state Elections Director Stuart Holmes said in an interview he plans his annual budget around not getting HAVA election security grants and is pleasantly surprised when Congress does provide the funding.

Through my entire career, theres only been two rounds of HAVA that were significant investments into elections, Holmes said. So its a great surprise to get an extra million dollars at the beginning of the year. But it does make it pretty much impossible to prepare and plan for anything if you have to spend it.

The grants dont expire at the end of the fiscal year and the federal government doesnt claw back unspent funding, allowing the states to take different approaches to how they use the money.

Holmes said during his interview with States Newsroom that the funding approved in fiscal 2020 allowed the state to create an entire team of cybersecurity professionals to be dedicated to protecting our infrastructure.

In the state of Washington, we have a centralized voter registration and election management system, and never before had we had dedicated election professionals that are watching the logs, preparing our system, testing our system and collaborating with other professionals to do testing, Holmes said. So were in a better position than weve ever been.

Even so, he said, local election officials would certainly look forward to a stable funding source from the federal government as it relates to federal elections.

New Hampshire election fund

New Hampshire Secretary of State David M. Scanlan said when Congress passed the HAVA program in 2002, it told states the funding was primarily to set up a statewide voter registration database, ensure every polling place had accessible voting equipment, provide poll workers with training and set up voter education programs.

The New Hampshire Legislature at the time told the secretary of state to use the initial allocation from Congress to meet the requirements, but then to establish an election fund with the remaining money.

Originally, the secretary of state could use one-twentieth of the total funding in the account for annual costs of maintaining the federal mandates, but that is currently one-twelfth of the total amount in the fund.

New Hampshire has been doing a good job with the money that we have, but theres no question that the funds have helped us put in place security measures for our electronic systems, Scanlan said.

The state, he said, has used its federal election security grants to hire vendors that specialize in keeping the electronic systems safe.

When New Hampshire set up a new voter registration database, the state used the funding to ensure none of the software included anything nefarious.

Weve really been making sure that the systems that were building are clean and that theres not something malicious lurking in the shadows, Scanlan said. Weve taken some really good steps that give me real confidence that our systems are in good shape.

Advocating for consistent, reliable federal funding

JP Martin, deputy communications director for the Arizona secretary of state, declined States Newsrooms request for an interview with the secretary of state, offering only to provide written responses to questions on HAVA election security grants.

Martin wrote in an email that fluctuating levels of federal funding have significantly impacted our strategic planning and budgeting.

The uncertainty of future allocations compels us to be cautious with expenditures, focusing on priorities such as enhancing physical security measures for voting equipment, Martin wrote. For instance, securing equipment in cagesnow requires a liftgate-equipped truck due to their increased weightdemonstrates the challenges of managing technological and budgetary constraints under limited HAVA funding.

Congress declining to provide election security grants in the future could significantly strain Arizonas election infrastructure, he wrote.

Currently, the state is under a hiring freeze, and our focus remains on supporting counties, especially with the recent changes such as the date of the primary and legislation extending ballot curing to weekends, Martin wrote. We are prioritizing increased cybersecurity training and advocating for consistent, reliable federal funding to ensure the smooth administration of elections, emphasizing the necessity of sustained financial support from Congress.

The post States struggle with unreliable federal funding for making sure elections are secure appeared first on New Jersey Monitor.
TALLAHASSEE, FL - NOVEMBER 03: Hired security personnel wait for voters outside the Leon County Supervisor of Elections office on November 3, 2020 in Tallahassee, Florida. After a record-breaking early voting turnout, Americans head to the polls on the last day to cast their vote for incumbent U.S. President Donald Trump or Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. (Photo by Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The federal government has sought to bolster election security for years through a popular grant program, but the wildly fluctuating funding levels have made it difficult for state officials to plan their budgets and their projects.

Rising misinformation and disinformation about elections, often fueled by conspiracy theories, as well as threats against election workers, make the grants especially important, according to elections officials.

But U.S. House Republicans are seeking to eliminate funding for election security grants  known as Help America Vote Act, or HAVA grants  in this years appropriations process, a move they unsuccessfully attempted last year as well.

We continue to unnecessarily risk the very integrity of our elections and American democracy, Georgia Democratic Rep. Sanford Bishop said Thursday during committee debate on the funding bill.

Bishop, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, said he was concerned about the outdated and the insecure voting systems around the country that pose a very, very serious threat to our national security and to our democratic system.

It is irresponsible to ignore the wake-up call, Bishop added. Our nations election systems are currently and constantly under attack by foreign actors that are threatening our democratic values.

The bill was approved by the GOP-led House Appropriations Committee with no money in it for the grants.

Gideon Cohn-Postar, legislative director at Issue One & Issue One Action, said during an interview with States Newsroom that while the grants have traditionally been bipartisan, several factors have affected backing for the program in recent years.

It remains something that many Republicans in both the House and the Senate support, Cohn-Postar said. But its also been caught up, I think, in some of the false information about elections that began to spread in 2020.

Former President Donald Trump, now the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has continued to falsely claim that the 2020 election was stolen.

Issue One writes on its website that the organization strives to unite Republicans, Democrats, and independents in the movement to fix our broken political system and build an inclusive democracy that works for everyone.

Grant funding decreases

Congress approved $55 million in election security grants during the last appropriations process, which wrapped up this spring. That action came after the Republican-controlled House, which proposed zero dollars, conferenced with the Democratic-controlled Senate, which had proposed $75 million in funding.

That final funding level was a decrease from the $75 million that Congress approved in both fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022.

Congress didnt approve any election grant funding in the annual appropriations bill during fiscal year 2021. However, that followed lawmakers allocation of $425 million in the prior years bill as well as an additional $400 million in one of the COVID-19 emergency spending bills.

Cohn-Postar said that several states have sought to make their HAVA grants last more than one year by spending less than they receive, or saving the money up for bigger projects.

Louisiana, for example, hasnt spent any of its election security grant funding since 2018, in preparation for overhauling its election system. New Hampshire passed a state law that collects the grant funding in an endowment and then only spends a portion of that each year.

But that careful budgeting and uncertainty about how much grant funding Congress might provide in the next year has led federal lawmakers to look at states use of the grants skeptically, Cohn-Postar said.

The key thing weve come across  is about half of the states have only spent about half of their HAVA grants, Cohn-Postar said. And that gets brought up in every conversation that Congress has about these grants. They say, Hey, why should we appropriate more if you havent spent?

Congress, he said, sometimes uses states careful, thoughtful budgeting as an excuse to not give them money.

Republicans in Congress are also looking to reduce federal spending overall and have made cuts throughout many of the dozen annual spending bills, including the Financial Services bill, which includes the HAVA grants.

Incredibly important in Maine

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said during an interview the grants have been incredibly important, especially in the absence of sustainable elections funding from the federal government.

We have seen the rapid evolution of cybersecurity threats and threats against election infrastructure over the last several years, Bellows said. As the threats evolve, so must our preparedness. The election security grants are fundamental to our ability to make investments in improvements in our central voter registration system and cybersecurity protections for that system.

Congress inability or unwillingness to create a predictable, stable funding program for states to administer federal elections is unfortunate, she said.

We are very proud that Maine has always enjoyed safe, free and secure elections, Bellows said. But make no mistake, the lack of sustainable ongoing federal funding is a potential vulnerability in the future.

Washington state Elections Director Stuart Holmes said in an interview he plans his annual budget around not getting HAVA election security grants and is pleasantly surprised when Congress does provide the funding.

Through my entire career, theres only been two rounds of HAVA that were significant investments into elections, Holmes said. So its a great surprise to get an extra million dollars at the beginning of the year. But it does make it pretty much impossible to prepare and plan for anything if you have to spend it.

The grants dont expire at the end of the fiscal year and the federal government doesnt claw back unspent funding, allowing the states to take different approaches to how they use the money.

Holmes said during his interview with States Newsroom that the funding approved in fiscal 2020 allowed the state to create an entire team of cybersecurity professionals to be dedicated to protecting our infrastructure.

In the state of Washington, we have a centralized voter registration and election management system, and never before had we had dedicated election professionals that are watching the logs, preparing our system, testing our system and collaborating with other professionals to do testing, Holmes said. So were in a better position than weve ever been.

Even so, he said, local election officials would certainly look forward to a stable funding source from the federal government as it relates to federal elections.

New Hampshire election fund

New Hampshire Secretary of State David M. Scanlan said when Congress passed the HAVA program in 2002, it told states the funding was primarily to set up a statewide voter registration database, ensure every polling place had accessible voting equipment, provide poll workers with training and set up voter education programs.

The New Hampshire Legislature at the time told the secretary of state to use the initial allocation from Congress to meet the requirements, but then to establish an election fund with the remaining money.

Originally, the secretary of state could use one-twentieth of the total funding in the account for annual costs of maintaining the federal mandates, but that is currently one-twelfth of the total amount in the fund.

New Hampshire has been doing a good job with the money that we have, but theres no question that the funds have helped us put in place security measures for our electronic systems, Scanlan said.

The state, he said, has used its federal election security grants to hire vendors that specialize in keeping the electronic systems safe.

When New Hampshire set up a new voter registration database, the state used the funding to ensure none of the software included anything nefarious.

Weve really been making sure that the systems that were building are clean and that theres not something malicious lurking in the shadows, Scanlan said. Weve taken some really good steps that give me real confidence that our systems are in good shape.

Advocating for consistent, reliable federal funding

JP Martin, deputy communications director for the Arizona secretary of state, declined States Newsrooms request for an interview with the secretary of state, offering only to provide written responses to questions on HAVA election security grants.

Martin wrote in an email that fluctuating levels of federal funding have significantly impacted our strategic planning and budgeting.

The uncertainty of future allocations compels us to be cautious with expenditures, focusing on priorities such as enhancing physical security measures for voting equipment, Martin wrote. For instance, securing equipment in cagesnow requires a liftgate-equipped truck due to their increased weightdemonstrates the challenges of managing technological and budgetary constraints under limited HAVA funding.

Congress declining to provide election security grants in the future could significantly strain Arizonas election infrastructure, he wrote.

Currently, the state is under a hiring freeze, and our focus remains on supporting counties, especially with the recent changes such as the date of the primary and legislation extending ballot curing to weekends, Martin wrote. We are prioritizing increased cybersecurity training and advocating for consistent, reliable federal funding to ensure the smooth administration of elections, emphasizing the necessity of sustained financial support from Congress.

The post States struggle with unreliable federal funding for making sure elections are secure appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Fox School of Business at Temple University.

Though hes been tried, convicted, and sentenced to prison, former Temple Fox School of Business dean Moshe Porat isnt headed to prison just yet. The U.S. Supreme Court this week threw him yet another reprieve, relisting his case for reconsideration, according to an article on SCOTUSblog.

In other words, the high court has not agreed to hear Porats case, but it also hasnt rejected it outright. Relist means Porats appeal will be scheduled for reconsideration at a subsequent conference. Essentially, the justices have discussed Morats case, but they have neither granted or denied a full review. Theyll, you know, discuss it again later.

To refresh your recollection, as lawyers like to say, Porat is the ousted dean of Temples Fox School who repeatedly and knowingly lied to U.S. News & World Report on various MBA rankings for more than four years, according to the jury that first convicted him in 2021.

NO REMORSE, NO RESPONSIBILITY

Ousted Temple Fox Dean Moshe Porat

Porats scheme first began to unravel in January 2018 when Poets&Quants founder and editor John Byrne noted with surprise that 100% of Foxs online MBA students provided either a GMAT or GRE score for admission, according to the ranking. Thats despite the fact that the school publicly advertised a test waiver, and it was almost certain that at least some candidates would have taken the school up on the offer.

Investigations subsequently found more data rigging on various online, part-time, and executive MBA rankings at U.S. News. Evidence presented at Porats trial suggested that Fox may have submitted false data to ranking publications as early as 2010.

In April 2021, a grand jury charged Porat with one count of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for conspiring with Fox staffer Marjorie ONeill and statistics professor Isaac Gottlieb to knowingly submit false ranking data to U.S. News. His trial began that November in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania District Court in Philadelphia. P&Qs John Byrne was the first witness called by the prosecution.

The U.S. prosecutor contended that Fox raked in millions of dollars in donations and extra tuition as enrollments rose along with the schools rankings. Temple University, in turn, ended up paying millions of dollars to defrauded MBA students in a class-action lawsuit.

After seven days of testimony, it took a jury of eight women and four men less than one hour to convict Porat of both charges.

On March 11, 2022, Judge Gerald J. Pappert sentenced Porat to 14 months in prison and fined him $250,200. This could be my first case where  from start to finish  I was never given one word or gesture to hang my hat on, to be able to say that (the defendant) has had some remorse or that he accepts some responsibility, Pappert said in a scathing rebuke from the bench.

NO PRISON STRIPES SO FAR

Porat, then 76 years old, was supposed to report to prison on May, 9, 2022. But, on that very day, the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to hear his case and stayed his sentence pending appeal.

Though the court affirmed Porats conviction, he appears to still be home as his case marches on.

Porat petitioned for a writ of certiorari in March 2024, essentially asking the Supreme Court to review the lower courts decision. The relisted status of the case could mean several things, according to SCOTUSblog.

When a case is relisted, the justices do not grant or deny review, but instead will reconsider the case at their next conference, reads the websites relist explainer. It is almost impossible to know exactly what is happening when a particular case is relisted, but there are a few possibilities. One justice could be trying to pick up a fourth vote to grant review, one or more justices may want to look more closely at the case, a justice could be writing an opinion about the courts decision to deny review, or the court could be writing an opinion to summarily reverse (that is, rule in favor of the petitioning party without briefing or oral argument on the merits) the decision below.

But, the fact that the case even made it inside the Supreme Court chambers, if only in whispers, means that there is likely a larger law question to be considered than how Fox School did on a rigged online MBA ranking more than six years ago.

The Porat case is one of two relisted cases this week that consider whether deception in a commercial transaction can constitute federal mail or wire fraud, according to SCOTUSblog. Porat wasnt convicted of cheating or lying per se, but of using email and other electronic communications to solicit donations and increase enrollments based on the fraudulent rankings. In the other case, Kousisis v. United States, a Philadelphia business man was convicted of wire fraud for using a fake disadvantaged business enterprise as a front to earn contracts for public work projects.

The current Supreme Court is demonstrably skeptical of broad interpretations of federal fraud laws, so the justices are likely taking a very close look at both cases, writes John Elwood of SCOTUSblog.

Porat is the first university administrator to face a criminal trial for lying to a rankings magazine, and he is the first to be convicted. Who knows? Maybe hell be the first administrator to have his ranking scandal heard by The Supreme Court.

More About The Temple Rankings Scandal

How It Happened: Anatomy Of A Business School Rankings Fraud

Jones Day Investigation: Temple Dean Sacked Over Ranking Scandal

The Indictment: Former B-School Dean Indicted On Fraud Charges In MBA Rankings Scandal

MBA Rankings: Why Business Schools Are Willing To Cheat

Trial Coverage: Trial Begins For Ousted Temple Dean In Rankings Fraud Case

Day 1: I Paid For Fine Dining, But I Got McDonalds: MBA Student Testifies In Rankings Fraud Trial

Day 1: An Intimidating Man Who Made Staffers Tremble: Temple Vice Dean Testifies In Rankings Fraud Trial

Day 2: Ousted Dean: Innocent Mistake Caused B-School To Be Thrown Out Of Ranking

Day 3: Undergraduate Ethics Class Made Temple Fox Staffer Push For Correcting Inaccurate Data Reported To U.S. News

Day 4: Trying To Head Off An Independent Probe, Temple Fox Dean Tells Provost If Youre In A Hole, Dont Dig

Day 5: Rankings Fraud Trial: Fox Dean Promoted Book In Wake Of Unranking

Day 6: Ousted Fox Dean Wanted App That Would Make His Messages Disappear

Day 7: Prosecution And Defense Rest In MBA Rankings Fraud Case

Verdict: B-School Dean Found Guilty Of MBA Rankings Fraud

Commentary: Arrogance Is What Ultimately Caused This BSchool Deans Downfall

Sentencing: Moshe Porat, Former Temple Fox Dean, Sentenced To 14 Months In Prison For Rankings Fraud

Appeal: Appeals Court To Finally Hear Arguments In Ousted Temple Dean Moshe Porats Case AND Disgraced Temple Fox Dean Moshe Porat Loses Appeal  Will He Report To Prison?

The post Still Free: U.S. Supreme Court Throws Disgraced Former Temple Fox Dean A Lifeline appeared first on Poets&Quants.
Gov. Kevin Stitt speaks about a statewide grocery tax cut during a bill signing ceremony on Feb. 27, 2024. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  Gov. Kevin Stitt on Friday issued an executive order prohibiting state agencies from spending money on outside public relations firms by using sole source contracts.

But the executive order does not impact any existing contracts the Oklahoma State Department of Education has entered, a spokesman said.

Sole source contracts are issued without competitive bidding.

State Superintendent Ryan Walters has used state dollars for an outside firm to promote himself, his ideas and his administration, drawing criticism.

It makes no sense for state agencies who pay the salaries of communications staff to outsource work to PR firms via sole source contracts, Stitt said. Its wasteful and were putting a stop to it statewide.

Stitt, in a press release announcing the executive order, didnt mention Walters.

Lawmakers this session put in a stipulation in the State Department of Educations budget bill that no funds can be spent for the purpose of securing media interviews, public relations, or other public promotional purposes unless required for a federal grant program.

Stitt on Friday vetoed that section of the bill, saying it would prevent any funds, appropriated or otherwise, from being used to secure media interviews, public relations, or other public promotions, except for participation in federal grant programs.

The plain meaning of this language is unclear, but it is reasonable to assume that it could be interpreted to prevent SDE from recruiting teachers to teach our school children, prevent SDE from addressing constituent concerns, and prevent any number of routine public communications needed for a state agency overseeing thousands of employees and a majority of our students, the veto message said.

Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, has said House leadership included the section in the measure because of concerns over a contract Walters signed with a PR firm to book national media appearances.

Walters called the section a political attack from McBride.

Walters approved a contract in March between the state Education Department and the D.C.-based firm Vought Strategies to handle national media bookings, write speeches and opinion columns, coordinate national event appearances and assist with public relations.

His agency employs a public relations person internally.

Vought Strategies indicated it would charge $200 an hour or $5,000 a month, according to records.

Dan Isett, State Department of Education spokesperson, said the executive order does not affect any existing vendor contracts at his agency.

The Vought Strategies contract was not a sole source contract, he said.

The executive order prohibits state agencies from entering into no-bid contracts with public relations, marketing, or communications firms and vendors and mandates, unless there is a statutory directive to the contrary. The executive order requires that all contracts with PR vendors be procured through a minimum 30-day request for proposal.

The executive order also mandates that agreements currently in place that were secured by a sole source shall not be renewed and shall terminate at the end of the current contractual term and implements restrictions on future contracts.

Public relations firms and vendors with active campaign-related or state question initiative contracts are banned from contracting with state agencies under the executive order.

The executive order also prohibits state agencies from entering into contracts with public relations vendors who employ registered lobbyists. Contracts must be immediately terminated if a vendor is caught participating in unregistered lobbying.

The executive order takes effect immediately.

SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE

The post Stitt bans no-bid PR contracts. But it wont impact Oklahoma education agreement, spokesman says. appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
A Striking New Discovery in Pompeii Uncovers More Magnificence of the Lost City

Archeologists discovered an ancient room in Pompeii brimming with distinctive artistry.

The room is covered in painted female figures, and features a rare blue color adorning the walls.

The rarity of blue meant the color was often reserved for locations with immense decorative importance.

Blue was once a color reserved for the most special of occasions. One of those occasions was just unearthed in Pompeii in the south of Italy, highlighting how ancient Roman culture celebrated art and color in some of the most fanciful ways.

During an ongoing archaeological excavation of more than 13,000 rooms in a Pompeii archeological parka location preserved by the Mount Vesuvius eruption of 79 ADresearchers found one room with blue walls, and frescoes of female figures showing the four seasons of the year. At the time it would have been painted, blues were typically reserved for the most decorative circumstances.

Pompeii is truly a treasure chest that never ceases to surprise us and arouse amazement because, every time we dig, we find something beautiful and significant, said Gennaro Sangiuliano, Italian Minister of Culture, according to EuroNews.

The room dwells within the Regio IX excavations in central Pompeiian area known for a wealth of archaeological history that continues to offer findings from throughout the areas history. The 86-square-foot room (dubbed a sacrarium, or a place for sacred objects), is highlighted by the rare-for-the-time color blue, the ministry said in a statement.

The paint wasnt the only thing discovered in the room to invite intriguearchaeologists also found 15 tall jugs known as amphorae, which were often used for transporting goods. A pair of bronze jugs and two oil lamps added to the cache within the blue room. The ministry reported that a heap of empty oyster shells was also found near the threshold. Painters typically ground the shells into a fine powder to add to plaster and mortar.



Earlier this year, Pompeii archaeologists discovered a banquet hall featuring frescoes that depicted scenes inspired by the Trojan War. The report from the ministry said that experts believe it to be one of the most striking discoveries made at the site.

Within the last few weeks, CNN reports, archaeologists reportedly also found childrens sketches that depict violent scenes of gladiators and hunters locked in battles with animals. The sketches were located on the walls of a back room in a residential sector of the Pompeii archaeological park.

The famous eruption of Mt. Vesuvius was tragic, but it helped capture a moment in ancient time. As the ministry wrote, everything from death and devastation to artistic beauty became trapped and guarded by the blanket of ash that erupted from Vesuvius, all helping to preserve stories about life in Pompeii.

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Study finds more interested in moving to Tennessee than out

Study finds more interested in moving to Tennessee than out

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Tennessee is quickly becoming one of the most moved-to places in the United States, new data shows.

Its no secret that the Volunteer State is growing  the states population is skyrocketing, ranking sixth for the biggest population increase (77,513) and eight for fastest population growth rate (1.1%), according to Census data.

Tennessee among top 10 states with the highest population growth

ConsumerAffairs recently analyzed data from more than 143,506 of users who expressed an interest in moving between January 2023 to March 2024 to determine where people are moving to the most.

The study found that states with the most significant migration numbers are located in the South. According to the data, 8 out of the 10 states with the largest net gain of people are in the South.

Retirees are flocking to these 2 cities in Tennessee, study says

In fact, Tennessee ranked fourth overall, with 5,291 people saying they have expressed an interest to move to the Volunteer State. Meanwhile, 2,979 say they have thought about moving from the state.

ConsumerAffairs cited the cost of living, community, and quality of life as a few of the reasons why more and more people flock to southern states.

Top 10 states people are moving to:

Rank State Moving to Moving from Net Migration #1. North Carolina 7,970 4,441 3,529 #2. South Carolina 5,585 2,491 3,094 #3. Florida 16,259 13,179 3,080 #4. Tennessee 5,291 2,979 2,312 #5. Texas 10,602 9,445 1,157 #6. Georgia 5,059 4,035 1,024 #7. Alabama 2,393 1,565 828 #8. Arizona 5,614 4,893 721 #9. Idaho 1,823 1,209 614 #10. Oklahoma 1,880 1,346 534

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

In contrast, users expressed the most interest in leaving states like California, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, and Washington.

To see the full ConsumerAffairs study, click here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
In a 6-3 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Trump-era ban on bump stocks on Friday.

These gun accessories that enable semi-automatic rifles to shoot bullets at rapid speed. Bump stocks were used in the 2017 shooting at an outdoor concert in Las Vegas, the deadliest shooting in modern history.

We knew that there was an active shooter, we just didnt know where, said Kari Kuefler, a survivor of the Las Vegas.

During the shooting, the gunman used bump stocks to fire more than a thousand rounds into the crowd in minutes.

To me, a bump stock is not responsible gun ownership. I dont feel that there is a need for it, said Kuefler.

Under former President Donald Trump, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made bump stocks illegal in response to the 2017 mass shooting.

With this Supreme Court ruling, it reserved that ban and now gun owners and shops will be able to buy, sell and use bump stocks again. Kuefler believes this decision disregards all the lives lost during the Las Vegas mass shooting.

I understand and respect the second amendment, but I dont understand something like that being in the marketplace to take so many lives so quickly, said Kuefler.

In the majority opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote a bump stock doesnt convert a semiautomatic rifle into an illegal machine gun.

A bump stock does not alter the basic mechanics of bump firing. As with any semiautomatic firearm, the trigger still must be released and reengaged to fire each additional shot, wrote Thomas in the opinion.

Thomas added that the ATF exceeded its authority when it classified bump stocks as machine guns.

The New Civil Liberties Alliance (NCLA) believes that is the biggest takeaway from the ruling.

It sends a message not just to ATF, but to every single federal agency, that you cannot go rummage around through old statutes and change the meaning of the law, said Mark Chenoweth, President of the New Civil Liberties Alliance.

NCLA represented Texas gun owner, Michael Cargill who sued the ATF over the ban.

Over five years ago I swore I would defend the Constitution of the United States, even if I was the only plaintiff in the case. I did just that, said Michael Cargill in a written statement.

NCLA leaders said this ruling a victory in response to an unlawful federal rule.

If you want to change the law, you have to go to Congress and get Congress to amend the law. Thats not the job of the executive branch. Its the job of the legislative branch, said Chenoweth.

In response to this ruling, President Joe Biden urged Congress to take action. I call on Congress to ban bump stocks, pass an assault weapon ban, and take additional action to save lives  send me a bill and I will sign it immediately, said President Biden in a written statement.

Currently, 15 states and Washington, DC have local bans on bump stocks.





This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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The Surprising First State to Say, Hey, We Have a Bit of a Problem With Our Geriatric Political Establishment

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.

The reason we picked the age of 80 was simply that the support is so overwhelming at that point. Some of the first people I talked to when I decided to take it on are my parents. Theyre in their early 80s. And I asked my dad: How do you feel about this? Am I crazy? And he said: Son, at my age, I have got no business being in Congress.  Jared Hendrix, speaking about the recently passed age limit of 80 for North Dakota legislators

Well, America, we finally did it: We passed an age maximum for politicians!

Never mind that this limit, passed Tuesday by 61 percent of voters on a state ballot measure, applies only to politicians out of North Dakota. Never mind that it is certainly unconstitutional. This first-of-its-kind proposal, called Measure 1, prohibits congressional candidates from serving after they reach the spritely age of 81, as of December 31 of the year immediately preceding the end of the term.

When asked about the proposals specific age threshold of 80, the state House candidate leading the effort, Jared Hendrixrunning in Fargosaid to PBS NewsHour that he wanted to try to find the right balance between what he referred to as age-induced wisdom and age-induced decline. We thought 80 was the balance, he said.

Measure 1 arrives at an interesting moment. Its a presidential election year in which both presumptive major-party nominees are at or pushing 80 and nearly 20 members of the current 118th Congress are over 80.

Its not that politicians cant be great in their 80s and 90s; its just that with many sticking around long past retirement age, there are markedly scarcer opportunities for fresh ideas from new generations. The old guard has a lock on how things runand OK, yes, at least a few of them seem to be dealing with actual infirmity.

So, Measure 1 seems to address the frustration that many feel with the countrys geriatric political establishment. (Nearly 80 percent of Americans approve of maximum age limits, in fact, according to a recent Pew Research poll.) Yes, the proposal applies only to legislators from North Dakota, not to presidential candidates. And its likely to be appealed any minute now.

But that it was handily passed in the first place is a reflection of the times. Hendrix, who is 41, is saying the quiet part out loud: The reason we picked the age of 80 was simply that the support is so overwhelming at that point, he told PBS.

In the 1995 case U.S. Term Limits Inc. v. Thornton, the Supreme Court ruled that states cannot set age limits for future members of Congress if said limits exceed those in the Constitution. And the Constitution provides just a minimum age, 35, not a maximum age. Regardless, Hendrix definitely expects a court challenge. I think its a great question to ask, he told PBS. Do we have a right as states to apply additional qualifications?

Well have to see. Even if this ballot measure somehow holds, theres an irony to it. Eighty years might be a generally agreeable upper limit for those serving in Congress, but its still, well, old. For a job as demanding as holding political office, we might want to heed what Hendrixs own octogenarian father told him when his son sought his opinion on the ballot measure: Son, at my age, I have got no business being in Congress.
Susan Cacace, a former Westchester County judge, announces she is running for Westchester County District Attorney, outside Westchester County Courthouse Dec. 13, 2023 in White Plains. From left, fer husband Jim Dibbini, daughters Sophia Dibbini and Isabella Dibbini stand beside her.

Over the last few years our nation has seen a dramatic spike in crime, particularly in many of our larger cities. Impressively, Westchester County has been an exception to this crime wave. For those of us who call Westchester home, we should be thankful. While crime has surged across the country, including in neighboring New York City, we have held it at bay. This accomplishment did not happen by accident. Our law enforcement professionals have worked tirelessly, partnering together to keep Westchester one of the safest counties in the country.

When we consider the tremendous efforts of our local law enforcement, we automatically think of the police officers who risk their lives protecting our communities. Yes, our police officers deserve a tremendous amount of credit for their courage and commitment, but we must not forget the role that the Westchester County District Attorney's Office plays in maintaining law and order. In keeping our county safe, a healthy partnership between police and the prosecutors office is paramount.

We cannot understate the importance of the DA when it comes to maintaining public safety. Sadly, far too many U.S. cities have learned this lesson the hard way. In recent years weve seen a wave of district attorneys elected across the country who seem far more concerned with criminals rights than the rights of law-abiding citizens and victims. These same DAs have arbitrarily decided to pick and choose which crimes they will prosecute, have recklessly watered down felonies and have refused to ask for bail. The results have been disastrous with crime rates exploding in their cities.

Susan Cacace, former Westchester County judge, is running for Westchester County District Attorney

Marilyn Mosby of Baltimore, Chesa Boudin of San Francisco, George Gascon of Los Angeles, Michael Schmidt of Portland, Kim Gardner of St. Louis and Rachael Rollins of Boston are all district attorneys cut from this mold and each turned out to be a disaster once they were elected. Mosby was ultimately convicted for mortgage fraud by the DOJ, voters recalled Boudin while Gardner and Rollins resigned in disgrace. Gascon barely survived two recall attempts and most recently, Schmidt was ousted in his bid for re-election. In each case, these activist DAs left their communities a much less safe place.

In Westchester, we have a similar reform-minded candidate running for district attorney. William Wagstaff, who was once under federal house arrest after a criminal conviction for credit card fraud, wears his arrest like a badge of honor while failing to fully explain the details of his crime or what became of his victims. Like the aforementioned failed DAs he constantly talks about reimagining the system but he fails to recognize the role that this same system has played in keeping Westchester safe.

Wagstaff often says that as DA you should not make decisions without looking at the data. This is ironic considering Wagstaff ignores this same crime data when he frequently claims that some neighborhoods are largely targeted and over-policed. Wagstaffs oft repeated claim of over-policing is not only an insult to the police officers who risk their lives in these impoverished neighborhoods but also to the citizens who are grateful for a robust police presence.

Wagstaff seeks to become the chief law enforcement officer in Westchester County. But the reality is that because of his past conduct it is highly unlikely that he could pass the background check to get hired as a probationary police officer. This, combined with the fact that he has no experience whatsoever as a prosecutor, should tell voters that he is unfit and unprepared to be our next District Attorney.

Thankfully, Westchester has an excellent candidate for district attorney in Democrat Susan Cacace. Having spent 19 years as a Westchester County Court Judge, 14 years in the DAs Office as a prosecutor and several years as a criminal defense attorney, Cacace has the perfect blend of experience and temperament to continue to keep Westchester safe as our chief law enforcement officer. Shes also built a solid working relationship with local law enforcement, a key factor in being an effective DA. As our next DA, Cacace will seek "justice with compassion". She will work tirelessly to keep Westchester safe while making our criminal justice system fairer and stronger.

Westchester voters must heed the hard lessons learned in embattled cities like Baltimore, San Francisco, Portland, St. Louis and Los Angeles. Lets keep Westchester safe. Vote for Cacace for Westchester County District Attorney.

Keith Olson is the president of the Affiliated Police Associations of Westchester, is the founder and CEO of KO Solutions & Strategies and is currently working with the Cacace for DA campaign.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Westchester County DA: Susan Cacace should be Democrats' choice
Suspect accused of shooting 70-year-old man during argument on Northwest Side charged

Suspect accused of shooting 70-year-old man during argument on Northwest Side charged

CHICAGO  Felony charges have been filed against a Chicago man accused of injuring a 70-year-old man after an argument led to a shooting on the Northwest Side on Thursday morning.

Chicago police say 64-year-old John Kastanes, an Irving Park resident, has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery with the discharge of a firearm, and aggravated battery causing great bodily harm.

Owners of $430M dark web marketplace charged in federal court in Chicago

Officers say the charges stem from a shooting that allegedly unfolded just after 10:45 a.m. on Thursday in the 3800 block of North Keeler Avenue, in Irving Park.

Suspect accused of shooting 70-year-old man during argument on Northwest Side charged

According to police, Kastanes and the victim, a 70-year-old man, were involved in an argument when Kastanes allegedly pulled out a gun and fired shots in the victims direction.

Officers say the victim suffered a gunshot wound to his arm and was taken to the hospital in stable condition.

13-year-old boy killed in West Side shooting13-year-old boy killed in West Side shooting

Kastanes was taken into custody within 10 minutes of the alleged shooting in the same area where it occurred.

Kastanes appeared in court on Friday for a detention hearing.

Officers have not provided an update on the victims condition since the shooting unfolded.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BALTIMORE  A suspect in the murder of Bel Air mother Rachel Morin is in custody in Tulsa, Oklahoma, awaiting extradition to Harford County, Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler said at a news conference Saturday.

Rachels murderer is no longer a free man and hopefully, he will never have the opportunity to walk free again, Gahler said.

Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, 23, of El Salvador, was taken into custody by Tulsa County Police Friday night for allegedly trespassing, according to police. He is being held without bond as a fugitive from justice along with a hold from Maryland for the murder of Morin and a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement retainer.

In connection to the death of Morin, Martinez-Hernandez is charged with first-degree murder and first-degree rape.

Gahler said Saturday that investigators believe Martinez-Hernandez illegally entered the United States in February of last year.

Through collaboration with FBI international personnel in El Salvador, investigators discovered that Martinez-Hernandez had allegedly murdered a young woman in El Salvador in January  one month prior to entering the United States.

The alleged murder in El Salvador, and what investigators said was Martinez-Hernandezs connection to Salvadoran street gangs, led to an Interpol red notice  an international request for law enforcement to locate and detain an individual  being issued.

Victor Hernandez did not come here to make a better life for himself or for his family. He came here to escape with crimes committed in El Salvador, Gahler said. He came here and murdered Rachel and God willing no one else. But that should have never been allowed to happen.

Police said they were able to identify Martinez-Hernandez as a result of DNA evidence recovered from the scene on the Ma & Pa Heritage Trail in Bel Air where Morins body was discovered in August of last year.

The 37-year-old mother of five was reported missing by her boyfriend when she did not return home from a walk on Aug. 5. After Morins body was found the following day, the Harford County Sheriffs Department launched a homicide investigation.

Morins death quickly drew national attention as detectives worked to identify a possible suspect and motive. Sheriff Gahler urged residents to be cautious following Morins death.

Canvassing efforts, information fliers and events to support Morins family were held. A reward fund that was created by the law firm representing Morins family  Rice, Murtha & Psoras  reached $35,000 in February.

Less than a month after Morins death, police matched the DNA recovered from Morin to DNA found at a crime scene in Los Angeles, where a 9-year-old girl and her mother were attacked during a home invasion.

The DNA, along with security footage, gave detectives a visual of the person they were looking for but the suspects identity remained unknown.

Los Angeles Police wanted Martinez-Hernandez for residential burglary and assault.

Gahler said that on May 20  Morins birthday  investigators uncovered a lead that identified Martinez-Hernandez as Morins suspected killer.

Martinez-Hernandez worked odd jobs and lived a cheap life that allowed him to drift from El Salvador, to Los Angeles, to Bel Air, to Prince Georges County and Tulsa, Gahler said.

Martinez-Hernandez was said to have ties to street gangs and connections in the Washington, D.C., area, Gahler said.

Morins mother, Patricia Morin, showed visible emotion during the news conference. She stated that at some points of the investigation, she grew hopeless but was encouraged to stay patient because in the end, patience wins.

When community members rallied together for a canvass in December, Patricia Morin said the amount of people who showed up to give support gave her hope.

At some of the points during this, I didnt think that we were ever going to have an answer and that it would be a cold case, Patricia said. It gave me hope that people really did care about our family and my daughter.

An attorney representing Morins family, Randolph Rice, said the entire team, including the family and lawyers, as well as the Harford County community are incredibly relieved that an arrest was made in the case and the suspect is no longer on the loose. He called it a good day for the good guys.

A lot of mixed emotions, Rice said. They still lost Rachel, and shes still not coming back.

Having an arrest in the case is an ending to the search, but just the beginning of an entire new legal process, he said.

This is going to be a long, long road of hearings and appearances and motions, Rice said.

The process for extradition from Tulsa to Harford County has been initiated, according to the Harford County States Attorney Allison Healy, who said she will be leading the prosecution.

I never want him to leave Maryland again, Gahler said. I want him to die in the Maryland prison system.
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  A man is under arrest after police said he robbed multiple people in east Colorado Springs on Friday, June 14, and at one point tried to pull a passenger from a car he was trying to rob.

According to the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD), shortly after 2 p.m. on Friday, a suspect approached a car in the 1100 block of North Circle Drive, near Knob Hill, and threatened a victim before taking money from them.

CSPD said the suspect then made his way to North Murray Boulevard just south of Platte Avenue, and once again approached a car. CSPD said the suspect told the people in the car he was going to rob them, before attempting to pull the front passenger from the car. A struggle ensued, and the victim was able to get back in the car and close the door before the driver got away.

As the victims drove away, CSPD said the suspect damaged their car.

A short time later, the same suspect approached another male victim on Murray just north of Platte, and demanded money. When the victim refused , the suspect assaulted him and moved him to a convenience store, shoving the victim inside the store before going back and stealing items from the victims car.

CSPD said K9 Riggs and Officer Brock Lofgren located the suspect, identified as Xavier Slaughter, in the area of Murray Boulevard and East Bijou Street. Slaughter surrendered to the K9 officer, and was placed under arrest.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Local residents walk near residential buildings heavily damaged during a Russian military attack in the frontline town of Torets - UKRAINIAN ARMED FORCES

Sweden scrambled a pair of fighter jets to intercept a Russian Su-24 aircraft that crossed into Nato airspace on Friday.

Swedens Air Force first verbally warned the Russian pilot, which did not deviate from its course, and then sent two JAS-39 Gripen fighters to force it to turn around, the Swedish Armed Forces said in a statement.

This Russian behaviour is not acceptable and shows a lack of respect for our territorial integrity, said Jonas Wikman, head of the Air Force.

Fridays incident came days after a similar border intrusion by Russian aircraft in Finland. Sweden became a full member of Nato earlier this year, dropping two centuries of military non-alignment.

05:28 PM BST

Thats all for today

Thank you for following our live coverage. President Volodymyr Zelensky said he hoped to find paths to a just peace as soon as possible, as a first international summit on pathways to end Russias war in Ukraine opened Saturday. Meanwhile, Kamala Harris, the US vice-president, announced more than $1.5 billion in aid in part for Ukraines energy sector and its humanitarian situation.

Other key developments from the day were:

Ukraine launched a major drone attack on the Morosovsk Airfield in Russia, about 150 miles from the front lines, according to an assessment of satellite imagery.

Sweden scrambled a pair of fighter jets to intercept a Russian Su-24 aircraft that crossed into Nato airspace on Friday.

Denmarks government is asking citizens to prepare for an attack or other potential crisis by stockpiling supplies of water, food and medicine, and keeping iodine tablets at home.

German chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday Russian leader Vladimir Putin was trying to dictate the conditions for peace in Ukraine by offering to halt Moscows offensive if Kyiv effectively surrenders. Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, also weighed in, and slammed as propaganda Vladimir Putins demand that Ukraine effectively surrender before any peace talks.

Peter Pellegrini, an ally of Ukraine-sceptic prime minister Robert Fico, was sworn in as Slovakias new president on Saturday, pledging to unite the politically polarised central European country.

05:19 PM BST

ICYMI: Putin promises immediate ceasefire if Ukraine drops Nato bid

05:06 PM BST

Danes asked to stockpile supplies in case of attack

Denmarks government is asking citizens to prepare for an attack or other potential crisis by stockpiling supplies of water, food and medicine, and keeping iodine tablets at home.

A rising threat from Russia has prompted Danish authorities to increase their preparedness and issue recommendations to Danes to do the same, Bloomberg has reported.

The reality is that Denmark and our allies are threatened by hybrid war, said Troels Lund Poulsen, the defence minister. Each of us should prepare for the fact that, for a short period, we may be without access to electricity or water, or be unable to buy basic necessities.

The recommendations suggest citizens stock up on non-perishable food that does not require a stove or oven to be prepared, and at least 9 liters (2.4 gallons) of bottled water per person, enough for three days. Danes should also prepare for power failures by keeping batteries, flashlights and candles at hand, and be able to stay warm without heating.

Authorities also advise that citizens under 40 keep iodine tablets at home in the event of a nuclear accident, though its very unlikely that these will be needed, Laila Reenberg, chief of Denmarks emergency management agency said.

04:27 PM BST

Saudi Arabias foreign minister arrives in Switzerland to attend Ukraine summit

Saudi Arabias foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah has arrived in the Swiss city of Lucerne to attend a summit on Ukraine, the Saudi state news agency said.

04:10 PM BST

Im not willing to be occupied: How a Ukrainian priest led a resistance behind enemy lines

Ben Farmer reports

From the very beginning, Father Andriys faith has included a large streak of resistance.

As a young man in the last days of the Soviet Union, he started going to church as a way of opposing the system and later went to a seminary and became a priest after its collapse.

His second chance at resistance came 30 years later when Russian soldiers menaced his village in Ukraine.

By then he had his flock and responsibilities, but he was determined not to let Putins invasion stand. I love my country and Im not willing to be occupied, he explained.

After Russian troops invaded and took control of his region in the first dark days of the February 2022 invasion, he and others began small acts of resistance.

They left graffiti messages against the occupation. Leaflets were printed assuring residents that the Ukrainian army was approaching.

Some kept an eye on Russian troop movements and reported back to the Ukrainian authorities until the internet gave out and they had no means of communication.

I got over my fear, I was only afraid at the beginning, recalls Father Andriy.

Read the full story

03:44 PM BST

Ukraine-sceptic Pellegrini sworn in as Slovak president

Peter Pellegrini, an ally of Ukraine-sceptic prime minister Robert Fico, was sworn in as Slovakias new president on Saturday, pledging to unite the politically polarised central European country.

Analysts have predicted Slovakias international isolation will increase with Mr Pellegrini as president and expect the government to crank up its pro-Russian rhetoric now that its ally is head of state.

Mr Fico, a populist who is recovering from being shot at close range on May 15, has governed a country that has been deeply split for years between pro-European and nationalist-leaning camps.

Slovakia's newly elected president Peter Pellegrini reviews the Honour Guard - REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa

Politics should not divide, Mr Pellegrini said in his inauguration speech. It shouldnt become a driver of negative and destructive emotions.

The new president, himself a former prime minister, was elected in April with 53 per cent of the vote.

He defeated pro-West diplomat Ivan Korcok in a ballot dominated by divisions over the war in neighbouring Ukraine.

Although the office is largely ceremonial, Slovakias president is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, ratifies international treaties and appoints top judges.

03:02 PM BST

Italy PM slams Putins propaganda on Ukraine peace talks

Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, has slammed as propaganda Vladimir Putins demand that Ukraine effectively surrender before any peace talks.

It doesnt seem particularly effective to me as a negotiation proposal to tell Ukraine that it must withdraw from Ukraine, she said at the end of a G7 summit in Italy, adding that it seems more like a propaganda initiative.

02:47 PM BST

In pictures

Ukrainian serviceman of the 28th Knights of the Winter Campaign Separate Mechanised Brigade Oleksii pets his unit's cat - REUTERS/Alina Smutko

Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine's president, and Viola Amherd, Swiss federal president - MICHAEL BUHOLZER/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

A Ukrainian serviceman of the Sky Hunters unit of the 65-th brigade operates a drone on the front line in Zaporizhzhia - AP Photo/Andriy Andriyenko

02:14 PM BST

Italy PM says EU states wont be directly involved in G7 Ukraine loan

European Union states will not be directly involved for now in a $50 billion loan that the Group of Seven nations plan to raise for Ukraine based on income from frozen Russian assets, Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, said on Saturday.

Europe was already contributing by providing guarantee mechanisms for the loan, Ms Meloni said, adding that the United States, Canada, Britain and probably Japan would contribute.

02:02 PM BST

Ukraine seeks path to just peace at Swiss summit

President Volodymyr Zelensky said he hoped to find paths to a just peace as soon as possible, as a first international summit on pathways to end Russias war in Ukraine opened Saturday.

More than 50 world leaders were joining Zelensky at the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland for a two-day peace summit - though with Moscow rejecting the event, it only has the modest ambitions of laying the groundwork for ending the conflict, now in its third year.

I believe that we will witness history being made here at the summit. May a just peace be established as soon as possible, Mr Zelensky said as the event began.

Everything that will be agreed upon at the summit today will be part of the peacemaking process, he said.

We have succeeded in bringing back to the world the idea that joint efforts can stop war and establish a just peace.

01:35 PM BST

Ukraine LGBTQ military union concerned about attacks on Pride march

Ukrainian LGBTQ activists have warned of potential violence against this weekends Kyiv Pride parade amid pressures from far-right groups and the Russian war.

Sundays event is the first parade in the capital since the beginning of the Russian invasion, which Kyiv often portrays as an existential fight to be part of the West and its liberal values.

We are seriously concerned about possible attacks on march participants, the LGBTIQ+ military union that defends the rights of veterans and soldiers said on Instagram.

The march will be held in a closed format, with 500 people attending, while its location and time have been kept confidential, AFP has reported.

The LGBTQ military group said it will regard any physical assaults as acts of Russian agent networks aimed at undermining Ukraines image.

01:13 PM BST

Kremlin says Western reaction to Putin proposal on Ukraine unconstructive

The Kremlin has said that the West has reacted unconstructively to Russian president Vladimir Putins proposals for a new security architecture and peace talks with Ukraine.

There is a lot of it, a huge amount of it  official reaction, official statements. Of an unconstructive nature, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said in response to a question about whether there had been an official reaction to the proposals.

Mr Putin set out on Friday what he said were Russias preconditions for starting peace talks with Ukraine, saying Russia would end the war only if Kyiv agreed to drop its Nato ambitions and hand over four provinces claimed by Moscow  demands Kyiv swiftly rejected as tantamount to surrender.

12:50 PM BST

Ukrainian drones strike airfield hosting Russian fighter-bombers

Ukraine has launched a major drone attack on the Morosovsk Airfield in Russia, about 150 miles from the front lines, according to an assessment of satellite imagery.

The airfield is located in the Rostov region, and has been the staging post for Russian bombings on the front line since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022. It houses dozens of Su-27 and Su-34 fighter-bombers, key weapons in the war.

Satellite images obtained by The War Zone show that the Morosovsk Airfield in Russia, about 150 miles from the front lines, was hit by a Ukrainian attack - Planet Labs

The operation involved at least 70 drones striking the base on Thursday, Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraines military intelligence, told The War Zone, though it was unclear if any aircraft had been destoyed.

The attack is the second at Morosovsk in recent months. An attack on April 5 reportedly destroyed six Russian warplanes.

12:43 PM BST

Zelensky: The Global Peace Summit begins

World leaders are joining Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian President, in Switzerland for a summit on peace in his country. Writing on social media, Mr Zelensky said representatives from Latin America, the Middle East and Asia, Africa, Europe, the Pacific, Australia, North America are present.

Together, we are making the first step toward just peace based on the UN Charter and fundamental principles of international law, Mr Zelensky said.

Today, the Global Peace Summit begins with the registered 100 states and international organizations coming from all continents and all parts of the world, representing different perspectives but united by respect to international law and one another.



Latin America, the Middle  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) June 15, 2024

11:32 AM BST

US announces $1.5 billion aid for Ukraine

Kamala Harris, the US vice-president, has announced more than $1.5 billion in aid in part for Ukraines energy sector and its humanitarian situation as a result of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

The announcement was made as Ms Harris attended a Ukraine peace summit in Lucerne, Switzerland, where she was to meet Volodymyr Zelensky and address the summits plenary session.

The $1.5 billion includes $500 million in new funding for energy assistance and the redirecting of $324 million in previously announced funds toward emergency energy infrastructure repair and other needs in Ukraine, the vice-presidents office said.

Kamala Harris arrives at Zurich airport - Ennio Leanza/Keystone via AP

These efforts will help Ukraine respond to Russias latest attacks on Ukraine energy infrastructure by supporting repair and recovery, improving Ukraines resilience to energy supply disruptions, and laying the groundwork to repair and expand Ukraines energy system, Ms Harriss office said.

She also announced more than $379 million in humanitarian assistance to help refugees and other people affected by the war.

The money is to cover food assistance, health services, shelter, and water, sanitation and hygiene services for millions of Ukrainians.

11:29 AM BST

Three killed in Russian attack in Ukraines Donetsk region

Three people were killed and five wounded by Russian shelling in Ulakly village in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, local governor Vadym Filashkin said on Saturday.

The village was hit by cluster munitions, he said on the Telegram messaging app. Filashkin said administrative buildings, a private house, a shop and eight cars were damaged.

11:08 AM BST

Sweden says Russian bomber violated its airspace

A Russian military aircraft violated Swedens airspace east of the Baltic island of Gotland on Friday, the Nordic countrys armed forces said.

Two Gripen jets were sent up to meet the Russian plane, an SU-24, after it failed to respond to a radio warning by Swedens military air traffic control, the Swedish armed forces said in a statement.

The Russian actions are not acceptable and show a lack of respect for our territorial integrity, Swedish air force chief Jonas Wikman said. We followed the entire chain of events and were in place to intervene.

Fridays incident took place as Sweden  Natos newest member  and several of its new allies take part in naval exercises in the Baltic Sea.

The Swedish military said similar airspace violations by Russian aircraft last occurred in 2022 when two SU-27 and two SU-24 planes also made incursions near Gotland.

Swedens neighbour Finland said separately on Friday it suspected that four Russian military planes had violated its airspace on June 10.

11:05 AM BST

In pictures

Ukrainian soldiers fire 120 mm mortar towards Russian position on the front line at Chasiv Yar - Oleg Petrasiuk/Ukrainian 24 Mechanised brigade via AP

A Ukrainian soldier attaches a shell to a first person view (FPV) drone at his front line position - REUTERS/Viacheslav Ratynskyi

10:47 AM BST

Scholz says Putin trying to dictate peace

German chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday Russian leader Vladimir Putin was trying to dictate the conditions for peace in Ukraine by offering to halt Moscows offensive if Kyiv effectively surrenders.

What we need is not a dictated peace but a just and equitable peace which takes into account Ukraines (territorial) integrity and sovereignty, he told the public broadcaster ARD on the sidelines of a G7 summut in Italy.

10:23 AM BST

Situation on Pokrovsk front remains tense

Fighting on the Pokrovsk front remains tense, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Three combat clashes are currently taking place in the areas of Novooleksandrivka, Yevhenivka and Novoselivka Persha.

The most tense situation remains in the Pokrovsky direction, wrote the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook. So many attacks have already been fought. Defence forces continue to make efforts to stabilize the situation, creating a complex fire effect.

09:56 AM BST

Harris to address Ukraine summit

Kamala Harris, the US vice-president, will attend the international Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland this weekend, where she will meet with Volodymyr Zelensky and address world leaders.

She will stress that the outcome of the war in Ukraine affects the entire world, a US official said, and push for a maximum number of countries to back the notion that Russias invasion violates the UN Charters founding principles and that Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected.

Ms Harris, who will spend less than 24 hours at the gathering in Lucerne, will be standing in for president Joe Biden at the event. The president will be just ending his participation at the G7 summit in Italy and returning to the United States to attend a fundraiser for his re-election campaign in Los Angeles.

09:48 AM BST

Watch: Russian soldiers surrender after failed raid

09:37 AM BST

World leaders join Ukraine summit in test of Kyivs diplomatic clout

World leaders will gather in Switzerland today for a summit aimed at pressuring Russia to end its war in Ukraine, but the absence of powerful allies of Moscow such as China will blunt its potential impact.

Dozens of allies of Ukraine will take part in the summit, but China is staying away after Russia was frozen out of proceedings.

Without China, hopes of isolating Moscow have faded, while recent military reverses have put Kyiv on the back foot. The war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas has also diverted attention from Ukraine.

The talks are expected to focus on broader concerns triggered by the war, such as food and nuclear security and freedom of navigation, and a draft of the final declaration identifies Russia as the aggressor in the conflict, sources said.

The summit risks showing the limits of Ukrainian diplomacy, said Richard Gowan, UN director at the international crisis group. Nonetheless, it is also a chance for Ukraine to remind the world that it is defending the principles of the UN Charter.

09:24 AM BST

Scholz: Putins peace proposals arent serious

G7 leaders did not discuss Vladimir Putins proposals for peace in Ukraine since everyone knew they were not serious, German chancellor Olaf Scholz said.

Speaking from Italy shortly before leaving for Switzerland, where a Ukraine conference opens on Saturday, Mr Scholz said Putins proposals  for Ukraine to abandon four provinces Russia claims, stop fighting and drop its ambition of Nato membership  were aimed only at distracting from the conference.

Everyone knows that this was proposal wasnt meant seriously, but had something to do with the peace conference in Switzerland, he told ZDF television in an interview.

09:18 AM BST

Ukrainian shelling kills five in Russian border town

Ukrainian shelling on the Russian border town of Shebekino killed five people and wounded several, the governor of the region of Belgorod said on Saturday.

Since Russia launched its military offensive on Ukraine in 2022, Belgorod has faced waves of attacks, which Kyiv say are retaliation for Moscows large-scale assault.

Four bodies were recovered from the rubble of a partially collapsed house in Shebekino, said governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, who added that another woman had died in hospital.

Russias emergency services published footage of a crane and rescuers sifting through the rubble of a destroyed five-storey building in the night.

Six civilians were wounded in the late evening shelling, the governor said.

Shebekino is a town of 40,000 people close to the border with Ukraines northeast Kharkiv region.
Local residents walk near residential buildings heavily damaged during a Russian military attack in the frontline town of Torets - UKRAINIAN ARMED FORCES

Sweden scrambled a pair of fighter jets to intercept a Russian Su-24 aircraft that crossed into Nato airspace on Friday.

Swedens Air Force first verbally warned the Russian pilot, which did not deviate from its course, and then sent two JAS-39 Gripen fighters to force it to turn around, the Swedish Armed Forces said in a statement.

This Russian behaviour is not acceptable and shows a lack of respect for our territorial integrity, said Jonas Wikman, head of the Air Force.

Fridays incident came days after a similar border intrusion by Russian aircraft in Finland. Sweden became a full member of Nato earlier this year, dropping two centuries of military non-alignment.

05:28 PM BST

Thats all for today

Thank you for following our live coverage. President Volodymyr Zelensky said he hoped to find paths to a just peace as soon as possible, as a first international summit on pathways to end Russias war in Ukraine opened Saturday. Meanwhile, Kamala Harris, the US vice-president, announced more than $1.5 billion in aid in part for Ukraines energy sector and its humanitarian situation.

Other key developments from the day were:

Ukraine launched a major drone attack on the Morosovsk Airfield in Russia, about 150 miles from the front lines, according to an assessment of satellite imagery.

Sweden scrambled a pair of fighter jets to intercept a Russian Su-24 aircraft that crossed into Nato airspace on Friday.

Denmarks government is asking citizens to prepare for an attack or other potential crisis by stockpiling supplies of water, food and medicine, and keeping iodine tablets at home.

German chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday Russian leader Vladimir Putin was trying to dictate the conditions for peace in Ukraine by offering to halt Moscows offensive if Kyiv effectively surrenders. Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, also weighed in, and slammed as propaganda Vladimir Putins demand that Ukraine effectively surrender before any peace talks.

Peter Pellegrini, an ally of Ukraine-sceptic prime minister Robert Fico, was sworn in as Slovakias new president on Saturday, pledging to unite the politically polarised central European country.

05:19 PM BST

ICYMI: Putin promises immediate ceasefire if Ukraine drops Nato bid

05:06 PM BST

Danes asked to stockpile supplies in case of attack

Denmarks government is asking citizens to prepare for an attack or other potential crisis by stockpiling supplies of water, food and medicine, and keeping iodine tablets at home.

A rising threat from Russia has prompted Danish authorities to increase their preparedness and issue recommendations to Danes to do the same, Bloomberg has reported.

The reality is that Denmark and our allies are threatened by hybrid war, said Troels Lund Poulsen, the defence minister. Each of us should prepare for the fact that, for a short period, we may be without access to electricity or water, or be unable to buy basic necessities.

The recommendations suggest citizens stock up on non-perishable food that does not require a stove or oven to be prepared, and at least 9 liters (2.4 gallons) of bottled water per person, enough for three days. Danes should also prepare for power failures by keeping batteries, flashlights and candles at hand, and be able to stay warm without heating.

Authorities also advise that citizens under 40 keep iodine tablets at home in the event of a nuclear accident, though its very unlikely that these will be needed, Laila Reenberg, chief of Denmarks emergency management agency said.

04:27 PM BST

Saudi Arabias foreign minister arrives in Switzerland to attend Ukraine summit

Saudi Arabias foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah has arrived in the Swiss city of Lucerne to attend a summit on Ukraine, the Saudi state news agency said.

04:10 PM BST

Im not willing to be occupied: How a Ukrainian priest led a resistance behind enemy lines

Ben Farmer reports

From the very beginning, Father Andriys faith has included a large streak of resistance.

As a young man in the last days of the Soviet Union, he started going to church as a way of opposing the system and later went to a seminary and became a priest after its collapse.

His second chance at resistance came 30 years later when Russian soldiers menaced his village in Ukraine.

By then he had his flock and responsibilities, but he was determined not to let Putins invasion stand. I love my country and Im not willing to be occupied, he explained.

After Russian troops invaded and took control of his region in the first dark days of the February 2022 invasion, he and others began small acts of resistance.

They left graffiti messages against the occupation. Leaflets were printed assuring residents that the Ukrainian army was approaching.

Some kept an eye on Russian troop movements and reported back to the Ukrainian authorities until the internet gave out and they had no means of communication.

I got over my fear, I was only afraid at the beginning, recalls Father Andriy.

Read the full story

03:44 PM BST

Ukraine-sceptic Pellegrini sworn in as Slovak president

Peter Pellegrini, an ally of Ukraine-sceptic prime minister Robert Fico, was sworn in as Slovakias new president on Saturday, pledging to unite the politically polarised central European country.

Analysts have predicted Slovakias international isolation will increase with Mr Pellegrini as president and expect the government to crank up its pro-Russian rhetoric now that its ally is head of state.

Mr Fico, a populist who is recovering from being shot at close range on May 15, has governed a country that has been deeply split for years between pro-European and nationalist-leaning camps.

Slovakia's newly elected president Peter Pellegrini reviews the Honour Guard - REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa

Politics should not divide, Mr Pellegrini said in his inauguration speech. It shouldnt become a driver of negative and destructive emotions.

The new president, himself a former prime minister, was elected in April with 53 per cent of the vote.

He defeated pro-West diplomat Ivan Korcok in a ballot dominated by divisions over the war in neighbouring Ukraine.

Although the office is largely ceremonial, Slovakias president is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, ratifies international treaties and appoints top judges.

03:02 PM BST

Italy PM slams Putins propaganda on Ukraine peace talks

Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, has slammed as propaganda Vladimir Putins demand that Ukraine effectively surrender before any peace talks.

It doesnt seem particularly effective to me as a negotiation proposal to tell Ukraine that it must withdraw from Ukraine, she said at the end of a G7 summit in Italy, adding that it seems more like a propaganda initiative.

02:47 PM BST

In pictures

Ukrainian serviceman of the 28th Knights of the Winter Campaign Separate Mechanised Brigade Oleksii pets his unit's cat - REUTERS/Alina Smutko

Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine's president, and Viola Amherd, Swiss federal president - MICHAEL BUHOLZER/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

A Ukrainian serviceman of the Sky Hunters unit of the 65-th brigade operates a drone on the front line in Zaporizhzhia - AP Photo/Andriy Andriyenko

02:14 PM BST

Italy PM says EU states wont be directly involved in G7 Ukraine loan

European Union states will not be directly involved for now in a $50 billion loan that the Group of Seven nations plan to raise for Ukraine based on income from frozen Russian assets, Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, said on Saturday.

Europe was already contributing by providing guarantee mechanisms for the loan, Ms Meloni said, adding that the United States, Canada, Britain and probably Japan would contribute.

02:02 PM BST

Ukraine seeks path to just peace at Swiss summit

President Volodymyr Zelensky said he hoped to find paths to a just peace as soon as possible, as a first international summit on pathways to end Russias war in Ukraine opened Saturday.

More than 50 world leaders were joining Zelensky at the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland for a two-day peace summit - though with Moscow rejecting the event, it only has the modest ambitions of laying the groundwork for ending the conflict, now in its third year.

I believe that we will witness history being made here at the summit. May a just peace be established as soon as possible, Mr Zelensky said as the event began.

Everything that will be agreed upon at the summit today will be part of the peacemaking process, he said.

We have succeeded in bringing back to the world the idea that joint efforts can stop war and establish a just peace.

01:35 PM BST

Ukraine LGBTQ military union concerned about attacks on Pride march

Ukrainian LGBTQ activists have warned of potential violence against this weekends Kyiv Pride parade amid pressures from far-right groups and the Russian war.

Sundays event is the first parade in the capital since the beginning of the Russian invasion, which Kyiv often portrays as an existential fight to be part of the West and its liberal values.

We are seriously concerned about possible attacks on march participants, the LGBTIQ+ military union that defends the rights of veterans and soldiers said on Instagram.

The march will be held in a closed format, with 500 people attending, while its location and time have been kept confidential, AFP has reported.

The LGBTQ military group said it will regard any physical assaults as acts of Russian agent networks aimed at undermining Ukraines image.

01:13 PM BST

Kremlin says Western reaction to Putin proposal on Ukraine unconstructive

The Kremlin has said that the West has reacted unconstructively to Russian president Vladimir Putins proposals for a new security architecture and peace talks with Ukraine.

There is a lot of it, a huge amount of it  official reaction, official statements. Of an unconstructive nature, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said in response to a question about whether there had been an official reaction to the proposals.

Mr Putin set out on Friday what he said were Russias preconditions for starting peace talks with Ukraine, saying Russia would end the war only if Kyiv agreed to drop its Nato ambitions and hand over four provinces claimed by Moscow  demands Kyiv swiftly rejected as tantamount to surrender.

12:50 PM BST

Ukrainian drones strike airfield hosting Russian fighter-bombers

Ukraine has launched a major drone attack on the Morosovsk Airfield in Russia, about 150 miles from the front lines, according to an assessment of satellite imagery.

The airfield is located in the Rostov region, and has been the staging post for Russian bombings on the front line since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022. It houses dozens of Su-27 and Su-34 fighter-bombers, key weapons in the war.

Satellite images obtained by The War Zone show that the Morosovsk Airfield in Russia, about 150 miles from the front lines, was hit by a Ukrainian attack - Planet Labs

The operation involved at least 70 drones striking the base on Thursday, Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraines military intelligence, told The War Zone, though it was unclear if any aircraft had been destoyed.

The attack is the second at Morosovsk in recent months. An attack on April 5 reportedly destroyed six Russian warplanes.

12:43 PM BST

Zelensky: The Global Peace Summit begins

World leaders are joining Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian President, in Switzerland for a summit on peace in his country. Writing on social media, Mr Zelensky said representatives from Latin America, the Middle East and Asia, Africa, Europe, the Pacific, Australia, North America are present.

Together, we are making the first step toward just peace based on the UN Charter and fundamental principles of international law, Mr Zelensky said.

Today, the Global Peace Summit begins with the registered 100 states and international organizations coming from all continents and all parts of the world, representing different perspectives but united by respect to international law and one another.



Latin America, the Middle  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) June 15, 2024

11:32 AM BST

US announces $1.5 billion aid for Ukraine

Kamala Harris, the US vice-president, has announced more than $1.5 billion in aid in part for Ukraines energy sector and its humanitarian situation as a result of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

The announcement was made as Ms Harris attended a Ukraine peace summit in Lucerne, Switzerland, where she was to meet Volodymyr Zelensky and address the summits plenary session.

The $1.5 billion includes $500 million in new funding for energy assistance and the redirecting of $324 million in previously announced funds toward emergency energy infrastructure repair and other needs in Ukraine, the vice-presidents office said.

Kamala Harris arrives at Zurich airport - Ennio Leanza/Keystone via AP

These efforts will help Ukraine respond to Russias latest attacks on Ukraine energy infrastructure by supporting repair and recovery, improving Ukraines resilience to energy supply disruptions, and laying the groundwork to repair and expand Ukraines energy system, Ms Harriss office said.

She also announced more than $379 million in humanitarian assistance to help refugees and other people affected by the war.

The money is to cover food assistance, health services, shelter, and water, sanitation and hygiene services for millions of Ukrainians.

11:29 AM BST

Three killed in Russian attack in Ukraines Donetsk region

Three people were killed and five wounded by Russian shelling in Ulakly village in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, local governor Vadym Filashkin said on Saturday.

The village was hit by cluster munitions, he said on the Telegram messaging app. Filashkin said administrative buildings, a private house, a shop and eight cars were damaged.

11:08 AM BST

Sweden says Russian bomber violated its airspace

A Russian military aircraft violated Swedens airspace east of the Baltic island of Gotland on Friday, the Nordic countrys armed forces said.

Two Gripen jets were sent up to meet the Russian plane, an SU-24, after it failed to respond to a radio warning by Swedens military air traffic control, the Swedish armed forces said in a statement.

The Russian actions are not acceptable and show a lack of respect for our territorial integrity, Swedish air force chief Jonas Wikman said. We followed the entire chain of events and were in place to intervene.

Fridays incident took place as Sweden  Natos newest member  and several of its new allies take part in naval exercises in the Baltic Sea.

The Swedish military said similar airspace violations by Russian aircraft last occurred in 2022 when two SU-27 and two SU-24 planes also made incursions near Gotland.

Swedens neighbour Finland said separately on Friday it suspected that four Russian military planes had violated its airspace on June 10.

11:05 AM BST

In pictures

Ukrainian soldiers fire 120 mm mortar towards Russian position on the front line at Chasiv Yar - Oleg Petrasiuk/Ukrainian 24 Mechanised brigade via AP

A Ukrainian soldier attaches a shell to a first person view (FPV) drone at his front line position - REUTERS/Viacheslav Ratynskyi

10:47 AM BST

Scholz says Putin trying to dictate peace

German chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday Russian leader Vladimir Putin was trying to dictate the conditions for peace in Ukraine by offering to halt Moscows offensive if Kyiv effectively surrenders.

What we need is not a dictated peace but a just and equitable peace which takes into account Ukraines (territorial) integrity and sovereignty, he told the public broadcaster ARD on the sidelines of a G7 summut in Italy.

10:23 AM BST

Situation on Pokrovsk front remains tense

Fighting on the Pokrovsk front remains tense, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Three combat clashes are currently taking place in the areas of Novooleksandrivka, Yevhenivka and Novoselivka Persha.

The most tense situation remains in the Pokrovsky direction, wrote the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook. So many attacks have already been fought. Defence forces continue to make efforts to stabilize the situation, creating a complex fire effect.

09:56 AM BST

Harris to address Ukraine summit

Kamala Harris, the US vice-president, will attend the international Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland this weekend, where she will meet with Volodymyr Zelensky and address world leaders.

She will stress that the outcome of the war in Ukraine affects the entire world, a US official said, and push for a maximum number of countries to back the notion that Russias invasion violates the UN Charters founding principles and that Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected.

Ms Harris, who will spend less than 24 hours at the gathering in Lucerne, will be standing in for president Joe Biden at the event. The president will be just ending his participation at the G7 summit in Italy and returning to the United States to attend a fundraiser for his re-election campaign in Los Angeles.

09:48 AM BST

Watch: Russian soldiers surrender after failed raid

09:37 AM BST

World leaders join Ukraine summit in test of Kyivs diplomatic clout

World leaders will gather in Switzerland today for a summit aimed at pressuring Russia to end its war in Ukraine, but the absence of powerful allies of Moscow such as China will blunt its potential impact.

Dozens of allies of Ukraine will take part in the summit, but China is staying away after Russia was frozen out of proceedings.

Without China, hopes of isolating Moscow have faded, while recent military reverses have put Kyiv on the back foot. The war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas has also diverted attention from Ukraine.

The talks are expected to focus on broader concerns triggered by the war, such as food and nuclear security and freedom of navigation, and a draft of the final declaration identifies Russia as the aggressor in the conflict, sources said.

The summit risks showing the limits of Ukrainian diplomacy, said Richard Gowan, UN director at the international crisis group. Nonetheless, it is also a chance for Ukraine to remind the world that it is defending the principles of the UN Charter.

09:24 AM BST

Scholz: Putins peace proposals arent serious

G7 leaders did not discuss Vladimir Putins proposals for peace in Ukraine since everyone knew they were not serious, German chancellor Olaf Scholz said.

Speaking from Italy shortly before leaving for Switzerland, where a Ukraine conference opens on Saturday, Mr Scholz said Putins proposals  for Ukraine to abandon four provinces Russia claims, stop fighting and drop its ambition of Nato membership  were aimed only at distracting from the conference.

Everyone knows that this was proposal wasnt meant seriously, but had something to do with the peace conference in Switzerland, he told ZDF television in an interview.

09:18 AM BST

Ukrainian shelling kills five in Russian border town

Ukrainian shelling on the Russian border town of Shebekino killed five people and wounded several, the governor of the region of Belgorod said on Saturday.

Since Russia launched its military offensive on Ukraine in 2022, Belgorod has faced waves of attacks, which Kyiv say are retaliation for Moscows large-scale assault.

Four bodies were recovered from the rubble of a partially collapsed house in Shebekino, said governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, who added that another woman had died in hospital.

Russias emergency services published footage of a crane and rescuers sifting through the rubble of a destroyed five-storey building in the night.

Six civilians were wounded in the late evening shelling, the governor said.

Shebekino is a town of 40,000 people close to the border with Ukraines northeast Kharkiv region.

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Russia must be involved in the peace process with Ukraine, Swiss President Viola Amherd said at Ukraines global peace summit in Switzerland on June 15.



Addressing the audience at the summit plenary meeting, Amherd said it was inconceivable to not include Russia in the peace process, as a lasting solution must involve both parties.



She stressed that the international community can help pave the way to peace by coming together even in areas that are difficult and will discuss the conditions under which Russia can be included in the process.



The peace summit, held at the Burgenstock resort, includes representatives from around 100 countries. The goal is to discuss a possible way toward peace and other key concerns related to Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine.



Russia was not invited.

Read also: Putin names ceasefire demands, including Kyivs complete withdrawal from four Ukrainian regions

Ukraine hopes to formulate a new joint peace plan based on Zelensky's 10-point peace formula but is open to all opinions from other countries, Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak said on the sidelines of the summit.

Amherd noted three areas that will be discussed in working groups at the summit: Nuclear safety, food security, and the human aspect of the war.



Our most important goals for this weekend are to inspire a process leading to a framework for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace for Ukraine based on international law and the UN Charter, she said.



Speaking one day ahead of the summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin laid out his own conditions for peace talks, namely Ukraine's full withdrawal from Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, including territories currently held by Ukraine.



President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected these conditions, comparing them to Adolf Hitler's invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1938-1939.

Read also: NYT publishes purported draft of Ukraine-Russia peace treaty from 2022

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Ukraine's peace summit in Switzerland began on June 15, bringing together representatives from 101 countries and organizations.

The figure is lower than the 107 countries and international organizations that Kyiv said had confirmed their attendance as of early June.

Ukraine hopes the summit will address several key issues, such as energy security, the exchange of captives, the return of deported children, global food security, and other topics.

"There are two days of active work ahead with countries from all corners of the world, with different peoples" who are united by the goal of bringing "a just and lasting peace for Ukraine closer," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 14 as he arrived in Switzerland.

"The peace summit will enable the global majority to take concrete steps in areas that are important to everyone in the world: nuclear and food security, the return of prisoners of war, and all deported persons, including deported Ukrainian children," Zelensky added.

Among the participants is Saudi Arabia, despite reports earlier in June that the country was not planning to attend the summit. Zelensky made a previously unannounced visit to Saudi Arabia on June 12.

China is not attending, despite having been invited. Reports emerged on June 13 that Beijing was pushing its alternative peace plan.

Brazil, the Holy See, the U.N., and the Ecumenical Patriarchate are attending the summit not as full participants, but as observers.

The U.S. will be represented by Vice President Kamala Harris and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

Reports that President Joe Biden would not attend the event prompted Zelensky to say in May that his absence would "only be met by an applause by (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, a personal, standing applause by Putin."

"I believe that the peace summit needs President Biden, and other leaders need President Biden because they will look at the U.S.'s reaction," Zelensky said.

Biden is unable to attend the summit because it clashes with a campaign fundraiser.

Read also: Explainer: What is the global peace summit in Switzerland, and what does Ukraine hope to achieve?

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The security arrangements at the luxury Burgenstock resort near Lucerne for the Summit for Peace in Ukraine are colossal.

Soldiers have taken position at the multiple checkpoints set up on the winding roads leading up to the resort.

Around 6.5 kilometres of fencing and eight kilometres of barbed wire have been installed around the perimeter.

To protect the more than 50 heads of state including French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and US Vice President Kamala Harris, up to 4,000 soldiers have been deployed, said Viola Amherd, the president of the Swiss confederation during a press conference held on Monday.

"An event on this scale requires comprehensive protective measures," Swiss President Viola Amherd said ahead of the summit.

In addition, a temporary military heliport has been set up in the middle of a field to allow take-offs and landings of the different delegations.

A Super Puma Swiss Airforce helicopter carrying Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy lands in Obbuergen near the Buergenstock Resort ahead the Summit on peace in Ukraine - ALESSANDRO DELLA VALLE/' KEYSTONE POOL / ALESSANDRO DELLA VALLE

The Burgenstock Hotel has a long history of high-level political meetings and its isolated mountaintop location provides an extra layer of security.

The swanky resort had hosted previous peace talks on Sudan in 2002 and Cyprus in 2004.

Threats of cyberattacks and disinformation

The threats are not only physical but also include cyberattacks and disinformation surrounding the event.

Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said there was "an obvious interest in disturbing the smooth running of the conference.

The first wave of distributed denial-of-service attacks (DDoS) on government websites began on Thursday.

DDoS attacks aim to overload websites with a large number of requests. The data volume usually cannot be handled by a single organisation causing the website and computer system to crash.

More attacks are expected during the weekend, according to the Swiss National Cyber Security Centre.

How have locals been impacted?

More than 400 residents with homes and farms beyond the checkpoints need a special pass to access the zone.

According to the Swiss news website Watson, some residents have expressed their frustration with the organisation of the conference.

No one has asked us our opinion, said a woman. That damn noise all the time, also exclaimed another resident, after the passage of a helicopter.
Turkiye says Global Peace Summit would be more result-oriented if Russia attended it

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan believes that the Peace Summit in Switzerland "could have been more result-oriented" if Russia were present.

Source: Fidan in a speech at the plenary session of the summit on 15 June, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Fidan indicated that the summit attendees in Switzerland are aware of Ukraine's Peace Formula and mentioned Russian leader Vladimir Putin's ultimatum regarding "peace talks".

"Regardless of the proposed content and conditions, these are important steps and a glimmer of hope to start with. However, each side considers the actions of the other to be a continuation of a broader military effort," he stated.

The Turkish foreign minister added that if Russia were present, "this summit could have been more result-oriented".

"We believe that there is a growing need for a comprehensive and inclusive strategy that uses diplomacy and negotiations to ensure the implementation of measures already taken," Fidan said, citing the grain corridor agreement brokered by Turkiye as an example.

Background:

Russia refused to attend the conference in Switzerland, labelling the event biassed and the host country "openly hostile".

However, the Ukrainian President's Office has previously confirmed that Ukraine is ready to invite a Russian representative to the second Peace Summit, who will be presented with a "joint plan" agreed upon by the majority of the world's nations.

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A 41-year-old Tacoma man was sentenced to 80 months in prison Friday for stabbing another man 17 times last year, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Shaun Lee Blue was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Tacoma for assault resulting in serious bodily injury after leaving a man critically injured on March 19, 2023, according to prosecutors.

According to records filed in the case, Blue worked for the man as a day laborer and worked to remove an old trailer from a property in Eatonville. At the end of the workday the two met up in a parking lot so the man could pay Blue for the work hed done. After an argument Blue pulled a knife and stabbed the man multiple times in his abdomen, causing serious cuts to his intestines, colon and liver.

Blue continued to stab the man even after he fell to the ground and drove away after the attack, records said. The man was able to call 911 for help, was found critically injured and continues to recover from significant injuries and multiple surgeries as a result of the attack.

The victim is asking for $25,363 in restitution. Chief Judge David G. Estudillo will determine the exact amount of restitution at a hearing next month, according to the press release.

The crime scene is on the property of Joint Base Lewis McChord, which is why federal prosecutors handled the case.

In court, Estudillo said, It is difficult for the court to wrap around the idea that whatever the victim did could justify stabbing him 17 times.

In asking for a sentence above the guidelines range Assistant United States Attorney Hillary Stuart wrote to the court, Blue has not yet been deterred from violent crime despite numerous arrests and jail sentences. Blues prior interactions with the law should have put him on notice as to the serious consequences of his crimes, but it did not. He lacks any respect for the law or the legal system.

The case was investigated by the FBI and Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) with assistance from the Pierce County Sheriffs Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hillary K. Stuart, according to the release.
HD 65 Democratic candidate Ashley Brundage at the WMNF studio in Tampa on June 14, 2024. (Photo by Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix)

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

The Florida Democratic Party boasted as candidate qualifying closed Friday that for the first time since the state Legislature flipped red three decades ago, it has a Democrat running for every state House and Senate district.

That includes Hillsborough Countys 65th House District, where Ashley Brundage hopes to make history by becoming the first transgender person elected to serve in Tallahassee.

While Im going to be making history on something like me and my personal life, which really has no impact on anything, but what I think is even more history-making is that I used to be the DEI person for PNC Bank and 60,000 employees as their national president of diversity, equity, inclusion, she said on Friday, speaking on WMNF 88.5 FM radio in Tampa (on a show which this reporter participated in).

Yes, thats right. If running as a transgender woman isnt cutting enough against the established conservative grain in Florida politics in 2024, then touting her credentials as the DEI candidate certainly is.

Florida is where DEI goes to die  , Gov. Ron DeSantis wrote on X in March, responding to a report that the University of Florida was eliminating all diversity, equity, and inclusion employee positions to comply with new Florida Board of Governors regulations.

That board defines DEI as any program, campus activity, or policy that classifies individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation and promotes differential or preferential treatment of individuals on the basis of such classification.

Brundage says her history as vice president of DEI at PNC Bank as well as her work with her own small business, Empowering Differences, which does diversity, equity, and inclusion training for companies, has shown her the benefits of such programs.

Inclusion also shouldnt be scary, she said.

Because inclusion is literally the opportunity for us to learn and grow as people. And thats what every program Ive ever built that had DEI in mind, was an opportunity for someone to learn about a community, and then go and sell more goods and services to make more money from that community, Brundage continued.

And thats what happened when I became a part-time bank teller at PNC Bank while I was homeless, living in Tampa. I showed up on day one and, ultimately, I started building relationships in my community, and I started bringing those people to bank at PNC Bank. Because it wasnt people they were literally marketing to immediately. So, by them practicing diversity, I became the number-one revenue producing employee for three straight years out of all of the entire bank around the country.

Representing Tampa

House District 65 encompasses most of South and downtown Tampa, as well as a portion of northwest Hillsborough County, and has been held since 2022 by Republican Marilyn Gonzalez Pittman, who succeeded Republican Jackie Toledo.

Its a seat that breaks down as 39% Republican, 31% Democratic, and 30% NPA (non-party-affiliated) and other third-party registered voters as of Feb. 20, according to the Florida Division of Elections.

Brundage calls those NPA voters the secret sauce to our win.

And the Republicans are scared about that, because theyve been running on all of these issues that are all about scaring people and hurting our economy long term, she said, adding that shes running on issues such as lowering the cost of property insurance, getting the government out of making decisions about peoples bodies, and economic empowerment for small businesses.

Brundage is running in a state not considered friendly to the LGBTQ community, to say the least. Under Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida has been a leader in passing anti-LGBTQ laws. One of those laws, banning minors from receiving gender-affirming health care, was struck down by a federal judge in Tallahassee earlier this week.

The day after that decision, DeSantis predicted in Tampa that the state would win its appeal at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. This has already been decided by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. They upheld Alabamas law, which was almost identical to Floridas law. This will be reversed. Theres no question it will be reversed, the governor said.

Community award

Brundage received a Spirit of the Community Award for her work from the Florida Commission on the Status of Women two years ago. While DeSantis did not attend the awards ceremony in West Palm Beach, he did sign a letter telling her to keep up the great work!

Brundage said on Friday that the governor didnt initially respond to media inquiries about why he had given tribute to a transgendered woman until she announced in April that she was running for a legislative seat and his team responded to the U.K. Daily Mail.

The publication wrote that a source close to DeSantis told Daily.Mail.com that the commendation was bestowed because the governors team was under the impression that Brundage was a biological female. When it was revealed that was not the case, the congratulation letter was removed from the governors website.

Brundage doesnt believe that. If he had read the actual nomination before signing the letter, he would have known about her transgender status, she said.

Brundage is not the Democratic candidate for HD 65 yet, as she faces a primary challenge from Nathan Kuipers in the Aug. 20 primary. Gonzalez Pittman hasnt drawn an opponent in her primary and will face the winner of the Brundage-Kuipers race on Nov. 5.

Note: Ashley Brundage spoke Friday on WMNFs The Skinny program, for which this reporter is a co-host.

The post Tampa transgender woman qualifies to run for state House seat appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
Tarrant County Criminal Courts Administrator Gregory Shugart has resigned.

Shugart said Friday that he has decided to step down after 12 years, believing it to be the best path forward for him and the 21 elected judges.

Shugart said his job required him to provide the tools, supplies and resources the judges need to operate an efficient court system.

County commissioners voted in April to consider a proposal to reorganize the administration of the criminal courts.

Before the vote to study a reorganization, the county proposed eliminating Shugarts job by Oct. 1 and predicted it would save $174,000.

A spokesperson for the county did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The citizens, should always ensure that our constitutional government is in place and that there are three branches of government, and its important the judiciary remains independence, Shugart said.

County Judge Tim OHare could not be immediately reached for comment.
The effect of coloniality on young children is the subject of a taxpayer-funded study conducted by a postgraduate student at a leading university.

The research for a PhD at the University of Edinburgh, focuses on home educating communities of colour.

Researcher Pavithra Natarajan says the work has been fashioned by the blood, sweat, tears, rage, frustration, joy in transformation and so much more from me, the communities I serve and that of my family.

Her study explains that since coloniality refers to the continued impact of the distribution of power and resources through the legacy of colonisation and imperialism, which we continue to remain in the midst of, it would be crucial to understand how home educating families of colour are impacted by race, class, gender and coloniality and how these inform and shape child-centred learning in the early years.

In a biography for an upcoming conference, Natarajan (who uses the surname Sarma on social media and elsewhere) says she is a Brown, cis woman from the city of Chennai [the capital city of Tamil Nadu] in the South of India.

Natarajan is co-founder and co-director of the Anti-Racism Early Years Collective, a collective of teachers, practitioners, academics and activists who are very passionate about Scotland being at the forefront of anti-racist practice in the Early Years, in addition to being an activist and doula.

She often posts on X, formerly known as Twitter; on Tuesday she accused Edinburgh University of continuing its its racist, shameful, disgraceful, dehumanising and colonialist traditions and endorsing one post about White & White adjacent clowns. On October 7 last year, the day Hamas attacked Israel, she retweeted two posts calling for solidarity with Palestine.

Sarmas research is funded by the Economic Social Research Council, a taxpayer-funded body. Scholars receive a stipend, approximately 17,668 for Sarmas starting research year, 2022, as well as help with tuition fee payments. Her research lasts four years, meaning she is likely to have received at least 70,000 total in stipend fees.

Anti-racism

Inaya Folarin Iman, founder of the Equiano Project, an ideas forum that debates race, culture and politics, told The Telegraph: All children, regardless of race or gender, have been adversely impacted by the closure of schools during the pandemic. We need major investment in educational services across the board, not to be dividing children by race and other immutable characteristics.

Schools have ploughed millions into anti-racism initiatives over the last few years and there has been no evidence that this has improved educational outcomes at all. This is because ethnic minority children need the same thing as all children to thrive, and thats quality teachers, a knowledge-rich education, high expectations and supportive parents  not a victimhood narrative.

Lucy Marsh of the Family Education Trust said: Accusations that academia is out of touch with reality are justified when taxpayers money is being wasted on pointless research like this.

Not only is this project unnecessary, its indoctrinating very young children and their families to believe that they are victims of racism. Teaching children under five that they are oppressed is extremely dangerous as it creates division within communities where we should be fostering cohesion and unity.

Targeting families who dont send their pre-school children to state-funded childcare appears to be a deliberate attempt to groom them with woke ideology about race and gender.

Children should just be allowed to play and feel secure within their families at this age, not be indoctrinated by social justice activists who dont even know what a woman is.

Alp Mehmet, Chairman of Migration Watch, added: The taxpayer should not be funding such pointless, pre-concluding research. But for funds to go to an international student hellbent on showing how racist we are is pure madness.

UKRI said: UKRI invests in a diverse research and innovation portfolio. Decisions to fund the research projects we support are made via a rigorous peer review process by relevant independent experts from across academia and business.

The research councils also award block grants to higher education institutions to support PhD studentships. The institutions make decisions and allocate the funding to specific studentship proposals, following an application process.

A University of Edinburgh spokesperson said: All PhD studentships go through a rigorous peer review process, enabling early career researchers to study, question and contribute to their areas of specialism.

As a world-leading research-intensive university, we will continue to facilitate an environment where students and staff are free to think critically and engage with different perspectives in their work.

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Teen accused in random Fort Worth killing shot at 3 more victims, witnesses say in warrant

An 18-year-old accused of killing a Fort Worth man at random while traveling through Texas also shot at three other people in an industrial area south of DFW Airport, police allege in an arrest warrant affidavit.

Lee Douglas, a 36-year-old electrician who worked at Refresco Beverages at 15200 Trinity Blvd. in far east Fort Worth, was shot first in the back then again in the face after he fell to the ground.

A witness who saw Douglas get shot told police that the suspect, Decan Medeiros, unsuccessfully tried to enter the Refresco Beverages building before he began shooting early on the morning of May 30, according to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by the Star-Telegram.

One of Douglas coworkers told police he saw Medeiros stand over Douglas and aim a black pistol at his head after he had shot him in the back, according to the affidavit. The witness turned to yell for other employees who were outside on break to get inside the building and then heard another gunshot.

Medeiros allegedly shot two more rounds at other employees of Refresco Beverages before crossing the street and entering an Oncor Electric warehouse, according to the affidavit.

Four witnesses, including an off-duty game warden officer who was working as a security guard, gave consistent descriptions of Medeiros.

The security guard heard the first four gunshots and saw Medeiros trying to escape by cutting through the Oncor property, according to the affidavit. The guard asked the suspect what he was doing, and Medeiros replied he was shooting squirrels, the affidavit states.

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The guard pulled his gun and ordered Medeiros to put his hands up, but the suspect ran away and into the warehouse, he told police.

Inside the Oncor warehouse, Medeiros shot three times at an employee operating a forklift, who jumped off the forklift and ducked for cover, the warrant alleges.

Police searched one of three bags that Medeiros was carrying with him during the shooting, the affidavit states. In the bag, they found a dark gray notebook filled with journal entries. It had the words take notes written on the front cover, with take written by hand and notes printed by design. The words The Book of Taurus were handwritten on the back cover.

Upon arresting Medeiros about 1,500 feet east of the Oncor warehouse, police said, they found two boxes of ammunition that matched the type of bullets used in the shooting.

Medeiros is in custody at the Lon Evans Corrections Center, part of the Tarrant County Jail system, with bond set at $615,000. He faces charges of murder and aggravated assault.

His father, Ricky Medeiros, told the Star-Telegram that the teen was on a layover after flying into DFW Airport on his way home to Washington state and that he didnt know anyone in Texas.

Douglas, a father of five, died June 11 at John Peter Smith Hospital.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A teenager was seriously injured in a crash after the car she was a passenger in went 150 feet down a ravine off Highway 30 in the Columbia River Gorge, authorities said on Friday.

The Multnomah County Sheriffs Office says deputies responded to the scene of the crash on Wednesday night around 10:30 p.m. on East Historic Columbia River Highway near Sheppards Dell, where they found a Hyundai sedan in a ravine.

Officials say deputies found the driver, an 18-year-old boy, had a minor injury, while one 17-year-old passenger was uninjured. However, a second passenger  only identified as a 17-year-old girl  was seriously injured in the crash and had to be taken to a local hospital via a medical helicopter. The teen girl remains hospitalized in serious condition, according to authorities.

La Nina watch is officially on: How will it affect Oregon?

The sheriffs office says all three inside the car were wearing seatbelts.

No other details were immediately available.

Investigators say they believe the crash was primarily caused by excessive speed, but there may be other possible contributing factors. The investigation, which the sheriffs office says involves the East County Vehicular Crimes Team, is ongoing.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
LONG BEACH, N.Y. (PIX11)  After a 16-year-old was shot on Long Island on what was apparently a skip-school day attended by thousands of students, two teens are in police custody, and one of them is charged with a list of crimes.

The shooting, which happened after thousands of teens filled Long Beach and its boardwalk, also prompted a notable change in city policy: the beach is now restricted to beach pass holders, only. That means that only local residents or people who pay the $15-per-day fee for a pass will be allowed on the beach. The restriction is daily. Its usually on weekends and holidays only, through June 27. Thursdays crowds and shooting changed that.

More Local News

When you see swarms of kids coming in, said Long Beach resident Andrew Alcina, its definitely a concern.

The situation was apparently the result of messages on social media calling on kids from a variety of Long Island towns and parts of Queens to have a so-called Senior Skip Day from school at the beach.

Video recorded by residents showed more than 2,000 young people crowded on the beach, near the Edwards Boulevard entrance. Other videos showed some students twerking on a vehicle from one of the three police departments that were on scene. As the crowds grew on Thursday, the Long Beach Police Department called for mutual aid from the Nassau County and MTA Police Departments.

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Local residents like Brian Beck said that skip school days have happened every year there for at least three years.

Theres always these big parties on the beach, Beck said. Long Beach Police called Nassau County, and once police start ordering the young people to leave, he said, everyone runs off the beach, causing more mayhem.

Witnesses said that thats what happened when gunshots went off at a shopping center six blocks from the beach, near the LIRR station, as well as at the train station itself.

A 16-year-old was shot in the torso, and two people are in police custody. One of them, a 15-year-old, is charged with attempted assault, reckless endangerment, criminal use of a firearm, criminal possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of a large-capacity ammunition device.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Two Republican Brevard County commissioners who can't run for reelection because of term limits are seeking countywide office this year  District 1 Commissioner Rita Pritchett for tax collector and District 3 Commissioner John Tobia for supervisor of elections.

They will face the Republicans currently holding the offices  Tax Collector Lisa Cullen and Supervisor of Elections Tim Bobanic  in an Aug. 20 GOP primary. The winners move on to the Nov. 5 general election, facing write-in candidates whose names will not appear on the ballot.

Because there are write-in candidates in those two races, under state election law, only Republicans can vote in the GOP primaries for supervisor of elections and tax collector. Had there been only Republicans running and no write-in candidate, those primary would have been open to all voters, including Democrats, members of minor political parties and "no party affiliation" voters.

As of Friday, among the 426,105 registered voters in Brevard, there were 191,997 Republicans; 113,386 Democrats; 106,731 no party affiliation voters; and 13,991 members of minor political parties. So a closed Republican primary eliminates about 54.9% of the registered voters from being able to participate in those elections.

In a third countywide race, write-in candidate Brian Potters is challenging incumbent Republican Sheriff Wayne Ivey in the Nov. 5 general election.

There are no Democratic candidates in any of these three countywide elections.

The candidate qualifying period ended Friday.

Supervisor of elections

Brevard County Commissioner John Tobia hands information about sample ballots that he researched to Supervisor of Elections Tim Bobanic during a budget hearing last September. They will be running against one another in the Aug. 20 Republican primary for supervisor of elections.

Tobia announces plan to run: County Commissioner Tobia running for Brevard supervisor of elections in 2024

Bobanic was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to the supervisor of elections position in September 2022, filling a vacancy created by the resignation of Republican Supervisor of Elections Lori Scott, who resigned in the middle of her term after nearly 14 years in that position. Before his appointment as supervisor of elections by DeSantis, Bobanic had been Scott's director of information technology and election services.

Tobia is completing his second four-year term on the County Commission, representing South Brevard's District 3, and previously served for eight years as a member of the Florida House of Representatives.

Sandra Cottrell on June 11 qualified as a write-in candidate in the race.

The supervisor of elections has an annual salary of $184,356 and has a four-year term.

Tax collector

Pritchett seeks tax collector office: County Commissioner Rita Pritchett to run against incumbent Lisa Cullen for tax collector

Cullen, a Canaveral Groves resident, has served as Brevards tax collector since 2008. She has won three unopposed elections since then. Prior to leading the agency, she worked in the office for decades.

Pritchett is finishing up her second term as county commissioner. The Titusville resident has represented North Brevard District 1 since 2016. Due to term limits, her tenure on the County Commission will end in November. She previously served on the Titusville City Council.

Daniel Edwin Lopez filed paperwork on June 10 to run for the position as a write-in candidate.

The tax collector position pays an annual salary of $184,356 and has a four-year term.

Sheriff

Ivey is seeking a fourth four-year term, with his only opponent being Potters, the write-in candidate, who is a former sheriff's deputy who was shot in the line of duty in August 2021.

Ivey was first elected sheriff in 2012, and was reelected in 2016 and 2020. Before becoming sheriff, Ivey was the local resident agent in charge for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Ivey's law enforcement experience includes various positions at the FDLE, the Clay County Sheriff's Office and the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.

Potters originally was going to run as a Republican, but switched his candidacy during the candidate qualifying period to becoming a write-in candidate. As a Republican, Potters would have had to pay a $12,591.60 candidate qualifying fee or gather enough signatures on petitions to qualify for a ballot spot. There is no such requirement for a write-in candidate.

Potters joined the BCSO in March 2020. He was assigned to North Precinct Patrol Services in Titusville at the time of the shooting. Prior to his employment with the BCSO, Potters was employed by the Titusville Police Department and Fayette County Constable's Office in Kentucky. He served in the Marine Corps from 2003 through 2009, as a member of the military police, stationed in California, Hawaii and Virginia. He was honorably discharged in 2009 as a corporal.

The sheriff's position pays an annual salary of $222,274.

Dave Berman is business editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Berman at dberman@floridatoday.com, on X at @bydaveberman and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dave.berman.54

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Term-limited county commissioners seek countywide office vs. incumbents
Justice Debra Lehrmann listens as the Supreme Court of Texas hears oral arguments on Senate Bill 14, a prohibition on gender affirming care for transgender youth, on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024.

The Texas Supreme Court declined Friday to hear a case on in vitro fertilization that could have allowed the justices to rule on whether embryos should have personhood, leaving in place decades of legal precedent that treats them as property.

Experts told the American-Statesman in May that the case could have severely affected IVF access in Texas if it were pursued. The case bore some similarities to the Alabama Supreme Court case in which justices ruled that frozen embryos created through in vitro fertilization are unborn children under wrongful death statutes. After the ruling, several major fertility clinics closed shop in the state until the Alabama Legislature passed a law relieving them of legal liability for embryo destruction or damage.

The Texas lawsuit centered on a contract that Denton residents Caroline and Gabriel Antoun signed while they were married in 2019, stipulating that any extra embryos created during the IVF process would go to Gabriel in case of divorce.

In a petition for review, Caroline Antoun's counsel argued that extrauterine embryos would be considered human beings under Texas' near-total abortion ban and the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down the federal right to an abortion. They asked for the court to grant parental rights over embryos and use custody proceedings, rather than contracts, to determine who could keep them.

The Supreme Court's rejection of Caroline Antoun's petition for review preserves a lower court's ruling that found the contract governing ownership of IVF embryos is still valid.

The Texas Supreme Court declined Friday to hear a case on in vitro fertilization that sought to have frozen embryos defined as children.

Gabriel Antoun expressed relief Friday that years of litigation over the embryos could be coming to an end.

"I am thankful for the court's decision, which honors our agreement and supports families' decisions regarding IVF," he wrote to the Statesman. "I am grateful that this matter is hopefully resolved and look forward to focusing on my family moving forward."

Gabriel Antoun's lawyer, Patrick Wright, was enthusiastic about the justices' decision to stay out of the hot-button issue of embryonic personhood, writing to the Statesman that "the legislaturenot the judicial systemis where these questions should be discussed."

"We are pleased with the ruling today," Wright wrote. "We are equally pleased that families can continue with the IVF process in Texas, that IVF doctors can continue to help families, and that Texans can still grow and plan their families.

Caroline Antoun did not immediately respond to the Statesman's request for comment. In an emailed statement, the firm representing her said they were "obviously disappointed" by Friday's decision.

More than 7,000 babies are born annually in Texas through IVF, a technology through which eggs and sperm are combined in a laboratory setting, then frozen or immediately implanted in a womb. It is often used to help infertile couples conceive biological children.

While the state Supreme Court's decline of the case makes it very unlikely that Caroline Antoun's appeal will go forward, her legal team said Friday that it is "considering all possible avenues for additional review."

The rejection of the petition for review also does not preclude the court  or the Legislature  from potentially taking up new challenges on IVF embryos in the future. Anti-abortion groups, such as Texas Right to Life, and some members of the Texas Republican Party have expressed their hopes that embryo destruction will be banned.

"While the Court is understandably reticent to take on such a politically hot topic in an election year, the problem will not go away," the firm representing Caroline Antoun  Tasker, Bodkin, Niehaus & Jolley  wrote in an emailed statement.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Supreme Court won't hear IVF case arguing embryos are children
Migrants hide in England fans camper van  but run away when they realise which way its heading

Ben Dolan, 24, Matthew Browne, 25, Tristan Dallison, 22 and Fin Mcgregor, 24, had stopped at a supermarket in Calais when the guests entered the camper - PAUL GROVER/FOR THE TELEGRAPH

A group of England fans had some unexpected guests on their way to Germany after finding three asylum seekers hiding in their camper van.

The fans made the discovery after crossing the Channel and arriving in Calais.

Ben Dolan, 24, a factory worker, Matthew Browne, 25, a joiner, Tristan Dallison, 22 and Fin McGregor, 24, both electricians, had travelled from Scarborough, North Yorkshire.

They set off on their 600-miles journey at 7am on Friday taking several trains before picking up their camper van in Luton.

After arriving in France and stopping in Calais they had headed out to the supermarket and it was only when one of them went to the toilet that they realised the van had been broken into.

We went to the supermarket and came back to find the toilet door locked, Mr McGregor told The Telegraph.

There were three lads in there. They laughed and smiled and poured out of the camper van.

He said that he was surprised they were able to get in the van as all the doors had been locked and that the men had believed they were travelling back to England.

We checked the doors, they must have got in through the roof, he said, adding that he felt sorry for the difficulties facing migrants trying to get to the UK.

I understand their struggle but we were going the wrong direction.

It was mental

Mr Dolan said it had been an an incredibly long journey, Its been a real trek, and described how they discovered the stowaways. We were like the toilets locked, he said. What the f--- is going on and there were three lads in there. It was mental.

They said hello and they were smirking and just walked away. We were on our way to Belgium and these guys could be in the toilet. We were going totally the wrong way.

They finally arrived in Gelsenkirchen on Saturday afternoon and were among around 50,000 England fans to descend on the west German city.

Around 15,000 fans have tickets inside the stadium but UEFA is opening a special fan park for up to 40,000 England fans at a racecourse in Gelsenkirchen.

Organisers said fans need not worry about getting hungry or thirsty as they promised 160 metres of bar at the fan zone and said it would be the biggest bar in town.

As well as Gelsenkirchen, fans are staying in nearby Essen, Dortmund and Dusseldorf.

Risking it all for a great experience

Among those enjoying the party on Friday was Ryan Morris, 40, who had risked an unauthorised absence fine after taking son Teddy, aged 11, out of school for a fortnight to give him the experience.

The pair, from Bristol, drove to Manchester to fly out to Germany and Mr Morris said his son, who is approaching the end of Year Six, would learn more out here than he would at school.

Its a life lesson for him and will be a great experience.

He added: Teddy has done his SATs [Standardised Assessment Tests] so hes not missing too much at school now.

Others enjoying the atmosphere included Astrid Wett, 23, who flew from Munich to meet Leah Ray, 21, who she met on social media and flew out from London.

Were in the same sort of work being influencers and were good friends now. Ive been to a few tournaments before but its Leahs first time.

Its always good fun following England home and away. Cole Palmers my favourite player  Im a Chelsea fan and I feel like he dragged that team along with him last season.

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UPDATE: During a community event on Saturday, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy spoke to WREG regarding Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sextons comments on removing Mulroy from office.

This was his response:

Legislatures need to get the facts before they make up their minds. Were not saying that were not prosecuting gun cases. Were prosecuting gun cases all the time. Were making some decisions on a case-by-case basis to separate those violent offenders that we need to put the hammer down and those people that still might be able to be rehabilitated. I just think people need to cool down and listen to the facts. I think once they do, theyll find out theres nothing really to be upset about. Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy

*****

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton is seeking the removal of Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy, calling his decision to offer diversion to felons possessing firearms a serious misjudgment.

His actions will make Memphis even more unsafe and is another step in kowtowing to criminals. He is doing everything he can to keep criminals on the street instead of behind bars. I plan on continuing my discussions with the AG to seek remedies like removal from office and other viable options to keep Memphis and our communities safe, Speaker Sexton posted to X.

This week, Mulroy rolled out a new diversion program for some defendants charged with unlawfully possessing a weapon.

Mulroy to offer diversion for some weapon charges, sparking controversy

Mulroy said the program would address racial disparities in the legal system and would improve public safety by rehabilitating offenders.

The DA says his diversion program is only for defendants who do not have violent criminal records, and their charges involving gun possession are non-violent.

But, the program is being met with opposition. In a text sent to WREG, Senator Brent Taylor of Memphis calls the plan a misguided attempt to appease Restorative Justice Schemers.

In a city plagued by gun violence, the thought that our D.A. will not aggressively prosecute felons in possession of a firearm is not only nonsensical, but it is dangerous, said Taylor.

Sexton also took to X after Mulroy announced the program.

Everything Ive said about @SteveMulroy901 is true! Hes soft on criminals  he makes Memphis unsafe! He pushes a dangerous ideology & agenda. He wants gun control on law-abiding citizens  but is good with felons possessing firearms. DA Mulroy kowtowing to criminals once again!

Mulroy says programs tried in the past decade only saw violent crime steadily rising, but he says we are now focused on what needs to be done to address the problem.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
MARSHALL - The Madison County planning and zoning administrator position remained unfilled for roughly 18 months, but the county announced its new hire this month.

Tom Herdelin's first day as Madison County planning and zoning administrator was June 10. His salary is $55,000 annually.

Originally from New Jersey, Herdelin practiced law for nearly 25 years, primarily practicing solo in the South Jersey region.

During that time, Herdelin also served on a planning board. Herdelin also represented both applicants requesting variances, as well as opposing neighbors who had presented requests for neighbors.

"So, I'm loosely familiar with the process as a board member and as an attorney representing," Herdelin said. "The legal concepts of land use and planning are familiar to me."

Herdelin said acquainting himself with the North Carolina laws, as well as the "scope and objectives of the community" will be two of the things he plans to tackle first.

"I look at this as an opportunity to help the boards as they steward their neighborhoods, and make sure that development occurs in a responsible fashion," Herdelin said.

"I think an overarching concern of planning boards is, 'Don't make decisions for today. You make decisions for down the road,' and you see what decisions in the past have presented to you, hopefully, or the absence of decisions, and you seek to avoid it going forward by setting up good guardrails."

Additionally, one of the first objectives Herdelin laid out is bringing himself up to speed on the county ordinances.

Herdelin, who assumes the position vacated by Terrey Dolan in November 2022, will start his position in the midst of the county's deliberations regarding its Mountain Ridge Protection Ordinance, as the Planning Board's Ridge Top Subcommittee group plans to recommend to the commissioners to scrap the 50-foot setback requirement for building on mountain ridges 3,000 feet and higher, among other recommended changes, including an overhaul of the Madison County Subdivision Control Ordinance, which Planning Board members have said is "the main offender."

The planning and zoning administrator works out of the Madison County administration offices at 5707 U.S. 25-70 Highway in Marshall.

According to Herdelin, one of the challenges of a board of adjustment is "to not overaccommodate a present concern at the expense of the future consequences, and what's far-reaching about that."

Development Services Director Brad Guth introduced Herdelin in the new role in a county-wide email June 3.

"Toms role will be crucial in our ongoing efforts to enhance and develop our community thoughtfully and effectively. His expertise will be invaluable as we continue to address the needs of our residents and plan for a vibrant future," Guth said.

"With Toms arrival, we can look forward to innovative ideas and a collaborative spirit that will help us navigate the complexities of our work."

While Herdelin earned his undergraduate degree from East Carolina University, he moved to Western North Carolina roughly two years ago.

Pictured is a zoning map of Madison County.

In his view, being somewhat new to the area is a positive, as he doesn't come into the job with any preconceived notions.

"I didn't go to Madison High School across the street, and remember the fights as a teenager over this development or that development," Herdelin said. "I'm coming to this with basically a clean slate of information on the community, and I can objectively look at it, see both sides and present that balance to the board for their consideration, and at the same time know when someone has the right to do something. I have enough legal background to be able to make the office calls that the office calls me to make, and to know where that line is."

Herdelin attended the Madison County Planning Board's Ridge Top Subcommittee special meeting June 7.

The subcommittee is composed of Madison County Planning Board Chair Jered Silver, and members Clayton Honeycutt, Lee Wilde and Daniel Rice.

More: Board still plans to scrap setback Madison ridge top group plans to scrap 50-foot setback, but subdivisions 'main offender'

More: Plan board votes to scrap setback Madison planning board votes to nix 50-foot setback requirement; forms ridge focus group

More: Dolan to take same gig in NH Madison planning head Dolan to take same position in NH: 'I've loved where we live'

More: Board denies 1st variance request Madison board denies request for variance to 50-foot setback in Seven Glens

While the Ridge Top Subcommittee reiterated its intention to recommend the commissioners scrap the 50-foot setback requirement, which came to the Planning Board after Russell Blevins - who owns both sides of a ridge along more than 400 acres in Mountain Park near East Fork Road in Marshall - submitted an application to the board requesting to remove the 50-foot setback.

Blevins said he plans to build a cabin for his grandchildren on the land, and argued that the top of the ridge offers him the most stable ground on which to build.

While the 50-foot setback sits in limbo, a number of applicants have submitted requests for variances to the 50-foot setback requirement as laid out in the Mountain Ridge Protection Ordinance.

The Madison County Board of Adjustment has approved two of the variances, ruling that denying the permit would cause undue hardship on the applicants, as one of the parcels in the Seven Glens development on the Buncombe County line was subdivided prior to the 2010 adoption of the Mountain Ridge Protection Ordinance.

Last month, the Board of Adjustment voted 3-2 in opposition to a third applicant's variance request, offering that rather than be granted a variance to the 50-foot setback, the property owner would instead need to build a new well, as the applicant contended that the existing well necessitated the construction crew, Brown Haven Homes, to build at 25-foot setback.

In Herdelin's view, it's incumbent on the county to be good stewards of the land.

"I'm thinking about, this is one of the natural beauties, and you don't want to take away from that. You don't want to harm it," he said. "You want to make decisions that are seven generations down the road. That's your focus. Seven generations ago, they were supposed to be thinking about today.

"Somewhere along the line, we got off that rail. But we need to start thinking that same way: 'What's going on seven generations from now?'"

Herdelin said one of his main goals as planning and zoning administrator will be to strike a balance between individual's rights and the community's interests, particularly amid the county's recent spike in development.

"On this side you have the individual's rights, and on this side the community interests," Herdelin said. "Those two, you need to strike a balance to defend from a huge developer that wants to come in and do something that's contrary to both of their wishes.

"Their interests align more than they're disparate. You want to serve that alignment and recognize Mr. Individual, 'We understand you want to do that. Let's come up with a way to serve what your objective is without diminishing the community's interests.'"

Johnny Casey has covered Madison County for The Citizen Times and The News-Record & Sentinel for three years. He earned a first-place award in beat news reporting in the 2023 North Carolina Press Association awards. He can be reached at 828-210-6074 or jcasey@citizentimes.com.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Tom Herdelin named Madison County planning and zoning administrator
Touch-A-Truck event aims to educate neighbors on military branches, their missions

The Touch-A-Truck: Sea, Land, Air and Space Expo is being held in Moon Township on Saturday.

The event aims to increase awareness of military service branches and their missions, as well as assist in recruiting.

We believe bringing together units and the regions residents will increase young peoples interest in military careers, explained Chuck Sargent, Chairman of the Military Affairs Council of Western Pennsylvania.

The family-friendly event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 169 Wright Brothers Drive.

Visitors can get an up-close look at aircraft, military vehicles and marine equipment, such as the MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter.

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A North Dakota woman faces up to 30 years in prison after she was stopped in Minnesota last month and police found a bong with traces of drugs, a glass jar containing a "crystal substance," and other paraphernalia, according to a report.

Jessica Beske, a 43-year-old resident of Fargo, was pulled over May 8 for speeding in Polk County, Minnesota, and deputies who searched her car after reporting smelling marijuana found the bong and the other items, the Minnesota Reformer reported.

The residue on the paraphernalia tested positive for methamphetamine, along with the eight ounces of water in the bong and the substance in the glass jar.

Beske told the outlet that she didn't have any drugs with her, only the paraphernalia.

She was charged with first-degree felony possession, which means that Beske could be sentenced to 30 years in prison and hit with a $1 million fine.

Beske told the Guardian that the charges came as a shock to her.

"All I could see was [the possibility of] 30 to 40 years. And I couldn't speak, I couldn't breathe," she said.

"They didn't even discuss it at all. They just pushed it through. Nobody's even thinking about whose lives are affected by this," Beske said of the legislative session.

At first she thought her arrest was a "mistake," but discovered after doing some research about the bong water exception in the law and how the legislature passed it.

The Minnesota Reformer said for charging purposes the eight ounces of water in the bong is considered the same as eight ounces of methamphetamine, more than the 50-gram threshold for the felony charge.

"The legislative intent behind the weight-based thresholds is to approximate whether a person is an end user or a dealer," Kurtis Hanna, a longtime Minnesota drug reform advocate, told the publication.

"The fact that some county prosecutors are subverting that clear intent and are charging end users as though they are wholesalers, ruining their lives in the process, is shameful," Hanna said.

Beske said the charges against her are wrong. "It's against common sense," she said. "It's against everybody's common sense."

The Minnesota legislature last year decriminalized drug paraphernalia, even if it contained traces of drugs.

But bong water was part of a law stemming from a 2009 court ruling that determined that water in a pipe "could be considered a 'drug mixture' under the legal definition, and hence could count toward substance weights used to determine offense severity," the report said.

Scott Buhler, the assistant Polk County attorney prosecuting Beske, said he couldn't comment on pending cases when asked about the taking cases involving bong water to court, saying the criminal complaint "speaks for itself."

He said the office "simply enforces the laws of this state as written."

Beske admits that she has a substance abuse problem and says the possibility of being locked up for 30 years makes her feel hopeless.

"It's just gonna make my life worse and make me want to use drugs more," she said. "That's why people use drugs mostly, is to cope."

She told the Guardian in the interview that she hopes the law will be changed.

"It's just so wrong that I just have to hold hope that this is going to change the law, hopefully," Beske said. "I don't want anybody else to have to have to go through this."
(KRON)  If youve been hearing voices coming from the old Concord Naval Weapons Station, youre not losing your mind. And apparently, youre not the only one.

The Concord Police Department said Friday that it has been receiving calls from community members regarding the loudspeaker announcements from the inactive base. So, whats going on?

SF-based Wells Fargo fires employees for simulating being at their keyboards: report

According to Concord PD on X, formerly Twitter, the Military Ocean Terminal Concord (MOTCO) is conducting a U.S. Army-led exercise in the area. The exercise is slated to run between June 10 and June 18, Concord PD said.

Several units are participating in the exercise and they will travel throughout the local area, according to police.

You will see an increase in uniformed service members during this time, Concord PD said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
Trump accuses Biden of providing material support for terrorism after arrest of migrants over ISIS fears

Trump accuses Biden of providing material support for terrorism after arrest of migrants over ISIS fears

Donald Trump baselessly accused Joe Biden of providing material support for terrorism during a speech on Friday, alluding to the recent arrest of eight migrants with suspected ties to ISIS.

So, in addition to all of his other well-documented offenses, crooked Joe Biden is now also guilty of providing material support for terrorism, the former president told a crowd gathered for an event in West Palm Beach, Florida, to celebrate his 78th Birthday.

Trump vowed the country is going to pay a steep price for many, many years over Bidens border policy.

The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.

The comments were in reference to a recent federal terrorism investigation, in which eight migrants from Tajikistan were arrested over suspected links to the terror group, after previously crossing the US-Mexico border last year and passing security screening.

Federal officials have provided few details about the arrests, though theyve described the group as containing several non-citizens, according to the FBI and Department of Homeland Security.

A source close to the investigation told CNN the group had been on the radar of officials for over a month. Communications intercepts suggested possible links to ISIS affiliated individuals overseas, prompting the investiation.

The source added that officials arent convinced the individuals received training abroad or were purposely sent to engage in violence, but officials felt that expelling the group on immigration violations was a prudent pre-emptive step.

Donald Trump has repeatedly hammered the Biden administration over its border policy, often resorting to racist tropes that paint all migrants, legal and undocumented, as dangerous criminals.

During a recent rally, Trump accused Biden of turning the border into a dumping ground for the dungeons of the Third World.
Former President Trump accused President Biden of providing material support to the eight people arrested in the United States who are suspected to have ties to the Islamic State.

In addition to all of his other well documented offenses, crooked Joe Biden is now also guilty of providing material support for terrorism, Trump said at his birthday event in Florida on Friday, much of which was spent talking about his Democratic opponent.

The former president alleged that under Bidens leadership, theres been a 3,000 percent increase in the number of people on the countrys terror watch list and they are crossing into the United States from the southern border.

Our country is going to pay a steep price for many, many years, Trump said, highlighted by Mediaite. This is a terrible thing thats happened.

On Wednesday, reports circulated that several people from Tajikistan with ties to ISIS had been arrested in New York, Philadelphia and Los Angeles.

The eight people entered through the southern border last spring and passed through the U.S. governments screening process.

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 began tracking them.

The FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Force was monitoring the individuals and worked with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to make the arrests.

They are not in detention and face deportation proceedings, but it was reported that its difficult to deport people to Tajikistan due to operation and diplomatic reasons.

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security confirmed the arrests of non-citizens and said the U.S. as been in a heightened threat environment.

In April, FBI Director Christopher Wray said the U.S. is facing more threats from violent extremists as of late, particularly since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.

He said officials are concerned about people targeting vulnerabilities at the southern border shared with Mexico.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
INDIANAPOLIS  Donald Trumps eleventh-hour endorsement in Indianas lieutenant governors race flopped on Saturday, with his preferred candidate losing in a convention battle in this deep-red state.

In a somewhat rare down-ballot defeat for the former president, state Rep. Julie McGuire, his endorsed candidate, narrowly lost to Micah Beckwith  a Christian nationalist pastor and former congressional candidate who has said that God told him he sent those riots to Washington on Jan. 6 and that it was Gods hand at work.

Beckwiths yearlong campaign for office was unprecedented in a state where the GOP gives a pool of 1,800 delegates the power to choose the lieutenant governor nominee. The last time Indiana saw a contested convention for the post was in 1996, and Beckwith defeated McGuire by a narrow vote of 891-828.

In addition to Trump, McGuire, a little-known, first-term lawmaker, had the support of Sen. Mike Braun, who won Indianas six-way, $40 million gubernatorial primary last month. On Saturday, just hours before the vote, Braun said he convinced Trump to make the endorsement.

When I talked to him on Thursday before I came here, I asked him to give me an endorsement, Braun told delegates at the convention. That's how you get stuff done.

Hours later, the endorsement fizzled.

Holy smokes  Trump world is going to lose their shit, said a Hoosier Republican with close ties to the former president who was granted anonymity because they werent authorized by the Trump campaign to speak.

A spokesperson for Trumps campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The race is an example that not all politics have become nationalized in the Trump era. Beckwith is a Trump supporter, and well-liked among the former presidents most ardent supporters in Indiana. He ran as an insurance policy for conservatives  promising to be a check on their own partys leader after grassroots Republicans fumed at term-limited incumbent Gov. Eric Holcombs pandemic restrictions in 2020.

Acknowledging defeat in a brief press conference after the vote, Braun predicted a potentially rocky relationship with Beckwith.

Theres no doubt about this. Im in charge, Braun said. And Micah is going to be someone that works with me. And if he doesnt  it will probably not be as fruitful in terms of what we can get done.

Its a bruising start to the general election for Braun, whose campaign took a strong-fisted approach to getting elected officials behind his choice.

Indiana Democrats, who havent won a governors race in 24 years, see Beckwiths win as an opportunity to change their electoral fortunes in November. Indiana Democratic Party Chair Mike Schmuhl said the vote showed their stark divisions.

Trump won Indiana by double digits in 2016 and 2020, and no Democrat has won statewide since 2012. The DNC sent a paltry $70,000 to the state this week to try and break the GOP supermajority in the statehouse, and is unlikely to get involved in any statewide race here.

Still, establishment Republicans were left reeling, with one Republican operative predicting that the upset was either the official death of the Indiana GOP or just another strange chapter in a strange era.

Asked what the outcome meant for the future of the party, Blair Englehart, an Indianapolis GOP consultant, needed just one word.

Chaos, he said.
Trump in Florida: Says again that immigrants are 'poisoning our country'

WEST PALM BEACH  Donald Trump's post-primary, post-trial return to the stage in his home county Friday night was kicked off by a chorus of "Happy Birthday" and punctuated by his trademark dark, dystopian view of "a failing" America.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee spoke at a gathering in West Palm Beach on Friday evening, hosted by a Trump support group that alternately celebrated Flag Day and the former president's 78th birthday. Trump decried the state of the United States, which he said is crippled by inflation, high interest rates and Washington's eroded prestige on the world stage evidenced by, he said, a Russian military vessel docking in Cuba.

His harshest assessment, per usual, dealt with immigration and the border with Mexico. Trump again claimed millions of people are coming into the country straight out of prisons and mental institutions, and employed terminology critics said harkens to Nazi rhetoric.

More: As Barron Trump college choice looms, here's where his family graduated (and who didn't)

"They come from Africa. They come from Asia. They come from South America. They come from the Middle East," he said to the gathering of the Club 47. "What's happening to our country is unbelievable. They are poisoning our country. They are destroying our country and we're not going to let it happen."

Trump spoke for about an hour, far shorter than his standard stump speeches. The rhetoric was sharp but he omitted much of the showmanship characteristic of his performative rallies, such as skits ridiculing President Joe Biden and a transgender weightlifter.

Trump recited "The Snake" lyrics, a 1960s song he repurposed into an allegory of the immigration crisis. But there were fewer audience chants and Trump did not muse about Hannibal Lecter, the fictional character from the 1990s movie "Silence of the Lambs," while dwelling less than he usually does about his personal grievances, such as the indictments and costly civil cases.

More: Will Barron Trump attend University of Pennsylvania? College issues protest guidelines

The speech at times rambled as Trump repeated key positions while checking off talking-point criticisms of electric vehicles, boasting about his 2017 tax cuts and the defeat of the ISIS terrorist organization. In a second term, he promised to end the policy of taxing tips for restaurant workers, deny federal funds to school districts with vaccine mandates  though he again did not specify for which diseases  and pledged to make Florida a cryptocurrency hub, but offered no details.

And, of course, he concluded with a promise to make America great again.

"Our country is going to hell but we're going to stop it, we're going stop it fast," he said. "We will bring our country back. We will bring it back quickly."

Former President Donald J. Trump arrives to speak to members of the Club 47 USA at the Palm Beach County Convention Center June 14, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida

Trump speech was his first here after primary season, New York trial

Trump's speech at the Palm Beach Convention Center, which is about five miles from Trump's Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, marked his first local public remarks following his clinching of the GOP presidential nomination this spring. And it was delivered on the heels of the stinging New York conviction last month on felony charges of falsifying business records to conceal what prosecutors said was a hush money payment to cover up an alleged sexual encounter with an adult film actress, which Trump denies.

Trump gathered the MAGA faithful in South Florida with fewer than two weeks before a scheduled debate with President Joe Biden, and sandwiched between rallies in swing states Nevada last weekend and Pennsylvania and Wisconsin next week.

But for those attending the gathering at the convention center Friday, it was again a festive occasion.

Among the few thousand in attendance was Wellington resident Barry Rosenberg. The Vietnam War veteran said he is confident Trump will win the White House again and deliver on "the big things"  making permanent the 2017 tax cuts and securing the southern border.

"When Trump came around I started following him. I really appreciated all that he did in the time he had in the White House," Rosenberg said. "I really do believe that he can make America great again."

Trump supporter Marianela Joli of Miami, far right, attended former President Trump's speech at Club 47 on June 14 .

Another attendee said she made the drive up from Miami simply for the patriotic message and celebration of the day.

"Yes it's true, I came for Trump but also because today is the day to honor the national flag of the United States of America," said Marianela Joli, who came to the United States in 1990 with her father and three sisters from the Dominican Republic. "Not of your country, or my country, but the only country that has clothed us and protected us."

Trump claimed that a Hispanic voters are now planning to vote for him, and Florida Atlantic University and Mainstreet Research poll suggests released June 12 suggests that is spot on in Florida. Among likely Latino voters asked, the survey showed Trump trouncing Biden by 51.2% to 35,1%.

Joli, who works in immigration law along with her sister, said she particularly embraced Trump's message of hard work and a secure border.

"I work in an immigration office. I have learned a lot about people there. I listen to them to know if they are really coming with a true purpose to grow, or to seek handouts," said Joli, who added that two of her three sons are serving in the U.S. military. "You come to this country to work."

Former President Donald J. Trump speaks to members of Club 47 USA at the Palm Beach County Convention Center on June 14, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Trump rally speeches: 10 things the former president and presumptive GOP presidential nominee usually dwells on

Trump's speech toned down, left out more outlandish themes

In Las Vegas on June 9, Trump riffed about the choice he might have to make if on a sinking electric-powered boat, sunk by its own weight, and mused about whether it would be preferable to be electrocuted by the boat's battery or eaten by a shark.

The soliloquy, which Trump has spoken about in other rallies, drew ridicule and sardonic commentary.

"The fact that he sounds like a crazy person when he talks I am actually glad, I have to say, to have Trump back in the limelight and out of the courtroom," said Sarah Longwell, founder of Republican Voters Against Trump, during a network cable news program June 13.

Club 47 USA presents former President Donald J Trump with a massive cake for his 78th birthday during an event at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, on June 14, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida,

Longwell added that she hoped the more the U.S. public hears Trump talk  whether it's comparing his legal prosecutions to those of 20th Century mobster Al Capone or making outlandish claims about offshore wind turbines killing whales  the more he reminds voters of why they have grown to "dislike" him.

"When they see Trump and they see him behaving this way they remember, 'Oh yeah, he is a global embarrassment to the United States. He's not a smart person.' This person shouldn't be within 1,000 feet of the White House," Longwell said. "So, good, Donald Trump get out there, be Trump, remind America who you are and let's hope that America rejects you again like they did last time in 2020."

But one pollster said Trump's eyebrow-raising statements may not dissuade voters as much as his detractors might desire.

Former President Donald Trump speaks before members of the Club 47 USA at the Palm Beach County Convention Center June 14, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida.

"Trump's opponents say, 'You want more of this chaos. Go ahead'," said Tim Malloy, a polling analyst for Quinnipiac University and a former reporter and anchor for a West Palm Beach TV station. "We've all known Trump for a long time now, so  how much more surprising can anything get?"

A Quinnipiac poll released last month had Biden up by a single point over Trump, 48% to 47%, well within the margin of error. More significantly, perhaps, roughly 20% of those polled said they were open to changing their minds and voting for a different candidate.

Malloy said another notable factor could be those Republican voters who have insisted to pollsters that they will not support Trump because of the Manhattan guilty verdict. Quinnipiac voter surveys, like others, show that that population might be in the 6% range.

"That's the one sort-of wild card in a close race," Malloy said. "It's not a big number but in a race that tight, six points could be the make-or-break."

Supporters of former President Donald J. Trump cheer during a Club 47 USA event Friday June 14, 2024, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Malloy also noted there is a potentially significant share of undecided voters that, while not an exceedingly large pool, is still unusually sizeable at this time in comparison to previous presidential election years. That's where, he added, bombast that turns off independent and crossover Democratic voters could prove costly.

"The base alone is not going to get him elected," he said, estimating that the MAGA base accounts for about 30%-plus of the electorate. "That's not enough, so he can't lose people."

Potential Trump running mates from Florida served as warm-up acts

Before Trump spoke, various members of Florida's GOP-dominated congressional delegation stepped up to the podium, including a pair of speculative vice-presidential running mates, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio. In addition, U.S. Reps. Brian Mast of Palm City, Cory Mills of Lake Mary, Michael Waltz of Palm Coast and Gus Bilirakis of New Port Richey were in attendance, as were state Reps. Rick Roth of West Palm Beach and Webster Barnaby of Deltona.

Both Donalds and Rubio echoed Trump and MAGA clarion calls and slogans.

"You're all ready to go to make sure that on Nov. 5 we fire Joe Biden for a terrible job," said Donalds, a Naples congressman.

Rubio spoke longer and sounded MAGA crowd favorite themes, including blasting Biden for the consumer price increases of the past three years and the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. He even ridiculed Biden, saying he "would get lost on this stage."

Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Trump, in West Palm, on immigrants: "They are poisoning our country"
Special Counsel Jack Smith asked Judge Judge Aileen Cannon to impose a gag order on Donald Trump after he made claims that FBI agents were prepared to kill him when they raided his Mar-a-Lago home in August 2022. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

June 15 (UPI) -- Donald Trump's lawyers pushed back at special counsel Jack Smith's efforts to bar him from making inflammatory statements about federal agents in his classified documents case in Florida.

In a 20-page filing Friday, the former president's attorneys argued Smith seeks to stifle Trump's remarks about the FBI ahead of his first debate with President Joe Biden on June 27 and the Republican National Convention on July 15.

"The motion is a naked effort to impose totalitarian censorship of core political speech, under threat of incarceration, in a clear attempt to silence President Trump's arguments to the American people about the outrageous nature of this investigation and prosecution," the lawyers said in the filing.

Smith's office asked U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon in May to revise Trump's conditions of release in the case to bar him from making continued claims that FBI agents were prepared to kill him when they raided his Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Fla., for classified documents in August 2022.

A recently unsealed order for the Mar-a-Lago search included language that instructed agents to use lethal force only in cases of extreme danger, but Trump suggested the order gave agents permission to kill him on sight.

The FBI has said deadly force authorizations are standard language designed to limit the use of force.

Smith's said Trump's mischaracterization "endangered law enforcement officers involved in the investigation and prosecution of this case."

Trump's lawyers argued he had only criticized the Mar-a-Lago raid "in a manner that someone in the government disagreed with and does not like" and that Smith's request should be denied based on the "ambiguities, lack of enforcement criteria, and resulting chilling effect."

They also said no FBI agents involved in the raid "submitted an affidavit, or even an argument, claiming that President Trump's remarks put them at risk."

Trump has pleaded not guilty to charges accusing him of illegally retaining classified documents and obstructing the government's attempts to retrieve them.

Cannon scheduled a hearing on Smith's gag order request for June 24 in Fort Pierce, Fla., just three days before the presidential debate. It's unclear when she will rule on the competing requests.

Trump's legal team last week also asked Judge Juan Merchan to terminate the gag order against him in his New York hush money trial after he was convicted on all 34 felony accounts.
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump looks on during a campaign event on Dec. 19, 2023, in Waterloo, Iowa. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Former President Donald Trump said Thursday that he would like to see his longtime antagonist, former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, win his campaign for a U.S. Senate seat this fall.

The support was quickly welcomed  by state Democrats, who are working hard to tie the independent-minded Hogan to the Trump wing of the Republican Party in blue-state Maryland.



Donald Trump, we all acknowledge, whether you like him or not, he is the Republican Party,said Connor Lounsbury, a senior advisor to Maryland Democratic Senate nominee Angela Alsobrooks.

He has decided to wade into this race because while Hogan and Trump might be different, what they share is a common goal of retaking the Senate majority, Lounsbury said.

While Democrats were trying to tie the two together, however, Hogans campaign was quick to insist that a gulf remains between the two Republicans.

Gov. Hogan has been clear he is not supporting President Trump, just as he didnt in 2016 and 2020, said Hogan campaign spokesman, Michael Ricci, in an official statement.

During his time in office, Hogan frequently clashed with Trump, and he considered running against Trumps reelection bid in 2020, before dropping the idea.

Republican strategists said Trumps Thursday comments do not change those years of feuding.

One veiled reference doesnt negate what? Six years, eight years, of pretty staunch  I wouldnt say opposition, but you know he has some disdain for him [Trump], said Paul Ellington, former executive director of the Maryland Republican Party.

When asked by a television reporter Thursday if he would support Hogans Senate bid, Trump said he hopes Hogan wins and that Republicans must take majority control of the Senate to straighten out our country.

Ellington said he does not think those comments will change the minds of any Trump supporters in Maryland.

I think the base has their opinions, it doesnt change anything. Honest to God, I really dont think so, Ellington said. Larry Hogan has been who he has been ever since he entered the campaign for governor.

During Trumps first campaign for president, in 2016, Hogan said he would not vote for Trump, and instead wrote in the name of his father  former Rep. Larry Hogan Sr., a Maryland Republican who broke with his party and voted in 1974 to impeach President Richard Nixon. In 2020, Hogan said he wrote in Ronald Reagans name on his ballot rather than vote for Trump.

The governor [Hogan] is well defined on his relationship with President Trump, said Jim Burton, a longtime Maryland Republican political consultant. I think the money that the Dems are going to spend, trying to put this ridiculous statement out there, I think voters are going to be like, thats not the guy I know, I know what he said about Trump.

The Dems have been trying to focus on this, Hes not a moderate, hes a Trump republican, Burton said. They sent out statements, He was endorsed by Trump. It wasnt an endorsement, he didnt say, I endorse him.

But Democrats say Trumps statement was an endorsement, and that it shows that a vote for Hogan is a vote for Republicans. Alsobrooks has insisted since her primary campaign that the goal of this election is to keep Democrats in control of the Senate.

Trumps statement of support crystallizes the argument that the Democrats are going to use against him, which is that a vote for Larry Hogan is a vote for Republican control of the Senate and a vote for the Trump agenda, said Len Foxwell, a longtime Democratic operative and consultant in Maryland.

This was a very cynical effort by Donald Trump to torpedo Larry Hogans chances of winning this election, Foxwell said. This does nothing to help Larry Hogan in Maryland.

The Alsobrooks campaign has argued the same, that Trumps support for Hogan shows how high the stakes are.

The stakes are not only as high as they could be, but theyre as clear as they can be. Right? I think last night was just like, put an exclamation point on that, said Lounsbury, the Alsobrooks adviser.

The post Trump muddies Senate race by saying he hopes for a Hogan win appeared first on Maryland Matters.
Donald Trumps attorneys on Friday ridiculed special counsel Jack Smiths gag order request in the former presidents classified documents case in Florida, calling it an unconstitutional attack on the 2024 Republican candidate and a ploy to help Joe Biden keep the presidency.

In Jack Smiths most recent shocking display of overreach and disregard for the Constitution, the Special Counsels Office asks the Court to enter an unconstitutional gag order as one of the release conditions on the leading candidate in the 2024 presidential election, Trumps attorneys wrote in a new filing, repeating their previous arguments against gag orders.

The attorneys continued, comparing the request to the gag order Trump is under in a separate case in New York, adding, Like Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Smith seeks to restrict President Trumps campaign speech as the first presidential debate approaches at the end of this month.

In late May, attorneys for Smith asked the judge presiding to make clear that Trump cannot make statements that pose a significant, imminent, and foreseeable danger to law enforcement agents participating in the investigation and prosecution of this case.

The heart of their concern, prosecutors wrote, was Trumps false and inflammatory statements when he claimed that FBI agents were ready to shoot him and that he nearly escaped death during the 2022 search of Mar-a-Lago.

The former president was in New York at the time.

Trumps claims, based on the FBIs plan for the search  which was provided to the defense in discovery  are entirely false, prosecutors wrote, adding that Trump has repeatedly and misleadingly criticized the FBI for having a policy in place around the use of deadly force during the search, as the bureau does with countless warrants that it executes.

The FBI and Attorney General Merrick Garland have both said the policy is normal and was also in place during the search of President Joe Bidens Delaware residence during the investigation into his handling of classified information.

In the filing Friday, Trumps attorneys said prosecutors have not submitted any evidence of threats or harassment resulting from President Trumps protected speech.

Not a single FBI agent who participated in the raid submitted an affidavit, or even an argument, claiming that President Trumps remarks put them at risk, his attorneys wrote.

Prosecutors original ask for a gag order was thrown out by Federal Judge Aileen Cannon, who determined that they had not fully conferred with Trumps attorneys before filing the request.

Trumps false claims invite threats and harassment against law enforcement agents involved in the case, prosecutors wrote, similar to those that have occurred when other participants in legal proceedings against Trump have been targeted by his invective.

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Trump Says He Has So Many Black Friends, He Cant Be Racist

Former President Donald Trump defended himself in a recent interview against those who think hes racist, saying he cant be because he has so many friends who are Black.

I have so many Black friends that if I were a racist, they wouldnt be friends, they would know better than anybody, and fast, he said in an interview with Semafor published Friday. They would not be with me for two minutes if they thought I was racist  and Im not racist!

Several Black male celebrities came to his defense in separate interviews with the news outlet. Those men included heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, retired MLB slugger Darryl Strawberry, boxing promoter Don King, and former NFL star Herschel Walker, who lost a 2022 Senate race in Georgia.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the Black Conservative Federation Gala on February 23 in Columbia, South Carolina. Sean Rayford via Getty Images

Trump listed his strength and others desire to be like him as reasons that these men speak so warmly about him.

They see what Ive done and they see strength, they want strength, okay, Trump said. They want strength, they want security. They want jobs, they want to have their jobs. They dont want to have millions of people come and take their jobs.

Trumps response follows a long history of race-baiting. In the late 1980s, the now-presidential candidate called for the death penalty in full-page advertisements, after five Black New York teens were accused of rape. (All were later exonerated.)

More recently, after President Barack Obamas election, he helped spearhead a conspiracy that the first Black U.S. president was born in Kenya and not the U.S. He defended attendees of the infamous white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, as very fine people. He indiscriminately smeared Mexican immigrants coming to the U.S. border as criminals and rapists and he championed a ban on migrants from several Muslim-majority countries.

Despite his public history of judging and persecuting others, Trump told Semafor that he thinks he appeals to a lot of Black men because they can relate to his legal struggles, which hes called unjust and discriminatory. Trump became the first former American president to be convicted of felony crimes last month.

They see whats happening. And a lot of them feel that similar things have happened to them. I mean, theyve expressed that to me very plainly and very clear. They see whats happened to them, he told Semafor.

The Trump and Biden campaigns have been increasing their efforts to sway Black voters ahead of November, meeting with Black business leaders, community groups and faith centers.

Recent polls have shown that Black voters still overwhelmingly support President Joe Biden over Trump, though the difference has narrowed a bit from where it was four years ago.

In one poll published last month by the Pew Research Center, 18% of Black voters said they would vote for Trump while 77% said they would vote for Biden. That support for Trump is more than double what it was during the 2020 election, when 8% of Black voters supported him.

Related...
Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a Turning Point PAC town hall at Dream City Church in Phoenix, Ariz., on June 06, 2024. Credit - Justin SullivanGetty Images

Former President Donald Trump shared his mixed feelings on artificial intelligence with YouTuber Logan Paul Thursday, describing the technology as a superpower that writes beautifully while also calling its capabilities alarming.

His comments on Pauls podcast Impaulsive provide a window into how the 78 year old presidential candidate thinks about the rapidly-advancing technology, which 49% of Americans feel concerned about.

Fears of deepfakes increasing the risk of nuclear war

Trump said he saw a deepfake video of himself promoting a product that was so convincing it caused him to question whether it was real. He went on to note his worry that the harms of deepfakes could be much greater, describing a scenario where a deepfake video of the President of the United States saying we have just sent thirteen nuclear missilesand they will hit their targets in 12 minutes and 59 seconds'' could cause a rival leader to preemptively initiate a retaliatory strike. Trump says he asked Elon Musk whether there would be any way for this hypothetical leader to discern the authenticity of the video; Musk is reported to have said there is no way.

The idea of misinformation increasing the risk of a nuclear war is not entirely hypothetical. In September 1983, at the height of the cold war, a Soviet early warning system incorrectly detected 5 incoming missiles. Soviet Lieutenant Colonel Stanislav Petrov chose to ignore the reports, potentially averting a nuclear catastrophe. More recently, in December 2016, Pakistani Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif directed a nuclear threat at Israel after being taken in by fake news. Experts have warned that deepfakes could heighten the threat of nuclear escalation for years to come.

Energy challenges and competition with China

Trump stressed what he sees as the importance of America being at the forefront of the technologys development. We have to take the lead over China, he said, noting that AI systems are extremely energy-intensive. This energy is necessary both to power the computer chips used to train the systems and to keep them from overheating. He went on to say that environmentalists concerns over energy use could hold us back, causing America to lose ground to China.

To date, computing chips and human talentrather than energyhave proved to be the most crucial factors for AI developers; however, in April, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg expressed concerns that energy could become a bottleneck in the future. For years, big tech companies have invested in clean energy to offset their carbon footprints, although China remains the world leader in renewable energy.

Read More: Who Is Holly Valance? Former Pop Star and Actor Raising Millions for Trump Campaign

Fear of environmentalists causing the U.S. to lose-out to China is a well-worn theme for Trump, who in 2012 tweeted the concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive. He later said climate change is not a hoax in January 2020, although he continues to go back and forth on this point.

Bipartisan consensus on AI risk

In the interview with Paul, Trump called Biden the worst president in the history of our country emblematic of the polarized nature of American politics. Yet concern for the risks posed by AI seem to bridge the partisan divide.

In October last year, Biden passed an Executive Order which sought to address some of AIs dangers, including deepfakes, and to maintain U.S. dominance in AI. In May 2024, a bipartisan group of senators, led by Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), unveiled their AI roadmap that calls for the implementation of guardrails against these risks, while investing billions in the technology.

Trump recounted meeting super geniuses in San Francisco, who helped him make sense of AI. They gave me $12 million for the campaign, he said. You know, four years ago they probably wouldn't have.

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If Paul Revere were riding through North Carolina today, he might well be warning: The ads are coming! The ads are coming!

Though we are accustomed to recurring commercials for governor and legislative offices, ads for statewide judicial races have not landed at nearly the same pace.

Until now.

For the two open seats on our state Supreme Court in 2022, candidates and so-called dark-money groups with anonymous donors spent $17.75 million on television ads alone.

John Wester

With this spending on judicial races came the fundamental change in how the ballot now displays judicial candidates to the voters.

From 2004 to 2016, statewide races did not display political party affiliation for any candidate for the bench. Legislators reversed this approach, and by the 2018 election every candidate running for the N.C. Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court would have an R or a D beside their name.

These changes, including the millions spent to elect judges, have a common feature  theyre an attempt to turn all those who pursue judicial service into politicians.

Yet the concept of judges as politicians runs contrary to our Founders ideal that those who preside in our courts would not serve partisan goals. In that critical respect, our judges stand apart from those who seek legislative and executive office. A judiciary independent of, not beholden to, any political party is integral to the genius of separating powers among the branches of our government, and central to our system of checks and balances. The abiding purpose of this design is to give the public an unshakable confidence in the impartial administration of justice.

As I advocate for judicial independence, I do not suggest a weakening of accountability. Each of our judges is accountable every day in the court of public opinion. Newspaper editors take on rulings they disagree with. Legislators can react to such rulings by changing the law. Our Founders had these elements in mind as they crafted the balance of powers on which our democracy depends.

The oath our judges take pledges allegiance to the Constitution and the rule of law. The oath does not mention a political party. What is the relevance of a political party  or the frequent counterpart liberal and conservative  to a breach of contract case, a domestic violence case, a contested eviction or a disputed will?

As Alexander Hamilton warned in The Federalist Papers, introducing personal and party attachments and enmities into the judiciary fails to advance the interests of justice or the public good. So it is today.

Making the picture worse, the supercharged partisanship in public discourse has brought an alarming uptick in criticizing judges along partisan lines.

Personal attacks against judges, especially along partisan lines, erode public confidence in the judiciary and undermine the rule of law.

Worse, these attacks have not just been verbal. There have been sharp increases in actual violence against both state and federal judges, with some judges or their family members being wounded or murdered.

Judges ability to be fair and impartial to all who appear before them depends on whether a judge will apply the law to each case, without fear or favor. Threats against judges and politicizing judicial elections undermine the independence that enables them to be fair and impartial.

When you reach the judicial section of the ballot, you will see an R or D beside each candidate. But whatever your politics, you also carry an A inside you  for American.

To fulfill the Founders vision for an independent judiciary, each of us must pledge to make a nonpartisan evaluation of each judicial candidate. To rely on a label betrays this pledge.

The decisions our judges make fundamentally shape our lives and our communities. To cast votes for judges worthy of our citizenship, we must become the strongest, most informed Americans we can be.

John Wester of Robinson Bradshaw is a former president of the NC Bar Association and a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers
How Turning Point, once spurned by the RNC, is becoming Trumps force multiplier in battleground states

DETROIT  When Donald Trump takes the stage in Detroit on Saturday, it will mark the second time in two weeks that he has headlined an event organized by Turning Point Action  a group known for its growing political heft as well as its pugilistic founder, Charlie Kirk.

Its a longstanding partnership tying Trump to a lightning-rod commentator whos made headlines this year for saying women in their 30s are not at their prime for dating, and volunteering that he now thinks twice about flying with Black pilots because of diversity, equity and inclusion targets.

But it has also armed Trumps presidential campaign, lagging in fundraising and organization in the battleground states, with a powerful operational ally.

Once spurned by top officials at the Republican National Committee, Turning Points stature has rapidly grown from a controversial student movement into one of the most active organizations in conservative politics.

Now, Turning Point is pouring tens of millions of dollars into an ambitious get-out-the-vote operation in three battleground states, making the 2024 election a major test of the organizations operations  with ramifications not only for Kirk and his organization, but for Trump and the GOP at large.

Theyre very influential, said Jay Shepard, the RNC committee member from Vermont. Effective? That depends on what your measurement is. They are certainly a messaging juggernaut and fundraising juggernaut.

While lauding the organizations large number of boots on the ground, he said, The real test is always the day after the election, and who wins and who loses.

Turning Point has been a controversial presence in GOP politics for years, with millions of Kirks listeners tuning in to hear his rebukes of feminism, diversity initiatives and college campus progressivism. But no longer is the group just loud. Now, after filling a few dozen seats on the RNC with allies and spending tens of millions of dollars on an aggressive get-out-the-vote program this year, it has become a central player in the party apparatus  especially as some older, more traditional activist groups have seen their influence in the party wane.



The groups field program is a force multiplier of the Trump teams resources in key battleground states, said Brian Hughes, a senior adviser on Trumps campaign. Its part of recent collaborations between the campaign, RNC and outside groups following a recent FEC advisory opinion that allows coordination.

Weve always known there would be, ultimately, a fundraising gap between Biden and the DNC and Trump and the RNC, Hughes said.

While maintaining that Trumps team is building out its infrastructure in every battleground state, he said partnerships like the one with Turning Point allow them to more efficiently deploy campaign and RNC assets.

Its a stark contrast to the RNCs position toward the organization at the start of the year, when then-chair Ronna McDaniel had long viewed Turning Point as a nuisance to be ignored, and Kirk openly called for her removal. The Trump campaign welcomed Turning Point in when it took over the RNC, with Trump calling on McDaniel to leave her post just days after the organization held a meeting in January to bash her leadership. Some RNC members were among the attendees at the weekend conference in Detroit, and attended an exclusive dinner Turning Point Action held for them Friday night.

Through a spokesperson, Kirk declined to be interviewed.

A Trump campaign official aware of Kirks relationship with the former president and granted anonymity to describe it said the pair have a warm relationship, speak on occasion and share a like mind for the common sense conservative cause.

McDaniel was not the only Republican who viewed Turning Point with skepticism. Oscar Brock, the RNC committee member from Tennessee who is a vocal Trump critic but who found himself on the same side as Turning Point when he opposed McDaniels 2023 reelection as RNC chair, said he has worked well with members aligned with the group, including Arizona committeeman Tyler Bowyer, a top Turning Point official. Bowyer, who did not seek reelection to the RNC this year, was among 18 indicted in Arizona in April in connection with an alleged alternate elector scheme after the 2020 election. He has pleaded not guilty.

But Brock said the Turning Point brand itself comes across as all about making money.

They raised a ton of money, and then they turn around and poo poo and badmouth the Republican Party left and right until they get a seat at the table, Brock said. It's just not the way you operate, in my opinion.

Turning Points dominance in Republican activism comes as the most powerful conservative groups of recent decades have lost their pull, bleeding money and hanging room dividers across sparsely filled convention ballrooms.

Once-mighty groups like CPAC and the NRA have endured leadership scandals in recent years. Longtime economic policy influencers like the Koch Network and Club for Growth have found themselves at odds with Trump, and top anti-abortion groups are now fighting for relevance as Trump has moved to distance his platform from their initiatives.

Turning Point has rushed in to fill the void. Its placing allies on the RNC. It has spent tens of millions of dollars so far this election, according to a spokesperson, on hiring hundreds of field staff in Arizona, Wisconsin and Michigan.

And Turning Points approach to social issues and domestic life  its online shop features womens shirts like Got raw milk? and Buy me chickens and tell me Im pretty  appears to have resonated with a young generation of conservatives, thousands of whom travel from around the country for the organizations highly produced events.

I dont think theres any doubt that Turning Point has really stolen a march, so to speak, on a lot of the conservative movement, said Gregg Keller, who a decade ago served as executive director of the American Conservative Union and CPAC.

Just last week, Turning Point hosted Trump at a megachurch in Phoenix for a live Chase the Vote town hall, where the line of people hoping to enter exceeded the venues capacity. They held a Young Womens Leadership Conference in San Antonio, featuring prominent speakers like Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens and Lara Trump. The same weekend, Turning Point Actions field representatives were scattered across the country, holding an Ohio Faith Coalition kickoff event outside of Dayton, while staff in Georgia registered voters at a rodeo.



Its all complementary programming to Turning Point Actions larger mission this year of acting as Americas ballot chasing army, a plan in which the group is deploying hundreds of staff per state in Arizona, Wisconsin and Michigan, in addition to the existing staff they already had in other states across the country.

The ballot chasing plan was originally announced as a $108 million goal to get out the vote, and fundraising is ongoing. The new hires are assigned to small, custom-drawn territories where Turning Point Action has determined there are several hundred conservative low-propensity voters who need urging to get to the polls this fall.

Andrew Kolvet, a spokesperson for Turning Point, said the groups internal data show that engaged swing voters may need up to 20 interactions to convince them to show up and vote Republican, but low-propensity voters only take five.

Previously, the consultant class would go to swing districts to try to win. Were saying No. The philosophy is fundamentally different, Kolvet said. We want to run up the score where people already like our ideas and our values.

In Arizona, for example, where Kirk and the organization are based, Kolvet said their research found that a substantial number of registered Republican voters didnt vote in either the 2016 or 2020 elections. In GOP Rep. Paul Gosars district, more than 121,000 Republicans didnt vote in one of the last two presidential elections, and more than 58,000 voted in neither.

Keller, who previously worked with CPAC, said Kirk took a really calculated gamble on the MAGA populism angle, which paid off.

I think Charlie was the right person at the right place at the right time who made the correct prognostication, he said. And when you get all of those things together at once, its like catching lightning in a bottle.
Two facing drug possession charges after search warrants served in SE Roanoke

Two facing drug possession charges after search warrants served in SE Roanoke

ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) Virginia State Police reports multiple people were arrested after search warrants were served by The Star City Drug and Violent Crime Task Force and the City of Roanoke Violence Suppression Unit in locations of Southeast Roanoke on Friday, June 14.

During a drug operation, VSP says members of the Star City Task Force identified 22-year-old Nathan Shane Dooley as an alleged narcotics dealer. Special Agents and officers working on the operation also conducted controlled buys where they were able to purchase suspected Fentanyl.

As a result of the operation, search warrants were obtained and served on the 1300 block of Dale Ave, SE, and 600 block of 19 St., SE by the Virginia State Police Special Operations Division.

During the search, Special Agents and officers allegedly seized:

17.3 grams of suspected Fentanyl

8.4 grams of Methamphetamine

7.3 grams of an unknown powder

14 prescription pills

Two firearms

Two arrested on drug charges after vehicle pursuit in Roanoke

Following the search, Dooley and 32-year-old Stephanie Elaine Mills were arrested and both were charged with:

Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl

Possession of Methamphetamine

Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

Possession of a Firearm while in Possession of a Schedule I/II Narcotics

Dooley and Mills are currently being held at the Roanoke Adult Detention Center without bond.

VSP also reports the task force identified and took two other individuals into custody on outstanding warrants from other jurisdictions.

Additional charges are pending after consultation with the Commonwealth Attorneys Office. WFXR News will update this story as further information is released.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
(Photo via Getty Images)

Two babies were turned over to the state in May as part of the Safe Haven Law, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services reported.

The two infants, a girl born May 15 and a boy born May 26, make a total of four babies that have been surrendered to the state in the past year according to DHHS. Two other infants were given up through the law in March. In 2023, 10 babies were taken in by the state agency, with a total of 70 infants having been accepted by the state since the Safe Haven Law was put in place in 2002.

The state law allows for parents, or people with parental authorization, to leave a baby up to 90 days old at a hospital, health care facility, adoption service provider, or a fire station equipped with a newborn safety device, if the caretakers determine they cannot care for the child. Additionally, parents can relinquish physical custody of their child by calling 911.

The law is intended to give parents in crisis an opportunity to surrender a child without needing to be concerned about prosecution for child abandonment, according to the department.

The two children surrendered to the state in May are currently under the care of the department and will be placed with a foster family. A permanent family placement will be later determined for the infants, according to the release.

Kelly Garcia, director of the department, said in a news release that she wanted parents to know they have this safe and trusted option at such a critical time in their lives.

Accessing Safe Haven is assuredly not an easy decision, but this law exists to protect newborns and its success is evident by the number of families that have trusted in the Safe Haven Act, Garcia said. Our goal is to protect these newborns and provide them with the best permanent home possible.

The post Two infants surrendered to Iowa DHHS in May under Safe Haven Law appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Two people charged with murder in southwest Charlotte homicide: CMPD

Two people charged with murder in southwest Charlotte homicide: CMPD

CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Two people have been charged in connection to killing 32-year-old Jonathan Dockery in southwest Charlotte, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

On Friday, June 14, CMPDs Violent Criminal Apprehension Team found arrested Tadarian Neal and Asia Tapp, both 40 years old.

After being interviewed by detectives, both suspects were booked by the Mecklenburg County Sheriffs Office and charged with first-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon.

PREVIOUSLY: Man found dead in southwest Charlotte apartment; cause unknown: CMPD

Around 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 13, officers responded to assist Medic at an apartment at 853 Farmhurst Drive off Nations Ford Road.

When they arrived, they discovered 32-year-old Jonathan Dockery inside an apartment with an unknown trauma, and authorities pronounced him dead at the scene with major injuries, according to CMPD reports.

Police still havent said exactly how Dockery died but the investigation is still active. Anyone with information can call a homicide detective at 704-432-TIPS or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

This is a Developing Story . Check back for updates

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
ST. LOUIS  Authorities are asking for the publics help with finding two suspects in connection with a series of thefts at the St. Louis Hilton-Ballpark Hotel.

Two suspects are linked to multiple thefts and attempted thefts at the hotel this month, according to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. The hotel is located ay 1 S. Broadway just a few blocks from Busch Stadium.

Four spots near St. Louis where World War II bunkers still exist

SLMPD released photos of both suspects on Friday. Police did not disclose when the photos may have been taken or when they thefts may have occurred.

Photos courtesy: St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department

Photos courtesy: St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department

If you have any information that could help police in finding the suspects, contact CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477).

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
U.S. Rep. Garret Graves says he will not run for reelection to Congress.(Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

After finding himself boxed in by fellow Republican Gov. Jeff Landry and the Louisiana Legislature, U.S. Rep. Garret Graves, R-Baton Rouge, announced Friday he wont seek another term in Congress.



After much input from constituents, consultation with supporters, consensus from family, and guidance from the Almighty, it is clear that running for Congress this year does not make sense, Graves said in a written statement.

The congressman said he believed Louisianas most recent congressional map would eventually be struck down, but not in time for the November election.



Campaigning in any of these districts now is not fair to any of the Louisianians who will inevitably be tossed into yet another district next year, he wrote.

He faced unfavorable options for seeking reelection in November.



State lawmakers, with the blessing of Landry, reconfigured Graves 6th Congressional District to have a majority-Black population and favor a Democrat. The congressman could have run in the adjoining 5th District, but it is represented by fellow Republican Julia Letlow, the widow of Graves close friend Luke Letlow and the preferred choice of the Republican establishment.



Louisianas GOP leaders, including U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, made it clear they would back Letlow over Graves in a head-to-head match by issuing a series of early endorsements for her several weeks ago.



A recent court ruling over Louisianas new congressional districts also didnt go Graves way. The map that alters his 6th District will be in effect on Election Day, making it difficult for him to stay in Congress.

This has been an amazing experience resulting in thousands of new friendships and unrivaled progress for the area we represent. In this divisive and politically-polarized environment, to receive over 80 percent of the vote in the last election confirms that we were getting it mostly right. Thank you for the opportunity to serve, Graves said Friday.



The political career of Graves, 52, might have been cut short  at least for the time being  by the collision of two political events.

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A federal court insisted Louisiana rework its congressional districts to give Black voters an opportunity at better representation. Graves also got into political fights with two of Louisianas most powerful Republicans: Landry and U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise.



A federal judge told state lawmakers they needed to convert one more of its congressional seats into a majority-Black district to better reflect the states demographics. Over 30% of Louisiana residents identify as Black, but only one of the states six U.S. House districts had a majority-Black population.



The ruling meant one of Louisianas five Republican representatives in Congress was likely to lose their seat.

Graves made himself the odd man out last year when he toyed with running against Landry for governor. He also didnt publicly support Scalises push to become House speaker, which occurred last fall before Johnson, another Louisiana Republican, won the job.



Legislators didnt hesitate to target Graves district for dismantling when they voted to redraw the congressional districts in January. Legal challenges to the latest congressional map remain but likely wont alter the makeup before the fall election when Graves would have had to run.

Graves was first elected to Congress in 2014 to replace Republican Bill Cassidy, who had won a seat in the U.S. Senate.

Graves was a close ally and top lieutenant of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California, who tapped him in 2021 as the lead Republican for a select committee on climate.



He previously worked for former Gov. Bobby Jindal as the head of the state Coastal Restoration and Protection Authority. He was also a congressional aide to former U.S. Rep. Billy Tauzin and Sen. David Vitter.

The post U.S. Rep. Garret Graves reverses course, says he wont run for another term appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
A 7.62X39mm round sits next a a 30-round magazine and an AK-47 with a bump stock installed at Good Guys Gun and Range in Orem, Utah, on Feb. 21, 2018. The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday struck down a 2018 rule to ban bump stocks, which allow semiautomatic rifles to fire at a rapid rate similar to fully automatic guns.

A 7.62X39mm round sits next a a 30-round magazine and an AK-47 with a bump stock installed at Good Guys Gun and Range in Orem, Utah, on Feb. 21, 2018. The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday struck down a 2018 rule to ban bump stocks, which allow semiautomatic rifles to fire at a rapid rate similar to fully automatic guns. (George Frey/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday struck down a rule enacted following a 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas that defined a semiautomatic rifle equipped with a bump stock attachment as a machine gun, which is generally prohibited under federal law.

The opinion, written by Justice Clarence Thomas, reduces the executive branchs already-limited ability to address gun violence. Thomas, a strong defender of Second Amendment gun rights, wrote that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives exceeded its statutory authority in prohibiting the sale and possession of bump stocks, which he said differed importantly from machine guns.

Nothing changes when a semiautomatic rifle is equipped with a bump stock, Thomas wrote. Between every shot, the shooter must release pressure from the trigger and allow it to reset before reengaging the trigger for another shot.

The case, Garland v. Cargill, was a 6-3 decision that broke along the courts established ideological lines.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the senior member of the courts liberal wing, wrote the dissent, and argued that the decision puts bump stocks back in civilian hands.

When I see a bird that walks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, I call that bird a duck, she wrote. A bump-stock-equipped semiautomatic rifle fires automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. Because I, like Congress, call that a machinegun, I respectfully dissent.

Gun safety setback

The White House slammed the decision.

Todays decision strikes down an important gun safety regulation, President Joe Biden said in a statement. Americans should not have to live in fear of this mass devastation.

Biden called on Congress to ban bump stocks and assault weapons, but any gun-related legislation is likely to be stalled with Republicans controlling the House and Democrats holding only a slim majority in the Senate.

Bump stocks have played a devastating role in many of the horrific mass shootings in our country, but sadly its no surprise to see the Supreme Court roll back this necessary public safety rule as they push their out of touch extreme agenda, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement.

Trump-era rule

This case stems from a regulation set during the Trump administration, following the mass shooting in Las Vegas. A gunman used rifles outfitted with bump stocks to fire into a crowd at a music festival, killing 58 people that night and two more who died of their injuries later, and injuring more than 500.

The next year, the ATF issued the rule that concluded bump stocks are illegal machine guns. Anyone who owned or possessed a bump stock was required to either destroy the material or turn it in to the agency to avoid criminal penalties.

Michael Cargill, a gun shop owner in Austin, Texas, surrendered two bump stocks to ATF and then challenged the rule in federal court.

A U.S. district court dismissed his case, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit agreed with Cargill that a 1986 laws definition of a machine gun does not apply to bump stocks because the rifles equipped with the attachments dont shoot multiple bullets automatically, or by a single function of the trigger.

That law defined a machine gun as any weapon which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.

The Biden administration appealed the 5th Circuits decision to the Supreme Court.

High court arguments

In oral arguments, the Biden administration defended the Trump-era rule and said that bump stocks allow semiautomatic rifles to fire automatically with a single pull of the trigger.

Attorneys for Cargill argued that bump stocks are used by repeatedly pulling the trigger, rather than firing automatically with a single pull.

In her dissent, Sotomayor said the decision will limit the federal governments efforts to keep machineguns from gunmen like the Las Vegas shooter.

Thomas also wrote a major gun decision in 2022 that invalidated a New York law against carrying a firearm in public without showing a special need for protection. The court decided the case on 14th Amendment grounds, but it also expanded Second Amendment rights.

Because of that 2022 decision, another gun related case is before the court this session that tests a federal law that prevents the possession of firearms by a person who is subject to a domestic violence protective order. A decision is expected this month.

The post U.S. Supreme Court overturns ban on bump stocks used in Las Vegas mass shooting appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
A 7.62X39mm round sits next a a 30-round magazine and an AK-47 with a bump stock installed at Good Guys Gun and Range in Orem, Utah, on Feb. 21, 2018. The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday struck down a 2018 rule to ban bump stocks, which allow semiautomatic rifles to fire at a rapid rate similar to fully automatic guns. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday struck down a rule enacted after a 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas that defined a semiautomatic rifle equipped with a bump stock attachment as a machine gun, which is generally prohibited under federal law.

The opinion by Justice Clarence Thomas reduces the executive branchs already-limited ability to address gun violence. Thomas, a strong defender of Second Amendment gun rights, wrote that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives exceeded its statutory authority in prohibiting the sale and possession of bump stocks, which he said differed importantly from machine guns.

Nothing changes when a semiautomatic rifle is equipped with a bump stock, Thomas wrote. Between every shot, the shooter must release pressure from the trigger and allow it to reset before reengaging the trigger for another shot.

The case, Garland v. Cargill, was a 6-3 decision that broke along the courts established ideological lines.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor argued in her that the decision puts bump stocks back in civilian hands.

When I see a bird that walks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, I call that bird a duck, she wrote. A bump-stock-equipped semiautomatic rifle fires automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. Because I, like Congress, call that a machinegun, I respectfully dissent.

Gun safety setback

The White House slammed the decision.

Todays decision strikes down an important gun safety regulation, President Joe Biden said in a statement. Americans should not have to live in fear of this mass devastation.

Biden called on Congress to ban bump stocks and assault weapons, but any gun-related legislation is likely to be stalled with Republicans controlling the House and Democrats holding only a slim majority in the Senate.

Bump stocks have played a devastating role in many of the horrific mass shootings in our country, but sadly its no surprise to see the Supreme Court roll back this necessary public safety rule as they push their out of touch extreme agenda, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement.

Fridays ruling will not affect a Maryland ban on the possession or sale of bump stocks, both sides of the issue agreed.

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, who joined other attorneys general last year to file a brief to the Supreme Court in support of the federal bump-stock ban, called Fridays ruling a step backwards for common-sense gun laws.

We needlessly lose innocent lives by ignoring the lethality of the weapons and gun accessories that are in our communities, Brown said in a prepared statement. He said his office is reviewing Fridays ruling, but that it will not affect the validity of Marylands bump stock ban.

Mark Pennak, president of the gun rights group Maryland Shall Issue, agreed that the Supreme Courts ruling does not affect the states law banning bump stocks. But he was still pleased with the ruling that he said shows the ATF overreached.

What the Supreme Court said is that, No, the ATF was right originally when it has held that bump stocks do not fall within the statutory definition of machine gun, Pennak said.

If Congress wants to change that definition, it is perfectly capable of doing so, but the ATF doesnt have the legal power to do so on its own. Its nice to see the court interpret the statute as written, he said.

Trump-era rule

This case stems from a regulation set during the Trump administration, following the mass shooting in Las Vegas. A gunman used rifles outfitted with bump stocks to fire into a crowd at a music festival, killing 58 people that night and two more who died of their injuries later, and injuring more than 500.

The next year, the ATF issued the rule that concluded bump stocks are illegal machine guns. Anyone who owned or possessed a bump stock was required to either destroy it or turn it in to the agency to avoid criminal penalties.

Michael Cargill, a gun shop owner in Austin, Texas, surrendered two bump stocks to ATF and then challenged the rule in federal court.

A U.S. district court dismissed his case, but the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with Cargill that a 1986 laws definition of a machine gun does not apply to bump stocks because the bump-stock-equipped rifles dont shoot multiple bullets automatically, or by a single function of the trigger.

That law defined a machine gun as any weapon which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.

High court arguments

The Biden administration appealed the 5th Circuits decision to the Supreme Court. In oral arguments, the administration defended the Trump-era rule and said that bump stocks allow semiautomatic rifles to fire automatically with a single pull of the trigger.

Attorneys for Cargill argued that bump stocks are used by repeatedly pulling the trigger, rather than firing automatically with a single pull.

In her dissent, Sotomayor said the decision will limit the federal governments efforts to keep machineguns from gunmen like the Las Vegas shooter.

Thomas also wrote a major gun decision in 2022 that invalidated a New York law against carrying a firearm in public without showing a special need for protection. The court decided the case on 14th Amendment grounds, but it also expanded Second Amendment rights.

Because of that 2022 decision, another gun-related case is before the court this session that tests a federal law that prevents the possession of firearms by a person who is subject to a domestic violence protective order. A decision is expected this month.

 Maryland Matters reporter William J. Ford contributed to this story from Annapolis.

The post U.S. Supreme Court overturns ban on bump stocks used in Las Vegas mass shooting appeared first on Maryland Matters.
Friday was a day of celebration at UCLA despite pro-Palestinian demonstrations that have disrupted life on the universitys Westwood campus.

An estimated 30,000 people packed UCLAs Pauley Pavilion for three commencement ceremonies throughout the day.

Based on the huge smiles, many graduates were just trying to soak in the moment after years of hard work and dedication.

Some graduates told KTLAs Kimberly Cheng they did not get a traditional high school graduation due to the pandemic, so they were thrilled to finally celebrate this moment with loved ones.

We were worried about graduation at the beginning because we heard the rumor that it might be canceled due to protests. Gladly it didnt, said Jian Wen, a UCLA graduate. I feel so excited.

There were concerns that ongoing protests on campus over the Israel-Hamas war would disrupt graduation.

I expected to see some [protests] but havent seen any yet, said Frank Garcia, a parent.

They were told by staff and faculty things were going to be fine. So, we figured it would be okay, said Andy Nguyen, the brother of a graduate.

During the rules of conduct announcement at the beginning of the first graduation, it was stated that the hope was to keep the focus on celebrating graduates.

UCLA released a statement saying, This mornings commencement was poignant and simply beautiful. About 2,200 students came together in a sea of tassels, unified in their celebration of one anothers success as UCLA graduates  the absence of any disruptions illustrates our students unified desire to mark this moment as a sole celebration of their success.

Attendees said security at the graduation was what you would typically see at a large-scale event. Metal detector checks, a clear bag policy, and extra security were noticeable on campus.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
The firepower of Ukraine has improved after lawmakers approved a much-needed military aid package, but for this, the defence forces had to lose territories to buy time.

Source: AP

Details: AP analyses that while the arrival of Western ammunition has reduced Russia's overwhelming artillery advantage, Moscow's troops are still capturing positions along the front line and are likely to continue doing so in the summer, when drier ground and longer days will favour their advance.

Kyiv is employing a "bend-but-dont-break" strategy to buy time until more Western weapons and ammunition arrive at the front. By conceding some territory, journalists write, Ukraine has gained the opportunity to engage in combat from more fortified positions. Ukraine has deployed a flexible defence strategy of "elastic band" to gain time until it is better armed and supplied.

Military officials said that by making painful decisions to retreat to better-protected positions, Ukrainian troops can fight more effectively and preserve personnel. Analysts explain that in such a strategy, time works in favour  small territories can be conceded now, but more can be gained later.

AP also emphasises that this strategy contrasts with the nine-month battle for the city of Bakhmut, where Ukrainian troops suffered significant losses in a futile attempt to hold the city.

First Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine Ivan Havryliuk told the Associated Press that Ukraine is already seeing the results of American aid: "Russias artillery advantage was 7-to-1 at the start of the year, but is down to 5-to-1 now."

Havryliuk noted that Ukraine needs at least 130 F-16 fighter jets to counter Russian aviation, but he stated that over time, Ukraine will achieve air superiority in its own airspace.

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Ukraine employs a flexible defense while waiting for new Western ammo to get to the front

A Ukrainian soldier from the 57th Brigade waits for an order for his artillery vehicle to open fire on Russian positions at the front line in Ukraines Kharkiv region, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukrainian firepower has been improving since U.S. lawmakers approved a much-needed military aid package this spring, though not quickly enough to halt the Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine.

Although the influx of Western munitions has shrunk Kyiv's glaring artillery disadvantage, Moscow's forces are still gaining ground along the snaking front line and will likely continue to do so through the summer, when the drier ground and longer days will only aid their push.

Ukraine is still on the defensive in the Donetsk region, enabling Moscows forces to inflict heavy losses during Ukrainian troop rotations and bringing them closer to crucial Ukrainian supply routes.

Kyiv has turned to a bend-but-don't-break strategy to buy time until it can get more Western weapons and ammunition to the front. By ceding some territory, Ukraine has been able to fight from better defended positions, according to interviews with senior Ukrainian military leaders, soldiers and officers in the field, and analysts.

Russia's shrinking munitions advantage

New weapons and ammunition have been trickling to the front line since U.S. President Joe Biden signed off on the massive aid package in April. But it will take weeks, if not months, for Ukraine to fully replenish its depleted stocks.

It takes time to load ships that must then cross the Atlantic," Ivan Havryliuk, Ukraines first deputy minister of defense, told The Associated Press. "But were already seeing the (results). Russias artillery advantage was 7-to-1 at the start of the year, but is down to 5-to-1 now.

Havryliuk said that to neutralize Russian airpower, Ukraine needs at least 130 F-16 fighter jets, some of which he expects to arrive later this year and early next.

With time, when we set everything up, we will reach an advantage in our airspace, he said.

The 110th Brigade, which has been fighting near the Russian-occupied village of Ocheretyne, began receiving a trickle of new shells less than a month ago, said Ivan Sekach, a brigade press officer.

The new arrivals have improved the unit's stocks by 75% compared to last winter, when supplies were so low that the military had no choice but to give up ground to save soldiers' lives, he said. But they aren't nearly enough to hold off Russia's advances and often aren't the large calibers that are most needed, said Sekach.

We need four times this amount to operate without counting each shell and prioritizing what to hit, he said.

Oleksandr, a deputy battalion commander for 47th Brigade who spoke on the condition that only his first name be used in line with his unit's protocols, said the brigade needs more anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles.

We cant take all the ammunition our partners give us at once  we receive it in portions. And right now, we cant accumulate what we need, said Oleksandr, whose brigade has been fighting on the outskirts of Avdiivka, a city in the Donetsk region that Russian troops overwhelmed in February after a grueling campaign.

Ukraine's elastic band strategy

Ukraine has deployed an elastic defensive strategy to buy time until it's better armed and provisioned. By making painful choices to pull back to better-defended positions, Ukrainian troops are able to fight more efficiently and save personnel, military officials said.

Time is in the favor of Ukraine and thus the rationale of an elastic band: You can cede a little territory and gain a little time. And then by the end of this year, Ukraine will have advantages that its never had before, said Dylan Lee Lehrke, an analyst with military intelligence think tank IHS Janes.

The strategy stands in contrast to the nine-month-long battle for the salt-mining city of Bakhmut, where Ukrainian troops suffered heavy casualties in an ultimately futile attempt to not cede ground.

Sekach said the improved flexibility has helped Ukrainian forces combat the Russian offensive.

We had to spread out our positions and our logistics, too. We are doing it a lot smarter now, he said before adding, But dont jinx it, reflecting Ukraine's anxiety about Russias current battlefield advantage.

Russia's main offensive in the Donetsk region is focused on the areas around the captured Avdiivka and the town of Chasiv Yar, and it is making small but steady gains. Should Chasiv Yar fall, it would put nearby cities in jeopardy, compromise critical Ukrainian supply routes and bring Russia closer to its stated aim of seizing the entire Donetsk region.

Russia now has about 650,000 troops in Ukraine, which is nearly five times the 140,000 it had there two years ago. And Russian tactical changes have proven effective, sending waves of soldiers from different directions to force Ukrainian forces to expend more shells, attacking more frequently at night to exploit Ukraine's weaknesses and inability to effectively counterattack, and even having soldiers don blue-striped Ukrainian helmets to confuse enemy drone operators.

Dense Russian signal jamming along the front line has reduced the effectiveness of Ukrainian strike drones, Ukrainian commanders said, blaming superior Russian capabilities but also poor communication between Ukrainian electronic warfare and drone units.

Russians will definitely continue to have minor successes in the next while, said Sekach.

The perils of resupplying the front

Russias improved targeting of Ukrainian supply routes is having its intended effect, Ukrainian commanders said.

They understand that we are supplied with new aid and they have increased their (drone) strikes and it influences our logistics, said Ninja, a soldier with the 28th Brigade in Bakhmut who spoke using his call sign per his unit's policy.

So frequent were the attacks on supplies feeding troops in Ninjas unit's area that drivers had to change schedules constantly. You need to know the road perfectly, every crater, to allow a driver with night vision to drive quickly, come in, unload and get out, he said.

Brigades have had to employ new tactics to supply the front. Regular trucks can be used to deliver ammunition in other combat zones, but in the Chasiv Yar and Avdiivka areas, armored vehicles, smartly plotted routes and supply-carrying drones are necessary.

Now the delivery is significantly complicated, we are forced to use drones, said Oleksandr. If before armored vehicles would deliver ammunition two or three times per day, now they generally do so only once a day.

Deadly rotations

Improved Russian targeting is also exacting a heavy cost in Ukrainian blood, especially during the fragile hours between troop rotations.

Russia has become more adept at striking during these windows, when defensive lines are at their weakest, commanders said. One unit in the Chasiv Yar area said a quarter of its casualties happen while transporting troops to and from front-line positions.

Tor, the commander of the Kotyky unit in Chasiv Yar, said Russia's ever-present drones have made it impossible to mask especially large troop movements.

All day and night they are flying in the sky and observing us, its impossible to move without being seen, he said.

Tor, who goes by his call sign in keeping with his unit's protocols, said his soldiers have nowhere to hide and change positions because of constant Russian bombardment. Often, they have to run half a kilometer (a third of a mile) or more in the open air to find cover.

When youre in a basement, youre safe. The minute you come up, you become an easy target, he said.

___

Associated Press reporter Volodymyr Yurchuk contributed.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb believes that Ukraine is now in a better position to start peace talks than it was a few weeks ago, thanks to the support of its Western allies.

Source: Stubb in a speech at the plenary session of the Global Peace Summit in Burgenstock, Switzerland, on 15 June, European Pravda reports

Details: Speaking about the prospects of the summit, Stubb said that the last week "has been great for peace".

"Why? Because of this summit, because of the G7 summit, because of the decision to negotiate Ukraine's accession to the EU this week and because of the support that our NATO allies are giving to Ukraine," he explained.

The Finnish president noted that in view of this, "Ukraine is actually starting the path to peace from a position of strength that is much stronger than it was three weeks ago or, let alone, three months ago."

Stubb said that the current peace summit should definitely have a certain continuation because "peace is not a state, but always a process".

Background:

The two-day Global Peace Summit has started in Switzerland, being scheduled for 15-16 June. The programme includes a plenary session and discussions on the three points of the "peace formula"  nuclear security, food security and the humanitarian dimension.

In his speech at the Global Peace Summit, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stressed that it was Russia that chose the war and could end it by withdrawing its forces from Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy hopes to agree on a plan to achieve a just peace in Ukraine, which will allow "to record the real end of the war" at the next Peace Summit.

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Swiss Federal President Viola Amherd (second from left left) appears next Swiss Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis (left), Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (center), Ukraine's Head of the Presidential Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak (second from right), and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris (right) during the the opening plenary session of the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, in Stansstad near Lucerne, Switzerland, on Saturday. Photo by Michael Buholzer/pool/EPA-EFE

June 15 (UPI) -- Finding a solution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine took center stage as dozens of world leaders gathered for the first day of a major conference in Switzerland on Saturday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is using the peace conference to gather support for a 10-year plan he first conceived in 2022 that would see an end to hostilities between his country and Russia.

"Everything that will be agreed upon at the summit today will be a part of the peace-making process that we all need," Zelensky told reporters ahead of the conference alongside Swiss President Viola Amherd.

" I believe that we will witness history being made here. Ukraine never wanted this war, it's a criminal and absolutely unprovoked aggression of Russia. And the only one who wanted it was Putin."

Russia and China do not have representatives at the Swiss conference.

Vice President Kamala Harris is representing the United States at a major conference in Switzerland Saturday where finding a solution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine took center stage. File Photo by Ting Shen/UPI

The conference comes after Zelensky and U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement on the sidelines of the annual G7 summit in Italy.

Ukraine signed a similar 10-year deal with Japan the same day.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) is using the peace conference to gather support for a 10-plan he first conceived in 2022 that would see an end to hostilities between his country and Russia, after signing a 10-year bilateral security agreement with the United States earlier in the week. Photo courtesy of U.S. Embassy in Italy

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said he was willing to enter peace talks, contingent on the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. Ukraine would also be required to abandon its push to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO.

Vice President Kamala Harris is the American representative at the weekend conference being held at a resort near the historic alpine city of Lucerne.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement on the sidelines of the annual G7 summit in Italy (pictured). Photo courtesy of US Embassy/UPI

Harris met with Zelensky on Saturday, while announcing a new aid package for Ukraine worth $1.5 billion.

"The Vice President underscored the United States' unwavering support for the people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against ongoing Russian aggression," the White House said in a statement.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said he was willing to enter peace talks, contingent on the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson region, and Ukraine abandoning its quest to join NATO. File Photo courtesy of Russian Sputnik News Agency

"The Vice President emphasized the U.S. support for Ukraine's efforts to secure a just and lasting peace, based on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, consistent with the UN Charter, and she commended widespread international support for Ukraine's efforts."

The new aid package is dedicated toward meeting humanitarian and energy demands as well as "civilian security."

Harris also highlighted Biden and Zelensky's agreement signed earlier in the week and American efforts to help enhance Ukraine's air defense capability.
Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded Ukraine turn over four oblasts while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for a just and lasting peace.

By the time Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Switzerland for an international peace conference, his counterpart in Russia had delivered a plan of his own , touching on oft-repeated themes.

Kyiv must drop its desire to join the NATO alliance and hand over four oblasts claimed by Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with Foreign Ministry senior officials Friday.

The conditions are very simple," Putin said , demanding the full withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from all of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts in eastern and southern Ukraine.

Those four oblasts have been claimed by Russia, whose forces currently control about 20 percent of Ukraine, mostly in those regions. Moscow illegally annexed Crimea in 2014.

"As soon as they declare in Kyiv that they are ready for such a decision and begin a real withdrawal of troops from these regions, and also officially announce the abandonment of their plans to join NATO - on our side, immediately, literally at the same minute, an order will follow to cease fire and begin negotiations," Putin said, according to Reuters .

"I repeat, we will do this immediately. Naturally, we will simultaneously guarantee the unhindered and safe withdrawal of Ukrainian units and formations."

As if to remind Kyiv that he is not bluffing, Putin told the Foreign Ministry officials that Russia has about 700,000 troops in Ukraine, the official Russian news agency TASS reported on its Telegram channel Friday.

Ukrainian and U.S. officials dismissed the Putin plan as an unwanted ultimatum.

It is clear he (Putin) understands that there will be the peace summit, Zelensky told Italy's SkyTG24 news channel before departing for Switzerland. It is clear he understands the majority in the world are on Ukraine's side, on the side of life. And on the eve of the summit, amid air raid sirens, the killing of people and missile attacks, he speaks as though he is issuing some sort of ultimatum," he told the news outlet.

Zelensky drew historical parallels between Putins demands and Nazi dictator Adolf Hitlers 1938 insistence that Czechoslovakia hand over a large part of its nation to Germany.

Adolf Hitler stands up in his car to acknowledge his welcome as he crosses the frontier into Sudetenland on Oct. 4, 1938. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

What can we say about these ultimatum messages? he added. They are no different from the other ultimatums that were made before. We now see that it is a renaissance of Nazism. It is a new wave of this Nazism, because it is a Russian Nazism. What Putin declares is that we should give back a part of our occupied territories, but also unoccupied ones. He says he's gonna stop and there'll be no frozen conflict. They are the same messages that Hitler sent, it has not even been 100 years since he asked only a part of Czechoslovakia saying that he would then stop.

Zelensky arrived in Switzerland Friday on the eve of the Global Peace Summit, a gathering of about 100 nations to map out a way forward for an acceptable resolution of the war in Ukraine, now in its third year.

"Arrived in Switzerland for the Global Peace Summit," he said on social media. "There are two days of active work ahead with countries from all corners of the world, with different peoples who, however, are united by a common goal - to bring a just and lasting peace for Ukraine closer."

The conference on Saturday and Sunday is structured around elements of a 10-point peace formula first presented by Zelensky in late 2022, The Associated Press reported .

Chief among those points are the withdrawal of all Russian troops from Ukrainian territory and cessation of hostilities, restoration of Ukraines territorial integrity, punishing Russia for war crimes, and release of all prisoners and deportees.

However, it is seen as a largely symbolic effort on the part of Kyiv to rally the international community and project strength against Russia.

Looming over the summit, however, is how Ukraine and Russia will achieve peace when Moscow isn't attending.

Speaking to reporters after a NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin dismissed the Putin plan.

Putin has illegally occupied sovereign Ukrainian territory, said Austin. He is not in any position to dictate to Ukraine what they must do to bring about peace...We don't want to see a leader of one country wake up one day and decide that he wants to erase borders and annex the territory of his neighbor. That's not the world that any of us want to live in.

Putin, he added, could end this war today. He started this war with no provocation. He's had some hundreds thousands of troops wounded and killed in this unjust and unprovoked invasion. He could end this today, if he chose to do that, and then we call upon him to do that and to leave Ukrainian sovereign territory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WajBLpg28_E

While there is talk of peace, there are few indications that it will happen anytime soon. Meanwhile, the Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities continue unabated.

Before diving into more developments from the conflict in Ukraine, The War Zone readers can review our previous coverage here .

The Latest

At a press conference after Zelensky and U.S. President Joe Biden signed a new, long-term security accord at the G7 summit in Italy on Thursday, the Ukrainian President hinted that his Air Force might get squadrons of jets in addition to the dozens of F-16 Vipers already promised .

The agreement "clearly states that America supports Ukraine's efforts to win this war," Zelensky said at a post-signing press conference. "The agreement includes provisions for advanced defense systems like Patriot and fighter jet squadronsthats right, plural, squadronsincluding, but not limited to, F-16s."

Zelensky didn't specify what kind of jets or where they would come from, but there have been limited assurances of any fighters other than Vipers. France promised a half dozen Mirage 2000-5 fighters while there are supposedly questionable plans in the works for Argentina to transfer five French-made Super Etendard naval strike aircraft to Ukraine. The U.S. has promised no jets to Ukraine.

The Pentagon on Friday declined to speculate on Zelensky's comments.

"Were not going to speak for President Zelensky or try to interpret his comments, nor can we speculate on any future announcements before theyre made (and we have none for today)," a Pentagon official responded in an email. The White House did not respond to our request for comment.

The U.S.-Ukrainian agreement was also very specific about the supply of the necessary weapons, joint production and strengthening defense industries of our countries through our cooperation, and this is something that will...provide...new good jobs for Ukrainians and Americans, Zelensky said.

https://youtu.be/kz-lycMNUE8?t=5119

During the summit, Zelensky asked for more than a half-dozen Patriot systems.

"We need seven Patriot systems  yes, to save our cities  not all of them; its a pity  but urgently seven," he said. "And we discussed the possibility of having five of them, its true. But the partners work on it."

Patriot air defense systems are in extreme demand. Zelensky's ask comes at a time when America has committed many of its own batteries to locales around the world, especially to the Middle East in response to the ongoing Israel-Gaza crisis . The Pacific is also of great concern. If a crisis were to erupt there, every available battery would be needed. As we explained in our deep dive into the subject , all this underscores the stark limitations of even America's own Patriot capacity. As a result, there are very few places to drum up additional batteries without the source nation really accepting greater risk. Israel is one such place that has surplus Patriot batteries, but there is no indication they are willing to transfer them to Ukraine, even though the United States, although it is possible.

Biden said that five nations he did not name have promised Ukraine Patriots and other air defense systems and that other nations needing U.S. air defense systems are out of luck.

"We let it be known to those countries that are expecting from us air defense systems in the future that theyre going to have to wait," Biden said. "Everything we have is going to go to Ukraine until their needs are met. And then we will make good on the commitments we made to other countries."

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters Thursday morning that there are no Patriot batteries for Kyiv in the immediate pipeline from America. The U.S. has already supplied one battery to Kyiv .

I don't have any announcements on Patriot batteries today, Austin said when asked if the U.S. will supply Ukraine with a system in addition to the one already provided. Austin was speaking after the 23rd meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a consortium of some 50 nations working to keep Kyiv armed in its fight against Russia.

Austin also shot down claims in a New York Times story that the new Patriot would come from Poland.

I've seen some of the press reporting, Austin said. What I will tell you is that there will be no change in our Patriot coverage in Poland. I know that that was a component of a previous story there, but there is no change in our basic coverage.

While there is no guarantee that Ukraine will receive additional squadrons of jets or Patriot batteries, one thing is clear.

Zelensky will continue asking for them as Ukraine desperately tries to fend off Russian advances.

The situation on the front lines  is somewhat more stabilized now than it was over the past several weeks, Joint Chiefs Chairman Air Force Gen. C.Q. Brown told reporters Thursday morning at the post-UDCG press conference. One of the things that the Ukrainians have been focused on over the past several months, going into 2024, is filling out their defensive lines, and they've been fairly effective at building those defensive lines, which has created a bit of stability.

The Russian push toward Kharkiv , Ukraines second-largest city, has complicated matters, he added.

It actually pulls away focus and capability from other areas and spreads their offenses a little bit more, Brown said. But what we've seen is the Ukrainians have been very good at holding their defensive lines, and we'll be able to do that there in Kharkiv as well.

Ukrainian soldiers of the 43rd Infantry Brigade are seen during military training in the direction of the Ukrainian border, Kharkiv Oblast in Ukraine, on June 05, 2024. Photo by Jose Colon/Anadolu via Getty Images

The Biden administration's recent decision to allow Ukraine to conduct limited strikes inside Russia has helped their defense of Kharkiv, Austin said.

The intent of allowing them to conduct counter fire was to help them address the issue of Russians building staging areas in just on the other side of the border, and attacking from those staging areas, he said. You can see one of those attacks, on Russian air defenses in Belgorod, in the video below.

I see a slowing of the Russian advance and a stabilizing of that particular piece of the front now," added Austin. "A couple of weeks ago, there was concern that we would see a significant breakthrough on the part of the Russians. I don't think we'll see that going forward. I don't think I don't see a large exploitation force that could take advantage of a breakthrough."

Permission by the U.S. and other nations for Ukraine to donated weapons on Russian soil sparked a furious rebuke from Kremlins Security Council Deputy Chairman, Dmitry Medvedev, the Kyiv Post reported.

Addressing the recent threat by President Vladimir Putin to provide weapons to Moscows allies that are capable of striking those countries that support Ukraine, Medvedev wrote: "Are they [the West] afraid of us handing over our weapons to the enemies of the Western world? We must transfer all possible types of weapons except, for now, nuclear ones!

Germany on Friday announced a major tranche of military aid to Ukraine that includes two badly needed IRIS-T air defense systems , three MARS II rocket launchers (the German version of the U.S. M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System .), 10 Leopard 1A5 main battle tanks , 20 Marder Infantry Fighting Vehicles , 21,000 rounds of 155mm ammunition and much more.

Canada began deliveries of armored vehicles to Ukraine.

"The first four of 50 new armored vehicles built by Canadian workers for Ukraine are heading to Ukraines Armed Forces today," Canadian Minister of National Defense Bill Blair wrote on Twitter.

Member of Parliament Peter Fragiskatos " @PFragiskatos saw the vehicles loaded onto trucks  and this summer, Ukrainian troops will be trained in their use," he added. "These state-of-the-art armored vehicles will fulfil a wide variety of roles on the battlefield. The first ten are armoured ambulances, which come with medical equipment and armour that will enable Ukraines troops to safely evacuate and treat wounded personnel."

Ukraine has become the first country to create a new stand-alone branch of the military dedicated to drone systems, known as the Unmanned Systems Forces, ABC News reported.

It was an initiative growing out of the importance of drones on the battlefield

We have a strong prospect for victory in the war against Russia," First Deputy Defense Minister Ivan Havryliu said during a presentation. "This victory can be achieved through your intelligence, perseverance, and the steps you take to protect the lives and health of our servicemen by increasingly employing robots and unmanned systems in the air, on the ground, and at sea, said Havryliuk.

Images emerged from that presentation of Ukrainian drones similar to the Iranian-made Shahed 136s that Russia has been using since October 2002 to attack cities, power infrastructure, and other facilities.

Ukraine is reportedly developing standardized 40mm high-explosive fragmentation munitions for its drones. In the past, many of the munitions dropped or attached by small drones have been improvised or repurposed, which sometimes included sawing open cluster munitions canisters and other dangerous tasks.

Ukrainian Special Operations Forces (SSO) say they destroyed a Russian R-416GM digital radio relay station with a drone. It marked the first such destruction of Russias newest communication station, SSO claimed on its Telegram channel. The system, first fielded in 2018, is designed to increase the efficiency of radio relay communications units in the field, SSO said.

You've seen numerous videos of First Person-View (FPV) drones from both sides creating havoc. A Scripps Howard journalist recently spent time with one of Ukraine's FPV units and showed how they hunt down individual troops.

"Fuck, this gets me high," said one soldier, wearing his goggles as he guides a drone in a chase to find and and eliminate a Russian.

These Russian troops in the video below were motoring down a road in Ukraine in a convertible when their vehicle was hit by a Ukrainian FPV drone.

At about 20 seconds in, it appears the Russians spotted the drone and seconds later, it struck, overturning the vehicle and setting it ablaze. Most of the Russians seemed to have survived, though it is unclear whether there were any injuries or deaths.

The Russian troops in this FPV drone video were apparently not as fortunate. You can see the drone approaching a vehicle with about a half-dozen Russian troops aboard. Just as the drone reaches the target, the video cuts to another drone view showing a massive fireball from the resulting explosion engulf the vehicle

A Russian a Su-30SM Flanker is seen in a recent video reportedly firing at a Ukrainian drone over Vladimir Oblast in Russia, which is located about 400 miles northeast of the border. The video shows the Flanker firing an air-to-air missile, but the drone is never seen and the outcome of the engagement is unknown.

It's becoming harder to hide from drones even at night. Ukraine's Khorne Group is now using a new fixed-wing bomber drone equipped with a downward-facing infrared spotlight and camera allowing operations in the dark. The video below shows what is claimed to be one of those drones hitting a Russian ammunition supply.

The First Special Mining Battalion in Russia posted an image on Telegram of a collection of "DIY-type loitering munition/ISR drones" on the Russian front lines, drone expert Samuel Bendett said on Twitter.

Surface-view images of Russian barges arrayed around the Kerch Bridge have emerged on social media. The barges were placed to protect the bridge against sea drones. It was hit by one last July, which you can read about here .

The pictures, taken from the bridge, offer a better view of the barges than the satellite images we have seen before .

A wounded Ukrainian soldier praised the Bradley Fighting Vehicle and explained what happened during a viral video of an encounter between a Bradley and a Russian armored vehicle that looked like knights jousting.

The Russians emerged from the trees, and for a few chaotic seconds, the two vehicles barreled toward each other while firing their heavy guns, The Washington Post reported. The publication conducted an interview with the soldier, named Viktor, from a hospital. A soldier fell from the speeding Russian vehicle. Viktors took a catastrophic hit to its targeting system, disabling the main weapon.

Ram him, Viktor recalled instructing his driver.

The May 31 exchange, captured on drone video, underscores how Kyiv has used U.S.-provided Bradleys in unique and extreme ways to work around its depleted artillery stocks and manpower shortages , soldiers and analysts said, the publication reported.

The Bradley's armaments have proven remarkably effective, Viktor said.

The main weapons are its Bushmaster M242 25 mm automatic cannon , which can fire armor-piercing rounds that the Post described as "about the size of a hot dog. The dual-tube BMG-71 TOW (Tube-Launched, Optically Tracked, Wireless-Guided) missile launcher have been devastating as well.

When the rounds strike Russian infantry soldiers, Viktor told the Post, nothing is left.

You can get a sense of what its like to be inside a tank that gets hit by an anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) in this video below of this Russian T-90M crew in action. They are seen watching the tank's monitor as it lays down fire until about six-and-a-half minutes into the video. That's when the T-90 gets walloped by an ATGM and bright orange-yellow flames erupt inside. The tank, however, continues to move and it is unclear what happened to it or the crew.

An image has emerged on social media showing a Russian BMP-2 675-sb3KDZ with added side armor, presumably intended to protect dismounts, suggested Foreign Policy Research Institute senior fellow Rob Lee.

This U.S.-donated M1A1 Abrams tank features cage screens attached to the turret. We have seen these highly customized cages for Abrams emerge recently, which you can read about here . There is also a metal plate attached to the front of the hull.

Ukraine has modified its U.S.-donated M1A1 Abrams tanks. Via Twitter

There are unverified claims that Russia has struck the Vasilkov Airfield near Kyiv with Kh-101 cruise missiles containing cluster munitions. The Operation Z: Military Correspondents of the Russian Spring Telegram channel claims that a fire has been burning at an industrial enterprise at the airport for more than 36 hours.

Operation Z posted a photo from Ukraine's State Emergency Service (SES) of Ukrainian firefighters it said were reacting to the airport blaze. On its Telegram channel, SES said only that a fire was being extinguished at "an industrial enterprise, which occurred as a result of Russia's armed aggression... in the Kyiv region."

"There are 249 rescuers, 98 units of equipment, and four fire engines working at the site," SES said, but did not mention the Vasilkov Airport.

The War Zone cannot independently verify the Operation Z claim about the airport fire.

Ukrainian firefighters battling a blaze at an unidentified industrial enterprise. SES

India has urged Russia to return its citizens recruited by its army after two were recently killed recently in Ukraine, The Associated Press reported .

I want to assure you that the Indian government has taken the matter very seriously, foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra told reporters on Wednesday.

A night earlier, Indias foreign ministry said it was in touch with Russian authorities to arrange the repatriation of the two Indians remains. Two other Indians died earlier this year while fighting in Ukraine.

And finally, Russia committed war crimes by engaging in a deliberate pattern of starvation tactics during the 85-day siege of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol in early 2022, a fresh analysis submitted to the international criminal court found, according to The Guardian .

"The conclusion is at the heart of a dossier in the process of being submitted to the ICC in The Hague by the lawyers Global Rights Compliance, working in conjunction with the Ukrainian government. It argues that Russia and its leaders intended to kill and harm large numbers of civilians," the publication reported.

An estimated that 22,000 people were killed during the encirclement and capture of the city of Mariupol at the beginning of the war in Ukraine, according to The Guardian. Civilians were left without water, gas or electricity within days of the siege as temperatures fell below 14 degrees Farenheit.

That's it for now.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
Less than a month ahead of NATO's Washington summit, President Volodymyr Zelensky and his American counterpart Joe Biden signed a long-awaited bilateral security agreement on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Italy.

The 10-year deal became Ukraine's 17th one concluded under the G7 Joint Declaration of Support. The U.S. joined other countries, including the U.K., Germany, and France, that have signed similar bilateral treaties to help Kyiv repel Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion.

At least 10 more agreements are yet to be signed.

"The philosophy of our security agreement is, in fact, the philosophy of the alliance. And that is why the issue of NATO is covered through the text of the agreement," Zelensky said.

Unlike NATO, it doesn't require an American military response if Ukraine is attacked  in this case, the parties should meet within 24 hours. The deal also does not outline new prospects for Ukraine to join NATO.

As a part of a long-term effort, Washington will help to develop Ukraine's Armed Forces by training, expanding cooperation in the production of weapons and equipment, providing military aid, and enhancing intelligence sharing.

Here are the five things to know about the first official security agreement between Ukraine and the U.S.

Read also: G7 confirms agreement on $50 billion loan for Ukraine backed by Russian assets revenue

Unprecedented or mundane?

The agreement "clearly states that America supports Ukraine's efforts to win this war," Zelensky said, describing the deal as a "bridge" to Ukraine's future NATO membership.

The text states that the U.S. "commits to support Ukraine in developing a modern, NATO-interoperable force that can credibly deter and, if necessary, defend against future aggression," including developing Ukraine's air and missile defense, cybersecurity, and maritime capabilities.

The U.S. also commits to working toward procurement of squadrons of modern fighter aircraft, "including, but not limited to, F-16s," according to the text.

Described by Zelensky as "unprecedented," the pact with Washington is an executive agreement, which means that it is signed by the U.S. president and has the force of law.

President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) and U.S. President Joe Biden sign a bilateral security agreement during a press conference at the Masseria San Domenico on the sidelines of the G7 Summit hosted by Italy in Apulia region, on June 13, 2024 in Savelletri. (Filippo Monteforte/AFP via Getty Images)

Ihor Zhovkva, deputy head of the President's Office, said that in legal terms, the deal with the U.S. is "the strongest" of the 17 security agreements that Kyiv has signed with other nations.

Oleksandr Kraiev, an expert on North American policy at the foreign policy think tank Ukrainian Prism, doubts that the deal is unparalleled, calling it "less provocative."

"We expected it to be an indicator of American leadership, some real, powerful measures to ensure our security, investments, and accession to NATO. But in my opinion, it looks less radical than even the agreement with the British," he told the Kyiv Independent.

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited Kyiv on Jan. 12 and announced a 2.5-billion-pound ($3.2 billion) military aid package. Sunak and Zelensky also signed a new deal on security cooperation, the first bilateral commitment finalized as part of the security assurances announced by the Group of Seven (G7) last July.

Zelensky also called the deal "unprecedented" and said that this day "entered the history of our state."

Non-military cooperation and reforms

In addition to defense and security cooperation, the U.S. and Ukraine agreed to work on economic recovery and reforms.

This includes supporting Ukraine's energy security and its vision of a modern and decentralized energy system integrated with Europe, as well as seeking opportunities to provide technical assistance to support the country's economic needs stemming from Russia's war.

The parties also aim to work on projects to support Ukrainian and American economic development in the areas of defense production and infrastructure.

A separate article of the deal is devoted to Ukraine's institutional reforms in accordance with democratic principles and EU and NATO standards.

Kyiv should make efforts to finalize the judicial reform, implement "robust" anti-corruption measures, and strengthen the rule of law through reforms in law enforcement, security, tax, and customs institutions.

Judicial reform has been a major stumbling block for Ukraine.

Following years of attempting to reboot Ukraine's judicial system, the ongoing selection of new Constitutional Court judges under new rules is in its final stages  the judges have already been chosen and need to be formally appointed.

"Compared with previous contests, it's a big step forward," Mykhailo Zhernakov, head of judicial watchdog Dejure, told the Kyiv Independent.

Read also: Zelensky: All parts of the world represented at peace summit

NATO membership

Kyiv has voiced hope that NATO's July summit in Washington will bring a more definite signal about Ukraine's future membership in the alliance.

However, American officials made it clear that the country is unlikely to receive an invitation.

In his latest remarks, Biden said that he had not been prepared to support the "NATOization of Ukraine before," but according to the deal, the parties recognize it "as supporting a bridge to Ukraine's eventual membership in NATO."

If and when security conditions allow, Kyiv and Washington also plan to consult on possible training and exercise programs in Ukraine, the deal read.

In addition, Ukraine commits to incorporating NATO doctrine and combined arms concepts at all levels of its security and defense forces and ensuring the proper use and support of new capabilities.

Since the start of Russia's war against Ukraine in 2014, Kyiv has been attempting to modernize its Armed Forces and bring up its doctrine to NATO standards. Ukraine has also gradually moved from using Soviet-made arms to those made in accordance with NATO standards.

More than 110 models of Ukrainian and foreign-made military vehicles have been approved for use in the Armed Forces of Ukraine since March 2022, Ukraine's Defense Ministry said on June 8.

Undefined victory

The U.S. and Ukraine will work to achieve "a just and sustainable peace" that respects Ukraine's rights under international law, including its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The pact also mentions that Russia must be held accountable.

Due to security commitments, Washington seeks "to support Ukraine's efforts to win today's war and deter future Russian aggression."

According to Zhovkva, this is the first time that "Ukraine's victory" is put into writing. However, the agreement doesn't mention the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity as a clear goal, opening the clause to interpretation.

Kraiev said that the strategy of how continued U.S. support will advance a Ukrainian victory should be determined. The plan, which the Biden administration is to submit to several congressional committees, was mentioned in the aid bill passed in late April, which provided close to $61 billion for Kyiv.

"The deadline is expiring. And this should tell us what exactly this definition in the document means and how these weapons will be provided," the expert said.

Termination

Both Kyiv and Washington can terminate the agreement. One of the parties must provide written notice, and the termination takes effect six months after that.

If Donald Trump is re-elected, the deal's fate appears unclear. A presumptive Republican nominee for the upcoming 2024 U.S. presidential election has repeatedly said he could end Russia's war within 24 hours if elected president, without specifying the steps for reaching a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow.

"If Trump is inaugurated at noon on Jan. 20 next year, by about five in the afternoon, he could have dissolved this agreement in its entirety," John Bolton, a former national security adviser to Trump, told CNN.

Kraiev said there are two ways to prevent this. One is to submit the agreement to Congress for approval.

The deal also envisages that any additional agreement concluded within the framework of this one will continue to be valid even if the initial pact is canceled.

"Therefore, all additional agreements on financing, weapons transfers, and training will be formalized in separate agreements. And even if this deal is eventually terminated, all the other clauses of this agreement will continue to be valid in separate agreements," Kraiev told the Kyiv Independent.

Read also: Putin names ceasefire demands, including Kyivs complete withdrawal from four Ukrainian regions

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Key developments on June 14:

Zelensky says Putin's ultimatum on peace talks is a 'revival of Nazism'

Putin claims Russia has almost 700,000 soldiers fighting in Ukraine

Ukraine's 68th Jaeger Brigade says it 'destroyed entire Russian tank company'

Germany announces new military aid package for Ukraine, including HIMARS, Leopards

Ukrainian women shared their accounts of rape by Russian forces. We found their assailants

President Volodymyr Zelensky on June 14 rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's conditions for peace talks, comparing them to Adolf Hitler's invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1938-1939.

Putin said earlier on June 14 that, as a condition for peace negotiations, Ukrainian troops must leave Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. He added that Ukraine must recognize Russia's illegal annexation of the regions and abandon any ambition to join NATO.

According to Putin, Ukraine also must recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea.

Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts are partially controlled by Russian troops. Russia claims to have annexed the whole territory of those regions despite not controlling two regional capitals - Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

Speaking to Italy's Sky news channel during the G7 summit, Zelensky said that "these messages are ultimatums, and they are no different from any other ultimatums (Putin) made in the past."

"What he's doing is a revival of Nazism," Zelensky said. "He wants us to renounce our occupied territories but he also wants our unoccupied territories. He doesn't intend to stop, and there will be no frozen conflict."

Zelensky also compared Putin's ultimatum to Hitler's demand for annexing Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland in 1938, when he claimed that he would not go further.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to Zelensky's chief of staff, said in a post on X that the proposal was "highly offensive to international law and speaks eloquently about the incapacity of the current Russian leadership to adequately assess reality."

He added the demands effectively amounted to "give us your territories.. give up your sovereignty leave yourselves unprotected."

"It's all a complete sham," he added.

Read also: Putin names ceasefire demands, including Kyivs complete withdrawal from four Ukrainian regions

Putin claims Russia has almost 700,000 soldiers fighting in Ukraine

Almost 700,000 Russian troops are fighting in Ukraine, Putin said on June 14 while speaking at a public event with Russian military personnel.

Putin claimed in December 2023 that there were 617,000 military personnel fighting in Ukraine.

Andrii Yusov, the spokesperson of Ukraine's military intelligence agency, responded on Dec. 15 that the true number was around 450,000 and that Russia is exaggerating the figures to "increase information pressure on our country."

Reuters reported in December, citing a declassified U.S. intelligence report, that Russia had lost 315,000 troops in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, representing nearly 90% of the military personnel it had in February 2022.

According to Ukrainian figures, over 500,000 Russian troops have now been killed, injured, or captured fighting in Ukraine.

Ukraine's 68th Jaeger Brigade says it 'destroyed entire Russian tank company'

Ukraine's 68th Jaeger Brigade released a video on June 14 purporting to show its forces taking out an entire Russian tank company during fighting in the Pokrovsk area, in Donetsk Oblast.

According to a post on Facebook, eight Kremlin tanks and eight infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) were destroyed.

Later on June 14 in comments to Ukrinform, Nazar Voloshyn, the spokesman for the Khortytsia grouping of forces, confirmed the brigade's claims.

"In the Pokrovsk axis, our Defense Forces destroyed eight Russian tanks and put two more out of order. Thats 10 in total. This makes up a tank company," he said.

"In addition, in this section of the front, during the said period, our defenders destroyed eight more armored fighting vehicles, two artillery systems, and four other vehicles (one more damaged)."

Watch the video here.

Read also: Whats behind the enemies of Ukraine list allegations by far-right US politicians?

Germany announces new military aid package for Ukraine, including HIMARS, Leopards

Germany has announced a new military aid package for Ukraine that includes three HIMARS multiple rocket launchers, 20 Marder infantry fighting vehicles, and 10 Leopard main battle tanks, the country's defense ministry announced on June 14.

The package also includes two IRIS-T air defense systems, 21,000 rounds of 155 mm ammunition, and two Beaver bridge-laying vehicles.

Berlin announced last month that it planned to up its military aid to Ukraine by another 3.8 billion euros ($4.13 billion) in 2024, Reuters reported on May 21, citing an undisclosed source.

The news agency confirmed an earlier article by the tabloid Bild, which also said that the sum of over 7 billion euros, previously approved by Germany's parliament for this year, has been almost entirely allocated to various projects.

As only around 300 million euros (roughly $325 million) were left for additional weapons or ammunition purchases, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius had requested the additional funds with the backing of Finance Minister Christian Lindner, Bild reported.

Initially a hesitant partner, Berlin has become Ukraine's second-largest military donor after the U.S..

Read also: Russias move on Kharkiv has bogged down. But was it a failure?

Ukrainian women shared their accounts of rape by Russian forces

The day after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Maryna discovered she was expecting a boy. Fearing it might be the last time she would be able to get to a hospital, she queued for hours at checkpoints to attend the ultrasound appointment and learn the gender of her baby. She was 16 years old and five months pregnant.

There was no time to celebrate the news from the hospital scan  she had to decide where to shelter as the Russian troops rolled in. Fleeing to the tiny village of Krasnivka in the southern Kherson Oblast, where her mother lived, she hoped she would be safe. But the soldiers came.

In a powerful interview for a documentary from the Kyiv Independent, Maryna gives a chilling account of what happened next.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has met with Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on the sidelines of the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland.

Source: Kuleba on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: Kuleba thanked Borrell for his and the EU's successful efforts to encourage countries from around the world to attend the Peace Summit.

"We both welcomed the adoption of the Negotiating Framework, which opened the path for Ukraine's EU accession negotiations to begin in practice," the Ukrainian foreign minister added.

With Ukraines great friend, EU diplomacy chief @JosepBorrellF.



I thanked Josep for all of his and the EU's successful efforts to encourage countries from all over the world to attend the Summit.



We both welcomed the adoption of the Negotiating Framework, which opened the path pic.twitter.com/LuJXXQW15e  Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) June 15, 2024

In addition, Kuleba and Borrell coordinated efforts to increase and galvanise the supply of weapons to Ukraine "with an emphasis on air defence systems and ammunition".

Background:

On the evening of 14 June, the permanent representatives of the European Union member states accepted the main talking points of the negotiating framework for Ukraine's and Moldova's accession.

The EU ambassadors' decision means that an intergovernmental conference will be held on 25 June, as planned, to officially begin negotiations on Ukraine and Moldova's accession to the EU.

Hungary, at the level of permanent representatives, blocked the decision, saying that Ukraine had made "insufficient progress on national minorities". However, Budapest lifted its veto after receiving assurances that its demands would be included in the negotiating framework.

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Sergiy Kyslytsya, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations, has called on countries to track those who recruit foreigners to sign a contract with the Russian army.

Source: Kyslytsya on Facebook

Quote: "Russia resorts to press ganging foreign nationals into its occupation forces in Ukraine by threatening those already in Russia or deceiving those they recruit from abroad.

As reported by international media, Russian authorities have been threatening not to extend visas of African students and workers unless they agree to join the military. Moscow detains foreigners with work visas and forces them to choose between deportation or enlistment into the army.

Russia has also launched a global recruitment drive, luring foreign nationals with promises of lucrative work before forcing them to train and deploy to the frontline.

We urge all Member States to trace the Russian recruiters in your countries and take measures to prevent a devastating impact of the Russian crisis on the safety of your citizens. Lets be clear, Russia is looking for cannon fodder."

Details: In particular, Kyskytsya reiterated the escape of 22 Sri Lankans who managed to desert the Russian army and come back home.

One of these 22 people, a man named Anil Madusanka, told journalists that he had been offered a job as a driver in Russia. However, upon arrival, he was handed an assault rifle and sent to the front line. After being wounded, he managed to escape to his country's embassy in Moscow, which organised his repatriation.

Kyslytsya added that Russia regularly tries to use the UN as a platform for spreading Russian propaganda.

In addition, Moscow is using every opportunity to discredit the Global Peace Summit, which is starting in Switzerland, and is launching another series of manipulative statements amid the escalation of the Russian crisis.

Kyslytsya thanked the US for the decision regarding the 12th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine (Azov), which recently passed the Leahy inspection conducted by the US government: "No evidence of violations by the Azov Brigade that may prevent US military assistance from going to this unit has been found. We welcome this conclusion that debunks the Russian smear campaign that has continued since 2014."

Kyslytsya pointed out that more than 900 Azov servicemen are currently being held in captivity in Russian prisons without any communication with the world.

Quote: "As reported by the OHCHR, some of them were beaten to death and some others  given long-term or life sentences simply for being members of the Azov Brigade. We reiterate our call to stop their torture, grant unimpeded and regular access to them by the ICRC and human rights defenders, and include them in prisoner exchanges."

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A Ukrainian mass drone attack has damaged an airfield being used by Russian fighter-bombers after overwhelming its defences, an analysis of satellite imagery shows.

The War Zone, a US-based military news website, published satellite photographs of the Morozovsk base in southern Russia showing damage to Su-34s fighter jet parking bays and also to a hangar.

While the attack appears to have caused some damage, the full extent is unclear at the moment, it said.

The War Zone said that General Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraines military intelligence, had confirmed the attack on Friday morning against the air base in the Rostov region, which it described as a forward operating base for Su-34s that have been a key weapon in the war.

The before and after satellite photos taken by US-based Planet Lab show a gaping hole in a hangar roof, revealing two Su-34 fighter jets, and scorch marks on tarmac where Su-34s were normally parked.

Ukrainian units are modernising their drone tactics, deploying them at lower altitudes - REUTERS

The Russian ministry of defence has not commented but Russian military bloggers confirmed the attack, although they also claimed that all the Ukrainian drones had been shot down.

Ukrainian units are modernising their drone tactics. This time most of the drones flew at a low altitude. However, this did not prevent us from destroying these flying objects and preventing virtually all damage on the ground, Rybar told its 1.2 million Telegram subscribers.

The attack appears to mark a switch in Ukrainian drone tactics possibly because of the high-value nature of the target and also its relative proximity to the war zone, 150 miles away.

Ukrainian commanders have been sending single drones or groups of up to three drones on missions deep into Russia to strike airfields, refineries and nuclear radar stations. Instead, Fridays attack on the Morozovsk air base appears to borrow from Russias swarm drone tactics.

The Morozovsk air base has been a vital launch site for Russias Su-34 fighter jets, one of the Kremlins most advanced, and was previously attacked by smaller groups of Ukrainian drones in March and April but reportedly only with limited success.

This is also at least the third attack on Russian airfields over the past 10 days. Last weekend, a Ukrainian drone destroyed a next stealth generation fighter bomber at an airfield on the Caspian Sea shore and also tried to attack another air base in the North Caucasus.

Russian military bloggers have complained that the Ministry of Defence is not adequately protecting air bases, an accusation that was repeated after the Morozovsk air base attack.

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.
Svitlana Bilous and Illia Illiashenko look at posters before their bus tour to Switzerland to advocate for Ukrainian soldiers in Russian captivity in Kyiv

Svitlana Bilous and Illia Illiashenko look at posters before their bus tour to Switzerland to advocate for Ukrainian soldiers in Russian captivity in Kyiv

By John Revill and Felix Hoske

LUCERNE, Switzerland (Reuters) -Svitlana Bilous crossed half of Europe - from her home in eastern Ukraine to Switzerland - to highlight the plight of her missing husband and other prisoners held by Russia during an international summit on the Ukraine war.

She joined scores of other relatives of Ukrainian soldiers who waved banners and shouted slogans during a demonstration on the sidelines of the summit that sought to draw attention to the fate of troops who have disappeared on the battlefield.

Many do not know if their loved ones have been killed or taken by Russia as prisoners of war.

"I must do everything in my power to get my husband back," Bilous, 34, who is from the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, told Reuters as officials arrived ahead of the weekend talks.

Since her husband, Anatoliy, went missing in April last year, she has only heard that he is alive but had no direct contact with him.

She carries the shoulder patch from his uniform with her at all times and prays for his safe return every day, she said, calling for Russia to adhere to the Geneva Conventions on the treatment of prisoners of war.

"We want specific actions regarding the return of prisoners of war (and) admission of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to all places of detention," she said.

Russia is not invited to the summit in Buergenstock near Lucerne, at which Ukraine will present its plan to end the war that started with Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The families want the other world powers there to find ways to press Moscow to hand over information, improve the conditions of any captives and, as soon as possible, send them home.

Both Russia and Ukraine are signatories to the Geneva Conventions covering the treatment of prisoners.

Ukrainian officials said in February about 8,000 people - civilians and soldiers - are in Russian hands.

The ICRC says it is trying to get information on the fate of 28,000 people - soldiers and civilians on both sides - who have lost contact with their families.

'THE SAME DREAM'

On Saturday afternoon, about 250 people gathered in the centre of the town of Lucerne, many wrapped in Ukrainian flags, wearing traditional clothes and carrying pictures of missing brothers, husbands or sons, and sharing their own stories.

"All of us have the same dream," said one of the women. "We want our relatives to be found and returned from captivity."

The banners carried by Bilous and fellow protesters read "Stop Russia torturing and killing Ukrainian PoWs" and "Russia is hiding Ukrainian PoWs".

Russia has repeatedly denied carrying out war crimes in Ukraine, including the torture of PoWs.

It says its forces are careful to comply with international law. Cases where Russian soldiers are alleged to have committed serious crimes in Ukraine have been and continue to be prosecuted by Russian courts, it says.

In Buergenstock, returned Ukrainian prisoner of war Illia Illiashenko was due to address a side event organised by the Ukrainian Society of Switzerland.

Illiashenko, a sergeant in the coastal troops of Ukraine's border guard was captured during fighting in his home town of Mariupol, and held in three different camps.

The 21-year-old, who used the call-sign Smurf - was held for 10 months before being returned in a prisoner exchange.

"There is constant physical and psychological pressure in Russian captivity. They try to break your personality, you as a human. And they do it with effective methods," said Illiashenko, who was beaten and burned while in captivity.

After the conference, the families will travel to Geneva to meet ICRC officials.

For Bilous, fears about her husband's fate have been on her mind constantly for the last 14 months.

"I'm clinging to the idea that my husband is still alive ... that's what keeps me going. If I could send him a message, it would be simply that I love him."

(Reporting by John Revill and Felix HoskeEditing by Dave Graham, Kirsten Donovan and Helen Popper)
Ukrainian forces strike Russian airbase with at least 70 drones, targeting Su-34 jets used to drop glide bombs

Ukrainian forces strike Russian airbase with at least 70 drones, targeting Su-34 jets used to drop glide bombs

Ukraine targeted an airbase in Russia's Rostov region with at least 70 drones, an official said.

Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, confirmed the attack to The War Zone.

The operation targeted Su-34 bombers used by Russia to drop glide bombs on Ukraine.

Ukraine struck a military airbase in Russia with at least 70 drones on Thursday, Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the Defense Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, told The War Zone.

The mass attack was launched at Morozovsk airbase in Russia's Rostov region, almost 200 miles from the Ukrainian border.

A satellite image of an airfield close to Morozovsk shows what appear to be multiple Su-34 fighter-bombers.

A security source told Sky News that the Ukrainian attack was designed to target the jets that Russia has used to drop powerful glide bombs on Ukraine.

They added that the strikes were part of a "sustained campaign to degrade the Russian Air Force."

The extent of the damage caused by the attack is not yet known. Budanov told The War Zone that they were "waiting for information" on whether any targets were destroyed or damaged.

But one Russian Telegram channel, The Kremlin Snuff Box, claimed that six Russian military personnel were killed in the strikes, citing sources in the Russian General Staff.

"Most of the drones were shot down, a few failed. We have six dead, including two military pilots. And more than ten wounded," one source said, per the channel.

It is not the first time that Ukraine has targeted the Morozovsk airbase.

In early April, Ukrainian forces carried out another large drone assault on the site, destroying "at least six fighter bombers," damaging another eight planes, and killing 20 Russian soldiers, a Ukrainian law enforcement official told Politico.

A video shared on social media at the time appeared to show the strikes.

Russias Morozovsk Airbase is currently under Ukrainian drone attack, with several explosions seen in the vicinity of the airfield. Morozovsk is home to a number of Russian Air Force Su-34 fighterbombers. pic.twitter.com/CnEP4U8tjv  OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) April 4, 2024

Russia has increasingly used glide bombs  some weighing more than 3,000 pounds  to batter Ukrainian targets.

The cheap projectiles are made by attaching wings and satellite navigation systems to old Soviet-era bombs. Russian bombers are then able to release them from safer distances, making it hard for Ukraine to counter such attacks.

Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said in March that Russia's use of the bombs was its "main advantage on the battlefield," allowing its forces "to destroy the targets of the strikes and advance through the ruins."

Read the original article on Business Insider
DENVER (KDVR)  Utah Gov. Spencer Cox is condemning Denver for sending migrants to Salt Lake City, calling the action completely unacceptable.

Cox said in a post on social media that the state recently learned Denver has been sending migrants to Salt Lake City and said Utahs resources are completely depleted.

Report: Denver organizations spend millions on migrant support

Denver Mayor Mike Johnstons office confirmed this to FOX31 in a statement, saying the city has purchased about 2,000 tickets to Salt Lake City over the past year and a half, including 59 over the last 30 days.

Why is Denver sending migrants elsewhere?

The mayors office said the city is only transporting migrants to other cities upon request, and the destination is chosen solely by the migrant.

The vast majority of newcomers arriving in Denver do so on buses chartered from Texas and had no intention of ever coming to Denver. Thats why part of our operations include purchasing tickets for newcomers to get to their desired location, where they may have support networks or job opportunities, the mayors office said in a statement to FOX31.

Denver introduces nearly $90M newcomer budget plan for migrant aid

The mayors office said the city is transporting migrants to their desired location to help them connect with family members or support groups.

Salt Lake City skyline at dawn

Where are migrants going from Denver?

The mayors office said Salt Lake City is a popular destination for migrants who arrive in Denver, but its not the top destination lately.

Over the last 30 days, according to the mayors office, the city has transported 111 people to New York, 59 people to Salt Lake City and 46 people to Chicago.

How you can help migrants in Denver

According to the city, Denver has served over 42,000 people from the southern border since December 2022, helping them to secure housing and legal work.

Cox claims Denver did not consult with Utah

The Utah governor claims Denver did not notify Utah officials before sending migrants to Salt Lake City.

Here is what Cox said in the social media post:

We recently learned that the Democrat mayor of Denver has been sending illegal immigrants to Utah without proper notification or approval. This is completely unacceptable and follows on the failed catch-and-release policy of the Biden administration. Every state has received illegal immigrants and Utahs resources are completely depleted. All 50 states, including Utah, are now border states due to the failed immigration policies of President Biden and Congress. Once again we call on the Biden administration and Congress to solve this crisis.

Hosting a migrant family in your home is now as simple as a phone call

FOX31 reached out to the Utah governors office and received a statement from the senior advisor of communications, Jennifer Naipier-Pearce, saying in part:

Since learning of Denvers policy, weve worked with Salt Lake County and Salt Lake City to push back on the Department of Homeland Security, the city of Denver, the state of Colorado and the Biden administration demanding they immediately stop this practice. Weve also worked with Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County to communicate to migrants, NGOs along the southern border, and other cities including Denver that we are unable to provide services to these illegal immigrants. Denver must end this practice and Congress and the president must do their job and fix this untenable situation.

The Denver mayors office told FOX31 that the city remains in close communication with officials to provide notification if larger groups are traveling or in the exceedingly rare occasion that a flight is booked.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
US allocates US$1.5 billion to Ukraine for energy and humanitarian support

On the occasion of her participation in the Global Peace Summit, US Vice President Kamala Harris has announced the allocation of US$1.5 billion to Ukraine through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department to support the Ukrainian people.

Source: European Pravda, citing White House

Details: Most of the funds, US$500 million and US$324 million of the already announced funding, will be used to meet Ukraines emergency energy needs, particularly to repair damaged infrastructure.

More than US$379 million will go to humanitarian aid for refugees, internally displaced persons, and conflict-affected hromadas, including food, water, sanitation and hygiene services. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories]

Another US$300 million will be used to support the civil security of Ukraine, providing equipment to Ukrainian border guards and law enforcement officers.

Quote: "These funds come as part of a larger foreign aid package spearheaded by President Biden to support the people of Ukraine," the White House said.

They noted that since the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion in February 2022, the United States had allocated more than US$3.2 billion for humanitarian aid and almost US$1.5 billion for the recovery of Ukraine's energy sector.

Background: Earlier, US President Joe Biden and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a 10-year bilateral agreement on security to strengthen Kyiv's defence capabilities.

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US announces $1.5 billion in aid for Ukraine, including support for energy infrastructure

The U.S. will provide Ukraine with $1.5 billion in aid to support the country's energy infrastructure, address urgent humanitarian needs, and bolster civilian security, including the protection of the border, Vice President Kamala Harris said on June 15.

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.

Harris made the announcement as she joined Ukraine's global peace summit in Switzerland.

The package, which is jointly funded by the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will include $500 million in energy assistance, as well as the redirection of $324 million in previously announced funding toward emergency energy needs in Ukraine.

"This funding will repair energy infrastructure damaged in the war, expand power generation, encourage private sector investment, and protect energy infrastructure," the statement on the White House's website read.

The assistance also includes $379 million in humanitarian assistance from the U.S. government and USAID to address the needs of refugees, internally displaced persons, and conflict-affected communities.

The State Department further aims to provide an additional $300 million for the lifesaving equipment of Ukrainian border guards and law enforcement, allowing them to operate on the front lines.

Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, the United States has devoted more than $3.2 billion in humanitarian assistance funding and nearly $1.5 billion to help the recovery of the energy sector.

Read also: Switzerland peace summit begins after months of preparation

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
In Vietnam, on March 12, 1970, U.S. Army Sgt. Mitchell William Stout grabbed an enemy grenade thrown into his bunker and used his body to shield the blast from his fellow soldiers. Now the services new Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense system will take his name.

Stouts bunker position came under heavy enemy mortar fire and ground attack, the Armys acquisition chief told reporters during a recent press briefing.

As the attack subsided, an enemy grenade was thrown into the bunker. Sgt. Stout ran to the grenade, picked it up, held it close to his body and started to get out of the bunker. Upon reaching the door, the grenade exploded, Doug Bush said.

In Vietnam, on March 12, 1970, U.S. Army Sgt. Mitchell William Stout grabbed an enemy grenade thrown into his bunker and used his body to shield the blast from his fellow soldiers. (Courtesy of the U.S. Army)

Sgt. Stout is the only Army air defense artilleryman in history to be awarded the Medal of Honor.

The heroism of this soldier demonstrates the Armys exact need for the Sgt. Stout vehicle, Bush added.

Record pace

Seven years ago, then-head of U.S. Army Europe, Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, was sounding the alarm over the lack of short-range air defense capability on the continent. In an interview flying over the Polish countryside, Hodges told Defense News he was worried about traditional threats but also new ones like drone swarms.

He said air defense was one of the biggest capability gaps and was desperately needed to counter possible threats from an increasingly aggressive Russia.

Some Avenger air defense systems from the U.S. Army National Guard could be spotted around exercises in Eastern Europe in 2016 and 2017, but assets overall were scant, even among the armed forces of European countries.

The Army heeded the warnings from commanders in the European theater, and the Sgt. Stout SHORAD systems development took place in record time. The service identified an urgent operational need in theater in 2016, received the requirement to build the system in February 2018, and then took 19 months to select an integration team and deliver prototypes for testing in the first quarter of 2020.

The first platoon to receive the Sgt. Stout, a Stryker combat vehicle-based platform that includes a mission equipment package designed by Leonardo DRS with Moogs Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform and RTXs Stinger vehicle missile launcher, deployed to Europe in 2021.

The Army is now fielding its third Sgt. Stout battalion at Fort Cavazos, Texas. The first battalion remains in Germany, and the second is based at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

The Army plans to begin fielding its fourth Sgt. Stout battalion at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 and is aiming to complete it by the second quarter of FY26, Brig. Gen. Frank Lozano, the Armys program executive officer for missiles and space, said in the media briefing.

The services potential acquisition objective is 361 systems, Lozano said. The Army approved a directive requirement for the first 162 vehicles that outfits the first four battalions and allows for some training battalion assets at Fort Sill, he added.

Another four battalions could eventually be on order for the National Guard, Lozano said. That will likely occur over the next [program objective memorandum] cycle.

The Army is now well into production and fielding in a very short time, Bush said. Those early decisions were made before the war in Ukraine, and its really good that they were because we now are actually fielding short-range air defense systems that, among other things, provides counter-[unmanned aircraft system] capability to forward forces, which everyone can see are in increasing danger from UAS and other threats. I think we really got this one right, and we did it really fast.

Evolving capability

Two more variants of Sgt. Stout vehicles are coming. The Army has concurrently been working on a 50-kilowatt laser weapon version and deployed a Stryker-based capability to U.S. Central Commands area of responsibility recently.

Bush would not detail how it is performing, but noted there are challenges when it comes to putting a high-kilowatt laser on a moving vehicle as opposed to a fixed site. And he said the Army is still considering the right platform and the right power levels to go with the maneuver force.

A decision on what a directed-energy SHORAD capability might look like is expected sometime across the next five fiscal years, he added.

Another variant would focus on providing a next-generation Stinger missile and a 30mm proximity fuse ammunition, which will help gain capability within the counter-drone space.

The service wants the Stinger missile replacement for SHORAD to be faster, survive jamming and more easily hit tougher targets like drones, Lozano told Defense News last fall.

In September 2023, the Army awarded RTX and Lockheed Martin contracts to competitively develop the Stinger replacement.

The Army is conducting efforts for the improved Stinger and proximity fuse ammunition using a rapid prototyping strategy; the service is roughly one year into the program.

The intent is to carry a couple of vendors forward for the next two years to get to a shoot-off, Lozano said. Then based on affordability aspects that have yet to be determined, we may continue to carry two vendors, or we may downselect to one and go into a three-year, very intense, aggressive developmental effort to try to get to a material solution that I can transition into potentially a major capability acquisition pathway.

The Army anticipates it will reach the decision point for production in the second quarter of FY28, Bush noted.

A fourth increment for the system is also under consideration. The Army released a request for information this year asking for ideas on how to evolve the capability for lighter forces.

Were really in the infancy of understanding what that program increment might look like, Lozano said, with the goal of making a lighter force more effective, but also as agile as they need to be on tomorrows battlefield.
US believes Russia uses UN Security Council to distract from Peace Summit

The US has accused Russia of attempting to use the United Nations Security Council to divert the international community's attention away from the Peace Summit in Switzerland.

Source: Robert Wood, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations, at the UN Security Council meeting

Quote: "It is therefore no surprise Russia called todays meeting the day before dozens of countries travel to Switzerland for the Summit on Peace. Todays meeting is a transparent attempt to distract the world and blame anyone but itself for what is happening in Ukraine."

Details: Wood said Russia wants the world to believe that Ukraine's attempts to defend itself are the real obstacle to peace.

He added that Russia is trying to strengthen ties with countries that openly ignore international law and the UN Charter.

Particularly, he reiterated that Russia received dozens of ballistic missiles and over 11,000 containers with ammunition from North Korea. He also mentioned that Russia has deepened military relations with Iran by purchasing drones and is seeking to acquire ballistic missiles.

In addition, Wood stated that China plays a significant role in supporting Russia by "providing Russia with substantial quantities of machine tools, microelectronics, optics, as well as UAV and cruise missile technology. These materials are filling critical gaps in Russias defence production cycle".

Wood called on all countries to cease military cooperation with Russia, "We urge all countries to cease military cooperation with Russia, which supports its war of aggression against Ukraine".

Quote: "The international communitys participation in the upcoming Summit on Peace in Ukraine  hosted by Switzerland  will be crucial in supporting our shared objective: the maintenance of international peace and security."

Meanwhile, Geng Shuang, China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, stated that the US is spreading lies about China's support for the war. According to the Chinese diplomat, the country has not provided lethal weapons to either side of the conflict and has always strictly controlled dual-use goods.

He added that the economic and trade cooperation between China and Russia complies with World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules.

Moreover, Shuang called on the US to stop imposing unilateral sanctions against Chinese businesses.

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The Red Cloud Indian School in Rapid City, S.D., formerly known as the Holy Rosary Mission, is one of 87 Catholic-run Indian boarding schools. (Photo: Jenna Kunze)

The largest group of Catholic leaders in the United States today released a guiding document to promote reconciliation and healing for its religious leaders serving Indigenous communities that academics and Native leaders say falls short of owning up to the role it played in Indian boarding schools.

The 56-page document, Keeping Christs Sacred Promise: A Pastoral Framework for Indigenous Ministry, aims to promote reconciliation and healing and serve as the renewed welcome for Indigenous Catholics in the life of the Church.

The framework was developed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church/Subcommittee on Native American Affairs through listening sessions with Native Catholic leaders in 2019. More than 340 parishes in the country serve predominantly Native American congregations, according to USCCB.

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The framework was approved by the full body of the USCCB at its general assembly on June 14 in Louisville, Kentucky.

The last time the bishops formally addressed Catholic Native Peoples was with a seven-page statement in 1977. Absent from that initial reflection of the Catholic Church in the United States with the American Indian peoples was any mention of the history ofor the Churchs role in epidemics, land dispossession, or Indian boarding schools.

In the last 50 years, the new pastoral framework notes, Catholic Native ministries and populations have experienced fundamental changes. The USCCB says it recognized a need for an updated pastoral framework to address the current realities and pastoral challenges among Indigenous Catholics, including a sense of abandonment by the church, and historical trauma born from Indian boarding schools and the breakup of family systems.

The new document touches on a history of trauma for Native communities throughout the United States and acknowledges the 150-legacy of Indian boarding schools, but without explaining the Catholic Churchs role in such trauma.

We apologize for the failure to nurture, strengthen, honor, recognize, and appreciate those entrusted to our pastoral care, the document says in its introduction.

Later: Among the most significant sources of trauma are epidemics, national policies, and Native boarding schools, which stand out because of their profound effect on family life. The family systems of many Indigenous Peoples never fully recovered from these tragedies, which often led to broken homes harmed by addiction, domestic abuse, abandonment, and neglect. The Church recognizes that it has played a part in traumas experienced by Native children.

From 1819 and 1969, U.S. federal policy supported the forced removal of Indigenous children from their homes and communities to assimilate them into the dominant white culture by sending them to Indian boarding schools. According to a federal investigative report published in May 2022, the government operated or supported at least 408 boarding schools across 37 states. About half of the boarding schools were staffed or paid for by a religious institution.

The document lacks sufficient links between the repercussions of historical trauma and the actions, leadership, and accountability of the Catholic church, said Sam Torres, Deputy Chief Executive Office of the Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition.

Notably absent is any mention of the sexual and spiritual abuse inflicted on Native children by operators of Catholic boarding schools, Torres told Native News Online. Instead, the blame for intergenerational trauma is primarily placed on the US government and Eurocentric world powers.

The 2022 federal investigation into the legacy of Indian boarding schools detailed rampant physical, sexual, and emotional abuse; disease; malnourishment; overcrowding; and lack of health care in Indian boarding schools, and found that at least 500 Native children had died at boarding schools. The reports author, Assistant Secretary of the Interior Bryan Newland (Bay Mills Indian Community), estimates that number will rise to the tens of thousands'' as the investigation continues.

Since the turn of the century, hundreds of childhood survivors of abuse at Indian boarding schools have filed lawsuits, seeking retribution for the sexual and physical abuse they endured at the hands of priests, nuns, and clergy entrusted with their care.

Last year, an interactive map project found that nearly half of all Jesuit priests and brothers credibly accused of sexual abuse against children or vulnerable adults in a 10-state region in the western United States over the past 70 years worked in Indian Country.

Yet despite the Catholic Church settling many lawsuits with boarding school survivors who alleged sexual abuseeven leading to a 2017 bankruptcy in the Jesuit West province after it paid out $200 million in settlement claims to Indigenous survivors of sexual abuse no mention of clergy abuse was made in the guiding document.

Katie Holscher, an Associate Professor of Religious Studies and American Studies at the University of New Mexico, who co-created the interactive map of credibly accused Jesuit priests, said that the language of the new pastoral framework was weaker than Pope Francis apology to Indigenous communities in 2022.

If the USCCB wants to act in the spirit of Pope Francis apology, they need to be more direct about what they're apologizing for in terms of the historical treatment by the Catholic Catholic Church of Native people, she said. They want to jump to healing and reconciliation without doing much truth telling.

Cecilia Fire Thunder, executive director of truth and healing at the Red Cloud Indian School on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, told Native News Online that the USCCBs document was an acknowledgement of wrongdoing. Red Cloud Indian School has operated under the Jesuits for 136 years, beginning in 1888.

It's an acknowledgement that [the church] participated in government policy to stop the language from being spoken, said Fire Thunder, who defines herself as a recovered Catholic, a pipe carrier, and a former student at Red Cloud Indian School as a child. We're asking that every Indian reservation in America that had a Catholic presence, whether it be a school or a church, be given the resources to build back culture and language revitalization.

The new pastoral framework also disavows the doctrine of discovery, a legal concept created in a 1823 U.S. Supreme Court decision that justified the forceful seizing of Native land by European colonizers under the guise that colonizers discovered the land. In March 2023, the Vatican formally repudiated the church decree.

Let us be very clear here: the Catholic Church does not espouse these ideologies, the USCCB framework document says.

USCCB makes four recommendations to U.S. bishops, including: transparency in making available Church records about the boarding schools, graves of Indigenous Americans, and other issues related to the treatment of Indigenous Americans by members of the Church; relationship building, and developing and process to conduct listening sessions with Indigenous communities locally and nationally; and accountability.

All members of the Church should be open to cooperating with Tribal and other government investigations into any Catholic involvement in ethnic abuse, the document reads. These investigations include, but are not limited to, conduct at Native boarding schools.

About the Author: "Jenna Kunze is a staff reporter covering Indian health, the environment and breaking news for Native News Online. She is also the lead reporter on stories related to Indian boarding schools and repatriation. Her bylines have appeared in The Arctic Sounder, High Country News, Indian Country Today, Tribal Business News, Smithsonian Magazine, Elle and Anchorage Daily News. Kunze is based in New York."

Contact: jkunze@indiancountrymedia.com
US military strikes Houthi radar sites in Yemen after ship goes missing in Red Sea

The U.S. military is striking radar sites operated by Yemens Houthi rebels after a merchant sailor and boat went missing in the Red Sea earlier this week.

U.S. strikes have destroyed seven radars within Houthi territory, the militarys Central Command (CENTCOM) said. The Associated Press reported that the military did not elaborate on how the sites were destroyed and did not immediately respond to questions.

The radars allow the Houthis to target maritime vessels and endanger commercial shipping, CENTCOM said in a statement to the AP.

The strikes are the latest development in the Red Sea, where the Houthis are striking ships in an attempt to stop the ongoing war in Gaza. Like other Iranian-backed groups, the Houthis are protesting Israels continued bombardment of the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The group has claimed it struck ships that provided Israel with aid in its ongoing military operation, while others have hit U.S. targets because Washington has offered continued support to the Israeli military.

However, as the news wire noted, the rebel group has also targeted ships and sailors that have nothing to do with the war. About half of all international cargo boats have been diverted through the critical shipping corridor amid the ongoing conflict.

Separately, the U.S. destroyed two drone boats in the Red Sea that held bombs, as well as a drone that was launched above the waterway from the Houthi rebels.

CENTCOM acknowledged that one commercial sailor from the Liberian-flagged and Greek-owned cargo carrier Tutor has been missing since Wednesday, after the Houthis used a drone with a bomb on it to strike the boat.

The crew abandoned ship and were rescued by the USS Philippine Sea and partner forces, but the Tutor remains in the Red Sea and is taking on water, the agency said, per the AP.

The missing sailor is Filipino, the Philippine News Agency said.

While most of the Houthis attacks since November have been unsuccessful, with the U.S. shooting down drones on a near-daily basis, several commercial ships have been struck, at least four of them have been U.S. vessels, the Pentagon said in March.

The U.S. Navy is likely spending more than $2 million on each surface-to-air missile to take down each Houthi attack.

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A fighter jet lands on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, also known as "IKE," in the Red Sea on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. The U.S.-led campaign against Iran-backed Houthi rebels has turned into the most intense running sea battle the Navy has faced since World War II. That's what its leaders and experts tell The Associated Press, whose journalists visited U.S. ships off Yemen in recent days. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  The U.S. military unleashed a wave of attacks targeting radar sites operated by Yemens Houthi rebels after one merchant sailor went missing and the vessel he was on caught fire in the latest Houthi strike on shipping in the crucial Red Sea corridor, authorities said Saturday.

The attacks come as the U.S. Navy faces the most intense combat it has seen since World War II in trying to counter the Houthi campaign  attacks the rebels say are meant to halt the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. However, the Iranian-backed rebel assaults often see the Houthis target ships and sailors who have nothing to do with the war while traffic remains halved through a corridor vital for cargo and energy shipments between Asia, Europe and the Mideast.

U.S. strikes destroyed seven radars within Houthi-controlled territory, the military's Central Command said. It did not elaborate on how the sites were destroyed and did not immediately respond to questions from The Associated Press.

These radars allow the Houthis to target maritime vessels and endanger commercial shipping, Central Command said in a statement.

The U.S. separately destroyed two bomb-laden drone boats in the Red Sea, as well as a drone launched by the Houthis over the waterway, it said.

The Houthis, who have held Yemen's capital, Sanaa, since 2014, did not acknowledge the strikes, nor any military losses. That's been typical since the U.S. began launching airstrikes targeting the rebels.

The Central Command said one commercial sailor from the Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk cargo carrier Tutor remained missing after an attack Wednesday by the Houthis that used a bomb-carrying drone boat to strike the vessel.

The crew abandoned ship and were rescued by USS Philippine Sea and partner forces, Central Command said. The Tutor remains in the Red Sea and is slowly taking on water.

The British militarys United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said Saturday afternoon that the Tutor was still on fire and sinking.

The missing sailor is Filipino, according to the state-run Philippine News Agency, which cited Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac. He said most of the Tutor's 22 mariners were from the Philippines.

"Were trying to account for the particular seafarer in the ship and are praying that we could find him, he said Friday night.

Also on Saturday, Central Command said the vessel M/V Anna Meta rescued crew members from the cargo carrier M/V Verbena, which was struck Thursday in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Yemen in two separate missile attacks by the Houthis.

The crew abandoned ship after being unable to bring fires on the vessel under control. One mariner was severely wounded.

CENTCOM said the Verbena is a Palauan-flagged, Ukrainian-owned and Polish-operated bulk cargo carrier that had docked in Malaysia and was on its way to Italy carrying wood.

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.

The war in the Gaza Strip has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians there, according to Gaza health officials, 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 claim to be acting on behalf of Palestinians in Gaza and yet they are targeting and threatening the lives of third-country nationals who have nothing to do with the conflict in Gaza, Central Command said. The ongoing threat to international commerce caused by the Houthis in fact makes it harder to deliver badly needed assistance to the people of Yemen as well as Gaza.

The attacks continued early Sunday as two explosions struck in close proximity to another ship in the Red Sea, though the ship and crew were safe, the British military said.
The US Navy has spent over six months battling the Houthis in the Red Sea.

It's a resource-consuming conflict with no end in sight, raising questions about sustainability.

Experts say the Houthis are managing to threaten shipping lanes despite the US Navy's efforts.

The US Navy warships deployed to the Middle East have found themselves locked in a high-tempo operating environment as they work around the clock to battle unprecedented attacks from a restless enemy.

The Houthis have proven to be a wily and formidable foe. Five months after rounds of US-led coalition airstrikes to "disrupt and degrade" their capabilities, the militants continue to wreak havoc. They're routinely forcing the US-led task force to intercept their missiles, bomb boats, and flying drones that have turned shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden into a dangerous  and deadly  corridor.

The Houthis have struck multiple ships in the last week, and US officials say these attacks are unlikely to end anytime soon, raising concerns the US is stuck in a costly and unsustainable standoff.

The Houthis have managed to drag Washington into a prolonged, expensive, resource-depleting conflict and driven shipping costs much higher. While no American warships have been hit, the US must bear the growing financial costs and wear and tear to its warships.

Through their campaign, the rebels have not only proven their role as a formidable asset in Iran's proxy network, but they've also demonstrated that they're more than capable of threatening commercial shipping again in the future.

Is the US military's approach sustainable?

Components of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Group steam in formation with the Italian navy in the Red Sea on June 7. US Navy photo

US naval forces have expended a significant amount of resources battling the Houthis since the fall.

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, which consists of the aircraft carrier Ike and several other warships, has fired off more than 500 munitions during its deployment, and its aircraft have flown tens of thousands of hours, Navy officials have disclosed in recent weeks.

The spent munitions alone account for nearly $1 billion, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro revealed in mid-April, although that figure has certainly gone up in the two months since. This figure, by itself, underscores the growing financial drain of America's naval presence in the region, and it doesn't include the other costs that help sustain the operation.

Business Insider asked the Pentagon and US Central Command for the total cost of counter-Houthi operations but is yet to receive a response.

The US has relied on expensive missiles to destroy Houthi weapons that cost a fraction of the $2.1 million SM-2 interceptor, for instance, but experts say the Pentagon can sustain the increasing missile expenditures for what could be years. What's more of a concern for the US, they say, is sustaining the warships from which these munitions are being launched.

A fighter jet parks on the deck of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Red Sea on June 11. AP Photo/Bernat Armangue

Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines warned last month that the Houthis are likely to remain active for some time. Elements of the Eisenhower strike group have already left the Red Sea once to be rearmed and resupplied, and the Pentagon recently extended its monthslong deployment for a second time.

"As long as we continue to have the will to do this, we can sustain this," retired Gen. Joseph Votel, who served as the CENTCOM commander in the 2010s, told Business Insider. "We're big enough, we have enough capability and capacity to do that. What will matter will be the will of whether we want to continue to pursue this."

A spokesperson for the White House National Security Council said the US remains committed to fighting the Houthis because the rebels remain a "very viable threat" and are still causing problems for shipping companies.

"We will continue to do everything that we can to knock that steel out of the sky and make sure that our Navy is fully prepared to do so," John Kirby told reporters at a Tuesday briefing when asked by BI about the sustainability of the mission.

"We believe it's still vital, and we're going to treat it that way when it comes to resourcing it," he added.

A fighter jet is launched from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower during a strike against Houthi military targets in Yemen on Feb. 3. US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jorge LeBaron/Handout via REUTERS

The US has taken several steps to degrade Houthi capabilities with firepower of its own. American forces have conducted several rounds of joint strikes with the UK, targeting rebel facilities and assets across Yemen, and unilaterally destroyed missiles and drones before they can be launched.

The Pentagon has asserted that these routine actions have managed to help degrade the Houthis' capabilities. Haines, however, said they have been "insufficient" to stop the rebels, and experts agree that the US military strategy has largely been unsuccessful.

"I think, unfortunately, the Biden administration has settled into a rhythm where, because of the Houthi attacks on commercial shipping, they feel like they have to do something," Brian Finucane, the senior advisor for the US program at the International Crisis Group, told BI.

"And as is all-too-often the case, that 'do something' is respond militarily, even if the military option is not particularly effective at bringing about an end to them," said Finucane, a former lawyer at the US State Department.

Footage shows airstrikes in Yemen on Jan. 12. Screengrab via UK Ministry of Defense

The US, in its strikes, has gone after radars, weapons storage facilities, launch sites, and other rebel assets in Yemen, but the Pentagon has stopped short of taking its military response "to the next level," Votel said. "We are largely defending and blunting, and not trying to remove the capacity that the Houthis actually have."

An 'unstable and unsure' future

For years, the Houthis' destabilizing activities were kept to a regional level, as the rebels fought a catastrophic civil war with Yemen's internationally recognized government and against Saudi Arabia, its neighbor to the north.

But the attacks on commercial shipping have thrust the Houthis onto the world stage. By participating in attacks on Israel and Western naval forces, the rebels have attempted to position themselves as a valuable member of Iran's regional proxy network. More tangibly, though, they have managed to throw a wrench into the workings of a major shipping route, impacting the world economy.

As of February, for instance, shipping through the Red Sea  which normally accounts for up to 15% of international maritime trade  had declined by around 90% since December 2023, according to a Defense Intelligence Agency report published on Thursday. Ships that take an alternate route around Africa add time and money to their journeys.

The impact of these attacks, which have affected the interests of at least 65 countries, is a win for the rebels.

Houthi fighters are seen on the Galaxy Leader, a vessel they hijacked, off the coast of Yemen on May 12. Photo by Mohammed Hamoud/Getty Images

"They seem to have succeeded in disrupting one of the primary national security interests that we have in the region, and that is the free flow of commerce and goods through the waters of the region," Votel said. "That's got to be viewed as a success from their standpoint."

The Houthis have claimed that their actions are in response to Israeli military action in Gaza, itself a response to Hamas' Oct. 7 massacre, but US officials have pushed back on these claims, citing the wide range of countries that have been impacted by the maritime attacks.

Whether a new, lasting ceasefire in Gaza pushes the Houthis to stop their attacks remains to be seen. Notably, the rebels did not adhere to the first ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in November.

Even if the Houthis do stop their attacks as a result of a ceasefire, experts warn that the rebels have demonstrated they retain the weaponry to target shipping lanes whenever they want  a strategy they could always turn to down the road if they contest any sort of regional development, like Israeli military action.

"We are set for a very unstable and unsure period in the foreseeable future," Farzin Nadimi, a senior fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy and an expert on the Persian Gulf region, told BI. "There is a possibility that [the] Houthis will continue to assert some form of control over the shipping traffic in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab [Strait]."

A commercial ship in the Red Sea in March. French military photo

Ultimately, any near-term solution to the Houthi conflict this time around may not actually address the long-term threat that the rebels pose, experts say, and the Biden administration's current military approach seems unlikely to permanently fix the problem.

"There's no easy military solution to the various challenges that the Houthis pose," Finucane said. "It's going to require a longer-term political diplomatic process."

For now, though, the Houthi attacks are certain to continue. Over the past week alone, the rebels have struck multiple commercial vessels, even hitting one with an explosive-laden drone boat for the first time  something they've failed to do in previous attempts.

Several Western nations, including the US, are keeping their warships in the region, ready to shoot down missiles and drones at a moment's notice. But with a Gaza ceasefire still out of reach  seemingly the only short-term way that the Houthi attacks might end  these countries are unlikely to pack up and head home anytime soon.

"We have to expect the Houthis will maintain at their current pace for some time," Nadimi said. "Therefore, the Western navies in the region are facing this challenge  whether they can sustain their assets."

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Biden administration on Friday issued sanctions against what it describes as a violent, extremist Israeli group that has been blocking, harassing and damaging humanitarian aid convoys bound for the Gaza Strip.

The sanctions target individuals with the group Tzav 9. Sanctioned individuals are generally blocked from entering the U.S. and have any property or interests in the U.S. frozen. Other individuals or groups or entities that associate with sanctioned individuals also risk being sanctioned.

For months, individuals from Tzav 9 have repeatedly sought to thwart the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, including by blockading roads, sometimes violently, along their route from Jordan to Gaza, including in the West Bank, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.

They also have damaged aid trucks and dumped life-saving humanitarian aid onto the road. On May 13, 2024, Tzav 9 members looted and then set fire to two trucks near Hebron in the West Bank carrying humanitarian aid destined for men, women, and children in Gaza.

The sanctions against Tzav underscore a segment of Israeli society that supports a maximalist military approach to Israels war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, following the Hamas attack on Oct. 7. Some of these Israelis say humanitarian aid must be blocked to the strip because it inevitably ends up in the hands of Hamas.

While some Israeli officials have implemented short-lived policies to block aid to the Gaza Strip, the Israeli government facilitates aid through a few crossings, and under pressure from the Biden administration has worked to increase the number of trucks transiting Israel from Jordan to reach the strip.

The provision of humanitarian assistance is vital to preventing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza from worsening and to mitigating the risk of famine, Miller continued in his statement.

The Government of Israel has a responsibility to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian convoys transiting Israel and the West Bank enroute to Gaza. We will not tolerate acts of sabotage and violence targeting this essential humanitarian assistance. We will continue to use all tools at our disposal to promote accountability for those who attempt or undertake such heinous acts, and we expect and urge that Israeli authorities do the same.

The actions by the Tzav group further demonstrate spiraling violence in the West Bank. President Bidens authority to sanction the group was established in February, with an executive order granting the president powers to hold individuals and groups accountable for threatening peace, security and stability in that area.

In February, Biden sanctioned four Israelis for violence in the West Bank, and the administration has also sanctioned a Palestinian militant group in the West Bank.

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The US has supplied Ukraine with over 4 million shells, as well as tanks and helicopters of Russian origin

The US has sent more than $50 billion worth of military aid to Ukraine, said the State Department.

The assistance has included advanced US weapons like HIMARS missiles and Abrams tanks.

The US has also sent weapons of Russian origin, including the T-72 tank and Mi-17 helicopter.

The US has spent $51.2 billion in military assistance for Ukraine since Russia invaded in 2022, according to a recent fact sheet published by the State Department. This total rises to $54 billion when the years since Russia's initial invasion of Ukraine in 2014 are included.

The range and quantity of weapons is far-reaching. Ukraine has received over four million shells, 400,000,000 small arms rounds, and grenades, as well as hundreds of advanced missile systems, tanks, armored vehicles, artillery pieces, river patrol boats, and electronic warfare technologies.

The US has even sent Ukraine weapons of Russian origin including 45 T-72s (versus 31 US Abrams tanks), Mi-17 helicopters and 122mm GRAD rockets.

Check out the range of military hardware the US has supplied Ukraine, according to the comprehensive list compiled by the US State Department.

Tanks

A US-made M1 Abrams tank (L) and a Russian-made T-72 (R) Getty Images

The US delivered 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine in the fall of last year.

More surprisingly, Ukraine has received 45 tanks of Russian origin from the US, 14 more than the US's own Abrams. These T-72B tanks are cheaper and less advanced than the US-made Abrams.

The Abrams were a major addition to Ukraine's arsenal of mostly aging Soviet armor and augmented previous deliveries of the German-made Leopard tanks and British Challengers.

Robert Greenway, a Hudson Institute expert who served in the Army with the Abrams, previously told Business Insider that the Abrams "can do other things, but it's built to kill tanks."

"The A1 may be old in the sense that it's been in our inventory for quite some time, but it's far superior to anything that the Russians have," he said.

Soviet-designed choppers

Ukrainian Mi-17 helicopter taking off in Eastern Ukraine in February, 2023. ANATOLII STEPANOV/Getty Images

Ukraine has also been sent 20 Mi-17 helicopters. Like the T-72B tanks, these aircraft are Russian in origin.

Ukraine has also received many unmanned aerial systems (UAS), such as the Cyber Lux K8 and the Phoenix Ghost drones.

Artillery rounds by the million

A M109A6 Paladin 155mm self-propelled howitzer stands camouflaged on a Ukrainian position on May 18, 2023 in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine. It can fire the Remote Anti-Armor Mine System shell. Serhii Mykhalchuk/Getty Images

Ukraine has received a colossal number of artillery shells from the US, including More than 3,000,000 155mm, 800,000 105mm, and 400,000 152mm artillery rounds.

It has also supplied tens of thousands of precision-guided 155mm artillery rounds.

However, these prodigious supplies didn't satisfy Ukraine's armed forces' appetite for munitions. Over the winter months, it faced a severe shortage of artillery shells, partly due to a US military aid package being stalled in Congress.

Ukraine's defense minister, Rustem Umerov, wrote in a February letter to EU counterparts that the shortages had left Ukraine unable to fire more than 2,000 artillery shells a day, roughly one-third of Russia's capacity.

In May, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said for the first time since Russia's invasion, Ukraine's forces had reported no shortages of artillery shells.

Patriots

A Patriot air defense system test-fired during a training in Chania, Greece, on November 8, 2017. Anthony Sweeney/US Army

Since February 2022, the US has provided Ukraine with one MIM-104 Patriot air defense system and munitions for the battery. The $1-billion Patriot is a ground-based, mobile surface-to-air missile battery that can down crewed and uncrewed aircraft, cruise missiles, and short-range and tactical ballistic missiles.

According to Frederik Mertens, a Hague Center for Strategic Studies analyst, their performance in Ukraine has been "an unmitigated success."

After months of pleas from Ukrainian officials, 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.

Ukraine has received one other Patriot battery jointly provided by Germany and the Netherlands. Germany has also pledged three more Patriots and is considering pledging a fourth, per Bloomberg.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told NATO that Ukraine needs at least seven in April, Reuters reported.

Surface-to-air missiles

National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) Courtesy of Raytheon Technologies

Ukraine has received 12 National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS).

According to one developer, Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace, NASAMS are short-to-medium-range ground-based air defense systems that target UAVs and cruise missiles, perform counter-fire operations, and provide coastal defense.

Though not on the list published by the US State Department, America has also supplied Ukraine with a mixture of shorter and, more recently, longer-range MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems (or ATACMS).

The longer-range ATACMS could prove crucial for Ukraine, as they can travel about 190 miles and hit higher-value targets in places like Crimea, which has been occupied by Russia since 2014.

According to the US Department of Defense, Ukraine has also received Avenger air defense systems and the HAWK (an acronym for "Homing All the Way Killer"), a medium-range surface-to-air missile.

Ukraine has also received equipment to help integrate Western launchers, missiles, and radars with Ukrainian systems, often older Soviet models.

This suggests a link to the Pentagon's FrankenSAM project, a hybrid air defense system that combines Soviet launchers with US missiles.

Ukraine published photos of the finished products in May after months of experimenting with US engineers. Ukraine's existing inventory of Soviet-era Buk systems has been developed to fire old RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles supplied by Washington.

HIMARS and howitzers

US Marine Corps M777 155mm howitzers at March Air Reserve Base in California prior to delivery to Ukraine, April 22, 2022. US Marine Corps/Cpl. Austin Fraley

Ukraine has received 12 National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missiles, more than 40 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (or HIMARS), and the accompanying ammunition. The HIMARS can fire rockets up to 50 miles and be hailed as a lifeline for Ukraine in the early months of the war.

However, recent reports suggested that US-supplied HIMARS rocket launchers had been rendered "completely ineffective" as a result of Russian electronic jamming systems.

Ukraine also received 72 105mm Howitzers.

The howitzer requires five people to operate it and can launch 100-pound, 155-millimeter shells 18 miles without rocket assistance.

They are among the best big guns in the Ukrainian armory. "The reason is its precision," one Ukrainian gunner told Radio Free Europe.

Russian rockets

A Ukrainian gunner firing at a Russian position with BM 21 "Grad" MLRS near the town of Kupyansk, Kharkiv Region, on April 18, 2024. ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP via Getty Images

Ukraine has been sent thousands of rockets, including 60,000 122mm GRAD rockets for the Russian launchers still used by Ukraine's army.

The highly-rated Bradley fighting vehicle

Ukrainian soldiers patrol with a Bradley Fighting vehicle as the Russia-Ukraine war continues in Avdiivka, Donbas, Ukraine on December 4, 2023. Anadolu

Ukraine has received 300 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles capable of transporting troops on the battlefield, providing fire support, and conducting reconnaissance missions.

These vehicles, which are quick and highly maneuverable, are operated by a three-person crew consisting of a driver, the commander, and a gunner and can carry up to half a dozen fully equipped soldiers.

Ukraine's soldiers highly rate the Bradley.

Last week, a war video released by Ukraine appeared to show a US-supplied M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle in a head-on clash with a Russian armored personnel carrier.

Ukrainian troops have reported that Russian soldiers are "afraid" of facing US-supplied Bradley fighting vehicles.

Javelins missiles have helped destroy Russian armor

Ukrainian servicemen load a truck with the FGM-148 Javelin, American man-portable anti-tank missile provided by US to Ukraine as part of a military support, upon its delivery at Kyiv's airport Boryspil on February 11, 2022. Sergei Supinsky/Getty Images

The US has supplied over 10,000 Javelin anti-armor systems. Ukraine has successfully used the weapons to strike Russian tanks and vehicles.

Maritime weapons

Harpoon anti-ship missile WikiCommons

Ukraine has received two Harpoon coastal defense systems, anti-ship missiles from the US, and over 80 coastal and riverine patrol boats.

Body armor

Body armor worn by a solider of the US 82nd Airborne Division. AP Photo/Gerry Broome

More than 100,000 body armor and helmets have been sent to Ukraine from the US. Various Medical supplies, including first aid kits, bandages, monitors, and other equipment, as well as field equipment, cold weather gear, generators, and spare parts, have also reached the front line.

More serious protective equipment like chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear protective gear, along with bomb disposal equipment and protective gear, have been received by Ukraine.

They've also had night vision devices, surveillance and thermal imagery systems, optics, and rangefinders.

Satellites and electronic warfare equipment

A man holds a portable electronic warfare system at an event in Ukraine earlier this year. Global Images Ukraine via Getty

Russia has a sophisticated electronic warfare program and has improved at disabling high-tech missiles provided to Ukraine by its Western allies, such as HIMARS.

Ukraine has received various types of Electronic warfare (EW) and counter-EW equipment from the US, four SATCOM antennas, SATCOM terminals and services, and secure communications systems.

The US has also sent 21 air surveillance radars to support Ukraine's existing air defense.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Activists call for the passage of a binding code of ethics for Supreme Court justices in front of the supreme court in Washington DC on 30 October 2023.

Activists call for the passage of a binding code of ethics for Supreme Court justices in front of the supreme court in Washington DC on 30 October 2023. Photograph: Shawn Thew/EPA-EFE

Look at me, look at me, said Martha-Ann Alito. Im German, from Germany. My heritage is German. You come after me, Im gonna give it back to you.

It was a bizarre outburst from the wife of a justice on Americas highest court. Secretly recorded by a liberal activist, Martha-Ann Alito complained about a neighbours gay pride flag and expressed a desire to fly a Sacred Heart of Jesus flag in protest.

This, along with audio clips of Justice Samuel Alito himself and a stream of ethics violations, have deepened public concerns that the supreme court is playing by its own rules. The Democratic representative Jamie Raskin has described a national clamour over this crisis of legitimacy at the court.

A poll last month for the progressive advocacy organisation Stand Up America suggests that the supreme court will now play a crucial role in voters choices in the 2024 election. Nearly three in four voters said the selection and confirmation of justices will be an important consideration for them in voting for both president and senator in November.

Reed Galen, a co-founder of the Lincoln Project, a pro-democracy group, said: The idea that these guys act as if they are kings ruling from above, to me, should absolutely be an issue. It was always Republicans who said we hate unelected judges legislating from the bench and we hate judicial activism. Thats all this stuff is.

Public trust in the court is at an all-time low amid concerns over bias and corruption. Alito has rejected demands that he recuse himself from a case considering presidential immunity after flags similar to those carried by 6 January 2021 rioters flew over his homes in Virginia and New Jersey. Justice Clarence Thomas has ignored calls to step aside because of the role his wife, Ginni, played in supporting efforts to overturn Donald Trumps loss to Joe Biden in 2020.

Ethical standards have been under scrutiny following revelations that some justices failed to report luxury trips, including on private jets, and property deals. Last week Thomas, who has come under criticism for failing to disclose gifts from the businessman and Republican donor Harlan Crow, revised his 2019 form to acknowledge he accepted food and lodging at a Bali hotel and at a California club.

These controversies have been compounded by historic and hugely divisive decisions. The fall of Roe v Wade, ending the nationwide right to abortion after half a century, was seen by many Democrats as a gamechanger in terms of people making a connection between the court and their everyday lives.

Even though debate among members of Congress would lead you to believe that court reform is a polarising issue, it really isnt Maggie Jo Buchanan, managing director of Demand Justice

There are further signs of the debate moving beyond the Washington bubble. Last week, the editorial board of the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper argued that, since the courts own ethics code proved toothless, Congress should enact legislation that holds supreme court justices to higher ethical standards. The paper called for the local senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, who is chair of the Senate judiciary committee, to hold a hearing on the issue.

Maggie Jo Buchanan, managing director of the pressure group Demand Justice, said: Its important to keep in mind that, even though debate among members of Congress would lead you to believe that court reform is a polarising issue, it really isnt. For years we have seen broad bipartisan support for basic supreme court reforms such as ethics.

A broad bipartisan consensus exists that theyve grown too powerful, that they have too much power over laws and regulations. Thats shared among nearly three-fourths of Americans, including 80% of independents, so the demand is there and this isnt something where its Democrats versus Republicans in the sense of real people. The American people want change and want to check the judiciary.

Congressional Democrats have introduced various bills including one to create an independent ethics office and internal investigations counsel within the supreme court. Broader progressive ideas include expanding the number of seats on the court or limiting the justices to 18-year terms rather than lifetime appointments.

But such efforts have been repeatedly thwarted by Republicans, who over decades impressed on their base the importance of the court, ultimately leading to a 6-3 conservative majority including three Trump appointees.

This week Senate Republicans blocked the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act, legislation that would require the court to adopt a binding code of conduct for all justices, establish procedures to investigate complaints of judicial misconduct and adopt rules to disclose gifts, travel and income received by them that are at least as rigorous as congressional disclosure rules.

In response, Christina Harvey, executive director of Stand Up America, said its nearly 2 million members are fired up and ready to continue advocating for supreme court reform  in Congress and at the ballot box.

But Galen of the Lincoln Project worries that Democrats lack the necessary aggression to capitalise on the issue. [Senate majority leader Chuck] Schumer and Durbin are not change agents. They consider themselves institutionalists and they continue to call themselves that. Theyre in a place where they cant possibly conceive of something like that. Democrats are just afraid of their own shadow.

That principle might apply to the US president himself. The 81-year-old, who served in the Senate for 36 years, is reluctant to call out justices by name or call for sweeping reforms of the court, although he is making its decision to end the constitutional right to abortion a centrepiece of his campaign.

Ed Fallone, an associate law professor at Marquette University Law School said: I dont know that Joe Biden is the politician to try and benefit from this issue. Biden has always presented himself as an institutionalist and more of a centrist than many segments of the Democratic party.

Theres a real risk here for Biden because, if he does try to get political advantage from the publics growing concern about the supreme court, it seems to conflict with his message that we should all respect the court system and the judicial system and the Trump prosecutions and the various legal problems of former Trump advisers. It seems difficult to reconcile telling the public to respect the judicial system with also embracing the idea that the very top of the system is flawed and needs reform.

Fallone added: You will see other Democrats seize on this issue and start to push it, in particular those who are are going to try to energise the left side of the base, maybe not necessarily for this election, but maybe anticipating Biden might lose and starting already to look ahead to the following election.

Other argue that, competing for voter attention with the cost of living, immigration and other issues, the supreme court will ultimately fade into background noise.

Henry Olsen, a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center thinktank in Washington DC, said: The middle of the country, the independents and the swing voters do not care about the supreme court, and I dont think any effort by Democrats or the media bringing up these things about Alito or Thomas is going to register or motivate those people. It motivates partisans. It doesnt motivate swing voters on either side.

Read more: The supreme courts decisions this week
US vice president charges that Russia wants Ukraine to surrender

US Vice President Kamala Harris (L) shakes hands with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting on the sideline of a Summit on Peace in Ukraine at the luxury Burgenstock resort. -/Ukraine Presidency/dpa

US Vice President Kamala Harris has rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's conditions for peace negotiations with Ukraine as absurd.

"We must speak truth. He is not calling for negotiations, he is calling for surrender," Harris asserted at the Ukraine peace conference in Switzerland on Saturday.

"America stands with Ukraine not out of charity, but because it is in our strategic interest," she added.

On Friday, immediately before the summit, Putin had demanded that Ukraine completely renounce the territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhya and the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea as a condition for an end to hostilities.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry immediately rejected this as absurd and manipulative. "Putin is not seeking peace, he wants to divide the world," it said from Kiev.

A key aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that in Kiev's view, Russia is the only country that wants to continue the war.

"This summit was convened to start the peace process," Ihor Zhovka, the deputy head of Zelensky's office said on Saturday, noting that all the countries that want to make an effective contribution to a peace solution are gathered in Switzerland.

"And now let's focus on whether Russia understands that it is in fact the only aggressor country that is intent on continuing this aggression," Zhovka was further quoted as saying by the Ukrainian Unian agency.

Russia was not invited to take part in the conference at a Swiss luxury hotel. China, an important ally of Moscow, is also not attending.
Van Nuys woman who lost arm in dog attack gets $7.5 million from city of L.A.

Los Angeles City Hall. (Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty Images)

A Van Nuys woman whose arm was amputated after she was attacked by a dog adopted from a city animal shelter will receive up to $7.5 million in a settlement approved by the Los Angeles City Council on Friday.

Argelia Alvarado, 74, was severely injured by a pit bull named O'Gee in her backyard in September 2020.

Alvarado's son, Brent, had adopted O'Gee from the city's East Valley Animal Shelter. The dog had arrived there in May 2020 after biting a jogger in both arms, according to a lawsuit Alvarado filed against the city, alleging negligence.

Read more: L.A. city employee badly mauled by dog at Harbor animal shelter

On June 13, 2020, a supervisor at the shelter approved putting OGee in the main kennels, and the next day, a different supervisor allowed him to be listed for adoption to the public, the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit alleged that shelter staff failed to provide Brent with written notice of O'Gee's bite history, as required by state law.

The attack on Alvarado "lasted at least 20 minutes and was a savage mauling in which both of Plaintiff Argelia's arms were brutally shredded, with her right arm broken into pieces and almost entirely severed above her elbow," according to the lawsuit filed in July 2021.

Argelia's right arm could not be saved, and her left arm was also badly injured, "resulting in permanent disability of the left arm and the whole body, according to the lawsuit.

O'Gee was euthanized after the attack.

Read more: City of L.A. won't issue new dog breeding licenses, citing overcrowded shelters

Neither City Atty. Hydee Feldstein Soto nor the attorney representing Alvarado immediately responded to a request for comment after the City Council vote.

The settlement in Alvarado's lawsuit comes about two weeks after Leslie Corea, a longtime Animal Services employee, was severely mauled by a dog at the city's San Pedro animal shelter. Corea told NBC that she has had three surgeries, adding: My thigh is half gone.

Both city employees and animal activists have expressed alarm about the crowded and dangerous state of the city's shelters.

Animal Services Department General Manager Staycee Dains wrote in an email to the public last month that the overcrowding crisis "has put staff, volunteers and animals in harms way."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Vandals destroyed more than 150 rainbow flags at the Stonewall National Monument in New York City during Pride Month, police said Saturday.

Authorities said someone had hopped the fence and taken down 160 flags lining Christopher Park in New Yorks West Village, part of the first-ever monument to the LGBTQ equality movement.

The vandalism occurred between Thursday evening and Friday morning, the New York Police Department said in the statement.

City and state officials condemned the vandalism, with Attorney General Letitia James calling it disgusting and writing: In New York, we stand for love and acceptance, not hate and bigotry.

Mayor Eric Adams vowed to bring whoever defaced the Stonewall monument to justice, while Rep. Dan Goldman called the vandalism unacceptable under any circumstances and especially hateful during Pride Month.

Erik Bottcher, a city council member who represents the district, posted photos of the broken flags on Twitter and wrote: Anyone who thinks this will intimidate our community is badly mistaken.

Last night, bigots vandalized the Stonewall National Monument, snapping flag sticks & stealing 3/4 of the flags around the permitter of the park. Also, someone burned Pride decorations at 22nd St. in Chelsea. Anyone who thinks this will intimidate our community is badly mistaken. pic.twitter.com/x6K033UXBL  Erik Bottcher (@ebottcher) June 14, 2024

This is the second time vandals attacked the Stonewall Monument, which includes both Christopher Park and the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar that was the site of pivotal demonstrations in the late 1960s gay rights movement.

Three men were arrested for vandalizing flags at the monument during Pride Month last year and charged with criminal mischief as a hate crime.

It is also not the only such vandalism to have taken place this year. In the days leading up to and at the start of June, 14 Pride banners were vandalized in Washington state and 200 pride flags were stolen in Carlisle, Massachusetts, according to ABC News.

President Barack Obama designated the Stonewall Monument weeks after another tragic hate crime in June of 2016, when a gunman killed 49 people at a gay bar in Orland, Florida. In a proclamation declaring the monument, he called the riots at Stonewall the catalyst that launched the modern LGBT civil rights movement.

From this place and time, building on the work of many before, the Nation started the marchnot yet finishedtoward securing equality and respect for LGBT people, he wrote.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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(FOX40.COM)  A vehicle was pushed into a dentists office in Elk Grove Friday afternoon, the Elk Grove Police Department said.

Police said around 1 p.m., a parked vehicle was pushed into the building after being hit by another vehicle thats brakes had given out.

Police described the driver as inexperienced but did not give their age.

No injuries were reported.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  If you decide to visit Veterans Memorial Park in Stockbridge in the foreseeable future, you might want to go to the bathroom before getting there, or deal with the consequences.

Stockbridge Parks and Recreation will be closing park bathrooms until further notice due to misuse of the facilities by the public. The bathrooms will only be available during official park events and will be closed at all other times.

Portable toilets available for public use will be delivered to the park on June 25th.

This misuse includes fecal matter flung into the sinks and onto the walls and entire rolls of toilet paper thrown into the toilets.

A concerned citizen has donated a $150 cash reward for any information that leads to the identification of the individual or individuals responsible.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A 30-year-old man was slashed in the hand as he fought off two men at a Greenwich Village subway station early Saturday, police said.

The assault comes as attacks in the citys transit system have dropped by 11% this year.

The victim was on E. Eighth St. near Broadway about 4:20 a.m. when he got into an argument with two men in their 50s, cops said. As the dispute raged on, the victim ran into the Eighth St.-NYU subway station.

One of the two men pursued him into the station and attacked him on a staircase leading to the mezzanine, cops said.

The assailant cut open the mans hand with a sharp object. He then ran back up to the street and ran off with his accomplice, cops said.

EMS rushed the victim to Bellevue Hospital, where his minor wound was treated.

No arrests have been made.

On May 10, a 22-year-old woman was slashed in the leg by a stranger on a Manhattan-bound E train as it neared the Queens Plaza station, cops said.

As of June 9, cops have investigated 224 felony assaults in the citys subway system  28 fewer than the 252 that occurred on the rails last year. Robberies in the subway system have also dropped, by 20%, cops said.

Overall crime in the NYC subway system is DOWN 7% compared to last year, NYPD Chief of Transit Michael Kemper said on X. Make no mistake, this was no accident  this administrations investment into subway safety and the hard work of our cops are paying dividends.

Subway safety concerns have soared in recent months, with several high-profile incidents, including three shooting homicides and one man shoved to his death within the first three months of the year.

The murders, along with an uptick in assaults on transit workers, have sparked a show of force from law enforcement, the deployment of the National Guard and outsize technological promises from the mayors office regarding weapon-detection systems at subway stations.
Virginia Department of Health releases report following E. Coli outbreak at Lake Anna

SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) released its findings following an E. Coli outbreak at Lake Anna.

The VDH began investigating the outbreak after a multitude of swimmers reported getting sick after visiting Lake Anna over Memorial Day weekend.

Tis the season for swimming and bacteria alerts in lakes, rivers

The departments report found that there were 25 confirmed cases of E. Coli infections found in people ranging from one to 46 years old, and 76% of them were reported to be under 18.

VDH said the test results do not pose a public health hazard at the lake.

The department will continue to collect and test water samples.

For more information, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Vice President Kamala Harris is interviewed by comedian Steve Harvey at 100 Black Men event in Atlanta June 14, 2024. Stanley Dunlap/Georgia Recorder

Vice President Kamala Harris visit to Atlanta for the national conference of 100 Black Men of America allowed her to promote the Biden-Harris administrations historic investments in economic development ahead of the looming Nov. 5 Election Day.

A majority Black audience of several thousand people packed into a downtown Atlanta Hyatt Regency ballroom to participate in a half-hour conversation with Harris while shes on the latest leg of her so-called national Economic Opportunity Tour.

During the discussion moderated by TV host and comedian Steve Harvey, Harris stressed the importance of Black people accessing hundreds of billions of dollars of federal dollars allocated to infrastructure projects, small business loans, and other government programs that have been available over the past couple of years.

Harris said President Joe Bidens administration has delivered historic progress in economic opportunities that are being underleveraged by Black entrepreneurs and others who have long faced systemic barriers to financial resources.

Harris urged the crowd to spread the word about programs for small business loans, government contracts, a proposal for $25,000 down payment credit for first-time home buyers, and the student loan forgiveness program that so far has provided more than $160 billion in debt relief to 5 million Americans.

Harris also discussed steps taken to support community banks that can provide financial advice and support tailored for a specific community more than a traditional bank.



She also mentioned the steps taken to achieve a goal of a 50% increase in federal government contracts for minority-owned firms since entering office in 2021.

When we talk about the need for people to have access to economic opportunity we have to take into account what holds people back because we dont lack for hard work, work ethic, good ideas and vision and inspiration, Harris said. But there are obstacles built into the system that have to be addressed to give people the opportunity. Its not about a handout. Its about giving hardworking people the opportunity and not just to get by.

Biden and Harris are entering the final stretch of their 2024 re-election campaign ahead of the Nov. 5 election showdown against former President Donald Trump in a rematch of their 2020 contest.

Harvey expressed frustration about hearing from Black people calling his national morning radio show criticizing the Biden-Harris administration and other Democratic officials for not doing enough to support Black people.

This administration needs to get the word out of what they are actually doing and what they actually accomplish so we just stop saying what did you do for Black people, he said.

Harris trip to Atlanta Friday was her fourth visit to Georgia this year. In April, the most recent stopover, she visited Atlanta to highlight the areas award of a $158 million grant from the Department of Transportations Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program.

On Tuesday, Harris will return to Atlanta to attend rapper Quavos inaugural Rocket Foundation Summit to discuss policies to prevent gun violence in communities. Quavo, whose real name is Quavious Marshall, gained national fame in 2013 as one-third of the Lawrenceville-based Migos rap group. The group disbanded following the November 2022 shooting death of Marshalls nephew and Migos rapper Kirsnick TakeOff Ball.

Trumps April visit to a west Atlanta Chick-fil-A became a viral moment nationally prior to Trump attending a fundraiser for his campaign later that evening. It was the first time Trump visited Georgia since he turned himself into custody at Atlantas Rice Street Jail in August after being indicted on charges of conspiring to illegally overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia.

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The Washington State Bar Association said Wednesday that it will postpone an investigation into allegations of misconduct by state Attorney General Bob Ferguson until after the election season.

The grievance, filed in May by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mark Mullet, alleges that Ferguson, who is also running for governor, violated the Rules of Professional Conduct by engaging in a direct conflict of interest in an interaction with Secretary of State Steve Hobbs. Ferguson asked the Secretary to reorder candidates on the primary ballot after two other candidates named Bob Ferguson joined the gubernatorial race.

Those two candidates, who were recruited by conservative activist Glen Morgan to file, have since dropped their bids following threats of legal action by Ferguson.

Washington state law says that a person can be guilty of a class B felony for filing for public office using a surname similar to one who has already filed for the same office, and whose political reputation is widely known, with intent to confuse and mislead the electors by capitalizing on the public reputation of the candidate who had previously filed.

Mullet, who is now a state Senator, asked the WSBA to reconsider their decision to defer the investigation in a letter sent Thursday to the association. Mullet argues that the public has the right to know the outcome of the investigation so they are able to make more informed decisions regarding a candidate on the ballot.

Fair and transparent elections are core principles of our democracy that notably have been tested in recent years, Mullet wrote to the association. Arguably, deferring this matter would have the effect of endangering the public should they be denied information that a candidate they voted for had violated the Rules of Professional Conduct to gain an unfair election advantage.

In a statement to McClatchy, Mullet said Ferguson clearly asked the Washington Office of the Secretary of State to break the law.

But Fergusons campaign pushed back on Mullets assertions.

In a statement to the WSBA Thursday, Ferguson noted that the complaint to the WSBA was filed by a rival candidate and argued that the requested steps to the Secretary of State fell under the broad authority of the agency to mitigate confusion for voters.

Ferguson also argued that if the other Bob Fergusons had not withdrawn, Secretary Hobbs and our courts were the only institutions preventing tens of thousands of Washingtonians from voting for the wrong candidate.

Had the other Bob Fergusons not dropped out of the race, AG Ferguson would have appeared after both of those candidates in the 13th slot on the gubernatorial ballot.

While Hobbs agreed to list the occupation of each of the Bob Fergusons, an authority granted under state law, he did not agree to reorder the names on the ballot, the Secretary told the Washington State Standard in May. He said he was surprised the AG had asked him in a phone call to do something he clearly could not do because it was against the law.

Ferguson told the WSBA in his letter that he does not surrender his rights as a gubernatorial candidate because of his role as AG.

That includes the right that any candidate has to petition the Secretary of State to take actions to preserve fair elections, he said.

Ferguson finished his letter to the association by saying the complaint was only filed by Mullet to generate headlines.

In that sense, it has been successful. It has no merit, however, as a legitimate complaint, Ferguson said. Please resolve this frivolous complaint immediately. I hope you do not delay in your response, and do not wait to resolve this matter until after the election. Frivolous complaints like this should be disregarded and dismissed immediately.

The Washington Supreme Courts Rules for Enforcement of Lawyer Conduct governs the grievance process, the WSBA noted in their letter Wednesday.

If, as a result of an investigation and a formal proceeding, Ferguson is found to have violated the Washington Supreme Courts Rules of Professional Conduct, either the Disciplinary Board or the Washington Supreme Court could sanction Ferguson, the WSBA letter read.

A spokesperson for the WSBA told McClatchy that they had no comment at this time.
WA teen arrested after camping selfie with gun ends up online. His parents are suing

Pasco parents are suing after their son was arrested at Chiawana High School and held for 24 hours over a selfie showing the teen holding a gun on a camping trip.

The lawsuit filed in Eastern Washington U.S. District Court names the Pasco Police Department, the city of Pasco and the Pasco School District along with several school and police employees.

It says the parents are asking for more than $1.5 million.

Pasco officials deny most of the parents account of what happened and that the 14-year-olds rights were violated, but have not given their account of what led to his arrest, according to information filed in federal court.

Jon and Sheila Hudnall say their son, who is not named in the lawsuit, had a 3.6 grade-point average, was an athlete and had no history of disciplinary action before his arrest.

He went on a camping trip with his father, some other adults and another child on the Tucannon River in June 2021. The teen was staying in a tent with his father and another adult when he used his cellphone to take a photo of himself holding the gun.

After the camping trip he sent the selfie to four friends using Snapchat, Instagram or a text message, according to the lawsuit filed in federal court.

Six months later, three school resource officers came into a Chiawana classroom and told the teen to come into the hallway, where he was patted down, according to the lawsuit.

In the school resource office, Curtis King, a Pasco Police school resource officer, showed the teen the photo of him holding a gun posted on the CH_Hotties1 Instagram page, according to the lawsuit. It was captioned go out with me or die.

The teen told King the name of the student he thought owned that Instagram page. That student was not one of the friends he had originally sent the selfie to, he said.

The student who apparently owned the account had approached the teen a couple days before and showed him the selfie with the gun. Their teen said he walked away without responding, according to court documents.

Officer King ordered the teen in the selfie to hand over his phone to be searched, says the lawsuit. The student initially refused, but was told he had to unlock it and hand it over, which he did, according to suit.

The lawsuit says King then made several phone calls to people not identified in the lawsuit, saying the student was a threat to the school and that even if he didnt post the photo and caption on Instagram that King allegedly said he wanted him to go to jail, says the lawsuit.

King later told Sheila Hudnall that his sergeant directed him to arrest her son.

School resource officers also showed the teen a short video made by one of his four friends who he had sent the selfie. According to the lawsuit it had a silly picture, the camping picture and four memes. The teen maintained he didnt ask his friend to make the video.

The lawsuit claims King did not read the teen his rights until after he was questioned and checked the phone.

King asked both the teen and the boy believed to own the Instagram account to write statements about what happened.

That student said the Hudnalls son did not post the photo nor write the caption. The student called the post an accident gone wrong, according to the lawsuit

The Hudnalls met the same day with two Chiawana High administrators who told them an emergency expulsion of their son was planned, according to the lawsuit.

Chiawana student arrested

Their son was arrested that afternoon and escorted off school grounds in a police car, according to the lawsuit.

He was booked into the Benton County Juvenile Justice Center on suspicion of threats to kill, a felony. He was held overnight until bail was set at $1,000 and posted by his parents.

Ten months later in October 2022 the Franklin County Prosecutors Office formally decided not to file charges.

His parents said that since his arrest the teen has suffered from fear, anxiety, depression and humiliation. His grades have dropped significantly in multiple classes, and his phone also has not been returned.

The student was wrongly interrogated without being advised of his rights or given access to an attorney and had his phone seized without a warrant, the lawsuit alleges.

It says that expelling the student was extreme, egregious and outrageous given his lack of a disciplinary history and lack of reasonable suspicion to support the arrest.

U.S. Judge Thomas Rice granted a motion in April to dismiss much of the lawsuit claims against the Pasco School District defendants, finding legal issues in the original complaint.

However, he allowed the parents to file an amended complaint this month naming the Pasco School District, Chiawana High School and two assistant principals in 2022  Tony Rubalcava and Bryan Meredith.

The Pasco School District responded in a court document, denying that it had done anything unlawful. It disputed that the students rights were violated or that expelling him was extreme.

The family is asking for damages both punitive and also to cover past and future medical expenses, counseling costs, loss of earnings, pain and suffering, plus interest and attorney fees.
Warring NYC school board members booted from posts: Unfit to serve in these roles

Two warring parent leaders were kicked off their respective school boards Friday in the first such action under a city complaint process created in 2021.

Schools Chancellor David Banks ousted Tahj Sutton, the president of Brooklyns Community Education Council 14, and Maud Maron of Manhattans Community Education Council 2, both of whom had various complaints lodged against them.

It is a sad day when New York City Public Schools is compelled to take the actions I have ordered today but the violations committed by these two individuals have made them unfit to serve in these roles, Banks said in a statement, without naming the two women.

CEC District 14 President Tajh Sutton was fired two months after she was accused of violating the law by supporting a student protest walkout. tajhsutton.com/bio

Maron found out about her ouster minutes before the memo was sent out, she told The Post.

Banks implied that the pair had failed to follow laws surrounding their community education council meetings, particularly the Open Meeting Law.

Sutton and Maron are the first school board members to be removed under the citys D-210 complaint process.

Maron had previously criticized the D-210 process, claiming that parents who dare to challenge the reigning orthodoxy are being investigated, harassed and chased out of elected positions.

Both Sutton and Maron were slapped with D-210 complaints for separate incidents in April.

CEC 2s Maud Maron was reprimanded in April for making derogatory or offensive comments about a public school student. William C Lopez/New York Post

Sutton was reprimanded by Banks for promoting a citywide student walkout in protest of the Israel-Hamas war, which he said violated multiple state laws  one of which put her in jeopardy of being permanently banned from serving on any citywide board.

That same week, Maron was slapped with a complaint for making derogatory or offensive comments about a public school student in an interview with The Post.

Maron said the byline of a student who wrote an editorial that was widely criticized as antisemitic in Stuyvesant High Schools newspaper should read coward instead of anonymous.

The removals mark the first since Chancellor David Banks launched the D-210 process. ZUMAPRESS.com

Sutton and Maron are also embroiled in a legal dispute with one another.

Maron and several other parents claim that Suttons CEC14 violated free speech laws by blocking conservative parents from public events.

The suit accuses Sutton and first vice-president Marissa Manzanares of not tolerating the presence of people who disagree with them, according to the court filings.
Independent Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during a campaign rally at Legends Event Center on Dec. 20, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)

Washington voters will likely see Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as one of their choices for president this fall.

On Friday, Kennedy filed to represent the We the People party on the November general election ballot. He would appear with Nicole Shanahan, his pick for vice president.

Kennedy is the first minor party candidate to submit the required paperwork plus signatures of at least 1,000 registered voters. A total of 4,181 signatures were turned in, the campaign reported.

State election officials have until Aug. 24 to certify him for the ballot.

We look forward to helping get Mr. Kennedy elected as president so he can bring back the American dream and inspire better human and environmental health for generations to come, said Bonnie Gerber, Washington State Regional Coordinator for the campaign.

According to the campaign, the Kennedy-Shanahan ticket will be on the ballot in eight states  Utah, Michigan, California, Delaware, Oklahoma, Hawaii, Texas, and South Carolina.

The campaign has collected enough signatures for ballot access in 14 other states including Washington.

Presidential hopefuls for minor parties have until Aug. 2 to submit the requisite documents to secure spots on the ballot.

Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Donald Trump, the presumptive nominees of their respective parties, are not on yet. They will be once formally nominated at their partys national convention, according to state election rules. Republicans national convention will take place next month, and Democrats will take place in August.

In 2020, there were four presidential candidates in addition to Biden and Trump. Those choices were Alyson Kennedy of the Socialist Workers Party, Gloria La Riva of the Socialism and Liberation Party, Howie Hawkins of the Green Party and Jo Jorgensen of the Libertarian Party.

The post Washington gets its first presidential candidate. Its RFK Jr. appeared first on Washington State Standard.
WATCH: Blaze breaks out at multi-family home in Chelsea

Firefighters battled a blaze at a 6-family Chelsea residence on Friday.

Crews responded to the area of 18 Marlborough Street around 5:30 p.m. for a report of a fire.

Arriving companies found flames shooting from a third-floor window. All occupants of the home were able to make it out safely with the assistance of firefighters.

There were no reports of any injuries, although officials say they are still looking for a few pets.

Most of the damage was contained to the left side of the building on the top floor, according to Chelsea Fire.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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Former President Trump is making a special 78th birthday appearance for fans in his Club 47 group at a venue near his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Fla.

Congressional Republicans feted the partys presumptive presidential nominee on Thursday during Trumps first post-Jan. 6, 2021, visit to the Capitol.

Should Trump return to the White House, he would be on track to edge out President Biden as the Oval Offices oldest occupant by the end of his second administration.

The event is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. EDT.

Watch the live video above.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A Philadelphia district website once gave parents crucial information about the condition of their schools including their heating, cooling, roof structure, and more. But it's now offline. A spokesperson for the district said a new "data warehouse" would be coming in December. (Johann Calhoun / Chalkbeat)

An interactive website that gave families crucial information about the physical condition of Philadelphia public schools went down last month.

This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters

The site contained data on 211 schools, more than two-thirds of which were found to be in unsatisfactory or poor condition, according to a previous analysis by the Logan Center. Parents could use the site to see the results of their schools latest inspection and which aspects of the school were in the best and worst shape.

The district is currently developing a warehouse for data on all schools academics, environments, educational suitability, safety, maintenance, and enrollment, among other data points, said Alexandra Coppadge, the districts head of communications. They anticipate it to be completed by December.

The website going down is deeply problematic, said City Councilmember Nina Ahmad, a member of the Education Committee. This lack of information is very disempowering, and I think our constituents just feel like, what is going on?

The districts aging infrastructure is one of its most pressing issues as it faces billions in maintenance costs to repair buildings that date as far back as 1878. Students, parents, and teachers have raised concerns over environmental hazards in their schools, such as flaking asbestos, which has forced seven school buildings to close since the start of the 2022-2023 school year.

Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on the district to release its comprehensive assessment of school buildings it promised last year. Superintendent Tony Watlington warned the City Council in April it could take an additional two years to finalize it.

Following this storys publication, Monique Braxton, a spokesperson for the district, insisted the district was being fully transparent and said the interactive website was discontinued because it was not owned by the district.

As we have updated many of the District webpages to be more transparent, easy to navigate and customer-friendly, we moved all of that information onto a district webpage, Braxton said. Now, the information should be easier to access for students, families, staff and community members.

Braxton said facilities reports remain available via PDFs.

PDF reports from the most recent round of inspections are accessible on an older district website, but for only a fraction of the schools included in the interactive website.

That means thousands of Philadelphia families do not have access to updated information on structural problems in buildings or whether schools had suitable lighting, ventilation, and classroom equipment.

Parents complain to Councilman Mark Squillas office when they hear rumors about asbestos, lack of heat and air conditioning in schools, Squilla said in a statement.

They deserve to know about the buildings that their children are in daily, said Squilla, also a member of the Education Committee.

The facilities website, which was online until at least May 20, assigned scores to schools based on the quality of their infrastructure and whether the buildings adequately supported instruction.

The buildings with the lowest rankings, according to the districts metrics, included the former Our Lady of Pompei building, which houses Bayard Taylor Elementarys annex; The Isaac Sheppard School Building; and the former William Hunter building, which formerly housed El Centro De Estudiantes. Those buildings were constructed in 1926 or earlier.

It is frustrating that, you know, one of the biggest crises that were facing in the city of Philadelphia doesnt necessarily have a course of action, said Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, who chairs the Education Committee. We have people going into buildings and facilities not necessarily knowing what condition all of them are in.

Delays hurt plans to repair Philadelphia school buildings

The facilities master plan has been hounded by delays.

Following the last district-wide assessment in 2017, which identified $4.5 billion in deferred maintenance costs, the district began a Comprehensive School Planning Review in 2019 but halted it in 2020 due to the pandemic.

The district, then led by former Superintendent William Hite, restarted its assessments in March 2022. It released the interactive website the following month.

Watlington took the reins as superintendent in June 2022. The following November, he told the Board of Education that the district would pause the facilities planning process until the district was closer to completing its five-year strategic plan.

Some teachers like Kate Reber at William W. Bodine High School wanted to use the data to organize families and community partners to pressure the district to fix problems at the school. In the past, there have been water leaks and ceiling tiles have fallen in classrooms at Bodine, Reber said.

There was supposed to be a multi-year facilities planning process, and it was like, dates for meetings and all that, just disappeared, Reber said.

After the school boards approved the new strategic plan in June 2023, Watlington told the City Council two months later that the district would complete its facilities master plan by June 2024. But in Aprils hearing, Watlington said it could take 18 to 24 additional months to complete it, noting the district had constructed a a pilot data warehouse for 30 schools but needed time to launch a project team.

The Facility Condition Assessments (FCAs) paused by the district in 2022 are more comprehensive than the asbestos-related inspections that were at the center of last years legal dispute between the City Council and the Board of Education.

FCAs examine a schools major systems, like roofing and ventilation, and help the district prioritize what to repair and when, said Jerry Roseman, the director of environmental science for the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers.

Its the only really standardized information and dataset about the comprehensive condition of the schools, Roseman said.

When the district first released buildings data in 2022, Reber was astonished to see Bodines facilities score: 60 out of 100, putting it in the poor conditions category. A more detailed report scored Bodine in a category of schools that should be considered for major renovation.

When the planning process happens, wed be happy to speak about it, advocate for our school, advocate with our families and students, Reber said. I just felt like we started something and didnt get to see it through.

Clarification June 14, 2024: This article has been updated to add statements from spokespeople for the School District of Philadelphia regarding how they publicize facilities data and district plans for a new data warehouse.

Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools.

The post Website on Philadelphia school building conditions goes down appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
The leaders of the G7 have agreed in Italy to provide Ukraine with $50 billion in new funding, using the interest on frozen Russian assets to secure a loan. It is an unusual and controversial deal. Some countries feared that, while the intention was a noble one, it could serve to damage trust in the Western-led financial system if money held in Europe was not only sanctioned, but diverted to other purposes. Could it not be seen as a breach of the very international law that Ukraine and its allies are seeking to uphold in the face of Russian aggression?

But the deals proponents argue that this danger has been averted by not touching the principal, only the profits. Ukraine is also gaining access to longer-term funding without having to rely on sometimes fickle Western politicians.

The money will certainly be welcome in Kyiv, which has only just begun to see the benefits of a separate $60 billion military aid package from Washington. It is also positive that Western leaders have begun to turn their thoughts to how Ukraine can be helped more sustainably in the years ahead. Vladimir Putin shows little sign of relenting, notwithstanding his latest one-sided ceasefire offer.

But Western countries do need to tread carefully. While the end may justify the means in this case, they must ensure that they do not concede principles that they later regret. The enemies of the West are seeking to undermine its claim to moral leadership in any way they can. They must not be given extra ammunition.

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Nearly 60% of Westerville voters backed a law to legalize recreational marijuana last November, but eight months later, the city could put their access to it on hold.

Westerville City Council is poised to vote Tuesday on a nearly seven-month moratorium that would temporarily ban the cultivation, processing and retail sale of recreational cannabis. If passed, the moratorium would remain in effect through Jan. 7.

Ohio localities with a moratorium for adult use marijuana operators as of March 31.

Westerville remained a dry town for 72 years, prohibiting alcohol until 2004. Now, similar prohibitions are being considered as the town faces the statewide legalization of adult-use cannabis.

The passage of State Issue 2 gave local municipalities significant power to control the presence of adult-use cannabis businesses.

In 2017, as municipalities navigated the legalization of medical cannabis sales, 28 central Ohio municipalities instituted moratoriums. As of March 31, the OSU Moritz College of Law reported 47 municipalities representing 9% of Ohio's population had enacted moratoriums regarding adult use marijuana to allow more time to study their options.

Cresco Labs in Yellow Springs grows its first marijuana crop for Ohio's new adult recreational use program following the passage of Issue 2 last year. Westerville City Council will vote Tuesday on whether or not to temporarily ban the growing, processing and sale of recreational adult-use marijuana within the city.

On Monday, Worthington City Council is set to conduct continued discussion of whether and how to regulate businesses associated with adult-use marijuana.

Municipalities have the power to prohibit these businesses, though they cannot restrict existing medical cannabis operators, research conducted at state universities or home grow. Additionally, municipalities are not allowed to impose additional taxes on these dispensaries.

According to Westerville City Council documents, the moratorium would give city officials time to review new state laws and rules on marijuana and to decide whether they need to update local laws, including zoning and criminal codes, to regulate where and whether marijuana businesses can operate in the city.

"Our main concern is how the introduction of recreational cannabis dispensaries into our city will affect our zoning and criminal code," Westerville Council member Michael Heyeck said. "We just need more time to research and analyze how the state's legal structures develop."

Many communities taking wait-and-see approach

The moratorium under consideration in Westerville is part of a growing trend. Statewide, nearly 60 cities and townships have adopted similar measures to address uncertainties about the impact of introducing adult-use cannabis in their communities.

"Some of it is to protect the public health and safety of these communities," said Jana Hrdinova, administrative director at Ohio State University's Drug Enforcement and Policy Center. "The other main aspect is simply the uncertainty behind this new industry."

Only two major suburbs of Columbus have considered halting the sale, cultivation or processing of adult-use cannabis. Westerville will vote on a moratorium Tuesday; Dublin already passed a ban in May.

Hrdinova said these two factors are why many municipalities are adopting a "wait-and-see" mentality. They are holding back and observing how the new industry affects areas with similar characteristics and demographics.

OSU study suggests economic and other implications with bans

Beyond addressing public health and safety concerns, an OSU study by Hrdinova and Dexter Ridgeway emphasizes that municipalities banning adult-use cannabis businesses should carefully consider the broader implications.

"When localities impose these temporary bans, they at the same time sacrificing many positive economic outcomes," said Ridgeway, a research associate at the OSU Drug Enforcement and Policy Center.

The state's recreational cannibas program allocates 36% of the recreational cannabis excise tax revenue to municipalities or townships that have adult-use dispensaries. Communities can use this revenue, along with local sales tax from recreational marijuana sales, to support their own initiatives, according to the study.

This legislation represents a significant opportunity for municipalities to generate substantial funds, which can be directed toward a variety of community initiatives, Hrdinova said.

Hrdinova said moratoriums also limit opportunities for local entrepreneurs looking to enter the adult-use market and potential employment prospects for residents. For example, Michigans cannabis industry has created more than 40,000 full-time jobs.

Hrdinova and Ridgeway finally note that even with local bans in place, people can still legally possess and use marijuana.

This might lead them to grow their own, travel to nearby towns where it's sold legally or turn to illegal markets to meet their needs, Ridgeway said.

JEWolf@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Westerville's proposed marijuana ban mirrors statewide concerns
By Steve Holland

BUERGENSTOCK, Switzerland (Reuters) - White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Saturday that mediators for Qatar and Egypt plan to engage Hamas militants soon to see if there is a way to push ahead with a Gaza ceasefire proposal offered by U.S. President Joe Biden.

Sullivan spoke to reporters on the sidelines of a Ukraine peace summit and was asked about diplomatic efforts to get an agreement for Hamas to release some hostages held since Oct. 7 in exchange for a ceasefire lasting at least six weeks.

Sullivan said he had spoken briefly to one of the main interlocutors, Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and that they would speak again about Gaza on Sunday while both are in Switzerland for the Ukraine conference.

Hamas has welcomed the ceasefire proposal, but insists any agreement must secure an end to the war, a demand Israel still rejects. Israel described Hamas's response to the new U.S. peace proposal as total rejection.

Sullivan said that U.S. officials have taken a close look at Hamas's response.

"We think some of the edits are not unexpected and can be managed. Some of them are inconsistent both with what President Biden laid out and what the U.N. Security Council endorsed. And we are having to deal with that reality," he said.

He said U.S. officials believe there remains an avenue to an agreement and that the next step will be for Qatari and Egyptian mediators to talk to Hamas and "go through what can be worked with and what really cant be worked with."

"We anticipate a back-and-forth between the mediators and Hamas. Well see where we stand at that point. We will keep consulting with the Israelis and then hopefully at some point next week well be able to report to you where we think things stand and what we see as being the next step to try to bring this to closure," he said.

(Reporting By Steve Holland; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
As former President Trump's motorcade coursed through Beverly Hills, Newport Beach and San Francisco last week, packs of MAGA hat-wearing, flag-waving fans lined the posh streets and coastal highways and cheered.

Yet when Vice President Kamala Harris, who was raised among community activists in Berkeley, headed to a San Francisco fundraiser the same week, a throng of more than 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators chanted, Shame on you! As President Biden landed in Los Angeles on Saturday evening for a star-studded fundraiser, a crowd of protesters greeted him with "Biden, Biden you're a liar! We demand a cease-fire!"

The disparate treatment  at least via street protests  has been building for months, amid a spring dominated by college campus protests. But the snapshot of love for Trump and anger with Harris and Biden has grown more striking as the protests move to the campaign trail, especially in deep-blue California, where large majorities of voters agree with Harris and Biden that Trump represents a threat to democracy.

Activists and political leaders in California and around the country point to a range of reasons for protesting against Biden, their would-be ally, more than Trump, whom they see as a wannabe dictator.

Biden is bearing the burden of incumbency that he didnt face four years ago, facing a tough-love approach from some left-leaning activists who believe they can still push him further left. And while some protesters favor neither candidate, most have rejected Trump, whom they see as irredeemable.

Read more: Biden, Obama raise more than $30 million at glitzy L.A. event

Support for the president in California remains high  Biden has a 20-point lead over Trump in the state, according to polling aggregator FiveThirtyEight. But Democrats at the national level are concerned that the optics of anti-Biden protests could hurt the president, as many polls show him either locked in a tie or losing to Trump.

The thing that we're all worried about, of course, is when it comes time for politics, can people reconcile that while the Middle East policy choices may not have been exactly right by Biden, is he still the best political choice? said Faiz Shakir, chief political advisor for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, a progressive independent. And the jury is still out on that.

Protests do not equal votes, of course. But anti-Trump fervor in California has been a powerful and persistent force on the left since 2016, sparking clashes with counterprotesters that turned violent at times, drawing police presence, massive crowds and headlines. Anti-Trump sentiment carried into Trumps presidency, and the 2020 election, even amid pandemic-era social distancing rules, helping fuel a coalition that defeated him.

Donald Trump is being rejected by large swaths of his own party.  They are rejecting his failed leadership, his divisive rhetoric, and his threats of political violence against demonstrators or anyone who dares to disagree with Dictator Trump, said Biden campaign spokesperson Sarafina Chitika in a statement to The Times. President Biden, meanwhile, is able to bring people together even when they dont always agree."

Some activists say privately that the violence at those events has deterred some activists from going out into the streets. And though many protesters on the left say they fear a return to office for Trump, many do not see themselves as aligned with the Democratic Party. Their main goal is changing policy, not electing a president.

Even so, many say a Trump presidency could put all of their goals at extreme risk, starting with the right to protest.

The Biden administration's stance on the war between Israel and Hamas, which is fueling much of the anger among activists, is much closer to the protesters than that of Trump, who has endorsed Israeli control of contested lands and urged Israel to get the job done in Gaza.

At some point, you have this bubbling up. I dont believe the protesters are saying, We are protesting Biden because we want Trump.' They already know what Trump is, said the Rev. William Barber II, one of the nations leading civil rights and anti-poverty activists who directs the Center for Public Theology and Public Policy at Yale University.

Read more: Biden vs. Trump: Where they stand on Israel, Palestinians, Middle East

When Trump arrived in Newport Beach on June 8, Orange County Democrats were too busy getting out the vote for down-ballot races to worry about the top of the ticket, said Ada Briceno, chair of the county party. Volunteers were knocking on doors, touting Dave Min for Congress and attending an ice cream social for Tammy Kims mayoral campaign in Irvine.

Susan Hildreth, president of the Democrats of Rossmoor in the Bay Area, said her volunteers have also kept busy writing postcards and door-knocking for Central Valley congressional candidates such as Rudy Salas. Her group is mostly composed of people over 55 who are less inclined to participate in protests, she said.

We're ardently, ardently anti-Trump, said Hildreth, 72. The lack of Trump critics taking to the streets "may have more to do with the general age of this group than anything else. It doesnt mean that we don't care!

Still, the California Democrats hadnt entirely neglected Trump. A couple of antagonists made their way into the Newport Beach MAGA crowd along the motorcade, crying Happy Pride! and eliciting some heckles. An Orange County votes Biden/Harris 2024 banner trailed behind an airplane.

In San Francisco, an inflatable Trump-like chicken decked in black-and-white prison stripes was ferried around the bay on a boat labeled "Alcatraz Prison Transport."

Armand Domalewski, a 34-year-old data analyst, pulled together a group of about 50 people to stand across a San Francisco street from hordes of Trump supporters, who he said occasionally crossed over to taunt his side.

"There's just an odd asymmetry between the parties, Domalewski said, noting that Democrats, as well as Republicans, have been protesting against Democrats. That reality "makes it really hard, because that's both sides protesting us.

Though hes attended many protests, last week was the first time Domalewski had coordinated one himself  because no one else did, he said. The Trump supporters were evidently more organized. Vocal too. Some, anticipating Trump's birthday, sang "Happy Birthday." (He turned 78 Friday.)

Read more: Biden brings up 'Dad' a lot. Trump, not so much

Even in 2020, Biden was never a movement candidate like Sanders or Trump, who held big inspirational rallies and raised small-dollar donations from die-hard fans; Biden also did some campaigning virtually to protect against COVID-19. And unlike Trump, who regularly employs violent language and rousing images at his rallies, Biden has campaigned as a calming unifier.

We have not seen a fighting Joe Biden, Shakir said.

Though Biden has governed in some respects as a progressive, he isn't a populist by nature who gives you the sort of emotional satisfaction of a cause and a movement and a mission, Shakir said. His argument is competence and good judgment, he added, which doesnt play as well in an arena.

Trump has been the galvanizing force in politics to both his supporters and his detractors. One of the biggest protests against him occurred in 2017, the day after his inauguration, when thousands of women gathered in Washington and across the country to denounce him and stand up for gender equality.

But the political group that formed in the wake of that protest, the Womens March, has so far endorsed candidates only in local and state races and is rethinking its approach to confronting Trump. Street protests may not be the best strategy.

Trump vowed to be a dictator on day one, so we know that he would not take protests seriously. He would not take global human rights concerns seriously, said Tamika Middleton, the groups managing director.

But Women's March may keep its focus on reproductive rights and womens equality to avoid giving Trump a platform, noting that he has raised money and won attention in adverse situations, including his 34 felony convictions.

Trump sort of revels in the kind of attention of a women's march going head to head, she said.

Biden returned to California for a posh downtown Los Angeles fundraiser Saturday, featuring Hollywood elites such as George Clooney and Julia Roberts, as well as former President Obama.

Jewish Voice for Peace greeted his arrival with a protest.

Bierman reported from Washington and Pinho from Los Angeles.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Centrism has, for all its recent failings, been sentenced not to death but to stalk the in-between lands forever. Perhaps this is apt. As a political movement, its no longer the beating heart of Western politics; nor, with the morphing of technocratic politicians into managerial populists, has it been wholly vanquished. Yes, Keir Starmer, the consummate centrist, is on course to win a landslide, but only by default, and he knows that in order to maintain power, he will have to commit Third Way heresy by dragging his party to the Right on immigration. The Tories, meanwhile, are imploding, as Cameroonian Blairites are outflanked by a Farageist Right-wing insurgency. The 1990s, with all their nasty middle-class lies and cheap money, are to the centrists what the 1950s are to conservatives. Such worlds are gone with the wind and, in a way, never truly existed  yet, for some, theres no letting go.

Its difficult to define The Centre Must Hold: Why Centrism is the Answer to Extremism and Polarisation, a new collection of essays by celebrity centrists from Tony Blair and Kathryn Murdoch (daughter-in-law to the media mogul). The book, edited by Israeli politician Yair Zivan, certainly isnt a frank post-mortem, designed to probe how the juggernaut of populism flattened a liberal-Left brand of centrism that had reached its ascendancy in the 2000s. No: as the subtitle betrays, when it comes to diagnosing a cause of Western political volatility, centrists continue to lean towards populist derangement rather than (say) a systems implosion or leadership failure.

Nor, however, is this collection a call-to-arms. As its sheer scope suggests  it ranges from the philosophy and methodology of centrism to case studies of the creeds triumphs and tragedies  centrists remain unsure how to chart a return to power in a world they decry as hopelessly Manichean and intoxicated by lies. The book makes a heroic attempt to move beyond what it claims are misguided bids to frame centrism as little more than a mere waystation between political extremes. But, as the various authors collapse into self-defeatingly binary politics (hope versus fear) and bizarre formulae (moderation plus heterogeneity equals centrism), not to mention tortured streams-of-consciousness on why the masses should embrac[e] complexity, their collective endeavours fall flat.

The Centre Must Hold is not without its mildly fascinating curiosities. Its difficult to forgive the damage that centrism has wreaked over the last generation, not least its role in the alchemic mixing of socialism and laissez-faire to create stagnant blob capitalism. But whats truly astounding  as epitomised, sadly, by this collection  is the centrists staunch refusal even now to understand themselves. Centrism is the political equivalent to the serial killer who, despite being restrained from his destructive rampages, is still determined to interpret himself as a maligned superhero in a mediocre world.

Michael Bloomberg, another contributor, with Sadiq Khan and Lina Ghotmeh in London in 2023 - Getty

The triangulating politics of the Third Way  as opposed to the simple binary politics of elite rule over the enslaved masses, or the democratic dream of self-rule  is a modern phenomenon. It originates in the bourgeois reformism of the 18th and 19th century, as liberals sought to dismantle retrograde aristocratic privilege while keeping mass uprising at bay. And yet, tainted by that anti-democratic DNA, centrism is desperate to claim more organic, ancient roots. In a chapter here on the philosophical origins of centrism, Micah Goodman reaches as far back as Heraclitus.

Theres plenty of strained emphasis on centrisms love of complexity and heterogeneity. This is bizarre, given that centrism came crashing down in part due to its gullibility, namely its rationalistic faith in the financial systems claims, before the crash, that through the invention of derivatives, that system had all but eliminated risk. Think, too, of centrisms suspect ties with managerialism, which has an equally rationalistic faith in humanitys ability to fix problems using universally applicable tools and techniques; or consider the modern technocrats attachment to predictive models that reduce our infinitely complex world to mathematically interpretable data. On this, the authors maintain a stony silence. Perhaps acknowledging such a paradox would make their world view too complex.

To be fair, there are some breakthroughs. Ruth Anderson makes an impassioned appeal to her peers to respect the fundamental importance of free speech and academic inquiry, even if these yield views and revelations that those on the liberal-Left may may not like. Andres Velasco and Daniel Brieba take a more cautiously heretical approach, as they broach a new common-sense approach to immigration, which recognises that not everyone who worries about the impact of immigration on the fabric of local communities is a racist or a xenophobe.

Keir Starmer with Tony Blair and Gordon Brown in 2022 - PA

And yet The Centre Must Hold fails to assemble this hodge-podge of belated realisations into a coherent vision of why centrism deserves to reclaim its hegemony. Only a couple of the contributors make a compelling case for discrete areas in which the cross-party politics of the middle lane can make contributions. In the end, the collection fails to grapple seriously with why any of us should believe that the middle way technocrats can solve the great existential problem of our time  not climate change, but our calamitous and mysterious technological stagnation.

True to form, in his contribution, Tony Blair colossally misframes our predicament, suggesting that the grand task of the 21st century is merely one of Third Way navigation: figuring out how to tap the benefits of the imminent AI revolution while neutralising its terrors. In reality, with even AI innovation stagnating in this, the Second Gilded Age of monopoly, the task is to ensure that the tech revolution arrives at all.

Interestingly, Blairs contribution reveals himself as both unrepentant and born-again. As prime minister, he advocated prostration to the forces of free-market globalisation; today, he proselytises for the exhilarating potential of the Strategic State. This shift is as striking as his refusal to engage frankly with the dangers thrown up. But thats always how centrism operates: it glosses over past calamities, dresses up its spiritual yearning for certainty as sensible politics, and ignores the tough questions of the day.

The Centre Must Hold is edited by Israeli politician Yair Zivan - Elad Malka

Its this, ultimately, that makes centrism so inadequate. The future of the West hinges on the ability of our liberal-democratic institutions not to produce the reasonable politics of synthesised pluralism, but to compel countries to make tough choices and endure painful sacrifices  and, crucially, not just from working-class deplorables, but the risk-averse elites who now make more money from innovation-stifling rentierism than they do from production and trade.

Polly Bronstein unwittingly hits on the basic problem when she outlines the centrist method as the politics of both/and, rather than either/or. Because, as the magical thinking in these pages reflects, centrism continuously lies to itself and us, for the sake of power, that it is possible to have our cake and eat it. Haley Stevens, for instance, exclaims that centrists can fix the goddamn roads while building a green industrial economy; can go big on semiconductor manufacturing while also investing in quantum computing. Among the contributors, theres disappointingly little engagement with the fact that taking on todays challenges will, on the contrary, entail sacrifices  what some tentatively heretical technocrats have taken to calling trade-offs  not to mention the possibility of failure, and even the willingness to go to war with vested interests.

For a compilation that criticises Manichean thinking, The Centre Must Holds conclusion is starkly black-and-white. The struggle, writes Zivan, between the politics of fear and of hope, between the extremes and the moderates, will define the future of democracy. Yes, it will. And thats precisely why Third Wayism  which denies the very need for the fight, and constitutes, in political form, the human impulse to evade, rather than confront  can only fade away.

The Centre Must Hold, ed Yair Zivan, is published by Elliott & Thompson at 20. To order your copy for 16.99, call 0808 196 6794 or visit Telegraph Books

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Last year, Hunter Biden, 54, formally accused Rudy Giuliani and Robert Costello of violating computer fraud and data access laws, alleging they tampered with data from his "devices or storage platforms."

In December, Giuliani filed for bankruptcy protection after being ordered to pay $148 million for defaming two former Georgia election workers.

Months later, Hunter Biden has dropped the lawsuit against Rudy Giuliani, which initially sought more than $75,000 in damages.

Hunter Biden Drops Lawsuit

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According to a court filing on Thursday, Hunter Biden has agreed to drop a civil lawsuit against Rudy Giuliani and Giuliani's former lawyer, Robert Costello.

Per NBC, attorneys for all three parties filed an agreement stating that Hunter will drop the lawsuit and each party will cover their own legal fees.

As Giuliani is in bankruptcy and agreed to have the case waiting for when he is done, it made no sense to continue it in a non-bankruptcy court until that happens," a person close to the case told NBC News.

Giuliani's spokesperson, Ted Goodman, was happy to hear about Hunter's decision to drop the lawsuit.

"This should serve as a reminder to people that  despite the unrelenting attacks by partisan Democrats and their allies in the permanent Washington political class  Mayor Rudy Giulianis integrity and commitment to the truth is unwavering," he told NBC.

This comes days after Hunter Biden was found guilty on three charges in relation to his gun trial.

Hunter Biden Found Guilty

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Hunter Biden, the only surviving son of President Joe Biden, was on trial for three felony charges related to his 2018 firearm purchase. The allegations claimed he provided false information and illegally possessed the firearm due to his reported drug use at the time.

On Monday, June 10, the jury deliberated for one hour before reconvening Tuesday morning for two hours. They ultimately found Hunter Biden guilty on all three counts.

Two of those counts carry a maximum sentence of 10 years, while the third carries a maximum sentence of 5 years. As he is a first-time offender and does not have a criminal record, it is unlikely that he will receive the maximum sentence.

I am more grateful today for the love and support I experienced this last week from Melissa, my family, my friends, and my community than I am disappointed by the outcome," Hunter said following the verdict. "Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time.

Joe Biden Speaks On His Son's Guilty Verdict

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Moments after the guilty verdict was read, President Joe Biden broke his silence on the outcome of his son's trial.

As I said last week, I am the President, but I am also a Dad. Jill and I love our son," the President of the United States said. "And we are so proud of the man he is today. So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery."

As I also said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal. Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that," he added.

Joe Biden also previously said that he would not pardon his son if found guilty.

Donald Trump On Hunter Biden's Guilty Verdict

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Former President Donald Trump was not afraid to speak his mind following the verdict, claiming that the trial was a "distraction."

This trial has been nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family, which has raked in tens of millions of dollars from China, Russia and Ukraine," Trump's statement read, per CNN. "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," the statement concluded.

More To Come...

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Hunter Biden's legal drama is far from over. He is set to stand trial once again in September on nine federal tax charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty. These charges were not admissible in the recent gun trial in Delaware.

It remains to be seen if he will now plead guilty to those charges to avoid another conviction.
One September afternoon in 2016, I sat on a bench in front of the National Archives in Washington after a long day of research. As I scrolled through social media to pass the time before my ride arrived, a news release shared by a colleague caught my attention. In just two days, the National Museum of the American Indian would unveil, for the first time, one of the treaties the California Indian Nations had negotiated with the United States.

The Treaty of Temecula is one of 18 treaties negotiated between the United States and American Indian Nations in California and submitted to the United States Senate on June 1, 1852, by President Millard Fillmore, the announcement read. Unbeknownst to the American Indian signatories, the U.S. Senate rejected the treaties and ordered them to be held in secrecy for over fifty years, leaving the tribes homeless without any local, state or federal legal recourse and leading to an ethnic cleansing in which the American Indian population in California plunged from perhaps 150,000 to 30,000 between 1846 and 1870.

My heart skipped a beat. The museum planned to unveil the treaty that a captain of my tribe, San Diego County's San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians, had signed more than a century and a half ago to no avail.

Read more: Opinion: Protecting Alaska's wilderness  and our Indigenous way of life  is critical to a green future

The news release went on to say that tribal representatives from four nations affected by the treaty would be present. I called my mom and asked whether she had heard about it through any tribal council communications. She confirmed that no one from my tribe was aware of the unveiling, even though our captain, Pedro Ka-wa-wish, was among the signatories. My mom cried on the other end of the line.

Olivia, she said, you have to be there.  You need to represent San Luis Rey because no one else will.

After unsuccessful attempts to communicate with museum officials, I arrived on the morning of the unveiling as an uninvited guest. I walked around the deserted sidewalks in front of the building for a few minutes until I saw some people enter through the glass doors. I followed.

An employee who took me for a tourist informed me that the museum was not yet open.

Im here for the treaty event, I said confidently. She took out a list of invitees and asked for my affiliation, but she could not locate my tribe on the list. After I told her the San Luis Rey Bands captain had signed the Treaty of Temecula, she decided to let me wait there as members of the invited tribal delegations viewed the treaty in private before its installation.

Read more: Op-Ed: Heres one way to support L.A.s Indigenous communities

Once it was installed, I joined the invitees in the dimly lit exhibit space. We gathered around the treaty, which looked small compared with the glass case in which it rested, illuminated from above by a single light. The museum director delivered opening remarks before offering the floor to representatives of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and the Ramona Band of Cahuilla.

The tribal leaders spoke powerfully about how the failure to ratify the treaties had affected California tribes. Mark Macarro, chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, recollected fellow Native Americans insisting that Mission Indians are not like other Indians because they dont have treaties with the United States. As he spoke, the Treaty of Temecula, negotiated within Pechanga territory, served as a physical reminder that the California Indian experience is just as valid as any Native American experience.

I felt humbled to be part of the unveiling ceremony and beamed with pride in my California Indian identity. But I also grew deeply uncomfortable, surrounded as I was by delegations of federally recognized tribes. I felt out of place as I remembered that no one had invited me or my tribe to participate in the historic occasion.

The treaty glaringly reminded me that the United States does not acknowledge the San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians inherent sovereignty, despite our Gold Rush-era negotiations. I wondered why the museum did not inform my tribe about the event, and I could not help but think my communitys lack of federal recognition might be the reason. I looked at the treaty and saw Ka-wa-wishs X-mark next to those of the Luiseno, Cupeno, Cahuilla and Serrano signatories. One hundred sixty-four years later, I stood alongside representatives of the very same people.

My experience at the unveiling illustrates the complexity and contradictions of unrecognized tribal status in California. The 18 treaties lack of ratification set the tone for the federal governments long-standing uneven treatment of California Indian people and tribes. At the same time, the treaties became the key to strengthening California Indian activism in the early 20th century, which led to contemporary tribal pursuit of federal recognition.

California has more tribes that are not federally recognized than any other state, raising questions about California Indians history with the U.S. government, the politics of Native American identity and the problems of the Department of the Interiors proffered path to recognition, known as the federal acknowledgment process. Eighty-one California tribes have sought acknowledgment since 1978, but just one has secured federal recognition.

California's federally unrecognized tribes contend with intertwined legacies of Spanish and Mexican colonization, California- and U.S.-funded genocide, congressional refusal to ratify treaties and state tribal terminations. From the nature of our highly diverse pre-contact society of small, autonomous polities to the destructive forces of successive colonial regimes, California Indians distinct history is often incompatible with federal acknowledgment criteria.

The process is part of a long lineage of colonial policies designed to establish federal authority over Native communities. In pursuing federal recognition, tribes confront the United States enduring power to define Indigenous identities on its own terms. Even as unrecognized tribes work to assert their inherent sovereignty, settler structures serve to disempower us.

Olivia M. Chilcote is an assistant professor of American Indian studies at San Diego State University and the author of  Unrecognized in California : Federal Acknowledgment and the San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians, from which this is adapted.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Wichita State University students in the physician assistant masters program learn how to intubate a patient using a medical dummy

Wichita State University students in the physician assistant masters program learn how to intubate a patient using a medical dummy. Physician assistants, or PAs, learn a wide range of skills to be able to assist doctors across Kansas and the region. (Wichita State University)

Masters level physician assistant programs at state universities are becoming more popular as demand for health care workers and training rises across Kansas following the pandemic, says Chris Dudley, the assistant clinical professor and admissions coordinator for the physician associate program at Wichita State University.

Founded in 1972, the Wichita State program was the first in Kansas. Since then, other higher learning institutions, including Kansas State University, have modeled their own courses after the WSU program.

Theres always demand out there, Dudley said. It just depends on where you want to go for your career.

Dudley worked as a PA at an orthopedics firm in Wichita for a dozen years before joining the staff at Wichita State. He received his undergraduate degree from WSU in 2008.

The university president, Rick Muma, was my cardiology and pulmonology instructor at the time, Dudley said.

In an email to Kansas Reflector, Muma said a majority of Kansas counties are underserved in relation to the availability of medical providers.

The PA profession, since its inception in the 1960s, has been an excellent solution to quickly educate and train individuals and deploy them in areas such as Kansas that experience a shortage of PAs, Muma said.

Before Muma was named Wichita States 15th president in 2021, he was a provost with the university and served as chairman and professor of the public health sciences and physician associate departments. He also has served as chairman for St. Louis Universitys Department of PA Education and as an assistant professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch-Galveston Department of PA Studies.

Along with Wichita State and K-State, the University of Kansas and University of Missouri-Kansas City also have masters level physician assistant programs. Butler Community College has a pre-physician assistant program available as an entry-level course.

Students in the physician assistant program at Wichita State University practice dental hygiene techniques during an inter-professional education workshop

Brandon Eckerman, a student in the WSU PA program, is preparing for his year of clinical rotations. His wife graduated with her masters degree in 2022.

President Muma sat down and had lunch with our class officers about a month ago, Eckerman said. We had some really good discussions with him about how things are changing and shifting.

Eckerman said Muma pointed out that health care workers continue to be in demand following mass burnout in the profession after the COVID-19 pandemic. With Wichita States program being centrally located in the state, and with a 40-year track record, Eckerman said the WSU program has good connections to help graduates find work more easily.

Dudley said the program coursework can be strenuous.

I tell people when Im giving tours of the program that its not easy, Dudley said. Its definitely the hardest thing youre going to do. But its totally worth it when youre done.

PA courses at WSU begin in June and last 27 months. Classes are typically capped at 48 students, but Dudley said they can allow more students depending on the demand and space availability.

Its a tough application process, Dudley said. For our academic year starting next June, people are beginning to apply now.

The application window opens in April and closes Aug. 1. So far, Dudley said, hes received more than 800 applications. Students complete their PA courses and clinical rotations, where they travel and work with physicians in other areas, by the following summer. Dudley said PA program graduates receive their honorary white medical coats in May when other WSU colleges hold commencement ceremonies.

When youre a student, you wear a short white coat, and when youre a medical professional you get a longer white coat, Dudley said. All of our graduates will have a job within two months of graduation. Most of them have a job lined up before graduating. Many of our PAs do stay here in Kansas and work in rural areas, but many also go back home.

Eckerman said he will remain in Wichita after he completes his clinical rotations. His wife works as a PA in Wichita.

A big thing with the PA profession in general is flexibility, Eckerman said. You dont get shoehorned into one specific thing.

Eckerman said he may not become an expert in one particular field of medicine, but hell have a toolkit to perform a wide range of services as a physician associate.

Its crazy because its such a short program in the grand scheme of things, Eckerman said. The amount of information and knowledge we get, its something I dont think people appreciate all the time.

The post Wichita State Universitys pioneering physician assistant program helps meet health care demand appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The wife of an El Paso man who was killed when he was electrocuted in a jacuzzi at a private resort in Puerto Penasco, Mexico earlier this week has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against three companies that reportedly operate the resort.

Jorge Guillen, 43, was killed and his wife, Lizzette Zambrano, 35, suffered life-threatening injuries at the Sonoran Sea Resort on June 11, according to the General Prosecutors Office for the State of Sonora. Both Guillen and Zambrano are from El Paso and the lawsuit was filed in the district court of El Paso County.

El Paso man electrocuted in jacuzzi at Puerto Penasco resort

A lawsuit filed on behalf of Zambrano and Guillens estate seeks $1 million including damages of any kind, penalties, court costs, expenses, and prejudgment interest, according to the lawsuit obtained by KTSM.

The lawsuit was filed against three companies  Casago LLC of Houston; Casago International of Scottsdale, Arizona; and High Desert Travel, also of Scottsdale.

Zambrano is doing better and could be released from a Phoenix hospital as early as Friday night, her attorneys said.

The lawsuit alleges that electrical wiring in the jacuzzi on the premises was faulty and had not been treated or dealt with by any defendant employees.

The lawsuit says the jacuzzi did not have a sign or any notice that the jacuzzi constituted a deadly hazard.

Defendants breached their duty of ordinary care by failing to adequately maintain the premises and/or failing to make the condition reasonably safe, the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit is seeking damages for pain and suffering, loss of earnings, mental anguish, medical expenses, loss of companionship, and funeral and burial costs, among others.

Here is what the lawsuit says happened in the jacuzzi:

Jorge entered into the jacuzzi first. Immediately upon entrance into the jacuzzi, Jorge was exposed to an electrical current in the water. Jorge immediately keeled over into the tub and was taken under the surface of the water. Witnessing her husband immediately collapse, Lizzette sprang forward from the pool deck to try and grab Jorges body from the jacuzzi. However, upon touching Jorge and the water, Lizette was electrically shocked and also fell into the jacuzzi. Patrons began to encircle the chaos, attempting to save both Lizzette and her husband. Lizzette was able to be grabbed by another guest and was brought out of the water.

Patrons attempted to assist, grabbing a shepherds cross and other items to attempt to get Jorges body from the jacuzzi. However, the metal from the objects carried the electrical current and began shocking the rescuers. It was only after approximately ten (10) painstaking minutes that Casago staff and the Defendants finally availed themselves and began to assist in rescuing Jorge. At no time prior to this, did Defendants seek to engage the emergency shutoff for the jacuzzi or attempt any rescue of either Jorge or Lizzette. Jorge was being electrocuted and drowned under water for 10 minutes.

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The U.S. military once again is pausing operations on its temporary floating pier off the coast of Gaza as wind and rough seas are expected in the coming days.

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Friday that the temporary pier will be removed from its anchored position in Gaza and towed back to Ashdod, Israel for the safety of its service members as high seas may cause structural damage.

The decision to temporarily relocate the pier is not made lightly but is necessary to ensure the temporary pier can continue to deliver aid in the future, CENTCOM said in a statement. After the period expected high seas, the pier will be rapidly re-anchored to the coast of Gaza and resume delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza.

While the U.S. and humanitarian aid organizations have pledged to aid the starving Palestinian civilians, there have been numerous setbacks in trying to get the aid delivered.

President Biden announced the floating pier in his State of the Union address in March. It was completed just over two months later and the first shipment was driven across in mid-May.

U.S. officials acknowledged that the first few days of the piers operation failed to reach the scale of supplies they had hope to deliver. Humanitarian groups have cited enormous challenges providing assistance while navigating Israels military operations.

Among the issues with the pier, three U.S. soldiers were injured while assigned to the pier mission and two U.S. ships towing the pier broke away and were beached in the sand off of Israels coast.

Days later, logistical, security and weather issues broke the pier off from Gazas coast. Officials said they were moving with a sense of urgency to rebuild and reconnect the pier.

The damaged section of the pier, and the beached ships, were being repaired in Ashdod by American service members last week.

The United Nations said last week that it would be pausing its humanitarian aid delivery efforts after an Israeli rescue mission of four hostages killed over 200 Palestinian civilians.

In its statement Friday, CENTCOM said since May 17, more than 3,500 metric tons, or 7.7 million pounds, of aid had been delivered through the maritime corridor for onward delivery to civilians in Gaza.

Weather and logistics continue to delay the delivery of desperately needed aid, but the U.S. maintains that the floating pier was never meant to be a solution and urged Israel to lift restrictions in the area so deliveries could be made by land.

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Wisconsin Republicans are withholding $125m designated for cleanup of widespread PFAS contamination in drinking water and have said they will only release the funds in exchange for immunity for polluters.

The move is part of a broader effort by Republicans in the state to steal power from the Democratic governor, Tony Evers, the fundings supporters say, alleging such political games are putting residents health at risk.

People really feel like theyre being held hostage, said Lee Donahue, mayor of Campbell, which is part of the La Crosse metropolitan area and has drinking water contaminated with astronomical levels of PFAS. Its ridiculous, and some would argue that its criminal, that they are withholding money from communities in dire need of clean drinking water.

Related: What are PFAs? Everything you need to know about the forever chemicals surrounding us every day

PFAS are a class of chemicals used across dozens of industries to make products water-, stain- and heat-resistant. They are called forever chemicals because they dont naturally break down, and they persist in the environment and accumulate in humans and animals bodies. The compounds are linked to cancer, decreased immunity, thyroid problems, birth defects, kidney disease, liver problems and a range of other serious illnesses.

The Environmental Protection Agency this year established limits for several of the most common PFAS, including levels at four parts per trillion (ppt) for the most dangerous. PFAS are contaminating water for more than 350,000 Wisconsin public water system users, often at levels far exceeding the limits. Many more private wells have contaminated water. In Madison, the state capital, levels in water sources were found as high as 180,000ppt.

In Campbell, where more than 500 wells have tested positive for PFAS at levels up to thousands of times above federal limits, many suspect high rates of cancer and other serious ailments that have plagued the towns residents stem from the dangerous chemicals.

In the face of the crisis, bipartisan budget legislation that created the $125m pot of money for cleanup was approved by the GOP-controlled legislature and signed by the governor in mid-2023. The funds are supposed to go to the Wisconsin department of natural resources.

Related: New bill could bail out US farmers ruined by forever chemical pollution

Previously, money approved during budgeting processes was released to the state agency. Since Evers ousted the Republican Scott Walker in 2018, the GOP-controlled legislature has claimed the joint finance committee (JFC) it controls can add stipulations to how the money is spent, or refuse to release money approved in the budget.

That gives Republican leadership more control over how Everss administration spends and governs, and the GOP is using that legal theory to withhold the PFAS-cleanup funding.

It is definitely a power grab, said Erik Kanter, president of Clean Wisconsin, which is lobbying on PFAS issues.

Meanwhile, Republicans separately floated a piece of legislation that provided a framework for how the $125m would be spent on PFAS cleanup, but it included what Kanter called a poison pill: it exempted PFAS polluters from the states spill laws that are designed to hold industry accountable for the contamination it causes.

Evers vetoed the legislation because of the spill law exemption. The department of natural resources then proposed to GOP legislators that it would spend the $125m as outlined in the Republican legislation, but industry would not be exempt from the spill laws. The legislature has so far rejected that proposal, and it is now on break for the rest of 2024.

At this point in time it looks like the JFC is not going to release those dollars, Kanter said. That money has been sitting there for almost a year and nobody has gotten any help because of political games in the legislature.

The Evers administration announced in late May that it would sue the committee for withholding the funds and make a constitutional separation of powers claim. It charges the JFCs withholding is an unconstitutional legislative veto. Republican leadership did not immediately return a request for comment.

In the meantime, communities such as La Crosse continue to struggle, Donahue said. The city and county have so far spent nearly $1m trying to determine the feasibility of tapping into a neighboring aquifer and continue to monitor it to ensure the PFAS plume contaminating their drinking water source does not migrate.

What do we do? Donahue asked. We cant afford to wait another year for help.
(WFRV)  Scientists in Wisconsin are encouraging individuals who encounter ticks during the spring and summer months to report them to the Tick Inventory via Citizen Science (TICS).

TICS was launched in April to survey the distribution of tick species in Wisconsin, including any new, invasive ticks that may be moving into Wisconsin.

Report: Where Wisconsin ranks among states where youll pay the most for a cup of coffee

The response has been phenomenal as citizens scooped up ticks they found in nature or crawled on themselves or their pets and sent them to the Research Institute in pre-paid collection kits.

So far, scientists have identified more than 3,200 ticks submitted by citizens, most prominently the American dog (wood) tick and the deer (black-legged) tick.

Researchers also have identified nine brown dog ticks, which are most frequently found in the southern U.S., and five lone star ticks, which are mainly found in the southern and eastern U.S.

Tick locations

The presence of brown dog and lone star ticks is intriguing as it may indicate spread from their typical habitats to Wisconsin, said Alexandra Linz, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute associate research scientist. We are trying to determine the extent and significance of this spread and the potential health effects.

Ticks carry pathogens that may cause diseases such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. As new tick species become more prevalent in Wisconsin, the risk for potential newly introduced diseases increases.

Brown dog ticks spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and lone star ticks spread ehrlichiosis, primarily in warmer U.S. settings. Possibly because of climate change, the incidence of both conditions has increased threefold in the last two decades.

Good Samaritans, deputies help rescue bald eagle hit on interstate in Marquette County

Residents who enjoy the outdoors and physicians need to be aware of these diseases and their symptoms, said Jennifer Meece, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute executive director. As researchers, the information from this study and future studies can help us improve disease prevention efforts and early detection as well as develop better diagnostic tools and treatments.

For more information or to request a pre-paid collection kit to be sent to you, call 715-389-7796 (extension 16462).

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Woman airlifted out of the Grand Canyon as dozens of hikers get sick from unnamed illness

Woman airlifted out of the Grand Canyon as dozens of hikers get sick from unnamed illness

Dozens of people got sick this month at Havasupai Falls in Grand Canyon National Park.

Tourists experienced vomiting, diarrhea, and fever symptoms.

Officials said people in the northern Arizona region are experiencing "a gastrointestinal illness."

Dozens of tourists who hiked to a waterfall in the Grand Canyon have fallen ill, including one woman who had to be airlifted out of the national park.

The illnesses broke out near Havasu Falls in the Havasupai Indian Reservation in Arizona this week. Mary Blair told Fox 10 that her family was finishing a four-day hike in the area when her son became sick.

"He was throwing up and having diarrhea all night long. I got him in the river. We were in there at midnight, 1 o'clock, just to lower his body temperature," she told the outlet.

Blair said she later learned her son wasn't the only person struck by illness that night. She told the outlet her family decided to leave the canyon via helicopter and discovered other groups along the way.

"On the way up, all of us were passing people who are throwing up and that's when I was like, what the heck is going on?" she said. "There's probably 6070 people down the line. There are multiple people throwing up."

Havasu Falls. iacomino FRiMAGES/Shutterstock

Another tourist, Maylin Griffiths, told a local CBS affiliate she and her friends were hiking in the area when she experienced fever-like symptoms, including a 104 temperature. Griffiths had to be airlifted out of the canyon.

"We were violently ill. They were able to admit us to the clinic there because they considered it life-threatening," she told the outlet.

The Havasupai Tribal Council acknowledged the recent illnesses in a press release on Friday, describing it as "gastrointestinal symptoms."

The council said it held meetings with local health officials, who determined that the symptoms are affecting people across the northern Arizona region. Not just the Havasupai campground.

"The Tribe is working with IHS and other state agencies to further investigate the illness and to take measures to prevent further spreading of the illness not only to campers but to local tribal members," the council said.

The exact cause of the illnesses hasn't been disclosed, but Coconino County shared a health advisory on Wednesday.

"Gastrointestinal illness caused by a virus can spread in settings where people come in close contact with each other and when good hand hygiene is not practiced," the statement said. "These types of outbreaks can be ongoing if appropriate safeguards are not in place."

A county spokesperson told the Associated Press that hikers should take precautions, including monitoring early signs of norovirus. Norovirus, or "stomach flu," can cause vomiting and other symptoms.

Representatives for the Arizona Department of Health Services and Indian Health Services did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Cops charged a 22-year-old woman with first-degree murder Friday in the stabbing death of another woman during a wild brawl across from Manhattans Port Authority Bus Terminal earlier this week.

Samaria Lopez was charged with fatally stabbing Jordin Walston, also 22, during the sidewalk brawl about 10:15 p.m. Tuesday on W. 40th St. near Eighth Ave.

Lopez, who was arrested Friday, gave no reason for the deadly attack, a police source said, and was silent as she taken out of the Midtown South Precinct stationhouse on W. 35th St.

Its a weird one she hasnt said anything, the source said. All we know is it stems from a previous dispute.

Surveillance footage obtained by the Daily News shows Walston and a group of six other adults, one of them carrying a baby and another with a toddler in a stroller, standing on the sidewalk across the street from the bus terminal when Lopez suddenly rushes the victim.

Walston, who is filmed wearing a black T-shirt and jeans, drops her purse and grapples with Lopez, who repeatedly strikes her in the head and then stabs her twice, the footage shows.

The bystanders steered clear of the brawl until Lopez started stabbing Walston, at which point a man in a white shirt could be seen grabbing her arm.

Medics rushed Walston to Bellevue Hospital where she died.

Lopez has nine prior arrests on charges including assault, robbery, and drug possession.

Her most arrest was from a May 7 assault in the Bronx where cops say she and her brother beat an ex-girlfriend of his.

Police had two recent addresses for Lopez: a residential building in the Wakefield section of the Bronx and a Murray Hill building called The Hotel, which was converted into transitional housing for the homeless in 2022.

Walstons last known address was an uptown Manhattan homeless shelter, police said.
Woman dies after attack by stray dogs in West Baltimore, police say

BALTIMORE  A 50-year-old woman died and two other people were injured after being attacked by a group of stray dogs in West Baltimore on Friday night, according to Baltimore Police.

Around 9 p.m. police were called to the 2000 block of North Pulaski Street in Mondawmin for reports of a dog bite. When police arrived at the scene, they were told two stray pit bulls had attacked three people.

Two officers fired at the dogs, striking one of them, a Baltimore police spokesperson said in an email to The Sun.

The dogs were recovered by police and animal control. A spokesperson for the Baltimore City Health Department, which includes the citys Office of Animal Control, was not available for comment.

Two people who were attacked by the dogs were taken to nearby hospitals, a police spokesperson said. Police did not have an update on their condition on Saturday.

In April, a 58-year-old man was severely bitten by two pit bulls in Southwest Baltimore, according to a report on Fox45. The attack took place in the 2700 block of West Fairmount Avenue.

At the time, a spokesperson for the Baltimore City Health Department said dogs involved in such attacks receive a dangerous or vicious hearing to assess their behavior.

In 2012 the Maryland Court of Appeals ruled that pit bulls are inherently dangerous animals. The dogs are banned in Prince Georges County.
Woman dies one week after crash on Troost pinned her vehicle to utility pole

One person died a week after she was injured in a crash near 83rd Terrace and Troost Avenue, police said.

Officers responded around 7:49 a.m. to a two-vehicle collision June 7. A dark blue Chevy Silverado was speeding north on Troost when a white Honda turned onto Troost from 85th Street.

The Chevy swerved around the Honda, and locked up his brakes as he drove into oncoming traffic on southbound Troost, police said.

At 83rd Terrace, a GMC Terrain was turning onto southbound Troost. The Chevy struck the GMC on the driver side and pushed the vehicle into a metal utility pole.

The Chevy then flipped over onto its right side. The driver of the GMC was transported to a hospital by ambulance with life threatening injuries. The driver of the Chevy was taken by ambulance to a hospital with serious injuries.

The driver of the GMC was pronounced dead by doctors at 11:51 p.m. June 14, said Alayna Gonzalez, a spokeswoman with Kansas City Police. The name and age of the victim has not been released.

The death marks Kansas Citys 48th traffic fatality of 2024. At this time last year, there were 35 traffic fatalities recorded.
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  A 32-year-old woman accused of leaving handwritten notes on Fresno homes to then set them on fire is wanted, the Fresno Fire Department said on Friday.

Firefighters identified the suspect as 32-year-old Ramona Leal. She has an active warrant for her arrest related to a series of arson fires that have occurred in recent weeks within the City of Fresno, in the Northwest, North East and Southwest areas.

WANTED: Fresno arsonist who leaves a note, uses gas to start fire

In each incident, fire officials say Leal is suspected of posting handwritten notes on the residences, and then using gasoline to ignite the fires.

Anyone with information regarding Leals whereabouts is encouraged to call 911 or to contact the Fresno Fire Department ARSON hotline at 559-621-2767. Callers can remain anonymous.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
Woman who walked away from L.A. reentry program apprehended in El Monte

An incarcerated woman who walked away from a rehabilitation program in Los Angeles was apprehended by authorities Friday afternoon, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Erica N. Ybarra, 37, was serving her sentence at the L.A. County Female Community Reentry Program when she removed her ankle monitor and left the facility without permission Thursday afternoon.

CDCR staff searched the buildings and grounds, but Ybarra was nowhere to be found. Her ankle monitor was discovered near the facility.

Authorities put out an alert that she had walked away from the reentry program, including physical descriptions and her most recent CDCR photograph.

On Friday, it was announced that Ybarra was located in El Monte around 3:45 p.m.

Erica N. Ybarra, 37, is seen in a photo from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

She was taken into custody without incident and transported to the California Institution for Women. Her case, according to officials, will now be referred to the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office for possible escape charges.

The Female Community Reentry Program allows eligible offenders committed to state prison to serve the end of their sentences in the reentry center to ease their transition from custody to the community.

She had been at the facility for less than a month, having arrived there to serve part of a two-year sentence for second-degree robbery.

According to CDCR, 99% of all walkaways from adult institutions have been successfully recaptured since 1977.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ORLANDO, Fla.  In the month since Florida imposed a six-week abortion ban, Lanae Hernandez has helped nearly 200 women figure out how to end later pregnancies, work that sometimes means securing airfare, hotel rooms and money to pay clinics in places as far away as Illinois.

Her clients have included a first-time mother who terminated a pregnancy due to serious fetal health defects and a single mother of five unable to support another baby. She said some of her clients have never left the state before, or flown on a plane.

This very well may be one of the most difficult decisions our patients have ever had to face in their life, and our government has put them in a position where they need to leave their support system and travel across the country and incur massive expenses, Hernandez said. I wish I could just be at the airport and walk them to their gate.

Hernandez experiences underscore the many ways Floridas new abortion rules have made it more difficult for women and health care providers grappling with the question of how to end a pregnancy.

While some women are traveling, others are using telehealth appointments with out-of-state doctors to obtain abortion-inducing medication. Their decisions are fraught with emotion and logistical difficulties  and it is unclear how long these options can be sustained in the face of financial and legal challenges.

Hernandez has a window on the issue as a patient navigator for Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida  a job that has become increasingly common since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion in 2022. Fourteen states now ban it outright, with limited exceptions. Three states, including Florida, ban it six weeks from the first day of a pregnant womans last period, with few exceptions.

Florida had a 15-week ban on abortions in place since 2022 and prior to that allowed them until 24 weeks.

Since Floridas new ban took effect on May 1, some women have managed to get abortions within the states cutoff, providers say, while some who dont know theyre pregnant until after six weeks have chosen to continue with unwanted or dangerous pregnancies.

State abortion data for May is not yet complete, so the exact impact of the new rule is not clear.

The November election could also change abortion access. Residents will be asked to vote on Amendment 4, which would make abortion constitutionally protected in Florida up to viability  about 24 weeks  if 60% of voters say yes.

Navigating new restrictions

Supporters of Floridas six-week ban say they are confident it will sharply reduce the number of abortions obtained by state residents, despite efforts to evade it.

In the vast majority of cases, by far, this is going to have a big impact, as it has in other states, said Mat Staver, founder of the pro-life Liberty Counsel. Florida will not be an abortion destination as it was prior to this law.

Florida medical providers performed over 84,000 abortions last year, including nearly 8,000 for people who traveled from out-of-state.

Organizations called abortion funds aim to help women circumvent state bans. In 2023, these funds provided over $36 million for abortions and over $10 million for logistical support nationwide, according to the National Network of Abortion Funds.

But rising costs have made it impossible to fully meet the need, said Stephanie Loraine Pineiro, executive director of the Florida Access Network abortion fund, at a press conference hosted by the national network on Monday.

Floridas ban forces Floridians and people across the southeast to travel further, exhausting funds for travel and practical support even faster, Pineiro said.

Pineiro said her fund has helped 150 people over the last month, but the fund can only cover about 50% of requested expenses on average.

Telehealth support

Dr. Ushma Upadhyay, a professor at the University of California San Franciscos Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health, believes that because of the new restrictions many women in Florida have obtained or will obtain abortion-inducing pills online.

Under current law, thats a viable option, but overlapping rules make the situation complicated. While the state bans telehealth prescribing for abortion medication, the ban applies to doctors, not the women themselves.

Certain states have passed shield laws that aim to protect licensed clinicians in that state from prosecution for prescribing abortion pills to people in states where its illegal. Online pharmacies then fill and mail these prescriptions.

Nearly 8,000 people per month in states with bans or restrictions on abortion are prescribed and mailed abortion pills under shield laws, according to estimates from The Society of Family Plannings #WeCount project, a national abortion reporting effort. One of the largest providers, Aid Access, charges $150 or less.

Telehealth really removes so many barriers to abortion, said Upadhyay, who is also a #WeCount co-chair. Patients dont even have to take time off work or find childcare.

Currently, Florida women who terminate their pregnancy this way arent facing prosecution, nor are the people who help them. Gov. Ron DeSantis has previously said pregnant women who get abortions in violation of Floridas law wont be criminally charged, in line with a previous state supreme court ruling.

The telehealth prescription movement alarms people who support abortion bans, however. Liberty Counsels Staver is optimistic this practice will be outlawed in the future.

I think its a major concern, Staver said. It makes no sense for  Florida to pass a law that regulates brick and mortar facilities, yet at the same time, someone intentionally sends medication into Florida that is specifically designed to violate the law.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday issued a ruling preserving access to the medication mifepristone, which is used in many abortions, but other legal challenges are expected.

Dr. William Lile  a North Florida obstetrician and gynecologist who calls himself the ProLife Doc and believes life begins at conception  said hes concerned about the health of women who get pills without in-person testing to confirm how far along their pregnancy is and to rule out conditions such as ectopic pregnancy.

The condition, when a fertilized egg grows outside the uterus, is rare but can be life-threatening. A ruptured ectopic pregnancy causes similar symptoms to an abortion, so women who take the pill may not realize whats really happening, he said.

Weve already had cases of women who have been harmed, Lile said. They thought they were taking the pill for an abortion, yet in reality, they were in that 1% that had an ectopic pregnancy and it is delaying them from seeking health care.

These pills are generally safe to take up to 10 weeks into pregnancy, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which notes that though side effects are common, serious adverse reactions are rare.

Impact on Florida clinics, patients

Not everyone can travel or obtain pills, however. The ban has hit some women hard.

Researchers at Middlebury College estimate that the average Florida resident now lives nearly 600 miles from the nearest clinic that offers abortions after six weeks, up from an average of 20 miles before the ban. Wait times for appointments have increased at about 30% of clinics in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., the closest states where abortion is legal after six weeks of pregnancy.

Im hearing people say, Well, yeah, I got [an abortion], but I went to Georgia first, and then I went to Ohio, and some of my rent isnt paid, and I dont know where Im going to live, said Jenice Fountain, executive director of Alabamas Yellowhammer Fund, during Mondays press conference. Thats not a win.

Dr. Robyn Schickler, chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, said some women, aware of the new law, quickly make appointments and get abortions within the new legal timeframe. Others can take the time, and pay at least some of the costs, for an out-of-state trip.

But shes haunted by the patients who she cant help.

No matter how much you try and help, some patients, for a variety of reasons, cant leave. These are the most disadvantaged, vulnerable individuals forced to continue their pregnancies, Schickler said.

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You wont believe what this NYC squatter is getting to vacate home after living there rent-free for over 5 years: Cheaper than going the legal route

A Staten Island squatter freeloading in a dead mans home for six years will allegedly vacate the property  if the late owners family pays his moving costs.

Its a really weird story, Donna Kent, whose father owned the Metcalfe Street home before dying in 2012, admitted to The Post on Friday.

He wants us to pay his moving expenses when he leaves, which is kinda crazy. But I guess its cheaper than going the legal route, said Kent, a mom with two adult daughters.

Kent, 55, said the squatter named Kyle has apparently been living rent-free in the single-family 2.5-story home since around 2018 after a bizarre series of events.

A squatter has allegedlyh been living in a Staten Island home rent-free for six years after its owner died. NewsNation

A twin mattress is being used as a door between rooms in the disheveled home. Courtesy of Sal Taormina

Donna Kent, a daughter of the dead homeowner, went to the house last weekend to look for personal items before putting it up for sale. NewsNation

The reputed twists and turns include her fathers wife passing away in 2013, then the stepmoms daughter renting out the home before dying a few years later.

The tenant then left for Pennsylvania  paving the way for Kyle, his cousin, to move in and live there for free ever since, according to Kent and her Realtor, Sal Taormina, citing the squatter.

Kyles position is, I didnt break in.

I figured eventually somebody would show up [to collect rent], but nobody showed up, he told NewsNation, which first broke the story.

Kent said she met Kyle for the first time last weekend when she went to the home with her mother and Taormina to try to get some personal items before they put the property on the market.

They zeroed in on the attic, which Kyle said he never entered because he felt it was very intrusive, which is kinda strange, but  Kent said.

Kent, local Realtor Sal Taormina and the squatter met at the home last weekend. Courtesy of Donna Kent

[Kyle] was very nice, a very nice person, said Kent  who Taormina recalled hugged the squatter when she met him.

Taormina  who called Kyle one of the nicest squatters Ive met  said the moving costs amount to a months rent, months security deposit and brokers fee if the next place he moves requires one.

Kent as a little girl with her father Richard Sentmier. Courtesy of Donna Kent

Kent said she found the home overwhelmed with trash and other items. NewsNation

Less than $10,000, the Realtor estimated.

Some people might be upset hes getting anything. But the truth of the matter is, hes in the house, Taormina said.

Kent said she only became aware of the whole situation a few years ago, when the bank holding the deeply-in-arrears mortgage contacted her.

She said she has been working with Taormina  a local expert on such squatter situations  on devising the best solution for everyone on behalf of her two sisters and a half-brother, who are heirs to their dad Richard Sentmiers estate.

Kent, who has worked in marketing, was born in Astoria, Queens, and now lives in Tucson, Ariz. She said she never lived in the home and first went to see it about five years ago when the lender reached out.

I look in the window and see a person, a stranger, sitting in there with the Internet router blinking  I was scared, said Kent, adding that she then left the property.

The mom of two, a New York City native who now lives in Tucson, hopes to soon help sell the home. NewsNation

About $530,000 is currently owed in back mortgage payments and taxes on the property, which was just appraised for a lowly $210,000 given its current state of disrepair, Taormina said.

Kent said the condition of the home is just awful, with gaping holes in sections of ceiling and Kyle using a twin mattress as a makeshift door between two areas.

Taormina said they are hoping the bank will cut them a break to bring down the debt so everyone deserving can get a small slice of the pie.

I tried not to hold a grudge against him, Kent said of Kyle, who apparently lives in the home with his girlfriend.

What I learned from Sal is, if everybody can just sort of play nice, you can get things solved much more quickly, she said.

She said Kyle told her as she left,  I believe in karma, I believe in doing the right thing.

So maybe he has a lot of guilt, Kent said.
Woodland Park Zoos 14-year-old female gray wolf, Shila, has received a pacemaker in an innovative and groundbreaking medical procedure to treat her life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia. The successful procedure took place on June 12, and the Zoo says Shila is recovering well behind the scenes.

While pacemakers are common treatments for humans and domestic dogs, Shila became the first known wolf to receive a pacemaker to treat a life-threatening heart condition. The delicate surgery was done in partnership with an expert team from Olympic Veterinary Cardiology.

According to the Zoo, animal keepers first observed concerning behavior from Shila in early June, determining that the wolfs heart rate was too slow and potentially dangerous. An echocardiogram confirmed that Shila was experiencing an AV block, causing her heart to beat irregularly and too slowly to support her activity level.

This heart condition carries the risk of sudden death, and the only corrective option for this diagnosis is an artificial pacemaker, which regulates the beat of the heart and has the unique ability to completely resolve the AV block when it works properly.

For the pacemaker procedure, Woodland Park Zoo partnered with Dr. Brian Maran and the team at Olympic Veterinary Cardiology, who specialize in state-of-the-art animal heart care. The gray wolf was transported to their Everett veterinary cardiology clinic for the minimally invasive procedure.

Following her pacemaker implantation, Shila was returned to Woodland Park Zoo and will spend approximately two to three weeks recuperating. She is expected to make a strong recovery.

Shila was born in April 2010 at New York State Zoo at Thompson Park and moved to Woodland Park Zoo in October of that year with three littermates, who have all since passed away. Gray wolves are endangered species in regions of the United States, including in Washington state. In the wild, gray wolves live to be about 10 years old. In human care, the life expectancy extends to between 15 and 18 years old. While Shila is considered a geriatric gray wolf at 14 years old, she has good indicators of well-being, and this pacemaker supports her overall health.

This has been a defining moment for Shila and her species. Not only does this pacemaker improve her life, it also contributes to a greater scientific and medical understanding of treatment options available for gray wolves in ways that we havent seen before.




By Thomas Escritt and Dave Graham

BUERGENSTOCK, Switzerland (Reuters) -World leaders gathered at a Swiss Alpine resort on Saturday to seek broader consensus for Ukraine's peace proposals at a summit shunned by China and dismissed as a waste of time by Russia, which pushed its own rival ceasefire plans from afar.

More than 90 countries took part, but China's absence in particular dimmed hopes the summit would show Russia as globally isolated, while recent military reverses have put Kyiv on the back foot. The war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas has also diverted the world's attention from Ukraine.

The talks focused on broader concerns triggered by the war, such as food and nuclear security. But Turkey and Saudi Arabia, both mooted hosts for another such event, said meaningful progress required Russia's participation.

A draft of a final summit declaration, seen by Reuters, blames Russia's "war" in Ukraine for causing "large-scale human suffering and destruction" and urges Ukraine's territorial integrity to be respected.

The document, dated June 13, also calls for Kyiv to regain control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and access to its sea ports. The draft had deleted an earlier reference to Russian "aggression" where "war" is cited.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy trumpeted the summit's attendance as a success and predicted "history being made."

"Today is the day when the world begins to bring a just peace closer," he told leaders assembled around a giant rectangular table.

U.S. President Joe Biden sent his deputy Kamala Harris to represent him - a decision that had riled Kyiv.

Harris announced more than $1.5 billion in energy and humanitarian aid for Ukraine, where infrastructure has been pounded by Russian airstrikes since the 2022 full-scale invasion.

On the eve of the summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia would end the war if Kyiv agreed to drop its NATO ambitions and hand over four provinces claimed by Moscow. The conditions apparently reflected Moscow's growing confidence its forces have the upper hand.

But they were swiftly rejected by Ukraine and its allies.

"He's calling for surrender," Harris said, adding: "Let nothing about the end of this war be decided without Ukraine."

"Freezing the conflict today, with foreign troops occupying Ukrainian land, is not the answer. It is a recipe for future wars of aggression," added European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

CHINA AND RUSSIA

China said it would boycott the event after Russia was frozen out of the process, with the U.S. suggesting Beijing's decision was taken at Moscow's behest.

"Putin has no interest in a genuine peace," said British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

"He has launched a sustained diplomatic campaign against this summit ordering countries to stay away, spinning a phoney narrative about his willingness to negotiate."

Avoiding some of the most difficult issues, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz compared the summit to "a small plant that needs watering, nurturing and delicate care" that would yield results further down the line.

But countries including Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Kenya noted Russia's absence as a hurdle.

"I must also note that this summit could have been more result-oriented if the other party to the conflict, Russia, was present in the room," said Turkey's foreign minister, Hakan Fidan.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said credible talks would involve "difficult compromise".

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer saw an opportunity to start building a broader global consensus to pressure Russia.

"It's like we're in a Western echo chamber. That is: all Western European countries, the USA, we agree on what we want to happen with Ukraine," Nehammer said. "But that alone is not enough."

Calls for Russia to be at the table will only get stronger over time, said Bob Deen, senior research fellow at the Netherlands-based Clingendael Institute think-tank.

"There is a risk that if Ukraine waits too long, it might end up with rival formats popping up. It may risk losing the initiative," Deen told a forum on the summit's sidelines.

Supporters of Ukraine marked the talks with a series of events in the nearby city of Lucerne to draw attention to the war's humanitarian costs.

Dozens of Ukrainian refugees from choirs around Switzerland converged in a public square to sing Beethoven's "Ode to Joy."

Earlier about 250 people gathered in the centre of the city, many wrapped in Ukrainian flags, wearing traditional clothes and carrying pictures of missing brothers, husbands or sons as they shared their stories.

"I'm clinging to the idea that my husband is still alive," said Svitlana Bilous, the wife of a soldier who has been missing for more than 14 months. "That's what keeps me going."

(Reporting by Dave Graham, John Revill, Thomas Escritt, Emma Farge, Alan Charlish, Steve Holland, Sabine Siebold, Pavel Polityuk, Felix Hoske, Tom Balmforth, David Milliken, Burcu KarakasWriting by Dave Graham and Matthias WilliamsEditing by Frances Kerry, Helen Popper, Mark Potter and Matthew Lewis)
US Vice President Kamala Harris, left, is welcomed by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the Summit on peace in Ukraine, in Stansstad near Lucerne, Switzerland, Saturday, June 15, 2024. (Alessandro della Valle/Keystone via AP)

OBBURGEN, Switzerland (AP)  Dozens of world leaders converged on a Swiss resort Saturday to discuss how to bring peace to war-ravaged Ukraine, though any hopes of a real breakthrough were muted by the absence of Russia.

More than two years into the war, the combatants remain as far apart as theyve ever been, with Kyiv sticking to its demands that Russia leave all Ukrainian territory it has seized and Moscow pressing on with its grinding offensive that has already taken large swaths of eastern and southern Ukraine.

Despite Russias absence from the conference at the Burgenstock resort overlooking Lake Lucerne, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested that one measure of the two-day event's success was "bringing back to the world the idea that joint efforts can stop war and establish a just peace.

Attendees faced a tricky balancing act, with many chastising Russia for breaking international law while hedging their positions to leave the door open for Moscow to join future peace talks that might bring about an end to the conflict one day.

Here, there are representatives from Latin America, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, the Pacific, North America and religious leaders," Zelenskyy said. Now, there is no Russia here. Why? Because if Russia was interested in peace, there would be no war."

We must decide together what a just peace means for the world and how it can be achieved in a truly lasting way, he said. At the first peace summit, we must determine how to achieve a just peace, so that at the second, we can already settle on a real end to the war."

About half of the roughly 100 delegations were led by heads of state and government. Analysts said turnout would be a key indicator about how much pull Ukraine and its staunch Western backers have with the broader international community.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday sought to cast a shadow over the Swiss-Ukrainian initiative for the conference. Some countries such as India, Turkey and Saudi Arabia that have retained ties, at times lucrative, with Moscow  unlike Western powers that have sanctioned Russia over the war  were also on hand.

Saudi Arabias foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, told the conference that credible peace talks will need Russias participation and require difficult compromise.

Turkey's foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, acknowledged the mistrust between Russia and Ukraine, saying each side regards the other partys steps (in floating proposals) as an extension of broader war effort."

"Excellencies, I must also note that this summit could have been more results-oriented if the other party to the conflict  Russia  was present in the room, he added.

Entering the venue, President Gitanas Nauseda of Lithuania, a NATO member country that has been one of the most stalwart supporters of fellow former Soviet republic Ukraine, said Russian troops must leave Ukraine, and that Moscow must be held accountable for crimes there and pay reparations for the war damage.

Right now it seems unrealistic, but I think we have to stay united, and if international society will push the Russian Federation, everything is possible, he told The Associated Press. I think the situation is very clear: Ukraine has to seek territorial integrity.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, representing the United States while President Joe Biden attended a fundraiser in California, reiterated Americas full backing for Ukraine and announced $1.5 billion in new U.S. assistance for an array of projects such as energy infrastructure and civilian security.

China, which backs Russia, joined scores of countries that sat out the event. Beijing has said any peace process would require the participation of Russia and Ukraine, and has floated its own ideas for peace.

In a separate initiative last month, China and Brazil agreed to six common understandings toward a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, asking other countries to play a role in promoting peace talks to be held at a proper time with both Russia and Ukraine involved.

The standoff over Ukraine is steeped in security for Europe  it is the continent's deadliest conflict since World War II  and big-power geopolitics.

U.S. intelligence officials say China has increased sales of machine tools, microelectronics and other technology to Russia that Moscow is using to produce missiles, tanks, aircraft and other weaponry to fuel its war effort.

What is clear is that China is not here, and I presume theyre not here because Putin asked them not to come and they obliged Putin, said Biden's top foreign policy advisor, Jake Sullivan. And I think that says something about where China stands with respect to Russias war in Ukraine. I think countries should take notice of that.

Harris and Sullivan both acknowledged that not all participants were on the same page about an eventual peace settlement.

Russian troops who control nearly a quarter of Ukraine have made territorial gains in recent months. When talk of the Swiss-hosted peace summit began last summer, Ukrainian forces had recently regained large tracts of territory, notably near the southern city of Kherson and the northern city of Kharkiv.

The conference centers on three agenda items  seen as the least controversial bits of a 10-point peace formula laid out by Zelenskyy: Nuclear safety, including at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia power plant; possible prisoner of war exchanges; and global food security. The war has disrupted shipments of food and fertilizer through the Black Sea.

Zelenskyy's plan also called for the withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied Ukrainian territory, the cessation of hostilities and the restoration of Ukraines original borders with Russia, including Russia's withdrawal from occupied Crimea. With Ukrainian mostly on the defensive these days, those appear to be increasingly distant hopes.

Putin wants any peace deal to be built around a draft agreement negotiated in the early phases of the war that included provisions for Ukraines neutral status and limits on its armed forces, while delaying talks about Russian-occupied areas. Ukraines push to join NATO over the years has rankled Moscow.

He wants Ukraine to drop its bid to join NATO and pull its forces out of regions that Russia illegally annexed in 2022.

The situation on the battlefield has changed dramatically, said Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, noting that although Russia can't achieve its maximalist objectives quickly through military means, it is gaining momentum on the battlefield.

As world leaders discussed a pathway to peace in Switzerland, the war ground on in Ukraine, where shelling killed at least three civilians and wounded 15 others on Friday and overnight into Saturday, regional officials said.

Meanwhile, Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russias southern Belgorod region, blamed Ukraine in a social media post for shelling that struck a five-story apartment building in the town of Shebekino on Friday, killing five people. There was no immediate comment from Kyiv.

___

Ken Moritsugu in Beijing and Joanna Kozlowska in London contributed to this report.
Viola Amherd, President of the Swiss Confederation, believes that Ukraine and Russia will eventually have to hold direct talks, and the international community must prepare the groundwork for this.

Source: Amherd at a press conference with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the beginning of the Global Peace Summit in the resort town of Burgenstock on 15 June, as reported by European Pravda

Details: According to Amherd, the Peace Summit in Switzerland aims to "encourage the peace process and take concrete steps in this direction".

The Swiss president stressed that Russia, with its aggression against Ukraine, has "most seriously violated" the rules-based peace order underpinned by the UN Charter.

"If we want to encourage a process towards peace, Russia must also be included at some point in the future. This is clear to everyone," Amherd said, noting that the international community can "prepare the ground for direct negotiations between the warring parties".

"That is why we are here," the Swiss president added.

Background:

Russia will not attend the conference in Switzerland, labelling the event biassed and the host country "openly hostile".

Moreover, on the eve of the summit, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin came up with new "conditions for the start of peace talks": Ukrainian forces must withdraw from the territory of four Ukrainian oblasts, parts of which are occupied by Russia, and Kyiv must declare that it has no plans to join NATO.

At the same time, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not rule out that the summit in June would lay the groundwork for further involvement of representatives of Russia in the negotiations, but it could only be done on the basis of the Ukrainian Peace Formula (which Moscow does not recognise either).

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Yermak: Switzerland summit aims to create new joint peace plan to be presented to Russia

Participants of Ukraine's global peace summit will seek to formulate a new joint peace plan that could based on President Volodymyr Zelensky's formula, Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak told reporters at the summit on June 15.

The two-day summit brought together representatives of 101 nations and organizations organizations to the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland. Ukraine hopes the summit will address several key issues, such as energy security, the exchange of captives, the return of deported children, global food security, and other topics.

"Today and tomorrow, world leaders will discuss the principles of the future joint plan, which we would like to base on the formula," Yermak said on the sidelines of the summit in Switzerland, adding that Ukraine is also "open to all opinions" from other countries.

Zelensky's 10-point peace formula includes Russia's full withdrawal from Ukraine and prosecution of war crimes, among other steps.

"We are looking at the possibility of presenting this plan to representatives of Russia," which can happen during a second summit, Yermak noted.

The Presidential Office's head rejected a suggestion by a journalist that Zelensky's formula was drafted during a time more favorable to Ukraine than now, pointing out recent Russian losses in the Black Fleet and Kyiv's ability to reopen the sea corridor.

"No compromise with independence, no compromise with sovereignty and territorial integrity. But we are very clear about our philosophy of the peace formula and this procedure today," Yermak said.

Russia was not invited to the peace summit, but the Swiss hosts said it would have to take part in the process "sooner or later."

Speaking one day ahead of the summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin laid out his own conditions for peace talks, namely Ukraine's full withdrawal from Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, including territories currently held by Ukraine.

Zelensky rejected these conditions, comparing them to Adolf Hitler's invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1938-1939.

Yermak said that there will be no other "Minsk agreements and no Budapest," referring to the 1994 Budapest Memorandum and 2014-2015 Minsk agreements.

"Our position is absolutely clear: a joint plan of all civilized and responsible countries... that can be handed over to a Russian representative at the second summit."

Read also: Switzerland peace summit begins after months of preparation

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Zelensky meets leaders of Argentina, Kenya on sidelines of global peace summit

President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Argentine President Javier Milei and Kenyan President William Ruto on the sidelines of Ukraine's global peace summit in Switzerland on June 15.

Officials from over 100 foreign governments and international organizations gathered in Lucerne, Switzerland for a two-day summit focused on Zelensky's peace formula, a 10-point plan outlining Kyiv's conditions for an end to Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.

Zelensky and Milei met during the summit to discuss the peace formula, ongoing bilateral cooperation, and trade, the president said via Telegram.

"We appreciate the broad presence of Latin American countries at the summit," Zelensky said.

Read also: Zelensky: All parts of the world represented at peace summit

Zelensky also thanked Argentina for recently joining the international coalition for the return of Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia during the war.

Milei is reportedly planning to visit Kyiv later this month in what would be the first visit of a South American leader to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war.

Kenya's President William Ruto also met with Zelensky on the sidelines of the peace summit on June 15. The leaders discussed food security and the development of Ukrainian-Kenyan cooperation in agricultural exports.

The two countries are considering "Kenya's possible participation in the creation of hubs for Ukrainian grain in African ports," Zelensky said.

Russia's attacks against Ukraine's port and grain infrastructure following its withdrawal from the Black Sea grain deal have posed serious risks to global food security, disproportionately impacting African nations.

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Zelensky: All parts of the world represented at peace summit

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and Swiss President Viola Amherd opened the inaugural global peace summit in Switzerland on June 15.

Representatives of around 100 countries and organizations gathered at the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland to discuss a possible way toward peace and other key concerns related to Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine.

Russia was not invited to attend.

"All parts of the world, all continents, different nations, both large and small geographically, and every political pole of our worldLatin America, the Middle East and Asia, Africa, Europe, the Pacific, Australia, North Americaare all represented at the summit," Zelensky said at a press conference with his Swiss counterpart.

"The views, the ideas, and the leadership of each nation are equally important to us, and whatever is agreed upon at the Summit today will be part of the peacemaking process."

Ukraine hopes to formulate a new joint peace plan based on Zelensky's 10-point peace formula but is open to all opinions from other countries, Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak said on the sidelines of the summit.

This plan could then be presented to Russia during a second summit, Yermak added.

The peace formula includes Russia's full withdrawal from Ukraine and prosecution of war crimes, among other steps.

It is based on principles close to every nation in the world, which is why "we have managed to bring together 101 countries and international organizations... for the first inaugural peace summit," Zelensky said.

"Ukraine never wanted this war... The only one who wanted it was (Vladimir) Putin. But the world is stronger," the president said.

Read also: Yermak: Switzerland summit aims to create new joint peace plan based on Zelenskys formula

Zelensky thanked all nations who supported Ukraine in preparing the summit, including participants of the four proceeding meetings of advisors in Copenhagen, Jeddah, Malta, and Davos in Switzerland.

"We have succeeded in bringing back the idea that joint efforts can stop war and establish a just peace," Zelensky said.

Amherd said that the summit will aim to prepare the ground for "direct talks between warring parties." It should also address nuclear safety, food security, and the release of prisoners of war and abducted civilians, including children.

Over 19,500 children have been confirmed as abducted by Russia since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and fewer than 400 of them have been brought back home, according to the Children of War database.

"If we wish to inspire a process toward peace, Russia must also be involved at some point," Amherd said, which is why the summit's participants will explore how Moscow can be included in the future.

The Swiss president noted that the participants include influential countries from around the world, including India, Saudi Arabia, and Kenya.

Reports emerged earlier that Saudi Arabia plans to snub the summit due to Russia's absence.

China is not attending, despite having been invited. Reports emerged on June 13 that Beijing was pushing its alternative peace plan.

Brazil, the Holy See, the U.N., and the Ecumenical Patriarchate are attending the summit not as full participants but as observers.

The U.S. will be represented by Vice President Kamala Harris and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

Read also: Switzerland peace summit begins after months of preparation

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Russia fires around 3,500 missiles a month on Ukrainian civilian targets and infrastructure, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Italian TV channel Sky TG24 reported on June 14.

Zelensky referred to the KAB missiles, Russian precision-guided weapons used to strike front-line settlements.

During an interview with the TV channel, Zelensky said that the missiles are only used on civilian targets to force citizens to flee cities and villages in preparation for Russian occupation.

The same thing was done by (Adolf) Hitler. It's actually the same manual, he said.

He stressed that Russia lies when claiming to only hit military targets.

Zelensky also noted that Russia wanted to occupy Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, but failed as Ukraines military stabilized the situation.

Read also: Russias move on Kharkiv has bogged down. But was it a failure?

Russia opened up a new offensive in northern Kharkiv Oblast on May 10, but Ukraine prevented Russian troops from advancing past the first line of defense.

Russia has relentlessly targeted Kharkiv with glide bombs, amping up the attacks in early May. However, attacks have reduced after Washington late last month approved for Ukraine to use American weapons to hit targets inside Russia.

Following the lift of the ban, Ukrainian forces struck missile launch positions in Russia.

During the interview, Zelensky thanked U.S. President Joe Biden for continued support after Kyiv and Washington signed an unprecedented bilateral security agreement during the G7 summit in Italy on June 13.

Zelensky said the deal, "clearly states that America supports Ukraine's efforts to win this war. He described the agreement as a "bridge" to Ukraine's future NATO membership.

The text states that the U.S. "commits to support Ukraine in developing a modern, NATO-interoperable force that can credibly deter and, if necessary, defend against future aggression," including developing Ukraine's air and missile defense, cybersecurity, and maritime capabilities.

The U.S. also commits to working toward procurement of squadrons of modern fighter aircraft, "including, but not limited to, F-16s," according to the text.

Read also: Glide bombs help Russia gain land in Ukraine. What makes them so effective?

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Authorities have released a photo of the moment U.S. Marshals captured the boyfriend accused of committing the "brutal and heinous" murders of a Louisiana mom and her child in what investigators allege may be connected to human trafficking.

Daniel Callihan, 36, was taken into custody Thursday afternoon following a brief police chase in Jackson, Mississippi.

Callihan is suspected in the murders of his girlfriend, 35-year-old Callie Brunett and her 4-year-old daughter, Erin, according to police. He's also accused of abducting Brunett's 6-year-old daughter, Jalie, who was discovered injured at a home in Jackson, "where there has been some human trafficking done," said police Chief Joseph Wade, WVUE-TV reported.

"We see cages, small animal cages. This is very, very disturbing to me as a police chief and as a father to witness and see what I saw," added Wade, explaining Erin's body was found outside in a wooded area near the house.

"We're going to work this crime scene with a scalpel," he said.

Jalie was transported to a hospital for treatment. Her injuries remain unclear.

"She's been through something that most of us, hopefully, never ever get to experience. And she is going to have to spend the rest of her life living with this," said Wade, according to CNN.

Earlier that day, Brunett was found dead by her father inside her Loranger, Louisiana, mobile home  about 130 miles outside of Jackson  after family became concerned they hadn't heard from her since Tuesday.

Authorities issued an AMBER Alert when family realized her daughters were missing.

A motive and manners of death remain under investigation.
Ukraine will present an action plan to Russia at a second peace summit once a peace formula is decided, President Volodymyr Zelensky said at Ukraines global peace summit in Switzerland on June 15.

Speaking at the summit plenary meeting, Zelensky told the audience that Russia is uninterested in peace and that summit participants should decide together how to achieve peace in a truly lasting way under the UN Charter.

When the action plan is on the table, agreed by all, and transparent for the peoples, then it will be communicated to the representatives of Russia, Zelensky said. So that at the second peace summit, we can fix the real end of the war.

Over 100 representatives from countries and international organizations are attending the peace summit held at the Burgenstock resort, outside the city of Lucerne. Kyiv hopes to develop a new joint peace plan based on Zelenskys 10-point peace proposal, although is open to opinions from other countries.

Our most important goals for this weekend are to inspire a process leading to a framework for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace for Ukraine based on international law and the UN Charter, Swiss President Viola Amherd said, speaking before the Ukrainian leader.

She added that a peace process that doesnt include Russia is inconceivable.

Read also: Putin names ceasefire demands, including Kyivs complete withdrawal from four Ukrainian regions

Zelensky said that Russia was not invited to the summit as Moscow is not interested in peace.

While one of the key components for Zelenskys peace formula is the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory, the president instead said that the summit will focus on three different points: Nuclear safety, food security, and the release of prisoners and deportees.

We will focus on these initial points of the peace formula, and in the process of working on them we can reach an agreement and create an action plan for each point of the peace formula, he said.

Zelensky noted that the summit will prove that peace and security is possible and will provide a real plan to ensure every step to peace works.

He stressed that the rules of the UN Charter should be enforced and that Kyiv and the summit participants need to decide how countries will cooperate and who will be co-leaders to implement the action plan.

Despite Zelenskys optimism, the turnout was lower than expected. Initially, Kyiv said that 107 countries would attend.

China refused to participate due to Russias absence and reports emerged on June 13 that Beijing was pushing its alternative peace plan.

Brazil, the Holy See, the U.N., and the Ecumenical Patriarchate are attending the summit not as full participants but as observers.

The U.S. will be represented by Vice President Kamala Harris and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

Read also: Zelensky: All parts of the world represented at peace summit

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has held talks with Viola Amherd, President of the Swiss Confederation, before the commencement of the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland.

Source: Amherd on Twitter (X), as reported by European Pravda

Details: The leaders of Ukraine and Switzerland did not provide details of the bilateral talks.

"100 delegations from all regions of the world are gathering with the aim of initiating a peace process and developing further steps," the Swiss president added.

Prior to the start of the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, I held bilateral talks with @ZelenskyyUa. 100 delegations from all regions of the world are gathering with the aim of initiating a peace process and developing further steps. #UAPeaceSummit #PathToPeace pic.twitter.com/wXimWxazse  Viola Amherd (@Violapamherd) June 15, 2024

A number of attendees of the Global Peace Summit, including Zelenskyy, have arrived at the hotel in the resort town of Burgenstock, where a plenary session with all representatives will take place on Saturday afternoon.

Background:

Earlier, it was reported that Switzerland changed the troublesome provisions of the final document of the Peace Summit, which could have had undesirable consequences for Ukraine.

Meanwhile, media reports indicate that the text of the declaration is still being agreed upon.

Read also: Ukraine Peace Summit turns hard on Russia. How leaders amended the final decision under criticism

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Zelenskyy at meeting with US vice president: We have started implementing security agreement with US

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Kamala Harris on a meeting on 15 June. Photo by the Office of the President of Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed his gratitude to the United States for the concluded bilateral security agreement on the occasion of his meeting with US Vice President Kamala Harris on the sidelines of the Global Peace Summit in the Swiss city of Burgenstock.

Source: European Pravda

Details: At the beginning of the meeting, Zelenskyy thanked US President Joe Biden's administration and the United States for the security agreement concluded earlier this week.

"Today, we can already say that our teams have begun to implement it," the president said, adding that it is about strengthening the security of Ukraine, the whole of Europe, "and therefore the United States."

Zelenskyy also expressed gratitude to the US Congress for approving the funding, thus unblocking military assistance for Ukraine.

In turn, Kamala Harris stressed that the United States supports Ukraine "not out of charity, but because the people of Ukraine and their future are in our strategic interests".

In addition, the US vice president announced the allocation of over US$1.5 billion for Ukraine's humanitarian and energy needs, which the White House had previously unveiled.

Background: On 13 June, presidents Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement aimed at strengthening Kyiv's defence capabilities.

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Zelenskyy meets with Argentine president and awards him Order of Freedom

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has met with Argentine President Javier Milei at the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland.

Source: Ukrainian presidents website

Details: Zelenskyy thanked Milei for participating in the Peace Summit and noted the broad representation of Latin American countries at the event.

"I am very glad to see you here. I know that your journey to the Summit was long. But I am confident that history will remember this long path to peace. I am grateful to you," Zelenskyy said.

The presidents discussed next steps to implement certain points of the Peace Formula.

"We support Ukraine," Milei said. "We believe that no one has the right to attack another country. Now we have only one aggressor  Russia  and the state that has been invaded is Ukraine. We strongly support Ukraine, as we emphasised in our address [at the Peace Summit  ed.]."

Zelenskyy also thanked Argentina for recently joining the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children.

The leaders discussed bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade, and the implementation of previous agreements, and stressed that contact between the two nations would continue at various levels.

Zelenskyy awarded the President of Argentina the Order of Freedom.

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Zelenskyy meets with Georgian president on sidelines of Peace Summit in Switzerland  photo

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has met with his Georgian counterpart, Salome Zourabichvili, on the sidelines of the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland.

Source: Ukrainian President's Office, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Zelenskyy briefed Zourabichvili on Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy system.

The presidents discussed bilateral cooperation and security challenges and stressed that European integration is their countries' only option.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy on a meeting with Salome Zourabichvili.

Photo: Ukrainian Presidents Office

"I am confident that the day will come when Ukraine and Georgia will be in the European Union  together and forever," Zelenskyy said.

Salome Zourabichvili, who represents Georgia at the Peace Summit, often takes a stance opposite to that of her country's ruling Georgian Dream party.

Background:

The Georgian authorities have repeatedly accused the Ukrainian government and Western countries of calling for the opening of a "second front" on Georgian territory and have frequently criticised the Ukrainian leadership since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion.

Recently, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry condemned another unfriendly statement by Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who called Ukraine a "failed state" and found no one responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians.

In addition, Kobakhidze claimed that the opponents of the Georgian government want the "Ukrainisation of Georgia".

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Zelenskyy meets with Patriarch Bartholomew and thanks him for involving countries in Global Peace Summit

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople during a meeting on 15 June. Photo: Ukrainian Presidents Office

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has met with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople on the sidelines of the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland.

Source: the Ukrainian president's website

Details: Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to the patriarch for supporting Ukraine, praying for peace and helping Ukrainians affected by Russian aggression.

"It is crucial that you are with us today at the Peace Summit. Thank you for your humanitarian support, especially in bringing back Ukrainian children and swapping prisoners of war. This is very important for us," Zelenskyy said.

The president also thanked Patriarch Bartholomew for engaging the world's nations in the Global Peace Summit.

Zelenskyy noted the patriarch's efforts to promote the development and strengthening of Orthodoxy in Ukraine and the dialogue with the clergy of the world and partner countries in this regard.

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Architect couple inspired by nature to build their home in Catskill Mountains  and it has remarkable sustainability features

A home is not just where the heart is but where we can also find peace of mind. For some, this can mean taking matters into your own hands and crafting the home of your dreams.

An article from Design Milk detailed how a New York City architect couple, Maria Ibanez de Sendadiano and Todd Rouhe, crafted their dream home after a decade of hiking among the Catskill Mountains.

Located a few hours away from NYC, the couple designed and crafted an ultra-efficient, air-tight home named the Catskills Cottage. With the fast-paced, daily operations of running their own firm in the City, IdS/R Architecture, the Cottage gives the perfect escape from their life in Manhattan.

As both partners are outdoors enthusiasts, the design was developed with nature in mind. The 1991-square-foot cottage uses solar panels to generate most of the energy to be used throughout the year.

According to a study by data analytics and brand consulting company Kantar, nearly 50% of the 10,000 respondents surveyed revealed that a home with minimal impact on the environment is important for personal wellness.

Sustainable homes are becoming increasingly popular as people look to live more eco-friendly lives while also saving money. As global temperatures rise, building practices have been developed with consideration of the planet. This includes reducing reliance on cement and steel, significantly cutting down on pollution during construction. Additional methods include thermal control bubble sheets for insulation and energy-efficient windows that reduce the need for artificial lighting.

The concept of energy-efficient housing, as explored in the Catskills Cottage, is gathering interest. For example, Hiatus Homes, which has developed housing that is 40% more energy efficient than traditional properties, is gaining increased attention.

As the average American household burns 11,000 kilowatt-hours a year, according to the Energy Information Administration, building homes sustainably is not just good for our air but more affordable as well.

"Even without solar, the homes are much more efficient and will be popular with anyone trying to reduce their carbon footprint or reduce their utility bills," co-founder of Hiatus Homes Jesse Russell told The Cool Down.

To that end, the Catskills Cottage uses its unique design to align with the natural setting while lowering energy costs.

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China wants to dominate global chip manufacturing, but its ambitions are dashed by the hard reality of its low domestic production rates. According to a graph from a Nikkei report, China's domestic chipmaking tool manufacturers produce 20% of the tools the country uses for chipmaking, but it currently only has a production rate of 1% of the critically important lithography tools. This means the East Asian country needs to invest much more in its domestic chipmaking tool firms before it can be self-sufficient in meeting its chipmaking needs.

Those on the ground (semiconductor manufacturing companies and equipment manufacturers) are at their wits' end, but it's difficult for them to say so," says Yuji Miura in the Nikkei report. Miura is a senior researcher at the Japan Research Institute.

According to the data Nikkei compiled using data from Japans Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, the China Institute of Commerce and Industry, the Semiconductor Industry Association, and the Boston Consulting Group, Chinas domestic production rate of chipmaking tools is around 20%, with the critical exposure and development tools (i.e., photolithography) comprising less than 1%. Expanding the tweet below shows the machine-translated version of the compiled data.

These numbers show how Chinas semiconductor industry is at the mercy of external forces. With the U.S. making moves to block Chinas access to advanced technologies, Beijing will likely miss its targets by years, if not decades. Some of Americas moves include banning ASML from servicing some of its high-end chipmaking tools in China, meaning advanced chip production in the country could grind to a halt.

Even so, Chinese President Xi Jinping says that China doesnt need ASML to develop its own technologies. Beijing is pouring billions of dollars into developing its domestic semiconductor industry, with firms like Naura Technology and AMEC investing in lithography tools to help China break free of its reliance on ASML.

However, despite the bans, sanctions, and tariffs that the U.S. is placing on China, the latter has continued to steadily build up its domestic semiconductor industry. Chinas Zhaoxin released its domestic KX-7000 CPU in March 2024. While its only as powerful as Intel and AMD chips from 2018, the KX-7000 doubled the performance of its KX-6000 predecessor. Huawei has also found a way to circumvent Americas ban on its access from 12th-Gen Intel CPUs by introducing its own Kirin 9000C processor.

Another way that China could sidestep the Wests sanctions is to innovate on older yet mature nodes. An example of this is when Huawei mass-produced 7nm chips without EUV techsomething that surprised many major global semiconductor players. Chinese firms could also concentrate on open standard technologies that some may overlook, like RISC-V. As open standards are accessible and useable to anyone and everyone, the U.S. will have difficulty legally stopping Chinese firms from using the technology.

In the meantime, Beijing needs to keep pouring money and talent into its chip production capabilities to keep up with the West. Unless it could miraculously stop U.S. sanctions or build up its domestic chipmaking capabilities overnight, Beijings global chip dominance would likely remain a pipe dream.
Rocket company develops massive catapult to launch satellites into space without using jet fuel: '10,000 times the force of Earth's gravity'

A California company has tech that will likely draw attention from the Punkin Chunkin community.

That's because SpinLaunch is developing a large rotating arm that uses kinetic energy to fling 440-pound satellites into low orbit, with successful tests already in the books. Importantly, the process doesn't need rocket fuel to work. It's all powered by electricity.

"This is not a rocket, and clearly our ability to perform in just 11 months this many tests and have them all function as planned, really is a testament to the nature of our technology," founder and CEO Jonathan Yaney said in a Space.com report from 2022, shortly after a 10th successful launch. The goal is to shoot constellations of satellites skyward  under 600 miles up  by 2026, per the report.

Satellites are used by scientists to monitor our planet's health from above, identifying polluting methane leaks, among other research. So a cleaner way to put them in the sky is exciting science.

Kinetic energy has been used by humans for centuries via trebuchets and siege machines during war, hurling heavy objects great distances. Pumpkin chucking, commonly called Punkin Chunkin, contests remain a popular way to teach kinetic and potential energy physics with similar human-made machines.

SpinLaunch's contraption will likely have some of the chuckers wondering how many pumpkins they could put in orbit, if given the chance.

The invention looks like a giant upright disc with a cylindrical barrel pointed upward. A 108-foot-long rotating arm spins at 5,000 miles per hour to achieve the best fling, Space.com and the company report. The vehicle travels at up to six times the speed of sound.

The company credits low-cost, high-strength modern carbon fiber and miniature electronics as key components behind the innovation.

"Modern electronics, materials, and simulation tools allow for satellites to be adapted to the kinetic launch environment with relative ease," the company states on its website. The technology must withstand a vacuum, in addition to very fast acceleration.

A video clip shared by the company shows the buildup as a test launch is about to happen at its New Mexico site. Experts are seen monitoring screens while others sit in control areas, akin to a NASA scene. When the craft exits the barrel, there's no exhaust to track it. If you blink, you will miss it entirely.

SpinLaunch was founded in 2014, and its leadership team has since raised tens of millions of dollars in funding. The company has been working with NASA, Airbus, and Cornell University, launching some of their equipment as part of testing. The tech has so far endured 10,000 Gs, "10,000 times the force of Earth's gravity," all per the Space.com report.

If SpinLaunch's concept proves reliable, it could eliminate the loads of fuel that is burned to launch spacecraft. In 2016, Business Insider noted that SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket used more than 900,000 pounds of propellant for each liftoff, for reference. The fuel efficiency may have improved some since then.

CBC News reports that a growing number of launches are starting to draw scrutiny, particularly for ozone layer health. The barrier protects us from some of the sun's harmful radiation.

SpinLaunch can surpass the ozone layer without harming it. Next up for the company is creating a coastal orbital launch site geared to build upon its early success.

"It has proven that it's a system that is repeatedly reliable," Yaney said in the Space.com story.

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New wingless, supersonic jet concept pushes boundaries of air travel: 'Fly between London and New York in less than five hours'

Designer Oscar Vinals could be considered a modern-day Leonardo Da Vinci, at least when it comes to imagining the future of human flight.

Designer Oscar Vinals could be considered a modern-day Leonardo Da Vinci, at least when it comes to imagining the future of human flight.

Da Vinci was limited to pen and parchment to record his more than 200 concepts in the 1480s. Barcelona-based designer Vinals has the advantage of computer software, which allows him to give vibrant vision to breathtaking  and potentially groundbreaking  plane designs.

Some examples of his work, all concepts shared by Yanko Design, include a fusion-powered craft, an 800-passenger eco-jet, and a spacecraft carrier.

His latest concept is a wingless, supersonic hydrogen jet that can hit nearly 1,150 miles per hour, or Mach 1.5, and carry 300 people, as detailed by Interesting Engineering. It's called Sky OV and can "fly between London and New York in less than five hours."

"This entirely new aircraft shape looks similar to the 'flying wing' design used by military aircraft such as the iconic B-2 bomber, but the blended wing has more volume in the middle section," Vinals said in the story.

Like all of his designs, the futuristic plane is sleek and modern. The plane won't lack amenities, as Vinals included bedrooms, suites, and bathrooms. Perhaps most importantly, it would make a trip from New York to London in five hours instead of eight, without burning jet fuel.

Our World in Data reports that aviation generates about 2.5% of global air pollution. Hydrogen only produces air and water when burned, though the most common way to make it includes fossil fuels. Electrolysis is a cleaner hydrogen production option that is gaining traction.

Vinals' plane design would fly thanks in part to a "hybrid pulse detonation engine" and artificial intelligence, as noted by IE.

"Technology often comes in radical waves of disruption, rather than through progressive change," he told CNN in a 2018 interview.

Vinals' designs have caught attention around the world over the years, even though he holds no degrees in aerospace engineering. He's a self-taught designer who thrives on speculative concepts that are likely years ahead of technology.

But he told CNN that the concepts are feasible.

"Every one of them is backed by in-depth research and the expectation that one day they can serve as the basis of a real project. Clean aircraft, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, portable nuclear fusion, active flux control systems. Many of these things are now in laboratories, at concept stage, and I think much of this will eventually become a reality," he said in the story.

And there's good news on the horizon. Hydrogen and electric planes are in the works from companies such as Rolls-Royce. It's all part of our transportation system transitioning to cleaner fuels.

What's more, you can contribute to sustainable movement at no cost, without technology. By choosing to walk a little more, perhaps to the Post Office box or for a quick grocery run, you can improve your mental and physical health. Importantly, walking a mile a day instead of driving can prevent 180 pounds of harmful air pollution from being produced each year  and save you the fuel costs.

It can all add up to a healthier planet, as well. NASA has linked human-caused warming to severe weather events that endanger our communities.

When it comes to flight, it took centuries for Da Vinci's designs to be realized. Modern technology will likely expedite the process for creative designer Vinals.

"For shorter journeys, we will use electric and hybrid aircraft of different sizes, while for longer distances, we may have hypersonic aircraft that go suborbital," he told CNN. "Giant aircraft with up to three floors powered by hybrid engines could be like the ocean liners of yesteryear, carrying hundreds of passengers at any one time."

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Questen Inghram is a Murrow News Fellow at the Yakima Herald-Republic whose beat focuses on government in Central Washington communities. Email qinghram@yakimaherald.com or call 509-577-7674.

This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, email news@yakimaherald.com.
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YORK  On Monday, residents of York County will have the opportunity to share their views about the county boards proposed solar zoning regulations.

The regulations, as they currently stand, include significant setback requirements, ones that Omaha Public Power District says could prevent it from pursuing the development of a 2,800-acre solar facility in McCool Junction.

Setback requirements are widely used and often put in place to separate different land uses, such as a solar facility next to agricultural land or a home, according two zoning experts who spoke with the News-Times.

But while setbacks are common, they generally cannot be used solely to stop development, according to Anthony Schutz, a law professor at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, who grew up on a farm in Elwood and specializes in zoning and agriculture law.

The current regulations would require the solar facility to be set back by half a mile from adjacent homes which have not signed up for the project and 660 feet from the property lines of landowners that have not signed up for the project.

Its difficult to understand why you would need a half-mile set back, Schutz said.

If theyre simply being used to basically stop development, thats not going to be something that the courts would look favorably upon, Schutz said. There has to be some basis in land use regulation for the imposition of a particular setback and the imposition of particular distances of setbacks.

Public Hearing on Solar On Monday, June 17 the York County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing regard its proposed solar zoning regulations at 6 p.m. in Room I at the Holthus Convention Center. The public is encouraged to comment on the regulations, but no decisions will be made at the meeting.

Bill Fischel, a retired professor from Dartmouth University who specializes in the economics of land use regulation, was uncertain if a court would do anything, but called a half-mile set back extraordinary, saying it was on the order of a nuclear power plant or a waste dump.

Voices of opposition

Critics of the solar project have claimed it would affect nearby homes and land in a variety of ways, such as air temperature, while OPPD has cited multiple studies indicating that temperature affects outside the facility are minimal.

A 2016 study from the Barron-Gafford Research Group at the University of Arizona found that air temperatures were indistinguishable at a distance of 30 meters from a solar array.

Nathan Horrell, an alternative energy specialist at OPPD, said the Arizona study was the worst case because it was conducted in the desert, whereas York has a more temperate climate and does not experience the heat island effect as much.

Property values is another concern, according to Brian Soukup, a McCool Junction resident whose home would be next to multiple fields of solar arrays. He said he is worried the project would affect the views from his house and decrease his property value. Im surrounded, he said.

A 2023 study from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, a federally-funded science research laboratory, found that homes within a half-mile of a utility-scale solar farm have a resale price 1.5% less than houses that are 2 to 4 miles away.

The setbacks discussed by the board have all been half a mile or less  OPPD is proposing a set back of 660 feet. Schutz was dubious that there would be much of a difference in effect on property values between a setback of half a mile and a smaller setback.

Fischel, the economist who also served on a zoning board for many years, said that property owners generally have a lot of their wealth tied up in their land, which makes them risk averse. Risk averse property owners, whom he referred to as NIMBYs, or, Not in My Backyard, are often concerned about how a project could affect wealth and other attachments associated with their property.

The regulations do allow neighboring landowners to waive the setback requirements through an agreement with the developer.

This provision and others like it, including the half mile setback, originate in Gage Countys zoning regulations, which the York County zoning board used as a template. An attorney from Columbia Universitys Renewable Energy Legal Defense Initiative told Flatwater Free Press that Gage Countys setbacks were among the strictest in the nation.

Lisa Wiegand, the Gage County zoning administrator who was involved in passing the regulations, spoke with the News-Times about the process of coming up with those setbacks.

She said the goal of the large setbacks, combined with the possibility of a waiver, was to encourage developers to educate and financially compensate neighboring landowners.

Of particular concern to the Gage County board was the annoyance level of neighbors, Wiegand said. From the perspective of someone whose house is near solar panels, she said, Im less annoyed if Im being compensated for looking at them.

Soukup, however, said even if without his personal concerns about the solar facility, he would oppose the project because solar energy is inefficient and costs taxpayers.

Horrell, the OPPD engineer, said solar panels provide energy when it is needed most  during the day  and that OPPD is interested in other forms of renewable energy, such as small modular nuclear reactors, but the technology is not quite there yet.

Dustin Marvel, a community relations strategist at OPPD, said that the federal legislation incentivizing green energy development is doing for renewable energy what the renewable fuels act did for ethanol.

Soukup, along with Ken Real and Gene Jackson, all vocal opponents to the project, said they would not sign a waiver.

Jackson said he was against the project on the basis of values and because of what its going to do to farm ground.

For me, its the big picture, Real said. I think this sets precedents of turning ag land into industrial.

This raises the question of what York Countys proposed half-mile setback is for. Is it to stop the solar facility from being built? Is it to encourage the developer to educate and financially compensate the neighboring landowners?

Previous discussion by commissioners

At a March 19 York County Board meeting Commissioner Daniel Grotz said the half-mile setback would serve as a buffer for people who had moved to the country with the expectation that it would remain a farming community.

Theres a reasonable expectation when you move the country that you are going to see corns, soybean, livestock, Grotz said, explaining his support of a half-mile setback. When youre out in the country, 660 feet is really close.

Randy Obermier, the board chairman, who is in favor of a 660-feet setback, replied by saying, reasonable expectations can only go so far.

If we go down the road of, I dont like the way it looks, where does that lead us? Obermier said. He pointed to the obligation the board has to the landowners who have decided to lease their land for the solar facility.

Schutz said the county should be careful about imposing a half-mile set back without the right justifications. If they dont do that, then I think the developer has a pretty good challenge they can make, he said.

He said if the county really believes solar is not agricultural, then it should not even be allowed to have a conditional use permit in agricultural land, though he noted that much of the corn, like the solar panels, goes towards energy.

In February, lawyers from the Omaha-based law firm Baird Holm, wrote a letter to the planning commission about the countys proposed zoning regulations, saying that some of the provisions overly restrict the legal development of [solar facilities] without any corresponding basis in the public health, safety and welfare. Among other items, the firm mentioned the regulations setbacks.

Meanwhile, another group is keeping an eye on what the York County Board of Commissioners decides: the McCool Junction zoning board. While most of the solar facility would fall in county land and therefore be subject to county zoning regulations, a small portion of it would fall in land regulated by the Village of McCool Junction.

Darci McCarter, McCools zoning administrator, told the News-Times that the village is waiting to see what the county does before passing its own regulations.
New Delhi: Wells Fargo, the third largest bank in the United States has fired or accepted resignations from more than a dozen employees who are accused of faking keyboard activity to appear productive while working remotely. All the employees involved were part of the wealth and investment management unit.

According to disclosures filed with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (Finra), they were discharged after a review of allegations involving simulation of keyboard activity creating impression of active work, (Also Read: Advance Tax First Instalment Payment: Find Out Who Has To Pay, Consequences Of Missing Payment)

Meanwhile, the employees were found to have used devices and software known as "mouse movers" or "mouse jigglers" to mimic activity. These gadgets can be bought on Amazon.com at a low cost, were mentioned in report. "Wells Fargo holds employees to the highest standards and does not tolerate unethical behavior," a spokesperson told, as reported by Reuters. (Also Read:EPF Withdrawal Update: EPFO Discontinues Covid-19 Advance Facility  Check Details)

Banks and several finance companies in the US now require employees to work in the office full-time. Major companies like JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. brought their workers back to the office soon after the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Wells Fargo waited longer than its rivals to make this move.

Wells Fargo in 2022 started encouraging employees to return to office under a hybrid flexible model. Now, the bank is gradually changing its policy and asking staff to be in the office at least three days a week.
This celebration, also known as the "Festival of Sacrifice," marks the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Eid Al-Adha, sometimes called "Bakrid," is one of the most revered holidays in the Muslim world. In Islam, this festivalalso known as Eid Al-Adha, or Hari Raya Hajjis held to be of utmost importance. Arafah Day honors the second day of the Hajj pilgrimage and falls on the ninth day of Dhu Al Hijjah. Following Arafah Day, Muslims worldwide celebrate Eid Al Adha on the tenth day of Dhu Al Hijjah. It's a time to share meals with the less fortunate, close friends, and family members.

Date Of Bakrid

Eid Al Adha falls on the tenth day of Dhu Al Hijjah. If the moon is visible on June 6, then Dhu Al Hijjah will begin on June 7. June 15 is Arafah Day (Dhu Al Hijjah 9), while June 16 is Eid Al-Adha, also known as Bakrid (Dhu Al Hijjah 10).

Significance of Eid Al-Adha 2024

The "Festival of Sacrifice," Eid Al-Adha 2024, honors Prophet Abraham (Abraham) for his willingness to offer his son as a sacrifice to appease God. However, God provided a ram to be sacrificed in its stead. The festival emphasizes the importance of faith, obedience, and sacrifice.
New Delhi: In a recent development that has strengthened tensions between Russia and Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the Rassia will only end the war with Ukraine if Kyiv gives up control of four regions claimed by Moscow and also abandons its proposal to join North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), CNN reported. Ukraine expressed disagreement over Putin's demand and called it a complete sham.

In his statement, Putin outlined Russia's conditions for an end of the war in more specific terms than ever before since the conflict between Moscow and Kyiv began in February 2022.

Russian President delivered a speech on the eve of the Swiss peace conference scheduled in Switzerland, where Russia has not been invited.



Following the Russian-Ukraine issue, Putin said that Kyiv must demilitarize and demanded that Western nations lift their sanctions on Russia.

In addition to Ukrainian soldiers withdrawing from four regions, Putin said that Kyiv must demilitarise and that Western nations must lift their sanctions on Russia.

Putin's demands clearly show that Russia hasn't achieved its original goals for the war, Initially, Moscow thought it could take Kyiv in a few days and the rest of Ukraine within a few weeks. But after 28 days, Russia managed to occupy around a fifth of Ukrainian territory which includes the Crimean peninsula it annexed 10 years back.

Putin said that as soon as Ukraine declare in Kyiv that they are ready for a decision and begin the real withdrawal of troops from these regions then we will cease fire and begin negotiations

The Russian President said, "As soon as they declare in Kyiv that they are ready for such a decision and begin the real withdrawal of troops from these regions - and also officially notify about the abandonment of plans to join NATO - our side will immediately, at the same minute, make the order to cease fire and begin negotiations," CNN reported.



Ukraine Counter On Russia Remark

Reacting to Putin's remark, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine does not trust Putin's ultimatum, CNN reported.

Zelenskyy during his speech at between the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in Italy drew parallels Putin's tactics and those employed by Nazi leader Adolf Hitler to conquer swaths of Europe in the 1930s and 1940s, CNN reported.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said that there are no real peace proposals and no desire to end the war.

"There is no novelty in this, no real peace proposals and no desire to end the war. But there is a desire not to pay for this war and to continue it in new formats. It's all a complete sham," Podolyak said.

(Based on ANI inputs)
Imphal: A major fire broke out at a building in the Manipur secretariat complex near Chief Minister N Biren Singh's official bungalow here on Saturday evening, police said. As per PTI, at least three fire tenders were pressed into the service to douse the blaze.

The reason for the fire is yet to be ascertained, an official said.

Major fire breaks out in Manipur secretariat complex near CM's official residence: Police June 15, 2024

Further Updates Awaited
New Delhi: The RSS on Friday sought to quell the suggestions of its rift with the BJP and that Mohan Bhagwat's recent critical references related to the Lok Sabha polls were aimed at the ruling party, insisting that such claims are just speculation meant to create confusion.

RSS sources also noted that their organisation's three-day annual coordination meeting with its affiliates, including the BJP, is scheduled to be held in Palakkad district of Kerala starting from August 31. Senior BJP leaders, including its president, are expected to attend the meeting, the first such exercise after the recent polls.

"There is no rift between the RSS and the BJP," the sources said, amid the assertion by a section of people, including the opposition leaders, that Bhagwat's remarks, including "true sevak is never arrogant", were a message to the BJP leadership following its below-par performance in the polls.

"There was not much difference in his (Bhagwat) speech from what he had given after the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Any address is bound to make a reference to an event as important as national elections.

"But it was misinterpreted and taken out of context to create confusion. His 'arrogance' remark was never directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi or any BJP leader," the sources said.

In his speech, Bhagwat had on Monday expressed concern over peace eluding Manipur even after one year, criticised the common discourse during the polls and called for moving on instead of unnecessary talks on what and how of the elections after they were over and results were out.

The opposition leaders had seized on his remarks to take a swipe at the BJP and Modi. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh had said, "If not the 'one-third' Prime Minister's conscience or the repeated demands of the people of Manipur, perhaps Mr. Bhagwat can prevail upon the former RSS office-bearer to go to Manipur."

Such claims by the opposition leaders are nothing but politics meant to spread confusion, the RSS sources said.

They also dissociated the Hindutva organisation, considered the ideological mentor of the BJP, from its national executive member Indresh Kumar's swipe at the BJP over its poll performance, saying "Lord Ram stopped those who had become arrogant at 241".

"The party which did the bhakti (of lord Ram) but became arrogant was stopped at 241 but it was made the biggest party," he had said at an event in Jaipur on Thursday , adding,"and those who had no faith in Ram, they together were stopped at 234", apparently referring to the INDIA bloc.

As a row erupted over his remarks, Kumar on Friday said the country is happy with the BJP's poll performance and Modi becoming prime minister for the third consecutive term.

"At this moment, the latest news is that those who were against Lord Ram are out of power and those who were devotees of Lord Ram are in power," he told PTI.

Under PM Modi's leadership, the country will progress, he asserted.

Asked about the debate revolving around Bhagwat's speech, Kumar said, "It will be better if you ask authorised functionaries of Sangh about it."

Asked about Kumar's Thursday remarks, an RSS functionary on Friday said it was his personal opinion and it does not reflect the organisation's view.

The sources also rejected the view that the RSS was not involved in the polling process in support of the BJP this time in the same manner as it has been earlier.

"The RSS does not campaign but creates awareness among people and it did its work during the elections. All over the country, we held lakhs of meetings. In Delhi alone, we held over one lakh small group meetings," an official source in the RSS said.

Asked about the likely appointment of a new BJP president to replace J P Nadda, who has been inducted as a cabinet minister in the Union government, the RSS sources said their organisation has always been a part of consulting process for such a key decision.

"It will be no different this time," a source said, noting that the BJP has a history of leaders with RSS background taking over as its president.

Asked about Nadda's reported remarks which suggested that the BJP does not need the RSS in the same way it did earlier as its own organisation has become strong, he said the RSS volunteers discussed it and moved on with their work.
NEET-UG 2024 Result Scam: As soon as the National Testing Agency (NTA) released the results for the medical entrance exam on June 4, it was put in the docks over allegations relating to paper leaks, cheating scams and questionable grace marks. The exams took place on May 5 across 4,750 centres with a total participation standing of 24 lakh aspirants. On Thursday, the Centre submitted before the Supreme Court that it would be nullifying additional marks awarded to 1,563 students and ordering a re-test for these individuals.

Despite this intervention, the unrest has not subsided. Candidates continue to protest, demanding a full re-conduct of the NEET-UG exams. The fact that an unprecedented 67 students achieved a perfect score of 720 only adds fuel to the fire, raising further questions about the integrity of the exam.

Reports of cheating and corruption have surfaced across various states, from Gujarat to Bihar. A cheating gang has been busted in Godhra which was involved in centre manipulation and filling blank answers in exchange for hefty sums. The accused instructed candidates to answer only questions they were confident about and leave the rest blank only to be filled in by another gang member. In Bihar, the EOU have arrested 13 people, so far after allegations of a paper leak. Among them are four NEET UG candidates, their family members, and members of an organization called Salver Gang. The EOU has also not eliminated the probability of a possible paper leak.

Another prospect that is raising the eyebrows is the allocation of grace marks. According to the NTA, all 1,563 students were given grace marks due to issues at exam centres, including receiving incorrect question papers. However, the candidates have accused the NTA of granting hundreds of marks as grace marks, a claim the agency had denied. Grace marks to over 1500 students at once showing that there may be some big fish involved in the NEET scam. A thorough probe is needed in the case.

Meanwhile, the debate over the alleged scam in NEET-UG 2024 has escalated in Tamil Nadu as the ruling Dravidian Model (DMK) government and its allies, along with the opposition AIADMK, are demanding the abolition of the exam.

On the other hand, the opposition has demanded a CBI probe into the matter, the Congress party is accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of exploiting the education system. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has charged Paper leaks, rigging, and corruption have become an integral part of many examinations including NEET. Kharge held the Modi government directly responsible for this.

Amid the rising controversy, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has assured the candidates that a transparent process will be followed and they should not worry. However, he has ruled out the possibility of a paper leak and cancellation of the exam.

The BJP, currently running a coalition government, needs to win the trust of youngsters, even if there is only a one per cent chance of irregularities. The future and careers of thousands of students are at stake, and this should not become an ego issue for the government. It is crucial to send a clear message to the youth that the government stands with the students, not with scamsters or paper-leak gangs. By doing so, the government can also help restore faith in the National Testing Agency (NTA).

The Agniveer scheme has already contributed to the BJP's poll drubbing as most of the youth did not agree with the scheme. It has eroded the youth's trust in the government. After the poll results, the government is now considering changes in the short-service recruitment scheme. When the government is ready to take corrective measures in a sensitive issue related to national security, then it should remain open for such challenges in the examinations like NTA or JEE or any government job recruitment exams.
G7 Summit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the G7 Summit in Italy's Apulia region as an 'Outreach Nation,' and engaged in bilateral discussions with several world leaders. Key meetings included talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Pope Francis.

Modi also held separate meetings with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, US President Joe Biden, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

During his speech at the Outreach session of the G7 summit, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the importance of transforming technological monopolies into widespread, accessible technologies. He said that this approach can help create a more inclusive society and reduce social inequalities. Modi noted the challenges faced by the Global South, stating that these countries are disproportionately affected by global uncertainties and tensions.

The Prime Minister had his first face-to-face meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau since Trudeau accused Indian government agents of being involved in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada last year. Indian denied these allegations claimig it to be absurd and motivated.

On the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy's Apulia region, Modi also had a separate meeting with US President Joe Biden. This conversation occurred nearly seven months after Washington alleged an Indian connection to a foiled plot to murder Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York. In his address, Biden named India and others as essential partners in the field of minerals.

Following his meeting with Mr. Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Modi described it as productive and expressed India's eagerness to strengthen bilateral relations with Ukraine. Regarding the conflict with Russia, Modi emphasized India's belief in a human-centric approach and asserted that peace can be achieved through dialogue and diplomacy.

On the first day of the summit, discussions were dominated by the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Leaders agreed on a US proposal to support a $50-billion loan to Kyiv using frozen Russian assets. US President Joe Biden described this decision as a "significant outcome" and a strong message to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal detailed about PM's meeting with Macron, he posted on X: "Taking Strategic Partnership to new levels! PM @narendramodi met President @EmmanuelMacron of France on the sidelines of the 50th G7 Summit in Apulia, Italy. He added that the two leaders explored ways to enhance cooperation in defense, nuclear, space, and more while also discussing major global and regional issues.

PM Modi expressed his pleasure that his first international visit in his third term as Prime Minister was to Italy for the G7 Summit.

In a post on 'X', PM Modi thanked Italy for hospitality. He wrote, "Had a very productive day at the G7 Summit in Apulia. Interacted with world leaders and discussed various subjects. Together, we aim to create impactful solutions that benefit the global community and create a better world for future generations. I thank the people and government of Italy for their warm hospitality."

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni invited PM Modi to attend the G7 Summit, marking India's 11th and PM Modi's fifth consecutive participation in the event.
Dr. Vishal Rao, a distinguished Head and Neck Cancer Surgeon at HCG Cancer Hospital in Bengaluru, has made remarkable strides in the medical field, earning numerous accolades and esteemed appointments. His journey from a dedicated medical student to a pioneering surgeon and public health advocate is a testament to his unwavering commitment to advancing cancer treatment and tobacco control.

Dr. Rao's medical training took him through some of the most renowned institutions in the world, including a prestigious stint as a visiting scholar at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. This extensive training laid the foundation for his later innovations in cancer care.

In 2017, Dr. Rao received the Judy Wilkenfeld Award for Global Excellence in Tobacco Control, highlighting his tireless efforts to combat tobacco use and its link to cancer. His campaigns have emphasized prevention and early detection, saving countless lives through awareness.

Locally, the government of Karnataka recognized Dr. Rao's contributions with the Kempegowda Award, the highest civilian honor from the Bengaluru municipal corporation. His impact on the community was further acknowledged when he was named Kannadiga of the Year in 2018, receiving the Varshada Kannadiga Award for his contributions to science and technology.

One of Dr. Rao's most notable achievements is the invention of a voice prosthesis for throat cancer patients, which earned him the Rotary Vocational Training Award in 2016. This innovative device has significantly improved the quality of life for those who have lost their voice due to cancer. His exceptional contributions to medical science were further recognized with an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal College of Surgeons in Glasgow.

Beyond his clinical practice, Dr. Rao serves in several advisory roles, reflecting his expertise and thought leadership. He is a member of the consultative group to the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India and a visiting faculty member for leadership programs at Johns Hopkins University. These positions underscore his influence in shaping cancer care policies and public health initiatives.

At the state level, Dr. Rao's insights are invaluable to the High-Powered Committee on Tobacco Control and Cancer Control for the Government of Karnataka and the NCD Task Force for Bengaluru city. His contributions help shape policies that aim to reduce the burden of cancer and other non-communicable diseases.

Dr. Rao also plays a pivotal role in various committees, including the Ethics Committee on Biotechnology for the Karnataka Department of IT and Biotechnology and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) ethics committee. His involvement ensures ethical practices in medical research and biotechnology.

His commitment to community service is evident through his roles as a board trustee for the Namma Bengaluru Foundation and the Sathya Sai Trust (Karnataka). These positions allow him to contribute to the recognition of unsung heroes and the betterment of his community.

Dr. Vishal Rao's story is one of dedication, innovation, and unwavering commitment to public health. His numerous awards and appointments reflect not only his contributions to cancer treatment and tobacco control but also his influence in policy-making, ethical medical research, and community service. Dr. Rao continues to inspire and lead, making a lasting impact on the medical field and beyond.
New Delhi: Bill Gates, The co-founder of Microsoft and renowned philanthropist has recently joined Nikhil Kamath for a podcast series. Nikhil Kamath is the co-founder of Zerodha and it was the first podcast series People by WTF. In this episode, the two entrepreneurs discussed a variety of topics including artificial intelligence, the debate between capitalism and socialism and Gates enduring connection with India.

During the podcast Gates reflected on his relationship with India, stating, I've had a fabulous relationship with India starting with the Microsoft experience where we hired some very smart IT graduates, and brought them to Seattle. (Also Read: Google Pixel 8 Gets Massive Discount Of Rs 14,000 On THIS Platform; Check Discounted Price And Specs)

He further recalled, "Later, they went back and created a development centre for us that's now in four locations, with 25,000 people. Of course, a lot of the amazing people I worked with in Microsoft were hired from India." (Also Read: TRAI Allots New 160 Mobile Phone Series To Key Financial Entities To Curb Spams)

Bill Gates praised Microsoft's current CEO, Satya Nadella and said "At the top of that list is Satya, who is now doing a great job as CEO. In my digital-first career, the connection with India was enjoyable and greatly influenced what the company achieved. It was during that time I realised, 'Oh wow, India is a land of contrasts, first class in many ways, but still with a lot of poverty and challenges.'

Bill Gates also discussed the legal systems in India and the US, pointing out that, "Believe me, the legal things done in the US won't apply here. But, just imagine, if you could make everybody in the legal system four times more productive, that changes justice because right now the backlog is kind of nightmarish. And here, you know, comes a potential solution."
New Delhi: Microsoft-owned professional networking site LinkedIn has announced some new features that use artificial intelligence (AI) to make finding a job easier. However, these AI-powered tools are available to premium users, no matter if they are actively looking for a job or not.

The new AI-powered features include personalised resumes, AI-assisted cover letters, and more conversational job searches. So, now instead of typing in simple keywords, you can ask for exactly what you want, like "Find me a marketing job that's fully remote and pays at least Rs 10,00,000 a year."

After typing this prompt, LinkedIn's AI will then show you jobs that match your request, making it quicker to find the right opportunities. The new features are part of LinkedIn's bigger plan to use AI to assist its 1 billion users worldwide. Last year, they started testing AI tools to help job seekers and companies find the right match.

LinkedIn's AI Feature: How It Works?

Job seekers can upload their current resume, and then the LinkdIn-AI-powered feature will analyze it and provide tailored suggestions to enhance its suitability for your desired job. This feature will highlight the key experiences to emphasize and even rewrite sections to strengthen your resume.

Adding further, the AI can generate personalized cover letters by considering your background and the specific job you're applying for. With this new feature, it can save you significant time and effort, especially when applying to multiple positions simultaneously.

Notably, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs has fined LinkedIn India, Satya Nadella, and eight other individuals for breaching the significant beneficial owner norms under the Companies Act.

Satya Nadella is the CEO of Microsoft, which acquired the professional networking platform LinkedIn in December 2016.
Ukraine's military launched more than 80 drones at targets inside Russia, according to reports citing the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Moscow said it downed 87 Ukrainian drones and that 70 of them were fired at the Rostov region bordering southeast Ukraine where Russia maintains a military air base used to carry out attacks on Ukraine, Newsweek reported.

"During the night, an attempt by the Kyiv regime to commit a terrorist attack with drones against targets on Russian territory was thwarted," the Defense Ministry said in the statement, Newsweek reported.

The Ukrainian attack knocked out power in several areas of Rostov, Voice of America reported, citing the regional governor.

At the same time, Russia fired drones and missiles inside Ukraine, injuring a number of people in the town of Selydove in the Donetsk region.

Ukraine said its air defense system downed 24 of the 31 Russian drones and rockets, Voice of America said.

Kyiv and Moscow have been escalating their cross-border attacks with Ukraine targeting Russian fuel facilities to hamper President Vladimir Putin's war efforts.

Ukraine has been targeting military installations inside Russia, claiming it is acting in self-defense because Moscow launched attacks from those facilities.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been attending the Group of Seven summit in Italy over the last couple of days.

President Joe Biden and the other G7 leaders agreed to lend Ukraine $50 billion which will be paid back by using interest from seized Russian assets.
As Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, continues to battle an unspecified type of cancer, she revealed she's "not out of the woods yet," but "making good progress."

"But as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days," Middleton, 42, wrote on Instagram Friday. "On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well."

The mother of three said she and husband Prince William have been "blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement" since she went public with her cancer diagnosis in March.

She explained she will continue to undergo treatment for several more months and is looking forward to spending the summer with her kids  Prince George, 10; Princess Charlotte, 9; and Prince Louis, 6  and at a few public engagements while "equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet."

"I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal," wrote Middleton, before ending her post by thanking her supporters.

The update comes five months after Kate underwent major abdominal surgery, prompting a whirlwind of public speculation over her health. At the time, her medical team thought her condition was noncancerous, but further testing showed cancer was present, she said.
The Biden administration sanctioned a right-wing Israeli group, Tsav 9, on Friday, calling it a "violent extremist" group and accusing it of blocking humanitarian aid shipments to Palestinians in Gaza, the State Department said in a statement.

"For months, individuals from Tzav 9 have repeatedly sought to thwart the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, including by blockading roads, sometimes violently, along their route from Jordan to Gaza, including in the West Bank," the State Department said.

"They also have damaged aid trucks and dumped life-saving humanitarian aid onto the road," the statement continued.

Tsav 9, which means "Order 9," a reference to the call-up orders for military reservists, has links to army reservists and Jewish settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Reuters reported.

The State Department said the group "looted and then set fire" to two trucks of aid designated for men, women and children in Gaza on May 13 near Hebron in the West Bank.

Reuters said right-wing factions in the Israeli government, with ties to the settler movement, oppose the cease-fire the Biden administration is trying to broker between Israel and Hamas, which invaded Israel on Oct. 7.

The State Department said humanitarian aid is "vital to preventing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza from worsening."

"The Government of Israel has a responsibility to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian convoys transiting Israel and the West Bank en route to Gaza," it said. "We will not tolerate acts of sabotage and violence targeting this essential humanitarian assistance."

Tsav 9 is listed as sanctioned on the website of the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, which was first reported by Reuters.

The financial sanctions will be carried out under an executive order signed by President Joe Biden in February that punishes Israeli settlers attacking Palestinians in the West Bank.
The closing of the Rafah border crossing has cut off an escape route for Palestinians in Gaza, dashing the hopes of those needing critical medical care amid the collapse of the health system while the United Nations warns that millions could suffer from starvation this summer, according to the Washington Post.

Israel last month seized the key Rafah crossing into Egypt, which tens of thousands of Gazans have used to leave the Palestinian enclave since the war started on Oct. 7.

But that changed when Israel launched its military offensive in Rafah in its effort to wipe out Hamas.

Talks are underway between the United States, Egypt and Israel to reopen the crossing, through which humanitarian aid shipments flow, but little progress has been made.

For many in Gaza, the closing of the border is a veritable death sentence.

Fidaa Ghanem, 44, who was diagnosed in February with lymphoma, received financial support from the Palestinian Ministry of Health so she could receive radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments in Egypt that were not available in Gaza, the Post reported.

Her name was included on a list of approved departures for May 7. But Israel seized the Rafah crossing the previous day.

"My wife was deprived of traveling and receiving treatment in Egypt," her husband, Maher, told the newspaper.

He said his wife was treated at al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, one of the last functioning hospitals in Gaza, but it wasn't enough.

"Her health condition is deteriorating and the tumor is spreading," he told the Post last month.

"There is no medical care, even the painkillers that are given [to her] are weak and not sufficient for a cancer patient," he added.

Ghanem, a mother of five, died on June 4.

The World Health Organization estimated earlier this month that about 14,000 people in Gaza need to be evacuated for medical care.

More than 37,000 people have been killed and 85,000 wounded in the fighting between Israel and Hamas, the Washington Post reported, citing the Gaza Health Ministry.
The Princess of Wales gaily joined the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace Saturday for the King's official birthday in her first public appearance since her cancer diagnosis.

Kate Middleton, husband William, and their children, George, 10, Charlotte, 9, and 6-year-old Louis gathered on the balcony with King Charles and Queen Camilla to watch a Royal Air Force formation fly overhead. Kate, wearing one of her customary eye-catching hats, smiled and waved enthusiastically to the exuberantly cheering crowd.

A short time earlier the Princess of Wales and her children arrived in a state carriage from the palace to view the Horse Guards Parade, which is known as Trooping the Color. William was part of the parade on horseback.

King Charles, who has had his own battle with cancer, and Queen Camilla were also taken by carriage from Buckingham Palace to mingle with the Horse Guards and fans.

It was Kate's first public appearance since Christmas Day, just months before she revealed her cancer diagnosis.

Neither the Princess of Wales nor Charles have revealed details about their cancer.

Kate and William quickly post a video on social media, thanking crowds for their warm welcome to the event.

Thank you to everyone involved in Trooping the Colour. Always in awe of the work that goes into putting together such an incredible afternoon @RoyalFamily pic.twitter.com/9UaYRXyi81  The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) June 15, 2024

Kate said in an Instagram post Friday that she knows she's "not out of the woods yet" regarding her illness, but is "making good progress."

'As anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days," Middleton, 42, noted.

"On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well," she added.

Middleton said she still has several more months of treatment ahead of her, and is looking forward to spending the summer with her children  and at some public engagements
China, Myanmar sign agreement on cooperation projects of LMC special fund 2024

Xinhua) 09:32, June 15, 2024

NAY PYI TAW, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Chen Hai and Myanmar's Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Lwin Oo signed here on Friday an agreement on cooperation projects of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Special Fund 2024.

The agreement was signed to mark the 74th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties between Myanmar and China.

The signing of the agreement was an important measure to implement consensus reached by the fourth LMC leaders' meeting, and also demonstrated friendly relations between China and Myanmar over the past 74 years, Chen said at the signing ceremony.

Myanmar is an important participant, promoter and beneficiary of the LMC, and China is willing to work with Myanmar to implement LMC projects to benefit Myanmar people with more cooperation outcomes, he added.

Myanmar's Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe said that Myanmar and China are friendly neighbors, and bilateral relations have become increasingly close over the past 74 years.

Myanmar is willing to work with Lancang-Mekong countries to jointly promote regional peace, stability and prosperity, U Than Swe said.

Under the deal, 12 projects will be implemented to assist agriculture, poverty alleviation, trade, innovation and livelihoods in Myanmar.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Hongyu)
The Group of Seven industrialized nations warned China to stop aiding Russia's war against Ukraine  and threatened to step up sanctions if it fails to comply.

The stark admonitions came in a 36-page statement released Friday during the G7's annual summit meeting in Italy.

In its official communique, the organization accused China of providing "ongoing support for Russia's defense industrial base."

That assistance is "enabling Russia to maintain its illegal war in Ukraine and has significant and broad-based security implications," the statement said.

"We call on China to cease the transfer of dual-use materials, including weapons components and equipment, that are inputs for Russia's defense sector," the G7 said.

The G7 also vowed to "continue taking measures against actors in China and third countries that materially support Russia's war machine."

The sanctions would target "financial institutions, consistent with our legal systems, and other entities in China that facilitate Russia's acquisition of items for its defense industrial base," the statement noted.

The U.S. has been pushing the G7 to take a harder line against China, with President Joe Biden telling the summit on Thursday that the communist country "does not supply weapons, but the ability to produce those weapons and the technology available to do it," according to CNN.

"So, it is, in fact, helping Russia," he said.

In addition to the U.S., the G7 members are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom.

During closed-door discussions, there was "strong language" about China's support for Russia and its role in helping Moscow get around western sanctions, a source familiar with the talks told the Financial Times.

A second person familiar with the talks also told the FT: "The era of naivety toward Beijing is definitely gone now and China is to blame for that, honestly."

Chinese state media attacked the G7 summit, with government news agency Xinhua citing protests in a nearby city over climate change and the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, the FT said.

Last month, Biden announced new tariffs on $18 billion worth of a broad range of Chinese imports over the next two years, including a 100% tariff on electric vehicles.

One day before the G7 summit, the European Union also increased its tariffs on Chinese EVs, bringing the top rate to nearly 50%, according to CNN.
A quarter of Americans view both President Joe Biden and his rival former President Donald Trump as unfavorable in the highest share of so-called "double haters" over the last 10 elections, according to a new poll.

A Pew Research Center survey released Friday found that 25% of Americans hold negative views of both the major party candidates.

The next highest percentage was during the 2016 contest between Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton, when 20% of Americans held unfavorable opinions of both candidates at this period in the campaign.

The negative attitudes oward Biden, 81, and Trump, 78, have nearly doubled since they ran against each other in 2020.

"Prior to 2016, no more than about 1-in-10 Americans had held unfavorable opinions of both major party candidates at this stage of any of the seven previous presidential campaigns," the poll noted.

"And during several campaigns - most recently George W. Bush versus John Kerry in 2004 - no more than about 5% did," it added.

Only 3% feel favorably toward both Biden and Trump.

Thirty-six percent have a favorable view of Trump than Biden, and 34% see Biden as more favorable than Trump.

Americans' opinions of the two candidates have remained steady since March, the poll said.

Pew noted that the poll was conducted between May 13-19, before Trump was convicted in Manhattan criminal court on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 hush money payment to former porn star Stormy Daniels.

He was convicted on May 30.
An NYPD deputy inspector was indicted Thursday for allegedly allowing his drunken girlfriend to drive his police vehicle, then attempting to cover up an accident she had.

Paul Zangrilli, 44, is charged with tampering with physical evidence, falsifying business records, official misconduct and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, among other offenses, according to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

The woman, Nikole Rupple, 35, was charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an incident with personal injury.

According to the indictment, Zangrilli, who was the commanding officer of the 5th Precinct in Manhattan's Chinatown at the time, and Rupple drove to a bar near Penn Station one evening in August 2022.

Over the course of approximately three hours, Zangrilli consumed five shots of alcohol and seven beers, while Rupple consumed seven shots and three beers, the indictment said.

When they left, Zangrilli allowed Rupple to drive his unmarked department-issued vehicle, while he rode in the passenger seat. Minutes later, Rupple allegedly crashed into a livery cab at a Manhattan intersection soon afterward, injuring the cab driver's back and neck, and damaging his car.

Rupple allegedly then sped away from the scene, then pulled over a few blocks away to switch seats with Zangrilli.

But the cab driver pursued the couple in his car and flagged down a patrol officer for help when he caught up to them at a red light.

When the uniformed officer pulled Zangrilli's car over, Zangrilli allegedly "repeatedly" offered $500 and $1,000 to the victim to not report the accident "both in the uniformed officer's presence and after she left," according to the indictment.

Zangrilli also allegedly lied to a duty captain who arrived on the scene, insisting the accident had occurred while he was driving to work.

Later, Zangrilli also allegedly called the owner of the bar where the couple had been drinking, and asked him to delete surveillance video from that night.

The owner deleted the video, but investigators were later able to recover it, according to the indictment.

"This alleged behavior was incredibly dangerous, leading to injuries for one cab driver and putting the safety of many other drivers and pedestrians at risk," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement.

Zangrilli then went to "great lengths to cover up the incident to avoid responsibility. We will continue to hold public servants accountable when they violate the public trust," Bragg added.
A native of Beaumont, J.C. Reid graduated from the University of Southern California after studying architecture and spent his early career as an architect in New York City. He returned to Texas in 1995, retiring from architecture but creating his own Internet business in Houston. As his business became self-sustaining, he began traveling Houston and the world to pursue his passion: eating barbecue.

He began blogging about food and barbecue for the Houston Chronicle in 2010 and founded the Houston Barbecue Project in 2011 to document barbecue eateries throughout the area. Just last year, Reid and others founded the Houston Barbecue Festival to showcase mom-and-pop barbecue joints in the city. The 2014 event drew 2,000 guests to sample meats from 20 restaurants.

You can view more of J.C.'s work at jcreidtx.com.
Tasia Payne hangs a Juneteenth flag during a Juneteenth celebration at Kasmiersky Park, Saturday, June 19, 2021, in Conroe. Juneteenth, which recently became a federal holiday after being signed into law this week by President Joe Biden, recognizes the end of slavery in the United States. It is held on June 19, the anniversary of the announcement of emancipation for enslaved people in Texas in 1865, nearly three years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

Americans will celebrate the newest national holiday next Wednesday. Juneteenth, or June 19, commemorates the freedom of enslaved African Americans in Texas. Juneteenth is celebrated across the world on June 19, especially in Texas where a day of festivities, parades, and cultural events occur.

Heres everything you need to know about the upcoming holiday that started in Galveston.

What is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth had been celebrated for decades before it was made a federal holiday in 2021. Juneteenth celebrates and commemorates the June 19, 1865, emancipation of enslaved African Americans in Texas and the United States.

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President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1862. But word did not reach more than 200,000 enslaved people in Texas until years later, when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger and Union Army troops headed to Galveston to enforce the proclamation. Celebrations erupted everywhere and from that day onward, it was observed in several states.

When is Juneteenth celebrated?

In 1865, formerly enslaved people in Texas organized what would be an annual celebration of "Jubilee Day" on June 19, according to the History Channel. The commemorations featured music, barbecues, prayer services and other activities still included today. More than a century later, in 1979, Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth an official holiday, with several other states following.

Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, Minnesota and others observed Juneteenth years before it became a federal holiday.

JUNETEENTH 2024: Where to celebrate in Houston and Galveston

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Why do we celebrate Juneteenth?

Juneteenth is a very important day in African American history.

"Juneteenth is a day of profound weight and power. A day in which we remember the moral stain and terrible toll of slavery on our country  what Ive long called Americas original sin," Biden said in his 2021 proclamation. "A long legacy of systemic racism, inequality, and inhumanity. But it is a day that also reminds us of our incredible capacity to heal, hope, and emerge from our darkest moments with purpose and resolve."

The Smithsonian Institution offers a free digital toolkit with history, activities, playlists, videos and more from the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Is Juneteenth a federal holiday?

Yes, Juneteenth is a federal holiday in America, meaning it's a paid holiday for federal workers. On June 17, 2021, President Biden signed a bill into law proclaiming June 19 as the Juneteenth Day of Observance.

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Are banks open on Juneteenth?

June 19 is a bank holiday. There is no U.S. Postal Service mail delivery and nonessential federal government buildings and offices are closed.

How can I celebrate Juneteenth?

Dancers from Lawson Academy perform during a Juneteenth parade Saturday, June 17, 2023, in the Third Ward neighborhood in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

Many people choose to celebrate in the days leading up to the holiday with cultural events and cookouts. Others may choose to mark the holiday by supporting a Black-owned business.

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Find Juneteenth events in the Chronicles list of where to celebrate in Houston and Galveston.

Is it okay to say, 'Happy Juneteenth?'

Its totally fine to say, Happy Juneteenth which is like other holidays when you say, Merry Christmas or Happy Easter.

What are Juneteenth colors and why?

Michael Lewis sells a shirt to Qiana OLeary, Ph.D., during the Celebrate Freedom - Juneteenth Family Fun Day event Saturday, June 10, 2023, at Emancipation Park in Houston. Theres a lot of heritage and history with Juneteenth, Lewis said. Its really to enrich our younger generation, and bridge the gap with the older generation. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

The colors of Juneteenth are red, black, green and yellow. Three of those colors are featured on the Pan-African flag, also known as the Black Liberation Flag. This flag was originally created by Marcus Garvey in 1920 as a unifying symbol to connect people of African descent.

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Does Juneteenth have a flag?

Juneteenth has its own flag which was designed by Ben Haith, an activist, and illustrator Lisa Jeanne Graf, along with Verlene Hines, Azim, and Eliot Design, according to Graf's website. The flag's colors are red, white and blue and it has a star in the middle.
A newborn girl was found abandoned and wrapped in a blanket on Sunday, June 15, in west Harris County, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said. Onscene TV

A newborn baby girl was rushed to a hospital Saturday morning, after being discovered abandoned along a Katy-area walking trail, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.

The baby was found around 9 a.m. in the 5500 block of Casa Martin, on a walking trail near Bear Creek in west Harris County, according to the sheriff's office.

A couple walking with their child and dogs came across the baby wrapped in a white blanket and placed on a pedestrian bridge, according to the sheriff's office. The couple immediately called 9-1-1.

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MORE ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Man charged with aggravated assault over shooting of Harris County constable deputy

The couple told police they saw a man walking away from the bridge shortly before they found the baby, Sheriff's Office Sgt. Juan Garcia said.

The baby appeared to be premature, and had recently been born, Gonzalez said. Her umbilical cord was still attached to her body.

The baby was taken to a hospital and was in fair condition on Saturday morning, Gonzalez said.

Investigators from the sheriff's office child abuse unit said they were looking for security camera video before releasing more information about the man. The man could face child abandonment charges, Garcia said.

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"We don't have any leads at this time," Garcia said

Texas has safe haven laws that allow people to safely abandon children at hospitals or fire stations, with no questions asked. Under the so-called Baby Moses laws, parents who turn over infants safe and unharmed won't be charged for abandonment or neglect.
Houston Police and Harris County Sheriffs deputies search for an escaped inmate from the Harris County Jail after he briefly held a woman hostage on Thursday, June 13, 2024, in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Police close off several blocks in downtown near the courthouse after an inmate was said to have escaped and is on the run on Thursday, June 13, 2024, in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Police close off several blocks in downtown near the courthouse after an inmate was said to have escaped and is on the run on Thursday, June 13, 2024, in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Police close off several blocks in downtown near the courthouse after an inmate was said to have escaped and is on the run on Thursday, June 13, 2024, in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

Nigel Joshua Sanders was being escorted back to the Harris County Jail on Thursday when he saw an opportunity in a tunnel system used to move inmates to-and-from court: a gap in the tiled ceiling above, authorities believe.

Somehow, the accused burglar  arrested days earlier on outstanding warrants related to a string of break-ins and a shooting  climbed up into the drop ceiling and made his way to freedom, ditching some of his jail clothing along the way, an investigator said. He dropped down into a break room at 1301 Franklin, which neighbors the criminal courthouse, and nabbed a janitors pocket knife and a hooded sweatshirt to conceal what jail-issued clothing remained, according to court records.

Once outside, the escapee used the blade to threaten an administrative assistant for District Attorney Kim Oggs office for her car. The employee, while fending off her knife-wielding assailant, careened into three parked cars near the sally port. Sanders, 35, fled toward the murky waters of Buffalo Bayou, where authorities searched for him for hours without success.

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The employee was not hurt in the attempted carjacking, Ogg said in a statement.

The manhunt, which locked down nearby UH-Downtown for several hours, ended early Friday in the Cloverleaf area, where a law enforcement task force captured him and arrested two relatives accused of helping him evade capture.

Timeline of escape uncertain

No inmate has escaped before in the fashion Sanders is alleged to have undertaken, sheriffs spokesman Senior Deputy Thomas Gilliland said.

A Harris County Sheriffs Office investigator retraced in charging documents how Sanders may have escaped, noting that a hole in the drop ceiling likely helped him climb out of the secured tunnel area. He followed a path to an area where he found a pair of orange slippers and other articles of clothing.

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Sheriffs officials cautioned an internal probe has since been launched but it has yet to determine the timing of his escape and what protocols went wrong, if any. Court documents do not specify when the carjacking happened, but police radio traffic indicates Precinct 1 constable deputies began searching the area around the bayou about 3 p.m. with no mention of an escaped inmate. The sheriffs office and Houston police later joined their search.

By around 3:50 p.m., court deputies were being asked to verify their inmates, according to later radio transmissions reviewed by the Chronicle.

Hours earlier, Sanders went before the 179th District Court judge, whose docket begins around 9:30 a.m., in connection to an array of charges, including a recent allegation that he and another man stole cash, electronics and and other items from a church gym.

Judge Ana Martinez raised his bail to $30,000 at the request of prosecutors who noted his extensive criminal history.

His defense attorney, Carlos Aguayo, did not respond to requests for comment.

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'Hes now an escape risk'

When Sanders returns to court Monday on new charges of escape and aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, hell have little chance of repeating his flight from justice.

Sanders has gone from low risk to being a very high risk, Gilliland said. Hell be chained, shackled when hes transported to-and-from the courthouse. Hes now an escape risk.

Gilliland noted that anywhere from 400 to 600 defendants are moved to-and-from the courthouse on any given day. Some are transported with more security measures than others.

Sanders would have likely walked back to his jail housing with dozens of other general population inmates after court, the spokesman said. Whether he was alone when he escaped the tunnels, or helped by others in some fashion, remains under investigation.

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The Office of the Inspector General is expected to review surveillance footage and other evidence related to the escape, Gilliland continued.

The last known escape involved a defendant who last October slipped out of his shackles and walked out of the criminal courthouse as bailiffs rushed to quash a brawl that erupted elsewhere in the building. Past escapes have included a death row inmate who in 2005 escaped the jail by wearing a smuggled set of clothes. He was captured in Louisiana a week later.
GALVESTON  Island natives dont have to be told that their hometown has lost Black residents. Sharon Batiste Gillins sees it every time she goes to church. Leon Phillips feels it when he drives down Church Street and sees vacant lots where Black-owned businesses used to be.

Galveston is the birthplace of Juneteenth, and reminders of that special distinction are scattered at historical sites along the citys Freedom Walk, which traces the steps of Union soldiers who walked through the city on June 19, 1865, announcing that slavery had been abolished. But, over the years, the citys Black population, which made up part of the islands vibrant and unique culture, has gradually dwindled due to recent storms, industrial innovations and gentrification.

Gillins, 71, attends Reedy Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, which was founded in 1867. Like so much in Galveston, it holds a distinguished place in Texas history as the states first AME church. When Gillins grew up it had a thriving congregation, but in recent years its numbers have tapered off to a few dozen.

I do worry about it, and I worry about the fact that there are fewer children in our congregations, because without children who is the future? Gillins said.

As Galveston continues to see its Black population fan out to other areas, residents uphold the citys Black history through public art, new museums and Juneteenth celebrations. But some say it feels like Black residents are being pushed out by forces beyond their control, without help from institutions that dont care whether they stay or go.

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This city is drowning, and I swear Id stop it if I could, said Sue Johnson, executive director of the Nia Cultural Center, an educational organization focusing on Galvestons Black youth. She said that conditions for Blacks are so dire that there needs to be focused and intensive care for the community.

Until I see commitment from city government that lends itself to that, I feel compelled to keep working, Johnson said. The mayor and city council members did not immediately return requests for comment Friday.

Standing on our own two feet

Sue Johnson, executive director of Nia Cultural Center ,speaks about changes in the Black community on the island on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Galveston. Yi-Chin Lee / Staff photographer A visitor takes a cellphone photograph of the Absolute Equality Mural, which was unveiled last year for Juneteenth, on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Galveston, the birthplace of Juneteenth. The city has seen a steady decline in its Black population. Yi-Chin Lee / Staff photographer Leon Phillips, president of the Galveston Coalition for Justice, talks about the Absolute Equality Mural, which was unveiled last year for Juneteenth, on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Galveston. Yi-Chin Lee / Staff photographer A sign in the corner of Reedy Chapel-AME Church is photographed on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Galveston. The congregation was the first African Methodist Episcopal Church congregation in Texas. The congregation was established in 1848, and the present structure was finished in 1887. Yi-Chin Lee / Staff photographer Raearami Napoles paints a new color on the front gate of Reedy Chapel-AME Church on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Galveston. Rev. Lernette Patterson picked the red color because it represents the blood of Jesus and it is also a symbol that a church no longer has a mortgage. Yi-Chin Lee / Staff photographer The newly painted Reedy Chapel-AME Church gate is photographed on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Galveston. Rev. Lernette Patterson picked the color red because it represents the blood of Jesus and it symbolizes that the church no longer has a mortgage. Yi-Chin Lee / Staff photographer Rev. Lernette Patterson cleans the altar with a group of volunteers on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Galveston. This Juneteenth weekend the church will reopen for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. Yi-Chin Lee / Staff photographer Carolyn Chatman polishes the pews ahead of the Juneteenth weekend on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, at Reedy Chapel-AME Church in Galveston. Yi-Chin Lee / Staff photographer The renovation of Reedy Chapel-AME Church is shown on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Galveston. Yi-Chin Lee / Staff photographer A hat belonging to Pete Patterson, husband of the Rev. Lernette Patterson, sits on the pew while he cleans the church on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Galveston. The church has been closed for services since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. It will reopen for Juneteenth weekend. Yi-Chin Lee / Staff photographer Construction workers renovate Reedy Chapel-AME Church ahead of Juneteenth weekend on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Galveston. It became the first African Methodist Episcopal Church in Texas in 1867. The congregation was established in 1848, and the present structure was finished in 1887. Yi-Chin Lee / Staff photographer Church Street is photographed at 26th Street on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Galveston. Older Black Galvestonians described this section as the Black business district when they were growing up in the 1950s. Only a handful of Black-owned businesses remain, they said. Yi-Chin Lee / Staff photographer Selenas Blue Room, photographed on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Galveston, is one of a few Black-owned businesses on the island, according to local activists. Galveston, the birthplace of Juneteenth, has seen a steady decline in its Black population over the years. Yi-Chin Lee / Staff photographer The Old Central Cultural Center building, formerly Central High School, has a side door into the Colored Branch of Rosenburg Library, which it housed, on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Galveston. Central was the first Black high school in Texas and was phased out by integration in 1968. Yi-Chin Lee / Staff photographer A sign placed at the corner of Old Central Cultural Center building, commemorates Central High School, on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Galveston. Central, formerly at this site, was the first Black high school in Texas. Yi-Chin Lee / Staff photographer Raearami Napoles paints new color on the front door of Reedy Chapel-AME Church front door on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Galveston. Yi-Chin Lee / Staff photographer

Even after it was ravaged by hurricanes in 1900 and 1915, Galveston, the oldest port in Texas, became an important shipping hub that formed the basis for the regions economy in the early 20th century. Decades after Gen. Gordon Granger and thousands of Union troops, many of them free Black men, marched through the streets of Galveston announcing the end of slavery, Black people began flocking to the island for jobs.

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Dock work was a reliable way for men to earn a steady income during the first half of century, and many people in Galveston can trace their familys presence on the island to ancestors who came there to work as longshoremen, laborers who load and unload ships. Between 1890 and 1940, Galvestons population more than doubled, from 29,084 people to 60,862. At its peak in 1960, when the citys population reached 67,175, about 27 percent of residents, 18,282 people, were Black, according to U.S. Census data.

The abundance of middle-class jobs, coupled with restrictive housing covenants that limited where Black people could live, resulted in a vibrant Black community centralized on the islands northern end. Black-owned businesses abounded and children behaved with caution on the streets, because they knew the watchful eyes of caring neighbors were looking out for them.

We were never the dominant population in town, but it was my whole world, Gillins said. It was our village in more ways than one, not just physically but emotionally, in the ways we supported each other and the way that children were raised communally. We could go through the neighborhood and any mama on any porch could discipline you.

Local activist Leon Phillips, 74, remembers attending balls at the International Longshoremens Association building at 29th and Market streets, and visiting his mothers beauty shop on the second floor of the long-since-demolished T.D. Armstrong building on 31st Street and Avenue L, where she shared space with a drug store, a dentists office and a night club, among other businesses.

If you bought a new car, youd go drive it down Ball Street (now called Avenue H), then circle back to Church Street  where Black-owned restaurants, cab stands and hotels lined the road  to make sure everyone saw you in it, Phillips said.

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You couldnt find a better place to live than Galveston, Texas, Phillips said. Being segregated meant we had to stand on our own two feet.

The islands population gradually declined after its peak in 1960, as innovations in container shipping made many dock workers jobs redundant. By the turn of the century, the islands population had fallen by 15 percent, to 57,186 people. The Black population fell by about 21 percent, to 14,456 people, census data shows.

The work that hundreds could do could now be done by one or two men driving a crane, so that changed the dynamic. It changed the number of people who were literate but maybe not college-educated  middle-income Black people who could get good jobs and support their families, said Gillins, who is a retired college professor and genealogist.

As the shipping industry was being revolutionized, Texas began its slow journey toward racial integration. But what should have been a step toward equality had the unintended effect of destabilizing Black communities across the state, including in Galveston, residents say. By the 1990s, rampant disinvestment had turned the once bustling thoroughfare of Church Street into a haven for drug users, said Anthony Griffin, a local attorney who owns property on the street.

On Wednesday, Griffin, 68, stood outside the former site of the Gus Allen Hotel, once a trusted stop for Black travelers, in nearly 100-degree heat raking lawn trimmings off the now vacant lot, like he does every day. Hes purchased several lots in the area over the past couple decades, and hopes to scoop up a majority of the properties between Postoffice and Broadway streets, from 27th to 29th Street.

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Griffin dreams of building a mixed-use development that will bring grocery stores and other businesses back to the area where the descendants of formerly enslaved people still live. He said its important to confront the demons in this countys past.

First, I want to appreciate the history, and secondly Im mean-spirited, in the sense that I dont think they can continue to tell us no, Griffin said as to why hes pursuing this plan. We have to recognize everybodys contribution to this country." African Americans were subjected to genocide, he said, "and we act like its a shame and we shouldnt speak about it.

Forced out in wake of Hurricane Ike

If industry and integration gradually pushed Black residents out of Galveston, Hurricane Ike and the years of rebuilding, or lack thereof, did so with relative swiftness. The city demolished three public housing developments  where many of the citys Black residents lived in the aftermath of the 2008 storm  with promises to rebuild them with federal money earmarked just for that purpose.

Wealthy, mostly white Galvestonians, however, questioned whether the developments were worth rebuilding at all, arguing at public meetings that rebuilding affordable housing units would invite drug use and crime. In 2012, retired businessman Lewis Rosen, a vocal public housing opponent, unseated incumbent Joe Jaworski in the citys mayoral election.

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Retired attorney Anthony Griffin talks about his lands at the corner of Church and 27th Streets Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Galveston. Older Black Galvestonians described this section as the Black business district when they were growing up in the 1950s. They said there are only a handful of Black-owned businesses on the island now. Griffin, who has been living in Galveston since late 1970s, is hoping to redevelop this section back to a business district. Behind him, there used to be a Black-owned hotel. (Yi-Chin Lee, Staff photographer/Houston Chronicle) Retired attorney Anthony Griffin talks about his lands at the corner of Church and 27th Streets Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Galveston. Older Black Galvestonians described this section as the Black business district when they were growing up in the 1950s. They said there are only a handful of Black-owned businesses on the island now. Griffin, who has been living in Galveston since late 1970s, is hoping to redevelop this section back to a business district. Behind him, there used to be a Black-owned hotel. (Yi-Chin Lee, Staff photographer/Houston Chronicle)

The racial undertones of the debate were all too apparent for those most directly affected.

They didnt say it so boldly, and it wasnt that we had looked at (public housing) and figured out it doesnt work. It was we dont want it back, and when they said it, it had a face. And that face looked like mine, Phillips said.

Federal housing authorities eventually forced the city of Galveston to rebuild public housing in some form, though city officials argued they lacked the land and financial capital to manage and maintain the kind of housing that activists wanted. Eventually, the city landed on a plan that included two new mixed-income developments and assorted single-family homes and duplexes scattered throughout the island.

But the damage was done. In 2020, Galvestons Black population had fallen to 9,030 people from 14,456 in 2000  a drop of about 38 percent, according to U.S. Census data. The islands total population, by comparison, only fell by about 6 percent.

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In that same time period, the proportion of Black people in Galvestons population plummeted from 25 percent to 17 percent, census data shows.

Its a disheartening reality for the citys longtime Black residents, many of whom trace their roots on the island back several generations, but local historians and activists have also taken steps to ensure their history in Galveston is preserved: The Nia Cultural Center has run a summer literacy camp called Freedom School, where children learn how to advocate for themselves and how to take action, since the 1990s, says their executive director, Sue Johnson.

More recently, local historian Sam Collins III spearheaded a campaign to open the Juneteenth Legacy Project, an art museum and historical center, on the site where Gen. Granger read the order announcing slavery had been abolished. On the side of the building, which opened last year, is a 5,000-square-foot mural called Absolute Equality, painted by Houston artist Reginald Adams, depicting the story of Juneteenth.

When Juneteenth arrives on Sunday, Reedy Chapel Church will host a daylong festival to celebrate the holiday, complete with a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation on the courthouse steps. And Galvestons Black residents will celebrate like theyve always done, long before the rest of the country caught on.
Houston City Controller Chris Hollins speaks during a press conference at City Hall, 901 Bagby, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

If theres one lesson that Houstonians learned from years of financial mismanagement at City Hall, its that skepticism is a virtue.

Former Mayor Lee Brown learned that the hard way. In 2001, Brown supported state legislation that would increase benefits for city workers. Pension boards assured Brown that investments would generate a sizable return to pay for the benefits, as long as the city contributed roughly 15-20% of its payroll each year.

If only that were true. It turns out an actuarial firm hired by the pension boards was wildly optimistic in its cost estimates. By the time Sylvester Turner took over as mayor in 2016, taxpayers were saddled with nearly $8 billion in unfunded pension obligations and the city risked bankruptcy if it didnt find a solution. Turner shepherded pension reform through the Legislature in 2017, and that, combined with previous renegotiating of police and municipal benefits, put Houston and its pensions on a stable path to recovery.

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Houston should avoid such mistakes at all costs. Thats why, as we find ourselves facing down another complex agreement with profound financial implications  Mayor John Whitmires $650 million agreement with firefighters for back pay and raises  were glad theres a voice in city government scrutinizing the deal and asking nagging questions until they get answered.

Its the job of Controller Chris Hollins to act as a watchdog over city finances. In our view, thats his obligation even in situations where his technical responsibilities are rather narrow.

Hollins, who must certify a portion of the collective bargaining agreement before the council votes to approve it, urged Whitmire last week to pump the brakes. He sent the mayor a 10-page letter with 44 questions about the deal.

Whitmire, a longtime ally of the union as a state senator, campaigned on ending this stalemate over firefighter compensation and he promptly delivered on that promise. Firefighters have been working for far too long without a contract and deserve adequate pay, benefits and stability for their families.

Only issue is, we still dont know how were going to pay for it. Even if the judgment bond the two sides agreed to  which the City Council approved last week on a 14-3 vote  spreads the financial pain out over 25 to 30 years, the sum will likely exceed $1 billion with interest.

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Whitmire is asking us to trust that he will figure that out. Wed certainly like to give him the benefit of the doubt, but the city is already facing a $187 million hole, a deficit which will only grow after the council approved a $6.6 billion budget. The city plans to dip into its cash reserves to get them in the black for the next fiscal year, but thats not a sustainable strategy.

Enter Hollins, a first-term controller whose political ambitions, including a brief run for mayor, may lead some to look askance at his delay in signing off on the deal.

Whitmire told us the two sides were working late Thursday night to allay the controllers concerns and answer his questions. Still, Whitmire maintains that Hollins' only legal obligation in this process is to certify that the city has the funds to pay the $6.5 million the fire union is owed for legal fees.

The only area that he really can speak to is the $6.5 million, Whitmire told the editorial board on Friday. He needs to certify that weve got it, which we do.

It was unclear late Friday where Whitmire and Hollins stood in their own conversations. They couldnt even seem to agree on whether they agreed.

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Friday afternoon, the Chronicles Dylan McGuinness reported that Whitmire informed City Council that Hollins plans to certify the contract before the agreed-upon June 19 deadline. In a statement released to the media on Friday evening, Hollins denied this, saying the mayor doesnt speak for me or my office, and he hasnt made a decision yet.

Reasonable legal minds may disagree about Hollins' specific role in certifying the agreement  the controller told us he is seeking his own legal counsel on that front  but it appears to us that hes just doing his job in trying look out for Houston taxpayers.

Hollins' pestering the city for clarifications about specific provisions of the agreement will only help inform council members' decision to approve it. Hollins told us he is trying to shed light on a deal that was brokered behind closed doors.

Its my job to ensure transparency and the City Councils job to vote on the merits of the deal, Hollins told us on Thursday. But they have to understand them first. The information has to be made available.

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Hollins' main sticking point with the agreement is something called an escalator clause, which states the city will give the firefighters 10% raises in the coming fiscal year, with additional scheduled raises in the next four years. Depending on how much additional revenue the city can find in the coming years, those future raises could range from 24% to 34%  a difference that Hollins says amounts to roughly $120 million. With the June 19 deadline approaching, Hollins believes the two sides should add specific conditions  such as an exact revenue figure the city would need in its general fund  which would trigger the higher raises. We believe thats a reasonable concern which shouldnt in any way scuttle the agreement.
After purchasing a Tesla Cybertruck, a Houston resident added Swangas to the vehicle causing Houston rappers and many others to take notice. Eric Harrison

Thumbs up: Swangas are to a Tesla like Tesla CEO Elon Musk is to Wall Street: too dang much. Houston motorist Eric Harrison recently went viral for adorning his Tesla Cybertruck with the most H-Town accessory ever: 30-spoke rims also known as sharp elbows whose ominous spooling on the highway warns other drivers to stay in their own lanes. Theyre obscene. Theyre audacious. Theyre Houston. Harrisons spiky ride prompted Larry Cothran on Instagram to remark: Weve gone too far and theres no coming back. If Elon Musk had a billion for every time hes been told that. Actually, he probably does. This week, shareholders approved a $56 billion pay package for the mercurial, sharp-elbowed genius only months after a Delaware court invalidated Musks obscene compensation, calling it unfathomable. Of course, to Musk, thems fightin words. Tell him something cant be done and hell find a way. Incidentally shareholders also approved the companys move to Texas, perhaps the only state big enough to hold him.



Thumbs down: Sometimes Musks fanciful inventions cost more than money. A new report documents how launches of the worlds most powerful rocket, Starship, by Musks SpaceX are disturbing South Texas nests of shorebirds. The most recent liftoff cracked and otherwise damaged eggs in at least nine nests of the snowy plover, according to the report by Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program. SpaceX has continually faced criticism for launches in the remote but ecologically sensitive area near Boca Chica. The companys goal is to use Starship to carry people to the moon, Mars and elsewhere in space. The search for a new home shouldnt come at the cost of caring for our current residence.

Thumbs twiddled: Shakespeare asked: whats in a name? We ask: whats in a hyphen? Would a Whataburger smell as divine if it was prepared at a restaurant whose name was broken up with punctuation and enclosed with a numeral? These are the deep questions posed by a new lawsuit in which the iconic Texas-headquartered burger chain is suing a small operation in North Carolina called What-A-Burger #13. Apparently, theyre not superstitious. But they were quite unlucky when Whataburger sued for trademark infringement and other allegations involved with breaking an agreement the two entities had made to coexist in the Tar Heel state. Whataburger had allowed the company to use its name in limited ways, such as on its food truck, but claims What-A-Burger #13 violated that agreement. The Texas chain, which plans an expansion into North Carolina, argues customers will be confused over the familiar names and menus. We think #13s offerings of barbecue sandwiches and grits would be a dead giveaway  if not the conspicuous absence of Texas toast.

Thumbs down: From bad luck to bad  karma? After six first-place division titles in the past seven years, our beloved Astros are scuffling. The team is seven games under .500, mostly due to injuries and key players underachieving. Yet if you ask Gina Luhnow, the wife of former Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow, theres a different reason for the Astros slide. When a fan asked her on X to explain the Astros struggles, Gina responded: Simple answer: Jim Crane fired Jeff Luhnow. Karma sucks. Yikes! With all due respect to Gina, whos sticking up for her spouse as any of us would, her philosophical explanation doesnt really hold water. If were debating the principles of causality, one could argue Luhnows termination was comeuppance for his role in the Astros cheating scandal. In the years since he was fired in 2020, the Astros rattled off three division titles in a row, winning 95, 106 and 90 games in each of those seasons. Oh yeah, they also won a World Series in 2022. If karma was in play, it was kind of dogging it.
2 hostages killed in Israeli bombing in Rafah: Hamas

Xinhua) 09:50, June 15, 2024

Smoke rises in Rafah city in the southern Gaza Strip, May 28, 2024. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

GAZA, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, announced on Friday that two Israeli hostages were killed in Israeli bombing in Rafah city in the southern Gaza Strip.

In a video released on Telegram, Al-Qassam Brigades said the two hostages were killed in an airstrike "a few days ago."

There has been no immediate response from the Israeli army regarding these developments.

On June 8, Al-Qassam Brigades said the Israeli army killed several hostages during its operation to release four hostages in the central Gaza Strip.

As of Friday, the Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict has risen to 37,266, with 85,102 others wounded, Hamas-run health authorities said in a press statement.

The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement on Friday that it continued its operations across the Gaza Strip.

Israeli troops are continuing intelligence-based, targeted operations in Rafah, having eliminated a number of "terrorists" and located large quantities of weapons and underground tunnel shafts over the past day, the statement said, adding that military operations are also underway in the central Gaza Strip.

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

Smoke rises following Israeli strikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 14, 2024. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Hongyu)
Chronicle photographer Tim Bullards 1979 photo of a woman running in the rain inspired my favorite essay about photography. The photo a great illustration of the rule of thirds: If you folded the photo into thirds horizontally, then into thirds vertically, the subject would be in one of the corners where the folds intersect. Timothy Bullard/Houston Chronicle

The home screen on my iPad shows me a rotating collection of photos from my digital archive. The other day an image of a paddleboard popped up. I shot it from a bridge over Buffalo Bayou downtown that I often traverse on my bike rides.

Seeing it with fresh eyes five years after its creation, Im rather pleased with the composition. The small figure of the paddleboarder, and his even smaller reflected image in the murky water, are framed by the vegetation on each side and the bridge columns in the background. Placing him in the middle of the frame violates the rule of thirds, which holds that a picture is usually more pleasing to the eye if the main subject is on the left or right side. But in this case I think it was the correct choice.

My own photo of a paddleboarder on Buffalo Bayou in May 2019. The photo violates the rule of thirds, but I like it anyway. Mike Snyder

Whatever slight facility I may have to make better-than-average photographs results from having worked with talented professional photojournalists for over 40 years. As I worked alongside them, I often asked why they chose a certain lens or shot from a particular angle. Somewhere along the way, I learned that landscape shots are better if you include something close to you to hold the foreground rather than aim your lens into empty space. My most generous mentor was the late Steve Gonzales, who taught me about the bird and the worm (a low or high angle often makes an image more interesting) and the aforementioned rule of thirds.

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Over the years, I came to realize that the photographers who worked with me were not mere accompanists creating images to go with my words. Particularly on in-depth projects, they were reporting partners whose insights and relationships made my words better. Marie D. De Jesus, now the director of photography at the Houston Landing, worked with me on the last story I wrote for the Chronicles print edition. The story examined the neglected, historically Black community of Tamina, in Montgomery County. Marie accompanied me on my first set of interviews but went back several times on her own to make the great photos published with the article. She met people whom I later interviewed.

My interest in photography dates to my college years, in the mid-1970s. At a student journalism conference I attended in Chicago, a local photojournalist told us that his motto was f-11 and be there, a reference to a lens aperture that would provide appropriate lighting in most situations. His point was that a knack for being in the right place at the right time to get the money shot was more important than technical skill.

Marie D. de Jesus, then a Chronicle photographer, took this photo to illustrate a story I wrote about Tamina, a neglected, historically Black community in Montgomery County. The perfect but unexpected detail  the heart-shaped tub  makes it sing. Marie D. De Jesus/Staff photographer

I took a photography course as part of my journalism major at the University of Houston. The instructor, Ross Strader, was old-school even by 1975 standards. He preferred cameras with 2 by 2 formats over the 35 mm instruments used by most photojournalists. His students were outfitted with Yashica D cameras; we hung them around our neck and looked down through a viewfinder.

Strader advocated using flash for most photos, even outdoors, for maximum sharpness. He forbade traditional portraits; any photo with the subject looking at the lens was rejected. His maxim was to make photos of people doing something important. As is true in many other endeavors, aspiring photographers were well advised to follow these rules until they earned the right to violate them.

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The Conroe Courier, where I worked as a reporter for my first year out of college, had only one photographer in 1977, so I shot many photos to accompany my stories. That I remember none of them is probably a good indication of their quality. The first photo I had published in the Houston Chronicle, where I worked from 1979 to 2019, was a San Francisco street scene, for a 1985 story about gay culture in that city that was related to an LGBT issue in Houston. The story was pretty good, I think, but the photo was not. Mercifully, it is not online.

I had another chance some 30 years later, when I wrote a column about people and issues in Houstons suburbs. The managing editor thought it would be a good idea for me to take my own photos to run with the column. The photo department lent me a digital single-lens reflex camera, and I like to think the lessons I had learned from my camera-toting colleagues did some good. After about six months, one of the papers real photographers needed my camera, so I started assigning photos in the usual fashion, with predictably better results.

A 1979 Houston Post photo, taken by Carlos Antonio Rios, shows Houston Ballet dancer Andrea Vodehnal. Yes, shes posing for a portrait. But see how the surprising juxtaposition with her own image catches our imagination? Carlos Antonio Rios/Houston Post

My love of photographs is nurtured regularly when I see Facebook posts by my friend Carlos Rios, a retired Chronicle photographer. He posts stunning images from his morning walks on the beach in Galveston, where he lives now. Carlos forgoes professional equipment, shooting only with his phone. His practiced eye is his most important tool.

Carlos photos are a reminder that the line between craft and art is often indistinct. Newspaper photographers sometimes make photos that could hang in museums, just as the best writing of the best journalists touches the realm of literature. My friend Alan Bernstein makes this point eloquently in the best essay Ive read on photography, one inspired by a photo made by former Chronicle photographer Timothy Bullard in 1979.

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Alan writes: Many times a day we are surrounded by tragedy, joy, sorrow, beauty and the natural improvisations of a random world. There is a thin line between the mundane and a revelation. All we must do is have the presence of mind to see the unusual elements that every day brings. Photography is a magic bus: It transports us instantly into that state of mindfulness by freezing those moments into lasting eye candy.

Partly for my own mental health, Ill refrain from speculating about whether artificial intelligence or other new technologies might knock my friends magic bus off course, erasing the distinction between fake images and genuine ones. I remain devoted to the power and beauty of real photographs of real people and places, created by real, human photographers. A thousand words are far too few to describe their value.

Chronicle photographer Steve Gonzales shot this photo at the 2017 World Series Game 3. See how the high-up "bird" angle makes the photo more interesting? And notice, too, that nobody is posing for the camera. Theyre intently doing something else. Steve Gonzales/Houston Chronicle
Jen Rice is a reporter for the Houston Chronicle covering Harris County government. She can be reached at jen.rice@houstonchronicle.com.

A native Houstonian, Jen graduated from Barnard College at Columbia University and earned a master's degree from University of Texas at Austin's LBJ School of Public Affairs.

Before coming to the Chronicle, Jen spent three years covering City Hall for Houston's NPR station. Her reporting has aired nationally on NPR's Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Here & Now.
OpenAI seems to be taking bigger steps into the world of politics after the AI firm welcomed former National Security Agency director Lt. Gen. Paul Nakasone as part of its board of directors.

In a press release on Thursday, OpenAI announced the addition of Nakasone to its board as part of the company's "commitment to safety and security, and underscores the growing significance of cybersecurity."

Nakasone is set to join the board's Safety and Security Committee to oversee "critical safety and security decisions for all OpenAI projects and operations."

The statement came after OpenAI reported disrupting multiple influence operations from Russia, China, Iran, and Israel using its AI to manipulate public opinion over the last three months.

This is in addition to a recent open letter from former and current OpenAI employees criticizing the company for its recent safety practices with the rollout of its newer AI products.

Also Read : Former, Current OpenAI Employees Share Open Letter Warning Against Serious Risk of AI

Who is Retired Lt. Gen. Paul Nakasone?

Prior to the NSA, Nakasone was the commanding general of the US Army Cyber Command group amid growing tensions with China.

Nakasone was later appointed as the NSA chief in May 2018 during convicted ex-President Donald Trump's term.

The lieutenant general, who concurrently served as chief of the Central Security Service, headed the agency as Trump relaunched its spying program collecting call records from millions of Americans.

Shortly before his retirement last February, Nakasone expressed support for the reauthorization of the controversial Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Digital watchdogs have long opposed the act, which allows the government to spy on non-US citizens, due to its risks of being abused and misused.

It was also during Nakasone's time when the NSA expanded its technological capabilities following several multi-billion dollar deals to integrate AI into its operations.

Also Read : Biden Reauthorizes US Surveillance Law After Risk of Lapse

OpenAI Further Taps into US Politics

The appointment of Nakasone is only the latest move from OpenAI as it takes further steps into US politics.

Before Nakasone, OpenAI's board welcomed Chris Lehane, a former senior vice president of policy and communications at Airbnb and Al Gore's press secretary during the 2000 US Elections.

The addition of Lehane into the company was touted as the next big technology to help public sectors amid current efforts to revitalize the industry.

It can be remembered that the company contributed to the surge of lobbying for AI research and development amid the US government's efforts to form a standardized regulation on the growing industry.

Otherwise, OpenAI has steered clear of political leanings as it promises to prevent politicians from using its technologies for their election campaigns.
Microsoft announced that it would delay the launch of Recall, an AI tool that tracks user activity, amid concerns about privacy and security.

The company also decided to limit its rollout from "broadly available" to a preview feature on Windows Insiders Program (WIP).

Read Also : Apple Briefly Outranks Microsoft as Most Valuable Company After WWDC AI Reveals

Microsoft Addresses Security Concerns on Recall Feature

In a blog post, Microsoft revealed that it adjusted the release model for Recall in solution to the recent concerns about privacy and security. The feature will not be included in the release of Copilot+ PCs on June 18.

Recall will only be available as a preview feature in the WIP. The company detailed that it will start collecting feedback from the Insider Community first before planning to expand its release to all Copilot+ PCs in the future.

"This decision is rooted in our commitment to providing a trusted, secure, and robust experience for all customers and to seek additional feedback prior to making the feature available to all Copilot+ PC users," said Pavan Davuluri, corporate vice president of Windows+ Devices.

Microsoft to Test Recall Feature Before Public Release

Last month, Microsoft introduced its Copilot+ PCs which came with all-new AI-powered tools to help users optimize their workload and tasks effectively. The Recall feature is part of the new AI tools which was designed to take screenshots of the user's screen.

The images will be stored, encrypted, and analyzed by the system to allow users to retrace their previous activities. Although Microsoft clarified that users will take full control of what is saved, several critics have shown concern for privacy and security.

Microsoft will update the set-up experience for Copilot+ PCs, making it easier for users to opt in or opt out of the feature. The feature will also be disabled by default. The company also assured that additional data protective layers will be added to prevent any unauthorized access to the snapshots.
Pope Francis, during his G7 speech, has called out against the countries' growing dependence on AI technology amid increasing ethical concerns about its recent applications, Reuters reported.

Calling the AI boom a representation of "epochal transformation" for mankind, Pope Francis highlighted that countries should not let AI take away "people's ability to make decisions about themselves and their lives."

This includes using AI and AI-powered tools to take away human lives.

Pope Francis also called the technology's potential to enflame "more injustice between advanced countries and developing countries" or with dominant and oppressed social classes.

Pope Francis Addresses World Leaders on AI Concerns

The speech was delivered in front of multiple G7 world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who have ramped up the development of AI towards military applications.

The US, in particular, has been shoring up the integration of advanced AI technology across military agencies amid growing tensions with China and Russia.

Government watchdogs have long raised concerns about the US's recent attitude towards autonomous weapons, especially its potential to "dehumanize the people targeted and make it easier to tolerate widespread killing."

The pope's recent message follows similar calls he made during the World Day of Peace and earlier warnings on AI's potential to further "fuel conflicts and antagonism."

Pope Francis: Churches Should Intervene on AI Talks

The increase in the chief pontiff's calls for AI came amidst Pope Francis's suggestions for Vatican City and the Catholic Church to intervene in AI negotiations.

Ahead of his G7 Summit appearance, the 87-year-old pope has been engaging with notable AI firms and countries for more ethical development and use of AI technical.

So far, Microsoft, IBM, and Cisco Systems have pledged to Vatican City's petition for safe AI operations while standardized regulations remain are still years away.
"Criminal Minds" is a procedural drama that started airing in 2005. Despite its nearly two-decade run, the series is still going strong due to its strong fanbase.

Each episode delves into the minds of the world's most dangerous criminals. With its intense storyline and psychological depth, the show has left a lasting impact on crime television.

There are currently more than 300 episodes from the main series, excluding the spin-offs. With several stories to choose from, it can be intimidating for new fans to start watching the show.

Fortunately, the entire series is available on Hulu and Disney+, allowing new fans to discover this great classic show.

Whether you are a long-time follower or a newcomer to the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), here are some of the most unforgettable episodes in "Criminal Minds:"

'The Fisher King' (Season 1, Episode 22-23)

The first season quickly established "Criminal Minds" as a prime crime TV drama. The two-part episode finale holds significant story arcs in the series.

The BAU team each received a mysterious and dangerous package from the Unknown Subject (UnSub). Each package contained clues, personal threats, and intimate details about the team. The team has to solve the cryptic message from the Fisher King to locate a kidnap victim.

This episode showcased how Dr. Spencer Reid is a significant player in the BAU. He managed to solve the puzzle laced with references to literature, history, and mythology.

'Profiler, Profiled' (Season 2, Episode 12)

Derek Morgan is one of the main characters in the show and is part of the BAU as a profiler. During his short trip to Chicago to visit his family, he was unexpectedly arrested by the local police for the murder of three young boys.

The episode centered on the team finding out pieces of Morgan's past, including the assault he experienced as a kid in their community. Morgan was forced to face the sexual predator to get justice for himself and the other victims.

'Revelations' (Season 2, Episode 15)

In this episode, the team is faced with a suspect who suffers from dissociative identity disorder. The suspect has three distinct personalities: himself, his abusive father, and the Archangel Raphael.

Reid was kidnapped by the abusive father personality and was taken to a remote farmhouse to conduct physical and psychological torture. The episode reveals Reid's childhood while trying to outsmart the suspect. However, the situation leads to his struggle with PTSD and addiction to painkillers.

'Mosley Lane' (Season 5, Episode 16)

A series of child disappearances in Ashburn, Virginia has caught the attention of the BAU. The team discovers that several children have gone missing, leading them to suspect a possible long-term abduction.

The team identifies a couple who abducts children and holds them captive in their home for years. The couple will treat them as their own and brainwash them into being an accomplice to their crimes.

'Entropy' (Season 11, Episode 11)

The episode is centered on the strategic and psychological chess game between Reid and a contract killer. Reid skillfully manages to turn the tables using his insights and gain control of the situation to prevent the planned murders by the Dirty Dozen.
(Photo : UNSPLASH/Gayatri Malhotra)

Thousands of Miami-Dade County's domestic workers are organizing a day-long rally this Saturday to advocate for stronger workplace protections and the passage of the Domestic Worker Bill of Rights.

The Exclusion of Domestic Workers from Workplace Protections

US domestic workers are often excluded from many federal workplace protections, deeming the nature of their work more prone to closed-door abuses. They are typically excluded from Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964protections, which prohibits workplace discrimination and sexual harassment, as it only applies to employers with 15 or more employees, and are also not covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), which sets standards for safe and healthy working conditions.

Miami Workers' Upcoming Rally

Saturday's event, which will take place at the Miami Dade Wolfson Campus from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., intends to address wage theft, discrimination, and insufficient legal protections experienced by nearly 60,000 domestic workers in the county. According to the event organizers, other activities lined up during the rally include workshops and panel discussions involving workers' rights, personal stories from domestic workers, and the unveiling of a preliminary Domestic Worker Bill of Rights.

The Domestic Workers Bill of Rights

US Representative Pramila Jayapal on Thursday teamed up with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Ben Ray Lujan to reintroduce the National Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, which aims to grant fundamental workplace rights and protections to the approximately 2.2 million domestic workers across the nation if enacted. Jayapal emphasized that the legislation seeks to finally grant domestic workers the dignity and respect they deserve, primarily women of color who perform critical societal roles.

Despite previous setbacks in Congress, there is increasing support for similar legislation this time. However, Ai-jen Poo, president of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, acknowledges that there are still substantial challenges ahead, emphasizing that bills of this magnitude often face a lengthy legislative process, sometimes spanning decades.

READ ALSO: Labor Rights Experts Call for Enhanced Protection in The Fishing Industry Amid Ongoing US-Taiwan Talks

A Cry for Stronger Workplace Protections

Domestic workers recently journeyed to Washington, D.C., where they participated in a rally featuring President Joe Biden as the main speaker.

Julie Vogtman, senior counsel for the National Women's Law Center, pointed out that a significant issue lies in the undervaluation of domestic work. It is frequently marginalized as caregiving work that women simply do out of good intentions rather than recognized as professional work deserving of labor protections.

Domestic workers from across the country have also extended their advocacy efforts beyond Congress to statehouses, where they have played a pivotal role in the passage of labor protections. Florida, however, currently lacks such legislation. Yet, even in the 11 states with legislation specifically targeting domestic workers, enforcement is still often lacking, with women statistically more likely to face workplace assaults compared to men.

The Miami Workers Center, WeCount!, and the National Domestic Workers Alliance are among the groups participating in Saturday's event.

RELATED ARTICLE: Three D.C. Companies Grilled Over Workers' Rights, Penalized with $227K to Resolve Wage Theft Allegations

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Water resources protection made to enhance biodiversity along Yangtze River

Xinhua) 10:00, June 15, 2024

This photo taken on March 28, 2024 shows second filial generation Chinese sturgeons being released into the Yangtze River in Yichang of central China's Hubei Province. More than 200,000 second filial generation Chinese sturgeons were released that day to increase wild stocks of the rare species. In recent years, provinces in China's central region have been making great efforts in the protection of water resources, so as to strengthen the shields for ecological security and protect biodiversity along the Yangtze River. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 11, 2023 shows a ship powered by hydrogen fuel cells sailing on the Yichang section of the Yangtze River in central China's Hubei Province. In recent years, provinces in China's central region have been making great efforts in the protection of water resources, so as to strengthen the shields for ecological security and protect biodiversity along the Yangtze River. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

This photo taken on Feb. 19, 2023 shows a Yangtze finless porpoise hunting for food in the section of Yangtze River in Yichang City, central China's Hubei Province. In recent years, provinces in China's central region have been making great efforts in the protection of water resources, so as to strengthen the shields for ecological security and protect biodiversity along the Yangtze River. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

An aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 2, 2023 shows vehicles passing on a road over water in Xingshan County of Yichang, central China's Hubei Province. In recent years, provinces in China's central region have been making great efforts in the protection of water resources, so as to strengthen the shields for ecological security and protect biodiversity along the Yangtze River. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

An aerial drone photo taken on May 24, 2024 shows the view of a riverside square along the Yichang section of the Yangtze River in central China's Hubei Province. In recent years, provinces in China's central region have been making great efforts in the protection of water resources, so as to strengthen the shields for ecological security and protect biodiversity along the Yangtze River. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

An aerial drone photo taken on March 30, 2024 shows the view of the Yangtze River in the Ma'anshan section of China's Anhui Province. In recent years, provinces in China's central region have been making great efforts in the protection of water resources, so as to strengthen the shields for ecological security and protect biodiversity along the Yangtze River. (Photo by Chen Liang/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Hongyu)
Whilst hundreds of delegates from 37 countries were participating in the fifth day of the founding congress of the Revolutionary Communist International (RCI), we received the shocking news that a government crackdown was underway in Pakistan-held Kashmir against the leaders of the movement that had scored victory against the regime in the fight against electricity and flour price hikes. The delegates, outraged by this news, passed the following motion in condemnation of the government and solidarity with the movement and its persecuted leaders in a unanimous vote.

We have just received news from Pakistan-held Kashmir of a government crackdown on the leaders of Awami Action committees, who successfully led the mass movement against electricity and wheat/flour price hikes. During this movement, three protesters were killed by paramilitary forces and around thirty were seriously injured. Some of the leaders of the mass movement have now been arrested and other leaders are being hunted by the authorities.

three protesters were killed by paramilitary forces and around thirty were seriously injured / Image:     Facebook

This has provoked huge protests across Kashmir for the release of all those arrested and an end to the repression. The demands also include the full implementation of the agreement to reduce prices.

This founding conference of the Revolutionary Communist International (RCI) expresses its complete solidarity with those facing repression in Pakistan-held Kashmir and demands that all those arrested be immediately released and that all repression ceases forthwith. We also condemn the state repression and abductions of political workers in Baluchistan and throughout Pakistan.

The Revolutionary Communist International expresses its complete solidarity with those facing repression / Image:     Facebook

This conference expresses its complete support for the movement and its demands in Kashmir.

Down with the state repression in Kashmir!

Full support to those fighting for justice and against oppression!

Release Muhammad Shabir, Sardar Talha, Sardar Amman and other prisoners of the movement!
On June 10, RCA comrade Milos Minos will appear in court for an unusual crime: discussing wages and working conditions with their own coworkers at the Minneapolis International Airport.

[Originally published at socialistrevolution.org]

Facing a misdemeanor charge of constitutionally protected speech in an undesignated area, Milos could be sentenced to up to 90 days behind bars, all for distributing leaflets containing economic data  that was published on the airports own public website.

Apparently, its appropriate for the bosses to discuss these figures in their boardrooms and publicize them in their finance reportsbut when workers discuss them on the job, it becomes a criminal offense. It turns out its a security threat for workers to be informed of how much value theyre generating for their employers, if the discussion happens beyond the security gates.

Airport workers show solidarity

The Communist has received messages of solidarity from airport workers inspired by the leaflet and outraged over the repression against Milos:

When taking the time to look through the pamphlet, workers agreed with all of it. Theyre outraged by the facts. This airport makes huge sums, with prices exceeding 23 times average pricing. While hungry imperialist businessmen pace through the terminal thinking about their next bite to eat, the working class is on the edge, living check by check, watching as your peers are fired left and right, working overtime to support an airport filled with poorly managed companies. Almost every worker asked me, Whats next?

Its scary seeing how easily we workers can be threatened by the legal system for expressing our ideas. Its dehumanizing compared to how important they want us to treat the customers. We need change!

Milos definitely left an impact. Dont think its been silent after they were escorted out of the airport. My coworkers and I are outraged that Milos was terminated for exercising free speech. All because of a flier? I truly believe MSP airport does not support their workers. Rather than make things fair for their workers, they go to these lengths to avoid being exposed for exploiting their workers.

All the facts and statistics in the pamphlet that was going around came from the airport website itself. We as staff at the airport restaurants are understaffed and overworked. I agree with every fact that was stated. I do not agree with the removal of the employee for utilizing their freedom of speech rights.

Would you ever work for free?

Milos has worked at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport for three years, and is one of several RCA comrades who formed a communist cell therea workplace of 21,200 employees.

It all started with a discussion about Marxist economics, Milos said. I was studying Karl Marxs Value, Price and Profit with comrades in the party, and learned that the working day is divided between necessary labor time, in which we produce the value that covers our own wages, and surplus labor time, in which we generate the value that goes toward the profits of the capitalist class.

It got them wondering about their own workplace at the airport, and how much of their coworkers labor goes to fill the pockets of the bosses.

All it took was a quick internet search and, lo and behold, all the economic stats were right in front of me. Milos came across a finance report published on the airports website. The best part was that the airport itself had publicly released this data.

The report clearly stated that the airports 21,200 employees earn $1.3 billion in annual wages and generate $3.9 billion in direct GDP. The average worker generates $183,000 each year, but earns $61,000 in wages, i.e., workers are receiving a third of the value generated by their labor. Put another way, the average full-time airport employee, who works 260 days a year, is essentially working 173 of those days for free.

The comrade wasted no time. I was actually at work when I was looking up these figures. Right there in the breakroom, Milos tore out a page of a notebook, made a first draft of the leaflet, and walked up to some coworkers. One of them, a cook, works two jobs at the airport, from 4am to 9pm each day.

Would you ever work for free? Milos asked him. Of course not! the cook replied. Milos handed him the leaflet, Well, you already are. As the workers read the information on the page, their jaws dropped: Oh my god! On the spot, they began making plans to circulate the leaflet throughout the airport.

My coworkers were enraged by the rough draft of the leaflet, Milos said, It took me about a week to lay out and print hundreds of copies of the leaflet. Every time Id show up to work that week, my coworkers would ask me, So do you have the leaflet yet? They were very excited to get it in their hands.

How the leaflet went viral

Facing a misdemeanor charge of constitutionally protected speech in an undesignated area, Milos could be sentenced to up to 90 days behind bars / Image: Revolutionary Communists of America

It wasnt until the leaflet began to circulate among the workers that its real power became clear.

When I would hand a leaflet to a worker and tell them, This is about you. They would see the cover title that reads The Exploitation of the MSP Airport Workers and smile and thank me so warmly and sincerely, and immediately crack it open. The amused grin on the faces of the workers turned into expressions of outrage as the workers processed what they were reading.

They would look up at me and say, Is this true? What are we gonna do about this? Workers all know were being screwed, but we rarely have the figures laying it out in front of us in black and white.

Many workers felt so strongly about the leaflet that they volunteered to help distribute them to their coworkers. Eventually, the leaflets were being distributed by baristas, baggage handlers, cooks, and even managers.

One day, one of my managers told me we needed to talk. I saw my leaflet in his hand, and my stomach dropped. But then he told me, This leaflet is amazing, this is such a good idea! and he became one of the distributors! Later I saw him handing them out to all the workers behind the counter in his restaurant, and they all began reading it on the spot.

Milos described handing out leaflets to airport workers who were riding the train to work. I would work my way through a train car, giving one to anybody with an airport badge. When I got to the end of the train car Id look back and see all of them reading it intently.

The workers also passed the leaflets to each other independently of Milos or the other distributors. I would hand someone a leaflet and they would tell me My coworker already gave me one. Its messed up that were being exploited like that.

In real time, the leaflets were becoming a sensation, but they were also bringing class consciousness into the workplace. Workers who had never encountered a communist before were learning in concrete terms what the class struggle is all about. We were planning to take our breaks at the same time and discuss Marxism with those workers who wanted to know what we can do about this. Several workers expressed interest in the RCA.

Political repression

One day, two airport detectives appeared at Miloss workplace, with the leaflet in hand. They charged Milos with the misdemeanor of constitutionally-protected speech beyond the security gate, and proceeded to confiscate the comrades airport badge. They physically escorted me out of the airport in front of all my coworkers. My phone started blowing up with text messages of concern and support. Milos received a call from HR informing them that they were fired. It is unclear who exactly called in the detectives, but a manager later informed the comrade that the leaflet had made its way to the airports Midwest Director of Operations, and that the airport executives considered the leaflet, offensive.

Whatever happens in the courtroom on June 10, the bosses havent seen the last of us.